Pillars of Faith

I got a Christmas email from a dear lady that we met when we were living in Alaska ('93-'97). She is an older lady, and in recent years her husband and sister have gone to be with the Lord. I mentioned her email to hubby last night while we were in bed, and then I started thinking about the many people that have gone a bit of the way on this journey of life I'm on. I couldn't help but thank God for the priviledge of knowing some of these people. I KNEW that our meeting was by God's design, and though at the time I didn't necessarily recognize them as "pillars" (was I looking for stunning marble or something), last night as I laid in bed thinking, I knew that these people truly were pillars of faith in my life. I want to try to share just a bit about some of them with you (there were many, but several specifics crossed my mind last night)
Bob: We met this man the first Easter Sunday that we spent in Alaska. My Mom convinced me to get in touch with a 4th cousin living in a neighboring Alaska town. When I called, this cousin I hardly knew invited me to his church for Easter. Little did I know how that phonecall would change the course of my life. When I first met Bob, I have to confess, I wasn't so impressed, but over a very short time I saw Bob's heart, which was probably the most beautiful heart I have ever seen. This man was quiet and yet powerful, truly a friend of God. His influence on my husband's life is stilling going strong though this dear man passed several years ago. I doubt he even realized the incredible witness he was to my husband.
Doc :We met this man at that first church visit as well. An older man that one might easily pass up, but when you took the time to sit quietly and listen to this man, he truly was a man of faith, a strong, quiet faith. Nothing showy about it, it just was there....kinda makes me think of a lighthouse, just there, giving out light, seemingly nothing special, and yet the many lives that have been saved.... Though my fondest memory of the man wasn't necessarily "spiritual" (but reminds me that God has a sense of humor)...the church we attended served lunch after the service and Doc would start off with a small plate of food, but always go back for any leftovers. He told me that leftovers had no calories! :)
Another sweet pillar of faith, Miss Ruth was Doc's sister-in-law. She lived with he and his wife. Yet another person that could easily be passed by, but when you stopped for just a minute, oh the beauty revealed....beauty that can come only from Christ in one's life. Miss Ruth was nearly blind and had a speech impediment, but just taking the time....you always came away richer after being with her. I remember visiting her at their home one time and she asked me to read a letter to her. It was then I discovered that she had a gift of letter writing. I don't even remember the number of people, missionaries and family and friends, I just remember it was an incredibly large number. The lady was nearly blind and yet she had this ministry!! She was quite a character too, something you wouldn't find out unless you slowed down and cherished this precious lady.
Mrs. White was a dear lady from my childhood. She was the "flower lady" at our little congregational church. However, I RARELY remember a floral arrangement that she simply bought. Her arrangements went with the season, simply because she would go out walking and just gather things up. The exception to this was Easter Sunday. I was too little to know exactly how it happened (donations, flower funds, etc) but opening the narthex doors on Easter Sunday at that little church is still one of my fondest memories. The entire front of the stage was filled with an incredible display of flowers! Lilies, hyacinth, daffodils, tulips....I can't even name them all. And the smell that wrapped around you as the doors open...when I read in the Bible about a sweet fragrance offered to the Lord, this is what I think of. Life burst forth from that little church on Easter Sunday! And I saw in dear Mrs. White that worship comes in so many different forms. I know she is joyfully tending gardens and gathering beautiful bouquets in heaven!

There are SO many other people that God has placed in my path, so many jewels. I am so thankful for each and every one of them,and for the portion of my journey that they joined me on. God is good ALL the time! Check out the jewels He's sprinkled around you and thank Him for the pillars of faith that He has gathered unto Himself.

Tozer Devotional

I really enjoy Tozer's writing...it is very rich and yet understandable. May you be blessed!

Tozer Devotional
Collective Writings from the Books of A.W. Tozer
That Incredible Christian
Chapter # Eight
Living an Exhanged Life
Live by the Spirit
Actually the purest saint at the moment of his greatest strength is as weak as he was before his conversion. What has happened is that he has switched from his little human battery to the infinite power of God. He has quite literally exchanged weakness for strength, but the strength is not his; it flows into him from God as long as he abides in Christ. One of the heaviest problems in the Christian life is that of sanctification: how to become as pure as we know we ought to be and must be if we are to enjoy intimate communion with a holy God. The classic expression of this problem and its solution is found in Paul's epistle to the Romans, chapters seven and eight. The cry, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (7:24) receives the triumphant answer, "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (8:2). No one who has given attention to the facts will deny that it is altogether possible for a man to attain to a high degree of external morality if he sets his heart to it. Marcus Aurelius, the pagan emperor, for instance, lived a life of such exalted morality as to make most of us Christians ashamed, as did also the lowly slave Epictetus; but holiness was something of which they were totally ignorant. And it is holiness that the Christian heart yearns for above all else, and holiness the human heart can never capture by itself.
Prayer
You know my weakness, Lord, far better than I do. But You give me Your strength. Yours! I breathe it in today as I live this day for You. That Incredible Christian
Scripture
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.— Galatians 5:16
Thought
We can live today by the Spirit. In ourselves we are hopelessly weak failures. In Christ we are strong because of His strength. Let's live today by the Spirit!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Is that rude to wish myself a happy birthday? It's actually the day after my birthday and I just wanted to comment on it. It was a nice, quiet day. Hubby had his first day back at work since his return from the desert. People felt bad for me that he went back on my birthday, but really, it's fine. We had a great time with him off, he got a lot done, and it was nice to be able to finally get back to a normal routine of waking up while it's still dark, having coffee and breakfast with my Beloved, sending him off and then spending time reading the Bible. Actually, because we haven't been in a routine, I had LOST my Bible!!!! Yesterday I was nearly frantic trying to find it and my journal. I had other Bibles, but wanted mine that I had notes in and my journal to jot down in!! So last night I checked in the car and thankfully (oh so very thankfully) there it was!!! So this morning was even better than yesterday! Anyway, back to my birthday......nothing earth shattering happened, I did lots of baking, homeschooled the kids and got some cleaning done. I even managed to get in a snuggle nap with my youngest son!! (don'cha love those moments???) My Pink Princess even helped me bake a carrot cake without realizing it was my birthday cake! Hee hee!! It was 4:30 in the afternoon before they figured out it was my birthday....fine by me, I was enjoying the quiet! We had a nice dinner of Chickpea Stuffed Shells and broccoli, and then we had a DELICIOUS carrot cake made by my little girl and decorated by my oldest! My Sweetie bought me sweets! Yum!!!! And then, after the kids were in bed, he and I played a game together (which I LOVE to do!!). So, all in all it was a very nice day! The kinda day I like, not too much fuss, but just enough so I know I'm loved! :) What a blessing!! Amazes me how very well God really does know me! :)

Count your blessings!

My guy likes to keep busy

Here's his latest project.....fixing the shower stall in the boys' (downstairs) bathroom!!

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

This is a recipe that I got a while back from my friend Ally. She posted one of my recipes on her blog, and since we just had this last night and it was (again) a big hit, I thought I would post it. It's fairly quick and simple.

Old Fashion Chicken Potpie

1-1/2 cups fresh mushroom *
1 cup fresh carrots *
1 small onion *
1/3 cup butter
1/3 all purpose flour
1-1/2 cups chicken Broth
1 1/2 cups milk
4 cups cooked chicken breast
1 cup frozen peas *
1t salt
*Just a note....I use whatever vegetables I have on hand. Last night we had onions, julienned carrots, broccoli and green beans in it. That's what I had, so that's what we used!

In a large saucepan,saute the mushrooms,carrots and onions in butter until tender; sprinkle with flour.Graduallly stir in broth and milk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook for 2 mintues or until thickened. Add chicken, peas, corn and salt; heat through. Pour into a greased shallow 2 1/2 qt baking dish. Set aside.

Biscuit topping
2 c all- purpose flour
4 t baking powder
2 t sugar
1/2t salt
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 c cold butter
2/3 c milk

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cream of tatar. Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs; stir in milk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times. Pat or roll out to 1/2 in thickness; cut with floured biscuit cutter. Place biscuits over chicken mixture. Bake uncovered at 400 for 15-20 mins or until biscuits are golden.

If you want extra biscuits to eat double to biscuit mix.

Ripple Effect

Still feeling the ripple effect of all that took place while hubby was TDY. He has long talked about forgiveness, and the importance of it, but to me, it always felt more like head knowledge than heart knowledge. Okay, I might as well say it, I felt like his forgiveness was for everybody EXCEPT me (note I'm talking about hubby's forgiveness of me, not God's).

Well, that has changed. I keep telling hubby that he just seems softer now.....and not in a wimpy, unmanly way; believe me, this guy is a man's man!.....but there's something tender in him now. He has feelings, a whole spectrum of feelings. Yes, he still gets mad about stuff, but he also gets over it and you KNOW he's gotten over it.

I did not do well at all with our finances while DH was gone. I am so disappointed and ashamed, but that's water under the bridge, nothing I can do to change that now. I didn't tell hubby about the struggles as I wanted him to not have to be worrying and trying to fix things while in a war zone. So I've had to face the music now that he's home. He has seen all the mess ups, he's gotten upset about it (rightly so!), and then he's said that it will be okay, we will manage. A lot of his plans and dreams got pushed back because of my mistakes, but he's moving on. I am thankful beyond words!!! And he never really said the words, "I forgive you." I used to wish that he would say that sometimes, but now I realize it's not the words, it's the heart. He's forgiven me, that stuff is past us now. I simply stand here awed and amazed and humbled!

What could have changed that? God. And how did it happen? God pulled out all the hidden hurts and pains in hubby's heart, and they dealt with them. God helped DH experience and acknowledge those feelings. And because DH was doing that, God was able to work that in my life as well. It is amazing! One little pebble dropped in a pond, and the ripples are amazing!! Makes "open heart surgery" (in God's hands) all worth it!!

Praising Him more and more every day of this rollercoaster ride!!!

Adjusting

Well, things are going well here, but there is still some adjusting that is needed. We've all changed somewhat in the 7 months apart, and while it's good changes for the most part, it still requires some adjusting. I had been warned about the "adjustment time" but I think, until you actually experience it, you don't know what to expect. God is good though, in that we can always trust!!

So just wanted to update you on life here! Hope to be back to posting more regularly soon!
Blessings!

Beef Fajita Soup

I made this for dinner the other night and it was liked by all! I threw everything in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer, then, I thawed it out and threw it in the crockpot to cook for the whole day. I served it with cornbread. Very yummy! For the beans, I actually soaked dry beans and then just used 2 cups of each kind (rather than the canned ones called for in the recipe)

Beef Fajita Soup
1-2 lbs stew meat
1 can (15oz) each pinto beans and black beans, drained
1 can (14.5oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (14.5oz) beef broth (I used 2 cups of water and 2 bouillon cubes)
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped (or 1/4 cup dried onion)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp black pepper

Put all in crockpot and cook all day until everything is tender and meat breaks up. I let the kids put sour cream and cheese on top of theirs, but it was just as good without that.

Enjoy!

We did it!!!!

We survived our first deployment!! Woohooo!!! Praise God He saw us through this....none of us could have done it without His mercy and grace each and every day!!!!!!!!! Plus LOTS of good friends that He set about us! :)

And yes, the quilt got done, thanks to loyal friend K, that came and helped me finish handstitching the binding!! Whaddya think?


And why, you now ask, am I on here at 8:17 in the morning instead of snuggling in this cozy nest? Well, the chapel staff told him he needed to report in (at 7:30 am) to get all of his paperwork out of the way (well, that does include reimbursements and other allotments) and then he's off to enjoy a month at home with us. Hoping that will be enough time to catch up on 7 months apart!! :) At least we got to enjoy a quiet morning together like we had before he left. Finally, someone to share coffee with!!! :) And yes, we had homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast!!! Frozen, then thawed and rose overnight, to be cooked fresh this morning. Yum!! :)

Want some ketchup?

Today a friend of mine reminded me of that old ketchup commercial with the girl holding a bottle of ketchup upsided down and waiting. Wasn't the jingle, "Anticipa-a-tion is making me wait." I don't know....the curls sometimes tumble things together.

Anyway, the wait is tough right now. We both thought he would be home today, but didn't hear anything definite, until today, when he called to say that he should be home.....Monday. *sigh* A few days ago I wished I had more time because there was so much to do, and now, I really don't care about any of that stuff....I just want my guy home. Really, if he had walked in this morning just after I got up, with me in his sweats (ugh! I just about never wear sweats!) and my hair still all scary and wild and dishes on the counter, I really wouldn't have cared, even after all that dreaming of looking and being stunning for him.....when it comes right down to it, none of that external stuff really matters......our hearts just need to be back together again; I need my bestest buddy back by my side.

Shouldn't it be easier now that it's only a couple of days rather than 6 or 7 months? I am trying REALLY hard not to be impatient......but golly it will be so good to wrap my arms around that big strong man of mine!!!!

For your viewing pleasure (or means to hysterical laughter), I present.....Us! 14 years ago this December!

And just so you know, I did have shoes one when I got married, however there was no film in the camera....which we didn't discover until after. I requested that they not get my feet in the picture as they were sore from wearing the shoes.....and the rest, as they say, is history!

Feasting on the Word

Here's what I was feasting on this morning. This alone is what keeps me going day to day!
Lamentations 3:21-25
21But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: 22It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.23They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. 24The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.25The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word].
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I do not change [[Yes!!! ooo...sorry, couldn't help myself! I just love that thought!!!!!]]; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Isaiah 33:2
O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm [of Your servants--their strength and defense] every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.
Numbers 18:20
And the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], neither shall you have any part among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

As I was reading all this and jotting it down in my journal, I was deeply reminded of this, Romans 3:23 says, "...since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives." I realized that all of those verses above were written BEFORE Christ brought us salvation through the cross! Which simply further substantiates Romans 3:23!!! I love this!! God is so for us, even when we ourselves aren't!!! He is so compassionate and with us through the good and bad in our lives! I love it, love it, love it!!!!

I pray that your eyes and heart will truly be opened to this great gift from our Abba!

Quilt Progress

The top of my Beloved's quilt is done!!! And today I made almost 14 yards of binding to put on it!! (I used the flowered flannel material to do it) Here's a picture of the top, with my two littles on it so you get an idea of the size of the quilt. I cannot wait to snuggle my True Love in it!!

Dishwasher deal is done!!!!

Today my new, new dishwasher was delivered! Yes!! It is a Bosch (and just so you know, I got it cheaper than what's listed at this site I linked). I was going to attempt to put it in myself because I have seen it done now and it seems fairly simple. But last night, my Superhero Hubby was chatting with me (email) and mentioned that he wanted to put a filter on the water line so that the rust and corrosion from the pipes won't damage the dishwasher. So he asked me to "wait a couple of weeks" for him to install it. Woohoo!!! I'll wait! Especially since it means the work will be done by my favorite plumber!! Hee hee!! And yes, it took over a week, but I DID get a check from the warranty company. We had to pay the difference, but considering this is a Bosch, I'm thinking the $150 more was worth it!! It was such a relief to get that dishwasher delivered! It's finally a done deal!! Let's see, it started in July.....hmmmm.....well, it's done!

Happy birthday to Daddy's girl

Well, yesterday was the Pink Princess' 8th birthday. She got a call from her Daddy and was SO excited about it! It's kinda hard celebrating life without my Beloved, and I can't even imagine how hard it must be for him to not be here for these special occasions. Little D's birthday is only 9 days away....wouldn't it be an awesome gift to have Daddy here.....but we have no idea when he'll be home. So we do the best we can. Tomorrow I am taking the Pink Princess out for a girly day (my friend K is going with us). Hair cuts, shopping, lunch, and.....getting her ears pierced! :) And that was her Daddy's idea! She really is a Princess!

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love YOU

Yesterday was my beloved's birthday. I asked him if they do anything special over there for you when it's your birthday. He said, "I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday. All they do is give you a cupcake and then give you a hard time all day!" My poor guy! He's not big on celebrating things anyway, but I always do something for him, and after 14 years, it is kinda nice to be remembered on your day. I am going to have a nice carrot cake (his favorite....that was what our wedding cake was too!) for him when he gets home!

Anyway, I had sent him a package of stuff he had asked for and some cards and pictures and stuff from us. One of the things that I had sent was a "Top 10 Reasons Why I Love You" paper that I had filled out. I put all different kinds of things on there (I REALLY love his hands, they're always hot, rough and huge!). I also sent him a blank sheet and suggested he do one for me. Now, before, he would NOT have done it, but a couple of days ago he said he was "working on it". I thought, "Golly, I just sat down and wrote it and he had to work on it?" But, at least he was doing it! Well, yesterday (his birthday) I found an email in my box. I am going to share it here because it took my breath away! Many of the things I thought bothered him about me, he has turned a different light on and are thankful for them. I couldn't help thinking it was more of a thanksgiving list to God than a love note to me. Many of you have known us for a long time, so I am sharing this so you can get a further glimpse of the great miracle God has wrought in our marriage....

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love YOU......

1. You laugh at my silly jokes, you have a great sense of humor.
2. You are very sensitive, you have the biggest heart of anyone I have every known.
3. You are unselfish, you give of yourself and don't like saying "no" to anyone.
4. You are kind and gentile, you have a spirit greater than any queen, princess, or royalty.
5. I love your elegant manners, you are never rude or crass.
6. You are not impulsive, you think about every aspect of a decision.
7. I love the mischievous side of you, it can be very fun.
8. You are slow to change, but have accepted coffee in, so I know you love me.
9. You love to be surprised in life, you enjoy the simple beauty in things.
10. You are artistic and very imaginative, you see the good that is in everything.

And he said he wasn't the "romantic type"......ha!!!

Brrrrrrrr!!

Fall has definitely fallen upon us!! Check it out! In Alaska we called this "termination dust" as it signaled the end of summer. This was taken from my front porch!!

More than conquerors!!

This morning I looked up 'humility' in my Strong's Concordance (or "conquer-dance" as we sometimes call it!) Here's what I found and then my thoughts on it:
Humility
Factors involved in a sense of:
One's sinfulness....................look up Luke 18:13-14
One's unworthiness.............look up Luke 15:17-21
One's limitations....................look up 1 King 3:6-14
God's holiness........................look up Isaiah 6:1-8
God's righteousness...........look up Philippians 3:4-7
In each area that we are weak, God's fullness steps in. We are sinful, so He sent an atonement (Christ), we are unworthy so He gives us the free gift of mercy and grace; we have limitations and God has none. We have to understand the vastness of God. Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us." Wrap your mind around that thought....we're these puny, dirty little things, yet with God working in our lives and completing us, not only are we conquerors, we are more than conquerors. We don't just gain a victory, we gain a surpassing victory!! I just think that's so amazing!! God is most glorified in our weakness. It is clear that we are at the end of ourselves and God has stepped in.

Uh-oh!!

I could be in trouble when my True Love comes home! My friend sent me this picture (and I've sent it out to many friends, but I think it is so funny that it deserves posting here.....sorry, don't know who to give credit to for it)

"What to wear when your wife has chores for you to do."

the continuing saaaa-ga of a dishwasher gone bad...

Well, yesterday some GE guys brought over my new dishwasher. I should have been more concerned when one man carried the new one in over his shoulder using only one hand.....but I'm getting ahead of myself. Pulling out the old dishwasher, they discovered just how "inventive" the previous owner was. The wiring did not have any ground wire, and the connection to the water supply was with a gas connector (yeah, like I understood all that either!) so they put the dishwasher in place but they were not able to connect it to electricity OR water!! They told me how to fix the water situation (after a run to Home Depot) and then said I needed to get an electrician for the wiring. On the way to Home Depot I stopped by the church office and asked if there was someone who could help me out with the electrical. The secretary said that her husband could help me out. He came over on his way home and got it all wired up so I was able to wash dishes in my new dishwasher!! I should have been so very happy, but.....

1. It was very loud when it ran...could be because unlike my old one, this one had NO insulation wrapped around it
2. It clunked to each new cycle....loudly.....enough to wake you from sleeping
3. It only had one spray arm and my old one had 2
4. It had no delayed start and my old one had a choice of 3 different times
5. It seemed much smaller

So I wasn't happy but thought, well, at least I have one. However, when I woke this morning, I still was not happy and then after talking to some friends that I really look up to, I took their advice and called the Warranty Company and told them that I was not happy with what I received. Well, after 2 hours on the phone, and me having to get kinda feisty (which is NOT how I am) and talking to the supervisor, here's what God provided....

The Warranty Group is cutting me a check for the price of the new dishwasher I picked out (an Amana) plus the cost of installation. I will then be responsible for getting it myself. Yay! And they do not want this dishwasher back!!! (how wasteful after all the stupidness I've been through) So I am able to bless my dear friend K with it! :) Whew!!!! Glad that is all over!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to tell my darling hubby!

Wow!

I stumbled across Marine Wife's blog and was amazed at the similarities!! One of her posts had this to say, and I just had to put it here too, my testament to my dear husband...

"What I have with him is worth it. It is worth every lonely night, every tear I cry from missing him, and the pain I feel from not having him close. It is worth it because he is my one and only. When I picture myself years from now, I see only him. No matter how painful distance can be, not having him in my life would be worse." - Author Unknown

More quilt pictures

Here's the first completed block. I'm still learning to match corners, but overall, I like it! :) It goes together pretty quickly.

Project for my Love

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Something's Lacking

Revelation 2:2-4 (please click to read)

Immediately upon reading this, the thought came into my head....How could they [I] be so industrious and patiently enduring for the sake/glory of the Lord, yet lose their [my] first love?? Why, then, would they [I] be doing what they are [I am] doing if it's not done for love?? I'm struggling with this lately, can you tell??? So, as I sat there pondering, thoughts began pouring in and I quickly ran and grabbed my notebook (journaling is the way to go!!!) and wrote down these thoughts:

• Things are done simply out of obligation rather than intense love
• Looking at our marriage, I did the things I did simply because that's what I was supposed to do. Now, with all the miraculous healing in our marriage, I am eager to resume doing those things for my dh as an expression of my love for him.
• Sometimes things become comfortable and somewhat automatic (we begin to take things for granted) causing us to lose our purpose, to lose that freshness of vision.

I hope I haven't completely lost you here. I just have kind of felt like I've been wandering on my own lately; I haven't even taken time alone with my Abba, I'm simply trying to get through each day. I finally realized that I was starving myself to death, not feasting on His word.....I was in emergency status! So I plopped down and just began reading. As always, God is faithful!!

Abba, Father-God, work this in my life. Open my eyes to again see that first love. Teach me to love more fully and passionately. In Christ's name...Amen!

Update on the stupid dishwasher

Okay, yes, I said "stupid"....and no, you won't find that brand in any store.....but I'm a little tired of this whole mess!! Yes, I am still working on this! (see this post if you don't know what I'm referring to) It has been over 2 months now, and still I am standing beside a broken dishwasher washing loads of dishes by hand (yes, I know there are many homes without dishwashers, but think of the sting of standing beside one, and performing its task!!) So....

Now they have decided that the home warranty company themselves will simply replace my dishwasher (because of all the hassle thus far)....except that I had to call them again to see what was happening with that as I hadn't heard anything from them for a week and a half! So then they called and told me to go online and checkout this one specific dishwasher that they were proposing. It's like one of the cheapest GE ones!!!! And ours is a Maytag, and was top of the line (I'm sure) when it was purchased, though now it is old enough that they can't even pull up the model number (or so they say). So I called and told them I didn't like the one they picked out, and.....you guessed it.....I'm on another merry-go-round! Now they're saying either I take the one they proposed or take a "cash out". Online, the one they proposed is $264, but if I take the cashout, I get their price which is $170!!! The only dishwasher I've seen for $170 is the one sitting out on the sidewalk (for 3 weeks now) down around the corner!! I don't think so!!! My hubby is NOT happy that I keep having to deal with this, and I will almost feel sorry for this company if the issue is not resolved before he gets home! I'm a little tired of it......I REALLY feel like it's because I'm a woman who "doesn't know any better". Grrrrrrr!! Any suggestions? Anyone know a Maytag man? *sigh!*

Have I told you lately, I MISS MY HUSBAND!!!

"The War on Fathers"

This is a WONDERFUL article by David Kupelian (don't worry, I'd never heard of him before either). This, truly, is my thinking and what makes my marriage work no matter what. I encourage you to take the time to read this whole article (it is quite long, but well worth the time!!) and pray you'll be blessed by it!!

The difference between guys and gals

Don't panic! Nothing anatomical will be mentioned here...

Before my Beloved left, our dishwasher broke; however, with getting dh ready to head out, we put off getting it fixed. Fortunately we had purchased a home warranty when we bought the house. The warranty ended July 19th, so, 2 weeks before that, I called the home warranty people to arrange a repair or replacement for the dishwasher. They called Sears and set up an appointment, the man came out, began telling me I needed a motor and those could be expensive and I said, "Well, it's good it's covered by ____." Which caused the man to stop short and say, "It is? Cuz we don't have that down." So he quickly left to get that straightened out and said he would get a new motor sent out. He did get that straightened out, I paid him our deductible, the new motor came to our house....and a different repairman came to install it. Now, the first repairman was very nice, talked to the kids, had dog treats for Suzi, just really nice guy. Repairman #2 however.....I dunno......he wasn't flat out obnoxious, but he wasn't nice either. The kids would say something and he'd ignore them. I thought, okay, not a kid guy. Then I noticed he was ignoring anything I said as well unless it was in response to a question he asked. Then he starts muttering that "it figures, this motor doesn't work either." and when I question him about that, he says, "now you know how it goes with my job." Then he begins slamming things back into the dishwasher (so there are now 2 non-working motors in pieces in my dishwasher!) and after ordering a new spray arm and motor, he leaves. I look down on the receipt he handed me, and here is what it said in the Tech comments section: "Install new motor. Bearing is bad, locked up new motor. Order parts listed. Previous tech didn't allow time so I ain't either." (underlining is mine) What???? And Sears called him on the phone while he was here and he wasn't even speaking nicely to them!!! So, yes, I did complain, and waited for a new motor, and the day before my next install appointment they call, realize I still don't have the motor, THEN they realize that it's on back order. Now I'm really getting frustrated. Plus, they have not yet sent any info to the warranty company, so the warranty company has no idea what's needed and has no say in the repair. So, I called the warranty company. By this time I'm a month in a half into trying to get my dishwasher working. So I talk to a lady at the warranty company; tell her this whole story; and she's becoming more and more disgusted with it too. She hangs up to talk to a manager, then calls back to let me know that they've cancelled the whole thing through Sears and someone from the warranty group will be coming out to look at everything and then I can go pick out a new dishwasher!! Yay!!!!!

Now why did I say all that under this post heading??? Cuz if my DH had been here, the whole thing would have been said and done in 2 weeks, tops! Guys are cut-to-the-chase, get-it-done, kind of guys. Today a friend and I were commenting about how often women say that men are shallow.....but ya know, maybe God made them that way on purpose. Women are deep, and don't want to hurt others, or want to really destroy their lives....their full of emotion. Guys don't have emotions over things like that. "Oh, huh, the dishwasher's broken." "Hi.....yes.......I need you to come fix my dishwasher.........no, that won't work.........well, no, not that either.......okay, yes, that works for us. It needs such and such a part and you need to check out this." The repairman comes, maybe tries a little song-and-dance, hubby says, "I don't think so! Do this." The job gets done, everyone's happy and moves on. See??

Golly, I sure miss my hubby....and I think he helps curb some of this rambling too!! :) Thanks for reading anyway! Hee hee!!

It's getting closer to my sweetie's return!

Last night it was MY turn to dream that my darling husband had come home (yes, each of the kids have had that dream already). It was wonderful! But.....I have things I want to do before he comes home! I'm aiming for the end of October as his return date (give or take a few days) and I have stuff to do!!! Check it out:

• Remove the wallpaper from the upstairs bathroom (upper half only, lower half is pink tile) and then paint it. Today I picked up chemical and tools to get the paper off. I'll go back to pick up paint once I decide on a color.
• Strip and paint the dresser I bought (second hand) for my daughter. The colors, of course, will be pinks! I also want to make a canopy tent for her to hang in her room (I have all the supplies for that, just have to do it). Today I picked up paint stripper and tools to do that job. I'll go back to pick up colors when I get the bathroom paint.
• Create a "haven" out of our bedroom...our own private spot. To do that I am going to need to move the exercise bike out, find a chair or loveseat for the corner, move a mirror in, and.......make a denim quilt!! (I have had that planned since before dh left!)

Along with all that, I still have the normal stuff to do....we'll start homeschooling again after Labor Day, and I bought a dehydrator so I'm drying food for the winter, and....well....all that Mom stuff that I need to do! Whew!! Think I can get it done in 76 days (give or take a few)?

more desert pics

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More pictures from hubby

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Bible Study, Lesson 5

(Please click on the picture for a direct link to this study's home page)




Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever found yourself 'in faith' yet bewildered or demoralized?
Yes, I think often times we have to walk by faith rather than sight. Things don't make sense or seem irrational in the world's eyes, but that's when we have to just simply have faith and "keep chugging along" (quote from my Mom)

2. Do you consider yourself content? Would you describe it as Decidedly Content or Dreamily Content?
Hmmmm.....right now, even with DH gone, I'd have to say that I am in a dreamily content stage. However, that has happened after quite a few years of being decidedly content. Things weren't optimum, but I was willing to simply accept and trust God. Moving here to Utah, I truly feel like I'm in a dream....a beautiful house, a beautiful state, a good church, etc.
3. If you are not content, are there circumstances that keep you from this feeling?
I'm very content right now.
4. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you looked back on a period of your Christian walk and believed a great opportunity passed you by?
Hmmm, I can think of friendships that I didn't pursue simply because I didn't want to take the time. I don't know if I "missed out" or not because I didn't give it a chance.
5. Do you ever believe your faith was stronger in an earlier time in your Christianity and find yourself floundering now?
I think there is a slight ebb and flow to my faith, but overall, I know that it getting progressively stronger. I flounder at times, but those are the times when I look up and God stretches and grows me further.
6. Can you recognize that this season may be one of great preparation instead of a period of "I Was"?
Ooops, guess I kind of answered that above. One of my all time favorite books is Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. What I love most is that the Christian walk is pictured as a journey. There may be setbacks, but always we can learn from that and we are always heading to The City of Light.

I'm a little out of it today, think it's close to my cycle, so not totally sure this makes sense. I did thoroughly enjoy this study today though; please forgive my "fuzziness".

Bible Study, Lesson 4

(click on the picture to go to today's full lesson)

1. I am going to present to you a little acrostic to begin our discussion today. What is your latest NLIP? (Not Like I Planned?) Well, this time of Hubby's deployment is not at all going like I planned. I was sure I was going to fly through this with no struggles (well, very few, anyway) and things would be fine. I would not be like all the others.

2. How did you react to your NLIP? Are you still upset about it? Happy about it? Baffled by it? Explain. Well, I was disappointed with myself and confused at first, scared too, because this was NOT the way things were supposed to go. But I've come to realize that the sadness, loneliness and struggles are okay. This is something I need to experience. God never asked me to go through this time with no feelings, and as a matter of fact, I really believe that God has heightened my feelings. I never before realized that you could love and miss someone so much that it actually sometimes physically hurts! God wants me to feel this feelings, to be alive. My heart, truly, is being resuscitated!

3. Have you ever attempted to step into an area of ministry and found your desire rejected? Did this cause you to question God and yourself? Perhaps distrust what you perceived to be your calling? There have been times I really thought I had found something that I needed to do, a ministry I needed to step into or set up or what have you. Many times God uses my hubby to let me know that is not something that I should be doing. And yes, I question hubby and question God, sure that this must be something I need to do. It also makes me question whether I'm doing my own thing or God's things. I have learned to simply take things step by step.

4. Do you harbor any bitterness towards any individual or situation which you believe waylaid your best laid plans? I don't think that I do any more. Someone once told me that nothing you do or people you've known have been a waste...and I have discovered that God can use anything and anybody in my life, so when things don't work out as I thought, I know I can trust God.

5. Have you had a life experience or trial that left you with a shaken faith because it ended in an NLIP? Please share if you feel free. Hmmmm....don't know that it was my own experience or trial, but I vividly remember the day I cried out to God about my faith. In church that day the pastor had shared stories of the persecuted church. My heart was pricked because I really didn't think that I would stand up for God no matter what. That really bothered me. As we were driving home, I tried to talk to dh about it, but just couldn't work it out, so I started praying and ended up praying to God for that kind of faith. It was several years later that I realized that God had indeed answered that prayer and that I had been given the gift of faith.

6. Based on Moses' response of faith to his own rejection, how will you re-evaluate your own experiences or look at future ones differently if a NLIP presents itself? I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God can and will use anything in my life for His glory! That helps me to walk through rejection and struggles and bumps in life!!

Wow! I am looking closer at Moses' life, and God clearly has a purpose for every moment of his life!! God's fingerprints are all over it. I think because we're looking back on a specific period, it's easy to see how God worked it all out, but in the midst of our own life, it can be hard to see the bigger picture sometimes. That is where trust is vital. Praising God that He will be glorified in and through me!!!!!

Bible Study, Lesson 3

Discussion Questions: my answers in green
1. It was stated in the Lesson that God has made you "once, twice, three times a lady." Where are you in this progression? Obviously we have all been physically born, but are you 'twice a lady'? Have you been born again spiritually? This may be a private matter you'd like to discuss confidentially. If so, email me. If you have already received this gift, write a brief prayer of thanksgiving or testimony.
I know that I have been placed in this exact place and time for His great purposes. I am so thankful that He has redeemed in order to be a part of His beautiful masterpiece! Me!! He picked me!! As to the deeper desire and heart stirrings He has placed in me....I REALLY feel burdened to minister to other women simply through daily life things. Right now, however, I am in a time of growing, stretching and learning....it seems as if there are times of outpouring to others, and then times when I am called back to be refilled, refreshed and grown further. Once I realized that, I am able to more fully immerse myself in those different times in my life. I've realized it's okay right now, to step back and do some soaking in the Lord. I like to think of it as feasting, and boy oh boy, what a banquet has been set before me. Some things I'm not sure about, but like Mama always says, "You don't know until you try it." and God surely has never yet let me down! His things are always good!!

2. Are you three times a lady? Has God given you a stirring deep within your Spirit to be a 'deliverer'? Do you have a desire or are you already meeting a need in the life of the church, a particular ministry (such as jail ministry, food ministry, etc.) or perhaps individuals who share common issues?
Well, I've felt the desire to minister to other women, as I said, through daily life. For a long time I tried to come up with a way to do that. A Bible study is always good, but timing and place and such....I just didn't feel that was what I needed to do. Then I pondered a newsletter, but that takes a lot of time and money. Finally (why did I wait so long), I talked about this desire with my husband and this blog was begun. See my first post about that here.

3. Do you ever get tired of waiting for that opportunity to do something
worthwhile for God? Do you ever feel God is using someone else instead of you?
Oh golly, I am trying to contain my excitement here, because I'm telling you...wow!! I was wanting to do something, sometimes thinking something big, but I know that my husband wants me home with the kids, and home in the evening with him too. So I thought, Well, am I going to have to wait until I'm old? Then I realized I can be a minister to others simply by ministering to my own family; providing a haven for them, meeting their needs, supporting and encouraging them. People merely look in upon our lives and they note that something is different, a seed is planted, and once planted, it takes hold and they have to find out more. It's amazing!! :) I remember the neatest "God experience".....Our pastor in Louisiana had asked hubby to lay tile in his bathroom, so hubby was gone. I had just quit my Pampered Chef business as my husband didn't like the time I was away from home. So, this one night, I was standing there, washing dishes and crying out to God for MY purpose (do they put something in the dish soap that creates a direct connection to God????). I was telling Him how *I* wanted to be out there doing things for Him, but how could I when my hubby was always off helping this or that person. Ha! God kind of shushed me and then showed me that I am part of hubby's ministry. By being home tending kids and preparing food and such, hubby was free to go out and serve others. He (dh) really thinks of this "handyman thing" as a ministry, and that could not happen if I was out and about doing MY thing! I realized, right there, in front of the sink, was exactly where God wanted me to be!! That is when I realized that we are a picture, a lighthouse in this dark world. My ministry right now is simply to tend to my family, and through that, God is working mightily!! Wow!!

4. What do you consider 'worthwhile ministry'? Are you like me and sometimes find yourself mistakenly thinking it has to be Big to be Important?
Okay, guess I answered that in question 3. and aren't you happy about that, since question 3 had such a lo-o-o-ng answer?? :)

5. Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts test? If yes, what are yours?
Oh wow! Yes, I have, and the first time I did, I was thinking it was so silly, that everyone would have the exact same answers, they just had too......my gift then, was faith and I was kind of disappointed, thinking, Well, yeah! Everyone has that gift, those answers were so obvious!" Well, I realized they were obvious to me because that was my gift!! Others did have other gifts and felt the same way about theirs that I did about mine!! And you know, I thought back and remembered a time that I had prayed specifically for faith...and I didn't realize that prayer was answered until I did this test!! Amazing. Since then, I think other gifts have been added....encouragement and helps. All I can say is, God is amazing. (Oh, and the last two I found out about while at River Valley Church in LA. They offered a class, using a book, to discover your gifts......they did this to help you find your spot in the church body! How cool is that!?)

If no, here's a good one from Ephesians 4 Ministry. Will you take it and come back with a response? Knowing some of you like I already do, I can almost pick out what your gift is before you say it. I can't wait to see if I'm right!

Ladies, this has been a great study. If you're reading this and haven't checked more into the study, I definitely encourage you to do so! Wow!!

Bible Study, Chap 2

What is your initial response when anyone suggests you are beautiful? Ouch! Painful question! Before I was married, I really distrusted and disliked men who told me I was beautiful. I thought of them as liars. God has been doing a great work in me lately (read through this blog!) through my husband, and I am being healed of that. My husband now makes it a point to address me as Beautiful, Gorgeous, even Sexy. What a difference that is making in my life, when I choose to believe that (believe God!)


Do you find you engage in a lot of negative 'self-talk'? How much of your thought life does this form of thinking consume? Lately, this has been happening a lot less, but I had a very negative self-image when I was younger. I did not think I was beautiful and so I relied on wily skills to get what I wanted, because I didn't think I was worth more than that (if that makes sense). Even now I struggle with it, but when something comes up ("I'm stupid", "I'm lazy"), I take it before the throne room of God and ask for the truth in this situation. And then I have to purpose to believe what God says even if I don't really feel like it.


Has it ever occurred to you that you are a City Girl? I love this! This does make such a difference to me, when I remember that I am a princess. People do see a difference in me, I really don't feel like I fit in here because I choose to live according to kingdom ways rather than worldly ways (not always! understand that! still a work in progress!!)



How do you plan to use this knowledge? It's a wonderful reminder as I've been struggling a lot this past week with negative self-image. There are some circumstances in my life that can't be changed, but that does not need to shape me in a negative way.


In what ways has your view of Godly beauty changed as a result of these Scriptures? It is so comforting to know how completely God knows me, how He shaped me for His divine purposes. I have naturally curly hair which can get unruly at times....but this is what God blessed me with, and like so many other things, I need to see it as a blessing!!

Sharing a Bible Study with You

Are there any circumstances or relationships in your life where you can see God has intentionally placed you to be a light for Him? Oh wow! Yes! It has slowly, over a few years, dawned on me that I am intentionally placed. Upon moving here to Utah, I became friends with K and it is so obvious that God intended this friendship. I kinda feel like a puzzle piece, picked up, moved to Utah and snapped in place right beside K!

Can you honestly describe yourself as a woman with a 'yes' in her spirit? There are times that I truly have 'yes' in my spirit and eagerly look forward to God using me for His glory, but then there are also those times when my eyes and heart wander and my 'yes' becomes to myself rather than God.

Are you in an emotionally and spiritually healthy place today? If so, what will you do with your series of unrecurring events? Will you commit to ask for spiritual eyes to see opportunities to defend a weaker sister? If no, are you taking steps to seek out wise counsel from a sister you admire or perhaps a Christian counselor if needed? If not, will you resolve to do so? Well, I thought that I was in a good place.....guess I forgot that when you start feeling contented where you are, you need to move on. All of a sudden I am seeing so many things that need to be dealt with and worked on in me. It's kind of like I looked up and realized the path had taken a turn and I missed it and am suddenly out in the middle of a field (if that makes sense). So I am seeking out wise counsel from older sisters. Also digging deep into the Word and praying a LOT!

Well, those are my answers to this first lesson in the study, "I Am". To find out more for yourself, click on the link at the top of this post. I pray that it will bless you (and that God will have His way big in us!) Blessings!!

Happy thought

Thankfully, my coffee time with God this morning wasn't just ouchy convicting stuff. There was a neat little morsel God showed me. I am writing two posts this morning as these two thoughts are kind of at opposite ends of the spectrum. God showed me, in His Word, the miracle that He is bringing about in me. I hadn't been able to really put words to it, but I discovered that God already had (and thanks to the Amplified Bible for really hitting the point home for me)

1 Peter 3:2:2 When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].

Now, this does not mean I'm there yet, y'all know I'm still a work in progress, but this IS what I feel inside now for my husband....my actions are just slower to catch up with my heart. :) But I AM working on it!!

*sigh* another Ouch!

This morning as I read Created to be His Help Meet , I was really convicted about being sober.....not as in drink, but as in being well balanced, not affected by passion or prejudice (thank you Webster!).....I have not been sober; and worse, I have gotten less sober with Hubby being gone. I let things slide, I'm not careful, I just do what pleases me without really thinking it through or praying for direction. Ouch!!! That was a very painful thought to see this morning. The clincher verse was 1 Timothy 3:11, which is a verse I have always really loved, and though it is written regarding the wives of "bishops", I think it applies to all of us. I Timothy 3:11 says, "Women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things." I have to confess that this has NOT been me lately. Okay, gonna be naked here.........I have gossiped (a lot, and boy am I being naked here!!!), I have not been trustworthy with Hubby's money, with our home, with my responsibilities, I haven't even been very self-controlled in my eating and exercise. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!! So I am praying for redirection, clarity and mostly for forgiveness! Oy!! Ladies, I don't know that we fully realize how important it is to be under the headship of our husbands!! He is like a reminder for me and he's willing to correct me when he sees me straying. Oh I miss him and I have been so thankful for God opening my eyes to all this, no matter how painful the realization is!!

{{I cannot believe I just blogged that....God, please use it for YOUR glory!!}}

Mango Salsa!

The other day at Harmon's grocery store I sampled some Mango Salsa. Boy was it yummy! I asked for, and they sent me, the recipe for it. We are having this for dinner with nacho chips, and bean and cheese burritos! Yummmm! So give it a try!

Mango Salsa
4 medium mangoes, peeled, pitted and cubed
12 medium red onion, minced
2 green onions, sliced thin
1/2 med jalapeno chili, stemmed, seeded, minced
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro leaves
salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients, including salt & pepper in small bowl. Transfer to airtight container & refrigerate at least 1 hour. May be kept 4 days.

Ouch!! Do I do that??

This morning, as I was reading Created to be His Help Meet , I came across something that kind of stung me a little bit.

"In our own strength, we women tend to have minds like old LP records that
are scratched. We take our husband's faults and replay them in our
thoughts over and over again, 'he's insensitive....he's insensitive.....he's
insensitive....' We get worked up over the smallest offense until our
agitation sours into bitterness. He will forget to feed the dog three days
in a row. We will look at the empty dog bowl and attribute all kinds
of evil motives to him. He will leave us waiting in the car for an extra
ten minutes, and we convince ourselves that his lack of consideration is just
the tip of the cold iceberg of his heart. Since we are 'Christian' ladies,
and the kids are watching, we don't rant and rave; we just give him the
stone-cold, silent treatment. He must know how much he hurts us,
and the best way to retaliate is to hurt him back by depriving him of what he wants most--respect, honor, and love."

Okay, as much as I truly hate to admit this, I do this. I am very skilled in the "fine art" of passive aggression. That saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy," yeah, I've witnessed that in my own home. The kids start being hateful and such, which makes me madder, and then I realize, they're all playing off my emotions. And I do this silent treatment thing, withholding respect, honor and love from my Beloved because I think, "Now he'll know I'm mad and change!" What a dummy! It's never worked, and yet I keep on using that same useless method.

Now, I know this is my blog, and I haven't asked my Honey's permission, but I want to share an email he sent to me a while back. It was such an eye opener for both of us!!

The women has some pretty awesome powers, she can melt her husbands heart
with her words or turn his heart to stone. Sometimes I wonder if women
know how much they really can be that helpmate and direct the heart of their
lover.
Maybe she sees her husband be so strong in almost every situation that she doesn't realize it is she that gives him that confidence. Why do you think guys fall apart so much when they split from their girlfriend after being together for so long?

Wow!! They (the guys) may not say it, but here's my guy saying it.....he needs me to support and encourage him, and when I withhold that, I am really hurting him, a lot more than I intend. We're playing with fire when we carelessly toss their hearts around like that! Yikes!!

Father-God, I know that in the past I have withheld respect, honor and love from my husband. I often choose to respond this way rather than trusting You be reverencing him. Father, please forgive me. Teach me to always see beyond my Beloved, to seek always to be a blessing to him, no matter what. Thank You for this teaching. Shape our marriage into a heavenly example of Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' name....Amen

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

I'll Choose What's Behind Door #1

Proverbs 15:15 {Amplified Bible}

All the days of the despondent and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].



This morning as I was doing my quiet time, I was struck again with the fact that we have a choice to make! So many times we hear, "He makes me so angry!" or "She is driving me crazy!" or what have you. That so easily rolls off of my tongue sometimes. But think about that, when someone makes you do something, they are your master. They control your actions! But that's not how it has to be! We have choices to make! We can choose to lose control (allow someone else to dictate our actions) or we can walk in the freedom that Christ freely offers, and we can choose to allow God alone to dictate our actions. The world expects us to be tossed and swayed by every Tom, Dick, and Harry that comes down the pike. If someone does something we don't like, the world says, "What a jerk! Forget him! That was so not fair!" God expects us to trust Him in all things. He wants to be our refuge, our hiding place when times are tough. Remember a few posts back, Making Music, I talked about the sacrifice of thanksgiving, of giving thanks no matter the circumstances? Well here it is again! The above verse, like Bob Barker, is saying, "Do you want what's behind door #1 or door #2?" Only God is much more fair than ol' Bob, He's actually letting you peek behind the doors! You can choose "a continual feast" or all your days being evil; joy despite the circumstances or bitterness because of the circumstances. Really! It's a choice we have to make. And yes, either way, YOU are the one choosing. Just like The Price is Right, the audience will be shouting at you, trying to direct your choice, but the choice is yours, God's asking you and it's a choice that you will have to live with.

So between Bob Barker and Joshua, we gain this motto........"As for me and my house, we choose what's behind door#1!!" (Hee hee!! Sorry, I could NOT resist!! And since I wrote this, I say that door #1 is a glad heart, okay?)

Raisin Bran Muffins

My friend Ashley emailed me this week for a recipe I had made for her many years ago for a baby shower gift. I had mixed up a batch of this muffin batter, printed out cooking instructions and put a big bow on it. Voila', fresh baked muffins with very little effort. Well, I'm thinking that more people need this handy recipe, which, by the way, was given to me by my sister, B.

Raisin Bran Muffins
1 (15oz) box of Raisin Bran cereal
3 cups sugar
5 cups flour
5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
1 qt buttermilk
4 eggs
1 cup oil

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add buttermilk, eggs and oil. Mix well. Pour in lined muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees fro 15 minutes. Unbaked batter can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 month. (Works great for camping!) Makes 4-5 dozen.

What I'm reading

I finally got the book, Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. I have to tell you how I came about getting this book, because I stand here laughing and shaking my head at the way God works.

I have wanted this book since it was first being written!! A bunch of friends found and read chapter 8 online before the book was even published, and I have to say it changed my life! It talked about 3 types of men, Mr. Steady, Mr. Commando, and Mr. Visionary. I won't go into all the details here, except to say, when I realized the kind of man my husband was, that helped me to see the kind of woman I needed to be for him! It was so freeing! (I'll just say that I am not married to a Mr. Steady! And that's great, we're perfectly suited for each other once I stop trying to measure up to the rest of the world!)

Well, as seen in previous posts, God is working big in our marriage. We have been married for almost 14 years now, and we have come such a very long way. About 6 years ago I had a friend, who, when her husband went TDY for a year, she mourned for that time they would be apart. I will never forget what she said. "When we've been married 49 years, in my mind it will be only 48 years because of this year we have to be separate." First I thought she was looney, then I realized that she was truly in love with her husband. I began then, to pray for this kind of love in my own marriage. I knew I would miss my hubby, but I couldn't imagine actually mourning for the time apart. 6 years I've prayed that, and I had no idea how incredible an answer God had in store for us. All that to say, Though I've wanted Debi Pearl's book for 4 years (it was published in 2004), now is the time that God had for me to read this book. See, No Greater Joy Ministries has set up something special for military families; when a spouse deploys, they send care packages to the military member and their family. I was so excited I almost cried when I opened our box and saw this book. There were lots of other goodies in the box too, but this book was a precious gift to me. Now, as I sit here and read it after God has begun this healing in our marriage, the things God has taught me over time are just confirmed time and again. I wasn't crazy for staying with this man and trying to always give my 100% regardless of what dh was doing (and y'all know I rarely, if ever, actually hit my 100%). I am so excited by what I read, because this stuff is happening now in my marriage. Allow me to quote a passage from the book that just.....wow....I don't even have words for it!

Cherished

Many women think their husbands are not worth the effort. They feel they are forced to humble themselves in order to love him when he is the guilty party. Do not be deceived. When a woman is willing to forgive and win back her husband's affection, she is winning more than just his affections. Once a man comes to his senses and sees how close he came to losing all that he holds dear, he will be profoundly thankful to the good woman who loved him through his foolishness. She will win his respect as well as his love, because he will know that she is the kind of woman who will stand by her man. Few women ever know what it means to be cherished by their husbands. but if you love him through this kind of trouble, you will be cherished. Being cherished is much, much more than being loved. It will be worth all your effort.

God stands with you when you stand by your man, but you will stand alone if you insist on standing by your rights. Always remember that the day you stop smiling is the day you stop trying to make your marriage heavenly, and it is the first day leading to your divorce proceedings.

Amen and amen!! Being cherished....there aren't words to truly describe it. I consider it a precious wedding gift from our heavenly Father. Praise His name!!

My Hero!!

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Making Music

Psalm 100

1Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

2Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

3Know that the LORD Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

5For the LORD is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations.

I realized something yesterday as I read this passage.....This verse has nothing to do with our circumstances! This is not a song of joy for the good times, it is a song of joy for all times!! Regardless of the situation you are in, this should be your response. Apart from all else....regardless everything......we should be praising God!! How awesome is that? How absolutely beautiful!!!!

Thank You Abba for showing me true praise and worship of You!

ABC's for being a help meet

I found this at Heart 4 Home :

A B C's of Being a Help Meet

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

Admit when you are wrong
Be positive
Cuddle
Do it his way
Encourage him
Fix his breakfast
Give back rubs
Hug often
"I love you" should be said many times daily
Joke around in a playful manner
Know his needs
Listen to him
Manage your home well
Never hold grudges
Open your eyes in the morning and smile
Pray for him
Quit nagging him
Reminisce about good times
Show respect and honor
Trust, and earn his trust
Understand his need for reverence
Vulnerability is a feminine trait; cultivate it
Wink at him!
X is for private times
Yearn to please him
Zealously guard him with your love

For my Husband

I found this verse the other day and it really jumped out at me, being that my husband is in the land that is being spoken of in this verse (I think, though I'm NOT a great geographer). I am claiming this over him while he's there though!

Deuteronomy 8:15-16
"...Who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end."

Maybe I'm stretching it, but wow!! There are scorpions and other creepy, crawly desert creatures that he has to be careful for. He has to drink bottled water all the time as there isn't any good, fresh water. And he is being humbled and tested and we cannot WAIT for the good in the end.

Pretty cool....at least I think so!

"Just the Flax, Ma'am"

I just learned something new!! I grabbed the box of milled flaxseed, that I keep in the freezer, so I could throw some in the bread I was making (Alicia bread!) and make it slightly more healthy. Then, I noticed this on the side of the box:

DID YOU KNOW?
Milled Flax Seed may be used as a fat substitue in most recipes. Generally, 3 Tbs. Milled Flax Seed can replace 1 Tbsp fat or oil. Likewise, 1 Tbsp Milled Flax Seed plus 3 Tbsp of water can replace 1 egg. Don't give up if your results aren't perfect the first time.

I did not know that!! So, of course I tried it, leaving out the 1 Tbsp of oil the recipe calls for and throwing in the 3 Tbs Milled Flax Seed. I haven't cooked or eaten it yet, but the texture seems okay. We'll see! I need a way to boost my Omega 3, and I may have just found a good way to do that!

Phake Phillies

Here is a yummy, quick recipe that we really like. I especially like it because it is QUICK!!

PHAKE PHILLIES
1 jar of Ragu Double Cheddar sauce (my friend uses Cheez Whiz)
1 pkg of SteakUms (or some other sandwich steak like that)
1 onion, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
sub rolls or bulkies or sandwich rolls

Ready? Just heat a skillet, break up the SteakUmms and throw them in the heated skillet. Throw in the onions and green peppers and cook until steak is browned. Serve up on sandwich rolls, drizzle with cheese sauce, and.....THAT'S IT! YOU'RE DONE!!

We like to eat these with fries, especially those homemade potato wedges, and carrot sticks. Yummy!!

Blahhhh!

Okay, I need to say it, to admit it openly, I am MISSING my beloved husband VERY, VERY MUCH! I am tired of it just being me! He really is my other half, the spice in my life. I'm not missing someone else tending the lawn or the sprinkler system, or having time to myself without the kids tagging along....stuff like that. I AM MISSING MY BELOVED! And it is harder than heck and there is NOTHING I can do about it except sit here and experience it. I really don't like it, in a way, but I know that the experience truly is a PRECIOUS GIFT from God to us. We needed this. But golly, is it hard! I don't feel like doing anything. I lay in bed some mornings long after waking up just so that I can do nothing but dream about my guy. This morning I thought about the time frame....we're just 1/6th of the way there.....there has GOT TO be a better way to look at it! Why isn't this time flying by?

Seriously....I KNOW this is a good thing. I truly and thankfully believe God's promise in Romans 8:28 "We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." And so I will cling tightly to that.

Didn't mean this as a whine fest or pity party......just needed to share that. I pray that in some way it blesses you.

God is good all the time!!!

Beautiful Piggies

Proverbs 11:22

A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

I came across this verse during my quiet time today. I don't know if I've ever read that before, or if I did, perhaps it just never struck me as it did today.

Think about that....what a WASTE to put an expensive gold ring in the nose of a pig who will go around grubbing with it's nose (and therefore, that ring). Nobody will want the ring, perhaps nobody would even recognize it as gold because of it's filth! Really, when you think about it, it's kinda gross.

So, then.....a beautiful woman without any discretion.....she is just like that pig! What a waste! It doesn't make sense! What good is her outer beauty if the inside is still lacking discretion?

Discretion is: "the quality of being discreet, esp. with reference to one's own actions or speech; prudence or decorum: Throwing all discretion to the winds, he blurted out the truth." "Synonyms : judgment, wisdom, discrimination, sense."

Which then made me realize that, just as we pray for Wisdom, we should pray too, for discretion. What a gift! Beauty AND discretion!

Titus 2:5 ,speaking to older women teaching younger woman, says, "...that they may make the young women sober-minded, to be lovers of [their] husbands, lovers of [their] children, sober, pure, keepers of [their own] houses, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of. "

There's a purpose for having discretion, did you catch it? "...that the word of God may not be evil spoken of."

I don't want to add more here, just giving you something to ponder.
Remember, I enjoy hearing back on what you think of this stuff. Am I on track? Am I outta my head? Let me know!

A peek at The Miracle

Well, I have to say, I was so scared when DH first mentioned that he was going to be working on heart issues (his own). I thought, "There is no way I can dig into all the hurts and dreams that I've hidden away." I remember at first he was kind of frustrated with me because I was less than enthusiastic to talk through things with him. Then one night, we were emailing back and forth (our archaic method of IM) and I was just getting more scared and sad and such and was wishing he would just call me on the phone....and he DID! He realized I was struggling and so he called me. We talked and I told him how scared I was to drag up all that stuff, that I was afraid to hurt anymore. And rather than brushing it off or blaming me, he just said, "I know, and I am sorry and I hope some day you can forgive me for the way I have been." It was 11:30 his time when he called me and he had walked back to his room to call me. Well, when we hung up, I just layed on the floor and cried my heart out to God, layed out my fears and all. I gave it all up to Him and promised to walk this road out with the Father, trusting Him in order to trust DH. Well, while I was laying there crying and praying, my Hubby walked all the way back to the computer lab (at MIDNIGHT!!) to email me and again apologize and ask forgiveness and tell me that he was praying for me! I didn't realize until just a few days ago, but that was the moment I truly gave my heart to my Husband (I had taken it back because of the hurts). And the next day I felt so light and wonderful! It was amazing! I'm telling you, I have become a different woman since then!! It's still been hard at times....we had to face stuff from our past and acknowledge that it was a lie (for example, I had a VERY poor self image because of stuff in my childhood and thought myself unlovely.....to combat this lie DAILY, DH calls me his Beautiful, or Gorgeous, etc.) I am telling you, this is God....there is NO way that we could do this on our own. I had been praying for such a long time for true love for us, but I NEVER ever imagined it would be like this. We are so in love, it feels incredible! We spend hours chatting at the beginning and end of every day (his morning is my night). I could go on and on because it is truly the most incredible thing imagineable. It is a modern day miracle!

'Nuff said for now....I KNOW I'll have so much more to say!