Thank you God for giving me something to be thankful about and for giving me the ability to choose to be so thankful! Thank you for helping me to see how to love more like You and to be more like You and to bring You into other people's lives! Thank you for helping me to share your Word and the Truth to everyone that I do. Thank you for helping me to accept the things that I can not control and to control the things that I can...mainly me...lol.
Thank you for helping me to stay the ground and to rely on you for my peace and defense. Exodus 14:14 says that The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace. You are teaching me that. When I decide to follow your word and let you fight for me, it always turns out better than I could have imagined. I am excited to continue to make letting you fight for me a deeply rooted habit in my life! Thank you God for everything you have given me Lord!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
What do you do with a mouthy girl? mouthy mate?
What do you do when your daughter just mouths off all of the time and gets so pissy for no real reason? Mine gets so literal and nit picky and just plain nasty that it is unbelievable sometimes. I used to act a little like her in the past. But Praise GOD he fixed that for me. It has been years since I have been like that. My mom and I keep praying for her and doing our best to put it into God's hands.
Putting a situation you are constantly in, into God's hands and leaving it can be difficult at times. I do not always ask for God's guidance when dealing with her, like I should. I do not always give grace as I should. I am still learning about grace and how to give it to others. I was not taught that by my parents, or anyone I knew really, that I can remember anyhow.
I am looking forward to a time where my daughter does not yell at me and where she will actually react to life in a calm and confident in God manner. All I can do now is do my best with God inside of me to be the best example I can.
This week has been trying. I have won some battles and lost some minor ones. God really helped me with my husband this week. He has every night this week gotten angry/irritated/upset/argumentative (whatever adjective you want to use, just plain negative and nasty some times) with me. He says he is tired but for some reason will not go to bed early in order to feel better. I do not understand this. But that is his decision.
Yesterday, when I was nursing our son during his late afternoon nap on the couch, hubby wanted me to tell him about the dog kennel I had talked to. He was talking very rudely to me and had attitude. I was being very patient with him. I would wait unil after he asked me something and give myself a moment to not be offended by his attitude. I would then start to answer him and he would cut me off being rude again. He kept badgering me about why I was not answering him and when I would try to answer his questions he kept cutting me off. He then got really upset and stormed off.
He kept this as his excuse to be angry with me the entire night. He fussed all through doing the dishes after dinner. He would not talk to our daughter at dinner. He complained about me to my daughter and told her why I was doing what I was doing. When God said in the bible you are not supposed to judge another's motives. You do not know why someone ever does what they do, or what obstacles they have in their hearts that they must overcome. I do not know why hubby was so upset with me last night. He says it is because I did not answer his question. But I tried to, many times, and I later talked to him about it when he seemed to have calmed down. But then he stayed upset. Even after I apologized for hurting his feelings. I did not feel I did anything wrong but I wanted to make him feel better. I do not like seeing him so upset and hurting.
I was very thankful that I did not engage his attitude and let it steal my joy! I did not argue with him or do much to defend myself either. Now I am so excited to make progress more in this same area with my daughter, as well! That will be even more awesome to see God work that in me, too!
Just keep good bible verses in your mind and heart, thanks to the Holy Spirit bringing them to your remembrance John 14:26. I really like 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. And Exodus 14:14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 1 Corinthians 13 has a lot about God's kind of love.... And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. God's kind of love is what we are supposed to show other people. John 13:34 says that A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Putting a situation you are constantly in, into God's hands and leaving it can be difficult at times. I do not always ask for God's guidance when dealing with her, like I should. I do not always give grace as I should. I am still learning about grace and how to give it to others. I was not taught that by my parents, or anyone I knew really, that I can remember anyhow.
I am looking forward to a time where my daughter does not yell at me and where she will actually react to life in a calm and confident in God manner. All I can do now is do my best with God inside of me to be the best example I can.
This week has been trying. I have won some battles and lost some minor ones. God really helped me with my husband this week. He has every night this week gotten angry/irritated/upset/argumentative (whatever adjective you want to use, just plain negative and nasty some times) with me. He says he is tired but for some reason will not go to bed early in order to feel better. I do not understand this. But that is his decision.
Yesterday, when I was nursing our son during his late afternoon nap on the couch, hubby wanted me to tell him about the dog kennel I had talked to. He was talking very rudely to me and had attitude. I was being very patient with him. I would wait unil after he asked me something and give myself a moment to not be offended by his attitude. I would then start to answer him and he would cut me off being rude again. He kept badgering me about why I was not answering him and when I would try to answer his questions he kept cutting me off. He then got really upset and stormed off.
He kept this as his excuse to be angry with me the entire night. He fussed all through doing the dishes after dinner. He would not talk to our daughter at dinner. He complained about me to my daughter and told her why I was doing what I was doing. When God said in the bible you are not supposed to judge another's motives. You do not know why someone ever does what they do, or what obstacles they have in their hearts that they must overcome. I do not know why hubby was so upset with me last night. He says it is because I did not answer his question. But I tried to, many times, and I later talked to him about it when he seemed to have calmed down. But then he stayed upset. Even after I apologized for hurting his feelings. I did not feel I did anything wrong but I wanted to make him feel better. I do not like seeing him so upset and hurting.
I was very thankful that I did not engage his attitude and let it steal my joy! I did not argue with him or do much to defend myself either. Now I am so excited to make progress more in this same area with my daughter, as well! That will be even more awesome to see God work that in me, too!
Just keep good bible verses in your mind and heart, thanks to the Holy Spirit bringing them to your remembrance John 14:26. I really like 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. And Exodus 14:14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 1 Corinthians 13 has a lot about God's kind of love.... And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. God's kind of love is what we are supposed to show other people. John 13:34 says that A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Review of Dirt Road BBQ in Trinity, AL
I usually review restaurants on Google, urban spoon, or yelp, but they do not have this place listed. So I will do that here now. First it is a small place in a colorful shopping center on Hwy 24. The people are nice and friendly and they did their best to get the order accurate. The restaurant is very clean and neat and tidy. The menu is easy to understand and read.
How about the food? Well it was ok. My husband had the beef brisket. He said it was alright. It did not stand out to him. It tasted like roast with bbq sauce. My daughter had the grilled chicken with white sauce. She liked the white sauce. I had the fried catfish. I liked the catfish's taste but not the portions. Way too small. Only one fillet for a charge of $12.99! I was very disappointed in that! I expected left over fillets. Way too pricey for what I received.
The sides were disappointing, as well. I wanted them to be good! I ordered almost all of them hoping they would be awesome. But they were not. The 'loaded potato salad' was red potato salad with ranch dressing. I expected cheese and bacon. Not ranch dressing. Gross. Ranch and red potatoes are not two things I would ever make at home. Red potatoes taste so good with rosemary, garlic, butter, ...but ranch!
The baked beans were not bad. But they were not memorable either. I do not like canned baked beans at all. So these were a little better but not much. The fried potatoes and onions were cold and hard. Like they had sat there waiting to be served for over an hour. Not at all appetizing. They are actually shredded hashbrown potatoes with diced onions. I was not impressed with those. I LOVE potatoes, my favorite food, but these were too bland and ice cold to be edible.
The mac and cheese was better than most places. It appears that they use real cheese and not pasteurized processed cheese food. So that is a plus for sure. Those seemed to be the most edible out of all of the sides we tried. The fried okra was not fresh battered and fried. It was a really generic frozen version of fried okra and not even one of the good frozen kinds. This kind was bland. We ordered it well done. But the okra on the outside was still blonde brown. It was crunchy, but that brand really sucks. I hate to say that, but it does. Get a new brand of okra or make it yourself. It tastes way better from scratch and use our wonderful local produce. I paid enough for the fish to deserve better sides.
I ordered a side salad because the menu said all of the salads were made of romaine lettuce. I had iceberg at home but wanted romaine. When we got home we noticed the salad was iceberg 100% and not one piece of romaine. That is false advertising. That really bothered me. I do not like being misled like that...at all.
The brunswick stew had great potential...if they knew how to season brunswick stew. The owners need to travel to Coweta County Georgia to a barbecue place called Sprayberrys and try their brunswick stew. Then they will understand what I am talking about. Or even corporate Williamson Brothers BBQ in Marietta would show something different.
Overall, the food is ok. The mac and cheese and baked beans are your best side bets. The brunswick stew is better than Big Bob Gibson's, but theirs (BBG) is the worst I have had in Alabama. The entrees are overpriced. The people are friendly and nice. But they are expanding too quickly after opening and will probably end up going under like so many around us have who have done the same. I wish them the best. But unless the quality and price get in line we will not be back.
Oh, and offer something besides plain white sunbeam processed garbage bread with the meal. Offer wheat, or garlic butter wheat, or make the bread homemade. My husband wanted me to add that, *chuckles*.
How about the food? Well it was ok. My husband had the beef brisket. He said it was alright. It did not stand out to him. It tasted like roast with bbq sauce. My daughter had the grilled chicken with white sauce. She liked the white sauce. I had the fried catfish. I liked the catfish's taste but not the portions. Way too small. Only one fillet for a charge of $12.99! I was very disappointed in that! I expected left over fillets. Way too pricey for what I received.
The sides were disappointing, as well. I wanted them to be good! I ordered almost all of them hoping they would be awesome. But they were not. The 'loaded potato salad' was red potato salad with ranch dressing. I expected cheese and bacon. Not ranch dressing. Gross. Ranch and red potatoes are not two things I would ever make at home. Red potatoes taste so good with rosemary, garlic, butter, ...but ranch!
The baked beans were not bad. But they were not memorable either. I do not like canned baked beans at all. So these were a little better but not much. The fried potatoes and onions were cold and hard. Like they had sat there waiting to be served for over an hour. Not at all appetizing. They are actually shredded hashbrown potatoes with diced onions. I was not impressed with those. I LOVE potatoes, my favorite food, but these were too bland and ice cold to be edible.
The mac and cheese was better than most places. It appears that they use real cheese and not pasteurized processed cheese food. So that is a plus for sure. Those seemed to be the most edible out of all of the sides we tried. The fried okra was not fresh battered and fried. It was a really generic frozen version of fried okra and not even one of the good frozen kinds. This kind was bland. We ordered it well done. But the okra on the outside was still blonde brown. It was crunchy, but that brand really sucks. I hate to say that, but it does. Get a new brand of okra or make it yourself. It tastes way better from scratch and use our wonderful local produce. I paid enough for the fish to deserve better sides.
I ordered a side salad because the menu said all of the salads were made of romaine lettuce. I had iceberg at home but wanted romaine. When we got home we noticed the salad was iceberg 100% and not one piece of romaine. That is false advertising. That really bothered me. I do not like being misled like that...at all.
The brunswick stew had great potential...if they knew how to season brunswick stew. The owners need to travel to Coweta County Georgia to a barbecue place called Sprayberrys and try their brunswick stew. Then they will understand what I am talking about. Or even corporate Williamson Brothers BBQ in Marietta would show something different.
Overall, the food is ok. The mac and cheese and baked beans are your best side bets. The brunswick stew is better than Big Bob Gibson's, but theirs (BBG) is the worst I have had in Alabama. The entrees are overpriced. The people are friendly and nice. But they are expanding too quickly after opening and will probably end up going under like so many around us have who have done the same. I wish them the best. But unless the quality and price get in line we will not be back.
Oh, and offer something besides plain white sunbeam processed garbage bread with the meal. Offer wheat, or garlic butter wheat, or make the bread homemade. My husband wanted me to add that, *chuckles*.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Awesome Mexican Casserole
There are no pictures because it all got eaten...lol. But I made a really awesome mexican casserole yesterday for dinner. Here is the run down of what it was made of.
Buttered 13 by 9 dish
2 cans of salsa or petite diced tomatoes (no salt added kind) made into salsa, see below
over 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese shredded (shred the block yourself tastes better than pre shredded)
fajita size flour tortillas
seasoned ground beef about one pound to 1.5lbs, recipe below
I took one can of the petite diced tomatoes and put in my food processor (use blender if needed) and added about 1/3 to a half of a sweet onion that has been diced. Then I added about a teaspoon of salt. I added the juice of one lime and a little cilantro and about 1/3 of a can of green chiles. I did a little shake of garlic powder and onion powder and oregano. Then I blended it until it was pureed. Wahlah! Awesome salsa!
So I put the salsa on the bottom of the pan. A nice even layer. Then I add the tortillas. Nicely lay them out over the salsa. Then I layer all of the ground meat. That is listed below. Then I added 1/3 of the chiles and about a cup and a half of cheese maybe one cup. Then I added more salsa. I top with 6 flour tortillas and the rest of the salsa and the cheese. I made sure the top was totally covered in cheese! It was awesome!
To season the meat I adapted a recipe for a chorizo casserole in a mexican cookbook. I often use this for taco seasoning as well.
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 to 1tsp ground clove (to taste)
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
a couple of tablespoons of anejo tequila or cognac or whisky
2 or 3 crushed cloves of garlic
Basically, you cook your meat (I don't have to drain mine because it is pasture raised but drain and rinse your beef if you use some from the grocery store. Rinsing is important! Rinse it in the strainer/collander.) then you add about a half of a cup of water and the the seasonings and mix it and simmer it until it has almost no liquid. You do not want to burn it. A tiny amount of liquid is ok and will thicken upon standing. Awesome meat!
I went ahead and made an extra thing of salsa and I ended up putting it on my salad it was so good! Instead of salad dressing! It tasted so good with the shredded cheese on my lettuce! Yummy Num Num!
Let me know if you try the recipe and how you like it!
God bless!
Buttered 13 by 9 dish
2 cans of salsa or petite diced tomatoes (no salt added kind) made into salsa, see below
over 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese shredded (shred the block yourself tastes better than pre shredded)
fajita size flour tortillas
seasoned ground beef about one pound to 1.5lbs, recipe below
I took one can of the petite diced tomatoes and put in my food processor (use blender if needed) and added about 1/3 to a half of a sweet onion that has been diced. Then I added about a teaspoon of salt. I added the juice of one lime and a little cilantro and about 1/3 of a can of green chiles. I did a little shake of garlic powder and onion powder and oregano. Then I blended it until it was pureed. Wahlah! Awesome salsa!
So I put the salsa on the bottom of the pan. A nice even layer. Then I add the tortillas. Nicely lay them out over the salsa. Then I layer all of the ground meat. That is listed below. Then I added 1/3 of the chiles and about a cup and a half of cheese maybe one cup. Then I added more salsa. I top with 6 flour tortillas and the rest of the salsa and the cheese. I made sure the top was totally covered in cheese! It was awesome!
To season the meat I adapted a recipe for a chorizo casserole in a mexican cookbook. I often use this for taco seasoning as well.
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 to 1tsp ground clove (to taste)
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
a couple of tablespoons of anejo tequila or cognac or whisky
2 or 3 crushed cloves of garlic
Basically, you cook your meat (I don't have to drain mine because it is pasture raised but drain and rinse your beef if you use some from the grocery store. Rinsing is important! Rinse it in the strainer/collander.) then you add about a half of a cup of water and the the seasonings and mix it and simmer it until it has almost no liquid. You do not want to burn it. A tiny amount of liquid is ok and will thicken upon standing. Awesome meat!
I went ahead and made an extra thing of salsa and I ended up putting it on my salad it was so good! Instead of salad dressing! It tasted so good with the shredded cheese on my lettuce! Yummy Num Num!
Let me know if you try the recipe and how you like it!
God bless!
Ephesians 1
I had been taught some on Ephesians 1 before. But I did not remember the prayer that Paul had prayed in that chapter. But this prayer really does sum up what I have been asking God for. I love the way Paul put it. Here it is...
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power..."
I am looking forward to knowing what God's hope is for me and my life! I know He formed me and chose me before I was even born! That simple fact is amazing, but to find out that He was happy and glad to sacrifice his son in order to save me, the one He had chosen from a ton of people, is amazing! Just a miracle that He loves me so so so very much! I am so thankful for that love from my God! My Abba! I love you Lord! Thank you for being so thoughtful and kind!
I am so thankful for the fellowship I get now in our bible studies. I am just so thankful for the learning and the love that you get from other believers! God is so awesome to set this all up for us!
This is how amazing God is! The other couple is not originally from this area, just like us. They have been married 13 years, us 10. They have two kids, us, too. They have a good gap in their kids ages. we do too. Our daughters are a week or two apart in birthdays! They have a giving heart like us. We seem to compliment one another, too. I am just so thankful and excited to see this work! God is doing something great here and I am so thrilled to share it!
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power..."
I am looking forward to knowing what God's hope is for me and my life! I know He formed me and chose me before I was even born! That simple fact is amazing, but to find out that He was happy and glad to sacrifice his son in order to save me, the one He had chosen from a ton of people, is amazing! Just a miracle that He loves me so so so very much! I am so thankful for that love from my God! My Abba! I love you Lord! Thank you for being so thoughtful and kind!
I am so thankful for the fellowship I get now in our bible studies. I am just so thankful for the learning and the love that you get from other believers! God is so awesome to set this all up for us!
This is how amazing God is! The other couple is not originally from this area, just like us. They have been married 13 years, us 10. They have two kids, us, too. They have a good gap in their kids ages. we do too. Our daughters are a week or two apart in birthdays! They have a giving heart like us. We seem to compliment one another, too. I am just so thankful and excited to see this work! God is doing something great here and I am so thrilled to share it!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
2 Corinthians 3 Lesson
This whole chapter talks about who we are in Christ (New man), once you are born again. It is a really wonderful lesson if you take the time to slow down and read it well. Chew on the verses and really get it! I woke up at 3am and listened to the first half of the lesson and then chewed on it in my sleep. I really like Mr. Curry Blake's teaching style and his true teachings of the gospel. Below is the teaching. I hope you enjoy it. I really liked the last verse, 18, and how it talks about looking into the mirror at yourself identical to Christ in the spirit. Mr. Blake talked about how you have to let go of the past and your past sins if you are to grow with Christ. This is totally something I needed to hear and decided to make a commitment to not bring up my close family's past mistakes and to allow them to be free from that, as well, from me. I want to let go of my own, too. He makes some really good points.
You can go to their website at www.jglm.org for other free teachings and to order manuals of teachings.
Video streaming by Ustream
You can go to their website at www.jglm.org for other free teachings and to order manuals of teachings.
Video streaming by Ustream
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Stop the new agent orange! NOW!
This is about a chemical that Dow wants to use. It is a part of Agent Orange. Agent Orange killed my father in law when my husband was 15. I never got to meet the man that my husband looks just like thanks to Agent Orange. Please follow the link and tell the EPA to NOT allow this chemical to be used!
Sign the petition at the above link or paste this to your browser. http://bit.ly/EPA24D
I am writing to urge you to deny Dow’s new use applications to register 2,4-D and/or glyphosate on “Enlist” genetically engineered 2,4-D-resistant corn and soybeans (Dockets EPA–HQ–OPP–2011–0835 and EPA–HQ–OPP–2012–0306). Use of 2,4-D in Enlist systems raises serious issues that fully justify EPA denial.
Dow’s Enlist systems would lead to a dramatic increase in usage of this toxic herbicide in American agriculture, with adverse impacts on human health, the environment, farmers’ welfare, and U.S. agriculture as a whole. Under FIFRA, EPA has a mandate to consider both environmental and economic costs in decisions about pesticides.
If approved for use on Enlist crops, 2,4-D would be used more frequently, at higher rates, on much greater acreage of cropland, and later in the season. Current overall agricultural usage of 2,4-D of 27 million lbs. per year would increase to well over 100 million lbs.
2,4-D exposure has been linked to numerous adverse health effects, including cancer (especially non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, reduced sperm counts, and birth anomalies in the children of exposed farmers. Increased use would exacerbate these impacts, particularly for exposed farmers.
Industry’s own tests show that 2,4-D is still contaminated with dioxins. In fact, 2,4-D is the seventh largest source of dioxins in the U.S. Although EPA recently set strict new dioxin exposure standards, it has not evaluated the health impacts of increased dioxin exposure from the massive increase in 2,4-D use anticipated with 2,4-D resistant crops.
2,4-D is a volatile herbicide that is prone to drift beyond the field of application to damage wild plants and crops. Current use of 2,4-D in agriculture already poses risks to several endangered species – the Pacific salmon, California red-legged frog and Alameda whipsnake – via adverse impacts on their habitat and prey.
EPA will soon begin a registration review of 2,4-D, the first since 2005. This review will give EPA the opportunity to assess Dow’s proposed uses in light of the issues raised above, the latest science on 2,4-D, as well as the EPA’s ongoing analysis of dioxin toxicity. The agency’s current decision specific to the Dow Enlist crops should be halted until the agency completes its wholesale registration review process for 2,4-D.
For all the above reasons, I urge you to deny Dow’s proposed registrations. At the very least, defer any decision until completion of EPA’s registration review of 2,4-D.
Tell the EPA NO here http://bit.ly/EPA24D
Thank you! And my children thank you!
Thank you God for your help today!
I have my new old car, the 1966 Plymouth Fury 3. Well, today, after an argument with my 9 year old daughter, we headed to her first karate class the school system set up for over the summer enrichment. I let the car warm up for a few minutes, like normal and headed on out.
When we got about a half of mile from the house, the car died at an intersection. I knew it was about to, so I put my foot on the brake and one on the gas, to keep it idling. The person in the SUV in front of me, just sat at the green light for quite a while, even after I honked. So, the car died. I cranked it a few times to no avail. Then I thought I might have flooded it. So, I went to call my husband and let it set a few minutes to try again.
Then out of the blue a gentleman comes running up. I can tell he works for our city and that he wants to help us. I roll down my window, he tells me to put my flashers on. He immediately lifts the hood and takes the air filter off. He tells me to crank it and he proceeds to make it crank up. He adjusts the choke and I am ready. He told me what was wrong with it, the choke was sticking. He asked if I had had it eating gas, I said I had. He said that would do it, if it doesn't shut all the way. He said that he had seen me drive by the other day and it had acted up then (I remember that day!) and he said it had had some black smoke, meaning it was flooding. He showed me how to open the choke if it did it again. He was very kind and helpful. I told him he was a blessing for us. He told me to have my husband adjust it. He told me to have a blessed day.
I should have asked for his name, but I did not. I would like to repay him somehow. I know God will richly bless that man more than I ever could. I hope to be able to bless him one day in return. Thank you Lord for getting us out of the road and keeping us safe from harm. God is so awesome!
Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!
When we got about a half of mile from the house, the car died at an intersection. I knew it was about to, so I put my foot on the brake and one on the gas, to keep it idling. The person in the SUV in front of me, just sat at the green light for quite a while, even after I honked. So, the car died. I cranked it a few times to no avail. Then I thought I might have flooded it. So, I went to call my husband and let it set a few minutes to try again.
Then out of the blue a gentleman comes running up. I can tell he works for our city and that he wants to help us. I roll down my window, he tells me to put my flashers on. He immediately lifts the hood and takes the air filter off. He tells me to crank it and he proceeds to make it crank up. He adjusts the choke and I am ready. He told me what was wrong with it, the choke was sticking. He asked if I had had it eating gas, I said I had. He said that would do it, if it doesn't shut all the way. He said that he had seen me drive by the other day and it had acted up then (I remember that day!) and he said it had had some black smoke, meaning it was flooding. He showed me how to open the choke if it did it again. He was very kind and helpful. I told him he was a blessing for us. He told me to have my husband adjust it. He told me to have a blessed day.
I should have asked for his name, but I did not. I would like to repay him somehow. I know God will richly bless that man more than I ever could. I hope to be able to bless him one day in return. Thank you Lord for getting us out of the road and keeping us safe from harm. God is so awesome!
Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!
Menu for the Week
I follow a blog called Heavenly Homemakers. Laura does a weekly meal plan. I started doing this last week. I have found that I do not follow it exactly. Maybe it would be better if I just think out all of the possible meals and then depending on what the day throws at me, I will make one of the choices. I know it is Tuesday, but here goes. I start on Sundays but am going to just list all of the options for the week I have come up with since I have not mastered the menu planning as of yet.
Breakfasts
Potluck (everyone picks what they want and eat it)
Hashbrowns with maple sausage links and cereal
Cinnamon Bread (homemade) french toast
Buttermilk and beer pancakes
Blueberry loaf toasted with butter and side/s (hashbrowns, bacon, and or yogurt, etc)
Old fashioned oatmeal with maple syrup and cinnamon
Lunches
Black bean and rice burgers and chips
Sandwiches and side/s
Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce
Frozen pizza ?
Egg salad sandwiches
Dinners
Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce and broccoli and homemade garlic butter bread
Beef Tacos (soft and hard shells) (homemade seasoning mix) with sautéed veggies (Carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, jalapeños) refried vegetarian pinto beans, and fixings (salsa, cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, onions, jalapeños, sour cream, cilantro, lime)
Gorgonzola Fettucini Alfredo with vegetables and homemade garlic butter bread
Grilled chicken breasts seasoned with jerk seasoning mixed with honey, garlic butter rice, limey lima beans(you can switch from the lemon juice in recipe to lime juice) and sweet peas with basil and garlic
Shephard's Pie with sides
Veggie night with broccoli rice casserole
Leftovers
As you can see, lunches tend to be where I have the hardest time. I do have a leaning towards fast food during lunch time. It is easier when the whole family is home for lunches.
Breakfasts
Potluck (everyone picks what they want and eat it)
Hashbrowns with maple sausage links and cereal
Cinnamon Bread (homemade) french toast
Buttermilk and beer pancakes
Blueberry loaf toasted with butter and side/s (hashbrowns, bacon, and or yogurt, etc)
Old fashioned oatmeal with maple syrup and cinnamon
Lunches
Black bean and rice burgers and chips
Sandwiches and side/s
Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce
Frozen pizza ?
Egg salad sandwiches
Dinners
Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce and broccoli and homemade garlic butter bread
Beef Tacos (soft and hard shells) (homemade seasoning mix) with sautéed veggies (Carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, jalapeños) refried vegetarian pinto beans, and fixings (salsa, cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, onions, jalapeños, sour cream, cilantro, lime)
Gorgonzola Fettucini Alfredo with vegetables and homemade garlic butter bread
Grilled chicken breasts seasoned with jerk seasoning mixed with honey, garlic butter rice, limey lima beans(you can switch from the lemon juice in recipe to lime juice) and sweet peas with basil and garlic
Shephard's Pie with sides
Veggie night with broccoli rice casserole
Leftovers
As you can see, lunches tend to be where I have the hardest time. I do have a leaning towards fast food during lunch time. It is easier when the whole family is home for lunches.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Pray for Stephanie Harkins
Please pray for Stephanie Harkins. She is a woman I had a transaction with on Etsy. She was not very nice to me (she talked down to me) and she would/will not take responsibility for her misleading ad on there. I bought something and it was not as described. I have never done a dispute on Paypal but did one and was not allowed to send in my opinion or photos of the item. She won the dispute and left a really nasty feedback on my profile. I only have done a few transactions and so she tarnished my reputation on there. But I know that God will defend me. Now that I have stopped trying to do it myself. Please pray for her. She really needs to know God's love and understand the way God wants us to treat one another. I hope one day she will take responsibility for how she treats people. God bless you Stephanie. I really do feel sorry for her. She made such a big deal because I wanted to mail the apron back for a refund. It is really sad. Thank you for praying for her. I know that God has a better future for her, filled with joy and happiness and a servants heart.
I do cloth diaper
Just in case some did not know, I do cloth diaper my youngest child, he is almost 19months old. I have used covers and prefolds. I do use disposables at night because none of the inserts or prefolds I have will keep him dry, not since he was around 6 months old.
I did get a Kawaii Heavy Wetter night time (One size) diaper and it worked...while it fit. It was just too small. He out grew that before he was ever a year old! And my son is not super chunky, fat, or huge by any means. He is just your average little man. I do not recommend these for babies over 15 pounds. They are just small. My Knickernappie pocket diaper cover in MEDIUM is bigger than the One size Kawaii overnight diapers.
I have yet to own an all in one. I am hesitant to spend the money this late in the game. I am hoping my husband will build the potty chairs I had asked for soon. If he doesn't I will just buy them off of Etsy. So, I do not want to spend all that money and potty train him right afterwards.
The prefolds that I like the best are the Thirsties Hemp prefolds. They hold way more pee than a cotton prefold. The Thirsties Hemp prefolds are pricey. But they hold 2-4 times more than the Imagine prefolds. They are thinner, and less fluffy, so you can add a doubler or insert and still have a comfortable baby. I have a few dozen of the Imagine prefolds, organic unbleached, from Nicki's Diapers. But they really only hold one pee and that is it. So, you have to be all over them. They work while at home, but are not good at all for car trips or trips period.
I like how trim a disposable is, compared to the prefolds. My son does walk differently with the two diapers, too. I, thank God, do not have a problem with diaper rashes with either diapers. I account this to using chlorine free wipes and chlorine free disposables. Also, I make sure I rinse my cloth diapers 4 extra times after washing them. I also let me son run around naked a few times a day to air out. This is key, too. We only wash him with a goat's milk soap. Currently we use Zum bars. But I really like Simple Life Farm's goat's milk soap the best. I am going to be ordering some of it soon. They make a citronella soap that smells nice and helps keep mosquitoes away.
I did get a Kawaii Heavy Wetter night time (One size) diaper and it worked...while it fit. It was just too small. He out grew that before he was ever a year old! And my son is not super chunky, fat, or huge by any means. He is just your average little man. I do not recommend these for babies over 15 pounds. They are just small. My Knickernappie pocket diaper cover in MEDIUM is bigger than the One size Kawaii overnight diapers.
I have yet to own an all in one. I am hesitant to spend the money this late in the game. I am hoping my husband will build the potty chairs I had asked for soon. If he doesn't I will just buy them off of Etsy. So, I do not want to spend all that money and potty train him right afterwards.
The prefolds that I like the best are the Thirsties Hemp prefolds. They hold way more pee than a cotton prefold. The Thirsties Hemp prefolds are pricey. But they hold 2-4 times more than the Imagine prefolds. They are thinner, and less fluffy, so you can add a doubler or insert and still have a comfortable baby. I have a few dozen of the Imagine prefolds, organic unbleached, from Nicki's Diapers. But they really only hold one pee and that is it. So, you have to be all over them. They work while at home, but are not good at all for car trips or trips period.
I like how trim a disposable is, compared to the prefolds. My son does walk differently with the two diapers, too. I, thank God, do not have a problem with diaper rashes with either diapers. I account this to using chlorine free wipes and chlorine free disposables. Also, I make sure I rinse my cloth diapers 4 extra times after washing them. I also let me son run around naked a few times a day to air out. This is key, too. We only wash him with a goat's milk soap. Currently we use Zum bars. But I really like Simple Life Farm's goat's milk soap the best. I am going to be ordering some of it soon. They make a citronella soap that smells nice and helps keep mosquitoes away.
Friday, June 8, 2012
French Toast
I was never that big of a fan of french toast. That all changed when I decided to make one of my loaves of sandwich bread into a cinnamon loaf of bread. I thought, "Man, this tastes pretty good...I bet it would taste awesome as french toast." Actually, I did not think that, I had one of those many moments when the Holy Spirit tells me in a little whisper, "make french toast with it". So I did and I have continued to do that every time I make cinnamon bread.
These pictures are from my last loaf that I had made. I did not put it in a loaf pan, but let it rise into a long loaf. I like it better for cinnamon bread. It is very tasty. And yes, I only cook mine in cast iron. It is the all natural and original non stick cookware.
These pictures are from my last loaf that I had made. I did not put it in a loaf pan, but let it rise into a long loaf. I like it better for cinnamon bread. It is very tasty. And yes, I only cook mine in cast iron. It is the all natural and original non stick cookware.
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| I ran out of the Saigon cinnamon my bestest friend had sent me. I had to use EarthFare's organic, but it was not as good as the McCormick Saigon cinnamon, believe it or not. |
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| This is the middle of the loaf. I had mailed my dad a third, or so of the loaf along with some french bread I had made too. It slices pretty well. |
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| This is about a 15 inch cast iron skillet. I use it almost everyday now that I have it. It is great for bacon, grilled cheese, french toast, hot dogs, you name it. It is also great for stir fry. |
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Prayers Answered and Fruit Flies Bye-Bye
Well, tonight we had our prayers answered from God. This happens regularly, our prayers being answered. This one is just really important. It says in the bible not to forsake yourselves from gathering with other believers. Hebrews 10:25 We need the edifying and the support and comfort of being with fellow believers when you are still in the beginning stages of getting your momentum going and are in the beginning stages of setting the course of your lives in your family, too! God brought us together with another family that follows Andrew Wommack and they have two kids like us. They started a bible study and were very kind and open with themselves tonight. It was awesome to meet them!
I had been praying for a good friend for my daughter...someone for her to be herself, a Christian, with and someone who is her age and kindness. That was answered, too, praise God! Their daughter is our daughter's age and into similar things, too.
I am still wanting to homeschool my daughter next year and so tonight I have been looking for all kinds of math resources online to teach her some things this summer. I am excited about that. We are being more forgiving, thank you Holy Spirit, and giving more patience to one another...so it has really been an enjoyable time this week, with her.
We had a small fruit fly problem in our kitchen and I got fed up with them. I did not know how to kill them without squashing them, which rarely works for me. So, I looked online and a lady online said to use apple cider vinegar with liquid soap, a dash/few drops in it to break the surface tension. It causes the flies to drown. I now proudly have 5 dead ones at the bottom of the cup. Yay! I believe the lady was on about.com or a frugal living site. Great cheap advice. I had just bought a gallon of that vinegar the other day. Not a usual purchase. Another one of those God things, where the Holy Spirit tells you that you will need them and you do later on.
And believe it or not, I burned a batch of cookies today. I was going to bring oatmeal raisin cookies to the bible study. But I over cooked them. Not black, but too crunchy and dark brown. Hopefully we will be able to bring them something in the future. Maybe communion bread and wine?
It is late, good night.
I had been praying for a good friend for my daughter...someone for her to be herself, a Christian, with and someone who is her age and kindness. That was answered, too, praise God! Their daughter is our daughter's age and into similar things, too.
I am still wanting to homeschool my daughter next year and so tonight I have been looking for all kinds of math resources online to teach her some things this summer. I am excited about that. We are being more forgiving, thank you Holy Spirit, and giving more patience to one another...so it has really been an enjoyable time this week, with her.
We had a small fruit fly problem in our kitchen and I got fed up with them. I did not know how to kill them without squashing them, which rarely works for me. So, I looked online and a lady online said to use apple cider vinegar with liquid soap, a dash/few drops in it to break the surface tension. It causes the flies to drown. I now proudly have 5 dead ones at the bottom of the cup. Yay! I believe the lady was on about.com or a frugal living site. Great cheap advice. I had just bought a gallon of that vinegar the other day. Not a usual purchase. Another one of those God things, where the Holy Spirit tells you that you will need them and you do later on.
And believe it or not, I burned a batch of cookies today. I was going to bring oatmeal raisin cookies to the bible study. But I over cooked them. Not black, but too crunchy and dark brown. Hopefully we will be able to bring them something in the future. Maybe communion bread and wine?
It is late, good night.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hot Dogs in the BUNS! Lol
Here are the hot dog's in the buns photos I promised. We had hot dogs with squash casserole ( I seem to be the only one who likes the casserole), sweet peas with basil and garlic, and white corn (cooked in the cast iron skillet with bacon drippings ((nitrite/ate free)) and fresh black pepper. But I just showed the hot dogs. I wanted to eat!
No, I do not eat my dogs plain. But like I said I was too hungry to take photos of the dog made up. I did cut a jalapeño from our garden, minus the seeds, and sautee it with the hotdogs and put it on top of my hotdog along with a little Plochman's mustard and ketchup. I love Plochman's mustard! ±I just found them recently. I am not a mustard on everything gal, I prefer mayo, but when I want mustard for cooking or eating, I use Plochman's!
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| My daughter made some homemade make shift relish to go on her chicken bratwurst. |
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| The buns are big enough for the bratwurst and could probably have done a foot long nicely, with a little hang over of the dog. |
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| This was my beef frank. An oscar meyer one that is free of artificial anythings. Love it! |
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| We like our hotdogs really grilled. Here you can see the texture of the bun. Very soft buns. |
No, I do not eat my dogs plain. But like I said I was too hungry to take photos of the dog made up. I did cut a jalapeño from our garden, minus the seeds, and sautee it with the hotdogs and put it on top of my hotdog along with a little Plochman's mustard and ketchup. I love Plochman's mustard! ±I just found them recently. I am not a mustard on everything gal, I prefer mayo, but when I want mustard for cooking or eating, I use Plochman's!
Homemade Hot Dog Buns
Yay this actually worked! I will post photos with the hot dogs in them, when I cook hotdogs. But for now you can admire my wonderful buns!
I am so glad the Holy Spirit told me how to adapt my loaf of bread recipe to make these! I will post the recipe I use for loaf bread at a later time. The Gospel Truth is about to come on and I do not enjoy missing my show.
I also made two little rolls with the leftover dough. And I made two loaves of bread with the same dough. I usually make three loaves but made hotdog buns instead.
I am so glad the Holy Spirit told me how to adapt my loaf of bread recipe to make these! I will post the recipe I use for loaf bread at a later time. The Gospel Truth is about to come on and I do not enjoy missing my show.
I also made two little rolls with the leftover dough. And I made two loaves of bread with the same dough. I usually make three loaves but made hotdog buns instead.
Homemade chocolate milk, the easy way
I was looking recently online for a recipe for homemade chocolate milk. All of the recipes called for heating the milk and sugar and cocoa up, then cooling it. Well, I did not want to have to heat my milk up and wait for the chocolate milk.
Well the Holy Spirit brought to my mind a solution! Simple sugar syrup! You take equal parts of water and sugar and heat it until the sugar dissolves and cook it a few more minutes. Then put it in a glass jar in your fridge. BAM! You have sugar to add to any cold beverage that does not need to be dissolved!
This is great for chocolate milk, iced coffees, iced teas...any cold beverage. You could even add it to a cocktail to sweeten it up!
So, to make a tall glass of homemade chocolate milk, just add a heaping spoon full of cocoa and sugar syrup to taste. You will need to whisk the daylights out of it...lol. But it is oh so good! I use hershey's dark cocoa. It is my favorite reasonably priced cocao.
Well the Holy Spirit brought to my mind a solution! Simple sugar syrup! You take equal parts of water and sugar and heat it until the sugar dissolves and cook it a few more minutes. Then put it in a glass jar in your fridge. BAM! You have sugar to add to any cold beverage that does not need to be dissolved!
This is great for chocolate milk, iced coffees, iced teas...any cold beverage. You could even add it to a cocktail to sweeten it up!
So, to make a tall glass of homemade chocolate milk, just add a heaping spoon full of cocoa and sugar syrup to taste. You will need to whisk the daylights out of it...lol. But it is oh so good! I use hershey's dark cocoa. It is my favorite reasonably priced cocao.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Unbelief and Black Bean Burgers
Well, I am asking God to help me with my unbelief. My daughter has had hand foot and mouth disease this week. She has felt fine, but had the rash on her hands and feet and a couple of non painful sores under her tongue (thank God they are not causing issues with eating or drinking). She has been quarantined. Her rashes are going away. I feel badly because I have not really felt led to pray over her for her healing. Usually, I am much more on the ball with that. I know God heals us. He gave us His word to heal us ("He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. " Psalm 107:20). Jesus took upon himself our disease and sin on the cross. ("Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 2 Peter 2:24) God is His word. ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1) So I know in my heart that God has healed us all, that we just have to confess and believe and relax and it will be so. I need prayers for my doubt to be gone and for my belief in God's love to be strengthened. I want to rest in God's peace. I want to have peace of mind like in this verse "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3. And in this verse "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7! That is what I am yearning for in this life of mine, especially right now. I want to know it is in God's hands and feel comfortable with that!
I would get so afraid when my daughter would get sick because she had had febrile seizures once as an infant and it scared me, a lot. I am having to trust God more and not fall into the devil's trap of fear when my children show symptoms. I do not worry so much now that my daughter is older. But my son, being a toddler, I am having to trust in the Lord more now. I want to break down this fear strong hold the devil has tried to put into my heart about my son and his health.
On a lighter note, I made a really good lunch today while my son was napping, before he woke up with a low grade fever. It is a new recipe that I adapted. I have the adapted one below. I do not really measure everything when I cook. So, bear that in mind. I am giving rough estimates of some ingredients.
I would get so afraid when my daughter would get sick because she had had febrile seizures once as an infant and it scared me, a lot. I am having to trust God more and not fall into the devil's trap of fear when my children show symptoms. I do not worry so much now that my daughter is older. But my son, being a toddler, I am having to trust in the Lord more now. I want to break down this fear strong hold the devil has tried to put into my heart about my son and his health.
On a lighter note, I made a really good lunch today while my son was napping, before he woke up with a low grade fever. It is a new recipe that I adapted. I have the adapted one below. I do not really measure everything when I cook. So, bear that in mind. I am giving rough estimates of some ingredients.
Nicole's Black Bean Burgers
Makes 4 big ones
1 can of blackbeans rinsed and drained
Just shy of a cup of cooked rice
1 egg beaten
1/4 of an onion minced or a few scallions chopped
2-4 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
salt to taste
garlic powder to taste
a few shakes of cayenne pepper
a shake of black pepper
1/4 cup or a tad more of dried bread crumbs (I broiled/toasted some and then food processed it)
Puree/mash the beans and then add with a spatula or spoon add the rest of the ingredients. It will be soft and wet. It will stick to your hands.
Heat up a cast iron skillet with oil in the bottom over medium high. I used olive oil, but any oil will work. Once the pan is heated up then mound the burgers in your hand and slap them into the pan. This flattens them all you need. Wait three or so minutes, flip the burgers, and wait three minutes more and done. Once done, put on the bun or bread on the plate. Then repeat with rest of the burgers.
These are really tasty and a great use of leftover rice or beans. Economical and high in protein and fiber.
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