Friday, February 27, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - 26, 27

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 26
Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)

Day 27
Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)

{ It's done..... }

and now we sit and wait until July to find out the results. It's a long wait I tell you and it's nerve wrecking but if he passes this test, it will all be worth it.

All the weeks, the long hours of studying, of surrounding himself with tons of material about everything and anything to do with the military and more....have come to an end. He went in and he took his promotion exam and he thinks he did good. That's all we can ask for and either way, I'm extremely proud of the amazing husband I have.

Along with my husband there are many other soldiers taking their respective Tech and Master Sergeant tests, and many more at home this minute studying for theirs. I'm sure they are also tired and "studied out" and surrounded by anxious wives rooting for them. So I pray for every single one and send out nothing but the best of vibes so that they may all pass their exams and get the promotion they so deserve.

Thank you all for the prayers too, I'm sure they helped!

Won't you help me send out a quick prayer for them all? Just leave a comment wishing them good luck, if you have a husband or significant other or family member testing this month, then come on in and leave their names so we can pray for them. Don't be shy, even if you're a lurker, it's for a good cause right?

Thursday, February 26, 2009

{ Camera Fun - ISO what the heck is it? }

I'm sure you've heard people talking about ISO and photography and I'm sure just like me, you are probably confused wondering what it means and how it affects your photos.

That's great, but I still wanted to know how this affects me and if I really need to worry about it when taking photos around the house. The answer is, no, not really, I mean it depends on what exactly I'm planning to photograph. But I tell you, understanding what it is and what it does opened up a whole new world for me....suddenly a lot of my photographs make sense....who hasn't taken a shot only to discover it's grainy?

For example, I took a series of shots and I changed the ISO in each....just to show you and then I'll explain how I did it.

ISO 3200 - look how grainy it looks, you see it better on the blue of the feeder

ISO 800 - Still grainy but not as bad

ISO 100 - perfectly crisp shot, little noise or grain

I used to take all my photos in AUTO mode, which means the camera picked the best setting for whatever it thought was the best mode for what I was photographing. It generally tries to keep the ISO at it's lowest but not all the time, because I found that I was getting grainy shots, and it was frustrating as I had no idea what I was doing wrong.

Your camera should let you change your ISO, mine obviously won't let me do it in Auto mode so I need to switch it to Program Mode.

Changing your ISO also means it affects your shutter speed, the higher the ISO the fastest the shutter speed.

Here's some things to keep in mind when you're taking the shot.

If there is plenty of light and I'm shooting something stationary, like a flower or the sky or a tree or whatever, then I don't want grain, which means, my ISO setting should be pretty low. I use ISO 100 and that's the one that gives me the crisp clear shots.

If it's dark or I'm shooting the kids running around or action pics, then I increase my ISO to about 400 or so, because it gives me a faster shutter speed which means I can get all the movement without it turning into a blur.

Situations where you might need to push ISO to higher settings include:

Here's some more examples:

ISO 3200 - again you can see the grain and noise

ISO 800 - much better but still not as crisp as I like

ISO 100 - perfect

I hope I was able to explain the ISO setting without making you want to run for the hills or take a tylenol for the headache you got trying to decipher what it all means.

Take a look at the honeysuckle photos beneath, the top one is with an ISO of 100 and the bottom one is with an ISO of 3200. Click on them to enlarge so you can see the difference.

It's pretty easy once you know what it does and how it affects your shots. So go on, go play with your ISO setting....take some shots and then come back and show me. Next time, I'm going to talk all about Shutter Speeds.

{ Slow Cooking Thursday }

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.

Crockpot Caramel Rice Pudding

3 cups cooked white rice
1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries or dried, chopped apricots
1 tsp pure vanilla
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk*
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk*
1 TBS brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Spray inside of 2 to 3.5 quart crockpot with cooking spray. (or grease with butter) Mix all ingredients except sugar and cinnamon in crock.

Cover and cook on LOW 3 to 4 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Stir pudding. Sprinkle pudding with sugar and cinnamon. Serve warm. Makes 8 servings

NOTE: Reduced fat sweetened condensed milk and skim (fat free) evaporated milk may also be use.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

{ Spring is in the Air }

We had the most beautiful day today, those kind of days where the sun is shining, there are no clouds in the sky and it's warm. We're already wearing shorts and tank tops around here and enjoying the outdoors.

So come on in and sit with me, let's chat a bit, I have so much to tell you but keeping forgetting. You know how it is, you have all this planned for a blog post and then you sit down and your mind goes blank and you're faced with an empty post wondering just what the heck you could say that would interest anyone.

The housing department on base is repainting all the houses, they just got done with mine and all that is left is painting the doors. You may think it's not a big deal but I tell you for a while there I was shaking in my flipflops because I was watching the houses behind me get painted and there seemed to be some sort of pattern going on. Light brown with dark brown trim and green doors (really cute), beige with dark trim (not much of a difference from what they currently are) and then....oh THEN.... puke mustard orange yellow with green doors. UH...it scared me, it is awful with a capital A.

Even the painters are shocked at what an ugly color it is and were quick to let us know they didn't pick the color LOL
So when I saw them coming down the street to my house I prayed real hard that I wouldn't end up waking up in the morning to egg yolk on my walls, and the prayers worked because we ended up with the light brown and dark trim, I'll have to take some photos for you after they're completely done. Tomorrow there is still the side door and the front door to be painted.

So that's what I've been doing the past two days, moving everything out of the carport and away from the house in the backyard and taking the chance to clean it all up, throw out the trash, dispose of some empty cardboard boxes still there from our move and so forth.

Other than that, it's been a quiet day, I slipped into some shorts and reveled in the fact that I was walking around barefoot with the air conditioner turned on, the front and back doors open and the breeze coming in. I made food for the hummingbirds and refilled their feeder, I trimmed my honeysuckle bushes and I picked some more lemons.

I also tried to stay out of Curt's way. He is studying SO hard for his next stripe and I'm going to ask you all to please say a prayer that he passes this test. Making Tech Sergeant in the Air Force is one of the hardest promotion tests the guys have to pass, most end up taking it 2 or 3 times before they make it. Curt's exam is on friday morning and he is just a ball of nerves and exhausted and his brain is fried from the endless words across the pages of the study material. If anyone deserves this promotion, it's him, he's been in the Air Force for 18 years and he's worked so hard.

After picking up the kids from school we came home and while I got dinner started, they played out in the back yard, they were beyond ecstatic to be outdoors enjoying the warm weather.

Playing with my Black and White feature on the camera. Did you know that your camera has that option? If you didn't, then you don't know what you're missing. I'll show you on the next Camera Fun post.

We had a wonderful dinner of Mini Meatloaves which the kids absolutely adore. They don't even realize that it's chock full of veggies, but shhhh....we won't tell them that part.

After dinner as I was standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes, I looked up to see a stunning sunset, the kind that has you questioning whether it's real or if you're staring at a painting in the sky.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day and now I'm going to climb into bed and watch my Season 2 of Lark Rise to Candleford. If you haven't yet been able to track this series down, you HAVE to, I promise you won't be disappointed.

I also started the Kite Runner but had to put it down, I felt it was just too serious and too deep for me to concentrate on right now, I have to be in the right frame of mind for that kind of book.

Instead I picked up The Shape of Mercy which I started and then set aside because of reviews I was doing....I love it, there's something magical about the way the author writes, the words just flow on the pages and her storytelling draws you in.

But my dearies, I think I've babbled enough for one night, my warm bed calls me. Have a wonderful night and see you back here in the morning for more Slow Cooking Thursday.

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - 23, 24, 25

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 23
Pray that your husband will be a good father—disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally. If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)

Day 24
Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)

Day 25
Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

{ Let's crochet! }

I can't tell you how much I missed my craft basket. These past two weeks of being sick and having everyone else in the household sick too, meant that my crochet and knitting had to be set aside for more pressing matters, things like cleaning runny noses and cooking up big batches of chicken noodle soup.

But now....oh now....we're back in business. Everyone is finally over the cold and things are back to normal which means, I get to dive back into those things I absolutely love doing. Like crochet.

If you've been one of my readers for a while, you will know that I couldn't crochet to save my life, I mean honestly if my life depended on me making a crochet chain to swing across an abyss...well let's just say I wouldn't be here *snicker*
But seeing that crochet has always been one of those crafts that I adore and wanted to learn, I set about teaching myself the art. I'm by no means an expert, I'm a baby at most, slowly trotting along and learning new tricks as I go.

A couple of you have shown interests in learning to crochet too and I said I would do a tutorial. I wish I hadn't because I'm more of a *show you* kinda gal, than a *write it down and explain in detail* kinda gal. I tend to confuse myself and others....but I did say I would help you all get started and that's what I'm doing today.

So go on, grab that ball of yarn you've been wanting to use and some crochet hooks, let's not worry about size and all that stuff, that's something for future use, right now we're just wanting to cast one, make a chain and join it in a little circle. *don't you just love my descriptions? I feel for you all trying to understand what I'm about to do* LOL

Casting on....there are so many different ways to do this, but this is how I do it and it's easy for me. Start by making a little loop

Pull the thread through the hole

Tighten and insert the crochet hook

How easy was that? Now you're ready to start making your chain

Making the chain: Yarn over the hook

Pull it through

Repeat until you have 4 chains

Joining the chains into a circle:

Insert the hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull through BOTH loops.

Now chain 2 just like I showed you above

Then you're going to make 9 single crochets into the hole in the middle. If you find it hard to locate it just insert your finger and wiggle it a bit so you can see it.

Insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

Repeat 9 times.

When you're done, join with a slip stitch (insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.)...which means....insert the hook into the second chain of the first chain 2 you did, yarn over and pull through both. You'll end up with just one loop on the hook.

Fasten off. (Cut the yarn about 6" from the last stitch. Yarn over and use your hook to pull it through the loop on the hook.) Cinch the strand to secure it. Weave the loose end into the fabric with a tapestry needle.

Now go on and try it and then come back and show me how you did. Next time we'll start the actual petals of the flower and just you wait and see how easy they are.

And once we've made one or two flowers, we'll make some leaves too.

There are tons of crochet flower patterns out there, so easy to make.

Flower Power
Crochet Flower
Four Leaf Clover
Carnation (I'm making this one right now, can't wait to see how it looks)

EDIT: Pat aka Posh, thank you so much for letting me know about the typo. I fixed it and it now says SINGLE CROCHET instead of double. :)

Monday, February 23, 2009

{ The simple joys of housework }

I remember a time, back when I was a teenager. I admit that I cringed away from housework, I literally went out of my way to avoid it at all costs, even when my stepmother would ask me to do something, there was always an excuse....a place to be....music to listen to or a friend's house to visit.

I vividly remember one time time where I was in the bathroom, primping like teenage girls do and my stepmom yelled out from somewhere else in the house "Sandra....are you in your bedroom?" and me thinking I was so smart, I yelled out "No, I'm in the bathroom" with a little grin on my face, obviously thinking I had just avoided some chore that I wouldn't want to do. She quickly replied "Oh great, can you bring me the laundry in there?" LOL

I tell you, we still laugh about it to this day.

As I grew older, I realized that I started enjoying housework, well maybe *enjoying* is too strong of a word, I say more like embracing it as part of life, as part of my quest to become a great homemaker and wife. All the while I had my greatgrandmother in the background explaining things, showing me how to do this or that, teaching me and sharing her stories of life as a little girl in the 1900's....oh I can't forget my stepmother and grandmother too, all extremely influential women in my life.

After I got married and became a full time mother and wife, I realized that it all depended on me, there was no more dodging the housework for something else more interesting, there was no depending on my stepmother to make dinner or worry about the dishes.....it was all me. And begrudgingly I started throwing myself into it, fighting it at every step, annoyed that I now was responsible for having meals on the table and clean laundry and a tidy house.

But as the years went by I grew to love it, and nowadays I tell you, I find the most joy in the simple things, see I found the secret to loving it as opposed to despising it. It's all about how you do it, just like everything else in life, you need to make it fun, you need to make it interesting.

Like this, see these 3 baskets full of clean laundry ready to fold? My first instinct is to run for the hills, I mean who wants to be stuck a whole afternoon doing this? But I make it fun, I popped in my Lark Rise to Candleford DVD and watched it while I folded, before I knew it everything was folded and ready to be put away.

And sewing. I know, nowadays it's easier to just throw it out and buy a new one, but sewing and especially darning is something that my greatgrandmother taught me and I take a lot of joy in doing. It's relaxing and it's rewarding to see that favorite t-shirt or sock or whatever that you would otherwise throw out, now sewn and looking good as new.

I also do this while watching tv, or with some music in the background.

And washing dishes....I open the kitchen window and the curtains and enjoy the sound of the birds outside while I do the dishes.

Let's face it, no one wants to do something they feel is a chore or boring to death. No matter WHAT it is, whether you're ironing or cooking or even cleaning the bathrooms. Pop in some music or turn on the tv, or even one of those audio books and enjoy making a clean comfy home for your family.

That's what keeps me going, that's what makes me absolutely love what I do.

I've been faced many times with the question "don't you get bored being a stay at home mom and homemaker? Don't you ever wish you were out doing something?" and I have to smile because I AM doing something, I'm a military wife, I am keeping the candle burning and supporting my wonderful husband and the numerous soldiers out there fighting for our country.

I'm a mother, I'm raising adults, I'm raising a man and a woman who I hope will grow up to be amazing human beings.

I'm creating a safe haven, for my husband and for my children AND for me. I'm creating that one place on earth that you want to be, that one place that no matter how bad a day you have, you can't wait to get back to. So I ask you, how can I ever question what I'm doing?

Oh don't get me wrong, it's not easy doing all these things, there's days that I am beyond frustrated, that I'm so sick with a fever or a stomach virus that it hurts to walk, days that I'm sad and lonely and want nothing more than a good cry. It's all about balance, it's about enjoying the moment and being content with what you have.

What about you? Are you content with your life? Are you a homemaker and SAHM, or do you work outside the home? Do you find housework a joy or an annoying chore?

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

Welcome to my Monday feature, a place where I'll be writing about my day, what I've learned the past week, any new recipes I've tried, scriptures that made an impact and everything else in between.

Every Monday, I will post a Mr Linky, you are more than welcome to join me, all you need to do is grab the button, copy the categories and fill in your answers, then come back here and add your post so that others can come and visit you.

On my bedside table:
The Kite Runner, I haven't started it yet but am hoping to tonight.

On my TV:
Paranormal State
Lark Rise to Candleford Season 1

On the menu for tonight:
Onion burgers and fries

On my To Do List:
Mop and Sweep the floors
Wash all the bed linens
Make a trip to the post office and library

New Recipe I tried last week:
Virginia's Baked Spaghetti
Pork Chops Supreme
Hearty Red Beans and Rice

In the craft basket:
Crochet Bath Puff
Crochet Potholders

With everyone being sick the past two weeks, I have not crocheted or knitted and I'm really missing it. Can't wait to get in that basket today :)

Looking forward to:
The warmer temperatures and starting to walk the kids to school.

Homemaking Tip for this week:
To remove oil dripping from concrete plain old laundry detergent can be sprinkled on the oil enough to cover the dripping - wait overnight and the oil is absorbed from the concrete by the powder.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
In memory of our beloved son by Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams. This post had me crying to the point where I was actually sobbing and found it hard to write the comment. Becky and her husband lost their son Jordan on the 4th of February 2009. I don't know how Becky was able to write this post and my heart goes out to her during this awful time.

Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That no matter how much I try, I can't always protect my children from the hardships and horrible things that surround us on a daily basis. On saturday afternoon we headed out to lunch and unfortunately were stopped at a light right next to the water canal just up the street. There were a lot of policemen and fire trucks, ambulances and divers around us and right there on the road, a body of a man who had been pulled from the canal. My children saw their first dead body and they were shocked to say the least. I only hope in time they forget the image that is STILL so vivid in my own mind.

On my Prayer List:
My husband
Becky and her family at Sweet Cottage Dreams

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Eph. 4:32 (King James Version)

32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Saturday, February 21, 2009

{ Enjoying the day, all 80 degrees of it }

It's a gorgeous day here in Arizona, it's 80 degrees but cloudy which makes it amazing to be outside.

We set off around noon to run some errands and first ended up stopping in at Islands for lunch. Let me tell you, if not just for the cutest looking restaurant ever, you have to go for their Onion Rings. Lordy, I will NEVER eat onion rings anywhere else for as long as I live, those were the best I've ever had.

Islands is a cute little joint, it's all about surf and the tropics, from the colorful birds hanging from the ceiling, the greenery and the thatched roofs to the multiple tv's spread out with nothing but surf videos on.

The biggest BEST onion rings ever and the ranch dressing they serve them with? TO.DIE.FOR

Jasmine had the JR Wave with cheese

Nicholas had the Tiki Tenders and he's putting salt and pepper on his fries *snicker*

This was my Hula burger. Mushrooms and swiss cheese on a wheat bun...YUM!

And here is Curt's Hawaiian....teriyaki sauce and pineapple rings. He said it was really good.

On the way home, the kids had the windows open and were "apparently" fighting the wind LOL

Sadly enough, just about 2 minutes from home we have a water irrigation system or little aquaduct thing....there was a ton of cops cars and fire trucks as well as dive teams...and right on the edge already pulled from the water was a dead body. I don't think I'll ever get that vision off my mind, it was just so heartbreaking and horrible at the same time, and to think it's so close to home. I pray for the victim whoever he/she was.

Well I'm off to watch some more Catherine Cookson movies....loving them.

Oh a couple of you asked me again what camera I have. I have the Fujifilm Finepix S1000fd. Inexpensive and amazing, I am completely in love with this camera.

Anyway, enough babbling, have yourselves a wonderful Saturday evening and I'll be back tomorrow with more of my usual rambling I'm sure.

Friday, February 20, 2009

{ A closer look at your digital camera }

I know that when we first look at the cameras, everything looks so overwhelming I mean, honestly I was terrified of even turning mine on the day I got it. But the more I mess with it, the more comfortable I get with it and the more fun I have figuring it all out.

Look, let me just say straight up that I do NOT want to be a professional, I do NOT want to take amazing photos that should be framed, I don't even want to take a photography class. I'm just a mom with a camera in hand. Plain and simple.

But I think that there's nothing wrong with taking full advantage of everything your digital camera has to offer, so I thought, why not start sharing with you the different features and what they do, as I learn them. Don't expect to see detailed tutorials, Lord knows I don't even know what the heck I'm doing LOL

For today though, I spent most of the morning playing around with my Macro Function. It's that little feature on the camera that looks like a little flower. All it means is you are safe to shoot anything close up.
I LOVE my macro function and that is the one I use mostly for my food shots, but one thing this new camera has that the older one didn't, is the Super Macro Function.

Position your subject as little as 1/2" from the tip of the lens and you can capture amazing close detail. And THAT is what I did today. So I'm going to show you my new favorite subjects to photograph....my pugs. All those wrinkles and whiskers are perfect for these shots. (Go ahead and click on the pictures for a larger version)

This little tongue is my downfall, you have no idea how many times a day I find her like this and all I want to do is squeeze her.

There's something just too adorable about puppy paws

So now you know what that little flower icon on your camera is for, go ahead and get close to whatever your shooting and then show us how you've learned to use the Macro function. I would LOVE to see your results. Maybe we can all learn this photography thing together?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{ At the dinner table }

And so it went that on the second week of a sick household, the family finally came together at the dinner table.

Yes, it's been a mish mash of stragglers through mealtime, you know when everyone is feeling horrible and then they start getting better but everyone has different immune systems and different levels of sickness? So when one is well on the road to recovery the other one is seriously lagging behind or just getting started?

Well mealtimes around here have been just that, whoever was well enough to get to the table made it and whoever was not, had a tray in bed or on the couch or even at the computer desk, though I shudder to think and I hope you don't think of me less for that. See when people are sick I tend to be one of those "whatever makes you feel better" kinda gals. With some limitations of course, there are some requests which should NEVER even be thought of, in my opinion.

Like, oh....wanting to drink while laying down or eating a big bowl of soup while in the shower. You may think me crazy, but I kid you not. That last request was made by my 5 year old....apparently it took all his energy just to get into the shower and he was trying to kill two birds with one stone and all that jazz. As much as I applaud him for the imagination, that is a request which I assured him would never be carried out in this house.

Virginia's Baked Spaghetti

So here we are, a family gathered at the table, finally, after two weeks. It's like seeing everyone for the first time, food was eaten with ooh's and aah's and voices were excitedly thrown out over the table, what so and so did at school or what they learned or even who made them mad. I listened intently, with a big smile on my face because after all, it means everyone is over this horrible, disgusting, stubborn cold.

For those of you still going through it, all I can say is, hang in there, it WILL start to get better. We're not completely 100 %, there is still the random runny nose and cough and I'm going through the "can smell" day, tomorrow who knows? Probably the "can't taste and can't smell day".

I have to tell you, I'm really enjoying the weather here lately, we're in our high 70's and tomorrow and the weekend we'll be hitting 85 degrees. It certainly is looking like spring around here, there's green grass all over and tiny little buds protruding from tree branches. It feels good outside.

I've just updated the 31 Days Prayer for today, it's still in my sidebar, I think I like it better over there and at the end of the month I'll put the link up to all the prayers so it's easy to find.

One thing I've been able to do a lot of this past week, is catch up on my tv viewing and I'm really enjoying it....things like American Idol (absolutely love Danny Gokey) and General Hospital which is my favorite soap. Then I get to smile and be thrilled that my favorite couple Jason and Sam are back on screen together and seemingly heading toward a reunion which in soap speak means it could take anything from a day to a year with an imminent break up again and reunion AGAIN down the line. But it's what makes soaps so much fun for me....it's the little guilty pleasure of sitting down and watching something on tv that is so completely different from your real life.

So you see, it's been so interesting around here LOL

A couple of you asked me about the laptop I got and I can't believe I forgot to tell you all about it, I'm embarassed, but I'll make up by telling you now....I didn't get anything extravagant as a matter of fact I told the guys at Best Buy (which you really really really should go to if you're ever looking to buy anything electronic) that I didn't want all the bells and whistles, as long as I would get me online to check email and blogs and upload my photos, it was perfect for me.

I got a really cute Toshiba laptop which runs beautifully and is just what I wanted.....plus it comes with a built in webcam which is wonderful for Skype and talking to my family back home in South Africa.

So there you go, now you know what I got. And as for the digital camera, it's a Finepix S1000FD.

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/graphics/normal/hardware/h1590.jpg

Perfect for what I want but not too bulky to drag around. Completely overwhelming at first, I didn't even want to touch it for fear of breaking it, but now I know her and she knows me and we've become the best of friends.

So there you go, not much going on here other than the usual home stuff. I'm going to take off now and get some blog reading done, maybe dive into my Craft Basket and see what's going on in there. Oh and be prepared because I'm going to make you Crochet, you better go ahead and find your crochet hooks and yarn and get on ready, I'll have you making Granny Squares in no time.

I'll leave you with a question: What is your favorite soap on tv, or do you not watch any at all....and if you're a General Hospital fan I really want to know who your favorites are. I know I may ask some weird questions at times but I really like getting to know my readers and what better way than to ask random/nutty questions?

{ Slow Cooking Thursday }

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.

Brown Sugar Chicken

2 lbs. boneless chicken pieces
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
1/4 up lemon lime soda
2-3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper

Place chicken pieces in your slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over the top of chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with rice.

Yields 4 servings.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Just a quick FYI!

The 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband is going to be put on the sidebar, so check there daily for your new prayer of the day :)

Today's prayer is already up, just look to the right of the screen!

{ Taking a breath outdoors }

The house is quiet, everything is back to normal and I'm sighing a HUGE sigh of relief. Nevermind that I can't smell or taste for anything, honestly what is up with this virus? I go a day or two where I'm fine, then the next two days I can't smell or taste and then fine again....ridiculous circle of nosiness *snicker*

But with everyone back at school and work, my house spotless and the weather nice and warm today, I stepped outdoors with my new camera in hand. Remember I said I didn't want to learn any new tricks, I was fine with it just taking photos? I lied....shame on me. The more I mess with it and the more I learn about all the weird fru fru terms, like ISO and Aperture and Shutter Speeds, the more I realize that I want to learn and I want to change the settings. If you only realized the potential of the amazing shots you can get by changing one simple number here and there....well....let's just say there would be so many Professional Photographers out there LOL

I'll explain all about ISO another time, but for now, let's just revel in the beauty of nature, the beauty that God has bestowed upon us, always there at our fingertips and it doesn't take airplane tickets or expensive trips to see it, it's all in your backyard. Go on, get out of the house and go look at what He has left for you today, I know I breathed a big deep breath and feel completely refreshed and ready for the day.

Oh before I forget though, some of you wanted the link to the Pork Chops recip e, here you go. I can't believe you don't know where my food blog is yet. Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk! *snort*
And Bonnie, I didn't forget the tour of my home, I'll have it up this week, I just need to get hubby out of the house during the day, which is hard because he works nights LOL

Just quickly so you can see....this was taken with an ISO of 100....see how clear and crisp it looks?

This was an ISO of 3200, look at all the noise and grain?

Like I said I'll explain it all later....right now I'm going to sit down with my Grilled Ranch Chicken Sandwich and my glass of Iced Tea and enjoy General Hospital.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

{Staying busy and 31 Days of Prayer} - Day 17

Oh I've been really busy, being a mom and a wife and a military spouse. It's hard work and it's time consuming and there's days that no matter how well I plan my schedule, it still doesn't leave me enough time to sit down with my blog or anything else for that matter.

So has been my life for the past week or two, just running full speed, stumbling along the way and trying desperately to clutch the Lord's hands to keep my balance at times.

I'm a mother, first and foremost and I say that with absolutely no disrespect for my husband who I love dearly. I say it because he's an adult and can take of himself....for the most part *snicker*

When you have a sick child everything comes to a screeching halt, suddenly the toilets that need to be scrubbed can be overlooked for a few more days, the floor that needs to be mopped becomes a distant thought in your mind, not even the sticky spots you constantly walk over and softly yell at under your breath, mean anything.

My focus has been on these two amazing human beings that rely on me to take away the boo boo. To make them well enough again, and it's easily done, but while I'm in that frame of mind, I have to remind myself that I too am sick with a cold and I too need to take some time to unwind because honestly what good will I be to them or anyone else if I'm too sick to get up from bed?

But while all this is going on, I am also a military wife, and that comes with it's own set of rules and obligations. We live on base and they are repainting all the houses and removing all the old fences to reinstall new ones....which means as tenants we have certain things that need to be done in order for the process to run smoothly. So I'm seeing to that, and I'm also being supportive as can be while my husband delves into books and books of testing material, trying to make the extremely difficult Tech Sergeant promotion. It's the HARDEST exam in the Air Force.

I could very well curl into a ball and wish it all away but I find that in hard times is when I most learn about who I am and it's when I most soak up all the experience and lessons needing to be learned. So while my first thought is to run away, my reaction is to sit tight and ride it out.

I've been staying busy and I'm happy that things are slowing down and getting back to normal and I'm happy that tomorrow I will get to spend the day scrubbing toilets and mopping floors and doing laundry, because you see, that means that everyone is feeling better and life is back on track.

While I've been sick, I've been snapping pictures just for fun, oh and I've also actually managed to squeeze 20 minutes into some stitchery that I wanted to make for my photograph wall in the hallway.

It's not perfect and it's full of faults here and there but I love it.

So now you know what I've been up to and I promise to be back to normal blogging tomorrow, for now I'll just leave you with our 31 Days of Prayer while I head on to the Full Bellies, Happy Kids to post tonight's recipe for Pork Chops Supreme. YUMMY!

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 17

Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)

Ephesians 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

1 Peter 2:21 (King James Version)

²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Corinthians 10:11 (King James Version)

¹¹Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Monday, February 16, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 16

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 16
Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbies, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit’s control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim. 2:4)

1 Corinthians 6:12 (New International Version)

¹²"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (New International Version)

³¹So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

2 Timothy 2:4 (New International Version)

⁴No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

http://www.geocities.com/chicaesbonita06/1corinthians10_31.jpg

The Help Winner!

Thank you all for the interest in winning this amazing book. I honestly wish I had enough copies for everyone because I feel that strongly about this book.

Even if you didn't win, if you do get a chance to purchase the book, please do...I think you won't be disappointed :)

I used Random.org to draw a winner and the number was #28, Gail at More Than a Song. Congratulations Gail :)

Gail please email me your address and I'll get the book out as soon as possible.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday |

Welcome to my Monday feature, a place where I'll be writing about my day, what I've learned the past week, any new recipes I've tried, scriptures that made an impact and everything else in between.

Every Monday, I will post a Mr Linky, you are more than welcome to join me, all you need to do is grab the button, copy the categories and fill in your answers, then come back here and add your post so that others can come and visit you.

On my bedside table:
The Yada Yada Prayer Group gets Real. I'm really enjoying all the Yada Yada books.

On my TV:
Paranormal State
The Catherine Cookson Collection: The Moth
Lark Rise to Candleford Season 1

On the menu for tonight:
Mexican Lasagna (recipe to follow on the food blog)

On my To Do List:
Mop and Sweep the floors
Organize the storage shed

New Recipe I tried last week:
Absolutely nothing, with everyone sick at home we had very simple meals consisting of chicken soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.

In the craft basket:
Crochet Bath Puff
Crochet Potholders

Looking forward to:
Everyone returning to school and work this week.

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Use old serving dishes in a new way for a fresh look. Handed-down cream and sugar sets can hold sauces, bread sticks can be arranged in gravy boats and a trifle dish can make a great salad bowl.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Winter Manifesto Series by Soulemama

Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That I can't control everything and that there are times that I need to put it in the Lord's hands and quit trying to take it back. We've all been sick the past week and it was frustrating and overwhelming at times. I kept praying about it and then asking God why he wasn't making us better faster....I finally decided to stop and let Him be in control. Needless to say, things started running a lot smoother and everyone began improving.

On my Prayer List:
My husband
Becky and her family at Sweet Cottage Dreams

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Philippians 4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Organizing Bug & 31 Days of Prayer

It bit me today, BIG TIME. I mean, to the point where I couldn't think of anything else other than reorganizing all the bedroom closets.

So I sent Curt to the BX and asked him to find me some good shelving units that I could use. I know at this point you're probably wondering "What were you thinking sending the man to find the shelves, how can you know you will like what he gets?"

But you see, I trust him and he knows exactly what I like. I think we've spent way too many years in the beginning of our marriage, returning merchandise when it wasn't what I wanted. He's learned his lesson. LOL

He came back with just what I had envisioned and we set to work. He built them and I was in the bedrooms....unpacking, moving, sorting into "donate", "keep" and "throw out" piles......and now 4 hours later, I'm in bed, pooped and with the biggest smile on my face. It's done, it's the way I want it and I have to tell you about the shelving units I used.

But before I do, why don't you come on in and sit with me, here's a cup of hot Irish Coffee, I just made it and it came out pretty good if I do say so myself. You may want to slow down when drinking though, it does have Whiskey in it *snicker*

Let me start with the entry way, right at the door, I have these shelves which is where we dump everything when we first walk into the house. The kids backpacks hang on either side, there's Curt's work boots and PT running shoes, my purse and a shelf with mail to be taken to the post office.

I also have some empty shelves for whatever else is needed....I'm thinking library books etc.

Right above it I have a shelf with some photographs, I hung my little lantern candle holders and you can also see right below my little cottages. Love them.

This is my bedroom closet....well the right side of the closet. I have two and on the left I have all our clothes and shoes and this side is for extra things, blankets, winter scarfs and sweaters and my knitting/crochet basket and Library books basket for now.

Here's a closer look at the inside.

Now we'll move into Jasmine's bedroom, I had to snap this photo because she was sitting against her closet doors watching her tv and you'll notice that she has all her horse facing the tv too LOL

Here is a look at her closet before I got in there. UGH, I want to run away. I guess it's not awful but it needs some serious tidying up and being the almost 10 year old girl she is, she tends to just get in there and ransack the place while looking for something.

And after.....it only took me about 45 minutes to get hers all done. I added a shelf with doors on the bottom and packed all the toys you see in the above colored cubbies inside.

Next to it, I added another shelf and packed some more stuff in there, some books, her dress up stuff and crayons etc.

Above it, I added another shelf for her shoes and on top are her books.

I think it looks a million times better and I tell you these shelves are pretty inexpensive and you can mix and match and stack and whatnot. Love them and will be getting many more in the coming weeks.

Now we're going into Nicholas' room, you can see I did the exact same thing in his and it looks wonderful too.

That's the thing with kids bedrooms, you can never have enough storage and there's no need for the closets to look crowded and untidy. I'm sorry I don't have a before photo of his, I completely forgot.

Here's another view of his room. He is into cars and military stuff. With the tax return money we bought him a bunk bed, the bottom is a futon which turns into a couch. He loves it and he's now progressing to a big boy's bedroom.

We plan on decorating the whole bedroom with a military/air force theme. He already has the blue camouflage comforter set and his rug is an Airplane one from Pottery Barn. He has a couple of airplane posters around the bedroom and we also have some airplane models that need to be finished and hung from the ceiling.

So now you're probably wondering which shelves I'm using. Well they are the ClosetMaid Selectives. You can buy them from your local stores, I've seen them at Target and obviously our BX has them. If you want to check it out online, you can look at Home Depot too.
And if you want to plan your storage, click here for a Visual Storage Planner.

I'll tell you that for all the shelving units we got today, everything, that is 3 bedrooms and the hallway, we paid about $200. Now imagine if we had bought dressers, armoires etc.

But this isn't all I did today, I actually started this morning with three loads of laundry needing to be folded and ironed.

I don't know about you all but I don't iron every single item of clothing, there are some things that can get away with just folding and putting away. I usually go through the laundry as I get it out of the dryer and make a separate pile for ironing.

I love my Lavender Linen Water....a spritz on the clothes while I'm ironing and they smell amazing.

I feel like I got a lot accomplished today but now it's time for Prayer, for mine and your husbands.

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 15
Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov. 27:17)

Proverbs 13:20 (New International Version)

²⁰ He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day and 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband - Day 14

This is certainly a different Valentine's Day for us, we drifted from the usual habit of doing nothing for this day, and decided to get something little. Flowers, Godiva Chocolates and Teddy Bears later, we all smiled and realized that maybe this Valentine's Day thing is not so bad.

I mean, what other time of year can you get away with stuffing your face full of chocolates or taking huge bites of delectable Sugar Cookies loaded with Vanilla Frosting and beautiful pink, red, white and brown sprinkles?

I've spent the day with my three favorite people on earth, Curt, Jasmine and Nicholas. I can truly say without a doubt that I'm happy beyond my wildest expectations and that I love these 3 people with every fiber of my being.

We have nothing planned for this weekend, and that's fine with me, I like going with the flow and doing whatever we feel like. Like earlier today, we jumped in the car after lunch and went for a drive around Litchfield Park, tons of shopping and restaurants around and we ended up inside another Goodwill, picked up a few things and then got some Taco Bell on the way home.

Now the kids and daddy are watching Spongebob on TV and here I sit, at the kitchen table with my new laptop, writing to you and checking email and blogs and searching for new pretty things to crochet and knit.

And speaking of crocheting, I know I'm no expert and I just taught myself, but would you be interested in learning how to? I could do a step by step with pictures for you to see? Let me know what you think.

I'm also thinking it's about time for another video but I have no idea what to do, you want to throw some ideas my way? Maybe tell me what kind of video you would like to see?

I hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's Day, I'm leaving you with the 31 Days of Prayer for our Husbands.

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 14
Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)

Proverbs 18-21 (New International Version)

²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ephesians 4:29 (New International Version)

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

For those who are starting late, or who may want to keep track of the prayers we've done so far, I actually found all the 31 Days to print online. Remember I told you that this prayer was done on some blogs last year? Well I found the link on the Revive Our Hearts website, which is a wonderful site devoted to women's ministry.

Hope the link helps some of you out. I plan to print it all out and keep a copy with me all the time, and I know that Susanne plans on doing the same.

Friday, February 13, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 13

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 13
Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)

Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

¹³You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature^a]">; rather, serve one another in love.

Philippians 2:3-4 (New International Version)

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

For those who are starting late, or who may want to keep track of the prayers we've done so far, I'm going to start adding them to the end of each post and at the end of the 31 days, I'll give you the link to where you can download the WHOLE 31 days of prayer.

31 Days of Praying for my Husband

Day 1
Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Day 3
Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8 )

Day 4
Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)

Day 5
Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)

Day 6
Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)

Day 7
Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov. 6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)

Day 8
Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character—persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58 )

Day 9
Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting and investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord’s work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:5)

Day 10
Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)

Day 11
Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)

Day 12
Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)

Day 13
Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)

{ Great Depression Cooking }

You all know how much I love cooking, to me it's not a chore, it's not a task that I begrudgingly get through. It's a passion, it's this great feeling of creating, of using simple ingredients to come up with meals to nourish my family.

I'm always on the lookout for cookbooks and recipes and I'm extremely interested in cooking from different eras. I want to know what kind of food they were preparing during the Victorian Era or in the 14th Century or the Great Depression. I want to know how these wonderful women made do with what little they had, so when I was on YouTube the other night I found something quite by accident and I can't tell you how happy I was.

So let me introduce you to Clara, this amazing 94 year old lady is the cutest and sweetest thing you'll ever see. She even has her own website "Great Depression Cooking" that I can't wait to go through, it's chock full of interesting facts about her life and you can find links to her DVD and online episodes.

Who exactly is Clara? Well like I said above, she is a 94 year old woman who lived through the Great Depression, she worked for Hostess filling Twinkies in 1945 and also did Secretarial work in a factory.

The magic of Clara is that she can turn lemons into lemonade and potatoes into just about everything else. She had a childhood that most of us can’t imagine, but she was able to make the best of it and turn those trials into lessons we can all learn from.

If you're interested in watching her episodes, you can find most of them on You Tube.

Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuMkW35BwK8
Episode 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yREFkmrrYiw
Episode 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OPQqH3YlHA
Episode 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4IjNV3lZkQ
Episode 4 (part 2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IEWJmm4Tms
Episode 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptfhu9R0WI
Episode 6:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zXqkHvs0po
Episode 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5tXODF4of0
Episode 8 (part 2) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhBZrPk2xaY

I started watching the first episode and I think one of the things that immediately drew me to Clara is not just her sweetness but her stories, you feel like you're actually sitting at the kitchen table with her. She is a pretty funny lady too.....Love it!

So while I'm sitting here getting my menus ready, I am thrilled to try some of her recipes, it's all about cooking on a budget and using things you have available, nothing weird or complicated, just good homemade food.....things like Pasta with Peas, Egg Drop Soup, Cooked Bread, and Poorman's Meal.

She reminds me so much of my greatgrandmother and the time I spent with her listening to her stories, learning how to cook and hearing her smile and laugh as she took me on a journey through the era she grew up in.

Go on and take a look at Clara's videos, then come back and tell me what you think.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Help Giveaway!

I have had very few books touch me so profoundly as this one did.

If you're one of my blog readers you will remember the review I did on Monday and I don't think that I could really add anything else to what I said. Other than, you HAVE to read this book.

So because I'm nice and I am just about to finish the last pages, I want to pass it on to someone else.

All you have to do is leave me a comment with your name and an email address where I can reach you if you win. I'm going to open this giveaway to everyone, no matter where you live. Yes, you read that right....ANYWHERE, whether you're in the USA or Canada or Europe or Asia or Africa or whatever.

Leave me a comment and I'll randomly select a winner on Monday, the 16th. Good Luck!

{I miss cooking and crocheting and cleaning}

Though you may think I've completely lost my marbles, I assure you I haven't. It's just that when you're so immersed in sickness and getting through it, everything else tends to take the back seat. Cleaning is just not that important any more, well, I don't mean we are living in a pig sty, but the deep cleaning....the scrubbing....well that just has to wait.

Just like my crocheting and my cooking, do I miss being in the kitchen with all my cookbooks and pots and pans. It's been a week of eat as you go, whatever is easier, whatever is quicker, whatever I can get on the table in as little amount of time as possible because I'm too sick or too busy with little ones to be in the kitchen for long periods of time.

But it's all coming back to normal.

Both kids returned to school today, and as bad as I feel about sending Nicholas, I know that it was the right thing to do. Well actually, I will tell you that he cried for an hour non stop, begging me to please let him go to school even though just 10 minutes earlier he had told me that he was not feeling well. He had a very low grade fever which after some Motrin went away.

I couldn't understand what the big rush to return to school was, until I talked to the teacher this morning. Seems that they were having two paramedics and an ambulance come by for the Kindergarteners and my little boy was just not going to miss that.

I worried all day and everytime the phone rang, I thought it was the Nurse asking me to pick him up, but thankfully, she didn't call and he made it through the whole day. He was fine when we picked him up in the afternoon and then after we got home he started complaining again about not feeling too good. He always says his head hurts on the right side, right above the ear and it's only when he's standing up or walking. Boy do I know that feeling, I'm sure you're all familiar with those kinds of headaches when you have a bad cold and sinus thing going on.

So I want to ask you for some prayers for my kiddos. I can handle anything, I just roll with the punches and deal with it, but I can't stand watching my children sick and I need them to be better, like NOW.

The kids are just getting to sleep for the night and I have to admit that I enjoy this time of night, the quietness and winding down of the hectic day when all you hear is the humming of the heater, the soft sounds from the television and the slow steady breathing of the children safely tucked away in bed.

For me it means I now get to plan the menus for the next two weeks, and my grocery list for tomorrow, and you know what else it means? It means I get to read the last two pages of "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. Yes I know I did the review already because I felt that strongly about the book and I can safely say that I love it without having finished it completey, but I tell you the more I read the more I am in love with this author and the book.

But you know what else it means?

That I want one of you to enjoy this book as much as I did, so I'm passing it on to a lucky reader. Don't worry I won't make you recite a poem or run a marathon or post on 10 blogs about it, I won't even ask you to post on your own blogs about it, if you do that's fine but not a requisite.

I'm about to post the contest and all I ask is that you leave a comment, that's it, simple.

So let me go do that and everything else I need to get done. I wish you a wonderful restful night, full of good dreams.

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 12

Day 12

Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)

Proverbs 5:15, 18 (New International Version)

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.

¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

1 Corinthians 7

Marriage

³ The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

Song of Solomon 7:10 (New International Version)

¹⁰ I belong to my lover,
and his desire is for me.

31 Days of Praying for my Husband

Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Day 3
Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8 )

Day 11
Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)

{ Slow Cooking Thursday }

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.

Crock Pot Hamburger Steak

Jacob C. (United States)

1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup milk
1 cup bread crumbs
3 tablespoons of brown sugar
3 teaspoons vinegar
3 teaspoons worcestershire sauce (or barbecue sauce)
1 cup catsup

In a large bowl, start with the beef and slowly add pepper, celery salt, bread crumbs and milk while mixing (I usually have to use my hands).

When the mixture is homogenous, make 4-5 patties and brown them lightly in a skillet or grill.

In another bowl, mix the brown sugar, vinegar, and sauce (I prefer worcestershire) and catsup.

Pour a layer into the crock pot, but save a little.

Place the patties into the sauce and then cover them with the remaining sauce.

Cover the pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours.

I prefer worcestershire, but barbecue sauce is very good and a little thicker.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 11

Day 11
Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)

Proverbs 15:33 (New International Version)

33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

Ephesians 6:6 (New International Version)

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

http://www.uwm.edu/Library/special/exhibits/clastext/clastextimages/biblqt12.gif

31 Days of Praying for my Husband

Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Day 3
Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8 )

{ Just here, Just us }

One thing about being sick and everyone being home, is that you end up spending precious time together, just loving each other and handing out as much TLC as needed. It helps people, it really truly helps get over the sickies and I think we're well on the road to recovery, at least we're at the crossing point, the one where it's either stuck in bed or past the fevers and able to go back to work/school and function. Yippee for that!

See the above picture of the Honeysuckle? That was taken with my new digital camera. I have said before that I have the best husband on earth but sometimes I wonder if it's said enough, because he really is the smartest, sweetest, thoughtful man on this planet....because even though my other digital camera still works, it IS a couple of years old and it's been acting a little weird lately. So he got me a new one, a Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd. It's pretty inexpensive but it's a 10 megapixel which is a lot more than my other one had and boy, oh boy, does it take the sharpest clearests photos. I'm thrilled beyond words.

So anyway, yes, the kids had to stay home again today, they were still running low grade fevers and it is so cold here today, I honestly did not feel right sending them to school like this. We're all home, all four of us, me and the kids sick and daddy home to study. I would love to be able to say that he missed the cold bug but unfortunately my poor husband is sniffling around too.

We've filled our days with lounging around the couches, lots of fluids, homemade chicken soup, Vicks, tissues and hugs. It's the cure for the common cold, the doctors just don't tell you that *snicker*

I snapped some pics with the new camera today, let me share them with you, it may just give you a quick peek into my day

I got my new Gooseberry Cookbook in the mail today and all I have to say is OH MY WORD, it is jam packed with delicious recipes that I can not wait to try.

It's a very pretty book, the photos are beautiful, the recipes sound amazing and it's still full of the tips and tricks that make the usual Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks such a success.

One of the things I most love on earth, is to figure out how to work a new toy, in this case my new camera.

I find that the easiest way to learn how to use something is to just get in there and try it, try all the different options and little buttons and see what it does. It will take me a while to completely know how to work all the functions in this one but as long as I can get the close up shots for the food blog pictures, I'm good to go.

It also gives me the chance to get up close and personal with some very cute critters, like my puggie Lola.

So you see, not much going on here, it also explains the reason why I haven't been around on the blogs much, or email, or anything really.

Oh I almost forgot, I'm sorry if I tend to skip from subject to subject, I have never been one to stick to one thing LOL I just had to say that I had the best night's sleep on the new mattress. The BX was having a sale and we got a Serta Firm something or other, I honestly can not remember at this point LOL I guess my brain has turned to mush. Anyway, all I know is that it's perfect and it's firm and it feels wonderful and it's higher than the other and the pugs are having a hard time jumping up on it LOL

It's not uncommon to walk by the bedroom and see one teetering on the edge. Hahahaha

I'm off to start dinner, I think some Monterey Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes is just what the tummy needs, nothing like good filling comfort food.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

{ Now, where to begin? }

Here I sit, on my bed with the tv on and the laptop on my lap and I'm sighing a big sigh of relief.

Relief because after many days of waiting, the tax return finally came through and I am able to enjoy a new bed. You don't really know how much you are in need of a new one until you wake up every morning with back and neck pain, until you realize that you haven't really been getting much sleep because you spend all night tossing and turning, trying to find that one comfortable spot in a sea of springs.

Ah but now I can not wait to go to sleep tonight, not just to try the new mattress but because I desperately need some rest. It's been two days, two whole nights since I've gotten more than an hour or two of sleep.....I've been sick, with a miserable cold that just lingers around shoving what seems like knives into my throat and using invisible fingers to pressure my sinus and make me gasp for air. See, I cannot sleep when my nose is congested, there is just no way around it, no breathing through my mouth....no sirree, that just won't do.

But to top it all off, my kids are yet again sick with colds. You know I would think there is something seriously wrong with us but everyone else around here is going through the same, it's like a vicious cycle that won't stop. The school kids are constantly sick with colds and ear infections and pneumonias, and they pass it amongst the students and teachers like they're handing out candy or some other great treat, then they get better but a week or two later, it's all back to the same. I blame the weather, or rather I just blame Arizona.

You may laugh and think that I'm being mean just because I don't like this place, but that's not it at all, I can honestly tell you that from the moment we moved to this base, I've been sick on and off and so have the kids and so have apparently a lot of the other families who have been assigned to the area. How sad is that?

I had both kids home today with fevers and runny noses. Jasmine seems to be doing much better than Nicholas, the poor kid is miserable as can be. We had gone to pick up some medicine when next thing I knew, Nic is hurling in the car and Jasmine is plastered to her door crying out "Eeeewwwww Ewwwww" while I'm throwing any bag I can to him in the backseat.

I can handle a lot of things but vomit is one thing that really bothers me. After pulling over and cleaning everything out, we came home and he pretty much climbed into bed. He's miserable, he is running a fever, he says his head hurts and he is just downright not happy at all. Which makes me miserable too, there is nothing more painful than watching your child unwell, it just cuts right to the heart strings doesn't it?

So it's back to school with Jasmine tomorrow but I think he'll be staying home, unless the fever is gone, then he's going too. I absolutely hate having them miss school but there's times I have to put that feeling aside and do what is best for them.

It's this crazy weather and the constant rain we've been getting...I'm certain of it!

So as much as I can say that it hasn't been easy for me and the family the past few days, I can also say that we're fine, we're getting through it and we're still here which is what matters. You put one foot in front of the other and you persevere.

Both kids are asleep and I'm going to take this opportunity to pay some bills and use the Tax Return for good. You know we are extremely lucky and blessed in that we have no debt. There are no credit cards or loans or mortgages we have to worry about and other than my car payment every month, the only other bills we have are the usual phone and cable. So, whatever money we get from the IRS is usually used to replace things in the house or for a vacation.

I thank the Lord that we are so blessed!

And with that my dear friends, I plan to close off this post. My wonderful new mattress calls my name, and who am I to ignore it?

Have yourselves a wonderful and restful night and I'll see you back here tomorrow, where I'm sure I'll have something more exciting to chat about.

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 10

Proverbs 20

7A righteous man who walks in his integrity--
How blessed are his sons after him.

1 Timothy 1:5 (New American Standard Bible)

5But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 3:7 (New American Standard Bible)

7And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (New American Standard Bible)

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

Monday, February 9, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 9

Proverbs 23

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

have the wisdom to show restraint.

5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Romans 12:13 (New International Version)

13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)

5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

Welcome to my Monday feature, a place where I'll be writing about my day, what I've learned the past week, any new recipes I've tried, scriptures that made an impact and everything else in between.

Every Monday, I will post a Mr Linky, you are more than welcome to join me, all you need to do is grab the button, copy the categories and fill in your answers, then come back here and add your post so that others can come and visit you.

On my bedside table:
The Help by Neta Jackson. I just finished it and WOW is all I have to say, if you don't read any other book this year, you HAVE to read this one.

On my TV:
Paranormal State
The Catherine Cookson Collection: The Moth
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

On the menu for tonight:
Monterey Chicken with Garlic Mashed potatoes

On my To Do List:
Mop and Sweep the floors
Change the bed linens
Make the menus for the next two weeks

New Recipe I tried last week:
Tried the Beef Pitas last week, they were just ok.....not something I'll make again

In the craft basket:
Valentine's Love Birds

Looking forward to:
Finally getting the tax return so we can get that mattress, not sure how much longer my back and neck can last.

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Dip the rim of a dessert glass in melted chocolate and immediately coat the chocolate with chopped nuts; refrigerate until firm. When it's time to serve dessert, add a big scoop of ice cream.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Saying Goodbye by Michelle at Big Blueberry Eyes.

Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That things are done in God's timing and not when I want them to. It's a lesson I struggle with to this day, it's so hard to wait for something.

On my Prayer List:
My husband
Blogging friends who are going through tough times right now

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Colossians 3:19 (New King James Version) 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

{ The Help by Kathryn Stockett }

Where do I begin?

When I received the book in the mail two weeks ago, I was thrilled. As with any other new book that I first set eyes on, I get that tingly feeling inside knowing that I have a whole new story to dive into, but I was not prepared for the journey I was about to embark on.

One thing that draws me to a book is the author's ability to tell the story in such a way that I find myself not as a reader but as a part of the story, it's like I'm in the background following these women around and watching everything they do and say, I can smell the scents and hear the sounds and feel their emotions. Kathryn Stockett has done just that, and furthermore she has taken me on a journey of learning, through times and places before my birth, through an era where the lines between white and black were so deeply drawn.....and she has taught me SO much, much more than I've ever learned from a book.

I've come away with a sense of understanding and respect for the "Help". The black maids that spent their lives working for white families, raising their children, being paid very poorly being subjected to insult and ridicule and thought of as diseased, to the point where separate bathrooms were built so that they would not use the same ones the family did.

This amazing book has stirred some very strong emotions in me, it's made me stop and think and it's made me aware of the hardships that so many had to endure.

The story is told by 3 different women, Miss Skeeter who is a white young woman aspiring to be a writer. She decides to tell the story of the colored people through their eyes, knowing just how dangerous it could be for them all. Then there is Aibileen, by far my favorite character in the book, I cried and I laughed with her, it was like she became a part of my family, I couldn't wait to read more and hear more about her.
And finally there is Minny, a take no nonsense maid, strong woman just trying to survive and provide for her family.

It's not everyday that I grab a book and read it cover to cover with a kleenex in my hand, dying for the book to end so I can see what happens but equally distraught because I don't want these characters to leave, I want to stay right there immersed in their history and their lives and learning more.

If there is one book that you need to read this year, THIS is it. I promise you will not be disappointed, but be prepared for it will evoke some very strong feelings inside you and it will change hearts and minds wherever it's experienced!

This is Kathryn Stockett's first novel and I for one am so glad to have had the opportunity to read it, she delivers an outstanding and beautiful story. From the dialogue, to the way she weaves the storytelling from one woman to another, to the perfect dialect, there is nothing about this book that I didn't love.

I don't think I can say enough about it, I urge you to pick up a copy and read it....I highly recommend it. A Masterpiece!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 8

Romans 12:6

6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

1 Corinthians 15:58

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in ^(B)the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

{ Lark Rise to CandleFord }

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/images/2008/01/31/larkrise_candleford_14_470x350.jpg

I did it again, I had been hearing about this series from England and became very curious because after all, it's just the type of show that I love. It reminds me of Road to Avonlea and Christy and such. But after looking around here in the States, I realized it's not available on any of our TV networks, not even on the BBC channel.....but I did manage to find it on You Tube and boy am I happy I did.

If you're interested in watching the first episode, you can find it here. Let me know what you think because I've just started watching today and I'm completely hooked, I can't wait for more.

In the meantime if you want to read the book from where the series were made, you can find it here, it was written by Flora Thompson.

Just thought I would share with you and if you're in England and have seen this series, let me know what you think.

Right now, I'm off to make some Griddle Scones courtesy of Dorca's Kitchen from the series.

Ingredients
8 oz self-raising flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ oz butter
1 oz sugar
¼ pint milk

Method
1. Sieve the flour and salt together and rub in the butter until the mixture is like fine breadcrumbs.
2. Stir in the sugar and mix with the milk to make a soft but firm dough.
3. Knead well and roll out ½ in. thick. Cut into 2 in. rounds.
4. Sprinkle a hot griddle or thick frying-pan with flour and place the scones on top.
5. Cook until golden brown underneath. Turn carefully and cool until the other sides are golden brown.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

{Wildlife World Zoo AND 31 Days of Prayer}

Last year around April we took the kids to the Wildlife World Zoo but even though we enjoyed it, there were some things that were a little annoying....the heat for one and the fact that we wore flip flops and didn't realize that pretty much the whole park was dirt.....AND we forgot the wagon so after 10 minutes the kids were tired of walking and we had no place to put our jackets and drinks and whatnot. Lesson Learned!

This morning, we got up and decided to head back to the zoo, because we love the animals and because they just opened a new Aquarium AND because both kids have free entrance tickets for the next 6 or 7 times they may go.

It's cloudy and it's a little nippy and I personally think it's the perfect time to enjoy the zoo, so we grabbed the camera, the wagon, a couple of jackets and off we went. It was perfect and we had a blast and if you haven't checked out the new Aquarium, you really should.

Here's just a few of the pics I took, I got a little carried away and ended up snapping a photo of anything that moved, which in a busy place like that is absolutely ridiculous LOL

Curt and the kids inside the aquarium

Mommy and the kids

Feeding the ducks and swans

Petting zoo, as soon as we walked in the animals flocked to Nicholas and one of the deer started eating his shirt LOL

Balloon Fish

One of the best features from the aquarium is the fact that they have a Touch and Feel area where the kids are allowed to touch Sting ray's, Starfish, Anemone's etc. It was a LOT of fun for them.

Poisonous Tree Frog

My favorite, upside down Jellyfish

LOVE swans, they look so beautiful and they're almost making a heart with their necks

Dwarf Crocodile

Porcupines

We got to feed the giraffes too and that was just hilarious, it was our first time. They just stick their tongues WAY out and wait for you to drop the pellets on it.

All in all, it was a lot of fun. A bit on the expensive side though EVEN with the free admission for the kids.....but well worth it.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 7

Proverbs 6:23-24

23For he commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

24To keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 6:26 (New American Standard Bible)

26For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,
And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.

Romans 13:14 (New American Standard Bible)

14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

Friday, February 6, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 6

Day 6

Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)

Proverbs 27:12 (New International Version)

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

John 17:15 (New International Version)

15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (New International Version)

12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

{ A Day of .... }

I'm in a funk today, I'm not in the mood for anything, no cooking or baking or crocheting or knitting or puttering. Nothing!

If it were up to me, I would crawl under the bed covers, pop in a movie and stay like that until tomorrow morning.

The reason for my funk? Absolutely no idea! Do you ever get these days? Days where you don't even feel like smiling because it would mean too much effort to make the face muscles work? It's ridiculous, but since I'm a generally happy go lucky person and hardly ever in a bad mood, I do allow myself a day of Blah.

A day of stolen cookies from the cookie jar without worrying about weight or calories

a day of not feeling bad for the laundry piled in the basket, waiting to be folded and put away

a day of sitting on the couch under the warm softest afghan with my book in hand

a day of smiling at the signs of spring emerging everywhere

a day of just me and my cup of tea, the birds outside and the cars going by and a clear mind and a clear soul.

Reminiscing and planning, thinking and praying and enjoying the quiet before the noisiness of life starts over again......and knowing that when it does, here in a few hours, I'll be more than ready for it.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 5

Day 5

Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)

Proverbs 20

6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?

Genesis 2:24 (New American Standard Bible)

24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

{ OUCH OUCH OUCH }

http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2007/07/02/fitnesstopper2.jpg

I think I just found 100 or so muscles that I had no idea existed, and the reason for it?

Jazzercize!

I'm determined to get back into short wearing shape now that the weather is getting all hot again, because there's no way I'm going out there in my desperately-needing-a-tan-thanksgiving-and-christmas-weight legs. Nope, not happening. But let's face it, I'm not one to diet, there just is NO way on earth that I can tell my body what to eat and what not to eat.

I'm one of those that the minute my body finds out I'm trying to diet, it goes completely beserk. I'll be raiding the refrigerator at 2 am starving to death.....craving junk food....miserable and depressed, cranky and impatient with everything and everyone. It's no way to live, believe you me, you would not want to be stuck in a house with me for even an hour LOL

So I'm doing what I can, which means, I allow myself to continue eating what I want to eat, but I have to exercise. Which is not easy because I'm not into the whole gym thing, I lack the motivation and will find any and all excuses to NOT go that day.

For me, it has to be something I can do at home, so I'm going back to Sparkpeople which I've had success with in the past. As a matter of fact, the first time I tried it, I lost 6 lbs the first week.

Along with that I'm going to start Jazzercising....but......OY....OY....OUCH is all I can say. I did this video and now I'm sitting here aching and feeling the pain but happy because it means it's working.

Who knows how long this weight thing will last, I'm easily distracted, it might just be that within a week I'll give up on it again, but for now I'm determined to stay focused and to try my best. If I could just get that water intake in....that's a biggie with me, the whole water drinking.

So anyway, now you know what I'm up to.

Other than that, not much is going on. There's lots of little bird making and heart crocheting and reading. Oh the reading. I think I have 2 or 3 books going right now. *snicker*

And there's cooking

And baking

Hence my reason for the sudden need to loose weight LOL

Now I'm going to go pop some motrin and relax....why don't you tell me if you exercise too, or what has worked for you in the past?
Or if you don't like exercising, are you happy with your weight or do you want to loose some?

Do you go to the gym or exercise at home or what? Talk to me people, tell me something, anything that means I'm not the only one wanting to wear shorts but too scared to do it LOL

{ Slow Cooking Thursday }

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.

Chicken Parmigiana

From the Kitchen of: Pepper

3 whole chicken breasts
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 c. dry bread crumbs
1¼ c. butter
1 can pizza sauce (10½ oz.)
6 slices Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan Cheese

Cut chicken breasts into halves. In a bowl, beat egg, salt and pepper; dip chicken. In large skillet sauté chicken in butter. Arrange chicken in crockpot. Pour pizza sauce over chicken. cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Add mozzarella cheese, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 4

BTW, this prayer of 31 days HAS been done before on other blogs, a couple of them last year. So as much as I would love to take credit for this idea, I can't, but I am thankful for all of you joining me in prayerg :)

Day 4

Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)

Ephesians 5:25-29 (New King James Version)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Colossians 3:19 (New King James Version)

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

NOTE: A couple of you have let me know that you don't want to sign Mr Linky, so I'll stop putting it up and you can just leave me a comment if you're praying. You don't have to say anything special, just a quick "I'm here and praying" would suffice.

If you're a lurker, I invited you to come on out and join us, let's pray for the wonderful husbands in our lives, together :)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 3

Thank you to all who are participating, it makes me truly happy to know that so many wonderful women are praying for their husbands.

Day 3

Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord.
(Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8 )

Psalm 51:2-4 (New International Version)

2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Planning a birthday party?

Let's talk kids birthdays and parties etc. If you're anything like us, a few months before the birthdays, we start planning, we start figuring out if we're going big or small, if we're having a party for all their friends or just a few or if we're doing it at home or at a venue.

No matter where we do ours we always need the supplies and they can get pretty expensive at times. Now the reason I'm bringing this up is because both Jasmine and Nicholas have their birthdays in April, two weeks apart to be exact, but they're in completely different age groups and with completely different tastes when it comes to the themes etc.

One place I've found that I'm able to get everything I want and even let the kids sit and help me pick, is Birthday Express. It's hard sometimes to find all the birthday party supplies in one place AND of whatever kind the kids want.

Nicholas LOVES LOVES LOVES Super Mario, he is just completely obsessed with it and has been begging me for a theme party using Super Mario Bros.. But honestly, let's face it, it's not something that I can find that easily, so when I found the birthday party supplies at Birthday Express today I was SO excited, I can't wait to show him.

How cool is this?

He is going to be over the moon.

Now Jasmine, well she's going to be ten and her mind changes every single day about what she likes and doesn't like, so there's a few options for her. I like the fact that you can mix and match the birthday party supplies.....you can even buy the favor packets and extras etc.

She LOVES dogs though, so I'm thinking this one may be an option:

I think when the kids get home, I'll sit down with them and look through Birthday Express some more and see what we can come up with....it makes party planning so much more enjoyable.

{ A Little of this and Little of That }

I've been kind of quiet haven't I? I feel like I have so many meme's and features going on during the week that it's starting to cut into my me time, my blog about whatever comes to mind time and that my dear friends, just can NOT happen.

I wish I could say that I've been off on some exciting adventure and therefore been too busy, but unless you count taking care of sick kids and a house and a military husband, an adventure....then yeah, nothing interesting going on.

First I want to thank all the ladies that are joining me in praying for our husbands, I hope that a lot more join us.

Now what exactly have I been doing around here? Well let's see, come on in and sit with me at the kitchen table I have some hot coffee and a wonderful Apple Cheese Coffee cake for you.

Life! There's your answer, I've been living, doing what life is all about, the daily grind and the routine that save for some things, is usually the same over and over.....and I've been cooking and loving my kids and husband and creating and imagining and crafting and crocheting.... continually turning my home into a safe comfy haven for us all.

On Sunday of course we sat down and watched the Superbowl, we ate yummy things and laughed and yelled at the TV and felt sad that The Cardinals did not win, but you know what, it was fun nonetheless. I think the Superbowl for us at least, is mostly about sitting down as family, having a bunch of food around and just lounging in front of the TV.

So moving on, let me show you what I did yesterday morning and I'm actually working on another one now for Nicholas. This started as a project for Valentine's day, I want to make a few for decorations and maybe, just maybe giveaway one or two on my blog.....depends if I have time to get them done. But yes, it started as that and then Jasmine came home from school and immediately claimed it for herself, she even slept with it last night LOL Of course Nicholas wants one too, in blue so that's what I'm working on this morning.

Is this not the cutest bird ever? I mean, I have to tell you for someone who had never crocheted, I'm absolutely thrilled with myself at how well I've taken to it and the amazing things I can make for myself and my family. I just love it.

Our homemade soap is also ready and the kids couldn't wait to try it last night. You should have seen their faces, they were all excited that it actually *worked* LOL

I don't know what they were thinking, maybe they thought this was all fun and games but the soap wouldn't really turn out right.

I put it in a little glass jar I have and made a tag for it and now it sits in the bathroom where everyone can just reach in and grab one.

I've also been reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, for a review that I have coming up on February 9th....you can go ahead and pre order it from Amazon, it will be released February 10th. Let me tell you, I LOVE this book and I just can't wait to share it with you, I think it's one of those books that I will forever remember and will be talked about all over bloggy land.

Oh and I also watched Fireproof. As much as I loved the movie and thought the message was just outstanding, apart from Kirk Cameron, the rest of the actors were so bad at some points that it became quite distracting to watch the movie. I'm not judging, I know they were volunteer actors and in the end the whole message came across loud and clear and completely overshadowed any of the acting, so definitely a movie to watch, I mean hubby watched it with me and he really enjoyed it too.

And this post is getting super long and I'm afraid I may have lost some of you along the way, probably fallen asleep at your desks *snicker*

I'm off, I have a house to clean and I want to get the other little bird done before Nicholas gets home from school. I also have to make a run to the Library to pick up my two Yada Yada Prayer Group books, and then a run to the Post Office to mail off two birthday cards for the family back home.

I hope you have a wonderful day and don't forget to come back later for Day 3 of our Prayer for our Husbands.

Monday, February 2, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 2

A couple of you have brought up the fact that February is only 28 days but I am doing this for 31....yes, there is a reason for that, the prayer journey is for 31 days and I didn't want to cut it short so I'm going to run it for it's full time, even though it goes a few days into March.

Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Proverbs 3:7-8 (King James Version)

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

♥♥♥

Proverbs 3:9-10 (King James Version)

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

♥♥♥

Psalm 112

1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

Welcome to my Monday feature, a place where I'll be writing about my day, what I've learned the past week, any new recipes I've tried, scriptures that made an impact and everything else in between.

Every Monday, I will post a Mr Linky, you are more than welcome to join me, all you need to do is grab the button, copy the categories and fill in your answers, then come back here and add your post so that others can come and visit you.

On my bedside table:
The Help by Neta Jackson. I'm loving this book, it is so so so good....can't wait to review it here.

On my TV:
Catherine Cookson's Anthology "Tilly Trotter"
Bride Wars
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

On the menu for tonight:
Lasagna with Garlic Bread

On my To Do List:
Laundry to put away
Floors to sweep and mop

New Recipe I tried last week:
I didn't try any new ones last week but I'll be trying a few this week, like Garlic Wings and Beef Pitas

In the craft basket:
Valentine's Crochet Heart Garland
Little crochet birds

Looking forward to:
A new mattress coming in this week, desperately need it.

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Wash greasy dishes and pans in a snap...just add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the hot soapy dishwater.
The vinegar will cut right through the grease.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Come What May by Marie at A Year from Oak Cottage.

Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That sometimes you need to make the best decision for yourself and your children irregardless of whether you think others will approve.
When the school nurse called me last week to pick up the kids on a thursday, I knew that I should keep them home with me on friday too but I couldn't help but feel bad that they would be missing another day of school. But I had to do what was right for my children and to make them better, they NEEDED to be home and taken care of. I'm glad I followed my heart.

On my Prayer List:
My husband
Troops overseas and at home
My children

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
~ II Samuel 22:32 ~

Sunday, February 1, 2009

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 1

Everyday I will put up a prayer and a Mr Linky. Now, you don't need to go to your blogs and do your own post, you can if you want to but it's not required. But I would like you to sign your name on Mr Linky if you do say the prayer for that day, just so that we can see how many wonderful women are praying for their husbands.

Day 1

Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

Linkbar

Friday, February 27, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Friday, February 20, 2009

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Brown Sugar Chicken

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Ephesians 3:16 (King James Version)

1 Peter 2:21 (King James Version)

1 Corinthians 10:11 (King James Version)

Monday, February 16, 2009

1 Corinthians 6:12 (New International Version)

1 Corinthians 10:31 (New International Version)

2 Timothy 2:4 (New International Version)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Proverbs 13:20 (New International Version)

Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Proverbs 18-21 (New International Version)

Ephesians 4:29 (New International Version)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

Philippians 2:3-4 (New International Version)

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Proverbs 5:15, 18 (New International Version)

1 Corinthians 7

Marriage

Song of Solomon 7:10 (New International Version)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Proverbs 15:33 (New International Version)

Ephesians 6:6 (New International Version)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Proverbs 20

1 Timothy 1:5 (New American Standard Bible)

1 Timothy 3:7 (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 6:10-12 (New American Standard Bible)

The Armor of God

Monday, February 9, 2009

Proverbs 23

Romans 12:13 (New International Version)

Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Romans 12:6

1 Corinthians 15:58

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Proverbs 6:23-24

Proverbs 6:26 (New American Standard Bible)

Romans 13:14 (New American Standard Bible)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Proverbs 27:12 (New International Version)

John 17:15 (New International Version)

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (New International Version)

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Proverbs 20

Genesis 2:24 (New American Standard Bible)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Ephesians 5:25-29 (New King James Version)

Colossians 3:19 (New King James Version)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Psalm 51:2-4 (New International Version)

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

Monday, February 2, 2009

Proverbs 3:7-8 (King James Version)

Proverbs 3:9-10 (King James Version)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

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