I'm My Beloved's and He is Mine

No-Knead Bread

2012-01-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

This bread is every bit as good (if not better)

than those expensive Artisan Bakeries that you pay $4-5 a loaf.

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt

1 3/4 cups of very warm water
flour, corn meal or wheat bran, for dusting

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and "Fuggedaboutit" for 12-20 hours at room temperature, about 70 degrees. This recipe is very forgiving. I have waite as much as 24 hours before making and left the dough in the car at a very cold temperature for a couple hours.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

3. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats.t When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

Food storage Challenge

2011-11-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

I need to update and catch up I haven't posted my days 7-10.
Day 7 was Tuesday We had Leeks Au gratin Wow Thanks Pam Epperson for the recipe
and a baked squash.

Day 8 David made Homemade Ravioli's with refrigerated pasta dough and sausage we had in the freezer

Day 9 Oh good grief for the life of me I can't remember what I made for dinner last night............ Does this ever happen to any of you? Wow I had to go back to my Facebook page to see what I had posted. I must be getting old. I made Chili Rellonoes. Now this was great and another Big thank you to Pam Epperson. She told me to Fire roast my Anaheim peppers and put them in a ziplock bag, skins and all right into the freezer. When ready take the bag out defrost run peppers under hot water and the skins come right off. This worked amazingly. Which I very glad because I froze 11 quart size bags. We will enjoy fire roasted peppers all winter. I use my own canned salsa and prepare rice. I purchased a 25lb bag of brown rice a year ago and we are still using from it. I just keep it stored in an air tight container.

Day 10 We will have leftovers. Have to clean out the frig.

I have so much to be thankful for.......

2011-11-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Last night I had just mopped the kitchen floor when David tracked in some dirt. Argh! was my first reaction. "When will I ever have clean floors?" Instantly God reminded me that I could be alone, then I would have clean floors. .......Ouch! I got it! Please forgive my grumbling Lord. Thank you for my husband, dirt and all. I love him so much.

This morning I was have a very difficult time with something and David listened to my woes with gentleness and compassion and true servants heart. He didn't offer a quick fix solution, but wise counsel. I'm telling you he really is the best.

To start this month of Thanksgiving. I am Thankful for my dear Husband.

Day 6 Challenge

2011-10-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Boiled the bones of yesterdays Roasted Turkey. Made a wonderful pot of Turkey stock ( approximately1 1/2 gallons). Chopped up Leeks, carrots garlic and peppers from our garden. Added a Home canned jar of green beans and some frozen corn.
Spices: 1 tsp thyme, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp marjoram 1 tsp rosemary
Now for the best part:

Homemade noodles: 1cup of flour, 2 eggs mix, knead (a lot) until dough is very smooth and not sticky you may need to add more flour as you knead. Let dough rest for 15 minute (your arms will need a break also) Roll out dough as thin as possible. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter cut you pasta into strips. Drop in soup broth. cook at a rolling boil for 3 minutes.

The great thing about the pasta is you can make a double or triple batch and refrigerate or freeze it for another time.

Note: any time you have a roasted Chicken or Turkey don't forget to cook down the bones to make the best stock for soups.

This huge pot of soup cost so little to make. A great soup to take to a sick friend. They may not want to get well in hopes that you will bring them more soup.

Day 3, 4,& 5 of Food Storage Challenge

2011-10-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made egg drop soup and yakisoba noodles for dinner

Today I was at work. When I'm at work I have to prepare meals for the men from their food supply. FYI: I work at t a group home for men with mental illnesses. We had grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches and cole slaw for lunch. Dinner this evening was at our churches Fall Harvest Festival. We had chili dogs.

I will be working tomorrow also, but we are having our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at church tomorrow. I'm fixing a Turkey from our freezer, and a squash casserole and a broccoli casserole with things from our garden.

Day 2 Food Storage Challenge

2011-10-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

Day 2 Oct. 27, 2011

Breakfast:
Oatmeal with Frozen Black Berries

Lunch:
Egg salad Sandwich with homemade whole wheat Bread
Apple and Plum (that we picked from our neighbors overly abundant trees) Thanks Jim.

Dinner:
Potato Leek Soup (from the garden) Banana Bread, Froze Bananas when they were .29 lb very ripe, which are great for Banana bread.

10 Day Food Storage Challenge

2011-10-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Rules: for 10 days I only buy milk and cream, (since I don't have any powdered or fresh boxed milk or cream nor do we own a cow or goat) Everything else I use to prepare our meals will be from our garden, home canned, already on our pantry shelves or in our freezer. I will post pictures of our meals, what they contain and evaluate their nutrition and taste. Hint: I don't think they will be that much different than what we usually do.

Day 1 Oct. 26, 2011
Tonight's dinner is: Meatloaf, Mashed sweet potatoes and green beans ( I don't have the camera right now, I will try and post a picture this evening before we eat.)

Lean ground beef: in our Freezer, I purchased 17 lb (individually wrapped in 1lb packages) a couple weeks ago when it was on sale for $1.99 lb.
Eggs: from our chickens
Oatmeal: last year I purchased a 50 lb bag I've used about 1/2 of it so far. I think I paid around $15.00 for it.
Onion: from garden
Tomato sauce: Home canned
Yellow French Beans: Home canned
Sweet potatoes: had them in the pantry, pealed, boiled added 2 Tbsps of butter and 1/4 cup of milk and mashed.

This meal has an excellent source of protein, with the lean ground beef, and two eggs in the meatloaf. There is approximately 1 cup of whole grains with the oatmeal and Sweet potatoes are so much more nutritious that white potatoes. Look at all the veggies, 1 small onion chopped, 1 pint of tomato sauce (remember homegrown tomatoes, canned) 1 pint of Yellow french beans (again garden grown and canned)

Very Healthy and really tastes great!

A Succulent Obsession

2011-09-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Your Grandma probably had Hens and Chickens.

I recently rediscovered this childhood memory and fell in Love. They are so Simple, so earthy and remind me of dear old Grandma, well Actually I don't remember if grandma had any, but my mother did.

Funny thing is when I showed these to David his first comment was, "Some day kids will say, I remember when Grandma Christy use to grow Hens and Chickens."

I sold my first couple at the Paradise Market last night another one at work this morning. Well, a little encouragement like that and now I'm gearing up for the American West Heritage Center's Fall Festival, October 21 -22 10am -4pm www.awhc.org

"Zingers" - Old Childhood Favorite

2011-03-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Zinger Cake

Fun to make, great taste, but a bit sweeter than my grown up taste buds like. Does anyone else notice that your grown up taste buds don't remember things the same as when you where a child?

That aside if you like raspberry and coconut this cake is still a great choice.

1 box white cake mix made per instructions and baked in a loaf pan. So that you get the rectangular shape of a Large Zinger.

Mix up raspberry jello, poke wholes in the top of the cake and pour jello over top. Cool.

A butter cream frosting mix in 3 Tablespoons of Raspberry Jam to frosting along with some red food coloring. spread over the entire cake. Then press shredded coconut into the frosting and there you have it!

Hmmm, do ya think he liked it?

2011-03-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

This was the Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach and Chickpeas) That I made for dinner last night. I thought we where finished with dinner. But before I could put away the leftovers this is what I saw.

Due to not having any leftover for tonights schedule LEFTOVER night. I am fixing a pork loin with a spicy BBQ sauce and cold slaw for dinner. Guess we'll see if there is anything leftover.

Planning Menus for this Week.

2011-03-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

I have taken to writting our meals that I plan to fix on the calendar that hangs in our Kitchen, but I often get of schedule. David was so cute last night he went to the calendar and said, So whats for dinner, you've made most of the things on here. Then he found grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup and got a bit excited and said hopefully, "can we have this!" I'm so glad he is easy to please, especially on those nights when I don't feel much like cooking.

Tonight: Blue Cheese Burgers w/ sauted onions
   Simple recipe, just like it sounds. Hamburger topped with blue cheese and sauted onions.

Wednesday: Espinacas con Garbanzos [Spinach and Chickpeas],
I found this recipe in a cookbook I got from the library and David loves Chickpeas or Garbonzo beans
2 15-ounce cans of chickpeas, drained       6 TBSP olive oil               1 pound spinach
A hefty 1-inch slice from a country loaf bread cubed                            1/2 cup tomato sauce
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced                     1/2 tsp ground cumin             Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 1/2 TBSP red wine vinegar                1/2 tsp smoked paprika         Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon juice, to taste

Place a large saucepan over medium heat and add half the olive oil. When it is hot, add the spinach with a pinch of salt (in batches, if necessary) and stir well. Remove when the leaves are just tender, drain in a colander and set aside.

Heat 2 more tablespoons olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the bread for about 5 minutes or until golden brown all over, then the remaining tablespoon of oil and the garlic, cumin and pepper. Cook for 1 minute more or until the garlic is nutty brown.

Transfer to a food processor, blender or mortar and pestle along with the vinegar, and mash to a paste. Return the mixture to the pan and add the drained chickpeas and tomato sauce. Stir until the chickpeas have absorbed the flavors and are hot. Season with salt and pepper.

If the consistency is a little thick, add some water. Add the spinach and cook until it is hot. Check for seasoning and serve with paprika on top, or on fried bread toasts (as the Spanish do).

Thursday: LEFTOVERS We have to clean out the fridge since we won't be eating at home until Monday.

Friday (Salt Lake @ The Green Papay) Pho
We love this Vietnamese Restaruant and since we are going to be in Salt Lake. YAY!!!

I'm working this weekend at the group home and have to fix lunch both days and dinner Sunday evening.
The group home gets a Bountiful Basket on Saturday morning which is full of fresh fruits and veggies. I'll make selections and add them to the main dish.

Saturday (lunch) Spicy Black Bean Soup
1 container of Chipotle Black Bean Soup (The Spice Hunter brand)
1 can of black beans              1 can of Rotel Tomatoes with green chili's
2 cups of water                      1 beef Bouillion cube
Mix all ingredients and let simmer for 45 minutes.
Top with Shredded Cheese and Tortilla chips I hope we get Mangos in our basket, doesn't that sound cool and taste with a warm spicy soup.

Sunday (lunch) Salmon Croquetts
2 cans Salmon, drained          2 eggs                10-12 crackers enough to absorb moisture and form patties
handful of parsley               salt and pepper, to taste.
Mix all ingredients toether. Form into patties and cook in olive oil untl golden brown on both sides.
Ever since I was a little kid this has been one of my all time favorite meals served with peas.

Sunday (Dinner) Chicken Fajita Casserole
1 can refried beans            1 can tomato sauce             1 pkg fajita seasoning mix
1 lb of chicken breast cut into small cubes, cooked         8 flour tortillas
1 bell pepper, 1onions Chopped and sauted                  2 c. shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix refried beans, tomato sauce and fajita seasoning mix. Stir in chicken and vegetables. Layers tortillas, bean mixture, stir-fry vegetables and cheese.

Cover baking dish with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Last Meal

2011-03-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

3/9 Just saw an article about celeb chefs. They were asked what would be on their menu if it was their last meal. Seriously, they would want me to narrow my favorites down to one meal? Well who says it has to be a normal size meal if I'm dying I don't have to worry about gaining weight or indigestion. How about we start with Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh peas, corn on the cob, hot rolls, mac & cheese no scratch that make it cheese grits.

3/10 Well today is a new day and my tastes have changed. I feel a bit like, all things Itailian. Tomorrow might be Mexican or Thai, or Veitnamese or Chinese........or a hundred other wonderful possibilities.
Maybe I'll just stick around for a while and enjoy the food.

However, I wonder what will be served at God's Banqueting Table? Hmmmm just think every tribe, language and nation will be there. I'm thinking there will be some pretty amazing eats in Heaven!

Listen to this playlist: givinggrace's Playlist

2011-03-09T14:15:00.001-08:00

Confessions of a Lifelong Food Junkie

2011-02-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

I love food! I Love cooking, I Love looking at pictures of food, reading recipes, planning meals, and searching for new recipes. If it has anything to do with food in any way, I LOVE IT! My dream would be to have a fabulous kitchen that I could create and cook in all day long. You may have noticed I didn't say "work in" because being in a kitchen and around food is not work for me. Of course a large percentage of the joy and satisfaction I recieve comes from sharing the food I make with those I love.

My Dad tells the story of the time I was 4 or 5 years old and we were eating Lunch and I very seriously asked, "what will we be having for dinner?" Hey, a girl has to plan ahead.

Shortly after we got married, David and I were talking and I must have asked him something along the lines of, "what can I do to insure that you always know I love you?" I will never forget his response. "Feed me and Love me." Wow, how easy is that!

Other examples of my addiction:
         Everytime I go to the Library (twice a week) I find a new cookbook that I haven't yet ravaged.
         I spend time Googling new recipes which leads to more ideas so then I have to Google even more.....
        40 years later and I am still thinking an planning the next two or three days meals, while eating.

I know that with any addiction the person needs to want help and want to change. Sorry it's not going to happen. I love my addiction.

I guess I just need to plan more trips to the gym, now that's WORK!

"Dish it Up"

2011-01-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

"Dish It Up" At least that is what the tag is suppost to read.
I made cute little matching tags for my dish designs that Beadles Bead Company is Displaying and selling for me. I tied each tag on with a coordinating ribbon. I tied the tags onto the base of each design. So far so good, right?

Well the problem came about when an employees husband nearly choked on his morning coffee. He was looking down at the cake plater and could not see the first two letters in "Dish it Up" Which reads quite different than was my intent.

Still Headed in the Right Direction

2011-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Week 2: January 3-7 This is just an update to my progress from my previous post. I began my new direction on 12/27/10.

I'm reading through the Chronological Bible and really enjoying this different approach.

Planet Fitness has opened a new 30 minute express workout that is a really good total body workout. I was sweaty and huffin and puffin, it felt really good, I'll be going back again today.

Yesterday began the Dave Ramsey Broadcast here locally. It is so good to get this daily bit of financial encouragement. The FPU Class begins on January 30th.

Eating tons of fresh fruits and veggies. Love having a juicer.

We went to visit Carol & Perry some friends that are having a lot of medical test this week.

I started planning the Youth World Changers Trip that David & I are going to sponsor this summer. I'm so excited to watch how God opens the flood gates and provides for their needs.

God is so Good!

Direction

2010-12-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

I think last year here on my blog I mentioned that I don't make New Year Resolutions. But often around the end of the old year or some where within the first couple weeks of the new year I try to come up with some area in my life that I want to focus on the direction I'm going. Okay so it does sound a bit like a new year resolution. I just have to call it something different, in order to feel like I will succeed.

Last week on Christmas Eve, David and I sat down and made a list of things that we want to do this coming year.
1. Be debt free by the end of 2011
2. Make a trip to Oregon
3. Be involved in some type of Mission project
4. Be more in touch with neighbors, friends and family.....via personal visits, phone calls, or letters
5. Read, study and memorize the Bible more.

I added for myself: To eat healthy, exercise and loose 25lbs.

Week 1 December 27-January 2
* Have plans to go to the Ogden Rescue Mission in January to serve.
* Started eating healthy and exercising
* Working on memorizing Isaiah 61:1-4

I doubt I will give weekly updates......how about I strive for monthly updates.
Thanks for allowing me to use this as a form of accountability and self motivation.

Old Fashion

2010-10-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

I may be a bit old fashion. Okay, I'm a whole lot old fashion at times.

Oh don't get me wrong I love the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing, electricity and the internet, But.......
I have been thinking about some of the good things we are loosing to modern conveniences. Such as, who takes the time to hand write letters to friends anymore. Instead we Facebook or text. I'm guilty! We are loosing the art of hand writing. Most children don't know how to write, it isn't being taught in school anymore.

Think about the last time you received a hand written note from a friend. How did that feel? Did you just quickly glance at it and toss it aside? I doubt it. I imagine you read it completely and reread it again, and probably put it somewhere so that you could keep it for a while.

Occasionally David or I open a book and find that we have hidden an old card or letter from each other between the pages. Wow! the flood of memories, emotions and feeling. Am then we reread the letter again.

I'm going to start hand writing notes to my dear friends and family members. Hopefully they will know that they are thought of and loved.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart........... Philippians 1:7

What traffic sign best reflects your life right now?

2010-10-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

I think my life has reflected all of these signs and many more at one time or another. A few other signs that I have found funny are:

1. The first time I arrived in Hyrum, UT we were in a residential area, with nice home and there was a Cattle crossing sign. 13 years later and that sign is still there.

2. Years ago while driving through Oklahoma there was a sign that read, "Do Not pull off road in smoke" a few yard down the road was a sign that read, " Do Not drive through Smoke" What am I suppose to do?

3. While on vacation in New Jersey David & I saw this sign -

Sorry, but I couldn't help but laugh because anywhere else I had ever been they were called speed bumps. I'm glad that most people were not obeying these signs. Can you imagine the traffic jams.

4. This morning as I drove past our church sign I laughed out loud because It read, " Free Coffee and Everlasting Life" Well for living in a predominately Mormon state (They believe that drinking tea or coffee is a sin) that was Funny. Yet at the same time it reminded me to pray for two missionaries that David & I have been talking to. I want them to see the truth of God's Love and to be set free from bondage.

Artisan Bread

2010-09-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Started making artisan bread about a month ago. Got my recipe from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. HA! The idea is to make up large amounts of dough and keep it in the fridge, removing a grapefruit size amount each time you want to make a loaf.

The dough needs to sit and rise at room temperature for 40 minutes.

Then it bakes for 50 minutes.

It makes wonderful bread but by my limited ability to calculate I figure it takes at least and hour and a half even if you already have the dough made up in the refrigerator ahead of time. I guess if I only make a loaf every 18 days and equally divide the hour and half between those 18 days, then okay I have bread in 5 minutes a day.

Jammin' with Jeannie

2010-09-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Recently My Aunt Jeannie (and Uncle Rick) came to visit. The first Day they were here David & I took them up into the Mountains, to a lake that we hiked around and had a picnic lunch. If you haven't been out to visit us this what you have to look forward to, We take all of our company there.

I was a bit concerned as to what we would do on the second day. David & I are rarely ever bored, cause we love working in the garden, and of course I can spend HOURS in the kitchen. But what to do with company???
That afternoon as we are coming down the mountain Aunt Jeannie asked if I would be okay with spending the next day making jam. Are you kidding me!?! Seriously, don't tease me about cooking.

So we began to develop our strategy. We needed Fruit (stop along side the road and pick elderberries)

We also had some blackberries and peaches at the house. Check!
We would have to stop by the store for more sugar and pectin. Check! Oh while we are at the store she also picked up the ingredients to make her Coconut cake, for Me! How many of you have an aunt that drive across the country to bake your a birthday cake. Now I know that I am her favorite niece!

The next day we made elderberry jam and some blackberry jam.

Uncle Rick and David spent most of the time in the garden, discussing coins, or studying maps.

Who knew they would have so much in common......hmmm lets see.........Oh thats right, I did!

We all had so much fun together. That I want to once again extent and invitation to the rest of our family and friends to come visit us. We will find plenty of fun things to do, as well as just relaxing and catching up on old times.

....and on her Tongue is the Law of Kindness. .

2010-09-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26 .......Lord ,let it be so!

   Our Women's Ministry at church hosted the Beth Moore Simulcast this past weekend. This was the verse that she spoke about. I just want to share some of my notes and thoughts about how God spoke to me.
First we live in a MEAN world! Second as Women we ARE going to open our mouths! You know thats true! whether you like it or not. I want to be Kind!

Beth Moore had 8 tastes of kindness that she discussed.
Two stood out to me:
1. Kindness wears down when we wear down.
   Boy do I know that to be true. When I'm tired physically, emotionally, or spiritually I find it almost impossible to be kind. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:44-46   I want my heart to be so full of kindness that, that is what will splash out on to you if your standing to close.

2. Kindness craves and outlet.   God has laid on my heart a desire to help some people that are in need. the next thought I had was HOW? I don't have the financial resources needed to met their needs. Then I was reminded that my Father does! He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. I also was reminded of George Muller:
   When God put it into the heart of George Muller to build orphanages, he had only two shillings (50 cents) in his pocket. Without making his wants known to any man, but to God alone, over a million, four hundred thousand pounds ($7,000,000) were sent to him for the building and maintaining of these orphan homes. (this was in the 1800's)

Praying Philippians 4:7 & 8, and trusting that God will supply all their needs according to his glorious riches.

Speaking the Truth in Love

2010-09-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Last night we had Mormon Missionaries come visit us. I have to be honest my first thought when I saw them pull in the drive was 'Oh no, how can I get rid of them quickly. I'm far to busy for this.' Then the very next thoughts were, 'No, I just taught a lesson last week about speaking the truth in Love .....and we had just attended a concert the night before with four ex-LDS Missionaries shared their testimonies about how they came to Christ through a Christian Pastor respectfully speaking the truth in love to them." I knew that I had to graciously welcome them and listen to them.

The reason I say I needed to listen to them is I believe as a Christian I need to earn the right to be heard. What I mean by that is I show sincere respect and listen to what they have to share first then when they ask what I think, I have earned the right to share what I believe.

In the past my main goal has been to plant a seed of doubt. Which I still believe can be effective in challenging the missionary to search out and find God's truth. Just maybe no my first plan of action. This time I plan to simply try to show respect and God's compassion and love for them and pray that they see it as being different.

They are coming back next Tuesday at 7:00pm. Pray that God will give David & I his Love and Grace along with clear thoughts and speech.

The Cure for PMS

2010-03-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

If David could find a way to get his "recipe" FDA approved I think we'd be millionaires.
Dark Thai Pepper "HOT" Chocolate.

Last night I was having one of those evening...Ladies you know what I mean. You have all been there, you can fill in the blank ________ so there really is no reason for me to elaborate.

We have all heard about the wonders of Chocolate and what great things it does for us. Well I never really bought into that until last night. David melted a block of dark chocolate added some dry Thai pepper flakes them he stirred it into a pan of warm milk for the most wonderful HOT chocolate. If your reading this and are one that doesn't care for dark chocolate or you don't like hot spicy peppers, fuggedaboudit.... no substitutes will do! With out the DARK Chocolate and Thai peppers you simply have a cup of childs hot cocoa, and that won't cut it. Seriously, I have never experience such rich, soothing comfort in a cup. It calmed the savage beast within. Rich, Dark, Spicy, Creamy, warm Chocolate! Really do I need to say any more?

So now when I say I have the best husband in the world, you know that I'm telling the truth!

Menu Planning for March

2010-03-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

I really don't have to say this because if you know me and are reading my blog then you know, I Love to cook. I love good food and I enjoy planning, shopping for and preparing good food.
I also remembered that by planning out a couple of weeks worth of menues and shopping for those item I can keep my grocery expenses down.

Menus for March 1-18
( Insert a MUSTGO night 'leftovers' about every 2-3 nights)
**Justifcations: I am not on a diet I am simply watching and being aware of the choices I make.

1.Spaghettii w/ homemade meat,mushroom & Tomato sauce

2.Bacon Cabbage & Root Soup ( I got this recipe from our snowshoeing, camping and hiking friend-Sandi) ** only 4 fat trimmed pieces of bacon in the entire pot of soup.

3.Perogies (a friend called me up and said she had made a large batch for a party and had some leftover) Toni is Polish and make these from scratch the old world way! Yummy!
** Sorry no Justification can be made here, just take heart that the last time I had any of these was 4-5 years ago.

4.Smoky Bean Chili ( I'll try to recreate a chili that Wayne brought to our church's Soup and Chili cook off - my mouth is watering as I think about it)

5.Baked Salmon & Asparagus

6.Crock-pot Burritos **lean ground beef fat free refried beans, load up on homemade salsa, lettuce & onions.

7.Homemade Pepperoni Pizza & salad ** this is treat for David that he gets only once every 3 or 4 months.

8.Scallops w/Asparagus & lemon Pasta

9.Homemade Mac n Cheese w/ Green Beans

10.Great Northern Beans & Ham ** I refrigerate them over night and remove any fat that rises to the top of the beans.

11.Chef Salad

12.Hamburgers ** I load up on onions, mushrooms & Lettuce, I use extra lean beef and I don't use a bun

Orange Cocoa Brownies (Taste great and good for you!))

2010-01-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

My bosses Birthday is this weekend so I decided to make a treat to take in to the office.
She is watcing her Cholesterol so I thought I'll play around and create something she can enjoy guilt free.
My number one rule with healthy recipes are they have to taste wonderful. I will not eat or serve something that taste like tree bark or dirt clods.

Orange Cocoa Brownies
1 brownie mix (dry)
1 egg
1/3 c pumpkin puree *
1/3 c apple sauce *
Zest of 1 orange
1/4 c water
1/2 tsp of pure orange extract
1/4 c cocoa

Mix and bake at 350* for 20 minutes
The brownies come out very dense and delicious.
You are reading the recipe correctly there is no Oil!!!
* All Natural, no sugar added. These items were home grown and canning in my own kitchen.

Seriously, These were wonderfully awesome!!!

Not a New Year Resolution!

2010-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

I Never make Weight loss, Diet or Exercise a New Years Resolution. I guess because so many people do, I just don't want to. I've always been that way, I rarely ever start the latest trend or get the hottest item on the market until it has run its course or been around for a while.

Yesterday I was at Border and picked up Ali Vincent, (The first female Biggest Loser Winner) new book, 'Believe It and Be It'. and read several pages - a quick read. Last night I went to the Library and checked out a copy of Jessica Seinfield's Cookbook 'Deceptively Delicious'. I felt the motivation building.

Today is the day. I started out by making a DD recipe for breakfast. Of course I altered the recipe, My version was: Pumpkin and Walnut Oatmeal [ oatmeal, pumpkin puree, ground flax seed, cinnamon, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and walnuts] No Fat, Highfiber and Very Tasty.

Started keeping my food Journal again. Planning to workout after lunch. Hoping to talk a friend into getting on board with me so that we can encourage and hold each other accountable.

Is This Another Food Blog?

2010-01-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

After watching the Julie & Julia movie I was inspired. Not to Blog for 365 days about 500+ french recipes that I wouldn't be able to afford or find some of the ingredients. But I was inspire to cook. Okay, I really don't need to be inspired to do that. If you know me I love to cook. I had 6 days off from work before Christmas. I spent the entire time cooking. I loved ever minute. I made Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon for Christmas, Wow it was amazingly delicous. Other dishes during my holiday cooking frenzy where Garlic Cheese Grits w/ Shrimp, Curry butternut squash & basmati rice, cookies, cookies and more cookies and Korean BBQ W/ stir fried vegetables & rices.

I enjoy reading cookbooks and food magazines for new ideas. My dear sweet husband bought me several cookbooks for Christmas along with ramikins of different sizes. I have collected dishes and kitchen utensil since I was 12 years old. Cooking has been a life long love affair for me.

It is now two weeks since my holiday food frenzy and I'm just getting around to blogging about it . I wanted to but thought there are a million plus food blog out there. What would make mine special or different from all the others. Nothing. Mine isn't loaded with new recipes, its not funny and witty. I don't even know how to post pictures or attach links. It's simply me. I will occasionally post some of my favorites or recipes that I have tried. As much as I would love to be Paula Dean or the Barefoot Contessa, Martha Stewart or Julia Childs I won't be. So here I am, Christy Holmes just another foodie.

Act Your Wage

2009-11-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a while since I last blogged. To catch up - the big thing that David & I have been doing since the middle of September is taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. It has made such an incredible impact of us. WOW! It has been absolutely amazing.

Dave teaches 7 baby steps to financial freedom.
Here are the first 3 I'll include the last 4 at a later date.

1. Establish a $1000 emergency fund.
2. Debt snow ball - get really serious about paying off all debt a fast as you can! (except your house that comes later)
3. Save 3-6 months worth of your income.

There will be great rejoicing when we get these first 3 steps completed.

We are now in month #2 of working our budget. It really has been quite easy.

Mini Victories along the way!
(Actually these were huge for us and have energized us to keep at it.)

1. Within the first week we were able to complete step one due to a great job that David got.
2. Within the first month we paid off two small credit cards.
3. First months budget came in UNDER budget. $60.00 - we are putting it towards a new camera.

This may sound strange but simply having a plan and being disciplined enough to stick with it has been fun. We may be living like no one else for right now, but later we will be able to live like no one else!

Practical application:
Menu planning for the week on November 2-8

Monday: Leftovers - we have a lot of stuff from last week and the weekend that needs to be cleaned up!
Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan. w/ snow peas
Wednesday: Cheese & veggie Quesadillas
Thursday: Pork medallions sauted onions w/ brown rice and salad
Friday: Tuna Melts
Saturday: Chili and hotdogs
Sunday: Stuffed Baked potatoes w/ broccoli

Grocery list for this week is simple because we have most of this in the cupboard or freezer.

5lb bag of coffee beans - IBIS Roasting Co. (this is a once a month purchase) $24.95
Some things are non negotiables!
1 doz eggs $1.00
2 quart of 1/2 & 1/2 $2.72
1 gallon of milk $1.89
brown rice $1.99
(seriously this is all I need to buy this week. How cool is that?)
Total $32.55

That leave us with $22.45 that we could still use for gorceries this week, but I don't think we need to, so into savings it goes!

GOD IS GOOD! I want to make sure that He gets all the credit for this victory in our lives. We will no longer be slaves to the lender!

Where do You Live?

2009-08-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

You have heard the saying, "you are what you eat?" I was wondering about starting a new saying, "are you like where you live?" A friend of mine post a picture of himself standing infront of a church sign "HALFWAY BAPTIST CHURCH" no joke, Halfway is an actual town in Southwest, MO. Shortly thereafter came a down pour of posts about unusual names for towns. Tightwad, Normal, Fairplay, Peculiar, yes these are all real names of real towns/cities. Of course you can imagine the jokes. Then I remembered I live in Paradise. I have often said, Since I'm going to be spending eternity in Paradise I desided to go ahead and move there now while here on earth.

Love, Honor & Cherish

2009-06-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Dr. Laura on the radio the other day and she was talking to a woman whos husband had an affair. Dr. Laura pointed out that yes the husband had broken the wedding vows but the woman for several year had also broken the wedding vow by not Love, Honoring or Cherishing her husband.

I do not for one fraction of a second fear David having an affair. But it made me stop and think. Yes, I Love and Cherish him with all my heart. But how do I honor him? I asked him if I honored him and how? He mentioned obedience..... Whoa let me stop you before you get upset.....I knew what he meant, he does not demand my obedience of him. David however is the head of our home and leads us with love, "as Christ loves the Church." We discussed this for a while but I still didn't feel I had a good grasp on how to honor my husband even though he assured me that I do. This morning I read a blog where a woman is taking a 30 day challenge to honor her husband each and every day. The one thing I got from the portion that I read was doing something special for him each day. My first thought was yay! I do this ...easy, I'm off the hook! But, I think God had me read on for a reason, I wasn't off the hook. This woman was talking about how she knew her husband loved her even if she had put on some weight but she didn't like herself. (Yikes, thats me.) God really opened my eyes that to honor also involves sacrifice. I don't want to get up early to go exercise. Hmmm does The Bible say that "Obedience is better than sacrifice." Yes, but for me to honor David I'm going to need to sacrifice some of my time, and by doing so I'm being obedient to God and David by taking care of my body. I will do it! I want to be a wife that David is proud of at all times, I want to honor him.

Menu Planning & New Recipes

2009-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I Love Cooking! If you know me at all you probably know this. I love trying new recipes and experimenting with old favorites. I use to jokingly say that cooking was my therapy. There is probably a lot of truth in that statement. Cooking help me to feel creative and productive. I relax and process the days experiences while cooking. I have been cooking since I was around 8 yrs old (that is cooking solo) at 2yrs of age my mother was very sick, so Dad would sit me on the edge of the counter and we'd fix dinner together.

Last month I was reading about ways to save money and cut expenses. One suggestion was grocery shop once a month, WHAT! okay they say you can start out by shopping just once a week until your ready to take that bigger step. That is somewhat better. I have always been one to make short quick trips 3-4 times a week. This book suggested planning monthly or weekly menus and shopping list from those menus. I was concerned that this would greatly stifle my creative juices. I did not want to be stuck in a rut, bored and end up saving money but disliking cooking.

Suprise I'm really enjoying it. I think I spend less time in the kitchen which is a good think this time of year with yard and garden work that needs to be done. I'm trying all of those recipes that I thought sounded good but never go around to trying. I think David is enjoying this aswell. He often ask, "Oh, are we having _______ tonight!?"

Here are some of my menus that I have whipped up over the last few weeks.

BBQ Pork Sandwiches w/ Green beans
Swiss Steak, Mashed potatoes & Chili cheese corn
Spagehetti & Salad
Homemade Pizza
Baked Potatoes w/ Broccoli & Cheese
Baked Salmon w/ Asparagus
Steak & onions w/ potatoes & Salad
Steak (leftover & sliced) Quesidillas
Taco Salad
Chicken Dijon W/ sugar snap peas
Roast w/ homemade egg noodles & Green beans
Tuna burgers
Korean BBQ brown rice & Stir fry veggies
Sausage, Kale & Cheddar bread pudding
Ham & Beans
Homemade Mac & Cheese

Every Wednesday night is our Mustgo night - everything in the fridge must go. Also know as leftover night. I have never figured out how to cook small amounts. I grew up in a family of 5 but we almost always had extended family or friends joining us. So I cook as thought there are at least 4 of us instead of just the two. This gives David plenty of leftovers for his second breakfast, 11:00'es, lunch, 1:00'es & 2:00'es, right before bed fridge raids. How does he eat all the time and not gain an ounce??? That is the subject for another blog!

Looking forward to more fun and creative meals in the future. But for now I must go for a hike or bike ride to burn off some of these calories.

More than I could ever hope for

2009-06-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Some friends (that live further south - a bit warmer climate) gave us a couple bags of walnuts. I eagerly started cracking the english walnuts and baking bread. Last week I annouced that I wanted to plant English walnut trees on our little farm. We started calling nurseries and researching on line. I was starting to get a bit discouraged that we might not get walnut trees to grow here in a colder climate and if we could, could we afford them at $85 a tree and you need two for pollination.

Saturday David & I went garage saling. As we walked up to one house He said, Look! this is an English walnut tree. It was in this ladies front yard and it was big and beautiful, very full canopy/ lacy cover. I jokingly said wonder how much they want for it.

We found a couple little item we wanted to purchase from the sale, as David was paying he jokingly asked the lady, "My wife wants to know how much you want for your English Walnut tree." She didn't bat an eye and said, "I have several young tree would you like some."

We dug up 6 young starts for FREE!!!!! plus they are climatized to this area. Thats over a $500 dollar value and she has another larger tree she said we could come get in the fall or spring when its dormate, and that we could come this fall an collect nuts from her tree. WOW!!! Oh and we got a 5 ft maple and some little hens and chicks (the plant)

God is so good! He knows our desires and blesses us above and beyond all we could ever hope for.

MORE BLESSINGS: Update! I just found out that the irrigation pipes that we bought come withthe risers and rain birds attached. We thought we were only getting pipe at $50 apiece vs the store pipe at $100 apiece. We thought we would have to purchase the risers and rainbirds seperately. WOW Bargain blessings!!!!

Lawn & Garden update

2009-05-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Advance Warning! This blog probably won't have cute or funny little lines. I simply wanted to have a written record of what we have planted in our garden so far. Oh by the way, we have been adopted by the local LDS ward gardeners. Scott & Floyd have brought us 8 bags of fertilizer and last night they brought us 8 tomato plants.

Let me back up, after days and day of tilling ( and he still has more to do) David has reduced the size of our garden from the original 6600 sq ft. down to a mear 5000 sq ft.

We needed to buy irrigation pipes in order to water everything. We priced the value opener, 3 40 ft. links of pipe with risers and rain birds and the end cap and it was going to cost around $450. David found a guy on craigslist selling a set of 4 40 ft. pipes for $50 apiece.We will still have to buy the valve opener, risers, rainbirds and the end cap. We have a friend with a trailer that will pick them up for us. The cost has been reduce to around $370, pluse we have an extra 40 ft of pile that we can either use or resell. I love a bargain!!!

Ok back to the actual garden, I keep getting distracted. We currently have planted 46 tomatoes, 39 peppers, 4 tomatillas, 4 egg plants Along with the list of things in my last blog "Planting in the Rain". I just realized that I haven't counted everything else. I'll have to update this later. We also planted a large patch of spinach, a lettuce mix, arugala, swiss chard, and radishes.

The irrigation water is on and Farmer Dale came back last night and hooked up our irrigation for the front yard! YAY!!!! He should be bringing David's new friends #769, #324, #468 & #503 soon. (The Cows)

Happy Gardening !!!

Planting in the Rain

2009-05-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Planting in the Rain, Just planting in the rain. What a glorious feeling.....to have mud caked to my shoes.

It is a beautiful Spring here in Northern Utah. Sure people are complaining about the rain but come on folks remember where you live, it won't be long until it is so dry that we'll be begging for rain.

I've found over the last several years of gardening that you really can't wait til it stops rain to put your garden in, by then it is to late. We have been running out for 15-30 minutes a day digging in the mud, planting in the rain & between rains. People are surprised when I say we have peas about an inch up out of the ground. Our onions and garlic growing happily. Cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, bokchoy and red & russet potatoes planted. Indoors we have tomatoes , zucchini, squash, a wide variety of beans, and peppers waiting a few more days before they can go out. (We will still get at least one more freeze &/or snow) Again, people we live in Northern Utah, are have you forgotten!

My dear, sweet, ambitious husband has tilled at least a 1/3 of an acre for our garden. We have had so much fun planting in the rain & between rains. I have already started enlisting help from church friends to come help weed and pick produce, I fear that we will have far more that we can possible handle, even with us canning, dehydrating and freezing.

I am going to try and keep track of what and how much we have planted.
8 fruit trees: 2 pears, 1 apricot, 1 apple, 2 cherries, 2 peaches.
35 raspberries
18 blackberries
40 strawberries
Peas
100+ onions
a whole bunch of garlic
8 cabbage
brussel sprouts (who knows?)
20+?? broccoli
cauliflower ????? you just lose count somewhere after . . . to many!
Bok choy (pick a number any number???)
22 red potatoes
22 russet potatoes

Things that still need to go in the MUD.
I still have a half million Yukon gold potatoes to plant
16 pepper plants
17 tomatoes
3 zucchini - one is all any family could possible need (and then darn things never die)
3 yellow squash
A wide variety of beans, green, purple, romano, black beans lima beans, wax beans . . . . the list goes on, and on, and on.

We haven't even thought about watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, and corn yet. . . .not to worry we have plenty of garden space.

Heaven help us, if half of our garden dies off we will still have to much.

If you can't find us this summer just look out back Throught the gate and across the bridge, we will be living in our garden for the summer. If you need fresh produce please come help yourself, I'm serious!

What's for Dinner?

2009-04-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

I love creating new recipes and taking old recipe and revamping them. Last night I was trying to think of what to do with Easter Dinner leftovers and this is what I got.

Cooked three strips of bacon in a skillet. Crumb crisp bacon
Carmelized 1 large onion.
1" Cubes of Ham & Baked Sweet potatoes
Sauteed for 10 minutes

YUMMMMMMO!
Simple, Way Quick & Delicous!!!

That same Easter Ham is also being used to make a hugh pot of ham & beans for tonights dinner.

I love a great bargin: 1 Ham Shank (on sale $.79 lb. = $4.75)

Feed 7 people for Easter dinner
3 meals from the Ham & Sweet potatoes skillet
6+ meals from the ham & beans
plus there is still a little bit of ham left (will probably be cut up an used in an omelet tomorrow)

Divine Appointment

2009-04-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening David and I were both restless we didn't know what we wanted to do. Being restless is kinda unusal for David & we can almost always come up with something to do or that needs to be done. We had rented a movie but it felt to early to settle end for the evening and watch a movie, it was to cold to do anything outside, we ate supper early, now what.... With some hesitation we dropped in unannounced on some friends. We realized that they had another car in their drive so we told each other we won't stay long if they have company.

Turns out that this friend did have a neighbor visiting but they insisted that we come in and stay. Her neighbor was struggling with something in her personal life which we didn't know anything about. She started asking David & I questions about our relationship with Christ. We both told her when we accepted Christ (at 8 & 18 years of age.... a hundred years ago) but we went on to say how amazing His is in our lives right now. How he takes care of us, provides for us abundantly, and the sweet joy and peace that only comes from Him. We just talked, we had no idea how God was using us. The next morning at church our friend quickly found David & I first thing to say Thank you stopping by, that our showing up unannounced was a divine appointment. Her friend had called her back later that night to say after talking to us she had reconsidered somethingsin her life. YAY! GOD!

In our conversation she asked if we had any home Bible study groups. David & I had planned to start one in January but hadn't...maybe the weather was our excuss... maybe the timing wasn't right. We told her we were planning to start one ...so now is the time.... Our first Bible study will be Friday night April 17 at 7:00pm We are going to start in the book of John.

So the next time you feel restless ask yourself could God be setting up a divine appointment?

Scripture Memorization

2009-03-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've memorized Bible verses and key passages off and on since I was a child. However over the course of this past year I had been more off that on. About a week ago David broke out a pack of 3x5 note cards and said he was going to start making a conscious effort to memorize God's word, and would I like to join him. I have joined him in this adventure, and I'm writing this note to invite you my friends and family members. "Would you like to join us?" Here are the ones I hid away this week and the ones I'm currently working on.

Isaiah 54:10, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 90:2, Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Hebrews 10:23-25, Philippians 2:1-11

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Phil.2:1-2

Daily I recieve request to join a group to fight, support or stand up for or against something. I guess I'm creating my own unoffical "group to join" "Hid God's word in your heart"Feel free to start with these verses or choose your own. If you decide to join this challenge send me a message back so that we can be an encouragement to one another.
Love,
Christy

What is it with SNOW and Mondays?

2009-03-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

If my calculations are correct it has snowed three out of four Mondays this month. Don't we struggle enough on Mondays? Okay to be fair we have had some fantastic days, in the mid 60's.
Saturday was one of those Bbbeeeautiful days. I rode my bike, and worked in the yard and graden. David & I planted peas and onions in the garden. Marking my calender - March 21 started garden outside-peas & onions. We have broccoli, brussel spouts, leeks, and tomatoes started inside.

I haven't blogged in quite a while so I thought I get on and just write something.

Thursday & Friday I taught a Disaster Relief Chaplains class, had four students. We had great discussion, I really enjoyed it.

I'm tapped, drained, spent...nothing new,or out of the ordinary to say.

Waging War

2009-03-04T09:33:00.000-08:00

I'm back on the front lines in the battle to loose weight and get in shape.
I rode my bike to work this morning 9.75 miles and burned over 500 calories!!!!!!
Wow it felt great! How is it that when I get lazy and don't exercise I'm OK with that lethargic feeling. How quickly I forget the empowered feeling of a good workout.

I'm thinking about writing a diet and exercise challenge. With daily disciplines to add to your existing lifestyle, weeding out the bad habits, and with daily scripture and devotional thoughts. This will be mainly for myself but I will share it on here and with others, hopeful as a source of encouragement to wage your own war were needed. Please know I am foot solider right along side you in this war, I never have been a high ranking officer nor never will be. My desire is to be obedient and follow the orders given to me.

Confessions of a Lazy Soilder

2009-02-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, time for full disclosure, I going to come clean. Its the only way this will work.
Two years ago I started a process by which I lost 63lbs. This past July when I got married I was at my lowest weight in a very long time. Here is my confession: On July 19, 2008 I began cooking the "old way" and stopped exercising as much. I have put 18 lbs back on! (this is where if I had a way of recording sound to my blog you would hear great wailing and nashing of teeth) OK ENOUGH!

Moving on. . . today is the day. I have not lost the War on weight! I simple gave up a couple of battles. I will now take up my weapons (food journal, glass of water, tennis shoes) and prepare to reenter the war.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 This was the verse of the day on a friend's site. It was suggested that you blog about this verse I think it fits with this blog very well. My lack of self control is a sin that I need healing for.

Bonne Anniversari

2009-02-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

Every morning David goes out 10-15 minutes before I have to leave for work and starts my car. He scrapes the ice or shovels the snow. He always leaves a little patch of ice or snow where he can draw a heart or two in the snow or ice. Who needs flowers?

This morning on the top of my frost covered car where several hearts and a message. Bonne Anniversari. He remembered! Today is 7 months of wedded bliss!I know some of you may be rolling your eyes, thinking, "they'll get over it, their just newly weds." Who says you have to get over it? I hear people in church say the same thing about young christians that are excited and in love with God. Why do we do this? Is it because we have lost that love and passion so in order to make ourselves feel better about our relationship we try dragging the other person down?

I remember Pastor Rob saying near the end of our wedding ceremony. "Let no one seperate you!" I wonder if that should also be said to new Christians. A relationship with Christ is that of a bride and bride groom.

My Dear Beloved Jesus,
Bonne Anniversari! I don't remember the exact date you became my bride groom (approx: May 1973) I have not always been faithful, but you have. Thank you that you always freely give your love and forgiveness and take me back into your arms where there is security, comfort and pure joy.
I Love you with all my heart!
Christy

Happy Sick Day

2009-02-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Satuday afternoon there was a knock on our front door. Hesitantly (because I was still in my PJ's) I opened the door and peeked around the corner. "HAPPY SICK DAY!" in a loud cheerful voice. I wasn't the one sick but since David was and was still in bed and it was a Saturday I hadn't gotten dressed yet. The "Happy Sick Day" was beening extended by our pastor and his wife. I was handed a card and a gift bag for David that contained chicken noodle soup, crackers and mint tea. Renee then handed me a small pkg. with little green & red disks that said "Protectors" in three different languages. I was very confused, it didn't help when she said, "trust me you'll need them." (for any of you that have met Renee you'll understand what I'm about to say, I'm always a little nervious when I hear her say trust me.) My thought was are these suppost to keep me from getting sick? About that time Rob stepped around the corner and handed me a truck battery. O Ooookay the protectors were starting to make sense, they were terminal protectors.

Rob & Renee on behalf of our church family brought David a new battery for his Explorer. We have been having to go out and start the truck everyday if we missed a day; such as over a weekend when we would just use my car or the few days that David had been sick the battery would be dead and we'd have to jump it.

Because David was very sick I didn't invite Rob & Renee in to expose them to the sick germs. I thanked them and they were on their way. I took the gift bag w/ soup and card into David, and told him who it was from. Then I drug the battery into the room and heaved it up onto the bed, and said this is from them also. He looked like he was about to cry. "Wow! I can't believe this," he said. "They really are just like family aren't they?" "I remember you telling me how much of a family your church was before I moved out here."

I have to say David really loves his church family at Emmanuel and on Saturday recieved an expression of that love in return. I'm happy to report that by Sunday afternoon David started feeling better. I guess it is true chicken soup, hot tea, and a new battery cures the cold.

WHY ME GOD?????

2009-02-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Why O Why? Why Me God? ...ok honestly when you read the first few words did you think, "Oh no what happened?" or "What is she whining about?" if so...gotcha! My, "Why me God?" question is purely one of praise and adoration. Why does he love me so, why does he choose to bless me beyond anything I have ever imagined. He is SOoooo Good to me! I don't deserve all that he does for me. He is ever constant, ever faithful. His love is pure! He will never leave me or forsake me! He disciplines me because he loves me (proverbs 3:12 - we studied this with the children last nightat church)

I don't know about you but I can't recall ever hearing someone question God when he unloads good things into their lives. But look out if pain or suffering should come our way, we whine and complain and question God like nothing else. Man we sound like a bunch of spoiled brats.

Why do we feel entitled to the good things and pitch a fit over the painful things?

I once hear someone say, "What if everything we neglected to thank God for today he took away from us?" I don't believe he works like this . . . but what if?

Please don't think that by my writing this blog I'm claiming to be on top of my game with Praise and Thanksgiving. Far from it. I hope that by writing this it will help me be more mindful to say
"THANK YOU DADDY!" ......."Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above."

Thank you Father for you gift of salvation, my husband, health, my dear family & friends, work . . . this is just the beginning of my list ....what on your list?

Blood Cake

2009-02-12T10:01:00.001-08:00

For Eleven years now I have been a Children's Minister, Ten year prior to Children's Ministry I was a Youth Minister. These two ministries are extremely different. In youth ministry I could say almost anything to teenagers, they could handle, actually they loved the more gruesome Bible stories. I quickly found out that in Children's ministry I had to be very careful in what I said and how I said things and the tone of voice I used or little kids would start crying. I like to think that over 11 years I've gotten pretty good at being able to talk to children about the more sensitive topics that are in the Bible. That is until last night!

Since It is just a few days before Valentines Day I thought it would be an easy... almost no brainer lesson. Thats were I went wrong! I though the obvious lesson would be 1 Corinthians 13 "The Love Chapter" immmediately the Boy were all like ooooo yuck gross, cooties, LOVE Stuff! So I quickly switched gears ( I was quite proud of myself, That should have been another warning sign... pride come before a fall) I went with John 15 :13 "No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friend." I told the boys that the most "Manly" (Godly) thing ever done was an act of Love when Jesus gave himself to die on the cross for us. The boys started perking up and getting into the lesson more at this point. When they mentioned him being beatened and nailed to the cross Lizzy's a little 5 year old was quite concerned, she spoke up and said "I don't think they really nail Jesus' hands to the cross, they nailed his clothes." before I had a chance to respond Hayden a "Cool" 8 year old said "Nope! they nailed his hands because he wasn't wearing any clothes." I did my best to accurately explain everything. We even went back an picked up 1 Cor. 13. Everyone seemed to be handling things well. So on that note we ended our Bible study and transitioned ( a good teacher term) to our activity and snack time. Since Saturday is Valentines day I thought hey lets make a red velvete cup cakes for our treat! Each child got to help add ingredients and mix, upon adding the egg oil & water the cake mix became RED! Hadyen the Cool 8 year old, loudly proclaims WOW! Coooool! Blood Cake!......... you probably can imagine what the girls said.

I've Been Thinking

2009-02-02T08:45:00.001-08:00

All last week I wanted to write a blog but couldn't for the life of me think of amything to write about. Every time I'd sit down at the computer my mind would go completely blank. I have never been accused of being a great thinker, but come on, a whole week of fogging thinking.

Yesterday these thought started come to me, suprisingly it was during the time I had a terribly sick headache that made thinking about anything very difficult.

I slipped into one of the Adult Sunday School Classes and they were studying psalm 86. Verse 11b reads, "Give me an undivided mind to fear your name." My first thought was about my work at the group home for men with schizophrenia. Being focused and attentive is a key skill they have to work on all the time. Having a divided mind is huge part of their problem.

Later yesterday afternoon my husband David was reading a quote to me from a book that he is reading. (this is my paraphrased version since I don't have the book here to quote from directly)
"The easiest thing in the world to do is think." "The hardest thing in the world to do is to think well."

Wow is that ever true! Again, one of my guys at the group home has been struggling with just letting his mind wonder in the past, to the future and even into never, never land... but rarely is he in the "now" dealing with his life as it really is. Don't just think, think well!

Because of my headache yesterday I struggled to think well. During worship I so wanted to not only hear Rob's sermon but I was trying to take God's word and lay it along side my life in order to compare the two and see where I fell short. I believe that anytime we apply God's word to
areas of our life that the Holy Spirit illuminates we are thinking well. Don't just think,think well!

David was telling me this morning that he was praying and trying to think on the Goodness of God and before he knew it he was off in Japan, then he'd come back to this attribute of God and be off planning the back yard and garden. He commented how disapointed he was in the short amount of time he was able to stay focused on God. Don't just think, think well!

David and I often joked about being an ADD cheif, ADD shopping, ADD cleaning, aka: multitasking. The problem with these are though there is a lot of activity and it may at first appear as though a lot is being accomplished nothing gets our full attention, our best effort, and often is never finished. Don't just think, think well!

Father, I don't want to simple think, I want to THINK WELL! Help me keep my mind steadfast on You! On you word meditate day and night.

Random thoughts - Its Monday what do you expect?

2009-01-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

Yay! I have 1 follower on my blog. Thanks Tracy.
Tracy is my neighbor, friend from church, and walking buddy(when the weather is good).

My dear sweet husband remembered our 6 month anniversary and suprised me with a gift during church yesterday.

I'm trying hard to get back into the routine of working out daily.

Currently reading "The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage" by Dr. Laura Schessinger.

I'm sore from the last couple of days workouts - lunges hurt like crazy but the pay off is worth it.

My 1st &2nd grade Sunday School Class learned about Samson yesterday. What a blast! I wish you could have see their eyes when I told them that Samson tore a Lion in half with his bare hands and that with a donkey bone he killed 1000 men by himself. Talk about a superhero. But like all superheros he had his weakness.

I was really hoping for 2 feet of snow overnight so I'd have an excuse to miss work, but it didn't, I'm here.

I'm making homemade chicken noodle soup for supper tonight. YUM!!!

listening to Delirious - "Did You Feel the Moutains Tremble"

Need to get jumper cables for Davids truck - dead battery again!

Interested in researching the Nazerite Vow - Samson was one from birth and John the Baptist was also. I know they didn't drink wine or cut their hair.

Well I need to go fix lunch for the guys ( I work at a group home for men with schizophrenia)

The Letter B

2009-01-20T11:33:00.000-08:00

Well here goes. I've been reading and enjoying some friends blogs and now I am so inspired.
One of the first Blogs I read was where a letter of the alphabet was assigned and a top 10 list of your favorite things beginning with that letter was created. I haven't been assigned a letter by anyone else, but in the middle of the night last night I woke up thinking about blogging, how blessed I am and my beloved. Sooooo I chose the letter "B".

#1. Beloved: For those that know me you might think I'm referring to my David, I'm not there is another, someone who was in my life long before I met David. "Sorry babe you get second place." Jesus the Lover of my soul gets first place. Without His great love, I would not be able to love David as I do.

#2. Babe: My best friend and the love of my life. David is the greatest blessing in my life next to my salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ. David knows he is in second place and is very thankful for that. Being 2nd to Christ puts him in the very best position possible. Proverbs 16:3 was a foundational verse for us. "Commit to the Lord what ever you do and your plans will succeed." Yes! it really is that simple!

#3.Bible: "The grass withers the flowers fade but the Word of our God lasts forever" Isaiah 40:8 God's word had never failed it has been good for teaching, correcting, training, and discipline in my life. (2 Tim 3:16) It is the one "Absolute Truth" in my life. The Standard to live by.

#4. Baptist: (Christian- doesn't begin with the letter "B") I jokingly say that I was Southern Baptist 9 month before I was born. I'm thankful for the Christian heritage my parents have given me. I accepted Christ as my Savior and was Baptized at the age of 8. At 12 years oldI knew God was calling me into ministry I surrendered to His call finally at the age of 20. I graduated from a Southern Baptist University and Seminary and have served in 4 SBC church in Missouri and Utah. I continue to be SB because they believe the entire word of God to be inerrant, and they are a Missions minded people.

#5. Buddies: Good friends that are there for you when you need a listening ear or someone to celebrate with you. I've had a lot of acquaintances, but only a few very close dear friends and they know who they are.

#6. Bacon, butter, bagels, Basil: (food - doesn't start with the letter "B") Because I am a good #4. I love #6. I love to cook. cooking is a way for me to be creative and is very therapeutic. I love cooking for my #2 and #5.

#7. Body: I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life 2 years ago I started making some changes to my lifestyle and have lost 50 lbs. I have learned to enjoy eating healthy and exercising. I even ran a couple of 5k races.

#8 Basics: K eep I t S imple S tupid - I have always enjoyed the simply thing in life. I don't need a lot of flash and flare. Some might even find me a little on the boring side. Give me a good book and great cup of coffee and I can be happy for hours.

#9. Beauty: I appreciate the beauty of God's creation. Trees, mountains, rock formations. streams, flowers. There is beauty all around us in everything that God has created. David often point things out to me that at first glance I don't see. How wonderful it is to see things from an artists perspective.

#10. Beyond: Dreams of what tomorrow holds but beyond that...what eternity holds.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."