Direction

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

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?

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

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

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. .

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

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.