Faithfulness

"May all your troubles be as short as your New Year's resolutions."

as seen on a local church sign

While at first glance, that quote is "cute", it made me start thinking.

How often has God spoken to me and pricked my conscience about something?

Of course, I quickly vowed to do better, and then just as quickly failed at it! I want to be a faithful Christian woman~not one that is swept from one thing to another. I want to be faithful in all things!

I've said several times that I don't like making resolutions...setting goals is more beneficial for me. One goal I am thinking about and working on this year is FAITHFULNESS.

• I want to continue being faithful in God's house.
• I want to be faithful in reading His Word~not just when it's convenient, but every. single. day!
• I want to be faithful in my ministries. Not just doing them in my own strength, but covering those ministries in prayer and seeking God's help and wisdom.
• I want to be a faithful friend and spouse to my sweet Hubbie~faithful to meal plan, clean, cook, clip coupons, etc. (I think you get the picture.)
• I want to be a faithful daughter, sister, and friend.
  

The more I think about the word faithfulness, the more ways I want to perfect this character trait in my life. With God's help, I know I can be more like Christ!

Here are just a few verses that are helping me:

Psalm 36:5~Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Lamentations 3:22-23~It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I Thessalonians 5:24~ Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

And one last passage~this is one of my favorites. Although the word faithfulness is not mentioned in these verses, the thought is there...

Philippians 3:13-14~Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

May I be found faithful this year!

My First Award

Wow! I was very pleasantly surprised yesterday...I received my very first blog award! Thank you, Karen! I hope you have some time to go visit her today.

I am supposed to tell you seven things about me and then give this award to seven other bloggers. So, here goes~

1. I am the third child, the second daughter, and the baby of the family.
2. I am having more fun with this blog than I thought I would. I have "met" so many wonderful Christian ladies through the blog world!
3. I love coffee~with lots of creamer! Hubbie says I like my creamer with a little bit of coffee...hmmm.
4. I am not very good at keeping New Year resolutions. I enjoy setting goals more.
5. I really enjoy making handmade cards. (I used to be a Stampin'Up! demonstrator, so I have lots of supplies...)
6. I like to sew, but don't do it very often. My mom is so much better at this than I am. :)
7. I have never attended a public school or university. I'm so thankful for my Christian education!

Now, for my nominations~So many women have been a blessing to me...I hope you can visit these ladies soon:

1. Ruth at Daily Divine
2. Katie at Katie's Keepers
3. Giggles at Life in My Lane
4. Jennifer at Trading Ashes for Beauty
5. Sarah at Nesting in Pleasant View
6. Christy at Between Here and Home
7. Amy at Raising Arrows (this is a wonderful blog that I've recently learned about)

Have a great day!

Simple Woman's Daybook~1/11/2010

For today, Monday, January 11, 2010~

Outside my window~

it is frigid and cold...27 degrees

I am thinking~

about Preacher's sermon series on temptation

I am thankful for~

a loving, forgiving Savior

From the learning rooms~

oldest daughter is working on equivalent fractions, son has learned "j" and the blend ladder

From the kitchen~

pork chops, noodles, gravy, lima beans for dinner

I am creating~

nothing right now, but planning for Valentine's Day

I am going~

to the craft store later today (hopefully)

I am reading~

through the Bible by categories with my church

I am hoping~

that with all this cold weather we will get some more snow!

I am hearing~

the washing machine

Around the house~

Christmas decorations are put away, and Valentine's Day decorations are out~

I love to decorate for the seasons!

One of my favorite things~

snuggling under the warm blankets with my Hubbie

A few plans for the rest of the week~

school

church on Wednesday

Hubbie off work on Friday

Here is a picture for thought that I am sharing~

these are at Canyon Lake, AZ a few years ago...just some warmer temps to think about!

I am joining Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook. If you'd like to read more daybooks, just hop on over there...Have a great Monday!

Bass Pro Shops

Have you been to a Bass Pro Shop? Not being a real "outdoorswoman", I wasn't sure what to expect... On several occasions, Hubbie, kiddos, and I had passed by one of the stores, and one fine December day, we knew we would be close by, so we planned for a visit!

Boy, was I ever surprised! Totally~and I hate using this word, but~cool! I was really amazed, and I think my family was, too! There were two huge indoor aquariums, one freshwater and one saltwater. The freshwater aquarium had local types of fish in it. Beautiful! The saltwater aquarium was located inside a restaurant (which was inside the store). We enjoyed some surf and turf for lunch and then continued on our journey. We probably spent about three hours in that store~just looking at everything!

If you ever get a chance to visit, by all means, please do so! You'll be glad you did~unless, of course, you don't like to see stuffed bear, deer, raccoon, squirrel, etc......Here are a few pictures from our visit.

Beautiful fireplace and mantle

Freshwater aquarium and waterfall

Beautiful! I think most of God's creatures are amazing!

My parents have had a few of these visit their back porch~in fact, one black bear even tore their screen on the back door~too close for comfort for me!



I thought this sign was too funny!

I hope you enjoyed your visit today. Have a great Wednesday!

One of the Best...

Here is a yummy recipe for one of the best cookies I've ever made!

Double Tree Hotel Cookies

1 1/2 c. butter~softened
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice
3 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. old-fashioned oatmeal -- uncooked
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 c. Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.


• Place the butter in a large bowl and cream lightly with an electric mixer.


• Add the sugars and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.


• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.


• Add the vanilla and lemon juice and mix well.


• In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add to the creamed butter mixture and stir well to blend.


• Add chocolate chips and walnuts and stir to combine.


• Using a 1/4 cup measure or a 2-oz ice cream scoop, drop the batter on the parchment-lined pans, leaving 2 -3 inches between each cookie.


• Bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from parchment and cool on wire racks.

Enjoy with a tall glass of milk, or a cup of coffee...Have a great day!

Here is a picture of these beauties! They are huge!

Simple Woman's Daybook~1/4/10

For today, Monday, January 4, 2010~

Outside my window~

sunny, 27 degrees

I am thinking~

about my personal goals for this year

I am thankful for~

new beginnings

From the learning rooms~

school is back in session with A Beka DVD's for our oldest daughter

traditional school for our son

From the kitchen~

bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits this morning

I am creating~

my grocery list (actually, I have a standard list printed out, so I am just highlighting what I need to get from the store)

I am going~

to the grocery store later today

I am reading~

The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond

Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

both of which were Christmas gifts from my sweet Hubbie :)

I am hoping~

to get back on my diet tomorrow

I am hearing~

our furnace :)

Around the house~

are still the Christmas decorations~I love this time of year!

One of my favorite things~

spending time with my wonderful Hubbie and my kids

BBQ sandwiches (see picture below) :)

A few plans for the rest of the week~

take down and put away the Christmas decorations

homeschool group on Friday

basketball league for our church kids starts Saturday

Here are a couple of pictures for thought that I am sharing~

notice the horseshoes~this house was decorated in everything to do with horses...of course our oldest daughter was "in love"

Talk about some serious BBQ!!! It really was quite tasty!

Happy New Year!

I am linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook. Hop on over there to read some more daybooks!

Christmas Wrap-Up

We had a lovely Christmas together...spending time with family is always a good thing! I know many people are hurting during the year...but, especially during the holidays. My heart just hurts thinking about some of the things you ladies are going through...Please know that I'm praying for you.

We started with the Christmas Eve service at our church. After church, the kids got to open their gifts to each other. They had so much fun shopping for each other and then wrapping the gift. It did my mommy's heart good to see their little faces light up when their sibling opened their gift!

Christmas morning, we read Luke 2:1-20 (a tradition in our house before we open gifts). It is always good for us as a family to remember THE GREATEST GIFT ever given~JESUS CHRIST!

After gifts were opened~did I mention that Hubbie got me Pioneer Woman's new cookbook?~we had breakfast, then got ourselves ready for the rest of the day. We drove to my parent's house (about 1 1/2 hours) for Christmas dinner. Yum! Mom is a great cook. On the menu was: fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, yeast rolls. Of course, no meal is complete without dessert...spice cake, cookies, applesauce cake, cookies, pineapple upside down cake, more cookies...Mom made dozens of cookies...I'm sure Dad doesn't mind having the leftovers. :)

On Saturday, 12/26, our son turned 5 years old! We started our day with a quick clean-up from Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa came over and we had Christmas with them. Then, out to Applebee's for the birthday lunch. After lunch, we headed back home for birthday cake and birthday presents. What a fun day we had. His favorite birthday gift was Spike, Jr., a dinosaur that walks and roars and laughs...

Sunday was church, Monday we stayed home, and on Tuesday, we drove round trip to see some family out on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We had Christmas with them and enjoyed spending a little bit of time with them.

Wednesday, we did stay home, and today, we are home...I sure have enjoyed having Hubbie home...He returns to work on Monday (but he gets to work from home), and we start school again on Monday.

For now, I am thinking about my goals for 2010--nothing concrete yet. I prefer to not make "resolutions" as I do not keep them very well! I'm hoping that this blog will help keep me accountable. :) I hope to share some of those goals in the days ahead.

Here are just a few photos I'd like to share with you from our last two weeks.

Have a safe and happy New Years Eve!

Beautiful falling snow!

We got 23" of snow!

The kids playing on the deck.

Our oldest daughter's creations...

And our son's creations...

Lots of fun for everyone!

Daybook for December 22, 2009

Good morning! I am linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook today. Hop on over there for lots more of these fun lists...Have a great Tuesday!

FOR TODAY...

December 22, 2009

Outside my window...
sunny and 34 degrees (and almost two feet of snow on the ground)

I am thinking...
about our 13th anniversary yesterday

I am thankful for...
a wonderful Hubbie

From the learning rooms...
all is calm, all is still, for now...

From the kitchen...
sour cream cutouts and chocolate pretzel snacks

I am wearing...
comfy PJs

I am creating...
memories with my children...

I am going...
nowhere~ I hope!

I am reading...
the latest issue of Taste of Home (still!)

I am hoping...
that we can get up the mountain to Grandma and Grandpa's house

I am hearing...
the furnace

Around the house...
are lots of white Christmas lights

One of my favorite things...
my husband's kisses

A few plans for the rest of the week:
finish wrapping gifts, do some more baking, decorate the gingerbread house with the kids, Christmas Eve service on Thursday night, Christmas on Friday, our son's 5th birthday on Saturday

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

we were at a Bass Pro-Shop recently and this was one of the shoppers :)

Isn't he beautiful?!?!

Happy

13th Anniversary to us! :)

On this day, thirteen years ago, at 3:30 PM, we said our vows before God and our guests...to honor...to love...to cherish...til death parts us...

In celebration, we went to O'Charley's for dinner. After the kids were tucked safely in their beds, we exchanged anniversary gifts...

I am blessed to have you as my husband! I am looking forward to the next 75 years with you!

I LOVE YOU!

A Beautiful Place...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

to our oldest daughter, who turns nine today! Just a few short years ago, I was in labor on this day...At 7:34 PM, our world was changed forever when she made her entrance!

She is a huge help to me and a good friend to her little brother and sister. She plays Lego's with her brother and walks her sister around the house, holding her hands to make sure she doesn't fall. What a blessing she is to our family!

We love you, Sweet Girl, and hope you have a terrific day!

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY!

Here are a few pictures of when you were 4 years old...

I'm loving that smile!

I cannot remember why we had the table in front of the fireplace...hmmm.

Christmas, 2004

Making the gingerbread house...

Kindergarten graduation, May 2006...such a happy little girl! You had a proud momma and daddy that day, too!

Simple Woman's Daybook~12/14

Happy Monday! Today, I am linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY
Monday, December 14, 2009

Outside my window...

foggy and cold~34 degrees!

I am thinking...

that I have a wonderful husband who loves me unconditionally!

I am thankful for...

a great church

From the learning rooms...

gearing up for the last week of school before Christmas break!

From the kitchen...

old fashioned oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins

I am wearing...

my pink and green pj's and warm socks

I am creating...

a birthday banner for my oldest daughter

I am going...

nowhere~ I hope!

I am reading...

the latest issue of Taste of Home

I am hoping...

that I will get the Christmas gifts wrapped this week

I am hearing...

Christmas music via http://www.rejoice.org/

Around the house...

it looks a lot like Christmas!

One of my favorite things...

coffee with peppermint mocha creamer

A few plans for the rest of the week:

birthday girl tomorrow, church Wednesday night,

Hubbie off work on Friday, Cookie Party at Grandma's house on Saturday

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Double Tree Hotel Cookies~YUMMY!

Happy Birthday to My Hubbie!

Some characteristics about my Hubbie~

my best friend in the world

the most wonderful husband a gal could ask for

a good listener

a great dad

the sole provider for our family

one of the hardest working people I know

the one I laugh with

and the one I cry with

the one I hold hands with in prayer...

Happy Birthday, Sweet Hubbie! I love you!

Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Hubbie's birthday last night, and what a fun evening we had! On the menu~nothing fancy~but definitely comforting...

This recipe is my version, but there are lots of different varieties out there.

Poppy Seed Chicken

4-6 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 16 ounce sour cream
2 sleeves of Town House crackers
1 stick of butter
poppy seeds

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" baking dish with cooking spray.
• Mix soup and sour cream together. Add in the cubed chicken.
• Melt butter in microwave.
• Crush the crackers into pieces. Toss with butter. Shake in some poppy seeds. (We do not like a lot in ours. In fact, last night, I totally forgot to put them in!)
• Mix a couple spoons of crackers into the chicken mixture.
• Place the chicken into the casserole dish. Top with the remaining crackers.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly.

We also had baby lima beans and croissant rolls. For dessert, we had Hubbie's favorite dessert~homemade cheesecake with cherry topping.

I enjoyed cooking for my sweet Hubbie!

Hope you have a great Wednesday! It's cold and raining here...what a great day to stay inside! :)

Plans for the week...

Here it is Monday evening, and I have not posted yet!!! The day just seemed to fly by. Ever have those kind of days?

We have a busy week with schooling, celebrating Hubbie's 35th birthday, and finishing up decorating the house.

We will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow since we have other plans for Thursday...on the menu will be poppy seed chicken, and for dessert--that homemade cheesecake that I wrote about here. Of course, it will have cherry pie topping. Yum! I hope you all have a great evening.