Monday, June 30, 2008

So much going on

Oh my gosh!!The past few days have been a whirlwind of events.Let`s see,Friday was the ladies retreat with our church.We stayed over night at this beautiful historical mansion,nestled in the mountains of north eastern Pa.This place is just so amazing!! Acers and acres of God`s beauty.I will get pictures posted soon.The guest speaker was very good.Our lesson was about honesty.It was such a blessed time to be in the Word,have time of fellowship,time to pray together....I loved it:)I can`t wait for next year:)
Today was our Ladies bible study an it was another blessed time to pray with one another and for one another and be encouraged with God`s word.After bible study our pastor`s wife (who leads the study) had said that there were some clothes that we could all go through if we wanted to.I have been in need of clothing for a long time now.I walked away with a huge garbage bag full of clothes for my daughter and I!!It was such a blessing and God does always provide:)
Now for some bad news....we had a truck that`s been sitting around for a while,that we wanted to get rid of.It was down town at the garage.The mechanic looked at it fixed some very minor things.It appeared to be fine.Well,we decided to sell it to one of my hubby`s friends.This was something that we had been talking about for months.Well,the time finally came and his friend came by today,gave him a check and drove off.The truck stalled and was over heating so hubby ripped up the check from his friend because he feels bad taking it now.Plus now the house I blogged about a while ago,well it doesn`t look like we are going to get it.It`s taking too long for the deal to actually go through,and we need to get moving,so were looking into other options now.Then,remember about a month ago I blogged about an infection in my 7 year old`s leg?Well I had thought it healed because it wasn`t red anymore.The other day I noticed a lump still there,and sure enough...it`s still infected.We really need prayer.We cannot afford to take him to the doctor right now.There are alot of things going on right now that I wish I could share,but my husband has asked me not to,so I need to respect that.I am asking for prayer though,so please just take a few moments right now to just say a quick prayer that things will start to get better for us, and also for healing for my son.I know everything happens for a reason,and I am trusting God.I trust Him with my life and I trust Him with my sons infection,I trust that God will use my husbands injury and all of the trials were facing.I`ve been praying over my son`s leg and I am trying to keep it very clean and checking it constantly.I know God will provide.He healed me,and He will heal my son.He will also use my husbands injury."For I know the plans i have for you,they are to prosper you and not to harm you,to give you hope and a future"I don`t have my Bible here,so if that`s not the exact verse,please correct me:)
I will continue to keep everyone updated on our situation.This blog was created to bring glory to the Lord,so that is the purpose of sharing theses struggles with all of you.I want to share with you how God is bringing us through it all and I know one day we will be shining brightly.Have a blessed night everyone:)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Happy Gratituesday!

Gratituesday is being hosted by Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers.Where do I begin?I have so much to be thankful for!!I am thankful to the Lord for my salvation,my family,The church I attend,friends,a home,a loving husband,food,clothing,Gods wonderful creation.....I think I could go on forever!I have learned so much from the great trials my family and I have gone through over the past year.One of the things I have learned is to be thankful for the simple things in life and I truly am.We can become so consumed with having"stuff" and material posessions that it can actually hinder our spiritual growth."Things" are only temporary.They do not give us true eternal happiness.When we don`t have anything and we can`t go anywhere we can truly focus on what really matters and our minds become more aware of Gods presence. I don`t know where in scripture it`s found,but I am reminnded of the passage that says be still and know that I am God. I think sometimes life can get so crazy with all of the resposibilites we have.It`s then that we get frustrated,angry,and discontent.We need to take the time to just be still.It`s in thoes times that we feel and can see the true presence of God!In a flower,at the trees,the birds...I hope everyone will take time today to be still and know that He is God:)Blessings!!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Happy Wednesday:)

Hey guys!!I hope you all are having a fantastic Wednesday!I was over at Apples of Gold and Christian homekeeper and they just blogged about this fun quiz they took called "What kind of cereal are you?"I am cornflakes.I don`t know how to post the picture on my blog without copying it so just go here to take the quiz!
In other news,my songets his cast off tomorrow!!!Woo hoot!!i can`t waite.He can`t waite either:)Also,I have been missing a child for the week:)My daughter is at her grandmas playing with her cousin and swimming.She`ll be back on Friday morning.
How about the flood in the midwest?Oh my gosh!I feel so badly for all of those people.I saw some footage on the news and it looked just aweful.Boy,I wonder what`s going on in our world?We have rises in gas and cost of living in general,legalizing same sex marriages,floods,fires.I just want to remind all of my dear readers that we to be in prayer as much as possible and in the Word.We need to guard our hearts in these days:)




You Are Corn Flakes



You are traditional and easy going.

If something is high quality, you're satisfied with it.



You don't need much variety or novelty in your life.

You're happy with what you have. You're quite loyal.



You're the type of person who eats the same breakfast every day...

And likely at the exact same time each day!

Oh,look!I did it!I guess you really do learn something new every day!!Blessings!!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Being frugal with recycled jars and homemade cream cheese

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day today!!So,a few months ago I started saving glass jars from jelly,spaghtetti sauce,and things like that.My origional intention was to use them for a craft project I had in mind.Then,I was reading a post over at Heavenly Homemakers(I have the link on my sidebar under blogs I visit)about jars.She uses jars to store things that she keeps in her cupboard,like corn starch and sugar.This was a great idea I thought!Then,I thought of all the jars I`d been saving,and instead of buying mason jars I could use thoes instead! Alot of the things I buy come in bags and once I open them I try to store them in zipper bags,but this way saves some money,helps with recycling,and also saves room.So little by little I`ve been trying to put my dried goods into jars,then lableing them.I wanted to share this idea with all of you!It has helped me out alot!
Another thing that I have discovered over the past few months is homemade cream cheese:) I know you guys are probably thinking that I`m wacky... making my own cheese!!Really,it takes about five minutes of prep work... and then in 24 hours... vola!..homemade cream cheese:) All you need is 1 32 ounce container of full fat plain yogurt,and a cheesecloth.You will also need a strainer and a pitcher or bowl the stainer will fit on top of.Now,you place the strainer on top of the pitcher. Line the strainer with a cheese cloth.Pour the yogurt into the cloth and twist it closed and give it a few good squeezes.Leave the whole thing in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.Durring that time twist and squeeze the cloth from time to time until the yogurt becomes firm like cream cheese.Store it in a container.The yellowish liquid you have is called whey.The whey is also very good for you and can be used for a number of things.I will talk more about that another time though:)So,there you have it!Homemade cream cheese.My kids like this on wheat toast with strawberry jelly:)Okay,they really would prefer white toast,but I can persuade them to eat the wheat also. Okay...they will only eat the wheat when we are out of white bread!!What can I say? Lol!Have a blessed evening everyone!!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Apron giveaways

I just have to tell everyone about some of theses fantastic giveaways and all of the great people I have met!!Since there are so many bloggers out there that are giving away aprons I have created a list below.Just click on their name to go to their blog:)Have a blessed day!!!
1.Home Sweet Home,Noble2.Carolyn`s Kitchen
3.A Little of this and a little of that
4.Katydid and Kid
5.Parkers Paridise
6.Pink Ricrac

Monday, June 9, 2008

Daily ramblings

Hey guys!!First I want to let you guys know about a few helpful things I found out today while in blogland:)Over at Keeping the Home Candy posted a link that has some very nice swim suits if anyone is in need of a new one this year.Click hereto see them.Also,I found a very good recipe for whole wheat hamburger buns over at Heavenly Homemakers.Click here to see the recipe.She is an absolutely hilarious woman and I know you will be blessed by her blog!Also,when you get a chance,please visit my dear blog friend Cora She is going through a rough time right now with her health and could use sone encouraging words.Please pray for her as well.Thanks!!
We stayed for lunch after service yesterday.I made spinach stuffed shells.They were out of this world!!! I`ll include the "recipe"at the end of this post.The reason recipe is in quotations is because I don`t measure things.If it`s hard to follow,please e-mail me or leave a comment here and I`ll try to help in any way I can.I also don`t have a picture because I haven`t had a chance to fix my camera yet.
You will probably want to make theses on a cooler day,because they take a little bit of time and they also heat up the kitchen quite a bit.They are well worth the effort though:)You can leave the spinach out,if you don`t care for it,or use broccoli.

First you want to cook the shells according to the package directions.When they are done just drain the water then toss them with some olive oil until you are ready for them.Okay so here`s what you will need:
1-15oz container of ricotta cheese
about a pound or more of mozzarella cheese
about 1-1/2 cups frozen spinach or a package of fresh
1 garlic clove,minced
about 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
milk
flour
2 eggs
salt&pepper
olive oil

First you saute the spinach in the olive oil with the minced garlic and a pinch of salt.Transfer it to a mixing bowl.Add the ricotta,1 egg,about a cup of mozzarella cheese,and the parm cheese.Next you make an Alfredo sauce.First you will need to make a roux with about 2T.butter and 2 T.flour.Mix that up in the pot over med.heat.Then gradually add milk whisking constantly until you have a white sauce.Then in a small bow. scramble the other egg and add two Tbs.of the hot liquid into it to temper it so that it won`t scramble.Add that to the white sauce along with more parm cheese.This is your Alfredo sauce.Now you add the sauteed spinach to this.Pour half into the ricotta mixture.Stuff the shells.Place in a long greased baking pan.Top with rest of cream spinach sauce.Top with more mozzarella.Bake at 350 about 45 minutes. Good luck and I hope I didn`t confuse anyone too much!!
After posting all of that I am out of blogging time:)Have a blessed evening:)

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

A great giveaway

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day!!I was just over at Country Girl at Heart and Julie is hosting a great giveaway for her 50th post.It`s a handmade quilt wall hanging.So head on over and enter!!have a great night!!Click HERE to go to her blog!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

A great sewing project


I was surfing the net before and I found a great project to try!Making aprons for your dish soap bottles!I just think these are so cute!!Here is a picture and I`ve also included the link HERE Let me know if any of you make this!I`d love to here how it turned out and also see pictures!!I`ve recently develpoed a new love for aprons.I don`t own any yet,but I would love to learn to make them!I think it would be so nice to have some that I can pass down to my daughter that I made myself.I also think it would be nice to start wearing them around the house.They look so feminin.Plus they are so darn cute!!
Okay,I think I`m done rambling now!!Onto some other thoughts I`ve been having latly.The kids are almost done with school.Tomorrow is their last day.Plans for the summer include packing and moving to a new house,Ladies Retreat at the end of the month,(which I am soo looking forward to:))swimming at our local park with the kids,hopefully hubby will get to play sofball for our church this year again,picnics,and fellowship with family and friends.Plus our ladies bible classes will be contiued throughout the summer which I am thrilled about!!
My husband gets a boot cast put on his leg on Thursday.Still no driving or walking,but at least he can get it wet now.
Right now,I am currently reading Shepherding a Childs Heart by Tedd Tripp.(Our Pastor)I have been in deep prayer about this.My children are very wild and have no desire to follow the Lord.I am deeply saddened by this.They are still young,but my oldest is 9 now.He understands alot and is really rebelling.It is my prayer that this book will help me with the trials of child reering.Please,if you happen to think of me in your time with the Lord pray that this book will help.Raising children is one of the most important jobs on the face of this planet,and one of the hardest as well.I am reminded of Phillippians 4:13 All things are possible through Him who stengthens me.
I should be going to bed now,so good night and have a blessed evening!!!!