MY GOD IS.........

Well, Ms. Pam, I started to blog yesterday and today, but I had setbacks ....you know some; the others are that I have to do work for you-know-who online for his work......

I have been convicted recently to be more joyous, as wll as help others finding themselves in that rut! It is hard in your circunstances to be soo filled with the Sprit that those about you have no clue, because the joy of the Lord comes shining through! MJ's post has got me off on those trails searching about what the Lord has to say about joy and happiness and God's promises to me - heiress to the King of Kings. If you have not notices, I often thing about the names of Christ---what He is ....ALMIGHTY, UNCHANGEABLE, KING OF KINGS, GOD, HOLY, ALL KNOWING ALL POWERFUL< TRUSTWORTHY< STRENGTH< GRACE TRUTH..........................you keep going with this!! He is LIFE to me---without him I cannopt do anything!! He is my purpose fro lving!

Pam, Traci and I talked about FOOD after church---had to come home and make popcorn!!

Thanks for stopping by-----

Enchilada Sauce

Jackie asked for a recipe for Enchilada Sauce, so here goes! I saw this on Everyday Food-A Martha Stewart spinoff.

Enchilada Sauce
1-2 T Olive Oil
1/4 c A.P. flour
1 can chicken broth (2 cups)
1 can chipotle peppers, chopped
(she said to chop them on waxed paper, as they will stain your cutting board)
1 T Adobo
1 1/2 T chili powder
Salt and Pepper (dash of each or to taste)
3/4 cup water
Wisk flour into heated oil. Add all the rest of ingredients after it is a light brown (like making a gravy). Simmer for 10 minutes.
(*you may double this and it freezes well for up to two months)




MEAT FOR FILLING:

1 small onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
3/4 pound ground beef (turkey or chicken will work)
salt and pepper (pinch of each)
Cook over med heat for 8-10 minutes

Heat flour tortillas, and place about 1/4 cup of mixture in each along with 2 T shredded cheese. Place a couple of tablespoons of sauce in bottom of pan and after rolling tortillas, place them seam side down. Use remaining sauce to pour over tortillas in pan.
Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Top with a little more cheese. (Yield 4-6)



E N J O Y!!!!!!!!!!!!

Italian Wedding Soup when you don't add meatballs!

Italian Wedding Soup (Pat Version)

1# bag tortellini-either cheese or spinach
1# ground turkey
1# bag frozen sliced spinach (you could use fresh;your broth sould be green, tho)
1 Fennel bulb, chopped medium--bulb only
1 medium onion chopped fine
Three garlic cloves
4-6 Chicken boullion cubes
1T McCormick Nature's Seasoning (this is MSG free seasoning---you could probably mix black
pepper, celery salt, garlic or onion powder)
1-1 1/2 quarts water
1/2 cup Parmesean cheese

Place spinach in a colander and run cold water over and leave to drain. Squeeze out excess.
Brown turkey and break apart. In Large Pan, place water, seasonings, fennel, onion, and garlic. Bring to a boil. Add tortelinni and cook until al dente.
Add turkey and spinach---bring to boil again---reduce heat to warm and add cheese. Stir well.

(Adjust seasonings to your taste---you may not want all 6 boullion. A little S&P action will not hurt!)

(I usually double this and my family eats a couple of bowls each---YUMMO)

Reading Material for My Friend

Well, everyone has gone to camp/seminars. so I must keep you know who up to date in reading/posting!!LOL

While at Pam's Monday, we found out that we were having a granddaughter in June...me being the old "midwife attendee/observer knew for about three months......the signs were there!!"

Monday we had a great time with Pam.....seh got a pedicure and we talked, laughed, and caught up. We also cried, rejoiced, shared old memories (surprising how close our paths were even years ago and we never met!!), and prayer requests!! Shane is a cutie, and such a gentleman opening the door, and declaring, "Welcome"!!

I did take her soup, and since she lived, I must share the recipe!!

Yesterday we were at the college and enjoyed the fellowship of old friends we are only able to see there (one was our S.S. teacher from 17 years ago!!)....we found out an evangelist , Mike Greene, passed away with cancer over the weekend!

Today, I shared lunch with a friend while our kids were in class.. it was fun to catch up with her.
Afterwards, we went to the healthfood store...and then to Target....the girls had gift cards. I ended up getting a couple of sheets off a clearance rack that rang up as $0.00, and when the cashier got a manager, he gave them to me for $3.50 each---we are talking king sized, Egyptian cotton...falt sheets...(this is all I can use on my bed and it is difficult to find them individually!!)---I am blessed!!!

I am working more int he office as there have been changes to permitting, soo....actually as I woas looking up forms, I was able to talk to one frined and tell her how she needs to come to church that she is changing and slipping down that spiral!! Another one came by theis afternoon and we talked a little ---I triend to help her get a grip on the reality of their income and to move forward with a plan!! (Ladies, I cooked dinner and ironed clothes and readied for church while talking to her, so....) She is reading "The Power of a Praying Wife"....I still need to locate my copy! I gave her this one and she shares how this is changing her life!

WE had a missionary tonite and one comment he made that stuck with me is:

In Kenya, Christianity is a mile wide and an inch deep.....no depth to the purpose of the heart and life .....
I wonder if that is how God sees me---no depth to my walk or a shallow one that needs more digging.....HMMMMM....
I was also impressed at the number of BAPTIST peoples that are in the churches there (I think 12) and their joy and their similarities to our "church" dress and music...WE ARE TALKING A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY HERE!! And that ALL the churches are pastored by nationals---WOW that is Discipleship and Bible training at work!

NOW, I am trying to enable comments from Pam......

Pressured Postin (LOL)

Well, I have been shamed once again into catching up....she is one to talk!! LOL

No, I had planned on posting...

Let's see....We went to the laundromat again on Friday where the girls were thought to be twins and a woman asked how in the world I get my kids to fold clothes....WELL--DUH!!
I told them they learned years ago and folded maybe five hundred towels and washcloths and that many shower curtains and sheets (oops double of those) every day when they were nine and ten working in the laundry at the WILDS. (great training ground in many ways!!)

I also had some more heart to heart talks with my friend Carol....guess all this helpmeet stuff gave me courage to get beyond her daily trials. I told her she needs to STOP taking all the areas God intends for her husband to be in charge of ,,,,her answer "but I alwasy have", so, i advised her "STOP!!"---yeah, we do some things better and quicker and know how to juggle things better, but if God intended them to have that responsibility, then, you are WRONG for taking it, no matter his consequences!! I also told her the stress she was suffering because of these things was of her own doing!! I told her that I also have had to through the years to relinquish and give back many things because I was getting the correction intended for my spouse.

Today I baked cranberry orange breakfast bread. The only thing that would have made it better is cream cheese (can you believe we ran out????)

Church was good--filled with surprise....the message was good and many were at the altar (Romans 9)...then tonite Revelation 21 and Zech.14....once again many hearts wer touched. We had two saved this morning , and a total of three baptised today....Several teens gave testimonies....many hearts were touched with the services at college days....many shared that they were encouraged to saty "on the way...or in the way...no matte the obstacle or defeat!! Some even had to apologize to people for not trying their best! (in school)...they were broken!!

We watched the Colts and Patriots game!! yeah the Colts won...I admire Tony Dungy greatly---he has a great testimony in this area and has a fine testimony. He also touched me when he used his son's death to be a witness to others and the give God the glory for all!!!

My son has a job inteview on Tuesday...lease keep him in your prayers for his physical being and spiritual walk as he is seeking the Lord's will.

I am blessed among women!!

Thanks for your prayers and friendship!

Action, Ask, Aaron Anatomy, Acts and Admonishment (ho's that for a title??)

As you know, my washer decided to get tired and not spin the load of towels I had in, so, after five respins, I decided to call it quits. However, those towels had to be taken to the laundromat (my neighbor offered her machine, but it is smaller)....and I had the privelege of meeting a little man from India. As it would happen (five loads of laundry, and I was folding like a mad woman to get home to get the girls to Anatomy class....he offered me a job to work there. I hope I was not impolite---I snickered and said, "No sir, I could not do that. I have six other full time jobs that demand all my time!" He looked shocked and stood and watched the "folding Machine!"I now need to take another five tomorrow and wash them....(the ONLY good thing about laundromats, is that you can complete it all in a couple of hours and be done for a few days---you all know the downside of that too!!

Pray for my friend Carol....she feel through the floor of their old home on Sat., and then fell down the stairs (partway) her yesteday. I told her I could not leave her here to bathe (they have no bath where they are)---that I wanted someone to be with her....I love her, and it is hard not to get tied up on Wednesdays and makes "MY" routine to try to get to church almost impossible!!I spend some time today on the phone helping look for housing and checking wha the city and county offers for assistance. I would let her stay overnite here but she has a *H**Y**P**E**R**dog that would have everything shredded in a couple of days!! I hate that it is cold where she is, but I can do no more. I cannot even offer our home while we are gone in Feb.

AAron is moving out probably the end of Jan. with the two friends I told you about. We will see how this transpires.....he has a lot of life that he is naiive about (cost of electricity and rent plus your food, insurance and even health insurance once he moves!!)

Rachel has not felt well today, but is doing much better the past two hours. She does not like the thought of missing choir tomorrow, but I told her that would not be included as an option in her day, that she could grace the laundromat with me.... There is also a Youth Rally at Pastor kerry Nance's church tomorrow nite....she would hate to miss that fellowship more!!(Do you think the test in Anatomy class sickened her??)

Brother John Yates preached our of Acts last night...it was familiar, but his focus was on the prayer meeting the people were having for Peter. They prayed without ceasing, expecting God to perform a miracle! And, they did not believe it when he did. Wow----that is so much like us---we pray for it, and then doubt the answer we get!! He admonished us to GET ALONE IN THE PRAYER CLOSET for more than opur token 15 minutes a day and believe and expect answers to our petetions. WE have never heard that, now have we??? We just need gentle reminders that matters should be kept before the Lord ---without ceasing!!I am praying for you all!!

Catching It Up

WELL,WELL, I Caved...I do not like pressure!! J/K

Since Thursday,
I had a migraine Friday and went to the chiropractor.....came home and slept since I was very nauseous (took a natural sublingual and quelled that!!).....got up at dinner time and helped the girls throw together a meal---they cook and do a great job....i just had to help them process what was left in Ol' Mother Howard's cupboards!!

Saturday, I got a pedicure and took the girls to Ashley P.'s b'day party....they had lots of fun!! We had gotten the gift at the store when bargain shopping and Miriam made her a beautiful bracelet. She loved it all. Saturday nite, I was making Enchilada casserole when Aaron wanted to invite a friend over....it turned out to be two, so we had to backup and punt. Praise the Lord refried black beans and casseroles multiply to feed 20 year old males!! They all had fun and we laughed together ---one young man grew up in the neighborhood and the other was in youth group with Aaron for years....they all will be roommates in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, I went to church...loved hearing the Word and seeing friends ....it seems as though it has been an eternity!! God put "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" in the Bible
for us, bodies of believers for that encouragement!! Home and thank goodness i had made a pot of vegetable beef soup before I left....makes dinner alot easier.

Today, I got up, researching hotels for our trip - it is time consuming, as I do not know the areas, and on alot of the sites, only a small portion is in English (you even have to do a conversion on the monies!!).....showed K a few....no decisions yet!! There are some absolutely adorable old hotels in Paris and London (old castles, etc.)---

We girls ran a few errands and went to the store...came home and found Aaron SICK.......he likes to share drinks with friends, and after questioning him, he said someone was on antibiotic the other nite....He is 20---I know he has heard the "mom-word" all his life---choices are his....
Oh yes, and tonite after dinner, I taught my husband about Paula Deen....he in convinced that she and Pam are twins....Pam is the younger one!! (he said they are at least sisters!!) He learned about Savannah restaurants and Bubba's!! Wow, I have a craving to go to Savannah....(there were Jeopardy questions about Savannah tonite on TV too!!LOL) Forgot to share that I spun the towels in the washer several times and they still were wet---why do washers always break when there is a load of towels or jeans in them?????(gotta get it fixed!!---that started the day off as well!! You always wonder what awaits you when your day starts out like that!?!?!?)

Now, I am bloggin, and catching up in my cyberworld, so, come on, Kim, they will get you next!!

Many thanks for you love, care and concern!! I do appreciate knowing my friends are a keystroke or post away!!

DISCLAIMER:

I do know how to spell and type, just can't get all the keys to cooperate, thus several misspelled words! I tried to correct them, but it clicks back to the create page!

I NEEW A NEW KEYBOARD, and how about some instruction ---those who do the pics and graphics???

Thanks---love to you!

Prayhing for you!

those children get older!!

Today is Rachel's birthday....she is 15. She is my youngest. I was struck with the thought this morning that it will not be long until this home is empty...forget the nest...ours is a museum of memories!! That saddens me, because for 28 years our home has had children and laughter and a flurry of activity!! I am not one of those weirdos that goes into a deep depression and "Woe is me " attitiude - I know God alone can fill voids and provide ministry opportunities to
still be giving (the house will be clean, the laundry done, meals and dishes done....what's a Mother to do???)LOL!

Today also brought a time to reflect on my children and their strengths and weaknesses (yes, they do have them!!!!!)....and to know how we pray for them each and every one and desire God's hand in their lives. They are always encouraged to learn God's lessons the first time around, with the knowlege that it gets harder each subsequent time. They are not perfect and we are far from it, but they know implicitly tat we have a deep love for our Lord and them, and our desire is that our lives reflect it!!

Now, back to the birthday girl. We had lunch out, and then went to the mall to spend gift cards...we bought two skirts and socks at Dillards and two shirts at Aeropostle and spent less than $35.00. The girls still have Target gift cards. Plus, we have Bed, Bath and Beyond ones. (I cannot forget the Olive Garden ones!!) I also was able to get gloves and hats and two birthday gifts at J.C. Penney at a 75% discount! Starting in February, Josh, my husband, Aaron and my Mom (Aaron and mom on same day) all have birthdays and then Miriam is March 1st. So, those discounted gifts are more than welcome!!

Rachel has added quite the flair to our family....she has a great fashion sense, and reminds us that she's the baby--we've gotta love her!! I miss her "little firl" letters she used to write and the pictures she used to draw and the babies and and the Spanish books while the othes did school!!! She is her own person, confident in who she is and right and truth!! I remember it well ---I was 40 and pregnant!! I loved every minute of it!! AND, look what the Lord gave us!!

cracked pots

A Neat Story
An elderly woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a large portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments and the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections, and that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it said to the woman one day by stream, "I am ashamed of myself, this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaws, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while walking back, you water them." "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers and decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, I would not have had these beauties to grace the house." Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks that we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You have to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path.

Surrender to the demands (j/k)

Well, I am back. Let's see what my life has held for the past few days!

Saturday, I had a migraine---down in the bed-nauseous headache!!

On Sunday, we were getting ready for church, and one thing after another kept delaying us (SATAN????) and we jsut could not get it together and refused to walk in real late!!

We did go Sunday afternoon and searched maps, hotels, train and bus tour schedules,
prices.....ALL until I could not look at a computer screen any longer! We made a few plans
but must finalize them all after Josh returns from Austria next week!

We did get to see Tracy (who is looking VERY pregnant) and the light and laughter of our lives, Maddy. She loved playing dress up with the Aunties and circus with the funky unky (her words). He was her circus elephant, also and gave her rides! I will try to get a pic to you with the dressup things on---she has a vivid, active imagination!!

Yesterday we ran errands and met my neice for lunch - we have not seen her since way before Christmas, so it was nice. She is having difficulty at home and work, though and is quite stressed!!!!!!!

Today,we were off to piano lessons at the college (first in over a month)---it was great to see all our friends and to laugh and catch up with them and their families!! We went to Target afterwards, but only got cards for Rachel's birthday, NO GIFTS....(these right after Christmas birthdays are killer b/c every good thing you can think of is gone!!!)....Anyway, I do have one thing in the works...can't tell in case she reads this!!

I am grateful you all still keep the torch going---i love being connected to you!!

Have a blessed evening....

Just for Jackie

The past couple of days have been trying (and quite expensive)--jsut for us to obtain passports.

Also in that trying, I tried to maintain a testimony (GRRR)....We finally arrived at the third destination for a passport today......let me backup to yesterday...we went to the Post Office locally (you know---in snowbird heaven) and found a little door at the back of the facility sandwiched in HUGE carts of junk mail (if you haven't gotten any recently, don't worry, it was there!!)---the carts were larger than my car! Anyway, after 15 minutes of standing there, a lady was paged, and it took another 10 minutes for her to arrive (WE NEED THESE PASSPORTS ASAP, u see)...just to tell us that since we were not her 11:00 appt. we could not even apply and that we could have an appointment in two weeks (maybe)....oh, yes it was 10 til 11!! She answered a call in the middle of our conversation, and after ten more minutes (no 11 there yet), we walked out . Today, we were blessed to go to another local town and walk a mile back and forth between the Post Office and Clerk, but got it all done and exercised, too!(walking up and down stairs and six city blocks to the post office!!)PTL I got time to exercise!!

We have a tentative itinerary staying in Antwerp, Paris and London.....all are one hour train rides between the three. My son got a position change at work,so he will be able to join us for part of the trip. He also gets hotel discounts (PRAISE THE LORD!!)

Remember my request for my son to have that burning desire to serve the Lord....well, he is without a job....work was too slow and he ahs not been able toa have any since he returned last week....that makes three weeks of NO WORK and limited the two before that!! Talk about learning the value of prayer and trust!!

Ashley's post reminded me I have not devoted any more than prayer and lip service to our Lord today...I need to get my Bible reading in!! I truly want to trust the Lord and thank Him for the difficulties in my lfe and truly do it with a pure heart. thsi is where I start.

I am grateful to have friends to pray for and share my daily life with!!

My husband, the girls and I had a fun evening (NEW YEARS EVE). Church was really good with testimonies and music and preaching by a couple of the teens. One preached on "Partial obedience is total disobedience"...and even though paralleling it with his life, he told us that if we were not heaven's devotions, praying, and witnessing, we only have partial obedience to God.....thought provoking!! the second was on contentment and how we are content with things we should be discontent with and discontent with things we should be content with (ie our walk with the Lord and Christian testimony!! Both messages spoke volumes---many were at the altar afterwards! Two sisters sang in Latin, and there were three piano specials and one solo...there were many testimonies, but many said they were conviccted of not witnessing and their personal testimony in their families and most said consistency in the Word and devotions were what God was having them work through. One girl said she realized God would not use her if she and her brother were not getting along!!

We had homemade chicken soup and egg salad after church.

We watched Lord of the Rings -the last installment....I felt as though I was in battle after battle!

However, at midnight, we bluetoothed pics of the girls in their "Happy New Year" tiaras (which they wore all evening except to church) to all three brothers! We proceeded to our upstairs deck to enjoy the fireworks in the neighborhood as our resident pyromaniacs were not in attendance! We had quite the show, and gave our accolades .

Guess we turned in at about 1:30 - I was glad for that extra does of meds i'd taken before church to be able to attend--I stayed up with the family!!

Resolutions come and go, but I am purposing to pursue God with all my being this year and try to thank him for all those valleys and people that help me get there this year....I HAVE NOT thanked him for all those trials and burdens these past few years, and wonder if He chose not to work in the hearts of those people because of that...... ?

To you and your families, may God bless you with joy overflowing!