Guess what....

Last week in my Thankful Thursday post I told you I had some exciting news to share! I can officially make that announcement now.....

We're debt free!

It feels so great to type those words. Something that wasn't even important to me or in my vocabulary just a couple of years ago now means so much! I'm so thankful that my husband read Total Money Makeover and encouraged me to read it too, even though I was skeptical. I thought we were doing fine because we were paying our bills on time and not having any balance on our credit card. TMM showed me we could do even better!

I'm so happy to say that the last student loan payment is processed and paid, and we are debt free (besides the house, as Dave says!). We plan to call in to his radio show to shout We're Debt Free. Caleb has been practicing. :)

I don't know your financial situation, but I'd like to encourage you today. If you are struggling with your finances or debt or even not struggling and just want to make a difference in your family tree, consider taking a Financial Peace University course and reading Total Money Makeover. Click on the link to find a class in your area by entering your zip code. New classes are up all the time. I encourage you to do something instead of living the way you've always lived. You don't have to live like everyone else! You don't have to live paycheck to paycheck with no thought of the future for yourself and/or your children. You've got to do something different if you want to see any change in how things are going.

One of the verses I remember from the course is from Proverbs 22:7: "The borrower is servant to the lender." It is a verse I hadn't really paid attention to before this course. It is true though. Now that we are no longer borrowers we have more money to plan for the future.

Thank you for letting me share our excitement about this. I thought before I posted it I don't want it to seem like I'm bragging about it. We did FPU earlier this year and wanted to share our success with you. We are so excited to move on to the next step of our financial plan and to be able to give more to others. I'm so thankful for my wonderful husband and his wonderful financial wisdom. He has made sacrifices for our family. He has taught me so much and I'm glad we can continue to learn new things together on our journey. We are so thankful to God for His blessings. We know it is all His, and we pray we are wise in how we use what He has given.

If I can be of any help to you or if you sign up for FPU please let me know. I'd love to encourage you on your journey.

Thankful Thursday: Summer Fun

I hope your week has been blessed, and I hope you'll join us over at Lynn's in giving thanks today on Thankful Thursday. Lynn has chosen summer fun for this week's theme.

I always know when it is close to the beginning of summer and when it is close to school starting again. I guess it is the teacher in me. At this time of year I always feel the need to plan and write some lesson plans (even though I'm not teaching). It's just me! This summer I've been keenly aware of the days ticking off as we approach the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. At the end of this summer life as I've known it for the past five years will change drastically as Caleb begins school. I've been trying to enjoy the moments this summer with my boy and make the most of it.

Thinking about summer, I am thankful for trips up the road to get a cold snowcone on a hot day. I'm thankful for watermelon and fresh tomatoes from the garden. I am thankful for the farmer's market to enjoy other yummy produce. I'm thankful for story time at the library. I'm thankful for trips together as a family. I'm thankful for the fun memories I have of summers as a kid. I'm thankful for flip flops and going barefoot (is this the right word, barefeet?). I'm thankful for the way yards look that have just been mowed. I'm thankful for homemade ice cream. I'm thankful for staying up late and sleeping late too!

Also, I wanted to include things I'm thankful for this week:

~ my husband being so loving and appreciative of me. He makes me feel so special and loved.

~ my son saying funny things that make us laugh (like telling Daddy, "You don't get into any mischief while we're gone!")

~ cloudy days

~ getting to go to my Mom's, see my aunt and cousin, and the parade and stick horse rodeo last weekend. Such fun!

~ hanging clothes out to dry on the line.

Have a blessed day, enjoying whatever God has for you today!
~~~~~~~~
"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!" Psalm 18:46

If...

Today I have another poem to share with you. I received this in an email last week. It brought back memories of my senior year of high school. We all had to memorize this poem for English. As I was backing out of our parking spot Saturday after the parade I turned and saw a familiar face. I pulled back into the spot, jumped out and ran over to hug my English teacher. It was great to see her! So aftter getting this poem and seeing my former teacher Saturday I've really been thinking a lot about senior English!


It is really a great poem with so much truth, and it is a good one for students to memorize in my opinion.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
~~Rudyard Kipling

I could think of various real life experiences as I read this poem. How did I handle the situation? Could I have handled it better? True character is shown in how we handle the hard times as well as prosperity and what we do about the rude comments made behind our backs or the lies told about us. Do you stay true to your morals no matter who you are with or do you change based on your company?

I hope this poem gives you a little bit to think about today. Thanks for visiting!
~~~~~
"The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7, NLT

As long as it is called Today: Christian home keepers (July)

It's time again for "As long as it is called Today" as we encourage one another as Christian home keepers. I hope you will join me each week on Tuesdays as we encourage each other in our daily lives as Christians, spouses, parents, and home keepers.

You can find last week's post here.

Today's question: Do you have any themes or special colors for any rooms of your home? How often do you change things around?

My answer: I don't have much in the way of decorations! One thing I would like to do is decorate in our bathroom so I look forward to your ideas on themes/colors for that! I have apples in my kitchen. I have a couple apple items, we don't have much wall space in the kitchen really though. When we first got married we had lighthouses in our living room but now we don't have decorations except for photographs. Caleb's room is John Deere.

I look forward to reading your answers. Have a great day!

2009 Book #32: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke

Author Allison Bottke has a new series for women called “Va Va Va Boom,” and I’ve just finished the first book in this series , You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.

From the publisher:
Did you realize that there are over seventy-eight million baby boomers alive today? There has become a growing demand for women’s fiction that deals with age-appropriate issues in recent years. Out of the ever-increasing number of novelists that feature characters in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, best-selling author Allison Bottke is a standout in the genre of “boomer lit”.

This first book centers around Susan, who owns and operates a popular, successful salon in Las Vegas, the Disco Diva. It is filled with memorabilia from the disco era that she has collected through the years. Her life is full with running the salon and everything related to it where she encounters many young showgirls whom she encourages and mentors. She also has an online group of friends, the Boomer Babes. Susan and her husband will be celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary the same year she turns 50, her husband turns 60 and is preparing to retire. She is given an amazing business opportunity by her dear friend that is just taking off when Susan’s world is shaken when she comes face-to- face, literally, with someone from her past. She is not sure her marriage will last or that she’ll be able to fulfill her dream.

This book is a wonderful read, and women will find it easy to relate to Susan and her friends. This is a story about relationships, communication, pride, secrets, and self. Although it is written for an older audience it was enjoyable to me as well because of the variety of characters and the various issues they faced. I look forward to other books in this series.

Proverbs & Prayers: Week #30

We're to week #30 already?

Here is the memory verse for this week. It is Proverbs 16:20:

"Whoever give heeds to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord."

Do you have any prayer requests this week? Let me know and I will pray for you. Here are some prayer requests to share with you.

~ Kate. She has started her chemo treatments.

~ Anderson. He is going through treatments now too.

~ Clayton. This is a little boy that Susan told me about. Let's pray for him this week.

~ Spady family in the loss of their little boy.

~ blog friends Michele and Heather and families as they are about to move.

~ personal friend, Robin. Her Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and also saw some spots on her lungs.

~ personal friend, Billie Sue who had surgery this week.

Hearts at Home: Resource for Moms

One of the things I love about blogging is the exchange of ideas that takes place; after all, what mom can't use a new idea every now and then!

If you are interested in a blog that brings a group of mommy bloggers all to one place, stop by and visit the Hearts at Home blog.

Hearts at Home's contributing bloggers write about motherhood, each with a unique perspective, reflecting on the spiritual, emotional and downright funny aspects of motherhood. Their group of bloggers range from professional speakers to authors to stay-at-home moms, all who share a passion for the profession of motherhood.

The Hearts at Home blog covers a variety of topics, such as practical mom tips, recipes, book reviews, and advice for tackling tough mommy issues.

Take a peek at this great resource and connect with real moms sharing real stories today!

Things I've learned in the past week (or two!)

Over the past two weeks as you know my husband has been recovering from a tonsillectomy. I went with him to his pre-op visit and heard the warnings given by the doctor...that if he (hubby) thinks he is going to work the next Monday (following surgery on previous Tuesday), he's wrong! And the doctor was right!

I've learned and been reminded of a few things over the past few days of caring for my husband.

~ It takes an adult a long time to heal after a tonsillectomy.

~ The first couple of days I missed his voice so much. He wrote me messages or used hand signs to tell me what he needed.

~ It's no fun to think about cooking a meal for just me and Caleb.

~ It's hard not to scoop myself a bowl of ice cream when fixing a dish for my patient.

~ It was very good my Mom was here for the first couple of days after surgery.

~ I'm thankful our couch is so comfortable and has two recliners. We slept there for over a week so he could keep his head elevated! It was a nice change from our bed actually to sleep in the living room. There was more space for one thing.

~ It's a blessing my husband is such a hard worker at his job. He has sick leave hours saved up that he's been able to use during this time. I know of some who squander their sick leave and don't have any saved up which doesn't seem wise in my opinion.

~ I'm also thankful for his understanding boss and coworker who emailed to check in on him from time to time.

~ I found out just how much my husband enjoys reading. He finished two books he already had started and read and finished another one after that. He's on his fourth now I think.

~ He also enjoys talk radio and I've learned a thing or two there as well.

~ I'm thankful for those who were concerned and asked about him during his recovery. It's nice to know people care.

~ Taking care of my son made me realize how much my husband helps out with him in the evenings with bath time and playing together. It made me appreciate those military wives and single moms who do this 24/7.

~ Even when he couldn't talk, he could still make me laugh. When I'd measure out his medication, he'd always turn it and look to see if it was up to the "2 tsp" line or over it before he took it. It made us laugh after I pointed out to him he did this every time as if he didn't trust me and thought I'd give him too much or too little!

~ Taking out the trash, putting the cans to the curb on Wednesday (when a grasshopper jumps on my back) and getting the recycling tub to the curb isn't my favorite chore!

~ I realized how deeply in love I am with my husband. Caring for him really made me feel connected to him.

~ My patient made me feel incredibly loved and beautiful as he whispered to me his love and appreciation as I'd give him his pudding, water, and medicine.

Thankfully, he is on the mend. He still has some pain and gets tired out easily. I'm thankful he did not have any complications from the procedure. I'm praying and believing that he won't have to use the CPAP, and he'll have restful nights of sleep now. We appreciate your prayers. Hope you have a great weekend!
~~~~~~~~~
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." I John 5:14, 15

What do you have to give?

This past Sunday our preacher used Acts 3:1-10 for his text, so I've been thinking about this passage. This is the story of the crippled beggar who was healed.

When the crippled man saw Peter and John, he asked them for money (vs. 3). Peter answered that he didn't have any to give him, but he would give him what he did have..."In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." The man was able to walk! He walked, jumped, and praised God (vs. 8).

What do you have to give? You may not come upon crippled beggars (or maybe you do) on your way to worship as Peter and John did. What do we have to offer them? Do you pass on by, ignoring the need, or do you try to help? Maybe you don't have any money to give. Should this be an excuse to not help? Peter offered something to the beggar that was much better than money...he offered healing in Jesus' name. We have Jesus. We need to offer Jesus to the hurting around us. He is better than any monetary gift we could give.

This Bible passage has given me much to think about this week.
~~~~~~~~~
"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you." Acts 3:6

Thankful Thursday: Victory

I'm so glad it is time again for Thankful Thursday! Lynn (at Spiritually Unequal Marriage) has chosen victory for the theme this week. Isn't it wonderful that we have the victory! Jesus is our victory everyday.

Today I am thankful for so many things.

~ my husband feeling so much better. He is doing great after his surgery last week. He still gets tired easily but he is healing and feeling more normal.

~ my little boy and seeing his concern and thoughtfulness towards others.

~ some exciting news I'll share probably next week (no not pregnancy just thought I better insert that there for anyone who thinks that is it!)

~ finding old friends, including former teachers, on Facebook!

~ comfortable car to travel.


I received this poem in an email and it is perfect to share today

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank you for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or
Until they stop talking about me,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves,
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and
The house is quiet,
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or
Until I get the job,
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every
Experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief,
I am going thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or
The challenges are removed.
I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive,
So I may continue being your vessel
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking you because I have the ability
And the opportunity to do more and do better.
I am thanking you because you have not given up on me.

Please don't wait....
Let's Thank HIM Right Now

~~ Author unknown

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to be thankful! God bless you.
~~~~~~~
"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." I John 5:3-5

As long as it is called Today: Christian parents (July)

It's time again for "As long as it is called Today" as we encourage one another as Christian parents. I hope you will join me in July each week on Tuesdays as we encourage each other in our daily lives as Christians, spouses, parents, and home keepers.


You can find last week's post here.


This week's question: What bedtime traditions do you have with your children? How have these changed as your children have gotten older?

My answer: We read a story from Caleb's Bible storybook before bed and say prayers. We sometimes sing a song. I love to hear Caleb pray. His prayers are so sweet and from the heart.

Please leave your answer in the comment section. Have a great day!

Blog Hop--Favorite Recipe

I'm posting this with the "blog hop" and this is my first time to participate. I have posted this recipe previously, but it is one of my favorites so I'm posting it again.

Biscuit Pizza Bake
1 lb. ground beef
2 tubes (12 oz. each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 can (15 oz.) pizza sauce
1 c. chopped green pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 can (4 oz.) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 pkg. (3 1/2 oz.) sliced pepperoni
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Meanwhile, quarter the biscuits; place in a greased shallow 3-qt. baking dish. Top with pizza sauce. Drain beef; sprinkle over biscuits and sauce. Layer with green pepper, onion, mushrooms, pepperoni, and cheeses. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. Yield: 6--8 servings

From: Taste of Home's 2001 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes

I never put the mushrooms or pepperoni in ours. Also, I usually only use one tube of biscuits. That pretty much covers the bottom of the baking dish I use.

I like to make this the same week I make spaghetti. I cook extra meat and also have sauce leftover. I really like it when I can find ways to use up the food before it goes bad.

Proverbs & Prayers: Week #29

Here is the new verse for this week:

Proverbs 15:29--"The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous."

As always, please let me know if you have any prayer requests or updates on past prayer requests as well. Thanks!

Prayer requests for this week:

~ Anderson.

~ Kate/family.

~ Lesly during her treatments. Also, her grandfather died unexpectedly this past week.

~ my husband as he continues to recover from the tonsillectomy.

~ Denise.

~ Michele and Heather, blog friends who are moving across country.

Have a blessed day!

Song: "More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz

This morning as I was washing dishes I turned on KLOVE. The morning show was talking to new artist Jonny Diaz, and he played his hit song "More Beautiful You." Here are the lyrics. I wanted to share it here today in case you haven't heard it.

This is a message that teen girls and women in general need to hear. This song is the opposite of what we hear everyday from every show or commercial we watch or magazine we read. This is what YOU need to hear today. YOU are beautiful. God created you and loves you just as you are. He put you here for a "purpose that only you could do." Stop listening to the lies that you aren't good enough or you don't look right. You are beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14

2009 Book #31: Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell

This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and I found it to be a hard book for me to enjoy. It took a long, long time for me to get into it, much longer than most books. It was well written but I didn’t really enjoy it. I normally like historical fiction books; this one isn’t on my list of favorites though. As one review said this book has such depth. It’s hard for me to know where to even start. Love’s Pursuit is set in Stoneybrooke in the 1600s. Susannah Phillips is the main character. She feels everyone expects her to be good yet in her heart she doesn’t feel as if she is good. This story has a little bit of romance in it but the main theme I found was the pursuit of God’s love. Another character who seems to be a minor one in the beginning is Small Hope who actually is very important to the entire plot of the story.

Those who enjoy reading about this time period will appreciate this book and the lessons that can be gained from it. It isn’t a good easy book for a summer reading list though.

Thankful Thursday: Random heart

Today Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage who is hosting Thankful Thursday this week has posted a thoughtful Thankful Thursday post about the wonderfulness of our blogging community. I have to agree with her!

I am so thankful to have been blogging these past couple of years. It is great to have developed these relationships with others even though we've never met in person. I enjoy so many different blogs for a variety of reasons. I am encouraged, challenged, and humored as a Christian, wife, and mom. I've been blessed by your prayers and concerns for our family through various events we've gone through together. This is a wonderful community we have, and I'm thankful to God for it.

Other things I'm thankful for this week are:

~ the success of my hubby's tonsillectomy. He is recovering. It has made me feel such love for him to be able to care for him as he recovers.

~ my sweet boy and his willingness to help. He has a helper attitude about him. He shows great care for his Daddy as he has played quietly, given plenty of hugs and kisses, and talked in a soft voice to check on him.

~ my wonderful Mom. It was so wonderful she could come be with us the past few days. We miss her now that she went home! When I told her a while back of when the surgery would be, I asked if she'd be able to come and am so thankful she did. Her love for me and my family is a blessing for which I'm continually thankful.

~ hearing birds singing. This week a couple different times when I've been outside I've noticed birds sitting up on the power lines. I have paid attention to the songs they are chirping. It is such a pleasant noise to hear them sing.

~ being able to take an online course for continuing ed. hours.

Are you feeling thankful today? I hope so! Thank you for stopping by and being my blog friend. You are appreciated!
~~~~~~~
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Update on my hubby

The appointment scheduler called Monday and told him to be at the surgery center at 7:30 this morning. My Mom stayed at home with Caleb and we left around 7:00 a.m. They got him back quickly for the pre-op stuff and then we just waited. I was glad they let me go back and talk to him while he waited. Then it was his turn so I went back to the waiting room. While I was waiting the fire alarm went off! Apparently it is a new building and something set it off by accident. It did make me think though what if it was real and they were in surgery! It was about an hour later when they called me to go back to be with him in recovery. He was shaking when I got to him, I thought he was cold. They told me that the anesthesia (did I spell that correctly? Spell check didn't highlight it!) does that though, and than after a bit he quit shaking. I gave him drinks of water and sat with him. The doctor came by and told us his tonsils were really enlarged and filled with some stuff (I can't remember what word he used). He said he should notice a big difference since they were so big. He also shaved off some of the uvula (the hang down thing in the back of the throat) and he said it was really long too. I got my Mom to come by and get the prescription for pain medicine and take it to the pharmacy. He was having some pain so the nurse gave him something in the IV so I didn't want him to have to wait when we got home. I was glad she could go get it. Caleb got to see Daddy and give him a kiss. They kept us about 2 hours, and we got home about 1:00 p.m. He has been resting and drinking lots of fluids. He's had some Jello and a Frosty. He's been writing me notes too since he can't talk very well either. Caleb loves being a little helper. He got the trash ready to take out and take to the curb for trash pick up day tomorrow. He gave Daddy a bell to ring if he needs anything. Please keep him in prayer over the next few days if you think about it as he heals. Thank you! I'm thankful I can be here to care for him.
~~~~~~
I'll close with this verse today. My husband mentioned it as we were talking and laughing before surgery.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine...." Proverbs 17:22

As long as it is called Today: Christian spouses (July)

It's time again for "As long as it is called Today" as we encourage one another as Christian spouses. I hope you will join me in July each week on Tuesdays as we encourage each other in our daily lives as Christians, spouses, parents, and home keepers.

Click here to read last week's answer or to share your own.

Now for this week's question: Share what you do to care for each other when you are sick.

My answer: My husband and I are both rarely sick. He is a great support though when I don't feel well. He will cook supper or do laundry. One of the hardest times I had doing things was recovering from my c-section after Caleb was born. He was so great about changing Caleb and doing everything he could to help with him. Knowing I can count on him gives me such comfort. This week I'll get to care for him in his recovery.

Thank you for participating. I look forward to your ideas of things you do when you have a sick spouse. Maybe we can all learn something new to try to cheer up our spouses when they aren't feeling well.

Weekend

It's been a very different weekend for us. We visited the in laws on Saturday who took their camper down to the lake. We ended up coming home in the middle of the night because Caleb's allergy to the dogs/pet dander. He was itching so bad and couldn't sleep. After already doing the preparation things I knew to do beforehand (showering him off before bed and a dose of med), Mommy tried everything I could think of to help him be more comfortable. We decided it would be best to go home. We got home about 3:30 and all rested peacefully after that until about 9:30. We were about to eat breakfast when the doorbell rang. It was my Dad who was passing through. He expected us to be at church so it was funny how things worked out that we were there and got to see him for a few minutes. Later in the day we went to eat lunch and pick up some 1 cent pencils and 1 cent pack of copy paper from Staples (you have to do a rebate on the paper, but you can't beat a ream of paper for a penny!). In the evening we went to pick up some of Caleb's school supplies (Caleb who will be FIVE years old one month from Sunday!). I was excited to do this and didn't want to wait till after my husband recovered from his surgery so we went ahead and got most of them now. Then went to a camp reunion service. It is always fun to hear about the week the kids at camp and sing the songs with a room full of people.

This week is VBS at our church. Caleb and I will also be going to the grocery store to stock up on some things for my husband during his recovery from his tonsillectomy. It is on Tuesday. He has had trouble with sleep apnea. Since the cpap machine hasn't been helping him rest we are hoping this surgery will help give him relief. My Mom is coming to take Caleb to VBS in the mornings, and other fun things are planned as well!

Also, on Sunday I watched a wonderful video posted on Marsha's site. I highly recommend that you watch this skit. It is well-worth the time and you will be blessed I believe.

Have a great week! I appreciate YOU!
~~~~~~~~~~
"Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning." 2 John 1:6

Proverbs & Prayers: Week #28

Another verse this week about the tongue....we've had a lot of those from Proverbs!

It is Proverbs 15:4--

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

Please email me or leave a comment if you have a prayer request this week. I will be praying for:

~ Denise and her health concerns.

~ my husband is having a tonsillectomy this week in hopes of helping with his sleep apnea.

~ Anderson. He's had some good days following his surgery as well as a great birthday last week.

~ Kate. She has a long road ahead battling the brain tumor.

~ Lesly. She is back to having chemo treatments.

Thank you. Have a lovely week!

Making a Difference for Others

I got this in an email a while back. I thought it was so true and made me think what I can do to show others I care. Hope you are having a nice weekend!

Make A Difference For Others

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones
With the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones who care for you.

Only those who care, make a difference.
To make a difference to others, care for them.

~~unknown

~~~~~~
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

Organize/declutter #2

In my recent post of checking in on my 2009 goals, I remembered I was supposed to be decluttering/organizing. I've done a few things but nothing I've posted about in many months. Last Friday my husband was checking under our kitchen sink for a leak.

I went over to the corner and thought I'd organize my cookbooks. I have so many cookbooks, I love looking at them and finding new recipes. Stuff was falling out of the two drawers above so I cleaned the drawers out first. I went ahead and did two more drawers too while I was at it. I went through my towels and pot holders and got those organized. Then I moved on to the cookbook shelf. Here is the before picture. I have a big stack of Taste of Home cookbooks which I use often and love but wanted to see if I could make better use of the back space of the cabinet.

Here is the after picture.

Hope you have a good weekend! Thanks for stopping by today!
~~~~~~~~
"You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done."~ Psalm 92:4, NLT

Thankful Thursday

What are you thankful for today? Leave a comment or join us for Thankful Thursday at Spiritually Unequal Marriage today. I enjoyed reading Lynn's list of being thankful for the simple.

This week I've been thinking of little things, simple things, I've been thankful for that I don't want to take for granted like.....

~ my husband putting the garbage cans on the curb before he goes to work.

~ my son singing songs throughout the day and being able to hear him.

~ being able to go watch a baseball game with ease with my family and see little boys have fun playing. I read a post by my little friend Anderson's Mom of how she longed for him to be recovered from his last surgery so he could run and play so it made me thankful for what I do have.

~ feeling good. My back has been hurting this week so it made me thankful for being in good health and not having much pain in my life.

~ looking at old photographs.

Have a good day. It is good to give thanks every day and I love pausing on Thursdays with others to be thankful!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm 118:24, NLT

"Yes" Mom Challenge!

Jill Savage has issued a "Yes" Mom Challenge for the month of July. You can read more about it on her post here. I loved her idea and wanted to share it with you. So many times I find myself saying no when there really is no reason to not say yes! This month I've already found times when I say "okay, yes you can do that" when I was thinking first "no" in my head.

As Jill mentions in her post so many times when we do say no it's selfishness on our part and keeps our kids from enjoying something--it might be messy, time-consuming, etc. This is not saying yes to anything and everything or having an anything goes attitude. This challenge is simply a way to remind us as Mom's to say yes and let our kids do some fun things when we're tempted to say no!

This challenge has been a great reminder to say yes! If you leave a comment on her blog of being a "yes" Mom this month, you'll be entered in a drawing.

Also, be sure to check out the review in the post below this one about Jill Savage's great book Real Mom's...Real Jesus.

2009 Book #30: Real Moms, Real Jesus by Jill Savage

I have previously posted an interview with author Jill Savage. I have now finished this book Real Moms...Real Jesus and would like to share my thoughts with you.

I have found through her blog and other books that Jill has a way of speaking to the hearts of Moms. She relates real life experiences of her home in a way that gives insight to other Moms going through the same situations. Real Moms....Real Jesus is no different.


This book has thirteen chapters that relate the experiences of Jesus during His life on earth to experiences of Moms. Jesus served; we serve our families. Jesus taught; we are teachers in our homes. Jesus prayed; we must cover our families in prayer. Jesus let go; we have to learn to let go of our children as they grow.


I enjoyed reading this book and participating in the weekly posts about each chapter on Jill's blog. It is very encouraging as a Mom to read about the life of Jesus and see how things He faced relate to motherhood. I was blessed by reading this book.
~~~~~~~~
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15, 16

As long as it is called Today: Christian women/men (July)

It's time again for "As long as it is called Today" for the first Tuesday in July as we encourage one another as Christian women and men. I hope you will join me in July each week on Tuesdays as we encourage each other in our daily lives as Christians, spouses, parents, and home keepers.

Click here to read some of the memories shared last week or share your own.

Now for this week's question: Do you memorize scripture as an adult? What methods do you use to help you memorize verses?

My answer: I have a verse I write on an index card which is on a ring so all the cards for the year are together in one place. This is an idea I got from Beth Moore I think. This is the verse I think about and read over and over throughout the week. It helps me remember it to look at it and be able to carry it around with me.

I look forward to reading your answers of ways you "hide God's Word in your heart." God bless you!

Marriage Monday: Traveling with our husbands

It's time again for Marriage Monday! It seems like so long ago that I wrote the June post for Marriage Monday. This month's topic is traveling with your husband. Here are some questions for thought posted by our hostess Christine at Fruit in Season along with my answers.

How often have you traveled with your husband? My husband and I have done some traveling together through the years. He travels some for business so Caleb and I go with him sometimes when he does, depending where he's going and how long he's staying. He's been to Phoenix and D.C. recently (we didn't go!). I'll miss traveling with him during the school year once Caleb starts school this year.

Have you traveled around the country? Internationally? Most of our travel has been here in Texas, but we've also been to Louisiana and New Mexico. We've not traveled internationally together.

Where was your favorite place and why? Each place holds special memories. We went to South Padre Island on our honeymoon....and both got sunburned! I totally love to go back to Abilene since that is where we met and it holds so many great memories for us. I guess our favorite place as a family is probably San Antonio. Our trips to New Mexico have been fabulous as well! Anywhere together is special.

Who does the packing and planning? I am a list maker so I start making lists of things to take. Depending on the trip, I fix a box of snacks and other random items that I want to be sure and remember, like batteries and the phone charger. For long trips (like our trip to New Mexico that included several stops), I made a list of days and then what clothes I'd wear each day. He gets out his own clothes usually. I will gather up the toiletries. I've been known to leave behind important items, so I try to double-check each room of the house before leaving.

Are your travel styles and preferences compatible? We're compatible I'd say. I like to have a plan well in advance of where we are going, what we're doing, and how much it will cost. We like to do family fun things together.

How do you make sure the trip is fun for both of you? We both give ideas of what we should do or see when we go some place special. We also decide together about where we will eat.

If you have kids, do you usually take them with you? Yes.

What are your future travel plans with your husband? (I'll assume you have some future travel plans!) As a young girl I went to Missouri with my parents and we visited several places including the Precious Moments Chapel. I want to go back together someday. As a teenager my husband went on a motorcycle trip with his Papaw to Colorado. He frequently talks about that trip and actually that trip is what he talked about the first night we went for a walk together before we started dating. I really want to go back together. I've never been to Colorado so it will be special to see that with him. We want to go to Washington, D.C. (in a couple years we're thinking!) Also, I would love to see the Grand Canyon.

Join us for Marriage Monday the first Monday of each month!
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day." Psalm 96:2

Proverbs & Prayers Week #27

Hope you are having a lovely 4th of July holiday weekend! Thank you for stopping by today.

This week's memory verse is Proverbs 14:29--

"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly."

Do you have any prayer requests this week? Let me know. Here are a couple requests I have.

~ Kate. I read other blog posts about this little girl and wanted to pass on this prayer request to you. You can watch a video of her parents talking here. They found out this week she has a brain tumor and had brain surgery this week. Let's pray for Kate but also for strength for her parents as they walk this road of so many unknowns.

~ Denise. She is having a thyroid ultrasound on Monday.

~ Anderson. He is recovering from his brain surgery. This week he'll be turning 4 also.

Thank you. Have a wonderful week!

.....Land that I love....

Hot Glitters

2009 Book #29: Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser

I have finished reading Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser. This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed once I figured out all the different characters. In the beginning it was hard to figure out each character’s purpose to the story, but as I read more I loved how the author weaved their stories together.

Lissa Randall is a young woman whose life suddenly comes to a halt after a tragic accident claims her mother’s life. She lives in fear of driving and with the sound of voices sounding in her head. She begins taking driving lessons with Mr. Ev MacAllister who teaches Lissa more than just about being able to drive again.

The characters struggle with the voices they hear playing in their minds. Their struggles are woven together beautifully to create an amazing novel.

Here is a verse from the book that I really liked:
" I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

2009 Goals: Checking in #3

Here is my original goal list.

--prayer. I continue to learn and see the importance of prayer in our daily living. I have been hearing and reading so much on prayer lately that continually reminds me of the importance to always be praying.

--Bible study. This summer I'm doing the study Me, Myself & Lies by Jennifer Rothschild with the LPM blog. It is an eye-opening study.

--budget. Almost almost almost debt free! Yippee! I'll let you know when we make that last payment on the school loan!

--book reading. I finished book #28 which I'll post a review for later.

--laugh. It seems Caleb is so good at reminding me to laugh. I am thankful for that.

--verse memorization. I'm still memorizing the verses from Proverbs. I have not been writing out verses for Caleb to memorize. I need to do that again.

--be earth friendly. I am now remembering most of the time to put our reusable bags back in the trunk instead of leaving them at home. AND I usually remember to grab one when I run in a store for something. This week when we went grocery shopping I realized I had forgotten to put the two I'd used Wednesday back into the car so I was two short for the groceries. Caleb said why did she have to give us those sacks since we had some plastic this time. I'm glad he noticed.
--organize/declutter. I haven't organized anything lately that I remember.

--get to bed earlier. Sometimes we make it to bed earlier but this hasn't been one of those weeks!

This posting is mainly for me to keep up with how I'm doing and to remind myself of what I want to be doing! Have a wonderful weekend!
~~~~~~~~~
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17, KJV

Review: The I Believe Bunny by Tish Rabe

Thomas Nelson has a new children’s book called The I Believe Bunny by Tish Rabe and illustrated by Frank Endersby. This is actually part of the “I Believe Bunny” series. This book is the tale of a bunny who does all he can to help a mouse in trouble. Bunny finds out that prayer does work! The book is appropriate for preschoolers through primary aged children.

I enjoyed reading this book to my son. He also enjoyed the pictures and the story. The cute illustrations add to the enjoyment of this book. I appreciate finding a book I can share with my child that teaches a strong biblical truth in a story with text understandable for young children. I look forward to other books in this series.

Thankful Thursday: Freedom

It is a blessing to live in America. This is a blessing we often take for granted. I'm thankful for the freedoms we have here in our country, like being able to worship the Lord. I'm thankful for days like Independence Day to remember and celebrate. I'm thankful for the men and women who have served and those who continue to serve our country with such courage and bravery, as well as their families who are back home waiting for their safe return. We need to be thankful for the freedoms we have and not forget all the Lord has blessed us with, even in the midst of hard times we've faced recently.

Also, we have freedom through Christ for which I'm thankful. We are no longer held captive because He makes us free!

Other things I've been thankful for this week have been:

~ my sweet husband. He always helps clean up the table after supper while I do the dishes. I love this and am thankful he is helpful.

~ the cute things I hear my son say. We were driving into town. I told him it looked like those clouds had some rain and we should pray and ask God to send us some more rain. A little bit later it started raining. He said I guess He heard our voices. :)
~ rain. It was such a blessing to wake up to the dark morning and hear the sound of rain outside.

~ getting to eat Chinese food. Since my hubby doesn't care for it, I was excited to be able to go out to eat Chinese with my sweet friend. It was delicious and I'm thankful for her friendship too.

~ being able to go to the library.

God bless America! Have a safe, happy holiday weekend!

~~~~~~~~~~~

"I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.

I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts." Psalm 119:44, 45

Recipe: Berry Berry Cool Pie

picture from Keebler Ready Crust website

Last Sunday I saw this recipe in the coupon flyer in our newspaper with the Eagle Brand milk coupon. I had it in my head all week that I wanted to make it so Saturday I got the stuff I needed at the store and made it. It is very easy to make. The hardest part was waiting for it to freeze!! It is yummy and a perfect treat for hot summer days. It actually made two pie crusts full for me. I may have put too much whipped topping because I used part of a large tub and wasn't exactly measuring it.

Click for the recipe: Berry Berry Cool Pie