Recipe: Grilled BBQ Chicken Wraps

For supper a couple weeks ago we had Grilled BBQ Chicken Wraps.  I saw the recipe on the back of a package of Kraft grated cheese (which I normally don't buy but did probably because it was on sale!  haha!).  The picture looked so good and it sounded easy.  We had some boneless skinless chicken breasts in the freezer so I thawed a couple.  When my husband got home he fixed them on the grill for us.  They were SO good!  We added some onion to ours too which gave it a nice flavor.  They taste like quesadillas.

Here is a link to this yummy, easy recipe.  Enjoy!

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

This has been a busy week at our house.  May and December are two months that are always busy it seems.  We're excited that our last day of school is next week and are ready for summer!!

Today I am thankful for...
~ my husband and how we continually have both grown through the years in our love, friendship, and marriage. 

~ hearing my sweet boy say "Mommy" when he came to my room Tuesday morning and jumped on our bed.  I had been out late Monday night working at the concession stand at the baseball game.  I thought it was cute how he was excited to see me the next morning. 

~ finding a new dentist and doctor here.  I miss my previous doctor so much but was glad to find a new one today that I like when I went for my check-up.

~ the new friends and connections I'm making here in our new city.  The lady at the library talked to me at length this week, it is nice to get to know new people.

~  feeling good and having strength and energy in this busy week!  I'm so glad I have been able to do the things I'm doing this week at the school and home.

What are you thankful for today?
Have a day of blessings!
 

Pleasing words

Join me today over at Laced with Grace for a devotional called Pleasing words.  Thank you!

Have a day of blessings!

New Seeds CD

I have shared on the blog in the past about CDs by Seeds Family Worship.  They have come out with their sixth CD recently, "Seeds of Character." 

I cannot say enough good things about Seeds.  I am so glad to have found these CDs.  Our family enjoys them.  We recently purchased two new ones and have enjoyed listening to the songs on these. 

If you want to hear Seeds of Character, go to this link.  There is also a blog tour going on right now as well.  You can read more about that at this link at the Ministry-to-Children website. 

Also, if you would like to purchase a CD,  you can use the coupon code RAINDROPSRAINBOWS at checkout to receive 20% off the purchase of any of the six CDs. The nice thing about Seeds CD's is that they come with two so you can keep one and share one  to plant some seeds.

Have a day of blessings!
 

3rd Thursday Thought

For this month's third Thursday thought for the Hearts at Home bloggers, the equestion is:
What is your favorite homemade dish? Share your recipe!   
I love trying new recipes so I look forward to the recipes shared on this blog hop today.  My Mom will often get me a new cookbook for Christmas.  I have a big collection now, taking after my Mom actually.  I have a bunch of the Taste of Home cookbooks, and they are probably my favorite.  I have gotten many of our favorite meals from these books. 

Here is one of our favorites.  It is called Biscuit Pizza Bake.  (I shared this back in August 2007 on the blog as well)

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.  Hope you enjoy it!


Have a day of blessings!
 

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

~ my husband having a friend in one of his coworkers.  They were in the same town Tuesday for a conference and had dinner together and were able to talk about their job, concerns, plans, etc.  I know it is an encouragement to my husband to have this coworker who is a fellow Christian.  I've only met this man a couple of times but I know from my husband talking about him what an encouragement he is.  I'm thankful he has that!   

~ celebrating my boy's "pretend birthday" this week at school.  Since he has a summer birthday I asked the teacher if I could bring a treat for the class.  I did this last year when he was in kindergarten, and he asked if we could do it again this year. 

~ not being dizzy!  I'm SO thankful to not have the dizzy feeling when I'm rolling over in bed and turning to my side.  I went to an ENT on Tuesday to have my ears checked to see if we could determine a cause.  He sent me to an audiologist across the street who did some head/neck exercises with me on a table.  The ENT told me it sounds strange but it works.  He said what it is called "Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)," which is what I had thought it was based on my online research. 

~ watching our garden grow!  We've picked squash already, and I saw tiny little cucumbers on the vine earlier this week. 

~  working on a special project for my husband for our 10th anniversary coming up in June.  I'm so excited about this and can't wait for him to see it!

Thank you for stopping by!  Later on Thursday I'll be sharing my "3rd Thursday Thought" with the Hearts at Home blog hop.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Morning conversations

I never know what sort of conversations I will have with Caleb in the mornings as he eats breakfast and gets ready for school.  Some mornings he will be super talkative and animated.  Others he is more reserved and quiet.

Tuesday morning he started talking about his sister.  He knows that I had a miscarriage before he was born, and I've told him about the dream I had at that time about that baby being a girl.  Tuesday he asked when her birthday would be and how long babies grow in the Mom's tummy.  Then he started talking about heaven and the other people we know there.  He talked about how we will have new bodies there and there won't be sin. 

Another interesting thing he said was about sin.  He said God reaches down to earth and grabs up that sin and then throws it far far away.  It was a nice image to me.  I told him the verse that says God takes away our sins "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).

I enjoy our conversations and hope these continue as Caleb continues to grow up.   I've been  able to learn to see things from a child's perspective and through his thought process.  Especially about heaven.... something that we adults know some about but there are many questions we still have about it too. 
We've seen billboards around lately claiming that May 21 will be judgment day.  I've heard claims like this all of my life it seems.  I don't believe it because we can read in the Word in Matthew 24 that "about that day or hour no one knows."  I have seen several pose questions about this day and this man's claims.  I think it has made some people aware and reminded people that some day Jesus is coming back.  We don't know when, yet we do know we need to be ready at all times.  Are you ready for that?  Email me at preciousmoments2004 at gmail dot com if you aren't sure. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Song: "These Days" by Mandisa

I have enjoyed many of the songs on Mandisa's new CD called "What If We Were Real."  I just love this upbeat song and the lyrics that's called "These Days." 

I told my husband he needed to listen to it Monday morning.  He found out Sunday evening that his secretary had broken his leg and is unsure how long he'll be out.  They were already shorthanded in the office because of another worker breaking her leg in April.  Lately it seems it has been one thing on top of another for him and his work. 

I think this song has a great message and a reminder that we all have days when things just don't seem to be going well.  In the midst of those times though we need to stop and try to learn what God is trying to teach us. 

Hope you enjoy this song today!


Have a day of blessings!
 

Reminder: Unite for Life Webcast

I just wanted to remind you of the Unite for Life Webcast.  Go to the website to register.  It is free, but you do need to register.  The webcast will be May 17 at 8:00. 

Have a day of blessings!

SSMT #10

Verse #10 already?!

The verse I have chosen is Psalms 36:7--

"How priceless is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."

Have a day of blessings!
 

Audio book: Penetrating the Darkness

I have finished listening to a book called Penetrating the Darkness Discovering the Power of the Cross Against Unseen Evil. The author is Jack Hayford.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The book was not what I expected. I guess I had a different idea in mind of what this book would be about based on the title and book description. I found it to be a very in depth look at prayer with guidance and instruction on praying. It includes various prayer-related phrases and explains what each one means and how to pray in that way, including supplication, intercession, and pleading the blood. Parts of the book where hard to follow as I listened and other parts really made sense. I was reminded of the power of prayer and how we need to be people of prayer to fight against the evil around us.

The narrator was Tim Lundeen. He does a good job reading this book and his voice is pleasant.

Thank you to the christianaudio Reviewers Program for providing this audio book to me for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Stamp Out Hunger

Tomorrow May 14 is the Stamp Out Hunger food drive done by letter carrier's all around the country.  Here is a video clip about Stamp Out Hunger.

You can help.  Leave a bag of nonperishable food items at your mailbox Saturday for your letter carrier to pick up.  It doesn't have to be a lot of food, even one or two cans would be helpful.  Some ideas of things you could donate:  canned fruit or vegetables, peanut butter, tuna or other canned meat, juice, spaghetti and sauce, mac n cheese, etc.

For more information go to the Stamp Out Hunger website or visit them on Facebook. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Book review: You Can Raise Courageous & Confident Kids

I am so glad I have read the book You Can Raise Courageous & Confident Kids:  Preparing Your Children for the World They Live In by Mary E. DeMuth.

This is an excellent book for parents. The author gives ideas and reasons that we as parents need to prepare our world for the postmodern world in which we leave. There is a balance we must find between sheltering our children so much that they will be unable to function when they grow up and giving them strong roots to be able to live in the world but not be like the world. The author shares her own experiences with her children as they made the decision to move to France. The purpose of this book is to help parents help their children effectively share the love of Jesus in the world in which they are growing up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the writing style of the author. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Harvest House Publishers for providing this book for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

For our May meeting of Thankful Thursday we will be at Laurie's blog. 

What have you been thankful for this week?  Here are some of my blessings:

~ my husband calling to check on me Wednesday when he heard a storm was headed our way.

~ my boy having a good attitude about his homework.  Some days he really doesn't want to do it, but I've noticed his good attitude about doing it lately. 

~ having a nice Mother's Day weekend with my boys, Mom, and seeing my Meemaw for her 80th birthday.

~ my son's teachers and the wonderful year he's had in first grade.  He still talks about his old school and friends and misses them at times.  He will tell us also the things he likes better about this school.  He has been blessed with such a wonderful teacher.  I'm praying next year's teacher is as good of a match for him!

~ the rain and sunshine we had yesterday. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Question for you!

I was surprised to receive a new Bible for Mother's Day.  My other one was given to me at Christmas 2003 by my husband.  It was falling apart!  The pages had fallen out of the leather cover.  I had that one all marked up with notes and underlining.  My husband said he knew I'd have to figure out what to do about the notes and markings from the other Bible.   I have been thinking about this and wonder ideas of what other people do in their Bibles. 

I have all sort of markings in my previous Bible for topics and themes.  I underlined some words a certain color and used a pink highlighter for the word "love."  I had codes that I put in the margins for other words, like an "L" for references to light and a tiny heart for references to the heart.  I also put dates in the margins if a verse was a theme for an event, like VBS or a conference.  I put a circle around the number of some of my favorite verses.

I'm trying to decide if I want to do the same thing or something new in this Bible.  Do you underline or take notes in the margins or at the back?  I look forward to reading how you mark your Bible.   

Have a day of blessings!
 

Happy Mother's Day

I have read so many wonderful posts in honor of Mother's Day including special poems and pictures on Facebook.  It's nice to see so many paying tribute to Mom's, if they have their Mom still with them on this earth or not.  

I am thankful for my Mom and am also thankful today to be a Mom.  I was glad to be able for us to come to my Mom's house this weekend. 

Caleb came home with a packet of things he made for me at school.  One thing he brought home early was a little flower he had grown in science class.  Also, he gave me paper tea pot with a tea bag and poem inside.  He gave it to me and said this is for you when you get frustrated with me, which made me laugh!   

Today is also my Meemaw's 80th birthday.  I'm glad she is still in good health.  I have many happy and funny memories of her from growing up, and I'm glad to have her in my life.

I hope you have a beautiful Mother's Day weekend! 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Thankful Thursday

It's time for a new month of Thankful Thursday.  For May we are meeting at Laurie's blog.  She has a nice post about mothers today.  I am thankful for my mom as well!

This week I am thankful for:
~ having my husband's love.  I love him more every day and can't believe we've been married nearly10 years!!

~ my sweet boy talking to me and telling me his feelings after he had a bad day.  I hope he will always want to talk to me about what he is feeling. 

~ getting in a few more continuing ed hours via online training.

~ the teachers I have had through the years who have all made some difference in my life.  I'm thankful that they chose to be a teacher!

~ protection in the storm, plus the rain we received earlier this week.

Also, I wanted to remind you that today is the National Day of Prayer. 

Another thing....I am having a giveaway for the DVD called "Unplanned."  You can leave a comment in the post earlier this week to be entered.  Thank you. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Happenings of this week

Sunday morning at about 6:40 we were woken up by some loud wind beating against our window.  Right after we woke up the power went out.  Caleb hollered at us and we brought him to our room. My husband checked the weather to see what was happening.  The power flickered off and on for a few minutes and the storm seemed to pass quickly. 

When we left for church we saw some damage in our neighborhood.  After church we drove around town and saw some of the damage, like this knocked down sign.  There are uprooted trees all over town and trees falling on houses or buildings.  The National Weather Service determined it was not a tornado but many of the citizens said they saw a twister. 

That night I woke up at about 1:15 to something hitting our bedroom window.  It was hailing.  We checked on Caleb but he was sound asleep through it.  This is what it looked like outside.

We went back to sleep and then we were startled by Caleb hollering out for us.  My first thought was that he was dreaming or had heard the wind or something outside.  My husband got to his room first and when I got there he was flipping on Caleb's light.  I said what's wrong?  He said, "My tooth is gone."  I looked in his mouth and sure enough, one of his loose teeth was no longer in his mouth. 

We had tried several times to get that tooth out over the past few weeks.  It bled a bunch on Saturday, which upset Caleb, so we just stopped. 

I looked around on his bed and found this.  Caleb asked, "Is it bleeding?"  There wasn't a drop of blood anywhere.  I asked him what happened, and he said he heard something click and then felt and his tooth was gone.  I was glad we found it.  (I took this picture later to add to this post!) 

We were just amazed that it fell out in his sleep.  I guess it was ready to get out of there!  We'd prayed that it would come out without causing him problems or worry.  I never expected it to fall out in his sleep! 

He has another loose one on top too (the one I wrote about several months ago). 

Have a day of blessings!

DVD: Unplanned + Giveaway

I had the privilege of receiving the DVD Unplanned, and my husband and I watched it together.  This is a well-done documentary of the story of Abby Johnson, former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, TX. 

About the documentary: 
Abby Johnson thought she was helping women in crisis. She was about to learn the truth . . . and facing the secrets of her own painful past would be the toughest truth of all. In this documentary based on the book Unplanned, learn how Abby Johnson went from Planned Parenthood clinic director to leading voice for life and women in crisis.

Take a couple of minutes to watch this clip.


My thoughts: 
Having been a pro life supporter for as long as I can remember, I was excited to be able to watch this movie and enjoyed watching this one hour movie with my husband.  As I watched I learned so much about the Planned Parenthood organization.  I feel like this documentary had many lessons for the viewer beyond just the support for life. 
1.  Our prayers matter. 
2.  We don't know how what we say or do in Christ's love can impact another person, even if we don't see the results immediately. 
3.  We need more people with courage like Abby to stand up for what is right.

I'd like to also share with you an event coming soon, the Unite for Life webcast.  Click here for the website and more information about how to register for this FREE event.

Also, I am giving away a copy of the DVD Unplanned.  This would be a wonderful video to watch yourself and share with others in your family or church.  Leave a comment on this blog post telling me if you have read the book Unplanned or followed Abby Johnson's story.  I will choose a winner on Friday and announce the winner on Saturday, May 7.  I will send you a gift certificate provided by Tyndale for you to take to your local retailer to get this DVD.  Make sure you include your email address so I can contact you. 
   
Have a day of blessings!
 

Marriage Monday: Faith

It's been a few months since I've participated in Marriage Monday.  Today we are talking about faith in marriage.
My thoughts:
Our faith has always been important to both my husband and myself before we married and that is no different for our marriage.  Our faith in God is vital. We pray together, attend church, and are trying to raise our son to love the Lord as well.  I feel my husband has taught me so much through the years about God and the Bible.  I love his knowledge and how he knows so much about the Bible.  I have loved to see him in recent years as he has learned more too and shares what he has learned with me.       

Through the years we have done different things to grow in our faith together.  We've read couples devotional books or a book of the Bible and listened to David Jeremiah radio broadcasts together.  I don't think there is one set thing that a couple should do as far as faith is concerned....what works for one couple may not work for another.  For example, I once had in my head that we had to read from a devotional book every night before bed.  I wanted to do this but so many times for whatever reason it just didn't work out.  I eventually realized and accepted that we could do other things together even though that particular idea wasn't working that would be a better fit for us as a couple and our schedule. 

Part of our vows that we wrote and said at our wedding was that we would help each other through the journey of life and when we reach the other side we'll know we have helped each other to get there. I'm so blessed and thankful that I have my husband by my side to encourage me and help me along the way. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

SSMT #9

My new verse for SSMT is -- "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." Colossians 2:7, NLT

I read this a few days ago on Karen's blog Lily Valley and I''ve been thinking about it ever since!  As I was watering our garden this week I had to kneel down close to the plants.  The winds were blowing so strongly I didn't want the water to get blown away.  As I watched the plants they were pulled to the side, down to the ground, by the strong winds.  I thought to myself I'm glad that the plants have strong roots to hold them in the ground. 

We need to have strong roots too. We need to make sure we are rooted in truth and when we are we will overflow with thankfulness. 

Thank you for visiting from Spiritual Sundays today.

Have a day of blessings!