of God's amazing provision!
I bought some clothes a while back. After I started wearing them I just wasn't very comfortable. They just weren't 'me.' But I continued to wear them because they were cute. Somewhat fashionable. I liked the way a friend of mine dressed and so I had her go shopping with me and help me pick out the clothes. I don't know why I ever cared about 'in style' clothing because I just wear what I'm comfortable in.
The Lord had been dealing with me about these particular clothes. When I bought them, they were borderline too short. And I couldn't wear them anymore because, ahem, they were too small. They've been just sitting in my closet collecting dust. I had told the Lord that I would get rid of all of the clothes but it was getting around to doing it that was the problem.
Last week, I finally decided to clean out my closet. Four days later I was approached by a lady in our church. She asked me if I wanted some clothes. They weren't just Kmart clothes. They're designer clothes! I've never had designer clothes. She brought me 'some' of the clothes last night and it's just about a closet full to include 2 leather jackets, a suit jacket, some skirts, blouses, cashmere sweaters, and lots of everyday sweaters and shirts. She told me if they fit, there's plenty more she can bring me. Wow!
I did need some clothes because I didn't have very many since my weight gain. The Lord knew. I didn't tell anyone except for Him and even at that I only prayed about it once or twice pretty much just in passing.
I can't help but think that because I finally decided to obey, the Lord met one of my needs. But He went way above my thinking on this one! He provided beautiful things that I never would have paid the price for and it is all FREE!
Why is it so hard to just obey the things God asks of us? I don't know but He continues to prove to me that He knows and cares about me in every single area of my life.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Hunting?
Yesterday we had another guest speaker at church. His name is Jeremy Picker. He and his family were with us all day at church.
We spent the entire day with them. They have 3 kids. Their son, Travis, is basically the same age as Phyllip and Tyler. The boys were instant friends.
L to R - Phyllip, Travis, Tyler
After lunch, both families came back to our house. The boys wanted to play outside and we told them to have a great time.
Apparently, Travis is quite a hunter. He's killed snakes, quail, bunnies, deer, etc. He's even skinned the animals, too. Of course, his dad has taught him these things.
We let all six of the kids go play in the fields. The boys were trying their best to get a quail or bunny. But, to no avail.
Fast forward to this morning.
The first thing out of Phyllip's mouth this morning was the following:
Phyllip: "Mom, after school can we go into the fields and hunt quail?"
(notice that he didn't even say good morning to me!)
Me: "What are you going to hunt them with?"
Phyllip: "Rocks."
Me: "You need to talk to your dad about that."
A few minutes pass by and he decides he wants to talk to his dad and the conversation went like this:
Phyllip: "Dad, can we go in the fields after school and hunt quail?"
Dad: "What are you going to hunt them with?"
Phyllip: "Rocks."
Dad: "That's going to be pretty hard to kill a quail."
Phyllip: "Then can we take your gun?"
Dad: "NO!"
I just about busted a gut laughing because the conversation went from rocks to guns in about 2.2 seconds!
Dad went on to tell the boys that he will take them target shooting to get their skills sharpened. The boys don't realize yet that it's going to take a while to get the hang of shooting again.
Travis invited the boys to go camping with him and his dad over his birthday in May. They're going hunting during the trip. I guess we better get to teaching these boys a thing or two about the great outdoors before then!
We spent the entire day with them. They have 3 kids. Their son, Travis, is basically the same age as Phyllip and Tyler. The boys were instant friends.
L to R - Phyllip, Travis, Tyler
Apparently, Travis is quite a hunter. He's killed snakes, quail, bunnies, deer, etc. He's even skinned the animals, too. Of course, his dad has taught him these things.
We let all six of the kids go play in the fields. The boys were trying their best to get a quail or bunny. But, to no avail.
Fast forward to this morning.
The first thing out of Phyllip's mouth this morning was the following:
Phyllip: "Mom, after school can we go into the fields and hunt quail?"
(notice that he didn't even say good morning to me!)
Me: "What are you going to hunt them with?"
Phyllip: "Rocks."
Me: "You need to talk to your dad about that."
A few minutes pass by and he decides he wants to talk to his dad and the conversation went like this:
Phyllip: "Dad, can we go in the fields after school and hunt quail?"
Dad: "What are you going to hunt them with?"
Phyllip: "Rocks."
Dad: "That's going to be pretty hard to kill a quail."
Phyllip: "Then can we take your gun?"
Dad: "NO!"
I just about busted a gut laughing because the conversation went from rocks to guns in about 2.2 seconds!
Dad went on to tell the boys that he will take them target shooting to get their skills sharpened. The boys don't realize yet that it's going to take a while to get the hang of shooting again.
Travis invited the boys to go camping with him and his dad over his birthday in May. They're going hunting during the trip. I guess we better get to teaching these boys a thing or two about the great outdoors before then!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Chalk Another One Up To the Kiddos
My sister (Nancy) called me today and shared this story with me.
She had to take one of her cats to the vet today and have him put down. He was just too sick to keep anymore.
Nancy's two girls, Rebecca and Katie, wanted to go to the vet with her so they could say their last goodbyes to Sylvester.
Both of the girls were understandably upset on the drive home. However, both girls grieve completely opposite of each other. Rebecca cries quietly. Katie cries very loudly. Nancy couldn't hear Rebecca crying although she knew she was. Katie let everyone know she was upset.
Here's where the funny part comes in.
On the drive home, while Katie was boohooing loudly, she would suddenly yell out, "Slug bug blue" and continue boohooing. Then another, "Slug bug silver." All the way home!
Apparently, Katie wasn't upset enough to keep her from playing any games!
She had to take one of her cats to the vet today and have him put down. He was just too sick to keep anymore.
Nancy's two girls, Rebecca and Katie, wanted to go to the vet with her so they could say their last goodbyes to Sylvester.
Both of the girls were understandably upset on the drive home. However, both girls grieve completely opposite of each other. Rebecca cries quietly. Katie cries very loudly. Nancy couldn't hear Rebecca crying although she knew she was. Katie let everyone know she was upset.
Here's where the funny part comes in.
On the drive home, while Katie was boohooing loudly, she would suddenly yell out, "Slug bug blue" and continue boohooing. Then another, "Slug bug silver." All the way home!
Apparently, Katie wasn't upset enough to keep her from playing any games!
Watch Out for Exploding Pots!
There's nothing like learning something new the messy way!
I was in the process of making tapioca last night. I usually make the minute tapioca but I had this in the cupboard and I'm almost always up for a new recipe.
It's actually easier to make than the minute tapioca but it takes a lot longer.
I was making a large bowl of it and also needed to use a double boiler. I thought I could just put my 2 stock pots (they are the same width except for one is an 8 qt. pot and the other is a 6 qt. pot) together and it would work. Did you catch the word 'thought'?
The recipe said to cook the mixture on very low heat for 1 hour. No problem - except that my pots decided to get completely stuck together!
I let it finish cooking before adding the eggs and sugar. I added the next ingredients and turned the heat to medium. All was going well until I heard an explosion in the kitchen! I ran into the kitchen to see the top pot now sitting sideways with the tapioca mixture moving back and forth quite rapidly. As I entered the kitchen, I saw water everywhere and tapioca pudding all over the stove.
Apparently, there was a vacuum created between the two pots which was ok on very low heat but when the heat was turned up the steam needed to escape but it couldn't. Hence, the explosion!
The pudding turned out great (my family says it's better than the Minute Tapioca) and I learned a valuable lesson.
Note to self: Buy a bigger double boiler set!
I was in the process of making tapioca last night. I usually make the minute tapioca but I had this in the cupboard and I'm almost always up for a new recipe.
It's actually easier to make than the minute tapioca but it takes a lot longer.
I was making a large bowl of it and also needed to use a double boiler. I thought I could just put my 2 stock pots (they are the same width except for one is an 8 qt. pot and the other is a 6 qt. pot) together and it would work. Did you catch the word 'thought'?
The recipe said to cook the mixture on very low heat for 1 hour. No problem - except that my pots decided to get completely stuck together!
I let it finish cooking before adding the eggs and sugar. I added the next ingredients and turned the heat to medium. All was going well until I heard an explosion in the kitchen! I ran into the kitchen to see the top pot now sitting sideways with the tapioca mixture moving back and forth quite rapidly. As I entered the kitchen, I saw water everywhere and tapioca pudding all over the stove.
Apparently, there was a vacuum created between the two pots which was ok on very low heat but when the heat was turned up the steam needed to escape but it couldn't. Hence, the explosion!
The pudding turned out great (my family says it's better than the Minute Tapioca) and I learned a valuable lesson.
Note to self: Buy a bigger double boiler set!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
I know He loves me!
Guess what I woke up to this morning! Ok, so you don't really know.
It was my most favorite sound in the world! It's a sound I haven't heard in quite a while.
My favorite sound in the world is a dove cooing. If you've never heard a dove coo, it's the most relaxing sound. If the doves would do it all day, I would be much obliged to listen to them. I just love it!
We are so blessed to live here in SoCal. We have so much wildlife around our home. Doves, quail, roadrunners, bunnies, lizards, mockingbirds and coyotes, just to name a few. We enjoy watching all of them and we even saw a snake in our front yard once. For the record, I wasn't thrilled with the snake (Those of you who know me know I told my husband when we moved down here that the first snake I saw, I was taking the kids and moving back to WA. I've come a long way in 10 years!). It wasn't a poisonous snake (the name of the snake escapes me at this moment) so I was ok with it being in my front yard.
God knows the dove cooing is my favorite. He loves me so much! I am so thankful that God takes an interest in the things I love and provides them for me! I know it's not anything huge, but God does this each and every time just for me. He has even provided a family of doves that lives in our front yard. Now, how perfect is that?! Wouldn't you agree that God has given me something I love?
I was awake this morning but I hadn't forced myself out of bed yet. And then the doves started cooing and it put the biggest smile on my face! It was a great start to the day!
Hope your day is as great as mine!
It was my most favorite sound in the world! It's a sound I haven't heard in quite a while.
My favorite sound in the world is a dove cooing. If you've never heard a dove coo, it's the most relaxing sound. If the doves would do it all day, I would be much obliged to listen to them. I just love it!
We are so blessed to live here in SoCal. We have so much wildlife around our home. Doves, quail, roadrunners, bunnies, lizards, mockingbirds and coyotes, just to name a few. We enjoy watching all of them and we even saw a snake in our front yard once. For the record, I wasn't thrilled with the snake (Those of you who know me know I told my husband when we moved down here that the first snake I saw, I was taking the kids and moving back to WA. I've come a long way in 10 years!). It wasn't a poisonous snake (the name of the snake escapes me at this moment) so I was ok with it being in my front yard.
God knows the dove cooing is my favorite. He loves me so much! I am so thankful that God takes an interest in the things I love and provides them for me! I know it's not anything huge, but God does this each and every time just for me. He has even provided a family of doves that lives in our front yard. Now, how perfect is that?! Wouldn't you agree that God has given me something I love?
I was awake this morning but I hadn't forced myself out of bed yet. And then the doves started cooing and it put the biggest smile on my face! It was a great start to the day!
Hope your day is as great as mine!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Peanut Butter Pie
I got this recipe from an elderly woman years ago (before we were married). Phyllis was very hesitant to give it to me but because of my dear husband (whom she adored), she gave it to me. This happens to be one of his all time favorite desserts.
Crust:
3 cups graham crackers, crushed
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (can use crunchy also)
2 cups powdered sugar
4 cups cool whip
Mix crushed graham crackers and sugar in a bowl. Add melted butter and mix well. Pour into pie plate and press firmly into bottom and up the edges of pie plate. Whip cream cheese til smooth. Add peanut butter and mix. Add sugar and mix. Add cool whip and mix well until smooth. Pour into pie plate and refrigerate about 2 hours. Keep uneaten portion in refrigerator.
That's the recipe I was given. However, I think 3 cups of graham crackers is too much. Try cutting it down 1/2 cup or so until you think it's just right.
Crust:
3 cups graham crackers, crushed
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (can use crunchy also)
2 cups powdered sugar
4 cups cool whip
Mix crushed graham crackers and sugar in a bowl. Add melted butter and mix well. Pour into pie plate and press firmly into bottom and up the edges of pie plate. Whip cream cheese til smooth. Add peanut butter and mix. Add sugar and mix. Add cool whip and mix well until smooth. Pour into pie plate and refrigerate about 2 hours. Keep uneaten portion in refrigerator.
That's the recipe I was given. However, I think 3 cups of graham crackers is too much. Try cutting it down 1/2 cup or so until you think it's just right.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Death by Potatoes Casserole
Here's another recipe that we really like. I can't take credit for it, though. I got it from my friend, Laurie.
This recipe will fit in a 9X13 baking pan
5 lb. potatoes
1 24 oz. tub of sour cream
1 can cream of celery or chicken soup
4 cups shredded cheese (any kind)
1 bunch green onions
1 small bag plain potato chips
1-2 sticks melted butter
salt and pepper to taste
Peel and cut potatoes into 1 inch squares. Pre-cook potatoes so they have at least 1 hour to cool down before putting casserole together (the potatoes must be cold). DO NOT USE FROZEN HASH BROWNS. Mix the first 5 ingredients well (this can take several minutes). Add salt and pepper and mix again. Crush potato chips and put on top. Drizzle butter completely over the top. Cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until top is golden brown.
variations:
add 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed
add any meat - bacon, ham, chicken, sausage
my friend uses cornflakes instead of potato chips on top - we like it better with chips
You can always double the recipe (except for the butter - you won't need more than 2 sticks) and you will need a big lasagna pan.
This recipe will fit in a 9X13 baking pan
5 lb. potatoes
1 24 oz. tub of sour cream
1 can cream of celery or chicken soup
4 cups shredded cheese (any kind)
1 bunch green onions
1 small bag plain potato chips
1-2 sticks melted butter
salt and pepper to taste
Peel and cut potatoes into 1 inch squares. Pre-cook potatoes so they have at least 1 hour to cool down before putting casserole together (the potatoes must be cold). DO NOT USE FROZEN HASH BROWNS. Mix the first 5 ingredients well (this can take several minutes). Add salt and pepper and mix again. Crush potato chips and put on top. Drizzle butter completely over the top. Cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until top is golden brown.
variations:
add 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed
add any meat - bacon, ham, chicken, sausage
my friend uses cornflakes instead of potato chips on top - we like it better with chips
You can always double the recipe (except for the butter - you won't need more than 2 sticks) and you will need a big lasagna pan.
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