The Architect and The Artist

February's Meals

2012-02-02T06:00:00.034-09:00

Here are the meals that I am making to stick in my freezer and give to a friend for the month of Februrary:

Creamy Burrito Casserole

1 lb ground beef or 1 lb ground turkey
1/2 medium yellow onion , chopped
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning
6 large flour tortillas
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
2 -3 cups shreddedtaco cheese or 2 -3 cups cheddar cheese
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
4 ounces sour cream

Brown the meat with the onions and add the taco seasoning. Mix the beans and meat together. In another bowl mix the sour cream and the soup. In a baking dish, spread the sour cream mixture on the bottom. Put down a layer of tortillas. Add a layer of the meat mixture. Sprinkle on a layer of cheese. Repeat the layers. Bake at 350 until heated through. You can serve it with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes.

Chicken Spaghetti

Cheddar Broccoli Soup

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Asparagus Quiche

Big Miracle: The Anchorage Screening

2012-02-01T06:00:00.002-09:00

This past weekend we were invited to the Anchorage screening of Big Miracle, a movie about some trapped whales off the northern coast of Alaska in 1988. I was a senior in high school when this news story happened, and I remember it well. Tim landed a small role in the movie as a Californian father whose family is riveted by the story. It was awesome to be able to go and see him on the Big Screen!

It actually is a pretty good movie! It was fun to see so many Alaskans (including Inupiats, the Eskimos from the North Slope) in the movie. The movie is dramatic and funny at the same time. The boys (Zach and Noah) weren't invited to the screening so more than likely we will be going again so that they get a chance to see it. It opens this Friday (February 3rd). If you want to see a little bit of what Alaska is like then by all means go. But I have to be honest...the weather can be more brutal than what is portrayed in the movie. For example, there is a scene where Drew Barrymore dives down into the water to look at the whales. Some of her skin on her face is exposed as she dives....there is no way you could do that at those temperatures in real life!!

{A scene from the movie: Tim with his family}

{Tim's movie kids...they are a little more grown up now since the filming of the movie was about a year and a half ago.}

{Tim with the kids}

{Tim with the kids and their moms}

{Tim and I}

{The theater where the screening occurred}

{Noah in front of the Olive Garden}

The day after the screening we were able to go to Olive Garden in Anchorage. This is the first Olive Garden in the state of Alaska, and it just opened last week. So the waiting time was unreal! We tried to go the night of the screening, but decided that waiting two hours for a table wasn't worth it. The day we went for lunch people were lining up before it opened, standing out in 10 degrees in hopes of getting a table. Luckily, it wasn't a long wait (maybe 5 to 10 minutes) before we were inside sitting at a table!

Project Life

2012-01-31T06:00:00.015-09:00

So I still don't have my pages for Project Life...I have ordered design "B" and am waiting on those to arrive. I also can't wait until they get some of the other designs in which should be sometime in early February. But I didn't let that stop me! I have been working on a few layouts and will just slip in all the elements when the pages arrive.

This is going to be the title page in our family album. I am currently working on pages for 2009. I have added a few pictures of highlights of that year: pictures of the boys' on their birthdays and a picture of our newest family member that was born in 2009, our mini schnauzer, Titan. I have also listed some of the other highlights.

Can't wait to continue on! Now if only the mail would come!

More than we can imagine...

2012-01-30T15:00:00.021-09:00

{2,019-2,032}
-Homemade granola bars
-Old TV shows
-Working on my Project Life album

-Reading What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms

-A road trip

-Learning to trust

-Board games

-The look of trees covered in snow

-Tim getting a job at the university...adjunct professor in the journalism department

-The extra income from Tim's teaching job

-Zach taking one college course that he likes

-Tim in an upcoming movie, Big Miracle

{Drew Barrymore in Big Miracle}

{Tim with "his family" in Big Miracle}

-Warm muffins

-Reading The Hunger Games

Pantry Challenge Update

2012-01-30T06:51:00.011-09:00

So the pantry challenge is almost complete...just one more day. This has been an awesome experience! I have only spent about $300 this month on groceries and have greatly increased space in my freezers and pantry shelves. I feel like I have been so productive in using what was already here...however, I am eager now to restock! I have some cooking ahead of me so that I can make meals for my family and for my friend's family (we exchange meals each month). I am thinking that I need to do a pantry challenge at least once a year (or maybe even twice). I sure have saved a bundle and been a good steward of what we already have!

Have you ever done a pantry challenge? Go to Good Cheap Eats to read more...

Grace for the Good Girl

2012-01-26T06:00:00.040-09:00

I confess. I am a good girl. It isn't a matter of boasting. It is more of a matter of wiring. I have always been a rule follower, a people pleaser, and a perfectionist. So when I saw Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life I knew I would eventually need to read it. There were so many concepts and lessons that I needed to learn or be reminded of

like...

"Jesus didn't value what people thought; He valued people."

"During His life of earth, He never tried to explain Himself for the sake of His reputation."

"To remain in Him means to refuse to get up from His lap."

But the greatest lesson I needed to be reminded of is that there is grace for those that are so wrapped up in making life perfect. Life isn't about perfection. Life is about receiving God's grace in our weaknesses. Abiding in His strength when we feel like we don't measure up. If we are truly "saved by grace" then we don't need to do anything more to be accepted by God. We are already accepted, already loved, already perfect in His eyes.

I am focusing on abiding in His grace and learning how to let going of the "try-hard life" and resting in His acceptance of me. I am learning that what others think of me isn't as important as what He thinks of me. I am realizing that when I totally accept His grace and love that my insecurities, negative emotions, and the masks that I wear tend to melt away.

Homemade Granola Bars

2012-01-25T08:02:00.011-09:00

Yesterday I tried a new recipe for chewy granola bars. The results were awesome! I didn't have any raisins so those got omitted, but even without them they turned out fine.

Homemade Granola Bars

1 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup melted butter

2 t. vanilla

Mix the above in a bowl and then preheat the oven to 350.

Add the following:

3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raisins

1/3 cup wheat germ

2 t. sesame seeds

1 cup chocolate chips

Stir well. Then press into a greased cookie sheet (or one lined with parchment paper) and bake 20 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Project Life: Getting Started

2012-01-24T06:00:00.024-09:00

So guess what came in the mail??? I am so excited that I am one step closer to starting Project Life! Unfortunately I am still waiting on the photo pocket pages. So I probably have one more week to wait before I get started.

{journaling and filler cards}

{Cardstock}

{The actual album}

{And the photos to get started}

Once I get the photo pages I am ready to start working on an album for Tim and I starting in 2009. I am really hoping that this type of scrapbooking will speed up the process so that I can be more up-to-date. It seems like with three albums in the works (one for Tim and I and one for each of our boys) that I am constantly behind. Can't wait to get started!

If you want to learn more about Project Life click here.

I am using...

Project Life Core Kit - Cobalt Edition

Project Life Cardstock - Cobalt Collection

Project Life Binder - Cobalt Edition

Pantry Challenge

2012-01-23T06:50:00.022-09:00

So we are finished with week three of the pantry challenge. I have saved a fistful of cash in the process! We have spent only about $275 this month on groceries. Totally amazing!!! My freezers are looking empty. I have used up some blueberries, cranberries, and rhubarb in baked goods this past week. Most of all I have tried to stay away from the store knowing that I would only spend more!

Here is the recipe for the muffin mix I made before January started. It has been a lifesaver and has forced me to use up fruit in my freezer (we pick blueberries and cranberries in the woods here in Alaska-so it is a free source of fruit!)

Muffin Mix

8 cups flour

3 cups sugar

1 cup dry milk powder

3 T. baking powder

2 t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

2 t. ground nutmeg

1/4 cup dried egg powder (if you have this...if not you can add a fresh egg when you mix the batter)

Mix all together. Then put a little under 3 cups of the mix in a quart ziploc. You should come out with 4 quart bags of mix. On the bag label what it is and the following:

ADD: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup oil (can be reduced), 1 egg (if there is no egg powder) and "mix-ins" (fruit, nuts, etc.)

When ready to use...mix all ingredients together and bake in muffin tins at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Joy Through Gratitude

2012-01-23T06:48:00.024-09:00

{2,001-2,018}

-Getting to see Big Miracle soon! I will get to see my husband on the big screen!
-Reading Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life
-Noah's birthday party

-A friend helping with the games at his party

-The hum of a heater

-That we are accepted by God as is

-Discussing literature with Zach

-A new Spanish student!!!!

-Impromtu lesson on the Titanic with the boys

-Letting God be God

-A four day week

-Privilege of teaching

-Saran wrap!

-The pantry challenge I am currently doing

-A part time job opportunity for Tim

-Cabin night at our church for the kids

-Great photography from one of our youth hanging up in my Sunday school classroom

-Project Life coming in the mail

Ticket to Ride {and other family games}

2012-01-19T06:00:00.040-09:00

Noah recently received a great game as a gift, Ticket To Ride. As a family we have been enjoying playing it. It is simple to learn, but very intriguing! Basically, you receive Destination cards (train routes like Atlanta to San Francisco) that you have to create on the board by collecting train cards to connect the two cities. The game involves some luck and some strategy. It takes up to an hour to play which is just about the right about of time...not too long or too short.

Another game we have enjoyed is the Sequence Game. This one also involves strategy and some luck. I like it because it is quick and can be played in a group while you sit and chat. Some friends of our introduced it to us a year or so ago, and since then it has been a game that we have gone back to time and again.

Recently, we learned a new card game called Golf. All you need is several decks of cards. Here are the instructions. Golf is similar to Sequence in that you can play it in large groups and chat as you go.

Tim is partial to Blokus Classics Game. We all have enjoyed it because it is a fairly short game that involves some strategy. I struggle with it a bit in that I can never seem to beat Tim simply because he tends to be more spatial than I do and I tend to be more "spacey"! LOL

So what games does your family enjoy? I am always on the lookout for great games!

Managing Your Opinion of Me

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-09:00

"I desperately want to manage your opinion of me. Nearly everything I do is to convince you I am good." -Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman

We all want to put our best foot forward. We all want to look and seem that which we are not. We all want to impress. I have spent a lifetime doing just that...giving the world a view of myself that isn't all together accurate...because it is a view of me having it all together. And I am far from being all together!

I am currently reading Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life, and I have to say that the author, Emily Freeman, is living in my head! She describes me to a "T"...the girl that always tries to hide behind being "good" to impress the rest of the world...the girl that seeks perfection in order to gain acceptance.

"If my story were a planet then your rejection of me would be my nuclear holocaust." --Emily Freeman

However, God has been working on me to get rid of this need to be accepted by all...the unhealthy need to mangage what others think of me. I am s.l.o.w.l.y. changing. It is no longer totally devastating if a person doesn't like me. I can live with that if I know my God is for me. I am working on letting Him be the last say in my life. His opinion is the only one that matters.

I can't wait to read and learn more from her book!

A Whole New Start: Project Life

2012-01-17T06:00:00.044-09:00

I have been scrapbooking for over 15 years. However, in the past five years or so it has become more of an ordeal than anything else. I thought as my boys got older that I would have more time to scrapbook, but somewhere along the way I lost some of my motivation and just plain lacked the time to get it all done. I have done our wedding album, a heritage album, and I currently have three types of "running" albums...one for each son and one "family" album for Tim and I. Trying to stay ahead of three running albums is almost like trying to run a marathon without any training. Consequently, I have even stopped taking pictures because the more pictures I took the more pressure I felt to do something with them. Sad, isn't it? Candace at His Mercy is New has been talking about Project Life on her blog for over a year now. I got tempted last year, but I have finally taken the plunge. Project Life is a simple way to do scrapbooking so that it isn't as time-consuming and you can actually get pages done. I really struggled with moving away from Creative Memories which I have used from the get-go, but when I saw the Project Life Core Kit - Cobalt Edition
I just had to take the plunge! I am going to use Project Life for the our family album to see how I like the system. I am so excited about the prospect of not having to create layouts, crop a lot of photos and then put adhesive on them to get them on the page. I am currently in 2009 with our family album and am looking forward to getting caught up in it! For the time being the boys albums will continue to be Creative Memories until I use up the supplies I have. So I still haven't received my Project Life supplies (they shipped yesterday), but can't wait! I have committed Tuesday evenings to working on albums for at least an hour until I get caught up. If you would like to learn more about Project Life...watch the video and click on the pictures below.

Pantry Challenge Update-Week 2

2012-01-16T06:49:00.038-09:00

So we are in our second week of trying to eat mainly from the pantry. Before January started, I made several mixes to make life easier and to motivate me to use up the items sitting on my pantry shelves. I love the cookbook, Make-A-Mix, for recipes for muffin mixes and the like. So at the beginning of the month I had muffin mixes, cornbread mix, and snack cake mixes on the shelves. This has been a life saver because I can now quickly mix up some muffins and throw in some extra goodies into the batter to make different types of muffins...like blueberry or cranberry/coconut.

So far I have spent about $200 this month on food. That is a tiny amount for two weeks for us. We live in Alaska and so food costs are more than the rest of the nation. What makes this impressive though is that a big portion of that $200 was supplies for my youngest birthday party and a few food storage items (found a great clearance price on oil this week!). I am thinking that maybe only $100 was spent on just regular food items.

So why the TV in the middle of my pantry challenge post????

This pantry challenge has helped so much because our TV broke a few days ago. So because we aren't spending that much on food these days it was easier to go out and get a new flat screen TV! I am so hooked on eating from the pantry! I know it can't be done all the time...you have to buy food sometime, right? But doing it once or twice a year is going to be a great help!

I Give Thanks...

2012-01-16T06:46:00.028-09:00

Joy is always a function of gratitude-- and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we're going to have to change is the way we see. --Ann Voskamp

{1,977-2,000}

-Giving birthday gifts
-Feeling loved
-That He gives greater grace
-Noah...a gift that might never have been
-Wrapping paper
-A warm car
-A new flat screen TV
-Jelly beans
-Supportive friends
-Hope
-Working on scrapbooks
-Cell phone...so that my boys can reach me at any time
-Free curriculum
-Free books
-Inside jokes
-A invite to dinner
-Holding a baby
-Calls from friends
-Sleepiness
-The start of a new semester
-Being refreshed after a long Christmas break
-My Spanish lessons
-Motivation
-Reaching 2,000 things that I am thankful for!

Organized Simplicity {for free}

2012-01-15T15:26:00.000-09:00

If you have a Kindle, Organized Simplicity is currently free at Amazon. Last year I used this book to help get myself organized and declutter our house. So if you haven't read this one and are interested this would be the time to get it!

Happy Birthday, Noah!

2012-01-12T06:36:00.001-09:00

We hope you have an awesome birthday!

The Scarlet Pimpernel

2012-01-12T06:00:00.041-09:00

This year I am combining Booking It 2012 with a Classics Reading Challenge. Booking It is more of an online book club where we share what we have read each month whereas the Back to the Classics Challenge has specific guidelines.

For my first classic I decided to read The Scarlet Pimpernel. It seems like I have recently read a lot of books that have to do with the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. The Scarlet Pimpernel is no exception. I really need to brush up on my knowledge of the French Revolution to get more out of these novels, but for the time being I am just enjoying the stories.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this novel! It is part love story, part mystery, and part adventure tale. The hero, the Scarlet Pimpernel, bravely confronts the Reign of Terror by rescuing aristocrats from the guillotine. His mysterious identity shocks those around him when his true self is revealed. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a true disguised super hero (similar to Superman)! The characters are well developed and memorable. While some of the plot is predictable, the story line held my interest. If you are looking for intrigue, romance, and adventure this novel would be a great pick!

Abiding in Christ

2012-01-10T06:00:00.034-09:00

{Andrew Murray}

Abiding in Jesus is nothing but the giving up of oneself to be ruled and taught and led and so resting in the arms of Everlasting Love.--Andrew Murray

I am currently reading Andrew Murray's Abide in Christ. I have never really considered before what abiding in Christ really means. Abiding means living. It also means to "go along with" (as in "I can't abide by these rules."). When we abide in Christ we go with Him wherever He may lead. Sometimes it is down a road that we don't want to take. I have been down many of those roads that I wished that God had never put in front of me: miscarriage, depression, anxiety, abuse, the breakup of relationships, etc. But in each situation God brings healing and blessings.

In the past few weeks I have come to the conclusion that if I will but trust Him He will provide all that I need. Abiding in Him means trusting Him down the road He leads. A couple of days ago I was in a situation that brought back terrible memories of a heart-wrenching time a few years back. This time though I decided to do something different...to say, "Ok, God, I am trusting you that if I have to go through this again You will be with me." There was such a peace about the whole situation because I had left it in His lap to deal with. He would take care of the situation I found myself in! I am amazed at His faithfulness!

Abiding is nothing but the acceptance of my position.--Andrew Murray

How do you abide in Christ?

Pantry Challenge Update

2012-01-09T08:04:00.022-09:00

I am in the midst of a pantry challenge to use up the food I have in my pantry and freezer. This past week I did pretty well as I didn't really have to make a trip to the store (I sent Tim once though)! It has been around 30 below (zero, that is! Remember I live in Alaska.) and so not going to the store was fine by me!

One of my goals is to use up the canned food I have stored. A couple of years ago I scored on about 30 cans of organic pumpkin pie mix and pumpkin puree. I am down to about 5 cans of the pumpkin pie mix that will expire in June. So I decided that I would have pumpkin spice lattes for my morning coffee.

I make a quick mix for the lattes by blending whipping cream, a bit of milk, and the pumpkin pie mix.

Then I put the mixture in a jar in the fridge so that I could add it to my coffee each morning.

The mixture does separate so each morning I did need to shake it a bit to mix it up.

I have had to use a bit of self-control this week to make sure we are eating from the pantry...there was one afternoon that I almost went to the store to buy a frozen pizza because it sounded good and I didn't feel like eating anything in the house. But I resisted the temptation!

So far I have only bought one food item, whipping cream...so very little spending has gone on! YAY! We will see if I can keep this up!

January Blessings

2012-01-09T06:00:00.028-09:00

{1,961-1,976}

-An upcoming birthday for Noah
-Learning to abide in His love
-Learning the game of golf (card game)
-Hot baths
-That God takes care of all things
-Cozy Hugs Puppy: Microwavable Aromatherapy Lavender Scent Animal Warmer (These are so great when the weather is cold!)
-Humor with friends
-A chance for my son to learn how to serve in the church
-God's acceptance of us
-Journaling
-Almost done memorizing James chapters 1-3
-Whipping cream in my coffee
-Watching Zach teach Titan new tricks

-Cold weather...hard to be thankful for it, but I am going to try. This was the temperature at our house on New Year's Day.

-The hum of the fridge

-That God walks with us in our sorrows

-houseplants

-Understanding friends

Ready to Read-Friends, Fear, and Freedom

2012-01-08T08:04:00.000-09:00

I have a few books on waiting for me to read. Can't wait!

I am eager to see what what Dr. Townsend (one of the authors that wrote Boundaries) has to say about friendship.

Since I struggle with anxiety and putting complete faith in Christ at times, I am eager to see what Angie says about fear.

Last year my Word of the Year was grace. I can't wait to read about it again!

So are you reading any great Christian books? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Joy Dare

2012-01-06T06:44:00.000-09:00

It's not Monday...but Multitude Mondays have changed my life so I though I would talk about it on this Friday morning. On October 5, 2009, I started on a journey of graces...to list all those gifts that He has graced me with. The goal was a thousand gifts...I will soon reach 2,000 and plan to keep going.

Since starting my list I have become a different person...more at peace...more joyful...more hopeful. It has turned me from being a negative person to a positive one...all because I said "Thank You". It is all in your focus...focus on the positive in your life that God has given you and then the negative doesn't seem so terrible. And although this may sound crazy, giving thanks for the trials of life helps you to accept them and deal with them better. {Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds...James 1:2}

So in this new year, why don't you start your list? Ann Voskamp has provided a "Joy Dare" list of ideas of things you can be thankful for in the month of January. You can download it and print it out as a reminder. I am going to use it for ideas as I make my way to 2,000. Why not give it a try?

Analyzing Short Stories

2012-01-05T06:00:00.076-09:00

My ninth grade son will be doing a unit on famous short stories this month for his literature studies. I spent part of Christmas break setting up the unit. I am planning on having him read about 10 stories and then discussing them with him. Short stories are great because, well, they are short! You can really analyze a story in depth since you haven't had to spend all that time reading. Here are some tips on how to do literature analysis with you high schooler using a short story:

-Read the story! Depending on length it could take a few short minutes or a half hour to read a short story. By doing this you get to see what is important in the piece of literature and make a decision on what you will focus on with your student.

-Go online a briefly read about the life of the author. Create a few important questions that your student can research about the author like...

When did the author live?

What country is he/she from?

What experiences in his/her life influenced his or her writing?

What significant historical events took place during his/her lifetime that might of influenced the stories?

-Create a list of questions to discuss with your student. There are three main types of questions that I use (see below for examples):

Plot line questions (To verify that the student understands what happened in the story)

Analysis questions (Questions that analyze the characters, setting, literary devices, etc.)

Application questions (Questions that help the student connect the themes of the story to real life)

-After you have created your questions have your student read the story, research the author, and then discuss your questions with them.

{Scene from "The Continuity of Parks" by Julio Cortazar}

Here are some examples of the different types of questions:

Plot Line Questions (Examples Taken from "The Fall of the House of Usher")

What is wrong with Roderick Usher?

Who is Madeline?

What do they do with Madeline when she dies?

In the end what happened to Roderick? The house?

Analysis Questions (Examples taken from "The Gift of the Magi")

What is the source of the conflict in the story?

There are at least three Biblical allusions in the story. What are they?

Find some examples of alliteration in the story.

How are Della and Jim rich and poor at the same time?

Application Questions (Examples taken from "The Tell-Tale Heart)

Describe the narrator's pride. How is it his downfall? Why does pride make us fall? How can we guard against it?

How do our hearts "give us away" when we have done something bad?

Why is it hard to truly get away with a sin and not have to deal with the consequences?

If you need ideas on what kinds of questions to ask see this or this book/DVD might help.

What Does it Mean to Abide?

2012-01-04T06:00:00.024-09:00

Abide...we hear the word, but do we know what it means? The word used in the New Testament commes from the Greek "meno" which has many different meanings...

To remain in a place and not depart from it

To continue to be present

To remain as one

To last or endure

To wait for

To survive

So to abide in Christ is to not walk away from Him and to be actively present in relationship with Him. It means to be as one with Him even when life gets hard. To abide is to persevere, to wait for Him to redeem the hard struggles in life and to come out on the other side the victor.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops pereseverance. James 1:2-3

January's Bulk Cooking

2012-01-03T06:00:00.051-09:00

Another session of bulk cooking to do for January. I love cooking this way! No worries about dinner since I always have something in the freezer! Here is what is on the menu:

Fried Rice

2 eggs, beaten
1 t. plus 2 T. soy sauce
1 t. sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T. vegetable oil
1 rib celery, thinly bias-sliced
3/4 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 green onions, sliced
2 cups cooked rice

In a small bowl combine, eggs and 1 t. soy sauce and then set aside. In a wok or large skilled, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add garlic and egg mixture and stir to scramble. When set, remove eggs from pan and cut into smaller pieces if necessary. Pour vegetable oil into wok and put over med-high heat. Add celery and stir fry one minute. Add mushrooms and stir fry one minute. Add rice, carrots, and peas and sprinkle with remaining 2 T. soy sauce. Stir fry for 4 to 6 minutes. Add eggs and green onions and stir fry long enough to heat the mixture through.

Chili Beans and Cornbread

Make a pan of cornbread to serve with the beans. Have shredded cheddar on hand to serve on top of the cornbread and beans.

1 lb. dried pinto beans
2 qts. water
Bring to a boil and then simmer til tender.
Add the following:
2 cups chopped onion
4 cloves garlic
2 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2-4 t. chili powder
1 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. cumin
3/4 cup tomato paste
1 cup tomato sauce
Add a bit extra water if needed. Cover and simmer one hour.

Tortellini Alfredo Casserole

3 cups homemade alfredo sauce
2 cups water
1/8 t. black pepper
1 (20 oz.) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 package (10 oz) frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
1/2 flavored bread crumbs
1 T. olive oil
Combine sauce and water in a bowl. Add pepper. Pour one cup of the mixture into a 2 qt. casserole dish. Arrange half the tortellini (uncooked) in a layer over the sauce. Sprinkle with broccoli. Top with 1 and half cups sauce. Repeat layering. When ready to bake, thaw casserole. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and heat broiler. In a small bowl, blend bread crumbs and olive oil. Sprinkle over casserole and broil for about 4 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Jambalaya

2012 Pantry Challenge

2012-01-02T07:33:00.023-09:00

I have decided to do something new that I have never done before. I am going to take a "pantry challenge" for the month on January. What is a pantry challenge? It is a concerted effort to eat meals/foods from what you already have in the pantry. Does that mean that I won't be going to the grocery store during the month of January? Hardly! But we are going to try to make an effort to eat a lot of what we already have on hand and to use up some cans of stuff that have been sitting around for awhile.

I am starting the month well-stocked when it comes to freezer meals. This is what I have in my freezer already:

Stirfry

Chicken rolls and mashed potatoes

Shepherd's pie

Crockpot mac-n-cheese

Chili beans and cornbread

Fried rice

Jambalaya

Chicken and rice casserole

Marinated chicken strips with rice

Meatloaf

Chicken dumplings

Goulash

Noodle Bake

Hamburger and potato skillet dish

One of the things I would like to use a bit more is the numerous bags of berries that are taking up freezer space and the numerous cans of pumpkin sitting on the shelf.

My whole goal in this is to cut down on our food budget for the month of January. I am going to allow myself to go to the store for produce, flour, sugar, and dairy products to supplement. I am really hoping to cut our food budget by at least $100 if not more. Since I have never done this before I am not sure what to expect.

Want to join the challenge? Check out Good Cheap Eats!

New Year's Blessings

2012-01-02T06:00:00.032-09:00

{1,947-1,960}

-A calendar to record my year of graces
-A new start
-Something to look forward to
-Great coffee from Silver Canyon
-The Star of Bethlehem
{watching the video and discussing it with my kids}

-Reading Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray

-Finding great after Christmas deals

-Continuing to work through James (memorizing the entire book)...almost done with chapter three

-Watching Mannheim Steamroller in concert

-Looking forward to the gardening season

-Seed catalogs

-My new Kindle cover

-The love of family

-Pumpkin spice lattes

Goals for 2012

2011-12-31T08:39:00.000-09:00

I don't really like making New Year's Resolutions. I always end up even forgetting what they were by the time we hit June! But each year I try to pick a Word of the Year which happens to be "abide" for 2012. This will be the main concept that I will focus on in my walk with the Lord.

Besides that I have a few smaller goals in mind:

-A Pantry Challenge for January where I will try to use up what we have in the house to save some money in the process. I will post more about that on Monday.

-Reading through the Bible chronologically in 90 days with a friend. I will be using

The Daily Bible: New International Version: With Devotional Insights to Guide You Through God's Word.

-Finally finishing memorizing James. I am about halfway there, but it is slow going!

-Reading more classics...I have nine that I want to get through.

So, what are your goals this year?

2011 in Review

2011-12-28T06:00:00.042-09:00

This year has been an amazing one for me...one of tremendous healing in my life. I always enjoy taking a trip down memory lane at the end of each year. Here are the highlights from 2011:

I started out with grace as my Word of the Year. I learned how grace and gratitude are mixed together and the hard lesson of there always needs to be a place for grace. I also began to understand how we can kill grace with one ugly attitude. The end result of my year of grace was a series in October called 31 Days of Forgiveness. I cannot even begin to explain the healing that has come from extending forgiveness (a form of grace) to those that have hurt me. It has been the highlight of my year.

Our oldest entered high school this year. He taught himself to ride a unicycle during the summer!

Our youngest (a true "Renaissance Man") has been involved in all kinds of activities like horseback riding and art classes.

Our mini-Schnauzer turned two.

Tim, my movie star husband, spent time building a shed in our backyard while I spent time in the garden.

We have truly been blessed this year! I can't wait to see what 2012 holds for us!

Polka Dater Cake

2011-12-27T06:00:00.013-09:00

A neighbor recently gave me some medjool dates. Since I have never really used dates in anything, I decided to ask on my favorite homeschool message board for some recipes. I decided to make a Polka Dater Cake! I have never heard of this type of cake, but how can you go wrong with any recipe that requires chocolate?

Polka Dater Cake

1-1/4 cups chopped dates

1 cup boiling water

1 cup butter, softened

1-1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1-3/4 cups flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 (6 oz) package chocolate chips, divided

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix chopped dates in 1 cup boiling water. Beat butter, sugar and eggs until creamy. Sift the flour and baking soda together and add gradually to creamed mixture. Stir in date mixture, vanilla and half of the 6-ounce package of chocolate chips. Spread in greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Top with remaining chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes.

End of the Year Blessings

2011-12-26T06:00:00.031-09:00

{1,931-1,946}

-Learning how to abide

-Time to read books

-Good health

-Recovering from a cold

-Finishing Beth Moore's study on James. The last session was so powerful!

-Being able to show grace to another human being

-The smell of homebaked bread

-Enjoying dark, rich coffee each morning

-Having all the Christmas shopping done

-The pitter patter of puppy feet

-Peppermint fudge

-The song "Good King Wenceslas"...one of my favorite melodies

-That a new year is almost upon us

-Experiencing great peace

-The healing of the heart that I have experienced this year

-Sleeping in the past few days

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.002-09:00

HippoCampus

2011-12-22T06:00:00.005-09:00

I just recently came across a great website for high schoolers that is totally FREE! HippoCampus has teaching videos for several subjects (mainly science, social studies, and math). I am planning on using some of them with my oldest who is a freshman this year. Check it out!

Snickerdoodle Coffee Mix

2011-12-21T19:51:00.000-09:00

{This is a re-post}

I love snickerdoodle flavored coffee. I normally buy St. Nickerdoodle flavored coffee from North Pole Coffee Roasting Company and add some hot chocolate mix to it. But this coffee mix is a good, cheap substitute. It doesn't have an overwhelming coffee flavor. I either mix it in hot water or add it to regular coffee.

Snickerdoodle Coffee Mix

1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup vanilla-flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
1/2 cup baking cocoa
3 T. instant coffee granules
1/2 t. allspice
1/4 t. cinnamon

Combine all ingredients. Store in airtight container. Attach instructions. Makes about three cups.
Instructions: Add 3 tablespoons to 3/4 cup boiling water.

Word Art- A Tutorial

2011-12-21T06:00:00.025-09:00

Yesterday I mentioned that I have chosen my Word of the Year for 2012...ABIDE. I decided I would put some word art up in my house to remind me of my word throughout the year.

It is surprisingly easy to do these big letters! I think it took me under an hour to finish them.

You will need:

Scrapbooking paper (coordinating paper is a great idea!)

Wooden letters (mine were already painted white...however, you could paint yours any color to match your paper)

Also needed: a sponge brush, Mod Podge, and a tool to distress the edges (like an Emery board or sandpaper).

First, pick out your paper. Turn the letters on the reverse side and trace them on the backside of the paper.

Here's the letter "A" with its paper already cut out.

The other letters...ready to go...

Then paint Mod Podge on the front of the letter. Place the paper on top. It is ok if some of the edges hang over a bit as you are going to distress the edges. Let dry a bit.

Then pain Mod Podge over the top of the paper to seal them. The paper will bubble a bit, but will smooth out as it dries.

Finally, using an Emery board, sand paper, or a distressing tool rub the edges of the paper to give them a rough-edged look.

And you are done! The end result!

Word of the Year--2012

2011-12-20T06:00:00.025-09:00

Each year I pick another word...just one word that will be my focus for the year. This past year I have been on an amazing journey of grace. I have come to appreciate the grace that God gives us and the importance of giving grace to others. I found healing through grace by learning to forgive...I have never felt such freedom!

This year I feel that God is tugging on my heart to abide in Him. Unsure of what 2012 will bring, I have determined to focus on abiding in Him. I only have an inkling of what it means to "abide", but I am eager to learn what it means and how to live it out.

How about you? Do you pick a word for the year? What will you be focusing on this year?

Christmas Blessings

2011-12-19T06:00:00.041-09:00

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

-Blessings by Laura Story

{1,912-1,930}

-The blessing of Christmas (A Savior for us all)
-A great lunch with a friend
-Blessings even when there seems to be none
-Christmas goodies like these
-The end of the semester
-Teaching my last Spanish class of the year
-A great Wednesday night small group lesson at church
-Paper to keep all my thoughts
-Cell phones
-Christmas songs
-That God is in charge and will take care of those we love
-Houses decorated with Christmas lights
-God is gracious
-Picking a Word of the Year for 2012 (more on that later)

-Loving God
-Watching a TV show with my hubby
-A wiggly, wagging puppy dog tail
-Joy
-Soft, gentle music

Make Ahead Meals

2011-12-14T20:00:00.000-09:00

I love make-ahead meals! Frankly, that is about the only way we eat. I make several meals and then freeze them for future dinners. Here are some of our favorites...

Meatballs

6 lbs ground beef

3-4 cups bread crumbs

2/3 cup milk

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup minced onion

2 T. minced garlic

1 T. salt

2 t. black pepper

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Using your hands (Gross! I know!) thoroughly combine all the above ingredients. Shape into one inch balls. Place on baking sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Here are some ideas for meals that use meatballs.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Sweet and Sour meatballs

Meatball subs

Crockpot Meatball Stew

Meatball Stroganoff

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

These are great to make in bulk and freeze for future dinners. This recipe is more time intensive, but worth it! If you double the recipe then you can use the whole can of chilies…make a pan for tonight and then freeze the other!

3-4 chicken breasts-cooked and chopped
Corn tortillas
¼ cup margarine/butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
½ of a 4 oz can chopped green chilies
¾ cup chopped onion
Melt butter. Blend in flour and chicken broth. Cook until it thickens. Blend in sour cream. Don’t boil. Pour enough sauce to cover the bottom of 6x10” pan. Mix 1 ½ cups of the cheese, onion, chilies, and chicken in a bowl. Use this mixture to fill the tortillas. Roll tortillas and place seam side down in the pan. Pour sauce over all. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake 15 minutes longer.

If you are feeling lazy…you can always do the enchiladas in layers instead of rolling them. I do sauce, tortillas, filling, more tortillas, and more sauce.

Booking It 2012

2011-12-13T06:00:00.002-09:00

Last year I participated in Booking it over at Life as Mom. It motivated me to read a tremendous amount in 2011! I mostly read the classics with a few faith-based books and cookbooks thrown in. I am planning on doing Booking It 2012 combining it with the Back to the Classics Challenge. If you would like to read more about it click here! I can't wait to start reading! We will be discussing the 12th of every month the books we are reading.

In the Busy Times

2011-12-12T06:00:00.019-09:00

Advent can be such a crazy time...it shouldn't be that way, but it is. Instead of getting anxious because I have so much to do I am counting my blessings.

{1,896-1,911}

*Lights on the tree
*Getting my cooking session done
*Time to focus on God
*Hot chocolate
*Watching my puppy cuddle up in my son's arms
*Enrolling for a class
*Fresh flowers on the computer desk
*Time off from work
*Funny birthday cards
*A new deep fat fryer
*Yielding to God
*Comfy friendships
*Lots of exercising this week
*Tim home from work
*Tim finishing the Christmas shopping and mailing of packages
*Tim working on the Christmas letter

Classics Reading Challenge

2011-12-11T19:00:00.000-09:00

This past year I spent most of my reading time in the classics. I am loving it so much that I am going to do it again with a little more structure. I have decided to do the Back to the Classics Reading Challenge. To read about it, click here.

Here are the categories and what I plan to read...

Any 19th Century Classic-David Copperfield
Any 20th Century Classic -The Great Gatsby
Reread a classic of your choice -The Woman in White
A Classic Play-Othello
Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction- Hound of Baskervilles
Classic Romance -Scarlet Pimpernel
Read a Classic that has been translated from its original language to your language - To clarify, if your native language is NOT English, you may read any classic originally written in English that has been translated into your native language. One Hundred Years of Solitude
Classic Award Winner - To clarify, the book should be a classic which has won any established literary award. The Grapes of Wrath
Read a Classic set in a Country that you (realistically speaking) will not visit during your lifetime - To Clarify, this does not have to be a country that you hope to visit either. Countries that no longer exist or have never existed count. Gulliver's Travels

Christmas Pizza

2011-12-09T07:25:00.006-09:00

Aren't these awesome?!?! We are going to be trying these sometime during the Christmas season.

Edible Nativity in Candy Form

2011-12-08T06:00:00.001-09:00

This is a re-post from last year.

Last year, I came up with the idea of doing the edible Nativity with candy that I can buy at the store. Each bag of candy can be accompanied with the following information: the name of the character, the candy that represents him/her, and a Bible verse. I handed these out last year to my Sunday school class...they were a hit!

I have to give credit where credit is due...my husband, my son (Noah) and a dear friend (Angie) helped me with these ideas!

{Jesus} Lifesavers- "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

{Mary} Treasures- "When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. " Luke 2:17-19

{Joseph} Lifesaver Pop (Because he was the "pop" of the "Lifesaver")- "Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph." Matthew 3:23

{Angels} Almond Joy-But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10

{Herod} Nutroll (He was a little nutty)- "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed" Matthew 2:3

{Star} Starbursts-“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

{Wise Men} Smarties-"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem." Matthew 2:1

{Shepherds} Jolly Ranchers (Happy sheep ranchers, that is!)-"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:20

Meatball Mania

2011-12-07T06:00:00.018-09:00

Meatballs can be a great starter to any meal. You can make a ton of them and then freeze them for future dinners. Here is the recipe I use to make a huge batch of meatballs (about 120 of them!).

Meatballs

6 lbs ground beef

3-4 cups bread crumbs

2/3 cup milk

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup minced onion

2 T. minced garlic

1 T. salt

2 t. black pepper

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Using your hands (Gross! I know!) thoroughly combine all the above ingredients. Shape into one inch balls. Place on baking sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Here are some ideas for meals that use meatballs.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Sweet and Sour meatballs

Meatball subs

Crockpot Meatball Stew

Meatball Stroganoff

Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn

2011-12-05T20:00:00.000-09:00

Healing is such a hard job, isn't it? I recently read Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn. This book is not just a book, but also a workbook. At the end of each chapter you will find a workbook section for that chapter that you can work on.

So what is Healing is a Choice about? Stephen takes you through several choices that we all have to make in order to heal. For example, there is the choice to forgive or not forgive. There is the choice to try to connect with others in order to heal. There is also a choice to accept what has happened or not. As a person who has recently gone through some emotionally healing, I found Stephen's book to be filled with wisdom and the encouragement to make the right choice to heal in whatever the situation is. If you are struggling with healing from an emotional wound, I would highly recommend this book!

Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it. I am not required to give a positive review. All my opinions are my own.

Advent Blessings

2011-12-05T06:00:00.021-09:00

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

{1,883-1,895}

-Another birthday
-Time with friends
-That God holds our tomorrows
-Extra income
-That Christmas is almost here
-Getting some dr. apppointments out of the way
-Cat sitting job for the boys
-Internet
-Dilemmas that help us grow
-A dishwasher
-Time spent in God's Word
-A watch to keep me on track
-Friends for the boys

Greater Grace

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-09:00

He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6

His grace is greater than our pain, our sin, our mistakes, and our weaknesses! Praise God!

The Smell of a Christmas Tree

2011-12-01T06:00:00.028-09:00

I love the scent of a real Christmas tree! They are so expensive here, and we haven't had a real tree in ages. Our fake one does the job; however, I just found something that makes you think you have a real tree in your home, ScentSicles! You hang these tiny rods on the tree (we hung them where they couldn't be seen) and they give your room the scent of a fir tree! It is so wonderful to walk into the house with it smelling like Christmas!

There are several different scents available...check them out! There are six in a pack, but we are only using three at a time. It seems to be enough of a scent without being overpowering.

ScentSicles, Fresh Cut Fir - 6pc

ScentSicles, Cinnamon Stick - 6pc

ScentSicles ScentSticks, Gingerbread - 6pc

ScentSicles ScentSticks, Apple Spice - 6pc

Dinners in December

2011-11-30T06:00:00.027-09:00

Each month I make seven different dinners doubled. I then keep the dinners in my freezer and give the doubles to a friend. She does the same for me. Here is what I am doing for December...

Enchiladas

Spicy Mexican Soup

Super easy super yummy crock pot soup: can of rotel, can of corn, can of black beans (drained & rinsed), 2 frozen chicken breasts, 8 oz cream cheese, 1 packet dry ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder. Put all ingredients in crock pot and cook 6-8 hours. Shred chicken, and enjoy!

Meatballs (with two different sauces: Sweet and Sour, BBQ)

Veggie Stirfry with Noodles

Pierogi and Sausage Stirfry

Lawnmower Tacos

Forget the New Year's Resolutions

2011-11-29T06:00:00.026-09:00

A Word of the Year...I can handle that! Three years ago I starting picking out one word to focus on for the year. Although I had made New Year's resolutions in the past, I flounder with them. It seems that having too many goals for a year meant that I didn't achieve any of them.

So in 2009, I chose the word, "Patience", and a tradition began. Since that first year I have picked "Prayer" (2010) and "Grace" (2011). Each year has been a tremendous growing opportunity for me in the area that my word focused on. It seems that whatever word I pick God uses it to teach some valuable lessons. This year has been an amazing year of "Grace"! I can not tell you the depth of what I have learned! Giving grace has become central to my life, and I have come to realize how freeing it is to show grace to those around you. You become less agitated and more forgiving which in the end makes a more peaceful person.

I am still pondering my word for 2012...I have some ideas:

"Truth"-as I am fascinated that Jesus was full of grace and truth. Sometimes those qualities seem like complete opposites. Being truthful with someone can hurt...so is that grace?

"Faith"-learning to trust God at all times has always been a challenge for me.

"Glory" (Shekinah)-God's glory...how can I live my life to the glory of God? What are the things that I do that stifle His glory?

So I have about a month to think about it and decide. Do you choose a Word of the Year? If so, what are you planning on picking?

A Season of Thanks

2011-11-28T06:00:00.023-09:00

It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.

{1,871-1,882}

-Fingers to type with
-Cooking shows
-Crockpots
-Putting up the Christmas decorations
-Munching on muddy buddies while watching Polar Express
-Getting some Christmas shopping done
-Great discussions with Zach
-Having time to give haircuts to Tim and Noah
-Christmas lights
-Watching Tim and the boys putting up the Christmas village
-A college degree
-Time with God

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:24:00.001-09:00

Have a blessed holiday!

Hoping to...

2011-11-23T13:30:00.000-09:00

...get some reading done! I found some classics at our local bookstore. Spending this year reading classics has certainly enriched my life! I am definitely not going to be able to finish all these before the end of the year, but at least I have a pile to work on!

Astronomy and Art

2011-11-22T06:00:00.021-09:00

This semester Noah is taking a science-based art class on astronomy. Each student in the class has created a book of the solar system. The works of art are done with several different types of media: tissue paper, Mod Podge, pastels, ink, markers, glitter, etc. Here is a peak at what Noah has done...

{The Sun and the first five planets}

{Four more celestial bodies...we really can't call Pluto a planet anymore.}

{The Earth and the Moon. The Earth is done in pointillism.}

{Mars}

{Jupiter and some of its moons}

{Saturn}

{This is my favorite! Uranus and Neptune. I think I am partial to the colors.}

{Pluto...the one with the identity crisis! LOL}

Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T06:00:00.020-09:00

{1,857-1,870}

*The above photo! Love Dad's photography!

*Time to read The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

*The opportunity to influence young people's lives

*A house with heat when it is 30 below zero!

*Thanksgiving with friends

*A low-key week

*Homemade pretzels fresh out of the oven

*Watching a lazy puppy sleep

*Time in God's Word

*Watching my boys grow

*The tick of a clock

*That our anguish can turn to joy

*Freedom in Christ

*Coats, mittens, hats, snow pants and other paraphernalia that keeps us warm

Gift Basket Ideas

2011-11-18T06:00:00.007-09:00

I just came across a site with cute gift basket ideas! Daring Doodles has so great printables and ideas to pull together some cute baskets! Check it out!

Cranberry Coconut Bars

2011-11-17T06:00:00.001-09:00

Just got this recipe from a friend...they are so yummy! We pick lots (or at least try to) of low bush cranberries each year. This recipe is a delicious way to use those cranberries!

Cranberry Coconut Bars

Mix: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup butter, 3 T. powdered sugar. Press into the bottom of a 9" square pan. Bake at 350 for 10 min.

Mix 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1/4 t. salt, 1 t. vanilla, 3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional), 1/2 cup flaked coconut, 1/2 cup cranberries. Pour 2nd mixture over crust and spread gently. Return to oven and bake at 350 for 35 min.

Amish Grace

2011-11-16T06:00:00.025-09:00

My Word of the Year for 2011 has been grace. I love picking out a word to focus on...I have learned so much about patience, prayer and grace these past few years. God has shown me this year that a form of grace is forgiveness. Recently, I read about an amazing forgiveness story, Amish Grace.

Do you remember the shooting at an Amish schoolhouse a few years back? Within hours of the shooting the families of the victims were extending grace to the shooter's family.

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy details the tragedy and the subsequent responses of the Amish community to the shooting. What an amazing story of overcoming anger and bitterness through forgiveness! Not only did I learn more about forgiveness, but I now understand the Amish culture better and what drove them to offer forgiveness from the beginning. Oh, that we could all offer up forgiveness without reservation!

"The acid of hate destroys the container." --Amish Farmer

Breakfast Sandwiches

2011-11-15T06:43:00.015-09:00

I love making food in bulk and freezing it. With our busy lives it is about the only way we eat dinner anymore. Otherwise, the sad truth is, we would go hungry! Breakfast foods can also be frozen for mornings when you can't seem to get out of bed in time. Here at The Architect and the Artist I have two breakfast in the freezer plans. Here is the first and the second.

I recently came across a detailed post on making breakfast sandwiches. I love her idea of cooking the eggs in muffin tins! I am thinking that I need to make some on these soon!

Thankful People

2011-11-14T07:08:00.027-09:00

{1,844-1,856}

*Thanksgiving plans

*Learning a new job

*Finishing off my bulk cooking for the month

*Exercising

*Beth Stone Studios- I just order her most recent hymn collage, "Amazing Grace". I so love these works of art!!!

*Hot tea

*New area rugs

*Flatbread pizzas

*Lunch at Bruegger's

*History...I love the stories.

*That Jesus is filled with grace and truth. How I want to be like Him!

*A brand new Sunday School classroom to teach in! Ok, not exactly, but it has been repainted and decorated! Looks so awesome!

*Learning boundaries with others

Literature for High School

2011-11-10T06:00:00.054-09:00

This past year I have taken on the goal to read more literature to make some decisions on what my boys will read in their high school years (We homeschool). It has been a great adventure! I have re-read some of my favorites and enjoyed new stories I have never read before. Here is a brief rundown of some of what I have read...

To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition-This was a first time read for me. I would have to say that To Kill a Mockingbird has been one of my favorites! I love how Atticus understands people...that they consist of both good and bad. I will be requiring both my boys to read it.

The Count of Monte Cristo-Also another great read. The only problem is the length. I, unknowingly, picked up an abridged version which confused me because there were some "holes" in the story. The abridged version was awfully long...can't imagine reading the complete text. With that being said, I loved the storyline! Definitely, a book that explores how a person deals with their enemies.

A Tale of Two Cities-Loved this one. I will have my boys read it. Such a story of self-sacrifice.

Fahrenheit 451-Not one of my favorites, but I think I will at least have my oldest read it since it deals with technology. My oldest adores anything to do with technology. Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates the effects of losing literature...such a sad outcome.

Lord of the Flies (Perigee)-Just finished reading this one. About halfway through the book I was gripped. I enjoyed the way William Golding writes, but I have to say that the storyline is brutal. Definitely Lord of the Flies is a book for boys. I am probably going to have both my boys read it since the themes of good and evil (and where evil comes from) flow throughout the book. There is a plethora of discussion topics there.

Wuthering Heights-This was a re-read for me. Loved it as a teen, not so much as an adult. The characters are truly obsessive and dysfunctional. I am thinking that neither of my boys would do well with this book. Girls on the others might fare better.

Great Expectations-Also a re-read. Love this book! The characters jump off the page into your head so that you never will forget them! Miss Havisham will forever be burned in my memory! Going to get both my boys to read this Dickens novel.
Heart of Darkness-Another re-read. Once again, like Wuthering Heights, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time. Heart of Darkness and Lord of the Flies are very similar in theme...how men fall into depravity and that there is evil lurking in all of us. It would be interesting to read both and then discuss the similarities and differences.

So what am I moving on to next? I have never read Of Mice and Men or The Grapes of Wrath. So I will be tackling one of those soon. What have you been reading lately?

Homeschooling High School

2011-11-09T07:01:00.004-09:00

Kris over at Weird Unsocialized Homeschooolers is doing a series on homeschooling high school...since we just started high school with our oldest this year I will be interested to see what she says! Check it out if you are in the same boat! :-)

Lapbooking the 17th Century

2011-11-08T06:57:00.020-09:00

Noah and I are going through Biblioplan 3 this year. We recently finished the 17th century. Since most of what we do is read or listen to The Story of the World, I thought we would lapbook some of what we learned. I received for free from Journey through Learning a 17th century overview lapbook several years back. These lapbooks (17th-20th centuries) cover American history. With Biblioplan we do both world and American history, so we won't be reviewing any world history as we go through this process. I am eager to review with my son! Will post pictures soon...

A Space for Grace

2011-11-07T06:00:00.026-09:00

Any heartache, weakness, or failure allows more space for grace. Every blessing is grace. I keep counting...

{1,832-1,843}

-Finished memorizing the first two chapters of James!
-Cold weather
-Watching Anna and the King
-Additional income
-Making do with what we have
-Snowfall
-Being hired by Tutor.com
-The boys helping clean house
-Body butter
-Reorganizing my kitchen a bit
-Finishing Lord of the Flies...what a disturbing novel!
-Watching Amish Grace

The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn

2011-11-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

Is unforgiveness eating at you? The Encounter is a novel written by Stephen Arterburn about a young man's journey to forgive the mother that abandoned him. This was a sweet story with a strong message of forgiveness. It was a quick and easy read (read it in one day!) that I thoroughly enjoyed. The novel is set in Fairbanks, Alaska. I live in Alaska so I was very familiar with the setting. Stephen draws an accurate picture of what Alaska is like for his reader. At the end of the novel there is a section entitled, "The Truth Behind the Fiction" that tells how Stephen came to write the book and details how to navigate through the process of forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book if you are struggling with unforgiveness, want to learn a little more about Alaska, or just want a touchy story written in parable form.

Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it. I am not required to give a positive review. All my opinions are my own.

Update on James

2011-11-03T06:00:00.025-08:00

Back in June I started a journey. A journey that I have never taken before. My journey is a trip through a book of the Bible not by just reading it or studying it, but by memorizing it! It has been almost five months. I recently finished memorizing the second chapter. I have three more chapters to go! I am going slower than I had hoped, but I haven't given up. My goal is to get the whole book memorized by early 2012. Here and here are some techniques that I am using to memorize James.

Imagine my surprise when I read that Beth Moore's new Bible Study, Mercy Triumphs, encourages you to memorize the whole book of James! I recently started this Bible study and am getting so much out of it. Her study is enhancing my memorizing and vice versa. This Bible study is different from her others in that there are different levels of involvement for it. For example, you can choose just to watch the videos, or watch the videos and do the homework. Or you could watch the videos, do the homework, and read Melissa's (Beth's daughter) information on James. One of the levels involves memorizing the whole book. Doing her study is keeping me motivated to continue memorizing even though it has been tough!

So what are you studying or memorizing?

November Bulk Cooking

2011-11-02T06:00:00.029-08:00

Each month I make seven meals and double them. I give half of the meals to a friend, and she does the same for me! This makes meal time so much easier. I work from home. and at least three days a week I have NO time to cook dinner. What a blessing to have meals to just warm up! Here is what I am planning on cooking in bulk this month...

Pepperoni Stromboli

(This is easier than it looks! Awesome recipe!)

Carrot Bisque with Artisan bread

(Honestly, I do this bisque without a recipe. I cook carrots, potatoes, onion, and some garlic in chicken broth. Puree the mixture after cooking the veggies. Add heavy cream, salt and pepper and some white wine.)

Pumpkin Enchiladas

Cafe Rio Chicken Tacos

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

Raspberry chicken

Veggie Soup with Dumplings

The Boys' Costumes

2011-11-01T06:00:00.014-08:00

Tim did an awesome job this year making Noah a costume! Noah was a deck of cards! You will notice that there is a "N" on the face card because its a "Noah of Spades"! LOL

Here is the back of the cards.

Zach created his costume on his own! So cool! He was a Minecraft (videogame) character.

"The Brothers in Boxes"

A Final Word

2011-10-31T06:00:00.006-08:00

When the Blessings Don't Stop

2011-10-31T05:29:00.023-08:00

When you really look around, you find that blessings abound from our Heavenly Father. They never stop!

{1,819-1,831}

*Starting a new Bible Study

*Understanding that the tough times may not look pretty, but we just need to push through them.
*Finally dusting the furniture!
*A great fall festival
*That in my life there is always "space for grace"
*Great costumes for the boys

*A husband that helps make cool costumes
*A warm bed on a cold night
*Crystal Lite
*A caring husband that helps out
*Movies that make me cry
*Walks in the dark with Tim and Titan

God's Word on Forgiveness

2011-10-30T06:00:00.030-08:00

God speaks for Himself on the issue of forgiveness...

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. I Peter 3:9

Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Literature that Explores Forgiveness

2011-10-29T06:00:00.017-08:00

There is a plethora of literature out there that has forgiveness as its main theme. Here are some of my favorite titles...

To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Count of Monte Cristo (Everyman's Library)
Shadow Spinner (A Jean Karl Book)

A Tale of Two Cities

"First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view […] until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." To Kill a Mockingbird

The Most Selfish Thing (you will ever do)

2011-10-28T06:00:00.030-08:00

Forgiveness is downright selfish! I know that that sounds wrong, but I can attest to the fact that it is a selfish move on our part to forgive. Why?

"Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." {Author Unknown}

When we don't forgive we hurt only ourselves. Our offender normally doesn't suffer from our unforgiveness at least not to the extent that we do. Sure, if we are unforgiving and show it to our offender they will feel it, but really the person who suffers the most is us. Think about it, when you don't forgive someone they live inside your head!! I know this from experience. They are constantly in your thoughts. You ruminate over and over again about what they did to you or how you can get back at them. They never leave you! You become their prisoner even if they weren't trying to imprison you.

God asks us to forgive, because it is for our own good! Forgiveness is for us...not for the offender. The next time we are tempted to not forgive we need to remember that is a death wish, not for the one that hurt us but for ourselves!

The Blessing of Forgiveness

2011-10-27T06:00:00.040-08:00

"The greater the hurt, the greater the blessing that will come with forgiveness."

Total Forgiveness

Think of forgiveness as an opportunity...
to be blessed
to learn more about God's forgiveness
to learn gratitude for what you have been through
to understand the freedom that comes with forgiveness
to experience God's healing
to be more like Jesus.

We are truly blessed when we forgive!

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. I Peter 3:9

Apple Chip Cake

2011-10-27T06:00:00.023-08:00

This is my all-time favorite apple recipe.

Apple Chip Cake

1 1/4 cup oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
3 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
3 cups peeled and chopped apples (hence the name, "apple chip")

Preheat the oven to 350. In a bowl mix oil, sugar and eggs. Beat until smooth. Sift flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon and beat into wet ingredients to form a still batter. Add vanilla, nuts and apples. Stir to blend. Spoon batter into a 9 x 13 pan. Bake 1 hour. (I tend to use a bundt pan instead.)

You don't really need to frost this cake. However, if you just can't resist this is the frosting that is the best!

Caramel Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Bring the butter, brown sugar, and milk to a boil. Boil three minutes and then stir in the powdered sugar. Pour over cake.

Pointing the Finger

2011-10-26T06:00:00.033-08:00

"The true test of spirituality is being able not to point the finger!"

Total Forgiveness

We love to point the finger! It is human nature to point out others' faults, weaknesses, and mistakes. Is it because we are riddled with our own weaknesses? It is a ploy to get all eyes off our failings and transfer them to another? Is it an effort to make another look bad? Is it revenge?

Many times "pointing the finger" is a form of revenge. We aim to hurt the reputation of those that have hurt us by spreading their failing all over the place. I know I have been guilty of this.

Forgiveness, however, lowers the finger and refuses to speak ill of the person that has hurt us. Lately, I have been trying to not speak negatively of those that have hurt me. Sure, I could reveal their poor behavior, but I am choosing not to. Not that it is easy, but I have to say, it is freeing. There is something healing about making the decision to not taint the reputation of another.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

2011-10-25T06:00:00.028-08:00

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:23-26

God is a God of reconciliation. He wants us to be reconciled to others. The above verses testify to the fact that God sees reconciliation as more important than worship! Really? Could it be that we really can't have a right relationship with God unless we deal with our relationships on earth. Sometimes though reconciliation seems impossible. It could be that the other person is unrepentant, abusive, or unwilling to reconcile. Sometimes it isn't wise to reconcile and go back into relationship with someone. You know that they haven't changed and that you are just going to get hurt all over again. Or worse yet, you know you will be abused again. Many people feel that if they can't be reconciled then they can't forgive. However, we should never let the lack of reconciliation impede forgiveness. We must forgive even if the relationship is never reconciled. Also, just because there is no reconciliation doesn't mean that there is no forgiveness. We can forgive...we need to forgive even if the relationship is never restored.

Get Rid of Those Roots

2011-10-24T06:00:00.034-08:00

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

Whatever hurts you makes you bitter or better. Plain and simple. We have a choice to allow those hurts and the pain to refine us or to hold onto them so much so that they define us as a victim.

Bitterness is really the end result of unforgiveness. It is ugly and sometimes doesn't always surface. Hebrews says that it is a "root". Sometimes roots are readily seen. They can be hard to spot, and yet they can be so destructive.

Tim created a garden for me years ago. I am so thankful that he did! However, this garden is close to some trees. Tim took the initiative to lay down material that would block roots from growing up into the garden. It has been over a decade since we set up the garden plot, and each spring for the past few years guess what I am doing? Pulling and chopping out tree roots before I can plant! The tree roots are strong (they punched through the root-blocking fabric), hard to get rid of, and ever growing. How similar is the root of bitterness? Bitterness can get a hold of someone and strangle them! It is hard to cut out and dispose of. And sometimes, just when you think you have dealt with it, it rears its ugly head!!! Ugh!

I have found that there are layers to forgiveness. Sometimes we forgive and yet we have to forgive again when the memories come back of the hurt. It is a constant "forgiving" that ensures that bitterness doesn't grow. Maybe that is what Jesus meant when he said we must forgive "70 times 7". It isn't that there are that many offenses to forgive, but that when the hurt pops back up again when need to be quick to forgive even if it takes 490 times.

Have you ever met a bitter person? Do you like being around them? Just seeing those bitter people in my life motivates me to forgive so that the root won't grow. It is easier to forgive now than to chop away at the root later.

Count Your Blessings...

2011-10-24T06:00:00.005-08:00

{1,807-1,818}

A week of great peace
Joining in on Zach's science experiments
Meeting up with a friend
Finding Western Civilization for Zach's history
Safety on the icy roads
Clean sheets
Time to delve into God's Word
Finish mini chocolate chips on sale
Ripe pumpkins to cook
History discussions with Zach
Great week of Spanish lessons
Chickadees in the trees

Books on Forgiveness

2011-10-23T06:00:00.024-08:00

My all-time favorite book on forgiveness is Total Forgiveness by RT Kendall. His book is so clear and concise in getting to the bottom of our resistance to forgive. He clearly lays out what forgiveness looks like and how we should act towards a person we have forgiven.

There are other books out there that deal with forgiveness. Here are a few that I have found helpful.

Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice-This book talks about impeccatory prayers as a step in forgiveness.

Free to Forgive-This is actually a Bible study

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict-This book is not only on forgiveness, but conflict resolution

Gratitude and Forgiveness

2011-10-22T06:00:00.032-08:00

Grace. Forgiveness. Mercy. Gratitude. They are all intertwined!

Grace is like forgiveness...it is getting what we don't deserve. An unexpected kindness. None of us deserve forgiveness, and yet God offers it to us. The words grace and gratitude are related. Do you know the word for "thank you" in Spanish is "gracias"? Do you see the word "grace" in it?

Mercy is like forgiveness...it is not getting what we do deserve. A punishment not given. The words mercy and gratitude are related. Do you know the word for "thank you" in French? It is "merci". Do you see the word "mercy" in it?

So when we are lavished with grace and mercy the response should be one of gratitude. Gratitude can also be our ticket out of unforgiveness...

Recently, I was able to forgive an offense simply by saying "thanks" to God for the offense. Sounds crazy, I know! Yet, when we thank Him for those hard events in our lives that have caused great pain we can more freely let go of the hurt.

The next time you are offended watch for ways that you can praise God for it. Was there some part of it that benefited you? Did you grow in your relationship with God because of it? Did God save you from something worse that could have occurred in your life because of the offense? When we thank God for the hard things we can let go of them....and that is really what forgiveness is.

Grace and Forgiveness

2011-10-21T06:00:00.030-08:00

My "Word of the Year" is grace for 2011. Grace and forgiveness are one in the same. Grace is undeserved favor, and when you forgive that is what you are giving: favor to someone who doesn't deserve it.

Recently, my youngest son was in Children's Church and the topic was grace. I guess he took the lesson to heart, because a few weeks after it we had this dinner conversation...

Tim (my husband): Where did you get that Chex Mix?

Noah (my son): From mom.

Tim: What did you do to earn it?

Noah: Nothing....(long pause)....It's called GRACE!

Indeed, he had figured it out! He did nothing to deserve the Chex Mix. Rather, I had "graced" him with them. This is what we do for one another when we forgive or overlook an offense. We give the offender something they don't deserve whether it be a smile, a kind word, a prayer of blessing. Or it could simply be that we don't seek revenge. That is grace, too.

Where can you show grace {forgiveness}?

Mercy and Forgiveness

2011-10-20T06:00:00.076-08:00

Mercy and Forgiveness. Two concepts that work together. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. When we extend mercy to others we chose to not dole out to them the punishment that they have coming. God shows us mercy in innumerable ways. May we have the grace to do the same to others.

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
James 2:12-13

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God
rather than burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6

Pumpkins and Squash

2011-10-20T06:00:00.047-08:00

Here are some of our favorite pumpkin recipes...

Photo Source

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1/2 cup oil

4 eggs

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

2 t. baking soda

1 small can pumpkin

12oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs and sugar. Mix in rest of ingredients. Bake for 20 min. I normally make mini muffins out of this.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 cups flour

2 cups oats

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups butter

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 - 16oz can pumpkin

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl cream butter, gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by 1/4 cup dough amounts onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes. (You can make them half the size - regular cookie drop amount- but check the around 12-15 minutes as they may need to come out sooner than the large size.) Enjoy!

Black Bean 'n' Pumpkin Chili

1 med. sweet yellow pepper, chopped

1 med. onion chopped

3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced

2 T. olive oil

3 cups chicken broth

2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained

2 1/2 cups chopped chicken (or turkey)

1 can (15 oz) solid-pack pumpkin

1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

2 t. dried parsley

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons oregano

1 1/2 t. ground cumin

salt

Saute onion, pepper and garlic in oil. Transfer to a big pot or slow cooker for simmering. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Simmer.

Nikki's Pumpkin Fudge

1 1/2 c. sugar

2/3 c. evaporated milk

1/2 c. pumpkin

2 TBS. butter

1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. salt

2 c. mini marshmallows

1 pkg. (12oz) vanilla baking chips

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Line 8 inch square pan with foil. Grease the foil. Butter the sides of a heave sauce pan.Combine sugar, evaporated milk, pumpkin, butter, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir constantly while bringing it to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, continue boiling 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows,vanilla chips and vanilla extract. Stir until all ingredients are melted. Pour into square pan. Chill until firm. Cut in squares and store in the fridge.

I wanna be God!

2011-10-19T06:00:00.030-08:00

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19

Don't we all have days when we want to be God? We want to judge those around us. We want to dish out appropriate punishment. We want to deal with the offender in the way we see fit. The only problem? We were never given permission. The role of judge belongs to only One. It is His deal...His assignment alone.

When the temptation hits to take vengeance or to even judge our neighbor we need to remember that we are not only God, but that...

God is watching us, and He knows our sins.

What a sobering thought! We can't stand as judge and jury for someone else simply because we are weak like they are! We are in the same courtroom that they stand in! He is the only Righteous One. He judges fairly, whereas our emotions get in the way of making judgment calls worthy of respect.

One of the ways we forgive is by giving up the right to vengeance. God knows that with every offense there needs to be justice. He only asks that He be the one to dole it out.

Another way we forgive is to not wait around to watch punishment being served to our enemies. Waiting for their repentance (which may never come) and their punishment (which is between them and God) means that we are still holding a grudge against them.

Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,
or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

Proverbs 24: 17-18

The only way to forgive is to give up being God...

Praying for Our Enemies

2011-10-18T06:00:00.028-08:00

"Total forgiveness involves an additional element: praying for God's blessings to rain on the lives of your offenders." Total Forgiveness

Why does God ask us to pray for our enemies? To what end? Why would He ask us to do something that just benefits them and not ourselves?

I have always wondered if there was a deeper reason for the command to pray for those that hurt us. Lately, God has been teaching me that there is a real reason for it and that it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with our enemies, but rather with ourselves!

What things do we normally have the motivation to pray for? Are they not the things/people that are nearest and dearest to our hearts? One of the reasons that God asks us to pray for them is so that our hearts will be changed. We will begin to connect with them on a heart level. We will begin to care for them and what happens to them because we are praying. They will become important to us in a positive way instead of a negative way.

God also knows that we can't keep hating someone if we are praying for them. Something has to give. If we continue praying our heart of hatred will change to one of love. We will be able to break through the negative emotions and forgive.

So really, is praying for our enemies for our enemies? Or is praying for our enemies really about us? God changing our hearts for those around us. Helping us to get out of the trap of unforgiveness and bitterness. God is so amazing! There are so many angles to what He requests of us and in the end they are all for our benefit.

When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado

2011-10-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

I love the way Max Lucado writes! He is the master of a short story that drives home a point. His book, When God Whispers Your Name, is no exception. Each chapter reveals different ways that God cares for us. Some of my favorite chapters were...

Maxims- Some of Max's one-liners

The Voice from the Mop Bucket-The story of Moses retold

When Crickets Make You Cranky-An essay on how to forgive

The God Who Fights for You

If you are needed to be reminded of God's love, When God Whispers Your Name, is a perfect book to spend sometime reading. Each chapter stands alone. Each one is short and sweet, yet powerful. Each will remind you that God knows your name and loves you.

Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it. I am not required to give a positive review. All my opinions are my own.

October Blessings

2011-10-17T06:00:00.047-08:00

{1,794-1,806}

The smell of baking pumpkins
Peace
Sleeping in
Cold morning walks
That God takes care of us no matter what the situation looks like
Getting through teaching at our Winter Youth Celebration
Tiredness
How God can work through us
Pad Cashew from a local Thai restaurant
How freeing forgiveness can be
God sustaining us during a challenge
The wisdom of his Word
These verses...
But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1-2

Movies on Forgiveness

2011-10-17T06:00:00.023-08:00

There are some great movies out there that deal with the subject of forgiveness. Here are three of my favorites.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

The Grace Card

End of the Spear

These movies are touching and show the power of forgiveness. Check them out!

The Death of Grace

2011-10-16T06:00:00.008-08:00

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Comparison is the death of contentment"? That saying has always stuck with me over the years. It drives home the point that when we compare our lives, abilities, or possessions to someone else's we are bound to become disgruntled.

Recently I was working through a Bible study on the prophets and came across another profound statement...this time on the death of grace. Grace is my Word of the Year for 2011. I have been focusing on how to give grace to others and for that matter how to accept it from God. Of course, as God would have it the need for grace has popped up all over the place since I picked the word! Don't you just love God? He really knows how to drive home a point! This year has been an extreme struggle to work through forgiveness for someone that attends my church. It is a battle. I know that I need to forgive and show grace to this person. My whole intent is to do just that, and yet, it doesn't come easy. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is definitely weak in this area!

So back to the statement on the death of grace. What would cause its death? What sin would make grace impossible? To answer that question, you really have to think about what grace is. It is favor towards a person that doesn't deserve it. It is saying, "I know what you did, and yet I am going to show you kindness and love." In order to do this I have found that I am having to give up my rights, my position, my entitlements to put the other person ahead of myself. It is a tough thing to do. Putting the other person first means that I have to humble myself. Being humble means that I have to get rid of my pride. You see, Pride is the death of Grace.

Think about it. If I look on someone else and say...

"I would never do what she did."

"How could he have done that?"

"What was she thinking?"

Or my favorite Pharisee version,

"God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector." {Luke 18:11}

...I will never be able to give them grace! It is when I humble myself...when I realize that I am just like them that I can give grace to those who need it...even to those who have trespassed against me.

A Coat of Many Colors and Some Awful Brothers

2011-10-15T06:00:00.046-08:00

He may have been prideful. It didn't justify slavery. A foreign land. A false accuser. A foul prison cell. Yet, the Lord was with him and he prospered. A second-in-command type of prosperity. Then one day...

A group of men showed up. Not just any group of men. The Ones. They had taken his clothes, thrown him down a cistern, and debated his fate. His fate turned into slavery in Egypt. How could they have done this? They were his brothers!

Now, he was in a position of power over them. They needed him. They needed the food he could offer them. How do you respond to the ones that had caused you such misery? This is what he did...

And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him...Genesis 45:2

"I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." Genesis 45: 4-5 and 8

"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, do no be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." Genesis 50:19-21

{Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob by Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari}

One of the greatest Biblical stories of forgiveness, Joseph and his brothers, can be found in Genesis.
Genesis 37
Genesis 39-46
Genesis 50

C.S. Lewis on Forgiveness

2011-10-14T06:00:00.005-08:00

Forgiving the Unforgivable...

2011-10-13T06:00:00.004-08:00

Some events in life seem so hard to forgive. So tragic and heartwrenching. I love this true story from Corrie Ten Boom. She survived a concentration camp during World War II and had a tremendous opportunity to forgive...Here's her story.

“It was in a church in Munich that I saw him—a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.

“It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander’s mind, I liked to think that that’s where forgiven sins were thrown. ‘When we confess our sins,’ I said, ‘God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. …’

“The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. There were never questions after a talk in Germany in 1947. People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.

“And that’s when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

[Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent.]

“Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’

“And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

“But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

“ ‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying, ‘I was a guard there.’ No, he did not remember me.

“ ‘But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein,’ again the hand came out—’will you forgive me?’

“And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

“It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

“For I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. ‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses,’ Jesus says, ‘neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’

“I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.

“And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘… Help!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’

“And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

“ ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’

“For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then.”

Forgiving Ourselves

2011-10-12T06:00:00.018-08:00

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves! We can be harder on ourselves than any other person could ever be, but God makes it clear that He forgives us totally. We should look to Him and how He sees us when we are trying to let go of the sins we have committed.

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.

Isaiah 44:22

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25

Keeping Your Mouth Closed!

2011-10-11T06:00:00.047-08:00

"Graciousness is shown by what you don't say, even if what you could say would be true." {Total Forgiveness}

One of the ways to show forgiveness is to keep your mouth shut! Yep, that's right...forgiveness can be as simple (ok, it isn't that simple) as not speaking out against the person that hurt you. If we are going to show forgiveness to someone we have to stop talking about him or her. This action, or rather non-action, can be extremely difficult. Normally, when we hurt we want to repeat the event to others. Sometimes we do this because we hurt so bad and need to get it out. Sometimes it is a form of revenge. We spread what the person did to us in an effort to tarnish their reputation. I know that I have been guilty of repeating what has happened to me to others. So what is the alternative?

Tell it to God. He already knows anyways, so it isn't like you are spreading gossip all over the place. He can absorb all our pain. He is patient in listening. He won't spread around what we tell Him. Finally, what we say will not affect his thoughts on the offender. He makes His own judgment calls on those around us. King David was an expert in this type of "therapy". If you look through the book of Psalms you will find a plethora of imprecatory prayers. These prayers speak about enemies and the punishment that should befall them. One of the things that I have noticed that if you tell on your enemies to God, you lose the drive for revenge. You give the hurt over to God to deal with as He sees fit, not you. Is that what forgiveness is...give over the hurt to God?

Be a Screen Door, Not a Doormat

2011-10-10T06:00:00.055-08:00

This is a re-post, but it speaks to the issue of forgiveness. Sometimes forgiveness is letting the hurt blow through.

Sometimes we just need to be a screen door, letting all those hurtful comments and actions blow through us. Not allowing them to sit in our souls so that we develop a spirit of bitterness. How does one go about this when the ache is so great? The offense is so deep that it threatens to rip a person apart? By the Grace of God. Giving people grace (unmerited favor) is the only way to be a screen door.

The danger in being a screen door is that we don't become the doormat in the process. You know a doormat when you see one, right? The person that people walk all over and abuse because she won't stand up and set some the boundary..."You may not walk all over me."

Jesus was a screen door.

He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." {Luke 23:34} He freely forgave those that offended Him...even those that murdered Him! And yet...

Jesus was no doormat.

This is written of Jesus after He cleared the temple by turning over a few tables and getting angry, "But Jesus would no entrust himself to them, for he knew all men." {John 2:24}

The greatest challenge of my life has been to know when to be the screen door and when to not be the doormat...or better yet, how to do both at the same time. There is a delicate balance between setting up boundaries and yet being gracious at the same time. I am still in the process of learning to let the hurt blow through without being stomped on.

Not Your Mother's Casseroles (Booking It)

2011-10-10T06:00:00.045-08:00

I have been doing "Booking It" at Life as Mom this year and really enjoying it! This month we were supposed to try out some of the recipes from Not Your Mother's Casseroles [Paperback]. I actually bought this book back in the spring and have been slowly trying a few dishes.

The casseroles in this cookbook aren't filled with canned soups and fake cheese. I do appreciate that! I have found some new favorites in here like...Baked Spaghetti Carbonara. Oh so yummy! I do have to admit that there were lots of recipes that we would never make especially the main dish ones, but I think that with every cookbook I have ever owned there are only a handful of favorites in each one. However, the breakfast and dessert had tons of great recipes...maybe because I love breakfast and dessert!

Here is a list of the other recipes we have tried. I have put our reactions so you can see what we thought.

Chickpea Casserole with Lemon, Herbs and Shallots

(This wasn't a favorite...just a little too strange for us.)

Elaine's Pasta al Forno

(I liked this, but my family didn't rave about it. Since it was time-consuming to make, I don't think I will go it again.)

No-bake Boston Cream Pie Strata

(This was delicious...I would make it again.)

Summer Vegetable and Mozzarella Gratin

(Pretty Yummy)

Layered Pumpkin Crumb Cake

(This is similar to a pumpkin dump cake, but without having to buy a cake mix. Very yummy!)

Thankful for...

2011-10-10T05:26:00.026-08:00

{1,777-1,793}

Mentors in my life
Hot coffee when I am cold
Forgiveness
Simple meals
Great nights of sleep
Periods of peace in my life
A loving husband
A opportunity to work even when it is hard
Humor from my students
Reading Thorn In The Flesh: Hope for all who struggle with impossible conditions
Clean dishes
Clean counters
Diligent students
The end of a long work week
A laptop to work on
The ability to cook
A new set of Spanish students

Forgiveness is not a Feeling

2011-10-09T06:00:00.017-08:00

"Total forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling-at least at first-but is rather an act of the will." {From Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall}

A couple a years ago someone confessed to me a sin that she committed against me. I had no idea that she had sinned against me. I was totally blown away. For what it is worth, I have to say that if you have done something against someone and they don't know about it, it is probably best not to confess it! I know that sounds wrong. But my experience showed me, that by her confessing she relieved her own guilt and gifted me with a boatload of pain. It made things worse, not better. It was like I had been trespassed against twice over.

By the grace of God, my response to her was, "I forgive you." I don't even know how it came out of my mouth! I had no prewarning that I was going to be confessed to. I had no idea that she had done what she had done. Yet, in that moment I decided that I would forgive even if I didn't feel like it. At first, forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a sheer act of the will! It is a choice we make to let go of the pain. Eventually though, the choice becomes a feeling.

Recently our pastor made a profound statement. It wasn't about forgiveness, but about singing and praising God. However, if you switch the word "singing" for "forgiveness" into this statement it fits.

Forgive when you feel like it.

Forgive when you don't feel like it.

Forgive until you do feel like it.

We have a choice to make...the feelings will come later.

{Total Forgiveness is a great book! Check it out.}