Outreach

I would ask for prayers today as we try to reach out to coworkers.

Many people will at least give a thought to religious things during the Easter season.

This morning, a variation of "Hot Cross Buns" went to work along with a tract.

The gluten-free "hot cross buns" were yummy, but a little on the dry side.

So we went for carrot cake with the cross on top.

The "cross" was, of course, a remembrance of Christ's death on a cross for all.

Sunday, we have extended invitations to church along 

with the promise of Easter dinner for any who will come.

(We were told this is an incentive - not a bribe😊)

Will you pray with us?

The Ultimate Sacrifice

As we enter a holiday weekend,

it is easy to choose something to be thankful for.

I am so thankful that God sent His Son to die for me.

I am thankful that He paide the penalty for my sin.

I am thankful that He welcomes me as His child.

I am thankful that Heaven is my eternal home.

The great sacrifice that Christ gave for me

is one that He made for all men.

We have only to believe that Jesus is God,

believe that He died and rose from the dead for our sins,

and repent of those sins that sent Him to the cross.

What's In A Name?

So our new family member (the Betta) received his name this morning.

Thank you for all of your ideas.

They were fun to read and to try on our little fish.

This morning, I was commenting on our "romantic" little fish.

He likes to swim in the corner and blow bubbles.

Bettas do this to make a nest for their fish eggs.

He is preparing a place for his little sweetheart.

Since there is no Mrs. Betta, our little Mr. is blowing bubbles in vain.

But, it is also a sign that a betta is really happy.

We have not yet had a "happy" betta, because this is the first to blow bubbles.

Then it hit hubby ...

the fish should be called "Romeo."

It worked.

It seems to fit.

So Romeo it is.

And when he is hiding in the tank ...

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Daily Bread

We are so blessed day to day.

It is easy to forget to even pray for our daily bread.

On this Thankful Thursday,

I am going to be thankful for bread.

 Last week,

I went up to the local discount grocery store.

I passed a box of gluten free baguettes that typically sell for $5-7.

They were only 99 cents.

I thought, "they must be out of date."

But the box said good until MAY!

What a blessing.

I bought 8 packages (16 baguettes)

and was able to share some with a fellow gluten free guest on Sunday.

We have enjoyed them as pizza and as garlic bread so far.

Take Heart

"Be more careful to serve Him perfectly,

than to serve Him much."

As my "happy home" book concluded,

the author encouraged women in the home.

She speaks to the woman who seems (in her own mind)

to have the same work day in and day out.

There does not seem to be advancement.

The praise may be irregular or non-existent.

She definitely encouraged me with the reminder.

God has called me to my place in the home.

The work may not be flashy.

The work may not elicit the praise  of men.

The work may be repetitive.

But it is God's work.

It is the work I was called to.

I must serve Him as He desires

and not as the flesh desires.

He wants me to serve and please my husband.

He wants me to guard and keep the home.

He wants me practice and develop the traits of a Proverbs 31 woman.

Take heart.

It is not in busy-ness and much service that God is pleased.

It is in a heart that wants to follow Him as He has directed.

A Reminder

There are so many things in life that spark memories.

I am working on Psalm 4 in Bible memory.

Psalm 4:8 always reminds me of our "Navy Days."

When we had the opportunity to talk, or email,

or in many letters ...

hubby would end with Psalm 4:8.

He knew that the nights were the longest and hardest.

He knew that there were less distractions at night.

He knew the apartment would be oh so quiet.

He knew that that was when I would be most likely to be lonely

or to have trouble sleeping.

There are days and nights when I still need the reminder.

A large thunderstorm last night,

The storms of strained relationships and trials,

The storms of fears and doubts.

Peace comes in Christ.

Ole!

We were able to entertain again this Sunday.

It was Spring Break and we could have 3 of the students over for lunch.

I like to build a meal around a theme, if I can ...

so I went with the Mexican theme this time.

Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Chips and Salsa, Guacamole.

I am always hesitant on the guac but for one of our guests, 

it was definitely the pot of gold!

(when I make guac it is typically just mashed avocado with lime juice and garlic salt)

The enchilada recipe was acquired in Washington state while we lived there.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

4 chicken breasts cooked and cubed or shredded

 1 pt sour cream

 1 1/2 cans cream of ? soup (walmart now carries these gluten free)

 3/4 - 7 oz can green chilis

1 bunch green onions chopped

12 large flour tortillas (gluten free if necessary)

1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)

Topping:

1/2 can cream of ? soup

1/4 of can green chilis

nice size spoon of sour cream

enough milk to make pourable (I omitted this)

Put small amount in bottom of pan.

Roll tortilla with filling (1st 4 ingredients mixed together)

Pour rest of topping over top.

Cover with cheese.

Garnish with green onion.

Bake 325* for 40 min. covered with foil

I once again tried the church trick.

I put in 200* oven as I left for church

then upped it just when I got home.

It worked, but I should have added the cheese when I got home.

It got nicely browned which had good flavor,

but was a little tough.

Welcome Home

On this Thankful Thursday,

I am thankful for a little company around the house.

We welcomed a new betta tonight.

It has been many a year since we had a fish.

The last one could not travel home with me on the plane from VA

due to changes in TSA rules while I spent some time with hubby in Virginia Beach.

We are trying some real plants this time.

This is our biggest tank yet.

We still have to make a lid and decide if we want lighting,

But we are thrilled to watch the little guy swimming up a storm.

Do you have a name suggestion?

Leave it in the comments.

I'll let you know what we pick.

A Chink Filler?

In reading my old-fashioned (but oh so challenging)

book on a happy home,

I was challenged to the life of a chink filler.

When you step into a log cabin,

you notice the beautiful logs and beams,

hopefully you don't notice the chinking.

But if the chinking is missing,

you sure will notice.

The home will be cold and drafty.

Often in the home or in ministry or in the work place,

someone has to provide the chinking.

It is those jobs that no one notices, unless they are not done.

I often have a hard time when someone asks me what I do all day,

I feel inadequate because the list seems feeble,

there are a lot of things that I don't even remember by the end of a day ...

but this chapter encouraged me.

Not always is life full of "big" things ...

sometimes life is sweeping a floor,

putting away clutter,

doing just the little things.

But those little things are the things that make a house or a ministry run well.

Longer Days

While the dark mornings are a drag,

I sure enjoy the longer evenings.

All around it was a pleasant day

Including two visits to friends

An evening walk with hubby

And just encouragement at every turn.

And because I have a little Type A in me ...

The excitement of some fitbit goals blown away.

Experimenting

While the recipe is not an experiment ...

it is a tried a true recipe.

I am experimenting with entertaining on Sundays.

I often rue that I didn't spend the extra money for a time bake oven,

but, no use crying over woulda, coulda scenarios.

On Sunday,

I tried this tried and true.

I prepared it on Saturday.

I popped it in the fridge.

Then on Sunday as I went out the door,

I put it cold in the oven covered in aluminum foil at 200*.

When I arrived home 4 hours later,

I just uncovered it bumped it up to 350 for about 10 minutes
to get it piping hot and to brown the topping.

It worked!

Ham and Potato Casserole

2 c cubed potatoes

1 sliced carrot

2 chopped celery ribs

3 c water

2 c cubed fully cooked ham

2 tsp finely chopped onion (I use onion powder often in white sauce)

7 TBSP butter (divided)

3 TBSP flour

1 1/2 c milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 c (4 oz) shredded cheddar

1/2 c soft bread crumbs

Bring veggies to boil in water.  

Reduce heat, cover, cook about 15 minutes. 

Drain.

Optional:

Saute ham and onion in 3 TBSP butter.

Add ham to vegetable mixture.

Transfer to greased 1 1/2 qt baking dish.

In saucepan, melt remaining 4 TBSP butter.

Stir in flour until smooth.

Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper.

Bring to boil, cook and stir until thickened.

Reduce heat, add cheese and stir until melted.

Pour sauce over ham mixture.

Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Bake uncovered, at 375* for 25 - 30 min or until heated through.

Happy Mail

In between the spring cleaning,

I also worked on Happy Mail last week.

I experimented at Valentine's Day by sending a "happy mail" to hubby's work.

It was a success.

It also had all the women at work a "buzzin'"

Poor hubby.

He wasn't said about the contents though.

 ~ a little note for inside the happy mail ~

 We haven't met many of the recipients yet,

but we are praying for them and look forward to meeting them at the end of the semester.

~ a gatorade, soda, or tea bottle filled with candy, juice mix, beef stick, granola bar ~

You can see the slit (look at the "K") where I cut it nearly in half to fill it.

7 "happy mails" headed to NC, FL, AK, and WI.

The slit is taped closed and then covered with the shipping label.

I had to borrow an empty mailbox along with my own.

I would have loved to see the postman's face when she picked up the mail.

And another treat for the locals during midterms.

A little encourage mint ...

I taped the label to the roll of mints,

rolled it up,

and sealed it closed.

Old-fashioned Cookie?

Well, the house is almost done.

I finished the guest bath and "piano" room today.

Walls washed, curtains washed, even stuffed animals took a bath.

Tomorrow, I hope to finish the spring cleaning with the laundry room and master closet.

The laundry room is my catch-all and hideaway and of course is linty from the washer and dryer.

There is such a good feeling when you just KNOW things are clean.

In between the cleaning,

I found time to bake for the local college kids.

It is mid-terms week.

This time it was an old-fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Of course, since we are a gluten free home,

it wasn't quite traditional.

BUT,

I have been told by gluten eaters that they would never guess it was gluten free.

Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c butter, room temp

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

2 whole eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 c almond flour

2.5 c gluten free oatmeal put through blender

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

4/5 oz grated semi-sweet chocolate (or chips through the blender - I added mine with the oats)

12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar together.

Add eggs and vanilla.

Add flour through grated chocolate.

Add chocolate chips.

Let dough chill at least one hour.

Bake 9 minutes at 375*.

February Update

It is time for another update on the 2008 goals.

February was a little rough ... we struggled with sickness or fighting sickness for 1 - 2 weeks.

During those weeks, I definitely got a little lazy.

Definitely have some ground to make up this month especially in Bible memory.

Personal Goals

Blog at least 3 times a week  (you all can attest to this one)

Develop (and use) a Prayer Journal to be more focused in prayer by February. 
(used my new 3x5 card system and feel more organized in my effort to suppot others in prayer)

Read through the Bible in the year. (On track)

Memorize 24 Psalms (1-24) - 2 per month.  (Barely Psalm 3)

Review/Rememorize - James, I - II Thessalonians, I-II Peter, II Timothy, Galatians, Jude (1 per month).
(nothing this month)

Memorize I,II,III John (remaining months after reviewing others).

Exercise 4 days per week.

Meet step goals daily.  (missed about 2 days of hitting 13,000 steps)

Learn Hebrew Using Rosetta Stone program - 4 lessons a week - 2 years.
(I've failed this one in previous years)
(Added 15 in February (short by one) for a total of 56 lessons)

Read 12 books (1 per month) emphasizing American History and Missionary biographies.
(Read 1 whole and 2 halves - finished book on George Washington, read one on Florence Nightengale, 1/2 of one on the home)

Family Goals

Help encourage, format, and edit hubby's commentary on the book of Isaiah.
(suffered a little, but we are getting our rhythm back)

Walk at least 4 miles together each week.  (eeked out at least 1 per week)

Be done with regular housekeeping by the time hubby comes home each day. (Improvement seen)

Ministry Goals

Write 1 card to a college student each week.  (14 valentines to local students, 2 valentines to nonlocal college student, 1 card to recruit in boot camp)

Write one note of thanks or appreciation each week (in the home, at church, in the community).
(5 for the month)

Entertain in our home at least once a month for a meal.  (got in 1)

Find a place of ministry.
(still focusing on encouragement for others)

Home Goals

Continue developing a useful meal/recipe book - Reorganize it monthly.  (Yes, it is organized as we speak!)

The Great Outdoors

On this thankful Thursday,

I am once more thankful to be mowing again.

I am thankful to be able to take care of a piece of property 

that, though rented, is my responsibility.

Though I wasn't mowing much grass on Saturday,

the clover was getting out of control

and I was happy to take care of that.

Hubby had tuned up the little mower

and it ran like a top.

I was so happy to be outside and working on my yard again.

The baby daffodils are up and blooming.

There is sign of the lilies in the front bed.

The winter pansies are showing new life.

The Bradford Pear trees are in full bloom.