Mums and Blinds and Cooler Temps

Today I am thankful for the fall mums newly planted on my back porch.  Just to look out on their tiny buds ready to open in fall shades of purple, yellow, and red lifts my spirits.  I did not get any planted in the front yesterday because of rain, but it looks as if we are free of rain for today.

I am thankful for two new sets of mini blinds in the trailer.  Two sets in the trailer had broken cords so that they could no longer be raised.  Both new sets allow me to open the windows more easily to allow cool breezes in and one set brightens a room by replacing a dark blue set. 



I am thankful for the past few days of rain and cooler temperatures.  It has been nice to have the A/C off and to be wearing a sweatshirt in the mornings and to be able to enjoy the warmth as I bake in the afternoon.

"...but rejoiceth in the truth;"

Last Wednesday, the trait of love was that it did not rejoice in iniquity.  Instead of rejoicing in iniquity, love rejoices in truth.

True love can thrive in a home when it is filled with openness, honesty, and a desire to stand by the Word of God (the only source of all TRUTH).  A home with deception, cheating, or lying is not a home of love.  I want a home that stands on and for the truth ... one that is known for true integrity. 

How about you? 

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Will you seek to follow God's Word wholly? 

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Will you speak the truth in your home?

Today there are piano lessons to give, a violin lesson to receive, and some hubby projects to type.  There are also mums to be planted and dinner to make for a visiting missionary.  I also have some ideas whirling around in my little head to dress up my now empty garden trellises for fall ...

Hi ho, Hi ho, its off to work I go! 

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What is keeping you busy today?

Psalm 18:28

For thou wilt lighten my candle:

the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

 

Is it the darkness of depression?

Is it the darkness and confusion of the unknown?

The Lord gives light!

Spanish Pie

1 c TVP granules

1 c boiling water

2 T oil

1/2 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, pressed

2 T Taco Seasoning

6 oz tomato sauce

1 c grated cheddar cheese, divided

3/4 c cornmeal

1 T sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 egg whites (I used 1 whole egg)

1/3 c milk

4 oz can diced green chilies

In small bowl, combine the TVP and boiling water.  While that soaks, heat the oil in a a large skillet and cook the onions and garlic, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes or until the garlic is golden brown.  Add the seasoning mix, tomato sauce, TVP, and halfof the cheese to the onions.  Stir 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted and well distributed, then remove from heat.

In separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, egg whites, milk, green chilies, and the other half of the cheese.  Mix until everything is moist, but don't overmix.  Spread the TVP mixture evenly in an 8x8 baking dish.  Pour the cornmeal mixture over the top and spread evenly.  Bake at 425* for 20 minutes or until the corn bread is cooked through.

Serves 6.  268 cal per 1 c serving.

Well, it is the end of the 4th full week of school.  Hubby has done well to keep ahead on things so that yesterday we could have the afternoon off for some "fun."  Upon looking at my pair of black dress shoes with a hole fomring in a very thin sole, we decided to go shoe shopping. Yes, I am excited about hunting season and my husband is a GREAT shoe shopper - he has good taste and he like quality (his favorite brand is Clarks).   We didn't quite find my dream shoes (they are low heals, closed toes with thin straps - a girly, but sensible shoe), but we did find a very servicable pair that wasn't completely boring.  Then hubby found a cute pair of casual shoes that goes well with my denim wardrobe (denim skirts, jumpers, and dresses which I live in except for church).  It was a special trip provided by the HOPE ladies who gave me a tremendous gift last week - I am still going to buy a rake and some fall mums with the rest of their gift.  THANKS LADIES!

I never imagined after my time in Seattle that I would ever long for rain, but we are definitely hoping that the weather forecasters are correct and that we will have some rain tomorrow and Monday.   I hope that it ushers in some cooler weather - the calendar says that it is fall, but it doesn't feel like it yet!

It's Hunting Season

My invisible laundry - its camouflaged.
That's a lot of camo!

Today I am thankful for hunting season. Hubby thinks I may be the only woman in the world thankful for hunting season.  It is not a hardship for me while hubby is in school because he cannot be consumed with the activity.  If you know the "pre-marriage" Sandra, you may find it strange that I rejoice in a hunt.  You see, I did not grow up in a hunting family, nor was hunting a predominant activity in the towns where I grew up.  But hubby, on the other hand, grew up with bows and guns in his hands and with deer, elk, and other game processed for winter consumption.  This week, I have been washing and airing camo clothes that have just arrived from MT and hubby is planning to go hunting on Saturday night.  He is not hoping for much, because he has no time to watch the habits of the deer at the locations where he will shoot, but he is excited to think that he might be able to put some meat in the freezer.  If he does, another Thursday's blog will give thanks for a deer and a few Mondays will be devoted to finding good ways to cook deer (hubby grew up on deer jerky and I have maybe eaten deer twice in my 35 years).

"rejoiceth not in iniquity,..."

As I read verse 6 of I Corinthians 13, I am reminded that true love does not exult in the failings, misfortunes, sins of others.  It does not get a satisfaction when others fall short.  Do you show that kind of love in your home?  I quickly think of the phrases, "I told you so" or "you should have listened to me."  I don't think I have used the words, but I sure have thought them.  True love does not gloat over others when they stumble, when they have a hard time, when things don't go right. 

I just began listening to a message put out by Vision Forum.  It is called "the wise woman's guide to blessing her husband's vision."  So far it has been full of challenges and reminders about my role as a wife and about the ways I can encourage or discourage my dear hubby.  I will have to listen to it again soon and jot some notes to share with you soon.

Christmas Songs

Well, the truth is that there are Christmas songs going around in my head this week (alright, they have been for about 4 weeks now).  The children at church have begun work on a Christmas program and their songs are going around and around in my head as I try to memorize them myself and try to concoct inventive ways to teach and present them.  Many of the songs focus on a reason to praise the Lord.  He came in humility; He loves me; He is royalty; He gives me blessings every day; He left me with a job to do.  I think that the children are enjoying "Gospel Bells" the best!  When we began the song, I asked the children what gospel bells were.  My favorite answer was "they are door bells, for when you go on door to door."  I guess they put a practical nature to the understanding that gospel bells means we are telling others of Christ and His love for them.  We won't save this song for Christmas, we are going to sing it this week at church for the conclusion of Mission's Conference.

115 pounds and TVP

Friday was the 6 month anniversary of our ladies' HOPE meetings.  HOPE stands for Helping Others by Providing Encouragement.  The ladies have been working very hard and have a combined loss of 115 pounds for the first 6 months!  WOW!  I had a good weight loss week as well - since May with birthday, vacation, birthday, and anniversary, I have been working to get the creeping 5 pounds off and this week the results finally happened.  HOORAY!

So what about TVP!  I can't even believe that I know what this is.  It is textured vegetable protein.  (I feel like a true Seattle-ite now).  It all started with a 2 boxes of taco filling mix and 1 box of chili mix at the discount grocery store for 49 cents each.  It is hard to find taco seasoning for that price not to mention the whole meal.  It turns out, that the mix was made of vegetable protein and was pretty good.  Shortly after that, I looked at a cookbook for reduced cost meals and the Vegetarian section was full of recipes with TVP.  So the deal is that you have to rehydrate the TVP (1 oz = 3 oz of meat).  The proteins take the flavor of whatever they are rehydrated in or the seasoning that you cook with (or you can buy beef, sausage, chicken, bacon flavored TVP at a slightly greater cost) and can be substituted for any meat (particularly in flavorful dishes such as chili, sloppy joes, tacos).  It is not greasy and has about 400 calories per pound (about 100 calories per serving) and ZERO fat.  It is also high in protein and iron and Magnesium.  It is really trumpeted for being so much cheaper than meat.  Many sources have said that they can get it for about 50 cents a pound.  I found it at our local Ingles for 1.32 per pound, but am still looking for a better deal.  To calculate your savings.  Calculate the cost of one pound of TVP and then divide by 3.  Hubby is on board with experimenting as long as he only sees it once a week ... so ... let's try some new recipes!

Have you used TVP before?  If so, in what?  Where do you find the best deals on TVP?

God's Provision

On Tuesday, we received a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Now these letters can be good or they can cause pain and I was unsure what this letter would hold.  Why pain?  Well one time, the letter held a demand for the return of excess GI Bill funds which we did not expect.  In this case, it was a letter confirming that we would once more be given the GI Bill for another semester.  We do not take this for granted.  With our country in its current financial state and our attendance at an unaccredited school, our privileges could be revoked at any time.  God has once again provided and we are grateful.