Thank you for being born...

"Birthdays need to be celebrated. 

I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday

than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory.

On a birthday we do not say:

'Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.'

No, we say:

 'Thank you for being born and being among us.'"

~~Henri Nouwen

Shawna chose cinnamon rolls for her birthday "cake"

Travis chose apple pie!

Joshua chose cheesecake!

I am so thankful for these three...my son in law, daughter and nephew. 

We celebrated their birthdays this month!

 

Blessing of a text message...

Have you ever sent a text message only to find out you sent it to the wrong person?  This happened to me yesterday.  The text was intended for a friend in Texas.  Instead I sent it to a friend in Colorado. Both friends have the same name. The friend in Colorado had been on my mind and I had considered calling her but did not want to bother her. One of the things we have in common is that both our children were born with Cystic Fibrosis and both of them are with the Lord. Not long after her precious son went home to the Lord, we talked and cried with each other on the phone for over an hour.  When she received the text yesterday that was not meant for her she immediately wrote me back. She told me she had received it and was glad to connect again as she had wanted to call me but did not want to burden me with her sorrows. With the holidays coming up she is having a hard time with missing her son and wondering how she will get through them. We sent text messages back and forth with a plan to talk in the next few days.

God had laid her on my heart and given me the desire to call, but I had not called. She had wanted to call me but had not. Thankfully, the Lord orchestrated this text message to be sent to her so that we could connect. We are both so glad He did.

Meatloaf our family loves...

We love meatloaf at our house. I have a loaf baking in my oven right now. I bake it in the stone loaf pan I purchased from Pampered Chef.  It is such a comfort food!  I never really liked any recipe I tried until a friend gave me hers. It is called Sister Helen's Meatloaf and came from Ann Landers.

Sister Helen's Meatloaf

~~serves 6

• 2 pounds ground round steak
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 C. bread crumbs
• 3/4 C. ketchup
• 1 teaspoon Accent *
• 1 package Lipton's onion soup mix
• 8-ounce can tomato sauce *

Mix all ingredients thoroughly, except for tomato sauce. Cover with two strips of bacon *, if you like that flavor.  Pour the 8-ounce can of tomato sauce over all.  Bake one hour at 350 degrees.


*My family's preference is to not use the Accent, tomato sauce or bacon.

Pretty

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

 I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18

Yesterday when Colette's mother picked her up she surprised me with a gift! She told me that when she saw it she thought of me. I love butterflies, love the verse and green is my favorite color! Such a sweet thing to do for me!

Time for Pumpkin Bread...

I love pumpkin bread!  Today seemed like a good day to make some! We have new neighbors and I would like to take a treat to welcome them to the neighborhood!  I had to sample a piece first. It was delicious! Stacy & Travis dropped by so I gave them each a piece and they too loved it.  I hope our neighbors enjoy their loaf. 

I had already posted the recipe at one time on my blog so just click this link if you would like to have it.   pumpkin bread


I guarantee your family will ask for seconds!

Life in a Bag...

 Thanks goes to my dear friend Linda for suggesting this!
Every Tuesday morning at our Ladies Bible Study we do

Life in a Bag

before we begin our discussion of the lesson.  The week before I ask three ladies to volunteer.  The following week each lady brings a bag with 5 things (often they put more than that, as it is so hard to choose what to include) in the bag. They are to tell who they are and then as they show the things they brought tell something about their life. The last thing they are to tell is what God is doing in their life right now. These times have been deep and the sharing heart felt. I learned how one of our ladies traveled from her home in Africa to several other countries before coming to American. She spoke of the faithfulness of God through all the moves. I heard another lady tell of how her heart is still hurting from the death of her sister last summer and I knew how I should pray for her. I learned that one of the ladies has had many heartaches in her life. As she finished she held up a picture that said, 'Rejoice Always' and told us that is what God was teaching her. Another lady shared of all the fun things she has done with her grandchildren. We all smiled as we heard about her teaching her grandchildren to roller blade. We had no idea she knew how to do that. We have cried and we have laughed. Each lady is a gift from God and their lives reflect the love of the Lord. I believe this, as well as our discussion time, is bonding us together! Let me know if you try this with a group you are a part of!

Banana Nut Muffins

This is a favorite muffin recipe of mine. They don't last long at our house because they are so good. I love them warm with a little butter and a cup of hot tea! 

Banana Nut Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup mashed ripe banana

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup chopped pecans

Garnish: confectioners' sugar, fresh raspberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 12-15 minutes (I recommend checking at 12 minutes)

Grease muffin pans (makes 15 muffins).

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

In medium bowl, combine banana, oil, eggs, and milk; add to flour mixture, stirring until just combined.  Stir in pecans.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

Cool-garnish with confectioner sugar and raspberries
(from Paula Deen)

More Fresh Brewed Life

We just finished our third week of studying the book Fresh Brewed Life.  I am blessed to be studying this with 28 ladies.  As we sit around the table each week and share our hearts and what the Lord is speaking to us through our study I am learning so much.

Each week I read this verse from the Amplified Bible to the class before we begin discussion.  This is the life God intends for us!

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 10:10

Last week our chapter was on writing in a journal.  I had fun choosing one.  I love the cover.

Then when I opened it I was so happy to see quotes as well as scripture on each page. I love the pen I chose to use.  It was given to me by Stephanie, my sister who is a missionary in Honduras.

One of our assignments was to read Psam 130.  Wait for the Lord and if He tells you something, write it down.  If He asks you something, answer Him.  If He directs you to do something, do it.  I did and it was a meaningful time for me.  

Why don't you try this today!