Thursday, July 31, 2008

Thursday Thirteen

Hereby perceive we the Love of God, because He laid down His life for us... 1 John 3:16


Thirteen types of crafts I do or have done.
1. Quilling... After years of thinking it was way too hard to do and what's the point anyway, I finally decided to try it. I love it!! It can be used to embellish scrapbook pages or gift tags, etc. The best place to find patterns is to buy the Day-by-Day calendar. It has a pattern for each day, which is way less than you'd pay for a lot less patterns in a book.
2. Tea Bag Folding... A favorite craft of mine. They can be used on scrapbook pages or handmade greeting cards. It's not hard to do, it's a lot of folding like you do in...
3. Origami... I don't do the traditional animals and flowers and other such things. What's the point? I see no use for them. What I make, using 12x12 scrapbook paper, are the boxes and other useful containers.
4. Crochet... I'm left-handed, my sister is right-handed. She sat across from me about 16 or so years ago and I learned by doing the mirror image of what she was doing. She taught me the basic stitches and then how to make a granny square, and within weeks, I was crocheting things beyond her abilities.
5. Cross-Stitch... I started out, just out of curiosity, with a little piece that was to be a Christmas ornament. It was a musical note with some holly and berries. After a while at cross-stitching, I discovered that it's more fun to design it than to stitch it, so I did that for awhile, now I enjoy both.
6. Scrapbooking... Digital and paper scrapping. I like the look of the paper scrapped pages better, they can be 3D, but I definitely like the pros of digiscrapping much more. No mess all over the table, don't have to go broke on supplies you only can use once, you can share the same single page with everyone, etc.
7. Rubber Stamping... I have a LOT of them. They go well with scrapbooking, or many other crafts. I don't use them as much now as I used to, but I still love the look they give.
8. Decorative painting... not on much of anything besides clay pots, but I have quite a few more things set aside that I want to paint.
9. Polymer clay crafting... I never got very far with this, because it was too much hassle to heat up the oven. But now I have two toaster ovens, so when I go back to working with the polymer clay it should be easier. I din't make very many things, but what I did make turned out very well I think.
10. Decoupage... I would take pictures of collectibles from magazines and decoupage them on to slate slabs.
11. Computer Crafting... I've made notepads, clock faces, lampshades, bookmarks, boxes, baskets,
12. Jewelry Making... Earrings are the easiest and most fun, with necklaces a close second.
13. General paper crafting...This is everything from handmade greeting cards to little scrapbook booklets

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Saturday 9

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid. Psalm 56:11


1. What part of the world and country do you live in? USA, Mid-Ohio

2. What is the furthest from home that you have been, and where is it? Destiny Village, Haiti

3. What travel destination have you enjoyed the most? Hialeah, Florida... when I went to spend a week with Marfa, Mima and Pipo

4. What travel destination have you enjoyed the least? When we went to visit my father-in-law in Ewing, Virginia.

5. Is there somewhere you’d like to visit but have not, and where is it? Yes... I'd love to visit Ireland

6. Do you prefer traveling to see historic places or to hit the beach and relax? Neither... I'd rather find a nice crick somewhere

7. What popular vacation destination have you never considered because you think you’d not like it? I don't really know... maybe Russia

8. Where do you travel to most recently? Nowhere recently.. are you kidding?? With these gas prices??

9. Do you like day trip “mini-vacations”? Definitely! Especially to Amish Country. But I haven't been able to go in a long time.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Friday Fill-ins

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. Psalm 50:15


1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

2. If you're good at something, accept the compliments you get rather than pointing out the flaws in it.

3. Why so many people choose to not believe in Jesus is beyond my comprehension.

4. Something is out there, it's my dog and his name is Buddy.

5. If my life were a sitcom, it would be titled "What Next??".

6. Sitting on my back porch [if you don't have one, use your imagination] I see the neighbors' houses along the street instead of the corn fields and bean fields I saw this time last year.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to having Jessi's sleepover, tomorrow my plans include a full day with the girls and another sleepover night, and Sunday, I want to go to church, drop off the girls to their moms, then come home and sleep!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What Is Worship?

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. John 4:23

What does it mean to Worship God?
Growing up in a strict Christian home, I never really thought much about it. I mean... I always thought it meant to love, serve and obey God, go to church, cry and shout like the other people did. Basically, if you told God you loved Him and got emotional about it, you were worshipping Him. As I got a little older, this dictionary.com definition described what I though it was:

wor·ship -n.
1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: to attend services of divine worship.
'They attended worship this morning'.
3. adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success. to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing). –verb (used without object)
4. to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity.


And all that is well and good... but dictionary.com doesn't quite tell it all. When you go to the Hebrew or Greek and see what the the word means, it's a little... more... It's not like just standing to say the pledge with your hand over your heart to show that you honor the flag. Too many people just say the words and don't even take time to really think about what they're saying. It's the same in church. We just stand (or even sit) and sing the songs and don't think much about what the words we are saying REALLY mean.

This past Sunday in church, we were singing "Holy is Our King" (written by Rita Springer). The lyrics are:

Angels gather round your throne
and around your throne they bring
Praises to the Living Word
To the awesome One they sing

Crying Holy...Holy...Holy..Is our King.

Elders bowing at your feet
And at your feet, they bend their knees.
All creatures on the earth below
Bow before you now.

Crying Holy...Holy...Holy..Is our King.

I'll be honest and admit... at first I was like most of those around me... just singing and not paying attention to it. But about the time we got to the second verse, Father arrested my attention. Immediately I could 'see' what the song was portraying. The Elders were bowing down on their knees in worship, and the whole earth was bowing down before Him.
So today I went to the Strong's Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries to see what Worship meant before it got translated. In the Old Testament, there are only 3 Hebrew words used that were translated to the English word Worship. The word ‛âtsab (pronounced aw-tsab') means properly to carve, that is, fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger:—displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest. and was only used 1 time and was in reference to a pagan goddess. (Jeremiah 44:19) And if you notice, the word worship doesn't even seem to fit with the other meanings. In only the book of Daniel, only the word segid (pronounced 'seg-eed') is used, corresponding to H5456: sâgad (pronounced saw-gad') meaning to prostrate oneself (in homage):—fall down. Every other reference in the Old Testament were to the Hebrew word shâchâh (pronounced shaw-khaw') which means to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
There are even more Greek words translated to mean Worship, but I am not going to put them all here. The one that is used most in reference to true worship is proskuneō (pronounced pros-koo-neh'-o) meaning to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship.
Somehow I get the impression that to worship means to bow down in humble reverence to God.
So then why is it that we can so casually talk and sing about worshipping God and yet will so rarely bow down prostrate before Him in reverence and adoration? I understand that there are some who literally cannot physically kneel, much less lay prostrate in the floor, but what of the rest of us? Is it pride? for fear someone might think we're weird? or maybe that we just don't think that is necessary? maybe we don't know what to do while we're laying on our face before God? I don't know... but I do know that, like God said, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Interestingly enough, that word 'humble' is from the Hebrew word kâna‛ (pronounced kaw-nah') meaning, among other things, to bend the knee)

PS. This was as much for me as for anyone, if not more. I need to be on my face before Jehovah way more than I have been. He is Holy, He is Righteous, He inhabits our praise, He lives in our worship!


This is the song that I wrote the lyrics to up there ^... it's not the original, but it will give you an idea of what the tune is. I'd like to have the mp3 of the songwriter, Rita Springer, singing it. I think it would be even better than the one I have by Rick Pino.


Monday, July 21, 2008

A Golden Sunbeam by Carrie Bender

If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

A Golden Sunbeam -book 5-
A Golden Sunbeam
Blessings of family, friends, and farm warm Miriam's heart. Martha comes from Germany to live in Miriam's home. She keeps things lively with the children and with her romantic ups and downs. Miriam and Nate's faith is tessted when close friends leave on a mission assignment, taking along Dora, who is like a daughter to Miriam. Then Miriam's patience is stretched when she is suspected of child abuse. Yet inner peace anchors Miriam. She and her family press on toward the goal of God's heavenly call.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Potato Puffs

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7

Potato Puffs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
3 eggs, separated
2 cups refrigerated mashed potatoes, heated
½ cup sour cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ tsp. white pepper

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. In medium bowl, beat egg yolks until smooth and add warm potatoes. Fold in sour cream, cheese, and white pepper, then fold in the beaten egg whites. Pour into 2 quart glass casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes until puffed and brown. Serves 4

Friday, July 18, 2008

A Treasured Friendship by Carrie Bender

God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

A Treasured Friendship-book 4-
A Treasured Friendship
With Nate and their four children, Miriam revels in the seasons and interactions on their Amish farm. However, some of her friendships are strained. A trail of trouble follows a schoolteacher lodging in Miriam's home, disrupting the household. Meanwhile, Miriam tries bookish tips to improve her relationship with her husband, with mixed results. Through it all, Miriam treasures the promise of faith and learns the power of words that can wound or heal.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thursday Thirteen

It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. Hebrews 13:9

It took me a bit to think of what I wanted to list today... a few days ago, I knew, but by the time I sat down to write, I forgot. Anyways, here it is:

Have you ever stopped to think about the sounds, sights, tastes and smells you enjoy but usually don't pay attention to? Well, I guess if you don't pay attention to them, then you obviously haven't stopped to think about them, huh? LOL But once in awhile, I do.

...the dusty smell of rain, a few minutes before it starts
...a tiny yellow butterfly fluttering by
...the gentle ripple of water over the rocks in a crick
...the taste of fresh picked corn on the cob dripping with butter & salt
...the tantalizing smell of a BBQ in someone's backyard (preferably my own!)
...Hollyhocks and Morning Glories growing up among the Ivy
...the chirping of many songbirds waking up early in the morning
...funnel cakes at fair time
...the smell of a brand new box of crayons that takes me back to my childhood
...the quiet mew and soft fluffyness of a tiny kitten
...big white poofy clouds against a rich bright blue sky
...a big glass of really cold iced tea on a 98° day (or any day!)
...the sound of treefrogs in the evenings accompanied by the twinkling of the fireflies

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - Did you ever lose something behind a chair?

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1




Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Ultimate Transformation Dance Team

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1

This is the youth dance team at our church. It is one of the best ones they have done... I just wish my camera (and my shaky hand) could have done them justice. It's been at least a year since they first did this, but it still gives me goosebumps when I watch it! God was all over this one!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Sunday Seven

I have so much to be thankful for! I'm not sure I can stop at seven, but here goes:

1. I'm thankful for the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross of Calvary for my salvation.
2. I'm thankful for the Word of God and our freedom as a nation to have it in our homes.
3. I'm thankful for my hubby of almost 18 years, Dave. He is so good to me and I love him so much.
4. I'm thankful for my son, Drew. He is my best buddy, my firstborn and is such a sweetheart.
5. I'm thankful for my daughter Jessi. She is my best friend ('cept Jesus), and is just wonderful in so many ways.
6. I'm thankful for my other best friend, Marfa. She is there whenever I need her and is so much fun.
7. I'm thankful for my computer and internet. I cain't imagine my life without them!

I could go on and on for days, but I will restrain myself and wait til next Sunday!

A Winding Path by Carrie Bender

Wait in the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

I have now moved on to book 2.
A Winding Path
Miriam and Nate, happily married and raising their growing family. They receive a disturbing letter from Priscilla. She asks if she can come live with the Masts to be near her daughter. Henry Crawford, an outsider, is interested in joining the Amish and falls in love with Priscilla. Is he sincere and to be trusted? Miriam helps Priscilla deal with the doubts and joys of courtship and wedding plans. Then Henry disappears, and Priscilla is heartbroken. Gradually she learns that the Lord's grace is there for her in the midst of trials. Book 2 in the Miriam's Journal Series.

Trust

2 Samuel 22:31-33
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him. 32For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 33God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.


As for God, His way ...course of life or mode of action... is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried ...from the Hebrew word tsaw-raf' meaning refine, cast, refiner, founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try... He is a buckler ...protector, defense, shield... to all them that trust ...confide in, have hope, take refuge... in Him. 32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock ...refuge, sharp edge, strong... save our God? 33 God is my strength ...defense, fortress, fortified place... and power ...a force, host, might, riches, strength, army, virtue, valor: and He maketh my way ...journey, course of life, mode of action... perfect ...complete, full, sound, upright, whole...

Saucy Chicken

Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly. Matt. 6:4


Saucy Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups salsa
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. honey dijon mustard

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all ingredients and place in 13x9" pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40-45 minutes until chicken is thoroughly cooked. 6 servings


I made this today for the first time. I absolutely LOVED it!!! The rest of the family liked it well enough to eat it again, but maybe not enough to request it for a meal.

Friday, July 11, 2008

A Fruitful Vine by Carrie Bender

As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those who trust in Him. Psalm 18:30

This is the book I started reading today. I love Amish fiction, so I am really enjoying her books. I finished The Whispering Brook Series already, now I'm starting the Miriam's Journal Series with this book.

A Fruitful Vine
Miriam is 41 and alone for the first time in her life—a single woman in an Amish community where marriage and children are the norm for every woman. After seeing her aged parents through their final illnesses, Miriam is now ready to begin her own life. Book 1 in the Miriam's Journal Series.

How can I think outside the box when they won't even let me out of it??

Yesterday I had a long conversation with Marfa about my blog.
I Like my blog.
But I don't like my posting habits. I have somehow adapted some rules for myself that either I think are 'how it's supposed to be' or else it's how I feel like I need to do this thing. Either way, rules are rules and I don't like breaking them. Therefore, if I cain't 'follow the rules', I usually end up not posting at all rather than to break the rules. Which is why I haven't been posting lately.
Some of these rules are:

1. Post in my blog once a day. (I broke that one many times... mostly by not posting at all, but a few times by *gasp* posting twice in the same day! I don't like breaking this rule)

2. My posts should be mostly about me and/or what's happening in my daily life. Exceptions to this rule would include Wordless Wednesday, Thursday Thirteen, etc.

3. Don't write about how I REALLY feel about things or people, because someone I know personally may read it and think less of me. (I already think nobody really likes me anyway, so how much 'less' could it get?? LOL)

4. Don't tell anyone I know personally about my blog or give them the link. That way they cain't read what I post and think how un-Christlike or spiritually 'juvenile' I am.

5. My blog needs a lot of pictures or graphics. I think very few people enjoy reading a blog that is all text.

6. Every post should have labels of every relevant key word.


Basically, like I told Marfa... I guess I always felt like a blog was supposed to be like your daily journal.

Anyways... when we were talking, I realized that I was putting myself in a box of my own making. And as the saying goes... 'realizing the problem is half the answer', so while I still won't break the 5th rule, I do need to work on the rest... even the 3rd and 4th ones (with caution, because while I shouln't care as much what other people think of me, I do need to be always conscious of what my Lord thinks of me). So I think I am going to change up my postings a bit and see what happens.
I want to feel like I'm 'allowed' to create a post just for a link that I find somewhere that I like or think someone else might like, then turn around a couple hours later and create another post about a craft I'm wanting to try, or a meme I like, and still be ok with creating a third post later on that night about what book I'm reading or to show off a pic I took. I want to be ok with stopping in the middle of a post because I don't remember what else I wanted to say and publishing it anyways, creating posts that are out of character for me, or the same type of thing every day, or my daily life, or not post at all without feeling guilty or like I'm breaking the rules!

Can you hear me breaking out of the box here?? LOL

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Appley Kielbasa

Ingredients:
2 lbs. fully cooked kielbasa sausage
¾ cup brown sugar
1 cup chunky applesauce
2 cloves garlic, minced

Preparation:
Cut kielbasa into 1" pieces and combine with brown sugar, applesauce, and garlic in 3 quart crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until thoroughly heated. 12 appetizer servings



When I looked at this recipe, I was thinking there is no way applesauce and brown sugar would taste good with garlic and sausage, but it was a big hit, especially with my pickiest eater! It's worth a try!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Time's fun when you're having flies!

Oh wait... that's only if you're a frog!

Yes, this is the same tiny frog that I was holding in the other pic. I love my camera!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Ladles and Jellyspoons & Oh, Ain't We Crazy

Just a couple dittys from my childhood... do you remember them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ladies and Jellyspoons,

I come before you
to stand behind you
And tell you something
I know nothing about.

Next Thursday,
which is Good Friday,
there will be a ladies' meeting,
for gentlemen only.

Wear your best clothes
if you haven't any,
and please come if
you cannot attend.

Admission's free
so pay at the door.
Take a seat
and sit on the floor.

It makes no difference
where you sit
The man in the balcony's
sure to spit.

We will be discussing the four
corners of the round table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I know a little ditty. It's as crazy as can be.
The guy who wrote it said he wanted it and he handed it to me.
I found I couldn't use it because it sounded blue,
And that's the very reason why I'm handing it to you.

CHORUS: Oh, ain't we crazy? Oh, ain't we crazy?
This is the way we pass the time away (away, away).
Oh, ain't we crazy? Oh, ain't we crazy?
We're gonna sing this song all night today.

It's the song the alligators sing while coming though the rye
As they serenade the elephants up in the trees so high.
The iceman hums this ditty as he shovels in the coal,
And the monkeys join the chorus up around the northern pole.

It was midnight on the ocean. Not a streetcar was in sight.
The sun was shining brightly and it rained all day that night.
It was a summer's day in winter and the rain was snowing fast,
And a barefoot boy with shoes on stood sitting in the grass.

And the cows were making cowslips, and the bells were ringing wet.
The bumblebees were making bums and smoking cigarettes.
A man went in a stable and came out a little hoarse.
He jumped upon his golf stick and rode all around the course.

While the organ peeled potatoes, lard was rendered by the choir.
The sexton rang a dishrag. Someone set the church on fire.
"Holy smokes!" the preacher shouted. In the rain, he lost his hair.
Now his head resembles heaven 'cause there ain't no partin' there.

It was midnight on the ocean. Not a horse cart was in sight.
I went into a drugstore to get myself a light.
The man behind the counter was a lady old and gray
Who used to peddle shoestrings on the road to Mandelay.

"My husband's dead," the lady said. Her eyes were dry with tears.
She put her head between her feet and stood that way for years.
Her children six were orphans except one tiny tot
Who lived in a house across the street above a vacant lot.

It was midnight and the rising sun was setting in the west.
The little fishies in the trees were huddled in their nests.
It was a dark and stormy night and the sun was shining bright,
And everything that you could see was hidden out of sight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wordless Wednesday





I'm sorry I don't have the widget here.... I went to get it today and for some reason it's been joining my first post to this last post as though they were one post. Maybe if I can figure it out, I might be able to use it next time.