Plans for January

I plan to use only my pantry and freezer to prepare meals for January 2010. I will pick up only milk and fresh vegetables and fruit from the store. My freezer is full and it needs to be gone through, eat what is good and throw out what is not.

It will be a challenge but I'm sticking with it.

(Sorry I cannot show you a picture of my pantry because something is wrong with my computer/camera - it will not work correctly. I'm looking into it.

Stay safe on Old Years

and

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Christmas Day is passed but let us pray that what we learned this Christmas will never be forgotten.

A Christmas Blessing

May you have the Spirit of Christmas, which is Peace.

The Gladness of Christmas, which is Hope.

The Heart of Christmas, which is Love.

The Gift of Christmas, which is Christ.

Merry Christmas !!

May your Christmas

be warm with love, blessed with joy,

and bright with promise.

Be safe, enjoy the day.

A gift from my church family

This is a picture of the beautiful flower I received from my church family following my surgery. It has varigated leaves. I hope I can keep it alive for awhile. I'm not to good at that................ it's almost Christmas - are you ready?

My copper tree candles

Some of you remarked how you liked my tree candles. My oldest son made those for me.

He and his wife makes things out of copper. They sell copper bird feeders, copper flowers for the garden, copper finch feeders, etc. They sell these items at various craft shows in the area. Thanks for your comments.

Read Carefully

If you look for Me at Christmas,

you won't need a special star -

I'm no longer just in Bethlehem,

I'm right there where you are.

You may not be aware of Me

amid the celebrations --

You'll have to look beyond the stores

and all the decorations.

But if you take a moment

from your list of things to do

and listen to your heart, you'll find

I'm waiting there for you.

You're the one I want to be with,

you're the reason that I came,

And you'll find Me in the stillness

as I'm whispering your name.

Love,

Jesus

More deocrations as promised...........

My Boyd bears waiting patiently for visitors...........

More snowmen watching for snow so they can help clean the drive..............

Sunday Blessings

Having recovered from my surgery it was wonderful to able to go to worship with my church family again today. I miss worship when I am not able to attend. My voice is very "bass" yet so I could not sing the hymns very well. It's a bad time of the year to not be able to sing. All those beautiful Christmas songs - but I just listened and mouthed them so no one would think I wasn't interested. Our pastor preached on Psalm 98 - read it when you get time. Verse 1 and 2 says "Sing to the Lord a new song; for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. (He sent His Son as a babe to reveal his plan of salvation for you and me - how great is that?)

Enjoy your day - it's almost Christmas!!

Decorations are Up!

This is Precious Moment Navitity Set

Here is my snowmen collection

Decorations on the mantle More to come...............................

Birthday Blessings

Happy Birthday to our Son-in-Law - Chip

He's the best son-in-law we have.

(He's also the only one we have)

Seriously though, he is a blessing.

We couldn't have done better if we would have picked him out ourselves.

He makes our daughter very happy. That's what is important.

Happy Birthday, Chip - We love you.

Blessings for Wednesday

To KNOW God's will is man's greatest treasure;

to DO his will is life's greatest privilege.

Blessings for Tuesday

God must have said,

"I know what I'll do, I'll send my love right down there where they are.

And I'll send it as a tiny baby so they'll have to touch it

and they'll have to hold it close."

Gloria Gaither

Thought for Monday

Charles Swindoll once wrote -

God may be invisible,

but He's in touch.

You may not be able to see Him,

but He is in control...........

That includes all of life----

past, present, future.

Sunday Blessings

For if you give, you will get!

Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down,

shaken together to make room for more,

and running over.

Whatever measure you use to give - large or small - will be used to

measure what is given back to you.

Luke 6:38 TLB

Peanut Clusters (corrected recipe)

My sister-in-law noticed I had omitted an item from the Peanut Cluster Recipe I had placed on my blog. I'm so glad she notice and let me know. Here is the correct recipe.

1 box Baker German Chocolate (green box)

48 oz. Almond Bark (dark)

1 12 oz. chocolate chips

16 oz. dry roasted peanuts - unsalted

16 oz. dry roasted peanuts - lightly salted

Put in large crock pot on LOW for 3 hours.

Do not peak!!

After 3 hours stir 2-3 minutes.

Drop by spoon on waxed paper.

Make 85-100 depending on size.

Enjoy!

Good News

I am glad to report that the surgery is over and I do not have cancer. Thank you so much for all your prayers. I was at complete peace going in for surgery. I knew that whatever the results was , I was covered with the many prayers of my family and friends. How do people go through life without the Lord - I will never understand. I stayed over night and now I am home again. I received excellent care. The weather was not real good coming home; lots of blowing snow but my husband is a good driver and we got home safely. I am rather sore (sore throat) but I have vicidon for the pain. I really am doing fine. Life will be back to normal shortly, I'm sure.
Thanks again for your prayers.

Today is the Day

The day is finally here. This is the day for my surgery to remove a nodule from my thyroid.
I need to be at Holland Hospital at 8:15 a.m. I am so glad it will soon be behind me. Please keep me in your prayers (my husband and kids also.) I will be back in a few days.

Merry Snow Meringues

M & M's Merry Snow Meringues

I cup sugar

4 egg whites

3 feet parchment paper

1 (16) pkg. M & M Milk Chocolate Candies (red & green)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Combine sugar and egg whites. Using an electric mixer beat until stiff peaks form.

Spoon mounds of the mixture onto two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

Place about 3 M & M's onto the mounds.

Bake for 1 hour. Test by turning over and tapping the bottoms. They should be hard and sound hollow..

Makes 2 dozen.

Enjoy!!

On this Day...........

Mend a quarrel

Search out a forgotten friend

Dismiss a suspicion and replace it with trust

Write a letter to someone who has lost faith

Keep a promise

Forget an old grudge

Vow to reduce your demands on others

Fight for a principle

Overcome an old fear

Express your gratitude

Take two minutes to appreciate the

beauty of nature

Tell someone you love them

Tell them again

And again.

Craft Sale Shopping

Today my husband, daughter and I went to a couple of Craft Sales which were in the area . What talent! There were many very beautiful homemade items from which to choose. I purchased a craved snowman from a very talented man. I collect snowman and it is perfect for my collection.
After we returned home I received a phone call and was told I won one of the door prizes. What a surprise; I never win anything! (But this time I did.)
I don't know what it is yet but will let you know.
It was fun spending some time with my daughter but now it is back home to get some things done.

Enjoy your day!

Winter is coming

If we had not winter, the spring would not so pleasant;
if we did not sometime taste of adversity,
prosperity would not be so welcome.


A quote by Anne Bradstreet.

A thought for Thursday

Abraham Lincoln once said -

No man ever got lost on a straight road.

Proverbs 16:9 says..............

A man's heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps.

Enjoy your day!!

Recipe for Peanut Clusters

A friend gave me this recipe.

PEANUT CLUSTERS

1 box Baker German Chocolate (green box)
48 oz. Almond Bark (dark)
1 12 oz. dry roasted peanuts - unsalted
1 16 oz. dry roasted peanuts - lightly salted

Put all ingredients in a large crock pot on LOW for 3 hours.

DO NOT PEEK!

After 3 hours stir 2-3 minutes.
Drop by spoon on waxed paper. (Put newspaper down under waxed paper )

Makes 85-100 depending on size.

Make them - you won't be disappointed!!

More uses for vinegar

1. Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding vinegar-and-water solution to the area. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.

2. Consider this favorite homemade window cleaning solution: combine 1/2 cup non-sudsy ammonia, 1 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a gallon of water. Use it in a spray container or wipe it on with a cloth.

3. Remove wallpaper easily by using a paint roller to wet the surface very thoroughly with a solution of equal parts vinegar and hot water. Or spray on until saturated.

4. Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.

How is this our business?

What happened to Tiger Woods? Is it any of our business? Some say it is; I don't see it that way.
Why don't we let them work out their problems without the help of the media. Something went terribly wrong in their home that early morning. But how does that become our business. My prayer is they will come to terms with each other and work things out. I hope they have the Lord in their lives - we should pray they do.

Growing Old with Humor

Great Truths about Growing Old

1. Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2. Forget health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3. When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down.
4. You are getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you get from a roller coaster.
5. It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you.
6. Time may be great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7. Wisdom come with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

Thanksgiving Blessings

What a fun day. We went to church in the morning to thank God together for all his many blessings. Then on to our sons' home for Thanksiging dinner. What a feast! Such delicious food! After clean-up we listened to our teen-age grandsons (and guest) play their instruments downstairs. What a good time they had. We watched a movie and played games. Later in the afternoon the son who was not able to be with us for dinner showed up with his son so we enjoyed time with them also. When we got back home it was very quiet..............but nice. We are so blest!

My List of Thankfulness

Many of you are listing things you are thankful for; I thought I would join you.

1. my husband
2. my family
3. my church family
4. my neighbors
5. my friends
6. my warm home
7. plenty of food
8. my salvation
9. good books - my Bible
10. chocolate
11. my volunteer co-workers
12. my pastor
13. forgiveness
14. my freedom
15. men/women who fight for my freedom
and there could be so much more.

The harvest has been gathered in;

soon the winter will begin

and so warm thoughts

are sent your way

with wishes

for a Blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Tips for Tuesday

More uses for vinegar:
.....Get rid of calcium deposits on faucets by soaking a cloth or paper towel in vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight. Rinse off.

.....Clean grout by letting full strength vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.

.....Clean a fiberglass tub almost effortlessly by sprinkling it liberally with baking soda, then wiping it down with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Rinse and wipe dry for a spotless shine.

.....Clean shower door tracks by filling them with white vinegar and letting this sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and with a brush, wash and scrub away the scum.

Our grandson, the Drummer

Sunday morning my husband and I attended a local church where my grandson, Jimmy, is the drummer in their praise band. He is awesome. The whole band is awesome. We were so proud. We feel it is so important for our teenagers to feel a sense of belonging where they worship. We're glad Jimmy has found this place at this time in his life.

Sunday's blessing

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

Enjoy your day of worship and rest.

Thought for Thursday

Give Us Daily Awareness

On life's busy thoroughfares

We meet with angels unawares -

So, Father, make us kind and wise

So we may always recognize

the blessings that are ours to take,

the friendships that are ours to make

if we but open our heart's door wide

to let the sunshine of love inside.

Helen Steiner Rice

Enjoy your day!

Wednesday's Quote

God has mercies to give, and He intends to give them to us,

those mercies are not broken pieces or someone else's leftovers........

God has bags that were never untied, never opened up, but set aside

through a thousand generations for

those who hope in His mercy.

John Bunyan

Thoughts for Monday

I just returned home from the dentist. His assistant was out sick so he had to do all the work himself. I had a cavity that needed to be redone.
Lately when I go to the dentist I have trouble with breathing while he is working on me. He tells me I don't breath through my nose. I breath from the mouth. I'm not sure about that but I didn't argue with him. (It is rather hard to argue when he has his hands in my mouth, you know.) Of course, he numbed me so when I went home I could only see out of eye. Not the best way to be driving! So now after $160.00 I am back home and ready to get to work. Washing, cleaning, maybe reading a good book..........
Later I need to go for theraphy on my neck and shoulder. (I try to keep everyone in business.)

Sunday Blessings

It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally.

I give us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand.

Let God be exalted,

The Rock of my salvation!

2 Samuel 22,47

Update

I received word from my Doctor about my biospy of my thyroid. The type of cells that were found can be cancer. Therefore, surgery to remove this nocule will take place on Dec. 9. It will be out-patient surgery if it is not cancer. They will check the nocule after surgery and if it is cancer they will proceed to take the thyroid out. Then I will have to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days following surgery. So that is where it stands for now. I am going to continue to claim it is not cancer until I am told differently. Thanks for your prayers. God has a plan and it includes me!

Honoring our Veterans

Today remember the sign at the Veterans Cemetary

which reads

"All gave some and some gave all".

Tips for Tuesday

Uses for Vinegar:

.....Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the dishwasher rinse cycle to get dishes and glassware sparkling.

....Remove the chalky deposit sometimes left on dishes in the dishwasher. Place the dishes on the lower rack and run the machine for about five minutes with a cup of vinegar added. Then run a complete cycle with your regular detergent.

.....Check owners' manual before trying to remove mineral deposits from coffee makers with vinegar. If its use is approved, fill the water reservoir with 1 cup or more of vinegar and run it through the whole cycle. Run it once or more with plain water to rinse clean.

Ponderings for Monday

I'm sitting at my computer at 2 a.m. - I can't sleep - I have much on my mind..........
We started meeting for a Small Group Bible study last evening. We are studying the Book of James. The first chapter tells us we should "count it all joy " when we come into trials. Trials help us to mature in our faith. Personally I'm not one that ask God to send me a trial so I can become more mature. But I can say that when trials come, I do see the value of them for my spiritual well-being. I know that when trials come, I am not alone. God walks with me through them.
On Wednesday I go to have a biospy on a lump the doctors found on my thyroid. Hopefully this will tell me that everything is okay. I am told that 95% of the time this is true. But what if it isn't? I do know that God will walk me through it. He promises to and He never breaks a promise.

Sunday Blessings

This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22,23

Antique Friday

This a bowl I received from my mother-in-law. She always served a lettuce salad in this bowl. I think the bowl is beautiful and her salad was always delicious. I miss it.......
The salt and pepper shakers in their holder was given to me by my Aunt. They were a wedding present that she received. Therefore, they are very old.

There is also a metal bank in the picture. I got that from my parents things.

The bread sign says "Give us this day our daily bread."

I only like antiques that are given to me by someone I know and love.

What treasures do you have that you can share?

Thought for Thursday

Give God the blossom of the day.

Do not put Him off with faded leaves.

Food for Thought for Wednesday

We must move from asking God to take care of the things

that are breaking our heart,

to praying about the things that are breaking His heart.

Tips for Tuesday

.....Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring 1 cup baking soda, then 1 cup hot vinegar (your microwave is perfect for heating the vinegar) Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain. This same process (cutting the amount to 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 hot vinegar) will also clean and deodorize the garbage disposal.

.....Or try vinegar ice cubes to deodorize and clean the garbage disposal. Make them by freezing vinegar in a ice cube try. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water. As the vinegar freezes it will deordorize the freezer as well.

.....Clean the microwave oven by mixing 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 of water in a microwave-safe bowl and bringing it to a rolling boil so the inside streams up. Bake-on food will be loosened. Wipe clean. Odors will disappear too.

We had a tremendous amount of rain last week. This is a picture of the creek that run along our property. The water was up to our garage. It has since gone down again. We have a sum-pump that runs continually in our basement so we do not get water in the house. We would be in deep trouble if the pump stop working. It does make a beautiful picture doesn't it?

Sunday Blessings

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace;

the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

Isaiah 55:12

Have a worshipful and restful day!!

I want to show you a few more antiques that were given to me by my parents.
Does anyone remember a salt and pepper shaker like this one?
Or how about the strawberry?
The old clock I got from a garage sale.
Notice the door knobs....the shelf had pegs and I changed them to the door knobs.
This high shelf is hung on our kitchen wall. Thank you for looking.

Thought for Wednesday

Time is not measured
By the years that you live,
But by the deeds that you do
And the joy that you give.

Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.
Proverbs 14:22


Today recognize the importance of doing an act of kindness. One small deed accomplished is better than a hundred unfulfilled promises.

Vinegar Tips for Tuesday

....Shine up chrome sink fixtures that are marred with stains or lime buildup by cleaning them with a paste made of 2 Tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon distilled vinegar.

....Let a vinegar-soaked cloth lie on a stubborn water stain or mineral deposits for an hour or so, then scrub with the salt/vinegar mixture again.

....Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

....Spray vinegar full strength on a cutting board after its last use at night and don't rinse it off. The smell will evaporate and the acidic energy will have done its job.

.....Or rub it down first with baking soda and spray the surface with full strength vinegar. It will bubble for a bit and then subside. Let this set for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it clean with water.

One Final Word

A Happy Marriage Takes Three

Most people think a marriage is
A partnership of two
But these little words of wisdom
I will relate to you.

The happiest of marriages
Has another partner near
Who can handle every storm of life
And make problems disappear.

He's the guide along life's pathway
He's the glue that bonds with love
He's the one who makes a dream come true
And sends blessings from above.

This partner's name is Jesus
Always trust Him and you'll see
Marriages are sweeter
In a partnership of three.
J. Morse

Our Big Night

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on Thursday night with family and friends. Sorry my pictures are not that good but we had a great time. A delicious chicken/ham dinner with all the trimmings was served. Our daughter-in-law sang and everyone enjoyed her too. What fun it was to spend some quality time with those we love so much. I just wanted to share it with my blog friends too.