Tomorrow night starts our annual Youth Rally at Lomax. This year I believe we have close to 700 pre-registered to attend. So, it looks like it will be a busy weekend for the congregation. There has been so much to do these last few days.... cleaning and making the buildings ready, preparing food (we feed everyone 3 meals plus snacks) and then there is the clean-up afterwards too..... not to mention all the stuff that will need doing while its all in full swing. Our theme this year is Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
The focus is searching out God ...."with all my heart" and we are so looking forward to this great time of fellowship, learning, worship, and encouragement for so many young people.
We personally have been also getting the house ready for company... our good friends Craig and Sue are coming with their family for the weekend. We are so looking forward to a wonderful weekend.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday's Word
Rom 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. (NLT)
You know those hardships in life that just crush..... both physically and mentally.... we all go though them. But these hardships in of of themselves do not automatically produce patience and endurance. No, only when we reach out for God's hand and hold onto His promises, does He work endurance and patience in us through those trials and for them as well. When seen this way, the trials of life are an exercising of our patience and endurance that produces - for the Christian - a most powerful instrument in increasing our JOY. And that joy comes from the knowledge that Christ is sufficient to sustain us during the most severe of hardships. And that is where we find HOPE. When we stand in the midst of our trials knowing God is there with us and has not allowed us to be defeated by them - we gain even more confidence in God - and our hope is confirmed by His great LOVE for us.
You know those hardships in life that just crush..... both physically and mentally.... we all go though them. But these hardships in of of themselves do not automatically produce patience and endurance. No, only when we reach out for God's hand and hold onto His promises, does He work endurance and patience in us through those trials and for them as well. When seen this way, the trials of life are an exercising of our patience and endurance that produces - for the Christian - a most powerful instrument in increasing our JOY. And that joy comes from the knowledge that Christ is sufficient to sustain us during the most severe of hardships. And that is where we find HOPE. When we stand in the midst of our trials knowing God is there with us and has not allowed us to be defeated by them - we gain even more confidence in God - and our hope is confirmed by His great LOVE for us.
Monday, February 25, 2008
3 meals on a budget...
Okay, I have 6 of us to feed these days.... so when I can feed us 3 meals for the same amount it takes for once meal I get excited....
Our Wal-mart had some seasoned turkey roasts on markdown this past Thursday (about to go out of date) so I picked up 2 and put them in the crock-pot and let them cook down and shredded the meat.... then I added cooked rice and had green beans and sweet potatoes for dinner ... probably a total of $12 dollars in the meal. Left-overs were put in the fridge.
The next meal (Saturday)was a turkey & rice soup ..... I added some water and chicken bullion to the turkey and rice and a couple of cans of mixed veggies....let it simmer in the crock for the day and lunch (and dinner) were served. Leftovers put back in the fridge. Add another 70 cents for the 2 cans of veggies.
Today the meal with consist of turkey/rice/veggie casserole with pinto beans and cornbread. Just mixed the leftover soup with a couple of cans of cream of mushroom soup and a couple of more cans of mixed veggies. Beans went into the crock-pot with a couple of slices of bacon for seasoning and I will make the cornbread (not a mix) ..... total to add to the cost... about 3.00 or less.
So for less than 16 dollars we have eaten 3-4 good hearty meals for 6...... and tonight we will feed Eric's parent's and his sister and her 3 children too...... not bad.
Our Wal-mart had some seasoned turkey roasts on markdown this past Thursday (about to go out of date) so I picked up 2 and put them in the crock-pot and let them cook down and shredded the meat.... then I added cooked rice and had green beans and sweet potatoes for dinner ... probably a total of $12 dollars in the meal. Left-overs were put in the fridge.
The next meal (Saturday)was a turkey & rice soup ..... I added some water and chicken bullion to the turkey and rice and a couple of cans of mixed veggies....let it simmer in the crock for the day and lunch (and dinner) were served. Leftovers put back in the fridge. Add another 70 cents for the 2 cans of veggies.
Today the meal with consist of turkey/rice/veggie casserole with pinto beans and cornbread. Just mixed the leftover soup with a couple of cans of cream of mushroom soup and a couple of more cans of mixed veggies. Beans went into the crock-pot with a couple of slices of bacon for seasoning and I will make the cornbread (not a mix) ..... total to add to the cost... about 3.00 or less.
So for less than 16 dollars we have eaten 3-4 good hearty meals for 6...... and tonight we will feed Eric's parent's and his sister and her 3 children too...... not bad.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
What a day.....
Wow, what a day.... the oven and microwave that we had ordered (the ones here in the house had to be replaced) came this morning - about 5 minutes after me and Mia left for our babysitting job today.... Eric put in the microwave himself .... but we are calling in the famous "Jerry" to install the oven....so that will be done on Monday hopefully..... I can't wait to bake again!!!!!
Mine and Mia's babysitting job today was to take care of the twin babies of our good friends, David and Heather.... their oldest daughter was with us too for part of the morning then was picked up for a play day..... we had a wonderful day with the little ones (David, ya'lls little man kept us laughing most of the day and your little baby girl has the most winning smile I have ever seen). And a big thanks to David's parents!!!!
Tomorrow is going to be busy..... Lads to Leaders Speech practice is tomorrow.... our kids are so behind because of us being sick and then all this moving..... we are going to work them lots on the speeches for the next few weeks but I am afraid that they may not be as prepared as they would like to be this year. We will see.
Well, I'm off to get my own little man in the bed.... Jed is now sleeping in his "big boy" bed..... whooohoooo!!!
Mine and Mia's babysitting job today was to take care of the twin babies of our good friends, David and Heather.... their oldest daughter was with us too for part of the morning then was picked up for a play day..... we had a wonderful day with the little ones (David, ya'lls little man kept us laughing most of the day and your little baby girl has the most winning smile I have ever seen). And a big thanks to David's parents!!!!
Tomorrow is going to be busy..... Lads to Leaders Speech practice is tomorrow.... our kids are so behind because of us being sick and then all this moving..... we are going to work them lots on the speeches for the next few weeks but I am afraid that they may not be as prepared as they would like to be this year. We will see.
Well, I'm off to get my own little man in the bed.... Jed is now sleeping in his "big boy" bed..... whooohoooo!!!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Hardships and Blessings...
So many times in the past 3 years I have often wondered if what we are doing with me at home full time and Eric being our sole source of income has been the right decision... the hardships we have endured and the criticism we hear so very often can be very disheartening ....... it seems this world, and in this time, it is so looked down upon for a woman to want to stay at home and take care of her family. Instead, it seems the world looks on me and other women like me as if we were freeloaders on our spouses and that it would be so much better for society if we would just go into the workforce. How often I have read about 'women that have it all' with a great home life and a career to boot..... but for me, I do have it all..... my career of choice is a homemaker.... I want to be home taking care of the things for my family. And Eric is my biggest supporter..... it was he that insisted 3 years ago that I come home and no longer work outside our home. (He had been talking about it for several years, in fact. )
Money concerns are with us daily....but we make it through. Trusting God will provide in the midst of our need. It is not always easy.... especially with our wants (we are human) but our NEEDS have always been met. Jeremiah 17:7-8 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."
I like having an early dinner (that I have MADE and not something I picked up or heated up) enjoying the evening with my family and taking care of things in my day around the house. I like doing our laundry (I can't wait for my new lines outside..... I really like hanging my laundry out) and having it put away each day, I like cooking and having good meals prepared for my family, I like keeping house and knowing that all is in its place (it is getting there ..... just a few more boxes) and I like knowing that my husband really appreciates all that I do for him and our children. To me it is a blessing to this family to have me home..... we enjoy the slower side of life and do not need the hustle and bustle of the world.
We count blessings each day ...... even in the midst of hardships.
Money concerns are with us daily....but we make it through. Trusting God will provide in the midst of our need. It is not always easy.... especially with our wants (we are human) but our NEEDS have always been met. Jeremiah 17:7-8 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."
I like having an early dinner (that I have MADE and not something I picked up or heated up) enjoying the evening with my family and taking care of things in my day around the house. I like doing our laundry (I can't wait for my new lines outside..... I really like hanging my laundry out) and having it put away each day, I like cooking and having good meals prepared for my family, I like keeping house and knowing that all is in its place (it is getting there ..... just a few more boxes) and I like knowing that my husband really appreciates all that I do for him and our children. To me it is a blessing to this family to have me home..... we enjoy the slower side of life and do not need the hustle and bustle of the world.
We count blessings each day ...... even in the midst of hardships.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Getting Settled....
Wow! Here we are in the new house..... and trying to get settled..... I am trying to methodical about it and really get things done in an orderly way .... but.... when you have an active 19 month old running around behind you it turns into how fast can I get this stuff put away!!!
Promise to post pics soon!
Its good to be back!
Promise to post pics soon!
Its good to be back!
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