Signs from God?

Last night I was thinking, I would really like to go to my Aunt's church tomorrow night. And guess what!!! She called me about an hour ago and invited me! They are having a Night Watches Service tonight, from 8pm-12am. It will be more relaxed than a regular service, and they are going to watch FACING THE GIANTS!!!! How about that? This must be God saying, no not saying, screaming, "WATCH THIS MOVIE NOW!!!" lol

And I always have so many questions about different Bible Versions and so on, so my Aunt really wants me to talk to the preacher about them. So I'm going to print somethings off the internet about it and maybe somethings about Christmas as well, and ask a MILLION questions! lol Hopefully I'll get some answers tonight, but I'm willing to send him home with a ton of information and let him ponder on it for a while.

Its been a long time since I last went to church, I would really like to start going again. I just haven't found the right one yet....

Exhaustion Continues....

Still exhausted! lol I slept all night and all day! I had been getting up early for a while now, hopefully I didn't mess up my routine. But I went to bed at 12 midnight and didn't wake up til 3:30pm. My body was completely wore out! Today I am sore all over! My back, chest, arms, legs, and stomach muscles are all sore!

I did get a couple loads of laundry done, cooked dinner, and worked on my scarf, but thats about all. My scarf is a little over six feet long, taller than Hubby! lol I still have to put the tassles on the ends, and then it will be a little over seven feet long. I'll try to post pictures of it tomorrow.

Well, I'm off to sweep up the mess in the living room from yesterday, wash a few dishes, and maybe finish up the scarf!

Exhausted!

I am so tired! I've been up and going strong since 8:00 am this morning. But now, I'm completely exhausted!

This morning I got up and decided that my home needed rescued from Christmas! lol I moved all the gifts, put some away, more still need to be put away. And with the busyness of Christmas and family gatherings, sad to say, my home was neglected. So, I washed laundry, picked up around the house, swept, mopped, got the trash together. It looked pretty good!

Then my Dad came over to help me put up some paneling in the living room. First we had to remove trim, some loose wallpaper, and take down the old paneling. We had to remove any protruding nails, so they wouldn't damage the new paneling. We had to measure, mark, and cut it to fit. My Dad gave me the job of packing all the paneling up the stairs, it took me quite a few minutes because I carried one piece at a time. Thats all I could handle. We worked on it for about 4 hours, I feel we didn't get much accomplished. After he left, I removed nails from the old paneling and trim and packed them to my basement. I'm saving all my old stuff for my Grandpa, he is fixing up his house. I already gave him some laminate flooring, from a couple months ago when we refinished the hardwood floors that were underneath. But all that work, made another huge mess that I have yet to clean up. I'm so tired I think I'll just wait till tomorrow to finish cleaning it up.

I also worked on my scarf today, I've got a total of about 4 foot so far. Hopefully I'll get it finished up tomorrow! I can't wait to start making something else!

Brother's Gift

I got my Brother this book (above) of Bible Devotions. I also got a book and DVD on learning how to play the guitar, since he got a guitar for Christmas last year. But he informed me that Santa had put this in his stocking this year for Christmas. So I told him he could take it back and exchange it for whatever he wanted. I went to Walmart and they didn't have the Facing the Giants DVD, but I still plan on getting it for him in the near future. I feel like I need to get this for him, so it can help whitness to him.

I also got me a Kniftty Knitter today, and I have been Knitting away! I absolutely LOVE it! Thanks Tracy for suggesting it!

Christian Birthday Gift Ideas

Tomorrow is my Brother's Birthday, he will be 11. I was wondering if anyone had any Christian gift ideas. I want to get him something that will help him to know Christ. I am the only person that encourages him to read the Bible or tells him about God. His only interests seem to be books or games about Harry Potter, Dragons, Wizards and the like. So he really needs something that will get him interested in God.

Guess

Guess what I got my Husband for Christmas!

• Its small
• Its round
• Its shinny
• This Item was mentioned in a previous post a little over two weeks ago.
  

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to stop by and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Time Zone

I have been posting in Pacific time the whole time I have been blogging. I never knew how to change it. But finally learned today!

Debt and Scripture

I've been wrapping presents all morning. I still have several more to wrap and several more to buy. I've decided that I'm not going to buy for my Husband's Aunt and Uncle and their family, and I'm going to try and not feel bad about it. We just can't afford it. And it would be putting us deeper in debt, its not being a good steward of what God has given us. We are supposed to make due with what we have and take care of it. But by charging on credit cards, I have took money that God didn't supply and have put my family in more bondage. Hopefully, I will be able to pay it off before any interest is added.

Bible Scripture

1st Timothy Chapter 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Deuteronomy Chapter 15:6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

Psalms Chapter 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Romans Chapter 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Galatians Chapter 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Proverbs Chapter 22:3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naïve go on, and are punished for it.

From now on, I'm going to try my best to be prudent and get out and stay out of debt!

Interesting Videos

I thought these videos were interesting. And I was wondering if anyone knew any scriptures to support these?

Christmas Presents Christmas Debt

One of my Husband's aunt and uncle invited us to Christmas Dinner this year and said that they would be exchanging gifts... MORE GIFTS!!!! I don't know what were gonna do! We already buy for close to 25 people, now we will be adding 7 more!!! This is just so out of control, we have cut back A LOT on Christmas this year because we just don't have the money. Our house burnt back in May and we finally just moved back in a little over a month and a half ago. I wish they just asked us to dinner.... Why did they have to add the "exchanging gifts" part?

Another reason for learning embroidery and crocheting would be for PRESENTS!!! If I knew these skills, then I could make all the women two crocheted dishcloths and an embroidered flour sack. Then I'd probably still feel guilty about not spending money on them. I feel guilty every year about not spending enough money on peoples gifts for Christmas. I get so stressed every year because of the financial burden of Christmas. We were finally out of the credit card debit, until Christmas arrived! As of right now, we only have put a little over a hundred dollars on our credit card. But, now we have 7 more people added to the list! I'm thinking of getting the females a $5 large glass jar candle at walmart. But what about the men? Any suggestions?

Do any of you have this many people to buy for? How do you make ends meet? What kind of presents do you get? This is our fourth year of buying this many gifts, and it seems like there are more people added to the family every year! We don't even buy for everyone that buys for us. We just can't afford it. It gets us into debt every year. The first year my husband and I were married, I was in high school and did not work and he made a GRAND TOTAL of $11,000 that year. That Christmas we ended up $2,000 in debt! We have cut back on Christmas every year since. Last year I had a limit of spending $15 on each person, and we still wrapped up the credit card debt. This year I set my limit at $10 per person, but I did pretty well this year and re-gifted and spent as little as $2 on some gifts. But we still didn't escape the credit debit! Hopefully next year we won't have to use the credit cards....

Busy Busy

I have been really busy these past two days! I stayed all day at the hospital yesterday with my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law's girlfriend. Thank you for your prayers and their doing okay. No broken bones, but they are still in a lot of pain. They were stopped at a red light and someone ran into the back of them and pushed them 300 feet. They got to leave the hospital about 9:30 last night. They could barely move they were in so much pain. My brother-in-law's girlfriend kept complaining of a feeling like something was catching in her back every time she took in a breath.

I stayed up til 2:30 am cleaning and cooking, since I was at the hospital all day yesterday. And I got up and finished the cooking for my husband's Company Christmas Party that we attended today. I am really tired! I feel like going to sleep, but I really need to straighten the house. And I was getting my things together to go to a sewing class with one of my aunts, but she just called and canceled with me. A member of her church passed away. The next class won't be until after Christmas, I can't wait to attend. I think it would be so much fun!

I can sew a little, but my skills are rusty. The last time I used my sewing machine was the night before my wedding. I made both my maid of honor's dress and the flower girl's dress. I made the maid of honor dress about 3-4 months before the wedding, but ended up waiting till the very last minute, literally lol, to make the flower girl dress. And haven't used my sewing machine since. Sewing is a skill I'd like to sharpen and use at least a couple times a week. I would also like to learn embroidery and crocheting. My Great Granny has tried to teach me to crochet a few times, but she doesn't have the patience to teach! lol She always got too frustrated and would give up in only a couple of minutes. I wish I knew someone else who could crochet.

Please Pray

Just got a call that my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law's girlfriend got into a car wreck. We don't know anything yet, please pray for them. My husband is leaving work right now to come and get me, so we can go to the hospital. I will update you when I return home. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

True Prophet? False Prophet?

Has anyone ever heard of the book '2008 - God's Final Witness'? Or its author Ronald Weinland? Its a free book. I'm thinking about getting it... But I don't want to perhaps be led astray by a false prophet. He also has another book called 'The Prophesied End-Time'. Here is the site for the free books:

http://www.the-end.com/

Christmas

So far I have read:

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/vital/xmas.html

http://www.biblicalagrarianism.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1033

http://www.fpcr.org/blue_banner_articles/xmas5.htm

And Christmas is not Christian. I don't want to celebrate Christmas anymore. Christmas is mixing pagan celebrations with honoring Christ, which God does not like.

The Book of Deuteronomy

Chapter 12

29	When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
30	Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
31	Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
32	What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Interpretation from www.biblicalagrarianism.com
Deut. 12:29-32 -- God warned His people Israel to destroy all vestiges of pagan worship that they found in the "Promised Land." Not only did God want to prevent His people from being enticed to worship false gods, but He also specifically revealed that He did not want His people to worship Him in the same manner in which the heathen worshiped their gods. We know, therefore, that our Lord is displeased by practices which profess to honor Him, but which are copied from the tradition of false religions. The command here was to worship God only in His way, i.e., do only what God commands -- not adding to God's commands nor taking away from them. Therefore, is not "putting Christ back into Christmas," worshiping "the Lord your God their way"? Is there any command in the Bible to give special reverence to the Scriptural account of Christ's birth more so than to any other Scripture, let alone even a suggestion to celebrate or commemorate His birth in any way whatsoever? God never intended for His people to be imitators of the pagan customs of the world, but has called us to be separate and set apart.

My Dilemma

Now that I have a little knowledge about what Christmas really is, I have a dilemma on my hands. Christmas is only a week away and I have my Husband's Company Christmas Party to cook for tomorrow. I have already bought presents for my and my husband's family and have most of them wrapped, and I'm sure they have already bought presents for my husband and I. I don't want to dishonor the Lord by celebrating Christmas, what am I to do? I know once I speak of this to my family they will think I have gone mad! I'll most likely celebrate Christmas this year and be asking Gods forgiveness the entire time, now that I know it displeases him. This really makes me feel and sound like a hypocrite, but what should I do on such short notice? But I'm thinking about writing a letter about my decision to not celebrate Christmas, including my reasons why with Bible Verses to back them up and printing out information on the subject. And sending this letter and information to my family and friends early next year, so that they will have plenty of notice of my plans for next year. Then sending out the same letter and information again latter in the year, when it is getting closer to Christmas time again, so it will be a reminder to them. I hope I will be able to stand firm on this subject with my family. I know it will be a battle with them. Just as staying home and being a homemaker has been a tedious battle with my fathers side of the family. They don't approve. They think I should have a career, so I can buy nice expensive things. I like keeping my home and making due with what I have. I don't have to have nice things to be satisfied. Please pray for me in this Christmas decision.



**Note: The second link mentioned above is not working at the moment, I don't know if it will be restored back to working order or not. If you want the information just leave a comment saying so and I will be happy to send it to you.**

**Update: December 23, 2008 The second link is now working.**

Randomness

• I've been thinking about going dresses only for about a year now. I'm still undecided.
  
• Tonight we had a cold dinner. Tuna Sandwiches and Salad with Ranch Dressing. Very Yummy!
  
• I've been reading on several blogs and websites, that Christmas may not be Christian. I must do some research and check into this!
• I've Wrapped a lot of presents today!!! I'm tired of wrapping! Lol
• My Dad is supposed to come help me put some paneling up in the morning.
• I haven't decorated for Christmas yet. If my living room gets finished by Christmas, then I'll decorate.
• I must cook for my Husband's Company Christmas Party. He asked me to make Potato Chip Chicken Casserole. They usually throw a Big party and give away like a hundred presents, nice presents like several large flat panel TVs, Wii Game consoles, $100 gift cards for different places. They usually have it catered and rent a fancy building. But this year they canceled the building and the catering, they have laid off employees, and cut some peoples pay, because of the economy situation. So this year everyone is bringing food and just getting together.
• I wish I could just sit down and read the whole Bible in one night, I want all that knowledge! I want to know everything about living for Christ! My Journey seems to be going so slow, and I feel like I know nothing!
  
• I've been reading my Bible very regularly since August. I try to read it everyday, but some days it just slips my mind.
• I haven't been to a church in about 2 years. But I do try to study and discuss the Bible with other Christians.
• I've been thinking about getting back into church a lot here lately. I've been thinking about visiting a church that my aunt Lorrie and her husband Danny missions at. I've also been thinking of attending my Uncle Leslie's Church.
• My Uncle Leslie married my Husband and I.
• Just some randomness...... lol
  

The Love Dare

Have you watched the movie Fireproof? I haven't, but I would love to. But anyway, they use the book 'The Love Dare' in the movie to get their marriage back on track. I saw this book at Walmart about three weeks ago and purchased it for my husband. I was originally going to give it to him as a Christmas present. But about a week ago, I read the first several pages and thought, "Wow! This book would make me a better wife, if I followed its recommendations." Just about everyone I know thinks I do too much for my husband, but I don't! I know, I was created to be his helpmeat, and I want to be the very best wife possible to him. I've been reading and completing the dares in 'The Love Dare' for about a week now. This book is awesome! It makes me feel more helpful and considerate towards my husband and its made a huge difference in him too! He doesn't even know that I have the book.

Between his time at work and his hobbies, we rarely spent much time together. But since day one, of completing the dares, I feel like he has completly turned around! He has been so sweet and nice this past week, and sweetness hasn't been a quaility that hes possesed since we were dating. lol He is just so thoughtful of me now. And he tries to find every single moment to spend with me that he possibly can! He has cut back on his hobby time a great deal! He spent all day with me Saturday and Sunday! From the moment he awoke, until the moment we went to sleep!

This book, 'The Love Dare' has tremedously changed my life for the better in just one week of use. I can't wait to see what our lives are like afer I complete the full 40 days! This book has made me a better wife and has made my husband a better husband. And the funny thing is, he doesn't even know about this book! lol

Fisher Price

Would you support this company? I sure wouldn't!!!!

Something Sweet...

...that I did for my Husband today. If you can't read the note, the image is larger when clicked.

Lunch

I've been sipping on fresh carrot, apple, and ginger juice for about an hour now. Its not as bad as the carrot and green pepper juice, but I wouldn't call it good either. lol I still have a half glass to go, I'll probably be sipping on it for another hour.

My breakfast juice is supposed to clear the skin and prevent break outs.
It contains:

• 6 Carrots
• 1/2 Green Pepper

My lunch juice is supposed to be good for colds, nausea, and contributes to good skin elasticity.
It contains:

• 5 Carrots
• 1 Apple
• 1/2 inch Knob of Ginger Root

Breakfast

I'm sitting here this morning drinking fresh carrot and green pepper juice. It tastes pretty nasty, but it is supposed to be extremely healthy! So, I'm gonna try it! Just thought I'd share....

Gardasil

Almost a year ago, at my last pap smear, my doctor tried to force Gardasil on me. I said, "No, this is brand new and I'm not taking anything that hasn't been around long enough to know what it does to your health." And he still tried to force it upon me. Now I know why, The whole series of vaccinations cost a total of $900!!!!! The most expensive vaccine on the market today! I'm against vaccinations, I have seen what they can do! I have a younger cousin that was a perfectly normal child, at his 18 month vaccination he turned for the worst! He could talk, he could walk, he was a smart little child! But now he is 14, he had to relearn to walk, he is still unable to talk or communicate, and shortly after his 18 month vaccination was diagnosed with Autisim. He has to have constant care and a very special diet. I'm glad I didn't let my doctor force Gardasil upon me. My best friend took the first shot and one week later had a miscarriage. I suggest everyone do their research before they put anything harmful and toxic into their bodies.

Bad Couple of Days

It seems like when one thing goes wrong, everything else follows!

Yesterday

• First thing yesterday morning, Puppy got Hubby's Wedding Ring off the night stand and dropped it down our gas floor furnace. Still haven't found it.
• We were excited, Yay! We got the check for the rest of our insurance money, now we can finish the house!!! But now we are bummed because we can't get the check signed and cashed because our loan was sold:( Now we have to start all back over and have our insurance agent send a new check made out to us and our new mortgage company. And we'll probably get the money sometime within the next two months:( Our poor House!!! Its sad that our mortgage company would sell our loan right in the middle of an insurance claim, as if things wasn't already hard enough.....
• I went to the store for one item, came back with over $50 worth of stuff.....
• Vacuum Cleaner started making a weird noise, I hope it doesn't tear up any time soon.
• I got a terrible headache that lasted for hours.
  

Today

• Some how I cut my foot, don't know how but it hurts....
• Puppy busted my bottom lip on accident, he head butted me... lol
• I feel so lazy today, I haven't gotten anything done:(

Hopefully tomorrow will be better! If it isn't I'll just have to pretend it is! Sorry about my whinny blog today.... I'm gonna go read some from my bible and try to get a few things done.

Celebrating

I didn't have much time to blog today. Hubby and I went out to eat and to the movies and spent lots of time together. We were celebrating the day we officially started dating so many years ago. I call it our dating anniversary and he says its not really an anniversary, lol. We have been celebrating this day every year for as long as we have been together, and will continue to. He laughs every time I say, "officially started dating." Lol.

Here is the story behind, "Officially Dating." Its quite a short story, and not really a story, but here it is, lol. We saw each other quite often for about five or so months before we officially started dating. I would stop by his place of employment and he'd take his break and spend it with me. He would come by my school after classes and hang out with me. We would meet somewhere and spend some time together. But he had never asked me out. One day, when I stopped by his work I overheard him tell some of his buddies his girlfriend was here. He walked over to the car and I asked him why he said his girlfriend was there. He didn't answer, he just smiled. I said, "I'm not your girlfriend, you've never asked me out." A couple weeks past and we went out to do some Christmas shopping. After we were through, it was late and the stores were closing. Out on the side walk, he stopped me, took my hands, looked at me with such a serious face, and asked me to go with him. I smiled at him and said Yes! I've been waiting forever! Lol. And that was December 6, so many wonderful years ago!

Lifestyle Changes

I have been reading a lot of information from www.mercola.com recently. I was wanting to try his nutrition plan. So the past week I have been trying to implement some of his advice. In phase one of his nutrition plan you are supposed to cut back or totally eliminate grains and sugars if you are over weight or have certain health problems such as high blood pressure. He also suggests organic and free-range foods.

This past week I bought my eggs from a local farmer. But as I kept reading articles on www.mercola.com I keep questioning myself if this was a good step in the right direction or not? Was the chickens that laid the eggs free-range chickens? Or where they pinned up in cages? Were they grass-fed? Or were they fed grains? I don't know, but I sure hope they were healthier than store bought eggs.

I have also been trying to cut back on my grain and sugar intake. This wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. One example, I wrapped my burger in lettuce instead of putting it on a bun.I'm not going to completely eliminate grains and sugars from my diet, I'm just not going to eat them everyday.

I've also been taking one tablespoon of coconut oil daily. Coconut oil is a really healthy oil. You can use it instead of all other cooking oils, lard and butter. You can use it on your skin. And it has tons of health benefits, you can google it and find out for yourselves!

I'm also trying to incorporate more fresh veggies into my diet. I would love to buy organic but it just won't fit our budget right now. At our local stores, organic costs double or more than regular produce. And the meat is about quadruple. Hopefully we'll be able to afford it in the near future, God willing. But even if we could, I don't know if I would be willing to pay that much.

Recipe

My mother called Tuesday, she said she was stopping by and asked me to make her something good to eat that wasn't fattening. She has always been quite fond of my cooking. So I went into my kitchen to see what I could find. I have a talent for throwing together whatever I may have on hand and it tasting wonderful. So we'll call my new culinary creation Easy Chicken Soup. Here it is, Enjoy!


Easy Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

• 64 ounces chicken broth
• 1/2 pound chicken (cut into cubes/chunks)
• 1 head of broccoli(chopped)
• 1/3 head of cauliflower(chopped)
• 1 bundle celery harts (chopped)
• 2 onions (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• salt to taste

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, except salt, in a large pot. Bring to a boil, boil for thirty minutes, stirring occasionally. Salt to taste. Enjoy!

**Note: Excuse my culinary vocabulary, I don't have one. Lol. For instance: 1 bundle of celery harts. I don't know what the correct term would be, probably not 'bundle', but I described it to the best of my ability.**

Great Sleep

My sleep isn't back to the norm, its BETTER THAT EVER! Thanks to my Heavenly Father who blesses us with more than we ask. I was just wanting to get my days and nights fixed, but he blessed me by getting me to sleep earlier and getting up early. The past couple nights I have been going to bed at 8:00 pm. Now that I get up early I can clean, cook, and tidy all before my husband gets out of bed! Yesterday morning I even managed grocery shopping and going to City Utilities all before my husband awoke! I know going to bed at 8:00 pm sounds a little too early to most, but it works great for me! I feel so good and rested, better than I've felt in a long time! Thank you Traci for your suggestion! And thank you God for answering prayers!