Another Opportunity for Hospitality

Showing hospitality has really been heavy on my heart for the past month. I have always wanted to be hospitable and have thought about it for a long time. But negative thoughts always crept in. I thought, I can't keep my house clean enough, maybe if I didn't have all these animals, or I don't have enough money to be hospitable. But all of these things were just lies that I let myself believe. The Lord is showing me his truths and is giving me plenty of opportunities to show hospitality. My Husband's boss stayed with us again last night, we had a joyful time and it was a blessing to have him over.

Showing Hospitality

I felt lazy all day and wasn't in the mood for cleaning, or much of anything. Then I got a call from my husband, thirty minutes before he was supposed to arrive home. He said his boss was coming to stay with us. Let me tell you, I got my house spic and span in record time! All it took was 20 minutes! I was running through the house picking things up and putting them away, rinsed the dishes and got them going in the dishwasher, got a load of laundry in the wash, wiped down the sink, counter tops, stove, microwave in the kitchen, wiped down the counters, sink, mirror, toilet, scrubbed the inside of the toilet in the bath room, and vacuumed all the carpets. I was literally running around doing all of this, with a rush of energy that I got from stressing, "I can't let anyone see my house in this mess!" I have never cleaned so fast in my life!

I really need to get back to my routines! Then I wouldn't be so stressed when I get unexpected company! Stressing over a dirty house doesn't help you to be hospitable, it makes you avoid people! Being more hospitable is something I'd really like to work on, and I think if I could keep my house clean, it'd be much easier.

And the Winner of the Chili Cook Off is.....

....not me! lol But thats okay. I got a sweet comment from my Husband that made me just as Happy! He said, "I think you should have won! Yours was the Best!" My mom overheard him say this and she just oooooed and awwwwed and said, " Aww, that was so sweet."

So I just thought I'd share that with you! At least my Husband loves my cooking! Hes the only one that really maters!

P.S. I kind of thought I'd win, cause I cook for his company a LOT, and I always get requests for my recipes, especially my chili! Oh well, there always the next one to look forward to!

Chili

I got up early this morning and cooked chili. They are having a chili cook off at my husbands work place today. This is the first time I entered, my Husband asked me to! They even have judges, judging the chili! They should be judging it anytime now! I should have took pictures! lol I'll let you know how it goes!

The Possibilities of Life

This video is truly AMAZING! Why can't he understand were HE came from?

Fight the Freedom of Choice Act!

We need to stop the Freedom of Choice Act!
Personally, I don't believe in abortion Murder!

Just Thought I'd Share......

I have found that spending time with the Lord first thing in the morning makes a GREAT difference. Yesterday, I neglected to do so. I didn't get very much at all accomplished and felt sluggish all day. This morning I spent an hour in Prayer and The Word, I have so much energy and fell like I can accomplish anything! I have already got a lot accomplished today, and its only 8 a.m. The days that I put time with the Lord FIRST, everything seems to go smoother! I love reading God's word, don't you?

Prayer for the Upcoming President

I got this email this morning, and I thought I'd share it with you all. We really need to be in prayer for our new president. The video referenced in the email is at the bottom of the post.

A Miracle at the Capitol Building
'Faith and Action'
Some doors only Heaven can open. That was the case yesterday when I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something that in my mind I knew could not be accomplished. When we notified the Capitol Hill police of our intentions they told us in
no uncertain terms we would be arrested for our actions. Yet, in obedience to what I knew to be a divine prompting, I proceeded, along with my colleague, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, to the Capitol Building and there experienced a miracle. It just so happened (as it so often does for people of faith), when we entered the Capitol complex we met Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia, in the hallway. Congressman Broun is a dynamic and unapologetic Christian. I told him what God had prompted me to do. He immediately agreed and joined me, along with Rev. Mahoney and our chief of staff, Peggy Birchfield, as together we held a prayer service inside the US Capitol that included anointing the doorway President-Elect Barack Obama will pass through on his way to the platform to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20th. To see this brief but powerful prayer and anointing service, please click here 'Faith and Action'. Anointing with oil is a rich tradition both in the Bible and in the history of the US Capitol. Oil symbolizes consecration, or setting something apart for God's use. George Washington used oil during the dedication of the US Capitol. We used the oil to set apart the walkway and doors that will be the literal right-of-passage for Barack Obama as he ascends to the highest office in our land. Bear in mind this is one of the most cordoned off and highly secured sites in America. It is virtually inaccessible. Yet, there we were, holding a consecration service in obedience to God - the very thing He had placed in my heart. Rep. Broun delivered a short sermon-like talk on the need to obey God and His will, and for the future president to do what is right. I read Bible passages and applied sacred oil to the doorposts of the arched doorway leading out of the Capitol and onto the inaugural stage, immediately in front of the riser where Obama will stand with Chief Justice John Roberts who will administer the Oath of Office. Rev. Mahoney read a powerful inaugural prayer by Dr. Billy Graham, delivered 40 years ago. Congressman Broun referred to the location of the prayer service as "the doorway that (President-Elect Obama) will enter through to start of his presidency." That doorway has now been consecrated and anointed for the purposes of God. You and your friends, family, and fellow church members can now join us in prayer for our nation and the transition to a new administration by simply watching the video and praying with us. The more people who watch this video, the more powerful it becomes. That's why we also need you to forward it on to as many people as possible. If Christians across the nation will join together in prayer, I know God will "hear from Heaven and heal our land." Please watch this amazing video yourself by clicking here 'Faith and Action' and then forward it on to your family, friends, and fellow church members so together we can raise our voices to God on behalf of our nation in an act of repentance and dedication.

Your missionary to our nation's leaders,

Rob Schenck

Bread Sticks

I visited my friend Jenna's Blog today and saw that she had made some yummy looking bread sticks, so I went and got the recipe at 'Aspiring Homemaker'. I didn't have all the ingredients that were needed, so I changed the recipe a bit. I also cut the recipe in half since they have such large families, and its just my Husband and I here. I probably should have cut the recipe to 1/4th the original, because it is so filling! I also made some garlic butter for dipping. Here's my adjusted recipe.

Bread Sticks

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups of Self Rising Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Stick of Butter
• 1 Cup of Water

Melt the butter on the stove top and mix all the ingredients together. If it is still a bit floury and hasn't mixed very well, knead it for a couple minutes. Then divide the dough into six equal parts and roll them between your palms until they are long and skinny, and then braid them into two separate large pieces. Bake them in the oven at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Garlic Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Stick of butter
• Dash of Garlic Powder

Melt butter on stove top and mix in garlic.

These Bread Sticks and the Garlic Dipping Sauce tasted absolutely Wonderful! I could have made it healthier by using wheat flour instead of white, but I didn't have any on hand. I also didn't have the yeast or oil, that the original recipe called for.

Thank You

I just wanted to make a quick post, to thank you all for you prayer, comments, and encouragement. I have been praying a lot the last few days and I have peace now. Their having her funeral in North Carolina, they had her out last night, are having her out today, and burying her tomorrow. I haven't went down there, and I'm not going to get to. But thats okay, because I have peace now.

I haven't blogged in the last few days, because I've been pretty sick. Queasy, upset stomach, nausea, so sick that I lost six pounds the first two days... I feel much better so far today, but I've had a pretty bad headache all morning. I've been up since 5:30 a.m. and the water is froze off, I hope it comes back on soon, I have been wanting to take a shower all morning! I think it'd make me feel a bit better too.

We Desperately Need Prayer

Tonight has been pretty rough for me. I got so sick all of a sudden. I thought I was going to throw up because I was in so much pain, and I felt like I was going to pass out. I was scared and thought I was going to die. All I could do was pray. I called my mom at 1:27 a.m. and asked her to pray for me. And my step dad was on another phone with his brother-in-law. Within a minute of me calling I heard him screaming, "No Jimmy, No! Don't tell me that! No, No, No!" I knew what had happened. His sister Diane died, she died right then, while I was on the phone asking for prayer. I just started crying and praying. I felt so guilty, cause I don't think I prayed for her salvation while she was alive and maybe if I had started praying just a minute sooner, maybe she would still be alive. I started praying for her salvation right then, asking the Lord to have let her been saved and if she hadn't, to give her another chance. I told my mom to pray for her, she said its too late now. My mom told me that she had got saved not too long ago, when she was in the hospital sick. But for some reason, this didn't comfort me. It was just the way she said it, she sounded so doubtful. And my mind has been bombarded with thoughts of hell every since. And I have prayed and prayed and prayed. I have prayed for the salvation of every family member that I can think of, and that they would have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I just don't know what I should be doing in this situation. I feel so helpless and guilty.

I just now remembered reading the book '90 minutes in Heaven'. That man was dead for 90 minutes and someone prayed for him, and God gave him his life back. I wish I would have remembered that while I was talking to my mom.

But please remember my family in your prayers. Especially my step dad, Chester. He lost his parents pretty early in life, right around the age of 20. And he has lost three siblings now, they were fairly young too. His first loss was a sister, seven months old. Then he lost his only brother a few years ago, he was 44. And now he has lost sister Diane, his very best friend, she was also 44. And all three of his siblings have died of pneumonia. He is blaming her husband for her death, cause he told him to take her to the hospital yesterday. But Diane said, she'd just wait until tomorrow because she already had a doctor's appointment. He is also blaming himself. He just helped them move to North Carolina right before Christmas. And he thinks things would have been different if they had stayed here. All this blame isn't helping anyone. Please pray for him. He has one sister left, her name is Kim, they never talk. But I'm sure all of this will bring them closer together.

Please pray that God will let me be a light to my family. And that he will help me witness to them.

Thank you all so much! We desperately need prayer right now.

The Power of Prayer

I just wanted to share something I read last week. I was gonna post it then, but didn't when I found out my friend was pregnant. I wanted to focus on her when she shared her news. But here it is, I read it the night before she found out. I was hoping for my own miracle, but I'm glad she got hers.

Heaven's Healing page 41
"In the October 2001 issue of Journal of Reproductive Health‚ researchers at Columbia University – expressing great surprise at their own profound findings – announced that when complete strangers prayed for women who went to a fertility clinic‚ the women had twice the pregnancy rate as women for whom prayers were not offered."

Five Days Left!

I just wanted to remind everyone that Jenna over at 'My Strength and Song' is giving away this BEAUTIFUL apron! She has rules for you to enter the drawing, and she is going to be drawing a winner on January 15! So go on over and visit her blog! There is only 5 days left until she draws the winning name!

Finally....

I got to go to the sewing class, that I have been trying to attend for the past month. They have the sewing classes on Wednesdays and Fridays at a community center close to where my Aunt Lorrie lives. But if someone else wants to rent the community center for birthday parties, etc. on a sewing day, they just cancel the sewing class. That has been mostly the cause for the reason that I hadn't been able to attend this past month. The class got canceled because of parties and once because of the death of a church member of the sewing teacher and my Aunt also knew this person. And I can't attend on Wednesdays because its either Church or the Sewing Class. And I don't want to put the Sewing Class before God. If I lived closer I might be able to do both. But I have to drive an hour to the Church that I have been attending. And the Sewing Class is about forty minutes away.

I got started making a really cute apron, didn't get very far... She said that she'd teach me how to read a pattern the next time I came back. Hopefully I won't be waiting another month... lol

But I can make things on my own without reading a pattern, I want to attend the class just so I can learn to read a pattern and make more stuff! lol So I went and bought some fabric and I plan on making some simple aprons on my own without a pattern, for a little practice before the next class. I think there are parties booked for the next two Fridays. The teacher mentioned that she might be able to meet with a couple people on some Satudays, we'll see if that turns out.

Giveaway at A Joyful Handmaiden!

This lovely tote is being given away at 'A Joyful Handmaiden'! You should stop by and enter to win!

Facing the Giants

I just got through watching Facing the Giants with my Husband! It was wonderful! I cried all the way through it! In the beginning of the movie when Brooke was looking at her negative pregnancy test I told my Husband, "Thats how I feel." I feel that my situation is almost exactly the same as Brooke's in the movie. I had no idea that this movie had anything to do with having Children. I thought it was just about football!

I believe God wanted me to watch this movie! It all started when I made the post 'Christian Birthday Gift Ideas'. Jenna suggested getting my brother the movie Facing the Giants. And not even 15 minutes later my aunt called and suggested Facing the Giants! My aunt doesn't read my blog. I took this as a sign from God that I should get my brother the movie Facing the Giants. So, off I went to Walmart to find it. I searched the store high and low and couldn't find it. I went and asked an employee if they had it. They said they didn't know if they still had it or not, but if they did, it would be in the $5 movies at the front of the store. So I made my way back to the front of the store and searched and searched and even had my Husband helping me. They didn't have the movie. Three days later my aunt called me and invited me to her church for a night watches service and said that they would be showing Facing the Giants! I was convinced now that this truly was a sign from God, read my post entitled, 'Signs from God?'. I ended up not watching the movie at the Church, read the comments from 'Church'. I believe this was all for a purpose. I first thought this movie was meant for my brother, but all along it was God bringing this movie to my attention. I believe God wanted me to wait and see this movie with my Husband!

Like I said at the beginning of the post, I had no idea that this movie had anything to do with having children. And just an hour before watching I posted this comment on one of my previous posts.

"My husband and I have been married almost 4 years now, and nothing yet. I've been praying for children since before we got married, the whole time we were dating, and probably before we ever started dating(Can't remember for sure). I was thinking about seeing a doctor on our 4 year anniversary...

Last night, when we went to bed, I asked my husband if we could adopt if we weren't able to have kids. He said of course! He sounded kind of excited about adoption. Then I asked if we could start the adoption process around our 5th anniversary if we hadn't had kids yet. And he said he thinks we should wait.

Our little conversation gave me hope, joy, and peace. It has brought me tears of joy. And then I started thinking, I'd love to adopt even if I had children of my own."

I will still PRAISE and LOVE GOD, no matter if he gives me children or not. But yet, I will still remember that All things are POSSIBLE with God!

A Little Problem....

I told my friend when she moves back she should go to church with me. Since I have been going to a church that is almost an hour away, I figured that she probably wouldn't want to drive that far. So I told her she could ride with me! Not a big deal, right?

Wrong! I was so excited that she was interested in going to church that I completely forgot everything else! I forgot that I only have a little tiny 2 door car and that the passenger's side door is broke off and permanently closed(until we buy a new door, which we can't afford right now) and that you have to crawl over the console to get to the passenger's side. I forgot that she is six foot tall and pregnant. So I'm sure this would be an almost impossible task for her.

Its all I have been thinking about since I woke up this morning! I've been trying to come up with words all day to try to explain my thoughtlessness. My only problem with telling her is that she'll suggest that she can drive my car. My Husband wouldn't like that at all, and I don't like that idea either. My mother-in-law drove my car once, and that will never happen again.....

How do I nicely tell her this and tell her that my Husband and I don't like other people to drive our car? It is the only car we have right now, and my Husband has to have it daily to get back and forth to work. Is this selfish?

This does remind me of something that happened once before, last January. I was working at the time. There was this girl at work that would borrow my cell phone and take it with her on her lunch break. She'd talk on it between 1-2 hours every time that we worked the same days. Well, I had just got a brand new cell phone. My Husband dared me to let her use it. But I am so kind, and can't say no. I left my phone in my car, in the glove box, the day that I'd knew I was working with her. Her lunch came, she asked me if she could use my phone. I said I didn't have it. She asked where it was. And guess what! I can't lie either! I told her I had left it in the car. She begged me to go get it, so I did. She was standing there holding my cell phone in its case upside down. Before words could come out of my mouth, it slipped out of the case and hit the concrete floor. She broke it, my brand new cell phone. She didn't say sorry. She said, "I hope it still works when you put it back together, cause I can't afford to replace it."

I had to order a new one! And I went a whole month without a phone, waiting on the new one to arrive. Have you ever heard of Cell Withdraw? lol The new one finally arrived! And Guess What! She asked to use it, after all that! I just stood there in disbelief holding my phone starring at her. She asked, "You don't want me to use your phone?" And I stuttered a little no! lol I was almost shaking. Saying no is so hard for me.

Pregnancy

My Best Friend just called and told me she was Pregnant! Isn't that wonderful! I'm so glad that she is moving back at the end of this month. I can't wait to spend this special time of her life with her. But I know she probably would rather spend this time of her life with her husband.

She had a previous pregnancy last year that ended in a miscarriage and she is very scared. So please keep her in your prayers.

Scarf

I was supposed to post pictures of the scarf I made almost a week ago! I'm so sorry for the delay! This morning I made a baby washcloth and I'm currently working on a baby towel to match! I don't know who I'm going to bless these two items with yet, I have two people in mind. I'll just have to wait and see!

Awards

Jenna over at 'My Strength and Song' gave me two blog awards!
Thank you so much Jenna, you are such a wonderful friend!

With the Lemonade award,
you are supposed to give it to 10 others who show
attitude (the good kind!) or gratitude.

(Sorry, But I'm only gonna pick two! Please do not be offended!)

1. Traci from 'Living the Good Life'
2. Karen from 'Karen's Catholic Journal'
   and 'Daily Catholic Devotionals'
   

With the Kreativ award,
you have to list 6 things that you are Thankful for,
and then award the blog to 6 other people.

Six things that I am Thankful for:

1. My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
2. My Wonderful Husband
3. My Animals
4. My Dear Friend Jenna over at 'My Strength and Song'
5. My Wonderful New Church Home
6. All my Family and Friends

(Sorry, But I'm only gonna pick two! Please do not be offended!)

1. Traci from 'Living the Good Life'
2. Karen from 'Karen's Catholic Journal'
   and 'Daily Catholic Devotionals'

Thank you to all of my wonderful online friends!
And thanks to everyone that reads my blog!
I love hearing from you,
comment any time you wish!

Yesterday....

I got to spend yesterday with my Best Friend Amber! We had a great time! We talked for hours, we went and ate at Gatti Land, and went to Walmart. She had some great news for me! She will be moving back at the end of this month! Yay! I'm so excited! But the reason why is kinda sad, her husband will be deploying to Afghanistan, this will be his third deployment. I know she will miss him.

I'm excited to finally get my best friend back!

Well, I better go get ready for church!

23 minutes in Hell

I read this book at the beginning of last year. Its a very good book, and I recommend it to all! Watch this video about 23 minutes in Hell, no one in their right mind would want to be in a place like this!

Apron Giveaway, Refer Me!

I would like to refer everyone that reads my Blog to go and enter to win a LOVELY apron made by Jenna over at 'My Strength and Song'. She is giving away this BEAUTIFUL apron! She has rules for you to enter the drawing, and she is going to be drawing a winner on January 15! So go on over and visit her blog! And don't forget to refer me, SaChay! Thank you all in advance!

Company

I've got Company coming over sometime within the next few days, I don't know when, but I'd like my house to look presentable. lol My Best Friend since sixth grade is coming over! Six months after we graduated high school she moved to Fayetteville NC to live with her husband. She got married on our Graduation Day, but her husband was stationed over seas, so she stayed here at home for the first six months of her marriage. I only got to see her twice last year(January and July), and only once in 2007(April). So, since I may only see her one or two days out of the year, I'd like my house to look nice. lol

My To Do List

• Bath Puppy and Cocoa.
• Wash/Put away all dishes. Rinse/Dry/Put away all pop cans(we recycle). Wipe down counter, stove, sink, and table. (I do this every time I cook, its easy. Sometimes the pop cans get a little out of control. lol)
  
• Wipe down bathroom sink, shower, and toilet.
  
• Wash, dry, put away all Laundry. (I do this just about daily, I keep it under control.)
  
• Tidy house.
• Organize Craft supplies. (As of right now there all over the house, I'm not for sure what to do with them. I need me a crafting area. Anyone got any ideas?)
• Take down and store what little Christmas decor I have up. lol
• Dust all furniture, including sofa and chair.
  
• Vacuum all floors.
• Mop all hard floors.
• Shampoo a spot on the carpet in the computer room.
• De clutter.
• Go through mail and pay bills.
  

Happy New Year

Maybe tomorrow I will post some of my goals for the new year!

Apron Giveaway!

Jenna over at 'My Strength and Song' is giving away this BEAUTIFUL apron! She has rules for you to enter the drawing, and she is going to be drawing a winner on January 15! So go on over and visit her blog!

Church

Just got Home from Church and I LOVED it!!! It was wonderful! Everyone was so nice! I talked to the preacher one on one for about an hour! He helped answer some of my questions and gave me some good advice! An old friend, that I thought I'd never see again goes to this Church!!! I believe I have found my New Church Home!!!