Laundry Cabinet

I caught the organizational bug this morning! I decided to clean out and reorganize my Laundry room cabinets. Here they are before I got started. I also decluttered the dyer too.


Here is the inside, everything is just thrown in. I have painting supplies in one of those grocery bags and screws, washers, bolts, and nuts in the other. It was a very feeble attempt to be organized and have like things together... lol

First, I took everything out of the cabinet, threw away the trash, empty cans, and product packaging. For some reason I always think I need to keep every little package that a product comes with, this only leads to more clutter! I definitely will be working on getting rid of that habit!

Then I sprayed down the entire cabinet with some homemade spray cleaner. I wiped down the top, it was the dirtiest, I had to get a clean towel to use on the rest of the cabinet. Then wiped down the insides, sides, and bottom of the cabinet. I should of taken a pic of this step, didn't think about it. I only took before and after photos.


Then I put everything back inside, I put cleaning supplies on the left and painting supplies on the right. I also have my dishcloths and dish towels in there.... Did you notice I didn't use plastic grocery bags to organize this time? lol


This is the right cabinet with all my paints, wallpaper remover, painting supplies, screws, washers, bolts, and nuts, and I can't forget the dish towels.


Here is the left cabinet. It houses my vacuum bags, swiffer things, cleaning towels, carpet cleaner, fabric softener, dryer sheets, homemade spray cleaner, and my dishcloths.


And here is a picture without the dishcloths and dish towels. I really need to find them a new home, cause the cabinet looks a whole lot better and is more functional without them!

Spiritual Gifts

We have been studying Spiritual Gifts this past month at Discipleship Training. I took a test today, to discover what my Spiritual Gift(s) might be, and I thought I'd share.

On the test I took there where 22 possible Spiritual Gifts. You could score anywhere from 0 to 20. With your highest score or scores being your Spiritual Gift or Gifts. My highest score was a 16 and I scored a 16 on three different Spiritual Gifts: Prophet, Craftsmanship, and Missionary.

Here are the definitions of each.

Prophet
It is the special gift whereby the Spirit empowers certain Christians to interpret and apply God's revelation in a given situation.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 1 Corinthians 14:30-33, 1 Corinthians 14:37-40

Craftsmanship
Its is the special gift whereby the Spirit endows certain Christians to use hands and minds to build up the Kingdom through artistic, creative means.
Exodus 28: 3-4

Missionary
It is the special gift given by the Holy Spirit to certain members of the body of Christ to minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have in a second culture or second community.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23

As my pastor said, "We are supposed to be in prayer for God to show us our Spiritual Gifts. This test was just a guide line, not God's Line."

I can really see how the gift of Prophecy relates to me, because I have a great desire to study God's Word and determine right from wrong, God's Will, and how we are supposed to live our daily lives for God. As for the other two, I'm not so sure right now. Especially the gift of a Missionary. I've always dreamed of traveling the world, and I could really see myself taking in orphans in another country, but I wouldn't be able to go alone. I would be so home sick that it would make me emotionally and physically sick. If my Husband and animals went with me, that would be a whole different story! I would be totally fine, and probably have the time of my life serving God. My Husband hasn't yet taken the test. So, we're not for sure what his Spiritual Gifts are. But we're both pretty sure that Music would be one of them, probably his most prominent! So, we'll see how these gifts turn out.

February

Wow! I can't believe February is already here! One whole month has already passed in this new year! And I still haven't posted any of my goals, I do have them wrote down though.

My Hubby and I just had a funny little conversation. I asked him if he had wrote down any new years goals. He said no, did you? I said I have about two whole pages worth, and we both started laughing. He said I haven't wrote any down but I have them in my head. I asked what they were. He replied, Get my rear motorcycle tire put on, get a raise, get a power commander. A power commander I asked? He said it was something for his motorcycle. We were laughing the whole time.

His goals and my goals are completely different! For instance, I don't consider his goals, goals at all.... I would compare his goals to getting the oil changed in the car, or getting new tires put on. I consider those things necessities. And for the power commander, I'd consider that a want, or something he can just go out and buy.

My goals can be classified in about three different groups. Read... Learn to.... Start doing this..... I did make myself a forth group called Spiritual, but the things under this could also be classified under the other three groups also.

What do you all consider to be goals?

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!!!

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!