Another Finished Project!

A couple of years ago, my oldest son picked out about 20 fat quarters and had planned on making a quilt - a Turning Twenty's quilt . Then life got in the way and the fabric, in a bag, sat on a shelf for while. Then my son asked nicely if I would make the quilt for him.
There were a couple of the fabrics that I just did not think went with the others so I replaced those fat quarters. I began working on it. I finally finished it. My Mom quilted it for me and then it sat and waited for a while since my schedule got to very busy.

Then last week I finally decided it was time to finish this quilt. So I worked at it and on Sunday I finally finished sewing the binding on by hand. I washed it and then I hung it on the line so I could get a couple of photos of it - so I could share them with you all. I think it turned out quiet nice. I picked out the border fabric and the binding fabric as well. Yesterday I gave the quilt to my son. He was happy to have it and I am hoping that it will be a nice addition to his bedroom!

I love finishing projects. Now it is time to get my Block of the Month block made up. I will have BOM on Friday morning and I need to have that block done for sure by then. Usually I already have it made by this time - but with the way January has been - I am lucky to have finished the projects I have finished. :O)

One-fifth of the Way Done!

This week-end, I finished reading my current book - "Patriarchs and Prophets"

So as you can see from photo- I am 1/5th the way done with this great series of books. I know I have told you all several times already how very blessed I have been by this book - and I can not stress enough how much of a blessing it has been to me to read these books.

I have also already started reading "Prophet and Kings" and I am sure that I will continue to be blessed.

But before I move on to the next book in the "Conflict of the Ages" series - I have a quote that I would like to share with you:

"No stronger evidence can be given of Satan's delusive power than that many who are thus led by him deceive themselves with the belief that they are in the service of God." PP 635

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

This week-end I also finished another project and I will be posting about it - probably tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great day! :o)

I'm Back!

Well I am back to my normal schedule. The schedule that I enjoy much more than the super early hours I was having to be up. During the last 3 - 4 weeks I have no had the chance to keep up with every one's blogs like I would have liked to. I am hoping to be able to get back to being able to somewhat keep up with them again. We will see.

I am so glad to be back to my schedule. I had built up a list of things that I needed/wanted to do - that I had to put off because I did not have time or energy.

One of the best things about getting back to my schedule is that I am able to spend my quiet time- not very long after I wake up. I have to feed cats or the will harass me. lol And if it is light - I usually feed and let my chickens out. I drink my water with lemon and then it is usually my quiet time. I love this time of day. It is such a blessing to be able to spend time in God's word. I think it is important to spend time in God's word every day. This is a very important thing for us to be able to develop a closer relationship with Jesus. By beholding - we become changed. And what better to be changed into but into the image of Jesus!
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One of the things that I wanted to do was make bread - so yesterday - I was able to make up 2 loaves of bread. It felt so good to knead the bread. And it as wonderful to smell it as it cooked. And of course, it was fantastic as I enjoyed a couple of slices for supper and then a couple of slices again for breakfast. I love home made bread!! I got a new slow cooker cookbook today - I will be checking it out and then I will be sharing it with you all. I think it will be an asset to my collection of cookbooks. What I love so far about it is that it gives all sorts of important information about using slow cookers. Plus the recipes give a smaller or larger recipe - so you get to chose what size you would like to make. I will share more - by next week - if not sooner.

I do hope that you all are doing well. :O)

Where to Cast Your Burdens

"The burden which she could share with no earthly friend she cast upon God."

PP 570

The above quote is from the book I am still reading. I started reading it November 21st of last year. The book - "Patriarchs and Prophets." I have gotten such a blessing reading it.

This quote really struck a cord with me. I know what it feels like to carry a burden that you do not feel like you can share with anyone. And I am sure that there are some of you reading this that can totally relate.

This quote was in the chapter titled "The Child Samuel." Elkanah and Hannah his wife tried to have a child and it just was not happening. So because Elkanah wanted to perpetuate his name - he took another wife, Peninnah. She was jealous of Hannah and did not treat her well. And she began to have children. This was all very hard for Hannah to deal with. And so she took her burden to the Lord.

I think that Hannah is a very good example for us. When we have burdens that are so heavy and so painful that we do not feel that we can share with anyone, we need to cast those burden down at Jesus' feet.

If you want to read more of the story about Hannah and the blessing that she received you will find the story beginning in 1 Samuel 1. If you would like to read the chapter "The Child Samuel" that I read in Patriarchs and Prophets - click Here.

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalms 55:22

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

Of Excellent Movies...

On Tuesday, amid my super busy schedule, I had the opportunity to stop by Wal-Mart. I was thrilled because it was the very day that the new movie "Courageous" came out on DVD. Well since I have been so busy - did not get a chance to actually watch it for the first time till last night. Wow! What a blessing it was to watch! I absolutely love movies that uphold God's standards! There are way too many people trying to water down the truth- or simply ignore the truth - so it is so refreshing to see God's standards upheld. Anyway - if you have not seen this movie -or any of the other three movies that they have made: Flywheel, Facing the Giants, or Fireproof - it would be well worth your time to watch them. They have all blessed me in a special way and I hope they do the same for you. :O)

Do Everything

Saying Thank You

I think way too often we get to busy with our lives to let the people around us know how much we appreciate them. I think some times we get too self centered - just concerned with our own problems to to tell those around us, that help us Thank You.

The words "Thank You" are very important- not only to the person saying them but to the person hearing them. I know from experience. I guess it is the people pleaser in me - but this week I have struggled with something. I am a bit ashamed of it but I am going to share it -hoping it can help someone else.

You all know by now about the hours that I am having to work lately. It has been so hard on me. I think that if I was able to not only get to bed at a decent hour but have a quiet house and no interruptions - I would be handling it better. But my husband and son really do not want to go to bed at 8pm - so I have to go on to bed with everyone else awake. So I am usually disturbed at least a time or two per night and that makes it hard to get that really good, restful sleep.

Ok back to my point. So I have been struggling with not feeling appreciated. I have - actually my family and I have been going above and beyond trying to keep everything running smoothly at the store and the last couple of days I have felt as if it was not appreciated at all.

I had really felt unappreciated on Tuesday evening - when I was exhausted by about 7-7:30pm. And while I was getting ready for bed - God brought an awesome song to my mind- "Do Everything."

Well Wednesday I was on my way to work and I flipped around the stations that I like to listen to - and decided to stop at one of the stations. Well the very next song that came on was.......Yep! You guessed it! "Do Everything" It meant so very much to me - I knew that God had planned - not only that the song would be played but He knew that I would be leaving for work about 10 minutes later than I had been - and He planned it just right. I was so touched - that I cried.

Wednesday afternoon- my MIL who had been at the store doing bookwork (easing her self back into work slowly) was there and she was able to go home. And I was just blown away cause she said that she really appreciate what me and the boys were doing! Wow- this is very unusual for her. I told the boys later - because like they said she would not tell them. Well truthfully I was shocked she told me- she just is not really into telling people thank you and that she appreciate what they do for her - even though she has a lot of people that do for her.

To say the least - I was thrilled hearing these special words. And as I thought about it, I thought that it was probably a really good idea that I write a post about saying Thank You. I think that it is important not only to tell people who are doing you a favor or such Thank You, but we need to tell those people in our lives Thank You for the nice things that they do for us. Maybe it is things that they always do for us- but it is still very important for us to take the time to tell them how much we appreciate them.

It would be much better to err on the side of saying Thank You too often then not enough. That way those around you know how much you appreciate them and what they do. Plus it makes it SO much easier for them to continue to do what they do for you. I know that when I heard that my MIL appreciated me - it renewed my energy and helped me realize that I could make it through the next week or more that I will have to do this schedule. Just by her taking just a minute out of her time to say that she appreciated me.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Wild, Crazy Schedule

It is 7:39pm - and I am SO tired. I am waiting for my husband to get out of the shower then I am going to bed. This schedule is for the birds. Don't know how anyone does this long term. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks and it feels like forever. It does not help that today I found out that I will be doing it for at least one more week and the fact that my MIL is not hardly doing anything physical at the store tells me she probably won't be able to jump in and take over. It was disappointing to find out that I have another week of this schedule. Anyway I am trying to trust God is in control and that He will continue to give me the strength that I need to make it through this. But I am telling you it is sad that I am so tired that I want to go to bed now.
That is all I have tonight. Hoping that I will be back to some half way interesting posts soon and not just complaining about this wild, crazy schedule that I have. Hope you are all doing fine. :o)

Emotions on a Roller Coaster Ride

Friday was a bit of a roller coaster ride to my emotions. My Mother-in-law went in to have a procedure done. We had thought that they were going to just change out the pump and that she would have to go again next week to have the wound closed up. But Praise the Lord! The wound was healed enough for the Dr to close up the wound.

So you are thinking - I should be happy at this point - right? Well I was - in fact was thrilled. I knew she was getting tired of having to keep going in and having the thing changed out. And a couple of weeks ago - I was worried that it might not heal - ever. But I got too happy, I started thinking that there would be a good chance of her being back to work on Monday. Why would I think that? Because at the first of January she had procedure done on a Friday - she was SO stubborn that she was at work the next morning- even though the day would be covered. And had she stayed home- she would have had till Monday off. But no - she was at work. So I thought - well if she has the wound closed up - then she will probably be back to work on Monday. Yay! No more waking up at 3:30am!!!

Within an hour, when I talked to my husband, those hopes were dashed. She could not drive for a week. What a let down. That meant at least one more week of waking up way before the crack of dawn. She does not go back to see the Dr for 2 weeks so who knows - I could have to do it for 2 more weeks.

In situations like this, I am so thrilled to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Because I know that if He gives me jobs to do - He will give me the strength that I need.

On Friday, I shared the following verse:

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

I had said that I was claiming this verse. The day went much more smoothly than I had thought it would go. God gave me wisdom to deal with a few situations that I had been concerned about. I really need to learn to trust Him more. If He takes you to it - He will get you through it. Praise the Lord!

So I will continue to claim this verse as I go through this new week. And I will do my best to depend on His wisdom and strength in all that I face.

Sabbath Praise

Friday - Thank Goodness It's Friday!!

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.Isaiah 40:31

This a verse that I am claiming today. I just wish that I understood how I am to "wait upon the Lord"? The last week and a half I have been pushed outside of my comfort zone much more that I really like. Trying to figure out some problems -and I only see half of the picture. It is hard to step in and do other peoples jobs when they have not really allowed you to know much about what they do. So it is like walking in the dark - quick - I need some light.

Ok - I am off to work again. I am SO glad that it is getting close to the week-end. Oh and my MIL is having another proceedure done toay so I will find out later this afternoon what is going on - and at least have an idea of about how much longer I will be playing this role.

I hope you all are doing good. :O)

Long Day and Praying For You..

It has been the longest day. I am very tired. I just got home a little after 6pm. I left for work at 3:50am. And came home from 8:45am- 10:30am - and then had been outof the house till after 6pm. That is hard on this girl who really loves to be home. This having to be at work at 4am - will probably go on for at least one more week from now- maybe more. Let me tell you - I am looking forward to the week-end. Thankful for the week-ends.

By the way - I would like to let you all know that I appreciate you all praying for me earlier in the week when I requested prayers. Prayers are always appreciated. I really think that is something that we need to be doing more of - praying- lifting each other up in prayer. So I would like to let you all know if there is anything that I could pray for you about - just let me know. There are some of you that I do my best to keep you and your families in my prayers. Just know that if you read my blog- I will be praying for you - I may not know who you are but God does and He knows your needs.

Ok - I really would like to do a few things before I will happily go to bed early. :o)

Have a "Garbage-Free" Day...

Someone posted this to facebook and I thought it was very wise information and wanted to pass it along. And I hope I can remember it when people dump their garbage on me.
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One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Have a garbage-free day!

Prayer Request

Ok - I am a bit discouraged this evening and I wanted to pop in here for a bit and ask for prayers. I can only share a couple of the things. First of all I am feeling bad because my son is discouraged. He has not found another job yet and this is just a tough time to find a job. I really feel that the reason he has not found a job yet is because he is needed to help out at my MIL's store while she is out. It would be VERY hard to be running the store without him. So I feel that God has waited on another job for him on purpose. And once my MIL is able to come back - that is when I think he will find a job. But my son is discouraged because he is having to scrap money together to be able to pay his vehicle payment and does not have extra money and he has a few things he would like to get. Life is tough and it is really hard to handle - especially when you do not realize that God will take care of you. This is something I am learning now- and it is a hard lesson to learn because there seems to be so many times of having to learn this lesson.
Another thing that I am discouraged about is that tomorrow will start up my super early mornings again. I have to be at work by 4am - since I have a lot to do and I have to have the kolaches ready to go into the proofer by 5am. So what I am discourage about is that this week I will have to do it 5 times. Oh and to top that off the next two mornings it will more than likely be raining on my way to work and so it will be dark and raining and as they are talking -it will be raining hard. We have a few spots that flood on the roads between here and there and at night when it rains hard - it is hard to see and you have to drive slow. Anyway - i know it sounds like a lot of whining to some of you I am sure but I guess it is a combination of all the things going on right now that is really stressing me out. There is a lot of things at work that I am responsible for that I am not usually responsible for and so it is just challenging. Oh - so we are also really low on our hamburger patties so tomorrow we have to come up with an order and call it in and see if someone can come by their business to pick up at least one box of meat so that we don't run out. And the person that usually picks the stuff up when it is needed had a surgery on Friday too. So we are down 2 people and so much to do. I am sure it will all work out but it just really stresses me. Anyway I would really appreciate prayers- not only for me but for my son and for my MIL that she will continue to heal. Thanks so much! :o)

Forced on Course

I just had to laugh when it occurred to me that I had been forced on course. When I went to the Seminar a little over a year ago - Dr. B had explained why it was important to get to bed at a decent time. There is a hormone or something like that - that is released at 10pm - so it is best to be asleep by 10pm. So I had tried to get to bed by 9:30pm so I could be asleep by then. Well over the last 6 months or so life had gotten in the way.

When it came time for New Year's Resolutions-I even had written out a list of resolutions that I wanted to work towards this year. One of them being - to get back to my healthy way of living. But again - life got into the way. So when Tuesday got here and we found out that my MIL would have to have a surgery - again- I realized that I was going to have to get up super early and make breakfast stuff. So Wednesday morning rolled around and I was at work at 4:10am. I was thankful that I was able to have her show me at least the first hour of doing stuff that morning. I have never had to cover for her for breakfast before- so everything was new to me. Anyway so I had to continue doing that through the rest of the week. So I was smart and worked really hard to get to bed early. Well when we wake up at 3:30am - believe me - you are tired and it is not so hard to get to bed on time.

Except I had another problem - sleeping. I just did not sleep good the first two nights I had the worse time sleeping - there were a couple of reasons but the one that I could do something about was the fact that we had flannel sheets on our bed. Well that is fine and works great when the temps drop to the freezing point at night - but on nights that it does not get so cold - I just don't do so well with them. I had forgotten about this factor. So we finally figured that out and changed sheets and I have slept much better since then.

I was so happy to see the week end roll around because I did not have to get up SO early and just being able to sleep those couple of extra hours felt so good. I have done pretty good to still try to get to bed at a decent time - last night I got to bed at about 10pm - later than I wanted to but I am trying. Tonight I WILL get to bed at a decent= early time - because tomorrow morning I will have to get to work by 4am.

So now you see how I was forced on course. When we are not doing what God is leading us to do - sometimes circumstances will change and push us into doing what we knew was right all along. I sure hope that I will be more willing to follow the leading of God. :o)

Sabbath Praise

This was scheduled to post at about 8am - and for some reason it did not. I am just now figuring that out so I am going to see if I can post it now - even though the Sabbath is officially over but - the song is great and I would like any of you that have not had a chance to hear it to be able to.

This month I will be posting the songs that are like my theme songs for this year. They will be reruns but they are very important songs with great messages. Please take the time to listen:


If you have never heard this song - Please take the 5 minutes to listen to it. You will be blessed. :o)

Something to Think About...

$3 Worth of God

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.

Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine.

I don't want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant.

I want ecstasy, not transformation.

I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth.

I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.

I'd like to buy $3 worth of God, please."
Wilbur Reese

I heard this quote on the radio today and thought I would share. It sure gives you alot to think about. I think that too many times we as Christians act just like this. When the doors of church open we may be there but our lives are not changed by what we hear. We do not put into action that which we learn. We just want enough of God in order to feel good - not to transform our lives. If we will allow Him to- He will transform our lives. That is my wish for my life and for your life as well. May God bless you and draw you closer to Him. And may you hunger and thirst for Jesus in your life. :O)

In The Kitchen

Sunflower Seed Roast

from the "Cooking By The Book" Cookbook - shown above.

1 C. ground walnuts

1/2 C. bread crumbs

1/2 C. grated potato

1 C. Milk

3 T. grated onion

1/2 C. ground sunflower seeds

1 T. oil

1 t. salt

Combine all ingredients. Mix ell. Pour into casserole(I used an 8x8 glass dish) Cover and let stand for 1/2 hour. Bake at 350* for 1 hour. Serves 6

I tried this recipe earlier this week and I really like it and wanted to share with you all. Actually this cookbook has a lot of great recipes in it. :o)

Update

It looks like they will be keeping my MIL in the hospital for a week. It is a pretty serious infection. And I just pray that after 11 months of her dealing with this that they will be able to get it under control before more damage is done. I would really appreciate your prayers for this matter. Thanks a lot! :o)

Way Before the Crack of Dawn....

Good Morning~ Well one of the things that I have been worried about came true. My MIL had a surgery on Friday - well they let her go home that evening. Well she ended up over doing it so this morning - actually right now they are doing another surgery - this time more invasive. So what had I been worried about? Having to go in at 4am to make the breakfast stuff. I met her at the store at about 4am and she talked me through the first half of the routine in the morning and showed me a few things. Then I finished up on my own- since she left at about 5am. It looks as if I will be doing this at least through the rest of this week.
I am tired. I did not sleep good last night - I guess I was worried about if I would wake up on time and then the whole -she has been doing the stuff for like 19 years and this would be my first time to do it and I did not know how good I could do - especially with the pro standing right there watching me. I was happy with how things turned out. Better than I expected.
I am home for a bit - to get my shower and cleaned up. Then I have an appointment to get my haircut- that will be nice. Then I have to get to the store cause I will have to also help with the grill today and do bookwork.
Tomorrow my day will start at about 3:30am again- with making breakfast, helping with the grill, bookwork, and then doing my normal job of making cookies.
I am sure hoping that I sleep better tonight than I did last night. I hope everyone is doing good. I do have a couple of post that I would like to do so hopefully I will have a bit of time to work on them to get them posted. :o)

Armor of God

As we enter this new year - I think it is very important that we use our Armor of God.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints"
Ephesians 6:11-18

Here is a link to a really cool little book that you can read on-line that goes more in depth about the Armor of God. I hope you enjoy! :o)

Happy New Year!

"If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 1 Chronicles 7:14