TGIF...Everyday

Finding Treasures

Yesterday was my lucky day! Since my husband had surgery and had been off work - and during this same time my MIL had to have the PICC line so I had to do a lot of extra work during the last 6 weeks. So I had not have very much of a chance to go thrift store shopping. Yesterday was the day I finally got to go to two of my favorite shops. And when I saw these two Tupperware containers sitting side by side - I was happy. But when I saw the price tag I was even more thrilled! 

For just $1.35 each - and they are practically new! And I after I recovered from the thrill of finding these and sending my husband a text to let him know. I looked across the isle and what did I see? This set of Tupperware Measuring Spoons! There are 2 missing - but they are the least used one. And for only 50 cents - I could not pass them up. I also found a dress for $6.99, a couple of pairs of jeans for my son and a few odds and ends.
I really enjoy being able to find cool and helpful things. Last week a great deal for pasta was found and we were able to get 24 oz bags of pasta for $1.00 - so we ended up with quite a few bags. Now I have containers to store them in so that they can last longer. I love how God provides for our needs - just when we need them. Praising God for the treasures that I found! :O) 

Mystery Solved, And a Redo

So the past few days I had noticed that the water in my birdbath kept going low really quickly. I would fill it up, only to find a few hours later that it would be half empty. I have been so busy and gone so much that I had not realized what was causing it till this evening when I looked out there and saw a black bird taking a bath. I love to watch birds bathe. They enjoy it so much - and it is fun to watch! 

Then I noticed several more birds fly in and then a couple more. I tried to get some photos of them but with the sun shining in -it made it hard to get a photo of them. But the good news is that the mystery has been solved. 

So did you notice the paint brush in the back ground? Well we have been redoing our main bathroom. It was one of those projects that you begin planning on doing one thing and then it dominoes into a much larger project. We are very happy with how it is going. 

Oh and a bit of a teaser - We used "red,red wine" paint to paint some of the trim. The bathroom looks so soothing and nice. And we are hoping that the red trim is a nice accent. I don't think we have a before photo of this bathroom - but it really needed help.

When we first moved in this house - we had done a little work in there. It had wall paper that my husband did not like. Well we took it down. At the time we did not realize that we could buy a texture paint stuff to get texture back on the walls. So we used some wallpaper stuff that has texture. Well we had a great wall paper border that had bears and was patriotic. Well when we tried to put the border on it did not stick good. So we only had it on one of the walls. And the wallpaper border stuff just did not do the bathroom justice. We just lived with the results. We had great Home Interiors, Inc decor for the bathroom and so that helped make up for the rest of it lacking. 

When we pulled the decorating stuff down- we had the stuff on the table for a couple of days. Then I thought of what I think was an awesome plan. Take some of the stuff and use it on our front porch. I had always wanted some decorations for our front porch. One piece, of the things that we put on the front porch, is made of resin - I believe - a hard plastic. I am hoping that it will hold out till we can find something to replace it with. The other pieces are metal. We bought rust inhibitor clear spray paint to spray them with and hope that they will last longer that way. And we are looking for another piece or so to put on the porch. I will try to get a photo of what we did and post it tomorrow. 

I will also try to get photos of our bathroom and share when I can. I don't know if photos will do it justice or not. It is not perfect - because we are not professionals but we have done the best job that we can do. 

The Gospel Message

In one verse: 

A great thing going around Facebook. 

Back on Schedule...

Good Morning~ I hope everyone is having a great start to your Monday morning. Mine has been good. My husband went back to work today from his hernia surgery. He was not looking forward to the alarm going off early this am - he is more of a night owl. Me? I think I am more of a morning person - or a day person. I do SO much better if I get to bed at a decent time so I am working towards that goal. I am hoping that now that our alarm is going off earlier that I will be able to get my schedule working better.
It was great this morning to get up early and to already be ready for the day plus I have had my devotion time and have cleaned our bathroom and a few other odds and ends around here. And I have a list of the things I really need to do today and then a secondary list - what I would like to accomplish on top of the have to accomplish list. We will see what all I can get done.
I am hoping to get back to posting more regularly. I have some ideas of things I want to share so now that I will have more quiet time and time to focus on posts - I am hoping to get them out of my head and posted.
Well I better get off of here and get on with the day. I have to work today - so I will be gone for half of the day.
Ya'll have a great day! :O)

One on Each Shoulder...

As you well know, I am reading "The Great Controversy." I began reading this book 3 months ago. And I still have a little less that 200 pages to go. This book is full of history and ALOT of information to digest. 

Today I wanted to share a few quotes from this mornings devotional time. 

I heard a sermon this past week talking about how we all have an angel and that not only that but we also all have a demon-evil angel, one that knows us and knows what our weaknesses are. I had seen cartoons of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other shoulder but I had just never thought about that fact that we do always have the force of evil hoovering around wanting to bring us down. How many times have I shared - 1 Peter 5:8

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

But do not be dismayed~ 

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" 1 John 4:4

Please take the time to read these quotes. I know that they are written in a way that is a little difficult but it is very worth it to read them.

"Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth." GC 488

"Could the veil which separates the visible from the invisible world be swept back, and the children of men behold an angel recording every word and deed, which they must meet again in the judgment, how many words that are daily uttered would remain unspoken, how many deeds would remain undone." GC 487 

But the Good News is~

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

1 John 2:1

Sabbath Praise

Faith Made Perfect

The desire for an easy religion that requires no striving, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies of the world, has made the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a popular doctrine; but what saith the word of God? Says the apostle James: "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? . . . Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? . . . Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." James 2:14-24. GC472

Another great quote from the book I am reading. 

Here is a link if you want to go the the book itself and check it out online. 

By the way - I really need to brag about something. Yesterday we had a lovely day here in Texas. It was in the upper 60's all day long with rain 2/3 - 3/4 of the day. It was a wonderful day. So refreshing to the soul. And such a different day than what we usually get here in Texas in Aug. Last year - if I remember correctly most of the days of Aug were in the triple digits. So to have a day where it may have gotten to 70 something before the rain came and the temps came down. I am SO ready for Fall. 

The Character of God

"The law of God, from its very nature, is unchangeable. It is a revelation of the will and the character of its Author. God is love, and His law is love. Its two great principles are love to God and love to man. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10. The character of God is righteousness and truth; such is the nature of His law. Says the psalmist: "Thy law is the truth:" "all Thy commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:142, 172. And the apostle Paul declares: "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12. Such a law, being an expression of the mind and will of God, must be as enduring as its Author." GC467

What an awesome quote from the book that I am still reading - The Great Controversy .  I am nearing the point in the book where I will only have 200 pages left. I have to confess(may have already but oh well) This book always scared me. I was afraid that if I read this book - it would only cause a lot of fear. I had heard my fair share or more of the horrors of the last days. Well to my very young mind they scared me. I think I already shared this but I remember once asking my Daddy if he would carry me during the last days cause I was afraid of them. No - I don't expect him to carry me any more but these words carry a lot of weight - because truthfully we do need our Father - our Heavenly Father to carry us. We need to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God and allow Him to guide and direct us. 

Jesus said "Think not that I have come to destroy the law;" "till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law." Matthew 5:17,18.

We are told in Hebrews: 

 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  Hebrews 13:8

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3 

The Love of God

Happy Sabbath! Today I just wanted to pop in for a second and share some verses in the Bible that I am pondering. I think they have a great message for us all. 
For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come , 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:38-39

I LOVED THIS! :O)

I've ordered mine, How about you? LOL :O)
We are half way to Crazy Cat Lady! 

What We are Called to Do...

I could write a long post about what we are called to do but I think I will let this great photo that was floating around Facebook do the talking for me. 

I hope you all have a wonderful day! :O) 

Hot Outside..But We Still Need to Eat....

Another slow cooker recipe from this cookbook! page 64

(be sure and read my notes at the end to find out what I would suggest) 

Ground Beef Casserole 

1 - 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

6-8 potatoes, sliced 

water + 1/2 tsp. cream of tarter

1 med-sized onion, sliced/chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced 

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. dried basil 

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1-14 1/2 oz can green beans with liquid 

1 can of cream of mushroom soup 

1. Crumble uncooked ground beef in bottom of slow cooker. 

2. slice potatoes and put into mixing bowl filled with water mixed with cream of tarter to keep potatoes from turning dark. Stir together; then drain water off and discard. 

3. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, slat, basil, thyme, and black pepper to cooker. 

4. Pour beans(with liquid) over the top. Spread can of mushroom soup over the beans. 

5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. 

Alright- I tried this recipe yesterday and I would have to say there are a couple of things I would do different. For those of you that are meat eaters - you will want to get a very low fat ground beef. Otherwise - I would suggest that you cook the meat first by bringing some water to a boil and put your hamburger meat and cook it till done. Then drain the water off. This way - a lot of the fat is discarded. 

For those of you that are vegetarian - I am sure this would be delicious with veggie meat. My husband loves meat so I try the recipes with the meat first and then if I like it a lot then I will make me some without meat at a later time. 

Also I would make sure that I put a good amount of potatoes in. So if you have medium potatoes - I would go with the 8 potatoes - if not more. That is what I will be doing next time for sure.
I put 1/2 of the black pepper in this. 

Anyway this is just what I would suggest. I think it is a great recipe and tasty. If you don't like one of the seasonings - by all means just leave it out. It is very flavorful. 

When Cooking Peeled Potatoes in Slow Cooker

I learned something new today and I think it is important enough to share with you all. When you are going to be cooking potatoes in a slow cooker that have been peeled - it is important to follow a very important step to help keep them from turning dark while they cook slowly. This step is done before you add the potatoes to the slow cooker.

Put water in a bowl and add 1/2 teaspoon of Cream of Tarter to the water. Stir it around. Then add the potatoes. And allow to sit for a couple of minutes. I just added the sliced potatoes to the water as I got them ready to add and then once I was done let them sit for a couple of minutes. Then drain the water off. Discard  the water. Then your potatoes are ready to be added to the slow cooker.

I am making a recipe that uses this technique. I will be posting the recipe if it turns out good. It looks like it will be a yummy recipe.

I am always happy to learn helpful little hints like this one. I hope it helps you as well. :O)

Puzzles and More

Good Morning~ This is the very first puzzle that I have done ALL by myself -in my adult life. I don't remember puzzles when I was young - so who knows could be the first one ever..? It was only 500 pieces, but was challenging at times.
Since finishing this one - I have started a 1,000 piece one. I have the outer edge a some of the rest done. It is a fun way to relax and still use the brain. Which is a good thing! :O) 

 We had our sweet granddaughter for a few hours this week-end. Here she is helping Papa with his puzzle. 

 Her hair kept getting in her eyes so Papa put some barrettes in her hair. She was too busy playing to stop and be still.

  

  Isn't she a doll? Oh and please excuse the mess in the back ground. It is a messy corner of my sewing room. When it ever(if it ever) cools off around here we are hoping to be able to get the garage organized and then I will be able to more organize my sewing room since there are some boxes and such in the closet that should actually be in the garage -but waiting to get the garage in better shape. 

 I am so glad that I have been watching the local thrift stores for puzzles for my granddaughter. I have found all of these for anywhere from $.50 - $1.50. And you can't beat that! Well maybe at garage sales but with it being SO hot here(I mean hot as in triple digits- not 80's - LOL) there have not been many garage sales. One more thing I am looking forward to when it cools off. 

Oh notice the middle puzzle with the fish - that is a puzzle you can use a magnet with! 

Well I hope you all are having a good week end! :O) 

If Not One, It's the Other

This has been one busy week, but honestly the last 3 weeks have been pretty busy. And it looks like at least for the next 3 weeks it will be the same. It can not be blamed on one particular thing. It is just the combination of having to go to work 6 days a week - not having to stay but 2 hours on a couple of those days but still takes a bit out of my day. Along with the fact that our church is having an evangelistic series(that I have already told you about. There is only about 1 week or so left of it.
Then this week we have had added to all the other business - several problems. I told you about my son and the problems he has been having at his place. Well the good news is that he and my husband were able to get his AC unit going on Wed. Then Thursday after I finally got off of work - my husband and I ran to Home Depot to pick up a few needed items. Before we left for Home Depot - I noticed that the house was warmer than usual, but I thought that it had to do with the fact that our window unit that is usually out in the sun room -was not there(it's was at my son's house trying to keep them cool till their main AC unit was fixed. Anyway about 1 hour later when we got home - our house temperature had gone up about 4 degrees. My husband went out to the unit outside and sure enough - the fan blade was not turning. Our AC was out. And to top it off - it was like one of the hottest(if not the hottest day of the year) and a day that I think was the hottest day on that day in history. Well since my son and husband had done trouble shooting for my sons AC unit - we had some ideas of what could be the problem. My husband called our AC guy and talked to him and sure enough it was the capacitor - about an hour or so later we were able to go pick the part up from him and my husband was able to replace the bad one.
It was probably about 6pm when we got it fixed. We were so thankful that it happened during the day and that we were able to catch it and get it fixed so quickly. When you try, you can find blessings in most problems that you have.
Anyway so there is a bit of an update of what is going on around here. So much more but I don't want to bore you with all of it. I hope you all have a great week end! I have a few ideas for some post that I want to work on this week end, when things slow down. It will be nice to be able to get some of these ideas on paper.
Have a great week end! :O)

In Sets of Threes

Isn't that what they say about trouble - that it comes in sets of Threes?...

Well today I am just taking a couple of minutes to ask for prayers. This week my son and his family are having a hard week. Their dryer had been acting up, but we think he got that fixed. Then he noticed his fridge not cooling correctly- he is in the middle of trying to figure out what the cause is and trying to fix it. THEN, if those things were not enough, yesterday his AC stopped cooling. When it is like 104 outside and feels a lot hotter than that - it is very difficult to handle this. We had 2 small window units that we took over to his house last night - hoping that they would be able to keep the house some what comfortable. He starting troubleshooting to figure out what was wrong with AC - they have checked the capacitor - was hoping that was the problem- cause it was easy to take out and would not have cost much. It was good still. So it looks like maybe it is the fan motor. So he and my husband are working on that today. The old one is giving them alot of problems. Anyway we are praying that this fixes the situation.
We have decided that we will let them keep one of the window units over there for the rest of the summer. Their bedroom is not insulated very well so it is not very cool in there.
Anyway please pray that the things can be fixed easily. He has still not been able to find a good job so they do NOT have extra money for any of these problems. Thanks so much for the prayers. :O)

Bible/Prayer Time - Very Beneficial

My Bibles look nothing like this, but there is a very good reason for that. My two favorite Bibles are very new. I have bought 2 great Bibles this past year. I love them but I am no where near getting ALL of my favorites marked. But you know what? The more I read the Bible and go through life - the more verses that stand out and mean SO very much to me. 

The more we open up our Bibles and spend time in the Word of God - the more we are transformed into the  likeness of God. Prayer and Bible time - are very important things to spend our time on. Just think how much good just spending an hour in prayer and Bible study. And think - that is not even a tithe(10th) of our time. Just a little challenge for you - if you don't already have a quiet time every day - try to work it into your schedule. You will be blessed. God bless you as you put Him first in your life. And work towards a worn Bible. :O) 

Hot Outside..But We Still Need to Eat

Chickenetti

1 C. chicken broth

16 oz package of spaghetti, cooked

4 C. cooked and cubed chicken

1-10 3/4 oz can of cream of mushroom soup

1 C. water

1/2 C. bell peppers, chopped

1/2 C. diced celery

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 med onion, grated

8 oz American cheese, cube

1. Put chicken broth into large slow cooker, add spaghetti and chicken

2. In large bowl combine soup and water until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients, then pour into slow cooker.

3. Cover, cook on low 2 -3 hours.

From the cookbook "Fix it and forget it - lightly" - pg. 33

Food For Thought

Another little thing floating around Facebook. It's good Food For Thought. :O) 

Sabbath Praise

This week - our Sabbath Praise will be done a bit differently. If you click the link below - you will be blessed. Last week I was blessed to be able to hear a concert put on by Bruce Moss. This man has a great testimony and has written all his songs and done his own music as well. A very talented man. I hope you are all blessed! :O)


There Are No Stones Here

Does The Spirit and Word Agree?

I am still working on reading "The Great Controversy" It has been a bit more challenging than the other 4 books. There is a lot of history in this book and I am just taking it slow. I am more than halfway through the book now- I have been working on reading it for 2 months now. Below is an awesome quote that I wanted to share. 

"The spirit of error will lead us from the truth; and the Spirit of God will lead us into truth. But, say you, a man may be in an error, and think he has the truth. What then? We answer, The Spirit and word agree. If a man judges himself by the word of God, and finds a perfect harmony through the whole word, then he must believe he has the truth; but if he finds the spirit by which he is led does not harmonize with the whole tenor of God's law or Book, then let him walk carefully, lest he be caught in the snare of the devil."--The Advent Herald and Signs of the Times Reporter, vol. 8, No. 23 (Jan. 15, 1845).GC 397

Triple Digits Outside - But We Still Need To Eat

With our temperatures being in the triple digits and no relief in sight. I have been trying out new crock pot recipes. Here is one of the recipes that tastes pretty good. See the notes below of changes that I made.

Chicken Tortilla Casserole 

4 chicken breast, cooked and cut into 1 inch pieces
reserve 1/4 C chicken broth
10 - 6 inch flour tortillas, cut into strips about 1/2 inches by 2 inches long
2 med. onions, chopped
2 tsp. canola oil
1-10 3/4 oz Chicken broth
1-10 3/4 oz cream of mushroom soup
2-4 oz mild green chilies, chopped
1 egg
1 - 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

1. Pour reserved chicken broth in slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray.
2. Scatter half the tortillas in the bottom of slow cooker - sprinkle 1/2 of the cheese.
3. Mix remaining ingredients together, except the second half of the tortilla strips and the rest of the cheese.
4. Layer half the chicken mixture into the cooker, followed by the other half of the tortillas, followed by the rest of the chicken mix.
5. Cover - cook on low 4-6 hours. 3-5 on high
6. Add the remaining cheese and allow to cook another 20 - 30 minutes to melt the cheese.
7. Uncover and allow casserole to rest 15 minutes before serving

The basic recipe came from Fit It and Forget it Lightly - their recipe only called for 1 cup of cheese on top. When I made this up - I felt like it needed another layer of cheese. You choose what you would like to do. Oh yeah - I only used 1 can of the green chili's too. I also only used 2 chicken breasts - they were large. For Vegetarians out there - I am sure that it would work with FriChic - in fact - I have some of the chopped up FriChic and I think I am going to try it later this week.

***Edited to add: The first time that I made this, I used my small Crockpot but I will be using my large one next time. There was barely enough room for it. The tortillas will expand and take up more room- so when it was done it was kind of a dome above the top of the crockpot. I think my small one is about 2 qts. It is a small white Hamilton Beach one.

Being Real

Here is a great song that goes along with my post yesterday.