It Worked For Me Wednesday!

Angelica here.  Mom's not  feeling well, so I'm doing the It Worked For Me Wednesday. I'm going to highlight a recipe from my Pinterest.  A few days ago, I had a friend over and we really wanted some cookie dough.  So, we Googled and found this recipe.  Today, we decided to make it again, seeing as how it was so good. One recipe of chocolate chip and one of sugar cookie.   

Simply Sunday

Philippians 3:20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.  

Ever so often, I need to be reminded that what we see on this earth is not the end.  Whether in life or death, sickness or health, riches or poverty, no matter the situation, what we are experiencing here is only temporary.  

Snapshot Saturday

July 29, 2012

Miracle had the opportunity to work at the Washington County fair this past summer.  She helped a friend of mine man the craft booth where local folks displayed their handiwork.  She had a ton of fun and was able to earn a little bit of money to spend at nationals, too.  She hopes to do it again this year.  

It Worked for Me! Wednesday - para cord storage

Earlier this fall, we went camping as a test run for a planned camping trip.  I was anticipating being in GA for most of the month of November camping as well.   In preparation for that, I searched on Pinterest for tips that would make camping easier.  One that I found was an easy way to store para-cord.  This works great! No more tangled cord!  Para-cord is a strong cord that has a multitude of uses.  It comes in a variety of colors.  I use a bright color for visibility.

Edited to add:

1. Find a plastic jar with a lid that the cord will fit into.  The jar you see was the second attempt since the first jar I tried was too small.
2. Drill a hole in the center of the lid. 
3. Poke cord through lid.
4. Screw on lid.

Simple as that.  Thanks, Autumn.  I hadn't realized I didn't list out the instructions. I was supervising the girls preparations for Thanksgiving dinner when I typed this out earlier and was a bit distracted.  :)

Simply Sunday

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Snapshot Saturday

Yesterday we went to Penney's and had a family portrait made.  It is the first time in 9 years that we have had family pictures taken.  This was only made possible because JCP is having a special this month that allows each family to have their portrait taken, including sitting fees, gives them a free 8x10 of the favorite image, and a low resolution digital copy of that image.  All for free with no requirement to purchase anything. Additional sheets are available for $4.00 each and although I would really like some of the other photos taken, we will not be ordering any.  

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.

It Worked For Me! Wednesday - glitter shoes

Do you remember my post about homecoming?   As I said there, Miracle wanted to make a pair of glittered shoes for the event. 

So, I looked on Pinterest and found a tutorial.

Step 1:  Gather shoes, glitter, tacky glue, and paintbrushes.  Either go outside or find a way to protect the area and contain the mess.  

Step 2: Paint a section of the shoe with glue and cover in glitter.  

Admire and wear the finished product!

Things we learned:

1. Actual glue works better than the spray kind.
2. Use both the glue and the glitter generously.   
3. Work in small sections so the glue doesn't dry before the glitter is applied.  
4. A spoon is helpful when sprinkling the glitter on the shoes.
5. The texture of dress shoes hold the glitter better than canvas in the end.  The canvas shoes lose glitter every time they are worn.  
6. Fine textured glitter makes a more formal looking product.  We used regular size glitter found at Hobby Lobby.  They also carry fine glitter.  Next time we do this, I will buy the other glitter.
7. Everyone will comment.  Be prepared to graciously explain how you made the shoes when you wear them.  

Sojourn Sunday

The youth at our church led the service this past Sunday.  

M was on the worship team.  

A gave a dramatized quoting of Philippians 3:1-4:9.

The yp had a really neat idea to paint the face of Jesus on a bed sheet and to have the kids write a one word testimony on the other side.  Then they cut it in to pieces and each walked up sharing their testimony.  When they were all in place, they turned the sheets over to present the image of Christ.  It was powerful.  

It was nice to see all of the teens growing and using their talents to glorify God.  

Lisa Schroeder - in The Day Before

I don't like

the memories
because the tears
come easily,
and once again I break
my promise
to myself for this day.

It's a constant battle.

A war between
remembering and forgetting.

Overwhelmed No More

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to go to a pie social being held as a housewarming party for one of my friends.  I rode with another friend to get there.  She is quite a bit younger than me but wiser in so many ways.  She is currently pregnant with her fifth child.  Her oldest is 6.  She made a statement that I think might just change my life.  

She said that she wouldn't allow herself to be overwhelmed because God would not give her more than she could handle and if she is feeling overwhelmed she re-evaluates those parts of her life that she can control to see what she is doing that is out of His will.  

That is profound.  She is standing on a promise of God, believing every moment that it is true, and aligning her life to the scriptures.  

I have been thinking about this since Saturday and attempting to apply it to my life.  There is a lot going on in my life that is out of my control.  A lot of things that even individually seem overwhelming but put together seem to be more than I can bear.  In fact, overwhelmed is a word I have used frequently in recent days to describe how I feel.  Yet, now that I am beginning to acclimate to her viewpoint, I am feeling it a lot less.  

I can't find a scripture that states this view exactly, but a few come to mind that talk about the choices we need to make regarding our attitudes.  I will leave you with those.  

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the LORD always, I will say it again, rejoice.  

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

FYI:  I backdated a post about youth convention here.

Simply Sunday

Isaiah 40:30-31

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 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. 

Snapshot Saturday

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Last Sunday, the zoo in Omaha had free admission so we went and walked around after church.  We miss having a zoo pass.  We visited the outdoor exhibits.  The weather was perfect.  

Near Miss

I am teaching both girls to drive right now.  

We drive a stick shift.

They rotate days.

Angelica drives on odd numbered days and Miracle drives on even numbered days.

Miracle was doing quite well yesterday and had actually clocked over three hours of drive time.

She was set to make a left turn off of a county highway and she stalled the car.

This usually isn't a big deal when it happens but at that moment a semi was barreling down on us.

I saw it in the rear view mirror and froze.

There really was nothing we could do.

It stopped less than an inch from our bumper.

We all breathed a sigh of relief that we are alive.

When I finally caught my breath, the first words out of my mouth were a prayer of thankfulness to God.  

God is truly amazing.

There is something about realizing you could have died and feeling overwhelming gratitude that you are alive that decreases depression.  

God is truly amazing.

Youth Convention

The girls went to youth convention this past weekend.  Here's a video their youth pastor put together of the highlights from the weekend.

It Worked for Me! Wednesday - kitchen tip

For this Wednesday, I have a kitchen tip.  Angelica pinned this.  Angelica put it in to practice.  I followed suit.

The picture is pretty self explanatory but I will outline the steps anyway.  

1. Cut the top 2-3 inches off a bottle with a lid.  Try to get the edges as smooth as possible.  We have also realized it needs to be a rather wide mouth bottle.
2. Cut the top edge off of whatever bag you are needing to close.
3. Push the bag opening through the bottle mouth.  
4. Screw the bottle lid on.  

I was pretty skeptical at first.  I wasn't sure the idea would work.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Now we have several bags staying closed this way.  

Simply Sunday

Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Snapshot Saturday

October 20, 2012

Nails painted for homecoming.  

The full story is here (backdated post).