Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

When you look in the mirror what do you see? I don't like mirrors as much as I once did. They tell a tale of too much. Too much woman, too many sags, too many bags, and too much of a whole lotta "Who is THAT?" only to realize the who I'm wondering about is me. THEN I read some words in an email not very different from this post that showed me something else to look for, less of me, more of Jesus. Here is what I will be seeing when facing the mirror from now on. I'll keep these words running through my mind and heart as the reminder I know I'll need.

I am God’s child. (John 1:12)
I have been redeemed and forgiven. (Colossians 1:14)
I am a saint. (Ephesians 1:1)
I cannot be separated from the love of God. (Romans 8:35-39)
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:14)
I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)

Who do we see in the mirror? The person God says we are or the one we think we are?   

Happy Birthday Papo!

Today is Papo's best birthday EVER!!! Today is Papo's first birthday in Heaven with Jesus!

A few weeks ago our father, father-in-love, and grandfather went from earth to Heaven. Babbling Brooke, our daughter wrote a lovely letter in tribute to him shortly after he went Home. Many people have said many lovely things about this mighty man. But me, the one rarely without words to write, can't come up with even one. And that still small voice in my heart says that's okay. The words will come. If not now, then later, but there will be words. There are words. They are simply too deep inside of my heart to be written yet.

So until the words make their way from my heart to my fingers, Happy Birthday Papo! We are better people because you lived Jesus with us so well. May God be thanked for the great things He has done! He loved us well when he loved us through you.

Having No Other Gods

"Though shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

God's Word is very clear. No other gods. Only the One True Living God. The Great I Am.

Do I have idols in my life? What about the idol that is the love of my personal ideals over the truth, even over my love of God? Is this an idol I entertain and serve? Do I worship my own ideals more than the truth? more than God Himself? 

This is what I am pondering on this morning. Are there idols in my life that need torn down and eliminated? 

Seeking First the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness,

Abundantly Blessed 

Summer's Rest

Summer slipped in on the heels of winter, and a beautiful blend of greens has spread over the hills and valleys. Pockets full of intense color sway with the bending of the wind's flowing rhythm as the melodic breezes spread forth the exotic wildflower fragrance.

Sometimes rest for the soul comes through time spent breathing deep in the hills of a wild land, and sometimes it is found when in the midst of trauma and drama I intentionally choose God thoughts over my own.

Did We Do This?

Good Morning! While cleaning up around the blog this morning I found a post containing a toy challenge. I don't remember us talking about the results of our challenge. Since I said we would...maybe now is a good time.

The results I had were that yes, the fewer toys my children had the more peaceful the atmosphere in the house was. Cleanup took less time. The toys were played with more frequently and for longer spans of time. All in all, less seems to truly be more for toys. The "Toys, Less or  More?" challenge can still be taken. Here is a link to the original post, if  interested. Here it is!

If you are interested in taking the "Toys, Less or More?" challenge, feel free to join in whenever you like. The "Toys, Less or More?" challenge begins the day this post is read and ends 30 days later. Whenever you have completed your challenge, a comment can be left to share your results. To allow any reader to take the challenge at any time no specific date is being set. 

Homestyle Fun

Fun doesn't have to be expensive, nor does it have to be complicated. If you want proof of this, click on the links below to see for yourself how simple and inexpensive tons of fun can be. The blog Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls is a treasure trove of fun ideas for almost anyone!

Mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, neighbors, anyone can find fun ideas for children, and adults, of all ages there. Just don't be surprised if you spend longer than you planned looking around the site. There are SO many good ideas to check out! With the hot days of Summer upon us, good ideas for simple fun are a marvelous gift. Enjoy!

Yesterday morning we made this:
https://frugalfun4boys.com/2017/05/24/fold-paper-ninja-stars/

Then we made these:
https://frugalfun4boys.com/2014/12/03/build-popsicle-stick-bombs/

This morning Victorious Man of God and I made this:
https://frugalfun4boys.com/2017/07/05/make-easy-straw-rockets/

Slipping in a fun little something or other here and there might add up to a summer filled with fun. We at our house hope you have even more fun making these rockets, bombs, and ninja stars than we did, and we had a LOT of fun!

Friday Night Supper

Good evening! I don't know if you have food associations that creep into your meal planning or not, but I find myself thinking certain dishes belong more with one day of the week than another. For instance, I would rarely serve meatloaf on Friday because in spite of the fact that we have homeschooled for 21 years, I still think of Friday supper as the beginning of freedom from the despised school week. An entire weekend awaits the living.

Lasagna, pizza, or cavatini are celebration foods. These are the sort of dishes suited to a Friday night supper. Tacos, enchiladas, these types of eats are what start the weekend's freedom dance well. Occasionally, in the thick of winter, extra yummy soups might show up on the table too, but only the very yummiest.

Tonight is Friday, and the long weekend has my thinking in celebration mode. Therefore, in honor of Friday supper and the Memorial Day weekend, we are sharing the recipe for Grammie's cavatini, which is what is cooking in our kitchen right now.

Holidays require special drinks too. To quench summer's heat a spectacularly easy recipe for iced coffee ☕is included as well. Because this is for a special occasion, no attempt to be healthy was made. This is a once in a while drink not your every day go to beverage.

To keep the unhealthiness guilt monster away, a side of steamed green beans is not only delicious, but also looks beautiful plated next to the red pasta sauce.

Grammie's Cavatini
2lbs. ground
Chopped pepperoni
Jar of favorite pasta sauce or homemade sauce
Onion
Garlic
Mozzarella shredded
Favorite pasta, cooked

Brown meat, onion,garlic, and pepperoni. Drain if needed. Add sauce and heat through. Cook favorite pasta to desired doneness. Drain. Combine meat mixture, pasta, and half of cheese. Place in casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 35-45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Can cover to prevent over browning of cheese.

Iced Coffee
6-8 cups strong coffee
One can sweetened condensed milk

Combine coffee and milk in large jar or pitcher and allow to cool. Serve over ice.

Shalom!
Have a delicious Friday supper!