Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Compassion-"My own little world"


Why do I love Compassion International? Well, I have sponsored a child ever since I had a steady job in college. After we got married, we waited a few years before we sponsored any children. There is an older Christian song about seeing all of the poor children's pictures at church and crying because of them. That is SO me... I have a huge heart for children, and I am very interested in other cultures and languages. We went to a concert where Compassion was trying to gain new sponsors over ten years ago, and decided to sponsor a little girl from Kenya.
Aren't they sweet? I can't resist their precious little faces...
Monica, age 5
Her name is Monica Wanjiru, and at first, she couldn't write letters, but a teacher/ worker there in Kenya wrote the letters for her. Now she is 14, and she writes the letters. We pray for her often, write letters, share Bible verses and love getting letters from her. It has been neat to watch her grow into a young woman. We enjoy looking back at older pictures of her and seeing how she has grown. It helps me feel like my own little world is a little bigger, and maybe I can positively influence the life of someone that God has placed in my life, even if I have never met her (and I would love to!) and she lives thousands of miles away.
Our most recent pic of Monica, age 13
We also sponsored a boy from Philippines for a while named Jan Rico. His family moved out of the Compassion sponsorship area and he was not sponsored anymore. I received letters from his mother, and his father died while we sponsored him (so sad!). The best letter that we ever received was one in which we were told that he accepted Christ! That was SO exciting! It made everything worth it!

This song expresses how I feel about sponsoring a child...

In my own little world it hardly ever rains

I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe

I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet

In my own little world

Population: me



I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church

I throw a twenty in the plate, but I never give ’til it hurts

I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see

Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s

Population: me



What if there’s a bigger picture?

What if I’m missing out?

What if there’s a greater purpose

I could be living right now

Outside my own little world oooh



I stopped at a red light, looked out my window

I saw a cardboard sign, said “Help this homeless widow”

Above that sign was the face of a human

and I thought to myself, “God, what have I been doing?”

So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye

Oh how many times have I just passed her by?

I gave her some money then I drove on through

And my own little world reached

Population: two



What if there’s a bigger picture?

What if I’m missing out?

What if there’s a greater purpose

I should be living right now

Outside my own little world yeah, yeah

My own little world oooh



Father break my heart for what breaks Yours

Give me open hands and open doors

and put Your Light in my eyes and let me see

That my own little world is not about me



What if there’s a bigger picture?

What if I’m missing out?

What if there’s a greater purpose

That I could be living right now

Well I dont wanna miss what matters

I wanna be reaching out

showing the greater purpose

so I could start living right now

Outside my own little world oooh

My own little world yeah

My own little world oooh





"My own little World" by Matthew West
You can listen to this song on You Tube here.


Find out more about Compassion International here. We have held a Compassion Sunday in our church several times to gain more sponsors for children. Many Christian concerts also have sponsors of Compassion children there to gain more supporters. My husband and I have done this and got to hear the concert for free. I really enjoyed doing that, and would love to encourage others to sponsor kids again. It is such a great ministry and a way to reach out.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day

Take time today to remember the fallen soldiers who died for our country...

This picture was taken last year at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery on Memorial Day. It was a great field trip for the kids and the cemetery was so patriotic! We visited graves of some former soldiers from our church. I hope you will do this with your family sometime, it was so meaningful!

Happy Memorial Day, my American friends!

Friday, May 27, 2011

2 for 1 Chicken Salad recipes


"Perkins" Chicken Salad

This is a "green salad", with lettuce, tomatoes, snap peas, avocados, celery, onion, green pepper, carrots, etc., Cook two or three chicken breast patties in the microwave according to package directions. Allow them to cool slightly, and slice into 1/2" strips. Add to top of salad. Serve with dressing.
(This is called "Perkins" Chicken Salad, because it is similar to what is served in the Perkins restaurant.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salad #2 is one of my personal favorites. I love the sweet, savory & crunchy tastes all mixed together!


Cold Chicken Salad
2 breasts of chicken (or 3, if need)
1/2 white onion, chopped, (or green, if desired)
1 cup grapes, halved
1/2 cup sliced almonds
chopped celery (one-two stalks)-optional
1 cup (approx.) mayonnaise
1-2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp celery seed


Boil chicken breasts on stove until done (check by cutting into it). Cool and chop into 1/2" pieces/ Add other ingredients and chill for an hour, at least. 
Serve on croissants with chips.


boiling the chicken breasts...
chopping chicken..
Chicken salad on croissant...
Ready to eat- YUM!


These are two very popular salads in our home, and my kids often refer to chicken patties as "chicken with fur on it." Lol!

Let me know if you try either one of these recipes and what your review is on them... Enjoy!


This post is linked to these blog hops. Thanks for visiting!
Paisley Passions

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thrifty Thursday- Yard sale/ Goodwill finds

Some of my friends & family may remember my "big trip" on Spring Break this year... well, long embarrassing story short... I needed new capris since I tore a very large hole in the left knee of my denim capris. The pair I had were great because they were kinda long, almost like short jeans if I unrolled them.   They had just the right amount of pockets and they were cute... I miss them! :-( {insert BIG sad face here}

 Now on the hunt for new denim capris,  I found a decent pair at Goodwill this Saturday, when they were having their "Customer Appreciation Sale!" We spun the wheel when we first got there and got a 50% off (the entire order) coupon! Boo-yeah! And Goodwill already has good deals! My hubby also got two pair of shorts, which he needed, as well as some kids' books (I can't resist their inexpensive books!)

 Here are some things that I've found at yard sales and Goodwill recently...
Blue FiestaWare plate,  just the plate... it's a little bigger than our others,
but may be nice to have an extra...

Found two Jim Brickman CD's (instrumental piano)
Three 29 cent books...
My hubby's cool new shorts- just in time for summer!

Fun new green shirt, longer than others I had to donate...

Long & fun purple shirt- a favorite color!


Found this pair of sweaters at a yard sale for under 50 cents a piece!

Thrifty outfit- $5 shirt on clearance from Old Navy,
yard sale sweater, Goodwill capris 50% off, $1.39
Total for outfit=$6.89!!

I'll try to update again when I have more deals I find in the future. I don't get to yard sale as often as I want to, with four kids! I love finding great deals!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Wordless Wednesday!

Here is my Wordless Wednesday for this week- Enjoy the pics!
(Well, almost wordless!)
She calls herself... "Tootie-Tootie" (Cutie- Patootie)

new shoes!
Twins?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

DIY Towel hangers

Many years ago, I made towels with hoods for each one of my kids, by sewing a washcloth or hand towel onto the larger towel. In our "old" house, we had hooks in the bathroom for the 4 kids' towels. When we moved almost a year ago, we left those hangers behind. :(  I've been searching for hooks and towels hangers that I liked to replace them, ever since we moved!

After searching around town, I couldn't find the hangers that I liked, so I finally bought a wood piece at Hobby Lobby. I painted it with some Rust-O-Leum Glossy white paint that we already had (it was kinda old, took some vigorous shaking!)

After painting it, my hubby and I drilled holes in the wood, and trimmed off the pegs I'd found (also from Hobby Lobby). We used his Dremel tool to trim the metal off the long ends of the pegs (after marking it with a Sharpie). Then we mounted the pegs on the board, and then.. how to hang it?
Painted wooden piece, with holes evenly spaced and drilled

Wood piece with pegs, with kids' initials for where to hang their towel
We looked around at some 3M sticky hangers for it, but we knew they'd have to be pretty heavy-duty to hold four wet towels. At Home Depot last weekend, we found a pair of long bar-type hangers that a helpful employee recommended. (Sorry, I didn't get a picture!) My wonderful hubby mounted the hangers on the back and then onto the wall. Hooray for a completed project!

Towels hanging on it...

Mounted on the wall, with towel bar still there... guess my hubby wanted to
be sure it was gonna hold first...


I love when I complete a DIY project and it turns out well! What have you done like this in your home? I'd love to read all about it!

Monday, May 23, 2011

"Java Jive"

Here is a great song for a "Music Monday," called "Java Jive" by Manhattan Transfer...


I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (Ah!)

I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops, Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Oh, slip me a slug from that wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug, 'till I'm snug in a jug
A slice of onion and a raw one
Draw one -
(Waiter, waiter, percolator)

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (Ah!)

Boston bean (soy beans)
I said, them little itty bitty green beans (cabbage and greens)
You know that I'm not keen about a bean
Unless it is a chilly chili bean (Talk it boy!)

I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops, Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, 'an dat zat bottle

Slip me a slug from that wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug that's snug in a jug
Drop your nickel in my pot, Joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy!


You can watch them sing it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pULXnVTRynY


It's a fun song that you'll easily get stuck in your head!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Chocolate Crinkle cookies

What do you like to do on rainy days? Curl up with a book and a blanket on the couch? I like to do that, maybe with a cup of tea in hand. How about baking? It's a good way to warm up the house and make something chocolatey-yummy to eat with your steaming hot cup of tea!

This recipe became one of our favorites about a year and 1/2 ago, when I was dairy-free. Here is my post about dairy-free recipes. My daughter found this recipe in our church cookbook, and it has been a hit at our house! The woman who submitted the recipe, her father was a baker and had his own bakery, so you know these are good cookies! :-D

Here's the recipe:
1 cup cocoa
5 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 tsp salt
4 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
powdered sugar

Mix cocoa, eggs, sugar, oil, salt, vanilla, flour and baking powder together, adding one at a time. Roll into one-inch balls, and then roll into powdered sugar. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.



YUM! Try it- you won't be disappointed!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Thrifty Thursday-Molly Green

Well, another email newsletter that I receive all about frugality and saving some $green$ is partially for homeschoolers, but not totally. Molly Green has lots of great inexpensive decorating ideas, and menu ideas. One of our favorite new recipes is one that I got from her. She is from a group called "Econobusters" and has a great website found here: http://www.mollygreen.com/


This is our favorite new recipe from Molly's website:

With basketball games, scout meetings, Bible studies, etc. things just seem to keep getting busier and busier around her. On those extra busy days, it’s nice to have a few quick fix, tried-and-true meals. You may not think of this as particularly frugal, but five of us had a good, easy dinner, with leftovers today for lunch, for under $5.00. It was a busy “out and about” sort of day, and I was running a bit behind in the morning.

Before leaving home, I pulled out some leftover cubed ham from the freezer. (When hams are on sale, I try to pick up a good-sized one. After we have a ham dinner, I cut up what’s left and freeze it, a couple of cups per batch, in plastic bags.) On my way home in the late afternoon, I picked up a package of gluten free penne from Walmart ($1.57) and a jar of Classico Alfredo Sauce with roasted red peppers ($2.08). I like the Classico brand because I re-use the jars for canning.

Once at home, I had to take a phone call. My husband cooked up the noodles, drained them, then stirred in the jar of sauce and the now-defrosted ham, and spread the whole mixture in a 9″x13″ pan. He sprinkled a handful of Mozzarella cheese over the top and popped it in the oven for 15 minutes or so. That was supper–and it was delicious–and for some of us it was lunch today, too!
You could make this meal for even less if you don’t use gluten free pasta (I noticed past on sale for $1 at Albertson’s this week) and make your own Alfredo sauce. Add some garlic toast and green salad to round out the meal a bit more.


Also, her blog has great tips for organization, homemade remedies, parties, Freebies on Fridays, tutorials and all kinds of money saving resources. I get a free weekly newsletter from Econobusters/ Molly Green and I love it! I always take time to check at least some of the links. She offers books and e-books, as well as a "Molly Membership" where you can get more in-depth tips and news. I follow her on Twitter (@frugal_molly) and have gotten same great links and blogs to follow from her.
So go check out her blog and web site, you won't regret it!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Graduation

Since this week is Graduation in our local schools, it always makes me think of my own graduations. So here are some old pics... 

High school, with my friend Melissa...



College, 1997
Weird how it seems like just yesterday, and at the same time, seems like ages and ages ago...

This post is linked to the Wrangling Wednesday Blog Hop and
Live and Love Out Loud's Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Mallory's lapbooks

Looking at her "Pocket for Corduroy" lapbook...
 Here is another batch of lapbooks that my preschooler and I have done this Spring. You can find our other post about her lapbooks here: http://thywordisalamptomyfeet.blogspot.com/2011/03/preschool-lapbooks.html
Looking at her "Feathers for Lunch" lapbook
These lapbooks are all free from www.Homeschoolshare.com

The newest lapbooks that we've done are:
Feathers for Lunch/Birds
Pocket for Corduroy
Over in the Meadow
The Carrot Seed
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (one of my favorite books from my childhood!)


As I said in my other post, Mallory does most of the cutting, all of the coloring and some of the gluing. She loves having something to do "just for her" and enjoys being crafty! It is easy just to print the lapbooks, do a little cutting and we glue! She likes the mini-book activities and writing inside them too. I think she has learned a lot and is getting ready for kindergarten next year. How can that be?!

Hope you enjoyed the pics...

Monday, May 16, 2011

Dealing with Depression

 I tried to post this Friday, but Blogger was having problems, so here is my post from Friday...

For this "Faithful Friday", I wanted to talk about my story and walk through depression, which is not as low and "through the valley" now as it once was...


I have dealt with depression before, and it really all began for me in fall of 2001. There were several factors that started it all: my husband lost his very steady job that he'd had for over 5 years- it was not his fault, the company was sold & moving to another state, and we didn't want to move away from family. So we realized how losing a job can really shake up our security in it. Also, we had been trying to get pregnant with our second baby for over 6 months, and it was starting to wear on me. (You can see my post about secondary infertility here.)  There were other small factors too, such as Rebekah being sick with croup and missing things because of it, the weather getting colder and being cooped up inside again, less sunshine in the days, etc.,

Then, September 11 came... and shook up our whole country around us. I learned that our nation can be vulnerable to major attacks, and how there was security related to living in the U.S.A. and even that can be shaken too. My parents had flown just the night before the attacks, and I was a little concerned for them initially, but they were fine. Later we learned a family friend had been in one of the two towers of the World Trade Center, and that shook me up too. Eventually I just had to stop watching the news, it was too challenging to see it over and over, even as an adult.


I began crying a lot, and decided to go see my family doctor. He recommended some medicine, and seeing a counselor. I had a tough time deciding if I wanted to take the medicine or not, since I knew that I would not go off of them for a long time. (I have tried to stop taking it a few times with bad results, so I am on it to this day). I also have a family history of depression, including my dad, grandparents, and a few siblings (though we didn't know that at the time). So after meeting with our Pastor, our Bible Study, much prayer and discussion, I decided to take the meds. They did not help immediately, but they did begin to help.

I was fearful of being alone, so I "hung out" with friends every day. We didn't do anything too fancy, just sitting and talking, relaxing, and being together. I had a lot of wonderful friends at that time that allowed me to come over to their home, or came to mine for most of the day. I would do chores and laundry in the evenings when my husband was home. I did visit the counselor, and she was a woman, and good listener and very understanding. While I am not sure if she was a Christian, she did not discourage my beliefs. She encouraged me to change my way of thinking, to make things to look forward to, and do things in my life that were fun, just for me.

She also encouraged me to begin wearing silly socks. Why? Just to have something little to smile about each day. So I started collecting socks that have hearts, flowers, pumpkins, shamrocks, and all kinds of patterns or lines on them. I wear them to this day. They are easy to match, and my kids like them too! They are an easy gift idea for me, and I frequently get fun socks in my stocking at Christmas. :-D

Here are some other things that helped my time of depression:
Christian music
Sitting in the sunshine, walking
Reading through the Bible in a year (I did that twice!)
Painting my nails (I still do this when my kids are sick!)
Practicing the Presence of God (book)
Watching funny movies (Rat Race, Napoleon Dynamite)
Silly socks

If I fill a basket for someone with depression, this is what I'd include:
Kleenex (a BOX, it's ok to cry)
bubble bath, scented lotion
journal and fancy pen
cd of encouraging music (such as the song below)
and of course, a pair of silly socks!

This song by Building 429 seems to apply to this message:
"Listen to the Sound"
Are you in over your head 
Are you in water so deep you're drowning 
Do you think you've been left 
And there is no one to feel your hurting 
Well, everybody has been there 
And everybody's felt lost 
If you're in over your head 
Lift it up, lift it up 

(Chorus)
Oh, listen to the sound of hope that's rising up
Over your horizon 
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound 
And listen to the sound of a new beginning 
Oh, this is where the old is ending 
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound 

I hear you say you're alone 
I hear you saying that you'll never make it 
I've got to tell you you're wrong 
‘Cause I have been down this path you're takin' 
You'll never know what faith is 
‘Til you don't understand 
Sometimes it takes a silence 
To finally hear His plan 

Chorus

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound 
I once was lost, but now I'm found 
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound 
I once was lost, but now I'm found 

Chorus

His Grace is reaching for us 
His Grace is reaching out 
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound 
Wherever you are
(X2)

You can hear this song on YouTube here.


I hope this honest post has helped you in some way, to realize that there are those out there that deal with depression, whether you know about it or not. It is a terrible, awful time filled with negative, harmful thoughts. I felt that my prayers to God were "hitting the ceiling." I tried to read the Bible but it didn't seem to speak to me. There are many wonderful verses, such as Isaiah 43:2-4 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you... For I am the Lord your God... you are PRECIOUS in my sight... and I love you." God promises to never leave you or forsake you, even if you may feel like He has, He is there... (Hebrews 13:5) And remember, "I have inscribed you on the palm of my hand..." (Isaiah 49:16)

If you are dealing with chronic pain, you can read my post related to that here.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...