Friday, March 29, 2013

HE IS RISEN!

Happy Easter!

Easter is one of my favorite holidays, because it is all about hope and promise of new life in CHRIST, who has risen from the death of the grave, and is waiting in heaven for us! I pray you have accepted His free gift of salvation and know the joy of it in your heart and life!

The tomb is empty and HE LIVES!

I am not online today, Good Friday-- I take a fast from screens and focus on HIM! So this has been posted in advance...
painting by Jill Nadel, image copyright 2010



Matthew 28: 1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”



Mark 16:5-7

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thankful Thursday: Spring fun!

No American Girl class this week, since it's Spring Break! We'll be back on our regular schedule next week!

Since it's my first Thankful Thursday in a while, I will remind you where I got this idea. I read Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts and really enjoyed it last year. I decided to begin blogging more about thankfulness and incorporating thankfulness into my life and home. Each day, I write in my thankfulness journal 3 gifts that I am thankful for that day. It can be something little like holding my child's hand or something big like money or our car getting fixed. 

Last week in MOPS, we made teacup birdfeeders. I don't have a place to hang mine just yet, but I think it is so pretty and adorable! We have seen birds at it several times, which I love. Birds coming back to our area for the spring! Thank you Lord for a cute new birdfeeder, and for birds which add cheer and sweet songs to my days!

 Before the next few pictures, I must include a story. A few years ago, I heard a speaker who talked about reading a psalm a day before she turned 60, counting down from 60 to 1, which would be her birthday. I mentioned to my husband that I liked the idea and I thought about doing that before my 40th birthday.

I am a gift-lover. It doesn't need to be extravagant or expensive, just a little gift that makes me feel loved in my love language. Even a card or a note makes me feel loved for days! That is part of the reason that I love to make and send handmade cards. My sweet family has been giving me a gift a day for a week and a half now. On day 40 before my birthday, I got 40 tea-bags. Day 39 was 39 tic-tacs. Day 38 & 37 were efferdent tablets that I use for my retainer cleaning. (Yes, I still wear it after all these years!) Day 36 was 36 pieces of gum in two packs of 18. Day 35 was clothespins! My practical heart loves it... Day 34 was 34 tea-light candles. Day 33 was 32 caps and one gun (see below!)
 Day 31 was a 31 bead necklace-- love jewelry and the bead colors are so pretty!
 I've also been given 30 bobby pins (30 big and 30 small), and 29 bite size Snickers bars!
I love the gifts, the thoughtfulness of my family and looking forward to a new gift each day! It makes turning the big 4-0 a little more fun!


Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?


1 Corinthians 12:30-31
 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desirethe greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.


1 Corinthians 13: 13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: New Baby!

This past Saturday night, we had some church friends visit for dinner and chatting time. The kids all enjoyed holding their young baby Jesse, just 6 weeks old! He was sweet and didn't mind being passed around getting held by all of us!
 Bethany and Mallory loved on him...
 After his momma nursed him...
 Mallory loved holding him...
 Caleb got a turn...
 Rebekah too...
Bethany (age 4+) had some help!

We al enjoyed having a baby around for a few hours! He was awake and alert most of the time, and hardly fussed! We thank God for our friends and their baby Jesse!

Luke 18:15-16
People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Luke 2:16
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

John 16:21
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Music Monday: "Strangely Dim"

This was supposed to post yesterday... oops!

This is another song that my daughter and I have been enjoying together, and have heard on the radio. Hope you enjoy it too!


Strangely Dim by Francesca Battistelli
from the album Hundred More Years (Deluxe Edition)

I've had all these plans piled up sky high 
A thousand dreams on hold
And I don't know why, 
I got a front row seat 
To longest wait
And I just can't see
Past the things I pray
Today

(Chorus) 

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
Cuz when I seek Your face
And don't look around
Any place I'm in
Grows strangely dim 

Sometimes where I stand
On this narrow road?Is in a raging storm
Or a valley low
But oh 

(Repeat Chorus) 

I don't know I don't know
What tomorrow may hold
But I know but I know
That You're holding it all
So no matter what may come

(Chorus) 

I'm gonna fix my eyes on all that You are
Til every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
Let all my worries fade
And fall to the ground
I'm gonna seek Your face
And not look around
Til place I'm in
Grows strangely dim



"STRANGELY DIM" WORDS AND MUSIC BY FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI, MIA FIELDES AND SETH MOSLEY (C) WORD MUSIC, LLC (ASCAP), FRANCESCA MUSIC (ASCAP) ALL RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND FRANCESCA MUSIC ADMINISTERED BY WORD MUSIC, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED



You can listen to this song on YouTube here.


Psalm 141:8
But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Recipe: "Conga Bars"

These delicious treats are from my mother-in-law's cookbook that she gave my hubby before we were married. These are also called "Blonde Brownies". They are so yummy and easy to make!

One time when my hubby and I were newly married, we went on canoe/raft trip with his parents, sister, some friends (a couple, their teenage son and his friend.) The two teenage boys were in kayaks on the river that day. My hubby and I had a canoe. His parents, sister and the couple were in their blue raft all together. One section of the river had some rapids and we took on water. Most of the food was protected in the cooler, but for some reason the Conga Bars were out, just in a 
 bag. Apparently the bag had holes, and when the raft took on water, the bag did too. The Conga Bars ended up all wet, and I remember my mom-in-law was not happy about it!
Here is the recipe for the deliciousness...

Conga Bars
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup shortening
2 1/4 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In medium saucepan or microwave, melt shortening. Pour melted shortening into large mixing bowl and add brown sugar. Stir. Cool slightly. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well. Add dry ingredients, nuts and chocolate chips. Spread into greased 9 X 13" pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cut into squares when cool. Store in an airtight container (or they will get a little hard.)


Definitely not low-fat, but the walnuts make them nutritious, right?

Let me know if you try this recipe, I'd love to hear your review!


2 Samuel 22:29
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deepdarkness a light has dawned.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

American Girl class: Julie week 2

We had another great class day discussing Julie! The book we read and discussed this week was Julie Tells Her Story, the 2nd book in the Julie series. After we reviewed the book, we also discussed President Richard Nixon, and I gave the girls a word search found here. I read from a book called "Presidents of the United States (A Fast Fact Book)"-- the page about Richard Nixon. I also read from another book about him, a brief fact list. It was kinda interesting to read and discuss a little!
I gave each of the girls a bandana to put on their heads as a Head Kerchief. I had picked up a fun variety at Hobby Lobby. Several of the girls wore them right away!

Then we dove into our craft for this week which was Macrame Keychains. I got directions (below) on how to make this craft from a YouTube video you can find here. I watched the video three times, and it really helped me get the hang of this craft which I had never done before. Several of the moms and I talked about remembering macramé plant hangers and necklaces. I am by no means an expert at macramé but the video was a huge help and I am so glad I took the time to watch it! If your daughter hasn't finished her macramé, click on the above link and it will help!

Macrame directions from Youtube video 

Supplies needed: cord/ twine/ yarn; larger hole beads, keychain ring, foam board with quilting pins on top and bottom, scissors (Note: I also brought a lighter to keep ends of the cord from fraying, pen tops to push beads through the holes, packing tape to hold cord down, and a few clipboards--which helped the younger girls!)

Directions:
1. Cut two pieces of cord/ twine- one two feet long, one four feet long. Fold longer pieces in half so all four ends meet. Make a slip knot (loop) onto the keychain ring, pull tight.

2. Take the two smaller pieces to macrame on and tack to bottom of board/ table (tape?/ pin). This makes two middle pieces tight to macrame around. Will do alternating knot to give flat effect.

3. To begin, put right longer piece over middle, end on left side. Place right piece on top, the end under the middle 2 strands and through loop. Pull knot tight to top.

4. Alternate sides to make flat with same knot. Do that for 5-6 stitches, attach one bead. (Loop is the one you need to start. If you do wrong side, will start to twist.) Take off bottom, string a bead onto both pieces. Then secure bottom strands again. Macrame again, alternating sides, for 5-6 more stitches, then attach another bead. 

(Different version is to not alternate sides but keep same side, then it is twisty. Can make a bracelet by making a knot with a loop, secure to pins, macrame your bracelet with beads, then knot again, put through loop on other end and secure to wrist.)

5. To finish after the three beads on keychain, make a knot at the end of all four strands, push up to end of macrame knot, trim off ends. There you have your keychain!

This is a fun project for children, easy to make as gifts for parents for holidays or birthdays. Can find vintage beads, with faces on them (or paint) make for # of children in family. Enjoy this fun and easy project!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2:00 class working on their macrame... the girl in the hat did an excellent job at macrame! I told her she could be a professional! It looked perfect when she was done!


She (above) didn't want me to take her picture, but I think it's a great one of her!
My daughter and several other girls thought it was hard, but once they figured it out, it was easy! It took some girls 20 minutes to make, others closer to 30, depending on how quickly they figured it out.

The snack we ate was Tuna Noodle Casserole & Sun Tea. Some of the girls liked Tuna fish and some didn't-- the 2:00 class had potato chips on top of their casserole and some liked that! It looked good to me!

It was an enjoyable class!

Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

Esther 1:6
The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.

Hosea 11:4
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Rebekah's birthday #14!

(Well, almost wordless!)

We had a very fun owl-themed party here for our older daughter Rebekah this past weekend. It was a different party weekend, because we had three friends here on Friday night for pizza, dessert, movie and a sleepover. The girls also had fun playing on the wii, discussing girly things in Rebekah's bedroom and talking not-too-late into the night before closing their eyes for at least 7 hours. Not too bad for a sleepover!



 Then on Saturday evening, we had family here for a dessert party with owl cupcakes, ice cream and a few gifts. It was a fun time, but kinda weird to not feed the family dinner! The owl cupcakes were a hit, and we enjoyed the combo of the sandwich cookies, m-n-m and Junior Mint. Several of the little kids just ate the top off the cupcake though. :-D
Making the cupcakes...
 Isn't it cute?
 Showing the frosted ear...
 After blowing out the candles...
 My bro-in-law thought his looked like a mustached man with an orange dot on his forehead...when turned upside-down. :-D
 Opening gifts... a Bible cover from Mom and Dad...
 A new purple chunky necklace...
A new purple feather boa...
 Mallory tries on the boa...
 A reading light, paint by numbers (tough set) kit.
New fun flip-flops!

We enjoy our Rebekah-girl, and can't believe she is already 14! We enjoy her and are proud of the young woman that she is becoming before our very eyes!

John 3:17

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Matthew 25:21

 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

My buddy

My Bethany is a momma's girl. She prefers to be with mom most of the time. She likes to sit next to me at the breakfast and dinner table. She likes to be nearby while playing. If I am gone and didn't tell her where I am going (like after a nap), she starts to panic.

She likes to nap in my bed when I do. She likes to go with me to the store or post office. She likes me to wash her up in the tub. She likes me to help her dress and undress. She likes me to put on her shoes.

She is ok with her Dad putting her to bed, and big sisters or brother helping her with some things, but really likes Mom. Maybe it is because we are usually together. Maybe it is because I am her mother. I think she just really likes me. She loves and adores me. She thanks God for me during prayer time, and I get teary-eyed.

One day last week, we were discussing who her buddies were. Of course, she listed lots of people. She listed me, Dad, Rebekah, Caleb, Mallory, the neighbors, her cousins... in her mind she has lots of buddies. But I know my child, I know the truth, I know her heart.

That is how I want to be with God. I want to desire to be close to Him at all times. I want to pray for His Presence to be with me at breakfast, nearby while I work, while I eat, mother my children, while I sleep. I want to prefer to be with my "Daddy", my Abba Father. I want to be thankful to God and for God.

I want to share experiences and moments with God each day too. I want to have lots of earthly people that I love, but for none to take the place of God in my heart. I know He knows me as His child well too. I know He knows the truth and what is in my heart too. Do I love and adore Him?

Who is your buddy? Who is your closest friend? Who is your Abba Father? Do you tell Him how you are thankful for Him, His Son and all He has done for you? I hope so. If not, why not now?

Luke 18:16
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to becomechildren of God—

Romans 8:15
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Galatians 4:6
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,“Abba, Father.”

Monday, March 18, 2013

Music Monday: "Every Good Thing"

This is another song that I've heard on the radio lately, and I liked the lyrics and upbeat sound. I downloaded it and have enjoyed it a lot! I know sometimes I do forget the beautiful life that God has given and take it for granted, as the song says. God is the giver of good gifts, and each heartbeat. He gives us the blessings in our days, we just need to open our eyes and see all He gives! That is why I like my thankfulness journal and writing down 3 gifts each day. It helps me remember and acknowledge that God is the giver daily. I hope you enjoy this song too!

"Every Good Thing" by The Afters

I tend to be busier than I should be
I tend to think that time is going to wait for me
Sometimes I forget and take for granted
That it's a beautiful life we live
I don't want to miss the moments like this
This is a beautiful life You give

You're the reason for every good thing, every heartbeat
Every day we get to breathe
You're the reason for anything that lasts, every second chance
Every laugh
Life is so sweet
You're the reason for every good thing

There will be days that give me more than I can take
But I know that You always make beauty from my heartache
Don't want to forget or take for granted
That it's a beautiful life we live
I'm not going to miss the moments like this
This is a beautiful life You give

It's our family, it's our friends
It's the feeling that I get when I see my children smile
You're the reason for this life, everything we love
It's You alive in us
You're alive in us

You are here in every moment, and I know that You're every good thing
You are here in every moment, and I know that You're the reason for
You are every good thing


You can listen to this song on YouTube here.


2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Philemon 1:6
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above,coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,who does not change like shifting shadows.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Birthday prep and planning...

Rebekah's birthday party is this weekend and I am busy planning and preparing for it. She wanted an owl-themed party and we found this cute aqua owl online for her invitations. I can hardly believe she is going to be 14!

For the cake, we will be making some fun cupcakes, inspired by Pinterest of course!



It should be a fun party, and we are having a sleepover tonight too! I'll post all about it next week!

Leviticus 11:13-18
 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,[a] the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven,16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Psalm 102:6
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

Isaiah 13:21
But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

American Girl class: Julie week 1

We had a great class this week talking about Julie! We reviewed the first book in the Julie series, Meet Julie. After we discussed the book, I played the Rod Stewart song “Gladrags and Handbags" (Click here for the lyrics). Then I  showed a few items from the 1970’s-- bandana skirt (which I wore!), mood ring, denim purse, bangle bracelets, lava lamp, etc.,

We had a fun craft time this week! We had two crafts: a Fuzzy Foot Rug with fake fur as shown on p.10 of the book. We also made Pet Rocks with Sharpie markers and rocks from my backyard! 
Loved seeing the girls work together on their rugs, tracing and cutting...
For the rug, I bought some fuzzy pink fur at Hobby Lobby. It shed a bit when it was cut, so that was interesting cutting a lot of it in our class! There was pink fur bits all over the carpet and our clothes! I was thankful that we found a vacuum after class to use in our room. It needed it! For the foot pattern, I looked at Jamin's blog and made my own template using a poster board. I had two tracers, and the pieces of pink fur were kinda big, so I had the class split into two groups/ tables. Then I had one group make pet rocks while the other traced and cut their rugs. It worked well, and the girls were tickled pink to have a rug for their room just like Julie's!
 Coloring their pet rocks...
 Tracing and cutting foot rugs...
 A groovy, cute rock!
 Some of the girls were going to keep the scraps to make a little rug for their dolls!
 A cute dog rock!
The completed rug... she was coloring on it too... 
(measures about 15" X 28")

 For snack, we had Zucchini bread and we discussed why it was popular in the 1970’s. During WWII when people planted Victory Gardens, everyone realized how easy Zucchini is to grow.  As time passed people became more and more creative with the recipes they developed to cook the zucchini.  In  the late 60's early 70's as women started entering the work force they were looking for easy and nutritious recipes. Zucchini bread, carrot bread and banana bread were thought to be healthy breads/desserts since there was not icing.  And it was much easier to make than yeast breads that had to be kneaded and raised. Kinda interesting!

The 2:00 class...
Picking out and coloring on their pet rocks...
Tracing and cutting out their rugs...


Isaiah 21:5
They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!

Ezekiel 27:24
In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.
Psalm 78:15
He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
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