My 35 Birthday Blessings!

Today, I turn 35 years old.  I am not sure where I thought I'd be at 35, what I'd be doing or what exactly my life would look like at this point but I rest assured that I am right where the Lord has placed me for this particular season. 

I was reminded the other day of a song that I learned as a child and I sang it to my son on our way home from something (sorry Jamey that you had to listen - haha).

Count your blessings, name them one by one

Count your blessings, see what God has done

Count your blessings, name then one by one

Count your many blessings, see what God has done

So, to that I give you a list of 35 things blessings that I am thankful for.        (The first few are in order but after that they are in no particular order.)

1. My Jesus, My Salvation - without Him my future would look pretty bleak
2. My Husband - A man that Loves the Lord first, then me.  My best friend. He's the smartest man I know and he can do, make, build or fix anything 
3. Joey - My first born.  A talented young man, a leader that excels in all he does. 
4. Jamey - My baby.  A smart young man, full of compassion with a tender heart the size of Texas. 
5. My parents - both who love me like crazy and aren't afraid to show it.
6. My 3 brothers and their families - God truly has placed a special kind of love in my heart for you.
7. This Country, The USA - though it is not perfect, We are a Blessed Nation.
8. Our Military - thank you for my freedom.
9. My Church.  Best Church in the World.  God placed us here!
10. My Pastor and His beautiful wife.  My Spiritual Parents, both have taught me more about the Lord and living for Him than anyone, anywhere, anytime in my life EVER!
11. My extended family.  There are A LOT of you CrAzY people and I love you all!
12. My friends.  Life long oldies, church friends and newbies.
13. Our Home.  It's been a LONG journey to get it, but Thanks to God - It's Ours (even if we aren't finished with it yet).
14. Our vehicles.  They may not be the newest or the best but they get me where I need to go without walking! 
15. My husbands job.  God is our Source but He provided the job.
16. Getting to be a STAY AT HOME MOM.  I don't take this job lightly, it is my ministry to my family and I realize what a blessed woman I am to have this opportunity.
17. Health and Healing - bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus.
18. The beauty of God's creation with 4 distinct beautiful seasons.
19. The ability to learn "new" things.
20. The lessons I have learned in my past that make me stronger today.
21. My mom's Roast with potatoes and carrots!  My FAVORITE.
22. Diet Pepsi - my guilty pleasure, oh Yea!
23. Central heat and air!  If you have lived with out it for 33 of your 35 years you know what I mean.
24. New Tennis Shoes - My first new pair in about 6 or 7 years.
25. Full moon nights.  Just something about them I love.
26. The ability to cook - at least I think I can, haha
27. My awesome pets.
28. My camera - because I love to take me some pictures!
29. Modern appliances.  Dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, stove, etc..
30. To live out in the "country".  Def not a city girl. 
31. Makeup and Hair color to cover my gray.  To quote Pastor "every old barn needs a new coat of paint sometimes".  LOL 
32. My BIBLE or should I say Bibles.  I love to dig into God's Word.  I love to read them and mark them up with my notes.
33. Speedway Wild Cherry Slushies, a new found love. 
34. Facebook - It's how I keep up with my family.
35. That my boys are smarter, more talented and gifted and have more drive and determination than I ever had at their age.  They have the favor of God at work in them.

Homemade Biscuits

Proverbs 31:15 says "She gets up while it is still dark;  she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls."

Today I am focusing on the first part of the verse and showing you how I make my homemade biscuits for breakfast.  I admit though I make these the night before and once they cool I put them in an airtight container so that I can reheat them in the morning.  ;)

First in a bowl add 2 cups self rising flour and 2 teaspoons sugar and mix.

Measure out 1/2 cup of shortening and add to flour mixture.

 Using a fork, I mix the shortening and flour together until it resembles coarse crumbs.

 Now I make a "well" in my flour mixture and add in 2/3 cup of butter milk and mix.

 Dump mixture onto a cutting board dusted with flour and knead several times forming into a ball.  Dust your rolling pin with flour and roll dough out.

 Using anything round, cut your biscuits.  Repeat the kneading, rolling and cutting process until you have used all of your dough.

 Place cut biscuits onto your baking sheet (I use a stone) and top with a small amount of real butter or shortening to give you a crispy top.  Put in a preheated 425 degree oven and bake for about 15 minutes.

 Finished Product!

 For breakfast some will be having sausage biscuits and some will be having biscuits and gravy.  While my family loves homemade gravy and it is super easy to make I have found that these cans of Libby's country sausage gravy are quick and delicious and when heated and put over a biscuit tastes just like the gravy and biscuits you can buy at McDonald's.  :)  Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite breakfast dishes? 

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**SIDE NOTE:  I taught my husband how to make these today (11-16-12) and he did a wonderful job with them,  however he cut his much thinner than I usually do and they only had to bake about 12 minutes in a preheated oven.  So depending on the thickness of your biscuits and your oven the baking time may vary so keep a watch on them.  When they are golden brown on top, they'll be done! 

Feeling Loved and Accepted

This weeks chapter is about feeling loved and accepted. 

What makes you feel loved?  What makes you feel accepted?  I grew up in a home where deep down inside I knew that I was loved and looking back now as an adult I KNOW for sure that I was loved but there were many days where chaos reigned in our home, mostly between my older brothers and my dad and that spilled over onto my mother and me.  I grew up wandering a lot of times if my dad was even capable of "love".  The love was there and compared to alot of dysfunctional families, growing up in my house was a dream but for me it didn't feel that way and I didn't feel love like I should have.  Notice I said, I didn't feel loved. 
 
Feel (v) means : to seem to yourself to be in a particular physical or emotional state

To seem to yourself.  Sometimes we feel something to be true even when it really isn't.  Sometimes though unfortunately for some children the feelings are real and the situation is bleak for them. 

The day I got married, before the doors opened for me to walk down the isle I was alone with my dad and I told him I loved him.  He in return told me that he loved me.  We both "choked" up as this happened.  See, for me that was the first time I could remember my dad telling me that.  Oh, I am sure at various times growing up he told me but I could not remember any of those times probably because they were clouded by some unhappy childhood memories. 

I have made it a point from day one of having kids that I tell them "I love you" everyday and I "love" on them.  A hug, a kiss on the cheek, a cuddle before bed, a rub on the back or pat on the shoulder - all signs of love and affection for my precious boys that God as entrusted me with. 

What happens when we don't feel loved and accepted?

*  We fall in with the wrong crowd at school  because they accept us and we end up doing things we normally wouldn't. 
*  We experiment with drugs and alcohol to help us attempt to cover or hide the "feelings" of being rejected.
*  We have sexual relations with people when we know we really shouldn't but it's hard to walk away from someone showing you this very close kind of love and acceptance - even if it's not really love.  But to a young person it "feels" that way. 

When our children do not get what they need at home from us they will go looking for it in other people and places.  Remember even if the love and acceptance is there for your children they may not "feel" it and it is our job to make sure they do.

Some things we can do to help our children feel loved and accepted.

*  Pray for your children to feel loved and accepted.  Pray that God would open their minds and hearts to you and that they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are loved. 
*  Praise your children.
*  Love on them and tell them you love them.  Don't just assume they know you love them!  Kids (and adults) need to be told these special "3 little words".
*  Spend time with them.  Quality and Quantity - both matter.
*  Do special things with them and for them.

What about you?  Have you ever personally felt rejection?  What are some things you do to show your children they are loved and accepted?

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From the Book

(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")

Rejection brings out the worst in people.  Love and acceptance bring out the best. 

A person may not actually be rejected, but if he believes he is, the effect is just as damaging as if it were true.

Knowing that God loves us and accepts us changes our lives.

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love;  I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Isaiah 41:9 (NIV)

I took you from the ends of the earth,  from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;  I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

 

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Homemade Vegetable Soup

Today is officially the first day of fall.  I love the changing colors of the leaves, the crisp cool air, bon fires and camp outs, baking apple pies and pumpkin bread and making Big Pots of SOUP!

I love soup!  I don't know what it is but soup just tastes better when the air is cool and the seasons change.

Today I am making Vegetable Soup.  I throw a little of all kinds of vegetables in mine depending on what I have on hand.  This has to be one of the easiest soups to make. 

First, I put a beef roast in the crock pot or use left overs from one we have had for dinner. 

Next, I add any and all of the following vegetables to a large stock pot:

potatoes                   
carrots
onions
celery
peas
green beans
Lima beans
tomatoes
cabbage
broccoli
corn

I add all the vegetables with the juice from the can to my pot, the beef (pulled apart in small pieces) and some beef broth along with vegetable juice and some extra water if needed and simmer for a few hours until potatoes are nice and tender.   

I also add in salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to season.

Serve with cheese sticks and pnut butter sandwiches or a piece of cornbread.

YUMMO!

What are some of your favorite Soups to make???

Securing Protection From Harm For Our Children

The title of this is Securing Protection from Harm and the one thing that came to mind after reading it was Psalm 91.  What an amazing chapter in God's Word that we can pray and claim over our children.  Make it personal!  When you read and pray these verses insert your child's name into each verse.  Example:

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side (Joey), and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

⁸ Only a spectator shall you (Joey) be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Psalm 91:1-16 (Amplified Bible)

¹ He who ^[a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

² I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

³ For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

⁶ Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

⁸ Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

¹⁰ There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

¹¹ For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

¹² They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

¹⁴ Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

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From the Book

(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")

Being a praying parent doesn't mean that nothing bad will ever happen to your children or that they will never experience pain.  They will, because pain is a part of life in this fallen world.  But the Bible assures us that our prayers play a vital part in keeping trouble from them.  And when a painful thing does happen, they will be protected in the midst of it so it will be to their betterment and not their destruction.  -- Stormie Omartian

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

JUST a Stay-at-Home-Mom ?!?!?

You're just a stay at home mom, right?  Can I just tell you that is not the best way to start off a conversation with a stay at home mom.  If you want us to help with something - it would probably be a good idea to go about it another way.  I could not tell you the number of times people have said that to me and I often wander, what exactly do you think I do all day?

First of all - I am not "Just" anything and neither are you.  If you are a child of God he says that we are chosen and special.

1 Peter 2:9  Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own ^[a]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Second, I work a job the same as anyone else with a one exception.  I do not get paid in money.  Money is not everything.  We sacrifice A LOT of "things" and we live on a pretty tight and strict budget (I will post more about budgeting later) in order to live the way we do.  

Years ago I was reading a book called the Power of a Positive Mom and it asked you to write down a job description for yourself. 

Here is mine:

I am tired just reading that.  I am sure that I could add to this list and description now as this was written out 10 years ago or more and I know that many of you stay at home moms can relate. 

Now, let me just say - I stay at home because it is my calling.  I truly feel that God has called me in this season of my life to be a "homemaker".  It was a decision that my husband and I made together based upon Titus 2:4-5 because we felt this was God's instructions for us and our family.

 

Titus 2:4 -5 says ⁴ These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,^[b] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

 

You may feel called to work outside of the home or may not be in a financial situation where you can stay at home and that is fine too.  We all have to do what is best for our families and what we feel is right. 

What about you?  If you stay home have you ever been referred to in this way?   What about those of you who do work "outside" of your home - has anyone ever made negative comments to about your decision?  

 This post is not meant to put anyone down but rather to encourage you.  Whether we are single or married, have children or don't, and whether we choose to work at home or outside of our homes we need to be supportive of each other in what ever role we are in and not speak in a negative manner toward anyone.

Releasing Our Children Into God's Hands

Let me begin this post by saying that if there was ever a time to be praying for our children it is NOW.  Last Sunday evening before my first post on Monday for this series a young boy in my son's class was shot and killed.  A young boy in my 6th graders class that was only 12 years old.  Apparently things were very bad in his home and he decided at 12 years old that life was not worth living.  This past Friday I had the heart wrenching task of taking my son, my 11 year old son to the funeral home to say his goodbyes.  We must pray for our children.  If we don't then who will?  Please pray for this young mans family.  God knows who they are.  I am quickly reminded of last weeks post and the following quote from the book.

"We don't even have to be parents. We can be a friend, a teacher, a grandparent, an aunt, a cousin, a neighbor, a guardian, or even a stranger with a heart of compassion or concern for a child. The child may be someone we hear of or read about in the newspaper; the child may even be an adult for whom we have a mother's or father's heart. If you're aware of a child who doesn't have a praying parent, you can step into the gap right now and answer that need. You can effect a change in the life of any child you care about. All it takes is a heart that says, "God, show me how to pray in a way that will make a difference in this child's life." -- Stormie Omartian

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When my oldest son started kindergarten it was a huge deal for me.  He had attended a Christian Preschool for 2 years prior to starting "real" school but that was a couple days a week for 3 hours each day not 5 days a week all day long.  The first day of school I drove him but on the second day I put him on the school bus.  The big yellow school bus that looked like it would swallow him whole when he walked up the steps because he was so small.  I got on the bus with him and introduced him to the driver and then left him, all alone on the big yellow school bus.  You see as our children grow and mature we can't always be with them. 

There will come a time that our children are out of our sight and care and in the hands of someone else whether it be at school, at church, a friends house, a babysitters, daycare, on the school bus or a great many other possible places.  For some of us it happens a little sooner than others but it will happen to all of us.  It is not possible for us as parents to be with them ALL the time but I have good news for you - God can be with them and is with them ALWAYS!

When I put my son on the school bus that morning I was like a crazy lady getting my younger son in my car so I could "follow" the bus down the road.  Yes, I really did that.  I followed my son's bus all the way to school and parked to watch him get off the bus and walk in to the school.  I wanted to be sure he made it there safely.  I had not yet learned to "release" him to God.

I have learned since that I have to trust God to watch over my boys and take care of them.  He does a better job than I could ever do and He loves them more than I am possible of so why would I not release them into His hands? 

What about you?  When have you had to release your children into God's hands and trust Him to take care of them?

From the Book

(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")

 

Chapter 2 - Releasing our Children Into God's Hands

 

Partner with God

 

"Lord my son is the biggest "care" I have, and I release him into Your hands.  Only You can raise him right and truly keep him safe.  I will no longer strive to do it all by myself but will enter into full partnership with You."

 

We can trust God to take care of our children even better than we can.  When we release our children into the Father's hands and acknowledge that He is in control of their lives and ours, both we and our children will have greater peace.

 

We can't be everywhere.  But God can.  We can't see everything.  But Gd can.  We can't know everything.  But God can.  No matter what age our children are, releasing them into God's hands is a sign of our faith and trust in Him and is the first step toward making a difference in their lives.  Prayer for our children begins there.  --  Stormie Omartian

 

Matthew 7:11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

 

1 John 3:22  Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

 

Psalm 127:3  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

  

 

 

Becoming a Praying Parent

For those of you who have never read this book I highly recommend it!  I have had it for many years and have read it and prayed the prayers in it many times over my children.  

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Even before my boys were born like most Christian parents I prayed for them.  With my first son there were several times that the devil tried to cause problems with him during my pregnancy and immediately following his birth and we had to pray and stand against the attack from our enemy.  Once they were born I prayed for God to heal them when they were sick, I prayed for their protection and for blessings in and upon their lives but also like so many parents I truly did not understand the importance of covering EVERY area of their lives in prayer until I found Stormie's book "The Power of a Praying Parent".

Becoming a praying parent requires work and dedication.  It is a job to keep the details of our child's life covered in prayer.  I am not the perfect praying parent, I am learning just the same as you.  The important thing is that we pray.  We don't have to be perfect - God sees our hearts and will honor our faithfulness.

As we begin this journey together Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind the things you need to be in prayer about so you can begin making your own personalized list and pray for God to help you to be a praying parent. 

From the Book

(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent"

Chapter One - Becoming a Praying Parent

What is Prayer and How does it Work?

**It's seeking the presence of God and releasing the power of God which gives us the means to overcome any problem. 

**When we pray we are humbling ourselves before God and saying, "I need Your presence and Your power, Lord.

**When we don't pray, it's like saying we have no need of anything outside of ourselves.

**God knows our thoughts and our needs, but He responds to our prayers.

Make a Personalized List

**It's not enough to pray only for the concerns of the moment;  we need to pray for the future, and we need to pray against the effects of past events.

**Ask God to show you how to pray for each child over the next 12 months.

Pray God's Word

**God's Word is "living and Powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12) and it pierces everything it touches.  God says His Word, "shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). 

**When we employ God's Word in prayer, we are laying hold of the promises He gives us and appropriating them into the lives of our children. 

"It's the power of God that penetrates a child's life when a parent prays". 

"We don't even have to be parents.  We can be a friend, a teacher, a grandparent, an aunt, a cousin, a neighbor, a guardian, or even a stranger with a heart of compassion or concern for a child.  The child may be someone we hear of or read about in the newspaper;  the child may even be an adult for whom we have a mother's or father's heart.  If you're aware of a child who doesn't have a praying parent, you can step into the gap right now and answer that need.  You can effect a change in the life of any child you care about.  All it takes is a heart that says, "God, show me how to pray in a way that will make a difference in this child's life."  --  Stormie Omartian

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WOW, that is POWERFUL!

Are you ready and willing to take on this task of praying for our children? 

James 5:16 (b) (Amplified) says The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].