Trusting In Him

It’s been another one of those weeks, where  I haven't been getting quality sleep and some nights, much sleep at all. I’ve been exhausted and stressing about the fact that I wasn’t sleeping. You know how that only makes it harder!

Was I trying to do all this on my own again? Had I forgotten that I need to leave the worries in God’s hands? To let Him decide how I use my waking or resting hours? Maybe I needed to repent for the things I’d tried to hold myself, when I needed God to be in control. Maybe then, I’d rest better. . . rest with God and in His care.

There’s been so much “noise” in my head, so many things on my mind lately. Had I been taking the time to be quiet before God? Or was I so preoccupied with myself, my pain and my problems ~ that I wasn’t allowing God to direct my thoughts and actions?

Trust is something that God seems to highlight frequently. God has proven Himself worthy of my trust, so many times before. And yet, as a difficult situation comes to mind, I worry, I simply wasn’t trusting as I should? Did I need to let go more and be quieted before God, so that I could trust all to Him?

 

2 Corinthians 12:10 {New International Version {NIV}} reminds us: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The end of this verse is ‘strong’ ~ not a word I’d use to describe my physical attributes in any sense.

It would be good to think that my life demonstrates a different kind of strength ~ the strength I have available from God, that makes the difference in my life, and certainly helps in the daily challenges of chronic illness.

I need to be quietly trusting in the One who brings me strength, even when I’m weak.

How about you? Are there things you need to hand back, or over to God’s care, so you can rest in Him and trust Him better? What reminds you to do this?

Take Care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for…

23. dinner dates
24. m & m’s
25. woollen socks
26. finding a new author
27. daily chats with my girl
28. the promises in Scripture
29. dinner invitations

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

On purpose

This time of year it’s so easy to feel bogged down and under the weather. The holidays have come and gone, and the excitement of the season has long since faded, but no matter what life looks like today, there is so much to celebrate. . . even on these cold, wintry days!

I once heard these words. . . We either make ourselves happy or miserable ~ the amount of work is the same.

As I am getting older, {gasp ~ did I just say that?}, life becomes increasingly precious. Each day is a gift in and of itself. Time spent with loved ones more precious.

Just last night, my husband and I spent time together in the hottub ~ and the peace and quiet was as beautiful as the view. Everything seemed to slow down, and the quieter it was outside, the quieter it became inside. My heart rate slowed down, and the mental chatter disappeared.

And all I can say ~ It. Sure. Felt. Good!

We all need to take time to unplug.Unplug, as defined by dictionary.com “to be free from obstruction; to unclog”.

It was simply wonderful to take some time and focus on us ~ not the bills that need to be paid, or the repairs that have to be completed on the house but to talk about us and our future plans, our hopes and dreams ~ life is a gift.

Lately I am discovering how much I need quiet, to just still myself before Him … It’s noisy out there in our big, full lives and while some of the noise can’t be avoided, we do invite some of it in.

How can we pay attention to the important and meaningful stuff, or even discern what is important or meaningful if we are attempting to pay attention to all of it? The short answer is that we can’t. We need quiet time and space in our homes and our lives for contemplation and clarity so we can choose what matters most.

It’s what happens in the quiet times.

What matters most looks different for everyone. My life, and yours too, is going to pass in a flash. We want to live purposefully, keeping our eyes focused on what's truly important. 

So if life has thrown you for a loop lately, or felt like a kick in the face, remember these words:

CHOOSE to be THANKFUL
Because you can

Take Care

mhmm monday

Applesauce Spice Muffins

{photo and recipe courtesy Mennonite Girls Can Cook}

Ingredients:
1 cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups applesauce
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts {I omit}

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar.
Add eggs one at a time incorporating well and mix in vanilla.
Stir in the applesauce.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
Stir into creamed mixture.
Fold walnuts in.
Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Makes 2 dozen.
Enjoy!

These are a very tasty and not overly sweet muffin.

Take Care

Worried...

Worry: To torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.

There is not one positive thing about worry…
Anguish. Misery. Uncertainty. Uneasiness. Woe. Perplexity. Torture. Irritation. Distress.

We worry, we fret, we become perplexed. Mostly about things we have no control over.

We worry about our kids. Our Parents. Money. Jobs. Meetings. About our health, our home, our safety, about “what ifs,” and on it goes…. We have much to worry about. But, most of what we worry about never happens, does it?

Does worrying do us any good?

Worrying takes its toll on our health, our lifestyle, our relationships, and our performance in many areas. And probably even more than we realize.

So, tell me, why do we do it?

Nothing seems to steal our joy quicker than worry. This last month has been stressful to say the least. I couldn’t make sense of it. Ever been there? It’s tough, isn’t it? My circumstances might not change, but I will choose to rise above them.

I’ve heard the saying, “If you worry don’t pray, and if you pray, don’t worry.” Simple, yet easier said than done.

But because God is in control of all things,
and because He will never turn His back on you or me,
and because He is good, even when life isn’t,
we can trust Him.

We can still have joy.

So, what do we do? What can we do the next time we are tempted to or catch ourselves worrying? What do you do?

There will always be opportunities in our lives to worry, but when we find ourselves in those situations let us be reminded of: Romans 8:28 {New International Version {NIV}} “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” and Joshua 1:5b {New International Version {NIV}} “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Today, let’s not let our joy be robbed by anything. Especially worry. And if you catch yourself worrying ~ pray, read Scripture, go for a walk, or do whatever works to stop yourself.

Take Care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for.

16. reece peanut butter cups
17. phone calls from my boys
18. warm blankets
19. fresh baked bread
20. holding a baby
21. finding and trying new recipes
22. a promise kept

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

Book Review ~ The Silent Sister

What would you do if everything you thought about your life was based on a lie? What if you spent your entire life living a lie? Diane Chamberlain's The Silent Sister is a suspense novel based on those premises.

Riley MacPherson's entire life falls apart after her father's death when she realizes everything she thought she knew about her family was wrong. While getting ready to sell his North Carolina real estate ~ her childhood home and a trailer park ~ Riley runs across several people who harbour secrets about her family’s past.

Riley was only two when she lost her older sister. She has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. And, the entire family suffered in ways that Riley never understood. When her father dies, though, she uncovers evidence to the contrary. Despite her older brother's anger, Riley is desperate to discover the truth.

As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality.

In this engrossing mystery, The Silent Sister has some interesting twists, and is a great suspense novel with a complex web spun from lies.

Take Care

mhmm monday

This pecan coated chicken with a sweet and tangy maple mustard sauce ~ deliciously easy and oh so yummy!

Pecan Chicken w/ Maple Mustard Sauce

Ingredients:
Chicken:
olive oil, for greasing the pan
1 ½ cups pecans
⅓ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
coarse salt and fresh black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Dipping Sauce:
¼ cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon rice or white vinegar
2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400° F. Grease a large baking sheet with sides or a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
In the bowl of a food processor pulse the pecans until finely chopped or place them in a ziploc bag, set them on a flat surface, cover with a kitchen towel and pound into crumbs with a meat mallet. Pour them into a wide, shallow bowl.
In a small bowl whisk the mayo and mustard together.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Using a spoon or pastry brush coat the tops and sides of the chicken with the mayo mixture. Dredge in the pecans, patting them on to help them stick. Place on the baking sheet pecan side up.
Bake 25 minutes or until cooked through. If the pecans start to get too dark cover the pan with foil.
Meanwhile whisk the maple syrup, mustard, vinegar and mayonnaise together until well combined. Add a couple dashes of salt and pepper. Refrigerate.
Let the chicken sit 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle the sauce over it or serve on the side for dunking.
Enjoy!

Take Care

Farmer's Day

They say opposites attract and in many ways it’s true for us...

He's an extrovert...I'm an introvert
He sees instructions as suggestions...I see them as iron clad.
He likes to go out ...I prefer staying home.

You get the idea...we are not a like in so many ways. However, the important stuff...that we agree on! We have the same faith, the same set of convictions, and when we were raising our kids, we were a team.

This is one man I love having on my team. I appreciate so many things about him:
His heart for the Lord...
His desire to work hard, at all he does...
The way he loves and cares for me... {I'm kind of high maintenance!}
He goes above and beyond in many areas...
He’s got a great sense of humour…
He will go the extra mile...without being asked...

And

He's the one I love with all my heart.

Happy Birthday, Wayne! wishing you many more years!

take care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for.

9. snow storms
10. quiet evenings
11. chai tea lattes
12. daily devotional time with God
13. tea dates with friends
14. good books
15. family picture adventures

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.
 

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

tasty tuesday

Quinoa is a wonderful substitute for this protein-packed veggie "fried rice"!

Quinoa Veggie “Fried Rice

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 zucchini, chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 carrots, peeled and grated
3 cups cooked quinoa
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 green onions, sliced
Sriracha, for serving

Directions:
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over low heat. Add eggs and fry until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side, flipping only once. Let cool before dicing into small pieces.
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, and cook, stirring often, until onions have become translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
Add mushrooms, broccoli and zucchini. Cook, stirring constantly, until vegetables are tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Add corn, peas, carrots and quinoa. Cook, stirring constantly, until heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
Add ginger and soy sauce, and gently toss to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Stir in green onions and eggs.
Serve immediately, drizzled with Sriracha, if desired.
Enjoy!

Take Care

mondays

ah, mondays.  a day we all love, right?  back to work, back to the daily grind, back to “real life”.

poor mondays; such a bad rep. hated by many, dreaded by the majority. mondays can be hard.  inboxes are full and to~do lists are long.   but mondays are 1/7 of our lives, so we might as well learn to enjoy them!

if you are like me at all, maybe you want your mondays to be more than just a complaint. more than a collection of all the things that can go wrong. more than a wishing the day away. 
 
it’s all about perspective.

today is a brand new day.  an opportunity.  we can let monday be the day we start our week off right. by making a decision to make the most out of what comes our way.  and decide to let go of those things that aren’t good. to start by being thankful for the days we are given ~ regardless of how they turn out.  it can be a day of looking for the good.  maybe this monday is about creating the kind of life you want by taking it one day at a time.

mondays are beginnings. and the best part about beginnings is that we get to start over.

it's monday.  it’s too easy to fall into a dissatisfied routine of living that is fixed on the ordinariness and of the mundane.  dusting, washing, grocery shopping, scrubbing the toilet, sweeping, fixing dinner ~ lather, rinse and repeat day after day and it’s easy to be discontent.   especially when we are fed by billboards, advertisements, tv, movies, magazines that everything has to be awesome! or epic!! or totally amazing!!! for it to have value.

i don’t know about you, but i want to be thankful for what i have. where doing the daily ‘stuff’ has purpose and value.  where its ok to love the ordinary, to find happiness in the mundane and not feel like i need more.

Anyone else out there feel this way?

i need to be reminded ~ regularly ~ to stop waiting for the perfect moment and to start enjoying each moment i’m given and to embrace the day.

maybe you’re spending your monday wishing it were a different day.

and it can be, you know.
today is the day.
and it is what you make of it.

hello monday, i’m glad you are here.
 
take care

Back on Track

We’re already ten days into the New year ~ made any resolutions? chosen your one word? or have you just gotten back on track?

I am the probably the worlds’ best procrastinator. My motto lately has been “why do it today when it can wait until tomorrow” and sadly I’ve been doing just that. Since I am at home full-time, I find myself leaving the laundry to pile up on the hamper, not bother with the cleaning {since it just gets dirty again}, and the dishes? oh goodness, I’ll let those silly dishes pile up until the counter is full. I’ve gotten behind in doing the bookwork ~ again and I’ve lost the motivation for going walking. But it’s a New year and there’s no better time than now to get back on track.

I’ve gotten into a very good habit of reading my devotional every morning, getting the laundry done each week, doing a little bit of cleaning throughout the day, and each night we’ve been washing and putting away all those pesky dishes. This week I sat myself down at the computer and got the bookwork done, and now I’m right up to date. Finding the motivation to walk has been a lot harder ~ with the stormy weather and cold winds I find that I’d rather just stay indoors. So when Krystle invited me to come and walk the trail with her it was all the motivation I needed…

Take Care

Thankful Thursdays

It’s a new year and that means a new word...

Last week I announced that my word for 2015 is thankful and if I am being truthful, being thankful does not come easy for me. I tend to take for granted all the blessings and simple pleasures that are present in my life.

I’m hoping that as this year progresses and I begin to be consciously aware of the many things and people I have I my life, I will learn to find the benefits in all circumstances, whether I like them or not. Hoping to discover a life so full of thanksgiving that it will naturally flow out of my heart and mouth without effort throughout each day.

But it’s going to take some discipline and old-fashioned grit to get into the habit. What if we “trained” ourselves to receive any and every situation with thankfulness? When things don’t go our way, we need to remember “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 {New International Version {NIV}} When we face difficult situations we should ask ourselves: “What’s good about this?”, “What can I learn from this?”, and “How can I benefit from this?”

In her book “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are”,  Ann Voskamp. writes about “finding joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama and daily duties.”  The title itself says it all.  It is a challenge, a call to action ~ to not just live right where you are but to live fully where you are ~ be present. She has provided inspiration to so many Christians who are swept up in the chaos of everyday life, and so I want to start my own list of one thousand, well let's not get to ahead of ourselves, let's start with one a day and see...
1. my husband
2. daughter & son-in-law
3. two sons
4. our puppy’s snuggly personality
5. weekly chats with my mom
6. walking down the quiet side-roads of the country
7. white wine
8. starbucks & costco trips with my girl

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 {New International Version {(NIV}}

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

Book Review ~ A Vintage Affair

In her, eighth novel,

we meet Phoebe Swift when she abruptly leaves a plum job to open her own vintage clothing shop in London.  At the same time she is coping with the recent loss of her best friend, Emma.   Her friends are stunned ~ but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, and her passion. Phoebe takes refuge in her work ~ restoring these wonderful old clothes to their former glory so that they can go on to have new lives.  Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread ~ you’re buying a piece of someone’s past.

But what of the past lives these clothes have lived she often wonders? What stories would they tell if they could speak?

One day Phoebe meets Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, who has an impressive clothing collection of elegant dresses and suits that she wishes to sell. But among the array of elegant suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s sky-blue coat from wartime France ~ an item with which Mrs. Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part with. At first Therese wishes not to reveal the coat’s history but, as the two women become friends, Phoebe listens to the poignant story of the little blue coat not knowing that it is to have a profound and uplifting connection with her own life... and she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell ~ one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again.　

Be sure to have tissue ready as this one will likely bring tears to your eyes…

Take Care

mhmm monday

Nothing tastes better than soup on a cold wintry day...

Slow-Coooker Potato & Bacon Soup

Ingredients:
1 box (4.7 oz) Betty Crocker® scalloped potatoes
1 cup diced fully cooked ham
5 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped celery
1 small onion, chopped
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups half-and-half
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:
Mix Potatoes, Sauce mix from potatoes, ham, broth, celery, onion and pepper in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 hours.
Mix half-and-half and flour. Gradually stir half-and-half mixture into chowder until blended.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until thickened and vegetables are tender.

Enjoy!

 

Take Care

Beautiful Thing ~ recap

It was such a blessing each week as I sat at the computer looking back over my week and finding something beautiful to remember/write about. 

Here is link/recap of each week
January 4, January 11 , January 18, January 25
February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22
March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29
April 5, April 12, April 19, April 26
May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24, May 31
June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28
July 5, July12, July 19, July 26
August 2, August 9, August 16, August 23, August 30
September 6, September 13, September 20, September 27
October 4, October 11, October 18, October 25
November 1, November 8, November 15, November 22, November 29
December 6, December 13, December 20, December 27

I hope you enjoyed reading these as much as I did writing them.

Take Care

2015 one word

Another year has passed, 2014 is history. 

Can you believe it?

And now we have ushered in a new year, 2015. A clean and blank calendar. And yet, God knows what each and every box will hold. He knows. Nothing is hidden to Him. Not a single event or circumstance will take Him by surprise like it will me. How amazing to think about the year ahead.

A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon the One Word 365 thing and I was immediately intrigued. Better than resolutions, it provides the opportunity to choose just one word to describe who you are, who you want to be, something you want to define your life… or whatever.

One word. Simple. Doable. I like it!

Every new year, I find myself planning and these last few weeks, I have been thinking about one “word” to focus on in 2015. The point of choosing One Word isn’t to set ourselves up for guilt trips and browbeating. The point of choosing One Word is to set it as a compass, a heart guide for our calendar year. It’s not a journey that begins on January 1, and ends December. It’s about seeking ways to be changed, to grow, to be made into the woman God designed me to be.

When something is important to me, I write it down.

Even if its just one word.

It all started back in 2012, and my word was “honest”, and as the year ended, I wasn’t quite finished with it so I carried it forward to 2013 with the word “authentic”. This past year, I tried to focus my life on being “intentional”.  And as each year segued into the next I soon learned that after striving to be more honest, it led me to become more authentic, which gave me a better understanding of being intentional with my time. I found that when I was intentional about what I did and who I spent my time with I soon realized what was most important in my life causing me to be so thankful for the many blessings that I have.

Which naturtally makes this year’s word to be:

 
thank·ful

adjective \'thaŋk-fəl\

: glad that something has happened or not happened,

that something or someone exists,

: feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

: of, relating to, or expressing thanks

I’ve learned this year that when I looked back over each week to write about “a beautiful thing”, I realized just how truly thankful I am and to not take any moment for granted… this year I want to be thankful for each day and each opportunity that arises…

Your One Word is important, too. Perhaps you’d like to write it down? Write it on a sticky note and hang it on your mirror or stick it on your fridge. Change the wallpaper on your screen saver on your computer.

Just write it down.

How will you keep God’s word and your One Word on your heart for the days and months and year to come?

Take Care