Have Left Over Candy Canes?? Make HomeMade Peppermint Bark

Original post here! Peppermint Bark Thanks Frugal Living and Having Fun!

What do you all do with your left over Candy Canes?? OR the Candy Canes that sell for $0.10 after Christmas!!

Here is a FUN recipe to try! This looks so good, I'm going to give it a try!

Peppermint Bark

1. Crush 1 pkg. candy canes into small pieces
2. Melt 1 pkg. white chocolate chips on stove (Low Heat)
3. Place a piece of wax paper onto a cookie sheet. Pour the white chocolate chips onto it; spread evenly with a spoon.
4. Sprinkle candy cane pieces generously onto the melted chocolate, then press it lightly down with your hands.
5. Chill in the refrigerator until firm enough to snap.
6. Break into pieces the size of a tea bag (roughly).

It’s that easy! And make a note of this great recipe… wouldn’t these make great gifts? Homemade peppermint bark is a hit on any one’s list!

Food Allergies? Here's Someone We Want You To Meet...

Check out this post about Raising Dieter and then go to her blog! Her son has 6 food allergies and she only cooks with whole foods! Great recipes on her blog!

Christmas Sand Tarts

Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Stick of Butter
1/4 Cup Shortening
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda

Mix above ingredients , then in another bowl mix...

1 Egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp Light corn syrup
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
Make a well in dry ingredients then mix in liquids. CHILL OVERNIGHT. very important.

Directions:
Use lots of flour- will be sticky. Roll dough thin and use cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Use spatula to movie cookie onto cookie sheet. Make Egg wash (1 egg, 1 TLB water) and lightly brush on cookies. No puddles! Sprinkle sugars, decorations, sugar/cinnamon mix (whatever you want) on cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Don't re-roll scraps more than 2 times or cookie will turn out tough.

*We used what seemed to be a ton of flour, and don't roll out cookie dough too thin.

My big helper!

 Before

 After!

Cute and Easy "Turkey" Cookies!

These cookies look really cute! You can either make homemade sugar cookies and icing from scratch, or like in this blog post use Pillsbury cookie dough & icing!
HERE'S THE LINK! Cute "Turkey" cookies

Homemade Black Raspberry Cobbler!

This is my second time making a berry cobbler, and using berries from my In-laws back yard! The first time I used blackberries and strawberries. This time I used Black Raspberries. With the following recipe you can use any berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries).

Before

Ingredients:

4 Cups of Berries

3/4 Cups of Sugar (or agave Nectar)

3 Tbs Tapioca

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

3/4 Cup water

1 Tbs Lemon Juice

Dough

1 1/2 Cup All purpose Baking Mix (Bisquick, or any baking mix)

1/3 Cup Milk

3 Tbs Sugar

Directions:

Mix sugar, tapioca, spice, water & lemon juice in pan-boil

Place berries in coated baking dish 13x9, pour hot mixture over berries as soon as it starts to boil

In mixing bowl, mix baking mix, add 3 Tbs sugar and milk. Form into soft dough balls, drop on top of berry mixture.

Bake at 375 or 30 minutes

 

Sausage Perlo Recipe

This recipe is so simple plus quick & easy to make! You can make it spicy or not so spicy, however you like it! This meal is so delicious and is going to hit the spot after a long day, especially on a cold winter day. Goes great with a side salad and corn bread!

God is by our side

Lately, my family and I have been going through some hard times. It's been very stressful, and many tears have been shed. We are about to make big decisions. God has walked beside us throughout our journey, and I don't know where I'd be without Him. God has really carried me through certain situations, and the one we are in now he is holding me. I praise God for the good and bad and feel at peace with his love all around me. My husband and I are stronger, not knocked down. God is on our side, he's the coach on our team. Pray that we stay strong and hear from God what our next step is. For wisdom and to say in His will.

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Check out this Mary Kay Pedicure Kit giveaway!

My World - Made By Hand: I've taken over This Blessed Nest for the day...{+...: " Come check me out... This Blessed Nest and while you are there you should totally check these out too... Tooth Fairy Door Pillow Talk..."

Saving $ Tips

Being church planter's and constantly thinking of ways to save money, I thought I would share with you some ways we save money, and in return it may help you and your family to save money.

With grocery shopping, we always menu plan for all 3 meals of each day. We look for what is on sale in the grocery store's weekly ad, and then try to find coupons to match those sales. Keep in mind, you can find organic coupons, and organic items do go on sale in most grocery stores. (There usually is a separate section for organic items). You don't have to eat completely unhealthy when staying on a cheap budget. We always have a vegetable or 2 in each dinner, and we like to get bananas and whatever fruit is on sale. You don't always have to make a fresh lunch. For our family, probably 2 or 3 lunches out of the week are our leftover dinner from the night before. Also, when you see something that is extra cheap on sale, don't be afraid to stock up. One week, generic beans (all varieties) were on sale 3 for a $1, so we got 9 cans.

We do not eat out, or order in (except for special occasions). You can make food cheaper and healthier. Plus it's more fun to have a family pizza/movie night when you make the pizza together. Great memories to have also!

Another way we save money, is I cut my husbands and my daughter's hair. It's actually kinda funny because my husband is so picky and complains each time he would come home from a hair cut and HATE it. But, now that I cut it he says it's better then when he got it professionally done (And I have no training/experience in cutting hair).

Another way we save is by hand washing my daughters clothes and some of me and my husbands clothes. Before we moved we owned a washer and dryer (oh how i miss them!!!). Now we live in a apartment building and it cost $1.75 for each the washer and dryer, costing $3.50 per load! And these are small loads mind you! So as long as you have liquid fabric softener, you can wash your clothes with detergent and softener, and hang dry your clothes on a drying rack, without them being hard. You may have to iron out wrinkles in some of the clothing items.

If you want to get very creative, some families make their own dish soap, laundry soap and cleaning products. I however, don't, but if you want the recipes go HERE

If you want to save on Gas, try this out! haha

Hope this was helpful!!



Tasty Thursday: Key Lime Pie

 

How Delicious does this look!! Yumm!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 eggs
1 tablespoon grated lime zest
2/3 cup key lime juice

Directions:
1.Combine cookie or graham cracker crumbs with butter or margarine. Press into bottom and partially up sides of 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate.

2.In a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer the cream cheese, sugar, lime peel, and cornstarch until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending just until smooth. Add key lime juice with mixer on low. Finish mixing by hand. Do not over beat, or cake will crack during baking. Pour batter into prepared crust.

3.Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 to 65 minutes, or until set. To minimize cracking, place a shallow pan half full of hot water on lower rack during baking.

4.Turn oven off, and let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes with the door open at least 4 inches. Remove from oven. Refrigerate cake overnight, and up to three days.

Peanut Allergy, to home school or not to home school?

The fact that there are parent's outside of this school picketing just really bothers me. My daughter is 2 1/2 and has a severe peanut allergy, and my husband and I still haven't decided if we want her to go to school or be home schooled.  Anyway, back to this video, aren't kids suppose to be washing their hands anyway? And if taking precautions will save this little girls life, then why not take them. I mean, the parent's say that they are keeping the little girl in mind and her safety, but to me it seems like they don't want their kids to be bothered or inconvenienced with having a classmate with a life threatening allergy.

What are your thoughts? Good or bad I wanna hear them!

More Info on Peanut Allergies

Things going on in my world...

For over a month now, I have been waiting in anticipation for Spring to arrive. Now that it finally has, my daughter has a head cold. At first I thought it was allergies, but she is definitely sick. It makes me so sad, she rarely gets sick, and I wish I could be sick for her. Even though she is sick though, she is still a happy funny girl, such a trooper! For about 4 days straight she looks out her bedroom window and asks me if we can go out and play, and go to the playground. She'll just stand there starring out the window! Ugh, I hate being the "bad guy", but she needs to rest. Believe me, I would love to take her outside and get fresh air, but since she does get Spring allergies, I think that would add to her sickness and make her worse.
It's funny (or rather not so funny) how you wait and wait for something, and then when it finally gets here, you can't "have" it. Now, I'm not at all complaining because there will be plenty of other days for me to take Halie outside to play. I get to cuddle with my daughter reading her books, watching a movie, putting together puzzles and just get to relax with her. My world gets to slow down a little bit and it gives me more time to actually think and during this time I get to "recharge" my batteries.

Also, on a completely different note....I got excepted to Liberty University Online this week! I'm finally going back to school to finish getting my degree in Psychology- Christian Counseling! I'm soo excited! As of now I'm going back part time, but the idea of learning again makes me thrilled! My first class starts next month, and I have a feeling it will be here before I know it!

Check it out!

Easter is quickly approaching, so I have been thinking of different ways to teach Halie about the real reason for Easter. We'll still paint eggs and have a little egg hunt for her in our home or yard, but I want her to understand what Jesus did for us and that he is alive today! Grant it, she is only 2 1/2, but there's nothing wrong with starting early!

Tasty Thursday: Black bean & corn Chimichangas

Ingredients:
6- 10in Tortillas
1/2 cup of Chopped onion
1- 15oz Can of black beans (rinsed & drained)
1 Can corn (drained)
1 Medium tomato chopped
1/2 cup Salsa
1/4 cup Cilantro

Toppings:
Shredded mexican cheese
Salsa
Sour cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, set aside. wrap tortillas in foil, heat in the oven for 5 mins. Meanwhile, for the filling, coat an unheated large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, cook 5 mins or until tender, stirring occasionally. Then add black beans, using a fork or masher, mash beans slightly. Stir in corn, chopped tomato, and salsa. Heat through. stir in cilantro.

To assemble, spoon about 1/2 cup of filling onto each tortilla, just below the center. fold bottom edge of tortilla up & over filling. fold opposite sides in and over filling. Roll up from bottom, if neccesart secure with toothpicks. Place filled tortillas in baking dish, seam side down. Coat top and sides with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Apply Toppings and serve!

Serves 6

Tips & Tricks Tuesday: Spring Cleaning II

Pull the trash can over and dump lingering leftovers, spoiled food, and open bottles of condiments, like grill marinade from last summer. You could remove all the glass shelves and bins and wash them or give them a fast once-over with a wet cloth or sponge. Don't forget fingerprints and splatters on the door front and handle. A fresh box of baking soda absorbs odors, too.

Burned-on blobs welded to the bottom of your oven can give off odors and smoke. If you have time to run a self-cleaning cycle — even a short two-hour one — it's your best bet (and you can go do something else while it works). If not, just focus on the worst stains. Take a metal spatula and gently chip off any loose pieces — with any luck, this alone might do the trick. If not, liberally spritz with full-strength ammonia from a spray bottle. Leave it for at least five minutes, then sprinkle on enough baking soda to completely cover the stain; add just a few drops of white vinegar. Let it bubble for a minute or two, then whisk away the grime with a scrub sponge. Rinse with a clean, wet, regular sponge.

Pull out kitchen appliances and living room furniture to wash floor & walls behind as well as all sides of appliances (inside & out); Steam clean furniture if possible.

Review all bedding items, linens and towels, are they getting threadbare and won’t make it through the next few months? Too stained? Either cut them into cleaning rags, pack away for craft and repurposing projects they can be used for or trash them.

Planting tip:
If you plant your flower beds in a dimond pattern rather than straight rows, they'll look fuller faster.

Easter: How do you celebrate & why?

With Easter coming up, I thought I would do a post to see what you and your family do for Easter and how you celebrate it and why? On a blog I follow, the writer asked her followers do this and as I was reading the responses I was amazed at how different everyone's answers are. In your answer, include if you...

• Paint Easter Eggs
• Have/go to an egg hunt
• Take your kids to see the Easter bunny
• Go to an Easter church service

Tasty Thursdays: Pineapple stuffing!

I got this recipe from my sister in law Mandi and she made it last Easter as well as 2 Christmas's ago...and let me tell you, it is amazing!! This absolutely goes great with Ham!!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar

8 eggs
2 cans (1lb 4oz. each) crushed pineapple--drained
10 slices of bread--cubed

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add one egg in at a time. Beat well. Fold in pineapple and bread cubes.  Pour in a greased 13x 9in bakeware. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Not the healthiest, but it is sooo delishious!

My entry into the Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles is sponsored by Appliances Online and their best Range Cookers.

Tuesday Tips and Tricks: SPRING CLEANING!



• To removing heel marks , take pencil eraser and rub them off.
• Wall cleaner, mix 1/2 c. ammonia, 1/4 c. white vinegar, and 1/4 c. baking soda to 1 gal. warm water.
• Dust blinds by wrapping a cloth around a ruler. Spray cloth with a dusting spray and run the flat end across each blind.
• Glass shower doors will sparkle if cleaned with white vinegar.
• Lemon furniture oil will remove water spots on metal frames.
• Dust your book shelves, taking out all books to get all dust. - To protect books from dust, crisp lengths of linen can be hung from shelves.
• Tired of dried and hard to clean candle wax stuck on votives? Place the glass candle holders in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, the wax will shrink just enough to pop right out.
• Keep your fabric lampshades dust-free with an adhesive lint roller, hold lamp shade steady and roll roller over the exterior.
• Remember to Dust the tops of light fixtures, bulbs and the top of cabinets (while also in the inside).

More to come next Tuesday!



Do We Really Believe What We're Saying?

Do We Really Believe What We're Saying? from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.

Tasty Thursdays: Baked Oatmeal

If you're looking for a delicious baked oatmeal that is easy to make, you've come to the right spot! It's a huge hit in our house and doesn't last long. Plus, it makes the whole house smell heavenly! With the recipe below, take note that you can use applesauce instead of butter and cut down on the brown sugar if you want to a 1/2 cup-- if you do that, check it after 30 minutes to see if it's done or needs more time.

Be Free of Worry

Matthew 6:24, 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

So many of us worry about many things. If you let it, it will completely consume you. Worry of finances, job security, not finding a job, health and so on. Notice in the sentence before I said, if you let it, it will completely consume you. Worry is not from God. We ourselves make ourselves worry.
Luke 21:34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware"

So, do you want to be free of worry? Here is how you do so...

Replace your constant work and worry with an overflow river of refreshing rest and peace that can only come from God. Trust, and seek wisdom from the heavenly Father. Trust. That is something easier said than done. If you put complete trust in God, your life will be so much more stress free, and also free of worry! God will provide all of your needs, but you also have to learn to be content with what you have and how much you need; to not want more.
1 Peter 5:7 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you".

God is our provider, for our physical and spiritual needs. Seek freedom of worry through His spiritual provision by meditating on the Bible (God's word!) and getting alone with God in prayer. Ask Him to free you of worry, and be prepared for situations that at first might want to make you want to worry, but put complete trust and faith in God to provide and for Him to come through.
Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".

I once heard that "worrying is the same as not having faith in God". Think about that statement, I believe it to be true.

You already have everything you need to overcome worry! Praise God! Living a life full of worry will take a toll on your body and mind! Don't put yourself through that!
Overcoming worry:
By the power of prayer and praise
By the power of the Holy Spirit
By the power of God, with His love and care

You don't have to go through worry and tough times alone! Turn to your Heavenly Father and let Him take it all from you! But also, I am here if any of you want to talk. By phone, Internet or in person!

Now, go and be free!

Wednesday Web Deals!

JCPenny.com GO TO DEAL HERE

$10 off coupon
Amazon.com GO TO DEAL HERE

Tuesday Tips & Tricks!

Have you ever peeled garlic or handled it and your hands smell to high heaven? The next time that happens, take any stainless steel bowl, pan or other stainless steel kitchen gadget (silverware) and rub your hands on it. It will take away the smell of garlic.

 To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.

Include a few tennis balls in each dryer cycle. The tennis balls not only cut drying time by 25% - 50%, but also fluff the clothes to a delicate softness, and towels will be especially fluffy.

To make a zipper slide up and down more smoothly, rub a bar of soap over the teeth.

We are their mirror

I found a post on a blog I follow about parent's being a mirror for their kids and got inspired to a similar post. Thanks Becoming a strong woman of God blog.

Do you ever feel like you pray to God everyday over your kids and it seems like nothing is happening? Do you want to throw your hands up because you have told your kids a million times not to do that? Or are there times when you ask yourself, why am I praying its not working, they are not being answered anyway?

We are our children's mirror. They look to us for reassurance in their lives. We have to be the role model of Christ so when it comes time for them to chose how to deal with certain situations, especially with temptations and sin, they will look to us and see God through us. They see how we live, act and what we say. If you are living and striving to be like Christ, they will see that. If you are choosing to be negative, react in anger and be lazy, you kids will see that. It is so important to have one on one time in God's word and spending time in prayer, however I think it is also very important for your kids to see you doing that daily as well.

The road of raising kids was not meant to be easy, however, I do practice Deuteronomy 6:5-7  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

This is a reminder that I as a parent will never stop teaching my children, Gods ways. I will do my very best to show them God through my life. I want my daughter & God willing my future kids, to see Christ through me, which I pray in return will reflect on them as a mirror would, and they will follow God with all their heart.
Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". By following God's word as a parent we are setting up the mirror for our children to look to Christ through us. We can raise children who avoid evil and serve God faithfully by walking with Christ ourselves in front of our kids and by impressing upon them day and night Gods truth.

Even if you don't see your children walking the walk so to speak doesn't mean that God is not working in their lives, it just means God is working in His perfect timing. You will see God work!! Continually pray that your children will find their way to God, and choose to love and serve Him. Because it is a decision, excepting Jesus and serving Him isn't something we can "reflect" on them as a mirror, but do your best to be Christ like, showing that through your life and kids will see that, while praying day and night for them.

See the mirror this little girl is looking into as she tells the story of Jonah. Its amazing!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.


What kind of mirror are you when your kids look at you?

Tasty Thursday: Tofu Chili!

This recipe is my hubby's! It is sooo good, and you would NEVER know that Tofu is in it! Seriously, we made it for family and didn't tell them to they were done eating it and they were surprised. Tofu is very healthy and is a great meat alternative!

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg of firm tofu (wrapped in a dry towel for a few hours to soak out water)
• 1 small-medium onion-diced into bite size
• green, red, orange and yellow bell pepper (as much as you like, any color you like!)-diced into bite size
• 1 pkg of fresh mushrooms-diced into bite size
• 1  29oz tomato sauce
• 1  15oz black beans-drained
• 1  15 oz red kidney beans-drained
• 1  can bushes "chili starter" mild or texas
• 2 gloves of garlic
• 1 TBSP chili powder
• pinch salt & pepper
• 1/2 bottle of tiger sauce (near hot sauce, or substitute with a sweet hot sauce)
• 2 TBSP olive or veggie oil for cooking pan

Directions:

Crumble drained tofu in large bowl. Mix tofu with tiger sauce, salt, pepper. Let sit 15-30 mins in fridge.

In large pot add olive oil, chopped onion and crushed garlic. Heat on low until onions are caramelized.

Add Red and black beans, chopped peppers and chopped mushrooms. (let simmer until mushrooms are tender

Add Chili starter and simmer for 5 minutes

Add large can of tomato sauce and chili powder, mix continuously and simmer on low

While pot is simmering take a large skillet and 2 TBSP olive oil, salt and pepper and add tofu mixture, cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat

Add tofu to chili pot, stir and let simmer for 10-15 minutes

Add more chili powder, spices and salt and pepper to taste if you think it needs more

Serve over white or brown rice, top with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.

Enjoy!!

Tuesday Tips & Tricks

Burner pans are difficult to clean because they collect cooked-on food, which is so hard to scrub off. Place your burner pans in a heat-safe bowl, soup pot, or casserole dish. Pour boiling water over them and let everything sit for 5 minutes or so. Now wash them in the sink with soap and water. They should easily wipe clean and look brand new!

To clean all the splatter and gunk from inside your microwave, squeeze a whole lemon into a bowl with 2 cups water. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. This loosens all the dried up gunk so all you have to do is wipe it off. Not only will your microwave be clean, it'll smell lemon fresh! If you don't have a lemon, don't worry the lemon is just for nice scent, this trick will still work with just water.

If you get sharpie or ink pen on your microfiber couch, use rubbing alcohol! It brings it right out without smearing or leaving a water mark! Also works on walls and carpet!

Feed His Sheep

John21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep".

Today is Monday, most people hate Monday's because the weekend is over and they have to go back to work. I like to think of Monday's as a start to a brand new week, and fresh start. I really do like Monday's.
Before I started this post, I was thinking of what I could write about and I just wanted to share what is on my heart this cold and cloudy Monday. I came to the thought of "Feed His Sheep". His as in Jesus. Jesus commands us to feed His sheep. Who are the sheep you might ask? I'm not talking about farm animals some of  you might think because I grew up in Lancaster county. No, the sheep are all of us. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are all His sheep. The unsaved are His lost sheep and us Christ followers need to feed them the Bible. We need to tell them about His love. We need to give them the shirt on our back and feed the hungry. We need to show people Jesus through us. Be like Jesus. As I was in prayer last night, I kept telling God I want to be more like Jesus, change my heart and my mind, I want to be more like Jesus. That is another post in itself.

There are millions of lost sheep in our world today, that are seeking for something to fill their empty selves, and that are dying and going to Hell. Jesus didn't command us to live our lives the way we want, to go to church on Sundays and live the rest of the week going to work/school and keeping Jesus to ourselves. To hide in our closets praying for Him to save the lost. To shake our heads at how sad our world is today and say "That's just a cryin shame, look at that girl sellin herself for money, look at that homeless man beggin for change, look at that Atheist convincing people there is no God, look at that young boy who just joined a gang, look at that young girl who just became pregnant and isn't even old enough to drive a car, yeah that's a cryin shame". 

WHERE ARE THE TEARS PEOPLE? YES, YES IT IS A CRYING SHAME. WHERE ARE THE TEARS?
I know Jesus is crying, and he is probably saying as loud as he can "Feed my sheep!".  Are people choosing not to listen? Isn't that kinda like saying "no" to Jesus without saying it out loud? I mean let's be real people.

I'm not saying that I am a perfect person, because no one is perfect. For the longest time I was one of those people shaking their head at people and not helping them. You only have one life on this Earth, and we each have a purpose. We all have a voice and a light that we need to spead. Jesus is coming back soon. There are so many people dying and going to Hell each minute of every day. Doesn't that break your heart? If it doesn't, then are you truely striving to be like Jesus?  I want to make Jesus happy and follow His commands. Will you?
Please share your thoughts- good or bad, I want to hear from you! You don't have to have a blog to comment.

Live Loud, Be Bold!

Over the weekend, a classmate I graduated with from high school (Nate) died in a car accident. I knew him since 9th grade and had a couple classes with him that year. I had one class with him in 10th grade and then after that none. It's weird how you know someone and then they die and they're not here on Earth anymore. Even though I haven't seen him in five years, I still hurt for his loved ones and friends. It must be so hard for his parents to lose a son, or any parents to lose a child. I think back about his life from what little I knew about him, and remember him to be a funny and nice person. From what I have seen on facebook, he had a girlfriend that was also in the crash with him and she's not doing to well in the hospital. I think her name is Nicci, keep her in your prayers as well as Nate's family.

This morning I was talking to my husband about when I first learned that Nate had died and the heartache I felt at the time and feel now. I wasn't a close friend of his, but I still talked to him in my first 2 years of high school, and never once did I talk to him about my faith/Jesus. I don't know if Nate was saved, and hope that he was. I then got to talking with Phil about why it's harder for me to talk to people I know about Jesus then strangers? I think with most people it's easier to talk to strangers about God then people they know because maybe they won't see you again, or if they judge you it doesn't matter to you as much? I am tired of "being shy" with my faith and basically just learned that yes I do have a harder time with talking with people I know about God. I don't want to be that person anymore. I'm not ashamed of Jesus at all, I just need to open up more I think.

The truth is, we don't know when each of us or our loved ones and friends will die. It really could be any second. I've hear that my whole life and never really took it seriously because I always thought, nah everyone I know will die really old. Which is not always true. I and we all, need to be on our knees daily praying for our loved ones to come to the Lord, because guess what readers, there really is a Hell, and it's a place where I wouldn't wish one single person to go to. We need to be open and LOUD about our faith and share what Jesus did for us and His love for us. We are in the last days whether you want to admit that or not. I don't want to see anyone I know go to Hell.

Can I just de-stress alittle bit?

For the past week I feel like I'm not doing a "good enough" job as being a mom. I know that's silly, but with the way Halie has been acting I have to look at myself and ask What am i doing wrong? Last night i just wanted to ball my eyes out because it was almost 10 o'clock and Halie still didn't want to go to sleep. After she finally went to sleep, I just sat down and stared for a few minutes until I felt Phil wrap his arms around me. I don't know how long he held me without saying anything, but that's what I needed. Following by his encouraging words of how great a mom I am and I'm doing a great job and that she is just going though a phase. I know Halie is only 2 1/2, but her whole life she has always been a really good kid and still is. She is starting to act like a baby again and I guess maybe it's for attention? She wants me to feed her instead of using her fork on her own, and she doesn't listen to me anymore and does what i don't tell her to do. Some of you are probably thinking, she sounds like she's a kid, but I'm just really stressed out from it all. Bed time is a disaster. Nothing works. Nothing. We have to let her "cry it out" alone in her bed until she falls to sleep. If Phil is right and this is a phase, I really hope it's over soon because it hurts me. I love Halie to death and only want to be the best mom that I can be for her. I know this is all probably nothing and I'll be looking back on this in a little while...I hope. I think I need to hear from some of you moms out there on any advice for bed time or something. We read stories and pray before bed, after that she gets silly, then will cry really loud calling my name. Ugh, so sad to hear.

My how we've grown!

Today Phil, Halie and I had the opportunity to skype with my brother Mark, whom is stationed in Japan right now. As we were talking I just kept thinking, "this is my little brother, he's really not so little anymore". I'm really proud of him and how much he is accomplishing with his life, plus how much courage he has to join the military and then be stationed in Japan. I don't know why, but sometimes it's hard for to think of him as an adult, I guess because I still view him as my little brother sometimes. The little boy who I used to play house with, and play Indians outside all day. The little boy who I would help practice playing baseball with, or the little boy who I would defend because bigger mean boys were picking on him. But also the little boy I would fight with and shed tears over afterwards, and then make up and hug each other...the kinda hug where each person acts like they don't want to hug, but deep down does. That little boy, that little brother of mine is all grown up and uses and carries a gun each day. He learns how to defend our country, and earns more and more respect each day. He's not little anymore, he's a man. A man that I can now look up to, as he once looked up to me. If I think about it, I really have 2 big brothers, both that I look up to. Both unique and different in their own ways, but I have great respect and love for each of them. My oldest brother is married and will one day start a family of his own. He too has an important job, not physical like Mark's, but uses his intelligence and mind. Matthew is someone I always admired and looked up to, whether he knows that or not. I was always jealous growing up at how smart he is, and funny! Some people might not know that, because he comes off quiet or shy, but he really is a funny person and every time i see him he makes me laugh. I was the little annoying sister who always tagged around Matthew and his older friends. I thought they were all cool and wanted hang around my big funny brother. I have to two great brothers, and I hope that they read this and know that I love them and respect them both. My prayers for them are that God keeps them save always, and that each day they grow in God. That they never forget where they came from and God's love for them. That they both were created on this Earth and in our family for a reason. That they keep Jesus as their savior and also have courage to share God's love with many because that is the most important thing. And that one day we will worship Jesus and God with our families in front of the throne in Heaven. What a glorious day that will be!

God's Beauty

Yesterday I took some time to walk down to the Harbor alone. The harbor is literally a 1 minute walk from our apartment and this was the first day I actually walked around where we live, since there has been a ton of snow and ice everywhere it has been hard to walk around here. Anyway, I carefully walked on ice to a bench and sat down to just take deep breaths and relax taking in the view. Seagulls flying through the air, the airport is across the harbor so airplanes were flying in and out of the airport (Closest I've seen a plane to the ground, kinda freaky but cool). When you look beyond the harbor, it then becomes the ocean and there were a couple boats out, more will be out once the weather warms up more. Across the harbor is also the city and it's just so neat to see the hustle and bustle, but living not even 3 miles from the city it's a little more relaxed. Sitting there seeing all the snow and being slightly chilly, I was thinking Spring is going to be so pretty here. Although I hear there isn't really a Spring here, but I guess we'll see. It's a lot different from the "Amish country" that I'm use to, but beautiful in its different ways.

Scrapbooking

Last night after I put Halie to bed I decided to take an hour to scrapbook and try to catch up a little bit. I did a page of my brother Mark (marine) in his dress blues with a few family pictures, and him with Halie, Last Easter, and a page of my dad's surprise 50th birthday party. I only have to do "Fall Fest" and Christmas and then I am done with scrapbooking the year of 2010. I can't believe I'm almost all caught up, and am very happy about that. I would be 100% caught up, but I ran out of clear page inserts to put pages in. Anyway I was thinking while I was scrapbooking that Halie will be 2 1/2 years old on the 21st this month. She is getting so big and smart!

I really love scrapbooking because I like to be creative and capture special moments that Halie can always remember. She already loves her scrapbook and knows that it is hers and all about "baby Halie". I have a scrapbook from my high school/college years, and a wedding one my Mother in law made for us. I was looking at them yesterday and was smiling the whole way through "walking down memory lane".

Anyway I was thinking about starting a Scrapbooking Tips page on this blog. But first would like to know if anyone is interested in seeing it, & getting cool (or what i think is cool! hah) ideas that you can do for your scrapbook(s). Comment below if you do, and I'll get it started!