Friday's Fave 5 - February 27, 2009

It's Friday, it's Friday!

Time to look back at my week and pick 5 favorite things.

1. I'm munching on a favorite right now: Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies.

2. A favorite from last night's dinner: garlic bread. Ok, so I love carbs, I can't help it.

3. One of my new favorite videos: Fireproof. Everyone needs to see it.

4. One of my favorite authors: Karen Kingsbury. I just started a new book of hers, "This Side of Heaven."

5. I have three beautiful daughters and scads of photos of them. Today, I'll show you just one favorite of each of them.

This is me with our oldest, Elissa, on Mother's Day a couple of years ago.

This is our middle daughter, Janae, taken one Christmas when she was about 3 or 4.

Isn't that face priceless?

This is one of my favorite pictures of Malia, our youngest, before she started looking so grown-up!

I love looking at pictures of my girls. It makes me happy and is one of my favorite things to do!

For more favorites, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

SFMTY-Return of the Sailor Dress

Remember a while back I shared a photo of me in a sailor dress? Well, here's another one. In fact, this may be the very first sailor dress that I had. I'm probably about 3 years old in this picture. That's my dad holding my hand - probably the reason I'm smiling. I just loved my daddy!

Note the well-used dolly that I'm holding around the neck. I've been told that my dolls were always naked. It's just how I rolled.

For more embarrassing photos, visit Kristen at We are THAT Family.

We were just talking about change being a part of everyday life this morning at coffee break time, and then I checked Kristen's website and found that change is here again. This is the last week SFMTY will be hosted at Kristen's and next week will be at Marcy's. I guess I'm prophetic!

Thanks, Kristen, for introducing me to the joys of sharing humiliating pictures. I found there is a purpose for everything -- even bad photos! God bless you!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - February 23, 2009

FOR TODAY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd EDITION ...

Outside my window...

marvelous sunshine! And it's 29 degrees ...

I am thinking...

of all I want to accomplish this week.

I am thankful for...

my family who loves me.

From the kitchen...

I'm thinking of making homemade chicken noodle soup tonight.

I am wearing...

gray pants, geometric tunic with black, gray, and aqua squares, black duster.

I am creating...

a to-do list.

I am going...

to Wally World after work.

I am reading...

Terri Blackstock's new book, I think the title is "Double Blind."

I am hoping...

to be a blessing to my world!

I am hearing...

the tick-tock of the clock.

Around the house...

some laundry and some dusting needs to be done. (This is my weekly answer!)

One of my favorite things...

chocolate chip cookies!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

some get well cards to be sent, flowers ordered for a friend, and dreaded taxes to be done.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Picture from recent ice storm

If you'd like to join others as we reflect upon our plans for the upcoming week, join Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Friday's Fave 5 - February 20, 2009

I love Fridays! I also love to look back on my week and reflect on what has happened. If you'd like to do the same, visit Susanne's Living to Tell the Story and join in with Friday's Fave 5.

Keepin' it positive, I now share with you my 5 favorite things that happened this week.

1. Flowers for Valentines Day! My hubby remembered that I like yellow and pink roses. I love this arrangement!

2. Dinner out! On Valentine's Day, our church had a banquet at a barbecue place. I got the pork plate which was delicious, but way too much food.

3. M&M's! I've been munching on a bag of Valentine colored M&M's. I am making the bag last all week long ...

4. Favorite Song! I have many favorites, but we sang an old one from the hymnal this week: "CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE." An oldie but a goodie. My desire is to be ready at any moment to be changed.

5. New quote! I love to collect quotes and found this great one this week:

"End of construction. Thank you for your patience."
Inscription on Ruth Bell Graham’s gravestone

Thankful Thursday - Thanks for the Little Things

Iris at Grace Alone hosts "Thankful Thursday," a meme that focuses on thankfulness. Today we are sharing the "every-day stuff" that makes us thankful.

Here's my list:

• I'm grateful to be born into a family that loves me. Yes, we were dysfunctional (I've come to believe that there is no normal) but we loved each other. My dad always told me he loved me and I'm thankful for that.


• I'm also grateful to have been raised in church. I knew where to go when life got hard.


• I'm grateful that my hubby was in church when I met him. I've seen what happens when believers marry non-believers and I'm thankful I didn't travel that road.


• I just realized the items above are not everyday stuff - but am sharing it anyway!


• Ok, for everyday blessings I'm thankful for sweet tea, microwaves, my own computer (after having to share when mine was in the shop), for a great book to read before going to sleep at night, m&m's, and a washer and dryer that works! In other words, I'm thankful for all the things God has provided for my comfort!

What are YOU thankful for?

Sincerely 'Fro Me to You-'Rents in the 50's

I love Thursdays when Kristen hosts "Sincerely 'Fro Me to You," a blog carnival where we share either humiliating pictures or else pictures that we have not got around to putting in a scrap book. Most of mine fall in the latter category, since I have great intentions to scrap but terrible follow-through.

Anyway, today I'd like to share one of my favorite pictures of my parents. This was taken sometime in the early to mid 50's. My mother hates this picture because she doesn't like her hair or her glasses in it. Nowadays, people wear glasses like that and I've seen similar hairstyles around town. I think she looks good.

What's cool is that I can see my nephew in the shape of my dad's face. I just love old family photos!

If you'd like to see other great pictures, visit Kristen at We are THAT Family.

WFMW: Cheap Substitution

Today is the last WFMW at Shannon's. Next week, Kristen at We are THAT Family will be hosting.

I've got to tell you I feel slap-out of ideas. But, I have to post on Shannon's last day ... it's historical, after all!

Then it came to me. A perfect tip, because it is money-saving, and because it helps a mom out who has just started a recipe and then finds out she's out of an important ingredient. (Ask me if I know how that feels!)

Are you ready?

Here it is: always keep a can of evaporated milk in the pantry. If you run out of milk for a recipe, substitute evaporated milk for 1/2 of the recipe and use water for the rest. If the recipe calls for 2 C milk, use 1 C evaporated milk and 1 C water.

You say you already knew that? Ok, well ... think of it as a reminder!

Did you know that it works really well for milk gravy? The kind that you eat with biscuits?

You did? Ok. Well ... It works for me!

Visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer to see if there are some ideas you haven't heard about. And, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Shannon for hosting WFMW, I've so enjoyed it and learned a lot. Best wishes in all your future endeavors.

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

It's time for Tuesday's "What's On Your Mind? '09" The question to ponder this week is:

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Of course, I don't know why bad things happen to good people, but I do know the Lord is Sovereign. He has a plan and purpose for everything that happens to us. When something bad happens I find it helpful to remember these things:

• He has a plan. "But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken." Psalm 33:11 (NLT)
• His plan is for my ultimate good. "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 (NLT) It may not feel good at the time, but later I will be able to look back and see that it worked out for the best.
• The bad time will not last forever. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." Psalm 34:19 KJV Did you see that word "all" there? You will be delivered out of EVERY affliction that you experienced - in God's timing. In my life, I've experienced a lot of bad things, some major: an alcoholic father, a time of infertility, a spouse who became disabled with bi-polar disorder. I've had to pray and seek God for years for deliverance. It took 17 years for my father to be delivered from alcohol and ten years for the curse of infertility to be broken. I'm still seeking the Lord for healing for my husband. I remember the times when God delivered. His promise is sure. He will deliver again. I will keep pressing on. Deliverance is sweet, no matter how long it takes!

Would you like to share your thoughts on this subject? If so, please visit Shane at Heart Reflections.

Tasty Tuesday - Yummy Jif Bars

I haven't been able to participate in Kim's Tasty Tuesday Blog Party for a couple of weeks; so, today, I wanted to share one of my most requested recipes. This is not an original recipe, I found it on the back of a jar of Jif peanut butter. I take this to family get-togethers and potlucks all the time and always get compliments.

Yummy Jif Bars

First Step:

Melt 2/3 C butter (I always use real butter) and add to 1 C Jif peanut butter. Mix well with your mixer.

Second Step:

Add 3 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 2 C brown sugar and mix well.

Third Step:

Add 1 C flour and 1/2 tsp. salt and mix well.

Fourth Step:

Spread into a greased 9x13 pan and bake approx. 25 mins. at 350 degrees. (My oven is old and bakes unevenly. I have to cook mine about 30-35 minutes.) When finished baking, take out of oven and cool.

Fifth Step:

While the bars are cooling, mix 2/3 C powdered sugar with 2 tsp. hot water. (You may need to add extra water to get the right consistency.) Set aside. Then melt 1/4 C chocolate chips in another bowl along with 1 Tbsp. Crisco. I melt mine in the microwave at 70% power one minute at a time, stirring after each minute. I then drizzle each icing over the cooled bars. You can put each icing into a sandwich bag and cut a small hole in the corner and pipe the icing onto the bars.

Or you can do what I do: drizzle each icing on with a spoon and call it abstract art!

For more great recipes, visit Kim at ForeverWherever.com to join in her Tasty Tuesday Blog Party.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - February 16, 2009

FOR TODAY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009...

Outside my window...

a foggy gray day.

I am thinking...

there is nothing to worry about. God has it all under His control.

I am thankful for...

modern technology!

From the kitchen...

my meatloaf has been requested for tonight's meal.

I am wearing...

brown pants and jacket with a peach blouse.

I am creating...

nothing at the present time ...

I am going...

to my second home (the church) to work.

I am reading...

I'm ready for the next Mitford novel. I just finished "A New Song."

I am hoping...

to see God show Himself strong in a situation that I'm praying about. I know He will!

I am hearing...

Joyce Meyer on the television.

Around the house...

some general cleaning and some laundry needs to be done.

One of my favorite things...

worship music on my mp3 player.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

A board meeting on Thursday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Thank You, Lord, that this is not forecast for us this week!

(This picture was taken by my daughter at our last ice storm.)

To read more daybooks, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - February 9, 2009

FOR TODAY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 ...

Outside my window...

glorious sunshine and soggy ground

I am thinking...

of how much I love fragrance. I love fragrant perfumes, candles, hair sprays, and most of all fragrant homes! It's important to me that people smell something good when they walk inside my door.

I am thankful for...

new beginnings. That is why I love Mondays!

From the kitchen...

undecided yet ... I was thinking of trying a new dessert this week: Chocolate Crescents.

I am wearing...

gray slacks, teal shirt with white and silver necklace and earrings.

I am creating...

still need to get my files in order. I haven't made much headway ...

I am going...

out to lunch today with my co-workers.

I am reading...

the Mitford series. I'm ready for the next book.

I am hoping...

to be a true example for Christ to my daughters.

I am hearing...

the clock ticking, which reminds me that time does not stand still for anyone!

Around the house...

laundry needs to be caught up, and some dusting needs to be done!

One of my favorite things...

is a new haircut. I finally got mine done last Friday and it feels soooo much better. Whenever I get a new haircut, I have to get a new lipstick. (They just go together.) This weekend, I took CheriBeri's advice and got the Revlon ColorStay plumlite. It is awesome and really does last!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

pondering several ideas for my family for Valentine's Day. I'd like to do something special, but I never know what to do ...

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Join Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook to read other daybooks.

33 and Counting

33 years ago I was a nervous bride praying to get through her wedding without making some sort of goofy mistake, such as tripping over the train of my dress, or getting a coughing fit during my vows. Am I the only one who worried about stuff like that?

I can remember thinking that being married 10 years is a very long time.

33 years later, it doesn't seem all that long to me!

When I met my husband, I had been praying to meet a Christian to date. God answered my prayer by arranging for me to meet Jim. It was love at first sight! Seven months later we were married.

Some debate whether immediate true love really happens. I do think that most of the time what we call love at first sight is really infatuation. What happens after you meet and fall in love determines whether it is true love or not: do you commit to each other to stay together no matter what happens?

In other words, do you live your vows? It is one thing to say that you will love for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health. How about when that really happens? What if it is poorer and sickness that is your lot in life? (Sad to say, sometimes people get the richer and health part of life and their marriages still can't make it ...)

I believe that it boils down to whether you are a man (or woman) of your word or not. For us, divorce is not an option. We're in it "for the long haul."

So happy anniversary to my best friend, lover and "good buddy," Jim. Thank you for all you do to take care of me. Thanks for all the times you make me laugh! I appreciate everything. I look forward to being a little old couple together -- of course, that is waaaay down the road!

Friday's Fave 5 - February 6, 2009

Today is wonderful Friday, and time for Friday's Fave 5 at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story.



We are to list 5 favorite things about our week.

1. Today's my anniversary! My favorite guy has put up with me for 33 years. To read about him, click here.

2. Believe it or not, one of my favorite things this week is that I was able to make it into the office every day! Usually, I'm being thankful to have a day off, but when things prevent you from working a full week several weeks in a row, you get behind on paperwork. And paperwork is NOT my fave!

3.One of my favorite table decorations is pictured below. One of the things I love to do is decorate my table for different occasions. I read at Kim's blog, ForeverWherever.com about decorating with Valentine candy. I decided to try it, first visiting the Dollar Tree. There I purchased a glass heart dish for $1, placed a pillar candle in it from Wal-Mart $1.88, and poured a bag of Valentine candy hearts, $1, around the candle. Voila! A centerpiece for $3.88. (It would have been $3 if I had gotten to the Dollar Tree before all the pillar candles were sold out.) The tablecloth underneath the candle was a gift a few years back from my bff, Cora.

4. We've had a couple sunny days this week. After last week's ice storm, definitely another fave!

5. Another favorite quote to share with you:

"The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist to support this
ultimate career." C.S. Lewis

Thanks for reading my 5. Visit Susanne here if you'd like to see how everyone else's week went.

Thankful Thursday - Cha..Cha..Changes

Today is Thankful Thursday. I've been so busy lately that I don't always get to participate, but I don't want to get away from focusing on thankfulness. An attitude of gratitude makes life so much sweeter - for me, as well as everyone I come in contact with!

Iris, who hosts Thankful Thursday, posted on her blog about being thankful for the changes the Lord is working in her life. I appreciate that because so often people do not feel thankfulness for change. Granted, change can be scary but it also can be fun. Many times when we look back, we see that change ushered in some of the best times of our lives.

A great example of change bringing wonderful times in my life is when I had my children. My husband and I struggled with infertility for 10 years before our first child was born. We were set in our ways, used to only considering the two of us in our decisions. When Baby Liss came, that all changed. She became the focus of our world. 5 years later, Baby Janae brought more change. Now we had to consider taking two kids with us wherever we went. Then the biggest change of all, Baby Malia joined us 21 months after Janae. (Why is it the third child seems to bring the most change?)

Now, I can barely remember my life before the girls came. These past 22 years of being a mom has been the best! I wouldn't trade those kisses and hugs, "Mom, I love you"s and homemade cards and art work for anything in the world.

Yet, I admit that sometimes change is painful. Sometimes loved ones become ill or die. Sometimes catastrophe strikes and a home or even a way of life is gone in an instant.

That's when I lean on God's Word:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


When change comes, good or bad, we have to remember that the Lord wouldn't allow it to happen unless He is going to use it to prosper us in some way. It may feel like harm to us at the time but the future will show that He had us in His Hand all along.


I'm thankful for the changes He has brought in my life, and I'm excited to see what the next change will be. Life is change, change is good.


Visit Iris at Grace Alone and see what others post about thankfulness.

SFMTY-I Love Mom

Ever notice when you buy baby things how much stuff is out there that says, "Daddy's Little Girl," or "Daddy's Princess" and "I Love My Daddy"? When my three baby girls came along, I had tons of t-shirts, bibs, and onesies that had phrases about Daddy, but nada about Mom. It was so unfair! Who did all the work getting the baby here, anyway?

But my day has come:

This is my daughter, Liss, wearing my favorite of her shirts. I love that shirt. When it's no longer wearable, I want to make a pillow out of it.



For more photo fun, visit Kristen at We are THAT Family.

WFMW: Easy Chicken and Rice

Today, I thought I'd share a quick and easy (and cheap) chicken and rice casserole recipe. The cheapest way to make this casserole would be to use cooked chicken and broth that you already have on hand. (I like to make up ahead ziplock bags containing 1 cup of chopped cooked chicken. I do this by cooking several chicken breasts in the crockpot sprinkled with poultry seasonging and adding some water and bouillion cubes. If I get ambitious I also add some onions, carrots and celery to make the broth more flavorful. I then freeze the broth in separate containers.)

If you don't have chicken on hand, you can always go get a rotisserie chicken and de-bone it, and a couple cans of ready-made broth.

Jerri's Easy Chicken and Rice

2 Tbsp Butter (I use real)

1 Box Chicken Flavored Rice and Vermicelli Mix

(similar to Rice-A-Roni - I just use store brand)

3 C HOT Broth

Melt butter in a large frying pan. Put rice mix in pan and saute until golden. Add spice packet and 3 C broth and stir. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in:

1 C chopped cooked chicken

Continue cooking on low for 10 additional minutes.

Stir in:

1 C thawed frozen peas

Turn off heat, put lid on skillet and steam for 5 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

I know this recipe uses a convenience food, but sometimes quick and easy works for me!

For other great ideas, tips and recipes, go visit Shannon's Rocks in My Dryer.

What's on Your Mind? '09- To Be or NOT To Be

What’s On Your Mind ‘09 strikes again! Today, the challenge looms… write a post without using any BE verbs (am, are, was, were, is, be, been, being). Like Shane, at Heart Reflections, my post does contain a couple occurences of a form of the word be – simply because I’m using a quote to begin my post. Please read my humble attempt below:

My Life, A Precious Gift to Me

Today, I read a quote from an online friend’s email: “My point is that all those sounds together, or others like them, are the sound of our lives: What each of them might be thought to mean separately is less important than what they all mean together. At the very least they mean this: listen. Listen. Your life is happening." Frederick Buechner

His quote captured my thoughts. God gave me my life as a very special gift. I don’t want to waste it. Too often, dreaming of the future robs me of the now.

So, focus; listen to those everyday sounds and think of what it means. Laughter, the first sound that comes to mind. I love to laugh! With three daughters and an extraordinary hubby, laughter happens a lot! Laughter means joy.

The next sound: the sound of typing. As a secretary with two jobs, a constant clicking of my keyboard fills my days. My new hobby of blogging fills the evenings with typing also. My family types daily also -- teenagers on facebook, husband who loves to play southern gospel music on an internet chatroom – we keep our three computers busy. Typing means employment, social and personal fulfillment.

Another sound found often around the home: the sound of appliances. Dishwasher washing, heater blowing warm air, or in the summertime the a/c blowing cold air, microwave beeping, washing machine agitating all add up to a busy household. Appliances working mean convenience to me!

The television blaring frequently makes an unwelcome sound. Often, I think the TV needs turning off to encourage thinking! Yet, I admit sometimes I enjoy watching certain programs. Each show has its own theme song. The sound of a certain program can signal a certain time of day. For instance, I know when I hear “Wheel of Fortune” that 6:30 p.m. has rolled around again. TV can mean the sound of entertainment.

I also love the sound of music, in particular, praise and worship music. The word says:

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:19

I feel that our “self-talk” should sound like praising and worshipping the Lord, and speaking words of kindness to ourselves.

However, nothing can compare to the sound of my loved ones voices. Oh, certainly they do not always say what I want them to say, but hearing their voices sounds like love to me.

What does your life sound like?


Would you like to read other replies to the challenge? Go visit Shane here.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - February 2, 2009

FOR TODAY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND ...

Outside my window...

beautiful sunshine!

I am thinking...

of how much I love my routine!

I am thankful for...

electricity!

From the kitchen...

homemade spaghetti sauce, and I have a new enchilada recipe I want to try.

I am wearing...

Black pants, top and shoes, with a purple suede jacket and a colorful necklace my daughter bought me.

I am creating...

order out of chaos in the office!

I am going...

to get my hair cut and highlighted this week. Yay!

I am reading...

"Out of Canaan" by Jan Karon. Yes, I'm still in Mitford!

I am hoping...

that all my friends and family will have their electricity restored today.

I am hearing...

the gurgle of the coffeemaker.

Around the house...

some dusting is in order.

One of my favorite things...

listening to praise and worship music on my mp3 player.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

to get the newsletter done, the calendar for my church finished, my Rex review finally completed (my power was out this past week and I didn't get it done) and enjoy my home.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This week snow and ice adorned our little shed making it seem almost charming!

To read other daybooks, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.