Blog Break

I'm not saying I won't post - if the mood hits me while on my trip, I will post - but for now I'm on a blog break!

If I don't blog until then, expect a blog post around the 17th of Sept.  See ya'll later!!  : )

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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

I figured since I've been in the kitchen mostly all morning, why not make some cookies too? LOL :) I like big cookies, but one of them broke and then the edges got a little too dark but the bottoms were great nevertheless! They are so easy to make and I got the recipe from Miserly Meals and this was my first time trying it out.

Heat up 1 cup PB in the microwave on low for about 2 minutes. Mix in 1 cup sugar and 1 egg and then make your cookies! Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes and then let cool. They are very sweet and peanutbuttery (new word hehe).

Yes, I know one cookie is missing half....that was me! :)

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Take THAT To Do List! : )

I'm doing some catch up and preparing today. It started last night with cooking, cleaning, planning and scheduling! My To-Do List is getting some attention to say the least lol.

Last night I cooked up 16 chicken legs. I did 6 baked parmesan chicken legs in the oven and then the other 10 I threw in the crock pot with 1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup sugar, some tabasco and ginger and cooked on low overnight for 8 hours to awake to a wonderful aroma!

Then I tried a coffee mocha creamer recipe from Miserly Meals and it is good! I put some in my husband's coffee this morning and he let out a WOW! ; ) I mixed 1 cup sugar, 1 cup creamer with 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa and blended it all and then put it in a container and labeled it. Then you use 2t per cup of coffee or more if your desire!

Is it stopping there? NO! I have so much more to do today and the next few days as well. I'm freezing the chicken legs and then in about an hour putting a pork roast with 2 onions, bottle of barbecue sauce and some honey in the crock pot for 8 hours. Then when it is done, I shred the meat with a fork and serve on large buns for BBQ Pork Sandwiches for dinner tonight (one of my husband's favorites!) I got a lot of meat on sale this month if you couldn't tell?

I'm also having some friends over for lunch today and I'm making homemade pizza! And I'm off...........vrrooomm.........

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Announcements

If I said I have not been stressed out a little lately.....I would be lying lol. It has been a real challenging time for me but its all for a reason of which I will share a bit of here today! Most of you know I've been writing a book since 2006 and I also started a new one last year. I plan on having them published in 2009 (the first one by the end of this year if all goes well!). I also am working on getting a website that will contain my bio, and my books as I get published next year.

There is a lot on my plate, so to speak, lately but I believe God is able to help me handle it all! : ) I'm taking a trip to gather my plans and when I return we plan on trying for our next child! We have plans laid out for the next few years and pray it all goes according to plan! Here are our future plans:

• Have a child (or hopefully twins : )
• When child reaches 1, finish Seminary
• After Seminary, go to the area God has called us and pioneer a church there

We know the place and have known it for about 8 years now! It has never changed but only grew in our hearts. I really prayed and made sure it was God's will for us to have a child now and we got our answer that it was in His timing. We want 5 children, so after we finish Seminary, we plan on having the rest.

I plan on working on finishing one of the books while on my trip, so I may or may not do blog posts. Please be in prayer with me and my writing, I hope to touch hearts and let God use this for his glory, thanks! : )

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Will You Murmer?

Is not Christ your treasure?
Is not heaven your inheritance—
and will you murmur?

Have you not much in hand, and more in hope?
Have you not much in possession, but much
more reserved in heaven—
and will you murmur?

Has not God given you. . .
a changed heart,
a renewed nature, and
a sanctified soul—
and will you murmur?

Has He not given you. . .
Himself to satisfy you,
His Son to save you,
His Spirit to lead you,
His grace to adorn you,
His covenant to assure you,
His mercy to pardon you,
His righteousness to clothe you—
and will you murmur?

Has He not made you. . .
a friend,
a son,
a brother,
a bride,
an heir—
and will you murmur?

Has not God often turned. . .
your water into wine,
your brass into silver, and
your silver into gold—
and will you murmur?

When you were dead, did not He quicken you?
When you were lost, did not He seek you?
When you were wounded, did not He heal you?
When you were falling, did not He support you?
When you were down, did not He raise you?
When you were staggering, did not He establish you?
When you were erring, did not He correct you?
When you were tempted, did not He support you? and
When you went in dangers, did not He deliver you?—
and will you murmur?

What! you who are so highly advanced and
exalted above many thousands in the world?
Murmuring suits none so badly as saints.

Thomas Brooks 1608 - 1680


I was reading this tonight and WOW!  May we not murmer or complain but always be thankful for what we have and always know "it could be worse"!  Thank God for all that he has given us!

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Vaccinations Save Lives!

Others have ridiculed me for vaccinating my daughter but I just let them "talk" and tell me why I'm harming my child, all the while knowing that vaccines save lives! If you look back years ago and compare it with today, you will see less deaths and most of those diseases have completely disappeared. UNTIL.....this band of anti-vaccinations preaches their stance on the "harm" that the vaccinations do or could do, trying to scare everyone into not getting them for their children. Well, here is what is coming of this and I don't think we have heard the last of it! Go here to read the full story.



Here are some quotes from the article:

"In Washington state, an outbreak was traced to a church conference, including 16 school-aged children who were not vaccinated."

"At least one outbreak this year of another preventable disease was blamed on lack of immunizations. At least 17 children were sick with whooping cough at a private school in the San Francisco Bay area, and 13 were not vaccinated against the disease, which can be fatal to children."

".....busy doctors have grown frustrated by the amount of time they’re spending answering parents’ questions about things they read on the Internet or heard from TV talk shows."


What makes me upset is knowing that some of the infected were under 1 and not old enough to receive the vaccination yet. Here you have these parents not vaccinating their children and their children contract something like this and then if they are around YOUR BABY who isn't old enough to be vaccinated.....your baby could die because of someone else's stupidity. That really just rubs me the wrong way! If you don't vaccinate your children.........PLEASE do NOT come around mine (especially my future babies) and put them at risk!

Stepping down off my soapbox now........


Future reading: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

Also check the chart and make sure your child is up to date:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3295897/



Related: Vaccinations Myth Debunked

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"Gay" Day in California Public Schools

Go to the link below to read the story.......another reason to homeschool (especially if you live in CA!)

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08080811.html

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Hairstyles

I found a great channel on youtube that has some wonderful hairstyles!! I'm so excited, can't wait to try them out. Below is one I'm going to try to do this week, thought I would share! You can find the channel here. (fyi: I'm not apostolic, but loved the hairstyles nevertheless!)

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Happy 39th Anniversary Dad and Mom!!

Today marks my parents Anniversary and they have been married faithfully for 39 years! I love you Mom and Dad and wish you the best! You have given the world a great example of marriage by your commitment and faithfulness to each other over the years through it all!

It is also my Sister's 5th Anniversary, so a Happy Anniversary to you all also!

Love,

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Money Talks Grocery Tips Video

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Freezer Sausage Biscuits

Some months, I make a large batch (30) of sausage biscuits and then freeze them individually. I used to do it when we were in Seminary, so that way I could sleep in, but my husband would still have his breakfast! This month I decided to do them because I have some plans coming up and I'm preparing meals ahead of time.

It is easy to do and cheaper than buying the ones in the freezer section! You buy 3 cans of biscuits (30 cents or so per a can of 10) and then 2 pounds of sausage. Make 30 patties from the sausage and then cook your 30 biscuits. Put together to make a sausage biscuit and wrap in freezer paper or freezer bags and freeze!

I made a batch this morning and here are some photos:

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Please Refer to my Sidebar

I have said this before and posted it on my sidebar, the rules of my blog. I do not accept comments with debate or criticism.

For the commentor whose 3 comments I did not approve, here is some scripture I got in prayer in response to what you claimed was unBiblical:

Matthew 10:14
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

It is also found in the other Gospels:

Mark 6:11
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them...."

Luke 9:5
"And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them."


Let's move along and please follow the rules of my blog or just leave, no hard feelings, thanks.

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The Envelope System

I just finished the Meal Planning 101 posts, hope you all got your questions answered and that I presented it in a way that was easy to understand.  I really hope it enables you to save when you need to in the grocery budget.  Whenever we want to buy something, say I want a new outfit or recently new furniture, being able to feed my family healthfully on $80 a month enables me to have the money to use for these other things. 

Using a debit card doesn't have the "OUCH" moment that using cash has.  That is why I'm using the Envelope System.  I take $80 and put it in my monthly grocery envelope and then I put $30 in the necessities/toiletries envelope and then I have allowances for spending money and clothing also.  You can read more about it here:

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=3461

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The Accuser of the Brethren

The religious hypocrites were always looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. They constantly searched for faults, so they could bring accusations against him. Their agendas were very clear......they wanted to do away with Jesus. We know that satan is the accuser of the brethren.

Mark 3:2

"And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. "

Luke 11:54

"Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. "

The Bible tells us to not marvel if the world hates us. We know that a Christian loves, forgives and does not hate or keep bitterness in their heart against another. So why is it that some are feeding their fires of bitterness by constant slander against Godly men and women? If they are truly of God, should not they love, forgive and have no bitterness in their hearts?

It is plain by their works, who they are of, it is not of God. It is plain to see whose bidding they are doing. satan is the one who works on tearing down the work of God. satan is the one behind agendas set to defame Godly men and women. satan is behind the constant searching for accusations and yet another defamatory script to write.

Why would people want to rail against God's men and women and his church?

1 John 3:12

"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. "

It was jealousy, envy, and hate that did it back then and it is the same today. Let's look at the persecution of the Godly a bit more:

Psalm 37:12-15

"12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. "

2 Timothy 3:12

"12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

The wicked:

• Plot against the just
• Gnash on them with their teeth
• Slay those with an upright conversation

All that live Godly.....will suffer persecution, we learn in 2 Timothy. He did not say some, he said ALL and SHALL. If you are living Godly you will suffer persecution. It is not something strange, it is common for the Christian.

The wicked will always try and destroy those who have good character, walk upright and live for God. You have these haters of all things Godly bursting out at the mouth in pure slander and hatred for others. Do not they have to love to make it to Heaven??

1 John 4:20-21

"20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

Thanks be unto God that we can come away from all that. God can forgive! We can let the blood of Jesus cleanse us from our wicked ways and love one another! We can have good works and leave the evil works behind!

Originally written in 2006

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Meal Planning 101; Step #8

This is the easy step:

Go shopping!

Again, I do my grocery shopping at Walmart and Winco. I'm armed with my list telling me at which store to get what. Then I complete my shopping for the full month, except for things like bananas and other fresh produce that I will need to buy 2-3 times a month, I reserve about $10 for that.

We buy whatever meat is on sale or running cheap.  Take last month, we found a roast and then it was sliced and that one roast lasted us 5 meals because I wrapped 4 slices and put them in the freezer.  Each package was a meal along with potatoes or rice and veggies.  I also like getting thin boneless pork chops and a 5 pound package of ground turkey.  We eat meat 1-2 times a week but most of are diet is based around beans, fish, eggs and other sources of protein.

For cheese, I get slabs of it, which is the cheapest way to get it that I have seen.  I usually buy one slab of cheddar and one slab of mozzarella for pizzas for the month.  They last us the whole month!

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Meal Planning 101; Step #7

Now that you have your Grocery List, you will want to shop at the store with the best prices for the items you need to buy. That brings us to the next step:

Make a price book

I shop at 2 stores for my monthly grocery shopping; Walmart and Winco. I might go to another, if there is an unbelievable deal or if I'm having a craving or have extra money for a treat.

I make a list of different foods and items and go through Walmart and then Winco and looking at the unit and/or ounce price, I write down the cheapest one. Then when I get home I compare and see which store has which item for the cheapest. Here is an example: I know that honey is cheaper at Walmart by comparing the price per ounce with Winco's cheapest honey. Then Winco has the cheapest peanut butter.

You should only have to do this once and then on each monthly visit to do your shopping, note any changes (if you have time) in the prices. Then every 3 months, you should do a complete price book check and see if there are changes. You would be suprised! I've seen Walmart change things from one month to the next, sometimes by a dollar or more.

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A Rarity Today: Courtesy

I have had about ENOUGH of the disrespect and discourtesy of others! I was raised in the South, a part of the country that abounds with hospitality and courteous folk. It seems to me that as each year goes by, people are becoming more and more rude and ill-mannered toward each other.

Just what is courtesy? Let's define it using Webster's:

• Courtesy/Courteous - marked by respect for and consideration of others

Now lets look at the words respect and consideration:

• Respect - regard, consideration, attention to
• Consideration - thoughtful, regard
  

Hebrews 10:24

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"


Here is a list of things that are very rude, disrespectful and definitely not courteous:

1. Talking to someone on the phone, and they abrubtly say hold on and click over to another line. This is called, not call waiting, but call RUDE! That is like saying "Oh, there is someone I would rather talk to on the other line than you." Sometimes people don't even click back over and you are waiting, waiting, waiting........then you realize they are not ever clicking back. This is very disrespectful. Is there an exception? Yes, sometimes you are expecting a very important call. It is well mannered to let the other person know this and please don't leave them hanging on the other line!
2. Not keeping your word. Some people's "word" is about as good as a boat with a hole in it lol. It just isn't reliable, you can't count on them. You say you will be there at such and such a time but don't show and don't call to notify that you are not coming or that you are late, etc. If you call to say you can't make it or call that you are running late, that is having a courtesy towards the other person. However, if you don't call or even let that person know why you didn't show and NEVER apologize that is just plain RUDE! We all have things that come up in life and sometimes we have to cancel things, but make sure it is an honest reason.
3. Not holding the door for the person behind you. That is the ultimate of rude, I mean come on! How hard is it, to hold the door till the person behind you gets it?
4. Flaunting and exposing your body when families are nearby. Of course Christians don't have to worry about this! I'm talking about women that want everyone and anyone to see their "goods". Women that don't hold anything sacred and private anymore but just let it all out. It is so disrespectful to others when you see this at the mall or other family areas. My child doesn't need to see your breasts and your belly button! Actually my daughter, would say to me if she saw this: "Mommy, why does that lady not have all her clothes on?" She says that about Barbie dolls at Walmart and those despicable Bratz dolls! She KNOWS what is modest already at age 4!
5. One-sided friendships, where a person is selfish and doesn't return the efforts: this is where you are the one who calls a friend, goes by their house to see them, make efforts to show your friendliness but receive nothing in return. Someone that will not return your efforts, is not worth it in my opinion. I learned early on that if you spend your time with these type of people where everything is all about them and they never make efforts to call you or see how you are, they are just full of them selves and you really don't matter lol. I worked in collections years ago and when I would leave messages on people's phones for the hundredth time it seemed, I would say "Please give us the common courtesy of a return call." Till this day, that has stuck with me! Like my 2nd Pastor taught us, if someone doesn't want to talk to you, even after your attempts, don't pursue them! They aren't worth your time! ; ) A phrase he used a lot was "you don't want to talk to me, I don't want to talk to you!" I still laugh when I think about that because I can hear him in my mind saying it lol.
6. Cliques! I honestly can't believe that there are even cliques in the church but it happens even in God's house! Someone mentioned something about the same ole' people always grouped together at fellowship's and the same ole' ones making trouble, etc. Whenever I see someone new, I try and talk to them and be their friend. I remember what it was like to be new in WA and how for months, no one really would be-friend me and my husband until one couple finally invited us over. I still remember who it was and to this day we are still good friends with this Rev and his wife. We then started inviting people over in mass numbers lol. Seems like every week (sometimes twice a week) we had people over for fellowship. Show yourself friendly! If you find yourself never reaching out to new people at your church, where you live, etc then make sure you aren't being a respector of persons and staying in your "comfort" zone. Step out and be friendly and get to know people!! Become a people person and don't succumb to a clique! Heaven will not be divided into the black clique and the white clique, etc. So you might as well prepare here and show yourself friendly.
7. When someone is in need or sick you offer no help. How would you feel if you were sick and in need, and no one cared? Whenever someone mentions a sickness or a need, I always ask "is there anything I can do?" Sometimes I just go ahead and do something if God lays it on my heart. But never putting out a hand to help is selfish. How many people are always grabbing hands of help but never themselves putting one out? There will come a day if you live long enough, that you will need someone. My Pastor's wife recently shared with me that what you do for others always comes back!
   
8. Doing all the talking and never letting the other person get in a word edgewise. It is one thing to talk to start a conversation or even keep one going. But when one person keeps talking and talking and never pauses to let you say something.......that isn't very courteous is it? I mean how many times have you avoided someone just because you know they will go on and on and you won't get in a word? I try and pause when I talk and let the other person say something. If they don't, I then continue on. You can usually tell when someone wants to say something, it is then you should pause and let them talk! Or else you may find that no one wants to be around you. Let's face it, people like to talk about themselves and in dealing with people, if you find they are shy, just start asking them questions about themselves and you will get them talking! Courtesy is a two-way street, practice what my daughter does with her friends and say "its your turn now". =0
9. You are trying to merge and no one will let you in. Doesn't it feel good when you let someone in that is merging or turning onto the street you are on? Most of the time they wave and mouth a "thank you" and you get a warm fuzzy feeling inside lol. Practice doing this and it will come back to you! When you need to get out in traffic, all of sudden you will find it easier. I can't tell you how many times this reaping and sowing law has come to life for me!
10. Not bearing other people's burdens. The Bible instructs us in Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Why are there so many Cain's today? Those that sarcastically say "Am I my Brother's Keeper?" Well guess what....you are! We are commanded in God's word to edify one another; lift one another up; restore one another and on and on. We have a duty to others! You can't just sit in your own BUBBLE and have no care for others, that is selfishness. So bear your brother or sister's burdens! Rejoice when they rejoice, weap when they weap. What would Jesus do? Could you really see Jesus sitting on his couch in his own little bubble and never caring for others? NO! So don't say you are Christ-like, if you do the opposite he has taught us.

Let's all practice some common courtesy this week! Hold that door open, let that car get in front of you, smile at someone at the store and call up those you care about. Not only are others watching your life, God is too!

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Cash Crate

I'm sure most of you have heard of Cash Crate, but I decided to try it out for myself after years of doing surveys and getting paid and heard good things about Cash Crate! Making your first $10 is easy and you get your check the next month! I first heard about this from Crystal over at Biblical Womanhood and now I'm signed up.

If you want to sign up for free and complete the free offers and earn money, click on my referral link below. That way they know that I referred you! ;)

http://www.cashcrate.com/719187

I suggest making an email account to use for this, that way your regular one is for personal use and this one is just for surveys! Happy earnings!!

Oh I almost forgot.....easy way to do this is, sign up, then choose the free offers and do those. I haven't done any others than the free ones and you can make money that way. Don't do the ones that ask for your social, at least I didn't feel safe doing those..........I just did the ones that are simple and surveys.

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Meal Planning 101; Step #6

You have your meal list for 30 days, now you are going to do Step #6:

Make a grocery list

Since you have planned your meals around your inventories, it will be easy to make your grocery list.  You know what you don't have on hand and need to buy.  Take out a piece of paper and make your list.  I like to have sections on my list such as:

Freezer/cold items
Canned items like tomato sauce
Produce

You get the idea!  When you go to the grocery store you aren't running back and forth because you have an organized list.  Then once you come to a specific section of the grocery store, you don't have to scan your entire list to see what you need from that aisle, it is already grouped together!

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Desserts

• Cookies
• Pies
• Coffee cakes
• Brownies
• Cakes
• Jello
  

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Dinner Meals

• Split Pea Soup, bread or sandwiches
• Pizza
• Navy Bean Soup, bread or sandwiches
• Spaghetti, cheese bread
• Beans, rice and salsa
• Taco Casserole
• Chili and baked potatoes
• Salmon chowder, corn on the cob and/or bread
• Broccoli and rice casserole (tuna usually)
• Meat, veggies, rice or potato
  

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Snack Choices

• Popcorn, cheese or almonds
• Nachos or just chips and salsa
  
• PB on bread, milk
• Fruit, hard-boiled egg
• Yogurt, almonds
• Shakes
• Grapes, cheese
• Salad, almonds or cheese
• Granola bars
• Hummus, veggies
  

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Liquid Hand Soap

If you are using the standard large size soap bar, then this recipe will work fine. However if you use smaller soaps or a specialty one, you may have to add more or less water depending on the consistency you get when it is cooled. One bar of soap makes us around 10 cups of liquid soap and that only costs 30 cents!

• 1 bar soap (whatever soap you prefer, I use anti-bacterial)
• 10 cups water
• Shredder
• Pan
• Stirring spoon

Pour your water into the pan on the stove and turn to heat to medium high. While the water is heating, shred your bar of soap. (you should get a cup of shredded soap)Then add your soap to the water and heat till all the soap is dissolved, stirring occasionally. (Don't allow it to boil)

Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into storage container or individual hand pumps. Once cool and set, it should be a thin gel, like the store-bought, if not you have used too much water and/or not enough soap. It will clean your hands nevertheless, even if you made it too runny......keep trying and you will get it right eventually.

** You can also make face soap using this recipe by using a facial soap bar (Dove, Olay, etc). You could also add essential oils for a scented version or even add some moisturizers if you want.

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Soup Recipes

My family and I LOVE soup! I stumbled across a recipe page tonight full of soup recipes. I checked out a few of them and also found some of them to be quite frugal. I will be trying some and just wanted to share. You can find them HERE.

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