Gettin' my Craft on...

Someone has a blog with that title and I just had to use it, cause I really like it...hope it's not copyrighted or anything..:o)

Hmm..what have I been up to this week, craft-wise? Well, we finally finished our Thankful Tree today. It was a lot of fun and very easy to do. I got a really cool branch from our yard (the day after the Tropical Storm hit, so I had lots of choices..you know it's harder than one would think to pick out that 'perfect' branch), spray painted it gold, found a really, really old, rusted coffee can out of the shed and spray painted it white, spray painted a leaf motif in gold, stuck the limb in some styrofoam and glued it for extra stability, added some moss (?) around the top of the can, and it was cute. Just like that. I printed some leaves from a template that was off of Word and had the kids write things on the leaves for which they are thankful. It was cute to see how the age differences caused the thankfulnesses (I am almost sure that isn't a word) to vary. My 6 yr old wrote things like, God, Family, Toys, etc. My 4 yr old wanted Kitty, Gabby (her dog), Teddy Bear, etc. on hers (not even Mama!), and the 2 yr old just said, Kitty! :) I didn't hafta ask the 2 month old because I know her answer would be, Mama's Milk! :)

Okay, the Tree, for crying out loud! (Oh yeah, I first saw this project at Kimba's blog, which I will link to later in this post)

Now, my second craft that I 'got on' was painting my husband's grandmother's nightstand that faithfully stood by her bedside for many, many, many years. I really can't tell you how long, but she was about 94 when she died. I decided to dress it up for the girls, and while it's not poifect, it looks a lot better, ya think? The 'E' is for their little names, Erin and Ella. Ensjoy...

Before
And a view of the nice top...

After..

Linked at DIY day at A Soft Place to Land

My 2 week Menu

I enjoy seeing what other bloggers are having at their table, so I will post my menu for this week. We're already one week into this menu--I forgot to post it last week. I do one menu and we have the same thing for 2 weeks in a row. It is never the exact same thing because I will run out of an ingredient or two and will have to fix an alternative dish. I do the 2 week menu to help on the grocery shopping organization and also so we can eat what's leftover the next week on the designated day. If you read my last menu, you noticed that we pretty much had a meat-free menu. This time I've added a few meat dishes, so next menu will probably be back to meatless.

Monday

Breakfast: Muffins (I have a variety of muffin recipes from which I like to choose)

Dinner: Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

Supper: Jambalaya (basically brown rice, tomatoes, & 'sausage'--use the fake kind..:o)

Tuesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal & fruit

Dinner: Hot Dogs ('veggie' dogs...actually we had corn dogs last wk..bad, I know..)

Supper: Veggie Lasagna

Wednesday

Breakfast: Pancakes w/Syrup (actually use Agave Nectar instead of Syrup)

Dinner: Little Chicks (this is chicken on rolls with special sauce)

Supper: Mexican Tinga (cool mexican dish from all recipes)

Thursday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Dinner: Home Fries

Supper: Navy Beans, Mixed Veggies

Friday

Breakfast: Toast

Dinner: Nachos & Cheese

Supper: Veggie Pizza

Saturday:I usually cook a big breakfast on Saturday and then a late lunch. This past Saturday, I cooked Beef & Noodle Casserole ( I plan to share the recipe..it is DELISH) & a veggie for lunch, but sometimes I will fix soup on Saturdays. My MIL usually cooks for us on Sunday, so we always have something delicious there.

Also, we usually have a fruit on the side with our dinner. To drink, we have tea or water. Occasionally, I will fix some 'Honey-Lemon Water' as my kids call it. :o)

I would love to see your Menus!

This is the way REAL men sleep!

Evan, age 2..my lil cowboy (and, yes, that is a 'possum' in the bed w/him)

Mini Improvements...

I have been inspired over the recent weeks to do some minor decorative changes to my home. Since I have learned that It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful, I have begun to get brave enough to try a few things decoratively speaking. I love the way this lamp in my kitchen as a warm, soft glow in the early mornings and at night. Replacing my pewter leaf dish (that I've had in the window forever) with a star (LOVE stars) seems to give that window just what it needs. Here are before and after photos:

Even the coloring looks better, right? I have noticed while looking at others' kitchens that some do not have a drain board out. Do you keep your's out or do you put it away after you finish your dishes? I have thought about putting mine away just to see if it really is an eyesore..
The next picture is just a DIY project and unfortunately, I have no before picture of this lamp. If I had known how it would turn out, I would have definitely taken one. But, picture this...a very old lamp in which the gold was peeling off...I, at first, spray painted it gold, but decided to try the white. Of course, white is always the better choice. :o) I had two shades to try, a burnt red one and this one below (which was from another lamp). The red just wasn't quite 'it', so I went with this one. While I was situating the lamp..I decided to place one of my stars in a plate holder on the wall nearby. Well, while it was laying there, my son grabs it and sticks it on the lamp and says, "Look, Mom, this looks good." A Nester in the making, perhaps? So, I left it. It may be one of a kind, but I really love this lamp. What do you think?

I would love to hear about your Mini (or Major) Improvements to your Haven.

Linked at...

Getting to know God...

This little cutie is a future Soldier of Christ!

Ella, 2 months old
The following post is from my prayer/devotion journal that I wrote in tonight. My mind has been in a whirlwind of things the last couple of days and God has had time to really speak to my heart. I feel like I have a brick on my chest right now (I can really feel it), but I know it is going to be lifted as I get to know God. My heart is really heavy because of the reason I am in this shape, spirtually, and I feel like I am spiritually deprived by those I love the most. I feel like I was misled (for lack of a better word) mainly by ignorance, but also as a result of a closed heart toward God (not mine). You will understand what I'm saying as you read.

God has revealed to me (I believe it is God) this week that I do not see Him the way I should see Him. Oh, how our childhood affects us the rest of our lives! As I grew up, God was portrayed to me as "Hell, Fire, and Brimstone" if you don't 'measure up'. Now that I am grown, I see God more as a 'God of wrath' at least +100X more than a 'God of love'. I didn't really have God as a 'God of Love' portrayed to me during my childhood. I always had my parents (mom, especially, she had more influence in my life than dad) seemingly over my very young shoulder to remind me that, "God sees you, what you're doing, "God Knows...", or "That's not pleasing to God, etc." Never do I remember my mom and dad (great parents, btw) show me an awesome sunset and marvel at God's handiwork. On the otherhand, my parents were quick to show me someone who wasn't dressed to a T (according to their standards), over whom to be in disbelief. My mom didn't always see the good in people, it seemed, so I never was indirectly encouraged to look for God's love or goodness in people. What was really God's blessings on people were portrayed to me as "there is no telling how far those people went in debt to get that *said item*. My parents never led us in devotions which includes Bible reading or prayers. We sure did go to church--all the time, but it is not the church's place to ultimately show love to a child. Remember, to a child, parents are a sort of temporary God. If parents don't show God's love, then the child isn't going to see or feel God's love. Not until the soul searching or Spirit-led conviction comes to deal with the heart.

Because of my otherwise wonderful upbringing, I don't know God's love like He wants me to know and see Him. I am so, so thankful and incredibly humbled that God cares enough for me to reveal this crushing truth to me this week. I want to see God in a accurate picture! My view is currently distorted and has been for all of my life! Oh, I want to know God! My heart is broken that I've been seeing God so wrong all along. I always felt a sort of emptiness when thinking about God and even when praying to God. But, up until this week, it hasn't clicked to me about why!

I truly believe this is one of the main reasons so many young people have left our denomination. God has been portrayed to them since a child as a supreme being who is sadly shaking His head and waving a stick at them when something wrong is done or if a 'dress code' is broken. Don't take me the wrong way, I'm not trying to 'water down' God's Holiness or Judgement. But, it only seems that a child should FIRST be introduced to God's love, power, and awesomeness, BEFORE hearing that God's Gonna Get You (like parents do about the policeman to children--they certainly don't view them as Love, right??). Kids are curious and they are sinners until salvation (which many have probably been 'guilted' into an 'experience'--insert pic of God w/a sword here) and they are going to want to do the things that we may feel is unappropriate (think, dress code, etc). We must first be an example to them. That is the single best thing a parent can do for a child. Every parent is some kind of example. I want to exemplify God's love to my children first and foremost. Secondly, we must be Holy because God is Holy and it's our desire to please Him. If we are being holy because Sis. so-in-so will be offended if we do something *said* way, then our children will realize that and will drop 'Holy' living the day they turn 18. Lastly, we must express God's love through Bible times and prayer with them. The church should not be a substitute for family worship time.

How will I get to know God? Well, I'm cranking up my ole 5am prayer and Bible study time again and I plan to write down scriptures about God's love and meditate on them during the day. I also am cutting way back on internet (while nursing..I don't get on much any other time) and start back reading spiritual books and listening to great speakers like Nancy Leigh DeMoss and others who are examples of God's love and show what it means to share God's love with your children. If the Lord has revealed this to me, He has something great in store for me. I can't wait to truly know what it feels like to be in love with the King! Just think, when I love Him as I should, my priorities will be in the right place. Just like that. I won't have to spend my time *trying* to get them in the right place and wondering why I struggle with that all the time. Now I know.

My heart is overwhelmed with this realization. I could never put a finger on what was wrong in my personal experience. It just seemed a bit dense and lacking. The bottom line is, I don't know God how He really is. I want to get to know God. I do. I want this man-pleasing facade to disappear and be replaced with pleasing my Savior. Why do I please man? Because I don't please God. We please our husbands because we love them. Right? When I truly love my Saviour and see Him how He is, I will please Him, ultimately.

My prayer is, Lord, help me to see and feel Your love! I want to see you, God, as how you would have me to! Erase my past perception of you and help me to see an accurate picture of you. Please do this God, through Your word and through my prayer time with you. I want my children to view you as a Holy, Loving, Gracious, and Merciful God that you are. I don't want to say things as my mom did/does like, "Jesus, sees you when you do that" which will cause them to see Jesus as a stern man, pointing a finger at them. How about my pointing out God's handiwork to them or telling them about the cruel cross Jesus had to bear for our unrighteousness. Help me to show them people who are wonderful examples of God's love. Lead me into ways to show my children Your love. Oh, it would be horrible for us to have raised them with an inaccurate view of you. How terrible that would be! It could mean their souls. Lead me and my husband into paths of truth and help us to know you as you are. We only have one chance at introducing our children to you and that starts with introducing ourselves as examples of Christ. That is scary in itself, God, and we need you desperately. Thank you, Father, for working in me in the past 2 days. I trust your work in me to continue!

Bless you for reading! These things are personal to me, but I felt like sharing them on my blog. Maybe you can relate to what I've shared. Pray for me and I'll pray for you, dear reader.

Disclaimer: I hope I didn't leave anyone with the wrong impression of my parents. They are wonderful, wonderful parents whom I love very, very much. They have their faults and weren't perfect parents as I'm sure I won't be, either. I do want my heart to be open to God's voice and I want to learn from their mistakes for MY sake and for my children's.

My current favorite Soup!

I've had some blog ideas in my head, but my camera is having some problems with the batteries dying too frequently. I don't like to blog without some sort of photo, so I haven't been blogging as frequently as I'd like. Until I get new batteries, I thought I'd share a wonderful soup recipe with you. I have made this soup several times in the past few weeks. It is just soo flavorful and soo healthy! You will love it, I'm positive!!

Black Eye Pea Gumbo

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup AP flour (I've used both white & wheat..both do fine)

1-2T oil

1& 1/2 cps. sliced okra (I usually just put the whole frozen bag full)

1 c chopped onion

3/4 c. chopped celery

3 garlic cloves, minced

4 cps. water

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1/3 c. chopped fresh parsley (I have always used dried)

2 tps. salt

1/2 tp. dried thyme leaves

1/8 tp cayenne pepper

1/8 tp pepper

2 bay leaves (I have made it twice w/o the leaves)

1/2 lbs. cubed cooked ham (I usually leave this out since we do meatless)

15 oz can black eyed peas (or whole frozen bag full)

1 tp liquid crab boil

Directions

Heat 1/3 cp. oil in small saucepan over med. low heat until hot. Using wire whisk, stir in flour. Cook 5-7 mins. or until golden brown, stirring constantly. Set aside. Heat 1-2 T oil in heavy saucepan over med heat until hot. Add onions, celery, & garlic; cook 8-10 mins or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Add okra, water, tomatoes, parsley, salt, thyme, pepper, crabboil, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 20 mins. Add cubed pork; cook an additional 15-20 mins. Stir in black eyed peas; cook until thoroughly heated (if you are using frozen, you will have to cook peas about 30 mins or so). Remove bay leaves.

Mmmm...Mmmm... good

My Menu

I always enjoy seeing what others are having in their homes. Here is what we'll be having for the next 2 weeks. It's easy for me to have the same thing for 2 weeks in a row so I can freeze leftovers from the first week for the second week and also it helps with my organizing my grocery shopping. It's easier!

Monday, Nov 2
B: Breakfast Burrito (basically scrambled eggs on a homemade WW tortilla)
L: Applesauce (2 of my kids wanted Tuna and an orange and my oldest ate leftover breakfast)
S: Butter beans, rice/gravy, squash (sauteed with peppers/onions)

Tuesday, Nov 3
B: Cereal (right now we have Cascadian Farms Organic cereal in our cabinets...yum)
L: Hamburgers (gotta make some bread for this)
S: Corn chowder

Wednesday, Nov 4
B: Scrambled Eggs and Fruit (Oranges or Banana)
L: Chicken Noodle Soup (will make it in the crock pot the night before)
S: Enchiladas & chips/salsa

Thursday, Nov 5
B: Grits and Sausage (get the morningstar fake sausage..:o)
L: Leftover Enchiladas
S: Home Fries, Peas, Turnips (fresh from our garden)

Friday, Nov 6
B: Hashbrowns, Fruit (or smoothie)
L: Fish Sandwiches
S: Great Northern Beans & Cabbage

Saturday, Nov 7
B: Cereal or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (not sure if my cereal will last that long..)
L: At reunion.....I will take desert and a side....
S: Black Eye Pea Gumbo