Monday, April 29, 2013

Chew on this...

Jonah 1:1-3 It doesn't take Jonah long to say no and run the other way does it! Are we quick to say no when God asks us to do something? Or do we pray about it as Nehemiah did? Do we run the other way as Jonah did or do we wait like Nehemiah? Pray this week for God to speak to us, to give us a task, to use us as He would use us. Then pray that we will be more like Nehemiah with our response no matter what God calls us to do. Remember Isaiah 55:8, God’s ways are not the same as our ways. ~Frances

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Thankful Thursday...glow in the dark bracelet

Last week, I got an email from my daughter's teacher about a parent's concern regarding their daughter needing to get a bracelet from my child that glows in the dark.  The other little girl is hysterical cause her mom will not give her $5 and she is scared my child will run out of these bracelets.  My first instinct when I read this was fear! Fear that I was creating waves, they always say don't rock the boat.  I did not want to create any drama or even make my kids a target at their school because of these bracelets. The teacher asked me to email and explain to the mother what the bracelets are about.  I was nervous and scared but let it go and gave it to God to handle.  "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." Exodus 14:14 was a verse God gave me weeks before that I have been clinging to tightly.

After my ladies bible study ended, I typed an email addressing the mothers concern.  I apologized for creating the hysteria in her child.  Explaining that my daughters took them to school to sell to teachers, staff, and close friends. Then told her I was going on a mission trip to Costa Rica in June.  The bracelets were to be a reminder of prayer for those who purchase one.  All of the money from bracelets goes back to the trip which we will be working on a church during the day and VBS at night to local children.  I apologized one more time, prayed, then sent that email on it's way!

When I woke up the next morning, I had a bit of concern over that email, how would it be received, would she understand or would she persecute me.  I thought this is the denying of Christ Jesus talks about. "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" Matthew 10:22  We might not be accepted for what and who we believe in.  We will be made fun of or things even worse.  Then I thought we are to follow Jesus at all cost, because He is worth it! "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent." Acts 18:9

I let it go to God once more for good this time. (Some things are so hard for me to not try to take back from God once I give it to Him.)  The response back was received by that mother and she wished me luck on my mission.  My ladies bible study the night before spoke on when we get divine anointing, we can expect big things from the results even if they are small in our eyes.  These bracelets are small in cost but the big results that will come from them, through others money used to purchase them and the prayer that will come from them will be HUGE.  Like Jonah's speech from God to Nineveh.  Jonah said to the whole city "40 days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed." That's all he said, those few words! But those small words had God's anointing on them and it sparked one of the biggest revivals in history.  That's a really overwhelming thought to just how great our God is and to how if we were only more willing and obedient to obey Christ!

I sometimes use my Bible app so that I can flip to different versions of the same verse easily. As I was waiting for the app to open, I began thinking how that mom probably thinks I'm some crazy fanatic or worried she might be passing judgement on me or my kids.  I looked down to the app now open and the verse for the day read...

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

I burst into tears because in that moment I felt His great love for me and for all people.  My reassurance from my heavenly father! Thank you Jesus! 


 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Homemade bag ice cream

The kids made homemade ice cream from zipper bags!  
This was a fun and exciting treat for my kids.  Even the youngest could do this, with a little help from mom. 

What you need to gather for EACH serving you are making:

-3/4 cup half and half (next time I'm going to try using our kefir milk)

-1/4 cup whipping cream

-2-3tsp honey granules or sugar

-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

-gallon zip bags

-quart zip bags

-ice

-rock salt 

We were making 3 servings, one for each of my kids.
First add the half and half, whipping cream, honey granules, vanilla into the quart zip bag and seal up tightly.
Next add fill gallon zip bag about half full of ice along with 1/2 cup rock salt.  Place the quart bag with ice cream ingredients into the gallon bag with ice. 
Seal tightly then shake, shake, shake! 
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The kids hands were getting cold so I told them to hold the bag from the top and keep shaking! 
Don't stop now, we are almost there!
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It took about 5 minutes to get a thick consistency, depending on how many times your kids stop, it might take a little bit longer for the shaking process.
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Time for the reveal...it was very yummy!
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The kids thought it was so cool to eat from the bag.  They were quite messy toward the end so beware. :)
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Want some?  
We added chocolate syrup to ours. You could add anything you like to change the flavor, strawberries, crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, etc. There are tons of possibilities!
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Enjoy!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Chew on this...

General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said to a group of new officers, “I want you young men always to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed.” Is your fire blazing for God or has it died down a bit or a lot? Let’s pray this week for the flames of each member to be stirred and fed. Feed your fire daily with God’s word and prayer. Pray for God to stir the church fire. Pray that all members will stay together in unity for His work because a coal cannot stay hot by itself. Pray for God to give us the words to encourage each other to stay on fire for the Lord! ~ Frances

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Thankful Thursday...for oil changes.

Oil changes make me smile!

I get my oil changed every 3000 miles, okay so sometimes its more like 4000 or even 5000.  Eek!  There is one particular place that I go to get that "to-do check list" item done and as soon as I walk through the door the smell makes me smile! I'm sure those guys in there have identified me as the super smiley crazy mini-van mom is here. :)

That smell of car oil and grease reminds me of my daddy.

He was a hard working mechanic and I can still clearly picture him when I close my eyes.  What he looked like and smelled like every day he would come home from work.  His hands dirty with grease stains, the navy blue work pants he would wear with a different colored t-shirt and black steel toe boots, his shaggy dirty blonde hair, and a smirk of a smile, all would smell of auto shop grease. At the time he was just down right stinky to me, but now that smell makes me smile.

My father passed away February 1, 1995 of leukemia.  I am at a point in which I have been without him more years of my life then I had with him.  That is a heart breaking thought for me. But I am so thankful for the time I did have with him, no matter how short it seemed in my eyes.

I cling to this verse when my heart is breaking from the loss of my earthly father. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4  God's word is truth! If He says those that mourn will be comforted, I can hold on to that truth and take comfort in knowing that it will happen. 

Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection."

John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

What do we do while we are waiting for God's comfort to arrive?

Habakkuk 3:17-18 "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

We rejoice and give Him the praise He desires! In my obedience to that command, I find my comfort.


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

What to do with washi tape?!

Are you familiar with washi tape? 


Often mispronounced as wasabi tape, it originated from Japan. Washi tape reminds me of masking tape, but much prettier! It's made from paper and comes in a HUGE variety of patterns, colors, and designs. 


So maybe you have some washi tape now but just haven't figured out what to do with it?  It was a buy you made because the tape was just so darn pretty and you had to have it.  :)  Well I've got a few ideas for you to make on your own with your washi tape.

Of course you can search a fav spot of mine, Pinterest for all kinds of ideas!

Make your own cupcake flags for a party. Purchase your color theme and wrap tape at top of toothpick.


How about a set of bookmarks with paperclips?!?! This would be a cute project for a girls birthday party.  They can make a set then take them home as part of their party favor.


You could make binder clips for your kids teachers.  Or for yourself!



This next is my favorite! It took some patience lining the tape up and trimming closely to the edges, but so worth it! You could take this a step further and paint a coat of mod podge to make it even more durable.


Last is decoration for a simple vase.


You could add more or less strips of tape.  Maybe even change the tape out for different holidays.


I love this tape because possiblities are truly endless! Washi tapes are a scrapbooker's dream I'm sure.  Most washi tapes are acid-free, which make them perfect for scrapbooking. What an easy way to add a little something to your pages.


So you want to know where to get your own washi tape?  Great place to start is to search Etsy.  Other places you can purchase from are Wishy Washi Tape or Cute Tape.

Have fun!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Deck Rebuild...Day 4

Pollen is out in full force at our house.  My youngest feels the burden of that the most.  His poor little eyes are so swollen and itchy.  He will look and feel this way for the next 2 months.  We are doing all we can to give him a little relief from his allergies.  Breaks my heart but it is what it is and we do the best we can with it.


I touched up the picture below some but I couldn't hide all the red around his eyes.  He gets some serious shiners during this season as well.  Can look pretty bad some days and others you can see relief.  Poor thing!


Hubby has been working to get the frame strong for this huge deck.


This project like all other projects in our house has been "Vernerized!" HA! Meaning super sized the Verner way.  I mean just look at all this wood! This isn't even for all of the deck! LOL! Makes me think of the AT&T commercials with those kids who say the cutest things, "Bigger is better."

 
Most things we do around here end up a huge project, of course by our choice. They can seem so torturous in the process but once finished feel so worth it!


Yep, it's gonna be that big! I can hardly wait!  I found this drawing by the youngest in picture below.  I am gonna miss seeing drawings like this in a few years.


Here it is the last of the old deck.  Curse you tiny toliet... deck!  Despicable Me is a fave movie of mine!



It's all gone! Out with the old and in with the new deck.


Man that is one pathetic plant by the door.  I obviously do not have a green thumb.


We have a floor. Hubby and I enjoyed the afternoon while he was taking a break the other day.  I knew this was going to be so nice but man just sitting in the unfinished deck, I realized it was going to be WONDERFUL!


Definitely have a long way to go, but what a feeling seeing this much progress from my hard working man! Thanks again babe! 

Saturday, April 13, 2013