The Elusiveness of Sleep...

Wednesday night was frustrating...but it finally got to a point of being laughable.  Sometimes you just have to laugh in order to get through, right?

It had been a semi-rough day anyway and I was looking to unwind.  A few magazines, the winter olympics, and a glass of good bourbon helped me settle and I was ready for bed at 9:30.  I was almost asleep when my husband came to bed...so I was shaken out of my almost asleep phase as he settled in and got comfortable.  Thankfully, I drifted off pretty quickly and slept in my bourbon coma for about 4 hours...

...until I was awakened by the sound of the dog puking.  Yay.  She sleeps in her crate in our room and normally it's a great situation.  I don't handle puke well (not that anyone does, but I REALLY don't), so my husband was kind enough to drag the crate outside and we decided she would sleep on the deck the rest of the night (out of the crate).  It was 60* (yah...in February), so she would be fine...

...we settled back into bed and the barking started...she's pretty obsessive and any little noise at night will set her off, so it may have been a small animal or it may have been the wind...but either way, she wasn't giving up.  Once again, my kind husband settled her back in her crate, this time in the laundry room...at the opposite end of the house from our room.  I was feeling really ill by this point and despite my best attempts, couldn't get the sound of the puking out of my head.  (mouth sounds really bother me.) I tried to focus on anything else and drift off...

...and she started whining...so loud that I could hear it all the way back in our bedroom, despite the noise machine and the noisy refrigerator.  Then the neighborhood dogs started barking...and she heard them, so she started her "inside" bark...which is not a full blown bark because she knows she will get in trouble if she does that, but she can't help but commiserate with all her canine friends.  Apparently, none of this is disturbing my husband, as he is now snoring...

...as I lay in bed, rolling my eyes and starting to feel the giggles at the situation, I realize that I am dreadfully hungry and my stomach makes such a loud grumble, I'm not sure if it's actually my stomach or the snoring...

...still can't get to sleep and it's after 3:00 a.m. now...I've scanned facebook, instagram, goodreads, checked the weather multiple times, checked e-mail (all on my phone) and I'm thinking about reading on my nook for awhile...but my eyes were tired, so I decided to try sleeping...

...I had almost drifted off, when my daughter started coughing.  She's been struggling with cold symptoms for about a week and night-time has been the most difficult.  The coughing continued and it became obvious she was going to need something to help.  My husband was tired enough to sleep through it all, and I knew that he would be getting up in less than 2 hours to go work out.  I grabbed my pillows, water bottle, phone, and nook, and headed into C's room...

....got some Breathe oil on her feet and chest, started the humidifier with Breathe oil added, propped her up on a couple pillows and adjusted her blankets, and settled myself down next to her...and she never woke up.  By this time, after moving around, I'm wide awake again, still hungry, and feeling the effects of drinking water throughout the night...ahem...

...I decide it's not worth it to get up, I'll probably get up in a few hours anyway, and I start to drift off...until C rolls over and starts snoring right next to my ear!  For real.  You can't MAKE this stuff up, people!  I shift her over again and settle, and she throws off all the covers (mine included)...I manage to get the covers back on just me, just in time for her to roll over and poke her knees into my back....and I am finally so tired that I drift off to sleep (the power of the Breathe oil?!?!) for a few hours.

This is what teenagers should have to endure to prepare them for real life...

But...it's a blessed life, and despite the snoring, coughing, and lack of sleep, I wouldn't trade it.  

(the puking dog...well...she's on thin ice right now...)

January Reading...

I have set a goal for myself to read at least 50 books this year.  This is lofty, even though it doesn't seem like it right now.  Right now, it is cold outside and I am reading a LOT...but as soon as the weather turns warm (April-ish) and stays warm (until October-ish), my reading rate drops drastically.  So, I have to get in extra reading during this time if I hope to come close to my goal.  I also hope to write a monthly blog-post reviewing some of what I read throughout the month.  So here goes for January...

click here

This book was given to me by my dad after reading and enjoying several of the author's articles in a magazine.  I have also enjoyed occasionally reading her articles.  She is a very knowledgeable woman and has a lot to share.  This was an easy read with short chapters that allow the reader to feel like they are  accomplishing something.  I finished it in just a few days.  As with most books of this type, there were things that I agreed with and loved and learned from and there were also a few things on which the author and I would have differing opinions.  As a mom, I did find the majority of the book encouraging and did not come away feeling discouraged in my role as a mother.

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This was a very intriguing read.  I heard about this book from a magazine and have been wanting to read it for awhile.  The hospitality industry is fascinating to me, and even more so after recently staying at the Opryland Hotel and just thinking through the logistics of operating a place that big.  I cannot recommend this book, though, because it has a ridiculous amount of unnecessary offensive language in it.  I almost didn't finish it because it got so tedious trying to skip around where there wasn't so much, but I ended up skimming a lot of it.  After reading it, I will never look at hotel staff the same way again, will probably take a lot more precautions in hotels than I already do (my germ-a-phobe side almost had a heart attack at a few points), and will probably tip more generously when given the opportunity.

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While I did not do the author's recommended experiment while reading the book, I can see the value in doing it.  I began this book at some point in 2013, and finished it in January.  I was not quite halfway through it when I began again.  It definitely makes you take a closer look at social-media use and the effect it is having on relationships.  I think the author must be an extrovert, and my introvert-self found some of his suggestions completely unthinkable...but, that is probably a sign of room for growth in my own life.  Overall, I recommend reading it, if only for the purpose of analyzing your own use of social media. 

click here

This was also given to me by my dad, and is the same author as Woman of the House.  This book also has short chapters and is an easy and enjoyable read.  Obviously the author is VERY pro-homeschooling, so if you are not, then the book will most likely be offensive to you.  It is full of practical tips for home-schoolers, though, and I look forward to implementing some of them in the future.  Again, another encouraging read for my calling as wife, mother, and teacher.

click here

I think I can hear you raising your eyebrows.  And I can imagine your thought pattern right now...why would you READ that book?  why would you ADMIT to reading that book?  why would you BLOG about reading that book?  Because it was a good book.  And I try to be an honest blogger.  This book was part of a bundle of eBooks that I was given as a gift and I'm determined to read them all.  I like 31 books like this where you read a section each day.  Sheila has a great perspective on intimacy for real life and I love the way that she presents the spiritual as well as as the emotional and physical aspects.  Highly recommend this book for all married couples.  There.  That wasn't so bad, was it?

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Another 31 Days book, which, like I said, I really enjoy.  This was also part of the eBook bundle.  I always need help when it comes to praying so any book that offers direction is a good fit for me.  The interesting thing about this book though, is that you go into it thinking that since you are praying FOR your spouse (primarily) they are the ones that will be "better built" at the end of the month...but, we all know what happens when we start a project like that, and as I prayed through these topics for my husband, I felt much conviction to pray about and work on these areas in my own life.  I did appreciate the way that this helped me focus on specific areas of my husband that I appreciate and am thankful for.  Highly recommend this one too.

Bread Machine Zucchini Bread

Typically I try NOT to create my own recipes.  I love to cook and bake and can follow a recipe...but creativity in the kitchen is not really my strong point.  My husband has graciously endured through numerous of my Oh-I-Made-It-Up dinners, and thanks to pinterest, hasn't had to do that in a long time.  BUT, I was on a quest for a Zucchini bread that was sweet but didn't have as much sugar and oil as the traditional recipes tend to have.  I searched around on pinterest but never found anything I was completely happy with, so I decided to just invent my own. (insert raised eyebrows here)

I was surprised that it turned out edible and actually tasty.  My daughter loves it, and I don't mind giving it to her since it is not loaded with sugar!  I enjoyed it this morning as toast (I KNOW, I KNOW...how is THAT low-carb?!?), and I was thinking it would make some really good french toast...

Here is it fresh out of the oven...

And here's the recipe:

2 cups shredded zucchini (water squeezed out if previously frozen like mine was)

1 1/4 c. warm water

1 egg

1/3 c. maple syrup

2 c. whole wheat flour

2 c. bread flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 T. butter, softened

1 1/2 T. dry milk

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 1/4 tsp. yeast (or 1 pkg)

Place ingredients in bread machine in order listed.  Set on dough cycle.  When finished, knead briefly and shape into loaf (or loaves).  At this point, it was a bit dough-y so I will probably add a little more flour next time...for this time, I just kneaded in a little extra.  Place in loaf pans or on a baking sheet or stone and cover with a towel.  Allow to rise 45 minutes.  Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes.

Enjoy fresh out of the oven with butter...

I'm open to suggestions for improving this recipe, so if you try it and find something that makes it even better, please be sure to let me know! 

hodge-podge...

hodge podge - a confused mixture

lack of pictures -- this post is going to be boringly lacking pictures...my apologies for that...see the next paragraph for an explanation...

technology -- I've had a rough week with regard to technology... my "smart" phone stopped syncing my e-mail and I was lost.  Lost, I tell you.  It's amazing what we get used to.  I was, however, more productive throughout the day...  I tried a bunch of things, but short of resetting my phone back to factory settings, I couldn't figure out how to get it to work...and then one day I did...but I have no clue what I did.  My camera (which died on Christmas morning due to a faulty battery) started working again, but then promptly stopped again the next day...thus, no pictures for awhile except for from my phone, which are phone pictures.  Ew.  And, my laptop has a problem with the monitor and until I get that fixed, my only computer access is our desktop, which works, but runs VERY slowly...I don't have a lot of patience for slow technology...or maybe you noticed?

reading -- I've updated my goodreads account and hope to use that regularly for tracking and organizing my reading progress.  I got my husband hooked on it too. :)  I also have a reading page here at the top of my blog, which I will keep updated as well.  I've taken a challenge to read 50 books in 2014.  I always read more in the first 4-5 months of the year and then drastically taper off, so we'll see how it goes.  A lot of things I am reading now are only in print as ebooks, and many of them are shorter than average...I'm not sure how that affects my 50 book goal...

health -- I've also decided to try to keep a better pulse on my health journey, so I wrote a Health page at the top of the blog.  My goal is to update this at least monthly, possibly even more frequently.  The blog provides some much needed accountability.

schooling -- We're back into pre-school full-swing (two days a week) and we are both glad for the structure once again.  Reading is the big thing and I'm constantly amazed at how quickly this girl learns stuff!  Our days of leaving out private notes to one another or spelling out things in her presence have pretty much come to an end.   I am starting to think more seriously about plans for next year as we officially begin Kindergarten! (Surely this is not possible???)

balance -- This word keeps coming up (if only in my mind).  We are presented with SO many opportunities for service and fellowship, and it is hard to know which ones to be a part of and which ones to say no to.  I learned this past year that we need down-time as a family to just BE a family at HOME.  It is essential.  We are a family of do-ers and so down-time doesn't come naturally and I (and probably my husband) struggle with feeling guilty if we have time for downtime (whether personal or family), but downtime in moderation is essential for a healthy life (IMO), so we are learning to keep time open for that.  

date night -- We are quickly approaching our 10th wedding anniversary this spring, and I can't believe it has taken us THIS long to plan a regular WEEKLY date night.  We've always gone out on dates or planned special nights at home, but (especially since becoming parents) it is not a regular thing.  Marriage seems to be a journey of hills and valleys, and while trudging through a particularly dry valley, we decided that it would be good to set aside one night a week where we put away the phones and the computers, and after C is in bed, we just focus on being together.  Often we drink wine or coffee and catch up on things we haven't had a chance to discuss, go over calendar stuff, and use whatever time is left to play a game, watch a movie, or just chat.  It is nothing fancy, and it doesn't cost us any money.  But it has been SO. GOOD.  Just having that weekly connection set aside has really helped us to communicate better and to feel more connected as a couple.  I strongly encourage any married couple to try to do this...don't wait 10 years like we did!  And, be careful to guard this time -- there will always be something else to take it away...saying no is difficult, but so worth it.

dancing -- For the second semester, I am involved in a weekly ladies dance exercise class and loving it!  It is great fellowship and great exercise.  We are dancing to songs like The Chattanooga Choo-Choo and Randy Travis's Cowboy Boogie, and so many others.  It is great stress-relief -- what's not to love, music, dancing, and fellowship with my gal-pals?!?

future blogging -- I've struggled with what to post about lately and some of my struggle comes from not taking the time to write the posts (especially on a slow computer), not having pictures to make the posts interesting, and just not having a lot of inspiration for what to write about.  I've never wanted this blog to be a forced thing or something that I felt like I had to do, but always something that I enjoyed, a creative outlet, and a way to encourage others.  Some ideas I've had are writing out C's birth-story (we had a home-birth and I don't think I've ever written out the story), blogging my weekly meal-plans, another day in the life post (you can read my friend, Clara's, post here -- she's a home-schooling mom of 5, and let's just say I was tired from her day by 9am!), and some book reviews (I tried to sign up for a site to get free books, but you have to post weekly and prove that you have at least 30 followers...neither of which I currently do)...  If you have things you'd like me to blog about, please let me know.

today -- I've been catching up on computer stuff as I haven't really sat down at the computer since Friday night, and it's eaten up entirely too much of my time.  I'm always ambitious on Mondays for what I will accomplish, and usually my to-do list for Monday ends up getting spread out over the week because there's no way I could get it all done.  Here's today's list to give you an idea (it will be amazing if it all gets done this week):

• Laundry/Ironing (I do laundry twice a week, usually)
• Work on a grocery list/coupons
• Quick cleaning of the house
• Make a menu for this week
• Cut up cantaloupe
• Make bread
• Make dinner (stuffed shells, salad, breadsticks)
• Make sourdough starter
• Make granola
• Make muffins
• Make hummus
• Make cookies?
• Valentine's decorations/planning
• Organize toys/books/movies
• Begin a yarn project
• Cut flashcards & look through magazines
• Catch up on e-mail and fb messages from weekend
• Update church e-mail listing for prayer chain
• Blog post (check!)
• Register for Home Depot workshop on Saturday
• Update netflix queue
• Bible study & reading
• House straight/beds made/dishes, etc.
• Bath/floss teeth for C
• Spend time with daughter/husband

Sure, no problem...like I said -- I always feel ambitious on Mondays...

Top Ten in 2013...

It is always interesting to me to look back over a year of blogging and to see, not only what has happened, but also what my readers find most interesting.  Most of my readers are people that know me personally, which may or may not have something to do with what interests them/you.  I would love to spend a lot of time filling in on this post, but a sink full of dirty breakfast dishes, baskets full of dirty laundry, a house desperately needing to be cleaned, Christmas decorations to be boxed up, Christmas gifts to be put away, grocery list to be made, and many more things are all awaiting my attention.  

Happy 2014 to all of you!  I love new beginnings and as I taste more and more of the Lord's goodness, grace, and mercy, I am finding myself even more grateful for another year to serve Him and to enjoy my precious family and friends.

Now...on to the Top Ten Posts in 2013...

10. 

Vday recap (aka the one where she gushes about her husband)

9. 

Just a Normal Day

8. 

Preschool Curriculum

7. 

10 Years Ago Today

6. 

eBooks and Why I'm Glad I Tried Them

5. 

Recipe Failure and Recovery

4.  

Homemade Body Wrap

3. 

My Windowsill Garden

2. 

Not Me Monday

And, the number one post in 2013....

1. 

Franklin

December...so far...

After my last post, I feel like I owe any readers I have left a real post...so here goes...

To get started, here's some pictures from our Christmas adventures this month...

Greg attended a conference at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville,
so we took advantage of the opportunity to tag along!

I cannot imagine how it must have seemed to someone
not yet 4 ft tall...

It was beautiful and we were all overwhelmed.

We were hanging out by the fountains while waiting for Greg
to finish up at his conference and go to dinner with us.

One of the Christmas features is Gingy's house and the
opportunity to have your picture taken with him.

We decorated a Gingerbread family while there...

The Magnolia Lobby

Love these two and am blessed to experience life with them!

Some of the highlights from this month include:

• Thanksgiving and a week with my parents visiting
• Christmas parade and viewing decorated Christmas store windows
• Advent Readings at Church
• Christmas Breakfasts at Church in lieu of Sunday School
• Opryland at Christmas (a bucket list item for me!)
• The Polar Express in 3D
• Caroling with our Church family
• Christmas parties
• Driving around to look at Christmas lights
• Watching Christmas movies
• Wrapping and Baking
• The Jesse Tree
• Reading Christmas Books
• Making a Gingerbread family and Gingerbread Snoopy Village

And we will continue adding to the list.  Stay tuned for more updates and more pictures...

This is one of my favorite goodies to make with small children,
because they can do it almost completely on their own.

Start with pretzels, place a kiss or a hug on top...

Warm in a oven for 5-6 minutes, and then smoosh an M&M on top!

Precision is key when cutting out cookies...

We each have our own unique decorating styles.
Good Times, indeed!

The One Where She Throws Turtles...

We were going out of town for a week, and I was desperate to get my garden planted before we left.  I worked hard the whole week before and got all my seedlings in the ground.

Anxious to return and check on the progress, we arrived back from our vacation to discover that the plants were all FULL-GROWN (in a week, yes), loaded with mature fruit, and the whole garden was lush and plentiful.  Delighted (though a bit astonished), I started running towards the garden to begin plucking its treasures for my table...

...and that's when I saw them.

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Snapping turtles were roaming my beautiful garden...they were everywhere.  And they were not alone...

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They had these long-neck turtles along too...

I continued towards the garden...they were turtles after all, and I was a lot bigger and definitely faster than them.

As I entered the garden to begin picking the fruit, the turtles slowly started coming towards me...

No big deal...just ignore them...

Wait!  Is it just me, or is that one gaining speed?  Yes, that one...that HUGE one is definitely running towards me...and it doesn't look friendly.

Friends...I was chased out of my own garden by a turtle.

I can't believe I just typed that.

After repeated attempts at entering the garden, I continued to be chased out.  The turtles were not backing down...

Obviously they didn't know with whom they were dealing...

The next morning, I awoke determined to conquer the turtles.  I crept towards the garden very slowly and quietly, and I managed to sneak up behind the first turtle I saw.  With my super-human strength, I grabbed it from behind, one hand on either side of its shell, and hurled that thing as hard as I could into the woods, where it landed with a thud and promptly said, "Oof."

I spotted another...I crept up behind that one, lifted it above my head and catapulted it in the same direction as the previous one.  With each turtle, I gained a sense of victory and new found strength.  I did not stop until every single turtle in my garden was returned (with force) to the woods, and I was again Queen of my garden.

I did indeed spend the better part of the night chuckin' turtles...

...and then I woke up.

Special Date Night...

There's not a whole lot to say about this post, because the pictures speak for themselves.  The background is that my husband and I enjoyed a special date night on Saturday, which began with a gourmet dinner for two,  followed by a concert with family, and {second} dessert and coffee after that.

I absolutely revealed to everyone in the restaurant that I don't get to eat these sorts of meals regularly by photographing almost everything that arrived at the table {I forgot to take pics of our salads.} 

So on to the pics...

freshly made bread and oil for dipping

We shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio and enjoyed our appetizers...

hers...

Farmhouse Cheeseboard
Savannah Bee Co Honeycomb/Fresh Berries/Crostini

...and his...

Seared Tuna
Date Emulsion/Cider Gastrique

{insert pictures of beautifully crafted salads here...}

Wedge Salad

Oven dried tomatoes/house smoked bacon/warm blue cheese vinaigrette

Caesar Salad

Parmesan-Peppercorn Vinaigrette/Croutons/Grated Parmesan

Our waiter was experienced in that he gave us plenty of time after the appetizers and salads to talk, drink some more wine, have another piece of bread and let that food settle before bringing the main dishes.  We SO appreciated that.

Tanglewood Farms Chicken
Creamed Brussels/House Bacon

and his...

Beef Short Rib/Haricot Vert/Garlic Whipped Potatoes

And finally, dessert...

Shot Samples
Chocolate Brownie/German Chocolate/Caramel Cinnamon/Strawberry

A Psalm for Today...

This Psalm has been on my mind a lot lately and has been particularly encouraging in very personal ways, so I thought I would share it with you today, as well as the footnotes listed in my Bible.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

Psalm 63

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

{The book of Psalms permits no false spiritualization.  The whole person yearns for God, not merely a non-physical aspect of the person.}

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

{The psalmist remembers the place of God's appointment, and the vision of God's "power" and "glory" entrusted to him there.  Steadfast love = that is, the unchanging love God shows toward those joined to Him by His covenant.}

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help; and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

{Only in praise to God, in intimate communion with Him, will the psalmist feel spiritually content.  The psalmist has confidence in the Lord when he is most vulnerable to fear and attack (watches of the night).  God may be compared to a mother bird who protects her young...}

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  

{Though far removed from the sanctuary, the place where he has experienced God's presence, the psalmist still enjoys intimate communion with Him.  Clinging to the Lord means finding in Him one's only hope.}

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.  But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

{This verse is the first indication of distress or danger in the poem of the psalmists's distress...God's justice wins out.  Those who love God will continue to praise Him, while the wicked will be stifled.}

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Eat, Drink, and Feel Guilty...

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Food.  You know I have a thing for it.  I mean, just check out my last post...  I've always appreciated good food...I come from a family of good Southern cooks and food is so much a part of our lives...not only by necessity, but as a part of our celebrating and fellowshipping.  Food is a gift that God has graciously given us to fulfill the needs that our physical bodies have.  

But, like all good gifts, because of our sin it can become a temptation...an idol...an addiction.  I've struggled with maintaining a healthy weight for the majority of my adult life and even more so after being pregnant.  Being a stay at home mom has been a hard road in that the kitchen is always at my disposal with no one there to monitor me, except myself.  Self-control is often lacking, and in recent years I have learned that I turn to food a lot of times when I am not even remotely hungry...and not celery sticks and cucumbers, mind you.  This is not in an eating-disorder kind of a way, but in a there's-a-void-in-my-life-that-I'm-trying-to-fill-with-food kind of a way.  Several different books have been really helpful in helping me identify the times when I am reaching for food and shouldn't be and also the deeper spiritual/emotional need that is present.  Two that come to mind are Reshaping It All and Made to Crave.

It is an ongoing battle and one that I'm not sure I will ever gain control over...my "thorn in the flesh"?  But, I am thankful that I am not alone in this battle and that others are facing the same temptations.  Today's reading from The 30-Day Praise Challenge was convicting and encouraging to me.  Reading truths such as these...

My child, I am the only One who can meet your needs completely.  I am the Bread of Life and living water.  Yet you often run to other things to satisfy the cravings of your soul.  Those other things can become addictions.  Instead of trying to anesthetize the ache in your soul, come and praise Me.  

I created you with an ache that only I can fill.

Taste and see that I am good.  I fill the hungry and satisfy the thirsty with good things.  Exalt Me!  I give you food to nourish and sustain your body and other gifts to delight your soul.  But I never mean for you to become obsessed with My gifts.

I want to be your obsession.

All you are longing for is found in Me.  As you praise Me, the cycle of addiction is broken.  Delight yourself in Me, and you will find that I can satisfy your cravings.  Those who set their appetite on Me will be blessed.

I am thankful that God provides spiritual food to help us as we struggle with physical food...

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These verses stood out to me today as I looked them up and I wanted to share them with you in case any of you have similar struggles...

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I would encourage you to look up these verses and read the context and any footnotes that your Bible may have about them.  That was a helpful exercise as well.

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A quick search on pinterest for a Scripture reference will return a lot of images and these are easily printable and can be put in a cheap frame and placed around your home.  Filling your home with Scripture is a great way to fill your mind with it, because as you walk through your home, you see it and read it.

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The footnote in my Bible for the verse listed above says...

"Only in praise to God, in intimate communion with Him, will the Psalmist be spiritually content."

How true for us too.

I hope this encourages you today.  Food is a gift...one that God gave us to enjoy.

Lord Jesus, I praise You for being the Bread of Life and the living water.  Thank You for quenching my thirst and satiating my hunger.  Thank You for being more than able to heal my addictions.  I praise You that the ache You placed within my heart can only be filled by You.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for enabling me to be disciplined and balanced so that I can enjoy the Father's gifts without becoming obsessed with them.  I know there are times when I run to {food} for comfort, because I am lonely or bored.  I praise You, Holy One, that You are healing my addictions with Your love.  Thank You that Your love can bring comfort and fill the deepest longings of my heart.  I will sing of Your love forever!

--from The 30-Day Praise Challenge, Day 14

What's Cookin?!?

We've been trying some new recipes around here lately.  Here's a few of the good ones for you to enjoy also...  Be sure to click on the links to go directly to the recipes.

Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers

Chocolate Frosting Shots

Sausage & Pepper Meatballs

Apple Butter Muffins

Easy Egg Casserole

Cowboy Flank Steak with Sweet & Smoky Beans

Easy Crock-pot Applesauce

Best Pork Chops

Taco Meatloaf

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Chedder & Pepper Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken