Now I have to think of something to say

Friday Five and Summer Fun Picture

2006-07-14T23:33:00.000-05:00

1. When you were a child, what was your favorite game to play?

2. What is your favorite game to play right now?

3. Can you share a good story about playing with others or yourself?

4. What do you do for play time fun now?

5. If you were able to invent a game, what would you call it?

Have a great weekend!!

It's July?

2006-07-10T12:23:00.000-05:00

Forgive me friends, for I have sinned... it's been six months since I last blogged. Six months? How can that be? It just seems like yesterday. I have been keeping up w/ everyone through Jenie and I continue to pray for you all.

I am sry for just dropping off the face of the planet but I am BACK! LOL

((hugs)) to you all

Gonna go catch up on posts :)

What kind of coffee are you?

2006-01-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern
At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent
You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet
Your caffeine addiction level: low

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofcoffeeareyouquiz/">What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Cover Up

2006-01-12T23:12:00.000-05:00

This really touched me, especially the part about "just my personality" ~ ouch ~

Cover up

by Rhonda Rhea

Something was wrong at school.Very wrong. It was only the bravery of my oldest son that finally brought resolution. Of course, it was that same son who actually caused the situation in the first place. Nevertheless, he snapped into action, mustered up no small amount of courage and, yes, he cleaned out his locker!

People teared up as they walked by. It wasn’t emotion over his bravery. It was some sort of gray fog that was looming over the locker. The stench was causing the paint to peel.

The cleaning process was an adventure--maybe it was more of an excavation. No, excavation isn’t a strong enough word either. It was more like a hostile confrontation.He might have been better prepared for the battle if it were a military school locker.Still, I think we’d all be pretty amazed, if not thoroughly grossed out, at the spoils of war a 9th grader can acquire when he resolves to clean his locker.“So there’s that Government report.” “Who put Ben-Gay in here?” “Hey, I remember when these shoes fit!”

Andrew continued the onslaught on his locker until he finally sniffed out the enemy.He found it sandwiched between a couple of stiff, brown socks (Hey--wait a minute--I only buy him white socks). It was one of those frozen pocket sandwiches.Needless to say, it was no longer frozen.It’s safe to say that it was no longer a sandwich either.It was green and purple and slimy--the part that was still there, that is.Half of it was gone--even though he hadn’t ever eaten any of it. It just sort disintegrated into that mysterious place where disgusting things go when they die.The rest of it was still alive, but definitely injured.

Once he peeled away the socks, the stench moved the battle into more of a chemical warfare mode. Even after Andrew hauled off the slime pocket, the stench didn’t seem to understand that its instigator was gone.The gray fog still loomed. So Andrew fought the chemical battle the way most 9th grade guys fight the battle of the stench. He poured half a bottle of cologne in his locker. He ended up with a different battle--something like Mold-zilla meets High Karate Kid.

Isn’t that how we treat our sin sometimes? We ignore it until it just won’t be ignored anymore. And then we try to cover it over by “over-cologning” it. We excuse it as a little boo-boo, an error in judgment, or “just part of my personality.” What we really need to do is recognize that stench for what it is: sin. Then we need to hose out the locker of our lives and start fresh.

Jesus is the only one who can clean up the stench. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Yes, He can purify even the stuff we’ve left growing all semester.

Covering over our sin gets us nowhere. Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

He finds mercy. In some analogies, he may even find a science project

To All the Girls I've Loved Before....

2006-01-10T00:59:00.000-05:00

From the Faithwalkers 2005 conference... you'll need an hour or so but worth it :)

http://malexmedia.net/media/2005/12/29/seminar_being_a_godly_woman_in_todays_ungodly_world#downloads

Coming Soon....

2006-01-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

To a Theater Near You!!

http://www.endofthespear.com/

Happy Hogmanay!!!

2005-12-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

I always wondered where the song "Auld Lang Syne" came from.... so this year I finally decided to research it... it is a very old Scottish tune most notably transcribed by Scotland's national Bard; Robert Burns.... Auld Lang Syne was traditionally sung at Hogmanay festivals in Scotland... Hogmanay is Scotland's New Year's Eve celebration... Auld Lang Syne, loosely translated means "times gone by".... I also read that Steak Pie is the traditional New Year's Day feast in Scotland... sounds WAY better than what my mother used to make us eat... Sauerkraut and pork.... What does your family consider it's traditional "Good Luck" meal on the first day of the year?

Here are the complete lyrics to Auld Lang Syne.... enjoy and Happy New Years!!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,For auld lang syne!
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

My fave Christmas Special

2005-12-12T01:08:00.000-05:00

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:9-11

Hmmmmmm....

2005-12-08T00:56:00.000-05:00

Interesting email I recieved~

If the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on which they deem their authority, then so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions. I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct." In fact.... I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....

What do you all think????

All Bets are Off!

2005-11-25T14:03:00.000-05:00

Will I ever recover? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!

And Now for the Bird

2005-11-23T00:36:00.000-05:00

Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey. Thanks CharlieCat! :)

1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.
2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully (see photo attached)
3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve.
4. Watch your guests' faces.

Thanksgiving Recipes

2005-11-22T22:12:00.000-05:00

Cranberry Congealed Salad

1 can whole cranberries
1 (6 oz.) pkg. raspberry gelatin
2 c. hot water
1 (8 oz.) pkg. creamed cheese, softened
1 c. whipped cream (Dream Whip or Cool Whip)
1 c. pecans, chopped
1 fresh med. apple, chopped
2 tbsp. salad dressing

Combine raspberry gelatin and hot water until dissolved. Add creamed cheese. Stir until about melted. Add whipped cream; stir. Then add cranberries, pecans, apple, and salad dressing; mix well. Pour into 9 x 13 inch serving dish or 2 smaller pans or dish. Let stand in refrigerator 1 hour. Stir 2 times during this hour.

COUNTRY CORN BREAD SAUSAGE DRESSING

1 recipe Aunt Jemima or Quaker corn bread
1 (1 lb.) pkg. Jimmy Dean pork sausage, reg. or special recipe
2 c. sliced celery
1 c. chopped onion
6 c. soft bread cubes
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 1/2 to 1 tsp. sage
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can condensed chicken broth
3/4 c. water
2 eggs, beaten
1 (12 to 16 lb.) turkey
Bake corn bread according to package directions; cool completely. Crumble into large bowl; set aside.
Brown sausage with celery and onion; drain. In large bowl combine sausage mixture, corn bread, bread cubes, butter and sage; mix well. Add broth, water and eggs; toss lightly until bread is thoroughly moistened. (Add 1 1/2 cups additional water if more moist dressing is desired). Lightly spoon dressing into body cavity and neck region of turkey. Truss and roast according to standard roasting directions. Place remaining dressing in 1 to 1 1/2 quart casserole. Cover; and bake during last 35 to 40 minutes of roasting time. About 12 cups dressing.

Pumpkin Dream Pie

1 pkg instant vanilla pudding
1 can pumpkin
1 and 1/2 cups whipped topping
2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
8 inch pie shell

Combine instant pudding with the milk. Beat slowly with mixer about 1 minute then add pumpkin and the spice. Mix well and fold 1 cup whipped topping into mixure. Pour into pie shell. Chill until set. Top with remaining whipped topping.

To all of you with the "BLUES"

2005-11-21T11:17:00.000-05:00

There is always next year! :)

In old Ohio there's a team
That's known thru-out the land;
Eleven warriors, brave and bold,
Whose fame will ever stand.
And when the ball goes over,
Our cheers will reach the sky,
Ohio field will hear again
The Buckeye Battle Cry-Drive!
Drive on down the field,
Men of the scarlet and gray;
Don't let them thru that line,
We have to win this game today,
Come on, Ohio!
Smash through to victory.
We cheer you as you go:
Our honor defend
So we'll fight to the end for O-hi-o.

Go Bucks!

Friday Five

2005-11-18T19:18:00.000-05:00

1) What is your favorite noise to hear?

2) If you could live in any era of time, what would you choose and why?

3) You just found $50 while cleaning your house. Where do you decide to spend it?

4) What magazines to you subscribe to/read on a normal basis?

5) If you could witness any event in history, but not change anything about it, what would you choose and why?

Tagged!

2005-11-17T01:32:00.000-05:00

Well, I tried to sleep but no dice.... so thought I would catch up w/ my BBs... Crystal tagged me so I will try and come up w/ 20 random things about myself :)

1~ I am watching Food Network right now, Sugar Rush

2~ My shoe size is a 6 1/2

3~ I took 6 years of french and all I can remember is bonjour

4~ I think chickens are cool :)

5~ Even though I think chickens are cool... I still eat them

6~ My alarm is set for 5:30am

7~ We are studying Gomer this week (ladies small group)

8~ I wont do laundry if I am out of Downey

9~ I love cherrycola lipgloss from BonneBell

10~ Meatlovers pizza rocks

11~ My husband says I am sassy... I think he is WAY off :D

12~ But I love him like crazy!

13~ Watching all these FoodNetwork Thanksgiving shows is making me hungry for mashed potatoes and gravy

14~ My fave Seinfeld episodes are the ones where Kramer moves to LA

15~ I have to tell my children, every morning, to brush their teeth

16~ I could eat a whole bag of doritos

17~ In highschool I played the flute in the marching band~ band geek!

18~ I have a mild to moderate case of germophobia... the thought of dead skin cells makes me wanna vomit

19~ I LOVE teaching my children at home

20~ My grandmother says we are related to General Lee... I have no idea if this is true or not

Friday Five

2005-11-04T13:04:00.000-05:00

1. What are you most self-conscious about?

2. What's your favourite word?

3. What's your biggest fear?

4. What's the weirdest thing ever to happen to you at work/school?

5. If you were going to have a revolution, what kind of society would you create?

Comfort Food

2005-11-01T12:13:00.000-05:00

Pork Roast with Apples

2 teaspoons dried leaf thyme, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
boneless pork loin roast, about 3 to 4 pounds
1/2 cup apple juice
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons butter
3 tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges

Combine thyme, salt, and pepper; rub all over pork roast. Place roast on a rack in a shallow roasting or baking pan. Roast at 325° for 1 1/2 to 2.1/2 hours, or until meat thermometer registers 165°. Transfer pork roast to a warm platter and keep warm while making sauce.
Skim fat from pan juices. Place pan over medium heat. Add apple cider to pan, stirring to scrape up browned bits. Pour juices into a large saucepan. Stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, and sherry; bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, stirring occcasionally (about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter; add apple wedges and cook and stir until apples are golden in color. Remove apple wedges from skillet with slotted spoon, leaving drippings in pan; keep warm. Stir into the thickened cream mixture in the large saucepan. Serve pork with apple slices and sauce. Serves 10 to 12.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Apple Cake

4 cups diced apples (I like to use 4 1/2 to 5 cups)
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup salad oil
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
2 eggs, well beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour (general purpose, not self rising)
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix apples and sugar thoroughly. Add oil, nuts, eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together and add to apple mixture. Bake in a greased 13x9 inch pan for 1 hour.
Serve frosted or unfrosted.

It's all you!

2005-10-18T11:20:00.000-05:00

Maybe some of you have seen this before, it's pretty popular right now... but I thought it was funny and decided to do it.... open Google, type "(your name) needs" replacing the (your name) w/ your actual name... here is mine.... let's see yours! :)

Christina needs to wear clothes ON TOP of her underwear ~ Ok, you all caught me!

Christina needs to own her whiteness and stop trying to be a rapper ~ Come on, just bust a move! Ohhhhh wait, you said STOP trying to be a rapper

Christina needs to quit losing weight ~ Finally, some advice I can use!

Christina needs deeper drawers and some wall-mounted shelves~ uhhhhh, so I can hide my undies and display my rap collection?

Christina needs a hand ~ yea, those shelves aren't going to be easy!

Christina Needs To Slow Down ~ Well, I *have* been kinda busy....

And last but not least.....

The Real Christina needs nearly 80 minutes to express herself ~ The REAL Christina has left the building....

Friday Five

2005-10-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

1. How long have you had your LiveJournal/blog?

2. What do you consider to be the main purpose of your LJ/blog?

3. If you could change something about your personal blogging style, what would it be?

4. What are your criteria for adding someone to your friends list/blog roll?

5. Name one thing that you've never before written about in your LJ/blog.

We left the window open and influenza....

2005-10-12T23:43:00.000-05:00

in·flu·en·za (nfl-nz)n.

An acute contagious viral infection, commonly occurring in epidemics or pandemics, and characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by the sudden onset, fever, chills, muscular pain, headache, and severe prostration. Also called grippe.

Ughhhhh!

Thank God for Nyquil!

Thank God I am feeling better!

Kid Chow

2005-10-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

Bubble Pizza~ my kids love this dish... it's so easy too!

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 can pizza sauce~ we use chef boyardee
2 tubes (12 oz. each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 1/2 C. (6 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 t. salt
In a skillet, brown the beef and drain. Stir in the pizza sauce. Quarter the biscuits; toss into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish, no need to "arrange" the quarted biscuits. Top with the beef mixture.
Bake uncovered at 400° F. for 20 - 25 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 5 - 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

***********************************************************************

Dirt Cups~ This recipe is a take on a recipe my friend Glo suggested... she suggested making this as one large dessert in a small sand pail (really cute idea!) but I wanted something in an individual serving so the kids could each make their own.... thanks Glo! :)

2 cups cold milk
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 tub (8 oz.) coolwhip, thawed
15 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely crushed, divided
10 plastic cups (6 to 7 oz.) or dessert dishes
10 Gummi worms

POUR milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir in whipped topping and 1/2 cup of the crumbs.SPOON pudding mixture into cups; top with remaining crumbs. REFRIGERATE until ready to serve. Garnish with gummi candy.

Amy Inspired Me!

2005-10-03T00:16:00.000-05:00

This post is actually a repeat... I originally posted on Saturday~ the post showed up for a couple of hours and then disappeared into cyberspace... I have no clue what happened but the whole site was acting wacky that day... I would click on "comments" and it would give me error messages... and some blogs wouldn't let me in at all... oh well, here goes again... thanks for the inspiration Amy! :)

A little about me.....

favorite color is pink
favorite food is beef stroganoff w/ wild rice
married to the greatest guy, Johnny
I have 2 sisters~ Addie and Becca
I have 0 fish
1 dog~ Lucy
3 outdoor cats~ Blackie, Tigger and Fluffernutter
6 chickens
and some caged birds
I live in our new home~ we just moved here last Nov.
married for 3+ years, love it
born May 27th in West Union, Ohio
my parents are not still married and I love my "steps"
have lots of sister inlaws, Lisa, Chrissy, Lynda and Tara
just 2 bro inlaws, Matt and Jason
Lee is my middle name, usually only Johnny uses it
I hate scary movies, bad manners and people doing weird things w/ their bodies like contortions
I have control issues~ who doesn't? :)
I love coke classic
I love Lonestar and Roadhouse
I have a lot of clothes, but I only wear a few
I was born again in June of 1996 at this church http://www.madisonchristian.org/
I love Newsong and am blessed to be a part of such a great church family
I teach Sunday school to the 1st and 2nd graders, I have 6 in my class... mostly boys
My favorite bible verse:

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galations 2:20

I have 5 nephews and 3 nieces ~ they all call me Aunt Cookie :)
Dreams for the future~ We'd like another baby... children who know and serve God... and then when they are grown up and on their own I'd like to travel this whole earth with Johnny... NOT in a motorhome.... on planes and staying in hotels :)

What i am doing right now...blogging and watching the Andy Griffith marathon
What will i be doing after i am done... I think I am going to try and sleep... but I may not be able to and will read my new book Witchcraft Goes Mainstream.

My life motto... "Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are."

Friday Five :)

2005-09-30T09:43:00.000-05:00

1. What kind of computer do you have? (Mac, iBook, Dell, etc.)

2. How old is it? Are you happy with it?

3. How many computers are in your household? (at home if you are away at school)

4. What are your favorite games/timewasters on your computer?

5. If money were no object, what kind of computer would you like to have?

Recipe Day

2005-09-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

These are the recipes I took to the potluck after church on Sunday~ make sure to ask LovedTruly for her Snicker Salad recipe~ kids really dig it :)

Chicken & Noodles

1 pkg Reame's frozen noodles
2 cans Campbell's chicken broth (or 1 lrg can chicken broth)
3 cups water (can use all chicken broth)
1 TBS chicken soup base or bouillon
2 lbs chicken, boneless, skinless, cooked, and chopped

Prepare chicken. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. In large soup pot, boil broth, water, bouillon. Reduce heat to simmer, add chicken and frozen noodles. Stire to separate frozen noodles. Simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. The noodles absorb a lot of the broth...and some of the flour from the noodles thickens up the broth~ here in Ohio we call these Amish Noodles and most people serve them over mashed potatoes~ especially in the wintertime~ however Sunday I just made the noodles.

******************************************************************************

Lemon Lush

1/2 cup cold butter
1 cup flour
3/4 cup chopped pecans -- divided
8 ounces cream cheese -- softened
1 cup confectioner's sugar
8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed -- divided
3 1/2 cups milk
2 boxes instant lemon pudding mix (I have used just about every flavor of instant pudding available~ butterscotch, vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, etc.... it is great w/ any of them but then you can't call it lemon lush... lol)

Directions:
Combine the butter and flour until crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup of the pecans. Press dough into a 13x9 baking dish. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool.
Combine the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Fold in 1 cup of the whipped topping. Spread over crust. Combine milk and pudding until smoothed.
Pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate mixture for 20-25 minutes. Top with remaining whipped topping and pecans. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving.

Degrees of Hell?

2005-09-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I have never put much stock in Dante's degrees of hell theories... as I was reading last nite I gleaned something new... something I have never noticed before... actually, I love it when that happens :)

"And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:23-24)

MORE tolerable?

10 Rules for a Happy Day :)

2005-09-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

10 Rules For A Happy Day

1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK...
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, I will not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY 'ENEMY'...
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand "enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY...
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE...
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE...
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL DO IT IN SECRET...
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED...
I will practice the golden rule. "Do unto others as I would have them do unto me" - with EVERYONE I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED...
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY...
I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank God for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY...
I will spend more time in prayer today. I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God's voice.

Recipe Day :)

2005-09-20T22:38:00.000-05:00

ALMOND CHICKEN STIR-FRY

STIR FRY SAUCE:
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. water
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. vinegar

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. julienned chicken
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 lb. snow peas, trimmed
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. grated ginger root
1 lb. sliced mushrooms

Marinate chicken in 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Combine ingredients for stir fry sauce; set aside.
Blanch snow peas for 10 seconds; drain, cut diagonally and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon oil to wok and stir fry almonds, 2-3 minutes. Remove almonds and set aside.
Add 1 tablespoon oil, garlic and ginger root to wok; stir fry 1 minute. Add chicken and stir fry, 1 minute. Add mushrooms and stir fry sauce and stir fry 5 minutes. Add snow peas and almonds and stir fry 2 minutes. Serve over rice~ we don't care for mushrooms... so I leave those out w/ no problems.

Tea Punch
Ingredients:
1/2 pint Golden Green tea
6 oz. sugar
1/2 pint orange crush
4 tbsps. lemon juice
2 small bottles ginger ale
1 large bottle lemonade
1 orange, sliced
Method:
Put the hot tea in a bowl, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the orange squash and lemon juice and strain. Chill. Just before serving mix in the ginger ale, lemonade and orange slices. ~ I haven't made this one but it sure looked refreshing :)

WOW!

2005-09-12T21:49:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged... I didn't realize it had been so long until the MBA came a'knockin... lol :)

Seriously though~ we have just been busy getting our homeschool year in order... I know, no excuse for just going MIA w/out even a quick note, please accept my apologies.

I have continued to pray for everyone and will try and catch up tomorrow!

((hugs)) and I truly feel blessed to have you all thinking of me!

Thank you!!

2005-08-23T12:49:00.000-05:00

To Russell.... you are awesome!! I appreciate it so much!! I will go play w/ the links more later... thanks again!!!!

Pictures :)

2005-08-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

I hope I do this right :)

The first one is of the kids and me and the second one is of Johnny and our daughter...

Friday Five :)

2005-08-20T01:45:00.000-05:00

1. Are you a dog or cat person?

2. How many pets do you have?

3. What's the best thing about your pets?

4. What's the weirdest thing your pet has done?

5. Plans for any more pets?

Bible Olympiad

2005-08-18T20:55:00.000-05:00

OK~ NO cheating... answer from memory only~ No Biblegateway (and I think we'll all feel comfortable within the confines of the honor system) and then post your score~ not your answers, that way everyone has the same chance... the winner will be this week's esteemed Bible Olympiad~ what an honor! :)

1) Train up a child in the ________ he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

2) Ye Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the ________.

3) Whom the Lord ________ he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he recieveth.

4) The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ________ and worldy lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world.

5) All scripture is given.... that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good ________.

6) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet _______.

7) Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and ______ songs.

8) Refuse profane and old wives' fables and exercise thyself rather unto ________.

9) Work out your own salvation with fear and ________.

Recipe Day :)

2005-08-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I mentioned these in a previous post so thought I would share my recipe... they are always a hit w/ Johnny's mens group... the meatballs are his mother's recipe but I tweaked them (as is my habit) to suit my family and the sauce is an old recipe of mine that I have also played with.

Meatballs ~

2 pounds ground chuck
3 eggs
4 tbs onion powder
1 and 1/2 tsp garlic powder
6-8 Tbs romano cheese
2 tbs chopped parsley
4 tbs dried breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste

mix all ingredients in a large bowl, form into meatballs (whatever size your family likes) and brown slightly in the same pepperoni oil, add to sauce
* if you are making this for the first time, I suggest making a test meatball to see if you have the salt and pepper right for your taste and then make a note of it

Red Sauce ~

2 Lg cans of tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes (and two lg cans of water or 1 can water and 1 bottle of Rolling Rock~ seriously, it's fab!)
2 Sm cans of tomato paste
1/4 cup of sugar
2 Tbs Chopped Parsley (dry)
2 Tbs dried oregano (dry)
1 Tbs Dried Basil (dry)
2-3 bay leaves (dry)
1 tsp dried thyme (dry)
1 tsp dried marjoram (dry)
1 tsp rubbed rosemary (dry)
2 Tbs garlic salt
1 tsp red pepper flakes (I only use about half of this amount)
1 tbs Worchestshire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, finely minced ( I use 4 Tbs onion powder)
1 small stick of pepperoni, sliced and fried ~ save oil for frying your meatballs
(I use dried herbs because it's just easier for me)

Stir together and simmer on slow heat, partially covered for 2-3 hours (watch it, the sauce will cook down and might scorch if you don't stir it every 1/2 hour) After that time period, check and see if it's your desired thickness, we don't like our sauce tooooo thick, but not thin either... lol.. so check it and if you like it thicker, take the lid off and let it reduce down another half an hour
Ok, so that is the sauce... you can leave it like that for meatless... or add 2 pounds of crumbled, browned hamburger (at the beginning of cooking time) or meatballs (again, browned slightly and added at the beginning of cooking time)

* Serve w/ hot, cooked spaghetti or our family fave, hot, cooked Cavatappi and lots of fresh grated Romano cheese.

Editing

2005-08-13T09:43:00.000-05:00

I am having a hard time editing my blog template... I want to add buddies, our church link, etc... I have read the help section so I understand that I must go to the template tab and find the link section... which I have done... I have attempted to add the web addy's like the guide suggested... I have even completely erased two addresses... the google one and one of the "edit me" but I click preview changes and they are still there... I have repeatedly "saved changes" and still nothing... now I know I am not the most technical gal on the net but I'm not stupid either... it's REALLY frustrating to encounter something so user UNfriendly! What am I doing wrong? Can someone give me a blow by blow? Oh yes, one thing I have noticed since I began blogging is the considerable length of time it takes for a post to be created, published and then actually SHOW up on your blog... sometimes an hour or more... we have broadband so our connectivity can't be the problem... SOS... help me, please?!?!

Friday Five :)

2005-08-13T01:13:00.000-05:00

1. If you could invite five people to dinner from history, living or dead, who would they be?
2. Why have you chosen these five individuals?
3. What would you serve for dinner?
4. What would you like to ask them?
5. Do you think everybody seated at the table would get along? Why or why not?

Recipe Day :)

2005-08-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

Ham and Lima Bean Casserole

INGREDIENTS:
1 package (10 ounces) frozen baby Lima beans
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 rib celery, thinly sliced
1 small zucchini, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cubed
2 to 3 cups cooked diced ham
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup
2/3 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 ounces corn chips, crushed

PREPARATION:Cook Lima beans with carrots and celery; add zucchini for last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain vegetables well. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, sauté ham and onion in butter until onion is tender. Stir in soup, milk, and pepper; heat, stirring constantly, just until blended and hot. Pour ham mixture into a buttered 1 1/2-quart casserole; stir in cooked drained vegetables. Sprinkle casserole with crushed corn chips. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

***************************************************************************

Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup chocolate syrup
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (11.5 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chunks

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, chocolate syrup, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the corn syrup and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the chocolate chunks by hand. Drop cookies by 1/4 cupfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

MIA

2005-08-08T21:50:00.000-05:00

Wow, sry I went MIA on everyone... I have been under the weather... on the upswing now though... will try and catch up the next few days :)

Wonder where that saying came from~ under the weather? Any other interesting sayings out there? Origins? Have a great week!

Friday Five :)

2005-07-29T23:25:00.000-05:00

1. What was your first job?

2. How much did you make?

3. Describe your least favorite co-worker of all time.

4. What is your dream job?

5. What do you currently do and do you like it?

Monday will be church report day.... so take notes cuz I wanna hear all about it :)

Enjoy a blessed weekend!

Ha!

2005-07-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Recipe Day

2005-07-25T23:38:00.000-05:00

I think Tuesday will be recipe day... enjoy!! :)

Baked Ranch Parmesan Chicken

6 chicken breasts halves
1/2 cup ranch style dressing
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Marinate chicken in the ranch dressing for 4 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 450*F (230*C).
3. Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, sageand salt and mix well. Coat the marinated breasts in breading mixtureand place in a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce to 350*F (175*C) and bakefor additional 30 minutes or until done and juices run clear.
*Makes 6 servings.

Broccoli and Bowties

8 cups broccoli florets (4 heads)
1/2 lb. farfalle (bow tie) pasta
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 lemon, zest of
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 to 2 tsp. kosher salt
Freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:
Cook the broccoli florets for 3-4 minutes in a large pot of boiling salted water. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon (don't empty the water out of the pan), drain, then pour into a large bowl and set aside. In the same water, cook the pasta according to package directions, about 12 minutes. Drain well and add to the broccoli. Meanwhile, in a small saute pan, heat the butter and oil and cook the garlic and lemon zest over med-low heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add 1-2 tsp kosher salt*, the pepper and lemon juice and pour this over the broccoli and pasta. Toss well. Season to taste, sprinkle with pine nuts and cheese, and serve.

QUICK PEACH DESSERT

4 fresh peaches, peeled, halved and pitted
3 tbsp. heavy cream
1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 oz. semi sweet chocolate, finely grated
4 tbsp. finely chopped pecans or almonds

Arrange 2 peach halves, cut side up, in 4 individual dessert dishes. Whisk the cream, sugar and vanilla together until the mixture forms soft peaks. Gently fold in half the chocolate and half the nuts. Place a little of the mixture in each peach half. Sprinkle each with equal amounts of the remaining grated chocolate and nuts. Chill before serving. Serves 4.

Friday Five

2005-07-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

A little late......

You're stranded on a deserted island. Somehow, magically, you knew to bring the following five things to make being stranded somehow bearable.
1. What form of entertainment would bring with you (eg: a certain book or a badmitton set)?
2. What 2 tools would you bring with you?
3. Who would you bring with you?
4. Name one thing you simply couldn't live without on the island.
5. Name one grab bag item you would have with you (anything you want).

*remember, no electric :)

Deficient Noun Disease

2005-07-21T22:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's quite common in mothers.

DEFICIENT NOUN DISEASE

Do you commonly find yourself calling your children by the wrongname, and feel like kicking yourself for spending so much time selecting just the right name for each child?

Do you find yourself saying to your child, "Sure, I know where you left your cookie." It's on the long white horizontal surface in the kitchen...you know the one with the thing we cook with on one end and the thing we put stuff into keep it cold on the other end? Um...there's a sink in it?"

Do you tell people on the phone that you'll be happy to take a message, just as soon as you find a "message-writing-down thingamabob?" In fact, do all the nouns in your vocabulary, nouns which have been your friends and companions since you were two years old, suddenly become "thingies" when you are under pressure?

You may be suffering from deficient noun disease. Deficient noun disease, or DND, is a common affliction among mothers of small children (older children too). While not a dangerous illness, DND is an exasperating and frustrating one which increases in severity in direct proportion to the number of children in the household. Common symptoms of DND include e the following: Calling children by each other's names, forgetting the proper names for common household objects, and casually referring to other adults not as "John and Jane" but as "those people with the pool who barbecue every Friday." Another common symptom is the frequent use of the WRONG noun in a given situation, rather like mild aphasia. Someone with this particular type of DND might say, "Put your plate on the stove...I mean on the counter...I mean ON THE TABLE!" (This particular one afflicts me the most!) A less common symptom displayed by some DND sufferers is an ailment also referred to as the "Crossword" Syndrome. With this particular type of DND-related illness, the affected person might declare, "Oh, yes, I know her name. Let's see...it starts with an "S", has five letters...." DND, although virtually untreatable and incurable, can still be endured with a minimum of pain and embarrassment if the afflicted person makes use of the following handy coping mechanisms: One method of coping with the disease involves the clever use of nicknames, which can easily apply to any individual in the family, like "Dear"
or Sweetheart". This method breaks down when the DND sufferer is faced with the necessity of differentiating between individuals, or when she is talking to several people at one time, so the use of group nicknames, like referring to everyone in the room as "Y'all", a common Southern coping mechanism, is recommended. Another good way to conceal DND from your friends and family members is to develop the habit of pausing in your sentences when reaching a crucial noun. If the pause is long enough, the other individual will attempt to guess the noun for you, and you need only respond in the affirmative when the correct noun is reached. Although this method may take time, it certainly adds suspense to an otherwise ordinary
conversation. The information available on DND is still patchy and incomplete, due to the unnecessary shame felt by many mothers who do not realize that this illness is widespread and quite common. Very few mothers are able to call their children by name, and it is difficult for them to believe that the time invested in picking out those names was, to put it bluntly, wasted. When education has removed the stigma from the minds of all women, this disease might very well be shown to be the most common affliction in human history. The cause of DND is not yet known; some scientists believe that using a word over 100,000 times in the course of a lifetime may simply fade that word from long-term memory; mothers simply reach the lifetime limit earlier because they must repeat themselves so often. Other scientists hold up the two-year old child as proof positive that the repetition of a word more than 100,000 times (in this case, the word Mommy) does not cause selective noun amnesia. Although modern science may never be able to cure DND or discover what exactly causes it, we as mothers and fellow sufferers can still help one another to recognize the illness and learn to live in harmony with it. The next time you hear yourself shouting, "CLAUDIA-CODY-BETSY-LOGAN-JILL.... YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! GET IN HERE!", you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that mothers all over the world are doing the same thing.

Weekend in Review

2005-07-20T22:18:00.000-05:00

Wow, it doesn't seem like 4 days since I last posted... time flies! We went to Youngstown this past weekend to visit w/ Johnny's family... we also went for the Italian Festival... lots of yummy food and the kids had a great time.... our oldest son won a hermit crab at the pingpong toss thingie... I thought, "ehhhh, a crab~ big deal" but he has been pretty cute... he digs and eats... he also has a pretty little rainbow colored shell.... who knew? Johnny's family is from Youngstown and he and I met online... but that's another blog :)

Gas prices, sheeesh! It cost us 70 bucks in gas to get up there and back... it takes us about 3 1/2 hours to get there.... we brought our neice home w/ us to stay until the Ohio State fair starts... then they all come down here to stay and go to the fair...

Johnny and I had a chance to evaluate our marriage this weekend... a check up, if you will... it was a refreshing excercise... I highly recommend it ~ we didn't use this particular checklist but as it happened we did discuss alot of things that are on here so I thought I would post it... lemme know if you plan to use it :)

Marriage Checkup
By: Family First Staff

The check-up works best when both partners take it, and then compare answers. The goal is to pinpoint problem areas, praise positive areas, and increase communication. Try to take this check-up once a year. Save your answers and compare them from year to year.

Rate your marriage on a scale of 1 –10, with 10 being best.
What is your marriage’s weak spot?
What is its strong point?
On a scale of 1 – 10, how committed are you to making your marriage last?
Do you and your spouse share enough fun times? When was the last time you and your spouse laughed together?
Do you and your spouse spend enough time alone with each other? When was the last time you spent an evening alone together, in a social way?
Would you like more compliments from your spouse/ When was the last time you complimented your spouse?
On a scale of 1 –10, with 10 being best, how would you rate your sexual interaction? Do you feel comfortable talking with your spouse about how to improve this area?
How do you feel when your spouse criticizes you?
When was the last time you criticized your spouse?
Would your spouse rather have a back rub, a quiet hour to read, a home-cooked meal, or an afternoon at the movies?
Is your spouse your best friend? Why or why not?
Are you willing to change to make your marriage better?
Fill in the blank:
The thing I like most about my spouse is her/his _________.
I wish we had more time to _________.
I love it when my spouse ___________.
The thing my spouse understands least about me is _________.
The thing I miss most from our dating days is _________.
The thing we argue about the most is ____________.
If I could change two things about myself, to better please my spouse, it would be _________ and __________.

http://www.familyfirst.net/about/center.asp

Friday Five

2005-07-15T12:17:00.000-05:00

1. What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?
2. What is the best toy/prize you ever got in a box of cereal or because of sending in UPC’s?
3. How do you take your eggs (scrambled, over easy, egg beaters)?
4. What is your favorite breakfast meat (bacon, ham, sausage)?
5. What is your favorite spot (local or chain restaurant) for breakfast?

Two have gone on....

2005-07-14T01:11:00.000-05:00

~Joseph E. Parrish, 16, was crushed beneath soybeans while working inside a 50-foot hopper on his father's farm, Parrish Farms Inc., on Lancaster Road just south of Hebron, according to Capt. Chad Dennis of the Licking County Sheriff's Department.

~ A funeral service for Melery J. Long, 47, of Pataskala, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Faith Bible Church, 12239 Morse Road, in Pataskala. Burial will be in Jersey Cemetery.
Long went home to be with the Lord on July 10, 2005, having fought the good fight and finishing her course with her eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of her faith, to the end.

Rest in Peace....

All heavy laden acquainted with sorrow
May Christ in our marrow, carry us home
From alabaster come blessings of laughter
A fragrance of passion and joy from the truth
Grant the unbroken tears ever flowing
From hearts of contrition only for You
May sin never hold true that love never broke through
For God's mercy holds us and we are His own
This road that we travel, may it be the straight and narrow
God give us peace and grace from You, all the day through
Shelter with fire, our voices we raise still higher
God give us peace and grace from You, all the day through
(This Road~ Jars of Clay)

Saturday's re-visitation of Friday Nite

2005-07-09T22:15:00.000-05:00

Last night (Friday) we had some friends over for our bi-weekly couple nite... we have been doing this for about 6 months now and thoroughly enjoy the other couple and their company.... they bring their children also so between us there are usually 6 children ranging in ages from 4-12~ the food those children can consume is amazing! :)

So this brings me to the Q that came up last nite~ we usually play some game or other, mostly cards; euchre, poker, Texas hold-em, etc... oh and BTW~ the other couple are believers also~ so anyways, we never play for $$, only chips.... we got to talking last nite how we should take a trip to Vegas to practice our poker skills and then the whole gambling issue came up (I doubt Caesars is going to let us play for just chips.. lol) ... I can't think of any specific scripture that prohibits gambling... and we certainly wouldn't be playing w/ house payment or bill money... but as Christians I am sure we have all heard that gambling is a sin... so, is it? What do you think?

Incidentally, this Q is very timely for me because the forum I belong to is considering meeting in Vegas for a reunion~ even if we only go to see friends it would be fun~ but then again, I can't go to "Sin City" w/out at least thinking about gambling, KWIM?

I've gotta say, if we go to Vegas for no other reason than to eat at Emeril's and Bobby Flay's~ I'd be a happy chica :)

Please enjoy a blessed Sabbath!

New Song :)

2005-07-07T22:31:00.000-05:00

Our family attends New Song Community Church (see link below)... we have been there about 3 years now.... and love our church family... some of my service opportunities are helping w/ the continental breakfast purchasing, VBS~ which is now over for another year, teaching the K-1st grade Sunday School, and the NSCC Homeschool support group... I also host a Thursday nite ladies group, we call ourselves Daughters of Sarah... our husbands attend the same men's group on Thurs nites... We just began our group in the late winter (Feb if I remember correctly)~ some of our topics so far have been The Lies Women Believe, women's role in marriage, sharing our faith (I find that as a woman, I am more reticent in this area) and of course we ALWAYS share dessert ;-)

The New Song Connection? I think it's so cool that just by clicking the "next blog" tab that I happened to see a church w/ the same name... you know, it's almost like God is in control ;-)
So, New Song MI~ tell us more~ are you meeting in one another's homes right now? Do the men take turns preaching? How many members do you have? Do you consider yourselves non-denom? Hymns, contemporary worship songs or combo of both?

Our little Old English Game rooster, Stanley spurred me today~ he was mad because I was pushing one of his little hens around (she wouldn't go into her nightime safety box), normally he is not agressive like some roosters can be but he is very protective of his ladies- I have a picture of him on the desktop hard drive and I am on the laptop right now-so this weekend I will ask J to help me post it.... for right now, here is a picture of a rooster that looks similar to Stanley...

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:lfDTivhknmYJ:www.rawdogranch.com/images/chickens/fred.jpg

Well, I guess that is all for tonite... almost midnight here ~ watching HGTV for another half hour then hitting the sack... niters all!!

Hi all!

2005-07-06T22:04:00.000-05:00

I think today I will focus a little on myself~ who I am and how I got here :)

I am married to my best friend and we have 3 children (2 sons and a daughter)~ we live in Central Ohio and attend church at NewSong Community church (http://www.inewsong.com/)
I LOVE to cook and my friends are forever hearing about this or that recipe... I also sew a bit and am interested in home decoration... of course, the internet holds a certain fascination for me... I belong to an online forum where I have made some really good friends (Boooyahhhh!)... To add to that mix, we are a homeschooling family~ we understand that homeschooling is not for every family but we do believe that God has called us to remove our children from public school~ I am sure that I will go into more detail on that in future posts... you will also be hearing about our banty chickens~ they are strictly pets w/ the added bonus of egg production (No more sweatshop eggs for our family... lol) I also like to bounce different theological ideas off other believers so anyone who is interested please stick around~ of course, my husband is the spritual leader of our family so I trust him implicitly in these matters (in all matters, really)... well, I suppose that is all for tonite~ I had a friend and her son over for lunch and swimming today so I am tired... niters!

Today...

2005-07-06T00:07:00.000-05:00

Is the day I begin my blogging experience... I suppose if I have done it wrong someone will let me know :)