"Happy Birthday to Me...Me...Me!"

Well, I did it! I officially turned 37. For some strange reason it seems much older than 36 did! I have been dreading it for months and the day finally arrived. I awoke to kids singing happy birthday with a candle in my whipped cream and waffle. I rushed off to a meeting a church. I followed that by organizing a delivery of rummage sale items from the Woodstock Boy Scouts and settled on the couch for a quick nap while Mike took the kids to Walmart for my birthday dinner with friends supplies.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, actually it felt very comfortable and calm. Just the way a suburbanite stay at home mommy should spend her birthday. Except for one problem.....I see things from a Biblical perspective! It permeates everything I do, affects my moods, my emotions, and why I breath in and out.

Mike asked me what I wanted to do today and I filled in the details. I wanted to be with my family, I wanted to serve my church, I wanted to help the community, and I wanted to watch "Expelled" with my friends. Why in the world would I want all that? Shouldn't MY birthday be all about ME? If I have learned anything about myself in the last 37 years it is that I am happiest when I think of others first. I am happiest when I serve others, and I learn most when I listen to others and try to understand what their motivations are and what is their hearts.

That is why I wanted to watch "Expelled". I am fascinated and perplexed at why a million people would buy "The God Delusion" and conclude that it is correct. I want to understand what is to gain from a person choosing to reject God and accept the religion of atheism. If I am wrong I have lived a good life, serving others, having purpose, and joy. If the anti-god movement is wrong there is alot more at stake, for future generations....and for all eternity. Not to mention that many of my atheist friends are depressed, living in darkness, addiction, and despair.

There were many things I took from the movie. The freedom of questioning and investigating science is shrinking. That is undeniable. It is one of the reasons we homeschool and one of the reasons we are attacked for it. I teach my children other beliefs on the origin of life, I feel it is very important for them to know why we believe the way we do and to help them answer life's important questions. I have found that when I am not afraid to look I will find more answers than questions.

I also was left with the realization that If a person can conclude logically that there is no God, then they are free to make their own rules or religion and have zero accountability. That would be great if there really was no God, but what happens when this delusion is over and the reality of our Creator is in front of them and they have to answer despite their prior belief?

We talked tonight about what would the motivation be for evolutionists to stick together to a flawed system of belief? Why are they so afraid to debate or answer honestly. Dawkins seemed absolutely annoyed at some basic questions even being asked and pretty much said, talk to the hand, in his body language. Some suggest that it is to protect their power, status, and position. I think in the case of successful writers like Dawkins it would be also their book deals and recognition that would be the hardest to compromise with the ever evolving theologies.

Ben Stein reveals that a crack in the wall of atheism/evolution is so threatening that leading scientists will not even openly admit any obvious flaws in their belief system and they protect it at all costs. He shows pictures of the Berlin wall. I remember when the wall came down. It started with a chip and quickly crumbled. I remember watching it on TV as Pres. Reagan commanded to "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

The threat of freedom is too great for the scientific arena to allow even a chip. My roommate in college had a piece of the wall and she treasured it as a souvenir of the strong will of humanity.

I would be willing to suggest it represents much more than that. It represents the free will God designed in us, intelligently.

My personal conclusion is that Atheism is a religion which men hide behind to avoid facing our Creator. Atheism is a form of false fulfillment, fulfillment meant to come from God. If you convince yourself their is no God, then you try to fulfill yourself....but you are also fooling yourself.

Part 3 "Cut to a Stump"

People often ask how can I be so strong and confident in my faith? I have just had another personal tragedy, my 4th miscarriage at the 3 month mark. Knowing that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever gives me the strength to carry on. I wake up each morning and open my Bible and remind myself that He is my Rock and will never leave me. I have walked away from Him in the past, but He never left me. I have learned over my life that God doesn't change...people do. I have made a conscience choice to follow Him and allow the growth I need to mature and become more like His Son everyday.

Something amazing happened to King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 of Daniel. It was 30 years after Daniel's buddies were saved from the burning furnace. The king had another dream and he asked Daniel to tell him what it meant. "The tree you saw, which was strong , with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air--you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground." Daniel 4:20-23

God allows tragedy to strike us that is undeniable. But why? Well, it is impossible to live in this world and not face hardships. Life without pain and sin is Heaven not earth. God uses everything that happens in our lives to grow us and He helps us to overcome whatever we face if we let Him. I love the example of the tree being cut to a stump. King Nebuchadnezzar had an amazing and flourishing kingdom. Historians tell us that Babylon was the richest and most luxuriant Empire of all time. God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to be cut back to a stump, for the purpose of being stripped of disease and grown back into a glorious sight. "The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules." Daniel 4:26 That is exactly what happened. The king was stripped of almost everything. He finally acknowledged God and praised Him alone. (verse 37)

I have a tree in our yard. This is my favorite tree, a magnolia right outside my bedroom window. Every year we have lived here I have watched it grow and bloom. I take a picture of it in each of the 4 seasons, because it is so beautiful in each one. This is it above when it was in full bloom one spring. We noticed that it was looking sick last year and called the tree guy. He gave me the worst diagnosis, our tree had a soil born virus. The remedy? Cut it down, burn it, and never plant anything there again. I was crushed. I couldn't believe something so beautiful was going to be nothing but a memory. Mike lovingly cut away every branch with the vascular disease. All that was left was a stump and a few branches. It looked dead all fall and winter. Then an amazing thing happened. A few weeks ago we noticed some green growing from the stump!

Little by little we are watching healthy green leaves emerge from the stump and slowly climb up the few branches left. I look forward to the day when I look out my bedroom window again and see my magnolia in its' full and splendid bloom. I have confidence, because I know firsthand that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Nothing is impossible with Him. He wants to grow us all back into the splendor and glory in which we were created.

Part 2 "Do you know the Rock?"

"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands-a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces." Daniel 2:44-45

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Part 2

This rock represents the kingdom of Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This kingdom will fill the whole earth and never be destroyed. Jesus is described over and over in scripture to be the rock, foundation, stone the builders rejected, capstone, the living stone, chief cornerstone, and so on. (see Psalm 118:22-24, 1 Pet 2:4-8, Isaiah 29:16, Matt 21:42-43, Mk 12:10, Lk 20:17, Acts 4:11, Eph 2:20, Ro 9:33 & 10:11)

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream....it terrified him to the point of hysteria. He knew it meant something big and he paid attention. He didn't rest until an explanation was given. God gave Daniel the dream and it's meaning. At the time of the dream only the head of gold, Babylon had been fulfilled. If every single part of the the statue's pretold analogy has been fulfilled up to the toes over a span of 2,600 years then it is logical to assume God will fulfill it to the end as well. I do not know when the end will come, no one does, but I know we are not at the shoulders or belly button, we are under the feet. The Rock is coming...do you know Him?

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Part 1 "Neb's dream...interpreted and fulfilled."

Ever feel like some Scripture is over your head or just plain doesn't make any sense? Well, I have, which is why I was reluctant and excited at the same time to study the books of Daniel and Revelation. I am going to post a recap of what I have been studying in small bits so as not to overwhelm, because it is exciting...mind blowing stuff...ENJOY!!!

What started the whole series of events in the time of Daniel was the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had. (Daniel speaking) "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue -an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then, the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and gold were broken into pieces at the same time and became chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the huge rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth." Daniel 2:31-35 (NIV)

One of the remarkable things about Daniel recounting this dream to the king is that the king had told no one the dream, but demanded they tell HIM what he saw! Daniel was given the knowledge from God to tell King Neb what he saw and then he told him what it meant.

" This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory........you are that head of gold. After you another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron-for iron breaks and smashes everything-and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw the iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay." Daniel 2:36-43

Okay, so here is the prophetic dream fulfilled up to date....

the HEAD was made of gold, famous ruler was Nebuchadnezzar, historical fulfillment: the Babylonian Empire, 626-539 B.C.

the CHEST was made of silver, famous ruler was Cyrus the Great, historical fulfillment: the Medo-Persian Empire, 539-331 B.C. (the two arms represent the two sides which united to conquer Babylon as the Medes and Persians)

the BELLY and THIGHS were made of bronze, famous ruler Alexander the Great, historical fulfillment: the Grecian Empire, 331-63 B.C.

the LEGS were made of iron, famous rulers were Octavian (Augustus), Tiberious, and Nero, historical fulfillment: the Roman Empire, 63 B.C-A.D. 476

the FEET made of iron and baked clay can be interpreted as the outgrowth of the divided Roman Empire. The toes on the feet may very well represent a political system yet to come. This is the time up to now continuing until Christ's return.

The dream given to Nebuchadnezzar by God, revealed and interpreted by Daniel by God, and perfectly fulfilled to date over the span of 2600 years by God....AWESOME! One of the cool things to me is the representation of the Roman Empire in the legs and feet and how the iron is mixed in the toes. Roman culture is mixed into every culture alive right now. Us for example, our system of laws and democracy, the architecture of our governmental buildings, even our stadiums! As Mike and I have traveled all over Europe together and toured Rome...it is undeniable that the world as we see it today has evolved from a strong Roman influence. Just look around. We are living in a prophetic fulfilled time with more to come.

Standing up to Babylon and against the "god of pop"

This summer I am hosting a Bible study in my home on the book of Daniel. It has been the BEST study I have ever done, personally, and the ladies that are coming are wonderful. We call it "Souper Thursday", because each week we have a different homemade soup before we begin. The fellowship and bonds that we are forming are beautiful, and the prayer support we give each other like no other, but the best part of all is the Word of God made alive for each one of us.

As a Homeschool Mom standing up to our culture is a natural instinct, but this takes it to a whole new level! We are looking at the World, specifically America, with a whole new lens. The recent Michael Jackson hoopla is a wonderful example of modern day Babylonian thinking. The Babylonian creed was and still is, "I am, and there is no other." At his memorial service yesterday it was said that the loss of MJ is so great, and the mourning so profound, that we need for him to comfort us. How can a deceased man comfort you? Only God can do that and by making MJ a god the lie of false fulfillment is produced.

On Dateline afterwards a psychologist who studies the death and impact of celebrities declared just that when she said, "Michael Jackson is no longer the King of Pop, he is now the god of Pop." I, like most of the world, enjoyed and listened to MJ growing up. My brother called me yesterday and asked me if I still had his poster on my wall, because it was selling for $300 on ebay :) I am not against paying tribute to an awesome entertainer. But Michael Jackson is not a god and does not deserve to be worshiped. He was a man living in the same fallen world as you and I. He was a man needing a Savior. There is but ONE TRUE GOD, and I pray Michael knew HIM.

"But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.' But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. " Jeremiah 10:10-12

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

That is the age old question. I know for me personally, that is a question I have asked and a question family and friends have asked as they have watched us go through 3 miscarriages. In January of this year I studied the book of Job looking for that answer. What I learned was that bad things do absolutely happen to even the best of people. Job was one of those people. He was successful, wealthy, respected, and blessed. He loved the Lord with all his heart and was a faithful follower. The enemy challenged God to allow him to test his faithfulness. He reasoned that Job was only a loyal follower because he was blessed, but just allow a little adversity and he would turn on God. God, being all knowing, saw the whole picture and knew that no matter what the enemy could dish out would not compare to Job's love and devotion. Job never cursed God and he controlled his tongue.

I was fascinated by that. I have a very hard time controlling my tongue with a stubbed toe, yet here was Job who went from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the pit. Why do bad things happen to good people? Well here are a few of my beliefs on the subject. You can respectfully disagree with some or all of them, but I pray it helps you can read them with an open mind and trust the God who created you understanding why we are all subjected to pain and trials.

We live in an imperfect world ushered in by Adam and Eve's original sin of rebellion in the garden.God is all powerful, can heal sickness, disease, and reverse even death.

God's will is not sickness and disease, but He does allows it sometimes and works through us while we are in it.

We would not know the height of joy if we never experienced the sting of pain.

Miscarriage may hurt and be difficult, but a life now exists in heaven that did not before.

God calls us to trust Him through everything, not just when it goes well for us.

God uses every circumstance and trial we go through to touch others around us.

He cares about every single tear you shed and wants to comfort you.

If He allows it...there is a reason.

These are beliefs I have learned by walking closely with the Lord and trusting Him...no matter what. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I will praise Him continually.

I love this definition of "providence" by Harper's Bible Dictionary:

Providence- God's has a plan and purpose for his world. Providence is not a principle of orderliness or reason; rather, providence is the will of the Creator who is actively involved in moving his creation to a goal. History is not a cyclical process of endless repetition; history is being moved toward the predetermined end.

Mike's Graduation

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

It was a wonderful day for us. We were ALL so proud of Mike and his achievement. He graduated with honors and was even given a special award for excellence in family law. Mike was relaxed and was beaming with joy. He asked me to take his picture with each of the kids individually. He thanked each of us for supporting him as he completed law school. I know I feel blessed beyond all reason to be married to such an incredible person, wonderful husband, and loving daddy.

Mike and Briana

Mike and Lindsey

Mike and David

Mike and Gabe

Mike and Shelby

George, Mike, and Jan

Mike and Grandma Dubs

Mom, Mike, Mike, Shelby, and Me

Don, Mike, and Joan

Greg and Mike, double attorney trouble!

"Trusting God During Difficult times"-devotional

"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

Horrified, I placed the phone back in its charger. My mind reeled. What could I say to one of my dearest friends after this new tragedy had struck? First, she experienced the loss of a fourteen-year-old son to brain cancer. Now her eldest son, only eighteen, had been discovered mugged and murdered. Incomprehensible.She asked, "Why?" I had no answer other than, "I don't know, but I cling to the factual knowledge that God is good, regardless. Tragedies in this life are beyond our understanding this side of heaven."I believe Jesus is good, and that knowledge sings from the depths of my soul. This nugget of truth is more precious than life itself to me. We have been taught and recognize that faith is not something we can necessarily see, hear, feel, taste, or touch. It is stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting God—regardless of how we feel emotionally.

The Bible explains, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV).The true story of Horatio G. Spafford demonstrates this type of faith in God's goodness. Spafford wrote the familiar hymn, "It is Well with My Soul" in 1872 after his four daughters drowned, soon after his own financial bankruptcy. He, somehow, held onto the fact that despite the outward circumstances, God was good. He wrote, "And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight." He knew that his faith was not in vain, and that someday he would see the meaning and purpose of all the tragedy surrounding his life at that moment.For myself I think my greatest lesson of faith has been in the acknowledgement that God is good—all the time. Oswald Chambers wrote, "Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried. And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven trustworthy in our own minds."There will always be moments of uncertainty. I find comfort in the words written by David Jeremiah in My Heart's Desire:
You may sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable, and find yourself saying, "Is this really true? I don't see anything in it. I don't hear God's voice. I don't feel His presence." There are days like that for all of us. The pursuit of God has no shortcuts. You simply must keep walking, keep seeking, and keep yearning. Keep at it, and you won't be disappointed. God is good, even as I mourn with my friend. I have witnessed her grief, anger, and doubt. But throughout the passing months, I have watched her cling to Jesus with hands wet with tears. My friend believes God is good all the time even when she can't feel it with her emotions. Her faith rests in the fact, "The Lord is good and his love endures forever."Dear Lord, grant me the faith to know that You are good all the time, even during the most difficult circumstances of this life. When I am weak, lift me up. Enable me to accept the love and comfort from others who love me, but let me rely on Your everlasting love for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps: Memorize one of the Power Verses below to repeat and remind yourself of God's goodness during difficult times in your life.

Reflections:What situations in my life do I feel are out of my faith-comfort zone? Do I believe that God is good all the time?

Power Verses:
Psalms 91:2, "I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."(NIV)
Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (NIV)
Psalms 27:5, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." (NIV)

Devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries and written by Susanne Scheppmann.

RECIPE: Homemade Crackers

Shelby loved our crackers made with honey, cinnamon, & sugar.

I have been making everything I can from scratch these days and asked Mike for a noodle press for Mother's Day. Briana had a sleepover with her friend Renee and we made some homemade crackers by rolling the dough through it and then slicing it with a pizza cutter into squares and triangles. They were awesome and the girls had so much fun. We even let the boys put the dough through the extruder and they were busy for hours.

Homemade Wheat Thins RECIPE:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup milled flax seed

1/4 cup wheat germ

2 tsp. sugar

1 cup milk

2 Tbsp. coconut oil

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. Oregano

Mix the dough until it forms a sticky ball. Split the dough into 4 pieces and press each piece through the lasagna noodle press form. Fold in half and roll through again. Fold in the sides and edges and keep rolling it through the press until you have a shape you like. Sprinkle with garlic salt and gently press the salt into the dough. Taking a pizza cutter or cookie cutters make your shapes, put onto a cookie sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes at 395 degrees.

For sweet crackers use the same dough, omitting the olive oil and oregano. Add 2 Tbsp. of honey and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar after each pass in the press to keep the dough from becoming to sticky. Cut the same way with a pizza cutter and bake at 395 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Cool all crackers on a cooling rack and store in ziplock bags or canisters.

Mike's last day of Law School...

Today was a celebration for our family. Mike took his "final" final exam this afternoon. He has worked very hard the past 8 semesters and has officially completed Law School. He has cleaned out his locker and all that is left is to walk the stage and receive his diploma May 23rd. If we look back to Aug of 2005 when he began this journey it was a very different picture.

Mike was adjusting to the lay off at American Airlines and was settling in to his job with the law firm. He looked ahead and saw to really get ahead would take a degree in law. He put one foot in front of the other and we focused on one 13 week semester at a time. When we discussed the future of our family and the needs in the present we weighed the pros and cons. Mike asked me for 4 years of firm support and we decided to proceed together. I was worried, about the workload and ability to balance a full time job with higher education. I was 37 weeks pregnant with Gabe when he started his first day of class. I was worried about being able to personally handle and homeschool four children with a very overloaded husband. It wasn't all rosey and sweet. I had my meltdown moments and at times Mike was easily irritated by toys on the floor and dished piled in the sink. We also endured 3 very difficult pregnancies (2 ending in miscarriage) during this season. And don't forget for Shelby's pregnancy I was on bedrest from 16 weeks till I delivered her. Talk about stress.

We have really persevered as a family. Mike's accomplishment swells up pride in my heart for his determination, and it also brings me joy for our family unity. Mike and I have claimed several scriptures from the book of James in the past few years. This is one that is especially dear to me today:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

It is hard to consider it pure joy when you are going through it, but I promise you when you are on the other side...it is PURE JOY!

Mike's Dad and Brother bought him a new riding lawnmower for a Graduation present!

Good thing too, because our old one blew out the transmission on Sunday!

Mike was excited that he was able to cut the entire 2.3 acres in 1 hour 45 minutes (half the time of our old mower)!

Strong Will vs. Strong Won't

"The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor." PROVERBS 12:24

"Each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:11-12

We need to make clear the difference between diligence and obstinacy. When asked to clarify the difference between perseverance and obstinance, a student wrote: "One is a strong WILL and the other is a strong WON'T."Diligence is dogged perseverance; obstinacy is dogged inflexibility and self-will.
A man whose life was full of promise as far as the Christian ministry was concerned now spends his days in depression because he did not know the difference between these two things. He set out on a project that he thought was God"s will for him, and when things started to go wrong, instead of checking his guidance, he continued to press on and ended up in failure.
Those who loved him, and were more objective, urged him to give up as what he was doing was clearly not the will of God. However, he did not have the wisdom to realize that what he was doing was not being diligent but obstinate. Now he lives in perpetual disillusionment.
When Jesus came to Calvary, He said, "I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do" (Jn 17:4). Note the word "You."There were many who would have liked Jesus to do this and that, to go here and go there, but He did only what the Father required Him to do. Saying "yes" to God"s will and pursuing it is diligence.
Saying "yes" to a thing that is not God"s will and pursuing that is obstinacy. We had better learn the difference.
Daily PrayerFather, I see how important it is to be clear about these two issues. Help me differentiate between diligence and obstinacy so that at the end of my time here on earth I, too, will be able to say, "I have finished the work which You have given me to do." Amen.

(from Lifeway.com "Everyday with Jesus" Devotional Series)

Lindsey & Briana hostessed a Mother's Day Tea

They set a gorgeous table, prepared tea sandwiches, fruit salad, and a selection of teas.

Caroline brought yummy brownies and Renee made us her famous apple cheesecake.
Shelby felt like a big girl and loved sipping tea from her own china teacup.
Shelli's girls: Lindsey, Shelby, and Briana

Katie's girls: Caroline, Adeline, and Clementine

Donna's girls: Renee, Ecaterina, and Aunt Geneva

The girls did all the work, clean up, and even made us each a card. Lindsey choose a Bible verse dedicated to mothers and prayed for our meal. They cleaned the house before the event, made place cards for each guest, personal menus, and Briana even made a music playlist for us to listen to while we had tea. Katie, Donna, and I felt very appreciated and are looking forward to next year's tea :)

I did help a little bit....I made scones for the first time ever. After living in England for 3 years I have always been afraid to make them. Most people I have talked to who have tried them say they turn out like frisbees. I did want to try it and I got really luckywith my first recipe! I adapted the recipe by adding yogurt instead of sour cream and half & half instead of milk. They were the best scones EVER!!! So you will be as sucessful as I was the first time, I will share my secrets with you!

The BEST ENGLISH SCONES EVER...Recipe:

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup dried cranberries and raisins
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup plain yogurt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or rubbing between your fingers until it is in pea sized lumps. Stir in the cranberries and raisins. Mix together 1/2 cup half and half and 1/4 cup yogurt in a measuring cup. Pour all at once into the dry ingredients, and stir gently until well blended. Overworking the dough results in terrible scones!
With floured hands, pat scone dough into balls 2 to 3 inches across, depending on what size you want. Place onto a greased baking sheet, and flatten lightly. Let the scones barely touch each other. Sprinkle the scones with crystal sugar. Let them rest for about 10 minutes.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops are golden brown, not deep brown. Break each scone apart, or slice in half. Serve with butter or clotted cream and a selection of jams - or even plain.

Devotional- "It's no Secret"

"God, save me by Your name... For strangers rise up against me... They have no regard for God." PSALM 54:1, 3
The more disillusioned we are with the world, the more motivated we will be to pursue the Christian way. If we are not willing to face the reality that we live in a fallen world, that the latest invention is not going to bring us Utopia, that possessions fail to give any lasting happiness, then we are not going to move along the rugged road of faith with a steady tread.
My favorite word to summarize the message of this, the first of the Songs of Ascents, is renunciation. The psalmist seems to have made a decision to move away from the lies he has heard, and we too must make a similar decision. We must renounce lies such as that human beings are basically good, we are not responsible for the way we are, we can find happiness independently of God.
The truth of God does not begin to dawn upon us until we realize that what we have assumed was the truth - that we are the masters of our fate - is in fact a lie. It is painful to admit that we have been taken in by the world's lies, but until we accept that we have and confess it, we are not ready to move on into all that God has for us.
If the psalmist were writing today, he might have worded his prayer like this: "Save me, O Lord, from the lies of those who think they know the answer to life but don't."We must discover that before we can say "yes" to God we must first learn to say "no" to the world.

Daily Prayer:
Father, I would make the prayer of the psalmist my prayer also. Rescue me from those who would represent the world to me in terms that are not entirely true. I turn from the untrue to the True. Help me dear Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Devotional- "Speaking Truth"

"Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness, deceit." PROVERBS 12:17

Both we and the universe are made for integrity, and both the universe and we are alien to untruth and dishonesty. The whole thrust of the universe which God designed and created is simple, uncomplicated, and built on truth. There are great mysteries, of course, but no lies. Scientific laws are upheld by truth. Gravity, for example, will not lie; it is as true in one country as it is in another, as reliable in Jerusalem as it is in Japan.
It has often been pointed out that the word "evil" is the word "live" spelled backwards. Satan delights to take what God does and try to reverse it - to move life in the opposite way to that in which it was designed to go. Satan is a liar (Jn 8:44), and lies are always roundabout, complicated, and deceiving.
The fact that the universe is built on truth can be verified by the simple device known as a "lie detector."The lie detector test works on the basis that people who tell lies and know they are telling lies become extremely anxious and uncomfortable, and this anxiety is then picked up by the machine. But why does telling a lie make a person anxious?
Because we are built for truth, and any departure from it registers on the inside in a way that can be picked up on the outside.
A lie detector is not infallible and can sometimes (though not often) be fooled. But what cannot be fooled is the soul of the person who is lying. The worst thing about being a liar is to be the person telling the lie.
Daily Prayer: Father, help me lay hold of the fact that a lie demeans me, but the truth develops me. I cannot live successfully by a lie any more than I can fling myself out of the window and defy gravity. May I be a person of truth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

(from Lifeway.com "Everyday with Jesus" Devotional Series)

Second Saturday Sisters

Gentleness, me....really? I was asked by our Women's Ministry to speak this Saturday. This month's topic is the fruit of the Spirit: gentleness. I almost said NOOOOO WAY...but Zenice is so sweet and looked so excited I couldn't refuse. Well actually I said, "I'll pray about it and let ya know." The next few days God did a work in me and showed me what gentleness is all about and that this trait can only come from Him when it comes to me! If you are interested in my testimony I will be sharing it this Saturday, May 9th, at Woodstock Assembly of God at 8:30am in the chapel.

RECIPE: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

3 large sliced carrots
3 sliced celery stalks
1 med onion diced
1 tsp. minced garlic

cooked chicken pulled from bone (you can cheat w/a rotisserie chicken from the store)
6-8 cups water
4 cubes of chicken bullion
1 package thin egg noodles
1 tsp. each of garlic salt, pepper, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, parsley, and celery salt
1 large can Chicken broth
Saute the carrot, celery, onion, and garlic in olive oil until tender. Add the water to fill 3/4 of your pot. Put the cut chicken into the water with the bullion/broth and boil for 1 hour. Add the spices and noodles and cook for 20 more minutes. Enjoy.

Chicken Soup for the Soul

The kids have been sick....and sick...and sick. I am quite tired of the constant sneezing, whining, coughing, and waking up at night. I feel like I can whip up a batch of Chicken Noodle Soup in my sleep! I was complaining the other day while I was on the phone with Bobbi in FL and I noticed that it was eerily quite in the house. I went in the kitchen to check on Shelby and found her quite content IN a bowl of soup. Problem was, there was more on her than in her tummy! It did make a great photo op, though. And I was able to focus on the task at hand...comforting my precious ones!!!

RECIPE: Resurrection Rolls

My mom sent me this recipe and the kids LOVED it!!! They want to do it all year long!

1 package Pillsbury crescent rolls
12 large marshmallows
cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Take the crescent rolls and separate the sections. Let each child roll their marshmallow in the cinnamon and tell them the Crucifixion account. Talk about how Jesus' body was laid in the tomb and the women returned to prepare His body with spices. Wrap the marshmallow in the dough and pinch all the corners closed. Remind them that the entrance was sealed with a stone. Bake the rolls for 10-12 minutes. Let rolls cool for a few minutes and then ask them where Jesus is! The surprise is they are empty....JUST LIKE JESUS' TOMB!!! It is a sweet demonstration of God's perfect gift!

HE IS RISEN!!! Easter 2009

We celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord this year with our church family and then with our loved ones. Grandma Jan and Grandpa Georgie hosted the first egg hunt and brunch.

Shelby was more interested in Eddie the cat than the Easter Egg Hunt!!!

Sweet Cousins:
Lexi, Elizabeth, Briana, Shelby, David, Colum, Gabriel, and Lindsey


Our second stop was to Papa Cake & Grandma Joan's for egg hunt #2 and more fun with cousins! It was a long day, but was so worth it.


We treasure the gift Christ freely gave us and have every reason to praise Him and celebrate. He is RISEN...He is RISEN indeed!