Thankful Thursday.....I mean Tuesday!!

For Today:

Outside My Window: It's dark at 5:45 in the morning! The beginning of another wonderful day, no matter what the weather or circumstances, because God has blessed me and I will honor Him and give Him praise!!!!

I am thinking: I have another busy busy day ahead. Being taxi for Sarah Boo, Post Office, Shopping, Cooking, Cleaning, Rearranging........the list goes on! I'm also thinking about the wonderful time we had at the river Sunday. We spent most of the time in the truck riding around, but we did check out our camper (which has sprung another leak, ugh!!), walked around the campground, and rode to Gloucester to shop a little. Can't wait till April. This year will be like last since we're still working on the house, we won't get to go as much, but any little time away is great!!!

I am thankful for: My family. Our health. We've had more than our share of medical problems this year, but I look around and see people suffering everywhere. Our problems were so small compared to some. God spared us heartache, but others have to face that and it tears me up. I'm so thankful that our problems have resolved, and pray for those facing the unthinkable. We may not know why the ones we love have to suffer, but God has a plan.....and even if it's not our plan....it is a perfect plan.

I'm also thankful for my husband. I know I say it all the time, but do you really know how special it is to be in (almost) perfect harmony with your spouse?????? I say almost because nobody is perfect except God!!! It's amazing how God can create something so wonderful when you ask Him to be Lord over your marriage, family, home, and life....and then really LET HIM BE! It's awesome to have as much fun with your spouse after 29 years as you did when you first met!!!!!

From the Kitchen: Something quick cause we have to eat and run. Sorry honey, but I'm thinkin Spam (lite of course), Green Beans, Mac & Cheese!!!!

I am hoping: To get my hair done soon. It's hideous! I haven't been to see Lorie in over 6 months. One day I'll get there....I hope.

I am reading: Same book with hubby, Love is a Decision. Devotions on line. Bible.

I am creating: Finally something fun!!!! I went yesterday and bought a whole new bedroom set. Mine is about 10-15 years old and I still love it, I'm just ready for a change. I haven't shopped as much as I did yesterday in years! I left at 10:00 yesterday morning and got home at 9:00 last night, except for a pit stop between 4:30-6:00 to fix BLT's and pick up hubby!! Well, I figured I might as well do it up right, so I got the comforter set, 2 sets of sheets, 2 new blankets, a new quilt, a curtain, a picture, Candle sconces, and new matching trinkets to set around! It was sooooo fun.

Rob's taking me to Tuesday Morning after work because I saw another picture in the window that would match perfectly I think, but I got there too late and they were closed. I figure I better get everything I want all at once, cause I might have this one 15 years too!!!! I really don't like change, can you tell???? (But this was so fun I just might have to rethink that, lol!!!)

I am praying: For a special request. Won't you help me pray too? Bobby's former girlfriend Slibs (Sylvia King) needs our prayers for her and her dad. He was just diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to his liver. Slibs will graduate this year, and it breaks my heart that she has to go through something so horrible when it should be a very happy time for her. Please pray for her dad, his name is Tony. Thanks so much!!!!!!!!

I am hearing: The heat pump outside my bedroom window. I'm on the laptop this morning because Bobby's asleep in the living room.

One of my favorite things: My new bedroom of course, it's beauteeeeeful!! And also the wooden tea holder I got from Starbucks last night for 90% off. I'm not a big tea drinker and it was filled with different tea bags, but I can't wait to empty it out and use the wooden holder with 3 little compartments for something, it's just too cute!!! And because I had a Starbucks coupon, my $20 wooden box was only $1.53!!!! Now that's a deal I can live with :-D

Around the house: Oh what a mess. Yesterday I wanted to clean. It wasn't my intention to shop all day because I had actually bought another bedspread when we went to the river Sunday, and I was only going out looking for a curtain to match it. But thanks to Jaclyn Smith and K-Mart, I found this gorgeous set that I loved! Soooooo, I didn't get any cleaning done. Mom usually does some laundry for me on Mondays, but the first load went off balance and she couldn't fix it, so that didn't get done. Today I need to get all that done plus work on eBay. I need my Superwoman costume today!!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tomorrow Sarah has a Drs. Appointment at Stony Point.

Here is the picture I am sharing: My scripture of the day!



Sometimes we have to wait under a cloud of trial, but wait faithfully! That cloud will eventually break in showers of blessing!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!

For Today

For Today:

Outside My Window: It's cooold and snowy. I need to go to the shed to get some items to ship, but I don't want to freeze!

I am thinking: My hubby made me sooo happy this morning. When I woke up and went into the kitchen, I found this by the coffee pot:

Two valentine coffee mugs, an "I Love You" chocolate chip cookie, and a picture he had made of us "back in the day". He is the most awesome loving man in the world, and I'm soooo glad he's MINE!!!!!! Supposedly there's more to come.....oh la la!!!

I am thankful for: My sweet hubby, and my wonderful kids! All the blessings in my little world, and a God who loves me so much He cares for my every need!!!!

From the Kitchen: Ah, the kitchen.....such a happy place this morning. Not much going on in there now though, gonna eat some high fiber cereal and start this diet thing one more time, but we're having tacos for dinner, eek!!!!

I am hoping: I can actually stick to this diet and exercise thing now. I'm too miserable NOT to. And the River calls in 2 months, yay!!!!!

I am reading: The Bible, Devotionals, and "Love is a Decision" with my hubby.

I am creating: Ads for Craigslist to sell off some of my decorative things around the house. I'm ready to say "out with the old, in with the new", and since I have to do it a little at a time, I'll start by selling what I have to buy what I want, lol!!!!

I am praying: That I can stay away from Goodwill for another week. Hey, I did good last week. Yea, it was because it snowed and I couldn't get out. No, it wasn't really but it did help. I could have made it over there, hubby even offered to take me if I REALLY wanted to go, but I was a good girl!! He did take me to Peebles though to buy their jeans on 5.99 clearance, but that doesn't count, you have to get those when they have the big sale, whenever that may be!!!!!!!

I am hearing: Rebels snoring.

One of my favorite things: My new Valentine's coffee mugs of course. Rob and I are always looking for great mugs when we go out, even at yard sales, and he found the perfect ones for us!!!!!!

Around the house: Mitzi is being very vocal about something, which is unusual. Rebs is sleeping beside me on Bobby's bed. Sarah is sleeping, I think. The boys are gone to work. It's very very quiet!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Errands today, and have somebody coming by to pick up some jeans they bought. Sarah has an appointment on Thursday but it's not by a Goodwill Store that I know of, so not too excited about that!!

Marriage Enrichment idea: Okay, this isn't an idea, but a great devotional that was on the CBN website this morning called Perfect Love! Check it out!!! My favorite part: Happily ever after doesn’t always come with ball gowns and white horses. Most of the time, it comes with sweat pants and minivans . . . but that’s ok, because if it comes from God, it’s perfect and nothing less. Amen!!!

Here is the picture I am sharing:

Hubby working hard on Bobby's floor!

Thankful Thursday

Good Morning! God is sooo good, and I'm feeling extra blessed this morning! A little unsettled in my spirit, but I'll get to that in a minute. I just want to thank God for all He has blessed me with, all He has provided, all He has done in my life. I'm just a happy girl, and it's because of God's love for me and His blessings!!!! Oh yea, and a husband who is the bomb and makes me feel special even on my worst days helps a bit too :-D

Now, on to that "unsettled" thing. I'm not sure what it is, and you've probably been there too. I think God is preparing me for "something", I just don't know what. It always seems to happen that way. I feel a tug at my heart, a need to pray extra hard, and then WHAM, something comes up that says "this is what I've been preparing you for"!!

There have been a couple of things I've been asking God to show me lately. The first is to show me what I need to sacrifice. Have you ever felt like God is telling you to sacrifice something so He can show you His power and love? I've been feeling that lately and am praying for God's direction. Actually, I'm praying that He would hit me over the head with it, cause I'm afraid I won't hear what He's telling me otherwise!

Secondly, I've been feeling that God is wanting me to be more hospitable. I just finished reading a book that I thought was made just for me: A Life That Says Welcome, Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others. What a great book. It gave me some awesome examples of ways to show God's love to others. Little things mean a lot to people who are hurting or need a helping hand. And you can be hospitable without having people into your home, which is good, since nobody really wants to come over and sit on Bobby's bed in the living room anyway, lol!!!!! But eventually we'll get our house back in order, and we WILL have people over.

If nothing else, God is telling me to pray more, and getting my attention by putting this feeling inside me. Not a feeling of dread, but a feeling of anticipation, looking for something great to happen, and EXPECTING a blessing or miracle or whatever He is choosing to do in us or through us next. Ain't God good????

Okay, let's move on. The not so good feeling I've had lately is that of expansion. I feel like the air bags on the sides of my hips have been deployed and that is just NOT GOOD!!!! Too much junk food while being cooped up inside, and no exercise. That was one of my resolutions, more exercise, and you people have NOT held me accountable!!!! Yea, that's it, blame it on somebody else. I feel better now, lol!!!! TODAY, I will exercise and eat right, and try to remove these air bags from around my caboose!!!! I started my day off good, with a nice bowl of HAIRY oatmeal!! Yep, it was real good until I pulled that long nasty hair out of it. It was mine, but it still made me want to hurl. Made me want to throw it away and reach for the brownies instead, but I didn't!!! I forced it down, gagging most of the time. Score one point for me, yay!!!!!

I've been a little worried about this whole eBay thing too. BUT, I will reserve my judgement (somewhat) until the end of April, when I see just how all the changes will affect my business. I do know that for a lot of people, the changes are bad. Because of WHAT I sell, I don't think they'll be as bad for me, we shall see. People will always want to buy jeans at a discount, but a lot of people who sell little trinkets and non-neccesary items will be closing up shop from what I can tell. I just thank God that he led me in this direction in the beginning, because I had no intentions of selling jeans when I first started!!

Haha!!!

Now, on to last nights dinner. I told those of you on Facebook about the wonderful bread I made last night. I can't believe how easy it was, and how yummy!!!! Here's the recipe. Mine didn't quite look like that, but it was lalicious!!

I didn't have buttermilk, so I used 1 cup milk and 1 Tablespoon white vinegar. Let it sit 5 minutes before using.

Here's what it looks like when you first put it in the pan. I used a cast iron skillet.

When it was done. Mine wasn't as high as theirs, but still yummy!!

One of our family favorites: Goulash!!

What's wrong with this picture? First of all, no green except for the peppers in the goulash. Second, I didn't think this through very well in the planning stages. The corn casserole is made with cornbread mix, and then there is the biscuit bread. A carb lovers dream meal!!!!!

Ok, so here's a few tips if you do try this bread. First, it says to cook it on medium, which is #4 on my stove. It actually started to get too done on the bottom, so I took it off the heat and let it sit a minute, then flipped it over like it said, and cooked it on and off the heat the rest of the time. I'd sit it on the burner for a minute, then take it off. it cooked up perfectly that way. Next time I might try cooking it on an even lower temp.

Also, I used a well seasoned skillet, and coated the inside with plenty of oil. I was afraid it would stick, but it didn't stick at all thanks to the generous oiling!!

Next time I'll use buttermilk, but it was great without it.

This tasted like the fluffiest homemade biscuits ever (I've NEVER made any this good!) without all the work!! Awesome! I found this recipe recently in one of those papers that come with the Newspaper. Relish or Parade or something?????

Well, that's all for now. Got to go list some jeans, make a post office run, clean and do laundry, and hmmm, something else I'm sure I'm forgetting.......oh yea, EXERCISE!!!!

Have a great day everybody! Remember that happiness is a choice, so choose to smile and be happy today. It's contagious ya know!!!!

"The Lord your God...will exult over you by singing a happy song." Zephaniah 3:17

P.S. The purple words are brought to you today by Crystal's Happy Place, where purple rules!!!!!