Blessing of Giving

I got a text message from a sweet friend whose family has had a hard time this year with her husband getting laid off from a job he held for almost 17 years.  God has truly sustained them through the hard times and given them bountiful blessings when they least expected.
Last night was no exception.  She said to me just days ago that they had no extra money, food was running low and she was beyond in the dumps because of the lack.  I could totally understand her heart and began to pray for her.  On Thursday, while fasting, I mostly prayed for her and her family.
They went to a Christmas church gathering last night and God laid it upon one of the members hearts to bless her family.  She, not knowing what took place, her husband drove straight to the grocery store for some much needed groceries.  To her surprise and yet humble and thankful heart, they had no food for supper last night until God in His infinite wisdom, grace, and mercy, provided it.
I will continue to pray for their provisions, much as I do for our own.  God is faithful and able to supply all our needs.

Lord I thank You for meeting the needs of my friends and their family.  Thank You for meeting my family's needs as well.  We are so ever grateful and thankful for Your provisions and Your love for/toward us.

Still Around...

I've not stopped reading the book, just took a semi break for the holidays and I read the rest of chapter 2 this morning.  I'm just meditating on what I've read today, as well as a conversation I had with a dear friend this afternoon.

She and I text often and as she asked how she could pray for me, I told her my desire to move and to have a decent home for me and my children.  She called me today and said something that has had me thinking ever since.  "Your vision is not big enough."

She said there is nothing wrong with what your desires are and God knows your desires and wants to fulfill them.  However, His word clearly says in Matthew 6:33: Seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you also.
Talk about a way to stop you in your tracks and make you take a look at how you have been viewing things...

She said, look at your life and how you can minister to His children.  Hmmmmmm, take my eyes off of me and my circumstances and put them elsewhere.  Is this coincidental that my eldest daughter said we should find somewhere to serve others this Christmas????
I think not!

Anonymous...and Lifestyle Changes

God simply amazes me more and more and It has to do with the simple fact that He is good!!!  Since I have made up in my mind that I'll do my best not to worry, just pray and trust God to do exactly what He says He will do, He has been blessing my socks off left and right.  Last week I checked the mail and to my amazement, there was a money order in the mail from someone in Florida.  I have no clue who sent it, I have no idea at all.  I did make sure it was a legitimate postal money order and after verifying that, we headed to purchase groceries, much needed toiletries, and paid a bill!!!  I had no clue how we were going to take care of any of that prior to that, but God had already worked it out!  So to who ever anonymous is.....I thank you with a sincere heart and Praise the Lord for your willingness to bless us in such an awesome way.

A sweet friend and I were talking and we both agree, if the body of Christ would step up to the plate, I don't believe we would have any Christians struggling in this nation.  Single moms would be able to fulfill their calling to stay home and raise up godly seeds.  And then, think of the testimony that would be to non believers...no brother or sister in Christ going to the government for housing, food, or medical expenses...
Now that would be awesome and amazing in and of itself and YES a mighty testimony to the world!!!

You know I do a lot of reading and many times I happen upon someone's blog and have no idea how I found that blog, but am ever grateful that I did.  Well, last night was no different.  I have purposed in my heart to make some changes for myself.  Some of it has to do with the economy and the fact that I am still unemployed.  Yet some of it has to do with the fact that I just want to live a healthier simpler life if at all possible.
So I've gone back to drinking green smoothies every morning and it has helped to cut my cravings and I find at lunch time I'm really not hungry and don't start getting hungry until around 5ish...well, dinner is at 6 so I usually drink a tall 44 oz of water and eat dinner at 6.  Since I'm on a serious budget, my smoothies are basic.  water to cover the blades in my blender, 2 handfuls of spinach or lettuce (green or red leaf), 1 cup frozen fruit, 1 cup plain yogurt.  Quick and simple yummy breakfast, followed by a large cup of ice water.  I've increased my water intake throughout the day as well.  In the last 3 months, I've switched from disposable pads to cloth pads and just in the last 2 weeks I switched from toilet paper to cloth wipes (I buy a small pack of toilet paper now for certain needs in the restroom, but that 4 pack should last me for a time).  I just made my first batch of deodorant and let me tell you it's been 2 days and I love it already.  I've been wanting to make the switch, but I've been a bit chicken!  I also tried another thing suggested from this blog and washed my hair with ivory soap...oh yea, I've switched from the fancy soaps back to ivory.  I've used dove for as long as I can remember, but found in the last 2 months or so it was beginning to cause me to itch like no one's business!  I digress.  So the reason I washed my hair with ivory soap, is that between my 2 daughters and I, the shampoo is gone in a month.  They simply use too much.  I did an experiment and bought everyone their own bottle of shampoo, the same size and my sons lasted the longest of course, then mine, but the girls were out of shampoo in 3 weeks.  So, I tried washing my hair with the ivory soap and it cleaned it very well and then made it feel like a dry mess, but I applied conditioner in it and it is just fine and very manageable.  I have used the apple cider vinegar as a conditioner before and loved the way it worked, so after we have used the remaining 3 bottles of conditioner in my home, I will be buying apple cider vinegar from that point on.  I had already been making my laundry soap so no changes there.  I have one thing I just have not been able to give up and that's the bleach.  I don't even use it on our clothes anymore, just to clean with, but I'm noticing it is causing me to have more headaches and it's burning my eyes and nose and that's just with a little bit being used.  So I'm sure that will be next.  I'm in search of a liquid dish soap replacement for hand washing dishes.  I've gone to using coconut oil in my bath water as a moisturizer....love the way it feels on my skin and I don't even have to use lotion when I get out and it only takes a little....1 TBSP!!!!  I also use coconut oil on my face.  I've weeded out hair grease and simply use a mixture of coconut oil and olive oil on my hair.  And with those few changes just for my hair, it is growing by leaps and bounds!!!

Please share any ideas you have or come up with that I can give a try.  I'm all about saving money and living healthier!!!

Thankful Thursday -Fellowship

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Today and every day I am so grateful for dear friends and fellowship.  There is just something about getting together with like minded friends and sharing your day with them.

We had no plans for Thanksgiving, my oldest sister went out of town, my youngest sister went to her in-loves home and me and my children were going to just hang out here at home together.  I planned our menu, not a lot.  Bought the groceries needed.  And prepared my mind and body to just relax and enjoy the day with my kiddos.  Then we got the invitation.  We totally LOVE this family.  They have become like family to us.  There are 11 children and truth be told I can't remember whose name goes with who until I get there and see all the faces! LOL ;-)  But I love them all the same.

So, our dinner we cooked on Wednesday so that we could have it on Friday...no need cooking on a day I could be sewing! LOL
We also made a few things to take to our friends.  We'll be back later this evening and hopefully we'll have some great pics for me to post.

Another thing that makes me so grateful for this family...they have been there for me an my children from the moment my mother was in the hospital last year.  This her 3rd year without her mother and my 1st year without mine.  We are kindred spirits in more ways than one.

Thinking of how she has been my rock over this past year, I'm grateful to all the rocks in my life!  You women ROCK!!!!!  Thank you for pouring into me even when you were down. Thank you for lifting me in prayer and covering my family as well.  Thank you for inspiring me to do better, live righteous, seek God, and serve my family.  Seriously, YOU ROCK!!!!

Thankful Thursday -Provisions

On Saturday, the men of a dear family we know were returning from a week long hunting trip.  The 5 of them shot 8 deer.  They kept 5 for their family of 13, gave 2 to families that were hunting but were unable to hit a deer, and then, they brought one to us!!!

WooHoo for deer meat!  I love venison meat and my children are just really being introduced to it.  Out of the very large doe that we got, we were able to cut up and get 4 large roasts, which I was then able to cut in half and so we have 8 venison roasts, we also got 3 freezer bags of stew meat, then we had backstraps...never had that before, but I'm told it makes great BBQ meat.  We kept all the bones to make stock and there were some bones with meat left on and I'll use those to put in my greens or beans.

Monday night, I took one of the roasts and put it in the crock pot on low with some seasonings, onions, and bay leaf.  I also added a cup of water...venison is very lean and can dry out rather quickly.  Tuesday afternoon I added some broth, cream of mushroom soup, barley, and a bag of frozen mixed veggies.  We sat down to eat dinner rather early that evening and then I realized that would have been a perfect meal to have some cornbread with.  However, as we were all sitting at the table, it was really too late.  It didn't stop us from enjoying our meal.

It was totally delicious!!!!

So today, I'm thankful for God's provision of deer meat that will last us a while.  Only God knew that on their first hunting trip ever they would hit 8 deer and that they would bless us with one.  Meat is one less thing on my grocery list for now!!!

Praising God for his creatures!  Especially those we can eat! LOL

Thankful Thursday

I am amazed at the vastness of this thing we call World Wide Web.  I at times loath it because I can't seem to discipline my usage of it and yet I am ever so grateful for it because without it I may never have met some of the most dearest friends across the globe that I have.

I am thankful for the numerous friendships I have encountered.  I am a blessed woman in many ways, but especially because of the number of godly women I have met via facebook, blogs, and internet groups.  I may never get to meet you all on this side of heaven, but what a great celebration it will be when we all get to heaven!

May I just take this moment to say thank you for inspiring me, speaking truth to me, encouraging me, and lifting me in prayer!!!!  I LOVE YOU ALL to pieces.

Many blessings to each of you!

Oh yeah, one of those dear friends is hosting a give away at her blog... Love Abounds at Home.  Hop on over and enter.  I'll be tossing in a bib, burp cloth, and nursing cover-up to her blessed winner!

Oh how I miss my babies!

For the past 9 days, my children have been at my sisters home.  My oldest daughters pen pal from the UK is visiting.  She'll leave next Monday.  I had to have the kids stay with my sister because our home is just not in an acceptable condition for guest nor is there adequate space.
I spent last weekend with them and will spend this up coming weekend with them as well.  I had hoped she was having a good time, but alas, I think she's bored.
For one, I'm a single, working mama and just don't have the funds or time to take them to all the places they wanted to go.  Second, we just aren't a family that's on the go day in and day out.
I did plan things for the weekend.  Last Friday, I made burgers and fries for dinner.  The kids went to the movies.  Saturday we went to an amazing flower garden, The Dallas Arboretum.  For lunch/dinner we went to Chipotle.  My sister then dropped them all off at the mall and I picked them up later.  Sunday we went to church and it was an amazing service.  I'm pooped out by this time and just want to slow it down.
This weekend, will be another busy one.  Friday I'm laying low.  Saturday we'll go to Six Flags.  Sunday, church again...Pastor Evans returns from a month long family vacation.  I can't wait to hear what the Lord has been speaking to him.  Monday is a holiday for me, but we also have to get up bright and early so we can take Katie to the airport.  I'm heading home after that and HOPEFULLY I can get some sewing done.

Oh did you know that September is National Sewing Month?

Friends

I had a comment about my post yesterday on Friends/Fellowship.

I wanted to tell her this via email, but was not able to do so...
Then thought, it might be good for others as well.  You never know
who is struggling in various areas with lack of friends as well.

There was a time, not so long ago, when I had friends, but none of them really following Christ.
They were the kind of friends that said all those things that make you feel good, but there was
no meat or substance to it.  You know, the kind that give you the advice "if I were you".
BUT GOD...
I began to pray for godly friends and then began to be more specific in my prayer.
I prayed that God would send godly women into my life that I could call friends.  They wouldn't
tell me what I "wanted" to hear, but would be honest (brutally honest if necessary).  I wanted
friendships that would stand the test of time.  Friends that would understand and be comfortable
with me not liking what they said and even getting upset with them, but strong enough to stick
around and wait for me to come to my senses if need be.  Friends that would give me advice from
the Word of God and lead me back to it if I went astray.
Iron sharpening Iron....that's what I envisioned a godly friend to be and do.

I didn't want weak friends, but friends strong in their faith and doubly strong in their convictions.

It has taken some time, but as I look back over the last 4 years or so, I can see that God has chiseled out
the perfect friends for me.  I don't always agree with them, may not like what they say or do all the time
either, but they are truly my friends...sisters in Christ and they are REAL!!!!

They have cheered with me when things were good, comforted me when things were bad.  They've prayed for me when I couldn't pray for myself, and lifted me up at my lowest points.  They've rejoiced and praised
right along with me.  Given me words of wisdom and always directed me back to the GOOD BOOK.

YET, each of them is different in various ways.  We constantly throw around the phrase "best friend".  These are the bestest friends (I know that's not a word) I could have ever prayed for and I am so very thankful God chose them to be a part of my life on this journey called life.

Angie, Kelly,Jackie, & Christine, you are the ones I prayed for years ago.  The ones God placed in my life for such a time as this...and many years to come.  I wish I could express just how appreciative I am of you and your friendship.  Dare I say best friend?  That truly would not describe what and who you are to me.  In fact, there really are no words.  Thank you!!!  I love each of you to pieces and you are the best you for me!!!

So for those that are praying for those godly women to be a part of their lives...KEEP PRAYING!!!
He does hear you and when He answers, it will be in a mighty way, yet it will be so subtle you won't even realize it at first.

Thank you Father for each of these dear friends and all the other men and women of God you have placed in my life.  Thank you for their character and especially their love for You.  Thank you for their love for me and my family.  Thank you that You dwell so richly and mightily in their hearts and lives.  Cover them with Your love, grace, mercy, and Your hand.  Keep them far from all hurt, harm, or danger.  What the enemy brings into their lives for bad, turn it around for their good and Your glory.  Shine Your face upon them more and more as they continue to draw closer and closer to you.  They are truly far above rubies and for that I thank You.  In Your Precious Son's Name, AMEN.

Friendship & Fellowship

We have had an awesome time with friends in these last two days.

On Sunday, we went to church (which was awesome) and the girls had a leadership meeting they had to attend.  It is awesome to watch God move and work in their lives.  The meeting was not until that evening at 6:30 and we live about an hour away from the church, so going home and returning later was out of the question.  So a dear friend (Adrian's godfather), invited us over to his place to "hang" out until we needed to be back at the church.  We talked and talked and talked, which is what we usually do whenever we get together.  It was fun!!!  I also cut out strips for the quilt I will be working on soon for a gift.  While the girls were at the meeting, Adrian and I visited some more and by the time we picked up the girls, we were all exhausted.

Yesterday I was talking to one of my dearest friends whom I truly love dearly.  She was telling me about the changes she is trying to make within her family.  So they will begin having green smoothies for breakfast this morning.  She couldn't get over the fact that it actually has stuff in it like lettuce, spinach, or even avocado.  I was sharing with her how delicious they are and how much it changed our household and the benefits from drinking them as well.  She was most impressed.  I wished I could go make her at least one so she could get a taste for them and see that the sight is NOTHING like the taste at all.  As we talked further and she sounded more and more unsure of them, I said it again...I really wish I could do the first one for you.  She said you can.
I headed on home, picked up the children and headed to her place.  I made the green smoothies and the girls made the rolls the Duggars shared with her, Kelly made the taco soup.  The smoothies were a hit!!!  Her children (she has 11 amazing children) were all looking like I had grown another head with this concoction I had made, but they willingly tasted.  One of the girls was not very quick in trying it, but the thing was everyone had to try it.  SHE LOVED IT!!!!  The thing is, with all the fruits, you never taste the green stuff you add.  My other dearest friend has started a green smoothie challenge.  I'm hoping to get back to this soon!!!

We then sat and fellowshipped while enjoying the taco soup and homemade rolls.  Can you say delicious?!  Well it was very satisfying to my tummy! LOL

We had so much dough from the dinner rolls that we used some of it to prep cinnamon rolls for their breakfast this morning, but she surprised us by sending the pan home with us.  It was truly a surprise to me, as she told the girls not to show me until after we had driven down the road a bit...knowing I would not then turn around and take them back at that point.  They followed directions perfectly and as I said, I was pleasantly surprised.

When God places godly friends in your life, don't take them for granted, but love on them and enjoy the times you get to share with them.  This has truly been a highlight in my life and walk with Christ.  When you walk away from the world, God has so much he wants to give you in place of those things from the world.  Friends are one of them!!!  I am so thankful and grateful for them and I love them like family.