It's Friday, Let's Celebrate

Friday's here, the end of another week. School's just around the corner way down here in the South, so I figured we'd better celebrate summer while we still could. This is when the kids were celebrating the dog's birthday, but I thought they could help us celebrate summer too.

We're back at it this week, and that means were back at our Bible study on Fridays. For those of you just joining us, it's week four. They're labeled so you can go back and see them all if you'd like. They are short and simple, a quick pick-me-up for the end of the week. We're on our fourth instruction from Romans 12:9-21, "give preference to one another in honor." By the way, I'm quoting the New King James version for this study.

Where do you prefer to be when it's church time? Are you going to worship willingly or out of duty? What about other days? Who do you prefer to be around when you're having a good time? Take a look at Philippians 2:1-3. "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves." When we honor someone we have great respect for them and we regard them as more important. And, we can't have "humility of mind" when we are selfish and conceited.

Why do we have to show them honor and preference anyway? Verse 2 in Philippians tells us it's because these people have the same love, the same spirit, and the same purpose. How do we show preference? Go up to the beginning of the passage for some ideas. We should do it with encouragement, consolation, fellowship, and affection.

Church shouldn't be our duty, it should be our preference. We shouldn't have our "church friends" on one side and our "real friends" on the other. We should prefer to be with those we fellowship with. And when we tap into the joy and love available to us in other believers, or non-Christian friends will be more drawn to find out what they're missing.

That's all for now. Have a wonderful weekend!

Remembering to Give Thanks

I'm getting back at it this week, and that includes having a Thankful Thursday. We've had a lot to be sad about lately, but we've also had lots to be thankful for.

1. I'm thankful for the family God has blessed me with. I treasure the ones I have now and am forever grateful for the ones who are gone.

2. I'm thankful for the reminder of how many people really do love you, just when you need it most.

3. I'm thankful for waking up to flowers on my doorstep from thoughtful friends, for phone calls, for sweet notes, and especially prayers.

4. I'm thankful for the laughter of children that can brighten any day.

5. I'm thankful for Banana Pudding Ice Cream from Blue Bell (which happens to be on sale at Harvey's this week)that can offer a sweet moment--if only that scale wouldn't sass me.

Pix from a Party

I thought I'd show you all today some pictures that I'd taken to put on here a couple of weeks ago. The Fourth may be over, but it'll give you some ideas for next year. But I like Americana anytime. Don't forget supper--for a yummy pork tenderloin, just sprinkle generously with garlic powder, Lawry's season salt and a little pepper and bake according to poundage. You don't get easier than that!



Here are the flower arrangements that Meredith and I fixed with flowers from the garden. I made the big one, she did the little one to go on the kid table.


I picked up these napkins at a discount store when it wasn't the right season. Keep your eyes open for seasonal stuff when it's at a discount and stick it back for the next year.


This was a last second thing--and one of my favorites. Don't buy fancy cups, use the cheaper clear ones and add your own touch and the person's name. It's personalized and fun. All you need are some permanent markers and imagination.

Six Little Feet

Better late than never, I guess. I've been thinking on parenting. The ones I have and the one I am. I've also been asked by our friend Sheila at our local Christian radio station (you can listen at www.waft.org) to contribute to a panel on parenting for their morning talk show. I don't know how much wisdom I offered, but I gave my two cents.

Anyway, all this parenting talk reminded me of something I have. I thought today I'd share a sweet little poem that's framed and hanging in my hallway outside my bedroom. It's a good reminder to me as I start my day. I actually found it at a yard sale. When I saw it, I knew it was meant for me.

Six Little Feet

Six little feet came in from play
and tracked the kitchen floor,
to the shelf where stands the cookie-jar
then pattered out the door.

Six little feet ran over the porch
and down across the lawn,
six little feet ran here and there
and on...and on...and on.

Six little feet grow tired at night,
so I tuck them into bed,
and they lay all snug on the cool sheets
after the prayers are said.

Oh I cook and dust and sweep and scrub.
My work is never done!
But what would I do with my heart and my hands,
if the six little feet were gone?

Jan Holer

As Normal As I Can Get It

I'm trying to get things back to normal today, as normal as I can get it. Things won't ever be quite the same, but I think doing everyday things helps everday to be a little better. Thanks for waiting patiently for me.

Speaking of everyday things, let's get our menus for the week. I'm feelin the need for some comfort food this week. What do you say? Maybe I'll even bake some cookies today. Tonight we'll start with a roast. It comes from the cookbook Top Secret Restaurant Recipes. There's a series of the Top Secret cookbooks. They're packed with great recipes. I'm not sure if they still have them, but a friend said Kohl's was offering them for $5 each as part of their Kohl's program that they always have right at the front of the store. There's always great stuff there. If they've still got the books, I'd definitely recommend picking them all up (I think there's three). Now for the menus.

Monday--Shoney's Slow-Cooked Pot Roast, Carrots, Potatoes, Cheddar Garlic Biscuits
Tuesday--Grilled Chicken Salad, Nectarines
Wednesday--Baked Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls
Thursday--Beef Tips with Mushroom Gravy, Rice, Corn on the Cob
Friday--Homemade Pizza
Saturday--Out to Eat
Sunday--Leftovers

Shoney's Slow-Cooked Pot Roast
This one takes a little extra work, but it's well worth it.

2 Tbsp. butter
1 4 lb. roast
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic, minced
20 whole peppercorns
1.2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. parsley
2 c. beef stock
1 tsp. salt
4 carrots, sliced

Gravy:
2 c. beef broth
1/3 c. flour
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter and sear meat on all sides, 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Remove meat to a plate. Add onion, celery and spices to pot. Saute for 5 minutes until onion browns. Add beef stock. Put meat and carrots in baking dish. Pour stock over roast. Cover and cook 4 hours, basting occasionally. Remove roast and carrots, strain liquid. Cut meat in chunks. Pour stock over meat. Return to oven 40 minutes. Strain stock and combine with more to equal 3 c. Sprinkle flour in saucepan and stir in stock. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Serve with potatoes, biscuits, and applesauce.

Thanks

I wanted to say thank you to all of you for your sweet thoughts, prayers, and visits as we lost Daddy/Grandaddy suddenly this weekend. What a wonderful example he leaves for all of us to love unselfishly, not because of responsibility but by pure choice. He loved us all so very much and we were priviledged to have him. He always liked to sneak a look at the blog. I know he'd like our remembering him together. I will talk to you all again soon.

Honey, I'm Home...

Oh, how glad I am to be back! I missed you all. I've started to tell y'all things and then remembered about my computer. I sure did have the urge to hug my UPS man. You'd have thought it was my birthday when that package came.

Anyway...I've kept busy with housework, kid stuff, and pulling off some old wallpaper in my bedroom. We also had company over last night. It was lots of fun, we did breakfast for supper. Don't know what you'd call that--brupper or supfast? Meredith and I picked flowers for the centerpieces. I took pictures and I'll show you them tomorrow. I know, I don't normally post on Saturdays, but I've got to make up for lost time.

One of the things we had last night was Blueberry Crunch. It's something I like to serve at a brunch, so I figured it'd work well for brupper/supfast. It would be yummy to take as a dessert to your 4th of July cookouts as well, very easy to do and always gets lots of compliments. The recipe came from a lady I used to work for, she was an excellent cook.

Blueberry Crunch
You know I can never leave things alone. The recipe calls for adding the pineapple, but I don't. I don't like the mix of pineapple and blueberries together. I use chunks or rings instead of the crushed pineapple. I only add the juice and then serve the pineapples on the side. I used rings this time and am saving them to grill to go on top of our burgers for the 4th. I add a little extra blueberries since I leave out the pineapple, closer to 4 cups.

1 (20 0z.) can of crushed (or chunks) pineapple with juice
3 c. blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 c. sugar, divided
1 bx yellow cake mix
2 sticks (1 c.) butter, melted
1 c. chopped pecans

Butter a 9x13 pan. Layer pineapple (or juice only), blueberries, 3/4 c. sugar, cake mix, melted butter, pecans, and 1/4 c. sugar. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until the top is browned.

P.S. It's also good with vanilla ice cream.

And don't forget, since it's Friday, it's time for our mini Bible study together from Romans 12:9-21. This is our third week and we're to the command to "be devoted to one another in brotherly love". What's that? We should be dedicated and loving to each other. There are several reasons for this. To find out what they are, we need to do a little flipping of the pages in our Bibles. I'll write out the passages in case you don't have one handy.

The first passage we need to turn to is in the book of John, chapter 13. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 We do it, first and foremost, because Christ commands it. He also tells us to love as He has loved us; that's a big order (not with a passing nod as we go about our own business). And, He tells us that when we do love people with His kind of love, it'll be a witness to the watching world that we are His disciples.

Go now to I Thessalonians 4:9. "Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other." How are we taught to love? We are taught by God Himself.

Keep going on over to Hebrews 13:1-2. "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Our devotion should be continuous and should include hospitality. We shouldn't be Sunday morning Christians only. Our church family should be included in our everyday lives. And, our doors should be open to show God's love, sometimes with the most spectacular results.

It's so good to spend a few minutes with you. I haven't forgotten about the jelly. I'm making it next week, so anyone who still wants to get in on a jar needs to join us as a friend. Have a great weekend!

Don't you love this pretty plant? It grows really tall in the summer. I got it from a small cutting from our friend Ruth. She called it Turk's Cap. My aunt Betty calls them Flordia Bells. Whatever you want to call them, they're pretty.