Hearts in Service

“Do not come any closer,” God said to Moses. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5 There have been very few times when I have felt this way.  Saturday afternoon was one of those times.  As I had to drive back home from a ladies retreat, I was exhausted and worried.  Worried about how I was going to stay awake for the 250+ miles home.   I had also been very anxious lately.   My stomach had been churning for days and I had this headache that just wouldn't go away. As I was driving down the highway, trying my best to stay awake with 3 hours still to go, I felt the pressing urge to pray.  So I did.  For 2 straight hours.  Aloud with tears streaming down my face. And it was cleansing. God was there.  I felt his presence.  I felt my anxiety slipping away.  I felt my tiredness melt away.  It was a strange experience, but it was good.  Very good. I came back feeling refreshed.  And it is funny because our retreat each spring

It's Crafty Things again and I have been working hard this week!  I'm leaving this morning for our denomination's district women's retreat and I was invited to bring my craft items and set up a table there.  So I'm excited!  And apprehensive!  And feeling like I don't have enough items. Here is what I put together this week. 2 aprons. Some more tea totes.  I added a snap to each one. And some cards. I'm all crafted out!  :-) If you've been working on a craft item - sewing project, knitting, crochet, paper projects or anything else crafty, link up and share your blog post. The only thing I ask is that you link back to my blog.  You can use the "Crafty Things" button if you desire.  Also, when you link up, please put in the URL of  your craft post from today, not just your general blog URL.  It will make it easier for people who really just want to see the craft post.  I'm leaving this morning so I won&

I thought for today's post I would talk about frugal gardening.  It's that time of the year again when many want to get their hands in dirt and plant something.  But this can be very costly if you are not careful. Some ways I've cut down on gardening costs this year is by doing the following: ► I saved all my planters from last year to reuse.  I know this sounds like a "duh" moment but generally, I've thrown them out.  I'm not talking about the heavy duty, expensive ones but the cheap, white plastic hangers.  Last year I decided to save them because as I was thinking about it, I realized how much cheaper it would be to just purchase some seeds or small plants and sow them directly into the planters.  I also wish I had kept the little 4-pack boxes that you get when you purchase vegetables or flowers because I could really use those right about now. ► This past weekend I was at the farmer's market selling bread and wandered over to another vendor w

I've been blogging since December 2007.  Today is Loving Your Children Tuesday at my friend Kate's blog and I thought it would be fun to look back at how my children have grown since my very first post and now. Nathan Then... Now... Stephen Then... Now... Emily   Then...  Now... Can you believe how much they've grown?  Enjoy every moment you have because your children grow up faster than you think!  It's only been 4 years since I took those early pictures but I now have 2 young adult men and a young lady in my house.  They change in the blink of an eye. For more posts on loving your children, check out Kate's blog.

Seventeen months ago I decided to begin a weekly journey to walk in thankfulness.  To be thankful for the good things.  Thankful for the bad things.  Thankful for the big things.  Thankful for the little things.  Thankful for the easy things.  Thankful for the hard things. I joined in at Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience each Monday and began counting my blessings.  My goal was to get to 1,000 blessings. Today I have reached that goal.  In looking back, it's been a good journey.  One in which I realize that even in the counting and seeing God's blessings that I still struggle at times.  My first reaction to things isn't always positive or joyful or thankful.  Yet, I'm aware of it now.  I'm aware that I should be thankful and I usually find the ability to give thanks.  My desire is to let it become second nature. So while I'm getting there, I haven't arrived.  Nor am I ready to stop trying.  So even though I reach 1,000 blessings today I'

I've been debating whether I should post this or not but I think it needs to be said!  I recently saw the movie, Courageous and enjoyed it.  However, as I watched it this unsettled feeling came over me.   While it was a good movie and a good message about husbands stepping up and being the men God called them to be, I thought, "What about those women who have husbands that don't act like this?"  I'm not talking about husbands who are hanging out in bars at night or having affairs or are negligent fathers.  I'm talking about Christian men who are good and decent husbands and fathers, but are more laid back and passive.  I can see the danger of women holding the men in a movie like this as the standard their husbands need to achieve.  It is so easy to watch this movie and start feeling dissatisfied with your man.  He may not be measuring up to the ideal in your mind. You may start asking yourself, "Why doesn't my husband lead family devotions?"

I did not have the best week as far as crafts go!  I tried out a new style of apron and while the first one turned out cute, the next two I tried were a disaster.  All I can say is that I never want to work with 1/4" double seam binding again.  I'd sew it up and the material kept slipping out.  I was so frustrated after two days of this that I gave up! Here is the one apron that I completed.  I love this style, but again, it took so long to make I don't think I'd make enough money on it for it to be worth my while! Another thing I made was a bunch of little tea totes.  They are little fabric holders to carry your tea bags in your purse.  A friend had given me one for Christmas and I thought they would make a neat item to take to craft fairs.  I put together 11 of these. Each one fits 2-3 tea bags.  They still need the snaps or buttons, depending what I decide to do, but I thought they turned out cute. Now is your chance to share.  If you've been

Today I want to focus on ways to stretch our food bill by developing some meatless meals.  Meat prices have gone through the roof!  I have always tried to purchase meat that is under $2 per lb. I try to get chicken breast at no more than $1.29 per lb.  It's been getting harder and harder.to find it at those prices so it's important to use less. I try to have meals at least 3 times a week that do not include meat.  I'm not talking about being a vegan or vegetarian; just trying to cut back on the amount of meat we use.  So today I thought I'd share some recipes with you that have been a hit here. Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese 16 oz. elbow macaroni noodles, cooked 4 eggs, beaten 5 cups mild cheddar cheese, grated 3 cups milk 2 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. dry mustard 1/2 tsp. pepper Add all ingredients to your slow cooker, except 1 cup of the cheese.  Mix well.  Sprinkle reserved cheese on top.  Cover and cook on low for 3 hours until

Ever since my children were little, they had strong bents toward certain activities.  I think it's important to develop these things in your children.  Generally, when a child is bored and has nothing to do they will gravitate towards electronic media.  I really feel that especially when they are young and their brains are developing, allowing a child to sit for hours in front of a television set or video game is the worst thing for them! I didn't want my kids parked in front of the television or video games all day so I made sure that we had a lot of different, creative type activities for them.  There were legos, puzzles, books, craft items, educational games, music, and lots of opportunities to interact with these things.  I read to them constantly.  Even as teenagers I'll bring a book or something to read on long car trips.  We just finished Corrie ten Boom's, "The Hiding Place." In all the years we've had children, we've had cable hoo

The Creation by James Weldon Johnson And God stepped out on space, And he looked around and said: I'm lonely-- I'll make me a world. And far as the eye of God could see Darkness covered everything, Blacker than a hundred midnights Down in a cypress swamp. Then God smiled, And the light broke, And the darkness rolled up on one side, And the light stood shining on the other, And God said: That's good!   Then God reached out and took the light in his hands, And God rolled the light around in his hands Until he made the sun; And he set that sun a-blazing in the heavens. And the light that was left from making the sun God gathered it up in a shining ball And flung it against the darkness, Spangling the night with the moon and stars. Then down between The darkness and the light He hurled the world; And God said: That's good! Then God himself stepped down--And the sun was on his right hand, And the moon was on his left; The stars were c

The past few weeks have been busy for me but I did manage to get in some sewing.  I had a custom order for an apron and also did 3 others. Here are the photos. I'm happy this week because I finally have the link up and running.  So here is how it works.  If you've been working on a craft item - sewing project, knitting, crochet, paper projects or anything else crafty, link up and share your blog post. The only thing I ask is that you link back to my blog.  You can use the "Crafty Things" button if you desire.  Also, when you link up, please put in the URL of today's post, not the entire blog.  It will make it easier for people who really just want to see the craft post.  Clear as mud?  ;-) I'm excited about this and I hope you will share this with your friends!  Edited to add:  I added my own link in the collection just to make sure it's working (it is).