Mississippi Mama

We are HOME

2012-02-01T16:45:00.000-06:00

Ahhhhhhh, HOME SWEET HOME!

It always strikes me, coming home from Honduras, how huge my house is. Compared to what I saw last week, I live in a mansion. I am very thankful for the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon my family and the blessing of living in the United States. We are so blessed and I pray, we always count our blessings.

Oreo is fitting in with the "pack". He's changed so much in the 2 weeks since the other doggies have seen him. Now he is running up the stairs after them, he isn't quite so successful on the coming downstairs. But he will learn. Chip and Licorice were thrilled their family was back ~ yeah, you can tell when a doggie is thrilled.

Our new economics books were delivered and they will be started on Monday. Thursday and Friday, we will be unpacking, making up some menu's, and trying to get back into the swing of things. I am ready to get some sewing done also.

The weather is very mild for this time of year and has been most of Dec. and Jan. I wonder what the rest of the "winter" will hold for us and what will happen come springtime.

After eating all the fresh vegies and fruits last week in Central America, I am ready for gardening time. I received an heirloom seed catalog in the mail, so we will be deciding on our seeds and making our order. The catalog is gorgeous ~ and resembles a magazine, not your typical catalog. The company is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. It was recommended to me as a good place to order heirloom, non GMO seeds.

Its almost time to start dinner and then its off to church for Wed. night!

Wallpaper Removal

2012-01-31T09:10:00.000-06:00

When Greg couldn't leave when Will and I did for Honduras, he started taking down my Mom's wallpaper in the dining room. The wallpaper stuck great ~ except on the edges. This has been a multi person, multi day job that is still going on. Yesterday, Greg, Will and Amy got all the paper and backing off the wall. Then Greg got the dents, dings, and imperfections on the walls spackled. Today is sanding, taping the window/door frames, and the chair rail for painting. Hopefully, the painting will be done by tonight.

The dining room is a wreck right now. The furniture is big and heavy to move. There is dust everywhere.

I appreciate Greg doing things for Mom. Its nice to have someone care about her enough to give up many hours to help her with what she wants/needs.

Thanks Greg! I love you!

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

2012-01-30T11:47:00.000-06:00

For those interested in numbers for the Mission Trip ~ here you go!

The construction team hauled 178~5 gallon buckets full of cement to build

2 wheelchair ramps &

1 sidewalk at 2 different churches

Vacation Bible School ministered to

256 children & 24 adults

there were 166 indications of decisions for Christ

400 New Testament Bibles given out

2 cd's left with the churches for the childrens songs

Medical Team ~ worked in 5 locations

1897 patients seen in general medicine

618 optomology patients

9,000 prescriptions filled

269 Dental patients

429 teeth pulled

over 100 professions of faith

many New Testaments given out

We acknowledge that only the Lord knows the sincerity in a persons heart. Only He knows, the exact numbers of new believers. But regardless of the numbers, many seeds were planted and we hope will continue to grow and flourish in each heart ministered too.

Greg also started a taxi ministry. When we got our taxi rides with groceries, the drivers got their fare, a tip, and a Spanish New Testament Bible. All said thank you for the Bibles.

Back in the good ole USA

2012-01-28T20:29:00.000-06:00

Our plane landed in Atlanta at about 5:20, we pulled into Mom's driveway at 7:30. Going through immigration and customs isn't the most enjoyable experience, but I am very thankful that none of us got pulled over for the invasive airline search.

We've had very long days. We woke up at 4:45am and dropped into bed at 9 or 9:30pm. The last 2 mornings, we didn't have to get up quite so early, but I woke up anyway. I am hoping that tendency goes away soon. Its way to early to wake up for a normal day.

We are finishing up dessert for Greg's birthday at Mom's. The 2nd load of laundry is in the washer. I had 4 extra shirts packed but thats it.

The bugs attacked again yesterday and this time Greg got to share in the fun. Obviously gringo ankles are very tasty to the Honduran Vampire Bugs. Very thankful for benadryl and antibiotics.

I've got updates for the week, but its packed in one of my suitcases. I do know over 9000 prescriptions were filled in the 5 days. That includes aspirin/tylenol, tums, neosporin creams, vitamins and all the antibiotics.

Its almost bedtime for these happy travelers.

Tomorrow, my family is coming over for a little reunion. I haven't seen some of them in 2 years, so I am looking forward to that.

Hope everyone has an awesome Sunday!

things you can buy in a bag in Honduras

2012-01-28T06:13:00.000-06:00

Since lots of folks don't have any kind of power and little money down here, lots of grocery items are sold in small bayberry are some we've seen this week...

Milk, cream, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, tomato sauce/paste, vegetable oil or shortening, cheese, crackers, spices, water, fruit drinks, lunch meats, chorizo (sausage).

Our bags are packed, we eat a light breakfast in an hour. Start weighing luggage, check out of hotel, and head to the airport. Our flight leaves at 1:05 central time. At least down here we won,y have to wait on the runway for an hour for our turn to take takeoff.

I am ready to see my Amy and mom. Amy is ready for her Mirinda.

last day

2012-01-27T17:50:00.000-06:00

I really don't know how to explain how I am feeling. We leave Honduras tomorrow, early afternoon. While I am ready for some of my comforts of home, I am not ready to be home. This is a first for me. I don't want everything to return to normal. We are so spoiled in the USA and so discontent. I've watched people with little to nothing live joyfully. They are thankful for everything and so thrilled with any little gift or thoughtfulness.

If you have never been on a mission trip, I would encourage you to pray about it and go, if the Lord leads you in that direction. If you decide on your own to go without God, you will be miserable.

There is nothing like visiting a 3rd world country to make you very thankful for everything the Lord has blessed you with.

day 6

2012-01-26T19:29:00.001-06:00

Day 6 is done. You know its really hot when the Hodurans are complaining.

This morning after the team left, Greg and I hit the streets with Bibles and scrambled egg biscuit sandwiches. We went into a business where they make uniforms for businesses and men's suits...all on treadle machines. We handed out our goodies and they told us they are all Christians. A couple of folks took bibles for spouses or friends.

Then we went to the fabric store and I got a couple of more pieces. Greg gave the owner a Bible and he thanked Greg multiple times. We were looking for some parts to fix the stove for the church - that guy found his taxi driving buddy to drive us all over town looking for these parts. He went Into each store with us to explain in Spanish what we needed. We found two of the parts. Then he took us back to the fabric guy to report on the excursion, this ride and help cost us about $2. He got a Bible too.

We had some team birthdays to celebrate today, so we went to a great bakery for a cake. It was yummy a beautifully decorated. I will post pictures next week when I can download them.

After dinner, ad sent the team out with plates of food to give away. Its always fun to bless folks that really need it.

I will have the totals for everything next week, but right now I know of over 100 professions of faith and about 400. Bibles distributed.

We are thankful for the great, productive week. Tomorrow after breakfast is our relaxation day! We are looking forward to some fun!

honduras day-5

2012-01-25T20:50:00.003-06:00

We've walked our feet off today. Its been the hottest day so far. Is the

This trip has been different in several aspects..
First is the smells - I have never noticed a sewage smell before, but there are parts of the town that the whiffs are very strong.

Second is the bugs. I have got several really bad bites. Traveling with a medical team has its advantages. Dr. Angela looked at one on my leg this morning and told me to put bensdryl cream on it. Tonight when she looked at it, she advised starting an antibiotics in the morning...we have to find the box its stored in at the church.

Third is I have prayed for months that I could do this trip for God, and not get in His way. Tonight for dinner, we had cooked for 50, but only 16 of our team showed up for dinner. There was a local Pastors meeting at the church-not only were we able to feed them, but a bus driver, his son, several guys that just happened by, our friend Mario and his 3 daughters. The Lord knew who needed to eat tonight.

Fourth, I have been taken completely out of my comfort zone with new challenges. Coming down here alone, working in the pharmacy, having 15 hour days, and being bait for every woman eating vampire bug have been difficult. However looking back on the last 5 days, I can see the blessings already.

correction

2012-01-24T20:51:00.001-06:00

Ignore the last line from the previous post-we can't figure out how to remove it.

Its supposed to say I am thankful our hotel has wifi and my kindle connects...no more internet cafe.

Adios from Honduras.

Tuesday update

2012-01-24T20:31:00.000-06:00

Ola from sunny,HOT, beautiful Honduras!

This is Donna, Greg has been doing the posting till now. He made it down here today and I am a happy wife. He got here about 12:30 with no problems.
Ti
Its been a good week so far, I really did not want to get on that plane without him. The scripture I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH has been my personal scripture. I repeated it to myself for hours on the plane. I told W ill that I hoped when we got through customs that I saw faces I knew..and the Lord had about 20friendly folks that I knew. AMEN!

Lots of folks stepped up to the plate to help me. Plenty of good help and lots of laughter.

Tomorrow Greg and I are hitting the town. More grocery shopping and hopefully looking at some fabric.

My fsvorite cleaning lady at the church is still here...her name is Glenda. She tries to tell me something in Spanish and talks louder-maybe she thinks I can understand Spanish if she is louder! It doesn't help! But her hugs are sweet and so is her heart.

I am very thankful that our hog

Honduras Day 3 - Red Tape

2012-01-23T15:15:00.000-06:00

I will have to update the Honduras part later. Greg arrived at the vital records place at 7:30 and was first in line to get a new fresh birth certificate. Thankfully, we were in Georgia where Greg was born, and he had his new crisp birth certificate by 8:12. Then it was on to the passport office in downtown Atlanta in a rainstorm. It was only a 6 mile trip, but it took over an hour. The area was familiar as Greg has stayed at these hotels in the past, so once he got his bearings, he was able to park and walk to the passport center. The folks at the Department of State were very pleasant and helpful. Greg got there at 9:30 and had his brand spanking new passport by 1:30. Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.

The newer passports don't have the page glued to the cover. Apparently this damaging issue has been a problem. The new passport has more of a hard back book cover and the information page is the first separate page. We STRONGLY recommend getting a passport wallet, which Greg has. We also STRONGLY recommend using said passport wallet when traveling to keep the rain from causing this to happen again.

So the lessons learned today are: God answers prayer. God designs the plans for His mission trips which could include not actually getting on the plane. Passport wallets are not useful if you don't use them.

James and Jesus taught that we should not propose to know the future with false confidence, making plans for building barns or traveling for business.

James 4:13-15

Go to now, ye that say, Today or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Father please forgive us for having false confidence. If the Lord will, Greg will live and get to Honduras tomorrow.

Honduras day 2

2012-01-23T06:41:00.000-06:00

Day 2 was good. Except for Greg being in Atlanta. Will and Barry cooked breakfast then we went to the host church and Barry preached. After service Donna worked in the pharmacy for the first time. Cooking is much easier and less confusing. The instructions are in Spanish. You don't always have a translator handy. But it is a good way to force one to learn a little bit. Like "form a line here please." Or " sit here please" and the always functional "take one capsule.two times a day for infection."
Please pray for Greg's documentation to work today. He is at the vital records place before they are opened to me first in line. Thanks for all the prayers so far.

Day One Honduras Mission Trip "Plans, whose plans?"

2012-01-21T14:34:00.002-06:00

Our trip to Honduras has been planned for a while. Unfortunately, our plans are not always the plans that actually happen. Greg's passport got rained on in Haiti. The first page separated from the cover. This is defined as a damaged passport and it is no longer valid. We learned this tidy bit of information this morning at the airport check in.

So, Will and Donna are on there way to Honduras. Greg is working on the wall paper in Granny's dinning room. Actually, he is making a huge hole in the wall. It may take two weeks to fix the mess he is making there.

There is a passport office in Atlanta, and Greg has an early appointment Monday to try to get a replacement for a flight on Tuesday. Delta was compassionate and changed his ticket at no cost. Donna was brave to take on the trip without Greg. Will is stepping up to manhood to be his mom's protector and defender. Seeing the movie Courageous was a good start for this week. We had no idea how our plans would have to change. Please say a prayer for Donna and Will as they work in El Progresso. Say a prayer for Greg as he works at Granny's. Also say a prayer for Greg to get his passport and get on the plane Tuesday.

Update - The hole in the wall is no more. Granny kind of misses it, but she didn't want the neighbors to know she has copper pipes, so she is ok with the wall being there.

Update 2 - I got a call from Honduras. Donna and Will made it just fine. The flight was not crowded at all and they got to sit together in a 3 seat row. Will was sure to point out the banana plantation to Donna when he saw them out the bus window. (She HATES bananas, and I mean that in a most Christian way.) They have had their first cab ride and were in a fender bender. The driver sideswiped a bus. Backed up, and acted like he didn't do it and drove around the 5 lanes of cars on a two lane road. They arrived safe and sound. Donna and 6 others went to the Maxi Bodega to start shopping for groceries. Will and Donna are on the 5:30 AM wake up crew to make eggs and maybe some spam. The bacon and sausage were in my suitcase so they get spam. A healthy alternative to meat.

Courageous ~ The Movie

2012-01-20T17:24:00.000-06:00

Run

Don't Walk

Don't Pause for the $200 when you pass GO

Buy

Rent

or Borrow

the movie Courageous

It is awesome (just saw it for the first time!)

Thanks Brenda for the gift!!!!!!!!!

Honduras

2012-01-18T09:35:00.001-06:00

A big advantage of being a cook and having to shop everyday down there is knowing where all the good shops are. Hopefully the guy who owns the fabric store is still in the same location ~ I've saved up sewing money! This guy is from Honduras and worked in the states for several years, so he speaks English really well ~ I'll look for him when I go in.

They have some fantastic bakeries down there at very reasonable prices. We buy all our desserts to serve at night.

The grocery stores are "interesting". The Maxi Bodega is clean, modern, very upscale for the area, guarded, and supposed to be owned by Walmart. The grocery part of the store is large and there are 3-4 aisles of housewares, clothing, school supplies etc. You have to put your bag/backpack/purse in a locker. You can carry in notebook/pen, calculator, & cash. There is a guard on the outside and several guards on the inside ~~~shoplifting in the country is a problem. I will buy meat in this store. Then there is the Super Mercado ~ the outside appearance is deceptively small but when you walk in the guarded doors the store sprawls out over a whole city block. It seems to be the store where the locals shop daily. There are tons of employees constantly stocking the shelves with everything. This is where we buy spices, vanilla extract, etc. I don't like to buy meat here ~ it just doesn't appear clean to me.

We go in Jan. because thats school break down there. The parents will stand in line for hours to see the dr., dentist, eye doctor ~ everyone will have the opportunity to hear the gospel (the evangelists talk to everyone while they are in line). Many will respond however its difficult to determine if they are responding because the Lord touched their heart or because they think the evangelist expects them too and they want to please him, or because they are getting helped & they are grateful. Only the Lord knows their hearts.

The city we are staying at is relatively large, very crowded, and really loud. Car horns honk all the time ~ could be a hello greeting, a get out of my way greeting, a I'm racing this cab warning, etc. Red lights are just a suggestion. The haves spend money to keep/protect their stuff, the have nots are trying to survive and provide for their family any way possible. It is a common site to see heavily armed guards on rooftops, at doors, the bank ~ doing their job of protecting the whatever. The have nots, HAVE NOT! To our knowledge there is no gov. assistance or any kind of aid except when mission groups are there.

Our jobs as cooks for the team brings fringe benefits. We "share" our leftovers from dinners to whoever wants to eat. Once you give out the first cup or cracker or piece of candy ~ children & adults come out of the woodwork for more. After the first day or so, we will have cab drivers waiting to drive us back to the church ~ its cheap (about $1.50) and they unload the groceries and carry them into the kitchen...thats a deal! They also like Greg's tips! We get to see the teams off in the morning with a good breakfast, packed lunches & coolers, and welcome them back at night with a big dinner ~ that means the daytimes are ours to explore, visit, cook, plan, shop, & since I am with my best friend, its a win/win for me!

There are several American restaurants down there ~ Pizza Hut, Wendy's, Popeyes, and KFC. They deliver to businesses on bikes with baskets attached to the back fender. I've eaten at one local place down there (besides the bakeries) ~ a Honduran Steak House...good food. Greg & I will usually slip into Wendy's for a frosty since its across the street from the Maxi Bodega. And its refreshing after walking the 5-6 blocks from the church to the store (we only do the taxi's on the way back when we are loaded down with groceries).

My favorite all time, gotta have drink down there is Mirinda (a pepsi product) ~ orange flavor only! Oh my goodness, I love it (not an exaggeration). I am greatly looking forward to my first sip ~ Fanta Orange is anemic compared to this drink. The drinks down there are made with cane sugar not HFCS ~ you can taste the difference...even in their coke. While cokes/pepsi's are popular down there, fruit nectars (juices) are very popular also. Another favorite of mine is all the fresh fruit ~ straight off the farm ~ juicy, delicious, fresh cantaloupe in Jan. Gotta quit talking about this ~ I'm getting hungry/thirsty.

Our prayers are for travel safety, safety while there, lives to be touched and changed, that we would recognize opportunities to minister, and that the Lord would be glorified in all.

Ephesians 1:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them.

Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothes Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to me".
25: 40 And the King will answer and say to them "Assuredly, I will say to you, inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

Luke 10:2-4 The He said to them "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Romans 12:10-13 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving, the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to go back to this country. I will come back with a renewed sense of thankfulness for the blessings of the Lord on our country and my family.

Finished Pinwheels

2012-01-17T16:42:00.000-06:00

Now I just need sashing, framing, backing, and binding fabric! Oh yeah, and the quilting part!

What? Am I in your way?

Kindle sleeve made from flannel


Just a little extra protection for traveling!

Daybook

2012-01-17T08:27:00.000-06:00

For Today....

Outside my Window ~ cloudy, 80% chance of rain

I am thinking ~ how the Lord gives us all 24 hours in a day, Do we use this time wisely?

I am thankful for ~ the opportunity to serve on Mission Trips

From the kitchen ~ potato soup

From the learning rooms ~ schoolwork

I am wearing ~ clothes (stuff I am not packing for the mission trip)

I am creating ~ working on my hand embroidery quilt block

I am going ~ to Honduras

I am reading ~ the Bible, the Gardening Answer Book

I am ~~hoping~~ praying for ~ safety for the mission team, more $$ for Bibles for Haiti, salvation for family members, discernment, obedience

I am hearing ~ cars driving, fingers typing

Around the house ~ watching puppies, finishing projects, funtimes

One of my favorite things ~ talks with my children

A few plans for the rest of the week ~ 3 of our puppies go to their new homes tonight, 2 days of schoolwork, driving to GA, seeing Allen & Jennifer and Mom, flying to Honduras

Prayer requests for Trip ~

safety & health for team members

hearts open to the Gospel in Honduras

for Will to have an awesome experience (his 1st missiontrip overseas)

for good visits with folks down there we've met previously

to be able to rest well at night

for the Lord to be glorified in all that happens

to visit other daybooks go to...

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Another Day off Work

2012-01-16T11:35:00.000-06:00

*Greg got another day off work today!
*We slept late, went out to eat breakfast, ran into Lowe's for a few things and made it home.
*Amy & I are cooking a beef brisket in the crock pot ~ new recipe.
*Greg and Will are working on my planter boxes.
* The puppies are snoozing.
*Laundry is waiting to be washed.
*Embroidered on my quilt square yesterday ~ hopefully more today.
*Gotta start packing for Mission Trip.
*Trying to remember everything I need to take to Mom's or Honduras.
*Mom bought me sunscreen to pack ~ 95 degrees in Central America!
*The Kindle is loaded with books ~ gotta remember to take a charger.
*Dinner Menu's are made for trip.
*Gotta a big shopping trip planned in Atlanta for Restaurant Depot (we can take stuff into Honduras as long as its in original packaging and has the USDA stamp on it)
*Greg only works Tues. & Wed. this week!

Today is a good Monday!

Easy Enchilada's

2012-01-14T11:09:00.000-06:00

I found this recipe on the "Taste of Home" magazine website and we tried it out last night.....not only yummy but also minimal ingredients.

2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 package cream cheese, softened (8 ounces)
8 flour tortillas (8")
1 cup salsa
1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (I used sour cream)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 small can sliced, black olives ~ liquid drained (did not use)

Directions ~

*In a small bowl, combine chicken and cream cheese. Spoon about 1/4 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla; roll up tightly. Place seam side down in a greased 13 x 9" baking dish.
*In a small bowl, combine sour cream and salsa; spread over tortillas. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and olives. bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
*Serve with lettuce and tomatoes if desired.

This was GOOD! And fairly easy! We have come up with a couple of changes to try next time ~ Greg and Amy want less cream cheese and add in some queso cheese in the filling. I did add an extra 1/2 cup of chicken to adequately fill the 8 tortillas.

We all liked it ~ 1 1/2 was more than enough for me ~ they are filling.

Oh yeah>>>>>>over a year ago, I sent several recipes into Gooseberry Patch cookbooks for consideration for one of their new cookbooks. This week I got a letter stating that my Chili recipe was chosen to be included in their new "The Harvest Table" cookbook coming out this summer. I'm so excited! I'll get a free copy of the cookbook!

Our week

2012-01-13T11:19:00.000-06:00

School is going great! This week in Zoology we've started our Bird Study. I've been giving them research assignments on different topics and letting them "report" back to me on their findings. We always learn some inteesting facts and it helps the study that they are assigned different things to research so we cover twice as much in the same amount of time. They also did sketches of a falcon & a toucan to add to their notebooks. Math was focused on interest & loans, etc. With a lot of Dave Ramsey advice thrown in for good measure. Yesterday, we watched a video on "The Crusades" for World History ~ very interesting and I learned alot I didn't know or remember, if I knew it previously.

We've got book reading going on lots ~ great activity for rainy or really cold, windy days.

I finally got my fridge back from the repair shop. Supposedly, it didn't defrost/refreeze on its own the month they had it in the shop "watching" it. They brought it back on Wed. ~ Wed. night it thawed, Thursday night it refroze, Friday morning thawed again. We decided to ditch this model and get a new one. Lowe's just delivered and installed it this morning. So Amy, Will and I have unpacked the loaner, rearranged the original fridge, unpacked it, and repacked & arranged the new one. I am thrilled to have an appliance that will be dependable and I won't lose any more food.

We are headed out to do errands soon and a trip to Kroger is on the agenda. Gotta replace the milk, cheese, etc. that we had to toss after the thaw.

3 of our puppies will be going to live at their new homes on Tuesday. Oreo (Amy's favorite since the moment he was born) will be living with us. We've decided we are not good candidates to keep the doggy breeding business going.....we want to keep them all. We will be taking medical measures to insure no more litters. So yes, our dogs will be Mack, Hershey, Skittles, Licorice, Chip and Oreo. Oreo is the biggest puppy in the litter and I think he will be as big as Chip. Oreo has learned how to scale the walls of the laundry basket and fling his chubby body over the side. He's a cutie and they all love to be held and played with. We know both the adopting families so we will be able to see Velvet, Sugar Plum and Jackson (skunk) "grow up". Chip & Licorice will have to get used to having a new playmate ~ right now they are scared of Oreo, which is really funny to watch.

We've got a wonderful 3 day weekend to anticipate. Greg will be off work Monday for Robert E. Lee's birthday. Then he works Tues. and Wed. and then Thursday we are driving to GA ~ spend a couple of days with Mom & get to see Allen & Jennifer. Then 3 of us are flying to Honduras for our Mission Trip ~ so excited! Its so fun to watch God work in the lives of the team and the people they are ministering too!

Happy Friday!

Sewing

2012-01-12T15:55:00.000-06:00

Here are the projects I've completed this week.....

Jumpers for my little twin friends! Its hard to tell them apart now ~ so they are initialed!

More pinwheel blocks

Machine Embroidered Jumper for the State Fair ~ Greg loves this!

Cast Iron Frying Pan Handles from potholders


the pan model!

I love long afternoons at home when I can get things accomplished! Tomorrow will be more pinwheel blocks ~ gotta decide how big that quilt is going to be!

The Baking Answer Book

2012-01-12T08:23:00.000-06:00

I got several "Answer" books on different subjects from Vision Forum this year (thanks Mom) and one of them is about baking. I found a chart in the book about shelf life of baking products and thought I would share that info ~ they recommend that you mark the date you bought the product on the packaging and then start counting the shelf life from that point....

Item~storage location~length of time

Baking powder ~ pantry ~ 3 months
Baking soda ~ pantry ~ 6 months
Butter, unsalted ~ fridge ~ up to 3 months
                              freezer ~ up to 6 months

Chocolate ~ pantry ~ 1 year   (unsweetened, semisweet & bittersweet)
Cocoa powder ~ pantry ~ 1 year
Cornmeal ~ pantry ~ 6 months
                    fridge or freezer ~ 12 months
Cornstarch ~ pantry ~ 18 months
Corn Syrup ~ pantry ~ indefinite

Dried Fruit ~ pantry ~ 6 months

Eggs ~ in carton in fridge ~ 3-5 weeks

Expresso powder ~ pantry ~ 1 year

Flour, white ~ pantry ~ 8 months
                       freezer ~ 1 year

Flour, whole wheat ~ pantry ~ 2 months
                                   freezer ~ 6 months

Honey ~ pantry ~ 1 year

Molasses ~ pantry ~ 6 months

Nuts ~ freezer ~ 6 mo. - 1 year

Oats ~ pantry ~ 6 months
           fridge or freezer ~ 1 year

Peanut butter (natural) ~ fridge ~ 3 months

Salt ~ pantry ~ indefinite
Shortening ~ pantry ~ 3 months
Spices ~ pantry ~ 1 year
Sugar, brown ~ pantry ~ 4 months
Sugar, confectioners ~ pantry ~ 18 months
Sugar, granulated ~ pantry ~ 2 years

Vanilla & other extracts ~ pantry ~ 4-5 years
Vegetable Oil ~ pantry ~ 4-6 months

Yeast,dry ~ fridge ~ 6 months
                   freezer ~ 1 year

Yogurt ~ fridge ~ 3 weeks

Now as I typed this, I had to keep reminding myself that the product doesn't expire after that time but may lose some of its flavor or leavening (ok, yogurt does expire!). I've got yeast in my freezer thats been there for 2 years and only comes out on baking day & as of 2 days ago is still leavening just fine. I don't replace my spices every year, I replace them when I run out. Chocolate doesn't stand of chance of lasting in our house for 1 year! Neither does sugar or cocoa powder.

But, if you are starting a kitchen from nothing, this is a good guideline ~ but probably the best guideline would be your mother or grandmother!

Thanks for the book Mom!

Blog Award

2012-01-11T08:13:00.000-06:00

I opened my comments on Monday afternoon, to find a nice little surprise from a new "friend" of mine in blogland. Monica of http://homesteadingbyfaith.blogspot.com/ awarded me with the Liebster Blog Award.

Here are the "requirements" for the award and for passing it on....

The origins of the Liebster Blog award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, Liebster meaning favorite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with few than 200 follower. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then mass it on to five more blogs of note.

Here are the rules:
1 - Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.
2 - Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3 - Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.

So my first 2 blogs to award would definaitely come under "favorite" or "dearest" because they belong to my daughters Katie & Amy.

Katie blogs at http://cutlersadventures.blogspot.com/ about her and Bryants adventures as a newlywed couple and about her pregnancy with our first grandchild. I cherish her blog entries since she is so far away from us.

Amy blogs at http://themississippigirl321.blogspot.com/. Amy's blog is just like she is ~ energetic and full of animal facts ~ some of which are known only to her and encyclopedia's. Yesterday her post was about Bible Drill for this year at church!

My dear husband blogs over at http://tikitravelers.blogspot.com/ renamed Letters to my Children. The Lord has been working in our hearts & lives overtime in the last couple of years and his blog is to pass that info onto our 7 children.

The next blog I am picking goes to my friend Marie (in real life & blogland) over at http://justcallmerie.blogspot.com/. Marie blogs about everything but especially her Christian walk. Its an inspiration to read.

My final pick for this award is going to Sharon at http://sharonsfavorites.blogspot.com/. She is putting up lots of links and inspiration for quilting which is a new "love" of mine. I would like to learn more and she is providing tips & techniques.

My only regret is I can only award 5 ~ because the next ones would have to be Kathleen, Jennifer, Stephanie, & Trixi!

Thanks for the award Monica!

Daybook

2012-01-10T14:46:00.000-06:00

For today....

Outside my window ~ cloudy, dreary, about 68 degrees

I am thinking ~ about fun times with Christian friends

I am thankful for ~ invitations, being included, feeling the love, sweet young adult ladies, laughter

From the kitchen ~ crockpot barbeque chicken

from the learning rooms ~ math, spanish, typing, biology, Christian History of the World

I am wearing ~ a bad headache

I am creating ~ hand embroidery kitchen towels, crocheted afghan

I am going ~ to get ready for Mission Trip

I am reading ~ the New Testament Book of Matthew, the quilting answers book, the baking answers book

I am ~~hoping~~ praying ~ for our sweet friend Shelby at her dr.s appt. tomorrow and for her Mama Rie to sleep well tonight and rest in the Lords love & comfort

I am hearing ~ Will setting up the Wii, cars driving, fingers typing

Around the house ~ getting projects done, preparing for Honduras, relaxing, watching the end of the football season

One of my favorite things ~ a willingness to listen & learn

A few plans for the rest of the week ~ sewing, Bible Study, being at home, reading, planning

Pictures to share ~ my daughter & her sweet friends last night at an outing to celebrate Emmalyn (she is 17 today!)

To read other daybooks, please visit Peggy at.....

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Getting Ready to Go ~ 2012

2012-01-09T08:21:00.000-06:00

We are slowly getting ready to leave for Honduras.

Once again, Greg and I will be the cooks for the missions teams of about 32 people ~ but we usually cook for 50 or so...adding in the drivers, interpreters, church staff, and whoever just drops by. Our mission is to minister to the team. We are also in the awesome position to go into the local shops each day and be totally immersed in a different culture ~ we always come home with a new appreciation for our blessings, our freedoms, and our home.

Will is going this year and he will be on a VBS team. The team will go to 2 different locations each day and do VBS for children ~ lots of fun, games, Bible stories, music, and loving on these precious children.

I went through my blog posts from 2 years ago and added the label, Honduras ~ so if you look down on the sidebar, you can learn about our times there. Its lots of work, at times frustrating, always rewarding, and each moment is dedicated to the Lord for His glory & honor.

A difference this time is the new airport security ~ not looking forward to that. But I did buy some leggings to wear with my skirt for more modesty through security.

We've bought many hand sanitizing wipes, and hand sanitizing gel. Got my sunscreen out (sunny & 95 most of the week), hats are ready, light weight clothing, comfortable walking shoes, camera and extra batteries, sewing money for the fabric store, rubber gloves for washing the dishes, etc.

We are excited to see what the Lord will do while we are in this country. We are looking forward to watching Will experience this all for the first time. We are excited to see other team members we haven't seen in 2 years. Greg and I always enjoy spending this week together & cooking for the team.

Bargains

2012-01-06T22:22:00.000-06:00

I've found some bargains today...at the Dollar Tree I found some cute "cardboard" baby/toddler books for my little Olive!

The big Olive bargain came today at Kroger. I noticed (on an end cap) some Gerber blanket sleepers marked down to $2.50 for a pack of 2 ~ I didn't know Kroger had anything like that. They just had girlie pink colors, but at that price I can put them up for the next grandbaby if Olive is a boy. So, I got a 12 mo. pack and a 24 month pack. We got to the register and they rang up for $1. I sent Amy back to the aisle to get the other 3 packs and they were gone. Oh well, Olive or a future granddaughter gets some .50 blanket sleepers.

My next bargains have come from surfing the Kindle/Amazon site for free books to download....here's what I will be reading ~~~~~
The Book of Household Management by Isabella Mary Beeton
The Plain Cooker Book for the Working Classes by Charles Francatelli
Twenty five cent Dinners for Families of 6 by Juliet Corson
Everyday Foods in War Time by Mary Swartz Rose
Things Mother Used to Make by Lydia Maria Burney
The Frugal American Housewife by Lydia Maria Francis Child
Katie's Redemption by Patricia Davids
Patchwork, A Story of the Plain People by Anna Balmer Myers
Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart
The Quest of the Simple Life by William J Dawson
Exit Betty by Grace Livingston Hill
The Mystery of Mary by GL Hill
Cloudy Jewel by GL Hill

I love free or almost free! Now I can "feed" my reading habit for free. And the fact that many of these are historical homemaking or cooking is just "icing on the cake"!

The Hole in my Kitchen

2012-01-06T08:22:00.001-06:00

Several years ago, I strongly "hinted" (ok, begged & pleaded) that the old wall oven in the kitchen just wasn't a valued member of the household anymore. It was small, heated very unevenly, wasn't dependable, and it was time for a divorce. I couldn't even get a standard size baking sheet into it without bending up the edges and just forget using the largest pyrex lasagna pan.

Greg & Mom took the "hint" and between the 2 of them ~ a new range, complete with convection & a flat top cook surface joined our household. To say I was thrilled is understating the excitement. The oven is huge and we can cook many pans of cookies or muffins at one time, I can fit all 4 bread pans on 1 shelf easily on baking day, and 2 large lasagna pans can bake side by side with extra shelf space on the top or bottom for bread.

But the oven blessing left me with a problem...what to do with the old, worn out, tired wall oven. It stayed in its hole for a while and became the shelving unit for my pyrex and corning ware. After a while, we pulled the oven out, sent it to dump heaven, and then I had the hole.

For a long time, the hole held my bread machine, wheat grinder, blender, kitchen scale, and toaster. The coffee pot may have done a stint in there too. Our original plan was to make a cabinet door to fit and just have a deep, tall cabinet. Then inspiration hit...

I decided I wanted the inside painted white ~ the same glossy white thats on my kitchen cabinets. Then I asked for 2 wire shelves at the top of the opening for my cast iron frying pans. I've started cooking with my cast iron more & James gave me 2 new pans for Christmas this year. Since they are so heavy to lift and stack in a lower cabinet they were left sitting on the counter.

Greg fulfilled my wish with great help from Will & Amy. He bought all the supplies and Amy painted the Hole. Then, he had Will sand the chipped spots on the cabinets and Amy painted all them. Here is the "fruit of their labor" and my new "hole in the kitchen".

Amy had to use 2 coats of paint to cover the inside

new Cast Iron Pan home

Everything fits great! The "hole" looks finished & complete now!

Thanks guys for all your hard work!

Now onto the next project.................................

Sewing & Crafts

2012-01-05T11:43:00.006-06:00

This link shows lots of great sewing & craft projects to use in our homes....
http://tipnut.com/category/crafts/sewing/
This site also has some great free "retro" embroidery patterns" that you can copy and transfer to towels, burp cloths, etc.

This link is for freebie patterns for babies & mommies (been discussing this with Katie this morning)...
http://www.allfreesewing.com/Sewing-for-Baby

Here is a link to some free crochet patterns...
http://www.allfreecrochet.com/ml/1

Here are pictures of some projects I've been working on...

unfinished kitchen towel

cross stitch for my kitchen

With 2 sons getting married in the next 15 months, another son thinking about it, and putting goodies in Amy's hope chest. I've got lots to keep me busy!

I just found this blog hop on "My Simple Country Living" and thought I would join in...
http://mysimplecountryliving.blogspot.com/2012/01/country-homemaker.html

I love to see what others are doing and to get ideas for cooking, crafts & gardening. This should be fun!

Joy

2012-01-04T09:31:00.000-06:00

I've been reading a devotional book about the different aspects of Joy as it pertains to women. In fact the book is titled "Joy, a Godly Womans Adornment" by Lydia Brownback. I have struggled in this area as I can't always find Joy in a situation or circumstance.

The Joy topic covered in the book include...Joy in ~ going forward, repentance, rejection, no matter what, God's place, thanksgiving, letting go, in the present, eternity, discipleship, wisdom, waiting, good joy/bad joy, path of life, perservering, forgiveness, being home, drawing near to God, blessings of others, responsibility, counterfeit, vulnerability, knowing Jesus, abiding, eating & drinking, wonder, fruit of, all God's Gifts, hard things, today, God's providences, failure, God's care, prayer, discernment, trust, full provision, rejoicing, Christ Alone, submission, & Gods Love.

Each topic includes the Scriptures related directly to the topic and a short 1-2 page devotional. The whole book is only a little over 100 pages long. Its easy to read and understand.

Yesterday, I read the following

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17

"Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat or drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak." Romans 14: 20-21

The book followed this with saying...Whether to drink alcohol is a much debated issue among Christians. Many have wine with dinner, and equally as man do not. For those who do, imbibing within biblical parameters entails being careful about when and in front of whom they drink. If our conscience is clear to enjoy that glass of merlot, God takes pleasure in our pleasure, but if we flaunt our enjoyment in the face of someone who believes drinking is wrong, we grieve God and our freedom and joy go out the window. On the other hand, if we believe drinking alcohol is wrong, we are not free to condemn those who believe differently. God is just as grieved when we attempt to forbid something he hasn't expressly forbidden.

For us, the words drinking/alcohol could be substituted with almost anything. Pork or beef, music or no music, holiday or no holiday, sugar or no sugar, sweets or no sweets, vacinations or no vacinations, organic or non organic, etc.

I think this verse closely ties in also...

"So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way." Romans 14: 12-13

(I don't personally believe drinking an occasional glass of wine or something similar is a sin, the Bible does state that drunkenness is a sin. I don't get Joy from alcohol.....now chocolate is another matter)

I heard a sermon on SermonAudio this morning by Voddie Bauchum about judgement, which Greg blogged about yesterday. Here is the link if you would like to listen...

http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=125111024317

Wishing you all Joy in 2012!