Amidst the chaos...

November is almost over, December is close behind!



I am in and out of town over the next week and a half, so I was thinking quickly of a blog to post before the chaos hit, and as I looked around my home, I see that it's too late!


There are boxes and bins all around, and somehow it takes me at least 2 or 3 days to get 'Christmas up' and the bins back into the garage until Dec.31st.


This is the view of my den today, and it's always like this when I decorate for Christmas... always!


BUT, I am more mindful with every passing year, that what really matters is not the way the house looks, or even how the food tastes, but the reminder that there is PEACE within, even when there is chaos all around!! Now that's a good thought to ponder on.


As I enter into December right alongside each one of you... the hope and peace in my heart is glowing stronger than ever. I want to be sure that JESUS is honored, in my heart and in our home... every day of December 2011, and beyond.


So... Happy end of November and start of December to each one of you!!

THANKS!...

To each one of you, my blogging buddies, who have become heart friends...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day after day you affirm to me that we are all in this together... we share struggles, joys, thoughts, prayers, and most of all... a love for Jesus that changes everything.

So THANK YOU... and may your hearts and homes be filled with thanksgiving, as we take this special time to celebrate the blessings we have been given.

At a time when so much in this world is uncertain, aren't you glad that the God we serve never changes! I sure am.

Christmas...

I check the 75-90% sale racks all year long, just a quick look, whenever I go to my favorite stores, and if there is something special, I quickly pick it up and add it to the bins in the garage that hold next year's Christmas stockings for our 6 grandkids.

This morning I found some more treasures, and as I am adding them to the stash, and thinking about what will go where, and maybe even personalizing some of it... it occurred to me how carefully and joyfully I prepare for Christmas all year long, and how it intensifies when December comes.

The next thought was...

Do I prepare for eternity with the same diligence, preparation and joy?

Some days... yes.

Other days... what on earth am I doing?? I can go running around and hours go by without one thought of anything eternal.

Oh how I pray that my heart and life would treat God's work and His kingdom in the same way I treat the celebration of Christmas.

So that... every day my life will say Merry Christmas Jesus!

A soft answer...

"A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger. " (Prov.15:1)

Of all the verses I remember being used in my home as I grew up... this one may have been quoted the most often.

I KNOW, not think... but I KNOW the truth of these words. I have lived them out both ways so many times, and never have I found a harsh word to be healing, to me or to the person receiving it.

I've told my husband, and he has told me... 'it's the WAY you said it'... it either brings a good and productive response, or makes me want to stand straight up and explain how wrong he is!

This quote caught my eye on Pinterest one day, as I thought... this is not anything new, God spoke about it right from the beginning, and He knew it was something we needed to learn.

It's not 'my way' or 'your way', but the RIGHT way... God's way!

I've never been disappointed when I obey God on this. Instead, I am blessed, the 'fire' is quickly extinguished, and peace returns.

GUILT FREE pizza & 50 calorie muffins!...

I am so happy with these little pizzas that I have to share what I did.

I am one of those eaters who wants to LIKE what I eat, and that is half the battle when weight loss or maintenance is a factor. I LOVE good food, and if it's healthy and low calorie, bring it on!

The other goal is to have the sense of feeling full, not hungry. These pizza's make you feel full and satisfied!

These pizzas were probably someone else's idea, but I have added my own twist, and here's what I did. There is very little fat, and it's full of veggies, which I tend to ignore sometimes, as well as very low calorie...

one pkg. of whole wheat pita breads
bottled spagetti sauce

add as much or little of whatever you like the best of these ingredients:

fresh baby spinach leaves, chopped
can of artichoke hearts, chopped
purple onion sliced very thin
mushrooms, also sliced thin
zuccini sliced thin
red & green bell peppers, thin
or any other veggie you like, asparagus, broccoli, etc.
(if you like it better stir fried, toss all the slices into a pan with pam and saute them a couple of minutes first)

add sprinkles of bottled red pepper flakes

(My hubby likes sliced black olives so I added some of those too)

fresh grated parmesan cheese sprinkled lightly over the top of the whole thing. (bottled is fine too)

If you want the extra protein, I add browned Laura's Lean Ground beef sprinkles over the top, or pre-cooked chicken cut into pieces, Both are delicious additions. (add the calories accordingly, but it's protein, so it's good!)

Bake on cookie sheet at 375 for 12-15 minutes.

Slice each pizza into 4, and you can have 2 whole pizzas for about 400 calories!! Or just one with some soup or fruit. Now THIS is the way to eat when you want to be both leaner and healthier!

It's crispy and just perfect! Each pita is 150 calories, (check the cal. on the pkg., they can varie) the only additional is the small amount of sauce and the parm. sprinkles... I never even count the veggies. I am always on the hunt for healthy, filling, very low fat and calories but also delicous things to eat. This one is perfect!

This is a recipe that my mother made all through the years.

It is LOADED with health, and it tastes declicious. I make the little muffins, 24 makes one recipe, or 12 regular. Regular works out to about 50 calories each, or 2 little ones for 50 calories. I have 2 little ones for breakfast.

God is interested in the 'whole man', and that includes what I eat, not to mention how MUCH of it I eat. I know that eating right makes me happier, healthier and more confident. Good grief! I sound like one of those rah rah people who 'preach' fitness. If you knew my track record with 'this issue', you would be laughing out loud with me right now!

SIDE NOTE: My husband does NOT like bran ("shredded hay"... OR raisins, but he asks for these muffins all the time! :)

Try these, and let me know if you like them.

Amazing!...

Amazing grace.

This morning I was thinking of how God extends His grace to me, over and over. Yes, His discipline comes my way too sometimes, but even that is part of His grace.

All through each day, God does things that I barely take time to stop and ponder. A close call with another car who turned too soon, a bargain we need at the store, or the right little thing to do for another person who may need to hear from us, or someone sent our way to say just the right word, and on and on...

When we truly trust our whole lives to His care... ALL that happens to us is known by God.

When we were kids, I used to ask my mom & dad... 'how do you KNOW that God had something to do with that??'.. their answer was always the same.

"When you trust your whole life to God... He is in ALL of it."

I'm not sure I really 'got that' as a child... I sure do now!

It never gets old, does it... the knowledge that our lives are held secure because of God's Amazing Grace!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?