Prayer

Lately Steve and I have been dreaming alot about different things. There are a few business opportunities that might come up. Things that we would like to see happen, but in the back of our minds we think "there's no way, its impossible, not likely to happen".

We dream big but then think that's all it will ever amount to, a dream.

 

And then I read this...

 

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20

 

Wow! I love being God's child. The possibilities are endless!

It is exciting and scary at the same time, to think what God could do, will do, in our lives.

This scripture is now posted on the mirror in the bathroom so we see it all the time!

What a good reminder!

 

We also have a Bible study in our home on Wednesday nights and the topic this week was prayer. Go figure... and the last thing we did was read this quote...

 

" Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are insulting to God."

- Mark Batterson

 

Love that!!

 

So friends, pray big this week!

Blessed

I have been working everyday and still have two weeks to go. I am so spoiled...I usually don't work everyday only 2-3 days per week. Getting up at 6:15 is not my favorite thing to do. I prefer 7:30. It's amazing how that hour makes a difference!

I am thankful for the work and the ability to work. There are many people who would love to have my job. Its really not bad, I make my own schedule and choose which jobs I want to take and don't want to take.  I am blessed!

Speaking of Blessed we just finished a study at church called "the Christian Atheist" meaning the christian atheist would say they believe in God but live as if He doesn't exist. It is also a book. It was really interesting. Last week we discussed being blessed and blessings from God. Did you know that "blessed" means "more than happy"? I love that! Blessings come from the Lord. He is the only one that can make you more than happy! 

As I was driving to work this morning, the sun was coming up behind me. I looked in my mirror and saw the sun, farm fields, green grass, and God's glory. I felt blessed. More than happy.

I wish this for all of you. That you will be truly blessed and that you see God's glory all around.

Im Not MIA

Hello all, I just realized that its been two weeks since my last post!! I can't believe it. In a nut shell this is what has been going on in our neck of the woods...

Working a lot at school, good for the pay check not so much for my house.

Finished the mud room, still no furniture in it, chairs are so expensive!

Celebrated Dad's 60th Birthday, best dad EVER!

Celebrated SIL Birthday!

Worked some more, field trips, repelling down a 3 story building...

Giant bruse on the knee..

Sewing Christmas gifts.

Buying Christmas gifts.

Making Christmas lists, what's life without a list!

Laundry

Muddy yard, hubby dug up the back yard when I was at work. Can't leave him alone for a minute!


This week...

Working

Laundry...Always

Spend Wednesday afternoon cooking Dinner with my love's side of the family

Thanksgiving day, Skeet shoot in the AM, then my side of the family, making Pumkin Pie, fresh corn, and deviled eggs!

I have so many things to be thankful for and can't even begin to describe them all. We have been so blessed. God is Good All the Time!!!

I wish all of you a very, very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Just a Thought

Good Morning my friends! I wanted to share a few things as they are on my mind.

I mentioned a few weeks ago about a Favorite Things party that I was a part of, and one of the gifts I left with was a journal. I'm not a big journal kind of person but I have been writing in this one some. I am a list maker so I've been putting my list in it and any other notes I want to got down.

We just finished a study on Daniel at church. It was part video series and one of the speakers was Beth Moore. If you have never done a Beth Moore study I encourage you to do so. Anyways, something she said really stuck with me and I wanted to share it...these are my scribbles from that lesson so they may be kind of random...

Where His presence is, His blessings are- If we ask God into our hearts, life, home, if we beckon HIm to be a part, He will bless. God blesses Obedience! God wants to bless us.
God has good things planned for us, not painless things but good things- Life is not free of heartache and pain but if you belong to the Lord, He gives you grace to make it through. How great to know that God has GOOD things planned for us!
There is power in the SPOKEN word of God- Speaking scripture outloud makes it so real! It makes His promises real. When you pray scripture over someone it transfers the burden to the Word and off of you. I love that we can take our burdens to the Lord! What a relief!

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Autumn

Can you feel the cool breeze that makes the leaves fall to the ground? Can you feel the warmth of a camp fire and a flannel shirt? Can you feel the sun fading earlier in the evenings?

Can you smell the apple cider and apple fritters? Chili simmering on the stove?

All these things I love! They are things that come around this time of year...Autumn, Fall, I love it.

After having a Saturday that broke a heat record, literally, Monday was a very cool 62 degrees. It was wonderful! It made me long for Fall that much more. God knew what He was doing when he created the seasons. He had us and our happiness in mind, He was always thinking of us and our needs.

By this time of year we are worn out! My love has been working a million hours and Saturdays and we have been so busy keeping everything up at home. "You have to make hay while the sun is shinin!" But wow we are ready for a break! The Lord knows that. That is why He created the different seasons, so that we could have a break and time to recuperate from the busyness of summer. We had a little taste of that yesterday and it was wonderful!

I hope all of you had a wonderful long weekend and are energized for the week ahead! I hope to soon have time to do some sewing. I have several projects in mind and can't wait to see them finished!

Speaking of Apple Fritters, does anyone know of a good recipe??

Happy Weekend

Wow, this has been a busy week. We had kids camp this at church, I had to mow Grandma's which is like 5 acres, we had a funeral visitation, a baby shower, a leadership dinner, and FIL was in the hospital. I am ready for a weekend!!!

Today we are spending time with my loves family. Great aunts and uncles he hasn't seen in a while. Tomorrow we have a church picnic, the 4th we have a fish fry at my sissy's. Busy....

I made a few baby gifts this week. Blankets. Here is a picture of one of them...

I hope to have some new recipes for you Tuesday!!

Happy 4th everyone! Remember how blessed we are to live in a free country!!!

Fog, baby birds, paint, and a tip

Hello friend on this monday morning.It is a rainy morning here. It has been raining for the past few days which has kept me from getting the grass mowed. If it rains much more I will be living in a jungle!!

The mornings have been peaceful around here. The other day I woke up and a thick fog had set in...

It was so pretty. The smell of the damp air reminded me of my papa Cables farm in kentucky! I remember it from when I was a kid. Funny how certain smells trigger memories.

A while back my Love and i were walking along the pond and I spotted a birds nest nestled in the cattails. It had three blue eggs in it. Well on Friday i was walking around the pond with my nephew and i spotted the nest again but this time there were three baby birds!

I was surprised that the nest had stayed put through all the storms that we have had!

I know I am being kinda random here but now I am moving on to yet another subject....

We finally painted the office!!! I use the term we very loosely. Have I mentioned I have the most wonderful husband in the entire world. I adore him!

The color I chose is Blonde from Sherwin Williams. It is kinda tan with a gold tone..does that make since? Colors are so hard to explain.

The color doesn't show up real well here. I took it this morning and it is rainy and dark outside. The lighting isn't the best. In order to start painting we had to move some stuff out that had accumulated over the last 2-3 years, yes it has been that long since we started this project, which made the mud room look like this....

The dust is bad I know....please don't judge me.

Ok, one more thing...I was made blueberry muffins and thought I would share a little tip I learned from somewhere..

If you turn the muffins in the pan like this to cool, it lets the steam out and keeps the muffins from getting a little soggy. Just thought I would share! 

Have a great day!

Sarah Beth 

Drawing a Blank

This week has been weird for me....I haven't really had anything interesting to blog about. I have been drawing a blank when it comes to posting. Not sure why but it's just how it is.

I wanted to let you know so you don't give up on me!

Maybe something cute or fun or yummy will show up by the weekend!

Yep, I pulled this pic form the arcives...but I love this bowl of thread!

God is Great...God is Good...and so is Life

This is how I started my day...

With a thankful heart...it helps the day go a little sweeter.

Happy Weekend!

Sarah Beth

Gardening Organic

I have been thinking about my garden and my seeds are sprouting...

I have always loved the vegetable garden. I love to see a garden with black dirt and freshly tilled rows. They are so beautiful. There is something so rewarding about going out and cutting some fresh lettace for dinner or a few fresh cucumbers. The taste is wonderful!

A random photo to pretty up this post!

What is even better is that I know where my food has come from and what has been put on it or the lack there of..I have always loved fresh, good tasting food. I mean who doesn't?!

During the off season when I don't have a garden I always try and buy organic when possible. I also minimize the processed food that I buy. Here are some of the foods that I buy organic...

Apples

Pears

Lettace

Peppers

Celery

Carrots

Oranges

Grapes (when in season)

Herbs

Potatoes

Anything that you buy that has a thick skin, bananas/oranges, does NOT have to been organic. Anything that you buy to eat fresh that does not have a peel, grapes/apples, you DO need to buy organic. At least I suggest it. The thick peel keeps the chemicals from penetrating the fruit itself. So as a rule of thumb, anything that I eat raw I try to buy organic.

Organic does not always mean more expensive. A lot of times they are the same price. For instance this week at Kroger, where I do most of my shopping, the organic celery was cheaper than the non organic. The apples were the same price.

I understand that some families just can't afford to buy organic. It's just me and my love. We don't have any children eating us out of house and home. So to spend a little more to eat a little healthier for us it isn't a big deal. I understand when people can't do that.

I also home can and freeze a lot of our garden goodness and that saves us money as well which allows me to spend more to buy organic. This is what I put up..

Corn

Green Beans

Tomatoes - crushed

Pizza Sauce

Apple Sauce

Apple Butter

Strawberry Jam

Sour Cherries - for pies

Pickles

Potatoes

Popcorn

 

Last year we had kinda a weak crop so this year I really have to work hard at my garden!

I hope you will try to have a garden of some sort. Even if it is just a few plants in the flower bed or in a pot on your patio. Try some herbs in small pots. Cooking with fresh ingredients is so much better! The taste is amazing! Give it a try.

What will you have in your garden this year??

Just a Thougth..

Sorry for the delay in posting. We have had a crazy week. My lovers Grandmother has been in the nursing home recovering from her surgery she had several weeks ago. My lover has been remodeling her bathroom making it handicap accessible. We have been finishing it up and cleaning all week and finally brought her home today! Can I just say...I'm worn out!!

Grandma is so glad to be home and I can't blame her one bit!

I hope everyone is ready for a great weekend! I haven't had a chance to do any sewing. My fabric is patiently waiting for me on a chair in the livingroom.

Boy, I sure could use a big chocolate brownie with nuts and icecream right about now...just a thought!

Missing Chickens and Stuff

It's official....Spring is here!! My daffodils are blooming and the temperature is rising.

It has been so nice outside. It has been warm enough to have the windows open some.

I had them open today when this thunder storm came rolling in. You could smell the rain. It was wonderful!

I love the way my house smells in the spring and summer! 

Now it is raining while the sun is shining. (yes dad it is possible)

Here is my menu for the week for those of you who are interested...not sure that there are many of you who are, but anyway....

Mon- Chicken and Noodles (because we didn't eat this last week)

Tue- Hamburgers and Mac n' Cheese green beans

Wed- Spaghetti and Meatballs garlic bread

Thurs- MIL birthday doing my part with Corn Casserole and Homemade Bread

Fri-Potato Soup - I might add sausage to it this time?!?! ( This will carry us through the weekend)

I am linking up to Homestead Revival   

for this...

Now, on to some bad news....I saved it for last....over the past two weeks I have been mysteriously missing chickens. I have lost 5 and am not sure what is getting them.

My chickens are Free Range and so they are outside roaming the premises all day. They have been doing this for two years now without any problems. I would hate to fence them in but I just might have to for their sake!! Bummer....I 'll keep you posted...

Here is a glimpse of me, in my favorite outfit, bluejeans, sweatshirt and boots, standing in my living room. We acquired this giant mirror that attaches to a dresser and it is hanging out in the living room until I decide what to do with it.  The kitchen is of to the right where the sun is trying to come in. The tight stairway is off to the left..more on that another day...

That's all for now. 

Sarah Beth

Story of My Life

I think we need to diversify our wardrobes....

Can you tell which ones are his? 

Its only the two of us in the house and yet Laundry is still the story of my life! I don't mind though, I actually kinda like doing laundry.

How about you? Take it or leave it?

Just a Thought...

We have been doing a Bible study on Wednesday nights at our church on what God uses to grow your faith. This was on our handout a few weeks ago and I just really liked it.

"God builds our faith when we minister to others even though we feel inadequate and unprepared. We simply do what we know how to do, and trust God to do what only He can do."

"Personal ministry enables us to experience God's power in our weaknesses. We may feel unprepared, but these opportunities are incredibly rich experiences through which God grows our faith. At first, you may perform an act or personal ministry or service in order to benefit others. But if you're like most people, you'll soon come to feel that you're the one who benefits most."

I believe that everyone is a minister to someone. In your home, your job, school, different relationships...You may not be a preacher or pastor, but you are influencing someone in your life. You may not even know it! When you do branch out and try to be a blessing to others, you will see that you are the one who is truly being blessed.

What do you think your ministry is??