Beauty That Never Fades {Thoughtful Momma Monday}

Thoughtful Momma Monday

photo credit

I am participating in the Gentleness Challenge over at Courtney's blog, and have been thinking on gentleness throughout each day... the verse that comes to my mind first is:

Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.  1 Peter 3:3-4

A gentle and quiet spirit does not come naturally to me... it's something I have to ask God to help me with.

I need help to:

• Bite my tongue - I don't have all the answers.
• Slow down - My hands reflect my heart, especially with my children. Whether it's when brushing my daughter's hair or dressing my son for the day I need to be soft and easy with my hands - imparting peace and love.
• Listen - not just hear the words that someone is telling me, but truly listen to them - with my eyes, ears and heart.
• Sit still - in God's presence. It's a busy life we lead. Family to care for, friends to visit with, and a "To Do" list that's ever-growing. My Jesus desires my attention and affection. I need to sit still.

My heart wants all these things but I know it's impossible outside of God's grace.

I choose to daily ask for help from the One who made me and knows me, even better than I know myself.

ALL things are possible! I'm excited for a new season of growth in my life. Thank you, Lord!!!


Have a wonderfully, blessed week,

 

You can read more about the Gentleness Challenge here:

 

Winter - a Time For Growth!

Usually trees and plants stop growing in the winter... they just survive. During winter they go through a stage known as dormancy. During dormancy, trees shut down for a short period, and then burst back to life in the spring.

photo source

Even in the winter we are called, as children of God, to GROW!

No matter the stage of life we find ourselves the word of God is relevant. It is alive and can feed our soul, if we would take the time to sit and "eat" it!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

John 6:35

If you are like me. it's hard to make time to sit and read your Bible, much less stay consistent at it.

A special group called Good Morning Girls has helped me in this area, and it may be what you need this winter too!

What Are Good Morning Girls? Courtney , co-leader of GMG, shares:

“Good Morning Girls” are a group of Christian women who email, facebook, twitter or text messaging to keep each other accountable for their quiet times.

The winter session will run from January 15th – April 15th.

Read more about what GMG is all about here!

It's not too late to grab a friend, or two, for five and dive into the word of God together!

A few of my Good Morning Girls from our 1 John study last fall!

Remember (myself included), God promises:

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13

May God bless you and fill you as you read His holy word!

Blessings,

I'm linked up with Janelle over at

Happy Birthday Deanna!

Friends are like flowers in the garden of life.

Beginning with a seed of trust,

Nurtured with laughter and tears,

Growing into loyalty and love.

~Author Unknown~

Today is the birthday of a dear friend. She is walking into the last year of her 20's and she has so much to look forward to (I can say that since I'm over half way through year 29, right?  :o).

Only 9 years ago, when she began her 20's, we met as roommates at Bible college. We were both new to the campus and were grateful for a smiling face and fast friend as a roommate. That night we celebrated her birthday with homemade chicken fajitas. We have a common love for Tex-Mex so it was a hit!

We began a journey of a lifetime that year - we began to understand more who we were created to be and what God had in store for our futures. Studying at Christ for the Nations Institute was a blessing to us both. I remember asking her, "So what are your plans for the future?". She replied that she was going to stay a semester or two to get a firm foundation of God's Word, etc. and then go back to college and finish her degree. I though, "We'll see about that!." Two years later we graduated from CFNI together!

She went on to marry the man of her dreams the spring after graduation and I transferred and finished my degree. A couple of years later she helped coordinate my wedding as I married my sweetheart! (we met both of our hubbies at Bible school, and we weren't even looking! :o)


We were both pregnant with our girls at the same time and our lives have crossed paths over the years as she and her family have moved across the country and back.

Our girls - best little buds.

Sweet as sugar!

I'm HAPPY to say that she now lives twenty minutes down the road and I get to see her often! I'm so excited to celebrate the arrival of her baby boy in a couple of months! What a blessing to stay connected to sisters in the Lord and friends who are going through similar seasons of life (we have a network of roommates who keep in touch - love it!).

     

Auntie D with my daughter, while pregnant with her girl... and 2 years later holding my son!

As friends we get to listen to one another's hearts and as believers we can stand in the gap for each other and encourage one another. Proverbs 27:17 is true in this relationship - we get to sharpen one another, as iron sharpens iron... especially when it comes to being godly mothers and wives!

I pray that you, dear reader, are as blessed as I am to have a good girl friend or two who you can walk through life with, whether they live near or far away. It helps to have someone you can call on for prayer or just to laugh or cry with (or both at the same time!).

You can always count on me to make us laugh and smile our "real" smiles :o)

Today is YOUR day, dear Deanna. I pray it is a blessed one and that this year holds abundant blessings for you and your family. May your Blessed Warrior arrive in his perfect timing and may your labor and delivery be all that you hope for!


You are a gem of a friend and I'm so thankful we were thrown together as roommates 9 years ago. God knew what He was doing! You "sharpen" me in many ways. I look forward to learning more from you and growing together with you in the years to come!


Much love,


PS - Told you they were lovely pictures!

"Not So Sloppy" Sloppy Joes and Ranch Dressing Recipe

Earlier this week I found myself with a dinner dilemma. I'm sure you've been there before.


I had a pound of ground beef and wasn't sure what to make for dinner! We had already enjoyed beef tacos not too long ago and burgers didn't make the cut. I'm not one for meatloaf, and spaghetti didn't sound appetizing either!


I found some jumbo hamburger buns in my freezer and hopped online to see if I had all the ingredients to make sloppy joes. Most of the recipes I found called for bell peppers or tomato sauce. I don't care for either of those ingredients in sloppy joes (and didn't have them on hand either). So, I decided to make the most of what I had and create my own version of sloppy joes.

With toasted buns and melted cheese, these are DELISH!

They turned out wonderful! Even my hubby said, "I love it!". (I think that's a 10 in his book.) So I plan to make this again soon! They weren't too sloppy, soupy, or tomato-paste-tasting. They were just right!

"Not So Sloppy" Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground meat (your choice!)

1 tbl. EVOO

1/4 cup chopped onion (red or white)

1 clove garlic chopped

2 tbl. brown sugar

1 tbl. McCormick Montreal Seasoning

1 tbl. Worcestershire Sauce

3 tbl. apple juice

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup favorite barbecue sauce (ours is Sweet Baby Rays!)

Directions:

Brown meat in olive oil over med/high heat.

Add onion and garlic to meat and finish browning.

Spoon out extra grease.

Keeping the pan nice and warm, add brown sugar and seasoning.

Stir and let caramelize.

Cook for about a minute.

Add Worcestershire sauce and apple juice. Cook 5 min.

Add ketchup and barbecue sauce. Turn to low and keep warm until served.

Serve the meat on toasted buns!
(just butter them up and brown in a pan over med/high heat or toast them in the oven)

Warmed them in the oven for a few mintues to melt the cheese.

You may want to add a bit more apple juice and more of the two sauces at the end - just to give it a bit more slop. Either way, the flavor is excellent!

My hubby's plate... always looks better than mine :o)

My entire family liked the taste of these sloppy joes,

even my picky two-year-old!!!

I had eggs on hand (straight from our backyard!) so we had deviled eggs on the side. Along with baked beans, carrots, and ranch dip.


If you like ranch dressing as much as we do, then the next recipe is for you! We used to buy it in a bottle, but now I make it from scratch - almost every other week!


Here's a recipe that will save you some money and you know what's in it! (As opposed to all the preservatives that we can't pronounce that are in shelved dressings.)


This one's a keeper! (Thanks Mom!)

Ranch dressing ingredients ready to go!

Mom's Homemade Ranch

Ingredients:

1 cup sour cream (or 1/2 cup sour cream & 1/2 cup buttermilk -

for more of a dressing consistency rather than a dip)

1 cup mayo

1/2 tsp. dried chives

1/2 tsp. dried parsley

Dash of Lawry's seasoning salt (to taste)

Dash garlic powder

1 tsp. light vinegar (I use white wine vinegar)

 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Great for salads, baked potatoes, dipping veggies, chips and anything else you enjoy with ranch.

 

 

Ranch dip and veggies - YUM!

I hope that you are having a wonderful first week of the new year!


Blessings,

I'm linked up with:

Worshipping the Lord at Home! {Thoughtful Momma Monday}

Thoughtful Momma Monday

Are you tired, stressed, sick, or depressed? Is it difficult to speak kindly to your spouse or kids because of negativity in your heart? I've been there before, and am not exempt from those thoughts and feelings again. One thing I've found that turns things around is lifting HIGH the name of JESUS! 

Our dancing girl, worshipping JESUS!

July 2011

Turn on some praise music and worship the Lord! He alone can give you the strength, health and peace that you need!

"I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise
to my God while I have my being."

Psalm 104:33

I remember at my home when I was young, my mother has music going constantly - kids praise as well as worship songs (mostly on cassette, but sometimes on vinyl  :o). My sister and I would sing and dance along to the music. It created an atmosphere of joy and peace. That's what I want for my family as well!

Having some musical instruments, ribbon on a dowel rod, or a tutu for little girls to wear are extras that add another dimension of fun! My daughter hears a worship song she likes and asks for her tutu! She is ready to worship the Lord and wants to dress up for the occasion!

Mo with her "glory ring" from Grammy ~ December 2012

"Let them praise His name with the dance;

Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp."

Psalm 149:3

In the New Year I desire to LIFT my eyes to the Lord more often than not. I don't want to waste time moping about or feeling discouraged. My heart WILL delight in the Lord and I WILL rejoice in the joy of my salvation!

"I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me."

Psalm 13:6

I hope you are encouraged to turn up the music and worship with your kids.


Blessings,




I'm participating in The Gentleness Challenge over at Women Living Well. If you are a mother, I would encourage you to stop by Courtney's blog and read more about it. I will grab ahold of the opportunity and encouragement to be more gentle with my children. And I know that God will help me as I rely on His strength!