Thursday, February 26, 2009

Grow through Life

Don't go through life, grow through life.
Eric Butterworth


God never leads you where He doesn't want you to be - if we put our trust in Him. There are lessons to learn in every path that we travel.

Some paths we chose. Some paths are detours that we don't expect. The paths can be smooth and clear. Others can be hilly and full of brush. But all are intended for each of us.

With God guiding our way, in the end, at the destination, we can look back and usually see why we were given this path. Without God, the destination is the result of our own doing, but God is always there to help us find the right path.

For me, even in what most people would consider "bad" things in my life, I know that God had reasons for leading me down those paths. Many times it was to help others, for how could I help someone unless I have walked in their shoes, and I understand. Other times it was to teach me. Every day is a growing experience for me - a day to reflect on what God has taught me in the past, and what He is trying to teach me today. Because sometimes I don't get subtle hints, I always ask God to make things very clear to me. Hit me over the head or I may not get it forever. Sometimes He does, sometimes He makes me wait.

Grow in life - live it to the fullest. Don't be afraid! The bad times will pass, and the good times will surely come. Just live!

Easy Recipe

Easy Chop Suey

1 large can of Chop Suey vegetables, drained
1 cup meat (left over chicken, pork, or beef), cubed into bite size pieces
1-1/2 cups water
1/4 cup soy sauce, more or less to taste
3 Tbs. corn starch

Heat vegetables, meat, water, and soy sauce to a slow boil. Mix corn starch with a little water. While mixing, whisk in some hot juice from mixture until well blended (no lumps). Whisk into chop suey mixture quickly (so no lumps). Cook until thickened. Serve over rice.

Free Stuff

Click here - Arby’s Free Roast Beef w/ Purchase of Drink


Another Picture!

Here he is again - baby Corbin.

Jess - I have to show him off!

I got to hold him for the first time last night, and we had our first conversation. He does like to talk. I don't know if he takes after his dad or grandma with that one. hehe (Dad - you do like to talk almost as much as the grandma.)

He is truly a gift from heaven!


Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.
Carl Sandburg



I'm a great aunt today! Welcome to the world, baby Corbin! Congratulations to your mom and dad, grandma and grandpa (all of them), great grandma, and all your aunties and uncles that are going to spoil you rotten!



"There is nothing like the blessing Of a bouncing, baby boy
He will fill your home with energy
And touch your heart with joy.
He'll hug you and bug you
And try you within
But each precious memory
You'll treasure again and again."
Author: Linda LaTourelle

Aunt Janet's Sayings

Remember girls (now aunties), as I've always told all of you nieces and nephews, "My name is not Janet, it's Aunt Janet."

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Creativity - The Artist in All of Us

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
Pablo Picasso


Welcome to my new look! I had so much fun doing this - I spent the better part of the last two weeks learning, trying different things, testing, until it became just want I envisioned. I did it myself, with the help of several artists' pictures. The layout design is mine! How do you like it?

Creativity is something that I believe all of us are born with. If others encourage us to pursue our creativity, it will usually carry on through adulthood. If we are not encouraged, it will usually hide, only to surface if something draws it out.

As a child, my mother always had us doing creative little projects. I could remember making little animals out of marbles, making shrinky dink and beaded Christmas ornaments, painting, learning to sew and crochet, ... Even my brother was involved in these creativity projects, and, instead of learning the more feminine arts, he learned wood burning and working with wood.

To me, creativity sparks feelings of excitement, knowledge of self worth, determination to pursue, and, finally, a sense of accomplishment. Go ahead - do something creative! It will make you feel good!

And What You Have All Been Waiting For...

The bad and the good... If I missed you, it's because I can't find a digital picture of just you. Please send me a bad and a good pic, and a new slideshow will be made!

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Bad Pics
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Starring...You
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Make a Smilebox slideshow


Money Savings Tip

Turn down the heat a couple of degrees and put on a sweater! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, by resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed), you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent. Growing up, I loved waking up to the chill in the air, and wondering who was going to be the first one to run down and turn up the heat.

To see other energy saving tips, go to http://www.energy.gov/energysavingtips.htm.

Easy Recipe

Chicken and Rice Bake

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup water
3/4 cup uncooked regular white rice
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

In 2 quart baking dish, mix soup, water, and rice. Place chicken on top of mixture, and cover. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 min. or until chicken and rice are done. Serves 4.



Monday, February 16, 2009

Love is the Beauty of the Soul

Love is the beauty of the soul.
St. Augustine

This is the weekend that I was to unveil the faces of my beautiful nieces and nephews. Well, they had a challenge. Each one was challenged to submit a post to my blog by this weekend. If they didn't, I would not guarantee what kind of picture I would reveal to the world. If they did, the world would see their beauty.

Well, guys, since only two of you posted, I'm giving you another week. So, get those posts in now!

For those two that did, you are my favorite - Jenny and Elizabeth - I love you! Now, the rest of you guys know. (They are always fighting over who is my favorite.)

I am sorry that I have not posted this week. As you can see, I've been busy learning how to change my blog. As a preview of what I have discovered, I changed the colors in this blog. Not sure if I really like them, but wanted to get the post out. I love doing this!

A new soul shall be entering our world shortly. An angel sent from heaven - he will be surrounded by love from doting aunts, grandmas, and others, welcoming him into this life. May his passage into this world be trouble free and speedy! (But let Jess get to the hospital first.)

Money Savings Tip

You can save so much money shopping at Aldi's. Since the closest Aldi store is 1/2 hour away, I usually make a monthly trip, and stock up on my can goods plus. I have found that most items taste the same as name brand items. My test - I'll buy an item, and make it for dinner. If my husband doesn't notice the difference (and he will say if it tastes different), it's a keeper!

Easy Recipe

Chicken Stir Fry

1 lb. skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
3/4 cup Miracle Whip
1 pkg. frozen mized vegetables (your choice of stir fry) or 3 cups cut-up fresh vegetables
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

In large skillet, cook chicken strips in Miracle Whip on medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add vegetables. Stir in soy sauce and garlic powder. Continue cooking 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve over rice. Serves 4.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

You cannot get where you are going…..and stay were you are.
Author Unknown


Where do you want to go? What do you want out of your life? Achieving goals requires sacrifices, hard work, and sometimes, changes. You need to step out of your comfort zone to reach for these goals which can be downright frightening. Each time you step out of this comfort zone, it becomes a little easier.

You want that dream, right? Go ahead! It will only be scary for a moment!

Easy Recipe

These cookies are so easy to make and so, so good to eat.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
Chocolate Kisses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat above ingredients until well blended. Shape into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and immediately put on chocolate Kiss in center of each cookie. Makes about 18 cookies.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

To Weep and Still Hope

It helps, I think, to consider ourselves on a very long journey: the main thing is to keep to the faith, to endure, to help each other when we stumble or tire, to weep and press on.
Mary Richards


Warning - This blog starts off on the downside, but ends up on the upside.

I was sitting here having a pity party for myself right now. First, I came home to a computer that did not work because my husband decided to clean the inside of it. He took the processor chip out and put it back in backwards. Well, the pins were all bent and when I tried to straighten them, a couple broke off. So, now he doesn't have a computer.

Also, I'm wondering how I'm going to pay the mortgage on the buildings because I haven't received 2 apartment rents yet, and the grocery store has not paid me for two months because they are trying to sell. Well, the mortgage comes out of my bank account on the fifth of each month, and today, on the third, the money is not there.

It was a situation that just happened to me, not something I caused to happen. I know that this may not make sense. Most people are in debt because they overspent. When I saw that the buildings were too much for me financially, I decided to sell. I had a buyer, went to closing, signed all the papers, and it didn't close. My debt is the result of two tenants that moved out (and I couldn't rent out because of a zoning problem), all the costs related to or as a result of the failed closing, and, of course, the interest from this debt.

Okay, maybe my fault in all of this is that I trust others too much. I trusted others to make sure that the buildings would close, to look out for my best interests, and to be honest with me. For years, I tried to tell others about my zoning problem, and I probably should have been more persistent. Maybe I need to speak up more. Maybe I was putting trust in the wrong being, when I should have been trusting God.

He knows what’s in my heart. He knows what my intentions were with this inheritance – that I meant only to listen to what I believed He was telling me – to care for the sick and elderly. He knows that I will not file bankruptcy, that I will make good on my debt, no matter what caused it. He has taken care of me this far, and I believe He will take care of me in the future.

Just sometimes, I get on this pity pot, and I have to remember that it’s okay to weep, as long as I don’t give up laughing, as long as I keep hoping. After all, I am only human, and those who have wronged me, whether they did so intentionally or not (I hope not), are only human, like me, and God may also have had lessons to teach them in all of this, and, sometimes, lately daily, I need to forgive them.

God is here for all of us!

Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
Carl Sandberg

Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh either.
Golda Meir


Money Savings Tip

Make your own greeting cards. You can be as creative or as simple as you want. You can use computer software, or do everything by hand. Check out books at your local library for ideas.

My friends and I had a stamping party yesterday, and we had so much fun! We each made a Valentine's Day card. Even though we used the same materials, each one was unique and beautiful. It gave me so many ideas on how I could use paper and items I have laying around the house to make other beautiful cards that not only would be cheaper than store-bought cards, but would be more beautiful and meaningful to the recipient.

Be creative and have fun!
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