Thankful Thursday – “I got the job!”

Well, I am so excited to say that I got a job offer today.  (after 5 weeks of interviews)  I will be the new supervisor of family support specialists at the Healthy Families  program in Elkhart County.  This has been such a long process, one that I have prayed for and placed my trust in.  I have learned one thing in my journey with God, never ever pray for patience!  He will give you opportunity to learn it that is for sure!

God, in his ever wisdom, though…He provides. Matthew 6:28-34.  How is it that we always question, fret, worry…when God knows His plans for us?  He, alone, knows what is good and right.  If we trust in Him, there is nothing that we need worry about.  Make yourselves a place for Him every morning, every night before you sleep…That is what He wants more than anything.  Just to know you, share with you, provide for you.

Thank you, God.  For all that you do.  For things yet unseen, for all that I don’t know.  You are my one true King.

Tasty Tuesday – Philly Cheesesteak

When I was in college I worked two of my summers in Wildwood, NJ.  One of my absolute favorite things there was Philly Cheese-steaks.  We had a little Sub and Pizza shop right next to the apartment that I lived in.  I probably had at least one a week, if not more!

I worked at a small bar in North Wildwood, my first summer. The bar was called the Antler’s (after some research I found that it is now called the Owen’s Pub). The owner was from Philly (he was also my landlord that summer). We served bar food.  Pretty good, mostly fried, but it really wasn’t supposed to be a fancy restaurant.  I was a waitress and my other responsibility, besides keeping track of drink orders, was to cook the food.  Sometimes it would get pretty hectic.  Most of the time, I was the only waitress on my shift.  

Tuna-Egg Salad

I’m really not too moody today (I had a visit with my therapist 🙂 ) So not much to write for Moody Monday,  but I did have a pretty good lunch.  So I thought  I would share my recipe for Tuna-Egg salad.   Thrown on some toasted Italian bread with a few lettuce leaves, it makes a very tasty sandwich!  Here’s what to do.

1. Boil 3 eggs.  (The best way I have found to boil eggs that come out easy to peel is to put them in a pot and cover with water.  Add about a tsp of vinegar.  Bring  to a boil.  Cover, turn off heat and let sit for 15 minutes.  Immediately transfer to a bowl and cover with ice.  Put in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes.)  After they are cooled, peel, chop and put into a bowl.
2. Open a can of tuna and drain.  ( I used Trader Joe’s albacore solid white tuna) Add to bowl.
3. Chop up 1/2 stalk of celery and 1/2 an onion.  Add to bowl.
4. Sprinkle with 1 tsp dill weed and some pepper.
5. Add about 1/2 cup Hellman’s mayonnaise.
6. Mix well
7. Make yourself a nice sandwich!

 

King of Kings

I have been reading about kings…and it has been a good read.  I have been transported to the North and to the South…in a fantasy world, that an awesome author created….but, alas, all of the story, does not match with what I have known of my true King. This King who has come here, to experience life with us…amazing.

That He created the world, and yet came to us as a mere human being, lived as we would live…What love  must that have been?  The creator of the universe comes to feel His creation.  He comes to understand His people.

Oh, my God…that you would know me.  One of so many.  I cherish you.  You, my God, are my one true King…You will always be mine, you will always be near.  I love you with all of my heart, with everything that I am…and I will shout it to the world!!

Reflections on Sunday’s Service…

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! “

During this morning’s service, Pastor asked us to reflect on what it means to be blessed.  She asked us to consider the paradox of blessings.

We looked at the story of Mary and Elizabeth.  I can’t imagine that  Mary felt completely blessed when she realized the fact that she was a 13 year-old, un-married woman, pregnant and yet a virgin.  What must have been going through her head as she contemplated how she would begin to explain to her fiance, her family, her neighbors how she had come to be in this position?  Would they believe her?  It would have been a scandal at the very least, and also, as Pastor pointed out, a possibility of a death sentence.  The punishment for adultery in those times was death by stoning.

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  

And so, Mary hurries to a trusted relative, a woman much older than she.  She makes a nine day journey for advice? comfort? to try to make sense out of what was happening to her? Or perhaps she really needed to check out that what the angel had said was true.  She must have had great trust and respect in Elizabeth.

She must have had a tremendous faith in God!  How could she possibly comprehend the scope of this blessing?  Do you see blessings in impossible situations?  I have to admit that I sometimes find it very difficult to feel blessed when I am in the middle of a crisis.  I become frustrated with God.  “Can’t you hear me?  Why are you not answering my prayers?”

It is easy to feel blessed when things are going well, but how hard is it to trust God and His plans and have faith that in all circumstances He is blessing us?  Mary could not have begun to understand what the following months and years would bring to her, but she answers.  “I am the Lord’s servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled.”  Imagine what blessings that kind of answer would bring to our lives!

So, on this third Sunday of Advent, as we prepare and wait for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and His second coming, may we thank Him for the family, friends and people that He so beautifully puts into our lives.  May we thank Him for the blessings that He brings, the ones that are easy to see..and the ones that are difficult to understand.

Be Born In Me – Francesca Battistelli

One week of blogs…Thank you to my followers.

I have been here for one week.  It has been fun and I have almost kept up my daily post.  (None on Thursday, but I will tell you why a little later…it has to do with reading.)

Today I want to thank, Simple Speedy Snacks, Lesley Carter, Matt, Soul Blind Ministry, and Talinorfali   for following my blog.  These people give me an accountability to post every day, but also, give me a reason to keep going.  I appreciate you all and enjoy reading about what you have to say!

Just a little bit of a disclaimer…I went with my mother-in-law the other day to the library.  When my oldest son was home for Thanksgiving break he turned us on to the Game of Thorns series.  We ended up watching the whole season in one day…I got hooked and so, I got the entire five book series (all at least 800 pages).  So, I may be reading for the next two weeks.

We shall see, but as a readaholic, I may be distracted!!

Happy Holidays 🙂

Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

     A Food Friday Recipe:  Family favorite!!

  “Tis the season for baking cookies!”  (Well not for me usually.  I let my sister do that since she is a way better baker than I could ever be.)  But this is one recipe I never go wrong with.  

Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies.  (Makes a very light cookie)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup salad oil, 1 cup (real) butter melted, 2 eggs, and 2 tsp (real) vanilla.  Mix well.
3. Sift in 4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 4 tsp cream of tartar, and 1 tsp salt.  (I find it easier to sift in one cup of flour at a time, including part of the soda, tartar and salt.  This way you don’t get that salty, soda taste in the cookie)
4. Stir in one bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
5. Drop by tablespoon on a cookie sheet.  (I have terrible cookie sheets, so I usually line them with parchment paper or wax paper).
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
7. Place on Parchment paper to cool.
8. Enjoy!

Let me know if you try this and like it.

Thankful Thursday…a little bit early

I am thankful for my sister.

My sister has been with me from the beginning (well, almost the beginning). 

Leftover Roasted Chicken and Kluski Noodles

Remember yesterday’s post?  Herb Roasted Chicken and Giblet Gravy

Well, here’s what I did with the leftovers:

This is what I did:  

Would you rather…..

Topic #328

Would you rather have $50 million or live for an extra 50 years?

I would rather have $50 million. Since I am already just a few short years away from the 50 year mark, another 50 years I could take or leave.  The world today is not something that I care to have to face for the next 50 years.  I’ve made my peace with my creator, have had an amazing time getting to know him and , frankly, can’t wait to see him face to face!