Shall I tackle Proverbs 12?

It's already past my bedtime...but I've gotten to visit with two of my
grown children tonight...a privilege.  You know our children do not
have to call us...or love us...or visit us...or even care about us.  It's
a choice they make to continue a relationship they had no choice
about starting. :)  I don't know where that all came from.

Proverbs 12:

• I need to work on accepting reproof...it isn't feminine to be "brutish"
• The righteous are established...putting down roots that hold us in place
• As a wife, I can be a crown or cause rotten bones...it's my choice to be virtuous or not
• I want to spend more time meditating on verse 5...I think there is something here - the thoughts of the righteous vs. the opinions of the wicked.  My first inclination is that opinions are just that - opinions, based on any number of factors.  Righteous thoughts must be based on truth, the Word, in order to be deemed righteous thoughts.  I need to learn to differentiate between my thoughts (truth) and my opinions.
• God values a wise tongue and a good word...they guide, cheer and makes others glad.

All these comparisons and contrasts cause me to examine my heart, my righteousness, my thoughts, my tongue...the value of communicating with God...what comes from it - change and renewal.

Wisdom for Today

These are things that spoke to me today from Proverbs 11:

The value of righteousness...

• It directs my way...keeps me on the straight path
• It delivers me
• It has a SURE reward...
• It gives LIFE...I want to really live
• It will be rewarded in the earth - not just in eternity, but in my lifetime

Two things about my mouth...

• If I destroy others with my mouth...I am a HYPOCRITE
• If I share secrets...I am a GOSSIP

As a woman...

• A faithful spirit conceals a matter...
• Discretion is more valuable than beauty...I don't want to be a pig with a gold nose ring
• A gracious woman has honor...

All Things New

In a few hours we will usher in the year 2010. Unbelievable. I can well remember all the hubbub about going into 2000, the scares and the unknown of it all. We blinked our eyes, and here it is 2010 already!

I think I need a page makeover. I do love roses but everytime I open it - I want to gag. It is 2010 after all - time for a new page.

Our family is continually new. New members arrived in 2009, Amelia and Millie...

I am reminded that God instructs us to re-new our minds daily. Growing spiritually is a continual process of "new" - how awesome is that. 

So, I'll be on the lookout for a new look for this page. Of course, Jill has to help me accomplish it. Somehow, I'm never able to get it all to work. I think it's something to do with age, which we will not discuss right now.

Happy New Year to everyone in blogland!

Finally!

I have tried to write something for the past 2 weeks...to no avail. Everything sounded quite dry and boring. I haven't done much besides bake and make goodies for Christmas. Some were a hit and many were not touched. But tonight, I have a picture! So, I will post it and show you what I've done in the past little bit.

From the Lick the Bowl food blog, I got a simple recipe for Cinnamon Rolls. They are quite delicious. Here they are!

I'm Addicted

I confess - if I haven't before ( I can't remember honestly) - I am addicted to recipes. I love to look at recipes, to read recipes, to think about what they might taste like...I'm addicted. I like to try new recipes - that's the fun...seeing what's on the page appear in front of you. When it looks just like the picture - Yay! I rarely taste these creations, so I'm dependent on the feedback of others to determine if it's really tasty or not. I have 100's upon 100's of cookbooks, cooking magazines, printed sheets, torn out pages, recipes cards and handwritten sheets. I could never begin to make them all in my lifetime. Yet, I still see a recipe and I want to stop and read it, examine it - think about how easy or difficult it would be to make. I keep them by my chair in the living room and when I'm free, that's where you will find me...with my recipes. I have recently discovered a new avenue to feed this addiction - food blogs. Oh my goodness! There, I can often see it created step by step - and view the finished product and then read what the blogger world has to say about it! I especially love the holidays as they are an excuse to try recipes I've been admiring. I enjoy reading all types of recipes, but desserts and breads are my favorites. My girls will tell you, I rarely make a recipe exactly as written. Invariably, there is either some ingredient I do not care for, or do not have - so I adjust, leave it out, or use something else! Here's one recipe I tried last week - I did actually taste this one and it's yummy for the Christmas season: Cranberry & Turkey Finger Sandwiches (taken from Taste of the South and adapted, of course!) Bread, with crusts removed (wheat or white, your preference) Sliced Turkey Cranberry Spread (I was making lots for a reception, so I mixed 1 can of wholeberry cranberry sauce with 8 oz. softenend cream cheese - you can adjust this amount and to your own taste) Fresh baby spinach Simply make a sandwich by spreading each bread slice with the cranberry spread - add turkey and pieces of spinach - put together and cut in half diagonally. They are beautiful and tasty. I've always wanted to say this: Bon Appetite! LOL!

Once upon a Holy Night

Just thought I'd share the project I've been most consumed with for the past month. Our church presented A Walk through Bethlehem this year for the past 3 nights. I can't begin to tell you how hard our people have worked or the passion they poured into every detail. We got to share the gospel through the birth of Christ with 477 people. "Mary" sang Once upon a Holy Night" 19 times and every time my heart was filled and my eyes overflowed. I will post a few pictures...and I hope you will never lose the wonder of our Savior becoming man and being born in a stable...in order to die on a cross in our place. Glory! Hallelujah!

33 Years Ago

33 years ago today...God gave us Jill Amelyn. What a blessing she continues to be in our lives. This morning we called to sing Happy Birthday to her. This is becoming our birthday tradition - we recently decided.

This year God gave Jill - Amelia Joy - after years of infertility.

What a good mommy she is!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pillie! I love you!