~ Think Like a Tree ~

Soak up the sun

Affirm life's magic Be graceful in the wind

Stand tall after a storm

Feel refreshed after it rains

Grow strong without notice

Be prepared for each season

Provide shelter to strangers

Hang tough through a cold spell

Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring

Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky

Be still long enough to hear your own leaves rustling.

~ by K.I.Shragg

Dear Father,

I thank You for mercy, for forgiveness, for purity, for providing for my needs.Thank you dear God for our beautiful nature, the trees, the moon, the stars, the ground we walk on. Help me to not take any of these and so many of my blessings for granted.Thank you for the blood of Jesus, your precious lamb.

Amen

I received this great award from my friend Connie in MS @ http://mealplanningwithconnie.blogspot.com/ . Connie has some fantastic southern recipes. I have tried many of them and they were all great. She shares encouraging
verses and quotes ! You will gain pounds just reading her blog !

The rules for accepting this award are:
1. Post the award.
2. Thank and mention the person who gave you the award.
3. Pass the award on to seven bloggers whom you think embody the spirit of the Kreativ Blogger Award.
4. Name seven things about yourself that others don’t know.
5. Don’t forget to notify the seven Kreativ Bloggers about their award and post a link to their blog.

~ I volunteer once a month at a local nursing home.
~ I have a bachelor of science degree in Education.
~ I lost my Mother to Cancer almost 4 years ago, and still miss her so much.
~ I love to make chocolate fantasy fudge with my husband, it is our specialty !
~ I am pretty good at Scrabble, ask my son and husband ( Well, they might not admit being beat by mom ! )
~ I am very proud of my boy scout son, Matthew !


I also received this Beautiful Heart Award from my dear friend Trish whose hometown is also in TN. She is a lovely person, inside and out, one great grammy ! Her blog is always a blessing to me . http://grammyoffive.blogspot.com/

Instructions:

1. List 4 things that keep your inner self beautiful.

2. List 4 things that keep you physically beautiful.

3. Tell us about a precious memory you keep close to your heart. ( Optional )

4. Share this award with 5 other people that you think have a beautiful heart too.

5. Link the blogs of the people you chose and link the person's blog who awarded you.

6. Have fun!

Inner beauty

1. My inner self is beautiful only because of Jesus Christ. I am nothing without his love.

2. Humility, I pray everyday for God to make me more humble and understanding.

3. Joy, I try to share joy and kindness with others.

4. LOVE!

Physical beauty

1. Good hair color.

2. Good hair cut, thanks to Stacey !

3. Blue eyes

4. Bubble baths and perfumes, love em !

Thank you my dear sweet friends for these beautiful awards.

If you follow my blog, please accept these awards from me you are all very deserving.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word

through photo’s & a Bible verse!

Visit our dear hostess for WFW @ http://crittyjoy.typepad.com/critty_joy/ .

Thank you for visiting , have a very blessed Wednesday !

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday

Today is Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, to enjoy more great recipes or join in click the link on my sidebar. Ladies, thanks so much for hosting !

FIESTA CHICKEN

~ Ingredients
2 1/2 cups pasta, uncooked
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup chopped red peppers

1/2 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
4 tablespoons chile powder
1/2 cup Salsa
3/4 cup Sour Cream

For those who like mushrooms, I like to add 1 cup ( optional )
~ Cooking Directions
Cook pasta as directed on package.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.

Add chicken. Cook

Add peppers, dressing and chili powder;

cook 3 min. or until chicken is cooked through, stirring frequently.

Stir in salsa and sour cream.
Drain pasta.

Toss with chicken mixture.

Sprinkle with cheddar or parmesan cheese if you like. Enjoy !

Hello sweet friends ~

Hello my dear blogging friends ! I hope this post finds you all warm and well. I have missed you all.

We are still so very cold ! Just clearing from winter snow and lots of ice and they are calling for more winter weather for us later in the weekend.

Not sure of many of you, but I am really so ready for some warm spring weather.I do enjoy the comforts of winter, a warm fire, staying and watching movies and throwing snowballs but am ready to put up the coats and gloves and bring out a light jacket.

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."- ~ Proverb

I recently received some wonderful awards and wanted to share them with you, sorry it took

me so long to get some of them posted. I am very thankful for each of my blogging friends

and for the awards you have given me.

My friend @ http://heartnsoulcooking.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html presented me with the Happy 101 award.

The rules are to post the award image and then list 10 things that make you HAPPY

~ 1. Spending time with family and friends.

~ 2. Blogging and reading blogs.

~ 3. Trying new recipes

~ 4. Hot bubble bath on a cold night

~ 5. A good back rub, foot rub, shoulder rub... from my husband

~ 6. Family game time ~ love to play scrabble with Matthew

~ 7. Good home cooked comfort food

~ 8. Forgiveness of my sins

~ 9. Cuddling with our dogs

~ 10. Freshly shaved legs on fresh clean sheets

Of course, I could go on and on....simple things make me so very happy !!

I also received the Prolific blogger award from my sweet friend Andrea and her Sitka @

http://andrealuvsallgodscreatures.blogspot.com/ .

Please stop by and visit both ladies, they have wonderful blogs.

Thanks again so much ladies.

If you are a follower, please take both awards, I would be honored. Blessings to you all !

Taking a short break from blogging.

Praying for my family and friends.

God bless you all.

HAPPY NEW YEARS 2010 !



Today we will follow our family southern tradition by eating black-eyed peas, greens and pork. The turnip greens and collards are, of course, green .The color of our paper money, which represents prosperity for the new year.
Pork is symbolic of progress, as the pig is, supposedly, the only animal that eats while it is moving forward.
Black Eyed peas are a symbol of good luck.
This is a long time southern new years day meal.



Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~ Martin Luther




I pray you have a blessed, safe New Years Day !

Today is WFW !
The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo’s & a Bible verse! Thanks AmyDeane for hosting, her link is on my sidebar if you would like to join in.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3 :6 KJV

Dear God,

I pray that your understanding and spiritual guidance will fill my heart and mind completely. In all that I do, I acknowledge your holy presence and give thanks for the wisdom, strength, and serenity you give me. You, dear Father, are my Infinite Source of Peace , Love, and Wisdom. Your Holy Spirit guides and directs me. I am eternally grateful for your spiritual guidance, dear God.
Thank you for always being with me.
Amen

Today is Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, to enjoy more great recipes or join in click the link on my sidebar.

~ Ladies, thanks so much for hosting.

Heat all together to make a hot yummy cider !

Warm Winter cider ~

16 maraschino cherries
8 orange slice halves
1 quart apple cider
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
1 (3-inch) stick cinnamon or you can use red hots.

Have a very blessed warm, cozy day !

Hello to all !

Haven't posted in a while, we have been really busy with homeschooling, boy scouts, preparing for Christmas. I have missed visiting your blogs. Thanks for those stopping by and checking on me and thanks for the great awards that some of my fellow bloggers have left for me, I will be posting those when I get back to blogging after the holidays, just taking a break for a while.

Praying you all have a very blessed merry Christmas and happy new year !!





JOY TO THE WORLD ~~~ One of my favorite Christmas hymns.
Joy to the world! the Lord has come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.



Lord Jesus, Wise men traveled for miles to bring you the first Christmas presents. So may we, too, remember with thankful hearts the love that comes with each present we open. We also thank you for the amazing love you have for each of us, and we thank you for the many gifts that you give us. Amen

HAPPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

To my dear son, Joshua. I love you !

You Are A Gift
Some people give the gift of peace and tranquility to every life they touch.

They are always who they really are.

They are blessedly reliable,dependably good,predictably pleasant,

loved and treasured by all who know them.

You are one of those people.

You are a gift of peace and tranquility in my life.

You are a blessing.
Happy Birthday!

Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into God's presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Praying that my family and friends have a very safe, blessed THANKSGIVING day !