Monday, April 2, 2018

Happy Homemaking Monday - April 2, 2018

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
and all the sweet ladies of 
Happy Homemaking Monday!

Good morning, Sweet Ladies! 💗 

I trust that you and your family had a glorious holiday weekend and that your day (and week) are off to a great start this morning. 😊

For us, this past week has been very full, but satisfying. We got a lot of things done that needed doing, including getting an alignment and oil change done on the car, celebrated our oldest daughter's birthday, got to spend a lot of time with family and friends over the holiday weekend, and celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What a wonderful time to be alive! 

Let's get started on this week's post...shall we?

Right now I am...

...eating breakfast and enjoying a cup of tea while I write this post. I'm also thinking that I need to go switch a load of laundry over before I get too involved in what I'm doing here. 😉


On the breakfast plate...

THM Sweat-pants Oatmeal with 1/4 cup blueberries, one Cutie, and a steaming hot cup of Twining's Irish Breakfast tea



The weather...

Cold! Yesterday we had freezing rain and ice...not bad, but still, for this time of year...pretty unusual. A freeze warning was issued last night and, at the moment, it's 33 degrees with a windchill of 27. Not typical April weather here in southwest Missouri! The ten-day forecast promises to be better, but not great with highs in the mid-50's to lower-60's and lows in the 30's and 40's.

On my reading pile...

In addition to daily Scripture reading, I'm still reading Following God's Plan For Your Life by Kenneth E. Hagin.



I finally finished Walking the Walk - Getting Fit With Faith by Leslie Sansone and, I have to say, when it comes to health (nutrition and exercise), I think she's right on, but, when it comes to "the faith walk" I think she's over-stepping her area of expertise. 

Don't get me wrong, I think that Leslie Sansone is one of the most beautiful, kind-hearted people out there in the public arena today and I truly believe that she loves people with all her heart, and wants them to be whole in every area (body, soul, and spirit), but, outside of Biblical context that can truly never be achieved. 

While the book is filled with Christian concepts and ideas (some scripturally right-on...some not so much), and scripture references can be found in every chapter, the book also contains many New Age, eastern religion, and other practices (hypnosis, joining a meditation group, chanting, using prayer as a mantra, etc.) littered throughout and the book left me with a sense of anything goes...as long as you're a good person, believe in, and are true, to yourself you can mix and match and do anything you want...which you can...yes! That's true! But, as a born-again believer, the Word of God must be the standard by which these things are tested and throughout scripture there were great consequences for those who mixed and matched the truth of God's Word with other things. 

I will continue to walk with Leslie (I love her walking videos) and read her books on health and nutrition, but, when it comes to faith, I'll stick with the Word and those that teach it in truth and in its entirety. 


On the menu this week...

Monday - leftovers from the weekend 
Tuesday - baked chicken, brown rice, and roasted carrots
Wednesday - ham and beans and cornbread
Thursday - out of town
Friday - out of town
Saturday - out of town
Sunday - out of town

On my 'to do' list...

- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", laundry, wash bedding, figure April bills and budget
- Tuesday - Vote, pay bills, go the bank, get in a visit with my friend, Carla
- Wednesday - Participate in a prairie chicken survey very early in the morning at work, pack and get ready for an out of town trip
- Thursday - Out of town
- Friday - Out of town
- Saturday - Out of town
- Sunday - Out of town

In the craft basket...


Got the first sunflower seed bag turned into a shopping
bag and have been using it. They're super sturdy!



Looking forward to this week...

Getting out of town for a few days, getting out in nature, and refreshing my spirit. 

From the camera...


Our fifteen youngest grandchildren made it to Nana and Papa's Saturday
evening for an egg hunt. Despite the chilly weather, I think they had a great time
and I know that they got more candy than any of them really needed. 😄
Scripture passage...





Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful week ahead!

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

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Passion Week - Resurrection Cookies (Recipe)



Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Passion Week - Resurrection Cookies (Recipe)

Photo Credit
This is a recipe that I made with my children several times over the course of their growing up years. What a great way to teach the Biblical account of the Resurrection!

You will need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zippered baggy
a wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible


Instructions:

These are to be made the evening before Resurrection Sunday.  

Preheat oven to 300 degrees *** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe). 

Place pecans in zippered baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read: John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read: John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonsful onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read: Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20-22.

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9.

What a great way to share with your children the fact that we do, indeed, serve a risen Saviour and His name is Jesus! Praise be unto the Lord! 

Happy Passion Week!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Resurrection Rolls







Monday, March 26, 2018

Happy Homemaker Monday - March 26, 2018

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
and all the sweet ladies of 
Happy Homemaking Monday!

Good morning, Sweet Ladies! 💗

I pray that this post finds each and every one of you healthy, happy, serving the Lord with gladness, and ready and willing to face the week ahead, with all its challenges, head-on and full of joy! Happy Passion Week! 🌴

I must subconsciously be in spring-cleaning mode or something. Yesterday afternoon, over lunch, my husband and I pulled Jesus of Nazareth up on Amazon Prime and watched the full 6+ hour movie (something we haven't done in years), but, while watching, I worked on various projects, some that were on my to-do list for this week anyway, and some that weren't, including sorting through and cleaning out four dresser drawers full of craft stuff and reorganizing them into marked and labeled containers. It felt soooo good to get that done.

Then, I went to bed late (after midnight) and woke up this morning full of energy! (What in the world???) I bounded out of bed, and immediately set to work on my weekly "home blessing". By 9:00 a.m. it was finished! The only thing that I have left to do is shampoo the livingroom carpet and wash the cat's bedding, which I plan on doing immediately following finishing this post. 

Wow! 😲 I don't know what's going on, but I hope it continues!!! LOL! 😆

Let's get started on this week's post...shall we?

Right now I am...

Finishing breakfast and enjoying a cup of tea while I work on this post. I'm also enjoying the view out my office (the Van Gogh room) window and listening to the distant thunder roll, unhindered, across the tall-grass prairie. 

Not real clear, but this is taken from where I sit at my desk, through a
window and storm glass, that desperately needs a good cleaning, and
a window screen...looking across the road toward the neighbor's barn. I love the
tree that grows there in the middle of the field and, of course,
the green grass and the purple patches of henbit in bloom.
On the breakfast plate...

Cottage cheese on sprouted, 7-grain toast and Irish breakfast tea

The weather...

Cloudy and 56 degrees. We're supposed to get up to around 70 today with thunderstorms this morning, afternoon, evening, overnight, and throughout the day tomorrow. The ten-day doesn't look too bad, but the temperatures are going to be just a little cooler than what I'd like for them to be...highs in the upper 50's and low 60's during the daytime, with nighttime temps in the 30's and 40's. ☔

On my reading pile...

In addition to daily Scripture reading, I'm still reading Following God's Plan For Your Life by Kenneth E. Hagin and Walk the Walk - Getting Fit with Faith by Leslie Sansone. I finished the last chapter of Live Long, Finish Strong by Gloria Copeland last week and am getting ready to start the 8-session DVD series and guidebook and journal that goes with it. This is honestly one of the best books I've ever read. 📕



Following God's Plan For Your Life by Kenneth E. Hagin
Walk the Walk - Getting Fit with Faith by Leslie Sansone
Live Long, Finish Strong by Gloria Copeland
Life in the Spirit Study Bible - King James Version
On the menu this week...

Note: We're still working on eating up that cabbage around here! It's a good thing that we like it...huh??? 😆

Monday - bison roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions 
Tuesday - roasted turkey breast, baked sweet potatoes, and fried cabbage
Wednesday - chili turkey dogs and baked potatoes
Thursday - baked chicken breast, brown rice (freezer), and fried cabbage
Friday - homemade pizza
Saturday - leftovers
Sunday - ham, deviled eggs, cottage cheese, veggie tray, and dip

On my 'to do' list...

- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", laundry, shampoo carpets (if I have time)
- Tuesday - Grocery shopping
- Wednesday - Take car in for an alignment, return bear trunk to MDC in Joplin
- Thursday - Pick up car from shop, attend a seder dinner @ dd's
- Friday - Work, boil and dye eggs
- Saturday - Work, have an egg hunt for the grandlittles
- Sunday - Celebrate Resurrection Sunday with friends and family, church with lunch following

In the craft basket...

I finally get a pair of pinking shears AND located my sewing machine after the move. Am ready to start working on those shopping bags. In fact, I got 11 of them cut out yesterday afternoon!



Looking forward to this week...

Celebrating Passion Week and the Resurrection of our Lord, as well as, all the special things planned with family and friends. 💜

From the camera...


Resurrection Sunday 2010 - Granddaughters Liz and Audrey
Resurrection Sunday 2010 - Grandlittles Audrey, Liz, T.J. and
  Silas are in search of eggs and candy, but they remind of fairies dancing
on the lawn. This has always been one of my favorite pictures.


Scripture passage...




Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful week ahead!

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

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Passion Week - Jesus' Final Week (Reading Schedule)




Thursday, March 22, 2018

Passion Week - Jesus' Final Week (Reading Schedule)

As Passion Week approaches I am reminded of the many in-depth Bible studies that our family has done throughout the years concerning the "final week" in Jesus' life and all that it entailed. Here is a reading schedule that our youngest son and I followed several years ago that covers the Triumphal Entry through the Resurrection. My plan, starting this Sunday (Palm Sunday), is to follow this schedule myself as I focus my heart and mind on Holy Week and all that Jesus endured that final week of His life wrapped in human flesh for my sake and for yours. Would you like to join me?


Have a beautiful and blessed Passion Week!


Until next time...

~Rebecca




Sunday (Palm Sunday) - The Triumphal Entry


    Matthew 21:1-11


    Mark 11:1-10


    Luke 19:29-44    


    John 12:12-19


Monday - Jesus Curses The Fig Tree


    Matthew 21:18-19


    Mark 11:12-14


                     Jesus Cleanses The Temple


    Matthew 21:12-13


    Mark 11:15-18


    Luke 19:45-48




Tuesday - The Authority Of Jesus Questioned


    Matthew 21:23-27


    Mark 11:27-33


    Luke 20:1-8


                        Jesus Teaches In The Temple


    Matthew 21:18-23:29


    Mark 12:1-44


    Luke 20:9-21:4


                        Jesus' Feet Anointed


    Matthew 26:6-13


    Mark 14:3-9


    John 12:2-11


Wednesday - The Plot Against Jesus


    Matthew 26:14-16


    Mark 14:10-11


    Luke 22:3-6


Thursday - The Last Supper


    Matthew 26:17-29


    Mark 14:12-25


    Luke 22:7-23


    John 13:1-38


                      Jesus Comforts His Disciples


    John 14:1-16:33


                      Jesus' High Priestly Prayer


    John 17: 1-26


                      Gethsemane


    Matthew 26:36-46


    Mark 14:32-42


    Luke 22:40-46


Friday - Jesus' Arrest And Trial


    Matthew 26:47-27:26


    Mark 14:43-15:15


    Luke 22:47-23:25


    John 18:2-19:16


                        Jesus' Crucifixtion And Death


    Matthew  27:27-56


    Mark 15:16-41


    Luke 23:26-49


    John 19:17-30


                       The Burial Of Jesus


    Matthew 27:57-66


    Mark 15:42-47


    Luke  23:50-56


    John 19:31-42


Resurrection (Easter) Sunday -The Empty Tomb


    Matthew 28:1-8


    Mark 16:1-12


    Luke 24:1-12


    John 20:1-10


                           To Mary Magdalene In The Garden   


    Mark 16:9-11


    John 20:11-18


                           To Other Women


    Matthew 28:9-10


                            To Two People Going To Emmaus


    Mark 16:12-13


    Luke 24:13-32


                            To Peter


    Luke 24:34


                            To The Ten Disciples In  The Upper Room


    Mark 16:14


    Luke 24:36-43


    John 20:19-25


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