I read the book the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and he gives you some pretty important things to reflect on. So I decided I would give you few of his quotes this week.

Heres the first two:

"Time is all you have and you may find one day that you have less than you think."

" Somehow, with the passage of time, and deadlines that life imposes, surrending becomes the right thing to do."

I thought I would share with you a note that I got at work from a customer who is a Prophetic Evangelist. It is a message that she received one day.

To the Children Who are Called by My Name:
I, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the God of Corinth, the God of Ephesus, the God of Philippi and Colosse; and, I am your God, the Church who are called by my name.  I have strategically placed you in your in current location, and commissioned you to win the lost not just in your area but beyond your borders.  Your vision is too small!  I have far greater plans for you.  Your borders extend to the North , to the South, to the East and to the West.  Because of your obedience and dedication, you are now seeing just the beginning of a limitless outreach.  Can you think that big?  Do you dare to stretch out your spiritual tent pegs and hope for such a vast outreach? Selah

Am I not the God of all nations?  So I ask you, My dear children, why won't you dream that seemingly impossible dream?  I tell you I am the God of the impossible!  That is my specialty.  It brings me great joy to see you open up your hearts so wide for me to fill them with my greater glory.  Keep in mind however, I can not fill a full cup.  Cleanse yourselves with the washings of my word.  Then as you come to me for fresh infillings, how, oh how could I resist pouring out my spirit upon you,  enabling each one of you to do greater and mightier works for me.  My heart yearns for you, for all people, to take my outstretched hand of comparssion and love.

You bring much joy and pleasure to my heart, dear friends of mine.  Since I have made you in my image and likeness, you should be consciously aware that I have emotions just like you.  I laugh! I sing! I praise you and honor you when you do good work for me, just as you would praise and honor me for answered prayers.  I can cry as well.  For my spirit can easily be grieved over strife in my church. or when one of my precious little ones wander off back into the world that I took them out of.  I will go to great lengths to woo and to love that one back into the fold.

Come now, my precious people.  Take the limits off of me ! Dare to dream bigger! Nothing, absolutely No thing shall be impossible for you.  Follow my lead.  I am worth the risk.  Please tell me who else can you possibly trust in all of my world?  Everything around you seems to be spinning out of control.  But, I can assure you, I am seated on the throne next to our Father in complete control of everything and everyone.  Nothing escapes my notice!

Go forth now placing demands on the anointing  have placed inside of you.  You cannot exhaust my supply of provisions.  Only through doubt and unbelief can you quench the flow of the anointing of my spirit.  Soon you will hear me say to you, " well done my good and faithful servant."  But until then, hold true to your calling resting the whole of your life on me.  You have only begun to step into the water of my unfathomable glory which I am about to release on my faithful servant.  You cannot fail!  Just avail yourself and be obdient to the promptings of my spirit.  I promise you this my friends.  You will not be disappointed.


The Lover of Your Soul,
Jesus

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families. I hope all of you have a wonderful and blessed day!

Last year on the 26, the day before Thanksgiving my x-father-in-law and my girls grandfather passed away. It was a very hard time for all of us. Him and my MIL had went to Los Vegas to see family and he never came home. It was really hard breaking the news to my girls. Me and my inlaws never got along. It wasn't until my daughter ended up in ICU on a breathing machine that things turned around. We almost lost her and I think it woke all of us up. So my girls only got a few very short years with their grandfather. They miss him immensely and if the truth be told I miss him to. I miss his laugh and his jokes. His favorite saying in the whole world was"See I am not just another pretty face". Tomorrow while we enjoy our festive day we will have a moment of silence for a man who was taken from this world way to soon.

B.D.S.

I ask that all of you would say a prayer. A friend of mine, Laura, has a *friend that has been battling cancer since 2003. This past July she had stem cell replacement. She has recently hit a speed bump.  So if you could pray for her it would be apperciated.  Also pray for my friend, Laura, she lost a dear friend on Saturday to lung cancer.
Thanks Cissy

* sorry agreed not to mention any names.

This is Bella Blue and I could really use your feedback on whether she is an angel or a fairy. Please let me know what you think.

I can only assume that everyone is now getting ready for their big Turkey day!
I can remember being a kid and always watching the parade ( I make my kids endure it now and they hate it).  Then heading to my grandparents for dinner.  Once we arrived each of us kids were given a brand new Christmas coloring book and a pack of crayons.  I realize now it was just to keep us busy while the woman finished dinner and caught up and while the guys all sat in the living room watching football.  It is a tradition that I have carried on with my own children, nieces, and nephews.  I believe that for most kids Thanksgiving represents that Christmas is right around the corner, so getting that coloring book is just another reminder.  I can also remember one Thanksgiving being a teenager.  My parents were divorced and my mother, brother and I had spent the holiday at home. After having dinner we decided to play cards.  About halfway into the card game I decided I need another glass of tea.  As I poured it the tea spilled on the floor. When I went to retrieve some paper towels I slipped and was breaking dancing in the floor.  My mother and brother laughed until they cried. It wasn't funny to me then, but now as a grown up it's those things that make you laugh the hardest.  This Thanksgiving take the time to enjoy everything around you, these are the memories that we want to keep forever.

The winner of our Whimzical Wears graciously allowed us to announce her name:) The winner of the necklaces was Stacey aka Rosewello!

Congrats Stacey!!!!

I have heard people say that they heard God talk to them. I would like all of you to ask yourself  What would God say to you if you heard him talking to you?  Would he tell you how proud of you he is or would he tell you what an awful human being you have become? Would he say WOW! look at what you did with all the things I blessed you with or DUDE! what did you do with what I gave you? These are the questions that we really need to stop and ask ourselves. There are so many people that have become just absolutely miserable and happy to stay that way. Happy to steal the joy from the people around them.  It's that old saying "Misery loves company." They have chosen to be miserable because of lifes circumstances.  They feel like they can never get a break or their time to shine.  So they just give up and figure that I'll always be miserable so why not make everyone else miserable around me. That's a very sad way to live life.
We can not let our problems dictate our choices in life.  Most people look a life as a series of problems and say that once we get through this problem we will be happy.  Then of course there is always another problem and the thought of finding our one ounce of joy is gone.  There are just somethings we can not change or fix and there will be always another mountain to climb.  The destination is not the most important part it's the journey.  We will never arrive at a point in our lives where everything is perfect. We will always have one more problem to struggle with. Stop letting "Misery love company", whether you are the misery or the company. Do you want to be disappointed if God actually talks to you?

Okay so after a week being on paperbackswap.com and swapitgreen.com I have gotten two books. Now I got the two books by using the two credits that paperback.com gives you for listing 5 books. Yet I haven't gotten any hits on the books I listed so that I could gain more credits, now the only way for me to get more books is to buy credits and the whole idea of this was not to have to actually buy anything. Now I reactivated my account on swaptree.com and I have already gotten two trades. So I will let you know if anything new develops.

This giveaway is now closed. We will notify the winner and if they give us permission to announce their name we will:) Good luck to everyone that entered! Our next give away is a cutie print by Artist Barbara Jensen!!

B.D.S.

This one I can not take credit for the dress. I did do her headband and finish the decorations.

This is my favorite piece so far.

I'm all done now!

I just thought that today I would share with you that today was a great day! I am blessed everyday but today God truly and absolutely showed me his love, mercy, compassion, and grace.  All I can say is the Lord is good all the time.

I think this give away is so neat! It is original and unique! I would love to win one of these for a christmas present!

The giveaway is hand painted initial keepsake!

Forest --choice of green/cocoa frame and gold/green paper
Floral--choice of pink/white frame and pink/white paper
(Pictures/samples below)

You can find the giveaway below:
http://www.smusedesigns.blogspot.com/

It is real easy to enter. Just follow and leave a comment. If you would like see her website and other designs we have a link on our sidebar:)

Now... Go Enter!

B.D.S

I have been searching for new ways to advertise our blog and you know some places are just expensive! So it got me to thinking about low cost advertising. We love to get our new blog friends blogs name out there! So we decided to offer very low cost advertising! Just $5.00 for the month and your blog will be right at the top of our page:) As if that is great enough the money earned from advertising is going to go to getting even better give aways!! Weee!
All sites are welcome! Scrap Sites, Craft Sites, PR Sites, etc! 
The link is in our side bar to order. Pleas make sure to add your name, blog name and link in the PayPal comments:) Then email us your 125 by 125 button!

B.D.S.

Here are some ideas for you!

If you have any books, CD's, DVD's, or games that you don't want anymore you should check out swaptree.com or swapitgreen.com.  These sites allow you to trade your unwanted items for items that you might want.  You can also check out paperbackswap.com for your books only. With these sites the only fees that ared involved is the postage to send the book out. These sites though allow avid readers especially to get a book that they might want without having to pay some the unsightly price they want for books these days. Now in saying that I can tell you that I used swaptree.com and had a really great experience the other site I am still testing, so as soon as I know whether or not it really works I will let you know.

For Christmas ideas I have been browsing the web and noticed a couple of really good places the first one is S Muse Designs they have some really beautiful keepsakes.  I also noticed Printables by Sweetie-Pea these are really great labels that you can download and apply to your packages.  One other thing I really thought was a great idea for Christmas is to check out some of the giveaways on other blogs. Some of the giveaways are really nice ones like there is a  $20.00 Amazon gift card and an HP Computer on another. So take a little time if you can check them out.

** I think this is a wonderful idea. Volunteering at any time is a good thing to do. Please visit this website. They have tons of great ideas!!**
Giving Tree Giveaway Promotes Holiday Volunteering
Based in Austin, Texas, privately held VolunteerSpot (www.VolunteerSpot.com) is a free Web-based organization tool that powers grassroots volunteering at school and in the community. Founded by Karen Bantuveris, a management consultant and mom, who found that traditional volunteer coordination methods could be time consuming, frustrating and caused good people to drop out or simply not bother. VolunteerSpot’s easy-to-use online sign up tool saves time, streamlines communication and makes it simple for more people to get involved.  VolunteerSpot is perfect for coordinating groups for anything — PTA/PTO activities, food and toy drives, carnivals and festivals, tournaments, service projects, mentoring sessions, group campouts, ministry meals, book fairs, swim meets, and more.… VolunteerSpot, DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!

 *Thanks to Melissa for such a wonderful idea and sharing it with us!*

Looking for a tip to help your family stay connected in this fast-paced world?  Start a parent-child book club to easily and economically make connections with your children through a community of books.  Find a few like-minded friends and their children who are interested in joining you on this adventure.  Agree on the goals and ground rules for your family book club.  Choose books that will be challenging and engaging to read.  The host adult for each meeting can draft open-ended discussion questions that will ideally stimulate a rewarding book discussion.  Also, the host can create enrichment activities such as book-inspired art or science projects, snacks, field trips, movement or sports activities, and games or puzzles.  Enjoy reading the books that your group has selected, and bonding with your family through meaningful discussions and related activities.  Holiday time is the perfect time to embark on a family book club experience!

Submitted by Melissa Stoller, co-author of The Parent-Child Book Club: Connecting With Your Kids Through Reading, (HorizonLine Publishing, 2009, www.parentchildbookclub.com, available at amazon.com).

Your out holiday shopping and you want to eat. However, you spent all your money on presents. What do you do? Well if you win this contest you use the $25.00 GC to the Outback:) We have one up for grabs and it is so easy to enter. Please ready this carefully so there is no confusion:)

All you have to do is follow our blog and send us your favorite cookie recipe to cissy.bobbie@yahoo.com and leave us a comment letting us know you did so. That is it. Follow, send recipe, comment. All you need in the comment is put your name, email addy and that you sent the recipe. Easy Peasy:) You only need to send one recipe because we are not doing multiple entries.

You can read about our Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap HERE
This is an actual gift card that will be snail mailed to the winner.

The contest is open until December 5th 2009.


B.D.S.

One more post for today! Yesterday Bobbie told all of you about the award that we received and how excited she was. So today I also want to say that I am very excited to have received the award. I can not thank January enough.
When I realized that this was what I were being compelled to do we never in a million years thought we would have this many followers or to have received an award in such a short period of time. I really just thought that God was just helping me to find my voice. I didn't know if anyone would want to read what I thought or felt. So when I went to Bobbie and explained it to her I know she thought I was nuts. Some of that is because we are both very private people. I told her all the ideas and thoughts I had and she took it and put it into this beautifully created blog. I can take no credit in the design at all, but it is as if she heard what my heart was saying and put it all down on paper for me. In this case the computer.
Yet God does not cease to amaze me everyday, when I look at how many of you are following us. Also that we gain new followers daily. Then to receive an award. All I can say to all of you is thank you for taking this journey with us and thank you to January for recognizing what has gone into this blog.

Okay, so here is another one of my finished projects. My husband likes him better than the reindeer. I'm not sure which one I like better. So what do you all think the elf or the reindeer? Please share with us which one you like better. Oh yeah watch for the angel to come soon.

So this week is a free for all. So I encourage you to share anything and everything from recipes to the latest projects you are working on. Most of all we just want to have fun.

So here is my first thoughts for the week.

We talked last week about what brings you joy. Is it the sunrise or that first cup of coffee in the morning? Is it the changing of the leaves on the trees or the way the sun shines in your windows ? I noticed last night one of the other joys I have found is the sound of laughter.
The bible tells us that a merry heart doeth good like medicine or in other terms laughter is the best medicine. Laughter is contagious. Prime example my girls are 15, 11, & 8. They each are in different stages of there lives, but they each can find some common ground in laughter. They laugh about things I think are absolutely stupid or silly. Yet they will get to laughing so hard that I have to laugh with them (especially since one of the has a tendency to fart when she laughs hard enough). The sound of their laughter eases my soul. It also reminds me that I let to many of life's complications steal my laughter from me. Oh how good it feels to laugh silently or out loud. In that moment you are laughing all the sorrow, pain, and anxiety just melts away.
Without laughter our lives can become boring and sad. So I challenge you today, tomorrow, and next week to reclaim your laughter. Laugh from deep down in your soul. Laugh so hard you are crying.

Please do not forget our Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap. Everyone is invited to join in:) You can read more details under the Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap label on the side bar:)

B.D.S.

I am so excited!! We got our first award! I almost cried when I saw it. So much work has went into this blog and to see someone acknowledge that by giving us an award, well that is just amazing! The award is passed onto blogs that you have recently discovered that you think are great:) Wow, and someone passed it to us! YAY! The person that passed it onto us is January of Scraps of Life.Well enough gushing now onto who we have passed the award onto. Since we are really new there are probably some blogs here that have been around a long time but we just recently discovered them. It is a very eclectic list but I am hoping you find a couple to visit and follow. First up our beautiful award:
When you receive the award, you must post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted you this award and a link to his/her blog.

Pass the award on to 15 other blogs you have recently discovered and think are great!

Remember to contact the bloggers you’ve awarded to let them know they have been chosen.

Winniel and The Laughing House
1 Prince and 3 Princesses
A Little bit of pretty
Annies Home
Aunt Pams Closet
Before The Baby Wakes
Eight Helping Hands
Heck of A Bunch-
Just Another New Blog
Lemon Tree Kids
Lemon Tree Cards
Little Lady Cakes
Smart Cents Mom
Two Peas In A Pie
Printables by Sweetie-Pea

Thanks again January! You made our day!

B.D.S.

Weee! Now this is my kind of Giveaway!!! Myka Jelina, who's artwork can be seen at Hot Topic, Target and other fine stores, is the center of this giveaway! She has some of the cutest artwork and so many items in her zazzle shop! . She has tees, binders, key chains, backpacks, and much more! You can see her shop here:
http://www.zazzle.com/mykajelina

I just love her artwork!

In honor of Mrs. Jelina we are giving away a mousepad of your choice!

Here is some examples of her mousepads:



Please read the directions carefully! In order to cut down on confusion we are no longer allowing extra entries. All you have to do to be entered to win is follow us on the blog and go here and tell us which mousepad you would choose if you won:
MOUSEPADS HERE

If you are already a follower just put, already following.

In the Comment box below Please put your name, email addy , follower, and which mousepad you would choose.

This is how your entry should look:
Cissy
cissy.bobbie@yahoo.com
Follower
Molly Rainbow Ice Cream Fairy Mouse

This contest runs from November 13th to December 5th 2009.

Winners will be notified by email. Please note that this is an actual item we will be ordering for the winner. Your real name, and mailing address will be required in order to receive your prize. Due to shipping costs this contest is only open to US Residents.

That's it:) How easy is that! Make sure you tell all your friends about the contest!

B.D.S.

Hello everyone!

Well our first give away has closed! Thank you to all that has entered! We will notify the winners:) Please be on the lookout for a new contest tonight featuring Artist Myka Jelina!

EDIT** We take our followers and winners privacy seriously here at Thoughts of a Mother, Wife, and Daughter. We will only announce winners if we are given permission to. We are sorry if this upsets anyone but if you win a prize and want it to be announced will will be happy to do so. For those that do not want to be announced we respect that also:)

When my daughter was 6 years old and able to eat solid food finally after being on a feeding tube for a year my mom made this for the first time. It was the first thing my daughter ate at the Christmas Table and it has been a staple ever since. She only asks for it twice a year. At Christmas and on her birthday. It is a very nice dish for Thanksgiving to. It breaks up the traditional fare:)

Nana's Corn Pudding:

Ingredients

* 5 eggs
* 1/3 cup butter, melted
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup milk
* 4 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn
* 2 (14.75 ounce) cans cream-style corn

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add melted butter, sugar, and milk. Whisk in cornstarch. Stir in corn and creamed corn. Blend well. Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish.
3. Bake for 1 hour.

B.D.S.

Last night I spent two hours with my mom and grandmother. Being at my grandmothers house brought back alot of memories. Her house seems to hold numerous moments of my life not only as a child but as an adult, some good some bad.
When I was born my Mommom and Poppop (as I call them) already had three grandsons. So as the only granddaughter at the time I was doted on. My mom has told me that the day her and my dad brought me home my Poppop came out and said nothing more than " Give me my girl". For the next two years of my life i basically lived with them instead of my parents. They would try and take me home, but I would cry so terribly that my mom would wait until they got home and then call so that they could turn around and come back and get me.
After starting school, I was forced to then live at home during the week. The only time during the week I was allowed to go was when I was home from school sick. I can remember laying on my grand parents couch all curled up with the dog and watching The Munsters, Bewitched, or Tom and Jerry. It wasn't until I became teenager doing teenage things I began to quit staying. Even though I quit staying I spoke to my grandparents just about everyday. Then when my grandfather passed away in 1992 I just couldn't bear to go there at all. Through the years though I have learned to except his passing and go back.
Last night though as I sat in my grandmothers kitchen with both her and my mother, I remember how much joy it brought me to be there. I can still vividly remember the sound of my Poppop snoring, the smell of sausage cooking on Saturday and Sunday morning, fighting with my Aunt who still lived at home at the time, wrestling with my Uncles who were only teenagers then, and the smell of the warm summer night air blowing through the window as I lay in bed. I remember going to the flea market on Sundays with my Poppop and him saying here's five dollars don't ask for any more once its gone and then him giving me more, because I always asked.
While laughing in that kitchen last night, I have realized that one of the greatest joys I have found was their unconditional love for me. Also the fact that my grandmother now shares that unconditional love with my girls. She loves harder and stronger now though, due to the fact that she is having to love all of us for both her and my grandfather. My girls have learned that she will be their shelter from the storm and their rock, just has she always has and will continue to be mine. She keeps me standing strong in my faith even when I am ready to give up.
I know right now in this very moment that not even death has been able to break the bonds between me and them. For when my grandmother hugs me I can still feel that extra pair of arms around me making me feel secure. The love that I have shared with them and the joy of being their granddaughter will stay with me through eternity.

My greatest joy in life:)

Dakotah age 11:
Alianna age 10:
The reason they are my greatest Joy:)

B.D.S.

I am what you call a non confrontational person. I keep it all in until I am about to implode. I really try hard never to hurt someone else intentionally or to lose my temper. I have made many revelations of late and one of them is that the people who love you the most are the ones who claim to love you the most. I often wonder after hurting someone they love how they are able to look at themselves in the mirror each day. Have they become so detached they don't see themselves for what they really are or what they have become? Your loved ones are supposed to be the ones that you can tell everything to, but when you try and tell them how much they have hurt the become defensive or turn it around to make it all your fault.
If you are anything like me then you dwell on these things forever. You end up spending a great deal of time dealing with the anger and hurt or you spend your time wishing you had said this or that. It stays with you forever and is a constant source of pain for you.
So I set out on a journey to take back some of my joy and in this I found that I have to let it all go and forgive . Holding onto all of that pain and anger has stole the joy from my life and makes me no better then the person or persons that have hurt me constantly.
For some of us with forgiveness we also have to pray for some kind of freedom. Some of us are attached to the people who hurt us in many ways. With this attachment our love for them is so great we don't know how to just walk away. So when God finally allows us our freedom it will come at a very high price. Yet we will know in our hearts that God loved us enough to free us and we can now begin again.
For me with forgiveness I have taken back a large chunk of my joy. I can now look at life and see all the wondrous things that are in mine. Forgiveness has allowed me to find true joy in renewing my marriage and it has also let me find the true joy in renewing my faith in God. Just knowing that both my husband and God are with me in this journey is joy in itself. Regaining my joy has allowed me to learn to smile and laugh again.
So no matter what kind of pain you have endured or whether it has been a parent, spouse, brother, sister, or friend that has caused it learn to forgive these people. Not so much for them but for yourself. Free yourself and then move on. Forgiveness is what allows all of us to begin to heal and take back our joy.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? (Marianne Williamson)


Powerful quote, uh? On Saturday my youngest and I had a movie/pizza day. The movie Akeelah and The Bee was being shown on the Disney Channel and we watched it. That is where I got the quote. It is said in the movie twice so you can't miss it but for some reason it stuck with me over the weekend. How many times a day do we say something negative about ourselves? I am to fat, I am to thin, I am ugly, I can't do this or I can't do that? How often do we spend more time on the negatives instead of the positives about ourselves? It is easy to talk about how we should feel about our life but how easy is to talk about how we should feel about us as individuals. It is as if society has set this standard that if we feel positive about ourselves we are considered vain. But are we not human beings that are unique, special and awesome? Are we all the same? No. Shouldn't we be able to talk positively about ourselves without being considered a vain individual? Yes.

Why is it when a woman is assertive and confident they are considered a bitch? Is that not positive traits in an individual? Assertiveness gets you somewhere and confidence gives you the ability to get there. How come as women we have to feel negatively about ourselves to be what society has come to make us believe we should be? Just because you are not a size 3 does not mean you are not special. We let the way we look on the outside affect how we feel on the inside.

Who are we not to be what God made us to be? Maybe God did not want you to be a size 3. Who are we to question who we are? Why are we afraid to do what our heart desires? How come we let fear of failure keep us from trying new things? Why is " I don't think I can do that" a reason to never try? Who are you not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Show me the rule book that says we cannot be. You ARE unique, special and awesome. You HAVE the right to be those things. It does not matter how you look, what your IQ is or even what your circumstances are in life. Embrace you. Embrace your intelligence. Embrace your talent, Embrace your fabulousness. Embrace your Awsomeness. There is purpose in your life. You are here for a reason. Life's circumstances are there to teach you something. Do not let fear steal your light. Shine bright for others and teach them to embrace who they are. Be powerful beyond measure. But most of all do not be afraid to be who you are. You are exactly how you are supposed to be. Beautiful, intelligent, amazing, special and unique. You only live once and life can be taken in the blink of an eye. Spend your time showing the world who you are and be proud of it!

B.D.S.

B.D.S.

I am very excited that Cissy picked this week to be Joy and Happiness. I am not the type of person to talk about personal things but I still wanted to join in with the things that make me happy and full of joy. One of the things that brings me happiness is creating things in PSP so I thought I would combine the two:) I have a freebie today to go along with my post. I hope someone likes it and maybe we will get a few more downloads this time.

One of the things that brings me joy is reading. I love to read. I love going off into someone else's life. Sometimes when the world is knocking to hard I pick out a book and for awhile I forget about it. Books are like an old friend. They have been there for you when times are tough and sometimes they wait hours on end for you to remember they are there.

I actually have a ritual I do before I read. How wierd is that? I fix a cup of tea or coffee. Of course I have to have a snack. Most of the time it is a guilty snack, like potato chips or M and M's. If is in the evening and most of the time it is I get in my PJ's. Then I sit down and open the book. The room is completely quite and it is just me and my book:)

For the last two evenings I have been engrossed in the latest installment of J.D. Robb's series In Death. It is called Kindred in Death and it was good! It felt so good to just sit in my chair and read. I forgot everything:) The best thing is I have passed on my love of reading to my oldest daughter. She reads all the time and most of the time her chores suffer for it. I don't yell at her though because I know why she does it:) This brings me to our freebie. I do not like writing my children's names in their books. It makes me feel like I am defacing them, see there's that weirdness again, lol. For years I have been making labels to go in the front. So I have made some for others to use in their books or their kids books. There is one for each, a boy and a girl. Here is a preview:
They are saved at 300 DPI for crisp printing and will fit Avery Labels ( you can get these at Wal Mart)
5164,5264, and 5524.
You can download them HERE

**DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS** Click on the capitalized HERE and you will be taken to my online 4 shared account and directly to the file. Click on download. Once the package is downloaded use a zip file extractor to unzip the package. If you do not have a zip extractor you can download a good one here for free:
http://www.trans4mind.com/personal_development/zipper/ ( they do ask for a small donation but you don't have to make one if you don't want to, I didn't) After you unzip the program transfer the folder to your documents on your computer.

All I ask is if you download them please leave me a comment here and let me know how you liked them. If I get good responses I will make more free printables. If you have a printable you would like to have please let me know and I will see what I can do.

B.D.S.

To many days we spend thinking negatively. We let life and it's circumstances take our joy from us. We need to learn to look past all the negative things going on in our life. I understand you may be going through some tough times, but there are just somethings you cannot change.
So why not choose to be content. What I mean by that is you can't change these things, but you don't have to be miserable about them either. Maybe God is waiting on you to you see all the joy he has placed in your life. Then maybe just maybe once you make the change in your attitude, God will make some changes for you.
So instead of being unhappy about the things you don't have, find joy in the things you do. Stop letting life pass you by with that sour attitude. Happiness is a choice, so find a reason to smile each day.

Before I start with my recipe of the day I understand that you can find most of these recipes and tips anywhere on the Internet. I am just trying to give you a spot where they are all in one place and you can reference back whenever you want. Also, I am hoping to help someone out there who may be a little afraid they can't do this kind of stuff. Trust me if a baking retard like me can put these things together so can you:)

Tonight's recipe is Gingerbread Cookies in a jar. These make great gifts. I know for a fact because I made these last year and every person I gave one to told me they loved it:) Plus I ended up with lots of cookies I didn't have to make! Please read the whole post because at the end you get a cute label you can print out to go with these and some tips:)


Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon ground allspice
* 1 cup packed brown sugar

Directions

1. Mix 2 cups of the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Mix the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour with the ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. In a 1 quart, wide mouth canning jar, layer the ingredients starting with the flour and baking powder mixture, then the brown sugar, and finally the flour and spice mixture. Pack firmly between layers.

This is all you do:)

Close lid tightly.

Take some red, white or green construction paper and cut out squares about 3 inches bigger then the label. This is where kids can really get involved. I put mine at the table gave them some fancy edged scissors and let them go to town. Next, and again great job for the kiddos, glue the label onto the construction paper. Using a hole puncher punch a hole in the left top corner. Run a piece of festive ribbon through and tie it to the jar.

Tips:)
* If you have a little extra cash buy about a yard of gingerbread fabric. Cut a square out and hot glue it to the inside lid. Place it on the jar and screw the lid down tight.
* If you have a little extra money go to the dollar store and buy a basket, wooden spoon and cookie cutters. Place the jar in the basket with the wooden spoon and cookie cutters. You can put a basket bag on if you want. I made one of these for a fundraiser and it went really well:)

Now here is the label I promised. Click on the label to open it in a new window. Then right click, save image as:) Print it out on regular printer paper or you can use card stock.


If you like the label please let me know.

B.D.S.

Five year old Noah Biorkman is in the last stages of a 2 1/2 year battle with Neuroblastoma Cancer. The family is celebrating Christmas next week and he has requested lots of Christmas Cards so let's see if we can get him some. Please send them to:
Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain Viewcircle
South Lyon, MI 48178

All our prayers and Christmas Cards will make this little child happy. So come people lets make him happy.

As the last day of blessings week has arrived this is what I want to share with you.

To often we settle for lesser things or simple prayers. Yet small prayers only set limits. So we have to learn to not to settle and set limits. Bold prayers lead to bold things.
I have heard people say that they don't pray for things for themselves or they just ask God to meet their needs. I am not saying we shouldn't ask for these things, I'm just saying that God wants us to ask him for the bigger things. He wants to give you, your hearts desires and dreams. I heard a preacher once say to look at it this way, You have all these blessings stored up in a warehouse and we need to empty out our warehouses by asking for what seem to be impossible things. He says " You have not because you ask not." Think of all the blessings you miss out on because you don't ask.
The other thing is we need to speak our blessing into existence. Speak them into the lives of the people we love. Claim what is yours loud and clear. Remind God of all his promises, like "Ask and ye shall receive." Declare his love and favor.
So ask God for that big bag of money. Pray for things that will stretch your faith, show God you trust in him. Don't settle for the small blessings, reach and believe in the big ones. There are no dreams to big or to small. Also remember to say to yourself each and every day that you are Blessed and Highly favored.

Today I have a special gift for everyone:) One of my posts was for Craberry Orange Relish and in my tips section I talked about putting labels on the jars. That got me to thinking that some may not have labels for the jars. So I have made 4 christmas labels you can print out for your home made goodies:) They are saved at a 300 DPI for crisp printing. The graphics are courtesy of Heartland Creek Graphics. These are for personal use only and I do have a TOU inside the zip. These labels will are formatted for Avery Shipping Label #5264, Size: 3-1/3” x 4” You can get the labels at Wal Mart. The SPC is not on the actual labels, just the preview.

Here is a preview

You can download the labels HERE

**DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS** Click on the capitalized HERE and you will be taken to my online 4 shared account and directly to the file. Click on download. Once the package is downloaded use a zip file extractor to unzip the package. If you do not have a zip extractor you can download a good one here for free:
http://www.trans4mind.com/personal_development/zipper/ ( they do ask for a small donation but you don't have to make one if you don't want to, I didn't) After you unzip the program transfer the folder to your documents on your computer.


All I ask is if you download them please leave me a comment here and let me know how you liked them. If I get good responses I will make more free printables. If you have a printable you would like to have please let me know and I will see what I can do.

B.D.S.

Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap!

We have decided to host a Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap and you are invited to participate!

Here's how it works:)

Email us a Cookie Recipe. The email address to send your recipe is cissy.bobbie@yahoo.com
In that email include the name you want your recipe to be under and if you have blog please include the web addy so we can add that to your recipe also.

Everyone is invited to join in the fun!

We will be taking recipes until November 27th 2009.

No plain chocolate chip recipes please. All other chocolate chip cookie recipes are welcome:)

On December 1st 2009 we will be sharing all the recipes in a special way. This is a surprise so you have to come back on December 1st to see, you won't be disappointed. The best thing to do is follow us so you don't forget:)

Happy Recipe Hunting!
B.D.S.

Win 2 Necklaces from Michelle Guerra's
Whimzical Wears!

Michelle Guerra has generously donated 2 necklaces to be given away here! One lucky person will win two necklaces of their choice! These necklaces are handcrafted artsy, edgy and one of a kind. Michelle makes each one by hand. There are no two alike except for the "initial necklaces". These necklaces are all the rage and the newest craze:)


All you have to do to win is:
*Become a follower
*Go to CREATORS ALLEY and leave a comment in one comment box telling us which two necklaces you would pick if you won:) Please leave your email addy or blog addy so we can contact you if you are the winner! If you are planning on following us on Facebook and/or twitter you can also add that in the one comment:)

Additional Entries:
*If you become a follower of our group on Facebook or follow us on Twitter you will get 5 additional entries:)( Links are on the side bar)You only need to leave one comment letting us know you are following. We will make sure you get your additional 5 entries. You DO NOT need to leave separate entries:)

This contest runs from today November 5th 2009 to November 20th 2009, Midnight EST.

Good Luck!
B.D.S.

In trying to stay true to myself I feel like I need to be honest today. Last week when we started this blog and the theme was Friendship and Wisdom the words and ideas flowed so easily to me. With renewing an old friendship that seemed lost and sharing this blog with everyone , my heart was so overjoyed I couldn't stop the words and ideas from coming. I even forgot all the things that I am dealing with in my life for a time. Yet, this week I have found that all those words and ideas evade me. I have tried so hard to come up with something inspirational or even funny, but it's like looking for inspiration where there is none or trying to remain hopeful that the rest of my life will work when there feels like there is no hope. I feel like I am teetering on the edge and it wouldn't take much to push me over. Yet through my complicated and often misunderstood thought process I have realized that I am blessed each day that I wake up on this side of the grass.
So with that being said and in trying to keep it real, this is what I have come up with today on blessings. First, I want you all to know that I am blessed that all of you have followed us. It's nice to know I am not alone in this world. I am also blessed with a friend and a partner who has shared her heart and soul with me on this blog. It may never mean a whole lot to other people, but this blog is what I have been compelled to do and by the grace of God she has come along for the ride wholeheartedly. I am blessed with a husband who is always willing to buckle up and hang on tight for the ride with me is always bumpy. When it seems I am at my lowest point it is his love and devotion that picks me up and helps keep me going. He would rope the moon if I asked and he is the one that believes in me when I just can't seem to find a reason to believe in myself. He laughs when I laugh and cries when I cry. He is my soul mate and one true love. Without him and my girls I would not have a reason to get up each day. I am so grateful to him for picking me, giving more than one woman could want, our beautiful children, surrendering his love, and helping me become the woman I am today. He will NEVER know the true depths of my love for him. I am blessed with my girls who make me live, love, laugh, and cry sometimes at different times and then again sometimes all at once. They continue to make me ask questions, find answers, and to live up to my fullest potential. They make each moment in life seem worth living. I am also blessed with a sister, who I wouldn't have thought for a million years that this would be her cup of tea, that believes and loves me no matter how crazy I get or even seem. These are blessings that will be with me today, tomorrow, and forever. I am thankful that each of these blessings continue and have had an amazing impact on my life. I would not trade or change anyone of them for the world.

It is that time of year when my Mom and I start planning the holiday goodies. I know some may be asking " What's the rush". Well you would have to know my mom to understand. She makes a ton of goodies at christmas. In fact Christmas time is when we see people just because they want to get their tin of goodies. People we have not heard from for 10 months will pop out of the woodwork. We don't care though. Each goodie tin is made with love and given with love. Anyway, so as we were talking (well she was talking I was working) and she asked me if I knew where the Cranberry Pecan Stuffing recipe was. That of course reminded me that I needed a recipe today. You would have thought I would have remembered considering the fact Cissy and I had just talked about it not more then two hours ago. So I told Mom I needed to find a recipe and she asked why I didn't do a recipe/hostess gift. Good idea Mom! This recipe makes a great hostess gift. It is so easy to make. It looks beautiful in a glass canning jar. Best of all it is GOOD! Please read past the recipe for some tips I included. It is just a few things we do and I thought I would share:)

If you need some other cool gift ideas, you can use this Personalization Mall Promo Code to help you save!

This is a recipe that has been handed to one hand to another so I don't know where to credit it to.

Cranberry Orange Relish

Ingredients:

* 3 cups fresh whole cranberries
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest
* 1/2 cup water

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop, about 5 minutes. Let cool and serve. This may be made ahead and refrigerated, covered, for up to 1 week before serving.
Makes 2 cups.


Tips:
1. It is best to make this fresh. We always make it the day we are going to someone's house. After you make it let it cool and put it in a 1Qt canning jar. Each qt jar should hold two cups of relish.
2. We make a label to put on the jar that includes:
*The name of the relish
*The Date it was made
and how long it will keep. ( This recipe keeps about 2 weeks even though it says 1)
3. To make the jar more festive cut a square out of christmas fabric using pinking shears. Hot glue the fabric onto the inner side of the lid. Place the screw lid on top and close. The fabric will hang over giving it a festive feel.

I hope that you try this recipe. It really does make a nice hostess gift and looks so pretty on a holiday table.

B.D.S.

Today's recipe comes from Cissy's friend Jessica. It is called Kitty litter. Below is the recipe and she also shares her variation with us. The best way to serve this is with....a litter scooper. Yes, you read that right:)
Image Courtesy of Free Republic

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,softened
1/2 cupconfectioners' sugar
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanillapudding mix
3 1/2 cups milk
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
32 ounces chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling

Directions
Chop cookies very fine in food processor. The white cream will disappear.
Mix butter, cream cheese, and sugar in bowl.
In a large bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping together.
Combine pudding mixture and cream mixture together.
Layer in flower pot, starting with cookies then cream mixture. Repeat layers.
Chill until ready to serve.
Add artificial flower and trowel. Enjoy!

I used this recipe, but instead of chocolate sandwich
cookies I used vanilla and after I chopped them I added green food coloring and of course the tootsie rolls.

I used 2 large vanilla pudding packs and 1 large banana pudding pack. I
followed the milk instructions on the pudding packages, not what the
recipe calls for.
I also added mini marshmallows.
I used whipped cream cheese, cause it's easier to work with.

Also for the size I did, I just doubled everything, and I didn't layer, just put the "cake" in the litter pan and added the cookie topping.
As you can tell, you can pretty much make the recipe anything you want!

If you make this please, please share your results with us. I would love to see them!

Bobbie

Yesterday I send my youngest daughter out to get on the bus. She comes back in the house 3 minutes later and says that the lady down at the bus stop is being a smartasses. I then ask her to repeat what she said and she says the lady down at the bus stop is being smart. When I corrected her for what I know I heard her say, she replies as her eyes are big and wide " I didn't say that." Then she runs out the door to catch the bus. I know it's not funny but if you had heard it when she said it was funny!

I realized yesterday after my partner posted her parenting post that the manual she is looking for my teenage daughter has found it and she reads it daily so that she can try and find a way to outwit me.
I also realized that each child goes through stages. The first being I'm to cute (infant)- they are so adorable at time because they are brand new. They do require a lot of physical work, but they are just so cute we don't mind even when we are sleep deprived. The next stage is My name is NO! NO! (toddler) - this is where all they can say to is NO! They are just at the stage of understanding and they understand that word the most because we spend a lot of our time saying it. Then there is the Sponge(kid)- this is where they are really absorbing everything they hear and learn. They have now started school and are trying to gain as much knowledge can. I really like this stage.My youngest daughter is at this stage, but yet she is still very loving. I also know it only goes downhill from here. The I don't know (Tween) stage is next ( I believe Bobbie discussed that in length yesterday, so no explanation is needed.) Then there is the I KNOW EVERYTHING (teenager) stage of life. This is the one where you as the parent know absolutely nothing. You are always wrong, even when you can prove yourself right. Prime example: This morning I tell my teenage daughter that the first marking period in school is now over. She argues with me saying it does not end until Weds of this week. So to prove my point I call the school and they tell me it ended this past Fri. Her answer is "Well that's not what my teacher said. You better go and tell them." At this stage everything is a fight or a smart answer. My favorite thing is the mumbling that they do though. I love it when they say something under their breath and it is just barely audible for you to hear and then when you say What did you say? they reply Nothing. The other thing is when you tell them something they now reply with WHATEVER and not just a simple whatever but the one where their lips are curled and the eyes begin to roll. Oh! how I have to control the sudden urge to pull my hair out at the roots. This is the time in there life when they are always hollering, " This is not fair" and " I can't wait to be an grown up."
Now the last and final stage though is the best. Because as an adult we have all been there. It's the I wish I had listened to my mother stage (adult). This is where as parents we try really hard not to laugh and say to them see I told you so. In some ways this is a parents justice. With my oldest daughter I am just waiting for the day this stage arrives because boy is she in for a rude awakening. God Help Her.

There is only one thing I didn't realize until later was that I still have two more daughters to go through the teenage stage with. I hope I still have my hair in the end.

This may be a long post but I sincerely hope that you will read this post in its entirety. Hopefully you will look past the mediocre parenting and find the humor in the situation. It is my hope that maybe you will read this and think of a situation with your own child and no longer feel stupid
I really try hard not to build my kids up to be something they are not. I guarantee you that as soon as you do that they will get around that person and embarrass you immensely. I didn’t lie when I said my older daughter doesn’t give me much trouble. With that aside her sister, my 10 year old, makes up for that. Before I get to the situation at hand let me tell you about a 10 year old I will call Diva. She has no problem telling you what is what. With me and her it is a battle of wills. She is the child that makes me walk, no run, to my mother and apologize for everything I have ever done to her. This kid is a Diva. She loves clothes and is a fashionista all the way. She has every fashion game ever created and goes through sketch books like they are water drawing new designs. This kid has a closet most adults would die for and I sincerely believe she may be the only 10 year old that has 23 pairs of shoes. Thank god for Wal Mart’s $10.00 shoes. That closet was the source of the situation before school this morning. So sit back and read about how I found out I was dumber then a 10 year old.
Last night I reached into the closet and picked out an outfit for Diva. It was one that I had picked out for her when we went shopping. You know the kind that all mothers love on their daughters. It had bows, was pink and had Disney princesses on it. Diva woke up this morning in a bad mood. I am not talking about the bad mood that involves being grouchy. No, Diva was in a hellfire and brimstone bad mood. She had a sore throat and a head ache. I took her temperature and deemed that she was well enough for school. That started the first phase of Operation Make Mommy Look Stupid. She went through all the usual phases” You’re so mean” “You are a living nightmare “I am going to find me a new Mommy” I just was not in the mood this morning so I did what every loving mother would do. I bribed her with a Halloween cupcake. I told her when I took the “I don’t know” child out to the bus she could eat it. All was well until she eyed her outfit for today. “I am not wearing that” to which I replied oh yes you are. “That is a baby outfit, I am not wearing it” Yes you are and that is final. She didn’t say anymore so I walked Ms. I Don’t Know out to the bus stop feeling quite smug that I had won two battles this morning.
I get her on the bus and go back into the house and Diva say’s “I can’t wear my outfit” Feeling very frustrated I said “yes you can. Wont and can’t are two totally different things. “No mommy I can’t wear that outfit it has stains” I knew that wasn’t possible I had washed it and hung it up. So I walk over to the outfit bent on showing her how wrong she was. I picked it up, turned it over and was in shock. On the back of the legs were huge streaks of orange icing. You guessed it my little diva had taken her cupcake and soiled the outfit. I know what you are thinking because it was the first thought I had. Send her to school in it anyway. I would have but I started thinking about teachers and the whispers of “Doesn’t her mother care about what she wears”. As I looked at my innocent angel who honestly believed I was born yesterday, I knew she had won. She had proven that I was dumber then a 10 year old. She knew there was no way I would send her to school looking like that. Did I yell? Nope. Did I ground her? Nope. I picked out another outfit, dressed her, and took her to the bus stop. Sometimes you have to pick your battles and quite honestly this one to me wasn’t big enough to get into a screaming match about. The only thing I said was “The next time you pull a trick like that I will take every outfit you own and give them away” She knew I meant it and it was enough to scare her into thinking twice. However, I am not going to take any chances. I just hope I don’t look to stupid carrying Diva’s outfit for the day out to the bus stop. If my older child asks why I am doing that I will just politely say “Ummm… I don’t know”.

B.D.S.

This is a story to prove that there is no need to small for God to answer.

An eighteen year old girl had an uncomfortable home life. Things had always been painful between her and her father. He was now demanding that she get a job and move out. " I was young and scared, and I hadn't landed anything yet," She explains.
Finally, she landed a job, but it required her to wear gray slacks and a white blouse everyday. She had enough money to buy the blouse, but not the slacks. And there was no use asking her father for help-he was already angry.
She felt completely abandoned. What would become of her of she was thrown out of her house? It was drizzling, and she walked aimlessly, letting the tears come. Eventually she sat down in a wall across from the school. God, what am I going to do? she prayed. Please help me.
A short time later, she glanced up -at a beautiful rainbow arcing across the sky. " A powerful peace came over me," she says. "I felt I had nothing to worry about."
Heartened, she walked over to her Aunt's house. Moments before she arrived, a friend of her Aunt's had stopped in to drop off some garments for the church's clothing drive. Her Aunt told her to see if there was anything in the pile that she wanted before she packed. There was. Two pairs of attractive gray slacks that fit her perfectly.
Where Miracles Happen by Joan Webster Anderson

I am all about easy when it comes to baking. I guess you have figured that out. This is the easiest Pecan Pie I have ever made and it is so good!! It is a Thanksgiving Staple out our house:)

This comes from an old church cookbook belonging to my Grandmother.

Deluxe Pecan Pie

1 9 inch unbaked pie shell
3 Eggs
1 c. Karo Light Corn Syrup ( u can use dark if you like. I like light corn syrup)
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. margarine melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. pecans
1 (3 1/2 oz) instant vanilla pudding

Beat eggs slightly. Mix in next 5 ingredients, pudding mix, then nuts. Pour into unbaked shell. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes, then 350° for 30 to 35 minutes. Filling should be less set in center then sides.

Let cool completely before serving. Personally I feel ice cream is way to sweet for this pie so we serve it with a dallop of homemade whip cream made from heavy cream.

B.D.S.

I am not sure when it happened. It seems like it was over night but I am sure it was just creeping up on me. I was just to blind to see it. A strange phenemon has happened. I have entered an alternate universe where I am still me but my oldest child is suddenly a different person. I keep watching the body snatcher movies to see if their symptoms are the same as my childs but she doesn't walk around going "braiiiiins". So I am pretty sure I can eliminate she has been snatched by a zombie. Last night I surfed the internet looking at alien abductions but I am pretty sure she wasn't beamed up. When I ask other parents all I get is " Welcome to being a parent" I don't understand that. Wasn't I welcomed into that club 11 years ago? Did I miss the memo you had to wait 11 years to join that club? I thought once you became a parent you were a parent? Maybe parenting doesn't really begin until a certian age. Is it possible that our kids have grown up all these years by themselves? I sure wish someone would have told me that all those sleepless nights, runny noses, dirty diapers and vomit pails. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble. So with that being said I am sure that "Welcome to being a parent" is not going to solve my issue.

So can someone out here in internet land please tell me how an honor student can go from talking non-stop to only saying 3 words. Those 3 words? " I don't know" She knows all about the stars, she know how to write a 500 word essay, she knows that she prefers Taylor Lautner to Robert Pattison but she doesn't know what she did at school today. How is that possible? What would you like for dinner hunni? "I don't know". However, an hour later I can hear on the phone with a friend saying I could really go for pizza. Okay, so that shows me she can say more then "I don't know". Actually she has said more then " I don't know" Every once in a while she adds an ummm before it. Is this something reserved just for me? Does she answer her teachers questions with "Ummm I don't know?" I am pretty sure she doesn't.

Maybe, just maybe, it is more pronounced because my youngest is 10 but still loves to tell me about her day. I know everything from when she got to school till she came home. Even bathroom breaks, lol. The only I don't know I hear from her is when I ask a question she doesn't know. I am not sure if this is the case. I am just throwing out ideas. Don't get me wrong. My oldest is a great kid. She barely gives me a bit of trouble. We have some issues with school but I blame it on the fact she is still learning middle school. The biggest issue I have out of her besides " I don't know" is I can't get her nose out of a book. Also, when you look at it I guess I could consider this my small blessing. At least we don't have screaming matches. That would be worse. However, I feel I am in for a lot of silence the next few years. That is until my youngest hits tweendom. I am sure she will be the screaming match I am missing now. Yep, with that thought in my head this is definitely a blessing. Hopefully by then someone will return the manual.

B.D.S.

Have you had blessings happen to you that you would like to share with us? Please tell us about them we would love to hear about them.

We spend so much of our time looking for the big blessings that we need to happen, we often over look the small blessings. Have you ever needed a dollar and found it in the couch cushion or between the seats in the car. Have you ever just needed a friend and out of the blue they call at just the right moment. These are not coincidences, these are the small blessings I am talking about. These are the ones that we brush off all the time or forget to be thankful for.
As a person that believes in Gods love I have to say that I have spent so much of my time praying to see the big things happen that I didn't realize I was taking all the small blessings for granted.
This week I will share with you some stories of big and small blessings. Some are personal and some are ones that I have heard or read about, but each will show you that blessings do happen and the power of prayer does work.

As September rolled into October I was beginning to lose all hope, when a small blessing rejuvenated me and gave me what I needed to keep going. My oldest daughter is a sophomore in high school and in the beginning of October she started talking to us about getting her a class ring. My husband and I explained to her that right now we could not financially afford to buy it for her and she would have to wait another year or two. About a week later the jewelers showed at the school so that the tenth graders could order there class rings. That night when I came in from work, my daughter was so excited she was about to bust. She says to me "Mom I won a free class ring today by playing heads or tails in class." Me of course always being the pessimist reply with there is nothing in this life free and I am sure you will have to pay something for it. Also if you have to pay anything for it you will have to tell them thank you but I can not accept this right now. She then tries to explain it all to me and again she says it is free, but she understands that if we have to pay anything she will not be able to take it.
Two weeks ago, when she had to turn in the paperwork, my husband says guess how much money she saved on the ring. I say NO! how much money do we owe them for the ring. He replies Well the ring was absolutely free and she saved us $541.00 on it.
I must admit that I was dumbstruck by this. She had actually won a free class ring.
Later her and I were talking and she told me she had prayed for the ring all day and all night because she knew we could not afford it. She also said that she was thankful to God she had gotten it. I then realized that God had provided my child with her hearts desire when we couldn't. Also that the blessing was not just for her, but for us to. It's a ring that now we won't have to spend that kind of money on because God spent his money on it for me.
I still pray for the big blessings because I need them, but I know that God is so amazing that he will bless me with small things to sustain me until it is finally time for the big ones. I will remember to be thankful for the small ones because just when I think I am about to give up hope will keep me going.

Blessings are miracles that happen in our life when we need or want them. Sometimes we don't realize even that we need them or want them. Some are big and some are small, but each are a gift that we have been given. We just have to take the time to notice them and know that there is nothing to trivial to ask for or receive.

I love this dish in the winter time. It is easy and if you do it right it can be cheap:)I use an inexpensive cut of meat because it becomes fork tender while cooking. You don't have to buy the most expensive meat when shopping. Inexpensive cuts will do good in any dish that has some type of marinating liquid. We buy everything in bulk and then freeze portions. It is cheaper then going to the store everyday buying meat. Always look for sales and then take advantage:) We have a store here that offers chicken breasts for 99 cents a pound. You have to purchase 3 lbs or more but it is way cheaper because you can freeze the extra for another meal. Also on most items the store brand is just as good as the name brand. I use the store brand onion soup mix and you can't taste a difference. I also use the store brand cream of mushroom. I find it to be better then cambells. I also buy the store brand canned carrots. I save 89 cents buying 4 cans of the store brand. Another good tip, I hate peeling potatoes so I buy them canned. They sell them sliced and those are the ones I use in this recipe.

This recipe comes from my mom's old Church Auxillary cook book.

Steak Supper in a Foil Package:

1 1/2 lb chuck steak ( 1 inch thick)
1 can ( 10 1/2 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope of dry onion soup mix
2 cans of carrots
2 cans of sliced potatoes
2 tbsp. water

Heat oven to 425° F.
Place a 24 x 18 inch piece of heavy duty foil in large baking pan, place meat on foil. Stir together mushroom soup and onion soup mix( do not add liquid). Spread over meat. Top with vegetables. Sprinkle water over vegetables. Fold foil and seal securely. Cook for 1 and 1/2 hours or until tender.

This recipe makes 4 servings.

I hope you guys like the recipe! It is a really good dish and has little preparation time. This is a great dish to gather around the dinner table with the kids:)

B.D.S.

We are going to start doing a recipe of the day:) Or maybe two recipes of the day if we get crazy, lol. The holidays are coming up and you know what that means. Parties, get together, pot lucks, Thanksgiving, Christmas and of course gifts. Recipe of the day is going to be geared toward all of those things. I love home made gifts and I make a lot of candy and things for gifts.

So please check back each day for a new recipe. You never know what you may find. If you don't want to have to come back to the blog each day make sure to follow us on Google Connect or Facebook. That way you will be updated each day directly on your blog or Facebook page!

B.D.S.