TUESDAY'S TASTY RECIPES

Sandy's Special Stawberry & Such Salad

Ingredients:
Strawberries, kiwi, seedless grapes, bananas, any other fresh fruit you want, fresh lemon juice
8 oz. cool whip (not capitalized-whatever brand you want)
I just made it up on Saturday. I'm going to get the ingredients, plus blueberries and make it again for this 4th of July weekend.

Directions:
In a clear glass bowl, layer the strawberries and other fruit, sprinkle with lemon juice, top with cool whip, then layer again, filling the bowl up. Chill.
I think it's delicious and pretty!

For a few good recipes for this holiday weekend, and for weekly meals all the time,
check out
http://www.youvegotsupper.com/

Please share your favorite dish to share on the 4th of July.

5th MONDAY MIRACLES!

I am so excited, as I type this. I hope I don't make any errors!

I had been trying to decide what my post would be today, since it's the 5th Monday. . .
not 1st or 3rd-Scripture Memory Monday
or 2nd or 4th-Monday's Mama Moments

I was ready to do either one of those. . .but then I realized I wanted to post about
THE little EveRYDAy MIRACLES!

You know, we do all have little and sometimes BIG miracles that God performs for just us every day!!!

Here's my current one. . .

Last Wed., at VBS, a person I had just met the day before, came up to me and told me about a teaching job that she thought I should call about. I called right then, and got an interview for that afternoon. Then, the elementary principal asked me to come back this morning.
I was hired! I am very excited.
I know that every job I have had has been given to me by God.
I know that every thing that has happened to me has been God's plan for me.
I can't wait to be used by him in this new job!

I tried really hard to choose a song to post yesterday, and couldn't decide on one.

Today, Beth Moore asked us to post a title of a song that spoke to us.
Immediately, the words, LORD MAKE ME A VESSEL, came to my mind.
I haven't heard that song lately. The words just came to my mind.
That is my wish right now.

Use me Lord to do Your will.
I want to be used in Your perfect plan.
I want You to use my tongue
to spread Your word to everyone I can.

Use my mind so I can think right,
please use my heart so I can love everybody;
You make me strong.
I surrender my life totally to Thee,
so mold me and make me
whatever You'd have me to be.

Take me Lord, lead me and guide
my footsteps every step of the way;
I'm asking You Lord, please make me a vessel,
I want to be a vessel for You.

O Lord, make me a vessel for You.

So, please tell me about YOUR miracle for today, and the song that speaks to YOU today!
I hope to see some comments here!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DANNY & ALYSSA!

Thursday was my brother Danny and his wife Alyssa's 21st anniversary. I am so thankful for both of them in my life, for their marriage, their family, their ministry. . .my friendship/

sisterhood with Alyssa!

I know you both enjoyed your special time together these last couple days. I am continuing to pray for your family.

I love you both!

SATURDAY'S SAYINGS. . .HAPPINESS/JOY

"Money doesn't buy happiness."

"Happiness is meant to be shared with others."

"Happiness is living in the moment."

"Happiness depends on happenstances. . .Joy comes from a relationship with Jesus."

Nehemiah 8:10NIV
". . .the joy of the Lord is your strength."

"Joy comes when you adjust your perspective on life to God's"

"If you want joy, read your Bible, not just a devotional. Read the actual words of God in the pages of the Bible."

FRIDAY'S FOTOS

This week, the photos are obviously current ones. I looked for a picture of Kalyn and me in front of possibly the same cabin 9 that she is spending this summer in, when she and I went to Mom 'n Me camp at Camp Nunny Cha Ha, but didn't find it, yet. Camp Nunny Cha Ha is no longer. It is now "Camp 7", where the Falls Creek staff live.

The others in the picture with Jase, are our friend Tori,

Jeff Johnson, who was the Worship Leader at Falls Creek, last week. . .we have heard him before and like his music a lot. . .he was a finalist on American Idol a few years ago,

and Drew, a Christian illusionist, who was so good in his dramatization of his testimony that the camp pastor called for an invitation, without preaching a sermon, and had hundreds come forward!!!

P.s. I thought it was Friday already. It is 12:51 a.m.

THURSDAY'S THANKFUL THOUGHTS

I am so very thankful today that God has blessed me through. . .

my handsome, loving Christian husband;

seeing all 3 of our children grow up into amazing Christian, young adults;

such fun time with Camden and Madasyn this week;

such fun time with all of the preschoolers at VBS;

the ministry of Beth Moore and her daughters, Amanda and Melissa;

a wonderful, bunch of blog Siestas to go through the summer Bible study with;

other blog sisters to share with;

just the very timely working of God in every detail of my llife!

WEDNESDAY'S 7 WONDERS OF THE WEEK

1. 7 teenagers from our church repented and accepted Christ, hundreds more at Falls Creek
2. many rededications
3. Dads honored
4. lunch at Mom's house
The special lemon cake I made for Jeff was good and appreciated.
5. play time with preschoolers
6. Camden at our house-watching him make a homerun-reliving those days!
(Didn't even mind too much being asked "Are you the proud grandparents?"-We are the
proud aunt and uncle of Cam, but are proud grandparents of Madasyn!)
7. Madasyn saying "What you doing Granma?", "mmm, Granpa, you smell good!"

Gotta go be with Cam and Madasyn!

Yea! It's Siesta Summer Bible Study Launch Day!

I am so excited about doing Jennifer Rothschild's Bible Study,
Me, Myself and Lies
with Beth Moore, and with a small (smaller than all of the Siestas doing it with Beth) Blog group,
"Hopefully Devoted".

Please let me know if you are also doing this study. (and are not in the Hopefully Devoted group)

For today's activities.
1. the icebreaker-Beth asked us to tell what dog breed we are. Our small group leader, Shelli
gave us this link for a quiz to
help us answer that question. http://www.dogster.com/quizzes/what_dog_breed_are_you/

I am a Labrador Retriever.

2. In 160 characters or less, complete a text message prayer request.

Please pray 4 me, I am n the pre-empty nest stage-looking 2 God 4 new purpose, ministry 2 bless others, and a job, keeping my priorities n order
1. God 2. Husband 3. Family 4. Church and others

3. Read Psalm 19 and then share how the scripture has blessed your life.
(See my Sunday, June 14, Scripture Memory Monday post)


Quote from a 6 year old at VBS today:
"You mean they want us to sit down in this sand and play in our new outfits?", Then, she proceeded to sit down and play!

(No time for "Tasty Recipes" today---just VBS, Camden and Bible Study!)
Have a great day!

Monday's Mama Moments

Every moment last week spent with Kalyn,
watching her do her job so well,
worshiping with her,
eating meals with her,. . .

Hearing that my youngest son, who is a very gifted athlete,
and who has been a witness to his fellow athletes,
quit baseball (already quit football)

Hearing my oldest son's voice answer my husband's phone,
because they were together, on their way home from
a Ranger game

Seeing all three of our children, and our granddaughter,
with my husband, on Father's Day

III John 4
I have no greater joy than this, to know that my children are walking in the truth.

Sunday Song. . .HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

"This Is My Father's World"

This is my Father's world,

And to my listening ears

All nature sings, and

round me rings

The music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world,

I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees,

of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

"Faith of Our Fathers"

. . .O how our hearts beat high with joy

Whene'er we hear that glorious word;

Faith of our fathers,

holy faith;

We will be true to thee till death.

I just had to post these two songs today. I already wrote in my profile and in a post last week how blessed I have been, by my Dad, my husband, and my Father-in-law, and of course, my Heavenly Father.

I listened closely to all of the words of each of the praise songs sung this past week at Falls Creek and this morning in the worship service. They all spoke to me. However, I was also reminded of the words of both of these songs, as I looked in awe at His creation and as I thought about how very blessed I am to have grown up in a Christian home, and to also have my children raised in a Christian home.

Father's Day Card to Jeff, from Kalyn

A father guides in many ways. . .

with his words of wisdom,

his quiet strength,

his good example---

and always, with his love.

Thank you for sharing your faith,

your values, and your guidance---

for giving the best start in life

anyone could ever have.

Her words:

Dad,

Words can not express how much I love you.

God really blessed me when He chose you to be my dad.

Thank you so incredibly much for everything you have done for me over the past 19 wonderful years. You are such a Godly example to me, and I love that I can see Jesus in you. Thank you for helping me to become the person I am today. I definitely would not be near the person I am, if it wasn't for your love, discipline, support and encouragement. Please know how thankful I am for you. I love you more than you know.

Love your daughter,

Kalyn

Saturday's Sayings. . .HOME

"There's no place like home!"


"Home is where your heart is."


"Home is what you make it."


"A woman builds her home, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1


"Jesus is the Cornerstone."

People say it all the time, after returning from a place that they really enjoyed being at. . ."there's no place like home", because it is so true.
No matter where you've been, it's almost always nice to get home to your own surroundings.

Laundry, a shower, a nap and Wal-mart all called my name as soon as I got home. I did get a shower, almost got all the laundry done, and made the trip to Wal-Mart. The nap may happen in the car, on the way to the Roughrider's game, with my family and a friend.

"It's great to be home!"

Gone to Falls Creek!

I won't be blogging this week. I'll be back on Saturday--back to blogging by next Monday.

Scripture Memory Monday

I am still working on memorizing Psalm 112:1-8NIV with "Mama Beth".

(See the June 1st post.)

I have Proverbs 3:3 and James 1:19-20 down mentally, but am continually working on being "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. . ."

I already have found verses for July and August, that I think are the ones God wants me to work on at those times.

Scripture Memory is really helping me to grow. . .at 46, I am wishing I had been better at it long ago! I did work on it in GAs and did have good youth ministers, but I just did not grow in my walk. I am so glad that all 3 of my children take their walk with the Lord very seriously already!

I know that I could save this as a Draft and post it tomorrow, but. . . don't want anything to happen to keep me from doing it before I take off for youth camp, so I'm going to go ahead and push that orange button.

I hope that you will be praying for the youth that will be at Falls Creek Baptist Youth Camp in Davis, OK this week and all of the remaining weeks of the summer. I hope that I can be an "echo" to the next generation and help at least one young person start being an "echo" in theirs.

Psalm 145:4NIV

One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

Sunday Song

When I was a teenager, the song "Pass It On" was THE Falls Creek Song. (Wonderful Baptist Church Camp in Oklahoma)
Now, there is a different, great Praise Band to lead the worship each week. I still have my Everybody Sing 'n' Celebrate! song book from Falls Creek, 1979.

PASS IT ON

1. It only takes a spark to get a fire going--

and soon all those around can warm up to it's glowing---That's how it is with God's love--Once you've experienced it, you spread His love to ev'ryone; You want to pass it on---

2. What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding--the birds begin to sing; The flowers start their blooming--That's how it is with God's love---Once you've experienced it, you want to sing it's fresh like spring; You want to pass it on.

3. I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found---You can depend on Him. It matters not where you're bound---I'll shout it from the mountain top--I want my world to know; The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.

Please pray for me as I go with the middle school youth this week (leave Mon. 11:00 a.m.-return on Saturday)to Falls Creek. Then, I will go again on July 13 with the high school youth.

Saturday's Sayings

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."
--Corrie ten Boom

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for your perfect timing and purposes. Thank you for every place that I have lived and for each person You have brought into my life. Thank you for your forgiveness. Please help me to be the person you want me to be today.
In Jesus' Name I Pray

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
---Dr. Seuss

Dear Lord,
Help me to not be sad because my children have grown up. Help me to enjoy the moments I have with them now.
Thank you so much for blessing my life with the childlren that You have given to me to raise.
In Your Name I Pray

Answer to Prayer for Alyssa

On Wednesday, I posted a prayer for all 3 of my sister-in-laws, especially Alyssa, who had to go to the hospital yesterday for a blood transfusion of 2 units of blood.

I believe that we should always remember to post the answers that God gives us!

Answer to our prayer:
Alyssa is doing well today. She feels so much better. She slept all night for the first time in a long time, and woke up rested for the first time in a long time.
She has been exhausted all school year, always felt cold and out of breath. She thought she was just exhausted from being a 1st grade teacher, pastor's wife, and mom to a busy daughter who was a senior in high school and a son who was in the 8th grade and he was having a difficult year. The whole family had a difficullt year the year before. They live in Shawnee and drive to Okc. for church, and Danny drives there every day, including a lot of Saturdays, where he is pastor. That would be enough to exhaust anyone.

God was watching out for Alyssa when she scheduled her regular exam for this past week. If she had gone to Falls Creek, without a blood transfusion, being Anemic and her thyroid not working could have caused her to get very sick there.

I am so glad that she is feeling better!

Friday's Fotos

Thursday's Thankful Thoughts, Happy Birthday Josh and a Tribute to the Dads in my life, all in one post

It's not Friday's Fotos, it's Thrusday's Thankful Thoughts in Pictures, then in words.

Twenty three years ago today, my husband, Jeff, became a Dad.

I am so thankful for the wonderful Dad that he is to all three of our children.

I am so thankful for the birth of Josh, and I am thankful that he is such a wonderful Daddy.

I am so thankful for my Dad, for the wonderful, Christian Dad that he is to me, and for the wondeful Grandpa that he is.

I am very thankful that I was fortunate to be Jeff's Dad, Ray's daughter-in-law, and that Josh, Kalyn and Jase were able to know him, before we lost him.

I am very thankful for Jeff's Grandpa Hammock, also his Grandpa Davis, my Grandpa Orr, and my Grandpa Cabaniss, even though I lost him, when I was just 1 year old.

I am also thankful for both of my brothers, Danny and Charley, and the wonderful Dads that they both are today.

Happy Birthday Josh!

I have to say "Happy Father's Day" today, since I will be gone to Falls Creek all next week.

A Prayer for all of My Sister-in-laws---

I do not have a sister, but I have 3 wonderful sister-in-laws who are all like sisters to me.

They are all going through difficult times right now.

First, my sister-in-law, Alyssa, wife to Danny, will be in the hospital tomorrow to have a blood transfusion, because she is severely anemic. Please pray for her.

Also, her 14 year old son, Zachary has shingles! Please pray for their family.

They all are planning to go to Falls Creek on Monday.

My sister-in-law, Michelle, sister to Jeff, is between homes right now. She and her family sold their house in Plainview and bought one in Lubbock. They have been all 4 staying in one hotel room for almost 2 weeks, now. She is waiting for Caden to finish his baseball season, and then she will go to her Mom's in Okc. until her husband returns from business trips. They will move in July.

My sister-in-law, Angela, wife to Charley, is going to have to have a surgery on July 2, after returning from Falls Creek, and before their Mission Trip. She may not be able to go on the mission trip. They are also in the process of adopting a baby girl.


I am so thankful for all 3 of my sister-in-laws. I am praying for all of them and their families.

Wednesday's 7 Wonders of the Week

1. the joy of being with Kalyn/Jeff and I got to meet her Falls Creek Friends.
2. Falls Creek Service with Jeff and Kalyn/
watching Kalyn lead a young girl to Christ
3. Jase came home from Super Summer so excited to share his week with us.
4. We went to Gunter, made progress in transferring our "stuff", and mowed the lawn.
5. Sunday morning worship
6. Lunch at Mom & Dad's-Mom is the best cook!
7. Jase's youth minister invited me to go to Falls Creek both weeks-hearing Kalyn's
voice when she excitedly told her Falls Creek friends, "My Mom's coming!"

Tuesday's Tasty Recipes

I Timothy 6:8 NKJV
"And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."


Kalyn's and Mama's Favorite Cheese Baked Chicken
(Adrianne, Madasyn and all of our guys like it, too.)

*note: I used to cook this with a stick of margarine melted in the baking dish. I recently found
a similar recipe that said to:

Line a 9 x 13 baking dish with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.

We liked it this way. It is better for you!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

This is an easy recipe and easy to adjust the quantity to make however much you want--you could do it for 2, or you could do it for a crowd. We tried similar recipes that have more ingredients, and this one is still our very favorite!

I usually use:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 stick margarine, melted, for dipping in
1 cup Parmesan cheese, (The kind in the jar is what we use for our recipe.)

You can cut the chicken into bite size pieces or leave the pieces whole.
Dip the chicken into the margarine, then into the cheese, then place in the prepared baking dish.

Bake for approximately one hour, until golden brown.


Black-Eyed Pea Salad Recipe

(From Taste of Home simple & delicious magazine)
A
A
A
A
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
“I've had a lot of compliments and requests for this recipe over the years. My husband loves it, and it's especially great on hot days. The salad dressing keeps the avocado from turning dark, even if you have leftovers-which doesn't happen often!” A fun alternative to pasta or potato salad. Nancy Cariker - Bakersfield, California
SERVINGS: 4
CATEGORY: Salads
METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 10 min.
Ingredients:
1 can (15-1/2 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 large tomato, diced
1 medium ripe California Avocado, peeled and diced
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup prepared Italian salad dressing
Directions: In a large serving bowl, combine all the ingredients; toss to coat. Serve with a slotted spoon. Yield: 4 servings.


Note from Sandy-Our adaptations: We ommitted the green pepper, cilantro and avacado this time, and added fresh corn cut from one cob. We really liked it a lot! We will try it again with all of the ingredients. The avacados and green peppers just weren't good this week.

Monday's Mama Moments

1. Remembering the excitment in Kalyn's voice when she told her Falls Creek friends,
"My Mom's coming!"
2. Glad that Jase is into. . .Bible Study, Breakfast, Bike riding, Basketball and Baseball.
3. Proud of the husband and Daddy that Josh is, Thankful for the times we get with his family.



3 John verse 4

"I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the truth."

Sunday Song

My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) (Psalm 115:1)

How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me--Things so undeserved,
yet You give to prove Your love for me?
The voices of a million angels would not express my gratitude -
All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee,
To God be the glory,. . .
for the things He has done:
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power, He has raised me,
To God be the glory For the things He has done.
Just let me live my life, Let it be pleasing-Lord to Thee.
And should I gain one praise,
Let it go to Calvary.

Saturday's Sayings

"Life is not a race, but a
J O U R N E Y,
to be savored each step of the way." Marilyn Sims


A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8NIV

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
a time to be born and a time to die.
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Friday's Fotos

Thursday's Thankful Thoughts

Today, I am just so thankful
that God is God!
that He is always in control.
that He has a plan for me and all of us.
And, I am thankful for the peace that only He can give.


Psalm 139:16NIV
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

John 14:27NIV
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.

Celebrate today! Celebrate after a storm!. . .

I had already been searching for a special verse for today, my birthday, but couldn't find THE verse.

Then, I was doing dishes, and looked at my daily verse booklet in the window sill, and saw IT. . .

an old favorite, but THE verse for today.

Psalm 118:24

the translation in my window, I haven't found which one it is:

"I have made this day; rejoice and be glad in it!"

NIV

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

NKJ

"This is the day the Lord has made; We WILL rejoice and be glad in it!"

The Message

"This is the very day God acted----let's celebrate and be festive!"

One of the men who came to my door to leave his card for tree and roof service kept saying, "Have a good day, if you can!"

Well of course I can! I will rejoice and be glad! (and very thankful!)

Wednesday's 7 Wonders of the Week

1. Casting Crowns Concert/Josh Hamilton testimony (Ranger game)
2. Joined a new church family.
3. Jase got to go to Super Summer Christian Leadership camp.
4. A day with Mom, Dad, Josh and Madasyn, including:
lunch out, my Angel Food birthday cake made by Mom with strawberries and cool whip, Hide 'n Seek with Madasyn, hugs from Madasyn, Madasyn talking to "Granma Sandy", smelling the flowers with Madasyn, shopping with Mom . . .
5. A Tornado uprooted and split trees and knocked the fence down in our back yard, but did
not hurt us!
6. seeing Kalyn at Falls Creek!
7. sensing God's Love and Amazing Grace!

Memorizing Scripture with Beth Moore and Siestas

It's the 1st of the month. . .scripture memory posting day.
I have tried to memorize scripture in the past, but before this year, I couldn't recall many verses from memory, except
John 3:16 of course,
Proverbs 3:5-7, my life scripture ,
Jeremiah 29:11-13,
Jeremiah 33:3,
Joshua 24:15,
Philippians 4:6-7,
Philippians 4:13,
I Thessalonians 5:11,
Proverbs 22:6,
Proverbs 17:17, and
III John 4,
and not all of these, all of the time, correctly, with scripture reference.

Now, before the 1st and 15th of each month, I am searching His word for the verse He has for me to meditate on and memorize, and it is always so hard to choose just one. The Bible really is so good!

Last week, I had been trying to find something special to work on this month.

I didn't want it to be James 1:19-20 NIV, but the Lord kept putting it on my heart, because I need it.
My dear brothers (Sister Sandy!)
take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak, and
slow to become angry,
for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

He also gave me Proverbs 3:3NIV
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

I was thinking about working on the Beattitudes, Matthew 5. Our pastor just finished a series using that passage before beginning Celebrate Recovery tonight.
This morning, I hurried to see what Beth had chosen, to see if maybe it would speak to me. . .
and it did!

Psalm 112:1-8 NIV
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.
2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 Surely, he will never be shaken, a righteous man will be remembered forever.
7 He will have no fear of bad news;
His heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end, he will look in triumph on his foes.

Relating the above passage to my life:
verse 1:It's always great to begin by praising the Lord! This is one of several verses in
the Bible that tells us that we are blessed when we fear the Lord and delight in
His commands.
verse 2: My children are all 3 doing great things for the Lord right now. They are growing
in their walk with Him, serving Him, and He is blessing them. I have faith in their
generation.
verse 3: We are blessed and "rich" spiritually.
verse 4: Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. (and woman)
verse 5: Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
verse 6: For me, this verse relates to my desire to leave a legacy for my children.
verse 7: Beth was exactly right about this verse for parents. This was great for me today.
(as Jase just left for Super Summer, a Christian leadership camp and Kalyn
is working at Falls Creek all summer.)
We are always praying for all 3 of our children, our daughter in-law and and our
granddaughter.
verse 8: His (her) heart is secure, (she) will have NO FEAR;
in the end, he (she) will look in triumph on his (her) foes.

What scripture are you working on memorizing?