WEEKEND-PSALM SATURDAY 'n SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

Just packing so much into the work weeks, makes the weekends so special, a time that God made for rest, recreation and restoration, and worship. I even told my students in a public school that this week when we read the story in their reader,

Get up, Get up!

I put the picture of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type above, because it was the story in the 2nd grade reader that is the same series that I use the Intervention books.

I got my stories mixed up at first, when I posted the picture.

In the story, Get up, Get up!, the Rooster decides he doesn't like his job, and goes on strike. In the end, he looks at the calendar and decides that he will just rest every Sunday, and work all the other days.

I just really thought that was Biblical!

God wants us to rest and take care of the bodies that He made.

Here are the verses from the Psalms that are speaking to me today.

Psalm 84: 9-5-7NIV

Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the valey of Baca, they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength,

til each appears before God in Zion.

Psalm 139NIV

O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise,

You perceive my thoughts from afar;

You discern my going and my lying down;

You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue,

You know it completely, O Lord.

You hem me in--behind, and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

If I go up to the heavens, Your are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

If I rise in t \he wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there, Your hand will guide me,

Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely, the darkness will hide me,

and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to You;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to Your.

For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body

All the days ordained for me

were written in Your book,

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am still with You.

If only you would slay the widked, O God!

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of You with evil intent;

Your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord;

and abhor those who rise up against You?

I have nothing but hatred for them,

I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart,

test me and know my anxiuous thoughts,

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Go to http://jesuslovesmums.blogspot.com/ for more Psalm Saturday from Collette, and to http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ for more heartfelt, inspirational posts from others.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sandy

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Thankful Thursday! Yay! with Sonya at http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/ and
Lynn at http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com who has the theme this week of the Change/transformation that comes from God.

Today, I am thankful for

1. God's Grace and Forgiveness

2. the Forgiveness from others

3. the opportunity to ask for forgiveness

4. the communication that we have with our children

5. the transformation that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

What are you thankful for today?

I have also been enjoying the words to this song:

Unpredictable

Got my thoughts
I got my words
Got this head full of answers
Got You wrapped up
Got You under control
See my future like the past behind me
I think I know where You’re leading
Don’t need no questions
Don’t need no rocking the boat
But I just forget all the mystery
I just forget who You are
(Chorus) When I know that I know
What You have down the road
When I’m sure that
I’ve figured You out
Help me see that I’m small
That I can’t know it all
‘Cause You’re so unpredictable
‘Cause You’re so unpredictable
You said the foolish
Would shame the wise
To put my faithIn what’s beyond my eyes
And to believe You

I have to come as a child

So help me to rest in the mystery

of what I can't understand

(Chorus)
Can’t wrap my mind around You
Can’t put You in a box
Can’t keep You safely contained
You’re gonna move the way
You wanna move today
Just let me follow along
(Chorus)

My Mom's (Jimmy Dean's) Twirls and Paula's Swirls

It's still Week 4 (Food) of Red Writing's Twelve Weeks of Christmas.

I'm back to post the recipe that Mom's Grandkids love to have all year, since Mom started making them at Christmas a few years ago. The recipe that she uses is

Jimmy Dean Sausage Twirls.

When I was looking for it, I found Paula Deen's Sausage Swirls.

They look the same, and probably taste about the same. I haven't tried Pauls's yet, but I know they will be good. They seem a lot easier to me, but nothing is too hard or tedious for Mom!

Jimmy Dean Sausage Twirls

Ingredients:

1. 1 pkg. Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage

2. 2 cups biscuit mix

3. 1/2 cup milk

4. 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

5. 1/4 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped (optional) Mom doesn't put this in, just

in case the kids wouldn't like it. This is to make it Christmasy looking. Same

for the next item.)

6. 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped (optional)

Directions:

Combine biscuit mix, milk and butter in large bowl. Stir to blend well; regregerate dough for 30 minutes. Divide dough into 2 equal portions; roll one on a piece of parchment or waxed paper to a 1/8" thick rectangle about 10" x 7". Spread half the uncooked sausage evenly over the dough and top with half the peppers and onions, if desired. Roll lengthwise, into a long log. repeat the process with remaining ingredients. Wrap logs and place in freezer until very firm--about 1 hour. (or leave until whenever you are ready to use them) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut each log into 24 slices; place on non-stick baking sheets and bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Logs may be prepared in advance and frozen until ready to bake. Thaw logs until just soft enough to slice and bake as directed.

Makes 48 apetizers.

Paula Deen's Sausage Swirls
28 swirls
Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) cans crescent roll dough

(the new kind that is one sheet,

instead of pre-cut)
1 lb bulk sausage

(jalopenos and cheddar cheese, optional)
Directions
1 If you do use the pre-cut dough, open dough and keeping in one piece as much as possible, place on a cookie sheet, unroll carefully, and pinch all the edges together. Do this for both cans of dough.
2 Open sausage, cut the roll in half, and spread half thinly over both pieces of dough.
3 Roll up the dough lengthwise. Place dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes until firm.
4 Preheat the oven to 375º.
5 Cut rolls into 1/2 inch to 1 inch pieces and place the swirls 1/2 inch apart on the cookie sheets.
6 Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and sausage is thoroughly cooked.

I added the Mini Blinds recipe to my orginal post for this blog event. Remember to go to

http://redswriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/twoc-all-about-food.html

to read more recipes and join in on the fun.

"I Get To" Tuesdays

"I Get To" Tuesdays
The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)". However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.
I am joining Leslie at Writing for the Lord for this. Just click on the the "I Get To" Tuesdays title to go to her blog.

1. I get to sit in the cold rain to watch a football game. It was the last JV game for my
son. He made the catch for the only touchdown for his team for that game.
2. I get to get up an hour earlier than usual this morning. I chose to go to bed last
night before 11:00 p.m., instead of before 2:00 a.m., and get up early this morning
to get computer/paper work done that has to be done for work this morning.
I better get to it, since I just got up an hour early, not 3!
Getting up early meant that I have already read my Bible this morning in the
quiet of the morning.
Getting up early meant that I will get to see the sunrise, if I don't forget to look for
it!
3. I get to keep on working at trying to be an encouragement to others at work.
4. I get to meet with parents. That means that I get to work together as a team to try
to find the best placement for their child and make a difference in the child's life.
5. I get to go to the store again already, to get milk. I'm glad that I still have a growing boy at home and a husband, who drink the milk.

John 8:12NIV
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

I hope you'll find joy in all the things you get to do this Tuesday!
Sandy

MONDAY'S MAMA MOMENTS. . .Praying

Just prayng for all 3 of my kids. . .God knows my heart. . .
Just being a Mama, wishing I could actually do something to help them where they need help, but. .. knowing that my prayer is actually the best help I cah give them. They know that I pray for them.
Just being Mama. . .wishing I could be there to give Kalyn a hug and listen to her more and say something that would help her.
Just being Mama. . .wishing I could talk to and see Josh more, and knowing that I need to do better at that.
Just being Mama. . .thankful that Jase wants to pray with us every morning and night!.
Just being Mama. . .praying that I can develop a relationship with my daughter-in-law, Adrianne.
Just being Granma. . .praying for sweet, beautiful Madasyn as she is at that "sponge, learning" stage, wanting to teach her songs and verses about Jesus.

Just Praying!
I pray that you and your family have a blessed day!
Sandy

Week 4 of TWOC, All About the FOOD!

It's Week 4 of my friend, Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas blog party, and this week's theme is FOOD. I could just copy almost all of Keelie's post and put it here for mine, seriously. Appetizers are my favorite foods, and I love Christmas candy and the whole traditional Christmas dinner, too. And, like Keelie's family, THE Christmas dinner is not always at noon on Christmas Day any more. It's just whenever we can all be "there" together. I don't know why it always worked when I was a kid, and doesn't now, but that's just the way it is. It always seems like Christmas to us, whenever we're all together. . . I mean, when we get together around Christmas time. I don't mean it's Christmas whenever we get together any time during the year.

I don't usually eat many sweets the rest of the year, but I do at Christmas! I have Christmas cookbooks. I love to get them out and try different things, and the recipes that come in the magazines in the mail, too. I like to make fudge. (marshmallow cream Fantasy Fudge)

My Mom and Mom-in-law are both the best cooks and are great at making the whole Christmas dinner almost by themselves, and I have already gotten to have it at our home a few times, too. They are also both great at putting out a whole buffet of finger foods. (party food)

For the big dinner, side dishes, I always like to have corn casserole, broccoli salad, and all of the regulars.

Appetizers:

I always make Tortilla Roll-ups, but I never make them the same twice.

I love sausage balls.

My Mom started a new favorite, Jimmy Dean's Sausage Roll-ups. They are great as an appertizer or for breakfast!

My sister-in-law, Angela always makes a great Corn Dip.

Another favorite is called "Mini Blinds". It's a little time consuming and a lot sweet, made with white sandwich bread, sugar, etc. If you want the recipe, I'll find it for you.

What does your family eat during the Christmas holidays? Go over to Red Writing blog

http://redswriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/twoc-all-about-food.html

to join in the fun and maybe win the Fit Band! Please leave me a comment, too! I'll be continuing to check Keelie's blog to get some great, new recipes, even though I didn't post any! If I mentioned something that you don't have the recipe for, and you want, just let me know.

Sandy

UPDATE:

Mini Blinds

2 loaves sandwich (thin sliced) bread

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 stick margarine (melted)

1 cup cinnamon/sugar mixture (to your taste)

With mixer combine cream cheese, eggs and sugar until smooth.

Trim crust off bread and roll each slice thin with a rolling pin.

Spread cream cheese mixture on bread and roll up.

Dip in melted margarine then in the cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

Words:
Thom­as O. Chis­holm, 1923.

Ac­cord­ing to Chis­holm, there were no spe­cial cir­cum­stanc­es which caused its writ­ing—just his ex­per­i­ence and Bi­ble truth. The hymn first ap­peared in Songs of Sal­va­tion and Serv­ice, 1923, com­piled by Wil­liam M. Run­yan. It is the un­of­fi­cial “school hymn” of Moo­dy Bi­ble In­sti­tute in Chi­ca­go, with which Run­yan was as­so­ci­at­ed for a num­ber of years.

Music:

Faith­ful­ness (Run­yan),
William M. Run­yan, 1923

Run­yan wrote the mu­sic spe­ci­fic­al­ly for these words; it ap­peared in the 1956 Bap­tist Hymn­al:
This par­ti­cu­lar po­em held such an ap­peal that I prayed most ear­nest­ly that my tune might car­ry its mes­sage in a wor­thy way, and the sub­se­quent his­to­ry of its use in­di­cates that God an­swered prayer.

I am sure that you all have heard this song many times, since it was written in 1923 and is still sung in our churches today.

I am not going to copy the whole song here today, just some words that stuck out to me this morning.

You change not, Your compassions, they fail not,

As You have been, You forever will be.

Summer and Winter and Spring and Harvest,

Sun, Moon and Stars in their courses above join with all nature. . .

To Thy Great faithfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thy own clear presence to cheer and to guide,

Strength for today , bright hope for tomorrow!

Blessings all mine with ten thousand besides!

Great is God's faithfulness!

Morning by morning, new mercies I see.

All I have needed, Thy hand has provided.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Well, I did copy almost all of it, but not quite.

I'm going to repeat a part again. It is speaking to me so much!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.

Thy own clear presence to cheer and to guide.

Strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow.

Morning by morning, new mercies I see.

All I have needed, Thy hand has provided.

Our pastor is in the middle of series about the life of Joseph. Today, his title was

Settling In,

about Jacob moving his family. He related it to when we move our family or when we have to make decisions and want to make sure that we are in God's will.

I have been able to look back at my life and see how perfect God's timing always is.

I know that He has a perfect plan for each of us as Christians. I am so glad that He gives us second chances. I'm so thankful for the new mercies every morning. I am so thankful that He did pardon my sin and has given me a peace that endures forever.

I am so thankful that His presence does encourage me and guide me and gives me strength for each day and a bright hope for tomorrow.

I have been blessed more than 10,000 times!

I hope that you know the Great Faithfulness of our God and Father.

Have a blessed Sunday and a great week!

Sandy

I am linking this up for Spiritual Sunday.

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

WEEKEND-PSALM SATURDAY 'n SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

Today, I want to post all of Psalm 34NIV, so I am not adding any of my words to it.

I hope that it speaks to you, like it spoke to me.

1I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips.

2My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.

4I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

5Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.

8Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him,

9Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies,

14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are atentive to their cry;

16the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.

18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19The righeous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers Him from them all;

20He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22The Lord redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him.

Go to http://jesuslovesmums.blogspot.com/ for more Psalm Saturday from Collette, and to http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ for more heartfelt, inspirational posts from others.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Sandy

THANKFUL THURSDAY

It has been a very crazy week AGAIN!, but blogging has been one of my outlets and once again, I have been looking forward to Thankful Thursday with Sonya at http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/ and Lynn at http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com!

This time Lynn said to think abut things that make you go "hmmmm".

Last week, I missed Thankful Thursday blogging because I was busy with the first thing on my list.

1. enjoying time with my daughter who was home for Fall Break. I'm very thankful that she chose to spend that time with us.

2. I am thankful for general ed. teachers who take the time to consult with me.

3. I am thankful that our 16 year old son asked us if we wanted to start having nightly family devotions.

4. I am thankful that we are spending time reading and discussing the Bible together.

5. I am thankful for the plans that God has made for my life.

What are you thankful for this week?

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Sandy

I have a child's handprint craft book somewhere, but don't know where it is right now. The Angel and Reindeer that I did with my children used their feet for the body.

I haven't found directions for my favorite one that I did with them when they were little.

I used felt. It was the shape of an ornate ornament and then their handprint was cut out of a different color of felt and glued on to be the design on the ornament.

I will post a picture of them when we get out of storage.

Just have to go ahead and post this to get in on Week 3 of Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas

@ http://redswriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/twoc-accent-craft-1.html

3 Easy Christmas Ornaments to Make:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
These are simple ornaments to make, and they turn out really cute! You'll need to help your little one hot glue the pieces on, but they can be glued on with regular craft glue if you'd like.
To Make Your Own Ornament:
Items you'll need:
Brown felt or foam
1 pipe cleaner, cut into two equal pieces
Wiggly eye
Ribbon
Bell
Small red pom pom
Small white pom pom
"Deer" tag (see below)
Pencil or marker
Scissors
Craft glue or hot glue gun
Hole punch
Directions:
1. Trace your child's hand on the brown felt or foam. If you use brown felt, try to find the stiffer kind (sold at craft stores). If you cannot see the pencil tracing, use marker or a light colored crayon. Cut the hand out.
2. Turn the hand upside down so that the thumb now becomes the reindeer head, and the other four fingers are now the legs. Punch a hole near the top of the "back" of the reindeer (where the wrist would be on the child).
3. Slide the piece of ribbon through the hole, and attach a gift tag to the ribbon before tying it on. On my gift tags I write: Happy Holidays from your "Deer", and have them sign it underneath. Make sure to include the year on the tag.
4. Using the photo as a guide, glue the red pom to create a nose, and the white pom pom to make the tail. Glue on the eye. Bend one half of the pipe cleaner to create the antlers and glue them on. Slide the bell over the other pipe cleaner, and bend it around the "neck" to make a collar. Glue the pipe cleaner across the back.
You're done! Enjoy this cute reindeer.

Handprint Angel

Directions:
1. Paint your child's hand with the paint, and have them put one blue handprint in the center of the paper. Wash his or her hands and have them add a yellow handprint on each side of the blue handprint to form the wings (see photo).
2. Paint a flesh colored circle above the center handprint. After this circle is dry, paint or use a black marker to draw a face.
3. Using the thin gold ribbon (wire ribbon works best) create a halo for the angel and glue it over her head.
4. Write or glue this saying on the back:

HANDPRINTS

I know you wipe some away,But these handprintsWere made to stay.So keep them forever,A treasure they'll be.A special "I Love You,"For you from me.

Snowflake Handprint
Items You'll Need to Make Your Own Ornament:
Craft Foam
Scissors
Ribbon
Pencil or marker
Snowflake shapes
Child's photo

Directions to Make Christmas Ornaments:
1. Trace your child's hand onto the craft foam and cut it out.
2. Glue the snowflake shapes onto the fingertips. You should be able to find foam snowflake shapes at your local craft stores, but if not, you can always cut shapes out of a heavy card stock paper.
3. Glue your child's photo onto the center of the hand.
4. Glue the hanging ribbon to the back of the middle finger.
5. Attach this saying to the bottom of the hand on a piece of craft foam or paper:

My hand is like a snowflake

Unique in every way

Please keep it close to your heart

I'll be grown someday

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES. . .PSALM SATURDAY

It is the end of Week 2 of Red Writing's Twelve Weeks of Christmas, and the assignment is to share your Christmas memories/traditions.
Once again, I have to use the words, "I am blessed" that all of my life, we have been able to celebrate Christmas with our immediate family in the home that I am living, (not the one I'm living in now. . .I mean that when I was growing up, we had our Christmas at our house, and went to the Grandparents', too, and we have continued to do that with our family.)

and make the effort to "have Christmas" sometime around the holidays with all of the grandparents and family. When I ask my children what their favorite Christmas tradition/memory is,

they say, "just being with all of the family,

and Grandma Cabaniss reciting The Christmas Story."

I have lots of special Christmas memories. My children have lots of special Christmas memories of how we had Christmas at home, and with all of their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

At my parents' home, one of the things we do, is to gather in the room with the piano. The children put on a recital for us, playing the piano, some years the guitar, and singing.
Then we sing Christmas carols together.
Then, my Mom recites the Christmas story from scripture.


The Psalm that I have chosen for today tells us to do that, to open our mouth and teach our children.

Psalm 78:1-7 NIV

O my people, hear my teaching;

listen to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in parables,

I will utter hidden things, things from of old--

what we have heard and known,

what our fathers have told us,

We will not hide them from their children;

we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

His power, and the wonders He has done,

He decreed statutes for Jacob

and established the law in Israel,

which He commanded our forefathers

to teach their children,

so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget His deeds

but would keep His commands.

Go to http://redswriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/twoc-christmas-memories-and-traditions.html
to read other great posts about Christmas Memories/Traditions, share yours and have a chance of winning a prize!
Go to http://jesuslovesmums.blogspot.com/ for more Psalm Saturday.
Go to http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ for more heartfelt, inspirational posts.

PSALM SATURDAY, SPIRITUAL SUNDAY, SUNDAY SONG, SCRIPTURE MEMORY MONDAY. . .LPM SCRIPTURE MEMORY CHALLENGE

I'm late in joining Collette @ http://jesuslovesmums.blogspot.com/ for Psalm Saturday, and Ginger and Charlotte for Spiritual Sunday http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/, but I have been thinking about this combined post all weekend.

The verses 18 and 19 from Psalm 94 are ones that Beth Moore chose for scripture memory a little while back, and I already had scripture chosen for that time. Now, they are the verses that I think I am choosing for the 15th, so it works for Psalm Saturday and for Scripture Memory Monday, and for Spiritual Sunday!

The song that I chose,

Blue Sky, by Francesca Battistelli

also goes with the theme of God's love being our consolation.

Psalm 94:18-19NIV

When I said,

"My foot is slipping."

Your love, O Lord

supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

Your consolation brought

joy to my soul.

Blue Sky

When you’re down and you’re out

And you don’t think you have a friend

When you’re lost in the doubt

And you can’t see what’s around the bend

Just hold on

Don’t turn around

Keep on walking

Don’t lose heart

‘Cause I am here, I am here

Wherever you are, wherever you are

(Chorus)

When the rain is falling

And there’s no silver lining

And you just can’t seem to find the light

When you need a reason

To help you keep believing

Let my love be your blue sky

Don’t you know that I know

Life can be so hard it makes you wanna give up

But don’t you know over the horizon

The sunny day you’re looking for

Is waiting right here in my love

Just hold on

Don’t turn around

Keep on walking

Don’t lose heart

‘Cause I am here, I am here

Wherever you are, wherever you are

(Chorus)

Come on come on

Don’t you be afraid

Whatever comes tomorrow

My love is here to stay

(Chorus)

I pray that we'll all look to God's love for support this week, when we feel like giving up.

Have a blessed week!

Sandy

FRIDAY FOTO'S

They did all three have a lot of fun painting pumpkins!

In Davis, OK, the Saturday night Halloween parade and carnival is a big deal.

Each elementary class chooses a boy and girl to represent their class in the contest for parade prince and princess and King and Queen.

The year that Jase was in Kindergarten and Kalyn was in 3rd grade, they were each chosen. Each year is a different theme. That year, it was "Parade of Produce".

Jase and his partner were apples, with him being an apple with a bite out of it.

You can barely see Kalyn's partner, because of his dark green costume.

He was "Mr. Q. Cumber", and Kalyn was "Miss Hedda Lettuce".

FRIDAY'S FAVORITES/ROUND ROBIN

Linking up with Amy @
http://keepingupwiththeschultzfamily.blogspot.com/

This week, for my Friday post, I am joining Monica @ http://dailydwelling.com/friday-favorites-october-9-2009 to share some of my "favorites" from the past week.

One of my favorite stories that we read in my class from the Harcourt Storytown series. . .

One of my favorite blog parties, hosted by one of my favorite bloggers, my friend, Keelie-"Red Writing". i ALWAYS enjoy reading her blog. If you go to her blog party, you'll get to read a lot of other great, creative Christmas lists written by other bloggers, and you can join in on the fun.
http://redswriting.blogspot.com/
Read her latest post, then scroll down to find the party!

P. S. I just rememembered that Amy said "something Fall". Look at Keelie's blog entries to find the Fall Wreath Party!

One of my favorite recipes for this week:

Unbelievably Moist Cornbread

Servings: 8
Who says cornbread has to be dry? This cornbread is terrific and will have your family asking for seconds.

INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 1 stick(s) butter, with salt• 1 box cornbread muffin mix• 1 tsp baking powder (BE SURE YOU USE POWDER, NOT SODA!!)• 2 medium egg(s)• 1/2 cup(s) sour cream, light• 1/2 cup(s) creamed corn, no salt
1. Place a stick of butter in an 8x8 dish and melt in a 375 degree oven.2. After butter melts, take it out and add all remaining ingredients.3. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes and then at 350 for 25 minutes. Slice into squares and enjoy.

I might do this again next week, and have more favorite things, other blogs to share with you. The others who have linked up to do this have shared many great blog posts by others. I will try to do that next week.

Happy Friday!

Sandy

YAY!!! COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! IT'S THANKFUL THURSDAY!

It has been a very crazy week, and I have missed a couple days of blogging, but I have been looking forward to Thankful Thursday with Sonya at http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/ and
Lynn at http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com!

Lynn is reminding us to Count our Blessings. That song often comes to my mind, too!

Today, I am thankful that

1. my husband and I just happened to both have different conferences in the Ok. City area
today, so we were able to travel together, and spend some time together.

2. His conference is also tomorrow. He did some extra driving, in VERY HEAVY rain, for
me not to have to drive, and for us to be together.

3. I am safely home with our son, and my husband is safely back to the city for the night.
This storm really was very dangerous.

4. My parents came to be with our son.

5. all the normal, every day blessings, that we all always think of. . .
our children, our jobs, our homes, God's provision.
Most of all, THE PRINCE OF PEACE!!!

I hope you'll join in, and count your blessings!

MONDAY'S MAMA MOMENTS. . .mama's Christmas wish list. . .

I am usually one to wait til after Thanksgiving to start getting ready for Christmas, but then the time gets away from me, and we're shopping on Christmas Eve, all stressed out.
I'm joining my friend, Keelie, aka Red Writing, for her 12 weeks of Christmas.
Week 1 is "Lists". The lists that have already linked up are all different, creative and inspiring.
I decided to go with "Mama's 'WHAT I REALLY NEED for CHRISTMAS' list"

This year, what I really NEED is

1. to sell our house in Texas. (but to sell it, we have to get it ready for the market,
and actually put a For Sale sign out in the yard!-Just been 13 months since we moved out!)
2. to get good wish lists from each of our kids, dil, granddaughter, parents,
nephews, nieces and in-laws, so that we can start looking for good gifts now,
and to know what to get special for my husband, too. I'm already going to
get tickets to the TransSiberian Orchestra, but that's for his birthday! (Dec. 20!)
3. to plan ahead and start making some special gifts, now. (Thank you, Keelie, and
others for the inspirtation.)
4. to have quality, unrushed time with each of our family members during the
holidays.
5. to get good pictures to capture the memories.
6. to see Christmas through the eyes of our 3 year old granddaughter.
7. to stay calm, remember the "reason for the season" and see Christmas through
the eyes of Mary.

Now, go on over to Red Writing's blog, to see all the other lists, and to see the details, including prizes, write your own post, and link up!

DEAR PASTOR/YOUTH PASTOR. . .THANK YOU!

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

Among other things, October is Pastor Appreciation Month. I am extremely grateful for our current Pastor James (Senior Pastor), Bro. Garry (Youth Minister) and also our Associate Pastor, Philip. As I am trying to think of specific things to write to each of them and ways to say Thank You to them personally, thoughts of former pastors, and thoughts of my own brothers and their wives keep coming to me. I know that there are some pastors in the public,who have let God and people down. Actually, everyone of us have probably let someone down. We are all human, and only Jesus is perfect. All of the ministers that come to my mind give a lot of themselves to the ministry and to God's glory.

Here is what I wrote to my current pastor and youth minister today.

Dear Bro. James,

I just want to thank you today for being the wonderful pastor that you are.

Thank you for

1. being so prepared each Sunday.

2. showing how much you care for the members of your congregation

and community.

3. relating to Jase and spending time with him.

4. being "human".

5. supporting all of the ministries of the church.

and for marrying Judy!

Dear Bro. Garry,

Thank you so much for all that you do for the church and the youth.

Thank you for

1. the time you spend preparing for all of the youth events.

2. the time you spend at all of the youth events.

3. the time you spend with each individual youth, the time you have given to Jase.

4. the time you spend in God's Word on your own relationship with the Lord.

5. the time you give the youth to lead worship services.

and so much more!

Now, I am going to share a couple quotes from our pastor today, that leads right to the song that has been on my heart today.

Bro. James said:

"Sometimes, we are so spiritually insensitive that we don't see God in the small things."

"He wants us to be faithful in the small things."

--------------------------------------------------------

Francesca Battistelli — Time In Between

You were there when your Father said

Let there be light

You obeyed when He whispered

Son, You have to leave tonight

To spend nine months in a mothers womb

Three days in a borrowed tomb

But it's the time in between

That brings me to my knees

Knowing you came for me

And all that I can't be

I'm amazed, so amazed

And I thank You for the time in between

Don't take much for this crazy world

To rob me of my peace

And the enemy of my soul

Says You're holding out on me

So I stand here lifting empty hands

For you to fill me up again

But it's the time in between

That I fall down to my knees

Waiting on what You'll bring

And the things that I can't see

I know my song's incomplete

Still I'll sing in the time in between

So many ways

Your love has saved the day

And I'm grateful for them all

But it's the time in between

The middle of two thieves

That says everything

It's the reason I believe

I'm amazed, so amazed

And I thank you for the time in between

Oh Lord, I thank you for the time in between