I'm His!

I love those non-Christian songs that you can TOTALLY apply to the Lord when you are so in LOVE with HIM!

When you feel His love so strong it melts you, but not the kind of melting that comes from temptation, falling or failing, it's the kind melting that comes through refining. When I am tempted though I always try to get back and I give it my bestest with nothing to stop me.

Lord, I know that right now it's my time to run this race to win, and learn as I go! I won't hesitate no more, it can't wait!!! I am totally Yours Lord! I am willing to change the way I think, I want to subject myself to the path YOU laid before me, Lord I want to finally SEE and be FREE, I want to look into my heart and see nothing but a reflection of Your love!!!

I want to live in unity with the body of Christ my family and learn to really LOVE as YOU loved! Lord I won't hesitate no more, it can't wait, I'm sure there's no need to complicate. My time is short, this is my fate, I'm Yours!

I've been spending way too long checkin' the wrong things in this world and bendin' over backwards to hide from You when I do, but there's no point because You know me better than I do :o). You can also give me the strength to rid my life of these things, and You can teach me to plant myself and finally GROW, You tell me "the sky is yours!". But I won't hesitate no more, it cannot wait, Lord I'm Yours and Yours alone!

I think this song is very well known - it's 'I'm Yours' by Jason Mraz. (Sorry ladies for the ear nibbling part! lol - rest assured I don't relate that with my God!)

Picture a Day

I think I like this Meme :o) But I am noticing the most fun things to take pictures of happen to be the things that I wish would not happen at all, lol!... you'll see...

January 23: That's not trail-mix ladies! This is what I picked up off our carpeted dining-room floor before I vacuumed! Yum-yum!! My F.I.L was like "eewhh don't share a picture of that!" but I told him the other Mommy-Bloggers would be able to relate :o).

January 24: This was just some of the food we were blessed with from the church getting "left-overs" from Trader Joes... mmm Zucchini! Thank you Lord for noticing our need and for providing, I love You!

January 25: This was my daughter getting into mischief instead of taking her nap! Typical Sunday afternoon!

January 26: This is my favorite salad with some free grapes added :o)

January 27: This was my son getting into mischief - not long after I left the room he poured my whole cup of juice into his dump-truck! Sigh!
This was me giving the drump-truck a bath :o)

January 28: These were made from more of the free food we received! A fresh whole chicken and some tortillas! I boiled the chicken, de-boned it (I hate doing that!!!), shredded it, seasoned it (salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and that powered chicken bullion stuff:). Then I rolled it in the flour tortillas with jack cheese, brushed them with a little olive oil and baked them! This really was a hit - and fun to make too!

January 29: Today is Bible study day - but me and the kids have colds with a fever and I have more than half of my study to finish, so I am not sure I will be going :o( I don't want to get anyone else sick and I might just wanna rest when my hubby wubby gets home from work.

Please pray for us, especially since we have been off and on sick a lot, I really want to see my lil brother and he has a pass to go home from the hospital tomorrow night!... we are supposed to have dinner with him!

My Walk Monday

Well - what did I learn this week? What was I blessed with? What has changed in me?

I was totally blessed to have our first Sunday of Youth Group again! We were on a little "Selah" as is needed sometimes when you have 3 babies - 4 years and under :o) The break has been a good one with a lot to trials, stretching, and growing in between... and I know that there is still plenty more growing and stretching to come!

I think a switch has finally been flipped with me in my relationship with God! I am totally on fire again and never want to turn back!!! I have let God into the "high places" in my heart and I have torn down the "detestable things" that He may now do a completely NEW work in me!

This week it has been pretty heavy on my heart that relationships are the whole reason why we are here... our relationship with Jesus first and foremost (as my late grandpa would pray that we would always walk and talk with Jesus), then we have our relationships with family (wowie - that can be a tough one, can't it ladies?!), then we have the many friends, co-workers and acquaintances that God knowingly puts in our paths.

Philippians 1:5 tell us to "Let our gentleness be known to all men for the Lord is at hand."

We need to live life KNOWING that Jesus IS coming back! And the fact that we will never know when should stir our hearts even more! Once we embrace the truth of the Lord being at hand (like I think I recently have) we should determine to live differently towards our fellow man. Look at the way Jesus treated other people - He genuinely loved ALL of them! even the ones that were KILLING him! He lived for other people and He died for other people. nothing He did was EVER selfish- and that is the example He has left for us!

So instead of complaining about the people that are "killing us" why don't we determine to pray for them? Why don't we determine to see if they need something and do it or get it for them? Why don't we just pick up the phone and tell our girlfriends how much we love and adore their friendship? Why?

My dear blog friends - determine in your heart EVERYDAY to reach out and bless someone - Christian or Non - they both need a GOOD friend.

Picture a Day

Yes another Meme :o)

I figure this one will really help me in an area I have been failing in lately...

... it's called Picture a Day! And that is exactly how it works and how it will help me... you take 1 picture every day and you post your 7 pictures once a week. I will be sharing my pics every Thursday and everyone links up on Altering Life every Saturday.

Sounds like fun huh? Here in my first week of photos.....

January 16: My oldest daughter's chalk drawings...

January 17: My youngest daughter's 1st birthday cake!

January 18: My daughter drew me working on my computer...

January 19: My mother-in-law's birthday roses - so pretty...

January 20: My kids getting into mischief...

January 21: They melt my heart!

January 22: It rained today! I LOVE the rain!!!

Pour Out my Heart

I know it's not Saturday - but I just wanted to share this song, it was on my heart after writing my My Walk Monday post today...

Lord I love You - You are so wonderful! Thank You for hearing my every cry, thank You for being faithful even when I am faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). Thank You for the hope I have in You to trust You one day at a time, thank You for answering me.

My Walk Monday

Today I got an answer to prayer!

I have been waiting on a yes or no from the Lord regarding my readiness to be in ministry at my church, and after what I learned last week about waiting in Acts 1, I was not going to take it lightly!

But today I was given a clear yes.
I was praying specifically and reading a daily devotional my Pastor's wife gave me and this is what was found...

"But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all." Philippians 2:17

This tells me that I need to set myself aside for the service of others. God told me to get past all the "what ifs" and the "what abouts" and be obedient all the way to the cross, all the way to the alter like Abraham with Isaac (Genesis 22). Jesus did not stop short in any point of his obedience, He went ALL the way to Calvary as an example to us all!

Living the "poured-out" lifestyle is like when you hold a cup under running water and you leave it there even after it has been filled... the water will continue to fill it up but it will also have an overflow. That overflow can be a picture of ourself as an offering to others, yet we are still filled with the Joy everlasting!

The other thing about a poured-out life is that it is never stagnant. The vessel will continually be cleaned and the water will always we refreshing. If you are trying to share your stagnant water with others you will only end up dry and thirsty.

I believe whole-heartedly that life in ministry is all or nothing, and this could not be a better picture to explain that.

Praise the Lord for answers to prayer!!! I love you all - have a blessed week!

Jesus loves You!

Yes - I changed the background to my blog again :) I'm feeling festive with Valentine's Day coming up...

I think what really got me thinking about it was that I was transferring a blog post over that had a pic of a Valentine's Day card on it :) Then I decided to make this! (If it shows a really small picture back there, try refreshing.)

Love you all - but remember Jesus loves you MORE!

For a Dear Friend

My friend (IRL) Alicia from More than Words has tagged me three times and linked me other times on top of that and I am just now getting to it all! I'm sorry Alicia! I love you!

She even put this cute picture of us on her blog last month from a Christmas party we went to together. I love hangin' out with her and all her adorable kids, and she is such an example to me with 5, since I have a hard time with 3!


The first thing she tagged me with was back in November and I thought it was the best thing I've been tagged with yet - it has a recipe attached!....1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate 3 or more blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs telling them they've won an award!
6. Start preparing the bread starter (whenever you want)

Amish Friendship Bread Starter
It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients:
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar1 cup warm milk (110°F)

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.
2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.
3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.
To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 - (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

If you keep a starter for yourself, you will bake every 10 days. The bread is very a good quick bread and makes a great gift.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe
Day 1: Do nothing (This is the day you receive the batter, but go by the date on the bag).
Day 2: Mush the bag
Day 3: Mush the bag
Day 4: Mush the bagDay 5: Mush the bag
Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag. Don't worry if the starter smells, it is fermenting.
Day 7: Mush the bag
Day 8: Mush the bag
Day 9: Mush the bagDay 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three (real life) friends.


She also gave me a very cute and colorful award saying that...
"My blog is exceedingly charming. I am a kind blogger that aims to find, and be friends. I am not interested in self-aggrandizement. And my writing deserves more attention."

Thank you my dear!
(This award is supposed to be passed on to 8 others.)


The next Meme is a new one called Marvelous Musings!
And here are the guidelines....
1. In your post include a link back to the person who has tagged you.
2. Post one of your intriguing, or shocking, or challenging passage of scripture from the Bible showing scripture references (chapter and verse) with Bible version.
3. (Optional) You may choose to state what you currently understand it to mean; You may also encourage others to comment or share on what they understand that excerpt to mean.
4. Tag at least 5 or more new people to participate.

Here is my Musing to share:
Jesus died to save us, but He lives to keep us.
(this was my favorite quote as a baby christian in high school :o)

Picture Tag
This next Meme is not one she tagged me on, probably because I never played along before, but it was just on her blog the other day... hey I'll play!

1. Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.
2. Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)!
3. Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same!!

An explanation huh?! Oh dear! Well that's me in middle school playing around in my backyard with like my only, dearest, closest, bestest friend ever... I remember my sister came out with a camera and told us to pose or something... weirdos!!! :o) I must say though, I miss my friend and that backyard.

And now here are ALL the people I TAG!!!!.....

Jenn @ Our Adoption Journey

April @ Two in Blue

Rebecca @ A Not so Desperate Housewife

Karla @ Ainsley's Mom

Jill @ Live Laugh Blog

Ruth @ Life's Journeys

Creative Gal @ Creative Blessings

Amy @ Tiny Blessings

Jan @ Making Scrapbooks

Mocha with Linda

He and Me + 3

Trish @ My Creative Journey

Miss Sniz

Nell @ Casual Friday Everyday

Crumbs on my Floor

Heather @ Needles and Pens

The Happy Housewife

Michelle Pendergrass

Lisa @ Pockets of Time

Jenileigh's Journey

Now if you were tagged you do not have to do all the Meme's just pick one :o) Love you all - thanks for being my blogging friends!

Thru My Child's Eyes

These are photos my oldest daughter took with her camera when we first moved into the house. She did pretty good, she got a self-portrait somehow...

She got the front of the house...

She got the new couch...

She got the wet-bar...
And the whole family... Daddy...
Mommy, lol (I was in my jammies unpacking)...
Her little brother...

And her little sister...

Tacking Blogging - Oye!

As you know I am moving my blog from scrappingservant.com to the same at blogspot.com - this is turning out to be a pretty HEAFTY task! I tried to import it, but that wouldn't work from Wordpress.org to Blogger :( So I am copying and pasting everything over day by day!!!!!

I am also noticing I have ran behind on the current and up to date things I want to blog while I do the back-log! So today on top of transfering half of March 2008 over I am writing this long overdue post on my new home!

I did tell you and show you that I was moving back in October with one picture but since some of you might remember my IKKY post over at 5 Minutes for Mom regarding my old house, I thought I would show you how GOOD my God is!!!

Let's start with a reminder of the old before I show you the new!......

Bad floors, with mold and water damage!...

Bad yards, a bad roof...

A lot of weed trees!!...

Bad windows...

More mold and no working hardware or even screens on some windows...

More mold in the walls!!!!...

A nasty, rusty, dangerous hole in the tub...

And holes in the walls!!!

Now lets take a look at the NEW!!!! PRAISE THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!

A view of our front yard from the front room window (landscaper included - and the windows are double paned!!!)...

That looks like a good roof (in the background :o)....

It has a beautiful marble entryway - nice for foot traffic unlike the old house that would just plop everyone into our living room!...

My kids LOVE having a two story house...

Under the stair we have a little reading area that we call the "book-nook"...

There is a wonderful kitchen and my kids enjoy having their snack table under the bar in our family room...

We also have a wet bar in the family room, and my hubby got me a new (used) sectional for Christmas (early :o).....

This is the other side of the family room and there are more photos in THIS POST...

This is the back door from the family room that leads to the deck and my kids favorite place to play...

In the rocks!!!!......

This is the view from the deck...

This is the view from the lawn...

And this is THE VIEW!!!!...

This is my oldest and my youngest daughter's room...

This is my son's room which also acts and the toy room or play room...
And this is my room...
There are still a lot of things that are not settled yet (noticed you didn't see a scrap room? that's a whole other post!) but we are soo sooo blessed beyond belief!