HPW-8-29-12

1. Americans will celebrate Labor Day this coming weekend. Do you know what we're actually celebrating? (without consulting your friends google or wikipedia, ahem) What's a project you're currently 'laboring' over?
 Growing up in a coal town in WV, there was no way to not know what labor day meant. I have seen old pay stubs of my grandfathers and after the company got done taking their part he made $1 or 2 a week raising 11 children. I think sometimes the unions get to picky and want to much stuff now days but there is no way I would ever cross a picket line.


2. Labor Day also signifies the unofficial end of summer for most of us...what summer food will you miss the most? If you live in the Southern hemisphere feel free to substitute winter for summer.  Watermelon and fresh vine ripened tomatoes. The ones they bring in from other places never taste as good.

 3. A well known proverb states, "It's easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission." Your thoughts?
 I hate when people use this excuse because in my opinion are you trying sorry for what you did if you planned it ahead of time. Forgiveness means that you are sorry for doing whatever and I just think you are not really sorry only sorry that you got found out.


4. Food critic, film critic, art critic, book critic...which hat would you most like to wear?
 book critic. I love to read and to get paid for it would be awesome.


5. When you were a kid, (besides your parents) who was your favorite adult?
 my grandmother raised me so I won't name her since she really counts as my parent. It would probably be Herman Williams. He was an old time country preacher and used to come see me every time I was in the hospital. I was so sick growing up that I thought I lived in the hospital and visited home. I so wanted him to be the person to perform my marriage ceremony but my in-laws wouldn't agree and I was way too young and moldable to fight for it. Now he has went on to Heaven.

6. The astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away last week. He was regarded as a hero by many generations of people all around the world. Do we still have modern day heroes? What makes someone a hero?

 

Last night we had a shooting the killed a state trooper. I think the people who lay their lives on the line every day to ensure our safety are the real heroes. Every time they go to work they don't know if they will come home.   I also think that firefighters, EMTs, and school teachers are heroes and don't get the credit they deserve.

 

 

 

 

7. I never get tired of __________________.

 being in the hand of God. I praise Him daily for everything He does that I am not even aware of.

 

 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

  Thinking that I am being tested this week. The doctor just told me that my blood pressure was so high she was afraid I was going to have a stroke and to not even exercise because of it. Then today on the way home from the doctors my car broke down. My first thought is a blown engine but I am praying not. My dad is having someone check it out tomorrow to see. I don't know what I will do if it is. I don't make enough to make a car payment and I have no savings.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch 8-29-12

 I am a day late with this one but I was just feeling drained yesterday. I am off work today because I have to go to the doctor and getting some x-rays done. It was so nice to wake up with the sun today. The past 2 days I have went into work 1.5 hours early to make up some time so I don't have to use so much sick leave.

 What's the last thing you baked? We are currently remodeling so I don't have an oven so I can't exactly recall what the last thing I baked was but I am thinking it was pizza. I love homemade pizza.

 What's your favorite thing about fall? I love the colors of the leaves and harvest time. I love the smell of bonfires and apples. My favorite holiday happens in the fall, Thanksgiving. I love cooking a huge meal and all the family gathers in.

 What's your favorite room in your home? the kitchen. I love to cook and everyone tends to gather in the kitchen and sit around the table. I love trying new recipes and collect cookbooks.

Who handles bill paying in your house? Since I am divorced and its just me then obviously its me, but when I was married I did all the bill paying. We used to fight about that because he wouldn't participate at all and I had all the stress of stretching funds.

Tell whatever you'd like to share with our chatting friends. Oh how wish I didn't have to work outside the home. I would so love to own a farm and live the farm life. I don't mind working, I just hate leaving home. I have always dreamed of living off the land. I love to can. I would have to work out a swap deal of some kind in order to get meat because I get overly attached to animals and couldn't ever have one I had known killed. I even cry when I drive by a dead animal on the road. :)

TSMS-8-25-12

I heard this song on another blog and loved the song plus I just love to hear Candy Christmas sing. I love her name, its so cute and she is a great singer. I love happy fast paced songs.  I have seen some people who are just so humble and grateful for what God has done for them that they don't have words.

HPW-8-22-12

1. Aloha! On August 21, 1959 Hawaii officially became a US State...have you ever been? Upon arrival would you prefer an orchid or a hibiscus to tuck behind your ear?  Nope never been. I used to always want to go but after the big tsunamia, I realized there isn't enough advance notice for me :).  If I had still been going I would have preferred an orchid

2. Since we're talking tropical...what's your favorite food or beverage made with pineapple? I love about anything with pineapple, but what really pops in my mind is a pineapple stuffing (its really more of a bread pudding) that my girls insist on for every holiday. I found the recipe about 12-15 years ago and have made it ever since for all holidays. They pitch a fit otherwise.

3. Do you believe in soul mates? Explain.  I believe in being faithful and doing everything you can to make it work once married. I think that if we are following God's will that he will lead us in the direction that we could meet that one person who just fits for us but I don't think there is only one person in the entire world that is your dream. Because free will means that not only you but the other person can accept or deny the relationship.

4. Share a memory about the house you grew up in. 
My older cousin and I were playing with fire (big no no ) in a plastic bowl. All the adults were playing cards in the kitchen. We heard them coming to check on us and we hid the bowl under the porch. Yup, you guessed it porch caught on fire and so did our behinds once it was all said and done. (the house was fine, they put it out really fast)

5. Are you comfortable with silence? If I am home alone you will most likely not hear any sound at all. I don't play the radio or tv. I will occasionally get in a music mood but not often. I like silence as long as its not an icy cold silence where you know someone is mad and brooding.

6. You spot a giant spider on your bedroom wall...what's your next move? (all spiders are giant, right?) squeal then squish or run depending on size and location

7. My idea of fun does NOT include_____________. Drinking or drugs

8. Insert your own random thought here.  This one is a debbie downer but its bugging me. I was upset at work today because my upper supervisor flat out lied to my immediate supervisor and he sold out my coworker. He helped her do something and then he didn't have her back with the immediate supervisor and lied about his involvement in it. He outranks the immediate supervisor and it really bothered me on so many levels. 1. He lied 2. He sold out my coworker 3. and the biggest problem is he is a pastor. Thats the part that really gets me. I think all christians should stand by their words and certainly shouldn't lie. He did so much damage to his witness to 4 people that were there I know.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch-8-21-12

Its time for another chat on the farmhouse porch. Hope you are having a good week.

1. Are you a list maker? (grocery, to-do, goals, etc.)  I make lists all the time but I am forced to admit that I don't stick to them. I appear to just like making them.
2. Do you have overnight guests often? I don't have extra room in my current residence for guests. I wish I did.
3. Where is your laundry room, or the area that you keep your washer and dryer? Its not a separate area but a section off the hall that is wider than the rest just outside the bathroom.
4. How are you with tools? Power tools? I would probably lose a limb or a digit with power tools. I can't even hit a nail on the head most time. I do own my hand dandy multi ended screwdriver that I use for about everything but thats pretty much all.
5. Tell me something that will make me smile. Please.  Well since you talked about your dog, I will too. My oldest likes the song "I'm sexy and I know it" and she has taught our dog Maxine to dance to it. So now when Maxine hears the music even if its a parody she comes running to do her little dance because she's sexy and she knows it :).  Girl look at that body :)

 

Dear Child

Here is my thought for the day and then I have to go do some errands. Most parents are going to get this one. How many times do your children blame you for the bad stuff in their lives or mistakes they have made. And sometimes it really is the mistakes or bad decisions we have made the cause these things in our children's lives. But we do that too. When bad stuff happens to us, we blame God. Yet t

hat is never true. God is not capable of causing bad things in our lives, He is pure love and can only send good things to us. Bad stuff happens because we live in a sinful world and sometimes we make bad choices, someone else makes bad choices or satan is doing it to us. Stop blaming God and see how much He loves you. He loves you so very much that He sent His only Son to die so that we can have fellowship with Him. Spend your day thinking about that love.

Dear Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Psalm 139:1)
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2)
I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3)
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31)
For you were made in my image (Genesis 1:27)
In me you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:28)
For you are my offspring (Acts 17:28)
I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
I chose you when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12)
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book (Psalm 139:15-16)
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26)
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
I knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)
And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6)
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. (John 8:41-44)
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (1 John 4:16)
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (1 John 3:1)
Simply because you are my child and I am your father. (1 John 3:1)
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11)
For I am the perfect father. (Matthew 5:48)
Every good gift that you received comes from my hand. (James 1:17)
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:1)
Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalms 139:17-18)
And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40)
For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5)
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41)
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3)
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13)
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians3:20)
For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
I am also the father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18)
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11)
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 21:3-4)
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Revelation 21:3-4)
I am your father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23)
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:23)
He is the exact representation of my being. (Hebrews 1:3)
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. (Romans 8:31)
And to tell you I am not counting your sins. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (1 John 4:10)
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32)
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive Me. (1 John 2:33)
and nothing will ever separate you from My Love again. (Romans 8:38-39)
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7)
I have always been Father, and I always will be Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15)
My question is...will you be my child? (John 1:12-13)
I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)

Your Heavenly Father

TSMS= Redeemed

A really good friend I found through a savings blog a long time ago who is now my facebook friend posted this song on Wednesday. I hadn't heard it before but it took only one time for it to be on my favorites list. It feels like I spend my life with the ghosts of my pasts haunting me. I need to stop fighting a battle that's already won.

Tribute to the King of Rock and Roll

35 years ago today, I was swinging in the backyard in the sunshine and the radio was in the kitchen window. The announcer came on and said he had just gotten word that the King of Rock and Roll had been found dead at his home in Memphis Tn. I was 9 years old and my heart broke. I remember crying and crying. Growing up you could watch Elvis all the time on tv, they were always playing his movies. Now you can't hardly see one except on August 16th and January 8th.  One of his favorite foods was a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. I usually eat it every year on this day.

Ingredients

• 2 slices white bread
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small ripe banana
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

Directions

Place 2 pieces of white bread in the toaster on a light setting. Heat skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons butter. While the bread is toasting, in a small bowl, using a fork mash the ripe banana until it reaches a smooth consistency. Using a knife, take both pieces of the toasted bread and spread 2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter, topping 1 side with the mashed banana. Place 1 slice of bread on top of the other forming a sandwich. Place sandwich in hot skillet browning each side, flipping with a spatual, about 2 minutes per side. Take out of skillet, slice on a diagonal and serve on a plate.

Here are a few of my very favorite Elvis songs

Most people don't associate Elvis with gospel but thats where he started and he always remember his roots.


I just love this song.


This is probably my favorite of all his songs.


This one shows why he was known as Elvis the Pelvis


For some reason this one always caught me and I have sang it to my daughter for years.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch-8-15-12

Oh, I found a new meme and thought I would share the questions today. I loved the name of the meme, chats from the farmhouse porch.  I came across it while reading another blog and liked the questions and the blog they come from. I have always wanted to live a farm life. Can't wait to read the whole blog.

1. What was your biggest fear as a child?    
  I always thought there was someone hiding under my bed and was terrified to let my hand hang over the side in case they would grab me.

 2. Who taught you to cook? Betty Crocker, I wasn't allowed in the kitchen growing up except to do dishes so when I got married my ex husband almost starved before I learned to cook. Fortunately if its in a book I can usually do it. I still have that cookbook 28 years later.




3.  Do you have a lot of books in your home? There are probably some small libraries that have fewer books than I do. I have honestly given about 30 boxes of books away in the past 2 years but its just so hard to not have them. Some of them are such good friends that I have to keep them and then I find new ones that are so interesting.

4.  Do you like carrot cake? Patrice says frosting is good on top. If you like that cake, what kind of frosting do you like best? On top? Hmm. I guess you wear it like a hat.  I love carrot cake and it has to have cream cheese icing. Funny story about carrot cake. One year I moved in with my cousin and her girls for a while, it was just a couple days before the youngest's 3rd birthday and I had bought a carrot cake the day I moved in. Taylor thought it was for her birthday and for about 3 years after that she thought all birthday cakes had to have carrots on them.
 
5.  What's did the last funny t-shirt you read say? (It doesn't have to reflect your personal feeling about the topic, just be funny and family friendly.) My sister just posted a picture on facebook of my nephew and his girl friend. His shirt says "I'm right 97% of the time, Who cares about the other 4%", it just hit my funny bone.

HPW- 8-15-12

Its been a while since I posted a HodgePodge Wednesday but here goes.

1. When was the last time you 'disturbed your routine' and how'd you do it?
 Last Thursday and Friday, I went walking with a friend and then we sat on a bench and just waved at everyone driving by. We laughed until we had tears rolling and everyone else walking by was laughing. It was the most fun I have had in a long time.

2.What's your favorite fried food indulgence?
  shrimp fried rice no veggies or fried eggs, I just love to have them with biscuits to sop up the yolk :)

3. Did you have an allowance as a kid? What did you do with it? Do you give your own kids an allowance?
 I got a weekly allowance when  I was in high school. I used it for snacks, assorted school expenses. I didn't really stick with the allowance for my daughter, It was more hit or miss. Mostly she just asked for money and I would try to get some work out of her to earn it.

4. What's something you wish you knew more about?
God, men, romance, life in general. Jesus' life on Earth, cars since mine is always broken down, why things happen the way they do.

5.  Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore? If so, what?
 Lately my RA has been acting up so everything feels like I am too old to do.

6. What's a song you think has a great first line?
 Heard a new song for the first time today and loved it, its Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave
"Seems like all I can see was the struggle, haunted by ghosts in my past"

7. Who are you writing to/for when you create a blog post. In other words...as you write, who is the audience in your head?
 I think I mostly write it for my girls and grandchildren to read in the future to know me better if anything should happen to me. My family that doesn't live close so they can keep up with our lives but lately I haven't done that great. I originially started my blog as a deals and contest blog for my coworkers and friends. Then there got to be so many that it wasn't that big a deal.  Sometimes I just write because no one else is listening so at least I can say it to someone.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today is one of my cousin's birthday. Growing up we were best friends but as we got older we just didn't spend anytime together.  We talk on facebook but thats about it. I wish we could stay close to people we love but I guess life is all about moving on and making room for new things and people.

TSMS-Citizen Way

I heard this song for the first time this week and I just really liked the upbeat music of it and the words are so meaningful. It really should have been each and every one of us but Jesus doesn't want us to be apart from him and our dying wouldn't have paid the sin price so He choose to suffer and die so that we might be called sons and daughters of God and be considering real brothers and sisters of Jesus.  Its been a pretty good week here and I wanted something that sounded happy. I hope you have had a wonderful week also.

Weekly update for August 6th

Since I am trying to post more often I thought I would do a weekly catch up of the past week.

1. Wednesday I was extremely grateful for God's protecting power. I was stung by a swarm of wasps at work and got stung 8-10 times. The last time I was stung by a wasp I had to go to the e.r. because I couldn't breathe. I had no reaction other than one of the stings swelling.

2. Mandi made a diaper gift for a friend of mine to take to her niece's shower.

3. I did manage to walk a couple of days and I started taking green coffee beans. I found them at Wal-Mart and read about them on Dr Oz. I am taking 4 pills a day. I will let you know how they work out.

4. I made a big batch of laundry detergent. I posted a while back about making it and forgot to let you know how it turned out. It is awesome for removing stains and odors. We love it and I have made a number of batches. I was just making small batches but this time I made a triple batch.

5. I also read on line about having silky smooth legs and tried it out.
Super Silky Summer Legs
Next time you are feeling down, about to binge, going on a date, or just need to pamper yourself, do this. I just did it and I can not stop rubbing my legs together. It feels like I paid for that over expensive pedicure at the salon.
Ingredients

• 1 1/4 C Sugar (Yup, plain, good-ol’ white sugar)
• 1/2 C Oil (I used olive oil, but you can use any oil, coconut oil, baby oil, canola oil)
• 3 tablespoons Citrus (Lime or lemon)
• 1-2 Razors

  I used a rubbermaid bowl to store it in the bathroom.  I loved how it made my legs feel. I actually used it all over like a body scrub. My arms are so smooth.

6. Was a bit upset becauseof the lies told by someone who not only claims to be a christian but is also a pastor's wife. If you aren't honest enough to stand by your words than you had no business saying them. That just makes all christians look bad especially when its someone not saved looking at your actions. This was a woman I worked with until she quit a couple weeks ago. As time goes on I find more and more lies she told. I am not perfect but I do try and I never go around bragging what a good christian I am. I am so glad she isn't part of my life but I pray that God will give her a real experience with him.

7. We ordered tickets to the Elton John concert in Wheeling next month. This is Mandi's dream come true.