Mmmmmm!

This coffee, "Monkey Coffee," as Bub calls it, is so delicious on this cold, rainy fall afternoon! He calls it monkey coffee because the smell reminds him of monkey bread. Get some soon because it's seasonal.



This blog is really to myself in case it makes me sick. (Tara, you really did enjoy that pumpkin spiced coffee, and you had a sweet time sharing a cup with Bubbie while snuggling on the couch. It was worth it.)

Coffee and Bible reading used to be my favorite combination for early mornings. These days, it's coffee and prayer (prayer that I don't get sick!). I guess coffee and prayer isn't a bad combo, right?

- Posted using my iPhone

This is dedicated to my husband...

who absolutely cannot read lips to save his life!

This website takes public speeches and songs and "lip reads" them. It's hilarious, because it really does look like they're saying the nonsense that you hear. I chose the Rick Perry one, since I'd rather hear hilarious nonsense than his globalist, soft-immigration, Mulism-loving, parental-rights-hating hot air.

But I have to admit, this one is funnier:

Birth order, anyone?

I'm definitely not into psychology, but years ago I read Kevin Leman's birth order book, and I was amazed at how true his descriptions of family dynamics were. I am the firstborn. Maybe just a teenie, weenie bit controlling and bossy. (only a little!)

What do you think? (also from 1982, 7 years old)

About the smoking, no...none of my friends smoked, although some of them obviously had sinus and fidgeting problems; but smoking would have been my worst nightmare. My daddy smoked (thankfully, he has quit! Yay, Daddy!), but I hated every second of it growing up. Obviously LOL.

"7" Was a Rough Year

My parents cleaned out their attic and gave me a box of things from years gone by. I thought this was pretty funny. It's dated 1982, when I was 7 years old. Incidentally, this was about a month before I got saved. :-)

And just for the record, I had a wonderful childhood and I dearly love my sister, Jada.

!!

Wow! You really should look at this. Seriously. Click on the link:

U.S. Debt Clock

Granted, "No Child Left Behind" was a spending boondoggle of a disaster, but it looks like thrift compared to ObamaCare.

Little Sister Boot Camp

This is how the soldier gets his baby sister in shape.

- Posted using my iPhone

Surprise!

I about had a heart attack when I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth tonight. I saw Mr. Freeze's house sitting on the countertop (Batman), but then I saw moving antennas!


Can you see the poor unfortunate grasshopper that Seth brought in for the night?

BOYS!

- Posted using my iPhone

On the Death of Steve Jobs

I thought this was an excellent perspective by Doug Phillips from Vision Forum on the life and death of Steve Jobs.

"On the Death of Steve Jobs" by Doug Phillips

The fifty-six-year life of Steve Jobs has ended. What is the message?

First, this was the full life of one of the greatest innovators and marketing giants since Edison. He was a man who understood that the computer revolution provided an unprecedented opportunity in history to shape culture. Over the last thirty years, American culture has been shaped by Hollywood, by music videos, by Madison Avenue, by the government schools, and by Steve Jobs. It is time for Christians to take inventory of these influences and consider our response.

...continue reading the article here.

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Just a Little Something to Brighten Your Day

- Posted using my iPhone

Dedicated to Gran and Nanna

An elderly couple's accidental video has gone viral after their granddaughter (who tried to teach them how to use their new laptop camera) discovered the video and posted it on YouTube. This is so cute!

The Donkey Whisperer

This has got to be the best campaign ad ever!

Requiem for a Cow

I obviously have not been in a blogging mood lately.  I really am trying to come to terms with my new way of life.  This past year has been filled with a lot of misery for me, physically.  I've lived with chronic asthma, migraines, fatigue, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and hives.  I guess I'm at least thankful I know what's been causing my problems:  food allergies!  I've spent my married life immersing myself into homemaking, natural living, cooking from scratch, tweaking recipes to perfection, and cake decorating.  Now, I'm having to forget everything I've learned (and it's killing me!).  My new life will be without milk, butter, cheese, whey, casein, rice, fish, shellfish, and eggs.  I just hope and pray I don't have to add coffee to this list, as I am definitely allergic to coffee.  So far, I've been able to tolerate it (with hives) in small amounts.  That means.....

• no half and half in my coffee
• no pizza, tacos, lasagna, baked ziti, or homemade macaroni and cheese
• no Chinese food or rice casserole dishes
• no white chocolate cheesecake or strawberries and cream pie or dirt cake
• no ice cream or fruit dips and spreads
• no Ranch or Thousand Island salad dressings
• no pumpkin spice lattes or white chocolate mochas
• no mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, or whipping cream
• no fast food or restaurants, and very little food not cooked by myself
• no gravy or creamy soups or bouillon 
• no baked fish or grilled shrimp or shrimp boil
• no milk chocolate or white chocolate or crock pot candy at Christmas
• no alfredo or chowder

I could go on.  It's depressing.  And there's no cure. Instead of browsing recipes to cook for my family, I am now keeping up with an epi-pen, reading labels, exchanging my iPhone recipe apps for allergy apps, and living in fear of when the pain will strike again.

After 2 terrible episodes last week, I'd had just about all I could take Saturday evening.  I just went to bed in tears.  I'm so thankful to say that I woke up Sunday morning actually feeling good for the first time in weeks.  Pain free and with energy!  The Lord knew I needed that, and I'm so thankful.  I'm thankful it is something I can live with and still enjoy all the blessings the Lord has given me.  Living in a land where we eat 3 meals a day, it has affected me greatly, and yet, it could be much worse.

I spent this past week listening to Brahm's Requiem as I meditated and remembered all the victims and lives devastated on September 11.  I found that the Requiem quite fit my overall mood for this past year.  Some parts of my homemaking (and thus, my identity) are just going to have to be laid to rest.  I have finally resigned myself to stop obsessing over "substitutes" for everything, and just focus on what I can eat.  I guess I can stop asking Jason for that milk cow I've always wanted for fresh milk, cream, and butter.  I'm not going to volunteer to cook (as I usually do), and maybe I'll finally reach that Weight Watchers goal sooner rather than later.

So, farewell, dear cow and all your dairy delights.  Hopefully, I can lay a little cellulite to rest with you.  (I haven't lost my sense of humor ;-))

Strawberries and Cream Pie

This is a recipe I came up with myself years ago for a strawberries recipe contest. I missed the deadline before I got it just right, but this has turned out to be one of my favorite recipes. Hope you enjoy it too!

Strawberries and Cream Pie

Ingredients:
1 qt strawberries, chopped and stems removed
3/4 c. sugar
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 c. cold water
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 shortbread pie crust (Keebler makes these)

Directions:
1. Place mixing bowl and beaters in freezer to chill.
2. Combine strawberries and sugar. Let them sit for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water. Let stand 1 minute, then stir over medium heat until gelatin is dissolved. (doesn't take long, don't get mixture too hot)
4. Stir gelatin mixture into strawberries.
5. Whip cream in cold bowl on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
6. Add strawberries to whipping cream and mix on low until thoroughly combined
7. Pour into pie crust and chill 4-6 hours.

Entertained to Death

Caryl Matrisciana was born to British parents in Calcutta, India, where she was raised surrounded by Eastern Mysticism and Hinduism. As a young woman, she became heavily involved in the occult, until she was gloriously saved. With her firsthand knowledge and background, she has become somewhat of a missionary to the lukewarm Christian church in America. Each of these articles below addresses some of the pathetically misguided, if not heretical, attempts at mainstream Christianity to justify watching Twilight and Harry Potter.

"The Twilight Phenomena" by Caryl Matrisciana

"Harry Potter: Can It Have a Christian Perspective?" by Caryl Matrisciana

Below is an excerpt from a documentary that she produced called "Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged"



One of the main ideas that I discussed this summer with my Christian Worldview Class was how the church is blending with the occult to form a new kind of religion, one in which paganism and Christianity can happily co-exist, a new "pagan spirituality". I truly believe that Satan has used these 2 movie/book sagas to "break" otherwise Christian parents.

I heard one Christian parent on the radio this week, desperately defending allowing her teens to watch Harry Potter. She said there's no bad language or illicit scenes (I don't know; I've not seen them), and that she discussed witchcraft with her kids and felt like they could handle it. What struck me most was the desperate tone in her voice. No parent who truly knew she was making a wise and Godly decision on behalf of her children would feel the need to pick up a phone and dial long distance to a radio program and almost cry as she defended her decision. She admitted that her initial answer to her kids was "No." However, they pressured her relentlessly, and she finally caved in. I suspect this is the case with most Christian parents today.

I love children. I always have. I'm the kind of person that cries and loses sleep when I hear of a missing child all the way across the country that I've never met before. It grieves my heart to think of the innocent and trusting being violated. They deserve to be protected. I feel the same kind of grief when our children are assaulted with occultism. They deserve to have parents and pastors and teachers who will shield them from this satanic assault. They can't handle it themselves! It's bad enough when the lost world presents it to them with awesome special effects and cool storylines, but how tragic when the "Christian" world now defends satanism. Woe unto us! Jesus said:

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6

Having Fun

- Posted using my iPhone

"When You Read the Bible Through"

"When You Read the Bible Through"

I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain psalms (the twenty-third),
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs,
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!
But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book–
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude impatient look–
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through!
–Amos R. Wells

My Little Angel

I know that the Bible never says that angels sing, and I believe that singing is a privilege reserved only for the redeemed. However, there's just something so "heavenly" about my little Seth's voice when he sings. He was born with a song in his heart, and has always loved to let it out. His little voice is so unrehearsed and innocent. I just adore it. I hope he never sings like a professional, and I pray that he will always delight in lifting up his voice to glorify the Lord!



(P.S. I'm a big fan of that piano player too!)

Divided - free until September

Don't miss the chance to view this film while it is generously being offered for free throughout the month of August.

Official Divided the Movie (HD Version) from NCFIC on Vimeo.

My husband (pastor) has taken more heat on this issue than almost any other, but I appreciate his dedication to truth over popularity. We have lost friends and he has lost preaching appointments, but we have put legs and action behind our firm convictions that children belong with their parents. I can personally testify of the "Christian" teens who come into LMO, with no commitment whatsoever to the gospel and yet no problem identifying themselves as "Christians", and almost all of them are victims of youth ministry.

Just as a side note, the last time I posted something along these lines, I was flooded with hate mail. I have 2 things to say, first of all, this is my blog (hence, the blog address). I have not dedicated my life to shutting down youth ministries and people who don't agree with me, so don't try to shut me up on my own personal blog. Secondly, consider earnestly what this video is saying. The statistics don't lie, and souls are hanging in the balance. It's worth at least an honest look. Not only could it possibly save the eternal destiny of your children, you might discover something much richer and more blessed that God has in store for families and churches.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. " Matthew 7:13, 14

Score for the Cat Lover

KK got caught with his iPod during school time and had it "repossessed" for a while. Bad mistake when you are playing pranks on your sister! He was shocked to find what Sis posted on his FB when he finally got his iPod back!

No Kitties Were Harmed During the Making of This Blog Post

There is a constant rivalry in our household as to which is the better pet: cat or dog.

In the left corner we have Madelyn, devoted cat lover. She's ready with a shovel in a split second to scrape that dead rat off the carport before her Dad sees it.

In the right corner, we have Caleb, dedicated coon dog breeder. He's been known to trek the woods until dawn, faithfully pursuing the coon dog that got sidetracked by an armadillo.

And now, the devoted cat lover and the dedicated coon dog breeder have reached adolescence. And they are about to drive their longsuffering mother crazy.

Below you will see the latest chapter in the Cat vs. Dog soap opera. (I can already hear it..."Mama, what's a soap opera?")

Caleb and Seth slipped outside today while Madelyn was busy with chores and staged this picture. (disclaimer: it was just for show! below kitty is alive and well!)

KK just tiptoed down the hallway and set this photo as Sis's iPod wallpaper. She'll have a nice little surprise waiting in the morning.

I am absolutely certain that there will be payback. Stay tuned for more Cat vs. Dog!

- Posted using my iPhone