Family Favorites

I think I may have tried this once before, but let it fall by the wayside for one reason or another. So...here it goes again.

On Wednesdays, I usually try to add another chapter to Our Story.

Time doesn't always permit me to do that. So, during those times that I just don't have the time to write an Our Story post, I will be sharing a family favorite recipe.

Today's recipe is Grape Salad.

This is a wonderful summertime, cool desert that is absolutely delicious!! Even DS, who isn't a big fruit fan, will devour this if given the chance.

Hope you enjoy!!!

Grape Salad

4 Cups White Seedless Grapes
4 Cups Red Seedless Grapes
8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
8 oz. Sour Cream
½ Cup Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
¼ Brown Sugar
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans

Combine cream cheese, sour cream ½ cup sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Add grapes and mix well. In a small bowl mix brown sugar and nuts. Sprinkle on top of grapes. Chill well before serving.

Beautiful Weekend, Beautiful Hands

What a great weekend I've had!!

We have been blessed with temps in the mid 80's for 3 days now!!! This is awesome because it's mid July in the great state of Alabama!!...We usually throw a party if the humidity drops below 90%!!

The wind has been gently blowing out of the north which just adds to the beauty of the day.
I've thrown the windows open and it just relaxes me so much to watch the curtains gently blowing and to listen to the wings of the hummingbirds as they drink their nectar.

Our kids were very busy this weekend--in other words, we didn't get to see them very much--DH and I were able to do some things outside together and just sit on the porch and enjoy each other's company. It was a great time for us to catch up and talk about the future.

Then yesterday morning the Spirit showed up at church and I haven't walked away from the Table so full in such a very long time. It was so awesome to be totally released into His presence...I've missed that....

Now to share something with you that brought me to tears while I sat at my computer.

Look carefully at the picture below.




Notice the hands. A beautiful white hand and a beautiful brown hand. That beautiful white hand belongs to my sweet friend Britney who handed over her summer to the Lord to be a missionary in Peru. The beautiful brown hand belongs to a beautiful child whose home is in Peru.

Britney will be coming home in 2 weeks and while I can't wait to see her, I'm asking the Father to slow down time that she can fully do everything He wants her to while she's there.

She has been so blessed while there and I am so thankful that she was obedient to the Father even though it was tough on her to leave home for 10 weeks.

Please drop by Britney's site and catch up on her missionary journey. Also please lift her and her entire team along with the people of Peru up in prayer that the seeds that have been planted will grow and bear fruit for the Kingdom.

Our hands are created to work, yes, but I believe they were created to comfort. They were created to touch someone and just by that touch, reassure them that they are not alone...that someone is there for them and will hold their hand and be beside them through whatever comes their way.

But I believe even more than that, hands were created to praise.

"I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer."
Psalm 63: 4, NLT

"In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy."
1 Timothy 2:8, NLT

And let's be careful to not forget the ultimate picture of the most beautiful hands...

"Then He said to Thomas, 'Put you finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!' "
John 20: 27, NLT

The most beautiful hands belong to the One Who died for us...all of us. He endured what none of us could endure and paid a debt we could never repay.

Look again at the picture of Britney and the child's hand...




Remember these two Scriptures as you look at that tiny, brown hand....

"....Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
Mark 10: 14a-15, NLT

"Jesus came and told His disciples, ' I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' "
Matthew 28: 18-20, NLT

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world."

Worship Him

"For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth."

John 4:24, NLT

Psalm Saturday

My friend Collette over at Jesus Loves Mums has decided that on Saturday's she will be posting on one of the Psalms..or a portion of...and what it has said to her.

I thought that would be an awesome way for us to study and share God's Word.

I asked if she minded if I joined in and she warmly said no and has invited anyone who would like to join her as well.

I love the Psalms. David, one of the men who wrote Psalms, was called a 'Man after God's own heart', yet he struggled just as we do.

Solomon, Moses, other writers of Psalms, struggled just as much and these were strong men of God!! How encouraging to those of us who seem to continually beat ourselves up when we stumble!!

I chose Psalms 128 this Saturday....specifically verse 1:

"How joyfull are those who fear the Lord-all who follow His ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord's blessings for those who fear Him. May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandcildren. May Israel have peace!" NLT

Have you noticed that all of God's promises come with a condition? He will always keep His promises to us, but we have to do our part. Don't we do that with our own children?

"If you'll get your room cleaned up, we'll go to the park!"

"If you'll eat all your veggies, you can have some ice cream!"

Here is the condition...our part, if you will.." How joyful are those who fear the Lord-all who follow His ways!


If we follow His ways, we will be joyful (v1), we will enjoy the fruit of our labor (v2), wives will flourish within the home (v3), children will be vigorous (v3).

What tremendous blessings if we are just obedient to the One Who has breathed life into us!

How about joining Collette? What Psalm from God's Word has spoken to you this week?

My Husband Rocks!!

It has been several weeks since I've joined Katy Lin over at The Great Adventure for My Husband Rocks! Not because DH doesn't rock anymore, but because I have either been so busy I haven't had time to do a post on Friday, or because God has led me in another direction with posting.

I'm trying to get much better about scheduling my posts...but still.......

Anyway, let me share with you today why My Husband Rocks!!....

Most of you know that we have been having major issues with algae in our swimming pool.

Summer is almost half over and we haven't spent hardly any time in the pool. (Talk about some upset teenagers!!!...)

DH and I both are on the same page when it comes to doing things frugally and as efficiently as we can. The last 2 years with the pool, we've had no problems...but this year..green..hazy..green..hazy...green...hazy.....aaarrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!--but I digress......

We can see our pool from our bathroom window, so every time I am in the bathroom I look out the window. I love to look at the clear, blue water, swirling and rippling. AHHHH...it is so relaxing----except this year I look out and see green...hazy...green...hazy...green....sorry...

This week, my sweet hubby decided his bride was going to have crystal clear water no matter what the cost....and it has cost!!

He has spent quite a large amount, but this morning as I look out the window, I see clear water....and it's beautiful!!!!!!

Is it beautiful because it's clear? Of course! But what makes it even more beautiful is the fact that the water is clear because my DH sacrificed and did what he had to do to make me smile.


Folks, my husband ROCKS!!!!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I join Sonya over at Truth 4 the Journey for Thankful Thursday.

I was hanging laundry out the other day, just enjoying the sunshine and listening to the birds and at that moment I knew what my list of thankfuls would be.

So here goes...

1) I am thankful for my sense of sight. Because I can see, I can enjoy the blue of the sky, the bright red of the cardinals enjoying the bird bath. Because I can see, I can enjoy watching an older, white-haired couple walking through the mall hand in hand. Because I can see, I can enjoy the smiles on the faces of DH, DD and DS.

2) I am thankful for my sense of hearing. Because I can hear, I can enjoy the birds singing and the crashing of the waves at the ocean. Because I can hear, I can enjoy the music that sends praise up to my Father. Because I can hear, I can enjoy the beautiful laughter that comes from DH, DD and DS.

3) I am thankful for my sense of smell. Because I can smell, I can enjoy the smell of fresh cut grass and puppy breath. Because I can smell, I can enjoy the smell of rain and the flowers that DH brings in for me to enjoy. Because I can smell, I can enjoy the smell of perfume and cologne on DH, DD and DS.

4) I am thankful for my sense of taste. Because I can taste, I can enjoy the taste of fresh baked cookies and straight from the oven bread. Because I can taste, I can enjoy sour candy and rich fudge. Because I can taste, I can enjoy the taste of raindrops as I twirl around outside in the rain, with mouth open wide, with DH, DD and DS.

5) I am thankful for my sense of touch. Because I can touch, I can enjoy the feeling of coldness from throwing snowballs, the softness of a kitten's fur. Because I can touch, I can enjoy the feeling of a football being tossed about with DS or a new fuzzy scarf chosen while shopping with DD. Because I can touch, I can enjoy the feeling of walking hand in hand with the ones I love most...Philip, Beth and Zack.

For more Thankful Thursday click here.

"I give You thanks, O Lord, with all my heart..." Psalm 138:1a, NLT