I recently posted a blog about how I went to Wal-Mart with the family last Sunday and came across person after person who gave me nasty rude looks, people who were "staking their territory" on the aisle, and just being sour pusses. Please read one reply (and feel free to look back into my archives if you wish and read all the post, including the comments on  "No Manners, No Eye Contact, and A Persimmon Face".):

Posted by Anonymous (71.102.17.207)

Just some food for thought: Perhaps you might consider giving some of those people with such "sour" expressions on their faces some thoughtful consideration. Perhaps---unknown to you---there is a valid reason for their offensive expression. I, for one, have a type of Muscular Dystrophy which makes it near impossible to smile due to the lack of facial muscles that work properly. Should you pass me in the store, I'm quite certain (from your post) that you would find my expression unpleasant. I would be heartily smiling on the inside---unfortunately all YOU would see is a frown. And for those you pass who don't have a medical reason for their physical expressions, you might want to say a quick prayer for them. Perhaps their life is in turmoil and your prayer---and smile---could brighten their day.

I would like to say is I am so sorry about your Muscular Dystrophy.  I have a friend who has this as well.  So I do understand a litlte about your disability.  I in no way meant to offend or upset you or anyone else with this blog.  I wasn't directing my words towards anyone with a disability.  If you had been there, at Wal-Mart with me, you would see that NONE of the people I encountered had a disability.  Most were people I know from around town in fact, and they are just sour puss people.  LOL

I also understand there are problems in which a person may not "feel like" smiling.  Laura (gokings) also brought this to my attention that perhaps someone was having a bad day that particular day, or had lost a loved one, etc.   I do understand there is sadness everywhere, and many are feeling it.  I do pray for those people I encounter also.  I have had bad days when I certainly didn't want to say, "hey how ya doin'?" to anyone let alone start up a conversation with someone I don't know. 

In my blog, I was referring to people, who turn around with a blank, although partially pleasant  face to see who is walking behind them, and then give you a nasty rude look for walking up their aisle and taking their space.  Or someone who barrels up the aisle with a nasty look on because they think they OWN the aisle.  Or the people who CUT YOU OFF and then dont say "Excuse me, I am so sorry."  No, I am not perfect.  I have been known to accidentially cut someone off (I really think they should have stop lights at the end of some stores aisles. LOL), but I have turned around and apologized immediately and made sure no one was hurt. 

I also mentioned children in my blog.  I don't know your age, or if you have ever experienced this, but it just unnerves me to have children running crazily up and down the aisles, with or without a cart, with no respec for anyone else in the store.  And the parents??  Where are there in all of this??? Ride behind the children, watching and laughing at them instead of disciplining them.  I on the other hand am forced to drive offensively with my 2 year old in the front, because these kids come out of no where, ram into the side of your cart, and then run off laughing!!!!  And the parents, again, are right there.....giggling with them.  (I did however catch one kid one time and told him if he ran into my cart, I would call the police on him.  He quietly walked with cart back to his mother, and I didn't hear another thing of him. LOL)

As you might have also seen, I wrote a small plea at the bottom of the blog.  A plea for others to be aware of your attitude, to smile and be merry if possible when out in public.  Maybe these other sour puss faced people had NO IDEA they looked as rude as they did.  Perhaps they did have a bad day.  Maybe this also had a disability of some sort.  Or maybe, they were JUST BEING RUDE!!!  LOL  I don't know.  I did pray for each and every one of them.  Much like I pray for am ambulance or life flight when they pass by, I say a quick prayer saying, Lord, I have no idea what might be going on in their life right now, but please be with them, love them, and guide and protect them.  Amen.

With all of that being said,  Mr or Ms. Anonymous, I would like to think that most of my blogs are self explanitory.  They are my words, my rants, raves, opinions, maybe a praise report or two, a prayer request, or just some ramblings of a SAHM mom, trying to take care of her family.  I don't intentionally mean to offend or hurt anyone, and if I have, I do apologize.  This wasn't directed towards you Anonymous.

I love the song, "Held" by Natalie Grant.  I have sang it and cried tears over it for some time now, but when they played it on the radio the day after my mom died, it became even more near and dear to my heart.

You see so many think bad things happen to good people, and why would God do this.  Why would God take that person away, or let this or that happen.  If He can do all things, and if He is all knowing, why didn't He stop this???  Simply put???  That isn't who God is....and it isn't who He promised He would be either.

Now, before you turn away and close this blog, hear me out.  God never told us we wouldn't have bad times, and trials in our lives.  He never promised to keep us from sadness, sickness, etc.  He didn't say as a child of His that we would never experience these things.  He simply said, when we do.........He would be there for us!!! 

No, life isn't fair sometimes.  A 3 year old dying while swimming with his family.....is not fair.  A 3 year old having her life taken by her father and then killing himself...........certainly not fair.  Loosing both of my parents at age 63 was completely not fair.  I remember speaking to my pastor after they died, and saying it isn't fair!!!  He said you are right.  You got cheated out of more time with your parents.  You feel like you didn't get what you deserved  and it is ok to feel that way, as long as you don't STAY there long.  I think I was there for months, probably longer than I expected to be.  But then I realized, I didn't want to live in the shoulda coulda woulda life.  I wanted to make my parents happy, remembering the good times, not focusing on the unfair moments.

This song talks about that......when all else fails....and you feel like giving up.......that is when,  you will be held.  Close your eyes dear one, fall into his arms, and let Him hold you.  Cry on His shoulder.  He is always there for you.  If you will only stop accusing Him of hurting you, and let Him hold you, and help you to heal.  He didn't do this TO YOU!!!!  And he didn't glory in your trials.  NO, like any loving father, He doesn't like to see you hurting.   Read the words to this song, and if you have the means, please listen to the song.  Just close your eyes and listen. 

Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

Chorus:
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow.
The wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

 Here are some wonderful fall recipes that my family loves.  I hope your family will love them as well!

1.  Porcupine Meatballs

(serves 4)

This is a recipe my mom has been making since we were little.  I remember taking the recipe to school with me for  Home Ec one day and fixing it.  All the class were supposed to make something, and then everyone voted on which ones they liked the best.  These meatballs were one of the winners.  Now after reading this recipe you might think, as my home ec treacher did, uncooked rice??? YES!!!  I am sure Ms. Pauling...uncooked!!!  She called my mother to make sure before she would let me make them. LOL 

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup uncooked rice

2 T minced onion or 1 T dried

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cans (10 3/4 oz) tomato soup

1 cup water

1 egg lightly beaten

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT water and tomato soup in a bowl.  Combine and form meatballs and place in a Dutch oven.  Mix water and soup, and por over meatballs.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until done.

2.  Autumn Pork Chops

(serves 4)

4 pork chops

3/4 cup BBQ sauce

3/4 cup apple juice

1 T oil

Brown pork chops on both sides in oil until done.  MIx BBQ sauce and apple juice together and pour over pork chops.  Reduce heat; simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.

3.  Slow Cooker Chicken and RIce

(serves 6)

1 1/2 cup long-cooking rice, uncooked\

2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into strips

8 oz pekg cream of broccoli soup mix

2-3 cups chicken broth

Place rice into a greased crockpot and top with chicken, set aside.  Combine soup and chicken broth and pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, adding more broth if neccessary.

4.  Sausage and Apples

(serves 4)

1 lb pork sausage links

5 aqpples, cored, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp EACH: cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla

Brown sausages in a skillet, reduce heart and cover.  Mix remaining ingredients together and add to skillet.  Cover adn simmer until apples and sausages are tender, about 30 minutes.

5.  Skillet BBQ'ed Pork Chops

(serves  4)

4 boneless pork loin chops (1/2 inch thick)

1 T seasoned salt

1 T butter

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup water

1.2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup honey BBQ sauce

1 T worchestershire sauce

2 tsps. cornstarch

1 cup cold water

Srpinkle pork chops with seasoned salt.  In a large skillet, brown chops on both sides, in butter until browned, and set aside.  In the droppings, saute' onion until golden brown.  Add the water, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and worchestershire sauce.  Return chops to skillet.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until juices run clear.  Remove porkchops and keep warm.

COmbine cornstarch and cold water until smooth, and stir into skillet.  Bring to a boil and cook and stir for 2 minutes, or until thickened.  Serve this over pork chops.

6.  Apricot Honey Chicken

For some reason chicken and apriocots were born to be together.  LOL  This is a simple quick dish!

(serves 4)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 T oil

3T apricot preserves

2T orange juice

4 tsps honey

In a medium skillet, cook chicken in oil for 7-9 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook for 2 minutes or until heated through.

7.  Cranberry Pork Chops

(4 servings)

1 okg. (5.4) Near East Whole Grain Blends, Roasted Pecan and Garlic

1 T vegetable oil

1 medium yellow onion, halved and sliced

4 boneless pork loin chops, cut 1 inch thick

salt and pepper

1 can (16 oz) whole cranberry sauce

1/4 cup orange juice

Cook whole grain blend according to package directions.  IN a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion, and cook until tender.  Season porkchops with salt and pepper on both sides, and cook in skillet until browned.  Stir in cracnberry sauce adn orange juice.  Heat just to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes.  Serve pork with whole grains and fruit sauce.

8.  Lemon Chicken

I love this lemon sauce, but hubby doesn't.  So I fix the chicken, and the sauce separately, and put the sauce on my chicken and vegetables while Matthew eats his without the sauce.

(serves 4)

4 skinless, bonesless chicken breast halves

3 T flour

2 T EACH: butter and olive oil

1 3/4 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness.  Dredge lightly in flour, reserving the excess.  Melt butter and oil over medium-high heat until it sizzles.  Cook chicken 4-5 minutes, turning once, until done and juices run clear.  Remove chicken.  Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.  Which in broth and lemon juice; heat to boiling and let thicken.  Return chicken to pan and heat through.  Season with salt and pepper.

9.  Chicken Pot Pie

A favorite of my mom's cooking.  When I miss her, I fix a dish from her favorite recipes to make me feel near her again, and this is one of those. 

(serves 4-6)

2 pastries for a 2 crust pier

1/2 cup EACH: chpopped onion, sliced celery, and flour

3 cups chicken broth

10 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables

6 T butter

3 cups cooked cubed chicken

1 cup peeled and cubed potato

1 tsp celery salt

Cook potatoes and celery until tender; add frozen vegetables and cook another 5 minutes; drain.  Saute' onion in butter until softened.  Blend in flour and salt and brown slightly.  Add broth and cook until thick and bubbly.  Add chicken adn vegetables.  Prepare pastry for the bottom of the pie pan and trim edges.  Pour in filling and top with 2nd pastry.  Seal edges and flute.  Cut steam vents and brush with melted butter or milk.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

10.  Chicken Parmigiana with Homemade Marinara Sauce

This is one of my hubby's favorite dishes.  While we were dating, we didn't have much money, and we ate at my apartment alot instead of eating out.  I fixed this dish with bow tie pasta the night that Matthew kneeled on the floor and proposed to me!!!!  I should have known something was up when he pushed his food around the plate and barely ate any of his favorite meal. LOL

(serves 4)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup milk

1 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1/2 Parmesan cheese

2 tsps. Italian seasoning

4 T butter

1 cup shredded mozerella cheese

hot cooked pasta

Marinara sauce, recipe to follow

Place milk, egg, and flour in 3 separate shallow dishes.  Combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese in a 4th dish.  Dip chicken in milk, roll in flour, dip into egg, then coat in bread crumbs.  Brown chicken in butter over medium-high heat, until golden and juices run clear.  serve with pasta and sauce and cheese.

Marinara sauce

2 T oil

1 onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

28 oz can tomato sauce

2 T dried parsley

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

Saute onion and garlic in oil until tender.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes.

Hi all.  I love fall, and the cool weather we have had here in MIssouri for the last two days.  I am afraid it is going to warm up again, and I don't want it to!  LOL  I love fall, the colors, the leaves, the pumpkins, wearing my favorite sweaters, hayrides, etc.  And I do love soup weather as well.  So I decided to share some of my families favorite fall soups and other recipes with you.  I love to cook, and love the compliments I get from my cooking, but like many of you, I simply don't have time to spend 2 hours in the kitchen preparing it!!  So most of mine are crockpot meals (saves electricity anyway), and other quick meals.  Well, here are a few:

1.  South of the Border Chicken Soup

(Serves 4-6??)

(I have posted this before, because I love this soup even in summer with fresh corn and tomatoes instead of frozen or canned, but it is especially good on those cold chilly days.  I shared the recipe with my friend tractorchick72 here on HSB and it is one of her new favs and she says her son loves it as well!!)

1 tsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups cooked adn shredded chicken

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chilli powder

2 cans (14.5 each) diced tomato

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup frozen whole kernel corn

1 tsp Worchestershire sauce

1 can (10 3/4 oz) can tomato soup

2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) chicken broth

Saute' garlic and onion in oil.  Stir in reamaing ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for one hour.  Optional: Garnish with a dollop of sour cream adn some crushed tortilla chips.  (Yes you can do this in the crockpot!!!!  Super easy!  And this soup freezes very well!)

Yummy Beef Stew

(serves 8)

2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes

3T vegetable oil, divided

1 cup water

3 large potatoes, peel and cubed (1 inch)

4 medium carrots, sliced

1 large green pepper, 1/2 inch cubes

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tsps salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 T instant beef bouillon granules

1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoews, undrained

Brown meat in oil in a Dutch oven.  Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for 2 hours.  Stir in bouillon and tomatoes and heat through before serving.  (This recipe was from a Taste of Home book.  The original recipes calls to put the stew in a nice hollowed out pumpkin and bake it.  Then when scooping out the stew, you scrape the inside of the pumpkin to get some pumpkin in your stew as well.  I am not a real big pumpkin eater unless it is in pie, so I don't do this.  But it does sound interested and fancy doesn't it???)

3.  Broccoli Cheese Soup

(serves 4)

1 cup chopped broccoli

4 cups chopped fresh broccoli

2 cups peeled and diced red potato

1/2 tsps garlic powder

2 2/3 cups chicken broth

1 Bay leaf

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

12 oz can evaporated milk

Saute' onion with non-stick cooking spray in a Dutch oven.  Add 2 cups broccoli, potato, garlic powder, bay leaf, and chicken broth; bring to a boil.  Cover, and reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Discard bay leaf.  Puree broccoli mixture in batches and then return to pan.  Stir in remaining broccoli, cheese and milk.  Cook until tender.

4.  Jeanie's Sausage Bean Chowder

This recipe came from my mom's best friend.  She died about 6 months before mom did and I was so glad when I went through my mom's recipes to find this one, still in Jeanie's handwriting on a recipe card!!!  This is one of hubby's favorites!!!)

(serves 6)

2 lbs sausage, browned and drained

2 (16 oz each) cans pinto beans

46 oz tomato juice

4-5 diced potatoes

1/3 cup dried onion

1/2 green pepper, diced

1 Bay Leaf

1/2 tsp each: thyme, and garlic salt

1 1/2 tsps Lowrey's seasoning salt

Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven (or crock pot) and simmer for 2 hours or until potatoes are done.  Remove bay leaf before serving.

5.  Best In The West Bean Bake

This recipe originally came from my Aunt Mary, my mom's sister, and now the whole family has this recipe and fixes it often.  It is like a baked bean soup almost, and don't forget to serve lots of cornbread with this one!!  YUMMY!!!!  This reminds me of deer season each year at my grandmother's.  They boys would gather early adn go hunting, and the women folk would gather early making hot soups and cornbread and biscuits, pies, cakes and cookies for the gentlemen.  At lunch time, the men came in to show down, and the women folk would clean up afterwards, and then add to if needed for supper.  Supper was the same, eating, and cleaning up.  But the times in between the kids played, the women sewed or crocheted, and visited.  I miss those times!

1 lb hamburger

1 onion, chipped

1 lb bacon, chopped

1/2 cup BBQ sauce  

4 T prepared mustard

1/2 cup ketchup

4 T brown sugar

16 oz can red kidney beans, undrained

16 oz can pork and beans, undrained

16 oz can butter beans, undrained

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Brown hamburger, bacon and onion in a Dutch oven.  Combine remaining ingredients and bake for 1 hour at 350.   Of course this is another that could be done in the crockpot.   The butter beans sound unusual??? Yeah, maybe it is.  I don't like butter beans, but I love them in this dish. LOL  If you don't like them, or the other beans, substitute your own choice.

6.  Easy Texas Chilli

1 lb lean ground beef

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 1/2 cups water

1 T chili opwder

1 tsp salt

16 oz can chilli beans, undrained

6 oz can tomato paste

Brown meat with onion and garlic in a Dutch oven until meat is no longer pink.  Return meat to pan and stir in remaining ingredients.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

7.  White Bean and Ham Soup

2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained

2 carrots, diced

1 small onion, diced

2 T butter

2 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp white pepper

1 bay leaf

Mash one can of beans, set aside.  IN a large saucepan, saute carrots and oinon in water and add remaining ingredients, including the mashed beans.  Cook over low heat until heated through and discard bay leaf before serving.

8.  Sausage With Four Beans

(serves 6)

1 can (28 oz) whole peeled Italian tomatoes

1 can (15 oz) of EACH : cannelli beans (or great northern), pinto beans, butter beans, kidney beans

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

2 garlic cloved, minced

1 Bay leaf

2 tsps dried parsley flakes

1 tsp dried basil

1.2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/8 tsp pepper

1 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage links

4 pieces precooked bacon, crumbled

Combine all ingredients in a 6 quart crock pot, making sure to polke the sausages down into the liquid.  Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.  Cut sausages into serving size pieces and serve with bean mixture.

9.  French Onion Soup

(serves 6)

2 T butter

3 large onions, peeled and sliced

1 can (14 1/2 oz) beef broth

3 cups cold water

1 Bay leaf

6 sliced french bread, toasted

\1 cup shredded mozerella cheese

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a large skiller and cook onions over medium heat until golden brown.  Add broth, water, and Bay leaf.  Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes.  Remove bay leaf and preheat broiler.  Ladle soup evenly into 6 ovenproof bowls.  Top each with a toast slice and sprinkle with mozerella and parmesan cheese.  Broil 5-10 minutes or just until cheese is golden.

10.  Italian Bread Soup

(serves 4)

2 cans (14 oz eac) chicken broth

4 cans (14.5 oz each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undiced

3 cups Caesar-style croutons

1 cup chopped onion

1 pkt. ( 0.7 oz) Italian dressing mix

grated Parmesan cheese

shredded fresh basil

salt and pepper, to taste

In a slow cooker, combine chicken broth, tomatoes, croutons, onion and dressing mix. Cook on HIGH 4-6 hours.  Season with salt and pepper and serve with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

I hope your family will love these soups as much as mine does.  Maybe you can start making your own family memories with these yummy cool weather soups.

Please feel free to print out these recipes.

I did some light shopping this last Sunday after church at the Super Wal-Mart.  We weren't in the store long, but while there, I noticed several people that I just wanted to toss on the ground and tickle till they laughed and couldn't breath.  LOL  I mean there were people in that store that look at you while pushing their cart and if looks could kill, I would have been 6 feet under!!!  ONe old lady had the most sour persimmon, or maybe lemon face on.  She looked at everyone with her nose wrinkled and her brow wrinkled and an awful look on her face and "Do not even try to make me smile" was virtually written across her forehead.  After passing her and making sure no one was looking, I tried to make the face she was making, and it honestly HURT!!!  My forehead and brow hurt from making that face.  I can't imagine how badly her face must hurt after hours and days, possibly months and years, after making that face continuously.

I try to be polite in crowded areas like this, and even if it is not my fault, will always say, oh excuse me ma'am, or excuse me sir when I walk past them, or have to swueeze up the aisle. But I get the stare down when I do.  As if, what the H#%& do you want lady???   When I am walking up an aisle and someone is in the middle of it, I will try to move over and wait until they are done to pass them, and I try not to take up a whole aisle while looking for my own purchases.  It is amazing how you can come up an aisle and all of a sudden, the woman who was so nicely helping her daughter pick out just the right kind of hairspray, will push her cart in the middle of the aisle blocking your passage, and not only that, but give you the look, as if to say, "I was here first!!!  You can just wait until we are good and ready to leave!!!!"   I see parents letting their children drive grocery carts like they are little racecars all over the aisles without supervision, and think, shouldn't you have to have a lisence to drive one of these?? LMSO  Shouldn't you be mature enough to handle all that power first, or possibly shouldn't the parents PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR CHILDREN AND DISCIPLINE THEM A LITTLE?????  I mean most parents just smile at you when their child almost side swipes you with a cart!!!!

Now when I first starting telling hubby this when we had finished our mini shopping spree and were headed home, he made a comment that older adults are treated so poorly by most, that maybe they think you are going to treat them with the same disrepect.  Then I told them, no no, these were not mature eldery people on medicare.  No no, I have fun visiting with them in the store.  They usually light up when they see Noah and he waves at them, and if I say hi to them they just beam and ask me all sorts of friendly questions about Noah and is he talking, how old is he, etc.  No, these were people between their 40-60 maybe.  These were people that are old enough to know better.  People who I am sure if their own parents were alive, would have repremanded for acting so selfishlessly and ignorant in public.

Let me also add that in my case, it is mostly the women who are treating me and acting like this.  I don't understand it.  Now, there have been a few men who have given the death glare, but most are nice and polite and say excuse me ma'am, or will move out of the way for you to come down an aisle when needed.  I think it is mostly gentlmanly politeness, and maybe it is simply because I am a woman, but I enjoy it, and I thoroughly expect my husband to be like that with other women!!!  He opens doors for me, but for other women as well.  If we were on a bus and there was no place for a woman to sit, he would stand up and let her sit while he stood next to me.  I want him to be polite and help a little lady out if she has dropped her groceries in the parking lot, and I have seen him do it before too!!

So tell me ladies, have any of you experienced this same thing??? 

Please make sure, at any age, that you are not one of these sour puss faced ladies!!!  Remember when you are out and about, that you are supposed to be showing them who you are, a Child of God.  Show them the love and respect, and unselfishness that God would want you to.  Even if you only see that person for 5 seconds, make sure you are polite and they remember your smile and kindness instead of your sourpuss face and rudeness!!!

In fact, even when I am in line at the store, I make sure to speak politely to the check out guy or girl.  I have watched while standing in line how rude customers can be.  Crossing their arms and huffing and puffing and complaining about how long of a wait they have, and whispering loud enough I can hear, so I know the check out gal hears them as well, about how slow she is.  I started thinking one day about how they must get that all day long!!!  Or the people who just see them as "woking class" and don't think they have it in them to speak to someone who is "beneath" them on the ladder of success.  Yeah, I have seen this many times in line as well.  You can tell they want to hurry up and get out of there and hopes no one talks to them before they do.    I have found out that I get better service where I shop or eat when I speak to the check out lady or the waitress.  If I see a name tag, I will call her by name and say, sorry you got stuck with me in your line today, I have 2 carts worth of groceries!!!  LOL  (We shop monthly)  And that usually breaks the ice, and she will repond with no problem, its my job or something.  I will ask her when she gets off work and what she plans on doing after work.  This usually gives me a little information about her, whether she is going home to fix dinner for hubby and the kids, or whether she is going home to do homework, etc.  I just keep light conversation while she is checking me out, and I always try to say thanks for taking care of my groceries for me, and tell her to have a nice day before going.  I always leave her with a smile, and even the most sullen faced, tired, aggrivated check out gal, or waitress will return my smile by the time I leave.

So, my other question is, do you converse with people at the store, or the resturant??? Or do you treat them like workers, and that this job is theirs to do??  Oh how I hope you all are the first!!!  Remember these servers and clerks are people too!!!  They work hard for the money to take home.  They leave their family and friends to work and deliver your food and sack yoru groceries!!!  Don't treat them like you have absolutely no appreciation for what they do.

Just think about it next time you go into a resturant to eat our, or the next time you go into a store, whether it be a large chain store, or a small mom and pop store, to be personable.

I am so sorry, but I could not resist!!!  LOL  The first thing I thought of when I saw this was, that would come in handy while 8-9 months pregnant!  LOL   Ok, I am not sorry!!!!  LOL  I think it is hilarious.

For anyone who sees this and might be offended:

Get over it!!!! LOL  Loosen up a little and have a great laugh once in a while.  And wipe that stern look off your face.  LMSO   I crack myself up!!!  I really do.

Noah went right to bed last night, after the second time he threw up and I had to change him, and the bedding.  Bless his heart.  He is so good about it though.  LOL  He was confused as to where his favorite stuffies and pillows and blankies were but most were dry adn ready to go for his naptime today adn he was so happy about that.  I told him at naptime, we needed to go get Rusty and Cat, etc. out of the dryer, and as soon as I opened the dryer door (wish we could have hung them to dry, but it has been raining and chilly here for the last 4-5 days) he almost crawled in!  LOL  He found Rusty and cat immediately, and I found his taggie blankie (a present from my mom at Christmas before she died in March of the following year, so it is super special), and then buried under tons of other things was bunny.

So, no more sicknesses last night, and I feel fine, but we are still covering the household in prayers of good health.  It sounds silly to some that we pray for this, but it works!!!  Last year when Noah and I got the flu for the second time, Matthew pranced around the house praying and quoting scriptures and claiming health and wellness for himself.  I sked him if he wanted me to sleep on the couch so I didn't "breath" on him.  LOL  It is silly, but I didn't want him to get sick either!!!  He said no of course not.  Breath on me baby, my God is keeping my health for me even if you breath on me all night long.  He didn't get that flu either.  He used to get EVERY cold, sickness, runny nose, flu, etc. even if he was only with that person for 15 minutes.   Prayer works people.

So, today I went to the Health Department for my "official" weight check and blood pressure check (I go in weekly), and blood pressure was peachy, and the official numbers on weight loss is 15.  My unofficial amount at home is 18 and this is because..............I have to wear clothes when I go to the health department. LMSO  It is chilly here today so, I was bundled a little more than usuall.  I figure 2-3 pounds of that is clothing.  And then, upon leaving, I treated myself to a fish sandwich adn a small orange pop at McDonald's. LOL    Anyway, the other reason we were there is to get our vouchers for WIC for Noah.  He is underweight. and ai had to jump through a few hops, but Doc suggested I get him signed up with WIc adn they would pay for the Pediasure he wants him on.  So, I came home today with almost $100 of the 24 oz Pediasure bottles in every flavor they have for.....................FREE!!!!!!!!  I am so thankful for this too, because we simply don't have the money to spend over $100 on just drinks for Noah.  This high calorie drink should pack on some pounds hopefully.  And yes, we feed him lots of protein (he loves peanut butter), but he still isn't gaining.  So, we will see how this works for Noah in the next few months.

Noah and I are staying home tonight and Matthew is planning on stayin in town after work adn going straight to Bible Study and then come home.  Noah's schedule has been off today since he didn't get to be for real sleep until after 11pm last night, and since we both slept in late today as well.  So he is taking a late nap, and I will get him up in 1 hour instead of two.  Hopefully by this weekend, we can get him back on schedule.

Well, that's all for now.  I will check in on all of you soon!!

Corn Pudding

(serves 8-10)

2 eggs

2 cups whole milk

3 T unsalted butter, melted

pinch of cayenne

1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1 T chopped parsley

1 tsp chopped thyme

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.  In a large bowl using a whick, beat the eggs.  Add the milk, pouring in a steady stream while whisking.  Add the melted butter, cayenne, nutmeg, parsley, thyme, salt, sugar, and corn.  Mix to combine.

Pour the mixture into a prepared dish.  Place the casserole dish in a deep roasting pan, and fill with boiling water until it reaches halfway up the sides.  Place on the oven and bake, until set, about 35-40 minutes.  Serve immediately, or let set for up to 30 minutes at room temperature.

I got this recipe off the Martha Stewart website ages ago!!

Sweet Potato Spoon Bread

(serves 8-10)

3 large sweet potatoes

1/4 cup yellow cornmeal

2 cups milk

4 T unsalted butter

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp all-purpose flour

1/4 cup honey

4 eggs

1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Bake sweet potatoes until soft when pierced with a knife, about 4-45 minutes.  Let cool. Peel, and discard skins.  Reduce heat to 350.  In a medium saucepan over medium heat combine cornmeal, milk, butter, brown sugar, spices, salt, and 1 cup water.  Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.  Let cool.  Butter a two-quart baking dish.  Place cornmeal mixture, sweet potatoes, flour, honey, eggs, and cream in a food processor.  Process until smooth; pour into dish.  Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes.  Serve.

Simple Butterrmilk Biscuits

(makes nine 2-3 inch biscuits)

2 cups White Lily brand plain all-purpose flour

1 T baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes

3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk

Heat oven to 500degrees.  IN a bowl combine the flor, baking powder adn salt.  With a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal.  Pour in the buttermilk and gently mix until just combined.  With your hands gently form the mixture into balls.  Place in a round 8x2 inch cake pan, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.  Allow to cool to the touch and serve immediately with butter, apple butter, or jam.

I originally received this recipe from my cusion Angela.  She fixed it years ago and at family Christmas gathering, and I was in heaven.  I went for the second piece, but the whole pie was already gone!!!!  I whined about it, and she heard me, so she dashed to the kitchen to bring a second pie in from the fridge!!!!  I took the second piece, and while gobbling down the first piece, I made her tell me how she made it.   And then, not wanting to put my plate or fork down, I made her write it down right then and there. LOL  Here is the recipe

Peanut Butter Pie

(serves 8)

1 ready made graham cracker crust

1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tub (8oz) frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed

In a bowl combine condensed milk and peanut butter and mix well.  Fold in whipped topping.  Spoon into the crust and freeze for 6 hours.  Freeze leftovers.

Take out of freezer a few minutes before serving.

I found a large folder of recipes my mom was keeping in a file cabinet when she died.  Some things I loved looking at and going through after her death, including her 3 card files of recipes.  But for some reason, I put the folder in my file cabinet and haven't looked at it since.  When I found it tonight while looking for notebook paper in the office, I pulled it out, and it still smelled like my mom's house.  How funny is that??? She died in March of 2007, and yet it still smells like her!!! 

Here is a recipe for her collection:

Simply Fudgey Brownies 

(yields: 16 brownies)

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

In a small bowl, combine cocoa and oil until smooth.  In another bowl, beat eggs.  Add the sugar, vanilla, and cocoa mixture; mix well.  Stir in flour and salt just until moistened.  Fold in walnuts

Pour into greased 8 inch square baking pan; sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.

My friend Jen makes this or a different flavor of this dessert any time we have a little get together, and it is soooo yummy.  Look over the recipe, and substitute other flavors of jello and yogurt if you want something different.  I have had raspberry and strawberry and they were so yummy!!!!!!  And this dessert tastes to unbelievable that you won't even notice that it isn't filled with fattening junk. LOL

5 Minute Key Lime Pie 

(Serves 8)

1 reduced fat graham cracker crust

1 pkg (4 serving size) sugar-free lime flavor gelatin

1/4 cup boiling water

2 containers (6oz) key lime pie floavred light yogurt

1 tub (8oz) fat-free whipped topping, thawed

In a large, heat-resistant bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water.  Stir in yogurt with the wire whisk.  Fold in whipped topping with a wooden spoon.  Spread this into crust.  Refrigerate overnight, or at least 2 hours.  Garnish as desired and refrigerate leftovers.

145 calories,  3.5 grams fat, and 1 gram dietary fiber per serving

Noah was a bit whiney tonight when he was snuggling with dad and settling down before bed tonight, but I didn't think much of it.  And Matthew did do some wrestling around with him after he ate a sandwich and some tomato soup, and I did ask him to stop, but......well, they do that all the time too.  Not 30 minutes after we had said prayers with Noah, given kisses and hugs and tucked him into bed, he started crying.  Sometimes he does that after he goes to bed because he dropped a stuffed animal, or because he just does not want to go to sleep.  So I left him cry for a few minutes, maybe 3, and then, all of a sudden, things didn't feel right.  If you are a mother, I am sure you know what I mean.

I sat down the laptop and dashed in his room, flicked on the light and asked him what was wrong, only to realize he had thrown up.  Bless his heart!!!  I hate it when the little ones are sick!!!  So I stripped him down, and stripped the pillowcases and blankets off his bed, and sat him down to wipe him down with a wet cloth.  Somewhere between me putting the icky laundry into the washer and taking new pillowcases and pillow to his room for his bed, he snuck into our bedroom, where Matthew had turned in early to try to get some sleep.  LOL  He ended up talking to daddy loudly and daddy woke up and pulled him into bed with him. 

I finished making his little bed and gathering clean blankets, etc. and Noah and daddy were snuggled in the bed in the dark.  Too cute.  So I filled Matthew in on what had happened and he said a quick prayer over Noah and his tummy and I took him into his bed with fresh sheet, blankets, pillow and pillow cases.

Now here is where we had a little problem.  Noah has 3 stuffies he goes to bed with each and every night.  We even have a spare or two of one of them, because we have been known to loose them when taking the rusty colored (Squirrel, Racoon, whatever it is.  LOL) animal with us.  LOL  The leopard cat has now taken over the favorite position now, but I bought it ages ago, have never seen another one like it, and have been unsuccesful in finding a replacement.  The bunny he sleeps with is a blue bunny that used to play Jesus loves me when you squeezed it, but it stopped playing music long ago.  We also have a small square fleece taggie blanket that Noah sleeps with at all times.  His sheets and pillowcase match, and so does a blanket.  The second blanket he sleeps with is actually an afghan that my mother started making for Noah before she died.  After she died, and while going through the house, I found it in a bag, with all the original yarn, and sent it home to Indiana with my SIL to finish for me.  So it was made my both his grandma, and his aunt!!!  He loves it, and he won't go to bed without any of these favorite belongings.

So, after showing him, all his stuffies were still there, and we do have a spare taggie blankie, but it looks NOTHING liek the other one he looked at the pillowcases and the fuzzy blankets I grabbed from his blanket stash, and he says, no no.  I said I am sorry hunny.  Remember taggie and your blankets were all icky???  He says tag is icky!  I said yeah, I know but they are being washed and will be ready for you before you take your nap tomorrow ok???  He kept looking and petting the fuzzy blankets I had chose for him (since it has been getting a tad chilly at night here), and had a very skeptical look on his face.  LOL  But when I turned off the light, he did lay down and snuggle in.  I kissed him and he is silent now, softly drifting off to sleep.

Uh oh, I hear Noah crying again.

Ok,, I am back now.  Noah had gotten sick again.  YUCK!  This time, all the 3 favorite stuffies, pillow and pillowcases again, etc. went into the wash.  So he is a little upset I took Cat, Rusty, Bunny and both taggies to the wash with his favorite pillowcases, etc.  But I grabbed yet another pillow, some more clean blankies and settled him on my lap in the living room for the last 45 minutes, just to make sure he was ok, and wasn't going to be sick again.  Just like a kid though, after he gets sick and he is cleaned up, he runs around the house like a crazy child as if he had never been sick.  LOL

I just laid him down again in bed, for the 3rd time tonight, and he was confused and doesn't understand why he can't have his blankies and pillows and stuffies.  I did get one of the spare Rusty stuffies out, and he has a few bears he usually plays with in the front room, and we decided to take them to bed with him to bed.  Noah and I said another prayer very quickly (it is so adorable that he puts his hands into the praying hands position and tries to close his eyes, but of course, he can't help but peak. LOL) for him to not get sick anymore tonight, for his tummy to settle down, and for him to be able to sleep soundly for the rest of the night.

But now........my tummy is queasy.  I am not sure if it is just because of the fact that I had to see it, smell it, and take care of it or what.  But I am saying a little pray right now that I don't get sick as well.  As with most mothers, I DON"T HAVE TIME TO GET SICK!!!  LOL

Tuesday night hubby stopped by the store for a gallon of milk and decided to bring home a head of lettuce.  For some reason he wanted make your own lettuce salads tonight, and that was perfectly fine with me because I didn't have to cook.  On these warm days, it is nice to have a chilled meal, one that you didn't slave over the stove with and warm up the whole house making.

Wednesday:  Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, and Corn

Thursday: South of the Border Chicken Soup

Friday: Pizza

Saturday:  Pork Loin, Vegetables both in the Crockpot, and Hot Rolls

Sunday:  BBQ Pork Sandwiches (in the Crockpot), Fries, and Green Beans

I really need to sit down and figure out the rest of the month, mostly from what we already have on hand in the freezer and pantry.  The rest will be sale items only from a local grocery store.  Amanda had posted a request for help not long ago and a $50 week grocery challange, and I have taken it on as a personal family thing to do, to try to save my family more money.  Which means my $300 budget for the month went to $200 for the month!!!!  Wish me luck, and I will keep you posted!

Matthew and I spoke about our finances this weekend.  We talked about how gas has come down a little in our area, but in some cases it is still making other thing to continue to rise.  Such as electricity.  I told hubby how our bill went up considerably last month, by about $20-25.  This time, we got the bill, and it went up another $30!!!  And we are turning off lights, unplugging electronics when not in use, turning the temp in the house up to 76-78 so the air conditioning doesn't kick on as much, basically doing all we know to do to keep the bill down.  How frustrating to be doing all this and still see the electric bill raise each month.

This is when hubby told me to get used to it.  LOL  Thanks for the concern dear!!!!  Hubby works for the utility company in a nearby town, and he hears in the office what is going on with the electrical issues.  He said that electricity it on the rise and most companies are raising a little at a time every 3 months, and we should have already received a letter about this.  I told him I have received no letter in our utility bill, or separately.  He told me in the office, they are talking about how the gas prices, made electrcity that our town has to purchase much more expensive.  Therefore they have to pass on that price increase to the customer.  He said in the town he works in, they are gradually raising prices as well, but as of right now, they are in the red, meaning they are paying more for the electricity than they are making from the customers.  They do this, knowing that eventually they will become even, but they know what a hardship the raise would be.  I only wish our town were doing it more grandually!!!

He also told me in Europe, they are paying $7 per liter of gas, or about $14 for a gallon of gas.  This means their electricity is also sky high.  The government saw this coming years ago, and have gradually been raising the prices of gas and electric in Europe over the past several years, so as not to shock the economy with the large raises all at once.  Wouldn't it be nice if the American government were as thoughtful and nice with us???

Then today, I called around seeing if we could drop some of our extras to make ends meet.  I called the company that provides our internet service and asked to be dropped down to the 1st tier of high speed internet (since we are currently on the 2nd tier, we were hoping to cut our bill from $40/month to $20/month).  Kathy at the uptown office told me it wasn't that much cheaper, and after taxes were added to the monthly fee, it would only save us $5.00/month.  LOL So I told her to forget it.  We would keep it as is.

The next one I called was our cell phone company.  We dropped all the extras and now instead of paying $154.00, we will be paying half of that for our two personal phones.  We will still have plenty of minutes between us, 10 my circle numbers which we can call for free, free mobile to mobile,  and free nights and weekends.  We rarely text, so we dropped the free text messaging. 

The next thing (tomorrow) is to call and shop around for cheaper home owners insurance.  Matthew's friend Matt told him his homeowners insurance is about 1 percent of the cost of the home.  This makes me wonder if we aren't paying way too much.  Our home appraised when we bought it for $20-25,000 over the loan price.  And instead of paying for 1 % of the loan price, we are paying 1% of the appraised price in home owners insurance.  It can't hurt to look around a bit and see if we can find it cheaper.

Plus, our mortgage company called today, (we are trying to refi for a fixed lower interest rate), and said we most likely will not need to come up with the $14-1500 refinace fees and taxes!  He said he is almost positive they will be able to take care of it by putting it in the loan.  After all $1500 stretched out over the next 30 years is not that much.  We still want to drop the payments with this refi, and pay it off early by making an extra $100 in payments, or double payments (yes the extra towards the principle) if possible.

After all these phonecalls, and reviewing our new budget for the month of September I felt so much better.  Because every time I went over the budget, and tweeked this and changed that, it came out looking better!!!!  It is as if the money just "appeared".  We have certainly been thinking and praying about this alot, but now I am so excited, because it is turning out better than we expected.  Because of a stupid ding bat $200 error in our favor, we have enough to pay our bills, still put back for tires (hubby's car needs new tires), homeowners insurance due in November, a lump sum each month towards our emergency fund, and even Christmas!!!!!  God has multiplied our finances and helped me to focus on what I was doing and find a way to cover everything we need mothly with some left over!!!  Thank you Lord for showing me, and directing our financial steps!!!!!

It was quite a splurge and luxury for us to be able to eat out this Sunday after church, and we decided to take advantage of it and eat somewhere we have both been craving for weeks now.  CHINESE BUFFET!!!!  YUMMY!!!!   I was so hungry, because I ended up running a little late, and although the boys ate while I was getting ready, I didn't have time to grab a drink or anything for breakfast.  So, I filled my plate up like I would have over 3 months ago (Before the lifestyle eating changes) and sat down with my first Mountain Dew in soooooo long.  I took a bite, then a drink.  I almost felt like I was in heaven!  LOL  But I was so suprised that before I ate 1/2 of the plate full, I was feeling full.  YIPEEEE!!!!!!!!  Cutting portions at home is now coming second hand!  I didn't have to think, now you must stop eating now before you blow up like a balloon.  I just listened to my body, and it was telling me, man that was good, but if you eat anything else.............you will be in trouble.    I was so proud of myself.  LOL  Matthew even made a comment like, "you are full already???? you stopped eating!"   Yep, I was honestly full, and I places my paper napkin over my plate and pushed it away.  He laughed at that, and asked me was that so I wouldn't steal another bite.  I said yeah.  LOL 

I got a wonderful compliment from hubby this evening.  He went with Matt today to do some more Electrician work (since he was off yesterday to spend time with the family), and he told Matt that we went out on Sunday.  Matt said wow, we just never eat out.  For him to take his wife, and 4 kids out to eat, he says it costs sometimes $40.00.  (I kinda gasped at that.  I could fix a GOURMET meal from home for less than half of that for 2 adults and 4 kids!)  And Matt said, plus my wife is a great cook, and she can outcook any resturant around here.  My hubby said, well, with us just paying for 2 adult meals (Noah is only 2, and he eats for free. LOL), it isn't too bad.  He also agreed his wife (ME!) was such a great cook that he would rather eat my homecooking than any resturant!!!!  Isn't that sweet????  He has told me this before.  But it just cracked me up that the two men were talking about what wonderful cooks their wives were.  I could almost imagine them standing there shoving each other saying, my wife cooks better than yours!!!!  LOL

Well, I love to cook, and I CAN cook better, and cheaper than any resturant around here.  But I haven't gotten the hang of Chinese!!!!  I can cook a mean fried chicken, or sweet and sour meatballs (my hubby's favorite), some parm chicken and pasta and homemade sauce, even mexican.  But Chinese and I don't mesh well just yet.  I suppose I should look some stuff up online and try my hand at it again.  Plus, aren't there times, when you want to go out???  For me it is a luxury, because I don't have to cook it and serve it, or clean up afterwards.  LOL  Plus someone waits on you hand and foot for 30 minutes.  How could I pass that up on occassion??? 

We rarely eat out anymore because of the cost, the extra gas money, the quality of the food, and of the service and waitresses sometimes, but lately we have decided we need a night out twice a month, without Noah.  I told Matthew, I don't care if we pack a picnic lunch and eat it at the park, we just need to get out some.  Maybe on occassion we will take a walk around the track, or go to the park and just visit.  Just some precious mommy and daddy time.  LOL

So, for us right now, our "Entertainment Budget" for the month is $25.00.  Some would say that sounds awfully high.  And I am sure others spend that in one evening out, and this is too low.  But for us, it means we could eat out once a month, or eat cheaper, take a lunch and possibly see a movie once in a while, maybe even play a game of bowling. 

So, I am wondering, how many of you would rather eat in that out??

Do you eat out often?

And what is YOUR entertainment budget for the month???

We decided in some cases, people would think we are very frugal (it drives my brother crazy that we live on so little and can't eat out more and spend money all the time like he can), and to others we probably aren't nearly as frugal as you.  I think everyone in frugal in their own way, and according to what they want to save money on.  We cut down on utilities and groceries, so we can have our two private cell phones.  Others might buy generic and cut out something to be to save up for a trip to Disney Land.

It doesn't make me cringe now though, when I think of how we tossed money at this and that before, and now we wish we had lived tighter, and saved more......for an emergency, or a rainy day.  To think I used to eat out once a week or so with a girlfriend, and I always paid a $20-30 lunch or dinner bill.  I wouldn't ever let my girlfriend's pay.  And you know what??? Those friends don't even talk to me now that I am not paying for their meals.  If I say, ok, sure we can go out but we will have to go dutch when they offer a visitation, they made up a quick excuse not to go out all of a sudden.  And eventually I learned that they just don't ever call back now.  Amazing how people want to be friends with you when you have money, and when you cut back and are being more careful, they go find other friends.

I know some of you are sad to see Summer leave.  I like summer ok, but Fall is my favorite season of the year.  I won't go into it again, since I have already blogged about all the things I like about fall, but just take my word for it....I am a fan.  LOL   And I read on Jeanies blog today how she has made a goal for the fall months for herself and her family.  I thought I would steal the idea, (thanks jeanie!), and do one myself!!!

I plan on doing some housecleaning and more decluttering.  I want the clutter under control and the house in order by the end of this fall.  That will save me time when the holidays come up (Thanksgiving and Christmas)!!!  YIPEEEE!!!!! 

Decorating for fall.  I love decorating the front door and the dining room table for fall with pumpkins, leaves, etc.  But this year, I think I will get the help of hubby and see if he will help me with some haybales, pumpkins, mums, etc. and decorate our small little front porch area.  :)

Lots of crafting, sewing, embroidery will be done this fall for friends and family Christmas presents and decorations around our house.  I am making all kinds of things, and hope to post pictures of some of my projects as I go along!!!!

Continue changing and tweeking my lifestyle to get healthy and loose weight.  We are cutting out processed foods, eating more whole foods, exercising, and feeling good!!!  I have lost 18 pounds so far, and hope to loose lots more by Christmas!!!  Thank you to everyone for your encouragment and wondrful comments on my weight loss. 

We plan on starting a new Bible Study time just for Matthew and I.  We love our church, and we love our Bible Studies on Thursday evenings with our small group family, but we feel the need for a time to study and discuss the bible, on our own as well.  So we will be starting this SOON!

I think that's all for now.  I am sure I could think of more, and make this list a million times longer, but what's the use in that?? LOL  I am being realistic and making notes of things that I know we can accomplish this fall.

I don't know about you, but I love Joyce Meyers.  I get her monthly magazine, and when I read this, I knew, I had to post it for all of you to read.  I have read comments lately from friends telling how hubby has lost his job, or how things are tight and they don't know how they are going to pay for the bills and medical expenses, and even one who said they simply didn't have the money to stretch for groceries.  I feel for all, and my heart aches for those who are so scared about their finances.  But I wanted to offer some words from Joyce about who our source is for all of these things.  GOD!

For Many people 2008 is a financially difficult year.  The housing market is down, some businesses have closed, and gasoline and food prices are rising.  Some are struggling to stay ahead.  However, what does God have to say about our finances, and our future?

• We don't have to be afraid.  God's financial system is not like the world's system.  No matter what happens around us, we don't have to be fearful because God Loves us.  First John 4:18 tells us, There is no fear in love......Even if situations seem out-of-our-control, the love of God isn't ever going to crumble and remains our solid foundation in life.  We can have confidence that whatever is happening, God wants to help us and will go out of His way to meet even our simple day-to-day needs.
• Recognize our source.Second corinthians 9:10 says, And (God) Who provides seed for the sower and food for eating will also provide and multiply your (resources for) sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness....  God is the One who provides our finances, our jobs are not our source -- God is.  So when positions disappear, we don't have to feel hopeless because God is not limited.  He can provide for us through other means, in ways we may not have imagined or are not able to figure out ahead of time.  Matthew 6:26 reassures us that if God takes care of the birds, we can believe He is going to provide for us too.
• We can't "out give" God.  I've discovered the best way to deal with money is to give it away.  This is the key factor in helping us to maintain a biblical focus on our finances.  And we need to keep on giving, especially during challanging financial times --because if we obey God with our finances and give it to help other people, the more God will have other people do for us.  It's just that simple.  Proverbs 28:27 says, He who gives to the poor will not want....
• It's impossible to live debt free with biblical principles, even in difficult times.  Romans 13:8 encourages us to, Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another.......My husband, Dave, says that id we learn to live within our income, or our borders, then God will bless us, our borders will be stretched, and we'll have more.  Luke 19:17 tells us that God is pleased when we are faithful and trustworthy in very little things.  When we are, it says He will give us authority over bigger things.
• Use credit cards wisely or not at all.  It's too easy to charge, not realizing how much we're actually spending.  Dave and I use credit cards for convenience, but we pay them off at the end of the month.  If we owe thousands of dollars on stuff we're buying, soon our possessions start to own us and distract us from following God.

It is important for us to understand that the battle or our finances is a really spiritual battle.  The enemy tempts us to be more fearful of tomorrow, to believe that our jobs are our source, and to spend more that we are able to pay off, so he can keep us under pressure and distracted from our walk with God.  But we need to have a goal to enjoy the life that Jesus died to give us because God wants us to live in righteousness, peace and joy.  We can't do that if we are under pressure and frustrations from financial debt.

I read a fellow HSB blog today, and she expressed her feelings of feeling like she didn't fit in any longer here.  She said most of the friends she used to chat with here had left for many reasons.  Some of those reasons were that they were hurt here, by rude people, making rude comments.  And others, just didn't like it here anymore.  Anyway, this was my reply to her on her blog.  I thought I would post it here, beacuse I wanted others who were thinking of leaving our little HSB family to read it.

I have spoken to a few friends myself who have left, and some came back, but of course some didn't.  I am not saying staying is the wrong thing for you, especially if you have prayed about it, and God has told you to go elsewhere.  What I am saying is, don't just leave because you have been hurt when people say mean things.  Don't just up and move your blog because someone was offended and told you so, in response to your blog about this or that.  Pray about it, listen to God, but don't judge the whole community by what a few have done.

And here is my reply to that blog:

I think you can run into rude people anywhere. You can't let a rude person in the grocery store from letting you buy groceries, and just because you get a bad waitress doesn't make you stop eating out.

Sure, we have all been hurt, by friends, by Christians, by churches, by church members, by internet friends, etc. But we don't stop being friends, Christians, church members, or an internet blogger. Or at least I don't.

I say delete the nasty comments, as we do in life, let it roll off yoru back, pray for them, and don't let that person have power over your joy and peace level. If you let something that someone has said chase you away, then what have you gained?? Nothing. But if you delete the comment, and they get bored and walk away??? Then you have the power over your own life, over your peace and joy level, and you have decided not to let other's rule your life, and tell you how to live.

Pray about it before you leave is all I am saying. Do what God would have you do. There may be some flaws here at HSB, but there are many many good things here as well. It is up to you whether you allow the good to outweight the bad here.

If you don't have any of your old friends here at HSB, why not make some new ones??? Sure people come and go here, as with any blog spot, but making nerw friends can help you, and the other person.

Would love to get to know you more. Hope you stick around.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo