November 27, 2009
More Great Gift Ideas!
November 22, 2009
Best Ideas Ever!
Amy gives a free tutorial on how to customize a beautiful clipboard for someone on your list. Here's the address to that post - but be sure to stay a while and see all her other cool ideas:
http://adayinthelife-amy.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-can-make-that-teacher-gift.html
http://imperfectlybeautifulms.blogspot.com/2008/12/cheap-yet-chic-teacher-gifts.html
Then Sweet Savannah will offer all kinds of beautiful ideas for decorating your home for the holidays. Be sure to visit the posts before and after this one for all kinds of ideas and ... click on HGTV's Favorite Holiday Ideas in the right column - ooo, la,la!
http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2008/11/holiday-mantle-ideas.html
Happy Thanksgiving!
October 7, 2009
Back to Blogging
Thank you! You've no idea what an encouragement you are to me!
What a sweet pleasure to encourage one another and build each other up in the most holy faith. Sisters in Christ are a treasure indeed.
Love,
Denise
May 6, 2009
Swedish Blessings
"Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment."
The gentleman who translated the song was A.L. Skoog - a Swedish gentlman who later immigrated to Minnesota. The following hymn is another of his translations named, "My Future". You may listen to it here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/y/f/myfuture.htm
’Tis kept above by love divine;
And while I tarry here below,
He gives me what is best, I know.
From anxious care I’m spared and free;
He bids me cast on Him my care—
What then remains for me to bear?
With joy I sing: “Now all is well,”
He leads me safely by His hand
Until I reach the Glory Land.
O precious Savior, teach Thou me
To live my life more true to Thee
The little while I yet must roam
Before I reach my heav’nly home.
The simplicity of her decorating style and excellent photography make it a feast for the eyes even if I can't understand a word she writes! The loads of white with touches of pink keep me coming back for more!
March 26, 2009
Thursday's Thought
No matter how crazy it gets, don't get commited because of insanity! ;) The men in little white coats are busy enough! ~Smile!~
March 23, 2009
Secret Sisters and Living Lights
* * * * * * *
Yesterday marked the end of our last theme in Junior Church - another favorite aspect of church I'm very involved in ;)
Matthew 5:14-16 was three of our verses and I used various items as clues to help us learn them.
"Ye" - we all pointed straight out,
"are the light" - flashlight,
"of the world" -globe,
"a city that is set on a hill" -I had my Benji build a city out of Legos on a Lego hill,
"cannot be hid" - I had Caleb, a fellow with a short haircut, put on a ski mask for this clue, "Neither" - shake your pointer no-no fashion,
"do men light a candle" - a little 'man" turned on a battery operated candle,
"and put it under a bushel" - he put it under a bushel basket that his neighbor was holding,
"but on a candlestick - we had a candlestick for this clue,
"and it giveth light unto all that are in the house" - we had a ceramic house for this clue.
"Let your light so shine" - another flashlight, turned on at the appropriate time,
"before men" - the person holding the flashlight stepped in front of a little man,
"that they may see" - a pair of glasses,
"your good works" - a construction hat for the Public Works Department,
"and glorify" - clap hands,
"your Father which is in heaven"- point to heaven.
For the reference we had an envelope addressed to Matthew 5:14-16.
You can see some of my helpers with the items they got to hold for our program. I've found this to be the easiest way for our children to learn their verses - I guess whoever said, "a picture is worth a thousand words" knew what they were talking about ;) !
This is a couple of our little men helping with one of the songs from the theme.
Don't they look so handsome in their suits?
Flashlights labeled "boys" or "girls" were used for taking up the offering. Here Benji and Racquelle get ready to take up the final offering for the theme.
They collected over $300.00 this theme!
Way to go kids!
I hope you enjoyed these snippets of some of my favorite ministries at our church.
Have a blessed week!
March 19, 2009
Thursday Thirteen ~"Q"~
A blog would be an excellent place to reach out and minister to other Secret Sisters with ideas for encouraging, gifts, bulletin boards, etc. , wouldn't it?
1. Quality - do you always pick out the most expensive one like I do? ;) Funny how we always recognize quality!
I enjoy a houseful of quality furniture due to owning an Amish furniture store for nine years.
2. Quaint - towns, houses, etc. I love them!
3. Queen Anne's Lace - a beautiful wildflower and a favorite store I love to visit in Berlin, Ohio.
4. Quench - there's nothing like having one's thirst quenched. Spiritually or physically. A cool drink of water on a hot summer day . . . or a hot cup of tea in a pretty china cup ;)
5. Quiet - Blessed Quietness. Soothing and peaceful.
6. Quill - ever try to write with one? Quill Cottage is a favorite place to visit.
7. Quilt - a warm quilt. So comforting!
8. Quiz - just checking to see if we're getting it! What a wonderful priviledge to be able to learn!
10. Quarters- are you saving all the states quarters? Quarters are so handy! Parking meters, gumball machines, pop dispensers, Aldi's chopping carts. . .
11. Quarts - of home canned goods. A feast for the eyes - especially when it's a row of my Grandma Rossman's pickles ;) !
12. Queen - I LOVE being the Queen of my Castle!
13.Quick and Easy recipes - my very favorite.
February 27, 2009
Singing in His Shadow
Singing In His Shadow
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. --Psalm 63:7
Under His wings I am safely abiding,
February 15, 2009
Shadows
And all the worlds power can't pull us apart.
Jesus stands firm between me and my Father
And only my Father can look on the heart.
February 12, 2009
Thursday Thirteen ~ "P"~
1. Pretty PINK! - my very favorite pastel or any other shade for that matter! I'm pleased as punch with this pleasant color.
2. Patent leather-whether a purse with pockets (preferably black), shoes, or whatever, I really like it.
3.Porches - there's nothing like a porch. Little ones are adequate but a wrap-around would be my favorite. I just know my heavenly palace has a perfecly pretty one with hanging baskets of pink petunias hanging around it and big bushes of pink peonies with precious pansies planted all around! "Eye has not seen neither has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those that love Him!" - but it sure is fun to try imagining, isn't it? . . .Palladian windows, real stone patios beside a pond, pink parlor - a perfectly pleasant place to have tea! Oh! I can hardly wait!
4.Peaches, pecans, pepper jam, pimentoes, pistachios, pineapples, pears, plantains, peas, preserves, pepperoni, pies, petit fours, pancakes, parfaits, pasta,... mmm! Love 'em all!
5. Patchwork quilts - pastel ones from the past in the double wedding ring pattern would be m favorite. They show patient persistence with their pleasant patterns.
6. Polka dots - any shape any color. Love 'em! Pink polka dot pillows . . . ;). Now that's a good project idea!
7. Play the piano - I'm not good but it's a wonderful way to worship, de-stress and re-focus. I have a lovely portrait of my precious family hanging over mine.
8. Pennsylvanian by birth. My Papa, whose favorite restaurant happened to be Perkins, my cousin, who happens to be a Park Ranger, and a host of others - all from PA!
10. Preacher - I'm proud of my Preacher-Daddy. The best one ever and most young people that ever heard him whole heartedly agree. He was a GOOD one!
11. Plates, place settings, placecards, placemats . . . Ooo, la, la! Happiness is!
12. Picturesque places like Pike's Peak and Plymouth Plantation and Plymouth Rock. I've been blessed to photograph both places!
13.PRAYER! Purposeful, precious, patient, preserving, peaceful prayer! One of the most wonderful benefits of being a child of the King. I could not live without it. It pleases the Father when we pray! Psalms and Proverbs provide pearls of purpose and promises for prayer. Mighty miracles are performed because PRAYER CHANGES THINGS! (This pink chair in my living room is my favorite place to pray).
January 28, 2009
Wednesday's Winter Comfort Foods and Well-Said Sayings
And some quotes worth repeating:
"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin
"People learn more quickly by doing something or seeing something done."
-Gilbert Highet
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." - Selected
"Education makes up what we are." - C.A. Helvitus
"We want to see the child in pursuit of knowledge - not the knowledge in pursuit of the child." - G.B. Shaw
"Educating your child isn't just completing bookwork, it's teaching your child who to be and how to be." - Selected
Enjoy this lovely Winter Wonderland - a Gift from the Father for His Much Loved Children!
January 27, 2009
Tuesday's Tea Time
January 19, 2009
Happy Birthday to me!!
January 8, 2009
Thursday Thirteen ~ "O" ~
January 6, 2009
Tuesday's Tea Time
We had a winter storm advisery and icy roads so ... Smile!
I'm afraid to try it, though it probably still works. I love this moss rose pattern.
We can have hard boiled eggs in the matching egg cups that were also hers
and we'll share our sweets on the pretty matching dish that my mom gave me!
If you'll come back tomorrow, I'll have some of these "Afternoon Tea Cakes" for us to try.
I do wonder who shared this recipe with Grandma and when and with whom she shared them.
It would be fun to know, wouldn't it?
In case you can't read the recipe from the picture, here it is:
Afternoon Tea Cakes
Enjoy!
January 5, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Best Hashbrown Casserole Ever!
2 pkgs. frozen hashbrowns
2 cans cream of chicken soup
16 oz. sour cream
1 stick butter / margarine
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degees. Melt one stick of butter. Mix with potatoes, soup, sour cream and cheese. Put in greased 9 x 13 and bake uncovered for an hour. This can also be baked for 45 minutes, cooled and frozen for use at a later date. I like to make two at a time and freeze one. Just set in fridge the night before and bake for 20-30 minutes before supper.
Have a wonderfully blessed week!