Tempting Your Family with Summer Fruits

June 17, 2016June 16, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

There is a saying my girls remember well that I used in our home A LOT. When they would want dessert, I would say,

“Why don’t you have some nice fruit?!”

They would look at me as if to say,

“Really? That’s not dessert!”

It may not be a chocolate chip cookie, but summer fruits are sweet and full of flavor! I love summertime for lots of reasons, but all the fresh fruits is one of them! I love cutting up a variety and having it in a bowl for quick snacks or dessert! Having a big bowl all ready washed, cut up and ready to eat is far more appealing than the watermelon that has to be sliced every time you want to indulge.

Another ~~trick~~ secret to getting your family to eat more fruits like peaches or grapes is to have some washed and sitting out on the counter. Put it in a pretty tray or bowl and set it on the counter. They’ll snack on it more readily if it’s within easy reach.

The pineapple will be sliced for a rice dish I’m making, then I’ll add the rest to my bowl of cut up fruit! For now it’s serving as a garnish!

This week our Aldi’s had mango’s for forty-nine cents! That’s a good deal! Mango’s are so sweet and make a great addition to a taco (if you haven’t tried that as a topping, you really should!) or a fruit salad. To get the most out of the fruit, here’s the easiest way to peel and chop them:

You slice down on each side beside the long stone in the middle. Then score each half with a knife. Pop the skin inside out, then slice off the squares of fruit! It’s super easy this way!

I have a bowl of fruit in the fridge right now with watermelon, peaches, honeydew, strawberries, blackberries and mango. My favorite? Probably the melons – or the blackberries, or maybe the mango… Excuse me while I go have some nice fruit!

What’s your favorite summer fruit? How do you serve it?

Stay refreshed by slicing up some summer fruits!

8e63c63ac0bc189bf1c68b03c74dbb5f (1)

Christian Life · Uncategorized

June 16, 2016June 16, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

0609160812 a

Recently while making my bed, I sighed and thought what a blessing to have a comfy bed and lovely bedroom in which to rest each night. I thanked the Lord for His gift of rest and even of this bed that had once again, given us the sleep needed for the day’s activities that were ahead.

But you know, sometimes that same bed finds me holding my pounding head when I’m dealing with a migraine. Other times the sheets have been twisted and strewn all over the place, due to a stomach bug. On those days and nights, as well as the days when we jump up feeling rested, we can (and should) have praise on our lips to our God. On a sickbed, we can remember:

~He has our days in His hands.

~He has grace sufficient for each trial.

~He will be with me.

~He will perfect that which concerns me.

~He will comfort me.

~He desires to use this time to conform me to His likeness.

It’s good on the days of health to think ahead and get a jump on praise for the sick days. Store up praise in your heart by rehearsing these truths. God never changes, and these Truths won’t either! Whether we’re rising from a good night, from a fitful night, or even a very sick night, in our inner most being, let’s resolve to give God the praise that is always due His name. Here’s what David said in Psalm 149:5

Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Well-bed, sickbed or deathbed, God is always worthy of praise!

With praise,

8e63c63ac0bc189bf1c68b03c74dbb5f (1)

Uncategorized

A Peek At My Week

June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Happy Wednesday! Ever have a week where you can’t remember what day it is? We made a trip to Ohio to be with dear church members while she had surgery and her husband stood sweetly by her side to care for her and her every need. We are thankful to be able to be with our flock and encourage them at times when they are hurting! We left on Sunday afternoon, so it kind of messed up my mind with figuring out what day it was! However, thank the Lord, she made it through surgery and we are now home.

In typical fashion, my husband took time for us to add a little adventure to the hospital trip. After leaving the hospital Monday evening, he drove me all around downtown Cleveland. We saw some pretty sights!

Last Friday I told you we had some exciting plans for the weekend. If you also read my daughter, Whitney’s blog, you already know that she and Alli planned a 35th anniversary party for my husband and me! Our anniversary is on the 20th, so this was a little over a week before the big day. Nothing like getting to celebrate for a week and a half! All we knew about the event was

We were to have our calendar cleared for that day.
We were going to dinner at an Italian restaurant nearby.
My parents and sister and brother-in-law were staying that night with us.

The evening was SO special! There were about 30 people who attended – just a small group of family and friends. Alli and Whitney did a GREAT job finding a perfect location, decorating, organizing and making it a really special evening to honor us. I’m sending you to Whitney’s blog so you can see her good pics. I’ll add a few I took, but you’ll see more details on Home for Comfort.

It was a little dim in the restaurant, so my pics aren’t the best, but here are a few from the dinner:

I caught Whitney mid-sentence, but only wanted to snap one quick picture so I wouldn’t distract her! Sorry, Whitney!

The girls both shared their gratitude for our marriage and the impact it had on them. Wow. What a reminder that your children are watching – even while they are young. The parents’ love for each other gives security to them and provides the atmosphere of biblical

love. It meant so much to hear from them. Our marriage was not perfect, of course, but we were committed to it – no matter what. There are a hundred reasons why I’m glad we were, but hearing our daughters share how it impacted them, made me realize that they are two of the best reasons to choose to do right.

I’m so thankful for my twin sister and her husband going out of their way to bring my parents. Here’s a great picture of my dad with Whitney and Alli.

After the dinner party our family came back to our home to sit out back near the fire pit, roast marshmallows and visit. What a fun time that was!

The next morning we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast before they had to leave to head back to Kentucky. I hated to see them go, but so happy they could be with us for this special event! I love this picture:

mom and dada

Lunch with our girls and their hubbies ended the weekend and its festivities.

Dale and girls.jpg

Last weekend was memorable, special, and sentimental. But you know, each day is important – whether you’re making an adventure out of a hospital visit or celebrating a monumentous anniversary. What are you doing to make today special?

With love,

8e63c63ac0bc189bf1c68b03c74dbb5f (1)

Christian Life · Uncategorized

How To Have True Peace

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

The house is chaotic. The grocery store is crazy. Work is demanding and the traffic makes even your cup of coffee nervous. Throw in the big city scene with all the violence, and you have many situations for a troubled heart.

Peace! Where is peace?

As believers, our answers are all in God’s Word. Why would we even try to reason with all our chaos with the world’s phrases, techniques, masks or cliche’s?

First, let’s remember that Jesus said in this world we would have trouble! That’s why He came. We are desperate without Him. Both Eternity and today are hopeless and lacking peace unless we come to Christ. If you have no peace, could it be because you have never received Christ as your personal Savior? He loves you and died to prove it! His peace is yours when you come to Him for salvation from your sin.

Secondly, after we receive Christ as our Savior, we have peace with God and we can also have the peace of God. Philippians 4 reminds us in verses 6 and 7 that when we pray about our troubles, His peace, that passes all human understanding, will gird up our mind.

When we were having our new patio area done out back of our house, the guys put up supports all the way around the edge. They said that if they didn’t do that, over time the bricks would move and the shape would not hold. It was a step that was necessary to keep things looking good! That’s what God’s peace does in our lives. When we run to Him and trust every care to His keeping, our lives, our thinking and our emotions are all firmed up and He keeps our testimony as a Child of God looking beautiful! Who believes that life in Christ is the best when they see us falling apart quicker than a brick building in an earthquake??! So if you have no peace, it may be because you’re not praying as much as you need to about those burdens in your life.

Lastly, we must seriously consider what’s in our mind. Listen to Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

If you know Christ and you’re seriously praying about your burdens, yet still have no peace, consider your thoughts – on what are they landing? Are you saturating your mind with the things of this world? Do you spend more time thinking about television shows, media, texts, magazines, fashion and news reports than you do God’s Word? There is no substitute for biblical Truth! You either know it and trust it and have God’s peace because of it, or your thoughts are earth-filled and troubled.

Recently while we were working with a group on our church’s bathroom remodel, one of the men came to help with touching up a small area of paint. When he walked in he was holding a railing that he was going to install in the handicap stall. As he painted with his right hand, his left hand was firmly gripping the unattached railing. I asked, “Are you holding onto that thing so you won’t fall down?!” He didn’t even realize he was holding onto it – much less that he was gripping it so tightly!

We all had a good laugh, but you know, it’s a great picture of what it looks like when we fill our mind with earthly thoughts. We’re wondering why we have no support, but we’re more attached to the world than we are to God! We are wobbly, woozy and weak! Peace will come when we think and meditate on spiritual matters. You can’t help but have joy and rejoicing when you do that! Find a passage of Scripture to memorize. Study a passage; dig and write notes about what you learn. Listen to podcasts of preaching, or a CD of music that will turn your thoughts upward!

So, if you’re realizing that you could really use some peace, wisely consider:

Is Christ my Savior because I’ve received Him as the sacrifice for my sin?
Am I praying more than I am worrying about my cares?
Do I have a greater spiritual mind than I do a carnal one?

These are the three ways to have real genuine peace in your heart! And you know what? When you have God’s peace NO ONE can take it from you!

Enjoy the peace that only God can give and

stay refreshed,

8e63c63ac0bc189bf1c68b03c74dbb5f (1)

dinner in 30 minutes · main dish

Dressing Up Leftovers

June 13, 2016June 10, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

When you have meat leftover at the end of a meal, if you’re like me, there’s a temptation to reheat it the next night and serve it in the same way you did the first time – same salad, same side dish. Maybe there’s just a difficulty in getting creative with that meat!

Last week I had both pork tenderloin and grilled sirloin steak leftover. I took those meats and made two completely different entree’s with them. With a disguise like that, I wonder if my husband even knew he was eating leftovers…okay, he did, but they were so good, I know he didn’t mind! Here’s what I made:

With my Brown sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork tenderloin, I made Toasted Pork Sandwiches. I added the pork and the glaze to a pan and heated it. Then I toasted the bun – this makes it sooo good! Spray the bread with cooking spray, then toast in a skillet until lightly browned. It gives the bread great crunchy texture.

Then I piled meat, red onion and avocado slices on the bun.

It was so good!

The next leftover was the sirloin. With it I made a Blue Sirloin Salad.

First I made up Pioneer Woman’s Blue Cheese Dressing. Here’s my lightened up version:

Blue Cheese Dressing

Ingredients
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup lilght sour cream
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
Salt and pepper

Directions
To a bowl add the mayo, milk, sour cream and Worcestershire, and stir until combined. Stir in the blue cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.

On a plate I piled up Spring Mix greens, red onion, yellow peppers and tomatoes. After warming the leftover sirloin, I sliced it and place it on top of the salad, then I topped the salad with the Blue Cheese Dressing.

Voila! Dinner was served!

How good does that look? It was refreshing and on the table in about 10 minutes!

How’s that for a makeover? I wish I could get a personal one that quickly!

How do you makeover your meat leftovers?

With love from my country kitchen,