A Sparkly Change

April 15, 2016April 14, 2016 RefreshHer7 Comments

I recently read an article about making your standard lighting over your table a little more sparkly and Shabby Chic by adding prisms to it. Soooo, I went on the hunt for glass prisms and I thought I’d need to string them together and then drape from my light.

Then a couple weeks ago while at Hobby Lobby (woo hoo!), I found these little gems…

They are magnetic! Yes, they hold in place when you simply attach them to the chandelier! Look at the special touch it added to my light!

I also added one to my outside planter that I created to make it look like a water droplet. Ready?

You could add these to a tabletop lamp, a metal bowl, or a host of other places! This is the perfect, easy and inexpensive solution to add sparkle to anything that’s metal! Isn’t that clever?! These were about $8 for 3, but you can use a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby! What a great find!!! In case you can’t find them at a store near you, they are also on Amazon here.

Have a great weekend. I have some fun planned for tomorrow. I’ll share pictures next week, so stay tuned!

Stay refreshed,

Monuments

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 RefreshHer5 Comments

This is a reposting of a topic that is very dear to my heart – journaling. I talk to so many women who do not keep a record of what they are learning or what God is doing. I repost this today to encourage you to consider otherwise. 😀

If there is anything I have a surplus of, it is journals. I have always loved to write my thoughts down and I have a sundry places in which I do just that. It began when I was in elementary school. I had a tiny diary with a lock and key. I wrote about things that happened at school, holidays at home and special events in history like when Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon in 1969 and the election of Richard Nixon to the White House.

In high school my writing took a little twist as I also included some creative writing in the form of poetry into my book of thoughts. How interesting it is to read of the events of my life as a teenager (and all the drama that entails!). I can clearly see how the Lord was directing my steps as I graduated from high school then sought His will for the future. If I hadn’t written all that was happening at that time I’m sure my fifty year-old mind would surely have forgotten the details of the God’s provision for my going to Bob Jones. As I went to college I journaled the anxiety of classes, homesickness and again seeking God’s will for the future.

Do you remember when Joshua and the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River? When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight’” (Joshua 4:1-3). Those twelve stones were to be the monument that reminded the people of the way God brought them across the river and delivered them. My journals are my monument, if you will, of God’s faithfulness to me. They remind me of what God has done. That stoney monument was also to be the “story-starter” for the Israelites’ children when they asked what the meaning of the stones was. My journals help me to tell my girls the details of how the Lord brought my husband into my life and how they too can wait on the Lord to do the same for them. I’m reminded of God’s provision in a material way, of the way He’s answered prayers over and over again.

There are many positives of keeping a journal, but the best is the preservation of the memories of God’s work in your life. If you’re not writing these things down, you probably won’t remember in the years to come and there will be no way to then pass on that memory to the generation behind you.

May I suggest:

Make bullets and write a phrase or two about the Scripture you’ve read.
Write what God said to you in that passage and how you can apply it.
Write down praises
Write down your prayer requests and write when they are answered

It doesn’t have to be lengthy or creative, just record events. Its memories will be monumental!

With love,

Marriage

Blessed

April 13, 2016April 13, 2016 RefreshHer3 Comments

Because you’re married to a pastor does not mean that life/marriage is a breeze. We deal with tough things – just like every other couple. We have disagreements, have need for apologies, and confession of wrongs. Harsh words can be spoken, and hurts are suffered. But because we’re believers and Christ is the center of our home, there is remedy for all that! Then when those issues are cleared up, blessings can follow!

I don’t think I share enough about the blessing I have in my husband. This is for God’s glory, because my husband is God’s gift to me. It’s certainly one I don’t deserve, but am so very thankful for! We shouldn’t wait for a special holiday, their birthday or their death to let others know what people mean to us. So, will you oblige me?

I am blessed with a husband who:

loves God with all his heart.
loves me!
loves his daughters and sons-in-law
learned to love my cats!
is one of the most giving people I know!
is affectionate.
loves to have a good time.
loves people.
has a shepherd’s heart
has a passion for souls.
loves to shop!
has great taste!
loves to surprise me!
knows God’s Word and teaches it with passion both publicly and privately.
prays for me.
does the dishes!
vacuums every week.
takes off his shoes to keep from tracking in dirt inside.
encourages me to follow God through any open doors the Lord gives
is willing to say, “forgive me; I was wrong.”
reads my blog every day, and so I say – Dale, I thank God for you and I love you so very much! You are one of my greatest blessings!

God is gracious to give us all what we do not deserve (beginning with salvation). I am so grateful for the gift of marriage, and pray that the way I love and respond to my husband will be a picture of the Gospel to a lost world who is watching.

Have you told your husband how much you appreciate him and why? He needs to hear it! Today might be a great time to do just that!

Refresh your marriage,

Sunday Dinner

The Best Sunday Roast Beef

April 11, 2016April 9, 2016 RefreshHer18 Comments

Roast Dinner.jpg

Coming home from Sunday services to a home cooked meal that greets you with wonderful, enticing aromas when you walk in the door is a gift from heaven. Everyone is starving and no one wants to wait for long meal prep. It’s great to have a sure-fire way to cook a meal so it will be ready to eat when you get home. I have a solution for you!

Roast Beef platter

This recipe has been my favorite way to cook a roast for lots of years.Also, if you’re not great at making gravy, this recipe is a blessing because it makes its own gravy! You could use any variety of beef cuts – Chuck Steak, round roast, whatever is on sale. The technique is the same, but you may just need longer cooking times for larger pieces of beef.

Here’s the recipe:

Sunday Roast Beef Dinner
Roast beef
Oil
Carrots – However many you need for your group
Potatoes – ”
Lipton Onion Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Water or broth

Directions: Add a couple tablespoons of oil to a shallow pan and sear the meat (cook at high temperature just to brown and caramelize a crust on the meat.) You could even do this part the night before!
Place roast and vegetables in a crock pot.
Spread undiluted soup over roast, icing it like a cake!
Sprinkle Onion soup over the mushroom soup and vegetables. Add a cup of water or chicken or beef broth.

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Serve meat and vegetables with the gravy in the crock pot.

You’ll be the woman of the year for anyone who eats this meal with you! It makes the meat flavorful and moist! Sunday dinner problems are solved. You’re welcome! 😉

What did you have for Sunday dinner yesterday?

With love from my country kitchen,

Uncategorized

Friday’s favorite Moments

April 8, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

1. Girlfriend time! Women need friends. Do you need to schedule some time out with one of your good friends?
2. Honey lemon drop cookies prepared for a special event next weekend. Recipe is here on my blog. Yum!
3. Another picture of our new fire pit. I’m loving it!
4. The Arboretum at Biltmore Estates is beautiful with the backdrop of the mountains.
5. Who could resist taking pictures of the Tulips at Biltmore Estates Garden? Obviously, not me!
6. The entryway into the gardens is as spectacular as the garden itself!

Hope you have had a great week and are planning to be in a good Bible teaching church on Sunday.

Stay refreshed!
Denise