What To Do With Disappointments

February 16, 2016February 15, 2016 RefreshHer7 Comments

After being apart for several days, and knowing that Valentine’s Day was to fall on Sunday, my husband and I decided that we would wait to celebrate the holiday on Monday. On Sunday we focused at church on God’s love for us and it was a wonderful time of worship!

For our Monday celebration we had made plans to go to a nearby lake cottage and enjoy the respite of no cell or Internet service, the beauty of the lake and mountains and just the company of one another.

cottage

Then the snow came.

The result?

No cabin get-away.

That equals disappointment.

As I thought about that and the change in our plans, I asked the Lord a question that has come to my mind with other (larger) let-downs –

What are we to do with our disappointments?

We all have them, and though they vary from a small disappointments, like a change of plans, to the huge devastations, they need to be addressed, rather than buried. Tremendous disappointments such as the complete change in life’s plans, the betrayal in marriage due to infidelity, or the breach of a long-time friendship, all have to be dealt with in the very same way we would treat a small disappointment.

How is that?

With the understanding of a Sovereign God. His sovereignty is protective. The snow comes and changes our plans and we say,

“God knew this. Perhaps there is something that we would miss if we left home right now, or maybe the best time to go is later on.”

We trust.

Then too, in the humongous blows that come, we must run to our God who knows what is happening and we must trust that He allowed even this for His glory and our good.

Can a relationship fracture be good? If it pushes us to be more dependent on our great God, it will. Perhaps it will remind us that our expectations must only be on God – not on people. Of course great disappointments hurt our heart, but we have a God who is “The God of all comfort.” We can draw closer to the Lord in those times of pain than we would during times of ease as we let Him comfort our hearts.

I’m sure that in time even this little snowy disappointment will be understood as a blessing from the hand of my Sovereign God Who does all things well. I can’t wait to see what God will do! It’s another chance to watch Him work in my life – even in the little things!

Take your disappointments – small and large – to Him Who knows best.

Lovingly,

Main dish.

Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie

February 15, 2016 RefreshHer4 Comments

Shepherd's PIe1

Shepherd’s pie is an old dish, made as a way to use up leftover roasted meat. The traditional pie started out being called a Cottage Pie, then as the meat inside was often lamb, the term Shepherd’s Pie began around 1877. Now the pie is made with either beef or lamb. The pie is was lined and toppedwith mashed potatoes.

A less expensive and updated version of Shepherd’s Pie is made with ground beef instead of the more expensive cuts, and adds sour cream and cheese to the potatoes. This is no less savory! It’s comfort food at its height of comfort!

I made this last week when I was visiting my parents. Biscuits and a salad were added to complete the meal. It was a perfect winter supper! Here’s the recipe (as I remember it!).

Ingredients:

4 med-large potatoes
1/3 Cup Sour cream
1/4 Cup milk
1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 pound ground beef
2 Tbl. Olive oil
1 large onion
1 large carrot, diced
2 Tbl. Tomato Sauce
2 Tbl. flour
1 cup water
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and mash, adding sour cream and milk – enough to make them creamy. Add grated cheese Set aside.

In skillet, add oil, onions and carrots. Cook until tender. Add beef and crumble and brown meat. Add flour and mix in. Add tomato sauce, water. Stir to combine. Add spices. Simmer until liquid reduces by half.

Spoon Meat mixture into an oven-proof casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes. Using tines of a fork, make a pattern in the potatoes. This will help them brown. Place in 400 degree oven and bake until golden and bubbly.

Has anyone made Shepherd’s Pie? I hope you’ll try this version! This would make a GREAT Wintery day supper!

With love from my country kitchen,

home

An Easy Remedy For Dusty Lampshades

February 12, 2016February 11, 2016 RefreshHer4 Comments

Okay, so today’s post isn’t going to wow you, maybe, but it just might simplify your life! Isn’t that one reason we read blogs and search the Internet?! Maybe you’re figuring out tough things and reading the political reports, but I’m always on the search for helpful tips!

Recently I was sitting beside the floor lamp in my bedroom. and saw fluffy lint hanging on it. Seriously? I thought I’d vacuumed that just recently! I didn’t feel like pulling the vacuum out and attaching the upholstery cleaner on it at the time, so I just brushed it off for the time being.

Then last week when I was visiting my mom, I saw her pull out a lint roller and give her lampshades a swish. Lint and dust particles were gone in a few easy strokes! I came home and did the same magic on my lampshades and you know what? It works better than the vacuum!

You don’t realize how dusty the shades are until you take a look at the roller! But the good thing is, now it’s a cinch to keep them from getting to the nasty stage!

Moms are great for little tips, aren’t they? Thanks for sharing that one with me, Mom. I knew as soon as you showed it to me that I’d have to share it so my readers could refresh their lamps, too! It’s all about the little things, folks!

Do you have exciting things planned for the weekend? We’re hosting our missionaries to Brazil in our home this weekend, having a church Valentine dinner at a Mexican restaurant Saturday night, and are looking forward to a special time in church all day Sunday! Monday will be our own Valentine celebration – more about that later! What are your plans for the weekend?

Stay refreshed,

Home decor

Valentine Decor at Home

February 10, 2016February 9, 2016 RefreshHer2 Comments

Valentines 1

I’m so thankful for holidays and seasons that allow us to change or add decor to our homes. I think adding a decorative touch for the little holidays like Valentine’s Day tells our family that they’re special. School classrooms get decorated, store windows are embellished, and magazines are filled with special touches. Home should be the most special place, and one way to do that is to add decorative embellishments.

I thought I’d share my simple Valentine touches with you today. With my love for Shabby Chic, the pink and white, the roses and the feminine pieces are perfect!

Of course the first place I love to start is my chalkboard. The picture below was my inspiration found on PInterest :

Valentine's Chalkboard Art:

Here’s the drawing on my chalkboard: Valentines 1.jpg

My mantle is red and white – a heart=shaped box, a book that says. “Love” on the cover and other red and white books, roses and a red candle.

We have our kitchen table pulled up to the fireside for the cold months, which is a cozy touch for Valentine’s Day, too! I love the painted mason jar that’s holding my pink daisies.

Valentines 2c

My bookcase has lots of red-covered books – I DO sometimes buy a book for it’s cover, though I’d never judge it because of it! =)

Valentiines 4a

The paper and lace doily banner hanging below was found in Target’s dollar section. I made the red and white toile chair covers several years ago, and their color is perfect for February decor!

Valentines 3

My entry way just has a simple red berry and gingham wreath and a heart hanging from my old window. Red M&M’s are the chocolate treat in the dish. Kisses would be perfect, too!

Valentines 5.jpg

I hope you’ve added some fun touches to your home for Valentine’s Day (I’d love to hear about it!), and if you haven’t that these simple pictures might inspire you to do so!

With love,

Uncategorized

The Grace To Keep Breathing

February 9, 2016February 8, 2016 RefreshHer6 Comments

As a young teenager, I was at home with my mom one afternoon, merrily going about my normal after-school routines – changing my clothes and hanging my coat up, when something happened that terrified me so much that I remember it as though it was yesterday. I had popped a round sour ball candy into my mouth and was sucking on this candy while I picked up my coat and went to hang it on the hook on the back of my bedroom door. I tipped my head back to reach up to the hook, and at that moment the sour ball slid down my throat and got lodged in my wind pipe.

I could not breathe.

In a moment, I ran into the kitchen where my mom was preparing supper. Motioning to her, I tried to tell her I needed help. This was the day before the Heimlech maneuver, so she did all she knew to do – she pounded on my back. It didn’t help. In my mind I was sure that ambulances would have to come and get me – that this was it for me. Then she told me to do something, she gave me counsel – she told me to put my hand down my throat and try to get it out.

I was desperate. I did it.

The Sour ball literally went flying across the room.

Air. Sweet air.

I could breathe again.

Ever since that day I have eaten

not one

sour ball candy.

Though I haven’t partaken of the sour ~~Death~~ Balls, there have been times when I have experienced the same choking – the feeling that “I cannot breathe!” It can come at times of trials. It hits suddenly, and even if you know that, “if you’re not in a trial now, one is coming,” it can feel suffocating.

Recently, I was in this very place during a trial and I was gasping for air – spiritual air. In my fleshly heart I thought, “The ambulance is coming. I’m not going to pull through this!” But then the Lord stepped up beside me and gave me counsel – He brought His Word to my mind –

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

“But Lord, I want to trust you! I don’t want to show small strength! I want to be strong in You!”

That was when I “stuck my hand down my throat” and got rid of the troublesome thoughts. Of course there is not way to change a situation – a sickness, a sin, a trial – but we can change the way we respond to it. Please understand that the difficult situation isn’t the Sour Ball – our response is. If we respond in our flesh, we will choke. Our flesh wants to get angry, lash out, blame God or someone else, give up, run away and a hundred other selfish actions. But if we grab a hold of our response and think biblically instead, we will find God’s grace to start breathing again.

Air. Sweet, spiritual air.

Keep breathing. We will make it. We will go on – whether it feels like it right now or not. We’re gonna make it. In the long run, (eternity) everything will be okay.

With a heart for those of you in a trial,