Why have plain meatloaf when you could have Bacon Meatloaf?!  I wanted to fix meatloaf  recently, but wanted to dress it up in its Sunday finest since we were going to have it after church!  The bacon addition reminded me of a recipe I made years ao – Poor Boy’s Filet’s.  I’ll have to make that and post the recipe for that another day, but today, let me introduce you to Taste of Home’s recipe for Bacon Topped Meatloaf!

My Menu:

Bacon-Topped Meatloaf
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans
Salad
Crescent Rolls

My method for cooking  so it would be ready after church service was to put it on the oven timer.  I used my meat thermometer to check for doneness when I got home.  It was perfect and ready to eat!  While it rested I roasted the sweet potatoes and cooked the green beans.  It was a nice change for Sunday dinner menu!

If you have bacon lovers at your house, they will love you for fixing this!  It’s over the top delicious!

What do you add bacon to so it will put it over the top?

With love from my country kitchen,

Recently I received a note from my mom referencing the recent event at The Wilds where the retreat had just taken place. At the end of her note was this verse:
III John 4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

The verse made me smile, not only because of its truth, but also because that is “our verse.”  Years ago when I was single and seeking God’s will for my life, my mom sent me that verse to encourage me to follow the Lord. I did, and she indeed rejoiced with me. Over the years she has reminded me of that passage – it’s one of the many truths that she always said to me.

On this Mother’s Day weekend, I want to say that there’s no better gift that you can give your children than to encourage them to “walk in truth” and follow God’s will for their life, even though it may take them far away from you, which is exactly what happened in my life. I’ve never lived close to my parents, but they never lamented over that – they’ve only encouraged me. That freed me to obey my Heavenly Father! What a gift that is! 

Let your children go so they can serve Lord, then you can have the great joy of knowing they are walking inTruth!

Is there a statement from your mom that has stuck with you over the years? I’d love to hear what it is!

Stay refreshed,
Denise

This morning when I looked down at my phone it said,

You have memories from April 26, want to see?

I clicked, “Yes” and it showed a photo gallery of photos that I had snapped while my husband and I rode bikes on Monday.  It was really neat.  It zoomed in on some pictures and let me remember the fun we’d had.

When you and I look back to our yesterday or the day before that,, or the weekend, we may smile and rejoice over wonderful things that took place.  Or our heart may swing to the other side of the pendulum and cause us to choke back grief over a memory that broke our hearts.  But no matter the memory, we all need to remember that

Today is a new day!

When you remember your yesterday, smile at the memory of victories won!  Wipe away the tears from its sorrows, then let’s grab God’s Word and arm ourselves for this day. Let’s walk with Him today.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  

Yep, not yesterday’s joys or pain, but today’s wonder!  Let’s ask, “What will God do today??”  Now we must look expectantly for His work and join Him today!

Lovingly,

I’m truly amazed at the opportunity God gives us to serve Him.  He doesn’t need people to accomplish His purposes, yet He gives us the privilege to be used of Him!  What a privilege and honor to do anything for the God who made me, saved me and keeps me secure!  I owe Him everything and am so thankful to have the chance to obey His call!

This past weekend that call led me to The Wilds in North Carolina to speak at the Ladies’ Retreat. So much prayer had gone into this weekend and  He answered so many of those requests.  Even now I’m continuing to see, hear and understand His hand and how He answered in every area.

• We had prayed for 30 ladies from our church to go.  I believe the final count was 32!
• The weather was supposed to be rainy for the entire weekend.  When we started out it was sprinkling.  By the time we made it to camp, I had to put on my sunglasses.  It was beautiful the rest of the weekend!
• I’ve NEVER done a retreat without dealing with a migraine.  I did not have one at all while I was speaking!!
• I had asked the Lord for recall of passages of Scripture.  He answered.
• I prayed for remembrance of names.  He heard.
• I desired to see decisions made for Christ.  I just learned yesterday afternoon about lives being surrendered while at camp!  To God be the glory!!

A retreat is such a blessing because it allows us to really focus on the Lord, His Word and what He wants to do to change us!  All the distractions are removed and we hear God’s voice clearer and stronger.  If you were at this retreat, or if you’ve attended a retreat recently, can I encourage you about how to maximize your time there?  I wrote this post last year about how to get the most out of your time away and make the most of those very fast 24 hours.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for me!  God heard those prayers and helped me in such special ways!  I doubt there’s ever been a speaker who had as much support present!  “My ladies” were so precious to encourage me in really, really special ways!  I love each of you dearly and thank the Lord for the ways you lifted my arms up as I served Him!

Here are some pictures of our time away:

Were you at The Wilds?  What is a memory you have of the weekend?

Lovingly,