This Tuesday I had my weekly After School Bible Club with my two little cutie neighbor children (my favorite part of the week!).  I decided I’d tell them the reason I have so much to be thankful for and would share  my personal salvation testimony with them.  I did so using flannelgraph (a first!). 

“There was a little girl named Denise who went to church every Sunday with her parents and sisters.  One Sunday night she heard the preacher talk about Jesus dying on the cross to save us from eternity in hell.  He described hell as a place of darkness and punishment for all those that had not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.  

When Denise walked out of the church that night, it was dark.  She thought about the pastor saying that hell was dark.  She knew in her heart that she needed Jesus as her Savior, but for some reason, she didn’t ask Him into her life that night, but she thought a lot about what she had heard.

Some time later, on her 7th birthday, Denise went to Sunday school and church as she always did on Sunday.  That morning, her Sunday school teacher asked if there was any girl in class who hadn’t received Jesus as her Savior but would like to do that today.  Denise’s heart beat faster – she knew she must make that decision today! She knew she was a sinner, and that she deserved hell.  But she remembered that Jesus had taken her punishment on the cross! Though it meant staying behind in class while her twin sister went to join their parents for the morning service, Denise waited to talk with the teacher.  As the teacher opened her Bible, she reminded Denise from God’s Word that God loved her so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for her!  If she would believe on Him, she could have eternal life in heaven!  John 3:16  That day, Denise bowed her head and asked Jesus to forgive her sins and become her Savior!  It was the happiest day of her life!

Ever since then, Denise has had a relationship with Jesus.  Every day she talks to Him and learns more about Him in the Bible that she reads.  Oh, how she loves Him!  How thankful she is to have her sins forgiven, and to know that One Day she will go to heaven to be with Him forever!  She’ll get to tell Jesus Thank you face to face!  But for now, she can tell Him in her prayers, and she does.  

And on this Thanksgiving Day, she’s also telling you, so you can know how to go to heaven too!”

If you have a child near you, why not read this simple story to them?  It’s on their level and ability to understand what Jesus has done for them!  Every discipline issue you have with your child is an opportunity to share the Gospel – it’s a reminder that their sin is why Jesus came!

I’m so thankful to the Lord that I have a salvation testimony – that I know Him as my Savior.  I pray you know Him, too!  It’s simple enough for a child to understand, and it’s deep enough that we’ll never fully comprehend all that we have in Christ!

Do you have a testimony of salvation?  If not, what’s keeping you from bowing your head right now and receiving Him into your heart and life?  

Like many other households in America, we are prepping for Thanksgiving!  I’m not hosting the event as I did last year.  I really loved having everyone here and having my house smell so wonderfully of the turkey dinner and its accompanying sides, but the next generation of family is hosting, and we’re excited about getting to join at their house and give thanks to the Lord for His innumerable blessings!

Last year’s decor at my house

I have to admit that it’s kind of nice not to have the stress of hosting the meal, but I think I’ve learned to chill a little more about everything.  It’s come through many years of unexpected events.  I really have a lot of unplanned Thanksgiving disasters memories.  It’s kind of funny.  For instance,

• One year we all got the flu.  First the girls got it, then my husband and I got sick.  We got take out from the local grocery store deli when we were fit enough to get out!
• One year I was hosting and had prepared for about 12-15.  Snow came in Indiana and only three of our family were able to make it in.  Talk about leftovers!
• Another year my husband got the flu en route.  While the rest of the family celebrated, he sat in the recliner in the corner, covered with a blanket and looking green and PA-THETIC!  Poor guy.
• Last year my lovely rolls were rising on the counter, covered and warm underneath clean dish towels.  A couple of the guys brought in crock pots with side dishes in them and seeing “just a towel lying on the counter, plopped placed their wife’s contribution on top of the towels!  It wasn’t just one who did this – it was two guys.  We did let them rise again (a friend suggested we now call them resurrection rolls since they had to rise again!), and then they were baked.  They had kind of funny shapes, but they tasted the same!

So if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, don’t let the “smashed rolls” ruin the meal.  It’s just food.  It’s just a spotted tablecloth.  It’s just lumpy potatoes.  The meal will still go on.  The family can still rejoice.  And then you’ll have a good memory to look back on and laugh about when the crumbs have been swept up, the leftovers are safely in the fridge, and the last load of dishes have been washed.

Count your blessings ~ even in the midst of the disasters that will undoubtedly occur!

With love,

It was a simple request, and one I could easily and gladly fulfill ~

“Mom, I’ve been asked to bring pie for Thanksgiving dinner.  Will you make my crusts for me?”

I started with, “Sure!”  Then I thought better.  “Well, how about if you come over and we’ll each make crusts?  I can show you how as I make mine.  I’ll help you if you need it.”

And so, on said night, we pulled out the flour, Crisco, salt and ice water and we worked side by side.  I worked, she watched.  She worked, I watched.  The result?  Four beautiful crusts, ready for Thanksgiving dessert!

Some time later, I was talking to someone about why God doesn’t always just answer our requests immediately.  The picture of my pie instruction to Alli came to mind.  God our Father is able and willing to answer any request we bring to Him.  But in His wisdom, He knows that it’s sometimes better for Him to pull us up alongside Himself and instruct us while we’re waiting.  We watch Him. as Alli kept her gaze on me. We listen to His voice, as she waited for my instruction and guidance.

Is He withholding because He wants to remind us of some past sin?  Does He want to make it hard on us just for the sake of making it hard?  What does Scripture say?

Matthew 7;11 – If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  

God delights in giving to His children, but sometimes He waits that He might instruct us.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Keep praying about the desires on your heart.  But while you pray and wait, draw near to your Father Who longs to instruct you and teach you.  Then when He does answer and provide, you’ll be far more ready to receive His perfect gift!

Look at the results Alli got!

Now think of your request…How much MORE shall your Father give good gifts to you who ask!

With love,

Okay, you might have turkey on your mind with Thanksgiving a few days away, but once you tire of the cold turkey sandwiches, dressing balls and  Turkey Cassoulet, you’ll be ready for something wonderful.  So, bookmark this recipe and you’ll be ready!  You’ll thank me later!

 There are just days when a craving for a particular food is so overwhelming that my original menu plan gets ditched, and I go with my taste buds’ longings!  I hadn’t made fried chicken in a very long time because we try not to eat fried foods for health and weight reasons, but after seeing a cooking show featuring this delicacy, I wanted some fried chicken in the worst way!  What is a girl to do?!   I pulled out my Cooking Light Cookbook and sought for a replacement!  Ta-da!  I found exactly what I was looking for!  I found a recipe for “Fried” Chicken that’s only fried in a tablespoon of oil.  Oh.my.goodness.  It was wonderful.  For a side dish, I added homemade Mac and Cheese, also done light.  Yum.

 Take a look…

“Fried Chicken”
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/8 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1/3 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil
Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon salt; lightly coat both sides of chicken breast halves with cooking spray. Dredge in Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 2 minutes on each side.  Place on a baking sheet and put into a 400 degree  oven  until center juices run clear (about 10 minutes).

This chicken was tender and juicy with a slightly crispy coating.  It was perfect!  

Mac and Cheese done light-  I put milk into a saucepan, and added a couple tablespoons of flour no butter added, as you usually would).  Using a whisk, stir until it begins to thicken.  Add salt, pepper and  a little nutmeg.  Thicken.  Add grated cheddar cheese.  Pour over boiled macaroni.  I serve it immediately, rather than baking it.  I love the creaminess it has at this point.  

How about seeing if you can find a lighter way to fix an old favorite?  You don’t have to compromise the taste!  What are you craving right now?

With love from my country kitchen,

Christmas baking season is just around the corner!  Can I hear an “Amen”?!  One way I’ve started getting ready for that is by pulling my cookie cutters out of their hiding place and putting them in a pretty jar for easy access.

I love jars – they just make baking so much easier.  I have lots of them ~ brown sugar, powdered sugar, and corn starch ~ they’re all in jars.  It makes baking soooo much easier!

I was keeping my cookie cutters in a cloth bag in the cupboard above the stove.  I had nowhere else to store them, but not now!!!

I got this adorable jar at Big Lots for $6!  The minute I saw it, I knew I’d found the perfect container for this cookie cutter task!  After Thanksgiving I’m planning on adding a festive ribbon around the neck of the jar, but for now, its red lid goes perfectly in my kitchen and adds a lovely touch to my baking corner!

So, where are your cookie cutters?  Refresh your baking by pulling them out of the depths of your kitchen drawer and pile them into a large, clear jar so you’ll have easy access!

Stay refreshed,