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Farewell Friday

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It’s Friday!  Thank you all for hanging out with me these past two weeks. It’s time for me to hand the blog back to the lady of Refreshher! I can’t wait to see her pictures and hear her stories…I know you are excited for that, too.

Keeping with the “Freshen Up Friday” theme here on Refreshher, I thought I’d share a very simple Valentines Day decor idea.

My Nana used to send us vintage Valentines Day Cards..like this one…

From alphamom.com

I kept all of them! So one year I cut them out and pasted them to heart shaped card stock. I’ve done several decorating things with them over the last few Februaries…here’s this year’s Vintage Valentine Project!

Yes, this picture is from my phone. Sorry for the horrible lighting….

I used double sided tape to attach the Valentines to the backing on the frame, and added a little ribbon and a silver pipe cleaner heart for some different textures. This was the inspiration for the love-day refresh that my living room bookshelf received. It’s not quite done (I need one trip to Hobby Lobby for something floral to go on the bottom shelf) so just imagine the topiary on each side of the black frame, ok? Thanks. =)

I put black construction paper in the white picture frame and wrote our initials with chalk…I love free re-do’s!

That’s all I’ve got for you! Have a great weekend!

Whitney for…

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My Word for 2012

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I’ve seen several posts like this around the blogosphere. Instead of setting a list of goals for the new year, why not just choose one word as your goal for 2012?

Here’s my word for 2012: forbearing

The context for this word comes from Ephesians 4: 1-3:

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”


The Message paraphrases the passage like this: “And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.” 

The dictionary defines forbearing as being patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.


I can think of all kinds of ways I need to apply forbearance to my life!

What is your word for 2012? While mine is a little more motivational, you may need inspiration or even consolation. Get in THE Word and find YOUR Word!

Whitney for…

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A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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Anyone that knows my parents has probably been at least a little envious of their sweet, romantic marriage. I lived with them for 17 years before I left for college, and I know they ain’t perfect! So how do they do it? I have been married for only 13 months, so I’m not in a place to offer any marriage advice. I’m taking all I can get! So, let’s all peek inside the parsonage and learn from my parents.

Here are just three of the principles I learned from watching my parents’ marriage in action.

This is what happens when the parents are on another continent…old pictures emerge! Haha!
1. Godly marriages take work
Every time mom and dad left the house to go on a date, they would say “we’re going on a date to make a better home for you!” Even when times were very tough financially, they would run errands together or have supper at a little table in their bedroom with doors closed and candles lit.
My parents read books on marriage and attended couples retreats (gasp! they left their children overnight! see point #2). Mom has always been a student of the Bible, and I remember seeing “reminder” verses from Proverbs written on her daily planner to help her with areas she was working on.
What can you do this week to work on your marriage? 
2. Kids are important, but they don’t take precedence over your marriage
We never slept in the bed with mom and dad. If a storm or bad dream woke us up, we were comforted and reassured…and dumped back in our cold sheets! =) Now that I’m married, I realize the wisdom of that move.
If I asked my dad permission for something like having a friend spend the night, his first words were always, “did you ask your mom?” and vice versa. I knew there was no way I could manipulate them by getting one person “on my side.”
Have you let your kids “crawl in bed” between you and your spouse (so to speak)? Dump them back on their cold sheets. They’ll thank you for it some day.
Lest you think we were neglected, here’s proof that mom and dad spent time with us.
Great NASCAR memories with my dad! I love this picture so much!
3. Godly marriages require respect
Never one time have I heard my parents make a disparaging comment to someone else about the other. My mom never complained to me about my dad – I knew my parents thought the world of each other. I will add that my in-laws are exactly like this as well. I cringe every time I hear a pastor say something ugly or joke about his wife from the pulpit, I never heard that from my dad growing up.
Do you need to ask the Lord to keep a watch over your mouth? If you really struggle with the respect issue, I highly recommend the book Love and Respect. 
I am so thankful for the people that taught me a great, godly, fun marriage was possible! I have to also thank my Nana and Papa who are madly in love with each other. They are the kind of sweet companions I pray we will be! Additionally, I am grateful for my in-laws who modeled this kind of marriage to my husband. He is definitely a product of a godly marriage, and I am so thankful!  
Whitney for…
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What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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Here’s what was cooking in the Pendell kitchen this week! This was a big hit with the husband, which always makes my day. I served it with a tossed salad and Parmesan toast (buttered bread with Parmesan cheese, toasted under the broiler). Big thanks to my friend Catherine for sharing this recipe with me!


Five-Cheese Baked Ziti 

(This can be doubled to make a 9×13 pan – I used a casserole dish slightly larger than an 8×8 square)

FOR THE ZITI SAUCE
2 cups tomato sauce
1 cups alfredo sauce
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/8 cup mozzarella cheese , shredded
1 ½  tablespoons Fontina cheese , shredded*
½  teaspoon garlic pepper seasoning
¼  teaspoon garlic powder
FOR THE ZITI TOPPING
1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese , shredded
¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
1 ½ tablespoons romano cheese , grated
½  tablespoon fresh garlic , chopped
1 ½  tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ½ tablespoons fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped

*I used Sargento Italian blend cheese  where it called for Fontina and Romano cheese  



REMAINING INGREDIENTS
½  lb dry ziti pasta
½ cup mozzarella cheese , shredded
Directions:
PREPARE THE ZITI SAUCE:
1.       Combining all ingredients for the Ziti Sauce in a large bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
PREPARE THE ZITI TOPPING:
2.       In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the first four ingredients for the Ziti Topping.
3.       Add the garlic, oil, and parsley and mix until thoroughly blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

WHEN READY TO PREPARE THE WHOLE DISH:
4.       Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray an 8×8 baking dish or large casserole with non-stick spray.
5.       Prepare the pasta according to package directions.
6.       Pour 1/4 cup of prepared ziti sauce into the prepared dish, and spread it evenly over the bottom using a spoon.
7.       When pasta has finished cooking, drain the water and pour the hot pasta into the bowl of remaining sauce. Mix thoroughly; pour into the baking dish.
8.       Spread 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella over the pasta and sauce mixture.
9.       Top the mozzarella with the prepared Ziti Topping, spreading evenly.
10.   Place pan on center oven rack and bake until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbling, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.


Enjoy! 


Whitney for…