Fall

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

October 31, 2011April 5, 2015 RefreshHer6 Comments

Cold fall and winter evenings call for yummy treats to enjoy inside around the fireplace or the game table. Here are a few treats that we love …and that our church ladies will be trying at our fellowship tonight!

Microwave Caramel corn

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1 stick butter
1/2 tsp salt

Combine all of the above in 2 quart dish. Bring to a boil in microwave, then cook on full power for 2 minutes. Remove from oven and stir in 1 tsp baking soda.

Place 3-4 quarts popped popcorn in a brown grocery bag. Pour syrup over corn. Close bag and shake. Cook in bag on high for 1-1 1/2 minutes. Shake and cook another 1 – 1/2 minutes. You may need to cook another 1 – 1 1/2 minutes. Pour into a pan and cool. Be sure to shake part way through or popcorn will burn!

This is how I pop popcorn. It’s so much cheaper (and tastier) than the microwaveable bags you purchase. Place enough popcorn in the bottom of a dish that has a lid. If you want butter, add a couple tablespoons when you place the popcorn kernels in the dish. Microwave on high until the kernels slow down to a few seconds between pops.

Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal
2 cups wheat Chex cereal
2 cups Honey Nut Chex cereal
8 oz. nuts

1. In small bowl, mix brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice; set aside. In small microwave-safe dish, microwave butter on high about 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in vanilla. In large microwaveable bowl, mix all cereals and nuts. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly distributed. Add sugar and spice mixture and stir until coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on high 5 minutes, or until mixture begins to brown, stirring every minute. Spread on waxed paper or a cookie sheet to cool. Store in airtight container.

**To ease the load of last minute prep, make the mix up to 2 weeks ahead and store in an airtight container.

This next treat is a low-calorie and low-fat popcorn. You can make it as buttery as you like it…

Parmesan-garlic Popcorn

2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn, buttered
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley flakes

Place popcorn in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, combine the Parmesan cheese,garlic powder and parsley; sprinkle over popcorn and toss lightly.

Hope you’ll try these easy to make snacks!

From my parsonage kitchen,

Uncategorized

Freshen Up Friday

October 28, 2011 RefreshHer2 Comments

Want to be refreshed today? Take this Advice from a tree. =)

Stand Tall

Act Naturally

Enjoy the View

Settle Down

Make yourself useful

Change your look for the season

Sink deep Roots. You never look stupid

by staying quiet. Learn to bend

Take what comes and make the

best of it. Drink plenty

of water. Recycle. Be

yourself. Take

the winter

off.

lllll

I’d like to give credit to the author, but I don’t know who wrote this. It’s good stuff, though!

See you in church Sunday!
Be refreshed,

Christian Life

Two Questions

October 27, 2011 RefreshHerLeave a comment

“So what’s the big tadoo about being a woman of character?” someone may ask. The world says we are all a little good. Is it that hard to be a woman of godliness? And what about men? Is it any easier to be a man of strong biblical character? Let’s see what Scripture says…

Proverbs 20:6b asks a noteworthy question, it says, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” The implication here is that a man may boast about his ability to do this or be that, but when it comes right down to it, faithful men are rare! That question reminds me of Proverbs 31:10 – Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. This virtuous woman, this woman of striking character is also a rare gem! You don’t find women like this in every house in the neighborhood! You won’t find men like that in every business office or college campus.

Why are faithful men and virtuous women hard to find? I believe it’s because it is hard work. It takes discipline to stay by the stuff when things are difficult; it takes no effort to quit. It takes strength to say “No” to sin; it’s much easier to cave in to the temptation. Name any character trait and look at its antonym and it’s understandable why a person could shake their head, shrug their shoulders and go the easy route. There’s nothing to it!

The blessing of the pursuit of godliness is that we’re not in this alone! “For it is God which worketh in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 The One Who is exemplary of character enables us be women of character!

We need to be encouraging our sons and daughters not only to be this kind of man or woman, but also to be looking for this kind of mate. It’s easy to find someone to marry, but it’s worth waiting to find a faithful man or a virtuous woman!

Who can find a faithful man, or a virtuous woman? They don’t abound, but you and I can be one, all by His amazing grace.

With love,

Family life

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

October 26, 2011January 9, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Enjoy the little things today;

in the future you’ll realize the little things

were the big things!

I recently saw the previous saying on a sign. As I’ve contemplated it, I’ve realized that it is really true. When I think back to what I considered “little” things we’ve done in our parsonage, they would include such things as:

Kissing my husband good morning, goodbye, or goodnight
Reading a chapter in Proverbs every day
Having pretend tea parties
Setting a nice dinner table

All of us playing outside in the snow
Turning on good music during dinner
Saying, “I love you” whenever we talk on the phone
Making treats for each holiday
Family devotions after dinner
My husband reading the “Mandy” or “Little House on the Prairie” books with the girls at bedtime
Leaving notes for one another on the bathroom mirrors

These are all little things, but in the long run, they turn into big things, because they are what made our marriage and home strong, left each of us with sweet memories, and have enriched our lives for God’s glory.

The “little things” you are doing today are investments in the lives of those that live in your house – including yourself! Keep doing them. Some day you’ll see they weren’t little at all!

From my parsonage window,

Uncategorized

Have You Heard?

October 25, 2011 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Rahab leaned in as her friend cupped her hand around her mouth and said in hushed tones –

“Have you heard the news? The Israelites have finally been freed from their slavery in Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of them left…in the middle of the night! They say that when they got to the Red Sea, their leader, Moses, lifted up His rod and the water parted, and those people crossed on dry land! But when the Egyptians tried to go after them the waters crashed down on them, and not one soldier was left alive! I heard it was their God that cause all those plagues to happen beforehand, and that He was the One that made it possible for them to cross the sea safely. I wonder if they’ll try to come here to Jericho? I’m afraid of what will happen to us if they do!” Rahab sat back, wide eyed and disbelieving at first, but then nodded as she remembered other things she had heard about the Israelite’s God.

Then one day Rahab heard a rap at her door and was greeted by two men who were looking for lodging. It didn’t take long for her to realize that these men were not only strangers, but Israelite men, looking for a safe haven where they might stay. She was in awe of these people, and their God, and it was without hesitation that she ushered them inside, away from the onlookers on the street. She was risking her life to hide these men on the roof, under the flax that was piled high on top of them. They were safe from the spears of the men who had heard of them coming to Rahab’s door; safe from an untimely death.

After the men of Jericho had followed Rahab’s faulty information and went looking for the spies elsewhere, Rahab rushed to the rooftop to warn God’s men. Joshua 2:9-11 says, She said unto the men,

I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Because of what Rahab had heard, she put her faith in the one true God! The news that had travelled to her ears melted her heart for the Lord! What power a testimony of God’s work can have on others!

What have others heard about your life recently? Could they say, “Wow, I heard what God did for you!”? Would your testimony of God’s work turn their heart to belief? We can’t take the credit for anything that happens to us! Feeling better after being sick, provision of a financial need, the return of a wandering sinner, securing something you’ve needed, an unsuspected blessing…these are all from God’s hand and we must give Him the credit, and we must tell others about it!

God has recently (last week) answered two prayer requests that have been heavy burdens on my heart. He alone is the One worthy of praise! I did nothing to cause it to happen! I can tell you, dear friend, that God hears you when you pray! That’s my testimony today!

What have others heard about God from you? Don’t be ashamed to share it!

With love,