Yesterday’s dinner was such a breeze to put together I even forgot to get pictures! Trust me when I tell you that I cooked, and even shared our meal with guests. Our dinner was not really the typical kind of Sunday dinner I usually make. I had made a pasta dish a couple weeks ago and it makes a huge amount, so I did two separate dishes when I made it. I baked one for our supper that night and froze the other dish that had the remaining 2/3 of the recipe. Having that dish already made was such a blessing.

Sunday morning I put the pasta in the oven on Time Bake so it wouldn’t be baking the whole time we were at church. If you don’t have that feature on your oven wait and heat the pasta in your microwave on about 80% power.

When we got home from church all I had to do was add the pears to the salad and broil the bread! The meal was very filling and so simple. I will definitely do this type of meal again for a Sunday dinner!

Here are my recipes: Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cheese I add extra tomatoes and not quite as much pasta so this will be nice and moist.

My salad was one I’ve shared before: Pear, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad

The Apple Crisp was a new recipe and must be the easiest dessert on the earth! I served it with Praline ice cream by Blue Bell. Yum!

Any recipe that you could double and pop an extra into the freezer would be a blessing on a busy weekend! That’s a great lesson learned. What did you have for Sunday dinner? I’d love to hear!

I had the pleasure of playing yesterday! Dolls, dollhouse, cookies and icing all filled a good couple hours of my afternoon. I had one of the sweet little girls from our church over just so I could spend some one-on-one time with her. The Lord brought this to my mind a couple of months ago when I was asking the Lord how I should fill my time in this new phase of my life. Who says our company should always be our peers? She was a sweet guest – she even helped me clean house – the dollhouse that is.

This dollhouse belongs to my 25 year-old who has no place for it right now. It had been neglected and needed some TLC, which my young friend was happy to give! We dusted and swept it out, then did a little decorating in each room, setting the tables in the kitchen and dining rooms, displaying the toys in the playroom, and even putting up the Christmas tree and gifts in the living room. Once the dollhouse was in place we went upstairs to decorate sugar cookies. She was a pro, and so careful to put just the right colors together. Of course some of the icing hit our fingers, but we made short order of that! Lick!!! and it’s gone! =)

Last night we had the special privilege of having some dear missionary friends in town. Our church took a mission trip to Spain a couple years ago and we went to the Basque region and helped at a Farmhouse that is being renovated to use for ministry purposes. The couple heading up this ministry, Andy and Mimi, were the ones that were here visiting. Most of our mission team members were able to share a meal with them before prayer meeting. What a blessing to hear about the work that is continuing there and how God is at work. Their work there in Spain has progressed very slowly. After ten years, they only had a handful of people attending their church services. God used those years to teach Andy some special things that he preached to us in prayer meeting.

I’ve always loved Joseph and his story in Genesis. I’ve thought of him as a man of integrity and godly character, but I’ve never really considered all the waiting Joseph had to endure. Think about it – after God gave him the promises in the dreams, many years passed before they actually came to pass. The verse in Genesis 40:8 speaks of the baker and the butler: And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. Joseph’s dreams hadn’t come to pass yet, but Joseph displays great faith in God! He encouraged these men by his faith in his God while he waited!

I wonder how much of an encouragement I would be to others while I was in a prison due to no fault of my own! But Andy pointed out that the reason God had Joseph wait is because he wanted to strengthen his heart and prepare him for the ministry he had for him. What a good lesson for all of us to remember during our waiting!

If you’re in a holding pattern right now, don’t doubt if God will answer your prayer, but allow Him to strengthen and prepare you for what He has planned for your life.

I’m sure you remember that finger play for children. As I reflect back to last Sunday and Pastor Appreciation, that’s what comes to my mind – open the doors and see all the people.

As my husband and I stood before all of our dear congregation at the dinner Sunday afternoon to receive the basket of cards that had been left for us, I looked out at all the people. As I looked out I thought, “These are the faces of the people that God has given us to serve.” I remembered how we have rejoiced with some, cried with others, prayed with most. We have shared worship together, opened our Bibles to study the Word, and lifted our hearts as one voice to praise our great God. Our hearts have been knit to theirs over these years of serving alongside them. They have become so dear to us.

Boones Creek Bible Church is a body of believers – people that God has placed together. Without each one it would only be a building. The people are the church. As I think about each one I also remember the many times they have been a blessing to me personally. How many times others have asked to pray for my needs. So many told me they were praying for my dad when he was going through his heart problems. They would ask about him each time we met in God’s house. That touched my heart so deeply. When Whitney and Allison left for college, there were many that came alongside to ask how we were doing, how she is adjusting, and have sent her notes of encouragement. That touches a mother’s heart! There have been so many that have helped in the ladies’ ministry and helped accomplish things I could not have done alone.

So, to each of you Boones Creek Bible Church ladies, please know how special you are to me. I love you and am thankful that I have the privilege to be called your pastor’s wife. I am here to serve you for God’s honor and glory. Thank you for allowing me that privilege. I appreciate you!

Sorry for the late posting this morning. It was a migraine night and a dental cleaning this morning, then computer complications! Every day isn’t sunshine and roses, is it? What do we do with migraine nights or dentist mornings (not my favorite place in the world!)? We must go on believing the truth we know in the good times! What truth is that? This: