We all stumble in many ways. James 3:2 states this. You know..I feel like I have fallen flat on my face in the friendship department. I LOVE my friends and adore them. But I am human and I am afraid that I did not tame my tongue ( or should I say e-mail fingers) about another person. I didn't think it was anything bad or nothing that had been said before, but I believe through e-mail you can never 'feel or hear' an other's voice or expression about certain things. I got a response back that I just didn't understand and at first I wanted to lash back and tell this person that I had no idea what they were talking about.. and in truth.. I didn't.. so I wrote back asking what they meant... and then went on to say maybe I shouldn't open my mouth cause every time I seem to open it I get in trouble.. :( Then I sat there and thought.. maybe that sounded to snarky and didn't want to come off that way so I wrote back and apologized if I did sound that way... I just don't want to walk away from a friendship due to misunderstandings... "The Tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts." James 3:5 Isn't that the truth though... I'm really beginning to like this book of James... I think he might of had some real truths associated with my life today... I have been praying about this and can only hope that the Lord brings us two women together face to face and work out this situation.. if not for a continuing friendship but for at least an understanding and a separation of quiet hearts. Do you have someone that you could apologize to today? Are you waiting for an apology that will never come? I think I'm in both boats today if that's possible..?!?!?!

I however did fix my photo area... I think my anti-virus ( Panda) does not work with my program for my digital cameras.. for some reason it won't read the photo card.. so I went a different route and was able to download my pictures to share!! My son and I decided to greet the teen girls home from school with WARM and inviting HOMEMADE cinnamon rolls... They were beyond yummy..!! Not good for a gal who is trying to watch what she eats!! My son was amazed at the "rising" time of the rolls and how big they got!! I KNOW you want me to share this recipe.. and of course I will!! SUPER DUPER EASY.. if you have a bread machine and a few hours to putter around the house to make these .. then this is your lucky recipe!!!

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls

3.4 cup milk

3 TBSP water

1 large egg

1/4 cup butter or margarine, cut up

3/4 tsp salt

3 1/3 cups bread flour

3 TBSP sugar

2 Tsp Bread machine yeast

Filling and Topping

1/4 Cup sugar

1 1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 TBSP butter or margarine, softened

Add dough ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select the dough/manual cycle. When cycle is complete, remove dough from machine to a lightly floured surface. If Neccessary, knead in enough flour to make dough easy to handle. If dough is too elastic, cover and let rest for 10 minutes before shaping. Meanwhile, for filling,stir together the filling ingredients.

Divide dough in half. Roll half of dough into a 9X8-inch rectangle. Spread with 1 TBSP softened butter. Sprinkle with half of the filling mixture. Beginning at long end, roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seam to seal. With sharp knife, cut into 6 equal slice. Repeat with remaining dough, butter and filling. Place all the rolls, cut sides up, into ONE greased 9x9x2-inch baking pan.

Cover dough and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until almost doubled in size, 20-30 minutes. Bake rolls at 350 F for 25-30 minutes or until done. Cool slightly;remove from pan. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Serve Warm

My Glaze

4 TBSP of Butter, melted

Mixed in with 2 Cups of Confectioners' sugar

1 tsp of vanilla added and then 1-6 Tbsp of HOT

water ONE TBSP at a time to get the right consistency

So here's my challenge to you.. Invite a friend over to chat..or a family of friends just because.. be inviting and share in fellowship.. ah ah ah.. NO excuses... jump out of your box and be inviting.. doesn't matter if the dishes are in the sink.. or the dog hair is floating in the air.. because a friend loveth at ALL times!! I also wanted to share a couple of my on-line friends.. just a few women with whom I chat with everyday.. I go to... www.wmn2wmn.com It's a Christian message board.. a bit slow at times.. but there's a GREAT group of gals over there.. and then I help run a Yahoo group... called heartsforhomemaking@yahoogroups.com .. So if you ever need extra chatter with great women.. there's a couple!!!

Ok.. I've been down two days without my computer... I finally got it back and I was all excited to come here and post my Blog for the day since I missed two days worth already.. I got my pictures that I wanted to share and started my program to do such as that, as I have done in the past... wellllllllllllllllllllllllll.. for some strange reason my computer is now telling me I have NO photo Card.. WHAT? Does my blog not tell a tale of my photos... come on mr. computer people.. I just paid you $100 to take out 17 virus' and spyware and to add Panda Anti-Virus and you're telling my ( or should I say my computer is telling me) that I have NO photo card...
Ok.. I promise you I'll be back to share my picture.. ( ggr...I'll call them for sure)....no photo card.. grumble grumble.. grumble.... If you listen quietly.. you can here my flipflops smacking against the bottom of my feet leaving this blog... I'm so mad!!! grrr...

The End of 2Thessalonians 3:10 states-- "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

As a parent I LOVE that verse.. it's one of the few verses that you can spat off to your child if they don't want to do their end of the family bargain. I don't ask much from my children though. I am blessed to be able to stay home part-time and do a major portion of the cleaning which leaves all the kids very little to do. What does bother me is when that very little still doesn't get done... My children are not putting in their 100% of keeping an orderly house running. Some days this drives me BONKERS... UGH...

Well today I was cleaning out my pantry and I found something that kind of struck me as funny... sputtering to the fact it seemed to be always me doing this.. and me doing that.. and I stumbled upon my 100 Calorie packs that I just love... These companies have teased me long enough that I finally dived in and paid the seriously crazy amount of money for a palm full of split second treats...Now it's too bad that The Girl Scouts can't get into the act and make those boxes into 100 calorie packs as well...I have the right to complain about that because I spent the past 11 years giving my 100% into that organization--MAYBE.... But in all honesty.. let's FACE IT.. eating 100 calorie packs are NOT going to make you skinny.. plain, simple, truth.. like with anything it has to work in moderation, obedience and 100% effort... You can't eat the WHOLE box and expect to lose three pounds in one week... just because it's smaller and more portioned doesn't mean it's calorie free...

I guess in truth I always think I give 100% in everything I do with my life.. and I just don't..I know I don't as I sit here and type this.. yet, I feel at times God owes me something.. He OWES me to be thinner than I want to be cause I'm good... or I deserve to get a raise at work because I'm good..but still I don't give a 100%... I should be known as a Good Christian... but in truth.. there is NO such thing.. If I was a Good 100% Christian that would be saying I don't need the Lord... oh.. and that's just not good!! However; I can GIVE 100% effort in being an example of the Lord... but there are days that I don't.. ( my NO SOLICITING sign says it right there) ..IN TRUTH...GOD OWES ME NOTHING!!! So you see.. these 100 calorie snack packs will ONLY work if you give 100% into your daily exercise routine and pay 100% close attention to your diet... I'm not obese by any means.. but I could stand to lose a few extra pounds..I just haven't given it my 100%......and the only way I feel that I can be obedient through exercise and diet is being obedient in spending time with the Lord and giving 100% effort in devotions and daily walk with Christ......

Just for giggles... a Recipe with exactly 100 Calories....

CHICKEN NEAPOLITAN - LOW CALORIE

2 med. size chicken breasts, skinned, boned and halved

4 tbsp. bottled, reduced-calorie Italian dressing

4 tbsp. flavored, dried bread crumbs

2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp. sesame seeds

1 tsp. paprika
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 12x8 pan with cooking spray. Dip each breast in dressing, coating all sides. Combine bread crumbs, cheese, sesame seeds, and paprika. After coating chicken in dressing, roll each breast in the crumb mixture.
Arrange chicken pieces in baking dish. Bake 20 minutes. Turn; bake 20 minutes longer or until chicken is fork-tender. 100 calories per serving. Serves 4.

ahhh just something quick and simple today.. this is one of my favorite catalogs.. truthfully I rarely buy anything out of it.. although I do have several cookbooks from this company.. I just like looking at the stuff in it... BUT...If you are an e-mail subscriber they send you a free recipe once a week... so sign up now if you would like their e-mail.. www.gooseberrypatch.com .. here is their most current recipe posted---

Asparagus & Tomato Quiche
1/2 c.onion, chopped

2 c. asparagus, chopped

1 T. butter

1 T. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese

1 tomato, chopped
9-inch pie crust, baked

6 eggs

1 c. half-and-half

1/2 t. dried basil

1/2 t. salt

1/8 t. pepper
In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and asparagus in butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour; stir in cheese and tomato. Pour into pie crust and set aside. Whisk together remaining ingredients until well blended; pour evenly over top. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes; cut into wedges. Serves 6 to 8.

They also have mini surveys and like to know your thoughts on what your favorite meals are, kitchen devices, hobbies.. etc..

For now.. I'm off to read and relax.. I hope you all have had a GREAT weekend!!

Ok.. this morning I was BAD.. really BAD.. I let my dog out only to realize that Jehovah's Witness' were coming around the neighborhood.. Good LORD.. I was NOT in the mood this morning to EXPLAIN to others why I believe the way I do.. and I really wasn't in the mood to listen to someone else tell me why I was WRONG to believe the way I do.. Take take me wrong.. I have had some GREAT Jehovah Witness friends in the past ( whom I've lost touch with) that I totally respected.. and still do.. but some mornings.. just plain UGH.. so What did I do?? I quickly ran to the computer room.. grabbed a piece of paper and my sharpie and wrote "NO SOLICITING.. sleeping family"...Ok.. I was awake.. but seriously the rest of the family was sleeping!! My husband noticed the sign after and giggled..he wondered it why it was there... He works hard during the night while I sleep with one eye open to listen for our son, who is famous for NOT sleeping even at the age of 11.. sighhhhhhhh.. darn ADHD!!! so anyway.. this past week working and scrubbing the home ( which still isn't finished) I found a picture of my grandparents.. the only set that I knew... My gram( Lucille) is gone.. and my grandfather (Earl) JUST turned 80.. you know when you're a little girl you think that your grandparents are invincible.. and you always imagined them being "older".. They possibly could never have been young.. HA HA HA!!

Well this picture says otherwise... They celebrated 50 years of marriage... FIFTY HARD years... They raised 5 kids and endured one stillborn death ( their first child)..my grandfather was a hard alcoholic while my father was growing up.. and was never around.. he worked daily.. but at night it's been "whispered" that he would be with other women... My grandparents were PERFECT to me when I was little... I would never have believed it... but as an adult.. and the real world in front of my face.. I have no doubts.. it wasn't to long after my grams death ( about a month) my grandfather had a girlfriend... and then another...sighhhhhhhhh....

I praise God for my husband.. NOPE he's not perfect.. he leaves his underwear hanging around.. but I'm thankful that the underwear lays on my floor.. and nowhere else.. I know that you can NEVER say never in this life.. but I know that he is devoted to me.. as I am to him... So God brought me to the ...The Wife of Noble Character... Proverbs 31:10.... The verse that stuck out today was-- end of 10 She is worth far more than rubies... 11--Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. I am to be my husbands Crown.... through all his faults and failures my grandmother wore her crown!! I'm sure there were days when she wanted to throw it away and never look at it again.. and I'm sure there were some days when her crown felt like thorns... but to her granddaughter... I saw it as a Halo of example!! I know my grandmother would LOVE my husband. She was not an affectionate grandmother, but an honest, hard working wife, mother.. woman.. whom I adored and could look up to!! This picture is one of the very few things I have of my grandmother and that too in itself is a copy...But her examples of truth and hard work were part of what chiseled me into the woman I am today!

Just a recipe to share....

Maple Fudge

1-7/8 cup extra-fine sugar

1 cup maple syrup ( REAL maple syrup!)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup nuts, chopped ( optional)

Boil together sugar, maple syrup and cream in a heavy saucepan to soft boil stage ( 234 degrees.)

Set aside until lukewarm. Then beat until thick, add nuts and pour into a buttered pan. Cut when cool and wrap each piece individually in foil. Makes about one pound.

Before I start tonight's blog I wanted to send out a WARM THANK YOU to the gals who read and commented on it!! I can't tell you how GRATEFUL I am to you all!! It meant a lot to me to see the warm comments and encouragement! I also made a boo boo in my scripture.. sort of.. you see it's in Matthew CHAPTER 6 VERSE 24.. I went back to read it again this morning and realized.. OOPS I posted that wrong!! So I wanted to correct it for you all...I also received my FREE Magazine today from KRAFT!! YAY!! it's pretty cute!! You'll love it!!

Ok.. it's day three and I continue to scrub!! Today was computer/scrap/craft room and it really wasn't that bad.. I finalized up all the stuff in the dining room, made my freecycle pile bigger and vacuumed up the front hallway and front porch.. I zoomed around in different areas of the home... however my kitchen is a TOTAL DISASTER!! as soon as I hit submit.. I'm headed back in that direction!! My kitchen being clean means I can relax and not feel frazzled.

So as I was saying I sent a OFFER into Freecycle... the mods in my group... play a very strong role in being BOSS... they spell check posts, grammerly correct them, let EVERY SINGLE person on freecyle KNOW that if they did NOT put the right heading in their e-mail header and so on.. so I'm EXTREMELY careful in how I write and post my OFFERS.. I've given up on WANTS as you know... but anyway.. I send my offers in.. magazines, old dishes, books, picture frames etc.. I got a response in 30 SECONDS.. NO KIDDING!! phew.. ok free and clear of that junk tomorrow!! YAYA!!!!!

But here's my kicker... a member.. not the same one who is coming tomorrow... wrote me this..

HI We are getting married in may and are wondering if you have anything that we could use and take off your hands. If you have anything that is a possibility or an idea to help us make your items work that would be great... thanks a lot Ok.. as I've said in the past.. I'm a pretty giving person but what is this????? I growled... hubby jokingly said "yeah.. tell her we have tires she can paint.. old chairs she can cover with blankets and my old hunting bow ".. Ok where is the eye roll smiley when you need it...??? Anyway... Do you chalk this up as greed? Or do you chalk this one up as... well I just don't know.. I think it takes guts to e-mail a total stranger and ask for things like that... When I got married.. hubby and I decided in two weeks we would do it with NO money.. and it was a GREAT wedding.... No REGRETS!!

Soooooooooooooo opening up the bible I stumbled on this...1 Peter 5:2 "Be Shepard's of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;not greedy from money but eager to serve; This hit home in two places tonight.. I really really wanted to respond to this person with a WHAT ARE YOU THINKING attitude.. but guess that wouldn't be what God had intended right? So for now I won't respond.. but if I do find anything I think is presentable for a wedding.. I will offer.. because if it's in my basement and I haven't moved it for 6 years than I don't need.. however in my heart.. I really don't think there is anything down there that is going to really be anything to offer!! Another came to mind tonight when my 11 year old came home with a friend today after school.. both wanted to go to the dance tonight.. Hubby and I agreed that it would be Ok.. it cost $4.00 to get in and then they have snacks.. so we gave him $10.. you see my 11 year old rarely goes out and does these things... so we were SHOCKED!! but agreed.. Hubby went to work and as I was getting the boys ready I asked my son.. "do you have your money" he responded with a "yes".. Ok good.. so what are you going to buy with $6? He said "don't you mean $2 mom"? hmmmmm last I knew 10-4.. well equaled 6.. right?? So I asked him "what do you mean $2?" My son's friend turned to me and said "Oh he's paying for me to go I have no money..."... sighhhhhh....I love my son.. I really do.. but how did we end up paying for this child too??? Ok.. Ok.. Lord.. I said NOTHING... I'm not being greedy with the money.. I'm being eager to server.. cause you see this child comes from a single mom home.. whose rarely home.. no father figure.. so Christ in his life... I have to be his "example of Christ" for today... Funny how the TITLE of Chapter five states To Elders and Young Men God's ALWAYS talking... Sometimes I just need to stop and listen!!

Day two of spring cleaning.. and I really felt like I haven't accomplished MUCH at all... I spent the morning scrubbing window sills and walls and washing curtains. I also dug through many dishes.. and I took the time to go on line to see if any would be worth anything before I just gave them away. I try to freecycle what I don't want. In my heart of hearts I believe it's a GREAT cause, but I also know that there are some seriously greedy people out there that respond to EVERY single offer I post. Just because something is worth money, doesn't mean it's worth something to me. There is a higher power in this daily life than money or as some say the "holy" dollar.

I would rather donate the items to charity that could get a bit more for the item.. then a stranger grabbing it and trying to re-sell for a profit.. as I know many do!! When I tried giving my sons match box cars away WOWZA.. there was a man that wanted to pounce on that and e-mailed me a few times. Ummm.. sorry they're gone.. he couldn't take no for an answer!! I guess it's one of the reasons I never post a NEED VS an OFFER... I'd rather give. Anyway I have this really pretty BLUE pitcher from what I can understand is valued at $135.. not bad for something I picked up at a second hand store.. however it's to pretty to give and makes a great flower pitcher so it's well loved and used.. that means more to me than the $

I bet we can look around our house and point out.. oh I paid this much for this.. and I got this for a great deal.. or I became addicted in this so I had to buy the whole LOT.. admit it... admit it.. You've done it!! I have.. and then have brought it home to realize.. hmmm 1) I have NO room for this 2) This was a TOTAL impulse buy 3) it's a DUST COLLECTOR.. Dust collectors should ONLY be reserved for children's gifts from the heart.... Anyway.. my pile of give away grew and grew and grew today.. I could take the time to set up and e-bay account.. yada yada.. yada.. but that's not me.. that involves WORK that would boggle my mind, make me "ugly", and lose family time.. with the amount of work and effort it just might not be worth it.. and again on the world wide web.. people can be ugly, cheat and lie.. who really has time for that?? NOT ME!! If you have done great by e-bay I'm REALLY happy for you.. but for this girl.. it wouldn't work...!!

Matthew 24 says "No one can serve two masters".. and further down he states "You cannot serve both God and Money" Funny how my bible capitalizes God AND Money... I can't explain why.. something maybe the Lord wants me to dig into deeper... When I first started out I wanted my home a castle.. and by that I wanted decorations, every nook and cranny filled with STUFF... it's taken me many years to realize that it's not STUFF that my house needs to be filled with.. but with Love and my Family!!!and God's presence... Don't get me wrong I still have melt downs and wonder why and still have questions.. but God is working something really GREAT in my life this spring.. and I honestly DO NOT know what it is.. but my heart is stirring with his Grace.. and it wants to spill over.. I just need to continue to declutter my home and the negatives in my heart... it will be a journey.. but one I'm willing to take!!!

So in honor of MORE spring I posted the picture of the Kraft Foods Magazine.. I haven't received mine yet.. but the BEST thing about these, they are FREE !! So if you DO NOT get this in the mail you can sign up and do just that.. for now you can visit their site.. they are giving some sneak peeks.. or you can opt to have it in your e-mail.. I don't know about you.. but I love my night time ritual of scrapbook magazines, cookbook magazines, and historical fiction books and as of late.. more devotions!! So go ahead and peek.. I dare you.. you will be addicted!! www.kraftfoods.com

Today is Trash Day.. every Wednesday I scurry around like mad to get all the trash out that I can.. empty detergent bottles, bathroom trash, fridge items, boxes.. you name it I want it out of here.. So again as usualy I scurried around did just that... After that I went to take a shower to get clean to spring clean.. ironic huh?.. So I peeked out my front door on to my porch just to make sure all the animals were inside ( I have been known to forget them outside... GASP)... so it's become a habit..
This time however I noticed a box.. a BIG box.. and my first thought was "Why didn't I throw that away and how did I miss that?" I opened the door only to realize that the box was FULL and I mean FULL of a variety of breads!!! I was so EXCITED.. one of my friends stopped by and blessed me with BREAD!! You see, lately, to me , bread is WAY and I mean WAY overpriced.. and the better the bread the more money... I honestly need to sit down and play a day just to make our own bread like women did only years ago.. ( some still do and I applaud you) today's day and age women are so on the go that the thought of baking 6 loaves a bread a week is exhausting!!
So as you can imagine.. I had to take pictures to share... and the verse "A friend loveth at all times" Proverbs 17:17 came to me... it really touched my heart! I struggle with Christian friendships.. I find them to be more of a challenge than worldly people... My hubby and I were members of our church for about 7 years.. and each and every Sunday it was VERY hard for me to get up and go with a happy heart.. each Sunday I felt that we went and listened to the sermon and then came straight home... there was no fellowship, no warmth, really no happiness and it was hurtful. Don't get me wrong.. there were always the kind few that I loved seeing.. and actually cared what was going on... but out of about 200 people... the 10 that cared was hard!! After a long talk with God and a decision that was not easy to make I gave up my membership! And within HOURS of that my name was deleted from everything.. even the PRAYER CHAIN... so you see..I was treated as not worthy enough to even pray for or with or be asked for prayer by this church.. I see members now in stores that will walk right past you without so much as acknowledgement... and it's very sad.... However.. I know there is a place for me somewhere in this small tiny world.. and God will bring me to a new church home when HE is ready.. and not me... My heart aches right now and desires that... and I'm waiting right beside the door.. waiting for HIM to open it up!!!
So you see... Christian friends or not... a friend loveth at all times.. and as I'm growing older.. I'm realizing who my friends really are...those that give without expecting in return.. and those that I give to that never expect a return... One of my spiritual gifts is "giving".. so of course.. as soon as I saw that box of bread.. the wheels started turning... WHAT in the world can I surprise them with... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... I'll let you know what I came up with!! But for now.. it's back to spring cleaning.. even this late at night!!! Ü

Right now I'm reading a novel written by Wanda E. Brunstetter... It's book three in a series of 4. This is probably my 15th book, where I have read about the lives of the Amish People. I would LOVE to spend a month living in their fashion.. and I'm sure it looks EASIER than what it truly is.. but some days I think it would be easier just to associate with a peaceful world than this one! I think the Amish are truly on to something... But then there is my passion for photography and pictures.. I would have to give up scrapbooking.. could I do it? Could you do it? Probably not! I know that I enjoy looking back at memories and remembering how TINY my kids were... and how young I looked once.. ha ha ha.. I know being 34 isn't old.. not even close... but some days I feel 80!!

Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

This is a verse that the Amish say at almost all their church meetings. Being "English" it's so easy to mold yourself into what this world wants of you.. or what you want of the world.. Sometimes we have to remember it's God's world.. not ours..although there are some days I think the world owes me... but deep in my heart I know it isn't true!! My question is.. why do young adults and teens believe that the world owes them EVERY SINGLE DAY!! Have we raised kids to think that they need to think of themselves first... All the Dr. Phil's and the Oprah's in the world believe they should... I disagree...I think as a Christian we need to think of other's first... Take care of the needs of our families of course.. but do outreaching to others.. because not sharing God with others is wrong... and selfish...

Maybe if we shared a bit of love and friendship with neighbors and stepped out of our box at times.. the world might be more able to SLOW down and listen... How often do we say "Hi how are you?" and NEVER EVER listen to the persons answer as we keep walking by.. we don't care... we're to "busy" ( my LEAST favorite word.. but that's a whole other blog page!!) to really care about you.. ladedada...Well since I have to run and finish up dinner for the hungry ones here... I'll share with you the recipe for friendship bread!! Try it and see how long that bread can "grow"....

Amish Friendship Starter

1 cup sugar

1 cup milk

1 cup all-purpose flour
Combine the ingredients in a large deep glass or plastic container. Cover lightly. If the container has a lid, leave it slightly ajar or place a piece of cheesecloth over the container and secure with a rubberband. Store at room temperature. Stir every day for 17 days. On day 18 do nothing. On days 19, 20 and 21 stir. On day 22, stir and add 1cup of flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir again. On days 23, 24, 25, and 26 stir. On day 27 add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of milk. Stir. You should now have about 4 cups of starter. Give 2 friends each 1 cup and keep 2 cups for yourself. Use 1 of the two cups in the Amish Friendship Bread recipe and use the other to keep the starter going.

When you give the starter away include these instructions:
Keeping a starter going: Do not refrigerate and do not use a metal spoon when stirring the starter. On day 1 (the day you receive the starter), do nothing, On days 2, 3 and 4 stir. On day 5 stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and cup milk. Pour mixture into large glass mixing bowl; cover lightly. The mixture will rise. On days 6, 7, 8, and 9 stir. On day 10 stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Stir. Give 2 friends each 1 cup. Keep for yourself 1 cup to make Friendship Bread and one cup to keep the starter going.
Amish Friendship Bread

1 cup starter

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3 eggs1

1/2tsp baking powder

1- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2tsp salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Your choice of raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, seeds, apples, dates etc.
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Place batter in well greased and sugared 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350*F for 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan

Today after work I went to BORDERS.. I rarely go and was just feeling tired and crabby so I decided I would take a guilty pleasure and stop in for a scrapbooking magazine... well about an hour later I walked out with magazines, comics, cookbooks, and three novels... I have to admit.. I did pretty good cause I only spent $31.00. I HAD to buy the Paula Deen Cook Magazine for Maria!! I have heard RAVE reviews about the Yada Yada books so I bought the first one...

Can you believe the amount of magazines in that store though... rack upon rack upon rack.. fortunately I can tend to be a boring person!! snicker snicker... so many of the magazines I didn't even bother looking at.. or maybe it's the CRAZY amount they price them at... $8,$9,$10 plus for a magazine!! Highway robbery if you ask me...but...... like many I succumbed to a few guilty pleasures.. cooking and scrapping!!

Then I head back home.. about a 30 minute drive and I popped in my TobyMac CD.. the new one that is, PORTABLE SOUNDS.. AWESOME AWESOME!!! But as I was listening to the CD on particular song named LOSE MY SOUL...As the words go on and on there is one PHRASE that sings..."I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul" It really got me thinking... do I lose focus on my salvation on worldly things.... more and more lately I have...I'm addicted to scrapbooking.. I'm addicted to magazines.. and I'm addicted to my TV shows.. Paula Deen and Judge Judy.. now don't get me wrong... there is nothing WRONG with loving these things and enjoying these... but lately... they have been my main focus.. and not God.. I've been worrying about how others are walking in their faith around me.. then myself.. This morning I took the time, first in a VERY long time, and did a devotion...my day went very well actually.. and I'm glad that I took those few moments with God.

If you can get past the dirt and the daily grime of this shirt you can see the cute LOGO!! My son wanted this shirt in the worst way when we went to KOHL'S.. I figured for $5 why not.. Normally I don't buy things like this because WE ARE NOT IRISH! But today we pretended... everytime I walked by him I gave him HUGE kisses... after a while he got really annoyed with me!! So here it is around 10:30 at night and I snapped a picture of this shirt.. Chinese Food and all!!

For a little humor tonight I logged on to the M&M website.. so cute.. you can build your own character... give it a try.. www.becomeanmm.com Look for the little "next" bar at the bottom of the options.. I didn't realize there were a ton and I limited my M&M at first!!

Snow. snow.. Snow.. and more snow... ahhhh I can't believe that it's coming down so much.. just when I was begining to see my lawn again! Today is one of those days where you could have crawled up on the couch and slept all day.. I wanted to.. but gave up! However my three animals each chose a spot to lay in all day.. I swear they are all babies... wouldn't it be nice to sleep like that? I have to be honest though.. since I've been working part-time I do feel lazy and lost and bored many days... and I feel guilty because my kids are in school and my husband is sleeping from working the night before.. I feel like I have lost all my energy and Paula Deen is becoming my one of my favorite addictions.. along with Judge Judy.. I know.. I know.. it's Drama in her show.. but it's stupid drama...!! and it can be addicting!! Maria our foreign exchange student adores and I mean ADORES Paula.. I told her tonight "imagine if you got stuck with a southern family what your accent would be like.. ".. she laughed.. here in New England you don't have to pronounce your "R'sss" and you can boil all your food.. end of story...Maria is just plain tickled that she can bake banana bread!!!

Here's one of Paula's recipes we are going to try.. you can find this right on the Food Network web-site.. we are going to keep the shrimp out though.. I'm not to fancy on it.. Maria would love it.. but not me.. funny how I live so close to the ocean but don't fancy seafood.. my hubby on the other hand.. different story!!

JAMBALAYA

Jambalaya Mix, recipe follows 2 1/2 cups water 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 1/2 pound fully cooked smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices 1/2 to 3/4 pound medium, fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
In a Dutch oven, combine mix, water, tomatoes, tomato sauce and smoked sausage. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high head. Cover, reduce heat and let simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, or until shrimp are pink. Serve immediately.
Jambalaya Mix: 1 cup long-grain rice 3 tablespoons dried minced onion 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 bay leaf
In a small bowl, combine rice, onion, parsley, beef bouillon, thyme, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and bay leaf. Pour into cellophane bag. Store in an air-tight container.

I'll let you know how this tastes!! Til then.. we'll be buried to our chin in snow!!! Ü

Today was one of those days where I wish I could have just stayed in bed! I worked. When I work I tend to get up anywhere from 4:30-5:00 in the morning. After a restless nights sleep I got up and went to work. Can I stress that I really HATE HATE my part-time job.. actually it's the job that doesn't bother me.. it's some of the people that work there. DRAMA! I'm tired of it. After 5 years of being there.. they should know that I don't want any!! they can keep it. Today I went in to find that my e-mail access and accounts were deleted---WHY? No one can answer that but I have a pretty good idea!! The bonus to my job is.. it pays great! and I can work away from others and come and go as I please... that's why I keep it.. But have you ever stood at work and wondered what God has REALLY planned for you? Our God is NOT a confusing God.. but all the feelings I had today.... made me wonder.. am I fully obeying HIM and where I am suppose to be? Stayed tuned for more on that...
Since I worked today I went to KOHL'S after work.. they are having this BIG CLEARANCE sale and I decided it would be great to get Austyn new school clothes NOW!! Hey for $4-$8 for new shirts for next season.. why not? But I was kind of disappointed with that because all the shirts either had skulls, bones, or Tony Hawk ( who I don't think is bad..but Austyn says is WAY OUT.. ha ha ha) or Beer slogans.. BLUCK.. NOT my taste at all.. I did however find a CUTE Nitendo sweatshirt for $7.00... this is the back logo... I think Austyn will like it!! I'm soon to find out.. school is out.. so mama's quiet time is over!! Ü

Ok..don't laugh.. these are my feet... I love wearing flipflops..and the weather is so much warmer here ( high 50's) that I've dug out some of my favorite flipflops!! I've even worn them these past couple of days.. Some in the south would think I am crazy.. even some in the North say I am as well but I love them!! I went out yesterday and got different colored nail polishes.. all wacky colors and I can't wait to start painting my toes!

In Honor of spring coming I thought I would share a great rub for steaks on the grill!! We had steaks on the grill last night! YUM.. however I forgot about these great rubs that you can put on the steaks to make them taste great! Our steak tasted really bland and I was disappointed because I had marinated it as well :( So you don't make the same mistake as me, enjoy this recipe!!!

Savory Steak Rub Mix

1 T. dried marjoram

1 T. dried basil

2 T. garlic powder

2 T. dried tyme

1 T. dried rosemary

2 1/4 tsp. dried oregano

You can combine all these ingredients and stir well and either use them right away or put them in a 3"x4" ziplock bag and seal. This is GREAT for Beef. Just sprinkle and rub the mix to your taste preference on both sids of the beef before grilling!

This was one of my favorite pictures at Christmas time... The whole family wanted snow for this picture so we could send out a "festive" Christmas picture on our cards. No such Luck. Now that we have a TON of snow still we are shoveling it in the roads in hope of it melting FASTER!! Funny how we always WANT things our way! Instead of enjoying it now I'm wishing it away. UGH!!