10 years ago

Ten years ago today, I was riding on all sorts of rides at Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho. Little did I know what the evening held....

At the age of ten, I just-so-happened to get the privelege of going with the teen group, from our church, to a big youth activity. Of course, being a ten year old, I was super excited about all those rides and adventures I was going to go on!

Yet, God had even *bigger* plans for my day, than just riding a roller-coaster.

I did have a great time. I rode a roller-coaster for the first time, which was pretty thrilling for me. 

In the evening, there was a big auditorium that we all piled into to hear some preaching. I'm sure we sang songs and did other stuff too, but I really can't remember. 

 What I do remember is the invitation, beckoning lost young people to come to Christ.

Again, I don't even recall exactly what the preacher was saying, but I do remember that sense of knowing I needed to accept Christ.

That strong conviction while you sit in your seat...

I finally gave in

My mom came with us, so I grabbed her and went down to the make-shift altar.

That night, I called upon the Lord and He saved me!!

~Romans 10:9, 13~

verse 9-- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

  

verse 13-- "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

I am so thankful that no matter my feelings, emotions, or what I do, God will never take that away from me!

I am His, and He is mine!

Today is a day to rejoice and celebrate, for my "new life" God gave me just ten years ago!!

~2 Corinthians 5:17~

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."



Reviving Faded Denim

I would like to introduce to you a little product that has worked its way into our household recently.

It makes your smile brighter

It makes your food taste better

It makes your body to never gain any weight

It makes your voice sound like an opera singer

Ok, not really those things, but wouldn't that be fabulous?!

What I really wanted to show ya'll tonight is this little wonder...

You can find it at your local stores in the laundry detergent isle. Also, comes in a variety of different colors.

This stuff can give a face-lift to your otherwise droopy/loved denim skirts.

Before                                After

The 'before' picture is actually Kali with her (exact same) skirt as the one I dyed, because silly me forgot to take an official 'before' picture. I do have to say that I really think my skirt was more faded than hers is.

Oh and please don't mind our wrinkles, its the wear of the day :)

 As you can see it has improved the color of the denim, not so faded and dingy looking.

I only soaked it in the dye for about 12 minutes, while on the directions you can do up to 30 minutes. 

If you have some faded, but loved denim you can't seem to part with, give it a shot! 

Your dingy denim thanks you.

Memorial Day

A beautiful day to take the boat on the lake!



 Silly Ma

Whoops! Lost your hat Ma!

Our captain :)

Lest we forget.....

THANK YOU to all the men, women, and families who have sacrificed for our country. It is a VERY REAL sacrifice and let's not forget the real reason for the day.

Guest Posting

Good Morning my friends, peeps, stalkers, family, compadres, lovelies....

I am guest posting on the "It's a Wonderful Life" blog today!

It is a series of "What's in Your Purse", Kali is having several bloggers share their purse contents.

Fun

Yes

Scary

Yes

But mostly FUN :)

So hop on over to the "What's in Maggie's Purse" post on Kali's blog

Have a lovely and sun-shiney day!

Green Breakfast Smoothie

Alright my peeps

I have another awesome, fantastic, delicious, and GREEN recipe for ya'll.

I don't know about you but we have been having some awesome, sun-shiny days in May! 

Summer is right around the corner and the sun is finally starting to peek its way through all those WA clouds. Producing, gorgeous 70-80 + weather!

In the summer, I am all about smoothies, popsicles, ice cream, and fruit. I could probably live off of those foods in the summer. My body would say otherwise.

A little while back my friend Rebecca blogged about a delicious, green smoothie that she absolutely loved! From knowing her, I knew our taste buds linked closely together in our love of food.

Plus, I already had a deep, in dwelling love for this drink

With the warm weather, it seemed like the perfect time to make this homemade version.

This is what we start with

1 c. cranberry juice

1/2 c frozen peaches (fresh is good too)

1 apple

1 banana

1/2 c vanilla yogurt

1 c spinach

1 c kale

1 spoonful of orange juice concentrate

Blend all these ingredients together and its as easy as that!

I'm telling you, if you can stand to wait a little, pop it into the fridge to get it chilled before consuming. It is so much better cold.

It makes a super breakfast, filled with fruit and vegetables or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up!

Oh and one more thing

Please, oh puh-lease

For the love of all things smoothie, drink it with a straw.

Why?

Because everything tastes better with a straw  :)

Mother's Day

A group of us ladies sang this song at Church yesterday. It is such a beautiful song and perfectly explains how wonderful mother's are, especially Godly mother's. I have been SO blessed to have a good, Godly mother in my life!

"You Were There"

Verse 1:

Before the Lord created me, He planned my life with you

and He prepared you specially for all that you would do.

Then Jesus chose the best for me and He sent me to your side,

so I could see His life in you and you could be my guide.

Chorus:

You were there to teach me of Jesus before I understood,

You were there to tenderly love me when I thought nobody could.

You were there to comfort and hold me close when my days where filled with pain.

I have seen God above through a mother's love, all because you were there,

All because you were there.

Verse 2:

Although I'm growing older now, I love you more and more.

In you I see my Savior's love as I never have before.

And though the years are passing by, your beauty only grows.

The many ways you touch my life, the Creator only knows.

Chorus

What's for Dinner

I am recently a meatloaf convert.

Before I was converted, when someone would mentioned meatloaf for dinner the first word to come to my mind.

Blah.

Who would want to have ground beef all squished up with some other mystery ingredients, then shoved into a pan? That was where brownies, cakes, and other delicious things were to be baked in, not meatloaf. (ick)It was not my idea of a delicious dinner.

A couple months ago, we tried a new meatloaf recipe.

Yippee!! *spoken very sarcastically*

That probably would have been my reply.

Before I was converted.

The said recipe was for 'mini meatloaf', big deal, they are mini. It's still the eary meatloaf.

Even then, I gave them a shot

{photo credit}

Wowzers

No really

WOWZERS

You know that feeling you get when you taste something truly delicious? A contended sigh, humming.....whatever it is for you. Well, I had it.

Some may say its like butter sliding down hot toast. Well, that's besides the point.

This has quickly become one of my favorite meals. Mini meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and fresh green beans! Mmm Hmm

[Have I ever mentioned how much I love, LOVE fresh green beans?! That is a whole 'nother post for another day.]

Since I am the primary cooker (chef, maker-of-dinners??) for the family, I like to squeeze this into the menu at least once a month or so. Oh and believe me, no one, I mean, NO ONE complains when they see it on the table for dinner.

Tonight, no joke, everyone came into the kitchen before dinner was ready, because of the sheer deliciousness of the smell of those little delights.

Umkay

I won't make you wait any longer.

I can see you sitting at the computer/laptop/phone, drool slowly dripping from your mouth.


The.best.ever mini meatloaf


1 egg
1/2 c milk
1 c cheese
1/2 c oats
1/2 t dried oregano
1/2 t onion powder
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t salt
1 lb ground beef
ketchup, mustard, white sugar


Preheat your oven to 350 and lightly grease your muffin pan

Combine all the ingredients, except for the ketchup, mustard, and white sugar. I kinda cheat on this part, usually the method for meatloaf is that you mix it with your hands and all that jazz. I use the kitchenaide,
so.much.easier.

Divide your meat mixture into the muffin pan. Then mix together a heap of ketchup, a tad of mustard, and a spoon of sugar. There is really no perfect way to do this part, so do not worry you will ruin it. Divide your ketchup mixture on top of the mini's evenly.

Bake for about 25-30 minutes, then enjoy!!



If you are as unsure of meatloaf as I was, or even are wanting to try a new recipe, you have got to give it a try!

I dare you to be a meatloaf convert.

Someone always has to be the weird one....

Birthday

Happy Birthday Mom!!

"I love you for all the times you picked me up when I was down. For all the times you traded your warm smile for my frown

For all the times you brushed my hair and tucked me into bed....Or needed something for yourself and put me first instead.

For all the dreams that we have shared, the tears and laughter too. I love you mom with all my heart....There's no one quite like you!"

Thought for the day

Wow, is that quote convicting, or what?!

It's so easy to fall prey to looking at others' lives and judging or criticizing what they do. That should so not be the case, especially in the Christian circle.

Lord, please help me to be so focused on refining and improving my life for You. To keep myself so busy with that, so I have no time to criticize others.