answers

One of my coworkers sent this in a forward today (check out biblegateway.com too).

HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS AN ANSWER:
YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself' God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Reciplease

Reciplease: PLEASE send me your favorite recipes (and pictures) for my cook book project.

I'm gathering favorite recipes from friends and family (and for that matter strangers) to put in my latest project. I'm getting some awesome ones, but of course need more. Send me your favorites! And when I finish the project, you can view all of the compiled recipes online (and buy the actual book if you want!).

Banana Bars by Ang
Ang got this recipe from her friend Tami that has worked in the Better Homes & Gardens test kitchens here at Meredith. (Have you been there? The kitchen is amazing!) And as I was looking for a link to send you there to see it, I found this.
Ang will probably understand why I posted it.... ever since I was there, I've been wanting that "waxy paper" for my own recipe books. It is even cooler looking in person. Enjoy the banana bars! And send me YOUR recipes!

BANANA BARS

1/2 cup shortening, melted

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup buttermilk (measure 1/2 cup milk, add 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice to it- let stand 5 minutes... it will be a little "thick" looking on top, then add to mixture)

1 cup mashed bananas

Grease a 15x10x1-inch pan (jellyroll). Flour lightly; shaking excess flour out. Set pan aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together melted shortening and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir until well combined. Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir together. Add buttermilk and blend thoroughly. Stir in mashed bananas.

Spread into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is light brown and center is set. Cool completely on wire rack. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting: (you only need a 1/2 recipe to frost these, but I usually make the full recipe and keep the other half in the fridge for something else... cut it in half if you want just the amount for the bars)

1, 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

about 3 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Milk (optional)

Make sure cream cheese and butter are softened. Beat together with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar until desired consistency. Stir in vanilla. Add a little milk if you want a thinner frosting.

vanquished

It's a real word, I swear.
And I have been vanquished by the birds. We give up. They win.
Earlier this week, Rusty opened the front door and the birds in the nest came flying inside. He chased them out.
I thought I had won. He was convinced that it was time to take the birds nest off the wreath. We planned on doing it "tomorrow."
We finally got around to taking it down one afternoon and you guessed it..... it was too late.


They win. They get to keep their nest there awhile longer. And maybe Rusty will be convinced to plant some trees. Happy Earth Day (week).
Did you do anything to celebrate?

Juplifting

Just uplifting.. Juplifting.
Not quite Thanksday but wanted to update my not actually a jar, blessings jar anyway.

Friday: I am thankful for drugs. And the Drs that prescribe them. I am feeling MUCH better today. Hopefully I will actually be able to teach tomorrow!

Saturday: I am thankful for my husband's wonderful ability to help with housework, as I was way too tired to move from the couch.

Sunday: I am thankful for my college education. Watching the VEISHEA parade on tv reminded me of this. (Yeah, I had to throw VEISHEA some sort of bone since I was too tired to partake in anything else VEISHEA related). But I really am thankful for my college education.... and all the memories and friends made while attaining it.

Monday: I am thankful my amazing coworkers. I have some great teachers in my room this trimester. Makes my job so much better (and easier, and more fun).

Tuesday: I am thankful for good neighbors. Neighbors that understand my dog is not the smartest dog in the world and sometimes has a mind of his own (not very often.... but once in awhile). We always let Dakota go play in the field. He'll run around awhile, get tired, then come in. Usually. Tonight was not a usual night for him. He decided he didn't want to come in. So I let him play outside. I noticed he was bothering the neighbor girls so I went out and sat on the porch to watch them play. I was talking to the mom (who is super sweet and we are glad to have as a neighbor) and after awhile they went in for supper. Before the did, one of the girls who had been playing fetch with Dakota had the stick in the field on the other side of our house. So of course Dakota went that way... and decided it would be a good idea to head over to the back side of the block to check out the neighbors yards... During which time another neighbor says, "The sign says NO DOGS." To which I answered, "I'm sorry sir, my dog cant read." He was not amused.
Long story short, after two hours of Dakota visiting the neighbors, he finally came inside.... UGH!

Oh and I'm also thankful for the Peasleys. They were here for dinner. I tried to pass shrimp off as chicken nuggets but those boys are just too darn smart. They make me smile!

Story Time

Story Time: What inevitably happens when Zach Clark is around.
We I was making dinner and Dakota started barking (which is rare) at the door. Turns out Zach was out on the front porch. He was out for a walk and stopped by so we talked him into staying for dinner (yes it was hard to convince him.... or not).
Anyway, Zach is my longtime enemy friend from home. We have known each other forever and were even roommates in college and now we live in the same town again. We love him. And he loves me. Even though he signed our wedding quilt like this:

He treats me about as well as he treats his sister. Which is about right, because he loves us both so much.

Anyway, whenever Zach is around it turns into story time. Tonight was no exception. We'll miss him when he moves. He better come visit lots the next couple of months.

Oh... and that is the Asian Honey Mustard dressing from Tastefully Simple. Let me know if you'd like to buy some!
Yes, that was a shameless plug.
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/Cultures/en-US/Products/AsianHoneyMustardDressing721209.htm?CatalogNavigationBreadCrumbs=ClientCatalog%3bSpringSummerProducts&ShowTop=true

Thanksday

Thanksday [thangkz dey] -noun

:day following 40+ hours in bed AND 8+ hours of couch time. During most of which time my head hurt too bad to open my eyes (read: sinus pressure, also read: no computer, tv, blackberry, book, or Bible). Leaving lots of time to worry pray. And reflect. And be Thankful.

Thanksday: My version of the Thankful Thursday.

I have much for which to be Thankful for. My amazing husband (whom I found out this week, takes the dog out in the event that everyone in the household is sick), my niece and nephews (I LOVE being an aunt), my family (yup, all of them), my dog, my amazing friends, our health (in general, not this week specifically), our home, and so much more.

I've been wanting to start a blessings jar for awhile now and just haven't.... yes, I want it to match my kitchen decor if it is going to be sitting on my kitchen counter.

So instead of waiting for the jar search to come to an end... I'll start recording my specific blessings instead.

Today, I am thankful for Ang's facebook updates (Yup, she definitely needs to tweet them!).
They are juplifting. mmm... Perhaps a new word for the Hickstionary... Just Uplifting.. Juplifting.

(Yes, I know the red squiggles don't like the Hickstionary)

Friday

Good Friday, actually.
This is going to sound really odd.... mostly because I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember and I was baptized when I was 12. And of course have always celebrated Easter.

But this is the first year I really get it.
I mean really. truly. GET it.

I always "understood" Good Friday (but never really got what was so good about it).
The church we've been attending (yes, we are still looking for a home but like this one in the meantime....) celebrated Good Friday with a passover. (I was skeptical about it as well... but I looked to my Bible (and google) and am okay with it..http://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Passover.html).

And after the passover, he talked about the cross. Really talked about the cross. I, as usual, was carefully listening for any discrepancies between his version and the Bible's version.... the only one I feel is worth pointing out for anyone that was there... is that Jesus KNEW Peter would deny him (of course He knew) and told him he would do so three times before the rooster crows. So this was not a shock to Jesus. But I think his point was that it still stings. And that, I'm sure, is true.

I digress.

Anyway, he really talked about the cross. And I finally GOT it. The pain, the hurt, the sting, the beautiful, the wonderful, the saving cross.

Work has hurt really bad lately. It hurts to walk in the door. It stings to look at certain people in the building. It pains me to look at children and know I am powerless in keeping them safe.

But Jesus understands (of course He does).

He knows the pain. The hurt. The sting.

And that is beautiful. Wonderful.

That is the saving cross.

And my cross is easier to bear.

Because of Him.

I pray that you will have a beautiful, wonderful, blessed Easter with your family this weekend. I plan to have one with mine. Thanks to Him.