Hmmmm......

So, why is it that so-called Christians have such a hard time obeying God's word? I know it's because of our sin nature, but doesn't the Bible say "give NO place to the devil"? So, why then do we put ourselves in situations that give place to the devil?? This I cannot seem to understand. I see Christians daily letting the devil have places in their lives where they are allowing themselves room to fall into sin. Putting yourself in a place where you KNOW there is going to be temptation to sin is (in my point of view) asking to fall into sin. So, then when we end up doing something REALLY dumb, why are we surprised? We put ourselves there knowing that we should not be there in the first place. So, again, I know we are going to sin, but when we go into a situation that we KNOW we should not be in and then we sin, I think this is willful sinning against God. I know I'm not perfect -- believe me I AM NOT -- the Bible reminds me of this ("For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God") -- but my prayer is that I will always put myself in situations where I can glorify God and not disappoint him. Thank you for listening to me ramble -- hope this makes some sense.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to wish everyone a VERY Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all of the great blessings God has shown upon us this year -- what a GREAT God we serve!! I have a loving husband, a good kid, and a great family who all love the Lord -- and for that I am truly thankful. I am excited about spending Thanksgiving with all of our family. It should be a good day.

Psalm 136:1

"O give THANKS unto the LORD;

for he is good:

for his mercy endureth for ever. "

I also want to share a recipe with you that has become a request every year. It is for Chocolate Cream Pie -- yum, yum!!

Old-fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

1 baked pie shell

5 Tblsp. flour

1 cup sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

5 Tblsp. cocoa

2 cups milk

3 eggs, separated

1/2 cup oleo

1 tsp. vanilla

Sift flour with sugar, salt, and cocoa. Add milk. Stir until smooth. Place in a double boiler (or a saucepan -- that's what I use) and cook for 12 minutes. Stir to prevent lumping. Beat egg yolks. Add to the above mixture and cook for 3 minutes. Stir often. A wire whip is helpful for the stirring process. Remove from fire and add oleo and vanilla. Mix. Cool slightly and pour into pie shell. This makes a 9-inch pie. Top with Cool Whip.

My New Hairdo!!

So, I've been growing my hair out for over 2 years now. I wanted to cut it off for Locks of Love. After I grew it out long enough to cut it off (1o inches), I decided I liked my long hair so, I didn't cut it for a couple of months. But I decided a couple of weeks ago that I was ready to cut it off. So, here's pictures of my new haircut. I'm still trying to get over the shock -- it is SO short!!

Tried and True Casseroles

I made my Taco Casserole for dinner tonight and thought I should put the recipe on here. And then I remembered that I made Chicken Broccoli Casserole last week and I had the leftovers at work and Keely wanted me to post that recipe on here too. So, here they are -- and they are a couple of my go to recipes when I can't think of something to cook -- they are always good. Jason only likes a few casseroles and these are two that he will eat.

Taco Casserole
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup water
1/2 cup Taco Sauce (medium)
1-4oz. can diced green chiles
1-2.25oz. can sliced black olives, drained, divided
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
1 pkg. (12 count) Taco shells, broken in pieces
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes (optional)
1/8 cup sliced green onions (optional)
Sour Cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 12x8 baking dish (I use a 9x13). Cook beef, onion, and garlic in skillet until beef is browned; drain. Stir in water, taco sauce, chiles, 1/4 cup olives and seasoning mix. Cook over low heat 3-4 minutes.
Layer half of the broken taco shells on bottom of prepared dish. Cover with half of meat sauce; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Repeat with remaining shells, meat sauce and cheese.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Top with remaining olives, tomatoes and green onions. (I like to serve with chips and top with sour cream -- it's a great nacho dip).


Chicken Broccoli Casserole
5 whole large chicken breasts
2-10oz. pkg. frozen broccoli
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 Tblsp. lemon juice
1 heaping teaspoon curry powder
Sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Ritz Cracker Crumbs

Salt & pepper chicken and wrap in foil. Cook slowly until tender. Debone, cut into large bite size pieces. Barely cook broccoli in salt water. Mix together soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry powder. Use 8x12 deep casserole dish. Place broccoli in bottom of dish. Place chicken evenly over broccoli. Pour sauce over the top. Completely cover with grated cheese then with the cracker crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until hot all the way through. Serves 10-12 (I usually split the recipe in half for our family.)

Photographer in the making

Isaac found my camera yesterday and left me with these interesting shots. Someone said this would be great blogging material and I was thinking the same thing. So, I just had to put these shots on here. It was too funny! Maybe he will be a great photographer someday and make me LOTS of money!! :-)

Little "jumping beans"!

Isaac and I went to this placed called BounceU today with our friends Jill and Ally. We had a good time -- it definitely wore the kiddos out but I got a pretty good exercise myself -- wooh, I need a nap too! It wasn't as big as I thought it would be but Ally and Isaac seemed to enjoy it and I guess that's all that matters. And because I have become a coupon nerd now (thanks to my friend Arlene) all 4 of us got in for $6.00! So, it was a cheap playdate! Thanks for going with us Jill and Ally -- it was a fun day. (By the way, Jill, Isaac cried ALL the way home from your house -- we will have to hang out again -- he really likes Ally!)

Salute to the Troops!

Happy Veteran's Day! I want to just say "Thank you" to all our men and women out there that are serving or have served in our nation's military. I also want to say thanks to the families that have to sacrifice their time away from their loved ones that are serving. I can never fully understand what military families go through -- I see some of it with my sister and her husband but it's still not the same as being in a military family. So, "Thank you!! We are indebted to you!

"And I'm proud to be an American

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died

who gave that right to me.

And I'll gladly stand up next to you

and defend her still today.

'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God Bless the USA!"

Six Things about me...

My friend Arlene "tagged" me -- so I guess I'm supposed to tell six things about myself. So, here goes....

1. I was born into a Pastor's family -- the oldest of three girls. I actually enjoyed being a PK. The only bad part was people expecting more out of me than their own kids. We are all sinners so guess what? ... we all sin! Wow! what a concept. But other than that I liked it -- not like I really knew any different. I enjoyed all the Pastor's fellowship meetings we went to -- Preachers are crazy men -- you see a different side of them than when they're preaching -- it's pretty funny!

2. I was homeschooled -- and contrary to popular belief I did have a social life --we did leave our house every once in awhile! I loved being homeschooled -- I hope to homeschool my kids. We'll see if I have the patience but I think I will. I love watching Isaac learn new things so I think it will be fun.

3. I have never had a drink of alcohol or smoked a cigerette. People think that's crazy but I'm proud to say that I've never done these things. Praise the Lord I don't have to deal with addiction to these things and have to try to quit. It has never even been something I've wanted to try -- the smell of smoke and alcohol makes me sick so there has never been a desire to try them.

4. I am a Hairstylist -- been doing hair now for 10 1/2 years!! That I cannot believe. I love doing hair -- it is definitely a passion of mine. One time I went to our church youth camp as the counselor and I told the girls "don't even ask me to do your hair, I'm on vacation" -- I couldn't stand it -- by the end of the week I was asking to do their hair. I missed it!

5. My middle name is KAY and whenever I tell people my middle name they always say "not your middle initial, what's your middle name?" I then say "Kay". And we go through this about 2-3 more times before I finally say "Kay...K...A...Y!!" Then they feel pretty dumb!! :-)

6. One of my greatest fears -- knives. I cannot watch other people cut things with a knife -- I especially can't watch movies where someone is fighting with a knife or gets stabbed with a knife. It just sends shivers up my back. It really freaks me out. Jason likes to tease me by taking a knife and rubbing across his hand -- I can't stand it! Just thinking about it now is freaking me out!

So, there's a few silly facts about me. Now I will tag a couple of people...

Jill
Albanie

Tell us 6 fun facts about yourself -- this is pretty fun!

New President

Well, this long, long presidential election is finally over. I am disappointed with the results but it's done so we have to move on. I will now be praying for our country more than ever before -- praying this President doesn't take us down a wrong path and praying for the safety of our country. May God continue to bless America!

I Voted!

I voted today. And I am praying each person did their duty as an American citizen and voted. I was just reading some blogs and thought I needed to voice my opinion about this election and some of the issues. I want people to know that honestly neither one of these candidates are great. They are both socialists technically. I mean they both signed for this 700 billion dollar bailout plan -- that is nothing more than pure socialism!!! But the difference between them is John McCain is a Patriot -- he has fought for our country and will continue to fight for our safety as a nation. Unfortunately, Obama is friends with people that would love to sell our country off to places that would love to see our country fall. He is friends with men who are proud to say they hate our country -- how can you be friends with people like this?? So, for that, how could you vote for someone who is okay being friends with people like this?? That I cannot understand. I heard something yesterday that was pretty good -- with the associations that Obama has, he could not have gotten any job with high security clearance (FBI, CIA, etc.) but he can become the next President? the next Commander-in-Chief?? WOW!!

About some of the issues:

Welfare:
I think it is one thing to help people out till they can get back on their feet. But usually that is not the case. Most people that are on welfare have been on welfare for their whole life -- that is the only way they know -- their parents were on it -- their grandparents were on it. They don't know any different. They have never even tried to make a life for themselves. The Bible says "if a man shall not work, neither shall he eat." Sorry but I don't feel sorry for people that have no initiative to get off their butt and try to work to feed their children. That may sound harsh but it's true. I'm not working hard so I can feed other people's families -- I'm working hard so I can feed my family!!! Government was NOT put in place to feed people -- it's purpose is to protect the people from outside harm. It is the place of people to help out other people less fortunate. The Bible talks about that too -- helping out the widows and others in need. If people would do their part, Government wouldn't have to. But since Government is taking our money and giving to whoever they want it makes people not want to give anymore. So, it has had an adverse effect on the way it should be.

Health Care:
Is health care a right or a privilege? Back to the welfare thing. Government should not be involved in health care. I also don't think we need insurance programs. Insurance has made prices of health care sky rocket -- the free enterprise system that America was established on is gone from the health care system. If it was given back to the private sector prices would drop drastically and everyone would be able to afford it for themselves. Think about it -- if you got rid of all the insurance paperwork, insurance fraud, etc. -- that alone would bring prices down. Less work and less money spent. There was a show on 20/20 awhile ago showing universal health care, insurance run health care, and private sector health care. It was AMAZING how health care run in a private sector was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more affordable and so much better all around. Doctors would then be competitive and that makes prices come down. And they showed countries that have universal health care -- it is NOT better -- you are on a waiting list for MONTHS to see a doctor. People in Canada come to America for surgeries because they can get them done sooner here. The military health care here in America is Government funded -- and let me tell you it is not better. All I ever hear from military families is how they hate going to the military hospital for anything -- it is always a mess. What does that say for "great" universal health care?? Not much! I don't want that!

Iraq war:
At this point the debate about if we should have gone to war with Iraq is not a question. It doesn't matter -- we went -- now we HAVE to finish it. If we don't, that war will become greater than we can even imagine!! Iran is right next door -- they will move in -- take over Iraq and then we are in a worse place than before the war. They HAVE weapons of mass destruction and they will use them. Again going back to the people Obama associates with -- they hate America and would love to see our great land destroyed. So, think where that will lead us. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad this war has not been fought on our land -- but if we leave there, it very well could be on our land next. So, we have to finish. And Obama making a promise to get out of there -- he can't promise that -- he's not president yet. He will see what is really going on there if he is our next president and THEN he will have to decide -- and I think he will see we do need to finish (that is if he really wants to protect our country). And someone said we are headed for another Vietnam -- do your research -- Vietnam was lost because politicians in Washington were running that war instead of our Generals who are trained to run a war. Let the military do it's job -- Congress has no clue how to run a war -- they hardly no how to run the congress sometimes! If we let our great military do it's job and stop politicizing everything we could have this done soon and our men can come home. But if we leave now it will not be better later!

I did think of our country and what's best for it when voting today and I pray daily for our country. We need God back in our country and in the lives of our citizens. There is so much morally and spiritually wrong in our country today -- people don't even know the difference between good and evil -- the Bible says in the last days "they will call good evil and evil good" and that is surely the case today. Christians "look up - your redemption draweth nigh!"

Something to think about before you Vote!

This quote was in our church bulletin this morning. I just thought it was a great quote and something to really think about when voting.

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves Largess (gifts, money, favors, etc.) out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy -- to be followed by a dictatorship. "
-- Lord Woodhouselee

This is where America is headed. If we vote in a Socialist President ("...the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury...") the result one day could be our great country collapsing into a dictatorship. My prayer is that our nation will turn back to God and the great principles our country was built upon. Please vote responsibly this Tuesday!!