lack of pictures

I have so many pictures that I have wanted to share over the last several months, but I am having problems with my computer. All of my pictures sit on my camera. I need to figure out a way to get them off of my camera. My hard drive is full and my laptop is having so many problems. I wish I could share some of the cute pictures of my family. Maybe someday I will be able to share pictures again. Until then, I will post without pictures.

Readers

Mostly I blog so that I can remember what is going on in our life. It is also a great reminder of how God is working in our lives. Sometimes I wonder though if I should just journal. Is anyone reading this blog anymore?

Holiday Meal

I love tradition! Every year I grew up with the same holiday meals. I look forward to it every year. I am one that does not like to mess with tradition. Why mess with it if it is working?

Well, I am adding something new to our holiday meal this year. I almost feel like a trader saying that. LOL! I stumbled across a salad recipe last year and fell in love with it. I will be adding it to our Christmas Eve dinner. It is a simple, refreshing and festive salad. Some might consider it a dessert since it has whip cream, but I still consider it a salad :)

Cranberry, Grape, Pineapple Salad

2 cups fresh cranberries

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of red grapes

1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped

1/2 cup broken walnuts (optional)

1 small can pineapple tidbits, drained

Put cranberries through the food grinder, using coarse blade. Or chop in processor. Stir in sugar. Let stand overnight.

Next morning, drain well, pressing lightly to remove excess juice. Cut grapes in half and remove seeds if necessary. Add grapes, pineapple and nuts to well-drained cranberry mixture. This much may be done ahead. Refrigerate.

Just before serving, fold in the whipped cream.

Serve immediately. Recipe doubles easily.

Useless Finds

We just had a repair man here to fix our refrigerator (there was a recall on it). While he had it pulled out I had the chance to clean behind/under it. It is sandwiched between two cabinets and has never been pulled out before, so I was afraid of what we might find under there.

We found many cheerios, vitamins, tons of dust bunnies and a check. Yes, a check! This check was almost 6 years old and was $1,000. How did we never notice a $1,000 check was missing???? I still can't believe this. Not only was the check for a significant amount of money and very old, but the person that wrote that check has now been dead for a number of years. I guess we weren't meant to have that money.

Thankfulness

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thank you God for the many blessings that you have given us! I am thankful for a wonderful, loving and giving family, an amazing church, faithful friends and sacrificial love of my Savior!!!! (among many other things).

Great Reminder

I heard a new song on the radio today as I prepared for our busy weekend. I didn't catch much of the song...I don't even know who sings it or what the title is, but one line hit me.

would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

What a great reminder that nothing can compare to the joy that come from God! That helps put everything in perspective.

Give and Take Away

Once again God used music to speak to me. This time he used the same song I blogged about here.

I do feel like I could give up my stuff to follow God. I feel as though this tough time in my life has been a time of reflection to see if I was really willing to give it all away and still remain joyful. I can truly say that I would be ok if we lost everything. That is until I heard these two simple lines again....

Anything I would give up for You
Everything I give it all away

God spoke to me. Am I really willing to give up EVERYTHING? Is there something that I am holding so closely that I am not willing to let go of it? I realized there was. I knew right then and there what it was. Through the tough times I have found myself saying "wow, sometimes I feel like Job." Then I would follow it up by saying "God, just don't take my children!"

Why is it that I could give up all my earthly possessions but somehow I am not willing to trust God with my most cherished blessings? I know that I need to open my palms and give my children to God. He has blessed me with them and they are His.

I don't know if I could say that I would be joyful if God chose to take my children from me. I am struggling with this. Losing my children is the last thing that I want to think about, but I know that God wants me to be willing to give up EVERYTHING. Please pray with me as I wrestle with this. I want to be able to say that I truly would give up EVERYTHING for my God!!!!!

God has used this season of my life to strip me of my pride. I know that all we have is a blessing from God and he can take them away at any moment. I have learned to be content with the here and now. God has proven himself faithful. He is my Jehovah-Jireh. I have become fully reliant on Him. Even though this season has been challenging it has been filled with joy. I would not trade this tough time for anything. I have noticed a change in my spirit that I thank God for it!