on a day like today......

on a day like today.....

I'm eating a really smooshed/melty York peppermint patty.

and thinking about how much my mom likes them  : )

...I need the Lord to help me.

pg. 5 #29

I'm really glad it's not the beginning of finals week.

finally, my first semester without finals! : )

via

I wish I could have this for dinner. I mean, um.... dessert.

Banoffee Pie

I'm reminiscing about my time at my last college.

And I think it's silly that my major, is a part of the college of agricultural science.
I mean, really?

I wish I woke up thinking this.....

and that it was actually true  : )

via

this is making me laugh.

like crazy.

umm. three of my favorite songs.

yes. oh, yes.

Fun new-to-me band: Clarensau. check them out on Pandora.

<

this morning & a song

Here's an ironically relevant song for this Monday.....


My morning routine ended up in my bedroom, laying on my bed with pounding ears, and wiping away tears.
Why?.....

I eventually got up and went into the bathroom but wasn't feeling good (i.e. everything was sort of spinning & hazy when I went into there).

When I started to wash my hands, things were getting much worse.

I told myself, 'just wash your hands and go get in bed.'

All the while, things were increasingly becoming very dark and hazy.

As I washed my hands, I think I squirted out some soap and I possibly dried my hands a little when I heard a lot of noise and felt myself falling.

Then I kind of -came to- on the bathroom floor, hearing the shower door banging and seeing the sister's makeup on the floor. I was disoriented and couldn't figure out why her blush was on the floor.
Apparently, she had gone into her bedroom and heard me moving her makeup around (that I moved on the counter while trying to hold myself up) and then she heard a lot of noise, thuds (from me falling), and the shower door crashing (as I hit my head on it). That's when she looked in and found me laying on the ground.
She was freaked out (not in a helpless way- but in a shocked way) and asked me what happened and what to do. She helped me to my bed and then rushed to get the washcloth I requested.
After she brought it in, I had her turn on the fan, and asked her to pray.

{I was scared}

I had to ask her to pray louder because of my loudly pounding ears and the noisy fan.
As she prayed, the pounding in my ears lessened and I stopped blinking tears back.

Gradually, things started to slow down and I calmed down. Thankfully, I pretty much feel fine now.

It was so cool how God worked things out.
He gave me the clarity to make it to my room. He allowed the sister to get ready later than usual so she was in the next room when it all went down. If it had happened a little earlier or later, she wouldn't have been there. He gave me peace and protection as she prayed. He allowed my body to calm down, not remain in shock, and he stopped the cramps and dizziness I had been feeling since earlier that morning. He provided a friend to fill in for the sister so she could arrive late to help me for awhile. He gave us a time for conversation, allowing me to calm down and feel better. He gave her long legs to quickly run up and down the stairs getting me the stuff I needed. It may seem silly, but I'm confident that He gave me the foresight to buy an extra box of mac & cheese on Saturday so that I had an easy lunch to prepare. He gave me a caring, thoughtful sister who didn't freak out and was able to help me when I needed it.
He blessed me with:
perspective (no, good health is not guaranteed),
peace (remembering other times I had fainted and always recovered), and
love (from my caring sister and from his loving character as my Elohim).

This forced day of rest was sure unexpected,
but I think I'll dwell in it and continue the praying I started earlier this morning
: )

*After I was feeling better, I told the sister, "Well, I didn't know that would happen!"*

New song! the *asterisk* part was my morning : )

You Lift Me Up -The Afters

You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up

Waiting for the sunrise
Waiting for the day
Waiting for a sign that I'm
Where You want me to be

You know my heart is heavy
And the hurt is deep
But when I feel like giving up
*You're reminding me

That we all fall down sometimes
When I hit the ground

You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go*

You lift me up when I can't see
You heart's all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go

You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up

I know I'm not perfect
I know I make mistakes
I know that I have let You down
But You love me the same

And when I'm surrounded
And when I lose my way
And when I'm crying out and fallen down
You are here to....

Lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I can't see
You heart's all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go

I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken
With Your love, with Your love
I don't know what I can offer
In this moment, I surrender
To Your love, to Your love

You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go

You lift me up when I can't see
You heart's all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go

I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken
With Your love, with Your love

You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up with Your love
You lift me up

Recipe Exchange

Linked up with Casey here:

When I was in college and my friends and I were all still living in dorms and had to eat in the caf, we tried to have family dinners (cooking real food) together every month. When it was my turn, I decided to make my favorite family recipe: Tater tot casserole.
And geez! it sure was a hit!
Now I am not tooting my own horn- we were forced to have meal plans for the caf and let me just say that the food got a little old after awhile. Four-types-of-potato-entree night, anyone? No? Yeah, I thought so. Thus, we looved having homemade things.

A few of my friends didn't really know how to cook, and a few were also somewhat picky.
And for the one who was very picky, well, ......she loved it.
And she would request I make it if we ever cooked together after that :)

Whenever my mom made a few classics, she never failed to deliver.
And whenever she made Tater Tot Casserole, we fought over the leftovers. Yes, that's right.

By the time we were in junior high, my sisters and I knew how to make our family favorites. Thus, I knew how to cook a lot more than most of my friends in highschool and college.
Thus, the friend in college who didn't know how to cook hardly at all, was uh-mazed that we knew how to make our favorite things. And very awesome comfort food, at that!

{Tater Tot Casserole}

found in here

via my grandma Opal Wilkinson

Cooking Time: approx. 1.5 hours
Serves: makes one large pyrex casserole dish
   feeds: a family of 5 (+ some leftovers) / 5 starving college students (+ hardly any leftovers : )

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium-sized chopped onion
1 (16 oz.) can green beans (sometimes 1.5 cans)
1 can cream of chicken soup (by all means, get the reduced sodium!)
1 can evap. milk
1 pkg. frozen tater tots (Foodmax calls them tater puffs. whatev.)

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef  + chopped onion + salt & pepper.  --Drain fat--

 

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Spread meat + onion in 9x13 in. casserole dish.

4. Spread layer of green beans on top of meat.

5. Layer tater tots on top. (You can squeeze more in with rows.)

6. Whisk together soup + evap. milk and pour on top of tater tots.

You might not need all of the soup mixture

otherwise it may cook unevenly like in the bottom center of this pic.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour + 15 minutes or until tater tots are brown and crispy.  

Let sit for at least 10 minutes. (It will be HOT! and bubbly : )     
*Note: the tater tots are really hot, so it might be a good idea to smash them a bit for little ones.

Enjoy!

*Note: this is basically a more kid-friendly (tater tots) shepherd's pie recipe. Plus it doesn't have the strange texture of creamy mashed potatoes + chunky vegetable/meat.

*Also note: this is by no means a healthy recipe. Although, it is redeemed if served with some hearty/whole vegetables. When I made this last time, I served it with steamed crook-neck squash & a spinach/tomato salad with dressing I made from scratch. Just like I would have had it as a little kid, and it was YUMMY and much more balanced : )

a motto + a song

Today as I was finishing up  In His Steps  by Charles Sheldon,
 the song Take My Life by Chris Tomlin popped into my head.

While reading Sheldon's book, I was struck by the fact of --true Christian discipleship--

After a series of lifechanging events, a pastor, Henry Maxwell challenges his congregation to ask ‘What would Jesus do?’” before doing anything, and then to act as they are led by the Holy Spirit, regardless of personal consequences. Some people accept the challenge & truly seek to live by it, some face loss (social status/wealth/jobs), some struggle and doubt what Jesus would have them do in their life, still, others find a purpose and seek to wholeheartedly imitate Christ in every way. While working to meet the challenge, many realize that they must grow in their knowledge of Jesus in order to act like & imitate him.

 

Yet, as in reality, some reject the challenge as fanatical imitation of Jesus & see no need for change, others hold onto vices, habits & sins, and others loudly oppose the challenge. In the end, however, widespread change occurs and an exciting movement begins. .........The premise of his book on Wikipedia.org.

After reading the book, I was compelled to ask myself, What Would Jesus Do with my life?

First, he would apologize for being easily angered with my mom last night.
Secondly, he would be patient, enduring the sacrifice of personal desires that I am going through with humility and grace. Joyfully seeking human suffering and personal sacrifice.
Then, I thought about what I've been focusing on lately.
And honestly, for a long time (maybe a month), I've been driven by selfish desires and focused on meeting my needs/desires/wants.

One of those desires concerned blogging.
After hearing about different women who stopped blogging, others who've gone on breaks, and still others who have struggled with different aspects of blogging, I read a lot of 'do it for you- not x amount of followers' and I found myself torn.

Now, after reading Sheldon's story, I find myself realizing,
no I will not continue blogging for others.  no, I will not continue blogging for myself.  no, I will continue blogging for God.

By writing about my life/struggles/dreams/likes, I can glorify Him.
And that is how I plan to continue blogging.
I do not share this for personal acclaim, vanity, or any impure intentions.

I share this as my personal motto.

--My blog's manifest.--

Needless to say, the book is awesome.
I love me some Christian fiction : )

{Take My Life} -Chris Tomlin

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

-Chorus-
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

LLT

a recent addition on bloglovin:

link

a little crafty, inspirational, personal & Chrisitian!

a cool artist & peek into real lives:

link

what a pretty flower!

http://burstsofcreativity.blogspot.com/2011/04/easy-paper-flower-tutorial.html
I'll be making my own version of this quite soon :)

fun grab bag etsy store:

apple blue handmade

I can't wait for this collection to hit the stores!!
Missoni for Target!! via: stephmodo.com

early birthday gift please!

link via: etsy

the 'crochet' thread of a new-to-me blog

link: youwillwontyou.blogspot.com

Saffy's Angel... and other things

**I found this filed away in my draft folder from March 11th, 2011.....**

Last week I read a book.
In an entire day.

But, it was a children's book. (At least it was a chapter book, right?!)

Anyways, back to the point....
I like to read children's literature.
Not only because I work with children, like the stories, or because I like to read.
I simply love the simple stories, messages, and fantasy used in them.

Also,
my mom raised me right.
I am definitely a born & bred reader!

I would read anything when I was little. Seriously.
Labels on boxes/packages/food/receipts, signs, children's books, adult fiction & nonfiction, manuals.

When I was growing up, the thing I got in trouble for most often was reading.
I would read when I was supposed to be in bed, doing homework, doing chores, & basically any time I was supposed to be doing something, I would read.


Therefore, my main form of punishment for a good chunk of my childhood/adolescence, was to have my books taken away.

If my mom wanted to bribe me (which she rarely ever did- go mom!),
all she had to do was threaten to take my book away.

Aaand.... presto!

The trash was suddenly taken out!

or......

the dishes were scrubbed & magically put in the dishwasher

or.....

my room was cleaned

or......

(insert any chore here).


Yes, I was bad :)


If I just wasn't getting it, or the motivation to finish up fast to continue reading wasn't enough for me to stop & obey my mom, my book was taken away.
and hidden!
the horrors!

But, since I wasn't too awesome at obeying my parents, I eventually learned all my mom's hiding places for my books.

Soo, I would sneak to the hiding spot, take the book and go read in a hidden place.
(Which was usually the bathroom floor- the only room with a lock on the door- privacy was precious when you have two sisters!).

Then, since I still wasn't great at the whole obedience thing,
I would finish up the page/chapter/book, and put it back.

That is dedication.

And it is also sin.


Not only would I disobey my mom in the first place to earn the consequence of having my book taken away,
I would then go behind my mom's back, sneakily take the book, & then lie about the whole thing.
Later on, 'Oh! Thanks for my book back mom!'

Yes, she caught on, as did the rest of my family, & I was eventually given another consequence for disobeying and lying.
And she thought it was all pretty silly a few years after I outgrew my sneaky-ness.

_____________________________________________________________________

Anyways, I thought it would be fun to write down some of my favorite children's books.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorites:

The Chronicles of Narnia
Frog & Toad
George & the Purple Crayon
Madeline
The Poky Little Puppy
Beatrix Potter
Heather Whitestone's autobiography
Froggy Gets Dressed
Eloise (she lived in The Plaza in NY -learned about her through the Babysitter's Club)
Saffy's Angel (I now have Saffron on my list of baby names :)
Indigo's Star
Harold And The Purple Crayon
Shel Silverstein's: Where The Sidewalk Ends
The BFG
Stuart Little
Caps for Sale
Stone Soup
Indian In My Cupboard
The Snowman
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Are You My Mother?
Pipi Longstocking
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Homer Price
Henry Reid
Dandelion
Winnie The Pooh
Little Bear
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Babar
Harry The Dirty Dog
Strega Nona
Richard Scarry
The Five Chinese Brothers
Mercer Mayer
Arthur
Ballet Shoes
Imogene's Antlers
Zack's Alligator
Chrysanthemum
Frances
Miss Rumphius
The Hundred Dresses
Black Beauty
My Friend Flicka
Sarah, Plain And Tall
Number The Stars
A Wind In The Door
And since I read voraciously, I have many favorite series:
Amelia Bedelia
Berenstain Bears
The Littles
Betsy & Tacy  -Maud Hart Lovelace (from the 1940's!)
Encyclopedia Brown
Little House on The Prairie
Junie B. Jones
Nate The Great
Trixie Belden (an old, vintage series! The books are out of print & falling apart. eep!)
Saddle Club
Nancy Drew
Boxcar Children
Little Sister
Babysitter's Club  (anyone else??)
Dear America (a select few)
Christy Miller
American Girl (the originals: Felicity, Kirsten, Samantha, Molly, Abby)


And don't even get me started on Comics!
As one of the few things my Dad & I had in common, we loved to talk about & read the comics every day.
To this day, that's the first thing I turn to when reading a newspaper.

And if they don't have the comics, it spoils all the fun :)

crafty-ness

My first link up!

After spending a day fasting from screens (tv/computer) for obvious reasons....
with this girl on the left -->

......here's how I got my crafty-ness on last night after church.

making an upcycled t-shirt wreath. (still a work in progress)

   ........um, yes!

braided jersey

so fun!

so easy!

Now I want to cut up all my shirts & get my craft back on today : )

In retrospect, it doesn't look very exciting.
Except that it was my first time using my rotary cutter & cutting board,
and also my first time making a wreath! Woot!

{New sights around the apt.}

clipboard from 4th grade + water color art (& a water color semi-fail)

wow. just realized that totally looks like actual mustard.
like I couldn't find paint so I used some from the fridge.
ummm..........

new wall art over the desk (something I did in highschool   --  needs to be framed).......

continuous line project
-drawing someone without picking up or looking down at the pencil-

to fill a space from a print I moved upstairs to my room   ...also needs to be framed.....

pencil project: draw something made of pencils : tulip in a vase

and the print upstairs....

 
yes, I realized it slid down. but I'm lazy, or uh, busy : )