THE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR

Well, it's the worst day of the year for me anyway. The day I sit down and figure out the taxes. I guess it's the worst day because I don't like the way the government spends my money. I don't like the complicated and confusing way they write the forms. I certainly don't like that the middle class and small business men end up carrying the weight while the rich and huge corporations walk away relatively scott free. But hey, that's just my opinion and I can help to change things the next time there's an election, just as I cast my ballot in the last election.

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude, to look on the bright side and to follow the Biblical principle to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's".

I think I need to keep singing, "O say but I'm glad, I'm glad. O say but I'm glad. Jesus has come and my cup overrun. O Say but I'm glad."
Keeping a positive attitude is everything, I've discovered. I can choose to have a great day or a lousy day and I need to make that choice before I open my eyes and place my feet on the floor in the morning. Before I go to sleep the night before I whisper a prayer and ask God to bless the next day, to help me to be in a good mood, to make it a great day. I have no doubt God does his part, it's up to me to do mine. I need to keep the negative thoughts and comments at bay, I need to keep a song in my mouth, a smile on my face, and God's joy in my heart.

I'd better change the title of this post then....okay, so it's not the worst day of the year, maybe simply one of my most stressful.

BECOMING AN EZER

I teach the ladies Sunday School class in our church. Mainly we study things that help us be better Christian women. A few weeks ago we began studying what it truly means to be an Ezer...or if you don't speak Hebrew, a helpmeet. To understand what the true role of a woman is you must first understand why God created woman. I began searching the internet, which has become a fabulous study tool, and came across another blog which introduced me to a book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His HelpMeet. Talk about an eye-opening book!

First, let me be clear, women were not created to be slaves. Being a submissive woman doesn't mean you are a doormat for your husband to wipe his feet on. In fact, an Ezer (helpmeet) is like a strong right arm, a warrior for your husband, one with whom he is not complete. We are the glue that holds the family together.

I've discovered that many things we modern, liberated women do are actually demeaning and harmful for our husband's mental and physical well being. In the quest to be equal (which we already were created as equal) we attempted instead to be the leader, the head. We forgot that we were the feminine, soft-spoken, gentile half. We all forgot the old adage, which I often hear my mother's voice ringing in my ears saying, "you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

I've also learned that in our attempts to be what we were not created to be we've blasphemed the Word of God. I think that bothered me most.

I highly recommend women read Debi Pearl's book. It's an eye-opening, life-changing experience.

ORGANIZATION!!!

The new year has brought with it a few trials...like corneal keratitis...which means I can not wear my contact lenses for at least two months and my vision has been blurred like peering through frosted glass, but it's also brought a blessing with it. My computer time has been quite limited and so I've needed to find other things with which to fill my spare moments. ORGANIZATION! I'm a neat-freak anyway, but now I have the time to spend doing all the little organizational things I've always wished I could do.

I went to Office Depot and purchased several plastic storage boxes. Why plastic, you may ask. Because here in Florida we deal with bugs, humidity and rain aplenty (most of the time, if we're not in a drought like last summer) so any storage boxes must be air and water tight, hence the plastic. I'm storing away old tax records (when you own a business, even a small one, the paper work you must save is horrid.) I'm also going through old photographs and sorting them into three piles..one to save and scrapbook, and one each to send to my two sons. I'm also sorting through old greeting cards and only keeping those I wish to add to a scrapbook. The rest...storage or garbage.

I must admit, I am not a Oprah fan, however there is program on her new network called Enough Already. It's made me have a new appreciation for organizing and, while I am no where near a hoarder, how we all keep things we do not need nor even particularly want. We keep things for sentimental or other reasons. We all have closets we can't open, cabinets that are bulging with stuff, yet we continually buy more and don't use what we have already.

Last year I took a 365 challenge...get rid of one item per day for an entire year. I accomplished it in less than a month and STILL have more than enough stuff to do it once a month for a year. So this year, I'm challenging you to declutter and destuff your home. If you haven't used it, needed it, wanted it, looked at it, worn it...you get the idea...this past year put it in a box and give it away. Yard Sale, Goodwill, Salvation Army...you decide. Donate books you've read to your local Friends of the Library or good Christian books to your church library. Jewelry and perfumes or colognes you don't like can go to your local nursing home. Blankets and comforters, sheets, pillows and the like can go to your local shelter. Good used professional clothing can go to shelters and organizations for abused women.

Anyone else have any ideas with what we can do with STUFF???

Crab-Stuffed Tilapia with Orange Sauce

Yummy dinner tonight....here's the recipe!

1 Tilapia filet per person
1/3 c crab cake mix (I purchase mine already done at the fish counter)

Oil the bottom of your baking dish with olive oil. Coat the tilapia with the olive oil then place the crab cake mix on one half of the filet. Fold the other half over the top and secure with toothpick. Salt, pepper and paprika to taste. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

While fish is cooking mix in sauce pan 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 T orange zest, pinch of salt, and you may add 2 T citrus juice if you wish. Bring to boil and cook about 1-2 minutes, reducing slightly. Turn heat down to simmer and begin whisking in 1/2 cup butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking constantly. If you have the heat too high or fail to whisk the sauce will "break". After the entire 1/2 C butter is added continue whisking until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and serve over the fish. DELICIOUS!!! Even my picky husband, who genearlly prefers catsup on his fish (ick) loved this.

Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon

My sweet husband's birthday is Jan 5th and he always asks for the same thing..potato soup and a bologna sandwich. This year I decided to try and "jazz up" the potato soup a bit. It turned out to be delicious! I thought I'd share the recipe here with you.
2 cups water
2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 cup carrots, shredded
salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder..to taste
3 T chicken boullion or you can use 1 C chicken stock

Cook together until potatoes are tender

In sauce pan prepare a white sauce:
1/4 C butter
1/2 C flour
2 C milk
mix butter and flour together over medium heat until smooth, add milk and whisk until thickened. Then add 1 C Velveeta Cheese, shredded and stir until cheese is melted.

Slowly add to soup, stirring until it begins to thicken. Add 1 cup of crumbled cooked bacon (or you can use Hormel real bacon bits). Simmer until soup is desired thickness.
I think it was the best potato soup I've made.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Christmas, for me, is the most wonderful time of the year. It's a time to see family and friends, to share gifts especially selected to each one, for baking cookies, decorating the house, Christmas carols, parties, and so many other things. But those things, no matter how wonderful each one is, is not what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.

Without the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, some 2,043 years ago, there would be nothing to celebrate. That cold winter night, shepherds were in the hills above Bethlehem protecting their sheep from the wolves that roam those hills when an angel appeared in the sky before them, proclaiming the birth of Christ the Lord. Somewhere in the east the wise men saw the star appear in the sky and began following it towards Bethlehem, the trip took them two years. Joseph and Mary, cold and tired from their trip to Bethlehem from Nazareth searched for a place to spend that night and could only find a barn available. Mary's labor began in earnest and soon she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, she and Joseph named him Jesus. He was born to be the Savior of the world.

As you and your family celebrate this Christmas season, in the hustle and bustle, in the flurry of wrapping paper and the excitement of the children as they open their gifts, may you, if even for just a moment, stop and remember. Whisper a prayer of thanks for the greatest gift ever given, God gave his only Son because He loved us so much it was the only way to provide for the forgiveness of sin, the only way to make a path for us to enter Heaven. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That WHOSOEVER believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."

May your Christmas be merry and bright, and may God bless you and your family as you celebrate together. From our house to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

BEAUTIFUL FALL MONDAY AND OTHER THOUGHTS

There's something wonderful about fall. The crisp cool air, the bright blue skies, the scent of leaves as they begin to change colors and fall to the ground. Here in Florida fall comes slower than other places. My cousin in Indiana has already had snow, thankfully we seldom see snow in Florida, although we do have some cold nights and see frost regularly. We had our first frost on Sunday and it officially began the fall season for me.

Today I had to visit the dentist again, visit number four out of the nine I need. He filled two teeth, deep fillings. Why I mentioned this is because I have a problem with dentists, they bring on anxiety attacks. Anyway, I've been doing all these visits on faith, claiming God's promise that he will keep me in perfect peace. So today, I was having a little problem and I changed the station on the walkman they'd given me so I didn't have to hear the drill. The Joy FM popped up and playing was Casting Crowns Voice of Truth. My faith was immediately restored and the tears began flowing as it was a message from God that He is keeping His promise. I know that Dr. Parent didn't understand the tears, but for me that song was a precious gift, a reminder that I am a daughter of the King of Kings, a child of God, a Princess.

I'm off to church for finance committee meeting, gotta love it. Hope you have a wonderful fall evening, enjoy the precious gifts from God.