We can do no great things,
only small things with great love.

~ Mother Teresa ~

Thank you God!

Wonderful morning at Church, partook in the Lord's Supper... awesomeness!! 
Super Great sermon about Jesus' Perfect Character, Thank you Tar! 
Came home..had a quick lunch and have been reading "Babylon Rising" by Tim Lahayne and Greg Dinallo in front of the fan :)~ 
Beautiful clouds and lots of wind~THANK YOU GOD!

Life Is....

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

~ Mother Teresa ~

'Cracker Barrel' Potatoes

'Cracker Barrel' Potatoes

1 32 oz. bag frozen hash brown potatoes

8 oz. bag grated cheddar cheese or 8 oz. jar cheez whiz

1 cup sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 stick butter, melted

Spray a 13 x 9" pan with cooking spray  

Put potatoes in pan then pour melted butter over.

Combine sour cream, cheese and soup.  Spread over top of potatoes.  

Bake 1 hour at 350.  Serves 8 to 10.

To use for Church Potluck you may want to double or triple recipe. 

Dinner Tonight.... Homemade French Bread Pizza's

Tonight I made homemade French bread pizza's for dinner... and they were yumo..(if I do say so myself!)

They're simple and inexpensive...

Ingredients...

1 Loaf French Bread (slice lengthwise)
2 cups Spaghetti sauce
1 bell pepper (diced)
1 small onion (diced)
1 small can mushrooms (drained well)
2 cups hamburger (I used leftover meat from making meatballs)
2 cups diced ham (used some from the ham Mom smoked the other day)


We sauteed the onions and mushrooms in one teaspoon of butter...
 Place both slices of French bread on cookie sheet.

Then add sauce to bread, then layer all ingredients as you like...

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes @ 350 degrees.

Sorry the picture isn't better... forgot to snap a shot with my phone before we cut them and started eating. ;)

Random Thought....

How long does it take someone to learn that the daily struggle and not knowing what to do with life would be somewhat alleviated if they'd turn their life over to God.  Accept Jesus in your life, it's the only way!

New Earrings added to Etsy

I almost forgot to add these!  They are a bit funky but everyone seems to love them.

They can be ordered in my Etsy Shop  http://www.etsy.com/listing/78674187/wired-shell-earrings

Dessert Tonight .... Strawberry Freeze Recipe

.................Strawberry Freeze..................

12 oz. Cool Whip

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 cans Strawberry Pie Filling

1 can diced Pineapple

Mix milk, pie filling and pineapples (I didn't have 2 cans of strawberries so used about 2 cups worth of frozen berries, which I blended with my Ninja, nor did I have pineapple, so I used about a cup of frozen mango's  (again used my Ninja)

Fold in Cool Whip

Spread into an un-greased 13x9 cake pan

Cover with lid, aluminum foil or Saran Wrap

Put in freezer over night or at least 8 hours..

Take out of freezer about half an hour before serving. 

Dessert Tonight....Cherry Phyllo Cups topped with Ice Cream

Cherry Phyllo Cups topped with Ice Cream

Ingredients....
1 can Cherry Pie Filling
Phyllo Dough
Vanilla Ice Cream

Directions....
Thaw phyllo dough for about 2 hours before you plan to use.
You'll need 4 sheets cut into 4 squares.
Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray
Place set of squares in muffin cavity.. ruffle edges as you like to make fit and look nice
do this for all phyllo bowls you plan to make

Bake at 350 for 12-16 minutes.. or until light gold.. do not overbake!

When cool take phyllo bowls out of muffin tin GENTLY   place on place,
fill with cherry pie filling and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Optional... Can top with cool whip or whipped cream

Dinner Tonight... Smoked Ham & Swiss Grilled Sandwiches

Worked with Mom & Dad today.. knitted in and out of town (for an order I'm making)


Made a Strawberry Freeze and put in the freezer for later this week.... Mom smoked a ham for me... so I made ham and Swiss grilled sandwiches with stone ground mustard...YuMo! 


...........Smoked Ham & Swiss Grilled Sandwiches......


Smoke a Ham (we use the Butt Portion, not the Shank) on the grill for about an hour and a half.


Nice thick slice of ham for each sandwich you make


Shredded Swiss Cheese (melts really nicely this way!)


Butter one side of bread, toast in pan
add some shredded Swiss and slice of ham
Top with second slice of buttered bread... 
flip when golden brown... then toast the other side...


Add Stone Ground Mustard before serving...  we ate with Bourbon and Brown Sugar Grillin Beans.. 


...

MEATLOAF MUFFINS

MEATLOAF MUFFINS

6 oz. box Stove Top stuffing mix (any flavor)

1 cup water

2 eggs (beaten)

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey

1/4 cup catsup

Combine all ingredients.  

Spray muffin tins with cooking spray. 

 Fill muffing cups to top.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes.  

Makes about 16 muffins. 

Great for Church Potluck

Best Recipe Search Engine Ever!

While working on a two week menu and grocery list that will get the most out of my dollar, I have searched and searched recipes online.  I came across this search engine and it's a life saver!  http://www.supercook.com/  just enter the ingredients you have and it'll bring up hundreds of recipes!

Random Thought....

People will buy lottery tickets "just in case" but they won't turn their lives over to God "just in case".. talk about the ultimate gamble!  ~Have Faith~

TATER TOT CASSEROLE

TATER TOT CASSEROLE

1 bag  frozen tater tots [32 oz]

1 lb. ground beef

1 cup sour cream

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Put a layer of tater tots in a 13 x 9" pan

Brown 1 lb. ground beef, (salt/pepper to taste) Drain well.

Spoon ground beef over layer of tater tots. 

Combine mushroom soup with sour cream & spread over top of ground beef & potatoes. 

 Bake 1 hour at 350. 

Play around with add-ins...  sour cream, grated cheese, ground turkey etc...  

Makes a good family dinner or Church potluck!

Your greatest power is the power to be.

Your greatest power is the power to be. 
To be more loving. 
To be more courageous. 
To be more joyous. 
To be more friendly. 
To be more sensitive. 
To be more aware. 
To be more forgiving. 
To be more tolerant. 
To be more humble. 
To be more patient. 
To be more helpful. 
To be a greater human being. 
To be the person God wants you to be. 

Tracey's Book Review of The Rapture, Before They Were Left Behind by Jenkins & LaHaye

The Rapture, Before They Were Left Behind #3

By: Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye 

I couldn't get my hands on The Regime (#2) in this series, so I couldn't wait and went on to The Rapture.  So far it's a really good book.  

Nicholae is, as expected, an evil, manipulative creature.  His minion, Leon, is just as bad, although I'm not sure if Leon is doing what he does just to please Nicholae or because he really is a ruthless, evil being.  

Rayford Steele seems to be going through a midlife crisis, but blaming it on his wife, Irene's, turning to God.  His son Raymie has also turned his life over to God and Rafe doesn't seem happy about it.  He's "in lust" over the idea of the flight attendant Hattie, but once the Rapture happens he's quickly over her. He knows where his son and wife are, and presumes that he and his daughter Chloe are the only two left of his family. 

Tracey's Book Review of The Shack by William Young

The Shack

By: William P. Young

Astonishing how insightful this book makes me feel!    So much of it is how I have always thought about God, the Son and the Holy Spirit... astounding!


The perfect lake scene... makes me think of how many of us want a perfect home... nice house, nice yard etc.. to be fulfilled in our lives.  That fulfillment (and beautiful life) will come when we accept Christ as our Savior and live the way He wants us to.  This book just brings that to light so well.  The Shacks we hide in with our pain, anguish, greed, etc are so ugly and not really somewhere we would want to dwell or invite friends and family, so why do we do it to ourselves?   I'm not  saying that just accepting Jesus will suddenly give us tons of money, material possessions and unrivaled beauty, not at all.  What I'm saying is that accepting Jesus and having a true relationship with him opens the door to such beauty in our lives, we learn to enjoy and be happy with what we have, because we're focusing on what He wants us to do in life, not what we want to do.  How can you be unhappy in life if you're doing what you were meant to do?


The other thing I took away from this book is just like we, as parents, love our children and no matter what they may do, say or act out, we love them and want the best for them. If they want to be independent and live their own lives, walk their own paths, we let them, even if we know what they are doing isn't good for them.  We continue to pray for them and be there for them.    Well, we are all God's children, are we not?  Does it not make sense that he wants the best for us, and although he knows how we should live and what we should do in life, he allows us to walk the path we choose.  He simply lets us know that He is there when we are ready to take His advice, live the way He knows we should. He never stops loving us, no matter what we do. He offers us "the Gift" of being saved through Jesus Christ, all we have to do is ask.  Is that so hard?


I recommend this book to everyone!  It'll make you laugh, cry, knit your brow and did I mention cry?  Read it with an open mind... you'll love it!

Cancer Survivor Dinner

 Mom and I made 20 cakes for the dinner!  I think they turned out pretty nice! ;)

Random Thought....

God is the ultimate Life Coach!    Just a thought that popped into my head today.. and it's really a no-brainer!     :0)

Tracey's Book Review of The Rising by LaHaye & Jenkins

#1: The Rising, Before they were left behind  

By: Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

Before Left Behind Series

I never was interested in reading this series, but now I'm glad that I started! This first book (actually it's the 1st of three prequels) is about Nicholae's birth, his mother, his fathers (yes plural) etc.. and about Rayford Steele's childhood.   I felt sorry for Rafe because he became disillusioned with his religion (or lack of religion) at an early age. His parents do not help him continue to learn and grow where Jesus is concerned.  His childhood was not an easy one once he got into his  pre-teen years, like most kids, he was insecure and shy and didn't really understand why. I found myself hoping, with each turn of the page, that he would ask Jesus to come into his life so he would find fulfillment with his life.  

Nicholae... wow, what a being.  I can't say kid, because, well... you'll see.  I felt sorry for his mother, Marilena. She wanted a child so badly, accept the "gift" from a false god and ended up with the short end of the stick.  I think she knew, in the end, that she had followed the wrong path, even though she was a non-believer. 

Although this is the first book of the series that I have read, I feel it was a good place to start.  If you have read from "Left Behind" on and none of the three prequels this one is worth reading just so you have more of a history of people.  

Be Kinder Than Necessary

I knocked at Heaven's door this morning. God asked me, My child what can I do for you? I said: Father, please protect and bless the person reading this. God smiled and answered, request granted! Be kinder than necessary ~ for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Tracey's Book Review of Are We Living in the End Times? by LaHaye & Jenkins

Are We Living in the End Times?

By: Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

This book helps make sense of Revelations and will put Believers at ease. Non-Believers should read and accept Christ, or if they still aren't convinced they will at  

least know what they may well be looking at in the future. The one I read waspublished in 2001, as of 2011 it has been updated and expanded, so I want to 

read it a well.

Tracey's Book Review of Monster by Frank Peretti

Monster

By: Frank Peretti

Monster is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns you may not be expecting.  Whether you believe in myths or legends or not this book should make you think about science and how sometimes just because we CAN do something, doesn't mean we SHOULD.

5 Good Things That Are Roadblocks to Heaven

This is what our Church Service was about this Sunday.  I found it very enlightening.

We shouldn't DOUBT our Faith, but question it.  

Ask yoursef... Am I really a Christian?

5 GOOD THINGS THAT ARE ROADBLOCKS TO HEAVEN 

• I. Good Deeds 

Ephesians 2:8-9     8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Good works are not a means to Salvation. Only by the grace of God will you have Salvation. 

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• II. Good Person

Romans 3:10,23  10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How good do you have to be to get into Heaven?   None of us are good enough without God's Salvation. 

• III. Church Membership

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Just being a Church member will not get you into Heaven.  Only a true relationship with God will get you into Heaven. 

• IV. Baptism

Acts 8:34-37  34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"

Baptism is important, but it is not going to get you to Heaven.  Anyone can be Baptised, but do you really understand why you're being Baptized?

• V. Believing in God

James 2:19  You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

You must believe right. Saying "I believe in God" isn't enough, you must believe in him the correct way.

Belief signifies ACTION.  Live your life for God. 

Belief IN God is not the same as belief ON Jesus.