My New Favorite Song

My husband says I have too many favorites! Maybe he's right... I don't know.

This is my new FAVORITE song! I just listen to it over and over again in the car. I'm probably driving my daughter nuts! It's by Casting Crowns (# 7 on their new album, Altar and the Door). Here are the lyrics:

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle?
Are we caught in the middle?

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control?

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle!

Random Thoughts

Here are some random ramblings for you on this beautiful fall morning...

- Do you ever notice how stingy the people are in the drive-thru's with ketchup packets and dressing packets? Seriously - whenever I go to places like Taco Bell, I always place my order and at the end say, very clearly, "with EXTRA mild sauce, please." You would have thought I asked them for their first born child or something, because I always get up there and find like 3 sauce packets in my bag. Come on, people, ya' making me crazy!

- I sing in the car. I mean, I GET DOWN in the car. I feel sorry for people driving next to me - they must think I'm crazy! If you see me rockin' out in the car - just ignore me, please. :)

- I bought the new Casting Crowns CD yesterday afternoon. WOW - you've got to get it. Tracks 4 and 7 are my fav's so far!

- I've been tracking my hits on this blog for the past month. It appears the average number of readers (hits) per week is 152! :)

- What's with the 90 degree temps?? I say - bring on the fall weather. Nothing like a couple months of 65 degree days! I'm ready to be done with the hot, please!

- So, this week, my 7-year-old daughter, Chloe, jumped off the diving board at the CFC pool. I could hardly believe it when she told me! She's come a long way from even a few short months ago when she wouldn't even get her face wet! Yeah, baby!

- I had a goal this past summer to read 15 books. I only read 3. My goal for the winter won't be as high so I won't feel as bad about it when I don't make it! I just realized I've read 2.5 books within the past three weeks - - and I couldn't make it to 15 for an entire summer?

- I miss my friend, Roxanne, so much. It's been almost an entire year ago that we lost her, yet it feels like only yesterday. I love ya, Rox!

- I'm totally geeked. I had a Lia Sophia party last night and I had a $600+ show... so that means, I'm getting like $157 of FREE jewelery. Another $50 order would bump me up to $261! YEAH! Anyone still wanting to order may do so - - I am closing my show on Sunday night.

- I had to use dictionary.com twice this week to look up definitions of words I didn't know. Can I just say I love this website and I love learning new words. (No, I'm not telling you what words they were - you might laugh at the fact I didn't know what they were!)

The ATTITUDE!

Seriously - all you mothers of girls can help to answer this.. when does the "attitude" begin with girls? I'm referring to the "You can't make me" and the "It's not fair" attitudes? I swear, I would not have guessed it to begin as early as the second grade! But it's begun in my household and it's been all I can do to not pull my hair out (although I think it is turning grey!)

So this morning when I got Chloe up, I THOUGHT it was going to be a good morning. I was wrong. From the moment she placed her feet onto her bedroom floor - it was one crisis after another. First her shoes didn't fit right, then her shirt felt "funny". Then she couldn't find her wallet (she received $4 from the tooth fairy last night so she needed to put her money away). Then she didn't want to brush her hair but absolutely refused to let me touch it. Then she didn't want to put a coat on, then she wanted tennis shoes on, but couldn't find socks to wear with them. By the time we got in the car, I felt like I had wrestled a tiger. I was sweating from head to toe, forgot my lunch, dropped my cell phone on the garage floor causing it to break (not completely, it was fixable) and after arguing over shoes to wear, ended up putting my daughter into her booster seat in the back seat with NO shoes on. I have to say, by the time I got in the drivers seat, I was NOT happy. So... the "little" talk began. I told her that these types of mornings were "unacceptable". I explained that when I get her up I expect her to be ready to go with teeth brushed, hair combed, shoes on, backpack ready, water bottle filled and the dog fed. I even found myself saying, "This isn't rocket science, Chloe, these are simple things I need to have done in the morning." ROCKET SCIENCE? Where did that come from? THEN I proceeded to tell her that when we got home, she would have to clean out the entire back seat of my vehicle. It's been a mess back there for weeks. Books, crayons, stuffed animals, shoes, wrappers - - you name it - it's back there. She proceeded to pout saying that I'm mean and she always has to do everything. I said, "Well, you said the other day you want to earn money and I'm not going to give you things and give you money if you can't help around here." (I know, a simple "do it because I said so" would have been fine here - but I feel I always have to justify.) I couldn't have prepared myself for what she was about to say. She replied with, "You don't give me money or anything anyway!!!" ARRGHHH!! Part of me wanted to scream out, "Where do you think that money from the tooth fairy anyway??" but I refrained from that! At one point she did retaliate with "Some of this stuff back here, you put back here!" to which I replied, "Oh yeah, well I don't wear your underwear, but I still wash them every day!" Good one, Wendy!

Bottom line is this - - it used to be that when I got after her or scolded her, she would cry and would get very remorseful. Those days are long gone. Instead, all I get back is attitude and it's killing me!

HELP - - are there any mothers of little girls who can sympathize with me or can give me some great advice on what works or has worked for you???? Hurry - - before I lose my mind!

50 Things You Need to Know About Me

Hey there!

So - yesterday morning those of us on staff at Crossroads went on a Team Building Adventure with the LISD. It was a lot of fun and we even got to know some things about each other we didn't know (or perhaps, in some cases, never wanted to know). :) All-in-all it was a good day. Lots of team-building stuff that, hopefully, will make us stronger as one team serving one purpose.

So it got me thinking - I am sure there are a ton of things that my readers don't know about me. So - I've started my own "tag, you're it list". The first person I'm tagging to respond on their blog is my good friend, Faythe.

50 Things You Need to Know About Me
1.) I love Jesus!
2.) I love eating chocolate frosting straight from the can!
3.) I am an only child (and no, I was not spoiled rotten!)
4.) I cut my right arm open on a barbed-wire fence when I was 9 and had to have 13 stitches.
5.) I love the rain and storms!
6.) Fall is my favorite time of the year.
7.) I am addicted to email. Seriously - ask those who know me well how often I check it even on vacations!
8.) My first job was working at an ice cream store (and I ate more ice cream than I sold, I'm sure of it!)
9.) Friday is my favorite day of the week!
10.) My dream, since I was a kid, is to become an elementary school teacher.
11.) In school, I often got in trouble for talking to much. My report cards often read, "disturbs others in class". (I know, I know... you find this SO hard to believe - but it's true!) :)
12.) My husband and I bought a vehicle on Ebay 5 years ago and drove all the way to Minnesota to pick it up and bring it home - all within 2 days!
13.) I once won a "prettiest feet contest".
14.) I had more male friends in school than female friends.
15.) I own more than 10 pairs of black shoes!
16.) I'm afraid of heights!
17.) I actually had fun and enjoyed planning my own wedding!
18.) My first boyfriend was in Kindergarten and his name was Justin.
19.) I like some rap music.
20.) My favorite subject in high school was English.
21.) My least favorite subject in high school was History.
22.) My favorite color is Burgundy.
23.) I love the smell of gasoline.
24.) I cry at Hallmark commercials!
25.) I broke my collar bone hanging upside down from a swing when I was in 2nd grade. OUCH!
26.) For my 21st birthday, my parents flew my boyfriend and I to Chicago for an afternoon.
27.) I've never had a cavity in my life!
28.) I went on a blind date once and choked on a piece of cheese pizza! (no kidding - it was awful!)
29.) I never went on another blind date again!
30.) I took a vacation when I was a senior in high school with my dad to Puerto Viarta Mexico and drank Fuzzy Navels for breakfast! (not recommended!)
31.) I hate to fly!
32.) I love to color with my daughter! It helps to relax me!
33.) I would eat Mexican food 5 days of the week if I could!
34.) I've seen the movie Titanic more than 20 times!
35.) I wrote a song when I was in high school.
36.) When I was a kid I used to think that that was my face on the Wendy's Restaurant sign! I asked my grandma, "Grandma, when did I have red hair?"
37.) My two favorite holidays are Christmas and Halloween!
38.) When I was in the fifth grade, my friend and I had a fake band. We called ourselves, "Timeout". We did concerts for my parents in our living room every Friday night!
39.) My bedtime is 11 p.m. most nights.
40.) When I can't sleep I read.
41.) My best friend (through junior high and high school), Rob, was shot and killed in Colorado January 5, 1992.
42.) Our limo driver left my husband and I on the night of our wedding and we had to ride home with friends of ours in the back of their car!
43.) I was in active labor with my daughter for 3 days!
44.) My favorite song at the moment is "By His Wounds".
45.) In my opinion Coke is much better than Pepsi!
46.) I skipped my American Lit class every day my senior year of high school.
47.) In November I will be a great aunt for the second time! (gosh I feel old!)
48.) My dream job would be to own my own party planning business.
49.) A friend of mine from high school still lives with her parents. She's 34.
50.) I like red grapes better than green ones!

Am I Back in School Too?

Ahh - - the beginning of a brand new school year! I LOVE September. I love it for so many reasons... school is back in session and that means back to a "normal" or "semi-normal" routine, fall is nearing and leaves are beginning to fall off the trees, the air is a little crisper and of course new seasons of all my favorite shows are back (particularly CSI and House M.D.).


Chloe is in Second Grade this year! I can't believe it! When I dropped her off on last Monday, it seemed impossible that she is big enough to have her own locker and be in the big grade school wing! Simply impossible! But - she's growing up and it's happening right before my own eyes!


Can I just say - - what's with all the paperwork that comes home on a regular basis? It's like I am back in school! Almost every night she has papers that come home that I need to sort out. And it's not like I am one that can just push them aside. I have to take care of them AS they come in. So - - each night - there I sit, doing MY homework. Organizing school papers, managing homework that needs to be returned the next day, sorting out papers that she brings home that is already graded, keeping a calendar of all the events going on within the next few months. YIKES! AND of course, I'm always the mom that volunteers for any and everything. What's wrong with me? Seriously - I enjoy it. I tend to feel more guilty because of my hectic work week and not always being able to help within the classroom. I always try to help out where I can and how I can at home. :0)

Well - - I've gotta go - I'm sure there are papers I should be sorting or homework I should be reviewing...

Recipe FRIDAY

Okay - so I tricked you. This isn't really a recipe.

I am the type of person who gets hooked on certain foods pretty quickly. Like this one time... I was SO hooked on Taco Salads from Wendy's. Literally - I ate there for lunch like every other day. Then there was the time I was hooked on S'mores cereal. Go figure! If I could have talked my family into sharing my obsession with me... would have eaten it for breakfast, lunch AND dinner! At other times throughout my life I have been known to be hooked on Tootsie Rolls, Triskets, Yoplait's Strawberry/Banana yogurt, Milano cookies and even once I was hooked on those brown and serve rolls... you know the ones you can easily find at Thanksgiving and Christmas? Those ones!

I go through these phases, spurts really, and it's weird. I'm not a big "variety" person. Typically either I like it - or I don't. No black and white there.

So - my new obsession is Subway's personal pizza's. I have seen them advertised for some time now, but never really got up the nerve to try them. Like, really, who goes to Subway for their "pizza"?? If you're going to Subway, it's typically because you want a healthy sub, right?

Well - I was in line last Friday afternoon at my local Subway shop and I saw 3 people in front of me order these pizza's. So - I thought, "They must be good, so I'll try one." Well - let me tell you - if you haven't had one yet - you at least owe it to yourself to try them out! They're surprisingly pretty good. And they're decently priced. $4 for a cheese pizza and then you can get any veggies you want on it for no extra cost. YUM-O! :) Then you get Parmesan cheese and oregano to top it off and WHAL-A - you have yourself a meal.

Try it, I think you'll like it! :)

My Board of Directors

I heard recently that everyone should have themselves a "Board of Directors". You know what I'm talking about? People in your life that advise you, support you, guide you, protect and defend you. People that you have given the authority to speak truth into your life - - even when it hurts.

I remember when I was in high school... I had this great friend; her name was Lena. Lena was one of those "really honest" people that would tell you what she wanted to tell you - not necessarily what you wanted to hear. You know the ones I'm talking about, right? Lena was famous for her honesty. I could ask her, "Do these jeans make my butt look big?" and sometimes she would reply, "Yes. Yes, Wendy, they do." WHAT? Are you kidding me? I wasn't expecting that. But Lena taught me something. She would always say, "I love you enough to be honest with you." Okay - so maybe at age 16 I really wanted her to tell me that my butt looked great in those jeans, but it's not what I NEEDED to hear. Years late, I'm leaning the lessons that my friend taught me about how to build myself a "Board of Directors".

I have GREAT friends! No kidding! I am one of the most blessed people on the planet earth. I have had some of my closest friends for more than 20 years and then there are those of my closest whom I've only known for a couple years. Each one of them blesses me beyond words! I have one friend who is so encouraging I don't know what I'd do without her. She's my rock. She's one of those friends who always tries to get me to see the other view point and turns everything into a postive. She's amazing. I have another friend who is constantly asking me, "Are you sure you want to do that?" This friend protects me and keeps me focused. I have yet another friend who always has my back. She's there whenever I need her. She's very self-less and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she'd be the first one to my rescue in my time of need.

All of these people add something different to my life and they are all people that I love and respect more than they will ever know. But more than that, I have give them authority to speak truth to me. I have allowed myself to be transparent with them and I depend on them to hold me accountable. They are my Board of Directors - they are my inner core.

I read recently that every Christ-follower needs a cabinet, a board of directors, an inner circle of people who breathe love and truth into their lives daily. It goes on to list important questions to ask yourself about your selection of board members:

Who’s giving you the go-ahead?
Who speaks encouragement into your life?
Who’s in your life positioning you for progress?
Who’s in your life bringing balance to it?
Who drags you kicking and screaming to important tasks?
Who’s steady in your life?
Who will give up anything for you?
Who’s got your back?

This is what I will be focusing on over the next several weeks. Developing my Board of Directors. Bottom line is - we all want to be loved and accepted and we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. I believe the first step is paying close attention to the people who will go the journey with you and the ones who will stay on the journey with you. Through thick and thin. The people who will support and encourage you and maybe even slap you upside the face once or twice asking the question, "What were you thinking?"

Do you have a Board of Directors? Who speaks love and truth into your life? Who holds you accountable? I encourage you to get some members together. Life was not meant to go it alone!

Saying Goodbye...

Can I just say RIGHT NOW that I hate goodbyes?? They are never easy and I don't like them AT ALL! Here are some of my reflections as I say goodbye to two people who are near and dear to my heart...

I met Rick Mink back in November of 2004 when I applied for this position as Church Office Administrator for Crossroads. We instantly had a connection. I can't tell you what it was - but I just knew I was going to like him!

It's been a joy getting to know Rick and his lovely wife, JoAn. They have been like parents to me. They have supported me, affirmed me, guided me, loved and cared for me and taught me more than they will ever know. The things I have learned from them go far beyond just work-related lessons. Rick has taught me how to believe in myself and how to stand firm in what I believe in. He has taught me lesson after lesson about how to be a grace-filled person, even when it's hard. He's taught me about perseverance and determination. By sharing his life with me... by being completely transparent and open, he has taught be about honestly and humility and what it means to fully embrace every opportunity that comes... to seize the moment and how to take time to celebrate the wins in life.

Knowing Rick and JoAn has been an absolute joy for me. I am richer for having known them and I will forever be blessed by the legacy that they leave me. Although there is now a large void in my life, I will forever be grateful for the time we had together.

So... thank you Rick and JoAn. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Thanks for your kindness, for your support and for your friendship. I will miss you more than you'll ever know.

An Afternoon To Remember

What do you get when you combine a beautiful Loch Erin Lake Frontage home, rain, two small canopies, rain, a basement full of yum-o desserts of all kinds, rain, a garbage-bag covered video camera, more rain and 17 people who have accepted Christ and want to make public their private confession of faith??? A WONDERFUL BAPTISM celebrating lives forever changed by Christ, that's what!

For those of you who couldn't make it out to the Baptism Celebration this past Sunday, August 19, boy did you MISS OUT on something big!

The day started out pretty bleak. I must admit I had my doubts about moving forward with an outdoor baptism in the pouring rain, but one thing I've learned about God - He is bigger than any problem we face. He knew the rain was coming long before we even planned this event and we weren't about to let a little water "rain" on this celebration!

Can I just say - we have the most incredible people in our church!!! I am constantly blown away by the support of those we serve Christ with every week! Time and again I am amazed by the countless ways our people step up to the plate to get things done! We can do what we do week in and week out because of the self-less acts of people helping to make a difference in the lives of those around them. To you, the people of Crossroads Community Church, I am honored to be doing life with you. I am honored to be able to serve Christ alongside of you. I am blessed by your love and count it a privilege to share this life journey with you.

Congratulations to all those who were baptized on a cold, rainy day in August. I know it will be an afternoon I will never forget!

Sometimes I...

...cry when putting Chloe to be at night.

...sing in the shower. YES - I said SING!

...drive to Tecumseh just to eat Basil Boy bread for dinner! No lie! If you don't believe me, you've obviously never tried it! I'm a carb-a-holic!

...call my husband during the day at work just to hear his voice.

...ask for advice and then don't take it. I'm very stubborn!

...judge others too quickly and am overly critical of myself.

...see a chick-flick at the movie theatre alone (and eat a large popcorn by myself!)

Who Am I?

I began thinking about this question this week and I wanted to share it with you. I don't know where I'm going with this, quite yet, but hang in there with me....

Am I who I say I am?

I mean, really... am I truly who I say I am? Here's what I would say about me...

I am a Christian.
Do I reflect the love of Christ in my life?

I am a good wife.
Does my love for my husband shine through?

I am a good mom.
Would my child say she is proud to have me as her mom?

I am a learner.
Do I make every effort to continuously learn new things and accept new challenges?

I am good friend.
Do my friends know how much I love them and how much they mean to me?

I am happy person.
Can I demonstrate joy even in the midst of pain and/or trying times?

I want to be able to truly BE who I say I AM. I want the world to look at me and see me the way I see myself. I pray for the ability to always be transparent to those who know and love me. I want to be known as someone who is who she says she is. Reliable, trustworthy, willing, gentle, kind and caring. Is what is in my heart reflected in who you see on the street? I hope so! With God's help I will continue to bridge the gap between who I say I am and who I know I am.

Thanks for letting me babble!

WHAT?!?!

Can ANYONE guess what this is???

Seriously - - there's a Weed Trimmer in it for whoever guesses right first!

:0 LOL!

I Will Be Here

I think I have mentioned before that Trevor and I are part of the Marriage Mentor team at our church. It has been an exciting journey and we are down to our final 2 meetings. Today we will meet with our 3 other Mentor couples for training. We have all been asked to bring our wedding pictures to share with the group. This morning I pulled ours out of storage (even had to wipe the bottom of the box from the dust that has gathered on it) and we began looking through the book - - how funny! We have changed so much over the past 10 1/2 years! We look like kids... but then again, I guess we were!

Looking at these pictures reminded me of how much Trevor and I have changed - but mostly how much we have been changed on the inside. It's amazing how much we two have grown. Grown in our love and with Christ. The journey hasn't always been easy - but there is NO ONE I would rather share my life with than with Trevor. He is the absolute love of my life and I thank God daily for him!

Here is the words to the song that was played during the candlelight ceremony on our wedding day. These words are so appropriate. Time has not changed our love and I look forward to 50 more wonderful years with my husband...

I Will Be Here(Steven Curtis Chapman)

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear
I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
'Cause I will be here

I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here

Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here

I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here

Oh, I will be here.

I love you, Trevor!

Recipe FRIDAY!

My family loves pasta of just about any kind. My favorite is Bow Tie Pasta... Trevor's is Penne Pasta... and Chloe's is any kind of spiral or spaghetti noodle. This is a great recipe. Very filling and good for entertaining (which I love to do).

Five Cheese Penne Pasta

Kosher salt
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup crushed tomatoes in thick tomato puree
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano (1 1/2 ounces)
1/2 cup shredded imported Italian fontina (1 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup crumbled Italian Gorgonzola (1 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 pound imported penne rigate pasta
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil in a stockpot.

Combine all the ingredients except the penne and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.

Drop the penne into the boiling water and parboil for 4 minutes. Drain well in a colander and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl, tossing to combine.

Divide the pasta mixture among 6 shallow ceramic gratin dishes (1 1/2 to 2-cup capacity). Dot with the butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.

HINT: I would suggest getting the cheese at WHOLE FOODS in Ann Arbor. Great place. If you haven't been there - GO! NOW! It's a bit on the pricey side, but the selections are incredible!!

ENJOY!

Loving Diego!

Meet Diego. He is one amazing little boy! We are truly blessed to have him in our lives!

A little background on our friend... he was born with FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). He was adopted by my friend, Faythe and her husband, Joe, when he was just a baby. Diego has overcome several obstacles already in his young life. To know him, is to love him. From the moment I met him, I feel in love with him... and, oh yeah, by the way - so did my daughter! That's another story for another blog entry. :)

Today we had the privilege of watching Diego while his mom was at a meeting (can't wait to hear all about it, Faythe!) and his dad was at work. I love days with Diego. He is such a lovable, caring little boy. Spending time with him and being a recipient of Diego's love and affection reminds me of the simple, child-like love that Jesus wants for us to come to Him with. It's an honor to know you, my friend. And my prayer for you is that you will always know how much you are loved, and how much you mean to so many people whose lives you have forever touched.

Now - on to the funny part of this story (dry your eyes, now!)

Chloe was reading Diego a book on the way home tonight. She was very serious as she read about Shanna and her "animals". Diego, being Diego, delights in making people laugh. Literally, he CRACKS me up! This book is a simple rhyming book (most likely way below Diego's reading level as he is an excellent reader!) One of the parts in the book goes something like this... "I rhyme with money, hop, hop, hop... I am a ----" and of course it's bunny! Well - Diego thought it would be funny to say something different (not wanting to state the obvious) so he says... CHICKEN! If that wasn't funny enough (that one got a good snort laugh from me) he says, "Umm... Antelope!" Like what kid thinks of "Antelope!" (Just shows how smart this kid is!) Antelope! Okay - so it doesn't rhyme with money and it obviously was the incorrect answer - but I thought I would die from laughter from this dialog exchange between an eight-year-old and a seven-year old! PRICELESS - -simply PRICELESS.

These are the moments to remember!

Rain, Rain... Go AWAY!

Okay, can I just say it now that I can't stand it when my husband is right and has to say, "I told you so!" This was one of those mornings.

I am on vacation this week and have planned a bunch of day trips with Chloe, my 7-year-old daughter. One of those trips included visiting the waterpark in Ypsi today. It's a sad day because when I woke up this morning - it was POURING. So - no waterpark today. :( Maybe tomorrow.

I guess our grass needs it and our pond has been crying out for rain forever, so all-in-all it's a good thing. We'll just have to be a little more creative in our plans today is all.

Recipe FRIDAY!

I keep forgetting about my 'Recipe Friday' entries! I guess the time just keep slippin' away from me! I can't believe another Friday is upon us! :)

Here is a recipe from one of my favorites, Rachael Ray! Although I haven't actually MADE this yet - - I plan to do so next week (when I am on VACATION!!) Looks delicious!

Flank Steak Pinwheels

1 large flank steak, butterflied along the grain
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces Asiago, shredded
8 ounces curly loose spinach leaves, washed, patted dry, stems removed
6 ounces Gorgonzola, crumbled
4 scallions, left whole
8 to 10 wooden skewers, soaked in water

Preheat grill or grill pan to high.
To butterfly the flank steak, start with the meat grain running up and down in front of you. With your knife, begin cutting the meat in half. Essentially, you want a thinner, larger flank steak. Continue cutting the flank steak in half until you reach about 1 inch from completely cutting through. Lay the cut flank steak open and even out the middle so there is not a thicker piece in the center. Or just ask the butcher!

Spread the flank steak out so that the grain is running left to right. Begin layering the flank steak with salt and pepper, the Asiago, then the spinach, the Gorgonzola and scallions. Begin rolling the flank steak tightly and away from you. Evenly insert the skewers 1 to 2 inches along the seam of the pinwheel to hold it together on the grill. Cut in between each skewer but not against the skewer; you want the same amount of meat on either side of each skewer. Grill the pinwheels on each side for about 3 to 4 minutes or until your desired doneness.

As my good friend, Rachael, would say... YUM-O!
(Okay, I don't actually KNOW Rachael Ray - but I do know I want to be her when I grow up!) :)
Summer's almost over, people - - - this is a great one for the grill!

Tooth Fairy - - where are you???

Okay - so I have to be the world's worst mom... ever! My daughter lost her third tooth last week. Well - it was actually on Friday and she wanted to put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy to find, but she was having a friend stay the night, so I didn't think it was a very good idea. So - we put it off to the next day - and then we forgot. Then last night we finally remembered -- THE TOOTH! It was still in her camp bag. We got it out, kissed the bag and put it immediately under her pillow. Surely we would wake to find a couple dollar bills under the pillow. :0

Well - can you believe it? The tooth fairy FORGOT US! ;) She just plum forgot the tooth was there and one sad mom had to "explain" to Chloe this morning that it must have been that she couldn't see it very well because it was in a rather larger plastic baggie.

Tonight before going to bed, I watched as Chloe taped the tooth in the baggie to the top of her bed post. "She's SURE to see it tonight!" I heard her say, getting tucked in for the night!

Nice going TOOTH FAIRY! Hopefully she WON'T forget tonight! A little girl is patiently waiting...

When God Goes Silent!

I don't know how many other people struggle with this same thing, but I know I have had a hard time lately always hearing from God. I know in my heart that there are many reasons I don't always hear what God is telling me. For instance.. all the noise in our lives keeps us to hearing from God... the media, the busyness, the static, the gadgets, the music.. all of the demands of our hectic lives. And then there are some times when we just don't listen. Have you ever done this? Asked God repeatedly to "Show you a sign" or "Give you an answer" to a situation and you just don't seem to get a clear answer? I have always told God that I'm not very good with discernment. I mean, it's just not one of my God-given gifts. So I ask for a big, bold, blinking sign. You know - the big OPEN signs that are neon pink and flashing? THAT'S what I need, God! And yet sometimes, I believe He's prepared to answer, yet I won't KEEP QUIET or BE STILL long enough to let Him do the talking and truly listen.

So - I've been thinking a lot about this lately and read something yesterday that really hit home for me. It was this:

"It is possible that when God goes silent... it's because He's up to something!"

This illustration was given in a sermon that I was watching the other day online...

You have a two-year-old who is always breaking things around the house. He spends most every day running through the house screaming at the top of his lungs and breaking things whenever and wherever he can. But do you ever notice - it's when your two-year-old is "silent" that you actually have reason to be alarmed that it's because he's "up to something".

We need to think about this the next time God goes silent in our lives... just maybe it's because He's "up to something"... Get ready!

Believe Me Now

So, I was at lunch today and decided to eat in my car. Needed time to sit and think and talk to God. Can I just say that God AMAZES ME! Every day - He amazes me! As I was praying and thinking over some things going on in my life right now, this song came on the radio and I was, once again, overtaken and simply amazed by His love...

I watch you looking out across the raging water
So sure your only hope lies on the other side
You hear the enemy that's closing in around you
And I know that you don't have the strength to fight
But do you have the faith to stand and...

Believe Me now
Believe Me here
Remember all the times
I've told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe Me now
Believe Me now

I am the One who waved my hand and split the ocean
I am the One who spoke the words and raised the dead
And I've loved you long before I set the world in motion
I know all the fears you're feeling now
But do you remember who I am? Do you..

Believe Me now
Believe Me here
Remember all the times I've told you loud and clear
I am with you
And I am for you
So believe Me now
Believe it's true

I never have, I never will abandon you
And the God that I have always been I will forever be
So believe Me now
I am the God who never wastes a single hurt that you endure
My words are true, and all My promises are sure

So believe Me now
Oh, believe Me now