Happy 4th of July!

What are you all doing this weekend? We’re going to the parade and fireworks and then there’s the annual festival in our town.

I love going to the parade and seeing daddies teach their sons to stand and put their hands on hearts as the flag goes by. I tear up when veterans pass by and the crowd erupts into applause.  I also love seeing the little ones waving little flags.

Other than that we’ll be taking it easy and getting James ready to go to camp ALL week next week. (!!!yikes)

Here are some 4th of July links for you to peruse. Let me know if you’ve found anything to share with me.

4th of July tye dye tees

One Pretty Thing’s 4th of July round up

One Pretty Thing’s kids 4th of July round up

Independence Teaching Aids

Americana Crafty Round Up

How to Photograph Fireworks

Patriotic Popsicles

My Beautiful America Pictures

You’re a Grand Old Flag on you tube. My mom had a record she played every 4th of July and this was on there. This recording is good!

I happen to be a lover of Americana. My living room is decorated with flags, so this is one of my favorite fun holidays. I enjoy almost all of the patriotic songs, but here’s just one more.

I Pledge My Allegiance

Ok, I lied. Wintley Phipps singing God Bless America is a TREAT!

I’ve been asked this question in various forms over these past years.

Sometimes it’s curiosity. Sometimes it’s accusing. Sometimes it’s in derision.

Why do I stay?

I’m not sure that I can exactly verbalize it, but I stay primarily because I know  God wants me here.

In the past, I’ve looked for every reason to leave, but it boils down to the fact that when I pray God doesn’t give me freedom to leave.

I am in no way saying that it’s ever wrong to leave a marriage. I also cannot say that my marriage will never fail. But as for me, I know that I am where God put me.

Is staying in a diffcult marriage fun? Nope! It’s not easy either but long ago when I was praying and telling God everything I wanted to change in my marriage, a gentle voice spoke to my heart and simply said, “Perhaps this marriage isn’t all about you.”

WOW! It’s not about me.

The world’s wisdom tells us that if someone makes your life hard you leave. Someone told me “If someone ever hurts me I’m out of there.”

I don’t believe we should take our advice from the world.

I absolutely do NOT want you to think I’m saying that you have to stay in a dangerous situation. I also am not asking anyone who’s been divorced to justify to me their reason for leaving.

I’m simply saying that for ME at this time, I know that God wants me here.

So, I pray and trust and lean on my unchanging God knowing that he knows and he has a plan.

Quite awhile ago, I shared some of the things I’ve learned in this post–Honoring my Covenant. If you have been wondering why I stay, maybe that will help you understand me a bit better.

I just got the weirdest spam that made it through the filter.

Good afternoon. I’m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let’s start with typewriters.
I am from Honduras and too bad know English, give true I wrote the following sentence: “Protected from fleas and ticks with these cat flea and tick flea cat flea powders, sprays foggers.”

With best wishes ;-),

OK!

I haven’t written one of these in age!

Here’s what I’m reading right now.

I was going to post a photo of each one but my photo uploader isn’t behaving!

1. Seeking Him Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival by Nancie Leigh DeMoss

I just started this but it’s very convicting so far!

2. That’s My Son How Mom’s Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character by Rick Johnson.

It’s good. He presents a seminar to single moms to help them raise their boys. I didn’t know that when I bought the book!

3. Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns I found this one at the thrift store. I’ve had difficulty finding good Christian books on fasting, so I picked this one up.

4. The Plague Maker by Tim Downs. I just finished this. It was a good sit by the pool book. I’ve not read anything by him before.

James and I are chugging through some of his literature selections from school.

We’re reading On the Banks of Plum Creek, Robin Hood, and A Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I’m sure there are a few others I’m reading but those are the ones I can think of quickly!

What are you reading?

On really hot days, James and I like to have smoothies and muffins for dinner. We often have them for breakfast too. Here’s what we do–it’s not rocket science.

In your blender

Add
plain or vanilla yogurt, and milk
Whatever amount you add, it always works out. Sometimes you need to add a bit more milk if your smoothie is too thick.

Add
Fruit–fresh or frozen.

We most often use strawberries, blueberries, and banana. But you can add anything. Here are some ideas
*Berries
*Kiwi
*Pineapple
*Mango
*Apple
*Banana

Add something to boost the nutrition
*Nutritional yeast (go easy)
*Lecithin (for Vit. E)
*Wheat Germ

Blend

I let it blend for a long time to add more air.

Recently, I heard about adding spinach to smoothies. Guess what? It’s really good. You can’t taste the spinach although it turns it green. Blueberries help mask the green.

James doesn’t care for his smoothies to be green, but I don’t mind. I find that I have a lot of energy on the days I make a smoothie with spinach.

Leftovers

Freeze them in your popsicle makers. What a wonderful, healthy treat for your little ones.

So, what has God been up to in your life this past week?

Did you learn anything in your Bible study? Any blessings?

Our last week was super busy with activities for James. I’m thankful for energy to do all the running!

I’m thankful that I’ve been feeling better lately.

God continues to meet our needs and I’m so thankful for his provision.

What about you?

When my family was all here, (boo hoo by the way! I miss them all.) we were discussing our jobs.

I think my dear brother was emphasizing his job as the most important. He does have a great job and takes providing for his wife quite seriously!

He outlined what each of us did and the time we spent.

He said to me, “And you just rely on God.”

I laughed at him but I’ve thought of that many times in the past week.

I DO rely on God. God is providing for us each step of the way in big and “little” ways that never cease to amaze me.

I’m not certain that I just “rely on God” because I know that I still worry and fret more than I should.

I think his comment is wonderful. Yep, I “just” rely on God.

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits.

I didn’t have very many saved links this week, so I’m sharing some favorite scrapbook and photography links.

Clickin Moms

35 Basic Tutorials to Get You Started with Photoshop

Two Peas in a Bucket  ~~ Scrapbooking

Ali Edwards~~ Scrapbooking

Traina Photography this is my friend Brandi’s blog. Someday I hope to take photos like these! For a special treat, peek at her wedding site and click on Italy.

Jasmine Star Photography Blog

Digital Photography School

Courtney Leigh Photography

Even if you’re not a photography you can benefit by peeking at some of these sites for inspiration.

Let me know if you liked any of them or if you peeked at Brandi’s Italy photos!

My sister made this yummy chicken salad when she was here.

1 lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken breast
1-2 Medium size apples
1 cup of chopped grapes
Mayonnaise (no certain amount, just whatever your preference is.)
1 small package slivered almonds
Flour taco tortillas

Bake the chicken breast (I bake it on 350 for about 30 minutes or until it’s not pink anymore)

I sprinkle Red Robin Seasoning on my chicken before I bake it…….it adds a little bit of extra taste to the mixture.

While the chicken is baking, chop up your apples (you can leave the peel on)  and grapes and mix them in a large bowl with about 1cup of mayonnaise.  When your chicken is done, let it sit a little while so it’s not too hot when you’re cutting it up.  Chop the chicken up and mix it all together.  Let it chill in the fridge and then serve on tortillas.

For pasta salad
Addg cooked and drained penne regatta noodles and more mayonnaise.

When I make it this way, I usually add another apple and another 3/4 cup of chopped grapes, I also use some celery seed (as much as you like to add flavor.)

Either way, it’s very good.  It just depends on if you want wraps or a pasta salad.

Last night, I couldn’t sleep. My neck, arm, and shoulder were in horrible pain.

I woke every 2 hours and rubbed some pain relief gel into my entire arm. I took a hot shower at 3:30 in the morning. I slept on the couch.

It was awful. I had to pray through it it hurt so bad! This morning, I went to the chiropractor to have her check what was wrong. I went on Monday and got my regular “tune up” so I wasn’t expecting to return 2 days later.

She adjusted me and told me to not do repetitive things for a couple days. Then she said she had a favor to ask of me and wrote something down.

I thought she wanted me to run an errand for her.

She started crying and asked me to pray for her mother. She said she only asked me because she knows I’m a “religious person”.

Her mother has cancer. It was in remission for 5 years but it’s come back. I told her I’d be happy to pray for her and her mother and that I’d tell others to pray.

Please pray with me for my doctor and for her mother.

I pray that I’ll be able to witness to her through this.

I also thanked God that somehow in the things I’ve said my doctor knows I have a relationship with God. I pray that my relationship with God will be that evident to all the people I interact with.

My doctor’s name is Kim and her mother is Jane (real names!)

Oh, if you want to pray for my silly neck and shoulder to quit aching, I’d let you do that too!