It’s the little things…..

For breakfast I usually have a protein smoothie, and I always put a banana in it (along with whatever else I have on hand; strawberries, blueberries, spinach, ect….. Yum!).   For the past two mornings we’ve been out of bananas.  We were going to stop and get some at the store last night, but we forgot.

This morning when I got up, this is what was on my kitchen counter…..

BANANAS!!!!  (some of you are probably thinking I’ve ‘gone bananas’!)      My sweet husband usually goes to work early in the morning.   He leaves sometime between 5:30-6:30, it depends.   I never know when he leaves – I’m still sleeping!!    So sometime before he left for work this morning, he ran to the store and got bananas.   No big bells, whistles, or announcement….. just bananas on the counter.    I know it doesn’t seem like much, but it was the thoughtfulness that meant so much to me!

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways…. (1) You buy me bananas! 

Don’t worry about everything being perfect…..

I am so excited!!  My parents are coming today to spend a few days with us.  My Mom and Dad live in Alabama, so when they come to Ohio it’s always a treat!   This week I’ve been busy washing linens, stocking the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies (my Mother is a very healthy eater ), and doing extra cleaning (like cleaning out the ‘junk’ drawer).  

Last night I was making my list for today, and worrying about all I wanted to get done before they get here.  When I got up this morning, there was the sweetest note from my husband.  At the end of the note Scott said, “Don’t worry about everything being perfect.  They just want to be with you“!

SO true!   And that same thought applies to my heavenly Father.   On so many days, I have my ‘list’ (yes, I’m a list person ) that I need to check off before I can sit down and do my Bible Study lesson or spend some time in prayer with God.   I need to remind myself, God doesn’t care if everything is perfect in our lives….. He just wants to spend time with us!

Spring!

“Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.”

 

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

I recently came across a new recipe, and have been waiting for a good time to try it out.   Since this week is Spring Break for my kids, I thought this would be a good time to have them help me in the kitchen (a.k.a. home ec/homeschooling whatever you want to call it).    

Ever since going gluten and dairy free, I have tried many new recipes.   My kids have learned to be prepared for anything when “Mom tries a new recipe”!   Some are complete flops, and others are quite tasty.    This one was a big hit!    It was so easy that Landon (13) and Byron (12) made it all by themselves!

Makes 48 mini muffins

Ingredients:
1/2 cup melted butter (or 1/4 cup melted butter +1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)  (I used dairy free butter)
1/2 cup sugar   (I used less)
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk   (dairy free milk)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour   (Jules GF Flour)
1/2 tsp salt
8-10 hot dogs, cut into small pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine butter and sugar in a bowl, and whisk to combine. Add eggs and whisk to incorporate. Add buttermilk and whisk to incorporate.

2. In a separate bowl, combine baking soda, cornmeal, flour, and salt, and stir to combine. Whisk into wet ingredients in two batches.

3. Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray, and spoon 1 Tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup. Place one hot dog bite into the middle of each cup.

4. Bake for 8-12 minutes (oven temperatures vary), or until cornbread is golden brown. Cool in mini muffin tin for 5 minutes before serving.

Smiley Face!

The other day I was in the kitchen cooking dinner.   When I took the lid off the Kitchen Bouquet Sauce, I did a double-take!   There in the lid was the sweetest smiley face ever!  I took a picture of it to show my kids when they got home from school.   I think God has a sense of humor, and puts little things in our lives to show His love for us!     Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love”.

Caught not Taught

I was reminded today that sometimes our faith is more “caught than taught” to our children.   As Byron was sitting by me in church this morning, I looked down and saw he was taking sermon notes.  Then I realized, not only was he taking notes, but occasionally he would look off my paper and copy my notes.  What a sobering thought to realize that little ones are watching (and copying) what we say and do!!!

My mind quickly recalled years ago, sitting by my Mother’s side at a small country church in south Alabama, and watching her take sermon notes.  I can still see the way she held the paper, and see her distinct penmanship as her hand flew across the paper, recording the lessons she was learning from God’s Holy Word!   What a blessing to have that Godly heritage, and be able to pass it on to my own children!   I thank God for the example that both my parents were to me, and hope and pray that someday my children will pass it on to their children……

Psalm 100:5  ”For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Stop the world, I want to get off……!

The other day I was reminded of the song I knew (from way back in my youth), by Randy Stonehill, “Stop the world, I want to get off…..”.   Do you ever feel that way???   Sometimes things of this world can be overwhelming.   The past few weeks have been mostly good, but had a few moments like that for me; costly car repairs (on both cars), health issues for the family, trouble at work, and sometimes just the daily grind of chores can flood you!

This morning I woke to hear Michael W. Smith crooning on the radio, an old hymn written by Helen Lemmel…..

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.”

Last week a wise and godly person shared some advise with me, she said, “Hold tightly to what is eternal, but loosely to what is temporal”.  Ahhh, something I need to remind myself of daily!   So easy to say, but so difficult to do sometimes!  And yet it makes perfect sense!   Why stress out on things that one year from now we won’t even remember? 

Col. 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”.   That is my prayer and my desire for today, and the rest of 2012 – to not stress out on the material things, but keep my focus ”on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”.   Happy 2012!!!