Be sure to stop by my blog peep Sara's spot GitzenGirl. It's her birthday today too. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARA!
Peace and Joy, Susan
Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Greetings Blog Peeps! After some very stressful days, power is slowly being restored to our region. They are calling it an "in-land hurricane" which is an oxy moron but the best way to describe the storm that hit here Friday afternoon. I found this on YouTube and there are several other related clips you can view. Our family and friends are all doing fine and sustained no property damage. We're just a little war worn from having to live without power, not able to cook, and throwing away all the food from our fridge and freezer. We're hoping for power by tomorrow. Which would be a great birthday present for me.
After all that, you'd think I'd had my fill of water.....but no-o-o-o. Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee has put out Phase 3 of our 30 x 5 moving challenge and I'm ready to take up the gauntlet. We're to increase our water intake by half our weight. What???? Divide your weight in half and the quotient is the number of ounces of water you should drink every day. So.....if you weigh 150 lbs and divide that in half, you should drink 75 ounces of water every day. Seems like a lot? Yeah. It does to me too, and I drink water.
Honestly, it will be good to get back into a routine and start a new challenge to get past all this storm damage stuff.
Are you up for the challenge? Let's start moving today, This Day!
Peace and Joy, Susan
Proverbs 31:10, 27-28 (NIV) A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her
This is the time each week where I list five things for which I am thankful. Silly or serious, big or small, God honors them all.
1. I'm thankful for my hubby. Yep, he's in the top five again this week. How can he not be? Seriously? He is so concerned about me and wanting me to be comfortable in the house we're renting. He spends hours on the internet searching the housing market to find us a house to buy. He's a blessing straight from God!
2. I'm thankful for being the BIG WINNER!!! What? You haven't heard??? Oh yes! Krystyn at Someday I'll Get There chose me for her first ever giveaway. Click HERE to read all about it and see all my goodies. Thank you, Krystyn.
3. I'm thankful for changing clothes trends. Wait.....what? Oh yes, remember a couple years ago or so when shorter/midriff length tops were the fashion. Thankfully, that trend has passed. Longer tops are in style. Y-A-Y!
4. I'm thankful to be back in church. With moving and my weekend class schedule, we missed a few Sundays. It's good to be fellowshipping and praising God in His house again.
5. I'm thankful that God's hand is on Josh and that he survived a horrific accident. No, I don't know Josh personally. He's related thru marriage to one of my dear blog peeps, Gigi. We've been praying for his complete and speedy recovery. Please join us.
That's my five. What are you thankful for today, This Day? How has God blessed your life? Your family? Your friends?
Peace and Joy, Susan
James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
How cool is that???!!!?!?! Krystyn at Someday I'll Get There had her first ever giveaway and I W.O.N. So what did I win? Why am I so excited? Just take a look. She made these fabulous cards. That's right.....made them. I am facinated by that fact because I have absolutely no creative talent whatsoever! And Krystyn made seven different cards for birthday, well wishes, encouragement, and of course....lovey cards. PLUS a journal (ok, she didn't make this journal but it's still awesome); which I plan to put to good use tracking my prayers. Aren't the beautiful???
Krystyn has an etsy shop where she sells her original creations. Click on the link HERE to see what's available. I'm sure she'd be happy to create something just for you!
It's wonderful how God has given each of us talents and gifts. Krystyn, Robin, Laurie, and Sara are each so blessed with artistic talent. Yet, their talents are uniquely different, just like each of them. Praise and thank God today, This Day for the unique person He made you, the talents and gifts He has blessed you with, and use them for His glory.
Peace and Joy, Susan
Romans 12:5-9 (NIV) 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Cinco de Mayo is clearly a favorite springtime celebration in parts of Mexico and here in the United States too. Naturally, food is part of this celebration. I mean really, what is a celebration with out food? lol -- This great looking buffet has traditional Mexican dishes: Jicama-Melon Salad, Chicken in Mole Pueblo Style, Tortilla Casserole with Turkey, Corn Pudding, and Almond Flan.
Put away the sour-cream-and-cheese-covered nachos and the margarita pre-mix. Instead, focus on authentic dishes that are as complex and rich as the Mexican holiday itself. The Tortilla Casserole with Turkey recipe looks and sounds delicious. Click here for the recipes to these fabulous looking dishes. Here's a close up of the finished product:
Why do we celebrate this holiday? Is it to celebrate Mexican independence? If yes, independence from what or from whom? Ok, I'll let you off the hook. It is not celebrated throughout Mexico. This celebration is generally confined to the state of Puebla where, in 1862, Mexican troops defeated an invading French army nearly double their strength. Quite an amazing feat. In short, it is a celebration of freedom and liberty.
We are in a battle of sorts for our freedom and liberty from sin. Thankfully, our Commander is the Lord Jesus Christ and He has already fought and won this battle for us. All we have to do is accept this fact. If you're a history buff, search out some of the history in the Bible. Battles, kings, and kingdoms are prophsied about and then fulfilled within these pages. The book of Daniel is an excellent example of these truths. Please, don't believe me.... examine the facts yourself today, This Day, learn how Jesus gave His life for you, and know true freedom and liberty.
Peace and Joy, Susan
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
This is the time each week where I list five things for which I am thankful. Silly or serious, big or small, God honors them all. :)
1. I'm thankful for all the wonder recipes I've found on my blog peeps sites. I'm definitely a Foodnetwork junkie, but I love getting recipes that you've tried, tweaked, and share.
2. I'm thankful for my blog peeps who, through their own writings, have encouraged me to live my own legacy of comfort, peace, and love in my home no matter the circumstance. A special thanks to Robin for setting such a wonderful example for all of us.
3. I'm thankful for the beautiful weather and the thousands of people God brought to Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday.
4. The amazing power of God's grace. At Blessing of the Bikes, you see grown men, donned in leathers, tattoos, scruffy beards, and biker club colors with heads bowed holding hands in prayer.
5. I'm thankful for the end of another semester. Y-I-P-P-E-E-E-E!! I turned in my final project Tuesday. Now I have about 45 days before summer semester starts. What to do? What to do?
That's my list for the week. What are you thankful for today, This Day? Count your blessings, name them one by one.....see what God has done.
Peace and Joy Susan
Job 19:25 (NIV) I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
