A few of my favorite things...

I follow tons of blogs, but one of my absolute favorites is Kalyxcornucopia--all about Baxter the dachshund!  He's witty, spunky, adventurous, and just plain cute!  Go check him out!

Photo used with permission.

Behold! Muffins!

It's about that time of the month.  The last week of the month is usually pretty rough around here.  No more groceries, duh!  We've gone through most of our planned meals, picked through the frozen stockpiles, and are left with scraps and a wife who is too lazy to go to the commissary AGAIN. 

As I made my way downstairs for breakfast this morning, I got excited as I remembered a lone package of  Pop-Tarts left in the pantry.  Much to my dismay, they were no where to be found.  Hubby.  I guess I'll forgive him for stealing the Pop-Tarts since he had to wake up at the crack of dawn to go to work this morning.  No pastries in the house (I have to have some kind of coffee house treat every morning) left me with hot tea and Rice Krispies for breakfast.  Blah. 

In order to save myself from running to the commissary again, but at the same time still wanting to enjoy a good breakfast for the rest of the week, I worked a little pantry-scrimping magic. 

Behold! Muffins!

It always amazes me what I can make with pantry staples.  A little sugar, flour, and Crisco produce these yummy donut muffins! 

These ought to buy me at least three more days of not having to go to the commissary. 

I'm curious what everyone else makes when you are almost out of groceries.  For dinner, I've been known to make "soup" with whatever is canned or frozen, Bisquick pancakes, or cereal.  Or do you just go to the store?

Writing lessons...

Hubby loves to make fun of my handwriting.  This was his most recent attack on our white board shopping list.  In his defense, this wasn't serious.  He is rarely serious. :)

Friendship...

"Every boy should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one."  -Anonymous



Playtime...

Hubby and I had a little too much fun playing with Baby's blocks yesterday.  I think we were a little loopy from Baby's sleep strike over the past several days and nights. 

No zzzz's!

What else would a digi bear say?

Figuring out his next creation.

Oooo-rah!

Not quite the saying, but very close.

Think about such things...

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Society's "golden rule" comes from Leviticus 19:18: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, treat others the way you want to be treated, etc.  It seems simple.  But do we live this way? 

I hope that for all of the times that I have been mistreated, ignored, laughed at, gossipped about--you  name it--that I remember the way it made me feel and do my best to never let anyone feel those ways because of me.

We should all examine the way we treat everyone around us--spouses, children, friends, and ALL others with whom we come into contact--and make sure that we are offering the same love, friendship, and respect that we desire for ourselves.

Remix #25-30

What is this?

This is the last post of my remix challenge.  Not gonna lie...it was tougher than I thought it would be.  BUT I'm glad that I did it.  I was able to use my pieces in new and creative ways.  PLUS, I didn't shop!  Woo hoo!  I am going to continue my shopping fast and continue reworking pieces in my closet.  However, I really missed my other clothes (and got sick of the 30 pieces I chose) so I probably won't take the 30x30 challenge again for a while, in fairness to the rest of my closet, of course!  I hope this inspired you to some closet creativity! 

A lesson in grace...

I frequently catch myself staring at my infant son in awe.  In awe of the miraculous creation of life.  In awe that I was chosen to be his mother.  And then I wonder, why was I chosen?  What did I ever do to deserve such a wonderful blessing?  There are so many that, in my worldly view, are more deserving.  There are so many that have an insatiable desire to be a mother, yet are not.  Why me?  Why was I so blessed?  It's a lot like survivor's remorse.  I am so thankful and grateful for my son, but I grieve with those that cannot have or have lost children as I continue to question why these struggles did not happen to me.

But then God's voice speaks to me.  He says that I have done absolutely nothing to deserve my wonderful family.  It is out of His perfect love that He chose to give to me what I do not deserve.  I will turn this blessing back to praise all of my life.  Thank you, Jesus!

This is my living lesson in grace.

A few of my favorite things...

Valentine's Edition!

Homemade Oreo Truffles, inspired by Bakerella!  These were so good that Hubby wasn't the slightest bit interested in the cheesecake or peanut butter truffles.  (More for me!)

Sunset silhouette...

Photo taken by AVM, a.k.a. My BFF

Murphy's Law...

Murphy's Law is traditionally defined as the following: "If anything can go wrong, it will."  I barely passed physics in high school...and college...but this "law" I can fully understand.  It has proven itself over and over again in Hubby's and my life. 

Murphy usually rears his ugly head in our lives regarding scheduling.  After almost four years in the training command and not knowing Hubby's schedule for the next day until 7:00 pm the night before, we have learned, in most situations, to never schedule anything.  Wedding RSVP?  Sorry!  Please ask us again the night before your big day.  Trip to visit family?  Sorry!  Please photoshop our heads into the family picture.

You'd think we would have learned our lesson.  Which we have--over and over again.  But alas.  We still toy with Murphy and dare to schedule.  Our latest meeting with Murphy was on the night of a concert that we had planned for months before.  We had tickets, a babysitter, and outfits all prepared!  Hubby had not been scheduled for several days.  The night before the concert, Murphy reared his ugly head and scheduled Hubby for duty on the night of the concert.  As Hubby read the schedule to me, I LOLed the kind of laugh that can only accompany Murphy's appearance--the laugh of "I knew it would happen!"         

As I'm writing this, I'm rolling my eyes and shaking my head.  We should have known.  Luckily for us, a great friend of Hubby's came along and crushed Murphy!  A quick swap of duty, and Hubby and I were off to the concert!

Bring it, Murphy!  I can take you! 

"Hineini" Throwback...

As I was digging into God's word this morning, my study led me to a theme that I constantly revisit--having confidence in God's calling.  Because these scriptures were exactly what I needed to hear this morning, I thought I would repost something that I wrote almost two years ago about this subject:

I was first made aware of this Hebrew word in a college Biblical studies class that was taught by an orthodox Jewish professor. Ever since then, the phrase has been on my mind and in my Bible reading. Well, since I don't read a Hebrew Bible, the translation seems to come at me all the time in my personal study. Hineini means "here I am" or "here am I."

Abraham says it to God when he has been called to sacrifice Isaac.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. -Genesis 22:1

When Abraham heard God's voice speak his name, he immediately answered the call with "Here I am." He didn't pretend he didn't hear God, he didn't roll his eyes wondering what he would be asked to do, he didn't doubt that he had heard God. He stood (or maybe he fell to his knees in surrender) eager to do whatever special thing God was calling him to do.

In this case, God called Abraham to a test of faith. Would Abraham sacrifice his long-promised son at God's command? Or would he think it a ridiculous request and ignore it? We all know what actually happened. Abraham, in telling God "here I am," agreed to go and do anything for his LORD. I shudder to think what I would do with this specific call. But then again, I am not and never will be commended for my faith as the ancients were (Hebrews 11:2).

Moses says it to God when he is called to lead God's people out of Egypt.

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." -Exodus 3:4

When Moses heard God's voice speak his name, he immediately answered the call with "Here I am." Just like Abraham, Moses had a strong desire to serve his LORD. After He called Moses and found an eager servant, God proceeded to tell Moses his mission:

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. -Exodus 3:10

Being a man without a soaring self-esteem, Moses' response was one that I can relate to:

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" -Exodus 3:11

But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." -Exodus 4:13

Suddenly he wasn't so sure about being eager to follow God. But God, being ever loving and always providing, gave Moses all the necessary information he would need for his task, as well as a big dose of support and encouragement. God promises Moses that He will be with him and that he will teach him what to say (Exodus 3:12, 4:12).

God also promises us that He will be with us in whatever we do, and especially when we are doing whatever His special calling is in our lives.

When God calls you to something specific (or if He is waiting on your response right now), humbly fall before him uttering the words of the ancients:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" -Isaiah 6:8

When we are called, we should strive to have more of Abraham's response--not blindly following orders, but eagerly surrendering. Though Moses also responded to God's call, the eagerness of his original utterance of "hineini" floundered when he heard the task at hand. When God calls our name AND when he sets a task before us, "hineini" should be the shout from our hearts, and, in turn, our lives.

Remix #19-24...

What is this?

Think about such things...

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

What makes your soul sing?