You've got to go see this movie. It's well done. I laughed, I cried, I gripped my seat. Its the best so far of Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. I don't go to the movies, and I've already been twice :) go see it while its still in theatres. Let them know people want Christian films.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Working the Election 2010
This is sort of an old article, but I thought I'd share it as it is very much a real part of my life. I got to talk to hundreds of highschool students after this and they didn't have a clue what a primary was. Sad thing is, most people dont understand it either.
http://crossville-chronicle.com/breakingnews/x1060806491/Panel-denies-Eldridge-right-to-vote
http://crossville-chronicle.com/breakingnews/x1060806491/Panel-denies-Eldridge-right-to-vote
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
This my friend is an Ugg
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Ribbon winning fried pies
Fruit Turnovers
Dough Recipe from a friend
Ingredients:
2 cups sifted self-rising flour
½ tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Salt
2 tbs. Crisco
1 egg yolk
¼ cup sugar
½ cup evaporated milk
Canned fruit (apple, peaches, cherries, etc.) or see fruit pie filling recipe below.
Directions:
Into the flour, baking powder, and salt, cut in the Crisco. Mix egg yolk, milk and sugar in a bowl and then add to the flour mixture. With a rolling pin, roll out to a quarter inch on a floured surface. I like to work the dough and make it tough else it falls apart. If you get it too dry, crumble it up and sprinkle a little water on it and start again. Usually this is when it works the best for me. Also, If you get it too thin the filling will come out in your grease. Cut in 4 inch squares. Spoon on a little bit of fruit, remembering that you are going to fold them from point to point so they’ll come out like triangles. Fold over the fruit and seal edges with a fork. I like to dip my finger or a brush into water and rub around the inside edges to help them seal. Trim off excess dough. I usually put that in with the rest of my dough, until all dough is gone. Fry in a skillet with about an inch of very hot shortening until brown or enough so that they don't touch the bottom.
Pie filling recipe
from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook 1976
1 1/2 cups sugar
8 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 cup juice from fruit
3 cups of fruit preferably in juice
1 tbs butter
red food coloring
Combine half of the sugar with cornstarch. Stir in juice, apple juice can be used if your fruit doesn't have juice, like fresh apples or strawberries, or cherries. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, till mixture thickens and Bubbles; cook 1 minute longer. Add remaining sugar, fruit, butter and food coloring (if you want the contents to be red). Mixture should be very thick. Let stand while preparing pastry. I sometimes make the filling the day before or earlier in the day and put it in the fridge else it makes your dough soggy. Last time I made a batch of this, I used 3/4 of a cup of apple juice and thickened the mixture till it was ready for the fruit. I added the rest of the sugar and then divided it into 3 containers. I added cherry to one, apples to one, and strawberries to the third. If the mixture doesn't get thick I add a little more starch and cook it all again.
Dough Recipe from a friend
Ingredients:
2 cups sifted self-rising flour
½ tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Salt
2 tbs. Crisco
1 egg yolk
¼ cup sugar
½ cup evaporated milk
Canned fruit (apple, peaches, cherries, etc.) or see fruit pie filling recipe below.
Directions:
Into the flour, baking powder, and salt, cut in the Crisco. Mix egg yolk, milk and sugar in a bowl and then add to the flour mixture. With a rolling pin, roll out to a quarter inch on a floured surface. I like to work the dough and make it tough else it falls apart. If you get it too dry, crumble it up and sprinkle a little water on it and start again. Usually this is when it works the best for me. Also, If you get it too thin the filling will come out in your grease. Cut in 4 inch squares. Spoon on a little bit of fruit, remembering that you are going to fold them from point to point so they’ll come out like triangles. Fold over the fruit and seal edges with a fork. I like to dip my finger or a brush into water and rub around the inside edges to help them seal. Trim off excess dough. I usually put that in with the rest of my dough, until all dough is gone. Fry in a skillet with about an inch of very hot shortening until brown or enough so that they don't touch the bottom.
Pie filling recipe
from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook 1976
1 1/2 cups sugar
8 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 cup juice from fruit
3 cups of fruit preferably in juice
1 tbs butter
red food coloring
Combine half of the sugar with cornstarch. Stir in juice, apple juice can be used if your fruit doesn't have juice, like fresh apples or strawberries, or cherries. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, till mixture thickens and Bubbles; cook 1 minute longer. Add remaining sugar, fruit, butter and food coloring (if you want the contents to be red). Mixture should be very thick. Let stand while preparing pastry. I sometimes make the filling the day before or earlier in the day and put it in the fridge else it makes your dough soggy. Last time I made a batch of this, I used 3/4 of a cup of apple juice and thickened the mixture till it was ready for the fruit. I added the rest of the sugar and then divided it into 3 containers. I added cherry to one, apples to one, and strawberries to the third. If the mixture doesn't get thick I add a little more starch and cook it all again.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Spaghetti Sauce Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook
3/4 cup chopped onions(or less)
1 clove of garlic or 1/8 tsp of garlic powder
3 tbl salad oil
2 one pound cans of chopped tomatoes (equals 4 cups)
2 six ounce cans of tomato paste
1 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
1 bay leaf
If it is just too thick you can add water to thin it down to desired consistency. We usually brown ground beef and the onions and add all the rest of the ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 30 min. Remove Bay leaf. Supposed to serve 8 but it never has here.
1 clove of garlic or 1/8 tsp of garlic powder
3 tbl salad oil
2 one pound cans of chopped tomatoes (equals 4 cups)
2 six ounce cans of tomato paste
1 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
1 bay leaf
If it is just too thick you can add water to thin it down to desired consistency. We usually brown ground beef and the onions and add all the rest of the ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 30 min. Remove Bay leaf. Supposed to serve 8 but it never has here.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
How to can tomatoes and applesauce
Tomatoes
Talk about busy, mom and I sure have been. We're thankful for the harvest from the garden. Below are some pictures of the canning process along with a how-to if you're interested.
1. After washing your tomatoes, you will drop them in boiling hot water for about 45 seconds.
2. Scoop them out and place them in cold water. This causes the skin to seperate for easy peeling.
3. Peel, core, and place in clean canning jars. Wide mouth work best for whole tomoatoes.
4.Place 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of salt to each quart jar. The lemon juice is to help counter the acid that sometimes causes them to spoil after canning.
5. While you are filling your jars, boil the rings and lids in hot water. This sterilizes them and causes the gum to seal to the ring of the jar.
6. After the lids have boiled the lids aprox. 10 minutes, take a clean damp papertowel and wipe around the mouth of the jar. Place the lids on while they are hot and tighten them.
7. Immediately place jars into a pot of boiling water. To water bath, the water should come up to at least 3/4 of the jar.
8. Set your timer for 30 minutes. Continue to boil the jars in the water on Med-High, but not all the way on high, as it would brake the jars.
9. After 30 minutes, take the jars out and set them on a cutting board to cool. Let set for 24 hrs before moving.
This is some spaghetti sauce we canned.
To make applesauce:
1. Peal, core, and slice your apples.
2. Boil in a little bit of water till soft.
3. Press through a food sieve, and throw out the remaining pulp.
4. Put it in your jars, and proceed as described above.
or.......
you can put them in a skillet with sugar and cinnamon and enjoy them with hot buttermilk biscuits.:)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Meth labs and horse hotels
Today I saw a horse in a house. Yep, sure did. Is that any kind of indicator how my day has gone? Totally exhausted from working yesterday and going out on visitation last night for VBS, I was unprepared to start my day. Mom got me up out of the bed to help her water our garden. She had already been out there an hour before she came and got me and Stacy. I worked right up until time to leave for my daily meeting. I didn't have any of my paperwork done. I was stressed out and had a headache. I made such a MESS of my paperwork, I really made an impression on our new boss. That's alright. I was fed up. I came home and went to bed. Yes, I did, in the middle of the day. One location was pure woods. I didn't see anything resembling a habitation of any kind. Looking at my map, there was supposed to be something there. I found a semblance of a drive way. Rutted, bumpy, washed out, grass grown up. Sure enough there was a boarded up trailor at the end of it. I had to park my car half way and walk the rest of the way. Then I got to back it out up the ruts! Wishin I had a 4 wheeler or 4 wheel drive, I'd really have some fun. The other dot on my map was once a trailor, but all that was left was 2x4s and a roof. It was so hidden in the woods, I can't believe I even saw it.
Yesterday was a trip. The description said " old trailor with sign in drive reading 'nails in drive'." That should have been an indicator what kind of person owned it that would put nails to keep you out. No houses were anywhere around. I stopped in the middle of the road and flagged an old man and his wife as they drove by. They told me where to find the owner. He was so mean, so rude, and so hateful I felt misserable. Why do people have to behave that way?
The highlight of my entire adventures was down a million backroads. I doubt I can top it. My spot was a piece of property with a shed, several run down trucks, some lawn equipment, some junk, and a storage building with an air conditioner. The lady who was with me pointed out all the reasons why this was a meth lab. And I'm not even alowed to report it. I'm sworn to privacy according to Title 13. I can be thrown in jail, fined $50,000, or even imprisioned. Hmmmm. Trash cans full of empty coke bottles, milk jugs full of black liquid, and marijuana plants. I'm telling you, I've been sheltered. I was so glad I was not alone. I put my foot down and refused to go in the area without someone with me.
Yesterday was a trip. The description said " old trailor with sign in drive reading 'nails in drive'." That should have been an indicator what kind of person owned it that would put nails to keep you out. No houses were anywhere around. I stopped in the middle of the road and flagged an old man and his wife as they drove by. They told me where to find the owner. He was so mean, so rude, and so hateful I felt misserable. Why do people have to behave that way?
The highlight of my entire adventures was down a million backroads. I doubt I can top it. My spot was a piece of property with a shed, several run down trucks, some lawn equipment, some junk, and a storage building with an air conditioner. The lady who was with me pointed out all the reasons why this was a meth lab. And I'm not even alowed to report it. I'm sworn to privacy according to Title 13. I can be thrown in jail, fined $50,000, or even imprisioned. Hmmmm. Trash cans full of empty coke bottles, milk jugs full of black liquid, and marijuana plants. I'm telling you, I've been sheltered. I was so glad I was not alone. I put my foot down and refused to go in the area without someone with me.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
My day
I had visions of granduer of all that I would wake up and accomplish this morning. But alas when that alarm went off I slapped the off button and slept on till Mom woke me up. I had to be in a Census meeting at 9 a.m. -only 20 minutes from now and I'm still in bed. At the meeting I learn I get to work at least 4 more days with the Census which makes me extremely happy.
Back at home I find my mother in the garden picking beans, dad breaking them on the porch, and a friend who brought her two girls to play with the kids we keep. I make an executive decision to help with the beans for a while and let my census work go till later. Mom talks me into going on to work so we can take Stacy swimming later. I know it means a lot to him, so I head off down Lantana WAY back into no where.
I had some crazy adventures today. Seriously. I found out one road on my map didn't even exist. I ran into the same guy three different times within 2 hours. I inquired at one house about an empty trailor and he was there. I cross Lantana, take several backroads off of backroads and I'm looking at an obviously vacant house. Who can I get to tell me about it? I stop in the middle of this backroad to ask the truck behind me about it. Its the same guy in the little beat up red and blue truck. So I finish up those backroads and I head off in another direction. This time I'm looking for someone to tell me about a missing trailor that goes with the porch and steps that sit alone out in nothing but woods. Mistaking directions to someone who would know, I knock on the door and that same guy in the little beat up truck answered the door. I swear, as many miles as we travelled, I cannot for the life of me understand how we could have ran into each other three times. It kinda looked like I was stalking him. :)
One place I went was gravel up about 45 degree angle. It was rutted out bad. At the top I sloped to an even steeper grade and worse ruts so I turned around and tried the other end of th road. I enquired at a house where several people were sitting on the front porch. The man tells two young men on a 4-wheeler to take me to the houses I needed to go to and drive slow enough I could follow in my car. The boys were extremely helpful and got me done way quicker than if I had tried to find them on my own.
One stop was a taxidermy shop. I borrowed their bathroom located passed the buffalo and between the wolf and black bear.
One house I stopped to ask for info, looked like no one was home, but I was desperate. As I knocked on the door I was sure I smelled fresh green beans cooking. Someone had to be home. Yep, the guy wasn't too willing to help, but smiled as I guessed what he was cooking.
One lonely old house was at the end of a road, once an obviously well kept farm. The old lady who answered the door told me she was there visiting her father who was 98! She grew up in this house, married her neighbor, and moved down the road. :)
Thoroughly fed up with chasing vacant houses and some that no longer exist, I head home to a wonderful supper of okra, squash, cornbread, pork chop, green onions, and boiled potatoes. I'm drooling thinking about it. I ate as we drove the 45 minutes to the lake to get to swim for a little over an hour. The water was so warm it was almost hot. I don't remember it ever being this warm, but I'd prefer it to cold water. Stacy was swimming underwater trying to catch me and came up with a bloody head. He had ran into a stump and busted his nose and eyebrow. Nothing to serious, but definitely bloody. He'll have a head ache tomorrow.
Back at home now, I have paper work to do for census, Facebook to check, vbs to work on, and instead I'm writing my day's saga
Back at home I find my mother in the garden picking beans, dad breaking them on the porch, and a friend who brought her two girls to play with the kids we keep. I make an executive decision to help with the beans for a while and let my census work go till later. Mom talks me into going on to work so we can take Stacy swimming later. I know it means a lot to him, so I head off down Lantana WAY back into no where.
I had some crazy adventures today. Seriously. I found out one road on my map didn't even exist. I ran into the same guy three different times within 2 hours. I inquired at one house about an empty trailor and he was there. I cross Lantana, take several backroads off of backroads and I'm looking at an obviously vacant house. Who can I get to tell me about it? I stop in the middle of this backroad to ask the truck behind me about it. Its the same guy in the little beat up red and blue truck. So I finish up those backroads and I head off in another direction. This time I'm looking for someone to tell me about a missing trailor that goes with the porch and steps that sit alone out in nothing but woods. Mistaking directions to someone who would know, I knock on the door and that same guy in the little beat up truck answered the door. I swear, as many miles as we travelled, I cannot for the life of me understand how we could have ran into each other three times. It kinda looked like I was stalking him. :)
One place I went was gravel up about 45 degree angle. It was rutted out bad. At the top I sloped to an even steeper grade and worse ruts so I turned around and tried the other end of th road. I enquired at a house where several people were sitting on the front porch. The man tells two young men on a 4-wheeler to take me to the houses I needed to go to and drive slow enough I could follow in my car. The boys were extremely helpful and got me done way quicker than if I had tried to find them on my own.
One stop was a taxidermy shop. I borrowed their bathroom located passed the buffalo and between the wolf and black bear.
One house I stopped to ask for info, looked like no one was home, but I was desperate. As I knocked on the door I was sure I smelled fresh green beans cooking. Someone had to be home. Yep, the guy wasn't too willing to help, but smiled as I guessed what he was cooking.
One lonely old house was at the end of a road, once an obviously well kept farm. The old lady who answered the door told me she was there visiting her father who was 98! She grew up in this house, married her neighbor, and moved down the road. :)
Thoroughly fed up with chasing vacant houses and some that no longer exist, I head home to a wonderful supper of okra, squash, cornbread, pork chop, green onions, and boiled potatoes. I'm drooling thinking about it. I ate as we drove the 45 minutes to the lake to get to swim for a little over an hour. The water was so warm it was almost hot. I don't remember it ever being this warm, but I'd prefer it to cold water. Stacy was swimming underwater trying to catch me and came up with a bloody head. He had ran into a stump and busted his nose and eyebrow. Nothing to serious, but definitely bloody. He'll have a head ache tomorrow.
Back at home now, I have paper work to do for census, Facebook to check, vbs to work on, and instead I'm writing my day's saga
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
What I didn't know about the voting process
There has to be an equal amount of Democrat and Republican officials in every location during voting. When we went into the nursing homes, we teamed up in pairs, a D and a R per each voter we assisted. You know those machines they use now? What happens if you don't push that little red button? According to law, its called "the intent of the voter." The person was there obviously to vote, but if they left without pushing that button then two officals, one a Democrat, and one a Republican must be present for someone to push that button. Also the machines have numbered seals that are documented. When we go in tomorrow to open those machines we will have to verify the seals that are on it are the ones used to seal it up. That way no one can tamper with them.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Could have been a bad day.
I wake up at 9:30 and scream! I have to leave in 15 minutes. I'm supposed to meet my friend and go to her wedding shower. Shortly after we get started, I have a flat tire. But fortunately, I just happen to be sitting in front of a tire repair shop. A fellow yells that he has air, so I back in. He jacks my car up, airs it up, checks for leaks, and let me drive off. When we arrive, I decide to leave my purse in my car so I don't have a ton to carry in. Unfortunaley I locked my keys in my car. The good news was that I left my window rolled down far enough for an 8 yr. old to get her arm in. Later on, I'm having caffiene withdrawels, so as I run in Walmart on an errand I hit the McDonalds and get me a glass of sweet tea. As I'm heading back out if the store I dropped the cup spilling sticky sweet tea everywhere. The good news is that I didn't have to clean it up. lol. To top off my day we won 1st place on our bowlilng league for the season. Hey, could've been a bad day.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Easter 2010
My precious nieces Ella and Kaylynn. We hid baskets for them instead of eggs.
I dipped my deviled eggs in colored water just like coloring easter eggs. I thought they turned out so cool!
My Easter Dress and my Ella
Are you registered to vote?
Tiny was a little woman who was 102 years old. I asked her why her mother would name her that as a baby. She said because she was the smallest baby any of them had ever seen. She plays bingo too. Hey, when they broke out the Little Debbie's I was ready to play bingo myself.
One couple shared a room. The wife declared she was a republican but her husband yelled that she was a democrat. They argued until she said "o.k. if you say so."
I got a job today with the 2010 Census Bureau. That will begin after my election work and last me about 8 weeks. I reckon I should have a few more stories to share over the next few weeks.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Learning CVS
Due to the volume of questions I've been getting I'm going to try to address some couponing issues I think will be helpful if you're trying this out. Take babysteps. Try, mess up, learn what you can and can't do.
Extra Bucks. Colgate toothpaste is advertised for $3.99 and earn $3.99 EB(Extra Bucks). When you get to the register you will have to pay $3.99 + tax. After paying you will recieve a coupon for $3.99 EB good on your next purchase of anything in the store. Now you can go grab something else on sale. bargainbriana.com will list an item as $3.99- $3.99EB = Free.
Tax. Even tho an item looks free or pretty cheap, I found out the tax you pay is for the cost of the item before coupons and EB. This was something I had to learn.
Limits. Usually items that earn Extra Bucks have offer limits in fine print underneath the advertisement. Sometimes you can only earn the EB once, like on the toothpaste this week. Other times there is a limit of 3 per household. Because you use a card, the computer keeps a record of how many times you earned that reward.
Coupons. At my CVS I can use coupons I've printed off the internet. I can only use one coupon per item and I am not allowed to use more than one on the same product. For example: I have two different coupons for Colgate toothpaste. One for .25 off any colgate product, and another for $1.00 off Colgate Total. Some stores will allow you to use both on the same box of toothpaste, your CVS may let you.
Sales.Occasionally CVS will have good sales on items, but I generally stick to ones I can match with a coupon. For me, this isn't always a product that earns Extra Bucks. Like a 6 pack of Scott paper towels on sale for $4.99- my $1 coupon, I get 6 rolls for $4. Even without EB that's still a really good deal. Here are a few things I've noticed that go on sale frequently along with possible prices after EB and coupons: diapers $4-$6, cereals .50 , deodorant .25-.50,toothpaste free-.50, shampoo/cond .50-$1, soaps/bodywash free-.50, maxipads/liners $1, cold medicines $1.50, makeup-CHEEP,razors 1.99 regularly $10!
Planning. Places like http://www.bargainbriana.com/ and http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/ will list new deals each week, how much they cost, how much EB you will earn and where to get the coupons to match the deal. I make out a list of items I want to look for based on the info I find on these sites. Next I label an envelop "CVS" and put the coupons I will need for those items inside with my list.
Go get em and keep me posted.
Extra Bucks. Colgate toothpaste is advertised for $3.99 and earn $3.99 EB(Extra Bucks). When you get to the register you will have to pay $3.99 + tax. After paying you will recieve a coupon for $3.99 EB good on your next purchase of anything in the store. Now you can go grab something else on sale. bargainbriana.com will list an item as $3.99- $3.99EB = Free.
Tax. Even tho an item looks free or pretty cheap, I found out the tax you pay is for the cost of the item before coupons and EB. This was something I had to learn.
Limits. Usually items that earn Extra Bucks have offer limits in fine print underneath the advertisement. Sometimes you can only earn the EB once, like on the toothpaste this week. Other times there is a limit of 3 per household. Because you use a card, the computer keeps a record of how many times you earned that reward.
Coupons. At my CVS I can use coupons I've printed off the internet. I can only use one coupon per item and I am not allowed to use more than one on the same product. For example: I have two different coupons for Colgate toothpaste. One for .25 off any colgate product, and another for $1.00 off Colgate Total. Some stores will allow you to use both on the same box of toothpaste, your CVS may let you.
Sales.Occasionally CVS will have good sales on items, but I generally stick to ones I can match with a coupon. For me, this isn't always a product that earns Extra Bucks. Like a 6 pack of Scott paper towels on sale for $4.99- my $1 coupon, I get 6 rolls for $4. Even without EB that's still a really good deal. Here are a few things I've noticed that go on sale frequently along with possible prices after EB and coupons: diapers $4-$6, cereals .50 , deodorant .25-.50,toothpaste free-.50, shampoo/cond .50-$1, soaps/bodywash free-.50, maxipads/liners $1, cold medicines $1.50, makeup-CHEEP,razors 1.99 regularly $10!
Planning. Places like http://www.bargainbriana.com/ and http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/ will list new deals each week, how much they cost, how much EB you will earn and where to get the coupons to match the deal. I make out a list of items I want to look for based on the info I find on these sites. Next I label an envelop "CVS" and put the coupons I will need for those items inside with my list.
Go get em and keep me posted.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
I'm not Courtney but I'm on my way
I paid $7 for all this stuff. I gave .25 each for the deodorant, a dollar for each shampoo and .50 each for the Chex mix, and $3 for a 6 pack of Scott paper towels!!!! I saved $20 according to the receipts.
There had to be a secret I didn't know to using coupons. I tried CVS bucks and wasn't having any success. I've heard of people who were able to get the bucks and get their stuff practically free. And Courtney buys 20 packages of cheese for .06 cents each.
So I did a lot of research and here's where I landed that taught me how to stack coupons with weekly store deals, and keep my CVS bucks renewing themselves. The site if full of amazingly helpful information so that after coupons some product are free. Yes, that's right, FREE. http://www.bargainbriana.com/ . This lady finds the bargain for you. Using The Frugal Map is also a great way to utilize others who've found the bargains for you.I was pretty timid at first. I was in Food City and saw what Briana calls a blinkie. The box of muffin mix the blinkie coupon was for already had one of those peel off stickers on it. I didn't really want the muffins, but I did want to try out this stacking business. So I purchased the muffin mix using both coupons and saved $1.50 on it!
My next move was to actually buy a newspaper. Of course it has to be the one that has that coupon insert thingy in it. So I flipped through the sales papers matching up my coupons to the stuff that was on sale. I also printed off some coupons from CVS and BettyCrocker. So far, CVS and Walgreens are the only places that I have found that will accept coupons printed off the internet. The CVS bucks renew themselves when you match up coupons to items in the sales paper that brings more cvs bucks.
I've spent a few hours learning how, but I think its an investment that will pay for itself.
Snow, snow, quilt
Here's a picture of the last time it snowed. This was Natalie's first adventure in snow.
I decorated my Sundayschool room in snowflakes for this quarter. Needed a facelift and a change of atmosphere. The girls loved it.
Mom and I made a patchwork quilt for my pastor's wife for her birthday.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s second Appearance began in England in 1747 during a Quaker revival with a lady named Ann Lee. Because of her different views of the Scripture, she was expelled and in 1774 led a group of her followers to America. They believed the Lord came to earth the first time as the Son of God, Jesus Christ and that the Lord's second coming was in the form of the daughter of God, Ann Lee. They believed they were living in the millennium kingdom. They became known in the community as the Shakers because of their worship practices. When they gathered in their place of worship, they performed ritualistic cleansing dances including shaking sin from their hands. They would writhe in the floor, speak in tongues, speak prophecies and see visions. They had an area outside for séances. At funerals, the dead would speak to the congregation through someone, telling them not to worry about them, that the life of self depravation as a "shaker" was worth it. They lived in a type house, where the women lived on one side and the men on the other. Men went in one door of buildings and women in another. They absorbed all property of each person for the use of all, with the promise that all property would be improved upon. When people became dissenters, they were supposed to be able to get their property back, but it didn't always work out that favorably, especially when it was real estate. Men and women were never to walk together alone, ride alone in a wagon, or hold a conversation for very long periods of time. Men worshiped on one side of the building while women worshiped on the other. They did not believe in procreation because in heaven there was no marrying nor giving in marriage. But they did not feel this was wrong for the "world" because they were worldly minded and that was what people did who gave themselves to the flesh. They adopted children, and bought black slaves to free them into their religion. Obviously they died off, others dissented. They broke up in 1910. The last one died in 1923
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Christmas program
My favorite part of our Christmas program at church was Kaylynn and Ella's performance. Ella wouldn't sit still and Kaylynn kept loudly whispering for her to come sit down. In the process Ella knocked a tissue box off the alter and tried to put it back on. Mom and I chuckled so hard. Kaylynn sang the song Mary's little Lamb and did such a great job with the big verses. She sang so loud I hoped they'd turn the sound system down :)
Holy Club
These are the 22 questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves each day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? [ conversation starter questions ]
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."
-- Susanna Wesley (Letter, June 8, 1725)
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? [ conversation starter questions ]
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."
-- Susanna Wesley (Letter, June 8, 1725)
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