Dreaming . . .

Picture me here . . .

. . . or here . . .

. . . or here . . .

. . . or here . . .

. . . or here . . .

. . . in a little place that looks kinda like this . . .

. . . or this . . .

. . . or this . . .

. . . or even this . . .

Yep . . . I could do it.

Daydreams . . . desires of the heart . . . unspoken prayers . . . what are yours?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

It Began Like Any Other Day . . .

. . . & then I received a phone call at around 10:30a.m.

It was the nurse where my husband works . . . At his new, 2 month old job 60+ miles away. She said my husband's right shoulder & arm was in terrible pain, his blood pressure was "nearly off the chart" & he was sweating profusely. You can guess what was going through my mind! I HAD to get to my Sweetheart!

He's been having increasing pain in his right shoulder & some numbness in his lower arm for about 10 days & was, in fact, going to go to the Dr. after work, yesterday.

Our 20yr old DD#2 was, gratefully, off work & was with me. So, before I got on the PC to find out how to get to the hospital (since the nurse couldn't tell me how!!! ARGH!), I texted some prayer warrior friends. Our dear brother, lovingly called Bear, called almost immediately & said that he was leaving work & was going to take us there ~ at the very least, so that after I saw him, I could get his things & drive his car home whether he had to stay or not. The LORD is SO good to put these people in our lives. (There are so many others & YOU know who you are. {{{hugs to you}}} )

As the Lord would allow, Hubby had a phone in his ER cubbie & we could talk to him off & on before & during our journey, keeping up w/all the tests & scans that were being done. PTL by the time we got there he was checking out! It turns out that he has a rip in his shoulder muscle next to the rotator cuff & the pain was so severe that it made his blood pressure shoot up. As his family has a history of heart problems we were thrilled to rule THAT out.

So, he was sent home on pain meds & was a happy camper. '-) Unfortunately, the ER Dr has led him to believe that all he can do is take the pain meds till the tear mends itself. Well, you KNOW I'm on that! Research, research, research. lol All he can take while he drives & works is Advil (I'll get him some Arnica Montana while I'm at work tonight) & then he can take his pain meds at home.

Well, it was a whirl-wind day at our house . . . so . . . how was your day?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#28~ All Because of Jesus

PASSAGE: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." ~I Peter 2:9 [emphasis mine, KW]

LESSON LEARNED: You may want to read that again . . . I'll wait . . .

I often tell people who have only known me as a Christian that I have lived two utterly & completely different lives. Boy-howdy! Have I ever! I lived the life of Amazing Grace: I was a wretch, I was lost but now am found, I was blind but now I see. All by God's grace, all because of Jesus' sacrifice, all because of the wooing of the Holy Spirit.

Now, any honest Christian will understand that most of us don't "turn into Jesus" the moment we accept Him as our Savior; as my pastor recently said, it is a process. "Babies are born fully alive, fully human, but they spend the rest of their lives maturing; a Christian grows the same way, spiritually." I'm glad the Lord understands & extends His grace, mercy, love & forgiveness to those of us who stumble & have chronic foot-in-mouth disease.

But sometimes, the "old man" still tries to stir the pot of my life. That's when I draw upon the truth of Jesus & who I am BECAUSE of Him: I am chosen, I am royalty because I've been adopted into the household of THE King, I am holy & Paul even referred to me as a saint. Can you believe it? I belong to God, I am blessed to be able to declare His praises & I know the difference in life with Jesus & without Jesus because of His work in me. Real life began when He pulled me out of darkness into HIS wonderful light! (May 20th, 1982) And wonder upon wonders, ALL I had to do was ask.

And He has done the same for YOU!

All because of Jesus.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

What Must "They" Think of Us? :-/

What must advertising agencies ~ AND the companies who HIRE them AND APPROVE of their marketing ideas ~ think of us. "Us" being the average consumer . . . mid-America . . . fly-over country . . . the buying masses that they are TRYING to convince to buy their products?

Ignorant? Stupid? Blind? Deaf? Uneducated? SHEEP?!

Have you seen the new Nivea ad yet? My husband & I saw it . . . on SUNDAY . . . during prime-time viewing. I won't go into the whole commercial, but to celebrate their "100 Years of Skincare for Life," Nivea & their advertising department "thinks" (& I use that word lightly) that using the word "d*mn" in their new men's commercial will make them more cool, more appealing & make our men just want to rush right out & buy their product(s).

WRONG!!!

Well, here's what it did at OUR house: it made us throw away anything we could find made by them &, today, I wrote this on their website:

What low, uneducated advertising execs have you hired who would think that using the word "d*mn" in your commercials would make you "seem" cool? What low, uneducated leadership does your company have who would approve it? It is offensive (especially in front of family & children when it is shown during prime-time viewing hours), it is rude & shows the supreme ignorance & lack of respect your company shows for it's customers. My husband used your shaving conditioner, & we have used other products . . . but we will NOT be using them in the future.

Whew! I feel better now. Thanks for letting me vent.

One more reason to make your own skin care!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Easy Homemade Rootbeer

Make your own homemade rootbeer easy-peasy! You could even call this "Sun Rootbeer."

Here's what you need:

~1 ts. yeast
~1/2 c. warm water
~2 c. sugar
~4 ts. rootbeer extract
~1 gal. water
~1 2-liter OR 1-gallon glass OR plastic bottle/jug
~bath-sized towel
~several individual serving bottles, IF desired

Directions:

~Dissolve yeast in warm water; then add sugar & dissolve
~Add this to the gallon (OR 2-liter) bottle/jug
~Add rootbeer extract & stir
~Add enough water to nearly fill jar ~ stir, stir, STIR!
~Cover bottle/jug w/a towel & set in warm sun for at least 4 hours.
~after it sets for 4 hours, IF you want to transfer the rootbeer to your own individual-sized serving glass bottles, this is when you should do it, then . . .
~Place in frig overnight & drink the next day.

Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought & storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All-in-All,
Here, in the love of Christ, I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless babe;
This gift of love & righteousness,
scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Til on that cross, as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied ~
for every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ, I live.

There in the ground, His body lay
Light of the world, by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth, in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
sin's curse has lost it's grip on me!
For I am His & He is mine
bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ, in me;
from life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
'Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcpLZgCwcEE

by: Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Biblically "Approved" Foods

One of my favorite books about healthy living is "What the Bible Says About Healthy Living" (read my review HERE). And Hope Egan & Amy Cataldo have written a great companion cookbook.

While, ONCE AGAIN :-), going through the book, I came across a section that I always find interesting. In the chapter "Principle 1: Eat the Foods God Created for You", here's what I read:

Allow me [Dr. Rex Russell, author] to suggest three boundaries in Scripture within which we can identify what God intended for us to eat.

1. When the Designer calls an item food.

The God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be for your food."
(Gen. 1:29)

And you will eat the plants of the field
(3:18)

2. When God brings items to His people as a gift.

Also the food I provided for you - the fine flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat - . . . declares the Sovereign Lord.
(Ezek. 16:19)

3. If Jesus ate or served an item.

The He took the seven loaves and fish, and when He had given thanks, He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
(Matt. 15:36)

The following is a list of foods that Scripture guarantees are designed for health and that may be enjoyed. They were created for food. (Keep in mind . . . If these foods are altered, they may lose many of their benefits.)

almonds ~ Genesis 43:11
barley ~ Judges 7:13
beans ~ Ezekiel 4:9
beef ~ 1 Kings 4:22,23
bread ~ 1 Samuel 17:17
broth ~ Judges 6:19
cakes ~ 2 Samuel 13:8 (KJV)
cheese ~ Job 10:10

Cucumbers, onions, leeks, melons, garlic ~ Numbers 11:5
curds of cow's milk ~ Deuteronomy 32:14
figs ~ Number 13:23 fish ~ Matthew 7:10
fowl ~ 1 Kings 4:23
fruit ~ 2 Samuel 16:2
game ~ Genesis 25:28
goat's milk ~ Proverbs 27:27
grain ~ Ruth 2:14
veal ~ Genesis 18:7,8
vegetables ~ Proverbs 15:17
grapes ~ Deuteronomy 23:24
grasshoppers, locusts, crickets ~ Leviticus 11:22

herbs ~ Exodus 12:8
honey ~ Isaiah 7:15
lentils ~ Genesis 25:34
meal ~ Matthew 13:33(KJV)
nuts ~ Genesis 43:11
oil ~ Proverbs 21:17
olives ~ Deuteronomy 28:40
pomegranates ~ Number 13:23
quail ~ Numbers 11:32
raisins ~ 2 Samuel 16:1
salt ~ Job 6:6
sheep ~ Deuteronomy 14:4

sheep's milk ~ Deuteronomy 32:14
spices ~ Genesis 43:11
vinegar ~ Numbers 6:3
wild honey ~ Psalm 19:10

These foods are gold mines filled with essentials for healthy cells. They probably have millions of healthful components we have not yet identified or don't know how they function. Please enjoy them. They are better than medicine. (This isn't an exhaustive list . . . )

See why I like this book SO much? So, as Johnny Appleseed would say:

The Lord is good to me,
and so I thank the Lord
for giving me
the things I need:
the rain & the sun & the apple seed.
The Lord is good to me!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#123~ 5/31/11

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . beautiful sunshine & blue skies; thick, leafy, lovely maple trees, birds singing.

I am thinking . . . about how my brother & I will work things out w/my mom's care.

I am thankful for . . . the great day we had, yesterday. It would have been perfect if DD#1 could have been w/DH, DD#2 & I.

From the kitchen . . . yummy grilled food from yesterday.

I am wearing . . . jeans, DD#1's old volleyball t-shirt from her Senior year. :-)

I am remembering . . . how lovely the cemetery where our oldest DD, my daddy & DH's mom are buried looked yesterday.

I am hoping . . . for God's grace in answered prayer, as always.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am hearing . . . radio, Maggie growing at a something outside the window.

I am noticing . . . that I am not the only one who is just now getting out my little kitchen/herb garden for this year! Between all the rain & work, I can't believe that I'm just now getting everything out.

Around the house . . . getting my little kitchen/herb garden out, general cleaning, that never-ending laundry. Do you ever feel like your laundry basket has an endless bottom like Mary Poppins' carpet bag?

One of my favorite things . . . a great sermon like this past Sunday.

Plans for this week . . . family time, work, I think I'm on the worship team this week, doing some homeschool assessments, time w/my mom, getting Maggie groomed.

Pondering these words . . . "Many know Him [Jesus] only by heresay." ~A. W. Tozer. We need to know Jesus for ourselves!! There's no comparison in KNOWING ABOUT GOD and KNOWING GOD for ourselves. {from Sunday's sermon}

Scripture thought . . . "Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work w/in us, to Him be glory in the church & in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever & ever! Amen." ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .

Isabella ~ Princess of Wales from Braveheart. She's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.

Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Happy Memorial Day . . .

. . . Remember why . . .








Thank you, to those who gave all.

Happy Memorial Day!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The "Ahhhh" of Beatrix Potter

When my girls were little, I was so happy that some of their favorite books & art work were that of Beatrix Potter. One of the reasons was utterly selfish; it was so that I could have an excuse to read the books & admire the homey pictures. '-) I so enjoy the feelings of quaintness & home that her stories invoke.

Ahhhh . . .

I'm sure that some of the "homeyness" of her writings & art came from her own family life & living in her beloved "Hill Top House."

Yep, I could feel "homey" there, too. :-)

I admire her representations of everyday life . . . makes me wonder how much of her art of the various home interiors were actually the modified interiors of Hill Top House? How quaint & cozy.

Then, there are personalities of her memorable animal characters ~

Walt Disney must have taken a cue from Beatrix ~ Always giving her animals human characteristics so that children as well as adults could relate & enjoy . . .

. . . Staying current in the news . . .

. . . Hard work first, leisure second . . .

. . . Dear, mischievous Peter & Benjamin. Those silly bunnies, seems they always had to learn the hard way.


But as most of us mamas try to do, Peter's mama was right there to make it all better . . .

And as with Benjamin Bunny's mama, to try to steer our children in the right direction . . .

I think that if I could take Alice in Wonderland's shrinking potion that I would love to spend a day in Mrs. Rabbit's quaint little home. A sweet portrait of home-life, indeed . . .

Other sweet home scenes are the pillow fight in Mamma Tabby's home . . .

. . . and Appley Dappley doing her "shopping" in someone's well-stocked cupboard. Always looking out for her family. '-)

Oh, and then, there's one of my favorites: Mrs. Tiggy Winkle. The ever-hard working, wise, able to make lemonade out of lemons: Mrs. Tiggy Winkle.



Wouldn't you just love to sit at her table, have a cup of tea & chat for a while? Hmmm . . . I think I just might do that.

"Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality." ~ Beatrix Potter.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><