New pic

 So…even if I never have a daughter, I can say I came mighty close to seeing one of my own children “with child.”

 ALso, I got some adorable cute camo crocs at Payless yesterday. If you have boys you hsould check em out!

Links

I have been meaning to add some links to my blogroll for quite some time. I finally did it. Allow me to call your attention to one called “9Marks.” It is the ministry of Mark Dever. He has written a book called 9 Marks of the Healthy Church which point out the importance of expository preaching. This has become ever so important to us as we have found out the hard way that our church staff may not be as “for it” as we are. The Pastor was preaching straight through the book of Matthew when we got here so we never assumed it to be an issue. But later found out that he will probably stop preaching expositionally (did I say that right?) once he finishes this series bc he doesn’t think that church members enjoy it. David explained to Pastor that he thinks it is the only way to go because you learn more that way and don’t misconstrue the context of the book, etc… (he said it in a humble “that’s just my opinion” kind of way as to cause no tension), but we are pretty frustrated by it now.

Anyhow, sorry to rant, but 9 Marks is a great and informative site to take a peek at!

Reflections from this morning’s readings

From Spurgeon’s Morning And Evening (on the topic of cowardly fleeing from God in times of fear):

” It may be that I, at the opening of this day, have braced myself to bear a trial for the Lord’s sake, and I imagine myself able for the challenge; but let me be careful in case with the same evil heart of unbelief I should depart from my Lord as the apostles did. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. It would have been to their eternal honor to have stood manfully at Jesus’ side; they fled from honor. May I be kept from imitating them!”

What a challenge we find in God’s word! I have never really compared myself to an apostle, but I supposed we are daily faced with the same choices: faithfully follow or flee. I wish I could say I always chose the first, but oftentimes I am guilty of the latter. I am always so blessed and challenged by Spurgeon (although sometimes I find him hard to understand=))

In My Utmost For His Highest this morning, Chambers made a probing statement regarding personal character. He said “Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level.” For me, for once, it wasn’t an issue of “has God called me to a higher level since this time last year?” For years, he tried, but I was disobedient and so self-centered. But now… He has! What a celebration! Has it been fun? Not at all? But worth it? Yes. Scripture is taking on a new meaning to me now. Prayer has a new purpose. Suffering and trials, which once caused me to question God, now bring to praise to my lips. When God takes us to a higher level in our personal character (and our walks with Him in general) we can rejoice that we are being transformed into displays of His splendor!

 Mandy

P.S. Does anyone else’s 3 year old act as though you have murdered him/her when you put them down for a nap? Good gravy. He may as well have put on a sackcloth and covered himself in ashes. Drama, I tell ya. Drama.

Random Thoughts

I have those last 10 baby pounds to lose…plus 4 more I’d like to take off as well. So…14 pounds to go! Today’s lunch: a lean pocket, an apple, and a low fat granola bar. With a diet caffeine free Mug rootbeer. The diet caffeine free isn’t part of the diet. We actually like our soda that way. Pretty stinky lunch (it was okay) but there is a bar b q’ed beef brisket in the crockpot and crescent rolls in the bread machine!!!

Back to California this summer!David has the 4th of July week off so we are going back to Orange County! We can’t wait! And…no kids!!!!!!!!!!!! All to ourselves WOO HOO!!!!!!!

David’s mom will be here in 19 days! Yay!  I am so excited. We haven’t seen her in forever and I know she is missng the boys so bad!!! We have to go to Denver to pick her up. I pray there is no bad traffic. City from Hades, it is!

David is getting certified as a NANC counselor! He is going to begin the distance learning program very soon. It will prob take about a year. www.nanc.org

I may be leading a ladies group this summer at church discussing Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh Demoss. That is prob my favorite book of all time! It is an essential read for the Christian woman.

I cleaned out the fridge this morning. I am surprised that the dept. of sanitation had not been notified sooner.

Lastly, I started selling Pampered Chef again. I hope it goes well. We could sure use some extra income! If anyone ever wants to do a catalog show for me, let me know!

Yummy Yummy!

This is my friend Kacie’s recipe. (Thanks Kacie ) It is my favorite cookie recipe. The point is to use 10 cups of ingredients and mix n match as you wish. These are mine!

  

Ten Cup Cookies

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Ingredients

1 c. butter (or ½ c. butter and ½ c. shortening)1 c. peanut butter

1 c. white sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 c. quick oatmeal

1 c. chopped nuts

1 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

½ t. baking powder

1 c. white choc chips

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. raisins (I omit)

Procedure

Cream butter, peanut butter, sugars, eggs. Add flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir in chips, raisins, oatmeal, and nuts (delete whatever you don’t like). Drop on light greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

P.S. I suppose it goes without saying that you can’t omit certain things, like the pb, brown and white sugars, and flours. I also think the oatmeal gives them a great texture. ENJOY!

California Girl

Can’t you almost hear The Beach Boys singin?

That’s exactly where I went about a week and a half ago! Can I just tell you that my heart’s desire is for the Lord to lead us to California for our next ministry position?

But seriously I had a great. Aside from a post surgery gallbladder flare up (did you know you can have a gallbladder attack with out a gallbladder?) that results after lots of fatty foods at Disneyland, I had so much fun. My friend, Nicole, and her family are a blast and I am dying to go back again. We hit Disney (as I already said), got to see the Crystal Cathedral and Angel Stadium), went to Los Angeles and saw all the sites (we tried to see Celeb homes but those maps are too hard to read!), and went to John MacArthur’s church (www.gracechurch.org). What a blessing! My husband loves John Macarthur and it was so neat to be at his church when I hear him on the radio all the time and David uses his Bible LOL!

Anyway, I feel so blessed to have been able to have a relaxing weekend to spend with a dear friend. David never gets to take trips like this and I hate that, but his job prevents it. I feel like sometimes people think it is wrong of me or not fair to go without him, but when I sit at home with 3 children everyday (don’t get me wrong, I know that is the life I chose for myself) and never have a sitter or a break bc we hardly know anyone here, it is really nice to be able to have a weekend to myself (well Simon was with me but he is easy!)

Many blessings for a great sunshiny beautiful day!,
Mandy

P.S. Here are a couple pics!

A Little Church Humor

He he…

On Sunday morning, our pastor was doing announcements and he said:

“This Wednesday night’s supper will be potluck. So bring all your pot and all your luck and we’ll have ourselves a good time.”

LOL! It was hiliarious! Yes, my husband and I still have a childish humor but that will keep us young, I suppose.

P.S. If you don’t get the announcement, email me and I’ll fill you in…

My Favorite Hymn

As I grow older, I have a new appreciation for the great hymns of our faith. This one is by far my favorite!

Take My Life and Let It Be

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee;
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

“Take my will and make it thine, It shall no longer be mine.”

That line seems to sum me up right now.

What are your favorite hymns?