Embracing Change

I found this story in my email and thought it was important to think about, with the inauguration coming up. And for changes in our personal lives too. ~Anastasia
January 14, 2009 at 09:45

Embrace Change

The other night as I was getting ready for bed, I became overwhelmed with fear, not of anything specific, but of what ifs. I read it's common after losing a loved one to fear another upset, to worry over change in general.

"Here, Mom," my son handed me his book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

In the middle of reading his bedtime story about a caterpillar becoming a butterfly I realized so many children's books are about change yet it's an issue many of us struggle with throughout our lives. Whether it's changing jobs, relationships, residences, even positive changes can cause stress.

More often than not though, there are gifts in each transformation. Even in my lowest lows after losing my sister, I felt the strength of love in a way I never had before, a way that's opened my heart.

Later that night, reading my prayer book my eyes fell on this passage:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths."

Yes, I thought. Trust. Let go of wanting things to be predictable and the same. Think of the beautiful butterfly.
FROM: http://www.ourprayer.org/blog/user/sabra

fun little game I just dug out while looking for something else...

Can you find the names of 16 books from the Bible in the paragraph below without the aid of your Bible?

I once make the remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu; kept some people looking so hard for facts... and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized. But the truth finally struck home to numbers of our readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there wil be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a monister to find one of them and there will be loud lementations wien it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of teas so she can concentrate better. see how well you can compete. FRelax now, for there really are sixteen names of books of the Bible in this paragraph.

Baked Spaghetti

I first had this at my sister's house, she made it for dinner. YUM! You can't go wrong with Paula Deen. You can find this recipe here.

Baked Spaghetti

Prep Time: 30 min

Cook Time: 1 hr 55 min

Level: Easy

Serves:10 servings

2 cups canned diced tomatoes
2 cups tomato sauce
1 cup water
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons House Seasoning, recipe follows
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 small bay leaves
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
1 cup grated cheddar
1 cup grated Monterey Jack

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a stockpot, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, onions, peppers, garlic, parsley, seasoning mixtures, sugar, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat and let simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Crumble the ground beef in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until fully cooked, with no pink color remaining. Drain the fat from the meat, and then add the ground beef to the stockpot. Simmer for 20 more minutes. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Cover the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan with sauce. Add a layer of pasta and then a little less than 1/2 of each cheese; repeat the layers, ending with the sauce. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Top the casserole with the remaining cheese, return it to the oven, and continue to cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 more minutes. Cut into squares before serving.

House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups
Preparation tine: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy

Christmas 2009 Challenge

snagged from abundant blessings' blog




Anyone want to join my challenge?

Here's the challenge:
Part 1: This month (January), or whatever month you start this in if you first see it later in the year, you write up the list of people you need to give gifts to at Christmas in 2009. Then for each month of 2009 you make (or purchase) at least one gift. Then when Christmas rolls around, you should be good and ready, or at least ahead in the game.

Part 2: (optional), Also at some time during 2009 you need to make your Christmas cards (if that is something you usually do, or something you want to do this year). They have to be done before November.

By starting now you will have plenty of time to listen to comments made by those hard to shop/make for people on your list.

Yummy Breakfast Recipe

Happy New Year everyone. I saw this recipe and it looks so good, I had to share! God bless you all this new year of 2009! ~ Anastasia

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound sage flavored breakfast sausage
• 3 cups shredded potatoes, drained and pressed
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 12 ounces mild Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup onion, shredded
• 1 (16 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
• 6 jumbo eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch square baking dish.
2. Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
3. In the prepared baking dish, stir together the shredded potatoes and butter. Line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with the mixture. In a bowl, mix the sausage, Cheddar cheese, onion, cottage cheese, and eggs. Pour over the potato mixture.
4. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the casserole comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. From HTTP://ALLRECIPES.COM
   

Mysterious Ways

I found this in my email from Guideposts, a Mysterious Ways article that I thought was wonderful and wanted to share. ~ Anastasia.

Follow the Leader

Stuck in a heavy snowstorm, my guide dog was as blind as me. Who could show us the way?

By Sandy Seltzer
Mineola, New York

Dustin, my California-bred guide dog, was having trouble outside our Long Island apartment. This was his first snowstorm and he was confused. I'm blind, and I wasn't doing so well either. No one was out, so there were no sounds to steer me. Contrary to what many people think, guide dogs do not find the way for a blind person. The blind person directs the dog.

After a harrowing 45 minutes, Dustin and I finally made it back. But guide dogs must be walked regularly. "Next time why don't you ask God to go with you?" a friend suggested. And so I did. "Lord, go with Dustin and me. The wind is so fierce it's hard to concentrate on our direction. Lead us."

Snow stung our faces and it was difficult to make a path. Dustin whined a little. "Okay, boy," I said to him, "the Lord is with us." And then I gave him a command that a blind person gives only when another person is leading the way: "Dustin, follow!"

Dustin perked up and to my astonishment took off as though he knew exactly where to go. We made it to the street, then headed back to our building—no problem.

A young woman trudged up and offered to walk us to our door. "We'll just follow your footprints," she said. "Yours and the dog's, and that other person's."

"What other person?" I asked.

"There's a dog's prints. And your prints. And a larger person's prints. Wasn't someone with you?"

I paused for a moment and then I answered, "Oh yes, there was someone with us." There always is.

Congratulations to the winners...

Bailey's Basics and Phil of Philz Corner

I will be sending out the prizes this week. Also, for those wanting to play along, I will post the answers to the song titles next week. So put your thinking caps on and if you want, email the answers to me and I will check to see if they are right. ;)

1 Day Left

Hurry up! The contest ends tomorrow! Not much time left to send in your answers!

2 Days Left..

There's still time, the contest ends this Sunday. Keep playing and sending me those answers!

CAN YOU NAME THAT CHRISTMAS SONG?

DON'T CHEAT!!!! I'll know if you cheated!

Figure out the titles of these popular Christmas songs. You MUST email your answers by 12/14/08, to me at

For a list of contest rules, see this post

To see what you are playing for a chance to win, please see this post


When emailing your answers be sure to include your name, address, country (if appropriate), and most importantly... your etsy username!


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND..............................






GO!





My sold desire for this Yuletide Season is receipt of a pair of central incisors.

From dark ‘til dawn. Soundless and sanctimonious

Celestial Messengers from Splendid Empires

The antlered quadruped with the cerise proboscis

The event occurred at one minute after 11:59 p.m. with visibility unlimited

Ornament enclosure with large sprigs of berry-bearing evergreen

Personal hallucinations of alabaster December 25th

Anticipation of this Noel’s mementos: Nil

Clappered, inverted cups, amalgamated

Testimony of witness of maternal parent’s infidelity with Kris Kringle

In a distant bovine diner

Universal elation

O miniature Nazarene Village.

The approach of the holiday commemorating the birth of Christ is become evident

May Jehovah grant unto you makes hilarious retirement

Those of you, who are true, come here!

Are you detecting same aural sensations as I am?

The diminutive male of less than adult age who plays a percussion instrument

Primary Yuletide

Heavenly cherubs announcing in song – listen

Reining Monarchs of the Far East

Who’s the mystery kid?

Proclaim it to the hills

Pastoral woolies nocturnally observed in vigilance by herdsmen

Village expectations of a yuletide emissary

What are the prizes you ask?

Here they are ....





In addition to all that, a custom etsy banner and avatar package from wingsdove

and these earrings from kellierene

*~* *~* List of participating shops.

The following shops are providing prizes for the gift basket.

Erika Price Designs
Jo Bead
Matt's Crafty Wife
Cherry's Creations
MF Cardworks
Amy's Treasures
Kellierene
Flamingo Lady
WingsDove

Feed the Children...

I was channel surfing earlier tonight, some time after 7, looking for something to watch. I started out watching L&O on TNT then went down the line looking to see what else was on. I almost never watch my network, but when I was channel surfing I stopped. OK, I admit it, I only stopped because right as I put it on there, Dean Cain was on talking about something. Of course I got curious, after all, he has only gotten better looking as he's aged! *ahem*

So I left it on out of curiosity and he was talking about being in Kenya. I don't know what the show was about exactly, just that a handful of actors went to Kenya and spent time in the slums, orphanage, schools, feeing the kids and even on safari. I was watching Eyes on Kenya and from what I could tell, it was a joint effort with Feed the Children. The show itself was very eye opening and I'm sure, life changing for most of the people that watched it. For me though, even though I don't even own a passport, I know people live like that. I know that is reality for folks in Kenya, and really, other parts of the world.

Even though I grew up on the north side of Chicago, we weren't exactly rich. We had a nice apartment building, lived modestly and all, but if you looked closely, you would have seen all the things that were hand me downs and what not. But I still am not surprised or shocked when I see people living with less. While watching Eyes on Kenya I thought of the time I did a serving project on the south side. I had gone back to Willow Creek at the time (this was after I bought a new car, my old one was in too bad of shape for me to make the drive weekly from my house so I stopped going). I remember it was a Saturday morning in winter and the group I was put in went down to the south side to meet up with a church there. We split up in teams and were given a list of names and addresses and a bag of presents and off we went. The group I was in had the easiest assignment, we just went up and down the street the church was on. The other groups had to walk to other streets, one or two groups even went to the projects.

It's funny how being there felt like home to me. Even though I never hung out on the south side when I lived in the city, I still went to high school with a number of people that lived on the south side, some of whom lived in the projects, or knew people that did. I was probably the only person from Willow that wasn't shocked or surprised or freaked out by anything I saw. It was all normal to me. I guess that just goes to show you the difference between growing up in the suburbs vs the city.

Even though there were some nice looking homes, they still lacked things like adequate heating. I remember someone from my group being shocked/surprised/whatisthewordI'mlookingfor? at the sight of one of the houses. We walked back into the kitchen and the mom was cooking. She had all four burners going though, to heat the house. It's not that I'm jaded or anything, but to me that wasn't surprising or shocking or anything. That was everyday life for some people.

People who have never known what it's like to not have money, or struggle with finances, have no clue what it's like to not have money or struggle to make ends meet. Some of us have spent 20+ years living like that, while others who only go through seasons of that try to tell us what to do to get out of it. You know, there is no way to "get out of it". As easy as it is for you to say do this, this, and this, the reality is far different. We can't change our situations overnight and harping on us to do so and wagging your fingers at us for xyz isn't helping. though xyz is what you see and hear about at this moment, you don't know the whole story and you shouldn't harp on people for the way they live.

Just like those families on the south side can't snap their fingers and things will improve overnight, same goes for people like me.

At the end of the show the actors talked about giving the orphanage a Christmas present. They all pitched in and provided the resources for the orphanage to have a new school and sleeping quarters. It was heart warming to hear those actors talk about how this trip has changed them and how they were going to go back there again because they wanted to do more. I'm so sick and tired of seeing and hearing about celebrities who are spending thousands of dollars on clothes, purses, etc. Um, how about using your money for more important and better things?