Fall Into Flavor - Apple Dip

Slice your apples, clean your fingers, spoons up, elbows bent, and dig in!!!

Linda happy late Monday to ya! I hope your daughter's pre-birthday was awesome and that her actual day is a blast!

Linda has hosted the deliscrumptulosis flavornastic recipe exchange! Pop on over and see what the others have posted.

I love this dip and it makes it possible to have an entire block of cream cheese to yourself. What's that? You say, "No way!", Well, "Yes way!"

Sliced apples of your choice

One brick of cream cheese

brown sugar

vanilla

I'll be honest I don't typically measure everything. If I were to "eye" it the brown sugar needs to be close to a cup, let's say 3/4 and the vanilla should be a teaspoon, but I go all the way and pour about a tablespoon. To each his own right?

This makes the best dip! Way better than the caramel store bought dips with tons of added preservatives. I LOVE IT!!!

Tootles, Chel

My Foolishness, HIS Holiness

Perhaps the moment I truly knew Jesus deeply loved me and longed for me was when I was 17. I had been living like an utter heathen, simply disgraceful! One day while with my friend we returned to her home and there I met a woman who looked extremely familiar. I could not recall who she was; but she was Mrs. Brown, Jamie’s grandmother. My memories rushed to me back from when I was 5 years old. I was in my Sunday school class with Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Brown. This was the Mrs. Brown who led me to Jesus! I felt Jesus inside me and realized He had been there all along; my wonderful, merciful Savior had never left me! I felt a love I could not explain or even begin to understand. Although I was not completely on the right track after that moment, I was now determined to try. After turning 18, I moved in with my aunt and uncle, 6 hours from home. I knew my sinful ways were deeply engrained within me, but I was finally listening to the voice I had worked so hard to ignore.

At age 23, married and living in another state I began to read the Bible starting in James. With my heart, eyes, and ears open I read James 4:17, “For he who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, to him it is a sin.” These words pierced my heart and although they may not sound like a love note to you, they sure were to me! I finally realized, through this verse, that Jesus had more in store for my life and it was more than I could ever imagine. This verse serenaded the deepest parts of my soul. Even though I was completely clueless to His plans, that verse shook something deep within me. Then in my foolishness, I began to create my mental check list of do’s and don’ts. The epitome of a goody two shoes I would be; furthermore, I became a stark contrast to the heathen at the beginning of this story. Now I knew beyond all doubt that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16. Jesus had my attention and my all, finally. My good and bad checklist seemed to working for me or was it? I thought back to lining up the neighborhood boys when I was in 4th grade and telling them how their language would send them to the “bad place.” There seems to have been a Pharisee in the making and my checklist needed to go. In total grace and love for me, my Jesus inoculated my Pharisaical ways and set me free. I now realized that a check list was not on His list of desires for my life, but a heart full of devotion was.

Even as late as yesterday, I stand amazed over the Word of God and His people. I learned from Joni Eareckson Tada that I can borrow the Savior’s smile when I cannot seem to find mine. Beth Moore posted on her blog to for her readers to pray for her since she was to speak from 2 Corinthians 3-5 this week. In order to pray specifically, I opened my Bible and began to read, while relishing every word, I found something new that caused my soul to shudder. I discovered that my soul is a letter! In verse 2, Paul tells his readers that they are a letter, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.” This struck me to the innermost! Our souls are letters about the cross, the empty tomb, and a living breathing walking talking testimony of our Wonderful, Merciful Savior. I need nothing else to fall for on the face of this earth. I have no need of cupid’s arrows or love potion #9 when I have the Word of God, the scent of Jesus, and His Holiness to cover up my foolishness.

"Who are You that God would use YOU?"

What-A-Question!!!! Has anyone ever asked you this question? I hope not.



Unfortunately, it has happened to me, but there is freedom from the implications of this question found in Hosea, Psalms, Believing God.





History of the book:


Hosea was told by God to take for himself an adulterous wife. (I know!) Basically he had heartache & frustration to look forward to. Hosea was being asked to be an example of how God truly deeply loves His sinful people. (What? God intended this horrible pain to be gain?????)

The major themes of this book addresses sin of the nation, God's judgement, God's love and ultimate restoration.



We have a good Sunday School teacher that poignantly uncovered another theme, a sub-theme that I had never considered, by asking us one question. Our teacher asked us all, "How much ridicule do you think Hosea must have received while addressing the nation's sins.......when his house was full of it?" (some liberty taken with question for effect)

He must have been mocked and ridiculed, deemed unworthy and incapable. Why would God use Hosea? I dare not ask. After all, his wife was an adulterous prostitute and he could not control her or bring her to repentance. Would you follow this man?



You see we are not always aware of the whole of persecution especially when it comes from other believers. Sometimes the persecution we face in Christ is from brothers and sisters in Christ. Sad, but true. I am not writing this for you to conclude, "poor Rachele, someone hurt her feelings," but I write this to let you know that YOU TRULY ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE! {Thanks Beth, we're still believing God.}



There have been a influx of hurting people thrust into my life recently and I had asked a friend to pray over a certain area in my life as well. She has been and I do love her dearly; but she has asked me not once, but twice, "Who are you to help these ladies, when you can't fix your own stuff?" Well first of all I wish I could fix my stuff, but it is not necessarily within my control. It is all around me. I most certainly daily ask God to keep me from stumbling. I had need of prayer. (Who doesn't?)

And then God in His wisdom sent me a few women who are very UN-happily married. So, I shared that much with her because I wanted prayer as I did my best to obey HIM and be there for them. God had placed this huge task in my life and I attempted to share it with my friend. When I requested prayer, her response was not that "she would pray for me" or even that "God might teach me while helping them" but the question....Who Are You? Now, please know I do love this friend dearly and I don't think for one minute that she meant me harm.

By the way, with all that God has appointed to me, the honor of acting upon in prayer or service, I have never felt that I was the cat's pajamas. I actually daily ask God who am I that you would trust me with ___________? He just always reminds me that I am HIS. And so ARE YOU!!!



Anyway, I have never felt the need to respond to her because I am who God says I am. And I will do what God asks me to do. How do you really respond to that without sounding defensive? Plus I was baffled not hurt.

Whether you have the right to be or not, defensive that is, people automatically get defensive back when you defend yourself especially when it is ridiculous. So, according to Psalm 5, I allowed the Lord to defend me because, God can do what He says He can do. (thank you so much Beth).



Psalm 5, NKJV, "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You."



Hosea, you, and I may go out boldly regardless of our past, regardless of our home lives, all because He has sent us. You are able and capable because it is God alone who gives you that strength and He is alive and active in you! (Oh Beth, you just bless us so! You're the dear one,..............., no you are!) as if she were reading my blog! ha! lol



God will ask the uncomfortable of you. God will ask you to speak up maybe not from a podium or megaphone, but He will ask you to speak, mark HIS word. The way I see it is this, God will let you out of your box or squeeze you out of it.



Yes, where there is sin there is anger, pain, and the feeling of justice loss. But with God there is redemption and blessing after repentance. Hosea 14: 4 God speaks, "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them."



Did-you-see-that??? He will heal the waywardness, not just discipline, not just ask repentance from it, but He will heal it all. Why? Because He loves us so much.

Psalm 32:5 has brought me great freedom from guilt. If you see that He will heal our waywardness and still wonder how, read Psalm 32:5 (NLT), "Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone."



My fellow sojourners we are freed from sin's grip, guilt of past sin, and from all guilt!



I could go on but my question is, "Who are we to ask whom God chooses to use?" If God is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do, I am who God says I am, and I can do all things through Christ whose word is alive and active in me.....then why do we question what God does and the person He chooses to use?



I know there are those who feel no remorse or repentance for the things they do. They are ignoring His voice in rebellion, but those who truly love God and want to serve HIM for HIM are free indeed! We must encourage one another regardless of past and circumstances and work with repentant hearts; hold your ridicule even from your self and move forward in grace, freedom, and victory!

And again to add to what my Sunday school teacher asked us, "Do you fake an injury in order to sit on the bench instead of joining God's team?" Hosea could have cried uncle but God wanted more regardless of the mess around him.



In the deepest love of Jesus,

Chel - one ordinary abiding branch with baggage (a lot of baggage!)

Social Security - Same Old Story, Same Old Song

Dear readers this is so ridiculous you may not believe it at first due to the ridiculous nature.



I have in my possession an old news magainze from 1937 called Real America. Within this issue there are articles regarding Prohibition, Clipper Ships (airplanes), Our Horse and Buggy Traction System, and several articles on crooked politicians and government promises.









This song may have a different tempo these days but the media and the issues are the same now as they were then. REALLY??? Yes, really.





An excerpt from section titled, For A Better America, states, "Social Security: Those who have examined critically the Social Security Act find it as full of flaw as a wormy apple, but it's a start in the right direction. It must be ammended and perfected, and it will be. The thing for us to remember is that the right for those who do the work of America to look forward to a secure old age has been admitted by our government, and that effort is being made to guarantee this security."




Does this sound familiar to anyone else but me?




Chel

Fall Into Flavor with Orange Bread!!!

I love this stuff!! I mean really really love it!!!! With butter without butter but always warm!

I have fallen into love with Fall Into Flavor with Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee, brew you a pot and head over to her blog for more wonderful recipes!



Orange Bread

Ingredients:

Peeling from 2 to 3 oranges 3 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp salt 2 T melted shortening
1 cup sugar 1 egg well beaten
1 cup water 3 tsp baking powder

I always cut the peel very small so that it ends up tasting like candy.

Bring to a boil the orange peel in the cup of water with the sugar, & salt and simmer 10-15 minutes until a thin syrup is created. Set aside and cool to luke warm.

Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add beaten egg to liquid mix and add enough water to make 2 cups of liquid. Then add the shortening. Blend liquid mixture and dry together. Pour into greased & floured dough pan. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm.

Enjoy!

Chel

Man of Sorrows: Our Blessed Jesus!

Please hop on over to my other blog for the names of God carnival. I am dedicated to this and even if you do not participate (which is ok) please pray for this because it is about HIM.

Please this button (the picture) and go on over there to leave a comment if you will pray regarding the Names of God.

I really want to see His name proclaimed all over this blogosphere! http://racheleposey.blogspot.com/2008/10/man-of-sorrows-our-blessed-jesus.html

Love you all deeply!!! When you get to the post if you want to participate please steal my button, write yours, tag mine, and leave a comment so we can all see WHO you are braggin' on today.

Love ya! CHEL

WFMW - Look Ma No Hands (prints that is!)

Thank you Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for your wonderful Works-for-me-Wednesday opportunities to share our knowledge and experients (lol) with one another!!!


Stanley Home Products Grime Guard Glass Cleaner!! This product works and actually repels fingerprints. No LIE! It repels water spots and dirt on your glass and surfaces.

I used this product and then proceeded to put my fingers and hands all over the window and there was nothing, no prints, no smears, no yucky stuff, just this smooth clean surface! And it smells clean too, no strong ammonia scent lingering around.
I do suggest you find yourself a Stanley Home Products representative and have a party. I am having one in January because you get a portion of the total in free product.

I will be trying other products and posting them each week. Come back by next week to hear how the degreaser works on my kitchen floors!!! I will try to take before and after pictures even though that may reveal a very dark side to me! YIKES!
Chel

Laugh At ME Moment!!

Ok, you four readers you are going to get a giggle in your soul and a tickle in innerds out of this.

I started off having a very bad day mood wise today. I won't go into all the details but after reading an article in the Discipleship Journal (Sept/Oct 2008) by Joni Eareckson Tada titled, "Borrowing God's Smile," I realized that I did not borrow His smile this morning or even ask for one. But He chose to give it to me anyway!

BTW, this will lead into another name of God to share about later, Man of Sorrows. I will go more into this smile-thang with that post, so stay tuned.

Back on track, I never get side tracked I do not know what is wrong with me...lol...This article showed me a thing or two. But His Smile taught me a lot.

My hubby and I were not on a great page this morning. I accomplished a HUGE long over due task last night and was up until 1:00 AM finishing it. I felt unnoticed and unappreciated for a list of reasons. We said I love you and I left for work....late....and I was a complaining desert dweller!

I called him and told him that I noticed the bath tub was not draining and it was either after washing our quilt or cleaning the shower, either way he said he would take a look at it. This was 10:00 AM.

11:00 AM the phone rings, it is hubby. He said that he had called to tell me about the drain problem. The tub was PLUGGED! Yes you read that right. I poured "stuff" down it and used the plunger. All the while during the process of cleaning the tiles I had hit the lever and plugged the tub!!! Too funny!!! I cracked my lips here but read the next paragraph for my full smile!!!

In a way that when only a humble man (ie Hubby) or God himself can do, I was made to smile with God's smile...hubby told me not to feel too bad because he had done the same thing. But he took even more drastic measures than I had. I only plunged twice and poured stuff once then walked away. He said he plunged like crazy and worked hard trying to figure out the problem only to find the drain was plugged.

The point, even though I read this article at lunch, I recognized in hindsight that I had failed to ask Jesus for His smile. I awoke not really feeling like sharing one of mine. My hubby and I were not exactly full of grace with one another, now it was not dis-grace, but still. Lesson learned here, I must ask Jesus for His glorious breath taking smile when I can't muster one up. And as I read in 2 Corinthians 3 today that I am a letter to others. My soul is the writing on the cross and the empty tomb, a living walking breathing testimony of my Wonderful Merciful Savior and I had a frown, well really more than that. I was down right pitiful!!! Being the Wonderful Merciful Savior that He is, even though I did not ask for it, He delivered His smile anyway!

Wow!!! What Grace that continues to amaze me! I should probably let someone read that chapter on my soul!!

To read this article make a note to yourself and once it is archived you can read it or go ask someone at church for this issue. You won't be sorry, I wasn't!!

You know we ask for His heart to love, His eyes to see, His appetite for the WORD, etc.
But I ask God to Bless Me and You ALL and May (I) You Smile with God's Smile especially when we misplace ours.

Chel

Fall Into Flavor: Green Bean Casserole

A simple but alluring dish, the Green Bean Casserole, is a must on my Thanksgiving table. (side bar, isn't it funny how the leaves fall this time of year but our weight rises???? geez!)

Thank you Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for the beautiful button and groovy idea to share our fall favs!!! For more recipes to delight your taste buds hop on over to her blog and check it all out!

(edit.....I realized that I had thought this WAS the original recipe, no not KFC, but for the green bean cass. My aunt shared it with me before I was married 16 1/2 years ago. Later I found out that this was NOT the original.) DUH!

I decided to share this dish because my mother-in-law (I have two, long story!! LOL) loves mine. She is so funny because she can't stand green bean casserole. I use much of the same ingredients but mine is thicker or creamier or something. Ah, yes made with LOVE. AWWWW!

Ingredients:

2 Cans of Green beans (prefer french style)
1 can of cream of mushroom (I do prefer the brand on this one)
1 small can of durkee onions or 1/2 of the large can
salt
pepper
GARLIC & VELVETTA (I think these are what makes it for her)

I use a round casserole dish.

Directions:
I completely drain one can of the breans and then put the beans and the cream of mushroom into the dish and mix.

Sprinkle a little salt and pepper to taste.

Next add minced garlic or garlic powder. I don't usually measure garlic but I dust the top of the dish with the powder and then stir.

Pour in 3/4 of the can of onions and stir.

Bury about 7 small pieces of velvetta into the casserole (6 around the inner edge then one chunk in the middle.)

Cover and bake at 350 until bubbling, remove and stir, then add the rest of the onions then bake uncovered until they are browned.

Whala! You have a creamy version with an unexpected flavor (Velvetta).

Branded and Labeled, "Diary of Anne Frank"

Today I saw the Diary of Anne Frank at our local college; my friend's daughter was in it. She was fabulous!! Just in case you're wondering the ending was the same. {sob, sob, sigh}v Ok, this is probably my longest post, so bear with me. I was moved in so many ways I feel like I will be taking you down the hopscotch trail!!


The scene opens with the Frank and the van Daan Families entering into hiding and taking cover in the attic. Right away I noticed the huge gold stars on their clothing. After settling, they began to rip off their “stars”, the mark of the Jew. They felt freedom and relief by removing this brand off their clothing. (A much differing perspective than what we see today, eh?) I shudder to think of it all! My spirit was so heavy when I left that play today and remains so this evening.


Moving along, at one point toward the end the boy, Peter van Daan, said he would “never be a Jew again” and Anne reacted, “What do you mean?! You would get baptized, become a Christian? You know you will always be Jew inside?”…Oh the agony and the truth in that statement….Once a Jew always a Jew in the sense of birth and what an honor, Chosen First among all to be the “race” of our blessed Messiah, Jesus! But we know that inside if he truly sought out Jesus he would be very different!


By this point my tears were rivers and my thoughts booming sounds of thunder. Then something Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee said came to my mind, “Why does anything have to be labeled "Christian?" Very good question! [isn't funny to think of someone you have never met in the midst of a family outting? and isn't it funny how one word, statement, or question can spark something in another person?]


I then began to think of “branding” and the use of the word Maverick for John McCain and how this term actually was for unbranded livestock. (long story, details not applicable) Anyway, being unbranded is a brand in and of itself. I agree with Linda especially in regards to how the emotion was portrayed by these young actors in this very real play. It does break my heart into many many pieces to think of how this young man felt the need to rip off his "label"; furthermore, turn his back on his religion and become Christian (not because of Jesus otherwise this would be a turning point) but because of the Nazi regime. Being a Jew was now marred in his sight, a horrible label, and would bring bnothing but horrible memories. Memories, that is if he would be so blessed to live and have them. But Anne’s father was the only one that lived.




This also made me think of how Christians are also branded with no visible marks like “the Star of David” or “the scars of our Lord”, but by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that was poured upon us when we believed in Jesus as our Savior. This brand is very real and very visible, especially when it is lacking – boy oh boy is it visible then (AMEN or OH ME!). So, I thought I would pose some questions to you that I have thought of often.




1. Do you know people who won’t put a Christian symbol on their car so if they speed they are not branded? (Same as Peter here? Removing our star and denouncing our birthright?)


The word says that (1) in Matthew 5:17-18 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

A jot is the smallest letter in the Greek or even Hebrew alphabet and a tittle is the smallest mark (the dot of an I). Nothing will escapte our Christ; He is going to fulfill every bit of it, the laws and the prophesies.

2. Do you know people who will not send “labeled” Christmas cards that say “Jesus” in the event that friends or family are offended?


The word also says (2) in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 that 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. And Jeremiah 6:10 says “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.”

I often wonder how offensive it must be turning in (ratting on) someone who is threatening to harm themselves, others, or having an intervention for an addict but we do it because we love them and want them “safe”. We are to tell people about Jesus for the “safe” eternal dwelling of our loved ones. Hmmmm. Just a thought I have had.

3. Do you know people who remove their “label” in order to accomplish a fleshly or worldly task/desire?


Oh this one, #3, breaks our hearts doesn’t it? Do we know people who have turned their backs on Christ to have “fun” & be that prodigal in order to go experience things for themselves? This is one is much harder to touch. I think we have all done this in a way whether it lasted a long time or a brief time. But Hebrews 6:6 says this to us for this action, “if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”


And Hebrews 10:37-39, “37For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”


And James 5:19-20, “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” {warm fuzzies and smiles here}

4. Ok, this one is scary, because believe me I am asking myself all these questions as well….do you know people who will remove their “label” in order to save their own life?”


Finally “saving our own lives” by denying Christ, I HOPE THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS NO FOR ALL OF US. And let us not be like Simon Peter by behaving in a way in order not be “united” with Christ in His sufferings. Let’s just say after reading the WORD, lessoned learned by Peter, but what about us? There may come a day where Christians may have to go into hiding like Anne and her family or the Ten Boom family. Do not forget either that families in other countries are having to meet in secret or be jailed even killed.


Take Hitler for example, he came into power very subtly at first. He basically snuck up on them all, on all of them really. First he helped them out of a financial crisis, then he began to put himself in the public’s eye in order to continue to caress the people in ways they wanted to hear. He also then he began to place his people into positions of power. Well the rest is horribly dark history, but just remember it began as a very sly sneak attack. {resembling that sly snake in the "Garden" no doubt!} Make no doubts that his “memoirs” were written and published BEFORE his rise to power, yet no one saw the signs. He made himself known in print then by sound bites with financial plans and I could go on but it is getting too sad and scary.


As moving as the Diary of Anne Frank is there is another lady, a matriarch to our Christian heritage, Corrie Ten Boom. Her family was Christian and they hid Jews from the Nazi Gestapo. Please read her story you will be blessed and not to mention on fire with the Spirit of the Mighty God. You must read about the "blessing of the lice and flees".



My point is that the Ten Boom family risked their lives to literally save others physically and eternally. Thereby fulfilling the blessing of our Lord when He said in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” These people went into hiding to save their lives; these people went into hiding to save souls.


Hebrews 3:8 "do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,"

Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Hebrews 3:15 "As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."

Hebrews 4:7 "Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."


So dear friends and myself....don’t allow your heart to harden by the struggles and trials of today but proudly where your “label” or “brand”, share your faith, lose your life, and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!! (Matthew 6:33)

Political Humor - A must see!!!!

As I was blogging around today I came to Living in the Land of Pink and saw this video. I cried I laughed so hard!!! So now I am going to share it with you too!!!

Ok, you will have to scroll down and pause my player in order to hear this.

You do NOT want to miss it!!!
Chel



john mccain does streisand

Name Carnival

If I can get more to participate I will start telling you all what your names mean! :-)
Don't comment here, click on the picture and hop over to my other blog and steal my button, write on a name, read, comment, and don't forget to tell us your link to your name post.

God Bless!

WFMW - The First Tee of Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you Shannon for hosting the Works for me Wednesday, it is always a pleasure to read and participate with all the bloggers!


The First Tee golf instruction program of Fort Worth has been a wonderful thing in my family. It truly works for us!! Not only has it improved the golf in my children but it has also forged family time, friendships, and fun into our lives.



My daughter participated in her first golf tournament for school and she made a 5th place showing after a tie for 4th was lost by score card play off. (performance for the last few holes).



This was fabulous and even her school coach credited the First Tee and told the other golfing gals that he wished they would all join! This program originally started in order to give inner-city kids with less opportunity a costly sport with little to no cost to them.

The First Tee is more than golf it is life skills and these kids have class with class!!! You see all kinds of people on the golf course old and young, male and female and you can find the 9 core values missing in their games.



My kids know the 9 Core Values and have benefited greatly from each one ~ after all who wouldn't benefit from these:

Honesty

Integrity

Responsibility

Courtesy

Confidence

Perseverance

Judgement

Sportsmanship

Respect

My precious princess shaved 33 strokes off her game from the last (& first) time she played 18 holes. She learned perseverance right off the first tee (pun intended). Her first tournaments were in the pouring rain and she finished it all the way to the end. Her confidence was shining yesterday as she finished with a score of 100 for her 2nd time out there. She used great sportsmanship, judgement, and courtesy in approaching a girl who did not appear to know how to count all her strokes. I could list each exhibited value but you see where I am headed, the First Tee and especially the The First Tee of Fort Worth has truly grown my daughter and given her goals to reach for.



My son has been in program for 2 1/2 to 3 years and beats most men that my husband brings to play. In one week he shot 2 and 3 over par more than once in North Texas Junior PGA tournaments and won the Fort Worth City Championship for his age group. For his age the only play 9 holes but that is a lot for 7-12 year olds to walk and carry their bags.



My husband has been helping as a volunteer coach and has made some new good friends and I don't have to tell you how tough that is for men. He has exercised the 9 core values with other people's children and learned a lot about golf himself by watching instructions.





I am working on a way to use this logo I have created. I can see it on shirts, totes, fanny packs, and water bottles. I just need to get to it. I am going to pull some resources together and bring Christ into the picture if only by putting this on our clothes.



See hole 19 is often referred to the club house which may have inference to drinking alcohol, so since this is mostly children, I thought I would take it a step further and offer the Living Water instead!


After all, our lives are All Fore Him anyway!
Chel

Fall Into Flavor - Pumpkin Dump Cake

Linda at 2nd-cup-of-coffee has this wonderful Fall Festival on her site. Not only will you rejoice but your taste buds will delight. We have removed all the fat and the calories too, so jump over there and submit a recipe or two!!

Pumpkin Dump Cake

3 eggs
1 large can evaporated milk
1 16oz can pumpkin
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

1 box yellow cake mix
Pecans
2 sticks of margarine

Mix the above (except the cake mix, pecans, margarine) and pour into an ungreased 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle 1 box yellow cake mix over the top. Melt 2 sticks of margarine and pour over top. Sprinkle with pecans. Bake one hour at 350 degrees. Serve warm with cool whip or ice cream.

I don't know who made this up but it is one of my new favorites. I have a lot of Fall favorites in the way of food. It is my favorite season for everything that is involving my 6 six senses (yes I know I said 6, lol)

I received this from my church bunco group. This was so wonderful I have to share it and I share it often. Thank you FBC Saginaw Ladies!!! Your friendship and fellowship in Christ and Bunco means more to me than you could possibly know.

We have such wonderful sweet ladies at our church. These ladies in this group are fun, exciting, infectious with laughter, organizers, hostesses with more mostessess than I have ever seen, great cooks, great prize buyers, generous, approachable, and most of all the Love of Christ is seen in each of them!!! Awww, I love you gals!!! :-)

This is fabulous!!! I am NOT kidding. You will love it, everyone will devour it. You will crave it. It is a must for this Fall and I'm not kidding ya'll!!!

Chel

Blog Hop and Name Drop

Come on! Don't be afraid, just click here on this button, read a little, relish a little, then think of a Name of God that means so much to you and leave a comment with a link to your post....let's go Name Droppin' In the Name of the Lord, It is the Sweetest Name of All! My post will be there at 12:01....then you take it from there!

Very Sad Today

A very dear lady has gone to be with Lord. Her name is Martha Evans Valancius and I wrote this poem for her: http://racheleposey.blogspot.com/2008/08/time-well-spent.html

My son's middle name is Evan, in honor of her.

She was very dear to me and a living example of the Proverbs 31 Woman. She inspired me beyond belief and she and her husband Stan who arrived Home before her, were truly a Godsend to my life. She was a mentor among mentors and I wish I had been able to spend more than 4 years with her, but it was truly Time Well Spent.

She was taken by lung cancer and never smoked a day in her life. You just had to know what a true lady she was. She often laughed at herself because if she would stumble from an uneven floor she would say that she was a ballerina and they don't look down when they walk.

She was a woman of virture in every sense of the word. She served with a smile and provided for me and my soon to arrive son, a wonderful babyshower in her home. My favorite drip-beef roast and my daughter's favorite sweet and sour sausage were her recipes!! And I added them to a recipe book I created in 2005 called From the Manger to a Masion: Recipes of a Lifetime.

Never having worked outside the home, she could give most CEO's and CFO's a run for their money with her ecomoic skills (there was nothing "girly" about 'em). She was amazing and the loss on earth is great today but I know that Heaven rejoices and she heard on Monday, "Well done good and faithful servant!" Then I know He opened His arms wide because even Jesus was eager to spend time with this woman.

Please pray today for the void this matriarch has left in her families lives but rejoice because she is with her LORD today!

VIDEO Spog

Well I wanted to post my video. It was loading for 2 hours and still going last night when I had to go to bed. So, this morning I looked at it and it was 225 MB large! So, I will re-do if it isn't too late and get back with you all later today!! I will let the SPOG roll. (speaking my blog)
Sorry Linda! I tried.

UPDATE: I finally got it to work! The only bad thing is that now I am 10 pounds lighter!!!! (sigh)

( I did it!!!!) woo hoo!!


Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee was so creative to challenge us all to do this video blog and I failed but I will try again. Come back by later....



See ya on the e-side,
Chel