BSF

Psalm 107:23-22
Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters,
They see the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.

Those verses were part of my Bible reading this morning.  Beside them in the margin of my Bible I have written, “BSF-CA, May 12, 2006.  Five years ago I was a group leader in Bible Study Fellowship, and quite content to continue serving in that position until I was and old lady!  Five years ago, as the BSF year was ending, I was asked to pray about being the class administrator in my class.  Scary thought to me.  The Lord used those verses to encourage me to step out in faith and not be afraid of all I was fearing, and to commit. He promised me that I would “see His works” and “His wonders” as I stepped into “deeper waters”.  Now I cannot believe it has been five years ago.  How timely to be reminded of His promises to me again, as Monday we ended our study in the book of Isaiah.  It was our Share Night and many women gave testimony of those works and wonders that the Lord had taught them this year!  It was a great evening!  And God has been so very faithful to His leading and promises to me personally!

It has been a great year!  The Lord has taught me many lessons.  And I have had the privilege of serving with some wonderful women.  Here is our admin team:

Emily, Stephanie, Sherry, April and Gayle

This is our class staff:  Class Administrator, me, Substitute Teaching Leader, Gail, Teaching Leader, Alethea, and Children’s Supervisor, Debbie. 

A great year?  Absolutely!  A welcome rest for the summer?  you bet!

Mother’s Day Cards

Here’s the cards I made for Mother’s Day this year.

This is Andrea’s card

This card was for my Mom in law

My Mom’s card

This one is for Robin

In Sunday School we made these cute little tea pots for the girls to take home for their Moms.  Inside we put a tea bag and a couple of pieces of Dove chocolates.  I think it was Andrea who brought one home to me years ago, with a cookie and a teabag inside.  I traced around her card and repeated it in Sunday School for years.  Then I saw a cute idea using packets of flower seed.  So I used that idea several times.  This year Andrea asked me to send her the pattern for the teapot to use in her Sunday School class.  Well, she thought the pattern was  a little rough and revamped it a bit and sent it back.  So, this is what the girls made!

Happy Mother’s Day…and crafting!

I’ll Make These Again!

That’s what I said the first time I made these enchiladas.  That was just a week ago and sure enough, I made them for dinner again last night.  In fact I was going to skip them since Wally was not going to be home and Wes seemed a little disappointed.  So I went ahead.. they are really easy. 

Have you seen these new Creamy Skillets next to the cream cheese at your grocery store?  They are made by Philadelphia Cream Cheese.  They come in different flavors and are designed to make dinner easy…toss in your own meat or pasta and add the creamy carton and wha-la---dinner is served!  We tried one of the savory garlic flavors that you use over pasta and chicken when Andrea was here visiting.  It was ok.  But the Santa Fe blend with the chicken enchilada recipe is a definite repeat!  Here’s the recipe:

• 1 small onion chopped
• 3 Cups shredded chicken (I used 2 chicken breasts)
• 1 can 14.5 oz. can tomatoes, drained (I used a can of 10 oz. Rotel tomatoes, not drained)
• 1 tub Philadelphia Santa Fe Blend Cooking Crème
• 1/2 Cup Mexican style shredded cheese
• 8- 6” flour tortillas (Both times I made this I got ten out of the recipe)

Cook chicken and shred.  Sauté onions in a little oil or cooking spray.  Stir in chicken, tomatoes, 3/4 Cup of cooking crème and the shredded cheese.  Spoon about 1/3 cup of mixture onto center of tortilla.  Roll and place seam side down in 9x13 dish treated with cooking spray. Top with remaining cooking crème. Cover and bake in 350* oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Let me tell you, if you have any leftover, they won’t be for long.  Wesley got a little possessive over the four we had left last time I made them and staked his claim on them.  They are that good!

He’s Making a Difference

My brother Scott works for King Soopers.  He has for just over 36 years now.And for nearly all of that 36 years he has been at the same store.  On Easter when we were altogether, sometime during the meal, Scott says, ”So I guess you all never look at your King Soopers ad.”  Honestly, I have hardly looked at any of the grocery ads in several weeks.  I haven't been doing very good shopping lately…just using the go and grab method!  I am pretty good at looking at my Michael’s and Joann’s ads though!  Well, of course we want to know if he was in it!   And he was!  Right there with the avocados on sale!

I happen to know that Scott really does make a difference.  I’ve been in his store when he is at work.  He is friendly and helpful.  When he is working on the U-Scan, he pulls all the bags open so they are ready to use.  I have not seen that at the store where I shop.  He knows his customers…he will introduce you…by name.  Usually he knows something that is going on in their life and is asking about it.  A lot of them are seniors and they really love him.  That King Soopers apron he wears has a big pocket in it.  He has a pad of paper in his pocket and as many of his customers come through with their groceries, they’ll ask him to pray about something.  So he pulls out his prayer list and write it down.  I would love to have grocery checker like that when I go to the store, wouldn’t you?  Keep it up Scott!

Easter

I think I read or heard this somewhere years ago; that after Jesus’ ascension, when believers would meet each other in the marketplace, one would say, “He is risen,” while drawing in the sand half of the fish.  The one being greeted would finish drawing the fish and reply, “He is risen indeed!”  I don’t know if that is true, but on Easter Sunday, I always greet the kids in Sunday School with ‘He is Risen” and teach them to reply back, “He is Risen Indeed!”  Love hearing their little voices sound it out so loud and clear!  I like to greet my kids and my family the same way or vice versa!  It’s kind of fun.  Now I know our celebration of the Resurrection is over, but really, we should never be over it!  All of that to say, we had a wonderful Easter Celebration and I have a few pics to share with you…I’m not yet over it!

Here’s my sweet girls in my Sunday School Class in their pretty spring dresses!

Here’s their little Basket of treats I made for them

Our traditional Easter picture taken at church.  Usually everyone groans at me for taking it but this year Wally said, “don’t forget the camera.”  He also told me,”This will be our last picture with Wesley.”  But I reminded him that we said that the past two years!  I’m also thinking it might have been awhile since the trees were leafed out at Easter. 

After church services concluded, our family gathered for dinner at our house this year. Nothing too traditional about our meal, we had Italian Beef, chips and dip, layered salad, fruit salad, Jell-O salad---I think I’m missing something.  It was all tasty and so easy.  Followed by cream cheese pie, coconut cream pie and cherry!  Left us lots of time to chat and laugh!

              Here’s my Mom and Dad with only three of the grandkids present this year,         Wesley, Nathan and Aaron

                                My sister Robin with Mom, Dad, her boys and Terry

There were other pics taken but in each one, there was at least one person looking none too good! (Maybe I’ll have to snag some from you Robin!)  Guess I’ll see you back here for more family stuff in just a couple weeks…for Mother’s Day!

Thankful Thursday

I feel like I have been riding a whirlwind since last Thursday. Just lots of stuff I had to do, wanted to do, and committed to do.  Things were coming to a head Tuesday and I was pretty much thinking I would sink.  Our church is having special meetings this week with the Steve Pettit Team.  Lots of great music and some special nights.  Monday night was set aside as Men’s Night.  They had BBQ and a salvation message.  Tuesday was Ladies' Night, with a baked potato bar.

I was asked to make some name cards for the tables, only with a verse on them.  The tables were being decorated with wildflowers and pastel colors…kind of a spring feel.  I really wanted to do it and quickly said yes.  But that was a good week ago…and did I mention I have just had a lot going on?  My scrappin’ time kept getting pushed aside.  Tuesday I was sure I could get them finished, but I was gone a good chunk of the morning.  That afternoon, Wes got finished delivering flowers early.  Then his friend Tim stopped by.  Wally also dropped by home for something and saw me sweating bullets.  So he asked if Wes could do anything.  Well, the most time consuming part of the project, was putting it altogether.  So Wes and Tim came up and pitched in.  I showed them one of the completed cards, gave them all the pieces, and they just had to duplicate it several times!  Tim took over the gluing and Wes got pretty good using a corner rounder!  I am so, so thankful for their help!  Not to mention they do make me laugh!

As well, Tim helped brown my meat I was taking for the baked potato bar.  Honestly I was running downstairs to iron, telling him to throw some seasoning in as I passed through the kitchen.  Then I ran upstairs to dress, yelling down to the kitchen to add this and that!  I can’t believe it even turned out to be edible! 

Thank you Wes and Tim for your wonderful help!

The Easter Parade

There’s no fancy hats in this Easter Parade, just some cards I sent out this week.

Have a Blessed Easter!