February 2, 2009

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  Well, it’s February, so I decided to change the look around here a bit!  It’s snowing again, just flurries, but none the less, it’s still snow … there are about 6 squirrels playing out in the backyard, and some of them are at the birdfeeder!  I’ve never seen so many here before!  Unfortunately, they’re eating all of the bird food!  We have a guard on the pole, but does that stop them?!  No!!  Persistent little things … well, they look pretty fat in my opinion!  I’ve also noticed an abundance of oversized robins over at my sisters house … already!  They really look large to me … we haven’t had any here at our birdfeeder, yet!  Hubby recently filled it, and we have some hungry critters out there this evening! 

   

  Well, I do hope your weekend was blessed!  We went to the antique mall, on Saturday, to do some restocking … then we walked around a bit, looking at some of the booths there.  We noticed that a few of them are empty, or selling out with high percentages off … which is not a good sign for the mall. I’ve noticed a few businesses have closed in our area these days. My husband’s work schedule is slow right now, but, we’re going to pray, and trust the Lord that our businesses don’t suffer!  If something does happen, we know that He is our Provider, and will meet all of our needs!  We need not be anxious … no matter what any of us are going through!  When we seek Him, He truly does ‘supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory’!  {Philippians 4:19}
  
  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  {Matthew 6:35-34} 
  

  

  When we were at the antique mall, I found an older Corelle Corningware percolator coffee pot, that I’ve been looking for since I accidently broke ours!  We had bought it at a garage sale, for $8.00, the first week we were married, and a couple of months ago, I set it on the edge of the counter, not looking at what I was doing … and I heard this thud, and a crash of tinkling glass!  It was a dear ’old friend’, always faithful, and making the best coffee in town!   Well, I have the ‘remains’, and haven’t had the heart to ‘bury’ it just yet!!  Back to the one I found on Saturday … Lewis really didn’t like the flower design that was on it, and it wasn’t the exact same model, or year, of the one I broke, but we thought we’d give it a try.  It was about $25.00, but, we have looked, and most perculators, these days cost twice that much, and then some!  This one was in great condition … notice, I said WAS!  When I carried it to the car, the sack, which was very thin, ripped, falling out of my hands, and landing on the concrete … !! oops !! …. more tinkling glass!  Well, I had a moment, or two, of severe disappointment, but then I got to thinking … the Lord knows, and maybe the cord was bad, and He was protecting us from a fire … ever feel like that?!  When things happen, and you wonder why … well, we can find peace, and comfort, in knowing that He sees way beyond what we do … He knows best!  I’ll find another one … eventually!  In the meantime, we’ll just continue to use our other backup, or, then again …. maybe give up drinking coffee altogether!  We only make it on the weekends anyway, but since my hubby’s been home with his ankle, we’ve been drinking it more often, and it sure does smell good, while perkin’!  But, I’m having a nice hot cup, or two, of Irish Breakfast Tea, today!  I prefer tea, anyway!  Much healthier!  And also, yesterday, I was reading about how even the smallest things can so easily become idols in our lives.  Made me realize that I have one, or two, to get rid of ……. 
   

  Sunday, we had a wonderful service at church with people sharing testimonies of how God is working in their lives … when you hear that, it is so encouraging, and helps to grow our faith!  After church we went to a very small chinese restaurant, and I had some broccoli chicken, fried rice, egg drop soup, and hot green tea.  It was a simple meal, but very good.  We left there and went to visit my sister.  We found out that they will be moving away, about 2 hours from us, but they will continue working here and commuting … so I will still get to see her!  It just won’t be as easy to drop in and visit, like we do now.  They will be moving into his mother’s home, who recently passed away.  They, like many, been struggling with finances lately, and since the house was completely paid for, things will work out much better for them financially.  Later, yesterday afternoon, we went to a friend’s house to eat a lite dinner, and then play some cards … a game called, ‘Pounce’.  It was new to me, but it was fun!  All in all, it was a full, and blessed day. 
  
  Today, I’ve been working on my to-do list, thinking of completely rearranging our rooms … changing things up a bit.  We are hoping to move, but in the meantime, we need to be faithful here, and be content with what we have now … God knows the right place, and the right time to move us!  Well, my hubby will be home in a bit, so I’m going to go put on our pot of chili to warm-up … we need to eat our leftovers, and chili is even better a day, or two, later!  And, we still are getting those snow flurries!!  Blessings on your day!! 
  
  Hugs,
                         ~ Deborah <><
  
  P.S.  Just got this email from my brother … here is a recipe that sounds easy, and delicious!  I’m fond of carrot cake … it was the type of cake we had at our wedding, with apple cider, and not punch!  I think I have all the ingredients for this version on hand, so I may just make this to go along with another cup of that tea!  Enjoy! 
  

  

  
  Carrot Cake
   
  Ingredients:
  1 box (about 18-1/4 oz.) yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix
  2 tsp. ground cinnamon 
  1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  3/4 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
  3 eggs
  2 cups shredded carrots
  1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained
  1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  Cream cheese frosting or whipped cream (optional)
   
  Preparation:
  
  Preheat oven to 350°.
  
  Grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch baking pan, a bundt pan, or two (9-inch) round baking pans; set aside.
  
  Beat cake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in large bowl, with electric mixer on low speed until blended.
  
  Add Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, eggs, carrots and pineapple; beat 30 seconds or until moistened.
  
  With mixer on medium speed, beat 2 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Pour into prepared pans.
  
  Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.
  
  Cool 10 minutes on wire rack; remove from pans and cool completely. Just before serving, frost cake. 
  Yield:  Serves 12.  Enjoy!
  
  

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