Hope Continually -- Psalm 71:14

My laptop was cracked on our flight to Vegas so I will be taking a break from blogging for awhile. Have a great day!

Today's a good day to be an Ohio State fan.  Which I am. :)  Born a Buckeye...always a Buckeye.  Yes, it is a good day to be a fan.   But not all days can be championship games.   In fact, they are just a lot of hard work.  Practice...practice...practice.  Work...work...and more work. Reminds me of the ministry.   There is a lot of work that goes on in the ministry.  Many times for one hour of time...one event.   May I encourage you to become a player on the team instead of the fan?   A fan in the ministry just shows up on game day.  Yes, they may have lots of enthusiasm during that time...but where are they during all the practices?  Where are they when preparations are being made?  Fans aren't there.  They simply show up to the game and "claim" the fame.   Woo hoo!  That's my church!  Yeah!   Players are there long before the game begins.  They are th...

A favorite recipe of mine I have used for many years is this recipe for Jambalaya.  This one is simple, hearty and makes a big batch. Jambalaya 1 medium onion 2 green peppers fresh garlic 2 rings - smoked sausage and kielbasa 1 package shrimp 3 cups uncooked rice 2 cans of diced tomatoes (one with green chilies)-undrained 1 can tomato sauce Cook rice according to package directions while you prepare the other items. Slice sausage/kielbasa.  Chop onion and peppers into bite size pieces.  Saute both with garlic and a little oil.  Near the end, add the shrimp and saute around five minutes. Add 1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies and 1 can plain diced tomatoes. Add cajun seasoning to taste and 1 can tomato sauce. Add above mixture to finished rice and mix well.

(My laptop is having some virus issues in addition to my daughter's portable DVD player not playing anymore and she has been using my laptop for school...so my blogging has been scarce this week.) Change.  Many people don't like change.  Many people embrace and welcome change. I really don't like change.  I prefer the same weekly schedule.  The same predictable life. Yeah...that really doesn't match the life that God has given to me.  If there is one area as a pastor's wife that I HAVE to do and be...it is flexible.    If I refuse to become flexible and adapt to change when it comes, I will be ineffective in the role that God has given to me. A growing and passionate church will always involve change.   At Sierra View, we are always trying to better our systems.  And in that process, we will always be changing.  There may be new programs added...service times changed...workers placed in different areas.  Yes...

Mondays are a great time to make a fresh start.  Or to continue the resolve in the areas you are working on in your life. Did you make any New Year goals?  If so, how are you doing in accomplishing them?   Here is the progress I have made on my goals: Take my vitamins daily.  I bought a pill container and this enables me to grab and take them with me even in a rush.  A great place to get affordable vitamins is Puritan's Place online.  They have great deals like Buy One, Get Two Free and Free Shipping.  I should have an order coming in this week to replenish my vitamin supply. Weekly date .  My husband had a lot of work to do on Wednesday so I took Qdoba to his office and we ate together. Pay off our remaining credit card debt .  On January 2, we made a huge step towards this goal!  We paid off the first of two credit cards. Keeping track of numbers is a great way to motivate yourself because you can see you...

  Every Wednesday, my husband and I have a lunch date to Qdoba.  This fall, we purchased a card to support our local high school football team which gave us a card for unlimited use for Buy One Entree, Get One Free.  This entire meal cost us $10.99.  :)   Dates don't have to be expensive.  They don't have to be even different.  They do need to be consistent .   What is the complaint of many wives?  "He never takes me out on dates until I complain or am having a meltdown!"  You need consistency in date nights.  Been there, done that. Consistency is more important to us than anything else.  In this season of working multiple jobs, raising young children, home schooling, growing a young church plant and just life, it is easy to be inconsistent in the area of marriage. What area do you need more consistency in your life?    Make a simple goal in that area.  Our date goal is simple. Qdoba...

I recently made this dish for dinner one night.  It was a fun twist using tater tots! Tater-Topped Sausage Egg Bake 12 eggs 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup milk 1 lb. cooked ground sausage 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 bag tater tots Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, beat eggs, water and milk until fluffy.  Fold in sausage and cheese. Pour egg mixture into baking dish.  Top with frozen tater tots. Bake 55-60 minutes or until center is set.  Serve immediately. *Bacon or ham can be substituted for the sausage.