Thrifty Thursday...

1. Fast from shopping and spending... Starting June 1 no spending for the next 30 days.  Excluding the essentials ( food and gas)
2. Garage Sale/Yard Sale -- Saturday, June 5
3. Cut Cable Services...
4. EBay   Sale my wedding dress and daughter's wedding dress

5. Resist the temptation to go to Starbucks...make my own ice tea @ home

What about you?  What are your suggestions?

Inspire me!

It inspires me to find people who do wonderful things in the midst of very difficult circumstances.  I think that is why I enjoy the movie Blindside. In spite of overwhelming odds, one family made a difference in the life of one young man.

 In 2005, three women discovered they shared a desire to reach out to  women  who work in some of the darkest places here in Lexington.  Bruised Reed is a ministry that is part of a Southland Church here in Lexington.  In their volunteer training manual, they ask and answer the "big" questions regarding  God, sin, forgiveness, motivation,  heaven, and hell. It is a unique ministry, that serves a special population. Each of us has the capacity by God's grace to make a difference in the life of an individual.  Who inspires you?  Who in your community is  bringing people out of darkness in your community? 

After attending the training,...I was sad and overwhelmed...but glad these brave woman acted on a vision.

Want to  know more about the ministry or church?   If you have a minute, you might find their blog interesting.

Here is a link:  http://bruisedreed.southlandchristian.org/?page_id=2

 

Tasty Tuesday

Upside Down Pineapple Muffins
A coworker requested these for her birthday celebration. The recipe makes 24 and they were very well received by everyone.

Upside Down Pineapple Muffins
2-20 oz sliced pineapple, drained
1-81/4 oz sliced pineapple, drained
24 maraschino cherries
1/2C brown sugar
1-18.25 oz white cake mix
1/4C vegetable oil
3 egg whites
1-20 oz crushed pineapple, drained
reserving juice
Preheat oven to 350. Coat 24 muffin tins with vegetable spray.
Place a pineapple ring in the bottom of each cup.
Place a cherry in the center of pineapple slice.
Sprinkle with 1 teasp of brown sugar, set aside.

In a large bowl, beat cake mix, oil, egg whites and reserved pineapple juice until well-combined.
Stir in crushed pineapple.
Divide mixture among the muffin cups.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Allow to cool 15 minutes then invert the muffins onto a rack and cool completely.

Enjoy!

~Hoochmom~

Gift Ideas?

Gus and I have to go to his cousin's graduation party tomorrow night. She is graduating from law school. Does anyone have any quick and easy gift ideas? I have to work all day tomorrow, so it needs to be something that I am able to get quickly and for an affordable price. I've known about this for the last month, but time has slipped away and I waited until the last hour....

dama

The POWER of Dad's Love!

Father's Day is Sunday, June 20th

...don't forget! Start your shopping now and get a bundle of savings!

To help start your thinking about gifts for Father's Day, go to the site of Christianbook.com 0r call 1.800 CHRISTIAN for a catalog to be sent to your home. They have a wide assortment of gifts...as a matter of fact, their homepage is designed so that you can choose items from the various categories:

Sports Gifts, Nautical Gifts, Clothes (these always come in handy), Bibles Covers, Framed Keepsakes....really check these out, Electronic Bibles (these are nice), Grand-dad gifts...and a list of gifts for under $10 bucks!

Are you also interested in a delicious breakfast recipe...something you can whip up and serve rather quickly? If so, coming shortly. Let me know....waiting to hear back from you!

Peace....Shalom.

Charlene

Wanna Shed Some X-Tra Pounds....Quick?

It Works...and Fast!

Hey, I just discovered an eating plan that literally and physically helps you to shed pounds.... F-A-S-T!

Here's how it goes:

For Breakfast:
Meat and Vegetables

For Lunch:
Meat and Vegetables

For Dinner:
Meat and Vegetables

Starch:
Only can be eaten during two of the three meals
...for example: White Basmati rice (half-cup), yams (small)

Snacks:
Almond butter and Rice Cakes
Nuts (10 a day) - -almonds, walnuts and cashews
Celery and Almond Butter

FORBIDDEN - - these are bad...will put back on the weight; Quick, Fast and in a Hurry!
Dairy, Sugar and Bread

Meats OK to Eat:
Lean beef, chicken, lamb, cornish hens, salmon (my favorite), talapia and turkey

Ladies...it works! Let's chat about it and compare the results.

See you on the beach!

In Case of Emergency...I.C.E.

I.C.E.

Have you heard that storing I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) in your mobile phones with the name and contact number of the person you'd like to be reached can help paramedics if you're in an accident (God forbid) and are unable to speak?

Here's a nice tip for you. Do it today! Encourage your family and friends to do the same. I checked "Snopes.com" (website to check validity of rumors) to verify whether or not this is legitimate. And it is!

Snopes states, "the ideas is that you store the word "I C E " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency." In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple. It really could save your life. For more than one contact name, ICE1, ICE2, etc."

Don't delay...do it today!

Peace,
Charlene

Whose Report Will You Believe?

...."I have heard a report from the Lord"
Jeremiah 49:14 (AMP)

Everyone has heard of Joel Osteen...right? He's one of my favorite TV evangelist....so encouraging...so edifying! When you sign up for Joel's and Victoria's "Daily Word of Encouragement" you'll receive through email a scripture, a corresponding story and a short, but powerful prayer. Here's the address in case you're interested: http://www.joelosteen.com/MessageViewer/Pages/MessageViewer

Here's what Joel posted yesterday....(leftovers from the next day are always so much better) Hope you find it encouraging and builds your faith!

CORRESPONDING STORY:
"Everyday we get "reports" from the news, our experiences, our friends/family, and many others. We also get reports from the Word of God, which oftentimes contradicts what everyone else is saying. That's when we have a CHOICE to make. Do we believe what we hear in the natural...or do we believe the report of the Lord?

We have a Supernatural God! Just because we don't see a way; doesn't mean He doesn't have a way. God can bring 1 opportunity across your path that will thrust you to new levels. He has explosive blessings that can blast you out of debt; into a place of abundance.

What you're facing today may be impossible with man, but with God...ALL things are possible. Choose today to believe the report of the Lord! Stand STRONG...no matter what is going on around you; knowing that God has a plan to lead you into VICTORY in every area of your life!

The PRAYER:
Father in heaven, I choose to believe Your Word above all else. I know that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf, and You will cause me to triumph. Help me to tune out the negative voices of the world so that I can focus on Your goodness all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name...Amen!"

Great weekend

I had a wonderful weekend! On Saturday, I participated in my first marathon. I ran in the 5k Indianapolis Mini Marathon. While the distance was not great, it was a big accomplishment I felt. I ran with my daughter, Sara, and her fiance, Joe. They finished ahead of me, of course. I finished in 48 minutes, 6 seconds. I hope to do even better next year.

Sunday, Mother's Day was a wonderful day. My daughter hosted the day in her new home that she purchased last month. She served a wonderful lasagna lunch. I was so pleased that my daughter-in-law brought her mother and my grandson. I have two grandchildren born three months apart, age five. It swells my heart to see how well my grandaughter and grandson play together. My mother-in-law joined us as well and we all enjoyed a beautiful day together. I Skyped with my sister, talked to Mom on the phone (she lives in Florida), talked with my nephew, who is like a son to me. My youngest son visited later in the afternoon bringing me flowers. I feel blessed and feel much to be thankful for!

I hope you all had a blessed weekend as well.

Panera Bread's White Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Last night I was on my way out to pick up something to eat and my mother-in-law asked me to pick up some bagels from Panera Bread. I really wasn't sure what I wanted to eat for dinner, so when she mentioned Panera, I decided to go ahead and grab dinner there. I ordered the baked potato soup, but they were out of it. At that moment, I really didn't want anything too heavy, so I ordered a small order of the Vermont White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese. I had never tried it, but the folks working there said it was pretty good. When I arrived home, I tried it and I must say they were right. If you like different types of mac & cheese, I would recommend this. Of course, nothing beats good ol' homemade mac & cheese, but the mac & cheese at Panera is a good, convenient, well priced option.

bwyl
dama

My walk today

I wanted to tell you about my walk in the park with the dogs today. There is a beautiful park near us where I take my grandaughter, Taylor frequently and the dogs. I didn't have Taylor today, but wanted to take the dogs for a walk. My golden retriever, Maggie Mae enjoys jumping in the lake there. My chocolate lab, Lucy, just loves the walk. They have a statue in the park called Angel of Hope that was built in memory of those who have lost children. http://www.hendricksangel.org/ I stop there often and talk to my oldest son, Chris, who passed away on New Year's Eve in 2008. Today on my walk, I thought I was ready to stop for my visit to the statue, but felt something telling me I wasn't ready yet. I walked the dogs a little further. When the dogs tongues were hanging to the ground I decided we were ready for that stop. There was a lady there placing a couple of markers near the statue. I asked her if she had lost a little one. She said her 18 month old son died from heart complications in 1991. I told her of losing Chris, and that he wasn't a child at the time of death, he was still my child. She agreed and offered condolences. We talked further. Her son had also died on New Year's Eve. She, also was an unwed mother 29 years ago. I was an unwed mother to Chris, born on my 19th birthday. We reunited on my youngest son's 7th birthday and had 14 years together before his passing. So we had a bit in common. I shared with her that today would have been Janice Lynn's 62nd birthday. Janice Lynn was my Mom's first born child, but was a still born birth. I told her I could still feel the sting in in Mom's voice today even 62 years later. She told me that she was the lady who had proposed the idea for the statue and on the back of the statue was an explanation of her inspiration for the statue. It was a book written by a man whose mother had a child that was stillborn. As a child he would see his mother cry from time to time and didn't understand why. He wrote the book, A Christmas Box. The lady said that she had several copies and she would send two of them to me, one for you and one for me. I offered to give her money, but she declined.

God works in mysterious ways, as she and I discussed. I'm sure somehow, God, Chris, and Janice Lynn put us two together today.