Heavy...

You know... I struggle every day with a battle between the Spirit and the flesh and there are times my heart gets heavy and I feel I'm not strong enough to keep going.   But then I receive an encouraging word from a friend, whether it be face to face or through an email or a blog post.  With that encouragement I am able to pick myself  back up, pull up on the boot straps and face the battle again.  I do this by the grace of God and only by His grace am I able to persevere.

Of late, my heart has been burdened with the weight of a collective whole.  How does one deal with a burden as heavy as this, I ask?   The answer came to me -  Pray for discernment.

so....

My thought for today:

I have prayed... I will wait and listen.  The heaviness is not mine to bear alone.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid

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Recipe for today:

 When I post a recipe, I will be posting from a set of cookbooks titled Favorite Recipes of America, 

©Favorite Recipes Press, 1968 

PO Box 18324 

Louisville, KY

Since it's chilly outside I thought I'd start with a casserole dish.  This dish is easy and very tasty.  My options to the recipe are in parenthesis.

Texas Hash

3 large onions, thinly sliced

1 large green pepper, minced

3 tbsp. fat  ( I use olive oil )

1 lb. ground beef

2 c. cooked tomatoes ( I like to use diced stewed tomatoes)

1/2 c. uncooked rice

1 or 2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Saute onions and green pepper in fat (oil) until tender.  Add meat and brown until crumbly.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Pour into greased 2-quart baking dish.  Cover and bake 45 minutes at 350°F.  Remove cover and bake 15 minutes longer.  Mixture may be simmered slowly on top of stove rather than baked.  

Yield: 6-8 servings.     recipe submitted by Mrs. Ann Hoit, Home Economics Teacher, Arlington, Tex.

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 Do you have a recipe you would like to share?

If so, please submit it and I will post it with your name. :)

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Final Thoughts:

How Do You Think

By Author Unknown 

 

If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don't! If you'd like to win, but you think you can't, It's almost certain you won't. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
  If you think you'll lose, you're lost; For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow's will; It's all in the state of mind! 
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
If you think you're outclassed, you are; You've got to think high to rise. You've got to be sure of yourself Before you 'll ever win the prize. 
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man; But sooner or later the man who wins Is the person who thinks he can! 

  -- Author Unknown 

 http://www.inspireme.net/inspirational-poems/how_do_you_think.htm

Changing Things Up

I have been remiss in my posting of late and for that I apologize.

I am changing things up a bit.  I will be posting mainly to this blog incorporating my thoughts and projects into one.    So... here goes....

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My thought of the day: 

  As I sit here sipping my hot chocolate with my little space heater going, I'm thankful I have a roof over my head and walls to shelter me from the cold winds outside. 

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Projects?

Back in 2007 I won all the quilt blocks turned in at the Logan County Piece Makers quilt guild meeting in February.   These blocks have sat in my fabric stash until this year.

Talk about putting something on the back burner...

I finally got them out, laid them all out on the bed to audition them and quickly realized I would be making more than one project out of the blocks.

I had hoped to make one quilt top out of all them but because of the different colors and styles of the blocks, when put together, no matter how I placed them, they just didn't jive.

I have pieced together two wall hangings thus far and plan to finish them this week?

What project are you working on?

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Giveaways:

400+ FOLLOWERS THANK YOU GIVEAWAY by Stray Stitches.

This beautiful collection of Vintage Florals by Beth Ann Bruske for David Textiles! 

There is a total of 6 1/2 yards of fabric in this collection.

http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-giveaway-time.html 

 300 FOLLOWER BLOGGY GIVEAWAY!! by Leona's Quilting Adventure.

To celebrate 300 followers, we are having a special Bloggy Giveaway! I love shopping at the Fat Quarter Shop and thought that Leona's Quilting Adventure would giveaway one $25.00 gift certificate to one lucky winner!

http://oneygirl-myquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/2011/01/300-follower-bloggy-giveaway.html

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Final Thoughts:

As the new week begins I wish you all a successful week in whatever you do.  May you smile each day and be thankful for the small blessing you have in your life.  

God bless and keep you, 

Sonia

 Publish Post

That's how it works...

As I woke this morning and watched the weatherman predict foul weather in the form of snow, sleet, and ice, my mood turn in the same direction – foul.   If I can stay in watch the weather happen I’m okay but if I have to get out in it – NO WAY!     I knew that if the mood I was in stayed it would be a very long unhappy day.  So, I prayed.   I asked God to remove that foul feeling from me.  I told my husband I had done so, and he simply nodded, which meant he would be praying too.  I have to smile at that, because I know he prays for me daily, but I have to wonder if he prayed this morning for his own peace of mind. 

I left for work and the roads weren’t bad, just a little wet, but I was still in a foul mood after I got to work.   I told three friends of mine of my predicament and I know they started praying too, because within the hour my mood had lightened considerably. 

That’s how it works.  Pray believing, then share with others that you know will pray too.  When all that prayer gets moving… well, the power of prayer takes over!

Mark 11:24 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (NIV)

300 and more Followers for 2011 - Thank You Giveaway from Stray Stitches

Check out this blog....
http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2010/12/lets-celebrate-2011-with-giveaway.html

Linda has an awesome giveaway for the new year.    If you don't follow her blog.. check it out and sign up.  Here is what she's giving away...

• A full color pattern call Flying Colors designed by Georgette Dell'Orco. Isn't it beautiful. The finished quilt measures approximately 64" X 64".

Along with the pattern you will also receive.........

• 25 fat quarters and 5/8 of a yard of black fabric. That makes for a total of 7 1/8 yards of fabric (if my brain did the math correctly). Each color bundle (green, yellow, blue, pink, and purple) contains 5 fat quarters in shades from light to dark. Only the backing is not included which requires four yards.

So check out her blog and enter the giveaway and wish her a happy new year!  :)

Here's wishing you a blessed and happy new year!!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

My latest creations

here is what I have been busy doing.... will get to rest for a little bit now.  :)

Beautifully Designed

Snowflakes falling gracefully to earth, beautifully designed. Each one different from the others; they float gently on the wind, bringing a smile to the faces of the young and the young at heart.

I'm reminded of how wonderfully created we are.  Like the snowflake we are beautifully designed and no two alike.

Unlike the snowflake we endure through the toughest of times, sometimes with grace, sometimes not and we laugh and cry at the joys of life we experience.

So the next time you see snowflakes remember you are beautifully designed a unique and wonderful creation of God's hand.

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Milkandhoneydesigns Super Book Give Away!!

Check out this awesome giveaway from the milkandhoneydesigns blog.   Super Big Big Book Giveaway!!


If you like sewing, quilting, crafting... this is a blog to follow.  :)

http://milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.coPublish Postm