New! Cabbage & Corned Beef Soup!

 As I was sharing yesterday, I absolutely LOVE this new website: www.skinnytaste.com!  It has the BEST recipes... EVER!  

 Tonight we made her Cabbage & Corned Beef Soup with fresh rolls!  Oh my!  

There is very little left!  It makes a mama's heart HAPPY!

Coming Home

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces;  now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.  In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.  Oh, that we might know the Lord!  Let us press on to know him.  He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

This past year has been one filled with lots of hard things.  The blessing is that it causes one to cling to the Lord in ways you simply cannot even fathom apart from the pain and confusion.  It reminds me of one of my friends favorite sayings, "There is purpose to our pain"!  

I was desperate for intimacy and desired a smaller church setting where I could simply sit and fill up.  Can I just say that Gulf Coast Community was a HUGE blessing and God used many amazing people to enter my life that I would never have met otherwise. Pastor Jerry filled my heart with incredible messages that inspired me to want more from my quiet time.  Thank YOU, Gulf Coast!

However, after five months my family began hungering for home.  Home for our family has been Calvary Chapel.  We walked through those doors in March of 1998 and have had our lives changed by the solid teaching, and most importantly for me, Salt and light discipleship groups. 

As I have been walking through the Freedom Workshop I feel myself bouncing back.  I don't feel lost anymore.  After prompting from my husband and children we decided that it was time to make a decision..... Do we move forward with Gulf Coast or stay with Calvary Chapel.   This truly was a very difficult decision.  We had begun to build strong relationships at Gulf Coast and the thought of not having fellowship with those amazing people brought great grief to my heart.  I cried out to the Lord without holding back,  (Psalm 77:1) I asked him to let me hear HIS voice and not to be distracted by my human thoughts.  He. Was. Faithful!

For our family it became abundantly apparent that for now, HE has led us to back home to Calvary Chapel. 

This morning as I sat in worship I could not stop the tears!  God is good, and He is faithful forever!

To HIM Be the Glory!

Out Of This World....Chicken Pesto!

My beautiful Aunt Shirley shared a link with me to a wonderful website called, Skinnytaste.com!  She has a friend at work who has been using it to make healthier meals and has lost 36 pounds.  Tonight we tried our first recipe ever and it was a HUGE hit!  It was called, Skinny Chicken Pesto Bake.  To stir up interest, know that this recipe was listed as one of her under $10 meals.  (Because we have a larger family it was a little more)

Ingredients For Fresh Pesto! 

We pulsated all these yummy fresh ingredients together to make a melt-in-your-mouth pesto sauce!

Next, we put it together to make a meal 

Finally, my wonderful husband made us an out-of-this-world salad and pasta to go with our chicken!  It was PERFECT!

If you have been wanting to try some new healthy, affordable recipes go to www.skinnytaste.com and look around! 

The Fabulous Freedom Workshop!

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."~ Psalm 42:1

The Freedom Workshop changed my life ten years ago, and continues to do so!  Why, you might ask?  Because it was the first time someone had given me the tools I needed to have a living, breathing, vibrant relationship with the Lord.  I went from striving to living out my walk with the Lord!  I have certainly not arrived, but I now have the how-to, to turn to when I get lost!  I come back for refresher courses because it keeps my heart hungry for more of HIM!  

My table is filled with some of the yummiest women ever!  I love how God put us together.  Almost every single one of us has walked through deep loss.  (Many in the past year)  What joy it is to get each other to the Lord, so HE can continue to pour out healing and restoration!

 Our group met for dinner before the workshop on Thursday.  It was a wonderful time of transparency.  The love and fellowship was RICH!

Tina, is my sweet prayer partner this next 8 weeks.  One of the things I've been praying for is my sinus/allergy issues.  Tina just so happens to be a pharmacist, and brought me a brand new Neti-pot, saline flush, and more!  My heart was so overwhelmed by her sweet giving generosity.  It meant more than anything else she could have done, because it was so personal.  Thank you, Tina!

Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  THEN you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing, and PERFECT his will really is! ~ Romans 12:2

 

Celebrating With Friends!!!

 Classical Conversations Support Manager Celebration!

 My sweet friend, precious sister, and also my boss!  Lynn Doto is such an incredible Area Manager.  She loves her Lord, loves homeschooling, loves Classical Christian Education, loves Classical Conversations, and loves our community!

  We really are, "Better Together".

As we prepare to go to Orlando in a couple weeks for our annual training, Lynn treated us with a special day of pampering.  I will never forget how loved and cherished she made us feel!

Our beautiful scented candles!

We loved the fall decor.  
(Even though it was 90 degrees out, LOL)

Our yummy treat was sugar plum scones and Devonshire clotted cream.  

How much did we love it?

Check out my friend (and fellow SM) Laura's face as she slowly savors the creamy delectable texture. (Cue the music)

Laura, Mary Ellen, and Lynn

My peeps!

Oh My!  I just adored the ambiance. 

Another precious gift..... Jesus Calling Devotional with our names inscribed.  Thank YOU, Lynn.  I deeply appreciate your gracious giving spirit.  I'll never forget our day of pampering. 

Favorite. Salad. EVER!

As we prepare our hearts for another exciting year!

For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. ~ Isaiah 43:19