Praying Is Important

So I wrote this down a couple of weeks ago and couldn't really decide if I should share or not but on Sunday our pastor's message was about sharing things that you receive from the Spirit because if we receive something but don't give freely it's like telling God you're alright with where you're at and you don't need to grow in your relationship with the Spirit when that is exactly what we need; to constantly be drawing closer to Him through spiritual growth. If we don't share what the Spirit gives us freely we will become stagnant.

Speaking of stagnancy (if that is even a word... my auto correct thinks it's spelled right so it must be a word), how is your prayer life going? Lately the list of prayers that the world around me needs is unending. Everywhere I turn there is something that needs prayer. Sometimes I feel so needy! Sometimes I just get tired of praying... Not praying in general but praying for so much. Sometimes I get so weary of praying for situations in life that I see, praying for those around me that I love, for healing, for finances, for help, for strength, for growth, for salvation etc that I feel like giving up. Not giving up after I have prayed a couple of times but after I have prayed for the same things over and over and over. I get to the point where I feel like I've prayed all that I can pray, that I can't do anymore.

I hope I'm not alone here. When I wrote this it was not in singular form. On my paper it says "we" it doesn't say "I" so I am going to finish writing this assuming there is someone out there that has felt this way before and I'm not the only one.

We think to ourselves that we have done everything we could, but that is not the case at all. We are supposed to pray continually; constantly; always for ALL of the Lord's people.  "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18"  God hears our prayers and is answering them. We can be sure of this. He longs for us to be in constant communication with Him. To open our eyes and see things through Him. Not through our human eyes.  The thing is, people(humans) are hard. God can't force them to do everything right and perfect. He can call to them all day and they can still choose to rebel or ignore His call. It's the free will he gives us. That is why it is so important for us to pray constantly. Pray that people will choose God freely. That they will choose to accept His salvation, His healing, His love and His protection.

You can probably be sure you are not the only person praying for others and you know that when two or three are gathered in His name (praying for the same cause) He will be there Matthew 18:20. The Bible says to pray with all kinds of prayers and requests and to be alert. Pray every way you know how. Sing it, write it, recite it, read it, shout it, whisper it, fast and pray. Pray all the time for every need you see. Pray for the kid without shoes, for the nation, leaders, good weather for an upcoming occasion, for that close parking spot when you are feeling exhausted. Pray for growth, pray for changes in your heart, for health and healing, Most importantly try to keep your prayers selfless. Praying for God's will which may include praying for selflessness. There is no prayer too great or too small.

Why is it easier to find a close parking spot than to get your sister to come to church? Because a parking spot isn't a living thing. It can't argue with God or ignore Him. But remember to always BE ALERT (aware of God, aware of His works, his answers)! Don't forget to thank God for providing the spot for you. If you thought "Please God help" with something so simple as that, don't forget to give Him the praise. More importantly don't give up praying for what may seem impossible or out of reach. Do not grow weary over prayers that seem unanswered. Instead BE ALERT for God is at work in you, in your prayers, in your life and all around you! "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7"

DIY Shoe Refresh

A couple of years ago I bought a pair of sequin covered white canvas Sperry's! I loved them! I love white shoes. Only when they are clean and fresh and look brand new! So while we were at a soccer game I walked through the grass in them.. It wasn't wet or fresh cut or anything that would give them grass stain but when I stepped back on to the pavement I was horrified!!!! (maybe over exaggerating)

They ended up like this
                                          

Needless to say that was the last time I wore them. I tried them on a few times but I just couldn't bring myself to wear them like that. I saw a lot of tutorials on Pinterest about RIT dye and canvas shoes. I read a lot of different ones and honestly none of them were done the same way but they were all similar. I bought some RIT dye thinking I would try dying my shoes so I could at least wear them. They were basically brand new shoes after all. The dye sat and sat on top of my microwave for probably 2 months. I always have good intentions but never actually do my projects.. I am working on it hence this post! I finally got tired of looking at the bottle and went ahead and dyed them!

I can now say I completed one project and they are wearable! (94382507 more to go) I picked Navy because of the navy stripe already on the shoe and I figured it would match most things.


I used:

1 bottle of RIT dye in Navy
1 cup of table salt (I have seen some tutorials with less I don't know the science behind it)
1 Tbsp of Laundry Detergent
1 bucket of steaming hot water
Vaseline 
Rubbing Alcohol and Q-tips


I rubbed the soles with vaseline to prevent dye from getting on them. As you can see it didnt turn out perfect but I have been scrubbing them with rubbing alcohol and they look a lot better than what they looked like when I took them out of the water! (If anyone has any other tricks to get it out let me know)

So make sure you rub them down really good with the vaseline!

Then I added the salt and detergent and hot water to the bucket and stirred it together with a paint stick. Then added the whole bottle of dye and stirred again.

Next I carried the bucket out into the middle of my yard because well.. I am clumsy and knew I would end up getting dye everywhere. I was right I had one blue foot for a couple of days :). I wet the shoes entirely so that they wouldn't float in the water and would absorb the dye better then submerged them into the bucket.

I let them sit for about a half hour while I drove to the dollar store to pick up more salt since I used all I had so that dinner wouldn't be bland!

I took the shoes out and rinsed them with warm water until I saw no more dye and then with cold water to make sure it was all out. I let them sit for about 5 minutes and decided to put them back into the dye water to make sure they would be dark enough. In the tutorials I have looked at the dye lightens up a lot when they dry so I wanted to get a lot of dye in them so I didn't have faded denim colored shoes.

This is how dark they were wet. They definitely lightened up but they are still navy. 

I just let them soak 10 to 15 more minutes and did the rinse again. I let them air dry overnight then threw them in the dryer for about 10 - 20 minutes the next morning. It was very easy and worth it. Who knows what I'll try to dye next!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ

Yum Yum Yummity Yum!


I have shared the site where I first discovered this pulled pork recipe before in one of my Meal Plan Monday posts but I changed a few things and thought I would share my version :)


My mouth waters just thinking about eating this! I love that you just throw it in the slow cooker and it's super easy! I don't really know the process of making it any other way but I remember someone making it once in a big stock pot and it was an all day process.. It is a really vague memory and I have no idea how accurate it is!!

So you just pull out the ole slow cooker and put some beef broth and sliced onions in the bottom and set it to the side. Then rub the pork loin roast with the spices on both sides and place it in the pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5.

Ingredients

2 lb Pork Loin Roast

1/2 cup Beef Broth

1 onion sliced large

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cumin (optional) I am not a cumin fan

1 - 2 cups Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ Sauce (I probably used 1 and a half)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

The bad part about making something in a slow cooker is that if you stay home that day you have to be tortured by the aroma of it cooking!!! And nearly starve to death waiting for dinner time!


So you may check on it a little too often... This is what it looks like while it's cooking! I didn't decide to do this post before I started cooking!

8 hours later you open the lid and transfer the roast to a big bowl. With a slotted spoon fish out the onions and add to the same bowl (unless you don't like onions). Then shred it up with a fork. It shreds super easily!

In a separate bowl combine BBQ sauce with vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Mix up, add to meat and combine!

Now it's time to eat!!!!!

Top it with a little Texas Pete and enjoy!!!

Some Fun Things To Know About Me

I thought it would be fun to do a little Q&A! I found this on Pinterest. I don't know who originally created it but I liked that the questions were a little different than the "do you have kids, what's your favorite color" type of thing! I may do one of those at another time! Have fun!!!




1. Who was the last person you held hands with? That would have to be my daughter!

2. Are you loud, outgoing or shy? Ummm welll... I am not outgoing that definitely would not describe me at all. I wouldn't really describe myself as shy either but I do not talk a lot.. When I do I have a habit of being loud... Not purposefully.. I don't realize I am until I get those strange stares!!

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing? No one in particular. I love seeing all of my extended family members because I love spending all the time I can with them!

4. Are you easy to get along with? Extremely easy to get along with. Unless you're my husband :) Love you babe!

5. Have you ever given up on someone but then gone back to him or her? I never give up on people. Yes, there have been times when I've drifted from people but never because I've given up.

6. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you? Never worry about me being drunk.. Probably Never Gonna Happen!

7. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with? I'm not really sure... Possibly my husband.. I don't have a lot of deep conversations... 

8. What does your most recent text say? It was from my mom talking about taking the kids camping this summer

9. How do you feel about abortion? I don't agree with it

10. Do you like big crowds of people? No. No I do not do well in big crowds.. I kind of just zone out if  I am in a big crowd. 

11. Do you believe in luck and miracles? Firm believer in miracles.. Luck not really.. I have and do say "good luck" but I'm not like "Oh that happened because of luck"

12. Do you think there is life on other planets? I haven't really given thought to life on other planets.. I could see there being plants and things like that but not aliens

13. Do you like bubble baths? No I don't like the bubbles.. I love detox baths though. I would love to have a tub I could actually soak my whole body in though as of now I have to take turns between my lower and upper body!!

14. Do you like your neighbors? To tell you the truth I don't really even know my neighbors.. I live kind of secluded!

15. What are your bad habits? To name a few... Eating junk food like a 600 lb man, putting things off until the very last second.. making my decisions almost too late...

16. Where would you like to travel? I would like to go everywhere if it was a possibility! 

17. Do you have trust issues? No not really. I either trust you or I don't.. 

18. Favorite part of your daily routine? Umm.. reading my Bible and drinking my morning coffee I suppose... I'm not really good at sticking to my routine. I try so hard though!!

19. What body part are you most uncomfortable with? My "gooey belly" as my kids like to call it... 

20. What do you do when you wake up? I either go back to sleep for 15 minutes or read my Bible and then take a shower.

21. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker? I could stand to be a little tanner. It definitely makes me look and feel healthier!

22. Who are you most comfortable around? Other than my husband and kids probably my mom and my sister.

23. Is your hair long enough for a ponytail? Yes! I have always had long hair. I think about cutting it a lot but I never have enough courage to go through with it. It is my security blanket!

24. Do you play sports? No I don't.

25. Would you rather live without TV or music? hmmm... I watch more tv than I listen to music but it would probably be better for me to live without the tv!

26. What do you say during awkward silences? As I mentioned above... don't talk a lot... silences aren't so awkward for me!

27. What are your favorite stores to shop in? I normally only shop for my kids or groceries! I like the stores with the best clearance deals! A lot of people pay more for used clothes than I pay for brand new ones and there's definitely nothing wrong with that because they are getting the clothes at an awesome discount but when I look at them I always think "I can get that at the store brand new for the same or less" so it's a struggle for me!

28. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance? I believe we are supposed to give second chances even if they aren't deserved but it's hard when people don't take their second chances seriously or to heart. 

29. If you're being extremely quiet what does it mean? Usually that I have nothing to say

30. Do you smile at strangers? Yes I try to smile at anyone I make eye contact with! It may be the only bright part of their day!

31. Trip to outer space or the bottom of the ocean? Definitely the bottom of the ocean! 

32. What are you paranoid about? Noises in the middle of the night and seeing things in the dark!

33. What is the meanest thing someone has ever said to you? I don't really keep grudges.. I can't even tell you a mean thing anyone has said to me.. no use to harbor it.. This does not mean people have not said mean things to me! 

34. The nicest thing? Probably a compliment about my mothering or something I have accomplished because I'm really hard on myself and it's nice to hear that I'm doing okay!

35. What language do you want to learn? Sign language definitely!

Meatloaf

This is the only Meatloaf recipe that I can make in my house! The boys don't like any other and to tell you the truth I've never been a big fan of meatloaf but I like this one... It is sweet.. we love sweet!


Preheat oven to 350 degrees


1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c ketchup
3/4 c milk
2 eggs
1 small onion
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
1 c oats

Mix some extra brown sugar and ketchup to make a glaze for on top.


I have made this with bread crumbs and rice and cracker crumbs and it just doesn't taste nearly as good!

Bake for about an hour! Enjoy

Meal Plan Monday!

I'm back after a couple of weeks of taking a break! I am sorry to all of my 9-10 readers! We had a couple of busy weekends and I just didn't have the motivation in me to pick of the computer and type a post. The snow is starting to fly, it's almost buck season and Thanksgiving. Have you started or even finished your Christmas shopping? I have seen a lot of trees up already! I guess even though I have the best of intentions I am still a procrastinator this year because I get really overwhelmed with things and put it off for as long as I can even if I have planned things out and made 5,000,000 lists throughout the year... It always sneaks right up on me!!

This week we are having

Monday: Meatloaf and Baked Sweet Potatoes
Tuesday: Philly Cheesesteak Hoagies
Wednesday: Chicken and Scalloped Potatoes
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Stuffed Pepper Soup
Saturday: Left over Stuffed Pepper Soup

We get to go to Sesame Street Live Saturday! We got tickets for Sister D's birthday!

Meal Plan Monday!

Last week I mentioned I really really really wanted Doritos and I didn't buy any. Well I wanted them ALL week! I finally bought a bag Saturday evening. I had them for breakfast Sunday morning and snack and with lunch and finished them off before bed... I didn't eat the whole bag I promise! I shared with the rest of the family!

But as I was eating I started thinking about the very disgusting things I ate as a child... I ate butter right out of the bowl.. I can remember just sneaking up to the table and digging in with my finger. I ate raw hotdogs, cornflakes with canned milk and water, bologna and ketchup sandwiches (with chips on top of course) - that part isn't so bad but thinking about eating a sandwich with ketchup on it now is just...eww. Did anyone else do this kind of stuff or was it just me? Then there was one delicious concoction we always ate and looked forward to every time we went to Mammaw and Pappaw's house! It was marshmallow cream, peanut butter and bananas all mixed up! We LOVED to make this ourselves and it was so... just yum!

Sister D's birthday party is coming up this weekend and I have procrastinated to the very last detail! I am still not sure what food I am serving! So this week is full of planning, lists, shopping (did I mention I haven't even gotten her a gift)! I will not be serving a bowl of cornflakes in canned milk and water that is for sure!

I also bought a number 2 candle instead of 3... I never even noticed.. Daddy D commented on how cute it was and never even noticed.... Brother D picks it up and says "Hey, Why'd you buy a 2" And it still didn't click for a couple of seconds... wishful thinking i guess!!

What's the deal for this week....

Monday: Buffalo Chicken Calzones (carried over)
Tuesday: Hamburgers and Fries
Wednesday: Chicken and Stuffing in the crockpot
Thursday and Friday: Stuffed Pepper Soup
Saturday........ (TBD)!