Preva's Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

By Far my most read post, 578 views and shares in 2013 alone.
I know its not about me but the dip...I cant blame you its uber yummy!

So here it is...the link to Peva's Dip that changed the way I viewed parties...mainly because I have to make this dip for every party...TWO batches mind you.  One for home and the other for the party :)

http://giftfarms.blogspot.com/2012/12/prevas-buffalo-chicken-ranch-dip.html

Resolutions 2013 Style

I have made resolutions and not made resolutions and neither of these have worked. So its time for a change, I think if I set one goal per month it might be easier to obtain then just a big list of things at one time. I know your thinking well if you keep up with it like you do your blog its never going to work. Your possibly right!!  So lets see how it goes.

January
Lose 5lbs ( I have lost 31 so far!)
Finish Unglued
Start 40 Day study

February
Finish 40 Day Study
Loose an additional 5lbs (that would be 41 if I did)
Start looking at how to break into publishing

March
Join a Gym
Loose an additional 5lbs and tone up what's sagging!

April
Turn 31 with grace and style (no drama and tears this year)
Loose an additional 5lbs


May
Figure out May - Aug


2013 Has been kind and harsh to me, but I hope that 2014 is kinder to me and my family. I hope 2014 holds a closer relationship with God and that I can calm this restlessness in me.

Happy New Year

Carolyn

The cost of Hashimotos

I had to hit the pharmacy today...again. I swear I live there! I know I could get 3 month refills on all my meds but who can afford that since I am one of the million uninsured American's (ps. Obama care cost me more per year than I spend being a cash patient) so I get 30 refills.  I will tell you through for 35 a year I can join walgreens prescription plan and save big bucks, why Walgreen's well my local Wal-Mart does not want to stock my thyroid medication because of the short shelf life and they have no other demand for it...that's ok Walgreen's is way better in customer service and timely filling.

I know you look at my picture and think well if she lost the weight she could get off some of her medication.....wrong. Thyroid disease is for life, I will always be on some of the meds if not all. It isn't as simple as taking a pill and magically fixing the problem. Hasimotos has caused several issue

High Blood Pressue - This is not a every day kind of thing, when my levels are good I no longer require HBP medication.  I go off and on this...sometimes with in the same month.

Low Potassium - HBP medication reduces the absorption of Potassium in my body, so does my nose spray.

PCOS- So I have to take birth control pills just to be normal

Constant infections and colds- Mainly sinus and chest colds, so I take a RX nose spray daily and inhaler to cut down these flare ups...only 2 so far in the last 11 months (yay!)

Over all I take 8 pills a day

Thyroid medication, HBP, Potassium, Birth Control, Inhaler, Nose Spray, Multivitamin (extremely important!!), biotin (because Hashi makes you hair fall out)

That cost me appox 150.00 at month with the walgreens plan...with out appox 278.00

I don't know the purpose of this post...just blogging because I have cabin fever and cant wait for the ice to melt! LOL

House I grew up in

We all have wonderful sweet memories of Christmastime at our mothers house, or grandmothers and traditions that follow us into adult hood. My Gege does stockings in addtion to gifts, ever year she swears its the last...but us adult grown grandchildren always want it to continue. 

I dont decorate for Christmas, I know it sounds awful but you got to know about the house i grew up in. I have a phobia of anything resembling a Christmas decoration! The day after thanksgiving my mother would make us clean the house top to bottom and when we got older she sat while we cleaned, then she would make my father drag out box after box of decorations. We would spend our entire thanksgiving break decorating for Christmas.; as children this was fun but when we got older we grew to resent it. Why? I honestly don't know, but my mothers house would resemble a hallmark store on crack...NO LIE! Its every ware!! 

To each their own but for me and my brother instead of grow up and having a ton of Christmas decor in our own homes, we almost have none. We will even ignore our mothers call to help her decorate, I know we will miss it some day and shame on us but its the honest truth and she knows it. 

I guess maybe we need some counseling to unlock this mystery of why we have phobias about Christmas but we do our own decorating and have our own traditions with our family's and we don't get stressed out about having a clean house before putting up decorations and then the dreaded task of taking them down. My husband isn't one for clutter so us not having a ton of nick nacks around in December makes him happy, we still hit all the Christmas parades, plays and parks. Drink hot coco, read the Christmas story and we have the Elf on the Shelf too. We still believe in the spirit and meaning behind Christmas...we just don't have the clutter. 

We also don't put a lot of emphasis on Santa either, sure he comes and occasionally we visit him at the mall (not ever year), same with writing to Santa.  We personally just don't believe in anything that takes away from the reason for the season. Only reason we do Santa and Elf is because we were pressured by my mother too...when i say pressured she threw a fit and wouldn't stop until we gave in. I know I know stand your ground! I also have to pick my battles too, we choose to do Santa but do him in our way. 

This year we visited Santa, wrote him a letter but I don't think the word Santa has been spoken in my house for over two weeks. We do a birthday cake for Jesus and give to Kids in need, I want my child to know the reason for the season not what was created to take the spot light off Jesus birth.

Ok off my soap box and back to getting ready for the day. 

I don't mean to offend anyone, if your house looks like the hallmark store no judgement! To each his own and we are all different with different traditions..I still love you! If Santa is a huge thing for you, no judgement I still love you!

I HATE you Thyroid! You Suck!

I hate you thryoid, you suck...you suck the life right out of me.
 I have Hashimotos caused by Hypothroidism; laymans terms...my thyroid is lazy and dont work. You never realize how important the thyroid is until it dont want to work anymore, it literaly controls every function of your body by producing a hormone that fuction needs to work.

For the lucky ones they simply take a pill every month with one yearly blood test, others (non lucky ones) we have monthly blood test along with monthly doctors vists and a laundry list of symptoms. Our hair falls out, eye lashes and eye brows disappear, we can never get enough sleep, either hot or cold ALL THE TIME, we cannot remember crap that we need , joints ache, constant under eye bags, puffy skin...not to mention weight gain. If that wasnt enough we have low sex drives, boughts of depression and Hashi patients have brittle nails, dry skin, and constantly being sick.

I slept 8hrs and woke up to feeling more tired than i did before I laid down, the hubs said I slept like a log. My joints acked and to top it all off I am loosing more eye lashes by the minute!! AUGH!!!

I have read everything out there too read, started a thyroid diet, order the test the doctor wants and some he thinks I dont need but I insisted on..and my conclusion? I am just going to have to live with it! I want to cry!!

So if you see me some day bald, bent over like an old person and cant remember who you are..dont forget this post. Laugh now but I can happen!!

Battles we face & Bridges we Cross

We are given the option of free will, we often make mistakes the good Lord don't want us to, but we are able to.  That's when we look up to God and find our way home...we are also give certain battles to face and bridges to cross in God's plan for our life...and I wonder why? Is this a punishment for a past wrong...or am I reaping what I sewed? Will this make me strong and turn to you more or will this benefit someone else and not me? Did this happen because of my choices or a plan you have for me?  They are all different variations of....... WHY?!?!

Why do I have a step daughter who hates me and wishes I wasn't around? Why don't my kids see all that I do for them? Why do I have a 50 shades of cray-cray baby momma who thinks if I wasn't around she and my husband could be married and happy (though she seems to forget he didn't date her seriously the first 3 times before I came into the picture)?

I will never know the answers to these questions...but I do know that I am not alone. I have God who stands behind, besides and in front of me, I only need to lay down my armor and let Him fight my battles.

Leading the way by Rodlyn Danos

Lead the Way

 

How shall I lead my child?

In the way that he should go, Said Soloman

Do I know the way?

What Shall I teach my child?

Oh the True God, said Moses.

Do I know the truth?

I want my child to have life

He who has the Son has life, said John

Do I have life?

I cannot lead my child

Unless I know the way...

I cannot speak of Truth

Unless I know it....

I cannot tell my child of life

Unless I have it....

Jesus is the way

The Truth

The Life

It is in knowing Him.... that I find the way to lead my child.

 

 

S.O.A.P. James 5

Rereading my SOAP on James 4 ...I realized my SOAP sounds rushed...I didn't mean for it to be and honestly I think I did rush it...why I cant say except I think I was more preoccupied with getting it done and on to something else. I know...its awful and I hope you can forgive me.

I don't know who reads my blog...I see I get about 8 reads a day...who that is I don't know. But thank you...its just my humble blog where I talk about day to day, recipes and my bible study.

If you want...comment!

S.O.A.P.

Scripture

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Observation

LOL Ok I am not laughing at God or the Bible but at swearing part. I just said I need to work on this. I have a potty mouth....it runs away from me and I tell innappoarte jokes to people. I am an outcast at church. I try hard I do and I hate to say that swearing has become second nature to me. But I don't think the above verse just applies to curse words but to "Swearing on my mom" kind of stuff. Yes should be Yes's and no's should be no's...we should be a person of character so our word should be taken as is...with out having to swear upon anything for us to be believed.



Application

They say it takes 2 weeks to break a habit...well...here goes my two weeks...of not swearing (curse words) & swear (on people like verse says). I need to stop...I know it because I can see it in peoples faces and I know how taken back I am when I hear people use it in day to day conversation. So no more curse words or swearing on people. We need to stop it anyway...how can we show God in us...when we drop the F or S bomb in general conversation.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Here I sit the night before the first day of school and I have so many hopes for this year with a new school and beginning. So on this night of new beginnings ....help me work on my mouth. Not by any tragic accident or happening...but by will and your grace and help. I don't like my self using them, and I try to not but I hate to say they became second nature. Help me not be so second nature and let the words come out of my mouth on a daily basis be those I wont be afraid to speak in church.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. James 4

I know even longer absence between the last post, had some internet issues but basically I didn't do it...or I forgot.

S.O.A.P.

Scripture

James 4:1-3
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:11-12
¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[a] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor

Observation

1) How many of us do this? Are angry and yelling at someone because something didn't go our way...and it wasn't the other persons fault? How many of us get upset when plans get changed or you don't get what you want? We all do

2) Slander...in other words....Gossip. Women are quick to do this...while I personally know some men are just as bad...this seems to be a women's sport. I often wonder if it because at one time it was all we had to cut down things because we didn't have the physical strength or our voice didn't matter.

Application

1) Ask and you shall receive...your heart needs to be in the right place when you ask. Also because you don't get something or plans don't go your way...know that there is a plan for it and turn to God to ask Him his plan for your life.

2) Such a small muscle, not even a bone but the tongue is the most deadly weapon we can use. We must hold our tongue and only speak the good of others.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I struggle with all of the above...I ask for help in all areas.

Amen

S.O.A.P James 3

I know I took at hiatus from blogging and ironically from reading the bible.  I know no excuses but I did have my wisdom teeth out and I think I might have been wanting to escape this chapter because its about the tongue.  My worst enemy.

I should be slow to anger and speak softly but carry a big stick, I instead have a hair trigger temper and use my mouth as my weapon. I hope writing this one here will not come back to bite me one day. I am working on my mouth, I do have a conscious, every time is say something hurtful I do feel instantly bad...so there is hope for me.

I want to be better in this area and am starting today. :)

S.O.A.P.

Scripture
(btw I hadn't planned on doing 3 verses each week...just cant help it...so many good scriptures)

1)

James 3:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.


2)

James 3:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness

 

 

3)

James 3:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Observation

1) This is something we have all personally seen, done or been affected by...the tongue so small but mighty enough to destroy relationship's, friendships, jobs, businesses and government.

2) two forked tongue... hypocrite..even the bible talks about it.

3) Praising God and doing his work but slamming others cannot exist in the same mouth or heart. We cannot serve two horses with one butt,

Application

1) We must hold our tongues and only use it to do good not evil, to lift someone up not tear them down.
2) We acknowledge thee with our lips but turn and slander someone else...its what an unbelieving world...simply finds unbelievable. We have acknowledge thee with our lips but in this day and age we must show more with our actions and treatment of others.
3) This not only includes words but IM's, PM's, text, emails and looks

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I come to you tonight with a heavy heart for I am guilty of all of the above. I need help being the sweet person I want to be, kind and loving and always willing to lead a kind word. I need to keep my mouth shut more often in case where it can hurt not help. I thank you for all you have done. I pray for help in a phone call I have to make an eat crow...ironically this study came on this day...planned that didn't ya? I pray for the readers who read this, I know you are few but I pray for you and Chai on her mission. Be with Ann, and Kim, Lisa, Robin as they start to head back to school and teach young minds and shape them to be better persons. They are all God fearing and God Loving women Lord...while some of them cannot teach about You at school I pray that you will continue to show your self via there works...as I know you always do. Be with the kids who are going back to school, let bulling be at an all time low and drugs be harder to find, self harm not be an option and to let the kids know you love them...be with the parents who in trust  You to keep there babies safe in a building that has proven to be unsafe for many. Be with those parents who no longer have children returning to school this fall because someone hurt them at school. Be with the fresh graduates of HS and College who are starting there lives help them be all that you meant for them to be...help them see the potential inside them self's, I love you Lord...Forgive me for all my sins.  ALMLTSTLOAD.

Amen 
 

 

 

S.O.A.P. James 2

I find my self to be in pain today, not so much at the moment as the meds the doc gave me are working. But I had two wisdom teeth pulled this morning. I have to say...I hate that feeling.

Today we are in James 2 reading about favoritism and how it is forbidden.


S.O.A.P.

Scripture

1) James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a] you are doing right

2) James 2;26

²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Observation

1) Loving your neighbor is the royal law found at least twice in the bible, its so hard to do.

2) Faith without deeds is dead, but doing good works will not get you into heave alone. You must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior.

Application

1) Its hard but we must do it, we want them to have that same consideration to us so we must give it to them!

2) Having faith and doing nothing about it, doing nothing to show Christ love and placement in your life is not faith at all.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Me, Julie & Donna are in pain today Lord. I pray for a speedy recovery, no dry sockets and little pain. Help us love our neighbors as our selfs and show our faith in all we do.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. James 1

Well Since I finished Ruth I thought I would move on to James, I have read James before because I have SEVERAL highlighted verses that spoke to me at one time or another and today that still rings true.

James is not a story like Ruth or Esther but more Gods advice for us...which is very important.

S.O.A.P.

Scripture
1) James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trail, because when he has stood the test, he will    receive the crown of live that God has promised to those who love him.

2) James 1:19-20
¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

3) James 1: 26-27
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.



Observation
1) When we rely on God, he will bring us through any storm we may face and come out of it better for it. We must not give up on God during our times of trail.

2) We all struggle with this one, I struggle with this one. I am quick to anger, and quick to fight.  I have a hair trigger heart and temper.

3) This is what an unbelieving word simply finds unbelievable. We acknowledge thee with our lips but turn and run our mouths undoing all we just said and did in church. No religion escapes this.

Application
1) Trust issues...we can have them with God...we shouldn't because he is always faithful but we do. We need to trust him to standby us, weather the storm, guide us and deliver us. Easier said than done...but we must try.

2) I should practice what I preach here!!! I am so guilty of this...especially when it comes to my kids. I am quick to defend them to anyone and yes that makes me a caring mother but I need to teach my child to turn the other cheek

3) Hypocrite- A name we most often hear associated to members of a church or religious group. What people don't understand is...we are sinful just like they are...we sin...and unfortunately this is  one that runs like wildfire through church. I am guilty of this. We all are at one point in our lives or another...but we ask for forgiveness.

Prayer,

Lord,

I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. I ask Prayer for Sandy as she recovers,  Julie as she is in pain and needing healing, my dad who is about to undergo surgery on Thursday and my niece who is a missionary.  I also ask for my self for tomorrow...I am not patient...so let it be your will not mine. 

I ask you to help me trust you more, not by trails or tribulations but by faith alone. You say ask for it and it shall be given to you. I am asking you help me with my trust issues in regards to you and my faith.  I am not slow to anger, I had hoped with growing older that I would be...This area I can work on. I AM NOT ASKING FOR PATIENCE! lol sorry God don't mean to yell...I just know better than to ask for that.  I also ask that you help me be the person you want me to be and help others see Christ in me, especially my daughters Lord. I want it to be in my actions...for they speak louder than words.

I love you and let me live to see the light of another day.

Amen,

Carolyn

S.O.A.P. Ruth 4

I know I took at 2 day break...but I have finished the book of Ruth.

There is a lot of old customs in this book that made it difficult for me to understand but in the last chapter Boaz saves Ruths land and marries her. They Produce a son named Obed

Boaz & Ruth are the Great Grandparents to David

Scripture
Ruth 4: 5
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the^[a] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

Observation

In the book before Boaz told Ruth that if the Kinsman met, if they did not redeem the land it would fall to him and he would. Now the Kinsman did want to redeem the land but in the above statement it seems that he is talking them out of the land because he didn't think they would actually buy it and he wanted Ruth for him self. I may be wrong.

Application
Gods will, will always prevail

Prayer

Lord,

I thank you for this beautiful Sunday afternoon to spend with my family. I pray that your will be done in our lives. Forgive us for our sins and help us forgive those that have sinned against us.

Amen

Ps. Lord...be with Sandy and Ann

S.O.A.P. Ruth 3

Ruth 3
Find us with Naomi talking to Ruth on how to attract Boaz's attentions and what to do. She did as her mother in law asked and when it came down ..it was her character, loyalty and reputation that won his heart.

Scripture
Ruth 3: 11b
" You are a woman of noble character"

Observation
That no matter what we do to attract attention, the things we cannot pretty up speaks louder .

Application
While looking our best isn't a crime, its also good to have a kind spirit, good reputation, and noble character. For they speak louder than Gucci shoes, coach purses and the latest iphone. If we take care of the things you cannot see or fix up we will attract the right kind of men. If we follow Gods plan and look for his guidance we will find the man who recognizes the character and heart of a Godly woman.

Prayer

Lord,

We are all guilty of trying to put on airs to impress people, help us to remember that its the things that can be fixed with makeup and shoes that shine brighter. Help us have a sweet and kindred spirit with a hear that searches for you


Forgive us for our trespasses and forgive those that trespass against us.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. Ruth 2

As many of you know I follow Blessed Beyond a Doubts blog and she gives bible study's; I either follow along or make notes and follow along when I feel led to.  I don't know why I choose Ruth..I have always been intrigued but her. Ester has well... I have decided that will be my next.


Ruth 2
We find ourselves with Ruth working in the field of Boaz ( who is a distant relative of her deceased husband). Boaz takes notice of her and instructs his workers to leave her alone, he offers her food and drink as well as the service of his servants. He instructs his men to purposely leave behind grain for her to pick after them to harvest.  She returns to Ruth with all she has collected and food for Naomi. Naomi instructs her to stay with Boaz girls and fields as he will take care of her. So she dose until harvest time is over.

Scripture
Ruth 2:12
May the Lord repay you for what you have done,  May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wing you have come to take refuge.

Observation
There is so much to take absorb in Ruth 2, but we find Boaz rewarding Ruth for the good work she has done with her mother in law and in the fields. He gives her a blessing and treats her kindly.

Application
God is like that as well, if we come to Him in our sadness, do good things for the sake of doing them not for the return we might get, we too can be blessed by God. He is our Shelter I the storm, refuge in the rain and constant support when we cant hold our self's up...if we let Him.

Prayer

Lord,

I come to your his day, Monday...a day that has been hard, tiring and mentally challenging...but I thank you for the employment and continue to bless our agency and staff. Pray we keep our eyes on the right track. I thank you for all my blessings Lord, for I don't deserve many of them.  Be with those today who need you, who are seeking you and let those who are turning away from you turn back.  For you never leave us, we leave you.

Let us be like Boaz, being Kind, taking mercy and having a heart.

Forgive us as we have sinned and forgive those who have sinned against us.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. Ruth 1

In Chapter one we get an introduction of Naomi & her family. She lost her husband, her two sons married locally, they died and she left Moah with her two daughters in law. She sent them both away but Ruth refused to leave her mother in laws side. They return to Bethlehem.

Scripture

Ruth 1: 20-21
"Don't call me Naomi" she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me"

Observation

Naomi is in Pain, she has lost her hole family and instead of turning to God she turns from Him thinking he did this to her on Purpose. Mara means Bitter.

Application

In life we face terrible things, something's we cannot change or control. Something's are conquiences of our actions and choices other we are meant to know. While it may be easy to blame God, we must turn to Him in that time to heal us and help us move on.

Prayer

God,

I know I am guilty of the above, I have my issues but don't let me be like Naomi. As obstacles come our way and bad things happen, I pray they don't, help us turn to you not away from you. I pray for those who are dealing with this now Lord...I pray they turn to you.


Amen

Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Friendster, Four Square & InstaGram just to name a few are some of Americas top social networking sites. I have all of these and some I am shamelessly addicted too I am sorry to say. While most of it is to keep our family up to date on our goings on because there are many miles between us...I have to admit that I use mine to update on almost everything. I check my friends and like or comment on there goings on and I even post pics.......LOTS OF PICS.

It has come to my attention that while we may just love these sites and check them before we are even fully wake each morning (GUILTY!) that is truly breaking down the type of friendships we need to have. We talk more on facebook than in person, we read way to much into letters on a screen and get mad, happy or even break up over something that was taken the wrong way. You cant read emotion into 147 letters, you cant see a smile in black and white and we most certainly cannot get the camaraderie that can only be found in a group of friends with a computer screen. Yes at times its the only way we can have interaction with others, epically when miles separate you. But we cannot let it subsitue for live interaction with friends.

You post "Going out to eat" and lets say something happens and you don't or you decide to eat in instead and then friends start posting vague comments about how people don't do what they say and blah blah blah. What happened to good old fashioned back stabbing instead of vague post?

You post "Gosh people irritate the hell out of me!" (so guilty of this one!) and then 5 friends are not talking to you because they think its about them. When in reality is more than likely a grouchy client at work, guy who cut you off on the way home or your spouse.

You post "HA HA you deserve that one" on someones status totally joking and then you lost a friend because o the words in black and white that you cant see the persons intent behind.

My life has enough drama in it caused by family, or activities we belong too (not really drama but you know what I mean) and I don't have the time to explain everything I put on social media outlets.

I want to sit down with my friends for dinner, while we let the kids play, go to a movie or just 10 mins on the phone and laugh, talk and catch up with one another instead of reading everything on a social media and then 50% of the time take it the wrong way.

So with the exception of family...I am off of facebook for 30 days. I want to see how I feel when its all said and done; and I am only going to look once a day. (Ok so maybe we will start slow on that).

I am also going to be texting less. If we are not a work, Church or some other organized function I am going to call....get over it. LIsten to my voice mail and text me back but I wont be texting back, I am going to be calling. We need to get back to human interaction and less hiding behind a screen.

I Usually send 7,500-10,000 text messages a month....thats going to be no more than 5,000 (to start) next month my goal is to be 2,500 then 1,000. Dont like it? Get over it! We use to interact, laugh and have fun. So lets start that again. It worked for almost 2,000 years before text messaging and social media...it can work again.

Me and my hubby dont email, or text or even social media each other (we have and do ocassionally....like les then once a month)....WE TALK TO EACH OTHER.

If your mad at me... TELL ME, say "I am mad at you right now, will talk later" it takes less energy to tell someone that than it takes to ignore them...escially when you ignore them and they dont get the point.

So lets see how this 30 days unfolds. I might give up and check more than I should. I might send you a text, that I am mad at you. But I am going to spend the next 30 days doing as much human interaction as possible and see how it effects my life. Hopefully the impact will be positive and life changing (in a good way :) )

Preva's (or Franks Redhot) Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

Below is my most popular post ever...156 views.  Its even been tagged on Pinterest (my highest honor)  and this recipe is undoubtly my all-time favorite recipe, most requested and most served at parties. You can make it with more Franks than it calls for (what we do).  Even my young kids eat this dip; I never have leftovers!!

Its simply the best..... I lost it once...so I blogged it..in case I ever loose my hard copy...I have viral!

http://giftfarms.blogspot.com/2012/12/prevas-buffalo-chicken-ranch-dip.html

Like a Body of Water...How God is like water

One afternoon while soaking in my tub with my newest book I started to think about life and water. I mean I was surrounded by it and I did just hit 30 so for me to easily jump to this train of thought isn't a far reach.

My hubby the pool man says one gallon of water weights 8lbs (give or take a few ounces), so water has weight, but we cant hold it with our hands, we can see it, though it is clear but it has no color. We can see the effects of water more easily than the water it self. Moss, algae, mold, plant life, rock formations..are all effects of water. When we peer into a lake we see a dark water...in reality the water is not dark but due to waters clear ability we can see the dark dirtiness under the water. We need water to live, we will die of dehydration more quickly than starving, we need it to get clean, to wash dirty objects and to revive plant life, to grow crops and hydrate our livestock. We cannot live with out it.

So how is God like Water?

Well we are baptised in water..it washes away our sins like we wash away the dirt from the day. God will cleanse us and make us new. We need it to live, sure we can live apart from God but the life with out God is unfulfilled, empty and full of heartbreak..like water is given to someone how hasn't had it...our lives apart from God can become refreshed, new and we can live again by living with God in our lives the same way we drink a glass of water.

We cant see God, but we can see the effects of God in our lives just like we can visit the grand canyon and see the effects of water. If we live with God in our lives but let sin grow in our hearts we become like that dirty lake...it has water on the surface but moss and algae grow beneath it and become a slippery slope. Also like the lake if we slip and fall on sin we are surrounded by God who will lift us and renew us. God provides us with food to eat, the same way a lake provided a place for our fish to swim and grow for us to eat, and like a body of water where you will find God you will find sin and satan trying to hurt you a lot like the deadly water moccasin snake who hides on the banks and in the dirty bottoms waiting to strike and temp you.

Like how we start our day with a shower, start your day with quite time with God. Both will renew and refresh you, wash away sins and dirt from the prior day and start us with a bounce in our step and song in our hearts.

I may be off base on my thinking so please correct me if I am wrong but while sitting in my tub catching up on the twilight books (i really needed to see what all the fuss was about, not a half bad story i might say) I have to say...its a pretty good similarity. Since God created water for to help nurture us...I can see how it is like God.

NKJV Proverbs 1

I know your probably thinking..Umm wasn't she just on Matthew? Yes I was..but I felt that Proverbs should be read...so We are going to proverbs.

Chapter 1is the proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel, is teaching us to fear God and to follow him, listen to Him and take heed of this warning.

S.O.A.P.

Scripture
Proverbs 1: 29-33
29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord
30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will be filled with the fruit of their schemes
32 For they waywardness of the simple will kill the and the complacency of fools will destroy them
33 But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at easy, without fear of harm

Observation
Choosing not to listen to the Lord will only end in undesirable results, but those who choose to follow the Lord will be free from harm.

Application
Thank goodness for second chances and forgiveness right? Because we sin every day, all day and sometimes we commit the same sin we said we wouldn't. We ask for forgiveness and look to God for his guidance and we try to do better. What I believe God is talking about is those who willingly choose to do wrong, all the time, and do it because its going to harm someone. We all have done that in the past as well...but we can ask for forgiveness and not do it again.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I ask that you help us follow your path, be more courteous, thoughtful and try not to harm on purpose. I ask that you forgive me for all my sins...I am guilty of some of these things if not all and I ask that you help me not do it again. I am sorry for cutting the guy off this morning, I honestly figured I would have more time and I didn't think he would get so mad.  I ask that you be with Ann as she is hurting Lord, wrap your arms around her and give her the comfort that only you can. Be with K as she is still dealing with these things, I asked you to put D in D's place and you have Lord and it was painless. I thank you for that. You do move mountains.

Watch over us as we go to school, work and home today Lord, bring us back together and let us dwell as a family.

Amen

Break

Ok I took a break, not for any particular reason except life has been so busy for us the last 3 months and its about to get busy again and I needed some cool down time..to do nothing, read, watch my netflix movies I have had FOREVER and to just be me. While during that time I didn't go far from social media or pinterst I did stay off blogger...No reason. I will be back tomorrow! So Stay turned!

NKJV Matthew 9

Hi Ho Hi Ho its off the work I go! I am ready for my routine! I know write that down but I am I miss the predictable and in a few weeks I will be begging for a 5 days off again. I know I will as our show seasons is starting to heat up. Fort Worth Stock Shows is always the first of the season, while we have no way of winning this ( don't get me wrong, my kid & her goats are winners....its just a different set of standards than we breed too) we just like to be a part of such a historic event.

Hope all of yalls New Years were good, lets hope this year is the year we keep our resolutions and make some changes. I need too...Seriously need too.

Chapter 9
Right out of the gate in Chapter 9 Jesus heals a paralytic, then he calls Matthew who was sitting at a tax collectors both and has dinner with him in his home. Jesus is then questioned about fasting, how come Johns disciples do it but Jesus disciples do not.  He then raises a girl from the dead and heals a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years; he then goes on to heal the blind and mute.

S.O.A.P.

Scripture
Matthew 9: 13
But go and learn what this means :"  I desire mercy, no sacrifice". For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Observation
Simply put Jesus is responding to the Pharisees telling them that just because Matthew is not of their social standing dose not mean he is not worth of Jesus. He is there for everyone not just the wealthy or upstanding citizens of the community, but for everyone including those that everyone hates.

Application
We all do it, we look down our noses at someone for their clothes, social standing or behavior when in reality we shouldn't judge but have mercy.  We can just preach to the wealthy but we must preach to the non wealthy and to those who others think done deserve it.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I ask for your forgiveness in this area, for I am not as diligent as I should be.  I also ask you help me to see the good in everyone.  I Thank you for this day and new year Lord, I ask that you help me with my resolutions...for this year they are vitally important. I also ask that you be with K, as you know her needs and struggles in the same area where I struggle..give her peace and understanding. I ask that you be with Ann, I cant imagine loosing a daughter. Be with L, and her addiction, help the recovery come soon and last long, with S, C, H, T, J , B, J as we return to work, may their business grow. Be with Lois's family as they are still dealing with their sudden loss, be with all the parents and families who lost their kids at school....makes sending mine so much hard, I hold tighter, cry more.  Be with them...for they are all suffering and dealing with a loss no parent should ever face. Bless this day and let it glorify you.   Let us travel safely today Lord and come back home to dwell as a family.
 
In your heavenly name,
Amen