New Year's Resolution

My New Year's Resolution comes from Proverbs 31. I've read this many times, but I re-read it this morning in my quiet time and I really feel like it encompasses my goals for this year.

A Wife of Noble Character

10 [b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

You are mine.

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you."

Isaiah 43:1-2

Free Wrapped Canvas!

I just found out about this deal from Canvas People! They are offering you a free 8x10 gallery wrapped canvas through tomorrow. This is a $55 dollar value! You only have to pay $14.95 in S&H. I think this is an excellent purchase! I have always wanted to get one of these, and thanks to Canvas People- I just did! Here's the picture I used:


This pic was taken when we went to Gatlinburg back in November. I can't wait to see it on the canvas. These would make great gifts too!

So hurry on over to Canvas People and take advantage of this incredible deal!!

Christmas lunch at the Store

I'm at home with Trace (the big boys are at grandparents), getting ready to start cooking for our Christmas lunch at the store. Every year we do a huge potluck lunch around Thanksgiving or Christmas (sometimes both!). I usually make dressing, but with Trace's eye surgery being yesterday, I decided to scale back a bit. So I am making hot potato casserole, green bean casserole, and brown rice.

And lucky for you I'm going to share two of these recipes with you! Brown rice and hot potato casserole are a staple side dish for any of our family celebrations. Each of these recipes are kinda my grandmother's signature dishes. I always take them places because they are soooo easy and everyone loves them. I always have to give out the recipes. So here they are for you; use these for your Christmas meal and you won't be disappointed!

Hot Potato Casserole

1 32 oz bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns, thawed
2 cups sour cream
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 stick butter
2/3 cup onions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Put the butter in a small skillet and add the chopped onion. Saute. Mix together the sour cream, milk, cheddar cheese, melted butter, and onion. Put this in a large bowl for mixing together. Add the potatoes.

Bake in a greased 9x13 casserole dish at 350 for 45 minutes. Freezes well. Not necessary to thaw before cooking, but time for cooking will need to be increased.

Brown Rice

1 cup regular white rice
2 cans beef consomme
3/4 stick of butter

Put ingredients in a 2 quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. After removing from oven, stir and let sit for about 5 minutes.

Quick Update

Hey you guys! If you've been following me on Facebook or Twitter, you already know that Trace's eye surgery went really well yesterday! We had to be there at 7:30 in the morning. Once we arrived, we signed a few papers and they went ahead and took us back. About 15 minutes later, they gave Trace some purple medicine that would make him loopy. It didn't take long for him to get veeeerrrry relaxed! They took him back just before 8, and I got a little teary but I knew God had everything under control. Trace was under a general anesthesia and had an IV during the surgery. After 40 minutes or so, the doctor came in and told us everything went great! He did fine going to sleep and waking up, but he's been a little cruddy so they gave him a breathing treatment. Also, they had to try his IV three times but finally got it in his arm. When they brought him back to us from recovery, he had already sucked down two of the sugar water bottles! He didn't open his eyes for the longest time because he was still kinda out of it, but he drank an entire bottle off and on. We had to keep watching his oxygen monitor because they were a little worried about the rate since he had to have the breathing treatment. By 10:30, he was doing well enough to go home! He finally opened his eyes, and they looked incredible! I am so amazed how they look so different so fast! God is so good!! I promise to add some pics as soon as I can! If you follow me or Jeffry on Facebook, you can check out a few there. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Cookie Exchange!

I was so excited when I saw that Jessica was planning on doing this cookie exchange! What a great idea. Seeing as how we live in the South, I decided to pick a recipe that is very "Southern"...Molasses cookies! Also, if I get time this afternoon, I'm going to come back and post my great-grandmother's teacake recipe. Also a very Southern cookie treat! Hope you enjoy these! They are great cookies for cookie cutters.

OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES COOKIES

1 cup sugar
1 cup shortening
2 cups molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking soda
6 cups flour (or more)

Cream together sugar and shortening, add molasses, vanilla, sour cream, slightly beaten egg and spices. Dissolve baking soda in just enough hot water to mix; add to dough.

Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough, stirring just until combined.

Cover bowl and set dough aside for one hour in a cool place.

After 1 hour, roll dough out 1/4-inch thick, or slightly thicker, and cut with a large round cutter dipped into flour or cocoa before each cut. (Note: For fancy cutouts, add a little more flour to make a stiffer dough, making dough easier to handle).

Lift cut-out cookies gently with a spatula to a greased cookie sheet.

Bake in a preheated 350°F for about 15 minutes or until done.

Cookies should be soft inside.

Prayer Request

Hey guys...

Please be in prayer for Jeffry's mom, Marsha. His dad called us at lunch today, informing us that she fell at their store in Lucedale. We called a doctor friend (an orthopedic surgeon) of ours, and he worked her in. She has a torn ACL in her knee and a fractured elbow. They were just about to do an MRI at 5:00 to see how bad things are and if surgery will be necessary. She is having to use a cane to get around.

On top of this, his parents are having their Christmas party for their employees tomorrow night at their home! Needless to say, Marsha won't be able to do much. I will be going over in the morning to help get things done in time for the party.

Please keep Marsha in your prayers for a quick recovery and healing!
Thanks!!

Wordless Wednesday

Eye Surgery

We finally have a date! Trace will be having eye surgery on December 21st at 7:30AM. I'm nervous, scared, and excited. We are so ready to have it over with, but it has taken a while to get Trace's "bad eye" to strengthen up to where it should be. After the surgery we shouldn't have to do any patching!

I'm a little worried mostly about my reaction to seeing him after the surgery. Another mom friend of mine told me that no one really prepared her for what her baby would look like afterward. I know that the whites of his eyes will be pretty much completely red and bloodshot. The first day his eyes may kinda go all over the place, but we should see them straightening up within the first week. It's so exciting!

I know that this is a very common outpatient surgery, but as with any surgery, there is the chance of infection or that something could go wrong. We are very confident in our pediatric ophthalmologist and have full faith and trust in our Lord. We know that Trace is going to come out of this perfectly and can't wait to show you his beautiful straight eyes! Please keep him in your prayers!