Good-bye, 2009!

Just wanted to say Happy New Year everyone! Be safe!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

We trust you are enjoying your holiday. We certainly are enjoying ours! Is there a better way to spend the time celebrating Christ's birth than with the people you love?

We just wanted to take the opportunity to wish all of our readers (and maybe just some passers-by) a very merry Christmas. We hope that you look to the real meaning of Christmas rather than just the gifts, the food and family. While all those things are nice, there is just so much more to it. A baby was born one night, long ago. His name is Jesus. Jesus was born THE King of kings. He came to earth to save us from all the wrong things that we have done. Since we have excepted Him as our King, we ask that you do the same. It will be the best Christmas that you will ever experience. So look to the One who will save you from your sins for He is the best gift of all.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

A couple fun tips that save money . . .

I got these next two tips while watching the Rachael Ray Show.

#11

Do you get tired of flat soft drinks? Just squish the air out of your soda bottles after you pour your drink. Replace the cap and stack the soda bottles in the refrigerator. Next time you get your refill, it will be as fresh as if you just opened the bottle for the first time.

#12

Don't you hate it when you buy a gallon of ice cream and you go to get it out of the freezer the next evening and it has already started to crystallize? All you need to do is take some plastic wrap and squish it down into your ice cream container after each use. Your ice cream will be as fresh as the day you bought it! (Seriously! It really works!)

Picture of the Week

This week, the POTW comes from an email I received from a friend. Sometimes, I feel like the house on the right at Christmas-time.

Mocha Marble Fudge

Ingredients:

Butter for greasing

1 can (14 oz) condensed milk

1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder or coffee granules

1 bag (12 oz) white chocolate baking chips (2 cups)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

1. Line bottom and sides of 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging 2 opposite sides of pan; grease foil with butter.

2. In 2-quart nonstick saucepan, mix 3/4 cup of the milk and the espresso powder. Stir in white baking chips. Heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread in pan.

3. In same saucepan, mix remaining milk, the chocolate chips and vanilla. Heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Drop by spoonfuls over espresso layer. Swirl mixtures with table knife. Gently press with hand to smooth top.

4. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until cooled and firm. Remove from pan, using foil to lift. Cut into 1-inch pieces.

Saving Money

Okay, so it has been a while since we have done our normal blogs posts. Things got pretty crazy around here (and still are!) but we still wanted to show you ways that you can save money since Christmas is approaching.

Money Saving Tip #10

I really love to drink coffee . . . especially Starbucks . . . but that can get a little costly. I’m not afraid to ask for Starbucks gift cards every year for Christmas or my birthday. It makes me happy and Jeremy happy (b/c he’s not spending all that cash on my coffee fetish). I haven't spent money on Starbucks for almost 4 years! Remember, gift cards aren't impersonal if you give someone a gift card to a store they really love.

Chocolate Mint Thumbprints

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract

2 egg yolks

16 drops green food coloring

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

3 tablespoons whipping cream

3 tablespoons butter

18 thin Andes mint candies, unwrapped, cut in half diagonally

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in peppermint extract, egg yolks and food color until blended. On low speed, beat in flour, baking powder and salt.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Using end of handle of wooden spoon, press a deep well into center of each cookie.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Reshape wells with end of handle of wooden spoon. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

5. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, cream and 3 tablespoons butter on High 1 minute, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Fill each well with about 1 teaspoon chocolate mixture; garnish with candy piece. Let stand about 1 hour until chocolate is set.

It's beginning to "look" a lot like Christmas!

Sarah's parents came for Thanksgiving and since we will not be able to see them for Christmas this year, we had to celebrate Christmas and Sarah's birthday while they were here. We were able to get in the Christmas spirit a little bit early when we went to The Botanical Gardens last Saturday.

Picture of the Week

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 med. sweet potatoes (2lbs)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 T. butter/margarine melted

1/2 cup chopped nuts or tiny marshmallows (or both)

Preparation:

1. Peel fresh sweet potatoes; cut into 1 1/2 in. chunks. Cook fresh sweet potatoes, covered, in enough boiling water to cover for 10 to 12 minutes or until just tender, drain. (Or cut up canned sweet potatoes.)

2. Transfer potatoes to a 2-quart baking dish. Add brown sugar and melted butter; stir gently to combine. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until potatoes are glazed, stirring gently twice. Sprinkle with nuts and/or marshmallows; bake 5 minutes more.

Make-ahead directions:

Prepare as directed through step 2. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Uncover and bake as directed.

Cranberry Sauce

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil rapidly for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups cranberries. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until skins pop, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Serve warm or chilled with poultry or pork.

Makes about 2 cups of sauce.

Picture of the Week

Sorry, readers. We did not have a chance to post yesterday.

Taken at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.

Crock-pot Turkey Breast

I thought that I would post some recipes that you might want to try out over the holidays. I will try to post all of them before Thanksgiving so you have them if you want to try them.

________________________________

Last year we did a full Thanksgiving meal for just the two of us. We didn't want a whole turkey because we new it would take a very long time to finish it. We decided to just get a turkey breast. I have a small oven so I knew that I would need the oven for the other dishes that we wanted. I looked online and found this recipe for the crock-pot!

Ingredients:

1 small to medium turkey breast

1 stick of butter

salt

Preparation:

Wash & pat dry turkey breast. Season lightly with salt. Place in crock-pot with 1 stick of butter. Turn on low for 10 to 12 hours. (Great to do overnight!)

Make sure that you still baste the turkey or it will be slightly dry!

A little Veterans Day history

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. (www.history.com/content/veteransday/history-of-veterans-day)

For more on the history of Veterans Day, please go to www.history.com/content/veteransday.

We would like to thank all of our family & friends who have served or are currently serving in the military.

A "hint" of Fall

It's been a little while since we last posted. Life is getting more busy. But, in the midst of a busy week, I was able to spot just a hint that fall was coming. The best surprise of all . . . it was actually colorful!

Bow the Knee

This past Sunday evening our church had a singspiration and a time of testimonies. One of my friends sang a solo. I wasn't able to be in there during it because I had to go to the fellowship hall to get the food ready for afterwards. Our church just recently starting recording the services digitally so Jeremy let me listen to the part of the service that I missed. When I heard the second verse of this song, it fit perfectly into my life the last few months. The words are below and you can listen to the song here.

There are moments on our journey following the Lord

Where God illumines ev’ry step we take.

There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us,

As we try to understand each move He makes.

When the path grows dim and our questions have no answers, turn to Him.

Bow the knee;

Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.

Bow the knee;

Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.

And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,

In the presence of the King, bow the knee.

There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall,

The cold and lonely winds won’t cease to blow.

And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel;

We are tempted to believe God does not know.

When the storms arise, don’t forget we live by faith and not by sight.

Bow the knee;

Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.

Bow the knee;

Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.

And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,

In the presence of the King,

Bow the knee;

Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.

Bow the knee;

Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.

And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,

In the presence of the King,

Bow the knee, bow the knee, bow the knee.

Bow the knee . . . . .

Money Saving Tip #9

Fix and eat more meals at home.

Eating out all the time can be very expensive and unhealthy. If you are worried that you don't have much time to cook or you don't feel like cooking a whole meal, then crock-pot meals are what you want. You just fix them and forget them! If you're stumped or looking for a new recipe to fix, check out the recipes that we post here on our blog. Also, you can check out www.allrecipes.com.

Kids say the funniest things!

Melanie asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Said Melanie, "If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six."

Steven hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight. "I love you so much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."

Brittany had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"

Susan was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."

Danni stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I cost?"

Tammy was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"

Mark was engrossed in a young couple who were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?"

Clinton was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"

James was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James asked: "What happened to the flea?"

and my favorite kid quote ever . . .

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?" "Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he knew the answer so quickly. "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Bishop said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

Picture of the Week

New fruit on our tangelo tree!

Catalogs, Thanksgiving, and parties!

I will try to post my normal Friday recipe later. I just wanted to share with you what is going on with us.

It's fall again (yay!) so that means our schedule is getting really busy. Jeremy is nearing the end of catalog season. It will officially be over the beginning of December. We are a little over a week away from November and that means the holidays are just around the corner. Right now we're preparing for fall parties and Christmas. The ladies at our church have a fellowship coming up the first weekend in November so Sarah is busy preparing for that. Then Jeremy's mom will be visiting and we will do our Thanksgiving dinner for her. (We are really excited because we will be getting two Thanksgiving meals this year!!) A few days after she leaves, we will be having a party for some of the kids in our Winner's Circle kids club. (Those who earn a certain number of points, get a party.) Then, of course, is Thanksgiving. Hopefully Sarah will be able to try her hand at that apple pie again!! Her parents will be visiting us then. After Thanksgiving, we will be preparing for all of the Christmas festivities. We will have the church Christmas Cantata, another ladies fellowship, and a few other Christmas parties. It's going to be a busy season but it will be very enjoyable. So, you understand if we forget to write a post once in a while. But please keep checking our blog for pictures of all of the activities!

For a little pumpkin trivia, click here.

Money Saving Tip #8

Okay, so you have a savings account but all of that money goes for clothes, food, or buying this years Christmas presents. Why not start a separate savings account for vacations? Just put in about $10 each week. You'll have your money for the every day things that you need and you can make sure that you will have money for that special trip you've always wanted to take.

They're back!!!

Most of you, I'm sure, can remember back to a blog post that I wrote on September 11, 2008 titled Leaping Lizards! Well, I thought for sure that we were out of the woods on that subject since we have a cat that adopted us. Jeremy and I were really grateful for that. But apparently, I am not immune.

I attend a weekly Bible Study on Tuesday mornings or at least try to--when I'm not away on vacation or incredibly sick. So today was like any other Tuesday. I got to my classroom and I was preparing to sit down, when all of a sudden (cue creepy music) I see out of the corner of my eye, a lizard. You've got to be kidding?! Well, I noticed that it was on one of the chairs at the table. So, being the kind hearted person that I am--I did not want someone to sit on it--I tried to get it off. That crazy thing wouldn't budge! Someone walked by and asked if I needed help. So I explained the situation. We decided that we should just push the chair out of the room, down the hall, and outside. Brilliant! So, I proceeded to push the chair, all the while internally freaking out and silently praying that the thing wouldn't jump on me.

Once, again, I remind you, I am NOT afraid of lizards. They only really bother me when they are not where they are supposed to be . . . which is OUTSIDE.

So, I'm pushing the chair on the carpet and I get to a spot where the carpet ends and tile begins. I think to myself, this is not going to work. I am going to scrape this chair along the tile, the lizard will freak out and jump straight at me. So, I notice that there is carpet on the other side of the tile and I decide that I will carry the chair across the tile section to the other carpeted section. I picked up the chair and carried it across with much success. That is, until I set the chair back down. That lizard did not want to be on that chair anymore! He jumped so high, I thought for sure he was coming to attack!! I screamed, several other ladies screamed, and that little lizard took off running through the cafeteria! Oh, no! I have let the monster loose!!! After running zig-zag around the cafeteria flailing my arms about, he finally stopped under a table to catch his breath. I thought, I've got you now! I crept up and he started running again, right into the kitchen and under the prep counter! This is REALLY not good! People cook food in there. What am I going to do?! So, another dear lady decided to help me. She got on one side of the prep counter and I on the other. Neither of us could reach him, so I grabbed a broom from the supply closet. I guess the broom only made him more nervous because he ran under the oven for cover. That little booger must have known we would not be able to reach him there so we had to give up. As far as I know, he is still there. I'm sure he enjoyed a smorgasbord of crumbs for his lunch.

Picture of the Week

The sunset on Friday evening.

Saving money while grocery shopping . . .

Money saving tip #7: Always have a grocery list when you're doing your grocery shopping

Then you won't buy things that you don't need. It also helps to write out a meal plan for each week. That way you know what you're going to make and when you're going to make it. If you write out all of the ingredients you need for that weeks meals, you go through your cupboards and pantry and find the ingredients that you already have and cross them off your list. Those you didn't cross off, go on your grocery list. If you follow these steps, you are sure to save money on your grocery bill.

Picture of the Week

Fall is here! Unless you live in Florida. Nevertheless, this weeks POTW is from Sarah's visit to Indiana. The trees weren't as beautiful as she expected but she was still delighted to see some of the fall colors coming out. This picture also portrays the thought that comes to every one's mind when flying from Florida to Indiana. . . . In Florida, every house has a pool. In Indiana, every house has a barn.

Indiana Trip

We're a little behind on our blog. I was able to go visit family for a week. My cousin, Kyle, got married on October 3rd. I was glad that I was able to join them on their special day and spend time with my family.

Sarah and niece, Hannah.

Kyle & Ashlee's wedding

Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married. -Unknown

A trip to the Old Bag Factory.

Picture of the Week

Today's POTW will be a little different. We wanted to share some pictures of Sarah's oldest brother, Phil. He passed away 3 years ago today from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Phil holding Sarah the day she came home from the hospital.

Phil's birthday-showing off his ND coat!

Christmas (One of Sarah's favorite pictures of Phil.)

Sarah's high school graduation.

The day Phil's daughter, Hannah, was born.

Sarah with her brothers on our wedding day.

4th of July with his daughter.

Send a little Greeting

#6: Make your own greeting cards

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, parties, do I seriously need to keep going?! There are so many family members and friends and there are so many important dates that we had to keep adding to our calendar, that we finally decided that we were sick of going out and getting a card each time. Plus, once we got to the greeting card section, we could never find the card that said exactly what we wanted. That is when I decided that I would make my own. You always have a card on hand, you don't have to waste time searching for the "right" one, and you don't have to worry about anxiety when you flip that card over and realize that the "right" one is in the wrong price range. So, see for yourself! It's pretty simple and you'll save more money than you could ever imagine.

Picture of the Week

One thing we love about this time of year is football! This week's POTW is of Matt Grothe & BJ Daniels. We went to the first game of the season two weekends ago and were able to sit on row 3 right behind the team. Sarah was able to snap this picture of Grothe telling Daniels that it was his turn to go in.

Crock Pot Chilli

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 lb. ground round

* 2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

* 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with onion and garlic (or you can add onion & garlic separately)

* 2 cans (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

* 1 envelope McCormick chili seasoning

* garlic powder to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon

* 2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste

* salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:

Brown the hamburger. Drain. Add hamburger and rest of ingredients to slow cooker/Crock Pot and cook on low 8 to 10 hours.

Cake Mix Cookies

I forgot to post a recipe last Friday, so this week, you will get two new recipes. I made these cookies on Tuesday and they were wonderful and so easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 box cake mix (any flavor)

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

*I also added Reeses Peanut Butter Chips to the recipe. Feel free to experiment!

Preparation:

*Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

*Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl

*Drop by spoonfuls on greased pan

*Bake for 10-12 minutes

Enjoy!

A penny saved is a penny earned...

Money saving tip #5: Make your own cleaning solution

I use white vinegar and water to clean counter tops and tables. It also adds a nice shine to the stainless steel faucets. Do you have a mess in your microwave? Easy! Just add 2 tablespoons lemon juice or baking soda (Using lemon juice leaves a nice fresh scent!) to 1 cup bowl of water and place in your microwave. Heat on high until the mixture boils, then let it boil for 5 minutes so that the steam accumulates on the walls and door of the oven. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior. Do you hate dusting? Save those used dryer sheets! They work really well on your electronics. The static electricity will repel the dust so you won't have to dust as often. They also work well on blinds.

If you have any money saving tips about cleaning (or anything else!), send them my way. Others might like to read them too!

Picture of the Week

Today's picture was taken yesterday afternoon in the parking lot of Olive Garden. We were walking to our car and heard all of these birds chirping. We looked up, and the trees were full of parrot-like birds.

Cut your costs!

Money saving tips (continued):

#4- We cut our own hair

Actually, Sarah cuts the hair. It's really easy! For men, just use hair clippers with guards. They also have tapered guards that you can use around the ears. For women, if you're wanting a nice layered look, flip your hair over and cut straight across. When you flip your hair back over, you'll get the perfect amount of layers. If you get really good at it, start your own side business!

Picture of the Week

This week deserves two pictures! These were taken in March of '07 at Taylor Park in Largo, Florida. We saw 7 alligators that evening!!

Yes, we were this close to it!

Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe was given to me by a friend. It's so delicious!!

Ingredients:

Chicken breast

cream cheese

shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

sour cream

soft taco shells

Preparation:

Cut up and brown chicken breast. Grease 9x13 pan. Spread cream cheese on taco shells (I use quite a bit). Put some of chicken and cheddar cheese in each shell. Roll up shells.

Topping:

Mix can of cream of chicken soup and some sour cream. Pour over top (if it is too thick add a little milk). Top with more cheese if desired.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Save Your Dollars!

It's Wednesday, that means it's time for another money saving tip!

#3- Don't go the Movie Theater

Just wait until the movie is out on DVD and rent it. The cheapest place to rent, that we have found, is out of Red Box (available at Wal-Mart & Walgreens stores) for only $1 a day. Or, if you want to keep it, you can always buy it from iTunes. The best part is that you are in your own home and you don't have to sit in a crowded and chatty theater. Plus, snacks are free!

Picture of the Week

Alright, we're back on a schedule again. Whew! Hopefully our posts will become more frequent and "on time." This week's POTW (from the beginning of the summer) is of our niece, Hannah.

Easy Chicken and Swiss Cheese Crock Pot Casserole

We have enjoyed this recipe so many times, I feel that it is time to share. Try it once and I PROMISE you will enjoy it too! It is one of our favorites and it's so easy. You just throw in a crock pot and forget about it. Let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

*4 chicken breasts, boned and skinned

*4 slices of swiss cheese (sometimes we use shredded cheddar or mozarella)

*1 can cream of chicken soup

*1 can cream of mushroom soup

*1 cup chicken broth

*1/4 cup milk

*2 cups boxed stuffing mix (we use the whole box)

*1/2 cup melted butter

*salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place in crock pot. Pour chicken broth over chicken breasts. Put one slice of swiss cheese on each breast. Combine both cans of soup and milk.

Cover chicken breasts with soup mixture. Sprinkle stuffing mix over all. Drizzle melted butter on top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Money Saving Tips

Since this is a time of economic downfall, I thought that I would take the opportunity to share with you each week, one thing that we are doing to save money.

#1-Shop at discount stores for food and clothing

We buy our food from either Save-a-lot or Aldi. Prices are very reasonable and we have cut our grocery bills by more than half! As far as clothing is concerned, I try not to pay full price for anything unless I am shopping at Wal-Mart. (Wal-Mart's prices are already reduced and they always have clearance racks.) There are other good stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Bealls (only in Florida). Thrift stores are good places to check for furniture, shelving, or other things to decorate your house.

#2-If you have a yard plant a garden!

I am adding #2 on this week because it goes along with #1. We planted a vegetable garden and saved money on our grocery bill as well. The summer months here are too hot to really plant anything . . . but that is only 3 months out of the year and we are saving enough money on food anyway. Plus, we were able to help out some of our friends at church with the veggies that we couldn't eat right away.

__________________________________

I will not always end these money saving tips with a comment but I feel that, since this is our first one, I must! I encourage you to keep track of what you're spending money on each day and week. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Think about what is most important in life. Can you get by with just the bare essentials? One thing that I find important: meditate on Proverbs 6:6-8, which says, Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. The ant is always preparing. Have you ever wrecked an anthill and stood by to see how quickly the ants build it back up? The moment you knock it down, those little ants are scurrying around to fix their home. They are always prepared. I feel that I should prepare how I am going to spend my money and choose to spend it properly. Also, consider the Proverbs 31 woman. How did she spend her money? It wasn't on herself but on the needs of her family. She carefully thought out how she would spend it before she spent it. So, before you buy choose wisely. Good luck and happy saving!!!!

Picture of the Week

I know it has been a while since our last post. Here is this week's POTW:

Taylor Park-Largo, FL

Obama visits small town, Wakarusa

I (Sarah) am originally from Indiana. The church I attended while growing up was in a small town called Wakarusa. Yesterday, President Obama made a trip to an RV manufacturer there to deliver his speech. Here is a short video about the event. One of the main reasons I am blogging about this today is because my dad was interviewed by Fox News out of Chicago. (My dad is the first man that is interviewed.)

Picture of the Week

I figured that we would start something new on our blog. Each week, I want to share a different picture with you. This weeks Picture of the Week was taken at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

Our life prayer

Lately we have been thinking about how long we are going to be here on the earth. We thought it might be a good opportunity to explain why we have chosen Our Vapor as the title for this blog. Don't ask us why we never took the time to explain it before, I guess maybe we just thought everyone would search every inch of our blog to find out why we do what we do. Then I started asking myself, Do I do that on every blog that I read? Sadly, the answer is no.

We chose Our Vapor because that is exactly what life is . . . a vapor. If you read James 4:14 (at the top of our page), you will understand why we say that. We are only here on this earth for a short time and we don't know what tomorrow holds for us. (Coincidentally, our pastor spoke on this very thing Wednesday evening.) We don't want to be downers, but we realize that one of us, or both, might not wake up tomorrow. If that should happen, we want to be prepared to meet our Savior.

So, with that being said, here is our prayer for our lives:

O Lord, Thou art my King, and who am I to question Thy way? Whatever the loss, whatever the cost, draw me closer to Thee everyday.

O Lord, Thou art my life, and who am I to understand why you died on a tree for a sinner like me? Lord, to self make me willing to die.

O Lord, Thou art my all, and who am I to walk without Thee? My sin I forsake, Thy cross I will take. Now Thy servant, dear Lord, make of me.

He knoweth the way that I take. A knew heart within He'll create. That I may walk worthy and come forth as gold. He giveth and taketh away. -- Mac Lynch

Don't Be Afraid

Mac Lynch

When deep water curls around you and fear replaces faith,

When the floods would seem to overwhelm God's promises of grace,

When the fires seem overtaking and all seems torn and tossed,

Trust His Word, O truly listen, here Him say, "All is not lost."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

I have redeemed you; you are mine; don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

You are a precious child to me; don't be afraid."

I am with you thru the water, I'm with you thru the flood.

They will never overwhelm you: I have bought you with My blood.

Even though you walk thru fire, I'll go with you all the way.

I'm your Savior, truly listen, here Me say, these words I say:

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

I have redeemed you; you are mine; don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid, don't afraid.

You are a precious child to me; don't be afraid."

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I feel that songs or books must never be a replacement for scripture. However, sometimes God uses a them to encourage us, remind us, or bring us back to Him. The song above is a song that God used to encourage me in the last few weeks. No matter how overwhelming life can be, all I need to do is trust His Word because He has promised to go with me through every trial and test.

Edgar

A little over a week ago there was a big thunderstorm. We were at our neighbors house and after the storm we went outside and found a little soft shell turtle walking around on the driveway.

We're down to the end . . .

We are down to the last few pictures of our garden. The weather is getting too hot for many of the plants to stay alive. Also, the last couple of days, we've been getting these big caterpillars that attach themselves to the tomato and banana pepper plants.  We haven't found them eating any of the ripe tomatoes, they have only been eating the green ones . . . so far. 

On the bright side, our carrots are finally starting to grow!! Right now the carrot plants are the only plants that are still really healthy. Hopefully we will be able to eat them soon.

Through The Years

June 17 we celebrated 3 wonderful years together. We can't believe how fast it has gone by! We thought that we would take this opportunity to show you how much we have changed through the years.

June 17, 2006

June 17, 2007

June 14, 2008

June 13, 2009

A Great Vacation!

We just got back from a friends wedding in Easley, SC. It was the same week that our 3 year anniversary fell on so we decided that we would celebrate that as well. It was good to see some of our friends during that week. Here are some pictures from our trip:

Us at the wedding waiting for pictures.

A beautiful picture!

Jeremy helping the ring bearer.

The new Mr. & Mrs.

With our friends: Lyndi, Allison, & Megan (Jeremy's sister).

The last time these guys were all together was for our wedding 3 years ago.

The ladies at Buckey's after the wedding.

The guys at Buckey's.

The group (minus us & Steve).

At the Greenville Pickens Speedway!

With our friends, John & Allison!

The crew with the winner of the race, #3!

At the Greenville Zoo.

At Butterbean in Bushnell, FL.

At the beach after we got back. What a great way to end a great vacation!