Tag Archives: home

Must Haves…

Posted by Jo on June 18, 2011 None comments

Okay, by a show of hand (giggle) I want to know how many of you actually own a full home theater system…

Okay…

Now, by another show of hands (more giggles), how many of you just have those little speakers propped up in the corners of the room that are hooked up to the receiver you already have??

Okay…

Is there a difference?? Do I have to have a big fancy home theater system or can I get by with just the bare minimum?? My husband would have me believe we MUST have the whole nine yards, the whole kit ‘n’ caboodle, the whole enchilada, the whole….okay, you get the idea…

While we’re on the subject, am I the only one with a husband who has to have the volume jacked up so loud when watching a movie that you actually feel like you are IN a movie theater while you are watching a movie in your living room????  Love you honey……

She’s not my “little” girl anymore….

Posted by Jo on June 15, 2011 None comments

Well, we recently went through a rough spot, you might call it, with our daughter, but she seems to be coming around now.   She’s 14…need I say more??  Probably not…

She has always been a good child and always wanted to please her dad and I, but lately, she has wanted to do her own thing and didn’t really care what we had to say about it.  It was really kind of exasperating.  She felt like we were being unfair and refused to see our point of view about a situation.

My husband prayed with her and had her do some praying and extra bible reading and I really think she is coming around now.  I am thankful that she does have a tender heart and that she has a heart for God and want to do right.

Although My husband and I are far from perfect parents, we have raised our daughter right and she knows what she is supposed to be doing and not supposed to be doing and I just have to trust that if we lovingly but firmly guide her back when she begins to stray that God will keep her where she needs to be.  So far so good, I will continue to pray for her and guide her the best I can and leave the rest up to God…

At a loss…

Posted by Jo on June 6, 2011 None comments

For those of you who know me, you know this is something odd…that I would not know what to say…

It’s not so much that I don’t know what to say, so mush as I don’t want to say too much or say the wrong thing.

Just know that there is a lot going on with me right now.  I need some prayer, please. Some of what is going on is not going on “with” me, and doesn’t even really directly affect me, but it shakes me to the core that the devil is attacking  so “close to home”.

And the other stuff I’m going through is going on “with” me, but I am in prayer about it and I am seeking God’s guidance and His will in this situation, which is always hard because as a human being, I rely too much on my feelings and emotions…Of course, I never want to do anything that will cause anyone pain, especially my family and myself.

Please friends, keep your loved ones close to you, tell them and show them you love them every chance you get.  Be slow to anger and quick to forgive, for we are not promised a tomorrow to try again!!!

Blessings…

Posted by Jo on May 19, 2011 None comments

I do realize that doing dishes isn’t normally considered a blessing, but I also realize that being able to do dishes is…

As most of you know, I have been “under the weather”, so to speak for a couple of months now.  It all started with slip and fall in the tub and kinda went south from there, unfortunately.

At one point doctor’s were saying there seemed to be evidence of an old stroke or possibly seizure activity according to some results of a CT scan.  Well, that ended up not being the case , Praise The Lord!  But they did determine that I have a cyst (app. 1″ x 1″) on my brain.  It does not appear to be causing any problems, so they are going to leave it be.

But now we are left to wonder what the problem actually is…

I continue to have major migraines (which isn’t a new thing) and passing out occasionally (which is new since the slip and fall).  We are told that IF the passing out is from the concussion I go when I fell, it will stop on it’s own eventually.

If it’s not from that then we will have to figure out what it is from and try to treat it accordingly.  The Dr. didn’t really say how long we should wait, so I’m not sure what to do there, but I will be checking with my regular soon to see.

At one point, my regular Dr. was going to have me do a cardiac monitor and I think that’s probably my next step.

So back to my original thoughts…I have been having good days and bad (seems mostly bad lately, unfortunately) and some days it’s a struggle just to be up and out of bed.  And, some days I can get simple things done like cleaning toilets, folding laundry and doing dishes.  Today started out rough with a migraine, but has gotten better so, as I was washing dishes today, I looked up and saw this out my window…

…and thought “What a blessing to be here and be able to do my dishes today”.

Spring is my favorite time of year, to me, it represents a rebirth of things and a new start…which we can all use now and then…

Home…

Posted by Jo on May 18, 2011 None comments

For those of you who haven’t figured it out yet, it takes a lot more than having the biggest, bestest, most high tech house on the block to make a house a home.  It takes a lot more than  fancy shower curtains and pretty nick knacks too!!

Some people just don’t get it.  It doesn’t matter if you have all the latest home furnishings and high tech gadgets like the ones you see on Home Makeover and other shows on TV, but if you don’t have love and security, you’ve got nothing!!!

You can have the biggest house on the block with the fanciest things in it and if you don’t have love and commitment and trust, you may as well have a cardboard box.  When will people learn this important fact?

“Things” are not evil or bad in and of themselves, but when we place the importance on these that we should have on our relationships with our families and with God, we are setting ourselves up for major disappointment!!

Just had to get that off my chest…

My Sister…

Posted by Jo on May 15, 2011 None comments

I love my sister dearly…I think she tolerates me.  She gets frustrated because I think she needs to get out more and not spend so much time alone.  I try to keep in contact with her as much as I can, but hey, life gets busy for all of us.

Well, not so much for her, she doesn’t have a job.  She collects social security disability.  I probably could , too, if I really wanted to.  I don’t do well in a traditional job situation.  I’m not sure why, I don’t really have a problem working for someone, as far as being under someone else’s authority,  I just have a problem with  stressing out about being accountable to someone else and doing a good enough job.

I have never held a job for more than 6 months.  One that I had to do outside my home, anyway.  The work I do here at camp doesn’t really count as an “outside” job.  Not as in outdoors, but out of the home.  It’s more like working at home to me…since I live here on the property and it’s not a traditional work environment, though it is a little fast paced sometimes and it does stress me now and again…

But, since I can work here at camp with little to no problem and the hubby and I do get some support and God has been faithful to provide, I don’t see a reason to even apply for disability.

What do you think? What would you do?

Randomness…

Posted by Jo on May 12, 2011 1 comments

**I am not receiving any compensation for this post**

I have a couple different recipes that call for canned chicken.  I must say, I am not a fan of canned chicken.  So much so that I went to cooking chicken breast tenders, letting them cool and cutting them up all just to make chicken salad.  Sad, I know…

So, the other day I’m in the store and I’m thinking, if I could only find a canned chicken that I liked, it would make my life SO.MUCH.EASIER.

So, I pick up a couple cans of Tyson Brand canned chicken.  The label says “Premium White Chicken”, so it’s gotta be good, right??

IT IS DELICIOUS!!! I kid you not, it’s so yummy, I can’t stop eating it!!!

So, if you are as frustrated as I was with canned chicken, be frustrated no more!!! Pick yourself up some Tyson brand canned chicken and you won’t be disappointed!

You’re Welcome!!

Confusion…

Posted by Jo on May 9, 2011 1 comments

I have to admit when I heard that tv was all going to be digital, I had no idea what that meant.  Whoever made that decision to switch everyone from analog signal to digital really had me shaking my head.  Really, what was the point???

I think I have more problems now with my tv reception than I ever did before.  Was it supposed to help that???  Then I thought that antennas for tv would become obsolete, which was wrong (big surprise, NOT).

I had no idea you could get digital antennas…

These are the things I sit around and think about when I am not allowed to do anything because my head hurts so bad I could cry and the room insists on spinning whenever I get off the couch!!!  :x

Home Improvements…

Posted by Jo on May 6, 2011 None comments

I am a HUGE fan of hardwood floors.  I am not, however, a fan of the upkeep of hardwood floors!!!

Love the look and the fact that it is a “clean” floor, meaning it doesn’t hold dust and dander like carpet does.  You also don’t have the worry of spills that will stain or soak in and leave odors!!

I have always dreamt of beautiful cherry or oak floors with those big oriental rugs…aahhhh…that would be awesome!!!  Maybe someday I will get my “hardwood” floors…

For those of us who like the look of hardwood but not the “work” that goes with them, they make laminate flooring.  It looks like hardwood (or can) but it doesn’t have the upkeep that goes with it.

Isn’t it gorgeous??  LOVE IT!!!!

White Chili (chicken)

Posted by Jo on April 30, 2011 None comments

I had this for dinner last night (2 soup mugs full)  around 5:30 PM, and I WAS NOT HUNGRY again til 12:00 PM today!! It was so filling and so yummy!!  This recipe is great for LDL because it doesn’t have any wheat or added sugar in it.  Everything in it is LDL approved!! :mrgreen:

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each), chopped
  • 2 cans (14 ounces each) chicken broth
  • 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, drained, divided
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Chopped jalapeno pepper, optional
  • Sour Cream, optional (only FF would be LDL approved)
  • Tortilla/Corn Chips, optional (these would not be LDL approved)

Instructions:

  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook onion in oil for 10 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the chicken, chicken broth, green chilies, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper; bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to low. With a potato masher, mash one can of beans until smooth. Add to saucepan. Add remaining beans to saucepan. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
  • Top each serving with cheese and jalapeno pepper if desired. Yield: 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).

You’re Welcome!!!

Dreams and Aspirations…

Posted by Jo on April 28, 2011 None comments
Buster and I gladly gave up our “dream” home (it still needs a little work, but it has a lot of potential) when God called us to move out here to camp to serve Him here. We were so excited to see what God had in store for us out here, and we are still excited that God is using us here.
The house we live in here at camp is about 1/3- 1/4 the size of the home we own in town. That is a lot less space!! I try to keep the clutter down here in our little house, but it’s very hard considering there isn’t enough space for everything.
Anyway, Buster and I have been talking about eventually (once we sell our house, more than likely) adding on to this house and making it bigger. We would make what is now the dining/living area all dining area and put in a new family/living room and a master bedroom with a big master bathroom. We have a master bed/bath now, but the bathroom is very small and only has a shower in it.
Another thing I would like to add is a dish washer to the kitchen, which we could make a little bigger also. I really miss having one, it would make my busy life a lot easier.
Buster has also mentioned building or buying some kind of omnimount type contraption to attach the TV to the wall, giving us more space. At our house in town there was lots of space to put all his eagles (he collects them). Now we don’t, so if we put the TV on the wall, we will have the top of the entertainment center to put eagles on.
Don’t get me wrong, we are very thankful for a place to live, and I am in no way complaining, but we would love to be comfortable in our living space. We choose to be in God’s will comfortable or not, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could have both??? :)

Crustless Pumpkin Pie!!!

Posted by Jo on April 26, 2011 None comments
For some reason, my blog does not like the new Internet Explorer. Ever since I updated, my blog doesn’t want to work right. So, I downloaded Mozilla on my Net-book and Wa-La, I am up and running normally again!?!?! (my blog is anyway…lol)
Anywho, wanted to share another LDL recipe with ya’ll so here goes. This is a simple recipe and you’ll never even miss the crust!!!
LDL Pumpkin Pie
what you need:
  • 1 15 0z. can pure pumpkin (this is the small can)
  • 1 12 oz. can fat free evaporated milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 t. vanilla
  • 1/4-1/2 c. (to taste) splenda (this is the sweetener I use, use what you like)
  • 1/4 c. mashed banana (2/3 or so of a small banana)
  • 1 1/2 t. cinnamon
  • 3/4 t. ginger
  • 1/4 t. cloves
  • 1/4 t. nutmeg
  • 1/4 t. allspice
  • 1/2 t. salt
what to do:
  • Combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, vanilla, splenda and banana in bowl. Stir til smooth.
  • Add in all the spices and the salt.
  • Spray 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan with non-stick spray. Pour in the pumpkin mixture. Bake 50-60 minutes at 325º. When it’s done a toothpick stuck into the center will come out clean. May require a little more than time stated.
I serve this with sugar free cool whip, cause that’s what I can have on LDL.
Your Welcome!! :mrgreen: