House Hunters

Today we went house hunting!  Here's what we looked at!!

This is the only pic I have of this house...Yes, it was that bad! GermX anyone??

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This house was disappointing.  Maggie & I were especially excited to see it because it has an apartment downstairs (which we weren't able to see), but the upstairs just wasn't impressing us.

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We like the different aspects of this house, but the location was awful.

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I think I'm in love!  This house is GREAT!! It's nestled in the hillside and overlooks the city.  This is our favorite house!! It was built in '08, but has never been lived in.  We're hoping it'll still be around when we're ready to buy!  Look at the kitchen!! [drool]

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This house has great potential if you had the money to put into it, because as you see in the pictures it's a BIT outdated. I should have taken a better picture of the kitchen.  The other appliances are the same yellow as the stove! [grin]

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This house is called Home Sweet Home.  There was quite a bit about it that we really liked, but unfortunately there were aspects about it that didn't thrill, ie the teeney bathroom.

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Last house of the day.  The living room was too small in this house, so that's what killed it for us.

So, needless to say we had a busy day!  It was fun though to be able to actually go and look at the houses rather than admiring them online.  By far, House #4 is our favorite, with #6 as runner up!!  We'll see!  It's all in the Lord's hands. 

Need a Cake?

I happen to know two very professional cake decoraters! Hehe...

On the Go

That's how I feel I've been all night long, and it's only going to get busier with the weekend.  This evening has found me making dinner (Shepherd's Pie & Rolls), cleaning my room & now I'm on the home stretch of making frosting/filling for the Sweetheart's Banquet cupcakes. 

Tomorrow the setup for the Banquet will begin and Alyssa & I will decorate the cupcakes.  Then, on Saturday will be all of the cooking and actually hosting the Banquet.  I'm really looking forward to it.  It'll be the 3rd year the SPG's have hosted the SB, and it's been a joy every time!  Every year we've come up with a great theme, and this year is no exception. 

My raspberry filling is done.  It's off to bed for me!  Have a great weekend!

Oh....meet my new friend! :o) Mmmm...it's delicious! 

Sunday

Today in the jail I gave a Bible to the lady the didn't feel worthy to have one initially.  She was so excited about it.  It was cute, because the Bible had those symbols that showed verses that were promises, prophecies, etc.  As we were looking up different verses, she's telling us if it was a prophecy or a promise. :o) 

At one point, she was talking about how a lady on Tuesday was being disrespectful and rude during Bible study and that she needed to get saved - while I'm thinking...so do you. :o)  It was then that she says, "Oh, I haven't told you that I got saved this week!"  Then the lady next to her said that she got saved too!  It was so encouraging!!!! 

Tonight Maggie and I sang a special.  Here are the lyrics to the song...it's so pretty.

Written in Red

In letters of crimson God wrote his love,

on a hillside so long, long ago.

For you and for me, Jesus died

and love’s greatest story was told.

I love you, I love you, that’s what Calvary said.

I love you, I love you, I love you, written in red.

Down through the ages, God wrote his love,

with the same hands that suffered and bled -

Giving all He had to give.

A message so easily read.

I love you, I love you, that’s what Calvary said.

I love you, I love you, I love you, written in red.

Cinnamon Rolls (with Cream Cheese Frosting)

1/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup warm milk
1 egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/8 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk

In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start. (I just put it all into my KitchenAid with the Dough Hook and let it mix it up)

When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough.

Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls bake, stir together cream cheese, softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.

Tacoritos

Source

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups water

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 pound ground beef

1 pound bulk pork sausage

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 cup refried beans

8 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed

3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Optional toppings: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced ripe olives and sour cream

In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Stir in chili powder and garlic salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the beef, sausage and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in refried beans; heat through.

Spread 1/4 cup sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Spread 1 tablespoon sauce over each tortilla; place 2/3 cup meat mixture down the center of each. Top each with 1/4 cup cheese. Roll up and place seam side down in prepared dish. Pour remaining sauce over the top; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Serve with optional toppings if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Pretty in Pink Punch

1/2 cup red cinnamon hots candies, divided
plain vegetable cooking spray
1 quart strawberry ice cream, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 large can pineapple juice (46 ounces)
1 can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed and diluted (12 ounces)
1 bottle ginger ale or 7-Up, chilled (1 liter)

Sprinkle 1/4 cup cinnamon candies into a 5-cup ring mold coated with cooking spray. Spoon ice cream evenly into mold. Cover ring and freeze until firm.

Combine remaining 1/4 cup candies, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until candies are dissolved, stirring occasionally. Let the syrup cool completely.

Combine cooled syrup mixture, chilled pineapple juice, and pink lemonade in a large punch bowl; stir well to blend.

Gently stir chilled ginger ale into punch just before serving. Let ice cream mold stand at room temperature 5 minutes; carefully unmold and float ice cream ring in punch.

Makes about 4 1/2 quarts.

Mozzarella Chicken & Rice Skillet

Source

1 Tbsp. oil
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) 98%-fat-free reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1 soup can milk
2 cups fresh or thawed frozen broccoli florets
1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

HEAT oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 min. on each side or until cooked through (165ºF). Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.

ADD soup and milk to skillet; mix well. Bring to boil. Stir in broccoli and rice; top with chicken. Cover. Reduce heat to low.

COOK 5 min.; sprinkle with cheese. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

Boost

When we have ministries that we do on a regular basis, sometimes they can get tiring. Majority of the time I enjoy going to the jail, but there are times I don't feel like going.  It's during those times that the Lord gives me that 'boost' to get me all excited about it again.  Sunday was one of those days. 

We have Bibles in the jail for the inmates to use, but there are times when they want their own personal Bible. We have no problem giving them one, but before I do I want them to show me it's important to them by having them memorize and quote 2 Timothy 3:16 (All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:).  It's been about a month or so since I've had anyone interested in having their own Bible, and there's only one lady in there right now that even knew about my requirement. 

I went in on Sunday afternoon and sat down with the ladies and one of them grins and says, "I have something to tell you."  "Okay," I reply, and then she quotes 2 Timothy 3:16. I told her of my surprise and excitement and then the next lady says, "I have something to tell you."  "Okay," I reply, and then she quotes 2 Timothy 3:16.  Again, I was excited for the effort she put into memorizing God's Word, and then another lady says, "I have something to tell you."  Now I was catching on. :-)  All 5 of them memorized that verse because they wanted a Bible of their very own!  Needless to say, I was thrilled!!  

But wait!!  There's more!!

Before coming to Bible study, one of the ladies had only been to church maybe once or twice and had never had a Bible before.  She wouldn't even touch a Bible.  A couple of weeks ago, she touched one and then proceeded to wipe her hands off on her pants.  You can imagine my surprise and confusion at this.  After questioning her, it turns out she felt unworthy to touch a Bible because she's not saved.  I highly discouraged this mindset.  I explained to her that God gave us His Word so we can learn about Him and what Christianity is all about.  How was she ever supposed to learn about Christ and what He did for us if she never read His Word?  Going to church/Bible study is important, but it's also important that we study God's Word in our own private time.  Obviously the Lord worked on her heart about it because she was the first to quote 2 Timothy 3:16 and is so excited to have her very first Bible!  While other ladies were requesting large print Bibles or ones that have the words of Christ in red, she said she didn't care what she got...she was wanted one.  Praise God!!!  God is so good!!  He's definitely working and moving in the hearts and lives of those ladies.  My prayer is that they allow Him to continue to and that one day (hopefully soon) they'll receive Him into their lives as their personal Lord and Saviour! 

So, that was my boost.  Kinda like a shot in the arm.  It's like God said, "Don't give up. Just keep on keepin' on." 

Galatians 6:9 ~ "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Emma

PBS Masterpiece has a new Emma!  It is so good!!  Right now you can watch the first 2 parts online, the 3rd airs on Sunday.  If you haven't been watching it, you should!

It's ALL About...

JOSH!!!!

Happy 21st Birthday to my annoying, hilarious, irritating, loving brother! Here's the post you've been waiting for. :-)

I love you very much!!

HUGS!!

(this is good...lol)