Disney On Ice Field Trip

The Lion King




The Little Mermaid








Lilo and Stitch


Mickey, Minnie and the Gang




Peter Pan


Best Friends

Veterans Day

In honor of the veterans in my life:

Those who have passed on:
Richard D. Voll (Army) My Daddy
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Voll (Navy) My Grandpa
Irene Voll (Navy) My Grandma
Warren Anderson (Army) Bryan's Grandaddy

And those who are still with us:
Olaf Hill - (My soon to be stepdad)
Bill Carr (Army) - Bryan's Papa
Larry Anderson (Marines) - Bryan's Uncle

And in honor of the many veterans of the United States of America!

Thoughts of the Election
(Note: I copied this from another blog, I thought it was very good and puts things into perspective!)


Dear Friends,

For months now my email Inbox has been besieged by nearly hysterical warnings about what will happen if Barack Obama becomes President. I have been encouraged to be worried, afraid, concerned, prepared for disaster, and a whole host of other maladies if this happens. I do not deny the importance of this election, but it seems to me that we need a dose of perspective. So here, on the day after the election, I would like to make my own statementl concerning this election.

It's a True/False test. I'd like for all of us to take it.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order
(1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, JESUS IS LORD will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

How did you score?

So no matter how you voted, remember who you are and who He is. Let's keep it all in perspective!

Election

Election day is tomorrow and I want to encourage everyone to get out and vote. Do not vote for a "party". If you are not sure which candidate to vote for, look into their voting record. See how they have voted in the past on issues and morals that you believe in. This is a VERY important election this year and we cannot take it lightly. So many people vote democrat or republican because "this is the way they've always voted". Well, I do not vote democrat or republican, I vote for the one that I believe will stand up for what I believe in. It may be a republican or it may be a democrat. I am going to look at their morals and I pray that as Christians we all vote that way. I do not want someone in the white house that thinks it is okay to kill babies or that it is okay for homosexuals to be married. I'm sorry, but that is just not biblical.

Here is a voting guide for everyone to look at, if you aren't sure who to vote for you can check it out. Or you can also print it and hand it out at work. http://www.afa.net/08VG/index.html

There was a little old lady, who every morning. stepped onto her front porch, raised her arms to the sky, and shouted: 'PRAISE THE LORD!'

One day an atheist moved into the house next door. He became irritated at the little old lady.

Every morning he'd step onto his front porch after her and yell: 'THERE IS NO LORD!'

Time passed with the two of them carrying on this way every day.

One morning, in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted: 'PRAISE THE LORD! Please Lord, I have no food and I am starving, provide for me, oh Lord!

The next morning she stepped out onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there.

'PRAISE THE LORD!' she cried out. 'HE HAS PROVIDED GROCERIES FOR ME!'

The atheist neighbor jumped out of the hedges and shouted: 'THERE IS NO LORD; I BOUGHT THOSE GROCERIES!!'

The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted: 'PRAISE THE LORD! HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH GROCERIES AND MADE THE DEVIL PAY FOR THEM!'

In EVERYTHING give thanks!!!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 118:29

Homecoming for our church was today. We had a guest speaker, some special singing and a slide show. We also had dinner on the grounds after the service. It was a wonderful service. Some visitors came that we haven't seen in a while and some new faces were there. Two new faces that we saw were my future stepdad and stepsister. They finally got to meet our church family.

I enjoyed spending some time with them and getting to know them better. It's nice that our family is growing. But, even more important is that our church family is growing. Part of the message this morning was about focusing on the important thing and not worrying so much about the little things. That is what so many people get hung up on, the little things. Details. Things that 50 years from now, won't matter! I wish more people would realize what is important and stop sweating the small stuff. Because one day they will look back and say, "why was I so upset about that?". When you worry so much about little things, you are missing the big picture.

Okay, the cat is out of the bag....

The one getting married is.....


My Mama!

I have some news to tell,
Don't you want to know?
There is going to be a wedding,
In seven months or so!

This is a surprise,
I will tell you soon.
But, in the meantime,
Can you guess who?

Vacation

We are home from vacation. We had a great time. We got a lot of well-needed rest. We got to visit some family that we haven't seen in a long time. It was a good trip. I'm glad we were able to go. I would love another week or so vacation! While in Florida, we visited a place called the Holy Land Experience. It was awesome! If you are ever in the Orlando, FL area, you should go. I can't wait to go back again. Here are a few pics from our trip.

A Diver coming up from Little River Springs


Jesus with the Children at the Holy Land Experience


Jonah in the belly of a Whale


Jesus carrying the cross to be crucified


"He's Alive"


Fall Festival


Part of the Fall Festival ceremony


Jesus joins the dancing


Like I said, the pictures do not show you everything, it was awesome!

Update...

Bryan's cousin is off of life support now, she is breathing on her own but it is very shallow. The family has just left it in the Lord's hands.

And, we are leaving in the morning to go down to Florida to visit some family and have a little vacation. We will be back Saturday.

Catching up....

Well, I know it has been a while since I have blogged. I have been a very busy bee. Between school work, house work, church and my 40-hour-a-week-job, I haven't had much time to do anything! As a matter of fact, I'm blogging from work right now!

So, last weekend our church held a "lock-in" for the youth (ages 8 and up). I'm not as young as I used to be! Thank the Lord we did have a "bed" time in which the boys and girls separated and layed down to go to sleep. And believe it or not, they actually did eventually go to sleep. So, I got about 3 hours of sleep on the nursery floor! LOL I still haven't recovered from that! But, everyone had a great time and we had alot of adult chaperones. Thank the Lord for people with a heart for youth.

I have been trying to play catch up all week with my school work. I've been a day or two behind on everything, but hopefully I will get everything caught up tonight.

Next week we will be on vacation. We are going to Florida to visit some family that we have not seen in a long time and may not get to see again. My great-aunt is not in good health and she is a very special lady who I can't wait to see again. While in Florida we will be close to Orlando and no, we won't be going to Disney World this year (maybe next year). But, we are planning to go to a place called the Holy Land Experience. It is a theme park set up as the Holy Land and I've heard it is an awesome experience. We also plan to go to a zoo near Orlando. I think the kids will really have a good time and I can't wait to just get away. My mom, my husband and I really need a vacation right now!!!

We do have some sad news to report. Bryan's cousin is in the hospital in a coma and today the family will have to decide whether or not to take her off of life support. The doctor's have said that if she lives she will be like this the rest of her life (no brain activity, not breathing on her own, and using a feeding tube). She has three chidren, 19, 12 and 4. It is a very sad situation. Please keep that family in your prayers.

So, I guess that is all that is going on in my life right now. That is enough! LOL They say the Lord won't give you more than you can handle-I just wish he didn't trust me so much!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Amazing Grace!

I just wanted to share a special moment in our family. Last night our son, Matthew sang Amazing Grace for our church. If you know Matthew, you know how special that is, he is extremely shy! Every time his sister gets up to sing, he says he's too shy to do it. But, yesterday morning in the choir he leaned over and told me that he wanted to sing and he wanted to sing Amazing Grace! He was very nervous last night and I wound up having to get up there with him. I kept the microphone as far away from me as possible! LOL I was so proud of him. He brought tears to many eyes in the church!

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks!
A meme that is fun... If you want to play then just erase my answers, enter yours, and post it.

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things, nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you if you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.This is FUN!

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Cheryl
TV SHOW: CSI
BOY NAME: Corey
GIRL NAME: Christy
OCCUPATION: Customer Service
A COLOR: Coral
SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Clothes
BEVERAGE: Coca Cola
FOOD: Carrots
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Clothes on the floor! (Oh, is that just my bathroom?) LOL
A PLACE: Claxton
REASON FOR BEING LATE: Craziness!
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Come On, Kids!

Monday

This is the last week of my first 9 weeks. Does that make any sense?

It is the final week of my first block of classes in college. I have final projects due and all that good stuff, so I am going to be up to my eyeballs in school work this week. The first 9 weeks have gone by fast. Hopefully the rest of them will as well! My next block of classes will start next Monday. No breaks in between. I guess that is one way that you get through quicker!

So, how about John McCain's pick for Vice President? I don't know much about Sarah Palin, but from what I've seen-I like her! I hope that everyone is praying about the upcoming presidential election. I know I am.



http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ptv_homepage

Wreck

Not me, but my Mom.
She was in a wreck on Saturday. She is okay, someone ran into the back of her car while she was stopped. The wierd thing is that a friend of mine just told me that she was in a wreck on Saturday in almost the same place! People need to start paying attention when they are driving!

Here is Mama's car. It is in the car hospital, and it will be okay once Dr. Watson performs surgery! :-)

To Lily...

You're the best little girl we ever had!

Just and update....
I went to the doctor today and I have bronchitis and a sinus infection. Yuck! Atleast it wasn't any worse and now I have an antibiotic to take. I was afraid it was pneumonia or something, the way I felt Saturday!

SICK!

Well, I'm still sick. It must be the flu or something. Lily's party went okay. It about wore me out, but we did have a castle cake. It didn't turn out quite like I had planned, but she liked it anyways. We wound up getting a Barbie cake as back up!
Here are her cakes:




The weather kept some from coming to the party, but she had a few kids to play with and they all seemed to enjoy it.


Now, if I can get better, get caught up on my school work, make room for Lily's new toys and clean this house I'll be doing good. As of right now, I can't hardly talk so my husband and children are glad that I can't yell at them! Not that I would!

Hello Fay

So, we are experiencing lots of rain and a little wind from Tropical Storm Fay. Everyone say Hello to Fay! And now say Goodbye, because we wouldn't want her to overstay her welcome!

And what are them other two blobs on the screen? More tropical formation!? Help!

Also, we are having Lily's birthday party tomorrow. She will be 5 Wednesday. I am sick, just a cold or something. I'll live. But, pray for me! I don't want to be sick with a birthday party going on! The cake that Lily wants me to make for her birthday is a princess castle and it's from a cookbook that someone gave me a while back. I'm going to try to make it tonight, we'll see how it goes!

I sure do miss you, Daddy!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (KIDS)

Tomorrow is the first day of school for the kids. Lily is really excited to be starting Kindergarten. Matthew is not too excited about the third grade, but I think he misses his friends. We get to go to the school today to meet their teachers and everything. I will have to post a picture of them tomorrow.

Today is my 60th post. Wow! That is kind of cool, I didn't realize I had posted that much! In honor of my 60th post I will list 6 things (because I don't have time to list 60) that I look forward to doing.

1. Taking a Vacation
2. Taking the Kids to school tomorrow!
3. Finish school
4. Teaching
5. Losing weight (one way or another)
6. Getting a new home (one day!)

This is partially a wish list! LOL

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Recipes

I wanted to share with y'all a couple of recipes I got from Beth Moore's blog. Her daughter Melissa has embraced the art of cooking and she posts alot of recipes on the blog. I tried the chicken spaghetti Friday night (it was soooo good!). Of course, I adapted it to my own taste and that of my family. But, it turned out really good. I think I'm going to make a mini-version of it for our fellowship supper at church! You can check out the post by Melissa by clickig here: http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/07/tuesdays-common-meal.html

Pioneer Woman Chicken Spaghetti

2 cups cooked Chicken
2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup finely diced Green Pepper
1/2 cup finely diced Onion
1-4 oz jar diced Pimientos, drained
3 cups dry Spaghetti, broken into two inch pieces
2 cups reserved Chicken Broth (from pot)
1 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 additional cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (for the top of the casserole)

Directions:
Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick enough meat off the bones to make two cups. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar. Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil)

Melissa’s Notes:
What sets this recipe above the average chicken spaghetti recipe is that 1) the spaghetti is cooked in the chicken broth not water 2) the chicken broth is not from a can but is reserved from the actual pot the chicken was boiled in. In my opinion, this recipe lacks without these two elements. The chicken spaghetti feeds approximately 6 people.

Apple Crostata (Barefoot Contessa Parties!)

For the pastry:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated or superfine sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 pound (1 stick) very cold unsalted butter, diced
2 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:
1 1/2 pounds McIntosh, Macoun, or Empire apples (3 large)
1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup granulated or superfine sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced

Directions:

For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 12 to 15 times, or until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water all at once through the feed tube. Keep hitting the pulse button to combine, but stop the machine just before the dough becomes a solid mass. Turn the dough onto a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Flour a rolling pin and roll the pastry into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer it to a baking sheet.

For the filling, peel, core, and cut the apples into 8ths. Cut each wedge into 3 chunks. Toss the chunks with the orange zest. Cover the tart dough with the apple chunks leaving a 1 1/2-inch border.

Combine the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and allspice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Pour into a bowl and rub it with your fingers until it starts holding together. Sprinkle evenly on the apples. Gently fold the border over the apples to enclose the dough, pleating it to make a circle.

Bake the crostata for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crust is golden and the apples are tender. Allow to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Melissa's Notes: This is what some call a "free-form" tart or galette, which means simply that it isn't baked with the support of a pie-dish or tart-pan. You just fold the 1 1/2 inch border up and crinkle it in about two inch intervals, to partially cover the fruit and then bake it straight on a baking-sheet. Try looking at pictures of similar recipes online if you have never made anything like this before. I think that this dough is pretty forgiving, though. I have made it numerous times and even when I think the dough has failed, it ends up tasting flawless.

Kimberly Meyer’s Banana Pudding
(seriously, it has the ability to change your life)

5 Bananas, sliced
1 14 oz Can Eagle Brand (Sweetened Condensed Milk)
1 Large Cool Whip
1 Large Instant Vanilla Pudding
3 Cups Whole Milk
1 Box of Vanilla Wafers
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Trifle Bowl or a REALLY deep dish (much prettier in a trifle bowl)

Directions:
-Put entire box of Vanilla Wafers on the bottom of a deep dish.
-Take can of Eagle Brand, 1 tsp. of Vanilla Extract & ½ of the large carton of Cool Whip and blend it all together.
-In a second bowl, mix instant vanilla pudding & 3 cups of Milk.
-Fold the two mixes together by hand (the pudding mix & Eagle Brand mix)
-Pour HALF of this mixture on the layer of wafers
-Put all of the sliced bananas on top of the layer of pudding mixture
-Put the other half of the pudding mixture on top of the sliced bananas
-Finish with the other half of the Cool Whip on top.
- Chill and Serve!

Melissa’s Notes:
I have found that this recipe makes a bit too much pudding mixture, so when I get to the step after layering the sliced bananas, I do not use the entire other half of the pudding mixture. Since I don’t like for it to be too sweet, I use a little over ¼ of it. Just make sure you taste it, and modify it according to your desires.


Mini Cucumber Sandwiches
Recipe from “Southern Entertaining for a New Generation” by Rebecca Lang

Ingredients:

1 8-oz package Cream Cheese, Softened
¼ cup of Sour Cream
¼ teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon fresh chopped Dill
¼ cup finely diced sweet Onion
20 thinly sliced white sandwich bread slices
1 Large English Cucumber (seedless cucumbers) or 2 Cucumbers, thinly sliced
20 thinly sliced wheat sandwich bread slices

Directions:

-In a medium mixing bowl stir the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add the salt, dill, and diced onion.
-Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the white bread slices. Top the cream cheese mixture with one slice of cucumber, then top with the wheat bread slices.
-Slice the sandwiches in half diagonally or cut with your favorite cookie or biscuit cutter.
-Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 3 hours before serving.
-Makes 20 Servings.

Melissa’s Notes:
I buy Pepperidge Farm “Very Thin Sliced” bread in the bread section of the grocery store. This brand has both white and wheat varieties and they fit perfectly together for this recipe (buy one loaf of wheat and one loaf of white) Sometimes I add one really thin slice of turkey if I am serving them around lunch-time. Using a really sharp cookie-cutter or a biscuit cutter makes them look the prettiest!

FRIDAY FIVE

1. I have made 2 As in my classes so far (1 in each class). :-)
2. I am not happy with my job right now. :-(
3. It is hard to keep a Christian attitude in your job when you are being treated unfairly (even for a preacher's wife!), although I think I'm doing a pretty good job.
4. Only 2 weeks left until school starts back!
5. I am really, really tired right now!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (FOR ME)

Well, today is my first official day of school. I did a couple of workshops with the university last week, so I already feel like a student! But, today will be my first official day and there is no turning back now! Tonight my enrollment advisor will call and "walk" me to class. (I've already posted my first assignment though! LOL) I'm hoping to stay ahead as much as possible. My first 2 classes are a class on Writing essays and a class for Online Learning. Since I am doing this whole thing online they give a class on how succeed as an online student. So, pray for me as I begin this long exciting journey! It will be worth it in the end!

Fourth, Fireworks and College

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. We did, we had supper and fireworks with the in laws! My Mom and I took the kids to see that new movie Wall-E Saturday and that was fun. The kids laughed all the way through (I did too), it was Lily's first trip to the theatre. I did not want to get up and get ready for work this morning!

I start classes on the 14th. I take a workshop this week to kind of prepare, but next Monday I officially start! I'm excited!

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. --Matthew 19:26

Thought for the day....

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says...

"OH CRAP........... SHE'S AWAKE!!!!!"

Boredom...

Do you remember what that is? Boredom? I don't ever have time to be bored! But, it seems that my children (mainly the 8 year old) is bored! He has watched enough TV, played enough playstation and computer games, ridden his bike, jumped on the trampoline and he just can't find anything else to do. He has more things to play with than I ever dreamed about having, toys on top of toys, some that he hasn't played with in so long, he's probably forgotten he has them. Right now, it's summer vacation and he doesn't enough things to keep him busy and occupy his time. When this happens, he results to picking on his little sister! I remember the days of summer vacation boredom, but it seems like I remember using my imagination more than children today do. It's not just my children, it seems like all children are never satisfied, they want someone to entertain them. They don't want to entertain themselves, build something, draw something, use the brain that God gave them. They want us to do it for them. I think that wanting and so called "boredom" is good for them. Maybe it will build character. The good Lord knows that I 'wanted' enough in my lifetime, but I think it has prepared me and shaped me into a better person. (Maybe not having much when I was young prepared me to be a PW! HA! - Just kidding!)

So, if any of you have some good suggestions on something the children can do (without the help of an adult) to keep them from dying of boredom, let me hear 'em! With me at work all day I can't help them, it has to be something they can do on their own, mostly Matthew because Lily is still young and she isn't as hard to please. (Otherwise my husband a.k.a. "the preacher" is going to go bananas!)LOL

....."We're bored!!!"

News...

Hi there! Well, I realize that I am not too good about keeping my blog updated! I wish I were, but sometimes I don't feel like I have anything to post about and then sometimes I do have something good to talk about, but I don't have time! Sorry to those of you who do read my blog.

News...
VBS - we had an awesome VBS. The kids were really fired up! We had one girl (11 years old) get saved the last night. I have some good pictures, but I don't like posting pictures of other people's children on my blog without their permission.

Day off - I took a day off last week and our family visited a local water park. It was SO MUCH FUN! The kids had a blast, we had two cars full! I can't wait to go again really soon. I also have a good picture of that:


Kids only! You didn't think I'd have myself in that picture did you?

Exciting News.....
I am going back to school to get my teaching degree! Yay me! I'm so excited. This is something I've always wanted to do and I should be able to get a complete bachelor's degree online. Keep me and my family in your prayers, I know it will be hard, but it will be so worth it!