Feb 29, 2008

1 Down 1 to Go

APRONS!!!

Well I managed to finish one of my apron projects. I didn't actually get to use the coordinating check pattern but I really wanted to. I wanted to use it to make bias tape but I couldn't figure it out. So...I did it with orange bias tape. I really want to learn to make bias tape so I searched and found this article. I guess I'm gonna need to find a bias tape maker, I found some here and they look really easy to use.

Anyhow, back to the apron, here's the orange one, I like the look of it but it's not the most flattering from the back .

Also you can't see it but the whole apron has bias tape trim and two pockets on it. They blend pretty good.
Anyhow, I really can't wait to make the green one but I really want to make some bias tape using the coordinating fabric I found. So I'll let you know how it goes.

Leap Day

Happy Leap Day y'all!!
I found these really interesting facts about Leap Year at ok50.com
They are really neat!

50 Interesting Leap Year Facts!



1 The original Roman 355 day calendar had an extra 22-day month every few years to maintain the correct seasonal changes. By the time Julius Caesar took reign, the seasons no longer occurred during the same months they once had.

2 This was remedied in 45 B.C. by removing the extra month and adding the extra day to a few months instead.

3 Julius Caesar proclaimed the last day of February as Leap Year Day, skipping it three out of four years. Back then, February 30th was the last day of the last month of the year, which is why he picked it.

4 Julius also threw in a month in honour of himself (Julius - July).

5 Around 10 BC, it was found that the priests in charge of computing the calendar had been adding leap years every three years instead of the four decreed by Caesar (Vardi 1991, p. 239). As a result of this error, no more leap years were added until 8 A.D. Leap years were therefore 45 BC, 42 BC, 39 BC, 36 BC, 33 BC, 30 BC, 27 BC, 24 BC, 21 BC, 18 BC, 15 BC, 12 BC, 9 BC, 8 AD, 12 AD, and every fourth year thereafter (Tøndering), until the Gregorian calendar was introduced

6 In 4 A.D. Emperor Caesar Augustus corrected a counting error in Leap Years. He also had the month of August named after him, and took the last day of February so that August can have 31 days, just like Julius' month. Now February has 29 days in Leap Years.

7 The calendar was finally perfected by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 who predicted Easter and Christmas would eventually fall on top of each other without his intervention.

8 Pope Gregory determined that Leap Day should fall on any year divisible by 4 but not 100 (except when the year is divisible by 400).

9 Century years were made leap years if they were divisible by 400. So, 2000 was a Leap Year, but 1900 was not.

10 At the same time, Pope Gregory moved the end of the year to December 31st.

11 He also moved the end of the year back two months so that Easter would occur in the spring.

12 Today our year is 365.2425 days, off from our solar year by .00031, or one day's error over 4,000 years.

13 Leap Seconds! Some years are longer than others. This is mostly due to weather. Every few years, scientists agreed to add or remove a second from a year right at midnight on January 1st or July 1st. This is called a Leap Second. Newsflash: Scientists have now discovered that the Earth is not rotating as fast, and have deemed this practice unnecessary!

14 Leap Moons! Many countries use a lunar calendar to celebrate religious holidays. Whenever the lunar calendar falls behind the solar calendar by more than a moon month, a Leap Moon Month is added to the lunar calendar.

15 If you're a "Leaper," you will have beaten the 1,506 odds against being born on Leap Day

16 There is now in existence the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club and the Worldwide Leap Year Festival.

17 Leap Year was the traditional time that women could propose marriage. When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years - February 29th.

18 It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St.Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. So, according to legend, St. Patrick said women could propose on this one day in February during the Leap Year.

19 According to English law, February 29th was ignored and had no legal status.

20 Folks assumed that traditions would also have no status on that day. It was also reasoned that since the leap year day existed to fix a problem in the calendar, it could also be used to fix an old and unjust custom that only let men propose marriage.

21 The first documentation of this practice dates back to 1288, when Scotland passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their choice in that year.

22 They also made it law that any man who declined a proposal in a Leap Year must pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.

23 In the United States, some people have referred to this date as Sadie Hawkins Day, with women being given the right to run after unmarried men to propose.

24 There is a Greek superstition that claims couples have bad luck if they marry during a leap year. Apparently one in five engaged couples in Greece will avoid planning their wedding during a leap year.

25 Herman Hollerith developed the first computer on Leap Day 1860. He had been a special agent for the US census, and developed punch cards and electric tabulating machines in time to process the census returns, reducing considerably the time needed to complete the clerical work. Hollerith's venture became part of what is now the IBM Corporation.

26 Leapship - A friendship or relationship between 2 Leapies!

27 The Gotthard railway tunnel between Switzerland & Italy was completed on Leap Day 1880.

28 Dutch scientists produced solid helium on Leap Day 1908.

29 The discovery of the first pulsar in space was announced on Leap Day 1968.

30 LeapGramp and LeapGran - The Grandparents of a Leap Day Baby!

31 There are currently around 4.1 million ‘Leapers’ in the world today.

32 Ann Lee (founder of Shakerism) was born in Manchester Leap Day 1736

33 Rossini (composer) was born on Leap Day 1792

34 John Holland, American inventor of the submarine, was born on Leap Day 1792

35 Jimmy Dorsey (bandleader) was born Leap Day 1904

36 Ja Rule (Rap Artist) born Leap Day 1976

37 1964 Olav Henriksen born - The 2nd of 3 siblings born on consecutive Leap Days

38 Leapophile - People who are not themselves Leapies but like and celebrate Leap Day!

39 Leap Year cocktail - never order a Leap Year cocktail by name. Instead, call out the ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 0.5 oz Grand Marnier, 0.5 oz sweet vermouth, and a squeeze of lemon. Shake with crushed ice and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.

40 Leap Year Day Babies will never have a "Golden Birthday". A Golden Birthday is when your age matches the number of the day of the month you were born on. Leap Year Day Babies will have to be 116 before they turn 29 on the 29th!

41 Longest Reported Leap Day: Jon Hayanga Leap Year Day Baby 1960, had his birthday in Taipei one day then crossed the international date line going east and had his birthday again the next day in Spokane, WA, USA.

42 Shortest Reported Leap Day: Ed Chatfield Leap Year Day Baby 1940, crossed the date-line in a ship (going west) the night of February 28th and woke up on March 1st. So he lost his birthday entirely.

43 Leapicide - People who celebrate on Feb 28 and Mar 1 as well as Feb 29!

44 Leap Year Day Babies born in 1884 had no birthday during their entire teen-age years. Why? Because 1900 was not a Leap Year.

45 The Order of 29'ers was operated by the Pittsburg, Kansas, Headlight-Sun newspaper, from the 1920's through the 1960's. Their motto was "semel quatuor annis," and they sent out certificates to people born on February 29th. The certificate was yellow and had a picture of a baby, bracketed by a stork on one side and father time on the other.

46 There was a time when Leap Year Balls happened all throughout the Leap Year. Women were given the "right" to ask a man for his hand in marriage. They were afforded a lovely place to display themselves, and propose their man of choice, at lavish and fantastic Leap Year Balls. If the man declined her proposal he had to provide her with a silk dress and a kiss on the cheek.

47 Leap Year Dances were common as well. Here, a woman may do the asking for a dance. The women attending either a Leap Year Ball or a Leap Year Dance may ask her man to marry her. It is "OK" for a woman to ask in a Leap Year.

48 The premise of Gilbert and Sullivan's musical The Pirates of Penzance is based on the birth of the main character on a leap day. Frederic was, as a child, apprenticed to a band of tenderhearted, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master's instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Frederic, upon completing his 21st year, rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society. But it turns out that he was born on February 29, Leap Year Day, and he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday (when he's 84!).

49 Make a Leap Year Kiss Cake - Take one armful of pretty girl, 1 lovely face, 2 laughing brown or blue eyes, 2 rosy cheeks and 2 lips like strawberries. Mix well and press to lips. The result will be astonishing. For frosting take 1 piece of dark piazza and a little moonlight, and press into 1 large or small hand so as not to attract attention, 2 ounces of romance and 1 or 2 whiskers. Dissolve half a dozen glances into a quantity of hesitation and 2 ounces of yielding. Place kisses on blushing lips or cheeks. Flavour with a slight scream and set aside to cool.

50 Yes, Superman is a Leap Day Baby! He is a comic book character, so he can have whatever birthday his creator decides to give him. An article in TIME magazine, March 14 1988, proclaimed Superman to be born on February 29. However, If you figure it out, there is no way anyone can be 50 'years' old on February 29, of any Leap Year. They would have to be 48 or 52. And, if someone did turn 50 'Leap Years' old on February 29, 1988, they would have been born in 1784!




Hope you all have a wonderful Leap Day!!

Feb 27, 2008

Fooey on the Flu

Well it looks like the flu is here to stay for a while. Johnny had it for 5 days and now we're home from church because Hannah has it now. Oh the joys of life.

I went to the material store today and guess what I got, yea that's right, material...not just material but some really good stuff for making aprons. I took some pictures of the material and their intended purposes. So as soon as things slow down I plan on working on these aprons. I don't know if this one is actually an apron but isn't it cute. I'm making the green one for Hannah, hopefully I can downsize the pattern enough for a 10 year old. The orange one is for me, and I love the material. The plaids are for the trims. Anyhow, I don't know why I showed you those if not to motivate me to get them done. °Ãœ°

Oh yea I was going to let you all know, or those of you who are interested, I started a new diet blog. I am down 15 lbs since I started counting and I'm sure I lost 5 lbs before I weighed the first time. The US is fun but it sure is hard to maintain a healthy weight. So I'm loosing all my furlough fluff!! °Ãœ°

Well I'm headed to get ready for bed. Have a great day y'all!!

Feb 26, 2008

Good News

Hey Y'all, just got back from date night with Johnny. It was very nice, ate a little too much but had a great time.

God did a great thing tonight while we were out. We were both a little bothered by the lack of direction in our lives right now. We know God wants us in Croatia but after turning the church over to a national God just hasn't clearly directed us anywhere. Every town in Croatia needs a good church but it's so important to do what God wants us to do and not our own will. So we're waiting clear guidance about what city to start a new church in . Anyhoo, with all the sickness and lack of direction we had really gotten a bit down.

Tonight God did something great. We were walking through an almost deserted town square and slowly passing out tracts as we walked and before we made it back to the car two young men were saved. WOW, I don't know if you know how incredible that is but it almost never happens that you can just lead someone to the Lord on the street, the first time meeting them. It clearly was a miracle God sent just for us. Dragan and Marijo both received Jesus as their Savior tonight and we give God all the glory for being so good and merciful!!

Anyhoo, couldn't keep that to myself, God is too good!!!

Feb 25, 2008

Just Life and Stuff

One of the blessings to serving in Croatia are the people, not all the time but most. We are very blessed to be able to work with the Roma (Gypsy) people and some of our dear friends are Gypsy.

I got a surprise the other day form some of our Gypsy friends, Johnny came home with a huge bag of pork, an uncut slab of pig. So guess who got to weed through the stuff and figure out what was what and how to cut it.

Now you have to know me, I'm a city gal and not to keen about cutting up sides of pork but I'm pretty proud of myself today. This is what I got from the haul. 3 bags of pork cutlets, or I think they are, some ribs and a pretty big chunk of meat that I couldn't identify that I'm going to use for chopped barbecue.

I'm going to cook some of these cutlets later, I'll let you know how they are tomorrow. :-)
Okay now for some not-so-gross stuff. Spring has sprung really early in Croatia. Usually we can have snow until April many times. Since the first of the year we had not had any snow and I guess that has hastened Spring, but you won't see me complaining, I love Spring.



NAME THAT PLANT
I went out and looked around the yard at some of the plants and bushes in the yard. I found lots of evidence of spring. This little rounded plant/bush, don't know what it is but I'm sure it's gonna have some nice flowers soon. If you know what this plant is, please leave a comment and let me know.
Oh yea and I think these are some sort of willows and they are blooming. Oh my isn't the little peak of yeller nice? Same as above, if you know what it is please leave a comment.
Finally my next one, is a pretty little tree and it looks like it's gonna have some nice big blooms. Okay what is it??

Oh yea, one more thing, I added some new links to the sidebar. I actually added a new list, Super Cool Tuts I love following tutorials online so I linked to some of my favorites.


Please go by and check out this totally neat link, 56 Free Apron Patterns and it's for real too. Very cool link and the site is cool too. Enjoy!!


Oh yea for those of you who don't enjoy Mondays.
Happy Monday!

Feb 23, 2008

Things that are different are not the same!

Well since I was doing some thinking about the ridiculous cost of eggs I really took notice of prices today while at the grocery store. It's funny how the same things can cost so much different. One thing I never bought while in the states was Tide detergent. Really, you see I'm a cheap skate now but Tide was always way too expensive. Well guess what I buy in Croatia now, yep you got it, Tide detergent. It's the very same stuff but here it's the cheap stuff. The Croats won't hardly buy it because they don't know what it is. I buy it!!! I bought a 3 kilo or 7 lb. bag of Alpine Fresh Tide today for about $4. Now is that a steal or what?


On the other hand the cost of gas here is crazy. We pay about $6.50 a gallon for the liquid gold. Needless to say we don't take many long drives in the country. Luckily for us everything is very close together. I have to drive about 2 minutes to the nearest store and anything I need that can be found in Croatia is only 10 minutes from my house so that makes up for the high price for gas.


Sometimes it's hard to deal with the differences. Not really the differences between prices and so on but the differences in people and the way they think. In Croatia everyone is the same. No way in the world anyone would go against the grain or wear something that wasn't in style. They are so fearful of what their neighbors are thinking that the whole population looks exactly alike. I kinda miss the colorful folks of America. I have to be careful because every once in a while that pressure to conform bothers me. It's human nature, sinful, that makes us want the praise and attention of others. I'm so thankful that God made us in every color, shape and type. I love the awesome variety God chose for His creation. He sure is good!!


Don't have any idea what got me on that, subconscious meditations I guess.


Oh yea had a little time to sew today. Made Hannah a new pair of culottes, she needs a few new pair for spring. I love this pattern, it's flattering and so easy to make, took me about 45 minutes.
Tomorrow she's gonna make a pair, hopefully.*Ü*

Oh yea, I don't know if you have noticed or not but I have some new links in the side bar. Under Missionary wives you'll find well Missionary wives. They are all IFB missionaries and have really nice blogs. Please take time to check out the blogs of these choice servants of God.
Althea has been in Brazil for 10 years
Grace is going to Nepal
Nina just arrived in Portugal
Rhonda is a veteran missionary in Chili
Rita is in Venuzuela
Susan is a Texas gal in Canada
and Traci is my dear friend on deputation coming to Croatia to work as our partners
Please take the time to visit some of these ladies, God has blessed them with the call to the mission field and I have already gleaned much from them.
*If you know of anymore IFB missionary wives with blogs, I would love to have their links. TIA


Oh yea thought I would let you know that I'm back on the Weight Watchers Wagon. I'm am very proud to tell you that I am down 13 pounds for the last 4 weeks and very excited about it. I'm sure praying God will help me loose all this furlough fluff. Thanks for listening!

ADDED LATER:
From Nicholas Z. Cardot
I hear a lot of economists talk about the devaluation of the United States Dollar compared to other currencies. Has this added to the complication of high prices? I mean does the currency exchange from your support mean that you now have less money and more expenses?


This was such a good question and I think it will help church members to understand why so many missionaries are having financial problems and having to raise more money. When we came to Croatia the dollar was 15¢ stronger than the Euro. Now after the devaluation of the dollar the dollar is 60¢ weaker than the Euro. We used to get $1.15 for every dollar now the same dollar is only worth 67¢ after the exchange.

The problem with this whole thing, is that when the dollar goes up against other currencies it's bad for you folks in the states, the economy slows down, when it's good for y'all, it's really bad for us. So who knows what to do. I'm just thankful my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. No matter how much we get for each dollar it will always be enough because He's good.

Thanks Nicolas for the question. Check out his site, Baptist Muse, it's a good one.




Feb 22, 2008

ABC's

Hey y'all look what fun Hannah and I had today. We found these great MDF letters @ Wal-mart for $1.99 when we were in the states. They are about 10" and really light. We found some cute material in my stash and Hannah picked out all the details. We like how it turned out, it's going on her wall in her room.
I also have two more to do, a C and a J for my boys.

Anyhoo, next time your at Wally World, pick one up and just use what ever you have lying around the house.

Eggbelievable

Hey Y'all,
Well the house has turned back into a hospital ward. Our first month back has included over 10 trips to the Doctor's office and at least as many to the hospital. Between taking blood and Ekg's you would think we were in bad shape. Praise the Lord, He can heal! I am pretty much well now, after a month of sickness. Our oldest son's Pneumonia is totally gone and Johnny has recovered from surgery only to contact with flu. So, there is a marathon of Bonanza's going on in the living room and a counter full of meds and thermometers. Luckily the flu doesn't last for ever.

Oh yea and today it was 60° F today, so nice. The birds are singing and the wind is slightly blowing. What a glorious day. Have I told you that I can 't wait for spring. Our town here in Croatia has streets lined with Cherry trees and in a month or so, they will be lined with cotton candy colored bunches. When they finally fall it's like pink snow. Anyhoo God sure shows His mighty work in creation.

Oh yea and eggbelievable, okay this is gonna shock you, it did me. I was in the super market and as I looked at the eggs I couldn't believe my eyes, the cheapers eggs on the shelf with $4 for 10. Can you believe that?? And they were only the size of robin eggs, okay maybe a bit bigger but $4 for 10!!!

Oh yea I took at picture from the balcony today, aren't the mountains are incredible. I'm all taken lately with creation, Spring does that to me. The Swiss Alps come down into Croatia, well actually just the foot hills but we have soem big ones. I love them. Being from Texas and the DFW are especially being so flat, I love the hills.
Anways, have a great day and weekend. Take time to look around, God sure is good!!!

Feb 20, 2008

Wednesday the 20th

I know, real original title for this post, but that's it. Today is Wednesday, nothing hugely special other than church.

It was amazingly nice here yesterday, about 65 F. We were basking in the sun. We loved it and then today we woke up and to our delight it was warm and then it happened. The wind picked up and the temp lowered and it became cold, more windy than cold. So Hannah and I decided to make good of the wind and we went to fly a kite. Okay I know it's not spring and we probably looked like idots in the cold wind, but it was great and so much fun.

She looked really cute in here Longhorns Hoodie and white and pink boots. Hannah had so much fun flying the kite. She was pretty good at it too. She could could make it dip and do figure 8s and all. We had a lot of simple fun and it didn't take electricity. Imagine that, fun without electricity. :0)

Also I had some time to just mess around with those little things that really don't have priority. There's been a place between the washing machine and dryer that has been bugging me for a while, but like I said it was way down there on my to-do list. Anyhow, got to work at it today.
Had some material that I had been holding on to for honestly 8 years. SO it finally found a home. I like all that junk being hid. Isn't that the key to good housekeeping, learning to hide the mess? :0)

Well that's about it for me, actually I did make a curtain for the upstairs bathroom, it's right over the shower and even though it's not actually in a place that you could actually see anything, who wants to risk it, maybe I'll show you some time.

Oh yea, I'm homeschooling 3 kids, I don't talk about that alot but I do. Cody is in 10th grade and doing wonderful, Joshua is in the 7th and also doing great and Hannah is in the 5th grade and managing pretty well. Anyhow we are really far behind since we just got back from furlough so we are doubling up, or maybe even doing three times as much. So today for 3 kids I graded 44 lessons from one day. Wow, maybe we can make it so we still have at least 1 month of summer without school. Furlough sure does wreak havoc on Homeschooling.

Well gotta get ready for church, have a great Humpday Y'all!!

Treasure Found!!!

Okay in case you don't see the true signifigance of this photo, it is truely treasure!! It's Zip-Lock baggies. Just imagine how difficult life would be without 'em.

Actually after careful examination of the back of the box, we see that they are from England, but hey I don't care what language they speak, they work and I can get them at my local grocery store!
Truely Treasure.

Feb 19, 2008

Little Projects

Well it seems like maybe I'm getting things straitened up around here. Wow, what a bummer to loose all my links and things. I know we're in cyberspace and the stuff doesn't actually exist but still.

While in the states I found this great book at the Half Priced Book Store, love the place! It shows how to use all the features of your machine and which foot is which. So I did some studying and figured out a lot. The only thing I didn't get while in the states was the ruffle foot, maybe I'll have a friend bring it. Anyhow after looking through this book I became motivated to try out some of the lesser used feet and so on. It was really fun.
Hannah and I decided to make her a little pouch, for no particular reason, it was fun and I'm so glad she's learning to sew. My goal for her isn't that she becomes a scholar or professor somewhere, I want her to be a good Godly wife that loves her husband and can keep and take care of her family. So sewing fits in there somewhere along with cooking and cleaning and etc.


Anyhoo, back to the pouch, here it is, Hannah's creation with some help from Mom. It really has no purpose but it was fun to make.


Here's Hannah with her little pouch, is she proud or what? Oh yea she that pink hoodie, yea we're Longhorn fans! Hook 'em Horns!!


Anyhow we managed to make one more little zipper bag for her curlers we made a few weeks ago. She really is very spoiled being the only girl and all. :0)


Oh yea and the inside of the bag, which was a bit difficult since I have never made a lined bag before. It didn't turn out too bad considering and since she and I are the only ones who will see it, it'll do!

Lastly and for a reason, we decided to make her a little cover for her tissues in her purse. Okay I know this is no big deal and all but you have to hear this. In the states the tissues come out of the little plastic wrapper from a slit in the middle, right? Well what I forgot to do was check out how our tissues are here and guess what, they are not the same. No kidding, they come out from the end and they aren't even folded right so we could cut a slit. So we have a cute little cover with nothing to go in it. Oh well it was practice anyways. :0) Just thought you would get a laugh out of that.

Feb 17, 2008

Starting from Scratch!

Well that's about what I'm having to do, start from scratch. Well my last post was my 200th post and I wan't to change things up a little and go to a 3 column layout, which I managed with no problem. Well I saved my original layout thinking I could always fall back on that one, well... Widgets are a real pain. You can save your layout but not your widgets. I know this now and I guess I can count it as a lesson learned.

As you can see I have lost all my links, so if you were in my links before, please send me an e-mail at missionarywife2003 at yahoo dot com and I'll gladly add 'ya back.

Oh bother, sometimes things like this happen, guess it's live and learn.

Oh yea, Happy 201st post for me, what a way to celebrate.

Feb 16, 2008

Feb 15, 2008

Happy V Day, belated!!

Hey Y'all! Happy Valentines Day, belated!
I hope you all had very sweet Valentines Days. I'm sure you ate way too much chocolate and your allergies are going wild after all the flora you were given. We had a nice day too. Oh yea, that's a picture of my and my Valentine, ain't he pretty???

I woke up early yesterday and made pink heart pancakes for the kids, they love pancakes and since we can't get syrup here, they even love the pancakes with my homemade syrup. Oh yea in case you need the recipe, here it is:

Homemade Maple Syrup

1 C white sugar

1 C packed brown sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 C water

1/2 tsp maple flavoring

Combine sugars, salt and water and bring to a slow boil. Do not allow it to foam. Remove from hear and add maple flavoring. Let cool and enjoy.

** use any combination of white and brown sugar as long as it is two parts sugar one part water. Also if the syrup crystalizes you can add two drops of lemon juice to the next batch and it will not crystalize.


Okay so that's that. Johnny decided to take me out for the evening to our favorite restaurant. We walked in and it was packed. The matradee told us it was by reservation only. Man who would have thought all that for Valentines Day. Then we went to a few other restaurants and guess what, yep reservation only. Finally we stopped by a little coffee place and had a desert and coffee. After that we headed home and I cooked some pasta for dinner. Reservation only, you can be sure next year we will have one!

Oh yea and I also got a new electric bread slicer for the day. Our old one was gone, guess we threw it out when we took furlough. We were going through loaves of bread like crazy. So I'm very happy with my practical gift, actually I asked for it. I know shame on me, but sometimes they need ideas. :0)

Oh yea my sweet boys bought me roses for V day. What a sweet gesture. I love them and the florists do such an artistic job here. I like 'em!

Oh yea and Johnny gave me this little orchid a few days before V day, I like it, sweet and simple! Oh yea and Hannah my girly girl made me several very sweet things, those are the best kind.

Anyhoo, hope you all had a great day of love and laughter. How blessed we are to have such sweet families that truely love us, I know I am.


Feb 12, 2008

Bible Quiz

Okay so I seen this Bible Quiz on another blog and had to try it. I was pleasantly surprised, even though the questions were very easy it was fun. :0)

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create Quizzes

**I don't endorse this site, I have no idea what you'll find if you look deeper, I just took the Bible quiz.

Feb 11, 2008

Vonage, Oh yea!!!


Okay for any of you out there that still doesn't know what Vonage is and what they can do for you, well let me tell you!

We signed up with Vonage while still in the states and brought all of our Vonage stuff with us when we returned to Croatia. Well, Vonage has been so wonderful. For $24.99 a month (and a highspeed internet connection) we get unlimited calls to anywhere in the states from Croatia and this isn't your Skype quality phone call either. In our office at home we have two phones, one phone rings a very catchy tune and we immediatly know it's a special call from a family member of friend. The other phone rings and we know that we better answer Molim, since it's our Croatian line. Not only can we call but they can call us for free, or for whatever it would cost them in the states. Our Vonage area code is 817 since we're from Texas, that's the number we chose, but you can choose any number for anywhere in the states.

So if your a missionary on a foreign field and tired of paying those huge phone bills after talking to Grandma too long, then Vonage is for you. Check it out, we love it!
** and for your information, I'm not getting a commision from Vonage ;O)

Feb 10, 2008

Happy Lord's Day

Well Happy Sunday to all of you. Since we're so ahead of you all I can tell you all how church went today. Well actually before I get there I'll tell you about the cookies.

We plannned on making hearts since Valentines Day is this week but with kids all plans are subject to change, so we ended up with butterflies, horses, hearts, circles, stars and since we're from Texas, they threw in a couple longhorns although the horns we're a little difficult. Anyhoo, here are their cookies and a picture of the bakers themselves.





Isn't so funny how little things thrill kids. They had so much fun making these cookies and it didn't take much time at all. What a great way to make a memory with your kids. I, way too often seem to busy for my kids, too busy to sit down and play. I'm convicted, hey I'm convicting myself as I type this. I'm going to do my best to take more time for them, listening, laughing and just showing them I love 'em.

Well if that helped you then wonderful, if not I sure needed it!


Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Ps 127:3

Feb 8, 2008

Hair-ragous

Oh I have to share this I found this neato sewing craft at Life with monkey. It's how to make hair curlers and really comfy ones too. So here's what I started with and scroll down to see the finished product.

This is what they look like when opened and buttoned


closed from the side


and finished product in my beautiful models hair
Thanks Hannah!
Edited to add the after picture. We rolled her hair dry and it turned out pretty nice. Looks pretty natural.

Head on over to Shawnee's blog, Life with monkey for a complete detailed tutorial.

Feb 7, 2008

Chocolate Strawberries

Six Variations of Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Materials:
3 small, deep glass bowls (one for each chocolate flavor)

3 rubber spatulas (one for each chocolate flavor)

2 cookie sheets lined with wax paper

microwave or double broiler

small bowls filled with topping(s) of choice

Ingredients:
strawberries to taste, patted dry with damp cloth or paper towel

dark chocolate to taste, melted

white chocolate to taste, melted

milk chocolate to taste, melted

wax paper

chocolate chips to top

almond slivers to top

coconut to top


The six variations of Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries are the following:

1/2 dark chocolate and 1/2 white chocolate
white chocolate with coconut topping
white chocolate with dark-chocolate swizzle decoration
milk chocolate with almonds
milk chocolate with white-chocolate swizzle decoration
dark chocolate with dark-chocolate chips

Melting Tips
~Melt the chocolate in the top of a double broiler over hot--not boiling--water.

~Another option is to place the chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave on medium, stirring often, until the chocolate is melted.

Instructions for Dipping Strawberries
1. Hold the strawberry by its hull, and dip it into the chocolate (about 3/4 of each berry should be covered with chocolate), which leaves 1/4 of the red berry showing for color .

2. Let excess chocolate drip off, then place the wet berry over the topping bowl, sprinkling topping of choice over the berry. Set berries aside on a baking sheet lined with wax paper to dry. It is best to let the dipped berries dry at a cool room temperature.

3. Eat the berries within 24 hours for best freshness. Keep at cool room temperature.

* Note: Because the strawberry is 75 percent water, placing it into the refrigerator will cause humidity to accumulate on the chocolate, and the berries will get wet.

4. Other fruit ideas for chocolate dipping are grapes, fresh cherries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, marshmallows, chocolate-chip cookies, licorice, Oreos, etc.

Yield: Eight ounces of chocolate will cover 24 to 30 berries.

Dipping Suggestions
~Other ideas for dips are coconut, chocolate chips, sliced natural almonds, mini M&Ms, chopped peanuts, peanut butter or butterscotch chips.

~Dipping chocolate can be found at cake and candy supply stores, or you can easily use bagged chocolate chips that can be found in a grocery store.

~Most stores carry a variety of flavors that include dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.

Tips for Choosing Strawberries
~Choose firm red berries.

~Lightly wipe each berry with a damp cloth or paper towel. Berries must be COMPLETELY dry before dipping.

~Do not hull strawberries.

Gift Idea
Chocolate-dipped strawberries make for a unique gift. Place dipped berries in a basket or on a decorated tray. Wrap the arrangement with cellophane, ribbons and bows.
For more great Valentine ideas please visit HGTV.com

Feb 5, 2008

My True Love Cake

This looks like the most delish Valentines cake ever. I got it from the Taste of Home newsletter today and thought I would share it with you folks who don't get the newsletter.

My True Love Cake
Taste of Home
"Like my mother and grandmother, I have special recipe for every occasion," notes Beverly Coyde of Gasport, New York. "For Valentine's Day - one of my favorite holidays - this beautiful cake is an outstanding treat."

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil

FILLING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling, divided

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Beat in water and oil until smooth. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. heart-shaped baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Beat in cream and extract. Place one cake on a serving plate; spread with half of cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Top with 1 cup pie filling and second cake; spread with remaining cream cheese mixture. Make a heart-shaped indentation in center of cake; fill with remaining pie filling. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 12 servings.



Nutrition Facts
One serving:
(1 slice)
Calories:
557
Fat:
26 g
Saturated Fat:
12 g
Cholesterol:
84 mg
Sodium:
271 mg
Carbohydrate:
76 g
Fiber:
1 g
Protein:
6 g

If you like this recipe, the Taste of Home magazine is full of these. It's a great magazines, one of my favorites.

Happy 30th Traci!!

I wanted to take a moment a wish my very good girl friend
Traci a happy 30th birthday.
Traci and Trinity
Traci and her family have been our answer to prayer. Not only did God answer our prayer for colaborers in Croatia he even sent people that we really like. Actually in the short time we've known them we have grown to love them. I'm so thankful God sent Traci into my life!


Happy 30th Traci!!


Feb 1, 2008

Cuteness, Dust, Soup, Poetry and Literati

Hey y'all! I can't believe it's Friday already, it doesn't seem possible. Time is flying so fast, it seems like yesterday that we arrived and it's already been 3 weeks. We are finally seeing and end to all this chaos we call life. Things are slow now and we have time for date night, which we went on last night, it was very nice.



CUTENESS
Oh in all the hustle and bustle of getting ready to come here I forgot to report the birth of my newest niece, Kaitlyn. Katie was born on the 31st of December at 10:50 in Texas. You know lots of good things happen in Texas! :0)

BTW. that's my hand holding her, great pic huh?



DUST
I got alot of cleaning done today. One of the things I dislike about houses in Europe is that they are made entirely from cender block and cement and for some reason dust collects like you wouldn't believe. We are vacuuming and dusting almost daily, a bit of a pain actually, but we can a body do?

I unpacked alot today, and I actually almost have the office/sewing room finished. Isn't Johnny so nice to share his office with me, yea he is. Love ya Babe!


SOUP
This is my favorite WW recipe, I simple LOVE it and for 0 pts. what's not to love?


INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free broth (beef, chicken or vegetable)
1-1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup green beans
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini


DIRECTIONS
1. In large saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute the carrot, onion and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.
3. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes.
Serve hot.
Makes four 1-cup servings.
Per Serving: 42 calories; 0 g fat; 2 g fiber


***When I first found this recipe, I thought "No way I can eat cabbage and all that junk" but now after I've started eating it, I love it. The flavor is wonderful.

Also when I want to make it a meal I add some drained and rinsed kidney beans and some grilled chicken. Actually this is what I'm making today for dinner. :0)

Really you can throw in just about any veggies, cawliflower would be good also. Enjoy, we're going to! :0)




POETRY
Stumbing Block or Stepping Stone
Is this a stumbling block or a stepping stone?
Only you can decide.
You don't need to stumble or fall,
With Jesus at your side.

They come in many different forms.
Heartaches, troubles. and loss.
But Jesus showed His love for you.
When He died upon the Cross.

God's word tells us when we are tried,
More than we can bear,
He'll provide a way to escape,
There's a crown for us to wear.

No one could ever make it alone,
On our strength alone we'll fall
But our God is there to help us
If on His name we'll call.

There is no shortage of His power.
He's Master and Ruler of all.
He has plenty of grace for you,
He's listening for your call.

It doesn't matter how big the stone,
Or how small that it may be.
We're safe if we lean upon,
The Man of Galilee.

So Friend, when you've been tried,
Don't feel you're all alone.
Don't let it be a stumbling block,
But make it a STEEPING STONE.
During the winter months it gets really dark here and sometimes it's hard to know what to do when it's so dark so Johnny and I have this ongoing battle over who's best at Literati. So far it would be fair to say that I'm winning but the race is still on. 1 to 0 girls winning.
Well that should take care of my blogging for about a month, wheww that was a mouth full.
Have a great Weekend!!!