Worship Wednesday - Better Than a Hallelujah

This weeks song is "Better Than a Hallelujah" by Amy Grant.  Darryl and I heard this song on the radio when it first came  out and fell in love with it.  It is another one of those songs that, when it comes one, all talking ceases, and we crank the radio. 

This coming Sunday, I have special music and church and this is the song that God has laid on my heart.  I have so enjoyed learning it and singing it.  Singing in church is such a wonderful thing for me.  Many people ask how I can stand to get up and sing in front of so many people and it comes down to the fact that it is my ministry - I can share God's love, His word, His love - all through songs.  I take the "job" of choosing my song very seriously. . .I have close to 100 soundtracks in my collections; many I have sung over the years; many I bought because I loved the song but God just turns me to something else at the time.  I've learned over the years that when I try to pick the song it doesn't go well but when I follow God's leading it goes so much better.  Sure there are problems - soundtracks not working; the sound not working, the sound guy turning the soundtrack off half way through, wrong notes, starting over - but ultimately, it is all of the glory of God.  Do I still get nervous after singing solos for close to 30 years?  Yes.  If you attend church with me, you may notice that in the moments before it is time for special music I "stop" - if we are singing, I stop, if we are reading scripture, I stop.  What am I doing?  I stop, I take a deep breath and I pray "Lord, please use me to reach just one person today but take ME out of the picture"  As the music starts moments later, God eases my soul and I just sing.  I am so thankful for the ability God has given me - a ministry I truly enjoy!

So, here's a link to this weeks song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5kx3xqmg0&ob=av2n

Enjoy, and if you are free - come to Smyrna Bible Church on Sunday :-)

Being Crafty for Fall

Well, I did it.  After searching through some blogs endlessly and making many lists of some crafts (both Fall related and not) I went shopping yesterday and picked up a bunch of stuff (Half of it will be returned since I either couldn't get all of the supplies or, I've made enough for this year ;-) ).  Today, I made the things that I had all the right supplies for and decorated.  Here are my three lovely crafts:

Aren't these cute?  ANd they were SOOOO easy!  The top set of pumpkins:
1) Find scrap wood that your husband won't miss ;-) LOL
2) Spray paint it orange (Suggestion - don't spray paint on the sidewalk right in front of your front door, just saying, that's all)
3) Cut a limb off of a tree (where no one will notice) and trim it down
4) Hot glue the piece of tree limb to the top of the wood
5) Tie raffia or ribbon around the stem

The second set of pumpkins were EXPENSIVE to make (hehehehe) 
1) Find two rolls of Toilet Paper in your house (stash them if you must!)
2) Using fabric or Napkins (I found a set of two napkins at walmart for $3.00)
3) Set the TP roll in the middle of the napkin/fabric square and tuck each corner down into the center of the TP roll.
4) I used more of the same tree limb and stuck the pieces into the center to hold the napkin in place
5) Tie raffia or ribbon around the limb.  (After Thanksgiving, you can even get your TP back!)

The Picture took a little more work but was still easy
1) Find an old frame and spray paint it black
2) Cut scrapbook paper to the size of the frame and also cut a mat a little smaller and attach to the frame/glass
3) Find a book you don't want, like or just don't want to read.  (I would suggest that you find one that you don't mind the whole world reading!!)
4) Make a pattern of a pumpkin (or some other symmetrical item) and fold it in half
5) Tear about 100 pages out of the book (leaving the binding in tack) tear off the front and/or back covers as needed. 
6) Lay the template on the book so that the edge lines up with the binding or the book
7) Cut away until you have cut out the whole thing
8) Glue the front and back pages to the frame and fan out the pages

Isn't that so cool????  I might have to try it with a Christmas tree for the next holiday.

So here are my before an after photos!

Before . . .                                                                     After . . .

Before . . ..                                            After . ..

And than one from my dining room.

There are a few more decorations up but it is kinda hard to get it all.  There is at least one more craft I'd like to try and do but I'll have to decide whether I will get to it or if I need to return that stuff too :-)

Lesson learned:  Only plan one craft at a time and get those supplies AND finish it before moving on to the next one! (Like I didn't already know it . . .I was just really excited to do crafts!)

Tomato Bacon Rotini

This week I based my menu on things I had in the cupboard.  I always end up with boxes of pasta that are 3/4 or 1/2 used and than don't use them up for a long time.  So, I pulled all the pasta out of the cupboard and read the recipes on the back.  They all sounded good:-)  So tonight we had Tomato Bacon Rotini from the back of the Mueller's Rotini Box. 

16 oz Mueller's Rotini
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 medium tomatoes, chopped

Cook the Rotini according to the package directions.  Drain, cover and set aside.  IN a large saucepan, melt margarine or butter.  Stir in flour, salt and pepper; blend in milk.  Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.  Add in cheese, bacon, tomatoes and pasta; toss to coat.  Heat through and serve immediately. 

Darryl said it was the best pasta dish he's ever had.

This is a lot "saucier" than it would be normally . . .. I only had a 1/2 box of pasta left but still made the full amount of sauce since we like lots of sauce.  There was plenty to add the other 1/2 of box!!!

Say it isn't so!

What a great Sunday.  The kids and I went with Darryl to his concert today with Alive in Hopkins, MI.  It was so much fun to watch Josh wonder around.  He loves to look at everything on stage and watch the singers.  Nate just likes to taste things - chair legs, dirty cords, books, you name it, he tastes it.  And here is my first "Say it isn't so!" comment . . .all morning at the concert I kept smelling something kinda funky.  It was kinda sour so I kept smelling my kids (hehehehe) I did a sneak smell of Darryl when he sat down by me, gave us both gum, did one of those stretch and smell the pit kinda stretches.  Nothing!  I finally figured it out. . . did you know perfume goes bad? Yep.  It does.  It no longer smells pretty but starts to get an odd smell.  I mean, it still smells like the original smell when you just spray it but the longer you wear it the more oddly nasty it gets.  So, I guess it is time for a new scent.  Over the years, I have found scents that I LOVE (Like "F" and "Flowers") but I buy one bottle, go to get the next one and they don't make it anymore so I have to start over. The one that went bad was "Red" but I'm really tired of it anyway.  So for now, I'm resigned to use my Bath and Body works Body Sprays which last about 1 hour ;-) and will go on a sniifer test the next time I'm by a Perfumania.  What is your favorite smell?  I'd love some ideas to try out!

Since we went to the concert this morning, we had a very early start to our day, which brings my second "Say it isn't so!" comment.  In an effort to drastically cut spending, I decided to try and make my own Mocha this morning.  Now, understand, I really don't like "coffee" - I like frilly coffees that really don't taste like coffee.  So I took 1 cup of coffee (all that was left in the pot after my coffee loving husband took his) 2 T of Hershey's Syrup and about 1-2 Tablespoons of milk and stirred it up.  And guess what?  I now I have a coffee drink UH OH!!!  I might be drinking a cup of "coffee" every morning before long!!  Ironically, since joining the Good Morning Girls group, I would sit and have my Daily time with GOd in the morning and think "it sure would be nice to have a cup of . . coffee . .."  Now, I can :-)

And my last "Say it isn't so!" is a FANTASTIC one . . .Nate is sleeping all night.  I won't say anything else so I don't jinx it . . .but the 9-9 sleep fest by two boys is FANTASTIC (did I say that already? ;-) )

Hope your Sunday was a day to refresh your spirit and enjoy your family!

40 by 40 update

Just a few updates on my 40 goals by 40.  This is my own personal accountability more than anything else.

1) I completed another item - I took a CPR class on Thursday, Sept 16th and passed with flying colors.  It was much easier than I thought it would be and am glad I learned it.  I like that I can use a defibulator now too.  Which, by the way, never be scared to use one - they are all dummy proof.  Just open the case and turn it on.  It will give the directions to follow. 

2)  I located the music to Clare-de-lune.  The same music I used back in high school when I played it for my senior recital.  I'm excited to squeak out time to work on this song.  When I get it down, I will record it and post it so you can hear :-)

3) I e-mailed Lisa Laplant to see if I can get her to meet us for dinner :-)

4) I started reading my Bible through in a year - my start date was Wednesday, Sept. 15th, 2010

5) My quilt is coming along - I actually have it out of the basket it was in and had hoped to get the binding all pinned today but I ran out of time.  Maybe I can get that done tomorrow.  Than I just have to sew it :-)

6)  I'm doing research to find out how to get on the bone marrow transplant list too!!

That is what I've been doing :-)

On a seperate note - Fall Decorating.  I've been bit by the fall decorating bug!  I've been looking at so many blogs where the writers have decorated for the fall so I'm going to pull out what I have, try to make some things I've seen, and maybe check out the dollar store with my change jar (seriously . . ) and see what I can find.  My goal is to decorate the first weekend in October so I had better get busy :-)  I'll post pictures of what I do and links to crafts as well!

Show Us Your Life - Living Room

Another blog I follower, Kelly's Korner, is doing a weekly posting called "Show us your life" Fridays (Obviously I'm a day late!).  It looks kinda fun so I thought I'd try it.  Feel free to look up the info on her blog.  http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/2010/09/show-us-your-life-living-rooms.html

So here is my living room:

So this is the view of my living room standing in the dining room (on the left) and standing at the end of the living room looking towards the dining room (on the right).  Yes, I have along living room and, in case you were wondering, we do have kids! LOL

Here's the toy corner a little closer - I love this storage unit.  It holds so much stuff neatly!  Eventually it will get moved into one of the boys rooms and I will get another one for the other room (that's how much I love them!)  and that will open up a nice space in the living room :-)

Opposite of the toy corner is my "office"  We turned our office into our baby room so I had to cut down and organize!! 

And our entertainment center.  I do love it but it is huge.  Eventually, when we can get a flat screen TV that we can hang on the wall, we'll get something more streamlined.  The only downside is I will lose my display area on top.  For now, I'm enjoying my things :-)

Finally this is the view into our master bedroom - the first door between the chairs (next weeks room!) and one of the boy's bedrooms. 

Hope you enjoyed your tour :-)

Too Much Chocolate Cake

I came across this recipe recently and yes, I admit, the name sucked me in because, really, can there  be "Too much chocolate cake"?  It's cool and rainy today so it seemed like a perfect day to check this out!

Too Much Chocolate Cake

1 (18.25oz) Package Devil's food cake mix
1 (5.9 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl mix together the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs, and water.  Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.  Bake for 50-55 minutes or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate.  If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar

(Yes there is a slice missing - I had to taste it!!)

Notes:  Sitting here, I got to thinking - I do believe I left the oil out of this recipe . .. because I don't remember pouring any oil but I could be wrong . . I know I set the oil on the counter but don't remember pouring it.  I wouldn't suggest trying it without it though, just in case I just don't remember??? But the cake is fantastic . .. so maybe I'll have to make it again and not put oil in on purpose . . the sour cream might be enough moisture. . ..
** I added 1 teaspoon of instant coffee to the water (I boiled the water and added the coffee) because coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate (I am not a coffee drinker and do not taste the coffee in the cake)
**I made a chocolate glaze for the cake (like it wasn't chocolate enough) using 3-4 Tablespoons of whipping cream and 2/3 cups chocolate chips.  Melt in microwave about 30 seconds and stir until melted.  Spread on cake allowing it to fall off the sides.
**Also, I used mini chocolate chips - I like them in cakes because they don't sink to the bottom of the cake and tend to melt making little pockets of chocolate instead of a firm piece of chocolate in the cake.
**I did not have a bundt pan so I used my angel food cake pan instead and it turned out fine
**This is an incredible cake - a great one to make for a gathering because it is so good!! (Or keep it all for yourself but it is RICH!!)