Hard to believe that another year is closing. As I am typing this we have a little under two hours left in the year. It has not been an easy year, but it has been a good year. Many more good memories to outweigh the negatives. Regardless of it all I have seen God's hand move in an amazing way in our lives. So I compiled a list of the best things of 2012 to me. I hope everyone has a wonderful new year, and may God bless you.
Here is my Top 12 of 2012:
12.
One of the greatest books I read this year was Power of a Praying Wife. I highly recommend this book no matter how long you have been married, no matter the shape of your relationship with your husband, regardless of anything...this book will inspire you. I was inspired, convicted, and given a new outlook on how to pray for my husband and what my expectations should be.
11.
I really appreciated and enjoyed getting to spend so much of the deployment with family and friends. It was a hard, hard year...but God used them and our wonderful baby girl to distract me and keep me sane for the duration. They will never know how much it meant to me.
10.
My best friend going to the University she had been desiring to go to since before we met. I was (and STILL AM!) so super excited she is able to live her dream and follow the path that God has put before her.
9.
My sister (in-law) meeting a wonderful man and getting engaged this year is in my top 10. I am super excited for her and cannot wait to play for her wedding in June.
8.
Finding out I am going to be an Auntie again! Our family is growing so fast that I can hardly believe it.
7.
Getting to go on a few (mini) vacations with Sam and Sarah. Making a few more memories here in Germany before we leave for good. As of now we have been to the following cities: Garmisch, Flossenberg, Dachau, Amberg, Newschwanstein (Disney modeled his castle after the castle there), Rothenberg, Landstulh, Ramstein, Baumholder, Weiden, Nuremberg, and the two countries Austria and Czech. I am sure I am missing one or two, but we have been able to see some amazing sites!
6.
Having a great pastor and pastor's wife who have been a great blessing to us several times throughout the year.
5.
Sam getting to be here when Sarah crawled for the first time. He left when she was 6 weeks old and didn't see her again until she was 9 months, so it meant the world he was able to see that.
4.
Our R&R in TN. We had 2 wonderful weeks together after being separated 8.5 months and was able to fill it with some wonderful memories.
3.
Getting to celebrate Sarah's first birthday with Sam. The beautiful gift God gave us under our noses turned into a very independent toddler. She walked on Memorial day, 4 days before her first birthday and 10 days before daddy came home. Funny thing is she refused to walk in front of anyone, she would practice when no one was looking until Sam got home.
2.
Finding out we were adding to our family. The positive pregnancy test came as a huge shock to us, but God really knew we needed some light in our dark time. We are so soon going to get to hold our new baby girl, and Sarah is going to be a big sister. God is so good to us.
1.
Absolute number one on my list is when Sam came home from deployment. Even though the months after came with really rough patches, God saw us through it and made our marriage stronger and our love even more so. He is my best friend and the love of my life. He is an amazing daddy and loves his little girls more than this world. The deployment made us learn to not take each other for granted and to appreciate even the aggravating moments in life. Socks in the floor and piles everywhere are a comforting (even if annoying) sight when you haven't seen them in a year. I really look forward to 2013, another year of huge changes for us...but it is so great to see that God is in control.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
My Growing Girl
Our baby girl is going to be 18 months old in just a couple of days. It is hard to believe that the past 1 year and a half have flown by so fast. She has gone from a tiny ball of beauty that pooped, slept, and ate to a very busy toddler that runs around screaming for daddy all the time, and is very much her father's child (with a touch of her mom's dramatic side ;) ). She has gone from being a snuggle bug and only wanting to be held to being a VERY independent girl who wants to do everything on her own.
She has been in a toddler bed for a month now and had no issues with the transition. That was a hard night for mom and dad; we wish we could freeze time and keep her this little, but we know that is not possible.
Her favorite shows are the Office and Wheel of Fortune. She doesn't care for cartoons or princess movies. She loves it when we read to her Bible stories and her night time story "Llama Llama Red Pajama". She is very much a daddy's girl, and wants to go with him everytime he leaves. She brings him his work boots and hands him his socks when he has to get ready. She LOVES dogs, which is very much inherited from her dad, and she will bark at dogs and say "DOGGY DOG DOG" when she sees them in her book.
She loves helping shut doors, even when it is not convenient for mom and dad for her to do so. She loves being around people, and LOVES to people watch. We can entertain her for hours by just taking her to the PX and walking around.
She is the complete delight of our world. She makes us laugh, and brings light to our lives. She is going to grow to be a beautiful little girl, and a wonderful older sister. She has her quirks and her stubborn side, but all the stress of the aggravating times goes away when sits next to me and pets my arm and gives me kisses.
I know this blog is just a bunch of rambles, but I am beyond thankful to God for giving us this beautiful gift...this reward of His grace and love towards us. I pray she grows for Him and serves Him. She is our beautiful girl, and we love her sooo much
Psalms 127:3 "Lo, children are the heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
She has been in a toddler bed for a month now and had no issues with the transition. That was a hard night for mom and dad; we wish we could freeze time and keep her this little, but we know that is not possible.
Her favorite shows are the Office and Wheel of Fortune. She doesn't care for cartoons or princess movies. She loves it when we read to her Bible stories and her night time story "Llama Llama Red Pajama". She is very much a daddy's girl, and wants to go with him everytime he leaves. She brings him his work boots and hands him his socks when he has to get ready. She LOVES dogs, which is very much inherited from her dad, and she will bark at dogs and say "DOGGY DOG DOG" when she sees them in her book.
She loves helping shut doors, even when it is not convenient for mom and dad for her to do so. She loves being around people, and LOVES to people watch. We can entertain her for hours by just taking her to the PX and walking around.
She is the complete delight of our world. She makes us laugh, and brings light to our lives. She is going to grow to be a beautiful little girl, and a wonderful older sister. She has her quirks and her stubborn side, but all the stress of the aggravating times goes away when sits next to me and pets my arm and gives me kisses.
I know this blog is just a bunch of rambles, but I am beyond thankful to God for giving us this beautiful gift...this reward of His grace and love towards us. I pray she grows for Him and serves Him. She is our beautiful girl, and we love her sooo much
Psalms 127:3 "Lo, children are the heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
INGREDIENTS:
6 large baking potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2-inch cubes1 large onion, chopped
1 quart chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced (or pressed)
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup cream or half-and-half cream
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 cup sour cream (optional)
8 slices bacon, fried & crumbled
cheese, for sprinkling
DIRECTIONS:
Combine first seven ingredients in a large crockpot; cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours (potato should be tender).Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soupy is slightly thickened. Stir in cream, cheese and chives.
Top with sour cream (if used), sprinkle with bacon and more cheese
Source: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/2362/Loaded-Baked-Potato-Soup124884.shtml
Amber's Note:
I didn't have time one day to wait for the crockpot, so I just boiled the potatoes on the stove like I am going to make them into mashed potatoes. Once the potatoes where tender I followed the the rest of the recipe. It worked out GREAT and was done in less than 45 minutes.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Snow....and a hot chocolate recipe :)
We have officially gotten our first snow here in beautiful Germany! I awoke to a good 1.5 or more of snow on the ground, and it stuck! Hard to believe there is snow on the ground at the end of October. It makes me want to decorate for Christmas, but I must restrain myself for at least another month. Day after Thanksgiving, it will be Christmas city here in the Schultz household. Especially since I have found a TON of Christmas decorations at a nearby euro store!
Poor Sarah has her last tooth (canine) ready to pop through...she has already suffered through horrible diaper rash, and now has been crying all morning in pain. Praying that the tooth comes through quickly. She rarely fusses with teething, but this one seems to be giving her a problem.
In about 3.5 weeks we will find out the gender of our newest addition. I have been feeling him(her) since 12 weeks, and it is still as wonderful as the first one.
On snowy days like this, it makes me want to curl up next to a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. So here are a couple of homemade recipes for you all to enjoy!
Poor Sarah has her last tooth (canine) ready to pop through...she has already suffered through horrible diaper rash, and now has been crying all morning in pain. Praying that the tooth comes through quickly. She rarely fusses with teething, but this one seems to be giving her a problem.
In about 3.5 weeks we will find out the gender of our newest addition. I have been feeling him(her) since 12 weeks, and it is still as wonderful as the first one.
On snowy days like this, it makes me want to curl up next to a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. So here are a couple of homemade recipes for you all to enjoy!
- For every 1-1/2 cups of milk use 2 tablespoons of white sugar and 2-1/2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa.
- Whisk together all ingredients in a saucepan over medium high heat until it bubbles and steams. Don’t boil! It’s ready to go. Add marshmallows or whipped cream.
- For a variation use vanilla soy milk (we love this in our family) or add some peppermint extract and a candy cane stirrer for holiday flavor. Or top it off the whipped cream with some caramel drizzle. Yum!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Christians and Politics-My rant
Over the last four weeks my newsfeed on Facebook has been filled with political statuses. The only break I get from them is when a college football game is on. I am very much about keeping current with what is going on, but what I have been seeing lately is been really troubling to me as a christian.
I have seen on average around ten statutes that say basically one of these three things:
" You ARE NOT a christian if you vote for Obama"
"You cannot call yourself christian if you vote for Romney"
" You should be ashamed to vote Muslim or Mormon"
First problem I have with this is I do not like being TOLD that basically my christian walk with God hinges on how I cast my vote in the November 2012 election.
I Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
I think we need to stay out of other people's business. It is one thing to say "Hey, I vote for so and so because of..." and you say what kind of stand that candidate takes. But to tell a person that they are not a good christian because of how they cast their vote is simply wrong. What if it is a new christian, or a christian easily influenced? How would this effect them? Putting such emphasis on something that in the vast scale of eternity has little to no weight in it is the wrong way present it.
I do believe that God has set up guidelines in the Bible on how people should act, and those we are to avoid.... but when it comes to elections people...come on; seriously, we are not electing a pastor. We are electing one of two candidates that have already made it to this point in the race, and now as Christians we should take it UPON OURSELVES to see who lines up as close as possible to God's word and go from there.
How one votes is a personal conviction, not one that should come from influence of a fellow christian or a pastor. They can lead us, and give us scripture...but ultimately what you do with it is between you and God....you and God only. And if you feel that you have voted the way God would have you, and you have peace about it...no one should discourage someone otherwise.
I seriously do not understand why so many people are getting their panties in a wad over this. I do realize this is a historical election for America, and whoever gets into office will change the course of our country. But as we are all bickering among ourselves, God's word still holds true when He says:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
So while we can sit around and battle on Facebook, on news media, amongst ourselves...God is still in control. So guess what...either Obama or Romney will get in.
Does that mean we shouldn't vote? No. I truly believe as Americans we have the God given right to vote for our leaders. We have men and women who have fought, and some have died, to give us the freedom we have today. We should go out and do what we can to change our nation, but let's not argue amongst ourselves to do it.
Let people vote as God leads them to vote, and if they vote differently than just leave it between them and God. For in the end, that is all that matters.
Let us be charitable towards one another and our Father asks us to be:
I Corinthians 1:8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
I Corinthians 1: 16 Let all your things be done with charity.
I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
So if I have upset you, that really wasn't my intention. But I feel that as this election gets closer, people are just going to get more and more aggressive. But let's not forget our charity.
Thanks for reading!
-Amber
VOTE FOR ROMNEY!
LOL :P
I have seen on average around ten statutes that say basically one of these three things:
" You ARE NOT a christian if you vote for Obama"
"You cannot call yourself christian if you vote for Romney"
" You should be ashamed to vote Muslim or Mormon"
First problem I have with this is I do not like being TOLD that basically my christian walk with God hinges on how I cast my vote in the November 2012 election.
I Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
I think we need to stay out of other people's business. It is one thing to say "Hey, I vote for so and so because of..." and you say what kind of stand that candidate takes. But to tell a person that they are not a good christian because of how they cast their vote is simply wrong. What if it is a new christian, or a christian easily influenced? How would this effect them? Putting such emphasis on something that in the vast scale of eternity has little to no weight in it is the wrong way present it.
I do believe that God has set up guidelines in the Bible on how people should act, and those we are to avoid.... but when it comes to elections people...come on; seriously, we are not electing a pastor. We are electing one of two candidates that have already made it to this point in the race, and now as Christians we should take it UPON OURSELVES to see who lines up as close as possible to God's word and go from there.
How one votes is a personal conviction, not one that should come from influence of a fellow christian or a pastor. They can lead us, and give us scripture...but ultimately what you do with it is between you and God....you and God only. And if you feel that you have voted the way God would have you, and you have peace about it...no one should discourage someone otherwise.
I seriously do not understand why so many people are getting their panties in a wad over this. I do realize this is a historical election for America, and whoever gets into office will change the course of our country. But as we are all bickering among ourselves, God's word still holds true when He says:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
So while we can sit around and battle on Facebook, on news media, amongst ourselves...God is still in control. So guess what...either Obama or Romney will get in.
Does that mean we shouldn't vote? No. I truly believe as Americans we have the God given right to vote for our leaders. We have men and women who have fought, and some have died, to give us the freedom we have today. We should go out and do what we can to change our nation, but let's not argue amongst ourselves to do it.
Let people vote as God leads them to vote, and if they vote differently than just leave it between them and God. For in the end, that is all that matters.
Let us be charitable towards one another and our Father asks us to be:
I Corinthians 1:8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
I Corinthians 1: 16 Let all your things be done with charity.
I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
So if I have upset you, that really wasn't my intention. But I feel that as this election gets closer, people are just going to get more and more aggressive. But let's not forget our charity.
Thanks for reading!
-Amber
VOTE FOR ROMNEY!
LOL :P
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Answers...sometimes they come quickly
Prayer is our way of direct communication to God. Many times when we pray we expect answers directly and immediately, but it does not always work like that. Sometimes we pray months, sometimes years, for an answer before we get it. Many times we as Christians lose faith, thinking that since God hasn't answered He had not heard us; but He always listens. He knows the right time to open a door, heal a body, give direction, and answer our requests.
A little over a month ago I started reading Power of a Praying Wife, and it changed my perspective on prayer for my husband. I changed how I prayed for his direction, my faith and how I handled things, and how we raise our children. It changed how I perceived things in our life, and how to keep holding strong to my faith even when it doesn't seem we are getting no direction.
I had been praying about a few things for a while, and because of circumstances I have gotten discouraged. Started to forget to pray as ardently as I had been; still praying, but not as specific. But thankfully even though I may stop or lose faith, God never once forgot my earnest prayers for His will to be implemented on our life in a certain way.
The whole story I will not share until everything is settled, but I can honestly say I have seen God's hand of provision moving very clearly in our lives like I have never seen it before. God answered a series of prayers and concerns I have had for a while, and a lot sooner than I expected. So instead of fear of the future, I have hope in knowing God is carving our path in life clearly right now. In the future I know prayers may not be answered so quickly, nor that our direction will be so clear; but right now I can rest in hope that God is moving. This will be an experience that will encourage me later in life when things are not so clear.
God is always in the equation, whether we are willing to see it or not.
Thanks for reading!
-Amber
A little over a month ago I started reading Power of a Praying Wife, and it changed my perspective on prayer for my husband. I changed how I prayed for his direction, my faith and how I handled things, and how we raise our children. It changed how I perceived things in our life, and how to keep holding strong to my faith even when it doesn't seem we are getting no direction.
I had been praying about a few things for a while, and because of circumstances I have gotten discouraged. Started to forget to pray as ardently as I had been; still praying, but not as specific. But thankfully even though I may stop or lose faith, God never once forgot my earnest prayers for His will to be implemented on our life in a certain way.
The whole story I will not share until everything is settled, but I can honestly say I have seen God's hand of provision moving very clearly in our lives like I have never seen it before. God answered a series of prayers and concerns I have had for a while, and a lot sooner than I expected. So instead of fear of the future, I have hope in knowing God is carving our path in life clearly right now. In the future I know prayers may not be answered so quickly, nor that our direction will be so clear; but right now I can rest in hope that God is moving. This will be an experience that will encourage me later in life when things are not so clear.
God is always in the equation, whether we are willing to see it or not.
Thanks for reading!
-Amber
Monday, October 15, 2012
Rainy Days and Mondays....
Today is a cold, wet day in my corner of the world. Every time it is rainy and gloomy outside I just want to curl up with a book, wrapped up in my warmest clothes and read all day. I do not really get a chance now with a little one who is down to one nap a day. If I am not chasing her around the house, I am trying to clean or prepare food of some sort during her down times.
Even now I am watching her drag around a book half her size trying to get it to me so she can show me her favorite pages. I look at her in amazement these days; it is hard to imagine that not that long ago she was this tiny thing that wanted to do nothing but eat, poop, and sleep. I am sure as she keeps growing that I will still be amazed just how quickly time flies.
For a while now we have been reading her Bible stories before she goes to bed, and I am realizing more and more how much work really goes into raising a child for the Lord. It would be much easier to just read a quick story then put her to bed, and sing to her songs about teapots and forget the ones about Jesus; but in reality, the weight of responsibility to raise her the way God would have us to is very humbling.
Raising a child is not just teaching, but reacting. The child will learn more from how you react to situations than how you tell them to handle it. I read in another blog earlier this week that a daughter sees Christ in her mother by how she treats her husband and handles other situations. It is not a guarantee that they will follow you in living for Christ, but they are at least seeing an example of how a christian woman acts to exemplify Christ.
Now it is time for me to fix my little monkey some lunch, and hopefully have chance to read that book later :).
Thanks for stopping in and reading my ramblings!
-Amber
Even now I am watching her drag around a book half her size trying to get it to me so she can show me her favorite pages. I look at her in amazement these days; it is hard to imagine that not that long ago she was this tiny thing that wanted to do nothing but eat, poop, and sleep. I am sure as she keeps growing that I will still be amazed just how quickly time flies.
For a while now we have been reading her Bible stories before she goes to bed, and I am realizing more and more how much work really goes into raising a child for the Lord. It would be much easier to just read a quick story then put her to bed, and sing to her songs about teapots and forget the ones about Jesus; but in reality, the weight of responsibility to raise her the way God would have us to is very humbling.
Raising a child is not just teaching, but reacting. The child will learn more from how you react to situations than how you tell them to handle it. I read in another blog earlier this week that a daughter sees Christ in her mother by how she treats her husband and handles other situations. It is not a guarantee that they will follow you in living for Christ, but they are at least seeing an example of how a christian woman acts to exemplify Christ.
Now it is time for me to fix my little monkey some lunch, and hopefully have chance to read that book later :).
Thanks for stopping in and reading my ramblings!
-Amber
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Mama's Hands
Growing up, I remember that my main source of comfort came from my mama's touch. I remember her petting my hair or face and telling me all would be fine. I remember how soft they are, even though they are rough from hard work she has done all her life. I remember just complete peace when my mama held my hand or held me in her arms.
Although my mama is still around, she is half a world away; but I still find myself on occasions longing for the comfort of her hands. To feel the comfort in a world that is unpredictable, and know that for those brief seconds that all will be okay.
As I was driving onto post yesterday I looked at my hands, and something hit me out of nowhere; I have my mama's hands. I am now a mama to a wonderful girl, and a baby on the way. My hands now have that same power to comfort, discipline, and give peace. With my comfort, my baby girl knows that everything is okay in her world, and that mama will take care of everything. The responsibility has now passed to me to be the comforter and nurturer; to be the soft, worn hands that help guide a life.
Although I miss my mama, and always will when I am not around her... I am grown up now, and it is my time to take that role that she filled so well. They are great shoes to fill, and I pray I can be half the mother that she is. But with all my power, I will do my best to be that rock for my children; teach them the Truth, and hopefully they will know they can always come to me for the same comfort that I got from my own mama for many years.
-Amber
Although my mama is still around, she is half a world away; but I still find myself on occasions longing for the comfort of her hands. To feel the comfort in a world that is unpredictable, and know that for those brief seconds that all will be okay.
As I was driving onto post yesterday I looked at my hands, and something hit me out of nowhere; I have my mama's hands. I am now a mama to a wonderful girl, and a baby on the way. My hands now have that same power to comfort, discipline, and give peace. With my comfort, my baby girl knows that everything is okay in her world, and that mama will take care of everything. The responsibility has now passed to me to be the comforter and nurturer; to be the soft, worn hands that help guide a life.
Although I miss my mama, and always will when I am not around her... I am grown up now, and it is my time to take that role that she filled so well. They are great shoes to fill, and I pray I can be half the mother that she is. But with all my power, I will do my best to be that rock for my children; teach them the Truth, and hopefully they will know they can always come to me for the same comfort that I got from my own mama for many years.
-Amber
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Homemade Laundry Detergent
I have yet convinced my wonderful husband to let me do this, but one day I will get through ^_^ LOL ( love you honey)
Regardless of your washer type, just make your own in confidence.
Source: http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-soap/2/
Soap recipe
Each batch yields approximately 32 ounces (between 32-64 loads based on how many Tbsp used per load).- 1 bar (or 4.5 ounces) of shaved bar soap (Ivory, ZOTE, Fels-Naptha)
- 1 cup of borax
- 1 cup of washing soda
High Efficiency (HE) Washers
HE front-load washers require “special soap” for one reason alone – low suds. Because they use less water, they require soap that is less sudsy. The good news is, this homemade detergent is VERY low suds. The ”special” HE detergent is just another advertising mechanism to push consumers to buy “special soap” for unnecessarily high prices.Regardless of your washer type, just make your own in confidence.
Safe for septic tanks and fields
This is the best laundry soap to use with septic tanks because it contains zero phosphates and zero fillers (like montmorillonite clay) that cause commercial powder detergents to clog lines. It is also completely non-toxic so it will not harm necessary septic bacteria like toxic detergents and antibacterial soaps. Use with confidenceSource: http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-soap/2/
Homemade Cleaning Products
These are actually tried and tested by me...and I have been ultra-super impressed by how well these homemade cleaners work.
( The kitchen will smell a little bit like a pickle until the cleaner dries. If you can get past the vinegar smell, it really works great. -Amber)
-Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink.
-For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.
-Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]
Source: http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products
Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:- 1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Furniture Polish Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
( The kitchen will smell a little bit like a pickle until the cleaner dries. If you can get past the vinegar smell, it really works great. -Amber)
Baking Soda
-Baking soda's mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Put baking soda to work in your organized home:-Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink.
-For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.
-Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]
Source: http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products
Recipe: Pizza Crust
This is a really easy crust recipe, it doesn't take long and tastes wonderful :)
Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-pizza-crust/
Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-pizza-crust/
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal. Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe: Hamburger Buns
This recipe actually yields 25 buns, so for my adventure with it I cut the recipe in half...it made 12. Perfect for what I needed.
Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hamburger-buns/
Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hamburger-buns/
Directions
- In a large bowl, stir together the milk, margarine, warm water, sugar and yeast. Let stand for about 5 minutes.
- Mix in the salt, and gradually stir in the flour until you have a soft dough. Divide into 25 pieces, and form into balls. Place on baking sheets so they are 2 to 3 inches apart. Let rise for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake the rolls for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool slightly, then split them in half horizontally to fill with your favorite burgers.
Recipe: Four Egg Yellow Cake
OMG....if I can call a cake divine, it is this recipe! I made this cake for my daughter's first birthday, and it surpassed any box cake I have ever bought in a store!
Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/four-egg-yellow-cake/detail.aspx
Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/four-egg-yellow-cake/detail.aspx
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 x 13 inch pan.
- Cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool.
Recipe: Bulk Pancake Mix
For my frugal mama's out there, I know that you are always looking for ways to save money. I came across this recipe a while back, and it is AMAZING! It is a cheap way to make bulk pancake mix and save a load of cash :). It also last for a while
Bulk Pancake Mix
5 cups organic unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour
6 Tbsp baking powder (make the last one shallow)
5 tsp salt
5 Tbsp cane sugar
Sift all ingredients together and mix until combined well. Store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
Bulk Mix Pancakes
1 cup bulk pancake mix
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp coconut oil or butter, melted
Whisk together melted coconut oil and milk. (Do this first to cool the hot oil/butter so that it doesn't cook the egg when mixed together.) Whisk in egg. Slowly whisk in bulk mix until well incorporated.
Pour batter in 1/4 cupfuls onto medium heat skillet. If using stainless steel, lightly butter the skillet first. Cook until the edges turn dry and bubbles start to form in the middle. Then flip, cooking for one more minute or until pancakes are cooked through.
Source: http://lifeonpurposemama.blogspot.de/2011/01/bulk-pancake-mix-recipe.html
Enjoy!
-Amber
Bulk Pancake Mix
5 cups organic unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour
6 Tbsp baking powder (make the last one shallow)
5 tsp salt
5 Tbsp cane sugar
Sift all ingredients together and mix until combined well. Store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
Bulk Mix Pancakes
1 cup bulk pancake mix
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp coconut oil or butter, melted
Whisk together melted coconut oil and milk. (Do this first to cool the hot oil/butter so that it doesn't cook the egg when mixed together.) Whisk in egg. Slowly whisk in bulk mix until well incorporated.
Pour batter in 1/4 cupfuls onto medium heat skillet. If using stainless steel, lightly butter the skillet first. Cook until the edges turn dry and bubbles start to form in the middle. Then flip, cooking for one more minute or until pancakes are cooked through.
Source: http://lifeonpurposemama.blogspot.de/2011/01/bulk-pancake-mix-recipe.html
Enjoy!
-Amber
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Looking on things of others....
Phil. 2:14- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Ever have one of those days where you are just overwhelmed at some issue you are dealing with? It always seems to be the same time that someone else calls you and tells you some issue they are dealing with. That is when we react as any human would, and in our minds think ' you really don't what hard is, you should walk in my shoes for a day!'. Before we know it we have enclosed ourselves in our little bubble and get the 'woe is me ', 'no one understand', or the ' I am better/stronger than you because of what I am dealing with' complex. But in truth our problems are only a matter of perspective.
Our life circumstance only seems so big because we are the ones right next to them. I have caught myself sometimes getting angry and frustrated at people for not feeling as bad for me as I felt for myself. But we all have our own burdens to bear.
That is when the verse in Philippians really struck home to me. God brought it to my remembrance that I needed to stop looking at myself and start doing as I need to and look to other people with the same compassion I expected. To truly be the woman, wife, and mother I need to be...I knew I needed to stop looking at my problems and start helping others bear theirs.
Yes, my husband is deployed. Yes, I am raising our baby girl right now virtually alone. Yes, I am half a world away from my home, and there are a million stresses going on that I can't even start to number. But do I not have a healthy baby girl? Do I not have a husband who loves me and is doing everything he can to take care of me? Am I not able to spend quality time with family that I didn't think I would get to see for a very long time? Yes, I do. My blessings are uncountable.
My heart breaks for the families who will never know the joy of seeing their soldiers again. For the family who have lost a 3 year old little girl in a tragic accident. For the families torn apart by sin, and slowly starting to repair. For the girl who's heart has been broken countless times and still manages to make it on her feet again. The one who is still waiting....
Those who's womb's are still empty, and those who are saying goodbye to a husband for the first time. Those who are jobless and not knowing of any money coming in...
Once my eyes were taken off the situation I am in and looked upon what was going on around me, my problems didn't seem like so much of a giant anymore.
God gives us what He knows we can handle, and adds a little more so we can learn to lean on Him. But in our problems God knew we would by nature lose perspective on reality of a situation, and that is why He told us to " Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
Ever have one of those days where you are just overwhelmed at some issue you are dealing with? It always seems to be the same time that someone else calls you and tells you some issue they are dealing with. That is when we react as any human would, and in our minds think ' you really don't what hard is, you should walk in my shoes for a day!'. Before we know it we have enclosed ourselves in our little bubble and get the 'woe is me ', 'no one understand', or the ' I am better/stronger than you because of what I am dealing with' complex. But in truth our problems are only a matter of perspective.
Our life circumstance only seems so big because we are the ones right next to them. I have caught myself sometimes getting angry and frustrated at people for not feeling as bad for me as I felt for myself. But we all have our own burdens to bear.
That is when the verse in Philippians really struck home to me. God brought it to my remembrance that I needed to stop looking at myself and start doing as I need to and look to other people with the same compassion I expected. To truly be the woman, wife, and mother I need to be...I knew I needed to stop looking at my problems and start helping others bear theirs.
Yes, my husband is deployed. Yes, I am raising our baby girl right now virtually alone. Yes, I am half a world away from my home, and there are a million stresses going on that I can't even start to number. But do I not have a healthy baby girl? Do I not have a husband who loves me and is doing everything he can to take care of me? Am I not able to spend quality time with family that I didn't think I would get to see for a very long time? Yes, I do. My blessings are uncountable.
My heart breaks for the families who will never know the joy of seeing their soldiers again. For the family who have lost a 3 year old little girl in a tragic accident. For the families torn apart by sin, and slowly starting to repair. For the girl who's heart has been broken countless times and still manages to make it on her feet again. The one who is still waiting....
Those who's womb's are still empty, and those who are saying goodbye to a husband for the first time. Those who are jobless and not knowing of any money coming in...
Once my eyes were taken off the situation I am in and looked upon what was going on around me, my problems didn't seem like so much of a giant anymore.
God gives us what He knows we can handle, and adds a little more so we can learn to lean on Him. But in our problems God knew we would by nature lose perspective on reality of a situation, and that is why He told us to " Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Trials and Heartaches
Life never quite goes how you think it should. A lot of times you can be sailing along smoothly and then out of nowhere hit a bump in the road. Sometimes they are small little hiccups, and other times there are canyon size bumps and holes that we have to try to pick ourselves up and make it through. Those are the ones that knock the breath out of us, sideswipe us, and leave us there to dry.
This is when many times we like to look up and shake our fists at God, saying "WHY ME?!" "WHY THIS?!" "WHY NOW?!" and "WHY DID YOU ALLOW IT!". In truth, God does sometimes allow things to come into our lives to help us to learn to lean on Him, and to teach us things. But other things are brought on by sin, and man's bad choices.
How you deal with the situation life has handed you is what defines you and helps you grow as a person and in the Lord. It is so easy to drop down and pull a bubble around yourself and start to feel sorry for yourself, but that is just the start on the road to bitterness. Bitterness, irregardless of the situation, only harms the person harboring it.
Bitterness is the most infectious cancer of the soul.
We must realize that sometimes the situation we are in is not what God had planned. Because of some action of a person, or a personal choice you made, you are in what you are in. God is not to be blamed, but to be called upon to help carry what you have to bear. When you feel the bitterness and the anger creeping into your soul and thoughts, don't embrace them; turn your back.
God may not have WILLED this situation into your life, but He can make it WORK OUT for His glory and for our good.
Trials and heartaches come and go, and some situations take longer to heal from than others. But God knows what you are going through, and what it is going to take to help you make it through.
Let Him help you pick up the pieces.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Many days I've prayed for You/ to take this all away/
But it seems to not be easing Lord/ I don't understand why it's this way/
It's taking so long for my prayers to be answered/ So I cling to the hope that you promised me/
To give me an expected end/ Lord help me hold strong til that day
So let the rain fall on my broken heart/
Let the lightening and thunder roll/ onto my soul/
I have no fear for You are near/ and give me strength to stand/
With Your grace alone and on the Rock/
I will not be moved.
- Amber
This is when many times we like to look up and shake our fists at God, saying "WHY ME?!" "WHY THIS?!" "WHY NOW?!" and "WHY DID YOU ALLOW IT!". In truth, God does sometimes allow things to come into our lives to help us to learn to lean on Him, and to teach us things. But other things are brought on by sin, and man's bad choices.
How you deal with the situation life has handed you is what defines you and helps you grow as a person and in the Lord. It is so easy to drop down and pull a bubble around yourself and start to feel sorry for yourself, but that is just the start on the road to bitterness. Bitterness, irregardless of the situation, only harms the person harboring it.
Bitterness is the most infectious cancer of the soul.
We must realize that sometimes the situation we are in is not what God had planned. Because of some action of a person, or a personal choice you made, you are in what you are in. God is not to be blamed, but to be called upon to help carry what you have to bear. When you feel the bitterness and the anger creeping into your soul and thoughts, don't embrace them; turn your back.
God may not have WILLED this situation into your life, but He can make it WORK OUT for His glory and for our good.
Trials and heartaches come and go, and some situations take longer to heal from than others. But God knows what you are going through, and what it is going to take to help you make it through.
Let Him help you pick up the pieces.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Many days I've prayed for You/ to take this all away/
But it seems to not be easing Lord/ I don't understand why it's this way/
It's taking so long for my prayers to be answered/ So I cling to the hope that you promised me/
To give me an expected end/ Lord help me hold strong til that day
So let the rain fall on my broken heart/
Let the lightening and thunder roll/ onto my soul/
I have no fear for You are near/ and give me strength to stand/
With Your grace alone and on the Rock/
I will not be moved.
- Amber
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Restarting this blog, with a new outlook on life.
Obviously I have been MIA over the last several months. But I am restarting this, and hope that my weekly blogs can be an encouragement to someone. This is written to give God the glory in what He has done in my life.
In this long note I will give a bit of testimony of what has happened over the last several months.
My last blog was in June right after Sarah was born. In the nearly 8 months later a lot has happened, a lot has changed, and I have grown in the Lord.
In July of 2011, Sam deployed to Afghanistan starting what seemed to be a very LONG 12 month deployment. He left when Sarah was 6 weeks old. Thankfully he did get the chance to see her first real smile before he left. Her smile was for him alone :).
The heartache I felt when I left him in the parking lot is in no way describable. Separation is never easy, no matter the length, but at that moment 12 months seemed like an eternity.
My fears were common. I was scared and nervous to be in a foreign country with a new baby. I was afraid that our marriage would fall apart (far fetched fear, but those thoughts do run through your mind). I was afraid to raise a baby the first year virtually alone...of making hard decisions on my own. Afraid of what I would do if the unthinkable happened...but what I would forget when all these fears would assail my heart and mind, is that irregardless how helpless and worried I felt GOD was still in control of all things.
I would forget when He would say in His word, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" Heb. 13:5. I would forget how He said that, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philipians 4:7.
For the first 6 months of deployment I willingly ignored the help God was so ready to give me because I was comfortable in my own self pity and fear. It was easy for me to say "woe is me", and to be bitter and angry at others who seemed to have it easier than I.
I would be angry to see family members have the chance to raise their family together the first year of their children's lives. I would be angry at those who would complain about their husbands leaving for 2 days. I would think How DARE they think they have it hard. They miss their husbands for 72 hours, and I can't see mine for X amount of time.
I would still try to keep up my relationship with God, but the bitterness of my situation that was growing in me was making a great divide.
I struggled with the inability to talk to anyone about my situation. No one understood what I was dealing with, and it is hard to explain what you are feeling to people that don't understand. So I slowly started wallowing and sinking into my little world of anger, and pushing away the ONE person that would have easily taken everything off my shoulders.
I know my Lord was watching the entire time with arms wide open waiting for me to run to Him, but I tried so hard to be strong on my own. So the stronger I tried to be the more I'd sink.
By December I had hit a low. I stopped reading and praying all together, because at that point I wasn't getting anything and didn't figure there was a point to it. I had minor depression, and struggled with thoughts and dreams that plagued on my fears.
It was literally one week ago yesterday that I reached my breaking point.
I started searching around for daily devotional for women or military wives and the first book that popped up on my search engine was a book called "Faith Deployed" by Jocelyn Green. I liked the description and decided to get it.
The devotional is a book of combined stories from different christian military wives coupled with scripture on each day. Granted the scripture given isn't KJV, but it is easy to pick up my Bible and read the real verse and then read the devotional section.
The first one was entitled "The Gift of Solitude". It was by a lady who talked how she would do everything she could to fill up the lonely moments while her husband was deployed by staying busy, or watching movies, just doing SOMETHING to distract her mind from the fact her husband was gone. She went on to say she one day realized that those moments of quiet solitude could have been used so much more for spending time with God. God was the one that provided those alone times, and she was squandering majority of it to keep from dwelling on her loneliness. This hit home with me and was just the exact thing God used to break my strong will and hard heart.
In the 6 months that Sam had been gone, I had done EVERYTHING I could to keep myself and my mind busy. Pushing away precious moments I could have spent with my sweet Savior, to wallow in self pity and heart ache.
The whole time Christ was saying to me "Come unto me, all ye weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28. " Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" 1Peter 5:7. "Be careful [ full of care] for NOTHING, but in EVERY THING by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your request be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6.
All the anger and bitterness I confessed. All the thoughts and actions I had confessed. For the first time in months I was truly peaceful. I had no fear of what was going on or what was to come.
I learned that being thankful during a trial is not being thankful for what's going on, but thankful that God is with you to bring you through it. Thankful for the good things in our life.
Since that moment, I still had my seconds of trouble. But I know now that my walk and relationship with God is closer than it has been in a long time.
Since I have let go of it all, God has shown me the wonderful change that has taken place in Sam. A change that is for the better that I hadn't allowed myself to see because I was blinded by my own worries.
God truly is a friend that is closer than a brother. I don't know how I have made it thus far without leaning on Him for strength, and I am thankful I don't have to make it the rest of the way alone.
I have my Confidant, and my Healer with me at all times. I am so thankful that God revealed Himself to me in a way I never thought possible.
So now I want to use my blog for a weekly update on how we are doing for our family and friends at home, and to share something special that God has done for me (or us) that week.
Thank you for taking time to read.
Love,
Amber
In this long note I will give a bit of testimony of what has happened over the last several months.
My last blog was in June right after Sarah was born. In the nearly 8 months later a lot has happened, a lot has changed, and I have grown in the Lord.
In July of 2011, Sam deployed to Afghanistan starting what seemed to be a very LONG 12 month deployment. He left when Sarah was 6 weeks old. Thankfully he did get the chance to see her first real smile before he left. Her smile was for him alone :).
The heartache I felt when I left him in the parking lot is in no way describable. Separation is never easy, no matter the length, but at that moment 12 months seemed like an eternity.
My fears were common. I was scared and nervous to be in a foreign country with a new baby. I was afraid that our marriage would fall apart (far fetched fear, but those thoughts do run through your mind). I was afraid to raise a baby the first year virtually alone...of making hard decisions on my own. Afraid of what I would do if the unthinkable happened...but what I would forget when all these fears would assail my heart and mind, is that irregardless how helpless and worried I felt GOD was still in control of all things.
I would forget when He would say in His word, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" Heb. 13:5. I would forget how He said that, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philipians 4:7.
For the first 6 months of deployment I willingly ignored the help God was so ready to give me because I was comfortable in my own self pity and fear. It was easy for me to say "woe is me", and to be bitter and angry at others who seemed to have it easier than I.
I would be angry to see family members have the chance to raise their family together the first year of their children's lives. I would be angry at those who would complain about their husbands leaving for 2 days. I would think How DARE they think they have it hard. They miss their husbands for 72 hours, and I can't see mine for X amount of time.
I would still try to keep up my relationship with God, but the bitterness of my situation that was growing in me was making a great divide.
I struggled with the inability to talk to anyone about my situation. No one understood what I was dealing with, and it is hard to explain what you are feeling to people that don't understand. So I slowly started wallowing and sinking into my little world of anger, and pushing away the ONE person that would have easily taken everything off my shoulders.
I know my Lord was watching the entire time with arms wide open waiting for me to run to Him, but I tried so hard to be strong on my own. So the stronger I tried to be the more I'd sink.
By December I had hit a low. I stopped reading and praying all together, because at that point I wasn't getting anything and didn't figure there was a point to it. I had minor depression, and struggled with thoughts and dreams that plagued on my fears.
It was literally one week ago yesterday that I reached my breaking point.
I started searching around for daily devotional for women or military wives and the first book that popped up on my search engine was a book called "Faith Deployed" by Jocelyn Green. I liked the description and decided to get it.
The devotional is a book of combined stories from different christian military wives coupled with scripture on each day. Granted the scripture given isn't KJV, but it is easy to pick up my Bible and read the real verse and then read the devotional section.
The first one was entitled "The Gift of Solitude". It was by a lady who talked how she would do everything she could to fill up the lonely moments while her husband was deployed by staying busy, or watching movies, just doing SOMETHING to distract her mind from the fact her husband was gone. She went on to say she one day realized that those moments of quiet solitude could have been used so much more for spending time with God. God was the one that provided those alone times, and she was squandering majority of it to keep from dwelling on her loneliness. This hit home with me and was just the exact thing God used to break my strong will and hard heart.
In the 6 months that Sam had been gone, I had done EVERYTHING I could to keep myself and my mind busy. Pushing away precious moments I could have spent with my sweet Savior, to wallow in self pity and heart ache.
The whole time Christ was saying to me "Come unto me, all ye weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28. " Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" 1Peter 5:7. "Be careful [ full of care] for NOTHING, but in EVERY THING by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your request be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6.
All the anger and bitterness I confessed. All the thoughts and actions I had confessed. For the first time in months I was truly peaceful. I had no fear of what was going on or what was to come.
I learned that being thankful during a trial is not being thankful for what's going on, but thankful that God is with you to bring you through it. Thankful for the good things in our life.
Since that moment, I still had my seconds of trouble. But I know now that my walk and relationship with God is closer than it has been in a long time.
Since I have let go of it all, God has shown me the wonderful change that has taken place in Sam. A change that is for the better that I hadn't allowed myself to see because I was blinded by my own worries.
God truly is a friend that is closer than a brother. I don't know how I have made it thus far without leaning on Him for strength, and I am thankful I don't have to make it the rest of the way alone.
I have my Confidant, and my Healer with me at all times. I am so thankful that God revealed Himself to me in a way I never thought possible.
So now I want to use my blog for a weekly update on how we are doing for our family and friends at home, and to share something special that God has done for me (or us) that week.
Thank you for taking time to read.
Love,
Amber
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