Pictures to Share

   Today's blog is mostly going to be pictures that I wanted to share with you all.  No rhyme or reason to the order--just things I love and people I love.

Papi, our Quaker parrot

Scat, our cat (he is a senior).

Simone', our baby sugar glider

Whitney, my Pomeranian

my

My grandson, Phineas

my hubby & I

Ronny sleeping.  I love his lips when he sleeps.  They are so kissable!

Brandon.  He has changed so much in the past 4 months since this was taken.

    Thank you for allowing me to share some memories with you!

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Lost in the Prairie

Product Review: Bunn Coffee Maker

      Let me begin by saying that I am doing this product review because we believe in the product.  I did not get any kind of compensation.  I am doing the review because I want to!  :-)
      I bought my husband a Bunn Coffee Maker (just like the one pictured) for Father's Day 5 years ago.  I paid just over $100 for it and it was by far the best gift I have ever given him.  Our Bunn coffee pot is in my kitchen right now and if it should ever go out (knock on wood), I guarantee you we would go right out and purchase another one.
     Bunn coffee makers are superb.   What makes them so different is that they have a hot water reservoir so you never have to wait long for a fresh, hot pot of coffee. From the time you pour in the water until you can enjoy a cup of delicious coffee is less than 3 minutes.
       This coffee maker is worth the hype.  It makes even the cheapest brand of coffee taste great.  I truly love this coffee maker and believe that you should consider purchasing it next time you are in the need of a new coffee maker!
 

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Submission & Prayer Report

    God retaught me a lesson this week.  I say "retaught" because, gosh, I am a slow learner.
     Our family has been praying and praying for God to send us a blessing.  We needed to sell our fireworks stand.  See, I have MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and heat affects the disease.  I am the one who usually sits in the fireworks stand every day during the season.  It gets wicked hot there.  I work the stand and my husband sleeps there overnight to make sure no one breaks in.  The arrangement worked for us, that is, until MS reared its ugly head.
      We knew that this year there was no way that I could work the stand.  We also knew that we did not have any money to even purchase fireworks this year.  We decided to sell our stand and use the money to rent a building to sell fireworks out of and to purchase this years fireworks inventory.  We had the plan and now just needed a buyer.  I listed the stand for sale in Dallas, Tulsa, McAlester and Ft. Smith. We received a lot of spam offers and a few people who seemed interested.  But no go.

Our Fireworks stand

     We were on a deadline.  Fireworks season begins June 15th and we had less than a month to go.  We prayed and prayed and prayed.  I got so depressed and angry.  I knew God had always helped us.  I also knew that God sometimes says no but we had been praying that if the answer was no or if this was not meant to be, to speak to our hearts and let us know.  My hubby and I were only getting "This is what will happen".
     On one of my worst nights, I was distraught.  On Thursday night, with 3 weeks to go before the season, with only days before I had to put in my fireworks order, I crumbled.  I was angry.  I almost gave up but then something happened.  My eyes and heart opened up and I realized (again) that I was doing it wrong.
     I started out right.  I prayed for God's guidance.  I prayed for His will.  I prayed for Him to help us but along the way, I started (unintentionally) of wanting God to do it on a timeline.  I had a set date in my mind and God needed to meet that deadline.  Boy, I was wrong and at that moment, I realized it.  I prayed to God to forgive me.  I vowed to surrender to Him and He would do it if and when He was ready and I accepted that.  I started writing out verses and feelings into a notebook:  "God's time--not my time.   Be patient.  God's will.  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to your own understanding.  My God shall supply all your needs!  Our God is an awesome God!  I have nothing to fear for God is with me.  If God be for me it doesn't matter who is against me!"
     The very NEXT day, I checked emails and a man from Texas wanted to buy our stand.  Hallelujah!  Praise God.  I just had to surrender to the Lord and He answered me in a big way.  On Saturday, we met the gentleman and his father.  Really nice people.  They offered what they could afford and we accepted.  It was less than what we wanted but exactly what we needed!
     Needless to say, we have rented the building.  Electricity gets turned on Tuesday.  Fireworks inventory on the way.  Phone service will be on Thursday with plenty of time before season opening.   Can you say "Praise God"?!
     The gentleman who bought the stand, well his wife is in the hospital and has been since mid-April.  Please pray for her full recovery.  And thank you for allowing me to share my praise report!

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I'm a Prepper, Are you a prepper? Maybe you should be a Prepper too!

 I'm a Pepper.  Are you a prepper?  Maybe you should be a prepper too!

One of our cabinets.

       Don't you love the today's title?  If you are old enough to remember the old Dr. Pepper commercials, then you will appreciate the humor in it.  If not, sorry.
       Anyway, some of you may be wondering what a prepper is.  Well, a prepper is someone who prepares for the unknown.  I heard there is even a television show out now about preppers.  We do not watch tv at our home.  Well, we do.  We watch DVD's and Blu-rays but have not had a satellite dish or cable in over 5 years.
       Back to the subject at hand.  We have been prepping for about 3 years now.  We are not die hard, hard core or anything like that but the world is getting unstable with the national and global economy, natural disasters, and world conflicts.  I just want to be able to take care of my family if something happens.
       Do not judge me.  I am not crazy.  (Well, I am but that has nothing to do with why I am a prepper.)  Click on this link that was put out by the American Trucker Association (When Turcks stop, America stops)
I do not know what tomorrow holds but I want to be prepared.  I do not want to fight my friends and neighbors for items because no one was ready.  I want to be able to help them out if something happens.  I am not just talking national.  It could be loss of power from a few days to a few weeks due to an ice storm or tornado.  I do not want my children crying for food.  I want to be ready.
       Everything I have saved and purchased can be used if nothing ever happens.  I have one room strictly full of shelves filled with supplies and groceries.  We have flour, sugar, rice, and beans in 5 gallon buckets.  We have quite a bit of water and water purification tablets.  My family knows how to hunt and fish.  We have 2 gardens and I do a lot of canning.  Sometime I will do a full post about all we have done to prepare, along with showing you the contents of our 72 hour kits.    Is that something you all would be interested in seeing/reading about?
       Are you doing anything to prepare for a disaster of some type?  What are you doing?  If not, would you like to share why not?
   

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Animals can bring Joy

    My 14 year old son's dog died this morning.  Brandon/Bubba is heartbroken.  With Pogo dying just reminds me of how many pets we have lost over the years that we really loved.  Here are a few that we have loved and lost:

Dukey (The Grand Duke of Tulsa)

Tina (another dog of Brandon's).  

Angel, my yorkie

Stumpy (Angel's mate) They died within weeks of each other.

  Please pray for my son.  He is so sad right now and thank you for allowing me to share with you all.

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My sons YouTube videos

    My 14 year old son is quite the comedian and did two (family friendly) youtube videos.  Please take a moment to view them, "like" them and share them.  It would mean so much to him.

Wild World of Nature:  When Armadillos Attack

Wild World of Nature:  Chicken Capers

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Changed by the Maker

Reserved for company? Not at my house (not anymore)

    I often hear friends and family talking about their "good china" or "good towels".  Things that they reserve only for company.  Why is this so?  Why not give your family the best you have to offer and offer the guests the ordinary things?
     I caught myself the other day when I was making my family Tater Tot casserole that I made it with the best ingredients but I just threw the tater tots on top.  When I am making it for a pot luck or for guests, I carefully place the tots all uniform on top so it looks pretty.  My reasoning is because my family truly doesn't care what it looks like as long as it tastes good.  They know I love them but it got me to thinking, why shouldn't they get the best.  They are the ones I love the most.
    So, in honor of my family, I made them this chocolate cake.  The cake I usually only make for fancy dinner parties.  It not only looks pretty it is very decadent.

    Why not do something special for your loved ones tonight?  Serve grilled cheese off your fine china perhaps!

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Name that Flower

    Here's a fun game to play.  These flowers are all on our property.  We are in SE Oklahoma.  Can you identify them all?  Post your guesses as a comment and let's see how many you can get right!

#1
(Fleabane)

#2
(Daylily)

#3
(Native Wild Rose)

#4

#5
(Queen Anne's Lace)

#6 (a bush)
(Blackberry bush)

#7

#8
(Prickly Pear Cactus)

#9
(Gaillardia)

  Good Luck!!!

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Garden Update

   Finally, our garden is doing okay.  We planted early because it was so warm here but once we had everything in the ground, nothing seemed to be growing.  Take that back, the weeds were doing wonderfully, but not our veggies.   To prepare for the garden, my husband tilled, retilled and tilled some more but those pesky weeds just pop up and flourish.
   Anyway, we have been pulling weeds, fertilizing and watering the best that we can and FINALLY, the garden looks like it is going to produce.  How is your garden doing?  What all have you planted?

This is when we first transplanted into the garden area.

A green bell pepper.  

A clump of tomatoes

Walla Walla onions

Another tomato plant.   It is HUGE!

Some of the corn we have planted.

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Bible Verses Top 10 List

Brandon reading his Bible.

         So, I was talking to a friend the other day about praying and the Bible.  I always assumed that everyone had the same Bible verses that were like their “top 10”.  You know, the top 10 Bible verses you have memorized.  Anyway, after discussing this with others, it seems most people (at least that I can find) have broadly different verses that they find most important. 

          I guess most important is not the right word.  All words in the Bible are important but I guess I mean what verses speak to each individual.  Everyone had John 3:16 (For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.) as their number one pick or at least in their list.

          What I want to know is what verses are on your list?  Sure you may not have them listed out or have ever thought about it but I bet if someone asked you to name the most relevant, or you favorite verses, you would know.  So, please, share with me and my readers.  What verses would be on your top 10?  Got more, then what would be on your top 20, 30, 40, 50….(you get the idea!).  

My Top Picks:


John 3:16 
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.


Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.  


Matthew 6:33
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.


Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. 


Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.  


Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.


Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is a gift from God. 




The Beatitudes:  Matthew 5:3-10
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness'sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  


The Lord's Prayer:  Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.  
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.  
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.


1 Corinthians 13:4-13
Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  But where there are prophesies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  Now we see but a poor reflection in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love. 


Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul.  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Though I walk through the shadow of valley of death, I shall not fear, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.  You annointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  

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Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

    Tater tot casserole.  I don't know about you but just the words make me drool!  This is a favorite in our house.  Yes, I know it is not the healthiest recipe but by golly, it sure is delicious.  Everyone in our family absolutely loves it and is often requested.  We serve this on Saturday night for supper and we look forward to Saturday's because of it!

Tater Tot Casserole

1 lb. hamburger meat

2 T.  chopped onion

1 envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. seasoning salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1 can peas

2 cans cream of chicken soup

32 oz.  pkg. tater tots

1 c. shredded cheese

    A lot of people use "real" onion but I found out that if you fry up the dried chopped onion (that comes in spice sized containers, like cinnamon) with the hamburger meat, it fries up wonderfully.  It cooks up (and smells just like) you used fresh onion.   Besides, then you do not have to peel an onion or cut it up.  I like things easy!

 

     Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  

 

     Add a small amount of cooking oil to a skillet.  Add in the hamburger meat and the chopped onions.  Fry them together until the hamburger is brown. 

 

The hamburger meat and chopped onions being fried together.

 Pour into a cake pan (do not drain).  Add the onion soup mix and spices and mix it up and then open up the can of peas and pour on top.  

    Now, pour on your cream of chicken soups and gently stir it into the meat/pea mixture.  Top with tater tots.  If I am having company over for supper, I lay the tater tots on the casserole real pretty like.  Nice uniform rows and all the tater tots lined up neatly but if it is just for the family, I just basically dump the bag of tater tots on top.  My family does not care if it looks pretty as long as it tastes good. 

 

    Place in the oven for 35 minutes then top with the shredded cheese and bake another 10 minutes.  

 

The finished dish!

    Most recipes you find online are to be made in a 8"x8" square pan but we like to eat at my house so we always make it in a normal sized cake pan (13 x 8, or whatever the dimensions are).  :-)  Also, the recipes you find elsewhere usually call for twice as much meat as mine does.  I use 1 lb. for the big cake pan full and it is more than enough for us, and we are BIG meat eaters in our house.  

    Well, there you have it.  It is great comfort food!!!

      Other varieties of a tater tot casserole I make include a Mexican Tater Tot Casserole.  Check it out!

 

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Prayer

Our son, Ronny, praying

            Prayer.  What comes to mind when you hear the word "prayer"?  Tonight I was thinking of prayer and all of a sudden my mind was bombarded with all these questions.  Perhaps by writing this blog the answers will come to me or you can help me out here.
      I was once told to pray but do not use the same words over and over again.  I would bore God and it would sound like a fool's or pagan's prayer because I was unoriginal and just repeated the same old thing over and over.  But I catch myself praying that same way often.  I thank God for the blessings He has given us.  I praise His name.  I pray for our finances and any other thing concerning me at the moment but basically, it is often the same prayer.  Is that okay?  If it is heartfelt, won't God receive it with a loving heart?  But then after I write that, I think, maybe sometimes I am just "going through the motions" and don't have my heart 100% into it.  If that is the case, does God hear it anyway?  I mean, I know God sees all and knows all but does He take my prayer as a prayer or not?  Then I get back to the subject, that we should not say the same prayer all the time but what about the Lord's Prayer?  Jesus said to pray that way....
      What about asking for stuff or special requests?  Some say you should not ask God for stuff. I am not saying necessarily asking for a new X-Box but how about a job opportunity or praying God will let you sell something so you can invest in your future with a new job opportunity?  Is that okay?  I always thought of God like your Daddy.  You can ask your Daddy anything.  Yes, He can say no but He wants us to come to Him.  Is that how you feel?
     What about Matthew 21:22 "and all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (KJV)?  If I pray for our finances or something and believe that God will answer and hold fast to that verse then is that okay?  Or should you pray only for God's will as in 1 John 5:14 & 15 (And this is the confidence we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what  we asked of Him). Or can we lean on Matthew 21:22 and Matthew 18:19 (Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven) and do a family prayer for a request?  Some say we are using God but isn't that what our God is for?  To come to Him with our requests and petitions?  Yes, I know we are to praise Him but is it wrong or futile to use the verses to petition God to help us out or do we always need to pray for God's will?  I want God's will to be done but do not always pray that way....
        I do not know why I am worrying either.  God is always surprising us and blessing us.  There looks to be no way out and God provides a way and an answer.  He is so good to us and we don't deserve it and I
    I guess tonight I am just struggling for answers.  We have been praying pretty hard about something and now late at night am wondering about it.  I want to do right by my Lord.  I do love Him and want to serve Him.  Do you have times like this?
   I am confident that God knows all, sees all and is all.  I do believe He died on the cross for me and that I am saved.  I am confident that His decision is the best decision and if He says no it is because He has something better planned.  I do know the Holy Spirit speaks to God on my behalf.  I guess what I don't know is why I am wondering all of these other things tonight?  Guess I should follow the Good Book's advice from Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight".

Will you pray for me?

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How to make your own Pizza at Home

  Part of our weekly menu at our house is having pizza every Friday night.  We do not order out, we make it together from scratch.  Figured some of you may like to try out our recipe and make it a weekly tradition at your home too so here you go:

 

 

Pizza Crust

 

 3 1/3 c. flour

1 1/2 c. warm water

1 pkg. yeast

2 T. olive oil

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. sugar

        

     In a large bowl, dissolve yeast, sugar, and 1/4 c. of the warm water.  Let it process and activate for 10 minutes.  Next stir in the rest of the water, the salt, and the oil.  Stir.  Then add in 2 1/2 c. of the flour.  Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead.  Add rest of the flour as needed.

Dough before rising

 

 

        Spray a bowl with cooking spray and place dough in a warm area to rise and cover it with a dish towel.  After 25 minutes, punch down the dough and form it into a tight ball.  Leave it alone for 10 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Roll out the dough to desired thickness.  You can make one pizza for a nice thick crust or divide it into 2 equal sizes and roll out for two thinner crusts.

Rolled out dough in the pan.  It isn't pretty but it tastes great!

 

 

        Top with pizza sauce (recipe follows) and your favorite toppings.  Bake for 17 minutes then remove and enjoy!

Homemade sauce on the crust

 

 

Pizza Sauce

 

 2 T. olive oil

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 (36 oz.) can tomato sauce

1 tsp. marjoram

1 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 T. butter

1 T. chopped onion flakes

1/4 tsp. celery flakes

1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste

1/2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. fennel seed

Over medium heat, heat oil in a saucepan until hot. Add all ingredients, cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, lower heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.

 

 

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