Sing More

Right now I have a lot of friends going through hard times.

They are waiting on test results and receiving diagnoses that require treatment.

Waiting on adoptions to finalize.

Dealing with chronic pain and loss of loved ones.

Stressful jobs.  Uncertainty on how the next bill is going to be paid.

As I begin to pray I feel overwhelmed.  This morning I sat in front of my big fan that helps my nails to dry and I started to pray.  Where do I even begin?  I sat there at somewhat of a loss for words as my Cajun Shrimp was drying and the baby lay sleeping in her pack n play to my left.

Who do I pray for first and what do I ask on their behalf?

I want to bake every single friend going through hard times a pan of chicken enchiladas or take them to the restaurant down the street and share an order of steak fajitas to try to make it better.

Mexican food is a good beginning at making things better.

Feeble attempts of a mute prayer make things better thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit on our behalf.

And singing makes things better.

Scripture is full of exhortations to sing.  When you are happy and when you are sad.

So that's what I'm doing today.  In my heart and out loud.  I am going to sing songs of praise and prayer over my hurting friends.  I've called out their names already, and will continue to do so, and I will sing songs on their behalf today.

Colossians 3:16

James 5:13

Ephesians 5:19

"I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also." I Corinthians 14:15

Homemade

I've been misspelling the word homemade. 

 

Been spelling it like lemonade.  Homeade.  Writing it on the menu dinner plate and displaying it for all the world to see.  Seeing it here, with the wavy red line underneath, I see it clearly. 

 

We do a lot of living inside our four walls.  I imagine you may have a picture of my home being perfect all the time, but as you see, we do a lot of living in this space.  Most of the time we clear the floors in the evening and start fresh the next day.  And other times, like last night, we leave the fort up and little boys camp out on the living room floor.

I love the word homemade. 

Made at home. 

Forts, LEGO creations in the midst of the candles and the table runner left over from Sunday evenings sit down dinner, art, music, memories.

 

We all have our spaces that make us happy in our home.  For the kids it is plenty of space to create and play.  For me it is corners of the house where order, peace and beauty reign.

 



 

I have found that it is so important for me to take care of myself every day.  So I do nice things for myself that make me happy.  I make my bed because it makes me happy to see it every time I walk by.  I polish my nails pretty colors.  Every single day I light candles because they make me the happiest.  In the morning I read the Word and get my marching orders for the day ahead.

 

Do you know what refreshes you?  Every day we are building something.  What kind of things are you making in your home?

Therapeutic

We have had a very full week of early mornings and full days.  Tonight I surveyed the damage on the home front.  Being gone this week had taken a toll on my house.  The piles were getting bigger everywhere I turned.

As I fed the baby I began formulating a plan.  Put the kids to bed, light a candle and spend an hour fluffing the place.  And that is exactly what I did.  I lit my candle and went room to room fluffing and putting things away so that each room made me smile again.

Sometimes I listen to music while I work and sometimes I don't.  Tonight I preferred the quiet.  The dryer and dishwasher were both humming away in the background and it was peaceful to work and get things put away without any extra noise.  After about 45 minutes the order was restored.

The coffee pot is set to go off at 6:30 and I'll be able to wake up to a peaceful home.

Today on Pinterest I pinned something on several of my boards.

Progress, not perfection

I love those words.  They remind me that a little bit of effort can go a long way.

So tonight I spent a little time showing the house a little TLC and it feels good.

Shut up and...

My motto is, "Shut up and pray!"

I borrowed it from Stormie Omartian.

The other day when I was tempted to nag/complain about something to a certain someone that shares space under the same roof as me, I was reminded of this little motto. 

Shut up and pray.

I can promise you this much-there is a wonderful feeling of joy that comes over you when you see the very thing you prayed for start to change.

To think He hears our prayers and acts on our behalf.  Amazing.  So much nicer than yammering on all the time trying to control this and that.

Simple Summer Joy

I love Chick-fil-A for a gazillion reasons and Cow Appreciation Day ranks at the top of the list, arm in arm with my love of Chick-fil-A sauce.

 

Our newest little nugget has been inaugurated into the wonderful world of riding with the family dressed in cow finery.

 

As our 6 pack was unloading the bus, there was that moment when I felt a little sheepish about all the business professionals lining the drive-thru.  The stroller did not want to unfasten for me and I could feel them all eyeing me through their aviators. 

Look at that cow and her little heifer.  That is what I know they were thinking. 

Our herd walked in and I was struck with a moment of panic.  Where are all the people dressed in their cow finery?  Ooooh, there they are, way in the back by the play part.  Silly me, I should've known.

Donning cow finery is a perfect way to spend a summer day.

This Morning...

This morning started out rough.  There were a lot of things on my get 'r done list today and I was going from grumpy to grumpier in a flash.  So, you know what I did?

I poured another cup of coffee and went into my bedroom and read a Psalm and prayed.

Then I painted my nails a pretty color.

Then I lit a candle and filled my room with the smell of lavender.

It is amazing what an hour of pausing to get back on track can do for your spirits. 

Tonight we had precious people from church gathered around the table for dinner.

I'm thankful that a day that started crummy can get back on the right track and end with a smile.

Annette's Enchiladas

 The Menu

Homemade Salsa & Chips

Annette's Enchiladas

Bean & Beef Enchiladas

Black Beans

Chocolate Sea Salted Toffee & Vanilla Ice Cream

Decaf Coffee

Tonight I made Annette's Enchiladas from the book, Bread & Wine.

When the book said it was serious comfort food, I was in.

This was the easiest pan of enchiladas I've ever made.  It used a can of green enchilada sauce, which I've seen, but never used.

There are many reasons this recipe has found a home in my new dinner line-up.  For starters, it was a zip to whip together.  You layer the ingredients instead of hand rolling each enchilada (think lasagna style here), and maybe the best part is that you can make these earlier in the day and pop them in the oven at dinner time.  This is especially nice if you are serving guests.  Dinner can be baking while you go touch up your make-up.

1 cup sour cream
1 28-ounce can green enchilada sauce (Las Palmas is best)
2 4-ounce small cans green chilies, diced
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
12 corn tortillas
1 cup chicken broth
Cilantro

- Mix green sauce with chilies and sour cream.
- Smooth 1 spoonful of the sauce mixture around the bottom of a 9 by 13 pan.
- Simmer the chicken broth in a skillet, and before placing each tortilla in the 9 by 13 pan, use tongs to pass the tortilla through the broth for just a few seconds. If you leave the tortillas in the broth for too long, they’ll fall apart, so just dip each one in for a few seconds to soften it before putting it in the enchilada pan.
- Layer 4 tortillas over the first layer of sauce.
- After tortillas, add half the chicken, then one-third of the sauce, then one-third of the cheese.
- Repeat so there are 2 full layers.
- Finish with a layer of 4 more tortillas, the remaining third of the sauce, and the remaining third of the cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees until warmed through and the cheese is melted, about 30 to 35 minutes.
- Let sit at least 15 minutes before cutting. Top with chopped cilantro.

(I used 6 corn tortillas for each layer, so 18 corn tortillas total)