~Bear Stew~

This is not a normal item in my kitchen...

Our church hosts a Sportmans Dinner for the men and boys in our area. They have a great turn out every year and I always try to provide something. The church was given a lot of bear meat this year. My job was to turn it into stew.

Bear "pork" loin on the left... and roast on the right.

I had 6 packages... two pounds each... to cut up for the stew. It smelled yucky and I really dislike raw meat. It took me over an hour but cut it all up. I was soooo glad to be done with that part. I spent the rest of the day cooking stew.

Looks good! I doubled the amount of meat I normally use and cut back on the veggies. I got 3 crock pots full!

The main meal this year is venison meatloaf. We are also serving rabbit stew (which my boys always rave about) something with oysters and bear chops.

~Yummy, Healthy Avocados~

1 1/2 Avocados fully or overripe

1/2 cup honey

Blend

add 1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder

I used to use the blender but so much chocolaty goodness got stuck inside the blender and I couldn't lick it out:-) Now I just use a hand mixer.

~Grace for the Good Girl~

Wow, you should see all the notes I took while reading this book! This is going to be a long post!

I wasn't sure if I was a "good girl" or not... I know I need grace... so I asked for this book for Christmas.

Where to begin?

First off, I'm totally a "good girl." Not in every situation she mentioned... but many.

*She had me when she said "I desperately want to manage your opinion of me."

*I gulped hard when she talked about hiding from dreams... "to face them is to admit they are there, to admit they are there means you are not living them... that means failure" I don't do failure.

*Conviction hit when she said "The innate desire to be good protect me... but it didn't bring me any greater understand of God"

*An eye opener was when she mentioned we praise people who never let on they are suffering. So true... but it that a good thing!??!?! (keep reading, we come back to this)

*I am so Martha... not Mary. Almost every sermon on this pair makes me grit my teeth because I don't get it. Somebody has to make the lunch!!! Loved her take on it!

*Another great story... Mary being told she was going to bear the Messiah. She said I am the Lords servant. A servant... service is an act of faith - it isn't me doing work for God but it is me trusting God to do the work in me. Mary just had to let things happen.

*A key thought... pleasing God or trusting God... I choose to please for various reasons. Trusting feels to passive for me.

*Law/Grace - Grace is not Jesus helping us keep the law... this keeps us focused on the law. Jesus came to fulfill the law so we don't have to look at it any more. Don't listen to the law, listen to Jesus.

*A guilt written across the for head moment. Responsible is good but I simultaneously feel resentful that I am the one to manage it all.

*Yikes - We may call it people pleasing but it is entirely self serving because it really is all about keeping myself comfortable.

*Another story I struggle with... the prodigal son. I can relate to the older brother. She had great thoughts about this.

*Great thoughts on guilt vs shame

*Great question "Are you trying to be who Jesus wants you to be? or do you trust him to bring out who he has already created you to be?"

*Back to the thought above about praising people who never let on they are suffering...In the midst of grief, there is no such thing as strong women of God. There is only brokenness & in desperate need. We are not called to be strong... I want to be strong... not broken and in need."

*Thinking about Moses... he said who am I, God, that I should __________________... God said... I will be with you. Moses asked who, who are you? God says I am.

*Great, great thoughts on worship...loved this!

*If I feel ________ I grab a mask of __________... I completely bypass the spirit within me.

*To recollect truth sometimes we need to re collect truth.

*Closure vs Healing... wow! When there is no healing, there is haunting. To escape haunting we either need to find a mask or a healer.

*Don't fear the future. Choose to anticipate the next great provision.

*Do not compare your pain with others. The worst pain you will ever feel is your own.

*Enjoy the tempo of a God breathed life by letting him set the pace... sick kids, phone calls, broken cars... God is setting the tempo.

These are NOT all my notes:-)

I had notes on three index cards front and back. I put the page number so I can look it up later. I also have a list of 6 books to look up that I may want to add to my wish list.

I am going to go back through some of the topics I marked, but I feel like I got a lot out of the book the first time.

Change... not so easy... control... comes naturally. I'm in it for the long haul. This book really made me think about some of the counseling classes I have taken... you can't go on your feelings... you MUST find truth.

Highly recommended for all my "good girl" friends!

~Thinking Thoughts~

1. This wonderful reminder from here...A man approaching retirement called the retirement office to inquire about his pension. Afterward, he was asked if his wife worked.“She’s worked all her life making me happy”, he replied. “Yes sir, but has she earned money to receive her pension?” “When we got married we agreed on an arrangement”, he said. “I would earn the living, and she would make the living worthwhile”.“Make the living worthwhile”…have we forgotten the very essence of that? Have we forgotten to live for someone else, that doing so IS what makes a living worthwhile?

2. I listened to Nathan's new Patch the Pirate CD . He was so excited about the story and thought it was great that I was listening with him. One of the songs was "Stokin' up the Fire." I was able to tell Nathan what that meant and that it was something God was showing mom right now. It was so neat to talk with him about it!

3. Another thought from my friend "Patch"... If God has called you go be a Preacher don't... lower yourself to become a king.

4. From my current book "Through Jewish Eyes" - God used examples in Acts 8, 9 and 10 of three different men getting saved. These three men were from the line of each of Noah's three sons... showing that every people group is represented.

5. From my Ephesians study - Chapter two says "children of wrath" That means having a close relationship with God's wrath...yikes!

6. Also from Ephesians - Chapter two goes on to say we have no hope.... no hope...

7. Keep reading and you find out about our peace!

8. I really liked this "A Letter to My Children About Marriage"

What a good week of thinking~ It is amazing how many things I would be forgetting if I wasn't purposefully writing them down!

~Leather Wrap Bracelets~

My first Pinterest project!


A leather wrap bracelet was repined by a friend of mine. I had all the supplies and thought it would be a fun project!


I found a written tutorial here... and a video here.


Some people start with the button, some end with it. Doesn't really matter either way.

Here is my first one...

It is more silver in real life and a little bit big... I guess I have a small wrist.

I had so much fun that I made three more:-) A little bit smaller and with smaller beads. Eric's favorite is the green. I agree with him!

I have supplies to make one more... I'm waiting for the perfect bead combination:-) I just got a birthday coupon from one of my favorite craft shops... maybe I'll find the perfect beads there!

~A Holy Influance~

I heard Wanda Gibert speak at our state home school convention a few years ago. She was talking about "Be the Crowning Touch in your Husband's Life."

I enjoyed her talk and ended up buying her bible study by the same name. I found it hidden and dusty and I thought it would be a good way to start the new year in my devotion time so I got it out.

She wrote that the study should take 12 weeks... as I looked over the book, I realized there was 12 days worth. I read one chapter a day.

I wasn't overly impressed... maybe because I took good notes during her talk:0)... but I did glean some things.

The study was based on Prov 12:4 A Virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to the bones. She also pointed out that being virtuous was something that is favored by God (Prov 18:22).

Each chapter was about a different aspect of a crown... it brings beauty, it brings influance, it brings elevation... and she talked about how we, as wives, can bring those qualities to our husband.

I wouldn't say to run out and get a copy (I can't find them online anywhere) but it was food for thought.

~February Goals~

What I am hoping to accomplish this month!

1. Read one book a month - Through Jewish Eyes

2. One big craft project a month - quiet book for Kiersten

3. One small craft project each week - choose these off my pinterest boards

4. Spring clean one room a month - Bathroom (from Jan) and my bedroom (for Feb)

5. Keep up with devotions - Continue with Ephesians

6. Health goals - Keep up with walking 3 miles a day 5 days a week. Get back to eating better (I haven't made yogurt in months, I need to trade out my creamy sweet coffee for herbal tea, enforce smaller portions). Try 4 new recipies.

7. Projects for when I am doing school with Eric - finish uploading my digital scrapbooking kits, finish my ripple blanket, do any handwork for Kierstn's quiet book (see #2)... and if there is time start some embroidery

8. Memory work

a) Romans 6:3-4 (Church verses - Romans 6 this year)

b) Continue in James 2 (with boys for school)

9. For others - Secret Sister, make Nathan's birthday special, reach out to one who needs encouraged

10. Misc Projects - Can't wait to see what pops up!

Ready, set, go!