Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Giving Thanks # 23

Thankful for your book recommendations today, we have an upcoming trip that I would love to spend some time reading on. Any books you think I should read??

Monday, November 28, 2011

Giving Thanks # 22

I am so thankful for the home that God has blessed us with. We recently started a project that is taking longer than we thought it would and also requiring a bit more creativity then we intended it to but Josh is doing such a great job with it. I am so proud of all his hardworking! Thanks, Josh!

Giving Thanks # 21

Thankful that I don't blog for a job so I can take a break for a bit if I need to! :)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Giving Thanks #20 !

Crochet hooks! And kids who take extra long naps (somedays) so I can work on some fun things! The other great thing about crochet hooks is that I can use them to teach Avalyn counting while I work on projects! She loves to count stitches with me and to count up all of my spare hooks and line them up like a train. Cheap entertainment!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Giving Thanks #19

So thankful to be reunited with 2 of my sweeties today! Josh took Avalyn with him to go hunting this last week and boy was it quiet around here. Well, Avalyn didn't go hunting, she got to play with grandma and her cousins while the guys went hunting. It was a successful trip.
I was able to get a few projects done that had been waiting on my sewing pile for far too long. Now I can start working on some of the new projects I have found on pinterest.
Speaking of, are you on pinterest? Would you like an invite so you can see what it is all about? Just leave me a comment with your email address and I will hook you up. See what I am pinning here.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Giving Thanks #18

Looking forward to a freezer full of venison in a few weeks! Great job to my dad and hubs!

Giving Thanks #17

Thankful today for the creativity that God has blessed me with. I was able to complete a sewing project that I was ready to throw in the trash but eventually I got it figured out and completed it!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Giving Thanks #16

Thankful today for food and the hands I have to prepare it with.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Giving Thanks #15

Today I am thankful for this reminder from Oswald Chambers', My Utmost for His Highest.

One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn refusal to refrain from interfering in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s plan for others. You see someone suffering and say, “He will not suffer, and I will make sure that he doesn’t.” You put your hand right in front of God’s permissive will to stop it, and then God says, “What is that to you?” Is there stagnation in your spiritual life? Don’t allow it to continue, but get into God’s presence and find out the reason for it. You will possibly find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another— proposing things you had no right to propose, or advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another person, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit. Your part is to maintain the right relationship with God so that His discernment can come through you continually for the purpose of blessing someone else.
...
A saint is never consciously a saint— a saint is consciously dependent on God. 


Are you looking for a jumping off point to get closer to and be consciously dependent on God? I highly recommend reading your Bible, even if it is just a verse a day and a daily reading such as My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. The daily entries in My Utmost also have a verse reference that you could study more in depth if you need help.
I find it is great for me to have something to 'chew' on throughout the day and these little reminders tend to come right when I need them.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Giving Thanks #14

Today I am thankful for my sewing machine, I have a lot of projects I plan to work on this week. Unfortunately I will not be able to share most of them on this blog because I have way too many family members who read and a lot of them will be gifts! Happy Monday!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Giving Thanks #13

Thankful for our kind, loving, and sweet church. We have so many great friends that we have met through church and have learned so much.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Giving Thanks #12

The Internet and Skype! I was able to see AND talk to my sister in China and my parents in Michigan all in one day! What a blessing!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Giving Thanks #11

Today I am thankful for our veterans. Some of which include both of my grandpas and my wonderful father-in-law and a large number of cousins and friends! Thank you for serving!

Giving Thanks #10

I really thought I posted this yesterday and then I realized I didn't so here I am, catching up!

Today I am thankful for all of my family, near and far and here and There. Family is a special thing.

Love you all!

easterling (120 of 424)
easterling (118 of 424) 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Giving Thanks #9

Thankful today for the changing seasons. Of the reminder that God is in all things. Making all things new. That He is there when change begins, and sees us through every change to come.

I had a fun time last week showing Avalyn the joy of throwing snowballs to a dog...have you ever tried that? You should. I don't know what was more fun, watching the snowball explode in Charlie's face every time she caught one or listening to Avalyn laugh and snort so hard she almost fell over. The snow was such a new experience for her to hear the crunch under her feet and to touch and feel how cold it was. To see how she could pick it up and form it into something with her hands.
I think part of the blessing of having kids is experiencing the newness of each situation with them and being humbled in light of God's creation. Thankful!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Giving Thanks #8

Thankful today for a sweet group of girls who I have been meeting with for a few months. We have been getting deeper with God and each other and our lives are being changed.

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19, 20 NIV)

Monday, November 7, 2011

Giving Thanks #7

My sister...we have had so many sweet times together. Here are a few of my favorite (recent) memories with Lacey. I really need to scan in some old photos.

Love you, Lacey!


la-collage1 


la-collage2

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Giving Thanks #6

Thankful for communion today and the reminder of what God has done and is doing and will do forever!

Mark 14:22-25
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Giving Thanks #5

Harper, you sure do make us smile!

(discovered this week that Harper loves egg yolk!)

Friday, November 4, 2011

Giving Thanks #4

Good friends and good food.

Had a nice time last night catching up with some old friends over pizza and dessert.


Pizza Dough
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1 envelope (2 1/4 tsp) pizza crust or RapidRise yeast (I think they are probably the same)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 3/4 cups warm/almost hot water

I use my Kitchen-Aid mixer with the dough hook and it turns out great. You can also do this in a large mixing bowl with a big spoon and strong arms. Add all ingredients to bowl in order, stirring vigorously. Set aside to rest five minutes, and then stir again for three to five minutes.
Add additional water or flour to achieve a smooth, sticky dough. Dough should pull together into a ball.
Divide into two pieces and place each one into an oiled freezer bag OR oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise at room temperature and then punch down.
Dough can be refrigerated or frozen now. If you are ready to eat, roll each piece out onto a pizza pan allow to rest a few minutes. Prebake for 10 mintues at 450 degrees F and then put toppings on pizza crust and return to oven for 10-15 minutes until cheese melts. (Makes 2 thicker crusts, you can easily make thin crust pizza just by splitting the dough into more pieces.)

Blueberry Apple Crisp
Fruit Filling
2 cups blueberries (can use frozen, just thaw first)
3 cups peeled, cored, sliced, diced apples
3 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp flour

Mix fruit filling together and place in a 2 qt baking dish.

Crisp Topping
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

Make crisp topping-Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl and then cut in butter until you have coarse crumb texture. Cover filling with topping. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. Best when served warm and with cream over the top. :)




Thursday, November 3, 2011

Giving Thanks #3

God, the Creator of my life. My peace and my joy. Without Him I am nothing.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
Psalm 46:1-4 NIV

Wednesday, November 2, 2011