Decisions, Decisions...

Do you ever feel stuck?

And you don't know what to do?

And you don't even know how to begin to get out?

Or maybe you don't want to get out?

Or maybe you do...but you're in just deep enough that it will hurt when trying to get out?

Just when we thought things were going great, some other things happened.

So we've come to a crossroad.

Do we keep on trucking down the same road?

Digging even deeper, trusting someone with our ideas that may not work, or they may not want to listen?

Thinking they've done this before but it didn't excel, so why try again?

Or do we make a left turn and begin again?

Hoping that where we do end up will be a perfect match?

"They" say that when you feel something, you're likely not the only one feeling it.

Hmm...I find this true in most cases.

Right now...I don't even know how to begin to look for people experiencing the same, feeling the same, wanting the same...

Simply stated, it's frustrating and lonely.

My struggle is this:

Do we stay put and attempt for who-knows-how many more months, to hopefully make it better for someone else, and hopefully make it better for us?

OR

Do we head back to square one, starting over, and hope that the already established is exactly what we need and where we're supposed to be?

Being a follower of Christ is really hard sometimes. 

Part of me feels like if we decide to head back to square one, that we're just being a fan.

I don't want to be a fan...someone who sits by and roots for Jesus, but doesn't do anything about what it truly means to be a Christian.

I want to do what He asks of me.

The other part of me feels like that even if we do start over, that God could always call us back to where we were.

Knowing that, gives me a little bit of comfort.

But it still leaves us with the question:

What do we do?

We will continue to pray and ask God to open doors for us.

Maybe he doesn't care which option we choose as long as we're serving Him whole-heartedly.

I haven't figured that out yet.

But when I do...I'll let you know.

For now, what do you guys do when you feel like you're at a crossroad?

How do you choose what road is the right path for you?

Dessert Recipes

So life has been busy.
Like so busy that this is our only "free" weekend from Thanksgiving til the end of December.
I know I promised dessert recipes from Thanksgiving, so before we get anymore into Christmas season, I'm going to share with them with you.

Puppy Chow:
Ingredients:

• 9 cups of rice chex
• 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup of peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2-3 cups of powdered sugar

Directions:

Melt the butter, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and vanilla in a large pan, stirring constantly until all ingredients have melted.  Remove from the stove.  Add cereal and stir well until coated.

Place cereal mixture in a large brown paper bag.  Add the powdered sugar and shake the bag until the cereal is completely covered with it.  {You may have to add more powdered sugar if needed.}

Spread the cereal out on wax paper to cool.  Once cooled, place in an air tight container.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350*.

In a large bowl, mix brown sugar and butter until blended.  Beat in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy.  Mix in oats, flour, and baking soda; stir in chocolate chips.

Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool slightly and remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack. Once cooled, store in an air tight container.

*****

These are just the desserts that I made for my family to eat as they were waiting around.  Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are my dad's favorite, and my brothers seemed to enjoy them as well.  They're super easy to make, and really yummy!! :)

Happy baking!

Christmas Box Update and a Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday to ya!

I hope your week is going well.

Remember this post?

Are you participating?

Have you gathered your items for your box?

I've got mine.

All I have to do is assemble it all together and wait for the right time to deliver it.

I really had to go out on a limb here.

I don't know very many people in St. Louis.

I actually don't know the people we're giving to at all.

I'm trusting in God's plan right now.

I trust that He had me pick out the necessary {and very unnecessary} items to give to them.

I pray that this will be a tool to reach them for Christ.

In the season of giving, I wanted to give to YOU!

You have 10 chances to win!!

So here is what is up for grabs:

       

A Christmas ruffle scarf {crocheted by me}

A Christmas rosette bobby pin {handmade by me}

A pair of Christmas earrings {handmade by me}
A Christmas Heart Garland {handmade by me}

4 lucky readers will win!

I will announce the winners on Tuesday!

Good luck!

**For those of you who've never participated in a Rafflecopter giveaway, to enter you must do the things it asks to move on to the next entries.  {GFC is on the right sidebar of my page!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thou Shalt Build a Winning Team

Well, today's the day.  It's the final day of our "10 Commandments Tuesday" series.  These past 10 weeks have been so good for me as I have been able to read and convey the principles of this book to you.  I hope that you have been able to take away something to practice in your own marriage.  This week's commandment is

Thou Shalt Build a Winning Team

"It is not good for man to be alone;  I will make a helper suitable for him."

Genesis 2:18

God intended for man and woman to join together and become "one flesh."  They are supposed to be united and on the same team.  So how do we build a winning team?  Well, here are some components for a winning marriage team:

1.  The Eternal Architect

God designed marriage.  He made it to be a perfect union.  However, sin has made a huge dent in that union and if not careful, can completely ruin it.  But knowing who the Architect is and following his instructions, we can still build a winning team.

2.  The Right Coach

Jesus is our coach who not only tells us what to do, but also shows us.  Ed says, "The staggering reality is that a husband and wife who have individually invited Christ into their lives "have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).  All the treasures of Christ's mind are now in the spirit of the person in whom He dwells.  The issue is accessing what we already have and putting it to practical use."  The more we intimately walk with Christ, more of His wisdom and knowledge we'll gain.  The more His wisdom is gained, the more the relationship grows.

3.  The Players
"God has recruited us as players for His Kingdom's purposes.  When we allow Jesus Christ to be our Coach, He can take our most ordinary talents and abilities and do extraordinary things with them.  Without Christ on our side, we can do nothing.  But with Christ on our side, we have all the talent we need to build a winning marriage team."

4.  The Intangibles
Goal setting, commitment, discipline, togetherness are all examples of the necessary intangibles in marriage.  When you are working together on the same team, with the same goals in mind, you're strengthening your marriage.

5.  Fan Support
Encouragement is a necessity in marriage, whether it comes from family, friends, kids, coworkers, church family, etc.  These people are to help encourage you in your marriage.  They are to support you and to be there for you.  So it's important as you choose those friends in  life, to choose ones who will encourage and support you.  These people should also teach and minister God's Word.

Reflecting on Your Relationship:

1. If your marriage were indeed a college football team, where would it be ranked?
   -We're in the top five, vying for the championship.
   -We're in the top ten, thrown for a loss once in a while, but we're a winning team.
   -We win some, we lose some, but we could be a lot better.
   -We're losing more than we win; we don't let the Coach lead us in the day-to-day party of our marriage.
2. In what areas does your mate need some "coaching?"  What about you?
3. How does your family and friends provide "fan support" for your marriage?
4. What is the greatest strength of your marriage team?

I'm so glad you stuck with me through this 10 week series.  I hope you learned something that you can put into practice in your own marriage.  In what ways have you been challenged?  In what ways do you feel affirmed?  If you feel comfortable, would you share?

If you missed any part of the series, you can catch up here:

Part 1: Thou Shalt Not Be a Selfish Pig

Part 2: Thou Shalt Cut the Apron Strings

Part 3: Thou Shalt Continually Communicate

Part 4: Thou Shalt Make Conflict Thy Ally

Part 5:  Thou Shalt Avoid the Quicksand of Debt

Part 6: Thou Shalt Flee Sexual Temptation--Online and Otherwise

Part 7:  Thou Shalt Forgive Thy Mate--490 Times and More

Part 8:  Thou Shalt Keep the Home Fires Burning

Part 9:  Thou Shalt Begin Again and Again

Christmas Shopping

This weekend I updated my shop with a few new things.  

Added:  NEW Sections!

Check out the SALE section for items that will be edited on a weekly basis.  These items will be marked down at least 10% for that week!

There is also a FREE SHIPPING section with several items that will ship for free within the United States.

I got this idea from a friend...it's a great idea!

Please use code NEW15 for 15% off your order!

Code is good until Tuesday night!

**Please note that I will be closing my shop down on December 15th so that I may enjoy the holidays with my family.   Please get your orders in before December 15th so that they will arrive in time for Christmas!! :) I will be back with some new items after the holidays.  If you have any special requests, leave me a comment and let me know!**