Too Soon to Say

Check out this post on Mrs. B.'s blog. It is a really neat illustration of how God is in control; we need to not be narrow-minded as we see Him work.

Punch-bowl cake

This simple recipe was in my local newspaper some time ago. It comes from the cookbook Down-Home Southern Girl by Queenie Payne. It's really good, and it's easy! Be sure to use butter cake. It's good! :)

(It is, of course, supposed to be made in a punch bowl. I made it for an outdoor party and didn't want it to be in anything that could tip over; so I just used a regular bowl.)

Note: Because my bowl wasn't quite large enough to hold all of the ingredients, I also made a smaller one. I didn't have enough cherries, however. Instead, I put sliced bananas for that layer. It was different, but also good. There are tons of variations that you could think of.

Ingredients:
1 box butter cake mix
1 15-ounce can crushed pineapple
1 15-ounce can cherry pie filling
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1 16-ounce container whipped topping, thawed
Pecans, optional

Instructions:
Bake cake according to instructions on box. Divide into three parts. Crumble first part in bottom of punch bowl. Pour prepared vanilla pudding over it. Crumble second part of cake on top of pudding, and then add pineapple over it. Crumble third part of cake, and then pour pie filling over that. Then spread topping on top. You may shake nuts on top if you like. Chill until ready to serve.

Real beauty

This short video reminds me of this verse: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." (Psalm 1:1) This verse does not only apply to listening to advice from ungodly friends. It also applies to acquiring our philosophies from any ungodly source. The unseen ungodly people behind most advertising are trying very hard to change our minds in order to fill their own wallets.

Let us not walk in their ungodly counsel. Let us get our view of true beauty from the Bible: "Let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (I Peter 3:3, 4) I dare say most of us could use some work on our meek and quiet spirits. I know I have tons of room for improvement!!

That rare quality of having a godly, meek quiet spirit is truly beautiful.

Let's reclaim Christmas!

Please read this article from abcnews.go.com:
Christmas Returns to Wal-Mart Marketing

According to this article, the voice of Christians who demanded that our God be given the recognition that He deserves at Christmas time has been heard! Hallelujah!

If you read my previous post, you will know that the whole "happy holidays," "holiday tree" stuff really infuriates me. God should get the credit for this holiday! This holiday is Christmas!!

It is wonderful to see that our efforts have begun to pay off. This is a good reminder to us that we can make a difference.

Let's continue to make a difference by giving these stores some feedback. According to the article, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, and Macy's have begun using "Merry Christmas" in their stores; and Best Buy has not. And I know that last year, Target was also very anti-Christmas. Here are the links to the contact pages to these businesses. If we send them e-mails thanking those who have made the right choice and also send e-mails to the other stores politely informing that we are offended by their actions and will not shop there until they choose to show some respect to God, then they will listen! And remember, if you are able to send a snail mail letter, those tend to carry a little more weight.

These businesses need to hear our thanks:
Wal-Mart

Kohl's

Macy's (fill in the part that says "Other Order Questions")

We need to ask that these stores begin using the word "Christmas":
Best Buy

Target

K-Mart (In their weekly ad, I counted that 75% of the time that the word "Christmas" was clearly appropriate, they used the word "holiday." The 25% that they did use "Christmas" was usually something like the name of a CD that they can't control. They did have a little slogan with the word "Christmas" on the bottom of some of the pages, but I think that their other efforts overpowered that one gesture.)

If you know of any other stores that are doing the right thing, put in a comment and let us know so that we can shop there and thank them! If you know of any other stores that need some more "prompting" from us, let me know and I will try to get their contact info also.

Please get this information to your friends so that we can let these businesses know that we care about our God and do not want to see Him left out!

An inspiration to be a lady

On Sunday after church, Mom and I were invited to lunch at the home of a single lady from our church. She has done such a beautiful job with her little house! I think that she has excellent taste. Her home is just gorgeous!

I was so impressed by what a sharp lady she is. Even though she has never married, (which is sad, because some man is really missing out!) she has applied herself to homemaking and ladylike things. Everything in her house makes it quite evident that a lady lives there. Everything was beautifully arranged, and each item that she has was carefully chosen. She has a lovely collection of quilts and needlework projects that she has made. The beauty of her house is obviously the result of a ton of hard work. She also prepared an outstanding meal and was quite hospitable in every way.

It was a great example to me that she, an unmarried woman, had still created a ladylike, God-honoring home in which to receive guests and minister to us by practicing godly hospitality. I sometimes think that it would be nice to join "the club" of women who have the opportunity to do all of those things that women like to do. I feel that my heart is in those areas but that I am unable to do much because I am unmarried. And in one way, I cannot deny that this is at least partially true: because I must work full time, obviously some things have got to go.

But I need to be faithful with the opportunities that I do have. This lady has truly honored the Lord with her femininity and her obvious lack of laziness. It was a great reminder to me to take every possible opportunity and use it to its fullest potential. It is exciting to be a lady serving her Lord!

Funny - Letter from a farm kid

I got this in the e-mail from my friend EM. Thought I'd pass it along, just for a laugh! :-D

(NOW AT San Diego MARINE CORPS RECRUIT TRAINING)

Dear Ma and Pa,

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m. but I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing.

Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you until noon when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.

We go on "route marches," which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

The country is nice but awful flat. The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving daughter,
Alice