These are a few of my favorite things!

I had so much fun being a blessing by giving away cleaning products that I'm going to do one a month. Every month I will give away something that is a "favorite" of mine. This month I will give-away my favorite candle. I call this my reading candle because I love to light it while I'm reading. ALL Tyler candles smell wonderful. This one is called Vignette. If you become a NEW follower from June 20-July 15 you will get your name in twice. All Followers will qualify.

Have you ever "felt" like a failure? The word failure defined is this "a failing to perform a duty or expected action", "a falling short". If you are a little bit of a perfectionist, you might feel this way more than most. I can say this of myself: "I fail to keep the house up, I fail to fulfill all my wife and motherly duties like I would like to, I fail at serving God like I want to, sometimes I even fail to feed and walk my dog." I AM NOT PERFECT! The Bible say, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 We will always fall short of perfection. I am accepted and loved by God, just as I am when I come to Him. He doesn't ask me to change or do anything to earn His love and acceptance. Now I ask you! Why should you? Here is something the Lord showed me one day while I was being critical of my son. I was walking up to the Garden Center of WalMart and was drawn to the bright, beutiful yellow marigolds. But the closer I got near them the more I saw all the imperfections it had, the bruises, the dried up blooms, the wilted leaves. And I heard God say. Step back and don't look too hard or closely at the imperfections. Yes, they are there but if you look at them you will miss the beauty that is there when you just step back. So don't get discouraged with others or yourself. We will all fall short in life. We strive for perfection but the only perfect one is the Lord Jesus. One day we will be perfect because we will be like Him. But today remember that you are human and accept yourself with all your failures......God does.

AND THE WINNER IS......

CONGRATULATIONS PATRA BRINYARK!!!

PATRA JUST WON THE BEST CLEANING PRODUCTS I'VE EVER USED!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to share will all you moms a website out there called MOMSTER.COM. It's a site for moms with tweens and teens. You can ask for advice or give advice. They have different groups you can join, for example, Prayer Circles and Frugal Mamas. They even have giveaways. So, go check it out!

I recently read about J.C. Penney (yes, the founder of J.C. Penney stores). Raised as a son of a preacher, he was made to earn the money to buy his own shoes and clothes by age 8. His mother taught him to live by the Golden Rule and faith in God and led by example. J.C. Penney lived a life of integrity and loyalty. But it was later in life and through financial ruin and distress that he turned to God and experienced a true spiritual conversion. BE A MOTHER OF INFLUENCE!

NO TIME TO FEEL BAD!

We all know time is precious. None of us have enough of it. I can make a list, and so can you, about all the things we don't have time for. The best thing you can do is make a list. List everything that you never have time to do. Then choose to purposefully put the time on your calendar or fridge or whatever. Then do it! Don't let anything get in on that time. I don't ever have time to do yardwork. So I choose 1 hour one day a week in the evening to do something in the yard. Don't think you have time to clean your house? Do you have a housekeeper you pay? Don't feel bad about it. If you have to hire someone, to do something you don't have time to do, so you can do something else you would like to do--DO IT! Enjoy life in between all the "must-do's of life. Life is too short!

How to do a basic house-cleaning in 2 hours (3 bd, 2 ba):

1. Dust everything with a Swiffer duster (10 min)
2. Windex all mirrors and glass (except bath) (15 min)
3. Put toilet cleaner in toilets and spray all tubs/showers (5 min)
4. Starting in one bathroom, windex all mirrors/glass, wipe toilet, wipe out tubs/showers, repeat in all bathrooms (30 min)
5. Vaccuum carpets (15 min)
6. Sweep floors (15 min)
7. Mop tiles floors (15 min)
8. Cloth mop/spray wood floors (15 min)
9. Done!

*Now become a FOLLOWER so you can get the best cleaning products I have ever used (and trust me I have used them ALL)!

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME?

"Do you love me more than these?" John 21:15 This is a question that Jesus asked Peter! This is a question that he also asks us. Matthew 10:37 "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Here's a question for you! If your children turn their backs on God; will you? I have seen this happen many times. Parents who raise their children in the church so that their children have some set of morals. But when they rebel they give up their faith in God. Or when they grow and leave the home they also leave the house of God. The Bible encourages us to examine our selves. To examine our hearts! Make sure that all your faith is in God regardless of any circumstances. That your feet are truly planted on the Solid ROCK!

A WESTERN FRAME CRAFT

BUY AN INEXPENSIVE FLAT FACED FRAME ($1 dollar tree), 2 acrylic paints (dark and light brown), crackle medium, matte varnish, small nails, upholstery tacks (Total Cost $5)

*First paint frame with light color paint and let dry. Then do one coat of crackle medium and let dry 1 hour or dry. Then put one coat of dark paint and let dry. Hammer tacks and nails any way you like.

This and That

Here is a way to take up extra space on a wall. Use different plates and plate hangers and cluster them together. These are sentimental plates to me.

Yes! This is as delish as it looks!!! It is a blueberry kuchen and since your blueberries should soon be picked I am sharing this recipe!

Blueberry Kuchen:

Mix together 1 1/2 c. all pur. flour, 3/4 c. sugar, 2 t. baking powder, 1/2 t. salt. Add 2/3 c. milk, 1 egg, 1 t. vanilla and 1/4 c. melted butter. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with 2 c. blueberries. In a bowl mix 3/4 c. sugar, 1/2 c. all pur. flour, 1/4 c. melted butter. Toss with a fork until crumbly; sprinkle over blueberries. Bake 350 for 40 mins. P.S. I'm going to try apples tomorrow. Try raspberries, cheesecake, blackberries, peaches..........

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN

I've always loved the book of Ecclesiastes. Some think it's depressing. I wouldn't call it that. I would just call it true. It is a picture of life. How everything seems "meaningless". How life is not fair. How life is monotonous. Solomon asked God for wisdom. And he got it (along with power and riches which he didn't ask for)! And in what seems like a "woe is life" book there are tidbits in it like "We should rejoice in or works"; "We should eat, drink and be merry", "Enjoy your days of youthfulness". And in conclusion of a man that understood LIFE he says this: "In conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." My conclusion of Ecclesiastes is this: Enjoy the life that God has given you; do what is right is God's eyes; Don't take things for granted; Remember that He is God and you are man.

A FEW IDEAS TO ENJOY LIFE

1. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS EVERY MORNING AND THANK GOD FOR THEM ALL!

2. MAKE A CUP OF COFFEE AND SIT OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING WHILE THE SUN IS COMING UP AND THE BIRDS ARE SINGING.

3. FIND YOUR CALLING (i know that's not easy but look at your gifts, talents and abilities and start there)

4. FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING AND DO IT!!!!!

5. GIVE LOTS OF HUGS SO YOU CAN GET SOME BACK!

6. FIND A DAY AND DECIDE TO ENJOY ALL THE SIMPLY THINGS IN LIFE!

TOMORROW! It's a New Day!!!

I remember my days as a teenager thinking many a day "I wish I could start over". "I wish I could move to another school and start over." How many times in our lives have we either thought that or said that? For me it has been more times than I can count. Most of the time it had to do with bad decisions and regret. Now I say "I'll start my diet tomorrow." Or "I'll be a better wife and mother tomorrow." Or "I'll eat healthier tomorrow." Or "I'll get going with that budget tomorrow." Aren't you glad for tomorrows? What would we do without them? I think God knew we would need tomorrows. That's why He says "My mercies are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22-23 and "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5. You don't have to wait until New Year's Day either. Tomorrow is a new day. God has made it possible to Start Over!

Taco Salad Recipe:

1/2 head of lettuce, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 # ground beef, browned w/ a half pack taco season, cool
1/2 c. crushed Doritos
1/4 c. Catalina French Dressing

Mix all together and refrigerate.