Speaking from the Heart

Assignment: Write out some goals that you would like to accomplish. These goals should include your personal goals, but also goals as a family.

While setting goals, try to write out small attainable rewards for each goal accomplished!

1 Corinthians 13: Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:
I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen,
carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties
and sing in the choir's cantata
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return;
but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust,
but giving the gift of love will endure.

--Author Unknown

• Ouch, This poem hits home. As a homeschool teacher, mom, and wife, I tend to forget to have some quality time with my kids . I'm a one-track mind. I tend to focus on completing "to do" list, and spending time with my kids as second priority. I would convince myself that there will be some quality time later. The problem is there is never a "later". Something always come up or I'm too tired. My goal for 2008 is to spend more quality time, rather than quantity time with my kids. Time is quickly flying by.

This goal will have an immediate reward, as well as in the long run. I want my children to know that I love them through my actions, and not just words.

• Less time on blogging, and more time with God. The reward for this goal is unmeasurable, because I will have peace.
• Be a better aunt to my niece, rather than being critical. Restoring love and respect will be a big reward for me.

• Please give Rob peace, as he and his family are dealing with his dad's health, and for Rob to find it in his heart to forgive his dad for the hurt he has been bottlling up inside for years. Please give Rob wisdom, as he witnesses You to his dad. Please soften his dad's heart, so that Rob will see his dad again in heaven.
• Please give Beth and other caner patients comfort, as they go through their chemo.
• Please help me to priortize my life. I want to focus on You first, then my family and friends, other stuff (blogging, cleaning, homeschooling, t.v.) should be at the bottom of my list, not the other way around.
• Please help me to be more discipline in my diet & exercise.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Let the FUN begin!!!! The kids and I make goody cans for our friends and families. The can is filled with Nestle's Original Toll House Chocolate chip cookies, Oatmeal cookies and Chocolate covered pretzels. Every few years, we would make Zuchini Bread or Banana bread, in lieu of cookies.

Part A: Please share your Favorite Christmas/Holiday Cookie Recipe(s)!
Since the cookie recipes are printed on the packages, I am going to be different and post a Zuchini Bread recipe. This recipe has been in my husband's family for 3 generations. My mother-in-law gathered her mom's favorite recipes, put them in a book, and gave the book to me on our first anniversary, 15 years ago.


Zucchini Bread
-= Ingredients =-
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Walnuts/pecans ; finely chooped
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups Shredded zucchini
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple ; (drain the juice)
1/2 teaspoon Baking powder
2 teaspoon Baking soda
2 cups Sugar

-= Instructions =-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and chopped nuts. Set it aside. Beat eggs lightly in a large mixing bowl; add sugar, oil and vanilla. Beat until creamy. Stir in zucchini & pineapple. Add dry ingredients, stirring only until dry ingredients are moistened.
Spoon batter into well greased and floured 8x4x3 in loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done- Cool 10 minutes in pan. Turn out on rack and cool completely.


Part B: Share a memory, story or tradition about baking any Christmas/Holiday goodies.
I would have to say making vanilla and chocolate almond covered pretzels is our Christmas tradition. We would start our Christmas baking around the second week of December. By that time we would have already put up the Christmas tree, mailed Christmas cards, and finished our first school semester.

After breakfast, The kids and I would start the production line: melting the barks, dipping the pretzels in the sauce, laid the covered prezels on the wax paper to be hardened, and finally, put them in the cans. We would go through 6 packages of almond barks and 4 bags of Publix mini pretzels.

Part C: Share a verse that is upon your heart this week.
For we cannot by speak the things we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

P.s. I couldn't resist sharing this :

People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

Part A: Share at least 3 “Bountiful Blessings” that the Lord has abundantly provided.

As I look over my initial list of "Bountiful Blessings", I noticed the good things. What about the struggling I had in the past? Should they be on the list? Our Lord clearly reveals that we are to be thankful and grateful for everything. Therefore, here is my revised "Bountiful Blessings" list:

• I am blessed with a wonderful marriage of 16 years. I can truly say, "I love Jeff more today than yesterday, but less than tomorrow." We had a 2 year long-distance courtship. If I had to do it all over again, I would. While we were apart, we learned the meaning of trust, love, respect, and patience.
• I am blessed with two wonderful & healthy kids.
• I am blessed to be part of an awesome homeschool support group. The moms are also my sisters-in-Christ. They are quick to listen, and slow to judge.
• Finally, I praise God for His daily guidance. He knows my past, present, and future. Although struggles are not pleasant, I try to rejoice. It is thru struggles that bring me closer to God.
  

Part B: Share your Thanksgiving Feast {past or present}.

Our Thanksgiving festivities begin with our homeschool smallgroup. We would get together and have a feast either at a park or at someone's home. Our festivities continues on with an annual family reunion in Alabama.

Part C: Post a Scripture that reminds you of your blessings!

Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.Habakkuk 3:17-18

A. Share about your family's laundry. Where is it kept? Who does it? How is it sorted? Do you wash by hand? Hang clothes on a clothes line? Make your own laundry soap? How often do you do your laundry? How many loads each day/week? Do you have a laundry room?

I know I am little late blogging this assignment. I joined Blogger Friend School last week, I am trying to catch up on the homework. I thought this assignment is appropriate today, because I just finished 4 loads of laundry. I usually do 2 loads of laundry every other day. I am running behind this week, because I've been spending too much time blogging.

I wash and dry the clothes, while Mark folds and puts them away. This is part of his weekly chore. On the days I do laundry, I don't leave the house until the clothes are done. I don't like coming home and knowing that there is a load of wet clothes waiting for me in the washer.

The laundry room is also a sewing room. When Jeff and I drew up our house plans, we decided not to have a jacuzzi in the master bathroom. Instead, we pushed back the common wall to make the laundry room twice as large. Right now, the laundry room is also the front door. Until we put in a sidewalk to the front entrance, our guests will continue to come thru the laundry room.

B. Is there an area of your life that you know the Lord is trying to "clean up"?

The Lord is to trying to tell me that I do not have my priorities in order. I need to put Him first. Everything else comes second.

C: share a scripture that pertains to this weeks lesson.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Using the FIRST letter of the Alphabet, describe yourself or things that are important to you. The hard part: use ONLY one word per letter!

Autonomous

Blogging

Christ

Decisive

Enduring

Friends

Gratitude

Homeschool

Ingenuous

Jeff

Katherine

Love

Mark

Natural

Obedient

Persistent

Quilt

Retire

Special

Time

Understanding

Vibrant

Wisdom

Xtra

Yield

Zest

My God, with his loving kindness, will meet me. Psalm 59:10

My dream place to blog reflected upon serenity and peace, which I get from my back porch. The only thing that is missing from this dream is a laptop. In the real world, I do all of my blogging in the classroom.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6

For the past year, I have blogged about my childhood, my life with my husband (before and after marriage), my loved ones, etc. Besides an overview of weekly events, I am running out of ideas. That is why I have enrolled myself in Blogger Friend School. With Tamara's nudge, maybe some sparks will ignite. This is my first assignment. I better get rolling, because I am 8 lessons behind.

I first heard about blogging from my cousin Mandy. After reading her blog, I thought this will be a good way to leave a legacy for my kids, as well as for future generations.

I have a dream place to blog. It is my lanai. This is my favorite room of the house. I can look out and see God's presence everywhere.

I usually blog after I finish teaching the kids.

My favourite drink is Starbucks Mocha frappe with lots of whip cream

My favourite book is The Joy Luck Club. I can relate to many characters in the story.

My favourite dessert is Mom's Cheescake , which requires ten 8-ounces of cream cheese and graham crackers for the crust.

My favorite scripture that has been an inspiration in my growth with Christ:
For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. Whether well fed or hunger, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13