Sweet Potato and Pork Tenderloin

A recent supper:  baked sweet potatoes, crusted pork tenderloin and broccoli.  Links to the recipes are below.  It was an amazing meal!

 

Sweet potatoes:  baked-sweet-potatoes

Pork tenderloin:  easy-and-elegant-pork-tenderloin



 

 

 

 

Miss Claire At 16 Days Old

One more video of my sweet granddaughter....just in case you were wondering how she is doing!

She is amazing!

Go to hell for you...

From Grace For the Moment, Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year by Max Lucado

April 3
Then Jesus went about a stone's throw away from them.  He kneeled down and prayed. Luke 22:41

The final prayer of Jesus was about you.  His final pain was for you.  His final passion was for you.  Before he went to the cross, Jesus went to the garden.  And when he spoke with his Father, you were in his prayers....

And God couldn't turn his back on you....

On the eve of the cross, Jesus made his decision.  He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.
------------------------
Simply amazing.
What Jesus did for you.
And for me.
I remain...amazed.

Babies are Healing....

The past two weeks have been really full of emotional highs and lows for me.  Starting with my dad's colon surgery and cancer diagnosis to The Husband being rushed to the hospital via ambulance and then to the birth of our first granddaughter.

There have been highs and definite lows. 

Kidlet One had invited me to come stay in the Too-Far-From-Nana-City after Baby C was born.  This invitation came several months ago. 

God is so smart.  He knew I was going to need this week to bring about healing of my emotions. 

Just take a peek at these videos and see how God has blessed us!

 

 

Baby C is amazing.  Watching this Miracle of Life brings healing to my soul. 

 

Babies are healing!



What I Did Today...

I played with my granddaughter!
 

 

 

 

Grab a coffee and let's chat

Monday morning.  My day off from work.  I'm sitting at the kitchen table with a big, no, HUGE cup of coffee.  I brewed six cups of coffee in the Mr. Coffee and it is almost gone.  Wheeeeeee...can you tell how this post is going to go?  I'll probably be all over the place on a caffeine high!

So far this morning I've shopped at JCPenney.com, made out a huge grocery list and planned a day of other errands.

 JCP.com is like a second friend.  I am a little surprised I don't get a personal message pop up when I click to their site. 

"Hi Debbie, welcome back...what can we taunt you to purchase today"???

 

 

Snow is falling.  Again.  I know I should start my day of errands but watching the snow from inside the house is comforting and I just don't have the umph to get up and get going.  Umph means Get-My-Behind-Off-The-Chair-And-Get-Going and it just isn't happening.

 

This week Kidlet One and Favorite-Son-In-Law will have their baby.  The word EXCITED does not reflect how we all feel.  Readers, get ready...I will have to contain how many times I post about this baby once she is born.  Baby Claire could consume my blog but I'll try to refrain myself...

 

My dad's cancer diagnosis has been like a rug pulled out from under my feet.  Now both of my parents have had to deal with this ugly disease.  My mom is a breast cancer survivor (16 years now).  I know I am not any different than any of you in that negative thoughts go through your mind over and over again.  That is why God had recorded in His word (2 Corinthians 10:5):

We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ. 



There is a choice and some action that I need to do to take hold of every thought.  When those negative thoughts come tapping into my mind, I need to say STOP IT.  Don't let my mind go over and over the thoughts that don't line up with God's Word and His character.

One of the tools I use to fight negativity is to worship God and to be thankful for Him in my life.  Also, I read His Word and a daily devotional.  And pray.  Because of His love, you won't be surprised when I tell you what today's devotional is in Max Lucado's daily devotional for today.  Here it is:

The worrisome heart pays a high price....  Worry comes from the Greek word that means "to divide the mind."  Anxiety splits us right down the middle....  Rather than take away tomorrow's trouble, worry voids today's strength.  Perception is divided, distorting your vision....  Who can afford to lose power?

But how can we stop doing so?  Paul offers a two-pronged answer:  God's part and our part.  Our part includes prayer and gratitude.  "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done"(Philippians 4:6).  God's part?  "If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand" (Philippians 4:7).

Reader, do you have worry, anxiety or fear in your life?  Might I tempt you to stop and make a list of all the good things you have in your life.  Really.  Stop right now, grab a piece of paper and a pen.  Write down 10 things you have in your life and then thank God for each and every one of them.  He gave those to you whether you believe in Him or not. 

When those anxious thoughts come at you...read through your list.  Be thankful.  Life is too short to allow our minds to be consumed by negative-life-sucking thoughts.  Let's encourage one another to be thankful and focus on Him.

Did you stick with me to the end of this rambling?

I'm amazed you did!  My coffee cup is empty so I'll end here.  May you have an amazing day!

Cancer

Monday my dad had a routine colonoscopy.  A growth was found and the surgeon recommended surgery right away.

Tuesday morning dad had surgery with many inches of his colon removed (including the growth).

Wednesday he walked around the nurse's station four times.  He had a lot of company.

Thursday he walked seven times and sat up in the chair quite a bit.

Friday, today, he got to start eating.  Clear liquids and for supper, a soft diet.  And today he slept.  Everything is catching up with him today.

Today we also got the preliminary pathology report: cancer including lymph node involvement.

The final report isn't ready yet. 

Yuck, yuck, yuck.  Not the diagnosis anyone wants to hear.

From the first phone call from my mom on Monday, I've called on my friends to pray.  From the time I was a teenager, I've seen God answer prayers miraculously.  I'm asking for the same thing from the Lord now....a miracle.

One of the first miracles this week were verses sent to me by a Friend-In-Another-City.  These verses gave me Holy Spirit Peace.  These verses are from God's Word and are truth:

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou at mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee: and through the rivers, they shall not over-flow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with my right hand of my righteousness.

 

Another miracle is that I was able to get away from work and drive to the Way-Far-North City where dad had surgery.  Just being with my folks was a blessing and a miracle.

 

My dad's good sense of humor is a miracle.

 

The strength, courage and peace my mom has is a miracle.

 

Knowing so many people are pleading in prayer for my dad is a miracle.

 

There are so many more miracles and I want to give God the glory and honor for all of them.   I trust He will give us wisdom, strength and courage for the days ahead.

 

There are two things I'd like to leave you with:

 

1)  Get a colonoscopy.   It isn't a pleasant test but is so very important.  Schedule yours now!

2)  Pray for my dad. 

 

Thank you Amazing Friends....I remain....So Amazed.