The Simple Womans Daybook for July 24th

For Today, July 24, 2012...

Outside my window...The sun is shining but not quite as hot as it has been.
I am thinking...of how God has blessed me with 4 wonderful grands, the newest is Jeremiah Elan Tyler Love or Jet for short....he arrived July 19, 2012

 I am thankful for...my son Stephen who has been a HUGE help the last week or so.
I am going...to cook a new chicken dish for supper, sure hope it is good.
I am wearing...pj pants and tshirt
I am noticing...that you can never make some people happy but realizing it is not my job

 In the kitchen...chicken for supper-the smells of garlic and brown sugar
I am reading....  I am doing a Proverbs 31 study with some friends but am so far behind on this.

 I am wondering...if I will be ready for school to start in less than a month.

 I am hoping...I can get my home blessed today.
I am looking forward to..naptime for the grands.
Around the house..lots of blessing that needs to be done.
I am pondering these words..."be still and know I am God"
One of my favorite things...the sounds of silence and hot tea
A few plans for the rest of the week...blessing my house, caring for grands, working on school stuff and church projects and lessons.
Wanna join in the fun?  Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook. 

 God bless,

Pat

Homemade Samoas Bars

     My daughter in law loves Samoas cookies from Girl Scouts.  But as you know girl scouts cookies are only around for a short time so I started searching for a recipe I could make for her that might come close.  This is the recipe that I think will make her the happiest.  I will let you know in a future blog post how they turned out and what she thinks.  In case you want to try them yourself this is the recipe I will be using.  If you make them, let me know what you and yours think of them.

Homemade Samoas Bars
Cookie Base:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

First, make the crust. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper. (I lined mine with foil.) In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly, like wet sand. The dough does not need to come together. Pour crumbly dough into prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until base is set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack before topping.

Topping
3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
12-oz good-quality chewy caramels
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
10 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips are ok)

Preheat oven to 300. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet (preferably one with sides) and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. (Mine was golden after 10 minutes.)Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula. Put dollops of the topping all over the shortbread base. Using the spatula, spread topping into an even layer. Let topping set until cooled. When cooled, cut into 30 bars with a large knife or a pizza cutter (it’s easy to get it through the topping).

Once bars are cut, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the base of each bar into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment or wax paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate (or melt a bit of additional chocolate, if necessary) into a piping bag or a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle bars with chocolate to finish. Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

God bless,

Pat

The Simple Woman's Daybook for July 8, 2012

For Today, July 8, 2012...

Outside my window...The sun is shining after some much needed rain this morning.
I am thinking...of how I want a Sunday afternoon nap but the grands don't agree.

 I am thankful for...my sweet little grands....they love with all their heart and love unconditionally.
I am going...to church for night services in a little bit.
I am wearing...a pink shirt and denim skirt.
I am noticing...that life is moving faster and faster.
In the kitchen...porkchops for our Sunday night family supper.
I am reading...my devotions in the mornings.  I also am doing a Proverbs 31 study with some friends.

 I am wondering...how people can be so ugly to others and then stand and proclaim their love for Jesus.

 I am hoping...I can be ready for school this fall with my youngest.
I am looking forward to...my youngest grand being born on the 19th of this month.
Around the house..lots of decluttering that needs to be done.
I am pondering these words...bless and be blessed.
One of my favorite things...time spent with family.
A few plans for the rest of the week...pool time with son and grands,a trip to the Zoo with the grands I hope and hubby starting a job prayerfully.
Wanna join in the fun?  Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook. 

 God bless,

Pat

Gave it to God and an answer to prayer!

     Recently i was really struggling with something.  It really had me down.  I sought counsel, talked to pastor, talked to God and was still just so down.  I tried to say I was giving it to God, but I really wasn't.  I kept struggling and letting it overpower me.

     Then hubby got a call about a possible job.  He is unemployed and has been looking for a job to no avail.  When he got the call about this one, I started praying God would give it to him.  God said why could I ask Him to give Billy a job but yet I could not give Him this problem?  He said why should He help Billy when I would not let Him help me.  Boy this was hard but I gave the burden to God and less than an hour later I was posting on facebook that Billy got the job.

     Now I am still hurt but I am leaving it with God.  I have done what God and pastor asked me to do and now I am moving on and so is hubby to his new job. Praise to God for all, the lifted burden and the job!

http://youtu.be/FQ3PFyNkhqE

God bless,
Pat

How To Encourage A Friend!

     Do you ever feel down?  Does the devil tell you no one cares?  I know I feel this way sometimes;like no really cares.  Now, I know they do but it is so easy when you are tired, stressed and overwhelmed to start to believe the devils lies.  If we know we feel that way, you can be sure your friends do too.  

     One way we can combat his lies is to encourage one another.  It says in the bible......we are to edify one another in I Thessalonians 5:11.  Edify, encourage, build up, comfort.  So we know we should do it.  SO how do we do it?  

     Here are a few ideas.....

 1}Take a picture (of your friend, of the two of you, of a sign, anything that says them to you). Print it out and write a note telling them specifically how they are making a difference in lives. Mail it to them.

2}Send them a text.

3}Remember their birthday

4} Make  a mindmap.Here’s what that is: Put their name in the middle of a piece of paper. Around it make 5 lists: odd things they do; ways they care about others; objects or activities they love most; things THEY want to do better (NOT what YOU want them to do better); people who speak well of them.Send it to them, use it when you send emails, texts,calls etc so you can share with them.

5} If they have hurt you, Forgive them (don’t tell them about it, just forgive them).

6}Reply to their emails, even if just to acknowledge receipt. If they reach out, respond, it doesn't have to be long to be encouraging.

7}Never assume they know you care. It only takes a couple of minutes to send a text, email or short note.

     You never know how much this might mean to them and what a difference it might make. Listen to this song, it says how much it might mean and what a difference it might make.

http://youtu.be/YK3zs7EV6Tk

God bless, Pat

Daily Quiet Time with Kids!

Do you have a daily quiet time with God?  I was talking about this with some friends and they said “ It is hard cause my little ones keep interrupting.”  I started thinking of ways that they could get their quiet time and not be disturbed every two minutes by their kids.  I talked to others and they said they get up early before the kids.  Well at my house as soon as I got started doing something they woke up.  So how can we do it when the kids are up to?  Below are some ideas I came up with or borrowed from others.  I hope some of these ideas might work for you and yours.


*For younger ones have a special "quiet time corner" for the kids. This could include a table and chairs, Bible coloring books, crayons and other art supplies, Bible story books, tapes, puzzles, etc. They can have their own quiet time while you finish yours.


For older ones maybe have some time together with them before everyone goes to have their own quiet time…..
* Memorize scripture with them.
*Pray about concerns with them.
*Sing hymns or choruses together.


Then while you are doing your quiet time, they can  read the Bible or a devotional book and then either draw a picture or write something about what they read.


Also sometimes share with them what you learned from your quiet time. This might encourage them to want to have their own time and allowing you to have yours. Just don't demand that they "get something" from every quiet time. This can create stress and make quiet time mechanical.


I hope some of this helps you.  If you have other ideas or ways that have worked for you I would love to hear about them too.


God bless,
Pat

A Good Read!

I have a good friend who blogs.  I have been reading her blog for a long time and I have had the privilege of meeting her and her sweet family also.  I  really enjoy her posts and I think some of ya'll might too.  They have also been making me think about some things.  I hope they might help some of ya'll like they help me.  Please go check her out at

http://www.valeriewritenow.com/2012/06/lets-start-at-very-beginning.html

I hope you enjoy her blog as much as I do.  If you like what you read, please comment and let her know.

God bless,

Pat