Thanksgiving Recap

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and what a great one it was!  The day started off with our church's annual Thanksgiving testimony service.  Every year I come away feeling so very blessed to be part of the greatest church in the world, and this year I felt like I could say with the Psalmist, "my cup runneth over."

Unlike Thanksgivings of past, this year we spent the day with just our family.  It was very low key, but those of you who know my mother will rest assured that the table was perfect and the food divine even if it was "just us!"  I hope you all had as blessed of a holiday as I did;  truly this is the most wonderful time of the year!

Expression by Nicole

I enjoy designing jewelry through beading.  I was first introduced to this hobby by my good friend EJ, who has moved out of state to teach in a Christian Academy.  I always enjoyed receiving gifts from her, because I could usually expect to get a new piece of jewelry and it was even more special because she had designed it!  When I was able to visit her this last spring, she taught me the basics to beading, and I have become addicted ever since.

I like to bead necklaces, bracelets, keychains, bookmarks, and earrings in my spare time.  Not only has it become something I thoroughly enjoy doing; it is also a great avenue for gifts!

And...that is why I decided to open an Etsy store to sell my stockpile of gifts...:)

On November 30th, I will be actually having an in home party to present my designs.  I am offering those who attend 20% off any of my online pieces.  So...for those of you who cannot attend, I would like to extend the same discount to you good until December 1st.

Please feel free to browse my shop and email me with any questions.  

I also do custom orders if you do not see a color or style of beading that you prefer.

I hope you can find something that matches your style, or that of a friend's!

A Thanksgiving Treat

This delicious Oyster Cracker Snack is a must have for my family at the holidays!

It combines the tang of lemon pepper seasoning with the sweetness of ranch to get
a taste sensation-try to eat just one!

Ingredients:

2 bags of oyster crackers

1 cup of oil

1/4 t. of lemon pepper seasoning

1 pkg. of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

Combine all ingredients together.

Place on baking sheet place in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

You can be enjoying this savory snack in less than 1/2 hour!
Bon Apetit!

Crossroads

This past week at my church, we held our annual teen conference-Empowered Youth. Oh how well I remember those days! :) So many good memories and great decisions made...

This year I was scheduled to work in nursery during that midweek service that ends the teen conference. I was extremely disappointed. So...what did I do?

I got a sub to take my spot in nursery so that I could once again feel like a teenager listening to Pastor Damron's corny jokes and get to hear wonderful preaching geared towards youth!

As I sat in the service I couldn't help but remember my friends and I, along with the several other churches' youth groups that used to gather some 6-12 years ago. I thought of the several I ended up going to Baptist college with and then I thought of the many who never made it to high school graduation; classmates who had come to the Crossroads in their life and chosen not to follow Christ. I looked out into the many faces of teenagers and I was filled with a burden for the teens of my church. So many of them at the same Crossroads that I was at when I was their age.

I was reminded of a song we used to sing with the bus kids I picked up on the Gary route:::

I met Jesus at the crossroads,

Where the two ways meet.

Satan too, was standing there,

And he said "Come this way,

There's lots and lots of pleasures,

I will give to you today."

But I said, "No!!

There's Jesus here,

Just see what He offers me...

Down here my sins forgiven,

Up there a home in heaven.

Praise God,

That's the way for me!"

Choosing Christ over the pleasures of sin for a season, is a decision I know I will never regret; a decision that I pray the teens of FBA will make as well.

And they're off!

Just said goodbyes to my parents who are leaving

my sisters and I for 9 whole days...

After much packing and planning, they are finally off!

Recently my Dad and Mom celebrated their 25th

Wedding Anniversary. In celebration of this,

they are able to take an Eastern Caribbean Cruise!

They were able to leave this...

{What I awoke to see outside my window...}

...And

see

places

like

this.

*Sigh*

They will be missed, but I am so glad that the Lord

has given me such wonderful parents who are still

in love 25 years after the altar.

{ Now...let the games begin! ;) }

Recent Reads

I have been an avid reader since I was a small child, however, finding a good book seems to have gotten much harder. Recently, I completed three books and I thought I would give you a brief synopsis of them just in case you are looking for a new read!

#1

one word...AWESOME.

{and a few more}

This was a book that I had always wanted to read, but had

never gotten around to it. I knew it was a Pulitzer Prize winner

and a classic, but the book insert and back cover just didn't

seem to interest me at all. I checked it out several times

from the library with the intention of reading, but I would end up

returning it without ever cracking it open.

And then I finally did, and I absolutely loved it!

If you have never read this book, it is definitely one you should.

It is one of those books that you have to slowly digest; one

you will be sad to complete.

#2

This book dates back to my junior high years...

the one that all the girls read.

(somehow I 'missed out')

Finally, checked it out and forced myself

to read it through.

One word...graphic

A little too much for me.

I am not a hunky-dory reader, but this book

was just too dreary. I know in order to gain

full appreciation I must read the other two books

that Pelzer wrote, but I struggled to get through the first one,

so I doubt I will ever read the others.

#3

one word...moving

I have read Angie's blog for about two years, so

when she wrote a book I was anxious to read

it and even more surprised when I found it in the

public library. I laughed, cried, and imagined

myself with Angie and her husband when the

doctors told them that the child she was

carrying was incompatible with life. Inspirational

and a great testimony to our Lord who heals the broken in heart.

A book that I have already added to my Amazon cart-my own

copy to make notes throughout.

Excerpts:

[ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it... Harper Lee ]

{ I gobble down the food so fast I can hardly taste it. I finish the tray in record time. David Pelzer }

[ This baby has something I cannot fix. Miracles are the Lord's business. Angie Smith]