Jul. 25, 2008 - Friday S&T - Cool family facts
I learned some really neat family facts this week. Several of us were married in a year that ends with an 8.
My parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
Dh and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year.
My oldest brother and his wife celebrate 30 years next month.
My aunt and uncle celebrated their 40th anniversary earlier this year. 
I am posting this entry a little early since some of you have been asking about my dd. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER.
She is still very lethargic, though she hasn't slept at all since she woke up this morning. Basically goes from bed to couch. I am doing everything I can to help her so that she doesn't over-exert. I thought once we were done with the broken arm issue that she'd be able to wash her hair on her own after that. NOT! She gets so dizzy and weak if she stands for any length of time, so I don't want her taking a shower and trying to do her hair by herself. 
We are barely getting any school work done. It takes the whole day to do math and language arts, even with skipping over much of the stuff she already knows. (Thank God for the yearly testing we do – it helps me to “know” it is OK to skip some things because she did such an awesome job this year.) 
My plan was to try to get 36 days of those two subjects done before school officially starts so that we would only need to do those subjects 4 days a week. I may have to re-think that plan. 
I'm looking ahead to when school does officially start. If she is still struggling at that point (and I've heard that is very possible IF it is mono), we will just skip doing history and vocabulary until she is much better.
I hate playing the “waiting game” with the doctor’s office. 
Our next appointment isn't until August 12. They will only call us if any of the test results show something significant that requires more treatment. So, I guess it is really a good thing if we don't hear anything from the doctor’s office. 
The neighbor girl keeps asking, “Is R still sick?” I told her today that R will be sick for a long, long time. I have a feeling that she won't grasp that concept entirely since she is several years younger than dd.
I've been trying to figure out whether or not to finish teaching my Sunday school class. There are only three more lessons to teach. At that point, I am going to take a break. I usually do that for the fall quarter to give me a chance to focus more on getting into a routine with school. I did tell dd that if she wants me to stay home on Sunday, I will be more than happy to do so. I know her dad will be here with her, but sometimes it just feels better to know that Mom is nearby. 
I will continue to post updates as I can. Since we are still waiting on phone calls from the doctor, my online time is severely limited. 
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 24, 2008 - Thankful Thursday & God Sees the End
With dd's current health issues, the scripture that keeps going through my head is "In everything, give thanks." (For more info on my dd, please see my Wednesday post.)
1. Thank You, Lord, that what is happening with my dd is no surprise to You.
2. Thank You, Lord, for keeping her in the palm of Your hand.
3. Thank You, Lord, that this will not deter her from the plan You have mapped out for her life.
4. Thank You that we can depend on You to do what is truly best for us.
5. Thank You for the close relationship I have with dd. I do not take that for granted, especially as she gets closer to those teenaged years.
6. Thank You for the opportunity to hs, especially while we are dealing with this illness. What a blessing to know that we can cut back where we need to so that she doesn't get stressed out by a mountain of schoolwork.
7. Thank You for helping me to take my thoughts captive when they want to run amuck with fears of what may be wrong with dd.
8. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for being with me in other hard times, like my miscarriage. Those times have been training ground to give me the strength I need to make it through this trial with dd.
9. Thank You, Father for my blogging friends, who will pray for us, even though we will likely never meet on this side of heaven. I do not take that lightly, for we are all so busy, and time is so precious. To know that these precious sisters will take of their own time and pray for strangers means the world to me.
Since we are currently going through some scary issues with dd, I decided to use a devotion that talks about trials. I know I'm not the only one out there who could use a little encouragement and insight into our trials. 
God Sees the End
When the angel visited Mary in Luke 1:30-33, he told her that she would give birth to a child whom God would give the throne of his father David, and that he would reign forever. Mary saw many amazing things in those early years regarding her son.
When Jesus was born, wise men came to worship him and give him treasures. Matthew 2:1-11
When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, Mary hears Simeon say "My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people." Luke 2:30-31 She treasured this in her heart.
Luke 2:8-19 tells us about the angels who appeared to the shepherds, telling them that a Savior had been born. Mary treasured this in her heart.
When he was only twelve years old, Jesus amazed the people when he spoke at the temple. Again, Mary treasured this in her heart.
In John 2:1-11, Mary witnesses the first miracle which her son performs. The Bible isn't clear about how many more miracles Mary was able to witness, but I would imagine that even if she didn't see them happen, she at least heard about them.
In Matthew 21:8-11, everyone is going to Jerusalem, and here comes Jesus riding into town on a donkey. Not only that, but the people line the roads, shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"
Just a few days later, Mary sees her beloved son hanging on a cross. Her chosen son, the son who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, the son who was to be a king, and he is hanging on a cross? How can this be? OH! The emotions that must have been coursing through her. Can you imagine what she must have felt? She must have felt such anger and confusion. Utter despair must have had a tight grip on her innermost being. Surely her mind was screaming, "WHY?"
After all, she was there when the angel proclaimed that he would be a king. She heard the angel say that he'd sit on David's throne and that he would reign forever. Why would God send an angel to tell her these things when it's obvious that he can't be a king - after all, he's hanging on a cross! She must have been asking God why he pulled Jesus from death's grasp when he was only two years old, only to have him die a cruel death on a cross.
We all know the end of Mary's story. We know that only three days later, her precious Son rose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. We know that He is indeed a King.
Just as we know the end of Mary's story, God knows the end of YOUR story. You may be going through a heart wrenching experience. You can't possibly see what good God could make of the situation. You don't understand what He is trying to teach you, or to show you.
There are times that Rachel wants me to explain things to her. Sometimes the things which she asks about are things that are just too complicated for her little mind to understand. At those times, I have to tell her that I can't give her the answer to that right now because she isn't old enough to understand. She has to just trust that I know best for her. God, who is our loving Father, often chooses not to reveal things to us, as well. He sees that some things just don't need to be explained to us. We just have to trust His wisdom in it.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says that God's thoughts are not your thoughts, and His ways are not your ways. His thoughts are higher than your thoughts, and His ways are higher than your ways.
Jeremiah 29:11 says that God knows the plan he has for you - plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Romans 8:28 tells us that ALL things work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose.
Habakkuk 1:5 says that He is going to do something in your days that you wouldn't believe, even if you were told.
God is so much bigger than ANY problems which we face. He will not fail us. He will not forsake us. Be patient and wait on Him. Be still and know that He is God.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller
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Jul. 23, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday - Mono?
MONO??????
DD had the stomach flu over 3 weeks ago. She lost five pounds, and never seemed to quite regain her strength. Last week, she began having recurring episodes of dizziness and weakness. The dizziness was so severe that I had to hold her up a couple of times.
When I called to get an appointment at the doctor's office, we discovered that her doctor is no longer there. I was a little nervous about seeing a new doctor, however, my fears were unfounded. The doctor was wonderful! She was VERY concerned about dd's symptoms and sent her for LOTS of blood work, as well as a urine screen. She spent so much time with us, and let us know that she was determined to find out what is going on because something is obviously wrong with dd, especially since we are more than 3 weeks past the flu episode. She suspects mono, but can't say for sure without the blood work. Plus, dd is not showing any signs of swollen glands or a sore throat, which are common symptoms for mono.
Please forgive me if I don't get around to your blogs. With possible phone calls coming from the doctor's office, depending on how the test results go, I cannot have the phone line tied up with being online.
If you think of it, please keep dd in your prayers. Obviously, I am very concerned about what is wrong with her.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 22, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Salad Dressing recipes
Here is a website that will help you compare the cost of using central air as compared to electric fans.
For those of you who are interested in making your own laundry soap, but are a bit intimidated by the process, here is a video of somebody making it.
Since it's been so hot and humid, we've been eating LOTS of salads. I thought I would share with you the recipes I use for our salad dressings:
Italian Salad Dressing
1-1/3 c. oil
½ c. vinegar
¼ c. grated parmesan cheese
2 t. salt
1 t. onion salt
½ t. pepper
½ t. dry mustard
¼ t. paprika
1 t. minced garlic
Mix and pour into a glass jar. Refrigerate for several hours and shake well before using.
Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
1 c. mayonnaise
1 t. lemon juice (or juice of 2 lemons
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
¾ c. grated parmesan cheese
¼ c. water
¼ t. garlic powder
Combine all ingredients and store in fridge.
Thousand Island Dressing
1-1/2 c. mayonnaise
3 T. catsup
1-1/2 t. relish
1 minced onion
½ t. pepper
2 T. lemon juice
½ t. salt
2-1/2 c. plain yogurt
Stir ingredients, adding the yogurt last. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.
Honey French Dressing
½ c. oil
½ c. lemon juice or cider vinegar
1 large onion, grated
¼ c. water
1/3 c. catsup
2-4 T. honey
¼ t. salt
½ t. celery salt
½ t. prepared mustard
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. onion powder
1 t. paprika
Mix all ingredients, place in covered jar, and shake well. Store in refrigerator.
As for how long they will keep -- I have had the Caesar dressing in the fridge for several weeks with no problem. I haven't had the others in there for very long, but I'm guessing they will also be fine for quite some time.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 21, 2008 - Monday Meanderings & Cross Dressing
Monday Meanderings with
My to-do list this week:
Bible Study/Devotions: I just started a new study today called Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I plan to study that some more this week, along with the other studies I am doing.
Must Do: Make 2 doctor appointments for dd. One for her yearly check-up and one for her eye 
exam.
Special Projects:
1. Monday: My parents will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in September, so Mom & I will be going out to start buying things for the big open house we are planning. She is also going to take dd and I out to eat at Chili's as a late birthday present for dd since that is her favorite restaurant. 
2. I need to start addressing over 100 envelopes for the invitations to the open house. Might need the 
to help me on that one. 
3. Wednesday -- Eat out! 
The gals on my mom's side of the family meet once a month to celebrate whoever has birthdays for that month. We will be eating at a Chinese restaurant. (I also ate at this restaurant nearly once a week for the first 5 months when I was pregnant with dd!) 
Did I really just admit that on a public blog? 
4. I also plan to get to the grocery store and purchase what I need to make a spumoni cake. 
Do any of you remember those from Roselyn's Bakery? They are wonderful! If mine turns out well, I will share the recipe on a Tightwad Tuesday post.
Train Them Up: Talk to dd about a couple of issues that I won't go into on a public blog. 
Menu Planning: My menu plan is done through the middle of August.
Cross Dressing
When my daughter was only ten years old, we had the unfortunate experience of running into a drunken cross-dresser. I really did not care to have her exposed to this kind of lifestyle at such a young age. To complicate matters even more, I had to explain to her why this man, who attends our church, is dressed like a lady.
After returning home, the Lord revealed to me that all Christians, at one time or another, have been guilty of being cross-dressers. The difference is that our cross-dressing does not affect our clothing, but our spirit.
Christians are commanded to put on garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. (Colossians 3:12-14)
As I read that verse, I began to think of the many times my husband has needed a compassionate, listening ear. Instead, I dressed myself in a garment that said, “I am too busy to listen to you right now.”
How many times have we been in a long line at the grocery store, only to offer the cashier rudeness instead of kindness?
Instead of putting on humility, we choose a prideful garment. Even though we may not be speaking our prideful thoughts audibly, God hears, and He is not pleased. (Proverbs 8:13; First Peter 5:5)
I can think of several times when my daughter has struggled with a new concept in school. As her teacher, and even more so, as a Christian, I should offer her gentleness. Instead, I put on harshness or a critical spirit.
When we are trying to get out the door, and the rest of the family is poking along, how often are we patient with them? If we are honest, most of us would be embarrassed to admit how often we put on the garment of impatience.
Patience seems to be one of those garments that we would rather not wear. It seems to fit about as comfortably as a tight-fitting girdle. Instead, we opt for impatience, which often shows itself through anger, rudeness, rage, foul language, and very discernable body language.
We are to be dressed in love, yet how do we act when a dirty, smelly person visits our church? Do we put on the garment of love? Or do we turn aside, pretending they are not there?
When we get dressed, we may look through our closet and think, “I do not feel like wearing this outfit today.” I think we also do this with the garment of love. We tend to think that love is a feeling. If we do not feel like wearing it, we will tend to put on bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, rudeness, selfishness, and a critical spirit.
I was really disgusted by the sight of the drunken cross-dresser. However, after allowing the Holy Spirit to show me many occasions where I have guilty of cross-dressing, I am more disgusted with my own behavior.
Father, help me to daily put on the Lord Jesus so that I can cease to be a cross-dresser. Amen. (Romans 13:14)
© 2007, Stacy R. Miller
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Jul. 18, 2008 - Friday - DD's blog & a baby moving in the womb
12 yo DD just set up her own blog on homeschool blogger. If you have a dd close to that age who likes to blog, please send me a PM and I will give you the link to her blog. She enjoys meeting new people online.
Come see this unborn baby, moving around in the womb! Very cool!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 17, 2008 - Thankful Thursday & Balcony Seating
I am so thankful for the current Bible study I have been doing. I have learned so much from it. It is No Other Gods. Not only did I read the book, but I've been participating in an online discussion of the book. I also started reading Captivating this week, and so much of what is shared in that book fits perfectly with the NOG study. It has been VERY enriching, and helped me to look at Satan's assault on women in a whole new light.
I am very thankful that this week has not been nearly as busy as the previous two weeks were. I have been blessed to be at home all day today, so I haven't had to deal with the very high temps.
I am thankful for the many things I have accomplished at home this week. On Monday, I posted that I needed to back up my computer files. I am almost finished with that. Plus, I just finished writing out tentative science lesson plans for this year. 
I am thankful that I can still do the "nail" trick. 
DD just brought me two nails that are twisted. You are supposed to separate them, then put them back together. I did it in a matter of a few seconds. 
With my menopausal brain, I wasn't so sure I'd remember! 
I am thankful for some quality time spent with dd this afternoon after she returned home from spending the night with a friend. We made Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies. That will make dh very 
when he gets home from work this evening.
I'm also thankful for the quality time I got to spend with dh last night while dd was gone.
Recently, I was deeply hurt by a couple of people. I kept praying for the Lord to help me to choose to forgive, even when my emotions were screaming otherwise. I also prayed for Him to redeem those hurts. He has been so faithful to do so. I was able to write two devotions, each one using one of the hurts as an example, in order to help give insight and encouragement to other women who are facing similar issues. I am so thankful that the Lord has used my pain in order to help others. I share one of those devotions with you today. I pray the Lord speaks to you through it.
Balcony Seating
When our high school girls’ basketball team went to the state finals several years ago, we bought tickets from some fans of the losing team so we could sit closer to the floor for the evening game. When we arrived, someone else was sitting in our seats. We showed them our ticket stubs, proving the seats were ours and they moved to higher seating.
We allow people who are close to us to take a front row seat into our lives. We discuss personal things with them because they have earned that privilege. Occasionally, we will have individuals who expect front row seating in our lives. Yet, we see the need to put up some boundaries and quickly send them to the balcony of our lives.
For instance, I know a lady who feels the need to frequently tell me that I need to have more children. This woman has a proven reputation of being a busybody, so I quickly move her to balcony seating. The Word speaks against the behavior of being a busybody. (Second Thessalonians 3:11) I choose to stay away from her so that her bad company does not have a chance of corrupting my character. (First Corinthians 15:33)
I had a close friend who began to make foolish choices. After investing a lot of my time and energy on her, I saw she was choosing to continue in her foolish choices. After confronting her on the issues, I chose to move her to the balcony, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)
If you are trying to watch your words, you may find it necessary to move some people to the balcony in your own life. If we continue to hang out with those who are given to obscene language, foolish talking, and coarse joking, we will have a much harder time breaking that cycle in our own lives. (Proverbs 4:24; Ephesians 5:4)
Perhaps you have a friend who is constantly speaking negatively about her husband. It is so easy fall into the trap of adding your own negative thoughts. Yet, by doing so, you will find it difficult to respect your husband. (Ephesians 5:32) Rather than doing him good, you will likely resort to nagging. (Proverbs 19:13; 21:9, 19) It is time to move this person to the balcony so you can focus on developing the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. (First Peter 3:4)
Because I know several women struggle with setting boundaries, I want to give one more example that may hit very close to home for many of you. Sometimes we need to move extended family members to the balcony. If we have extended family members who cannot respect the way we choose to raise our children, and they continually belittle us in front of our children, perhaps it’s time to move them to higher seating. I recently had to do this with a family member. It has been very hard because I thought I had a very close relationship with this person, and often shared very intimate details of my life with her. However, she made it quite clear several months ago how little she thinks of me. I was devastated by her behavior. I have had to do much praying to be able to handle this situation in a godly fashion, especially knowing that my young daughter is closely watching because she was there when all of this transpired. The result has been that I no longer make the weekly phone calls to her, nor will I visit her. However, when there is a need to inform her of something, such as an upcoming clogging performance for my daughter, I will tell her, but I choose to keep the conversation very short. When there are family get-togethers, I attend, and I will speak to her, but refrain from engaging in any in-depth conversation. I still treat her with respect, yet at the same time, I have moved her to balcony seating.
Do you need to move some people to the balcony in your own life?
© Stacy R. Miller
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Jul. 16, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday - Books I'm Reading
I thought I'd share what I am currently reading:
I have The Power of a Praying Wife at home, but also got it from the library to use for the summer reading program. I thought it would be the perfect time to read through the book again. 
I just finished reading this book last week. Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe - Misbeliefs that Keep us from Experiencing God's Grace is quite interesting. It is challenging some of my own beliefs and making me really think about what I believe.
No Other Gods - I just finished this book last night. I am also involved in an online Bible study, using this book. It is a great book! It has a lot of things in it that the Lord has been speaking to my heart for the last couple of years.
Living Free is in a workbook format, so I use it for some of my quiet time. Great study!
I couldn't find a photo of this book: Life Lessons with Max Lucado - the Book of James. I just finished this study last week. I recently got a Parallel Bible at a used curriculum sale. In addition to using the 2 versions of the book of James that were included in the Max Lucado study book, I also used three versions in the Parallel Bible. It made this study a rich one!
I have also been reading a Proverb a day in the Parallel Bible in three versions. It is amazing the nuggets of wisdom I glean when reading three versions of the same scripture. A very rewarding endeavor! 
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 15, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Gatorade
Gatorade
1 pack unsweetened Kool Aid (any flavor)
2 quarts cold water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 cup orange juice
Mix together. This equals the electrolyte replacement found
in many popular drinks on the market. Great for a hot summer!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 14, 2008 - Monday Meanderings & Our Husband's Burden
Monday Meanderings with
1. Since dh was out of town all last week, I am mainly focusing on trying to stay at home as much as possible to reconnect with him when he is here. A gracious friend is keeping dd overnight on Tuesday so that dh and I can have some "alone" time.
2. Dd and I started doing school last week. We finished up in early April, so we are both ready to get back into a bit of a routine. I am having her work on math and grammar every day so that we can get some things out of the way and take a little of the pressure off for getting everything done at once.
3. I plan to continue working on making out my science lesson plans for this year.
4. I need to try to find make time to save all of my devotions to a cd-rom. It would be best to get this done before we start doing every subject in our school work.
5. I need to make a couple of important phone calls. One is in regard to the GT Express I bought a couple of months ago. Already, the teflon coating is coming off of it. I love our GT Express, but I don't like the cheap way they were made! 
And believe me, they weren't cheap to buy! 
Since my husband was gone all last week, I thought this devotion would be very appropriate to share with you. I pray it gives you some fresh insight into your own husband and his burdens.
Our Husband's Burden
Women who are stay-at-home moms are in a better position to attend Bible studies, watch Christian TV, listen to Christian radio, and spend more time in the Word. This can help us grow immensely in our walk with the Lord.
A problem arises, however, when we start to think we are more spiritual than our husband because we rarely see him in the Word. What we fail to realize is that he can't be in the Word like we can because he is working so hard to provide for the family. We need to realize that he has a tremendous burden on him in doing that! It should move us to intercede on his behalf a lot more than we probably do.
We may not be aware of how he may truly be growing in his walk with the Lord as he carries the burden of meeting all of the monthly financial obligations. There's the mortgage, the car payment, utility bills, food, and insurance, just to name a few. That doesn't even include the extras such as braces or the cost of gymnastics, ballet, soccer, or basketball. God may be using the weight of the financial burden to really develop your husband's dependency upon Himself.
I remember hearing a pastor say that a man's mind is constantly thinking about finances, the bills, and being the sole provider. When he asked the men in the congregation if he was correct in his assessment, the sanctuary erupted with a chorus of ‘Amen.’
God may be teaching your husband to trust Him, while maintaining a peaceful heart when he hears about more job cuts in his company. God may be developing his spirituality in the many situations he faces every day. If he works with the public, he may be learning to extend grace to people in ways that create huge spiritual growth in his life. God may develop him through the ‘school of hard knocks,’ rather than through the resources that you have at your disposal.
I know that when I became a stay-at-home mom, I grew in ways that I never thought possible. Yet, at the same time, when I worked full time as a customer service rep, I also had many opportunities to grow in grace while dealing with very upset customers. When I worked at the hospital, often dealing with families whose loved ones were terminally ill, God used those experiences to help me learn to show mercy and compassion, even while taking care of the paperwork to get their loved one admitted to our unit. So, you see, God can do wonders in developing your husband's spiritual walk, even while he is at work.
Our husbands carry a heavy load, knowing that if they don't provide for their own family, they are worse than an infidel. (I Timothy 5:8) That is a huge load to carry, and if we fail to realize how deeply spiritual it is to meet this obligation, we fail to be that crowning glory to our husband. (Proverbs 12:4) When we bless them, encourage them, and thank them for the wonderful way in which they provide for our family, we speak life to them. (Proverbs 18:21) When we encourage them, as well as pray for them, we also fulfill the words in Galatians 6:2 where it tells us to carry each other's burdens.
Do you need to help ‘carry’ his burden?
© 2005, Stacy R. Miller
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Jul. 12, 2008 - DH is home!
Dh arrived home safely from his trip to Toledo, and he even made it back on dd's birthday! We didn't tell her that he would likely be home that day. We wanted to surprise her.
Unfortunately, some of the plans changed while he was in Toleda, which means another trip back in a week or two. He also has another trip coming up to Bowling Green, KY. For those of you who may live in those areas, if you ever see a Carter Lumber Yard, dh does the lettering on all of their buildings. He has done their buildings in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
Since he has a couple of more trips coming up soon, I will plan to let dd have another slumber party! We didn't get that done this week because of 4-H week.
I am on my way out to pick up dd's 4-H fair projects. It is pouring down rain at the moment too. 
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Jul. 11, 2008 - Friday - DD's birthday
Happy 12th birthday to my dd! 
I posted a few weeks back about how one of the ladies on my mailing list wanted permission to translate some of my devotions into the Indonesian language. I checked her blog, and she has been very busy!
She has translated the entire Proverbs 31 series that I wrote into her native tongue! 
Even though I can't read Indonesian, it is really neat to see my devotions there! What a blessing!
It is very unlikely that I will be able to post to any of your blog entries today. I can hit about 2 keys, then my computer locks up.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 10, 2008 - Thankful Thursday & Juicy Fruit
Here's what I am thankful for this week:
-- For the work dh has in Ohio this week,
-- For dd getting the reserve champion award on her 4-H ceramics project,
-- For dd getting a blue ribbon for her 4-H memories scrapbook,
-- For time with my family over the holiday weekend last week,
-- For special times with the Lord this week, 
-- For special times with my dd this week, 
(Her name means lamb.)
-- For a couple of gifts my bff gave me. 
She gave me a couple of handmade kitchen towels that are crocheted on the ends so you can hang them. She also gave me some of her dh's secret-recipe bbq sauce. I keep asking for the recipe, but her dh's lips are 
. He is a police officer, so doesn't he have a civic duty to share this recipe?
-- I am also thankful that when I told dd that we were going to start doing a little bit of school work each day, she seemed very happy to do so. And you know that blesses a mama's heart! We are only doing math and grammar at this point, but we may add science next week. We've been done with school since the first part of April, so we are both ready to get back to a routine.
-- I am also thankful that my old computer is still working.
-- I am thankful that when dh returns home, we will be able to have some family time and do something special for dd, who turns 12 on Friday.
Juicy Fruit
I love the times of year when fruit is in season. It is so much tastier. The color is more vivid and appealing. It is so delightful to bite into a luscious, red strawberry. I will literally savor that piece of juicy fruit.
Have you ever met a godly person that just radiated with the glory of God? They are a great example of a person whose fruit is a tree of life. (Proverbs 11:30) Much like the way edible fruit gets our attention with its vivid appearance, these people command our attention with their glorious countenance. They speak wise words which we can savor, much like savoring a piece of tasty watermelon. They bubble over with the joy of the Lord. We find ourselves delighted to be in their presence, partaking of the juicy fruit that resides within them.
We are all to be full of juicy fruit. (Matthew 7:17-18; John 15:8) But how do we cultivate a heart that can bear such desirable, and juicy, fruit?
1. Don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. (Psalm 1:1) A practical way to implement this is to quit reading secular books on marriage and parenting. Instead, find out what God has to say on these subjects.
2. Don't stand in the way of sinners. (Psalm 1:1) As you walk into the break room at work, if they are discussing some inappropriate topics, leave the room.
3. Don't sit in the seat of mockers. (Psalm 1:1) A great example of putting this to work is by refusing to watch the myriad of television shows that mock everything we, as Christians, should hold dear to our heart. Many times, these shows will mock the role of the father. If we want our children to show respect to their father, we must guard their hearts from seeing the father mocked on television. Another way to put this into practice is to quit listening to secular music, which not only mocks our Lord, but flaunts attitudes and values that are contrary to the Bible.
4. Delight in God’s law. (Psalm 1:2) If you have a hard time delighting in reading the Word, ask God to give you a deep hunger for His Word, and ask Him to help you see wonderful things in His law. (Psalm 119:18)
5. Meditate on His Word. (Psalm 1:2) As you read the Word, sometimes you won't need to read very much before you find the Holy Spirit dealing with your heart. Write down the verse, and carry it with you, looking at it several times throughout the day.
6. Remain in Jesus. (John 15:4) Dedicate yourself to seeking Him daily. I choose to spend the early morning hours with the Lord, however, when Rachel was a baby, it was easier to have that quiet time during her naps or right after I put her to bed in the evening. Find what works best for you.
7. Let God’s Word remain in you. (John 15:7) When you face new situations, ask yourself, what would God want me to do? By acknowledging Him, you will often find that the Word you have planted in your heart will guide you quickly in doing the right and honorable thing.
Following these seven steps will cause you to be like a tree planted by the river, yielding fruit in season, and whose leaf doesn't wither. (Psalm 1:3)
Not only will you bear much fruit, but you will bring much glory to your Heavenly Father.
(John 15:8)
© 2006, Stacy R. Miller
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Jul. 8, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday -- tips for the fair
Our 4-H fair is this week so I decided to share a couple of my tips for visiting the fair.
Since fair food is EXTREMELY expensive, not to mention very unhealthy, we take a cooler and leave it in the car. When we get hungry, we make a trip to the car to rest and eat. I usually take sub sandwiches for our lunch, then peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for later in the afternoon. Since we normally don't buy chips, I will buy some of the cheaper ones from Save-A-Lot for fair week, making it a special treat. I also take lawn chairs so we can sit down and rest for a bit while eating, yet do so without dropping crumbs all over the interior of the car.
We take a lot of water with us because drinking sodas not only dehydrates us, but with riding the rides, it could also cause an upset stomach. Also, we often freeze the water bottles so they will stay cold much longer. Once it starts turning to liquid, there is usually a large piece of ice that remains in the bottle for several hours. I will make several trips to the restroom to refill the bottle. With the ice in the bottle, it makes it easy to have ice water for several hours. On those days at the fair when it is near 90, this has been a huge blessing!
Another treat we will take is some chocolate chip cookies from the freezer. They will thaw out while we are riding the rides. When we want a treat later, they will be warm, just like they came out of the oven. (We will also have wet rags in the car so we can wash off the melted chocolate.)
They have pre-sale vouchers where you can buy your "pay one price and ride all the rides" ticket. I do not buy these because if it rains, and we don't make it, then I am out $16-$18. Instead, we just wait to see if the weather is clear, then purchase the "bracelets" at full price. It is only $2-$4 more to wait until the specified date to buy it. To me, it is worth the extra money, just knowing that I can wait and spend it IF I am sure the weather will hold out. Buying it early is a gamble I am not willing to take.
My last tip is to make sure that you wear tennis shoes. If you wear sandals, it is too easy for someone to step on the heel of your shoe, and possibly cause you to ruin the straps on your sandals. Play it safe -- wear those tennis shoes! 
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 6, 2008 - Junk Food (devotion)
Since we are going to the fair this week, where they sell so much junk food, I decided to use this devotion.
Junk Food
As mothers, we have all heard those famous words, “Mom, may I have a snack?” Often times, we won't even have the dishes cleared off the table before the kids wants some kind of snack. If we let them, they would likely live on things like cookies, candy, potato chips, and cupcakes. They seem to love those things which have no nutritional value. I frequently find myself wanting to nibble on these types of things.
In a spiritual sense, we can also nibble on things which have no nutritional, or spiritual, value. It might be romance novels or magazines. Other people may be news channel junkies. Some of us nibble on the Internet more than we should. Others may snack on things like card games, compulsive shopping, listening to ungodly music, excessive time on the telephone, and even gossiping.
Proverbs gives us a very healthful diet for our spiritual lives:
We can obtain wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:2-3; 2:2,6,10,12; 3:13; 4:5-9; 8:1-36; 9:12; 10:13,19,31; 12:15; 13:14; 24:14; 29:11
We can gain prudence, knowledge and insight. Proverbs 1:2-4,7; 2:5,10-11; 10:14; 14:8,15; 15:28
We can become discerning. Proverbs 1:5; 10:13
We can gain understanding. Proverbs 1:6; 2:2-3,6; 4:4,13; 9;10; 10:23; 15:32
We can develop the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:7; 2:7-8; 14:26; 15:16,33
We find honor. Proverbs 3:35; 11:16; 13:18; 22:1,4
We find health for our bodies. Proverbs 3:8; 4:22; 10;11; 14:30; 15:30; 17:22; 18:14,21
We discover guidelines for friendships. Proverbs 12:26; 13:20; 14:7; 18:24; 20:19; 22:24; 27:17; 29:22
We learn about being a godly wife. Proverbs 12:4; 14:1; 21:9,19; 24:3-4; 31:10-31
We uncover wisdom for parenting. Proverbs 22:6,15; 23:13; 29:15,17;31:10-31
We discover the power of our words. Proverbs 10:11,13,19-21,31; 11:13; 12:6,13-14,18; 13:2-3; 15:1-2,4,7; 18:21; 26:4-5,22; 31:26
Do you need to change your eating habits?
© 2006, Stacy R. Miller
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Jul. 3, 2008 - Thankful Thursday and Change of Plans
UPDATE: For those of you who have been following this entry, I wanted to let you know that dd's friend died last night. Please keep this girl's family in your prayers. They are positively devastated right now.
This week has been very busy, so I must take time to thank the Lord for sustaining me through running back and forth to 4-H judging. That is not something I enjoy, especially when it requires me to be several miles away from my home at 8:00 in the morning!
I am also thankful that I have not come down with the stomach virus that dd had earlier in the week. It was so bad that she lost 5 pounds. She also grew 1/4 inch taller while she was sick! I'm not sure whether to be or 
