Brownies!

I made homemade brownies today - I usually get the Aldi box and perk them up. But.... I forgot how yummy the homemade ones are. And I was thinking, for all of you that took advantage of the Dillons 10 for $10 cream cheese, this filling would be awesome in between layers of brownie mix:

2 packages 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

(blended together)

Back to the Grind!

Well, after being sick for almost 2 weeks, today is the 1st day that I don't feel dizzy :) I am extremely excited about this and am so pumped that I have done 2 loads of laundry so far today. (Danny wore one pair of socks 3 times last week - poor kid) Although the tasks that lie ahead are a little daunting, I am really excited about a couple of things.

* I get to go to the Chapel tonight. I haven't been there since 3 Sundays ago, and I am really starved for some spiritual fellowship. While I was really sick I couldn't read bcuz my eyes couldn't focus... I did listen to some radio, but it's just not the same. Our ladies study right now is in Ephesians, and although I haven't a clue where we are, I love the book.... it is SO encouraging to be reminded of the blessings that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ... they ARE ENDLESS.... and also to be spurred on to walk in a way that we can GROW UP INTO HIS IMAGE...

* I have pleasantly discovered that I didn't spend a single penny over the last 2 weeks (other than doctor visits and medicine). That's kind of fun and definitley helps out the budget!

* If she is up to being out tonight, I get to see how much Shawna's belly has grown in the last 2 1/2 weeks due to mass mashed potato consumption!!! www.growingblooms.blogspot.com

* Only 5 more nights before Scott gets home! (Rebekah still has 3 left in the bed, and Danny 2 - this is an EXTREMELY important fact!)

It was a weekend of ups and downs for the little six year old in our family. And let me just say, when she's up, she's up, and when she's down, she's down! Friday night was full of excitement. Rebekah got to perform at a benefit - one with all the works! The ladies were all in black dresses, the men in tuxedos, and the most exciting of all - she got to perform on a stage!!! And not just talk, but sing too! All of her life's dreams played out in one night :) Here's her practice of her performance at home (just ignore the sick brother's sniffles in the background, and the mom trying to sing along who was not blessed with as high of a voice as her daughter!)

Mom had to stay home sick, but after a wonderful performance, Rebekah received thunderous applause and a hot fudge sundae from her dad!

Saturday was a good day too, since mom was still sick, so Rebekah got to hang out with the family all day and watch videos! She got to see Princess and the Pauper (Barbie) and Hoodwinked!

But alas, she was doomed to get sick too, and by the end of her weekend, the expression on her face had significantly changed.

Rebekah woke up Sunday with a cough and a slight fever, but by Monday her fever was still hanging on and she also had to use a bucket :( The last time Rebekah threw up she was 4 and still thought it was the bucket that made her do it. She thought if she felt sick and could stay away from the bucket that she wouldn't throw up. However, she is grown up now, and if she is going to get sick, she's going to do it princess style!

Then, after watching Princess Diaries 1 and 2 today, Rebekah decided that although she was still not feeling well, that she still needed to look like a princess.

Tomorrow she has to miss school, so then she'll get to see Ice Princess and Ella Enchanted:)

So, although it has been a weekend of ups and downs, I think the ups are going to be remembered much longer than the downs.

And, just for a little laugh, I will add this: tonight while Rebekah was in the bath, she said to me,"Mom, guess what part of my body I am filling with water!" Knowing she knows better than to drink the bath water, I was really stumped at this one. But she had me cracking up when I looked over and she was trying to fill her belly-button the size of a pencil eraser with water! So cute, but I won't post a pic of that one:)

Rejoice!

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with rejoicing." Job 8:21

This verse really struck me while reading my Bible this morning. I would love this to be a description of me - wouldn't it be great to be charazterized by having a mouth full of laughing, and lips full of rejoicing? :)

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." Hebrews 13:15

Today's Choice Gleanings referred to Mary, who took her costly spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and her sacrifice of sweet-smelling aroma permeated the whole room. I don't believe that Mary, in anointing the feet of Jesus, had any other focus than that of the Lord. The aroma that permeated the room, however, affected all who were there. This made me think of the sacrifice of praise. If I use my mouth and lips to pour out the gladness the Lord has given me, it will affect all those around me! I know as a wife and mother, I can affect greatly the atmosphere of my home by the words of my mouth :) But, that is not my motivation - it is the sacrifice that Christ Himself made on my behalf, which was a sweet-smelling savor to God!!! (Hebrews 10)