God's Grace and Plan...

Wow, it sure has been a while friends. I have went missing in action for quite sometime now.

I apologize.

Life through a few more priorities my way, so I had to tend to them first.

I really have other things to be doing right now, but I had to get some type of feedback on something that I just came across while going through my FB newsfeed.

There was a beautiful picture of a woman who has became pregnant after surviving breast cancer. In the picture, the woman is topless (covering her remaining breast with her hand). In my mind, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the picture other than some of the comments made about it.

I am absolutely stunned by how many people there are out there who can push in the keys on the keyboard to make the statement, "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GOD."

(and actually there are FAAAARRRRR worse comments made to go right along with that one).

Why would people be so hurtful? How can they be so blind to not see all of the blessings they are given. The answer is SATAN! He has these people wrapped on his pinky just how he wants them!

The most popular comment made, I think, was, "How hypocritical of you 'bible thumpers' to say that 'GOD IS GREAT' for 'blessing' her with a child, but why did your 'God' give her cancer to begin with? If he is so loving and gracious, why would he put such bad things on earth?"

This makes me cringe to read (and type)!!! It makes me fell obligated to try to explain to these people saying these things just how great our Lord is.

So, what do you say?

I say this:

God does not cause cancer. Man has caused cancer through giving into temptations from Satan. Most, if not all, cancers are caused by man (such as tobacco, sun exposure, and dietary imbalances). Why would anyone think that God is the reason for these things? Do people honestly believe that God makes them smoke, lay out for hours in the sun without proper protection, or eat unhealthly? I just can't see how these people would believe that! God HEALS lives through His mercy!

 "God did not give her cancer, Satan did. God gave her the smile. Life/temporal realm is a span of time suspended in eternity. It was given to humanity to do with as we choose. Two forces, good and evil, God and Satan, vie for our allegiance and influence our decisions. The fact is that the overwhelming majority has chosen and given authority to Satan. Consequently, our world is inundated with pain, war, death, disease, violence, sorrow, hopelessness, and other wickedness and distress. To blame God for what Satan is doing is like turning our home into a pigsty and then blaming the health department because we contracted hepatitis. The tragic part is that even Christians are subjected to the diseases brought into this realm because of rebellion and sin. That is because all flesh is under the curse of sin. But Christians don’t die of illegal drug overdose, alcoholism, and etc. God sometimes heals and other times calls them into His eternal kingdom. Satan wants everyone to suffer every imaginable sorrow on earth and then enter eternal damnation. It’s our choice…submit to Satan curse God and die, or submit to God praise Him and live." -Cedric Fisher, FB User

Another argument is, "God is non-existent, the good people are those who diagnosed, treated and cured her cancer. Those who researched drugs, tested them and found a safe way to administer them to defeat the cancer, the ones who spent years training to become amazing surgeons. Most of all, SHE is amazing for getting through it, smiling, and looking ahead, she is the role model here, not 'God'." - Anna Kullen, FB User

WHAT? Now we are getting into ANOTHER way to take credit and glory from God with this statement. Firstly, SHE IS AMAZING for believing in our Lord and putting it at His feet to handle. She is a role model that people who DO NOT BELIEVE should look to for reassurance in Him. Now, as far as the doctors and nurses and surgeons are concerned... that is God behind them with each incision, treatment, and therapy they give. People in the medical field are all God's hands to perform what they must.

The argument about why some people die from cancer but others live being contradictory is contradictory in itself. If your argument is that God must not care about the ones who die, but he does about the ones who live... my answer is:

If the ones who "die" know their Lord and Savior, then they haven't DIED at all! THEY LIVE in His Kingdom among fellow believers! And those who live do so because that is His plan. Only God knows when it is your time to come Home to Him. You can't spend your life wondering or trying to figure it out, or else you will have spent your life denying God. He is the ANSWER, the TRUTH, and the GRACE to us all!

The remarkable part of all of this debate is that GOD STILL LOVES THE PEOPLE WHO DENY HIM! He still tries to have them come to the light of His word so they, too, will be granted everlasting life! He doesn't give up. God will never give up! I am PROUD to say that I am a Christian woman who knows that my God is GREAT!

What do you guys think about this whole topic? What else can be said to those who do not believe? Please, help!

Here is the link to the picture (I will warn you that it is a woman topless, but she is covering her breast. Once again, the distrubing R rated content of this picture lies within the comment thread).



GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUH-UNNN!!

WOW! Seems like it has been a CENTURY since I last posted something. Do not worry, I have been reading everyone else's blogs... I have just felt a bit down lately and didn't want to VENT it out on here to you guys. Good news is that I am GREAT now, and I only ask that you keep me in your prayers as I try to remain GREAT! To sum it all up, I have recently went through a MAJOR LIFE CHANGE. I am so glad that my wonderful husband and family have been here through it all with me.

Now, on with the blogging....

TGIF!!!! This Friday is even more exciting (yet teasing) because this time next week THIS GIRL and her BEST FRIEND will be heading to Chattanooga, TN to celebrate my big sister's BIG 3-0!! YAY!! Here is my LOVELY SISTER..(yes, I know.. she does not look like an OLD LADY... that is because she is still just as alive and exciting as she was when she was my age!)

Even though she is an Alabama fan, I still LOVE HER THE SAME!

I am so excited that our little ones will get to see each other and have some time to kill each other bond! Laney (Nicole's oldest, 8), Addy Bree (Nicole's youngest, almost 3), Kylie (Reva's, 3), and McKinlee (Mine, 2 1/2) are going to have a BLAST!!!! I will have to remember to take plenty of pictures of our exciting weekend and put them up for you to see!

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL weekend! God Bless, everyone!

When a Diamond Turns Into Coal

Friends.

 They are like DIAMONDS... Precious and Rare. And, they're forever, right? So we should do everything possible to keep all the friendships we have, right?

If we all remain exactly as we always have been without change, we could probably maintain many lifelong friendships. BUT we all change in different ways and at different rates.

"The only constant is CHANGE." -Heraclitus

Sadly enough, there are friendships we may want or need to let go of.. As difficult as it may be to accept sometimes, it is the normal evolution of things. Ending a relationship in which you have invested time, energy and, most importantly, heart, is not easy.

But, do you keep a friendship that is unhealthy? By keeping friends who no longer make you happy, or who hold you back, you are risking your own happiness and well-being. Not only that, but YOU CAN"T POSSIBLY CREATE ROOM FOR A NEW FRIENDSHIP THAT CAN GROW INTO SOMETHING NURTURING AND REWARDING FOR YOU.

         

If your friend steals your spouse or anything else blatantly hurtful, then things are clear. GET RID OF THEM! Attempts to hurt are easy to see and acknowledge. But most of the time, signals aren't that obvious (thankfully!). We are always trying to make excuses because, naturally, we really do not want to hurt anyone's feelings (hopefully!). When things go wrong or we're hurt, we say to ourselves, "she didn't do it on purpose," ''she's just that way," or, "she's just been really stressed out lately" (even if '"lately" is over the past several weeks. months, or even YEARS). BUT WE ARE BLINDING OURSELVES TO THE FACT THAT WHAT WE HAVE IS UNHEALTHY!

There are several ways to acknowledge that a friendship is not worth fighting for any longer:

1) Ask yourself if you feel better after seeing/talking to that person. Do you feel inspired or motivated, or do you feel like you have been drained of all of your energy? Your energy and spirit are RIGHTFULLY YOURS! You should never allow someone to take it away from you. Do you feel better, or do you feel angry, disappointed, or fed up? Granted, everyone goes through "bummer" periods in life. Part of being a friend means sticking with friends through tough times, but if you always feel "sucked dry" when seeing this friend then things are not healthy. You deserve more power in your life to put the use of your energy and motivation towards more constructive things.

2) Also, ask yourself if this person brings out the best in you. When you leave from being with them, do you feel proud of something? Or, do you feel like you are a bad person; that something is not quite right? Take for instance, you may have lunch with this person and the entire time you two are constantly griping and gossiping about other people, friends, family---WHATEVER! Okay, none of us is perfect. Who doesn't participate in a "gossip session" once in a while? Even though it is something you do not take pride in doing, it happens. But when you take a step back and realize that you just spent all of your time griping and being rude/hurtful to others...what do you have? If you can step back and say to yourself, "I do not like what I just did, and I do not like the person I was being during that lunch," then things have went too far. You should never put on a mask and participate in something that is not what you want to be just to satisfy another persons "gossip craving".

3) After being with this person do you feel careless or cheerless? People who always spend time criticizing others are CHEERLESS! Their cheerlessness is CONTAGIOUS... and you will SURELY catch it! Most of the time, these people are not capable of finding the best in themselves, AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT INTERESTED IN FINDING THE BEST IN YOU!

4) Have you ever asked yourself is this friend is a positive influence on your life? Do they encourage you to grow and support what you love and want out of life (even if it differs from what they feel)? For example, do you feel like you have to compromise your values or morals just to hang around or talk to this friend? OR, does your friend make her problems YOUR PROBLEMS, or does her bad mood become YOUR BAD MOOD? If you are like me, you may have just settled down and got married, made a new family, got out on your own, etc. and that friend found someway to make ALL OF THAT GOOD NEWS negative to you! Friends are supposed to CHEER YOU UP, not BRING YOU DOWN!

5) And the opposite to all of the four above is HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN TOUCH IN A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS? Do you feel guilty that you haven't taken the time out of your "busy" day to text/call her? Do you feel relief that your life is flowing smoothly in those past few days/weeks? Are you looking forward to catching up with her the next time you do? Never stay committed to s relationship unless it is WHAT YOU WANT! It really STINKS when things end, but like I said...it is the evolution of life. Things always change.

Like I said in the beginning (for those of you still reading), we cling to our friendships because we feel like they are precious and rare. But when a diamond turns to coal, it's the time to let it go and move on!

Know that it's not really important whether someone makes you feel invisible, joyless, bullied, guilty, sucked of energy, or stupid. What is important is that this person makes you feel bad. That reason, and that reason alone, is enough to think about ending it.

I hope everyone was able to hold on during my ranting session today. I have personally been evaluating some relationships in my life, and I would like to ask for your prayers during this time of difficult decision-making for me. Life is tough sometimes, but I have to always remember to put my God, my husband, and my daughter at the top of my list in life. Thank you for reading today, lovelies! I promise to get you a recipe on the next post! LOVE YOU ALL!

Tough to Chew...

Friends, I had to hurry as quickly as I could to post about this subject once I read something that SERIOUSLY disturbed me in a VERY emotional way just about three minutes ago. Why do people JUDGE what others do with their lives? Let me just give a quick run through of what I just read, and I will not use "word-for-word" quotes or even tell you where I read this because I do not want to upset who wrote this BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN OPINION ON THINGS! Here we go:

This writer argued that she is more-or-less a better person than others because she took birth control and CONTROLLED HER OWN outcome of whether or not she had children through high school, college, settling down, etc. Who controlled it? According to this writer, SHE DID! She also stated that the reason her life is SO MUCH BETTER than others is because she went through college without children and got a good job after graduating (and in no way am I saying that those plans are not good plans, but I am saying that those plans are really not HER PLANS!). She lastly argued that her children will have a much better life because they will be able to afford things like vacations and nice clothes, etc. WHAT????? OOHH, how I try not to just comment and tell her off at this point! I was successful. I bit my tongue and said a small prayer to God.

"God please help me get through this anger and aid me to not pass judgement on others. You are the Judge, the Jury, and the Answer to it all. Amen".

I have a few points to offer those of you still reading...

1) It is not the right thing to do to argue that you (or anyone) is a better person than another. What you have/do does not reflect on what others have/do or do not have/do. I grew up materialistically poor and without things I wanted. There were times when my friends would all go to the beach during the summer, and I can remember wishing that I could be in their family because my life would be so much easier. I WAS WRONG! I had one thing that most of those people I envied didn't... I had the love of a WONDERFUL mother and sister and family! I never even stepped foot on a beach until I was 7 months pregnant with McKinlee (I was 20 years old). I am getting side-tracked on this point. LOL!

2) Who controls the outcome of YOUR life? Is "your" even the correct word to use in this instance, I am not sure? God controls it ALL! If God wants you to conceive a child, he will give that child to you. He is more powerful than any type of science (birth control methods)...and He is CERTAINLY more powerful than YOU! It rubs me the wrong way when I hear people say that they have control of what they are doing with their life. The only time you really have COMPLETE control of YOUR life is when you lay your life at GOD'S FEET and let him take the reins!

3) Another problem I had while reading this writing was that the writer believed that her children were going to have a much better life because her and her husband make really good money. WOW! This one really hit home with me the most and made me want to go through the computer screen and rip the text into tiny shreds! LOL! My husband and I have been searching for a job for him for almost 3 years now. Not everyone who graduates college with a degree can go out and find a job right off of the bat, especially in these times. He is proof. So, this writer is going to basically tell me that since my husband and I do not make enough money in a year to send our children to the BEST OF THE BETS private schools, take annual vacations, buy designer clothing (that they grow out of in a month, mind you - LOL!), and eat the fanciest restaurants every night that we will not provide a great upbringing to our children?!?! My child will know that she is loved by her parents, her siblings, her family, and most importantly HER GOD! If we are able to put back some money for a vacation, then she will get that experience. If not, then she will be just fine too. The problem with everyone nowadays is that everything always has to be BIGGER and BETTER than your neighbors. Why? Why can't what you have be the best it can be? My husband's lack of "luck" finding a job in his field is not the most ideal way people would consider our life to be, but it is in God's plan. We have to trust in Him to provide for us. I would rather my husband work for his daddy for the rest of his life and do it proudly and to the best of his ability than to ever find a job where his salary compromises his Faith and Belief in Him. I am so blessed to have the family and friends who are always there for me when times get tough. I have met some amazing people who inspire me daily to give more to my Lord.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR LIFE IF YOU LET GOD TAKE CONTROL!

Simply put, get over it and let God take care of your problems.... afterall, He is always the ANSWER!

Thanks for listening to my RANT! Here's a recipe for today:

 Smothered Steak and Veggies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds round steak
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 (29 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cube beef bouillon cube
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cups water 
• 1 cup white rice
• 2 cups water

Directions

1. Trim any fat from round steak and slice meat into thin 2 to 3 inch long strips. Remove the seeds and core from the green bell pepper, and slice into thin 3 inch long strips.
2. In a large frying pan over medium to high heat add oil and cook meat until medium rare, add peppers and continue cooking until meat is browned.
3. Reduce heat to simmer and add tomatoes, soy sauce, garlic powder, black pepper and ginger. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
4. Dissolve bullion cube and corn starch in 2 cups water and stir well before adding to simmering beef. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce resembles the consistency of gravy. Remove from heat and serve over a bed of rice.
5. To cook rice: In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in 1 cup of rice. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes.

If you want to make this even more simple, you can buy a can of brown gravy, add whatever veggies you like (i.e. mushrooms, onion, broccoli, bell pepper, or carrots), and serve that over rice!

Have a BLESSED day, everyone! LOVE YOU ALL!

Prolonged Absence.....

I am actually at work right now, lovelies! I am not supposed to be doing anything on the internet for "personal" reasons, so I just wanted to get on here REALLY QUICK and tell you all that I am waiting for DirecTV and AT&T to come hook up internet at my house tomorrow. That is why I haven't been able to come on and chat with you all! I am SO SORRY, and I have missed you all SO MUCH! I am looking forward to my return tomorrow night!! YAY!

Busy Bee

I have just been a BUSY BEE this past week! I cannot begin to explain my absence, so you will just have to take my word for this one! Between work, my family, and breathing I haven't had much time to even SLEEP, let alone BLOG! I have been thinking about it though, just at times when I am not able to actually get online and type, but now that I am at the computer typing... I seem to have lost all of the thoughts and ideas I had compiled in my head to share with you!

Okay... Where to Start?????

I have had the most amazing week with my husband and daughter. Valentine's Day was a GREAT one this year! It was her first one at "BIG GIRL SCHOOL", so naturally I had a blast! They had a PJ PARTY and got all loaded up with PLENTY of SUGAR and SWEETS! The owner of the daycare said that this is the only day of the year when they are open that they get to hype the kids up and then send them home to their parents! She is having so much fun learning to interact with other children! I am so proud of all that she has accomplished so far in the last two weeks! #oneproudmommy

Brandon bought me the most amazing tulips and a box of DELICOUS CHOCOLATES! We also went on a movie night out to see "The Vow". GO SEE THIS MOVIE! It was so great! Brought many things to my attention about cherishing the life you have and THANKING our LORD for it every chance you get!!!

I do not know what is going on with my computer, but it keeps freezing up after every three words I type, so I am going to have to cut this one short today without a recipe. SORRY! :( Hope veryone has a great weekend if I do not get time to make it back tomorrow! LOVE YOU ALL!

An Apple a Day Keeps the Jealousy Away!

Hello pretty ladies! I am inspired to dive in deep today because of what I just read on my friend Nicole's blog. So buckle up and hold on tight!

I think she hits the subject of jealousy HARD on its head! Jealousy... everyone is guilty of it in one way or another. Whether we want the life someone else has or just one part of it, just a moment even. We are ALL guilty! I am going through a really challenging experience right now where jealousy and discontentment are trying to take me over!

Both of my sister-in-laws are pregnant (one of which has been trying for some time now). I think that it is GREAT that our God has given them this blessing, please do not get me wrong. I JUST WANT TO BE PREGNANT TOO!!!!! Yeah, I said it. There is nothing more extraordinary than going through a pregnacy (minus the sickness, uncomfortable sleeping anything, and body changes). When the day finally comes to have your little dumpling, the adrenaline and nerves are pumping inside of you as hard as fists pump on the Jersey Shore. Then, the moment comes when you are face to face with the one you love right beside you as it is time to welcome the blessing into your world. It is MAGICAL! Tears, trembling, sobbing, smiling... THE MOMENT YOU HAVE WAITED 40 WEEKS FOR HAS COME! She is HERE! It brings tears to my eyes just typing about it.

That is my baby!!! (Well, WAS my baby. She is definitely a BIG GIRL NOW!!!!!

What do I have to be jealous about, really? God blesses me EVERY SINGLE day with the moments I am given with my WONDERFUL family!

I have been fighting like the dickens to keep jealousy out of my life. Brandon is (actually) being the smart one when planning our family. He wants to make sure that we are stable financially AND spiritually. I understand his argument, I DO... I just have our life planned out somewhere along the lines of:

1) Get married. CHECK!

2) Have a baby. CHECK!

3) Have the next baby when the first baby is NO OLDER THAN THREE. NO CHECK!!!!

4) Have the last baby when the first baby is NO OLDER THAN SIX and the second baby is NO OLDER THAN THREE. DEFINTELY NO CHECK!!!!

I have this wild idea that my children should not be any more than 3 years apart mainly due to the fact that I wished everyday growing up that my sister and I were closer. She is 6 1/2 years older than I am! I was either her baby doll to dress up and drag around (literally) or her worst nightmare once I turned 3. She had REAL friends to play with then, and I just wasn't as fun when I could talk (tattle)! THE POINT IS that I do not want McKinlee to be too old before she has a younger sibling.

THE REAL POINT IS....

I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE! NEITHER IS BRANDON..OR McKINLEE for that matter!

GOD IS IN CONTROL! I have to step back and let Him hold the reins to my life. He is the glory. He is the truth! I also have to turn my cheek to the GREEN EYE OF JEALOUSY! God will provide for me. God will give me what He has designed for me. I have to TRUST IN THE LORD! I lay it all out at His feet. He is the ultimate provider! He is the answer!

I stole this verse from a blog that Nicole is also a part of with three other young women called Fearless. This blog is one of the best parts of my day! I love reading what these four women share through our Lord. He has given all four of them such a beautiful way of communicating His love. Everyone should definitely CHECK THEM OUT! 

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that... Don't compare yourself with others." Galations 6:4

I hope that everyone has a WONDERFUL rest of their day! Love you, girlies!

Oh, and the recipe for the day is:

Apple-Cinnamon Cake

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large baking apples, peeled and chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
2. Beat 1 1/2 cup of sugar with the butter, vanilla extract, and cream cheese in a bowl until soft and creamy; beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate small bowl, stir together the cinnamon with 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon-sugar mixture into the flour mixture; reserve the rest of the cinnamon sugar. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture to make a smooth batter, and mix in the apples. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top of the batter with the reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the cake pulls away slightly from the edges of the pan, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool cake completely on a wire rack before removing the pan and slicing the cake.