Thursday, November 10, 2011

MY UNRESTRICTED LIST

Can it possibly be Thursday again already?  WOW is all I can say to that....As I reflect everyday (for the month  of November's daily challenge) on what I am especially thankful for that day, it is truly difficult to narrow it down to just one thing.  I am happy today that I can do my WHOLE post on thankfulness and I do not have to be restricted to just one thing, haha.

My week has continued to be busy, but it has been a good busy and I am  S L O W L Y getting more and more completed.  I DID find the Hello Kitty fabric.  After searching a couple more stores with my mom, and chasing ANOTHER false lead, I finally decided to just go on line.  WHY I didn't start there I am not really sure.  I simply typed in Hello Kitty Christmas flannel fabric, and up it popped.  Ten minutes later I had ordered my yard, and it should arrive on my doorstep tomorrow.  Doesn't get much better.  Now, the fabric was NOT on sale like it was at Joanne's, but as my hubby pointed out, (bless his little heart!) I still would have saved money if I had just started there, when you consider the gas I used on my wild goose chases.   But all is well that ends well right? haha  Sooo out of this mess I am thankful for the internet and online shopping!

I also completed all my invites for Sam's open house, and they will go into the mail today.  Thankful here for Costco and programs for such things that are both easy to work and sooo affordable.



Couldn't get the glare off no matter what I did, but you get the idea...


 And!  thankful I completed JD's jammies yesterday.  Only 4 more sets to go!!  YAY!  And really it is only 2 more complete sets, as I am only making lounging type PJ bottoms for the two older girls.

JD's jammies

I spent all day Tues at my mom's.  She had a doc appointment and has to schedule a couple more tests.  My poor mom.  But I am grateful that her doc seems soo compassionate and caring and thorough.  We were there a LONG time as the doc was soo far behind (he doesn't hurry anyone) and waited WELL over an hour to just get into the little room to wait AGAIN.   This meant that by the time we had completed her other errands, it was too late to begin our study.  She is soo tired in the afternoons, especially after a day like that.  But we will get to it.  But this one is easy....I am grateful for time spent with her (she was actually excited to help me search for the fabric some.....soo cute!) and for compassionate doctors.

I don't know if it will really work well into the context of this post, but I wanted to tell you about the message we heard on Sunday at church.  It was just sooo good.  I have found myself really dwelling on it all week, which is what a good message will do right?  It wasn't on anything new, or anything really that I haven't heard about MANY times, but it was presented in a different way, with a different thought for me, and really got me thinking and soo blessed my heart.  He is teaching through the book of Mark right now and we are in chapter 2.  He goes through a book verse by verse (like many of the Calvary Chapel pastors do).  It is the story of where the man who is paralyzed is lowered through the roof and Jesus heals him.  I am sure most of you are very familiar with this portion of scripture.  I will NEVER be able to present it the way he did, and I am not even going to try.  He has a way of setting the scene and presenting the story that makes it come alive and current.  Suddenly your in the crowd, living it all with them.  But the point I came away with was this.  Where Jesus is at, people are drawn.  They can't help themselves.  They will go to any length to get near Him and draw from Him His power and His love and His compassion and His  healing and strength.  These 4 men were willing to literally remove the roof on Peter's home to get their friend in front of Jesus.  His question was... are people drawn to Jesus in us?  They should be.  Do they sense His Holy Spirit living in us?  Do they long to know more about this Jesus who gives us His peace and His love and His mercy?  Do they truly sense something different, even if they don't really know us well, or more importantly maybe when they really do?  It was a good question.  I have wondered all week just what others see.  My desire is soo that all would know Him.  Know of His salvation and His love.  His next question was....How hard do we seek Him?  Can imagine if we heard that Jesus Himself was actually here, teaching and healing in a house somewhere that we could get to?  How hard would we try to get as near as we could?  How hard would we try to actually speak to Him and hear Him answer our questions and desires personally.  The point is of course, that He IS here!  We do have that kind of access.  He does answer our questions personally, and heal our hurts and our bodies.    Sooo, guess I am grateful here for Jesus.  And for good messages.

And finally (I know this is getting toooooo long, lol) I am grateful I was able to go to my youngest sisters last night to help celebrate my nieces twelfth birthday.  Such a sweet, happy girl.  Happy birthday Katie Lynn, and may all your dreams come true.   I am grateful here for my time spent with my sister, and for her darling little kids whom I love and enjoy so much.



Cute Katie with her load! haha
Notice her kitty checking things out too, haha



Katie requested the famous Oatmeal cake that I make.  I was happy to make it for her,  which allowed me to smell it's WONDERFUL aroma yesterday while I sewed.  It really has become MANY family members favorite cake.  I have shared the recipe before, but I will share it again, as it is quick, easy, and REALLY good.

You boil a cup and quarter of water and add a stick of margarine and one cup of quick cooking oatmeal.  Cover and let stand 20 minutes.  Then, you add 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 cup of white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp. of baking soda, 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 and half cups of flour.  Mix everything together well, and pour into a 9 by 13 pan and bake for 35 min. at 350.  Upon removing from the oven you pour the yummy topping over the cake, and ENJOY!

Yummy topping...

2 tsp. of margarine
1/2 cup of brown and white sugar
1/2 cup of evaporated milk
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1 cup of chopped walnuts

Today, I hope to make Cody's jammies, and the fleece blanket for baby Sam.  My sister gave me instructions last night on how to do this, so hopefully I will not have any problems with it.  ; )  Hope you are all enjoying your day, and reflecting on all of your many blessings too!

I will leave you with these darling picture of sweet Sam smiling at you!

Soo sweet...how much I want to kiss those little cheeks!

A heart breaker for sure!


14 comments:

  1. That cake looks and sounds delicious because I love oatmeal! Just a tip on taking your pictures, try to step away from the item and zoom in. It helps not get that glare. My hubby told me that when I was so frustrated one time because a picture kept coming out with that glare. It works. I love the sermon. Well, your interpretation of the sermon. What a beautiful concept! And like you I want people to see Jesus in me!!! I'm going to read this portion in scripture later and look at it with a different perspective now! Thanks for sharing! Glad you found the fabric!!

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  2. Oh you will be kissing those sweet baby cheeks soon! Love the announcement! Cute little niece you have there too. And I hope your Mom's road gets easier. I know it has been a challenge lately.
    Love the jammies! The kids are going to be so happy with those!

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  3. Awe, that little guy is so adorable! And the cake looks so yummy, I'll be trying it for sure!

    I soooo wish we lived closer to your son's church so that we could attend church with you every Sunday. I just love the messages and I'm grateful that you share them here on your blog. I do sense His Holy Spirit in people. And I'm drawn to it. I know that I sense Him in you and have learned so much from you. And my sister is another one. The passion that others have for Him is contagious. How else would we spread His word if He didn't live in our hearts?

    Loved this post Debbie! And yes, I'm so excited that Crystal will be moving closer. I miss that girl and I hope to see more of her as well. And her Katelynn!

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  4. You've been very busy; love seeing your handiwork! I admire your continuing devotion to all your family. The way you serve them is a blessing to witness.

    Yes, wherever Jesus is, people gather. Kind of makes me wonder why there are so many empty pews in our churches!

    Have a great weekend.

    peace~elaine

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  5. Sending hugs your way Debbie. Love seeing the grands and now you are making me want to make p.j.'s for them all-that would be quite pricey.
    Have a wonderful evening my friend.
    Love, Noreen

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  6. Debbie
    You are one busy grandma and those g'children are adorable!
    The pj's are looking good too.
    There is so...much truth in Sunday's message. How differently we would talk and act if the Lord was in the form of a person, rught beside us. We do have to remember that he is there-always.
    Thanks for sharing-Kimberly

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  7. I need to make some jammies for my grands. I always get them some jammies (in their favorite character flannel) ... wouldn't it be better if I made their jammies myself? At their age, they probably won't appreciate it, but at some point, I know that they will. ;-) You've inspired me to make this year's jammies.

    I love the sound and look of that cake. I'll definitely try that the next time I need to make a cake.

    Counting the days with you until you can kiss those sweet baby cheeks!

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  8. The jammies are adorable, I have never been able to master that gift (sewing). Thanks for sharing about the sermon, it does give you some pause...do others see Jesus in me? I'm sure the answer would be...not always. Too much of the time "self" gets in the way.

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  9. Always enjoy catching up with you Debbie. Sam is so adorable, and I know you are so looking forward to sharing him with family and friends.
    Had to smile over what your dh said, sounds like a reminder from my dh. What in this world would we do without them.~smiling~
    Happy Birthday to katie Lynn, she is adorable,
    I am always inspired by your love for your family and how one of the ways you express it is with hand made gifts.
    The message you talked about has much food for thought, as we are studying Mark on Thursday nights. I am so thankful that He is here!
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  10. As always Debbie, it's fun to come and get caught up with you! You are one busy girl!! The cake sounds yummy, and the pictures are adorable... I could just squeeze that litle Sam! :)

    I love the pj's. I struggle with sewing, so I am a big admirer!

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  11. i'm going to serve your famous yummy
    oatmeal cake as coffee cake for breakfast
    on thanksgiving morning. thank you for
    the recipe!!!!

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  12. Oh Debbie - so much exciting news in one post...so hard to comment! Mr. Samuel is truly a heart breaker - what a doll! and I love the open house idea of introducing him to all your friends, etc. The invitations are precious!

    Yeah for the internet - how did we ever survive without it?? - and finding the fabric! Love all the new jammies....I certainly cannot sew anything but new jammies at Christmas is a favorite "tradition"!

    Wow - your thoughts from Sunday's message are great...and really worth thinking and meditating on? Thanks for sharing them....

    I hope you are enjoying a great weekend - and looking forward to another special day in church tomorrow. Hopefully I can get caught up with some posting myself...

    Hugs always -

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  13. So nice stopping in, Debbie. The photos are so sweet and the Oatmeal Cake looks wonderful!

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  14. Thanks for the nudging with the questions from the sermon...I had to stop and ponder, knowing that unless I surrender more to the Holy Spirit's leading I will not draw men to me in order to point them to Him

    Oh Sam...too precious..great party for your niece, that is a blessing I have never been to my nieces parties

    Your sewing...love it...and thankful that you are there for your mother

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!