Promises

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I were leaving the house, it had been raining but the sun was shining brightly. One of the kids said, "Mommy, look! A rainbow!" And yes, there it was a beautiful full rainbow over my house. Not the half kind that are so common but this one was a rarity. This one reached from one side of the sky to the other. I stopped and got a quick couple of pictures with my iPhone (that's why the resolution is so yucky on the photos). It was a full arc, a full beautiful rainbow. A promise. My promise. A promise straight from God himself that my family and I will be taken care of. We will be provided for. A promise that he works out all things for our good. As Christians, sometimes we think because God is on our side, our lives will be filled with rainbows and lollipops. That is so far from the truth. Actually, God promises that we will have dark times. Bad things will happen to us and hard times will fall upon us. But he promises that he will be there right beside us through it all and he will help us get through the hard times.

"The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:5-6

The Bible is full of God's promises. And He keeps those promises. So I will not fear and when doubt comes my way, I will pray for Peace knowing that God is my Provider. And I know, he is going to blow my mind!

Interview with Binky

How was your day today Binky?
Ummm...fun.

Why was it fun?
Ummm...because I got to see my friend and we went to CiCi's pizza.

Binky, what is your favorite T.V. show?
Ummm...ICarly.

What do you like about ICarly?
It's a web show and all of the kids are making a web show in their houses. Buddy even likes ICarly.

Where did you get the name Binky from?
Ummm...I don't know. At first people called me Minky and then it changed to Binky.

Why did we call you Minky?
Well, I don't really remember. My dad would call me Mini Me, and then it changed to Minky, and then it changed to Binky, so I don't really know how.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A restaurant owner and put some art pictures in it.

What kind of food will you serve?
Ummm....Some seafood, a lot of meat, and some pbj, and french fries.

Binky, who is your best friend?
Chelseia. I met her when I was two.

Why is she your best friend?
Because I met her when I was two and I was in preschool I think and we are still friends.

What do you think makes a good friend?
How they be honest, and how they are nice. Just tell them what's going on and they like you as a friend.

How do you feel about Jesus?
I feel...umm...that's hard. I don't know what you mean that much. I feel that He is nice. He died on the cross for us and that was nice. I love Him very much.

Is there anything else you want me to ask you about?
Ummm...no ma'am.

Toadally Yummy Tuesday

Okay, so I haven't done this in a while and I thought today would be a great day to give my readers a wonderful recipe that can be cooked for dinner tonight! This recipe was taken from my pastor's wife and is a church family favorite....Disclaimer....I have no clue how many WW points this is and I don't want to. Just savor each bite!

Ingredients:
1 large bunch of broccoli
3 chicken breast halves
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup of mayonnaise ( I like Duke's because it is straight from the South and it is very rich...you can only find it at Kroger/ my mom uses Miracle Whip)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon of curry powder
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 small package of Pepperidge Farm seasoned bread crumbs

Directions:
Place chopped raw broccoli in bottom of pan. Chop chicken into small chunks. Put chicken chunks on top of broccoli. Make a sauce with the soup, mayo, lemon juice, and curry powder. Spread the sauce over chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle cheese over this. Sprinkle crumbs over all ingredients. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Serve with crescent rolls (or any bread you like), enjoy!!!

Wishing...

I wish I were up here...

Or here...

Or here again.

Oh, how I long for the beauty of the sea...

Why isn't my &%*@ phone ringing???

It reminds me of my teenage years when I was waiting for that certain somebody to call. How I would sit with the phone right next to me and wait for it to ring. Sometimes I would hit the "on" button just to make sure the phone was working correctly and check that there was a dial tone. But what I remember most was the anxiety that came with sitting and waiting and wondering and hoping. And now, fifteen years later I am back with the phone as a continuous presence by my side doing it all over again. Only this time, I waiting for that certain school to call.

The school that asks me to come in for an interview. The school that will allow me to start the begining of my dream career. The school that will put in my pocket a paycheck.

A paycheck that will allow me to get a new car since my current car has 160,000 miles on it.

A paycheck that will help me pay off my student loans.

A paycheck that will allow my kids to get a dog to add to our family that I always promised "when Mommy graduates".

A paycheck that will allow me to be independent and to live as an adult at 30 years old and not to have to go to family for help.

A paycheck that I so desperately need that allows me to have the life I so desperately want and have worked my rear end off for for the past ten years. I paid the price, I put in the time, I dedicated myself to it, so why in the world is my &%*@ phone not ringing???

Reminders

I was reminded to remember tonight...http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/

Sometimes we get so bogged down with life, so frustrated, so irritated, so angry, so scared...
Sometimes we feel as if everything in our life is out of control and we forget...
We forget the things our Lord has done for us.
Sometimes, we forget the things He has brought us through.

So tonight I will reflect
I will remember the things my Lord has brought me through.

I will remember the time JJ and I were struggling in our marriage and the Lord spoke to me and gave me words that I have continued to hold onto when times get tough and I remember to "Just Stand."

I will remember when financially my back was against the wall in a certain situation, I cried out to God in the middle of the night, the next day I woke up and upon returning home there was a large lump sum check in my mailbox sent as part of my financial aide that I thought I had already received.

I will remember when the doctor told me I would have to deliver my son at 29 weeks...I was so scared... I prayed, I fell on my knees and asked God for His help. Buddy was born at 38 weeks gestation in perfect health.

I will remember when I delivered Jay, my first child, and I was losing too much blood, the doctor said a hysterectomy. I was 19. My dad called my Nana to have her pray...everyone prayed...bleeding stopped...I have three children now.

I will remember times when I thought death was the answer. I will remember times I was left in a drug and alcohol filled house by myself at night. I will remember the times He has seen me through even when I couldn't fathom a possible solution.

I will remember His goodness.
I will remember His grace.
I will remember His love for me.
I will remember, it's in His hands.

Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:10-12