Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Labor And Wages

Matthew 20:1-16

Have you read this scripture before?  You might have, but it might not be that familiar to you.  It was familiar to me.  My thoughts were, “too bad, so sad.”  This particular scripture never applied to my life, until recently.  Actually, it has applied for a little over a year now, I just didn’t realize it, or maybe the Lord waited until the last day or so to reveal it to me.  I have had to remind myself of this scripture over and over in order to keep me from getting angry.  Have you figured out what the scripture says?  Well just in case you haven’t, let me type it up for you,

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went.

   "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
      "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'

8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

16"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

 

How this has applied to me is, I might not like what is happening, but I agreed to what I agreed with, and I have to do what I agreed with and IF I do, I know the Lord will honor it.  It doesn’t matter if it is fair or not.  Bottom line.

A Story Of Love and Hope

I know every marriage struggles.  I have struggled with too great of expectations and disappointment; yet my love for Jesus, has helped me to love when I didn’t want to.

When I read this blog post by,

Lysa Terkeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministry,

emotions filled my heart as I thought of my Mammow and my Pappow.  My hear hurts so bad for my Mammow that I just want to love her even more. 

This past February my grandparents celebrated 63 years of marriage.  I admire them and love them, but most of all I have watched them….  I am trying to find the article that was written about Mammow and Pappow, if I can’t find it, I’ll get it scanned in so I can share it with you.  I know you will be touched as I was.

Love the one you have been given and cherish every moment.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

November Christmas Give-A-Way Winner!

I’m slacking, sorry.  I was supposed to announce the winner to the give-a-way yesterday after twelve… better late than never, though, right?!

The winner for November's Give-A-Way is……

ANGELA KARALEKAS!!!  Woohoo!! 

Angela, I’ll be shooting you an email to find out where I can deliver your winnings to you.

Congratulations!

Not sure if I will be doing any more give-a-way’s before Christmas; however, if you follow the Proverbs 31 Ministry, Karen Ehman is hosting a 12 days of Christmas Give-A-way!  She is on day two (Tuesday, December 1) today.  You will be blessed getting to know each of the ladies that are affiliated with this ministry.

Something I’ve been thinking about, praying about, and sharing with my younger children is Jesus.  I try every day to tell them that one day they will have to make a choice to have a relationship with Him.  Christopher seems to really know all the answers… he knows we celebrate Christmas in honor of Christ’s birthday, he knows we celebrate Easter because Jesus was “killed” and came back to life and he knows that Jesus died for our sins.  I wish I had that “knowledge” at five years of age!  Kaitlyn, she keeps telling us, “I don’t want to die in order to meet Jesus.”  She’s just turned 4 the beginning of November.  It’s obvious there are still many questions that will asked; however, today, she threw me for a loop.  She told me, “Mommy, I want to cut off this toe (pointing to one of her toes) so I can die and meet Jesus.”  At first I was horrified, but then I thought, while I know she is thinking of a physical death, we really do have to die to meet Jesus.  We have to die to self.  I am continuing to pray for wisdom with raising my children and sharing Christ with them.  It is so important for us, me and Chris, to be real before our kids.  Oh I pray I don’t let them down.

More another day.  It’s almost 8:00 and I am ready for bed.  Haven’t been sleeping well lately.

Night.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Christmas Shopping!

Campaign 25 orders are due today!

Ladies, check out the following links to shop for the men in your life!

Men, check out the following links to shop for the women in your life!

If you don't make the deadline of 9 A.M. Tuesday, I can back order on the next campaign.

DON'T miss out on Patrick Dempsey 2 this campaign, being introduced at $30!  Ladies, the scent is fabulous!

Also, don't forget the Reese Witherspoon, "In Bloom" fragrance!  For $39 you can purchase a gift set that includes a perfume, body lotion, shower gel and gift bag!  That is a $64 savings!

If the men in your life are as hard to shop for as the one in my life, please let me help!

Check out this link to see AVON's Men's Essentials Set!  For $24.99 you receive an expanding travel case, nose hair trimmer, mustache/sideburn trimmer, nail clippers, razor, 3 disposable razor heads and easel-back mirror! 

Check out our selection of men's watches.

Gifts and Gadgets

Men's Apparel

Fragrance

Now, the ladies.... These are some GREAT gift ideas for mom's, sister's, daughter's, granddaughter's, and for you men, your wives! 

You can't beat these prices, with personal FREE deliver!  All you have to do is email me or shop online at www.youravon.com/spaden!  How simple is that?!

JEWELRY!

Clothing and accessories

Handbags!

SHOES!

SALES!!!!

Fragrance!

Skincare

Bath and Body!

For the young children in your life.....

Children's FUN!

AND

YEAR END SAVINGS!!!

I WOULD LOVE to help you shop for your friends, family, boss, co-worker, spouse and children.  This is the best part of my job, finding what works for each person's lifestyle, and budget! 

I am truly blessed!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving And A Few Recipes

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  It seems like it was just summer.  I’m not complaining though, for one, the Christmas season is my favorite time of the year, and two, we’ve had a pretty c-r-a-p-p-y year.  I’ll be glad to see this one behind us; BUT, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and with that, I am thankful for the Lord seeing us through thus far!

If you have been reading my blog for any time, you know the struggle I have with my weight.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said I was “starting over.” 

I picked a pretty bad time of the year to try, yet again, to “start over” on my weight loss.  While I am usually pretty open about my life, I am just too ashamed to admit just how much I weigh now.  Two weeks ago when I weighed in at Weight Watchers, I weighed more than I have ever.  The week before last I was pleasantly surprised with a 6 1/2 pound weight loss in five days.  This week, we had a birthday party with scrumptious cake from The Cake Shop and ice cream too; how rude it would have been for me to NOT eat… yeah, right!  Not to mention pizza for lunch… and yes, I had too much.  So I expected to actually gain weight this week.  Yet again, I was pleasantly surprised with a 4 pound weight loss.  If I don’t gain any of that back this week it will be a miracle!  I’ve started my Thanksgiving feast early by ordering pizza from Pizza Hut…. does Veggie Lover count for anything, on thin and crispy crust?!  Oh well. 

In order for me to not fall completely on my face, I decided to prepare some Weight Watcher’s desserts tomorrow.  Just thought I’d share some of the recipes.  I sure would love to know if any of you know of extra ways/recipes to cut back on “points.” 

Pineapple Cake

1 Angel Food Cake Mix

1 – 20oz can crushed pineapple

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix cake mix and crushed pineapple (including juice) together.  Pour into an UNGREASED 9 x 13 pan.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes.  Serves 12 (large pieces)  2 Pts a serving.

 

Pumpkin Pie

1 – 14oz can pumpkin

2 egg whites

1/2 cup Splenda

1/2 cup reduced fat Bisquick

1 tsp reduced calorie margarine

1 – 14oz can evaporated skim milk

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ginger

Blend all ingredients together.  Pour into pie plate and bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  (No, there is no crust on this one!)  Serving size:  1/8 pie; Points:  1.25; Whole pie:  10 points!

Dreamsicle Delight

8 oz fat free cream cheese

12 oz fat free whip cream

1 – 3 oz pkg sugar free orange jello

1 dash vanilla

14 oz can mandarin oranges, drained

crushed graham cracker crumbs

Blend cream cheese until all lumps are out; slowly add the whip cream and whip for several minutes.  Once lumps are out and creamy, add a dash of vanilla and then the orange jello powder.  Once the cream cheese, whip cream and jello are mixed well, gently fold in mandarin oranges.  (The recipe calls for a small can of mandarin oranges and a small can of tidbit pineapple; however, I prefer the mandarin oranges.  In fact, It’s fabulous without any fruit added at all!) 

Also, the recipe calls for a graham cracker crust.  In order to trim points, I use crushed graham cracker crumbs and sprinkle lightly over the top.  I do not use the graham crackers every time.  Since I have altered this recipe, I do not know the point value.  Sorry.

So, there it is, now, I have to get these done so I won’t have to do them in the morning.

Ya’ll have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving!  I hope and pray you will be truly blessed and thankful for the many blessings we have.

Chow.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Another Give-A-Way

Found this link on a friend's facebook page. If you have a child of special needs, sensory disorders, etc, then you will want to enter this give-a-way! It is a TAGLESS, SEEMLESS t-shirt! All you have to do is click the link below, leave a comment and you are entered to win!
I've already done it!
Good luck!


http://yourtherapysource.blogspot.com/2009/11/holiday-soft-tee-giveaway.html#comment-form