From my inbox...

Anne's Banana Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup boiling water
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
3 cups flour
2 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon

Pour water over oats in a bowl and set aside to cool. Mix eggs, sugar, oil, milk and bananas. Stir in cooled oats. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add to the banana mixture. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes about 18 to 20 muffins.

From my inbox...

Bunny Muffins

In medium bowl, blend together:
2 cups flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
In another bowl, combine:
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Add liquid ingredients to dry and stir until moistened. Spoon into greased muffin cups. Bake in a 350 preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden.

From my inbox...

Caramel Cashew Brownies

18 caramels
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped salted cashews

In a saucepan, cook and stir caramels, butter and milk over low heat
until the caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from the
heat; stir in sugar.

Combine eggs and vanilla extract; stir into caramel mixture. Combine
flour, baking powder and salt; stir into caramel mixture until
blended. Fold in cashews. Transfer to a greased 9-inch square baking
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 24 to 28 minutes or until a wooden
pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Cut into bars.

Yields 25 blondies.

From my inbox...

Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
8 oz plain yogurt
2 cups each flour, blueberries
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
Heat oven to 375º F.In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil and sugar. Stir in
yogurt. Add dry ingredients just until blended. Fold in blueberries.
Spoon batter into muffin tins. Bake about 25 mins. Makes 12 muffins.

From my inbox...

Strawberry Muffins
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup skim milk, *see note
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1-1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten + egg white, lightly beaten enough vegetable
cooking spray
1-1/2 tbsp. sugar
*Note: Add 1 tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice to milk let sit 5 mins. Or
substitute nonfat buttermilk.Heat oven to 350º F. Combine flour and
next 4 ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Add fresh
strawberries; stir well and make a well in center of mixture. Combine
buttermilk and next 4 ingredients; [thru egg white] stir well. Add to
dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Divide batter evenly
among 18 muffin cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle 1-1/2 tbsp.
sugar evenly over muffins. Bake at 350 F. 25 mins or until toothpick
inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans immediately let
cool on a wire rack. Makes 18 servings.

From my inbox...

Tips to Tighten Your Belt in Tough Times
by Marianne Giullian
Small savings can avert a crisis

Benjamin Franklin said, "A small leak will sink a great ship."
Small things can really make a difference. If you consistently
spend more than you earn, even if it is a small amount, it
will create stress and financial bondage. On the other hand,
Benjamin Franklin also said, "Little strokes fell great oaks."
Focusing on spending less than you earn makes money available
for saving or reducing debts.

This reminded me of a recent newspaper article that stated how
people are combating higher prices by cutting out small
things. Even if it is a small amount, it will add up over time
to bring a greater feeling of peace and financial freedom. In
a recent newspaper article, it said that people are cutting
back on the small things to handle the rising costs of things.
The following ideas can help you save money by cutting back in
different ways.

1. General Things: Do your own work instead of hiring someone
else to clean your house, cook your meals, fix your car or mow
your lawn. Get rid of a storage unit. If the items in the
storage unit are valuable to you, they should be in your home.
If not, you are wasting a lot of money storing things that
probably aren't worth the price you pay to store them. With
the upcoming rebate to stimulate the economy, pay of debts or
build a reserve for unexpected expenses. Get rid of cable
television or gym memberships. De-clutter your home and sell
the things you don't want. Take care of what you have. For
example, regular brushing and flossing your teeth could save
you hundreds of dollars in dental bills.

2. Gasoline: Consolidate trips by planning ahead of time to do
your errands on the same day. Carpool. Remove excess weight
from your car. Get information ahead of time by calling on the
phone to save you a trip to the store if they don't have what
you want or if it isn't in your price range. Slow down as it
is more fuel efficient. Inflate tires properly. Buy gas at the
cheapest place in town. Walk or ride a bike or use public
transportation.

3. Make Things Last Longer: Use half the amount of soap for
laundry and for the dishwasher. Wash clothes in cold water if
there are no visible stains. Wear your outer clothing more
than once if it doesn't smell or isn't dirty. Tear dryer
sheets in half. Wash your hair every other day.

4. Utilities: Lower the thermostat and wear a sweater. Take
shorter showers. Unplug the things you aren't using. Run full
loads of laundry and dishes.

5. Entertainment: Go to a matinee instead of a movie in the
evening. Find free concerts in the area. Check out books, CDs
and DVDs from the library. Have a potluck dinner instead of a
dinner party. Find out who has the best prices to rent DVDs in
town and go there for your rentals.

6. Eating out: Go to lunch instead of dinner. Split a meal.
Find out about restaurant specials. Leave kids at home. Drink
water instead of soda. Get food to go instead of eating at the
restaurant and paying a tip. Eat half of your meal and take
the rest home for another day.

7. Clothing: Buy second hand. Trade prom dresses. Always buy
on sale. Buy off season. Have a clothes swap.

8. Groceries: Do your own cooking. Make your own bread,
tortillas, bagels, crackers, etc. Find less expensive
alternatives. For example, make spaghetti instead of lasagna.
Use cash when you shop so you can't go over your limit. Stop
buying junk food and soda. Use half the amount of meat or
cheese in recipes. Don't be loyal to one store. Buy produce in
season. Buy store brands. Take your lunch to work or school.
Don't buy precut veggies or shredded cheese. Instead, cut or
shred it yourself. Eat hot cereal instead of cold. Go shopping
less often. Don't waste food. Instead, eat your leftovers.

Little things do add up. By following the advice of Benjamin
Franklin, and by focusing on the little things, it can really
make a difference.

Take the Next Step:
- Little things do add up. Pick one of the above ideas that
you're not currently practicing and start this week. Then
start something new next week and so forth. Before long,
you'll notice the impact that these little things are having
on your big financial picture.

From my inbox...

People are living longer -- so Alzheimer's disease is becoming more common. Its symptoms include memory loss, confusion and language breakdown, and it is incurable. Is there anything individuals can do to avert this bleak prognosis? According to Professor Clive Ballard, the director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, and his colleague Dr. Susanne Sorensen, the head of research, some simple changes to your lifestyle could delay and even prevent the onset of the condition.

"A large number of studies have shown that a number of factors may affect your chances of developing dementia, so it is never too early, or too late, to make a few changes," Ballard says.

1. Train your brain. When it comes to retaining brain agility, the "use it or lose it" principle holds true. Games such as Brain Age on Nintendo DS can help us to increase brain flexibility and activity, which some scientists believe can ward off the onset of Alzheimer's. But you don't have to invest in a gadget to give your mind a workout -- doing crosswords and reading challenging articles can cause synapse growth, which allows nerves in the brain to communicate with each other more efficiently.

A study in New York in 2003 found that those who did crossword puzzles four days a week had a much lower risk of dementia than those who did one puzzle a week. "The main evidence is in healthy older people, and it shows that 40 minutes a day can make a big difference," Ballard says.

2. Keep fit. There is good evidence that keeping fit can help to keep your brain in shape. A Swedish study showed that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 50 percent. There appears to be a direct link between the condition of the body and that of the mind: a study published in the British Medical Journal found that obese people were 70 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Studies have shown that regular exercise improves the blood supply to the brain and benefits the entire cardiovascular system.

Ballard believes that a healthy lifestyle is an important step in the fight against dementia: "We recommend that people take regular exercise, eat healthily and get their blood pressure checked. People must be made more aware that what's good for your heart is also good for your mind."

3. Relieve the pain. According to a study by the University of Washington, cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's by almost 80 percent. The drugs, known as statins, appear to reduce the tangles of plaques in the brain that are believed to cause Alzheimer's, but they might not work for everyone. In an interview with Medical News Today, the author of the study, Dr Gail Li, said: "Statins are probably more likely to help prevent the disease in certain kinds of people than others."

Studies have also shown that regularly taking painkillers such as aspirin could help, after population studies revealed a lower incidence of dementia in people with arthritis taking aspirin. The studies are encouraging but not conclusive, and Sorensen warns that there are risks involved in taking painkillers regularly. "We would not recommend taking aspirin as an effective way of reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's," she says. "They can cause dangerous side-effects, such as kidney and liver problems and stomach ulcers."

Several studies have found that some anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, can reduce the levels of abnormal proteins in the brain that lead to Alzheimer's. Because doctors are unsure why these drugs appear to reduce abnormal proteins, they warn against taking the drugs in the hope it will help prevent Alzheimer's, and say that more research is needed.

4. Work at your social life. Having plenty of friends is another factor. Scientists have suggested a link between loneliness and Alzheimer's after observing a group of adults for four years. They found that people who spent more time on their own were more likely to develop the condition later in life. A study in Sweden found that people with extensive social networks were 60 percent less likely to develop dementia than those living alone.

Leisure activities can have an effect on the health of our hearts and brains, and socializing with friends and family may protect your brain. Ballard says: "Some evidence shows that social interaction promotes better brain repair." One benefit of seeing friends may simply be that it gets you away from the TV; U.S. scientists have suggested that sitting in front of the television for too long is harmful to brain health.

5. Just say "no." Studies of mice have shown that one of the active ingredients in cannabis can block toxic proteins and reduce inflammation, two factors said to cause Alzheimer's. Don't be tempted to try this, however, as the cannabis derivative that appears to reduce the risk of developing the disease is not found in the form of the drug smoked by users.

Taking ecstasy can cause long-term brain damage, such as problems with learning and memory, and scientists fear this may lead to dementia later on. But "it's too early to tell", says Sorensen.

6. Ask your family. Work by the Alzheimer's Society has shown that the chances of inheriting the disease from a parent or relative could be moderately low. "We know that there are a small number of families where there is a very clear inheritance of dementia from one generation to the next," Sorensen says. "But, for the majority of people, the effect of inheritance seems to be small," she adds. If a parent or relative has Alzheimer's, your chance of developing it is only a little higher than if there were no cases in the family, the Alzheimer's Society says.

If both parents suffer from Alzheimer's, you could be twice as likely to develop the condition, according to a small study carried out in the U.S. in March. "It is clear that genes do play a role, but the largest risk-factor remains your age," Sorensen says. "One in three people over 65 will die with dementia."

Genetic testing for Alzheimer's is available in some countries. Scientists believe that a test can only show an increased risk from one in five to one in four, and Ballard believes that testing would cause unnecessary worry.

7. Eat a healthy diet. Eating a "Mediterranean diet" of vegetables, fruit and fish can cut your chances of developing the condition by 40 percent, according to some studies. The diet contains high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants; these inhibit the production of free radicals, which can kill living cells. Some studies suggest that caffeine, and even dark chocolate, can prevent Alzheimer's and protect the brain from forgetfulness. "A diet full of green leafy vegetables, oily fish and the odd glass of wine is best for those who want to follow a diet that can help lower their chances of developing dementia," says Sorensen. Curcumin, found in turmeric and often used in curries, has also been found to have a protective effect. It appears to work by clearing harmful proteins from the brain that can lead to Alzheimer's. "Studies show that curcumin may protect nerve cells and thus reduce the risk of dementia," says Ballard. Certain vegetables that contain betacarotene, such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach, have also been shown to improve the health of the brain.

From my inbox...

1 ripe banana, mashed
2 cups water (or soymilk, almond milk, rice milk)
1/2 cup rolled oats, uncooked
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
vanilla extract, to taste (optional)
2 Tbs. maple syrup (optional)
1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. Soak the oats in water or non-dairy milk over night.
2. Mix together the mashed banana and oat mixture.
3. Add remaining ingredients and mix, leaving some lumps in the batter.
4. Cook on a waffle iron, according to the manufacturer's instructions (Note: The batter also works for pancakes).
5. Top with fresh fruit and some syrup

From my inbox...

The Cereal Slaughter
by Carla Mae Jansen
Save $552 on breakfast!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and yet it
can be a black hole for the budget. My family loves dry
cereal, but when we were looking for ways to cut expenses, we
realized that we were spending $70 per month on breakfast
cereal, and that didn't include the milk!

Our immediate solution was to try making our own granola. I
found a recipe and adjusted it to make some cereal I liked. We
liked it enough that I made it three times a week. We were now
spending $24 a month on breakfast. The best part is that we
still loved our food and it was actually much healthier for
us. We now save $46 every month or $552 per year! What would
you do with an extra $552 a year?

It can get even better. Eating homemade granola was like a
stepping stone for us. Now, on many days a week, we even eat
cooked oatmeal for breakfast. It's simpler, saves time, is
even healthier for us, and it saves about $70 more per year.

If you're not ready to jump away from all your dry cereal, try
eating dry cereal once a week and granola or toast and fruit
on the other days of the week. You may even find your body
feeling better because it is eating more nutritious foods!

Here are a few recipes we use most often. Feel free to adjust
them to your tastes and needs.

Granola:

6 cups oatmeal
1 cup dry milk
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place the oatmeal, milk, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
3. Mix the oil, honey, sugar, and vanilla in a sauce pan over
medium heat just until it begins to boil.
4. Pour the oil mixture into the oatmeal mixture and quickly
stir until everything is moist.
5. Spread your granola onto a cookie sheet and place in the
oven for 6 minutes.
6. Carefully stir the granola and replace in the oven for
another 5-7 minutes.
7. Let the granola cool, then remove it from the pan.

The following variations are sometimes fun, but will make the
granola more expensive. I suggest using them occasionally to
spice up your breakfasts.

Apple Cinnamon: Add 1-2 cups applesauce to your saucepan
mixture, 2-3 tablespoons of cinnamon and an additional 1 cup
of oatmeal to your oatmeal mixture.

Blueberry (my personal favorite): Add 2 cups frozen
blueberries to your saucepan mixture and an additional 1-2
cups of oatmeal to your oatmeal mixture.

Pumpkin: Add 1 cup canned pumpkin to your saucepan mixture and
1 cup oatmeal to your oatmeal mixture.

Cooked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal:

Oatmeal
Water
Unsweetened Applesauce
Cinnamon
Dark Brown Sugar

1. Put the desired amount of oatmeal in a microwave safe bowl.
Most people will begin with 1/2 cup raw oatmeal.
2. Slowly add water until the oatmeal is just covered.
3. Cook in your microwave for 2 minutes.
4. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup applesauce, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1
1/2 tablespoons sugar.
5. Mix well. Add milk if desired.

Cooked Oatmeal Variations:

Instead of the applesauce, cinnamon and sugar, try adding your
favorite fruit (strawberries or blueberries are so delicious!)
or another flavor like maple or banana nut. You can use the
same flavors in cooking your granola also.

The less sugar you use, the healthier your breakfast is. Some
members of my family enjoy their oatmeal without any added
sugar while others need the full 1 1/2 tablespoons. Experiment
and see how much you really need.

Sidebar:

One cup of oatmeal contains the following:

- 8 grams of fiber
- less than 2 grams of sugar
- 5 grams of fat
- no cholesterol
- a full cup of whole grains

It's a healthy punch to start your day!
_______________________

Carla Mae Jansen is a freelance writer in Texas. She has a BS
in Biology Composite Teaching, and loves to find ways to live
simpler and healthier.

Take the Next Step:
- Most of us probably keep the basic granola ingredients in
our pantry. So, why not whip up a batch today? Your family
will thank you.

From my inbox...

Ways to Teach Kids That Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
by Eric Tyson
8 tools to make your job easier

If you're looking for a silver lining to the economic
slowdown, it's the perfect impetus for your kids to learn
smart personal finance habits. So if you're feeling guilty
because you can't buy your child that video game system he
desperately wants or send him to that trendy summer camp.
Don't. In fact, now is the perfect time to teach your kids
some valuable financial lessons.

Kids are surprisingly aware of what's going on in the world.
And if they don't know that times are a little bit tough and
Mom and Dad are having to watch their spending, it's time to
tell them. Sheltering kids from financial realities does them
no favors.

Indeed, the opposite is true. A good grasp of personal finance
is one of the most valuable life skills a person can have. And
while previous generations may have been raised with the
constant admonishment that "money doesn't grow on trees!," too
many of today's parents neglect that lesson. It's time to
change that, and the economic slowdown we're in now provides a
great incentive for doing so. Ready to get started? Try these
helpful hints:

- Realize that kids learn what they live. It may sound like
common sense, but you are your kids' most influential teacher.
When you ring up a barge-load of credit card debt, take out
exorbitant mortgages or car loans, and fail to save anything,
that's what your kids come to see as normal. If you are
modeling unhealthy financial habits, you can't realistically
expect your kids to "do as I say, not as I do."

- De-program them. Kids are constantly bombarded with
information about what things cost, whether it's the fancy
sports car they like or the wardrobe of their favorite athlete
or actor, not to mention the 40,000 commercials that the
American Academy of Pediatrics estimates the average American
child sees each year. What they aren't bombarded with is
knowledge on how to manage money effectively. And while
schools are increasingly incorporating money issues into the
existing curriculum, the broader concepts of personal
financial management still aren't taught. Frightening though
it may be, some schools rely on free "educational" materials
from the likes of VISA and MasterCard!

- An allowance is a great teaching tool. A well-implemented
allowance program can mimic many money matters that adults
face every day throughout their lives. From recognizing the
need to earn the green stuff to learning how to responsibly
and intelligently spend, save, and invest their allowance,
children can gain a solid financial footing from a young age.

- Start them saving and investing early. It's never too early
to start saving, and the sooner you can instill the importance
of saving money into your kids the better. After they start
earning an allowance, have your kids save a significant
portion (up to half) of their allowance money toward longer-
term goals, such as college (just be careful about putting
money in children's names as doing so can harm college
financial aid awards). As they accumulate more significant
savings over time, you can introduce the concept of investing.

- Reduce their exposure to ads. The primary path to reduced
exposure to ads is to cut down on TV time. When kids are in
front of the tube, have them watch prerecorded material. And
for older kids, if you use digital video recorders (DVRs),
such as TIVO, you can easily zap ads. But when an ad does
sneak under the radar and set the kids to begging, address it.
Invest the necessary time to teach and explain to your kids
that the point of advertising is to motivate consumers to buy
the product by making it sound more wonderful or necessary
than it really is.

- Teach them how to shop wisely. Family shopping trips,
whether for groceries or something else, are likely to be your
kids' first encounter with spending. They'll see you make
decisions based on what the family needs, maybe see the
occasional coupon used, and will observe how you pay. These
trips are a great time to teach them lessons about money.

- Introduce the right and wrong ways to use credit and debit
cards. Those plastic cards in your wallet offer a convenient
way to conduct purchases in stores, by phone, and over the
Internet. Unfortunately, credit cards offer temptation for
overspending and carrying debt from month to month. Teach your
kids the difference between a credit and debit card,
explaining that debit cards are connected to your checking
account and thus prevent you from overspending as you can on a
credit card.

- Encourage older kids to get a job. An allowance doesn't have
to be the only way for your kids to earn money. Your child's
initial exposure to the work-for-pay world can start with
something as simple as a lemonade stand. Depending on age, he
or she might do yard work for neighbors or offer babysitting
services. And the fact that we're in a recession makes it all
the more appropriate for older kids to "help out" by getting a
part-time job, especially to fund unnecessary purchases like
DVDs or cool clothing.

Besides the learning opportunities it presents, there's
another positive to the economic downturn. It forces families
to be more thoughtful about how they spend their time and this
often leads to the stunning realization that money really
doesn't buy happiness.

Often, the pricey toys we buy and the lavish vacations we take
are simply distractions from the people we love. They send the
message that it's necessary to spend a lot of money in order
to have a good time. It's not, of course. The best things in
life (friends, family, quiet evenings at home just being
together) really are free. Sometimes it's good to be reminded
of that.
_____________________

Eric Tyson, MBA, is one of the nation's best-selling personal
finance book authors and the author of "Personal Finance For
Dummies" (Wiley). He is also the author of "Investing For
Dummies" and co-author of "Home Buying For Dummies" and "Real
Estate Investing For Dummies," among other titles. Eric is a
former columnist and award-winning journalist for the San
Francisco Examiner. His most recent book is "Let's Get Real
About Money! Profit from the Habits of the Best Personal
Finance Managers" (FT Press, December 2007, ISBN-10: 0-
1323416-1-1, ISBN-13: 978-0-1323416-1-5, $19.99) is available
in bookstores nationwide and from all major online
booksellers. For more information, please visit
www.ftpress.com.

Take the Next Step:
- It's time to stop feeling guilty for the things that you
can't give your kids. Now is the time to focus on what you can
give them. Use the current economic slowdown to teach your
kids some valuable financial lessons. After all, a good grasp
of personal finance is one of the most valuable life skills a
person can have.

From my inbox...

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day.
I love you.


P.S. And, remember...
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.

Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know!

From my inbox...

Success in Prayer
Bishop Keith Butler

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

Luke 22:40 (KJV)

Jesus and His disciples have just finished the last supper. They are now in the garden of Gethsemane and He tells them something to take note of.



He told them to pray. He said pray that you enter not into temptation. He is teaching a lesson. Prayer is the key to not falling. If you have a flesh problem, cold showers are not going to get it done for you. Having a relationship with God every day (spending time before God in prayer and having worship and praise) and allowing the Holy Ghost to communicate to you and you to Him is what works. You will come to a place where you will fall so in love with God that you will be more in love with Him than contemplating sin with so and so. Prayer is what keeps you from stealing. Prayer is what keeps you from falling into some other area. Prayer is the key to not falling into temptation.



Without a prayer life, you are vulnerable to the enemy. It is not enough just to read the devotion for the day. You must also personally have a relationship with God yourself on a daily basis. The Lord wants you to hang out with Him. You and God are a community. You and God are a family. He is the Father. You are the child. The Father wants time with the child. And all the time that the child spends with the Father, the more strength of the Father the child receives. This strength is used to overcome every temptation.



God has a wife for you. He has a husband for you. He has a job for you. He has healing for you. He has opened up the windows of heaven and He pours out blessings that you do not have enough room to receive it all.



But you have to be patient. We are in the "me right now" generation. Nothing worth having in life is gotten instantly. Everything is seed, time, time, and time... You must put time with that seed. Time means uninterrupted trust in the seed. I know this seed will work. I know what God said. Then you understand that time is your friend. God can compress His blessing in you and make a year seem like 100 years. He restores that which the canker worm has eaten. You will never lose when you follow God.



Scripture References: Genesis 8:22; Acts 10:31; 1 Thes.

5:17

From my inbox...

Would this be great if it was taught in every school.
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials

and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God.  
   
Here are some of the results: scroll down.

Wednesday I worked ALL DAY, and when I got home all I had energy to make was grilled chicken salads for Dave and me, and leftover hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for the kids.

     Yesterday, my mom and I went strawberry picking.  We went in the morning, and we picked yesterday because it wasn't too hot outside.  I picked 10 quarts of strawberries!  My dad watched the kids while we were gone.  They would have gotten bored.  Emily would have been ok, she would have just sat there, but Cameron would have run wild!  So I took them home, and I taught Emily how to make strawberry jam.  I had gotten a kids' jam-making kit, so it's just the no-cook freezer jam, but she learned something and she was proud of herself!  I cut the tops off the strawberries, and I helped her crush them, but she stirred it herself and she ladled it into her containers and put the lids on.  She really didn't make as big of a mess as I thought she would.  She was very careful.  I could have done it a lot faster by myself, but she learned something, so it was worth the extra time.  Cameron doesn't like doing stuff in the kitchen unless it's eating, LOL.  After that, I got the kids some lunch, and then I hung out a load of laundry that I put in the washer before I left in the morning.  I put in another load of laundry and I baked 2 loaves of strawberry bread.  While it was in the oven, I got all the rest of the strawberries ready for the freezer.  I put some in bigger bags and some in small bags.  I will use them for baking or smoothies in the fall and winter.  Since I picked 10 quarts the lady let me have them for $2 a quart instead of $2.50 a quart.  I had scrounged up the money I thought I needed, so I bought some honey while I was there.  A local beekeeper takes his bees there when the strawberry plants are starting to blossom, and the honey is made from that.  After I was done freezing all the strawberries, I hung out the other load of laundry and then I started on making other things.  Eggs were on sale for 88 cents a dozen, so I made pickled eggs and egg salad for us to snack on.  Dave loves them both!  Dave took Cameron to tae kwon do, and I started supper.  I made spaghetti.  It's Dave's favorite, plus it was easy for me to make.  They came back, and Dave said that Cameron broke his first board at tae kwon do!  It was pretty thick, too!  He got to bring it home.  I am so proud of him!  After supper, we watched a movie together.  Well, mostly.  Dave's friend called in the middle of it, and he sat and talked to him.  The night before, he called in the middle of dinner and Dave talked to him forever then too.  I am getting really tired of it, because Dave doesn't say more than 2 words to me most times, and when we get more than 2 seconds together, his friend calls.  Whatever.  I am goignt o go now, but I hope everyone has a wonderful day!