Archives for November 2014

Midweek Morsel: Winner Plus Life-Filled Scriptures

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The day is finally here—time to announce the winner of my Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway. Woohoo, huh?!

Remember, all subscribers were included in the draw, and for the past month I’ve been giving more people time to sign up for Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter, so their names could be tossed in the hat, too. But now, with the help of RANDOM.ORG, we have a winner of the $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble, and that lucky Life Notes subscriber is Nancy D.! Congrats, Nancy, and enjoy!

Since all Life Notes subscribers can’t win the gift card today, allow me to bless you with some life-filled scriptures. After all, God’s Word is truly the more valuable gift, isn’t it? May these verses fill you with joy today as we remember that in Jesus we have light and life—eternal life!

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:4

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

“he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12

“. . .Whoever is thirsty let him come; and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17

*If you’ve not yet received the free gift of eternal life that Jesus offers us, why not call on him today? Ask him to forgive your sins and come into your life to be your Lord and Savior. You’ll be glad you did—for all eternity!

*It’s not too late to receive the current issue of Life Notes. Sign up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by midlander1231, Creative Commons License

An Autumn Gift: Mom’s Old Fashioned Dressing Recipe

Dinner waiting to happen

I don’t know what it is about autumn, but it always makes me want to share a recipe with you. Since I’m all about refreshing spirits and nourishing souls, recipes don’t take the stage here very often, but doggone it, a yummy dish of some sort can go a long way to refreshing our spirits, can’t it?

With Thanksgiving just around the corner and with memories of my mom especially dear to me (we lost her one year ago on Oct. 21st), I’d like to share her Old Fashioned Dressing recipe with you. It definitely qualifies as comfort food for me because it reminds me so much of Mom. But for you, even without the memories, it will make a super delicious side dish for your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey.

So here’s an autumn gift from my mom to me to you—my mom’s recipe for dressing:

Old Fashioned Dressing (from the kitchen of Charlene Hoy)

3 1/2 C breadcrumbs
3 1/2 C cornbread crumbs
1 C chopped onion
2 C chopped celery (saute celery and onion)
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
2/3 C melted margarine
1 1/3 C milk
1 1/4 C turkey broth
2 eggs slightly beaten

Combine crumbs, onion, celery, and seasonings. Add margarine, milk, broth, and eggs tossing lightly to blend. Stuff loosely into turkey cavity or spread into greased casserole. Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees. Yield stuffing for 12 pound turkey.

Hope you enjoy this gift handed down from Mom!

“‘Freely you have received, freely give.’” Matthew 10:8b

*What’s one of your favorite dishes for Thanksgiving?

*Flickr photo by ldrose, Creative Commons License

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is underway. Details are in my Oct. 16 post and sign-up is to the right under “Free For You.” Deadline is 6 p.m. Nov. 12. Don’t miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Wedding Day Photo Idea: The Groom and Minister

groom and minister

Looking for some Wedding Day photo ideas especially for the groom, Mother of the Bride? It’s a fact of wedding life that the groom takes a back seat to the bride when it comes to photos that feature just one or the other. Truth be told, grooms are probably fine with this, but why not suggest a few shots to your photographer especially of the groom? He deserves star treatment, too, right?

One great idea is to capture a candid or private moment between the groom and minister on Wedding Day. All kinds of possibilities abound for minister and groom shots, but candid shots can end up being especially artsy.

I love the shot above of my son-in-law Shawn and the minister—who just happens to be my brother-in-law Keith—as they prepare to take their places for the ceremony. I love that it’s just the two of them and that Keith is holding his Bible and that it’s a picture of Shawn walking into a new life. A photo full of meaning.

Add this shot to your list for the photographer, MOB. Everyone will be glad you did!

*You might also like to read Wedding Day Tip: A List for the Photographer, Wedding Photo Idea: Groom Admires His Bride, Photo Idea: Bridesmaids Blow the Groom a Kiss!, and Wedding Tasks Perfect for the Groom.

*Photo by Chris Humphrey Photography

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is underway. Details are in my Oct. 16 post on my home page and sign-up is to the right under “Free For You.” Deadline is 6 p.m. Nov. 12. Don’t miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Midweek Morsel: Love Matters More

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The power of love is more than a clichéd phrase, isn’t it? What God does in our lives through the power of love is nothing short of astounding. In fact, when love enters the picture, everything can change.

Forgiveness is one of the most amazing and God-empowered expressions of love we can give or receive. Consider the following lines of verse from Jane Merchant:

“I do not say that there were no
Misunderstandings, discontents,
And hurts. I would it had been so . . .
But these we learned to live above.
I do not say there were no hurts.
I say they mattered less than love.”

And that’s the power of love—when hurts matter less and love matters more. May love reign supreme and be the rule in all of our lives!

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

*When have you seen love matter more?

*Flickr photo by digital-dreams, Creative Commons License

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is underway. Details are in my Oct. 16 post and sign-up is to the right under “Free For You.” Deadline is 6 p.m. Nov. 12. Don’t miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Wedding Favors That Grow: Tree Seedlings!

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Mother of the Bride, has your daughter considered tree seedlings as a wedding favor? If she would like to gift your guests with something that will last long beyond the wedding party, tree seedlings could be the perfect choice.

Here are three great reasons tree seedlings are great options as favors:

1) They are not only gifts for the guests but also gifts to the environment. You will feel good about providing them, and the guests will feel good when planting them.

2) A tree seedling can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony with a little creative thought. They can be quite symbolic and meaningful.

3) They can be planted in honor of the couple’s marriage and become a living reminder of their new family and the beautiful day they were united in marriage.

For more reasons to offer tree seedlings and for ideas and instruction on presentation, check out “Wedding Trees for Weddings and Corporate Events” on nurserymen.com . You’ll find lots of helpful information in the article.

And one more thing, MOB—tree seedlings can fit in especially well décor-wise with winter weddings, but they can be used year round. The article on nurserymen.com will explain what types of trees work best at which time of year.

So why not give a favor that grows? Everyone will enjoying going green!

*You might also like to read Green Wedding Tip: Rent and Borrow More Items

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is underway. Details are in my Oct. 16 post on my home page and sign-up is to the right under “Free For You.” Deadline is 6 p.m. Nov. 12. Don’t miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

*Flickr photo by Midwest Family Life, Creative Commons License