Links I Love (and you will, too!)

This is the perfect day to stay inside! In between enjoying your family, doing a little straightening up around the house, and getting something cooking, check out these helpful websites!

http://www.918moms.com/
Here's some information from their site:
918moms.com offers a variety of options for moms in the 918 area code who are looking to connect with other moms, swap stories and share advice. In addition to the mom to mom forums, we offer blogs, a calendar of events, directory with a ratings system, photo gallery, contests and you can enroll in the 918 Coupon Queen University.

My personal favorite is the Coupon Queen, Sarah Roe. You can hear her testimony here:
http://www.918moms.com/pages/918_coupon_queen.html


http://www.5dollardinners.com/
The $5 Dinners Mission
To make dinner for my family every night for $5 or less! To prepare healthy meals using natural and wholesome ingredients! To encourage and inspire others to do the same!

My Newest Favorite Magazine & A Recipe You Should Try!

The February/March 2009 issue of Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade magazine is great!  Check out the website at www.semihomemademag.com

Here's the recipe that I tried and love:

Pamela Owen's Ravioli Lasagna

Makes about 8 to 10 servings

1 (26 oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce, divided

3 cups frozen cheese ravioli, about 1 (16 oz) package

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided, Sargento brand is suggested

1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

3 cups frozen beef ravioli, about 1 (15 oz) package

1 (8 oz) package shredded mozzarella cheese, Sargento brand is suggested

Garnish:  chopped fresh parsley

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 13X9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2.  Spread 1 cup of sauce evenly into bottom of the prepared dish.  Top with a single layer of cheese ravioli.  sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan.  Top with spinach.  Top with a single layer of beef ravioli.  Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.  Spread with remaining 1 cup sauce.  Top with mozzarella.  Cover with foil, and bake for 45 minutes.  Remove foil, and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until bubbly and cheese is lightly browned.  Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

The Power of Your Words

Speak Gently

Speak gently! It is better far 
To rule by love than fear; 
Speak gently; let no harsh words mar 
The good we might do here! 

Speak gently! Love doth whisper low 
The vows that true hearts bind; 
And gently Friendship's accents flow; 
Affection's voice is kind. 

Speak gently to the little child! 
Its love be sure to gain; 
Teach it in accents soft and mild; 
It may not long remain. 

Speak gently to the young, for they 
Will have enough to bear; 
Pass through this life as best they may, 
'Tis full of anxious care! 

Speak gently to the aged one, 
Grieve not the care-worn heart; 
Whose sands of life are nearly run, 
Let such in peace depart! 

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor; 
Let no harsh tone be heard; 
They have enough they must endure, 
Without an unkind word! 

Speak gently to the erring; know 
They may have toiled in vain; 
Perchance unkindness made them so; 
Oh, win them back again! 

Speak gently! He who gave his life 
To bend man's stubborn will, 
When elements were in fierce strife, 
Said to them, "Peace, be still." 

Speak gently! 'tis a little thing 
Dropped in the heart's deep well; 
The good, the joy, that it may bring, 
Eternity shall tell. 

--Anonymous

Slow Cookers To The Rescue!

The Proverbs 31 woman had handmaidens and so do we! Our slow cookers! Here are those recipes I promised:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1712,130188-249197,00.html

CROCK POT ROAST BEEF

4 pound pot roast
1 package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 can stewed tomatoes
1/2 cup flour
1 can whole mushrooms
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 tablespoons Kitchen Bouquet
3 tablespoons olive oil
Roll roast in flour. Sear roast in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Place in Crock-pot along with soup, tomatoes, mushrooms, the package of onion soup mix and Kitchen Bouquet. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
Submitted by: Tania

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-and-Dumplings/Detail.aspx
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
SUBMITTED BY: Janiece Mason PHOTO BY: Allrecipes "This is an easy slow cooker recipe that cooks while you are at work! It is wonderful on a cold, snowy day. I have four children who are picky eaters, and they LOVE this! Enjoy!"

RECIPE RATING:Read Reviews (2,264)
Review/Rate This Recipe
PREP TIME
10 Min
COOK TIME
6 Hrs
READY IN
6 Hrs 10 Min
SERVINGS (Help)

Servings 

US
METRIC
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces
Add to Recipe Box

DIRECTIONS
Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

The Dignity & Sanctity Of The Home

Our homes should be treasured assets -- not for what they contain, but for those they contain: our families! The world tells us to pursue careers, higher education, and social advancements -- yet those do not promote love and peace in our homes...and often cause more stress and division! Families rushing in and out, trying to keep up with the demands and pressures of this world often come home to a cluttered environment, with only fast foods or cereal for dinner, and the television as the only "family time." 

What about YOUR home?
Does the atmosphere make you feel welcome? Is there a comfy place to sit? A meal simmering in the crockpot? 

Let's try a couple of small things today, okay?
Load/Unload the dishwasher and don't stress about the pots and pats, just get them soaking.
Find a laundry basket and when you're watching the news, fold the laundry that's been piling up on the couch. Take it out of the living room. *Makes a pretty good visual impact, doesn't it?
Where's your crockpot? Do you have a roast or a chicken you can put in there tonight? It's okay if they're frozen. I'll add a couple of recipes in the next blog! 
Refill that drink (water would be REALLY good for you right now) and let's grab your calendar!
Mark everyone's appointments and activities first...
then through this next week, list out what each person does for the rest of the day: computer time, television time, talking on the phone, texting, playing, visiting friends, etc. We're going to go over that list at the end of the week, sorting each person's day into categories of how they spend their time. Once that's done, it's good to pray about it and ask the LORD if the categories need to change according to what is the biggest priority for your family. Is there too much play and too little work? Too much work and not enough family time? Too much entertainment and not enough spiritual growth? Share the results with your entire family and encourage change where it is needed. 
No beating yourselves up -- just resolve to try to do better!

Where Do I Start?

The best place to start is at the feet of Jesus! You can't go wrong there!

Begin this journey by asking Him to give you ears to hear and a heart to receive His Truth as we learn how to become the women He has called us to be! Don't let the enemy beat you up by reminding you of the times you've failed, the laundry mountain nearby, or the "Past Due" notice you received in today's mail! This is a new day and time for a fresh start!

Now grab your favorite drink (Dr. Pepper for me!) and let's learn a bit more about The Home Experience...

For over 40 years, Devi Titus has been a pastor's wife, renowned conference speaker and mentor. She is the founder of Virtue magazine, The Mentoring Mansion, and THE HOME EXPERIENCE. Devi realized that while conferences were a blessing to the women who attended, they did not have the life-altering impact that woman-to-woman mentoring has. As she sought the LORD, He began to teach her what His Word says about the Home.

Devi shares this knowledge in her book and DVD series, THE HOME EXPERIENCE. I was privileged to attend The Mentoring Mansion to take THE HOME EXPERIENCE classes with Devi as my mentor. What I gleaned from my time with her continues to be a priceless treasure for myself and my family. We have experienced so much overflow of blessing that I am delighted to be able to bring these principals to you! Not only do I teach THE HOME EXPERIENCE classes, but I will also share with you in this blog. Won't you join me?

Welcome To My Home Experience!

Would you like to make your home a Sanctuary of Love and a Haven of Peace?

That's really a desire of all our hearts, isn't it? We'd love to come home to a place where we and those we love would feel cherished, protected, and restored! But how do we accomplish that with everything else we have to do? How do we, when we're already running on empty, manage to find ways to create that Sanctuary of Love? How, when we're so rushed for time, do we bring about a Haven of Peace?

The Bible tells us, "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasure." Proverbs 24:3-4. Obviously we all need wisdom, understanding and knowledge in order to create the environment we crave for ourselves and our families. It sounds like a tall order, doesn't it? For some it may even seem completely unobtainable. Is it even worth all the effort?

God placed women in position to be the keepers or the guards of the home. Titus 2:3-5 is very clear in letting us know what He has called us to do! It is our calling to watch over what enters into our homes -- guarding against anything that will assault that Sanctuary of Love or attempt to steal our Haven of Peace. As guards, we not only watch for these attacks, we also sound the alarm to alert the troops. We issue the call to action! We defend our homes as fiercely as warriors in battle.

But wait, did you even know you were supposed to do that? And if you are, HOW? Is it already too late? No matter how late it may seem, don't despair and don't give up! We will work together, step by step, to begin making the changes God desires and your heart yearns for!


http://www.mentoringmansion.com/