Quinoa Salad

I love to collect recipes.  Here's a new one I just got from my friend Deb. (Who is also the lady that does my hair) 

Quinoa Salad

1 Cup Uncooked Quinoa (cook according to package directions)

Green onion

Small diced tomato

Half of an orange pepper diced

Cilantro

1-2 cans drained/rinsed black beans

Mix well in a medium bowl.

In a separate small bowl, make dressing:  juice of two limes, 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1-2 teaspoons cumin, salt to taste. (f you want some pop...add some red pepper flakes)

Mix the dressing well and pour over salad and stir well. Store in the fridge. 

Quinoa is actually a seed but is considered and treated like a whole grain. It is high in fiber and high in protein.  I normally eat it warm.  I cook it in broth and sometimes add mixed veggies in with it.  I eat it as a side dish.  However, Deb had some of this quinoa salad last week when I was at the shop and gave me a taste. I didn't think I'd like it served cold, but I love this salad. 

Maybe you can give it a try. 

The Word of God

In studying the first chapter of James-dealing with trials and temptations, I also went over Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the whole armor of God. 

A new level of understanding came--EVERY piece of armor is related to the Word of God.  

So, if I am to "stand firm" against the trials and temptations of life I need to be reading, meditating, and memorizing the Word of God. If I'm not in the Word, I won't be victorious in my Christian life. 

The Word...it is my lifeline.  

Happy Anniversary...25 years and counting...

Twenty-five years ago on August 8th at a chapel on Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, two young people ages 20 and 19 were married.  While life has not always been perfect, it has been one that is full of examples of faith, hope and love.
Mickey and I met when my dad took the interim pastor position at Freedom Baptist Church.  My dad became the full time pastor the summer before our freshman year. Mickey and I were in the same homeroom class.  However, sparks did not fly with us until our junior year of high school.  The rest, as they say, is history.

First and foremost we are thankful to Jesus Christ and His ultimate example of mercy and grace.  We are also thankful to our parents  (Homer & Glenna Knipp and Charles & Garnet Jayne) for providing solid marriages as an example of love and commitment that spans decades.

Over the years, the Lord provided other specific people in our lives who influenced us.  They may not have known it at the time, but we still reflect on certain events and even things we remember them saying that shaped the way we live our lives today.  That shaped the way we have looked at marriage and raised our children.
We are thankful that before marriage, and at every duty station couples took us under their wing (whether that was their intention or not) and encouraged us along.

On the eve of our 25th wedding anniversary we will give tribute to you publicly via the blog world and say those two words that don't seem adequate enough to express how we feel about you, but here goes, "thank you!"

Scott and Rhonda: (Our youth leaders) You were around before there were many official "youth pastors".  Your home was always open to us.  Wise counsel and fun times could always be found at your home. You were also an excellent example of commitment.  Turtle soup, a good pie crust, and orange crush still remind us of you.

Clarke and Judy:  When we came to Nebraska, I (Mary Ann) didn't even know the difference between an officer and an enlisted troop.  You guided us and gave us confidence.  You also exemplified the importance of raising your kids in church even when they were little. I'll never forget Judy saying, "I don't want my kids to ever ask 'Are we going to church?'"

Bill and Jean :  A family for us away from our own. Holidays and birthdays were always so much more fun with you in our lives.  It has been a blessing to see you raise your kids and now a joy to watch you with your grandchildren.

Lin and Maribeth:  Bondage Breaker, importance of doctrine, & sola scriptura.  You were always an example of reaching out and inclusion.  Our lives will never be the same because of you two and your fantastic children.

Melvin "Bishop" and Shirley:  You knew us at two different points in our lives and were different things to us.  Not only a pastor and wife, but friends or second parents as we lived so far away from our own parents. We were challenged and loved by you.

We hope we can be the kind of influence to others that you have been in our lives. May God's love continue to fill you-- as we know you are still blessing the lives of others. Thank you for your love and support.

Mickey and Mary Ann

Goals 2012

This year I began with several goals.

1. Study through Romans and James
2. Exercise more
3. Read more (fiction and non-fiction)

We are over half way through the year and I'm good on two out of the three objectives.  I will begin my study in James next week. I completed Romans and also got through 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John; I'm currently studying Philemon.

Exercise...well, that is something that has been severely lacking but today I will do some sort of exercise. : D

On the reading front, I've read several books this year.  Gospel by J.D. Greear was a great read.  I've also picked up several Beverly Lewis books which continue to whet my appetite with my fascination of the Amish life. I also finished Robert Whitlow's Water's Edge.  I'm a huge Whitlow fan. This book is definitely in my top three favorite Whitlow's books. The first two being The Trial  and Jimmy.  Another read that I started but have paused on is Jerry Jenkin's Riven .   This is a book that I hope to go through before the end of the summer.  So many people have recommended it to me and from what I've read about what Jerry Jenkins himself has said about this work being sort of the "book of his life:, I'm excited to read it.

This is a book I'm putting on my list for next year John MacArthur's Counseling.

What were your goals for the new year?  Have you completed any goals? Are you still working on the goals you set for yourself in January?  While I'm basically failing at the second of my three goals, now is the time to pick up myself by the boot straps and say, "Hey, the year is not over and it is much better to exercise and succeed with half a year's worth of fitness than to waste the next six months waiting for a new year to roll around!"  So, here we go...

A poem

Isn't it strange
That princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?

Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
And a book of rules'
And each must make,
Ere life is flown,
A stumbling-block
Or a stepping-stone.

R.E. Sharpe

I Will Glory in My Redeemer

This was a draft I found in my blogger files.  It's old, but still pertinent.

Once I heard a pastor say that he wouldn't have certain songs in his church's worship service because he didn't feel the words were truthful for today's culture.

For instance, " You Are My All in All" when God really isn't first in our lives; or "I'd Rather Have Jesus" saying, I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold...when most people really do want more things. (money)

However, I take those lyrics as a challenge to evaluate my life and let it convict me. This is a video I found on a blog I frequent. When she sings, "I have no longings for another" it makes me think. Do I have longings for others or other things? It challenges/encourages me put my life in correct order. Watch and worship.

PS. Make sure you pause the blog playlist as you listen.

Update

Just checking in to be accountable for some of my New Year's goals.

READING

Two days late but I did finish How People Change and Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands. Both excellent reads, but I'll have to admit I'm partial to How People Change. Both books will be books that I'll be continuing to go back to.... marking in them some more, taking more notes, referencing the recommended scriptures, and continuing to digest their information and counsel.

Great challenges and convictions were shown to me through reading these books.

For March, my reading goal is to read the book The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. I only have one book a month scheduled on my reading list until August, but if time permits and with no particular goal date, I'm adding Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens to my reading list. It is also a book by Paul David Tripp.

Also, I'm continuing to read Proverbs monthly. Two months down, ten more to go. I also continue to read the Psalms chronologically. I should be finishing those by the end of March. Then the next book I want to read through and study is James. (then Romans)

REVELATION SERIES by Ryan McKee

I've listened to all the messages to the churches, except Sardis. So, I still need to download that, and then progress to the next part of the series. Great series and highly recommended.

EXERCISE

Haven't been as consistent as I would like. Been shredding, but I missed several days. However, I'm happy to report my eating is getting back under control. (somewhat) :-D

Maddie is begging me to get the new Jillian Michael's DVD: Ripped in 30, and I think I'm going to do it. It looks beastly, but something I think I would like to challenge myself to conquer. I'll keep you posted.

CRAFTS

I finished my Swiffer cover. I haven't worked on much more than that. I do have a Christmas gift I need to pick up working on again. Can't say much about that, as it is for a family member and some of them read this blog, so let's just say, if you want to encourage me....say, "Get busy, Mary!"

HOMESCHOOLING

On another note, if you are a homeschooler and looking for a grammar program, may I suggest to you, Analytical Grammar. What a great program. My daughter is parsing and diagramming sentences, and also doing some summarizing. She has a better grasp of the mechanics of gramar more than ever before.

I don't have time in this blog to tell you everything I love about this program, but go to their site with a cup of hot coffee or tea, and plan to spend some time watching the videos about their products. My daughter actually said, "I love diagramming." WOO HOO! Not since Peace Hill Press published their four levels of First Language Lessons, have I been this excited about a grammar program. I LOVE First Language Lessons, and I think there is NO BETTER elementary grammar program for homeschoolers....or any child, for that matter. I've not had anything to recommend for those who finish FLL except Abeka, which, let's face it....it NOT for every child. So check out Analytical Grammar.