30 Days of Gratitude: Day Four - Goodly Parents

A handful (or more) of years ago, two young people fell in love, got married, and decided to start a family. 

Cliche as it may sound, I am grateful for that decision. Without them not only would I not be the person I am today, but quite frankly, I wouldn't be. Period. My existence depended on that beautiful young blonde and her stubborn, long-haired beau. 

I am so grateful for the parents I have been blessed with. They've taught me the value of hard work. They've taught me about unconditional love. They sacrificed much for me and my siblings when we were young, and they continue to do so today.  I'm grateful for the things that they taught me and the virtues that they've showed me. I am thrilled by their support and involvement in my children's lives. 

Every day I see hints of them in me (and I'm not gonna lie, some of those revelations are more delightful than others!) Being a parent is hard work. So, at times, is being a spouse. I'm grateful for the example my parents set for me in both of these aspects.  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day Three - A Loving Savior

Many years ago I had an experience that literally brought me to my knees. I was crippled by my deficiencies; broken by my mistakes. My state of imperfection was not just humbling, it was horrifying!  There was no hope of ever measuring up... 

And, without the grace of our Savior, there was no hope of making my wrongs right. 

I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. My testimony in him was founded at one of the lowest points of my life, but my need for his divine love and intervening grace is never ceasing. I am grateful for the knowledge that He is there to help me through the hard times. I am grateful for His Atoning sacrifice on my behalf. I am humbled that He would suffer for me. I am humbled that He would die for me. And I am humbled that He would advocate for me with our Father.    

Jesus Christ is my Savior. He is my Brother... He is my Friend. I am grateful for my relationship with Him and for HIS LOVE for ME!  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day Two - Motherhood

It's hard to imagine an existence without my children. Motherhood has defined my life in a way that my once highly desired career path never could have. I am grateful for the opportunity and the PRIVILEGE to be the mother to four of the most AMAZING people to walk this planet!

Four very different young personalities grace our home - and I LOVE and CHERISH each of them. My life is complete because of their very existence. They inspire me with their talents and abilities. They make me laugh, they help me grow, and I'm not sure a single day has past that they didn't teach me something.

   

I'm humbled to have been entrusted with such amazing spirits. I am honored by their examples of love and service. And I am grateful for the blessing of being their mother.  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day One - My Better Half

I've decided to take on the challenge of posting each day this month one thing for which I am grateful. Coming up with 30 things is not hard for me, because, honestly, I have much gratitude for the many blessings in my life. Posting on my blog EVERY DAY for 30 days, however, may be a futile challenge! 

Day One:

When I count my BLESSINGS, I count him TWICE!

Many moons ago, when I was young, spunky, and perhaps even a bit foolish, I met an equally young, kind of quiet, and very wise (I mean, obviously: he married me!) young man. Little did either of us know at that tender age just how intertwined our futures would become.

Even then, he was different from the other guys I knew. The first time he tenderly kissed my forehead, I was a goner.  That soft-spoken, kind, and oh, so very patient boy was exactly what this loud-mouthed, opinionated, handful of a girl needed. He balanced me perfectly - and, four kids and seventeen years of marriage later, he still does.

He is the anchor that keeps this OCD nut sane. His patience is impeccable, his devotion unmatched. His constant pursuit of faith and knowledge inspire me. His wisdom humbles me. His laughter recharges me and his smile melts my soul! Today and everyday, I am grateful for my Ryan.

Healer's Destiny

Welcome to the media blast for Healer's Destiny, the great new novel from author Julee F Page.

Not only are you entered for the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card, courtesy of Julee F Page, you also have the chance to win a copy of Healer's Destiny, as well as lots of other prizes from other authors and bloggers. In total there are 8 prizes to give away. That means 8 winners!

Enter on the Rafflecopter on this page, then hop on over to the other participating blogs listed beneath the Rafflercopter for more chances to enter.

A war is waged on humanity when the kingdom of Kavorin
realizes only male heirs are being born. The curse can only be broken by a
young girl brought up in secret. Her heritage protects her from human magic,
but in order to break the curse she must leave everything she holds dear and
face the most powerful man in the kingdom.

The daughter of a gifted blacksmith and student to the great
magician Gethin, Eliana finds her world turned upside down as she leaves her
home to fulfill her destiny. Trolls, heartless bandits, and dragons are only a
few of the dangers Eliana will face on her journey. What she doesn’t expect to
find is an angry god behind the chaos her world has been suffering from for so
many years.  

 

About the Author

Julee Page is an RN from SLC, UT. She lives with her husband
and two beautiful sons. Reading has always been a passion of hers and writing followed easily behind. While she loves all types of literature, Fantasy and Science Fiction are her favorites. She hopes her works will be enjoyed by many in the years to come.

 You can discover more about Julee at the following links:

You can purchase Healer's Destiny at the following links:

                                                    

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Now hop on over to these other blogs for even more chances to enter:

Healer's Destiny

Prose by Design

Sherry Gammon

Cindy C Bennett

Jamie Canosa

Felicia Rogers

The Last Selkie

Eve's Fan Garden

Queendsheena

Forbidden Reviews

My Devotional Thoughts

Lucky Books

Not Me Did It

Reader Girls

Vamps and Stuff

Maren Dille

Homemade Tomato Soup

I woke up to a shockingly crisp 41 degree morning. By noon we'd hit a high somewhere near the mid 60's. The leaves are starting to turn and my mums are in full bloom. This can only mean one thing:

 It's SOUP SEASON!!  

For the last few weeks my kids have been requesting Homemade Tomato Soup. Today seems like a good day to oblige them. If you're a novice to soup making, tomato may be the easiest place to start. It's really quite simple and can be made start to finish in less than hour. Or if you're like me, you can throw everything in the slow cooker and let it do its thing all day while you do your's.

Tomato Soup - *Sugar-free

Serves 8 - 10. (Can be canned or frozen too) 

Ingredients: 
9 cups of tomatoes (skinned) or 3 large (28oz) cans of crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
5 sprigs fresh parsley
1 carrot, pealed and chopped
1 tsp salt (omit if using canned tomatoes)
black pepper to taste

1. Place all ingredients in stock pot over medium-high heat. Stirring frequently, cook until vegetables are tender. (About 30 - 45 min) **Or place ingredients in slow cooker on low heat for several hours until veggies are tender.

2. Run cooked mixture through food processor or blender and return to low heat until ready to serve.

Serving suggestions: 

• Top with sour cream, cooked bacon, or shredded cheese 
• Couple with grilled cheese sandwiches. (Our personal favorite) 
• Use as a base for soups like pasta fagiolli or minestrone. 

What kind of friend are you?

As a parent I think its only natural to wonder about the kinds of friends my children pick. Likewise, I find myself frequently reminding them of the kind of friends they should be. Lately, however, it seems I've spent a lot of time and thought turning that question around on myself. - What kind of friend am I? And, more importantly, What kind of friend do I want to be?

Do I uplift people? 

Do I make them laugh? 

Do I build them up? 

And the all-important question:  Am I a good example? 

I have been blessed with great friends... Camping friends, golfing friends, crafty-friends, writing friends, reading friends, chatty friends, and even the "I've always got your back" friends. I've got friends that I laugh with and friends that I can be serious with. Mature friends and well, some not so mature ones, too! And, while no two of my friends posses the same qualities, they all contribute to my life and make me a better person.

  

In a world full of takers, I hope to be a giver. In a world full of anger, I hope to be a peacemaker. When things look bleak, I hope to be able to see the bright spots. And when the chips are down, I hope to be a dependable ally.

The formula seems simple enough:  To have a friend, be a friend.