Italy Mission Trip

Please pray for my son JohnDavid and his friend Danny as they are in Italy for 2 weeks with a missionary family there, Paul and Kelly Childers. Prayers for continued safety during travel and while they are out, and that the Lord will allow them to reach souls for Christ, and to be an encouragement to the Childers family who graciously allowed them to stay in their home, and to others.

The Tyrrhenian Sea

sMiLeS,

New pic ♥

My daughter and her family.

sMiLeS,

Avocado!! ♥♥♥

Avocado Tuna Salad & Avocado Cream Cheese Bacon Roll-Ups

I love avocado, even by itself... it just needs a little salt.
Seriously.  Avocados are a great snack!  ♥

So I saw a recipe on facebook that had avocado, with tuna.  Avocado Tuna Salad.  I was a bit dubious... mess up my avocado w/ tuna?!
But I tried it and although not a hit with my guys, lol, it was pretty good!
Pics and recipe here.  I added tomato.  =)


She has more avocado recipes!  =)





But the Avocado Cream Cheese Bacon Roll-Ups were divine!
I added a little more bacon than the recipe called for, and a little less tomato, for my guys.  ;)

I used these low-carb tortillas (5 net carbs each), and spread it on pretty thick, and the recipe made five.  These are about 8 inches across, and are thin and easy to roll up.  After refrigerating awhile, they slice pretty easily.

I cut the cream cheese into about 6 chunks and microwaved 30 seconds at a time until it was spreadable.  I only mashed up the avocado with a fork because I don't mind if there are small chunks.  =)
Add in crisp bacon, diced onions, and seasonings.
Yummy!

Pics and recipe here.

My youngest daughter knows how to drive...
but she doesn't avocado!


sMiLeS,

Sweet Little Family ♥

My daughter and son-in-law with their little ones. ♥

Caleb & Rebekah, with Carson and Callie ♥

sMiLeS,

♥Notebooks and My Bible Reading

So I'm kind of excited!  This is something I just can't wait to share, and it may not matter to one single other person, but that's okay, because I am excited!  =)

I love notebooks.  I enjoy studying... (okay, I've lost a few of you already, lol).  But I really do!  I love sitting at my desk with my notebook and Bible, favorite pen, highlighters (yes, I like several colors!), my Old or New Testament Survey book, and anything else I might need!  Like whiteout.  =D


For several years now, I've been filling up notebooks.  I use the same notebook for sermon notes, ladies meetings, etc. as well as my daily Bible reading.  During my daily reading, I usually only write down verses that mean something to me, and not too many notes.  And I don't even write something every day!
Those notebooks aren't pictured here - too messy, lol, and just my own scribbles...

I do make notations in my Bible, highlight or underline in my Bible and my Survey books, and cross reference when I see something I want to remember later.
(If you have small children, don't despair... I didn't do this when mine were small!  Or even medium...)

But when I come across a great verse or passage that I really, really want to remember later, in my notebook I will highlight the reference or a phrase in the verse... but then I can't always find them.  I have a small stack of notebooks with lots of stuff in them...  =) =)



So last month, I actually paid $10 for one medium-sized notebook.  I seriously did.  I came across it at a Mast General Store in Boone, NC, and there was only one.  For me.  ♥ ;)
I was so excited because there was a different design on every page!  I prefer color, different designs, something that does not look the same on both sides (kind of like my face, lol).
I didn't know yet what I was going to do with it, but I have a weakness for pretty notebooks.  I simply had to get it.  And it is has a sturdy, hard cover.
The designs inside this particular notebook are not already colored in, but I've used a highlighter on a few pages.

Lang notebook, artist for this notebook - Susan Winget

I was pleased when I finally decided that I could use this notebook as a place to write down my favorite verses and passages that really touch my heart!♥  In addition to scripture, I am including songs or quotes that I treasure as well.

This song is also called I Am Thine, O, Lord.

These verses speak to me... Ps. 139:17-18, 23-24; Ps. 119:97-105

The second notebook that I will talk about is a disc-bound notebook.  It has removable pages, but the whole notebook lays flat and can fold back similarly to a regular notebook, not a binder.  (I just... honestly do not care for binders.... ;)
(This video talks about different brands.)
I haven't used subject notebooks in a long time... When my kids were homeschooling, we had one notebook for math, and one or two notebooks for everything else!  But too many times I wished I could insert another page somewhere... or sometimes ended up with a section that simply didn't get used up and had blank pages sitting there.

I had seen these notebooks several times at Staples, and loved them.  But again, didn't know what I would use it for!  I finally did purchase it when I had a $5.00 coupon that was about to run out!  =)

Love the color and design! ♥

So far I'm using this notebook for two things, one being my prayer list.  I like to write out more things than just a simple list; I want to be specific.  For example, I have listed for my husband and children things I'm thankful for, as well as particular things to pray about.  (For me too!  So I hope no one reads my list!!)  But sometimes I have updates to add that require another page, or just more pages in a certain section, and it's easy to put in an extra page when necessary.

UPDATE: I'm now using PrayerMate - an app that does exactly what I want.  I can have daily lists, lists for certain days of the week, or even a day of the month.  Or the 1st, 10th, and 20th.  etc.  Or if someone has an upcoming exam, or a surgery, you can schedule several days ahead to remember to let others know ahead of time to pray... or to schedule food for their family, etc.  However you want.
It even works well with the Charlotte Mason method of reviewing scripture you've memorized!

Also available are divider pages like the green tab on on the left, as well as pocket pages and other accessories.

--I advise not to remove pages too often.. =)

The main things I'm putting in this notebook for now are verses and passages that are so necessary for those problem areas in my life!  We all have them - those "Till Death Do Us Part" problems!  Those areas that just always seem to get the best of us at the worst times...

I already had a few "go-to" passages and chapters, and am adding more to my list as I come across them.  I have a few verses that are just good to review frequently, and I've grouped others into categories.  I'm writing out some of the smaller passages and individual verses, so it is easier than having to go look them all up each time I have need of them!
The longer passages or chapters are only listed by their references.


sMiLeS,