Honey Lemon Smoked Almond Chicken Salad

Marinade/Dressing

Whisk together these ingredients:
3 Tbsp parsley
Zest of one lemon (about 3 tsp)
Juice of one lemon (about 4 Tbsp)
3 T Honey
2 T spicy brown or Dijon Mustard
1 clove Garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Add 1/3 cup olive oil slowly and set aside

Prepare Chicken

Choose 1 lb. (organic if possible) chicken tenders. Rinse and pierce with a fork. Pour 3/4 of the marinade/dressing in a plastic zip loc bag along with the chicken.
Refrigerate 30 or more minutes.

While chicken is marinating, prepare the following:


Combine
1 medium or large apple, diced (organic golden delicious works well)
1/4 c chopped onion
1/4 c chopped smoked almonds (or other nut)
1/4 c mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/4 c raisins
remaining fourth of marinade/dressing

Cover and refrigerate while cooking chicken

heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium skillet. Add 1 clove chopped garlic and 1/4 cup chopped onion. Sautee for about 5 minutes. Add chicken tenders and discard marinade. Cover and cook thoroughly. Remove from heat, cool and dice.

Remove salad from refrigerator, add chicken and stir gently.

Serve over a bed of organic spinach or other green.

Greener Living

I went to the library the other day and randomly picked up a book called "Sara Snow's fresh living". The 'tag-line' on the cover of the book reads "room by room guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home". Little did I know the impact it would have on our home.

My husband's recent cholesterol levels were high and his thyroid level was off. That, along with my situation with a fractured hip and the need to lose weight gives us no choice but to change our eating habits, or suffer dire consequences.

I began praying and asking God to help us with this situation as our food intake had become quite an 'addiction'. We are addicted to foods that contain all kinds of chemicals and preservatives and all things not good for us. As I look back over the past few weeks, I am amazed at how God began putting things in my path to help me even before I asked for help.

In addition to this realization, I was also reminded of the gmo's (genetically modified organisms) that are being 'fed' to us in the United States and the fact that there are no laws enforcing the labeling of these harmful altered foods on our grocery shelves. Along with eliminating certain foods, including all fast foods (except Subway) we are taking away the processed foods and those likely with gmo's, and adding in more organic foods in our diet.

Today I picked up Sara's book again.

Not only are we looking at what we put into our bodies, we are looking at what we are putting on the outside in the form of lotions, soaps and cleaners. Today I made drastic changes in our cleaning products.

I replaced our all purpose cleaner with 1/2 distilled vinegar to 1/2 water in a spray bottle. I tried a furniture polish made of 1 part lemon juice to 3 parts olive oil and it worked wonderfully! (No chemicals!). We are using baking soda to scour, hydrogen peroxide to disinfect and lemon juice to clean windows...

I can't believe how easy it was to use common household items and how easy it was to make the change! Not only is using natural cleaners better for us,it's more cost efficient, not to mention the fact that we are not harming the environment.

How wonderful it is to experience freedom from chemicals as we try to live happier healthier lives!

We are far from 'arriving'... but we have taken some 'baby steps'...

Praying for my girl

I sent this request to our homeschooling groups last night. I am thinking of starting a new "adoption stories" blog...

This is not a "life threatening" prayer need...everyone here is (thankfully) healthy.. (for now :) ) ..But I believe the Bible is clear about asking others to help us pray about matters of our hearts. I also believe God hears and answers our prayers. I hope you feel the same about sharing this type of need with us too...anytime.

As many of you know, Mary was adopted at age 7 along with her sister Lizzie at age 2. By the sheer Grace of God both girls have grown and are growing up to be wonderful young ladies with hearts for God.

Mary asked to be homeschooled when she was in 3rd grade. Of course, like many Moms at first I said "no way...there is absolutely, positively no way I can do this!" (but for the Grace of God!)

Well, we did homeschool from the time she was in 4th grade untill she went to Christian School in 10th, brought her home again in 11th and then she went on to graduate from Lighthouse Christian Academy in May of this year. Like many of us and many of our children, at the time of graduation, Mary had "no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up".... Time seemed to go so incredibly fast as the momentum built up to graduation day (Kind of like the Starship Enterprise.."Going 'where no man has gone before'... warp speed!)

Well, that dreadful day came when we were to have things lined up..(scholarships, colleges, sat's etc etc)...not to mention everyone asking... so.. what are you going to do now? (no pressure)....We were just not ready. On top of all that, we often had that looming feeling of knowing that the world had it's own idea and plans for her...which, at times was extremely frustrating, fearful and very distracting. In our case, we had some serious adjusting, soul searching, tempering and maturing to do...we just weren't ready. (and, I'm sure we still have a long way to go in the grand scheme of things!)

During those times when we were trying to figure out what exactly she should plan for her future..., she always seemed to express her love for children and the only "career" she could verbalize was that of Early Childhood Education....and photography. But, we just weren't ready...the ducks were not even close to being in a row... much less even able to be located!.

Lately, however, it appears that things are rapidly changing and she may even have an opportunity to attend Bible College at Crown College in Tennessee. Tonight, as we were praying about it and discussing it, she said, "Mom, all I really want to be is a good wife and mother and if I can go for Early Childhood Ed at Crown, I can learn these skills and also have something to fall back on." Wow... out of the mouths of babes...This is really what we have been training her for...to be a godly wife and mother and serve the Lord Christ!

Ron and I looked at each other and were just so amazed at how the Lord just seemed to reveal to us by her statement that He had done a work in her life! After 'laboring' for these years in prayer and trying, (at times against all odds...like my own nature!), to raise her up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD... praying she would someday see for herself the things God has in store for her...(plans to prosper,) and yeild to Him.... I really feel like the LORD showed us tonight what He can do with a little girl that the devil had planned to kill steal and destroy and had pretty much had a plan in the works for the first 7 years of her life not to have any kind of future... BUT GOD!!! It's all GOD it's all HIS MERCY. She is a trophy of GOD's WONDERFUL GRACE.

Many of you know by experience that often times it's not an easy road raising our children according to scripture, especially with the world we live in...but oh the rewards! And I guess I'm trying to say GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN {US} THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.. If we walk in the Spirit, press on and perservere, there will be a reward someday!. I have failed time and time again.. but that just goes to show you who is at the helm.... it is God who deserves all the Glory!

Anyway... Please help us pray that if it really is God's Will for Mary to attend Crown, doors will open and ways will be made for her to be able to walk through those doors. Specifically, please pray that the finances will work out and that things will line up so that she may be able to get in for Spring semester. And, that she would study hard and pass her SAT on December 5th, with a good score so she will qualify for a scholarship to help her get started. Pray for Ron and I and for Liz as the seperation will be extremely difficult for all of us.. she is such a blessing to us all and we love her and will miss her very very much.. With all the teen turmoil...there is equal joy...

Thanks very much for your prayers and encouragement.. (I think this is what support groups are all about... supporting each other??? If any of you ever have specific prayer needs or concerns for your homeschooling families and children that you want us to pray about, I hope you will not hesitate to post, or send a private note.... bearing one another's burdens fulfills the law of Christ)

I hope this email in no way sounds arrogant or prideful...what we did in adopting Mary and Liz was really for our own joy, so that we could have a family...not to be able to say "look what we did"...trust me...it's been a road! and anything that was done was all because of GOD and Who HE is! :) This email is meant to be encouraging and helpful... and to ask for you to help us pray for Mary...We will give God all the Glory no matter the answers to our prayers.

Sorry to go on.. but I just needed to share.

No Christmas available for me~

Today I went to Dahlonega sepecifcally to find Christmas decorations. Seeing that my 4th hip replacement surgery is only 25 days away, and recovery time is about 8 weeks, it leaves me with no choice but to decorate now!

Usually I dread the task, but this year is different. God has been so good to us! In the past, I've always felt we should celebrate His Birth, and usually would some how get "in the spirit" by December 25.

The extreme worldly commercialism (sorry Santa) had really put a sour taste in my mouth for the hassle of actually decorating in red and green...and I really would have rather just skipped over December altogether.

But this year, God seems to have really revealed his Love to us in so many ways...More than I can describe. With this realization, I feel the daystar has risen once again in my heart!

I knew of a thrift shop in town that usually has alot of decorations on display...but was sorely disappointed when I walked in to see the empty red fabric lined shelves! YES! Completely bare! I feel like I had walked into Whoville that horrible night when the grinch decided to try and fill that God sized hole in his heart by stealing the children's Christmas.

Alas.... I will wait till November 17th and go back when they open their Christmas shoppe.

31 days and counting...

Well, here it is 1:31 am on a Thursday. I have exactly 31 days until the surgery. It's surreal. I know what is coming. Hours of pain and suffering... Face it.. hip revision surgery is much more intense and less effective than original hip replacements.

I have "church ladies" galore "praying" for me..or at least I want to believe that.

They are having a Christmas Dinner on December 3... don't think I'll make that one. Amicalola Falls no less!

I always spiritually analzye everything...so I'm asking "what is it you want to show me through this Lord?"

All I want is for it to be OVER with.

You never know...

My friend Michelle O called me today... actually called my daughter... It's great to have a president's wife that takes time out of her busy schedule to call my daugther and invite her to lunch... Too bad she is busy for the rest of her life... (inside joke)

You never know who will stop by your blog.. !

A new day

Good morning! What a blessing to wake up again this morning to new opportunities! Who knows what today will bring? Praise HIM for HIS GOODNESS for HE alone is WORTHY to be PRAISED!

Thursday evening

It's a nice rainy night... I'm still reeling from the choices I've made to put the girls in Christian School and take the 5 and 6 graders and start two choirs....

I miss my son and granddaughter..

Tomorrow I go eat dinner with my parents.

Life continues...

Monday in the Mountains

Today was another wonderful day the Lord created. So beautiful.
As our daughters pack for the Youth Conference, it occured to me that in 5 years they both could very well be gone from the nest. Wow...5 years. That's not very long. We must redeem the time...

I was reminded by reading of the faithfulness of God on my friend's Blog of the verse in 1 Kings 8 that says "there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promied by the hand of Moses his servants." vs. 56b. Now there's something to rejoice about!

Saturday at the "Ranch"

Today I had cantelope and a cinnamon bagel and coffee...thanks Ron! It was awesome... wow, now I have some laundry, cooking for today and Sunday... and then planning the week for the kids to go to the conference at Hammond...and Music camp! Not much time for blogging..
I did call my Mom today, but she wasn't home. I got a call from Billings MT last night... Who knows who THAT was?

God is so good to us... a beautiful place to live, a wonderful family, food on our table, shoes on our feet... So much to thank Him for!

Picture of the Harvest

Blackberries!

We had so much fun picking berries the other day... I did get stung from a wasp...but once you've been stung by a Georgia Bald Faced Hornet (notice the respect I have for them by the Caps :o) )...a wasp is nothing!

Anyway.,. here's a picture of our harvest... they are so sweet and delicious! It was a wonderful time spending time with the family. We are truly blessed.

About the Woods

Yesterday I went on an adventure! I went walking and wound up in the creek. It was so cool and refreshing. I had headed out to the pond and found the path impassable as someone is further clear cutting our beloved forest. So I turned around and headed back up the path... The creek continued calling so I couldn't resist ... I slid down the bank on my bottom and made my way into the water fall....ahhh it was great. I had to find my way up a steep steep hill back to the dirt road... wow up and up and up I had to go.... the quiet was so incredible at the top of the mountain...

Today the whole family walked to the black berry patch and we must have gotten at least a quart! Tomorrow I'm going to try and get a picture to post on this blog...

We are blessed!

Sunday afternoon musings

Sunday afternoon in the mountains. Nothing better 'cept heaven we reckon. Trying to figure out how I am going to be able to keep eating all this Southern cookin' and not die.

It's 87 degrees out there and 74 in here. I know it would be such a wonderful thing to get outside and mosey down to Nimblewill Creek for awhile.
I did this thing that tells me how many days I've lived, and how many more I have till I'm 70 and it's like 7 thousand something left... woah... better get busy and figure out what God has me here to do.... Amazing that I've already lived 70thousand something and feel like I've not done anything close to it.

Better get busy...

Today is such a peaceful day in the mountains. My girls are at church paint scenery for VBS and I am alone in the presence of the LORD. He has been so good to us.

Welcome!