Archives for November 2012

Ooozing Humanity

The couch is strategically place at the perfect angle for viewing both the sentimentally decorated tree in front of the window as well as the TV. The dishes and laundry are all clean and stored in their place. The beds are made with cute little throw pillows and stuffed animals. Christmas is sprinkled through out the house bringing warms and the holiday glow. The sun beams in the open shades into each room staged for a magazine shoot.

Then is hits.

Spewing from my lower gut. Refusing me that freshly made waffle. I dare not open my mouth or all of me might gush out onto the floor. Tears try to form but I can't make a sound. The twirling in my stomach wants to irrupt. I hold it in.

Turn on all the lights. Position nicknacks to appear naturally placed. Fold the blanket with much purpose and toss it across the back of the couching hoping it looks hap-haphazardly.

Pause. Deep breath. Gaze at the ceiling in disbelief.

Continue meticulously combing through every element of each room. Smell checking. Fluff. Rotate. Unlock. Dust.

My mind can't leave it. My attempt at OCD cannot hide my sin. No words can make this ooozing of humanity stop or even slow. I am nauseous. Defeated. Discussed.

I want to give up. I want to curl up in a ball and cry out my excuses to justify myself; to make the hurt go away. My bones ache with the sin eating away at them. I want to delete the ugliness everyone has seen. That my God, whom I claim to love with all my being, has seen.

Life does not work that way. We cannot pretend our sin has no effect.

Now what? My inner most parts irrupt with remorse but it does not take it away. Do I sit immoveable by guilt? I want to...Satan wins.

Then WHAT? What do I do now? I know I have been forgiven. For this very sin. 15 years ago- He said past, present, future; All Forgiven. I press forward. Surrendered. I have nothing aside from His grace.

Redeem my sinfulness. Make little of me. Make much of you so they may only say, "Hallelujah! Look What God Can Do!"

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Magic Meatballs {Thoughtful Thursday}

  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 eggs {slightly beaten}
  • 1 tbs salt
  • 2 tbs onion pwd
  • 1 tbs garlic pwd
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 2 sleeves Ritz crackers {crushed}
  • 2 lbs lean ground beef

 

Mix Worcestershire sauce, milk, eggs,  salt, both powders, and oregano with a fork. Then blend in crackers. Kneed in ground beef with hands until completely blended. Then roll ~2 inch balls and place on a lipped baking sheet. Bake @ 350' for 30 minutes. Then either freeze some for later or add them all to your favorite sauce & noodle meal.

Beef up your Spaghetti Sauce

I love taking cheap traditional meatless spaghetti sauce and adding some parsley flakes, garlic pwd. I let that simmer while I add the meatballs. Keep it low enough you don't have to constantly stir and it doesn't burn on the bottom of the pan. Pour on top of your noodles. YUM!

Actual Size! {~2.5inches 'round}

 

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What the Rothacher’s are doing for Advent?

The Rothacher clan has started intentionally "doing Advent" last year and we are excited to share with you what we'll be doing this year!

For years I thought Advent was either a simple cardboard calendar that had candies in it that you and your brothers fought to snag 1st OR a Catholic/Jewish holiday that had something to do with candles {aka menorah} but I've come to learn that Advent is anything you do in the weeks leading up to Christmas as a family that teach about or celebrating what has "come" an is "coming" can be considered part of Advent.

"The key to this entire advent celebration is to have a daily focus and meditation on God’s greatest gift. Your  children will learn the ins and outs of the story because you’ve facilitated a time to discuss, play, and create. And in those moments, God will speak to their hearts and yours.

The little Baby is no longer in the manger but alive and sitting on a throne—waiting to have a relationship with you and your children. Help your children get to know Him this Christmas!"

                                                                                      -Truth in the Tinsel

So far this year, things we've done {or are doing} to begin preparing for Christmas are:

  • Decorated the house for Christmas, including setting up & decorating our tree as a family.
  • Wore fun Christmas-like clothing.
  • Packed Operation Christmas Child boxes.
  • Watching TONS of Christmas movies
  • Visiting Santa at the mall in North West AR {the BEST Santa ever}

Things we plan to do in the coming weeks:

  • Attending some fun activities in December including 3 Christmas parties, going to visit "Bethlehem", Christmas Eve service.
  • Bake TONS of cookies & other snacks for our neighbors.
  • Shop for gifts for family, friends, and others we've adopted for the season.
  • See a Christmas play with our HIPPY group.
  • Possibly see a Christmas parade
  • Reading plan for celebrating Advent with the Jesus Storybook Bible.

And the newest thing we are adding to our Advent adventure is THIS:

This book has 24 days of Scripture reading, ornament crafts, talking points and extension activities. Plus fun printables and templates! This is the perfect book for kids of any age–from preschool to elementary! YAY!!! I've already collected all my supplies to make sure we have everything needed for the crafts. It doesn't really take a lot but I didn't have googly eyes, or glitter glue. ;o)

Oh, and I'm an affiliate for Truth in the Tinsel because I think it's that cool! They didn't tell me to say that.

I'm going to try and share lots of our Advent adventure this year but don't shoot me if I'm slack'n...I'm going to concentrate on participating more than sharing this year ;o)

What are you doing for Advent? Wanna go through the Truth in the Tinsel book with us? Grab the book today so you'll be ready Saturday!

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What is Advent?

Candles. Wreaths. Movies. Travel. Calendars. Cards. Candy.
Little Lint. Activities. Decorating. Songs. Parties.

The word advent, from Latin, means “the coming.” Advent is the time period leading up to Christmas in which you prepare for as well as anticipate the coming of Christmas. There are so many different ways to do the same 'ole thing.

No matter how you choose to participate in Advent the purpose should be the same. Advent is preparing for Christ coming: His birth. His gift of the Holy Spirit. His return.

Love this song about preparing for Christmas. Although slightly secular, it has a lot of truths. {this isn't the entire song from Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas"}

Are you ready for Christmas day to come?

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Chicken & Stuffing {recipe}

I think you may have seen this cook book on my sidebar a while back or on the Support the Rothacher's page if you've poked around there at all. I just wanted to share with you why I support this cook book.

Mystie is a genius! Yep. She's done all the hard work for us and simplified our cooking therefore it simplifying our grocery shopping all via the pantry list! As a baby and toddler, her oldest child was mildly allergic to corn, and thus began the Great Simplification. Her eCookbook Simplified Dinners is packed full of meals you can create by stoking her basic pantry list. She also has a Simplified Dinners GLUTEN FREE version of the eCookbook! Below is a video where Mystie explains how she came up with this concept.

Buy her book(s) HERE!

There are many nights I look up at the clock with maybe 20 minutes to spare before our routine dinner time. I get to share my simple {kid-friendly}, low-calorie {just like the hubs likes it}, FAST {the way Mamma likes it} recipe with Mystie's Simple Pantry Cooking crowd today!! Come grab the recipe and find so many more GREAT ones.

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