A Day of Blessings

Today was a day of blessings. Hubby and I went to a garage sale and bought a nice full-length mirror, an electric ice cream maker, an old Yahtzee game, 8 old Country magazines (for only 5 cents each), a computer book, a hand-painted “Merry Christmas” sign, and a lighted star Christmas tree topper, for a total of fifteen dollars.

Then my parents came into town. They brought my wedding dress all nicely packaged in an acid-free box and my veil and the big, poufy slip I wore under my gown. They also gave us a nice vacuum with all the attachments that they got for free and don’t need. We haven’t had a vacuum the whole time we have been married. We haven’t really needed one, since we have hardwood floors, but we are hoping to eventually move somewhere that is bigger and has carpet.

My mom and I went shopping for a sweater for me while my dad and Hubby looked for computer stuff. I found a pretty lavender cardigan, and Hubby got a great deal on a DSL modem, which we had been thinking about purchasing for a long time.

Then Hubby went home to rest a bit while my parents and I went to a park and had a blast playing Yahtzee. We all came back to our apartment and had taco salad for dinner and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.

Also, Hubby and I have been married for nine months today.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I like these cookies because the oatmeal gives them a little more substance than your typical chocolate chip cookie.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 c. oats
1 package (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Add combined flour, baking soda, and salt. Add oats and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonsful on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 1 minute on baking sheets before removing to wire cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

A Few Goals

Here are a few things I would like to accomplish in the next year:

1. Learn to play guitar
2. Get prints made of our wedding photos and make our wedding album
3. Finish the afghan I am crocheting
4. Figure out how to work my 1950’s sewing machine and sew something
5. Make a small quilt

The Way to a Man's Heart . . .

This morning I made Hubby an omelette for breakfast. He took a few bites and then said, "I think one of my love languages is breakfast."

I smiled and added, "And lunch and dinner." :-) He agreed.

Splenda--the "Safe" Sugar Substitute?

After reading the article, "Sugar Substitutes and the Danger of Splenda," I have decided to eliminate all sugar substitutes from my diet, including Splenda, which I always thought was safe, because it was supposedly "made from sugar." For me, this means giving up "sugar-free" chewing gum (practically an addiction of mine), no-sugar-added hot cocoa, "light" yogurt, and coffee (I had already switched to decaf, but I can't drink it without flavoring/sweetening, and I'd rather be done with it altogether).

I've been learning lately that food is good insofar as it nourishes my body, but not as a friend or comforter or entertainer. Only the Lord, not food, can meet all my needs and fulfill my desires. I am trying to be much more intentional about what I eat, instead of mindlessly munching whatever I think will satisfy me at that moment. Today I packed a salad--made with lettuce, bell pepper, carrot, and tomato, and topped with nonfat cottage cheese, sunflower seeds, basil, and raisins--to take to work for lunch, and it was delicious! Yes, it took a little extra effort, but my body feels so much better already than when I used to just compile a lunch out of whatever was convenient. I am also drinking more water and not "snitching" as I prepare meals.

A huge praise is that, if the Lord wills, we should be able to pay off the last of my student loan within a week! After that, Hubby and I will be completely debt-free. Yes, we currently live in a tiny 4-room apartment (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room), and no, we don't yet have a car, but it is such a joy to owe no one anything, except love (Romans 13:8).