My One Word for 2017

I dont know about you but making new year's resolutions just dont do it for me and they dont work. I have come across a site entitled My One Word which you can get HERE which basically all you do is pray and choose one word - yep just one word for the coming year.

I have chosen the word Discipline as I need much more of this in life and I need to be disciplined in different areas such as:

• Prayer
• Reading His Word
• Excising 
• Losing Weight

on a daily basis plus I need God to be in my decision making first and foremost. I need to be disciplined in all areas of my life and a couple of things I have not listed here ....... but for me this is my one word for 2017.

What is your word for the coming year - please let me know by posting a comment on here.

Be blessed

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Every Blessing,
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Wednesday Snap Shot

Wednesday Snap Shot is a quick peek into my week.

If you'd like to join in on my Wednesday Snap Shot.. copy and paste my post, add your answers (you can also copy the pic).. link your post to my blog and then come back and let me know you shared your week. I'll come and visit you and read about your homemaking week!! :) and you can go to Crystal's Blog here who started the Wednesday Snap Shot HERE


So Far This WeekThis Christmas has been a hard one and though at the same time it was nice being able to spend this special time with friends. Two Christmas meals and turkey and ham to bring home to my kitten Jack of which he was thankful for lol - well it didnt take him long to polish off his food :)


On My To-Do ListYesterday I put away all my Cards and threw out the table wreath as it was falling apart lol. The door wreath I took down and put it back in its box which is now in one of the hall cupboards until next year.

My goals for this week are:

to make a card for my Niece which I have done plus I have written two birthday cards and wrapped up two presents for friends ready to post on Saturday

Grocery Shopping online

Go into town to do some therapy shopping

Projects I'm Working On I am starting to think about the New Year right now and starting a prayer journal and my planner. If I become more organised I will get prayer pages for my planner which I am aiming on doing in the next week or so. Something which is new to me is working on my one word for the year and apart from Crystal, does anyone else do this. If you are not familiar with this you can see more info HERE.


Today's WeatherHigh of around 9 degrees and a low of 4 degrees. it has been sunny all day but with a hard frost on the ground for most of the day

The View from where I am sitting:

This is Jack my seven month old kitten sprawled out on the bed lol

What I'm ReadingI am still reading Beauty for Ashes from Joyce Meyer and this is a brilliant book for women. The book is about receiving emotional healing from all kinds of areas that may be needed during your life. It is a good book and one I hope to come back to time and time again.

In regards to the Bible - I will be starting a new reading plan on January 1st plus a study book on how to study the bible when I hopefully get this in the mail next week with an online group of women called Lamp and Light on Facebook - feel free to join us if you feel led :)

What I'm Listening ToThe soft purr of my cat which soothes me and the quiet gentle hum of my laptop. Otherwise you can hear a pin drop in my apartment lol

Something Frugal I've Done This WeekI had some left over tomatoes and onions so I made a Lentil and Tomato Soup which is very yummy and the recipe you can find below. I also have some turkey bones to make stock out of which I will do towards the end of the week.

Fitness for the WeekThis has not started yet but I aim to start walking for about an hour a day if I can and I plan on getting a fitbit charger or something similar if |I can to help me with the exercise I need to do.

Every Blessing,
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At The Pulpit - A Fictional Short Story

One Wintry November evening

Brrr, it was cold outside and Mr Frost had already begun his visit I noticed as soon as I opened my front door. Wrapping the scarf around my neck so as to keep out the winter chill, I closed the front door. I made my way down the steps and out onto a pavement that was buzzing with people – unusual for this time of evening I thought. Where did all these people come from?  Where were they going? Then it dawned on me, middle of November; today was Thursday, which meant late night shopping had begun.  Great, just what I didn’t need! I felt a little pang of guilt then and as quickly as this thought popped into my head - I got rid of it.   

It seemed to me that Christmas seemed to be getting earlier and earlier each year, even the Christmas lights were all switched on I noticed as I neared the shopping mall.  All along the sidewalks, shops were gaily lit with colourful lights, windows adorned with decorations & lots of gifts displayed in the windows to entice the shoppers.

I hurried along wanting to get away from both the gaiety that seemed to be all around plus the sharp crispness of the air – I wrapped the scarf even tighter around me, boy it was cold. Crossing the road, I hurried down a side street which was also brightly lit and for this I was thankful. I checked my watch to realise that I was running later than intended, so I quickened my pace until finally I was outside the gates to the church.

I hurried on into the building to find that I was not the only one who was late which was a relief. I removed my gloves and scarf – it was so nice to be in the warm and away from the coldness outside.  The church building, I suddenly realised, was already packed full of people as I looked around for a spare seat which I eventually spotted over on the on the far left hand side of the large room. 

The speaker had already begun which meant that the worship was going to take place later on in the evening.  If I had left home a little earlier then I wouldn’t have missed the beginning but, at least at the end of the service I could purchase the teaching on cd – this was something that had only just started and was a fabulous blessing especially for those who couldn’t make any of the services. Oh yes, this was a blessing indeed!

I reached into my bag, took out my bible, notepad and pen and settled myself back into the seat to listen to the words being spoken by the speaker at the front. This was a guy who was very well known in various countries. A preacher, who over the years had become renowned for his gift of teaching; A preacher, who had the ability to capture and hold the attention of his audience, who also had this perfect knack of making  them laugh at exactly the right moment.  Oh indeed, he was good and he was a man whom I had come to admire & respect over the years. 

I smiled then remembering how we first met, which was at Bible College many years ago. From that very first meeting, we both somehow knew that the Lord had not only bought us together, but we were destined to be together for the rest of our lives. Just at the moment, the preacher in the pulpit at the front, caught my gaze and smiled. My heart melted as always when he smiled at me in this way. You see, this man in the pulpit was not only a gifted international speaker who was loved by so many, but to me he was even more special. For at the end of the day this was a man whom the Lord had given to me all those years ago – this very special man was my husband.

Every Blessing,
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Lentil and Tomato Soup

A hearty and satisfying soup, sprinkled with grated cheese - this is a meal in itself......

small onion 1
Tomatoes 8oz (225g) I used to large Beef Tomatoes
Oil 2 tbsps
Lentils 4 ozs (100g)
Tomato Juice 1/2 pint  = 2 cups (I used 1 pint = 4 cups)
Vegetable Stock 1.1/2 pints - 3 cups....(I used 1 pint = 2 cups)
Thyme 1/2 tsp
yeast extract 1/2 tsp
salt and pepper to taste

Chop the onion and tomatoes. Heat the oil in a pan and saute the onion until transparent. Add the remaining ingredients, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.Adjust seasoning to taste.

I did blend the soup but you dont have to do that. Serve cheese on top if so desired and/or serve with nice crusty bread or toast.

Enjoy................

Every Blessing,
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Roots

The poem below I wrote about a store called Roots that was an up and coming food store/coffee shop in the heart of Taunton. Sadly this store is no longer there but I had so much fun writing this poem I have to say so enjoy :)

ROOTS

Deep in the heart of a Somerset town

Is a store that is becoming very renowned

For all of its fare is quite simply the best

Everything produced; comes from the west

Tucked down a bustling country lane

Is where you’ll see them and Roots is their name

So next time you are heading out this way

Don’t forget to pop in at some point in the day

The cheeses & cakes you’ll simply adore

And will have you come back begging for more

Their chocolate and yoghurts so divine

Will bring back memories of childhood times

Everything made is local and fresh

Even their produce you’ll find full of zest

Organically grown and pesticide free

Nothing but goodness, just taste and see

You can even go in for a coffee and chat

And catch up on news, so how’s about that

Whilst there make sure you look around

For their info you’ll see is quite profound

On entering, you are met with a smile

For customers, Roots will go one extra mile

So helpful and friendly, knowledgeable too

Enthusiasm shines through in all that they do

The girls who run it are so full of mirth

And they regularly support friends of the earth

Hard working, charming and so full of wit

Their ease with customers is quite simply a hit

Also proud sponsors of Skippy the hen

She was rescued from living in a battery pen

As well as Skippy there is much more to say

At tauntonroots.co.uk

If you love local foods, this store is for you

A delight to the eyes as soon as you walk through

A joy and experience not to be missed

Shopping there is none other than simply, pure bliss

Copyright Page Alexanda 2006

Every Blessing,
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Forward To The Past

This poem I wrote when I first started a different blog around four years ago and I thought I would post the poem on here :)

Forward to the past sounds complicated right? wrong

Standing at the crossroads wondering which way to turn

To move forward or to take a turn to the left or the right

Whichever decision you make, it has to be one that is bright

Forward to the past means not turning the clock back

And there is no turning round and turning away

For that would be a foolish thing to do for sure

As standing here in a quandary, thoughts are bound to be raw

Forward to the past, which way is the way to go

Therefore ask and you will see, seek and you will find

Look at the old paths and you will find rest

Rest for your souls, and walking therein is best

Forward to the past hearken until his Word

For this is what you are called to do throughout life

For if you follow his calling you can only go onwards

And on and on and on, all the way going forward

Forward to the past, moving on into the future

Make sure you are not standing at the gates looking back

Looking back into the past and yesteryears of life

Hearken unto His Word and step into the gateway you know is right

Forward to the past sounds complicated right? Wrong

Just look at the road ahead and keep going

Moving together into the Promised Land

Where you will find God’s promises are all at hand

From Jeremiah 6:16

Copyright Page Alexanda 2012

Every Blessing,
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Menu Plan Week Beg 26/12/2016

Merry Christmas Dear Friends :)

Here is my menu plan for this coming week and starting the new year I will be adding a bit more each week to my menu plan :)

Monday - Christmas Buffet with friends
Tuesday - Christmas Buffet with more friends 
Wednesday - Christmas Dinner left overs plus Yule Log and Christmas Pudding
Thursday -Lentil and Tomato Soup (recipe to follow) with bread
Friday -Spagetti Bolognase 
Saturday - Smorgosboard 
Sunday possibly out to lunch with friends


So how is your Christmas menu week looking :)

Every Blessing,
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How to make vegetable stock from scraps

Here is what you'll need!

How to Make Easy Veggie Stock With Kitchen Scraps
Makes roughly 3 quarts

INGREDIENTS
Onions (tops, bottoms, and skins)
Celery (tops and bottoms)
Carrots (tops, bottoms, and skins)
Mushrooms (stems)
Garlic (tops, bottoms, and skins)
Potatoes (tops, bottoms, and skins)
Parsley (stems)

You can add many other vegetable scraps (think sweet!) - i.e. corn cobs, winter squash, zucchini, and other squash, beet greens, fennel, chard, lettuce, parsnips, green beans, pea pods, bell peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, asparagus, and herbs like dill, thyme, parsley, cilantro, and basil.

PREPARATION
Remove the tops/bottoms/skins/stems from any vegetables you are preparing (avoid vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or cauliflower as they will add a bitter taste to your stock) and place them in a ziplock bag - they can stay frozen up to 6 months.
Continue like this until bag is full.
Dump bag into pot and fill ¾ of the pot (or until scraps just start to float) with water. 
Bring water to a boil and then let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.
Strain water out of stock.
Refrigerate stock up to 4 days, or freeze up to 3 months.

Every Blessing,
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Should Believers Keep The Sabbath

This has been a difficult subject to research as there are different viewpoints but at the end of the day we need to return to what Scripture says.

In Romans 14:5 it declares one man considers one day more sacred than another, another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

The scriptures stated above make it clear that sabbath keeping for the believer is a matter of spiritual freedom not a command from God. We are not to judge one another in regards to the sabbath for this is a matter in which each believer needs to be fully convinced in their own mind. Sabbath keeping was not a command the apostles felt necessary to force onto gentile believers.

It does state in Exodus 20:8-11 that the believer is to do no work on the sabbath day. Also nowhere in scripture does it state that the sabbath was a day of worship. Wherever a meeting is said to be on the sabbath, this is a meeting of Jews and/or Gentile converts to Judaism not for Christians.

Acts 2:46-47 states that every day was a day of worship. Believers broke bread in their homes and ate together with a gladness of hearts. If there was a day that Christians met together regularly, it was a Sunday not a Saturday. Acts 20:17, Corinthians 16:2.  In honour of Christ's resurrection on Sunday, the early Christians observed Sunday not as the "Christian" sabbath but as a day to especially worship Jesus. There is nothing wrong with worshipping on the Jewish sabbath. We should worship God every day. There is freedom in Christ 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galations 5:1.

If a believer feels led to do so, then they can practise sabbath keeping which includes not working on the sabbath. Romans 14:5 but we are called not to judge believers who wish to do this Colossians 2:16.

The entire law is summed up in a single commandment which is love your neighbour as yourself.

God has been speaking to me about keeping the sabbath as a set apart day but this is personal to me. Many believers today do things differently asd as they feel led. Each persons walk with The Father is unique to them and we must remember and respect that.

Blessings
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Choices

Every day I have choices to make

I need to guard my thoughts in every way

I am in control

So therefore I need to be bold

And step out in faith

Rather than just playing it safe

I am responsible for my mind

What I put into it can’t be timed

If I think better, I will be better

I am in control

So therefore I need to be bold

My life will be so very different

I have no excuse to be ignorant

Happiness is something I decide

Ahead of time, I need to abide

Through my heart, my mouth speaks

I am in control

So therefore I need to be bold

By putting on the mind of Christ

Before I speak, I will think twice

My old life no longer exists

The new one I need to enlist

I am in control

So therefore I need to be bold

I am starting all over again

But in my life you will overall reign

I have so much to be thankful for

A future in Him I know for sure

I am in control

Therefore I need to be bold

And ask for His help in every way

Praising God for His mind each day

Copyright: Page Alexanda 2016

Every Blessing,
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Give Praise Unto The King

Give praise unto The King
For He is worthy to be praised
Lift up Holy hands to Him
Throughout all your days
Jump up and down singing Hallelujah

Give praise unto The King

He is The Lord Of Lords
Hosanna is His name
Blameless we come before His throne
Forever He remains the same

How glorious and awesome is He
Give praise unto The King

For in Him we live and move
And have our being
Singing, rejoicing, praising

The Holy One Of Israel, all seeing
Give a mighty shout
Give praise unto The King

Come before Him with dancing
With cymbals and the lyre

With all your being, worship Him
He will catch your heart on fire
In His presence you'll find favour
Give praise unto The King

Alpha and Omega, beginning and End

Search and you will find Him
Giving thanks to Him always
Forever He'll be your friend
Might and just is He in all ways
Give praise unto The King

For in Him we live and move
And have our being
Singing, rejoicing, praising
He is The Mighty God
The Holy One Of Israel, all seeing
Give a mighty shout
Give praise unto The King

Copywrite Page Alexanda 2016

Every Blessing,
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You Are Worthy To Be Praised

O Lord You have searched me
And know my innermost being
You know me inside out
So there is no point fleeing
From Your presence
From Your beauty
You are acquainted with all my ways

O Lord You are mighty
And laid Your hand upon me
From before the beginning
You knew everything this I see
So where can I go
So where can I hide
Your presence so incredible beyond belief

O Lord You are praise worthy
I lift my hands to You
No matter what life throws my way
I will worship You in all that I do
I bow down before You
Worship and adore You
Your presence is like nectar, so sweet

O Lord marvelous are Your works
I am fearfully and wonderfully made
How precious are Your thoughts
Towards me Lord every single day
Search my heart O God
You know me inside out
So lead me in Thy ways everlasting

How precious are You O Lord
I am high and lifted up
How subtle are Your ways
You are worthy to be praised

Taken from Psalm 139
Copyright: Page Alexanda 2016

Every Blessing,
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