Little Cyclones

Some of the littlest (and cutest!) CYCLONE fans I know.....

Gettin' Kinda Chili....

Sunday was a beautiful, warm, sunny fall day. It's still been beautiful and sunny so far this week...... but it's starting to get a little chilly out... Which makes tonight the perfect night for chili!
I'm posting Abby's recipe (with her permission) of my most favorite chili (although when it comes to chili, I don't discriminate...). Enjoy! And after you try it, you can leave your comments of gratitude addressed to Abby!

Abby's Chili

1 large can of diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 jar salsa
1 yellow onion, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 can black beans
1 can chili beans medium heat
1 small can Delmonte corn
2 T chili powder
1 T cumin
2 T (or more!) honey
1 lb of hamburger (S & P it liberally)

- throw it all together and stew 'til the onions and peppers are tender.


Also... a chili recipe isn't the only thing I've stolen borrowed from Abby. Here is a picture of her handsome little guy Jack (I think it may have actually been originally posted by her mom, I edited it a little). Because he will also warm your heart on these chilly fall days!

Attn: Prayer Warriors

Please, please, please, keep Deb Noll in your prayers. Some of you may know her through the business department at ISU. I know her because her son, John, was in my homeroom last year. She was an amazing homeroom mom. She kept us supplied throughout the year, often making trips to the school to deliver needed materials, other times sending them with John. She is a great mom and it is very evident that she cares deeply about not only her son, but all the children in our district.
She has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer (which hits close to home for my family) and the Dr.s' report is not good.
I am especially heartbroken over this because John is her family. She adopted him and has been raising him on her own. I remember a time she had to be gone last year and needed a friend to come in to take care of him. I'm sure she is worried more about him at this point than she is herself.

If you are willing/able to help there is a walk Oct. 10th at Ada Hayden Park at 9am. If you email me today (heididh33@hotmail.com), I can get you signed up to walk with my group ($20 for t-shirt, $10 without).
If you'd like more information on how you can help them in other ways, please email me and I'll get that to you as well.
(Update: On the right column of this ISU page, there is a little information about the walk.)

Even if you are not able to help them financially, please storm Heaven's door on their behalf; I know they would more than appreciate your support.

_____________________________________________________________
Update: People are contacting me and finding my blog through google searching for more information about the Walk for Deb Noll. The following is information from the Walker Registration. If you'd like me to forward the actual forms to you, please email me with Deb Noll as the subject. You may also use the contact information at the bottom of this post for more info. Thanks! (and KEEP PRAYING!!!)

Walk for Deb Noll
October 10, 2009
9:00am-12:00pm
Ada Hayden Park

In order to ensure that participants receive a t-shirt, this form along with a minimum $20.00 donation must be received by September 30, 2009. If participants are wanting to walk and not receive a t-shirt we ask that a minimum donation of $10.00 be received by October 7, 2009 as well. Forms and payment may be mailed or dropped off to the Boys & Girls Club of Story County 210 S. 5th St, Ames, Iowa 50010. Please make checks payable to Deb Noll.
** Lunch will be served at noon (donations accepted)

**Please contact Todd Jorgensen at the Boys & Girls Club of Story County with any further questions or concerns: 515-233-1872 or jorgensen23@aol.com

Pork Roast

We I always stalk the Pork producers during tailgates.... if you don't, you should. They always hand out bags with recipes, $5 for pork ($10 if you get your husband to grab one too!), meat thermometers, and other Pork goodies. And going through the bag, I cant wait to use my pork coupons for some Boston butt. Because I love Pork Roast. Especially in the fall. We've already made one once this fall (sorry Mary, I didn't get a picture). Now that I have $10 of free pork, I'll have to make it again (and update with a picture for Mary!). :)
And don't feel bad if you missed the Pork Producers today. Go to iowapork.org and enter to win the tailgate package ($100 of pork!) and you automatically get $5 of pork for entering! Now go make some:

PORK ROAST

5 pounds Boston butt
4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons paprika
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 tablespoons liquid smoke

Place Boston butt on a plate. In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne. Rub the mixture into the pork and coat thoroughly. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours.
Mix together the remaining ingredients in the crockpot. Add the pork and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove the pork from the liquid and shred.
Place the shredded pork in a large ovenproof dish. Toss the shredded pork with enough of the cooking liquid to keep it moist - plus some extra as it will absorb some of the liquid while sitting and reheating.


Makes 10 servings.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Resting Time: 12 hours
Cooking Time: 8 hours, 30 minutes
Total Time: At least 21 hours


Oh- and because I know you are wondering... ISU won today!! Go cyclones!

Muffins for Fall

I love fall. I love muffins. I love muffins that are perfect for fall.


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins


Mix:
2 beaten eggs
1/2 Cup soft margarine
1 C. pumpkin pie filling

Add and mix:
1 2/3 Cup flour
2/4 Cup sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt

Add:
1 Cup chocolate chips

Bake 20-25 minutes at 350.

Maddox on a Saturday

So blessed to get to spend days with this little man.

Does God Even Know Where I Work?

Have you ever felt alone? Like God was nowhere to be found? Like no matter how much you prayed, begged, and pleaded you couldn't find an answer, you couldn't feel Him? Have you ever felt that the lonely set of footprints in the sand were your own? 

One of the questions I had before starting the Esther study was why is God not directly mentioned in this book? And since He is not, why are we studying it?

Beth's answer in short was, God's name may not be in it, but HE'S ALL OVER IT.

He's all over it. There are times in my walk with Him that I feel very close to Him. I feel like I ask a question and BOOM, the answer is right in front of me. There are times when I doubt Him and BOOM, He gives me a concrete reason to trust. I know, without a doubt, at those times He IS all over it.

But....

To read the rest, visit the Complacency Challenge (and leave a comment!).

Not So Subtle

I know I'm going to have to stop posting about this because several of you have been trying to guess.... but for the last time (this week) (I think) I just want to say...


Have you ever been getting a message so clear from God that you finally say outloud, "Okay, God, I get it!"

God has been not so subtle in his messages to me this week about the life change my husband and I have been considering. One minute He has me so pumped up to do it. Then I'll find myself doubting the idea. Thinking things like, "This will never work. There's no way. It just doesn't make sense!"

Well this morning as I was getting ready was one of those times. I thought, "This makes no sense at all God, why do you keep putting this on my heart?"

Within minutes, maybe 5, I was reading my morning devotion. And guess what God told me.

Changing direction in life because God called us to even if it doesn't make sense.

As in, an example of what it means to have reckless faith.  What? You are thinking being reckless is a bad thing? I guess you'll just have to read this to find out more.....

Okay, God. I get it. I am listening. I will follow You. Even though it really doesn't make a lot of sense to me right now! :)

Couple of things I want to share with you tonight...

A lot of you are following Kate's story (beautiful girl on the button in the top right of my blog). In case you are not, I wanted to share with you that Kate has an MRI this week. Her dad blogs about fasting and being in prayer for Kate this week. If you'd join them, there are specifics on prayer requests here.

And joyfully, I'm so excited to share with you that my friend Mary and I have our team blog up and going. The two of us are doing (different) small group studies this fall. While we are doing them we are going to be blogging about lessons we are learning through the process. Our blog is titled "Conversations Challenging Complacency" and the goal is instead of having one sided posts, that readers will join the conversation and share about lessons they are learning as well. I hope you'll join us over there and actively participate! The first post asks you to introduce yourself! I hope you'll join in!!

Worry

"Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere."

Lately, R & I have been discussing some life changes. While we are super excited about the possibilities, it is scary. It's not the smartest, safest, most financially wise thought we've ever had. And I worry about it.

In our family, I am not the worrier. If the bank statement is low, it's my husband that worries, not me. If the weather isn't working to our advantage (for building, sodding, etc), it is my husband that worries, not me. If the gas tank is dangerously low and we are several miles from the nearest gas station it is my husband that worries, not me (okay I know you are thinking he sometimes has valid reasons for worrying,  which only proves my point more... I do. not. worry. ....usually...).

But I'm worried.

When my husband is worried I say, "Why are you worrying? Are you doubting that He can do it? Don't you trust Him?"
In fact, I say that to my husband so much that today he sent me this email:
Don’t be afraid….you are a super talented person who can do many things…that is a gift you have.  Remember you always tell me that if you are afraid or worried that you are insulting God because you are telling him that He can’t handle it…..I think you should do whatever makes you happy!  It will work out it..some how it always does for us! Have a great day!!!!

"Why do you worry? Do you not trust that He can do it?" 

I do trust He can do it. I know He can. The worry comes in fearing if He will do it.

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." -Matthew 6:25-34

 He tells me not to worry. He tells me I am I am worth more value than other creatures and He provides for them. In fact, remember when I posted this.

Apparently I had forgotten and needed a reminder.

⁶ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6

Lord, I do trust in You. I know you can do it. I know you will provide, in whatever way that may be. I pray that Your will be done and that you give us the guidance to easily see what that is. Lord, give us the courage to follow You, even when it is scary. Lord, thank You for carrying my worry. Thank You for for never leaving my side. Amen.

Labor Day Weekend

Our Labor Day Weekend.

Making smores.

Working on porch columns.
















Running out of lumber. Running to store to get more. While practicing safety first.

Parade.

Fun in the sun.

(& I might as well mention Ang & I beat the boys pretty badly at bags...)