Update

Since it's the last day of January, I can't believe how fast time goes by. Anyways, I thought I would do an update on how my New Years goals are going. 

Here is the list of my goals I posted on January 3rd, and how I'm doing under it in yellow. 
 

-become closer to God 

I have become closer to God, I talk to Him and pray more than I did before.
 

-read the Bible daily

I can't say that I read it daily, but I do read it more than I did, this is one I'll have to keep working on.
 

-be a better Christian

I believe I have, I get excited about going to church and I am happier when I listen to Christian music and I feel like I talk about God more.
 

-be a better wife

I think so, not that I was ever bad.
 

-inspire and encourage people with my blog

I do believe that I have done this, the feedback I have received has all been positive and encouraging to me as well, I makes me feel great and I appreciate it. 
 

-meet new people through my blog 

I haven't yet, but I hope I do. 
 

-for my blog to be successful

This goal will take time, so I will just keep doing what I am doing and if it's Gods will, I'll accept it. 
 

-make healthy lifestyle changes

I have been making healthier choices, but not everyday.
 

-randomly mail cards to others 

I need to buy some cards so I can do this!
 

-not to compare myself to others 

This is still hard, I am working on it, but it will take time.
 

-cook new recipes 

I haven't tried any new yet, but I'm sure I will. 
 

-visit new places 

This hasn't happened, maybe soon. 
 

-learn to sew on a sewing machine

Not yet, I need a sewing machine, lol.
 

-take more pictures
I have started to take some more, but I think I need to take even more, for memories.
 

-worry less
I do find myself giving my worries to God rather than worrying, so yes I do worry less.
 

-smile more
Yes, I do :)
 

-be more adventurous 
I haven't really had the opportunity to be more adventurous yet.
 

-try to be less shy 
I would say I'm still working on this., it's hard to break out of a shell.

Did you mew new years goals? How are you doing on your now that the first month of the year is about to end? Todays post was simple but it made me realize that I need to work harder at some of these goals, and take some of them more seriously. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

 

P31W Wednesday #4

Homemaker, a word that Sara, the author, hated to hear. It was something she did not want to become when she got married. She thought it meant you have to give up all of your goals and dreams and you stay at home cooking and cleaning. She soon realized that you do sacrifice some things in a marriage and you do, do homemaker things. She consumed herself with work, school and a baby and she was then scared that she actually missed out on being a homemaker.

Questions for this week:

What is your definition of a homemaker?
A person who takes care of their home and family.

Growing up, what was your perception of a homemaker?
When I was younger I would associate a homemaker with what I saw on TV. A cheerful lady in a dress with a cute apron, her hair fixed perfect. She cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner from scratch. She did laundry and cleaned the house, all while taking care of the children.

What about now?
Now, I would say, a person who cooks, cleans, takes care of children (if any). I think now it could be a man or woman depending on who earns the paycheck and who stays home. I don't necessarily  think the homemaker has to stay home all day, you can still do the same tasks once you get off of work.

Do you consider yourself a homemaker? Why or why not?
I would say yes, not fully. I do have a fulltime job, but when I get home I do cook, clean and do laundry. My husband also helps, so you could say we both are. I usually take the inside cleaning, while my husband takes on the outside, like yard work, and washing the cars. We make a good team!

I think I could be a stay-at-home homemaker if I could. It sounds good in my head anyways. I couldn't wear a dress all the time but I do have a cute apron. I like to craft and do DIY projects {which I hope to post soon} so I think I could keep myself busy with little projects. Martha 31 did it all, so I'm sure I could as well with a little practice.

What are your thoughts on the definition of a homemaker? Are you a homemaker?

Be-YOU-tiful

I have debated about this post topic all week. I can't get it out of my head, and I'm not sure what I would post if I didn't choose this topic. So, I'm going to listen to the whispers from God and do it. Some things no one knows only God does, but I hope this post will help someone through their hard times.

Being myself was hard to do through out school. I just wanted to be accepted. In elementary school I was fine, it wasn't until middle school that I found myself loosing friends because we didn't have classes together or they changed and made other friends. I tried to be apart of the popular group, they were nice at first, but then I started to notice the dirty looks and when I would walk up they stop talking, so it was really awkward. I have always struggled with my weight, and I would just think to myself "maybe if I was skinny, I would have more friends or more people would like me". I cried a lot, I'm crying now writing this. Remembering at lunch time classmates moving more chairs to a lunch table just so they didn't have to sit with me. I don't think I was weird, I was very quiet, I never understood why classmates acted the way they did, all I knew is that it hurt. 

High school wasn't much better, 9th grade, again I just tried to fit in and find friends. In 9th we had to take PE, I hated PE. Having to dress out in front of others, I'm not athletic, never have been. One day we were walking around the track, and to older guys came up to me and asked "if I wanted to be his girlfriend" I said no, with a weird look on my face, but deep down I was happy that they noticed me, but as they walked away I heard them say "let's go find another fat girl to ask". I was immidiatly crushed, those happy feelings I felt were completely gone and I was ready for class to be over. All my friends had boyfriends and I could never get a guy to look at me. I just wanted a guy to like me and to talk to me. During these times I did think about suicide, and inflicting pain on myself because of the pain I felt, not seriously, but it did cross my mind. I didn't think anyone would notice that I was even gone, but I knew I would hurt my family. 

I never drastically changed, I just hung out with people and tried to be something that I wasn't. I wasn't popular, or athletic, in 9th grade I hung out with the punk/goth crowd just because they were nice to me. As I got older I found different people to hang out with. I tried to be more of myself, rather than something I'm not. If I could go back, I would try to teach myself to love who I am. I am still insecure to this day and I probably always will be. I wish I had the "I don't care attitude" but I don't. I would tell myself to find true friends that liked me for me, that didn't judge me. My husband, whom I met junior year in high school was my saving grace, he truly does love me no matter what, he has been here for me since day one. I would tell myself to trust in God more, and give my worries to him, and to have a closer relationship with him. I felt alone a lot in school, I know now that I wasn't ever alone he was always there, and so was my family, but I didn't talk to them about any of this. 

If I could tell someone else anything it would be to; BE{YOU}TIFUL, worry about your relationship with God before your friends, trust in Him, and you are never alone!! 

But The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on outward appearance, but The Lord looks on the heart." 
1 Samuel 16:7

People are always going to judge each other, just treat others the way you want to be treated! 

I don't want anyone to feel pity towards me, I chose to write this in hopes to help others that could be going through the same things. It was very difficult to write this and share things that no one knows happened. Jesus, the sweetest name I know, now gives me comfort, I lean to Him whenever I have doubts or fears! 

 

I love this song and it fits in perfectly with my post.

{You're worth more than gold!}

 

Easy Chicken Pan Pie

Happy Friday! Today I'm keeping the post simple with a easy recipe for chicken pan pie. This recipe is so simple and yummy! I love to make it when it's chilly outside, it's very comforting.

Ingredients:

1 can chicken

1 can cream of chicken

1cup frozen mixed veggies

1cup self-rising flour

1cup milk 

1 stick butter

9x9 pan

If you double the recipe just use a 9x13 pan. 

 

You can also use a can of Veg-all, I like frozen vegetables better. 

 

I open the chicken, drain it, and chop it up a little more and then add it to the pan. There is no particular order to this, I just usually add the chicken first. You can cook your own chicken, or use leftovers but to be quick and easy I use can chicken.

 

Next I add the vegetables, you can add whatever kind you like, I prefer the mixed. 

 

Then add the cream of chicken soup, spread it all over.

 

Now for the crust. Melt 1 stick of butter.

 

Add the cup of self-rising flour and the cup of milk, stir well. 

Pour it evenly over the other ingredients. 

 

Bake on 350 for an hour or until golden brown. 

 

Serve and enjoy!! 

 

P31W Wednesday #3

This week Sara gives P31W a name, she is calling her Martha 31 from now on. She thought of P31W as a modern day Martha Stewart, and I kind of agree. Sara tries really hard to cook more, and to get dinner done before her husband comes home. She achieved that goal, her husband was happy, and her son cleaned his plate. She felt like an accomplished Martha 31.

This week the questions are:

How do you prepare to receive your husband when he walks in the door? 

- I always try to have a smile on my face. I'll greet him with a hug, a kiss and a "how was your day?" I have learned to leave work at work, especially if I have had a bad day. I will eventually tell my husband what happened but I don't want to greet him with a bad attitude and put a damper in the rest if the night.

Do you notice a difference with him when your happy or cranky? 

- I have noticed a difference. There have been times when I was in a bad mood when my husband got home and his smile disappears, and the night is just blah. I didn't like that, eventually we would talk about what happened that day but time was wasted that could've been joyful and happy. I now, try to have a positive attitude all the time. My husband usually always comes home with a smile on his face so it makes it a lot easier. I just love him and his smile!!

What are some things you might do differently? 

- I wouldn't say I would do anything differently because I have already learnd my lesson. I would love to have dinner ready when my husband gets home but we both get off at the same time, so that's hard to do. 

Her children arise, and call her blessed; 

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

Proverbs 31:28-29

Martha 31, as Sara calls her, is a women if many wonderful traits. Reading this book makes me strive to be a better wife and to learn and do more. I'm not sure if I will ever live up to Martha 31 standards but I will try my best and as long as my husband is happy and I'm happy I think I'm doing a good job. 

I hope some of you are also reading the book and are learning to become the P31W! 

This Little Light of Mine

I'm gonna let it shine. A childs song that I have never given much thought to as an adult, has so much meaning. In our small group at church yesterday morning we talked about letting our light shine. I couldn't get that topic out of my head, so I took it as Gods way of telling me I should do my blog post on that. So, I'm obeying him. 

Some of the verses from the song:

This little light if mine, 

I'm gonna let it shine. 

Hide it under a bushel -NO! 

I'm gonna let it shine. 

Don't let Satan blow it out.

I'm gonna let it shine. 

Let it shine till Jesus comes.

I'm gonna let it shine. 

This little light if mine, 

I'm gonna let it shine. 

If we call ourselves Christians, then we should be shining bright for Jesus! We can't sit on the couch and do nothing and expect people to see Jesus in us. We have to let our light shine, whether it's being a prayer warrior in your church that people trust, singing, and helping in children's ministry at church. Those things are amazing, but your light needs to shine outside of church as well.

14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 

Serving others is a great way to spread the love of Jesus, working at a food pantry, or serving food to the homeless, when you're checking out at a store tell the clerk to have a blessed day with a smile on your face. Just having a positive attitude, and not complaining. You could speak at events, or start a small group out of your home, call people or send out nice cards of encouragement. There are so many ways to shine your light for Jesus, our precious savior! I have chosen to let my light shine through my blog, I'm not a speaker, maybe God will bless me with the courage to do so one day, but for now I will blog. 

I think also being an encouragement to others who are trying to be a light as well, tell them they are doing a great job, and that you are proud of them! 

I think non-Christians watch everything we do. If we act in ways we shouldn't, or say things we shouldn't say, they will wonder how we are different than them, and why they should be a Christian. If they see us joyful, humble, and full of love, their curiosity might get them thinking being a Christian must be great, they are so happy, I want to be like that. 

Our job here on earth is to first love Jesus, and then to love others. I'm sure Jesus never stayed still, he was always out helping others. So why should we sit still, Jesus loved us enough to die for us and we can't even tell other people about him, and shine our light! Don't discourage yourself or let the devil get you down and make you think you can't do it, or that's silly, or why would you do that. Believe me, it happens, a lot, every time I write a post, I think; is it good enough, did I say the right words, what will people think and say, I should delete this, it's not good. But I know if I listen to my thoughts, satan would have blown out my light or it would be hidden under a bushel. After I click publish, even though I had those thoughts, I feel accomplished, and proud of myself. Especially if people comment and I know I have touched others makes me feel great. 

So however you want to shine your light, shine it as bright as you can!! Don't hide it under a bushel or let satan blow it out. Jesus is watching us and he is proud if what work we do for him. 

Much Love,
Teaya

27 Years

27 years ago my sweet, wonderful, loving parents stood at the alter and said "I do". Marriages now days hardly last 27 months, much less 27 years! It's such a blessing to have parents that love each other for better or worse, sickness and health, till death do them part!! Parents that don't give up on each other, that can joke around and have fun. Even though I was an only child, there was never a dull moment at our house. Both of my parents have worked hard their whole life for what they have, never asking for handouts, and if we didn't have the money for it we didn't get it. I'm so greatful to have picked up on these lessons and values and now I use them in my life with my husband. God truly blessed me with amazing parents, I thank him everyday for both of them!  I am a daddy's girl, but my mom is my best friend. I love them both so very much, I don't know where I would be without them! 

The crazy thing is, 27 years ago tomorrow, my husbands parents got married too!! I was truly blessed with some amazing in-laws. Most people can't say that, but I can. 

Happy 27th Anniversary to my parents and to my in-laws! I love you all very much!