PRAYER

"The most important lesson we can learn is how to pray. Indeed, we must pray so that our prayers take hold of God. The man who has done the most and the best praying is the most immortal, because prayers do not die. Perhaps the lips that uttered them are closed in death, or the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them. Prayers outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world."
-----E.M. Bounds

I thought this quote was so beautiful.... to think our prayers outlive the world.... what a glorious thought.

xoxo,

Amy Jo

Just Dreamin..........

 All of the storms and rain gave me plenty of time to browse some of my old magazines. Looking at magazines is one of my favorite things to do. I love this dining room! It is so pretty.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a sleeping porch? Of course in Florida you could only sleep out on the porch in winter.

I love this vintage inspired outfit. This is in Mary Jane's farm magazine.(old issue)

This is the room that inspired my bedroom. I think it is so pretty. (Romantic Homes)

This is the same room.



Being bored is never a good thing... My daughter talked me into bangs. (She's in beauty school) They were a lot shorter than I wanted, and there is a lot more of them than I wanted. But luckily I have a sense of humor.... as she was rolling on the ground with laughter, I knew it couldn't be to good...LOL but the good thing is hair grows.



I got these lovely letters on ebay... I just love them. I hung them over the pantry. What do you think?  Well this is how we have spent the rainy days in Florida.... Now hopefully we will have some sunny skies!
I am linking with:
Home and Garden Thursday

xoxo,

Amy Jo





Tropical Storm...

This morning we woke up to 20 mile per hour winds and very heavy rain....

Our yard is flooded. It is hard for the gutters to keep up.

Right now it is just a tropical storm but they expect it to pick up to a hurricane and slam into Louisiana. I know they do not need that.

But it is very comforting knowing God is in control.... Every step of the way.

I love sitting on the porch while the rain pours down. It is so beautiful. As long as the mosquito's don't carry me away... those little devils sure do ruin a lot of outdoor fun.

This is the light fixture over the island in the kitchen.... The chain is bronze and the cap part is gold....

So I painted it with some Annie Sloan Chalk paint. I love it... but, every time I change something I see 100 more things that I need to do.... why is that?  I hope your Monday is happy and blessed.

xoxo,

Amy Jo



New Treasures

I am not supposed to be bringing any new treasures home, because our house is on the market. Any time we have moved I have had to get rid of tons of stuff. When you get to a new home some of your old treasures just don't work. BUT.... I had time to kill while in town the other day and I was having withdraws sooo... I went into a little thrift store to kill that time. I was VERY selective... So I only left with three items. One being  this rose plate. I paid 8.00 for it. Not bad for a cake plate. I will hang it in my kitchen. 

The second being this pretty little plate.I just saw a set of these plates on another blog ( I don't remember who's) I thought they were so pretty. I was rummaging around and lo and behold one butter sized plate caught my eye. I was so excited. Just 2.00. I didn't have to think twice about this little guy. I hope to find more of this pattern. Searching is most of the fun! The third thing was a book. I am now reading the book.  So for $11.00 I had a whole lot of fun....

xoxo,

Amy Jo

Zuchini Herb Casserole

I cooked this delicious casserole last week. It was sooo good. I made chicken breast and baked potatoes for everyone else but I just ate this casserole and it was very filling. I thought that it was good enough to share with you all. This serves 6 people and takes about an hour total including cooking time.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup uncooked rice

2/3 cup of water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 pounds zucchini, cubed

1 cup onion or 1 small onion

1 clove garlic minced

1 1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp oregano

1 1/2 cups seeded chopped tomatoes

2 cups cheddar cheese, divided ( I used less)

Directions:

1. Combine the rice and water in a sauce pan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, until rice is tender.

2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a shallow 1 1/2 qt casserole dish.

3. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat, cook zucchini, onion, and garlic 5 minutes. Season with garlic salt, basil, paprika, and oregano. Mix in cooked rice, tomatoes, and 1 cup cheese. Continue to cook and stir until heated through, transfer to casserole dish. Top with cheese.

4.  Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

I hope you give this recipe a try. It is so worth the effort and was great reheated the next day.

Blessings,

Amy Jo



The Oldest Health Plan in the World

No I am not talking vegan here... I don't think I could ever do without meat completely. My mother gave me this book several years ago and I never read it. It just sat on my bookshelf.  But recently my Mother had a few health issues and one of them was high cholesterol. If you read the side effects of the medication you will know that taking those cholesterol drugs can be just as scary as the condition itself. So she decided to try a natural approach, she started eating a mostly vegan diet and she only eats meat twice a week.

The result:  Well she feels amazing. And on top of it all, in just 2 months, she is smaller than she has been in years!! She weighs less than me and is taller than me. O.K. so this is the part that really caught my attention.... Oh vanity.... So I dug out this book and started reading it. This book is excellent! It describes the foods that were eaten in biblical times and why. The Author uses scripture and science to explain the details. It is nothing new (obviously) but when it is put in a biblical context it makes it easier for me to digest and accept. So Sunday I decided to start eating mostly vegetables and less meat. I feel good and I have lost 1 1/2 pounds!  In 4 days! And I have changed nothing else. Nothing.

Mandy over at Biblical Homemaking has been another source of inspiration. She has been eating on a similar plan and posting about it. There is great info on her blog. Lastly I want to mention the above CD collection from Vision Forum. I had really wanted to go to this conference but my husband said the only way he would take me is if I would fly!

 EEEK.... So needless to say I bought the seminar instead. ( I am a baby)  But I am so glad I bought this. It is a little bit expensive. But the way I look at it I saved a lot of money when I didn't fly to Texas and stay at a hotel.... The information has been so inspirational,  plainly spoken, and so far I am enjoying the Cd's. I highly recommend this seminar series. I know this isn't what I usually talk about here on my blog, but I am super excited about this. I have been mainly low carb for years. I feel that I have been missing out on so much. Nutritionally and pleasure wise as well. So I hope you will check out some of this info. Who knows, maybe it is just what you have been looking for. I hope you have a blessed day.

xoxo,

Amy Jo

A Rainbow's Promise

Today we had wicked thunderstorms with lots of lightning. Every minute another strike of lightning and then a terrible roll of thunder.

But after the down pour was over I noticed a brilliant orange light coming through the windows. It was quite beautiful.

When I looked out our back window I saw a breath taking rainbow. I wish my camera could capture it's beauty and wonder. But it just wouldn't... This rainbow reminded me of God and His promises to us..... It filled me with wonder and awe and was a perfect ending to another blessed day....

xoxo,

Amy Jo

On The Market...

We've done it, we have put our home on the market.  We could not decide if it was the right thing to do or not. So we decided to pray that if we should move, our home would sell, and if we should stay,  then we pray it won't sell.

This has not been the easiest idea for me to accept. My sister, brother and I were raised right here... back then it was dirt roads, orange groves and cattle.  Now it is paved roads and houses where orange groves and cattle used to be. The main problem is they have built the area up and did not change the roads. So any time you want to go somewhere get ready to sit in traffic. Lots and lots of traffic. My husband is driving all day all around Orlando and he would like to live in an area where it isn't so crowded. That way when he is home we don't have to battle crowds and traffic when we go out on weekends.

But if that is not God's plan for us, I pray this home does not sell. I pray we just have the grace to deal with the traffic and crowds.

Besides I am kind of partial to this little Home... so if you remember, will you pray that God answers our prayers and that whether we go or stay we are in the center of God's will?

Blessings,

Amy Jo

Summer

Summer is just slipping by..... It has been so nice having a break from school work.

Soon I will be getting the new year's curriculum.... and it will be on to new things.

My husband bought me these very beautiful roses.  I just love them and him.

This is my nephew Cody and my Daughter Savanah. They are six months apart and have always been close. He now lives in another state so we don't see him as much as we would like.

He is just a wee bit taller than her...haha!

This is my sister's other son and now he is as tall as Cody. He just turned 14.

Summer has been so fun... and so fast. Why do all good things have to come to an end?

Blessings,

Amy Jo