Trouble Posting and Other Random Stuff

I seem to have trouble actually getting on here to post.. I come up with ideas for the day.... I even open blogger, then something distracts me. So I have decided to force myself to blog in April. I joined the A to Z blogging challenge. It begins April first and every day I will be posting about a topic related to the letter of the day. This will be tough for me. But I know I can do it.... Below I posted the banner for the A to Z challenge. If you want to join click on it and it will bring you to the website. :)




So, I realized since we moved that we have too much stuff. I mean when we moved, I got rid of a trunk load of stuff that was extra and that we didn't need. But somehow, After moving from an apartment half the size of this house, I am having trouble coming up with places for things. I am very tempted at this moment to just tote all the boxes of stuff i don't know what to do with to the trashcan. I mean, if i don't know what to do with it, shouldn't i just get rid of it?

Another note, school this semester is seeming super easy. I am not used to this. I mean I have a 100 in all but one class and a 95% in that class. (So terrible right?). It just seems like its super easy. Maybe it’s just because I am almost finished. But I was told the last few classes would be the hardest... Well, whoever said that (I can’t remember right now) was wrong. These classes are super easy. My classmate and I are like wow! EASY semester.

Maybe it’s just God is giving me a needed break. It’s easier to focus on Him and my husband since school isn't driving me so crazy. I actually kept up with my devotions this past week and my husband has been doing a devotion with me each night before bed this week. This is something that I have longed for... But had not happened since we got married and then all of the sudden we started working through the book of Ephesians together. We have the couple’s devotional bible as well so we have been reading the short devotions having to do with the chapter we read in Ephesians. I am currently working my way through the book called "The Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian. The first chapter really hit me. It’s all about praying for his wife and how I need to change and let God change me. I can't change Mikel, only God can and He might not change him the way I want him to. But He knows what's best.
  

This Sunday, one of our pastors taught in Sunday school how Christians are actually priests. We were chosen by God to praise and worship Him. That is our sole purpose; To be priests unto God. I mean really think about that. Have you read in the Old Testament about what the role of the priests were? They were the ones who were supposed to be set apart unto God alone. They served Him in the temple. They were the ones who were allowed to enter into the temple and bring sacrifices to God. No others could. No others had that connection with God. 

Well now, the temple is the body of Christ. We worship God or satan every day by what we do. We were called to be servants, priests, set apart for our God. I mean think about that, and the way you live your life. Are you living your life as worship and praise to the most high God? Are you bringing glory and honor to His name by the things you do? Are you spending time with Him? Does your life show that you are set apart from the world unto God alone? Does your thinking show that you are set apart? Does your life show that God is number one? Are the sacrifices to bring to God acceptable to Him?

A few verses to think on:

1 Peter 2:1-12

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles it abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Joshua 24:15

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

 If you are a Christian, you are also a priest. That is something that is special, that God has given to us. The honor to be a priest to Him. We are sinners, we do not do what God wants us to do. But he choose us to serve Him as priest and to bring sacrifices acceptable to Him. This is a privilege not to be taken lightly. 

Ang

Gardening 2

So yesterday, I told you all about my gardening right? So guess what? Some of my baby plants finally pushed themselves up out from under the soil. Plus, I made signs for my plants so I would remember what kinds I have planted. :)

Gardening

So sometime last summer, I planted these pepper plants... I am amazed that they survived here in AZ. I am also so excited about this because both of my two pepper plants now have a pepper on them.
 Here are some pictures of my pepper plants: you can easily see the growth. :)

Baby pepper plant

Pepper plants right after I transplanted them for the first time

Growing now with peppers

Pepper :)

I recently just planted some seeds... So far no growth but it hasn't even been a week. LOL! It takes a little while for plants to grow... Anyway... So I have planted: onions, tomatoes, cucumber, romaine lettuce and various flowers (soon I am going to plant a potato; I am waiting on it to sprout a lil first.) I am going to have my own potted veggie garden. I cant wait to be able to eat a salad all made from plants I grew myself! This will definitely save on the money we spend on produce...

Baby plants... No growth yet. :)

 I am debating about making something like this for inside my house... This will save the plants from the AZ heat and allow for me to have them indoors but at the same time it will take up a lot of room.. and will remind me to water them LOL! Plus I need some space to plant my seedlings. 

This is the one I want Mikel to build.

This planter would be great for outside!!!

Anyway, there is a short update on whats going on in my life..
Ang

NEW House

 

Pinterest & Cooking

Have you gone on Pinterest yet? If not, I totally suggest you go! I found all these cool ideas for cooking and making things! I spent over two hours on there last night.

Anyway, a great idea for cooking came out of it. Pre-made crock pot meals made in ziplock bags that all you do is take out of the freezer and put in the crock pot. The lady who came up with this idea, has all the info including what to buy at the grocery store and everything for 8 meals made in the crock pot. here is the   LINK to her blog post about it.

Anyway, so today using that idea, I made a chicken noodle soup meal in the ziplock (excluding the noodles because they would get all soggy). It was pretty easy... I baked a whole chicken last night for dinner, we ate half for dinner. I then de-boned the chicken and saved all the broth. The broth I put in the ziplock along with some chicken bullion, water and peas and carrots and of course the chicken. I also added an onion to the mix and some garlic and onion powder. It should be yummy. Next week I am going to make the meals from the blog post above so you will hear about those next week. Sorry I didn't have pictures of the whole process, but here is a finished picture. :) FYI what fits in a ziplock is just perfect for our crock pot its a 5qt.

Another note, because this was mostly liquid, i double zbagged it.

Anyway, I hope you had a good Sunday. :)
Ang

Where are you?

Where are you?

Why can’t I feel you near?

I know you are here…

It’s just you feel so far away.

If only I could hear you

If only I could touch you

If only I could see you

If only I could feel you

Why do you feel so far away?

Why does it feel like you aren’t here?

I know my feelings are wrong,

They tell me you are gone.

But you promised you would never leave nor forsake me….

Yet you feel so far away…

Maybe I just need to go away

Focus on you and just pray

To just be still

To listen and obey your will

Maybe then, you will feel close

Someday's its just so hard

Some days I loose my focus

You are the one I am to worship

Yet here I am worshiping other things

Why do I do the things you hate?

Why don’t I just obey?

Why why why???

Because I am a sinner…

Because I try to do those things on my own

Because only though you can I honor you

You are the one who enables me to obey you

But, I have to allow you to do so.

I need to give up

To give you control

Let you rule

You drive

You provide

^{Romans 8:38-39
38} For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Graduation and life

So today, I applied for graduation and student teaching. I graduate Dec 15th of this year. I cannot wait! I wont be walking although I kind of want to. But my school is located in Pensacola, FL and I live in AZ. My family in FL lives like 8 hours from the school so its just not worth it to me. However, I will be buying a tassel because I want one and I figured out how to buy one today without buying the cap and gown.

Its been 5 years since I graduated high school, 3 since I graduated with my AA.(If you are wondering why it is taking me so long, I changed majors so that put me behind by a lil over a year.) So I think its about time. I am 22 and 3 months after I turn 23, I will graduate with my bachelors degree in Exceptional Student Education and Elementary Education with minors in ESOL and Reading. I cant believe by Christmas I will have graduated 3 times... I am finally done!!! I am considering going on for a masters in ESE, but at the same time, I haven't decided yet...

Here are some Graduation photos from the past. :)

High School Grad June 2007

High School Grad with my parents June 2007

 A.A. in Spanish Grad May 2009

A.A.in Spanish, Grad May 2009

~LIFE~

Ok, so you are probably wondering what else is going on in my life huh?
 Well for starters, we get the keys to our new home on Wed... yes, just 6 days away. I am very excited about that, yet its driving me crazy because of all the work I have yet to complete.

Mikel's back is still bothering him.... Nothing has worked so far. They are sending him to a ruematologist (sp?), hopefully that Dr. will help...
Oh and speaking of doctors, I went to the hospital Tuesday night due to severe ear pain. I was diagnosed with an ear infections and given pain meds and antibiotics, I seem to be doing better. 

I am not really reading anything but school book as of right now due to classes and not having extra time.

My animals are driving me crazy as when I clean they are right behind me messing things up.. :(

Anyway, I hope your week has been going well! As of right now my goal is to post on here at least once a week. With everything going on, its hard for me to remember to, so please be patient with me!

Ang

Wednesday Hodgepodge 2/1/2012

 1. It's that most wonderful time of the year...tax season! Do you complete your own returns or farm that job out to the professionals?

            I have actually never had to do taxes. My jobs until now have been babysitting/Nannying jobs. This year, my hubby will fill out our tax forms.

2. This next question comes from Kansas Bob...he posed it in his response to something I asked in an earlier Wednesday post and I asked him if I could add it to the Hodgepodge some day. Today's the day....

Which do you think has changed you more-love or pain?

            Pain…. Pain has caused me to rely more on God and God has changed me through the pain.

3. Tangerine Tango has been named color of the year for 2012. Your thoughts? Would I find this color anywhere in your house? How about in your closet? If not, will you be adding this color to your life in some way in 2012? If you're not sure what tangerine tango looks like click here.

            Wow! About the color… I didn’t even know each year there is a color for the year… I actually think there may be some in my kitchen. I just packaged everything up and packed it as we move in two weeks…. :/

 

4. Are you a collector? What do you collect and does it get admired, used, and/or dusted regularly?

            I collect stuffed monkeys. I have over 40 stuffed monkeys. Some not shown in the picture. Depending on who comes over, they are sometimes used. My cat loves to steal the small ones and run around the house with them. LOL!

5. February is National Heart Month...besides a green salad what is one tasty heart healthy dish you like to prepare?

            Hmmmm…. I am not sure… I didn’t know I was supposed to make healthy dishes. LOL! 

6. When was the last time you had car trouble?

           

        Ummmm……. Right now it’s having trouble. We went home for vacation and came back and my car won’t turn on… It was working when we left. 

7. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Is that a good trend?

            I think I have been more demanding… Its good in some ways, bad in others.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Can you believe its already February??? This year seems to be going by WAY too fast! At the same time, I am happy its going by fast because I want to be done with school. 

Another note, my sister-in-law had her baby son Colton yesterday which made me an Aunt. I am so happy! He is so cute and chubby!!! 

Colton Clay born 1/31/2012 at 12:20pm EST 8lbs, 6oz and 21 inches