There is power in the name of Jesus

It’s amazing what God uses to bring us closer to Him.   I want to share with you what has been going through my life in the last month that I wasn't able to share before today.

On December 19, I had a doctor’s appointment.  It was time for my yearly exam, the one thing that every woman dreads, especially me.  Last year at this time, I was finding out I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and had tiny little cysts on my ovaries.  This year, I was hoping for good news.

But then the doctor said the words no one ever wants to hear.  She felt a lump in my left breast and wanted me to go in for more tests, an ultrasound to start. 

My heart dropped.  So many thoughts went through my mind.  Cancer.  I have no insurance.  Cancer.  I’m too young.  Cancer. 

The nurse gave me the orders for the ultrasound and an application to have my ultrasound covered by a program called Links for Life.  She said that it may take a little bit to hear if I had been approved.  The next 2 weeks were some of the hardest I’I've had to live through.

Every time I started worrying, I started praying.  I shed many tears and hid many more from my friends and family.   Being alone was the worst.  There was no one to occupy my thoughts, no one I had to hide the tears from.  Driving in the car to work, I listened to K-Love.  God knew what songs I needed to hear to remind me to give it all to Him. 

7eventh Time Down’s song “Just Say Jesus” was one of those songs.

When you don't know what to say
Just say Jesus
There is power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words won't come
Cause you're too afraid to pray
Just say Jesus

Last week, I got the call that my ultrasound had been approved.  I called and scheduled an appointment for January 8.  I was nervous and scared, even more so than I had been in the past 2 weeks.

I started shaking in the dressing room while changing into the gown.  I was so nervous I was cold and felt like I couldn’t get warm.  The ultrasound tech explained what she was going to be doing and asked me to show her where the doctor found the lump. 

She examined and took pictures of my right breast and then moved to my left breast.  My heart rate went up.  After scanning and taking pictures, she asked me again where the lump was because she couldn't find it.  And I couldn't find it.  The tech then went and got the doctor and the doctor couldn't find it.

The doctor told me I could get dressed; the tests were negative.

I got up, got dressed and walked out to the truck where Kevin was waiting.  And then broke down in tears while Kevin prayed with me, thanking God.

We went to Hobby Lobby afterwards and playing overhead was the instrumental version of “You Are My All in All.”  And even today the song is still running through my head, the words fitting perfectly with how I’m feeling.

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising up again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

I'm no fool, I am not giving up on my God.  I will continue praising Him, remembering how He used this to bring me closer to Him.  

Creamy, cheesy, yumminess

Dinner tonight was a recipe I've made before and I will share for everyone else who loves homemade mac-n-cheese.  The recipe calls for smoked gouda, a smoky flavored cheese that Kevin and I found at Costco.   Personally, I think smoked gouda has too strong of a flavor to slice and eat out of hand, but combining it with the cheddar makes it out of this world!

Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese

1 lb package short pasta (penne, elbow macaroni, etc)
4  tablespoons  butter
4  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
4  cups  milk
½  teaspoon  salt
½  teaspoon  fresh ground black pepper
8-oz block sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
8-oz block smoked gouda cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled into pieces
2 small cans diced green chiles (optional)

Cook the pasta according to package directions, set aside.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Continue whisking and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Whisking constantly, cook for 5 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat to low and stir in salt, black pepper.  Stir in the cheese by the handful, making sure each batch is melted before adding more.  Stir in the bacon and chiles.

Pour the pasta in a lightly greased 9 x 13 x 2 baking dish. Spoon the cheese sauce over the pasta, stirring lightly to even out the sauce in the pan.

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven, and prepare yourself for awesome mac-n-cheese.

Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ahhhh-chooooo!!!

I read the “Little House on the Prairie” books when I was a child.  I always wanted to be like Laura Ingalls Wilder and make jellies and jams and can my own produce.  My grandmother gave me my first taste of homemade apple butter and helped me make a batch of prickly pear jelly.  I knew of no one besides my grandmother who canned food. 

Living on my own meant that I really couldn't take advantage of the really good sale prices on produce.  I didn't have room in my fridge or freezer to store extra food or have the knowledge to preserve it.  And I didn't want to spend the money on all of the items needed and possibly mess up the process.  Living in the city also prevented growing a garden.

And then I moved to Tehachapi.  Kevin told me about his gardens and what was in them and how everything was growing.  My mother-in -law-to-be has books on canning and was more than happy to teach me what she knows.

So now, I have come to love when produce is on sale.   In September, corn was only 16 cents an ear and we bought 72 ears.  In one night, Kevin and I blanched the ears, cut off the kernels, and vacuum sealed it to enjoy later this winter.  The harvest from plum trees in the back yard became plum preserves.  The half bushel of apples from the local orchard didn't just get baked into breads and eaten fresh.  I made apple butter on my own. 

So with winter creeping on us here in the mountains, our gardens had to be put to bed.  Ten pounds of green tomatoes became 10 quarts of pickles.  We also got several bushels of apples so Kevin and Lee can make applejack.  Many of those apples have already become apple butter and on Wednesday, many more will be preserved in those beautiful pint jars. 

But there are foods I don’t care for that can be canned and I canned one of them today.  Jalapenos, yuck!  We had a produce bag of them in the fridge and they were starting to get moldy.  So I pulled out the good ones and sliced them up along with a bunch of carrots.  I boiled some vinegar with water, salt, peppercorns, and a little of honey.  In went the jalapenos and carrots and instantly I started sneezing.  And sneezing.  And sneezing.  I couldn't stop in the middle of the process so I had to pour the veggie and brine mixture while sneezing.  Only after I put the jar into the canner and dumped out the extra brine did I stop sneezing. 

So even though I love canning food, I don’t think I can make pickled jalapenos and carrots again.  Even though Kevin said they tasted good and is sure to ask for more.   Unless someone has a gas mask I can borrow when I make them again? 

I am a Proverbs 31 woman in training

To sum up the purpose of this blog in one sentence: I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman.  Follow me as I show you how God is working in my life, my journey in making a new home, and how I'm letting my inner domestic queen out.

I'd like to leave you with Proverbs 31:10-31 to show you how I wish to model my life.

10 A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

    all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

    and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

    bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

    she provides food for her family

    and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.