Posted in November 2009

For Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – Unto the Glory of God!

Not often will I post blog posts quite like this one – But this is monumental. Take part in a significant stand for the sanctify of life, for the dignity of marriage, and the rights of conscience and religious liberty. - Rachel

Click the picture to sign the declaration and to see who else has signed it, too.

The Manhattan Declaration

A Call of Christian Conscience

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

  1. the sanctity of human life
  2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
  3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

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Calling All Black Friday Shoppers

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the spirit of thanksgiving, I hope you will be generous in your  gift giving this year. As we have been abundantly blessed by the Lord who is our Provider, let us give good gifts to our family, friends, and any others the Lord leads you to bless.

Here is some helpful information as you venture out into the craziness of

The Black Friday Shopping Day – Enjoy!!

A. In The News and Observer, the best deals I saw were at Rite Aid, CVS. and Walgreens.

Just to name a few…

Rite Aid is advertising .77 gift wrap, Herbal Essences for .99 with single rebate check, and a $5.00 rebate check for $15.00 purchase of Duracell batteries – perfect deal to stock up on batteries for all of your new electronics!

CVS is advertising B1G1 wrapping paper and with their deal plus a coupon, a GREAT deal on Colgate Total toothpaste.

Walgreens is advertising free Dove deoderant with Register Rewards, two for $2.00 M&Ms, and 2/$9.00 Cottonelle.

Old Navy is having some great sales too!

B. My aunt told me about a feature on Good Morning America the other day that listed a few good Black Friday websites – Here they are ::

http://www.blackfriday.info/ – Has all of The Black Friday ads now so that you can see who has the best price on this gift you want to buy and shop accordingly.  The website provides information about which retailers have deals online and can be ordered Thanksgiving Day.

http://bfads.net/
http://www.cybermonday.com/ – The Monday after Thanksgiving offers incredible online deals

C. I read this great blog post from Southern Savers ::

6pm Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

Posted on Nov 25 2009 | By Jenny

6pm-logo

Have you shopped at 6pm.com yet?  I confess that I haven’t but they have my attention with their Thanksgiving weekend sale.  They mostly sell shoes and accessories and their concept is that each day they have a crazy blow out sale on one or two brands.

This weekend the sales are:

11/27-11/29: Nine West Footwear and Accessories- $9.95 All Styles!

11/27-11/29: Clarks Footwear- Select Styles 80% off

11/27-11/29: KangaROOS Footwear- $16.95 All Styles!

11/27-11/29: Oakley Eyewear- $29.95 Select Styles

I’m not a name brand kind of girl, but Nine West shoes for $9.95… this is good.  If you decide to join me in getting new shoes I have heard that they do sell out of common sizes so I wouldn’t wait for the last day of the sale.

Note: The prices aren’t going to show correctly until the first day of the sale (Friday), but you can go and window shop now.

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Christ Has Overcome the World : Why I am Thankful

1. For the Lord, who is My Maker, Savior, Sustainer, and Redeemer – He is my life! Though Scripture promises suffering, it also proclaims that Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross and died for us, has overcome the world!

2. For a husband who openly, honestly, beautifully loves me every day, in the simple, small ways and in the grand, out of this world ways.

3. For my precious family – full of fun, flaws, and fabulous personalities and stories to tell around the table, after our tummies are full and our hearts are happy.

4. For a great church home, that while not perfect, and really despite itself, the Lord continues to keep His gracious hand on, grow and bless, and the people are so open and loving.

5. For the greatest place on the fallen earth to live – Raleigh, North Carolina – the people, places, and things give me little glimpses of the coming greater reality.

6. For the color blue – peaceful, pleasing, and perfect.

7. For yummy food and great restaurants, one way that I can taste and see the Lord is good!

8. For music, which lets me eavesdrop into heaven’s angels praising the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

9. For sparkles and sprinkles and ornaments, jewelry, and dishes that shine.

10. For friends, who love me even though they know me, and still want to get together for a good cup of coffee and even better conversation.

Praise Him from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen!!

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These Are a Few of My Favorite Things :: Thanksgiving Recipes

Every family has the way they cook their turkey, the decision to make between stuffing or dressing, and whether nor not this year they would rather have traditional pumpkin pie or some new, fancy pumpkin dessert.

I am apart of what I think is hands down the best Thanksgiving family celebration there is to have! We have already gotten together once – and we will get together again on Thursday!

Let me share with you two of my family’s favorite recipes : Broccoli Casserole and Cranberry Relish Treats

Broccoli Casserole

*Day to day, I am not a big casserole fan. But for family get togethers, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, casseroles are the ultimate comfort food*

4 10 oz. package chopped broccoli
2 can mushroom soup
1 cup mayonnaise
4 eggs, beaten
4 tsp minced onion
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Topping – 2 sticks of butter, melted, and mix with one box of crushed Cheez Nips

Cook broccoli five minutes, drain, mix all ingredients and pour into 9×13 pan.
Add topping over casserole.
Cook 350 degrees for thirty minutes.

Cranberry Relish Treats

* I am making this recipe, which I received from a very special lady, for the first time this year for my family, so it isn’t yet a family favorite, but after Thursday, I am sure, if I do not burn it, it will be the favorite dessert (besides my sister’s BEST EVER Pecan Pie)!*

1 package yellow yellow cake mix, set aside one cup for the topping
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1 jar cranberry relish (Williams-Sonoma or your grocer’s deli)
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Reserve 1 cup of cake mix for later.  Combine the remaining mix with the melted butter and one egg in a bowl.
Press this mixture into the bottom of a 9″x13″ pan.
Spread cranberry relish over cake mixture in pan.
Stir the reserved cup of cake mix with the flour, sugar and softened butter.  Mix together until crumbly. Sprinkle over top of cranberry layer.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool and cut into 2″ squares.

With all of the family recipes and yummy food served at the Family Thanksgiving Dinner, the sweet Lord and His gift to us of faithful family and good friends is the most important part of Thanksgiving!

My Family's Perfect Happy Thanksgiving Table

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How Do You Like Your Coffee?

I sit inside my little home, warm and cozy, as the chilly rain soaks the earth. The leaves have fallen, winter is almost here. The day when the cold sets into my body is certain to arrive soon. Until spring comes again, there is only a few things that can really make me warm and cozy – a hug from my husband, our snuggly bed, and a hot cup of coffee.

My perfect cup of  drip coffee is hot, camel-colored, creamy, and served in an off white ceramic diner mug. Instead of going to the diner every time I want to warm up with a hot a cup of coffee in my favorite diner mug, I found online at The City Pantry where to purchase diner mugs for our cool family and friends – and ourselves! These 8 oz. diner mugs make the perfect addition to any coffee mug cabinet – And for only four dollars a mug (or six for twenty dollars or twelve for thirty six dollars) they make great, timeless Christmas presents!

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