My brother arrived at my house safely this evening. He and my dad were supposed to drive up to Wyoming tomorrow morning for my grandma’s birthday. Unfortunately, my brother’s truck died once he reached Phoenix and he hasn’t been able to start it. So… it looks like Josh and Dad will not be traveling to Wyoming and will instead be staying with hubby and I!

At least now I have the opportunity to share my new found recipes!

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it…

Sometimes I struggle with feeling inadequate, unlovable, and worthless. I know that God loves me unconditionally, regardless of my sins and my shortcomings. However, I have a hard time comprehending what that feels like.

My husband portrays God’s love in action. For almost four years now, he has loved me, supported me, and been my protector. No matter what happens, no matter how I act or feel, he loves me. I’ve never experienced that kind of unconditional love. Jeff doesn’t have to love me but he chooses to. Today I experienced that love in the most clear way yet. And for that, my heart has overflowed with love for him.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving my husband to me. Thank you that he loves me like You love me. Thank you so much. I think I finally understand what real love is.

New pancake recipe

Seeing how we’re out of applesauce, I had to find a new pancake recipe for breakfast this morning. These are a far cry from healthy, but they turned out really fluffy and tasty. I wonder if part of the white flour could be substituted for wheat.

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
2 T. sugar
2 T. baking powder
1 T. olive oil
1 t. salt
2 1/2 c. rice milk

Carefully mix all ingredients in a large bowl (batter should be lumpy); let rise for 10 minutes. Gently fold down and then let rise for another 10 minutes. Gently stir the batter one last time and then cook 1/2 cup batter on an oiled skillet at medium heat. Immediately after pouring the batter in the skillet, gently break apart any flour clumps.

I thought for sure that my pancakes would come out with flour chunks, but they didn’t. Yum!

Job search update

Hubby landed a two week contract! It’s part time, a few hours each night, but it’s something! He has training on Monday and Tuesday and then he’ll receive assignments for the next two weeks. Praise the Lord!

All our bills are paid for March. I am just amazed that we managed to pay every bill, on time, for this month without using any credit cards. God is very very good.

I was planning on trying out a new French bread recipe today, but I realized this morning that I have to make a starter that sits out overnight. Oops. I should have read over the recipe yesterday when I decided which bread recipe I was going to bake today. I’ll make the starter either tomorrow night or Sunday night.

Other than that, I’m still catching up on dirty laundry from my trip. Hubby was really good about keeping up with his laundry, so I just have to wash all of my clothes from the last two weeks and some towels from around the house. I didn’t even realize I had enough clothes to wear for two weeks without doing laundry.

My dad will be arriving tonight and my brother will arrive on Monday, I think. They are driving up to Wyoming for a few days and then will be back here to stay for another week. I’ve seen my family more often in the last two weeks than I have in the last year. Being spread around the world makes it really hard to get together for dinner.

Back home

I’m so happy to be back home. There is plenty of work to be done around the house, but hubby and I spent most of the day relaxing together. The work can wait. 🙂

I did make cornbread! Tomorrow will be baking day. I found a french bread recipe I want to test out.

Unexpected, unplanned

This two week visit with my brother has deviated vastly from our intended plans. After he returned from deployment, Josh was assigned slightly shorter than normal work days. He hasn’t had a day off since he returned from Iraq. Josh working was the only planned, expected part of this trip.

Monday through Thursday of last week, we had no internet access in the apartment. I brought my laptop with me so that I could complete my contract work and had told my employer that I would be available starting Tuesday. Unfortunately, we were missing a modem and it took a couple days for the apartment to provide one (we’re staying in two executive suites, since my brother’s two bedroom apartment wasn’t ready yet).

My mom was sick on Tuesday last week with a 24 hour stomach bug. My niece was sick on Wednesday. By Thursday night, since no one else had come down with it, we thought it might have run it’s course. Wrong! I got sick very early Friday morning and it lasted through Sabbath morning. I was running a fever and had typical stomach bug problems. Not fun whatsoever. Due to being sick, I missed out on visiting the local church. That was also a bummer.

Yesterday, I was feeling like my normal self and was finally able to finish a contract assignment. I am genuinely surprised I haven’t been fired yet, as I missed an unplanned week in December (snowed-in in Michigan) and last week due to no internet and being sick.

It looks like things are slowing down now. Last Wednesday, I was lucky enough to see my hubby for a few hours, as we had to take my niece back to Phoenix. I’m really looking forward to going home this Wednesday so we can be together again. It’s been almost three and a half years, but I don’t like being apart from him. Being away from him, with unscheduled days, on someone else’s timetable, and staying in an unfamiliar home or hotel, makes me even more thankful for my hubby and the life we have together.

This week, I’m planning on completing some additional contract assignments, finish reading a couple books, packing my stuff, and returning home to my hubby! I’m excited to settle back into being a homemaker. I love spending time with my biological family, but there really is no place like home.

I love the internet!

I have internet now!! I am so excited. I’ve missed four days of work this week due to ongoing internet issues at this apartment. Quick update…

My brother flew in Monday afternoon, safe and sound. He’s been working part time this week and our family has been spending the rest of the hours together. My dad, mom, and I are here all week. My niece was here earlier this week for a few days but had to go home last night. I’ll be here with my brother until sometime next week.

And I have internet now! The furnished apartment we’re renting was missing a modem and it took a couple days to get one delivered. But I have internet now! (Can you tell I’m excited?) Now I can get back to helping my hubby job search plus keep up with my contract job.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Soon and very soon…

… my brother will be here! His flight arrives in seven hours. My mom is coming to pick me up in two hours and I haven’t even packed.

Supposedly we’ll have internet at the apartment we’re staying in, so I should be able to keep posting this week. I hope so!

Have a great day everyone!

Preparation day

Today has truly felt like Preparation day. I baked two loaves of bread (one for us and one for lunch at the pastor’s house tomorrow). Then I made two jars of homemade spaghetti sauce, also for tomorrow. I wasn’t too impressed with the sauce, but I’ll reserve judgment until I eat in on spaghetti noodles. It just didn’t have that much flavor, even though I spiced it and let it simmer for 3 hours.

Our church clothes are pressed and hanging in the bedroom. We have clean sheets and clean towels. The entire apartment has been vacuumed and the kitchen is spotless! My hubby was incredibly nice today and washed, dried, and put away all the dishes while I completed other housework. I love my hubby!

In the middle of all that, I completed a rush assignment for my contract job. Whew!

Happy Sabbath, all! I hope your day of rest and time spent with the Lord goes well.

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13, NLT).

Brief update

Early next week, my mom, my niece, and I are headed down to southern Arizona to meet my brother. He’s on his way home from Iraq! We’ll be staying in his new apartment for 11 days until his leave starts. Then, my dad and brother will be staying at my house for two weeks or so.

I am so overwhelmed with preparations! I was just given another work assignment, though it will only take a couple hours to complete. I also have to pack for the trip. I have to pack my brother’s stuff, as he left all of his civilian clothes and personal belongings at my house. Plus, hubby and I are attending evangelistic meetings Thursday night, Friday night, and all day Sabbath. I have to go shopping and cook for the meal on Sabbath afternoon. And I have to clean out the spare bedroom so that my brother and dad will have a place to stay when they come back to Phoenix for Josh’s leave. I thought I would have more time to clean the spare bedroom, but we didn’t originally plan on staying with him for 11 days first!

On top of all that, I still have to help hubby with his job searching. My work and hubby’s job searching are more important than anything else on my to do list, but I’m going to try to fit everything in. I am going to be very happy when Sabbath arrives.