Hail Storm

This past Wednesday evening, I was about to start supper when I kept thinking that I heard thunder. However, I just dismissed it as a car starting or something, because after all it is February, for crying out loud! Then, Andrew walked in and said, "Did you know we are under a tornado warning?" So, we turned on the T.V. and sure enough, they showed a very bad storm about 5 minutes away heading straight for us. A few minutes after that, it started raining and then almost immediately started hailing. So, we got some pillows and blankets and headed for the laundry room (it's in the middle of the house and doesn't have windows). We got settled in and prayed and then it started really getting loud. (Ethan thought it was fun! He was relaxing on the pillows.) After it got very loud, the deluge slowed down a bit and then we started hearing really loud "thuds" on the roof--at that point, I was preparing to wake up with Munchkins standing over me--I really thought there were small trees or big branches smashing into the roof. However, it stopped just as quickly as it began and all was quiet. So, we went to look outside. I've never seen that much hail piled up before. When we walked out on the front porch, Ethan put his little hand over his eyes and said "Ohhh no." My poor little pansies were beaten up (As Andrew said, "What do you expect? They're pansies!") We are also going to have to replace a few pieces of siding on our house and one of our cars sustained some dents. But we're thankful that it wasn't worse.
Our front bed. I guess this is the only frozen precipitation we'll see this winter!
Some of the pieces were about the size of golfballs! (Which explains the loud thuds, I guess.)
Our front porch:

Our Mini Valentine

Make a Smilebox scrap pages

The Power of the Cross

My cousin, Kelli, gave me Keith and Kristyn Getty's CD "In Christ Alone" for Christmas, and I've really been enjoying listening to it. This song has really ministered to me. Let us never forget what it cost Jesus or the freedom we now have through the Cross!

"The Power of the Cross"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Tasty Low Fat Recipe

Lately, I've been looking for healthier things too cook for supper that also taste good and are relatively inexpensive. I found this recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, and we tried it for dinner a few nights ago with Brown Minute Rice and one of those Steam Fresh vegetable medleys. It was surprisingly really tasty considering it takes so few ingredients. So, I thought I'd share it:

Baked Fish with Mushrooms (Makes 4 servings)
Ingredients:
-1 lb. fresh or frozen fish (we used frozen Talapia)
-2 tablespoons butter or margarine
-1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (1 8 oz. pkg)
-1/4 cup sliced green onions (2)
-1 tsp. snipped fresh tarragon or thyme, or 1/4 tsp. dried tarragon or thyme, crushed (we used dried thyme)
Directions:
1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels. Cut into 4 sering-size pieces, if necessary. Arrange fish in a 2-quart rectangular baking dish, turning under thin edges. Sprinkle with salt.
2. In a small saucepan melt butter; add mushrooms, green onions, and dried tarragon, if using. Cook over medium heat until mushrooms and green onions are tender. Spoon mushroom mixture over fish; sprinkle with fresh tarragon, if using. Bake, covered in a 450 degree oven for 12 to 18 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Nutritional Info per serving: 159 cal., 8 g. total fat (4 g. sat. fat), 71 mg chol., 104 mg sodium, 1 g. carb., 0 g. fiber, 22 g. protein

Ethan at Christmas

I know that's it been a month since Christmas, but I'm just getting stuff from my video camera on the computer. So, I thought I'd pass this video along. (Sorry if it's too long, I have yet to learn how to use our video editing program.) Hope you enjoy :).

Not a Busy Nothing. . .

This certainly is convicting, and it's a great reminder of our awesome duty and privilege as God's children. Be encouraged. (Thanks for showing me this, Dad.)

Pilates

Two days I ago I had just finished doing my pilates workout (part of my goal to excercise as often as I can this year). Afterward, I went to go give Ethan a bath and left my mat out. So, while I was cleaning up after E's bath, he decided to get a little work out in himself. I walked in to find him positioned on my mat trying to do either a "roll up" or "scissors." Just another reminder that little eyes are always watching!