Praise Report

Greetings, Dear Ones!

I want to thank those of you who has been standing in faith with John and I and lifting us up in their prayers. After a rather intense week of waiting, the results of his scans are in and everything is completely NORMAL!!! Praise the Lord! Having COVID is suspected of being behind some of his issues and probably some of mine, too. John sees the doctor again in May and, after seeing the doctor yesterday, I in August. Both of us remain medication-free and will work on the issues that we do have dietarily.

In the meantime, we have weathered the storm physically and emerged stronger and more determined than ever to keep moving forward in the things of God. He is so good to us and we praise Him for good health and His magnificent healing power! Praise the name of the Lord!

A couple of scripture verses that we've been standing on lately and will continue to stand on in the days ahead...

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 1:2)

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:23)

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Greetings, Dear One! 💗

It's Monday! The last Monday of February! Can you believe it? For us, the entire month of February has disappeared into oblivion. I am so looking forward to a much better and more productive March!

Praise the Lord! It's a beautiful morning! At present the sun is shining and it's 40 degrees. The high today is supposed to be in the mid-50 with mid-60's tomorrow. Amazing! That's so much better than where we were a week ago! 

Overall, last week was pretty quiet. With the extreme cold, deep snow, and icy roads we didn't get out at all the first half of the week. On Thursday we decided to venture out and see the snow before warmer temperatures arrived and everything started melting off. I will include photos of things we saw along the way throughout this post.

John had the liver scan done on Friday (we are still awaiting results) and, while in town, we picked up a few things at Walmart. That was the first time that John had been in a store anywhere since getting out of the hospital. It was good to get out, but we were both worn out by the time we got home.

I finished the puzzle that Amber picked up for me earlier over the weekend. It was the hardest puzzle that I've done yet, but I love it because it looks just like a scene up the Echo Trail...a place that is very near and dear to my heart in northern Minnesota...and all the north woods elements that I love so much are there...water, tall pines, islands, canoes, a campfire, moose, loons...the only thing missing is a black bear! So pretty! 

After church on Sunday we were finally able to deliver valentines to six of our grands that we weren't able to get to earlier because of weather, as well as wish our grandson, Jed, a belated Happy Birthday. We had a late lunch with the family and enjoyed a good visit. 🎂

Well, I better be getting on with this week's post. I've got some things to take care of this morning, then I'm planning on going in to work for a few hours this afternoon. 

This week's master to-do list...

- work

- clean house

- do laundry

- go to the bank

- go to the doctor

- celebrate Purim by making Hamantashen and reading and studying the book of Esther in the Bible 

- host a WLMO movie night (One Night With The King)

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Taco soup

Tuesday - Tuna and noodles with peas and salad

Wednesday - Oven-roasted chicken thighs with baked potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, and salad

Thursday - Chili-cheese dogs with chips

Friday - Broiled salmon, oven-roasted carrots, and brussel sprouts

Saturday - Dh's night to cook

Sunday - Leftovers

Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I hope that you and yours are doing well and that you have a great week ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Nearly a year ago I offered to share starts of purple iris with a friend from school after discovering that they were one of her favorite flowers growing up. 

She lives in Arizona now and wondered if the corms would survive the trip. I told her that I had sent starts to a friend in Texas and that they had done fine. We would try it. We dug and sent starts to her in April of last year.

Today is my friend's birthday. She sent me a message while ago telling me how excited and blessed she was to wake up to THIS this morning...

Purple Iris Blooming In Arizona This Morning

I think I am almost excited as she is! 48 of America's 50 U.S. states have snow on the ground and one of my beautiful "Aunt Linda" purple irises is blooming in Arizona! What amazing and precious gifts our Heavenly Father bestows upon us! 

Happy Birthday, Christi! 💜

Until next time,

~Rebecca

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Temperatures are warming right up! We're up to a whopping 15 degrees with a wind chill of 8; yesterday at this time we were at -14 actual temperature. That means that, right now, we are nearly 30 degrees warmer than we were at this time yesterday! Wow! Temperatures really are warming right up! 

Our hearts go out to the millions across our nation (especially those in Texas) who are without heat and power right now, as well as to those that are working out in this relentless weather to rectify the problems. We are covering all in our prayers for warmth, safety, protection, and that every need would be met. I wish there was more that we could do. 💔 

Here we are getting the second round of snow that was forecasted. 

Yesterday was beautiful! Cold, but sunny! I went out in the afternoon, cleared my car off, and warmed it up. Then, I ran it back and forth to open up a clear path before the second round of snow. I'm glad I did! I believe that this second round could turn out to be deeper than the first. 

This picture isn't much to look at, but, to the left of the

birdbath is a tire-turned-planter full of prickly pear cactus.

It is completely covered and only the very tip-tops of the

yucca plant behind it can be seen poking up through the snow.

My car was completely clear of snow when we went to bed last night. This is what it looked like when we woke up this morning...

Amber went to town yesterday and was kind enough to pick up and deliver a new 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle for me to work on. It's a painting of a lake scene called Eagle-Eye View. I plan to start on it this afternoon and, working on it between doing other things, it should keep me busy for a day or two. I will post a picture of it when I'm done.

Amber also brought me this beautiful bouquet of Valentine's Day flowers that were on markdown. They're so pretty! 💗

Well, that's it for today. I do hope that you and your family are safe and warm in all of this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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I normally don't do two posts in one day, but, this morning, I felt led to do so. Our entire country (practically the whole continent) is in the deep-freeze and I am learning about more and more friends that are suffering hardships due to super cold temperatures and inclement weather. I am thinking about and praying over each and every one of them, as well as, you...my dear readers.

What state are you in? What is your current temperature? And how are you and your family faring in the face of all this? Is there anything specific that you need prayer over this morning? If so, please, feel free to post your request in the comment section below or email it to me at johnandrebeccaknox@protonmail.com. You can be assured that my husband and I will be joining you in prayer over whatever need you have.

This is where we were weather-wise when I woke up this morning...

Stay warm everyone! Let's stay in touch and let us lift one another up and support one another in thought, prayer, and deed during this trying time in our nation.

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Sue Gregg's Good Earth Rolls are a family favorite. They taste great and are super healthy!

GOOD EARTH ROLLS

1. (Optional) Soak 1/3 cup sunflower seeds in water and let stand overnight (preferred) or while mixing dough.

2. Blend in a 2 cup glass measuring cup in order given and let stand until bubbles up (5 to 10 minutes):

   1/2 cup very warm (but not hot) water

   2 envelopes (2 tablespoons) active dry yeast

   1 teaspoon honey

If yeast mixture threatens to bubble over top of container before you are ready to use it, stir it down.

3. Meanwhile, blend in mixing bowl:

   1 1/2 cups very hot water (not boiling)

   1/3 to 1/2 cup honey

   1/4 to 1/3 cup olive or canola oil

   2 teaspoons salt

4. Add and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon about 3 minutes:

   1 1/4 cup hard white wheat flour or whole wheat flour

   dissolved yeast mixture

5. Add water, yeast, and honey mixture, as well as, the remaining flour as needed to prevent sticking while kneading about 10 minutes:

   2 cups hard white wheat flour or whole wheat flour or      

      unbleached white flour

   2 1/2 to 3 cups hard white wheat flour or whole wheat            flour

   sunflower seeds, drained, optional

6. Place dough in bowl, lightly grease top, cover, and let rise until double, about 1 hour.

7. Punch dough down in center with fist, knead down and divide in half. Shape each piece into 12 rolls.

8. Place rolls in greased pans so that they are barely touching. Let rise in warm place 15 to 20 minutes.

9. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Brush rolls immediately after baking while hot with soft or melted butter. 

Makes 2 dozen rolls.

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Good Morning, Dear One! Happy Monday!!! 💗

I pray that this post finds you and yours healthy, happy, and serving the Lord with gladness and that your week is off to a great start!

Hydrangea That DD and SIL Got Us For Our Anniversary

(So pretty! Hope it makes it until planting time and takes root!)

Here, we are still in the deep-freeze. It's -3 degrees with a wind chill of -24 and we have several inches of snow on the ground with more expected throughout the day. We are under a winter storm warning until 6:00 tonight. ⛄

Goldfinch Outside The Back Door This Morning

I got up this morning with renewed energy and got straight to work in the kitchen. I made a big salad to be used throughout the week and got sprouts started in the sprouting jar. I made a single batch of bread dough and divided it into three small French loaves (one for tonight and the other two for the freezer) and two dozen Good Earth Rolls. 

Sue Gregg's Good Earth Rolls

For breakfast I turned leftover mashed potatoes into potato pancakes and served them with turkey sausage. My husband isn't much of a meat and potatoes man, but he sure enjoyed that!

Since I wore myself out with cooking, baking, fixing, and making this morning, the rest of the day will be spent resting and relaxing. We might watch a movie or two or start a movie marathon. We should have thought of that sooner! 

I wish I had another jigsaw puzzle or two to work on. I finished 4th of July at the Lake in no time and I love working puzzles at times like this. 

4th of July at the Lake

When I was a girl, my mom and I would pick out a couple of big puzzles every fall to be worked in the "dead of winter" (about six weeks of deep snows and super cold temperatures that generally fell somewhere between the end of December and the first of March), which used to happen most every winter, but we haven't seen too much of that in recent years. It's actually a blessing that we're having one now. 

White-Crowned Sparrow

This week's master to-do list...

- get back to work - have been off for a month with COVID (myself, then dh) and dh's hospitalization and recuperation 

- get back on target with my "weekly home blessing" (which I need to rework and update). I've managed to keep up with basics, but didn't have the strength or energy to vacuum until Saturday (it hadn't been done for more than three weeks) 😲

- laundry 👕

- bake bread 🥖

- make Good Earth rolls 

- start sprouts 🌿

- get together with my BFFF 👩

- take dh in for a liver scan (please join us in prayer for a good report - thank you) 🏥

Birds in the Bridal's Wreath Bush

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Butter and garlic pasta with homemade French bread and salad

Tuesday - Chicken and wild rice soup, salad, and roll

Wednesday - Taco soup and salad

Thursday - Oven-roasted chicken thighs with baked potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, salad, and roll

Friday - Homemade pizza and salad

Saturday - Dh's night to cook (if he's up to it...if not...leftovers)

Sunday - Leftovers

Well, that's all for now. What's the weather like where you're at (if it's cold...stay warm!) and how are you spending your Monday? 

Until next time...

Rebecca

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Greetings, Dear Reader! Happy Valentine's Day! 💘

It's a cold (1 degree with a wind chill of -18) and snowy Sunday morning here on the tallgrass prairie of southwest Missouri. We are under a winter weather advisory from now through Monday morning and a wind chill advisory through early Tuesday morning.

We never were able to make it to town to do anything about Valentine's Day or our anniversary, so I got out a box of leftovers from Valentine's Days gone by to see what I could come up with. I ended up printing and decorating Valentines for the grands and daughter, Amber, offered to pick up a few boxes of treats for me to include with them while she was in town. It worked out perfectly!

Valentine Day Cards For The Grands - Outside

Valentine Day Cards For The Grands - Inside

As for our wedding anniversary (we're celebrating our 33rd today), we aren't going anywhere or doing anything special (yet anyway). I did get up this morning and make banana and chocolate chip oat bran muffins and will figure out something nice to fix for supper. 

 

Banana and Chocolate Chip Oat Bran Muffins

Featuring Our Valentine From Granddaughter, Audrey

(She made those roses from felt. So pretty!) 🌹

In the meantime, we have received several sweet surprises from our children and grandchildren and we love and appreciate each and every one! 💗

Well, that's what's going on here this cold and snowy Valentine's Sunday. What's the weather like where you're at and how are you spending your Valentine's Day?

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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It's a frigid Tuesday afternoon (18 degrees with a wind chill of 7) and it's supposed to get even colder as the week progresses. We are under another winter weather advisory from 6:00 p.m. this evening until 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning. More freezing drizzle, light snow, and upcoming nights with temps below 0 are expected. 

This extreme cold is hard on every one and every thing. I can't help but think about the homeless in weather like this. There is so much suffering in our world today.

And, pets...and the birds, too. I looked out there this morning and the feeders were empty. We have a pesky squirrel that enjoys wiping out as much of the sunflower seeds as possible all by himself, but, alas, he, like everyone else, is just trying to live, so we really don't mind too much. 

Goldfinch

I put out a variety of feeds...black oil sunflower seeds in one feeder for the cardinals, titmice, chickadees, and native sparrows (AND the squirrel...let's not forget that pesky squirrel!!!) and thistle seed for the finches in the other. In addition to that I sprinkle mixed seed on the ground for the juncos, mourning doves, and other ground-feeding birds, toss out a few dried corn kernels for the quarrelsome blue jays, hang a suet block feeder for the woodpeckers, and make and hang peanut butter pinecones for whosoever will. Needless to say, in this super cold weather, the feeders are aflutter with all kinds of activity and we get to enjoy the show from our kitchen window.

Native Sparrow, Cardinal, and Junco

I finished the Great Painters - The Impressionists puzzle... 

...and have started and finished another called Churchyard Christmas...

John and I finally got our labs back. His Vitamin D is super low and his liver enzymes are high, so they are scheduling an ultrasound on his liver, and my COVID antibody test came back positive, so, yes, that's what I had when I was so sick before him and I have a couple of things that are out of whack, so I'm supposed to see the doctor again before the end of the month. Prayers over all would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Dante and I - 2020

Today is grandson, Dante's, sixth birthday. He and his sister both have birthdays this week (Kira will be three) so will celebrate both of their birthdays Friday evening. 

Kira - 2020

At some point this week we need to connect with grandson Jed, who will be 8 this year. 

Jed and I - 2020

I still have no idea what I'm going to do about Valentine's Day and our anniversary yet, but it may not be much...especially if I can't get to town. 😞

Well, it's been fun getting to stop in and chat with you this afternoon. I do hope you and yours are healthy, warm, and doing well. What's the weather like where you are? Do you feed the birds or other wildlife in winter? If so, who (or what) is your favorite visitor?

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Good Monday Morning, Dear Ones! 💗

It's a super cold morning here in southwest Missouri (14 degrees with a windchill of 1). Everything is coated with a thin layer of ice and more freezing drizzle and snow is expected throughout the day. We are under a winter weather advisory until 6 p.m. this evening.

Wild Crocus Blooming in Our Yard

February 5, 2021

Were she still with us, today we would be celebrating my mother's 80th birthday. Her favorite flower was the crocus and it was always a race...which would come first...her birthday? Or the tiny harbinger of spring...the tiny purple crocus? She always hoped it would be the crocus and, this year, she would not have been disappointed!

Crocuses That My Husband Planted a Couple of Years go

February 3, 2021

The crocuses that my husband planted for me a couple of years ago started blooming on February 3rd and I discovered one of the little wild crocus, that my friend, Carla, and I dug up and moved over from the old place, blooming on February 5th. It surprised me! It's been five years since we moved them and this is the first one that's come up in all that time. What a blessing!

I want to thank everyone that has been praying over my husband. We are well past quarantine and, after being evaluated Friday, he was released from physical therapy. We are still awaiting lab results from Thursday's doctor appointment, but, overall, other than weakness and fatigue, he is doing quite well. I hope to return to work soon.

Master To Do List...

This week we celebrate three birthdays, Valentine's Day, and our 33rd wedding anniversary. Thus far, I've done absolutely nothing about any of it, but am going to put my thinking cap on and see if I can't figure out a creative way to cover all the basis without expending too much energy in the process. If anyone has any ideas, please! I'm open to suggestions! 😏

- straighten house 🏡

- sanitize surfaces (door knobs, light switches, etc.) with homemade Clorox wipes 

- do laundry 👕

- return dishes to those that have blessed us with meals over the past week or so 🥘

- write and mail a few letters 🖃

- celebrate grandlittles, Dante, Kira, and Jed's birthdays 🎂

- celebrate Valentine's Day 💘

- celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary 💓⚭💓

This week's menu plan...

Friends and family members have been so good about bringing meals into us this past week or so, so I don't think that I'm going to "plan" anything. We will continue to eat up what's on hand and will cook on "as we feel like it" basis. 

You all have a nice day and a great week ahead! Be not weary in well doing and love one another! Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Greetings, Dear Ones! Happy Monday! 💗

Can you believe that we're already 1/12 of the way through 2021??? Time moves on and the days pass so quickly. As Ephesians 5:15-17 admonishes us, we must redeem the time because the days in which we live are, indeed, evil. We must be wise and understand what the will of the Lord is, because we have work to do. Seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near because time is so very short (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Okay...an update on my husband...

It turns out that what landed him unresponsive in the kitchen floor was low sodium and dehydration and, yes, he has COVID...but, praise God! He is home!!! 

John and I @ Our Surprise 30th Wedding 

Anniversary Party - 2018

John was transported to the hospital by ambulance late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning and was in quarantine in the COVID unit until released Saturday afternoon. He was considered contagious through the weekend and is still weak, but is eating, keeping up with his fluid intake, and is faithfully doing his breathing exercises. Physical therapy will be scheduled two to three times per week until he is able to walk on his own without the use of a walker. We are truly thankful and appreciative of all the prayers that have lifted up on his behalf. Please keep them coming for a full and rapid recovery. Thank you!

John and I @ Our Wedding - Valentine's Day1988

I'm still not 100% myself, but, probably could have returned to work today had not all this happened with John. As it stands right now I will not be returning to work until he is strong enough to stay home during the day alone. I'm not sure, at this point, how long that will be, but am guessing a couple of weeks, at least.

John and I the Year We Met - 1966

My master list this week will consist of nothing but taking care of my husband. I do need to figure February's budget and pay bills this week and, even though I can't file them until the middle of the month, I do have everything we need to figure our taxes, so now would be a good time to work on them, as well. 

John and I in Branson - 2018

As far as menu planning, family members and friends have been so good about bringing meals in during the time that John was in the hospital and over the weekend, that I won't have to think about that, either. We'll just continue to eat up all this good food that has been brought in and, if we run out of that, we've got plenty of easy-to-throw-together meals so we'll be fine. I'm not going to "plan" anything. 

So...that's what's happening here. I trust that all is well with you and yours and that you have a great week ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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