Sewing project long overdue

Okay - sewing isn't my thing. And yet - I end up having to sew on all the patches and badges for our Cub and Boy Scouts. I am (of course) behind (because who rushes to do the dreaded tasks in life) --- and decided to force myself to do it tonight. I had to get my older son's shirt to see where to sew stuff on. And so the project begins.

I love my kids and do this for them --- but I would rather be doing anything else! These badges were not created to sew on easily or nicely. Then after I get them all sewed on - I look and usually something is crooked or off. Ahhhhhh! It is agony! Agony, I tell you! Plus I usually stab myself with the needle at least 4 times -- and then have to try to not bleed all over the shirt. (My oldest son tells me that some moms hot glue the badges! I am tempted I tell you. Tempted!)

Red Glove Series by Karen Kingsbury

What a great series. All of the books are very heartwarming stories. Not very long stories. Easy to read in a day or two but very, very good stories. Kind of nice for a quick, easy summer read.

The books are:

Gideon's Gift

Hannah's Hope

Maggie's Miracle

Sarah's Song

Read them all - they are all very good. At the end, they have ideas for doing your own red glove project. The red gloves represent the gift of giving. Red - the color of our savior's blood. Through that He gave us the greatest gift of all - eternal life. The red gloves show up as a symbol in all the books. In Hannah's Hope the red gloves were a Christmas present that Hannah had received. They had the word 'believe' embroidered inside them so that Hannah would remember that she to continue to have faith and believe in God and that He has the ability to do miracles.

Great video

What a great video - wonderful photography! Great testament to God's creation.

Click here to view

Roasted Cumin & Chickpea Salad

3/4 tsp ground cumin

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Salt and Pepper

1 15-oz can chickpeas, rinsed

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

1 medium tomato, chopped

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

1 oz feta, crumbled (about 1/4 cup)

1. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the cumin and cook, stirring until toasted and fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Add the oil, lime juice, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp pepper to the bowl and whisk to combine.

3. Add the chickpeas, celery, tomato and onion. Toss to combine. Let sit, tossing occasionally for 15 minutes.

4. Fold in the feta before serving.

I found this recipe in a Woman's Day magazine - and was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted. I am always looking for new and interesting things to make for the family. Salads are so nice during the summer. No turning on the oven! A huge plus when it has been rather hot here lately.

Spicy Skillet Chicken

Spicy Skillet Chicken by Betty Crocker --- I tried this for the first time and my husband absolutely loved it. Thought it was one of the best recipes I have made in a long time. Even I loved it - as it was flavorful but not really spicy.

Here is a link to the recipe: link to recipe

It is really quick and easy to make. And very, very good.

Book review - The Girl in the Green Sweater

The Girl in the Green Sweater

by Krystyna Chiger

What an amazing survival story. This is a true story told by a survivor of the holocaust. She and her family survived by living underground in the sewer system of Lvov, Poland. A sewer worker, Leopold Socha, feels that he will find redemption by helping this family out. He comes every day and brings supplies and food. It is a nasty, dirty place to live but they do survive. It is an amazing story. I recommend reading this story. We need to remember and never forget - we can never let it happen again.

4th of July - let us remember

Wave On, Old Glory, Wave On

Pray for our troop and their families.

May God bless all who serve and keep them safe.