Mother's Day Cookout

 A cookout was the perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day, even if we did it a day early (because we knew it was going to rain all day Sunday). Some hotdogs and marshmallows over the fire just hit the spot! 

And of course, you can't have a fire without some music.

This kids even got in on the cooking action.

We are so blessed to be surrounded by family!

From my Kitchen Friday: Broiled Tilapia

This recipe is incredibly simple. I came inside last night to begin preparations for my broccoli-stuffed chicken breast dinner, but when I got the chicken out of the fridge it was still frozen. So, I switched gears to broiled tilapia, because the fish comes out so tasty, and it is very easy to make. This fish is a favorite even with my kids! I knew I was going to make rice (the slower cooking kind, not instant), so I got my tilapia out of the freezer and set it on a cookie sheet on the stove-top to thaw while the rice was cooking.

Of course, I always have a helper (or three).

Once you are ready to cook the fish (my fish was thawed in some places and still a bit frozen in others, and it still cooked perfectly in just a few minutes), brush it first with melted butter, then sprinkle a mixture of seasoned salt and bread crumbs followed by a sprinkle of finely-chopped almonds.

Put under the broiler for 6 to 7 minutes. The fish is done when is comes apart easily with a fork. I served mine with pan-cooked broccoli and rice. Everyone had extra helpings!

Broiled Tilapia
Tilapia fillets
2 Tbsp butter, melted
seasoned salt
bread crumbs
finely chopped almonds

1. Grease a pan that is suitable for broiling. Place fish on pan and spread with melted butter. Combine seasoned salt and bread crumbs (the exact measurement doesn't really matter, it just depends on how seasoned you want your fish to be) and sprinkle onto the buttered fish. Sprinkle on finely chopped almonds.
2. Place pan under broiler for about 6 minutes. You will want to keep a close eye on it, because the fish will cook quickly. It is done cooking when it flakes apart easily with a fork. Serve immediately.

You will want to be ready to serve the fish when it comes out of the broiler, because it gets cool (and therefore nasty not as tasty) quickly.

Enjoy!

Posted on Feasting in Fellowship Fridays

My Warriors

My little warriors. I pray every single day that they will keep those warrior hearts. For there is a great battle that is being fought every day for the souls of my children, and it will continue as long as they are alive. One day they will have to make a choice, and my prayer is that God will have the victory.

Way beyond her years

We were sitting around the table this morning, the children eating their breakfast and myself studying the Word. Hudson and Libby began talking about how they have a busy day because they will be helping Daddy and Papaw finish up putting in our new wall oven. Remi said her typical response when she hears someone saying they are going to do something, "Meeee, too!" This began an argument about how Remi wasn't going to help because she was too small.

Finally, Libby ended the argument with this:

"Remi, we have been around the block a few more times than you, so we know what we're doing."

I guess I've used that argument a few too many times with her.

From my Kitchen Friday

And so it goes.

Meal Planning Made Simple
The Meal Plan
Cookbooks I Use

The insight of a 4 year old

In Hudson's 4 year old class at church last night, the teacher told the children that she wanted them to draw a picture of Jesus. Hudson told her that he couldn't because he's not a good drawer. She told him to just try his best. This is what he drew.

Isn't this really what it's about?

The Samaritan Woman

She goes out to the well to draw water for herself and her house. It is the hot part of the day, and no one else is out there, for everyone else had come to draw their water earlier when it was cooler. But she, well she carries so much pain and shame and guilt from her life that she comes when no one else does, just so that she won't be stared at and ridiculed. But Jesus comes to her, expecting her to be there and knowing exactly why she is coming when she does.
She feels less than worthy going out to the well that day, but still Jesus sees her, and he speaks to her. John 4: 7 "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?'" He speaks to her. And not only that, he wants a drink from her water jar. This conversation breaks through centuries of hatred between His people (the Jews) and hers (the Samaritans). Masked by her status and her past, she balks at first. John 4: 9 "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" In other words, you are you and I am me, what could I possibly do for you? And Jesus does what He does best, He speaks the truth to her. They go back and forth a bit until she fully understands. She is talking to Christ, the Messiah, the One she has been waiting for! He brings living water that she needs to never feel unworthy, and unloved again! She has an experience with Christ that changes her.
And then she transforms! John 4: 28 "Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?'" In leaving her water jar at Jesus' feet, she is leaving her cloak of sin as well. She has been made new. And what is the only thing she can think to do? Tell everyone, the very people she has been hiding from.
The result is that people come. The town responds to her words and they go to Jesus to see if she is right. And ultimately, they believe. John 4: 39-41 "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers."
Has God changed you? Share it! Spread the news of His goodness, so others will hear and believe.