New on the site this week:
I have continued to work my way through Psalm 119.  This week covering verses 17-24.  There is a lot here about the way we are to live our lives apart from the world.  That being "in it not of it" stuff can be a difficult road to navigate.
 
What a Bounty We Have!

I am a Stanger in the Earth

Blessings and Curses

When the World Hates Us
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Freebie Thursday- some free quilt patterns for Christmas from around the worldwide webs.

Egg Drop Soup-I made this last week and it was delicious.  Warmed me from head to toe.
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This week saw some changes come at our house when we adopted sweet little Bailey.  He will soon be an "it", so the debate can stop on whether Bailey is a boy or girl name.  I thought of George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life when I named him, because that is what we hope to give to this once abandoned bundle of joy.  We are guessing he is eight or nine months old and such a well-behaved kitten.  No biting, no scratching, purrs as soon as we walk in the room, and is even starting to show signs of accepting our two German Shepherds- in less than a week.  I actually considered letting him loose in the house yesterday as they were all snuggled up together while Bailey was in the large wire crate we use for him to spend nights in our bedroom.  Then I had visions of the wild rumpus that would ensue and decided it could wait for another day... and a time when my reinforcements would be home to help supervise.  I did let Anya and Woofie stay in the room when I got Bailey out of the crate to move to his daytime space.  A task that was not made easy by the two dogs who just wanted to get up close and personal when I opened the door.  The dogs can fit in the crate by the way, as it is large enough for each of them- though Woofie feels a bit smooshed weighing over 100 lbs.   But mission accomplished after a bit of negotiating with the dogs to let me go in first and grab the cat.  We were like a little parade marching through the house, Bailey calmly taking it all in from the safety of my arms and the dogs excitedly following along trying to get a closer glimpse.  

As If I didn't have enough on my plate already along comes Erin Russek announcing a free quilt along that starts today.  McCall's Quilting is providing video lessons and the free pattern here.  I am trying to decide whether to join in or not and if I do you can count on some regular updates of my progress.

I found this great site that makes any webpage printer friendly.  It can also make a PDF file of it.  printfriendly.com

Finally, enjoy a little humor from Jeanne Robertson.  She always makes me laugh out loud- and for an introvert that is no easy task.

Blessings!
Deb

New this week at Tuning-My-Heart.com:

Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling- This post on Philippians 2:12-13 was particularly challenging for me to write this week.  Two verses that contain so much for life and godliness.

Holding Fast- Philippians 2:14-16 Paul encourages us to hold fast to the word of life.

A Drink Offering- Paul talks about being offered as a drink offering in Philippins 2:17-18

Bread in Five Minutes a Day?- Really?  I share my experience with Leo Hertzberg and Zoe Francois' method for making Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.


Favorites from around the Web:
What's at the Center of Your Life- Courtney at Good Morning Girls is one of my favorite bloggers and it is from her that I learned about the SOAP method of Bible Study.  She is currently going through the Gospel of Luke.  This post just hit me where I am at this week, thinking about how to live my life in this world as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ.

-When Helping Hurts- This is the second time this book has been brought to my attention in recent weeks.  Good review here.  I think it will be going on my must read list, and I would love to hear what you all think about short-term mission trips.


Getting back in the swing of managing a home and a job and making time for all those things that I love to do has left me with little to share this week as far as fun stuff.  That is not to say that I am not having fun.  But my quilt room door has been closed all week, and I need to get in there and do some work.  I am happy that I am finding time to continue writing as that is so important to me and my growth as a follower of Jesus.  I think I am going to have to develop some recipes that are ready to eat when we get home on the days I go into the office.  I only work six hours a day, but carpooling with my guys means I am in Abilene from 7:30 in the morning to 5pm.  I think I will have to start planning on having meals prepared on my days off that can stretch to those three days that I work.   One of the things I am anxious to try is five minute a day pizza dough.  You can read my review of this method under the recipe tab here.

I ordered a copy of Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day because it will be so much better than picking up a pizza on our way home if I have the dough and toppings ready to be put together and baked in the oven.  I love Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois' other book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day and I think I will find this one equally inspiring. 

We continue to enjoy spring...or is it summer...or is it winter here in Texas.  We went from 94 to 29 in less than 12 hours this week.  Woke up to freezing rain on Wednesday morning.  Thankfully all the plants we had added to the gardens seemed to have survived.  As I write this, it is 81 according to my thermometer.   The flowers are looking good and I went out an

Blessings!
Deb