New LOST Season

Are You Ready? The 5th Season of Lost begins Jan 21st and I'm so looking forward to it. I rarely watch tv and even though I struggle with suspense, I was hooked on this series from the start ~ Oh, I have chills already! For some sneak peeks, click here .

Any other LOST fans?

A Comforting Cup of Soup

For a drab, chilly, day... a great tasting soup made from barley and dry yellow peas, for those who dislike the green pea soup. It is very easy to make and perfect for a cold wintry day.

Split Pea Soup with Barley

10 cups water (I prefer using Chicken broth and water for more flavor)

1 pound dry yellow split peas, rinsed and drained [about 2 cups]

1/2 cup regular barley

2 tablespoons instant chicken bouillon granules

1 bay leaf

2 stalks celery -- finely chopped

2 medium carrots -- finely chopped (1 cup)

1 medium onion -- finely chopped (1/2 cup)

5 ounces cooked ham -- chopped (1 cup)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Salt and ground black pepper -- to taste

In a 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven or pot bring water, split peas, barley,bouillon granules and bay leaf to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.

Stir in celery carrots and onions; return to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes more or until vegetables, peas and barley are tender.

Stir in ham and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook 5 minutes more or until ham is heated through. Remove and discard bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and additional pepper.

Makes 8 (1 1/2 cup) servings.

Source : "Better Homes and Garden Magazine, November 2007" Prize-tested Recipe from Rosemary B. Eshman, Uniondale, PA - Winter Soup category

Yield : 8 (1 1/2 cup) servings

The Year in Pictures

All of the fun and important moments revolve around family...

Some of the most special highlights of this past year were:

• the birth of Caleb John
• the first ever family reunion on John's side of the family where we met family members for the first time and forged some very special friendships.
• God's sustaining strength and provision through prolonged waiting

A Fresh New Year

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

I am just about to complete, for the first time, reading through the Bible in a year. It is a very doable schedule taking less than 15 minutes each day. (I did have to play catch-up several times) I followed a schedule that starts in Genesis and continues straight through to Revelation and I plan to follow the Old and New Testament Parallel schedule this coming year. Here is a link where you can listen each day as Max McLean reads aloud.

You can choose from three listening plans:

Straight Through
Genesis to Revelation as they appear in our standard English Bibles. Each day averages twelve-and-a-half minutes of listening.

Chronological
Presents each chapter in approximately the order that the events occurred chronologically. Each day averages twelve-and-a-half minutes of listening.

Old and New Testaments Parallel
Each day features chapters from both the Old and New Testaments. You will complete the New Testament twice while listening through the Old Testament once per year. Each day averages fifteen-and-a-half minutes of listening.

A Baby Changes Everything

As this Christmas season begins winding down, let us never forget...

A Baby Changes Everything

(Music by Faith Hill)

Note: Before viewing this video, scroll down to the Playlist music box at the bottom of this page and push the stop button so you can hear video without music playing in the background.