Resolutions...2011

Well, it is here...a new year begins tomorrow...2011! Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet?

I am a definite believer of making resolutions. If you do not shoot for anything...you will hit it every time. So at least shoot for something!

1. Make at least one attainable goal.
I would suggest trying to make a goal for different areas in your life...but if you can't do several...do at least one.
Make one goal for your walk with God...one for your marriage...one for child-rearing...one for finances...etc.

2. Do not set generic goals!
For instance..."I want to be a better Christian this year." How do you measure your success on that goal? You really can't. Try this goal..."I am going to read through my Bible this year with the calendar Pastor Eric gave us."
"I want to be a better wife and mother." Let's try..."I will have a weekly date with my husband." "I will read my kids a book before they go to bed at night."

3. After you make a goal, tell someone about it.
A spouse, a sibling, a parent, a pastor. Make yourself accountable and you will be more likely to achieve it.

4. Post your accomplishments where you can see them many times a day.
Make a weekly or monthly chart...put it on the fridge...when you accomplish your daily or weekly goal...mark it off! The more you accomplish something, the longer you will keep doing it!

Happy New Year!

Men, Women and PC's

Tonight...my husband brought up a good illustration to me. He said...Women and men are like PC's...personal computers.

Men bring up one screen at a time. Men do whatever they need to on that one screen...click on the X...close out the screen...then bring up a new screen...and start all over again.

Women have multiple screens on their computer...at all times. I am always thinking...musing...planning...working...on multiple things at once. Every day. All day. Sometimes, I can't get my mind to stop at night...then I dream about all those things...but they are all mixed up together! Geez!

Where am I going with this analogy? Men and women are different. Plain and simple. Period. We all know that. Why do we fight it?

Ladies, let's stop expecting our husbands to be like us. Let's stop expecting them to think like us. They never will. And you are wasting time nagging about it and in the process...let's just face it...probably ruining your relationship as well.

Hey, I've been there...done that. That's how I know. I could probably venture to say...we all have been there. Let's start this year right. Give up and let go. Let your husband be the guy he is...not who you want to make him become.
I think you will be very happy with the result that you end up with...a happy husband and now a happy wife. :)

Caring teens...

I just wanted to take a minute to brag on a family in our church...

Mike and Claudia are a sweet couple in our little church. :) They actually found out about our church through a postcard that was left on their door. Claudia has two teen daughters, Brianna and Kayla, who are involved in our youth group. My husband and I truly enjoy being around this family...they are just great, down-to-earth people!

Recently, our church went caroling to the nursing home where Claudia works. I was very impressed by Claudia's daughters...as we were waiting for the nurses aids to bring the folks to the lobby...Claudia and her two daughters were doing the same. Kayla and Brianna were not afraid of helping and talking with the sweet elderly folks in the home. My heart was touched as I watched them wheel the folks to the lobby. As a teen myself...I remember doing the same thing. Both of my parents work in nursing homes and we often went on Sundays to hold church services. I was pleased to see young folks still doing this today!

Yesterday, Brianna came to church and brought our family gifts. She was given some money to buy presents for others and she was so kind to remember her pastor and family. She got the girls and I colorful tote bags with Bible verses on them! She got my husband a pair of funny glasses which he proudly wore in the church services! LOL!

Claudia has had many tough circumstances in her life...but she has not let it get her down. She keeps going and she is a great example for her daughters. And that is shown through her sweet daughters.

I am so proud of so many of our church family...and I am so proud of Mike, Claudia, Brianna and Kayla!

Merry Christmas 2010

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Love, the Tastet family

Eric and Rebekah

Addie, Autumn, Sierra and Summer

Max and Belle

Healthy Start!

Looking for ways to be healthy around the holidays? Want to work on your healthy lifestyle this coming new year?
Here is an idea that I personally started doing...
Buy several fresh lemons or limes at the grocery. Each day, I add 2-3 slices of lemons to my bottled water to drink throughout the day. When I do this, I drink 3 times as much water a day as I usually would with plain water. :)

Recipe: Creamy Beef and Pasta

Here is a second crockpot recipe that I made for our church potluck on Sunday. :) This is a great recipe for kids...fix it and forget it!

Creamy Beef and Pasta

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 cups (8oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb. ground beef-cooked and drained (I use ground turkey)

2 cups uncooked small pasta

2 cups milk

Salt, pepper and onion powder

Combine all ingredients and cook on low until pasta is tender - around 3-4 hrs.

As A Couple...

For Sunday, my husband had requested a special Christmas song to go along with his sermon..."Mary, Did You Know?" by Mark Lowry. I didn't have the music so I made a trip to the local music store to find it.

After his morning sermon, my husband, our daughter, Addie and myself sang this song. This was the first time for our daughter to sing a special with us...and it meant so much to me. :)

I was pondering our family singing together...I was thinking how much I enjoyed singing with them. It has only been recently that we started singing together as a couple.

I thought about all the different ways that my husband and I have served together in the ministry...

In Bible college, we served together as a dating and engaged couple on a bus route located in the Chicagoland area. We would visit and bring children and families to church on the weekends. One of the best ways for a young lady or man to know if they are dating the right person...do you serve together in a church ministry? Look for a love of God and others in your boy/girlfriend's heart. Don't date them hoping they will change after you are married. A young person's heart for God should be developed before their heart for each other.

After we were married, we continued working together on our Chicago bus route. The ministry has always been something that we have done TOGETHER...and what a wonderful bond it has created! We spent our Saturdays and Sundays in the ghettos of Chicago working with families and winning people to Christ. We loved it! We continued our bus route - 89-4 - until my husband graduated from college and we moved to Reno.

We worked in Junior Church together...in fact, this is where I first noticed my husband... :)

We have had adult Sunday School classes...

We have sung specials in church together...

We have had a Friday evening teen Bible club together called YLC...

We have traveled to other churches for my husband to preach or do skits...

We have done plays and skits together for special activities...

So many awesome opportunities...and the thing I love about it all...it was all as a couple! My husband insists that no matter what we do in our church...we will be doing it together as a couple or as a family. He wants all of the people serving in our church to serve in their ministries as a couple or family.

Ladies, be a support to your husbands! Stick by his side and you will see great things happen!

Recipe: Simple Saucy Potatoes

Here is a new crockpot recipe I did for our church potluck yesterday...
Simply Saucy Potatoes

1 package (2 lbs.) frozen, cubed hash brown potatoes
2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups (16 oz.) sour cream
3/4 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
6 green onion, chopped
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
Mix together all ingredients. Cook on high for 3 hrs. Stir occasionally.


*** I mixed this together the night before, put in the fridge and just popped it in the crockpot in the morning. :) This was the first time I did this recipe. I might decrease the amount of sour cream next time...it seemed a bit too much but was still very tasty if you are potato lover. :)

"You Are Just One Step Away..."

As I was thinking the other day...with Christmas approaching...I thought back to last Christmas...and how much things have changed in such a short span of time. Do you ever look back on your life and think...how did that happen and how did I get to this place in my life?

How you got to the place where you are right now is just by taking one step...and then another...and then another.

Remember these thoughts as you take the steps of life.

1. You are always one step away from the weakest moment you have ever had.

- - Don't ever think..."It will never happen to me." Divorce...an unplanned pregnancy...an affair...financial disaster...

How many people do we see these things happen to...and we think...No!

I didn't ever think it would happen to "them"!

2. Wise Christians have learned to place each step circumspectly and carefully.

- - It only takes one step to fall. Take your time and walk carefully in the path of life.

3. Many years of careful walking does not make you any safer.

- - Seasoned, mature pastors and pastor's wives have affairs just like baby Christians do...Preacher's kids have babies out of wedlock just as layman's kids do...Couples who have been married 20 years divorce just like Hollywood couples of 6 months do.

4. You never become so strong as you can afford a wrong step!

- - Don't fool yourself! Today, you may be at the spiritual pinnacle of your life...and tomorrow, you will fall! Keep building those spiritual muscles! Keep in the Word...prayer...service for others...your walk with God!

A new year is approaching! Stay strong!

Going to see Santa...

I love this one! My husband and Summer. :)

Yesterday, we took the girls to see Santa at the library. The librarian does a Christmas story and song time...then everyone lines up to see Santa. After the story, we all went to get in line and I looked around..."Where is Sierra?" Eric went up the line looking for her...and there she was...at the front of the line...sitting on the chair...chit chatting with Santa!!! LOL!!!! We about died laughing! Everyone in line was asking...who's little girl is that? So we took her back in line with us. When we got back up to Santa...she sat on his lap again and talked to him. I guess even she knows that she needs to give Santa a lot of "sugar" so she won't get that lump of coal! LOL!

SVBC Sunday School

Sunday was an exciting day for our baby church! Since our start, we have been only able to hold Sunday morning services. This Sunday, we were able to start Sunday School! We will only be able to have Sunday School once a month...but to me, I love it! I loved the fact that my daughter came up to me at the piano at the end of Sunday School...so excited and telling me how much she liked her class! I was so blessed! I am so happy that our church is able now to offer something on their level to learn about the Lord.

My husband recently said to me..."It is so neat to see how God has brought our church so many wonderful Christian people...at just the right time."

Keep us in your prayers as we continue to grow and do a work in Reno, NV!

Christmas Pictures...

Just a few pictures of our daughters...Addie, Autumn, Sierra and Summer. My mom got their Christmas dresses and my sister, Rachel, made their cute headbands and flowers for their hair. :) So much fun for little girls!

SVBC Ladies Christmas Fellowship 2010

On Thursday, I hosted our first Ladies Fellowship for our church ladies. Our church is only five months old and we have many "firsts" happening all the time. :) With Christmas approaching, I wanted to have our first ladies get-together. To make it simple, I asked every lady to bring two dozen cookies. I supplied the drinks...coffee, hot cider and hot chocolate. We divided up the cookies and everyone had a plate of various cookies to take home. We played a few games and I gave my background and testimony.

We had a great time and we are already looking forward to our next ladies activity...stay tuned!

Christmas cookies...

Just a few pictures from our Christmas cookie baking time...

Busy For God...

I can hardly believe another week has gone by...the Christmas season is a very busy time!

Sunday afternoon...we had one of our young couples from our church over for lunch...tacoes...mmm. :) Bro. Jake will be heading up a new teen ministry for our church beginning in January. It will be called YLC - Young Leaders Council. We are grateful to have Bro. Jake and his wife, Megan, in our ministry!

Mondays...I play catch up! :) School...laundry...housework...and such! It is a very busy day at home with everyday things.

Tuesday...my husband did some things for our church while I had an appt. and did grocery shopping. In the afternoon, I made dinner...enchiladas, rice and salad...and we took it to Bro. Vern's home to share with him and his daughter for his birthday. We enjoyed a special time of fellowship with this dear man and his family.

Wednesday...my husband and I took the two younger girls and we went Christmas shopping...lunch at Subway. In the evening, we had one of our church families over for counseling in our home.

Thursday...I spent the day home schooling, baking cookies and preparing for our ladies fellowship. In the evening, we had our first ladies fellowship for our church in our home. It was a fun evening and I am so thankful for all the great ladies of our church!

Friday...Home school...cleaning house...then Christmas shopping via Craig's List. :) I found some awesome deals for Christmas presents...a bike for Addie, a doghouse for Max and Belle, and an activity center and play mat for Summer. Sweet!

Today...laundry and more laundry! LOL! I also spent some time with Mrs. Fink - a pastor's wife - who is mentoring me through our website process. :) She is a doll!

I hope you are having a busy and productive Christmas season as well! And I hope this next week is a little less busy... ;)

My Grandma's Sugar Cookies

Today, I did something that I haven't done in three Christmases. I baked Christmas cookies with my girls. :) I am not really the baker in the family...that is my sister, Rachel. So, since moving to Reno and away from my sister, I haven't attempted a whole lot...baking-wise, that is. I determined this year...I would change that. My girls were estatic. After school, they donned their aprons and were ready to bake! Me...not so sure. All I could think of was...the mess! LOL!

After we got started, it was a lot of fun and it was hard to wipe the smile off my face. It was all I could do to keep Sierra from snitching the dough! The cookies turned out pretty and delicious topped with some homemade frosting...washed down with a glass of cold milk...pretty much...Heaven. :)


It was not only baking cookies with my kids...making memories together...adding Christmas family traditions...


It was more than that to me.


You see, this was my Grandma Holt's sugar cookie recipe. We made these cookies from this same recipe when I was a kid...and now I get to make them with my kids. My grandma is still living in Ohio in the same house for nearly 50 years. She has alzheimer's and when I call...I don't really know if she really knows who I am. I don't like to remember her this way...but that's OK. She's my grandma and I will forever have all my special memories of her tucked away in my heart. I don't need anything tangible to help me remember her...


...but today...I will look at this recipe...and hold it...and the memories...close to my heart.

The Perfect Christmas Tree

Last year, we started a Christmas family tradition of cutting down a Christmas tree. :) We also have an artificial tree that we also put up...it is still our first tree that my husband and I bought on our first Christmas as a married couple. However, since we moved back to Nevada, we decided to also do a real tree every year. In Indiana where we previously lived...you could pick out a real tree from a tree farm...but here in Nevada...you can buy a tree cutting permit for $10 and then go out in the great wilderness in search of the perfect tree! :) We love it!

Last year, we almost got stuck "back in the wilderness" with five kids...so we decided to not go as far since there is more snow this year. :) We did take our dog, Max, and he had a great time with us. We found a great "little" tree which always seems smaller out there than in our living room. LOL!

A great start to the holiday season! :)

A Strong Marriage...

Yesterday, we were honored to spend the day at one of our church family's homes. Brad and Pam Hurley found our church through our website. They drive 1 1/2 hours one way each Sunday to attend our service! They have been nothing but an encouragement and a blessing to my husband and I since their first Sunday at SVBC!
After leaving their home last evening, my husband and I expressed to each other what a delightful time we had. We both agreed on what a strong and happy marriage Bro. Brad and Pam have...how did we come to this conclusion? Here are a few of our thoughts...


1. The easiest one...we saw them hugging and kissing! :) This might seem silly but how do you recognize a strong marriage? The man and wife express their love outwardly through affection.

My husband has already said to me in the 5 months of pastoring..."I can't keep the teens and young people from not touching each other and I can't get the married couples to touch each other!"


2. The second thing we noticed...they were quick to give their spouse the credit for the praise that they received. We were served a delicious gumbo for lunch and my husband complimented Bro. Brad for his cooking. Bro. Brad quickly gave his wife the credit for doing the cooking...she quickly gave the credit back saying he helped by adding the spices, onion and garlic. They both wanted their spouse to receive the praise in their marriage.

In many marriages, a spouse will say..."You never recognize any thing I do." They want to have all the praise directed at them instead of directing the praise to the other person.


3. The third thing we noticed...they had pictures of each other all over the house. My husband said..."I noticed everywhere there was a computer...Bro. Brad had his wife's picture there." The more you are reminded of your spouse...the more you will think on them. The more you think, the more you will love.


4. The fourth thing we noticed...they both held the proper and godly roles in the marriage.

Bro. Brad definitely holds the "man of the house" role. It was not demanded. It was just understood and respected. Everyone knew who was the man of the house in the Hurley home.

Mrs. Pam definitely holds the "lady of the home" role. She loves and respects her husband and she is very happy to be the submissive wife. I never saw her buck at any of her husband's decisions that day. Everything he did, she was behind him. And she was not only behind him, she was happy about it.


My husband and I agreed...how great would our churches be...if we had more Hurley families in our churches! Families where the spouses took their godly roles...with a happy and loving spirit. For where the families are right...the church will be right.


I am thankful for the Lord leading families like the Hurleys into our church. I am thankful for their godly marriage that we can all learn from. :)

Snowstorm and the Miami Dolphins

My husband and I went on a very short get-away this weekend! :) For my husband's 30th birthday in August, I got him tickets to his first NFL game for his favorite team - the Miami Dolphins! It was actually the first NFL game for the both of us and it was so much fun to experience it together! :)

After dropping off our kids, we heard on the radio that it was snowing over the pass (the drive on I 80 to cross the Sierra-Nevada mountain range to go to California...AKA to us Nevadans as "The Pass" :) They said that is was mandatory chain controls on all the mountain roads - if you do not know what this means - it means you have to put chains on your car tires to help gain traction as you drive in the mountains. So we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought a set of chains for our van and headed over the mountain.

At first, it wasn't bad...we were going along fine. The station even passed us on saying we didn't have to chain up because we have all-wheel drive and snow tires. Then as the snow thickened...the traffic just stopped on I 80. Long story - short...we sat in Truckee, CA on the interstate for 3 hours. Come to find out...they actually closed the interstate for an hour because of some cars that had slid and were blocking traffic. Darkness began to fall...it took us 7 hours to get over the pass...by the time we would start moving again - about 10-20 MPH...we would stop again. It was 1AM before we reached Alameda, CA where our hotel was (right outside of San Francisco). A 3 1/2 - 4 hr. trip had turned into 11 1/2 hrs. It was an experience to definitely remember!

Our experience at our first NFL game was awesome! We had such a good time! Even though we were a little nervous at wearing our Dolphin gear in the midst of all the Oakland fans (they are not known for being too kind :)...it all turned out fine. Yes, we had some crazies sitting in our section...but we had lots of new "friends" that we had made sitting around us that we weren't worried. :) Nothing worse than what we had ever experienced on our church bus route in Chicago! LOL! Miami won the game - 33-17 - so it was all good! :)

After the game, we headed home with great memories...just my sweetheart and me. :) And the fact that we are not trying to drive over the pass again...in the winter at least.

The Many Faces of Summer Lyn...

Hey, what's up?

Uh oh!

Winding down here...

Only 2 months old and already a ham! :)

I love my big sister! :)

My baby girl...Summer Lyn...Mommy loves you, pumpkin!

"Let It Happen!"

Thanksgiving is over...the turkey is gone. (Well, it may be gone...or you might still be eating turkey sandwiches and casseroles! :)

Now begins the Christmas season!

I love Christmas and the many traditions involved with this season!
...the playing of Christmas music.
...the decorating of the tree.
...nativity scenes.
...Christmas cookies and baking.
...hot cocoa with marshmallows.
...sledding in the frosty outdoors.
...Christmas movies like "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Miracle On 34th Street".
...twinkling lights.
...eggnog!
...gift exchanges with ones we love.
...Christmas cards.

There is so much to enjoy during this season! Even though I enjoy it all...it can be overwhelming! At times, I add extra stress to myself by trying to make things "perfect". Many women are like this. :) This season, I am making this one vow to enjoy and not stress! My husband gave me some very good advice when I was preparing for this Thanksgiving...the big dinner...hosting our friends. He said..."Let it happen!" I keep thinking on this phrase and it really has helped me.

Yes, make new traditions! Go Christmas shopping! Host dinner parties! But before it stresses you out...remember to "Let it happen!"

Things will not turn out 100% perfect every time...no matter how hard you work. The important thing is the people involved. THEY are the reason for the work. Enjoy the season!

Thanksgiving Day-Reno-2010

My husband and I

David and Danyelle Zimlich

Kelli Enk and Paul Viekman - Our newly engaged couple!

Larry Blair, my husband and my father-in-law, Sonny

Valere and her daughter, Ronnie

Papa Vern McFarlin and Bro. Tom Enk

Addie and myself

Autumn

I loved this picture! It is Summer-our 2 month old. :) Sierra (our 3 yr. old) took it! LOL!

Sierra - she's such a ham!

Megan Allen

Megan's husband-Jake

David and Danyelle Zimlich (Sierra took this one too!)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day yesterday! :) Since we don't have family in the area...we invite our friends and church family to share our Thanksgiving holiday with us in our home. This year, we had 15 for dinner and a few that came over after dinner. We had my father-in-law, Sonny, Larry and Tracey, David and Danyelle, Tom, Kelli and Paul, Valere and Ronnie, Papa Vern, Jacob and Megan and the six in our family.

My husband does the turkeys...one smoked turkey and one deep fried turkey. I do the side dishes, desserts and prep! :) The day turned out chilly but sunny with clear, blue skies. A beautiful day.

After sharing our blessings, prayer and a delicious dinner, we watched the Thanksgiving day football game between the Saints and the Cowboys. Then we had competitions on the Wii...with lots of dessert washed down with hot coffee, hot cocoa and hot apple cider.

I suppose your typical Thanksgiving day activities...but many warm memories with our "Reno family". I hope you had a special day!