What Inspires Me?

I must admit that this is not my favorite time of the year. I hate, Hate, HAte, HATe, HATE fog, and until this last Sunday, this valley spent two weeks covered by a thick brown-ish blanket of fog, that kept even a little ray of sunshine from being able to break through. I don't like to be cold either, and tonight it is frigid. I enjoy snow, until Christmas, and after that, I don't find much beauty in it.

In fact, nothing has been feeling very beautiful lately...including my life! Oh, don't get me wrong. Before you go diagnosing me with Seasonal Affective Disorder...I have already self diagnosed, and I am pretty sure that I have a mild case of it. I am not so depressed that I can't get out of bed, and I am not eating myself sick, in fact, I am on a healthy lifestyle program, and am losing weight....but I am struggling to be truly inspired!

So, the last couple of days, I have been on a little "Inspire Sheila Journey". It really does not take much to get me excited...I only have to seek that part of myself out, and let "me" loose!

Yesterday morning, I woke up and announced to no one in particular, that I was going out! I grabbed my Bible and Beth Moore Study Book (Jesus, The One and Only), and out the door I went. I could hardly contain my excitement!
After dropping my children off at their respective schools, and stopping in at Weight Watchers to weigh-in, I drove straight (I did not pass go, and I did not collect 200 dollars) to Flying M Coffee Garage, ordered myself a Latte' and found a table in the corner, where the sun was beating in on me.
For the next two hours, I blocked out the world around me, and spent time focusing on what I am studying.
My next stop was a local used bookstore. There are few places in this world that get me more excited than bookstores. I feel like I am transported to new and different places, with every book I hold in my hands. I was on a mission to find used and cheaper copies of the book that I had chosen for my book club. I found two copies and they were marked way down. That made me smile!

I then found myself in a little store that makes my heart start racing, as soon as I open the front door! Bella Rose is the most beautiful store, filled with old furniture pieces that Zella Marie has re-furbished, mixed in with antique rose dishes and fine linens, wire baskets and delicious candles, vintage tins and porcelain lamps....it's mixed aroma of old and new hits me as I walk in, and my heart sighs! (I could so see myself working there) I go in this store often, just to browse and unwind. There is something about touching things that come from long ago, that make me want to live my life purposefully today!
I walked down the way to the Library. Once again, looking for a book that I had on my list.
As I walked out of the Library, I noticed again that the sun was shining brightly! I smiled as I soaked it all in!

The day progressed, and last night, I kicked off my book group again. I started this group about two years ago, and then we paused for awhile, due to busy lives. It was with joy that we are at it again! We met at Living Waters Coffee House, and laughed the night away! Laughter is so good for me!

That is all it took...a day of quiet, sunshine, a large assortment of previously loved books and treasured housewares, fresh air, and loads of laughter...and I am on my way to feeling refreshed and ready to hang on for a couple more months!

Tomorrow, I will share some of the ways I bring beauty into my home and life.....


Photo source: Country Living Images

Cold Outside.Warm Inside

Recipes!

For a lack of anything more exciting,..I bring you the pictorial of my recipe organization!
This morning, I decided that today was the day for sorting and organizing my recipes. I am a recipe fanatic! I also love to try new ones. It has been probably 7-8 years since I have sorted and organized (isn't that horrible). It takes me like 10 min. or more to locate a recipe, and sometimes, I never do find it.
In keeping with my determination to simplify, I tackled the job!

Sorting....

and sorting......

my Cookbook and Recipe Cupboard

I have a pile of old Taste of Home magazines that I needed to go through, and I did. I cut out all the ones I wanted and threw the magazines away.

The clean Cookbook and Recipe Cupboard

My neatly sorted recipe box

All I am left with, is a big stack of full-page recipes, that I am going to put in a binder...that will have to happen another day.

Now, anyone can call me looking for a recipe, and I will know right where to find it! Yippee!

God With Us

This morning, just moments ago, I drove my children to school. As usual, as they get out of the car, I pray that God will spend the day with them. I am also quick to pray that they will spend the day with God!

As Ashley got out of the van, I heard a song come on the radio, that I really like, so I cranked it up. Mercy Me was beginning to sing, "God With Us" and my heart began to praise! (We are studying in our Bible Study about the angel announcing to Joseph, that the baby inside of Mary, was to be called, "Immanu'el". Immanu'el literally means, "The With of God") I was glad that it was dark, because the tears started falling and I just could not resist praising out loud! Had the sun been out, I would have been quite a scene!

Some of the words to the song are...

"Who are we, that You would be mindful of us..."

"We are free in ways that we never should be..."

"Like hinges straining from the weight, my heart no longer can keep from singing..."

"My heart sings a brand new song, my debt is paid, these chains are gone...."

"Such a tiny offering, compared to Calvary, but nevertheless, we lay it at Your feet..."

How tremendous and astounding, that THE GOD of ALL would come as a baby named Immanu'el, so that He could be with us!

He is with us, when we mess things up. He is with us, when our hearts are heavy. He is with us, when we lose people that we love. He is with us, when money is not. He is with us when no one else seems to be....after all, He is the With of God!

My heart is singing a brand new song this morning!

No Small Potatoes for me!

Here in our home, Fox News is the resource where my husband stays current on what is happening around us. Those who know me well, know that I am, by far, not a news-junkie! Not that I don't care what is happening in my world, but I tend to internalize other people's problems. If there is a family in Florida that is grieving the kidnapping of a child, or a child in Ethiopia that is raising his younger siblings because his parents died of AIDS...I take their pain very seriously, and dream sad dreams about it. I have learned to not watch a lot of news.
During the last days of the election, and with the wars and economy....I have just had to stop watching any kind of news. It was making me a stress case of the worst kind!

So this morning, I was reading my devotional book, Fresh Grounded Faith by Jennifer Rothschild, and she shared this from God's Word....

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (Msg.)
"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."

When I read that these times are just small potatoes, I thought, "This Idaho Spud knows all about small potatoes!" No seriously, I can hang on to Hope, knowing that the bad times are nothing in comparison to what is coming for all who believe!

So, when I hear that Obama is stressed this morning because his Democratic Congress might not go along with his economic recovery plan....I just picture small potatoes! Or, when I see that some dumb guy stole 173 million from unsuspecting people....small potatoes. Or that the gas prices went up 10 cents this week...small potatoes.....

A Girl and Her Grandma's

Grandma Sue ("The Brown Grandma")

Grandma Margaret ("Bargot")

As I was going through Christmas pictures tonight, I realized that I had two pictures with Ashley and each of her grandma's, during the holidays.
Ashley was the first grandchild on both sides of the family, and has a special place in the hearts of these two women....she kinda loves them too!

A New Recipe.....

This is a new recipe that I tried today. I made this for an easy dinner and served it with fruit.

Hashbrown Casserole
6 cups frozen shredded hashbrown potatoes
1 lb. bulk sausage, cooked and drained
1/2 lb. sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 small can of green chili peppers
2 cups (8oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup biscuit/baking mix
1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
3 cups milk

In a large bown, combine the hashbrowns, sausage, bacon, chili peppers, 1 cup cheese and onion (I sautéed my onions first). Transfer to a 13x9" baking dish.
In another bowl, whisk the biscuit mix, salt, eggs and milk; pour over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator 30 min. before baking. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30-35 min. or until golden brown on top. Let stand for 10 min. before cutting.
Yield: 12 servings

I have another recipe similar to this, but not as yummy. I made it for dinner, but think it would be such a great casserole for a special breakfast or brunch. Enjoy!

Recipe from Country Magazine Dec/Jan 2009

Simplify!

You may notice that I have posted a picture in the title of my blog with the word, Simplify!
I did that very intentionally.
I am probably not a lot different from most people, who constantly find ourselves striving for life to slow down, and at the very same time, we are seeking for more! More money, more happiness, more clothes, more shoes, more fun......more! Then we find ourselves wondering why we are bogged down with "more" than we know what to do with. I start to feel like everything around me gets cluttered with the "more"!

I have a burning passion in my heart to simplify! I get this way at the beginning of every year...and I will say that this last year, I did some major remodeling on my life and heart, but God is not finished with me. He wants to take out the "more" that I have stuffed into my life, and bring in the things that really matter.

I am not quite ready to move into a remote mountain cabin with just the bare necessities...but I am ready to get rid of what inhibits me from concentrating on what is really important. I want to have the space in my heart for God to work His plans out in me.

One of the biggest parts of simplifying, is learning to have a heart of contentedness or peace. Help me Father!

So all of this being said, I have set a personal goal for the year 2009....I want to concentrate on filling my life with His Word, His Heart and His Plans...only bringing in that which will be a positive addition to my life, in light of God's plan for me. Will I do it perfectly?.....are you kidding! (This is Sheila, and she messes things up...really bad.)
But I will try, I will get up when I fall down, and the Lover of my soul will not leave me to do it by myself!

May God's blessings be your's in 2009!

Merry Christmas from The Taylor's!

I know that I have no idea how many people read my blog; we want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

Duane, Sheila, Ashley, Alex and Nichole

20 Little Things to Treasure at Christmas!

20. Sitting in my family room, in the dark, with only the lights from my Christmas Village shining.

19. Stirring my coffee with a candy cane.

18. Opening envelopes filled with beautiful cards, family pictures and newsy letters.

17. Driving on a road that looks down on our valley, and seeing Christmas lights near and far.

16. Keeping secrets about Christmas presents.

15. Having the freedom to say "Merry Christmas!"

14. Christmas Carols...especially O Holy Night!

13. Watching as people go out of their way to help complete strangers!

12. Listening to bells ring as coins are dropped into red buckets.

11. Simply loving

10. The beauty of innocence in children, as they gaze at all the wonders of Christmas

9. Having my favorite color (red) splashed all around me...everywhere I look!

8. Hanging up ornaments, and remembering where they came from and the little stories behind each one.

7. The smell of peppermint and vanilla and yeast and cinnamon and.......delicacies from the kitchen!

6. Snuggling up with a quilt and reading a Christmas Story.

5. Anticipating Christmas vacation...and still having to remind myself that sleeping in is ok!

4. Recalling memories of Christmas...some make me laugh, some make tears fall....but all are part of my story!

3. Watching a brand new mother gaze with wonder at her new baby, and imagining what it must have been like for Mary on the cold night!

2. Being with the ones that define "Love" in my life!

Last, but far from least.......

1. Closing my eyes and centering my thoughts on a Baby, that was sent to earth for me...and you....and realizing all over again, as if for the first time, that I didn't deserve the Greatest Gift EVER given.

Tonight, I hold in my heart the gifts of mercy, grace, joy, love, peace......and a renewed determination to share them with everyone I encounter!

Merry Christmas!