April is for new beginnings!

April has brought a lot into my life, mostly hope. I think it's appropriate that  April is the month we celebrate Resurrection Sunday- the date we celebrate our Saviour rising from the grave. Ultimately finishing what was needed for our forgiveness of sins and so we could be reconciled with God. 

It is also the month, where if you live in the North, you've survived the winter and spring has officially started! Yay! This winter was especially a rough winter with most of the days feeling like it was well below zero and of course loads of snow! I'm so grateful for the warmer weather; it always makes me feel so much better when it's warmer and I can get some sun!

April just brings about so many new beginnings. And with those new beginnings comes that hope I mentioned earlier. This year I was able to finally record some of my Resurrection songs- or songs that talk about Jesus dying and his sacrifice for us.

This first song that I'm going to share with you has an interesting background story to it. The chorus was originally written way back in the 1990's and the verses weren't added to the song until June of 2008. One of the biggest lessons God has showed me through writing music has been that he will work in his time, but it will work out. 

So often I will get parts of a song, either a chorus or a verse possibly just a line to a song. It will take days, months or even years before a song is fully written. I've learned to not rush it as when I'm trying to write and not letting God lead....my mind just can't work. It goes blank!

I had tried over the years to add verses to this song but none ever came. And then one day God just gave me what I needed to complete it. If God is working on your life he will bring you to the completion of that work. Don't get discouraged during the writing and waiting moments!

As April continues to fly by I pray that you are filled with the hope of our Savior and what he has for you. Remember his sacrifice was made because before we even knew him- he loved us and was willing to offer himself for us! If you don't know the Savior ask him into your heart today.

Look for the newest song I'm sharing on Resurrection Sunday. Right here at this same blog or on my facebook page!

Video Blog

I've decided to start a video blog and see how it goes. Sometimes when I write it's hard to keep up with all the things that are on my mind. This isn't going to replace my regular blogging and writing but just be an addition to it!

50 Posts!

I know I don't have many readers...yet....but I thought I would celebrate my 50th blog post! YAY!!!!! Wohooo!!!(Can you hear party music and blowouts?) Okay, okay I know it's not a huge accomplishment to some, but I've been making an effort to post more often and it feels good to have reached 50 posts! :)

Anyways, I've been working on a book and it's been simply amazing! Doing the research has caused me to delve deeper into God's word and learn so much more about the people in the bible. It's been...I have no words to describe it....overwhelming!

I hope I can share some of what I'm working on sometime soon, but until then please just pray that I will have wisdom and clear ideas for the words that I need to write. I feel like Jeremiah when he said that God's word was in him like a burning fire and he was weary with forbearing and could not stay. Translation: He HAD to share what God had given him. He couldn't just keep it inside no matter how hard he tried. 

I'm so grateful that I've actually had the time to sit and work on the things God has given me to share and I am claiming that it will be used for him to encourage and uplift those who are hurting and need Christ love!

Till next time, keep safe and warm- we are currently under a winter advisory so there's a lot of white stuff flying around!

It's Time To Believe

As I read through the bible and see the faith-or lack of faith- that is shown by the stories we read; I've come to realize that the time to believe God can work is NOW!

Don't wait...God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

So seek God and believe...God's Got This!

Spring then onto summer!!

I love this time of year! The sun is shining and the birds begin to sing, and the weather is warmer; for the most part at least!

When spring comes it means that it's time to start planning for the summer. While we do have groups and retreats who come to enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania at His Thousand Hills over the winter; our busiest time is during the summer months. This will be the fourth summer that my mom and I have been at HTH. Each year the Lord shows me new things and allows me to grow while working at the camp. I do enjoy it and look forward to the summer/fall months!

One of my favorite delights during summer is all the fresh produce. I do enjoy having a garden, but I've learned that we've gotten so busy during the summer that I have no time to keep up with it! So I usually try to get some fresh fruit and veggies from the store or the Mennonite stand just down the street from us.

Here is a recipe I was able to try for the first time last year. It's quickly become a favorite for my mom and me. It's great for a full meal or just a side dish.


White Bean Orzo and Asparagus Salad

Oil- I use Grapeseed, Coconut or Olive oil

2 cups White Beans- I use 1 can of Cannellini beans

2 Cups cooked Orzo pasta

1 1/2 Cups Asparagus- raw & cut to the size you want

1/2 Red Pepper

1/4 sweet white onion, sliced thin- I've used regular yellow onion and the flavor is really great

1/4 Cup chopped fresh basil or parsley

1/3 Cup Balsamic vinaigrette


Heat oil in a large frying pan. Saute onion and red pepper. Add asparagus and cook until desired tenderness. Rinse beans. Add beans basil, parsley and balsamic vinaigrette to asparagus mixture. Heat through. Add the orzo pasta, heat through and serve.

I sometimes add a few different ingredients to this dish depending on what I have on hand. Mushrooms is a great addition as well as some nuts like almonds.

Sometimes I'll drizzle or substitute this basting oil in place of the regular oil. It is grapeseed and canola oil with garlic and a few other seasonings. It's delicious and adds some flavor. The only downside is that Wegmans is an hour away...so I try to use it sparingly!

It's a pretty simple dish and as mentioned earlier you can add whatever you want to make this dish more to your liking!

Time to eat!

Catching Up

It has been well over a year since I've last posted. A lot has happened and it's time to finally get a new post out there.

I've been very busy in the last year! Last summer we had camp at His Thousand Hills (HTH) as we do every year. I believe it was the busiest summer since I've been at HTH. We had 11 groups in 10 weeks. Everyone was exhausted by the end of summer camp, but it was a great time! I was able to do a few new things too! For the first time I went canoeing! I didn't have a camera so I don't have a picture, but I will always remember the fun of that day! I was also able to try out the bungee run. What fun that was! Of course the camera was not around for that either...but once again I'll remember the great time spent with friends!

Dress-up dinner for Junior camp.


In September, Mike came home from Korea! He stayed in PA for two weeks and then treated my mom and me to a vacation in Saint Petersburg, Fl.We were down there for two weeks! It was amazing to just relax after such a busy summer. I did get sick through almost the first week with a cold, but it was so nice I didn't have any responsibilities...I was able to just lay in the sun or relax in the pool! Such a difference than being at home and think of all the stuff I'm not able to get done because I'm sick in bed!

We visited Fort Desoto, attend a Southern Gospel concert, went to a Yankees game and had an awesome with old friends and even made some new friends.

Mom and I were able to enjoy the Cold Stone Creamery for the first time!








Mike left on October 10th for his next station in Germany. He'll possibly be there for two years...so it may be a while before we get to see him again.

Saying goodbye to the girl dogs

In November I had my 26th birthday. It's hard to believe time is going by so quickly! I sometimes wish time would just stop so I can get more done!!!

Christmas was great as we were able to talk with Mike for a few hours using Skype. We were also able to get to spend Christmas with my sister too! She usually has to work and the last few years she's had the 2-10 pm shift. Therefore we'd wake up open gifts and she'd have to run to work and have no time to spend with us. Well, this year she was able to get the morning shift and was able to spend all afternoon and evening with us. It was wonderful to be able to still have Christmas as a family despite all the distance and business of each of my family members!

Well, that's the update! Hopefully I can be more diligent in the future and not have such a long period before you hear from me again!

What's up?

Today I was reading a friends blog and she had written about overcoming being lazy. (Go To The Ant? Those Tiny Girls) It struck a chord as laziness is one of the biggest offenders of all! I always struggle with laziness in terms of writing friends and keeping up this blog! I think my biggest problem is consistency though. To be consistent however...means to not be lazy but diligent. So I am trying but I know that it is a continual, constant work in progress.

Now in all fairness, to not having kept up with my writing, I have been busier lately. For the last month I've been helping out at His Thousand Hills camp. A few days a week they've needed some help in the kitchen so since I love the kitchen I've been going there. I've been been able to help make the meals and even baked some desserts. I've had some nice complements on some of the dishes I've prepared, which is such an encouragement as I am still a newbie at preparing food for large crowds. Yes, I've done lots of prep and meals for big groups of people at church, family graduations, and after church fellowships at our house (what can you say, quite a few family's we know have quite a few children!) But I've never really done baking in pans bigger than 13X9 for cakes or brownies. Well, at camp you need to maximize not only your time as things take longer to cook than at home in your own oven, but you also need to make a lot of food as people get extra hungry running around all day. The children because they are young and growing and the adults because they are chasing the children!

Also, this Saturday my sister, Rachel, is having a volley ball bash at our house for her birthday. (Actually, saying that it's her b-day is just an excuse to have people over and have some fun with volley ball and water balloons...my personal favorite:)

I've been trying to get all the details together, but if you know Rachel she doesn't really plan things out like ABC. She just thinks that it just all come together...just like some children think that money magically arrives under the pillow when a tooth gets put there. So I've been trying to chase Rae down for details on who is coming when (we are having lunch and dinner as some people can't be there later in the day) what we should have for food, what our budget is, what games will we do, how should we set things up, will you help in cleaning the house? Of course it does not help that 1) I usually have a list and organized pattern for how I do things and, 2) I'm a worry wart...will be have enough food, will everyone have a place to sit, what if someone can't eat what we are serving....and on and on. Like I said I like to have things in order and Rach...well take a look at her room some day and you'll see what I mean (she doesn't even have sheets on her bed, she just throws blankets and pillows on...like what most people do except most people do it when they are tossing their laundry out to fold it...and she then proceeds to sleep however she falls down on the bed...sometimes shoes and all (what can I say she's a funny girl). All I usually do is smile though...some people are just different and how would the world be with out them??? Boring. :-)

So I'm trying to get a lot done for Saturday and then I plan to relax and have some fun.

In the mean time I remind myself of three simple things:

1) Don't be purposefully undiligent (is that a word? It sounds so much nicer than lazy!)

2) Just do your best in all that you do and remember for whom you are really doing your work (or anything) for...Our Lord

3) Do all that you do with a SMILE (even when and especially when you don't feel like it)...because once again, remember for whom you are really living your life for...to the honor and glory of our Saviour.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new site! In the past the most I've done online is check my emails, write people back, and put articles I'd written on my writing sites that I use. But my sister has been after me to get out there and start a blog. So (drum roll please...) today I not only started this blog (after about two weeks of trying to think of a url) but I also started a facebook profile (she's also been after me for a few months on that one)! So, Rach....here it is!!!

Till next time!
Reb