Happy Birthday in Heaven Papaw

February has always been fun month in our family for me. It is short, sweet, and filled with LOVE, and on the 10th we celebrate Papaw's birthday, and the 11th mine. I absolutely LOVED sharing(basically) a birthday with him. There are numerous photos of cakes with both our names on it, celebrations we had together, memories we made. PRICELESS

Every year on the 10th I would try to wake up early and call the local radio station and be the first of us 9 grandkids to wish him a happy birthday. If I could, I'd call down to their house(¼ mile down our County Road) and see if he was up making my birthday breakfast yet, our JOKE. I'd then ride my bike down there, or on cold days like today get Mom to take me and we'd eat breakfast together. Mamaw would get up and read scripture to us to start our day, we'd pray. I would usually sing happy birthday to him, but not in a good voice, or to sound good. It was more of a funny thing he always did for us, calling us to sing happy birthday. My Papaw didn't have a perfectly pitched voice, however he made a joyful noise unto the Lord. It usually started out something like this: "test, test..me, me, me, me, cough, clear throat," and then you knew what words would come out, but never exactly the tone/or beat ! It was just another "thing" he did in his funny way, just because. I loved his sense of humor. So I'd try to sing silly to him in hopes it was funnier than the way he would sing to me the next day.
He always gave us(the grandkids) $20 on our birthday's. We never knew how we were going to receive the money because he spent days/months preparing how to wrap it. His gift was always the last to be opened, and the one we all looked forward to the most. It usually involved a ton of duct tape and numerous boxes, upon boxes, with more duct tape. One year it was wrapped in a HUGE box, and I finally got down to the last one and it was a pen. I went to click the pen and it didn't work, the $20 was rolled up inside it. It took me about an hour to get to that pen! On my 16th I believe,  he put $20 inside a baggy, wrapped  inside oil...so I could have some to change my oil now that I owned a car. He was always so creative in doing this. You never knew if it was going to be quarters, $1 bills, $2's, $5's etc, or how many boxes you'd have to go through(without a knife or scissors). It was HIS thing, and it was fun, always!

I LOVED SHARING A BIRTHDAY WITH HIM.

The cake says Jennifer 2, Papaw ? 

The last birthday we celebrated together was my 30th. Papaw went to be with Jesus on April 17th, 2011. That day I saw God/the Holy Spirit, I'm not sure, but it was a very bright light hovering over his head and when he took his last breath it was gone. I was sad, but amazed all at the same time because I knew that he wasn't hurting anymore and he was with Jesus in all his Glory. I remember a peace came over me, a sense of feeling overjoyed. I didn't understand it at the time and still to this day not completely. But it was comforting. It was beautiful.

I recall one of the last conversations I had with my Papaw while he was in the hospital, just a few days before he died. He told me that he wished he hadn't wasted so much time, that he'd done more for God, for his Kingdom before his time was up, there are so many who are lost, he said. I said Papaw, please don't talk like that. He grabbed my arm looked me square in the eye and said well it's the truth, Jennifer don't waste your life, live it for Jesus no matter the cost. I told him okay I will.
I will never forget that conversation.
You see usually it was my Mamaw who "preached" to us. But this time it was him. I had already felt God asking me to make some big changes in my life, but was hesitant because it did not make sense at the time. Things soon changed.....we'll talk about all that another day.

So today, I am sad a little bit that I don't get to do all the traditions with him here on his birthday, however I know he is having such a better time in Heaven. I bet he'd say it was better than any party we tried to have down here on earth for sure! So instead of being sad I rejoice! I choose JOY! I am thankful for the time I got to spend with him, for all the memories, and the important things I am passing on to my family and those around me. I get to talk about Heaven with my daughter, she knows that Mommy's Papaw is in Heaven with Jesus.

Happy Birthday in Heaven Papaw - I'll see you soon, but not until my work on earth is done......and by the way: I'm learning how to put Jesus first, more everyday, still figuring it out, BUT... I don't think I'm wasting my life....JESUS really is EVERYTHING.

Little Friends Preschool

Today was the first day of preschool for my sweet little Emmalyn. I have been so anxious and excited for this day since last April, when we went to preview a day of LFP! And finally....today was HERE, time for Little Friends Preschool.  LFP started  two years ago, with a vision, and some friends. It is a co-op type of preschool, where us Mom's are hands on, and are assigned different TEKS  I mean tasks or duties that are a part of school. It is Bible based, and I love love love that! I have been so excited to get started, and learn how to teach my 3 year old! I'm the only newbie this year, and the other moms are so sweet and welcoming, and definitely have experience with this. It is going to be a great year!

This morning Emmalyn wasn't wanting to wake up! Jeremiah went into her room @7:40 right before he had to leave for work. Got her milk and she sat in the recliner and fell asleep again! I finally got her up and moving a little bit by 8:30. This is her yawning and thinking about eating her cereal. 

In her night night tank top that she LOVES so much!

Typically Em sleeps until at least 8, usually closer to 9am, she naps 1.5-2.5 hours each day after lunch, and then bedtime has been around 9:30pm. I know what you are thinking...is she serious, yes I am and I am going to milk it as long as I can!!!! I'm sure this will change soon..... I kinda like the idea, however it sure is nice when I don't want to get up, that she is not up! 

Finally we got dressed and ready for our friends to come over to our house for school!

when did she get so big? HUH? I can't believe this!

She was so excited to go to school at her house! When her friends arrived and we got started it was fun! We learned Psalm 115:3, sang about it, read about Jesus feeding the 5,000. We also sang songs that went along with Chapel, and we learned that God created everything. This time I was in charge of Chapel, and I was super nervous about it, but the kids seemed to listen to the story, and loved the music time for sure! I did my best to come up with moves to songs, and the bible verse, and had help with a song via you tube, THANK YOU! 

Then we moved onto reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear. How did I not have this book? It is super cute and Em soaking it all up. After the reading time, they learned about shapes, and colors along with the animals from the book. Stormy did a great job!

She went from writing like this....

To writing like this

I have shown her how to hold a pencil an she does it "sometimes" let's be honest she usually just goes back to the full hand grip..but today she did it right! I was so impressed. She was able to trace around the shapes, and then at lunch she told her Daddy what each shape was except for a few she forgot! I am blown away!
After that we had some fun craft time and using paint, the colors of the animals in the book we made hand prints, that will turn into animals on Thursday. Vanessa is super crafty,and the kids had so much fun! ...I did too!!! I didn't snap a photo, because it was taking all of us to do the paint. whoops!

I know there was more that we did but I can't remember..believe that or not!

First day of preschool=Success for sure, she thinks we are having it tomorrow...how to explain it's only 2 days a week....However she'll want to work on stuff we learned tomorrow, that will be fun!
I am so thankful God led us here, when I think about all it took to get me to be home to be able to even have the opportunity to teach her I am overwhelmingly grateful to our Lord, OH how he loves us! I am one blessed woman!

First day of school "official" photo!

A bow and flip flops =)

And Here she is reading her Brown Bear, Brown Bear book we made with Mrs. Vanessa. I am blown away, this is the cutest thing ever(I know I am biased)

A Mom who can Change the World

Today we heard from pastor Dan Reynolds. Here were his 3 points in typical Baptist fashion.

1. Mom must be dedicated to Christ. 

2. Mom must demonstrate her Faith.

3. Mom must develop her children in the Word. 

Sounds simple enough, yet overwhelming all at the same time. He asked us this question:

"If my children have the amount of Faith that I demonstrate, if they trust in God the way I do, would it be enough"

Whoa my mind is racing at this point.  

Our children will imitate us, they will catch our habits, ethics, values; whether good or bad. They will become just like us. I find myself just like my mother and father all the time!

Deuteronomy 6:7
"Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."

I'm thinking to myself, do I really repeat" Love like Christ" over and over to my daughter through my words, my actions, my time? Does she know I have faith, that Christ is the most important thing to me. Do I really show that? ALL THE TIME, do I REPEAT IT? Do I truly develop her in the Word, even at her young age? 

Do others know about your faith? Do they speak of it? Do they know Christ is the most important thing to you? 

2 Timothy 1:5
"I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

This verse made my heart so happy. I have never read it before. I cannot think of one time I have visited my Mamaw's house that we have not prayed, read scripture, or had a biblical or Christ conversation.  I think of my own mother who taught me and my brother, as well as all my friends. And now I am teaching my daughter. I see Faith in my Mamaw, and my mother, without a doubt!

2 Timothy 3:15
"You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus."

From the moment of conception I have prayed for my "baby", the cute, silly-bob-head, lovable, sweetness we call Emmalyn. I have prayed for her life, salvation, heart, attitude, spirit, husband, children, friends, and I am sure I am forgetting some things here. I pray that I can demonstrate to those I know Jesus Christ. If I can do the above mentioned 3 things, I feel I am raising a daughter than can change the world.

Today I am thankful, blessed, encouraged, and challenged spiritually, are you?

Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Here is "my" baked potato soup recipe, all credit going to Recipes from the Heart, Tye Baptist Church cook book I received a few years ago from a very sweet lady!

Ingredients needed are:

12 slices of bacon(cooked and crumbled)
2/3 c margarine
2/3 c all purpose flour
7 c whole milk
4 lg baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 c sour cream
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt

I have learned to cook the bacon in the oven. Place the bacon strips on a foil lined baking sheet. Put in a COLD oven. Turn the oven to bake @400 degrees, and set the timer for 20 min. crispy yummy good bacon! Not much mess! but however you want to cook it is fine! But do this first, and then get started on the soup. I use kitchen scissors to cut up the bacon if I can't crumble it.

Here is the pan I use when making the soup. Recipe says in a stock pot or dutch oven..

Melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. I used my spatula this time because my whisk was broken. Gradually stir in milk whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 min. 

Mix in the bacon, cheese, sour cream. (I leave some bacon set aside, and have a little extra grated cheese for garnish). Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted. 

This is what it looks like in my pot when done. And then I add a little garnish to the top when I serve it, like the picture below. 

When I make this for a crowd of 12 or more I use these portions(it's the recipe + 1/2 kind of I've had to play with it). Sometimes I still have a little left over for lunch the next day.

24 slices of bacon
7 large baked potatoes
2 sticks butter
1c flour
12 c milk
2c cheese
1 1/2 c sour cream
2tsp salt/pepper

That is what the above picture is showing, the larger recipe. It is even better the next day, I just add some milk while heating the soup to thin it up a little bit.
I try to make the larger recipe most times, I then take some to my grandmother, mother, widows, or friends who I know like it!

Please do share.

Pay it Forward

Today me and Em hurried off to United to get some groceries for lunch and supper. I was in a hurry because I wanted to get in and out and get home in time to get lunch hot and ready for my husband, Jeremiah. It was 11 when I finally got everything together to run to the store! YIKES hurry!

Em was excited to "go", she loves the grocery store, and has become quite my helper there as well. She asks what we need on the list, and says "those are good" to some things she loves like grapes, and cheese, and milk too! When I got ready to check out with my less than 20 items, I realized something, I got the canvas bags, but forgot my purse in the car. So being in the small town we live in,  I found a cashier who knows me, told her I needed to leave my basket and I'd be right back to pay for my items. She said you can leave her too! So Em and her were having a conversation, and she didn't care that Momma was leaving for a minute. I literally ran to the van and back! I went up to the counter, and started to open my purse to get out our money to pay. The cashier hands me my receipt and says there you go. I thought she might have had to ring up our groceries, and then go ahead and get the woman behind us because I took too long or something. But quickly I realized the woman behind us had paid for my groceries! I, being the emotional person  I am held it together, but really wanted to burst out in happy tears. I hugged the woman's neck, the cashier kept smiling. I told her that was so nice, thank you, but I can pay for our groceries, I just had forgotten my purse. She said no, no, it's called Pay it Forward...now it's your turn.

I was and still am humbled. I am so thankful for people who are listening to God, doing the little things to show his love to others. I wish I knew her name and could thank her publicly but then I remembered....

Matthew 6:1-4

1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.^[a]

So I share with you to give glory to God and to encourage you to also look for opportunities to pay it forward for the Kingdom of God!

God at work, through family, and sickness, and a scarf

We have had many family Christmas gatherings this season, with more to come! How blessed we are beyond what we deserve. I have to share this cool story with all of you. 

Recently as in 4 days ago, I received a beautiful scarf as a gift from my cousin Crystal. She had made it herself, and brought supplies with her to make more for the rest of the family. I am not a scarf person, but really like this one, and have worn it twice already! I was curious, because I thought hmmm maybe I could make one, or at least try. So there I went....all day literally trying to to do it, walking away, getting frustrated with my type A personality! Sometimes I hate being a perfectionist! finally I finished, and it did not look as good as Crystal's but I was proud to have finished. 

I wasn't feeling amazing Friday night and then woke up Saturday morning and decided to go to the walk in clinic in Sweetwater. They were full at 9:30am, so I carried myself to the one in Abilene. I checked in, and then asked how these things work...as in can we leave and come back? I was bored.We just got rid of our smart phones in August, and what else was I to do while sitting there for hours waiting my turn? They said sure you can! I was glad to be there, I needed some shots and drugs and I would feel better!

So off to the store I went! I decided that I would go get stuff and give these scarfs another go, get some colors my friends would like, and boy would they be surprised I made it! LOL It is a gift I can afford to make! and I had plenty of time on my hands. 

I got back into the waiting room, and began make a scarf, no one seems to talk to each other in these waiting rooms, but this sparked up some conversation. I was asked if I sell those. I said no I am just making them for some friends. Then after I was almost done, this lady said man, you should sell those, I'd buy that one from you it is so pretty. I said well, I do need to raise money for a mission trip we are going on in March...so I guess I can go get more yarn and make my friends another one later. she said How much? I blanked, I don't have a clue how much to charge for anything like this! We agreed on a price and she was super excited to have it. I couldn't believe I just sold one! And that it was only my second one to make, and I actually did a GREAT job on it, and it only took me an hour!!!!!  So then I went to the car and got another roll of yarn, and began working on another one, with a certain friend in mind who would love these colors. before I could even get half way done another woman asked, could I buy that one from you please? my daughter would love it! I thought Ok sure! and kept chuckling at how funny this was to me, the circumstances that brought this about you know! Her daughter walked back in before I was finished and we sparked up some conversation. She was happy with it for sure! 

....went to the car, got another one...began it! got half way finished and they called my name to come see the doctor finally! when I stood up, this  lady on the other side of the room, said OH man, I had my eye on that one! I chuckled, and went for what I came for, some shots, and antibiotics! 

coolest thing about all of this.....I got to share the gospel with these two women and one of them's daughter. I talked about Haiti, and going on my first mission trip. How God had changed my life so much in the past year. How thankful I was for Him in my life, and how they could too accept him if they wanted to. I didn't lead any of them to Christ, but I shared the Gospel. I have been praying for strength to do this for the past month. I don't know why I don't do this more often...I can talk about anything to anyone, and I don't usually meet strangers, however something about this has been hard for me....but not yesterday! It was easier and more comfortable than I thought it would be. God is so good that way! 

I feel like I had a great day, I was sick, productive, and more productive than anything by sharing the Gospel and this is the most important thing of all.

As you go...share the gospel. 

UPDATE - I made a facebook page go check it out here:  Young Crochet Scarves

OH and btw here are some of the scarfs and the yarn I bought to make more. Just let me know short or long and what color you'd like! email me jenniferyoung0314@gmail.com

Help the Young's get to Haiti! =) Thanks in advance! $20 each plus shipping if needed

 These are shown doubled around the neck area, the one on the left is tighter an a little shorter than the others. 

from top left to bottom

1.browns, grey, and light blue

2. browns, cream, gold

3. blues/dark

4. orange, brown, green, blue, purple

from top right to bottom:

5. blues/light 

6. orange/red/purple

7. grey/light/dark pink

8. while light/dark pink

in first photo:
9. dark pink/purple
10. light/dark purple
11. grey/black/cream

Donating Blood - A personal expierience

Today at school, United Blood Services team is here collecting blood from those who are willing to donate. I went earlier and donated whole blood. I was sitting there, squeezing the ball, thinking about how precious of a gift blood can be.

August 2010 - When Emmalyn was in the NICU after she was born, about a month in, her blood count was getting low, as well as her iron. She began to look pale, and had almost zero energy. I remember heading into the NICU for our regular visit, and the nurses stopping me before I went to see her. Dr. Doshi explained what was going on, that he was trying to wait to see if she would catch up because she should be able to do so. What was happening is her body was growing very well. But her blood couldn't keep up with her growth. Due to her entering the world 10 weeks early. Every morning they pricked her foot to test her blood for numerous things, and after a few days of waiting to see if she would catch up. Dr. Doshi ordered the blood transfusion. It was to late for any of us(family) to donate for her, or see if we were a match etc. They didn't have time to clean the blood the way it needed to be. So although there was a 1 in a million chance she would get something from this blood transfusion, it was still a little scary for us to think that someone else's' blood would be flowing through our little girls veins.

We signed off on the transfusion, and they let me stay in the NICU with her for the entire transfusion, I was to be quiet, and not touch her, or disturb the other babies. But I was so thankful they let me stay in there. The first bag went over an hour I think, and then 1 more over then next 2 hours. I honestly can't remember. I believe she received 50cc's total. It took about 3 hours total.

I was told that I wouldn't believe how much this would help her. That she would perk up, be so lively, and it would make her have a beter chance of going home soon! WOW how exciting is that!

Literally 10 minutes into the transfusion I could see her skin start to pink up, soon she was moving around like little babies do(before this she had become so lethargic, it was not my playful little girl).  After the whole 3 hours(2 bags) I could not believe what a change I saw in my baby girl. Hope was restored that she will thrive and very soon, she would be able to go home with us!

It was a long day in the NICU, but I had such a great time watching a miracle before my eyes. I loved visiting with the nurses. They are such amazing people, who love their job so much! They are angels to me! I think sometimes if I didn't want to teach, I would love to pursue NICU nursing!

So today, while donating blood, I was reminding that we all can make a difference. We can help out one another in so many ways. I am so thankful that whomever one day decided to donate, so my Emmalyn could get better sooner, and come home with us! I wish I could tell them thank you!

Do to others as you would have them do to you Luke 6:31
May God bless you today!