Snacks I love...

As the end of our 'food week' (aka time to go grocery shopping) I realize all of the foods I would like to eat and wish we had. But that got me thinking about the snacks I love to munch on occasionally. And these are in no particular order, because that would take so much longer to decide.

1. Wege of Hanover broken sourdough pretzels with or without Philadelphia whipped cream cheese and chives dip.
2. Cookies-mainly ones that have some kind of chip in them (chocolate, butterscotch, etc)
3. Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
4. Sour Patch Kids, Rolos, Kit Kats, and Milky Ways (one candy led to another)
5. Fudge Brownies

...and that brings me to what actually made me start thinking about my favorite snacks. And that is what I snacked on today.

About a year ago, my hubby was introduced to Archer Farms Apricot Granola Bars. I will preface this by saying we try to be very budget friendly and if you've ever seen the price of Archer Farms at Target, you would understand that they aren't the most budget friendly granola bar out there. Regardless of the price, he said they were amazingly good..so I was fortunate enough to try them. And a day or two later the box was gone (there were only 4 or 5 in the box).

I waited a couple months to potentially buy them again only to realize that the parfait granola bars were no longer being made! OHH NOO!!! I was truly heartbroken at the store. I was given only 1 opportunity to really enjoy them. 


Until the wonderful day came along (last Saturday) when we were walking through Target to buy Christmas lights and out of the corner of my eye I saw them.....

They didn't have the apricot ones..but instead I ended up with strawberry banana granola bites. About half the size of a granola bar, but a great little snack. I put the box on a shelf above my desk and actually completely forgot they were there--until today.


I was so excited to unwrap, savor the goodness, and feed my craving for Archer Farms.


and it is soo worth every penny (in this box I get 15 instead of 4).


Any other suggestions on good snacks for me to try?

Ohh the weather outside is frightful...

It's getting to be that time of year in PA: winter and general coldness. So with the dropping of temperatures lately, here are the things I dislike about winter...

1. Frost of my car in the morning (it takes longer to leave and as if I am already not cold enough I have to stand there and scrape my car)
2. Getting out of a warm bed when the surrounding air is quite chilly.
3. Cold bathrooms--This seems to be inevitable wherever I go. The bathroom is always coldest and of course that is where you need to get take off clothes to shower. (maybe someday I will have radiant floor heating...aaahhhhhh)
4. Wind chill---need I say more. When it is bearable outside, the wind comes in and literally goes through every piece of clothing you are wearing. When it's really cold, it stings your face.
5. Finding that a lot of my socks have holes in them. which leads to #6
6. Constantly cold feet, nose, and fingers

But I have to give this winter guy some props because I do actually enjoy winter--at least some of the time.

1. The first snow--or at least the first day it snows when everything is white (before the yucky plows and cars make it dirty)
2. Cuddling up under blankets
3. Drinking hot chocolate

I would write more but I'm cold and need to but on another layer---or wrap up in a blanket. hehe :)


AAAANNNND I REALLY hope it snows this weekend. That would be FABULOUS!

Okay God...I'm listening

A post I wasn't sure if I wanted to make because if I wrote it...and published it then I couldn't ignore it. But who am I kidding, it's pretty much all I'm thinking about. Now where to start...

Clearly, if you know anything about my life at the moment you would know that I'm living on the 3rd floor of my in-laws. After 2 years (almost to the day) of moving into our own apartment, out we moved and back to my in-laws. Don't get me wrong, I love them dearly. We get along great, we give each other space and frankly most of the time I forget where I am. But still--it's not our place. After all 90% of our stuff is in a storage facility a couple miles away.        [How did we end up here you may ask. Well long story short I lost my full time teaching job because I was just a long-term sub. If I gave you any more details than that, it would just be my personal opinion and speculations about what happened. So let's leave it at that.]        Clearly this was not my plan. This wasn't my man's plan. Who would plan this? Ohhh that's right He would. God knew this all along. He wants us to be here. I don't know why...I don't know that I ever will. But I MUST remember it is His plan and that's all that should matter.


If it was MY plan, we would have our own house (mortgage and all) with a fenced in yard for the puppies. Greg would also have a full time job and I would be home taking care of our baby (or 2..hahah) Why didn't God ask me??? It sounds great right? Well let me step back a few days or a week...


First I read a post on a dear dear friend's blog. This is what she writes...

"Scripture is FILLED with situation after situation where people are praying, wanting, crying out for something and God seems to respond quietly with a "not yet." His timing is perfect, yet often much slower than we seem to think it should be. Although we don't audibly hear it, many of our prayers are answered with a 'not yet beloved, not yet.' I wish we could hear his gentleness as He whispers it..."

And right then and there..I cried--no not just a tear---I mean I cried. Somewhere in my mind and my heart I knew this. But sadly I was trying to ignore it because..well because I don't think I wanted to admit it.

And obviously He didn't think it was enough for me to just read that...Oh noo, He had to continue to make His point on the radio on the way to school yesterday. When I heard this song: My Savior My God - By Aaron Shust.
I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand, stands one who is my Savior. I take him at his word and deed. Christ died to save me; this I read. And in my heart I find a need of Him to be my Savior! That He would leave Him place on high and come for sinful man to die. You count it strange, so once did I. Before I knew my savior. My Savior loves, My Savior lives, My Savior's always there for me. My God He was, my God He is, My God is always gonna be.
 [Insert tears here] Okay God really I am listening please believe me!

But He knew I wasn't listening, I was just hearing. Because if I was listening and understanding I probably wouldn't be as frustrated or jealous of all the babies being born and pregnancies around me or the ability of my friends to decorate THEIR houses. [lame I know]

Then came God:Step 3. Preparing curriculum for the coming weeks for the kiddos at church. And that's when I found myself typing this.
[Peace-Trusting God instead of worrying
Faith-Believing God's promise instead of doubting
God gives us a freedom and a choice to choose our life's direction. Committing our plans into God's hands means we PRAY each day that God will guide our life. Here is what a prayer of commitment sounds like: "God, I trust your plans are bigger and better than any plans I could ever achieve. I'd ask that you would guide me today. Lead me where you want me to go. Help me hear your voice and follow your plans for me. In Jesus' name, amen."]

Clearly I needed at least 3 reminders that my plan means NOTHING, because His is so much more important and better for me than I can even imagine right now. Maybe His plan is going to take years for us to have that house or a baby and no matter how much that upsets me--I need to trust HIM and let HIM lead me where HE wants me to go and wants me to do. I'm sure that while I'm praying to be able to do all of this and succeeding and failing to do this that I will have more reminders--but for now my eyes and ears are certainly open.

So in the words of a very very wise friend: He must be whispering...

not yet Katy...not yet. Come to me, trust me, I am always here for you. 

Now if only I could really LISTEN and follow. 

Tis the season to give and receive...

Christmas Cards.

I start looking as soon as I see them. Naturally there are so very many that I like, uhh..no  scratch that...LOVE. Then it comes time to decide. Luckily I was born with an innate ability to talk myself out of things. Of course looking at prices helps--but sales do not. So when faced with the decision of buying customized cards (buy 50 get 25 free!) I almost caved...until I realized it would cost closer to $50.00 plus shipping. That my dear friends is NOT in the budget. Plus I don't think I would even need that many. My correspondence list is rather slim.


So off I went to my dear Photoshop program. Even looked back at last year's card so as to not do anything similar and yet simultaneously be inspired. (My how things have changed in a year)

 Still not inspired, I turned to pages and pages of other customizable cards. I am happy to report that I found an idea that I like and tried to replicate in a similar (not identical) pattern. And I am very happy with it...even ecstatic to get them sent out. The puppies had their "photo-shoot". I was going to get our picture tonight, but the hubby was putting up Christmas lights and re-injured/popped something in his back---so maybe tomorrow. As soon as that is all set, they will be signed, sealed, delivered. Can't wait to see the finished product! And not to mention getting your cards in the mail.