March Newsletter
Scripture of the Month: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere…for in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay.’” Hebrews 10:35-37
Quote of the Month Seen on a Church Sign:
“Life stinks. We have a pew for you.”
Notes from Home
Did you read the scripture for this month? Really read it? I’ll wait right here while you go back up there and read it. “For in just a very little while.” I love that phrase. Love it.
It smacks of anticipation. Brightly wrapped birthday presents with exquisite paper and a big bow. A surprise that so fills you with joy, you’re about to burst with the secret. A dream vacation, celebration, birth, wedding or reunion that is just around the corner.
How I want to be able to sit across from the table from you and listen as you share what you thought of!
Because I’m very sure that just now some of you are reading this and are about to burst with anticipation. However, some of you are just about to burst, period. You’re looking for a reason to hang on. I wish I could hug you.
And that’s why, though I had read this portion of scripture countless times before, this past week that phrase jumped up from Hebrews and curled itself like a blessing around my heart: “for in just a very little while.” God has not forgotten you and he sees what’s going on. Just as the people of Israel longed for a Messiah that seemed forever away, all creation groans today with the weight of longing. Earthquakes in Haiti and Chile; babies thrown away in one manner or another; riots and terrorism; shifting weather and even shiftier morals. Mercy!
If that’s you this week, then I beg you to remember and to encourage me too—He IS coming again! He who is coming WILL come. He will NOT delay.
Hear the whisper of hope echo in your heart. Soon. Soon. Soon.
In the Dagnan household, the rest of us had the privilege of meeting Greg’s kidney donor. She took our oldest daughter to dinner and went shopping for, of all things, destructed denim jeans. Apparently that’s the fashion item on sale at my daughter’s place of employment.
I straightened the house and baked homemade cinnamon rolls, the one item I can be fairly certain not to mess up.
The three youngest girls cleaned their rooms and dressed up. Little Elexa stole all our hearts when after bath, she announced, “Mommy, I know it’s a little too soon for my new spring dress, but since Trish is coming, it’s a special occasion.” Yep, she wore the dress.
And when this incredible young woman stepped in our door, I embraced her and I cried. She and Eden exclaimed, “Ohhhhhh!” at the same moment. I hadn’t known what to expect, but I was flooded with the enormity of her gift to our family. What an evening of grace.
Thank you for your prayers; I know that for that, and so many things, it won’t be long. I treasure you.
Hugs from our house to yours,
Cindy
SPRING CONTEST
Join me and meet this month’s guest author, Karen Ehman, busy mother and P-31 Woman speaker for your chance to win a copy of one of these three titles:
A Life That Says Welcome
The Complete Guide to Getting & Staying Organized
Homespun Memories
Simply e-mail me or post a comment sharing your BEST hospitality or organizational tip to www.cindydagnan.com
Be sure to read the short interview with Karen on the website too.
SPRING FORWARD
March 14 you need to set your clocks AHEAD one hour. Start sleeping extra this week in case you need the reserves! LOL
Fast Facts According to the Numbers:
Three sticks of sugar-free gum chewed throughout an afternoon help reduce both hunger and cravings, allowing snackers to eat fewer calories. Stash a pack!
-Pennington Biomedical Research Center/Louisiana State University
You use SIX times more water hand-washing dishes than you do running a full dishwasher. Whew – load up guilt free!
FOUR out of five conversations we have are about someone who isn’t present. [Nicholas Emler, professor, University of Surrey] Make sure your words are sweet enough to eat.
What’s on our Table?
Let one frozen loaf of bread dough thaw completely. Pinch off 10 chunks. Making a hollow in each piece, fill with 10-12 milk chocolate chips. Pinch edges together and roll into a ball. Let rise for 20-30 minutes. Bake on non-stick sheet or baking stone for 10-15 minutes @ 350 degrees, until golden. Dust with powdered sugar while warm and serve with tall glasses of chocolate milk for a decadent afterschool snack.
Coming Soon……[as in, by the end of the month]
At www.cindydagnan.com The Wannabe Woman. Need to laugh? Peek in on real life that’s a mess? Get some encouragement? Giggle with a girlfriend? Be inspired by the occasional idea? See a new project, preview new writing, watch a cooking disaster in progress? It will all be there. Check it out and share it with your friends.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
As a young girl I admit I often wished the Lord would wait to return. There was so much in life I wanted to experience. I wanted to fall in love, get married, and have children. God has blessed me with those experiences and there are still things in this life I look forward to. However, each day that passes makes me long more for his appearing. The imperfection in this world causes perfection of Christ and heaven seem more desirable then anything this life offers.
Food and hospitality seem to go hand in hand. Something about eating seems to make guests feel at ease. When our large family of six expanded to nine four years ago, it seemed I could hardly make enough food for them-let alone company. I began doubling every recipe. Although it made more then enough, I always had enough to ask someone extra to stay for supper. (If no one comes over, I’m just grateful for the leftovers the next day at lunch.) Also, I found cooking my meat ahead of time really helps. I try to cook up and freeze the meat I need for the week all in one day. It really doesn’t take much longer to brown 10 pounds of hamburger then it does 2 pounds. And you only have to clean up the mess once.
Keep up the good work, Cindy. You bless many lives.