Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

Happy Halloween!!  I hope everyone has a fun, and safe Halloween.  We're going to a Fall Festival this afternoon, then trick-or-treat tonight.

 Here are a few pictures from last Saturday when we took a trip to the local Pumpkin Patch.  If you haven't read Megan's recap of it, check it out, her pictures are also much much better.   Maybe Nana needs a new camera from Santa for Christmas.   A little over an hour trip turned into about 3 hours or so.

We jumped on a air pillow, and swung on a big sewer pipe.

.Then there was the duck race, using old water pumps.

Not sure which was Makayla's favorite the pedal carts....

or this, the rip cord.  Denny even wanted to ride it but there was a 150 lb capacity lmit.

Then it was off to the corn maze, one ws numbered 1-3, and the other was 4-10.  Can you guess which one we choose?  Yep, the shortest one.

Had to get at least one picture in here of Emily.  Well maybe two . 

But as you can see Emily didn't want any part of the pumpkin patch.

Winner of 100 Postcards

Congratulations to Debby .  She is the winner of the 100 custom made postcards sponsored by Uprinting.  Using Random.org #2 was chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

More giveaways coming very soon, so keep reading.  You don't want to miss them.
Also don't forget about the one that ends on Monday for the soup and soup bowls.  If you haven't entered yet please go and leave a comment for an entry.

Car Accident

If something happened to you today and life suddenly ended, or the world came to an end.   Do you know where you would spend eternity? 
Most of us have heard it so much that we take it for granted.  Some think it can't happen to me.  I have so much yet I want to do.  I want to retire, travel, see my kids, grow-up, have grandkids.  I'm too young, I have my whole life ahead of me. 
Well about a week ago my Mother-in-law called and told us their cousin (Julie) had been killed in a car accident.  According to police reports a tractor-trailer went over speed bumps that should have alerted him to slow down, and ran through a stop sign.  Julie's car was coming to the intersection about the same time, and her car went underneath his trailer.  She was confirmed dead on impact from a broken neck.  The driver of the truck survived and is being charged with vehicular homicide.  She was only 25.  That hit home to me, because Megan my oldest daughter is that same age.  I would be devastated. 
Julie had her whole life ahead of her.  She never knew what it would have been like to be someone's wife, or a Mother.  Her family is asking prayer for both families.  Two families lives have been tragically changed forever.
The following is the words of my mother-in-law to her family after this tragedy happened:    I've been reflecting on this whole thing, there is no answer as to why God  would allow a young woman who has been brought up to love and serve God her whole life to be taken in this matter.  This is profound truth that we are not promised tomorrow, and I believe what God is speaking to me is that it is vitally important to make sure that our lives are lived in a manner that if our life is taken, our loved ones won't have to wonder if we will all be together again someday. 

So my question to you my friend, are you ready?  Do you know for certain that you would spend eternity in heaven?  If not, what are you waiting for?     The Bible makes it clear that we have all sinned.  We are all sinners in need of His mercy and forgiveness.  But it doesn't stop there.  Jesus then died on the cross in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve.
 (Romans 5:8). But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Jesus rose from the dead to prove His victory over sin, death, and hell.   Because of all of this, we can have our sins forgiven and be promised an eternal home in Heaven - if we will just place our faith in Jesus Christ. All we have to do is believe that He died in our place and rose from the dead
 (Romans 10:9-10). We can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.
 Ephesians 2:8 declares, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."


Saying the sinner's prayer is simply a way of declaring to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ as your Savior.  It is only faith in Jesus' death and resurrection that can save us. If you understand that you are a sinner and in need of salvation through Jesus Christ, here is a sinner's prayer you can pray to God: "God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin. However, I am trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided for my forgiveness. I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for saving me and forgiving me! Amen

Progresso Soup Review and Giveaway

Cool Fall days I like to enjoy a bowl of hot soup.  Sometimes on the weekend I will even make that our dinner.  Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Well this week thanks to participating in BlogSpark.  I tried Progresso Chicken Tuscany.  I usually just stick with the normal chicken and noodle or chicken and rice.  But this was really good it had chunks of chicken with vegetables.   It had quite a bit of pepper in it so Makayla my youngest daughter didn't care for it.  But even my husband tried it, and he's not one to try new things.  The kids are always teasing him to broaden his horizons, to try new things.   He admitted that it was good and it's a soup he would eat when we have soup night.

Progresso soups  have 28% of the recommended Daily Value of fiber per serving (7 grams) and have no added MSG* or artificial flavors. The new varieties include Chicken Tuscany, Creamy Tomato Basil, Hearty Vegetable and Noodles and Homestyle Minestrone.

With the soup I also recieved two nice soup bowls and two soup spoons.  In which Blog Spark has generously agreed to award One winner the same gift.  So from now until Monday November 2nd

you have the chance to enter to win.  You don't have to have a blog to win just leave me a comment with an email address to get in touch with you.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be picked.  So enter today.
Don't forget my other giveaway ends Thursday:  100 custom-made postcards.



Disclosure: In adherence to the FTC ruling on Blogger Reviews and Sponsored Postings, Progresso provided me with the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark™

Sausage Corn Muffins

There are days that I can't think of anything to blog about, and then there's days that there is several.  Like today, there's a recipe, pics of our trip to a pumpkin patch, a couple of awards I recieved over the weekend that I need to pass on, a new giveaway, and a couple of things that are on my heart to pass along so check back everyday.  You don't want to miss a thing.   I have been so busy this weekend, and have so many blogs to catch up on.  Today is a new recipe to go along with Linda's  http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/     Fall Into Flavor. 

Sausage Corn Muffins 

1 10-ounce can creamed corn
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1/2 lb cooked and crumbled roll sausage


Mix corn, eggs, and milk.  Add muffin mix, then sausage.  Stir just enough to mix well.  Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

It's a very simple recipe.  The recipe calls for a 1/2 lb sausage but I usually use the whole roll.

Dont' forget my giveaway of 100 custom made postcards.  I suggested Christmas cards, but the options are endless.  Birth annoucements, save the date for an upcoming wedding, thank you notes, etc.

100 Custom Made Postcards Giveaway

First, we have a winner of the 250 labels/stickers giveaway.  It's Patty.   And on to the next giveaway.
Yep, you've read right, another giveaway by    This time it is 100 custom made Postcards.  Now I know your wondering what could you do with 100 postcards.  How about Christmas cards?  Less postage than regular Christmas cards.  Also Christmas cards are put away after Christmas and aren't thought of again until the next year when you drag all the Christmas decorations out.  But a Christmas postcard with a family picture on the front of it could be  framed after Christmas.  Or if you know of someone who put things on their fridge, a Christmas postcard with a family pic on it can be placed on your relatives refrigerator.

So this is what one lucky winner gets:   100 Custom Made Postcards 


Size: 4x6;   Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss;   Printing: Full color both sides
Giveaway is open to anyone, regardless if you blog or just enjoy reading blogs.

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada)

First entry is mandatory:  Leave a comment telling me what you would use the postcards for.

Each comment after that is for an entry.

Follow @uprinting on Twitter

Become a fan of Uprinting on Facebook.

I would love it if you follow my blog, because I enjoy making new friends.  But no pressure.

So you have until Thursday October 28 to enter.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be picked.

Disclosure:  In adherence to the FTC ruling on Blogger Reviews and Sponsored Postings,  I will be receiving 100 Postcards from Uprinting for hosting this giveaway.

Never know what will be next

Less than a year ago when I first mentioned blogging,
Megan said go for it.  I didn't have a clue what I would blog about.  Then I began reading your blogs, and have made a friendship with some.  Then I had my first giveaway and now I have had four.
 Now as of yesterday I have joined Etsy.  Yes, thanks to your comments about the journal jar I have an etsy.  Now if I could just figure out how to put it on my sidebar.  But until I do here is the link
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8264754&section_id=6506657

I also have a few more ideas coming in time for Christmas so keep watching.                                        I watch my followers grow, seriously who doesn't.  It's an ego thing.  But as always, my prayer is one that I never grow too much not to comment back to those who leave me comments, by email, or comments on their blog.   To me that's the fun of it.  You comment, I reply.  What good is a one-sided conversation?  And to me when I leave a comment, and never hear any feedback or a comment on my blog.  I assume it was never read. 
Secondly, when I do have something inspirational to blog about, my prayer is that in some small way it will encourage somebody.  We all have trials, hurts, and dissappointments.  But if in some small way if my blog brings you encouragement for that day.  Then my time has all been worthwhile.

Chicken Pot Pie

Linda over at    http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/  is having Flavorful Fall.  You might remember her from Random Dozen.  She posts questions every Tuesday to be answered and then she answers them on Wednesdays.   Okay Im rambling, Flavorful Fall,  that means is to use favorite, homespun, not necessarily healthy Fall comfort food recipes.   This week it's on Tuesday, but for the next four weeks it will be on Mondays.  She has posted an awesome Potato Soup recipe.  So go check it out.  Not to mention she's doing a giveaway of an apron.  And will do another giveaway at the end of the five weeks.  Or there about.  Mine is Chicken Pot Pie, perfect recipes to warm us up from this cooler weather.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1 package boneless chicken breast (I use strips for convienence)

1 pack frozen mixed veg. (corn, carrot, pea and string beans)

1 package lipton golden onion soup mix (half sleeve)

1 can campbells cream of chicken

I can campbells cream of mushroom

(don't use reduced fat or sodium it takes away from the flavor!!!)

1 can campbells chicken broth

Topping:

1 stick real butter

1 cup milk

1 pack Bisquick original biscuit mix or,  1 cup

(you can also use 1 cup self-rising flour)

Directions:

Boil chicken strips about 10 minutes or until done. Cut into bite size pieces. Boil mixed veggies about 6-8 minutes until tender. Drain.

Mix the three soups and dry soup mix... add veggies and chicken. Pour in casserole dish.

In a bowl blend (with mixer) bisquick, milk and stick of butter (melt the butter in microwave it's easier!) Pour topping on casserole.

Bake at 400 F for 45-50 mins or until golden brown!!!

250 Free Custom Stickers/labels Giveaway

Uprinting has done it again.  I was fortunate enough to give away 250 business cards through them and win a set for myself.  Now Uprinting  is offering 250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner.

Sizes: 2” x 3.5”, 2” x 4”, or 3” x 3”

Paper: 70 lb Label Matte

Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing

I have something in the works that I need labels for.  So this has come at a perfect time for me. 
 This giveaway will run until next Friday, October 23rd.  Then using Randon.org I will choose ONE lucky winner of 250 free custom made stickers/labels.

To enter:
First,  you must go to Uprinting and come back and leave a comment saying what you would use the stickers/labels for.   I would love to hear all the creative ways ya'll come up with to use them. 
Now for extra entries:

Follow me and Uprinting on twitter and tweet about it.   Uprinting #giveaway  250 free custom made stickers/labels  http://nanathena.blogspot.com/2009/10/250-free-custom-stickerslabels-giveaway.html    (two entries)

Follow my blog. 

Join Uprinting on Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/UPrinting  

Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and to http://www.uprinting.com/. Leave a comment with a link to your blog post. (2 entries)

Please leave a comment for each entry or tell me in a comment which entries you are eligible for. Oh the heck with it.  Every comment is worth two entries.  It's too confusing to make it do this for one entry, do this for two entries.  So for every comment you leave telling me how you qualify, it's two entries.  I like things simple.  Can you tell?

Rules:  FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the USA (Canadian residents need to pay shipping and taxes). Offer is not available to residents outside the US and Canada.

The prize will be awarded via coupon code which  Uprinting will send out on November 6.

Winners must respond within 48 hours of being notified to qualify.

 Disclosure:  I will receive 250 stickers/labels, at no cost to me, from  Uprinting.

250 Business Card Giveaway Winner

The winner of the 250 free business cards is Missy

Congratulations  Missy.  Uprinting will be contacting you.

Everyone else keep watching more giveaways coming up soon. 

Sugarless Applesauce Cake

Lisa over at  http://stopnsmellthechocolates.blogspot.com/  is having a Fall Fruits Festival.  Everyday this week is recipes with a different fruit, other than Friday.  She has declared that to be chocolate day.  Well today is apples.  So I decided to share a apple recipe that is probably a little different.  I made it for my ex-mother-in-law for her birthday every year because she was a diabetic.  It's a very simple recipe.

Also Diana over at  http://dfseason.blogspot.com/  is looking for Fall recipes for a wonderful cookbook giveaway.  So please go check both of these ladies, they are both wonderful bloggers. 
Sugarless Applesauce Cake

1 cup raisins                     

1 cup diced dried apples

2 cups water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup natural applesauce
2 Tbsp liquid sweetener
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine raisins, apples, and water in a saucepan.  Cook uncovered until water is evaporated and fruit is soft.  Set aside.  In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.  In another bowl combine eggs, applesauce, sweetener, oil, and vanilla.  Add nuts and fruit mixture.  Stir in dry ingredients and blend thouroughly.  Pour into a 10-inch greased bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until done.

Our County Fair by the Kiwanas

The fair started here yesterday.  I took so many pictures but I won't bore ya'll with all of them.

They thought they wanted to ride the ferris wheel but it wasn't working.  It had just stopped raining so some of the rides weren't running.

Nobody braved this one.

There wasn't much the girls wouldn't ride.  Even the rides way up in the air. Braver than me. I like to keep my feet on the ground.

 And then the food.  Brianna asked me why are you taking pics of the funnel cake.  Makayla answered real fast and said to blog about it.  Getting bad I guess when kids start seeing you with a camera alot  all the time.

Then Megan, Denny and Emily found us and Emily had to have her first taste of funnel cake.  Even if Mama says no, you know Nana always gives in.

And a good time was had by all.

This N That

For some reason this morning my mind seems to be going in all different directions and not really on blogging.  Sorta a BLAH morning.  It's dreary here, chance of rain and we're suppose to take the kids to the county fair tonight.  Only night that my two step-kids will be here to go with us.  So I sit here and ponder, do I blog about all the awesome giveaways I've come across.  Then I saw an idea from Jessica over at   http://wrongweek.blogspot.com/2009/10/spreading-love-this-saturday.html    I'm not stealing   copying any of her links.  You will just have to go check them out yourself. 

Blogs that have information on them.  Not just your everyday happenings.

http://faithfulbloggers.com/blogging/using-your-blog-for-good       Using your blog for good, there's some great tips, so go check them out.

http://www.blogcoach.org/  This is another one with great blogging tips.

http://yourlittlebirdie.blogspot.com/  For a really cute little girls bathroom idea.  Very simple and affordable.

http://www.deepsouthdish.com/  Are you looking for some great southern recipes?  Look no further she has plenty of them.  I'm trying her sour cream biscuits soon.

http://2setsoftwins-helene.blogspot.com/   Found this one recently, always good for a laugh or two.  She's handling life with 2 sets of twins.  More power to her.  I couldn't do it.

http://notimeforflashcards.com/  This one has great activities for young children.  She's uses simple everyday stuff you have around the house.

http://ordinarychristianwomansheart.blogspot.com/    When I need encouragement I go to read Jennifer's blog.  She is so real.  She comes across as the type that she is what she is.  That no matter where you might see her, or what day it is, she's still the same.

http://www.survivalmodeparent.org/    Mandy has started a wonderful volunteer program.  If you have ever had a child in the hospital you know there's always so much that is needed to be done back at home.  If nothing but a hot meal for those at home, or bring one to you.  You can't stand but so much take-out.  Go check her out she can explain it so much better than I can.


I could go on and on but for some reason it won't copy and paste or link anymore and it's just too frustrating.   Just check out my blogroll, trust me there is plenty there.  The kids are waking up and are wanting breakfast.  Clothes need to be folded, and dishes washed.

Mama's Journey

Last year for Christmas I gave my Mom and Mother-in-law a journal jar.   As I blogged about earlier this year  at http://nanathena.blogspot.com/2009/02/journal-jar.html
Well my Mom has taken the questions and wrote them in a book for me.  When I read it I told her it was directed more towards me.  She said well you gave me the questions.  Since then I have convinced her to write books for my brothers, and sister, and possibly other family members.  Therefore, I have decided to begin writing each day a question and an answer out of the book.  At a second blog My Mama's Journey.    http://mymamasjourney.blogspot.com/

Two Choices

Matthew 7:13,14           Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

We all have a choice to make.  Either to live in a relationship with God and experience life everlasting.  Or to live a life of sin, that ultimately leads to distruction.
 He never said the narrow way would be easy.  But He said He would never leave us nor forsake us.
Which choice will you make today?  Life or death?

250 Free Business Cards Giveaway from UPrinting.com

How would you use 250 free Business Cards from Uprinting.com?

Would you use them to spread the news about your new business venture?   Would they help network your blog at an upcoming conference? Or how about using them to introduce people to your church or local charity?  How about fellow Moms at a Moms Morning Out?
It doesn't matter how you would use them - now you have the chance to win them for FREE!

Thanks to the generosity of  http://www.uprinting.com/  ONE READER will be chosen to win a set of 250 free.  Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card)  or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)


Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

You can go to http://www.uprinting.com/Business-Cards.html  to see all the options and colors they have to offer.



(Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)   Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes.  Residents of other countries are not eligible.


 Here's how to enter:  Leave a comment to let me know how you would use the business cards if you win.  This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.


Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):

•Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and to http://www.uprinting.com/.  Leave a comment with a link to your blog post. (2 entries)

•Follow both me and UPrinting on Twitter. Tweet about this giveaway. One entry for following, and one entry for each time you put the following on Twitter.  RT @nanathena to win 250 Business Cards from http://www.uprinting.com/   One entry per day.

Follow my blog.  One entry.
Dont forget:   Open to residents of United States and Canada. (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA. Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes.) Must be age 18 or older. Giveaway ends October 15.    Winners will be chosen by the random number generator at Random.org. Each winner will be contacted by email and must claim the prize within 48 hours, or another winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I will receive 250 business cards, at no cost to me, from UPrinting.com.

Emily

I realized I haven't posted any pics lately of Emily, my granddaughter.  So when Megan my daughter posted new pictures on her facebook.  I told her I was going to steal some of them to put on a blog and link them to her blog.   http://meganbhulsey.blogspot.com/

Caramel Apples

Next Monday is the beginning of our local fair.  I can't wait.  http://kiwanisogeecheefair.org/index.html  We've only lived here for two years, and we have yet to go to this one.  But from everything I keep hearing it's going to be alot of fun.  Monday opening day, admission is only a canned good for each person.  You can't beat that.  A cheap way to get in and a way to help others.
But as I've said in previous posts it's not the rides, its' the food.  I guess if I really learned how to make all the fair food, I would be as big as the side of a barn.  But once a year can't be too bad. 
So this week I have found a recipe for caramel apples.  They are so simple, it will be another one of those recipes that you can get the kids in the kitchen to help you with.

Caramel Apples


6 apples

1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk

Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.   I haven't tried it but I would think wax paper would work just as well.
Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly.
Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

So simple.

Hey ya'll!! We have a winner!!!

These giveaways are just about as much fun as winning.  But we have a winner it's Diana over at  To Everything  A Season.  She's having her own great giveaway so go enter.  You have until Tuesday night to enter.

For God So Loved The World

I found this picture online, and it made me think of, the more that we read His word.  The more we will realize His love for us.

John3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.


Why do we take something so simple, and make it so hard?   Just imagine if you will the love we have for our own children.  We are God's children, so why should He love us any less than we love our own children.  If we could actually phathom just how much.  Because would we, in the flesh really give one of our children up, to die for a world of sinners. 

John 15:13

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.


We live so far below what He actually wants for us,  and most of us don't  even realize it.

Matthew 7:7
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?