Have you ever encountered someone that was crazy?

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think about him. He was very powerful, strong, and did some of the most incomprehensible things. People were always falling at his feet and writing songs for and about him. Everything that I looked at seemed to have his mark on it. Then one day I realized  there was nowhere that I could go to hide from his presence. He was literally everywhere: watching me, wanting me, and pursuing me relentlessly.

Discover what it means to be overwhelmed by a relentless God.

What:          SouthPoint’s Womens Group
When:         Alternating Thursday evenings, beginning August 27th
What time:  7:00 pm
Location:    The Wendel Home (This will be the NEW location for August 27 and September 3 see below for  directions)
Contact:      Vina Howell    662-470-4519

Directions

4949 Isabel Drive, Olive Branch, MS

Go East on Goodman Road.  Turn left (North) on Pleasant Hill Road.  Go exactly one mile.  Turn left into Pleasant Ridge Estates, onto Pleasant Ridge Drive (look for the long white fence).  Take an immediate left onto Falcon Drive.  When Falcon ends and you can only turn right, turn onto Isabel Drive.  The Wendel home is the second house on the left – the only one with a long front porch.

Let’s Paint and Play

Join the Ladies at SouthPoint this week as we paint and play at Desoto Artwerx in Hernando from 6-9 pm on Thursday, May 7, 2009.

Artwerx  offers the opportunity to paint pottery, work in fused glass, or make a mosaic creation. There is never a studio fee. The pricing structure includes the price of the item and all the supplies needed to complete your project. To find out more information about Desoto Artwerx visit their website www.desotoartwerx.com.

See ya there!

Desoto Artwerx

419 E. Commerce Street

Hernando, MS

Women’s Small Group

Join the ladies’ small group this Thursday as we take a look inside the New York Times Bestseller, “The Shack”.

“The Shack” is a wonderful and highly controversial book about a grieving father’s relationship with God. The story represents the Trinity in some interesting and unique ways. It is an amazing portrait of God’s grace, forgiveness, and love. The story also explores the freedom that can only be found through a relationship with Christ. In my opinion it is one of the best books that I have ever read, but I invite you to come and discuss the book with us and draw your own conclusion.

We will have books on sale Thursday night for $10.00.

See ya there!

6:30 PM

At the Home of Patti Wendel

4949 Isabel Drive

Olive Branch, MS

662-893-6712 (in case you get lost)

Directions: Go East on Goodman Road.  Turn left (North) on Pleasant Hill Road.  Go exactly one mile.  Turn left into Pleasant Ridge Estates, onto Pleasant Ridge Drive (look for the long white fence).  Take an immediate left onto Falcon Drive.  When Falcon ends and you can only turn right, turn onto Isabel Drive.  The Wendel home is the second house on the left – the only one with a long front porch.

Children’s Books

 

I think we all have our favorite children’s book. It may be one that we read as a child or one that we read with our children now. Reading is a gift that sparks the imagination and opens new doors for children of all ages.

Bring your favorite children’s book tonight as we discuss the impact these memorable books have had on our lives. I’ll see you Thursday at the home of Craig and Patti Wendel.

Tasty Tuesday

This Tuesday’s recipe is simply fab. It is the recipe that so many of you have requested from the hostess with the mostess, Patti!

Arroz con pollo (Rice with chicken)

Ingredients:

½ onion, chopped

½ green bell pepper, chopped

½ other color bell pepper, chopped (orange, red or yellow)

1 stick butter

6 carrots, chopped

4 stalks of celery, chopped (I chop very small)

fresh green beans (don’t know how many – about ½ Kroger produce bag)

½ lb uncooked rice

5 chicken bouillon cubes

1 whole chicken, boiled, de-boned and chopped – save the broth

            (I actually use boneless breasts or thighs because they are easier)

saffron (about 1 TBSP)

cumin (about ½ TBSP)

curry (about ½ TBSP)

black pepper (about ½ TBSP)

You may need more chicken broth – it’s according to how much you retain from the boiling.

 

Cook the onion and peppers in ½ stick of butter until softened.

Add other ½ stick of butter, carrots, celery, beans, rice, bouillon and spices.  Mix thoroughly and cook until the rice begins to “fry”.  It may stick a little, but that’s OK.

Add chicken and enough broth to make it soupy.  Cover and simmer on medium until all the liquid is gone (about 30 minutes).

We’re Relocating

We will be exploring the lessons of Dr. Seuss in a new place. Polly Bowie has generously offered her home for the October 23 and November 6 Ladies’ Small Group meetings.  See ya there!

8106 Hunters Creek Drive

Olive Branch, MS 38654

For a map and driving directions please click here

Breathe

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, or even months when it seemed like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong? One thing after another, after another, after another just kept happening. The only thing that I can do at those moments in time is BREATHE!

Sometimes I just need to let it all go and just breathe. Let out a huge, over flowing, and space filling deep breath; a breath that releases all the tension, stress, and anxiety that I feel. Let out a breath so big that it leaves me empty. It is only when I am completely empty that God is able to fill me up again. God is able to breathe new life into me only when I release everything; all the pain, hurt, joy, desires, and insecurities.

He is the air I breathe. He is every breathe I take. He is my life and the only one who can truly take my breath away. 

Kawaii Kid’s Clothes

A discussion was sparked last night about great clothing for kids. Here are the latest fashion photos from the place of all things kawaii (cute), Japan. Japanese clothing is usually simple and made with natural fabrics. I hope you enjoy these photos and if you would like to see more Japanese fashions or purchase the patterns click here.

Tasty Tuesday

Most women have those days when we just don’t have time to put a meal together. I think the solutions to this problem are Sonic, the crock pot, and Tasty Tuesday, the day we post great recipes for you to try.

This week’s recipe is an easy crock pot recipe called taco soup.  

Taco Soup

2 pounds ground beef 
2 cups diced onions 
2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans 
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans 
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes 
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes 
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles 
2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles 
1 (4.6-ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional 
1/2 cup green olives, sliced, optional 
1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix 
1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix 
Corn chips, for serving 
Sour cream, for garnish 
Grated cheese, for garnish 
Chopped green onions, for garnish 
Pickled jalapenos, for garnish 

Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet; drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, green olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions and jalapenos.

If you try this recipe or if you have recipe that you would like to share, leave a comment.

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

I know that we have all heard the phrases “think outside the box” and “ color outside the lines”, but what do they really mean. “Think outside the box” originated in the USA in the late 1960s/early 1970s. It is the phrase used to get people to think creatively, unimpeded by orthodox or conventional constraints. The phrase “color outside the lines” also has the same meaning. 

If you think inside a box that has guidelines and limitations, does that mean you are not as creative as the person who thinks outside the box. Maybe it’s just me but I think thinking inside the box takes just as much imagination and thought as thinking outside the box.  Let’s imagine a child with an actual cardboard box. When they are on the inside of the box, it becomes a cave, a house, or a spaceship. When they are on the outside of that same box it can become a building, a mountain, or a train.

It does not matter if you think inside the box or outside the box all that matters is that you think. Dr. Seuss says it this way, “think left and think right and think low and think high. oh, the things you can think up if only you try!”