Sermon Notes Sunday, March 22

Our pastor is finishing a series on prayer, which has been very significant for me. I was really moved by the message this Sunday, which concentrated on prideful prayer. How often do we come before the Lord with a prayer believing that we are deserving of petition? Humble prayer is a struggle for me. I often skip praising God for who he is and what he is doing. Furthermore, I pray as if he will bless the plans I have already made, not humbling myself, knowing that he knows the plans that are the best for me. I also assume that I am a righteous follower, trying to follow the Bible's teachings, but rarely do I begin my prayers with praise, but with requests. This sermon series has begun to shape my conversations with God in a new way.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood up and prayed about^a]">[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

¹³"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

¹⁴"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Random Pictures from the Week of 3-15

Grandma Pam, Avery, and Sarah

Sarah and Avery

Avery loves to imitate us! Bryan was leaning up against the counter eating a banana . . . she wanted to do the same.

Hmmm. What are you doing Avery? Looking very pensive.

She must have decided she missed her snow boots and hat. She wore the boots one whole evening.

Cinnamon Crunch Granola

So, prior to my Shredded Wheat find, I was running out of cereal, a breakfast staple in our house. I was browsing recipes, trying to find a granola recipe that wasn't filled with honey (not a fan of the taste of it in granola) and fat. Finally, I settled on this recipe for Cinnamon Crunch Granola. Now, I didn't have all of the ingredients, but I had others. I also halved the recipe because it makes a mammoth batch. Here is my adapted recipe (half batch):

Cinnamon Crunch Granola

• 4 cups instant oats
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (not roasted or salted)
• 1/8 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup assorted nuts (I used pecans and almonds)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together first 6 ingredients.


Cook together brown sugar and water over low heat until the sugar is dissolved.


Increase heat until the mixture boils. Reduce heat again. Cook and stir one minute.


Remove from heat and add oil and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir to coat.



Pour into pan (the original recipe says to use jelly roll pan . . . I don't have one) and cook @ 275 for 60-70 min.

Cool on a cooling rack (in the pan). After 10 min break-up granola into desired texture.

Verdict: It was REALLY good. We ate it plain, but really liked it with fresh fruit, and as a topping for yogurt.

Avery's New Big Girl Bed

Avery is out of her crib! Thanks to a colleague at work, Avery has a new big girl bed. I know that I should have shed a small tear due to Avery's new milestone, but frankly I was glad to see the crib go. The crib was mammoth (It was mine as a baby), and made Avery's room feel so small. After reading several online resources about techniques to ease the transition between the crib and bed, I didn't need them! Avery was so excited to sleep in her new bed. She helped me take the crib down (well, she got in the way and kept stealing the screwdriver), and happily hopped into her bed as soon as Bryan and I brought it into the room. We were afraid that she would roll out of it, so we laid blankets on the floor where the rails ended. She slept great the FIRST night. I could not believe it! Now that she is used to the bed, every chance she gets (clothed or not . . . as you can see by the picture) she runs and flops on her bed and covers herself up with the blanket and announces "nigh-night." Love that girl!

Shredded Wheat Stockpile

So, I am glad my husband and I, and Avery for that matter, like shredded wheat! This weekend, thanks to my mom for the heads-up, snagged 14 boxes of Shredded Wheat with Strawberries for .50 cents a box. The store had so much (and it must not have been selling well @ $2.00/box) that they marked it $1.00 BOGO! Furthermore, I got salad dressing for .10 cents/bottle, and kraft mayo w/olive oil for $1.50 BOGO. Now, I know what you are saying . . . I didn't see these sales at my stores! Although some people will not do this, I reguarly go to a grocery outlet that sells just out-of-date, smashed box, it didn't sell in the store, store. Both my mom and I have been shopping at these local outlets for about 10 years. Although we have had a few things stale, the store managers have always taken them back or exchanged items willingly. It has been a great way to save money--especially on cereal. If you are in the East Central Indiana Area, the store name is B&D Grocery Outlet, and are located in Winchester and Richmond. And yes, they also sell toiletry items!

Another giveaway winner!

I won another giveaway . . . this time a set of silicone pans, cake mix, and frosting. I am so excited. I never win anything, and I've won two giveaways in the last week! Here's the picture of my winnings http://thethriftygeek.blogspot.com/2009/03/giveaway-giveaway-giveaway.html

More Postings Soon . . .

I have been without my camera for a week now, but I will post with pictures soon. I've been getting some great deals at Walgreens and CVS this week, so I'll post with pictures soon.