Friends

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” (unknown)  This year I've learned so much about friendship. I'm so blessed to have the friends I have in my life. I have my sister friends, my work friends, my church friends, and my friends from the past. All these friendships have helped me be a better person they challenge me to grow as a person, to relax when I need to and to build me up. I have my best friend my husband who I miss more then words can say right now. I've needed to lean on friends more then ever this year some have failed me, but some have surprised me with encouragement I didn't except. 

My challenge be a friend to everyone you meant be willing to give even if you don't feel like it, and to remember the awesome friends you have in your life past and present.  

Experience Life Together

I was inspired by today's message at church to find things for Josh and I to do together to create some memories, to do more of life together, to dream together, to challenge each other, and develop ourselves as will as our marriage.  I came up with a list of things to do in Fayetteville. If you're not in Fayetteville, NC I hope this list can inspire you to make your own list in your area and start experiencing life with your spouse. If you have any other ideas of activities please let me know so I can add it to my list.

Operation Experience Life Together

1)      Roland  Dance Studio

a.       Swing and Salsa Group lessons 10% military discount

b.      www.danceatrolands.com

c.       310 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville, NC

d.      910-423-2623

2)      Zip Quest

a.       533 carvers falls Road, Fayetteville, NC

b.      910-488-8787

c.       http://www.zipquest.com/

d.      $79.00

e.      $10.00 back with military ID

3)      Paraclete Sky Venture

a.       910-848-2600

b.      $63.00 first time flyer

c.       http://www.paracletexp.com/

d.      190 Paraclete Drive, Raeford, NC 28376

4)      Adult Pottery Classes @ Millhouse Art

a.       http://www.gregsdowntown.com/classes.html

b.      $100 for 4 weeks + $30/ 25 lbs bag of clay

c.       910-483-8355

d.      122 Maxwell street

5)      Red point Indoor Rock Climbing

a.       5213 Raeford Rd St #103

b.      910-868-7625

c.       http://climbredpoint.com/wp/climb/

d.      Couple Membership $100 – 30 days

e.      Punch passes 10 punch pass $100.00

6)      Try a new restaurant then write a review together www.10best.com

7)      Art workshops

a.       Cape Faer Studios

b.      http://www.capefearstudios.com/visiting_artist.html

8)      McDuff’s Tea Room

a.       http://www.mcduffstearoom.com

b.      910-488-0328

c.       Afternoon tea t-sa 3 – 5pm reservations required at least 1 day in advance

9)      Theatre and Live Shows

a.       http://www.cfrt.org/  - Cape Fear Regional Theatre

b.      http://www.gilberttheater.com/ - Gilbert theater

c.       http://www.crowncoliseum.com  - Crown Coliseum

d.      http://eventful.com/fayetteville/events/categories/music   - for events and concerts

e.      http://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/ - Fayetteville Symphony

All Day Chili in 20 minutes

One medium yellow onion diced.
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 can cream style sweet corn
1 can diced tomatoes 
16 oz chicken broth
1 lbs ground turkey
1 can black beans
3 Tablespoons Chili powder
1 Tablespoon Paprika
1/2 Tablespoon Black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic salt


In a large pot put in onions on high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Let them cook for about 2 -3 minutes then added the minced garlic and 2 oz of the chicken broth. Let cook for 2-3 minutes while you open up all the cans then you can add the ground turkey let it brown for about 5 minutes then you can pour in all the remaining ingredients. Let it come to a boil and then turn down the stove to a medium heat for until your ready to serve. Great to serve with biscuits. Kaiden sad "mmmmm" with every bite!  You can make it spicier or more mild by adding or taking away some of the chili powder this was a fairly medium heat!

G.P.S.

Direction: A place that I am going. 
Today as I drive home from Atlanta from Josh's airborne graduation, I can't help but think about direction. the G.P.S. calls out directions "Turn left on I-85 in 1.5 miles" And I willingly obey if I don't she calls out "Recalculating" and she follows up with another set of directives. It makes life easier. But outside of my road trip, how do I know which turn to take and when to make it. I need my G.P.S. of life. God's Purpose for Success. Psalm 20:4 "May God give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." I have to conclude that from this verse that God does want me a success. That's reassuring at this juncture of my life. I feel like I have no plan and I am not a success. But God does promise to guide us to be an everlasting G.P.S. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" Psalm   32:8 I'm also reassured through the fact that God will teach me and He will also give me the skills needed to succeed. "May the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do His will, through Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever." Hebrews 13:20-21 God has given me the free will to choose any direction I want, but as I turn closer to His direction and His will then I will be more equipped to be a success in my life. Proverbs 3:5-6 has been quoted so often among Christians that to me it almost seems cliche, but the truth is there. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take." 
If I turn down the radio in my car, I can listen to the G.P.S. tell me where I need to go. So, it is with God if I turn down the busyness of my life I can hear the voice of Him saying "Recalculating" Then I can follow His direction. 

photo from biblegateway.com

Happy New Year

I know it's already 9 days into 2011, but I still can't believe that this year is here. When I was a child adults used to tell me how fast time goes when I you get older. I didn't believe it then, but boy do I now. My new year started out with another military separation. Truly, not the best way to start out the year. I started working full-time instead of part-time at Buckle. Kaiden has going to child-care now. That's a huge change for our family. It's going to be better once we are all used to the transition.

Although my new year started out negative, my new year's resolution is to write down something positive that happened everyday. To remember all the good God is doing in my life. It's so much easier to think about the negative in life. 

Roast Leg of Lamb

4 pound leg of lamb
2 minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
1/2 tsp dried oregano
sea salt
black pepper
1/2 teaspoon olive oil

message into lamb. Put into roasting pan Bake uncovered at 325 for 2-3 hours 160 degrees when done. Yummy yummy! Josh's absolute favorite meat dish. Beal family Christmas tradition.

Bible vs Cell Phone

I didn't write this but I thought it was a good food for thought!


Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? 
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? 
What if we flipped through it several times a day? 
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? 
What if we used it to receive messages from the text? 
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? 
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts? 
What if we used it when we traveled? 
What if we used it in case of emergency? 
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible? 
Oh, and one more thing. 
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being 
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. 
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls! 
When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!