My First AVON Giveaway & Newest Blog!!! :)

 For You!

                             
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY NEWEST BLOG!                

~ A blog for you to see Avon’s greatest products. ~

AvonAlwaysForYou.blogspot.com

There is a giveaway:

 P.S.  Be sure to scroll down to yesterday's post (on this blog) for a chance to win HEAVEN REVEALED!

Heaven... I'm In Heaven...

(This giveaway is now ended. Thanks!)
Heaven, ever wonder about it? I do! My mind has always been filled with thoughts of it, as it should be. It's the final trip we'll ever take, and it's one that will be without any hitches. No reservations missing when you get there because 1 Peter 1:4 says, "...kept in heaven for you" (if we are His, and it's so simple to be: just click on this LINK and you will learn all about how to become a child of God, bound for eternal bliss in heaven), and no rain to ruin the fun, and nothing to be scared of. You won't need traveler's checks in heaven!

When Superman and I are planning a trip, or I'm just dreaming about one, brochures are a fun must. They tell me everything I want to know about my upcoming destination. Well, the generous people at Moody Press sent me another book to read and write about (yay and thank you!). This book, Heaven Revealed, by Paul Enns, it's like one of those brochures! With Scripture, he gives us beautiful pictures of our eternal destination. It's all too exciting!

Also, there was one thing I'd never quite been able to settle in my braino, and that's the sting of death. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" Well, in Paul's book is a chapter on the transition to heaven. His words make death seem like just another walk in the park, except you'll be stepping into heaven. Nothing to be scared of at all, but something to be excitedly anticipating. Death opens the door to heaven, and at the same time, closes it to the earthly life - forever and ever. Amen!  :)


I love this book. Reading about heaven gives me butterflies in my stomach, like when I know I get to go to Disneyland... Ummmm... with the exception that HEAVEN IS DEFINITELY THE HAPPIEST PLACE anywhere!!!!

Anyhoo, Moody Press again sent me TWO BOOKS! One for me, one for YOU! Please leave me a comment and I will enter you in the drawing for it!!!! The winner will be announced Friday morning, April 1st... no fooling!!!  :)


xo

Prince Charming?

I wrote the following in a "You've Got Male"  segment of a tiny newsletter I send out to a few friends. It smacked me in the face this morning, similar to how the aftershave worked in the movie Home Alone, as I was re-reading some of the past newsletters. Misery loves company, so read it and see if you get smacked, too. (Oh, and do let me know that I'm not alone!) ...

What do we really know about Prince Charming? He seems to show up in the nick of time for all of Disney’s distressed damsels, but other than that, who is this guy? In between sets, what’s that dazzling charmer up to?

     I bet he wakes up in the morning with breath that makes his pearly whites shiver. Like most men, his hand probably reaches up and scratches the top of his ruffled hair, as his feet slowly move out from under the covers in search of those suede, rubber-soled slippers. After that, does he sit in the bathroom with the newspaper, waiting for things to happen, or does he mosey on into the kitchen and eat a bowl of soggy Cheerios?

     In every Disney movie we only get to see him with his hair slicked down to perfection, that well-behaved wave of hair adding to his sex appeal, erectly standing in his royal garb ( which would make any man look princely; kind of how tux’s do).  It all reminds me of the show we are so capable of putting on...!

     Prince Charming came to mind when I read Henri Nouwen’s devotional this morning. 

Listen: Forgiveness holds us together through good times and bad times, and it allows us to grow in mutual love. But what is there to forgive or to ask forgiveness for? As people who have hearts that long for perfect love, we have to forgive one another for not being able to give or receive that perfect love in our everyday lives. Our many needs constantly interfere with our desire to be there for the other unconditionally. Our love is always limited by spoken or unspoken conditions. What needs to be forgiven? We need to forgive one another for not being God! 

 

     Isn’t that great? Only God is perfect. His own love is unconditional, undeserved, unrelenting, unlimited, unending. 

     Husbands and wives can slick back their hair and don fancy outfits, but in the real world, hair gets mussed and ball gowns have to be taken off and washed!

    So, I’m thinking that it’s best to look for those princely moments in our day-to-day lives; those moments when our husbands dazzle us with a thoughtful deed or utter a charming word that makes our hearts all ‘atwitter, or even that they get up and go to work for us each morning! And for our part, let’s practice looking the other way when his crown is quickly slipping off his egg-shaped head. (Love does cover a multitude of sins, after all.)

     I don’t know what Prince Charming is like beyond the big screen, but I know what my husband is like. I want  to heed Mr. Nouwen’s advice and forgive Superman for not being perfect like God. And that forgiving spirit of mine just might pave the road to that elusive ‘happily ever after’ — for both of us! The End.

P.S. I just went on Ebay and purchased this doll. My hope is that it will be a vivid reminder that even us princesses can get swollen feet, ingrown toenails, bunions, etc, making that prized glass slipper hard to slip on. Yep, even we need to be forgiven that we are not perfect like Jesus!

P.S.S or P.P. S, whichever it should be—How can we forgive when it’s really hard to? By divine power! In 2 Corinthians 10:4 we are told that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God.” While our carnal mind wants to pout, hold a grudge or two, etc, the power we have in Christ enables us to change that mindset -  and our heart-set -  and think according to God’s word.

Just thought you’d like to know how to forgive. Being married, it comes in handy pretty often!

But God demonstrated His own love in this:

while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Romans  5:8

Biscuits and Gravy

Superman and I had a hankering the other morning. So, I fried up Jimmy Dean's favorite meat, added six tablespoons of flour, stirred it up, added 1 quart milk, lots of fresh black pepper, and stirred till it was getting thick. 

Now, before I show you the next photo, keep in mind that I did not let the gravy get as thick as we normally love it -- because it tasted sooo good I was unwilling to wait! Ever done that??? Nevermind. I just can't show the picture. It looks too unappetizing, and if I put it on this blog, you might not ever return or try my recipes again. 

So... moving on!


Next, and very important - the bed for the gravy = BISCUITS!


I've tried many (many!) biscuit recipes. From new cookbooks, old ones, friends' recipes, granny's recipes, school recipes, and all sorts of internet recipes. But... The very best are from plain ol' Bisquick -- and there's a trick to this, which I just discovered months ago from a friend.

The trick is this, and if you don't read all the instructions (and who does?), you might miss it -- 

You have to knead 

the dough ten times!

 Ignoring this 25-second process is craziness. Why? Because we want fluffy, inviting biscuits (especially if your gravy is not the prettiest). Are we willing to settle for flat biscuits when we can have these?...

Pretty, yes? Tasted awesome, too - with gravy OR butter and homemade strawberry jam! (Gasp! No homemade jam? Start collecting your berries now. 'Tis the season!)


Anyhoo, that was our breakfast on Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday. (Kinda like Lay's potato chips - can't just have one!!!)


Bon Apetit!

He who gathers crops in summer is a wise...

Proverbs 10:5a

Got AVON? :)

   www.youravon.com/egrundvig   

(that's me!)

 Surprises are around every corner! Finding myself actually sitting at my girlfriend's table with her Avon Unit Leader, listening to them talk, it surprised me that I signed up then and there to become an Avon representative. But I'm glad I did, because Avon is for everyone!
     Pulling from my email list, I sent a Grand Opening email to several friends and family members. My oldest son wrote back (and I adjusted the grammar for this blog, because you know how fast and careless we get to be in emails),  "Is this for reals??  If it is, it is perfect!!  The cologne I wear is from Avon, and both my bottles from five years ago are almost empty; I need to get refills, yo!!!!"
     Noah is a very funny guy, and I thought this was a fun response. Another surprise, because I had no clue he used Avon. I got another very sweet story in a response, but I have to ask her if it's okay to use it on this blog. So, that's for another day, perhaps.  :)
    Anyhoo, Avon even has shoes; I didn't know that till I got the brochures! Did you know that? So many surprises, and there's something for everyone - even stuffed toys for little ones. Oh my!
   Not wanting to use this blog for selling Avon, I will eventually create a new one, but for now... I'd love to sell you any of Avon's wonderful products!  :)

Are You Wearing Green?

Since my eyes are naturally green I don't make any special effort to put on Irish-colored clothing. However, when my kids were small, you'd always find green mashed potatoes or green jello on the table. It's just fun to celebrate, and, mostly, it doesn't matter what special occasion it is! You know me -- I love fun!

Do you do anything special for St. Patrick's Day? On one of our busier streets, there's a house that is fully decked out in holiday regalia - for every single holiday, big or small! It's quite entertaining, really! I'd be/I am much to cheap and lazy for all that it requires to cover a yard and house with that much celebration. Still, I get a good laugh or smile every time I drive by.

Anyhoo, green is great, unless you are green with envy. So, let's avoid that when we can!  :)

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

Sweet Talking....

Every lover has felt the warm breath and heard some sweet talking in their ear. So, why not add that to my daughter's candy bar at her wedding? 

That's just what I did this morning. Forget the bills. Skip the ironing. Can the dusting. 

A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do - and for this woman, it's creating and having fun with Amy's candy table. 

This is my first completed jar, but I'm having a blast working on the one that will hold the Pop Rocks. Can't wait to show you what it looks like when I'm finally finished!!!

Think sweet thoughts and that's what will pop out of your mouth and leap into the ears of those around you - a warm breath of fresh air and encouragement! 

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ...

Matthew 12:34b 

March...ing On! :)

It's here --- a new month! No sense muttering about how fast time has gone, because it is always going to be like this.

So, let's frolic in sunshine (or snow, depending on where you live) and look forward to the first day of Spring!!

Here's the calendar page for March, just in case you are printing it and taping it to the fridge...

Yesterday was warm enough to do some outdoor painting, and that's what I did. The pool house is a fresher-looking butter-yellow now, and the picket fence glistens like just-bleached-teeth! It took hours and hours...and hours!... but it's one more thing to check off the get-the-yard-spruced-up-for-the-wedding list.

It's coming sooooooon!!!!