Happy New Year

It's almost the end of 2008 -- a really great year for me and my family. We've probably had as many changes and new things happen to us as in any year in our family's 20 year history. That is, the 20 years since Johnny and I married and the Johnny & Jeanette Dickerson family was started. I started this morning writing in my journal and thinking about all that happened over the last year, all the blessings God poured out on us, and all that I've learned. It's good to recount God's blessings and where He's taken you over the past year. As we read in Scripture, the Hebrew people over & over again recounted their history with God. Even in the NT we can read of the Israelites talking about their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The end of the year is a good time to contemplate the past and anticipate the future. On one of the news programs this morning one of the reporters had gone out to the streets of New York and asked people if they made new years' resolutions and, if so, what they were for 2009. There's nothing wrong with making new resolutions and goals for the upcoming year. We should all have goals that keep us moving toward what we hope to accomplish. The only problem with resolutions is if we make the same ones year after year and never really follow up or even intend to follow through. You know, "In 2009, I resolve to eat healthy and exercise and lose weight." And then it lasts for about a week. (ok, a little confession is going on here....I REALLY am going to do that in '09, though...really) How about this... along with your normal new years' resolutions make some spiritual goals as well. Where do you hope to go, spiritually, in 2009? Then, how will you accomplish that goal. Perhaps you've never really been one to memorize Scripture and that would be a good goal for you in 2009. To make it happen, go buy one of those sets of index cards on the spiral thing and write your verses...one a week, one a month, whatever...and take it with you, put it somewhere noticeable. Ask someone to be your accountability partner and have them listen to you recite the verses you are learning. Maybe have a contest with someone and reward each other for memorizing verses...even if the reward is just a cup of coffee (which, BTW, would be a good reward for me!) or an encouraging note. Whatever your goal or resolution, make a plan on how you will succeed. I really am wanting a heathier 2009. I want it for me and for my family. (can you make resolutions for other people as well?) I want to work out more and sometimes lack motivation. A friend of mine have started running a lot and I've been reading about it on her blog. It's inspired me and I've been talking about it around the house. Johnny thought I needed a little motivation to get me moving so he entered us in a 5K in February. It's a relatively short run but when I started I couldn't even run hardly 1 mile without walking much less 3.1 miles. But, I'm getting there. I have a plan and a training schedule. Johnny says after that we'll sign up for a 10K and we talked to my brother (the 100 mile racing maniac) about it over Christmas. So, I have a goal and a plan and an accountability partner. That's all you need. You can do it!

So, what's your spiritual goal for 2009? I'm thinking about mine. I'm praying about it. And, I'm looking forward to accomplishing it.

I hope God pours out His richest blessings on you and yours in the coming year. To Him alone be the glory!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Finally feels like Christmas

I don't know if anyone is writing, much less reading, blogs lately. Who has time for that? For me, however, it's just starting to feel like Christmas. The college boy got home last night (yes, all the way from DBU) and today is the last day of school for the other two. I've got several jr. high boys over who, BTW, have been playing outside and are damp and stinky and just came in when I sat down at the computer -- Rock Band will start at any minute. We finally took some pictures for our annual photo Christmas card last night. Josh & Jess were quite silly but Jacob looks almost the same in every single picture. The shopping for the kids is finished and we'll have a family shopping day on Monday so the kids can buy some gifts. That is usually one of my favorite days -- shopping, eating, and maybe even time for a movie if all the presents get purchased. (yeah, there goes the Rock Band...)

Yesterday Johnny and I finished up our shopping and stopped for some lunch. I told him I honestly did not want to get any presents this year -- all I want for Christmas is family time. All five of us.

Hold tight those you love and spread a little holiday cheer.

Merry Christmas!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

So This is Our Life

At least this is our life until late February. We got home after 9 pm again. I left today at 2:30 to pick Jacob & some of his teammates up to take them to their basketball game. His game was at 4:00. Then we sat thru the jr. high girls' game. Then, Jessica's game was next. All of our schools' teams won tonight. Jessica's game was especially exciting because they were down by nine points at the end of the first period. They came back to tie it up in the 4th period and it was a nail-biter til the end. Jessica hit 2 free throws at the end of the game...the winning points. Jacob's team won by a comfortable margin so his game was not quite as intense. Anyway, I'm just stopping by for just a brief moment...

Actually, I exhausted and I've got to go...

Basketball momma,

Jeanette

Great Weekend

We had a great weekend. Friday night we went out to dinner with friends. On a Friday night...with friends...and no kids. It was nice. Saturday was the Sweet 16 birthday bash. Jessica really likes to go to the movies so we had one of our all-time favorites, "Remember the Titans," playing indoors and, after a while of hanging out, presents, and eating, we had movie watching outside. In the backyard. We hung a sheet on the brick wall in our backyard and a projection unit showing the movie. We also had lots of popcorn and blankets and a fire pit with all the stuff to make smores. We had 25 teenagers over and, I hope, they all had fun. We really like the kids at Jessica's new school and were glad to get to know some of them.

Today, after church, we went to eat lunch at our friends' house with our college son, their college son and some of the boys' DBU friends. That's always great. Before lunch, however, I was really challenged by Johnny's sermon. He has been doing a series called "Six Verbs to Live By." Today was the final verb and it was "Go." The text was from John 20:19-21. Just as the Father sent Jesus, He was sending His disciples. Our mandate, as believers, is to go. We don't necessarily have to go to foreign countries to reach the nations. The nations are here, in our country and in our cities. I really like to go...it has been fun to go to Burma, India, Venezuela and Mexico over the last couple of years. While I do hope to go overseas during 2009, I hope to be a part of some new mission and ministry opportunities to reach those in my own neighborhood and city that do not yet know.

Well, Jessica wants to use my laptop to get on iTunes. She got $140 worth of iTunes gift cards for her birthday. I'm trying to convince her to share just a few dollars with me....

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Today's Topic: Food

I finally got my post-travel/Thanksgiving self back to the gym today. When I returned home and walked into my bathroom I noticed the smell of fast food and grease. I looked over and the door of my linen closet was open and the contents of the laundry basket were spilling over. Between decorating and washing all the stuff from the camping trip, I have been delinquent about doing the rest of the laundry this week. The smell was my clothes from working at the cafe last night. I got stuck at the fryer. I announced to anyone that would listen, "I am not working the fryer next week," only to be told about 30 minutes later that we would not be serving fried food next week. Likely story...

Ok, the real purpose of the blog today is to share a recipe from a cookbook that my friend, Mary, gave me. It's super easy, great for those nights when you've got events out of the house (like basketball games), and want to come home and have supper waiting. It's called "Crockery French Dip" and my daughter even asked for it in her lunch today -- for the second day in a row, mind you. Now that's deliciousness!

Ingredients: 3 lb. beef rump roast, 2 c. water, 1/2 c. soy sauce, 1 t. dried rosemary, 1 t. dried thyme, 1 t. garlic powder, 3 to 4 peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, and hoagie rolls.

Here's all you do: Put the roast in your slow cooker, put everything else in on top of it (except the rolls, of course), cover and set for 5 to 6 hours. When it's time to eat, take out the bay leaf, remove the beef and shread it with forks. Strain the broth. Put the beef on the rolls and serve with the broth for dipping.

That's it!! Jessica and I particularly like it on sourdough bread (that's our fav) and Johnny ate his with a slice of delicious Boar's Head Cheddar Cheese.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Serving the King -- and you,

Jeanette

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Today I started getting ready for Christmas. Actually, last night I -- yes I, the person greatly afraid of heights -- got up in the attic to start getting the decor down. Today I shopped at the Garden Ridge. Oh my, did they have some fine things at the Garden Ridge...I picked up just a few! I also stopped at the Sam's Club to get some food for the p-a-r-t-y we're having for the sixteen year old this weekend. Ahhhhh, it's so good to get into the holiday spirit!

Between my 2 kids (the 2 remaining at home, that is) we have 5 basketball games this week. Because they don't play at the same location, Johnny and I are splitting up to see the games. The next few weeks will be super busy with the basketball. We even have a couple of games during the Christmas break from school, but it's cool. I am playing the part of super mom by cooking in the crock pot so we won't be at the drive thru at Wendy's tonight!

Well...I must go start cleaning and moving furniture and getting the decorations out...I am so excited....

Jeanette