Friday, March 28, 2008
so many things . . .
There are so many things that I'd like t blog about right now, but this wedding is imminent and so my "deep thoughts" are getting pushed aside for now!! More later . . .
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Our Easter
It turned out to be one of the nicest Easter's we have ever had. We had decided that we weren't gonna do the traditional Easter Basket thing. We wanted to focus on Jesus. Although we always say that, the kids still wake up Easter morning and say, "What did we get??" That is normal. Instead of that temptation, we woke up and talked about Jesus and the resurrection all day. It was awesome conversation b/w all of us. Our minds weren't distracted with gifts, (as harmless as they are).
We were graciously invited out to dinner with another family and that was fabulous. We were truly thankful for the day and all that it meant to our family.
We were graciously invited out to dinner with another family and that was fabulous. We were truly thankful for the day and all that it meant to our family.
Friday, March 21, 2008
"Why did Jesus have to die?"
Every year one of the kids asks me why Jesus HAD to die!! I try to explain it as theologically as their little minds can handle, but yesterday a vivid illustration helped explain it to them. During our devotion time my husband was reading
Matt.8:1-4
1When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured[b] of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
We decided to look in the Old Testament and see what a person would have to do if he was healed of a disease. Are you ready for this??
Leviticus 14:1-33
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "These are the regulations for the diseased person at the time of his ceremonial cleansing, when he is brought to the priest: 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine him. If the person has been healed of his infectious skin disease, [a] 4 the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. 5 Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. 6 He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the infectious disease and pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields.
8 "The person to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. After this he may come into the camp, but he must stay outside his tent for seven days. 9 On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair; he must shave his head, his beard, his eyebrows and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.
10 "On the eighth day he must bring two male lambs and one ewe lamb a year old, each without defect, along with three-tenths of an ephah [b] of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and one log [c] of oil. 11 The priest who pronounces him clean shall present both the one to be cleansed and his offerings before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
12 "Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, 16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times. 17 The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD.
19 "Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for him, and he will be clean.
21 "If, however, he is poor and cannot afford these, he must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, together with a tenth of an ephah [d] of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons, which he can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
23 "On the eighth day he must bring them for his cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, before the LORD. 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the LORD. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, which the person can afford, 31 one [e] as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the one to be cleansed."
32 These are the regulations for anyone who has an infectious skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for his cleansing.
That's why we NEED Jesus!! He gave us much more than we even realize!! The kids were in AWE when He read that section to them. They thought that it was much better to us to have Jesus!! Now he can be our one and only sacrifice!! I am thankful for what He did for us on this day, Good Friday, more than 2000 years ago!
Matt.8:1-4
1When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured[b] of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
We decided to look in the Old Testament and see what a person would have to do if he was healed of a disease. Are you ready for this??
Leviticus 14:1-33
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "These are the regulations for the diseased person at the time of his ceremonial cleansing, when he is brought to the priest: 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine him. If the person has been healed of his infectious skin disease, [a] 4 the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. 5 Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. 6 He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the infectious disease and pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields.
8 "The person to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. After this he may come into the camp, but he must stay outside his tent for seven days. 9 On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair; he must shave his head, his beard, his eyebrows and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.
10 "On the eighth day he must bring two male lambs and one ewe lamb a year old, each without defect, along with three-tenths of an ephah [b] of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and one log [c] of oil. 11 The priest who pronounces him clean shall present both the one to be cleansed and his offerings before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
12 "Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, 16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times. 17 The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD.
19 "Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for him, and he will be clean.
21 "If, however, he is poor and cannot afford these, he must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, together with a tenth of an ephah [d] of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons, which he can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
23 "On the eighth day he must bring them for his cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, before the LORD. 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the LORD. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, which the person can afford, 31 one [e] as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the one to be cleansed."
32 These are the regulations for anyone who has an infectious skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for his cleansing.
That's why we NEED Jesus!! He gave us much more than we even realize!! The kids were in AWE when He read that section to them. They thought that it was much better to us to have Jesus!! Now he can be our one and only sacrifice!! I am thankful for what He did for us on this day, Good Friday, more than 2000 years ago!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Vinegar is a GNAT-TRAP
Something was really tasty the last few days in the house because the gnats have been hanging out like crazy!! I was hoping they would just die off or something. Then today, I was cleaning and put some vinegar on the counter in a cup. All of a sudden there were like 20 gnats diving in for their last swim!! LOL! I never new that it would take care of my gnat problem! Cool!! I guess I "discovered" a new home remedy!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
It's Official
I finally have clearance to share our good news about Shannon's job. He will be helping to start a non-profit organization in Wesley Chapel that will be focused on giving back to teachers. He will be doing fund raising for the foundation and who knows what else! He will have opportunities to be creative and that is one of his biggest strengths. (But at his current job, there is little or no avenue for that!!) He will be doing all kinds of awesome things!! I am sooo proud of him and what lies ahead!
Lord, we put our faith in you! This is a big "step of faith" and we believe that you will never leave us. You know the plans you have for us! Help us to put our faith where we say it is!! Amen!
Lord, we put our faith in you! This is a big "step of faith" and we believe that you will never leave us. You know the plans you have for us! Help us to put our faith where we say it is!! Amen!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Forgetting . . .
I keep forgetting stuff . . . Does that mean I'm too busy? I am not usually like this!! I write most things down, so I shouldn't be forgetting like this . . . I know what it is!! I sit down to do something (or stand up) and I get called in to wipe a bottom, help with a math problem, or answer the phone and in the meantime I don't do what I was originally planning to do!!! Sometimes I look around and I think, "I didn't leave that there!!" But as I was putting it away, I got called away, and then when I was in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, etc I see something else that needs to be done . . . so I do it!! All the while I forget to do what I was doing a few minutes prior . . . Any ideas about what it will take to get my mind more streamlined??
Friday, March 14, 2008
Planning a Wedding Shower
My little sister is getting married in 3 weeks!! WOW! Seems like just yesterday we were popping zits and stealing each others clothes!! Now we have definitely moved on to more mature things!! I am just so happy for her! She has finally found someone she loves and who loves her too!! I know that they will have a happy life together!! . . . . but until the "happily ever after . . . " We have a wedding to plan and I think I am going insane trying to remember all the details!! As the Matron of Honor I have a hefty job of making sure she looks good!!!!! I know it will happen and it will be beautiful . . . but ya know time is running out!! The big day is April 5 at sunset!! I can't wait!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Jokes from Carley
What do you call a fly with no wings?
a walk
How does a pig get to the hospital?
in a HAMbulance
Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
because he felt crummy
What does a bee use to do his hair?
a honeycomb
Why did the hippo cross the road?
because it was the chicken's day off
Knock Knock Who's there?
Little Old Lady
Little Old Lady WHO??
I didn't know you could yodel!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Curry Soup - a sweet surprise
I am constantly looking for something new and simple to feed my family! I can't afford to take too big a risk either b/c if 1 or 2 of them don't like it, then my husband is stuck taking it to work for several days in a row!! So a friend told me about this soup that uses applesauce?!?!?! I thought that was interesting and I thought my gang could handle it!! So here it is:
Vegetable oil
1/2 c chopped onions
2 t curry powder
3 1/2 c chicken broth
1/2 c uncooked rice (I used brown)
salt & pepper
2 c bite sized chunks of chicken
1 c of unsweetened applesauce
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
1/2 c heavy cream, half & half, or sour cream (not milk)
1c chopped carrots
1 c chopped celery
1. Heat oil in stock pot and add onion and curry. Saute over med heat till onions are translucent.
2. Add broth, rice, carrots, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer long enough to cook the rice (20-40 min)
3. Stir in chicken applesauce, and parsley. Cover and simmer 5 more min.
4. Remove from heat and add cream and serve!!
*Most of my family loved it! One of my munchkins didn't care for it so she put lots of parmesan on it and then she ate it just fine! (don't ask!!) Everyone else loved it!!! I put crackers or biscuits in it and it is wonderful!! My husband really liked it so he was kind of hoping that no one liked it so he would have it all to himself!! Oh well!! I was glad to make something out of my normal routine!!!
Vegetable oil
1/2 c chopped onions
2 t curry powder
3 1/2 c chicken broth
1/2 c uncooked rice (I used brown)
salt & pepper
2 c bite sized chunks of chicken
1 c of unsweetened applesauce
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
1/2 c heavy cream, half & half, or sour cream (not milk)
1c chopped carrots
1 c chopped celery
1. Heat oil in stock pot and add onion and curry. Saute over med heat till onions are translucent.
2. Add broth, rice, carrots, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer long enough to cook the rice (20-40 min)
3. Stir in chicken applesauce, and parsley. Cover and simmer 5 more min.
4. Remove from heat and add cream and serve!!
*Most of my family loved it! One of my munchkins didn't care for it so she put lots of parmesan on it and then she ate it just fine! (don't ask!!) Everyone else loved it!!! I put crackers or biscuits in it and it is wonderful!! My husband really liked it so he was kind of hoping that no one liked it so he would have it all to himself!! Oh well!! I was glad to make something out of my normal routine!!!
Friday, March 7, 2008
God is AMAZING
I know most of us know this to be true, but when you wait upon His blessings . . . it's gonna be big!!! You can't fathom or imagine what He can do!! You can dream of great things . . . but you can't dream that big!!
I can't give details yet, but I will say that something amazing is on the horizon in this Family!! Shannon is being handed an amazing set of circumstances, where he will be able to get out of his box and shine!! I am soooo excited for him!!! I should probably keep quiet for now, but I just can't help myself!!! It is going to be an amazing journey!!
Thank you, Lord for giving us patience in the valley and strength in the dark!! You are faithful forever and I want to continue to journey with You so that I can be all you intended. I know that you still have a lot to do in me and I will know be still and know that You are GOD!!! I love you, Lord!! I am ready!! I will go!!
I can't give details yet, but I will say that something amazing is on the horizon in this Family!! Shannon is being handed an amazing set of circumstances, where he will be able to get out of his box and shine!! I am soooo excited for him!!! I should probably keep quiet for now, but I just can't help myself!!! It is going to be an amazing journey!!
Thank you, Lord for giving us patience in the valley and strength in the dark!! You are faithful forever and I want to continue to journey with You so that I can be all you intended. I know that you still have a lot to do in me and I will know be still and know that You are GOD!!! I love you, Lord!! I am ready!! I will go!!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
To be Blind
My kids continue to amaze me! Carley told me that it would be cool to be blind! When I asked her how she thought that would be cool?? (with all my wisdom . . .) She said b/c then you wouldn't be able to judge people by the way they look!! You would have to get to know them before you decide if you like them!!!
WOW!! My daughter didn't know what powerful words she was speaking! I proceeded to tell her that God is blind to the way we look b/c He sees our hearts!! It was a teaching moment . . . one I will treasure!
WOW!! My daughter didn't know what powerful words she was speaking! I proceeded to tell her that God is blind to the way we look b/c He sees our hearts!! It was a teaching moment . . . one I will treasure!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Words That Spill Out
Yesterday the kids and I were sitting around the table and Carter, 20 months, spilled his cup of water! He likes to drink out of a regular cup (not a sippy cup) like his 2 older siblings. So I usually give him a cup with a tiny bit of water to avoid a BIG mess. I always know there will be some sort of mess, though!! Anyway, as he spilled his water, Camden 5, said "Mom, when Carter spilled his water, it reminds me of saying bad words (he meant words that aren't nice). You can't get the water back in the cup and you can't take the words back!!"
That kid is the child of a theologian!!! What an amazing thought!! Our words have the power of death and life (Prov 18:21)!! I was so impressed with his comparison! So now every time Carter spills his water (at least 7-10x per day) Camden reminds us not to say "bad words" because you can't take them back!!
That kid is the child of a theologian!!! What an amazing thought!! Our words have the power of death and life (Prov 18:21)!! I was so impressed with his comparison! So now every time Carter spills his water (at least 7-10x per day) Camden reminds us not to say "bad words" because you can't take them back!!
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The Hogan Clan
