Homemade Household Cleaner...

Today's "recipe" is a different kind than you're used to seeing here.

It's an EASY Homemade Household Cleaner.

I've been using this cleaner for YEARS.

Let me tell you it is the BEST.

It's the ONLY cleaner I use.  

I make four bottles.  

One under my kitchen sink and the other three under the bathroom sinks.  

I can only imagine how much money it has saved us since I've been using it.  

Give it a try!

Fill a spray bottle with the following:

2 Tbs. ammonia

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1/4 cup vinegar

Add enough water to fill the bottle. 

Spray and use and ENJOY!

Tuesday's Question...

I know it's been a WEEK since I've last posted.

It's been a little busy here at Walking on Sunshine.

The Colonel had a few days off since his trip to Kentucky.

We spent the last few days working around the house...

planting flowers, planting our vegetable garden and relaxing.

But on to more important things...this week's Tuesday's Question!

"What are 3 reasons why YOU can't die?"

I know the question is STRANGE, but play along, okay?

Here are my 3 reasons why I can't die...

1.  I am the only one in this household who knows how 

to get the ice cube unstuck from the ice maker.

Once in awhile an ice cube will get stuck in the ice maker in our freezer.

It looks something like this...

Now, imagine an ice cube all the way at the end,

because for some reason it's always in the end slot...

THE HARDEST TO REACH.

I really am the only one who knows how to take a wooden spoon

and hit the "stuck" ice cube so it falls out and the ice maker starts

producing ice again.  

SO difficult.

2.  I am the only one in this household who knows

how to make ice tea OR refill the water jug.

And the all important...

3.  I am the only one who knows how to change the tube of toilet paper.

So, please leave YOUR answers to this week's Tuesday Question.

I'd love to know why YOU can't die!

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday's Question...

This week's Tuesday's Question came to me yesterday

because of something we did as a family LAST week.

"What was the last movie you 

saw in a movie theater?"

Normally I would have to think really hard to answer this question 

because very rarely do we go to the movies.

They're just so expensive and the Colonel's schedule is so full

that we don't really have time to see movies on a regular basis,

not to mention that the closest theater that's NICE is a 35 minute drive.

HOWEVER,

that all changed last week because we saw 

not ONE but TWO movies.

Last Tuesday we went to see

The Avengers...

It was GOOD, but anything with Robert Downey Jr. lately is GOOD!

Then on Sunday, after church of course, we finally saw

The Hunger Games...

Michael insisted on waiting to see the movie until AFTER 

he finished reading the book.

I thought the movie was good, a little long, but good.

Here's a picture of Olivia and me waiting for the movie to start...

So, now it's YOUR turn.

"What was the last movie you saw in the movie theater?"

I'm heading to the airport this afternoon to pick up the Colonel.

He left yesterday morning to DRIVE a school van to Kentucky.

And today he FLIES home!

Sounds confusing, but that's life in the Army!

The cadets need the van for their summer training, which is done in Kentucky.

Enjoy your day!  

Scripture Sunday...

Four years ago my life came to a screeching stop and has not been the same since.

My father died.

Actually, it was four years ago yesterday, but I thought I would write about it 

today in my Scripture Sunday post

because my dad LOVED the Word of God.

When my dad was packing up his library to prepare to move to 

their new house, which is 3 houses down from our house, 

I asked my dad for a few of his sermon notebooks.

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you'll notice

that I've been incorporating some of my dad's sermons into my blog posts.  

You can read one HERE.

For today's Scripture Sunday, I thought I would share a favorite verse of my father's,

something he wrote in every Bible he gave as a gift.

It's written in mine.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: 

for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; 

to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

What a beautiful verse to think about today...

I am NOT ashamed!

The Bible in the entrance way of  Bethlehem Church...

the church my dad pastored for over 30 years in Queens, NY.

Enjoy your Sunday!  

I am linking up with Think on These Things on Lorraine's Blog again this Sunday.  

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake...

This week's Something Yummy for My Colonel's Tummy

is a really delicious CAKE.

I made this cake for my daughter came home from college a few weeks ago.

I found the original recipe HERE, on a new blog I follow,

All is Amazing.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake...

Ingredients:

1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix with pudding

1 cup milk

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

2 cups chocolate chips

Yes, you use a CAKE MIX.

Begin by combining the cake mix, eggs, peanut butter

 and milk until smooth and then add the chocolate chips...

Pour the batter into a cake pan, I used a bundt pan...

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or 

until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean...

NOW, for the icing!

The blog where I found the cake recipe did not include

a recipe for icing and I really wanted something a little nicer than canned icing.

The recipe I used is more of a GLAZE than icing.

BUT, it hardens up really nice and was so GOOD!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

4 TBS. unsweetened cocoa powder

3 TBS. milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.

Using a spoon, start drizzling the icing over the cake...

Now, doesn't this look like something

YOU want to make for your family this weekend...

Do you have any plans for the weekend?

I'm hoping to get back into our vegetable garden, but that will be AFTER the Colonel
gets home from a commissioning ceremony for a few of his cadets.

Whatever your plans, I hope the weather is good and you all have a GREAT time!  

Enjoy your day!  

  

Mark 1:35

The Benefits of Meditating on the Word of God

Mark 1:35...

"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, 

he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, 

and there prayed."

We all know that God speaks to us through His Word.

As we read the Bible and wait in the Lord's presence

the Holy Spirit will reveal God's truth to us.

But how and when does this happen?

Only through daily quiet time with God.

But how many of us use the excuse that life is too chaotic?

Or, the ever present,

 "I just don't have time to read my Bible and pray."

In reality, our lives are already pretty orderly.

We set aside time for three meals a day.

We set aside time to work, a time to quit work.

We set aside time to sleep and a time to wake up.

The list can go on and on, but yet often

the needs of our soul are often overlooked.

This often results in nervousness, tension, worry, 

unhappiness, frustration, burdened consciences and 

especially lost souls.

The above verse tells us that Jesus 
took the time

to meditate and pray.

Why is it such a struggle for us to 

 set aside time to meditate on God's Word?   

We need to stop thinking of excuses and schedule a

"Quiet-Time Break" for our souls.

Many of us find the morning to be the best time to meditate 

on God's Word and to spend time in prayer;

before the day's activity begins.

Others find a different time of day works best.

It matters not WHEN.

What matters is that we give our souls this break and 

time away from our busy schedules.

When we begin to meditate on God's Word on a daily basis,

God's powerful truths will be applied to our daily lives.

It will turn us fully away from all the things that displease the Lord.

The objective is to feed your soul

AND..

 to experience the presence of God.

I know that's what I want!

So how about you?

Are you going to find time to have a "Quiet-Time Break" today?

Psalm 63:1 is my prayer:

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..."

Adapted from a sermon by my father Rev. William J. Behr

Tuesday's Question...

We've had a few crazy, fun-filled days here at

Walking on Sunshine.

Need to catch my breath, but FIRST I need to ask you

this week's Tuesday's Question!

"Does your family have any pets?"

We DON'T...

However, that hasn't stopped a few uninvited "Guests" from

appearing around our house.

This "guest" showed up last summer while the Colonel

was away in Washington State with the cadets...

Yes, I had to set the trap myself...

But thankfully, our neighbor helped me transport our "guest"

to his new home, down by the river...

The year the Colonel was in Afghanistan, another "guest"came to visit, 

thankfully the Colonel was home on his 10 day 

break and HE set the trap this time...

YES, that's a SKUNK in the trap.

He was living UNDER our back porch.

I knew something was under there, just didn't think it was a skunk.

Thankfully, the Colonel was home and he set the trap and called 

a friend to come over and "take care" of our "guest."

Then this past March, we noticed another "guest" in our back yard.

Only this "guest" was slightly confused.

He kept roaming around the yard, digging holes.

He kept getting closer and closer to the back porch and I knew if we didn't

do something, he would make himself comfortable on our 

back porch furniture.

We knew he shouldn't be out in the daytime and we suspected from

his odd behavior that he was sick and perhaps had rabies.

So we called another friend, Nelson, who's 

a retired NYC police officer to help us...

YES, he is aiming his gun at another skunk...

Finally, after 3 days of digging holes in our yard,

with a little help, the skunk stopped...

So, let me know YOUR answer to this week's Tuesday's Question,

"Does your family have any pets?"

Did I mention that I'm originally from

 Queens, NY?  

Enjoy Your Day!  

Mother's Day...

19 years ago I celebrated my very first Mother's Day.

I still remember how nervous I was getting myself ready for church 

that morning; not to mention getting Olivia ready. 

Over the years I have come to LOVE Mother's Day.

I love spending the time with my children and especially

my Colonel; they always make the day very special for me.

There have been quite a few years that the Colonel 

has not been able to celebrate with us, but he always makes sure

the day is special for me.

This picture was taken a few years ago during a visit

to Washington DC.  We're standing in front of the WWII Memorial...

This picture was taken last November...

My love for these two children knows NO limit

and I am blessed beyond measure to have them call me MOM.

I love you Olivia and Michael.

Psalms 127:3

"Children are a heritage from the Lord..."

Proverbs 31:28

"Her children arise and call her blessed..."

Thank you LORD for blessing me.

I hope and pray you all are having a wonderful

Mother's Day!  

Today I am joining Think on These Things over at Lorraine's Blog.  Come join us!  

Bacon Cheese Potatoes...

The other day I mentioned on my Walking on Sunshine Facebook page

that I was trying a new recipe for dinner that I found HERE.

I was pretty excited about it and shared with everyone

a picture as a tease for today's post.

AND a lot of my friends and followers started getting excited as well.

And I'm still pretty excited because it turned out really good.

Actually better than good.

And it was so easy.

Bacon Cheese Potatoes...

And you make these potatoes in your CROCK POT.

Ingredients:

1/4 pound bacon, diced

2 medium onions, sliced (I omitted)

4 medium potatoes thinly sliced (I used RED potatoes)

1/2 pound cheese, thinly sliced (I used grated cheddar cheese)

salt and pepper (to taste)

butter (I used 2 tbs.)

green onions, optional

Begin by lining your crock pot with aluminum foil.

(I sprayed my crock pot first and then sprayed the aluminum foil)

Slice the potatoes and dice the bacon...

Start layering everything in the crock pot, beginning with the potatoes, 

then the bacon and cheese, sprinkling with salt and pepper.

I was able to get three layers.

Dot the top layer with the 2 tbs. of butter...

Cover with another piece of foil AND THEN THE CROCK POT LID
and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 6 hours.
My crock pot cooks really fast.  I always check after a few hours and if the
potatoes are fork tender, I know they're ready.  

Transfer the potatoes from the crock pot to a serving bowl and get ready to enjoy the

most DELICIOUS potato casserole ever...

I was really skeptical with this recipe.  I did not think it would work!

Silly me...obviously we enjoyed this recipe and I will be making this again soon.

I can see making this for a large group of people.

So EASY and so DELICIOUS.

It doesn't get any better than that!  

Let me know if you try this!  

Enjoy your day!

This recipe was chosen as a FAVORITE on:

AND Was a FAVORITE here too:

Hand Sanitizer...

This past Sunday we had communion in church.

I love taking communion and spending time quietly focusing on the Lord,

thanking Him for the sacrifice He made to cleanse me of my sins.

I especially enjoy when we sing an old hymn of the blood

and the cross while the ushers are passing around communion.

This past Sunday we sang, "Near the Cross."

It was beautiful.

HOWEVER...

Seeing how sick I've been lately, the following picture 

sums up WHAT I've been thinking of  

when communion is being passed around...

PLEASE tell me I'm not alone!

I find that when the plate with the wafers reaches me

I very carefully select my wafer all the while

wondering how many other people before me have touched 

the wafer I'm choosing.

And it doesn't help that our church recently switched 

the type of wafers we use for communion.  

They are very, very, very tiny.

They look like little pieces of Chicklets gum...

ONLY SMALLER!

Which makes it really hard to touch just the one YOU want!

Let me know what YOU think of the germs.

Enjoy your day!