Buttered Rosemary Rolls - Without the Rosemary!

Yesterday, I made Pioneer Woman's Buttered Rosemary Rolls for a church function we had today.  My husband doesn't care too much for rosemary, so I just skipped that ingredient.  Here's how it went:


First, I prepared the cast iron skillets that I used by spraying them with Pam cooking spray.  I needed to make enough for about 20 people, so I used my small (8 inch), medium (10 inch) and large (11 inch) skillets.

(For the record, I think the rolls from the 8 inch pans turned out the best.)

Next, I placed the frozen Rhodes rolls in the pan, spaced evenly.

Because Pioneer Woman suggests cooking the rolls on the middle rack and my oven is not big enough to cook all of the rolls at the same time, I staggered the time that I put the frozen dough in the pans by about 20 minutes for each batch.

I basically just followed the directions on the bag.

I covered them with dish towels and let them rise for a good 5 hours.  My kitchen was a little chilly, so I also turned up the furnace!

Ta Da! 

I think I could have actually let them rise for another half an hour or so and they would have been a little fluffier.

The most important ingredient - Land O Lakes salted butter!  I pulled the butter out of the fridge a few hours prior to using it so it would be nice and soft when I microwaved it.  By the way, I think Land O Lakes is just the best butter ever!  I don't think my cardiologist would agree ha ha!

Then I smothered, brushed the rolls with this neat little brush that I picked up at the grocery store just for this recipe:

And the final touch, sea salt

Whoa, too much salt!  I was concentrating on taking the picture of salting the rolls, and it got away from me!  I just took a little spreading knife and scooted the extra off the roll and into the pan!

Yummy!

The finished product.

I always loved Rhodes Rolls at Thanksgiving, but usually had a hard time getting them to turn out right on a cookie sheet.  I think making these rolls in a skillet is just the trick to making them come out perfect!  And it is so easy.  I really have to thank Pioneer Woman for this recipe!  Thanks PW!

"Show Us Your Collections" - Butterflies & Snowmen, Part II

I didn't have a chance to get all the pictures taken in time for the original post, so here are a few more of my favorite butterfly things:

Welcome Plaque

Wall Art

Flower Arrangement w/butterflies

Hairclip

One of my very favorites. My husband surprised me with this book one day out of the blue.  It has the most vivid, beautiful photographs.

And, finally, one last snowman!  I got this one at Target, not at a garage sale. I waited until after Christmas, though, and got some really great stuff for at least 50% off!

Today, I made Pioneer Woman's Buttered Rosemary Rolls (minus the rosemary) for a share-a-dish we are going to after church tomorrow.  My husband loves these rolls.  Actually, he loves everything I've made from PW's new cookbook.  If you are in a rut and looking for some great new recipes to try out, I highly recommend getting a copy of her cookbook or checking out her website!  Have a great weekend!

Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Collections" Tour.....Snowmen and Butterflies Edition

Wow!  I am posting on Kelly's "Show Us Your Life" for the second week in a row!  I am starting to get the hang of blogging!  Last week was my very first post ever (just for Kelly's "Show Us Your Ministry" Tour) because Kelly inspired me to create this blog just to share what God has done in my life.  Thanks again Kelly! 

This is just the tip of the iceberg of my butterflies....note cards, stickers, china, more note cards.

Thanks to my friend Patty, I have a new love for snowmen! My husband and I love to garage sale, and people practically give snowmen away when you buy other stuff from them! Here are a few quick shots of my most recent acquisitions!

Somebody at work has mentioned the TV show "Hoarders".  I resemble that remark!

Our Wedding Story....Part 2 of 3

If you missed the beginning of our story... 
click here to read Part 1
click here to read Part 3 

So, as John was busy building the business, I was working for him full time after getting fired from a job that I loved (snowmobile dealership) and we became fast friends. 

We both had boys at around the same age (they were 5 & 7).  We were both single parents whose former partners were no longer involved in our sons' lives.  We both went to church, although, I admit, John was more committed than me.  I allowed myself an out, and it was that if anything was weird or felt funny, I was outta there!  Well, it didn't take long for God to begin to move near me (and within me too) and I bolted.   

I worked for John for about a year, until we had huge fight and I quit.  (Funny how those two events, quitting church and quitting John coincided.)  About a week after I quit working for John, I reluctantly answered an anonymous ad in the daily paper (no Craigslist or internet job sites back then!) for a CPA firm looking for a bookkeeper. 

I couldn't possibly imagine anything duller or more boring than working at a CPA firm.  It was the last place I would normally seek out a job, but I did have my son to think about feeding.  I was on the verge of accepting another offer when I got a phone call from the CPA asking me to come to his office for an interview.  I figured I might as well go check it out.  The worst thing that could happen is they wouldn't offer me a job, so no big deal either way.

During the interview, the CPA was extremely interested in knowing all about the work I did at my job previous to the one at the transmission shop.  You know, the one I was fired from. He asked me all kinds of questions and then he spilled his guts.  Little did I know, but I was actually being interviewed for the same job that I had been fired from a year earlier at the competing dealership in town! 

The CPA asked me to go across town to the dealership and interview with his three other partners!  I was so elated!  I just knew I had the job in the bag!  And I did.  I recently had my 10 year anniversary there this last Thanksgiving. 

It was another huge blessing from God, in many ways.  I was able to get group health insurance through the dealership, whereas John was too small an operation and couldn't afford such benefits.  It turned out that I needed it.  I've had many illnesses and eventual surgeries over the last 10 years, but more on that subject later!

I don't remember exactly how it happened, but John and I made up from our fight after I quit and I resumed being his part-time bookkeeper.  It was probably around January 15th of that next year!  Ha!  (For those of you not familiar with bookkeeping, IRS quarterly payroll returns and employee statements are due at the end of every January).  No matter how many fights we had over the years, and there have been some doosies too, one thing was always guaranteed, John and I would be reconciled by the end of each quarter!  (Ha Ha! Reconciled! Accountant's joke, get it?)

It's getting late and I need to get some rest...I promise to continue Part III this weekend early next week! 

Also, I am serious about the Bibles.  My husband has said many times, "If just two other people in town were doing what I do (Bible distribution), we'd have the whole town saved by now!"  Please help me get the word out about the Bibles.  Spread the word at your church!  Recommend my site to your blog-reading friends, or even your blog-writing friends!  Let's do something together to further the Kingdom of God!

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." - Mark 16:15

HI TO MY NEW FRIEND JUSTINE IN MISSOURI!

Hey Justine,


It was so nice talking to you today.  I am posting a few nice Alaskan pictures for you.  I hope your dream of visiting Alaska comes true some day! 

(I met Justine today at work when the phone lines got crossed up!  She was calling an 800 number that was mis-directed to my work and I happened to answer the phone when she called and we had a nice chat.)

Need a Bible?

If you or someone you know needs a Bible, please contact me at:


biblesforanchorage(at)yahoo.com


It's ok if you don't live in Anchorage!  I am committed to spreading God's word.  I will ship a Bible to you no charge.  I don't want to miss an opportunity to help someone obtain a Bible if they desire to have one. 

If you have your own ministry and need a large volume of Bibles, we might be able to work something out!  Email me with the details and I will be in touch. 

Please check out the link to the Sweet Sleep blog on my blog roll, or go here.  Sweet Sleep is a non-profit organization that goes into war torn, poverty stricken, desolate countries and provides bed, blankets, mosquito nets and Bibles to the orphaned children.  These kids literally have nothing to sleep on but the ground or a very worn, old thin mat-thing. But Sweet Sleep is doing something about that, in Jesus' name!

The lady who started the Sweet Sleep organization, Jen, is an absolute sweetheart.  I just adore her.  I can't imagine how heart wrenching it must be to do the work she does.

She is in Haiti (to help earthquake victims) right now and I'm sure she could use your prayers in processing all that she has seen and experienced over the last several days and in the days to come.  Thanks!

Sonic Burger....I Miss You

An Open Letter to Sonic Burger Drive-In Restaurants ~

Dear Sonic Burger,

Why do you despise me so?  Don't you know that it is cruel to tease me like this?  I mean, come on.  You have to stop doing this to me. 

You know what I'm talking about.  It's your commercials.  On my TV.  On MYTV?  You know I can't have you (because there are NO SONIC BURGERS IN ALASKA) so please stop!   Don't you know the torture I suffer for knowing how I took you for granted all those years when I could just hop in the car and be in your neat little angled drive-up window in a few measly minutes?  I'm sorry.

I know it's not your fault that I no longer live in Texas and can't have you anymore....but seriously, haven't you heard that people in Alaska consume something like 5 times the national average amount of ice cream each year?   We love ice cream up here.  I don't blame you for not knowing.  I'm sure it was just an oversight and now that I have been so kind as to bring it to your attention, you will rectify this problem, right?  That's a lot of cherry slushies is all I'm sayin'.

I would trade Star Bucks in a heart beat for you, Sonic Burger.  (Sorry Pioneer Woman) 

Love,

I am so excited!

I know I said my next post was going to be about my first date with my husband, but I have to share real quick that my husband has been asked to speak at our church on Sunday! He is going to talk about Availability. As in God uses those who make themselves available. It should be good, because he is gifted in explaining things to people in ways that are pertinent to their lives and they can understand, plus he is a pretty funny guy, I just love him so much!

On one other note, I have developed a terrible pain in my right wrist and am afraid that it could be the beginning of carpal tunnel. If so, I really feel for those who have suffered with it for a long time because I never could have imagined how incredibly painful it really is. I'm going to pick up a wrist brace tomorrow to see if that will help. I will definitely be praying for others afflicted with this syndrome and I would covet your prayers, if you feel so inclined to pray for me. I have a lot of typing to do to continue telling our story and I think that Satan is feeling threatened by my newfound platform to the world. It must mean that God has something great in mind for this blog!

Just for fun, below is a picture of me and my son, William, from circa 1995 when we visited my grandparents in Denison, Texas (where I was also born). William was four or five in this picture.  He was so sweet!  I believe we were playing Horsie.  William was wearing my grandfather's cowboy hat.  My grandfather was a real cattle rancher.   I miss the pitter-patter of William's little feet. Today, he is 19, and sadly, we are estranged. It breaks my heart. But I have hope because my faith is in the one who restores all:  my redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed weekend.  I will post again as soon as I'm able to type!

Show Us Your Life Tour - Part 1 of 3 of Our Wedding Story

I started this blog today just to post on Kelly's "Show Us Your Ministry" tour! My name is Rachel. My wonderful husband, John, and I live in Anchorage, Alaska. We have an amazing story to share about God. How He has worked in our lives, how He has blessed us and healed us, both physically and emotionally and how we are trying to be faithful servants and fulfill the Great Commission in His name. I have never blogged before today and I was inspired by Kelly's (from Kelly's Korner) upcoming "Show Us Your Ministry" tour. I am excited to start chronicling the progress in our ministry through this blog. Hopefully, other Christians will catch our vision and start a similar ministry in their own cities.

Our whole story is very long and I will post a more of it in future posts because right now I just want to get this up in time for Kelly's tour tomorrow! Thank you Kelly for inspiring me to blog! 

(click here for Part 2)
(click here for Part 3)

For now, I will just give you a brief overview:

My husband started an auto transmission repair business in 1997 with a partner, a man who had been a life-long friend. Like most small businesses that are starting out, this was no different. They struggled in the beginning. My husband went without paychecks many times because he had to invest in the business.    Plus, the operating costs were overwhelming, advertising costs were ridiculous.   And there were issues in the partnership.  They ending up dissolving the partnership and my husband retained ownership of the shop.  All of this was happening in his business life, and his personal life was crumbling too. His previous wife had an extra marital affair and decided to leave him for her boyfriend. She also left him with her 16 year old son (from a previous relationship) and their 5 year old son.  It completely devastated him.  I came to work for him part time during this time of transition out of his relationship with his business partner and his wife.

Flash forward about a year and I was working in a job that I loved. I was also struggling to support my 6 year old son as a single mother. One day I went into my office when I arrived at work and on my desk was a letter of resignation from my boss. The letter was addressed from me to him. I was devastated because I loved my job and I needed the income. I had to miss a day of work because my son was sick, it happened to be a Saturday and my supervisor had to be called in, in my place, which did not make her happy. She had tremendous favor with the boss and the rest is history. Little did I know how God was beginning a work in my life that day!  That woman did the best thing in the world for me and I had no clue how losing my job could turn into such a good thing!

I went straight to John's transmission shop to share this great injustice with him.  I had been doing bookkeeping work for him part-time for about a year. We had started to form a friendship since his divorce, and with both of us being single parents, we had a lot in common. Even though he didn't need another full time employee, he offered me a full time position right there on the spot!  I had no idea at the time, but it was a huge blessing from God! 


John had been an out-of-practice Christian for most of his adult life, though he believed in Jesus and God. He was crushed when his wife left him and searched out consolation and answers in every place from the bar to the Bible. It was during this time of searching that he read in Hebrews 10:25 the instruction to not forsake the gathering together of believers, especially as the end times draw near. Then one day, the Lord brought a man by the name of Frank Hobbs into the shop. He invited John to his church and John accepted his invitation and went to church that Sunday.

John liked the church so he started going back.  (That began the process that would heal his broken heart and mold him into a wonderful Christian man, who is the most incredible example of goodness I have ever seen in my life.)  


Something John had read in the Bible struck a cord in him: You will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16. John realized he had no fruit, and he wanted fruit! So he thought he would order 10 Bibles and hand them out so he would have 10 pieces of fruit. He wanted something to show God on his judgement day. He did not want to be empty handed before the Lord.  


When the Bibles arrived, John opened the box.  To his amazement, I asked John if I could have one, and he was surprised at how eager I was to receive it. That was the first Bible John ever gave away.

I was a way out-of-practice Christian all of my teenage years and all of my adult life to that point. I struggled with faith in God in my early twenties and even decided at one point that there was no God.  I only did it to justify my sin. I was completely lost and little by little, through working for John and becoming his friend, I got my faith back.  After a while, John invited me to church and I accepted his invitation.

It took us each a while to come into alignment with God's instruction to us in the Bible on how we should live and His will for our lives, but day by day, we both tried and improved little by little.  We were not (and are not!) perfect, but we had stopped going down the paths we were on and turned around and turned to God.  (He was right there behind each of us with His arms wide open, in case you were wondering.)  

 All 10 Bibles were given away that day.  That shocked John that they all went in one day.  Next, he ordered 50 Bibles and those went quickly too.

Soon after, John felt driven to give away one Bible to every resident in Anchorage, population 300,000 (est.). To save the whole town. He wants to save the whole town.

That was about 12 years ago. When John and I married in 2005, he had given away about 50,000 Bibles. Today, from our little humble, oily, greasy, dirty auto shop, we have distributed approximately 110,000 Bibles all around the globe.  Or I should say God has distributed approximately 110,000 Bibles all around the globe.  My prayer is the Father will use this blog to glorify His name and save souls.  If we can reach the nations in His name, that will be amazing.

Next I will tell you about our first date. Hint: it was also our Wedding Day!

(Below is our wedding picture, with our Pastor in the background!)

P.S. Would any of you like to have 10 pieces of fruit or more?  You can.  It's easy.