Tools not Towels

Murray and I celebrated our 38^th wedding anniversary this week. I’m pretty sure anyway. For a year, Murray’s been saying we were in our 38^th year of marriage.

 

He says, “When you first get married, you can say you’re in your first year of marriage, right?”

 

So now, he’ll start saying we’re in our 39^th year, and I’ll just get confused again.

 

When we got married, we got lots of gifts. Especially towels. Lots and lots of towels. Murray started saying, “I’m going to tell people that for wedding gifts, they should give tools not towels.”

 

I guess we didn’t think we’d ever have to buy towels again. I’m not sure we have. Lately, I’ve started noticing holes in our towels, so I think we’re going to have to buy some for ourselves after all.

 

So, tools, not towels. What other gifts have I received in our 38 years of marriage?

 

Murray puts up with me. He often does things for me, which I had planned to do differently. I’m not very grateful.

 

Even in our 39^th year, he still calls me, “My lady love” and says I’m the love of his life.

 

I don’t seem to be able to stop myself—he still makes me laugh every day.

 

He does so much for all of us. I don’t thank him near enough.

 

He’s an enthusiastic cook, and baker. Yum yum.

 

When I’m sad and worried, he’s kind to me. There’s no one else I’d rather talk to.

 

What gifts has he given me over the years?

 

He trusted me to be a stay-at-home mom with our five kids. He’s always been my strongest supporter, having faith that I can do much more than I feel sure of with my disabilities.

 

When I was in the hospital for six weeks, he spent every day with me.

 

On the day my first book was published, he woke me that night with wonder in his voice. “Kathy, your book is on line.”

 

I don’t know how many more years God will give us together, but I know they’ll be full of gifts. Lord,             thank you for the gift of my sweet husband. 

Breakfast Casserole from Kathy's Kitchen

This is definitely a favorite around our house. I’ve never tried the ground mustard. That comment was from the original writer of this recipe.

 

TOTAL TIME

6hrs 30mins

PREP 30 MINS

COOK 6 HRS

Cooks while you sleep! Sounds perfect for a Sunday morning or holidays and great for company! Some fun variations of this recipe. Before cooking (during prep) you can add: chunks of sourdough bread, diced chilies, salsa, diced green onions. Serve hot with a glass of orange juice and a side of toast.

SERVINGS 8

UNITS US

1

(26 ounce) bag frozen hash browns

12

eggs

1⁄2

cup milk

1

tablespoon ground mustard

16

ounces sausage (maple, sage or regular sausage.)

1

teaspoon salt

16

ounces shredded cheddar cheese

2

garlic cloves (minced)

1

large onion

1⁄2

teaspoon pepper

1⁄4

teaspoon nutmeg

Fast. Easy. Delicious. Made in 30 minutes or less

DIRECTIONS

Spray crock pot and evenly spread hash browns at the bottom.

Crack 12 eggs in a large bowl.

Mix well (and slowly) using a whisk.

Add the milk.

Go ahead and sprinkle in the ground mustard. This might sound like a weird ingredient, but I've come to love (and use) this in most of my recipes.

Add plenty of salt -- and lots of fresh pepper. Mix well and set aside.

Cook the sausage on high heat, drain and set aside.

Add sausage on top of hash browns.

Is this enough cheese? Maybe? Probably. Throw the whole big bag in there.

Mix it up well. Or good, depending on where you're from.

Pour the egg mixture over everything in the crock pot. Using a wood spoon, even everything out so it's spread evenly.

        Turn the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Rerun: At the Feet of Jesus

                    I’ve been busy this week, and my mind has been whirling. On Thursday afternoon, I realized I didn’t have a blog post ready for the next day. So I found something to rerun.

 

June 12, 2016 and January 5, 2018

 

I have long believed in the power of the name of Jesus.

 

My husband Murry is a math tutor. He says he likes to tell people that once you have a decimal point, “You can add zeros after the last digit until Jesus comes, and it won’t change.”

 

Murray believes that there is power in using the name of Jesus.

 

Recently, in a book by one of my newest favorite authors, Jan Karon, whenever people needed to pray about a hard thing in their lives, and they couldn’t think what to say, they prayed simply, “Jesus.”

 

I started writing this piece in June of 2016, and from that day I wrote: “In church this morning, we were singing a song I didn’t know well, but when we came to the place where I knew to say ‘Jesus,’ I had a moment of joy.”

 

Often, as I sing a song with Jesus’ name, I find my heart calming and my face smiling.

 

Not too long ago, I started reading a book I didn’t really like. When the author began talking about her and her husband’s faith in Christ, I suddenly started liking the book more and relating better with the author.

 

There is such power in the name of Jesus.

 

A few weeks ago at church, we read from Luke 10, about Mary and Martha, and how Martha was worried about getting everything done. But Mary chose the good stuff or “what is better”, by sitting at the feet of Jesus. Our pastor demonstrated “the good stuff” by giving a bakery made cupcake in a box to a little boy in the crowd.

 

I want to not only know the power of the name of Jesus, and it is amazing, but I want to get the good stuff. I want to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him, and learn what he thinks is important for me to know.

 

I plan to spend extra time in the gospels this year, praying each day that God will help me open my ears to what Jesus has to say to me.

 

Luke 10:38-42: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Guest Author, Ann Harrison

 

Ann is a lovely new friend. I enjoyed her book. Thank you, Ann, for sharing with us.

 

My Devotional Writing Journey

By Ann Harrison

 

In late January 2025, as I was working on my second poetry book, God spoke to me during a 540 Writers Community networking session. “I need you to write a devotional to go along with this poetry book,” He whispered into my spirit.

“Wait, what?” I asked. “How?”

The foundation for a much larger book was laid out in my spirit. After journaling about it to make sure I heard what the Holy Spirit said to me, I put the book together one chapter and one devotion at a time.

 I wrote the devotions for my chapter on the aspects of prayer and communion with God, and other topics God told me to include in the book that would be entitled Seasons of a Writer’s Life. I wrote in the flow of the Holy Spirit at times. Yet, there were times when the words and/or the Bible verses associated with each devotion were hard to write. The more I struggled with the bigger book, the more I realized this devotional project was not a one and done book project. Although I thought after I wrote Seasons of a Writer’s Life, I would get back to my fiction, God had another plan.

 

A Prompting from the Holy Spirit to Invest in My Writing

In 2023, God initially told me to join Christian Book Academy, a paid membership for Christian writers at all stages of the writing process. This membership provides a platform for me to learn the steps for writing, publishing and marketing my books. Christian Book Academy is more than an online training center for aspiring authors, I am a member of a community of like-minded writers. These people support me in my writing journey. We pray for each other and hold one another accountable to make sure we finish our books and hit the publish button as God instructs us to do, instead of being stuck in our writing. I was unable to join Cristian Book Academy at first, due to accessibility issues. However, when I received a new computer for my birthday, I paid for a workshop on how to write a 21-day devotional.

After a few attempts at joining Christian Book Academy with my JAWS screen reader with no success, God told me to try using NVDA to join. I gave this a try, and voila! On March 14th, I was able to join for the free month. Due to my budget limitations, I received a half scholarship before the free month ended. Since joining Christian Book Academy, I’ve received the training, support, prayers and accountability I needed to see my debut mini devotional through, from start to finish and beyond with God’s help.

 

Breaking the Big Book Down

When I posted the link to my poetry book entitled The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart in the forums, it was suggested to me that I learn how to market this book. As I went through the North portion of the Marketing compass of the Christian Book Academy member’s area, God told me to break the big devotional into smaller books. This is how Praying Through The Seasons: Seven Aspects of Prayer and Communion with God was born.

 

I copied and pasted all the devotions I had written for the chapter on prayer and communion with God into a blank Word document. As I edited and prayed over each small devotion, I added more devotions to bring Praying Through the Seasons to a publishable word length. God provided the money for me to hire an editor through an editing client, and a friend of mine did the formatting and cover design.

I wanted to publish the book early, but God told me to publish Praying Through the Seasons on July 17,2025 to give time for formatting issues and the necessary corrections to be made.

 Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHS3BMWD

 

 

Ann Harrison is an author, poet and freelance editor who is totally blind. Aside from editing and writing, she loves to crochet while listening to podcasts or music. You can also find her with her hands in a book, reading on her electronic Braille display.

Her debut devotional is entitled Praying Through the Seasons: Seven Aspects of Prayer and Communion with God. She recently self-published a poetry book entitled The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart. She is currently working on the second book in her devotional series entitled Walking With God Through The Chapters.

Ann has been published in several anthologies, including a devotional entitled God Things: Hope for the Hurting, alongside Jen Lowry and fifteen other authors. She is also featured in the upcoming 540 Writers Community anthology. Aside from her work as a Children’s book author and poet, Ann is a professional writer and freelance content editor with Scrivenings Press and Elk Lake Publishing Inc. She currently lives with her daughter in a tiny house in Rochelle, GA.

To learn more about Ann and her work, visit her website at:

https://www.annharrisonauthor.com.

Summer Fruit Salad from Murray's Kitchen

Combine chopped apples, sliced grapes, sliced bananas and berries of your choice. Murray used blueberries, and we loved it.

 

        For dressing use honey, lemon juice and mayonnaise to suit your taste. This was a big hit in our home. 

Diamonds From Isaiah, chapter 1:1-10:

                            I heard someone say recently that they were not learned, but they loved to study the Bible. That’s me. No way am I a learned scholar, but I do love to be a student of the Bible.

 

I have enjoyed the book of Isaiah for years. I’ve seen many hopeful, gracious verses pop out from its pages. I thought I’d do a study where I’d graze through the chapters and share these diamonds that pop out at me. After reading chapter 1 again, I think I need to sift slowly through each sentence.

 

Isaiah 1

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!

    For the Lord has spoken:

“I reared children and brought them up,

    but they have rebelled against me.

 

Oh, Lord, I know I’ve rebelled against you. Forgive me. Help me.

 

3 

The ox knows its master,

    the donkey its owner’s manger,

but Israel does not know,

    my people do not understand.”

 

Lord, you call me your daughter. Forgive me that I don’t try to know you better.

 

4 

Woe to the sinful nation,

    a people whose guilt is great,

a brood of evildoers,

    children given to corruption!

They have forsaken the Lord;

    they have spurned the Holy One of Israel

    and turned their backs on him.

 

Jesus, I have to admit that so many times, I have turned my back on you.

 

5 

Why should you be beaten anymore?

    Why do you persist in rebellion?

Your whole head is injured,

    your whole heart afflicted.

6 

From the sole of your foot to the top of your head

    there is no soundness—

only wounds and welts

    and open sores,

not cleansed or bandaged

    or soothed with olive oil.

7 

Your country is desolate,

    your cities burned with fire;

your fields are being stripped by foreigners

    right before you,

    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.

8 

Daughter Zion is left

    like a shelter in a vineyard,

like a hut in a cucumber field,

    like a city under siege.

9 

Unless the Lord Almighty

    had left us some survivors,

we would have become like Sodom,

    we would have been like Gomorrah.

10 

Hear the word of the Lord,

    you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the instruction of our God,

    you people of Gomorrah!

 

Lord, in all of our waste, and injury, and rebellion, you continue to seek a remnant. I’ll still find diamonds in Isaiah. 

Guest Author, Erma Ullrey

 

Erma is a great author, friend, and critique partner. Every time I see this in her bio, I want to ask her about her chickens, but I keep forgetting.:) Thank you, Erma, for sharing with us.

 

JOURNALED WITH LOVE

By Erma M. Ullrey
emullrey@earthlink.net
https://onceuponaromance.substack.com

 

 

Remember the Christmastime stupor we all fall into each year? The one brought on by too many Hallmark-type movies, too much hot chocolate, and too little sleep?

 

Just before my eyes closed and my head bobbed for the umpteenth time, inspiration hit. What if I could write a novel à la You’ve Got Mail? The idea so intrigued me that I left behind my signature pound cake, overflowing with whipped cream, and rushed into my office.

 

… as spring warms to summer, Macie Grammerly and Ryan Tiggs meet, are attracted to each other, and then intensely dislike and mistrust one another in a desktop folder labeled Journaled With Love.

 

Ah the stuff of romance. J

 

Which means, the antagonist has to be lurking around the corner. It is said there is some good in everyone. The vilest sinner has something redeemable at his/her core.

 

Enter Macie’s mother, Mrs. Greta Grammerly (AKA Mrs. G). Oh, she is heartless. But she does have an Achilles’ heel. ... now, you don’t expect me to tell you what it is, do you?

 

Mrs. G is the reason “fate needs a little push,” as Judy tells her sister Betty in the movie White Christmas. In Journaled with Love, the encouraging push comes from Macie and Ryan’s sisters. The romantic matchmakers who love to cheer, connive, and meddle.

 

A journal lost on a bus takes us on a bumpy ride. Then acquisitions, keto foods, and Lila, a sweet old soul, help complete the journey from enemies to lovers.

 

 

Get your copy of Journaled With Love on Amazon July 16, 2025.
https://a.co/d/jaDemSA

 

The magnet story, Before Journaled With Love, is now available on BookFunnel

 

Erma Ullrey is a follower of Jesus Christ. Married for forty-four years she enjoys four wonderful children, three outlaws, and five precious grandchildren. She worked in the medical field for over twenty-five years. After completing her B.S.H.S., she became a health educator and received international credentials in childbirth education (I.C.E.A.) and lactation consulting (I.B.C.L.C.). She’s served as a women’s Bible study leader, and participates in a local book club as well as local and national writing groups.

Erma is an award-winning author. She posts encouraging blogs at https://merryheartink.substack.com/ and https://onceuponaromance.substack.com
and enjoys chatting with her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram friends. And she keeps chickens.