Keep Your Fork...Best Yet to Come!

There are many versions of this "story" around but this is the one that I like the most so I thought I would share it during this holiday season. The holidays are not all about gifts but more about our relationships with Jesus, our family and friends! Our relationship with Jesus, God's Son being the most important one of all!! Make sure that this holiday season you are sure that you have a personal and real relationship with God's Son!! Merry Christmas!!

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.

"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork the best is yet to come."

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there for them, even when you need them more. For you never know when it may be their time to "Keep their fork." Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
~~~Author Unknown~~~

Bible Crafts/Activities Resources

Danielle's Place--hundreds of inexpensive crafts and activities for children. Many of the crafts and activities on this site are Bible-based and are great to use in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, preschool, and home school. (some areas of the site is for subscribing members only)



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Character/Values Study Resources

Character Counts –free resources of character lessons

Character Education Network –ready to use curriculum and resources

Teaching Values –learn values through story telling.

Character Traits Journal–Bible study on character traits, includes study helps, projects, and ideas to apply the character quality.

Christian Character and Exploring the Bible--Bible lessons, exploring the Bible answers

Character Studies 

Kids of Integrity --moral focus character lessons

Bible Stories/Lesson Resources

Children's Chapel – links, bible stories, memory verses, and resources

Sermon for Kids –bible story with activities, get a free newsletter subscription with the story and activities enclosed.

Christian Answers for Kids –Bible based coloring pages along with lesson plans and stories

Children Bible Lessons–Bible lessons with worksheets and memory verses

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays

Another Tuesday is upon us so it is time for Kitchen Tip Tuesdays over at Tammy's Recipes.

My dh gets me up every day at 7am to fix his lunch for him. He loves for me to fix his lunch! He loves to take leftover dinners in his lunch. Not only does it save us money cause he eats out less but it is also a way for me to show him that I love him. Needless to say getting up that early most days is not my idea of fun! My brain is in a fog so it is hard to think straight!

So I decided that when I go to put leftovers from a dinner away. I would use some of my containers that fit into his personal size cooler that he uses as his "lunchbox". So I use either disposable plastic containers(that we wash and reuse) or tupperware containers to put homemade tv dinners in for his lunch. The containers are not divided containers just regular storage containers that can go in the microwave. One of my favorites is Ziploc brand Snap N' Seal containers. They have a "salad size" container that works great for a meat and a side dish. I cut up the meat and make sure that there is even butter(if needed) on the rice or potato so that it is ready for him to pop in the microwave at work. Any veggie or fruit or dessert leftovers, I put into their own single serve container or ziploc sandwich baggie.

Then I have these containers stacked in the fridge so that it is just a matter of pulling out the containers on the top of the stack and slipping them in his lunchbox. So despite my foggy morning brain, I can still get his lunch ready for him to go in the morning without really having to think which leftovers need to go in his lunch.

Also having these containers/meals already made up makes life a little easier on everyone else. Because if there is more than one serving of dinner leftovers the rest of us know that it is fair game to eat as a snack or for a lunch for those of us at home. It also makes my fridge not looked so cluttered and items don't get to the back of the fridge and forgotten.

So there is my kitchen tip today, head over to Tammy's for more tips.

Menu Plan Monday

**This is just a plan and plans have the ability to change at the cook's discretion! Last week, the menu was great and on target! I tried twice baked potatoes as my something new for the week and served them with oven fried chicken. Dh and I loved them! As for the kids, they would just prefer me to stick with plain old mashed potatoes. Dh loved them so much that he has been eating the leftovers as snacks throughout the week. As for this week's plan, I am still working off meats that I have in my freezer. Along with it being a bit of short week with dh and I having a date night on Tuesday night and Christmas dinner on Saturday with out of town family.

Lunches listed below are for the kids and I, dh's lunches are not included as he normally will just take what leftovers are available.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus, go check others out at Organizing Junkie's site!**

Sunday(12-16)
Breakfast: eggs, hashbrowns, muffins, sausage links and bacon

Lunch:Totino's pizza rolls

Dinner: Christmas party @ church

Snack: no snack due to the party!

Monday(12-17)
Breakfast: cereal and toast

Lunch: PB&J or tuna sandwiches, chips and carrots.

Dinner: Creamy Chicken over rice, peas, and leftover biscuits

Snack: yogurt or "snack basket"

Tuesday(12-18)
Breakfast: pancakes from freezer, leftover sausage links

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: kids=chicken nuggets, fries, carrots; dh and I= date night plus finishing Christmas shopping!!!

Snack: "snack basket"

Wednesday(12-19)
Breakfast: cereal and muffins

Lunch: sandwich or leftovers

Dinner: burgers and fries

Snack: mystery snack--going to be doing Christmas baking this week so the kids will be able to have a sample for snack!

Thursday(12-20)
Breakfast: waffles, sausage and fruit

Lunch: chicken nuggets and chips

Dinner: Chicken Veggie Stew and biscuits (will be making some into a potpie for dh)

Snack: "snack basket"

Friday(12-21)
Breakfast: bagels and yogurt

Lunch: leftovers or sandwiches and chips

Dinner: Roast, carrots and potatoes

Snack: homemade chocolate shakes

Saturday(12-22)
Breakfast: "Cook's Choice"

Lunch: ???????(its the weekend, anything goes! LOL)

Dinner: Christmas dinner @Mom's

Snack: popcorn

Singing Sunday

This song basically sums up what I woke up to this morning!!! Overnight, we got about 5 inches of new snow! So instead of rushing to dig ourselves out to go to church, we stayed home and enjoyed relaxing and looking out at the fresh snow.

Winter Wonderland
Dick Smith, Felix Bernard 1934

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
when you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
the plans that we've made,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Walking in a winter wonderland,
walking in a winter wonderland.