Preparing for the New Year - Un-Traditional Black-Eyed Peas and Greens

I woke up early this morning to find out that it had snowed.

Snow covered cows taking shelter from the blowing snow.
They all left once the sun rose above the mountains.

Preparing for New Years Day and the New Year...

I started prepping for the new year early this year. I want to start the new year off on a good note. I cooked a pot of black-eyed peas and greens for New Years Day. ✅I'm pretty sure I would be hard pressed to find any mustard greens around here, so I will use cabbage and kale. 

Finding frozen or canned black-eyed peas this time of the year in the past has been impossible. I did find one last bag of old peas one year that took forever to cook. I do not want to make that mistake again. Azure Standard has the best tasting peas that I have ever had. I will have to buy a bigger bag the next time I place an order. I may have to make another pot if I don't stay out of them. They are just delicious, and I haven't even dressed them up them yet. 

This recipe is spot on even at this altitude
which is a bit surprising.

We will also be having beef sausage, fried potatoes, sweet potatoes, greens, salad and cornbread alongside the black-eyed peas. You know, a real southern style fills the table up kind of meal. Maybe I could talk Number One Husband into making his grandmother's baked chocolate pudding. It is a really interesting, sweet desert. I'm sure it was a Great Depression era desert made with milk, eggs, butter, flour, sugar and cocoa. 

Why do we eat black-eyed peas and greens on New Years? 

I know why we eat them, it's because we like them, and we are southerners. It is a tradition of ours that we enjoy. For us, we like to start the new year off by eating healthy. It's kind of like the tradition of eating turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving. Others have superstitious reasons for eating black-eyed peas and greens along with other things. We don't buy into the magic pea theory, nor do we participate in those kinds of traditions. 👀👀👀 

Black-eyed peas cooked with smoked beef bacon fat, salt and pepper. I will add onions,
garlic, tomatoes, peppers and a splash of vinegar and cook them a bit more before serving.

Greens - Cabbage, kale, beef sausage, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, with a pinch of sugar
and a splash of vinegar. We actually had a bowl for a late breakfast along with homemade bread.
I always order beans and greens with cornbread and chow chow at Cracker Barrel.
 It's the best thing on their menu in my opinion.

Last minute prep.

I put some mung beans in a jar to soak for sprouts. I'm not sure if they will be ready on New Years Day, but soon after that we will add them to salads, smoothies, Super Ramen and more. Another healthy choice. ✅

We have started having healthy teas using herbs and spices to boost our immune systems. Even Number One Husband is participating in my hot drink concoctions. He does not drink hot coffee or tea, so this is a tough one for him. ✅

I also prepared some homemade Basic Electrolyte Powdered Drink Mix. You can find my recipe here: Homemade Electrolyte Sports Drink Mix Staying hydrated is so important to keep our bodies functioning properly. It is hard to stay hydrated in this climate and at this altitude. ✅ 

Other preparations...

I spent some time today filing 2024 away. I printed out a new calendar for 2025. ✅ I failed to pick one up the last time I was in town, so I found a printable freebie that is perfect for our needs. And did I mention that it was free? I still need to fill in all of our important dates and times. I usually do this on New Years Day along with the last of the filing. 

Every year I...

I set up my study binder and filed last year's studies/notes away. I spend quite a bit of time throughout the year deciding on next the year's studies. This year I just wasn't sure what to do for 2025. I finally decided this past week. The last week of the year I might add. ✅

After much thought, my final choices for my 2025 Bible study and devotion are Grace for The Moment Devo/Journal and reading through the entire Bible using the Abide Bible. 

"Grace for the Moment Journal." Lucado shares timeless, inspirational thoughts for everyday life. With 365 entries and specific thought-provoking questions, "Grace for the Moment Journal" is ideal for daily reading and writing. Excerpts from his extensive writings, paired with a verse of Scripture, emphasize the help and hope of God in everyday moments. 

I found the devotion book at a thrift store earlier in the year. I ordered the Abide Bible about a week ago after months of going back in forth on the matter in my mind. I found a great price on one and put it on my watchlist and within hours I received an offer, and they accepted my counteroffer. I picked it up from the post office today. ✅ I look forward to reading through the Abide Bible using the features and techniques that were developed by BibleGateway and Taylor University. This will be my main study for the whole year. 

 

• 

Features Include:

• Praying Scripture: Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.
• Picture It: Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.
• Journaling: Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice as you ponder.
• Engage Through Art: Consider a classic piece of art—photograph, sculpture, painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.
• Contemplate: Follow the church’s longstanding practice of reading, meditating on, praying, and contemplating a passage of Scripture in order to experience God’s presence through the words of the Bible.

• Bible book introductions provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read
• 365 Day Bible Reading Plan guiding you through the entire Bible in a year
• Line-matched, single-column Scripture text for improved readability
• Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk
• Two satin ribbon markers allow you to easily navigate and keep track of where you were reading
• Easy-to-read 9-point NET Comfort Print

More plans...

On New Years Eve and throughout New Years Day we will celebrate with food and talk about the future. We will talk about our personal goals and our joint plans for the year. We will write them all down on paper and simultaneously forget where we put it. Depending on the weather, we may go for a ride or a walk bit where we will continue our discussions. 

This is how we have celebrated and spent most of the 38 New Years Eves and New Years Days that we have enjoyed together. It may seem boring to most, but I can assure you that it is time well spent.  

Happy New Year,
Mrs. Smith

"Spring Cleaning" A Ladies Luncheon

We received two little buckets, one to keep and one to give away.
It has a mini version of the Bible study and a schedule inside.
Smart, smart, smart...

I attended a ladies luncheon at church on Saturday. It was an introduction to a new six week Bible study that I am starting next week called "My Heart - Christ's Home. All the ladies who attended prepared the finest salad fare and desserts. The room was cast in a "Spring" motif. I'm talking an award wining set if there was such an award.  It must have taken hours of work to get the room set up, but thanks to several, it was enjoyed by many.

When we arrived, Beth and Karen (ladies in charge of the ministry), had on cleaning scarves on their heads and cleaning overalls with their pockets stuffed full of sponges. They were so cute. The tables had bright cleaning buckets full of sponges, cleaners and other cleaning supplies for center pieces.                                                                        

The study is about cleaning out the temple (your body) where Christ dwells. There are 7 rooms inside your heart to clean out. The ladies had seven rooms set up inside the area where we were having our luncheon. They gave us an intimate look into the study that we will be delving into for the next six weeks.  As I venture through my rooms, I will share with you how to go about deep cleaning each room in your heart to make room for Christ to dwell. What kind of junk do you have in your rooms that you are expecting Christ to dwell in? This will be a cleansing experience that I look forward to.

Beth Moore Bible Study - A Mighty Spiritual Workout...

This is my second Beth Moore study and let me tell you it is not for commitment weaklings. This study is spiritually labor intensive and requires a 10 week commitment to learn and a life long commitment to enhance your relationship with God. Be prepared to sweep the cobwebs out of your brain if you do any Beth Moore bible study.

Beth Moore is a down to earth spirit led teacher who will challenge you to go deeper into the word of God, deeper than most of us have been before. You not only learn about God, but also about yourself too.

Living out like we do does not promote a great deal of fellowship opportunities, so I also reap the benefits of fellowship with other women. Every week we get together to discuss the previous week's studies and watch the current week's session. We sing and pray to God and learn His word.

Last week, we were given an assignment to be an accountability partner of sorts and call on each other on the phone to hear the memory verses for the week. We also encouraged one another to complete the task at hand.

The scripture Jeremiah 33:3 really struck a chord with me today. I wrote it down, prayed to God about it and added it to my memory scripture cards. I look forward to "calling to God" to hear "great and mighty things".

Jeremiah 33:3

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³ ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

 

Scripture memory Cards

I placed the scripture cards on my kitchen cabinet door, so when I see
them as I go about my day I read them out loud to help me memorize them.

 

I encourage everyone to be involved in a bible study at home, at church or with friends. Delving into God's word will bring you closer to God, strengthen you and will give you the tools necessary to live life during good times and bad times.....