I'm Addicted

I confess - if I haven't before ( I can't remember honestly) - I am addicted to recipes. I love to look at recipes, to read recipes, to think about what they might taste like...I'm addicted. I like to try new recipes - that's the fun...seeing what's on the page appear in front of you. When it looks just like the picture - Yay! I rarely taste these creations, so I'm dependent on the feedback of others to determine if it's really tasty or not. I have 100's upon 100's of cookbooks, cooking magazines, printed sheets, torn out pages, recipes cards and handwritten sheets. I could never begin to make them all in my lifetime. Yet, I still see a recipe and I want to stop and read it, examine it - think about how easy or difficult it would be to make. I keep them by my chair in the living room and when I'm free, that's where you will find me...with my recipes. I have recently discovered a new avenue to feed this addiction - food blogs. Oh my goodness! There, I can often see it created step by step - and view the finished product and then read what the blogger world has to say about it! I especially love the holidays as they are an excuse to try recipes I've been admiring. I enjoy reading all types of recipes, but desserts and breads are my favorites. My girls will tell you, I rarely make a recipe exactly as written. Invariably, there is either some ingredient I do not care for, or do not have - so I adjust, leave it out, or use something else! Here's one recipe I tried last week - I did actually taste this one and it's yummy for the Christmas season: Cranberry & Turkey Finger Sandwiches (taken from Taste of the South and adapted, of course!) Bread, with crusts removed (wheat or white, your preference) Sliced Turkey Cranberry Spread (I was making lots for a reception, so I mixed 1 can of wholeberry cranberry sauce with 8 oz. softenend cream cheese - you can adjust this amount and to your own taste) Fresh baby spinach Simply make a sandwich by spreading each bread slice with the cranberry spread - add turkey and pieces of spinach - put together and cut in half diagonally. They are beautiful and tasty. I've always wanted to say this: Bon Appetite! LOL!

Once upon a Holy Night

Just thought I'd share the project I've been most consumed with for the past month. Our church presented A Walk through Bethlehem this year for the past 3 nights. I can't begin to tell you how hard our people have worked or the passion they poured into every detail. We got to share the gospel through the birth of Christ with 477 people. "Mary" sang Once upon a Holy Night" 19 times and every time my heart was filled and my eyes overflowed. I will post a few pictures...and I hope you will never lose the wonder of our Savior becoming man and being born in a stable...in order to die on a cross in our place. Glory! Hallelujah!

33 Years Ago

33 years ago today...God gave us Jill Amelyn. What a blessing she continues to be in our lives. This morning we called to sing Happy Birthday to her. This is becoming our birthday tradition - we recently decided.

This year God gave Jill - Amelia Joy - after years of infertility.

What a good mommy she is!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pillie! I love you!

Sweet Hubby

Yesterday, I came home to these:

I asked, "What are these for?" (smile) Jay said, "I saw them and realized it's been a long time since I brought you flowers for no reason."

My sweet, sweet hubby.

You know God is like that. He gives us blessings all the time (like a husband who brings flowers) for no reason, except that He is good.

Thank you, Jay, for the beautiful flowers and the love behind them.

Thank you, Father, for a loving husband and all the blessings you give me every day!

I am so blessed...

My heart overflows today - I am so blessed! We have a new granddaughter who is so precious - mom and baby are doing quite well. My daughter, Joy, is recovering from her tonsillectomy (quite an ordeal for an adult). Our son and his wife will be welcoming another granddaughter on Monday morning - we are in great anticipation! Even though we've had unexpected arrivals, surgery, car troubles, and heartache in our family in the past 2 weeks, I am so blessed. I got to spend this time with my children and grandchildren. I got to take care of them, just a little - serve and minister to them. I got to watch my 1 year granddaughter toddle around - she's so funny. I got to play with my almost 2 year old grandson, I believe the busiest person God ever made. I got to discuss theology with one of my sons, as he struggled with an important decision. I got to watch my daughter-in-law create a floor to ceiling letter on the wall in our newest granddaughter's room - amazing. And now, I'm getting to help plan my father's 80th birthday celebration. Isn't God wonderful to give us families? It is sometimes hard to watch our children and grandchildren grow and become all that God wants them to be. They have to struggle and even go through things that hurt them. I want to fix it all - take it all away! Instead, I have to lift them up to my dear Heavenly Father and trust them into His care. I know He is good - He never makes mistakes (like I do) - He has a wonderful plan for their lives and He will fulfill it! Our church family goes through the same troubles and struggles. We get to pray for and minister to them as well. It is just as difficult to watch our church family go through the things God allows, but I know He is working His plan in their lives. Presently, we are planning and preparing a living nativity called, "A Walk through Bethlehem." Our people are so excited and so busy preparing costumes and scenery and music. What a joy to see each one using their gifts and skills for Him! I am SO blessed...

Home again, Home again

I am home again - for a little while. Have spent the past week trying to care for two of my daughters - one with a newborn and one having a tonsillectomy. I'm so thankful to be able to try to do this. Many times we wonder why we are where we are - why we are in the place we are in. We eventually realize that our Heavenly Father knew long ago what we would need at this particular point in time. There is no way we can know these things - we only have to trust. It's good to know He is Faithful and Trustworthy - He never fails - He's never late. Thank you, Father!

Speechless

My newest granddaughter - who arrived at 1:01 a.m. on October 22 - 5 lbs., 2 oz. I can't recall when I've been so scared. It is never easy to watch your daughter labor to give birth - but when her very life is in danger...it is near torture. We've spent the past 35 weeks being continually amazed that God chose to bless the in-vitro process and bless Jill and Alex with a baby. Now that we can see her and touch her - we are ...speechless. Now that the danger is past and mother and daughter are both doing well, we are...speechless. "Be still and know...that I AM GOD."