Be Impressed!!

It’s OK for you to be impressed (mainly shocked)---I am!! In my circle of friends, I’m known mostly for my culinary talents (or lack of), so when I decided to attempt to make a delectable, inviting dessert that I saw pictured in a magazine, I was WAY OUT of my comfort zone! However, I wanted to venture out there and take a stab at it. Here are the ingredients needed for the dessert.
And, after spending about three times as long as the recipe said it would take to put together, here is the finished product. I realize the picture looks sort of like a turkey at first glance, but, trust me, it was really a scrumptious looking dessert. I have no idea how it tasted because I took it to a friend who had surgery, but it LOOKED yummy not to mention beautiful. And, it was SO not me!!

It’s Summertime!!

Today was a perfect beach day. Even though I live on the coast, I never tire of going to the beach. After sitting and soaking in the sun, my friend and I walked for 40 minutes and I firmly believe walking 40 minutes at the beach in the sand is equivalent to at least an hour of walking elsewhere!
It was gorgeous and the summer crowds are beginning to show up. We decided today it’s time for us to begin going to another part of the beach away from all the tourists (however, we do appreciate your business if you’re a tourist!).

Girls' Night Out---Way Out!!

Recently, four of my friends and I decided we were ready for a night out. We chose our destination to an exotic hideaway (i.e. our farm house), planned time for shopping at extravagant places, and, of course, we prepared healthy, gourmet meals.





Well, so much for the extravagant shopping and gourmet meals and the exotic hideaway. However, the time spent together talking around that kitchen table was priceless. We shared our lives with each other and laughed and cried together. That’s what true friends are for and the time together was such a blessing.



They were kind enough to listen to family stories, go to the cemetery with me where most of my mother’s family is buried, to go see the little church where I went growing up, to talk to the animals we have,
and to go for a walk around our pond.
They even got to meet my uncle and aunt and some cousins who were out there working on a cabin they’re building on the property.
Also, we got to be the first ones to use the NEWLY remodeled bathroom and Joyce was the first to use the new shower. That’s a real claim to fame!!

The weather was perfect. It was just warm enough for us to not need to build a fire (although those are nice, too) and just cool enough for us to be comfortable. The trees are such a vibrant color of green this time of year and the wildflowers and clover were gorgeous.
They were a constant reminder of what a beautiful world God has created for us.

We even have a goose who thinks she’s a goat and we were entertained by her antics as she flapped her wings and squawked if she lost the goats. She goes EVERYWHERE they go. We aren’t sure why but she panics when they leave her.

On a different note, when we started to leave, we realized we needed somewhere to deposit our garbage from the weekend in order not to leave it to attract critters in the house. SO, because our car was filled to the brim with luggage and coolers, Joyce clutched the garbage securely in her lap, as if that’s something she does every day, until we could find a kind soul who would let us use his garbage can. Also, not on a lighter note for Barbara, but the only injury we suffered during our stay was an ant attack on Barbara. However, it was only because she was standing in the middle of their home! I think Janet, Robin, Joyce, and I came away unscathed unless you count Joyce having to hold garbage in her lap for a few miles.

We had a fabulous time just being together. Thanks to all of you for being my special friends.

Philippians 1:3 (New Living Translation)
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Whoa---Are We Getting Fancy, Or What?????

I have mentioned our farm in an earlier post. What I didn't show then was the bathroom that was falling apart. Of course, this is a turn of the century farm house so there is no turn of the century bathroom inside the house--it's an add-on. Between storms and age, the ceiling was falling in and there were cracks in the walls, etc. Steve and Richard (as well as Ken, a friend, who also helped) are in the process of re-doing the bathroom. The pictures above show the beginning and the progress being made. I'll post a finished product later. I'm so excited about the new bathroom without losing the character of the OLD house on the exterior.

A Labor of Love

Our oldest granddaughter (10 years old at the time) hooked this rug for me as a gift for Christmas. She worked so hard doing it and I love every piece of it. It represents her love for me and that is priceless. I will treasure it forever. It stays on my nightstand and I use it to put my glasses on at night so they don't get scratched. Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

A Great Day With Great Friends

The day was gorgeous after several days of unseasonably cool and windy temperatures. We were ready to get out in the sunshine so when our friends called us this morning to ask us to go ride bikes on a ten mile nature trail, we jumped at the chance. (Well, maybe "jumped at" is the wrong terminology since I was still asleep but I jumped out (or slowly crawled out) of bed and got dressed.) We rode by goat farms, over creeks, through the woods, listened to the birds, and just had a really good time. What a super way to spend a Saturday in the spring!

Lighthouse

Our second granddaugher drew this picture for us recently (she's 10 years old). As I looked at it on my refrigerator today, I thought, "This is a perfect picture for Easter. In John 8:12, Jesus said (The Message), "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in." Jesus is truly our lighthouse in a world of darkness. Thank you, God, for sending your son to take our sins with him to the cross, to die, and to be raised on the third day. Thank you, God, for the empty tomb. Without Jesus as our lighthouse, where would we be?

Historical Places

Recently I drove to this little historical town and fell in love with this hundred + year old church building. I had to take my husband back by there to see it recently and also so I could take a picture. Where are some of your favorite historical spots?

Warm, Sunny Florida???

Welcome to warm, sunny Florida (NOT)! Yesterday we went to our niece's track meet and I was colder than I've been all year and it's APRIL!! The wind was blowing and everyone was wrapped up with whatever they could find. However, this too shall pass and it'll be 100 degrees in the shade soon and we'll all be complaining about the heat. We are NEVER satisfied with what we have at the present--we always want something better and different. Lord, please help me to be content in all circumstances. (But, I have to be honest and admit I don't like cold wind but help me not to complain about it!!)

The Old and the New; The Then and the Now---A Place Near and Dear to my Heart

The original wagon shed (bottom) and The original smokehouse (top)


We spent the weekend with our younger son and his family at our farm. It's not really a farm anymore but the land originally belonged to my grandparents. They lived there for most of their married life (57 years) and farmed the land. Needless to say, there's not very much which remains standing that my grandparents built (their house burned after they were no longer living and we moved a turn of the century farm house which was sitting out in a field falling down to the site where the original house stood), but the above two pictures are original structures.

Friday afternoon, our granddaughter was on her way out to feed the cows (we have 3 cows, 5 barn cats, and too many goats). She said, "I haven't been out here in a long time and I love this place." That melted my heart. I'm thrilled that my grandchildren love the place as much as I do and enjoy going out there. Here are a few other pictures of the Farm.

The new barn my brother built

The pond in late afternoon

Looking from the pond up toward the house

Hannah fishing

David about to play a trick on his Pops with a toy snake

"International" Table Group

I've mentioned before on this blog that we call our small group Bible studies "table groups" because, in families, relationships grow and lives are shared around the kitchen table. We celebrate birthdays in our group and tonight we celebrated 3 birthdays! One birthday lady is from Russia, one is from Hungary, and one is from the USA. Thankfully, we're all one in Jesus and his blood unites us and makes us family. Not only did we celebrate the birthdays of these 3 sweet ladies, we celebrated the freedom we have to all be together to study the Bible without fear, and, more importantly, we celebrated the freedom we have in Christ. Happy Birthday, Ladies!!

Another Birthday Celebrated!

We just arrived home from celebrating our third granddaugther's 10th birthday. It was lots of fun with lots of giggling little girls. Again I have to ask, "Where has the time gone?" How did she get to be ten years old already? What a blessing she has been for these ten years. We've done many fun things together like the beach, a trip to Washington D.C., the FARM, and so many more. We have so much to be thankful for---4 healthy grandchildren and a chance to be with them often. Thank you, God, for our wonderful family!

Please Pray for Stellan

This baby boy and his family need our prayers in a mighty way right now. Please pray.

Inspired!!

After reading many blogs about how everyone is decorating for spring, I was inspired to go search for spring decorations myself. I'm certainly no decorator by ANY stretch of the imagination, but I like this so I guess that means it's OK. It's fun to look at our kitchen table now and see the yellow tulips as well as the bunnies.

Feeding the Homeless

Once a month our church goes to a local soup kitchen to feed the homeless. Some evenings we serve between 100 and 200 people. I don't know the backgrounds of these people and sometimes it's easy to be cynical while there. Why don't they get out and work? Why do they choose this lifestyle? However, I have to stop and remind myself that I don't know the heart of the people we serve but God does. I don't know the circumstances that have brought them to this place. I don't know the hurt and lonliness they're feelling. I am not called to decide whether they deserve to be fed or not. I am only called to help take care of the poor because they will "always be among us." There were three area churches there last Sunday evening serving the people who came. Please take a moment and pray for the people you see in these pictures. Some are workers and some are homeless. It matters not to God. We are all equal in HIS sight. Thank you, God, for the opportunity to be there among your people. Matthew 25:35-40

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is my favorite season of the year. I love how God wakes up the world after a season of resting. That's also a reminder to me that I have seasons in my own life where I need to be still , rest, and be refreshed. Then, there is a time to "wake up!" The trees and flowers in our back yard are "waking up" after a winter of resting. This afternoon I took a few pictures as a reminder that spring is here and the world is "waking up" again. I love it!!

Time Flies

How can it be that our oldest granddaughter is eleven years old today? I remember so vividly when she was born and where I was sitting when it first really hit me that I was a grandmother. She has truly been a blessing from God. This weekend we celebrated her birthday. We made dirt cake complete with gummy worms, ate lunch with her at school, were there for her spend the night party, and watched her open her gifts. Having a grandchild taught me the meaning of another kind of deep love. I never knew how much I'd love my grandchildren and it all started with her, our first one. Thank you, God, for blessing our family with this precious child.

2008 Memories

Highlights of the year 2008 (which is coming to a swift end):

January-Spending the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 in Atlanta with family--going to the American Girl Doll Store with two of our granddaughters and the Auburn-Clemson football game with my husband and sons (and Auburn winning---War Eagle!)

February-A family weekend in Auburn for a basketball game (and our older son's birthday) and watching it SNOW in Auburn.

March-The celebration of five family birthdays---our daughter-in-law, our oldest granddaughter, our younger son, our nephew, and our youngest granddaughter! March is a month FULL of birthdays in our family.

April-A reunion in the north Georgia mountains with seven of my college girl friends---It's fun to pick up right where we left off the last time we were together.

May-The celebration of our grandson's birthday, our nephew's state tennis tournament AND high school graduation, our niece's state track meet, and my husband's RETIREMENT!

June-Annual Cousins' Camp---fun day trips to Big Kahuna in Destin and Waterville USA in Gulf Shores, AL and homecoming at the little church where I grew up

July-Annual family beach week with our children, grandchildren, and my brother and his family complete with an up-close view of the Blue Angel's performance from the deck of our beach house as well as the dolphins "performing" in the gulf right behind our house, an invitation from our youngest granddaughter to go to the Zoo-Snooze at the Atlanta Zoo with all 4 grandchildren and their church group, and then a trip to Oklahoma with our oldest granddaughter

August-The celebration of another daughter-in-law's birthday and the excitement of another school year for our grandchildren and the beginning of college for our nephew as well as Auburn football even though the season was very disappointing

September-A FUN trip to Montana and Canada with dear friends---What a gorgeous part of the country and a wonderful place to see God's beautiful creation! One of the highlights of the trip was actually getting to walk on a glacier but that is just ONE of the many fantastic things we saw and experienced.

October-My birthday which I wanted to be low-key but which I was very thankful to celebrate

November-Thanksgiving and having our younger son and his family home for a few days

December-The wonder and awe of this season never gets old. This year we were able to celebrate with our children, grandchildren, and my brother and his family. It was a fun-filled few days as we watched the children enjoy each other and as we all had fun as a family (many Wii games brought lots of laughter) and had a chance to reflect on the Christmas story with the annual "production" put on by the grandchildren. This year it was entitled A Baby Changes Everything and they each had scripture to read and a part to say explaining the importance of CHRISTmas. They also each received an envelope with money that they must use for SOMEONE else.


As it approaches midnight here, I am thankful for a year of good health, time spent with friends and family, a wonderful church family, and the blessing of hope and peace we have in Jesus. My prayer for all of you is that 2009 will be filled with God's blessings.

Plastic Santa Claus

This time of year, I see many Christmas decorations in all the stores. However, none have quite the meaning to me as the plastic Santa that I see for sale in almost all the department stores. Everytime I see a light-up, plastic Santa Claus, I am immediately taken back to my childhood. We didn't have much money in our family but we had lots of love. We splurged one year and ordered a light-up plastic Santa Claus from the Sears mail order catalog. Every year after that at Christmastime, Santa would sit shining brightly on the front porch of our little frame house. Even after I was in college, I got the same feeling when I drove up in front of our house on a cold winter night and saw that plastic Santa Claus. To me, it symobized much more than a plastic Christmas decoration. It symbolized a warm, welcoming home filled with love. I understand Santa is not the reason for the season, but that Santa was a reminder to me and the reason for my heart to be overflowing with love and security--thankful for the Christian family God had given me. My brother now has the Santa and that Santa still shines brightly after all these years. Even though our parents and grandparents are now with the Lord, I re-live all of those Christmases long ago and still feel the warmth and love I felt then when I see a plastic Santa Claus.

Thankful

This post is not about an election nor who won and who didn't. Thankfully we live in a country where we have the freedom to VOTE for the candidate of our choice. I don't know if you're happy or sad about the Presidential election. But, I do know one thing for sure, and that's the fact that God is still in control. I'm thankful my faith isn't in any one person nor any one political party. My faith is in GOD---He's the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That's really all I need. I'm thankful for that.