Prayer Request

I have been receiving updates from my sister over the past week on a 15 year old young man recently diagnosed with cancer. I don't know this family personally...but many do and they are loved. God knows and sees the challenging path they have been asked to walk. Please join me in serving this family through prayer for Tyler. Reading the account of his diagnosis and treatment gives me an abrupt reminder of what is important in life, and the privilege of taking each other before the Lord. My parent's heart cried when I read the post from Tyler's father: Have You Hugged Your Child Today?. I needed my perspective changed this week, thank you Lord. Please bless this family and give them strength.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Blessings to you and yours!!

(Ok, you can see that Hubby has spent his time off this week working on our remodeling project. Yeah!! He's doing a GREAT JOB!! I decided since I can't keep ahead of the dust he produces from sanding in our breakfast area...I would use it to my advantage. Can't lick'm...join'm!)

Thanksgiving Recipes

My friend Joyce requested a few of the following recipes, so I'm posting for her and anyone else who is interested in trying them out. Enjoy!

Simple Cranberry Sauce from Cook’s Illustrated
(Can be made up to 7 days in advance)
3/4 c. water
1 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
1 (12oz) bag cranberries, picked through

Bring water, sugar, and salt to boil in medium non-reactive saucepan over high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Stir in cranberries; return to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until saucy, slightly thickened, and about two-thirds of berries have popped open, about 5 minutes. (Don’t overcook. If using frozen berries, do not defrost them before use; just pick through them and add about 2 minutes to the simmering time) Transfer to non-reactive bowl, cool to room temperature, and serve. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 7 days; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
From: Cook’s Illustrated, Improving Cranberry Sauce. November 1, 1999 Yield: 2 1/4 cups - Served Thanksgiving 2003
NOTE from Cook's Illustrated: Cranberry-Orange Sauce: Orange juice adds little flavor, but we found the zest and liqueur pack the orange kick we were looking for in this sauce. Follow recipe for Simple Cranberry Sauce, heating 1 T. grated orange zest with sugar mixture. Off heat; stir in 2 T. orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier).

Thanksgiving Cranberry Salad
1 c. hot water
1 c. pineapple juice from canned pineapple
1 (3 oz) pkg lemon Jello
1 (16 oz) pkg cranberries, grind in food processor
1 c. sugar
1 c. crushed pineapple (in own juice-reserve juice)
1 c. celery, finely chopped
1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
Combine hot water, pineapple juice and Jello. Let set while preparing the remaining ingredients. Mix all ingredients except Jello. Add gelatin and stir. Chill several hours or overnight in refrigerator.
Favorite Pumpkin – Cranberry Bread (FREEZES WELL!!!)
3 1/2 flour
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cloves
3 eggs
1 (16oz) can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 (15oz) can pumpkin puree (a GREAT variation is to use 1/2 can pumpkin and 4 oz of Mott’s Healthy Harvest Granny Smith unsweetened applesauce)
1/3 c. canola oil
1 T. orange zest, finely grated
2 T. chopped nuts (pecans)

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, combine wet ingredients. Add egg mixture to flour mixture until just moistened. Top with nuts. Spray 2 loaf pans w/ oil spray. Pour 1/2 batter into each pan. Bake 45-50 min or until tester comes out clean. Or you can bake in greased muffin tins. Enjoy!! From: Houston Chronicle Freezes Well!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
½ c. sliced unbalanced almonds – toasted
1 2/3 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1 t. baking soda
¼ t. baking powder
¼ t. salt
2 large eggs
1 c. canned pumpkin (half of a 1 lb can)
½ stick butter, melted
1 c. chocolate chips
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tin-will make 12 regular or 24 mini muffins. Mix flour, sugar, pie spice, baking soda, Erin ~ October 1982 powder and salt. Break eggs into another bowl then add pumpkin and butter. Whisk until well blended. Stir in choc. Chips and nuts. Pour over the dry ingredients and fold in with a spatula until dry ingredients are moistened. Scoop batter evenly into muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool on rack and place in plastic bag-will keep 2 days. Reheat before serving.

Spice Cookies, Muffins or Cake (Weight Watchers Recipe)
1 box spice cake mix (or you can use brownie mix)
1 can pumpkin puree
Water: 2 T. for cookies, 1/2 c. for muffins, 1 c. for cake
Mix together and bake until done at 350 degrees.
5 cookies = 1 point, 1 muffin = 2 points

Pumpkin Biscuits (Can be made a day ahead)
2 ½ c. all-purpose flour
3 T. packed light brown sugar
1 T. baking powder
½ t. salt
¼ t. grated nutmeg
¼ t. cinnamon
¼ t. ground ginger
½ c. unsalted butter, chilled and cut into thin slices
1 (15oz) can unsweetened solid-packed pumpkin
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet or line it with a piece of parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and spices. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in the butter until the mixture looks like cornmeal. Stir in the pumpkin and mix until a soft dough forms. On a well-floured surface, with well-floured hands, pat out the dough to 1/2 “ thickness. Using a floured, sharp knife, cut out 2” square biscuits. Place them on the cookie sheet, and put it on the middle rack of your oven. Bake the biscuits for 15-20 minutes. Note: because they’re already brown, you may need to break one open to see if they’re done. Serve hot or at room temperature. Makes 16-18 biscuits. November 2004

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins (easy, sweet & spicy!)
2 ½ c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
1 c. brown sugar (M.O.L.-original called for 1 ½ c.-too sweet for my taste)
2 t. cinnamon
¾ t. nutmeg
1 can (15oz) pumpkin
4 eggs
½ c. oil
2 c. nuts, optional 2 c. butterscotch chips/morsels Combine all dry ingredients. Add pumpkin, eggs, and oil. Mix until smooth. Add nuts if desired and the butterscotch chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done. From: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/ Served Thanksgiving, Nov. 2006


Taffy Apple Dip (Keeps several days in frig)

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
1 T. vanilla
1/2 c. peanuts, chopped
6 apples, cut in wedges (optional, try adding 1 (10oz) pkg English toffee bits)

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, brown sugar & vanilla until smooth. Spread mix in a small serving bowl. Top with chopped nuts. Serve with apple wedges.


Gingersnap Cookies (Make extra and freeze!! These freeze VERY WELL!)
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. oil
2 eggs
1/2 c. molasses
4 c. flour
4 t. baking soda
1 T. ground ginger
2 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. salt
Additional sugar Optional Dip:
2 pkg (12oz each) vanilla baking chips
1/4 c. Crisco
Combine sugar & oil, mix well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in molasses. Combine dry ingredients, gradually add to creamed mixture and blend well. Shape into 3/4” balls and roll in sugar. Place 2” apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake @ 350 for 10-12 minutes or until cookie springs back when touched lightly. Remove to wire racks to cool. Melt chips with Crisco in small pan over low heat. Dip cookies halfway; shake off excess. Place on waxed paper lined baking sheets to harden. Also, can use with “Sweet & Creamy Pumpkin Dip” below. From: Country Woman Magazine. Runner-Up Contestant for Best Cookies.

Sweet & Creamy Pumpkin Dip
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
2 c. confectioners sugar
1 can (15oz) pumpkin
1 T. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 t. Orange Extract
1/2 t. Ground Ginger

In a food processor, blend cream cheese and confectioners sugar until smooth. Remove cover, add pumpkin and remaining ingredients. Blend thoroughly. Chill at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Serve with Gingersnap cookies, Red Delicious apples or pears, cored and cut into 1/2” slices, leaving skin on for color. Tip: Toss fruit with a little lemon juice mixed with water to prevent browning. This is adorable served in a small pumpkin shaped dish or clean out a real pumpkin (mini size) and use as serving bowl. Yield: 2 1/2 cups. From: McCormick Ad - Thanksgiving 2001

Please Be Advised...

" To All Our Family and Friends,

Just a note to let you know we are hoping to see you Thanksgiving, however, Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this year. I thought it best to give you advance warning. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.

Once inside our home, you will notice that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. (The mud was their idea.)

The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.

Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I had hoped for. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.

We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hot line. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.

We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement with engraved place cards. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door.

Now, I know you have all seen the Norman Rockwell version of Dad carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative on-lookers. This will not be happening at our dinner table. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed.
It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in the head with warm tasty wad of dough.

Oh, and one last reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains everything.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice of 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it.

I hope you aren't too disappointed that Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving and...She probably won't come next year either.

Remember my friends, the original Thanksgiving Tradition is Thanking God for our country where we can freely practice "Worshiping our God" as we choose. May God leave stains of love and fellowship on your tablecloth, wherever you are this Thanksgiving and through out the year!"

The above letter was forwarded to me via email from my DH. I dedicate it especially to those young Moms ... and their young "helpers". Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving and time with those you love!

Three Different Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipes

More "Pumpkin" Recipes...

Pumpkin Cheesecake
(Annual Favorite!)
Crust:
1/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. Bisquick
2 T. sugar
Filling:
1 pkg(8oz) cream cheese,soft
3/4 c. sugar
2 T. flour
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. vanilla
3 eggs
1 (16oz) can pumpkin
Sour Cream Topping: beat all until smooth
1 1/2 c. sour cream
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla (beat all till smooth)

Heat oven to 350°. Cut butter into baking mix and 2 T. sugar until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Pat in bottom of un-greased square pan, 9x9x2. Bake 10 min. Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour until creamy. Beat in remaining ingredients (except topping) until smooth; pour over crust. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 min. Immediately spread with Sour Cream Topping. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Refrigerate any remaining dessert. 12 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~

Pumpkin Cheesecake
9 oz. Gingersnap cookies (48 cookies)
2 T + 1 1/3 c. sugar
4 T. unsalted butter, melted
3 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
1 1/2 t. vanilla
4 large eggs
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground allspice
1/4 t. salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a food processor, combine the gingersnaps and 2 T. of sugar and pulse until finely ground. Add butter and process until the crumbs are thoroughly moistened. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom and slightly up the sides of the 9” spring form pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool. Lower the oven temp to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, with electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1 1/3 c. sugar until creamy. Beat in the pumpkin and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Mix in all spices and salt. Pour batter into the prepared shell. Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour and 20 min. or until set around edges. (it will be slightly wobbly in the center) Set cheesecake on a wire rack – completely cool. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Run a knife around the inside edge before removing the cake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake
(can be made several days ahead-or frozen three months ahead!)
Crust:

8 whole graham crackers
1/2 c. whole hazelnuts, toasted (spread on cookie sheet & bake @ 350 for 10-15 min. until lightly browned & papery skins begin to flake. Turn out onto a towel and rub off skins)
1/4 c. sugar & 4 T. butter, cut up
Filling:
2 (8oz) pkg reduced fat cream cheese, soften
1 c. sugar
2 T. cornstarch
2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. reduced fat sour cream
2 lg eggs & whites from 2 lg eggs
3/4 c. white chocolate chips
1 (15oz) can solid pack pumpkin
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/8 t. each: ground cloves & nutmeg
Garnish: chocolate dessert decorations (chocolate leaves & hazelnuts)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat 8” spring form pan with oil spray. (*TIP: wrap foil over bottom & halfway up outside of spring form pan to keep butter in crust from dripping into oven.)
Crust: Break crackers into food processor. Add hazelnuts, sugar & butter. Process until fine crumbs form. Press firmly over bottom & 1 1/2” up sides of prepared pan. May bake for short time while oven preheats. Filling: Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with mixer on high speed until smooth. On low speed, beat in sugar, cornstarch, vanilla & sour cream, scrapping down sides of bowl often until well blended. Add eggs and egg whites; beat just until mixed. Melt the chocolate chips according to package directions. Add 1 1/2 c. of cheese mixture & stir until well blended. Set aside. Stir pumpkin into cream cheese mixture until well blended. Reserve 1/4 c. Pour remainder into crust. Pour in reserved chocolate mixture onto pumpkin-cheese batter in a thick ring about 1/2” from sides of pan. Top with dollops of reserved 1/4 c. pumpkin batter. Lightly run a knife through both batters for a marble effect. (Don’t overdo or the effect will be muddied.) Bake 1 hour 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted 2” from center of cake comes out clean. Carefully run a knife around inside edge of pan to release cake. Cool cake in
pan on a wire rack, then cover & refrigerate in pan at least 4 hours or up to one week. Or, freeze up to 3 months and thaw in frig 2 days before serving. To serve: remove pan sides, place on serving stand and garnish.

"Not-Too-Sweet" Potato Casserole

(Note: To BEE and those of you wondering what on earth the last photo I posted was about...check my explanation under the comments.)

I thought I'd post a recipe I found a few years ago and has become a Thanksgiving favorite. This is a great alternative for those who don't care for the overly sweet-marshmellowy sweet potato offering. Enjoy!

“Not-Too-Sweet" Potato Casserole

3 lbs (about 6 medium) sweet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, 1/4” slices

6 T. unsalted butter, melted

2 T. honey

3 T. molasses

1/2 t. powdered ginger

3/4 t. salt

1/8 t. cayenne pepper, optional (original recipe called for 1/4 t.)

1 1/2 T. cornstarch

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. In large pot or Dutch oven of boiling water, parboil sweet potato slices over high heat until they are bright orange and the point of a paring knife easily pierces but does not break apart a few slices, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain potatoes well and turn into buttered 13x9” baking dish. Whisk melted butter, honey, molasses, ginger, salt and cayenne in a small bowl; set aside. Mix cornstarch with 2 T. cold water in small bowl until totally smooth, then whisk into butter mixture; pour over sweet potatoes and toss to coat well. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake until liquid is bubbly, about 50 minutes. Remove foil, stir potatoes gently, and bake until liquid thickens to glaze potatoes, about 20 minutes longer. Cool slightly and serve hot or at room temperature.

From: Cook’s Illustrated Internet site, Served for Thanksgiving, November 2003.

(NOTE: For Maple taste substitute maple syrup for the honey and molasses.)

Pecan Topping-(optional) Whisk 6 T. light brown sugar and 1/4 c. flour in small bowl. Add 4 T. very cold butter, cut into 1/4” pieces, and toss to coat; pinch between fingertips until mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse cornmeal. Stir 1/2 c. chopped pecans into mixture; cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Follow recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole, sprinkling cold topping mixture over potatoes after removing foil. Continue with recipe, baking until topping is crisp and dark golden brown, about 20 minutes longer.

Proof that Jesus is a Buckeye

GO BUCKS!!

Important Housekeeping Tip

Always keep several get well cards on the mantle... So if unexpected guests arrive, They will think you've been sick and unable to clean .

A Little Humor

I just received this link from my daughter, Erin. Hmmmmm...she thought it was "hilarious"! I guess I'm so used to my "Mom Jeans" that I forget they are a fashion faux pas. She gave me a good laugh on this cool, early morning! I mean really, I just got rid of my 13 denium "homeschool" jumpers last year!! (maybe you have to be a homeschool Mom to understand the trama of giving away my 80s "uniform") But...never-the-less, I'm still hanging on to my long white sweater. I've worn it since Brad and I were dating (30+ years), I snuggled with our babies while wearing it and I fully intend to snuggle our grandchildren in it! The kids will probably bury me in it! So much for fashion sense!

I'm on a roll... here's another MOM JEANS video.

Want to be a Pilgrim...think again!

I am joining in the focus on Thanksgiving with Kelli at There is no Place Like Home.
In the spirit of Thankfulness... Let's remember that even with all the challenges of our current day life... we still have MUCH to be thankful for! At times I have been guilty of "romanticizing" the life of our forefathers (and mothers) that paved the way for us to live in a free nation. It's easy to long for a "simpler time". But really...I don't think we would've survived two days! I know my cutsie little Pilgrim figurines that I display at this time of year are a far cry from the deep sacrifice, dedication, hardship and loss of those who paved the way for us!! Here is a reminder of what life was like in the decades before those first Pilgrims set out to look for a better life.
I received this "history lesson" in an email awhile back and thought it would be a good time to share it. I can't vouch for the truth of each "fact", but it makes for interesting reading. Enjoy!

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

These are interesting...
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence, the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children.

Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying: "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection.That's how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead-poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust." Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people.So they would dig up coffins and take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell.Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."

And that's the truth... Now, whoever said that History was boring !!!

Friendship...Blogging Style

I am joining in the focus on Thanksgiving with Kelli at There is no Place Like Home.

In the spirit of Thankfulness, I have been thinking a lot lately about the gift of friendship. The Lord has blessed me with so many wonderful friends throughout my life, and at times the blessings just overwhelm me! I am reminded of the song we used to sing when I was a Girl Scout back in the mid 60's:

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

I let my mind wander back over the years and marvel at how the Lord has brought people in and out of my life, sometimes only for a short season, but always meant to enrich me or teach me in some way. A few times the lessons haven't been easy... but I still consider Friendship as one of God's best gifts.

The friendship song came to mind because of a dinner conversation we had last night where I was sharing with Brad about my first pen pal. If I remember correctly, I was hooked up with my pen pal through a list put out by the Girls Scouts... in accordance with a badge you could earn. My first pen pal, Carrie, lived in our state, only about 3 hours away, and we kept in touch up through high school. Unfortunately, I lost connections with her after we graduated, but having a pen pal was a fun experience with happy memories. At one point she even had the opportunity to come and spend a weekend with our family, so I got to meet her face to face!

Maybe that is why I am drawn to blogging... it's kind of the current day equivalent of having a pen pal... lots of pen pals... in this high tech society we live in. I realize that blogging only gives you a controlled glimpse into someones life. We all pick and choose how vulnerable, how transparent, how public we can or will be given our specific circumstance. Each blog I visit has it's own "flavor"... it's own heartbeat. I have enjoyed blogging as an outlet to share God's faithfulness in our lives, to share my love of family, to honor friendship and to have a fun place to share my love of capturing life through the lens of my camera. Many of the blogs I visit seem to have the same focus. I have found encouragement in my quest to honor God, keeping things real and gathering great ideas for marriage and family life. I often thank the Lord for the blessing and encouragement I have received through the new friends he has given me. From Moms in the thick of sleepless nights, changing diapers, schooling and raising a family to connecting with women who are currently transitioning from full time parenting, to empty nest and then the joy of filling that nest with grandbabies...blogging has expanded my world and enlarged my circle of friends. I like knowing I'm not alone in my quest to honor God as we embrace each new stage of life.

I have been especially touched by the opportunity to connect beyond our blogging community with one of my new friends, Ginger. Although we have not had the opportunity to meet in "real life" (I know many bloggers do get to meet), we have found through phone calls, emails and snail mail the Lord has provided the best kind of "pen pal". Ginger & I have an incredible amount of things in common and a strong desire to honor the Lord. Sometimes God shows us His love in such a neat way through the gift of friendship... even in Blogville. Many of you have shared how you have experienced this. I was really touched this last September when I was feeling down and needing a bit of encouragement. The timing could not have been better the day I received this "Thank You" angel in the mail from Ginger. A sweet card, a gift from the heart, a phone call, a timely note of encouragement... these are all gifts we can give to share God's love.

I encourage you to consider your friendships and ask God how you can meet a need, give a bit of encouragement, read between the lines and show His love. Statistics now show that never before in history have we, as a society, felt more alone, more disconnected and more detached then we do now. It amazes me that this would be the case with all the of the technology that is meant to keep us "connected". In our "me oriented", instant gratification, technologically connected society... something is gravely missing. The personal touch, the listening ear, the shoulder to cry on, a timely word of encouragement... Lord give us the desire and power to bless friends and family with these gifts!

While sharing how blogging friendships have enriched my life, I would like to thank Jan for adding me to her "Blogging With Integrity" Award list. I appreciate that she can see my heart's desire to honor the Lord in each stage of life. Also, to each of you that faithfully visit me, leaving words of friendship and encouragment... thank you for extending your circle of Blogville to include me.

Next post I will share some more about friendship... those "in my face" type friends. :-)

Adundant Thankfulness

"Shout Joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations." Psalms 100: 1-5

I am joining in the focus on Thanksgiving with Kelli at There is no Place Like Home. I have also noticed with frustration the trend in our society to jump from Halloween directly to Christmas and completely skip over the Thanksgiving celebration. So I thought I'd begin sharing a taste of Thanksgiving from our home.

The first thing in our home that I am thankful for is the love and the life I have had the privilege of sharing with this man for almost 29 years now. Gosh, the Lord knew what He was doing when he brought us together! (Yeah, and check out the picture I snapped of him last Saturday... note that he is painting parts of the seating he has designed, made and is now installing in our new breakfast room. He has been working hard towards finishing up that project and I am soooo impressed! Pictures of the finished project will be posted upon completion! )

This little plaque that graces the counter in our guest bathroom was given to me by a dear friend. It is a great reminder of the blessings the Lord has given us through the love of our family and friends. Although our daughters are grown and on their own now, they still are one of our very greatest blessings! And the Lord keeps adding to our numbers... we have been blessed to welcome two sons-in-love and we all anxiously await the arrival of our newest family member - Erin & Micah's first child!

The power of Prayer. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the awesome privilege the Lord has given us to come before Him with our Praise and our Petitions. There is such power in prayer! These pilgrim boy & girl figures were painted by a dear woman that we used to go to church with. I bought them from her years ago and look forward to setting them out each November.

Did you notice the pot of flowers sitting behind the Pilgrims on our kitchen counter? Brad knows how much I enjoy fresh flowers in our kitchen and he is so sweet to keep a steady supply coming through that front door. I'm telling you... this guy is a KEEPER!! BTW, he still asks me out on dates, still opens doors for me and still tells me I'm pretty. Doesn't seem to be tired of me yet! I'm not lying gals... he is amazing!)

I'll leave you with one more thought of something I am thankful for. The basket full of harvested apples carried by this Pilgrim boy reminds me of our abundant blessings. One of my dearest blessings is the memories of my Mother and the time we spent together. When I was young my Mom took classes in ceramics and purchased a few items for me to work on along side of her. These small ceramic Pilgrim figurines were some of the items I made when I was 9 years old. Yes, I'm thankful for sweet memories.

Thank You For Serving

Blessings & Thanksgiving

to our

United States Veterans

and those currently

serving in Iraq.

~

Matt, Mark & Jeff...
You are in our thoughts
& prayers... for peace and for safety. Thank you for serving.

~

Brad & I say a Special Thanks to our own Fathers for serving during the Korean War. We are greatful for your service and your safety.

Dad, I am eternally thankful that

you returned home unharmed... married Mom... became my Dad!!

Dad, Korea, 1952

And to my Father-In-Love, thank you for serving on the home front.

Korea, they may call it a "Police Action" or "Conflict"... but I know it was WAR to you and your comrades there in Korea. Thanks for serving.

The Father / Daughter Talk

Tuesday, after attending our Ladies Bible Study at church, I worked the polls for our state wide election. I love the fact that as Americans, we have the privilege to have a say in our government... at least one vote at a time. This election mainly covered state amendments and tax issues. It reminded me to share with you an email I recently received.

The Father / Daughter talk
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying. Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?"

She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."
Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently,
"Welcome to the Republican party."

Good Movie Alert

Brad and I saw two movies over the weekend that I'd like to let you know about, both very enjoyable. It is rare when we go to the local theaters (even matinee prices) to see something Hollywood puts out... but these were exceptions.

BELLA, rated PG-13, reviewed by Focus on the Family's Plugged-In website. Bring a hankie...or two. This movie doesn't shy away from the harshness of life, but all the while wraps you in the warm blanket of friendship, and the enduring love of family. One person reaching out to another can make a difference. The motive behind this movie is shared in the following quote from the producer:

"Eduardo Verástegui knows his little film (he also co-produced it) won't dominate the box office. But he doesn't mind. "I was caught up in the stardom and money of this business, like so many actors," he told us, "But I was drawn to do this. To just do something worthwhile." Thus, he and his fellow producers stepped away from successful careers to pursue an independent film with no guarantees. He said with emotion, "What I'd love to see happen with this film is to someday have this 12-year-old knock on my door and say that her mother was going to have an abortion. But she saw this film. That would be my Oscar." "

DAN IN REAL LIFE, PG-13, also reviewed at Plugged-In, is worth checking in to. Although this movie has some "issues" with the innuendos in various scenes, we thought it was an enjoyable adult romance. Read the review for a full summary of the movie to see if it is something you would be interested in. Coming from a big, noisy family...I found the family interactions refreshing. This quote from the review wraps it up:

"I can't remember the last romantic comedy I saw in which the leading couple didn't take each other out for a sexual test drive before the credits rolled. Which isn't to say that Dan is squeaky clean on that front—especially his impromptu encounter with Marie in the shower. But as PG-13 flicks go, it doesn't push the content envelope nearly as far as many do these days... The film's missteps are worth keeping in mind, but they're not enough to cancel out the Real lessons Dan and his girls live and learn in the context of their large, loving and loyal family."

Yankee or Dixie...What's with that??

Looks like the war between the states is still alive and well. Harvard University has done a study to determine what dialect you speak...whether you are "Yankee" or "Dixie". Don't get me started on this...I warn you...like we don't have enough battles to fight here in the good 'ol U.S. of A. that we need to dredge this issue back up! Being a transplanted Yankee living here in the south... I've learned to adapt. Yes, I have listened with a straight face (ok-maybe a slight snicker) while watching a fellow Texan turned beet red over the idea that anyone would have the audacity to use the "TX" symbol for Texas...because, as we all know "Texas is too big to be abbreviated!!!" Take heed you wise ones, this type of controversy can create quite a stir. No sirreesir... Far be it from me to promote any type of dis-unity. Although, in all fairness, let it be known I am quite true to my heritage, true Yank, yep, that's me. So, I won't mention the fun little "quiz" you can take to find out which "side" you fall on. Now, I wouldn't want to be viewed as so shallow or anything, so I won't even go there. Nope.... hmmmm...

I shouldn't even allude to that fact that I got a tad bit "worked up" over the results of my "64% Dixie" score... Especially when my dear husband informed me that he, in fact, scored true blue Yank. Or the fact that I made him review each answer with me and only three of his answers differed. Three lousy answers were enough to doom us to a mixed marriage?? To add insult to injury, the quiz called my score ...”a definitive Southern score”. Who made up this test anyways?? I mean really...the majority of my answers fell in the “common throughout entire US” or “around Great Lakes”, mid-west or NE and I still got a Dixie score? Whats with that? Be assured, because I’ve held to my stanch position of a loyal “Yankee” (or at least loyal Buckeye) over the past 25 years of living in Texas, our friends here will NOT let me live this one down. But no, I don't want to stir up any more controversy.

OK, well maybe I do...I mean really...Hey, sympathize with me here a minute…Don’t I get any credit??? I still call a carbonated soft drink “POP” when EVERYONE around us says “Coke” or “soda”. (“Bless your little heart…ya’ll want Cokes? What kind do ya want? I’ve got Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Coke or Diet Coke?”) Or what about the fact that I clicked on “Crawdad” instead of “Crawfish”… doesn’t THAT count for anything? And another thing… I’m sure that statistics are much higher for those that address a group of people as “YOU GUYS” than those that say “Youse”, “You’un”,” yins”! Why wasn’t “You Guys” given as an option? Huhhhh??

That does it, I conclude that this test is “FIXED”. It probably isn’t even put out by Harvard U, but instead by a group of Texas A&M Aggies that are trying to prove, once again, that the world revolves around “the south” (Texas in particular). Yep, that’s the only explanation. Lawd O Mercy, God knows I love our Texan friends…but they have to learn not to mess with my Yankee loyalties. Bless their little hearts.
Ya’ll have a good day,
Diane