Reading the Familiar...

As you know, I will be participating in the study of Ruth with The LPM Blog in June, and I'm so excited for it that I've invited you along. It is not too late to join us, just leave me a comment in this post or any other for that matter, to let me know you'll be joining us, and I'll send you an e-mail out to let you know the particulars. (And to those of you who will already be joining me, I'll be getting an e-mail out to you in the next day)..... I'm really looking forward to it.

I went and bought my book a few days ago and have been enjoying going through it. I wanted to give you a sampling of what we will be enjoying from Miss Kelly Minter in this study.

"I think the point is for us not to let familiarity with something make us think we don't have to give it our all. Seeking God with our whole hearts through the age-old avenues of Scripture, prayer, and fellowship will always prove valuable, no matter how many times we've heard it."

I loved that, and it was a great word for me to hear. Lately, I have been reading Scripture and seeing things in such a different light. It is like I am reading it for the first time, and some of the Scriptures I am reading are very familiar to me.

Like:

Deuteronomy 8:3 (New International Version)
"3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

What stood out to me from this verse is the role of God here. He humbled them, He caused them to hunger, so He could feed them. I was so moved by this picture of God. We somehow think that we are doing things on our own sometimes, like it is us that has made us successful, or us that has caused us to prosper, but then when things go wrong, why did God allow this to happen?... it is really crazy how at least, I think sometimes. But lately, God is really making it plain to me, His role in my life, and it is everything!!! He is causing the sun to rise and set, He is giving life to our beautiful garden, He is also showing His might in us through the trials we are currently in, and it is a beautiful thing.

So as you read Ruth or any other familiar Scripture, take a moment and really let what your reading set it. God has something to say to you for sure.

Have a Beautiful Lord's day ~~ love to you,

2 Women, A Baby, A Farmer's Market & A Stress Test.....

Yep now that's what is on the agenda for today.

2 Women = Mom and Me
A Baby = Ummmm, Sir Cuteness of course =)
A Farmer's Market = What we'll be doing while mom is .....
A Stress Test = Having a Stress Test this morning on her heart.

A few weeks ago my mom had a routine CT scan as a follow up to her Oncology stuff. We do it every year, with Oncology appts every three months. Well as far as the cancer goes, everything looked fine. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Well, we went to her regular Physician last week and she was pouring over her CT results and saw something a little bothersome on there. It seems that mom has some plaque build up in the areteries around her heart, so doc just wants to make sure this is not anything serious. Mom has a murmur and heart disease runs in the men of her family, so doc is just wanting to check it. We had an EKG yesterday and all was fine, so we are expecting this to be just routine and a good base to work with moving forward.

So, while mom is hanging out with the good people at the Wheeler Heart Institute, if things are going well, then Sir Cuteness and I are going to head over to The Farmer's Market. I haven't been yet this year, it isn't very far from where mom will be, and I know Sir Cuteness will LOVE it!!!

So that's what's cooking for us today. Oh yeah and speaking of cooking.....I grilled out last night and it was soooooo good!!! YUMMY, delicious burgers for the boys with grilled onions and peppers to lather on top ~~ mmmmmm!!!! And yummy delicious portabella's for me, yep all dressed up like a burger, since I'm a veggie-tarian and all........ and it was sooooooo good. So I think I'll do a little series of cooking on the grill things and then share with you if they turn out good. Never been a huge griller, but maybe this summer will be the summer for my grilling experience to take off!!!

WOW this post is kind of rambling now.....sorry about that. Just wanted to pop on here and let you know what our day is all about today. If you'd say a prayer for my sweet mama I'd sure appreciate it.

Details are coming soon on the Bible Study I posted about yesterday. I have two takers ~~~ YAY!!! But it's not too late. If you want to join us, just scroll down and check out yesterday's post and leave me a comment or e-mail. And you can join us starting on June 22nd.

Love and hugs to you,

Any takers? .... Are you game?....

So on Tuesday June 22nd, The LPM Blog (Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministry Blog) will be starting their third year for the Summer Bible Study. I have participated the last two years and have grown through both of those experiences.

Well, they are ready to start again and this year they are back to a Kelly Minter study. The first year it was the NOG study by Kelly, "No Other gods" and then last year it was "Me, Myself and Lies" from Jennifer Rothschild (local girl ~~ go Jennifer =) and then this year it is Kelly Minter's newest study "Ruth".

Well, the first year I hosted a group of ladies in my home, and it was a beautiful thing!!! We saw one lady trust her heart to the Lord in Salvation and we had such sweet fellowship breaking bread together and getting to know each other better. Yes, it was indeed a sweet time.

And then last year I was in a different season in my life and different feel that I could tackle having a study in my home like I had the year before, so my dear friend Carrie and I did the study together. It was GREAT!!!

Well, this year finds me in yet another season in my life and again I will not be hosting it in my own, and this year will not even be able to do a one-on-one like last year, but I do have a proposal for you my bloggy peeps =) Would any of you like to do this study with me here on my blog?

The way it would work, is to do the study through the week and then every other Tuesday, starting June 22nd and running through the first week in August (I think) I'll do a post on here including BMoore's questions and my answers to those and then you can leave your answers in the comments or you can e-mail me personally if that works better for you.

Every year there have been SO many who do not have anyone to do the study with. It always makes me want to be able to have them ALL in my home, but that is just not possible, but through blogs it is possible to host someone into your blog home and make them feel comfy and loved. Ya know? ....

So here is the link to the LPM blog post outlining Summer Bible Study for this year. Please let me know if you're interested. I know that many of you like myself, are so busy. I really didn't know how I'd be able to work this study into my life right now and that made me sad, because I really want to do it. And then this idea just came to me ~~ haha that makes me laugh!!! I know that God placed this in my heart.

So any takers? ~~ Are you game? ~~ I'm game if you are ~~ let me know what you think =)

Have a Blessed and Beautiful day ~~

Lovely ~~ Beautiful ~~ Strawberry Tart

My husband is a strawberry lover!!! I mean the man just digs him some lovely strawberries. He doesn't want me to grow them, because they do take up some space in the garden, what with the runners and all, but he does love them.

So I'm always looking for a new strawberry recipe to try, although I must say, for him the simpler the better. He likes to be able to taste the read strawberry taste. Like for instance, he likes Honey Nut Cherrio's with fresh strawberries cut up in it. Nothing better, as far as cereal goes, says he.

So when my cousin Cliff went to Afghanistan this past month, he didn't get any sweets while he was there. So Heather made him Strawberry Tarts for his homecoming, and she is an amazing cook. So being the bold and courageous cook and cousin that I am, I asked her for her secret recipe. Well she so obliged (since the secret recipe came out of Betty Crocker =) I love this girl!!!

So I thought I'd share it with you. She made individual tarts, but I made both individual tarts and also one big pie tart, which we probably like better. We are pie people, people =)

anyway...

Lovely ~~ Beautiful ~~ Strawberry Tart

I made a pie crust and then put it in a cupcake pan, baked at 400 for around 8 minutes. That makes about 10 tart shells if you use a one pie crust recipe.

1 1/2 quarts strawberries
1 Cup Sugar
3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1/2 Cup Water

Mash enough strawberries to measure 1 cup. I set aside 10 whole strawberries (one for each tart). Mix Sugar and Cornstarch in a saucepan and gradually stir in water and mashed strawberries. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minutes. Put one strawberry in each tart and pour cooked strawberries into each tart. Refrigerate about one hours or until set. You can substitute peaches or raspberries for strawberries.

I made a regular tart as well. So I baked my crust and then added whole strawberries until it was all pretty with strawberries and then poured the strawberry mixture over the top of the whole berries. Then I put in the refridgerator to set.

Serve with whipped cream (Note to self: I need to pick some up =) and ...
Enjoy!!!

Happy, Healthy Eating

Pain: The Crossroads of the Heart Part Two...

Good Monday Morning to ya ~~ I hope your weekend was beautiful and Blessed by the Lord!!!

On this Monday morning I wanted to continue our talk about this book: Strong Women soft hearts by Paula Rinehart.

We are continuing in Chapter 3 and that may be all I end up writing about from this book, but there are so many other wonderful gems found in this book that I highly recommend that you find you a copy and read it, and also do the questions in the study guide in the back of the book. I really like a good study guide, and this one is great. It really makes you think about the chapter you just read and apply it to your life. This is a very well put together book.

The Faces of Pain:

"Pain - emotional pain - is a curious thing. It takes place on an invisible level, yet it has the potential to actually shape the real stuff of a person's future. It can numb and destroy our passion in life, but it can refine and bless as well. When you're hurting , no amount of logic or rational thought will make it go away."

This idea of "...Faces of Pain" was very intriguing to me. I don't know that I had ever really given it a ton of thought. I just knew one over lying truth about pain in any form: it hurts.

But there are many different forms of pain and it comes in all shapes and sizes. There are very big pains that are obvious and leave gaping holes, and yet there are those smaller pains, you know, the ones the eat away at you and over time become a deep pain that takes a long time to get to the root of.

In this particular paragraph, Paula is writing about emotional pain. Emotional pain itself has many faces, and can put on or mask itself in many ways. Yep it is the stuff of emotional pain that causes much hurt and often despair in a persons life.

You can't reach out and touch emotional pain, like you can a physical pain. When my knee is hurting, I can put an ice bag on it, or rub it, or do many and various types of exercises that I've been shown to help ease it, but emotional pain is different. You can't see it in a physical sense like you can my knee, but oh can you see its manifestations. Often the manifestation of the emotional pain is deemed the problem, when really it is only the symptom.

For many years I struggled with food addiction. I'd go up and down on the scale, and with each up and down my emotions would get more and more out of control, until one day I started binging and purging and found that I could satisfy that craving and then go purge and not feel the guilt of that craving. This went on for some time in my life and the curious thing about this was that I never saw it as wrong. I mean after all, I wasn't hurting any one (ahem, really Dawn?) and nobody knew. I was keeping my weight down and eating healthy for all to see from the outside, so what was the harm.

Well, the harm was what I was doing to myself, and of course, it was wrong. One day I was listening to Christian radio, (Praise Jesus for Christian radio) and there was a lady on there talking about food addictions and bilema and how it was sin. I know your gonna think this is crazy, but I had never thought that food addiction was before that day. I know, nieve little thing huh? And I was a grown woman, married and living my life. Listen, this was such a lie of the enemy in my life, that HAD to be over come. Once I realized what I was doing was sin, it had to stop, but by that time, it was a strong hold in my life. I went to my husband and told him what was going on. He was stunned. He had no idea, but he loved me anyway. He helped me through it, and today I am completely free from it, thanks to Jesus Christ in my life and the leading and guiding of my husband and friends. But getting free from it was quite a process. I had to be held accountable for my actions. My husband held me accountable and so did a very good friend of mine. She would ask me the tough questions that I HAD to answer and some weeks I answered in victory and others in defeat, but over the course of time, God helped me to see things differently, to see myself differently, and today I don't think about binging and purging anymore, although food is still a struggle for me at times. It is a deeply personal journey that God continues to teach me through. It is a beautiful thing.

I say all of that to say this, the emotional pain that I was feeling, fueled the physical manifestation of that pain. The food addiction wasn't the problem, but rather the symptom, and that is something that I had to understand and deal with at it's root, if I was ever to be free from it. It was a long process and one I am still on today, because I never want to be back at that place, so I keep my eyes open. I am a conscious live-r today. I don't walk around with my eyes closed, putting on the happy face. If I'm sad, I'm sad. If I'm stressed, I'm stressed. If I've had a bad day, it is what it is. But ALWAYS I live with an expectancy in my heart for Jesus. I love seeing Him move and work in my life and in the lives of the ones I love. It is truly an amazing thing. I live with expectancy and hope.

When I sat down to write this post, this was not a course I had even thought it would take, but it did. So I hope that for whomever this was written for, that you know there is hope beyond addiction, whatever it may be. And if you struggle with food addiction specifically, and would like to talk with me more about it, please feel free to e-mail me.

I believe that valley experiences happen in our lives for a reason. And for me, I am hoping that I can be a Blessing to someone else by sharing what I have learned along this journey of life.

Thank you for reading and have a Blessed and Beautiful day,

Amazing Moments in Time.....

All of us have those precious moments we want to freeze in time. Ya know, those times when your husband comes up behind you while your cooking supper in your apron and you smell of garlic and onions, and he kisses your neck and lingers just a moment longer......

freeze......

Or when your son wraps his arms around you and says "your the best mama in the whole wide world!!!" and means it!! And then he gives you eskimo kisses and a big smoocher right on the lips with his sticky, suckery mouth. PURE BLISS....

freeze.....

Or when you open the mail, and your best friend has sent you a card just because she loves you, and you sit on your porch and stare at the envelope before you open it, knowing it will be kind words from someone who knows you so well. Then you open it and let those words sink in deep.....and then you read it again and again..........

freeze.....

Well, last night we had one of those moments with Sir Cuteness. Okay we have one of those moments every night Sir Cuteness stays all night with us. We have a routine. As we all three get ready for bed, Sir Cuteness gets in bed with us and we wind down for the night. We start with a tickle session, so he can get all his laughter going and energy out for the night, and then we have a hug fest. It's a beautiful thing.....And then after I have my hugs and kisses and get snuggled in my covers, PaPa takes Sir Cuteness and scoops him up and then takes him to the light where Sir Cuteness gets the priveledge of turning out the lights for the night. Then PaPa, with Sir Cuteness in his arms, starts recounting the day. "We went to Neosho today...." Sir Cuteness says, "Cow..."
PaPa: Yep, we saw a cow....
SC: Horsey....
PaPa: and a horsey, and you got to eat french fries...
SC: fren friiiiii
PaPa: you got to play in the garden.....
SC: yeah, gra-mawwwwwwwwww
PaPa: You sleep good.....
SC: yeah......
PaPa: Good night 'lil buddy.....
SC: night.

freeze.....

These are the sweetest moments........ I freeze them deep in the corners of my heart.....
They are precious memories for me.......... I am a well-Blessed woman!!!

Thank you Jesus ~~

Have a Blessed Lord's day ~~

Random Friday in the making...

Okay, so on this very Random Friday I would like to start with salad dressing.

Yep, you heard that right.....salad dressing.

I have become very fond of McAlister's Honey Mustard Dressing.

As a general rule, I cannot eat most commercially prepared salad dressings because they have MSG in them, and I am highly allergic!! EEK!!! So when I find one that I can eat, I usually stick with it, especially when it is as tasty as this Honey Mustard Dressing.

So tonight I decided to look up the nutritional contents, just to be sure they were in my range.

Now why did I do that?

Hmpff..........

A 3 oz. serving has 319 calories and 27 grams of fat.

That is crazy talk!!!

Oh my stars ~~ so now I will be discontinuing the use of this very delicious dressing.

Oh brother what do they do put a cup of honey to 2 tablespoons of mustard in this dressing?

I mean seriously...how could mustard be so fattening?

Okay, I'm done.

Hmpff....

Okay onto greener pastures =)

Dak had tennis districts this week.

Now sadly he was knocked out in the first round.

He drew a first seed from a large school,

but he played very well.

I was so proud of him and so was his coach.

It was great to hear him be so encouraging to my boy.

Thanks Coach B.

So here is Dak, and yes that is Sir Cuteness at the fence.

It was so cute.

At one point he went right up to the fence and said,

"Hi KoKo"

That's what he calls Dak....Uncle KoKo....how cute is that?

And of course Uncle KoKo looks up and waves and says hi to Sir Cuteness

right in the middle of the match...

Yep, now that was a moment.....

So sweet!!!

Look at my boy being fierce.

Serve it up my boy!!!

In your face..... =)

And then after the match, Dak came and sat by me and Sir Cuteness,

and we talked about the match and told him how proud we were of him and how much we love him...

Well, after our talk, he picked Sir Cuteness up and took him to the car for me...

So here they are being Uncle and Nephew....

See how cloudy? Oh boy that has been the month of May pretty much around these parts.

Hi Grandma.....

Look at this darlin' face...

Yep grab that spoon =)

Here's my boys...

And yes that would be a tennis ball Sir Cuteness is holding.

He is ate up with all things KoKo.

After a tennis match the other day, he went home and told his daddy all about it,

and he showed the actions and everything.

He acted like he was running from one side of the net to the other...

It was priceless!!!

He cracks us up!!

Well, in other Sir Cuteness news....

My mom decided to buy him an early Birthday present.....

a baby recliner!!!

Oh my stars!!

Have y'all seen these?

They are the cutest things and they recline and everything.

Check him out.....

Here he is kicking back....

chillin'.....

How sweet is this baby?

I mean seriously!!!

Have you ever?!!

Well, we are finally going to have a warm, rain free weekend around here,

or so they say. I hope they are right. My garden needs some tending to, but

our yard needs to dry out first. It's a lake back there!!!

Dak is done with finals, and tomorrow is the last day of school for this school year.

WOW, it has gone so fast!!!

Senior year, here we come!!

Well I'm off to find a honey mustard dressing with more mustard than honey =)

Have a Blessed Friday,

The In-Pass.....

This is the journal that I bought to record Dak's Senior Year.

Isn't she lovely ~~ Isn't she wonderful ~~ Yep makes me happy =)

It may look familiar....Stephanie at Happily Ever After had a give away a couple of weeks ago, and no, I was not the winner, but I loved it so much I asked Steph where she got it and so I ordered one for myself from Barnes and Noble. It is the most beautiful journal I have ever owned. How fitting that it will record the memories of my babies Senior Year. Yep, very fitting indeed.

This is the purpose of this journal. I wrote this on the first page as a reminder....

"The journal of a son's Senior Year ... seen through the eyes of a mother .... his mother."

This journal is a reflection of my heart. I know that this year holds many wonderful things and also many life changing things. I hope to drink it all in and celebrate each milestone and cry a lot. Because that's what mama's do right? We cry.

I wrote this poem tonight as I was thinking about Dak's Senior Year:

The In-Pass

How did it happen?

Didn't I just drop you off in Kindergarten yesterday?

How did it happen?

You have grown up so fast...

Have I taken it all in?

Have I paid enough attention?

Have I savored every moment?

Oh how I've tried...

How did it happen?

You are now a Senior...

A beautiful, wonderful, young man...

and yes a Senior.

I watch in amazement as a boy becomes a man before my very eyes...

How did it happen?

It happened because God ordained it child.

You have grown so fast it seems,

but the point is... you have grown.

You are a beautifully, gifted young man, my son...

So much talent.

So much heart.

So you.

It happened because life keeps moving...

This is your time to shine my boy....

Shine on in Him.

Love, MoM

Maybe this time....I'll speak the Words of life....

Yesterday morning I woke up with these lyrics running through my head:

"Mulling over things that won't live past today.
Maybe this time, I'll speak the Words of life...."

So when this happens and I can't place the song I write it down and look it up and this is a song by Casting Crowns called "Here I go Again".

This is one powerful song talking about "dancing around the truth this may be his last chance to tell him that You love him, maybe this time". Isn't that powerful?!! I've thought about this for my own life and how I've danced around the truth at times, not knowing how to approach people or just what to say, but no more dancing around it. I'll tell it straight up, with love. People need to know the love of Christ in their own hearts. God has entrusted us with a HUGE task, to spread the Gospel of Truth and also to live that Truth out every day of our lives. What good does it do to spread a Gospel we don't live? If you are living out this Truth then others will see that in you and want that in their own life. It is important. It is the stuff of real life and fruit. Yep it is real fruit being produced in your life.

Lord let me be loaded down with fruit for You Father. May I always speak with boldness and tell of Your Greatness and of Your Son who died for us!! Praise You!!! Use me to spread the Words of life and to be a witness of Your love and a testimony of what You can do in a life. I do not even resemble the person I used to be. You have transformed my life. Thank You Jesus!!!

So why would I wake up singing this song, especially with those particular lyrics, "mulling over things that won't live past today"? Because that is my tendency. I am a thinker, an over-thinker. I can also be a worrier (I'm working on this). But I will mull over things for a long time if I'm not careful and I believe this was a message to me from Father. "Stop mulling over things child, that will never live past today, things you cannot change and have no control over....move on." So moving on is just what I'm gonna do. I have been mulling over something that I need to let go of. I need to trust Him as I let go of it and know that God has already worked it out, because after all, we are already seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. So what do I have to worry about. Worry and fret gets me no where good. So I trust.

Ephesians 2:6-8 The Message: "He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on His own, with no help from us! Then He picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish!"

Don't you just love that? He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ, and not because we did anything to deserve it. No He knew what we needed and He did it with absolutley no help from us. He did it because He loves us. AMAZING!!! It's all His idea and His gift from start to finish...love that!!


I found this powerful video from a group of young people at Garland Baptist Church. I don't know them, but this video is really good. I love to see young people using their talents for the Lord. It is a sad video, but watch to the end. Really good!!! GREAT JOB GARLAND BAPTIST YOUTH!!



Take some time to let God heal those places in you that tend to mull over things that will never live past today and move on in Him. He loves you so!!!

Love you,

Turn the page...

Do you ever just feel like the times they are a changin'? I feel that way right about now.

I feel as if we are turning the page and getting ready to start a new, sweet chapter in our lives. On Friday at 10:16 AM Dak will officially be a Senior. I am so proud of him I can hardly stand it!!! And yet at the same time I remember the little boy who longed to be able to build a snowman and it just wouldn't snow enough, so when it snowed even a little, we made this cute little snowman. It was so funny!!

I remember the little boy who got in trouble in kindergarten for kissing a girl, in which I told him to "leave your lips to yourself" =) There have been so many funny memories and a few sad and frustrating ones, but that is life in the public school system; joyful, funny, sad and frustrating -- oh wait a minute, that's just life.

anyway...

Tomorrow Dak will have finals all day and then it's gravy train the rest of the week and then on Friday he officially will begin his Senior year. To commemorate his Senior year I have ordered a very special journal to record his Senior year from his mother's perspective. I am looking forward to having a place to record this journey. I am so proud of him have I mentioned that?!!! =)

Here a just a few pics of my boy....my sweet, incredible Dak.....

Him and Sir Cuteness ~~ have you ever? ~~ I mean seriously, grab a spoon =)


Look how cute and sweet this boy is.....I love his personality....and his style.....

And his humor!!! "Watch out mom, you know I'll do it!!" Oh yes, he so would too, oh wait, he so did!!...
I love him so....

So Dak as we close the chapter on your Junior year and dive in head first into your Senior year, know that I love you deeply, sincerely and always. I am so Blessed to be your mama. I look forward to every beautiful moment of your Senior year and to see all that God has for you....you are light and joy child....and a very beautiful delight!!!

I love you ~~ mom

Oh and yes, I'll be hanging onto my hat as we go through the whirlwind of your Senior Year ~~ yep hanging on tight!!! =)

Pain: The Crossroads of the Heart

I am currently reading "Strong Women soft hearts" by Paula Rinehart, in conjunction with The Bloom Bookclub. I am really loving this book. It probes the deep recesses of my heart.

The title of this post is the title of Chapter #3 of this book. I've decided that I'll do a post on Monday's to correspond with this chapter, as there has been much in here to work out in my heart and I thought maybe my journey might be an encouragement and help to you as well. We all have a story.

The first thing that I marked in this chapter was this: "In the end, I was thankful I had prayed." This really struck me. It is a simple sentence I know, but it took me instantly to an area in life that I am currently covering in prayer, and how thankful I am that I am praying through it, because in small ways I am seeing big changes. Most of all, God is working in ways in my heart that I just couldn't imagine. Yes I am growing up. At 43, maturity is coming. And the funny thing is, is that I already thought I was fairly mature. Boy was I wrong!!

At the bottom of the page that holds the above sentence I wrote: "I always want to be able to say this." Because the simple fact of the matter is, is that has not always been the case. When I was 19 and lost my sister Dana and my 1st husband David, within three months of each other, I cannot say that I prayed through that. I was not anywhere close to where I needed to be in God and I thought that He was against me. I blamed God and hurt....alot. It was such a difficult time in my life and I just didn't understand why it was happening. How could God let this happen? Those were my thoughts. Really the only praying I did during that time was that David would be okay (before I knew he was gone). After that, I just mostly yelled at God. The thing I know now is God could handle my raw emotion, and He was loving me, even when I was at my most unlovable. He is AMAZING!!!

I sit here today in a much different place in God, but I still experience pain and hurt. That time back in 1986, shaped and molded my heart in some not very good ways, and still today we (God and I) are working it out. I don't let people in close very good. I'm better than used to be, but it is still hard. But God (don't you love that?!!) is showing me how wonderful it is to love unabandoned. To love without strings attached. To love like this is your last day on the planet. That is an amazing way to love!!! I have a lot to learn, but oh the journey is so incredible!!!

Maybe over the course of these Monday's we'll learn together. We will understand and focus our hearts on God and move closer to that which He has called each of us to. I firmly believe there is a call on our lives; each one of us. I want to move ever closer to that which He designed me for. I want to be all I can be in Christ.

Father,
Thank you for helping navigate the difficult waters of pain. You know first hand what it is to suffer and You alone can give us peace in the journey through the many aspects of pain that we face here. I love You so Father and I praise You, Amen.

Random Friday ~~ Boy What a Week!!!

WOW we have been SO busy this week.

I have lots of posts running around in my head,

but I've yet to get it down on "paper" =)

Well, let's have some Random Friday fun, shall we? =0)

On Tuesday, Dak had his last regular season Tennis Match.

Districts were suppose to be today, but we got rained out.

But that seems like a huge understatement. The road that connects to our road is flooded,

and it is just yucky out. So they've rescheduled districts for Monday.

Well, here is Dak tearing it up on the tennis court on Tuesday.

He played very hard. He lost the game, but he was fierce!!

He even played the last 2 sets with an injury.

He had gone up to slam it and when he came down,

he hit his knee with his racket. Ouch!!!

But he is fine and he finished the game.

You did great son!! You rock!!!!!

Fierceness, I tell you....

Beautiful, wonderful, Fierceness!!!

And here is our future 'lil tennis star!!!

Sir Cuteness LOVES him some tennis.

It was so cute, he went home and replayed Dak's game.

Oh I thought I'd just fall completely apart because of the cuteness!!!

Oh how we love these two tennis stars!!!!!

I love this pic.

Hey ball, what's up?!! heehee

Can you even handle the cuteness?!!

I know!!

I love this one too ~~

Hut-Hut Hike the tennis ball =)

End of the game - good gaming it.

Such good sportsmanship from both guys.

This is one of our roses in our flower bed.

How beautiful!!!

God does amazing work doesn't He?

I took some pics of our gardens the other day to do a Spring Garden Post.

Yep it's one of those posts that are running around in my head....

yep I'll get it on here soon...

Here is Dak with our Azalea.

Such a great pic!!!

Hahaha ~~ need I say anything else =)

Graduation was Monday evening.

Here I am before graduation.

I look like a giant.

Dick was on the floor when I asked him to take this pic to make sure my camera was on the right settings, because I am a camera dork.

Complete and total dork!!!

Here is the obligatory throwing of the hats!!!

I love this!!

I loved throwing my hat, although I was worried I wouldn't get it back.

I did.

And now I don't have it...

anyway....

It was such a nice ceremony.

The speaker was really good.

A Christian Motivational Speaker.....

GREAT!!!

Well, how was that for randomness?!?!! Pretty good huh?!!

Have a Super Blessed day ~~ love you all,

Simple Mexican Vegan Salad

I do love me a nice refreshing salad in the summer time. Okay late spring time.

And this one is O So Simple!!!

Simple Mexican Vegan Salad

Plate full of lettuce (I'll use fresh Romaine and leaf lettuce from my garden)
1/4 cup Light Red Kidney Beans
1/2 tomato
1 Tbl Black Olives
2 Tbl Vegan Cheese (or cheese of your choice)
1 Tbl onion
2 Corn Tortillas
Canola Spray
1 - 2 Tbl of Simple Mexican Dressing (recipe is in post just below this one ~~ your welcome =)

Start by spraying a little Canola Spray on each side of tortillas. Add them to a Canola sprayed skillet. Cook until brown on both sides and then set aside to cool.

While those cool, prepare the other items for the salad. When ready to put the salad together, tear corn tortillas or you can also cut them into 8 slices. Place them on the plate and add lettuce, tomatoes, Kidney beans, black olives, onions and cheese. Add the dressing on top and enjoy.

This is a delicious, simple supper. You can vary the toppings to fit you palate.

Enjoy!!!

Happy, Healthy eating,

The many ways of Mayo....

I do enjoy me some mayo, I must admit.



Lately I am enjoying it on veggie sandwiches with dill and cucumber. Oh my stars, it is wonderful!!! I love the pairing of dill and mayo, it is so refreshing.



Well, last night I tried a new spin on the old mayo train.



Now let me start by saying that I use a vegan mayo, but reg mayo is just fine or a low fat variety or my husband loves the Miracle Whip Salad Dressing variety which is low in calories. Who knew?



anyway....



Well, last night I decided that I wanted a creamy dressing on my Simple Mexican Vegan Salad, that I whipped up (recipe to come), and this simple dressing just added the exact lovely punch my salad needed.



Simple Mexican Salad Dressing



1 Tbl Mayo (I use Vegan)

1 Tbl Salsa (I used homemade that I canned, but you could use commercial)

Salt and pepper to taste



That's it. Mix it really well, to where it is a nice consistency and enjoy on your salad. Delish!!!

Simple, but so delish!!



Enjoy!!!

Okay, so now I'm off to write my Simple Mexican Salad Recipe for you.



Happy, Healthy Eating,

Apple Deliciousness for One...

So I make single-serving dishes a lot. Since I eat a mainly Vegan Diet, single-serving dishes are a must, since I am the only one in my family who eats this strict of a diet. But I feel so much better than I used to, and I do really enjoy eating these lovely dishes. It is an adventure.

I really like sweets, but making sweets that are healthy for you is sometimes a challenge. Well, I have come up with a lovely dessert that is a nice treat and still not to bad for you. Win-Win!!!

Apple Deliciousness for One

1 medium Apple
2 tsp water (or so)
3 Gingersnap Cookies (I used a gluten-free variety), broken up but not crushed
1/2 tablespoon Almond Butter (can use Peanut butter or Cashew butter)

Peel and slice apple and put in a microwave safe bowl. Add water and microwave for 1 minute. Add Gingersnap Cookies and microwave 25-30 seconds more. Apples should be nice and soft and Gingersnaps soft but still in tact. (Times could vary depending on your microwave). Add nut butter and enjoy!!!

Calories: 214 (or there abouts =) Great for a mid-afternoon snack!!!

This was such a delicious treat for me this afternoon. Hope you like it ~~

Happy, Healthy Eating,

MS. GINORMOUS BREAD!!!

Okay so with a title like that.....

Let me introduce you to Ms. Ginormous Bread.....

She came from Indiana via my neighbor.

They said they had a surprise for me.

Boy did they ever.

She ordered 6 loaves and the lady said "do you want help to your car?"

Neighbor L: "No thanks."

And then she came out with the bread...

Youzers!!!

Dak hanging out with said bread.....

Dak getting ready to smooch on Ms. G....
Yep it is that good =)


Me and Sir Cuteness trying to hold Ms. G. after we cut it ~~ WOW!!!

Okay, so I LOVE this pic.
Look at Sir Cuteness chewing on his beef stick.
It's so cute!!!

So here is my question.....

What to do with this much bread?!! ~~

My idea is to, of couse, use some with pasta etc....

but also I was thinking about making croutons and freezing them.

What do y'all think?

Any ideas to get the most out of our Ms. Ginormous?

Thanks, and I'll let you know if I use your ideas and how they turn out!!!

Love and hugs ~~

Oh Yeah and Happy Healthy Eating,

Mother's Day ~~ Part 2

Dak and I went to a fun restaurant after church yesterday for Mother's Day.

We started out going to Zio's but it was going to be a 45 min wait,

and Dak was "REALLY HUNGRY MOM!!!"

So we set out to find another place to eat,

and landed here....

Old Chicago

Neither one of us had ever been, so that was fun in itself.

So here's Dak...

Doesn't he look "Old Chicago" in his hat?

And me just looking Old... =)

Oh yeah, here's the "Old Chicago" in me.

Okay Dak really?
What's with the mean "Chicago" face?
I guess he was really playin' the part =)

I just LOVE his smile in this one ~~

Hahaha!!!

Isn't this pic funny?!!

Cracks me up!!!!!

Do you think he knew he'd be in a blowed up pic on the wall of "Old Chicago" for all the world to see when it was taken?

Hmmm....me don't think so =)

And then there was this bike in a nook on the wall with the neon bike inside....

interesting.....

Me under the light ~~ Dak thought this was a cool pic...

Dak under the light.....

I like this pic ~~ What a cutie boy I have .....

He is such a sweetie too...

And have I mentioned the food?

Well, I should have!!!

It was delish!!

And I forgot to take a pic of our entree's.

I had a Vegetarian Stomboli, hold the cheese please =)

with cut up veggies on the side and honey mustard dipping sauce

De-Yum-Yumm ~~ so good!!

And Dak had the Meat Calzone.

Wow could we eat any different?!! =)

And then for dessert ~~ because ya know, it was Mom's Day and ya gotta have dessert right? =)

Dak chose this lovely...

Turtle Cheese Cake.....

With two forks please....

And yes it was as good as it looks!!!

Oh my stars~~~

I had just like two or three bites and then Dak finished her off.

Here I am already so full from the Stomboli.....

(Look how Ginourmous this Cheesecake was ~~ YOUZERS!!)

But a girl does what she can ~~ hahahaha ~~

We had such a nice day.

Thanks for joining us through pics =)

Have a Super Blessed day,

A Before and After and Mother's Day Part 1

Before.....

After!!!

Yep I cut my hair ....

Like seriously cut my hair....

What do you think?

On Saturday our Band at school had a car show.

It was sooooo cool!!

But it was also really chilly for May...

So Sir Cuteness and I didn't get to stay out long,

but Dak stayed and enjoyed.

See...

And he found a friend to share his day with....

aren't they cute in this car?!!
Then that evening we took mom/grandma out to dinner at a local
BBQ place she has wanted to go to for a while.
It was a lot of fun.

I love this pic...
Mom and Dak just chatting it up!!
Look how sweet ~~ so cute!!!
Really mom?!!
Hahahahaha ~~ so funny!!

Me and my mama ...

My mama and me .....

Me and my sweet boy!!!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! We love you so!!

I hope y'all had a great Mother's Day ~~

And there is still a whole other post to go...

Mother's Day with Dak.....

Stay tuned for that.....

Love you,