Archive - May, 2005

Grandma and the Aunts!

By on May 31, 2005 in family, Home 18

My family recently had their very own Big Fat Greek Wedding, thanks to my cousin’s new wife and family! Unfortunately, I was unable to go, but mom was happy to show off the pics! I managed to get three from her to scan!

Aunt Marilyn, Mom, Aunt Linda, Aunt Kathryn (groom’s mother!) and Aunt Kelli. Aunt Marlis, the oldest sister, was unable to make it. Grandma is front and center.

Wow, Grandma has six daughters! I thought four was a lot!

As you can tell, Aunt Marlis (AKA, Tootsie), you were missed!

Aunt Marilyn’s claim to fame!!! Posing for shots while singing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry!

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.” Anthony Brand

“Family faces are magic mirrors looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.” Gail Lumet Buckley

Help, James!!!

By on May 31, 2005 in Home 8

I have been waiting for a couple of days to post some pics. James re-did the computer (I forgot the technical term). Now my scanner needs to be installed before I can use it. Of course, I haven’t a clue how to do that. So, I sit at home, in front of the computer, totally helpless. This reminds me of how much I need my dear husband and how completely lost I’d be without him. He’s been taking care of me since I was 17 years old and he started giving me gas money so I wouldn’t be the only senior still riding the school bus!! Hon, help, I NEED YOU!!!!

Any dream interpreters out there? I haven’t been remembering my dreams much lately but I had one last night that stuck with me. If I remember a dream it is almost always about a house with lots of rooms. It’s usually our home and I keep discovering hidden rooms. In one I went downstairs through a door and discovered room after room of beautiful antique furniture. I wish I’d wrote all these house dreams down because they’re so interesting. I have dreamt about rooms full of waist deep water. Last night, I dreamt about my Grandma Ws’ house. I kept walking around in awe of all the rooms. They were all empty though. I was reminscing about how they looked when I was little. I have been having these house dreams for years. Hmmmm…..

Well, hopefully I’ll be posting pics soon!!!! Here’s a quote for James, my Groucho Marx fan!

“The husband who wants a happy marriage should learn to keep his mouth shut and his checkbook open”
Groucho Marx

meditations of the heart

By on May 27, 2005 in Faith 20

James has changed the name of his business. His slogan is We top them all. It’s a clever one for a countertop company, huh! Please pray for him as it is difficult at times not to feel discouraged. Thought I’d share this scripture with you that we are meditating on. Hopefully it will encourage you, as well. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of the godly ones. Proverbs 2:7-8

Speaking of prayer, maybe this will encourage you, too.

With all that goes on around Me, and all that I do in the earth and in heaven, I bow My ear low and listen. What you have to say, My Beloved, is important to Me. I stop to listen, yes, to you. I cherish your words of innocent trust, even when you have not seen Me. I AM impacted to hear your words of courage even when you do not hear My voice. I AM deeply moved when in spite of all that you have gone through in your testings, schooling and persecutions, you have chosen to stay faithful and committed in believing in My goodness and My Papa’s heart for you, My dear child. Yes, I stop and listen, for your faith has touched Me more than you possibly know. It is your gift to Me, as you lean on Me for your sustenance, strength and support. How MUCH I love you, dear one, how very, very much. Thank you.

Mal 3:16 NLT
Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.

Ps 139:6 NLT
LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

summer swing

By on May 25, 2005 in Home, homemaking 27

Summer vacation is in full swing! Which means I can wander around the house and look like this all morning long. It’s nice to not have to be so busy first thing in the morning!

I was painting in the bathroom, yesterday, (yes I am still painting!) and Jessica came running in carrying a little grey field mouse she’d caught. The kids put it in a big bucket and before afternoon’s end it was loose in the house! After looking and looking, she said we would have to go to plan B. I asked what plan B was and she sighed and said, “Kill it”. I guess we should set a trap. She really wants a cuddly pet. We are considering one of those miniature floppy eared rabbits.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time”

goodbye kindergarten

By on May 20, 2005 in Comfort Food, Home, kiddos 29

Well, it’s over. Today was the last day of school. I picked the girls up at the ‘kiss and go’ at 11:30. Jessica came running to me like always. I thought I was going to get a big hug, but instead she buried her head in my stomach and started crying. When we got in the car she was completely brokenhearted. Through weepy sobs, she cried out, with her hands over her face,“I never thought the day would come when I would have to leave kindergarten!”. Talk about heartbreaking!

I am getting together with friends tonight. I found this recipe that reminds me of the movie Chocolat. I am going to try making it. It sounds like a delicious treat.

Warm Chocolate Velvet

Ingredients:
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz or 350ml)
3 heaping tbs cocoa
1/4 cup golden syrup (you could use light corn syrup)
3 oz or 100 gms Ghiradelli semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup or 60 ml heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon
(optional) 2 tablespoons ginger syrup

Place everything except the heavy cream together in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, over medium low heat until the chocolate melts and the liquid is heated through. (Don’t let it boil.) Add the heavy cream and heat another minute or so. Pour into individual small cups. Makes approximately 4 five ounce servings.

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
Charles M. Schulz

childlike faith

By on May 18, 2005 in Faith, kiddos 11

On our way home from church tonight, Lydia was asking questions about tithing. She’s trying to figure out how we give money to God. She asked me if the church puts the money on the roof!

Before school started this year, her teacher sent her a note and a pack of gum in the mail. Lydia was thrilled with her little gift. That night she placed a piece of the gum on her bed and told God he could have it. The next morning she was disappointed to see it was still there. I love her childlike faith!

To be honest, I have been feeling overwhelmed and distracted lately. I take part of the responsibility for not making sure I get enough sleep. I also feel like I am being oppressed. Now I don’t believe in looking for devils in every corner but the bible does remind us that we have an enemy. I thought it good to go back to the basics and pick up my sword and be on the offense.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save me from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
not the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
not the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High you dwelling-
even the Lord, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot
against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord,
“I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he
acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

i really did rip my pants!

By on May 15, 2005 in Home 13

Not long ago, I posted a thread called, I Think I Ripped My Pants!. This….. is the sequel.

Today was a beautiful day and I took the girls for a 2 1/2 hour outing to the park while James and Anjelia stayed home and napped. I swang on three sets of swings in three different playgrounds. I love to swing! We did a lot of walking around and the town park was busy.

On the walk home, I went to put my hand in my back pocket. I was horrified when I realized I had a huge, four inch rip in the back of my Levis! My shirt would not cover it and I had to call James to come pick me up!! No way was I going to walk through traffic like that!! It must have been quite a sight while I was swinging!!! This time, I really did rip my pants!!

No Karen, I didn’t feel a breeze!!!

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety….
1 Timothy 2:9

Baked apricot chicken

By on May 13, 2005 in Comfort Food 16

My Grandma used to make this recipe. I loved going to her house for dinner and devouring this delicious chicken! Mom’s been fixing it for years and it’s still one of my favorites. I decided to start making it for my family. It’s a very easy recipe. I like a thicker sauce, so I boil or simmer the chicken first, for a few minutes, to cook off some of the juice. If you don’t already have the recipe, I think you will enjoy this yummy dish.

INGREDIENTS:
12 chicken thighs
1 cup apricot preserves
1 cup French dressing
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix

——————————————————————————–

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl combine the jam, dressing and soup mix. Mix together.
Place chicken pieces in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour apricot mixture over chicken and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

“Now, good digestion waits on appetite; and health on both.” ~Shakespeare
Quote from the recipe book of Leona Odle Dickey.

creative pics

By on May 11, 2005 in Home, kiddos 16

My favorite e-mails have been disappearing for several months. It’s been driving me crazy!!! If you send me a cute pic, poem, quote or video, and I like it, I am probably going to keep it. I have been going through my deleted items, looking and looking, confused about where my stuff is going. After complaining once again, James looked and discovered that my e-mail program has been sending stuff to a ‘hidden’ folder after 7 days!!! I know this doesn’t make me sound too smart and I am willing to accept that because I KNOW I am an intelligent being. However, I am still mostly computer illiterate. I do my own images now, though!!!

Well, it’s been like Christmas on the computer!! I am still sifting through my e-mail treasures. Oh, by the way, sorry if I kept asking you to re-send stuff. Now we know why!! I found this picture Rob sent. He took it about a year ago, while up for a visit. I appreciate it more now than I did then. The kids have grown up some. Sniff, sniff. Those of you with kiddos might like to try taking pics from this perspective. Very fun look!

“Pooh,” said Rabbit kindly, “you haven’t any brain.”
“I know,” said Pooh humbly.”

at Rest

By on May 10, 2005 in Faith, homemaking, kiddos 23

I am in the middle of painting my bathroom. It seems as though it takes me FOREVER to try to accomplish a project. I like to start something and finish it right away. It drives me crazy to have to do a project in little spurts.

Uh oh, gotta go, Anjelia took her diaper off and pooped in Lydia’s room. There is a turd in the closet!!! I am thankful for older siblings who report these incidents to me!

Karen sent this quote yesterday. I need to tape it to my forehead!!!!

“Look outward and be distressed. Look inward and be depressed. Look upward and be at rest.” Corrie ten Boom

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