Break my fall

When u see me falling will u pick me up? Will u look away? Does it matter if I disapper today?

You Lord...make the waves calm down and come to my aide endlessly. 

What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go? You broke my fall with a plan for me in mind. You never said oops...keep me in your will so I wont get in ur way.

We are healed by ur sacrifice u gave and by ur grace we r saved. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.

Thanks for caring...no matter what...

Amazing

 Nature Crafts and Activities for Kids You Will Want To Do RIGHT Now 

Easy Brunswick stew

20 oz can Brunswick stew

10 oz can pork w/ bbq sauce

10 oz can bbq beef

17 oz can lima brans rinsed n drained

11 oz kernel corn undrained

1/4 c bbq sauce

1 tsp lem juice

Mix. Heat. 20 mins. 7 cups

Cranberry gelatin mold

1 lg orange, seeded and quartered

4 c fresh cranberries

2 c sugar

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1/4 c cold water

2 (3oz) pkgs lemon jello

3 c boiling water

Chop orange and cranberries.  Combine sugar and let stand 15 mins.

Sprinkle unflavored gelatin over cold water stir and let stand 1 min. Add lemon jello and boiling water. Stir 2 mins til dissolved.  Chill till consistency of unbeaten egg whites.  Stir cranberry mixture into gelatin mixture.  Pour into greased bundt pan. Cover and chill til firm. 20 servings

Stuffed Apple Salad

6 lg cooking apples, peeled

2 c water

1 c red cinnamon candies

1/2 c chopped celery

1/3 c chopped,  toasted pecans

1/3 c mayo

Cut apples in half crosswise; core each, leave 1 inch hole in center. Set aside.

Combine water and candies boil. Stirring constantly. Add half of apple halves; cover and simmer 3-4 mins til tender. Remove cooked apples with slotted spoon and set aside. Add remaining apple halves and repeat. Cool.

Combine raisins and nxt 3 ingredients ; spoon into center of apple halves.  Cover and chill 2 hours.

12 servings

Patio blush

1 (6 oz) can frzn orange juc con,  thawed and undiluted

1/4 c lemon juice

1/4 c honey

1/4 c maraschino cherry juice

2 (33.8 oz) bottles ginger ale

1 pnt pineapple sherbet

Combine 1st 4 ingredients ; divide among six glasses. Fill each with Ginger ale; top with scoop of sherbet.  6 servings

Chicken - Chilie - Cheesecake

1 1/3 c finely crushed tortilla chips

1/4 c butter, melted

3 (8oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened

4 lg eggs

1 tsp chili pwdr

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp salt

3 Tbs minced gr onion

1 1/2 c finely shredded chicken

2 (4 oz) cans chopped gr chilies, drained

1 1/2 c (6 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 (16 oz) carton sour cream

1 tsp seasoned salt

Garnish : minced gr onions

Picante sauce

Combine tortilla chips, and butter; press into bottom and 1 inch up sides of dish.

Beat cream cheese @high speed with electric mixer till light and fluffy,  add eggs, 1@a time,  beating well after each addition. Stir in chili powder and nxt 3 ingredients.

Pour 1/2 of cr cheese mixture into dish. Sprinkle with chicken,chillies,  and cheese ; carefully pour rest ontop. Bake @350°for 10mins reduce heat to 300° and bake 1 hour or till set. Cool completely. 

Combine sour cream and seasoned salt, stir well.  Spread evenly on top. Cover and chill 8 hours. Garnish and serve with picante sauce.

10 servings

Baked potato soup

4 LG baking potatoes

2/3 c. Butter

2/3 c. All-purpose flour

6 c. Milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

4 gr onions, chopped and divided

12 slices of Bacon, cooked,  crumbled,  and divided

1 1/4 c. (5oz) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

1 (8oz) carton sour cream

Wash and prick potatoes bake @400°for 1hr or till done. Let cool. Cut taters in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, and set aside. May bake skins with onion, bacon,&cheese for tater skin treat.

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan ovr low heat; add flour,stirring smooth. Cook 1 min. Stir constantly.  Gradually add milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly,  till mixture is thickened and bubbly. 

Add potato pulp, salt, pepper,2 tbls. Gr onion, 1/2 c. Bacon,  1 c. Cheese.  Heat and stir in sour cream. Add extra milk if necessary. Serve with gr onions,  Bacon,  and cheese.

10 cups

Suddenly sour

Yes sour. Sour is something left out to long that ruins...or something that tastes bitter...or something gone bad.  Life can become sour. People can also. Of course food variations are first in my mind when I hear sour...and yet its a diverse word. The choices we make...the little insignificant details...determine what things become sweet or sour. Isn't it amazing what a pinch of sugar does?

Memory

I 'm guilty.  I have definitely taken my brain functioning for granted.  When I think of Alzheimer's,  I think of so many lost memories,  and I realize just how precious that keeping them is.  It's not something that can adequately be captured in a photo, or even in a journal, but it's the LiViNg experiences that are to be coveted.  Only when you live or work closely with an Alzheimer's patient will the true reality of this illness set in.  It's permanent and unrepentant.  Yet there are many happy moments.... even in this season. My husband and I have both had grandparents with it, will probably have parents with it one day and may even suffer ourselves.  I have elderly sat with patients with it before and am doing it now. Day by day memories are forever leaving... skipping through the roads of time in our minds.  Live each moment as if it's ur last...it just may be. Are u ready?

Making all things new again

There's a song we have that I LOVE with this same title. It tells about Jesus and how that is exactly what he does.  Amazing how much he cares for every little tedious detail in our lives. Often I am guilty of not caring near enough. Don't get me wrong...I care...but is it unrelenting? Hmmm

I do not want to spend my whole life asking what if I had given everything instead of going through the motions. This is applicable spiritually...of course... but also generally. Life is supposed to have purpose. A purpose filled life would be hard pressed to "go through the motions" I think.  Therefore it is our own responsibility to be certain we do not fall into habitual routines and in so doing ... utterly fall.  I cannot say what's in your heart nor can you interpret mine...but thank God... Jesus knows and loves us still.  Yes still.

Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!

Absolutely amazing love.

Labor day rain...<3

Here we are, enjoying our "day off",

watching it rain, pour, then quit alternately. Yes ENJOYING!!  THIS rain is from a hurricane...Lee to be precise.   I am so thankful we aren't flooding, and so far no twisters have demolished our home. We are so very blessed.  We have cooked our amazing stuffed burgers and home cut fries, and banana pudding... yum! :0) I'm so thankful we are able to enjoy spending time with each other...such memories could never be replaced. 

Potty trainer ...the new episode

((Star trek music is playing))

Toilets...  the final frontier...these are the voyages of toodlerhood... to seek out the mysteries of life without diapers....to discover freedom from wipes and multiple diaper rashes....to boldly learn to wear underwear and USE THE POTTY!!!

Lol OK so I have an imagination...so Sue me. ;)

Shalee's my new recruit for toilet training and is doing AWESOME!!

I am Soooo NOT Gumby!!

Lol! I used to watch old Gumby cartoons as a child.  Ya know... the green boy made out of clay...:)! Well one thing he could do was ssstttrrreeetttccchh out his arms and legs ...every which way. 

Well when you have fibromyalgia,arthritis, lupus and such...you must exercise ....which also means u gotta stretch! ! Easier said than done sometimes... just trust me...kay? ;0)

So I am stretching in my LR floor and our puppy,Mali, decides my feet look yummy...and starts nipping on them. Yuck! Lol... so I say No and she's all playful and licking my hands and ...ugh! I ended up mocking Gumby and stretching wwwaaayyy too far...oh.the.pain. :/

So I am Not Gumby...no surprise there...grrrr! ;0)

Grannie

The lovely times I enjoyed with my Grannie are memories I will forever cherish.  Hello presents came with her every visit along with the exciting suitcase unpacking game. We found gummy bears and other treats as we unpacked her belongings for our visit.  I ALWAYS wanted her to stay in my room...because to "give up" your room for Grannie was a "sacrifice "rewarded with extra gummy bears. The German kind...the Best!  Grannie also had the Very Best jelly beans...Jelly Belly! Divine treats! :)
I remember cleaning my room to secretly earn cash from Grannie for my coveted purple BMX bike....dirt bike....and I earned it ....that was hard work! I was like 8yrs old. :) When I earned good marks on my report card...the rewards were double cause parents AND grannies like good marks...so I got good marks! It is also very important to mention our trips to Mrs Qweny...Grannies hairdresser and manicureist. Decisions like the haircut in this pic....my very first Shorty cut...were the results.  Dad was in Germany and Mommy had gone to get her hair done...I persuaded Grannie and got my haircut. Mommy was mortified and Dad had a cow while I was in heaven! :) Grannies know exactly what girls need. ALWAYS! Her favorite haunt was Red Lobster....and I went with her every visit....and got our favorite...popcorn shrimp...and a virgin Shirley Temple. I still love cherrys to this day and so does Perry...my youngest baby...named for her and the family. :) Summers with Grannie always included visits to her cabin Grandaddy and the Uncle's built at Lake Martin. I learned to swim,dive,search underwater, ski, slalom, hike, treat poison ivy, cook smores, and scores of other things there. My uncle's were very helpful in my lake education ...:) that's all I'm saying about that...and a certain styrofoam surfboard will not be mentioned.  Lol
Memories will not fade as long as I continue to remember. :0)

Perry lost his FIRST tooth

Perry has sure grown up quickly.   He is lovin' kindergarten ...rides his bike...and lost his top front left tooth tonight when he Finally agreed to let me pull it. 
He tends to panic when he thinks he will hurt or see blood (just like his cousin...Jazmine...blood and those two aren't a pleasant combination lol).  He held it together while I quickly reached in and pulled it out.  He immediately paled and felt where the tooth had been...slightly shocked at the feeling then s l o w l y smiled... :0).  That's my boy!!! He got a dollar and plans to go to Dollar Tree for a special treat.  ;)
He has only asked to see the disconnected tooth twice...its a curiosity to him.  His question was why does it have a hole on top? I said for it the connect to the gums...and now it isn't needed so there's a hole ....next question was ...will my big teeth have holes...we laughed and I said only if you don't brush them and cavities get bad ...lol. 

Cleaning

Ugh! I do not like to clean....but I like the end results and I cannot abide what our home would look like if I didn't clean so...ugh! Lol.
I am thankful my family all help.  Doug is a Huge help...In many ways...I am so blessed to have him.  There is no way he will read this so u can forget me saying this only to "score brownie points".  I wouldn't have to anyway cause he is amazing. Yes he gets aggravating a lot...don't we all? :0)
Sister my darling baby girl...is amazing.  She helps out with EVERYTHING!  I couldn't make it without her.
Bubba is helpful...when he wants to be
..lol! 
Perry is hilarious!   He can clean way more effectively than his older bro!  He loves to help and loves to show Sha how to help.  Lol
Sha loves to help.  She will gladly wipe down cabinets ...dust...just Not pick up toys unless she wants to...lol! 
They all have characteristics like their parents and her aunt...hilarious!  Lil munchkins learn what they see...and quickly!  I wanna teach them with wisdom...mercy...and grace.  :)

Bibbity bobbity boo

Wouldn't it be nice to have a fairy godmother? Stay with me here...I'm thinking wish upon a star and lets go fly a kite!! LOL! 
In reality I am truly thankful God isn't a fairytale...and not a more faithful companion would I find! 
Days on this ol planet are getting tiresome and deeply troublesome.  We are to march on til the trumpet sounds...and yet I cannot wait to FLY AWAY!!! :)

Funny faces

I luv funny faces and thank the Lord my family does also cuz we sure had a blast with my app on my phone.  Lol

Sister will be happy to know she missed out on this photo shoot and upload to blog...no fear...ill get her my sweetys...and her little dog too!!! Lol

Scariest place I've been in quite a while

<p>&lt;p&gt;I finally did it ...and boy was it ScArY!!! I enrolled in college and I was so scared I am still butterfly *stomach * ya know? Lol<br>
I am excited too though. Now I know what I'm gonna be doing while my baby heads off to school...lol.
Wow...wonders never cease right??

Scariest place I've been in quite a while

<p>&lt;p&gt;I finally did it ...and boy was it ScArY!!! I enrolled in college and I was so scared I am still butterfly *stomach * ya know? Lol<br>
I am excited too though. Now I know what I'm gonna be doing while my baby heads off to school...lol.
Wow...wonders never cease right??

Grilling calls for experimental bbq sauce

I was grilling and thought I had bbq sauce...I did not!  So I pulled out several bbq sauce recipes and improvised..
As only I do I am sure...lol (being the reining procrastination Queen and all ;o) ) well it turned out in my favor this time...I saved my created mixed up recipe and it.is.fine. lol!!!

Kay Kay s mixed up bbq

12-14 oz ketchup
1/2 c water
2 Tbs vinegar
1/2 tsp salt; pepper
1/4 tsp paprika; chili powder; onion pwd; lemon pwd; garlic pwd
Add honey to taste
Mix and heat while stirring.
Opt add. Onion;bell pepper; bacon; pineapple

Yum!

It was good!   I had never tried it but certainly will again!! ;o)

I luv grilling :)... do you?

Keeper of the Cheerios

Wasn't how I expected things to be... this life of mine.  Isn't it funny how we dream so many dreams as wee lil girls playing m.a.s.h. games with oh so many well laid out plans for pur future.  I even planned the tile colors for my future kitchen...so you can only imagine how off that was lol!
I wanted my children to be born two years apart ... and God said NO... lol they need to be five years apart.  5 years? ? Well lets just say *God def. Has a since of humor...if u only knew...lol *!! So yes my daughter is 15...and my sons are 10 & 5... the last one starts kindergarten this fall. 
What am I supposed to so??? I am the cheerio keeper... noone needs cheerios now!!! The Bible says there is a time for everything...and even in my upcomming cheerio-free (at least for the kids snack while on the go )...life... I shall learn a new thing in this season.  Even now...everything will be beautiful ...I will keep ya posted!!

Rewards...coupons...free stuff...oh my!

I <3 reading blog titles on google readers widget for my phone.  It is an amazing way to see if I want to invest more time into a blog or skip it.  ;)  I would love to read them all but who has time for that ...besides I already must rob the proverbial peter to pay paul in order to sqeeze any blog reading time @all.  Lol. I <3 bargains and time savers and thrifty ways to accomplish beautiful things.  I appreciate when women take the time to remember the places they have come from... things they learned...and share it freely.  Amazing and I <3that most of all :0)!

Extraordinary circumstances

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  There are times in life when things happen that throw a kink in the chain of things... if you know what I mean.  Like snow in Mobile during Spring Break. 1992.  Like the twister on March 1, 2006 that appeared as my son and I cleaned my bffs trailer.  Like the illness that struck my 36yr old husband and disabled him.  Like the times groceries were few yet never gone.  Love abounds.  Lessons learned.  Timeless treasures remembered and moments forever etched in my heart.  Of course there are battle wounds...scars from this life...but I wear them proudly because I earnes them and there is a degree of comfort in them for I know where they were received and for what purpose.  There are those who chose to ridicule the fallen because of the difference in the walk on the journey.  Not so...beware...touch not GODS ANNOINTED and do HIS PROPHETS NO HARM.  Therefore be evermore careful what vain report proceeds from your lips.  The tongue is not tame after all. 

And then there were none...

Been there ....heard that...and probably will hear it again ... yet it strikes immediate nerves that I must endure.  It's not easy to hear or see painful things...it never will be.  It wears on the nerves and I wonder and loosing my entire mind @times...seriously....and yet when I refocus on Jesus and His mercy and grace...I know He'll make a way when there is no way.  That is when I know my Redeemer lives. 

When I feel I cannot go another step I have a Father who can. Praise God!

Twister outta the blue

I've always been a Huge Wizard of Oz fan...but something about the twister has ALWAYS scared me to no end!  I've been in twisters before....the last one was actually while I was cleaning my friends trailer.  Not the place of choice during a tornado!  ;o) But then that's another blog......
Today the weather radio went off for Lee co abt severe thunder storms so I began to prepare my mind for rain and wind!  I even called a friend and was told its only a 20%chance for rain.  See we are in Alabama and in a humongous drought!  At about 515...we had severe rain and wind ....then it abruptly stopped.  I received word that a chicken house was twisted up by a twister that remained undetected by weather radar.  WOW! !!! I had just spotted double rainbows above the trees...a sight to behold for sure. 
I'm glad I know the Master of the wind!

Here i go again

Its a beautiful day in our neighborhood! God has been so good 2me!
Ths kids had a gr8 time four wheelin the other day! I planted our flowers yesterday and hurt my back moving and arranging the garden cement pathway squares! Ouch! Lol! Now I need to figure out how 2keep Cow, our cat, away from them! She is feasting on my new plantlings..and I do not like it sam I am!!!