Hello old friend, it's been a while!

It's been a while since I have blogged.  We have been so busy.  We moved, both me and the hubby are going back to school.  Niko has moved back in with us.  He attends the local high school and attending
weekly counseling.  Not sure if any of you have a child with Asperger's Syndrome, but it's certainly a challenge.  If anyone has any tips for raising a teenage boy on the autism spectrum, I would like to hear them.

I can do all things throught Christ who gives me strength!

 Some scriptures that came to mind while having Quiet time this morning.  Phil 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."-----What does this say to me?  As long as Christ is on my side, I can do anything.  I can get through any situation.

Last night I had a horrible night at work.  I really thought I was going to start crying.  But Christ gave me the strength I needed to just get through my shift and get home.  Thank you God for that!

Another verse that came to mind is John 4:35 "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest"------What does this verse say to me?  Well, it says that I am a witness for Christ and He has me where I am (at work).

 Because so many of the people I work with are desperately need Jesus and I am there to Plant the seeds for Him to Harvest.  In other words, He can use me to reach those that need to know Him, (I just have to let Him do it).

I encourage all of you to read these verses and meditate on them----listen to what God wants to say to you through them. 

 

Baking and trying out my new Kitchen Aid mixer.

 For Christmas I got a Kitchen Aid stand mixer.  Today was the first time I've used it.

I made Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake.  Oh my goodness it is sooo good. 

My next thing to try out is going to be Strawberry Shortcake cookies.  I found this recipe on the blog BakedPrefection.blogspot.com  


Here's the recipe:

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
recipe very slightly adapted from Bakergirl

makes approximately 3 dozen cookies

12 ounces strawberries, hulled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
scrapings of one vanilla bean
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, stir together the strawberries, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of the sugar; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, vanilla bean scrapings, and remaining sugar. Rub the zest into the sugar with your fingertips until moist and fragrant.

Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the zest/sugar mixture and whisk to combine. Using a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture until you have coarse crumbs. Add the cream to the bowl and stir until the dough starts to come together, then very gently fold in the strawberry mixture.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, evenly spaced apart. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown. Transfer the pans to wire racks and let the cookies cool. Serve the day they are baked.

Check back soon to find out how these came out.

Dealing with Cancer.......

That's right it's a new day.  I am so thankful for that.  I am feeling some better, after being off work for a couple of days with asthma issues.  

As I mentioned in my last post, my college room-mate Charla, has a 15 year old son that is dealing with bone cancer.  He had a biopsy yesterday.  Tonight he is at home and resting, though not too comfortably.  From what I gather, this is a most painful form of cancer.  They were hoping to get an absolute definitive diagnoses, but that was not to be.  They did find out that it's not Ewing's but they will have to wait for the pathology report to come back, (probably Tuesday) to get an exact diagnoses.  

Right now he can't bear weight on his leg, so crutches is the thing.  His dad posted that his femur bone will have to be rebuilt.  They will use cadaver bones to do that.  (Amazing)  Medicine totally amazes me.

I would like to ask that you look to the sidebar and grab Harrison's button.  Post it to your blog, and pass it on to your friends in the blogging community.

 

Please pray for Harrison

Wow, life takes some interesting twist and turns doesn't it. About a week ago it took one such interesting twist, for my dear friend Charla and her family. Her 15 year old son Harrison was taken to the doctor for leg pain. Charla said he had been intermittently having leg pains, for a short while, and they had been treating it at home, but finally when it started hurting and keeping him from driving, (he has his learners permit and is always wanting to drive) they grew concerned and went to the doctor.

Cancer, what a scary scary word. I can only imagine how it would sound to a parent. Harrison, was suspected of having bone cancer and a ct would confirm. They were referred to an oncologist and today he had a bone biopsy. It's still not one 100% confirmed on the type of bone cancer, but Ewing's is ruled out.

This family is rooted strongly in Christ, but they still need our prayers. Prayer for peace and that the anxiety that comes in the middle of the night will be held at bay. God has got this, but I know that we as human's, will often let our minds go to places that satan tries to take us. Pray for healing.

Please note that any discrepancies in the events above are strictly mine. Please grab this button of Harrison and post it on your blog. Just save the imagine to your picture file then upload it in the side bar of your blog.

Thanks so much,

Christmas Decorations from Around the House.

I love decorating my home for Christmas. I try to break each room down into a theme.

The Kitchen is Santa Claus, Snowmen in the den, the living room is Nativity, the entry hall is the Nutcrackers. Here are a few of the pictures from around the house.
I put up 3 trees, I was going to put up 4 but ran out of time. :) I'll post some more pics soon. I hope all y'all had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a Blessed New Year.

Sharing Christmas Traditions

Bobo

Last night Hubby and I had the wonderful opportunity, to go to a Christmas Celebration with a friend from work. She is from the Philippines and they have this special celebration Simbang Gabi. We attended the special Mass at her church, then afterward we went to the celebration. Lots of laughter, good food and entertainment. It was a Christmas party like I have never been to before. What fun it was.

While sitting there watching the dancers do the traditional dances of the country, I was thinking to myself, "what traditions do I have that are unique to where I come from?" My friend was explaining the traditions to me and at first I honestly couldn't think of a single tradition that was special. But I did come up with something.

Images of my childhood flashed in my mind. What fun times all the cousins had a my grandparents as children (at least from my prespective). There were 10 of us cousins, and every year we drew names for gifts at our annual Thanksgiving celebration. My sister and I went with our Mama shopping for the special gifts for the cousin whose name we had. Then Christmas would come.

Most Christmas eve's we spent at my maternal grandparents home. Hanging the stockings on the fireplace mantel (actually Papaw's socks) and listening to her neighbors as they had a "grown up only" party popping firecrackers outside. We always begged to go, but we had to go to bed, after all "Santa was coming"! I would have butterflies in my tummy, just thinking about it. Oh the wondrous joy of Santa Claus. Then of course bright and early we would wake up and see all the magic under the tree.

Some Christmas eve's we did go to my grandma's church and sing carols. It was always such a magical festive time. Then after we opened all our gifts at that grandparents house we loaded up in the car and off to "Nannie and Bobo's" we would go. The cousins were waiting. The excitement and fun still to come. We arrived and all piled out of the car, we had wonderful grandma and aunt's cooking. I remember Rice & gravy, fried chicken, ham, turkey, cream corn, pecan pie....the list goes on, but afterwards, after all the eating we would all gather in the living room and sit in a big circle. One of us (I can't even remember who) played "Santa" and passed out all the gifts.

My grandaddy was a minister (we called him Bobo) and he would read us the Christmas story from the book of Luke. I can remember sitting there on the floor, listening to his sweet voice, as he read to us. I would envision the Donkey, the Angel's, and shepherds. But I must admit, at least as a child, waiting to open my gift. Not fully comprehending the true impact of that one precious night when Jesus was born. When I got older, I would tear up sometimes as Bobo read the story. Oh how I treasure these memories, and I wish I could be back just one more time.

Me & my Bobo

But now, as an adult, I realize that I need to pass these memories and traditions on to our children. My step-children and my nieces. My Daddy continued reading us the story after my Bobo passed away, but now Daddy has passed away as well. So the tradition has been lost in the tearing and grabbing of Christmas, with no one to read to us that wonderful story of that precious night. This year, I am going to encourage Hubby to read to us all before the craziness of the gifts erupts. We need to be remember what Christmas is truly about and I want the tradition of telling the story to live on.

My sister Joann and twin cousinsMy Nannie

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and remember that Jesus is the true reason that we celebrate this wondrous season.

Embracing God's Beautiful World!

This Fall has been one of the most beautiful ones that I can remember. And I am so thankful that it is all right outside, in my little world. No travel, to see the fall leaves needed.