Saturday, November 27, 2010

Wonderful Day!

I do hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was a little chilly out, but that comes with the time. If you dinner table looked anything like ours did, you got your tummy full of alot of different dishes. And boy were they good! And the best part was seeing my oldest grandson, Stephen. He had just got in from Kentucky where he goes to college. Have missed those hugs. We now have a little one in our group, Patrice's nephew. And all my grand-kids had a ball playing with him. Isn't it what its really all about. Family and realizing the blessings we have all been given this past year. Mom wasn't able to go with us, so today I have a turkey in the oven, have made my pies and potatoes and noodles are cooking. Come Monday, diet is on the top of my list. But I just can't pass up all the holiday goodies. Well let us know about your day and your plans for getting ready for Christmas. Have a wonderful day! Brenda

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving

Well are you preparing for the big dinner tomorrow?? I love this time of year when you smell the turkey and dressing cooking and of course the pumpkin pie! Yum Yum!! Thought I'd share my Cranberry Salad with you. This is a favorite at our table.

CRANBERRY SALAD

1 lb. cranberries (I use the package in the produce department)
2 cups sugar
Grind berries, add sugar, let it set in refreg. overnight
Add:
1 pkg. sm. marshmellows
1 #2 can crushed pineapple (drained)
1 pint whipping cream
Whip and fold into mixture

Then just sit back and listen to all the raving about how goooood it is.

Stay safe in your travels and love the blessing of family.

In a few days we will start Christmas Ideas. With all the busyness, lets not forget what Christmas really means for us.

I can't believe that this year is almost gone! I'm going to try next year to just enjoy each day that the Lord gives me and not worry about tomorrow. For he will be with me and help me through whatever may come up.

Let us know what your favorite holiday recipe is!!
Hugs and Blessings, Brenda

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Family Times

What can be better than getting together with your loved ones and just enjoying who they are. With the holidays upon us, we will be planning several times to be together. Well Tom and I had a wonderful and fun weekend! Our daughter and son-in-law went out of town for their 20th wedding anniversary. We went to their house to stay with the grandchildren. You need to know that Spencer is 16 and Macee is 11. So they really don't need to be watched but to have someone if they need anything. When we all arrived at their house after school, there was a crock pot full of chili that Patrice had put on that morning. Yippee! No cooking that night. Spencer just kind of hung out and was getting his living space cleaned up for when Stephen comes home Tuesday from college in Kentucky. And he got his homework finished so he didn't have to bother later. Macee had a friend over and we had a fun night of watching movies and Macee made shakes. Then Sat. off we go up to the high school for a fund raiser for the Youth Disabled Olympic. Now we had several group of boys form their own teams(note, they have never played volleyball). Now you have to know that I had one grandson, Johnnie on a freshman team and than, Spencer on a Jr. team. There were about 6-7 other teams. We laughed ourselves crazy. And the boys were laughing and having a good time. If you know about how the teams play the brackets if finally came down to the two best teams for the play offs. Guess what, my two grandsons were going to play against each other! Well the Jr.s just knew they would take these guys, they were much bigger and older. Well they will never live down the end results. Freshmen won!!! It was all for fun and helping out others. And isn't that what life is about. Laughing and enjoying those who touch your life and being there to support and be there to help when needed. This Thanksgiving lets all take a few minutes and just look around you dinner table and see the blessings the Lord has given us. I did just that over the weekend. As we sat and played games Saturday evening, I felt blessed that my grandchildren just wanted to spend the time with us. Laughing, mostly at me, trying to come up with answers to the game. And to think that a 16 and 11 year old enjoyed having a night with grammy and poppy, touched my heart. The Lord is Good, we just need to take the time to stop and see all the little blessings in our life. Happy Holidays!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

CHILLY FALL DAY!!!!

Good afternoon, ladies! It is a beautiful, but very crisp, day here today! We had lite snowfall, yesterday that thankfully did not stick!!! Not ready for the white stuff, lol! Yesterday was National Bread Day, thank you Beverly for letting us know, sooo with the help and encouragement of the MJF farmgirls......I made a loaf of bread. I used to bake bread and rolls often. Then just stopped for many reasons. As I find more of myself again, and get back to the things I used to love to enjoy doing.......I get brave and take up the new challenges again. I made an Irish Soda Bread. It came out lovely. Will try to post a pic in a few days. It is a dense bread, but I find the flavor kind of nutty and good. I will do some yeast breads next month. I love the process of making bread and often think of how rattled and stress we are today. The process and joy of growing our own things, making our own things.........well, it has become a lost art for most. I may be in an apt. now. However, my balcony can produce a small container varitey of herbs and such. Without the land to keep up and the younger, healthier body to do the chores, LOL......I am able to take up knitting and some sewing again. I am not able to be on this ol injured foot of mine for too long, so I am able to try to knit and get some sewing and crafts done. These things, I truly think, allowed us to relax more, back in the day, so to speak. Today, everyone is running around all crazy and we seem to have lost a lot of the 'simple' things. Even if you feel you are not 'talented' in baking, crafting, needlecrafts, etc. Think about taking a day and start a simple project of one of these!! There are recipes, instructions and patterns online for free!! How about it ladies? You may surprise yourself and I guarantee that you will find it peaceful and more enjoyable than you may have thought!! ENJOY!! Blessings, Linda

C

Monday, November 15, 2010

GIVEAWAY DAY!!!!

Ladies, today was our 'party' drawing day!!! The winner is.............da-da-da-dada!!! Beverly from Missouri!! Congratulations!! We will be getting ahold of you Beverly! Thank you to all for joining in on our blog and we will have a 'party' every couple months or so. Please keep joining us and leaving your thoughts and comments. We love to hear from you.


How has the day gone for everyone? We hope well. What are everyone's Thanksgiving plans? Any fun recipes to share? Traditations to share?

I think my favorite Thanksgiving dish are the cranberries, we usually have mashed rutabagas, I love those, and my all time fav is pumpkin pie!! How about all of you?

What is everyone thankful for this season? I think family, and prayeres for good health come to my mind first and formost!

Have a good evening Ladies!!

Blessings, Linda

Friday, November 12, 2010

Christian Women's Week

Good Morning! Yesterday I received this beautiful saying from my friend Marsha! She said it would be ok to share it with you.

When I say that I'm a Christian, I'm not shouting that I'm clean living.
I'm whispering, I was lost.
But now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say I'm a Christian, I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need
His Strength to carry on.

When I say I'm a Christian, I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say I'm a Christian, I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible

But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say I'm a Christian, I'm not holier than thou
I'm just a simple sinner who received

God's Good Grace, Somehow!

I just wanted to share with you and that you will share with other ladies, so they will also know that they are cared for.

Thank you Marsha!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

STRENGTH FOR OUR DAYS

Good Morning Ladies!!
Well, you know those times when something comes out of nowhere, you sure were not expecting it, and it has the potential to just rock the boat that you are already struggling to keep afloat? That 'boat' called life!!!!

This is where I am at this AM. Details are not important, but my kids dad has resurfaced again. The first time was after 20 plus years, literally on the evening of my father's death, the only father figure my kids ever had!! He stayed in some of my kids life for a few months, then they had a falling out. Well, after nearly 4 years, here he is again as he has sent a letter to the 2 he connected with and had a falling out with. Now, I am not trying to make light of this in any way, on a personal level, I feel sick to my stomach!!! But, at these times, you have to just step back and kinda think, 'REALLY GOD'!!!??? Thought we were done with this trial sometime back!!

As I begin my day, I am hanging on by a thread and will pray those prayers that are tough to pray when you honestly are not at all sure what or how to pray!!!

What truth that I do know, I will cling to---that even when life seems so absurd and out of control, out of my control, when my anger and hurt and frustration get the best of my family and I, HE will be there to step in and hold us up!! Of that I have complete confidence!! Will I like or even enjoy how He may go about it?? Don't think so! Lol! But somehow, in HIS STRENGTH my family and I will get thru the days and challenges and struggles that lie ahead. There seem to be a few lately as there some serious health issues within family members lately as well. What is that saying? '3 steps forward, 2 steps backward?'

Ladies, as you go about your day and face some of your own difficulties and trials, please know that Brenda and I are here to listen and we want for all of us to share and be a comfort and strength to one another. Lift one anothers burdens in prayer and support. May His strength be all sufficient each moment at a time today! Blessings to all!! Linda

Ladies

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Challenge

Good Morning! I will need to give you a little background for you to understand my challenge. When our youngest grand-daughter was born, at just a few weeks old, we had to take her to Children's Hospital. The doctor's told us that had we not gotten her there we would have lost her. She stayed there for a couple of weeks and when having her back home was watched by doctors for about a year. Today she is a well and very happy girl of 11 years old. We call her our little angel. When we brought her home, I said that someday I want to do something for all the God's precious little ones. I been reading a bible study about your purpose. And today while listening to today's sermon, that I could do my dream for God's children. I have decided to start making stuffed toys and take them to our Children's Mercy Hospital. They will have something made with God's love, to hold and cuddle. So my challenge is, what could you do for the little ones in you hospital near you. Sharing our love with a little something that was made from our hands using the gifts God has given us is a true blessing. How about it??? If you feel drawn to do this, Let us know make and give through God. Hope to hear from you.

Friday, November 5, 2010

GOOD MORNING ALL!!!

Well, it certainly seems that the air at night here is getting very cold, below freezing at times! I think winter is soon coming. As I logged on this AM, I was glancing at the slideshow on the blog of sunsets. After living in the California desert for many years, this move has been a huge change. The 4 seasons alone, LOL!! I will miss the sunshine as the winter months hide is so very well out here. However, the seasons also bring feelings of change and newness to them as well as we prepare for each one in a different way. Isn't God like that with us? Always changing, molding, working to make, hopefully, a better person than we were yesterday? I hope for that each day! That I may be open to what I need to learn and how I need to grow!


Ladies, we are having a blog 'PARTY'. We will draw a name on Nov 15th. It will be a package of just some fun little surprises! Become a follower, leave a comment and let's share our journeys together and be a blessing to one another!

Have a great day everyone! Blessings, Linda