Thursday, March 31, 2011

Belated...and I mean reeeaaallllyyy Belated Birthday! :)

My two friends and I plan a wonderful evening about twice a year to get together for dinner and a long "catch up chat"
Often we celebrate a birthday if it's a "biggee" :) However, one of us has a "Christmas time" birthday and it's harder to celebrate it
Sooooo....

We did a "Gotcha" on Linda for her belated "biggee" birthday ... two years late!
Needless to say, she never suspected a thing! :)


The "other Linda" and I made the food, and my helpful young adult "kids" served us as well as worked like
crazy to clean and help prepare food (thanks guys!)
"Birthday Linda's" little daughter was able to join us, and it was such a nice evening!
She "hung out" with the "grown up kids" all night
Isn't she cute!?

I am blessed to count these ladies as friends, and it was such a joy to celebrate the life of our dear friend...
no matter what time of year it was. :)
Love you "two Linda's"!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Celebrating March

March has been a good month so far!
My honey celebrated his birthday...


My sweet friend and neighbor let me cut some forsythia to force indoors
It only took about 3 days
(Thanks Lisa!)
I am really enjoying them, and
I hope that you have found many things to be thankful for and to enjoy in March!
It sure is going fast, it is already almost 1/2 way over.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

The Best Oatmeal Cookies

We had some friends over last week for a fun time of fellowship,
and I made these cookies for them that day.

My friend asked me to post the recipe, so, here it is!
If you make them, let me know!
FYI: these stay soft if you don't overbake! YUM

The Best Oatmeal Cookies


3 eggs, beaten

1 cup raisins

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used organic)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups rolled oats (I used organic)

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions


1.In a small bowl, combine the eggs, raisins, and vanilla. Cover and chill for 1 hour. (Don't skip this step--it's the key!)

2.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

3.In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. In a separate bowl, combine the flour,  oats, salt, cinnamon and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture and stir until all of the dry ingredients are absorbed. Next, stir in the egg and raisin mixture, then stir in the rolled oats and pecans. Dough will be stiff. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an unprepared cookie sheet. (I use a mini ice cream scoop)

4.Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool a couple of  minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. (Don't wait too long though)

Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Honey!

Today is a special day, it's Phil's birthday!
God has blessed our family with a wonderful husband and father in Phil!
He is our anchor, the one who remains calm in a crisis...
the one who sacrifices for us daily...
the one who loves and protects us...
He provides for us and feeds us spiritually...
and physically!
We just want to thank him and wish him a wonderful, blessed birthday!
Happy Birthday Dear!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

ARE YOU WAITING TO BE CALLED?

This was sent to me by a friend-thanks Marie!-and I had to share it...


ARE YOU WAITING TO BE CALLED?

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance
communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator.
Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was
listed.
When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and
clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background.
A sign on
the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and
wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.
The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other
applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up,
crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.
Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They
muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet.
They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and
would be disqualified.
Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of
the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much
for coming, but the job has just been filled."
The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying,
"Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never
even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but the last several minutes while you've
been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message
in Morse Code:
'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job
is yours.'
None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The
job is his."
We are so busy living in a world that is full of noise and clatter,
like that office.
People are distracted and unable to hear the still, small voice
of God as He speaks in creation,
 in the Scriptures, and in the life and work
of Jesus Christ.
So I ask you, as I ask myself,
 "Are you listening, or are you waiting to be
called?

Do you hear the Lord when he speaks to you?
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Great food for thought isn't it!? Have a great day!