The Time Of My Life

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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Holy Macaroon!

Super easy recipe 
(and my friend who eats gluten-free can have these!)
Ingredients
3 cups or 1 package of coconut
2-3 egg whites
2/3 c sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Sprinkles if you'd like.
Mix all very well. Round into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Squish down and add sugar sprinkles if you'd like. I added red and green for the holidays.
Bake 325 for 10-15 minutes, until the tops start to brown. Let cool before you try to transfer. Makes 24.

Roasting Chestnuts

First, wash your chestnuts and then cut an X with a sharp knife into them. It's easiest to cut on the flat side of the nut.
In a 400 degree toaster oven or oven, place nuts on baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes. The X will begin to curl up and the nuts will look browner.
Take out of the oven and carefully put them in a bowl. Serve warm.
That X that we marked serves a good purpose - You start peeling the nut from there. 

Enjoy!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Joy through a child's eyes

One of the greatest things about living in Tennessee is that we have seasons. Our two large trees in the front yard have finally dropped all of their leaves.  Now the man who does our lawn care comes along to chop up the leaves and gets rid of them.  My son adores "Tractor Man" who has spoiled him all summer with rides.  Today was the last of  Tractor Man for the year.

I think I hear something
Is that a tractor?
I think it's Tractor Man!
It IS Tractor Man!!!!
And yes, we did go outside for that last ride too.



Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cowboy Soup

Tonight is our monthly Pot Luck Supper at church....
or is is a Covered Dish Supper? 
I decided about a week ago to make something warm and cozy because it's been so gray and drizzly outside.  Well, wouldn't you know it, today is a pretty and warm day.  Oh well. I'll still make what I set out to do.
I found this on the Justapinch.com Web site.  Have you ever been over there?  It's really good.  A woman named Teresa Leroux from Gatesville, TX submitted this recipe.  I, of course, changed it to fit what I like. 

What you need:
1 package of ground turkey, browned
1 onion, chopped
1 can green beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 can sliced potatoes, drained. (I think next time I will dice my own potatoes). 
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes, not drained
1 can pinto beans (I'll use two next time, I like beans)
1 bag of minute rice
3 cups water
Sprinkle top with garlic powder and chili powder
3/4 bottle BBQ sauce
And if you like things hot, you can add Rotel tomatoes or red pepper flakes. But since I'm making this for a group, I kept it tame. 
Handy dandy Crock-pot and a non-stick frying pan
Brown your turkey (you could use beef too, I suppose).
Some people may like to add their onions to the meat, but I put mine in the Crock-pot with the rest of the veggies.  Then, just start dumping all the ingredients in and sprinkle top with spices.  
Mix it all up.
 I started to make mine at noon and needed it to be done by 5 p.m., so I put it on High. 
 I'll serve these with rolls, but I think tortilla chips or Fritos would be tasty too. 







Monday, November 15, 2010

I'm the one who....

I got this idea from www.littlemissmomma.com. Super cute idea. I'd like to see what you say about yourself!

Am I the only one who...
doesn't bother to unwrap Smarties. I just uncurl one end, put it in my mouth and slide the candy out through the plastic. 

can never remember how to spell:  restaurant or definitely
and I can't remember the correct way to use affect and effect

thinks Mr. Noodle and his brother on
Sesame Street is super ANNOYING. On videos, I skip this part.

  
would rather clean our toilets than vacuum or mop.

looks forward to my husband coming home each afternoon so I can finally get a shower.

must say my prayers and thank God before I can fall asleep at night.

doesn't Twitter, but loves Facebook.

gets grossed out by dog vomit.


gets uncomfortable when Victoria's Secret commercials come when company is over. After all, I live in a parsonage!

thinks it's really hard to break a bad habit like my nail biting. 

thinks there's nothing more attractive in a guy than when he is wearing sweats, a flannel and hanging out at home.

daydreams of being the next American Idol although I can't carry a tune.


Now what about you?
Are you wondering if you're the only one who________?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Faith Journaling

A few years ago while I was reporting for the Dothan Eagle, I met Christy Keyton at a scrap booking party. As we chatted, she told me about how she journaled about her faith.  Her book was beautiful with photographs, stickers, and embellishments.  She was also a Creative Memories consultant, so that may give you an idea of how pretty her book was.  Recently, I thought about doing my own book. I found a plain papered journal at a discount book store.  Once I got home with it, I tied ribbons to the spiral part, attached a bookmark cross and glued pretty paper to the front. 
Here is the original story from the paper:

Faith Journaling
Corrina Sisk-Casson

Two days after Christy Keyton found out that she was pregnant with her eighth child, Hannah, she wrote in her journal that she knew this baby was going to be special. She also wrote that God was going to show his glory through her baby. As she wrote, she was drawn to a scripture that says, “the Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want,” and felt that God was reminding her that no matter what was going to happen in the future, the family would be okay. 
“Not even in a fearful way, I didn’t think something was going to be wrong. But I wrote it down in joy,” she said. 
Hannah was born with Downs Syndrome and had a heart problem. Keyton was assured that God had surrounded her with the people that her family need needed as they faced the uncertain future. She made friends with people who also had children with Down Syndrome. She also met a nurse who became great friends of the family. That nurse was the one who Keyton had to hand Hannah over to when she was to have open heart surgery. 
“I had prayed about that specific moment,” Keyton said. “That was going to be the hardest moment when I had to give her up. And I prayed that God would help me in that moment. And it was Charlotte that I had to hand her to. It was an obvious answer to prayer.”
For the Keyton’s family, it was a special time of their family history, so she documented it with a hard covered and bound faith book. Copies of the book were given to family members and also to UAB Hospital where Hannah had her surgery. 
For Keyton, faith journaling is not a hobby or a craft, but a way to grow in her faith. 
“Every time I read it, I’m assured that God is working in my life,” she said. “And that’s what builds your faith, you see God working.”
She noted that it’s easy for people to forget the great things in our lives. Writing journals and placing pictures in a book and remembering her blessings has been a way for Keyton to look back and recall. She teaches others how to faith journal as well.
“The first thing I tell them is to not worry about going in chronological order. And don’t worry about getting pictures that go with everything,” she said. 
She says that some people can just start by writing about the close people in their lives like their children, spouses or best friend. Another way to start is to pick up a hymnal and write the words of favorite songs. 
“Even that is a testimony to the Lord that you can pass down to your children,” Keyton said. 
One of her friends has an entire page devoted to her favorite scriptures. She has seen faith books with quotes from famous Christians such as Martin Luther and Charles Wesley, but she says it’s people’s own lives that are most important. 
“When you write what God has done for you, that will mean more to you,” Keyton said. 
Keyton opened a large Creative Memories scrapbook that is her faith book. Inside the front cover she wrote a quote that meant a lot to her and she used it as a way to get started. Another page features a picture of a little girl and the notes beside it tell of her childhood and being raised in a Christian home. She recalls times when her mother sang “Happiness is the Lord” while washing dishes. And her mother doing interpretive dance at the Methodist church. A story that stands out on her journal page describes a time in 1972, when she attended the Billy Graham Crusade in Birmingham and how she turned her life over to God. 
Her journal doesn’t stay within time boundaries. She says she started thinking of the God moments of her life. Soon she started writing down about the day her son, Pearson, was born though an emergency delivery. 
Then there is the page devoted to her best friend, Dawn Oldham. She wrote about how they met, how great a friend she has been and included photos of them through the years. 
“She’s my closest friend. When I started to think of God’s blessings in my life, she came to mind,” Keyton said. 
Faith journals can be elaborate and sophisticated like Keyton’s, but they can also be simple and easy. Keyton has seen faith books with lists of blessings. And other books have had beautiful doodles and pictures. 
“It’s just a journal of your heart to God. It’s a testament of faith. And you don’t need to worry about how it looks,” she said. 
For more information, there are several sites about Faith Journals on the Internet that can help. Keyton also had a few books that have guided her as well: The God moment principle by Alan D. Wright, To be told by Dan B. Allender, PhD and Beth Moore’s Feather’s from my nest. Keyton

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Cute easy notebook


I'm a list person.  And I like to take notes.  This is an oldie but goodie craft.  I like to decorate notebooks (I get them really cheap at the start of the school year) for meetings and the holidays.  I use to be a HUGE scrapbooker.  But since my son was born, I haven't even found the time to put his pictures in a regular album.  Anyway, with all the pretty paper, embellishments, stamps, etc., it was easy to have supplies on hand.  Here is what I basically use:
Some people use Mod Podge, but I'm not very good with it, so I use a spray adhesive. 
You will also need a sheet of pretty scrapbook paper, scraps of paper, scissors, school glue, ruler, notebook, stickers or whatever to decorate.

First, I spray my notebook, it's best to do this outside.
Then, I measure the paper to fit my notebook. But this time, I lost my ruler, so I opened the book up and drew where to cut.
I stamped out the word "Christmas" on a scrap paper and decorated it with rub ons. Then I white glued it all into place the way I liked. The front middle title I made on the computer with a regular Word Pad page where I could change the font and color. Then, I printed it out. 
My dog, Maggie, was my little helper. She's sweet, huh?
Well, that's all really. SUPER easy and very cute. Inside my Christmas List book I have lists for gifts and who to give to (save a few pages), a list for my upcoming Christmas party, a list of treats I want to bake, a list of holiday must-dos (like go out and see the holiday lights), etc., etc. 






Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Scenes of Autumn

We are fortunate to live in one of the most scenic places for fall - Tennessee. I thought I would share with you a few things we've seen this month. Some pictures are small, but most I've kept bigger so you can get a nicer view of what people have done to decorate. Enjoy!


 
Of course, fall in the South wouldn't be fall without FOOTBALL.
Below are pictures from the local cider mill.



Good old fashion fun with friends at the pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay ride farm

We go to our local park to find treasures like acorns and pinecones.



Our hometown has a contest for local businesses and homes to decorate for fall. Above is the local bank. Below is our Jr. High and other places.









Our house - just a little fall decorations. I need to go out after Halloween and buy up all the stuff on sale to have for the future. My main goal is to have a neat car for our church's annual Trunk-or-Treat. I'll post pictures of that later. People really do some neat things there.
Below are pictures of what our local Girl Scouts did. They went all out!




Friday, October 15, 2010

The Bible study ladies loved these

Mini Pumpkin Pies

If you're like me, other people's blogs are so inspiring.  I've been on a kick lately to find recipes.  Here is the latest one I found on Bakerella   I saw them and instantly thought of my Bible study group. So I got all the supplies and started.  I did it late at night and quickly wondered why I attempted such a project.  Turns out, it was really easy to do! Try 'em, you'll like them.

2 eggs
1 can pumpkin pie mixture
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp. cinnamon 
2 refrigerated pie crusts 
(there is actually enough to make more. So next time, I'll buy another packet.) 
You may also like whipped cream, but I didn't put any on mine. 
You will also need a biscuit or cookie cutter and a mini muffin tin sprayed with oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut your pieces out and press them into place into each spot on the muffin tin.  Then, mix all the ingredients together well.  Once it's mixed, use a measuring cup to help scoop out of the bowl and pour into each pie crust. 

It took awhile for it to bake.  At first, I thought maybe 20 minutes, but then I had to keep adding 5 more minutes.  The crusts shouldn't burn, but should be browned and the top of the pies firm.  Let them cool, then transfer to a plate, cover with plastic wrap and chill.  
These should stay refrigerated until ready to eat. 
 I hope you like them as much as my group did!