Thursday, May 26, 2011

It's a Celebration - part 2!

They got me! They totally got me. We were expecting Millie and Casey to come for the open house for their wedding. We were NOT expecting Amanda to be with them! We are just missing Amanda's husband - if he were here it would be perfect! Recipes and pictures will come after the celebration - right now we're having too much fun. A new card game - Five Crowns, an outdoor game - Bacchi Ball, a trip to the Amish community close by - Jamesport - and shopping at our favorite candle store - Farmhouse Collection (info to come on how you can order fabulous candles directly from them). We had some amazing grilled ribeyes and a favorite family dinner tonight. I think we're almost ready for the open house - it would just be amazing if Mother Nature would cooperate and allow us to have it outside. I'm afraid that Plan B isn't all that well planned! Wish us luck - there is more celebration to come!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It's a Celebration!

It's a celebration because we have family coming. Millie and her fiance! It's a celebration because they will be able to celebrate their upcoming wedding with people Millie grew up with and went to church with. It's a celebration because all the beds will be filled, full meals will be cooked, games will be played and midwest storms will be enjoyed! And it's a celebrations because I get to cook. Really cook. Full meals -- with dessert! What are some of your favorite family meals or foods that you cook to 'celebrate'? Check back in a few days and I'll show you some of our favorite celebration foods. I want to know yours --- please share!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Midwest Hit by String of Deadly Tornadoes

Midwest Hit by String of Deadly Tornadoes
Our thoughts and prayers to all who have been affected by this storm, because you were part of it - or because you know someone who was. This is a time of uncertainty. There are all kinds of 'storms' that we all must weather, but for those who are struggling with this temporal devastation - our prayers are with you. They need: easy,ready to eat non-perishable food, tents, sleeping bags, blankets, towels, hygeine items, cleaning supplies, gloves, flashlights, $$. How are YOU going to help? We will be putting together some items to send with a trailer that is leaving from the KC Bishop's Storehouse on Thursday.

Since the Joplin Stake Center was destroyed...we will wait to send relief items until they have a staging area set up. I'll let you know what is needed when I know and what you can do!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Cake Pops

I made these for a friend's son who was having his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Her theme was red, white and blue.

Happy Mother's Day


This woman is my mom. She was in her 20's when this picture was taken - I didn't come along till she was almost 40. She taught me so much! She gave me a sense of right and wrong that was just so practical! She made me work, but probably not hard enough! She was an example to me of what a good friend is - kind, giving, nonjudgmental, compassionate and a good listener. She taught me to be kind to animals - we had many pets and animals since we lived on a farm - and she taught me how to take care of them. She taught me to value the things that are really important - and they aren't things! They are family, relationships, faith and a deep abiding trust in God. She taught me to be honest and to do those things in my life that would not tarnish our family name or my personal name or memory. She taught me, by example, the value of being a mother. Even though I HATED babysitting as a youth and really didn't like being around other people's kids, I wanted so badly to be a mom!

These two precious girls gave me the opportunity of being a mom in every sense of the word. I knew love before I was a mother. I loved my parents - my husband - I had friends whose friendship I cherished....but LOVE it came abundtantly into my life with these two precious daughters. It came in a way and with feelings that I don't even have words to describe. I am so grateful for the opportunity and blessing that has been mine because Amanda and Millie call me mom, or momma! For with them, came a greater outpouring of love and unconditional accepting than I had ever known. I hope that in some small measure, I have been able to be to them just a little of what my mother was to me.