White as snow

White as snow

Though my sin be as scarlet

Now I know, yes I know

I am clean and forgiven

Yes, that was the theme of my car

This Autumn Adventure

How nice it is to dress things up

And share it with the children

But my goal was to show them truth

Coupled with a whole lot of candy

And I hope that I did both.

For we all can be washed white as snow

From the sins that separate us from God

A trusting faith in His Son, Jesus Christ

Will give us that. White as snow……..

A Favorite Quote & What I'm Up To!

Favorite Quote of the day:
"Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker!"....Linus

I have finished making my menu for thanksgiving dinner,making the grocery list, and getting the invitations ready to be mailed as soon as it is actually November. How are you doing on getting a jump on the holidays? I wish that I could say that I had it all together, but if I did, that would be a lie. I far from have it all together.
I think my issue is that I put to many things on my plate that I think that I HAVE to do, and really it is all about family, and they only care about being together and not how organized my cupboards are, or how clean my refrigerator is.

So why do I care so much?

Well, is it my pride? Possibly.

Is it that I am an over achiever? Possibly.

But if I had to be completely honest with you all….I REALLY like to spoil the ones I love….and in some strange way, having this clean, organized, come in and do absolutely nothing cause I can put my hands on anything at any point so you don’t have to help with a thing, is my way of making the day as nice as possible. I know, I know, as I typed this, it even sounded a bit over the top even to me, but that really IS the truth!
Making things really special for the ones that I love, makes me feel wonderful.
Yep, I might be strange, but I am happy, I know I am loved and have the best family and friends EVER!

Trunk or Treat, Light the Night, Autumn Adventure.....

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you have probably figured out by now, that I stray away, for the most part, from very controversial topics like politics, candidates, welfare, etc.
But today I am speaking out about something that has become controversial - Halloween. Now, it is really only controversial in “religious” circles, and that is where I am, for lack of a better way to put it, taking it on.
The controversy is in “alternatives” to the actual Halloween night. Some would say it is no different than joining in to what has become a Satanic night, and as we all know, it did NOT start out as a holiday for Satan* but has over the years, become such a holiday. (although, as many do not know, it is not satan’s “Christmas” nor is it his biggest holiday)
Many churches now reach out to the unsaved community (as well as those who are in Christ) and offer “trunk or treats”, “nights of light”, “autumn adventures” or what ever they name it, as an alternative to the actual Halloween celebration. And I say….why not????!!!! After all, SHOULDN’T we as the church off an alternative to being a part of what satan would want us to be doing? After all, didn’t our Heavenly Father offer US an alternative to what satan would want us to be doing? Isn’t Christ our ALTERNATIVE to an eternity in hell?
YES, YES and YES.
What better thing for the church (not a building, but the body of Christ) to do than to offer wholesome, God filled, God loving places for children (and their guardians) to be!
I know a family who offers hot chocolate, hot cider & cookies in their front yard for the parents to respite while their children “trick or treat” on their block. Conversations are wholesome and many times lead to a conversation about Christ when this family is asked why they do what they do, and if it doesn’t go in that direction, that is really ok, as they have shown God’s love in their actions.
For many people of the communities where these events (trunk or treats, etc.) are offered, it is the one and only time during the year that they will actually come to a church affiliated event, therefore OUR only time as the church to reach out to those who do not attend church. (and please note, I am not saying that the Church only reaches out once a year)
After all, on Oct. 31st, or that weekend, if the Church does not offer a place of love, joy, peace, fun and yes, candy, what is the alternative for that? HALLOWEEN.


*,” it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in). The name of the festival historically kept by the Gaels and celts in the British Isles which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end"

I Just Had To Share This Recipe!!!!! Thank You Kaitlin In The Kitchen!

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2 sticks butter,softened

1 c. sugar

1 egg

2 T. lemon juice

2 t. lemon zest

1/8 t. salt

3 c. flour

1/2 t. baking soda

red food dye

yellow food dye

1/2 c. granulated sugar (for dusting)

DIRECTIONS
Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Continue beating until well mixed. Add flour and baking soda, beat until well mixed. Divide dough into thirds. Press one-third of the white dough evenly into the bottom of a loaf pan that you have lined with foil, wax, or parchment paper. Place another one-third of the dough into a bowl and add yellow and red food dye to make orange (refer to the chart on the back of your box). Once it is mixed evenly, press orange dough evenly over white dough. In another bowl, add the final amount of dough and dye yellow. Press that evenly over the orange dough. Cover and refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight is best). Once chilled, invert your loaf pan and unwrap your dough. Flip it back over and place it on a cutting board.

Cut loaf crosswise into 1/4-inch slices using a sharp knife, trimming edges to make even, if necessary. Cut each slice into 6 wedges.

Bake for 7-10 minutes in a pre-heated 375 degree oven. Place cookies straight into a bowl with sugar and coat. Place coated cookies on a baking rack to cool.

I LOVE sugar cookies! These cookies look so cute and festive and fairly easy to make. These would make the cutest favor treats for a Halloween party. Original recipe found here and here. Enjoy!
{image credits Kathie Cooks found via Pinterest}

Drum Roll Please..........

Here They Are!!! Those old, un-usable jars have now become something quite pretty and very usable!
The Large one in the middle has leaves for decor, I simply strolled out to my back yard and pulled the small supple leaves from a Maple tree and taped them to the jar. Added some decorative scroll work with blue painters tape and sponged on pumpkin colored paint specific for glass. (found at Jo-Annes for 1.29 a bottle) The Smallest jar is a wink and a nudge to the plaid found on flannel shirts! Warm, cozy flannel....ahhhhhhhhhhh, love my fall weather!

And the other small jar is of course a pumpkin! Put in a tea light and voile! Both of the small jars are from pasta sauce, which does not allow for canning usage. I do re-use said jars for storing spices, baking supplies etc. or use in the fridge for onion storage (with lids of course!) to keep that onion odor from infesting other foods.

Have an amazing weekend!! I have a weekend of yard clean up planned as it is to be sunny, 68* and the perfect day to be out before the cold returns!

And What Will She Do With....

These??? Bring On The Guesses.....Find Out Soon!

Summer's Last Blast....

I went to my very beleaguered garden yesterday afternoon, and it had a blessing for me! See!!
But what to do with all this??? Well, the tomatoes are easy, but really, how do I use 7 green peppers up before they go soft? Give one to my mother for her soup that she wanted to make for her dinner (she is a widow, so she did not want several, only one) and the rest? Roasted Peppers of course!!

First, cut off the stems, as I roast mine in a hot oven (450*) and stems will burn easily. Sorry for the "pruney" finger tips, water and cold weather will do that to me very rapidly, and it is sooooooooo attractive, don't you think? NO? Me either actually, just being a goof for some reason. OK, I'm done.



Next, after washing (do I even have to put that?) place on a lined baking sheet.


Pour on a bit (I probably used around 2 tablespoons) of veg oil and rub it over all the flesh of the peppers...remember to take your rings off, or they may end up a mess or somewhere you don't want them to be! Mine slip of easily.....not good!



Bake for about 45 minutes till brown and wrinkly.

Place in a bowl and cover with saran wrap to steam. (only for a time to get to a point of being able to handle them.

Next, remove seeds and bubbled skin. See!

Bag and freeze to be use all winter long in things like chili, soup, casadillas, where ever you would use peppers....so nice to have, all organic and completely free!!

Have an amazing Wednesday!

Let me know if there is anything that you would like me to blog on and I will see what I can do for you!!!

Do You Ever...?

Do you ever get "behind" in life? You know, so much on your plate that you get behind in what seems like EVERYTHING!? Well, that has been my last month. I am caught up only in love, hugs, kisses and family fun. (OK, so not such a bad month!)

But, like the old saying goes, "all good things must come to an end" [I really don't like that saying very much!]

And that is where I am in my life right now. All those wonderful moments with family are saved in pictures, but gone for now. Birthdays and family gatherings are a memory all be it, wonderful memories. Life right now is full of "getting caught up". Yuck. I have had a bit of a set back on getting caught up, but am getting things done. Finally. Soon, the house will be clean, donations will be made to the local thrift store, order will reign in our little house, and then, Praise my Lord and Savior, the holidays will be here, and our home will be full once again with family and friends!

So, today I thank HIM for ability to accomplish, a life to serve, and family and friends to love!

And speaking of friends, here is a picture of a few of mine, having a great time during an 80's party for my sweet daughter's birthday!

Apple Schmeer!!!!

That is one of the games that we played this past weekend, when for the first time in over 2 years, our entire family had opportunity to be together, cheer together, eat together and play (alot!) together. What fun we had!!!! I will leave you with a few pictures of our "Schmeer" If you look closely, you will see the spray from the apples hitting the racket! And the last picture is one that my husband took of our family....God has grown this family beyond all of my prayers and dreams...I am a VERY blessed woman!!!
Our eldest...teaching us how to play Schmeer!!

Amazing!

It is amazing what you will wake up to find, when the neighbor children want to leave their "calling card" to let us know that they had been over while I was on route to Chicago yesterday!

To sweet!

I'm Back!

My trip was simply amazing, full, exhusting, lovely and so much more.
I will post pictures tomorrow and hopefully Friday also.
We will be heading up north on Friday to see our family and the BIG game!!! Can't wait to be there, although not looking forward to the 6 1/2 hour drive...just saying.
Life is not back to normal yet, but should be very soon, and that makes me kinda sad...just saying.
Have an amazing Wednesday!!!!