As His Child, I am thankful for our girls.

They are growing up so quickly!  I enjoy the times that they keep me company on errands and outings.  They have funny things to say, they giggle at the slightest thing, they wear out from shopping quickly, and they always have interesting and challenging questions when we are driving in the van!

We finished our errand and I treated them to their first Starbucks.  Alisa loved her Peppermint Mocha, "MOM!  It has little chocolate chips in it!"  Ashlynn tried a Mocha Frappe, "I just wanted something cold."

Our girls...my little growing up into friends with Mom girls...and I love that!  We are not abandoning the parent-child relationship...that is not null and void!  But I see what that relationship is producing, and I want to cherish those times and cultivate those times...because the teenage years are coming...and we want our fellowship to be strong.  More importantly, we desire that they follow their Savior.

As His child, I am thankful for plans.

Thanksgiving brings out-of-town family to town!

For my friend...from my cheery friend's kitchen

FIRST LAYER:
1 c. (6 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butterscotch chips
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

FILLING:
1/4 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. evaporated milk (Half and half will work too)
1 1/2 c. marshmallow creme (I only bought one 7.5 ounce container...is a 1/2 ounce going to matter? NOPE!)
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. chopped salted peanuts

CARAMEL LAYER:
1 package (14 ounces) caramels
1/4 c. whipping cream

ICING:
1 c. (6 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butterscotch chips
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

Directions:

Combine first three ingredients in a small saucepan; stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Spread onto the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 inch pan. Refrigerate until set.

For filling - melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sugar and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in the marshamallow cream, peanut butter and vanilla. Add peanuts. (DO NOT CONSUME!!!! LOL! That's for ME!!!!) Spread over the first layer. Refrigerate until set.

Combine the caramels and whipping cream in a saucepan; stir over low heat until melted and smooth. (Do not substitute!!!)  Spread over the filling. Refrigerate until set.

In another saucepan, combine chips and peanut butter; stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Pour over the caramel layer. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Cut into 1-inch squares. Store in the fridge. Yields: 8 dozen

ENJOY!!!!!!!

Decorating cookies

We made fall leaves and pumpkins with sugar sprinkles.  We still needed to do decorated pumpkin faces.  I had dreams of cute little faces to take to a gathering.

My hopes were soon dashed when I overheard my little assistants talking, "Let's come up with the craziest ideas we can think of!"

Alisa's pan...see her fall tree?  There's a spider web too.

Teddy's pan...with the fort at Boonesboro.

Ashlynn's pan...was all about color and chocolate!

His masterpiece...made me a little ill.  Good thing it was nice outside!

As His child, I am thankful for opportunities.

God has brought several opportunities this week to show hospitality to people. 

We enjoy having people in our home...at any time...for any reason.  I no longer get all flustered about presentation...that is not what matters most.  We take time to straighten and clean, but if there is some dust or a stray cobweb...you know you are welcomed into a real, live, genuine, working family.  You may not see the loaded laundry basket...but it is there...shoved in our bedroom!  We may plan a menu of home-cooked food or we may just spring for a pizza or two.  And you know...there will always be dessert...of some sort. 

Nothing fancy...but it is ours.  Our home is cozy and warm.  It is a peaceful place filled with candlelight and music.  God gave us what we have to share with others and we are glad to do so!  So I will continue to look for opportunities.

A little healthy...and a little not!

 Dad shared with me some WI grown squash.  I baked it last night for supper with some salt, pepper, butter, and brown sugar added to make it extra special!  It was so good!  Three out of five of us like it!

And for dessert...I made my cheery friend's recipe...that was not chilled in order to set up nicely to cut and  serve till 9:00pm.  My handsome taste-tester didn't even flinch as the carmel dripped down his hand.

  I learned a couple three lessons...

Check cupboards before starting a recipe to make sure you still have all the ingredients you purchased to make said recipe! 

I forgot...we did carmel apples on Monday night with the bag of carmels.

Whoops...there were 3 cans of sweetened condensed milk and 0 cans of evaporated milk.

Thanks, Google, you can use half and half. 

Don't rush it.

When it says chill till set...that is what it means...but suppertime was fast approaching! 

 Do not use homemade carmel in place of the regular old wrapped carmels.

I will be serving these snicker-candy-like-bars...with a straw.

But they are so good!

You think you do...but then you know you haven't...

I spied a book on the library shelf at church...and I have been reading it...while still in my slippers.

As His child, I am thankful for the books of Psalms and Proverbs.

God's Word has been a healing balm to my weary heart as I have read and studied in these two books, in particular, this past year.  I can say I better understand what He is saying as I have seen different situations play out...some didn't and still don't bring me warm, fuzzy feelings!  There is a grief and an urgency to pray as I understand the accountability that we hold for our words and actions.  To be honest, I had to stop the Proverbs a day for a time.  I couldn't handle it.  Chapter 25 to the end of the book brought such heartache during some difficult days...the contrast between the wise and the foolish overwhelmed me.  When real life situations happen and you apply God's Word as you deal with those situations...you begin to understand how frail and wicked your own heart is.  So often, we focus on what everyone else's problems are...what everyone else is doing.  IT DOESN'T MATTER!!!  And you don't have the right or obligation to talk about another's sin with anybody but God.  THAT'S BIBLE...but we don't live out those verses...for some reason.

As you submit to God's Word and allow Him to work...according to His way and plans...conviction comes.  I cannot remain angry and hurt and frustrated.  Confession must follow.  Forgiveness is swift and sweet.  Then...there is a calm and a peace that comes. 

Finally, I find myself at a place of rest and peace...and able to pray through the heartaches with confidence that God is in control...always!  I read Psalms and Proverbs now with a renewed hope and expectation!  God will do just as He says...and I have to be walking daily in that right relationship with Him to see Him work out all things...for my good and His glory!

Spend some time in Psalms and Proverbs...your heart will be changed!

As His child, I am thankful for His presence.

He shows Himself in so many areas and in so many different ways.

He sustains.

He comforts.

He chastens.

He leads.

He listens.

He feeds.

He lifts.

He provides.

He heals.

He strengthens.

He protects.

He sees.

He gives peace.

I know these things to be true...for He was faithful yesterday...and I can trust Him for tomorrow!

Thankful thought as we sat around the table last night

As His child, I am thankful for His protection and provision.

Grammy and Grampy came back to our house on their way home from a wonderful weekend in Michigan. 

I love the time we share around the table together...learning, listening, and laughing!

It is because of God's goodness that we are able to do that...and I don't ever want to take these times for granted!  They truly are gifts bestowed upon us.

I think it was cold?!  Or something like that...I am my mother's daughter...

because I did it and then noticed she had done it too!   Maybe...we burned off the calories from the fun size candy bars...laughing...maybe.

Enjoy your sticky treats now...

because this afternoon you get to go to the dentist for your cleanings! 

How is that for a fun buster?

"An apple a day keeps the doctor or dentist away, Mom." 

Um...pretty sure they didn't mean one covered in sticky, gooey carmel!

The verdict is still out...what apple makes the best carmel apple...granny smith or honey crisp?

It was a fifty-fifty split this morning during our "fruit break"!

A wonderful thought for a new month!

As His child, I am thankful for His presence!

Hebrews 13:5 "For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

What line does my thought take?  Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? 

I can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me?

"We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute.  If we have God's say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways!" Oswald Chambers

And singing...

comes from a heart filled with His spirit that is overflowing with thanksgiving

for what He has done for me from where I was to where I am now! 

And what song we are singing matters to Him more than what we want to believe!

We have a new song...a different song...when we belong to Him! 

If you are not singing...you are not thankful!  And if you are not thankful...you are not singing!

This has nothing to do with ability!  We all can make a joyful noise!

And I can prove it...chapter upon chapter, verses upon verses!

Ephesians 5

I Thessalonians 5

Psalm 100

Psalm 105

...and  many more!