A craft session for Mommy

I love getting a new magazine in the mail! A couple weeks ago, I received my issue of Better Homes and Gardens. I have been through it cover to cover several times and found this cute springy idea. I took small branches that had blown down in the yard and hot glued small flowers to the sticks. I thought is was cute! The idea was to make it look like the dogwood blossoms or cherry tree blossoms. We used several colors...the girls liked the hot pink flowers the best.

A Homemade Truffle Recipe from My Cherry Friend

I didn't have any lettuce for a bed for my truffle...but green depression glass will do! Believe me, you will not be depressed after indulging in this! My cherry friend brought me a special treat on Wednesday and I have been rationing out one truffle a day...this is the last one and I share it with you. Do I dare make a batch? Do you?

Cappuccino Meltaways

coffee-flavored truffles with cream cheese in the filling and dipped in dark chocolate

Yields about 5 dozen

2 (12 oz.) packages semisweet chocolate chips

1 (8 oz. ) package of cream cheese- softened

3 T instant coffee granules

2 tsp water

1 lb. dark chocolate confectionary coating (we used dark chocolate chips)

White chocolate-optional for decor

In a microwave-safe bowl or double boiler, melt the chocolate chips. Add cream cheese, coffee, and water. Mix well. Chill until firm enough to shape.

Shape into 1 inch balls, and place on wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill for 1 to 2 hours or until firm.

Melt the dark chocolate and dip balls and place on wax paper to harden. If desired, use melted white chocolate to drizzle over truffles. Store in the refrigerator.

Note: Truffles can be frozen for several months before dipping in chocolate. Thaw in refrigerator before dipping.

They are particularly yummy with a good strong cup of coffee. The coffee flavor is very subtle in the truffle.

Lazy Saturday Breakfast

I love spring...the stores begin carrying strawberries at a decent price! This morning they accompanied a breakfast of pancakes...mmm! A wonderful way to start a day of cleaning and errands in preparation of Sunday! Happy Easter Weekend!

Chasing the tears away with a story

We spent time with Grammy today, helping her at school. We stopped at her house to see all the work she has been doing while on spring break. While we were there, the kids ran around outside till Alisa hit the driveway and skinned her knee. When she saw the blood and ripped tights, there went up a yowl like we have never heard from her before...our drama queen had center stage for awhile. Grammy tried to distract her with stories of all the injuries of her mommy, aunt, and uncle. It seemed to be counterproductive, as the whimpers returned everytime she looked down...so we headed out to lunch at Culvers. With the thought of ice cream...Alisa practically skipped to Grammy's car. What else does a girl need? loving cuddles from Grammy and something sweet...always makes me feel better! and my girls too!

The Easter Story

We read the Resurrection story and used the special eggs to help the kids understand. The light blue egg is empty...just like the tomb! Grandma bought this set for us. The kids love to open the eggs to see each "piece" of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, the last supper with the disciples, the trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of our Savior. I love to listen to them tell the story to each other...however, they didn't get very far yesterday...there was a fight over who was going to open which egg. I will try to capture their words another day.

Who says I can't do technical?

We are back in business with the camera! A big thank you to my mother-in-law who found an article in a magazine that gave info about Googling when the modern technological gadgets fail. After a month of not getting the camera off in the mail, I got on the puter and found out I am not the only person with a "zoom error" issue. After reading through the different posts, I found a very helpful one and now my camera is working (for now) without cost to me! Fuji digital camera E550 sounds like it is a dud...an expensive one. I am ready to go back to 35mm, but Ted doesn't think that is the answer...he wants to continue the digital path...I will continue to use my little help line to keep the pics happening!

The Easter Bunny is getting a good laugh

My children do not like to eat eggs...they did when they were littler! Now they want to "paint" eggs again this year...who is going to eat all of them? Being the creative mother that I try to be, we bought a dozen eggs and Grammy supplied us with the kit (that warns it is a dye and will stain anything that it touches...thanks Mom!). I put the eggs on to boil and forgot about them...YES, I SAID I FORGOT ABOUT THEM! So I had to call Mom to see if you could "over boil" eggs...since all the water had not boiled off, they were not burned! I now have another thing to add to my list of things I have learned...we shall see what color the yolk will turn when we crack them open...egg salad with a hue of green, anyone?

My children do not like jelly beans...can you imagine? A pure sugar buzz and they are not taking advantage of it!!! I am singing "Hallelujah", then I noticed the little foil wrappings on the table from the chocolate eggs...Who is responsible for the idea of "Easter candy and baskets"? It certainly wasn't a mother and father! I am thinking there were grandparents involved!!!

Last night at Cubbies, the kids went "Easter egg picking" in the dark with flashlights! Alisa wasn't sure which came first...the egg bush or the egg, but they had lots of fun!!!

Today, I am taking out our Resurrection eggs and we will talk about the real Easter story... and try to forget the bunny-based market that is getting a good laugh watching all the kids bounce off the walls...and the mothers waste the time and money making themselves crazy due to too much sugar!
I am of the opinion that Easter should be simple...just like the Gospels...Jesus died for our sin, He was buried, and He rose again! And it was for me...and you, oh praise His name!

OH BROTHER!

It is a grand experience to have a little boy living in our house! He has thought of things that the girls have never dreamed of...and then done them...just to see what would happen!
On Daddy's watch, the other night, was one such episode (excuse me while I do a little happy dance because I have tried to explain what can happen when you are involved with mundane tasks such as washing dishes and doing laundry). Teddy inherited his Daddy's love of cars and things that go fast...thusly, taking ownership of a remote control car recently. He turned the car on and proceeded to place it on his sister's long, flowing, brown hair which then triggered the scream heard around the block...DADDY TO THE RESCUE...the car was turned off and the remains of a burn out were left behind. As soon as Ted's heart returned to normal rhythms, he was able to remove the vehicle from Ash's hair with a simple snip of the scissors. His concern to remove anymore hair, prompted him to share the evening's events with me, in hopes that I would be able to take care of the incredible tangle...which we were able to do without incident. Brothers...will test their sister's endurance and try the parent's patience...incident after incident...it is a fact we are trying grasp.

Silly Girls

Last night, we had a ladies night out at our church. We had a baby shower for the crisis pregnancy center here in town...a way to reach out and minister to those in our community. It was a neat idea and the ladies bought such cute things! (Almost... makes one want to have a baby again) It was fun to go buy things that were needed by the ladies that will come to that center for help. Alisa helped me shop and insisted that " babies need toys", so we picked out the softest little stuffed puppies "for them to sleep with". She was pleased!
For those of you who have to plan showers, we played a game that was quite interesting (I had never played it before...it may be old). Guess what is in the diaper...using newborn diapers, they put different mini-sized candy bars in them and put the package in the microwave for 10 seconds. You were handed the warm diaper to touch, smell, taste, etc. We had to write down the type of candy bar we thought was in each of the eight diapers. The only thing that was lacking was a camera to catch the actions and expressions on the faces of the ladies! It is going to affect the chocolate eaters for a couple days. Anyway, it was fun to watch how silly grown-ups can be...especially mothers who needed to get out and have adult conversation!

Waiting for the repair man

Update: The repair man came back and fixed the dryer! I am getting caught up...at least till tomorrow!

I am extremely thankful that I live in the century I do! I am most grateful for the modern conveniences that we have! Other women have survived and thrived on much less than I have...and must have had a stronger constitution than I... I was struck with panic yesterday when my drier started making a horrendous sound! Let me also say, this was followed by an announcement from the love of my life that we for sure would be having overnight company. I can't prepare a home for company when I cannot wash bedding and mounds of clothes that cover the basement floor! "Don't go crazy" were the loving words I heard to bring me back to reality!
Deep breath...we sleep downstairs and call the repair man!
So here I sit and wait for the nice man that said he could come today!
Thank you, Lord, for those who have gone before us and used their wonderful minds to create and invent the modern day appliances and contraptions that make my life easier!

edit: Drier worked for testing...when I put laundry in Sat. night...something went "clunk" and the drum isn't spinning...so...we are waiting for repair man to return today (Mon.) and Mount Never Ends continues to grow!

Little Pitchers Have Big Ears...and Mouths!

Since the beginning of our relationship, Ted has accused me of making up words. I have not! I have been taught well! My dad has always used interesting words when preaching and teaching. People who read alot tend to enjoy the use of words and such. Dad also taught me important phrases like thing-a-ma-jig and do-hickey to use if you are at a loss for the right word. I have picked up on words and their meanings and enjoy using new finds. Yes, I am one that likes the Word Power article in Reader's Digest. I can take a word apart using the things I learned in highschool English (Mrs. E would be proud!) and figure out (or get close to) a word.

Another phrase I heard periodically, while growing up (granted not when we were preschool age), when we weren't moving quickly..."stop fiddle-farting around". When you look both parts of the word up, both have definitions that together make a good word of what is actually happening! Fiddle-of nonsensical trifling matters or occupying oneself in an aimless or desultory way. Farting- to fool around; waste time (truly that is one use). I am not advocating the use of said phrase, but I have used it in my frustration, much to my husband's chagrin (he thinks he will be blamed for such language!) Well, our second daughter is known to speak her mind and often uses words and phrases she hears. The other day she was asked where her sister was and she responded that she "was still farting around" (meaning she had not gotten dried off and dressed after her shower). Alisa was dried, dressed, and ready to go. Much to my chagrin, I had to endure the scolding from my beloved. I tried to defend myself, but I had to agree, we don't want our children saying such things to their teachers, grandparents, and babysitters. So I will now use the word dawdle...and I am afraid, with the girls, it will be used alot!

A trip down memory lane

A favorite cd of our family is one by a group called Greater Vision. One of the members, Rodney Griffin, writes many of their songs. God has given him an incredible gift of expressing God's truth in song. He has written a song called "Faces" that causes me to take a trip down memory lane every time I hear it. I remember special times (or difficult times) in my life and I end up singing this song. I am thankful for all the people who have been involved in my life along the way...some in a positive way and others in a negative way...but each one has taught me something! One person who has taught me a great deal...my father! One of many things he has taught me...is to appreciate good music and to play it in our home. The words of music are just as powerful as the notes (we notice that our children are affected by the livelier music...yes, we enjoy the good old southern gospel songs). Dad always talked about "heart songs" when we worked with music...songs that stir your heart and often move you to tears...God uses the words of many songs to soften my heart and make me tender to His voice. I look at my children and I think of all the people that are involved in teaching them about God and His plan for their life...I hope and pray that they will be thankful for all the people who have loved them and taught them...and someday appreciate the faithful Christians who had an impact on their lives.
"I dreamed my life was done. I stood before God's Son. It was time to see what my reward would be, with love He reviewed my life to count what was done for Christ, for that is what will last eternally.
(chorus)Then He showed me the faces of the ones who'd come because of me. So many faces that my life had led to Calvary. All those years I thought, nobody saw, as I labored in lowly places, That's when Jesus smiled and showed me all the faces!
See I'd done my best to share, that Jesus really cares and He would save if they just believe. Oh, but seldom did harvest come and so few did I see won, until the Lord said, "Turn around and see."
He said, "Though you did not see the yield, you were faithful to plow the field, at other times you helped Me plant the seed. No matter how small the task, you did just as I asked. And thanks to you these souls have been set free."
And for those years you thought, nobody saw as you labored in lowly places, one day He'll smile and show you all the faces. The faces...you'll see their faces."
I see the faces of my mother, my father, my sister, my brother, Gram Carlson, the Fosmarks, the Carlsons, the Robinsons, Marge Graber, the Barlows, the Helms, Gary, the Hinkels, the Idhes, the Frieses, Denny, Rhonda, Kristy, the Ribers, the Allens, the Schaaps, Don, the Thomases, the Woodbys, the Dykstras, Jill, Nancy, Cathy, Uncle Steve, Debbie, the Webers, the Phillips, camp counselors, teachers, friends, preachers, coworkers, and many faces that I don't even remember their names. What a challenge! Whether you want to or not...you will have an influence on someone's life...will it be a Godly one?