Inspiration Courtesy of Amber Michelle

Beautiful Kentucky

(Grand-daughters make a good reason for an afternoon nap.)

Last night I got to see the fireflies putting on their light show and then later in the night the sky lit up with an incredible show of lightning.  The lightening was almost like watching fireworks - amazing.  I tried to take pictures but I think my camera is dying : - (

Today I made banana cupcakes that seem to be a "keeper" here in Kentucky too and tonight we will have chicken enchiladas.

I love to cook for my family and it is really nice when they love to eat it .

Our grandkids have grown up so much in the time since we last visited.  Tristan Dallas has become very savvy in discussing politics and I think would be great on a debate team.  Amber Michelle is the little happy bug in the family - always with something happy to say.  Ava Dorothy continues to keep the family on their toes with her charm and the curls she inherited from her daddy.

We are so enjoying being in beautiful Kentucky and having this special time with our kids and grand-kids.

Easy Peezy Ice-Cream

(Side note) No jokes about Mom hitting the bottle, it is actually my homemade vanilla.

After reading about making homemade ice-cream on various blogs and seeing Cuisinarts at a good price at Costco I took the plunge.  Oh my, in 30 minutes from start to finish you can have yummy soft freeze ice-cream.  

My first try was using the recipe below for Fresh Raspberry Ice-Cream.  I made it for Taralynn's birthday party Saturday and it was so good.  It is ready in less than 30 minutes.  Great basic vanilla recipe (minus the raspberries) and you can add what you like instead of the berries.

Fresh Raspberry Ice Cream

1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup half & half
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
half a capful of vanilla

In a small bowl, mash the raspberries with a spoonful or two of the sugar with a fork. In another bowl, stir together the creams and milk, sugar and vanilla. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions. When it gets thick and is frozen but still soft, pour in the raspberry puree. Let it go until it’s swirly, or wait longer until the whole mixture is pale pink.

Serve immediately or if you want it firmer, transfer to a container or bowl and put it in the freezer until firm. 

Linking up with Lisa at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Try making some homemade ice-cream.  Your family will love you for it!

There Is A Point To My Blurry Pics

We celebrated Taralynn's 4th birthday Saturday.  Of course I took lots of pictures but as I scrolled through them tonight I came to a quick conclusion.  There were more blurry pictures taken than good clear ones. 

 This caused me to ponder about how quickly children move through life.  They never sit or stand still that is why it is hard to snap a clear picture of them.  

Life happens quickly and I am reminded that we must take advantage of every minute as we guide and direct these precious little lives into their futures.

The "guys" modeling their new tee-shirts from Alaska.

Finally I got her to slow down long enough for a quick pose.  

Happy Happy Birthday Taralynn Love Crossman (TLC#3)  

Your Mémère and Pépère love you lots and lots!

Coffee and Exercise

If you know me well or you are a member of my family you will understand!

Enjoy your day while I go warm up my coffee.  You understand that too don't you?

Victoria

The Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia

My mother was the inspiration for Precious Husband taking me to Alaska.  Mom had been a few years ago and told us about sitting on her patio drinking coffee and watching the sea life around her.  That sounded so wonderful to me - so relaxing and peaceful.

So of course the first morning on the ship I had to order breakfast in and have my coffee on my veranda.  It was great even though we never saw any sea life around us (others did though).

The other event that I had looked forward to was definitely Victoria, B.C. and it was beautiful.  Because of the ship's schedule Victoria turns out to be an evening excursion.  We arrived about 6 PM and had to be back by midnight.  The ships are very punctual and we heard that if you are not back on ship in time they will leave you!  We made it a point to be punctual too.

Back to Victoria - it was wonderful.  Because we did not know what to do or see we chose to take a tour by peddle car.  We shared a 4 passenger cart with a couple that we got acquainted with on the ship and we had a young man on a bicycle  that pulled us around the city.  We wanted to tour the Empress Garden Hotel so he accommodated us and gave us a quick guided tour - wonderful.  On a couple of the hills I so wanted to get off and push out of sheer pity for the sweet young man on the bicycle.  Oh my.

This is a city I would enjoy visiting again so we could get off the bike and wonder the side streets in search of a special little teacup or teapot of course.

The gardens we toured were simply beautiful.  See the tree below?  Look closely

I made the picture big - do you see him?

Waldo, did you find him?

Like I said, we had such a good time.

Just Make It Coffee Please

Precious Husband put this out yesterday morning but the best he got was the usual cup of coffee in bed.  We both agree it was a wonderful trip and we had a delightful time but truly there is no place like home for complete contentment.

When thinking about extensive or expensive travel I guess Gladys Taber says it best as far as this Mémère is concerned:

"I would be willing to go around the world if I came back

 in time to light the candles and set the table for supper. "

Home Sweet Home

Hubbard Glaciers

We are in Seattle waiting for flight home.  There really is no place like home and I am so glad I feel that way.  I can't imagine not . . . 

We had a marvelous time and saw amazing sites.  Met many wonderful people and shared lots of laughs with them.  When you are with other people that love the Lord it makes for easy connections.

Chuck Swindoll was such an encouraging speaker and challenged me to live fully and his sister Luci challenged us to live in the moment - very good advice.

Looking forward to being home and seeing all our many kids and grandkids.  Will start up the washing machine and then basically repack the suitcases to go to Kentucky for special time with our kids and grandkids there.  

I know we are just getting back from vacation but I am tired!

Alaska Here We Come

This handsome man in black is headed to Alaska with an overnight first in Seattle.  This handsome man in black is not alone - I am with him! Wahoo!  Can't believe we are going on a 8 day 7 night cruise to Alaska!  Zipped up the suitcases at 1 AM  this morning and KLOVE woke me up at 5 AM but the adrenalin is in full force so I think I will be good : - )

Precious Husband commented about the full suitcases that we wouldn't be able to bring home souvenirs but I think I have plenty of room in my carry on.  I am hoping to find a pretty vintage piece of jewelry or dainty teacup in Victoria, BC.  Such fun.

Thursday Fun

I love to read to my grandkids when we are together and Dr. Seuss is always a fun read.  Last night we read The Cat's Quizzer and this just caught my funny bone: 

What would you do if

you sprouted a daisy?

Would you run and see your dentist?

Would you water it 

and grow more of them 

and sell them

to your friends?

Or woud you try

to grow some roses?

They’re worth a lot more.

The Cat’s Quizzer

 by Dr. Seuss

TLC Wednesday

So it was time to hang out with the TLC's today.  We had a good time making all kind of things with PlayDoh and then it was painting with water colors.  Fun.  

Tomorrow it will be pack the suitcases and water the plants then Friday it is off to Seattle. We will spend the night and board the ship first thing Saturday morning for 7 nights and 8 days in Alaska.  Wahoooo!

Death Is Not Dying

Rachel Barkey

Headed up to "the valley" for our Women's Ministry evening soon.  Tonight I am taking a break from our usual weekly study of Girls Gone Wise In A World Gone Mad to share a testimony of an amazing young woman who at 37 years of age died of cancer.  She left a husband and two young children but also a testimony that ministers truth.  I believe in healing but we will all die someday unless the Lord comes first.

Take a few minutes and listen to Rachel Barkey's testimony http://deathisnotdying.com/

Coffee On The Veranda

Next Sunday morning Lord willing Precious Husband and I will have our coffee on the veranda.  The veranda of the MS Westerdam in Alaska!

I know I know, I can't believe it.  I am so excited and feeling so loved and so spoiled by Precious Husband and blessed by the Lord!!

We are going with Chuck Swindoll of Insight For Living on the Inspiration Cruise Line.  7 nights and 8 days - wahoooo!

Chuck Swindoll is one of Precious Husband's favorite radio ministers.  Nearly 25 years ago he gave me the book you see below. I plan to take the book with me to have Pastor Swindoll sign it under where Precious Husband wrote in it 25 years ago

Neither one of us have ever had a desire to go on a cruise and just really aren't the fancy cruise type. When my mother went a few years ago and told me about drinking coffee on her balcony and watching the whale I thought to myself, "Wow, does that ever sound wonderful."  

Because Precious Husband loves me and spoils me like he does he decided this was the summer to make my dream come true.  We are celebrating his retirement and our upcoming 30th anniversary (November 19th) of having our lives come in contact by the gracious hand of the Lord.

When I shared this morning with Precious Husband about how excited I was he said he hoped it would be everything I dreamed of.  My reply to that is that my only real desire and wish for the trip is for coffee served to me on my balcony Sunday morning and I will be happy!!  Knowing my Precious Husband I think he will make that happen.

Better get busy these little gold heels are waiting to get packed.  I will attempt to put them on feet that may not be touching the floor much.  

Deeelish!

Two things motivated me in the kitchen this morning when I created breakfast.  First I had lots of produce that needed to be used this week and secondly Precious Husband really doesn't care for omelets.

When we sat down to the new creation I immediately thought, "Oh, this deserves to be captured in photo" and so I said to Precious Husband, "I should have taken a picture."

Precious Husband as only he can say, responded with, "So do you want to get a picture?"

No, I didn't want to take a picture and chance the object of beauty getting cold.  So, alas, no picture.

This is what I did:
sliced mushrooms
sliced red and yellow mini peppers
sliced yellow onion
sliced celery
Sauteed that in some Pam till it was soft and then threw in a couple of big handfuls of fresh spinach and let that "melt" a little.  I seasoned all this with lots of a new garlic seasoning I just got at Costco and added a handful of grape tomatoes.  I plated this and put two fried eggs on top with a smidgen of Pepper Jack cheese.   Yummy, so good and so healthy.  It is a keeper for sure.

May just have to link this new creation to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with Lisa next Tuesday.

Good Encouragement

Joyce Meyer writes: "God chooses to shine through imperfect, cracked pots.  People are blessed when our cracked pots let the light of Jesus shine through.  Choose to be a glory-filled, cracked pot rather than an empty, pretty vessel."

Let not those who wait and hope and look for You, O Lord of hosts, be put to shame through me; let not those who seek and inquire for and require You [as their vital necessity] be brought to confusion and dishonor through me, O God of Israel. Psalm 69:6

Wednesday Walk

Out for a walk this morning with my earphones dangling down and connected to the Ipod in my pocket.  I have been listening to my very favorite podcasts which are from Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive Our Hearts.

This morning I listened as a young woman in her 30s shared about the fact she was dying of cancer and actually went on to be with the Lord a few days later.  She gave this quote of unknown origin that spoke powerfully to my heart:

“God allows in His wisdom that which He could easily prevent by His power.” 

Truly, God does not make any mistakes in the plan He has for my life.  Have I questioned things in my past?  Absolutely.  But all wisdom is His and He uses it in the grand landscape of my life along with His great power to perform that which He desires for me.  This is exciting to say the least.  

True Value

I failed to take a picture of the Honeysuckle pattern Shelley Teacup I purchased while in Cambria, California last week.  The above picture is the best I could find of the pattern off the internet.  Shelley teacups are easy to recognize by the scallop in the cup and the saucer as you see above.

Shelley cups and saucers are expensive, averaging about $85 for one in perfect condition .  My friend Dolores started my teacup collection with 5 Shelley cups and saucers many years ago, cups given her by her mother-in-law.  If you know anything about me you know I would never never spend that kind of money for a teacup.

But you did buy a Shelley you say.  Yes, I bought a Shelley and I did pay much more than I normally pay for my cups and saucers but I bought it for two reasons.  First of course it was a Shelley and not selling for $85.  It was not tagged $85 because it has a flaw.  It has a hairline crack running up the cup.  You can not feel the crack nor does it affect the use of the teacup but held to the light it is evident.

Flaws, not a pretty word.  Negative in context for sure.  To be flawed is to be thought less of.  To be priced and valued for much less.  Not a good thing to be flawed the world would say.

BUT God!  Our lives easily represent that flawed teacup.  God picks up the flawed from the rubble heap and lovingly fills it with Himself making it perfect and perfectly useful to bring glory to Himself.  The value is not in the object itself but in what the object now represents and what it produces through God Who fills it.

Emily Barnes writes about this concept in several of her teacup books and first brought this beautiful concept to my knowledge.

I love giving a teacup to someone and if it has a flaw, well, all the better because I can include a letter that shares Emily Barnes view on flawed teacups.  Last Sunday I was blessed to give my Shelley teacup to a beautiful young woman who the Lord has brought into my life.  I wrote to her about the value of her new possession and the value she had to the Lord.  As, I wrote the letter I of course was touched and blessed of the Lord too proving once again it is more blessed to give than to receive sometimes.

If you are out and about junking or antiquing and you run across a teacup that is marked down because it has a chip or flaw don't be too quick to pass it by - it might be a Shelley of great value and hopefully will remind you of your value to the Lord - flaws and all.

Linking up with http://www.sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

Monday Morning Meditation

Merlin R. Carothers writes in his book, God’s Secret Weapon:

One day I hope to be able to say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight.  I have kept the faith.”  Now if the Bible said, “Merlin, you must be strong and fight a good fight,” I would be anxious.  I know I am not as strong as I should be.  But the Bible says:

Be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power.  Ephesians 6:10 

We can enjoy being strong in the Lord and in His might power!  His power is available to us when we believe Him.

If we evaluate ourselves by our own abilities, sooner or later we will feel incapable of being what we should be.  Man people live with that unhappy, “I’m a failure,” feeling.  But when we believe Christ’s promise to supply whatever we need (see Philippians 4:19), we can believe that God is finding a way to accomplish His will in us.  (end of Carothers’ quote)

Good stuff to meditate on this Monday morning and to put into practice for all the Mondays to come.