Good stuff happens!.....BLESSINGS

Good stuff happens!  

Throughout this

NEW YEAR 

when something good happens, write it down on a piece of paper and place it in a jar

...a BLESSINGS jar.  

This time next year your jar will be filled and you will be amazed at all the 

good stuff 

that has happened throughout 

2013.

Good stuff happens!

BLESSINGS!

ONE little word...

Those of you who know me, know that each year I choose a WORD...just one..to be my guiding light, my mantra...a benchmark. 

I have it!...my word for 2013 is

BLESSINGS!  

Sometimes we get so caught up in chasing the "charmed life" that we forget to notice the degree to which we are already living it. 

Try this...write down one BLESSING you can see in each of the various areas of your life that is wonderful, just okay, or even not as bad as it used to be....your HOME, your WORK, your HEALTH, your FAMILY, your CAR, your FRIENDS...your DAY. You can go on and on!
In an instant, you will realize you are just tripping over BLESSINGS.....that is a charmed life.

2011...we chose JOY

We chose JOY.

In 2011, we walked a path that was new to us but God, our family and friends walked along side us with comfort and love.
These difficult times have helped us to realize and
remember how infinitely rich and beautiful life is.
Our son, Eric, passed away on May 4th from complications of his
bone marrow transplant.  He left us with a lifetime of happy
memories. Although it is tremendously hard to be without him,
 we take JOY in knowing he is enjoying the presence of Jesus.

We have found JOY...in our family….and have drawn even closer.
We have found JOY...in our friends who have surrounded us.
We have found JOY…in our church family...such support.
We have found JOY in Sam...insert smile.
We have found JOY in  each ordinary day.

“Dear God, thanks for this beautiful life.  

Forgive us if we haven’t loved it enough.”

On those ordinary days...Ben can be found in his shop building houses for the American Kestrel Falcon.  Or he can be found at  agriculture meetings  promoting his latest business, Orchard Guard....showing orchardists how to protect their crops from bird damage.

On those ordinary days, Shari can be found in her craft room
creating greeting cards that will touch people’s hearts or maybe even make them laugh. Or, she can be found along with her business partner, Nadine, promoting their business, Paper Blessings, selling their greeting cards and other paper “blessings”.

On those ordinary days, Sam can be found  at the foot of anyone  willing to give him a bit of love.

As we  welcome this  wonderful time of year, 

may our hearts celebrate 

the true reason for the season 

and may our homes be warmed by 

His JOY, peace and love.

Merry Christmas,

Ben and Shari….Sam too

I've got it!...I'm jumpin' up and down excited!

Those of you who know me, know that each year I choose a WORD...just one..to be my guiding light, my mantra...a benchmark.

For 2010, my word was PEACE.  Eric had just been diagnosed with Cancer.  I needed PEACE.  God gave me  that when I needed it most.  For 2011, my word was JOY.  God provided JOY even in the midst of our grief at losing Eric.

Now for 2012...I choose GIVE. I believe God will use this to continue to heal the pain that is ever present.

365 days of PURPOSEFUL gift-giving.  

Here's the deal...every day I will purposefully look for a way to gift someone. 

(stuff I do anyway won't count)  It has to be purposefully.  

The gift can be my time, something tangible, money...maybe even something hard to give.  

Get this picture?  Want to join me in the fun journey? 

 I am "jumpin' up and down" excited about this.  Something special is going to happen, I just know it!

'The Lord has abundantly blessed me all of my life.  I am not trying to pay him back for all His wonderful gifts.  I just realize He gave them to me to give away.'

My GIFT to YOU today is a REMINDER

We all have gifts to share 

with

someone

someplace

Snickerdoodle Muffins

preheat oven to 350
line muffin pans with cupcake papers ( I used the tulip papers)

1 Cup unsalted butter
1 Cup sugar
2 Tsp vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 Tsp baking soda
3/4 Tsp baking powder
3/4 Tsp cream of tarter
1-1/4 Cup sour cream
2-1/4 Cups flour

1/2 Cup sugar and 1 TBSP cinnamon mixed together for rolling

• Cream the butter and sugar until soft.  Add the vanilla.  Add the eggs one at a time and mix until each is incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and cream of tarter.
• Add the flour mixture and the sour cream alternately to the egg-butter mixture in the additions.  Start with the flour and end with the flour.  Scrape the bowl occasionally.
• Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out muffin batter one at a time and drop into a shallow bowl filled with the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Place muffin into the muffin paper.  Depending on the size of your ims, you should get about 12 muffins.  
• Bake 25 minutes at 350 or until golden brown.

Diner style food

I love diner style food!  My favorite "blue plate special" is

MEATLOAF...

not just any old meatloaf, but the kind like

Mom used to make.

A thick slice was topped with buttery mashed potatoes, French fried onions and green onions.

I wonder...do people even eat meatloaf anymore?  I recently dug out the recipe that

is sure-fire, everyone loves it...kids will even it.  THAT is what we will

have for dinner tonight...and tomorrow meatloaf sandwiches for lunch.

Just in case you would like to try this out...I will share the recipe.

Combine: 2 eggs beaten

8 oz tomato sauce

3/4 cup cracker crumbs

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 green pepper, finely chopped

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 t. salt

1/2 t pepper

Add: 1-1/2 lbs ground beef

Mix well and shape into a loaf.

Place in a 9 X 5 loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

now for the best part...don't skip this

Combine 1/2 cup catsup

2 t mustard

2 T brown sugar..

Pour over meatloaf and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

dazzling....windows and glass

I suppose on a rainy day, it seems a little pointless to talk about the bright sunshine pouring through the glistening windows....however, I  just have to tell you about this 

glass cleaner that works!...really works with no streaks

...for just pennies!

I have tried many glass cleaners - commercial and homemade both but this bottle of homemade wonder is 

my top choice for sure!

here is the "formula"

2 quarts of water

1 pint of rubbing alcohol

2 tablespoons of Prell shampoo

 (i found the Prell at Rosauers)