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Babies Are Precious!

14 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Babies are precious, crafts, Hearts Filled With Joy, miscarriage, recipes and wisdom for parents, valentine celebration, Valentine Fun Stuff

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“But now this is what the LORD says – he who created you… I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.”  Isaiah 43:1,4

BABIES ARE PRECIOUS

Shepherd is our miracle baby.  After our daughter had two miscarriages she went to a high risk pregnancy specialist and was told that her test results indicated that her body was unable to absorb the B vitamins and Folic Acid necessary to have a baby.  The specialist informed her that in order for her to have a full term baby, she would have to give herself a shot in her belly every night of her pregnancy.  Shepherd was born beautiful and healthy because she was willing to endure this painful treatment.  She later said that it was a small price to pay in order to have her baby.

Our culture today has given the “go ahead and have an abortion” to girls who get pregnant and find it inconvenient to have a baby and so they decide to have an abortion.  What these girls probably do not realize is:

At The Moment of Conception:

  • a baby’s DNA is created: the hair and eye color, height, body type and personality are already determined,
  • at 22 days after conception a tiny heart begins to beat,
  • by the 14th – 16 week the brain development enables a baby to suck and swallow and make irregular breathing movements.

Facts about Abortion:  

  • A human life is being taken every 25 seconds.
  • Each of these white crosses represent one million babies, over 50 million precious babies killed in the United States since Roe vs Wade in 1973.
  • In fact it is estimated that more than 50 million babies are aborted each year worldwide.

Did you know that even an eagle’s egg is more valuable than an unborn baby?  If you break a bald eagle’s egg you will receive a fine of  up to $20,000 and get 1 – 5 years in Federal prison.

If you kill a doe with two unborn dear out of season, you will be fined $250.00 for the doe and $125.00 for each of the unborn dear.

There is no penalty for killing an unborn child!!

I believe we need to teach our children to LOVE LIFE

and to JUST SAY, NO WAY!

  • Because I refuse to ever kill my baby.
  • And I don’t want to have a baby until I’m married.

Obviously, the school’s way of education is not working.  Free hand outs may even encourage children to experiment which later results in far too many unwanted pregnancies.  BABIES ARE PRECIOUS!  It is time that our schools and Nation stand up with courage for what is right and speak the truth!

JOY PRODUCTIONS is planing to make the movie, “A Matter of Convenience,” which I believe would change the mind of any girl who was thinking about having an abortion.  The story written by my husband, an attorney in Lexington, Kentucky, follows Jason and his girlfriend Kim, pregnant from a one-night spring fling.  Kim decides to have an abortion saying it is just a fetus, but Jason begs her not to do something she will regret the rest of her life.  He can’t change her mind and decides to kidnap her and hold her hostage until the baby comes.  He plans to deliver the baby himself and then disappear with the child.  The police know he is the culprit and make every effort to catch him.

The suspense mounts each time she nearly escapes and as the police come ever closer to catching him.  The baby is born healthy, but Kim begins to hemorrhage and Jason is faced with the moral decision of whether to escape with the child or save her life by taking her to the hospital.  He saves her life but is caught and put on trial for kidnapping with aggravating circumstances, for which he could receive the death penalty.  The result is a dramatic courtroom battle which puts abortion on trial.  His defense is “self-defense” of his child who was subjected to being killed by the abortion.  The audience will love the trial scene when the baby, now 3 years old is brought into the courtroom as an “exhibit” of what Kim wanted to destroy.  The surprise ending will stun the audience.

Please click on amatterofconvenience.com to find out more about the movie and Joy Productions.  We videoed three test scenes last spring using Andrew Hunter and Janelle Gore, two students from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, along with some family members and friends.  If you agree with us about the need for making this movie, please share this post with your friends. family and church.  We are going to need your prayers and support in order to make this a movie that will make a difference.

Fun Stuff For Kids

When we took Shepherd to the “Old Kentucky Candy” store.  It was such fun to see his eyes light up and hear him exclaim “WOW!”  We let him walk along the aisles and told him that he could look but not touch.  We asked him to choose his favorite and what a difficult choice it turned out to be!  He finally decided on a brightly wrapped little chocolate car which he popped into his mouth as soon as we were out of the store.  He also wanted to pick out something for his mommy and you can see the love in his eyes and how delighted he was with his choice.  Our children are our most precious possessions and the hope of the world.

Mind illuminations

We had a lovely little snow early this morning.  There was only a powdered sugar dusting on the grass, but it stuck to the trees and made a winter wonderland out of the woods.  How I love to see a bright red cardinal on a snowy day and this morning I felt like it was a valentine of love and hope from God.

More Fun Stuff For Kids

Loving Heart Bird Treats

  • 2 hamburger buns
  • 2egg whites
  • birdseed
  • small heart shaped cookie cutter
  • red yarn

Slice the hamburger buns in half and cut a heart shape in the center of each.  Beat the egg whites until foamy and brush it on the inside of each bun.  Sprinkle birdseed over the egg white and press down slightly to hold in place.

Bake the buns on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool and hang with the red yarn outside on a tree that you can watch from your window  The birds and squirrels will love eating this treat and later a bird may use the yarn to decorate her nest.

Beauty illuminations

After going to the bakery we decided to visit the “Michler Florist” shop on Maxwell street.  With snow falling outside, we walked through the warm, flower scented greenhouse and it was a little bit like finding the hidden key and entering a beautiful secret garden.  One of my favorite books growing up was “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  The movie is a must see and remains one of my favorites! 

We felt this morning like we had walked into an enchanted springtime with baby daffodils and tulips, orchids and roses and even a large Gardenia bush in bloom.  I would love to have a greenhouse in my backyard and be able to have tea parties and luncheons among the flowers.  Ah!  Isn’t it fun to dream!!

While we wandered from one greenhouse to another, Shepherd enjoyed pointing out all the pretty flowers that he wanted to buy for me.  Another treat for him was getting to feed parsley to the rabbit that lives in the greenhouse.Valentine Party

For our valentine party with the grand kids this year, I baked a turkey breast, fixed red heart shaped Jello Jigglers, fruit salad, potato chips and Sister Schubert rolls.  This is an easy dinner to prepare and a favorite with all the grand kids.  Most of the turkey is eaten while my husband is still carving it, protesting loudly as he carves that they are eating up all his turkey which sends them into giggles of delight.

After dinner we made old fashion valentine cards for their parents with lace, hearts, ribbons, stickers and a great deal of imaginative creativity.  Then it was time for dessert.  We had ice cream sundaes with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, strawberry, chocolate and caramel sauce and gummy bears, gummy lifesavers and m&m candy toppers.  To go with the sundaes we had home baked chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes and Strawberry cake.  The recipe for this cake is an old favorite passed down from the great grandmother of Mary Ladd’s children on their father’s side of the family.

Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 pkg. white cake mix
  • 1 3oz. pkg. strawberry jello
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2/3 cup Crisco oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup frozen strawberries not drained.

Beat together on low speed all the ingredients then beat 4 minutes on medium speed.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees Divide batter into three 8 inch round pans and bake for 30 minutes.  Cool  and frost.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 2 pkg cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/2 stick margarine at room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 cup drained strawberries
  • about 5 or 6 cups powdered sugar

Beat together well and spread on cooled cake.  Refrigerate several hours before serving.  Enjoy!

After our desserts we all snuggled up under blankets to watch the new “Treasure Buddies” movie release by Disney.  The grand kids loved the movie which was on the order of Indiana Jones with golden retriever puppies.

Loving illuminations

One Sunday morning several years ago the ladies from Friendship sang “Love in any Language” an inspirational song from the artist Sandi Patti.  It describes how love from the heart pulls us all together. 

Can you say, “I Love You” in all these different languages?

  • French:   Je t’aime
  • Dutch:   Ik hou van jou
  • Chinese (Cantonese):   Moi oiy neya
  • Chinese (Mandarin):   Wo ai ni
  • Egyptian:   Aria bahebek
  • German:   Ich liebe dich
  • Hawaiian:   Aloha l’a au oe
  • Greek:    s’agapo
  • Italian:   Ti voglio bene
  • Japanese:   Aishiteru
  • Polish:   Ja cie kocham
  • Russian:  Ya vas liubliu
  • Spanish:    Te amo
  • Swedish:    Jag alskar dig

Rainbow illuminations

Betty will be leaving for China this week on Valentine’s Day and she told us at bible study last week about her room filled with rainbows.  Somehow the sunlight reflected through the window created lots of tiny rainbows across the floor.  Walking into this room and standing on the rainbows reminded her that she was Standing On God’s Promises secure in His Unfailing Love! 

This year I shall be looking for rainbows knowing that God’s Love Never Fails.

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Friendship International & Rocket Ship Toy

04 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in crafts, Friendship International, recipes and wisdom for parents

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“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?’  And I said ‘Here I am.  Send me!'”

Several years ago it was my privilege to be a part of Friendship International and after teaching ceramics for a year, I decided to teach a class about “how to be a clown.”  I was actually a part of a clown group in my church at that time and we enjoyed visiting nursing homes and even went to the children’s special Olympic games held over in Richmond one year.  The Friendship ladies and I had so much fun that year. We spent most of our time laughing. Can you tell that we designed our costumes ourselves from pajamas and our husband’s old shirts?  At the end of the semester, we decided to put on a skit in which we taught the other ladies at Friendship how to make “Friendship Soup.”  Of course clowns don’t talk so each of the ladies put in an ingredient in our soup pot.  One put in a rubber chicken, another a whole bunch of unpeeled carrots with the green tops still on and another salt that was still in the salt shaker just to list a few.  But the clowns were all sad because we couldn’t figure out why when we tested the soup it didn’t taste right.  Then someone figured out that we had left out the LOVE ingredient.  So we all started hugging each other and after that the soup tasted great!  I shall never forget the wonderful friends and memories of that group of ladies.  If any of you are still around make a comment and let me know.

I have often made my own original version of “Friendship Soup” at home and it is a favorite of my family and friends.  I usually serve it with homemade bread or corn bread.  I will include those recipes in a later post.  Just remember when you make it  that the most important ingredient is love and always make enough to share with a friend.  That is me with the green hair and chef hat.

Friendship Soup Recipe

  • 2 Tablespoons margarine or butter
  • 3 lbs. lean stew beef stew meat cut in chunks (cut off all fat around the beef)
  • 9 cups of water
  • 1 cup Swanson all natural beef stock
  • 1 can of stewed tomatoes
  • 4 fresh carrots peeled and cut in pieces
  • 2 packages frozen white corn (off the cob)
  • 1 package frozen mixed vegetables (corn, peas, beans, carrots)
  • 8 stalks fresh celery chopped into small pieces
  • 1 heaping teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder,
  • 1/2 teaspoon marjoram leaves,  1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves, 1/2 white onion chopped fine or 1/2 teaspoon onion flakes
  • 3 tablespoons flour

Early in the morning in a large pot, brown the beef in the butter on medium high heat.  Add the water, beef stock and salt and pepper.  Let simmer all morning.  Take off burner and add a cup of ice cubes to cool and place pot in refrigerator in order to let grease rise to top.  A couple of hours before supper cook the carrots and celery about 20 minutes until tender and drain.  Cook frozen corn and vegetables and drain.  Take soup pot out of refrigerator and skim off the fat and throw away.  Chop up the stewed tomatoes and add them along with tomato juice to pot.  Add all of the drained cooked vegetables and the rest of the seasonings.  Bring to boil and then let simmer until dinner time.  Just before serving mix the flour into a cup of water and add to soup stirring to thicken the broth.  We love it the first night but I think it tastes even better the following day after all the flavors have mixed together.  Enjoy!

Favorite Toys:   The Rocket Ship

I had been hearing about the rocket ship from my grand kids for about five years before I went to see it.  The “rocket ship” is in a bedroom at Rick (Pop) and Andrea’s {Mimi) house.  Pop has visited numerous garage sales and flea markets to fill the rocket ship with many           treasures.  Actually, according to Spencer, the Commander of the ship, they had so  much stuff that they had to make a storage box for the extra stuff.  The rocket ship consists of a bunk bed and two refrigerator boxes stacked on top of each other along with over 200 assorted collected treasures.

  • The rocket ship team is made up of:
  • Spencer the Commander
  • Grant the General
  • Simon the Sergeant
  • Scout the Medic
  • Shepherd, member in training

Spencer told me that they don’t just eat, sleep and ride in space all the time.  They get off and fight battles with the enemy. More fun stuff for Kids

Rice Krispie Treat Snowmen

Last Thursday night the kids had a ball making snowmen.  When you do this project be sure to have large bowls of water on the table for the kids to dip their hands.  It is SUPER STICKY!

Ingredients:  6 cups Rice Krispies cereal, 1 10 oz. bag of large marshmallows,           3 Tablespoons of butter or margarine, red licorice whips, chocolate covered raisins, carrot sticks cut in the shape of a nose, wax paper and paper plates.

Melt the butter and add the marshmallow stirring until melted.  Add the Rice Krispies and stir until well mixed.  Spoon out some of the mixture on a paper plate for each child.  Place the paper plate on a sheet of wax paper to further protect your table.  Tell the children to wet their hands and mold three snow balls placing one on top of the other.  Use some frosting to hold them together if necessary.  Add the chocolate raisin eyes, red licorice mouth and a scarf and a carrot stick nose using a little frosting to hold in place.  This was a really fun project and I can’t remember when I’ve heard the grand kids laugh so much!  They also loved eating their finished snowmen!

Mind illuminations

After our usual Wednesday trip to the bakery, we decided to go to the Thrifty Book Worm bookstore off Harrodsburg road. on Allendale. I’ve always loved books, libraries and bookstores ever since I worked at a library during my summers when I was in Junior High and High School.  I earned a $1.50 an hour and felt well paid to be doing something I enjoyed so much.  The Thrifty Book Worm is loaded with half price books and I thoroughly loved looking at the children’s section which is not big but filled with some excellent books.  I bought “Frog and Toad Together,” a book by Arnold Lobel for Shepherd.  My daughter and I loved reading it together when she was little.  I also bought “Wiggle” a funny book about a dog by Doreen Cronin.  It said that it was written for energetic toddlers.  For myself I bought “Puppies For Sale and Other Inspirational Tales” by Dan Clark.  He is one of the best-loved storytellers who wrote the #1 New York Times Bestseller “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”  I plan to return to the bookstore by myself when I can browse longer without keeping an eye on Shepherd.

The Great Commission Celebration

On January 22, Porter Memorial Baptist Church had a service that blessed my soul and heart.  The singing of “How Great Is Our God” with solos sung by many Internationals in their own language was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.  It was sung in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Haitian and Ukranean.  It sounded like a little foretaste of what Heaven must be like.  That afternoon we were treated to an International Food Tasting and Mission Celebration and it was a glorious day indeed!

Mind Illuminations

Judy Metcalf, the director of Friendship International is hosting the new Beth Moore Bible study on James beginning Feb. 13 at 10:00 A.M. in Wilmore, KY, at her home.  Any one interested is welcome to come.

Golden Illuminations

We took Ladd to the vet last weekend for a Rabies shot and DA2PLCPVCV ADULT shot and Leptospira 5 way Annual shot.  He is good to go for a year now and I think he looks great with his red heart Rabies tag.  It is very important to keep your dogs up to date on their shots and flea medicine.  We have found that Advantage is the flea medicine that works best for our dogs.

In training Ladd who is now almost 6 months old, I use hand signs as well as voice.  I found this to work very well in teaching him to sit, lie down and roll over.  It is very important that your dog has his complete attention focused on you when you are training him.  In the same way if a service dog is distracted, he may not recognize an important need or wish indicated by his master.  This could be both dangerous and regrettable. Check out my article in my Jan. 28 post about therapy-service dogs if you would like to know more.

In the same way when we lose focus on our Master, we have no guide for living.  If we do not quickly regain our focus, we may wander down dangerous paths and dead ends that lead nowhere.  I have discovered that my SELF is my greatest enemy because it tries to get my focus off my LORD.  Every time I get too busy thinking about what I want to do instead of asking God what He wants me to do, I get into trouble. So this Year I will try to remember to FOCUS on what is truly important!

Please watch for a very important post coming February 14.  I will be talking about something that is very dear to my heart.  Also will be included pictures from our annual Valentine party for the grand kids, (parents night out) plus recipes, crafts and fun stuff.

Therapy Dogs & Friendship International

28 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Best Friend Dogs, crafts and recipes, Friendship International, Fun stuff for kids, Hearts Filled With Joy, therapy dogs

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“Greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13”

Friendship International

“Friendship International is a gift of Christian love from American ladies to Internationals living in the Lexington area.  The purpose of Friendship International is to help make the adjustment to the American way of life easier, to provide activities of interest and to facilitate building cross-cultural friendships.”

Friendship International meets in Immanuel Baptist Church each Thursday during the school year, unless Fayette Co. Public Schools are not in session.  Childcare is provided for preschool children.

Here is a list of some of the classes that are offered:  Bible Study, Cooking, Crafts, Crochet, Cross-Cultural Parenting, Cross-Stitch, Exercise, Knitting, Line Dancing, Needlepoint, Quilting, Scrap booking, English (levels 1,2and 3), and Spanish.

The day that I attended they were celebrating the countries of the International ladies with a Parade of Nations.  The traditional dress of their country worn by many of the International women and their children was breathtaking.  I am sorry I was unable to take pictures of all the lovely ladies and children.

Following the Parade OF Nations I visited the cooking  class and enjoyed listening to Kim Okesson explain and demonstrate how to prepare and cook Ramen Cabbage Salad, English Muffin Pizzas and Rice Pudding.  The English Muffin Pizzas were not only just what my grand kids would love but also very easy and inexpensive to make.   The recipe is as follows:

English Muffin Pizzas                                                  

English Muffins

Pizza or Pasta Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

Toppings:  Meat: cooked chicken, ground beef, ham and sausage.

Vegetables: onion, green pepper spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, what ever you like.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Split English muffin in half and toast in toaster if you like a crunchy crust.  Place split muffins on cookie tray.

Spoon on sauce, then add toppings.  Add the cheese last.

Cook in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes.  Once the cheese is melted, your pizzas are ready.  Enjoy!!

Best Friend Therapy Dogs

Baby is a therapy dog as well as a service dog.  The way that Lee and Linda explained the difference to me is as follows.  A therapy dog does something for someone else.  A therapy dog has a “bachelor degree” and has to like people and get along with them well.  He must not be spooked by walkers or loud noises like a plate dropping to the floor.  Baby has provided therapy to anxious parents and children in emergency rooms and waiting rooms.  Baby has worked at the V.A. Hospital on Leestown Rd., at U.K. children’s Hospital oncology unit, and with Alzheimer patients at the local Best Friends program.

Lee developed a vision problem in 2006 and now Baby is pretty much a full time service dog for him.  A service dog has a “master’s degree” and does something for it’s owner.  Baby has traveled with Lee on airplanes to California and accompanies him into restaurants.   She is very well behaved and should not be petted when she has her service vest on because that would distract her focus from her job.  She is able to sniff out smoke and help Lee not run into things.  Some service dogs sniff out bombs and drugs.  A seeing eye dog has a P.H.D. and is highly and specifically trained.  The key trick in training a dog is repetition that is reinforced.

Baby will be 10 years old in March and was rescued from a “kill shelter” the day before she was going to be put down.  I met Baby at the Heirloom restaurant in Midway and immediately fell in love with her.  When you look into Baby’s eyes, you see great depths of compassion, wisdom and love.  No wonder she has made such a great therapy and service dog.  What a blessing she has been both to Linda and Lee as well as all the people she comforted through the years.

Fun Stuff For Kids

We decided to take our two year old grandson with us when we took Ladd for a check up at the vet.  Shepherd decided that his dog Raffy needed a checkup also.   The doctor at the Animal Hospital of Nicholasville was so understanding and examined both Raffy and Ladd explaining patiently everything to Shepherd and answering all his questions.  What a joy it is to find doctors who are concerned about their patients as well as their owners.

More Fun Stuff For Kids

When our daughter Christy was young, she wanted a dog house for her best friend Snoopy.  One weekend, my husband agreed to help her build one and together they constructed it out of a cardboard box and lots of tape.  They had a wonderful time painting it and made a beautiful and priceless memory of fun and laughter.

Time with our children, loved ones and friends is so precious.  We should never take it for granted.  Make the most of every moment you are given!

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.  When I awake, I am still with you.”  Psalm 139:17, 18

Hearts Filled With Joy

10 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Hearts Filled With Joy

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“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”    Proverbs 4:23

What are you putting into your heart?  Our hearts can be a deep well of precious treasure giving joy, encouragement and delight.  You probably know that drinking plenty of fresh pure water is one of the most important things you can do for your body.  But just as important is the emotional life giving thoughts or garbage you allow to enter your heart from your mind.  Our thoughts either strengthen and nourish our bodies or make us sick.  Every day we make a choice to put into our mind and body good stuff or stuff that will eventually ruin our health and steal our joy.  Why not resolve that this year will be a year of joy because you only allow those thoughts that will illuminate your body, mind and soul to enter your heart.

My Personal Schedule

600 A.M.  Arise, make a big cup of black coffee and have a long talk with God.  I ask God to illuminate my heart and mind to his desires and purposes for my life.  Then I try to quiet my mind and listen (which is very hard sometimes) so then I turn to my Bible for guidance and counsel.

8:00 A.M.  Exercise: ‘Dancing For Joy’ which my daughter calls “doing my la las”.  This has been a part of my life for the last 25 years.  I have an old stereo in the living room that plays the big 33 1/3  records and my favorite exercise record is  ‘Aerobic Celebration Vol II.’

830 A.M.  Walking on the treadmill to Praise songs.  My favorite is Timeless Praise compiled and created by Mike Speck and Stan Whitmire.  As i walk I send up prayers for all those who come to my mind that may need a special blessing of God’s love.

9:00 A.M.  Time for my favorite breakfast of whole wheat toast, orange juice, cheerios and Dannon’s blueberry Greek yogurt which is like a yummy dessert that’s healthy.

9:30 A.M.   Laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping etc.  I like to get these out of the way early.

10:30 A.M.  Fun Stuff:  This includes craft plans for my grand kids and painting which is my passion along with baking,writing and photography.

Grammy Fun Stuff :

Cousins night at Heirloom Restaurant in Midway, KY

Snowflakes

Cut out some paper snowflakes with your kids or grand kids letting them know that they are each special and one of a kind.  Draw a circle on white paper.  You can use a plate to draw around.  Cut it out.  Snowflakes have six sides so fold it in half, and then in thirds.  Cut the top off straight and then cut notches of different shapes out of the folded sides and top.  Open it out carefully and dot with Elmer’s glue.  Then sprinkle it with sparkles and glitter.  That’s the way God illuminates our lives.  He sprinkles them with the sparkling eyes and smiles of our children and grandchildren.

Catch a Smile

Do something special for someone today and watch their eyes light up with joy.  Say something nice to someone you see or meet or maybe someone you don’t even know and watch them smile.  Smiles are contagious and that’s the best thing you can catch. Soon you too will be smiling and happiness will illuminate your face.  It’s the cheapest face lift you’ll ever receive and before you know it you’ll feel younger and look younger.

Melting Snowman snacks:

Take one graham cracker square, half of a chocolate Hershey bar and a large marshmallow.  Put in your microwave for about 5 seconds until the marshmallow begins to soften and like magic you have a snowman ready to melt in your mouth.  This is sticky delicious so have a wet wipe and some napkins available!

Cooking With Joy

Make some sugar cookies and cut them out like snowmen or decorate them like snowflakes.

I like to use Wilton white sparkling sugar sprinkles for the snow.

This is my favorite recipe for sugar cookies:

1 cup butter or margarine

1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp.vanilla

1 tsp.almond

Beat butter and sugar til light and fluffy, then add egg and beat some more.  Stir dry ingredients together and blend into mixture.  Add flavorings and refrigerate for several hours.

Preheat oven to 375.  Roll out dough on lightly floured pastry cloth.  Cut with cooky cutters and place on air bake cooky sheet.  Sprinkle with Wilton edible sprinkles, white and colored sparkling sugar.     Bake 6 to 8 minutes till light golden. Carefully remove form pan to cooling rack.    Enjoy!!

Painting and Photography

My passion for painting has been put on temporary hold since Thanksgiving.  I’m looking forward to beginning work again soon on my series of paintings entitled Reflections of Glory which illustrates some of my favorite Bible verses.  (more about that later)

Another passion of mine is photography.  I love taking pictures with my new Nikon COOLPIX camera which is so tiny it fits in my purse.  I take pictures of sunsets and clouds and storms and of course puppies and my 8 grand kids (when they hold still long enough which is seldom).  Life is filled with so much joy when we look for the ways God illuminates the many blessings in our lives

So just a reminder, “As a man thinks so is he”

Think joyfully!!