My continuous, never-ending complaining about the exact same set of circumstances was what drove my friend (I'll refer to her as "Emma") to the point that she had to sit me down and TELL me, that this was a friendship she was willing, but sad, to lose. She would give me ideas and suggestions, and even encouragement on how my circumstances could change, and my life become a healthier one, (as well as that of our friendship), but the truth was, I had made "complaining" a habit.......... If she wouldn't listen, I'd just find someone who would. That's no way to live, let me tell you! That was probably about 15 years ago. Fast forward to now, I have come to cherish the occasional, yearly lunches with Emma, and her friendship and brutal honesty with me is what I appreciate most about ... View Post
Scrubbing the Floor (with God)
Flipping the "brew" switch on my coffee maker this morning, and heading to the basement to start a load of laundry was my intent. But when my bare feet hit the kitchen floor, and STUCK to it, a bucket, a wash rag, and a half-cup of Mr. Clean suddenly became more important than laundry. I dragged my kitchen chairs out into the hallway, and after sweeping, I hit my knees. Yep, I hit my knees. To scrub the floor, that is! There is no cleaner floor, than one that is hand-scrubbed on hands and knees. But there is also something about POSTURE that allows the Lord to get my full attention. There I was, down as low as I could go. I could see all of the splashes, all of the stains from dripped spaghetti sauce, sticky spots from spilled orange juice that I had somehow missed when I ... View Post
Mom, Dad, Why Are You Getting Your Hair All Wet?
I should be counting the days left at my job, in nervous anticipation of starting a new one, and in the sadness of leaving my comfort zone and people I know and love. I should be counting the days until my son comes home from college. I can't WAIT to see him, and throw my arms around him and give him a Mom-size hug! I should be counting the days until my trip out-of-state in January. But I'm not! (At least, for now, I'm not). Instead, I'm counting the days until Sunday, when my friends Jessica & Tim get baptized. I've not been this excited over a baptism since that of my sons. Jessica has asked me how to explain WHY they are getting baptized, to her young children, so I have been praying for the words to share. And praying, and waiting, and praying, and ... View Post
The Prayers On My Tree
Yesterday, with the help of my friend's two younger children, I decorated my Christmas tree. As I sat on the couch going through the large rubbermaid container filled with carefully wrapped, delicate & somewhat fragile ornaments, I stopped and told the story behind many of them. I have several Belleek China ornaments from my friend Michele, who yearly would give me a little Irish ornament for my tree. My favorite is still the coffee cup and saucer. She was my favorite person to share a cup with, and even as I write this, I miss her so much that I could cry. There's another small pink and blue ornament I purchased in a Christmas Mart in downtown Berlin one year, the collection of Irish Dancer ornaments (because everyone I know has given me one), the "Greetings from ... View Post
Snicker MacDoodles
INGREDIENTS: 1-1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 2-3/4 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1-1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 cup sugar 2 tsp cinnamon DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix 1-1/2 cups of sugar, butter (or margarine), shortening, and eggs in a large bowl. Then, stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. Roll the dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup of sugar & the cinnamon in another bowl, and roll the balls in this mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until set, and place them on a wire rack. Little story: My mother used to make up the dough, and put it in a silver bowl, and place it in the back of the fridge where she thought ... View Post
I Know Who Goes Before Me!
CHANGE. That word has been the "theme word" of 2014 for me. Not a month has gone by without some huge life change in my family, as well as in my personal life. I went to bed in tears last night, which oddly enough was Veteran's Day, remembering fondly all of the "PCS" moves I made while in the service. I remember each and every time I left somewhere, who took me to the airport, who I stayed in contact with, how much I hated leaving, yet how excited I was for my next adventure. And I remember people I expected to see again, but never did. Those who know me best, KNOW that my adventurous spirit has never lacked an unspoken, inside fear, doubt, and worry. It's been something I have always struggled with. But those things I fight inside, have never stopped me from jumping into the ... View Post
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
4 cups white bread, cut into cubes (although, I betcha cinnamon bread would be really good too!) 4 eggs 3 egg yolks 1-1/2 cups milk 1-1/2 cups heavy cream 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree 1 cup sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1 T vanilla 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp cloves, ground 2 Tbsp butter, cold, cut into pieces Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Dry the bread cubes on a cookie sheet in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Place bread cubes in pan. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all pudding ingredients except butter. Pour mixture over the bread cubes. Let sit 10 minutes until bread is fully soaked. Dab butter over the top. Bake 40 to 50 minutes. (Pudding should be set in center, but not dry). Good with cool whip on top! and a hot cup of ... View Post
One Kind Word
I once heard someone who was dying say to their spouse, "I forgive you." I won't soon forget that, because I watched this man muster up all of the strength he had to say those words to his loved one. So, I always assumed, it must have been very important to him - Forgiveness, that is. And every now and then, especially when someone really, really hurts me - I remember those words. I have no idea what he was forgiving, or even if the person he was forgiving was sorry for what they had done. But, we don't really need people to be sorry to forgive them, do we? The answer is simple. No. He forgave that person so that he could die peacefully. Billy Graham said, "Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness." Three words! "I forgive you." ... View Post