Today is July 2, 2012. Eight years ago today, my father passed away. Anticipating today while I was working over this past weekend, I couldn't help but think about what I was doing 8 years ago on June 29, 30, and July 1st of 2004. I was enjoying the last of my Dad's days with him, getting in my last giggles between us, enjoying tapping our toes in perfect timing together to Cape Breton tunes playing on a CD next to his bed, taking shifts with my mom and sister spending time in the room with him, and spending time with each other in Mum's kitchen. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or ... View Post
PorcuPine MeatBalls, by Claudette
Ingredients: 1 pound of hamburger 1 egg ½ cup finely chopped onion ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1-¾ cups cooked Rice or ½ c of uncooked instant rice (that’s what I use.) 2 Tbls Oil 2 cups tomato sauce ¼ cup bread crumbs (or more, to make it stick together) Directions: Mix ½ cup of tomato sauce into the rice and mix into the meat. Mix together and set aside to pour over the lightly fried meatballs. Dry ingredients: 1 ½ cups tomato sauce PLUS 1/8 cup water (You may need more water to spread the sauce, but not much. Eyeball it.) 1 teaspoon Parsley ¼ teaspoon Basil ¼ teaspoon Garlic Salt Mix the egg, onion, salt, pepper, rice, breadcrumbs, into the meat, together and form meatballs. Fry on all sides. Then set aside. Spray with PAM a 9x13 glass dish or baking ... View Post
Claudette’s Pecan Pie Bars
Ingredients: 1 ¼ c all-purpose flour ½ c plus 3 Tbls. Brown sugar, packed and divided ½ c butter 2 eggs 2 Tbls. Butter melted ½ c light corn syrup 1 tea. Vanilla extract ½ c chopped pecans or walnuts Directions: Combine the flour with 3 T brown sugar. Cut in ½ c of butter until coarse crumbs form. (I microwave it until soft enough to work with). Press into an 11x7 baking pan. I spray the pan with PAM. Bake at 375 degrees in preheated oven for 20 minutes. While the crust is baking, beat eggs in a large bowl, and add the remaining brown sugar, melted butter, corn syrup and vanilla. Blend in the pecans and pour mixture into the hot crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Makes 2 dozen. ... View Post
S*P*A*R*K*L*E W*A*T*E*R – Through The Eyes of Mikaela
Nine holes of golf between two silly girlfriends who call each other "dude" and giggle would have been enough fun. But, adding an adorable 4-year-old granddaughter to our day, and letting her enjoy the ride from the middle of the golf cart seat, safely tucked in between Mary and I, was more fun than the game itself. With each bump,we were careful to hold Mikaela as she came up off the seat and laughed out loud. And she really thought she was the cat's meow when her Grandma let her sit on her lap and steer the cart. I wasn't sure what I enjoyed more - spending the afternoon with my friend Mary, or enjoying the sweetness of a child's innocence. As we drove over the bridge to hole #9, there on the other side appeared a small pond we would have to hit our golf balls over. Mary and ... View Post
Never Bitter
This morning, a fully functioning, very independent 90-year-old woman died, on Thanksgiving Day, of all days. Those who loved her smiled and said, "She lived a good long life." I asked them to tell me something about her. They smiled once more and said, "She was never bitter about anything in life. Never!" And that would have been all I would ever know about her - She was never bitter. Never. Webster's Dictionary defines Bitter as: Angry and unhappy because of unfair treatment, exhibiting intense animosity, reproachful, hard, resentful, sore, harsh, cruel. But thankfully.......... Webster's Dictionary also gives ANTONYMS for the word "bitter:" Caring, forgiving, gentle, kind, kind-hearted, loving, sweet, sympathetic, tender, warm. Thanks to Webster's Dictionary including ... View Post
A Father’s Love
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NIV) Leaving the funeral of my closest friend’s mother, I could only think of how precious and short this life is, and how much I love my sons, Rory and Ian. In my pocket was a 30% off coupon for the Christian book store, a $25 gift card, and today was the day to pick up our pre-purchased copy of the movie “Courageous,” - a new movie about stepping up to be the kind of father scripture defines. So, why not bless Rory and Ian with a small gift today “just because,” I thought. The Tim Tebow book I knew Ian had been eyeing was on sale. I could get him that. And I wanted to get something encouraging for Rory. He has had a lot of stress lately, the kind that comes with being ... View Post
Ken, Skip, The Captain, & I
It's Memorial Day Weekend. The television, radio, stores, & social media are flooded with reminders. The BBQ's are all but fired up, and it won't be long and the celebratory photos will make their way onto facebook. MY "exciting" plans involve weeding the backyard and planting a few flowers around the patio, and then perhaps to sit back in my chair and enjoy the beauty of the rosebush Dad & I planted about 14 years ago. Dad loved rosebushes. But I can't start enjoying the Memorial Day weekend without thinking of three of my favorite veterans, and closest of friends. I'd love to tell you about them! Why? Because they have been significant people in my life, who the very thought of makes me laugh out loud. And, well, because I think they are pretty cool, and I think you ... View Post
My Pro-Life Thoughts (After seeing Kermit Gosnell’s House of Horrors!)
I went to bed wondering if I should get up and watch the documentary on Kermit Gosnell, the "doctor" in Pennsylvania who was convicted of killing three babies who were born alive during abortion procedures. Yes, I said it. He KILLED them. Finally, unable to sleep, I got up and decided to watch it. Now? I'm going to cry myself to sleep. The tragedy of my own daughter dying because of a very severe and rare birth defect, and our choice to subsequently donate her body to the Neonatology Museum at Loma Linda Medical University Center, will never be an "old" story to me. She is my daughter. And on my "bucket list" of things I want to do, is a trip back out to California where she is, because you see, it's been 8 years since I saw her. I'm saving so that I can make a quick trip out ... View Post