Its What’s for Dinner, Tonight

A couple of weeks ago the homeschoolers at our church had a Valentine’s Day Party.  I got invited to come and help with their Valentine card making activity.  It was  a lot of fun.  For lunch they prepared these Barbecups.  One of the Moms brought ground beef like the recipe calls for.  One Mom brought the BBQ Pork you buy already prepared in the little tubs.  One Mom made BBQ chicken.  All were very good!  I know, because I sampled them all!   I thought these were quick to make and would be good for dinner on one of those nights you need something fast or when you don’t really want to be in the kitchen at all! 

If you follow Andrea’s blog, Random Issues, she also shared this recipe today.  Great minds think---and eat---alike!

Barbecups

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef                                                                                                1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 to 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 can (12 oz.) Pillsbury® Grand's!® Jr. Golden Layers® Refrigerated Buttermilk or Flaky    Biscuits
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar or American cheese (2 oz.)

Directions:
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 10 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray, or grease with shortening. In skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in barbecue sauce, onion and brown sugar. Cook 1 minute to blend flavors, stirring constantly.
Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Place 1 biscuit in each muffin cup. Firmly press in bottom and up sides, forming 1/4-inch rim over edge of cup. Spoon about 1/4 cup beef mixture into each biscuit-lined cup. Sprinkle each with cheese.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of biscuits are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from muffin cups.

Eat up, it’s what’s for dinner!

Thankful Thursday

Our Chcikfila had a special this morning.  Buy their new orange juice and get a free chicken biscuit.  I shared it with Wally and Wes last night, hoping for breakfast out. Wally didn’t bite.  Well, he sort of did but I didn’t want to be ready that early.  So he was going to grab his own special.  Later this morning I got a text from Wesley, from the depths of the basement.  “Breakfast, if you buy”.  Who could resist such an offer??  So we had a nice breakfast, ok more of a brunch.  We squeaked in the door with three minutes to spare on the breakfast menu hours!

We ate and had a nice chat about some of Wesley’s upcoming plans. He is getting ready to go back to school in the fall. He’s been working and playing soccer and helping with our youth group. It is kind of nice when you realize your kids are doing what you always wanted them to do, be responsible, make wise choices, and spend time in the Word to accomplish both of those things. 

Earlier this morning I had also enjoyed a nice phone chat with Kenny.  That doesn’t happen too often as Kenny lives in the Smoky Mountains and gets terrible phone reception.  He gets good reception when he’s at work but of course, not so much time.  So we got a little caught up today; what’s going on at church, what about the rehearsal dinner, and other things like that.  I just love it when he hangs up and in his deep manly voice says, “love you Mom.”

I have just had a warm fuzzy in my heart all day, thinking about my sons.  I just marvel at how God has led each of them differently but just as surely.  They have sure grown up fast.  I’m glad they have a good relationship with each other…and with their sister.  How thankful I am for my boys. 

It is hard to look into the future and see what your little boys will become. It is great fun watching them play at being the “good guy” in their capes and cowboy boots when they are small!  But you never know.  We do however, know the God who knows!  And that is a most secure place to be. I mostly remember doing this with Kenny when he was little, but I think with Wes some too.  We would kiss them goodnight and say, ”What do you want to be you grow up?”  And we taught them to reply, “a great man for God!”  (Yes, we put words in their mouth, and hopefully their heart)  I don’t remember where that idea came from, but God has and is doing that work in them.  It is such a blessing to watch and I am very grateful for it.

Next week starts a month of free breakfast entrees each Wednesday in March. You should check with your local Chick Fila and see if they are participating.  Last year, Wes and I started going to breakfast as a result of that special and kept it up until he left for camp.  Maybe this year we can keep at it until he leaves for school.  We sure won’t get these days back!

Stamp Camp

On Saturday I attended Stamp Camp. It was a full day of card making with Stampin’ Up demonstrator, Pat Shepherd. I had never attended anything like that before.  We made fifteen cards and two bonus projects.  Everything was prepared and you grabbed a basket off the table with all the tools and directions for making the card.  After you finished, you returned the basket to the table and took another.  I won’t bore you with fifteen cards, but here are a few of my favorites…

This was my favorite card.  The tulips are 3-D.

I really liked this card too.  I already used it as an encouragement card.

This is cute, you just add a tea bag to the little envelope

This card was made by stamping the petals and leaves and then punching around them with the same shape in a punch.

I had bought this stamp set but didn’t quite know what to do with it.  Now I am kind of excited to use it again.

This card was made with a Sizzix die.  I think I may have to get this one.  It sure went together easy and looks so nice!

This was one of the bonus projects.  It actually is cover for a tablet.  I just love it!

So, I learned a lot at stamp camp.  I have quite a few stamps, but I’ve really been a little afraid of them.  Now I have a little more confidence to get them out and use them!   And I also have  a whole pile of ready to mail cards!

Dog Gone…

Gypsy has been chewing away at a spot on her leg.  I wanted to take her to the vet but Wally didn’t want to spend money that fast.  So yesterday I bought one of those “bonnets” for Gypsy, the kind that keeps your dog  from reaching parts of their body that you don’t want them to chew on.  Kind of pathetic looking, huh?

Poor old dog!  You’d think we were trying to shame her!  Wesley came home and looked at her and burst out laughing. That was a little shameful. However as she tried to go out the doggie door, I laughed too. She has figured out how to do it though!  And she does not seem to feel any shame at all.  She’s still very perky.

Today it was absolutely beautiful here in Colorado, but I was going to skip walking. Somehow though, Gypsy always seems to know when I have my shoes on and she shadows me all over the house until we go out.  So I felt guilty and took her for a walk.  After all it was trash day, her favorite!  She didn’t seem to care that she had a lamp shade on, so why should I? In fact she was not held back in any way.  She took on those big dogs behind the fence just like always!  And the pooches she passed on the sidewalk got an earful too!  

I did feel a little sorry for her, and when I caught her up on the bed, I let her stay!

Thankful Thursday

I have been enjoying some beautiful Colorado days this past week and walking outside again.  I was thinking of all the reasons why I am thankful to be living in Colorado.  But the past two days something that I love even more made me change my post for Thankful Thursday.  It is Skype.  Yesterday and this morning I got to play with Elaine and visit with her Mommy through Skype.  I think I could just sit there and enjoy Elaine’s busy antics all over the computer desk and not say a word!  She is very busy and very cute!  Just to see her smiles and and hear her laughs and noises as she chats away! Yesterday I saw she had her hair in a barrette and she looked very much like a “little girl”.  Today she was opening our Valentine Box we had sent her…it had a lo-o-n-g trip getting to NY.  She saw the little lady bug right away and began to reach for it.  Mom took her milk cup and moved it out of the way and I heard Elaine very loudly and very clearly proclaim “NO” for the first time.  (I guess it is not the first time for Mom though!)  But I know how Elaine feels…I have the same reaction when I get separated too far from my coffee cup!  Anyway, the lady bug held some Hershey’s Hugs in its shell, and Elaine really loved those.  I witnessed her “happy dance” after eating one.

I’m thinking this must be part of the grandparent thing.  Today she was only in her diaper because she had just gotten up. My mind just kept seeing Andrea as little tot with her sippy cup and running around in her diaper.  The hair and the eyes just put me back in the past!  It’s a very warm fuzzy feeling that then zaps you back into reality when you realize just how long ago that was! 

I also thought, how wonderful this Skype is.  I see Elaine move and talk and it is very real.  When Andrea was little we lived in England.  We phoned home about once a month.  We took pictures and would have to wait a week for them to be developed (and hopefully they were not fuzzy or out of focus)  and then sent them home to grandparents and family.  It took a bit of time to share. Technology has certainly given us some wonderful gifts! 

I am very thankful for Skype.  And for the airplane.  Because in just a bit over three weeks, Elaine and Andrea will be on one coming to visit us!  We can hardly wait!

Still Celebrating…

Sunday night when Wally and I left to go to church, I opened the door of the truck and there sat this little box on the seat.

So Wally recently got an iPhone for work.  We’re pretty pleased with ourselves that he took these pictures and emailed them to me.  But we forgot to take a picture of the contents…it was a necklace with my birthstone. Wally had given me earrings for Christmas and the necklace matches. I tried getting a picture of it in the box but it just looks like a shiny circle.  Trust me, it is very simple and beautiful and just what I like!

Wally and I had planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Tuesday.  On  Monday, I had Bible Study and Wally had a late appointment.  So we planned to go to the “Perfect Landing” at Centennial Airport.  The tables in the restaurant are arranged in front of windows so you can sit and watch the planes take off and land.  It also faces west so there is a great view of the front range and sometimes a gorgeous sunset!  And Tuesday –Thursday there’s a great deal at this restaurant. For 12.95 you can choose filet mignon, prime rib, or a rack of lamb. There is a piano in the middle, played by Boogie Bob.  So it is kind fun and unique and the food is great!  If you live here, give it a try!

Here’s my card for Wally:

And Wally’s Hallmark for me.

Wally always buys a funny card and a serious card.  He said when he went to pay, he could not believe how expensive the serious card was…$7.00!!  So he put it back.  And I am going to show him how to use the Cricut machine before our Anniversary this summer!

Well, I have stretched Valentine’s Day out long enough.  Hope it was Happy for you all!

Valentine’s Day Crafts!

These are some things I made for my family for Valentine’s Day.

This card I sent to Wally’s Mom.

This card I sent to my sister Jo.  On her card and Elaine I used these little deals called “wobbles!”  So when you touch the critter it will wobble all over!

This cute bug is for our cute Elaine

This little box is for Elaine too…it is filled with “Hugs”

For my grown kids I saw this cute idea to make candy bar wrappers on one of my card blogs.  So I just wrapped up their favorite candy bars in some decorative paper.  These are Ben and Andrea’s

These are Kenny and Becky’s

This is Wesley’s.  I left it in his car to find.  He left for work today at 3:00 am. He is a contract driver for Veldkamp’s flowers if you did not know. He was going in early to help wrap and sort before he delivers.  He said they had orders for 3,000 deliveries today.  That is a record for them. 

These little boxes I made for my Sunday School class.  I have four girls.  The ladybugs also have wobbles!  Funny story…I got to church yesterday and realized I left the bag with these in it at home.  Wally went home to get them…and that is not a short drive either.  He walks in to find Gypsy, on the recliner with the bag between her paws!   She was surprised to get caught!   I sort of wish he would have thought to take a picture.  I won’t share with you what he did think of doing! 

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Happy Valentine’s Day

This is about my only Valentine Decoration.  I made it years ago when the kids were still at home, along with some other hearts I put verses on.  But this heart I still take out every year.  And this is the verse of I think of whenever I think of Valentine’s Day.  I’m not sure of this verse if taken from a certain Bible translation or if I changed the wording myself so the kids would better understand its meaning.  Here it is from the NKJV…

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  I John 4:10

I think I changed out the word propitiation because I thought it was too hard to understand.  And while Jesus was sent to be our atoning sacrifice, that wording is not quite as complete as the meaning of propitiation. Yesterday in church we had a wonderful message on the wrath of God.  Maybe that doesn’t sound like a wonderful topic but it puts in perspective just how much love God does have for each us.  Our Pastor started off by stating, “that to understand the love of God, you need to understand the wrath of God.”  I know I so often do not want to recognize just how offensive my “little sins” are to God. Nor do I take time to realize that I am so deserving of His wrath because I have violated His Holy Character and laws.  Our Pastor gave this definition…”God’s wrath is the necessary response of a Perfect, Holy God, to the violations of His will.”  God’s wrath hangs over all people. It must be satisfied.  So either the individual person must suffer….for eternity.  Or there is “propitiation” from Jesus.  It means, God’s wrath is satisfied. It is satisfied because Jesus bore the full wrath when He took my sin…and yours too…upon Himself as He hung on the cross.  His blood was shed to be the atoning sacrifice as my  Valentine decoration states.  It was the means for propitiation  to take place.  I kind of like the word propitiation a lot more now!

Happy Valentine’s Day!! I hope you take time today amidst all the other expressions of love, to realize what great love God has for you!

This is for the Birds!

Today I got up from a nice nap and went downstairs to fix a nice latte and do some nice “vegging.”  It had been a beautiful day…66*… the sun was out and the snow was doing some fast melting.  A movement in the backyard caught my eye.  I took a look and I could not believe it!!  There were several robins in one of my flower beds.  I counted seven.  The snow had melted and the dirt was good and moist.  They were  having a great feast digging up worms.  I stood there for several minutes just enjoying them.  It really was something.  I wondered if they had just hit town and were grabbing a bite to eat??  Then I got my camera…and this time I made sure I had an SD card in it! 

Usually I don’t see a robin until closer to spring.  Maybe I better check and see if I have any crocus poking up too! 

That’s the end of this bird tale!

Just a Bit More Birthday

I always like to get pictures of everyone at the Birthday Celebration.  This year we were a small group for Dad’s celebration.  As a family we had planned to go out to eat together on Saturday night.  But a snowstorm blew in about the time everyone was to be on the road.  So we decided to cancel and go to lunch together on Sunday after church.  Wally got up early on Sunday to shovel and then drove down to shovel at my parents’.  He was going to shower at their house and meet us at church.  Wes and I were just getting on the highway when I got a call from a friend I teach Sunday School with…they had cancelled church.  So the plans changed again.  Scott did not want to come out and Robin and Terry decided they would catch up with Dad on their own.  So…we went to Breakfast

Here’s Wesley with his Grandpa

Wally and I…in the bright lights

Here’s Dad opening his gift

Here’s the gift

Here’s Mom admiring the gift also…

…And here is the gift!

Here’s my card. 

My Dad’s 85th Birthday

I did not intend to write my Thankful Thursday Post about my Dad.  But on Monday it was his Birthday and it has taken me all week to get my thoughts written down for his Birthday.  In doing so, I know I have been very blessed by my Godly heritage.  It has been one of my greatest gifts.   So why not combine the two? 

Monday my Dad turned 85 years old.  That is a lot of years.  A life time of experiences!  My Dad’s lifetime.  He was born on February 7, 1926.  The “horse and buggy days” he likes to say!  But my Mom is quick to ask, “your Dad had a car, didn’t he?”  My Dad is a twin.  He had a twin sister who has passed away. They were brought home to three older brothers.  Later another brother, three sisters and another set of twins, this time boys, were added to the family!  Whew!  My Dad grew up on a farm and during the depression years.  He said that on one farm where they lived it was near the rail road tracks and almost daily a hobo would knock at their door, looking for something to eat.  My Dad played baseball and basketball in school.  (I never knew that.)  “I think he was pretty good, too” my Mom added. 

During the Korean War my Dad was drafted into the Army.  He came home on leave and married my Mom on New Year’s Eve in 1951.  Then he returned to Maryland.  But before my Dad was shipped overseas, the conflict was settled.  He returned to Iowa and the farm.  Before they were married my Mom said she “drug Dad to a tent meeting in Iowa.”  She still remembers the man’s name who was holding the tent meetings,  Guy Libby.   My Dad looks back on that experience as the first time he felt any conviction about his sin.  While he was away in the service my Mom would add a scripture verse at the end of her letters.  My Mom had trusted the Lord as her Savior at a Youth for Christ Crusade in high school.  Check out her story here.  Now my Mom was wanting to get baptized and when she went to talk with her Pastor about it, my Dad went along.  On July 16, 1953 My Dad accepted Jesus as his own Savior.

After a farm depression in Iowa, Mom and Dad moved their family from the farm to Thornton, CO.  I asked my Mom if that was hard.  And she said, “Sort of.  We had lost everything on the farm.  But we were looking forward to a new life and the mountains!”   My Dad had taken the train to Colorado earlier.  His Dad and brother were living here already.  He rented a house and returned to Iowa to pack up.   After a year or so, my parents bought their house in Englewood.  That is where I remember growing up.  They are in the same home today. 

Here’s what I remember about my Dad while growing up.  His farming experience produced the best garden.  To this day, his corn is still Iowa tall!  I can remember him coming home in the summertime after working a long hard day in road construction, and going straight to the garden to hoe, weed, or water! 

My Dad has a glass eye.  As kids we would beg Dad to take out his eye for our friends.  OK, we do it as adults too.  And it is a little more entertaining to try that trick on adult friends! 

My Dad does indeed “slaughter the King’s English!”  It has caused us all to laugh many times, including Dad.  But it does not stop him from talking.  He talks to anyone…at the grocery store, ball game even at a traffic light if you have the window down!   My Mom says it is the “small town” in him.  Growing up we had neighbors that were deaf and mute. but the man could read lips and make some sounds.  My Dad often talked over the fence with him.  And in every conversation the subject would always turn to the Lord! 

My Dad faithfully served the Lord while raising his family. He drove a bus route, picking up kids for Sunday School.  He taught fifth grade boys Sunday School.  (For about forty years.) He served many years as a Deacon.  My dad is a prayer warrior.  I love to hear him pray.  And I love knowing that he prays for his children, grand-children and great-grand-children faithfully!

Dad has always been studying God’s Word.  He once enrolled in a class to study the Book of Daniel.   He told me the other day that  this is his 24th year in Bible Study Fellowship.   At his end of the table he has a pile on the floor of books, commentaries, articles and several versions of the Bible.  He has his radio on and  “walks through the Bible” with J. Vernon McGee every day.   One of my greatest memories is seeing my Dad in a chair, bent over the Bible studying.

Did you know that there is a reward for Believers who look for the Lord’s coming?  II Timothy 4:8 says,”Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  I know my Dad will receive that reward someday.  He never tires of looking for it or talking about it!

Don’t tell Mom I used this picture.  She doesn’t like it because Dad is smoking a pipe!

Dad and Mom

All us kids in the back yard

Dad and Nathan …the only picture I have of the garden

Mom and Dad at my High School Graduation.  Dad was on crutches with a broken ankle from a motorcycle accident. He had been out of work for quite some time.  This is his Fidel Castro look!

Dad and Mom with my kids at the zoo.

Dad with Elaine!  She has a Godly heritage as well!

Dad and Mom Sunday at his Birthday Breakfast Sunday

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;and His greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”

Psalm 145:3-4