Good news...

Reconnecting with a friend...

I baked some Highland Oatmeal Cookies over the week-end for our family but also made them with a sweet friend in mind.  She loves them so I gave her some Sunday.  Everytime I bake them I think of the person that gave me the recipe.  We met her and her husband when we were stationed in Hawaii in 1973-77.  We stayed in touch for years but then lost touch with each other.  Today I began to think about this friend and thought how fun it would be to find her and learn about her and her family.  I began an online search and was thrilled when I found her daughter.  I contacted her and asked about her mom.  She gave me her mom's email and phone number and said she would love to talk with me.  I was so happy!  I plan to call her this week and am looking forward to it.  One thing I want to do is to tell her how much I have always loved her cookies and how I make them for friends in the same way she made them for me many years ago. 

Below is the recipe.  I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have all these years.

Highland Oatmeal Cookies
2 C. sifted flour
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1 C. softened butter or margarine
1 C. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 C. honey (or sugar) (I use honey)
1 egg
2 t. vanilla
1/4 C. water - reduce for honey
1/2 C. chopped nuts (I do not add)
1 C. raisins (I do not add)
2 1/2 C. rolled oats
Put pecan halves on top.
Sift flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda together.  Beat butter, sugars, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Stir in water.  Add dry ingredients.  Blend. Stir in nuts and raisins.  Stir in rolled oats 1 C. at a time.  Mix well.  Drop by rounded t. about 2 inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheet.  Press pecan half on each cookie.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. 

Christmas crafts...

This morning Colette (4 1/2) and I went to Shawna's to do a Christmas craft with Ashlynn (2 1/2).They had such fun making Christmas tree ornaments with felt and beads. Colette also made a necklace for her and one for a friend.

Ashlynn's ornaments

Colette's ornaments

Christmas time with Hannah, Samuel & Ashlynn...

We are so thankful for each child that is a part of our lives.  We had a fun time Friday night giving gifts to Hannah and Samuel and they gave gifts to Ashlynn.  We loved watching the smiles on their faces and hearing their giggles.  We are blessed by each of them!

Autumn Chowder...

It has been very cold here in Texas and I always like soup on cold days. Yesterday I was looking through my Taste of Home Soup cookbook and found this recipe.  I doubled it as I was feeding three and we ate almost all of it.  It is very easy to make.  We loved it and I will definitely make it again!  Hope you enjoy!

Autumn Chowder

     ~~from Taste of Home

2 bacon strips, diced
1/4 cup chopped onion (I did not use)
1 medium red potato, cubed
1 small carrot, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 cup water
3/4 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1 cup milk
2/3 cup frozen corn
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2-1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cold water
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; remove to paper towels. Drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings. In the drippings, saute onion until tender. Add the potato, carrot, water and bouillon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are almost tender.

Stir in the milk, corn and pepper. Cook 5 minutes longer. Combine the flour and cold water until smooth; gradually whisk into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Sprinkle with bacon. Yield: 2 servings.

Deeper Still...

Two friends and I attended the Deeper Still event in Oklahoma City, OK this week end. Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer were the speakers. Travis Cottrell was the worship leader.  I loved each ladies teaching!  Kay Arthur taught from Hebrews and told us how important it is to live by God's Word. Priscilla taught from Ephesians and told us to see the Greatness of God and shift our attention from our problem to God.  Beth spoke from several different scriptures and talked to us about spiritual discernment.

After the session on Friday night we went back to our room and decided to order room service.  We sat on our beds and talked and talked.  After 45 minutes we realized our food had never come.  A call was made and the food arrived but we were not charged for it.  Not only that, but we received fruit and a piece of cheesecake to make up for the food being so late.  What a blessing!  We also enjoyed room service in the morning.  We had a yummy breakfast, but had to pay this time. :)

At the end of the event Kay, Beth and Priscilla had a question and answer time.  The questions were taken from emails that ladies had sent in.  This was more of a fun time than serious and we had lots of laughs.

I am very thankful for my week end of great Bible teaching and fun time with my sweet friends!!

Christmas letters...

We wrote a Christmas letter this year. For some reason we have not written one for a couple years. Ours is written and some were mailed today. As I was sitting here addressing and putting stamps on the envelopes I began to wonder how many letters I would receive this year. So many people have email, a blog, are on facebook, twitter and numerous other networks that I wonder if they feel it unnecessary to write a Christmas letter, or any letter. I miss receiving letters that come to my mailbox. Not the computer mailbox but the one outside. I remember when I could hardly wait for the mailman to come to see if I had a letter from a friend or family member. Often I would tuck them away to read again later. I have done that with some of the Christmas letters I have received. How fun to find one the next year and read once again the news of that family while waiting to receive that year's letter from them. So I hope my friends and family that receive our newsy Christmas letter will enjoy it...and hopefully send us one. I will be watching for the mailman! :)

December...

It is December and I really cannot believe it.  I have actually started my Christmas shopping though.  I am looking forward to my sister coming from Honduras where she is a missionary and my nephew coming from Ft. Riley where he is stationed in the Army.  I am doing some baking so I have some things in the freezer when they arrive.  The other day I made yogurt muffins.  They are very easy.  My daughter, Shawna, gave me the recipe.

YOGURT MUFFINS

1/2 c. melted butter

1 (8 oz.) c. any flavor yogurt

3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. soda

Mix well and spoon into lightly greased muffin pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 12-18 muffins.