Happy Anniversary...

Today is Stacy and Travis' 3rd wedding anniversary!

We love you both!

Happy Anniversary!!

Jim's trip to Honduras...

Jim just returned from a mission trip to Honduras.  While there the city of Comayagua opened up a viritual library for the people in the city. The mayor of the city named it in memory of Amy.  What a blessing to know she is being remembered in the city she visited on a mission trip in 1998. I often think how she would be so amazed and humbled at the number of things that have been done in her memory!

After the tour a group of high school students

performed for Jim.

Jim presented the Amy Elizabeth Pack Memorial Scholarship to a senior from Ruach International School. It is always fun to surprise the person receiving the scholarship. Carlos had no idea he was the recipient until his name was called! We once again were able to give $1,000.00 thanks to the generosity of family and friends!  This is such a blessing to be able to help another young person as we remember Amy's life!

In 2001 our church brought a 10 yr. old Honduran girl with severe scoliosis to Scottish Rite Hospital for surgery.  Without this surgery she would not have lived long.  The surgery was successful and she is graduating from high school this year.  Jim planned a two day overnight stay for her and her family at a hotel in the mountains. This is something they had never done.  A nice dinner was provided and they celebrated with a cake made by one of our missionary's daughter.  Friends from our church gave cards of congratulations and each card included at least $5.00. We also gave her digital camera.  Jim said she was overwhelmed with the love shown her. 

Chocolate Cinnamon Muffins

A friend gave me a cook book called 1 Mix, 100 Muffins. There is one basic recipe and you can make 100 different muffins. I made the Chocolate Cinnamon Muffins tonight. They smell so good.  I plan to take them to a friend who just came home from the hospital with her baby. The recipe is below if you would like to try them. Or maybe you would like to buy the book. Just click on the name and it will take you to amazon.com. It would make a great Christmas gift for someone on your list that likes to bake!

Chocolate Cinnamon Muffins

   makes 12

heaping 1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

heaping 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

6 tbsp. sunflower oil or melted, cooled butter

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line with 12 muffin paper liners.  Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into a large bowl.  Stir in the sugar and chocolate chips.

2. Lightly beat the eggs in a large pitcher or bowl, then beat in the milk and oil.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid ingredients.  Stir gently until just combined; do not overmix.

3. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan.  Bake for 20 minutes, until well risen and firm to the touch.

4. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Trusting in the Lord...

My precious daughter, Stacy, wrote a meaningful post on her blog, Sweeter Things.  I know you will be encouraged and filled with hope as you read it. Feel free to leave her a comment.  She would love it.

Little Pilgrim's Progress...

I have been reading Little Pilgrims Progress to 4 yr. old Colette, the little girl I take care of.  It was written by Helen L. Taylor fifty five years ago.  She took John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and wrote this book so that a child could understand.  I found the copy I bought when my children were young. I asked her if she would like me to read it to her.  She asked, "Is it a picture book?"  I told her no it wasn't and if after I read the first chapter she was not interested we would not continue.  She loved it. The chapters are short, about 2-3 pages and we read one or more chapters every day at nap time. She always wants, "one more chapter".  I am enjoying reading it as much as Colette.  I hope you will start reading this book to your child, grandchild, or any child in your life. I highly recommend it.

Think on this...

There is something of beauty to be learned from every dark and lonely place in our lives.

It is in those times of obedience during suffering that we have an opportunity to experience our Father as more than enough.

Out of the rough material of our trials, He is more than willing to fashion objects of beauty.

~~Lisa Bevere (from Fight Like a Girl)

Happy Birthday Shawna

Today is Shawna's birthday. She is our precious daughter of our heart! She is married to Austin and they have a beautiful daughter, Ashlynn Kate. Shawna has a giving and caring heart. She loves to serve and help others. She is a great cook and often brings by something she has baked. She is a wonderful wife, mommy and friend. We are so grateful the Lord brought her into our lives 10 years ago.

Happy Birthday Shawna!

Happy Birthday Travis

Today is our son-in-law's birthday! We are so thankful that Travis is in our family and truly feel like he is a son. He is a wonderful husband to our precious daughter, Stacy. He has a great sense of humor and when family is together he is sure to make us laugh! If help is needed we know we can call on him because he has a servant's heart. He is always ready for a game of golf or watching sports with Jim. Stacy and I often talk about how much they are alike. We thank the Lord that He brought Travis into Stacy's life...and ours!

Happy Birthday Travis!

I was trying to think of what to fix for dinner tonight and remembered a soup I had not fixed for a long time. The recipe comes from a recipe book called Once-A-Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg. It contains recipes and instructions on freezing meals a month (or less). The soup recipe is called Hearty Hamburger Tomato Stew. I plan to freeze what we didn't eat tonight. I served cornbread muffins with it.

Enjoy!

HEARTY HAMBURGER TOMATO STEW
1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
1 1/4 cups chopped onion
2 cups peeled and sliced carrots
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 16-ounce can cut green beans, drained
1 16-ounce can corn, drained
3 stalks sliced celery
1 46-ounce can tomato juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon celery seed
Salt & pepper to taste

Brown ground beef or turkey in a large saucepan. Mix in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer covered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool and freeze.

To prepare for serving, thaw stew. Then bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes.

Makes 8 servings

Trust His heart...

This song keeps going through my mind. It is where I am today! Is there something you are walking through where you can't see His plan? If so, read the words to this song and do as it says...Trust His heart!

All things work for the good

Though sometimes we can't

See how they could

Struggles that break our hearts in two

Sometimes blind us to the truth

Our Father knows what's best for us

His ways are not our own

So when your pathway grows dim

And you just can't see him,

Remember He's still on the throne

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see his plan

When you can't trace his hand

Trust His Heart

He sees the master plan

He holds the future in his hand,

Don't live as those who have no hope,

While our hope is found in him.

We see the present clearly

But he sees the first and last

And like a tapestry

He's weaving you and me,

To someday be just like him

He alone is faithful and true

He alone knows what is best for you

When you can't trace his hand

When you don't see his plan

When you don't understand

Trust His Heart

(Trust His Heart, Babbie Mason)