New school year for two darlings...

Our cute granddaughter, Ashlynn, started Kindergarten this year. Her mom said she was so excited she was up at 5:00 that first morning!

 

 

 

 

 

I have taken care of Colette since she was 4 mo. old.  She started 2nd grade this year.  I love this picture of her and her sweet sister, Sabrina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had fun picking up both girls from school on their second day!

(sun was in their eyes)

 

 

I am thankful for these two little girls!  They both make me smile and bring me happiness!

 

 

Cute poems were part of who she was

 

 

Fourteen years have gone by since our precious daughter went home to the Lord.

in memory of Amy Elizabeth

 

As I was thinking about her this week I went to a folder we have that holds some poems she wrote.  She had a great sense of humor and some of the poems really make you smile. 

This one was written about her Daddy, who was on a mission trip in Africa. This trip was one of his first since becoming Missions director for Life Outreach, International. She gave it to him when he returned.

It is one of my favorites. 

 

My Daddy Went to Africa

 

My Daddy went to Africa

And didn't take a gun.

If an elephant's after him,

Will he know to run?

 

Johnny said there's tigers there.

They just roam around the place.

And if you hear their stomachs growling,

You'd better hide your face.

 

Sally said her grandpa went

And met a crocodile.

He tried to take its picture,

But he refused to smile.

 

Billy said I better pray,

'Cause it's always night and never day.

The Indians come and tie you up,

Cook you for breakfast, and drink you out of a cup.

 

I told them that they all were silly,

and my Daddy would be just fine,

Because he was taking Bibles to the children,

So they could know about Christ.

 

There'd probably be no elephants, tigers, or Indians,

But I know if there were, he'll be safe because his journey's just begun.

 

 

It could get boring sometimes when she was in the hospital.  She wrote this one day during one of those times. I have typed it just as she wrote it.  I love it too!

 

hello

i'm joe.

this is

my dog

wiggles.

when my

dog wiggles

his tail

waggles.

wiggle's,

i love you.

 

Today, as every day, I thank the Lord for His gift to us of Amy!

 

 

 

Breakfast and computer

Our community group took breakfast to the teachers of Oakwood Terrace Elementary School Thursday morning.  It was their first day back to school.  We had breakfast burritos courtesy of Taco Cabana, fruit, muffins, juice and coffee.

The school was in need of a lap top computer.

Thanks to 6stones we presented them with a computer.

Colette arrived early as we had to be at school at 7:45.  I liked that she was able to see us what we were doing. The room we were in was very cold, so she happily sat in the hall and played on my iPad. She had just finished drawing a picture of her bunny.

As we were watching the teachers visiting and enjoying the food, a friend looked at me and said, "this is so much fun"!  I smiled and agreed! This really IS so much fun!



A week of sunshine and flowers

I had a week with no obligations so I spent some time with friends.

Monday I met my friend Jenny for lunch and we spent hours talking and laughing!

That evening our church helped at  6Stones . Besides stacking cans of food we had a fun time visiting with each other.  A great way to become friends or get to know each other better while helping an organization that provides food and clothing for those in need.

Tuesday I had lunch with my friend Carol.  We ate salads and visited for what seemed to be too short of a time.

Wednesday I had lunch with my friend Jennifer and her daughter. What fun to spend time with her and her sweet three yr. old who loves to be read to and work puzzles.

Besides a fun visit I received a special treat of Jennifer's homemade strawberry-cranberry jam. It tasted delicious on our biscuits this morning!

Thursday I baby sat for my friend Lindsay while she was out of town helping her sister with her new baby. Her little Keane is adorable!

Friday morning my friend Jennifer and I visited our friend Phyllis that is in the hospital recovering from a fall.

I am blessed and believe that...

Fresh Peach Cobbler

We had a cobbler contest at our church Sat. night.  I made this cobbler recipe and it came in third place.  It was beat out by a peach cobbler and an apple cobbler. There were nine cobblers so I was happy with my third place. 

Fresh Peach Cobbler

• 2 C. sugar
• 1/3 C. cornstarch
• 8 C. sliced, fresh peaches
• 1/2 t. vanilla extract
• 1/4 C. melted butter

Pastry

• 2 C. flour
• 2 T. sugar
• pinch salt
• 1/2 C. shortening
• 4-6 T. ice water

Butter a 9x13 in. baking dish.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Filling: combine sugar and cornstarch; toss with peaches. Add the vanilla extract and the melted butter; set aside
Pastry: Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut shortening into the flour mixture until it is consistency of cornmeal. Gradually add ice water, stirring until dough holds its shape. Roll out and cut into strips. Pour the peach filling mixture into the prepared baking pan. Criss-cross dough strips over the filling. Brush water on pastry (or use butter if you prefer) and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 30 minutes or until the crust is brown.

Enjoy!! We did!!!

Love baking pies

Often when I bake pies I think of my mom and dad.  Both baked pies and they were always delicious. My mom's apple, cherry, and pumpkin are ones I remember as being favorites.  My dad made the best pecan pie I have ever tasted as well as a banana cream that I wish I had the recipe for.

So today as I was baking pies I pictured my mom or dad in the kitchen making their pie crusts. My parents each had their favorite crust recipe. I have my favorite too and it is different than both of theirs. I am thankful for all they taught me about making a good pie crust...the preparation, the rolling out of the dough, and placing it in a pie plate. I loved the memories I had today as I baked pies.
One of today's pies was
Strawberry Custard

1 1/3 C sugar, divided

6 T cornstarch, divided

1/4 t salt

2 C milk

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

1 T butter or margarine (I always use butter)

1 t vanilla extract

1 baked 9-inch pastry shell

1 C water, divided

1 T lemon juice

1/2 t liquid red food coloring

6 C fresh strawberries, halved

Garnishes: sweetened whipped cream, fresh strawberry

Combine 2/3 C sugar, 4 T cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan;stir in milk. bring to a boil over medium heat. cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute.

Whisk milk mixture gradually into egg yolks until blended. Return mixture to saucepan. * Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from heat;stir in butter and vanilla. Spoon hot filling into pastry shell.

Stir together remaining 2/3 C sugar, remaining 2 T cornstarch, and 2 T water.

Bring remaining water to a boil in medium saucepan. Whisk in sugar mixture;cook, whisking constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened and clear. remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and food coloring; cool. fold strawberries into syrup mixture. Spoon over custard mixture; chill 4 hours. Garnish, if desired.

from Southern Living

A day in the life of our church

I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.                                 ~Bob Goff   

CityLife Church serving an apartment near us

 setting up

"Spider man" captured my heart

repaired and painted court where kids can now play soccer

fun balloons given to all the kids

lunch prepared by men willing to cook in over 100 degree heat

willing to take time for others

raffle prizes for adults

and for kids too!

willing servants cleaning a lady's apartment

an awesome water slide

It was fun walking around capturing the day in pictures and talking to people that lived in the apartments.  I am so glad for this day and the smiles I saw. I am glad that as a church and as individuals we said yes, to God!

 

       

Week-end of shower and friends...

Shawna and I had fun planning a brunch baby shower for our friend, Monica!  We were happy to have help from our friend, Teresa and Shawna's mother in law, Cheryl. Monica's nursery theme is Safari so we kept that in mind as we decorated.

P for Baby Preston

Every safari needs a jeep!

Thanks to my very talented son-in-law, Austin

Vanilla, Chocolate, and Lemon Cake balls!

Homemade...by Shawna

We also had donut holes.

And yes, that is the cutest diaper cake

that Shawna also made!

Aren't these little fruit cups and small spoons cute?

Monica received many nice gifts and baby Preston will look adorable in his cute outfits.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the evening our dear friends, Chad and Heather, along with three of their four children arrived for the night.  They live in Japan and are in the states visiting family and friends. We had a wonderful time with them.

Noa loved playing our piano

Lili's first time to break an egg...

She then cooked our scrambled eggs for breakfast!

Good bye till next summer

I am so grateful for the friends the Lord brings into our lives...

some close by and some far away...but all always in our hearts!

More than pancakes...

CityLife Church serves...

~by Jim

This summer, as we begin training for missional living, we are scheduling opportunities for our people to connect with the surrounding community. Saturday we had a group set up to feed a pancake breakfast for the families that would be served by 6Stones through New Hope Center. We planned, prepared, and conducted the entire event without any need for the team at New Hope to be involved…but we did have their approval and their blessing on our effort.

As we gathered early Saturday morning we took time to pray together and talk about what it means to be missional. Missional living has been defined in terms of realigning ourselves with the biblical narrative where we adopt a missionary stance in relation to our culture. Living on mission goes far beyond the “what” and “how” of being sent; it hinges on the “who” of other people. It’s about entering into life with other people and intentionally living the gospel wherever we are. What we do must be of value to the people that we encounter, but it is only the foil that gets us there. While we are there we must engage the people and join them on their journey…we must be willing to get outside of our assumptions about life and walk with people as Jesus did. It was our prayer God would circumcise our eyes and hearts allowing us to see what He sees as we served those that came.

As we departed we were aware that the “pancakes” may have met the immediate need…but we were greatly aware that encounters of significance could only happen by taking the first step to be where the people are. It remains our hope that the “ancient way” will be made new to us again.