Carson

Carson Luke arrived on May 9. 

 

first time to be held by Nana & Pa (his namesake)

 

 

 

Big sister Ashlynn was so happy!

 

 

 

He is three weeks old and so very precious!

 

 

Another year older...

 

 

Our precious granddaughter, Ashlynn Kate will be 6 yr. old tomorrow.

We celebrated her birthday as a family yesterday. 

 

She requested poppy seed chicken, rice, broccoli and rolls for her birthday dinner and strawberry cupcakes for her "cake"!

 

We are so thankful that even though Stephanie is in Honduras she was able to share in the celebration with us over Skype. After Ashlynn opened her gifts from Aunt Stephanie we all took turns talking to her!

 

Dinner, gifts, dessert

and lots of laughter filled our home last night.

 

What a fun celebration!

 

We thank the Lord for His gift of Ashlynn to our family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthdays and a Talent Show

 

Sunday, we had a  birthday celebration for our daughter, our son-in-law and our nephew. The night was spent eating favorite foods, opening silly cards, gifts, lots of laughter and a requested birthday desert for each one. I am so very thankful for our family that loves and laughs together. 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday we attended a talent show where 7 yr. old Colette read two funny poems. She was very poised as she read. You could tell by the laughter the audience enjoyed both of them.

 

 

 

 

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

Home canned is the best!

Stacy invited me to lunch today

and look what she sent home with me!!

Strawberry jam, refrigerator pickles and green beans!

I am a HAPPY MOM!

One of my favorite places...

 If you seek Him 

 you will find Him

I have always loved the beach.  The first time I ever saw the ocean or was on a beach was after I graduated from high school and visited a friend in CA. I still remember the wonder of seeing it all, laying on the beach and feeling the hot sun on my back and loving it. I knew I wanted to return some day.  The next time I went was for our honeymoon at Virgina Beach.  It was so awesome to hear the roar of the waves each night from our ocean front room. Then while Jim was in Viet Nam he was able to fly to Hawaii for R and R.  We spent a glorious week on the beach!  We talked about how fun it would be to be stationed there one day.  About two years later we were indeed stationed at Scholfield Barrack, HI.  We lived on the beach on the North Shore for almost 5 years.  An amazing time in our lives and a dream come true. There is so much that I love about the ocean and the beach. I love the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore.  I love the look of the ocean, so powerful and mighty or  very calm and gentle.  I love the feel of the sand between my toes as I walk along the shore.  I love getting up early to watch the sun rise over the ocean. I love seeing it set at night as it looks like it is falling into the ocean. I love looking out at the ocean and catching a glimpse of dolphins or whales jumping or a boat sailing by.  Truly it is one of my favorite places to be.  For the past four years we have been fortunate enough to take a yearly trip to Gulf Shores, AL with our family.  I get to enjoy all the beauty of the ocean and beach for one week. I am full of thanks to God.  I see Him in the beauty all around me.