Fun evening with friends...

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is

that they can grow separately without growing apart.

~Elisabeth Foley

Thursday night we, along with Stacy and Travis, went to dinner with our long time friends, their daughter and her family. We met in 1973 when our husbands were in the Army and we were living in Hawaii. Linda and I were both pregnant at the time. Robyn and Stacy are three months apart in age. Although we have not always lived near each other we have stayed friends. We are thankful we live close now and although we don't see each other as much as we'd like, when we are together it is as if no time has passed. We had an evening of good food and fun fellowship! I thank the Lord for these dear friends!

On the day you were born...

Thirty two years ago our beloved daughter, Amy Elizabeth, was born. She was born in Hawaii and there was such joy in our hearts over the birth of our second child! We will always thank the Lord for the 21 wonderful years we had with her.

Stacy holding Amy

We will miss you...

My nephew Joshua joined the Army. He leaves in a few hours. He had some fun moments at lunch with Ashlynn and Colette!! He will be missed by all!!!

Cute, cute, cute...

Our family got together for lunch today. My nephew leaves for basic training at Ft. Benning tomorrow and we wanted to have a family dinner for him with some of his favorite foods. We really had a fun time and I think he enjoyed it.
Afterwards I captured this cute picture of our little granddaughter Ashlynn. Not sure which one she loves more...Barney or Elmo. Oh to be two again!!

Gerber daisies...

Yesterday one of the sweetest 4 yr. olds I know made my day! I arrived at Bible study and saw my friend with her two children standing outside. When I got out of the car her son walked to me with one hand behind his back. When he brought his hand to the front he held up to me beautiful bright pink Gerber daisies!! I bent down to accept them and as he handed them to me he said, "These are for you, because we love you!"

1Joh 3:1a says How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, That is what I felt when I received those flowers. God shows His love to us in so many different ways. Yesterday it was through my friend and her children (I got great hugs too!!) giving me flowers and words of love. Be watching for and expecting ways God will show His great love to you... today... tomorrow...

Family fun...

My morning started out with a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks and these beautiful roses! I was surpised and very happy. It is great having Jim home from his trip to Honduras (will post some pictures soon). What a sweet husband I have!!!

After church I hurried home to prepare lunch for our family. We celebrated two birthdays today...Austin and Starla. It was a great family day. We missed Stephanie (in Honduras), but laughed at the funny cards she had left for them.

After we ate Stacy and Travis found out that the owners of the house they want to buy accepted their offer. We rejoiced with them!

It has really been a fun family day!

Everyone has a meal and birthday cake of their choosing.

Sometimes that cake turns out to be chocolate chip cookies!!

Joshua grilled the bar-b-que chicken!

Hannah and Ashlynn played outside!

Had to include a picture of Jim's beautiful wisteria!

Friendship...

I am thankful for my girlfriends. I love their different personalities. I love that we can laugh together, pray together and cry together. I love to sit over a leisure lunch and talk about whatever is on our hearts and know we are listening and care about each other. I am thankful for the friends that pray for me. I am thankful for my Bible study girlfriends and love our times together. I am thankful for the friends that love to play games and laughter fills the air every time we get together. I am thankful for a friend that sends me a card of encouragement every week and has for years. I love when a friend calls, just to give me a sweet word of encouragement or to see how my day is going. I am thankful for friends that invite me to Sunday lunch when my husband is out of town. I am thankful for friends that are willing to drive because they know I don't really like to. I am thankful for the friends that have been there for me in times of sorrow, as well as times of joy. I am thankful for the little spur of the moment lunches with girlfriends that happen now and then. I love when a friend knows what I like and sometimes surprises me with a little gift "just because". I am thankful for my old friends. Those friends I have had for years and we have gone though much together. I am thankful for my new friends and glad to get to know them better. I am thankful for my long distance friends. Those are the ones that I do not see often, but when we are together it is like no time has passed! I hope my girlfriends read this and know how much they mean to me! Why don't you let a girlfriend know what she means to you today! Write or call her! I know she will be blessed!

Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life.

Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.

~~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Butter Baked Chicken & Gravy...

I tried a new recipe tonight and it was delicious. I found it the magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen! Of course if you are a Paul Deen fan you would have already guessed it was hers by the name. You know how she loves butter!! I wanted to take a picture of our plate, but eating seemed to be a little more important at the moment. You can see a picture and get the recipe at this link. http://www.cookingwithpauladeen.com/recipe_results.php?id=1894

I did a couple things different...I used skinless, boneless chicken breasts and used less salt than it called for. I served it with rice (as she suggests), broccoli and a salad. I will definitely prepare it again!

Big hugs to Aunt Stephanie...

My sister is a missionary in Honduras. We miss her so much! I know pictures mean a lot to her so today we took pictures of our granddaughter, Ashlynn, giving her hugs!!!

Here are your hugs Stephanie!

Hi Aunt Stephi

Here's a big hug!

Apples of Gold...

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

Last Thursday night was our Apples of Gold Celebration Dinner. This is the dinner given after the ladies have completed the 6 week program. The spouses are invited to this dinner and we all dress up a little. After a delicious dinner prepared by our cooking mentors and served to us by two couples, we gathered in the living room for a time of sharing. It was such a blessing to hear from the ladies as well as the spouses ways they had benefited from these weeks. We presented each lady with an apron that says Apples of Gold. They are now considered Applesauce and will come back as kitchen helpers the next time we have a group. I meant to take a picture but totally forgot. I, along with the other mentors, were totally surprised with a beautiful bag full of thoughtful gifts from the ladies. Mine had white chocolate (because I can't eat chocolate), an adorable apple cookie cutter, sweet towel and a book mark that one of the ladies made. I loved each thing!!! Another gift each mentor received from one of the ladies was a Willow Tree Angel. Two of us received the Angel of Wonder...doesn't it look like a golden apple in her hand! I love it. The two mentors that prepared the cooking demonstration and meal received one with a tea pot.

I feel loved & blessed by ALL the ladies!!!