SO BLESSED

HAVE you ever felt humbled by how Blessed you are and have been? Today really made me sit up and Thank the Good Lord for the life I have had - from birth - with parents that loved one another and loved and protected me all of my life - from birth - to teenager - where they were very cautious (to the point of making me make some promises about my own kids- should I have been so blessed to have children that played sports, etc. )about my welfare - to almost adult - when they admitted they had been wrong about the boy I loved and said they would be honored to have him as a son-in-law - and they were right - 49 years proves it -- and an old, old lady that still feels the need to often correct me! I've been blessed by a family - a sister that is the absolute best in the world and is my very best friend - one I love so much!! So blessed by a Christian husband whom I can walk side by side with and share a blessed life with; and with a daughter that anyone would be proud of - one I am thankful to be able to help her be the perfection she is!Then there are the friends at work and my special friends at church that are always there to help and appreciate the things I do - never sitting back ready to criticise - they live their Christianity by the kindness and love they show. The speaker at the "Call Her Blessed" luncheon, Lysa Ter Keurst did not have that kind of family and care. She was an unloved child, abused and had a broken heart. She finally hit bottom and a "Bible verse Friend" sent her a scripture - Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future." She latched onto that verse and God has made her a caring, witnessing, successful woman.

Tonight we only fed about 80 people but for the most part they were very sweet and complimentary! I prepared the "Granny's Peach Cobbler" that I posted on Sunday night and it was well received - well - I think when 8 recipes are all eaten - it was well received. Travis got a helping and came looking for more. I know that will be a request soon! I did talk to the sweet friend that gave me the recipe this morning and she said that for a pan the size I used - I should make at least 3 times the recipe. I knew hers were "thicker" than mine. She said in a 9 X 13 dish, we should double the recipe! GOOD TO KNOW!!! I know somewhere over the past 2-1/2 years I posted the Hash Brown Potato Recipe - but I am just as sure that I have changed and improved it by this time -- so here is my present recipe of the Hash Brown Potato Recipe.

HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE

1 (32 oz.) pkg. frozen cubed potatoes with peppers and onions
1 Can Cream of mushroom soup
12 oz. grated Mexican mixture cheese
1 (8 oz.) ctn. sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced*
1/2 tsp. black pepper*
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper*
2 Cups crushed corn flakes
1/2 cup melted butter
(Seasoning - garlic salt, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper) or use half plain crushed corn flakes and a bag of Potato Toppers!)

Spray 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray and pour frozen potatoes into pan. Combine all the remaining ingredients except corn flakes, butter and seaonings and pour over potatoes. Top with either 2 cups seasoned corn flakes or 1 cup corn flakes and the bought "Potato Toppers." Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes -- unless you prepared the "night before" - which is certainly ok -- and then it will only take about 35 minutes.

*These are the things that I added to the original recipe I received in 1991 (in Southside Bank's 1st ever cookbook - recipe by Lynn Heines)!

As far as the seasonings to the corn flakes, I didn't measure - but probably one tablespoon of garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper) Just learn to shake and taste!!!

I have two cousins that I stay in contact with (via email) almost daily and it is such a blessing. One is from my Dad's side of the family - and for some reason or the other - maybe logistics - I was closer to Him - and loved his Mom so much - spent a couple of weeks visiting them - and the other was from my Mom's side of the family - and we never had the opportunity to be really close because - again - logistics - but it has been a real joy getting to know him - through internet and an occasional phone call! Both of these guys are very different and both are very special - and it is such a blessing to be in touch with both! Thanks guys for being in my life!

IT has been a long day and I am going to sign off - with this --- "Do what is right and God will take care of you!"