Sunday, September 11, 2011

GOOD THOUGHTS - GOOD FOOD - GOOD FRIENDS

Well - good evening!  No I have not fallen  into the ocean - or more appropriately "off the mountain!"  Just had a lot to do when I got back from a great visit with my good friends, Mary and Jack!  I had a couple of new experiences.  I had never picked up a golf iron with any intent to hit a ball with it.  But after listening to Mary talk about how she liked it - I ask if I could try!  What an experience!  Poor Jack was giving Mary tips and trying to get me to grip the iron the correct way.  At first real swing it had me!  (Just adopted a line from Jerry McGuire! It was so much fun and so we stayed about and hour and half and then on Saturday morning we stayed on driving range 2 hours and I never even stopped for water!  Then we went to putting green and I still wanted to hit too hard!  I really want to learn to play!!
The other "adventure" was when Mary told me that her landscaper had told her that pine nuts come from Pinon' trees.  They have numerous Pinon' trees in their yard (7400 feet above sea level) so we went hunting for pine nuts.  We found these little round balls with wrinkles and started breaking them open and there they were "pine nuts!"  Well - we will never complain again about the price of pine nuts.  Oh my goodness, sticky mess that our hands were.  It was some type of resin and fingernail polish would not cut it -- we finally had to use Goo Be Gone.  Lesson learned - buy the pine nuts - don't get the big idea of picking them!!!
Had a wonderful three days, but was happy to be back with my precious family!!!

Another great "non cook" hint for parties or for a wonderful snack with friends.  At WalMart of all places - there is a dip by Sabra called Roasted Pine Nut Hummus.  It is delicious - they have several flavors but I have only tried this one.  It is Gluten Free and low fat!  Served with Wheat Thins' Tuscan Herb Flat bread equals one  DELICIOUS TREAT!!!  Having it first with a friend made it really good!! So meet with that special friend and enjoy a treat!!!

I also brought back a delicious soup that is good for lunch or dinner or as a side!  I am going to share the recipe:

CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP

2 Heads of Broccoli
4 or 5 carrots
1 onion
2 cloves garlic (optional - which I added)
1 Large Can Cream of chicken soup
3/4 can of milk (2 % works great - use soup can)
1 jar of Tostito Cheese dip (find near the chips)

Take the Broccoli, trim and used only the flowerettes, chop carrots into about 1 inch pieces, and chop onion into several small pieces (or cut in half and slice)  Place in covered glass or microwave safe dish and add a couple of tablespoons water and cook until very tender.  Drain

Mix the Cream of Chicken soup, milk and cheese dip and start to warm.  After vegetables are tender and drained, add to soup mixture.  Then take a Hand Blender stick (electric) and blend until vegtables are puree.  If you don't have one use a potato masher.  The Hand Blender is wonderful for any cream type of dish!  The one I bought also has a beater for small jobs, such as whipping whip cream.  NOTE:  If you've been reading my blog for long - you know I can leave a recipe just as I received it - and the soup is no exception.  I added the garlic and also added about 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper.  I love the tiny little kick it gives!  Also added a little Pensey's Fresh Ground Black Pepper!

I am sitting in front of the TV and 20/20's 911 Memorial was just over.  That memory still causes a catch in my heart as I remember where I was when the first tower was hit and the horrific tragedy that occured.  3000 people known dead!  We should never forget!!!

I am trying to decide what I want to serve on Wednesday, September 21 to the crowd that comes to church on Wednesday night!  I have to let the office know early this week to get it published!  I have so many ideas but they all take lots of work!!  Well - what is that good if it doesn't take some preparation and work???

Here is a precious story that came in the form of an email.  Enjoy and then have a good night!!!  Remember - we don't have to do works for God to save us - but we do need to do His Will and that is that we love our fellow mankind!

NOW THAT'S GOD
It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.
Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we
Didn’t see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my
Six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walking carefully to the woods, running back to the house.

Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.

Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree.
I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him.

His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, other drops...and more drops...and more suddenly joined them. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.
Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. Those miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.
I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.


*~THAT'S GOD ~*
Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for?

THAT'S GOD! He speaks to you through the Holy Spirit

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to
Talk to?

THAT'S GOD! He wants you to speak to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them?

THAT'S GOD! There's no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford.

THAT'S GOD. . He knows the desires of your heart. .

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it?

THAT'S GOD! He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS CARD WAS ACCIDENTALLY SENT TO YOU?
NOPE!


Please pass this along and share the Power of God.
In all that we do, we need to totally give HIM Thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.


NOW THAT'S GOD!!!!!!!!

Don't tell GOD how Big your storm is.
Tell the storm how Big your GOD is!









HAVE A BLESSED DAY










GOD LOVES YOU
























































 



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