Fondue-zie Fun!

This picture speaks for itself! Cousins, chocolate fondue, and what more could a child want for?!?

Things have been getting a bit hectic around here lately. My sister will be getting married in a couple of weeks, and it feels as though we're all pressing to squeeze in final arrangements with little time to do so. The kids have been blessed to reap somewhat of a benefit from all of the preparations: extra play time with their cousins! They've been so patient and flexible, as normal routines have been modified.

Our next gathering will be a Halloween party. I'm really looking forward to it! Both boys have invited friends, and cousins will be here too. We've planned a pizza party, followed by a trick-or-treating hay ride. Should provide some fun pictures for a future post.

Falling for Fall

Fall is my favorite time of the year! Well, at least for the moment. Spring's a close second; sometimes front-runner. Oh, and not to forget snowy Winter: snowmen, hot chocolate, and cookies! Well, maybe Summertime, and the beauty of the beach!

I've been spending my meager moments of free time decorating the house. I love the holidays, and decorating proves to be an outlet for me. Kind of a cleansing of my mind. It takes me away from the busyness of my daily routine, and allows me to drift somewhere far from the moment.

My thoughts, of late, have been centered around writing my first book. A novel of sorts. My head is filled with ideas, and I'm afraid if I don't start letting some of them free, my brain is going to explode! I've established a topic, and think it will be something that many women can relate to: trudging through the emotional aftermath of broken relationships. How we deal with our feelings in the moment, months following the loss, and the years after-the-fact, when the old feelings resurface; haunt our hearts.

I'm not sure whether or not I'll be able to publish the book though. It might have to be one of those post-humous deals. It depends! It will depend upon the content and way in which it relates to me, personally. If I can keep it at an arm's length, you'll see my name on it now. Otherwise, I'll become a ghost writer, or contemplate allowing the release upon my passing.

Curious? Good! Maybe I'll post a piece from my manuscript. Better get writing, now that my decorating is done!

Beautiful Intimacy

As I was driving my son to the bus stop last week, I was listening to a morning show, and just happened to hear a segment taken from an interview with a pastor in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Our local Christian radio station, New Life 91.9 was conducting an interview with Derwin Gray; a former NFL player. Derwin was introducing his new book : Hero.

That being said, Derwin referenced a word that we often use when referring to our relationships; intimacy. In our times of "text language", acronyms, and abbreviations, he broke down the word intimacy in a very unique way: "Into Me, You See".

I am such a visual and literal-thinker. Never, have I ever, experienced such a quick appreciation for a word. Christ longs for us to be intimate with Him. Even more so, He wants us to know Him from the inside out! He wants us to see into Him, for it's in His image we were created. We are to be new creations; reflections of Christ, found through our love and familiarity - intimacy - with, and for Him.

God was on a roll with me that day! While shopping at Hallmark, I came across what I thought to be the perfect gift bag and card for a very sweet friend of mine. The card said "Be-You-tiful". Again, YOU, me -- all of us, are creations in Christ! His image is in YOU. Each of us are beautiful! Therefore, we are called to Be-You-t0-the-ful(lest) for Him. :)

"... you are a new person, created in God's likeness --- righteous, holy, and true." Ephesians 4:24

Finger Stickin' Chicken

Finger Stickin' Chicken

1 Jar of Sticky Fingers BBQ Sauce - Carolina Sweet Flavor

1 Jar of Smuckers Strawberry Jam

1 Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Chicken (up to 5 lbs)  My kids love drumsticks, so I do one large pack of those, and a few split breasts

Mix first three ingredients in bowl.  Place chicken in baking dish(es), and pour mixture evenly over top.  Bake in pre-heated oven @ 300 degrees for 2 hours.

I served this with creamed red potatoes and chives, and a mixed green salad.  Very quick and easy -- a hit with kids! :)

3 Strikes... We're Done?

Everything seems to come in "threes", right?!  Two homes; three different lightning strikes -- OUCH!  Yes, we were struck by lightning on Monday night... for the 3rd time!  The result?  Two holes in the roof, rain leaking through, 2 blown out HVAC units, one fried computer, printer, cable lines, phone lines, and the list goes on.  

The blessing in all of this: we're fine, and no one was hurt.  Our neighbor behind us was not as fortunate.  They lost their home to a fire.  No one was injured, and their pets were safe, but they lost everything.  As quickly as the lightning struck, their memories were engulfed in flames.  

All of this stands as a reminder: life as we know it can change very quickly.  I don't want to take the little blessings in my life for granted.  Every moment is a gift.     

Happy Feet...

... on Hilton Head Island!It's been a couple of weeks since my last post, well... maybe more than a couple -- sorry!! We've been on the road: Florida and Hilton Head. Both were great trips, and I really appreciated the time away from the daily rush. No soccer practices, games, homework, projects, appointments, or playdates; pure relaxation.

Stay tuned, as I've got some funny stories to share! I had a chance to relive a few of my childhood memories through my boys; made a few new memories too!

Happy Dad's Day!

I've often wondered what we'd have done without the help of Hallmark greeting cards! Well, this morning I think I saw a little glimpse of what our card exchanging might have looked like, given the great greeting card company didn't exist.

Father's Day; do Dads truly receive the credit they're "due"? I'm not sure. I don't think they push their expectations on us, and I don't believe they "expect" anything anyway. Dads are providers. They're protectors, leaders, givers, and always there: dependable -- no matter what. Fathers define the word foundation.

In our house, the foundation seems to consist of humorous sounds. Humorous to our children -- not me! I am the mother of two boys. Boys find entertainment in an entirely different way than girls do. Mealtimes in our home are very melodic. The melodies, however, are not created by musical instruments or song; they come from any, and every body part conceivable! I'll leave your imagination to figure out the rest! Suffice it to say, I am not enthused! The foundation - founder of all of the "sounds" -- Dad!

So, back to the beginning; what cards might have looked like, given the absence of Hallmark: