Never Goodbye, just See You Later

I've had to say farewell to two very dear friends in 2014 as God saw fit that they relocate to a location far enough away that I can't drive to see them quickly whenever I like. It was difficult to bid them farewell, not knowing the next time that I'd see them. I don't often consider that when I build relationships with people that there is the possibility that we'll have to part ways and break the routine of fellowshipping together. God brings people in and out of our lives over the course of life's journey for reasons that we may not understand for the moment. I'm learning to be thankful for every moment that I have with loved ones that I've been blessed to share life with.

While in the short period of saying farewell, I've been able over the past few months to be able to say hello to new friends which has been an immense blessing. Some people God has seen fit to bring back into my life after years of being separated because of distance and other folks are new people that I'm coming to know. Within this circle of people one amazing common factor that is binding us together is Christ. While I realize that God expects me to be salt and light in this perverse world and I shouldn't strive to exclude myself from the lost, it is encouraging to be surrounded and encouraged by those that are like-minded in their desires to honor God. These new friends and returning friends that God has brought into my life in the past few months recognize God as the supreme head of their lives, though their life journey has been different from mine. Because of the differences in our Christian walk, their life stories, gifts & talents, and prayers are intertwining with my own life and providing a source of encouragement to me.

When I think back to my initial gut reaction of learning that my old friends were moving away, never did I consider the new and returning friends that God would bring into my life to enrich and enhance my life. This is all an example of the compassion of God and how He knows what we need, when we need it. The relationships that we're able to build with God's children never end. At some point we'll all say good bye to this life. If Jesus Christ is our Savior, it will never be good bye, only see you later .... in Heaven.

One of the side benefits of meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends, is being able to glean from their gifts and talents! One of these friends has taught me to knit. Oh boy, what a joy it has been to learn a new skill that results in me being able to make something with my own hands! I must admit, knitting is a little addictive. Once you get started with something its hard to put down. For my first project, I'm attempting to make a basket-weaved scarf. I will post some pictures soon of my progress thus far.

I'm hoping to become confident enough to teach my crafty girls one day...

God Made Girls

 With each summer that passes, my baby girls turn another year older.

 

I love to reminisce.



Love Turns 10

Baby Love



God made the world with its towering trees
Majestic mountains and restless seas
Then paused and said It needs one more thing
Someone to laugh and dance and sing
To walk in the woods and gather flowers
To commune with nature in quiet hours
So God made little girls
With laughing eyes and bouncing curls
With joyful hearts and infectious smiles
Enchanting ways and feminine wiles,
And when He'd completed the task He'd begun
He was please and proud of the job He'd done
For the world, when seen through
a little girl's eyes
Greatly resembles Paradise

Author: Henry Alfred Dixon

 

Lea turns 8





Baby Lea



Adventuring Into Our 2nd School Year

It’s a new year of school for us! Our first week seemed to just fly by. The girls eased into things each day fairly easy and without grumbling and complaining. I am praising the Lord for their attitude towards school as I do not take that for granted one minute. I suspect their delightful attitudes may be from the familiarity of routine from us continuing with school to a certain degree throughout the summer and from the changes in some areas of our curriculum this year. 

As I mentioned in this previous post, we're delving into the Sonlight curriculum this year. While the structure of how Sonlight is executed is not drastically different from how we did school last year, there IS a lot of structure and pre-planning provided through the material that is being taught as topics are pulled together like a unit study. This year we're singing during Bible time, reading engaging, living books, watching videos that demonstrate science activities (before we do the activity/experiment so that we don't mess it up), and there are a lot of sensory materials available like maps and timelines that allows the girls to visualize as they learn. I'm thankful that God brought us through our first year and I'm trusting that He will guide us through our second.

My 5th Grader

 

My 3rd Grader

 

 Here's to another year!

 

 

A Lip Smackin', Finger Lickin', Taste Like More Wing Recipe

My Family loves to watch cooking shows. Besides them being pretty "safe" when it comes to there being a plethora of trash television options to watch, we get some great recipe ideas to try. While we were on vacation last week watching cooking shows, we came upon a wing recipe that looked so good we wanted to lick the tv screen.
 
You may have figured it out from perusing some of my other "Recipes That Even I Can Make" blog entries that my two favorite chefs to cook after are Paula Deen and the Pioneer Woman. The source of this recipe will surprise you because its not from either.
 
This one comes from the Neely's, a sweet southern cooking couple. They are pretty entertaining in the kitchen and the can cook up some pretty fantastic wings, let me tell you. I've attempted in my meek and pitiful attempts to put together hot wings for years like my family loves in the restaurants and I just haven't been able to get there with them.
 
This recipe got me there. All the way there. There wasn't a wing left in the bowl with this recipe. I had company over when I made these wings and while the kids were eating them they decided to hold a competition to see how many they could eat because they couldn't stop eating them. There was a lot of smacking and humming at the dinner table and you better believe it that I'll be making them again!
 
Ingredients: 

Peanut oil, for frying 

Kosher salt

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

3 pounds chicken wings, cut at joint

1/2 stick (2 ounces) butter

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup peach preserves

1/4 cup hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

 

Directions:

Preheat deep fryer with peanut oil to 350 degrees F.
Mix the 2 teaspoons salt, smoked paprika, and garlic powder together in a small bowl.
Add chicken wings and toss to coat.
Cook's Note: Let wings sit out at room temperature while you make the sauce to allow them time to absorb the seasonings.
Melt the butter in medium saucepan over medium heat with the garlic.
Stir in peach preserves, hot sauce, and soy sauce. Cook until syrupy and thick, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add the wings to the deep fryer and fry until cooked through and golden and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. You will need to do this in 2 batches so you don't overcrowd your fryer.
Remove the wings from the fryer and drain on a paper towel-lined baking tray.
Add the fried wings to the large bowl of sauce and toss until well combined and wings are well coated. Using a slotted spoon, remove the wings to a platter and serve immediately.