Happy Anniversary JB...

JB and I, December 31, 2003, married at home!

December 31, Six years of marriage to Mr. JB... 3 girls and one GRAND-boy...what a year this has been. I think I have given JB a lot of gray hairs.

We are going to Dallas to watch a STARs hockey game and then outside the American Airlines Center is the Big New Years Eve party...I suppose we will be tired by midnight, we old people that usually go to bed by 10...

I love you JB... Love, LAW- just between you and me "3 x 6"... :) kiss, kiss...

Molasses Crinkle Cookies...

I made the most delicious cookies today. Molasses Crinkle cookies, oh my gosh, my house smelled like Heaven. I love cinnamon, cloves and spices...

Molasses Crinkle Cookies - Easy to make!!!

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup Grandma's Molasses

2 1/4 cup flour

2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/2 t cloves

1 t cinnamon

1 t ginger

Mix all together, Chill dough. Roll dough into balls and dip tops in sugar. Place sugared side up on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes.

Steadfast...

I have people ask me all the time, "how do you have time to blog?", well, for me I make time. It seems like when I make time to read my bible, pray and blog, that my day is so much better. I tend to see things throughout the day, that I catch myself giving to God. I know that I have to do my part, like prepare the fields, but God brings the harvest! Right...... :)

I know alot of us have friends, family and clients that have so many needs. This verse in 2 Samuel jumped off the page to me today. If you have not taken the time to read the Old Testament, it is absolutely fascinating. I look forward to it each day.

2 Samuel 14:14

" Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him."

Read that again, "he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him". To me that is comforting, so, as for me, I will remain Steadfast (not subject to change), like a tree, rooted deep in the ground, not going anywhere-firmly fixed in place.

I will steadfastly PRAY for my family, friends and clients.

Definitely Surely,

Inexpressible JOY...

This verse spoke to me today...you know the disciples after Jesus rose from the grave, saw him,and did not believe until he showed them his hands and his side, and Jesus said to them,

John 20: 29

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

You know that is all of us that believe, seems to me that it would be so easy for the ones that lived and saw Jesus to believe, and they still had a hard time. Yet today, I believe by faith. The verse below is so powerful, because it is so true that we that believe do have an inexpressible JOY that unbelievers do not have. It is often evident in one's demeanor and their countenance. Countenance means, "Appearance, especially the expression of the face". Wow!

1 Peter 1:8

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,"

I love salads, especially with fruit...I got this recipe from http://www.realmomkitchen.com/

A must to try!

Cran-Orange Almond Salad

1 large head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and broken into pieces (I like a lettuce combo so I used red leaf and butter – a red leaf and spring mixture would also be yummy)
1/2 medium onion, sliced sliced and separated into rings (I recommend slicing them very thin, a mandolin would be good if you have one. I wish mine were thinner. I then cut the rings in half)
2 – 3 oranges, peeled and sliced then cut into chunks (You can use 2 cans of mandarin oranges, drained – but the fresh orange is fabulous and the more the better for me)
1/2 jicama, peeled and cut into julienne strips
1/2 cup or so of dried cranberries

Serve tossed with orange dressing and sugared almonds. (recipes below)

Orange Dressing
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon Good Seasons dry Italian dressing mix
Combine ingredients in blender or shaker jar.

Sugared Almonds
4 ounces slivered almonds
3 Tablespoons sugar
Place almonds in a small skillet and sprinkle with sugar. Cook over medium heat stirring until almonds are coated and starting to brown (a nice tan color) and sugar has dissolved. (Be careful not to burn) Allow almonds to cool.

Little boy and rocks...

The boy loves rocks and dirt...

Happy Birthday Little Jenni...

Happy Birthday Lil' Princess...

She loves gummy bears...

Since you do not like cake, I thought this "gummy bear chandelier" was so appropriate!

Love it! Have fun today!

Sopapilla Cheesecake...

I take this dessert to Christmas Eve at my cousin's house each year. It is always "Gone"...
So here goes y'all, it is too Easy!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 cans Pillsbury Crescent rolls
2-8oz Cream Cheese (room temperature)
2 cups Sugar
1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 stick butter

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.

Unroll and press 1 can crescent rolls into the bottom of your baking dish, press the seams together.

In a separate bowl blend the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and 1/4 tsp vanilla, spread over top of dough.

Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and place on top of the cream cheese mixture pressing seams together again.

Melt butter and stir in 1 cup sugar, pour over top layer of crescents.

Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until bubbly and bottom crust is slightly brown.

Serve warm, but it is good hot or cold.

CHRISTmas 2009...

Layton when he wakes up on Christmas morning,

Layton eating "dog ears" for Christmas Breakfast...

Layton and Lauren Christmas morning, Lauren hid her face...

Lauren and Layton Christmas morning,

Jason and I...

Lauren and I...

My mothers house Christmas Day...

Mother's table set for Christmas Lunch...

Christmas at Mother's house...

Layton opening presents...

Granddaddy opening present for Layton...

Mother (GG), Layton and Granddaddy,

Jim, Lelia, Latte, and Layton...

Lauren and Layton,

What a wonderful life I have! I thank you God for everyone in my life! I love you Jesus!

As Layton says "AMEN" and claps~

Merry Christmas Y'all!...

It's here and I got snow!

Everlasting God...

Psalms 90:2

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. "

1 day till Christmas...

1 day till Christmas everybody!

Layton and his cows...

Layton opened up his set of cows last night :) So appropriate, right Grand-daddy?

2 days till Christmas...

2 days till Christmas...wow, I want these for my yard and I want a white Christmas :)...

3 days till Christmas...

3 days till Christmas... :) Yep I want a white Christmas!

Praise you more and more...

Proverbs 71:14

"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Praise-an expression of approval, adoration...

You know when I was looking for a picture of adoration, I came across a lot of pictures that depicted how everyone gazed at baby Jesus. How appropriate, God sent his son to earth as a baby in order to save us from our sins. Can you imagine, being Mary, holding God's son in her arms, kissing and cuddling him. I have often thought of her, seeing that everytime I see Layton, I adore him, and you can see it in my face. If you look at the picture above, what must it have been like to see Jesus as a baby and then grow into a man. A man that died on the cross for all of us!

On another note, when I read the verse above from Proverbs, I was thinking more in line about how I will praise God more and more and more, no matter my circumstances. It seems when I praise and thank him for everything, my problems and concerns do not seem as big.

As for me, I do have hope-having only positive expectations...

Layton Christmas pics...

Lauren, Layton and Blanca...

ohhhhh...

sweetness...

The boy in him... :)

Lauren's friend took these pics of her and Layton...