Blooming Nine Patch

Today I am taking a quilting class at Boston Bobbin called the Blooming Nine Patch. These are the fabrics I picked out.

If you would like to see what the finished product should look like, check this out.

I have not done any quilting since Jonathan was born so I am looking forward to this time for myself. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Here are some of my other projects -

I came home recently after grocery shopping complaining about the cost of pecans. I paid over $4 for a 1 1/2 cup bag of pecan halves. I wanted to make pecan pie muffins - see recipe below.

My husband replied by asking why didn't I pick up the pecans under our pecan tree. We have a tree on the lot next to our home. My answer was that I didn't want to shell them.

Today, my MIL, the boys and I picked up pecans from the ground. Honestly, it is not something I really enjoy doing. Bending over, moving wet leaves out of the way, just to find a pecan that is the same color of the wet leaves on the ground. But I will do it again......

My boys loved picking up pecans today. We had a great time in the sunshine. They are so proud of what they did.

Another moment where I enjoyed my life.

Pecan Pie Muffins

1 Cup packed brown sugar
1 Cup pecans, chopped
2/3 butter melted
1/2 Cup all purpose flour
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar, flour and pecans mix well. Then add in butter, eggs and vanilla and mix well. Grease muffin tin.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

For a lighter version use Splenda Brown Sugar (see conversion chart on pkg) and Smart Balance Butter 50/50 with Omega 3.

What People Do On Their Wedding Nights

My internet friend Christina posted the following story on facebook and gave me permission to share it with my friends......

A few weeks ago, Greg & I were trying to decide what to do for a date-night, when our youngest, "Belly", had an idea...

She said, "Why don't you recreate your honeymoon and do whatpeople do on their wedding nights."

As I dropped my mouth open and my fork hit the plate, my husband (just about) choked on his steamed veggies (if that's possible)!

I questioned, "And what would that be, Missy?"

She replied, "Sit under the moon and tell your honey you love him!"

Please pray today

My friend Tara had a baby boy on 10/23/08 and he is having surgery today at the Medical College of Georgia. Please pray for the surgeons, for the baby and for Tara and their family.

For more details check out her blog. The baby's name is Daniel. As a mom myself, I cannot image what she is going through, but she does have Jesus with her.

I love you Tara and we are praying.

My children are friends

I will admit that when I found out I was pregnant with Joel right after Jonathan turned one, I was somewhat overwhelmed. How would I handle two 20 months apart? When I discovered I was having another boy, I was relieved. I could do this!

Several well meaning people would tell me that I would be glad that my boys were so close together. That they would be great friends. I'd smile and nod my head all the while saying in my head "yeah right!"

Most times when I take a shower one or both of the boys end up crying about something. Today, when I came out of the bathroom, I found them sitting in one recliner together looking at a library book. I was sorry that my husband had the camera with him because it was a great photo op.

Yes, I am glad that my boys are 20 months apart! My children are great friends!

New Friends

2008 has been an amazing year for me to reconnect with old friends. I've found friends from college, from my previous church and have even connected with family on facebook. It has been so great to reconnect.

One unexpected benefit from blogging is the friends I'm made here in blogospere. I'm actually surprised at how many people find my blog and enjoy my writings.

With most of my friends we are connected by our faith in Jesus Christ. I thank God for the people in my life. I know that those that cross my path, either literally or figuratively, are not by coincidence, but by a divine appointment.

I'm reminded of a song that I learned in the Girl Scouts when I was in elementary school:

Make new friends,

but keep the old.

One is silver,

the other is gold.

A circle is round,
it has no end.
That's how long,
I will be your friend.

A fire burns bright,

it warms the heart.

We've been friends,

from the very start.

You have one hand,

I have the other.

Put them together,

We have each other.

Silver is precious,

Gold is too.

I am precious,

and so are you.

You help me,

and I'll help you

and together

we will see it through.

The sky is blue

The Earth is green

I can help

to keep it clean

Across the land

Across the sea

Friends forever

We will always be

A tribute to my grandmother

This lovely tribute was written by my Aunt Trina about her mother, Mable Perry, my grandmother. I know that all of my aunts and uncles feel the same, as well as her grandchildren. Today, she's been with Jesus 3 years. We all miss her, but I am so happy that she's with her Savior and I will see her one day. I have such a rich christian heritage and wanted to share some of it with you today.

O - Others.
This was her motto - from the keeping of babies of migrant workers to the caring of her aged mother.

U - Understanding.
You could always pour out your heart to Ma. She listened, she cared, and she always seemed to understand. Sometimes she gave advice, sometimes she didn't; but you always felt better after you talked to Ma.

R - Rare.
A price far above rubies. She was a 'joyful mother of children' - Proverbs 113:9. She worked 'willingly with her hands' - Proverbs 31:13. She 'looked well to the ways of her household' - Proverbs 31:27. The heart of her husband trusted in her - Proverbs 31:11. Like Sarah, she followed her husband when he went out and sojourned in a strange country - Hebrews 11:8,9.

M - Mommy, Ma.
She was a 'keeper at home' - Titus 2:5. She was home when we got up in the morning. She was home singing throughout the day. She was home when we came home from school. She was home to tuck us in at night. She was there - it was home.

O - Old.
She was old and gray-headed (although she never seemed to age) and she showed God's strength to our generation and the next - Psalm 71:8. Strength and honor were her clothing - Proverbs 31:25. She was content during the good times and the bad.She accepted God's will for her life. She knew her Lord, she loved Him, and she trusted Him.

T - Tender.
A tender heart - 'Out of the abundance of her heart, she spoke.' Tears flowed easily. Oh how she loved all the creatures great and small; all people rich or poor.

H - Humble.
Webster's Dictionary: 1.) Not proud or haughty: Not arrogant or assertive. This was our Mother.

E - Everybody's friend.
She was just as comfortable in Brenda's humble home eating corn bread and beans as in Mrs. Boyd's fine home eating chicken salad on fine china and drinking coffee from a silver pot.

R - Remember.
Our Mother, we love her, we miss her. May her rare beauty always remain vivid in our memory and may her children always rise up and call her blessed.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 November 6, 2005

Lunch Bunch

Today, I packed my first school lunch. At Jonathan's preschool, they have Lunch Bunch the first Wednesday of each month. This month I reserved his spot. I really wasn't sure how it would go today because Wednesday is Chapel day too. Some background here is that there is usually a puppet or two at Chapel and Jonathan does not like puppets. Needless to say, Wednesday mornings can be trying for mama. But we made it to school on time and the crying had stopped before we got there.

Lunch Bunch is a time for the kids to stay after school, eat lunch with their friends and then play until 1 pm. I packed the lunch with Jonathan's favorites:

Turkey and mayonnaise sandwich

Yellow chips (aka Lays)

Grapes

Cookies

Apple Juice

I didn't think he'd eat it though because he claims to not be hungry after school and his snack is "lunch" to him. I warned the teacher that he may not eat it and that would be okay.

When I picked him up today, I was informed that he had eaten all of this lunch. And that the kids were cute socializing while eating lunch. Jonathan was excited because he met some new friends today. So, my first school lunch was a success! And my baby is growing up!

My favorite brownie recipe

Anytime I was asked to bring something to an event, I would bring these brownies. They were a big hit with our singles group at church (that was a long time ago as most of us are married now!) When I was dating my husband I made them for him in the 9x9 pan without nuts. He prefers a thin brownie with lots of nuts. Hence, my adaptation. My kids love them too and I usually make them for their birthday parties since they prefer brownies to cake. If you try them, I'd love to hear how they turn out.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 tablespoons water
12 oz bag of Toll House Chocolate Chips
(do NOT use a generic brand - just isn't the same)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup self-rising flour

Combine sugar, butter and water in a saucepan and bring to just a boil. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 bag of chocolate chips and mix well until melted. Add one egg at a time, mixing well. Add vanilla. Mix in the flour. Finish by adding the rest of the chocolate chips and nuts (optional). The second half of the chocolate chips should remain whole.

Spoon mixture into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

My Aunt Sue gave me this recipe but her version is baked in a 9x9 pan which makes these brownies cake like. The 9x13 makes them thin and chewy.

Enjoy!