GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

  At 2 AM this morning, a main water pipe broke in the complex.  NO WATER!  Thankfully I keep several bottles of water for such occasions.  But flushing the toilet is another complication!!!  But not if you have a pool and a bucket!! HaHa So for my exercise today I've carried several buckets from the pool, up our 13 steps to our unit!!  It's killing my dearest, as he is unable to help!!  No worries!! I felt like "Little House on the Prairie" going down to the creek to get water!!!  I heated water on the stove (we still have electricity and gas).  So breakfast is finished, and dishes done!! Just another item to list in this 2020 year! Actually, it was rather nice to visit with other residents doing the same thing with our buckets and masks!!  What is that saying. "If you are given lemons....make lemonade, or even a pie!!

  Our grandson Marc and his wife Amanda gave us a personalize sign of our last name for Christmas.  I love it and it adds a nice new touch to the dining area. Well, we are almost to the end of 2020, a year that will remain with us for a very long time.  However, I am very optipistic about 2021 as I know God is in control, and His grace is sufficent  for whatever is ahead.   So with that in mind, I chose a Theme for 2021 and a Verse to embrace each day.  I wanted my theme to not be about ME, or any accomplishments or goals, but about HIM .  So I chose: TO GOD BE THE GLORY The verse that I will meditate on each day for this next year is I Peter 1:8,9 "And though you have not seen Him, you love him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.  Obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." Since I long for the ocean, and live inland, I chose for my new...

      I HAVE A MAKER ~ HE KNOWS MY NAME I have a Maker, He formed my heart. Before even time began, My life was in His hand. He knows my name, He knows my every thought, He sees each tear that falls, And hears me when I call. "Oh Lord, You have searched me and you know me; You know when I sit, and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord." Psalm 139:1-4 Heavenly Father, such knowledge is too wonderful to understand too lofty for me to attain, but I accept your love, I acknowlege my sinful ways, and seek to walk with You daily in this New Year, and to search your Word, and live in obedience to it.  I'm grateful for every day of this crazy year, and how your have shown Yourself loving and faithful every single day of 2020. I love You.  Amen!

  I had made a Cinnamon Sour Cream Coffee cake last week and with just the two of us, it was starting to get stale.  Has been in the refrigerator for several days.  I was thinking of just dumping it, and then wondered if I cut it in small slices and twice baked it in the oven like Biscotti if it would look and taste like it! Well, it worked, and now we have a cookie jar filled with little crisp cinnamon biscotti!!   They are delicious.  Love using leftovers, and creating something new!!! It's 3 O'Clock, how about joining me for a cup of coffee and a couple little Biscotti!!! Sometimes "Gormet" is good but on a cool winter evening "Old Fashion Stew" is the ticket! Last night we enjoyed a big bowl of stew.  Comfort food!!   The count down to Christmas and very different than any year I can remember.  Hopefully your's will have some portion of "normal".   I always remember what Erma Bombeck said about "normal".   A setti...

  Saturday was our first annual Christmas Toffee Party.  Daughter, Michel to the right, and granddaughter, Monique to the left and Grandma Elf in the middle. Not all the daughters and granddaughters were able to come, but we still had a blast in Michel's new kitchen. C andice doing the stirring, and Monique was the cheer leader!! Three pans of toffee cooling and ready to break into pieces. Had to add a little Christmas Sparkle.  Grandma loving these girls!! Our daughter Michel and Mom having a special day, and memory. After the toffee was made, we made a couple of batches of "Peanut Butter Crackle".  So easy, so yummy!   Hopefully next year, our other two daughters and two more granddaughers can attend our Second Annual Toffee Pary.

  I was watching a video from Natasha's Kitchen as she made "Chicken Fried Rice".   It looked so amazing I decided to try it.  It was delicious.  She uses chicken thighs as they have more flavor.  It's made in several easy steps in the same skillet and the only thing that takes any time is your prep.  Chopping the green onions, thawing the peas and carrots and cutting up the boneless chicken thights. I cut her recipe in half, and we still have enough leftovers for another meal! She is so fun to watch.  She's my favorite for cooking videos.  So far anything I've tried that she does has turned out good!

  "Here are a few of my favorite things" My granddaughter, Monique called and ask me about my tea cups and teapots and wondered if she could go through them.  I had mentioned that it was time for all granddaughters to choose some they liked. So this afternoon I unpacked a couple hat boxes and ended up with a bed full of tea cups, teapots, and assorted tea items ~creamers and sugar bowls, strainers, spoon rests, etc. My mother started the collection, and when she passed away she wanted me to have her hutch with all the tea cups. Over the years, I added my own and several have been broken along the way.  But that's life and I never cried over a broken tea cup because that meant someone had used it, and it wasn't a "holy relic" hidden away in a hutch.  Not this grandma! I had tea parties with all my grandkids, girls and boys and those are memories that are tucked away in my heart forever.

  A Birthday Kiss for my dearest.  83 today!!  God has been so gracious to us.  A blessing of another year, and we were not sure how many he would have after the stroke. We had a small Birthday Party for him at our daughter's.  A few of the family were able to come. Every day is a blessing.  And we are celebrating 83 years of life!  60 of those were in ministry.  I was laughing the other day as I watch him studying his Bible and told him, "the body is wasting away, but the spirit is thriving!  Everyday is a gift and a blessing!

 SIMEON Luke 2:25. . . ."Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.  He was waiting for the consolation of Isreal and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.. . . .When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praise God saying: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, You now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in the sight of all peoplel. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Isreal. Dear Lord, thank you for fulfilling the desire of Simeon's heart ~ not only did  he see You, but held You in his arms.  And I thank you Lord that what Simeon waited a lifetime to see has been revealed for all who will open their eyes.  You are the light of the world.  You are the hope of salvat...

Have you tried these Japanese sweet potatoes?  I'm hooked!  The pealing is dark purple, but the potato is stark white!   They make the best hash browns ever.  They are just a touch sweet and the meat is very hard, but when gratted are perfect for frying without becoming soggy. Are those not just the best looking hash browns. Crisp on the outside, golden brown, and soft and sweet on the inside. Ask my dearest what he thinks of them, and if he can stop eating long enough he will tell you they are the best he's ever had.

  You are all familiar with the Bible stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin.   I need to add my own, the lost hearing aid. In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd was determined to find that sheep whatever the cost.  When the woman lost her coin, she devoted every minute to searching despertly and sweeping every corner to find the lost coin.   Let me tell you, I know the feeling of desperation, diligence, and determination in searching for my lost hearing aid. Let me back up, and set the stage.  These masks that we are mandated to wear are driving me crazy.  Not because I mind wearing the them.  I know it's necessary.  But more than once when I've taking off the mask, it has caught on my hearing aid (which goes behind my ear) and flips it out of my ear. I thought the TV sound was a little low while we were watching a movie, but I always have caption and didn't ask my dearest to turn it up.  After the movie I went to take ...

  Luke 1:38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.  "May it be to me as you have said."  Then the angel left her." Oh Lord, Your plan of redemption was advanced when one simple peasant girl said yes to You ~~a yes that would change the world.  There was not a complicated ritual, nor advanced theological training involved.  Just the trusting words, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said."  Lord, may it be the same in my life.  Help me to cooperate with Your plan for the world by saying yes to You.  Even now I say yes to You, Holy Spirit come upon me so that the life of Christ may be manifested through me to the needy world around me.  I love You.  Amen.

You know I'm back when I start posting food!  HaHa  Some apples were hiding in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator and they were looking like it was time to do something or I'd have to throw them out. I had one pie crust in the freezer, so decided to make a crumb topping.  Wow, talk about sweet!  But so yummy.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream was the perfect combination. Think it's time for a Turkey Pot Pie with the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers. Are you ready for the unusual "2020" Christmas?  I have my splashes of Christmas up, and it looks very festive.  Twinkling lights and Christmas music and a cup of coffee filled my early mornings.  How about you?