I've talked before about this five year journal that I'm doing. You answer a question with one sentence everyday for five years, and I guess see how your life changes and how you change with life.
So the question of the day?
What would be the first line of your autobiography?
My first thought.......
"I was so lucky."
(inspiration kinda stalls after that)
I do kinda love that "I was so lucky" was my first thought.
Their arms can't wrap around you but they bring comfort.
Their hearts don't beat but they can make yours sing.
They have no gps but if you are lost, they can show you THE WAY.
Can we do that? Do our actions speak our faith?
I walked into church one morning and ahhhhhhh... What a moment to behold.
These sweet doll's stories had begun long before that day. Loving souls, using their God- given gifts to share their beliefs; cut, sewed, stuffed, and painted to create these witness dolls.Prayers were lifted up, that as these dolls will be sent to other countries to be used to tell the story of our Christ, lives would be changed for Him.
Who would have thought a doll from Quitman, Ms could do that??
We say, "What can I do? I am only one.....I am not a missionary". Oh, but we are. God uses us where we are, with the gifts he has blessed us with! He may not tell us to "Go To Africa" but he tells us to 'bloom where we are planted'!
Do you see a room with a wall color you just love, or shoes on your feet, that always fit and make you feel daring, or a frame filled with a picture that always makes you smile?
Is your dog lying at your feet with absolute love and adoration (mine is)?
Do you hear your child laughing in the other room, or the TV as your husband watches that basketball game......again, or birds outside bathing in the fountain?
Did someone you love just send you a text?
Do you have moments of pure joy when you see your child, or moments of accomplishment when you've just cleaned your house, or moments of relief when your teenager makes it home safely?
So, all this is good stuff.
Why do we so often focus on the bad?
Why do we spend so much of our day thinking about what we
don't have?
Nope, I don't have a castle, or a crown, or vacation spot in Bora Bora, but my life is really good.
It almost seems like we feel guilty for admitting it.....how sad is that?
Ready for your daily mission?
Tell one person today that your life is good. It may not perfect, but perfect is over-rated.
It's the unseen things about you that amaze me the most....... the superhero who rescues us the artistic soul that speaks to mine the kindness of spirit to those with needs the love of my mother's life the student who never stops learning the teacher who never stops teaching the inventor of ideas in my mind the values that grew as you did
the father who believes fatherhood is a life long journey
In my mind I'm still your little girl.... I guess I always will be! I am so proud to be your daughter this day and every other! I love you..... Happy Father's Day Daddy!!
You are what every father should be. (yes, I know, it’s my opinion, but I’m right)
You worked for Exxon and loved your job, but it entailed you being off-shore two weeks out of every month. You thought you were missing half of our life. So when I was in the fourth grade you quit a job you loved to take a job where you were home all the time…… WHO DOES THAT? And what makes it even better? The month I graduated from high school, because I was the last one, Exxon called and asked if you would be interested in coming back…and of course you were.
I love that you changed your life at 40….
to have your life.
I never remember a time that I did not feel loved by you, even during all those tumultuous teenage years. I never remember wondering if you would help when I called….there just is never any doubt. I never remember being scared of the world. I always feel safe because I know you are out there to save me.
Who do I call when I need to fix a weedeater, need to repair a lamp, need to know which direction gee and haw is, need prayers, need car help, need house help, need life help…….YOU.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
The worst mistake you ever made? I grew up believing that every man was just like you.
Khiron, There are three special someones that have been wanting to tell you some stuff for awhile now but they just couldn't quite find a way to put into words (words are so overrated, right?!). Luckily, I have been able to read their minds a few times.
From Magee- Yuck! This purple stuff is disgusting! Please let me eat the brown stuff! Can you stop putting all my toys in the basket? I like them all over the house so you can see them and play with me all the time. I'm squeaking my bone right now because I'm really tired of watching Bron Bron. Licking your face is my favorite.
From Jackson ( In Robert Downey Jr.'s Tropic Thunder voice but without the profanities)- uhh... I'm not really into the mushy stuff so I'm gonna be quick. Thanks for rolling your window down and letting me hang my head out, the mohawk, and being my "real" Dad.
PS. I knew what I was doing when I locked you out of your truck. I'm not sorry either... I wanted to see Mimi too, yo!
From Ava- I love you because you talk to me in your "punkin" voice, play me guitar hero, and you don't make me wear pants on our Daddy/Princess days. (This was good because I got to practice my dance/karate moves MUCH easier.)
Oh and I didn't really mean to pee on you that day ( even though it was really funny). I just wanted to show you my new trick!
From me- Thank you for being the perfect man to all of our babies, and to me. I couldn't ask for better... I love you with my whole heart.
Yours always, SC
Daddio-
There will never be a way for me to adequately thank you for all that you have done for me. However, this is my humble attempt to do just that....
Thank you for: passing on the "early to bed, early to rise" motto (and instilling it in me!) never yelling at me always protecting me from the boogie man, spiders, and convicts that crash in our front yard telling me you love me working so hard to give me such an awesome life giving me the best bear hugs every time you see me spending countless hours in numerous theaters watching me perform (and always telling me I was "the best one up there") telling me thank you for mowing the grass (even though we both know it was awful and you had to redo it) teaching me how to drive, ski, and make biscuits not beating me when I scared all the deer away (accidentally on purpose) on those rare occasions I went hunting with you being an amazing example of what a good man should be
Thank you for my amazing childhood... patience (lots of it) during adolescence... and for the wisdom and friendship that our relationship allows now! I can't imagine a better Daddy for me and I am so glad to call you mine = )
Thanks for always being there for the past 29 years!
Thank you for raising me and instilling in me all the things I've needed to know to become the woman and mom that I am!
Thank you for helping me move all 329 times. Thank you for taking me to the beach, to China, snowboarding, and wakeboarding!
Sorry for the emergency phone calls you've gotten in the middle of the night dragging you to Savannah or Atlanta, but thank you for always coming to help me!
Thanks for being a great Grand Da to Row and thanks for being such a great Da to me! I couldn't have asked for a better one and I could never thank you enough!
Last night I wanted something sweet that wouldn't sabotage my thighs. LOL! I froze chunks of raw banana, then put them in my food processor. Suddenly, out of nowhere, these gritty frozen pieces of fruit turned into ice cream. One-ingredient banana ice cream — it's kind of magic, isn't it? Have you ever tried it?
If you haven't — what better time to try something new? If you have already tried banana ice cream, and would like to switch it up a bit, here are five twists on the classic.
Peanut Butter & Honey Banana Ice Creammakes 2 servings1 1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid 3 tablespoons peanut butter 2 teaspoons honey
Blend bananas in food processor until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Blend in peanut butter and honey, and transfer to a freezer container and freeze until solid.
Nutella Banana Ice Creammakes 2 servings1 1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid 3 to 4 tablespoons Nutella or other hazelnut-chocolate spread
Blend bananas in food processor until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Blend in Nutella, and transfer to a freezer container and freeze until solid.
Dark Chocolate Banana Ice Creammakes 2 servings1 1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoons cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Blend bananas in food processor until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Blend in cocoa powder, cream, and vanilla. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze until solid.
Cinnamon Dulce Banana Ice Creammakes 2 servings1 1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground cinnamon
Blend bananas in food processor until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Blend in sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze until solid.
Strawberries & Cream Banana Ice Creammakes 2 servings1 1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid 1/3 cup roughly chopped frozen strawberries 2 tablespoons cream
Blend bananas in food processor until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Blend in strawberries and cream until smooth, and transfer to a freezer container and freeze until solid.
I love the challenge of rescuing a orphaned plant and seeing it thrive. Because of this I now have an abundance of rosemary and basil. I have given some away but still it abounds. Lillian, my mother-in-law suggested I make pesto. And being a good daughter in law, today I did. Thought you might like to see.
Number of Servings: 16 Ingredients3 cups Basil leaves, roughly chopped (just guessed at number of leaves for caloric intake b/c they didn't have a cup option) 1/2 Cup Slivered, unsalted Almonds, toasted 3 Cloves Garlic, roughly chopped 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 1/2-3/4 Cup of Olive Oil 1/2- 1 Tsp Salt
DirectionsThis is such a simple yet decadent sauce. I use a food processor.
1. In the bowl of your processor put garlic, basil, and almonds. Pulse until uniformily chopped, stopping to scrape sides, as necessary. 2. Add Parmesan Cheese, pulse to mix in. 3. Measure out 1/2 cup of Olive Oil, while running processor slowly stream oil into bowl, stopping at the right consistancy and using an additional 1/4 cup in needed..
You can use this for hot pasta, marinating/baking/grilling chicken, pork, or fish. Also good as a spread for sandwiches or wraps. When storing keep a piece of plastic wrap touching the surface and then cover with plastic lid. It will last for about 2 weeks in the fridge. If you want you can freeze ice cubes of it as well for popping into other recipes. This recipe makes 16 -1 oz (or 2 Tbsp) servings.
Number of Servings: 16
I made us a grilled cheese with some left over basil. It was pretty delish!
This will be my next go at it.....A healthier one!!!!
Super Basil Pesto (Healthy Version)Ingredients:Serves: 4
1Put all ingredients, but the pepper flakes in the food processor.
2Pulse and blend.
3Blend until everything has been mixed, the pesto should be thick (to the point of being spreadable) and not runny. Trust me you want it this way, it coats the noodles way better.
4Put the pesto into a bowl and mix in the pepper flakes.
5You are now ready to mix it into your pasta or put it on your pizza.
6Note: The pesto by itself is a bit salty, but don't worry once on your pasta or pizza it is just right.
Y'all is a much loved southern word. So when we use this expression talking to you, we are giving you all our excitement, wonder, love and just our plain ole' strictly personal opinion. So, for this time, You are our treasured friend, standing at our front door, and we love that you are here. So welcome to our madcap world.