Courage

Courage...is having the faith to do the right thing despite an uncertain outcome.

JML

All for one, and one for WHAT?

There's a much higher success rate when it's all for one than when it's one for all. It turns out that "one for all" is a physically and emotionally demanding job. Fight well, but recognize that for your efforts you might end up a martyr.

Gift = Sacrifice

Consider that a gift always requires some amount of sacrifice on the part of the giver--be it money, time, etc.

If the receiver never acknowledges the sacrifice they will never fully appreciate the gift.

In many situations I have given others of my time, skill, money, but in our independent self-reliant world we're afraid to acknowledge both that we need the help of others, and the help we receive is not owed us, but is a gift that required a sacrifice. Because of this attitude we are never truly grateful for what is received.

It's a humbling experience to acknowledge that we need someone else's help, and that the gift they have given us has cost them something. That it wasn't owed to us, nor given out of their excess, and that without their sacrifice we would be worse off.

Likewise, is God's gift to us. We don't want to dwell on the sacrifice the Triune God made for us. We don't want to consider how much it cost HIM. Or else we would have to face the truth that we owe him everything; our time, our attitude, our actions, and our heart. Without Him we would be lost, with Him we are saved, but that salvation came at a cost to HIM.

Twix Candy Bars

Traditionally, my cousin and I will try to get together to make Christmas Cookies. Since we live 600 miles apart this more often takes place after Christmas. But I believe this recipe comes from one of these get togethers.

Bars - Twix Candy Bars

Boil for 5 minutes:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk

Melt over low heat:
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
2/3 cups peanut butter

Line 9x13" pan with club crackers. Pour hot brown sugar mixture over crackers. Top with second layer of crackers. Pour chocolate mixtures across top and spread.

Crock-Pot Cocoa

Another winter recipe that I look forward to trying. :)

Crock pot Cocoa

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups boiling water
3 1/2 cups nonfat dry powdered milk
6 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla
marshmallows
1 teaspoon cinnamon or a few candy canes(optional)

Combine sugar, cocoa and cinnamon (if using) in slow cooker. Add 2 cups boiling water. Stir well to dissolve.

Add dry milk powder, 6 cups water and vanilla. Stir well to dissolve. Add candy canes if desired. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.

Before serving, beat with rotary beater to make frothy. Ladle into mugs and top with marshmallows. Enjoy!

*makes 9-12 servings depending on size of mug

English Toffee

I'm in the midst of trying to decide what to make for my Christmas gifts. Usually it's some form of chocolates; filled, truffles, dipped nuts. And while I usually have this decision made by the end of November, we are now racing toward the middle of December and I still haven't reached a decision. I'm hoping that if I keep putting it off eventually I'll find the inspiration and energy to do something really interesting. So far, no go. But until then I'll revisit my private recipe file, and maybe even share one or two with you. ;)


English Toffee

2 pkg - 12oz sliced almonds (bottom layer & top)
2 pkg - Nestle Mini Morsels (middle layer)
In heavy dutch oven - 2 c. sugar, 1 lb butter, 2 T white Karo syrup, 6 T cold water - mix
Heat on med. to med. hi to a boil - turn heat down to med low - cook til 290 degrees exactly - no higher than 292 degrees on candy thermometer.
Stir constantly about 30 min.
Line jelly roll pan w/ half almonds, next layer 1/2 Nestle mini morsels then pour out toffee, layer of chocolate & almonds. Pat lightly. Let cool.
That's it. Hope I wrote clearly and

Life...interrupted

It's been awhile since I posted, primarily because of all of the events that I didn't plan on this year--

I didn't plan on designing flowers for a wedding.

I didn't plan an enjoyable 5 weeks visit with my long-distant family (either in the spring or the summer)

I didn't plan on learning the guitar

I didn't plan on "adopting" a new set of siblings

I didn't plan on planning a 40th Birthday party

I didn't plan on memorizing the first five chapters of Proverbs

I didn't plan on a rush trip to the ACFW Writer's Conference

I didn't plan on being part of the support crew while my brothers excavated a basement

I didn't plan on getting my Builder's license

Unfortunately, the stuff I didn't have scheduled has left me pretty much exhausted, I can barely remember what I had on my list of things to do for the year. It reminds me of James 1:13-15:

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'