Yesterday's Table

Candleholders a la Martha

Spinach Bites and Pecan-stuffed Dates

I'm not crazy about pecans, dates, or bacon. But, when you combine them, fantastic!

I've had these China plates for about 25 years and have never used them! I only have six place settings and many pieces are missing. But, since this Thanksgiving there were only five of us, they were just right!

Impossible Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Chocolate Gingerbread

Yes, we all went to bed blessedly full. Very.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My husband was culling his clothes the other day. He filled three huge sacks. And he still has a closet full. Oh, he's not a shop-a-holic. In fact, he rarely buys himself anything. It's just that God always supplies abundantly.

The Sweetheart brought me more flowers last night to replace the dying ones.

This prompted a couple of conversations between the two of us during the next few days as we looked around our house amazed at how God has blessed us. Our tax return won't show it, but we are rich. Abundantly rich. Very little money has been expended to provide us with a beautiful and comfortable home.

One of my favorite new fall decorations. Picked up for a song.

I don't think I have enough blogging space to list all the wonderful blessings of God. Family, children, grandchildren, friends, health, wisdom...... But, you know, even if we had less, we'd still be blessed. We've had less. Oh, much, much less. And we were still blessed beyond compare. Why? Because we know the God of the Universe! And we're getting to know Him better each day.

"I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."

Phillipians 3:11b - 13 in The Message

May the blessing of knowing The Abundant One overflow your life this Thanksgiving Day!

Fall Flowers

I know some ladies who say they don't care for gifts of flowers. I'm not one of them. I *love* cut flowers and I love receiving them. They are always a surprise. Gabe brought me home a beautiful fall-colored bouquet the other day. Isn't he a sweetheart?




Doesn't the arrangement have some interesting foliage (and placement)? I just love it for its uniqueness.

(That's Sarah-Kate peeking out of the picture on the right.)

The Call

On November 1, a group from our church excitedly traveled on an eleven-hour round trip to attend The Call at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. It could well be said that it was a life-changing event for every one of the approximately 40,000 people that attended.

What was The Call? I had to shake my head in disbelief when I heard the media call it a twelve-hour anti-gay rally. True, we were going to pray about the Marriage Protection Act -- amongst many, many things. However, never, ever were we going to pray against homosexuals. Pray for them, yes. Never against them.

What was The Call? It was not a political rally. There were no anti-candidate, nor pro-candidate speeches. There was prayer for our nation and for wisdom for its people.

What was The Call? Well, it was not the first gathering of such kind. It was not a one-time event. The first Call was held in Washington, D.C. There have been many since across the nation and across the world.

What is The Call? It is a divinely initiated, multi-racial, multi-generational, and cross-denominational gathering to corporate prayer and fasting.

The Call is a mobilization of people from all across America to gather together to petition God for His undeserved mercy for our nation in 12-hour solemn assemblies.

The Call is a FAST, not a festival.

The Call is a SOLEMN ASSEMBLY, not a conference.

Our nation is in desperate need of revival and it will be only through the corporate body of Christ uniting in the place of prayer that we will find any hope in this hour. We believe we can see our nation changed as the Lord pours out His Spirit and brings refreshing to the broken, destitute, and the weary across our land.

And so, we gathered to pray for our nation. To unite as believers and ask for God's mercy.

On a very physical plane, it was so terribly hot out there with the direct sunlight beating down on us. So, here is Israel shading me with an umbrella. Thank you, Sweetheart!

Almond Cream Cheese Bundt

Every autumn, my mother and daughter(s) attend the Taste of Home Cooking School in our area with me. It's a fun time together. There are at least 50 prizes drawn that range from gift bags and baskets to a brand new oven range. We have won something most years. Sadly, this year was not one of them. Neither was last year! (I think they'd better get their act together!) There are vendor booths where you can buy and sample. The food booths were amazing this year. The samples were full-sized servings! Sarah-Kate made friends with the ice cream man and we went home with two shopping bags full of all kinds of wonderful ice cream!


The school is more like a demonstration, but we always learn something. For years, we had the same instructor and loved her. She told wonderful stories and had a great sense of humor. The last two years, we've had two different teachers -- who just don't measure up in our opinion. Isn't it just that way? Even if you're good, it is hard to follow a great act!

Check out the link above to see when the school will be in your area. I do recommend attending!






The screen above shows one of the recipes demonstrated, a fantastic monkey bread recipe. I made it for a special Sunday breakfast a few weeks back. Fantastic!

Almond Cream Cheese Bundt

1 cup sliced almonds, divided (I have found them much cheaper at Trader Joe's.)
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
24 frozen dinner rolls, thawed but cold
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar

Glaze:
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1. Coat a 10-inch fluted pan (Bundt) with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1/4 cup almonds; set aside. Cut cream cheese into 24 equal cubes. In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Roll cream cheese cubes in sugar mixture and coat completely. Wrap a roll around each cube to completely enclose cream cheese. Dip each filled roll in sugar mixture until coated.

2. Place 12 filled and coated rolls in the prepared pan and sprinkle with half of the remaining almonds. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds or until sugar is dissolved; stir to combine. Pour half of the brown sugar mixture over rolls in pan. Place remaining rolls in pan. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and any remaining sugar mixture. Top with remaining butter mixture.

3. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until dough reaches the top on the pan. (I let mine rise in the refrigerator overnight and that worked well also.) Remove wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. (I would suggest placing the bundt pan in another pan to prevent a mess in your over! The wonderful, gooey, sugary stuff ran over and caused my kitchen to fill with smoke!) To prevent over browning, cover with foil the last 15 minutes of baking. Invert pan immediately onto a serving platter. (It is natural for the bread to settle.) Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over warm bread.

Enjoy! It is best served warm, but is great cold, too!

What Could Be Better Than Chocolate Cake?

You Are a Chocolate Cake

Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Who Wants Ice Cream?

I didn't grow up in the city, so we didn't hear the ice cream truck's music coming down our street. But, I always thought it would be so cool to buy ice cream every afternoon.

Papa's dream was a bit different. He grew up in the city. He bought ice cream on the street. He knew the joy. So, when we were on a picnic the other day in the city and strains of "The Little Brown Jug" were heard down the street, he quickly gathered all the grandchildren.






Neither Papa nor I remember Spiderman ice cream, though.


Or Princess ice cream...

Popsicles and Bombers, yes.

Does this freak out anyone else?

Poodwaddle.com

Fight FOCA!

The Freedom of Choice Act is one of those things that seem too ludicrous to actually even exist. And yet, President-elect Obama has said that signing it would be top priority for him.

FOCA would wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide. FOCA would even do away with the requirement that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion and that only licensed physicians can perform abortions!! A social worker without training would be able to perform a surgical abortion! *shaking my head at the lack of common sense*

For more information and a great list of FAQ's, go here. And while you're at it, please sign the Fight FOCA Petition.

How Interesting Am I?

I found this meme on Daja's blog. As life is quite intense right now, I thought I'd just veg out and join the bloggers doing this meme. It's easy and I don't have to think too much.


Daja said that she discovered that she wasn't half as interesting as she wishes she were. I did it and discovered I'm at least as interesting as my daughters are!


(Bold the things you've actually done.)


1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Honoring All Who Served

Yes!

We did it!

We gave generously of our financial resources. We waved "Yes on 8" signs on street corners. We walked precincts. We telephoned voters. We distributed materials. We talked with our friends, family and colleagues. And we got our supporters to the polls on Election Day.

But, most of all, we prayed. And fasted. And prayed.

The final numbers from the Secretary of State’s office show that Prop 8 was adopted by a margin of 52.5% Yes to 47.5% No. We racked up a 504,479 vote victory!

This is a great day for marriage. The people of California stood up for traditional marriage and reclaimed this great institution. We are gratified that voters chose to protect traditional marriage and to enshrine its importance in the state constitution.

The Yes on Proposition 8 campaign has been the single largest, most powerful grassroots movement in the history of American ballot initiative campaigns. We raised approximately $40 million from over 70,000 individual contributors. We recruited the active support of over 100,000 volunteers who gave tirelessly of their time and energies to our cause.

Just to be clear. Proposition 8 has always been about restoring the traditional definition of marriage. It doesn’t discriminate or take rights away from anyone. Gay and lesbian domestic partnerships will continue to enjoy the same legal rights as married spouses. Proposition 8 doesn’t change that.

Now we need to go a step further. We need to truly preserve and protect the sanctity of marriage. Our own.

Look here for parts 1, 2, and 3 on the Marriage Protection Act.

A Savior on Capitol Hill?

I found this on Daja's blog.

We cannot look to a new president to be our savior. Yes, we need to pray for him. Yes, we need to respect him. No, we do not have to agree with him to pray for him and respect his office. But, most of all, we cannot depend on him for what only God can fulfill.

Cutest Costume Ever!