My Great Aunt Nell’s Ring

I’m participating in an Heirloom Party today! It is hosted by Marie, whose blog is Emma Calls me Mama.

As I open the memory doors of childhood, I recall the times my Great Aunt Nell came to our house every Sunday afternoon. My siblings and cousins hid whenever they saw her walking up the steps toward our front door because they knew she would kiss them. They hated her WET kisses! However, I ran toward Aunt Nell with open arms, eagerly anticipating her kiss. Even at a young age, I realized her kisses symbolized a great big heart bursting with love.

Aunt Nell’s sister, my grandmother, died when I was a baby, so I thought of Aunt Nell as my grandmother. She had no children or grandchildren of her own, and I was perfectly willing to fill that void. My precious Aunt Nell died many years ago but the seeds of faith and love that Christian woman planted in my heart are still growing strong. I’m sorry my siblings and cousins didn’t get to know Great Aunt Nell the way I did, because to know her was to love her – and her WET kisses!

When I think of an heirloom that is most dear to my heart, I think of Aunt Nell’s ring. This ring was passed down to my dear, precious Mother, Nellie, who was named after Aunt Nell and then she passed it down to me. (What a wonderful mother I had! “Her children rise up and call her blessed… Proverbs 31:28) I wear the ring everyday because it is a reminder of two Godly women I loved and adored. I will be looking for them when I get to heaven someday!

This Strawberry Pizza Rocks!

Last Saturday, some of our family went to my daughter, Traci’s, for a fun day together.  For lunch, Traci served BLT’s and chips and I brought watermelon and Strawberry Pizza! The strawberry pizza was gone in minutes. Try this recipe before summer is over – you’re gonna love it! It’s quick and easy to make!

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.  Spray Pizza Pan with PAM.  Below are the ingredients you’ll need.

STEP 1.  Ingredient: Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Roll. Spread the Pillsbury Cookie Dough on the pizza pan like pizza dough. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool.

STEP 2.  Ingredients: 8-oz package of cream cheese, 1 cup of Confectioner’s Sugar, 8-oz Cool-Whip.  Mix the cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar together with mixer.

Use larger spoon to fold in the Cool-Whip to the above mixture.

 

Spread the above cream cheese mixture on the cookie crust. Place in refrigerator while preparing STEP 3.

STEP 3. Ingredients: 1 package of strawberry glaze. 1 quart strawberries. Slice strawberries. Mix glaze with strawberries.

Layer strawberry mixture over the cream cheese mixture until ready to use.

Let’s eat! Get your pizza cutter and slice like you would a  pizza. Serve yourself first or you won’t get a bite! Enjoy!

For more Foodie Friday posts, please visit Designs by Gollum.

Our Grandson Has a Servant’s Heart

“SERVE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LOVE” (Galatians 5:13b)

This is our 21-year-old grandson, Cory. He came over before going to work one Saturday a few weeks ago to help his Papa mulch. He works at a golf course during the summer. He attends a Christian College in Kentucky on Academic and Basketball Scholarships. We are so proud of him! (sorry,I really shouldn’t brag, but I am a grandmother…that does count, doesn’t it?)

Cory needs your prayers. He wants to be a doctor and will be taking a test for med school this Friday. Please be in prayer for him that he does well on the test. Thank you so much!

On this particular Saturday, Cory could have used the excuse that he had to work that day, but, no, he wanted to help because he knew his Papa needed him. He and his Papa are big buddies! Helping others is such a blessing! I’m thankful Cory is making wise decisions at a young age.

Thanks to Cory, Papa got his yard mulched that day. I ran out for Subways and we had an enjoyable lunch. Cory showered and got to work on time!

Has the Lord laid it on your heart to be a servant to someone today, tomorrow, next week? Keep your ears and eyes open, He will! Grab the chance…Be a blessing….and you will be blessed!

Praying and Loving God’s Word Everyday

I love to study God’s Word. The Bible is so dear to me. I want my relationship with the Lord to grow daily as I journey through life.

Along with the Bible, I have a few other books that are so important in my life and I want to share them with you.

First, my little black book. I carry it with me in my purse.

As I’m asked to pray for someone or if I see a need, I record those names in my little black book. Then, during my devotional time, I lift them up in prayer. Prayer is the best gift you can give anyone! If I’m having an extremely busy day, I lift the whole book up in the air to the Lord and ask him to bless the names in the book.

I also love my JUMBO CROSSWORD PUZZLE book! I try to work a Puzzle everyday. It challenges me to learn Bible verses. I bought it at Wal-Mart for $3.98.

My very favorite devotional book is MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers. I’ve read it over and over for years and journaled in it since 2004.

These books just enhance my devotional life, as I have my quiet time in the morning. I study my Bible and then I use these three books. It has become a habit! When my quiet time is finished, I always feel refreshed and loved by God. I’m ready to face the day knowing God is in control and will guide me. It doesn't get any better than this! Got to go—I have a meeting with my Lord! “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” James 4:8

OOEY—GOOEY MARSHMALLOW BARS

I took these Ooey—Gooey Marshmallow Bars to work today for my co-worker's birthday. They went like hotcakes!

Here are the ingredients needed:

Here's how it's done: Mix together one devil’s food cake mix, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup water and one egg.

The mixture will be thick because these are bars.

Press the mixture into a greased 13” x 9” baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Take the pan out of the oven but don't turn the oven off yet.

Sprinkle 3 cups of miniature marshmallows on top of the bars.

Then add 2 cups of chocolate pieces.

Finally, add 1/2 cup chopped peanuts, however I didn't chop mine. (Peanuts are optional: kids may like it better without the peanuts). Put back into the oven and bake 3-4 minutes longer or until the marshmallows begin to melt.

Remove pan from the oven and press the chocolate pieces and peanuts down on the marshmallows so they won’t fall off when you’re eating them. Cut into squares and serve while hot and ooey-gooey! Yummy!

Added to Jen's Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Gospel Music at it’s Best!

Mr. D and I went to our first gospel music concert. It was Ernie Haas and Signature Sound. They were a lively group and glorified God in their singing. Ernie Haas did a fabulous job between songs as he spoke of God and His love. We had a blessed evening!

We sat in the balcony and I couldn’t get a great picture.

I especially loved this song – “My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me.” Isn’t God wonderful!

Meal Prayers at Nana’s and Papa’s House

These are our son’s children and Nana & Papa are babysitting. They love Nana’s spaghetti. I fixed it for them.  As with the other grandchildren, we bless the food before we eat.  Before we bless the food, however, we choose a Bible Promise to read. 

When Mr. D and my children were little we had a small plastic “Our Daily Bread” box with Bible promises in it and our children took turns reading one before meals. It was given to us by our neighbor, affectionately known as “Grandma Daisy.” Along the years, it soon got lost in our many moves.

Luckily, I found another one a few years ago at our Lifeway Baptist Bookstore and now we enjoy the tradition with our grandchildren! Even if they can’t read, they like to draw out a card and let someone else read it for them.

 

Here is our10-year-old granddaughter reading a promise. She takes it very seriously. Afterwards, Mr. D (Papa) said the blessing.

Having meals together as a family is so important. I heard on Dr. Dobson last week that children who have meals at home around the table only two nights a week are more likely to take drugs when they are older than those children who have meals at home five nights a week.  It’s hard to plan menus, cook and get the family all together at one time but it is well worth the effort!  Savor those moments!

Now the kids are grown, Mr. D and I still enjoy our meals at the table.  We discuss the children, grandchildren, the problems of the world, our jobs,  etc. 

Just today, after church, I was feeling anxious and a little blue.  As I randomly picked a card from the promise box, I gasped!  It was my favorite Bible verse! “Peace I leave with you…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid...” John 14:27.  My eyes filled with tears as I read the promise. Thank you, Lord for the reminder!  Mr. D blessed the food and all was well.

Blessed to Work for the Lord Each Day

Here are the flowers my grandsons helped me arrange for my desk at work.  I love my job (ministry).

Many people come through the doors each day – some happy… some grieving and sad, some homeless and hungry…some wanting to get married… some angry…some wanting to join the church…some with no teeth…some elderly and barely able to put one foot in front of the other…some wealthy…some prideful, etc.  I always pray that I will bring glory to God in how I treat each one of them.  I want each one to feel he/she is important and that God loves them.  (I love the saying, “Be kind: Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”)

My job as ministry administrative assistant is the first person they meet.  If I can’t help them,  I direct them to one of the pastors or whoever can  meet their need.  I count it a privilege to work here.  Thank you, Lord.

Volunteers are Wonderful! I have a group of volunteers that help me with miscellaneous projects. They are all so committed to the Lord and love to help. This volunteer went the “second mile” and brought a quiche for brunch! Anytime I need her, she is there.  She comes each Wednesday afternoon and helps with the newsletter bulk mailing, Sunday’s attendance and children’s worship bulletin.  Our whole staff loves her and her faithfulness! Ruth 1:8 …may the Lord bless you for your kindness….

God Bless America!

Yesterday was the fourth of July.  Mr. D. (Papa) went to our grandson’s All Star Baseball Game and  I (Nana) babysit two of the smaller grandsons (siblings) so Mommy, Daddy and Papa could watch the game in peace.  The boys and I  had a wonderful day!  We began our day by displaying the American flag (Above is a view from my dining room window).  We went out on the front porch and placed our hands on our hearts and said the Pledge of Allegiance.  Lord, how thankful I am for our freedom! May we never forget that this freedom we enjoy was at a great cost. Many lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom from England. And thank you, Lord,  for those who have continued to give of themselves down through the years to protect our great nation. 

I couldn’t help but think of our greatest freedom – freedom in Christ Jesus! If the Son sets you free – you are free indeed! It is in Christ that we live and move and have our being.  How thankful I am to Christ that he saved me years ago.  My life has never been the same! I’ve been set free!

Here are my cute grandsons.  I cut some Shasta Daisies and let the boys arrange them in the vase.  Monday, I will put a bow around the vase and place them on the corner of my desk at work. When I glance at them during the week, I’ll think of those precious boys!

While waiting for our neighborhood parade to begin, I gave the boys some big bibs, a bowl of strawberry ice cream and let them swing on the front porch.

The parade is about ready to begin! Nana had to work fast to move the boys to the edge of the lawn for a better view as the parade turns the corner.  Our neighborhood parade is simple and sweet. The  children decorate their bikes to celebrate Independence Day and drive through the neighborhood to show them off. You’ll find many neighbors sitting out in their yards, waving as the children pass by.

Of course we had to take our ice cream with us as we watch the parade!

The parade has begun! That’s a pretty big kid on that bike! We waved and cheered as he passed by.

 

There were so many children in the parade and the boys loved it. Now we are ready for more fun! We’re off to the neighborhood club house.

Hmmm…which inflatable do we want to try?

This is too much fun!

Here he comes!

  After enjoying a barbecue lunch by the pool, we ended our day with snow cones!  Time to go home – Nana had fun but is pooped!

The boys said, “Thanks, Nana!”  “No, no, boys, thank YOU! You blessed Nana’s day!”