Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me! Thanks for all the Birthday wishes. I feel loved! I had quite a few people ask, "what did you do for your birthday?". Well, let's see...I changed poopy diapers, cleaned up cat vomit on the carpet, laundry...the usual mom, wife, pet owner stuff. Pretty uneventful until I got to thinking, which is always scary. I remember a birthday five years ago. A birthday when I was uncertain as to whether God could hear my prayers or my families prayers, friends prayers, co-workers prayers. Five years ago when in 3 days (Mike's birthday too) I would be heading to the hospital to get hooked up to an IV and have toxic stuff trickled into my body to get rid of the toxic stuff in it. Go figure??? I couldn't help but wonder if he could hear us, answer us, fix me. In my heart I knew He could and despite satan's attempts to crush my spirit, God kept me strong and gave me signs to let me know that he wasn't done with me yet. Although I would never wish cancer on anyone, I wish everyone could experience the tingle of prayers being answered and knowing that God is in charge. People asked, "how can you have such a good attitude?" while I was going through treatment. How could I not? When you're getting loved on by you're Daddy Ol' Mighty. I knew I was safe and that his plan is always better than mine or anyone elses. There was a test score on one of my medical reports. My score was a 9 out of 9. I looked up what this test was for and it was to determine the estimated success of treatment. 9 out of 9 was the worst score you could get. But satan didn't estimate the power of prayer and so here I am 5 years later.
Happy Birthday to Me!

The adventures of Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Thumb

It's such a shame that State fans are just so used to losing that they don't know how to behave when they win! Someone in my household, not me, but I'm not saying who, felt a creative urge after the win last weekend and had to vent his artistic, more like devilish, talent on a poor unsuspecting co-worker who happened to be a Michigan fan. Of course this was such a big project he, oops, I mean, this person, had to engage another fence sitting fan into partaking in this occasion. I'm not naming names but I have heard them called Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Thumb. But just because someone is nicknamed Tweedle Thumb and a friend of ours has an injured thumb doesn't mean that is who I'm refering to...

Time to store up fat for winter hibernation!

What is it about fall that makes me want to cook? Brooke and I went on a little cooking binge this week and ventured into some pie baking. I have to confess that Brooke did most of the work but I was head cheerleader. We made apple and pumpkin pies. oooohhhh they were yummy! The apple was made with jonathon and granny smith apples and the pumpkin was made with sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated. DE-LISH!
For the big MSU/U of M game day get together with the Taylors I made some chicken n cheez enchiladas, found the recipe in a magazine. Wooo Wee! Another winner!

Here's the recipe if you're interested (I doubled it):
1-10-3/4 oz. can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 c - sour cream
1 c - Pace Picante sauce
2 tsp.- chili powder
2 c - chopped cooked chicken
1/2 c - shredded colby jack cheese
6 - flour tortillas
1-sm. tomato, chopped
1 - green onion, sliced
In Med. bowl mix : soup, sour cream, chili powder, set aside
In Lg.bowl mix, chicken, picante sauce & cheese.
Divide the chicken mixture between the tortillas, roll up the tortillas and place them seamside up in an 11"x8" shallow baking dish.
Pour soup mixture over the filled tortillas.
Cover and bake at 350 for about 40 min.
Top with tomato and onion.

Farewell to the camping season

It was brisk but beautiful. We spent our last camping weekend at the Holly KOA before we cleaned out the camper for the winter. The Taylors camped with us again. We spent alot of time around the campfire. The boys (Kenny & Mike)even watched the MSU/Ohio game sitting by the fire. We only had to share the campground a few other campers and they pretty much hibernated the whole weekend. There were a couple of really brave guys in a tent. Madalynne and Connor Scott visited on Saturday while mom & dad went to a wedding. The kids had a picnic over on the basketball court and played in the leaves most of the day. It was a nice way to bid farewell to the camping season.

Vacuum use training video

This ones for Grandad! It seems affection for the "popcorn popper" runs in the family!

Less blaa, blaa, blaa and more cluck, cluck, cluck

I thought I'd share this letter we got at the radio station. Chicken farmers throughout Michigan will soon be listening to Smile FM!

It reads.

Dear Smile FM,

I intended to call in this pledge during the fundraiser but every time I
thought of it I was busy.
Now that you signal is improved (you said awhile ago) my husband who is
a welder at Morbart in Winn can no long get your station.
He really misses it (88.3 WEJC).
Also our chickens like the music. When the station goes off the air
occasionally they don't seem as content and don't lay eggs as when the
music is going.

Thank you, keep up the good work.

Love Pat L.
Blanchard, MI

Summer has slip slided away

Well, it isn't exactly slip-n-slide weather but I wanted to put this on my blog back in August when we did this but didn't get around to making it into a movie until now. So I hope you enjoy it. This is the highlight of the Freedom Center Family ReUnion we had on Labor Day weekend. As you can see Pastor Phil knows how to throw a party!


I apologize for the poor quality but You Tube has a way of doing that to videos!