Happy Birthday Dianne!

Monday, February 11th was Dianne's birthday! I've been home sick for the past several days and it completely slipped by me without me getting a card in the mail, emailing her on her birthday, calling or posting about it! I'm SO SORRY Dianne!!!

If you don't know Dianne, she is the kind of person that NEVER forgets a birthday, and is always sending cards, for special occasions or for no reason at all other than to just let you know she's thinking about ya! She is the most encouraging friend I've ever known. She's one of those friends that the day you meet, you feel like you've been friends forever, and know that you've made a friend for life. She and I can go months without seeing each other or talking on the phone, but when we do, we're giggling and can just pick up right where we left off. Dianne, you are such a special friend and I'm so glad you're in my life. "Happy Birthday" late---I wish you many wonderful blessings in this next year and hope you know how much I love ya!

If you haven't met Dianne yet, stop on by and wish her a happy birthday, you'll be glad you did!

Instant Gratification

We complain about the cross we bear but don' t realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road ahead that God can see and we can't.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,

there will always be sunshine, after the rain.

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;

But God's always ready, to answer your call.

He knows every heartache, He sees every tear,

a word from His lips, can calm every fear.

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,

But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light.

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,

to give you His grace, and send you His love.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

Someone sent me an email this week that contained the pictures and the poem above. I thought it was too good not to share. I've been reminded so much lately that God never promised my cross wouldn't be heavy, but He has promised me the victory and that I would not walk alone. I hope this makes you stop and think, and cause your lips to praise Him even if you are in the valley or in the midst of a raging storm. You are not alone.

Rollin' in the Dough

It's been almost 8 years and I've finally developed a love relationship with my rolling pin! It was one of those things in "setting up house" that I just had to have, but never used. It's been sitting in the drawer, faithfully, for approximately 416 Saturdays wondering if today would be the day it could be doused in flour and rolled to its' heart's content. But the days grew into weeks, and the weeks into months, and the months into years, and it continued to be overlooked. Except for the times that Nana would come to visit and would hear of no such thing as a ready-made pie crust! Oh no ma'am! She would whip out the rolling pin and in a matter of minutes we had a beautifully scalloped-edge pie crust made from scratch. And then it would be returned to it's dark home in the drawer.

But brighter days were ahead for that rolling pin! A few weeks ago, after growing weary of rotating the usual Saturday morning choice of pancakes, waffles or drop cheese biscuits, I spied a recipe on the Bisquick box for rolled biscuits. "I can do this!" I thought. That rolling pin was not going to intimidate me any more! So out it came and it performed beautifully! And now, I'm obsessed with my rolling pin and the search for the perfect biscuit. Over the past few weeks, I've tried every combination of biscuit-making...Bisquick with milk, self-rising flour with milk, self-rising flour with buttermilk, but tonight, perfection... achieved with Bisquick (yes, folks, Bisquick) and buttermilk. As Rachel Ray would say, "De-lish!"

I've not been feeling well the past few days, came home from work today, took almost a 2 hour nap and woke up feeling a little hungry, a little naseaous, and not much in the mood to cook anything for dinner. But there was one thing that did sound good, and that was a hot, buttered biscuit. And a few minutes later I had these...

(click the picture to enlarge for mouth-watering goodness!)

I'm a purist--no jelly, no jam, no peanut butter, just a good, fluffy biscuit with melted butter. Now that's some comfort food! So, if you've been taunted over the years by your rolling pin, get it out and give it a try...your thighs will not thank you!

And if you've perfected the perfect biscuit...give me your tips!

Gotta keep going...

We have a "sick house" here! Zack has been feeling bad since last Sunday with a sore throat, cough, headache, and some days a low-grade fever. He's only missed a day and a half of school because of so many obligations. This morning at 3:30, I woke up with a terrible sore throat and headache. Needless to say, I'm still in my jammies and forcing myself to get up and catch up on the laundry from last week.

After a long, rough, week at school, I had to show houses for 3 hours yesterday afternoon and then head back over to the school because Gary was helping run sound for our first "Battle of the Bands". Zack played the keyboard in one of the groups and they did a great job---but it was a long day and I was exhausted and ready to get in bed early.

We found out last night by one of the deacons from our former church (who's son was in one of the bands) that a dear friend of ours had just lost her life late yesterday afternoon. She was the church administrator (of our former church), we shared the same birthday, and I sold several houses for them (and extended family) over the years. She was only 58 years old, but suffered with heart trouble and diabetes. She had fallen Friday and broke her leg in 3 places and had to have surgery. Saturday, in intensive care, she seizured and coded and they couldn't revive her. These are all the details we know so far. Gary left a message for her husband last night expressing our deepest sorrow. I know we'll be going to the funeral some time this week. We want to go for her husband, but are not looking forward to seeing some people from the church, as things did not end well there. And that's a whole other story for another time...

Well, the laundry calls...and so does my electric blanket!