Saturday, December 31, 2011
remembering and anticipating
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 02, 2011
Thursday, December 01, 2011
birthday girl
Monday, November 28, 2011
Giving Thanks
John fell through our attic onto our garage floor while taking down christmas ornaments. His head was bleeding, but he was conscious. We took him to the ER and CT scan revealed his back had broken in his 11th vertebrae. Our Dr. said 50% of all 10ft falls are fatal. We were sent home with various meds to help John cope.
Today we saw a Neuro surgeon for his back. With rest and a back brace John should be healed in two or three months! The surgeon said he has seen cases like this were the people don't make it. And here, by God's grace, John is walking around, pretty dizzy and stiff. But he is alive. He is well. Lord willing he will heal. So humbled that every breath is given by God. And thankful for God having more in store for John here on earth! Praises be to His name. As for me and my house, we will praise the Lord!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Pre Thanksgiving Ministry Dinner
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Thursday, November 03, 2011
will be eating more chikin
Proud to know me? I thought so.
John, Amy, I and four of the UNF Navigators participated in our first "first 100" grand chick-fil-a opening. We camped out and won free chick-fil-a for a year! It was pretty memorable.
Tents, naps, balderdash, dancing, four square and chicken. This describes our last 24 hrs. We are glad to be back to real life now. :)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
chicken and dumplings
Monday, October 24, 2011
good weekend
We also got to see an old friend. Bring a new friend to church. Found out our new friend trusted Christ for her salvation, rightousness and eternity. And lay around all day Sunday watching football. Our team won. Barely, but still. We watched in sweat pants. And I tried my hand at a chicken and dumpling recipe. Yum. Thats all. Just wonderful.
Friday, October 21, 2011
warms your mouth and belly
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
our weekend
Friday, September 16, 2011
a new journal
Sunday, September 11, 2011
the great indoors
We made chicken noodle soup and chili, put out some delicious smelling candles and I even did some crafting. That might be why I love fall so much. It ushers in a season of nestling inside and eating comfort food. I love being inside. I am one of the weirdos who grew up in Colorado and somehow does not like to hike. Call me lame, call me lazy, but I call me a lover of my home, wherever that is, a temporary summer dwelling in the smoky mountains, a small apartment in the semi-ghetto or our new home.
So to marry some of my favorite things, fall and food, Amy introduced me to the most delicious cookie I have ever had. Its a family recipe. The cookie is so moist its like cake. And its not too sweet, don't let the icing fool you. Its enough to make you want a fourth.
So here it is
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Mom's Pumpkin Cookies
Sift together:
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
Blend in 1 cup of shortening (Amy used butter, and accidentally cut it in half and they were amazing). Add 1 cup of pumpkin, 1 egg, and 1 cup of sugar. Mix well.
Add 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 cup pecans, and one cup chopped dates or raisins (we were out of raisins and Amy must have not been interested in the dates)
Bake 10-12 minutes. Frost with caramel frosting
Mom's Never Fail Caramel Frosting:
1 cup brown sugar
5 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup milk (as more as needed)
Boil. Take off heat and add 1 cup powdered sugar. Beat with egg beater. If its too thick, add cream.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
there is a first for everything
Look who has joined us!
Thursday, September 01, 2011
The weekend was full of good company, good food and all that makes up my sis and her husbands fun and full life.
And I got to eat froyo with my very great friend Becca, who happens to live in small little Gilbert AZ as well. What a lucky gal I am.
And look at this line of beauty I call family. Love you. And April, I am SO proud of you. You can check my moles anytime.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Well i was honest one day with my local barista. Starbucks doesn't brew decaf past 10 in the morning? Can anyone explain? And if anyone has had a decaf americano, well he. You know its disappointment in a cup. So the friendly barista whipped up a quad decaf for me. Which is 4 shots of decaf espresso topped with a bit of hot water, add a splash of half and half and you have got a buttery smooth and rich drink. Just in time for beddy bye. Which is what i am drinking before my 4 hour flight to AZ.
Can anyone else tell that traveling without the hubs is quite boring?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Hopefully I feel better because tomorrow I leave to see my big sis graduate from PA school in AZ. And hopefully John feels better because there will be no one to care for his sniffles. In critical news: John is wearing a new shirt that I find him irresistable in. :)
Monday, August 22, 2011
-- John Calvin
Friday, August 19, 2011
two brand new loves
I have been introduced through some friends to the wonderful site, pinterest.com. It is a virtual pinboard of all the things that inspire you, things you want to remember, ideas etc. And once I got the hang of it, I LOVE it. Who does not like to keep all the pretty things they find on the world wide web in one place? And I can see what my friends think is really pretty too. My usernames is mrsteten. shocked I am sure. But check it out if you want.
AND then, through a pinterest link, I found this site just last night, and FELL. IN. LOVE. A cute woman started her own vintage clothing and home goods store and has a blog about it called a beautiful mess. She includes oh-so-needed info, like how to pinroll your hair in the cutest way ever or how to DIY lace briefcase, pictured above. Of course!
Hope you enjoy these to time wasters as much as I have.
Love,
Melissa
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Elizabeth Elliot
Friday, August 05, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
I have learned a lot of my experiences in ministry this summer, mostly by watching others love people well. And I am thankful for the ministry I work for. The Navigators have been a huge agent of blessing in my life. I can't wait to see what God has planned next.
Monday, July 18, 2011
While in asheville we ate delicious meals and walked around until we were ready for another delicious meal. With a glass of wine or a sipping chocolate in between. We split most things, just so you don't think we are glutons, just half glutons.
And when we were tired of eating and walking we set up our double eno for a nap in the park! It was so special to experience it all with my best friend. Thanks Lord.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Friday, July 01, 2011
And PW does not disappoint. This soup is a bit spicy and I love it. But it does call for some major simmer time that I cut in half due to lack of planning, impatience, and stomach growls. This meal we enjoyed with some friends visiting the training program, Ben and Caryn! Thanks friends for taking a chance with my cooking and for great conversation.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
the pioneer woman seals the deal
This pork sandwich with cilantro jalapeno slaw was no exception. We ate it last night with our siblings, Amy, David and Pamela. Yum!
It is spicy pork that is cooked in Dr. Pepper and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. My only recommendation would be to buy the precut slaw bag. Cutting cabbage into thin slices might be impossible.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Shepherdess
Each of these 17 women have teams of three to four younger college student women. They lead them for the next 8 weeks of the program. We are so thankful that older students are willing to serve he younger students. To thank them we gave them small gifts. Which meant I had an excuse to find 17 cuter than cute aprons to remind them to serve.
fireflies
So we took about 12 women to see it happen. We drove into the Smoky Mountain National Park and started walking a trail as the last bits of light were fading. We could see a few fireflies light up. But as we laid out our blankets and waited, slowly more and more started lighting up the forest. It was so unreal, one of the girls said she felt like she was in an enchanted forest. I was so excited that God had created such a treat! We spent most of our evening singing praises to our Heavenly Father and thanking Him for it all. A few other spectators even joined us in singing a few songs. :)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Pigeon Forge
This blog is about to become a whirlwind of random pictures, stories from PG Las Vegas and mountain adventures. Here we go!
Melissa