Do you "heart" pancakes?

Well, I wouldn't say that I LOVE pancakes (I save my love for junk!) but I do HEART them!

And since my kitchen was relatively clear this fine Saturday morning, today was the day to give my new Christmas griddle the ol' pancake try.  AND, since we're just days away from Valentines, it had to be done "heart" style.

I used to do initials for the kids, but today's art of choice would be hearts...

Once the hearts had a little time to cook I just poured more batter on top to form your basic pancake... 

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles...FLIP! 

Awwww.....so beautiful.....I think I'm tearing up! 

And to make it even more festive I decided to smother them in strawberries...but...OH NO!!....No hearts! 

So I threw on another pancake, smeared strawberries around edges, add whipped topping and....YIKES.....not good.... 

Soooo.....let's try this again... 

Yup, straight up heart pancakes seem to do the trick.... 

We wouldn't be losing THESE hearts (well, at least not for a few minutes).... 

Much better! 

SOOOO....Do YOU "heart" pancakes?

Midge

I will be linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special Party at

Funky Junk Interiors 

'Twas the week before Christmas.....

I wanted to have lots of things on my list done by now.  I wanted to take pictures.  I wanted to particiapte in all the fun blog parties ...... But I should know better.  This happens every year....I'm a procrastinator.

So, like all hardcore procrasinators, with everything needing to be done, today I chose to write a poem.


'TWAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house,
A junker was stirring, not so much her spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with flair,
In the hopes that a photo would soon take place there.

The kids had done nothing, not even made beds,
Still, visions of Best Buy cards danced in their heads.

And she still with presents to purchase and wrap,
Had waited so long, there was no time to nap.

When out in the kitchen, arose such a chatter,
"How come there're no cookies on mom's great big platter?"

Away to get started, though not flush with cash,
She had some ideas, and of course a junk stash.

The glow of a holiday home decore show, 
Reminded her, she still had quite far to go.

When what to her listening ears should appear,
But, music of jingle bells, joy and reindeer.

With a big cup of eggnog, so foamy and thick,
She started to plan -- she needed to -- quick!

More rapid than eagles, the ideas they came,
And she giggled, and shouted, and called them by name,

Now Angels! Now Santas! Now branches and candles!
On Tables!  On counters!  On doorknobs and handles!

To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall!
Now decorate! Decorate! Decorate all!

This just might happen, there was no need to cry,
She knew she could do it, she just had to try.

So up from the basement, the stored boxes flew,
With a tub full of lights and some ornaments too.

And then so inspired, she thought of the roof,
"Less is more" she then realized -- "Don't be a goof!"

As she gathered her things and was scrounging around, 
A total of three Christmas trees had been found.

They were dressed all in fir, from each top to each root,
And the tallest one did not even stand to six foot!

A bungle of branches, each tree a sad sack,
But Charlie would tell her, she shouldn't turn back.

The lights how they twinkled! The garland how merry!
The ornaments homey (though a little bit scary!).

No presents beneath, not a tag or a bow,
A gentle reminder there's still far to go.

Candy canes, chocolates -- those poor little teeth!
Poinsettias, and cards, and..oh yeah -- the wreath!

She wanted to cook yummy food for each belly,
Ham, potatoes, and fresh rolls with jelly.

She tried to be joyful, a right jolly elf,
Despite always causing these problems herself.

A close of her eyes and a bow of her head,
Soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.

She spoke rambling words, but whatever would work,
"If I don't fill their stockings, I'll look like a jerk!"

And she said to herself, "Get'er done, I suppose,"
Groceries, shopping -- that's just how it goes.

She sprang to her van, though the belts tend to whistle,
And away the thing flew, through mud, snow and thistle.

She was heard to exclaim as she drove out of sight,
"Maybe THIS is the year that I do Christmas right!"


Midge

I'll try to post what I can as I move forward this week. 

It's over!!!

I Feel.....

Overworked.... 

          Overfed....

And Overflowing....

So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~~  Colossians 2:6,7

1,2,3...17,18,19...84,85,86...(counting my blessings)...223,224,225...

Midge

It's a Stone Project, For Crying out Loud!

HAPPY PALM SUNDAY

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 11:1-10

The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
"I tell you, " he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Luke 19:37-40


And have a blessed Holy Week,
Midge

I'm linking this up to Donna's Saturday Nite Special #23 over at Funky Junk Interiors. Be sure to head over there and check out all the great projects.

Never Forget

NEVER FORGET

I was inspired to create this after seeing a post by NJTomboy Ang. Visit her blog A Day in the Life of a Tomboy and check it out.

Midge

Happy Fourth! Just saying....

"The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity...I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." -- John Adams

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure... are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." -- Charles Carroll (signer of the Declaration of Independence)

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciouly answered...do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?" -- Ben Franklin

"God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel". -- Ben Franklin

"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests. "
-- Alexander Hamilton

"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ...Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us." -- John Hancock

It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worshhip here." --Patrick Henry

"[The Bible] is the rock on which our Republic rests." -- Andrew Jackson

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure w hen we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We've staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity...to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. -- James Madison

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible." -- George Washington

"To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." -- George Washington

A Salute to Father's Day

This is my second Father's Day without my dad. But I certainly am not sad today. He lived a full life, and after spending his last years suffering from Alzheimer's is now spending eternity in Heaven with HIS father. I had an awesome dad who raised me right, loved me very much, and always let me know how proud of me he was. I feel very blessed to have had him for a father and that he lived as long as he did (82 years). I hope you feel the same about your dad.

But sadly, I know that many people do not. If you are one of those, my hope and prayer is that you do not think that that father, who's a product of a broken and sinful world, is an example of what our Heavenly Father is like. Our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can even humanly comprehend, but here are some quotes from and about Him that might help us get an inkling:

Genesis 5:1 When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them.

Exodus 3:7 The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey

Deuteronomy 10: 17 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.

Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his heart; and carries them close to his heart

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 11:11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

I John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Just a small sampling of verses I found flipping through the Bible. It is filled with examples of our Heavenly Father's love and care for us. Happy Father's Day!

Midge

Memorial Day in Small Town America!

Happy Memorial Day!
I just got home from the local parade in our small community. Jamestown is a "suburb" of Hudsonville (pop. 9000). Jamestown is a small area out in the country, but they throw one mean parade!

Ready and waiting!

It's all about these guys.

Every paradae needs a drumline.

Depicting Jamestown's first ever schoolhouse -- an old one-room building still standing today, but not used in years. They hope to convert it into a museum.

Churches are a big part of our community and a big part of the parade. (No, the church that has the float is not the one you see in the background).

Tractors were everywhere and, of course, John Deere rules.

Local businesses had to get in on the act, too.

My favorite float! A guy who lives down the street from me (and coincidentally goes to my church AND we graduated from high school together) has a farm and many siblings. So they decorated one of their trailers and provided their own family band. I think they were playing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" or something. I LOVE SMALL TOWN LIVING!

Anyone wanting to join in was welcome.

Oops, can't forget about the horses.

All done. Time to go home and fire up the Weber grill!

Have a wonderful day. And thank you to all the troops, past and present, and the sacrifices made for our freedom.

Midge

Happy Easter

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. Here you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28: 1-10,16-20

Thank a vet today!

Today is Veteran's Day. It's one of those holidays that never held a lot of meaning for me before. But this year it seems to be on my mind more. Maybe becasue this is the first Veteran's Day that my father -- a WWII vet -- isn't here. I feel a bit of an obligation to carry on the torch. So, consider this post my "salute" to all the veterans out there. Thank you for all you've done.

Apparently, turning trash into treasure isn't a new undertaking. My dad brought this picture frame and stand home from the service to give to my mother. I'm not sure if he made it, a buddy made it, or he bought it, but it's pretty cool. It's made from some sort of bullet casings.

Like many veterans of his generation, my dad did not talk much about his experiences during the war. It wasn't until later in life (like when my kids had to do those "interview a vet" assignments) that he began to share more. I remember him telling how every time the guys on his ship would hear "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" they would all start to cry. Imagine all those big, strong, brave sailors bawling at the thought of home, family, and snow.

He also said that to pass the time, the guys would make things by whatever and from whatever means they could. My dad fashioned this bracelet for my mom from some scrap of tin. I don't remember him being particularly handy, artsy, or fond of junk. But he was very capable, practical, and caring. It's hard to detect from the photo, but the center is etched like an anchor, one end has his name and the other hers, and little x's decorate the edges.

This pocket Bible was presented to my dad from his church when he left for the service. It has a metal cover with the inscription "May this keep you safe from harm". If the Bible was in your chest pocket, over your heart, it would help protect you from harm -- metal or otherwise. My hope is that we remember to continually pray for those serving to defend the freedoms we enjoy. We need to also pray for their loved ones waiting back home. And if you see a vet today or in days to come, please remember to thank them. Thanks, Dad.