FOR ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS!

Hoping y'all have a wonderful and blessed day with loved ones and friends.
It's now 12:45 a.m. and I'm as ready as I can be for the guests tomorrow. Agustin, Shane, and I will be welcoming into our home the following:
*Our eldest son & his girlfriend
*My parents
*My bachelor brother
*Our Nephew and his new wife
*A single mom and her 10 year old daughter
*A single young lady
I'm looking forward to a cozy time, good food, loving conversations, GAMES!

Thank you Lord, for the friends I've made through blogging. Bless them each and everyone on this special day. In Jesus Name, Amen

ARTISTS WE'RE NOT!!!

One evening last week, we thought it would be fun to see who in our home could draw the best turkey. Who gets your vote" #1, #2, #3??? Leave your answer in your comment if you feel so inclined!

Some tidbits I collected during my walk in the park.

Proof we do get a little touch of fall here in Florida!

Items brought to my husband by a co-worker who was in Italy for training ---
an Italian newspaper and a map of Italy. As you can see, it was the morning after the big American election.
Oh and not pictured, A RING BLESSED BY THE POPE. We aren't Catholic, but thought the gesture was sweet. However, for a joke, my husband took the ring to our church Sunday evening. As we were leaving, he held it up to our BAPTIST pastor and jokingly asked him to bless it as well! He got a good chuckle from it.

Due to both the Italian and Spanish languages coming from Latin roots, any followers of my blog who speak (read) Spanish can enlarge this photo and make comparisons.

"TORTILLA SOUP" = Lunch & a Movie!

Above, Our Sunday Lunch-Tortilla Soup! Que Deliciosa!

Whenever I cook or eat "Tortilla Soup", I can't help but think about the movie which goes by the same name. It's a movie we thoroughly enjoyed, I think for the inter-cultural flavor. Also for the fact that the part of the patriarch, Martin (Hector Elizando) was a professional chef who hailed from Mexico! The family meal-time scenes made my hubby homesick for his mama's cooking!

To read more about the movie,

CLICK ON THIS LINK

CAUTION: This movie my be dangerous for anyone on a diet!

Hector (as Martin), preparing his Sunday feast.

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Sopa de Tortilla

2 lbs. meaty beef soup bones

(I substituted one whole chicken, cut up)

1 qt. water

6 peppercorns

1 bay leaf

one fourth small onion

half tsp. salt

2 dried pasilla negro chiles

4 corn tortillas

Oil for frying

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

2 small onion, cut in half length wise, thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tomatoes, peeled finely chopped

freshly ground pepper

salt

one fourth cup finely diced celery

one fourth finely diced carrots

Place bones in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add water, peppercorns, by leaf, one fourth onion and one half teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Skim foam from surface. Cover and simmer 2 hours, skimming again if necessary. Strain broth and let cool. Spoon off fat. Toast pasilla chiles in an ungreased skillet over medium heat 3 or 4 minutes, turning frequently. Do not scorch. Let cool. Break in half and remove seeds. Crumble chiles and place in a small dish. Cut tortillas in two inch by half inch strips. Pour oil for frying one inch deep into a small saucepan. Heat to 365 degrees F. (185 C). Fry tortilla strips in hot oil until lightly browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Heat one tablespoon vegetable or olive oil in a large saucepan. Add sliced onion and garlic. Cook slowly until onion is very tender but not browned. Stir in tomatoes and pepper to taste. Cook slowly ten to fifteen minutes. Add reserved strained broth and salt to taste. Simmer gently fifteen minutes. Add celery and carrot. Simmer fifteen minutes longer. To serve, place a handful of fried tortilla strips in each bowl; add soup. Top with crumbled chiles as desired. Makes four servings.

For an extra delish touch, add Oaxaca Cheese or Mozzarella cheese and more tortilla strips on top!

There are a lot of steps to this recipe, but to get that "authentic" Mexican flavor, the steps are necessary. When I've had time constraints, I have cheated and just dumped everything together in the pot to cook and simmer. It was still "deliciosa"!

AY CARAMBA! WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE RESCUE ME FROM MYSELF!

I have a little something to admit here. It could be hilarious, if it were not so embarrassing! Concerning my award from MIGHTY MOM, you know, my post from Monday night - I LIED! Not intentionally mind you, but none the less, I've led you all to believe that she and I have much in common. I wouldn't mind that at all; but you see, when I posted my answers to the meme in my previous post, I had forgotten that I had already changed some of the answers and had saved the entire thing in my drafts a couple of months ago when she first sent the meme to me. (YES, I am that absent minded sometimes!) Hence, last night when editing the post, I found it amusing that I didn't need to change many of Mighty Mom's answers, which I realize, in retrospect, were MY answers!
CLICK HERE TO READ HER TRUE ANSWERS!


Get it? See why I'm embarrassed to death and have a red, hot, burning face right now???!!!?? And now my dilemma is....WONDERING IF MIGHTY MOM IS SORRY SHE SENT ME THAT AWARD IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Turns out her favorite color is purple, she drives a momma van, and has many other neat things about her that are totally not in common with me! She left a comment suggesting I go back and read her answers. I did, and the blushing began! Can I blame this entire hullaballoo on "menopause"??? It's okay, you can go ahead and laugh with me.

SOMEBODY LOVES MY BLOG!

A meme and award all in one! Thank you MIGHTY MOM for this sweet gift!

I *HEART* awards! And...it seems we have a little too much in common!


There were many of Mighty Mom's answers which I didn't have to change! We both drive Durangos, it seems we hang out in our swimsuits, (Please note: I said "hang out IN" not "hang out OF"!)we use laptops, love scrapbooking, we both have SONY televisions, we worry about our health, we both love our families, and our hobby is BLOGGING! Scary huh? oooooo and I just peeked at her answers again and was reminded we both listed GARNET as our favorite color! I have a Garnet leather chair in my living room, my bedspread has garnet in it as well and there are touches of garnet all through my home.

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As a recipient of this award, there are rules to follow. I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others! The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? dresser

2. Where is your significant other? work

3. Your hair color? blended

4. Your mother? Loretta

5. Your father? Jack

6. Your favorite thing? family

7. Your dream last night? realtors

8. Your dream/goal? scrapbooking

9. The room you're in? office

10. Your hobby? BLOGGING

11. Your fear? health

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? mountains

13. Where were you last night? home

14. What you're not? whiny

15. One of your wish-list items? camera

16. Where you grew up? everywhere!

17. The last thing you did? bills

18. What are you wearing? casuals

19. Your TV? SONY

20. Your pet? none

21. Your computer? laptop

22. Your mood? chilled

23. Missing someone? ABSOLUTELY!

24. Your car? Durango

25. Something you're not wearing? jewelry

26. Favorite store? Dillards

27. Your summer? humid

28. Love someone? many

29. Your favorite color? garnet

30. When is the last time you laughed? minutes

31. Last time you cried? seconds

I nominate the following bloggers because, well, I love their blogs!: If you feel you don't have time to participate, I certainly understand!
VERJA BUNNY, KRISTI'S THIMBLE THOUGHTS, CANDY'S HOME, NINA AT PORTUGAL BOUND ,GINGER AT JUST A THOUGHT ,BETTY AT WIENS WORLD , JACKIE AT BUSY LITTLE PEOPLE


Now, for the recipients of this award, here's the deal:
* Display your award
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.
* Enjoy your award!

VINTAGE LINENS FROM CANADA!

I'm excited to participate in "Show & Tell" today. It has been way too long since doing so. KELLI'S HOUSE is so gracious in hosting this weekly event! Thanks Kelli.

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A package arrived at my home about a month ago, all the way from Canada! Inside were some very pretty linens: a vintage pillow case, a doily, and a very feminine hanky; oh and of course, the sweetest hand written message in a floral card. You might ask who sent me the lovelies. They were from CANDY, one of the best bloggity friends I've met in this adventure of blogging! I was excited to tear into that box to see just what it was Candy had sent me. I knew from visiting her blog and learning of her taste, that I'd love whatever she had sent.

Thank you Candy for all your sweetness over the past couple of years. It's obvious to me that you are a giver and encourager. May God bless you and your sweet family!

Sending Out Special Thanks to Our Veterans & Thanking Friends For Gentle Chides

I have a very deep and abiding gratitude for our veterans, and am so proud that we have a day on our calendar each year to pinpoint the focus on their service to our country. Having many family members and friends who have served and even are serving today, defending my freedoms, I feel my attempt to thank them here is inadequate. I pray I never take my freedoms for granted.

Thanks Clint for being the patriotic American you are.
(My brother in law. Wasn't he a doll-baby?)


NOW ONTO THE PART ABOUT MY FRIENDS CHIDING ME!

It has been a beautiful day in this part of Florida! I'm in a much better frame of mind, thanks to Mighty Mom, Rita, Groovy, and a few other bloggity friends, whose gentle chides have helped me refocus. I know God is still in control and this beautiful day He has blessed me with is additional proof He loves me still.

Proof that autumn comes to Florida too! Beautiful flowers at the entrance to our neighborhood!
Beautiful blue skies this time of year!

I tell out-of-state relatives and friends that summer is NOT the time to visit us here in Florida due to the humidity, extremely high temps, and the rainy season. October through May are the best times to vist my state, in my humble opinion.

It's True! I'm Older!

Is it ladylike to tell my age? The lines of etiquette have been so blurred these days. You know, it seems there's no longer black and white, no right or wrong! So I think I'll take a chance here and just tell ya' -- Saturday was my forty eighth birthday! I was born November 8, 1960, the day JFK was elected as President of the United States.


I had a full day Saturday, which is a good thing, as I was still feeling gloomy due to the outcome of the presidential election. Our church has been in it's missions conference this past week, with Saturday being a busy day of interacting with the missionaries in attendance.



I headed off for an 11:00 Ladies Missionary Tea. I got home around 1:30 p.m. to fix Agustin's lunch and send him off to work. I then set to making my signature Banana Pudding to take to the IN HOME FELLOWSHIP DINNER later in the evening.

Without further adieu, here are some photos of how I spent my birthday.

Some of the gifts I received.

A crystal Christmas ornament.

Three C.D. s. A friend's sister is the artist.

Some "unmentionables" LOL

Body care, scrapbooking goodies, and sugar free Jelly Belly jellybeans!

Here are some of the ladies gathered at our Saturday morning tea with missionary wives as special guests. (They're on the far right end of the table.) We had several tables squeezed into our small fellowship hall at church. When our Christian day school grew in number, we were forced to partition off half of the fellowship hall for school offices and a few more classrooms. What a blessing! That's a "good" problem to have to deal with.

More church friends.



More ladies enjoying Christian fellowship.

Future wives and moms! Possibly missionaries?




More ladies sharing tea.

Here are the gals that sat at my table. What a great group of girls these sisters are. They're all homeschooled and so musically talented! They performed the special music after tea, before the missionary wives each took turns speaking to us.

Each missionary wife shared her unique perspective about her and her spouse's ministry. We had representatives from Batswana, Guam, and the Ivory Coast. Our key note speaker was a pastor's wife from right here in the USA, (I think from Arkansa) Mrs. Twila Jones. My heart was truly pricked and moved as Sarah Le Clercq shared with us just how much the kindness shown to her two small sons was so appreciated. As a mother, she wanted to give her kids a NORMAL life. She now realizes the life her boys are embarking on is so much better than NORMAL! See my sister's post HERE to get a clearer picture on what I mean by "better than normal!"

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE LINK, IT WILL BLESS YOUR HEART!

You see, her little family is on deputation, which involves much traveling and much time in the car. This dear lady is also pregnant, due in February. She wept as she tried to share her heart with us. It is always a blessing to my heart to see how godly people respond to Christian love.This dear lady was treated to a day spa and admitted it was her first time ever to receive a pedicure. Once again, God reminded me how I take SO MUCH for granted in my life.

Isn't this a sweet little teacup and saucer I brought home? Each lady in attendance brought a teacup and saucer. These were set up on the serving table so that each lady could choose the cup they would like to keep! I chose this Christmas one since we are quickly moving into that season!

My sons called to wish me a Happy Birthday. That brought a smile.

To close out the day, the IN HOME FELLOWSHIP DINNER was

a fun, casual time spent in the home of one of our deacons. Three families in our church hosted the dinners. Pastor assigned a missionary family to each one of the host homes. We were honored to have the key speaker of the week dine with us. We gathered around the grand piano in the living room and sang several hymns. It was GLORIOUS! The acoustics were phenomenal as our voices harmonized throughout the house and onto the lanai where the overflow was.

My favorite hymn sung was "Just A Closer Walk With Thee". To close the evening, Pastor Clark gave a devotional, encouraging us to get the gospel out, to reach lives for Christ. Stressing that our only hope for this country is Christ, not government.

I then came home and awaited the return of my husband. He has promised me a dinner out on his next day off.

So there you have it, a recap of my birthday!

I'M SITTING HERE, WEEPING FOR MY COUNTRY!

I never expected that watching the O*bama's arrival at the White House, greeted so pleasantly by my President and his gracious wife, would have such an impact on me. I immediately began tearing up, then sobbing outwardly. Fortunately Shane is not home, so I sit here alone wiping my eyes, boo hooing and wiping my nose as I try to type here. I suppose if Shane were here, I would have been able to keep my emotions in check. When the two men walked from the colonnade into the door of the oval office, another burst of tears for me. It was as though I were looking at a spiritual light and darkness walking into that office. O*bama has already promised to reverse some very important executive orders which President Bush signed. One being the Freedom of Choice Act which removes practically all restrictions on abortions. Of course, the O*bama folks call it "Family Planning", as all liberals do, trying to take away the ugliness of killing innocent lives. I'm weeping for my country because it appears she is continuing down a road that isn't pretty, and the direction certainly isn't godly.

As the two men chat in the oval office, I hope and pray that some of Mr. O*bama's cockiness and arrogance melt away as he realizes what a burden has been on our beloved President's shoulders since 9-11. I pray that President Bush's true heart is exposed to this new kid on the block. I'm also hopeful that President Bush can in some way testify about God's grace in his life and share a testimony or two with the President Elect.

I'm also praying for the two ladies meeting in the residence at this moment. May God have the glory from all that transpires at the White House today. Hopefully Michel*e O*bama will become as gracious as Mrs. Bush has been.

I want so badly to appreciate and enjoy this historical event of our nation being the first anglo country to elect a president of color. However, I can't get past the facts. We now have a man, soon taking the highest office in the land, who so boldly embraces abortion and Planned Parenthood, big(ger) government, and socialism! PEOPLE, HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU THINK I CAN CONTINUE TO HOMESCHOOL MY CHILD WITHOUT THREATS?

As my country seems to be trying so desperately to align with Europe, my concerns run deep. They tried socialism and discovered it didn't work all that well. They actually have turned slightly to the right, trying some of America's great ideas.

I'm on my knees daily asking God to grant me the proper attitude for my new president. I am proud that my nation has a history of peaceful transitions. I'm so proud to hear that President Bush is working so hard to make this transition during war time, as glitch free as possible. Remember he and his wife weren't welcomed into the White House in quite the same way. Some hateful Clinton aids left things a mess, a very immature action, even removed the w's from computer keyboards. I sure hope all involved in the transition are more respectful than that. Then I trust the O*bama's, when they leave the White House in 2012, will remember the graciousness of the Bush's today!!!

A Comment From Marie Today

I just read the following comment and now have tears running down my cheeks.

"I have not read Pam's blog since just before my loving husband went home to be with Jesus. I have been so humbled by the outpouring of love from friends and family and even those that I do not know personally but share our Lord and Savior. I know I am only 3 weeks into this new life God has in store for me and as I write through tears, please know that God has given me a peace that does pass all understanding. People have said, "you are so strong". I don't feel strong but my God is strong! Please continue to pray for my children. I asked my 16 year old son last night how he was doing and he said, "Mom, I have come to terms with it. I think we can get through this only because we are Christians." We had a discussion on how people who do not know the Lord and do not have the assurance of eternal life can manage. I know that knowing Scott is wrapped in the arms of his heavenly Father makes it easier for me to explain it to my 9 year old twins. They know that God came and took Daddy's soul to heaven with him at the very moment he collided with the drunk driver. They also know that we live in an imperfect world in which sin abounds and that sin can cause death but that God is in control. They know that they will see their Daddy again one day. My 14 year old daughter has had her moments and questions but I think time and love will heal her. Again, thank you to all who have lifted us up and Pam - I love you. "

My Thoughts As I Try to Remain Cheerful...

Whatcha' think about this?

You betcha'!!!
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Now a blast from the past!

I had forgotten just how awesome he was, until I read and remembered some of the stuff he said... and stood for .



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'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.'

- Ronald Reagan


'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

- Ronald Reagan


'The trouble with our liberal friends are not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.'

- Ronald Reagan


'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.'
- Ronald Reagan


'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.'

- Ronald Reagan


'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal

government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.'
- Ronald Reagan


'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.'
- Ronald Reagan


'The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.'

- Ronald Reagan


'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.'

- Ronald Reagan


'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.'

- Ronald Reagan


'Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.'

- Ronald Reagan


'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'

- Ronald Reagan



'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.'
- Ronald Reagan

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And I keep reminding myself of this:

GOD HAS A PLAN!!!

We Voted Early...

last Wednesday to be exact. It felt strange but boy oh, am I glad to not be standing in long lines today! The neighbor's ranch - YAY!

My husband NEVER puts bumper stickers on our cars. This year, he made an exclusion!

Guess who I voted for!

(Notice the Mickey Mouse ears) Shane says: "Hey Acorn paid me in cheese to vote!"

Shane participated in an online election at one of our curriculum websites. He even took time to answer the exit poll questions. They provided the buttons to print out as proof. This one resides proudly on our fridge door.

This Is One Test I'm Happy to Score Low On!

Barack is very disappointed with me!


I only scored 25 on the Obama Test