The Sounds of Silence

It is a cold, wet and foggy morning here in the city with the small town charm.  As I was walking this morning I noticed how quiet it was.  There were no kids hurrying to the bus stop, no one in the park but me and just an occasional car would drive by.  Just silence!  Have you ever noticed the sounds that are within silence?  I had never really paid any attention to them.  If you listen closely you can hear the leaf falling to the ground, the purr of a cat sitting on a fence post, the flapping of bird wings as they take flight, the rustle of the leaves as you walk.  When you stop and think about it God created all this silence for us to enjoy, to breathe in His essence.  The next time you are out walking take in the silence that God created and be One with Him!

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

The Light of Jesus

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

So let the light of Jesus reflect through you and others will see Jesus living in you!

Chocolate Coconut Pie

Ingredients

2 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped

2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping, divided

1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust

3/4 cup Baker's Angel Flake Coconut

1 1/2 cups cold milk

1 pkg (3.4 oz) Jell-O Coconut Cream Flavor Instant Pudding

Microwave chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.  Stir until chocolate is completely melted.  Add 1 cup Cool Whip and 1/4 cup coconut; stir until well blended.  Spread onto bottom of crust.  Beat milk and pudding mix with whisk 2 minutes; spoon over chocolate layer in crust.  Top with remaining Cool Whip and coconut.  Refrigerate 4 hours.

Happy Anniversary Gary

For the cozy mornings,

For the warm winters,

For understanding the silences,

For the silly pampering,

For the surprise hugs,

For the stolen kisses,

For being all that you are,

All I can say is I deeply, deeply love you,

And it's a blessing to have you in my life.

Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Me

Changes

Fall has arrived in the city with the small town charm.  The temperatures are dropping as are the leaves and we have even had a couple of mornings with a little frost on the ground.  I am so enjoying my morning walks as I take in all the beauty God has created for us to enjoy.  As I walk I can see the changes taking place each day as the leaves start to change from green to their golden brown, red, and orange colors.  This got me to thinking that there is One we can count on and He will never change.  He will always be there to guide and lead us through no matter what comes our way.  There have been so many changes in my life this year that I don't think I would have made it if I didn't have Jesus walking beside me and carrying me at times.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  

Hebrews 13:8

Steamed Milk

Steam Milk Without an Espresso Machine

Things you will need

• cold milk
• glass jar with cover
• microwave

Instructions

Pour 1/2 cup of milk into a 16 ounce glass jar.

What kind of milk should you use? That depends. When you steam milk, the milk foam is stabilized by the whey proteins. Skim milk is usually fortified with protein, so you get more stabilization, which means richer foam. On the other hand, whole milk has more flavor.  Either way, the milk should be cold, but it doesn't have to be ice cold.

Cover the jar and shake vigorously for 30 to 45 seconds.  You'll start with big milk bubbles, but it won't be long before the air really gets mixed in with the milk. You can stop shaking when the milk is about doubled in volume.

Remove the cover and place jar in the microwave. Microwave the milk on high for 30-45 seconds. Keep your eye on the jar of milk while it's steaming. You don't want it to get too hot, or it will foam out and go flat. The jar should be hot but not so hot that you need a pot holder to handle it.

Pour milk into prepared drink and spoon on the milk foam.  That's it, you're done. If you're making a cappuccino, pour the milk into your coffee, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon on the foam into a pretty cap. If you're making a macchiato, scoop up a spoonful of foam and plop it into the middle of your coffee.  Dust with cinnamon and enjoy!

Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread Latte

“If you have an espresso maker in your home or office, you can whip up this spicy seasonal favorite.”  Espresso coffee is mixed with gingerbread syrup, and steamed milk.

Ingredients

2 fluid ounces espresso coffee

2 tablespoons gingerbread flavored syrup

½ cup milk, steamed

1/8 cup whipped cream

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 pinch ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla powder

Directions

In a coffee mug, combine espresso coffee with flavored syrup.  Pour in steamed milk.  Top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla powder.

***See recipe for Steamed Milk.

Allrecipes.com

Eggnog Latte

Eggnog Latte

Prep Time: 4 Minutes                                  Ready in: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 Minute                                    Servings: 1

“It wouldn’t be Christmas without one (or several!!!).  If you have a home espresso machine, this is a great holiday coffee treat.”

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup 2% milk

2/3 Cup Eggnog

1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger brewed espresso

1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions

Pour milk and eggnog into a steaming pitcher and heat to between 145 degrees to 165 degrees using the steaming wand.  Brew the shot of espresso, then add to mug.  Pour the steamed milk and eggnog into the mug, using a spoon to hold back the foam.  Spoon foam over the top.  Sprinkle nutmeg on top of the foam.

allrecipes.com 

No Greater Love

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love."   John 15:9

All we are and all we have is by the love of God!  The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend. 

A. W. Tozer

A Salute to Our Veterans

A simple Thank You does not seem enough for the sacrifices you and your family made for our country.  But I do Thank You for your willingness to serve and protect our great nation so that we may live in a country that is free.

Thank You!!! 

Believe

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  Mark 11:24

If you have a special need today, focus your full attention on the goodness and greatness of your Father rather than on the size of your need.  Your need is so small compared to His ability to meet it.

Family

The time we spend with Marianne, Stephen, Awbrey and Cody is very special to us.   We are so looking forward to spending Christmas with them in Vancouver, WA.  We usually stay through

New Years but won't be able to this year which is disappointing to us.  We have a New Year's Day tradition of going out and taking family portraits so I guess we have to do them right after Christmas this year.  There is one thing we know and that is God is in control and He will work everything out according to the plan He has for our lives.

Praise and Thanksgiving

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.  Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:1-6

Fall has definitely arrived and this morning when I headed out for my walk is was a cool 42 degrees and I thought the sky was clear.  I had completed my 1st lap around the park when I noticed that it was starting to look a little hazy.  As I rounded the corner on my 3rd lap I could see that the haze was in fact fog.  By the time I was on my 4th lap it gotten really foggy, there was a cool dampness and I was wishing I had worn my gloves.

How many times have we let the fog of circumstances cloud our feelings for others?  God's Word tells us to live in harmony and to encourage each other.  Will we always get along?  Not a chance!  We will have differences with those we love but we will come through those differences stronger than ever.  So give praises to God for the trials that come your way and honor Him with thanksgiving!

A Giving Heart

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

God, with all His giving heart, can only give us himself as we recognize the depth of the need in our own lives.

Eugenia Price

Grace

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.  Ephesians 2:7

His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer, His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable. 
Andrew Murray

LHS Class of 63 Girlfriend Luncheon

Ivanell, Cheryl, Sandy, Marie, Shirley, Marcia, Barbara, Lillian

Today I had the honor of hosting our monthly Girlfriend Luncheon.  I love getting together with my girlfriends from highschool as we catch up on what is happening in each other's lives over lunch.  So glad you girls could make and I'll see you next month, December 11,  at Cheryl's Place.

Encourage

Encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

There are times when you don't think you can face another day.  When the circumstances of our lives are so overwhelming that it seems nothing will ever be the same again and we don't know which way to turn.  But there is someone that is always right there with us, lifting us and carrying us when the burdens get to heavy and that is Jesus.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  Without Him I would be so lost and not know what direction to take.  He is my encourager when times get tough. 

What's next Papa?

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! 

Romans 8:15-17

Fun Times

Today our great-nephew Connor came over for a play date with Uncle Gary.  Last year I made a Jedi Robe for Cadon and I am finally getting around to making Connor and Carson's.  So while they are playing games on the X-box I can get the robes sewed together and then fit the boys for length and sleeve length.  Gary and Connor had a great time together and next Wednesday Carson will be coming over for his play date.  Now we can't leave Cadon out, so he will have his play date and I will be making a Darth Vader Cape for him.  I love these 3 little guys so much.  Here are some pictures of Gary and Connor from today.

Reach High

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

God's light is always shining through so look for the light behind every shadow. 

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.  Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

Pamela Vaul Stark

Happy Anniversary Jeff & Merle

Happy Anniversary to you,

Happy Anniversary to you.

Happy Anniversary Jeff & Merle.

Happy Anniversary to you.

May you feel God's love all around you today as you celebrate your love for each other and your lives together.

Running From God

Have you every run away from God?  Of course you have just as we all have.  God calls each of us to work for Him and the work He has for each of us is different.  Sometimes we fight with all our might the work that God has for us and we run in the opposite direction as fast as we can just as Jonah did.  I found myself in Jonah's shoes last week and was fighting with every breath what God was telling me to do.  Circumstances that are taking place in my life right now is not how I planned to spend retirement.  Retirement is supposed to be the time of carefree fun, doing what you want to do when you want to do it and going where you want to go when you want to go.  As I said I was running just as fast as I could and complaining all along the way.  When in fact God was telling me that these circumstances was a ministry He had called me to and that ministry was a Caregiver.  So I I am going to do the ministry God has called me to do just a Jonah did.  Will I do it without complaints?  Probably not but I will do it with His help.  God will give me the strength to complete the tasks before me daily.  He will also put those in mine and Gary's path that will be able to relieve us so that we can get away for some R & R occasionally.  Our God is an awesome God and He will never put more on us than He can handle!

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”  But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.  Jonah 1:1-3