This is simple, name 15 authors you love or who have impacted your life. Don't think too hard. Here is my list:
1. Louisa May Alcott
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. Bess Streeter Aldrich
4. Sally Clarkson
5. Mary Pride
6. Elizabeth Elliot
7. Frank Perretti
8. Randy Alcorn
9. C.S. Lewis
10. Tom Clancy
11. Francine Rivers
12. Karen Andreola
13. Debbie Macomber
14. Fannie Flagg
15. Karen Kingsbury
Photo Credit #ILoveLakeMac My little spot in the world...Lake McConaughy. This is where we live work and play. The people here are solid gold, couldn't ask for any better.
Monday, December 27
Sunday, December 26
A trying week...
This was the week of the little man's surgery. They removed part of the muscle from his leg...cut the muscle above both eyes and reattached the drafted muscle. He has stitches on his leg and over both eyes. He's not supposed to be using that leg until Tuesday...hmm, that's been impossible. We also have to put this ge like stuff in his eyes 4 times a day and cover his eyes with plastic guards at night so he doesn't pull the stitches out. Needless to say, having to watch him like a hawk and keep him from hurting himself has me a nervous wreck. But I don't want to have to put him through this again, so yes, I'm being a bit paranoid about not letting him touch those stitches. Not the best Christmas for the little guy, but he seems to be doing good. Too good perhaps. I think if he hurt a bit more he'd quit trying to run...and jump...and give me a heart attack! 
Tuesday night after surgery
Wednesday morning after surgery. He looked pretty good. I think they are more red and swollen now than they were then.
Saturday, December 25
Eggnog Punch
This is a favorite recipe with my family and it's super easy to make. It has 3 ingredients.
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 quart eggnog
2 liter bottle Sprite
Mix the ice cream and eggnog until nice and creamy, add the sprite.
Delicious!
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 quart eggnog
2 liter bottle Sprite
Mix the ice cream and eggnog until nice and creamy, add the sprite.
Delicious!
Merry Christmas!
"Merry Christmas everyone
Do you know God’s loving Son? Who was born in Bethlehem
Shepherds came to worship Him.
Come let us worship,
Come let us worship,
Come let us worship,
God’s Son, the King of Kings.
Wise men guided by the star
As they traveled from afar
Came to see the Baby small
Let us worship one and all"
Wednesday, December 22
Adoption Reflections
Today is the day. One year ago today we were in court and became the legal parents of our two little guys. Of course in our hearts they were "ours" long before that.
Today I had plenty of time to think on the long drive home. It seems like I meet more and more grandparents who are raising their grandkids. We decided to adopt for several reasons, but mainly because our daughter and her ex-husband asked us to make it permanent. It was hard...it's still hard. I know this has been hard on our daughter, and yet in a strange way I think it's made it easier to move on with her life.
Would we do it again? If the circumstances were the same yes we would.
Do we have regrets? You bet. Once these little guys came to live with us our lives took a total different direction from where we were headed. There are still times I mourn lost dreams...but the past is the past, better to leave it behind.
Today we celebrate the one year anniversary of parenthood- The Sequel.
Today I had plenty of time to think on the long drive home. It seems like I meet more and more grandparents who are raising their grandkids. We decided to adopt for several reasons, but mainly because our daughter and her ex-husband asked us to make it permanent. It was hard...it's still hard. I know this has been hard on our daughter, and yet in a strange way I think it's made it easier to move on with her life.
Would we do it again? If the circumstances were the same yes we would.
Do we have regrets? You bet. Once these little guys came to live with us our lives took a total different direction from where we were headed. There are still times I mourn lost dreams...but the past is the past, better to leave it behind.
Today we celebrate the one year anniversary of parenthood- The Sequel.
Saturday, December 18
I'm busy, busy, dreadfully busy...
Can anyone identify what movie that comes from?
Right now it's the theme song for my days. I've been busy sewing Christmas quilts...time is short and I'm running behind...so posting has been last on my to do list! :)
Right now it's the theme song for my days. I've been busy sewing Christmas quilts...time is short and I'm running behind...so posting has been last on my to do list! :)
Saturday, December 4
Cranberry Eggnog Muffins
I found this recipe over at the HomeBased Mom. This is probably one of the best muffins I've ever eaten. While baking the whole house smelled like Christmas.
Even if these are a couple of days old you can pop them in the microwave and for about 10 seconds and they taste like they're just out of the oven.
2¼ C flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 C plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
2 large eggs
¾ C eggnog
5 1/3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. almond extract
1½ C coarsely chopped cranberries
1 C white chocolate chips
Streusel Topping:
½ C sugar
½ C all-purpose flour
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, slightly softened
½ C chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line 14-16 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a bowl, add together the flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine. In a large bowl, add together 1 cup of sugar, eggs, eggnog, melted butter and almond extract. Stir until well combined. Add in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Do not over mix.
Chop the cranberries. I used my mini food processor and just pulsed a few times. Toss the chopped cranberries with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and fold into the batter along with the white chocolate chips. Fill the prepared muffin lines 2/3 full.
Streusel topping:
Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or a fork until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms. Add nuts if using. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the muffin batter.
Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or a until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Even if these are a couple of days old you can pop them in the microwave and for about 10 seconds and they taste like they're just out of the oven.
2¼ C flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 C plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
2 large eggs
¾ C eggnog
5 1/3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. almond extract
1½ C coarsely chopped cranberries
1 C white chocolate chips
Streusel Topping:
½ C sugar
½ C all-purpose flour
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, slightly softened
½ C chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line 14-16 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a bowl, add together the flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine. In a large bowl, add together 1 cup of sugar, eggs, eggnog, melted butter and almond extract. Stir until well combined. Add in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Do not over mix.
Chop the cranberries. I used my mini food processor and just pulsed a few times. Toss the chopped cranberries with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and fold into the batter along with the white chocolate chips. Fill the prepared muffin lines 2/3 full.
Streusel topping:
Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or a fork until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms. Add nuts if using. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the muffin batter.
Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or a until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
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