On Thanksgiving we usually go around the table and all say what we are thankful for.
Richard: I am thankful for my wife, (that's me) for my kids and my family. For Gods provision, That God loves us unconditionally and for His protection.
Cherie: For my husband, (Richard) for my kids, That my kids are serving God, for my salvation, Gods love, and that God is always with us watching over us and keeping us safe.
Destinie: For having 2 parents who love me, for Jesus, that I have a place to live, for all my family, God's love, for the gas prices going down.
Josiah: for my family, that I have a place to live, for the lowering gas prices, and that I have 2 parents ONE MALE & ONE FEMALE!!!
Leave it to Josiah to make us laugh!!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Persimmon Cookies
Well, Since my last post was about persimmon Cookies, I figured I might as well post a recipe! My Son made some this evening, they were delicious and my house smells like Grandma's house!
INGREDIENTS
* 2 ripe persimmons, pureed
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup butter (room tempurature)
* 1 cup raisins
* 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
* 1 tsp. vanilla
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Dissolve baking soda in persimmon pulp and set aside.
Sift flour, spices and salt together, set aside.
Cream together butter or margarine and sugar until fluffy,
beat in egg and persimmon. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir
in nuts and raisins.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15
minutes.
INGREDIENTS
* 2 ripe persimmons, pureed
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup butter (room tempurature)
* 1 cup raisins
* 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
* 1 tsp. vanilla
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Dissolve baking soda in persimmon pulp and set aside.
Sift flour, spices and salt together, set aside.
Cream together butter or margarine and sugar until fluffy,
beat in egg and persimmon. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir
in nuts and raisins.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15
minutes.
When life gives you bitter persimmons, make cookies!
My grandma's kitchen was a happy gathering place for me and my cousins. We would spend weekends with her and she was always making something good to eat. One day, I remember seeing bowl of beautiful reddish orange pieces of fruit on the kitchen table. So, with our mouths watering, my cousin and I took a big bite of that shiny delicious looking fruit. To our surprise, that piece of fruit sure did not taste as good as it looked! In fact, we puckered up so fast and made the ugliest faces. Grandma Andy walked into the kitchen and she laughed at the surprised looks on our faces as we bit into the most bitter and nasty tasting piece of fruit we had ever had. I asked what they were, Grandma said they were persimmons and she would be making cookies with them. With disgust on our faces we both knew what the other was thinking. NO WAY! I will not eat one single persimmon cookie!
Well, as they baked we were amazed that such a horrible piece of fruit could omit such a wonderful aroma! So, long story short, knowing Grandma would never give us a yucky cookie, we tasted them. We ate them faster than she could bake them! Wow! Grandma's hands could make anything taste good. Even something that taste so disgustingly bitter.
Sometimes, we can be just like that persimmon. We can be such bitter people that we make others pucker in disgust, with our negativity and glass half empty attitude.
Has something made you bitter? Has your bitterness caused your relationships with others to suffer? or maybe you have not even realized that is the case.
Give it all to God . . . your pain, resentment, anger, disappointments and whatever other feelings you've harbored that have made you bitter. Put yourself in his hands; let him work in your lives so that when others are around you, they will be drawn to God through the sweet aroma that will permeate from your life.
God's hand's can make anything good. He can turn your bitterness to JOY! And when life gives you bitter persimmons, make cookies!
Well, as they baked we were amazed that such a horrible piece of fruit could omit such a wonderful aroma! So, long story short, knowing Grandma would never give us a yucky cookie, we tasted them. We ate them faster than she could bake them! Wow! Grandma's hands could make anything taste good. Even something that taste so disgustingly bitter.
Sometimes, we can be just like that persimmon. We can be such bitter people that we make others pucker in disgust, with our negativity and glass half empty attitude.
Has something made you bitter? Has your bitterness caused your relationships with others to suffer? or maybe you have not even realized that is the case.
Give it all to God . . . your pain, resentment, anger, disappointments and whatever other feelings you've harbored that have made you bitter. Put yourself in his hands; let him work in your lives so that when others are around you, they will be drawn to God through the sweet aroma that will permeate from your life.
God's hand's can make anything good. He can turn your bitterness to JOY! And when life gives you bitter persimmons, make cookies!
Friday, November 21, 2008
"The Cellout"
"The Cellout" is a production which is happening this Friday, November 21, Through Sunday, November 22, 2008. My kids J and D are both appearing in this wonderful historical depiction of Christians who were executed for their faith during the rein of Roman Emperor Nero. The setting takes place in a cell where the cast members are waiting their turn to be sent out into the arena with the Gladiators. For those of you who know me, please feel free to call me for more information, if you are interested in attending the play. My son J has a lead role and this is his first non-musical drama. He and his sister D are really excited to be in this play.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Is It In You
I tried and tried to post this video, but I just could not figure out how to do it. So, just click on the link, it has a great message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYI_aOyCn9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYI_aOyCn9Y
I Only Have a Nickel!
As I was cleaning up today I noticed something shiny on the floor, looking closer, I realized it was a nickel. Suddenly, my mind was triggered and took me back to when I was about 9 years old and in the fourth grade. I remember I used to walk home from school now and then with one of my friends. We used to pass by one of those old fashioned hamburger places, you know, the ones with the greasy buns and juicy burgers (yummy!). One day, on the way home from school, my friend and I decided to stop and ask how much the ice-cream cones were. The man told us how much they were, I thanked him and started walking away. He called to me and asked me, "how much money do you have?" I said, I only have a dime. He called me back and said, "oh! I forgot, today the ice-cream is on sale for a dime, what kind would you like?" Well, my friend and I were pleasantly surprised! we both had a dime! so, we both ordered chocolate.
The next time we passed the hamburger place, we stopped and asked if the ice-creams were still dime, we were happy to hear they were! Needless to say, whenever we planned to walk home from school, we made sure we had a dime in our pocket.
One day as we passed the hamburger joint, it was obvious we were not stopping. The man called to us and said, "Hey! no ice-cream today?" I replied, "No, I only have a nickel" The man smiled and said, " Guess what! today the ice-creams are only a nickel!" Wow! today is my lucky day, I thought. So we walked back, and Yes, I ordered chocolate.
As I got older, I realized, the ice-cream cones were probably never a dime or even a nickel. The cost was what I had to offer at the time. This reminds me of how God is with us. We come to God with little to offer, and yet, it is just enough for God to bestow upon us, His FULL measure of MERCY and GRACE.
I may only have a nickel, but my Father is a King! a Mansion Builder... and I live rich in His BLESSINGS, His MERCY and GRACE.
Oh! by the way, I'd better go back and pick up that nickel!
The next time we passed the hamburger place, we stopped and asked if the ice-creams were still dime, we were happy to hear they were! Needless to say, whenever we planned to walk home from school, we made sure we had a dime in our pocket.
One day as we passed the hamburger joint, it was obvious we were not stopping. The man called to us and said, "Hey! no ice-cream today?" I replied, "No, I only have a nickel" The man smiled and said, " Guess what! today the ice-creams are only a nickel!" Wow! today is my lucky day, I thought. So we walked back, and Yes, I ordered chocolate.
As I got older, I realized, the ice-cream cones were probably never a dime or even a nickel. The cost was what I had to offer at the time. This reminds me of how God is with us. We come to God with little to offer, and yet, it is just enough for God to bestow upon us, His FULL measure of MERCY and GRACE.
I may only have a nickel, but my Father is a King! a Mansion Builder... and I live rich in His BLESSINGS, His MERCY and GRACE.
Oh! by the way, I'd better go back and pick up that nickel!
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