Happy Thanksgiving!

Something cute for today...

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy 

Have never a lump. 

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs! 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

A Special Birthday

Blogger is giving me so much trouble posting this!

The formatting is just not working.  

I hope it shows up okay for you...

I don't often mention the Colonel's parents in my blog 

and that's because both have gone on to heaven many years ago. 

Actually I never met Phil's mom, she passed away a few short 

months 

before Phil and I reconnected and started dating. 

I was able to meet his dad but never truly got close to him.  

He was sort of a reserved person and he passed away 

when Olivia was just a baby.

But the man is very close to us in many ways 

even though he is now gone. 

You see, our Olivia reminds my husband so much of his father. 

They both share a sense of humor that is lost on some people...

very dry and to the point. 

Olivia is very intelligent and often very quiet, as Phil's father was, 

but once you get to talk with Olivia you'll see what a wonderful, 

intelligent and funny person she is...just like Phil's father.

I sometimes wonder how my husband can bear the fact that both 

of his parents left this world when 

he was still so young, 

only 20 with his mother and just 29 with his father. 

I know the grief that I carry for my father and I had him 

for over 40 years in my life. 

To lose both your parents at such an early age 

is beyond 

my comprehension. 

Neither of them got to see their youngest son achieve the rank of 

Lt. Colonel in the army.

I am sure they would have been 

as proud of him as I am.

My husband often says that when times are tough for 

our family he is able to find strength in the example that 

his father showed him all throughout his life.

A strength that is carried on through his son 

and now through his granddaughter 

and even his grandson Michael who carries his grandfather's name.

So today is Gerald Christensen's birthday, I'm sure 

he's enjoying a wonderful celebration in heaven 

with his wife Sylvia and now my father 

who is letting Gerald know what a wonderful husband and father 

his youngest son turned out to be, thanks to his great example. 

Happy Birthday Dad!

What I'm Thankful For...

A different type of "Thankful List." 

I am thankful for:

The mess to clean up after a party because it

 means I have been surrounded by friends.

The taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed, well the Colonel is!

My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot 

because it means I am capable of walking.

All the complaining I hear about our government 

because it means we have freedom of speech.

That lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear.

The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby 

(I just wish they could use a towel more than once!)

My huge heating bill because it means that I am warm.

(Although the kids would disagree.  They always want the thermostat raised)

Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day 

because it means that I have been productive.

My Favorite...

The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours 

because it means that I am alive!

Let's all take a few moments to remind ourselves that we can always find something to be thankful for, not just now during Thanksgiving, but all year long!

Enjoy!

Comments...

"The military is an excellent way to keep the 

stupid members of society off the streets.

He will be gone for a year, but if he is injured or killed he will be home sooner."

The above quote is what someone commented about my last post.  

The post where I was talking about the Colonel leaving in a few weeks.

To go to Afghanistan.

To fight for our freedom.

Below is what the Colonel had to say:

"You may one day realize the value of those who man the wall on your behalf.  

But first you will have to move out of your mother's house."

I think that says it all.  

Oh, the name of this person's blog is called

 "The Crap Blog Detective."

I guess he needs to start with his own blog. 

Who Said It?

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle...

but sometimes I wish He didn't trust me so much."

Yes, some of you guessed right!

Mother Theresa is the originator of the above quote.

I have to come to love it!

Especially with what's going on in my life right now.

The Colonel reports to Ft. Benning, GA on December 12th. 

Not sure when he leaves for Afghanistan.  

I know you're all thinking the same thing as me...

Can't they wait for him till after Christmas?

But the Army works on a different schedule than we do.  

And I understand.

What's difficult for me is dealing with the reality that he'll be gone for a year.

You see I've already lost an important man in my life, my father, 

and his absence has created a hole in my heart.  

And now Phil is leaving.  

And the hole in my heart is slowly growing.  

It's Thursday...

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle...

but sometimes I wish He didn't trust me so much."

Does anyone know who said that?  

Leave me a comment!

And of course I do!

I'm off to the cemetery to visit my dad. 

Enjoy your day!

I'm Back!

The Colonel and I went on a little trip!

Every year the youth group at church go on a retreat.  

This year BOTH our children went...so we decided to go away as well.

We went to Lancaster, PA, just under 2 hours from our home.  

Lancaster is famous for its large population of Amish people.  

Here's the hotel we stayed at...

Entry...

The Colonel on his computer.  

Work did call him a few times...

The view from our room...

Another view...

A museum we visited...

You all remember that I'm married to a Colonel?  

Yes, there he is waiting for me to take the picture so I can join 

him in this interesting museum...

A picture of some of the displays...

I really was trying to get the museum with the canon and all of a sudden this

 Amish buggy came by and just happened to get in my picture!

We had a great time!

We did tons of shopping, or I should say, looking. 

I only purchased two things, a cookbook and a painting to 

hang over our fireplace.

We did a little Christmas shopping for family as well.

We spent Friday night watching a few videos and 

enjoying some pizza in our room. 

Basically we just relaxed and had a wonderful time.

Enjoy your Monday!

Not a Holiday Here

Since moving to Pennsylvania there have been a few changes I needed to adjust to, 

like Friday night football games. 

I was born and raised in Queens, NY.

We didn't have a football team at our high school. 

I had no idea how important Friday night football was until moving here.

The whole town turns out for a game. 

I've been to a few and to be honest with you, 

it's just sometimes too cold to sit on a hard metal bench for 

hours on end waiting for your team to win. 

The other thing is the Monday after Thanksgiving...

the schools are closed for...(get ready)...the first day of hunting. 

Can you believe that? 

It's like a religion out here. 

The schools are not closed for Veteran's Day TODAY 

because they have off for the first day of hunting. 

When I first found out that the schools are closed the Monday after Thanksgiving

 instead of Veteran's Day, 

I was quite confused.

 

There is something not quite right about forgoing remembering all the 

men and women who sacrificed their lives for this country in order 

for fathers to take their sons hunting on opening day. 

I've had to explain this "day off" quite a few times in the past years and

 know I'm not alone in thinking,

 "WHAT?" 

Have we come this far in our society that we ignore a day to reflect on the sacrifices so 

many people have made for our country just so school age children can go hunting? 

I mean, if it's that important, just keep your kids out of school on the first day of hunting and 

let's go back to remembering Veteran's Day! 

And to all you hunters out there reading my blog, 

I have nothing against hunting...just think our priorities are little messed up here.

I hope all the Veterans know how much your 

sacrifices are appreciated.

 

The Colonel and I salute you!

And It's a BIG ONE!

Our latest project...

No seriously,  it is a huge project.

We're adding on to our house. 

Making our dining room bigger.

We're opening up the entry from the living room into the dining room.

We've been saving for quite a long time to do this...a LONG TIME.

And I do mean saving.  

And it's almost done!

Foundation going in...

Framing going up.  

There will be a door leading from the new addition onto the back porch...

Entry from dining room into living room BEFORE...

AFTER...

New addition...

Entry from living room into dining room BEFORE...

AFTER...

The Colonel is home for a few days this week.  

He's painting tomorrow.  

The hardwood floor gets installed on Monday.

And exactly what will I be doing today?

What any good wife would do...

 I'm going shopping for new curtains!

Enjoy your day!

Spiritual Sunday

Here's a beautiful promise:

Psalms 32:7

"You are my hiding place; 

you will protect me from trouble 

and surround me with songs of deliverance." 

       Selah

When I was a little girl growing up hearing my father preach, he once devoted every Wednesday Night Bible Study to the book of Psalms.

One Psalm, every Wednesday. 

Of course, he split Psalms 119 into sections.

I don't know how long this took for him to 

"Preach his way through the Psalms"

But I do remember enjoying these sermons. 

In fact I enjoyed them so much when my dad was packing up his library to move I asked for his sermon books on Psalms.

They now sit in my library and I love to open them up and read them and picture my dad studying for hours over the sermons he wrote.

Selah.

I remember my father explaining the meaning of this word found so frequently in the book of Psalms.

He simply said, "Think on that."

So I will do as my father instructed me many years ago,

I will think on the above verse

and not be so fearful of the coming year. 

Thank you Daddy!

Please take some time to read other encouraging posts over at Spiritual Sunday.  

Enjoy your day!

Powerful

Powerful, beautiful, true...

One day I will rise and meet my Saviour. 

One day I will hear the angels sing, "Worthy is the Lamb."

What a glorious day that will be!

Apple Dumplings

I found this recipe on the Pioneer Woman's Blog.  

I love her blog.  I love her recipes.  

They're so easy to follow and she posts tons of pictures along the way.  

These are the best apple dumplings I've had in ages.  

And they're so easy. 

HOWEVER, Pioneer Woman uses 2 sticks of butter!  

The first time I made them I followed her recipe all the way. 

But thought, too much butter, too fattening!

I decided to use much less...just 1/2 a stick of butter.  

The original recipe calls for 6 oz. of Mountain Dew.  

I used about 4 oz. 

Here's what you need:

2 cans of crescent rolls

2 apples

cinnamon and sugar mixture

1/2 stick butter

4 oz. Mountain Dew

Peel, core and slice the apples.  

Place about 2 to 3 apple slices at the top of one crescent roll, 

sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar...

Roll the crescent roll up...

Place crescent roll in a 9 X 13 pan sprayed with Pam...

Melt the butter in the microwave.  

Pour the butter on top and around the dumplings.  

Sprinkle the tops with more of the cinnamon and sugar mixture.  

Now, take your 4 oz. of Mountain Dew and pour around the dumplings.  

Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes until golden brown...  

Don't they look delicious...

YUMMY!

Feel free to add ice cream!

Life Just Got Interesting

The Colonel called with some news last Wednesday. 

Guess who's going to Afghanistan? 

Come on, take a guess.

Okay, I'll give you a hint.

The Colonel.

How long will he be gone?

Oh, just a year.

WHAT?

Yes, a year.  

He reports to Ft. Benning, GA on December 12th.

For those of you counting, that's in about 5 weeks.

He was home over the weekend and we told the kids. 

They seem to be doing okay with everything. 

Me...well that's another story.

I'm dealing with it.  It's beginning to sink in.

I know it's going to be a hard year, but the Lord gave me a promise.

It's found in Joshua 1:9

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Thank you for your prayers!