New Year's Eve Feast with Family

"You have to smell and taste your ingredients." says the wise chef. That would be my man. (Hmmm, I wonder if he means all ingredients.) Course, if it's chocolate, whipped cream and peanut butter, I'll taste all the ingredients.

We are all together this New Year's Eve afternoon, eating an early supper before everyone heads off to different activities. Ryan is the only one missing; he is spending the night at my parent's house. The rest of us made the meal in a group effort.

Listening to "Straight No Chaser", the kitchen is bustling with activity. Leonard, Heather, and Aaron are handling the hot foods on the stove, I am making the salad and Amy is doing the dishes. Adrienne is gearing up for a night of no sleep by taking a nap. I love the somewhat organized chaos, the 18 different conversations going on at once, the tangle of too many people in a crowded kitchen, the being together.

The counter is actually empty for 2 seconds.

Leo, Aaron, and Heather

Me and Heather taking a break.

The menu:
                     Roast Chicken
                     Alfredo Noodles
                     Seafood blend (Squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels)

It actually was quite delicious! Maybe next I'll try sushi. Maybe.

                 Stir-fried peppers and onions

Yummy!

                   Tossed Salad with mixed greens                

                   Crusty Ciabatta Bread

Even better smothered in butter...mmmm

                     Brownies a'la Heather
                     Tropical punch blend

Now, 2 hours later, I can say that I tasted all the ingredients...and they were scrumptious. The time we spent together was even better.

Happy New Year!

Dianne

Sleep is Sweet...but so is my cappuccino

I came home from work this morning and just sat in my car. Sometimes I am just so tired and when the sun is shining, making my car warm, I just want to sit there like a cat and soak it in.

And then my family sees me in my car...
                               sleeping....
                               with my mouth open....
                               drooling...
Not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination. At least I wasn't purring.

Our bodies are designed to need rest, but somehow I think that my body should not need as much as everybody else. I would like to think I can survive, even while going 24 hours or more without sleep.

Besides isn't that why coffee was invented?

What do you mean it wasn't?!?!

I can tell I need to sleep. Everything is either ridiculously funny or extremely annoying. I find myself staring at nothing for long periods and can't remember at all what I was thinking about. I am writing this blog and have to keep changing my spelling cause my fingers are either 2 letters ahead or 1 behind.

I found a coffee recipe that sounds heavenly and thought I'd share it with you. Maybe I'll think about making some later when I wake up. Just in time to go back to bed for the night.

Gotta love working night shift!

Enjoy!

Chocolate Cappuccino

For sweet stirrers, prop in peppermint sticks. This homemade treat is far less expensive than in a coffee shop.

Total Time: 10 mins
Servings: Makes 8 servings.
SEE MORE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS RECIPES
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup  whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons  powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup  finely chopped semisweet chocolate or finely chopped milk chocolate
• 1/2 cup  crushed striped round peppermint candies

  
  

  8 cups  hot espresso or very strong coffee  

  
  

  Chocolate curls

  
  

  Directions

  
  

  1

  Beat the whipping cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on low speed until soft peaks form; set aside.

  
  

  2

  Spoon 1 tablespoon each chopped chocolate and peppermint candies into a coffee cup. Add hot espresso. Top with the whipped cream and chocolate curls. Serve at once. Makes 8 servings.

  
  

  Nutrition Facts

  Calories 221, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 88 mg, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 11%, Vitamin C 3%, Calcium 20%, Iron 1%.
  Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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Alarm clock....go away...

It's 4:07 pm and my alarm went off 7 minutes ago and now the series of snooze wake-up calls has begun. I am too tired to even reach over and shut it off, to let it know that I am awake. I think I understand quite well why people throw their alarm clocks across a room, or pound on them to make them stop. Oh, and there it goes again...

Alarm clock. Even the name is annoying. Why would anyone even want something that signifies ALARM! To me, alarm means impending danger, something distressing. No wonder no one wants their alarm clock to go off!

Maybe if it were called an Anticipation Clock or even an Inspiration Device, we would look forward to what the day holds with excitement instead of dread. I wish my wake- up call included coffee and breakfast in bed. Yes, even at 4:00 in the afternoon. All night shift workers will understand.

Maybe when my clock sounds the alarm, it could also have an inspiring quote or verse to get me motivated to fling off the warm covers, bound out of bed, and greet my offspring with a smile. You know, instead of the normal squinty-eyed look that says my eyes would rather be closed, and the grunt that means "I won't be fully awake until after coffee and a shower."

So, as the alarm clock continues to remind me that I am still in bed, I stretch and yawn, stretch again, and think about getting up. At least now I am pondering the possibility.

"Let the morning (or evening, as the case may be) bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalms 143:8

Donny & Marie Barbies!!!

I think the Christmas that stands out to me the most from my childhood, was...

The Year of The Donny and Marie Osmond Barbie dolls

Not only did I get a set, so did each of my sisters. It didn't matter that they were all exactly the same. Somehow, Donny and Marie became whatever and whoever we wanted them to be. And they were never brother and sister. Because we didn't have a lot of Barbies, especially man Barbies, poor Donny had to be the love interest of whatever Barbie was being played with at the time.

We spent endless hours playing with these dolls! Mom made each of us our own set of Barbie clothes (which I still have!) and also helped us make houses out of large cardboard boxes. She made a platform for each box, so that the house had 2 floors in it. We girls cut out pictures from the Sears catalog to decorate the walls and make them light fixtures. We used scrap fabric to make curtains and bedspreads. I hoped we would never outgrow playing with them.

I love looking back and remembering. I even looked up some clips on youtube of the Donny & Marie Show. Kinda cheesy and scripted, but sweet and fun. I don't think I realized, that when the show started, he was 18 and she was 16 years old. 

Nowadays, in the world of technology which is the "normal", I have to admit that I enjoy when I see my children playing or doing something un-technology related. Ryan loves the CARS movies and has been collecting all the little CARS models. He spends hours with them and I find them everywhere (not fun to step on in the dark!). I hope he can look back in 20 years and remember with fondness, the fun he had with a treasured toy. 

"May I have this dance?"

I have the sweetest husband ever!

No, really, I do.

Something I have wanted to learn to do (for a very long time) is learn to ballroom dance. Not the "shake your booty kind of dancing along with all the other parts that shake" dancing, but elegant, classy dancing. Like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Like Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara.
Like George and Mary in "It's A Wonderful Life" (I know, that was The Charleston, but it sure looked fun!)
Like Leonard and Dianne next Spring after some Ballroom Dancing Classes.

Oh yes, you read that correctly; your eyes did not deceive you.
For my Christmas gift, Leonard signed us up for lessons at The Balanced Body Studio and Wellness Center. ( http://balancedbodystudio.com/) It is WAY out of his comfort zone and certainly has never been on his list of life goals.

But he knows it is on mine. He gave me a gift, but not just a gift. It was a sacrifice on his part to give up time and probably some pride to do this with me.

He said I am not to embarrass him by writing about this. So, shhhh....
My intent is not to embarrass him, but to tell the world how much I love the man I am married to.

And next Christmas, we can dance under the mistletoe.

Simple Complexity

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends! From beginning to end, I hope your day is blessed beyond your wildest imaginings.

As I think about Christmas and it's meaning, today more than ever, I realize that what God did in sending Jesus as a baby, was truly beyond my wildest imagining. To think about the very creator of the world, now a helpless human being, being placed in a smelly manger bed, is well, rather unimaginable.

Amidst all the decorations and lights, the music, the food, and the gifts, I hope I don't forget the complexity, as well as the simplicity of what Christmas is.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Complex.

Jesus loves me. Simple.

He loves me enough to die for me so I can be assured of life everlasting. Simple. Complex. Unimaginable.

Take time to read from the Bible today the story of His birth. Luke 1 & 2. Matthew 1 & 2.

Keep it simple.
Ponder the complexity.

Merry Christmas
Love, Dianne

One Baby's Impact on the World

The Torture Photo Session

2011

This morning, 9am.
Be at the tree. 
Look Festive. 
It's Christmas Photo by the Tree time!
No, I don't care what you wear.
Yes, you need to look somewhat presentable.
No, this is not for Christmas cards.
Yes, it will most likely show up on my blog.
No, you can't sit like that for the picture!
Yes, please look like you are enjoying this.

Hang on guys, I can't get the lighting right...

Okay, still trying to figure out the lighting...

Okay, last one. Make it goofy (like they really had to try hard for that!)

And after about 20 pictures, we got 1 or 2 that everyone was looking the right direction, and looking normal...Thank you Adrienne, Aaron, Amy, Heather and Ryan!!!!! I love you bunches and bunches!!!

Home is Where The Heart Is

The gifts are wrapped, the lights are up and for the most part, the cards are either delivered or in the mail. There are just a few that I am trying to find the current address for. You don't realize how much of a mobile society we are until you try to find addresses. (Phone numbers are a whole other ballgame!)

In the 23 years we've been married, we have lived 5 different places.

Our first home was in an apartment over Lura Folk's garage in Springs PA. We were there 3 sweet years. Our marriage started there and we brought our first baby, Adrienne, home to that apartment. I don't have a single photo of the outside of our apartment, but here is just a sample...

Leo and Adrienne...awwwww...reading farming magazines together

That's my man!

The second place we lived was in a trailer down by Leonard's parents. Small home, but large with memories.  Aaron was born while we lived here and so in our little trailer, the 4 of us lived and learned about life with toddlers. We were here for 3 years.

Dec 1992 Snowstorm! I am pregnant with Aaron.

Wootsie and Leonard

Adrienne and Aaron eating PB&J in the kitchen

Leonard and Adrienne heading to Paps to do the chores. A favorite of mine.

Then, we felt led to the mission field and while that didn't take us to a far-off country, it did take us to Louisville, KY for 2 years. Of course, coming from the country, living in a city felt a bit like a foreign country to us. So much was learned there and neither of us would ever trade the time we spend there. There is certainly a part of us that still calls Louisville "home". And, while we were there, Amy joined our family!
I have my KY album all put together so I didn't pull pictures out for here. Guess you'll just have to come visit if you want to see more. :)

2217 Bonnycastle Ave

Aaron and Adrienne; another favorite pic of mine.

In January 1997, we moved back to the area we had been away from. For 3 months, we lived at my grandparents farmhouse in Accident MD while they were still in Florida. That was an interesting time of living out of boxes and suitcases with a 5yr old, a 3yr old, and a 1 month old. It was an adjustment going from being shepherded by a mission organization, to figuring out what we were going to do now to make a life for ourselves.

MD Bearcreek Farm

The kids with my Dad 

Amy and Adrienne with Grandpa. He and Gordon would come in for breakfast after morning chores. The kids always enjoyed that time.

Another picture from our short stay at Grandpa Bender's farm.
Aaron, Amy, and Adrienne with Leonard

April 1 1997 was moving day! We ended up on the farm where we currently are living. The past 14 years have been a roller coaster of farming, nursing school, kids starting Kindergarten and graduating high school, and of course, adding Heather and Ryan to our family unit.

Home Sweet Farm

Carrot Harvest
Heather and Amy

Adrienne, me and Amy

And then there were 5....

We have been blessed in so many ways by each of the places we have lived and by people that we have met along the way. I am thankful for the ways in which God has provided!

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." Proverbs 24: 3-4


"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Christmas Photos

Every year at Christmas I try to get a photo of the kids either by the tree or somewhere else for Christmas cards. I thought I'd share some with you all today. I like to look back and remember. I think my kids would like to tell you how much they look forward to this time and that the bonding that occurs makes the torture photo session worth it.

I don't have a photo from last Christmas because a little boy borrowed the camera and kindly deleted ALL the photos on the card. Then he hid the camera behind the couch. In his defense, I don't think he meant to delete them; I think he was just checking them out and....oops.

But...there is always this year...so get ready for the photo session my 5 little pretties....muwahhh ha ha ha...

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

I am trying to find (either on the computer or in my many stacks of photos) of 2009...Maybe I'll have to find some of the ones that never made it to the Christmas card Hall of Fame. Cause some of those are kinda funny. : )

Simple and Sweet

Did you know that Hershey Kisses will get hard and crumbly, instead of soft and melty, when left in the oven for too long? I didn't know before but I do now.

I was making a gift for Ryan's school teacher. It was supposed to be easy and fast. I had made the same thing last year and thought I didn't need to read the recipe.

WRONG!

Something as simple as a few minutes made all the difference between success and failure.

A few minutes a day, spent in prayer and reading my Bible, can make all the difference between success and failure too. When I take the time, even if I don't have a "good" day, I can still have peace.

So, as I play Mannheim Streamroller (A Fresh Aire Christmas), I make another batch of Chocolate Pretzel Rings. And this with a good attitude, even though I just threw away 1 1/2 bags of overcooked Hershey Kisses.

Chocolate Pretzel Rings (Taste of Home Quick Cooking 2010)
50 pretzel rings or mini pretzels ( I like the waffle-shaped ones)
50 Hershey Kisses (can use plain chocolate ones or the striped ones; whatever you like!)
M&M's (I also used the M&M peanut butter ones)

Place pretzels on greased baking sheets; place a kiss in the center of each ring. Bake at 275 for 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is softened. Remove from oven. Place an M&M candy on each, pressing down slightly so chocolate fills the ring. Refridgerate 5-10 min. or until chocolate is firm. Store in airtight container at room temperature.
Yield: about 4 dozen
 Yummy!

Do I have to wrap the gifts?

I have never really liked wrapping gifts. It doesn't matter if it is birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, or just an "I am thinking of you" gift; I don't like wrapping any of them. The funny thing is, I like looking at wrapping paper and picking out the ones that will match my house. I like all the ideas I see of how to wrap in creative ways. I've even saved magazine articles with wrapping suggestions. So, why don't I like wrapping gifts?

First of all, it takes time to do it nice, to make it creative. And then, in 3.8 seconds or less, the hard work is ripped off and tossed into a pile on Christmas morning. Was it appreciated? Or even noticed?

Second of all, it requires tape and scissors, which for some reason at my house, always come up missing. 

Third, I am a bit of a perfectionist, and if I can't do it right, I don't really want to do it at all. 

Therefore, presents on birthdays are usually handed to the birthday person still in the bag or box. (I do at least take the price tag off.) Sometimes I just throw a blanket over the gift. I have even been known to tell the person to close their eyes while I bring the present to them and then, when all looks ready, I tell them to open their eyes and "Voila!"

I guess I could resort to throwing my offering into a gift bag, but that requires making the tissue paper look pretty at the opening of the bag. Too much work.

I could wait to put the unwrapped gifts under the tree until Christmas morning, but the chaos of which gift goes to which person would not be my idea of festive. Not to mention the fact that my children enjoy actually opening their gifts. (This may be because it doesn't happen any other time of the year.) 

Tonight I want to finish wrapping presents. I think I will listen to a new Christmas CD by Sephira called "Starlight." Maybe I'll light a candle or two. I may even wear a Santa hat. 

Who knows? I may even get creative and make a few name tags instead of just scribbling a name on with a Sharpie marker. 

Wrapped and, umm, labeled with Sharpie marker.
Note to self: Make proper name tags and pray for the person while making their tag.

I have had this paper for years; it is probably my least favorite because it doesn't match my house or personality.
 Somehow this roll NEVER runs out.

Okay, these aren't my gifts. But to learn how, see the following website:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6190453_christmas-wrap-tie-ribbons-gifts.html

(you can copy and paste in your little search window)