Happy Birthday Annie

Happy Birthday Annie! I know you are not looking forward to this "birthday" more or less the age you will become. But I want to challenge you to keep as you have been- Letting God use you right where you are, whatever you are doing- even if you dont know He is using you to touch someone else's life!
(btw- I love how you are taking the pic with your own camera, but looking at this one!)

As long as I can remember you have always had a baby/kid in your arms or nearby. When you were little they were just dolls, but as you got older, that changed. *duh* I have witnessed, helped with, and watched as you have invested in the lives of children you are given for a moment. I know there have been hard times and you wonder if this is what you should keep doing, but you smile through the sometimes tears when that chubby arm hugs you and tries to say they love you! You see the bigger picture and long term goal. You love them with Christ's love and that is HUGE! Something they will never forget!

You ability to have fun must run in your veins. No matter where, or who's around - you will make the best of things and have fun, which will usually get others to join in!

I know we joke sometimes about me crying when you were born, and wanting mom to leave you at the hospital, but that was just jerkishness on my part! I cant imagine life without you! I confess I was a terrible big sister, locking you out of rooms, giving you cast off dolls to play with or whatnot. No matter though, you always have been there when I needed you! I think about that Skillet song "Those Nights" even though the whole song does not pertain to us, the beginning of the chorus could have been written about us:

"Stay up late and we'd talk all night, In the dark room lit by the TV light. . ." Remember when we first moved to Richmond? We got to share a room and it didnt take long before it became a masterpiece and a haven. We would talk for hours on end and swap secrets or problems. You have always been there for me!

Annie- you lead by example. Always giving of yourself, time, money, stuff. . . whatever the need may be. I dont ever hear you complain about it, you just do it! I look up to you in so many ways! I hope to grow to be like you in lots of ways!

As this year passes, it will not be like many of the others unless you want it to be- for good or bad. I know exactly where you are, maybe some of the questions you ask, problems you face, and even some of the things you are wanting. I've been there, am there, and will be here for you! My beautiful sister, I hope that God reveals Himself to you in lots of new and exciting ways! Ever drawing and wooing you to His heart! I love you and may you enjoy this day, this year, but for now this moment, for that is what we have been promised!

Lovin' you lots and lots! Happy Birthday Annie!

Feliz Cumpleanos! Te amo mi hermana y amiga! love, lina*

Love Note

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

to have a deep soul relationship with another,

to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But God says to His child,

"No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled,

and content with being loved by me alone.

With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me,

with having an intense personal and loving relationship

with Me alone.

Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found.

Then you will be capable of the perfect human relationship

that I have planned for you.

You will never be completely united with another until

you are united with Me;

~exclusive of anyone else

~exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to have the best, Please allow Me to give that to you.

I want you to stop planning and stop wishing and allow Me

to give you the most thrilling plan existing;

one that you can not imagine.

I want you to have the best so just keep watching Me,

expecting the greatest things and listen and

learn the things I tell you.

You just wait-

That's all.

Don't be anxious-

Don't worry.

Don't look around at things others have received or that

Ive given them. Don't look at the things you think you want.

Just keep looking at Me or you will miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love

far more wonderful than any you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one

I have for you is ready, (I am working

even at this moment to have both of

you ready at the same time.)

Until you are both satisfied exclusively

with Me and the life that I have prepared for you,

you wont be able to experience the love that exemplifies

your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love.

I want to see you in the flesh, a picture of your relationship

with Me and enjoy materially and concretely the

everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love.

Know that I love you.

I am God. Know it and be satisfied!"

Cookies

As promised, the post on my cookies!! *duhn, duhn, duhn!* =)

Anytime you bake, or do anything in the kitchen for that matter, there are some things that must be gotten together first. . .

Music:

A "game plan" aka- recipe

And your weapon, or tool, of choice! =)

And thus begins the chemistry of a delicious relationship:

Each step is perfect for tasting!

(photo props to my sister- I couldn't crack an egg and take pictures, I'm not that good!)

They had to be pink for Valentine's Day

Sometimes the best mixing tool is your hands

Call me my Grandfather- but after I loaded my dough, I found a friend... see his face? (kind of looks like the Kool Aid Guy)

Before:

After: Enjoy!

Snow days and Macaroni

So- being snowed in the house, and out of work, I was able to play in my favorite room in the house. . . *insert drum roll* the kitchen!!!
I have seen blogs before that picture the work being done, and have always wanted to do something along those lines, but never have had the time! Well I did!
This post will be all about my mom's best ever macaroni and cheese recipe, and then I will do my Valentine cookie post! =)
It sure was a lot of fun, and I recommend it to all you who have ever thought about doing it!

Step 1: Boil the water

Step 2: Add the pasta of your choice, we went for Elbow this particular time

Isnt pasta a beautiful thing?

Step 3: Drain. . .

. . . and taste!

Step 4: Melt butter to make the rue - aka- cheese sauce

Step 5: Mix in flour and milk. . .

. . . and LOTS of cheese!!!

Tada!!!

Step 6: Mix the sauce with the pasta to make some cheesey goodness!

Step 7: Flavor with salt and pepper

Step 8: Pour part into a pan

and layer with more cheese!

Step 9: Top with a blend of cheeses to get the look and taste of perfection!

*man it was so good! pictures dont do it justice!*

Step 10: Bake to melt all the cheese and get the top crunchy!

Step 11: Enjoy!

I totally missed getting a picture of the final product, because when we pulled it out of the oven, we were all so hungry we dished it up and enjoyed it! =)

Maiden Post and the Kountry Gentlemen

Well, I am casting off into the depths unknown. . . I have joined the blogging world and I am kind of excited about it!
Eep!
I guess I will start this adventure with a story. It is true, and happened not too long ago. . . (during my shift tonight at work)
As a hostess, I get to meet all sorts of people. I write stories for them in my head, trying to figure out their lives. Some are passing through, and others become as family- I see them time after time and get updates on grandkids.
Tonight I met and interesting group- two ladies and two men. I guess they were two couples, maybe in their mid to late twenties, and definitely country. That good ole down to earth charm and slight drawl. Two of the four had brought their dinner from Taco Bell, =( to eat with their friends in our fine establishment. =)
As part of my job, I make my rounds to assist our guests in any way I can. When I approached this table to see how everything was for them-
I got, "Well, my Taco Bell sure is tasty! Thanks for asking" I smiled and told him I hope he enjoyed it. He went on to tell me how his friends had wanted to eat here, but he didnt because he had eaten here yesterday.
At this I smiled bigger, looked him in the eye and asked, "Now how did you do that?" (we are closed on Sundays)
I think his face turned four shades of red as he dropped a couple four letter bombs. He mumbled something about having coupons he needed to use anyways. I told him to come back and use them to make up for eating Taco Bell and offered my help should they need anything else.
At this point I found the situation amusing. I kept running all the other responses I could have said to him through my head as I continued on with other duties. Like, "How was the food? Was the service ok? etc. I always think of other things to say after the moment has past, but sometimes that is a good thing. Like it was tonight...
A while after this incident, I returned to the table of these four to offer drink refills. Before I could speak, the man who had "eaten here yesterday" spoke first...
"Ma'am, I am real sorry I was rude earlier. It was disrespectful and I am sorry"
Whoa! I get all sorts of mess from customers, but never, NEVER in my life have I had one apologize for their behavior.
Of course I forgave him, and offered what I could to make the rest of their evening a delight, but that man offered something to me I shall never forget.
Well lots of things, Lies will find you out, and even in jest, it is never ok to let misbehavior slip by. His apology spoke volumes. I hope to be mindful of my actions in public, and humble enough to own up to them should they offend someone around me.
I hope to live in a quiet and gentle way that brings peace to all, but there are lessons to be learned along the way. . .