An Evening Remembered-Black and White Wednesday

Before this past Saturday's dinner party fades into a sweet memory I thought I better share the few pictures that I did manage to take. I really hate that I didn't take more pictures but once the guests arrived I was completely drawn into good company and conversation and there was just no time for pictures. I was busy all day Saturday getting things ready so by the time the doorbell rang...
our friends were greeted with this delicious and tart Mango Tango Tea courtesy of the March issue of Southern Living. It was the perfect beginning to accompany our appetizers.

I kept these simple so that we would have plenty of room left for the main course. We gathered in the kitchen and helped ourselves to fruit, aged cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese on crackers. One of my guests also brought along yummy pizza dippers and hot bacon and cheese dip. We had to make ourselves stop so that we wouldn't spoil our dinner.

When the Italian Stuffed Shells and Chicken Parmesan were ready we moved ourselves into the dining room. The main course was enjoyed along with a delicious mixed green salad, supplied by another sweet guest, and Crusty Parmesan Cheese bread hot and gooey right out of the oven.

It was here that we lingered for the rest of the evening, only getting up to refill the glasses with sweet tea and to bring in the dessert. I had three options for dessert; a Cream Cheese Pound Cake that I intended to drizzle with homemade Carmel sauce, a fresh strawberry pie, brought by another sweet friend and the one that everyone opted for... Butter Pecan Mousse that had been chilling in stemmed glasses in my refrigerator all afternoon. We laughed and talked and had a most wonderful time. I hope we can all do it again very soon.

Until next time...

A verse that's worth repeating over and over again:

He fills my life with good things.

Psalm 103.5:5
Robin

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The Excitement Is Building...

and the preparations are being made for a dinner party tomorrow night!! I can hardly wait! We are actually hosting this at our house so there is much to do but the exciting part is that we ALL have baby sitters so this is going to be totally grown ups!! People do you realize how long it has been since I hosted something that didn't involve children...please don't misunderstand I LOVE having little ones and teenagers around for parties but I also LOVE getting dressed up, having people over and actually getting to start and finish a conversation without a "little one" tugging on me. I am busy planning the menu and deciding on all the little things like appetizers. Around here that usually involves juice boxes and goldfish but not tomorrow night! Since it is sooooo hot we plan on dining inside but hopefully when the sun goes down we can take the party outside and enjoy good company and conversation! So I am looking for inspiration. I love this image below...simple and elegant just like I like.

Until next time...

I hope you all have a weekend full of laughter and joy!

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."
Job 8:21

Robin

image via michellesimone.prepys.com

Black and White Wednesday-Trying to Stay Cool

It's "hotter than blue blazes" around here and it brought this verse to mind: my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer Psalm 32:4 So for this post I am revisiting our time at the beach when the ocean breezes cooled us from the scorching sun. Here are a few you may not have seen.

Until next time ...

I hope you are finding fun ways to keep cool!

Robin

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Sunday Snapshot-Enjoying the present...

Often times it is impossible to enjoy the present, to just sit back and take in all the here and now that surrounds us. Instead we ponder over the past or fret over the future. I know because I am one of those people. Don't misunderstand, I love to look back over pictures that we have taken, reread old journal entries and relive precious memories that we have shared together as a family. I have been blessed with four children, each one coming to me in a different way. Anna Kayla, a complete surprise but without a doubt destined to be, delivered very early one morning by a Cesarean section. Such a miracle that I held in my arms that hot summer morning in August almost 25 years ago. My precious daughter, my only child, or so I thought at the time. Then there are my other three...each with their own story that evokes such different emotions within my heart. The day that I finally held Clara Beth in my arms was one of great joy that I had hoped for for over two years. When she came to us she was happy and smiling and completely at peace. Even though I knew the sacrifice that her birth mother had made and part of my heart ached for her it was so easy to be her mother, another daughter, another blessing. If you've noticed I haven't gone in order. Before Land was born I longed for another child, I cried, I prayed and then eleven years later a whisper became another miracle. I didn't labor him here in the usual way but oh how I labored for him in my heart. The day we brought that precious little bundle home was so filled with emotion. My heart was bursting and breaking at the same time. Because this time I knew first hand the sacrifice his birth mother had made. You see I was blessed to be able to talk to her, to see her face and to know the love that she had for her son, a love so great that she wanted more for him than she could give at the time. Her heart was also breaking and I ached for her loss. It's amazing how such joy and sadness can be felt so strongly at once...I witnessed this yet again two years ago this week. The day Emanuiel joined our family was met with joy and anticipation. Since he was three and a half at the time I knew there would be grief but my heart wasn't prepared for how I would deal with his loss. I don't think one can really prepare for such a thing you just have to experience it to understand what I mean. I can still feel the overwhelming sadness even now if I look back at pictures of his first hours with us. Heart warming and heart wrenching all at the same time. So this week as we celebrate his becoming a part of our family I am going to relish the little boy that he is today. One full of happiness, wonder and mischief whose smile warms my heart and fills my soul as does the presence of all of my children. Every moment is such a gift, a gift of the present...that passes all too quickly, savor it, drink it all in. Go ahead there is nothing to fear...enjoy the present. Until next time...

His "perfect love expels all fear"

1 John 4:18 NLT



Robin


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Finally-Pictures From Our Beach Trip!

Our week at the beach this summer was by far one of the best! Everyone had such a great time and the week just flew by and left us all wishing for more time together. I have posted lots of pictures and instead of commenting on each one I'll just let them speak for themselves. Here is Summer Fun 2010!

Ok, this picture cracks me up...it looks like the two of them are doing some kind of ancient Chinese moves.

Gotta love a wind swept do!

My big beach boy!

Taking a break and pondering what to do next!

The two little ones invented this game similar to horseshoes with shells and a tail from a horseshoe crab. You wouldn't believe how long this entertained them and Paul!

I just love that little scrunched up nose smile!

We were so blessed to have Anna Kayla with us for the first part of the week. Greg was on a mission trip in Jamaica so she came down before picking him up at the airport on Wednesday.

There's that face again!

Sandcastles were built and memories were made during our special time together. Hearing the sound of the surf and the laughter of our children is like music to my soul. Good times were had by all, mighty good times!

Until next time...



Psalm 93:4
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.


Robin

Majestic-Black and White Wednesday

At the beach this summer, very early one morning Paul, Land and I slipped over to watch the sunrise. Everyone else was still tucked away in bed while we witnessed this... Afterwards I went back and I wanted to share with you what I wrote in my journal that morning:



Thursday morning, June 24th, 2010

O Lord, O Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth...this song and verse(Psalm 8:1) rang out in my head very early this morning as Paul, Land and I watched the sun rise over the ocean. As the waves crashed on the sand, coming up so far that they almost licked our toes, we watched while God performed one of His daily miracles. The sun, a glowing orange sphere of splendor, peeked above the horizon and then quickly rose into the sky, perfectly round, perfectly shining just as He intended. I thought to myself that no matter how brightly the sun shines, it still can not outshine His glory. My quiet time this morning came from Psalm 145:3 and 5...Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. How appropriate for today! Today I pray that I will only meditate on You and Your works Lord, not on worry or "what ifs" or feeling bad only on Your glory and blessings in my life. Each time my mind wanders into the abyss of "what ifs" help me to recall Your works and Your splendor. Help me to remember that Your love for me is as sure as the rising sun and is stronger than the surf that pounds the shore.

I hope that this little peek into my personal daily journal will somehow lift someone up today, especially if you tend to be a "worry wart"or "what if this happens", kind of person like myself.

This is an area in my life that I am truly trying to conquer with His help.

Until next time...

If you don't already record your thoughts and prayers in a journal start today!

Robin

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Sunday Snapshot-Pizza on the Porch!

We love eating outside around here, whether it's a picnic under the pine tree, watermelon dripping down our chins on the patio or pizza on the porch! No matter what the food, if it's eaten outside, especially after a swim in the pool, it just tastes better and is so much more fun! I couldn't help but capture some pictures of the little ones enjoying their pizza, I even threw in a little steamed broccoli to healthy things up.
Emanuiel is chowing down while Clara Beth teases our dog with the cheesy smell of pizza.

I think by this picture they were each on their second piece.

Clara Beth tossing pizza crust to our dog, Flopsey(I know her name sounds like a rabbit's name but when Land picked her out at the Humane Society she had a sad little ear that flopped down so her name became Flopsey. Hard to believe that was back when he was in the first grade!)

I believe Emanuiel is asking dad for more! No matter what we eat, eating it outside gives us all a great taste of summertime!

Until next time...

O taste and see that the Lord is good:

blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

Psalm 34:8

Robin

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Fourth Of July Fun!-and a little Black and White Wednesday

Readying ourselves!

We had lots of wonderful celebrations for the fourth! Our first one began on Friday night. It's a tradition on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day for Paul's dad to cook hash or chicken stew in a big black pot on the screened-in-porch at the lake. This year's Fourth of July chicken stew did not disappoint! It bubbled and boiled until about 11:00 pm and then it was poured into quart cups to cool. Of course it had to be sampled by some little ones to make sure it was just right! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. I had my camera, but I was too busy relaxing and talking to family that I never even got it out. Afterwards, we were all tired so we headed home to get some sleep before the next days activities began! The two little ones were sawing logs before we got to the first stop sign after leaving the lake. The next morning we were up early to get a good seat for the parade down main street. Here's Paul and the little ones ready for the day's festivities. We are so blessed to live in a small town that goes all out for the fourth. Last year we participated in the parade but this year we didn't get our wagon decorated in time so we had to enjoy it all from the curb. These three had the best seat to wave to all who passed.

Here are the two little ones taking a rest by our newly installed town clock.

Our little town was bustling with street vendors selling all kinds of delicious food and fun stuff! Clara Beth and Emanuiel are sitting by the town fountain hoping to get a cool little splash before venturing to the town park for more food and fun.

Our little town was dressed in its flowery finest for the fourth!

We even got to ride on Thomas the Train up and down the street in front of the library. Yes, I had to have a turn too! After checking everything out we went home to rest up for the band in the town park and the fireworks later that evening.

Here are Bekah Grace and Clara Beth hamming it up on the blanket as the band played.

Emanuiel joined in and they insisted on a silly face picture. I LOVE these goofy faces!! This is quite a trio when they are together. Never a dull moment.

No Fourth of July Celebration would be complete without a sno cone! I think cousin Abbey must have lost something in the background, either that or she spilled something.

Seems Emanuiel and Clara Beth both preferred to lick their sno cones rather than use the spoons I got for them.

Cousin Bryana and Clara Beth danced the night away. They didn't miss a beat! After the music finished the fireworks display began. We oohed over every one and when it was over, once again, we headed home to rest up for the party at our house on Sunday!
Here's a peek at some of the food we had on Sunday. They rest was lined up buffet style in the kitchen for all to enjoy. We stuffed ourselves with smoked chicken, baked beans, hash, chicken stew, pasta salad, slaw and numerous desserts. We had two reasons to celebrate, the fourth and my sister, Janice's, birthday.
Here is "Super Mei Mei", as she calls herself when she wears her star bathing suit, entertaining on the porch. Bryana was so surprised at Clara Beth that she pulled out her phone to video her doing the "Super Show". Our dog was there looking for food that she hoped someone would drop.
After dinner and the "super show" it was off to the pool for a swim. Don't you just love the pose that Geordyn is striking. I kept trying to get her to turn around with Clara Beth but she said that was the way she wanted her picture. Too cute!
Anna Kayla and I enjoyed watching everyone swim and play. Land did celebrate the fourth with us but I couldn't get a picture of him, he spent most of his time jumping in the deep end catching a football and when we were at the park he was with friends. Hard to get a picture of a fast moving target like him! All in all it was a fun weekend that brought out the child in all of us. Swimming, sno cones, and fireworks just seem to do that!

Until next time...

Remember that sometimes it's good to see things through childlike eyes.By doing so we can have a sense of wonder about all the goodness and beauty that surrounds us. I pray that the Lord helps me to never become so grown up that I can not revel in His greatness and majesty.

My whole being, praise the Lord.

Lord my God, You are very great.

Psalm 104:1

Robin

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