Happy Birthday Sister Dear!!!

My BIG sister turned 30 years old this past weekend.  She is not really very big - which always make me laugh to say it.  I am the big sister when you think about size.  She does have a big heart though..bigger than mine.  She is able to love with great capacity and has a heart to reach those who don't know our Lord and Savior.  She has a boldness I pray for and the ability to connect with people.  She is fun to be with and has a fabulous sense of style.  She can do hair and make-up like nobodies business and will knock your socks of with meals she makes.  She will give you her time willingly and strives to be a Godly woman and wife.  I love you sister and wish you much joy in the year of 30.  I am certain blessings will abound.  

Give a comment if you love Melissa as much as I do!!

 

I'm taking a minute to promote a favorite treat of mine!  It is unbelievable how often I can convince Matt that our days needs a little Golden Spoon.  I think he secretly loves it as much as I do! I love Golden Spoon especially today - St. Patrick's Day.  Why?  Because St. Patrick's Day Mint is my absolute favorite flavor!!  They definitely have it flowing from the machines on this lovely holiday where green is exalted.  It is rare every other day of the year, but I am always excited when I see it posted.  Maybe others don't like it as much as I do - thus its failure to appear often on their monthly menu. Well, you can be sure I was there this afternoon and purchased a quart that I will savor over the next few weeks...who am I kidding...days! 

 I'd love to see some comments - what is your favorite flavor??  Is it peanut butter cup? Classic coffee? Are you fortunate enough to have a favorite that appears often on the menu?

Mammoth!

This is Matt studying on our second day in Mammoth.  We hit the slopes for a great day of skiing on Friday and then took the day Saturday for Matt to catch up on his work.  He did a great job of focusing despite the many well groomed, snow covered trails that beckoned from just a little ways away.

We shared a cabin with some new and wonderful friends!  Here are the girls before a day on the slopes.  Matt and I were the only skiers in our cabin, but they welcomed us with open arms anyway.

Here we are!  This is the top of the mountain in Mammoth.  BEAUTIFUL!  I just love being in the mountains.  It is a very real reminder to me of how great our God is.  He created those peaks behind us and the snow that covers them for us to enjoy and so that His power and glory may be made known.

  

I love what it says in Romans  1:20 "for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

 You could certainly sense the presence of God in all of His glory on the top of that mountain.  What a privilege to be able to experience it.  May we never take for granted the beauty that surrounds us, but instead be reminded of God's invisible qualities being put on display.

Oh yeah, and I know my goggles are huge!  Please don't make fun - ok, you can.  We have been laughing at them since we were on the slopes.  I think I know what will be on the top of my Christmas list. :)

A child's view on the economy

I was subbing the other day and had the opportunity to listen to two seven year olds talk about the economy.  This is how it went..

Setting: Two girls were explaining to me how they purchase these small rubber animals that fit on the top of their pencil.

Girl 1: You get them at Round Table for a quarter.

Me: Only a quarter, that isn't too bad.  Do you save your money for these?

Girl 1: No, my Dad goes to Round Table and just gives them a couple of dollars and they open the machine for him.

Me: Oh, how fortunate for you.

Girl 2: Lucky, we aren't going out to eat anymore because we are on a budget.

Girl 1: a budget, what's that?

Me: (trying with all of my might to keep the laughter inside)

Girl 2: it's when your family doesn't spend money anymore.

Girl 1: you don't spend any money?

Girl 2: no

Girl 1: oh, well my family spends as much money as we want to...

...and the conversation shifted to another topic

I guess Orange County isn't as recession proof as we thought.  There are families that are no longer spending any money!  Yeah right!

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate

We made this delicious dessert both nights :)  I got the recipe from Karen Harisick's blog.  She puts up new recipes every week and since I'm working on adding variety to our meals it has become a favorite of mine.

SERENDIPITY FRRROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE

6 1/2oz. milk chocolate, bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao), and semi sweet chocolate, chopped

3 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups whole milk, divided

3 cups crushed ice

Fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings ( I crushed some of the extra chocolate w/knife:)

Place 6 1/2 ozs. of assorted chocolate in medium metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water; stir until melted and smooth. Add sugar and cocoa and stir to blend. Gradually wisk in 1/2 cup of milk, whisk until well incorporated. Cool mixture to room temperature( can be done hours in advance.)

In blender place remaining milk, chocolate mixture and ice. Puree until smooth. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Another favorite of Matt's is baked Mac and Cheese.  This is a Betty Crocker original!

2	cups uncooked elbow macaroni (7 ounces)
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1/4	cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon salt
1/4	teaspoon pepper
1/4	teaspoon ground mustard
1/4	teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2	cups milk
2	cups shredded or cubed Cheddar cheese (8 ounces) 1. Heat oven to 350ºF. 2. Cook macaroni as directed on package. 3. While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constanly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. 4. Drain macaroni. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. I used half cheddar and half smoked gouda. It was a crowd pleaser!

Lake Arrowhead

This is Hudson Brannon 

So fun to hang around with!  He is very accomplished in using the words hat, ball and dog.

The Poladian house with tons of snow!  So much fun - well, maybe for Carly and I who didn't have to partake in the shoveling of the driveway.  This is before it got another big dump of snow on Monday.  

Matt and Chad cooked us an amazing meal on Valentine's Day!  Tri-Tip - a favorite in both households.

This is my cute husband! Relaxing!

We had such a wonderful time with our great friends!

Great Book

Matt gave me the book Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters for Valentine's Day.  I finished it yesterday - an accomplishment for one who usually starts a book and finishes about a year later, or sometimes never.  But this one I couldn't put down.  Very easy to read, not very long,  really helpful and very encouraging. 

It really got me thinking about some disciplines I would like to add to my life.  For starters, I have been "rising early" to make sure I have time in the Word every morning.  It has been great and I haven't been too tired!  

Thanks Lord for the grace to get up and start my day with some uninterrupted time spent digging into your Word.