Love & Marriage

Howdy Everyone!

A friend and I started a Bible study via video and I must say we are lovin' it! This is the second time I have viewed the DVD set and I have to say it applies if you are single or married... I continue to "get stuff out of it." Check it out, if you can find it! Voddie Baucham's Love and Marriage sermons totally rock!

Still Here

Hey guys. We are having a good summer and hope you are as well. When things slow down, I'll be back in blog land. Until then... just letting you know I'm still here.

Patience

Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:12

The world is a busy place, and these days we find times are hard on a lot of families (maybe even our own.) We send our prayers up to God, but grow impatient with waiting for His plan to unfold because we are fallible human beings. When God doesn't answer our prayers right away on our timetables we must continue to be patient and have faith in Him. We must trust in Him. [In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. Psalm 31:1.] Because in His infinite wisdom His plan always works out accordingly. I take great comfort in that and I hope you can as well. We must be patient with God (He is amazingly patient with us!)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Psalm 37:7

Happy Father's Day 2011

Today my husband celebrated his first (official) Father's Day with our beautiful baby girl. What a day! Steaks on the grill with Papa and GiGi too! And at Matt's request: Betty's Bodacious Beach Blonde Brownies! Yum! To my spouse: You are an amazing husband and father. Your daughter and I think the world of you and we love you with all of our heart(s)! Thank you for making our world a wonderful place! Hugs and Kisses!

And Happy Father's Day to all of the Dads out there! Hope you had a wonderful day with your family!

Luke 11:9

"So I say to you, keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you."

Luke 11:9

God is good all the time. I am so thankful He has started answering my prayers. It's amazing how quickly He can move and bring people together to help when there is a need. I continue to pray that He will lead my family in the right direction... that we will follow His will. So very thankful...

Flinstone-Mobile

I just love that commercial with the kid in the walker cruisin' all over creation... and you hear the song singin' "I've got a brand new pair of roller skates..."

Well, here is my kid in her walker. I light up every time I see her in it (I sing that song to myself.) And she lights up every time I put her in her own set of wheels. Touch feet to floor. Check. Push! Zoom! Yaba-daba-do!

Strawberry Pickin'

Memorial Day Weekend: a friend and I decided to go pick strawberries. It was the end of the strawberry season for Patterson Farm, but we had a blast and still managed to pick a few delicious berries. Took the baby and the hubby. What a great day!

Eye Candy

HWY 1, CA






My husband and I were fortunate enough to live in Monterey, CA for a year. One day we drove south down HWY 1 to Big Sur and snapped a couple of great pics! Enjoy! Oh, and let me just say the drive was a bit intimidating at times... a little ole guard rail between you and the cliff into the Pacific with on-coming traffic... it'll make you hold on to your seat super tight!

Slap Another On My *Blog* Bumper

"Where there is life, there is hope. Where there are hopes, there are dreams. Where there are vivid dreams repeated, they become goals. Goals become the action plans and game plans that winners dwell on in intricate detail, knowing that achievement is almost automatic when the goal becomes an inner commitment. The response to the challenges of life -- purpose -- is the healing balm that enables each of us to face up to adversity and strife." Denis Watley

YES. 'Nough said.

In The Garden

Oregano (in above photo): "Oregano is the spice of life." -- Henry J. Tillman


Lemon Balm (in above photo):


Rosemary (in above photo): "As for Rosmarine, I lett it runne all over my garden walls, not onlie because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance, and, therefore, to friendship; whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language that maketh it the chosen emblem of our funeral wakes and in our buriall grounds." -- Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)


Basil (in above photo): "The King of Herbs."; "I pray your Highness mark this curious herb: Touch it but lightly, stroke it softly, Sir, And it gives forth an odor sweet and rare; But crush it harshly and you'll make a scent Most disagreeable." -- Charles Godfrey Leland


As my husband and I live in a rental, we are not at liberty to plant an actual garden [this is a sadness]; however, we do have a small potted garden of herbs on the back stoop. All references to "in the garden" henceforth simply refer to the garden of mother nature. Someday when we own a home I will have a veggie and herb garden! I'll have pretty flowers planted too. Then I can really put my green thumb to work. And my grandmother Juke would be proud.

Blog Bumperstickers

Read this today and thought I'd share:

* PLAN PRAYERFULLY. PREPARE PURPOSEFULLY. PURSUE PERSISTENTLY.

Good Advice.

* WHERE THE MIND GOES THE BEHIND FOLLOWS.

Makes me think I should get my behind into gear... set in motion all of those big ideas I have...

Sew, A Little Update

Here's an update on my pillowcase dress project:

I decided to practice on an actual pillowcase before I started working with my beautiful and more expensive fabric (seeing how it's been so long since I've used my sewing machine and all)... So I went to Goodwill and purchased a few cheap pieces to torture (did not have any to spare here at home.) Let me just say, wise decision. Due to practicing so late at night (and never having worked on clothing patterns), I wasn't thinking about sewing curves. [I strongly dislike sewing curves.] Didn't think about cutting little slits in the armholes before hemming and had a little problem with the fabric bunching up. Live and learn. Yes, practice. Practice, practice, practice. Always a good idea. Lesson learned. Hopefully I'll get M's dress completed tomorrow!

Before I Became A Domestic Goddess

Before I became a domestic goddess I used to wear combat boots to work every day. I shined my boots and ironed my uniform. [Then we were issued new uniforms and I didn't have to iron and shine for the second half of my enlistment.] I slicked my hair back into a tight bun. I proudly wore the uniform of my branch of service. I saluted our flag. I saluted the officers in rank above me. I proudly served the United States of America. I remember the day I shipped out for basic training. First, I had to take an oath of enlistment:

I, (Courteney), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Ah, the GLORY days. I do miss them from time to time. But all things are as they should be...

Inspiration From Francis Chan

I Dare You To Pray This


A friend shared this link with me last night and as I watched the clip, tears welled up in my eyes [this was a humbling video for me to view.] My family and I are going through a hard time right now, as I am sure many other families are as well. No matter what our circumstance, all we need is for God to simply get us through the day... to only give us our daily bread. How blessed are we to be able to be dependent on our amazing Lord and Savior. How blessed are we that He has a plan and is working everything out. I am encouraged to strengthen my relationship with God, to continue to get to know Him through His word... so that I will always rely on Him and never turn my back on Him. He has given me so much, and continues to provide. This clip has reigned me back in... while we live IN the world, sometimes it is easy to get caught up OF the world. Ask yourself what you truly need... what truly matters. You can't take material possessions with you in the end. Just a thought.

Proverbs 30:7-9
Two things I ask of You oh Lord
Do not refuse me before I die
Keep falsehood and lies far from me
Give me neither poverty nor riches
But give me only my daily bread
Otherwise I may have too much and disown You and say who is the Lord
Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God

Family History

I recently learned the family name for those delightful brownies I made the other day. My great aunt Betty tweaked a brownie recipe she came across decades ago, and her version is called "Betty's Bodacious Beach Blonde Brownies."

By the way, my family... huge fans of the beach! Join the Pop-A-Top Gang (with cold beverage in hand), head to the ocean, and marvel at its wonder.

~ In Loving Memory

The Road Less Traveled

[My] Road Less Traveled
Image Shot Near Monterey, CA:



The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

~ Robert Frost

This is one of my favorite poems! And I feel that it is the story of my life, as I have not followed the usual track... You make plans and then life unfolds and delivers a different text. The unexpected is so much more than you could have ever imagined. Don't get me wrong... the bumps and dips and lows can be a little scary at times. But hold fast! Because when you hit those highs you soar beyond wildest expectations, and then life truly is thrilling!

Not Your Granny's Burger

So my grandmother Juke used to cook a mean hamburger using hickory smoke seasoning. And my mom cooked up a mad burger too... using worcestershire sauce and Mrs. Dash. Of course these are stove-top recipes (to be made in a hurry when *wild* children are running around, such as myself at that time, demanding burgers and fries. Who had time to let the coals heat on a weeknight?)

So for dinner tonight I decided to fix up some burgers on the stove (it was the only meat I happened to have in the house... must go grocery shopping), but I wanted to deviate from the delicious tradition I grew up with and create something different. I used a little worcestershire and lime juice. Salt and fresh ground pepper of course, garlic powder, [real] bacon bits and pepper jack cheese melted on top. Boy was that one fantastic burger created on a whim! Sorry, no picks to share... created on the fly in a hurry. Side dishes: leftover veggies of your choice. Scrumptious!

A Few Of McPhearson's Favorite Reads

M's Favorite Poem




M's Favorite Poem Found In This Book



M's Favorite Story



We Always Sing The Alphabet Before Reading This Favorite



I'd mentioned in an earlier post that Little M loves to read! She gets super excited when I pull out these three books, and she starts kicking her feet and wiggling ecstatically. It's adorable.

Liberty

This is Liberty. We call her Libbie for short. She has been with us the longest out of all of our *children.* She has been in our family for 9 years. Libs (as she sometimes is more affectionately called) lives up to her name, for she is very independent. And she, too, acts as a great older sibling, checking on the baby when needed. Libbie enjoys cat-napping in the sun and scurrying under your feet when you least expect it. Her favorite game is called "Drive-by Kitty." In this game she'll run by you and pop you on the leg... and keep on running. I just love my little fur-ball!

Butterscotch-Chocolate Chip Brownies

Hello Old Friend!

I cannot believe I lost one of my family's best dessert recipes. Thanks to the help of a wonderful cousin I am now able to once again make the beloved Butterscotch-Chocolate Chip Brownie recipe. Yummy! [Right now they are cooling on my stove-top and I cannot wait to pop one in my mouth!] Enjoy the pics!

Desires Of Your Heart...

I was reading a friend's blog and saw the following scripture:

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4.

Thought I would share. Very powerful. Gives me hope: the Lord knows I have a huge prayer request for my family, and only He can answer that prayer if it is according to His will. I am reminded of another verse:

"If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you." John 15:7

I feel reading the Bible is very important and prayer works. If you are going through a rough patch I hope that you can find comfort in the arms of your Heavenly Father and His word. Any prayer requests? I'll take 'em!

Takota

Meet one of my other kids... Takota, my brindled pup! We call him "Taco" for short and it fits. His fur is a brown/golden mix (think hamburger and cheese) and he has a white (sour cream) chest/belly. He is one of the friendliest dogs you'll ever meet. That's what Takota means: friend to everyone. He enjoys sleeping upside down on our sofa and sneaking into the kitchen when I'm cooking. And he's such a great "big brother" to Little M! He's always checking up on her to make sure she is okay. What a sweetheart. Matt and I are blessed to have such wonderful *children*... wink, wink.

On The Menu

Tonight for dinner:
1) Honey-Rosemary Stuffed Pork Chops (a McCormick recipe found on MyRecipes.com)
2) Homemade Mashed Potatoes with fresh garlic and chives
3) Juiced Lime Asparagus
4) Broccoli

A year ago I looked for a good pork chop recipe and found an amazing one on MyRecipes.com. When I first made this dish, I cooked Roasted Potatoes (using Lipton Onion Soup Mix) and Spinach as sides. Wow! So delicious! Tonight I made this dish again for a friend and modified the recipe just a tad to speed up the process just a smidge. Drooling over those chops? Here's how you do it:

What You Need:
2 TBSP olive oil, divided
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 1/2 cup chopped granny smith apple
3 TBSP honey, divided
2 TBSP toasted sliced almonds
2 tsp rosemary leaves, finely crushed, divided
1/2 tsp cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/4 tsp garlic powder
4 boneless center-cut pork chops, 1 inch thick (1 lb)
1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

What You Do:
1) Heat 1 TBSP oil in large skillet on med heat. Add onion; cook & stir 5 min. Add apples; cook & stir 5 min longer (until slightly softened.) Spoon mixture into small bowl. Add 1 TBSP honey, almonds, 1 tsp rosemary, vinegar, 1/4 tsp salt & garlic powder. Mix well.
2) Cut horizontal slit in center of each pork chop to form a pocket. Spoon 1/4 cup of apple mixture in each chop. Secure with toothpicks. Mix remaining 1 tsp rosemary, remaining 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Coat chops evenly on both sides with rosemary mixture.
3) Heat remaining 1 TBSP oil in same skillet on med-high heat. Add pork chops; cook 4-5 min on each side or until browned. Mix broth and remaining 2 TBSP honey until well blended. Stir into skillet. Cook 5 min longer or until pork is desired doneness. Remove pork chops from skillet; keep warm. Cook mixture in skillet 3 min longer until reduced by half. Remove toothpicks from chops. Serve pork with sauce mixture.

*** How I modified this recipe tonight: Instead of stuffing the pork chops, I cooked the chops on each side and then added the apple mixture on top after adding chicken broth and honey. I just let chops cook down in pan til done instead of removing from sauce. I also used dried rosemary instead of fresh to save another minute from chopping (and b/c I love rosemary I didn't reduce the amount used.) Oh, I also used a little more red onion than called for. (We love onion in this house!)

*** Note: Be careful not to overcook your chops! They lose their flavor if overdone.














Sides:

Poof

Make a wish! Found this little guy and thought I'd snap a pic with my handy-dandy camera! Playtime for Mommy! Poof... it's done.