Happy Fourth!

Saturday, we in the States will celebrate Independence Day. There will be picnics, family gatherings, trips to the beach and of course Fireworks!
While you are celebrating, remember to thank God for our country and while you are at it, pray for our leaders and the future of the Country, too.

In the words of the old song by Irving Berlin:
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

This and That

I have a friend who has just started a blog after reading them for some time. Can you all stop over at Everyday Blessings and say Hi to Connie? I think you will like what she has to say! For my church friends, she is also known as Patty's Mom!

I also need to thank a few people for some awards. The one above is the "Best Follower" Award. It was given to me by Mike of Rambling Stuff.

I was also given the "Charming Blog" Award. This one came from Lara of Prossigo para o alvo. It doesn't come with a button but I'm supposed to list 7 random facts about myself for this one.
1) I'm the oldest child in my family
2) I was the youngest in my class, from Kindergarten all the way through Nursing School.
3) I never flew in an airplane until last year.
4) My parents both came from large families. I had 21 aunts and uncles, and that's not counting their spouses!
5) I love candles - the scented kind.
6) When I first started working as a nurse I frequently worked on the postpartum floor or the nursery. Now I work in a Nursing home. I've covered the whole spectrum!
7) I love the beauty that God has given us to enjoy in nature.
Thanks to Mike and Lara!
Don't forget to stop and visit Connie!

Slow Cooking Thursday - or not!

Today is supposed to be Slow Cooking Thursday. However - Sandra is on her way home from vacation and is unable to host. So instead of doing a slow cooking recipe, I decided to share a regular recipe.
This is a recipe for an unusual salad. I got it from a friend at work and made it when we had our Bible study group over. It is really good! I actually have it posted now on my recipe blog, but I know a lot of you wouldn't see it there, so I'm sharing it here. Give it a try - you'll like it!

Chili Corn Bread Salad
1 pkg (8.5 oz) corn bread/muffin mix
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground oregano
Mix all of above and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool.

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 envelope ranch salad dressing
Mix to make dressing.

1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

In a 9x13 glass pan or a large glass bowl, crumble half of the corn bread. Spread half of the dressing over bread. Layer with half the beans, corn, tomatoes, pepper, onion, cilantro and cheese. Repeat layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.