Cooking Thursday

I'm loving all the fresh produce that's around right now. My sister Cheri just brought over a bunch of tomatoes and a great recipe to use them in.
This is a new way for me to eat tomatoes, but they are so yummy!
For more recipes, visit Sandra at Diary of a SAHM.

Roasted Tomatoes

Tomatoes
Onions
Olive oil
garlic powder
Splenda
salt and pepper

Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Slice tomatoes thickly and lay on cookie sheet. Slice onions thinly and lay out among tomatoes. Drizzle with small amount olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic, small amount Splenda and salt and pepper to taste.
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

Great Expectations!

As most of your know, our daughter and son-in-law are expecting our first grandchild! It's a girl and she is due on October 11.
We went out the other night so I could take some maternity pictures. It was a nice evening, but we were tormented by some pretty big mosquitoes, which hampered sitting still!
Here's the results of the evening. I think Laura looks pretty cute! (and Aaron is his usual good looking self!)

This one is my favorite!

Heathers new job!

Our daughter Heather is starting a new job on Monday!

She has a degree in accounting, but has been working as a cook at the same nursing home I work at. This has been a good job and she's really enjoyed the residents and staff there, but she wanted to get a job where she used her degree. The job market hasn't been too great here in Michigan and it seemed that everyone wanted to have 3 years of experience.
We've been praying for the right job to open for her. We heard that a job was open right here in our own town and she applied for it.
It seemed to take a long time, and there were many more prayers as she went through the interview process, but a little over 2 weeks ago, she got the call that she was hired!

This is the building she will be working in, as a receptionist and also using that accounting degree. We are thankful for this great opportunity for her and for the way God has continued to take care of her!

Do you Pinterest?

I've heard people talking about Pinterest, but didn't think it would be something I would use much. After hearing about it again, I decided to check it out and I'm really enjoying it!
I think this is a perfect thing for anyone who blogs or likes to look at things on the internet. It allows you to "pin" things you like and put them on different boards to be looked at whenever you like. I have boards with recipes, photography ideas, organization tips and more. When people you follow pin something, you can see it and pin it yourself. You can also look up topics that interest you.
You need an invite to join, so if you're interested let me know and I'll send you one.
If you are on already, I would love to look you up!

Here are some of my boards.

Happy Pinning!

Love Inspired Outreach

I got my computer back already! It's fixed and was very reasonable!
~~~
The Fair is in town! The local Fair is always a big deal around here. Last night Bob and I worked at a booth run by Love Inspired Outreach. This organization was started by a man from our church. He is originally from Kenya and came to the U.S. to escape war. He went to school here and is now a professor at the college in our town. Love Inspired Outreach raises money for aid to Kenya, and along with the aid, the gospel is shared.
In June they were able to drill a well for the area that our friend is from. Now they are raising money for another well in a nearby town. Currently the people are walking for several hours, to get water from a muddy pond. Lives are truly changed, first through the well, then by hearing the gospel.

Here's the booth. We were giving away bottled water and literature and accepting donations to go toward the well.
If you live in the area, and go to the Hudsonville Fair, stop at the booth and throw in a few dollars - they will help change lives!

I had to include a picture of the fun going on outside the building!

Computer problems

My computer died last night. Something hit it and I was left with a black screen. :(

Anyway - it's off getting worked on, so I can't post or visit any of you.

See you when it gets fixed - soon I hope!

Annual Chicken BBQ

Every year the little town of Drenthe, near us has a chicken BBQ. I've been going to it since I was a kid, and my Dad still treats anyone in the family who is able to make it. It's the best chicken around, along with a good time with family and the chance to see relatives and old friends, so we usually all try to be there.

When we arrived, lots of people were already enjoying their chicken, while listening to the community band.

This chicken was as good as it looks!


After we ate, it was time to wander around and see some of the things on display.

There is always a bunch of old tractors to see. I don't know what this is, but I thought it was cool.

This is an unusual color for a tractor.


They always have a lot of farm animals to see.

The chicks were a hit! This is my nieces, Chelsea, Arianna and Katelyn with the chicks.

Nieces, Halle and Shaelyn had to hold some too.

Even Heather and Laura had to check them out.

There was a donkey...

goats...

another type of goat...

and bunnies! (along with a few other animals)

Here is my Dad, catching up with his sister and brother-in-law.

They also have wagon rides that take you out on a trail through the fields.

This was a fun evening and it reminds me of why I like country life!

Shower Time

This weekend I got to go to 2 baby showers for Laura!
This first one was my family's shower on Friday night.

Here is the group busy trying to figure out what kind of candy goes with different pregnancy related things. For example - A candy name for Mom's tummy after the baby is born? Jelly Belly!

Of course there was yummy food! The cake says "Welcome Bean Sprout!" That's what Laura and Aaron have been calling the baby for now. :)

Opening some great gifts, with Heather keeping track of things.

It won't be long before Bean Sprout is here and will be able to use this little cocoon!

~~~

On Saturday there was another shower with Aaron's family.

Aaron's sister-in-law made these adorable cupcakes. The shower was at her house and she had everything looking so cute.

This was in a gift from Aaron's niece. She is 6 and wanted to give the baby something, so she gathered some barrettes, some money from her piggy bank and drew a picture. On the back of it was this message:
"I love you and the baby"
Isn't that sweet? We have one more shower next week - what fun!

Sad news

I just got some sad news and I wanted to share it with you because I've talked about this lady several times here.
Do you remember me posting about the sweet little lady that spent lots of time sitting by me at the nurses station? She's the one who named me Coco and I talked about her here.
I just got word that she passed away this evening. Her health has been declining lately, but this was still quite sudden. She was someone who was loved by all and along with her family, there are a lot of sad employees at the nursing home.
We do get attached to our residents and it's often pretty hard on us to lose them.

Winner!

I just used the Random number generator to draw a winner of the Dvd - 'The Grace Card'.
The winner is Susan of Penless Writer!
Susan, you'll have to e-mail me your address and the DVD will be shipped to you. Hope you and Mickey like it as much as we did!

Cooking Thursday

Sandra at Diary of a SAHM is hosting Cooking Thursday again.
I've got a healthy vegetable salad to share today. I got this recipe from my sister Cheri. It's a nice way to have vegetables in a different way.

Bean Salad

1 cup green beans, cooked
1 medium tomato, diced
1 tablespoon reduced calorie mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Stir together. May be eaten warm or cold.
This makes 2 servings; 55 calories per serving.

Wordless Wednesday

The Grace Card - and a giveaway!

I was given the opportunity to preview a movie that is being released on DVD on August 16. The name of the movie is The Grace Card.
Do you remember the movie Fireproof? It inspired some people in Memphis to start producing films in the same faith based, family friendly manner and this is their first film.
The film stars Michael Joiner, Michael Higginbottom and Louis Gosset Jr.
This is is story of Mac, a police officer whose son is killed in an accident. 17 years later it's evident that he has allowed pain and bitterness to erode his family relationships, his career and left him angry with God.
When he is paired with a new partner, who also happens to be a pastor and a black man, Mac finds himself at the boiling point.

We watched this DVD Sunday night and truly enjoyed it! I recommend it because:
1) it was so nice to watch a movie that wasn't filled with swearing and innuendos.
2) it's faith based. It's nice to hear God mentioned and not as a swear word.
3) It was a really good movie! Bob liked it and Heather and I were both crying at the end.
This movie really brings out the themes of grace and forgiveness, and made me think about how I do with both of them, especially toward people who don't make it easy.

To find out more about the production of the movie or the movie itself, go here.
You can find this video at your favorite Christian store or it can be purchased online at the site above.

You also have a chance to win your own copy! Just leave a comment here and you will be entered to win. I'll draw a name on Thursday night and will then post the winner!


“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:

“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Morning visitors

We had some surprise visitors last week at work. It was quite early in the morning, when someone said "You've got to look in the front parking lot!"

When I looked, I was surprised to see 4 deer out there. We see deer quite often on one side of us where there are woods, but not near the houses in the front.
There were 2 fawns, still with spots, and 2 adults. If you look closely at the one on the right, you will see that she is missing one of her front legs. She was still able to get around just fine though.
They wandered around for about 15 minutes before something spooked them and they took off running.

Here they are running back to their familiar territory.
It was fun to watch them, and the residents that were up really enjoyed seeing them.

Cooking Thursday

The recipe I'm sharing today is from Beth of A Mom's Life. She posted it recently and I tried it last week. As she promised, it was easy and good. I changed it a bit to make it healthier and we all loved it!
For more recipes, stop over at Diary of a SAHM.

One Pot Spaghetti

1/2 pound ground turkey
26 ounces Ragu light Tomato and Basil spaghetti sauce
spices to taste - salt, pepper, garlic powder, italian seasoning, minced onion...
1 can tomato paste
1 can chicken broth
2 cups water
14 ounce Barilla Plus thin spaghetti, broken into thirds

Brown turkey in large pot. Add spaghetti sauce and spices ( you can use whatever you have handy that sounds good). Stir in tomato paste, broth and water.
Bring to a boil, then add pasta.
Turn heat to medium or medium low. Simmer for 17 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle Parmesan over top and enjoy!

Makes 8 servings, 309 calories per serving.

Wordless Wednesday

Surprise gift

Do you remember a few months ago when I showed you the jewelry my daughter Laura has been making? Well, now there is someone else in the family that's decided she likes making jewelry.
Last week, my doorbell rang and my sister Cheri's son Nick, and daughter Arianna were at the door. Nick had picked beans and brought over a big bowl of them. Arianna, who is 12 said she had something for me too and gave me the earrings you see above.
She made them at an art camp! I was really impressed. I think they turned out great and it was so nice of her to surprise me like that! (The beans were good too!)
I think she has a future in this, don't you?

Tales from the Nurses Station

I've shared before a few stories about the cute little lady at the nursing home who calls me Coco. If you didn't see them you can read them here and here.
She is so cute -we all love her and we are often surprised by what she says. She spends a lot of time sitting with us at the nurses station because she is always trying to get up and walk, and if we let her go, she would be falling daily. Anyway - this gives us lots of time to have some interesting conversations with her. Here are a few of her latest:
1) She went through a short streak of calling me "Cuckoo" instead of Coco. Many of the staff thought this is what it should have been all along!
2) One day she said, "Coco - I know how you are. If you are not going to call the Dr for yourself, I'll do it for you. Just look how white you are - there must be something wrong!" (I guess I need to get a little more sun) :)
3) I don't remember what she had been talking about, but I said to her "A, you are so cute!" She responded "Well, I don't have anything else to do, but to sit here and look cute".
4) My friend and co-worker, Nancy was talking to her, when out of the blue she asked Nancy - "do you have your underwear on?" Nancy said - "Well, yes I do" and got the response - "wear it with a smile!"
Sometimes it can be really hectic and crazy at work, but moments like these will brighten even the worst days!