Potato Donuts

Take 2 c. mashed potatoes. Mix in butter the size of an egg with the potaotes. Add a pinch of salt, 3 c. white sugar, 3 beaten eggs, and 1 c. milk. Sift 7 c. of all-purpose flour. Put 5 c. flour with egs and milk mixture. Take remaining 2c. flour and add 4 tsp. baking powder. Add a bit of nutmeg. Mix all together. Roll out on floured board and cut out donuts. Fry Donuts and holes separately because the holes fry up much quicker. I made the glaze by just stirring together some confectioners sugar, vanilla and water. Dip donuts in glaze and put on cake racks to drip. That's the best method. Taste best while hot, as you well know. We need to make these when everyone is home next time!

My Best Friend

After a week full of family...children, small dogs, s'mores around the campfire, guitar playing, kinecting (new game), and a LOT of laughter...our holiday is over. This evening the last two headed back to Texas, and we returned home to our much quieter house. I went out to gather linens from the cabin, and as I turned off the lights on the tree, and the little lamp in the windowsill. I was filled with such contentment. I know my many gifts come from God alone, through nothing I have ever done. I am very undeserving . I sometimes have wondered if one of the reasons I have been so blessed is because of the man I travel through life with. That just maybe God is blessing him, and because I am with him, I get to share his blessings. I write often about my six children, their spouses and my adorable grandchildren. But I don't usually say much about the love of my life. I was a 17 year old girl when I met this wonderful Italian man on campus and heard him play the guitar on the front lawn. And now 34 years later, I once again sit by the campfire and listen as he sings "Annie's Song" for me.The greatest gift I could have ever given my children is the man who is their father. He loves unselfishly. We have been through much together---the loss of our first son, raising a houseful of children, homes in foreign lands, health issues--and once again making a new home together. And each step of the way we have had so much fun. He makes me laugh. I know he would give his life for me. I'm reminded of the book of Titus, where older women are told to teach the younger women to love their husbands. Some husbands make that a very easy thing to do. I pray that each of my girls will one day have with their husbands what I share with their father. I also pray that each of my four sons will live their lives in a way, that their wives will love them the way I love their Dad. It doesn't happen overnight. We are both imperfect people. But I look forward to growing older with him, the Lord willing. I want to share much more laughter.

Friends in the Neighborhood

This week I am going to try :) to think of at least one aspect of my life for which I am grateful. Today's post is easy. Since about the crack of dawn I have had neighbor kids in my yard playing football, tag, and then Konnect (whatever the new game for the Xbox 360 is called that belongs to my son-in-law). The game is a huge hit with the whole family. Everyone is so sore this morning they are all moaning and groaning! It has been good for a lot of laughs. This afternoon I have been able to do some holiday baking as I have listened to the children outside running and laughing. Our home was built by the family of one of the girls (it was her first home and  she now lives next door) and we bought the home from the other little girls grandparents. The boy lives at the end of ths street and is a regular football and soccer buddy for the boys. I asked to get a picture of all of them and the girls obviously had fond memories of "their" playhouse, so we took it there. Christian obviously responded with"You can have it. We don't want it"--spoken like a true boy!



Gabriel Celebrating his 5th Birthday/Cake compliments of Aunt Chelsea

Weekend in Atlanta

We spent a wonderful weekend in Atlanta with the S family. Katie watched the boys for us in Birmingham and we arrived in time for dinner Sat. night. Along with two other couples we finalized our travel plans for next summer's trip. 15 days in July to Jordan, Israel, Greece and Italy. We are looking forward to guiding the group through Greece and Italy...but especially looking forward to our first trip to Israel. There were many highlights to the trip- wonderful dining, watching a deer in the backyard, the gorgeous changing of the leaves in Dunwoody, a wonderful late night visit with our friends, exquisite sheets and a fluffy robe, and a trip to Ikea- but the highlight was watching servanthood in action. This couple in their late 60's, literally worth millions, have opened their home for the unforeseen future ( a year at the very least) to a 13 year old boy and his 7 year old sister. They have custody while their mother deals with consequences of poor choices she made many years ago. She is now their sister in Christ and they are serving her. So he now fixes them eggs every morning before school and helps her with Math every evening.Seeing Christ through them both is a beautiful thing. I have been so blessed to have been touched so many times by truly great men and women. JimBill and Betty McInteer, Clifton and Louise Ganus, Joe and Bessie Mae Pryor, and I could go on for a long time. They make me want to live my life in a way in which they would be proud of me. But their example was clear. Live for Him and not for man's approval.

International Students

Tonight we had the International students with Faulkner over for dinner. They were joined by some students who have either done a semester abroad, or are interested in overseas travel. What a wonderful evening it was! We had lasagna, cheese ravioli, spinach salad with pears, feta, walnuts and cranberries, ciabatta cheese bread and brownies or biscotti with ice cream for dessert. The weather cooperated nicely and we were all able to eat on tables outside on the porch. Terry had strung white twinkle lights in the trees to help the students spot our home in the dark (at the end of a dirt road no GPS recognizes:). We had the cabin door open and music playing, and students wandering in and out. It was such a relaxing evening, considering there were 35 or so of us. We had several offers of willingness to rent our little one room cabin, so if the economy worsens I believe we've found a source of a small income (just kidding. It's now become the favorite hangout for all of us.)

Things That Make Me Happy

I intentionally look for things to be thankful for. I try to see the glass half full, though not often enough. This week has been full of small things, which when all put together, has made it a great week. I love the brisk weather and the wonderful fireplace in our new home.I've been busily preparing for my children's arrival for Thanksgiving by stocking up at the grocery store. I love a good bargain:) This week at Winn-Dixie I spent $203 and saved $122!! They have BOGO offers that are good savings for me because they are items that we already eat (tilapia, London Broil, ketchup,etc.). When I got home from the grocery my new issue of Mary Jane Farms had arrived in the mail...and my new issue of The Old Schoolhouse. How could a day get any better? While putting my groceries away I realizd that my pantry had become a mess, so I put on Christmas music (I know, I know..It's only November...)and got to work. It brings me immediate joy every morning to start my day off  NOT knocking grits and canned goods on the floor trying to find the oatmeal:) That joy was multiplied when I then decided to hang my winter clothes and get my summer things stored. Now my closet makes me happy:) Tuesday nights Bible class went real well. I've had several of the same children return and I love it that they are happy to be there and greet me with a hug. Jordan has been helping me. He leads our class in the opening prayer and the children actually sit and listen. I love how God uses each of us in unique ways. Spending this time with him each week has been a huge blessing as he has sharedwith me on our ride there and back. Today was my second weigh-in. Down 3.6. Yeah!! That's 8.8 for my first two weeks. That's more than normal for me, so thanks for all the prayers. They're helping. Time to go sew. Tomorrow after church we're heading to Pioneer Days, so today is my free day:) Hope everyone's week is a good one.