E is for.....

Eternity--which I will spend with Jesus Christ in the new heaven and new earth.  I pray for the rapture regularly!

Eclair Cake--one of my favorite desserts!  And mine is the best because I make my very own from-scratch chocolate icing.  I'm sorry but eclair cake with canned icing is just wrong on so many levels.  Honestly, canned icing is just wrong--period.  But that's another post!

Estee Lauder, Sunflowers perfume--it will always and forever remind me of my mom.

Etienne Aigner--all the rage at my small private school in the 80s.  I had one of these and one of these and my mom had one of these, which I distinctly remember rummaging through looking for Velamints during some very long sermons! 

Epi-pen--which I carried with me everywhere for ten years, due to a severe allergy to bees.  Thankfully, I never had to use it!


Evergreen, first book in the Werner family saga, by Belva Plain--a World War II historical fiction series that I read in high school.  Some of the best books I have ever read.  In fact, I may have to read them again soon.  In all my free time, you know.

Evenhouse, Gwenyth M.D.--the lovely British doctor/midwife, who delivered Brooke.  I loved her.  She was amazing.   

In Every Season.......

All of my life

In every season

YOU are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship
(Desert Song, Brooke Fraser)

The Hair Ball

Last weekend, Brooke had the amazing opportunity to participate in a local breast cancer fundraiser put on by a local salon and appropriately titled the "Hair Ball".   The spa owners attend our church and graciously asked Brooke to sing at the event.  Of course, she was thrilled to oblige, and Jeff and I were able to sneak in the back and hear her sing "The Climb" and "Anyway".  She did a great job!

We are so proud of Brooke and the chances she has been given to use her talents.  Last week, we were excited to hear that she was invited to sing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as part of a small choral group, during their Christmas production of The Polar Express.  We are so grateful for these opportunities that God has given her!

Just Say "Hall-no-ween"

I'm seriously considering boycotting Halloween this year. I think I'll call it "Hall-no-ween" and be done with it.

No, I'm not suddenly convicted about the evilness/wickedness of Halloween. Never have been. I completely and totally respect your views if you feel this way--I'm quite certain you have very justified beliefs for doing so. Happy Trunk or Treat or Happy Harvest Party or whatever you do to "celebrate" the same day in a different way.

I guess in my maternal naivete that began just 17 short Halloweens ago, I naturally assumed that by the time my sweet babes were 17, 14, 12, and 10, the "shine" would have gone off the pumpkin, so to speak. Surely, they weren't STILL going to beg me to walk into that dreadful den of foil balloons and cheap gift bag trinkets, otherwise known as Party City, and spend an hour or two gawking at hideous, overpriced masks and flimsy french maid costumes. Why, by the time I was their age, I was LONG over Halloween and its silly traditions! (I can honestly say I have zero Halloween memories. None.)

Surely they wouldn't still expect me to traipse around in the dark, ringing the door bells of strangers who would most certainly agree that they are too old for Halloween, and then spend the next three weeks answering the question "Can I have a piece of Halloween candy?", always and inevitably asked 15 minutes (at the most) before the advent of the next meal.

So, a few weeks ago, when I began to hear rumblings of costumes, masks, etc., I willed them away, assuring myself I must be hearing wrong. I was able to keep them at bay until the past few days. Alas, I went down to the laundry/storage room and there it was. The clearly labeled "Halloween Costume" rubbermaid box (orange with a black lid, of course), strewn about on the floor, which was littered with a ghoulish mask and the remains of an afro wig, purchased on major clearance in a moment of even more major weakness on my part. Sigh.........

And, so it begins. The wails and moans. The heaving sighs and rolling eyes. "But I have NOTHING to wear for Halloween." "I was THAT three years ago. I can't be THAT again." "That is sooo stupid. I'm not doing THAT." Naturally, every cheap and easy idea that I have is dorky, stupid, and not worthy of a moment's consideration. But all of those glorious costumes at the aforementioned party store are the desirable, high-quality stuff of Halloween dreams.

I will readily admit I am NOT a party/holiday mom. I have already publicly apologized to my children for the years of therapy this will result in for them. I could probably plan and organize the heck out of someone else's party or holiday festivities but don't ask me to host my own. I was definitely absent the day God handed out the gift of hospitality! In fact, for the past few years, we have turned off our porch light and either left the house completely or hidden away watching television in the dark. I know. WE. ARE. AWFUL. (Just a heads' up: the light won't be on this year either, in case you were considering dropping by.)

Halloween actually used to be fun when the Ferbers were here and we could "socialize" all the way up and down their street while we giggled at the neighbors who were pulling a Radio Flyer wagon full of beer! But then the Ferbers left us, and now we are forced to "Halloween" on our own and it's just not the same. So.......I'm considering boycotting Halloween this year. We'll just have a quiet night at home, reading Leviticus and munching on celery and broccoli.

Now.......if I can just convince our resident witch, car accident victim, and hippie that boycotting CAN be fun..........

Recipe Sunday

MERCIFUL. HEAVENS. I can hardly express how yummy these are. I found the recipe here. And she's right: they are like little bites of apple pie. Yum. Enjoy!

Glazed Apple Bars

4 cups flour
2 1/3 cups sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon water

Stir until combined and drizzle over bars.

Combine all the flour, 2 cups of sugar, and salt.
Cut in butter until crumbly.
Pat half of crumb mixture into jelly roll pan.
Layer apples on top of crumb mixture.
Combine remaining 1/3 cup sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle over apples.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over apples.
Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before drizzling glaze over top.
Cut into squares to serve.

The (chaotic) days of our lives....

Oh. My. Word. Has it really been two weeks since my last post? Yikes! I have no excuse other than the same old mantra: life is NUTS. Here's a quick synopsis.

Two weeks ago I started giving voice lessons at Liberty Christian School. I have 14 students, and I am lovin' every minute of it. I'm not sure why I thought I had room in my schedule for something else, but I'm so glad I did.

God blessed our family "exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think." I'm not at liberty to share the details yet, but hopefully, I'll be able to do so in the next couple days.

I adorned the house with all things pumpkin and "fallish". It's the best!! I wish fall could last forever.

Jeff and I took Brooke on a college road trip last week. We visited here and here. She has already visited here. No final decision has been made, and we are still waiting to hear about acceptance, but I can tell you that there was a clear winner, and Jeff and I are BEYOND thrilled with her first choice. Any guesses as to which one she LOVED?

Between colleges, we spent a few lovely days with dear friends and their beautiful family. We did nothing but sit around and catch up, play games, and enjoy one another's company. It was wonderful. Old friends really are the BEST friends! We love you Thomsons. Let's not wait so long before the next visit.

Payton decided that while we were gone, it would be a good time to fall at school and end up in the ER with a concussion and whiplash. Never a dull moment with that kid. Thanks to dear friends who handled all those details while we were 500 miles away. Payton is fine but more than a little disturbed at having to sit out of all things soccer for a week.

We are rejoicing with dear friends who are heading to China next week to add children to their families. We have been praying with and for them throughout this lengthy (!) process, and we are so excited to see God work out all the details and to meet these new additions to their families. God is good!

Yes, it's busy--even crazy at times. In fact, two weeks ago, I completely missed a doctor's appointment and an orthodontist appointment. Totally forgot about them. But, in the midst of the craziness, I am so very thankful for a faithful God, who is never too busy for me. I am thankful for a beautiful and talented daughter who, by God's grace, will be attending a christian college. I am thankful for friends and family, who are willing to help however and whenever needed. I am thankful for 14 students who love to sing and for the privilege to guide them. I am thankful for an amazing church where I can go on Sundays to stop for at least an hour to worship and be refreshed. I am thankful to live in a place where the seasons change (and summer goes bye bye!) Oh, and I'm very thankful for our DVR--so that when I do have a minute to sit down, I can watch "The Office" and "Glee". It's the little things, isn't it?

Sharin' the Love........

Recently, I have tried some new things that I LOVE! And because I don't want to hoard all the "love-liness", I'm happy to share them with you in the hopes that you might find something new to LOVE too!

1. My name is Jennifer and potato-a-holic. I admit it. I love potatoes in almost any way, shape, or form. My far-and-away favorite, however, is definitely mashed potatoes. But don't give me anything that starts as flakes in a box. I don't care what anyone says, those most definitely are NOT potatoes.

The only drawback to my love for mashed potatoes is actually peeling, boiling, and mashing them. Don't get me wrong, they are definitely worth the work but, I will admit that in recent (very busy!) days, I've gotten a bit lazy. First, we tried the Country Crock mashed potatoes. Those are yummy but two weeks ago, I picked up these little pieces of potato heaven at BJs, and I was hooked. So simple, so fast, and soooo good! Yes, they are a bit spendy, but they are worth every penny in yummy goodness and saved time. If, like me, you could use a 12-Step Program for potato addiction, these are a must try!

2. I was soo excited to get my first iPod touch a few months ago. And I'm sure it's lovely, but honestly, I really haven't had as much time as I'd like to mess around with it and explore all its possibilities. However, I have managed to find one app that I LOVE and would highly recommend.

Let me preface this by saying that I love to read, but I rarely, if ever, buy a book. I am happy to be #498 on the library waiting list, if necessary. I just can't see the sense in spending (a lot of!) money on a book that I'm going to read and never pick up again. Because of this, I am constantly jotting down names of books that I want to request from the library at some point. Yes, I'm the person blocking the aisle in BJs and Borders and Target while I take out my trusty notepad and pencil to add books to my "Must Read" list.

Enter "Next Read". Some very smart soul wrote an app just for book lovers like me and it's amazing! Now, rather than holding up the whole store, I can simply bring up the "Next Read" app, enter the ISBN of the book I'm interested in and, if I have a wireless connection, it will automatically go to Amazon and show the book cover, price, etc. If not, it keeps a running list of the books and I can just request them from the library when I get home. It even has a place for me to enter who recommended the book and what "score" they gave it, what genre it falls into, and a handy search feature too. If you are a bibliophile like me, this app is another must have!

3. Fall is finally here!! And the arrival of fall also means the arrival of Funkins!!! I love to decorate for fall, and I love pumpkins. Jack-o-lanterns not so much, but pumpkins--I'm definitely a fan! If you haven't discovered carvable foam pumpkins yet, you haven't truly experienced the thrill of fall decorating! I actually plan to just draw on mine with a permanent marker but it you are into "carving foam", you go for it! Either way, they're a hit. Go here for more (very creative, ahem.....) ideas. Happy Halloween!

4. And, last but certainly not least, you MUST try Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Lemon Verbena All-purpose cleaner! Oh, but, it's GOOD!! It seems pricey but it's concentrated, so just grab a spray bottle, add about a fourth cup of cleaner, and fill it up with water. Then you're good to go. It actually keeps my black granite countertops (which, I admit, are pretty much the bane of my very existence--right behind my stainless steel appliances--ack!) streak and spot free! And, it smells yummy! I want to try the countertop spray and the lavender laundry products too--all in good time.

Enjoy! And, I'd love to hear what you've been "loving" lately. Leave a comment and share the love. And if you decide to try one of the things I've listed, please let me know if you "fell in love" too!