A New Old Friend

Her smile hasn't changed a bit!

"A friend loves at all times..."

Proverbs 17:17

We graduated from high school 41 years ago.  We had a few classes together and I remember a quiet sweetness about her. She had a warm, sincere smile for me. But we ran with different crowds and didn't hang out much. I was excruciatingly shy, so I didn't pursue a closer relationship with her.

And yet, last summer, before our high school's 40th class reunion, she took the trouble to seek me out on Facebook and invite me to come.  I was thrilled to be remembered, but, alas, unable to attend.

Fast forward to a month ago.  She emailed me that she and her husband would be camping about an hour's drive from us and would we like to meet up?

Again, that heart-thrill of being remembered.

We drove to their campsite on the Oregon coast.  We'd agreed to go to a local place for lunch, but as soon as we got to their trailer site, they welcomed us heartily and we all sat down to talk.  The heck with going to a restaurant!  We were having such a wonderful visit, we didn't want to risk losing the warmth by getting in the car.  I don't know how much time passed, but it wasn't long before she made guacamole and broke out the chips, fruit, and a bottle of wine.

Even though it's July we needed a campfire!

Didn't take long and we were all sharing about our faith in Christ.  We were able to relate on a heart-level that transcends time and doesn't depend on what happened in high school.  Turns out, we are among the few who remained married to the spouses of our youth, and agreed it was by God's grace.

Just so no one thinks we starved, our new old friends graciously invited us to share a yummy supper of BBQ'd ribs.  And for the grand finale, we got to make S'mores around their campfire!

You know what brought this visit to mind?  My friend sent me a picture of the two of us from that day, thanking me for our visit.  Is that thoughtful or what?  Of course, I'd been meaning to do that ever since the day after we got home.  

Lessons learned from my new old friend, so far:

Don't procrastinate when you have the chance to bless others.

Make the effort to remember and connect with someone.

What are some lessons your friends have taught you?

God bless your week!

Love,

Playing along with

Beverly at How Sweet The Sound
for Pink Saturday.

(The Bible verse is in pink!)

and Ginger & Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Please check out their blog this week to read about the Miracle Makeover Blog Party.

A Grande Life

Meet Me on Monday

It's time for 

Meet Me on Monday,

the delightful blog hop that Java hosts on

-you guessed it-

Mondays.

Each Monday Java posts 5 questions

and then you write a post which includes 

your answers.

If you'd like to join in you can click on her name, above,

and add yourself to the linky do-dah on her site.

So, without further ado, here are my answers:

1.   How do you order your steak?

I don't order steak, ever.

I like to order seafood.

After all, I live in a place where it's available fresh year round.

I love scallops, seared, with a light garlic sauce:

2.  Are you superstitious about anything?

Nope.

I believe that God, the Creator of the whole universe is running the show 

and His plans for me are for my good.

I do get a kick out of blowing out 

my birthday candles with one breath, though.

Every year it gets a little harder.

3.  Who is your best friend (not including your spouse)?

That's a hard choice.

It would have to be either: 

Chris, whom I've known since we were 6.

We were each other's Maids-of-Honor

and I'm her son's Godmother.

It's been years since we've seen each other, 

but we're having lunch a few days after Christmas

in town we grew up in.

OR

Cheryl, whom I've known since we were 21,

and in college.

We had our babies together, watched them grow up,

graduate from college, and get married.

Even when we don't talk for a long time,

it's easy to connect about our faith in Jesus.

OR

Karen, aka:  the Real Karen.  She calls me Karen too/2.

We've taught Sunday School together, worked on lots of 

Women's Ministry gatherings, been in Bible study together, 

and watched our kids grow up.

Without her help with all 3 of my kids' weddings,

I would have...

Well, I just don't know how I would have got through them

without her!

My DH and I are her granddaughter's Godparents, too.

4. When is the last time you wore a dress (for the guys...a suit)?

If skirts don't count, I'd say it was for my daughter's wedding.

Above, right:  my best friend-the DH.

Doesn't he look handsome?!

5.  Do you have any trips scheduled?

Yes.  

On Christmas Day the DH and I

and all of 3 our kids and spouses

are flying to California 

to share Christmas 

with my Mom & brother,

DH's brother, nieces, and nephews!

Grace and peace to you!

Love,

     

Friends & Orange Fudge

My Dear Husband and I attended an annual Christmas party 

hosted by friends from church on Friday night.  

Every year they serve Keith's World Famous Chile

and Lil's Pretty Good Potato Soup

and whatever their guests bring to share.

We brought a circle of Brie and Triscuits

and a bottle of Merlot, from Columbia Crest, a Pacific Northwest winery.

This classic Merlot opens with aromas of clove and exotic spices, leading to a palate with a velvety, seductive texture. Good integration of oak and fruit notes create a lingering, complex finish.

Each December, we look forward to this party because 

it's always a lovely, relaxed evening spent with dear friends.

Oh, and did I mention the Orange Fudge?

This creamy confection came on my radar last year.

I was sick and couldn't attend.

So the DH went by himself.

But he arrived back home bearing a plate of several delicious goodies

put together for me by thoughtful Lil .

Among them was this fudge.

What does it taste like?

Think of those orange and white 50/50 ice cream bars

that you used to hope your mom would give you

the money to buy from the ice cream man

on hot summer afternoons. 

Oh, yeah!  We're talkin' rich and creamy to the max.

I confess that I saved Weight Watchers points all week

in hopes that the Orange Fudge would make an appearance

this year, too.

I was not disappointed.

And, I met the perpetrator maker of the fudge,

Ruth, who, with her hubby,

grows Christmas and hazlenut (filbert) trees a few miles south of us.

At my request, she emailed me the recipe the next day.

[Cue the Hallelujah Chorus.]

On Sunday, we had the pleasure of taking a 15 minute drive

out to their farm to harvest a Christmas tree.

Contrary to the summery skies pictured above

-at a real Christmas tree farm in the Northwest-

it was drizzling lightly

as we were welcomed by Ruth, husband Al, and their son, RJ.

After the tree was safely bedded down in 

the truck we borrowed from Keith and Lil,

we were invited into their home for hot beverages and 

good, old-fashioned farm hospitality.

NON-FAT TREAT OF THE DAY:

We got the grand tour of their beautifully remodeled kitchen, too.

Nobody had to cue me to drool.  

Ruth graciously handed me the mop to clean up after myself.

Just kidding about the drooling and mop.

 My heart had been so blessed by these people
I didn't even cuss my kitchen when I got home!

That's a big deal for me.

I hear you saying, "I have a bunch of Christmas errands and ordinary life stuff to do today!

Give me the fudge recipe already!"

(Sorry I don't have the nifty print-ready gadget like Pioneer Woman.  Sigh.)

ORANGE FUDGE

3/4 cup BUTTER, NO SUBSTITUTES

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup whipping cream

1 package (10-12 ounces) vanilla or white chips

1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow cream

3 tsp. orange extract

12 drops yellow food coloring

5 drops red food coloring

Grease 9x13 pan with butter.

1. In a heavy sauce pan (I use my Dutch oven sized pan), combine sugar, cream and butter.
2. Cook and STIR over low heat until sugar is dissolved.  Bring to a boil.
3. Using a candy thermometer, cook and STIR for 4 minutes to 234 degrees-sorry, I don't know what "stage" this is.
4. Remove from heat and stir in chips and marshmallow creme until smooth.
5. Remove 1 cup of this mixture and set aside.  This is to remain white, as the swirl mixture.
6. Add orange extract and food colorings to remaining mixture.  (NOT the 1 cup amount.)  Stir until blended.
7. Pour into prepared pan. 
8. Drop the reserved WHITE mixture by tablespoonfuls over the top of the orange mixture.
9. Cut through mixture with a knife to swirl.
10. Cover and refrigerate until set.  Cut into squares.

Yield:  2 1/2 pounds of fudge

Christ has 

No body now on earth but yours;

No hands but yours;

No feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes

through which His compassion will look upon the world.

Yours are the hands

with which He will bless others now.

Mother Teresa

How will you bless others today?

Lord,

give me the grace to be 

Your hands, feet, and mouth-piece 

today.

Love,

Linking up with  Living on Love & Cents, The Thrifty Things, 

Reviewed by Mom, and Coupons Are Great

for:

AND

For the Love of Blogs for:

Thanks, ladies, for hosting these great blog hops!

I Get To Play With My Dishes-Day #14 of Thanksgiving

It's one of my favorite homemaking tasks:

Playing with my dishes in preparation for a holiday meal.

Does that sound weird?

I don't get to use them very often, 

at least, not all at once.

Nearly all of them have memories for me.
Like the silver chest above.
We bought that service for 12 with money my parents gave us
for Christmas one year.

And the napkins pictured below.

20 years ago, when experiencing the beauty of fall 

was still new to me

-we had moved from San Diego-

I went in my yard and picked up 3 different kinds of leaves,

traced their shapes onto calico 

and sewed the shapes onto napkins.

That was the year we had the DH's great aunt 
and 6 new friends for Thanksgiving.

It was only the 2nd Thanksgiving I'd ever spent apart from my parents and brother.

Our dining room table, pictured here and only 5 years old then, 

accommodated all 12 of us wonderfully well.

I bought this bowl and pan at a beach community the year

-the only year in 32 years-

my Dear Husband forgot our anniversary.

Notice the mountain peaks in this bowl?

It came from Redstone, Colorado, a tiny community in the Rockies,
elevation 6000 feet.

This was my first piece of crystal.  Got it the year my son was born, 1983.

Don't ask me why I thought I needed a divided crystal vegetable bowl.

I must have been sleep-deprived, 
having just had my 3rd baby in 37 months.

This pretty Chantal deep-dish pie pan
is really too big for our needs 
except at holidays.

Oh, and all those post-it notes?  

I label the dishes so I know I have enough dishes 
and so anyone helping in the kitchen

will know what food goes in which dish.


Again, dear reader, I ask,
does that seem weird?

Putting the serving spoons in them ensures that each dish will have

the proper tool once it gets on the table.  
Saves time and confusion those last few minutes

when we're trying to get the meal on the table 

in a timely manner.

I learned to get my serving tools and dishes out 
a few days before a holiday, and to label them

from Emily Barnes about 25 years ago.

Anybody remember Emily Barnes?
What a precious spiritual and practical mentor 
she was to me!


This year I'm going to use these as bread plates.
Aren't they pretty?

This piece, also from Redstone, will be our water pitcher.
We got this the year DH and I rode horses with our friend, 
who lives there, up into the Rockies to 9000 feet.
Our guide cooked for us. 
After dinner we made s'mores by the camp fire.
There was a full moon that night.
It hailed marbles the next morning at 5 a.m.

When it comes time to serve pie, we will use these.

One Thanksgiving, I remember being secretly shocked

that my dear girlfriend wanted to use paper plates to serve the pie!

I thought, "On Thanksgiving?!"

I wish she was coming on Thursday,

but that's not possible.

She died of breast cancer at 42.

So there you have it, folks.
Playing with my dishes is a walk down memory lane for me.
As I lovingly lay them out,
I get to remember holidays 
and special dinners spent with
loved ones.


And for that, I am truly grateful.


Now, don't you dare forget that 
God rejoices over you and me!
Love, Karen


WHOOPEE!  
I found a whole crowd of like-minded bloggers who love to play with their dishes
so I'm linking up with 
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays 

Take a peak at some of the beautiful tables these girls set!

My Weight Loss Journey-Day #9 of Thanksgiving

Today I'm thankful for the people and tools

the Lord

has given me to help me on

My Weight Loss Journey.

Believe me, folks,

I've spent/waisted/lost plenty of time

beating myself up for being over-weight. 

Do you recognize this conversation I keep having in my brain?

It's like an earworm.

You know, a song that you hear on the radio,

and for the rest of the day

you CAN'T get it out of your head!

One of the worst earworms I ever got

-apart from the one below-

was at Disneyland when we took the kids on the

"It's A Small World" ride.

Got off on an earworm rabbit trail. 

Hey! 

Rabbit trails lead NO WHERE

and that's where this earworm has gotten me:

Me:  "I need to lose weight 'cuz

I'm not proud of the way I look;

my clothes don't fit;

I've never weighed this much, not even 9 months pregnant;

my cholesterol is sky-high (335!);

I'm at risk for heart disease and diabetes;

I look and feel older than I am;

I feel achy and sluggish..."

You get the picture.

Ever have that conversation?

This fall, when it came time to renew my health insurance for my job,

I learned about a new benefit:

I could join a

Weight Watchers at Work group meeting

FOR FREE!

I know this program works for me.

I achieved Lifetime Member status 5 years ago.

I looked and felt great!

But I didn't maintain the lifestyle.

And the earworm/rabbit trail conversations began.

I'd considered joining again,

but due to our financial state

I didn't feel I could spend the money.

So over the summer, I actually had enough

self-discipline to

NOT BAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

every time the thought came in my head.

That helped.

[Go figure!] 

Lost 5 pounds.

Well, thank You, Jesus!

You provided a way for me join with co-workers

for support, accountability, and fellowship on

My Weight Loss Journey!

Part of the benefit includes use of

Weight Watchers' etools on their website.

I joined 2 weeks ago and have lost 1.4# !

I love my leader and my group.

I feel empowered, confident, and hopeful.

Another tool the Lord has given me eyes to see is

on-line supporters such as

Jennifer at Living A Changed Life,

Donna at The Year of Living Healthfully,

Julie at The Going To Be New Me,
(especially the idea for the weight-loss ticker)

and Angie's Healty Living Blog.

Thank you, ladies, for posting your ups and downs

on your weight loss and maintenance journeys!

You inspire me to set goals and share them

with the wide world (as Forest Gump says).

Lord, I lift up all of us who are struggling with this issue.

Please turn our eyes and hearts to You, first,

for approval, strength, and guidance.

When we fail,

Lord, let us find our solace and shelter in You.

When we are successful,

Lord, let us rejoice in You,

our always-available Strength

and everlasting Lover.

God's abundant blessings on your day, friends!

Love, Karen

Today I'm inviting you to a blog hop with Java and friends over at
Never Growing Old

Personally, I plan to NEVER be old. 
Which is different than:  I never plan to be old.
How 'bout you?

Wonderful Women In My Life-Day #7 of Thanksgiving

Don't you just love daylight savings time?

Having lived far from our parents, brothers, and other extended family members for nearly all of our married life, I know we've missed a lot. 

We raised our own family with just us to celebrate

all of the stuff of family life

that needs to be celebrated:

birthdays, holidays, piano recitals, well-played tennis matches, soccer games, track meets, baseball games, family dinners on [whatever] night of the week, 

3 generation girls-only tea parties & guys-only golfing.

You get the picture.

It was just us 5.

What helped me find joy in life without extended family living nearby?

The wonderful women

of my church family!

They've invited me to be part of their lives for 17 years now. 

I've had the priviledge of watching their marriages mature, their children be born and grow up, go to college or other pursuits, get married, and become parents themselves!  We've walked together through the valley of the shadow of deaths and illnesses.  We've prayed each other through our shtuff [no, that's not a typo, it's a euphemism], sharing our joys and sorrows along the way.

I'm so thankful for them. 

I truly don't know where I or my family would be

if it weren't for those relationships!

But the Lord knew I needed to be in fellowship with other Christian women.

He provided me

with a large, available, salt-of-the-earth-precious network of them at my church.

As much as I often thought to the contrary [hehe],

He knew I didn't know it all!

But there's ALWAYS at least 1 girlfriend,

more likely several,

willing to give me Godly guidance and pray with and for me

to find the answers to my questions about life.

Have I taken these women for granted?

Yes.

But they show me grace

and always take me back,

no questions asked.

Only genuine concerns expressed.

Thank You, Lord. for these dear ones!

Today I want to share the fun afternoon I spent with about 15 of them.

Sunday morning was bright with promise.

What better to do than can apple pie filling with girlfriends?

So after worship that's just what we did.

'Course a girl's gotta have fuel for that. 

Robin fired up her crockpots and blessed us with her Dad's homemade chili.

And just for good measure, she brought brownies, too.



We are all still married to the husbands of our youth.



Below, Susan is teaching us the order of worship

[*giggle*we Lutherans love our liturgy]

what we need to do before we can can [couldn't resist] the apple pie filling mix.

Hint:  It involves knives and lots of crispy Jonagold apples .

Sherryl's son and my daughter, both 30, have been friends since middle school.

Nan and I worked together on the Women's Retreat committee this spring.
I'm so thankful I got to serve with her and the others. 
I was blessed by their willingness to share openly about themselves.

Jennifer and I have connected at Women's events several times over the years.

Sarah & I used to sing in the choir together.

I want to get to know Ruby better.

I love her quiet, gentle spirit.

In the last several photos, have you noticed these women's hands?
They have always used their hands,
as well as other gifts, in service to others.

Here's the game plan:

Here are the usual suspects:

Here's what gives the pie filling it's juicy yumminess:

30 jars, stuffed to capacity, awaiting their fateful hotwater baths.

Slavin' over a hot stove with smiles.

Multitasking-21st century homemaker style.

And lookin' good while she does it!

Mary decided this tool could be used for
more than lifting jars out of the canner.
Mary makes me smile
and her Bible studies help me grow in my faith. 

 Cutting the fabric for the fussy lid covers.

 Robin and I needed photos of each other.
I've been priviledged to work on many fun, girly events with her.

 Fussy labels for each jar.

 Installing the fussy lid covers and labels.

Don't the fussy lid covers, labels, and twine
look pretty on our finished product?
We will sell them at our Craft & Bake Sale
the weekend before Thanksgiveing.
The proceeds go to bring the Good News of Jesus
to missions around the world.

Yes, raising money for missions is a good, Godly endeavor.

But God also blesses the fellowship we shared this afternoon.

Cost: $0

Value:  Priceless 

Thank You, all you dear women,

for the richness you add to my life.

God bless you!

Love, Karen

Linking with
Dr. Laura for

and Alissa