That's A Muffin!

This is a muffin made the usual fabulous way I make them. Whole grains and oats, fresh eggs and milk, pure vanilla extract, organic sugar and raw nuts. My son, who has been body building asked if I'd add some protein powder to the muffin batter the next time. I thought that my muffins were pretty fantastic the regular way, but being the wonderful and understanding mother that I am, I made them with the protein powder like he asked.

The results? . . .

well,

see for yourself.

Wow!! Now that's a muffin!

Short Accounts

I have a sweet friend who called me today with a concern that she had gossiped about a woman who is hurting. The thing is that I don't even recall the conversation (yay for peri-menopause!). She had it on her heart to apologize for the offense (one sentence), so she called me and confessed. She felt that instead of saying something that was negative, she should have said something positive. I was so touched by her sensitivity! I love having a friend that feels bad if she (not even on purpose) says something less than encouraging about her friends. Here is the irony (and I have to say that I love how God works) if I ever meet the "offended" woman (and if I even remember this conversation beyond tomorrow) my heart will be so tender toward her because instead of the negative comment (which I don't recall), I will forever remember that she is hurting. It's such a reminder to me that everybody we meet has a story to tell. I haven't met a person yet that has escaped life without a few painful bumps. Plus, my friend may have felt I'd think poorly of her because of her comment, however, I think more highly of her than ever because of her sensitive nature. It's what makes her so special to me. I applaud her for short account with God, her courage for calling me and her love of others . . . I applaud me for picking her as a friend (yay me!). . . and I applaud God for the irony of it all.

That's The Kind Of Guy He Is

Today I fought with my husband. Not in private like most couples do. No, we fought in the busiest place in our county, the new Shop Rite. Yes, folks, it was a sight and unfortunately most of the county saw us. It started out as an "adventure." I said to my husband this morning, "hey, you wanna go to the new Shop Rite with me today, it'll be an adventure." He gave me a look that said, "I know you and shopping is never fun with you and I hate Shop Rite and you know that I vowed never to go there." But he said, "Sure" (because that's the kind of guy he is). We got there and the parking lot was packed. We walked inside and the store was packed. The floors are hard and cold. The aisles are narrow and long. The ceilings are high and sounds echo. He said something and I heard, "mumble mumble, mumble mumble, mumble mumble." I said, "WHAT?" He said it again and again and again. Finally, I went over and shouted, "I can't hear you!" He said, "Never mind, it's not funny anymore." He stopped to look at gummy bears and I lost him. He stopped again, this time to look at videos and I lost him. When I found him I yelled at him. While I was yelling at him some old lady stood there just looking at me. I glared at her and thought, "Take a picture why don't you!" She said, "Excuse me, but you're standing in front of my cart." I stepped out of the way, turned to my husband and said, "We need to go back to aisle 1, I just put about $10.00 of groceries in her cart." And just like that, the fight was over (because that's the kind of guy he is).

A Little Nerd Story

Many years ago my husband and I were invited to a Halloween Party. We decided to go as nerds. So, we went to a thrift shop at one of the local churches to buy outfits. I picked out a lovely polyester pants suite, old eye glasses and a bright red purse. My husband picked out polyester pants, a polyester shirt, a pocket protector, old glasses, a chunky belt and black shoes. We played the "nerds" all night. In my bright red purse I had big, yellow rubber gloves and using them I picked up discarded food scraps. I placed each food scrap in my purse and later that evening set a table for my husband and myself. I set out the food scraps and we ate them. My husband played his part a little too well, if you catch my drift. He buttoned his shirt wrong, left his zipper down, tucked his shirt into his underwear, wore white socks with his black shoes and flood-water pants, taped his glasses and wore the pocket protector (all things he has done at one time or another - sorry Honey, just sayin'). We won the costume contest, unanimously. But here is the best part. When we were at the thrift shop getting our costumes my husband came over to me and said very excitedly while holding up some ties, "Look at these really cool ties I just bought! They were only a dollar each. Aren't they really nice??!!" "Sweetie," I said flatly, "those are the ties I donated here last month that I pulled out of your closet. Give them back." Which he did . . . under protest . . . just sayin' . . .

B4 U Hit Send

Well, if you saw my last post you saw a picture of my new phone. This is the first upgrade to our cell phone service since 2001. Our old cell phone, which I shared with my husband, was big, with big buttons and no texting capabilities. It had an antenna, great reception and easy to navigate tools. I got my new phone (my own, but not really because even though I don't share with my husband anymore, I share this one with my son - but whatever) and quickly learned how to use it. I have texted my daughter at college with the appropriate emoticons, I have texted a picture of my omelet to my daughter while she was in study hall at school, I have texted my son's "friend" to ask her when she was getting picked up (hint-hint) while I was upstairs and they were downstairs. I have texted all my way cool young friends sending them quirky messages in "textease." Yes, folks, this dinosaur with big thumbs mastered the art of "communicating" through texting. I have also mastered the art of rude. I answered my phone right in the middle of Bible study, I interrupted my husband to receive and then send a text, I even texted at the dinner table. I was tempted, but refrained from viewing the beeping, vibrating device in my pocket while I was driving. Today, I am sending out a mass text which reads: "Peeps, I am 2 busy 2 txt u anymore. Pls b sure u rly have something important 2 say b4 u txt me :D"
U c, I am so cool, I dont need 2 txt anymore :-)

What I Did During The Snow Storm

First I took out my sewing machine and made cell phone cases. I lined each one with a thick batting to protect them. Sometimes I am so clever that I even surprise myself.

Then I went outside with my family and made Mario, the Italiano snowman. Notice his mustache and his gupalini. Again, I surprise and amuse myself.

Then I finished crocheting this baby blanket for a dear, dear couple who are expecting their first child this month. Every time I sat down to crochet I prayed over this baby and the dear couple. I began by praying for the fetal development of the baby and continued praying through all the years of this child's life. What an honor for me to pray for this little life and the family and friends who will be touched by it. The center represents the child's small and humble beginnings and the outer edges represents a life well lived, finishing strong.

Finally, the sun came out and shined into my kitchen catching the bottom of a CD, casting this beautiful rainbow along the corner of the wall.
Again, I ask you folks, how great is our God?

Today, it's back to the grind. . .