THIS JUST IN.....

Our very first photo Christmas card AND letter WOW!.. came to us from....(drum roll please) Our precious friends Linda and Ed Phillips (Danny & Lindsey (AMAZING youth minister friends from Boerne Texas parents/parents in law) YAAY!! for the beginning of catching up :) I can't wait to see who is next...Just to let you know...I will NOT be posting play by play as they come in....ha ha ha ha!

May you relish in being redeemed :) I love reading the definition for redeemed:

re·deem (rĭ-dēm') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. re·deemed, re·deem·ing, re·deems

1. To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
2. To pay off (a promissory note, for example).
3. To turn in (coupons, for example) and receive something in exchange.
4. To fulfill (a pledge, for example).
5. To convert into cash: redeem stocks.
6. To set free; rescue or ransom.
   
7. To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences. See Synonyms at save¹.
8. To make up for: The low price of the clothes dryer redeems its lack of special features.
9. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.

WOW!

love you guys oodles!

well it's that time.....

YAAY!!!! I love receiving Christmas cards/letters!!! I am always excited to see who's will be the first card we get! !!So far...we haven't gotten any yet.... Of course...we haven't sent one! Every year we say okay let's do this Christmas card/letter thing... then inevitably something comes up where all of us can't be at the same place the same time for the photo!!!

Plus every year I like to keep them up on the front door till like February or March...Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! My family thinks I am crazy!!! But I just love seeing all the faces...all the time. Some are loved ones far off, but even the ones that we go to church together with....still don't always see each other plus the fact of busy busy busy schedules :(

Okay so anywhoo..I am anticipating with jolly merriment for them to start arriving!!! Sooo, who's will it be? Uhh, just in case you share the same enthusiasm...don't hold your breath for ours!!! I mean I really really hope we will do one..but...let's be honest folks!!! NO ONE has received one from us...like...EVER! There is no excuse though for not doing a letter...including the fact that Joel is a pretty creative writer! (we're losers)

Oh, those of you that receive the letters from The Boone's(Grant/Amy) or the Miller's(Brian/Leslie).. Aren't they THE MOST Zany ones you have ever read???

Well, toodles for now. I pray powerful Blessings on your week!

Quick Quile Quips:

Joel doing great! Loves loves loves being discipled by Christ, being my heart throb husband, faithful father, the privilege of preaching.

John doing great at his job, and eating healthy!

Laura doing great academically (WHOO HOO!) she is very thrilled since this is her senior year, so she will finish strong!

Emily in last year of elementary and doing great! except she is sick and had 102.6 fever thru out the night :(

& Me... well.. Like I would EVER post deep personal things!!! Seriously... I feel very blessed and desire more and more the dwelling of the Lord in my life! Some days more desperate than others.... Anywhoo. Sooo thankful for the close friends God has blessed me with to walk with me on this zany journey called life!

I love my Bible study group they are NUT-TTTY! by the way girls, I have a horrible scratch(actually 2) over my right eye from hitting my face on my straw last night! ha ha ha ha
I truly look forward to Tuesday nights!!!

Whoo Hoo!.....pretty sure I found it...

Okay, so I'm pretty sure I found it sort of....

I had to piece some recipes together, but I think it's gonna work that is....If I actually follow the DIRECTIONS!!!!

So here's the creamy vanilla fudge recipe:
2 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. butter 5oz. can evaporated milk 2c. marshmallow creme 8oz Nestle's Alpine White candy bar( couldn't find it, so used white choc morsels had to measure/weigh on a food scale and all that malarky) 3/4 c. chopped pecans (I omitted) and 1tsp vanilla

Line 9 inch square or 9x13 inch pan with foil making sure foil extends over sides of pan; butter foil In large saucepan, combine sugar, butter milk. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 min. over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients, stirring until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Cool to room temperature. refrigerate until firm.

Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil; remove foil from fudge, Store in fridge.

OKAY so here's what went wrong tonight...First off going to Walmart 2 days before Thanksgiving is nerve racking...starting fudge at 9pm isn't any smarter THEN when you just look at the ingredients and start adding them ALL into the pot without following instructions IS INSANE!!!.UGGGHHH!! MAN!!!! I only had what I needed to make one batch so I SURE couldn't start over!

Anywhooo needless to say there is a distinct reason they only want you to mix first three ingredients...bring to boil...remove from heat....THEN add remaning ingredients!!! Probably wouldn't have to try to get it firm in the FREEZER!!! It is 10:43 AND it's still not firm!!!!

But I do have to say the chewy caramel praline turned out EXACT!!!! I just took a soft caramel candy recipe added chopped walnuts(softer than pecans) and presto!

That recipe is as follows:
1c. butter 1 pound light brown sugar(used dark...light was completely sold out along with MANY other ingredients zillions of people were roaming aimlessly and pretty much hopelessly looking for!) I felt so sheepish when I got to go through the 20 items or less line while others were pushing mountain high buggy's around) OKAY....continuing with ingredients... 1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk 1 c. light corn syrup pinch of salt and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Now I DID follow these instructions WAY better...even though... I added the vanilla in w/everything when I was SUPPOSE to add in after comes to a boil, then remove from heat...ADD vanilla. But it still turned out! YAAAY!!!

The final product?...not sure!!! I'm afraid to go check...I fear it will confirm I wasted good stuff! YES!!! There is a lesson for me AS USUAL!!!! BE DILIGENT!!! I will try to remake this when I get home from Houston!

Thanks Amy for your comment :) Are you allowed to have that kind of stuff? I'll bring ya some if you can.

I pray all of you have a Blessed Thanksgiving allowing the Savior to use you mightily!

HELP!!!! I can't find this recipe..Anyone out there have it or know where to find it?

Vanilla Caramel Praline
Two layers of creamy vanilla fudge with a chewy caramel pecan center.