Bring The Rain - Audrey Caroline's story

If you have never read Angie Smith's blog and "their" story, you must run, do not walk, and do so now! Her writings are life changing, humbling, healing, and provide hope for everyone. Here is a link to her blog: http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

Angie is the wife of Todd Smith, singer from the Christian band, Selah. This band has been my favorite for years and now when I listen to their songs, I let the tears run down my cheeks because I know that their God is my God and he works for the good in all those that love him.
I pray you will let their story breath "new life" in you today. To start at the beginning of their journey, click here: http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/01/beginning-of-story.html.

The mission of the Smith family has a much larger purpose than they will ever imagine and by saying, "God, I am yours" their pain will never be in vain. God Bless YOU!

Honor Memorial Day

Remember

Hope you have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend! Please take time to remember why we celebrate this holiday and what our country means to you.

Best Corn On The Cob Ever!!!

Ok...this is one of those recipes that makes you cringe (because of the fat content) when you read the ingredients, but sounds so good that you just HAVE to try it! My mom always uses this recipe and when it is grillin' season, we start asking for it. The flavor in the corn is absolutely amazing, and have you ever made anything from Paula Deen that you didn't love??

So let go of the guilt, fire up the grill, and have a picnic and a new recipe for Memorial Day!

Amy & Rachel

Ingredients:
5 ears corn, shucked
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
Prepare grill.
Spread a thick layer of mayonnaise on corn, and dust with cheese, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Wrap corn in tin foil and place on hot grill. Turn occasionally and cook for about 20 minutes (until kernels begin to brown).
Yield: 5 Servings Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ease of preparation: easy

Recipe Courtesy Paula Deen

Teacher's are Appreciated!!

As we approach the end of another school year, hopefully you will take some time to recognize those that have helped shape your little one's life over the past 10 months! Teacher's deserve praise for all that they do while we are not around. I mean, we know how are "precious ones" can be, and yet they come home each day full of knowledge that wasn't there just the day before.

I picked up some of these easy DIY ideas form two great websites... http://www.tipjunkie.blogspot.com/ and http://www.todayscreativeblog.blogspot.com/ . We also have button found on the right margin titled "Tip Junkie" that if clicked, will link you to all kinds of creative websites and tips. This will change everyday so be sure to check it out!

All of these projects are great because your kids can do them with you! The one at the top is easily achieved with just some scrapbook paper and your printer. The clipboard below is just scrapbook paper decoupaged, and then the teacher's name is printed on it. Your kids can make their teacher a card by putting apple prints on paper using an apple cut in two and some paint!

Enjoy!

Amy & Rachel

This is a GREAT, inexpensive idea if you are feeling really crafty!

Hang'em High

One of the most common questions that people have when hanging drapes and window treatments is, "How high do I hang them?" If you have 'not so tall' ceilings in your home, most designers will tell you to hang them high above the top of the window to create a longer window and a taller ceiling. However, now experts are saying even if you are fortunate enough to have tall ceilings and big windows, you too should hang your treatments higher.


In the picture below, you can see what a difference there is in the two pictures, and how hanging the drapes higher makes for a much prettier frame around the window.

Homemade Milky Way Ice Cream

For all you chocolate lovers out there, here's a recipe you are sure to love! It goes great with those fun summer cookouts...dust off that ice cream maker and enjoy.

8 Milky way chocolate bars

1 pt. of 1/2 and 1/2

1/4 c. Hershey's chocolate syrup

Whole Milk

Cut and melt candy bars on cooktop on med. low...constantly stirring. Add can of condensed milk, stir. Add 1/4 c. of Hershey's. When all is melted, pour mixture into ice cream container. Add 1/2 and 1/2 and a 1/2 gallon (or to fill line) of milk and stir. Add ice and salt to ice cream maker. Start ice cream maker, sit back, and wait. Then enjoy...mmm...Fabulicious!!

A Top-Drawer Idea

Found in: Home Companion Magazine

Before you take those old dresser drawers to the dumpster...consider making them part of your outdoor decor! A little artful recycling is always so much fun and shows others that you can be creative with objects that you already have at home.

With a little paint, glue, new knobs, potting soil, and flowers an old drawer become an architectural work of art and eye candy for your yard. You can place these under a window that sits alone or over a fence to give it that "pop" of color.

Have fun digging through your drawers!!

Amy & Rachel

Rain, Rain, are you here to stay??

Ok, let's be honest... how many times this week have you thought about buying a better, more fashionable umbrella?? I have felt much like that of a duck this week and wouldn't you know that I was in and out of my car 100 times over the past few days? Oh well!!

On a side note, out lawn has not been this green in years and I am not spending an hour each night watering the flowers. God is at work! I have been reminded several times this week that God does bring "rain" into out lives, but it is always followed by the warmth of sunshine and renewed life. Hallelujah!

I am thinking that I would like to trade my handheld umbrella for one more like this!

Surviving Katrina

Surviving Hurricane Katrina was really an understatement for my sister Lee Anne. The year 2005 was an incredibly hard one for my family...and even harder for her. For those of you who know my story, I lost my dad that year...and my mom. And then my sister lost her home in New Orleans to the storm. I can only tell you...and she will too...that it was by the grace of our good good Lord that we all survived. "I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you" the Lord kept repeating...and so that is what I reminded her. The Lord provided them with temporary housing, their jobs still in tact, and a buyer for their flooded home. However, it was a long two years...and two rental houses later...before they finally were able to move into their new home. In December of 2007 they sighed a sigh of relief..what a long road it had been. I can only tell you now how much I admire this woman that is my sister...I admire her faith in her Savior, I admire her perserverance through life's storm, I admire her gratefulness of which she learned when faced with losing so much. So I leave you with these photos of her new home. One is of the house almost completed, the other is the whimsical painting I painted for her new home. She truly is one of my heroes!

Find Rest

Derby Pie

FAVORITE!!!

1 cup of sugar
6 tbsp. of flour
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup margarine (melted)
1 cup pecans chopped
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 unbaked 9" pastry shell


*Combine sugar and flour, add remaining ingredients, and pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes. I like mine warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Personal Space

Nothing says personalized style like a great monogram or a custom painted piece for your home. At my house, I have probably gone overboard. Like my husband says, "There is no denying that this house is ours".
I think that a pillow with a letter or a tray, bucket, etc... can make a conversation piece or even define a space. Have fun with this idea.
I have put a few pictures of some easy DIY projects that you can do to jazz up that chair or outdoor patio!
ENJOY!!

For this project take a fun piece of fabric (can be scrap) and have a monogram store embroider a large letter on it. Then find a pre-matted frame and frame it like you would a picture. EASY!

I bought this wooden tray at Hobby Lobby, painted it with acrylic paints, addes swirls and dots then put a coat of polyurethane on it.

A sweet lady sewed the buttons on this pillow for me, but the same effect can be achieved using old buttons and a little fabric glue(my favorite).

Take an inexpensive galvanized bucket (Wal-mart or Target) and paint designs and a monogram on it, then spray a sealer on it to make it water resistant. You will have to spray several coats to ensure that the paint will not chip off. If you do not like to paint free-hand...use a stencil!