He Is Risen!

I knew you'd appreciate this!

Son!! Good morning! Boy would I love to be a cloud in the sky this morning, drifting by and seeing all the excitement of Easter morning in heaven. What rejoicing there must be! He is risen! Are there any better words? What would our lives be had He not given us the gift of His life? Anyway, have a more than joyous day celebrating Easter. I miss making you your Easter basket. As you got older they did get smaller, but there was always a basket.

Dad and I have a very quiet day planned. I'm making mini egg cups for brunch and we'll pair them with fresh fruit. 

Bacon Wrapped California Omelet Bites
Recipe by Jen Comas Keck

What you’ll need:
4 whole eggs
12 egg whites
2 cups diced cooked chicken
12 slices bacon
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 avocado, cubed (optional)
Salt and pepper
Nonstick cooking spray


How to make it:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat only until it's cooked through, but not crispy, about 5 minutes
3. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and place one piece of the bacon in each tin, wrapping it around the outer edges.

Don't they look yummy? It's the first time he's had "bacon" in a couple of years. We usually eat turkey bacon. He tells me the water on his chin splashed up when he was washing dishes. But, I think it's drool!

Later today we'll make our trip up to "your rock" and have a "visit".  

We just talked with John and Nina. It's amazing how you can not talk with someone for so long and when you finally do it's as though no time has passed. John is going to have by-pass surgery. They meet with the surgeon on April 10th to get it scheduled and get the details. You know how much John hates hospitals. Pray for Nina...she's going to need it. John Jr., and Mike are doing fine. They brought us up to date on some of the families we knew when we went to Crescent. It was good to visit and thanks to you, we're going to set up the Skype camera and we'll be able to at least see each other as we visit.

The years at Crescent Baptist Church were some of the best. We learned so much, had a ball playing in Pinochle tournaments, soft ball all summer at the park, RAs (Royal Ambassadors), picnics, great teaching. Just such great times. Remember the singles group we had. Sixty of them with two guys. We taught them how to manage their checkbook, how to do minor plumbing, how to do minor car repairs, how to shop, had super great socials with all their kids, taught them God's basics for their lives and moved them more times than we can count. We all had some amazing times. I don't think it's over...I think God still has plenty for all of us to do. I think we just have to find it. Dad has been searching for a church here and next week we begin our visits. We'll begin with a very tiny one, 25 members, next week. The pastor called dad and they talked for quite a while and we promised we'd visit. We'll see where we go from there. God has a plan.

We're looking once again at the Troy Flea Market. TIGHT KNIT  it might be more than we can pull off right now cost-wise but we're going to check it out. I've been looking for something new to add to the items we can produce and sell. So, as I mentioned last week, I've been making "fairy houses" for fairy gardens. Fairy gardens are miniature gardens. Some people have

made them very, very tiny in gardening pots. Some have been made in old bathtubs, old wagons, anything that will enhance your garden. I'm also going to be trying my hand at brightly painted chairs that I will turn into planters for gardens and porches. Dad things I should add some sighs back in there. I'm up with that but I want to change the style a little, make them a little more rustic.

I can't wait to get started in our yard and on our porch this year. This afternoon I'm going to start the seedlings while dad is watching basketball. I'll still watch but for some reason, as you know, I must have my hands busy. I do have a perfect view from my work table though so all is good.

Hmmm, it just dawned on me that today is a good day to plan and work on gardens.  Easter began in a garden, so did life.

In The Garden
C. Austin Miles (1913)

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

Until next week, be Aaron, love mom & dad

 

A Week of Fun

Chickadee, a new visitor to our porch.

Good morning son! I don't know about you, but it has been an awesome week here. A busy, busy week, but an awesome week. Dad and I were with the Troy 7 this last week and had the best time ever. Dad did all the "getting them there" and "getting them home" and I did the "make sure they don't kill themselves or each other" and "feed the pack". The Friday before I asked each of them what favorite food they'd like to have for dinner the next week.  So, during the course of the week we had breakfast for dinner which included Josh's request for buttermilk biscuits. (I know, but don't drool, it's really not one of your best attributes.) Jamo couldn't think of anything in particular when I asked on Friday, but when he saw that we were going to have hot dogs, at Trey's request, he asked if I would combine the hot dogs with mac and cheese. (I thought the same thing. I didn't know anyone but you and dad liked that combination.) I made a double batch of mac and cheese and added two, count them, two, packages of sliced up hot dogs. When it was ready I sat it on the counter and called, "dinner's ready", I turned around to grab a plate to take some out for Dylan, who wasn't home yet, and when I turned back around the bowl was empty with the exception of about one cup of mac and cheese and NO hot dogs. It was though a giant vacuum had come down and sucked the bowl clean! It actually reminded me of coming home from work, you and your friends at the dining room table singing and playing the guitar, me opening the fridge and it looked like it had been sucked dry. Those were the days. We continued on in the week with Black Bean Burgers and  Oven-Baked Zucchini Chips (Jon's the vegetarian but all seemed to enjoy them. I wasn't happy with the way the Zucchini Crisps came out. I don't think they came out as crisp as they were suppose to but they tasked good. Of course, I love zucchini! One night we had Impossible Cheeseburger Pie. Dylan's favorite. Actually, if Corey gets to it first it would be another lost cause for him so he has to be quick. Hunter is not really a sweets eater, although between Corey and I baking I don't know how he's not. But anyway, he prefers savory. So, I made another of your favorites, Chicken Spaghetti Casserole with Garlic Butter pull-apart rolls. (I already told you, "stop drooling", it's not polite!) And then there's Miss Josie. I think I told you last week, but she requested Lemon Pie with her name on it. No problem! 

I know, it sounds as though all we did all week was cook and be with the kids. Nope. In between the cooking and pick-up and delivery we covered four dining room chair cushions, decorated a bird house, built a frame for my chair (the recliner I found is really nice, but it sat so low it was killing my knees and back so dad built an elevated frame and it's perfect. Dad didn't miss one single day walking with Jamison, even in the icy rain and snow. Miss Josie has filled her head band "rack" and requested another so I finished that yesterday. Yes, she's still into all the "princesses" and she can name them all...and yes, her name is among them!

 Dad filled the bird feeder on the front porch. It gives me hope that Spring is actually coming. We still have snow on the ground and are suppose to have more the first of the week. It won't last forever but it sometimes feels that way. Sometimes I miss the early Spring and Summer of the Valley and the 105 degrees when we were swimming in March. I can't believe that Allegra was so tiny swimming with HoHo in the pool and that in May, this May, she will graduate from high school. How can that be? And Megan. Megan is having her fourth little boy this Saturday. How did THAT happen?

Dad's really missing you this week. It's March Madness. Need I say more. Every time one of his picks looses dad says, "well, Aaron would have won that one". He, your Uncle Bill and Jon have made their picks and are at it full force. The scary thing is, I think your Uncle Bill is ahead!

Today is a down day. Dad and I are taking it easy. Next week we'll hit the Habit Store and find another project for Craigslist. Until then, believe me, we have plenty to keep us busy. Next week it's time to begin our seed project too.

Today is Palm Sunday and Friday, Good Friday. I am so thankful for them both. They hold many memories for me. And promises of things to come.

Until next week, be Aaron, love mom

Don't Pinch Me!

Good morning son! Happy St. Patrick's Day! There's green in the rainbow today. Have you seen one? Me either, but we know it's there. Jamison is barking his head off at everything that walks past his window this morning. He just saw a new dog he's not seen before headed up into "his"cemetery" along "his" path and he's not very happy.

Before

After

Wow, it's been a busy week this week here. How about you there? I've been painting a set of chairs this week and just finished yesterday. Today I'll be  recovering the chair cushions. I painted the chairs semi-gloss black and I'll recover the chairs in a black and white toile. I can't wait to see how they turn our. Friday I stayed with Jamo, Josh and Josie and made Skittle cookies. Those kids love Skittle cookies. Dylan was the one who came up with the idea for his birthday gift a couple of years ago. Dad kept the home fires burning, ran errands, made about four trips to the house for things I needed and took care of Jamison.

Next week we're covering for Diane (Acosta) taking care of the Troy 7. Diane's father passed away last week and she'll be out of town. Say some prayer for her and her family. We all know what it's like. It's tough and she can use all the prayer she can get. It's going to be a full week again. Dad and I have another project to begin but I think we'll hold off until week after next. We're a little older than we use to be and working two jobs just doesn't work out like it use to. Dinners are going to be interesting next week. So far Josh wants biscuits (doesn't care if there's anything else with them). That will probably be a breakfast night. Trey wants hot dogs. That will be fun because I found a new way to add a different "twist" to them. Josie, well Josie's idea of dinner is lemon pie....with her name on it of course. We'll figure out what the meal is that's going with it when I get there that day. Hunter wants garlic bread. Guess that will be a spaghetti night. They're all pretty easy really. Now I justt need to find out what Dylan and Jamo want. Sierra is away so she'll have to get her favorite meal wherever she is!

Dad and my next project is going to be a fun one we've never done before. We're going to turn an old dresser into a bench. I'm very excited. I'd love to finish it in bright red. It's just the first color that popped into my head while I was drafting the redo plan. I'll let you know when I decide.

Dad & Josie

Well, dad is finally in the 21st century! His six year old cell phone got to the place where he could barely use it and Virgin decided to raise the rates. He barely ever had coverage here with the phone he had and it was a concern to both of us when he and Jamison walked alone. So yesterday morning I began the long and arduous exploration for another option. I expected it to take a couple of hours. I didn't expect it to take until 6 pm last night!  Since I have Verizon with the iPhone and we have Verizon wireless for home I decided to see if the plan was still available. I spent two hours on Verizon chat and received excellent customer service. I thought we were all set but about twenty minutes later got an email that said they needed more information. When I called in they wanted me to verify the plan change and wanted to transfer me to Customer Service.  I didn't order a plan change and by the time I spend another twenty minutes on the phone I told them just to cancel the entire thing. I went back on line and started to do my own. I looked at everything, or so I thought and then remembered seeing a "hidden" plan on the Verizon site at one point  65+ Plan. Did some more digging and found that in order to get the plan you had to go to a Verizon store. You can't do it on line or on the phone. Since there is a Verizon store just down the road from us dad and I headed down there. At 3:30 pm I might add! At 6pm we left, dad had a brand new iPhone 4 for free and we had a new plan with unlimited phone and text, 4G of data for only $25 more a month that my previous plan. Dad's plan with Virgin had been $25/month. So we ended up with dad a new iPhone, a better plan and zero increase in cost. Not bad for a day's work! Yes, we bought him a HARD case! I wasn't born yesterday! LOL

Easter morning in Castroville CA

Well son, next week is Easter. I pulled out the Easter things a week or so ago. I think I told you that. But, what I didn't expect to find was the last Easter basket I made for you. I'm not talking about when you were 10. I'm talking about 2011! I don't think I ever missed an Easter. Although this basked is only 4x5" it holds many memories. You loved getting an Easter basket so I always had one by your plate at Easter dinner. It was a lot of fun for all of us. We use to have a great time with Easter egg hunts. If it was beautiful outside we hid the eggs outside. Once in awhile it would be a rainy day. Those days we'd hide the eggs in the house. However, after one mishap early on we learned to hide plastic eggs filled with treasures rather than hard boiled eggs! Boy is that ever a smell! You and I would color the eggs and dad (the Easter bunny) would hide them.

Easter is a sign that Spring is returning. To us, it holds a more important meaning. Our Savior rose that bright and beautiful morning so long ago. Because of that I know that you are there with Him now in your heavenly home. If I didn't have that knowledge I can't imagine what my life would be like right now. I am so forever grateful that He endured the death He did so I can have the assurance I have. What a supreme sacrifice. We've always enjoyed the "Easter Bunny" and all the trimmings but never forgetting what Easter truly means for us.

And for that, I am eternally grateful.

 










   

Happiness is.....however you define it!

Good morning son! What a beautiful morning it is too. There's snow on some of the ground but the sun is out and it's predicted to be 50 degrees! Yea, Spring is on it's way! Well, it's always been on it's way, just like every year, but it's more evident today that it's on it's way. Wow! That was a mouthful.

I've been spring cleaning in the kitchen. What use to take me a day now takes dad and I several. I don't know if it's because we're slower or because of what I want to get done and how I want to get it done. But, since we can take our time and it doesn't really matter how long it takes we just trudge along. Actually, it does matter how long it takes because after so long I began to get twitchy. It also could be taking longer because I added a project as we cleaned. 

Before

Our kitchen cabinets are newer and are oak. One of the downsides, if there are any, to leasing/renting is that the landlords generally don't think kindly if someone paints new oak cabinets. But they look so sterile and plain. It's driven me nuts since we moved in. I'm very thankful for the new cabinets but for me, they needed some character/color. So I came up with the idea of making inserts for the recess of the cabinet doors. I should say, the project needed to cost me virtually "nada". I had a couple of sheets of foam core from the Dollar Tree. I measured the recess of the cabinet and cut two

After

identical pieces of foam core. A couple of years ago I found two rolls of blue stripped wallpaper at Goodwill for $1.99. I cut the wallpaper to fit the foam core insert adding 1" on all sides to wrap smoothly around the foam core. I then wrapped the foam core with the wallpaper just like I would if I were wrapping a package tacking the edged of the wallpaper to the foam core as I worked around the insert. I then stenciled a mustard colored rooster in the center. I already had the stencil and paint that I had used on the hutch I had re-done for our kitchen. After two years, the kitchen was an organizational  nightmare. So, I was also organizing as we cleaned. I knew I wanted to create a baking center so I began with that. There was really only one area I could use. It's an old house, 1800's so the electrical outlets are not plentiful but there is one to the left of the sink so I began

new baking cabinet

there. I had already moved my Kitchen Aid mixer there. 

Everything I used for baking, measuring cups, spoons, spices, cooling racks and ingredients were spread throughout all the cabinets. I emptied everything out of the cabinets I wanted to use, Wiped them down with some ammonia and lemon water and began. Here's what I ended up with. I also wanted to get all the spatulas, measuring spoons and cups off the counter and out of the drawers. So, I repeated the inserts on the inside of the cabinet doors too. I added clear Command hooks to the inside of the doors to hang the measuring cups and spoons. The other door is ready for whatever I need. On the outside of the doors I covered some empty boxes with coordinating scrapbook paper.  I'd been saving various boxes from such items as spaghetti, baking soda and such. I attached them to the front insert with several dabs of hot melt and voile', a baking center.

This coming week, along with another project, I'll be finishing the kitchen. I still have the drawers to complete. The fonts of the cabinets will remain the same but I'm going to cover all the knobs in variegated beads the color of our kitchen. Now, a kitchen that feels warm and welcoming and one that says welcome.

 So, here's our next  project. I have four of these beautiful chairs. Well, beautifully shaped anyway. We're going to re-do them in black and white. We bought the paint yesterday; black, semi-gloss Behr paint. It's beautiful paint to use and already has the primer in it so it saves and entire step. In the end, probably an entire day of painting. My hand likes that! I'm thinking black & white buffalo check fabric for the seats but I'll have to see what I can find. I have some beautiful "rooster" toile fabric in black and white but I'm undecided as of yet. I'll have to wait until I get closer to that step. I'm going to teach dad how to cover the seats! Yea, he knows!

So, time changed last night. We "sprang forward" so to speak Grandpa use to say, "spring forward, fall back" so we could remember. Guess it's always stuck. Time changes and Easter approaches. Easter! We just celebrated Christmas and Valentine's Day. How can it possibly already be Easter. It arrives early this year, March 31st.  I unwrapped my Easter rabbits yesterday to put them out and the "mama" was in perfect shape, but the "baby" was smashed into a hundred pieces. Guess he didn't fare to well in the trip across the country. I'll miss him. He's been a standard Easter decoration in our home since you were little. However, as you would have reminded me, he was just a decoration. After all, we believe the true reason for Easter is the resurrection of our Lord. What a glorious morning that must have been. I am so thankful He did. His death and resurrection makes our eternity with Him possible. And along with that comes the knowledge that we will all once again be together. What an awesome realization and truth.

Until next week, be Aaron, love mom

Button It Up

Good morning son! And here we are, another week gone by. I don't know where in the heck the time goes but every day goes faster and faster. I have tons of things I want to get done and NEED to get done and I just can't seem to make headway. I know, I know. I can hear you now. "Just stop adding things to your list mom!" I can't, I can't. There is just so much I want to try and do! How does one put a limit on what you try and do? But, I'm enjoying the journey, having a ball creating things I love and trying new things. You'll never guess, in a million years, (since heaven has no time you won't have any trouble guessing for that long) what I found last week. Buttons! Thousands of buttons. Why do I need that many buttons you might ask? Crafts and projects silly. The prospects are limitless. You know I check out Craigslist, especially the "free" category, every single day. Last week a woman advertised, you guessed it, buttons. She said she had four boxes. What size boxes you asked. I was thinking shoe boxes. Right? I couldn't get to the reply key quick enough. I knew they would disappear quickly. I received a reply almost immediately. She said she'd had ten replies to her post almost immediately. She and her husband had chosen me to receive the buttons. I was beside myself. And the four boxes? There were four boxes liquor bottles had been packed in. And inside those boxes were smaller boxes. I spent all day yesterday sorting, washing, drying and packaging. I bought 25 bins at the Dollar Store and it took them all. Now the big challenge; finding a place to put them. Let the fun begin!

It was a very rough week for Auntie Di and your Uncle Ron last week. They spent the week in San Francisco at  UCSF . Auntie Di had her stem cell harvest. It was a very physically painful procedure and I know they are both emotionally drained and happy that it's over. Intense prayer was said on their behalf and the Lord answered. We'll continue to pray that God continues to give them peace and comfort as they try to catch up on some much needed rest.

Dad is such a prayer warrior. We've had so many people praying for us throughout the years and still yet. Prayer is a part of our lives that I don't know how we'd make it if we could not have these conversations with God. These conversations bring comfort and peace. As I stop to think about it, my conversations with God have changed over the years just as my conversations with my earthly father changed during our times together. They've gone from prayers of a child focusing on what I want and just "must have", to the now peaceful and contented conversations about things now wanted or, "God you just have to", to a knowing realization that God wants only what's best for me, He hears me from the calmness or furry of my heart and understands and answers. But, unlike when I was younger, I don't require that immediate answer I think I have to have. I have more peace about waiting. I find I can continue the journey while still waiting. That's a very good thing.

I tried a couple of new recipes this week.English Muffin Bread and Brown Sugar Oatmeal Coconut Chewies. Both are yummy! I added a few walnuts to the cookie batter, how could I NOT?  Wish you were here to try them out. Not really, but you would have really loved the bread. It makes the most wonderful toast and really saves on buying bread. I can make four loaves of the English Muffin Bread for what it costs for one loaf of other breads. This week I'm going to mix up some of the mixes your grandma use to keep when I was a kid; biscuit mix, pancake mix and pie crust mix. Any thing to help cut down on grocery costs. Dad and I picked up a bottle of diet soda at the Dollar Store this week. We'll see. LOL 

I began "Spring" cleaning in the kitchen last week and thought I get it done in a week. However, buttons happened so I still have to finish cleaning and organizing there. Once I get that finished I found a cleaner on Pinterest for our wood floors and so they're going to get a good cleaning. They certainly do pick up the dust and dirt.  Hardwood Floor Cleaner

It's been snowing since early this morning. It's not big flakes but it's been increasing over the last hour and now it's really blowing. We're suppose to get about an 1" today. It's Sunday. The day of rest. It's a good day to stay in, watch an old movie, cuddle on the couch and enjoy the fruits of our labors this week. Well of course they'll be some crafting mixed in there. Isn't there always?

until next week, be Aaron, love mom