The Feast Day of The Holy Family and A Story of Life and Thanksgiving!

Today is the feast of the Holy Family! 

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

 Good morning out there! Merry Christmas! Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas! And it is also my birthday! I am so excited that this beautiful feast day falls on my birthday this year! I love the Holy Family! 

I'm going to share one of the scripture readings from my Magnificat today:

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians  3:12-17

Brothers and Sisters: Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Such a powerful message of love, forgiveness, and being thankful and joyful! I am thankful and I have so much faith in our Lord! And I do sing songs of praise; On Christmas morning I woke up with this hymn in my head and on my heart:

"Today a Savior is Born"

I woke up singing: "Today a Savior is Born, Christ our Lord - Today a Savior is Born, Christ our Lord, Christ our Lord! 

Last night I woke up sometime during the night. I remembered that today is my birthday, I thanked God for my life. I thanked Him for my mother and father; my loving parents who adopted me when I was three days old. And I thanked him for my biological mother and prayed for her wherever she is - I prayed that she has had a good life and that if she ever wonders about me - that God has touched her heart with peace. No, I have never looked for her, and no, I have not done any of the ancestry tests that are all the rage. I have always been at peace with my adoption. Since I was a child, I've had a strong faith in God and so I live my life with joy in my heart knowing that I'm exactly where God planned for me to be. I'm so thankful God guided me to find my husband and has blessed us with our children and grandchildren.

I am going to share a story I wrote eight years ago. A nostalgic look back...

Friday, December 5, 2014

Every Baby Should Be Able To Grow Up and Have A Story To Tell

Once upon a time, fifty or so years ago, a baby girl was born and she needed
a home. Never knowing the circumstances or the reason why, her birth mother
couldn't keep her, she had to say goodbye. This little baby girl was three days
old when a loving family came, and took her to their home. Now this baby girl
had a family of her own.

With love and joy and happiness this baby girl grew up, she never met a stranger
and her heart was full of love. She loved to hear the stories about her special day,
the day her family came and gave her their name.

When she was only eight years old, the scary news came, her loving mother had
cancer, the little girl was afraid. Her mother was strong and courageous as she
battled day to day, and when the girl was twelve years old the angels came, and
took her mother away. She knew her mother was in heaven, no more pain did she feel, and although she understood why it had to be this way, the grief she felt
in her heart would never go away.

The young not quite teenage girl was strong, she was raised that way. She had
watched her mother suffer and never heard her complain. Her mother had prepared
her, knowing this day would come. Her love of God, her father, older brother,
church family and friends, would be there for her, as the years came and went.

She was now a young lady, thought she was so grown up, off she went to college,
another life event. She made new friends and she had fun, but she
missed her dad, her brother, his wife, and friends back home.

Then one day it happened, a Sunday afternoon, she met a man, the most wonderful,
handsome man and her heart grew and grew.
Within a short time they were married, became husband and wife. So thankful God
had blessed her with someone she would cherish and love all of her life.
She had a new name, and a home of her own, she was also blessed with a stepson, she
quickly grew to love as her very own.

Expecting their first child, the baby grew, and as the mother heard the heart beat and felt
her baby move, she was amazed at what her body was going through. With her husband
at her side the doctor said, "It's a boy" and the mother cried, my first born is a son,
and the emotions that went through her can never be described, but the love and
protectiveness she felt for this child was an overwhelming feeling that would never die.
As she held her son close to her breast, she thanked God for his life, for being so
blessed. When the baby boy was just three months old, the new mom found out she
was expecting once more. When her husband came home from work that day he sat
down in the rocking chair and held their son. She knelt on the floor and leaned against
his legs as she shared the good news of another baby on the way. He smiled and told
her everything would be ok.

This happened during the time when the oil boom had gone bust, work was slow, there
had been lay-offs and his new job didn't pay as much. There would be no insurance to
cover the costs. They saved and worked side jobs to pay for the birth, the hard times
together, they grew so close.
The baby boy walked at ten months old, and his mom chased after him as her other
baby continued to grow. The mother heard the heart beat and felt her baby move, and once more, she was amazed at what her body was going through.

The baby boy was happy and had a beautiful smile, he was into everything, and his
pregnant mom was tired! Would this new baby be a brother or a sister, for the two boys
they already had, another son or a daughter, either way, they would be glad! The night
before the baby came, the mom was in the kitchen, she looked into the living room just
in time to see her baby boy dive from the chair into the presents beneath the
Christmas tree. She dashed across the floor and caught him mid-air, nine months
pregnant, not a moment to spare!
Early the next  morning, the labor pains came, they picked up their sleepy baby boy
and all loaded up in the black pick-up truck. They took him to his aunt and uncles and
told him they'd be back, and off to the hospital they dashed.
Just four hours later with her husband at her side they heard the doctor say, "It's a girl"
and then they cried. Tears of joy, a daughter, a baby girl, and the emotions that went
through her can never be described, but the love and protectiveness she felt for this
child was an overwhelming feeling that would never die. As she held her daughter
close to her breast, she thanked God for her life, for being so blessed.
The next year was busy with two babies under two. The baby boy was fearless, and
loved to run and climb. The baby girl was carried upon her mother's hip to keep her
off the floor, and safe from baby brother who would zoom back and forth. The baby
girl was happy and loved her mom and dad, she would laugh at her brother's antics and
stay close by her mama's side. She loved her swing, and you can guess why, the floor
was otherwise occupied!
The years went by and the children grew up. They loved when their oldest son came
for a visit, their family complete. They were a close knit family, and shared so
much love. They were raised going to Mass and all their sacraments they made.
God was always a priority and still is to this day.
Three weddings have been celebrated and blessings of grandbabies galore, who could
ask for anything more!
Yes, it's true, this story is about me and my sweet, and amazing family.

I seem to get nostalgic this time of year. My son and daughter both have birthdays
this month. They were both born on Fridays, and it was cold and had snowed both
years. I remember Jim driving us home in our old black pick-up truck. There was a
Christmas tree in the living room to welcome us as we stepped in.
Their birthdays are right before Christmas, and mine is right after. We celebrate the
birth of Jesus right between our birthdays, yes, December is a special month for us!
I think back to the years when I was pregnant and how we got things ready for the birth
of our babies. It makes me think of how Advent is a time of waiting, of preparation.

Having been adopted at birth, I don't take life for granted. Life is a gift, and we are all
beautifully, fearfully, wonderfully made. Every baby should be able to grow up and
have a story to tell. (This is a picture of our Christmas tree the year our daughter was born!)

I hope you enjoyed my story! 

   Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!           Bye for now, Sharla

Christmas Present, Christmas Past, and a Porcupine!

 Hello out there! Merry Christmas to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!

Today is the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr.

Today is also the second day of Christmas! I love the whole Christmas Season! All of our decorations will stay up until the Epiphany on Sunday, January 8, 2023. I enjoy the quiet and calm during this time of the Christmas Season. The lights on my tree, around my windows and in the yard are still twinkling. Our Nativity Scenes are complete with the statue of Baby Jesus - the Wise Men came early! I didn't get out the donkey or the lambs for our large Nativity Scene that is on the front porch. Every year is different, depends on what is going on in our busy lives! 

My plan is to post one blog/story from Advent and/or Christmas past, every day this week. The following story is from Advent and Christmas 2012 - I wrote about it during the first year of my blog - 2014. I'll include the pictures of the "Visiting Animal" to our Nativity Scene above the story. (I know the date on the picture says 2007 - I took these pictures with a digital camera - I never did figure out how to set the date!) These pictures are from December 2012.

I hope you enjoy the story! Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!

In this picture he is snuggled right up next to the hay bale! 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

My Nativity Scene, A Time of Preparation

Good Morning out there! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Advent! I set
up my beautiful nativity scene outside on Thursday. Just waiting for Christmas
to place baby Jesus in the manger. My grandkids know why I don't have Him with
Mary and Joseph yet, we are still waiting for Him to come, waiting for  His birth!
I have hay bales stacked up on each side of my nativity scene. The baby lambs are
laying up on top of one of the hay bales. After I put the nativity scene out on my
front porch I went to the grocery store. When I got back home, I saw my cat laying
up on the hay bale next to the baby lambs! She must be waiting for baby Jesus too.

A couple of years ago a porcupine would come in our yard and eat the acorns that
had fallen from our oak tree. He would walk right in front of the nativity scene.
One day he was right next to the hay bale, he wanted to be with the other animals
waiting for baby Jesus! I went outside and took pictures of him. My husband
hollered out the door that I was going to end up with quills in my rear if I didn't
watch out! No quills in the rear, but I did get a lot of neat pictures! I'll post them so
that you can see them.

I love Advent, and I love the Christmas season, but most of all I love the "Reason for
the Season." I wish all of you joy and happiness, family time, and peace.
Remember to take time to sit and have a cup of coffee, tea, or eggnog and just enjoy
the beauty of this time of year. Reach out to someone who doesn't have family,
stop by for a visit, take a plate of cookies, give them your time.

Blessings to you all! Happy Advent, remember to enjoy the time of preparation!

How Advent Should "Feed" Our lives

Hello out there! It's a little chilly outside right now but the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day!

I was invited to give one of the talks at an Advent Retreat yesterday. The topic / theme they asked me prepare for was "How Advent should "feed" our lives!" I prayed and wrote notes and prayed some more and looked up scripture and then God helped me put it all together! The retreat was wonderful and definitely, "Full of the Holy Spirit!" I decided I would tweak my notes a little bit and share the message with you. 

I 've always thought about how Advent is a season of preparation. When we are prepared for something, a trip, a family gathering, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, etc. we are more at peace. At least I am. I like to have a plan A, B, C and sometimes I wish I had a plan D! Because you always have to be prepared for the unexpected!

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and then we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, just two weeks from today, Sunday, November 27th. Oh my goodness, how time flies.

I looked ahead in my Magnificat at the readings for the First Sunday of Advent. I'm going to read a couple of the scriptures from the morning prayers.

Romans 13:11-12

It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Wow! Throw off the darkness and put on the armor of light! 

 I love this time of year. I know that it can also be crazy, hectic, and stressful! But I have learned through the years to take things as they come. As you all well know, our plans, our ideas, our dreams, don't always work our like we had hoped, planned or prayed for. 

But  through all things, God is with us. So I want to share some memories and ideas that have helped me to grow in my faith, to be fed, during the season of Advent - a season of preparation.

My husband Jim and I have been married 39 plus years. This will be our 40th season of Advent. As I look back through the years, I see how my faith has grown. I now understand that the Season of Advent is not just about decorating our homes and buying gifts for Christmas but about changing our hearts and minds, about focusing on our relationship with God. What are some ways we can do this within our families and in our homes - in this world where everything is so commercialized?

First things first - Our lives are not Hallmark Movies! Oh, don't get me wrong, I like those movies. I like movies with a happy ending but those movies are entertainment, they're not real life. Our lives are complicated, some days are great, and somedays are not. And while some Advent seasons have been less complicated than others, the journey is different each year.

So what do we need to do to be "fed" during this season of Advent?

We need some really good road maps to guide us along the way. The Word of God feeds us. Instead of hollering out, "Hey Google, or Siri or Alexa"  how about "hollering" out to God! I'm pretty sure everyone has a good Catholic bible or a regular bible - if not - get one! The "Magnificat" and "the Word among us" are both great daily devotionals! Pick which one works for you. They both have the Catholic Mass Readings for every day of the month and daily meditations. The Magnificat also has morning prayers, evening prayers, and stories about the Saints. There are also several aps for your phone; Laudate, etc. Begin your day with scripture! My husband is really good about this - he gets up really early and reads the daily Mass readings, prayers, and meditations from our Magnificat. Let me be honest - I'm not quite as diligent. But my day is better when I begin with the scriptures. Jim will say, "Sharla - make sure you read the meditation for today" or "Make sure you read the readings because there are some hard names in the first reading and you need to be ready!" (I'm a reader/lector at Mass)  Thank you Jesus, for my husband, who helps keep me on track!

I am so thankful for my faith - and as a convert - I am so thankful for my CATHOLIC faith! I've learned through the years that making things more simple, and thinking about what really matters, has been a huge blessing for me.

Keeping things simple and focusing on what is important brings me peace and that peace "feeds" me.

Pick a couple of different nights and go outside and look up at the stars and the moon and reflect on God's creation. If your children or grandchildren are with you, they will love this. I love looking at the evening and night skies! Sun rises, sun sets, listening to birds singing, stop and find joy in the moment.

Count your blessings! Smile and give thanks to God! And share that joy with your family! 

This is the time of year when many of us feel like "Martha" - Let's be like Mary, also!

Luke 10:38-42.

Mary and Martha. On their journey Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and listened to his words. Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to him and said, "Lord, are you not concerned that my sister has left me to do the household tasks all alone? Tell her to help me." The Lord in reply said to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it."  Luke 10:38-42 (Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)

It is important to prepare and get ready for family gatherings but if you take the time to be like Mary, also, you'll be much happier! Ask for help! Don't try to do everything by yourself. Use paper plates, plastic cups, and good plastic silverware. And if you don't have time to bake a pie from scratch - pop a frozen one in the oven! Or ask someone to pick one up from the bakery!

The following is part of a blog post I wrote two years ago, two days before Thanksgiving (11/24/2020): (And this was not our Thanksgiving get together - just a weekend before get together.)

 I love having a full house. I have learned through the years to not stress so much about everything being perfect or whether our family traditions and meals look like the ones in the holiday magazines. This past Saturday night two of our children and their families were here. The total count including Jim and myself was fourteen! Our meal included; meat and or bean burritos, Queso, hot sauce and chips, jalapeno, bacon, and cream cheese wraps with or without dove - cooked on the pit. I had some pie crusts that needed to be used - melted butter, cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top and baked in the oven - a simple and yummy dessert! A pitcher of tea and a pitcher of lemonade, paper plates, plastic cups, and lots of napkins. I had a glass of wine!! A very loud and lively card game that involved spoons was played after dinner! I did not participate - I spent time with our younger grandchildren! 

Our son and his family spent the night. We had a full house – kids asleep on the couches, and one on a cot. Every bed was occupied as well! I need more pillows!  Jim got up early and fixed breakfast for everyone. I sat on the couch and colored pictures with two of my granddaughters. I added them to the pictures that had been colored the night before. As I’ve shared in previous posts – our seven year old granddaughter has leukemia –we were so thankful she felt well and enjoyed being with everyone. Sitting next to her and coloring pictures was definitely a “Mary” moment.  I didn’t worry about what needed to be done – I just gave thanks and “chose the better portion.”

The pictures below are from that day two years ago, and also, the beautiful centerpiece for our kitchen table during Advent, and a picture of my little kitchen window above my kitchen sink! 

Let's talk about the decorations - I love to decorate! I start on the First Sunday of Advent - And I make sure that our decorations stay up through the Epiphany (and sometimes longer!). Just a reminder, Christmas is not just one day! Advent is a season of preparation and Christmas is a season of thanksgiving and celebrations! As a convert to the Catholic faith, I didn't realize that Christmas was an actual season until I married Jim, a cradle Catholic!  

Jim and I always bought live Christmas trees. We would all load up in Jim's truck and go as a family and pick out a tree! We wouldn't get them until about the end of the second week of Advent and then keep them up after Christmas day as long as we could.  Anyway, when our first grandchildren were born we decided it was time to buy an artificial tree. Much neater and easier to keep the tree up until the end of the Christmas Season. I do miss the smell of a live Christmas - but I don't miss all those messy needles!

I like to get the tree set up the first week of Advent. Jim and I do this together. The past couple of years we only put the lights on the tree for the first week or so. I enjoy the simplicity of seeing the tree with just the lights. It's peaceful and I like to turn the tree lights on first thing in the morning when it's still dark outside. I'll get a cup of coffee and a little blanket and sit and look at the lights, drink my coffee, and pray. Peace and light - Yep, that definitely feeds me. (Remember, the theme of my talk was "How does Advent "feed" our lives.) I have some decorations that are very sentimental and I carefully unpack them and put them in place. I like to listen to Christmas music as I decorate. The grandkids will ask why I haven't decorated the tree yet - I tell them "It's not time." 

I bought a little Nativity Scene for the kids to play with years ago - I always set it out and even though they are older now, I notice that they still move the little figures around. We set up a card table and put out a Christmas puzzle - they all like working on puzzles. I have Christmas coloring books and Christmas story books - getting ready for the birth of Jesus. We cut out paper snowflakes too!           Gift wrapping idea: I've used the snowflakes as bows on the gifts before - and they work as the "to and from" name tags also!

I talked about the road maps we need to help on our Advent journey: The Catechism needs to be included with the bible and our daily devotional books and we need our rosaries! The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary guide us on a beautiful, faith filled journey. The five mysteries are all about the season of Advent and the season of  Christmas. (I'll share the first three mysteries below).

The First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Annunciation:

Luke 1:26-38

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace!
The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and
pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God
will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house
of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with
a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth,
your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me
according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

The Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Visitation:
Luke 1:39-43
Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of
Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: "Blest are you
among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the
mother of my Lord should come to me?

And I have to include the next two verses - Luke 1:44-45
The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy.
Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."

Don't you just love that? John the Baptist was leaping in his mother's womb!

But remember the next verse also - the one about trusting in the Lord.

    Let us shout with joy at the presence of the Lord, for he comes!

The bible is full of wisdom, advice, guidance, etc. - God is talking to us!

We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted,

support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil;

rather, always seek what is good (both) for each other and for all.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.  (1Thessalonians 5:14-17)

                                  Be vigilant at all times. (Luke 21:36)

Advent is a time of preparation. A beautiful time to reflect on the things we need to work on in our lives.  I pray that I will spend this Advent following the scriptures that I read each day in my Magnificat.

The following message is how I ended my talk about "How Advent Should "Feed" Our Lives."

I spent some quiet time reflecting on what I was going to share at this retreat, 

and prayed for God to give me the right words - to share the message He wanted me to share:

Be a light to others, lend a helping hand, be a shoulder to cry on, a smile to give hope, listen
attentively, hug often, weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice!

And then, at the end of the beautiful Advent Season we will have open hands and open hearts for the Christmas Season. The Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Third Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is The Nativity:

Luke 2:7

She gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place
where travelers lodged.
 (St. Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)
I pray that in our home we will always have room for the Holy Family, for
our Lord, Jesus Christ, and that not only will we have room for Him in our home,
but in our hearts, our lives, and not just during the blessed seasons of Advent and
Christmas, but every day of every year. Amen.

And as always,

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

near and far,

wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

Quick and Yummy Breakfast, Lunch, Supper, and Dessert Recipes & Ideas - Always Made with Love - from Sharla's Kitchen!

 Hello out there! Today's weather report - a nice fall day - really cool morning that warmed up to a pleasant 74 degrees and is now headed back down to the 60s. And if the weather ap is correct, tomorrow's report should be about the same! 

I love to cook, especially in the fall and winter months! This is going to be a budget saver, quick meals, and yummy for your tummy post! This is NOT diet food! Everything is so expensive right now! But remember, it's a lot cheaper and healthier to eat at home.

Let's get started! Things to keep in the cabinets: Whole kernel corn, canned beans or dry casserole beans you cook yourself, canned tomatoes with green chilies, pasta - cheap and many choices; bow tie, shell, elbow, and rotini! Beef and chicken bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder(who has time to cut and dice fresh garlic?). Not me! I also try to keep a couple of packages of taco seasoning mix, cornbread mixes, potato flakes, and biscuit mix on hand. You don't have to buy everything at once, just a can or package at a time. Another thing I buy is a jar of diced jalapenos. If you aren't into spicy, don't buy those. If you are, they are with the pickles! I also keep a couple or three cans of evaporated milk on hand. Jim and I don't drink milk, so unless the grandkids are here... canned milk works great. Of course, during this time of year I buy milk because I'm baking! A four pack of tomato soup is a must or a couple of the really big cans!

Now let's stock the fridge and freezer! Cheese! And the price hasn't been as high as other items. I buy the great value brand of Colby Jack shredded cheese. If you have have a big family, buy the larger bag, but if your budget is tight, the smaller bag will work just fine. Sliced cheese: I like pepper jack and Jim likes sharp cheddar. Remember - this is still cheaper than eating out! Buy a couple tubes of pork chorizo! Super economic and so good! I'll share some ideas below. Chicken thighs are easy on the budget and very versatile. Ground meat is high but when you mix it with other things it goes a long way. Grab a bag of potatoes and onions from the produce section. Yellow squash and zucchini are very affordable. If you buy mushrooms, get the whole ones, they last longer and are super easy to cut up. Eggs are expensive, but necessary! Try to keep some in the fridge and maybe a can or two of biscuits.

Meal time recipes: Goulash is one of my favorite meals to make and everyone in my family loves it!  Cook a pound or two of ground meat, depending on the size of your family. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add some chopped onions, one is fine, and then add the tomatoes and green chilies. Let it simmer for awhile, 15 minutes or so. Add a can of whole kernel corn and then add a can of water. I learned this trick many years ago - I love one pan or pot cooking! Make sure you have enough broth/liquid in your goulash and turn the heat where it is a slow boil. Add some pasta, about a cup if you used one pound of ground meat, or two cups if you used more. Let the pasta boil with everything for about 15 minutes. Goulash is great with a pan of red (pinto) beans, crackers, tortillas, or cornbread. Cornbread mixes are inexpensive and easy to make! No, I don't make tortillas. I go to a Mexican bakery and buy five or six dozen and keep them in the freezer. The trick is to make sure they are not still warm or stuck together when you put them in the freezer. They freeze great and taste fresh - I just put them on the comal Jim made for me about thirty-five years ago and heat them up!

Okay - I'm taking a break. Jim is through working for the day so I'm going to go and visit with him and I'll finish this post in the morning! But wait! I've attached a picture of my comal that sits on the back burner of my stove at all times! Grilled cheese sandwiches, frozen waffles, pancakes, tortillas, etc. And the best quesadillas! Our grandkids love quesadillas! 

Good morning out there! It is 9:06 am and it is chilly outside! A brisk 44 degrees with the high expected to hit 80 degrees! Love this weather! 

Back to cooking and meals - Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are great for busy evenings and all of our bunch loves this meal! I add milk to the soup instead of water (unless we are out of milk), and then you have creamy tomato soup - some extra calcium is always good! Cut up a couple of apples and you're set! Fritos are a great addition but they are really expensive right now. 

Cooking hints: Add 1/2 cup of potato flakes to soup to thicken it up. When Jim cooks chorizo he turns the burner to 4 (low to medium heat) and cooks it for about 8-10 minutes. Add chorizo to refried beans and or scrambled eggs for yummy breakfast burritos. My favorite is chorizo with refried beans and grated cheese!  My dad used to grate a large russet potato and mix it in with hamburger meat when he cooked burgers on the grill! Canned biscuits are great for dumplings! Just cut each biscuit into four pieces, unless they are big, then cut into six pieces and drop into simmering/almost boiling chicken broth! Easy peasy and they taste great! Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches tastes great when the bread is toasted!

Potato Soup is so good! I boil my chopped potatoes in a large pot with two or three chicken bouillon cubes and a generous shake, shake, shake of garlic powder. While the potatoes are cooking, I get out my small iron skillet and cook a pound of breakfast sausage. If I'm not in a hurry, I'll chop up an onion or at least half of one, and cook with the sausage. When the potatoes are tender, I add some salt and pepper, stir in the cooked sausage and onions, and add a can of evaporated milk! Yum! I think I might make that tonight! Remember, you can always just add a half pound of sausage, when making soup, use your imagination and the ingredients you have! If you like celery, chop it up and throw it in the pot! Grated cheese, saltine crackers, croutons, biscuits; Pick and choose and you've got a warm and hearty meal! You can also use some ham instead of breakfast sausage. I usually do that after Thanksgiving when I've got leftover ham in the fridge.

Another item I keep on hand is self rising flour - I make my beer bread with that plus 3 more ingredients! Instead of writing out that easy recipe I'm going to copy and paste a post from six years ago that includes it. Great recipe and a great memory! There's also a tip for how to make sour or buttermilk, something I definitely don't keep on hand!

Y'all have a great day! 

And as always - Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!

                                                       Bye for now, Sharla

And here are a couple of pictures of desserts my family loves! Remember, the most important ingredient is a big cup of love! Give thanks to the Lord while you're cooking, sing a song, say a prayer, and have fun! 

                                                                  Banana Nut Muffins

Banana Pudding - The original recipe - Jim's favorite! I need to make that - it's been awhile!

And my beer bread! Ingredients shown and my mom's big bowl and an old wooden spoon! When I bake there is always joy in my heart! And I'm just thankful, so very thankful!

Look at the date! Time flies by so make the most of it! Take care of your family and God bless you!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

COOKIES, BEER BREAD, AND 33 YEARS OF MARRIAGE - IT'S ALL GOOD!

Hello Out There! I haven't posted in almost a week! How are y'all doing? It has been
raining on and off all week. Right now it is overcast and a little cool outside,
70 degrees to be exact. For this time of year, 70 degrees is awesome! The only thing
negative about this kind of weather is it makes me want to bake! I saw some chocolate
chips in the pantry and so I decided to check and see what other ingredients I have on
hand. I have everything I need to make a big batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
with pecans! Doesn't that sound great? I also have the ingredients to make beer bread.
I haven't made beer bread since the Christmas season because I sure don't need
to eat it, but it sounds really good today! AND it is so easy to make! I will share the
recipe will y'all! Easy peasy and only 4 ingredients!
3 1/4 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
stir together
add 1 can (12 oz.) of room temperature beer (I use Lone Star because that is what Jim
drinks and so I have it on hand).
Stir until well blended, batter will be kind of lumpy.
Spoon into a greased (I use the Crisco spray stuff) loaf / bread pan. My loaf pans
are glass but the aluminum / metal pans work just as well. I've used two loaf pans and you get to keep a loaf and share a loaf! If you use two loaf pans, the baking time is 40 minutes. Check it at 35, if the tops are lightly browned, they're ready.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes. This bread smells so good when
it is baking!
Melt 1/2 stick of butter (the recipe calls for 1 stick, but 1/2 is a little less fattening!)
Melt the butter and pour it all over the top of the bread and then put the
bread back into the oven for another 3-4 minutes.
Wait as long as you can and then slice and enjoy! Add more butter if you want, but
it really doesn't need it. This bread is great with soups, stews, a big pot of red beans
and as toast! I haven't tried it as garlic bread but I bet that is would be great that way
too! There is also a really good biscuit recipe on the back of the self-rising flour.
This reminds me of another baking tip to pass along. If you want to make Buttermilk biscuits and don't have or keep buttermilk on hand this tip will work. Use 1 teaspoon of vinegar for each 1/3 cup of milk. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of buttermilk, add (3) teaspoons or (1) tablespoon of vinegar to your milk and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. I usually add the vinegar to the milk first thing and then by the time I get to that step it has already been plenty of time for the milk to sour.
I really had not planned on writing about recipes or cooking tips today but sometimes
that is what happens! I have something serious I want to talk about but I think I will
post it on another page. I want this page to be about happy things! No downers after
this fun yummy recipe swap!
On Saturday, Jim and I will be married for 33 years! I can't believe it! The years have
flown by. I thank God everyday for blessing me with such a wonderful husband. One
of my favorite scriptures from the bible is from Genesis, when Adam sees Eve for the
first time -
Genesis 2:21-24
So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was
asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said:
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and
the two of them become one body.
Another one of my favorite scriptures that I think is so important for a happy
marriage and a loving family is this one -
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs,
it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries.
Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.
There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.
I hope you all have a wonderful day. If you try the beer bread recipe let me know
if you like it. I hope the vinegar substitution helps also! God bless you all!
                                                               Bye for now, Sharla

A Praying Kind of Day!

 Hello out there! The weather forecast is...it finally feels like fall! Cool mornings, shorter days, cool evenings, hooray! I wish this was going to be one of my crazy all over the place stories but sometimes my heart just says, "Pray! and share a prayer!" There is a lot of sadness in our world right now. I found a post I wrote five years ago. I'm going to copy and paste it below. The prayer is for people all over the world. 

And as always,

Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far wherever you are!

May God have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Just thought of another prayer I want to share! The Saint Michael Prayer!

St. Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,

and do thou,

O Prince of the heavenly hosts,

by the power of God,

thrust into hell satan,

and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world 

seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet - A Prayer for People All Over the World

Hello out there - The news at home and abroad and all across our world has been so
heartbreaking.  The violence is never ending and sometimes you feel really helpless.
People all over the world need our prayers. Things change yet they stay the same.
The following is a post I wrote last summer - I'm feeling today like I did then.

  
Because of all the fighting/wars and terrorist attacks that are going on, I worry about the
people in many of the countries I see come up on my blog stat section. I hope that they
are ok. I just want them to know that I am praying for them and for their families.
I don't know their names, I don't know what they look like, but for some reason, they
read my blog. I have seen a large increase in people from different countries reading my
posts.  I place my hand over the map each day I see their country listed and pray for
them and I place my hand over the map each day I don't see their country listed and I
pray for them. I pray for their safety and well being.
There  are so many wars going on in our world right now, so much violence, so much
evil - We need to turn back to God.

Dear God, please watch over all these countries where war has broken out.
Please God, protect the innocent people and their families. Please protect us
all from the terrorist's plots, attacks and threats.
Thank you, God, for our many blessings. Please be with all those who are in
need. Please God, show us and guide us to how we can best help others.
You created us all, please help us to love our neighbor,
care for one another, and to pray for those who seek a better life.
 In Jesus Name I pray, Dear Lord, Amen.

As a Catholic, I pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet. This prayer is for the whole world.
It is really beautiful when we sing this Chaplet. (I'm singing this as I'm typing)
The refrain goes like this:
For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
If you listen to your local Catholic radio station, they sing the Divine Mercy Chaplet
at 3:00 pm each day.
To pray The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy:
(It is easier to keep up with if you have a rosary, but if you don't,
 you can count on your fingers.)
1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, Pray (1) Our Father, (1) Hail Mary
and The Apostles Creed.
2. Prayer - (Pray this 1 time) Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood,
Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in atonement for ours sins and those of the whole world.   
3. Pray this refrain 10 times:
  For the sake of His sorrowful passion,
 have mercy on us and on the whole world.
You repeat steps (2) & (3) for a total of (5) times.
4. Conclude with (3 times)
  Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
 have mercy on us and on the whole world.
5. Make the sign of the cross and say Amen.
This is a beautiful, peaceful prayer. I find myself humming or singing it a lot.
I also pray it if I wake up during the night.
May God Bless you and keep you safe wherever you are, wherever you live.
May God help us to love and care for one another.
                                                 Bye for now, Sharla
                            

Thinking and Praying

 Hello out there! The weather report for today is... sunny with some white, fluffy clouds floating around. The high is expected to hit 93 degrees later on this afternoon. I didn't sleep well last night - so I prayed and prayed and prayed some more! 

Today is Tuesday and it seems like a great time to re-share the prayers and scriptures for the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!

Are y'all ready? Let's get started with the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. I'm going
to post all the prayers again and then I will follow with the mysteries. After you have
been praying the rosary on a daily basis for a while, the different mysteries/scriptures
will remind you of different things you need to pray about or people you need to pray
for. At least that has been the case for me. Example: The First Sorrowful Mystery is
The Agony in the Garden and that brings to my mind people who might be going
through an extremely difficult time. Praying the rosary helps to keep my focus on
family members and friends that I need to pray for. Let's get started!

The following are the prayers of the rosary -
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from
the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious
Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.

Now that you have the prayers of the rosary, the next step is teaching you how
to pray the rosary.
Since today is Tuesday we will pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross and then say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."

5. Announce the First Mystery -
The First Sorrowful Mystery is The Agony in the Garden-
He was in such agony and He prayed so fervently that His sweat became like drops
of blood falling on the ground. When He rose from prayer and returned to His disciples,
He found them sleeping from grief. (Luke 22:44-45)
Then say the "Our Father"
6. Say (10) "Hail Marys"
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

8. Announce the Second Mystery -
The Second Sorrowful Mystery is The Scourging at the Pillar -
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged. (John 19:1)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10)"Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

9. Announce the Third Mystery -
The Third Sorrowful Mystery is Crowning With Thorns -
They stripped off His clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about Him.
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on His head, and a reed
in His right hand. (Matthew 27:28-29)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) "Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

10. Announce the Fourth Mystery -
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery is Carrying of the Cross -
And carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the
Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:17)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10)"Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

11. Announce the Fifth Mystery -
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is The Crucifixion -
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit",
and when He had said this He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) "Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

12. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after all five decades are completed.

13. Make the Sign of the Cross and say Amen.

Bye for now,

Sharla