What am I looking forward to?

Have you ever thought, “I have nothing to look forward to?” I started thinking about it…a lot. Today, I asked myself, “What am I looking forward to today?” I found that there are quite an abundance of answers even on the most ordinary day. This morning when I asked myself that question, I came up with only 2 quick answers. I was looking forward to Seth coming home from work. I was also looking forward to my next kiss from Seth (yes, I know that is cheesy but it is the truth). Now it is mid-afternoon. This question has generated quite an appreciative attitude in my heart. I have found myself spending more time thinking about God and how many blessings he lays out before me each day. I am still looking forward to seeing my husband. I am also looking forward to so much more. I am looking forward to making my children giggle. I am looking forward to little things like seeing how my new crock-pot recipe turns out. Mostly, though, I am looking forward to the creative way God will show me knew truths because I am recognizing his presence. I am looking forward to time with the Creator. Just in this little exercise today I am reminded that nothing gives me more peace or more joy than drawing close to God.

Delightful Pie Recipe

I am cleaning out my recipe box. This recipe is absolutely delicious. I won't be making it again (due to David's allergy). When I brought the pie places, I was often asked for the recipe. I thought I would pass it on here before tossing it.

Reese's Peanut Butter Pie

1 3oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
12 oz whipped topping
15 small Reese's cups, crushed
1 (9 in) graham cracker pie shell

Beat cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Add peanut butter and whipped topping. Blend well. Fold in crushed peanut butter cups. Pour into pie shell. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Thankful

I am so blessed! I am thankful for my life and for all of the blessings in it. This list is made up of things for which I am thankful. The items are in random order and there are only 85 because that is all the time I had for this afternoon.

1. God’s Grace
2. My husband
3. My Kids
4. Friends
5. My House
6. My Car
7. My Dogs
8. Coffee
9. Candles
10. My Bed
11. Computers
12. Email
13. Pictures
14. Cameras
15. Laughter
16. Sunshine
17. Trees
18. Electricity
19. My Dad
20. My Mom
21. My sisters
22. My Church
23. MOPS (Mother’s of Preschoolers)
24. Good Education
25. Doctors
26. Jonathan’s K Teacher
27. Seth’s Job
28. Staying Home with my Kids
29. The US Postal Service
30. Good Books
31. The Bible
32. Prayer
33. Chocolate
34. Dates with my Husband
35. cell phones
36. pictures drawn by my kids
37. a clean kitchen
38. my husband home safe from Iraq
39. Ketchup
40. My coffee maker
41. My dishwasher
42. house plants
43. Mt Rainier
44. Love
45. Patience
46. Quietness
47. My mother-in-law
48. My father-in-law
49. My grandparents
50. My childhood
51. Safety belts
52. Recycling
53. “It’s a Wonderful Life”
54. Rainbows
55. Sippy Cups
56. Second Chances
57. The Holy Spirit
58. Intimacy
59. Sex
60. Chocolate Covered Strawberries
61. Pizza
62. Water
63. Sleeping in on Satrudays
64. Bubble Baths
65. Music
66. Naptime for my Kids
67. Exercise
68. Flowers
69. The Internet
70. SEC Football
71. Sweet Tea
72. Hugs
73. Blowing Bubbles with My Kids
74. Watching Seth wrestle with the boys
75. Hearing Thomas say “Daddy”
76. Christmas Cards
77. Blankets
78. Birkenstocks
79. Baby Gates
80. EpiPens (especially our unused ones)
81. Cup Holders
82. Ziploc bags
83. Toliet Paper
84. Traffic Lights
85. Creativity

Forecasting in Washington

One of my favorite things is Jay Leno's "Headlines." Since I have a journalistic background, the blunders literally make me laugh out loud. This week our newspaper cracked me up. Really, it wasn't even the News Tribune that was ridiculous, it was the meteorologist.

If you have been paying attention to the weather news, WA has been having record breaking rains. ("Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire declared an emergency for 18 counties, authorizing the National Guard and the Emergency Management Division to offer assistance." [Fox News] "The worst floding in Pierce County in 10 years chases more than 1,500 people from their homes." [Tacoma News Tribune]) Many areas close to us have been flooded and residents had to be evacuated. It rains here in the fall and winter quite a bit but this system came on fast and dumped a great deal of rain. I think the meteorologist was trying to be creative with his Tuesday forecast.

The forcast in the paper said: "Rain turning to showers."

Rain turning to showers! In most of the country that would be redundant. It made me chuckle. However, by Tusday, I realized that only in WA does the forcast make perfect sense. It was raining on Tuesday morning and by later in the day, we had our typical mist-like "showers". As Jonathan said when we got to school, "Momma! I don't need my raincoat, it is barely raining now!!"