Looking Ahead............

Good Morning Dear Friends!

Hoping you all had a lovely Christmas .

We did. Lots of love, joy and peaceful moments.

Family, Friends and Fellowship.

The kids are home for vacation this week and have

planned my entire week for me lol.



Looking ahead to the New Year.........a whole new decade,

there are several things that I would like to try to do...
God Willing

1) To read through the bible again in 2010. I use an email program that works for me - http://www.bibleinayear.org/ This will be my 15th year reading through. If I fall behind, I just try to catch up and using this program helps me to do that . To continue to grow in Christ.

2) More date nights with my hubby and more quality time with my family

3) To continue to be faithful to help my husband with our Friday night Bible Study

4) Help my DD teach my grand-daughters to sew.

5) Take more aggressive steps in doing all I can to be more healthy

6) Another year for Intercessory Prayer for the saints, getting more of the family of God involved so that we have "ready intercessors" available for prayer 24/7

7) Continuing to teach/share Bible prophecy and incorporate this into my blog.


So I am going to choose a day a week to incorporate my love of bible prophecy into
this blog. I am very excited about sharing with you all of the fascinating things that
are manifested and fulfilled in these incredible days we are living in !



Hugs & Prayers, GG

Merry Christmas..................

Wishing all my online friends and family , all the Joy and Abundant Love of Christ this Christmas.

May His love fill your heart and homes today and always.......See you next week!

Love & Prayers, GG

Views from the window............

So Very Pretty outside!!!!
It started just a little past midnight in out area. Very Windy.
We have about 8-10 inches....

Just enough to make it pretty .

My dear friend Helen in Providence, RI which is just about 45 miles south of me reported she has 18 inches of snow!!!!
Well......If it stays as cold as it has been. It will be a White Christmas!

Stay warm and safe my dear East Coast friends.

Hugs & Prayers, GG

I'm Dreaming ............................

I LOVE this movie......It is on the schedule for the coming week.
Hugs & Prayers, GG

Christmas Cards........

Is it "Old Fashioned" to send Christmas Cards anymore?

It was a question brought up this morning on a forum I am a member of .

I am a big Christmas Card fan, I love to send Christmas cards .

Has it gone out of vogue? In the age of E-Cards , and digital everything?

Maybe I am from another era. Maybe it is the economy and it is a place were people can cut back .

Is it an unnecessary expense?

What do you think?

Hugs & Prayers, GG

photo compliments of

http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

The Starkness of Winter

New England has such a distinctive mark in each season.

I was driving yesterday through a town I am familiar with , and noticed that all the trees were stark and stripped of their leaves. It was windy , cold , and raining rather heavily .

“Oh I wish it would snow and cover -up all this ugliness”!

I did not like the feeling of the rawness and starkness of the day, cover it up, hide it from my face, paint it pretty with snow…..

As I continued traveling along a stretch of road I had been down several times before, I noticed a large lake . I had never seen it before. It was beautiful. I would not ever had seen it , had it been another season. But, in the starkness of winter, the lake was revealed.

The approaching winter had removed the leaves from the trees.

The Spirit of the Lord began to speak to my heart that within every season there is beauty .

Within each of us that is pressing toward the mark of the Most High calling in Christ Jesus , there is the beauty of God waiting to be manifested in us.

Often times, it takes the cold, stark purging of our flesh to see the Beauty of the Holiness demonstrated in our life.

The cleansing of our flesh and spirit from the filthiness of this world.
Sometimes beauty is not “manifested” until things are stripped and made bare and it is exposed to the elements.

When we go through experiences of difficulty, and tribulation, often times, the Holy Spirit is purging and refining us , just as the winter winds strip the leaves from the trees revealing the beauty of the season.

In every experiences of adversity , affliction, trial, tribulation. Because in them I have learned to trust Him and He plucks another leaf off .
　
　
2Co:7:1: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Heb:12:1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Hugs & Prayers, GG

Scented Cinnamon Ornaments.....

These are great 'Favors" for your
Christmas Party or for your "Kitchen"
tree. The house smells wonderful when
your making them.

Scented Cinnamon Ornaments

1 Cup of Cinnamon

1/2 Cup of Applesauce

1 tbsp of ground cloves

1 tbsp of nutmeg

2 tbsps White school glue

Combine ingredients , working the mixture 2-3 minutes until the dough is smooth. Roll out on floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness . Using floured cookie cutter make your ornies. Use a straw or toothpick to make a small hole at the top place on wire racks and allow to dry 3-5 days.turning them over every day, thread with ribbon when they are completely dried. Tie in a loop

Blessings, Ella

A Few of my Favorites...........

Our Nativity Set.... I love it, it was my Mom's.

Some of my very favorite ornaments.

Some are old , some were made with love for me.

My husbands boutonniere from our wedding, preserved for me to place each year on our tree.

White Roses........from a surprise bouquet.

I love them all. These are just a few of my favorites.

Hugs & Prayers, Ella

A Great Give-Away

My Dear Friend Karyn aka Ma Teakettle is having an awesome give-away.

Check it out http://theteakettlecorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/woo-to-hoo.html

Hugs & Prayers, GG

This Year's Christmas Tree........................

It has been a bit hectic at my home the past week,

but God is Faithful.

This is 2009's Christmas Tree at our house. It is

really very nice, the picture is not so great.

The house is looking very nice, it is very peaceful.

God's peace and presence in the house is very comforting.

Tonight is a date night for my sweetheart and me

I am making a favorite meal.

And we are going to watch one of my Christmas

favorites. "It's a Wonderful Life "

Wishing you a blessed day , with those you love!

Hugs & Prayers, GG

Thank you Lord Jesus ............

And thank you Dear Friends~~

God is Faithful. We have gone through several of the test that are markers for a cardiac event and heart disease/damage.

To this point Jonathan has been fine. I am especially grateful once again to God and to all the many prayer warriors and saints that were gracious and prayed for my husband and out family.

They are now doing testing for gastric issues which were the secondary possibility of the cause of this pain. Back to the hospital again in the morning for a test , then we should be good for a couple of weeks. Until the endoscopic tests.

Psalms:73:26: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.


There has been much rejoicing in my home. God is ever so Faithful to us.

Love & Prayers, Ella

Seeking your prayers....................

Dear Friends that visit my blog.........

Asking for prayer for my husband

Jonathan .

Jonathan he was rushed to the hospital Saturday from the job site via ambulance to the hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath. He has been admitted.

Right now what I know is there are no blood clots, his first series of blood work has come back negative, EKG was negative and they are doing 2 more cardiac enzymes. They will be doing a nuclear stress test today and if negative I think we will be alright in ruling out his heart. Although the also said the may have to do the cardiac cath if chest pain returns on exertion.

They are also checking his digestive functions as he has been having terrible problems with that , along with various pulmonary test too.

Thank you so much dear friends for your prayers, they mean so much to us.

Hugs & Prayers, Ella

My Favorite Italian Cookie Recipes.......

These are the cream of the crop!

Enjoy!

CORAL ISLANDS

2/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg, separated
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted, approximately
Strawberry or raspberry preserves, about 1 cup
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream margarine and sugar with an electric mixer. Add egg yolk and extract and beat well. Add flour gradually and blend well. After you’ve used 1 1/3 cups flour, test to see if dough is pliable but not too sticky. Add more flour if needed.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Beat egg white so that it is still slightly runny. Put walnuts in a bowl nearby. Dip half of each ball into the egg white. Then dip into the nuts. Place on a cookie sheet, nut side up, and make a depression with your thumb just deep enough to hold a little less than 1/2 teaspoon of preserves. Fill depression with preserves. Bake 15-20 minutes.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.

　
BUTTERBALLS

1 cup margarine
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Pinch salt
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 3/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
Confectioners’ sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream margarine with an electric mixer. Add granulated sugar and salt and beat well. Add nuts and flour and work dough until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Roll dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 1/2 hours or until dough is firm. (Dough can be made several days ahead.)
Allow dough to come to room temperature. Form into balls slightly smaller than walnuts. If dough is too dry or stiff, squeeze it with your hand before forming the balls. Put balls on a baking sheet and bake 18 minutes. Gently remove to a rack to cool. When cool, roll in confectioners’ sugar.
Makes 40-50 cookies.
　
　
Italian Christmas Cookies
　
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 carton (15 ounces) ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

FROSTING:
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
Colored sprinkles

DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a
time, beating well after each addition. Beat in ricotta and vanilla.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed
mixture.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking
sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove to wire racks to cool.
In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add enough
milk until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cooled
cookies and immediately decorate with sprinkles. Store in the
refrigerator. Yield: 8-1/2 dozen.

Italian Anisette Cookies

"Old Italian recipe."
Original recipe yield:3 dozen
INGREDIENTS
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
6 tablespoons baking powder
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon anise extract
1 teaspoon anise extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons hot water
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In large bowl, mix flour, baking powder and white sugar. Make a well in the center and add oil, milk, 1 tablespoon anise extract, and eggs. Mix together until dough is sticky.
Oil fingers and pinch off dough in 1 inch pieces. Roll into a ball and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet, 1 inch apart, flatten top slightly. Bake for 8 minutes. Dip cookies in Icing while warm.
To Make Icing: Blend in 1 teaspoon anise extract and enough hot water to 1 cup confectioner's sugar to form a smooth icing
This is my Italian grandmother's recipe, to a T (except for the baking power typo, of course - 3 teaspoons works perfectly :) We call them "Sciamellis" in my family. The key with these cookies is that YOU SHOULD NOT BROWN THEM. If they turn golden on top, they're overdone. When you just start to see a teeny bit of golden color at the base of the cookies, get them out of the oven! Almond, anise, vanilla, lemon...all varieties taste great.

Hugs & Prayers, GG

Another Season.............

It is bone chilling cold this morning 28 degrees.

All of the puddles outside from yesterdays heavy rain, have changed into mini skate rinks.

One of the things that I look forward to in this season, is the time I spend with family and friends.

People's hearts seem to be a little more tender, and I look forward to planting seeds of God's word that I pray will lead to the salvation of loved ones and people that God brings across my path.

Praying this is a fruitful season. Asking God to keep me tender-hearted and free in my spirit and heart to share my faith in Christ fluently

Joh:15:4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.


Hugs & Prayers, GG

Happy Birthday Beautiful .......................

Happy Birthday Jadyn !

Grammy & Papa love you

Christmas Cards and Turkey Sandwiches...........

....... is about the extent of my day.......... I think I love turkey sandwiches better then the hot turkey although dinner was beautiful yesterday.

The girls spent the night with Grammy & Papa eating blueberry pie and watching
"Home Alone " over and over . Papa fell asleep first , then Jadyn ......... while Alianna and I were up past midnight .

Today I am doing the laundry , listening to the rain, eating a turkey sandwich and writing out Christmas cards!

Taking the weekend off , so I will catch up with everyone on Monday!!!!!

Hugs and Prayers, GG

Happy Thanksgiving.........

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving ............

Lord, as I sit down with my family to a Thanksgiving table once again, I want to thank you for Your faithfulness to me.

For bringing Jonathan and I home safely where we belong at this moment. You have ordained for us to be here .

Lord, you have been with me in every waking moment of this year. Through joy, tears, laughter, the loss of our beloved Roger, through sicknesses, and victories and tremendous heartache. You have never left me for a moment, never once at all.

Your Grace truly is sufficient for me. Your peace and Your presence nothing can compare with .

Thank you for always providing for our needs everyday ~ for food and shelter and clothing. And for the many, many extras You provide that I so often take for granted.

Thank you for my precious husband, my family and friends who make my life full and special . Thank you that even when we are miles apart, we are bound by the cords of Your love. There is no distance in your Spirit.

And I thank you that I live in a country , the United States of America , where I am still free to worship You and to read your Word. To come together with the family of God in praise and Worship. To open our home to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To use every venue available to lift up the Name of Jesus.

Most of all, I thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ, who is the “light of the world”. The Bread of Life, my Lord and my God. When I turned to Him, so many years ago , He flooded the darkness of my soul with the light of His love. Set my feet on a path that You have prepared for me.

Thank you that He not only died for my sins , but that He is alive today at Your side ~ hearing my prayers and preparing a home for me in Heaven.

Thank you for all that You have given me as a Christian:
The Holy Spirit who is Your presence in my life, the power to live for you, the grace by which I stand in Jesus,
The word of God that is a light to my path. Brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ all over the world who encourage and love me. O, Lord, how truly rich I am! Thank you for all You mean to me. I love you beyond words Jesus. I love you beyond words my precious Lord.


Psalms:100:4: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psalms:100:5: For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

God Bless each of you; Happy Thanksgiving !
Hugs &Prayers, GG

Thank you to the incredible
talent and generosity of the
Graphics Fairy @
http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Happy Anniversary.................

~~Happy Anniversary Jonathan ~~
Love Always & Ever,
Ella

Thank you to the incredible

talent and generosity of the

Graphics Fairy @

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Grammy Goo's Coconut Custard Pie

I am so excited that I found my Grandmother's recipe book

Karyn my dear friend @ http://theteakettlecorner.blogspot.com/

prayed her lost prayer and I found it Whoo Hoo.

I use this recipe only at Thanksgiving to make Coconut Custard pie for my Daughter and Plain Custard pie for my sister.

This recipe will make two 9 inch pies. I just make one of them coconut and the other plain


Coconut Custard Pie

1 1/2 Cup Sugar
5 Eggs
4 level tbsp flour
5 tbsp melted butter
4 Cups of Cold milk
Pastry for two 9 inch pies

1 Cup of Coconut -flaked

Combine Sugar, eggs and flour. Add butter and milk . Pour into pie shells . put 1/2 coconut on each pie . ( omit the coconut if your making plain) . Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes , then reduce heat to 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until done. Yield two 9 inch pies.

Blessings, GG

Treasures ......

My Sweet husband made this lovely
little "buffet" table for me a couple of
years ago and I just love it .





It is such a simple little piece. But it can serve so many functions.



It has resided in many different rooms of the house . I love it very much.

My husband often surprises me with things that he has made that he knows that I will love. He always knows just what to give me.

I think he is pretty incredible. He was hand-picked for me from our Lord. I think he is quite awesome
and after all these years I am still
pretty smitten with him.


Blessings, GG
Song:6:3: I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine

In Christ Jesus........

I won't try to explain what it means to be "in Christ"....... I am still learning all that God has for me in Him. God's Word explains it better than I ever could. Check out all the incredible blessings of being "in Christ Jesus"

The riches that we have in Christ Jesus.
　
Ro:3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Ro:8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Ro:8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Ro:8:39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ro:12:5: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
　
1Co:1:30: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
　
1Co:15:22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

2Co:1:21: Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

2Co:2:14: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
　
　
2Co:3:14: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

2Co:5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2Co:5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2Co:11:3: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Ga:2:4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Ga:3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Ga:3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Eph:1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Eph:1:10: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
　
Eph:2:6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph:2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph:2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Eph:3:11: According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Ph'p:2:5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Ph'p:3:3: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
　
Ph'p:3:14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Col:1:4: Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

1Th:4:16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th:5:18: In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
　
1Tm:1:14: And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2Tm:1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Tm:1:13: Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2Tm:2:1: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2Tm:3:12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Ph'm:1:6: That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

1Pe:3:16: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1Pe:5:14: Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Hugs & Prayers, GG

Tom Turkey Hot pads from Country Woman Magazine ....

These are cute ..... I actually made them a couple of years ago.

BONUS CRAFT!

Tom Turkey Hot Pads
Expect to gobble up compliments when you crochet these whimsical hot pads from designer Beverly M., Apache Junction, Arizona. These turkeys are sure to make a return appearance year after year.

Materials Needed (for one):
Worsted-weight yarn—3 ounces of white ( Beverly used Red Heart Soft White yarn);

and small amounts each of brown, gold, green, orange, red and yellow
Size J/10 (6mm) crochet hook
Two 7mm glue-on wiggle eyes
Fabric glue
Yarn or tapestry needle
Scissors
Gauge: Working with two strands of yarn as one, 3 scs and 3 rows = 1 inch. Slight variations in gauge will change the finished size a bit.
Finished Size: Turkey hot pad measures about 8 inches wide x 7 inches high.
Directions:
HOT PAD: Working with two strands of white yarn as one, ch 21.
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hk and in each remaining ch across, ch 1, turn: 20 scs.
Row 2: Sc in each st across, ch 1, turn: 20 scs.
Rows 3-20: Repeat Row 2: 20 scs.
Ch 10, sl st in last st of Row 20 for hanging loop. Fasten off.
Use yarn or tapestry needle to weave in all loose ends.

TURKEY: Body: Round 1: With brown, ch 4 for first dc, dc in fourth ch from hk 13 times, join with a sl st in top of beginning ch: 14 dcs.
Round 2: Ch 3 for first dc, dc in same st, work 2 dcs in each remaining dc around, join with a sl st in top of beginning ch: 28 dcs. Fasten off.
Head: With brown, ch 4 for first dc, dc in fourth ch from hk 13 times, join with a sl st in top of beginning ch: 14 dcs. Fasten off.
Beak: With gold, ch 2, sl st in second ch from hk. Fasten off. Use yarn or tapestry needle to weave in all loose ends.
Feather: With red, ch 7, sc in second ch from hk and in each remaining ch across, work 2 scs in last ch, sc in each ch along opposite side. Fasten off.
Repeat to make one feather each of orange, yellow and green yarn.
Feet: With gold, ch 4, sl st in fourth ch from hk, ch 4, sl st in fourth ch from hk. Fasten off.
Finishing: Use yarn or tapestry needle to weave in all loose ends.

ASSEMBLY: Referring to photo as a guide, glue body and then head to hot pad. Glue feathers around top outer edge of body and feet to lower edge of body. Glue beak to center of turkey's head. Glue eyes above beak. Let dry.

ABBREVIATIONSch(s) chain(s)dc(s) double crochet(s)hk hooksc(s) single crochet(s)sl st slip stitchst(s) stitch(es)

Blessings, GG

I got an excited call

From my sweet cousin Christine, she is more like my sister than cousin.

She called me two mornings ago , almost out of breath to tell me about something growing up the fence in her garden area.

I know her pretty well , and I said to her ......... Is it like a vine and does it have red berries in a yellow almost paper-like shell.

Yes, she said .......How did you know .

I know that Christine loves pretty things and loves country decor.
And while she has a love for it , she does not like to craft.

She told me excitedly she has this "stuff" growing everywhere.
I thought "treasure" , she thought........Ella, could you make me a
wreath for my front door.

I sure can Cuz, I told her. Just don't cut it until your ready for me
to make your wreath because it dries very quickly. So we are going
to make a lovely wreath for her door sometime very soon. I'll post a
picture to let you know how it comes out.


Bittersweet is one of my favorite things to decorate with during the season
And while I am blessed to have an ever increasing vine along my fence. My
dear cousin has an abundance of it

Blessings, GG

When did Blueberry Pie...............

Become part of our Thanksgiving Dessert table???????????

I really don't know how this made it's way onto the menu this year.

We always have the traditional Pumpkin, Apple, Squash.

The got to have Custards with and without the coconut for sis and darling daughter.

The made with love creme pies Boston creme and Banana creme.

Lets not forget the various sweet breads and fruits.

But blueberry pie ??????

We usually ask each member of the family what special pie they would like.

It never changes. Each one every year picks the same pie . Even the dreaded MinceMeat Pie especially for Aunt Sandi.

When asked this year , out of the eleven immedite family we got 4 votes for blueberry pie.....

Alright, I can go with the flow. I'll find a blueberry pie reciple or talk to my dearest friend in a pinch Mrs Sarah Lee.

What is on your dessert table this Thanksgiving????

Blessings, GG

Be of Good Courage...........

To be discouraged is defined as to deprive of courage, hope or confidence.To become disheartened.

When we place confidence in ourselves it is not a sure foundation.

Our hope, Our confidence and our sure foundation, comes from living our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Charles Spurgeon looked upon dark hours in his own life and said :

" I bear witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file,

than to anything else in my Lord's workshop.

I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod.

When my schoolroom is darkened , that is the time I see most ."

Psalms:31:24: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Hugs & Prayers,GG

Thank You ...........

So very thankful for every service member in our military who has served our great nation . For all the brave men and women serving now. For the families and loves ones who have sacrificed and are sacrificing now. May God Bless you, protect you, and surround you with His peace and presence.

With all our love and Prayers, GG

I'm praying for you.............

What are you really committing to when you say to someone , "I'm praying for you" .............

When you tell someone your praying for them, you are telling them that you care enough to take their petition before God on their behalf.

Your saying that you value them and have compassion for the need that they have.

Your saying that your willing to stand in the gap , to enter into intercession for them.

Your saying you will travail in prayer for them.

If you are not really committed to pray then tell someone their in your thoughts .

God will provide saints that will come along aside them in prayer.

1Tm:2:1: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Often waking intercessors in the middle of the late watch of the night to pray for

someone they may have never met.

Col:4:12: Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

And then there is our outstanding example of Jesus our great intercessor.

Heb:7:25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

It is a wonderful priviledge to pray , especially for the Family of God.

Eph:6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Hugs & Prayers, GG

Grammy-Goo's Beef Stew.......

This is an all-time year round favorite in my home. But more enjoyable now when the days are brisk but sunny......

This is an all day cooking stew in my big stock pot which is 12 -14 quarts ......

Grammy-Goo's Beef Stew

4 lbs of beef cubed to desired size. I usually cube mine a bit larger than bite size

3 lbs of potato's cubed

3 lbs of carrots sliced

4 large onions diced

1 Sleeve of celery sliced

4 -5 pkgs of Beef flavoring - I use Goya -

3 Cups of Stewed tomato's

1 Cup of sweet peas

3 Tablespoons of Extra virgin olive oil.

10 quarts of water

Seasoning, to taste

I use:

2-3 Tablespoons of parsley
2 Teaspoons of cracked black pepper
1 Teaspoon of Garlic salt
5-6 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon of thyme

Adjust and use what your family likes.



In your stock pot add your oil and half your onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes to get the onions coated and heat your pan. Increase your heat to moderate and add your cubed beef , brown your beef in the bottom of your pan until all beef is brown and the onions are tender. 20-30 minutes.

In a 2 cup measuring cup add one pkg of Goya beef flavor slowly stir in 2 cups of warm water until the bouillon is dissolved. Add to the pot . Reduce heat and cover cook for about 10 minutes.

Add carrots, potato, celery, and half of the water cook 1 hour , occasionally stirring the pot.

After an hour add all of your remaining ingredients celery, tomato, remaining onions, beef seasoning and all other seasonings and cook on low through the day 6-8 hours on low adding more or less of whatever you think you need.

This is a family favorite ...........Sometimes I will make stew "dumplings" on top. I use the Bisquick recipe right on the box and follow the instruction they give. A crowd pleaser in our family and often on the menu..... Enjoy


Blessings, GG

Praised in the gates......................

As part of my daily reading for years now, I read the proverb that corresponds to the day .

Today it was Proverbs 31. What an awesome lady and example to the women of the Family of God.
A high calling we have in Christ Jesus................



Proverb:31:1: The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Proverb:31:2: What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Proverb:31:3: Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Proverb:31:4: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Proverb:31:5: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Proverb:31:6: Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Proverb:31:7: Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Proverb:31:8: Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Proverb:31:9: Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverb:31:10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Proverb:31:11: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Proverb:31:12: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Proverb:31:13: She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverb:31:14: She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Proverb:31:15: She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Proverb:31:16: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Proverb:31:17: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Proverb:31:18: She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Proverb:31:19: She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Proverb:31:20: She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Proverb:31:21: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Proverb:31:22: She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Proverb:31:23: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Proverb:31:24: She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Proverb:31:25: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Proverb:31:26: She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverb:31:27: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Proverb:31:28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Proverb:31:29: Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Proverb:31:30: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverb:31:31: Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Hugs & Prayers, GG

The torch has been passed.........

Yes, I can finally enjoy all the Blessings of Thanksgiving Day without the stress of the preparation of it all ............

The torch has been passed.

Darling daughter has become the new Thanksgiving hostess for the family and whew....... I am very happy.

Thank you Sweetie for stepping up and assuming your rightful place in the family as the next generation of Thanksgiving hostess' .

Of course I will be there to lend my expertise and skills, but she has actually been training all these years right along by my side, with my mother and then myself.

Just as her girls are learning all the family recipes , how to make my Grandmother's famous Thanksgiving Stuffing. How to clean and prep the Turkey, how to roll out the pie. All the family traditions and how to fill the house with love.

Just as she has been trained up all these years in the things of Christ , training up our children/grand-children in the way that they should go.

Proverb:22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

This generation is facing battles we only read about! God is Faithful. Praying the protection and provision of God over our kids and grands and beyond. That they be fully equipped not lacking in any good thing. Speaking the word and pleading the Blood of Jesus over them.

1Co:1:4: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

1Co:1:5: That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

1Co:1:6: Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

1Co:1:7: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Co:1:8: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co:1:9: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hugs & Prayers, GG

Rolo Pretzel Treat...........

Oh my socks these are so awesome and satisfy that salt /sugar craving........

My niece Kayla made them for my sisiter-in-laws birthday party a couple of weeks ago and I have been craving them ever since lol .

Easy, Easy, Easy and sooooooooooooo Yummy......

Ingredients:
Rolo chocolate candies

Mini pretzels

Nuts - toasted pecans/almonds/hazelnuts/walnuts

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350Upwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a nut. Watch the caramel oooze out. YUM! Enjoy!

Hugs & Prayers, GG

New England.................

I really cannot think of a prettier place than New England in the Fall...........

From Caribou to Connecticut and beyond.........

It is as if God has taken to hand his paint brush ...........and created a warm and comforting palette of the most magnificent colors................It often makes my mind wander to thoughts of heaven and how God must have designed the most beautiful eternal home for the Family of God.

Hugs & Prayers, GG