A Wonderful Time

 we recently returned from our annual anniversary vacay. We had a great time. We went to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. It was a beautiful trip. We had a  lot of fun and went on a great excursion to the Emotions Park. We rode atv's thru the jungle, and got muddy. We swam in an inderground river and cenote and discovered a bat cave.

 It was really nice, the food was great and we got to dress up every night

 the painted coconuts

 we had a great time the other day riding to the mountains to see the leaves, with the senior adults. We had a great time eating breakfast and going to the highest point this side of the Mississippi River.

 We made it to the top

 the leaves were just starting to turn

beautiful

We feel so very blessed to be able to travel like we do, and the Lord has blessed us so much with letting us help with the Senior Adults. They bless our hearts so very much!

BUTTER NUT POUND CAKE

So, I went over to my parent ' s home the other day. We has purchased some butter nut flavoring to go in some Homemade Butter Pecan Ice cream we were going to be making. On the back was a  pound cake recipe.  We decided to try to make it.  We had all the ingredients to make it right  then and there.  It turned out to be very good. I had never made a pound cake in a loaf pan before.  I think the  next will be in a regular tube pan. I  topped mine with fresh peaches and whipped cream! :) ♡ yummy!  We had a great time  baking together!

 

Sour Cream Pound Cake ( Butter Nut Pound Cake)

Ingredients:

2/3 CUP OF BUTTER SOFTENED

2 CUPS OF SUGAR

2/3 CUP OF SOUR CREAM

4 EGGS

1 TABLESPOON OF VANIILLA BUTTER NUT FLAVORING

2 CUPS OF FLOUR SIFTED

1/4 TEASPOON BAKING SODA

BEAT BUTTER, SUGAR, AND SOUR CREAM WITH ELECTRIC MIXER ON MEDIUM SPEED UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. ADD EGGS, 1 AT A TIME, BEATING WELL AFTER EACH ADDITION.ADD VANILLA BUTTER NUT FLAVORING , MIX WELL. GRADUALLY BEAT  IN FLOUR AND BAKING SODA ON LOW SPEED UNTIL WELL MIXED.

POUR INTO GREASED AND FLOURED 9X5 INCH LOAF PAN.

BAKE IN PREHEATED 325 DEGREE OVEN ONE HOUR OR UNTIL TOOTHPICK INSERTED IN CENTER COMES OUT CLEAN. COOL IN PAN 10 MINUTES . REMOVE FROM PAN, COOL COMPLETELY ON WIRE RACK.

** this recipe is called sour cream pound cake, but we like to call it Butter Nut Pound Cake**

 

mixing it up

all ready for the oven

YUMMM. COOLING ON THE RACK!

Nothing Too Hard

Sometimes, we pray for things for a long time. We wonder why God has not answered our prayer. Sometimes, we even get angry because He answers our prayer, but really in a way we did not expect. I came across this the other day and I thought it was a blessing. I hope  to be an ENCOURAGEMENT today to someone.

NOTHING is ever too hard to do,

If your FAITH is strong and your purpose is TRUE.

So NEVER give up and NEVER STOP,

Just journey on to the mountaintop!

That was such great words.. great words I needed for the day, as I know others, right now, who need this type of encouragement. Remember God knows and sees what is ahead. He protects and shields us from things we can NOT see in the future. 

 

Matthew 19:26King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

I am reminded of the song,''Is anything too hard for God?''  ''Is anything too hard for God? Who's got a problem beyond His power to solve? Are there situations He's NOT the Master of? Is anything TOO hard for God? ''

God knows where YOU are and knows YOUR NAME. He can meet your need and answer in His time! There is nothing beyond His power to solve. He knows the situation of EVERY fear you may face! This challenges us to give Him situations we have no control over, let Him be the master of them all.

 Just remember NOTHING is too hard for GOD!

Psalm 91:4King James Version (KJV)

⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Easter 2017

Easter time already.. my how time flies. We had a blessed Sunday in God's house celebrating His RESURRECTION  and a wonderful time afterwards. The weather was great ! The food and family time was much needed. Here are a few pics from the day! Remember He Lives!

true GREATNESS

When you were growing up, did you stop and think of what you wanted to be?? Like a housewife, mechanic, carpenter, sales person? Of course, you change your mind a thousand times, but down deep inside, you have that inkling of what you want to do and pray for God's will. You also want to be the GREATEST that you can be at that chosen profession. You might ask yourselves how can I be GREAT at this thing> I feel personally you learn from those before that has acheived  GREATNESS already.
I attended the funeral of one of the most caring, wonderful, Christian ladies today. She was a beautiful lady inside and out. She was a true example of the Proverbs 31 lady. She was selfless, and giving in her ways of cooking, gardening, or just a person to talk with, and her TIME. A few years ago, I went to the mailbox one day... inside their was a cooking magazine.. I knew I had not ordered a magazine, so I go to open it and it had lovely card inside, that said,'' just was thinking of you, hope you enjoy, Love, Mrs. Oxie''
This was something that was much needed, at the time.. She knew I was like my mother and grandmaw and knew I enjoyed my time in the kitchen when I could be in there.. I really don't know what made her think of me at that particular time, but I REALLY will always remember that.. that one true GREAT thing she did..  it blessed my heart so much...there a 80something year old lady thinking to do something for me.. I felt so unworthy.
Another thing that made her so GREAT was she was obedient to the Lord and admired her husband, another GREAT example of the Proverbs 31 lady. She always was doing the right thing, and lived her life accordingly. She was raised right and loved her Church and her Church family. She lived a GREAT life in front of her family, and even shunned by some of her immediate family, but still lived a GREAT Christian life. Her character was formed EARLY in life. When her husband died, her faith in the LORD did not die, she kept on keeping on and doing GREAT things for the Lord.
I can truly say she was an ENCOURAGER and always encouraged me , with singing or telling me she got a blessing from my singing.. what she did not know was she was encouraging me to do GREAT things for the LORD and be a blessing to others. I was truly blessed to be able to sing with a gruop of ladies today at her funeral During the singing today, I just felt her smiling down.. . She was a huge and GREAT encourager and help to my grandmaw when my grandpa died. She would come home with her on Sundays after Church and spend all Sunday afternoon with her , talking with her, rocking, and catching up on things that had happened that week, for that I will always be GRATEFUL.
So, you see, why I think this lady was GREAT, and through her life, MANY can see the GREAT things she did, and most of all, the GREAT GOD she served, and because of that, we can ALL be encouraged to do GREAT things , and be a better and GREAT person for the LORD. May we all do GREAT things for Him.

Grow in GRACE

I was putting away the Valentine's Decor this morning, and was kind of going through some of my Spring stuff. I came across this cute little thing. I won this at a Ladies Meeting a few years ago. It always makes me smile. I was with my mama and a friend that day. We had a fun time together. I love the bird on there. Birds are something special to me. I am always wanting to watch them eat out of my feeders, especially when the weather is getting warmer. When I came across this , I smiled. It was no accident... It was what the Lord wanted me to see. It was a reminder of me and my hubby '' growing in grace'' over the past few weeks.. Even as the sun was coming through on my shoulders standing on the porch, It was a wonderful moment to feel the sweet love of God, and a reminder HE was showing me......

SO, what does it mean to ''grow in grace''? From a personal standpoint, I think it means to mature as a Christian. Putting your faith ABOVE your fears.We grow in grace by studying the Word, and applying it to our everyday lives. When the trials come, (AND THEY WILL< EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL).. it is GRACE that gets us through. It gets us through everyday issues, like when you are sick, when you need guidance in a situation, when you need MORE patience for your patients..(LOL

1 Thessalonians 4King James Version (KJV)

4 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

John 3:16King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
How much MORE grace could there be than that?? That is something definite!  The more we grow in grace, the more He is seen in our lives. If we are NOT growing in God's grace, then we are NOT doing His will.
Being interested in the THINGS of God is another way to grow in grace. Get involved in everything you can. On my birthday, I came down with the flu. The very next day, my hubby did the same. We were out of town. We did not know at the time we had the flu. It kept us away from Church for  awhile. We are better now, still not 100 %, but when I went to Church last Sunday, it was like a breath of fresh air.. It was so good to be back, and around the Church, around God's people, and to be apart of the amazing services, worship , and with GOD. This was growing in grace, because God gave the grace to get through the sickness we had, and for us to be strong!
Be thankful for the things of God.
Being sure and secure.. God gives grace for that. When we are not sure if certain things are going to come out the way we want. God lets us grow from that very thing!

2 Peter 3:17-18King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Having faith that everything is going to work out, when we are faced with decisions we are afraid to make, when we get bad news, when things tear up around the house, when someone hits your car, GOD gives grace and let's us grow in it by us putting our full trust in Him,KNOWING He already knows the outcome of it all.
 MY prayer today is to grow MORE in Grace!

Wilmington bound

here we are on the first night

 

It was a ''special'' birthday!! Awhile back, hubby had told me of a fishing school held in wilmington, nc he wanted us to go to. He had tried to get us in this school for several years ,but it was always full. This year, we were able to attend. It was a fun thing to do together. We learned about different rigs, and ways to catch different fish from captains who do fishing charters. We actually learned a lot, and then went to a nearby bait and tackle store to stock up on the things they recommended. We made it a 5 day trip, also celebrating our birthdays.

 we spent the first day touring the city, looking for good places to eat and looking at the beaches. there are 3 beaches there. this was Wrightsville beach... beautiful!

the intercoastal waterway

 we stayed at a Staybridge Suites last year when we went Chattanooga . We were really impressed, so we decided to stay at the one in Wilmington. They are really nice, they all have a full kitchen, and a really big living area, and bathroom. Also, during the week, they have a FREE SUPPER there every night in the dining area.

 downtown at the railroad museum

the USS NORTH CAROLINA

Wrightsville Beach

HEADED TO THE MALL AND A GREAT MEAL

THE FISHING SCHOOL.. YES, I was one of about 20 ladies.. it was ok though

here I am on MY birthday!!!!

Snow's Cut

we  enjoyed this trip so much.. it was so fun to visit a new city for the both of us...

Relief, Relax, and Family time

 

If you go to downtown Gatlinburg, you know Fannie Farkles is a MUST!! The corndogs are so good!

Every january, some of my family always takes a week to go to the mountains for a little ''after Christmas break''. This year was NO exception. After the Christmas rush and events we had happen on Christmas, it was a much needed time to take off, sit back, relax, and relief from the rush, catch up, and enjoy some QUALITY FAMILY TIME. This year, I was so happy.. EVERYBODY CAME except for Scott, Drake, and my daddy. You have to understand, it is not that they don't interact with us or they don't do things with us, they just don't travel that much..lol

ANYHOO, we all had a great time. We rented a bigger cabin this year, so it would accomadate us better. It was roomy and spacious, and had lots of running room for lil d. It was so fun watching her go from place to place, looking around in everyone's room, and watching her new movie we bought her, ''Shrek''. She had fun and was spoiled by all of us! 

on sunday, the Cowboys played.. Chris smoked ribs and bbq all day on sunday for us, so we had a delicious meal waiting on us when we got back from gatlinburg!

 

fun time riding go carts. lil d is not scared of anything! 

Eating breakfast at my favorite friend's place.. Paula's

love this pic!

living room at the cabin

how bout a pic before a day of shopping

corrie and kevin getting their corndog fix!!

she loved this at the ripley's believe it or not

a selfie at the island

we spent saturday night at the Island. Some of my family had never been there before. It was a lot of fun!

the ferris wheel at the island!

love this mirror selfie with this sis.. God is good!

eating lunch at Five Guys..yummmmm!

on the porch

mother and her girls!!!!

Just like always, we had a great time being together, eating, watching sappy movies,playing games, playing cards, the guys shot pool, Lil d got in the jacuzzi, we ate.. you see what we did.. We can't wait to do it again!!!!!!