Please Pray

Pioneer Woman is hosting another photo contest. Coming Home is a series of pics of soldiers coming home to their kids and wives. If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I don't know what will. So many stories in those photos.

This reunion photo was taken in Oklahoma in December of Sam and I. Hubby snapped it at Fort Sill, OK.

Since then Sam has finished his medic training at Fort Sam Houston, got on a bus and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia. He has been qualifying for Airborne at Fort Benning. This is his last week, he is making lots of jumps and hopes to graduate on Thursday. From there he goes to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Right before Sam left Texas the ATM machine ate his debit card. We were ready to get on the ship, and there was nothing we could do. Sam was leaving, we were leaving, it was a bad deal. He cancelled his card and got on the bus. He had no address. His mates helped him out with some cash.

After we got home, the bank sent his new card (takes 7-10 days), I overnighted it to his new temporary address in Georgia. I sent it on May 18. He doesn't have it. The post office isn't open when he isn't jumping. They won't let a friend pick it up, even though I specifically said NO signature needed. We have tried everything, I won't bore you with all the details.

It seems like a little thing, but it has gotten BiG. Sam leaves tomorrow, if he has to get on the bus without a his card we have to start all over. Cancel the card, order a new one, and then send it to North Carolina. Our frustration levels are high. He needs money.

Please pray for Sam to have a window to get to the post office and the card still be there. Please pray for Sam as he makes his last jumps to qualify. He needs to focus.

I am convinced God can make this happen for Sam. Just a small window of opportunity.

Let Them Eat Cake

My weekend started Thursday night with scrapping at Holly's house. I finished a Whistler mini book. Jodi and Kathi worked on some goodies for the fundraiser for Cash, pretty soon we all helped.

I brought Holly a hostess gift, maybe the strangest hostess gift ever. I found a wooden ironing board at a garage sale and had picked it up for Holly. We tried it out and it works just fine. We did not intentionally dress alike for this impromptu photo shoot.

Friday night was the fundraiser for Cash, and it was amazing. I could feel the LoVe of HIS people for Jack and Wendy and their family.
I have done a bit of thrifting this week and found a marble vase for my peonies. Hubby and I found a set of eight glasses and 3 small tumblers on Saturday morning. Travel theme! I loved them and planned to use them on the patio this summer until I researched them a bit. They may be too valuable for casual dining, actually they may be too valuable for me. I do love them tho.

On Saturday I baked a Rhubarb Custard Cake. And an Earthquake Cake, a naughty good chocolate concoction. Since it was Hubby's and Max's birthday week, I was bringing dessert to my folks on Sunday and I thought I'd give a choice. A selection, if you will, of desserts.

On Sunday, Max's 17th birthday, Kassie baked him a birthday cake too. CRX birthday cakes! The little yellow one looks just like his CRX except Kassie put on personalized license plates. So clever! He won't let us eat them.


A nice weekend, make that a WEEK celebrating the birthdays. We went to Anthony's on Hubby's day for both of their birthdays and then just kept on celebrating.

Today was back to boot camp and eat less, move more. But oh my, it was fun! While it lasted.

Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean

A day late and a dollar short, late to the party, that's me! You have all probably been using the Magic Erasers forever, but I just found them.

So rewarding. I can see where I have been. I love that. It's the little things when cleaning a house.

Don't tell Hubby but there is another man in my life, Mr. Clean. He is my new main squeeze. This guy is helping me clean up the Stone House. Walls that I thought I'd be painting this Summer don't need it. I'll be reclining on my chaise lounge on the patio instead, thank you very much.

If you knew about these wonderful erasers why weren't you a true friend and telling me about them? If you haven't used them, try them. Someone here knows how to be a good friend.
Oh, and I get nothin' for any endorsements on this blog. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Happy Birthday to my Honey

Happy Birthday to Hubby! We are having a bit of a celebration tonight. It is a work day, after all.

Of all the cakes I bake from scratch and desserts I can whip up for him, Hubby chooses cherry chip from a mix and cream cheese frosting from a can. It's in the oven, all for him. Love you honey!

New Authors

Sometimes I go through hard times. Times where I can't find a good book. Lately I have had a bonanza of good books. Good times.

New authors are a gamble, but here are a few that are worth taking. Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. I mentioned this book a bit ago. A sad, sweet story of a young girl. I loved it and Jerrie did too. I passed it on to her and then told her- Don't tell me if you don't like it cuz that would break my heart I loved it so much.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett was on my request list at the library. A friend told me her book club had read it and enjoyed it and then I got notice that it was in at the library, I jumped right in. I felt like I was there, in the story, so scared for these women and so proud of their courage. It was one of those books that I wanted it to just go on and on. If you didn't like it don't tell me cuz that would break my heart I loved it so much!

The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross, another new author, is light reading. Chick Lit with recipes. Sometimes I need a light, fun read and this was a sweet story with even sweeter recipes. I think Max and Hubby are having cupcakes for their birthday treats this week. Have you ever used potato starch for baking? Just curious. I may have to buy it for the cupcake recipes.

I also read Every Last One by Anna Quindlen. She is a veteran author and makes it easy for the reader see her story. This story is one that no one ever wants to see. She is a good story teller though and it was hard to put down this book.

While cruising I read Reunion by Elizabeth Berg. Just an easy going read about a class reunion and expectations. It reminded me of why I don't like class reunions. I feel bad for people that have such high hopes. It did have some good characters and some were developed nicely by Berg.

A vacation and a cold led to some reading time for me. Also, it's how I relax and fall asleep every night. Happy Reading!

Having blogger probs this morning... so here goes...again.

Oh! for the love of pete, once more... lines in wrong places. I am sorry.

Oh! My Goodness Good Junk

Saturday morning I started up Snowflake and we went for a drive. Did some junkin'. I found a frame, decorator fabric(wait until you see what I'm going to do with IT) and a wood ironing board. Not much for all the stops I made but a sunny morning and some treasures.

On Sunday my sis Kathi and BIL Jeff mention that they are having a garage sale next weekend to benefit Relay for Life. They have some things from Jeff's Mom's estate. Would I like to pre-shop? Uh, hello, yesssiree!

I take a look, not really seeing anything until I spot a Corning Ware box. I ask if I may take a look and there my friends was the treasure.

THE Corning Ware Electromatic Immersible Platter! An Aid to Gracious Dining, Keeps dishes and beverages at serving temperatures, Completely Immersible.

An Aid to Gracious Dining! I am all about that.

I was pretty excited. Shelly's Mom Nelia has a similar tray. I have coveted it. This tray is perfect for stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, and other hot treats.

God bless Peg for hanging on to this treasure and for having it in the all white instead of the Cornflower Emblem. Cuz it was also available in the Cornflower Emblem.


Aren't I just the luckiest hostess evah?