Feeding

Tonight is Bible study night with my girls. We love to feed on God's Word but we also love to just downright "FEED". Somehow we feel the caloric content of our food devoured while devouring the scriptures is null and void. Tonight daughter-in-love and I are bringing dessert (Be on the lookout for the launch of our cooking blog - Dishin' It Up!!). One of my very favorite summertime desserts is Berries and Bits. My baby sister made this for me several years ago and I think I sat in the corner with it refusing to share. That will not be sweet to do at Bible Study. But not beyond me. I got a fancy new camera for Mother's Day that I am still trying to figure out but I experimented today. Bear with it!
All the yummy ingredients. Tried to tame it down a little with fat free condensed milk and sugar free pudding.
Mixing the milk and white chocolate pudding.
The berries and bits!! I almost ate this and lied that I forgot to make dessert. But again - Bible Study and that would not be sweet.
I kept holding the camera way above my head to take this shot and the strap kept flapping in my face. My funny man came by and said,"Why don't you just put that on a lower surface?" Ugh! Can't you see that a professional will go to extreme measures to get the best shot possible? (I hate when he speaks the language of common sense) I forgot to layer the nilla wafers so I stuck them in the top. Hey maybe if I tell the peeps at bible study that I ruined dessert I can eat it all myself. Nah, after all this time they are on to me and my sly ways.
Super easy to make and absolutely delicious to eat. Here is the recipe:

1 (14oz) Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/2 C Cold Water
1 (4 oz) instant white chocolate pudding mix
1 small Cool Whip
Vanilla Wafers
Fresh Berries- whatever you like - I love strawberries and blueberries
1 C Nestle Little Bits

In large Bowl, combine milk and water. Add pudding mix. Beat well. Chill for 5 minutes. Fold in cool whip. Layer pudding, wafers, berries and chips. Repeat. Chill thoroughly. Enjoy!

Michelle

Goodbye Again

Today I said goodbye to my 16th class of seniors! They left the halls of high school thinking they own the world, that they are free at last, that they will have no more silly rules to follow and that life is about to become one big party. Bless their hearts. I remember thinking the same thing many years ago. The last day of school is always bittersweet for me. I vacillate between wanting to turn cartwheels down the hall because their senioritis has driven me crazy since March and wanting to bawl my eyes out because I will miss them. (I am so glad I am a southern girl and bawling my eyes out is like a necessary exercise at times!)
See, I LOVE my job. Not every day but overall I am a contented person with my profession. I am totally at peace that this is what God gifted me and tasked me to do. I haven't always felt this way. My parents used to tell me I should be a teacher and my response was always, "Please - people that can't get a real job teach school." I just thought they meant I was bossy. (which I am :))Today after my students left I attended a luncheon for one of our most special students. He is the Student Body president, valedictorian, president of several other organizations, was one of two students in the whole state chosen to attend The United States Senate Youth Leadership program and is going to Howard University in Washington DC on a full scholarship. Unbelievable. That boy is going somewhere. I tell him all the time I want to be him when I grow up. The luncheon today was to honor him for being chosen for yet another scholarship he had won by the company his mom works for. I thought it was going to be a big banquet and was so surprised when I was ushered to a private dining room with him and his parents for just us and the corporate executives there to honor him and give him his scholarship. It was such a privilege to be invited and so touching to observe the pride in his parents for their baby boy. I remember those days very well as three of mine have graduated high school and were all honored for various things. But it was really special to observe these parents today.
I was reminded how as a mama your heart is so full of excitement for the journey they are about to embark upon, yet so broken because you know the family dynamics of your home are never going to be the same. I was also reminded about why I love my job. I get to witness these types of things over and over, year after year. What a blessing. Do you know that teaching is the only profession that touches all other professions? It is so humbling to be a part of the lives of these young people. Nothing makes me happier than to be out somewhere and someone call out to me, "Mrs. Cheney, Do you remember me? You were my teacher!" Yes precious (my husband says I think they are all precious - and I do) I remember you and I thank God that He uses these students to teach me as well.
If I may be an English teacher here for a minute - Our lives truly are books. Some chapters shorter than others,while some more painful to get through. Some chapters we want to read over and over and some we never want to even turn to again. How thankful I am to witness so many "books" on their way out the door. Hopefully many of them will keep in touch and return to visit from time time. I am ever changed for all the ways I have been affected by them and I wish them all well as they find "their way that leads on to another way."
Congratulations Class of 2010!!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers today. I hope you have a beautiful and blessed day wih your special loved ones. Last year I posted about my sweet babies that hurled me headlong into the toughest but most fulfilling job I have ever had. This year I wanted to thank all the special moms in my life.

Dear Mama,
I could write pages and pages to you. You have no idea how much I admire, respect, esteem, and love you. You have taught me so much from your life. I know I tease you relentlessly about all the shortcuts we took when we were all young and you were working, but you never took shortcuts where it mattered. You were a lot more concerned about being my mother than being my friend. It mattered more to you that I learned the lesson not that I was mad at you. You never took shortcuts when it came to teaching me about working hard for my family, for myself, for being generous to others and for loving the Lord. You taught me to never take shortcuts when it came to fighting with everything you had to hold on to your family and trusting that God in His time would restore all things. You have taught me not to take shortcuts in my work as being accurate and consistent are what you have built your reputation on. You have shown me what a life spent sowing and trusting the Lord can reap in a life. You have shown me what fun it is to be a grandmother. You are the most beautiful and wise person I know and next to Jesus and Jon you are my dearest friend on earth. Thank you for loving my husband the way you do. Thank you for being such a wonderful Mimi. Thank you for being my mama. I love you so much and hope your day is wonderful.

Dear Lila,

Thank you for not running away when you met me and my obnoxious self. I know you wondered many times what you had gotten yourself into! Especially when you had to fix my hair! Thank you for loving my Daddy. Thank you for giving me a precious little brother and for modeling the greatest strength I have ever witnessed in my lifetime when he went to be with Jesus. Thank you for showing me in the flesh what it is to love someone unconditionally that you did not give birth to. It is possible. I know as I have received it and given it. Thank you for showing me one of the sweetest, humblest spirits of any person I know. You are a treasure and I thank God for the gift of our friendship. I love you so much and hope your day is wonderful.

Dear Judy,
Thank you for giving me such a wonderful man that I call husband. You are so precious to me and I am thankful that you love all your daughters-in-law so much. You make us each feel special. Thank you for finally allowing me to do more than stir!! Thank you for teaching me what a joy it is to minister to your family through their stomachs! I value your wisdom and life experience more than you know. You are the coolest, hippest, most fun 75 year old I know. I hope that you and I can continue to pretend like we care that Gerald and Jon pit our cooking against each other just to benefit themselves. Thank you for the love and acceptance into such a beautiful family. I love you so much and hope your day is wonderful.

Dear Jodi and Laura,
Thank you for giving me my most special treasures - my grandpeeps! Oh how those boys make my heart leap! Thank you for all the time you allow me to have with them. Thank you for being my daughters and for the joy of watching you both nurture and love your little men. Pray for them. That is your privilege and responsibility as a mother. Enjoy every moment with them as it will fly by all too quickly. Please continue to share all your special mama moments with me and know I pray earnestly for you both. I love you both so much and hope your day is wonderful.

To my sisters, sisters-in-law and close friends,
Thank you for the blessing each of you are to my life and I love you all so much and hope your day is wonderful.

To my precious friends who are missing their sweet mamas today - I am lifting up a special prayer for you today and asking our gracious God to love on you in a way only He can. I love you all so much and hope your day is wonderful.

Love,
Michelle

Fun at the Family Farm

1 Chronicles 17:16b
"Who am I, O Lord God and what is my family that You have brought me this far?"

I spend most of my days in awe that the Lord has blessed me the way He has. When I look at my family I am so humbled and grateful for them that I cannot believe my God loves me so. I hope I teach my kids and grandchildren to be ever thankful. We spent the day yesterday at our family's farm having a fish fry to celebrate Daddy's birthday (God loved me so much He sent me two special men to be fathers to me, that or He knew I would require more work than most!). We had such a great time eating, fellowshipping and riding four-wheelers and rangers. One of my sisters was sick and unable to be there and one of my brothers-in-law couldn't make it. They were missed.
Here are a few pics from our day:
Gigi and Connor checking things out.

Jodi and Savannah - my girls are so beautiful.

Mama, Jennifer and me.

PawPaw and Connor. I am sure Connor was asking for the millionth time, "Is it time to ride the 4-wheeler yet?"

Connor and Anthony. Notice Connor's "I'm going fast" face!

Connor "driving" Uncle Jeremy in the ranger.

Graham, who probably walked five miles around the barn pointing and clapping at everything.

The fish cookers- Jon and Richard- and the birthday boy!

We are so thankful Richard is home from Afghanistan. He couldn't get over how much Graham had grown in six months. I couldn't get over how much their heads looked alike!

Christine obviously was not informed the party was in the barn! But she is precious and is now dubbed the "Barn Diva."

The kids were sure glad when it was time to eat.

And no party would be complete if the girls had not given someone a makeover! Josh was willing to take one for the team and I agree with Richard - Josh looks like John Belushi as the Samurai Chef from SNL!!!!

We had a great time and look forward to lots more good times on the farm.

Ready to Receive

*****UPDATE:
God is faithful! I got my word - and it was good too!!!
***
Malachi 3:16
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

This is one of my favorite scriptures. It makes me think of my bible study peeps. Tonight is bible study and we are coming to the end of another study. I ADORE my bible study group and I always have a little extra skip in my step on bible study day. To read this scripture and think that the Lord is so delighted with our sharing about Him, to know that he listens, the KJV says He "hearkens". What a great word. It means to listen with attentiveness. I get so fired up thinking He listens and then to know that a scroll of remembrance is written about us in His presence is almost more than I can bear!! My heart is so full right now and I have been asking for a word and I think I just might get me one tonight!
Kay Arthur is giving the lesson and if you have ever heard her teach you know that lady can "bring it". I just want be a vessel that is ready to "receive it"!!
Blessings,
Michelle

A Grateful Heart

What a crazy week we have had. This past Wednesday my sweet Mama was involved in an accident that could have been a tragedy. Check out this link:
http://www.ktbs.com/news/bridge-in-claiborne-parish-caves-in/

Two eighteen wheelers crossed a bridge on a country highway that my Mama travels frequently. After the second truck crossed the bridge it collapsed to a depth of about 6 feet. A car traveling about two miles ahead of Mama drove across it first as you could not see it had collapsed until it was too late. She bounced down the highway and finally came to a stop, called 911 and flagged down a little mini cooper coming toward her to tell it to stop. As the two drivers were talking to each other and 911 on the phone, they heard my Mama's car approaching. The mini cooper turns on its flashers and is headed toward her to try to get her to stop, the other lady is waving like crazy and my mama thinks there must be a wreck up where they are. Without even seeing it she hits the bridge, goes airborne and comes down broadside on the little mini cooper ( my mama drives a big SUV) and both of them go into the ditch. My husband and I drove straight there and both of us just stood in disbelief. The Hand of God and His angels was so evidently all over that scene that all we could do was say "Thank You Lord, Thank You."
My husband and I spent a lot of time thinking and talking about the accident. We both kept saying how good God is. However, we also know that had that day turned out differently for our family our God would be NO LESS good to us. I cannot imagine my life without my mother. She is , well she is just MY MAMA!!!! You know what that means. But none of us knows what this life holds for us, but if we are in Christ we DO know what the future holds. Eternity with Him, Hallelujah! I cling to that.
I have lived a tragedy with the loss of my brother to a car accident with my Daddy and my Step-Mom(I hate that label but thought I needed to clarify so no one is confused). It was awful and everything that one can imagine an unexpected tragedy to be. But, our feet had to hit the ground every day even when we didn't want them to and we had to keep living. I am in awe of my dad and Lila. They are two of the strongest people I know and have taught me more about faith than they will ever know they have. They keep living, serving, trusting, and hoping. Hope and knowledge that one day we will all be together again with my brother and our Savior.
We are all so thankful that Mama and the other two involved were spared that day. That God was not ready for them yet. That means they have much to do yet on this side of eternity. I know my mama is full aware of that. We talked at length about it this weekend. She is so wise and loves her Lord so much that she is already seeking for answers that way.
My heart is heavy this morning with gratitude that I was able to sit on my mama's back porch with her yesterday morning talking about our Lord. And I will be eternally grateful for a God that is good because of Who He is, NOT What He does. But everything He does is a blessing and I thank Him profusely for them.
May your day be blessed!
Michelle

Randomness

Oh how I love lazy Saturday mornings! Sitting in my chair drinking 20 cups of coffee and enjoying the fact that my house is clean and I really don't have anything pressing down on me to get done today. I am a porch monkey and love being on my porch more than anywhere (except my mama's back porch) but the pollen is still so awful you can't bear to be out there longer than 10 minutes. I am ready for summer and long days in the pool with my kids and grandpeeps. It will be here soon.


Baby girl and I are doing the Couch to 5K challenge and the first two weeks went great but then I got the most awful pain in both my knees that I could hardly stand to bend them and I looked 80 when I walked. So after a lot of gnashing of teeth and being frustrated that here I was trying to make a healthy change in my life and being stopped dead from our training, I found out it is just related to my running shoes. Apparently it does matter about the kind of shoe you wear and your foot anatomy. So I am walking again and will be running again by next week. Some days I wonder if exercise is worth it, but then I am reminded that beginning is the hard part and I need to stick with it. Perseverance. Running the Race. Throwing off all that hinders me (20 year olds that whiz past me hinder me and make me sick!). Looking forward and knowing that even in the mundane things of life like exercising, my God gives me strength where I am weak.

This post is quite random but I think my day shall be also. I stole a gadget from my friend over at Shiny Boxes on a devotion site called The Internet Cafe. Click on it and check it out. I love devotions and never tire of reading them. Hope everyone has a blessed day.