Sneak Peak: Valentine Photo Shoot

Tyler and I squeezed in a pre-Valentine's photo shoot, before he leaves.I have to say my sister is an

 excellent photographer.

Now off on vacation for 5 days to deliver Tyler to his destination. 

Stayin' Up

It's a week of lasts. Or maybe, on a more positive note, they're lasts for awhile.

So in lieu of lasts, I'm staying up preparing Tyler's last dinner & dessert.

But before I call it a night,

I want to thank my friends and family for all the prayers & support.

I feel like a wimp, a drama queen and a cry-baby.

And just maybe I am.

There ARE worse possibilities, longer separations, & harder circumstances.

But it still hurts, and it still means the world to have you all in my life.

...so thank you...

Sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do

And yes, homemade chocolate chip cookies are something ya gotta do.

.

Everyone should experience hot, gooey cookies (or maybe just the dough) on a cold winter's evening.

MMM, even better with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

This is a must try recipe: so delicious, and if you your quick on your feet,

you can have 2 dozen cookies in the oven in under 10 minutes!

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

12 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

-----------------------------------------

Melt the butter, and combine with the sugars using an electric mixer or by hand. Beat in the egg and egg yolk. Add the vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients, just till combined, then fold in the chocolate chips.

Make balls of dough around the size of 2 tablespoons and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes, or until very slightly golden brown.

One final tip for gooey cookies: use a baking stone, preferably manufactured by Pampered Chef.

Sick

I allow myself two sick days per year. Two days I can be completely useless.

That means I've used them up... yesterday and today

That also means 354 days to stay well. Bring on the vitamins...

When your boy goes away.

"Only 31/2 months," he whispers in my ear.
HE is leaving.
Oh gosh, I can't even type without choking up.

I know I'll live, I know I'll make it through, but I know there will be showers of tears.

"I'm coming back for you," he repeats over and over on the phone.

He's going to Bible College. He knows this is God's leading. He knows this is best.

Isn't it unfortunate that the very thing that makes you the most proud of your man

is the very thing that crushes you the hardest?

I pried the news out of him around a month ago. Then I couldn't breath for 2 days.
*Sigh*

I am trusting. Well, Ok, I'm trying to trust both him and God.

It's going to be the hardest time I've past through yet, but I have more
 than most to help me through:

(I might be frequently viewing this list)

- A wonderful, loving Saviour, that will ALWAYS, always be by my side

-My man, he does love me so very much, and I DO know he will come back for me

-My family who are best friends

-His family my next best friends

No Resolutions

I read it today, but didn't let it sink in till now.

Till now... laying in my bed. I should be sleeping. But I want to write, and that hasn't happened for months.

I read today a distant friend's blog. This girl wrote on her blog along the lines of New Year's resolutions and that we should"always try and make ourselves a better person instead of just 'being ourselves'."

Now I recognize this as a flaw in myself:

The moment you relinquish the desire to reform that worm that you are, when you have given in to the flesh time and time again, and you let yourself, "be yourself", you limit God.

There is always room for improvement.

Not that we can change in our own strength. Absolutely not! I am merely coming to the realization that you must desire for God to reform you. God doesn't go to work without the invitation. God is the perfect gentleman.

I had determined not to make any New Year's resolutions since they never come to anything anyway, right?.... I changed my mind. This New Year I desire and INVITE God to regenerate me. I'm not going to make a list of specifics: yada yada yada. I just want to remain willing and ready to receive what God has for me in 2010. I don't want to hinder His wonderful and perfect ways, by sitting in complacency in my filthy rags. Rather I am jumping up and I laying "me" at the foot of the Cross.

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Romans 13:11-14