L.O.V.E.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Kaye
1 Corinthians 13:4-5

My heart will go on...

Here is a new cheese board I engrave with

pretty ornate handles...

and a wonderful new saying I engraved recently...

"I pray you enough"...

...but today I've been...

missing my Grandmother as she would have

celebrated her 95th birthday.

She still lives on in many hearts

and remains the most influential 'lady' in my life.

...and we lost a dear Grand Dog today which

is always difficult. Luke will be missed by many.

....but I did get in the kitchen to make some

old-fashioned iced tea cakes to take to the

Grand kids later this week

as a Valentine's Happy...

...not very pretty to look at but they do

taste like something my Grandmother once made.

...and I wanted to share another new item

recently added to the website.

The one below speaks volumes

if we will remember to.....

I lift up my eyes to the hills-
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made Heaven and earth...
He will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
Psalm 121:1-2,4-5 NRSV

Blessings today and always,

Kaye

Boys will be boys!

Happy New Year!

Trying to catch up, one sticky note at a time.....

after enjoying family being here

throughout the holidays!

Tripp & Ben thoroughly

enjoyed their time together during the holidays.

It was fun watching them "play" together again

after several years of not being able to be here

at the same time....

...and it is so hard to believe the once 'little boy',

my favorite nephew:), is now 6' 5"!!!
Friends made these red and green
Christmas lights for us
using 12 Gauge Shotgun Shells!

Also shown in the picture is one of
several autographed copies of
The Pioneer Woman Cooks!
She will never know how grateful us girls
are to have our very own copy
of her great cookbook!

And if you haven't purchased yours yet,
I highly encourage you to do so.
It is a GREAT cookbook with wonderful
stories and absolutely beautiful photography...
She is so very talented (understatement of 2010),
and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts
for signing these books and sending them
back so quickly!

Have a wonderfully blessed 2010,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

O Christmas Tree-Handprint Style

Memories of Christmas 2008
Last year Brandi at Brandi and Boys shared

one of her favorite pieces of Christmas 'artwork' on her blog

and when I saw it I knew I wanted to 'try' to get the

family involved to try doing this using our hand prints.

So last year on Christmas Eve the girls

brought enough canvasses

and paint so each of us could have our own

"Hand Prints Christmas Tree"

to treasure.

Ours started with the Grandparent's hand prints

at the bottom, then each of the kids and their

spouses hand prints, and last & least each of

the grandchildren's precious hand prints!

Thanks so very much Brandi for sharing this

wonderful idea on your blog.

I love our 'hand made' tree and will treasure it always.

Blessings today and every day,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Thankful...

Mary Katherine made us a new "Thankful Tree"

this year and everyone was happy to write

what they were thankful for on individual leaves.

This leaf tells part of the story...

showing names of family members

we are very thankful for...

Jack IV was VERY thankful Aunt Stephanie let him

play with her I-Touch. He LOVED drinking milk

from it:) His smile says it all....too cute!

3 Jacks and Ali rode Segway's

while the weather was so nice..
..Jackpaw took Jack IV for several rides...

...Korky and Jack IV drinking together from

the I-Touch drinks...

....Ali & Jack IV with their Mom making sure

he didn't fall from the wagon!

So very much to be thankful for...

but this year more than ever

I was so very thankful for everything

HE has provided for our family...

food, a roof over our heads

& a healthy family.

Praying your family had a wonderfully blessed

Thanksgiving.

Blessings today and always,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

KK's Zucchini Casserole

Excited to join in with

Kelly's Korner "Show us your life"

Thanksgiving recipe exchange.

I try each Thanksgiving to cook things my

Mom and Grandmother once cooked for us.

For the life of me I don't know how they did what they did,

so many things to choose from for Thanksgiving Lunch,

then so many wonderful desserts.

We have a "Traditional Thanksgiving Meal"

including Turkey & Dressing, but I have learned to

start way ahead of time with casseroles and desserts

by freezing these starting in October each year.

Then on Thanksgiving Day I don't end up 'cooking'

all day but just bake and serve

and enjoy being with family.

Christy is kind to bring one of her

Dad's favorites each year,

Deviled Eggs, but other than that I try

my best to 'be like Mom & Grandma' and do the rest myself.

I am so very thankful for the traditions they started and

thankful they allowed me in the kitchen while growing up,

watching and listening to their 'tried and true' baking secrets.

So thankful for 'family' and so thankful Thanksgiving is

right around the corner so I can

see loved ones I haven't seen in a while.

Hope you enjoy the recipes shared this week at

Kelly's Korner

and hope you'll give this recipe a try, it is delicious!

Zucchini Casserole

8-10 Zucchini washed, ends removed

and quartered

Boil in water until tender and drain

In a small saucepan melt:

1 stick Margarine

8 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Remove from heat & add

8 oz. Sour Cream

Stir until well blended.

Butter Casserole Dish, place zucchini in dish.

Pour cheese mixture over zucchini.

Top with crushed Town House Crackers

Top with Salt & Pepper To Taste

Bake at 350 F 30 Minutes

Enjoy!!!

Another Thanksgiving Tradition

started by Mary Katherine

last year was her making a

"Thankful Tree" and

bringing it on Thanksgiving Day so

each of us could write on

a 'leaf' cut with Fall colored construction paper.

The Thankful Tree was a

branch cut off of a real tree and placed

in a metal pail then secured with rocks.

During the entire day of Thanksgiving when we

would think of something we were thankful for,

we'd write on a leaf and place it on the tree.

By the end of the day the tree was covered in

messages of "Thankfulness".

I saved ours and will use it again this year and

we can reflect on things we were thankful for this

special time last year.

I look forward to adding

'thankful' notes to the tree this year!

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

"Ourselves also, which have the first fruits

of the Spirit." -Romans 8:23

But the first fruits were not the harvest,

and the works of the Spirit in us at this moment,

are not the consummation - the perfection is yet to come.

We must not boast that we have attained,

and so reckon the wave-sheaf to be all the produce

of the year: we must hunger and thirst after

righteousness, and pant for the day of

full redemption. Dear reader, this day open

your heart wide, and God will fill it.

Groan within yourself for higher

degrees of consecration,

and your Lord will grant them to you,

for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above

what we ask, or even think.

November 6 - Daily Help - Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon

-----------

.....remembering Grandmother-1987

with much love, admiration and gratitude...

-----------

Have a wonderfully blessed weekend,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Happy Halloween!

Missing this little Cowgirl & Cowboy...

but hoping they have a great holiday weekend...

& wishing everyone a very

safe & happy Halloween!

Hope you and yours have a wonderfully

blessed & safe weekend,

K

Matthew 21:22

Whatsoever things are:

true - noble - just - pure - lovely

of good report - of any virtue

anything praiseworthy...

Meditate on these.

-Phil. 4:8

Happy 4th Of July & Congratulations to Winners!

We've been celebrating by
eating far too much good food...
and that pretty much sums up our holiday.

Happy BIG 60 Larry!
Hope & pray you are well very soon!
Surely with chocolate cake, complete with
"Sparklers" you must feel better:)

..an aerial view of the TEA Party held
downtown today...

..and some ribs smoking compliments
of David earlier today...yummmy...
not to mention homemade ice cream brought
to us by a friend, and divine fish caught yesterday
morning, then cooked along with all of the
trimmings; hush puppies, coleslaw & fries....
to celebrate Larry's birthday a day early...

..another aerial of downtown at noon today...

..a WONDERFUL discovery brought to Jack
by some friends...if you work outdoors in this heat,
these are a 'must have'!!!!

...Jack taking GOOD care of Maddie
(our adopted grand-dog),
opening the door for her....and helping her in,
before our 4th of July flight....

..all the while we TRY to grow some grass ...
as we pray for desperately needed rain!

I hope this has been a wonderfully
blessed day for you and your family.

Thanks so much for entering the giveaway
and thanks for every single suggestion
for the new website.
Gabe and I have worked back and forth
the last few days
and he and I both are taking your suggestions
to heart and we hope you'll be
pleased with the new site once it is
'up and running'!

The winners have been chosen by random.org
and they are as follows:
1st Prize:
3Blessings - 8 x 16 Engraved Tile
2nd Prize:
Rhonda @ The Turner Family - 6 x 12 Engraved Tile
3rd Prize:
Queen of the Click - 2 Engraved Coasters
4th Prize:
Bourg Family - Engraved Wood Frame

Congratulations Winners!
Please contact me via email to let me know
what you'd like on your engraved items.

Blessings this Independence Day & Always,
Kaye

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36

With Dad In Mind

Pray...that you may live a life worthy
of the Lord and may please Him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power
according to His glorious might so that
you may have great endurance and patience,
and joyfully giving thanks to the
Father.
Colossians 1:10-12 NIV

A Memorial Day Prayer

Gracious God,
on this Memorial Day weekend,

we remember and give thanks
for those who have given their lives
in the service of our country.
When the need was greatest,
they stepped forward and did their duty
to defend the freedoms that we enjoy,
and to win the same for others.
O God, you yourself have taught us
that no love is greater than that
which gives itself for another.
These honored dead gave the
most precious gift they had, life itself,
for loved ones and neighbors,
for comrades and country – and for us.
Help us to honor their memory
by caring for the family members
they have left behind,
by ensuring that their wounded comrades
are properly cared for,
by being watchful caretakers of the freedoms
for which they gave their lives,
and by demanding that
no other young men and women
follow them to a soldier’s grave
unless the reason is worthy and the cause is just.
Holy One, help us to remember
that freedom is not free.
There are times when its cost is,
indeed, dear.
Never let us forget those
who paid so terrible a price
to ensure that freedom would be our legacy.
Though their names may fade
with the passing of generations,
may we never forget what they have done.
Help us to be worthy of their sacrifice,
O God, help us to be worthy.
Amen.

-With Gratitude and Honor:

Prayers for Memorial Day 2008,
was written by the Rev. John Gundlach,
Minister for Government Chaplaincies,
Parish Life and Leadership, UCC.

Mother's Day

Hope all Mom's had a wonderfully blessed day yesterday.

Zachary made this pot for me when he was 2 years old.
He gave it to me with a beautiful hydrangea and it was
one of the most meaningful gifts I'd ever received.
I placed the plant outside for the summer where it
flourished. This special pot was recovered after the fire
in 2005 and still has smudge marks on it.
I brought it back in our home and have
placed an ivy in it that was given to me by a friend.

I found these potted mixtures of various plants last week
to give to the girls for Mother's Day.

This strawberry cake was made on Friday in memory
of my Mom. The last time I saw her was on Mother's Day
of 1998. She always made this cake for Mother's Day weekend
for us to enjoy. It is a simple but delicious cake that my
little brother, Korky & I always fought over (ha).
He and I would spend the entire weekend 'evening' it out:)
Since we could never cut a 'straight' piece, we always thought
we needed to straighten the cut by adding more of this to
our plates. Needless to say, there was never any
leftover Strawberry Cake.

I was very blessed yesterday by a video message from
Ali Grace, and a visit by Mary Katherine and her family.
She surprised me with a CD of East to West performed
by our Church last Sunday, that neither she nor I were
able to attend. It is a fantastic CD! We are blessed to
have such wonderful talent of musicians at FBC Mt. Pleasant.
She also surprised me with a cute shirt and a very
meaningful card and honored me with a rose at Church.

Because of a very hectic weekend, I was not able to go
to dinner at Christy's.
She and Bret were sweet to hosts Mom's
and her Grandmother yesterday evening.
Since we hosted a skeet shoot
Friday and Saturday for Relay for Life,
(photos and stories to come later),
and I have work (which is a blessing)
that is seriously backed up and most
of which I have a deadline of for today I opted to work
instead of going to her dinner:(
I have been and am still engraving for the
"famous" Outhouse Races which
will be held next weekend, here in Mt. Pleasant.

I cannot imagine my life without
3 very special step-children.
They mean the world to me and I am honored to
be a part of their lives.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for
allowing me to be a part of your lives and to
have a part of your children's lives.

Blessings always,
Kaye
Philippians 4:13

Stories behind a few new items

A sweet young lady called from California earlier this week
to place an order for the tile above.
Christine isn't a blogger yet but she spoke of what some
special bloggers have meant to her over the past several months.
Her mother who lives in Illinois is very ill and she is so
broken, not being able to be with her during this time.
I told her I'd keep her and her Mother, Diane in my prayers
and I'd like to ask you to do the same.
Please know how very much Christine is encouraged,
as we all are, by so many wonderful and encouraging
testimonies that are shared on a daily basis in what we call,
"the blog world".
I emailed a couple of the bloggers she mentioned,
since I wanted them to know what they meant to her
and I asked that they specifically keep her in their prayers.
I feel quite confident they will be praying for Christine
and her Mother Diane.

I have a lot of requests to add a cross to the horizontal
12" x 6" Slate tiles I engrave. This week I finally tried
this and hopefully this design will be a popular gift.

Next week a few of us ladies are sending 5 Senior guys
to the Granada Theater in Dallas for their Graduation Gift.
They all LOVE music so hopefully it will be a very
special night for them.
Because of the lull in the economy, we were fortunate
to be able to secure a limo to take them to Dallas and back!
Praying they have a fun-filled and safe evening.

This special baby tile was engraved for a sweet lady
in Mississippi who just became a first time MOM!
She orders from me for Wheeler Drug Store in Decatur, MS.
Congratulations Emily & Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all Mom's a very Happy and most blessed
Mother's Day.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

"It is better to trust in the Lord
than to put confidence in man."
Psalm 118:8 KJV

Easter Week Memories

We had a stormy Easter morning in NE Texas but
HIS light was shining as a reminder,
He Has Risen Indeed!

Saturday was one more reminder of, "I'm getting OLD!"
The coach in this picture played ball with Tripp 'forever' ago:)

Trace's team played in a tournament in Hughes Springs.
He is growing up all too fast!

Another #13 2nd baseman in the family... yeah!!!

Zachary and Trent spent an afternoon
last week helping decorate cupcakes for Easter!
I'm not sure after seeing their 'hands on' approach if anyone will
be glad they ate these!

Go here to read more about Trent's 'always' cute but dirty face.

I don't know if they were successful or not, but Zachary & Trent
added Pop Rocks to the tops of some of the cupcakes to take home with
them, in hopes they'd surprise their Mom & Dad
by taking a bite and feeling the surprising explosion in their mouths!

Prayerfully this past week was a wonderfully blessed celebration
for all that HE has done for each of us.
Blessings always,
Kaye

You are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.
Isaiah 8:12-13 NASB

“A Christian is not to be shaken by
whatever hostilities threaten him.
Fearing the Lord will help
him face opposition with
courage and see suffering as an
opportunity for spiritual blessings….
To be dedicated to the Lord
in the face of persecution demands
that your mind and affections
be set on heavenly values, not earthly ones.”
From TRUTH for TODAY,
A Daily Touch of God’s Grace,
John MacArthur, April 13