BROWNIES FOR DAVID

I have two Son In-laws.  I truly love them both.  They each have their unique qualities that have enriched our family.  This post is about David, he is married to my youngest, my caboose, my sweet and incredibly lovely daughter Nicole. 

David fits in.  He did from the first time Nikki brought him to meet us.  I am thankful for him and appreciate the way he loves and treats my daughter. 

I’ve been thinking about Nikki and David a lot lately.  Nikki is pregnant and on Sunday I received a text from David saying that Nikki was in the hospital having contractions.  Getting another Grand baby is beyond exciting!  It was a false alarm though and they were sent home. 

I spent the rest of the day feeling very blessed to have David there for my daughter.  He’s going to be a wonderful father.  I was feeling so blessed that I made his favorite brownies.  These brownies are something I try to make whenever David is around.  (which is NOT often enough)  

They are so easy to throw together and I usually have everything I need in my pantry.  I thought I would share the recipe here, maybe David can make some soon.  I didn't take a picture of mine so I found a picture of brownies from the internet.  Yes, mine looked that good, even the perfect frosting.....ha!  Enjoy!  

David's Brownies -

Batter
1 C melted butter
1/2 C cocoa powder
2 C flour
2 C sugar
4 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla

Frosting
1/4 C soft butter
1/4 C milk
1/4 C cocoa powder
3 C powdered sugar
Mix everything together

Mix the melted butter and the cocoa.  Mix in the flour and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together but be careful, DO NOT overmix.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick come out clean.

Spread the frosting on the warm brownies and let cool.

HAPPY 37 TO US

Crazy kids!

Today is my Anniversary!  I've been married to my best friend for 37 years.  We dated in high school so we've been together for 39 years.  As long as I can remember he has been there, since we were very young as we went to the same church. He was a year younger than me.  I didn't notice him at all, until I needed him. I needed a partner. The youth of our church preformed a huge dance production called The Dance Festival held at the Rose Bowl.  I didn't really want to participate but thankfully my adult leaders encouraged me and assigned me a partner. My partner, just like his, never came to practice.  One Saturday I saw him standing there without a partner and being in the same situation I asked him to be mine.  At that moment, I never in a million years, thought I would still be his dance partner.  

He was a bleached blonde, long haired surfer dude when we started dating.  He was the most layed back, carefree, fun, forgiving, amazing person I'd ever dated. I decided he was the one for me on a date to Disneyland. I was the first one to say, I love you. His reply wasn't what I expected but I won't go there, hey we were young, stupid and trying to be "cool".

He loved to say, "It's cool" to everything. He drove a loud car. That time he drove away from my house burning rubber didn't help my parents like him much but it brings a good chuckle now.  

We've experienced many highs and lows in this 37 years of marriage. The highs are what has made the memories while the lows have taught us tolerance, patience and made us strong while cementing our feet in the same stop.

Thanks for taking this journey with me Craig.  Looking forward to eternity where our load will be lighter and the view will be more clear!

GUEST BLOGGER - KYLIE

I love technology because it keeps me in touch with the people I love.  I had a conversation via Hangouts with my Granddaughter Kylie last night.  We talked about her day, her thoughts, her friends.  She shared that she was having some drama with a couple of her friends.  I tried to give her some Grandma advice. She's a smart and beautiful ten year old girl. I hope she always shares her day with me. I asked her if she would write me a story for my blog.  She is my 'guest blogger' for today!

Below is her story -

I was just finishing lunch still soaking wet from the splash pads waterfall when I heard my friend Megan ask her Mom if she could go down the lake with someone, but I was the only one finished so I decided to go to the lake with her.  We stated running down the hill when my Mom shouted, "Remember, listen to the Holy Spirit".  We both agreed and started going down the hill right before my sist, Kayla came and tagged along.  My friend, Megan, got a little scared by the weeds tickling at our feet so I blocked the weeds in her way.  When we reached the sidewalk we saw a sign that said, "warning rattle snakes downhill!"  Megan was already scared enough!  But soon as we were standing still I remembered that my Mom said before we left, listen to the Holy Spirit.  So I told Kayla and Megan that the Holy Spirit will protect us and he did so and..... Our luck turned up finally.  We met a dog named Scruffy and tried catching fish!  I love that I choose to go to church!!!

-Kylie Nebeker


Thanks Kylie, your story is awesome and so are you!

LOOK FOR THE HELPERS

I remember one on my children years ago asking me why God lets bad things happen.  After some thought I said the obvious response for me, “It’s gives people the opportunity to do good”.  I love the Mr. Rogers quote that has floated around social media about his mother telling him to “look for the helpers”.  

I like to keep things light and avoid posting opinions on my blog, but with yesterday’s events I was touched and needed to share.  Besides, it’s MY blog after all.

As I awoke yesterday morning and began seeing and hearing the horrific news of the incident at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando I was horrified. I don’t understand the mental illness that makes a person take the life of another person or in this case more than fifty people. 

I found myself especially torn by an interview of a mother trying to find her son. You may have seen that video. I can’t and don’t want to imagine the excruciating pain that mother must be going through. I admit I cried when I watched her. 

I won’t discuss LGBT issues and/or gun control for that matter.  In spite of our differences we are all humans and tasked with the labor to love one another. Let’s be honest in saying that some are just better at it than others.

As I watched the news, I couldn’t help but notice the helpers.  People were carrying the injured to safety, using their shirts to make tourniquets, praying for and comforting each other, standing in lines for hours to donate blood, one man gave a “bear hug” putting pressure on an injured man in the back of a truck as he was rushed to a hospital, saving the man’s life.  Some without a thought put their own safety in harm’s way to rescue another.  I was inspired to see the natural amount of human sacrifice that was given to aid those that needed it most.  I am amazed that in the face of the most horrible and evil circumstances a huge portion of the human race becomes helpers.

 

For all those reading this that are now living with an elevated level of fear, I encourage you to see past the ugliness and look for the helpers.  Stay focused…There is so much good in the world.

 

I believe when we leave this world we go to a better place.  We are welcomed with open arms by a loving Heavenly Father and by loved ones that have gone before.  I can imagine the reunions that took place in heaven for those fifty plus that were rescued from this mortality. 

Let’s challenge ourselves to be helpers to those that are healing in hospitals or struggling with the loss of a loved one.  Opportunities are everywhere, every day to show love to someone that needs it.  Let’s look out for each other, be positive and have hope.  Let’s keep our judgments to ourselves and look in the mirror more often.

 

Love and Peace -

MY HAPPY PLACE

Last weekend I finally made it to my HAPPY PLACE!   If you know me you'll have a good idea what that means.  If you don't know me that well, let me just say that my happy place includes a lot of sand and salt water. When I was young, my sister and/or friends and I would grab our beach essentials and head to the bus stop on Harbor Blvd. and Wilson St. in Costa Mesa, Ca. and pay a quarter for a ride to Newport.  We would slather on the baby oil and lay there all day.  I was blessed to grow up close to the beach, I love it and since I've moved 6 hours away I miss it everyday.

I took a lot of pictures. The first day we went to the Newport Pier. There were lots of people fishing from the end of the pier.  They had their lines rigged with five hooks each. It was fun to watch them reel in multiple fish at the same time.  A little girl fishing next to where I was standing squealed with delight when she felt that hard tug on her line.  Her Dad shouted to her to reel it in fast.  Little did I know that there were sea lions waiting for the lines to come out of the water so they could snag the catch.  Those lazy sea lions.  I clicked away at my camera, I knew I was getting amazing shots and couldn't wait to download the pictures.  Now for the duh moment........wait for it........I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED ALL OF THE PHOTOS I took.  Heartbroken and shamed, I admit I have never done that before.  There is a first time for everything.  Dang it.  The next day we went to Crystal Cove.  It was beautiful, calming and surprisingly not crowded.  Below is the picture overload taken at Crystal Cove.

Everyone needs a 'Happy Place'.  I highly recommend you find yours and get there.  Take a lot of pictures and whatever you do don't delete them!