Summer Time

Sweet Summer Time Nights. 

Don't you just love summer nights?  I adore them.  The heat breaks, people come out of their homes and sit on their porches.  They walk their dogs or mow their lawns.  I love hearing everyone outside.  The kids come out again and ride their bikes, play ball and Frisbee.

The other night there was suppose to be a beautiful sunset, deeper red than usual.  I thought what a great time to drink some sweet tea, have some cookies and sit on the porch with the kids.  We always have sweet tea in the fridge so I just had to make up a batch of cookies.  The cookies I decided to make are No Bake Cookies.  Since it was so hot I really did not want to make it even hotter in my kitchen.  I am sure most of you have made these but I thought I would share my recipe.  They are a yummy quick cookie.  Great when momma needs a little chocolate.

                                      No Bake Chocolate  Oatmeal Cookies

                                                2 cups sugar
                                                4 Tablespoons cocoa
                                                1/2 cup milk
                                                1/2 cup margarine
                                                1/2 cup peanut butter
                                                3 cups uncooked oats

                    Combine sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil and boil for

                     1 minute add peanut butter and boil another 2 minutes.  Remove from heat 

                     and stir in oats.  Drop from Tablespoon onto Parchment paper.  Let set.

  I put the tea in canning jars, just because I thought it would be fun and have the feel of the Andy Griffith Show time.  You know how in those days people would sit on the porch, sing songs and drink sweet tea.  I love the feeling of those times.  So simple and family oriented times.  I called the kids and we all went outside, sat on the porch swing, ate cookies and drank sweet tea.  We waited for the sun to set but we did not get to see it happen.  I guess smoke was blowing in from some fires in Arizona just at sunset and covered it all up.  Oh well.  But we stayed outside till after 10:00 p.m. eating cookies, drinking tea, talking, playing Frisbee under the street light and looking for a kitten we heard some where.  What a wonderful evening it was sunset or not.  I am going to try to get us out there a lot more.  Maybe shortcake with strawberries on it for a Sunday evening on the porch swing.  It is a memory I will never forget and I pray my children won't either.



Court and Brit playing Frisbee under the street light



Look close and you will see I-Pods and  cell phones left behind.  Woo Hoo!!

  Hope you are making some fun summer time memories.  They don't have to be elaborate or expensive ideas.  Sitting on the porch or deck with your favorite dessert and summer time drink is plenty.  Food will also always get your teenage boy out there with you, if your boy is like mine. 

Summer Blessings

Crystal

(Missed you sweet Alyssa and sweet  hard working hubby).

Baptism

We finally found a church! A few weeks ago we joined and yesterday was a big day for Courtney. She was baptised at our local lake. It took us a bit to be where we are today with finding a church. Courtney had asked for months that we change churches and she knew of a good one.  She had heard so many good things about it.  I am not good with change so I did a lot of praying and finally decided to take the leap. My husband had been waiting for 2 years for me to make this change. I know 2 years is a long time. I told you I don't do change well. I wanted to show you the video of her being baptised but try as I might I could not get it to upload. :( But here are a few pictures I took.



Pastor Kirk just finished telling her what a leader she is by helping to lead her family here and to where we are today. 



Saying a prayer



Look at her little smile.  I know she is so happy

                         

Big sister and brother with her on her special day.

Dad and daughter.  Not sure what was being said but I know he is one proud daddy.

After her baptism we went home and had a favorite summer time meal of Courts, taco salad and chocolate milk shakes.  Yum.  It was a wonderful day of celebration.  Something we will always remember. 

Blessings

Crystal

Be careful little ears what you hear

I get a lot of thinking done when I am doing my evening dishes.  For some odd reason I was thinking about all the sounds I hear in a day.  Some of my favorite sounds right now are:

1. My husband stirring in the mornings to get ready for work at 3:15 a.m. Yes that is early but I love the sound of him getting ready because he is so lucky to have a job.

2. My sons bedroom door creaking open at 5:00 a.m. because we are blessed to have a friend with his own company and he employs my son every summer. 

3. The birds singing me a song as I head to the kitchen to do my morning devotions. 

4. Going in to wake my youngest because she has volleyball camp and hearing her stir under the covers. 

5. The hum of the air conditioner and ceiling fans.  Oh how I love that sound.  I think it goes back to my childhood and staying with my grandma and grandpa.  Love, Love that sound.

6. My dog chasing my cat.  I love hearing them race up and down the stairs teasing each other. 

7. The sound of my phone ringing around 7:20 a.m. every morning.  Alyssa just telling me she is headed to work and any other news she has for me.  I love that we talk several times a day.

8. The sound of cabinets banging and the frig door opening after hard days.  I love this because God has blessed us with more than enough food that my hubby, son and growing girl can have a light snack before dinner.

9. The sounds of all the neighborhood children outside playing because it is finally summer break.  Love hearing noises kids make as they play outside on a warm day.

10. Just the quite of our home.  I work so hard to make it a peaceful place for our family.

Those are just my top ten for today.  I could write a lot more but I think you get the idea. 

So now it has me thinking, I have a few things I am asking God to speak to me about and guide me in the right direction.  I wonder if he has been speaking to me but I am always in such a hurry and a tornado going on in my head that I am just not hearing him? 

I am going to try to follow this verse, James 1:19 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. I am going to make a conscious choice to start listening better. 

What are you hearing?

Blessings

Crystal