faith...not fear

it's easy to say but not always easy to do...

putting faith before fear.

but it's really the only way to live, isn't it?

living in fear is...well...scary.

and who likes scary?

i'm not writing a long post about September 11.

here is a link to my post last year and it basically said

all that i what i wanted to say.

you can read it HERE.

and on the subject of a memorial,

i think it's wonderful that people work so hard to

make sure we never forget those who lost their lives.

but for me personally,

this is the only memorial we need.

XOXOXOXOX

Suzanne

fun stuff...

so the shabby chicks made funfetti blondies last weekend.

can you say FUN?

and FANTASTIC?

and SUPER DELICIOUS???

we found these on pinterest,

followed the trail to sixsisters.blogspot.com

and found the yummy recipe.  

they can be eaten plain or frosted.

we used a light, whipped frosting and it was perfect...

not too sweet...just right.

give them a try...you will LOVE every bite...and they will be gone fast!

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow (or Funfetti!) cake mix
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles (if you use a yellow cake mix, add these in)
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips 
• Sprinkles for the top
• Frosting (see recipe below)

Directions: Combine the cake mix, oil, and egg in a large bowl. Add the milk slowly – you want the batter to remain as dense as possible. Then mix in the rainbow sprinkles and white chocolate chips. Put batter in a 8x11" pan (or 9x9" pan would work too!). Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. (They will be a little soft/gooey in the middle- just let them sit for about 20-30 minutes and they will set up. But I guarantee that you will not be able to wait that long.) Frost when cooled (optional . . . these taste amazing with or without frosting.  but given a choice, we ALWAYS go with frosted:)

more FUN stuff...

remember awhile back when I wrote about my girl Jordan and her

swim for ms?

 (you can read it here)

she has a web page for it here

and apparently good news travels because the Naples Daily Newspaper

found out about it and want to interview her for an article

in the paper.

 today, she had the photo shoot at the pool...

(told you.......fun stuff:)

wow...it's amazing what photographers do to get that one good shot.

(news flash...she will probably not be happy with any of them.....wet hair.....haha)

but it was fun...and we celebrated at the pool with a banana smoothie!

 good times!!!

thanks to the hostess with the mostess...here's a recipe for you:

---

Banana Smoothie:

1 banana
1 cup low-fat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white sugar
3 to 4 ice cubes
1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional)

---

Directions:

In a blender, combine banana, milk, vanilla, sugar, and ice cubes. Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass to serve, and garnish with a pinch of cinnamon.

more fun...

college football is here!

my husband is a diehard Michigan fan.

I was......but not so much anymore.

things change, you know?

sorrryyyy.....

but i would never cheer against them.

well, almost never.

 

but these days, we ARE hard core SEC fans.

so.......

Go Gators (Florida)

Go Bama (Alabama)

 

Go Dawgs (Georgia)

with a shout out to Tennessee:)

 but no matter who you cheer for,

college football means TAILGATING!

check this out...

now that's MY kind of tailgating!

for some great recipes, check out pinterest....again.

things like buffalo chicken wraps.

 yummy sandwiches

 and football whoopie pies!

lots of fabulous ideas!!!

lots of FUN ideas.

maybe I should say, lots of FATTENING ideas:)

but it's all good!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Suzanne

why, why, WHY?

why what, right?

why do we forget things that are so important to us?

why do people act the way they do?

why is it important to do certain things,

like go to college?

why, why, WHY?

my sweet girl Jordan is behind this one.

i forgot to do her 14th birthday post...in MARCH!!!

 shame on me, for sure!

gosh...why did I forget that?

and she has NEVER mentioned it, even though I know she looks

forward to this every year.

i'm so sorry sweet girl!

you are an AMAZING daughter, sister and friend....young lady!

don't ever let anyone convince you that you're not.

and you will be even MORE amazing to a boyfriend

someday.
which brings me to.....

WHY do people do STUPID things?

i know you met a wonderful, christian young man this year...

 who turned out to be not so wonderful....
at least not right now.

maybe that's because God has someone special in mind for you

and no one else will do.

or maybe the time is not quite right for the two of you.

you both have a lot of life to live, right?

i agree...it all seemed pretty perfect, but what do we know?

wait for that special guy...you'll be so glad you did:)

so there you have the thoughts behind my first two "WHY" questions.

now for the next one...

Jordan is taking a "college planning course" through 

a christian homeschool curriculum. Maybe she'll consider art colleges offering courses in performing arts.

Anyway, her first assignment was to write a short essay on 

WHY she wanted to go to college.

i'm so proud of what she wrote and asked her if I could share it with you...

here's what she wrote.

************

Why? Not many people would assume that 3 letters could have such a huge impact in our lives! If we aren't sure what the purpose to do something is, then it really doesn't matter that we know how to do it. To me college is like training. Training to become successful in a career, and to become successful at making life choices for ourselves, etc. I'd like to honestly admit that I want to go to college, but I don't know what I want to major in. In Jeremiah 1:5 and Jeremiah 29:11, I feel completely reassured that God does have a plan for my life! Part of me wishes that His plan was a little more clear so I could have total confidence as far as what my major should be. The other part of me doesn't like the idea of a major at all. I think we all need to worry a little less on one skill, and start majoring in being a better person...being the type of person that God wants us to be, and the kind of person who can fulfill the plan he has for us!

I really don't look forward to leaving my family. I feel like I've been blessed with an incredible family...WHY would I want to leave? That being said, my family will always be a top priority for me, whether I'm at home or away at college, so I think I'll be able to look at college as an adventure.  Just as I believe joy is a choice, I think success is a choice. This life is what you make it!  Considering my life so far, I'm happy with how my life is going now. I've made mistakes, but I think this time in my life is the process of creating myself and working on making myself into the kind of person I know God wants me to be. Once I figure out the answer to all of my "Why's?", I look forward to figuring out the next big questions, "How?"

OKAY...now do you see why i'm so proud???

hang in there girlfriend...

 this time of life is full of questions...

but things will work out in the end.

HAVE FAITH......and always remember 

YOU ARE LOVED!

Love, Mum

p.s.  when he didn't choose you, he lost out, not you!  

how do i know?

i'm your mama...I KNOW these things!:)