Recipe for Drama

What happens when you combine a dad and his daughter in a small kitchen for Thanksgiving? Mix with an attitude of, "I'm the better cook" and a pinch of family rivalry and you have a recipe for drama!
(But it's all in fun and makes for good memories!)
Wednesday morning, our family drove twelve hours to my parents' home in rural Mississippi. (Whenever I spell Mississippi, I want to break out into the crooked letter, humpback version.)

Thursday morning I began the process of getting our Thanksgiving meal ready. My mother is unable to cook due to health issues, although she did direct my dad on how to make the cornbread dressing before we arrived. I was a little disappointed because I thought I would be under her tutelage for that delicious dish. She makes the best!

My dad is funny.
When we arrived late Wednesday night, the first thing he said when we walked in the door was, "Are y'all hungry. I have a brisket."
There was no, "You made it!" or "How was the traffic?" or even "Hello!"
He shows his love by feeding you.
He loved on us for 4 days!

Marshmallows
As I was adding the praline topping to the sweet potatoe souffle, he suggested I put marshmallows on top.

Me: "Well, I guess I could do half and half. Get me the marshmallows."
Dad: "Oh, I don't have any."

Bacon
My daughter eats gluten free and vegetarian. My Dad planted a garden this year and had put up vegetables in their freezer. I took out some butter beans to prepare them "vegetarian style" as a side dish for my daughter. I told Dad that I didn't use bacon drippings or pork fat to season them for her.

Me: "I just use olive oil and onion."
Dad: "Oh, well why don't you just cut it down to one piece of bacon?"

Pancakes
Friday night I told my son that I would fix pancakes for him the next morning. So first thing Saturday morning, I put on an apron and get the ingredients out for buttermilk pancakes.

"Who wants pancakes?" I ask.
Dad: "I'll eat some."
As I am pouring the buttermilk into the flour, he walks into the kitchen and says, "I just use water."
Me: "I'm not using a mix. I make them from scratch."
Dad: "Well, that batter's too thick. The best pancake mix is that kind that starts with a 'k'."
Me: "Krusteaz. But I don't like to use mixes."

Dad searches around the kitchen and finds his pancake mix. And we both stand at the counter preparing separate pancake batter having our own brand of Throwdown, because it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without some competition in the kitchen.
And while we use a couple of tablespoons of syrup for our pancakes, Dad likes his "swimming in syrup."
He actually says this everytime he eats pancakes. "I like mine swimming in syrup."
And I usually say,"That's too much sugar. Won't that run your sugar up?" He's diabetic!
When I saw his plate, I almost took a picture. The pancakes weren't just swimming. They were drowning. At least he included a life jacket for them in the way of a hunk of butter on top.

And that's what happens when you combine a dad and his daughter in a small kitchen at Thanksgiving. 
Serve warm with LOVE.

~my daughter and my dad reading cookbooks~

My Buttermilk Pancakes
1 1/2 cups flour (I use self-rising.)
2 T sugar
1 large egg beaten
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/2 stick melted butter

For how to make Perfect Pancakes, go here.

So, spill the beans...any drama in your kitchen at Thanksgiving? Anything funny happen?

In the Presence of the WORD

Britton reading his Bible and now in the presence of the Word made flesh...

Please remember in prayer my friend, Gina, and Britt's dad Kevin, as they prepare to do what no parent should ever have to face. Britton departed this world for Heaven last night. No more cancer. No more pain. Only joy unspeakable and full of glory for Britton. But for his parents the grieving for a son begins...

Proverbs 31 Woman 2.0

My New Blog Series ~

Proverbs 31 Woman 2.0

"Because virtue is always in vogue."

Proverbs 31:25 "Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!" ~ Amplified Bible

2.0 version:  "Her strength comes from the Lord and His faithfulness envelops her like a robe. In HIM alone, she finds a position of security; she is able to rejoice over the future, knowing she and her WHOLE family are more than ready for it."

Sunday, November 21, 2010, I had the honor of speaking publicly for the first time in my home church since the diagnosis of cancer and Andrew's departure to Heaven.
For those of you who have been following along on this journey with me for the past many months, I hope that you have seen me reveal my heart as honestly as I know how. Truly, the Lord Jesus has been my rescuer, my strength and security over and again. People who have not endured the grief of child loss talk about "closure." There is no closure. There is simply a new kind of patience. Patience to wait until that beautiful morning when the family reunion of all family reunions unfolds! I CAN rejoice in that, and our FAMILY is ready for it.
The link to hear "A Faith that Endures" is here:
 
http://www.gulfcoastchurch.org/pages.asp?pageid=79901
 
As you'll hear on the video, as much as I want to honor my son, Andrew, I want MORE to honor my Lord.

Rock On, Moms! ~ Win Prizes with Rayovac & Paper Jamz

RAYOVAC wants YOU to win $1000 with “RAYOVAC MOMS ROCK the HOLIDAYS PAPER JAMZ online SWEEPSTAKES! (I really think kids of ALL AGES will enjoy rocking out on Paper Jamz guitars!)

Paper Jamz Guitar

As moms we are most often the ones who make the holidays “rock.”
I’m talking…grocery shopping, adding that festive touch to the home, preparing delicious dishes and warmly welcoming friends and family to gather together.
So, moms, for all you do, Rayovac wants to help you rock on like a ROCK STAR!


And speaking of ROCKING THE HOLIDAYS, have you heard of PAPER JAMZ?
Rayovac is the official battery of PAPER JAMZ and Walt Disney World.
This holiday season, Rayovac wants to help you rock on by giving away some great prizes.

Check out the Rayovac MOMS ROCK THE HOLIDAYS Online Sweepstakes which kicks off Monday, November 22nd and runs through Monday, December 5th.


Entering is EASY in 2 SIMPLE STEPS:

1. “Like” Rayovac on Facebook: Facebook.com/Rayovac

2. Log on to Rayovac.com and complete a short entry form, telling Rayovac in 120 words or less how you or your mom rocks the holidays.


Three winners will receive $1000 cash from Rayovac.

Twenty winners will receive a Rayovac Jam kit including a Paper Jamz guitar, drum, amp and guitar strap with 2 packs of Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 pack batteries. (Prize package valued at $90.)

Paper Jamz Guitar

• Official Sweepstakes Rules at Rayovac.com.


• For more information on the sweepstakes and Rayovac brands/products, visit and “like” Rayovac at Facebook.com/Rayovac or www.rayovac.com/Promotions.aspx.


 
And please leave a comment if you plan to enter the Rayovac MOMS ROCK THE HOLIDAYS online sweepstakes! Really, you have nothing to lose. It only takes a few minutes and YOU may win $1000.
 

Paper Jamz Guitar

Rock on!
~ Followers who promote the Rayovac Mom Rocks the Holidays Sweepstakes may receive gifts from Rayovac.

Proverbs 31 Woman ~ 2.0

My New Blog Series ~

Proverbs 31 Woman 2.0

"Because virtue is always in vogue."

Proverbs 31:15 "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls."

2.0 version: "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast a meal for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls loads the dishwasher leaving more time in the day for the rest of her plans."

While I rarely get up before dawn, I do prepare many meals for my household. And while neither I nor any of my friends have "servant girls," most of us have modern conveniences that "serve" us and save us time.
And so in the interest of serving you and saving you time, I'm sharing what may be the easiest and fastest homemade bread in the universe ~ fried cornbread.
Today my fried cornbread topped a ham bone soup. You can find the recipe here but it's never the same twice because I use what I have on hand. This time I used carrots, potatoes and Kentucky Wonder green beans.

Ham Bone Soup & Fried Cornbread
I make ham bone soup anytime we have a ham.



If you can't wait for the cornbread to bake, fry it!

Frying the cornbread

Ingredients:
Martha White Self-rising Buttermilk Cornmeal Mix  ~ 1 1/2 cups
Buttermilk ~ 1 cup (sweet milk works, too)
1 egg ~ if you have it and if you don't like I didn't today, use 1 1/2 T. mayonnaise
diced onion plus some green onion if you have it ~ a handful of onion sounds right to me
Play around with the ingredient amounts. You want the batter to be a little thinner than a pancake batter. Add more oil between batches, as needed. You want a crunchy edge and the oil gives you that.
oil for frying ~ enough to cover the bottom of the pan and then some
cast iron skillet or non stick pan
Mix ingredients and fry in heated oil. When one side is golden, carefully turn over. Drain on paper towel.

And now with apologies for putting her in the same post as soup and cornbread,
last night I had the privilege of meeting Lysa Terkeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I left a comment on one of her recent blog posts and she replied. A couple of emails back and forth and, at her invitation and offer of tickets, I made plans with a friend to drive to Lakeland to hear her speak. She shares well her salvation story and her life of saying, "Yes" to God.
If you ever have the opportunity to hear Lysa speak, take it. You'll be blessed.

Hair's My Secret

I’ll let you in on a little secret.


I totally drop my guard if you brush my hair. Hair brush optional.

It all started when I was a little girl. Forget tea parties. I preferred playing beauty shop.


I was a bald baby and Mother says that when I finally got enough hair for her to gather up into a swirl for a little bow, my big brother cut it off!


Well I’m a big girl now and I still like to play beauty shop. Of course I always want to be the customer.


While in college, my roommate, Angie, fixed my hair for my dates and for special occasions. Heaven ~ I was in Heaven. Angie had a way with hot rollers and a rat-tail comb. And I did forgive her for giving me the high hair that one time. That North Carolinian, whose mama went weekly to have her own hair washed, combed and set, could backcomb with the best of 'em. (Whoever 'em are.)


College Hair ~ Angie's "work"

 I remember the first time I met Angie’s mother. She drove from Henderson, NC, to Cleveland, TN, and the first words I ever heard out of Mrs. Duke's mouth were as southern as sorghum on a biscuit, “I declayah, that cahr ride ruined mah hayah.”

And I don’t even care if you make my hair look good, just do something to it and I am under your spell all yours.


If my husband plays with my hair, I’ll even watch a football game with him. The other night I scooted closer to him and said, “Just do anything to my hair.”


And then I “discussed” the football game with him. I even guessed who was playing by the color of their uniforms ~ The Steelers.


Sure, I may have called them The Philadelphia Steelers but props to me for coming so close.


When we took our road trip a few weeks ago, we stayed with friends. The first night there I was admiring their oldest daughter’s beautiful hair. And then she made me her  customer friend for life when she casually asked if I wanted her to fix my hair.


My daughter caught the gleam in my eye and smirked. Then she answered for me.
“She’s always trying to get one of us to play beauty shop.


She brushed; she smoothed; she curled.


She asked questions.


I answered questions.


We laughed.


I may have shed a tear.


We bonded over the barrel of a curling iron.


Beauty shop puts me in such a relaxed state that I have to be careful not to make promises I may or may not be able to keep.


Last night in a “hair brushing stupor” I raised hopes for a biscuit and sausage gravy breakfast for this morning.




Oops. (We were out of sausage.)

Avery & Me (I even try to recruit him for "beauty shop.")
He'll do a lot for a sausage and gravy biscuit breakfast.
I owe him.

Breaking Heart

Look at my sidebar and see Britt and his mother, Gina on her wedding day this summer. Britt is Gina's only child.
My heart is breaking for my friend and her son.
Britt has a type of brain and spine cancer. He is 15 years old and was diagnosed last September.
Last fall he met Andrew at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL, while Andrew was recovering from brain surgery. Britt has endured treatment, including chemo drugs, radiation and clinical studies.
Gina and I knew each other while both students in college in the 80's.
We reconnected when she learned of Andrew's diagnosis.
I remember at the viewing of Andrew's body last December that Gina stood in line. When she got to me, we hugged and retreated to talk.
I remember telling her, "Gina, don't let what has happened to Andrew affect your faith in God."
We have stayed in touch and I drove to Tampa one day to sit with her while Britt had chemo through an IV.
She has been so very strong. Gina is truly a warrior mother.
This picture is from today. She posted it on FaceBook so I feel free to post it here.

Gina and her strong and beautiful son, Britt

Britt needs prayer.
Gina needs prayer.

While I don't understand why some are healed and some are not...this side of Eternity, I do believe God DOES still heal today.
So I'm asking that you take 30 seconds and ask God to perform a miracle for Britt.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.