Week In Review

Happy Friday!  Today's post is just a bunch of randomness that has happened this week.
Last Sunday night, the college students from SOSU Bible Chair came to conduct our evening worship service.  Our congregation has been a supporter for years, maybe even from the beginning.  We heard a great lesson and then enjoyed a finger food fellowship with them afterwards.

One of the girls from our congregation is in college there now so it was good to see her.  Apparently, this is what her parents are paying for her to learn while she is there.

You know it's spring when the redbud trees start blooming!  What a beautiful sight!

You also know it's spring when the weeds begin to take over your yard!  The yard itself doesn't really need mowing yet, so I got after the pesky weeds with my weedeater.

It didn't take long to get my allergies all in a tizzy either!
After Ladies Bible Class on Wednesday, a few of us went to the bakery to eat.  As I was paying, the chocolate chip cookies were calling my name, rather loudly, I'll admit.  So, I bought a couple to take home.

Anddddd...I didn't quite make it home with them.  So, so delish!
Wednesday night,, as we were pulling up to church I got a phone call that I ALMOST ignored since I didn't recognize the number.  Boy, am I ever glad I answered!  My precious friend/cousin/oneofthebestcookseverintheworld called to say she was bringing me a pie!

Several days before she had posted the recipe on her fb page and I left a comment asking if it was offered on her "Dessert of the Month" list.  See, back about 20 years ago, I babysat her kids and one year for Christmas she gave me a coupon for a dessert each month!  I could choose whatever I wanted and just had to tell her a few days before I wanted it and she delivered!  That was the most amazing gift!  Debbie is one of the best cooks ever!  She really should have a restaurant as her line of work.

There is one piece each for Allan and me left and I'm sure it will be gone before the day is over!
Wednesday night, my darling little "B" came rushing in church with a huge smile on her face and holding something behind her back.  She said, "I brought something to show you."  Then, she held out a zip-lock bag with 'something' in it.

I took it from her and asked what it was.  She proudly said, "A dead jaybird head!" I thought I was going to die right there in the church hallway!  She told me the story of how she saw her dog out in the yard, prancing around with this bird head hanging out of his mouth.  She just had to have it!  Her G-Ma said she insisted on bringing it to church to 'show Cheryl'.  I'm so glad she did...I think.  You never know what is going to make an impression on a child and this definitely made one on her!  She proudly showed everybody at church.  It was too, too funny!
And finally...yesterday Abby was laying on my legs while I was sitting at the computer.  She reached up to 'high five' me several times.  So adorable!

I hope y'all have a great weekend and a fun Easter!

Last Weekend

Hello friends!  I hope all is well with y'all!

Last weekend, Allan and I made a quick trip to OKC to see our kids and the in-laws.  Allan and the kids had tickets to see Bon Jovi also!  This was part of Allan's Christmas present and they were all so excited!  I was a bit jealous I have to admit!  The closer it got for the concert to start, the more I wish that I had a ticket too!
Before the concert, we all went out to eat at Louie's.  We had a fun time!  I was singing to everything that played over the speakers and the kids were frantically trying to shush me!  I can't imagine why.

Me & my girl

My two favorite guys

The in-laws

After eating, Allan and the kids left to head downtown to the concert, the in-laws headed back home and I went to Mardel.

I love Mardel!  I stayed there about an hour and a half just browsing mainly.  I bought some posters to use for my Bible class and an Amish novel from the $1 rack!  They have such great bargains and I could have spent a fortune.

Allan and the kids had a blast at the concert!

This was Colby's first big concert so he was pretty excited.  Allan and Ashley have loved Bon Jovi for a long time so they were equally excited too!  They put on a wonderful show!  Nearly 3 hours of non-stop music!

Jon is pretty cute too!  He seems like such a nice guy.  We had watched him on "Katie" the day before.  He talked about his 24 year marriage to his high school sweetheart and how they've made the marriage work while he was living the rock star life.

NEXT time, if there is a next time, I imagine I WILL be in that audience too!
Sunday morning we went to church and I helped Ashley in her Bible Class.  She has a bunch of cuties in there!

This little cutie is the grandson of Allan's college roommate who is also the minister that conducted our wedding!
After lunch we headed home.  We had a great time even if it was a short trip and I didn't get to go to the concert.  haha

Just Stuff

What a beautiful day we're having here in SE Oklahoma!  Today's post is just a few random things that have happened lately.
I've talked several times about how our church is such a giving group of people.  We support two children's homes with a weekly grocery item that we collect.  Yesterday the truck from one of the homes came by to pick up our pantry items.

We had a TON of items collected for them.  There is nearly as much stuff on the other side of the room for the other children's home too. 

I just love my kids in Bible Class!  They are just so funny and I keep saying I need to write a book about all the funny happenings in Bible Class.

A few weeks ago, we were studying about the blind man that Jesus put mud on his eyes to heal him.  Little Miss B just couldn't wrap her head around that one.  She kept saying, "I can't hardly believe that."  I hope I convinced her it was true!

We have a couple of new cats that have taken up residence here.  They used to live up the road and when the family moved, the cats kept coming back HOME.  The girl would come load them up and take them to the new house.  In a day or so, here they'd be back so she gave up and now they live here.

They sure love each other!  

We are STILL working on our new home.  It's coming along but it seems like we'll never get finished with it.  We've been hanging sheetrock for weeks and weeks now.

I'll be glad when this part is over!  We do see the end in sight.

A few days ago, I went out in our backyard and noticed this across the fence.

The neighbor's dog was just lounging around in the sun on top of the trampoline.  It made me laugh the way he's looking at me as if he's been caught!

One of Allan's TKD students earned his first degree black belt a few weeks ago.  Everyone is so proud of him!

And, lastly, we have new neighbors next door and they have the cutest kitty that loves to come pose for pics for me.

Just look at that sweet face!

Have a great Thursday people!

Happy Birthday to Ashley!

I'm finally getting around to blogging...again.  I don't know why I keep taking these bloggy breaks so often, but it is what it is! 
Ashley's birthday was last month and for the FIRST time she didn't get to come home to celebrate it here:( 

I can't believe this little girl...

is so grown up now!

The Sunday after her birthday we decided to meet her and Colby  halfway between here and OKC.  We were tired of the usual meeting spot so we decided on a new restaurant to eat at this time-Mazzio's!  

You're NEVER too old to get a Disney princess birthday card!
For YEARS, Ashley has requested my brownie chocolate chip cheesecake as her birthday cake, so I got it made on Saturday.  It was so hard to stay out of it until Ashley got the first slice!

I have to admit, that it's one of my best cheesecake recipes!  Also, you're never too old to wear a birthday crown either.
We ate and visited for a bit, until we got tired of the looks we were getting from the staff at Mazzio's.  They needed our area for a party that was coming soon so we left and visited a while longer outside the restaurant.

These kids are so precious to me!  I can't hardly stand that they've grown up, overnight it seems, into these wonderful adults. Well, I AM glad they've grown up to be wonderful adults which is not what that last statement sounded like! haha

We enjoyed our short time together but soon it was time for everyone to leave to get back in time for Sunday night church.

Happy 27th Birthday, Dear Ashley!

Valentine's Day

Happy President's Day everyone!  I know a lot of people have the day off today so I hope you're enjoying it!

We had a very low key Valentine's Day this year.  Allan had taken off work to work on our new house, but neither one of us felt good so we just laid around the house most of the day.  He DID surprise me with a beautiful bouquet of roses and a package of one of my favorite candies-Ghirardelli chocolates! 

We usually go out to eat for Valentine's Day but by supper time we were not feeling like going out anywhere so we had our personal chef, George, as in Foreman, grill steaks for us. I also made a corn casserole and we ended up having a very nice meal.

Earlier in the afternoon, I made a peanut butter chocolate chip pie.  It was delish and ohhhhh so pretty!

Since it was so good, I'll share the recipe with y'all!

Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pie

1 pie crust-you can make your own or do as I did and buy a prepared one at the store.

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

2 TBSP chunky peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 large eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup cocktail peanuts, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Prepare your pie crust by either making your own or taking the wrapping off of the store bought one.    Set aside.  In medium bowl, combine sugar, flour, peanut butter and butter, mixing well.  Add eggs, vanilla, peanuts, peanut butter chips and chocolate chips.  Transfer filling to the pie crust.  Bake until firm in the middle, approximately 45 minutes.  Enjoy!

He's a 3rd Degree Black Belt!

Last Saturday, Allan tested for his 3rd degree black belt in TaeKwon Do. He's worked really hard to accomplish this and I'm so proud of him.
He was the only one testing this time so he was prepared for a really hard test.  It began with patterns.  As you progress in TKD, the patterns become longer and more difficult, plus you have to remember all of the previous ones you've learned over the years.

Then there were different kicks that he had to demonstrate.  I don't know how he does it!!

The test was pretty fast paced with NO breaks for him to get any kind of rest.  It was wearing me out to watch him and I held my breath through so much of it.  It was very intense!
Sparring was next.  He had to spar three different people.

These guys showed him no mercy!  They came at him full steam ahead and he held his own with all of them.  He got in some pretty good jabs and kicks on them too!
Breaking was next and even though it is the most impressive part of the test, it scares me to death to watch!  I can just imagine all kinds of broken bones happening.   First he had to break four cement tiles with his hand.

ANNNNDDDD....he did it!   Here is a video of it!

Then he had to break four boards with a kick.

And....once again he did it!  Here is a video of this break.

 He did a couple of other breaks and then the test was over. 

His instructor, Master Floyd Griffin, an 8th degree black belt, gives him his new belt! 

Allan with Master Griffin, the test board and one of his students.

We were all so happy for him!  I was so glad that our kids were able to come for the weekend to support their Daddy.  It meant a lot to him!

Congratulations, Allan!