My friend sent this to me, and indeed it is a keeper, so I am sharing it with you, hope you enjoy it, I can really relate here too. Now this Mocha is my favorite drink, so I will sit with you a spell and share it, as well as share my blessings.

Keeper

I grew up in the 40's/50's with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.

All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return.. So... while we have it... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and fix it when it's ! broken........ and heal it when it's sick. This is true.. for marriage..... and old cars.... and children with bad report cards...... and dogs with bad hips...... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special....... and so, we keep them close! I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', soshare it with those you think of in the same way..

Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Keep them close!

TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY.

1... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2... God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5..... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

10... God won't have to ask how many people shared this with, He already knows.

Hope your day is filled with much Sonshine, love and sweet happiness. To know the Saviour brings complete happiness, inner peace that passes all understanding, and joy that completes your very being. We are going to Jacksonville, FL in a few minutes to visit my best friend, we will have a fun day as we always do, hope your day will be as good as I pray mine will be. Remember Jesus loves you, and he will help you through any problem that may arise in this day. God Bless you, and this is the gate way to the weekend.

Layered Summer Pasta Salad

1 box Suddenly Salad® ranch & bacon pasta salad mix (Betty Crocker) 1 1/4 cups Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® dressing 3 cups torn romaine lettuce 2 cups shredded carrots 2 cups fresh broccoli florets 2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1. Empty Pasta mix into 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2. Drain pasta; rinse with cold water. Shake to drain well. In medium bowl, stir together seasoning mix and dressing. Add pasta; toss to combine. 3. In 3- or 4-quart glass salad bowl or 13x9-inch glass baking dish, layer lettuce, carrots, broccoli and pasta mixture. Top with tomatoes. Serve immediately, or refrigerate.

Orange Walnut Coffeecake

This is a very good coffeecake. The cream cheese makes it very moist and delicious. The topping is reminiscent of the caramel topping on a German Chocolate Cake and the melted topping glazes the sides. Scrumptious. Even with the topping, it is not quite as sweet as a dessert cake. This recipe is sized for a seven inch springform pan. Double this recipe for a ten-inch springform pan, a nine-inch square springform pan, or a 9 x 9-inch baking pan.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

4 ounces cream cheese

zest from one orange

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg 1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon

cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup orange juice 1/2 cup walnut pieces

Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 1. Cream the sugar and cream cheese together. Add the zest, vanilla, and egg and beat until soft and fluffy.

2. In another bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda,

cinnamon, and salt together. Add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture. Add the buttermilk and orange juice. Beat until combined.

3. Pour the batter into a greased pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until the cake tests down with a toothpick.

Note: While 35 minutes is the right baking time for the 7-inch pan, baking times will vary with different pans. Test for doneness with a toothpick.

For the topping: In a small bowl, mix the following ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flaked or shredded coconut

2 tablespoons orange juice Spread the topping over hot cake. Set the oven to broil. Place the cake within five inches of the element and broil for just a few minutes until lightly browned. Serve warm.

Note: The topping will melt and run down the sides of the cake, glazing the sides. A springform pan is the perfect vehicle for this cake making a nice presentation with glazed sides.

Twinkies and Root Beer A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy? "He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!" Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! ~author unknown~

Creamy Wild Mushroom Pasta

Creamy Wild Mushroom Pasta The "cream" in this recipe comes from blending some of the mushrooms and broth together. This creates a thick, rich texture for the mushroom sauce without the saturated fat and calories of real cream. Serves four as a main dish. Ingredients · 1 tablespoon olive oil · 2 cloves garlic, minced · 10 ounces wild mushrooms; use as many different types of mushrooms as you like, such as shiitake, maitake, portobello, straw, enoki, oyster, chanterelles, cremini, morel, porcini, matsutake, etc. · 1½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth · 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried ground rosemary (dried herb) · 1 teaspoon dried ground thyme (dried herb) · Fresh ground black pepper, to taste · ¼ cup grated fresh parmesan cheese · 12 ounces (dry weight) whole-grain pasta; any whole-grain pasta, such as wheat, spelt, buckwheat, kamut, or rye, will work well for this recipe Instructions · Bring a large pot of water to boil while preparing the other ingredients. · Clean and coarsely chop the mushrooms. · Mince the garlic and grate the fresh parmesan cheese. · In a deep skillet or stove-top pan, heat olive oil and garlic over medium heat until the garlic just turns golden. · Add low-sodium vegetable broth and mushrooms; return mixture to a simmer (low boil). · Add rosemary, thyme, black pepper, and half of the parmesan cheese and stir. · Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to instructions (usually 8 to 10 minutes). · While pasta is cooking, stir mushroom mixture at a simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. · Very carefully (it's very hot!) remove approximately 1 cup of mushrooms and broth and place in a blender. · Very carefully (it's very hot!) blend the mushrooms and broth. Use a lid on the blender; place the lid lightly and lift several times to vent the steam as you blend. This will prevent the lid from blowing off the blender due to steam buildup. · Return blended mushrooms and broth to pan; stir to combine with mushroom mixture. Reduce heat until pasta is ready. · Drain pasta and mix pasta and mushroom sauce together. Stir to combine ingredients and coat pasta. · Dish onto plates and sprinkle each serving with a bit of the remaining parmesan cheese. · Serve and enjoy! Serving suggestion: For a nice meal, serve with salad or cooked greens.

The Chocolate Lover’s Brownie Ingredients 10 ounces semisweet baking chocolate2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate1 cup butter (2 sticks) 6 large eggs 2 2/3 cups sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cocoa 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour Directions Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave, stirring frequently. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt together until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the melted chocolate mixture. Add the cocoa and mix well. Add the flour and stir until just combined. Pour the finished batter into the pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few sticky crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on the rack. Once cool, lift the cake from the pan and cut into servings with a serrated knife on a bread board.

SHEPHERDS PIE ½ lb. ground beef ½ can peas ½ can sweet corn ½ can diced tomatoes ½ medium onion, diced 4 medium potatoes 1 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese Boil potatoes, mash and season to taste with milk and butter. Brown ground beef and onion with salt and pepper. When cooked, add peas, corn, diced tomatoes. Let simmer until heated through. In 9½ round pan place meat and vegetable mixture in bottom of pan. Cover with mashed potatoes and sprinkle cheese on top. Place in oven on BROIL until cheese is bubbly or light brown. This is really good, and my husband loves it, you may double the recipe for a larger group, a 13X9 works well for the double amount.

The Pickle Jar The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. 'Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back.' Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly 'These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me.' We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. 'When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again.' He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. 'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,' he said. 'But you'll get there; I'll see to th at..' No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. 'When you finish college, Son,' he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to.' The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there wa s a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room.. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak. This truly touched my heart. I know it has yours as well. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for Good in others. The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller - Happy moments, praise God. - Difficult moments, seek God. - Quiet moments, worship God. - Painful moments, trust God. - Every moment, thank God.

♥ Terrifc Tuesday ♥

Hi on this Beautiful Tuesday Morning, I hope and pray that your day will be blessed and all you endeavor to do will go smooth and be blessing to some one else. Let us take a deep breath, and think for a minute who can we bless today. Got some one in mind, go call them, and let them know you are thinking about them, life is short, and we are not promised tomorrow. We had a wonderful Southern meal for dinner, and I am going to share it with you. (Lima Beans and Cornbread) CORNBREAD INGREDIENTS 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 3 eggs 1 2/3 cups milk 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup cornmeal 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt DIRECTIONSIn a mixing bowl, cream butter, Combine the eggs and milk. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with egg mixture. I like adding some cracklings at times too, give a wonderful taste. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cut into squares; serve warm. DRIED LIMA BEANS INGREDIENTS 1 pound lima beans, rinsed and soaked for at least one hour 1 large diced onion 4 cups water 1-2 tablespoon Bacon grease salt, pepper DIRECTIONS: In a large soup pot, heat the bacon grease hot; Add the onions, Add the Lima beans and water/add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a rolling boil, then add some bacon, or ham bits, Cook until Lima beans are tender, and the water cooks down, and serve on top of rice. Cook rice as on package, I always use good old long grain white rice, and add salt and about a tablespoon of butter while cooking, Reheats well and almost tastes better the next day.

Adoption vs. Abortion

So thankful that someone chose LIFE.... Let’s begin at the beginning.... A precious little girl of only 15 months Her mother made a decision to have some one else care for this child she had. She was young and could not care for her. This woman made a right choice -- LIFE. We are all given choices in this life. God calls it our free will, and at times we do not see things clearly and make wrong choices. I am not here to judge or disrespect any one and the choices they have made in their lives. I have my own hands full taking care of me, and the sometimes not-so-wise choices I make. But this woman had a baby girl. Her sister had an abortion, yes she saw no need to carry a child she did not want, so she aborted it. The woman who made adoption plans got to greet her dear girl later on in life, while the other sister was a miserable poor soul who suffered deep depression over the things she had done in her youth. You tell me now as we see what God has said about this, who was the wise woman, even though both were lost sinners. One made a wise choice, a choice she and her child could live with. Exodus 21:22 - 25 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. These verses are Bible laws God set up for man to live by, and there will be severe punishment for those who take the life of these dear babies. There will be the fiery judgment of Christ upon them. The blood of all the innocents will be on their hands. How much better will the rewards be for those who chose adoption! I have some verses for that, too; and I am here to tell you, that sweet baby girl in the picture is I. I am a grown woman now, and my adopted mother, and my biological mother, are both deceased; but I am saved by the blood of the Lamb, and a child of God forever I am! I am married to a pastor, and our lives have counted for Christ! So you see, you never know what a life will bring forth. The child you carry may be a Missionary, or a Pastor, or like me a Pastor's wife. So if you are at the point of needing some help here, choose wisely, choose for your baby inside to live a full and happy life. If you're unable to keep them, there are so many couples out there that are wanting to adopt. I will enclose some links here, too; so you can get in touch with the services needed. God bless you, and God bless that child from God you are carrying under your heart. Now on to the Adoption Part! This is the part I love. I had such wonderful parents -- God chose them to choose me. I was 15 months old when adopted. I lived a comfortable and good life, a life filled with lots of love...okay...a tad spoiled I was, heehee. My parents took their parenting job very seriously. The meaning of adoption is The legal act of investing with sonship! Now that says a mouthful. I am one of the most blessed ladies I know. I have been born twice, and adopted twice; now I am doubly blessed. SPIRITUAL SONSHIP (Past predestined to be conformed to Jesus' image) Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Present regarded as sons) John 1:12 & 13 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Future glorified as sons) Romans 8:19 & 23 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” The Blessings of being adopted by God A new nature II Corinthians 5:17 A new name Revelation 3:12 Access to God Ephesians 2:18 Fatherly Love I John 3:1 Help in Prayer Matthew 6:5-15 These are just to name a few! We have eternal life in Heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ! We are heirs with Christ, just as I became a child of my adopted parents I became a child of God! This time it was my choice, and Praise God I did make the right choice, and I shall rejoice throughout eternity. Amen and amen! God bless each who reads this, and my hope and prayer is that someone through reading will accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour, commit your life to Him, and choose to live for Him. That is my earnest prayer for you.

Monday, Another Day The Lord Has Given

Well yesterday was the beginning of a new week, and what a wonderful day it was, I hope you all had a great mothers day, and lots of love and family around you.

But today is a new day, a new day to do new things, yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but we have now, we have today. What will you do with this day God has given you breath for? Will you be self indulgent, or find yourself spreading the gospel to every one you meet, the choice is yours, and I so pray that you make the wise choice this day.

I have a ladies ministry online, a message board, that is strickly KJV Independent Fundamental Baptist ladies, we have a prayer chat on Monday's at 11 am, and we find our self praying for so many all over the world, if you have a prayer request just list it here, we will be glad to bring your name and your request before the lord.

I hope you have a blessed day, remember Jesus love you, when all else fails, he never will.