Happy Good Friday. . . .

We planted part of the garden yesterday.  We have three rows of potatoes, four rows of sweet peas, and three rows of onions.  I love sweet peas so much my hubby hopes that by planting more rows he will actually get to freeze some of them.  We only froze a very small portion last year because I ate most of them raw.  I have always loved raw sweet peas, I used to go to my mother's garden and pick the peas and eat them while I was playing outside.  Today the hubbs hopes to plant some broccoli plants, cabbage plants and some lettuce.  Sprat loves the potatoes and Big T loves the lettuce.  
It is funny to think back on last year at this time, the hubbs was trying to recover from his torn quadriceps tendon and muscle surgery and we were not sure we would even have a garden.  I feel very blessed that the hubbs brother planted our garden last year.  I also feel very blessed to see that my hubby is back on his feet and going strong.  
My hubby is my rock, he is always there to cheer me own in what ever I am doing.  He makes me laugh, cry, and sometimes cuss but I am blessed to call him; husband, friend, and love of my life.   I will soon have the pleasure of celebrating twenty-three years of wedded bliss with him.   I am proud to say that after twenty-three years that he still makes my heart skip a beat here and there.   We enjoy spending time together; whether it is working in the yard, snuggled on the couch watching a movie, fishing, or watching our boys play whatever sport they are playing.
The kids are going to clean gravestones today at our graveyard to prepare for the Easter sunrise service.   Our graveyard serves several Churches and each of the youth groups clean the stones and the women's fellowship groups decorate the graves with fresh flowers.   Our Easter sunrise service is beautiful, if you have never been to one I highly recommend it, it is a very emotional experience.   The Church bands are scattered along the hill and they play as the move toward the center of the cemetery where they converge and play as one band.  It really is the most beautiful and moving service.

Easter Fixings. . .

I usually bring deviled eggs and some sort of dessert to our family get togethers, this year I was asked to bring mac and cheese.  I have a great recipe for homemade mac and cheese that is actually my sisters.  She shared it with me when the hubbs was having his food allergy issues and I had to make everything from scratch.  Yes, I was a baking fool.  The hubs could not have any veggies that were yellow, red, orange, or green because of his salicylate allergy.  He was also not allowed anything that was pre-packaged.  That means homemade everything.    I learned a lot during these couple of years that this was required for his health.  I learned that I can do anything that I put my mind too and that the good Lord above will give you strength to overcome.  I am going to share my sister's fabulous homemade mac and cheese recipe.

2 cups dry pasta (I use whole wheat elbow mac)
1 cup milk
lots of grated cheese (I use a whole big block of cheddar, you can use mozzarella or jack)
2 eggs beaten
salt and butter

Cook your pasta according to package directions.  I grate my own cheese because there are things added to the bags of grated cheese that are not natural.  This also saves money.

Combine eggs, milk, and salt to taste.  Grease casserole dish.  Layer noodles and cheese 2-3 times then dot with butter then pour egg milk combo over the top to cover.  I usually top with extra cheese and you can add bread crumbs for some extra texture.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

This is not your traditional mac and cheese it will have a much different look and texture than what you normally see.  This is actually a healthier version of this childhood favorite.  My hubby and I love this.  

Until we eat again. . . Enjoy

Easter Monday. . .

Enjoyed a relaxing weekend with the hubbs and the kids.  The kids did get to participate with the youth in cleaning the graves on Friday.   Enjoyed a wonderful lunch at hubbs sisters on Sunday.  Spent a nice day with the family.   We even did some shoe shopping for the boys.  I think Big T is getting ready to hit a spurt like Sprat did in middle school.  He is eating more and it seems like he grows a little bit each day.   I remember one day  several years ago saying to Big T that he looked like he had grown a foot.  He looked down and stuck his legs out and said, where?  My kids crack me up some days.  I think back about all the things they have said and how funny they are.   I miss them being babies, how cute they were and how good them smelled.  Nothing beats the smell of a little baby.  Now they just smell like ole stinky boys.
They grow up so fast.  Time flies, one minute you are sitting in the car rider line waiting on your kids and the next you are talking about college tours.   It is hard to believe the hubbs and I have been married for 22 years and that my baby will be driving himself to school next year. This is going to be a wild year, especially with hubbs and all of his physical therapy. 

Holy Week. . .

Dear hubby and I are usually readers during Holy Week for our Church services but this year we are not reading.  The kidos have a lot going on this week with school and baseball.  I decided I didn't want them to miss out on what we normally hear at Church so I have been reading out of our Holy Week Reader instead of doing our normal devotions.  Our Reader goes day by day during the week leading up to the Resurrection.  Most people know the story of how Jesus was crucified but to actually read it or hear it read is a very emotional experience.  I cry every time, I know, that is no big shock.  
This is our last week of Lent and I am using this as a week of reflection on my relationship with the Lord.  I know I have fallen way short of his expectations of me.  I have been reading a lot on forgiveness and I think that is where he is leading me.  I think forgiveness is probably one of the hardest things.   It is important to remember that when you forgive you are not telling that person what they did was ok.  You are releasing them to God.  He is our final judge.  You also release yourself from the ill feelings and hatred that can eat away at you.  Just remember that God forgives all, you need only ask.