wednesday's wishful thinking

i don't want to sound like a broken record---but boy if i could write about some things that go on in my life----now mind you they really aren't that unusual and probably wouldn't be of interest to many---but facebook seems to enjoy them a bit-----

do you air your concerns and the dirty laundry of life on there---facebook i mean----no of course not, that would be too gauche-----i mean only the young and confrontational would stoop to this---this social media avenue of defense and pitiful plea of understanding

i guess you get i am guilty as charged--and darn it---every time i do it i promise my dignified self that it shall never ever happen again----but those likes---oh how they can get me --

and on the other hand, sometimes i tell myself i am going to be like joan rivers and just blurt out any old thing i want----which brings me to a slight divergence ----although i was floored that even joan could make such a hideous comment or joke about that subject----it always makes me think of how did it or when was it not "too soon" to ridicule the lindbergh baby's abduction and murder-----

but anyway----i go on---with my menus my plans my life---tucking all these tasty tidbits away for the day i am much older and everyone will laugh when i cleverly disguise their character--and say---now who would do that---boy lynn-mama-nanny---had quite the imagination

menu review

warning, this post may only be interesting to foodies

as you may know i can really get into cooking and planning --this Easter was no different

here was my menu---
ham biscuits(country ham and honey ham)
chicken tenders
romaine salad greens with dried cranberries, almonds and mandarin oranges-with either raspberry vinaigrette or honey dijon
mac and cheese
rice broccoli bake(michael strahan's mother's recipe)
red-skinned potato salad
cornbread stuffing
green beans
deviled eggs(yes you did read deviled eggs)
 pineapple miracle cake
strawberry triffle
banana poke cake


okay here are some things i learned from this cooking and entertaining experience

i will make potato salad more often--i really liked it---next time i would stir the potatoes more to ensure even cooking---i might add a little more sweet relish and maybe some pickle juice and fresh dill along with the dry

i would add chicken stock to replace half the water in the cornbread stuffing which was boxed stuffing or better yet i might make the kind that used jiffy cornbread mix--

i wouldn't(who am i kidding i probably still would)wash the salad greens again

i would not use pillsbury cake mix and would not ice the pineapple cake-although it was tastier but cake is too light to hold the icing

i eye-balled the vinegar for the deviled eggs and poured way more than i thought i should have--it was still not too much vinegar

i will never use frozen strawberries with splenda again!

you really can't have too much cheese--i thought i had too much for the mac and cheese--but was the best i have made---sorry to brag

i forgot to add butter to the green beans--didn't miss it

michael's mom's rice bake would have been better if i had followed her rice amount exactly--i had too much rice

oh and i would have all honey ham----country ham was too tough

all in all the menu and dishes were good and everyone had fun---

and this year the hunt included prizes----hmmmm probably need better ones next year!

hope everyone had a nice Easter day

i missed the challenge

i just visited a blogging friend and saw that she was participating in the a-z challenge---i felt a little pang that i had not done it this year----just a little mind you---

i think it is a great idea though---but not to be critical---i would enjoy it better if everyone just hit the keys each day, not knowing where the story or post would take them only the letter----that's what i did the first year---haha that's the way i thought it was to go----

again me being an undisciplined writer liked it better that way, huh---

but here i am writing today and starting a twitter account----so i guess i still feel i want to say something to someone sometimes-

life is strange isn't it---we struggle to connect and then when we do---we often retreat-----don't ask us too much----don't get too close-

we just can't help, wanting to be known and understood-------if we realized how little people really think about us all---well it's true

it's just so hard to get out of this body of evidence that we are the stars in our story and if we don't tell it, rarely will someone else

wow the J.U.P.E. awards are over!

and the winners are----

the church coffee house awards are all over---

it proved to be a fun filled night--full of exuberant young people and a few of us slightly older folks, adding our years of experience to the evening-

robyn and i really enjoyed all the planning that led up to this event and have already been talking about next year's menu---

thought some of you might like to see the video robyn and dillon put together----

sleep-overs

three of my five granddaughters are planning to spend the night tonight----i am hoping the youngest will stay but we shall see--she is only 3 almost 4---

the kids always seem to have a great time when they stay over---i think that time has probably passed for the grandsons though---but we can still pick them up and have fun--just not big on the night spending anymore-----and that comes as no surprise, just quicker than i realized--and the startling fact that my oldest grandchild will turn 16 next go round----

i told my "dil" to let the girls know that their cousins would not be able to come this time---and that robyn and dillon will be out for the evening at a company dinner----just making sure pop pop and nanny were gonna be enough excitement for them! they still wanted to come----good- they haven't reached that age yet--

i tell myself a lot lately---make time for people---take time to show others they are important to you---i mean what is life about if you don't-

we plan to see "frozen" with the girls tomorrow--a few weeks ago we took the boys to see the "lego" movie-----at least there was popcorn---no seriously, it is a joy to do whatever they want to do and each time a gentle reminder of how brief these days will be--

there is an already fond memory from the last sleep-over the girls had here-----two sisters and one cousin---sitting on stools in front of the tv--singing along with the taylor swift video--the song "never grow up"---frank videoed it from behind them---and i tell you as they swayed with arms around each others neck--i think i saw them grow just a little-

my list today

i am sitting here thinking about things i may have learned through this journey called life--so far anyway---and thought hey maybe i can make it into a blog and the order will not be of any importance


1. that i don't know hardly anything for sure

2.things change

3.there is never enough time for the good stuff in life and it takes a lot of living to figure out what the good stuff is

4.some people are never gonna get you or like you--that doesn't make them or you bad

5.you most likely will not regret any kindness you show

6.you can't really change anyone else--only your expectations of them or your attitude

7.it is always better to explain if you can, rather than have a simple misunderstanding change a relationship

8. i don't need lots of stuff--only new or new to me stuff now and then

9. as i get older i am more like my mother and i don't mind it

10. men love home-cooking--it is a close second to you know what

11. reality tv is for me

12. if my children are happy then i am content---i actually knew this a long time ago

13. it is easier to love than to hate

14. those good old days do end

15. i am not gonna write that best seller nor do i care about it any longer

16. trouble comes to us all

17. and that i am still that young woman who always deep down in my heart believes something good is going to happen each day---for the most part

and the nominees are

it's been some time since i have shared anything about our church coffeehouse---the one that my daughter robyn and the youth group she used to be a part of--revived a couple of years ago--frank and i have had a hand in it also as has our pastor and his wife who is also our church youth leader-

we all have a lots of fun with it---giving kids a place to hang out one night a month---and a platform for some serious talent around the community and discovering stars right in our home church---

we have had other youth groups join us and other church groups come and perform---

in a couple of weeks we will be holding the "jahnke road baptist church lighthouse coffeehouse" first awards show---the J.U.P.E. awards---"Jesus uniting people everywhere"----it should be great fun---

some of the categories are serious--and some--just this unique family--poking fun at ourselves---

as much of our nights at the coffeehouse are documented with pictures and videos---we have shared videos for people to vote on

"the most inspiring"-"the best duet"---"the most out-there"--  "who knew"----and many more

you get the picture

so i hope you enjoy the random videos i will share today