Introducing my new blog!

With all that has happened recently, I've decided that it's time to start a new food blog... Introducing....

Saturday Morning Coffee with Missy

 http://saturdaymorningcoffeewithmissy.blogspot.com/

 Working on the first true post now - and playing with templates. I'd love to have you join me there! 

Getting ready!

This morning I'm up early prepping food! I have baked oatmeal in the oven, with my girlfriend coming over for a healthy breakfast, our first chance since the kids went back to school.

But I'm also prepping for the television spot on Sunday. I've been taking pictures along the way to send them, as they want pictures before the fact. So the Balsamic pork is in the crock pot! I'm pretty darn excited at this point. I hope it goes well. What a fun chance to share not only my passion for cooking, and providing for my family, but a super yummy recipe that I think everyone will LOVE!

I really need to figure out how cooking can become my future. It makes me so happy....

New glasses, new hair, and the photo sample prep underway. Guess I'm getting ready for my big spot! Channel 7 this Sunday - airing around 7:40ish.

God's timing....

So my Faithful readers know that I spent the morning on my knees in prayer. (if not - read the previous post)

I received a phone call this morning from a local news station, asking me to showcase one of my recipes on the Sunday morning news show!

I am beyond excited. Not because I'm getting paid (because I'm not) - but for having something to look forward to! Something positive, and fun. And who knows? God makes everything happen for a reason! He heard my anguish and distress this morning and sent me a gift.

God is so good.

Life's tests...

I help out with our church's youth group. And we have a facebook page - for updates, scriptures, etc. We finished a Bible study just after Thanksgiving, and then had a Christmas party, but have been "off" for the holidays. In order to jump start January, I posted a passage from James on our site the other day - about growing stronger through those tests. James 1:2-I1.

I have felt these last couple of months an incredible strain and stress. There are many factors. So many. And more arose this morning. And I'm not talking tests about housework, or people issues, I'm talking about big life tests. The ones that change you.

So this morning, I closed my bedroom door and fell to my knees. And I prayed. I prayed for strength, and for peace. I prayed prayers of repentance for all I've done wrong. I prayed for guidance and direction. I prayed prayers of thanksgiving for bringing us to where we are today. But mostly, I simply prayed. I prayed, giving all of my worries and stress up to God. Because that's what I do. At least I try. I try to give my worries up, allowing Him to worry for me. To take care of me.

I don't know where I would be without my Faith. It gets me through, and makes me stronger, no matter what the tests and trials. I am so thankful for my God, for His strength.

The arctic cold?

I'm not sure what one calls the cold we are predicted to be getting this weekend and early next week.

Now I'm ALL for winter. Like it very much. Family likes to snowboard and go four-wheeling.

But they are predicting wind chills between 50 and 75 degrees below zero for Monday. That is insane. Schools are cancelled, as are other events.

I am saying prayers that everyone stays safe this weekend and next week. That everyone has a sound shelter to stay in, with heat, and food.

Here's to a Fresh New Year in 2014!

I am sitting here, all alone, on New Year's Eve.

Now understand, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

Sure, I'd love to be having fun with friends, but I also cherish having the house to myself, and having time to relax, and reflect, on this night of new beginnings is a perfect way to ring out the old and ring in the new.

My daughter is back at school, my husband at work, and my son out with friends for pizza. Leaving me with the fireplace, a cup of tea, and my computer. Not a bad deal in my mind!

I started out today with some fresh starts. Picked up my fun new eyeglasses today - and then dyed my hair to cover that horrific gray. I'm not against gray hair AT ALL - but personally, I'm just not ready to be that person yet. I think I'm getting close, but at 43, I still like to have fun a bit.

I don't really do resolutions. I do make lists though. Of things I'd like to do in the coming year. I've thought long and hard about this year's list, and once it was finished, smiled at how my lists have changed over the last few years. What used to be unrealistic, impersonal "resolutions" like "losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more, being more organized", are now much more personal things. For instance, 2012 included learning to make bread, and 2013 included reviving my sewing skills. Both were accomplished. Because they were attainable. They were personal. They were me.

In 2014, I would like to:

Crochet a prayer shawl for myself
Study simple sauces, and learn to use them more in my cooking
Find a way to play my violin in church
Create a winter garden
Improve my knitting skills

I very much look forward to exploring each of these. They are areas that I think would improve the quality of my life, and I am excited about them. That is what resolutions should be - focusing on improving our lives - living life - enjoying life.

Life is too short. What are you going to do this year to have fun? To live life?

God's Blessings for an amazing year ahead in 2014!

Toasting 2013..the year of the visits.

2013 was an amazing year. I've blogged before about "visiting" - taking time to visit family and friends, and this year we had so many gifts. We started off the year spending time with a dear friend from college out east, and on the way home stopped at family in Fort Wayne and friends in Stoughton. I again spent a long weekend out west with college friends there, and while my husband was on a 3 week motorcycle trip, I took four mini trips - one to visit college friends for a weekend, one to visit with high school friends, one to spend with my sister, nieces, and great-nieces, crafting the weekend away, and yet another girls weekend with them, without the kids. We had a mini family reunion with my siblings, cousins, and an aunt, AND we stayed with our former Pastor and wife. So much time to visit people! And we were also Blessed with visits to US!. My Nebraska friends again came out for multiple visits. Additionally our NOLA kids came up for a week, and I had multiple mini visitors in between - including friends I used to work with, friends who have moved away. It was a whirlwind of a year to say the least! And full of so many Blessings. It wasn't all easy. We had more than our share of issues. Ups and downs like no other. But in the end, we have each other, we have our health, and we have our home. That is all that we've realized we need to be truly happy. So I am saying a prayer of thanksgiving tonight as I reflect on the year. Thankful for all of the people that are in our lives, and all that we've been able to make contact with this year. I couldn't ask for anything more...