MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY WONDERFUL BLOGGING FRIENDS

Wishing all of you a very 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a wonderful

NEW YEAR.

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We have 

GRANDS AND GIFTS

and a

MOMS' MEAL

and a 

WINTER WEDDING

in the next few days.

However, even with all this busy-ness,

I want 

YOU to KNOW

that

YOU are an important part of

MY LIFE!

I have come to know and love 

SO MANY OF YOU

and

just want to share a bit of

CHRISTMAS LOVE AND CHEER

with all of you.

See you in the 

NEW YEAR!

YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO DO THIS

I have posted this before 

but I have some new readers this year

so thought I would share it again.

I am still on break but will pop in with

two or three 

Christmas Ideas

you still have time to do.

I have done this post

a couple of times.

Several people said 

they had never seen anything like it.

I thought I would post before it

gets any later in the season--

in case you want make these for 

your own home.

I have been doing this since my

own kids were small.

You know how a front door says 

WELCOME

when you come in?

By the way-

Those sleigh bells are off the horses my 

father drove as a young man.

So -there's my 

Happy Hello!

BUT I like my door to say

GOOD-BYE

when someone leaves, too.

And I like to say it NICELY

Unlike some people that will say-

Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the 

way out.

How do I do that?

I let my visitors take a little memento

of their visit with them.

It is called 

Cut and Run Take

Here they are-

 my sweet little

GINGERBREAD BOYS

hanging in a row.

Here's how to make this

sweet little door hanging.

Roll out Saran Wrap about 2 feet longer 

than the side of your door.

Lay your Gingerbread Boys in a line 

on the center of the plastic wrap.

leaving about 4-6" between them.

You could also do this with any sturdy

cookie- like a sugar cookie cut 

like a snowflake or star.

Flip them upside down making sure that they

are still in the center

Pull the plastic wrap to the back

overlapping it so they are enclosed 

all the way around.

Gently flip them over and using ribbon

tie a knot above and below EACH one.

Hang some children's scissors on

some curly ribbon from the top

to cut the saran wrap.

When you cut them apart 

you will cut between the ribbons 

leaving each one fully encased

In plastic wrap.

Here I am making a cut between the ties.

You start with the bottom one and 

each person can cut off a gingerbread boy 

to take along when they leave.

I hang them on a nail

hidden on top of the door jamb.

shhhhh-MyHero hates nails anywhere

I dressed the top

with some greenery and red balls.

I love  Gingerbread Boys, don't you?

Sometimes I feel sorry for them though.

Poor things.

pinterest image

The one on the right hears about like 

MyHero does-especially when it comes

to trying to get a chore done!

Now- get in that kitchen and start baking!

As for me..

Well, I am trying not to BAKE

so that I don't EAT

Gingerbread Boys!

OH!  And these are really cute with

SNOWFLAKE CUTOUTS

instead of 

Gingerbread boys.

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Have a Wonderful Week!!!!

I WILL BE BACK

Good Morning-

Thank you all for the 

prayers for the family

of a man we all loved.

In light of everything

going on this time of year,

I am taking a break

from blogging for a bit.

This is NOT a 

PERMANENT GOOD-BYE!

I will still pop in and out of

FaceBook

& I will still 

do posts for the business-

Putting The Real In Real Estate.

I am well but in a bit of limboland

with our move and 

life-changes.

I will be back soon

and promise to give you at least

one laugh per post.

Have a wonderful 

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Love to all of you~

THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS- OUR FRIEND JERRY PRICE HAS PASSED OVER

We were among the lucky ones

that knew him in life.

John and I are just two of the souls

he touched with his wisdom,

support, and guidance.

He was kind when he needed 

to be kind,

and tough when he needed to be tough.

When he wasn't with his family

and those that he loved,

he was happiest on the

golf course.

Today-This is how I choose 

to picture him--

enjoying a little 

Heavenly Golfing.

I sure hope he had time 

to read this book...

I loved Jerry and would

always tease him after church

because he managed to work

SPORTS into 

EVERY. SINGLE. SERMON.

Yes-he did! Seriously!!!

Jerry always said I had a 

WICKED SENSE OF HUMOR...

so, I expect he would

appreciate my way of saying

Good-bye to him here.

Please keep his family in your

prayers-and-as always,

if you are not a person of prayer,

please wing good thoughts and

healing wishes their way.

I hope you all have a wonderful

weekend.

Ours will be happy/sad as we

all move forward and

"let go and let God",

as they say.

RIP, Jerry Price.

You were a man among men

and your legacy will reach

farther than you could ever

have imagined.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DEAR FRIEND, JERRY PRICE & HIS FAMILY

This is a very hard post to write.

This man is soon to leave our

earthly realm

where he will be healed and whole again-

at least that is my belief.

He has been instrumental in healing

the hurts in so many 

hearts and minds, my own included.

All of us had

hoped and prayed for a

healing of his body.

Cancer has ravaged his body

but not his spirit.

This is his post  on FB from the 4th.

Jerry Price

December 4 at 4:34 PM · 

Last night I told my brother and family members I was going to see Jesus. That was true. Its exactly how I thought and felt. And it still is.

But I said the unsayable to my family and it was about time my desire to see JESUS takes precedence but hear this. Judy and I aren't giving up on fighting to live in the now. We're not planning to abandon the commitment to work hard to live!

I want everyone to pray Gods will be done and I am ready to be called HOME to see Jesus. If you were to actually see my emaciated body you'd wonder how I'm even here. But God is going to make the final call.

Quite an emotional roller coaster. Hard. Dark moments. Bright moments! Alive moments.

Just had a group of men in my room. Tremendous encouragement to live but permission to leave and see my LORD.

Thank you for standing and fighting that battle with Judy and me.

Love you! Gods Will be done and he gets the glory.

My daughter just texted me and said

that he is failing fast and it is just 

a matter of time now.

Originally he was given months.

Today that is shortened to hours and days perhaps.

His daughter is in Australia and

struggling to navigate traveling to AZ.

Other family is in the midwest.

Their bodies are absent but their hearts

are with their dad, grandad, uncle.

Jerry has been a pastor his whole life

and given of himself unconditionally.

He would want me to tell you that he

was a 

GREAT GOLFER

(and always beat MyHero).

He would smile reading this.

Soon he will be smiling with the angels.

I told him there is a great 

golf course in the sky where he will

ALWAYS have a perfect game.

God bless you, Jerry Price!

Please pray for his wife, Judy,

his daughters, his son and all the rest 

of his family.

If you are not a pray-er, please

wing your good thoughts and 

wishes toward them.

God bless you, Jerry.

Our loss will be Heaven's gain.

PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE-TED & SUSIE

Thanks to all of you that are praying for

(or sending good thoughts and well wishes)

to

TED (Susie's She Junks)

I wanted to give you an update.

While we were down visiting my daughter, 

Mimi, and her family for Thanksgiving

in Indiana,

MyHero and I drove about 20 minute south

to the hospital where Ted is a patient.

As many of you know,

MyHero works with cancer patients 

at a local hospital.

He is also a survivor of cancer.

He has been treated 3 times 

for 3 different types of cancer

and has beat the odds.

So, he understands

exactly what Ted is going through.

Ted does not look sick at all.

He looks healthy and young for his age.

He is eating well 

and has tolerated chemo quite well.

He just finished his first round of chemo.

His immune system is at ZERO-

a scary place to be.

They will run some tests in a few days

and see what is happening.

He has been told he will be hospitalized for

NINETY DAYS!

That is a long time for him and for Susie.

She does not drive in the city so is dependent

on others to get her there every day.

She lives about an hour or so 

north of the hospital.

Please keep them wrapped in your heart

and continue to pray 

and/or send healing thought

and good wishes.

Thank you all so much 

for your outpouring

of love and caring.

I know Susie and Ted appreciate

each and every one of you.

Have a great rest of the week!

YOUR SUNDAY SMILE--POST THANKSGIVING~

Good Morning!

Did you eat too much?

I did NOT myself.

Anyway---

My father,

God rest his soul,

was a humorist.

Noooooo..

you're saying...

Not YOUR Dad.

Well, he was!

One of the things he absolutely

LOVED

was poetry.

He read a lot of poetry to

me when I was a child.

Most of it way beyond

my understanding.

One of the ones that I

remember most vividly is

the one below.

It is short..

and I guarantee it will

put a smile on your face...

especially if you are thinking

about going out and having

a few little drinks

as we head into the holidays

It is called

JUDGED BY THE COMPANY ONE KEEPS

One night in late December,

When I was far from sober,

Returning with my load of manly pride,

My feet began to stutter,

So I lay down in the gutter,

And a pig came near 

and lay down by my side;

A lady passing by was heard to say:

"You can tell a man who boozes,

By the company he chooses,"

And the pig got up and slowly walked away.

                              Unknown author

Happy Sunday!

Don't eat too many leftovers

and pick your companions well!

See you soon and I will give you an

update on Ted & Susie (She Junks)

Ummm--need I remind you that

CHRISTMAS 

is one month from today?

You're welcome!

A PRAYER REQUEST FOR SUSIE'S (She Junks) TED!!!

I was working at the office

a few minutes ago

when I got a text

from Susie.

ALL of you know our sweet SUSIE

from She Junks!

I was lucky enough to meet her in person

last year and, let me tell you,

she is as dear in person as she is in blogland.

I told Susie I would do the request tonight

when I got home but I feel like

I need to do it 

NOW!

Her dear, sweet 

TEDDY BEAR

was diagnosed TODAY with

ACUTE LEUKEMIA.

He was hospitalized immediately

and starts chemo tomorrow.

He is in the closest city to their home

but Susie doesn't do city driving...

so she is planning on staying there

with him.  

He will be hospitalized for 

at least a month.

Please pray that the 

CHEMO is SUCCESSFUL.

Also pray for peace of mind for

TED &SUSIE!

As we well know, when our loved ones

are ill we worry and

many times we just feel helpless.

For those of you that are not pray-ers,

please send healing thoughts and 

best wishes their way

and leave a sweet comment for Susie 

on my blog if you have the time.

Sending you love, Susie~

Thank all of you so much!

POKE ME WITH A FORK-I THINK I'M DONE!

Does anyone remember that commercial?

The one with the line that went-

Poke me with a fork I think I'm done?

Well, I remember hearing the ad and it was

often repeated by a little neighbor boy, Brett.

Brett also carried a NAKED blond Barbie doll around 

AND he called it Mrs.Kosmoski!

SERIOUSLY!

.....and now you know my real name.....

Anyway- That might have been 

a tad too much information

so let's move along to cooking, shall we?

It's all about turkey right now

but if you are looking for an

EASY recipe to use leading up to

THANKSGIVING--

this might work!

I am basically lazy when it comes to meals.

There- I've said it.  It's true!

So, that means 

I LOVE EASY MEALS.

Does this look EASY?

Well, it is.

Brown 4 pork chops in 1 Tablespoon of butter over 

Medium-high heat.

Kinda fuzzy picture, huh? 

Hey!  You want perfect pictures?

Buy a magazine!

Or visit a blog with a better photographer.

I'll work on it.

While those are browning,

Core and slice about 5 - 6 apples.

I used 2 big Honey Crisp and 

3 or 4 Braeburns that I had.

Use more apples than you think you will want 

because they cook down.

Throw them in the crockpot.

Sprinkle heavily with cinnamon 

(or Apple Pie Spice-that's what I used)

and 1/3 cup brown sugar.

Place browned pork chops on top of apples.

Salt and pepper them to taste.

Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.

I served ours with rice and broccoli

and coffee in a Pumpkin cup.

Trust me- there will NOT be any leftovers!

So- Here's the recipe-

Slow Cooker Pork Chops & Apples

4 boneless pork chops

4-5 large apples of choice

Cinnamon  or Apple Pie Spice

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup apple juice or apple cider.

(I used cranberry juice this time)

Salt & Pepper 

Brown pork chops over medium high heat in 1T melted butter.

Core and slice apples and toss them in crock pot.

Sprinkle with Apple Pie Spice or Cinnamon

(I would estimate I used 3 or 4 teaspoons)

Sprinkle with the brown sugar.

Pour apple juice over it.

(I didn't have any apple juice/cider so I used Cranberry juice and it was delicious)

Layer on the pork chops.

Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.

Enjoy!

AND - if you see one of THESE lying around

naked please DO NOT call it

Mrs. Kosmoski!!!

I don't want the neighbors to talk.