A happy Saturday Afternoon...led to a happy Saturday night! Spring Fling 2011

  

What a fun day we had today!!! Such fun to be back in the "swing of things" so to speak with Lacrosse!!! Just sitting in the sun watching our "son's" play again...it was really good for my soul!! And for alot of others as well!! Sometimes its just fun to watch your children have fun!!! ( even if they do throw their sticks down when they miss!!!... that's ok...to an extent! ) Unless you've been asked to Spring Fling by Coach Brennan's daughter!!! ha ha!!! I do wish he could've seen this game!!! It was great...it was bad....it was almost like the Bad New's Bears movie....only because several of our guys haven't played in a year....and think they are still "the man!" so to speak.....

Forget all of that.....It's a Special Date Night!!!!!!      

ok.....how cute are they???? pretty cute in my opinion....it's easy to be cute when you're with Caroline!!!

    We had the PLEASURE of yet another Spring Fling....I'm truly dreading our last one next year...I mean...how many Spring Fling's does one family get??? in our case....12...but whose counting? Each child only gets 4! And in my book...they BETTER enjoy each and every one!!! This year Miller was honored to be invited by sweet Caroline Brennan....what a wonderful, beautiful girl!!! Inside and out!!! We've always admired her and her sweet family as her dad used to coach Miller in Lacrosse...nonetheless...she is a precious, sweet young lady all on her own!!!! Thanks for asking Miller to Spring Fling 2011, Caroline!!!

The winds of change!

The older I get the more I realize that change happens every single day...it can be good or it can be bad...depending on how you look at it!!! When things aren't going my way....they tend to look good on the outside...kind of like this beautiful barn and lush green trees......when all the while there are storms brewing in the background...sometimes you may not even know those storms are there....... but you really do..and if we choose to let it sit and fester  then thats when everything breaks loose!!! just like the thunder and lightening we are supposed to be getting tonight!!!

My attitude can change in the blink of an eye!! and it's always when my focus has changed from wanting God's will....to demanding mine!!! or not getting my way and REALLY wanting it!!!! I often wonder during these "storms" why am I acting or feeling this way??? When did it happen that I let myself give in to my human nature??? And it's not just my heart attitude that I'm really talking about...it's also about trusting Him for the things we are going through right at that very moment...issues with your children, your spouse, your health, your friendships ...you name it!! My heart attitude ultimately determines my mood...and it DEFINITELY determines the mood of those around me!!! Especially my sweet family!!!!

and so many times I let myself sit and dwell in my own "sorrows" so to speak when all the while I know that I am being very wrong!!! 

And that I'm hurting those around me by my actions!!!

I should be looking out for their interests and not my own...building them up, wanting the best for them!!

Praise the Lord we have a Heavenly Father that not only loves us so much but He also promises us forgiveness when we act or feel this way...He promises us that His mercies are new EVERY morning!!!!

He promises us that His love can and will shine through our darkest clouds if we will let Him!!

Great is Thy Faithfulness!!!! Lord unto me!!!! (even when I don't deserve it! )

You are Faithful....You are Holy!!!!!

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end:

They are new every morning!

Great is Your faithfulness!!!!!

Recipe for Laure Lee!!!

Herb Swiss Chicken! ( easiest thing you've ever made!!! )    

8-10 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 Cans cream of chicken soup ( I used 99 % fat free )
3/4 C white wine
1/2 C mayo
mix all together with wisk
place chicken in a greased casserole dish...sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste...top each piece with a slice of swiss cheese....pour cream of chicken soup mixture over chicken..... Top with 1 C Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing mix and then drizzle 1/2 C melted butter over top..( I used light )
Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until bubbly and brown!
We like it with yellow rice but its just as good with white rice!
So easy and so yummy!!!!

"How do you handle a hungry man?"

 Tonight we were fortunate enough to have our oldest son Mitch, and his friend and business partner David, over for dinner while Britney and Layton are in Italy. We had alot of fun just talking and laughing and enjoying a good dinner....however...I knew that David is somewhat of a "picky eater" and my boys certainly are NOT!!!! So....the meal consisted of Herb Swiss Chicken Casserole with yellow rice and 7 layer salad....both of my son's favorites!!  But...because I was worried that David wouldn't care for the salad I racked my brain all day trying to come up with SOMETHING that anyone would love and something that would fill up a hungry man....( and something that I already had on hand!!! ) with a few adjustments to the recipe I found I decided to make this Homemade Mac and Cheese and it was a huge hit!!!! in fact....i'm trying to decide how NOT to eat the leftovers!!!!! oh....and Sister Schubert Blueberry Rolls with extra icing that my mother taught me to add....then you don't need a desert!!!!

               Here is the recipe for my version of 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese!
1 lb. pasta ( elbow macaroni or penne pasta which is what I used...because I had it!!!)
boil pasta according to package directions.....add to sauce....time it to where pasta is done pretty much when sauce is done so that the pasta doesn't get "gummy" before you can mix it together!
                                        Cheese Sauce
6 T butter ( I used light)
4 T flour
2 C milk ( I used 1 % )
3 C grated sharp cheddar cheese ( I used 2 % )
1/2 C finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/2-3/4 C cottage cheese
1 t salt
1/2 t dry mustard
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/2 t white pepper

melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat....when melted, whisk in flour...gradually add milk, stir till thickened...about 10 minutes. Remove from heat add cheeses and spices....stir or wisk until blended. Add cooked pasta....stir till evenly coated and place in 2 quart, greased casserole dish. Top with 1/2 C Panko crumbs...bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!! just a wee bit early! Glad it's finally here!!

To most of us, love is a feeling! A warm fuzzy feeling that we take for granted....

or....love is in the delectable delight of a yummy Red Velvet Cake that my mom used to make at Christmas!!!

or....love could be just a simple song that we used to sing to our children, while rocking them...as I used to do!!! I will admit...this was and still is... my favorite!!!  Who cannot love "You make me happy, when skies are gray....you'll never know dear..how much I love you....please don't take, my sunshine away!" There is NO TELLING how many times I have sung that song!!!! and I LOVE it!!!

or...is love in our "love notes" to that someone special?   A husband?    a child?     a friend?

or...is it in the way that we express our love to our Ultimate Lover...the lover of souls...the Bridegroom....our Heavenly Father?

or is it in the Strawberry Pie that my mom makes every year for my dad's special birthday dessert? Yes...that is a "form" of love....

just as these wonderful chocolate candies are!! ( to me at least! ) Love comes in alot of different ways....each "foil wrapped" , stored up...saved up.............just for that special someone.....

Love can be meant for alot of different people in your life....your spouse, your family, friends, co-workers....the person at the grocery store, the bank, the cleaners....anywhere you have the chance to share and give love...just do it!!! Love them unconditionally!!! and let them feel that in the end....they are yours!!    and then, you can share the fact that in Christ..... We are His!!!

and that there is no greater form of love than this......no candy hearts, no paper valentines, no chocolate and not even flowers can measure up to the love of Christ.. He is our ultimate example of Love!!!!

              Just as 1 Corinthians 13 says......

   1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,^a but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;^b 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Happy Birthday, Mitch!!!! It's Your day to Party!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Mitch! I can't believe you are really turning 27!!! Where did the time go? When did you go from this little boy that climbed trees to being the wonderful daddy and husband that you are now?                                                                                  

I will never forget you learning to walk ON your first birthday! You were so proud of yourself!!

I love this picture of you in kindergarten with your birthday crown on!! The celebrations were alway so much fun! Planning the parties, inviting your friends and then always doing family birthdays at Grandmama's and Mom's houses!! Thats the core of our family...our celebrations that we share together! I don't ever want that to go away! Both sides of our family are so good about doing things together and I think that is so important!!! 

Just like spending quality time together~! Mitch learned to hunt from the best teacher/grandfather! The memories that were made during those trips are memories that will last a lifetime!!

Mitch's first deer, his first turkey, alot of firsts made with a special grandad!!

                  There are special memories made each and every time that we are all together!!!

                              This was such a fun family beach trip!

                     I never knew you were such a good dancer!!!!

                                                 Or a musician!!!!

It sure was a fun way to pass the time while we waited for our food!!! Layton was a great drummer!!! I don't know why this surprised me....I should have seen it coming!! You've had alot of practice in the realm of dancing...why even the rest of the family has caught on!! Your spirit is definitely contagious! I love it!! You make people smile by just being around them! I hear people tell me all of the time just how sweet, kind, generous of your time and talents, etc...that you are! That makes me so feel so proud of you!!! Almost as much as these incredible "party" pictures of you!!! Just look how you rubbed off on your family and friends!!

Why even Britney couldn't resist your charms!!!!

And you've most definitely had a HUGE influence on your brother.......

and your cousins.....

and your baby girl......

and your brother in law......

as well as your sister!!!!!

And your father and I couldn't  be more proud!!!

So we truly hope that your day is as special as you are!!!! 

2 days and Counting...The Men in Mitch's life!!!!!

  James Mitchell Bradford..........my football player...my soccer player.....my first born son!!!! I can't believe you are turning 27!!! What a blessing you have been!!!!

Can't believe we've always had atleast 4 generations on both sides of our families! ( and sometimes 5 )

From your first birthday.... to many wonderful Christmases spent with family.....

 To fun Halloween nights with Uncle Pat as one of the Blues Brothers!!

 The men in your life have all been such a wonderful influence on  you as a son, a husband, a father and a brother.....

The bond between brothers is very special!!!

I am so blessed to have two wonderful sons and know that even with a big age difference....you can still be very close as brothers!!!!

My 3 sons!!!!!

Proverbs 18:24 says " A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother"




That extends to brother's in law as well!!! You are very blessed to have Brad, Jeremy and Roderick in your life....but mainly Miller!! :)

And then you have all of these incredible friends that love  you and stand by you!!!!

I am forever grateful for the friends that God has blessed you with!!!! Old ones and new ones alike!!!!

We love you James Mitchell!!! I know you only heard me say that when you were in trouble...but what it really meant was...."You better listen to me!!!" We love you more than you could ever imagine!!!

Look at these wonderful, lifelong friends, brothers, brothers in law.....uncles, great grandfathers, grandfathers and especially your father! look at how much they love you and care for you!!!

Nothing blesses my heart as your mother to see you embraced in the love of your Heavenly Father!!! but....to know that you have been loved on by so many generations and STILL ARE!!!

Thats a blessing that not many families get to share in! We are truly blessed!!!!

On top of that....you have an incredible father in law!!! He loves you like a son, and nothing could mean more to us as your parents! Thank you, Gene...for taking Mitch into your family!!!!