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What did you do for Valentine's Eve?  We went out for Mexican food!  Yummmmmmy!!!!  I LOVE Mexican food...especially this place!  El Patron  is the name of the restaurant.  The prices are awesome, and the food is yummy!!!  The service is great, too!!  Tomorrow night, Gary works, so we went out tonight instead.  He gave me a Valentine's Day Coffee Cup with a little Bear on the inside of it; and 1 Red Rose and 1 Pink Rose; and an awesome V-Day card.  Simple, but SWEET!!! Just the way I like it!  (Thank you Babe!!!)

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I have two Blessings parties to close on Monday.  I'm kind of concerned about both, as both Hostesses are so hard to get in touch with!!  So I'm praying I will be able to get in touch with both of them, and close the parties out at least by Wednesday!! :)  They are catalog parties, which is a great way for someone to get some FREE stuff just by passing a catalog around to their friends and family; and taking orders!  If you would be interested in doing that, just let me know, and I'll hook you up with some catalogs and order forms! :)

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Better close for now.  It's almost 10pm, and I need to head to bed.  Early day tomorrow.  I hope you have had a great weekend, as well!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

YES, IT'S TRUE!  We experienced an Earthquake this morning in our area at 4AM!  I, personally, didn't experience it because I found out today that it is truly possible for me to sleep through an earthquake!! LMBO

I received an email this morning from a friend of mine who had gotten up earlier today to do some work, and she said all of a sudden her walls / windows and such started to tremor!!  She said she wasn't sure exactly what it was; but did a google search later and found out it was an earthquake!!  It actually started just north of Chicago, and was felt in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois!  It measured a 3.8!  Not a bad sized Earthquake, huh?  Here is the link to the story:  EARTHQUAKE.  Yea, so whooda thunk it???!!!! :)

I just got back from cleaning for a customer; I have baked a cake for Bible Study tonight; prepared for the Bible Study; and cleaned my kitchen and bathroom; and now I'm catching up on my blogging!  The cake that I made today is a Fruit Cocktail Pudding Cake!  It is really good!! Here is the recipe, if you would like to give it a try!!  It is very easy to make, and really delicious!!! :)

Fruit Cocktail Pudding Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
1 box lemon instant pudding
1/4 c. oil
4 eggs
1 can fruit cocktail with juice
1 c. coconut

Beat with electric mixer or by hand 2 to 3 minutes. Pour into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup nuts on batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

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For dinner, I am making Easy Garlic Baked Chicken. Here is the recipe (thanks to my friend Betsy!!)

1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley
6 chicken pieces, bone in with skin


Directions

Preheat the oven to 375. Lightly grease a baking pan.

In a microwave safe bowl, mix the butter, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, and parsley. Microwave until butter is melted.

Arrange chicken on the baking pan, and baste with the butter mixture, reserving some of the mixture for more basting.

Bake chicken 30 minutes in the preheated oven, then baste with remaining butter mixture and bake for additional 20 to 30 minutes or until juices run clear.  Sprinkle with more parsley to serve.

With this, I will make a nice salad and some veggies; followed by whatever is left over from the cake that will be taken to bible study!! :)  Should be a yummy dinner (or supper, as some of you call it)! :)

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For my Lady Friends, if you are looking for a GOOD Bible Study, I would strongly suggest the one I am doing each week with the ladies from our church.  It's called "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity" by Cynthia Heald.  It is REALLY GOOD!!!  Cynthia really hits home with us women and how we put ourselves out there so much for others, that we sometimes forget what our priorities are!!  We are learning how to get back on track, so to speak!  Here is a link to the study, if you are interested:  BECOMING A WOMAN OF SIMPLICITY.  If you do decide to do this bible study, I would love to hear what you think of it!

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I had better go for now, so I can finish a few more things before time to make dinner!  Have a GREAT Day!!!

I didn't realize it's been so long, since I've posted anything here on Xanga!  Almost THREE months!!  Wow!  I have a lot of catching up to do!

Since my last writing here on Xanga, I'm sorry to say that my Mom lost her battle with Lung Cancer.  She actually had Lung, Bone, and Brain Cancer.  She passed away on November 24, 2009.  We were all able to be there with her.  Her funeral was small, but quaint.  Some members from a CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Association) came to support us.  We've been members of CMA for over six years.  It was awesome to see them there.  Mom's family that was present took up one pew.  No one else was able to make it.  It made me very sad that even her brother was not there.  But she had many friends from TN who were there for her.  We went on with Thanksgiving the best we could.  One blessing about the whole week though, was watching my daughters and their children get along so good; and be there for each other.  That is a huge answer to prayer, in so many way!  Oh yea, one other thing that happened in November too, was 9 days after my Mom passed away, her best friend Faye passed away, from the same exact thing...Lung Cancer.  Three weeks before Faye died though, she accepted Christ as her Savior.  This really blessed me because Faye had never believed in God before, and was always into witchcraft!  It just goes to show that God CAN and WILL forgive all, if WE choose Him and confess our sins!

Here is the last picture that was taken with my Mom and her kids:


In December, not a lot happened.  None of our kids were able to be here with us, so we spent the day with some friends of ours.  We had a great time!!  We ate a huge dinner of Lasagna, Salad, and Garlic Bread, and finished the day by playing cards for the rest of the afternoon!!

In January, we had our kids over to celebrate Christmas with us, on the 13th.  Then the following day, my husband was Baptized!  He had never been baptized before.  What he said before he was baptized absolutely made me cry!!  He told everyone that I was the reason he had made such a strong dedication to Christ; that I encouraged him in his walk with the Lord.  I'm glad he saw it as encouragement and not nagging!!! LOL  I was so blessed to hear those words!!

Now we have reached February!  So far, everyone is healthy....PTL!!!  My cleaning business has been getting along just fine; keeping me very busy.  I have started a new business with a company called Blessings Unlimited.  It's a line of home decor items; books; journals; puzzles for kids; jewelry; greeting cards, and so much more!  You can take a look at the site HERE.  You will love the products once you actually see them!  The website and catalog are good, but they in no way show you just how beautiful these products truly are!!  I hope you take a look!

I'm still really busy with my loom knitting!  I so love it!!  I have gotten a few orders too!  I also have donated many newborn caps to the local hospital; as well as chemo caps to a local cancer center.  My dad also has some that he has taken to a couple of places in Kansas, as well!  I am currently working on a baby blanket for a friend of mine.  It's for her brother who is a Marine.  They know they are having a boy, so I am making a cap and blanket in the Winter Camo yarn!  It is really PRETTY!!! Can't wait to show it to you!! 

Oh yea, and also for February was the SUPER BOWL!!!!  I liked both teams, but was really glad to see the Saints take the win since they've never been there before!!! What an accomplishment!! 

With that said, it's time for me to close, so I can get to one of my cleaning jobs.  I hope you all have had a great day!!