Author: jachancellor

Daughter of the King, wife to hubby David, Mom to Carmen and Stephen. Lover of the Razorbacks, Gastric Sleeve 5/16/16, Lupus Warrior.
family · memories

Family

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David and I traveled to Texas over Thanksgiving.  It was a great drive, enjoyable for both of us. 

Discovering family, meeting cousins – lots of cousins, great food, and conversation of past lives was wonderful for me.  I hadn’t realized how much I needed family. 

 David at Andy’s home (beautiful patio – beautiful home)
 Josh and Garrett
 Aunt Clariece, Aunt Barbara (Jake’s wife), and me.
 Trish, and Allison
 Jordan, David, Susan, Josh, and Cathy
 Garrett and Julie (who is pregnant with twin girls!)
 Andy, Jordan (back of him anyway), Garrett and my Uncle Jake (with Coco)
Sitting out around the fire pit.
me, my Uncle Jake, and David
Sorry about the picture quality —copied over from Facebook.
This was a wonderful visit filled with regret, love, and new beginnings.
Family is important, years and excuses shouldn’t get in the way.
I can offer this from now on…no more excuses for keeping in touch.
 Blessings!
family · Random Stuff

Family – lost and found

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Here is a short history of me.  My father Jerry David was killed during active duty in Germany 3 months before I was born.  My parents were living on an Army base in Germany, 1966.  My mother, Lore, went to live with my father’s family in Livingston, Texas.  I was born in August of 1966, in Nederland, Texas.  My grandparents, 2 uncles, and aunt helped my mother with me and my colic.  Not a easy time for anyone especially me. 

For many reasons, my mother left their care and moved to Enterprise, Alabama. She had a support network, and felt this was her best move.  I don’t really now specifics, mainly due to my Mom being quiet about it.  She didn’t speak much of bad things in her life.  She loved Jerry, and felt she was doing what was best for us.

We visited often when I was young.  Not many memories, but I have pictures, and plan to ask who is who.  My Mom remarried when I was 3, Leroy Thurman, and he raised me as his own.  I really didn’t know anyone else.  Once they were married, I remember traveling once, maybe twice, to see them.  But it just didn’t work out to visit them. We did visit my mothers family in Germany, and they are precious to me. But…

Life went on, and I didn’t see my paternal family again until I was 17.  It was a short weekend, and as a teenager, didn’t really want to spend it with my Mamaw.  She was a strong lady, and able to do much.  In the last bit of years of my life, I have lost many family members, including my Mamaw, and Mom.  Only through Facebook, have I reconnected with my Aunt Clairece, and through her my Uncle Jake.

We plan to travel to Spring, Texas, where my Uncle Jake and Aunt Barbara live.  It will be a short trip, mainly to retrieve a piece of furniture from my Mom (left long ago with my Mamaw), and the property is being sold – so I have been offered the piece.  The furniture isn’t the main reason I am wanting to travel.  I want to hear about my grandparents, father, and family.

I pray that I laugh much, and cry much.  I hope to have memories to pass on to my children of my father, and family.

Lost and found.  Sometimes, it can be found just in piece of furniture.

Blessings.
Jerry Ann

pumpkin seeds · Recipes

Pumpkin Seeds

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Every October, we attend a families Fall Festival of sorts.  The kids can either color or carve pumpkins, 

bob for apples, eat yummy things, and run around like there is no tomorrow.
Carmen had to work, so David, Stephen and I went.  
It was a beautiful evening, not too hot or too cold.
Stephen was the oldest in attendance this year, but he still loves every minute. 
He immediately went to carving his pumpkin.

He carved his pumpkin, and tried to salvage the seeds for me.  

This pumpkin looks bothered to me. Not at all happy about the carving.

I rinsed the seeds when we got home (this did take more than just a rinse
to get all of the strings of pumpkin off).
Patted them dry with paper towels.
I used a Tablespoon of olive oil, and some kosher salt.
Baked for 10 at 350 degrees, then turned or tossed.
Baked for another 10-12 minutes or until dry.
Cool, and they are ready to snack on.  
They were really yummy, but David thought they were too dry.
Stephen and I enjoyed them. 
So, next time you carve a pumpkin, save your seeds!
Enjoy!
cranky · lupus

Lupus

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I have been in a flare (fever, inflammation, fatigue).  I apologize for not posting anything in the past weeks.  It has seemed like it has been forever ago.  I was really bad and in bed Sunday evening, and Monday.  I went back to work on Tuesday with my fever, and left a little early.  It wasn’t enough rest.  Today is Wednesday, and my longest day at church (work, and then dinner with family, then bible study).  I didn’t make it.  I am home when I normally just finish up with the girls.  This will pass, and I will be better—just need to rest a lot more.

Bear with me.  Hopefully, I will catch up this weekend.
Hope all is well with all of you.

Blessings.
Jerry Ann

MIA · Random Stuff

Missing In Action

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Well, I will try to be short and sweet. I haven’t had time to sit and write, let alone upload pictures, post blogs, etc.  Family and extended family in many different directions this weekend, and tomorrow is Wednesday.  (And, yes, I know all of you do this as well.)  I promise to catch up this weekend, and to get back on track.

I will have menu’s for the following week as well.

Have a blessed week.

Love,
Jerry Ann

Oven Roasted Potato Fries · Recipes · weekly menu

Chuck’s Oven Roasted Potato ‘Fries’

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David and I were watching the Cooking Network the other day, and came across a show by the name of “Chucks Day Off.”  The host is Chuck, and he was very down to earth, and cooked some really interesting recipes.  One of which we tried tonight.

I am sticking with my menu from October 4th with the London Broil, onions and mushrooms, and my ratatouille.  So we normally have rice or some other potato.  It has been cooler lately, and we have the windows open.  I was working on the broil, onions and mushrooms, and watching Carmen try to cut the vegetables for the ratatouille.  David did the potatoes this evening.

Here is the recipe:

4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled
3 – 4 Tablespoon olive oil
a pinch of sea salt
a grinding of black pepper (which we forgot)
a few sprinkles of smoked paprika
a few sprinkles of steak spice or seasoning

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut potatoes into nice thick “handcut fry slices.”  Place in a large bowl and cover with cold water.  It helps to remove excess starch.  Drain and pat dry on a paper towel.  Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with the oil, sprinkle with the salt, pepper and paprika.  Bake until tender and golden crispy outside – 35 to 40 minutes.

I forgot to take before pictures.
They turned out really nice and crisp.
And they were an excellent compliment to the London Broil, and ratatouille.
Enjoy!
praline-apple bread · Recipes

Praline-Apple Muffins!

jachancellor1 Comment

I know!
Can’t believe it…I thought about doing this when I first saw the recipe.  After making the bread, and Lisa offering it at her home (after I shared a piece of the bread!), it was going to be done.

Same recipe as here:

Praline-Apple Bread

But, I made them into muffins instead.  The batch made 18 muffins.  
I baked them at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.  
I used my Pampered Chef muffin stones (I have both
the 12 muffin pan, and 6 muffin pan.)
I sprayed the stones with a non-stick cooking spray, and didn’t use the flour.
I used the foil in between the muffins and cooling rack (gooey mess).
And topped the muffins with the sugar glaze.
I love these.
I like that it is more of a serving size, 
and that the bread isn’t too crumbly when sliced.
No slicing here.
My taste testers have agreed. 
This is much better than the bread.
Hope you try them as well.
Enjoy!
weekly menu

Menu for October 4th

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Menu for September 27thRECAP
Monday:  Calzones, cucumber salad.  (didn’t have these – we ended up eating the Rouladen, boiled noodles, and cucumber salad – at least I had some part of it!)
Tuesday:  Baked chicken breasts, my ratatouille version with zucchini, yellow squash, and onions We grilled the chicken breasts instead of baking them, BUT we ate them, and my ratatouille!  Yes!! Success!
Wednesday:  Church – pork chops, macaroni and cheese, salad  Once again!!! We ate as a family at church.
Thursday: I have a stampin’ workshop (Julie =)) to attend for a friend, so we might get to eat out before I go?  I ate at Lisa’s (which was wonderful!), and David had a sandwich.
Friday: Meat Loaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green beans —this did NOT happen.  David worked on our computers at work, and it was a beautiful evening, we didn’t have date night…so we went to Sonic, and enjoy our dinner in our car with the windows rolled down.  Wonderful.
Progress I suppose.  At least part of last week was accomplished.  I will be posting the Roladen recipe later today (when I make it for supper, dinner, or whenever).

Okay – well here goes…!

Menu for October 4th

Monday:  London Broil with sauteed onions and mushrooms, ratatouille (we have lots of squash and zucchini)
Tuesday:  Meat Loaf – we have been planning this one for a couple of weeks now…let’s see what happens.
Wednesday:  Church meal – Fried Chicken.
Thursday: Date night.  I am not sure about this one…we will have to see how our meals go the rest of the week.
Friday:  I am off this day, and plan to organize my portion of the office (yes, I plan to take before and after pictures)…so I am not sure what we will do.  Might end up doing the calzones that I planned several weeks ago and have not made.  Oh, well.
Saturday:  Mexican – taco meat, burritos, Spanish rice, refried black beans.
Sunday:  Plan to make chicken – n – dumplings.  We will have to see how the rest of the week goes.

Have a great week!
Enjoy!

comfort food · fried noodles · Recipes

Comfort Food

jachancellor1 Comment
Everyone has a comfort food.  Many of us have several comfort foods. 

Leftover noodles is one of mine, but they have to be fried. 
I know not the healthiest, but it is something my Mom always did.

Leftover wide egg noodles (that were served with Rouladen).
Place the noodles in a hot pan, add some butter and season salt.
And cook, leave them alone and hear the sizzle.
After about 8 to 10 minutes, turn over the noodles, browning or crisping the other side.
Add eggs.  (I generally use two for a larger amount of noodles.)
Stir quickly to coat the noodles with the eggs.
Cook until the egg is done.
I served this with some leftover Rouladen.  
But sometimes just fried noodles are perfect.
Enjoy!
encourage · Prayer · Random Stuff

Today’s Daily Devotion

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Then he said to me: “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth; “Every thief shall be expelled,” according to this side of the scroll; and, “Every perjurer shall be expelled,” according to that side of it.”  Zechariah 5:3 NKJV

I am struggling with this, especially today.  This is my devotion today, and the little story that came with it was about a woman witnessing another woman shoplift.  She did nothing about it, and thanked the security cameras so that she didn’t have to confront the person or security to take up her time.  The decision of confronting the person or turning her in was a difficult one.  Is it to be made?  All of us sin.  We are all forgiven if we choose it.

The prayer that went along was this:
Dear Lord, heavenly Father, I pray for Your righteous justice for this woman and for everyone, because we’re all sinners.  Bring us discernment and judgment as we go through each day, and help us to make the right decisions.  In Your holy name, amen.

I truly want to do the right thing.  Is it always what we should do?  We are supposed to confront our brother or sister in Christ when we are aware of wrong doing.  Someone else took care of that for her.    I pray that I do what God wants me to do, especially in difficult situations.  It doesn’t always work that way.

Do you watch and do nothing just to let past be the past?  Do you pray for that person that you are aware of wrong doing? I struggle with that more than anything.  Pray for the person?  Seriously?  Yes, Lord I know, what I am supposed to do, but I don’t always WANT to do it.  I don’t always want to do what people tell me to do either.  hmmm, I think I see a pattern.  It is easier sometimes not to do anything.  It causes less conflict, stress, and issues. 

Then I think about my character.  Is my witness and character what God would want it to be?  Do I show in my daily actions of doing the right thing?  Does it show that I am loving and forgiving? 

Lots to pray about today.  I pray that you have a good day, and that you make right decisions.

Blessings.