beginnings · Changes · Goals · Random Thoughts

Moving My Cheese

Several years ago, there was a book entitled “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson.  The basic premise of the book is there is constant change.  It is how we deal with the change that either allows us to find where our cheese has moved, or die continuing to go back where it was.


I have always been fine with change so long as it was me doing the changing.  You know what I mean…when we manage the control…everything is fine.  I have had this as my mantra for a while now (since reading the book I believe).  Moving my cheese…is happening now.  


I have been looking to do something different for a while now, and I am taking a leap of faith.  


I will update once everything is in place.  Prayers appreciated.

Blessings,
Jerry Ann

gardens · memories · Tomatoes

My Tomato

I grew up with a smallish garden that my parents lived on year after year. I have missed those vegetables for almost twenty years now.

I have tried many times growing tomatoes. This year I have finally tasted one.

This is my little one. Tasted just like it came from my parents garden. It was yummy.

Trying something different can be a good thing right? I think this year it will be a tomato.

Blessings!

Changes · family

Changes

Changes.  There are always changes.  Seasons of life.  Birth. Youth.  Single Adult. Married. Children. Divorced. Widowed. Death.  We can count on these things, just like taxes.  ha.

Changes are once again happening around our house.  Carmen has moved back home from college.  Summer is almost upon us.  Another year has gone by.

My hubby has accepted a job offer to do computer work in Afghanistan.  He will be gone a year, and that is to begin very soon.  We are trying to accept the next year joyfully, gratefully, anxiously.

We were talking tonight, and he said to me, “I’m not nervous about my physical safety, I am nervous about missing you.”  I melted, and try my best not to cry.  I somewhat held it together.

My precious daughter said this, “My mother landed the lead role in a Nicholas Sparks movie.  My standards have been set.”  I lost it with her.  This meant the world to me.  We (kids and I) have struggled for the right man to be in our lives, and we have found him.  God blessed us, and we are truly grateful.  I am grateful that my daughter has a Godly man in her life, and that she has a standard for marriage.


We try to do our best daily. Moment by moment.  I just try to keep up.  We all do right? 


Prayers for traveling mercies appreciated.  Prayers for our most immediate needs to be covered.  I know that we will be provided for, always have been.  Prayers for David with endurance, strength and time to pass quickly.


Blessings today and always.


Jerry Ann

love · Mom · Mother's Day

Letter from a Mother to a Daughter

This was going around Facebook, and I thought I would copy it here. Fitting time of year with Mother’s Day coming in a few weeks.  I miss my Mom, and am sad to say that I was impatient with her many times.  


Love your Mom while she is here.  
Blessings,
Jerry Ann






Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: 


“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. 


Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? 


When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. 


Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I have always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter. “

cheese · Prism Diet · Recipes · Stuffed Mini Peppers

Mini Stuffed Pepper

This is another recipe for my LIFESTYLE change.  Or I should say, my attempt at my lifestyle change.  Habits are hard to break, and I have developed lots of food habits.  I have slowly conquered some, and have many more to go.

These are a delicious alternative to fried stuffed peppers and are only 60 calories per pepper.

 I found these small bell peppers at Publix in vege section.  I have grown to 
love them too much!  They come in a small or large bag, and we have 
graduated to the large bag – ha.
They come in red, yellow and orange colors.
Stuffed Mini Peppers
1/4 cup of low fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese – grated
1/2 cup of Italian blend low fat cheese
Cracked black pepper – to taste
Minced garlic if you like (truly optional)
Cut the top off of the pepper and scrap out the seeds.  Rinse and dry.
Blend the cheese together, and add the seasonings.
Stuff each pepper 3/4 of the way full.  Lean against your muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on how “roasted” or “crisp” you like your peppers.
I eat these as a snack or as a vegetable side with dinner.
Enjoy!!
Uncategorized

forever…

I don’t know why I haven’t been here in forever.  I am sorry.  I will post recipes this weekend that I have been cooking, and will catch you up on our happenings.

Blessings.
Jerry Ann
black beans · corn · crock pot · crockpot yum · diet · Recipes · salsa · southwest chicken stew

Crockpot Yum

I have been on the Prism diet for a little bit, and have lost a little. This soup/stew makes it much easier to do. And this soup is down right yummy! For 250 calories per cup, and I am full with 1 1/2 cups. No pictures this time, or the last time, but I will try the next time.


Crockpot Yum

3 frozen chicken breasts
2 jars picante sauce 12 oz (I used medium salsa)
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans corn drained
1 brick cream cheese 1/3 less fat

Layer in a crock pot, cook on high until chicken is done, or at least six hours. Take out chicken breasts and shred with a fork. Place chicken back into pot, and stir in cream cheese. Cook another 30 minutes. Serve hot. 

My hubby likes it with tortilla chips, as does my 15 year old son. He will eat four cups if I would let him. Enjoy!

Crock Pot Morning Casserole · desserts · double layer pumpkin pie · GF · gluten free · No Bake Cookies · Recipes · slush · Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Desserts

Yes, I am very aware of the date…and the lack of posting.  But, I promised these recipes from Thanksgiving, so:

Crock Pot Morning Casserole
1 – 32 oz bag frozen has brown potatoes
1 lb. of bacon diced, cooked and drained
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Place a layer of the potatoes on the bottom, followed by bacon, then onions, pepper, and cheese.  Repeat and end with cheese.  Beat the eggs, milk and salt and pepper together. Pour over the layers, and cover turn on low.  Cook for 10 hours.

***I liked the convenience of this recipe (found on Pinterest).  I will say it is bland, very bland.  I used red bell pepper, and in the future I will use sausage for more flavor.

 Layers before cheese.
 Everything in, and ready to cook.
I said this earlier, I liked this, but it needed more uumph.
I will add dried mustard (like in regular breakfast casseroles), and sausage.
No Bake Cookies (pinterest)
2 cups sugar
1 stick butter (unsalted)
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups oatmeal (old fashioned rolled oats, not instant)
Mix the sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk in a medium saucepan.  Bring to boil, and boil for 1 minute.  Add the peanut butter, and vanilla.  Mix quickly until peanut butter melts, then add oatmeal and mix until blended.
Drop by spoonfuls on tin foil (I used parchment), and allow to set and cool completely.
Depending on the drop size, will make 2 to 3 dozens cookies.

 These are highly addictive, and yummy.
Sensational Double Layer Pumpkin Pie
(My mother’s recipe)
4 oz of cream cheese, soften
1 T milk
1 T sugar
1 1/2 cups thawed cool whip topping
1 Keebler Ready crust  (this was the recipe. We ended up making a GF pie crust from Red Mill all purpose, and butter – pre bake.)
1 cup milk 
2 pkg 14 oz jello vanilla instant pudding
1 can pumpkin (16 oz)
1 t ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves (I used pumpkin pie spice – it was nice)
Mix cream cheese, milk and sugar in a large bowl until smooth.  Gently stir in whipped topping.  Spread on bottom of crust. Pour 1 cup milk into bowl.  Add pudding mix. Beat with whisk until well blended (mixture should be thick).  Stir in pumpkin, and spices and mix well.  Spread over cream cheese layer.  Refrigerate a least 3 hours to set. Garnish with additional whipped cream and nuts if desired.
Forgot to take pictures of the process (and I had a helper), but as you can see, 
the crust turned out nice.  It was a yummy, different pie for Thanksgiving.
Slush (this has many different names, but this is what my Mom called it)
1 cup flour (once again, Red Mill All Purpose)
1 stick butter (unsalted)
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
1 8 oz cool whip
2 packages chocolate pudding (you can use any flavor here, but my favorite is chocolate)
2 cups milk
Pecans, and shaved chocolate for topping
9×9 pan – melt butter in pan in a 350 degree oven.  Once melted, add flour and nuts.  Pressed down, carefully, to make the crust.  Bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes).  Cool.
Beat cream cheese with sugar until creamy.  Fold in cool whip.  Spread on the cooled crust.  Mixed pudding and milk (should thicken), pour over cream cheese.  Spread remaining cool whip on top.  Sprinkle with extra pecans and chocolate shavings if you have them.
Once again, no photo’s of the process, but this is as yummy as this looks.
Always, a favorite of mine, and crust turned out just as yummy.
I will say, that with the GF flour, you may want to use 3/4 cup instead of a full cup.  
It was a little doughy for me, but everyone loved it.
So, there you finally have them.  Sorry about the delay, too many things going on, as you are aware.
Enjoy!!
Love,
Jerry Ann
anniversary · beginnings · lupus · Random Thoughts · sjogrens syndrom

Answers…

I have been praying for answers for a long time now. I think we all do, in all aspects of our lives. I have been diagnoised with Lupus in May of 2008. Lots of steps in that direction, and more confusion. Yesterday I was diagnoised with Sjogrens Syndrome, and Raynauds. My new doctor is wonderful and ended my session with “you are weird.” Really? I have known that for a long while. I start Methotrexate tomorrow, and I am terrified. Terrified of what it will do to my body, and terrified what this disease has already done to my body and mind. I am positive to everyone, the majority of the time. God has provided me with a tremendous peace, and I do my best to portray God’s peace. It is so hard. Hard. I so want to scream, and kick, to be mad at God. Today, I had a precious friend call just to check on me. She cried when she heard what I am going through. I was strong with that conversation, but the moment I hung up, I cried. Terrified once again. I believe that I am saved by grace, and will be healed completely. There are moments of doubt when I try to control, but I come back to rejoicing in the Lord. Always. Phil. 4:4. Answers are only the beginning. Blessings. Jerry Ann

Uncategorized

Smells Continued…

Okay…

Mine is cinnamon rolls baking on Christmas morning.  Mom never hand made them, so I don’t have to make them.  I do buy the yeast kind to bake. They rise up so very yummy, and then the icing. Perfect for Christmas morning.

As a parent coffee is more important these days, but oh, that cinnamon.

Blessings.
Jerry Ann