Tiramasu and My Favorite Things

The first time I had Tiramasu was at a restaurant with my grandaughter Paige. She spent the summer with me when she was 14 and we went to Olive Garden. That evening is now one of my favorite things.

Tiramasu Bowl

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
48 NILLA Wafers
1/2 cup brewed strong Coffee, cooled, 2
2 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, coarsely grated
1 cup fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries

BEAT cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Beat in milk and pudding mixes. Stir in 2 cups COOL WHIP.

LINE 2-1/2-qt. bowl with 24 wafers; drizzle with 1/4 cup coffee. Top with half each pudding mixture and chocolate. Repeat all layers.

TOP with remaining COOL WHIP and raspberries. Refrigerate 2 hours. Refrigerate leftovers.

Makes 16 servings

This morning when I woke up the song that popped into my head was My Favorite Things. Who would have thought "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, brown copper kettle and warm woolen mittens..." personal rememberances would be such a hit and people would relate to it. I started remembering my favorite things like my dad putting me in a snowsuit before I was old enough to go to school and convincing me even though it had pants, it was not boys clothes (I was very girly). I remember crying when I my baby sister was born. My dad asked me why I was crying and I remember saying "because I am a big girl now and you can't carry me to bed anymore"... the thoughts we have when we are four. He carried me everywhere that day and made sure he carried me to bed that night. I remember my first trip to the ocean when I was 9 with my uncle and bringing my mom back a teddy bear and her crying. I remember my son crying when the dandilions he picked for me blew away in the wind and holding his hand while we found other flowers.

The "treasures" I have are hand-made cards and things my children drew at school and sometimes the most valuable treasures are not as simple as the softness of the fur of kittens or the sweet smell of babies. Some of my treasures and favorite things are mixed with tears as my life changes and my place in the lives of others changes too. We nurture, we love and we let go because that is what life requires and it is good.

The chorus of another song comes to my mind.. "and now, let the weak say I am strong. Let the poor say I am rich because of what the Lord had done for us... give thanks".

Matthew 6:19-21 do not store up your treasures on earth...store up your treasures in heaven... for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Love,
Nana

Cranberry-Orange Relish and Were Rich!!!

It is one week before Thanksgiving and I am remembering the first time Tina made cranberry-orange relish. She was 11 and we lived on the coast of NC. After that year it was a tradition as long as she lived at home. Now she lives in CO and I am here in the desert of AZ. I miss her.


Cranberry-Orange Relish(no cooking)

1 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries
1 medium orange with peel (seeds removed and quartered)
3/4 to 1 cup sugar

Put the cranberries and orange in the blender or food processer. Chop fine. Put in a bowl and stir in sugar. Refrigerate several hours before serving for best flavor. This is wonderful on turkey sandwiches or as a relish for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Were Rich!

Thanksgiving 1999 was a special day for our family. That is the day we returned from Russia with our newly adopted son and daughter. They knew less than six words in English but some things are understood in universal languages. In the early morning most of us were still asleep from the long flight but Susan and her dad (she calls him "Papa" because "dad" in Russian means uncle) were up and wide awake. He took her with him to the store because we had no milk, bread or fresh fruit having been away for a while. When she went into the store, the first thing she saw was aisles and aisles of fresh vegetables and fruit. She would point to what she wanted and of course melted her dad's heart. She could not wait to tell her brother, Chris, what she saw. We did not understand their language but we understood their hugs, huge eyes and excitement as she pulled things out of the bag one by one. A few days later, the girl we hired to help me teach them English translated what they were saying to us. "We are rich! We never saw so much food and we can have as much as we want!" How could you not fall in love with such innocent appreciation of simple things we take for granted.

At this Thankgiving season please remember who makes all things possible.
Psalms 71 19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies,oh God; you who have done great things.

Love,
Nana

Sassafras and Gentle Hands

This post is dedicated to Wendi, Connie and Rebecca who prayed with me even though we were apart. It is also for Lou because she wanted to come to visit for Thanksgiving but plans did not work out for her to do that. They are my sisters and have been part of joy and sadness in my life and I am grateful God brought them to me. I thank Him that when I needed them, He brought gentle hands to my life.

Sassafras Tea

In the mountains of East TN and southwest VA there grows a tree. My grandmother called it the "headache tree" and the dried root was boiled to make a soothing tea. Children were not allowed to drink it but the smell of the root boiling was heavenly. My mother loved that drink and in the fall her brother would bring a little of the root to her. Most people said it was an old wives tale that it could thin your blood until it actually came through your skin but eventually science proved this to be true. It soothed headaches when used in moderation because it is a natural blood thinner. Somebody decided the taste would make a good soft drink. Maybe you have tried it... it is called Root Beer and now you know the name of the root that it was named for.

Gentle Hands

Over the years God has brought gentle hands to me. One sat with me at the dam and we drank in the beauty of the mountains. Another met me in the desert to give me a cactus to remind me that no matter how hard things get, there is always someone who loves us. I appreciate these moments but never so much as the gentle hands folded in prayer for me this week.

When things are hard for you, I hope you feel gentle hands of friends and know you are loved.

Psalms 100:5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Love,
Nana

Jolly Meals and Music to my ears

This blog is dedicated to all my children but especially to Tina and Scott who always found a way to make the most mundane things of life interesting and to Susan who is learning the same tune.

Jolly Meals

Fast food places quickly eat into your budget, so Scott became the first customer in our "home based" restaurant.

A "jolly" meal is better than a "Happy Meal" from you-know-where or a Kids meal from anywhere else. It is a favorite sandwich or left over, a piece of fruit/chips, a drink and a prize. It may be a sticker or a cool pencil but the time spent with the kids was worth much more than the fast food. If we were fortunate our hero "Question Man" might make a surprise visit and answer any question you may have. ("Scotty knows"). One thing that made this time and our relationship special was making the little ones know that they are special. I am very blessed to have such special time with Scott and later Paige and Corey. A simple thing like lunch with a toddler can be a special memory. Now, I have those times with James, Katie and PJ and it Susan who is coming up with the prize ideas and the meals that work for picky eaters. Paige, Corey, James, Katie and PJ are second generation Jolly Meal customers. They are my reminders that life is not perfect but it is good.

Music to my ears...

I know what you may be thinking. When the children said "thank you" or "I love you mom" or maybe when they were sleeping and I could hear their gentle breathing. Those were all good but the music to my ears was when my teenagers said they were "bored" or when I asked them "what are you doing?" and they said "noooothing. There is nothing to do". That is when they stepped into the trap of the meanest mom in the world. Yes, I admit that I had that title even if it was not openly spoken, I know it. My response was always "good there is laundry to be folded" (or some other menial chore). It was never a planned thing; it is just the way life happens.

This idea, as unfair or clever as it sounds (depending on if you are the parent or teenager) was not my own. It has been handed down for ages by others who were the "meanest mom in the world" to their children. Mothers are not perfect and if there was an award for the least perfect, I would at least be a nominee I can never be a perfect mom but I am thankful that we all have a perfect Father and I think if we go to Him and say "I'm bored" with an open heart, He will use us to better our life and others. He has always existed and always will be the same perfect and faithful Father forever.

Psalms 119:90 "Your faithfulness continues through all generations;you established the earth and it endures". I take this to mean, to serve Him,we must accept there will always be "mean moms". It is not the easiest path but He will help the least of His children (me) turn to Him, my perfect father, for forgiveness and guidance when I fail Him and others. His faithfulness endures.

Love,
Nana