This week....

.... has been crazy busy. Here are a few things I'll remember:

We had a wonderful visit with Scott's parents and sister. They were here for just a couple of days, but it was so nice visiting and getting to know them better. They came to church with us and the gals came to Young Women's with me. His mom and dad also had a few days to tour some fun sites in Nashville and were impressed I think. They also brought me a bag of biscuit mix from the famous "Loveless Cafe". I made them, and they are the best biscuits ever. No wonder they're famous.

Scott ran his first marathon on Saturday and was making awesome time, until mile 21 when the city shut it down! I guess there were some questionable storm cells and the chance of tornadoes became too dangerous (not a thing happened BTW), so they made all the runners stop. HE WAS SO IRRITATED!!! Scott was on track to finish his 26 miles in about 4 hours and 20 minutes, which is awesome for his first time... so, he is now searching for the next closest marathon so he can achieve his goal. What a bummer, eh?

I was one of three gals throwing a baby shower Saturday night when, an hour before getting started, the guest of honor called and told me she was on her way to the hospital. What?!!! She had her baby 20 minutes into her shower and we all cheered. It was a fun night anyway, and a funny story. Thankfully, she was fine, the baby's fine and all's well that ends well. he he

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

I don't know about you guys, but I'm loving this spring weather! Being outside is a joy after the long cold winter we've had, AND being able to finally open my grill and cook dinner without making a mess inside is awesome! So, here is an easy recipe that I may have already shared before, but either way, try it if you haven't. It's really delicious and super fast.

Bruschetta Chicken from Kraft Foods-

Ingredients:
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing, divided
1 tomato, finely chopped
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

HEAT grill to medium heat.
COVER half the grill grate with sheet of heavy-duty foil. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag. Add 2 Tbsp. dressing; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing. Refrigerate 10 min. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and dressing.
PLACE chicken on uncovered side of grill; cover with lid. Grill 6 min. Meanwhile, combine remaining dressing, tomatoes, cheese and basil.
TURN chicken over; place on foil. Top with tomato mixture. Grill, covered, grill 8 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF).

I typically serve this on some pasta (angel hair is my favorite), with bag salad and good bread. I hope you like it.

What Kind of Worrier are You?

I just took a "Worry Profile Quiz" when I should've been in the shower, and guess what it said...... duh, what a waste of 5 minutes.

http://www.wholeliving.com/quiz/worry-profile

Gardens and Gardening

I love gardening and I love gardens. Someday, when life slows down a bit, I'd love to join a club and learn all I can about growing everything from flowers to vegetables to herbs and fruit trees... I'd also love to have a small green house to start seeds in and keep more plants alive through the winter.


These are beautiful landscape and garden pictures I've found on various blogs and websites that I love. I'm not the best gardener, but someday.

I love flowering vines! Luckily my wisteria and clematis came back this spring so I'm also considering planting a climbing hydrangea. Any thoughts???

What a beautiful garden party!

Martha's super organized and beautiful vegetable garden takes my breath away!!!

I love the wide square mulch beds under these trees. Shade gardens are among my favorites and last year I was able to find a little corner in the back of my house for one. Luckily, most of the plants lived through the past winter, but I'm thinking of adding some hellebores. Has anyone grown them before?

What kind of gardens do you have???

Happy Easter!

"My brothers and sisters, we laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. Death is our universal heritage. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectation. Nor are little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “It is appointed unto men once to die.”

And dead we would remain but for one Man and His mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, His birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed Him. Children adored Him. The haughty rejected Him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life.

Though the King of kings and Lord of lords had come, He was accorded by some the greeting given to an enemy, a traitor. There followed a mockery which some called a trial. Cries of “crucify him, crucify him” filled the air. Then commenced the climb to Calvary’s hill.
He was ridiculed, reviled, mocked, jeered, and nailed to a cross amidst shouts of “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. He saved others; himself he cannot save.”

His response: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” His body was placed by loving hands in a sepulchre hewn of stone.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with others, came to the sepulchre. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”

Next week the Christian world will celebrate the most significant event in recorded history. The simple pronouncement, “He is not here, but is risen,” was the first confirmation of the literal Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?”

To all who have lost loved ones, we would turn Job’s question to an answer: If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. “I am the resurrection, and the life,” spoke the Master. “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.

With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. “Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’ ” May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.

-Thomas S. Monson

I Love Fat and Sugar

We're going to my parents house for Easter dinner and I'm in charge of desserts. So, along with an apple pie and mini cheesecakes, I'm making the ultimate chocolate cake. I actually have a much more complicated, dark chocolate "from scratch" 3 layer cake recipe that I personally like better, but no one seems to appreciate my efforts.... so, the 20 minute chocolate cake it is. While it's not really "spring-y" or "Easter-y", it's much easier than the other, better cake recipe, and it shouldn't collapse like my beautiful Easter cake did last year, under the pendant lights on my sister-in-law's island. It really was cute while it lasted.... not the tastiest though.

Better Than "You Know What" Cake:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 can of hot fudge

1 container of whipped cream

1 Heath bar, crushed

-Bake the cake mix cake. Take it out of the oven and poke holes in it with the end of a wooden spoon. Slowly pour 1 can of condensed milk over top, and then the hot fudge. Let it cool. Top it with the whipped cream and Heath bar.

It's REALLY really good when it's chilled, and your kids are in bed, and you're watching mindless TV late at night, with some ice cold milk wearing unflattering, but oh so comfortable pj's. Mmmmmmm, I can't wait!