Happy Thanksgiving!

May each and every one of you, dearest friends,

have a most blessed Thanksgiving!

I am full of gratitude for you and your precious friendship-

you are a treasure, joy, and blessing to my heart!

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Thanksgiving Delight
On Thanksgiving Day we're thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.

For sun to light and warm our days,
For stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And puffy clouds of white.

We're grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound.

The list of all we're grateful for
Would fill a great big book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look! ~ Joanna Fuchs ~

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
~ Ephesians 5:20 ~

Thanksgiving Chorus

We walk on starry fields of white 
     And do not see the daisies, 
For blessings common in our sight 
     We rarely offer praises. 
We sigh for some supreme delight 
     To crown our lives with splendour, 
And quite ignore our daily store 
     Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way 
     Upon our thought and feeling; 
They hang about us all the day, 
     Our time from pleasure stealing. 
So unobtrusive many a joy 
     We pass by and forget it, 
But worry strives to own our lives, 

And conquers if we let it. 

There's not a day in all the year 
     But holds some hidden pleasure, 
And, looking back, joys oft appear 
     To brim the past's wide measure. 
But blessings are like friends, I hold, 
     Who love and labour near us. 
We ought to raise our notes of praise 

While living hearts can hear us. 

Full many a blessing wears the guise 
     Of worry or of trouble; 
Far-seeing is the soul, and wise, 
     Who knows the mask is double. 
But he who has the faith and strength 
     To thank his God for sorrow 
Has found a joy without alloy 

To gladden every morrow. 

We ought to make the moments notes 
     Of happy, glad Thanksgiving; 
The hours and days a silent phrase 
     Of music we are living. 
And so the theme should swell and grow 
     As weeks and months pass o'er us, 
And rise sublime at this good time, 

A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox ~

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Pumpkin Crumble Cake-Thanksgiving Dish #5

I shared this recipe last year before Thanksgiving and since then it has been quite the hit,
especially on Pinterest.
So I thought I would share it again in case you missed it a year ago.

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This recipe is a yummy alternative for pumpkin pie.

My husband does not care for pumpkin desserts,

yet he thoroughly enjoyed this cake - he even had seconds when I made it!

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8 X 8 pan.

Reserve 1 cup cake mix.

In a large bowl, combine the remaining dry cake mix with 1 egg and 1/2 cup melted butter.

Mix well, then pat into prepared pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup white sugar,

brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.

Pour over crust.

In a small bowl, combine reserved 1 cup cake mix, 1/2 cup sugar,

and 3 tablespoons softened butter.

Crumble over pumpkin filling.

Bake for 45 - 50 minutes.

Just look at that creamy pumpkin - yum! :)

Mmmm ... Enjoy!
Happy weekend, lovelies! 

Zucchini Casserole-Thanksgiving Dish #4

Today is a delicious zucchini casserole dish.

I don't often cook with zucchini, but this recipe is a delicious addition to any meal.

And I love that it has green chili peppers in it since they are a staple in our house :)

So for this tasty zucchini, rice, and tomato casserole you are going to need:

1 cup uncooked long grain rice

3 medium zucchini, cut into 1/8-inch slices

1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies (I used 4 fresh roasted chilies)

4 cups (16 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, divided 

2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream

2 tablespoons chopped onion, optional

1 tablespoon fresh parsley

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 large tomato, sliced

Cook rice according to package directions.

In a saucepan, cook zucchini in 1 in. of water until crisp-tender;

drain and set aside.

In a bowl, combine the sour cream, chilies, onion, parsley, salt, oregano, and pepper.

Set aside.

Place rice in a greased shallow 3-qt. baking dish.

Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of cheese onto the rice.

Spread the sour cream mixture over the cheese.

Layer with zucchini and tomato.

Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Spray a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray (this keeps the cheese from sticking)

and cover the dish.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Uncover and bake for 5 - 10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Enjoy your Thursday, friends!

Pumpkin Chocolate Strudel-Thanksgiving Dish #3

Okay, I will be honest that I was very hesitant to try this

since chocolate with pumpkin just didn't sound "right."

And that's saying a lot for me since I love chocolate with just about anything!

I gave it a try and I was pleasantly surprised!

Even my sweetie pie was asking for seconds and thirds :)

Ingredients needed:

1 package (4 ounce) cream cheese, softened

1 large egg yolk

1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

2 pie crusts

1/2 cup chopped pecans or slivered almonds

milk

confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, egg yolk, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and pumpkin

until well blended.

Stir chocolate chips into cream cheese mixture.

Chill for 10 minutes.

On a cutting board, roll out one pie crust.

Sprinkle crust evenly with granulated sugar and 1/4 cup pecans or almonds.

Spread half of the cream cheese mixture in a strip across the top of crust.

Starting at the filled edge, roll dough into a log and place onto prepared cookie sheet.

Repeat with remaining crust and filling.

Brush the tops of pie crust with a small amount of milk 

and sprinkle with granulated sugar and cinnamon.

Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until crisp and golden.

Cool 5 minutes and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

To serve, slice into 1-inch slices.

What pumpkin recipe do you enjoy?

Hugs to you!

Husband's Favorite Jello Salad-Thanksgiving Dish #2

My darling husband enjoys a good jello salad and this one is a favorite.

Every Thanksgiving meal with my family we always have some kind of jello salad

so it would seem odd without one :)

Do you have a favorite jello salad recipe?

Ingredients:

1 box (3.5 ounce) instant pistachio pudding

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup mini marshmallows

1 can (15 ounce) mandarin oranges

Whip up 1 cup whipping cream with mixer and pour into a medium bowl.

Add the pudding, marshmallows, and oranges with the juice.

Mix together until well blended and chill for at least 30 minutes in refrigerator.
** TIP **
I like to make this salad the night before - it turns out perfectly when you let it sit for hours.

May you have a beautiful day!

Thank you for your sweet visits :)

So Good Pumpkin Cake-Thanksgiving Dish #1

This week I thought I would share five dishes that go along with a Thanksgiving meal.

I am going to share a couple of side dishes and a few desserts starting today

and going through to Friday.

Thanksgiving is only 10 days away - what are some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes?

Since dessert is my favorite part of the meal

I figured I would start with this delicious pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting.

I have shared in the past that my husband is not much of a dessert guy

and he especially doesn't like pumpkin, but guess what?

He loved this cake :)

Ingredients for the cake:

4 eggs

1 2/3 cups sugar

1 cup canola oil

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3 - 4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Mix the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin with a mixer until light and fluffy.

Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in another bowl.

Pour flour mixture into pumpkin mixture and stir until incorporated and smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth out.

Bake for 35 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and allow to cool.

To make the frosting:

Combine cream cheese and butter in a bowl and mix until smooth.

Slowly add the sugar until you reach the desired consistency.

Stir in the vanilla.

After allowing the cake to cool, spread the frosting on and sprinkle some cinnamon on

for an extra yumminess :)

ENJOY!

Blessings to you, delightful friends!

Like A River Glorious

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious in its bright increase;

Perfect yet it floweth fuller every day,

Perfect yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do-

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Chorus

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest-

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

~ Frances R. Havergal ~

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

** Click here for last Sunday's post on peace. **

Every Waking Moment - Book Review

Treha Langsam is a mysterious young woman 

working with the elderly at Desert Gardens.

She is quiet, does not smile, and shows no emotion,

yet she can touch someones life and bring them out of their dementia

back to a life of vibrant, if only temporary, clarity.

The people that see Treha bring an elderly person back to clarity 

believe she has a beautiful gift.

Treha does not remember much from her past 

and has no idea as to how she learned to use this precious gift.

A documentary team gathering stories from the elderly stumbles onto Treha's story

and the search for her past begins.

Treha and those who love her begin tackling difficult questions as they search for her past.

What is the story behind this mysterious yet remarkable young lady

and are the answers worth finding out?

My Thoughts

When I first began reading Every Waking Moment 

I had an extremely difficult time getting into the story

and thought maybe I would not make it to the last chapter.

But the further I progressed in the book

the more my attention was grabbed by Treha's story

until I was in love with this dear young lady.

Here you have a woman who struggles with certain issues in life

yet she continues to push through the difficulties to find the answers.

Treha is a real woman with real problems just like you and me 

and she learns to cope and deal with each difficult step.

Chris Fabry writes a wonderful book about blessed hope and sweet redemption.

The first thing that stood out to me was the fact that Chris 

wrote about salvation through Jesus Christ within the first 2 chapters.

That shows to me what is important to this author and I greatly appreciated this.

When I was almost to the middle of the book I was encouraged by what he wrote

in the 18th chapter:

"How did you learn so much about the Bible?"

"Only one way to learn and that's to open and read it.

Ask questions.

Listen to others who know it better than you do.

And stay away from people who think they have God figured out

or who say they know the code.

You come to the Bible humbly and admit you don't know everything - that's the key."

The book may have been slow for me in the beginning, but it sure did have an incredible ending

and I would definitely recommend this book.

There are many lessons and good values to learn from Every Waking Moment.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

Yo-Yo Coasters

Hello, lovely friends!

I hope your week is going well and you are enjoying the Autumn days.

I wanted to share with you some yo-yo coasters I made a while ago.

If you have been following my blog for a while 

than you know I love using fabric yo-yo's for all kinds of things :)

I have these coasters out in my living room to use for setting drinking glasses on,

but they look cute anywhere and for anything.

To make some fabric yo-yo's you will need several 3.5 x 3.5 -inch circles.

Fold the edge in and sew a running stitch along the edge 

with a sewing needle and matching thread.

Once you are done sewing pull the thread and tie a knot

and you should have a nice circular yo-yo.

To attach the yo-yo's for a coaster you will need to put two yo-yo's right sides together.

Hand sew a small area to attach the yo-yo's together.

Continue doing this until you have attached 7 yo-yo's together to form a flower shape.

And voila! You should have a lovely yo-yo coaster :)

Once you are done you may want to lightly press it with an iron.

I also made a yo-yo doily by making the coaster bigger.

And it works great as a potholder for serving dishes.

Have a splendid day, friends!

Thanks for stopping by.

Thank You, Veteran's

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

who has given us the right to vote.

~ Unknown ~

My heart is full of gratitude for the men and women who have fought

and will continue to fight for our freedom and our country.

These two words seems so inadequate to express how much appreciation I have for our military,

but thank you!

Thank you for everything!

God Our Peace

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost."

~ Romans 15:13 ~

Jesus is the author and giver of inner peace

and this peace cannot be experienced apart from a relationship with Him.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,

by him to reconcile all things unto himself;

by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

~ Colossians 1:20 ~

We must first put our faith in the precious blood of God's Son, Jesus Christ,

and then we will begin to experience the inner joy and peace 

that only the Lord brings to a believers life.

Peace is the absence of fear and turmoil in our hearts.

As a believer, having peace in our hearts should be a normal state of mind

and it can be as long as we remember God's precious promises and rely upon them.

We cannot make our own peace and joy, but we can find it in our Lord and Savior.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, we are promised abundant peace.

He alone makes it possible for us to know the quiet sense of calm assurance.

"Let the world rage and let the storms come - God does not change

and is not perturbed one bit.

He still calms the raging storm and still turns disasters into opportunities.

He can still make beauty out of ashes,

heal wounded hearts, and transform broken hearts and lives.

He chases away every fear and fills the heart with joy

amid the darkest storms of life.

One must simply believe and seek Him."

~ Debi Pryde - Glimpses of God ~

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Nana Diana & Her Apple Cake

The last dear lady I would like to introduce you to is Diana who blogs at

Nana Diana Takes A Break.

Where do I begin with Diana.....she is a one-of-a kind lady :)

Whenever I need a smile for the day I visit Diana at her blog

because she is always full of fun and laughter - there is never a dull moment with Diana.

She's not only funny, she's also a sweetheart.

I have never met Diana in person, but through her blog she presents herself 

as a kind, loving, and very caring lady.

I appreciate Diana as a friend and I hope you go visit her-

I know you will enjoy your time at her blog.

She shared an apple cake recipe a while ago on her blog

and I made it for a Harvest Festival that my church had last week.

It was definitely a winner and I had many people telling me how tasty it was.

I did make a few changes only because my niece can't eat anything with dairy

so I used margarine instead of butter.

Diana's recipe calls for a cream cheese icing 

so instead I made an icing with confectioners' sugar, water, and vanilla and almond flavoring

and drizzled it over the top - mmmm...so yummy!.

Even with these minor changes the cake was excellent and full of flavor.

It's a great dessert for Autumn so head on over to her blog to get the recipe :)

Apple Chunk Cake

If you missed the other ladies that I introduced earlier this week than click here to meet Kitty

and click here to meet Amy.

Each lady has some amazing recipes and you won't regret visiting them :)

Have a beautiful weekend, bloggy friends!

Love and hugs.

Yumminess From Amy

On Monday I introduced you to Kitty from Kitty's Kozy Kitchen

and shared a couple of her wonderful recipes.

You can click here to read the post.

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Today I want to introduce you to kind Amy

who blogs over at 

God's Grace Overflows 

Amy shares many wonderful things on her blog and

she is a constant source of encouragement with her uplifting posts

and her words are full of God's wisdom - something I am very thankful for.

She also shares amazing food recipes.

Within 2 days I made 2 of her recipes and both were phenomenal!

The first one is her Cherry Pie Bars.

My husband ate three pieces of this dessert in one sitting

and then told me it needed to be added to his favorite dessert's list - thanks Amy :)

I would have to agree with my sweet hubby, the cherry bars are incredibly delicious!

Stop by Amy's blog to get this recipe.

Cherry Pie Bars.

And the second recipe I made from Amy was her Chili Rellano Wraps.

Another winner for my sweetie pie hubby.

Amy says you can add bacon or chicken to the rellano's so I added cooked bacon

and it was very tasty.

I had just bought a bunch of fresh roasted chilies so it was perfect timing to make this.

 Chili Rellano Wraps.

I hope you are able to stop by and visit Amy :)

Come back on Friday, sweet friends, to meet the final lady.

Hugs and blessings to you!