Happy Thanksgiving, Ya'll!

Lately I've been looking back, along this winding road

To the old familiar markers of the mercies I have known

I know it may sound simple but it's more than a cliche

There's no better way to tell you, than to say

*

God's been good in my life

I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could'

Cause through it all, God's been good

*

Times replay and I can see that I've cried some bitter tears

But I felt His arms around me, as I faced my greatest fears

You see I've had more gains than losses and I've known more joy than hurt

As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved

*

God's been good in my life

I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could

'Cause through it all, God's been good.

*

For God has been my Father, my Savior and my Friend

His love was my beginning, and His love will be my end

I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is

But the best that I can say it is this

*

God's been good in my life

I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could

'Cause through it all, God's been good

*

~Sue C. Smith & Belinda Smith~

Thanksgiving Yummies

Lord willing, my family is coming down from NC to see us today and I spent yesterday cleaning and baking for them. Won't they be surprise to find all this waiting for them??? SHHHHHHHHH! Don't tell them!

BANANA BREAD

*

Doubled the recipe I posted on here awhile back.

It made 3 small/medium loaves. Great stuff!


PHILADELPHIA NEW YORK CHEESECAKE
*
20 OREO Cookies, finely crushed(about 2 1/4 cups)
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
5 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
4 eggs
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
*
HEAT oven to 325º
LINE 13x9-inch pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Mix crumbs and butter, press onto bottom of pan.
BEAT cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan. Top with cherry pie filling before serving
*
Makes 16 servings

Instead of buying cherries for the top, I just crushed a few more Oreos and sprinkled soon after it came out of the oven.

HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PIES
*
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
Whipped cream (optional)
*
MIX sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
POUR into pie shell.
BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.
*
One pie makes 8 servings

Again, I doubled the recipe and ended up with two beautiful pies!

Can't wait to try all three!! :)
*

( recipes courtesy of cookingwithkraft.com and verybestbaking.com )

Over 82% Savings @ Publix

Total BEFORE sale and coupons: $107.87

Total AFTER sale and coupons: $18.52

*

This week included a lot of "extras" I needed for two Thanksgiving gatherings. I was thankful for the good buys and for a CVS $5/$30 coupon I used to sweeten the deal!

*

(3) Sara Lee desserts - $0.99 - $2.24 each after coupons

(1) Hellmann's Mayo - $1.75 after coupon

(1) Bird's Eye frozen corn - $0.90 after sale

(6) Ronzoni Pastas - FREE + overage after coupons

(5) Cool Whips - $0.20 - $0.75 each after sale and coupons

(2) Dole Crushed Pineapple - FREE + overage after coupons

(2) Ritz Crackers - $1.05 each after coupon

(2) Jose Ole Taquitos - $1.50 each after coupons

(2) Ritz Crackerfuls - FREE + overage after coupons

(3) Domino Sugars - $1.49 each after coupons

(1) Crisco Oil - $1.25 after coupon

(2) Can't Believe it's Butter sticks - $0.25 each after coupons

(2) 16 oz. Breakstone's sour creams - $0.44 each after coupons

(6) Sargento shredded cheeses - $0.95 each after coupons

(3) Large dozen eggs - FREE after coupons

Ta Daaaaa!!

Decorating for Christmas is sooooooooo fun! :)

What I'm Doing Today......

......putting up the Christmas tree!!! Yes, I know it's early, but my family is coming down this weekend and I want to have the house all nice and decorated for them. :)

Over 86% Savings @ Publix

Total BEFORE sales and coupons:$52.32

Total AFTER sales and coupons: $6.83

*

6 cans of Progresso Soup - $0.04 - $0.65 each after coupons

3 Green Giant Steamers - $0.20 - $0.40 each after coupons

2 Chinet Napkins - FREE + overage after coupons

2 McCormick Gravies - FREE + overage after coupon

1 Smart Balance Butter - $0.40 after coupon

5 Betty Crocker Frostings - FREE + overage after coupons

1 Nesquick Chocolate Milk - FREE after coupon
1 Apple Jacks Cereal - $1.00 after coupon

1 Soft Soap - FREE + overage after coupon

2 Krusteaz Crumb Cake Mixes - $0.85 each after coupon

*

Thank God for another good week at Publix! :)

November 2009 AR Pics

Early last Thursday ( Nov 5th ) morning, Christopher and I started making our way to Hot Springs, AR. The trip took about 10 hours, but it didn't seem that long. However, driving back home was a different story. :)
This trip brought me through 3 new states: AL, MS, and AR.

We stopped at a Cracker Barrel on the other side of Memphis, TN and as usual, the food was sooooo tasty!

Well, at least mine was.........Christopher had chicken livers and hot sauce.......ugh!

We arrived in Hot Springs, AR around 2:30 that afternoon.

Gospel Light Baptist Church was where the pastors' training "get away" was held. It is also the home of Champion Baptist College.

After we arrived, we freshened up and looked around the campus. Christopher really enjoyed the bookstore.

I enjoyed the coffee shop, but since I had already had some caffeine early that morning, I settled for a juice instead........notice my look of distress. :)

That evening, we ( along with 2 other couples ) met with Pastor Eric Capaci to go over our itinerary for the weekend.

All day Friday was spent fellowshipping with our host couple ( shown above ) and having Q and A sessions with various staff members. We really learned a lot and appreciated them taking the time for us.

On Saturday morning, we were able to attend the church's visitation and bus meetings. Afterwards, Christopher went visiting with one of the couples there ( he went with the Mr. and I with the Mrs. ).

When we returned to the church, we took a tour of the nursery/day care building. Aren't the walls adorable??

That afternoon, Christopher drove around the town of Hot Springs. Above, we are pictured near one of the look outs.

A view of Hot Springs from one of the lookouts.

Myself with the view of Hot Springs behind me.

On Sunday morning, Christopher and I attended both morning services along with Sunday School. The folks there were really nice and we enjoyed our time there.

Pastor Eric Capaci

Christopher taking notes.

The loading of the buses after the service.

After both the morning and evening services, we ( along with the 2 other couples ) were invited over to the pastor's house for food and a time of fellowship.

Bro. Capaci ( far left ) talking to the men.

Mrs. Capaci ( far right ) fixing lunch with the help of her niece.

The men eating.

Myself with Mrs. Capaci.

Christopher with Bro. Capaci.

Before leaving town on Monday, we parked downtown Hot Springs and walked for awhile.

The walk of famous folks from AR.

Hurray, for Sam Walton!! LOL!

Ummmmm........no comment.........

How fitting for Veterans Day week!

Hot Springs is historically known for it's springs and bath houses.

A row of bath houses.

I think this one was my favorite.

One of the hot springs there in town.

It was quite hot indeed!

Monday night was spent in a hotel in MS. On Tuesday morning we got ready, ate breakfast, and started making our way to GA. While still in MS, Christopher wanted to stop in the town of Myrtle to see an old church and campground.

Dr. Percy Ray was one of the church's pastors and founder of the campmeeting, Camp Myrtle.

Christopher in front of the building where the campmeeting is held.

Our last main stop was to visit with Christopher's great aunt, 2 great uncles, and great grandma ( shown above ).

Myself with great grandma. Lord willing, our baby will be her first great-great-grandchild!

Headin' to AR

Lord willing early tomorrow morning, Hubby, Baby, and I will start making our way to AR for a pastors' training "get away". We plan to be back home on the 10th and I'll do my best to take plenty of pics of our adventures. :) Please pray for our safety if you think of us!

Oh, another baby update......Christopher got to feel the baby kick for the first time last night. A special moment indeed! :)

Thank You, Lord for being so good to us........Your mercy truly endureth forever!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:1 KJV