Happy New Year! 2021

 

Happy New Year to all my friends and family!  May you draw closer to the Lord in this new year.

I don't always choose a word to focus on in the new year.  This year, my word is CONTROL.  Last year, life seemed very out of control for many.  

This year, I want to focus on my Savior being in CONTROL of my life.  Not me.

God bless you all.

Papa Is In Heaven

 A beautiful start to Sunday!

I love the fog and the beginning of the sunrise.

We hope to get back to services next week but due to Covid - we are still at home online.  Boo.

I also had to take Addie for a Covid test so that she will be allowed to return to work.  Thankfully we got it all taken care of that day.

I also got everything ready to head out for Reno Monday.  We decided to take my father-in-law back to his home.  That is his wish and we asked him to at least come for the holidays and we could go from there for the future.  It was his wish to go home and we were granting it.

We got started a little after 7:30am Monday morning.  The sunrise was beautiful over the mountains in the distance.

This was the Willamette Pass in the Cascade Mountain range.  It was just gorgeous with the snow and the evergreens and the blue skies!

The roads were a little crazy as we got to the top but we just took it slow and carefully.

What a beautiful view of this mountain - I am not sure which one it was.  I also got to see a bald eagle right by the lake on one of the telephone poles.  Wow!

I'm sorry to have to share what happened in just a short time later.  We stopped at a gas station to fill up, use the bathroom and get a bite.  My father in law seemed out of it but my sister and I helped him to get out of the car and walk into the bathroom.  Once we got him sat down in the bathroom, he stopped responding to me.  It appeared that he was sleeping - I thought maybe he was just exhausted from the excitement and anxiety of leaving and going home.  However, I became concerned and asked an employee to call 911.  

When they arrived, I believe he was already gone.  They could not detect a pulse.  They worked on him for a long time there on that bathroom floor and then took him in the ambulance to the hospital which was less than a mile up the hill.  It wasn't long after arriving and registering that the doctor officially told us he had passed away.

This is the last picture of him - after he had left this earth.

It was a tough call that I made right there to my husband to tell him that his dad was gone.  

I'm not sad - as my dad said, He wanted to go home and God granted his wish.  There was little quality of life left for my father in law.  Even though he was saved, he had a great fear of suffering in death.  Because he had COPD, he feared suffocation and just not being able to breathe.

I had prayed since he arrived six weeks ago that God would grant mercy and let him go quickly and not suffer anymore.  It truly was an answer to prayer and I'm grateful that my father in law is in a much better place - with His Savior.

Hubert "Sonny" Joseph Tastet Jr.

August 14, 1943 - December 28, 2020

Christmas 2020

Can you believe it is Christmas week already?

Our weekend was pretty low key.  My husband is still in a lot of discomfort and pain.  Bad colds are running through the house.  We did online church this week - they are not holding services for a few weeks at our church.  After the service, I grilled some cheeseburgers along with ranch pasta salad and baked beans.

I promised the girls I would take them to a few places to do their Christmas shopping in the afternoon.  

It is always pretty to see some sun shine through - especially on a Monday morning.

And even a rainbow for a minute!

We are not doing school this week.  Autumn and I went to finish up a little more Christmas shopping.  It really took a lot out of us physically - anything does these days being sick.  

I made ham and bean soup with cornbread muffins for dinner.  A good soup for a rainy day!  After cleaning up, I had to hit the bed early - headache, body aches were back, chest hurt.  I pray we all feel better soon.

Tuesday, we had another beautiful rainbow.  If it has to be rainy, I'm glad we get rainbows!  Staying busy trying to get ready for Christmas.  I'm just not on my game this year taking care of my FIL and Covid and everything.

So it was fish sticks and tator tots for dinner.  LOL!  Frozen food to the rescue.

Wednesday, I made Speedy Seafood Gumbo - if you need a super quick meal - this is a good one.  

We also went to see Christmas lights in our area.  Since we have to social distance from our family, we drove in separate vehicles but together and Face Timed the whole time.  

Hey, it's definitely a 2020 memory - even if they are different, make those memories. :)  

I made hot cocoas for everyone and snowman bags of puppy chow.  My sister made a savory Chex Mix for everyone.  We had our yummy snacks while driving around checking out the lights.

It was a very chilly Christmas Eve day.  Pretty much fog all day in Newberg.  No Christmas snow - just Christmas fog!

Christmas Eve was busy making food, cleaning, wrapping presents, etc.

I made a big Shepherd's Pie for our Christmas Eve dinner.

We watched Mickey's Christmas Carol.  Gives you all the feels that one!  

Had some peach cobbler and vanilla bean ice cream.  Mmm!  I need to share this recipe here.

We also have a tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day 2020.  

My sister, Rachel and her husband, Adam, and their kids surprised us with a visit to drop off donuts.  How sweet!

We had our time of reading the Christmas story of Jesus' birth from the Bible.  Then we opened gifts.

A 2020 ornament to remember this year from our realtor here in Oregon.  What a nice gift!

The night before, I made my favorite breakfast casserole.  All I had to do was pop it in the oven Christmas morning and we had a hot brunch ready.

Hearty Breakfast Egg Bake recipe.

After brunch, the girls helped me to prep last things for Christmas dinner.  Do the dishes and clean up.

We weren't planning on getting together with my sister and family but ended up last minute doing so!  We just brought our meal over to their home to share with them.

I had a beef roast with carrots in the crockpot with beef gravy on the side.  I also made cottage mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.

After dinner, we played Scattergories and Guesstures.  A lot of fun!  Eric and I then went home and the girls stayed and watched a movie.

Saturday was Christmas leftovers and cleaning up after Christmas. :)

Recipe: Chex Muddy Buddies

Chex Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow

A perfect Christmas time treat!

 INGREDIENTS:

9 cups Rice Chex, Corn Chex or Chocolate Chex cereal (or combination-I usually use Rice)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

PREPARATION:

Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.

In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.

Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Recipe: Chocolate Delight

Growing up, we called this Chocolate Surprise.  I would also call this Chocolate Delight.  It is one of my favorite desserts and I like to have it around Christmas time.

Chocolate Delight

Ingredients:

FOR THE CRUST:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

FOR THE FIRST LAYER:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature for easier mixing

1 cup confectioners' powdered sugar

1 cup Cool Whip

FOR THE SECOND LAYER:

1 (3.4 oz) package vanilla instant pudding

1 (3.4 oz) package chocolate instant pudding

3 cups whole milk

FOR THE TOP:

remainder of Cool Whip

Optional: grated chocolate sprinkled over the top

Instructions:

Crust layer: Mix flour, butter and pecans and press into the bottom of a 9 X 13-inch dish or pan. Bake at 325°F for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.

For the bottom layer over crust, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 cup Cool Whip. This is easiest to mix with an electric mixer. Spread over crust. Chill each layer for about 20 minutes in the freezer before adding the next to give everything a chance to firm up.

For the second layer, mix together puddings and milk. Mix according to package directions. Spread over cream cheese layer. You can chill for another 20 minutes in the freezer to make spreading the Cool Whip easier.

Top with remaining Cool Whip and sprinkle with grated chocolate, if desired. Let the dessert chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

December Days

Sunday, our church did not have in person services due to Covid concerns in the church.  So we watched their service online.  For lunch, I made jambalaya.  Sunday was my sister, Rachel's, birthday.  We had plans to get together but again, due to Covid concerns, we had to cancel.  What a bummer.

We already had plans to have nachos for her party so we swapped food so we could each enjoy nachos at our own homes.

We watched Santa Claus 3, enjoyed our nachos and then some tres leches cake.

We then watched the program for my sister, Rhoda's, church in AZ.

Ran a few errands around town in the afternoon.  Dropped off some things at my sister's, took some cardboard to the recycling center, got gas in my SUV, water jug refill and a few items at Fred Meyer, new headlight bulbs at Auto Zone for my husband's car, dropped off some packages at the post office and returned books to the library.

The low lying fog was so pretty!

For dinner, I made Kung Pao chicken with rice.  

Summer always likes to come and lie with me in my bed while I read my Bible in the morning.  Tuesday morning, I was in a hurry and she came in later and I told her I was going to take a shower.  She almost started crying and said she didn't get to lay with me so I lay down with her for awhile.

Hang on to those moments...they will soon be gone.

Then she wanted to go get groceries with me like last week.  She was up early doing her school so she could go.

This week, we got spicy crab sushi and some ceviche.  MMM!  It was good!  It is fun sharing these little memories with my littlest girl.

The day was quite busy.  Groceries, cleaning, cooking, visit with a social worker for my FIL, then a second canceled appointment for him, school...whew!

We had cheddar smoked sausages for dinner along with deli potato wedges.  

Wednesday was school.  An appointment with the physical therapist for my FIL.

Rainy cool December days.

I made pork chops, roasted red potatoes and corn for dinner.

Thursday, school.  We had a little blue skies this morning.

Another appointment with home health for the FIL.

I made mushroom pasta carbonara for dinner with caesar salad and cheddar biscuits.

Thursday, at work, my husband twisted slightly just the wrong way and messed up his lower back.  By the time he got home and late evening, he was in excruciating pain.  So bad that we went to the ER.

After shots, pain meds and heat compresses, we made it home a little after midnight.

Friday was a day of trying to finish up our last day of school before Christmas vacation.  It has been a long and busy week.  Not feeling well, a lot of appointments for my FIL in our home, school, Christmas preparations.

I made Lime Chicken Fajitas for dinner.

Saturday, my husband and I went out Christmas shopping together.  While I was gone, I put a beef roast in the crockpot.  When we got home I made beef and noodles over mashed potatoes.

After dinner, we went to a local church to see their live nativity.  Adam, Rachel and their kids followed in their vehicle.  They gave out popcorn and hot cocoa there too.