Hope Continually -- Psalm 71:14

Wow!  How is it the end of May already?  May is always a busy month when you have kids/teens.   Addie finished up her junior year at Pensacola Christian College and I picked her up on May 10th.   My niece, Kylee, graduated from Abeka Academy and we traveled to Pensacola for the graduation.  My sister and her family spent a couple days at our house after the graduation. Sierra and Summer completed their 8th grade and junior year of school. Onto June!

Saturday, April 27 Beautiful start to the day! Some storm clouds rolled in but I still love a stormy sky too! This funny girl!  I just love her! Eric is in California. I had a coupon for a haircut and I wanted to take the extra length off for the summer. After the cut - freshened up for the summer. When you have a clean house and your new hand soap is so pretty, you have to take a photo. Evening stormy skies. Just enjoying my flowers. :) Sunday, April 28 Just heading out for church. :) After Connection Group and church, I took the girls to the movie Unsung Hero at the theater. After the movie, we went to Family Night at our church.  They had lots of relay games for families to play. You know you live in the South when they serve boiled peanuts! And the tea is sweet tea! The line for pizza! It was a fun evening with our church family. :)

Twice-Baked New Potatoes Twice-baked potatoes feel so fancy but are so good! 12 new potatoes 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tsp. finely minced fresh chives 1 clove garlic, pressed Salt and pepper Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and toss to coat.  Roast until the potatoes are tender and the skin is slightly crisp, 20-25 minutes. Use a spoon to scoop out the insides leaving a little bit of pulp intact. To the scooped-out potatoes, add the Monterey Jack, cream cheese, sour cream, chives, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.  Mash until the potatoes are creamy and smooth.  Taste and add salt if needed. Scoop the mixture into the potato shells.  Bake until golden brown on top. *I used smaller red potatoes for this recipe.  I did have to bake them longer to become tender.

  Congratulations to my nephew, Jordan Gieseler!   He is the oldest son of my sister Rhoda and Josh Gieseler. He will be graduating from Valley Baptist School in Mesa, AZ today.   He will be attending Hyles-Anderson College in the fall. Congratulations, Jordan, and may you always follow the Lord on your journey.

Congratulations to my niece, Kylee, who will be graduating from Abeka Academy today! She is the daughter of my sister Rachel and Adam Wolfe.  They reside in Newberg, OR. She will be attending Pensacola Christian College in the fall studying to become a teacher. So proud of you, Kylee!  We love you - always follow the Lord as He leads in your life.

 I am behind in posting updates.  I am having computer problems and really need to get a new one!  Anyway, today I am cleaning, mowing, etc. for the family to visit!  Tomorrow, we will be attending the Abeka Homeschool Graduation in Pensacola.  Kylee, our niece is graduating and we are driving there to see her. Then we will all drive back to Jacksonville.  Adam, Rachel and the kids will be visiting Saturday night through Tuesday afternoon and then flying back to Oregon.  I will get back to posting updates when their visit is passed. Have a great weekend!

Chicken Piccata Pockets This was a different but delicious meal!  1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese 2 tbsp. lemon juice 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 tbsp. capers drained 1 large shallot, finely chopped 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed 4 chicken tenderloins, cubed 1 large egg, beaten 1 tbsp. water 4 thin lemon slices 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Beat cream cheese, lemon juice, salt, and pepper on medium speed until well combined.  Fold in capers and shallots. Unfold puff pastry; roll it into a 12-inch square.  Cut into 4 smaller squares.  Spread cream cheese mixture over squares to 1/4 inch of edges; top with chicken. Fold a corner of each pastry square over the chicken, forming a triangle.  Pinch triangle edges to seal and flatten with a fork for tighter seal. Whisk egg and water, and brush over the pastry pocket including the edges.  Discard leftover egg mixture.  Pierce each pocket twice with a fork to vent. Bake...

Happy Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there.  I think one of the things I think of so very often - I look at my girls and think what a wonderful design God thought of!  The family.  Dads, moms, and kids.  And then more dads, moms, and kids.  To think that God gave us the responsibility of raising children for His glory.  And He designed it so that we "created" them.  It's just amazing! I'm so grateful for the honor and blessing of being a mom to four beautiful daughters!  God is good!

Friday, April 26 I love days where it is beautiful outside and I can work outside.  My favorite! A beautiful sunrise to begin the day! Another kill of Nugget's.  LOL! Sierra and Summer are doing school - Day 163 and 165.  Getting close! The Jeep is still in the shop.  I will pick it up by the end of day. Eric is out of town for work. Mowed the backyard yesterday.  Contemplating the arrangement of my new raised beds. My original plan was to place them back here in between the two trees.  But it would take a lot of prep because the ground is sloped here. My Nugget being cuddly and loving. And I'll take it!   She's just so cute! She's out hunting for a lizard on the fence! Friday I mowed the front lawn and trimmed.  Looks so nice after it is done! After contemplating it, I decided to move the beds in this spot. Can't wait to get them started and the plants and seeds in the ground!