Slip-N-Slide... Yes, Please.

When I was little we had something called the "Whacky Banana Slide".  Do you remember it?  A long piece of yellow plastic, held in place by some metal stakes fastening the four corners down, and a yellow banana sprinkler placed just perfectly so that it sprinkles right on the yellow plastic.  SO. MUCH. FUN! 

Our next door neighbors, and some of our best friends ever, Greg and Deidra, had something called "Crocodile Mile".  This was a long piece of blue plastic with a little crocodile pool at the end, so that if you slid all the way to the end you would splash into the pool.

We always came up with what we thought were the best ideas when we neighbor kids were all together, so we decided to set-up these two slip-n-slides end to end.  It would make a longer, more fun, and challenging, slide out of what was already top-rated backyard summer fun by the Hastings and Smith kids.  Oh yes, we did it, and we did it many times....It became quite a game to see who could slide the farthest, to see who could slide the craziest, who could slide the fastest... you get the point.  We had no serious injuries or ER trips from our backyard slip-n-slide fun, although I have heard stories of other kids who did. We just had the occasional bruise from a bad fall/dive onto the slide, or the bruise from a rock that may have been under the slide.... but, it was always SO. MUCH. FUN!

Fun enough in fact, that I wanted a slip-n-slide this summer for Sarah and I to do together in the backyard.  I knew it might be hard to convince Eric that we needed one, so we asked Popee and Nanee.  They would remember how much fun the Hastings and Smith kids had over twenty years ago in their backyard.  They came through for us the following week.  We went to Emporia for a visit and there on the table sat the box from the store containing fun for all ages as far as I was concerned.  I think I was just as excited if not more than Sarah to get that slide out, set-up, and get to sliding!  My brother, Matt, even came over to "play" in Dad and Mom's backyard with the nieces and me. 

Matt and I had fun sliding and laughing that afternoon.  (No pictures were taken of Matt sliding, by his request, I promise he was there.)  Sarah loved it too.  She liked sliding on her knees, while Matt and I laid out flat on our bellies.  (Of course, we are more experienced sliders and did not want to hit a rock with one of our knees.) 

Phoebe even liked running, falling and laying on the orange plastic, and drinking the water out of the built in sprinkler. 

So here's to the old memories and many more new memories on a slip-n-slide in the backyard.

Deliciously Easy

Cooking is not one of my favorite things to do.  What, you may be asking yourself...a shocked look and disbelief on your faces....  I am serious.  I just do not enjoy it.  What I do like is dessert though... and I like easy dessert... so, this is one of my favorite recipes for a delicious, easy, eye-appealing, crowd-pleasing dessert.  A dessert your guests will ooh and ah over...

I got this recipe from my Mom's cousin Melody.  Melody and my Mom both know how to make some good desserts!  I am certain that they learned to cook from their Mother's, who were sisters.  Georganna Kienholz Grant (my Grandma) and Aline Kienholz Hise... the oldest of seven children, and the only two girls.  They were raised on a farm near Lucien, Oklahoma.  They both knew what it meant to work hard.  They both were also shining examples of how to love and take care of your family and friends.

(These pictures were taken sometime during the mid-1980's)

Back to the recipe... Here it is...  the Strawberry Trifle.
2 cups  Powdered Sugar                          1/2 pint Sour Cream
1 8 oz. Cool Whip                                        1 quart sweetened Strawberries
1 Angel Food Cake                                     2 8 oz. packages Cream Cheese

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.  Add sour cream and cool whip.  Tear cake into bite size pieces.  Layer cake, cream, then strawberries in a trifle dish.  Repeat layers.  Store in refrigerator.

He Holds Our Hands

One of my favorite songs, with words so powerful, is "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow".  I remember listening to this country gospel song in my parents van while traveling when we were young.  I also remember my Dad singing the chorus.... What a beautiful song.

Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

In a world with so many things that can be difficult to understand (the who's, the why's, the what if's...) it is so great to know that God is always there with us.  He is a constant in our lives, even when we stray, feel alone, or lost, He is still there.  Pulling us back to Him, standing beside us, holding our hand. 

"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow"
I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said;
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead
(chorus)
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand
Ev'ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb; ev'ry burden's getting lighter,
Ev'ry cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow, Where the mountains touch the sky.
(chorus)
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

As a believer, I can rest in the certainty that God will never leave nor forsake me, even when I don’t sense His presence.  He is with me.  He is with those I love and care about.  This is a comfort to me. God has shown Himself to me. He has always been with me, right beside me through hard times in my life.  My God is a good God.  He does love me.  I do not know what tomorrow, next week, or even next year will bring for me or my family but I know who will be holding my hand.

A Little Lake Time

I love going to the lake in the summer.  Growing up, that's what we did... My parents always have had a ski boat and taught us to water ski at very young ages.  My siblings and I all know how to water ski, slalom (one ski), and trick ski.  I have great memories of taking friends and relatives with our family to the lake to ski, tube, swim, zip sled, and ride the torpedo.  And, great memories of my Dad skiing and doing tricks while skiing! (Oh yeah... I would sit there and think... THAT IS MY DAD!)

The girls and I got to go to the lake a few days ago with my parents.  They both absolutely loved it!  I thought at first we might have a problem with Phoebe not wanting to wear her life jacket, but once we got it on she didn't act like it bothered her one bit.  We made a big deal about them wearing matching red life jackets.  Sarah thought it was great!

First we anchored and swam for awhile to get cooled off.  Sarah did great letting her jacket float her... kicking her legs, and using her arms to swim herself around in the water near the boat.  Both girls liked climbing up on the ladders on the back of the boat and then jumping in to me or to Popee.  Phoebe also liked throwing "ball-ball" (balls) around in the water, and out of the boat into the water for Popee to get and throw back to her.

     

     

Sarah and I rode the tube together for a short time.  Then she rode all by herself for the first time!  She did great.

Phoebe sat in the tube, but did not want to take a ride.

I skied.  And yes, I've still got it!  It is just like riding a bike for me... I came right up and took off.  I can even still do the rope between the legs/no hands trick!  And, as I was back there behind the boat doing my thing, I was thinking to myself... I hope my girls are up there watching and thinking the same thing that I use to think... Oh yeah... THAT'S MY MOM!

It was a fun evening.  One that I want to repeat again soon... especially with the 100+ degree temps we've been having here in Kansas!

Sweet Chocolate

MMmmm!  One of the best chocolate shops is right in my hometown of Emporia... The Sweet Granada!  Click here, http://www.sweetgranada.com/ to see more about this YUMMY place to visit in Kansas.

While in Emporia over the weekend, Sarah and I made a trip downtown to the Sweet Granada.  We picked out a couple treats for ourselves and some for a few others...

Here's the list of what we tried this time:
Popcorn drizzled with Chocolate
sugar-free Mint Truffle
Cashew Caramel Cluster
solid Milk Chocolate Butterfly
Smore dipped in Chocolate
Avalanche

Everything we tried was DELICIOUS! 
Sarah sums it up the best... "Chocolate is yummy."

The 4th!

We enjoyed a nice July 4th weekend.  Eric sung in a men's chorus at church.  We got some things done around our house and spent time with family and friends in Emporia. 

The girls kept cool everyday by playing in sprinklers and little pools.

We also discovered that, like her sister, Phoebe does not like and is scared of the fireworks noise.  So, we have two girls and a dog, who for the last few nights have not liked the noises.  I hope that part of the 4th is over.

Thank you Moorman's for a nice time at your house!  I loved the vanilla homemade ice cream, but WOW to the OREO homemade ice cream.  Yummo!

Thanks to Mom and Dad for entertaining us and our girls.  I loved the meatballs, the cool house, finding Jerry, and the memories that go with the old banana sprinkler.

Happy 4th!  Let Freedom Ring!

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  

2 Corinthians 3:17