The Apron has arrived...

Here is the unveiling of the Apron, as I received it the other day:

I want to take a minute to highlight Deb's artwork, which accompanied the Apron into my home. Deb is actually quite a gifted and accomplished artist. She started out as an Art major when I met her all those years ago. [yeah, I know, that explains a lot, right?] She eventually [more like EVENTUALLY] graduated with a degree in Medical Technology, but has never lost her passion for art. Now we all know and love Deb, and I would like to ask you all a favor. Deb did not ask me to say this, and will probably not approve, but I'm going to do it anyway. Those of us who have followed Deb's recent adventures know that her husband [the famous Brillo Man] had a hip replacement this week. He is not able to work. Deb has had MS for many years now, and recently, has had to stop working due to the disabilities her MS is causing. Deb has a website where she sells her artwork. I'm sure it's linked to her site, which is linked to this site. For all who are willing, [this is purely voluntary] please visit Deb's site, and bless her if you are able.

Now, on to our Apron adventures...

This is me making Halloween cookies yesterday evening. The recipe is the basic sugar cookie, cut out in the shape of a pumpkin. Nothing fancy.

Here is David [age 8] , reluctantly posing with the Apron on while decorating said cookies.

There will be more to follow, however, please understand I am not the cook in the family. My husband, Steve is our executive chef. [ahem] He has not yet agreed to pose with the apron on, but he will share some recipes. Stay tuned.

Prayer Request For Our Crown Of Beauty

Please dear sisters pray for our crown of beauty and her family and her people....love terry


News Asia-PacificTyphoon Mirinae hits PhilippinesThousands of people have been evacuated from Manila ahead of the storm [AFP]Typhoon Mirinae has made landfall in eastern Philippines, and is approaching Manila, the capital.Officials said on Friday that thousands of people have been evacuated from Manila in expectation of the advance of the fourth typhoon to hit the country in the last two months.Areas of the capital with more than a million residents remain flooded from the recent storms, in which more than 1,000 people died.Typhoon Mirinae, a category two typhoon with winds of up to 185kms an hour , is expected to bring heavy showers."Considering our land is already saturated with water, it may cause flooding in some areas. It is hard to tell if there will be floods but we are preparing for the worst," Ernesto Torres, a civil defence spokesman, said.Torres added that residents in the typhoon's path have been told to stock emergency provisions to last 72 hours.The coastguard has grounded 45 ferries in key ports on Luzon, stranding thousands of people returning to provinces for All Saints' Day, when many in the largely Roman Catholic country mark the deaths of relatives.Two typhoons in the last two months have killed more than 900 people in the Philippines.

I got a package from Sister Deb!!!

ALL:
I have the apron!!! We were out of town and I only got it yesterday when I picked up the mail. I saw that I had a small package with Deb's return address on it. I knew immediately what it was!!! I have known Deb for 30+ years. We met in college in the fall of 1978. I was her RA. [Resident Assistant; read: dorm police...] She newspapered me into my room, among other things... Although Deb and I have been friends AND family for all this time, I knew that a package from her could only mean one thing: the Apron!!! I took pictures of the unveiling, but don't have them with me at the moment. More to follow...


Above is a picture of my sweet little son David, with Deb's sweet little daughter Olivia. This picture was taken in 2007 when we were visiting Deb & company, and the kids were just about to go for a dip in Deb's pool. David still mentions "growing up and marrying Olivia". Wouldn't that be a scream if Deb and I ended up as in-laws??? Ciao for now...

Brillo Man Update

Hello all!

Randy had a better day today. His nausea seems to be gone - he was able to eat dinner - chicken and spinach and something else healthy....I wasn't there to see what he ate - but he said it really "hit the spot." It was the first solid food he's had since Tuesday evening before surgery. Water, jello and lemon Italian ice have been his mainstays since then!

He was up and walking....after I made a trip out to the van to retrieve his hat! Lights bother his eyes and the PT room was very brightly lit. He donned his red hat (see photo - enjoying breakfast at iHop in Florida this past summer) and was good to go! The physical therapist charted 68 footsteps (they would have been happy with 25!) and were very impressed with his strength and ability; as were the nurses. He has been impressing them all with his strength. Even the surgeon said that in the 18 years that he's been performing this surgery, Randy is in the top 5% of people with very strong, muscular legs. Apparently it took two big men to retract his muscles and hold his leg while Dr. Piston operated.

Most of the day was spent sitting up at bedside which is good for his lungs and his circulation. He still says that his pain is a "10" on a 1-10 scale...but at least he didn't have any traumatic episodes like he did last night!

Thanks for your continued prayers! I'm trusting that tomorrow he'll be even better ---a little bit at a time! God is good and I thank Him for His faithfulness to us!

Hugs to all!

...and the apron should have reached its destination by now...check your mailboxes!

Brillo Man Update

Brillo Man is doing okay. Surgery went well. The surgeon spent about 20 minutes with me afterward explaining in detail all that he was able to do to fix Randy's hip. He's confident that it's a good fix and that this hip will last him the rest of his life. Being a Christian, we also talked at length about the Lord's goodness and he prayed with me and gave me a hug before he left. I feel so blessed that we were directed to him - God is good. He's in the details.

I do ask that you continue to pray. I had to leave the hospital at 7 pm in order to be at church by 8 pm to pick up Olivia and get her home and tucked in bed. During that time, the nurse didn't give Brillo Man any pain medication. He called me in tears saying he was in the worst pain he's ever experienced in his life. The nurses weren't answering his calls and he was understandably very frustrated. I learned that they were switching his pain meds around and were waiting for the anesthesiologist to write the order. In the meantime - Brillo Man had no morphine drip - no dilaudid - no nothing! ugh. He needs me there to be his advocate...

Anyway...he's in the Lord's hands - which are the best hands in which to be, eh?

Thanks for your continued prayers!

Updates to follow as I'm able.
Hugs!

A Postcard from Canada!

From Cyberspace to Real Life!

Posted by Lidj of Crown of Beauty

It was a lazy kind of morning with nothing urgent on my to do list. The carpenter is scraping off the old paint in my old kitchen, then he will apply a new coat. There are on going repairs being done, but I don't want to be in a frenzy about this. I will be cleaning out some kitchen cabinets one day at a time within the next few days.

This is the first time in months that I am finally staying home for a considerable chunk of time to focus on the home front.


In about a month's time, we will be celebrating my husband's first death anniversary. We will have a quiet dinner with family and close friends, we will sing the worship songs that Ernie loved, look at a video compilation of his pictures, and reminisce, share with one another what we have learned the past twelve months of living without Ernie in our midst.

Then on December 23, our whole family will go to Manila to spend Christmas there. This is the first time in years that we will be celebrating Christmas in Manila. My sister will be arriving from the US, and it will be a good opportunity for us to be with her. In the past years, we have always spent Christmas with Ernie's family here in Bacolod City. My son Worshiper and his fiancee Chosen One will get married on December 28. The wedding will be in Manila, because that is where Chosen One lives.

After their wedding, Worshiper will bring his bride home to Bacolod to live with us.

I was thinking of all these things that will be happening in the near future, when my maid came in handed me today's mail.

And what a pleasant surprise! I quickly got my camera and took this shot.

This is what came in the mail today:




Thank you, Mrs. Mac!

It made me so happy, that it put me in the mood to take more pictures!

While I was at it, I decided to snap a few more photos of things around my home that I thought of sharing with you my dear Scarf Sisters.

Although I share much of my inner life on my personal blog, on this blog I can share a little bit more about the external side of me...

I love the color blue -- antique blue, powder blue, ash blue, whatever they call it, but that is the shade of blue that I love.

And I love bears, ducks, lighthouses, afghans, quilts.

In my home, I want to create a feeling of ease and comfort, and not everything having to be too neat...just a welcoming feeling, and allowing people who come to feel relaxed and right at home.

Here are some of the pictures I took:

My dog Sammy asleep on my rocking chair. The quilt she is on was handmade by yours truly many years ago.

A bed cover I bought at a flea market for $3.00. Below is a close up of it.

This is one of the sofas in my living room.

A bathroom rug I bought at Carrefour in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

More pictures from my living room:

A counted cross stitch frame on my coffee table which I did about 25 years ago!

A little lighthouse wooden box given by my best friend Melanie on her wedding day. This comes from Mathews County in Virginia.

This is a starfish lamp.

These are pictures I took of things on my desk.

Obedient One's favorite musical doll. It still plays the song When You Wish Upon A Star when you wind it.

Obedient One gave me this cute baby bear for my birthday...

A gift from my British friend Trudi

A gift from another British friend Nora...

A picture of my husband Ernie in Hong Kong, taken a few years ago.

Prayer Request

Hi all ---just a quick reminder to pray for Brillo Man - hip revision surgery on Wednesday morning. We have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. ugh. Mom has opted to come here and stay overnight. She will be making sure Olivia gets to school. My dear friend, Dawna, will pick Olivia up from school, feed her dinner and see that she's on time for church and Little Saints practice. I will be in the next town - just 20 miles away - at the hospital - praying my husband through this surgery!

Thanks for your prayers! I love you all! I'll try to post an update on Wednesday evening - if not, for sure on Thursday.

Hugs!!

More Comfort

Olivia has been home from school with the flu.
Brillo Man is facing surgery.
I'm trying to keep it all together and not lose my mind.
We all need more comfort food!!

Dinner last night - Homemade Chicken Soup.
Simple but yummy - something I'm sure we all make.
And good for all that ails you!



Note: Brillo Man did not make this...after he's all healed up post surgery in a few months...yes, Mrs. Mac, he'll post a famous soup recipe - which none of you will be able to duplicate because he's NEVER made the same soup twice and probably can't tell you what he puts in it!

At any rate...here's my recipe for this batch....(I never cook with recipes either - I just dump things together until it looks or tastes right and mine is rarely the same twice either!)

Leftover chicken from the one I roasted last week. Boiled and deboned. I added Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Fresh Spinach, lots of Garlic and freshly ground Black Pepper. I may have added some other spices - as I type this, I can't recall. (I have trouble remembering what happened ten minutes ago - let alone something I did yesterday!) No salt and No onions - We don't need the salt - there's enough in the grated cheese that is sprinkled on the top and no onions because Brillo Man will not eat them. All of that cooks together for an hour or two until all the flavors blend together. I cooked some Super Wide Amish Egg Noodles (acquired from our local bulk food store) and spooned a few of those into each bowl while serving. If you add them to the pot of soup and then don't eat all the soup - the noodles will soak up all your broth and the next day you won't have soup anymore - just chicken and noodles and a few veggies! Serve with freshly grated Romano Cheese on the top - and a few crackers if you will.

Perfect for a rainy day! It's rainy here! We're eatin' soup!!

Well....my turn with the apron has come to a close. I had these big plans of making homemade ravioli, sauce and wedding soup - I had even purchased some dishes from The Good Shepherd Center just like those my Italian Grandma used to serve us her homemade ravioli. Those dishes would have looked great in the photographs! Alas, this week was just too chaotic here at my house to fit in an entire day of making sauce, ravioli and wedding soup! Someday, I'll make them and share the recipe (ha - I don't use recipes, remember?) Suffice to say, that once you've tasted of my family's homemade ravioli - there's no turning back to storebought! It can never measure up! I think Char has eaten them a few times years ago --way back in our college days! Don't know if she remembers or not!

At any rate - you can all keep your eyes on your mailboxes - the apron is on the move again! This has been a fun experience - and I'm sad to see it end! I'll be looking forward with great anticipation to all the delicious dishes and experiences that you all share in the weeks to come!

God Bless You and Bon Appetit - or as my Grandma would have said, "Dio la Benedice, Mangia Mangia ora!! (God Bless you, now EAT EAT!)

Dinner Last Night

I spent the day in Pittsburgh yesterday - had to head to the neurologist's office for my one of my many standing appointments with him. Olivia was at Grandma's being cuddled and coddled and spoiled (Grandma bought her the Webkinz Golden Retriever - Pet of the Month. Because Olivia was sick and needed cheering up - and Grandma can't say "no!" Brillo Man was in Butler at the VA for a doctor's appointment of his own. Dinner for Olivia was homemade stew ala Grandma - Brillo Man ate leftovers and opened a can of clam chowder (poor Brillo Man) while I grabbed a burger from Red Robin. It was the first time I had eaten anything from this restaurant. Suffice to say, I'll be back next time I pass through my old stomping grounds. We have no such fabulous restaurants in this little town in which we live!


Bruschetta Chicken Burger from Red Robin Perfectly grilled whole chicken breast with freshly prepared bruschetta salsa, pesto aioli, Provolone cheese, shredded romaine lettuce and balsamic cream on rustic ciabatta bread - served with garlic parmesan steak fries.

A Stress-Free Dinner

Tonight's recipe for a Stress-Free Dinner:

Open the freezer - take out a bag of frozen country-style pork spare ribs (which you purchased in mass quantities when they were on sale at Giant Eagle, brought them home, separated and froze them into bags of five each - perfect portion for a family dinner.)

Dump them in the crock pot with a good slathering of your favorite BBQ sauce. (Typically, I would make my own BBQ sauce with brown sugar, worchestershire sauce and a bunch of other ingredients, but I just went rooting around (that's a western Pennsylvania expression) in my fridge 'til I found of bottle of KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce --works for me!)

Cook on high all day.

Serve with ....I don't know....noodles or rice and some green vegetable.

There you have it - a totally stress-free dinner!

Comfort to the Max!

What was it I said about comfort food?

Here's tonight's dinner:

Smoked Kielbasa
Pierogies
Broccoli
Cheddar Cheese



...all cooked together for yummy deliciousness! (Low-fat! yeah, right. If it were low-fat it wouldn't be COMFORT food!)

And here are the photos which Olivia took of me wearing the apron....





...not the most flattering, eh? Next time I'll put on some makeup and fix my hair!!I'll try to get another photo some time this week!

The Chosen One

Okay - The Eagle (I mean, the apron) has landed...right in my mailbox! In our last go around, I received our beloved Scarf from Sara. Now this time I'm receiving the spot-free,stain-free (and-it-will-stay-that-way-thank-you-very-much-because-there's-no-way-I'm-doin'-any-washing-and-pressing, Mrs. Mac!) Apron from Sara! I'm beginning to notice a pattern here...and it's not the floral pattern of the apron! hmmmm?

Anyway...it should be an interesting week here in Apron Land. Typically, I cook often, however, Brillo Man is scheduled to have his right hip replaced next week (again.) It failed the first time - long story - don't get me started... Therefore, this week will be busy - lot's of last-minute appointments and to-do lists to complete before he is out of commission for several months and I add another 'hat' to my head and become his nurse.

I may be doing more microwaving and reheating this week than actual cooking. I have a freezer full of quick, last-minute meals for busy times, however, I just may surprise myself and cook a seven-course dinner served up with my best china and antique silver flatware. (Right. Not going to happen ever in this lifetime!)

One thing I do know is that I will be providing a lot of "comfort food" for us this week. Understandably, Brillo Man is not looking forward to having hip revision surgery, even though it will take care of his hip and alleviate the pain he is experiencing, the process will not be fun. Therefore, he (and I) MUST have lots of comfort food!

When he took off this morning for yet another doctor's appointment, I got out all the ingredients to make Magic Cookie Bars. I have always called them "those 7-layer cookies with the graham cracker crust and chocolate chips and coconut." But my cute Borden Eagle Brand 1-2-3 Dessert Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookbook that's shaped like a can of condensed milk which I recently purchased at a kitchen outlet store calls them "Magic Cookie Bars." Who am I to argue? Magic Cookie Bars, they are!

1/2 cup (1 Stick) Butter or Margarine
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
(obviously, you can substitute any brand of less-expensive sweetened condensed milk)
2 cups (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 for glass dish). In a 13x9 inch baking pan, melt butter in oven. (I just microwaved it for a minute.)

Sprinkle crumbs over butter. Mix well and press in pan. Pour condensed milk evenly over the crumbs. Layer evenly with remaining incredients: press down firmly.

Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill, if desired. Cut into bars. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Makes 2 to 3 dozen bars.

You may also substitue 1 cup of the chocolate chips with butterscotch-flavored chips, peanut-butter-flavored chips or white chocolate chips. Or mix a little of each for a "seven-layer" cookie bar!

I used chocolate and butterscotch chips along with chopped walnuts and coconut.


Note the cute Jack-O-Lantern Tea Towels I used as 'pot-holders' which Sara sent along with the apron! I don't have many holiday-specific tea towels, because while I think they're adorable, I start thinking that perhaps I'm wasting my money on towels that I can only use at certain times of the year. However, I really like these towels and am very glad that Sara wasted her money to purchase them and include them in the package!

(Sara, you know I'm kidding and I love you AND the towels!!)



There are no photos of myself with the Apron in this post as I am currently home alone and am unable to take a photo of myself with the apron. Not wanting to disappoint those who want to see 'people pics,' here is one of Olivia at our recent jaunt to my Alma Mater, Edinboro University, to celebrate Homecoming.

MIA - Apron

I'm back from the land of Oz and find our apron missing, tsk, tsk! If she doesn't turn up today (Monday) in a sister's mailbox, then by default, I will have to email one of you, the chosen one, to start without her. That will teach her to be late, humph!

Listen here sisters; one of you should have the apron by now! You're making me nervous!

Why God Made Moms

Sita Henderson, a blogging sister sent me the following email. Its so precious I want to share it here. You can share it on your blogs if you want to. On the top is a painting of an Indian bride
(Some of us are not moms , like me but we have mom 's hearts right?)

WHY GOD MADE MOMS
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy..
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND AUNTS....and anyone else who has anything to do with kids or just needs a good laugh!!!

where is the scarf?

I wonder who gets it next...

Favorite Kitchen Gadget?

I've got so many kitchen utensils it's ridiculous!! I even have doubles and triples of so many!! I have (literally) seven pampered chef (PC) spatulas - seriously, three PC potato peelers, and 2 chopper choppers (food choppers), and TWO food processors!

I love them all! So glad I sold Pampered Chef so I earned a lot free or at a really good discount!

I think my very favorite is my Kitchen Aid Mixer (I have two stainless bowls) because one always seems to be dirty. Followed closely by my cookie press... and my crockpot... and my knives, and my scrapbooked cookbooks... They even travel with me on Mission Trips, not kidding!!

Even though I have my favorite things, I don't ever want to get rid of any even if they are not my favorites!

What is your favorite gadget?

We seem to have stumbled upon an entire apron subculture...we are so cutting edge!
Click HERE!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to my

Canadian sisters and their families.

May God keep you healthy,

safe and happy in the coming year.

Here are some pakoras

we had at the Kidz Fest.

With Love from Amrita

Just Saying Hello

This is me, in UAE. Right behind me is the Gulf of Arabia. Taken on Sept 22, 2009

Hello my dear Scarf Sisters!

This is the first time I have ever posted on our Sisterhood blog.

My name is Lidj, and I am from an Asian country called The Philippines. I wish to thank all of you for inviting me and welcoming me into your blog lives!

I have been out of the country for a while, and so I have not been able to keep track of the whereabouts of the famous apron.

This afternoon I took time to trace the journey of our apron, and read up as far back as 18-20 of the latest posts! Congratulate me, so now I'm current...

Honestly, there have been many concerns that I have been facing in my personal, family, and national life. Those of you who have been following my blog, Crown of Beauty, have an idea of what I am talking about. To avoid repeating myself, I will try not to write about things that are already on my personal blog.

But just to give you an idea, I was away at the United Arab Emirates for two weeks of September. Upon my return to Manila, I realized that our country had just been hit by a typhoon which poured 16 hours of unrelenting rain over Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. There was widespread devastation, flooding, loss of lives as a result.

And if that wasn't enough, about six days later, super typhoon Parma hit our country again, just north of Manila. Our mountain regions bore the brunt of this typhoon that refused to leave. It stayed for almost ten days...resulting in more floods to our northern regions and mudslides.

Millions of people are affected by these two typhoons. Our northern islands, including Manila are in a state of calamity at the moment.

I have written about these events at my blog, including my own heart response to these events, and what the heavenly Father has spoken to bring peace and comfort to my troubled soul.



My home is in Bacolod City, located on an island in the middle part of the Philippines. My country is an archipelago consisting of 7,100 islands! There are three main island groups - Luzon in the North, Visayas (where I live) in the middle, and Mindanao, in the southern part.

I have two sons and one daughter, one daughter in law, one grandson, and two dogs.

My youngest is named Obedient One, a daughter, who lives and works in Manila. Manila is located on the island of Luzon, an hour away from Bacolod by plane. I try to visit my daughter every month and stay for about ten days there.

However, as God leads, there have been instances when I have stayed three months, not at all according to what I have planned. I think I am at the season in my life that God is teaching me very many new things.

My husband unexpectedly passed away in Novermber of 2008. I've written a number of posts about this event on my blog.

I am looking forward to my adventure with the traveling apron, as I understand three sisters have already had the opportunity to enjoy having it in their kitchens - Maria, Margie, and Sara.

And now... we are awaiting the arrival of the precious apron, made more and more so as experiences are woven into its fabric. This apron is the silent witness to our daily lives, and for this reason, I await its arrival at my doorsteps with much excitement.

Mrs. Mac, my whole family is eager and excited to be a part of this experience...

Dear Diane, I have read your recent post here, and please be comforted in knowing that I remember you often, and lift you up before our heavenly Father's throne of grace. Do know that I think of you in a special way, for I also am aware, and understand a bit of what you are going through.

These are busy days for me...days of picking up the pieces of my past life, while trying to move on in this new season. There are repairs, accumulated stuff that need to be sorted out to re-organize and simplify my life, my grandson Forerunner's first birthday celebration this month, my husband Ernie's first death anniversary in November, and my second son's wedding on December 28.

In all that needs to be done and attended to, I am seeking to rest in God's love. It is the only way to enjoy the journey I am on.

This isn't my final destination...but it is where my character is being shaped and molded.

My dear Scarf Sisters, I do look at my life from a bridal paradigm, seeing myself as a bride in the process of being made beautiful for her heavenly bridegroom.

So, this is where I am coming from.

And having said all that, I think this post must come to an end right here! I just felt that I have been too quiet, and it was about time I stop for a visit...just to let you all know I do value your friendship and that you all hold a special place in my heart.

Till my next post...

Love,
Lidj



For this reason,

Away She Goes

After about a week, the Apron is ready to visit her next hostess. Of course you'll have to wait and see who that is!

In the meantime, it has been my pleasure to invite you to our house for a little peek at our family. We're not very fancy; no seasonal tablescapes to photograph or dressing up for dinner. Our meals are often enjoyed in pajama pants and sweatshirts. There's as great a chance we'll eat on our laps in the family room as at the kitchen table like proper people. We eat out too much, a sad commentary on a house that sits empty all day and weary people trudging through the door together in the evenings.

Pictured here in the upper left are my two little boys in 1992 with my Grampa, their Great Grampa Gerhardstein. They're sitting at my mom's kitchen table enjoying Christmas brunch. Jay would have been four and Mac three years old. You'll notice that my grandfather has settled himself in right next to them. His enjoyment of the meal would've been directly proportionate to his pure joy in those great grandsons. This is really what our meals are. They nourish us for life both physically and spiritually. They are the call to us to "Come! Come home! Come to the table and remember who you are."

My prayer for you is that you will not receive our Apron with anxiety about how to present an impressive meal but to put her on and be reminded that we nourish one another with love, tears, laughter, compassion, prayer, guidance and even sometimes with criticism spoken in the voice of grace. Wrap yourself in this fabric that we all touch and know that you are beckoned to be nourished and filled....

Psalm 104: 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

Away she goes, with love.

P.S. If you're like me and wear aprons in real life; check this link...APRONS

Amrita is for sale on eBay!

Who wants to bid? ;o)

NOT SO LIGHT-HEARTED

I know that I can come here and spill my guts for all of you and you won't judge me or think less of me. I have shared how we found out our daughter Laura and her husband Les were having marital problems the day we returned home from vacation. Since that time, they have separated and I found myself intensely angry with Laura but slowly the Lord has been dissolving my anger towards her. I told Dave how I felt God reminding me of the Prodigal Son. I have read that story and heard messages on that story numerous times. God gave me a different perspective recently.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him an was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
LUKE 15:20


I remembered messages taught on how the young man's father in this parable was looking for him and the comparison of how God waits on us to come to Him as well. The thought struck me though that in this parable, like in my own life, this parent had been deeply wounded by his child. The father could only look for his son because his heart had forgiven him and that's what I needed the Lord to do in my own life. I told Dave that I needed to pray that God would allow my heart to forgive because when the time came, I would need compassion as well.

We went about 6 weeks without contact with Laura, until we celebrated my birthday when we saw her for a couple of hours. I had had to pray that I would have a good attitude because I told Dave that I really WASN"T interested in her life. She has made choices contrary to the way we have raised her and therefore, I didn't want to hear about this life that didn't include her husband. While I was glad to see her (she is still my child!) I told Dave that being around her made me sad and that lack of contact was easier on my heart.

Two days ago, she called us. She came down sick with the flu this past Saturday and was now having pain trying to breathe. She had planned on going to an "Urgent Care" type place (she has no insurance) but her car wouldn't start, could I take her? I was surprised that she was still in the same apartment that she and Les had moved into after they got married. I was under the impression that she had moved into a different one with a room mate. When I came to the door my heart just broke! I was instantly flooded with memories of time spent there with the 2 of them for Sunday dinners as well as all of the work they had put into it to make it their home. I felt as wounded as I had when we first got the news about them! I couldn't bring myself to go beyond the entryway.

We went to the doctor, signed in, only to find out there was a 3 hour wait and they would call her when her name was getting close. We only live *5 minutes away so I brought her home. As the time wore on her pain was so bad she was crying. At 8, we took her back up there and she finally saw a doctor. They did chest x-rays and she has Pneumonia and Pleurisy. They gave her some prescriptions and Dave went to go get the car. I watched her pay them over $250 in cash to settle her bill. This is where my heart breaks...

I know how hard she has to work to make that money. She is working 2 jobs (2 different SONIC's as a car hop). She is like the Prodigal Son in the story. She is living just to make money so she can pay her bills. I can relate to her situation because when I was a single Mom I never planned for the future. I could only plan day to day on how I was going to pay the bills, raise a child and feed her.

I ran out and got her prescriptions filled (I paid for them because my heart was filled with compassion for her) and stayed up until midnight to make sure she didn't have a reaction to them. She spent the night with us last night as well. I asked her if she had talked to Les lately and she just began crying. I really think she still is in love with him and that maybe she thinks that there is no turning back. I told her that it's not over until a judge says it's over. I suggested she talk to our Pastor, not so much about her marriage but for herself. We all know that once your heart is right with God, the jigsaw puzzle pieces of our lives start fitting into place.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart - and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

I am thinking that she is vulnerable right now and I would ask all of you to agree with me in prayer that she return to God and allow Him to have Lordship over her life. I am thankful that God has changed my heart into one of forgiveness but having her with us the last couple of days has been hard on me emotionally. I feel so sad all the time because I can see the choices she has made and the futility of her life. Being a parent has its rewards but it also exacts a high price on us and I am just overwhelmed!

Light Hearted Question

Ahem, so ladies, how many of you have family members (loved ones) that know about our little cheery society (The Scarf Sisters, of course)? It's kinda of weird or rather nice. Now when I get a traveling sister's post card in the mail .. it goes up on my freezer in the garage (and I have several cards out there now). Scarf sisters this, scarf sisters that .. my family is really becoming interested in the lives of my dear scarf sisters. So fess up. Do you proudly share about this dear group .. or is it a figment of some type of imagination only thought about while on-line? I even have neighbors that check in on my blogs (scary;)

Scarf Sisters: Are you in or out of the closet :) about our group?

Almost Speechless.........

You will note that I said "almost speechless"! Anyone who has known me for very long at all knows 'speechless' and 'Diane' are complete opposites! However, you girls have surely gotten me as close as ever I have been!

This beautiful bouquet was delivered to my house on Wednesday afternoon. Imagine my surprise and joy when I opened the card to find this inscription "JUST BECAUSE....We love you and we're praying for you. Your "Sisters"....Trish, Donna, Julie, Pat, Connie, Cathy, Terry and Deb"! I cried for at least half an hour! I wish I had adequate words to express how truly grateful I am for your love and prayers.

The Lord has placed me in your group and I often wonder at that. You ladies are always so open and giving. You support me no matter what I am going through or how neglectful I am of the Sisterhood. When I 'met' the Sisterhood, I was so broken. You ladies have helped me through the worst my life has ever been. At a time when I should be moving forward, I find myself slipping backwards, and yet there you are. I honestly do not know what I would do without all of you!

I am so sorry that I have been so 'absent' for so long. I do read, but I never comment anymore. I just seem not to have the energy to translate my thoughts into coherent sentences. I feel as if I am rambling and I don't want to bore anyone. I also have worked at not moaning about 'poor little me'. I know many people have been through what I am facing, and probably even worse. I am not the first to face this and I won't be the last. I just don't seem to be doing a very good job at the 'going through' part.

I love my Lord Jesus more than anything or anyone. The peace He has brought into my heart and my life are beyond measure. I'm not mad at God and I don't blame God for taking Terry from me. Terry's flesh fell victim to disease because he didn't take care of himself. For that same reason, I now face the same disease. I didn't eat right, exercise regularly, keep my weight down or manager other risk factors as well as I should have. Therefore, my liver is now diseased and is failing me. That's not God's fault; it is mine. And, it wasn't God's fault Terry's body failed him; it was Terry's.

That being said, losing Terry, fighting my own physical illness, going through surgery and then ultimately learning I also have terminal liver disease has been a lot to cope with this year. All of that on top of the last 9 years of caring for Terry, Momma, Daddy, my MIL and my own physical problems has really cost me in every imaginable way. I think I just didn't realize how much it was costing me until the time came to sit down and rest. Then, I found everything was falling apart, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. In addition to everything else, we had to deal with my FIL's suicide in 2002. It's just been a lot and I think I have finally reached the end of my proverbial rope.

The Lord has been with me through all of this and I have tried to lean on Him. Sometimes, I wonder if perhaps I haven't been a 'good enough' Christian and that is why everything is falling apart right now. However, the Holy Spirit quickly tells me that is a lie from Satan and I must resist the temptation to believe that. Not that I've been a perfect Christian, or perhaps even a good Christian, but what is happening now is not the result of some sort of punishment from the Lord. It is the result of dealing with physical, emotional, mental and spiritual stress for a very long time. The healing is not going to come quickly, nor will it be painless.

I guess that is the most important thing the Holy Spirit has taught me over the past few days. Healing is going to take time and it will occur in God's time, not mine; and it is going to be painful. One half of who I am is now missing; that wound will not heal in a few weeks on months. It will get better and easier to bear, but I cannot reasonably expect it be quick.

You ladies have been so encouraging to me. You have reminded me of these things and have given me encouragement to continue forward to discover what it is the Lord still has for me to do. I firmly believe that we have a purpose for every minute we are here. When we have fulfilled our purpose, then the Lord takes us home with Him. Obviously, I have not yet fulfilled my purpose; I am still here!

So, I will move forward giving prayerful consideration to the direction the Lord desires of my life and being profoundly thankful for this group of lovely Christian ladies who love me and pray for me and support me and lift me up when I fall down.

Time for dinner!

Mac's birthday dinner! The Apron & I posing with Hungarian cucumber salad; Mac's plate of chicken paprikash, mashed potatoes and Grandpa's chicken wings; Mac & Grandpa (with me in the background) ready to blow out the candles and finally, all of our kids...Mac, Lexi, Jay, Courtney, Abby, Sarah.



I don't know why this won't publish in a way that makes sense! Every time I get it formatted Blogger goes goofy. Oh well, you get the general idea!

Rachel Ray + Martha Stewart + Paula Deen

My slow cooker carmel apples are slowly cooking and my Hungarian cucumber salad is marinating in the fridge. My mom is bringing over chicken paprikash and I'll let her share that recipe with you. Today is my younger son Mac's birthday celebration. He asked for paprikash from Grandma and chicken wings from Grandpa for his birthday. At that point we figured, may as well build a family dinner around it and so; here we are! Everyone is due at around 5:00 so I have a few hours to finish my housework and share some time with my sisters.

Apropos of our current theme, I thought maybe it would be interesting (maybe not) to talk about what kind of cook I am. I think I'm a little bit Rachel Ray (can't stop tasting what I'm cooking), a pinch of Martha Stewart (love quality ingredients, fresh herbs and traditional homemaking), a husband named Dean, two sons and a butt to equal Paula's.

I am a clean as you go cook, usually have some kind of garbage bowl or bag on the counter to clear my work area as I peel and slice. I get out all of my supplies and place them on the kitchen table before I begin because I am OCD and need to know for sure I have what I need before I begin. Haven't you ever started to make something assuming you surely have an ingredient and then realize you don't? As I use items, I place the remainder back into the cupboard or the fridge. Oh, and that supply system on the kitchen table includes mixing bowls, cake dishes and the like.

I am not a fan of complicated dishes and generally avoid anything that requires more than two or three steps. My gramma would describe my style as early peasant since it's generally comfort food and veggies chopped up into coarse chunks as opposed to finely and evenly sliced. I like soups that consist of whatever is around and simmer long enough to make the house smell extra good. I'd rather make the entree than the dessert. Needless to say, I can de-gluten just about anything.

I consider myself blessed and honored to come from a long line of women & men who enjoyed cooking for their families. The combination of the pleasure of feeding loved ones and the rich legacy of ethnic foods that I inherited is a constant source of joy and satisfaction to me. I consider the time spent in a kitchen mixing new recipes with dishes my great grandparents made to be time well-spent. I am determined to feed my kids the same things I was fed so that the legacy will live on.

So that's the kind of cook I am. Pull up a chair and help yourself!

Picture: My Great Grandma Meszaros. I never met her, but I like to think that dinners of chicken paprikash and cucumber salad are a little bit in her honor.

P.S. I have been cooking wearing my old red apron because I don't want to mess up the Sister Apron. Hopefully my mom will bring her camera for an official pic!

Guess what?

Not only did I receive a gorgeous bouquet of Autumn flowers; but the apron has arrived in Dearborn! Thanks Margie, and I love you too!
Just in time for Mac's birthday on Saturday...pics to follow!