Tennessee Vacation 2018

Well our mountain vacation was a huge success. It was bittersweet but we felt Rene there with us in so many ways! And the mountains did not disappoint, it was beautiful! I am so glad we decided to go. We made more memories to carry with us forever!

Addie and Brenan had this stone made for me while there.
 I will treasure it forever!!

Now we face our first Christmas without him. I am really having a hard time this week with that. I know we will get through it but the heartache and pain is still there. I miss him so very much. I thank God every single day for my children and grandchildren. They lift me up and keep me going. Poppa would be so proud of them. I know I sure am! So we will face the holidays together and somehow we will get through it...it's what he would want us to do!

The little ones are so excited about Christmas and it is amazing to see it through their eyes! They laugh and talk about things Poppa would do or say...OH how he would be so proud of that. I pray they never ever forget how much he loved them. You know all of those "first" after you lose someone you love, is so hard and you wonder how you will make it through, but somehow you do. Is it ever easy? Heck no it's not. But together as a family, we will.

I still have so much shopping to do but I would not be me, if I didn't wait until the last minute. It will get done, in my own time!  What about you? Is your shopping all done? Don't lie!!

Have a blessed weekend....
Sharing just a few special memories from our trip

THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING

At the end of this week, myself, my children and my grandchildren will be headed to the mountains. Bittersweet? VERY! 

But Rene' and I had planned this trip before he died and after so much thought and tears, I knew in my heart that he would still want me to go. Neither of us have ever been to the mountains and we were so much looking forward to it. Now he gets to witness the beauty and glory of the mountains every day....I know he would be so happy that I am going.

 When the kids first approached me about still going...all of us, as a family...I said no, I just can't. But as time went by I did a lot of soul searching and finally came to the conclusion that it was the right thing to do. I won't lie, I worried what others would say (OH she is going on vacation only 6 months after her husband died). But I realized that the ones who would think or say that...didn't really know Rene' and the huge heart he had. And he really couldn't care less what others said or thought. 
So ... we are going to the mountains! 

And he will be with us, every step of the way! Please pray for us, for a safe journey and for contentment.To my children and grandchildren, I love y'all more than y'all can imagine.
 Poppa would be so very proud of all of you.
 I know that I am!

WISHES

Do you ever wonder what makes people the way they are? I do...every.single.day! We are all guilty of taking things for granted, such as....LIFE...family...our jobs....having the things we want....we all take these things for granted. Until one day, you are without one of these things. By then, sometimes its too late. I know its a normal process when you are dealing with grief, hardships, pain...to have regrets. Regrets...such a sad word. 

 regret

1. 1.

   feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity).
2. Regret is a negative conscious and emotional reaction to one's personal decision-making, a choice resulting in action or inaction. Regret is related to perceived opportunity.

Yet this morning as I sat writing this, I thought about an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where Robert "steals" Raymond's regret! I laughed out loud all by myself and then realized that regrets are simply another word for wishes. I much prefer the word wish/wishes/wished. 

wish

verb (used with object)

to want; desire; long for

See the difference there? So I guess it's all how you perceive it. Some days its regrets, some days its wishes. This is probably not making a bit of sense to whoever is reading it, but somehow it gave me some comfort this morning.

Turn your regret into wishes. And be blessed!

FALL has arrived !

Have you stepped outside yet today? If you haven't...you should!It feels simply amazing.

 As I have said before this is my

favorite time of year...always has been.

A week ago today, Rene and I would have celebrated out 43rd anniversary.

I started a posting 3 times that day but my heart just was not in the right place.

My sweet children and grandchildren knew how hard that day would be for me, so

they made it extra special by sending me flowers and visiting with me that

evening. I hope they know how much I appreciate them and how proud

their Poppa would be of them!

Just like the seasons, life changes so quickly.

Never would I have thought that our lives would be what it is today.

But as much as our hearts are broken, we know we have to

go on and be thankful for what is and what lies ahead.

That is just so hard some days.

Most days are okay.

Other days I am so sad.

Then I am angry.

Then I am really pissed off.

Then I am okay.

It's all a process...just have to work through it and figure out a way

to go on without him.

I hope you are out and enjoying this beautiful weather.

And don't forget to keep our Florida and East coast neighbors in

your prayers.

Have a blessed day!

HALLOWEEN COOKIE PIZZA

1

roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies

1/2

cup creamy peanut butter

1

cup candy corn

1/2

cup chocolate chips or raisins

1/4

cup vanilla ready-to-spread frosting (from 1-lb can)

• 1

  Heat oven to 350°F. Line 12-inch pizza pan with foil; grease foil with shortening. Cut cookie dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices; arrange in pan. With floured fingers, press slices to form crust.
• 2

  Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 3

  Use foil to lift crust from pan. Carefully remove foil from crust; place crust on serving platter or tray. Spread peanut butter over crust. Sprinkle candy corn and raisins evenly over top.
• 4

  In small microwavable bowl, microwave frosting on High 10 to 15 seconds or until thin and drizzling consistency. Drizzle frosting over cookie pizza. Cut into wedges or squares.
• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  

(from 1-lb

can)

Autumn? not here!

Can someone tell mother nature that it is October? And it's fall? And its not supposed to be almost 90 degrees? South Louisiana...got to love it! Seems like just yesterday I was blogging about fall. I have said it many times that fall is my favorite time of the year...it still is, just this year so much has changed. I will miss our little weekend get aways...Rene' and I loved doing that so much. Finding a new normal is so hard...but I will...someday! Until then, I pray for cooler temps and a healing heart.

As I sit here typing this, Joshua is on the iPad watching a Christmas video and singing Rudolph! Slow down child!!! If only we could be more like kids and have no concept of seasons passing and how fast the days go by. Growing up sure is a reality!!

Looking forward to lafetedesvieuxtemps this weekend! 

Fun, family, fellowship and food...great combination. 

If you are in the area, stop in and get you some beignets! 

I promise you won't regret it.

BEIGNETS

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 7 cups flour
• 1 packet of fast acting instant yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 1/4 cup shortening
• Canola oil for frying (enough to give you a couple of inches deep in the pot)
• 4-5 cups powdered sugar
• brown paper bag

---

Instructions

1. Place the water, salt, eggs and evaporated milk in a stand mixer and mix together using a dough hook
2. In a separate bowl stir together the flour and yeast
3. Add 3 cups of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat until blended
4. Add the shortening and beat until blended well
5. Add the remaining flour, a cup at a time, until the dough is coming together and starting to pull away from the sides of the bowl
6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on the counter for 2 hours
7. Heat the oil to 350°
8. Place about 2 cups of powdered sugar into the paper bag
9. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough on a floured surface, into a large rectangular shape
10. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough into 2″ x 3″ rectangles
11. Drop the dough into the oil, 2-3 at a time, and let them fry on each side until they turn light brown, this only takes about a minute. Keep an eye on them or they will over cook
12. Take them out of the fryer and place them into the paper bag. Shake the bag to coat the beignets.
13. Add more powdered sugar as needed
14. Serve them warm!

4 MONTHS

So this week makes 4 months! 4 MONTHS ! That is so hard to imagine much less speak it out loud. Our lives completely changed 4 months ago...and will never be the same. We miss him terribly and think of him every single moment. Some days the pain is so immense that my body actually hurts, then other says its like a dull ache that comes and goes with the great memories we hold on to. Thank God for those days!

 One day we will find a new normal... I pray!

My kids and grand kids have been so amazing. Even in their own pain they have always made sure that I am OK. Little do they know that every single day I worry that THEY are OK.  I read a quote this morning that really touched me. 

"Appreciate what you have before it turns into what you had". 

Such a true statement. If only we could really live by it!  

We take so much for granted. 

Then suddenly one day you realize that...don't let it be too late. 

Let those special ones in your life know just how special they truly are to you!

"Appreciate what you have before it turns into what you had"

I thought I would share a fall recipe with you all. 

I am just trying to get this blog back to what it used to be.

Ooey Gooey Autumn Spice Cake

Ingredients

 For the crust: 

1 (15.25-ounce) box spice cake mix

 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, melted 

1 egg

 For the filling:

 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened

 2 eggs 

1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, melted 

4 cups powdered sugar

 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, stir the cake mix, melted butter, and egg together to make the crust. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. 

3. In a another large bowl, use a mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.

 Add the eggs and mix well. Add the butter and mix well.

 Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until combined.

 Mix in the vanilla. Pour the filling mixture over the crust.

 4. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the edges are just firm but the middle is still jiggly.

 Cool completely before slicing into squares.

Ooey Gooey Autumn Spice Cake

The Good Times

At this time 2 years ago, I was in the hospital fighting for my life. Even though I have very little recollection of that time, I do recall bits and pieces. I remember how much my family supported me and prayed for me. I remember how angry I was that I had to stay in the hospital for so long. I remember cursing those darn therapists who pushed me so hard (Thank God for them). But most of all I remember how much Rene' worried and took care of me, and pushed me every day. But all of those times in between, I have no memory of...maybe that is just how it was meant to be? I still have a ways to go, but I also have come so far! Never did I think that 2 short years later, I would not have Rene in my everyday life. We are never promised tomorrow...oh how true is that statement!

I promised to get my blog back to what it used to me...fun and upbeat...that time has come. Thank you all for being so patient with me and my days of sad blogging. Its been very helpful to me to be able to put those feelings into writing. And there are still some days that all I can do it cry and write about sad times. But I am choosing to remember the good times and let those good times carry me through my pain.

THIS is one of those good times!