Favorite Summer Recipe July 30, 2010

My favorite summer recipe so far this year is from a Rachel Ray magazine – it’s super yummy and refreshing!!

Watermelon Limeade
Makes 20 drinks; Prep 20 minutes

1 seedless watermelon (about 6 pounds), cut into chunks
3/4 cup lime juice (10 to 12 limes), plus lime slices for garnish
2 to 4 Tablespoons sugar
Ice
Mint sprigs for garnish

1. Using a blender, working in batches, puree the watermelon with the lime juice.
2. Pour the watermelon puree into a large pitcher, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Dilute with water if desired. Serve over ice and garnish with lime slices and mint sprigs.

Have a great weekend, friends! We’ll be back next week with more of our favorites! And don’t forget – we’d love to hear from you on YOUR favorites!

Favorite Vacation Memory July 28, 2010

Once upon a time, seven people went on an adventure…or what some might call a vacation. Growing up with lots of siblings, our vacations usually were trips to go visit the grandparents and other relatives. We have many wonderful, wonderful memories from our grandparents’ homes. There’s nothing like those cookouts and times of singing around the piano, sledding on the snowy hills or down a rushing river. I love and really cherish those memories as a family…

But one vacation, however, we decided to tack on a few days of sightseeing before visiting with all the family. So we flew into Boston. Now, I love history. I love OUR American history. So this city was, for me, like stepping back in time. There were no cars and honking horns, no electric lights…just Paul Revere and Shakespeare plays on the Boston Commons. And one of my favorite memories from that week is of our family driving around, sightseeing, and listening to our favorite music full blast.

As Debi said in her post last week, sometimes it IS the really simple and unplanned things that have the most effect on us.

Favorite Verse July 26, 2010

Several years ago, a friend of mine was reading through the Psalms and felt like the 34th stood out to her for me. She read it out loud to me and it was as if every single verse was written for ME. Ever since then, I will often turn back to this chapter as a reminder of the Lord’s goodness and his faithfulness. This Psalm calls us to praise the Lord at all times (no matter whether we feel like it or not) and then it moves on to recounting how the Lord had been faithful over and over again to hear the cry of David to deliver him, save him, give peace, draw near to the deeply grieving, redeem him and give refuge. Many times it has been like water to my thirsty soul, reminding me of His goodness. He will do the same for me! Take a moment to read it now:

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Favorite Summer Recipe July 23, 2010

This recipe is from Southern Living’s 1995 cookbook – one of my favorite editions. It includes all the best tastes of summer and is wonderful served with grilled meats or cold salads.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups fresh whole kernel sweet corn (I use the bi-color), scraped off the cob.
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup finely chopped purple onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
1 (4-1/2 oz.) can chopped green chiles, undrained
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all ingredients, and toss gently. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Yield: 5 cups

Posted by Debi

My Favorite Vacation Memory July 21, 2010

Monday night our family had dinner together.  Knowing I would be writing this post, I asked our three grown children, “What is your favorite vacation memory?”

This made for some fun conversation as we reminisced their childhood.  I was surprised at their favorites, and had even forgotten some of the moments they recalled.

• Was it the time we went mountain biking in the Rockies?  No!

• Was it the week long expedition to Washington D.C. where we visited Ford’s Theater, The Holocaust Museum, The Smithsonian or the National Archives?  No!

• Was it the time in the Florida Keys where we took them snorkeling?  No!

• How about the time we spent a week on Clearwater Beach harvesting sand dollars and gathering sea shells so we could identify them in our Florida Sea Shell book? No, it wasn’t that either.

Their favorite vacation memory came from the times we went fishing!  Fishing of all things!  And to think I didn’t have any idea how much they enjoyed it.  We have fished together many times, on party boats, from a dock of a home in Naples, on a private fishing charter and in a trout-fed pond in North Carolina.  But we never have purposed to go on a “fishing trip”.  I guess it was always something to do among the other activities we had planned.

I think we have an idea what to do on our next family vacation – anyone want to “fish” for a guess?

So what’s YOUR favorite vacation memory?

Our Favorites July 19, 2010

This week we’re starting a fun theme we hope you’ll enjoy.  Each of us are taking one week to share with you our favorite Bible verses, our favorite vacation memory, and our favorite summer recipe.  It should be lighthearted and fun to share, and we would LOVE for you to respond to us with your favorites too!  This week Debi Walter shares:

MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE!

I have grown through the years in my love for God’s Word that there are many scriptures I could pick.  But overall there is one section of Scripture that causes my heart to beat a bit faster every time I hear a message on it, hear it quoted or happen upon in my own devotions.  It’s 1 Peter 1:6-9 and in the margin next to it I wrote “my life’s verse” probably 7 years ago.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I have certainly been grieved by various trials throughout my lifetime, but remembering that these difficulties test my faith and help me to grow in glorifying and honoring Jesus Christ somehow makes my problems easier to bear.  It’s not for nothing!  And learning to see my trials this way causes my love for Him to increase to the point where I can’t wait until my faith will be made sight!  I will see HIM one day and then, I will receive the outcome of my faith – the salvation of my soul!

No, I haven’t yet seen Him, but I can honestly say, I love Him more now than I ever have.  And it fills me with great joy!

Posted by Debi

Friday Funnies July 16, 2010

My mother, Allura, sent this story in about me:

I was reading to my girls, Jennifer and Stephanie (who were five and three at the time), about what happens when you die. Jennifer said, “I don’t get it. First our soul goes to heaven, then our body goes up. But when do our head and arms go up?”

…She set me straight, by the way. =)

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you all on Monday!

Ice Cream Anyone? July 14, 2010

Ice cream.  Just saying the phrase almost makes my mouth water.  Some of my favorite ice cream memories are:

• Hearing the ice cream man’s jingle and running home to ask Mom for money to buy a popsicle.
• Having “Ice Cream Sunday Dinners” when my kids were little.  Yep, we had ice cream with yummy toppings for dinner some Sunday nights.
• Walking up to Baskin ‘n Robbins with the kids when they filled up one of their character charts on the frig.  Patience, not interrupting or waking up from their naps with a happy face enough times to fill the squares with stickers ended with a yummy outing for parent and child.

I found an all-about-ice-cream site where you can get some great ideas for talking about and making ice cream.

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/games/icecreamgames.htm

Enjoy!

Posted by Sheree

Zoo anyone? July 12, 2010

Those of us who live in Florida have a wonderful array of FREE summertime fun for our kids and grandkids!  Here’s a really fun one:  free evening admission to the Brevard County Zoo!  For many of us it would be a drive, but how fun to load up the kids after naps and head over to Melbourne for sunset at the zoo and live music!

Here’s a description of the event from the website:

Come beat the summertime heat during our annual Summer Saturday Nights, which starts July 3 and runs every Saturday night through August 28. We extend our hours of operation to 9 p.m. all nine Saturdays in July and August. Thanks to local businesses who sponsor the nights, admission is free to everyone starting at 5 p.m. Last admission is 8 p.m.

As part of Summer Saturday Nights, most of the Zoo animals are out on exhibit until dusk. However, some animals will be off exhibit. The free flight aviary and the butterfly exhibit will be closed as well as Paws On play area. Each night the Zoo provides musical entertainment from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Other available activities for patrons include a chance to go kayaking, ride the train, feed giraffe, and enjoy a special animal encounter at 7 p.m. Patrons will not be able to bring food and drink into the Zoo starting at 5 p.m.

Music Line-up

July 3- It Is What It Is; 10- Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Brass Quintet; 17- Drift Session,; 24- Ben Wilson; 31- Perfect Tuesday

August 7- Country Classic Band; 14- Brevard Symphony Orchestra, String Ensemble; 21- David Wills Quintet; 28- Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Woodwind Ensemble

Friday Funnies – Christmas in July July 9, 2010

Singing Christmas carols makes for wonderful (and sometimes hilarious) memories together – like this one from our friend Kristen:

“Several years ago, around Christmastime, our family was driving around looking at Christmas lights. While we drove, we were listening to and singing Christmas carols. After several songs my then four year old daughter, Hallye, asked me, ‘Mom, who are Ken and Chelsea?’ Confused, I asked her what she meant. She responded by saying, ‘You know, from the song: Ken and Chelsea’s Deo.’”

So, now that you have this song on your mind, Merry Christmas in July! =)