Here I am...

Hi everyone! I know, it's been like 4 months since I posted last. Here's a few things that've been going on.

1. Our home computer died just before Christmas. Since I'm unemployed we don't really have the resources to fix this. So, I rely on the library to do email and other computer-y things. My blog is very low on the totem pole of priorities. But, I do miss you guys!

2. Job hunting sucks! I'm looking at lots of different things, not just ministry. So, if anyone in the Charlotte, NC area is looking to hire, please let me know. I have tons of Admin experience.

3. Chile #2 & #3 are in BB. They have been playing every Sat for the last 3 months. It's very fun to watch these little people play. Needless to say, the rules are very relaxed (travelling, double dribbling). It's more about getting used to the game and teamwork.

That's all for now. I'll see if I can do better with keeping up with this.

-Apple

Happy Halloween!!!

Here are pics of the Chiles dressed up:

Chile #1 is an Enchanted Butterfly

























Chile #2 is a Purple Unicorn (Why yes, she IS going to Candy Mountain. Why do you ask?)
























Chile #3 is Peter from Narnia, complete with Aslan.





So there's my eclectic brood. The plan is to eat the Pumpkin Stew, go beg for candy for a couple of hours, come home and gorge on candy, play Wii and slip into a sugar coma. Sounds like a good time, no?


Happy Halloweening!!!

-Apple

It's the Great Cupcake, Charlie Brown!

So, remember waaay back in Sept when I won Sunshine's contest and I said I was going to buy the giant cupcake pan? Well, after hold-ups about getting the gift certificate and then having to actually go to buy the thing, I've finally made one! Since it is close to Halloween I'd thought I go with that for the decorating theme.


TA-DA!!!















Bascially, it takes 2 cake mixes, one for each well (you do end up with a little bit extra from one, about enough for 6 cupcakes), so you can make 2 different kinds. The combinations are endless! This one is Vanilla Halloween Funfetti on top and Devil's Food on the bottom.














I had a great time making this and a HUGE THANK YOU to Sunshine for making it all possible!


Happy Ooo & Aah-ing!

-Apple

Pumpkin Stew

This is a recipe I try to make every Halloween for supper. It is nice and hearty so it fills up the Chiles and keeps their tummys warm for a couple hours of trick or treating. It also ensures they get something healthy before the onslaught of sugar!
It seems like it takes a long time but is really super easy. It also make an impressive presentation if you're having company. Just serve with cornbread or breadsticks and a salad if you choose.

Ingredients:
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 cup water
3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 medium carrots, sliced
1 large green pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pumpkin (10 to 12 pounds)


Directions:
In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tablespoons oil. Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Stir in bouillon and tomatoes. Wash pumpkin; cut to 6 to 8 in. circle around top stem. Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loosen fibers from inside. Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan. Spoon stew into pumpkin and replace top. Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining oil. Bake at 325° for 2 hours or just until the pumpkin is tender (do not overbake). Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving. Yield: 8-10 servings.




Happy Cooking!

-Apple

Trick... or Treat? ;p

It's Halloween week!!! I love Halloween. I love to dress up, decorate, have costume parties & do haunted trails. I plan to have several different things up for you this week following the Halloween theme.

How many of you go out trick or treating with your kids? How many of you dress up to do it? How many just like to dress up? Well, whichever you do, this may put a new spin on Trick or Treating for you.
















Happy Trick or Treating!


-Apple

Happy Birthday Angel Boy!!!

Today is the 8th Birthday of my son Liam Thomas. He was an angel baby born with anencephaly who we were blessed to have grace us with his presence for 6 1/2 weeks. This was one of the most defining moments of my life. Everything from the moment we found out about him (5 month ultrasound) to his birth to his death has changed my life completely. Usually as this time of year gets closer and closer I tend to be more emotional. However, this year, whether because of busyness or more healing, I have been coping better.



Tonight we will be celebrating with a few close friends who've become our second family. We will have cake and sing Happy Birthday and share pictures of our son & brother.











This is a poem that I found and printed in his Funeral service. If anyone has lost a child, or you know someone who has lost a child, I think this sums up our feelings quite well. So, if you're not sure what to say to someone who has experienced the greatest loss imaginable, read on...

PLEASE, don’t ask me if I’m over it yet.
I’ll never be over it.
PLEASE, don’t tell me he’s in a better place.
He isn’t here with me.
PLEASE, don’t tell me you know how I feel,
Unless you have lost a child.
PLEASE, don’t ask me if I feel better.
Bereavement isn’t a condition that clears up.
PLEASE, don’t tell me God never gives us
more than we can bear.
PLEASE, just say you are sorry.
PLEASE, just say you remember my child,
if you do.
PLEASE, just let me talk about my child.
PLEASE, mention his name.
PLEASE, just let me cry.




We miss you Liam! Mama loves you!!!

Why did the Chicken cross the road?

I thought we could all use a little humor in these last 2 weeks before the election. Therefore I present to you...

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?







BARACK OBAMA:
The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MCCAIN:
My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON:
When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes m e uniquely qualified to ensure -- right from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.......

DR. PHIL:
The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on h is 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH:
Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH:
We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL:
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY:
Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE:
That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN:
To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART:
No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why i t crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL:
Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth?' That's why they ca ll it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side'. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA:
In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS:
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE:
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON:
Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% ......... reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON:
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE:
I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS:
Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY:
Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON:
Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.


Happy Clucking!

-Apple