Reddi-wip and grandma

My sister in law, Andrea, has this great recipe for Pumpkin cookies that are always a family favorite this time of year.  she put the recipe on her blog so I decided I was going to try it out yesterday.  If you would like the recipe, please check out Andrea's Blog by clicking here: http://cakhbell.blogspot.com/2009/10/delicioso.html

Those of you who knew my Grandma Lang would know that one of the very first things she would do when things were a little rough for the family is bake a big batch of cookies or cook an incredibly large meal for all of us.  So that was my motivation behind the cookies. 

I was at my parent's house baking them, I had some really good music on and I could almost feel grandma there beside me, inspiring and helping me.  One of the things she was really good at was mixing things up a little in a recipe, so in the cookie batch I put a couple of dallops of sour cream and a little extra flour, and they turned out so moist. 

When I got ready to make the frosting, I realized that my parents had no milk, (which the recipe called for) so being inspired by grandma's style, I found a can of Reddi-whip (that's kinda like milk right?) and I mixed with Cream cheese and vanilla, melted them together, whipped it and drizzled it on the cookies!

They turned out really good and the best thing I got to do is give them away so I could put some smiles on some very important people just like grandma.  Thanks Grandma and Andrea!

Crazy Cat Lady

Yes, It's true, I have officially become a crazy cat lady.

Sitting at home last Sunday vegetating under a snuggly blanket, I got up and wadded my blanket on the couch. When I came to sit back down, Mr. Whiskers had decided to take a nap on the blanket. So he was all curled up with a little ball of yarn I made for him (which he loves)...

so yes, I actually took time out of my day to make a ball of yarn for my cat, I let him take the blanket and Yes, I take pictures.

Giving me the evil eye. "When is this crazy lady going to stop interrupting my cat naps?"

But who could resist such cuteness?

VALDEZ

So the question is: To cry or not to cry...


Things here at Cabinetrends (our cabinet showroom) have been a little slow as of late, so I decided to go into my "clean sweep" mode. Over the years there has been a massive amount of samples, thousands of brochures, and other random supplies that have been compiled into every nook and cranny in this place.



So after spending DAYS cleaning, throwing out and organizing all of these items I was on the verge of my crowning moment in this process by finding a logical way of organizing brochures and then...CRASH! In slow motion all of those brochures exploded on to the ground as I was moving my brilliant organizing system.



Thus confirming the appropriateness of a nickname that my brothers have for me: Major Valdez - yes because I have a tendency to spill things.

Ladies you know those moments where you are on the brink and you have a choice to laugh or cry. Well...

I chose to laugh!

My hometown

Many of you know that I have been a lot of places and there is beauty in all of them, but I have to say that there is nothing in the world like coming home, flying over Mt. Rainier, the Puget Sound and Seattle.

(at the seattle center)

There's nowhere in the world like it - so many colors, sights and sounds. Where else can you find mountains, water, forests, and such a great city in the same place?!!

The beautiful Puget Sound!

So last spring I took a photography class (which I loved...) Today I came across some of those pictures and thought that I would share some of my favorite pics in honor of my hometown. :)

The beautiful Bellevue Botanical Gardens in the spring!

Cherry Blossoms at Mom and Dad's house!

The Space Needle

Only a few of the sights of our great city! Go Seattle!

The Big FANTASTIC

On Wednesday, Papa Steve, Grandma Carolyn and I got the privilege of taking the little girls to the fair and it was a wild ride to be sure! We started out with the Cotton Candy which they weren't particularly impressed with.

Then we attempted to go look at the animals. Pearson did the best with not being afraid of them and the camel was fascinating and scary...

Then we moved on to the rides which they enjoyed... although they kept trying to cut in line which was tortorous for them.


I love this picture of Pearson and Heidi. Pearson had a difficult time keeping her shoes on. during the boat ride she kept dangling them over the edge, as if to threaten to throw them at any time. I'm not sure what Heidi was thinking...

My particular favorite was the "carriage" ride. It was a train that Kyla and I decided was a carriage that would take us to our prince charming. We waved to all the people passing by which she was very into. :)

Then we moved on to the eating portion of the day which of course concluded with Icecream.


It was an unforgettable and wonderful day of memories!

Skinna Marinky Dink...

Sorry it's taken so long to post, I've been getting back into the swing of things since I've been home and I wanted to post a video of the last day I spent with the kids in Rwanda.

All my nieces and any other little kids I spend time with know that Skinna Marinky Dinky Dink is "Aunty Reen's" song. And of course, would you believe that I taught all the kids at the orphanage to sing it too! Super cute!

here is one of the little girls singing it - with great excitement

here is the whole group singing on the last day...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Dear Dad,

Once upon a time, not so long ago, your little girl found herself in a land far far away. She had worked herself to a point of incredible exhaustion, mentally, physically and spiritually and was in desperate need of some hospitality and support. She went to a place where she thought she would find a source for that hospitality and was bluntly refused. She was desperate for some Jesus with skin on and she had nowhere to go.

Then out of almost nowhere, someone showed up to offer a shower, a good meal, and heartfelt prayer on her behalf. The real Jesus had provided a miracle! This got her thinking about why she was so hurt and offended by the original refusal and why the hospitality offered freely was so meaningful. But this took her to another once upon a time, a long long time ago in a land not too far away...

We were all sitting down at the many makeshift tables that were filled with wonderful Thanksgiving food. All of the family was there, Grandpa and Grandma Bell, aunts, uncles and cousins. There were also a number people who were not related but were invited and treated as family members anyway.

On many other occasions around the same time and same place, we were at Grandpa and Grandma Langs house. Again with all the family there and those who were not family but treated as such anyway.


So many stories of Grandparents and you and mom, with doors constantly open to people who didn't have anyone or anywhere to go. Hospitality for all of us, kids, cousins, aunts and uncles on both sides of the family became a part of us. It's just what you do. It's a part of the heritage that has been given to us - a heritage of compassion, hospitality, love and steadfast faith. A heritage of being Jesus with some skin on.


So now as I'm writing this, I can hear some kids dancing around outside, singing, "Give your heart to Jesus, that's what it's all about!" I wish I could describe to you what it's like holding the hand of a little orphan girl raised up in the air praising Jesus in church with the most beautiful music you've ever heard. Somehow the Lord has provided the opportunity for me to do that. He has given us great opportunities to accomplish great things for His kingdom in the future.

But even now, when I think about it, I am convinced once again that the use of our family's resources is not as much about the future as it the past - about honoring those who have come before us. Those who've shown us that it is in the simple things that you can change a person's life for eternity and that by daring to dream you can change the world.

and THATS what its all about!

So thank you for being my dad. Thanks for picking such a great mom. Thank you both for believing in me unconditionally. Thanks for teaching me to look beyond myself and that i can reach out and accomplish the dreams that God has for me.

I love you with all my heart,
Loreen