Advent Calendar-December 2, The Ever So Wonderful Graham Cracker Cake

There are many family recipes that I love, but I must say that this I think is my favorite!  I even found this in my Grandmother McCartney’s recipe files, it was given to her by my Grandmother Terrill. I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as I do.  Added note a big ole dolup of whipped cream.

This year the folks at geneabloggers.com have decided to host another Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories prompt. There is a prompt for each day between Dec 1 and Dec 25. You can find details at Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM). Pick up your pen and join the fun!

Merry Christmas!

 

Sentimental Sunday-The Ripple of Our Lives

John DonneNo man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. John DonneMeditation XVII

Mr. Donne had a very good point, each of us touch more lives than we ever know. We do not stand alone, even if we choose being alone our lives still touch someone at one time or another.

I have been lucky to find some extended family while doing my family research, some have found me to correct errors and others I have found while doing research or just by watching post on Facebook, generated by other cousins and those that comment on their statuses.

I was talking to a cousin that is four years younger than I. Mike and I were talking about spending time at my grandparents home in Kirtland. There were a lot of shared memories many of them warm. I don’t know why as their grandchild that I thought Nana and Grandpa had no contact with other children (even though I knew better), that we were the only ones they ever entertained. Mike shared with me how that they used to climb the hay stacks, humph I thought, we were never allowed to do climb the hay stacks. I am wondering if it was because they where boys and we were girls, or maybe Mom and Dad just didn’t want us climbing.

Then Mike started to tell me how he rode our bikes, you notice how I put OUR bikes. When Grandpa told me once to take good care of them because they were for all the kids, this little child mind of mine thought he meant my Uncle Tom’s three kids,  my sister, and I. I will tell you at the age of 53  I had a short knee jerk reaction and I had to hold my tongue! I wanted so to say Mike what were you doing riding our bikes! How dare you! I didn’t cause I really knew that those were for all the kids.

I was talking to another cousin the other day and she had said she always loved it when Uncle Mac took them for rides on the tractor, well here I go again…what! Grandpa how dared you give anyone else a ride on the tractor! ( I know I am being totally ridiculous!)

These cousins are dear to me and they have given me a new look at my grandparents from different eyes . They have stories to tell that are different from mine, but yet very much the same.  I doubt Nana and Grandpa treated them any different then they treated me…hummm, maybe not, seeing I was the first-born grandchild, oh there is that little self sneaking in there. I may have had a special spot in their hearts, I am sure that their great nieces and nephews were very special to them as they are to me now.

No man is an island, his life touches many. It makes my heart glad to know that my grandparents touched many lives while they were here on this earth, that they shared love with many.

My prayer is that when my life is over it will tell a similar tale. That of one who touched many and that they are now the better for it as they walk through there lives.

Happy Hunting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

There  has been much conversation about when and why our ancestors came to this county. Some insist that many of  them came for the land for the possible wealth of this country.  This may very well be correct. As we all know there are those that came to this country for religious freedom. Some of these had to learn tolerance and others that gave it freely. There was a smaller group yet, that arrived on these shores as punishment, who in time gained their freedom.

What strikes me about both groups they came here for FREEDOM, whether it was freedom to better their life with good land and hard work or the FREEDOM to worship as they pleased  and in many cases for both freedoms.

I give thanks for these ancestors, for whatever reason that the embarked on a long hard voyage across a  large and not always peaceful body of water, to seek their freedom so that their descendants would also enjoy such freedoms.

My fondest prayer, is that we open up our eyes and see that our freedoms are being slowly taken away in the name of progress. In the hopes that government will cure-all our ills. I truly don’t believe this is good for our country.

If my people which are called  by my name , shall humble themselves, and pray , and seek my face, and turn from their wicked  ways ; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2Chronicles 7:14

This passage from The Holy Bible is talking to the believer. We should humble ourselves, pray, seek his face and above all turn from our wicked ways? You say wicked ways??? Why would a Christian be or do wicked things? Have they not professed a love and fellowship with God? Yes we have, but in saying that we are yet human. Capable of doing things that please ourselves and not God. I think many reasons that people are seeking for the Government to take care of things to help the poor and all the other ills of our society is that the Church has neglected The Great Commandment To Love God and  to  love thy neighbor. I am thankful I belong to a church that has not forgotten and strives daily to improve on our selves in God’s light and not in our own light. I call believers to remember God’s command to love they neighbor and how are we to love or neighbors… MORE than ourselves. Instead of being self-serving be a servant to others.

Bless yourself by Blessing others! Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone!

The Cycle of Thanksgiving