NIKKI - New to the Family

Some of you may not know that we had to put our Boxer, Lady to sleep a couple of weeks ago. And you probably heard me say NO MORE DOGS. Well you may have also heard of "Famous last Words." Meet Nikki. She's 8 weeks old. Jeff brought her home and how can you say no to a face like that. She got her name because our friends Lanny and Lila have a male named Nike. So Jeff gets the bright idea we should name her Addidas. NOT! So we settled on Nikki. That's great except I try to call her Nike.

PROM NIGHT 2008

Brandon went to prom last weekend with Courtney. It was held at the Gallatin High School, but they had dinner at 36th Street in St. Joseph before the prom. It's official now!!! I feel really old!!!

Sure Mom, whichever one you like is fine with me.

Stand still, Brandon!!! Don't slump, gotta make sure it fits.

36-24-36 perfect figure!!!

Brandon and Courtney

Brandon and Courtney

Smile, it's Prom Night!!!

Ready to go...

NO MORE PICTURES!!!

WRESTLING -- NESS STYLE

Chad executes a perfect Grandby...

Brandon fighting hard in District Competition.

Way to go, guys!!! Brandon will recieve his letter for wrestling tonight as a freshman and Chad went undefeated and won first place as a 7th grader. I am so proud of both of them.

One FLU over the Miles Nest

Well it's been a while but Jeff is down for the count. He has the Flu! When I got home from church last night his temp was 101.7. His neck is also bothering him. It couldn't be that he over did Wednesday night helping in game time at AWANA. Abby was also sick and Alex has class now on Wednesday. He usually makes it before too long but we never know so I asked Jeff to help Darla. After opening for Sparks and TNT Darla went over and Pat Ramsey was helping Jeff with the cubbies. Yea!!!!!!!!! Later when I went over Jeff is on a scooter (the cubbies use) on his chest and Pat is pushing him like a wheel barrow and swinging him in circles. They also played dodge ball and I'm not sure who had more fun, the clubbers or the men. (I use the term men loosely.) lol. Seriously we are so blessed that we have Christian men who are willing to step up and do whatever it takes to share God's word. Thank's guys.

KAIROS #3 - THE BEGINNING

Tomorrow night is the second Retreat weekend for Kairos at Crossroads. This is a retreat for the first two Kairos communities at Crossroads Correctional Center. The retreats are held 3 months following a 4 day Kairos Weekend. There is also a weekly Prayer and Share time on Tuesday night which are led by the offenders and monitored by team members who volunteer their time each week.
Jeff is the Team Leader for Kairos #3 so please be in prayer for him and for the weekend. Satan is not at all happy with what God is doing through these team members and through the lives that have been changed as a result.
Carrie Murphy, Lisa McCartney, Cindy Hampton, Joan Mansingh and I have the task of feeding the team this weekend, for all the team meetings, and for the big weekend we feed not only the team members but the offenders also, so please be in prayer for us to.
There are some great pictures on Carries blog, www.skiingbehindjesusboat.blogspot.com of the last weekend and I will try to update the weekend coming up as we go.

I'm Weighing In!!!!!!!!

Okay I'm going to "Weigh In" lol.. on the health issue. Here are a couple of recipes my daughter shared with me from Weight Watchers. The first one is a soup and it looks easy. (If you know me I'm all for easy.)

WW POTATO SOUP 1 point per 1 cup serving

4 cans chicken broth (fat free)
1 bag O'Brien Hash Browns
1 pkg Country Gravy Mix (Pioneer Brand)

Whisk broth and gravy mix together.
Add potatoes and simmer until done.


Guess what I'm bring to the carry-in soup dinner Sunday.

No. 2

Sweet Potato Casserole

29 oz sweet potatoes, canned -- mashed
1/4 t. ground allspice
vegetable cooking spray
3 T light cream cheese
2 T brown sugar
1 T margarine
1/3 c crushed pineapple -- drained
1/4 t salt
3 T pecans -- toasted, chopped

Combine sweet potato and allspice in a mixing bowl. Beat mixture at medium speed with mixer for 2 minutes or until smooth. Spoon into a 1 qt microwave safe baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and microwave a High for 5 mins. or until thoroughly heated. Add cream cheese, sugar and margarine to sweet potato mixture. Beat at medium speed until combined. Stir in pineapple and salt. Microwave, uncovered, on High for 1 minute or until mixture is thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with toasted pecans, and serve warm.

Yields 4 cups. 3 points per 1 cup serving.

Do you have recipes you want to share?

When are tears a Good Thing?

When they bring you to the foot of the Cross.

God blessed me with the experience of being there at the birth of a new Believer in Christ Sunday morning at Church. It was a beautiful day all the way around. I told Steve our music minister that every Sunday the music is wonderful but yesterday I felt from the first note that we were inviting the Holy Spirit to join us and He did! ( Couldn't be how I prepare my heart before I get there now could it.) Anyway, a young lady sat near us during service and shortly after started crying. Lisa helped her get a tissue and sat with her during service and Joan and I were praying for her throughout the service. She and Lisa went to the altar and prayed and then they went straight to the conference room at close. Joan and I followed and talked with her for a while. The details are not essential to blog but needless to say she was feeling hopeless and after talking with us and Pastor Jay she found what she was looking for. Hope. Eternal Life in Christ Jesus.

She returned to service that night and we have assured her it was no accident that she sat in the very seat she sat in and that we want to disciple her in her journey with the Lord. ( Thank you for Master Life!) She realizes that she will be attacked because of her decision but our God is bigger and she has been made new. She knows now not to buy into satan's lies and where to find the answers to her questions.

Yes it was a good day!