The Legend of the Candy Cane

A humble man wished to use his candymaking art to make a Christmas gift for Christ that came straight from his heart. First he shaped the candy into a shepherd's staff, a "j"-to stand for the name of Jesus, who was born on Christmas Day. He used white stripes to symbolize Jesus' virgin birth, and His sinlessness and purity during His time on earth. Finally, he colored the candy with stripes made out of red, to represent the scourging and the blood that Jesus shed. He had created the Candy Cane , to remind us during this season that Christmas is a sweet gift of love-Jesus is the reason.

No rest for the weary

Well I've been sick for two weeks now. What started as sinuses, became Bronchitis that left me with laryngitis from coughing so hard. Have you ever heard of someone loosing there voice because of coughing? I have not been able to talk since Sunday. Saturday night I had a coughing spell so bad I couldn't breath. I was about to wake hubby to take me to the hospital, I was panicking. Not being able to catch your breath is the scariest feeling. And after Brittany Murphy died while getting over a cold, I'm totally paranoid. So, after remembering a LOST episode, where Shannon was having an asthma attack and Jack calmed her down, telling her it was in her head because she was scared, I calmed myself down telling myself I'm not going to die, I'm just panicking because I can't catch my breath. Then after some deep prayer, I ask the Lord to please heal my lungs. Please let me breath again. Then Sunday morning I woke up to realize I had lost my voice. I have never lost my voice. I take this as a sign that God wants me to take things easy. To realize that my kids can hear me without me yelling. To depend more on my husband. To find the patience that I always pray for. And to put myself back on the to-do list.

And speaking of to-do, I haven't officially started my diet, but because of my illness, I've lost a few pounds. Once, I'm completely healed it's bye-bye fat pants, hello skinny jeans!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Sunday, we celebrated my dad's birthday. He braved the icy streets to come have an early dinner at our house. I made Steak tenderloin with cheesy, garlic mashed potatoes, shrimp cocktail, side salad and dinner rolls. I started to take pictures of dinner, as I was cooking it, but I only got to the mashed potatoes then forgot. I did, how ever take pictures of the yummy birthday cake cookies with homemade icing, I made!



You heard me right, birthday cake COOKIES.



The reason I decided to make these instead of a birthday cake, was that I had no more icing. And since it had just snowed so, I was not going anywhere. These cookies though, are so yummy and they are super easy to make; just take any cake mix box, add the required amount of eggs and oil - omit the water, stir and drop teaspoon size onto baking sheet. Bake approx. 8 min or so. Mmm...





I ended up making homemade icing. I thought I would give it a try and it turned out pretty freakin' good, if I do say so for myself. Hubby asked if I had more! To make the icing I took cream cheese and 1/2 stick butter (softened) and 1/2 t. vanilla extract mix it until it was smooth, then gradually added powdered sugar. I would add a 1/2 cup pwd. sugar at a time stirring until it was a nice consistency. I put it into a plastic bag, cut off the tip and piped it onto the cooled cookies.




My little man had the idea to put cherries on top. Cherries happen to be a favorite of my dads, so that was no problem. And I added some chocolate chips because you just can't have enough chocolate!

You know you want one...

The Birthday Dad!

My dad is a great man. Not too many men would have done what he has. He has made many sacrifices in his life for me and for his family. My dad joined the military when he was 18 years old. When he was 20 he went on his first deployment to the Philippines. There he met my mom and me. I was 2 years old. He fell in love with my mom and within another 2 years we were living in the United States. My dad at such a young age got married and had an instant family. He never had children of his own, but he has always loved me as his own. Rheumatoid arthritis left him unable to continue his career in the Navy. And last year he lost his best friend/his dad, my papalan. Life hasn't always dealt him the best hands and there have been times where he questioned his purpose. After, my parents got divorced, my dad was reborn and was baptized in the baptist church. I was so proud of him.

Today, just before I wrote this post, I found this book called; Birthday Wishes For You, while cleaning up the kids toys. This is for my dad.

God has chosen this day especially for you!

In His infinite timing and wisdom, He chose this day to bring you into this world and to make you a part of His plan. He created you with special talents designed for His purpose. He has blessed you with the desire to fulfill His purpose and the ability to succeed in His plan. Setting you free, He designed your path for life. Celebrate your life by honoring the days you've had and have to come! For this coming year and the years to follow, may everything that you've dreamed of come true!

Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!

p.s. In case you were wondering why I didn't have any icing, in these parts we like to sometimes eat frosting straight from the container. I know, it's kinda gross, but it.is.so.good.

Luke's Baptismal

We welcomed Luke into the Catholic church. It was a nice ceremony and there was yummy food at the reception. My best friend Alisha was able to come up so we had our boys baptised together.

Trinity and my Daddy

Luke and Trinity walking around the chapel
My Godson Tyler. It was also his first Birthday!
Happy Birthday to you, I love you!

Alisha, Tyler, me and Luke.

23 1/2 years of friendship.

Another milestone together.

my little man getting baptised.