Let The Deliciousness Commence.

We are currently 3 days from the start most wonderful time of the year for most people in the South. College football season technically begins tomorrow night with a couple of Thursday games, but REALLY begins Saturday. And as you already know, last year was a pretty successful year for my Tigers, so I'm really looking forward to this year.

My real life friend, Boomama, is hosting a DipTacular bloggy event where bloggers post their favorite dips on their blogs and then link over to her blog. Football Saturdays are about football watching, but are also about fellowship, neighborly get-togethers, and tailgaiting. And none of these can happen without food. The better the food, the better chance your team has to win. I fully believe that. So there's a LOT at stake here. Bad food = bad game = you will most likely be excommunicated from the next game day party. And that would be A SHAME, friends.

So I'm participating. All to keep the Tigers winning. And because it's fun. :)

My first dip was one of those "required foods" at every youth group event when I was in high school. The parents always served it with fruit, but let's be honest -we just wanted a spoon. It's that good. I've made it for many wedding/baby showers as well. It's pretty, and it's best served with strawberries (or, again, just sit down with a bowl & a spoon). And you won't believe how easy it is.

Ingredients:
1 large bowl Cool Whip
3 Butterfinger candy bars

THAT'S IT. To make it, put the unwrapped Butterfingers in a ziploc bag and smash them with a hammer or a rolling pin. They crumble easily, but not if you hold them - they melt. Once crumbled, mix them in the cool whip and place it in the refrigerator overnight. The Cool Whip makes the Butterfingers almost dissolve - leaving the flavor and only a few larger pieces. It's DELICIOUS on fruit - we always ate it on strawberries. Your guests won't know what they're eating, but they will LOVE it.

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My 2nd dip is one that I can't possibly improve upon. So I'll just link it. The Pioneer Woman's Queso - here's the link. It's DELICIOUS and lasts for a while in the crockpot. It also freezes beautifully (name that movie). It's a required food on game days at my house.

Be sure to link over to Boomama's DipTacular '11 and let the good times roll. And, of course, I hope you have a successful football season - unless you're Alabama or are playing Auburn. Then I just hope no one on your team is injured during the game.

Happy dipping and War Eagle.

Catching Up.

Sweet mercy it has been forever since I've posted anything. I always say that our summers are going to be quieter and less busy, and they are always jam packed and full of obligations. But even though we run non stop, we love it. So here are a few pics to catch you up.

Mary Emma & Tait both played All-Star softball this year. This was ME's 5th year and Tait's 1st year. We had a BALL!

Daddy turned 37! I would call him an old man, but I'll be 37 in October. :) So I'll refrain from doing that...ahem.

This sweet one turned SIX in July. She also lost 3 teeth, including 2 at the same time. She's growing up FAST!

Camille finally conquered her fear of the ocean and is now a queen of the Boogie Board. She's also pretty cute.

These 3 continue to make me laugh, warm my heart, and thank God for his blessings in my life. School starts in less than a month and our days will be back on a routine and our bedtimes will be early. But for now, we're enjoying being together and making memories as a family.

Radical Together

This officially releases today.



If if changes my life like its predecessor, then I'm. In. Trouble.

But an awesome kind of trouble. Looking forward to that trouble. To God be the glory!

Perspective.

My family sponsors a child through Compassion International. His name is Nevine, he lives in Kenya, and he just turned 17 years old on Valentine's Day. We have been sponsoring him for about 5 years and have enjoyed writing him, and learning about him from Compassion and from the letters we receive from him. We love LOVE getting letters from him. It thrills my girls and absolutely makes our day when we see a Compassion envelope in the mail. Letters that are sent to the kids and letters that they send their sponsor family are screened, and translated if necessary. Nevine can write and speak English (thanks to the schooling he receives through Compassion), and the only translation that takes place is an occasional slang word or geographically specific term that I might not understand. But for the most part, his letters are all him. And I love them.

Because of the screening/translating/distance, it takes a couple of months for letters to get from him to me and visa versa. This week I received a letter from him thanking us for the Christmas money that we sent through Compassion to him. He is allowed to use the money, with direction from his family and the Compassion staff, to purchase Christmas presents for himself. This is a picture of what he wrote.



If that doesn't put life into perspective, I don't know what will.

I'm so thankful that there are organizations like Compassion that allow me to be a part of his life. I'm so proud of him and his willingness to take care of his family. What an amazing young man he's turning into.

If you would like to sponsor a child from Compassion, click the link above. It costs $38 a month and you will be a part of releasing a child from poverty in Jesus' name. There's no bigger blessing on this planet.

Good Good Good.

I read a lot of blogs every day. So many people can write so much better than I can. So many people are so funny that my sides hurt from laughing when I read their posts. So many people are informative. And I love reading and knowing these people - some in real life.

But few are life changing. Few posts make your heart ache or your spirit stir. Few posts make me think until my brain hurts. And few posts bring me a step closer to my Heavenly Father.

This post does all that. And it was written by a sweet friend of mine, Melanie. If you don't read her blog (she's hysterical), bookmark it and read it everysingleday. While, on a daily basis, her blog is one of my favorite things to read, her heart, as evidenced in this post, is sweeter than anything on this planet. I adore her. And you will too.

Thanks, Mel.

Hey, Guess What?

WAR EAGLE!!!!

Scripture Memory

A couple of years ago, Beth Moore challenged all of those who read her blog to memorize scripture twice a month. Because we live in a world where we Christians are not only a minority, but are persecuted because of our faith daily, we are called to know His word - so that we are equipped when we are tested, tempted, or need to defend our faith (Psalm 119:11). And I know that I need to do a MUCH better job of this.

This year (2011) we are doing the scripture memorization again. And I'm really excited about it! My first scripture - which is also my theme for the year - is Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." I know that I tend to find a fault that I have, tell myself that I'm the only person on the planet with that fault, and then build a house and join the neighborhood association in the middle of that fault. But the Lord has called me to something different, and I will spend every single day this year reminding myself of the truth promised in Galatians 5:1. Because when I live in the yoke of slavery, the focus is on me - not on the Father. And the purpose of my life is to glorify Him.

So. On the 1st and 15th of every month, I will memorize a new scripture. If you'd like to join me, and the rest of Beth Moore's blog peeps, head over here and leave a comment with your chosen verse. I also ask (beg, plead) you to hold me accountable. When you see me in Publix, carpool, or gym, ask me what my scripture is. Let me know if you want me to do the same to you! Let's see how many people will join and stay the course for the whole year. We will be a POWERFUL force for our God when we are filled to the brim with the Word.

And I can't wait to see what will come of THAT.