If I Should Try

If I should try to count the things

That God has done for me,

Then I would find it hard to do,

It would take eternity.

If I should try to count the ways

In which he chose to bless,

I know I could not find the words,

His goodness to express.

If I should try to tell it all,

I never would succeed;

For he has always faithful been,

To give more than I ever need.

--Cora M. Owen

Thankful Thursdays

Hello to everyone!  I thought I'd try something new this week and maybe see how a "thankful thursday" goes for a change!  How does that sound?  We all have something to be thankful for each and every day..I know I definately do!  So lets get the ball started...

One thing I'm definately thankful for is my husband.  I know without a doubt in my mind, I couldn't have picked a better man for me!  Even though I think a few people thought we were an "odd" match when we first started dating because of our age (we are 11 years apart)..its something I never noticed then or now.  Our personalities blend so well its like we are on the save wave length all the time!  We share so many of the same interests, he's old-fashioned like I am, he's sweet, loving, caring, kind, romantic (when he wants to be!), silly, and did I mention..hard working?!  I think Damon works harder than anyone I've ever met at times..and sometimes I wish he'd slow down a little more cause I worry about him over-doing it.  But I know thats just "him" and its what he enjoys is being busy.  :-)  I know he is my soul-mate and that God placed him in my life.  After we started dating, we talked and found that we had both been praying for God to bring the right person into our lives, so I knew it was meant to be from very early on!  I couldn't be happier..and I'm so thankful for him.  :-)

So what are you thankful for today?  Maybe its someone special in your life, an event that changed your life, or something else!  I'd love to hear from you!

Kindred Connection Party!

What made you want to start your blog?

Thats a great question Kristin!  Since I just started my blog that question is pretty easy for me to answer!  At first when I thought of starting a blog a while back, I thought 'what would I REALLY have to talk about' and 'who would want to listen to me ramble'..lol!  But a couple weeks ago God showed me that my life and my interests DO interest people (I guess I think I'm boring at times!) and that people would be interested in reading about such, so I started "Country Roads"!  Another reason is that back in my high school and college days..I was really interested in making websites and had one for a real long time that I put alot of time and energy into until last year when the host (geocities) were doing away with everyone's sites..so I saved mine on disk and counted it as a loss though it did sting.  I had many years saved in my website..saw how I went from a single college gal to a married woman in a matter of years..it was my life!  So its so great now to be able to start fresh..and blog about my daily life, things going on with me and around me, and just life in general AND get to meet new people which is the best part!  I still look forward to seeing my blog grow (I know in time it will) and creating new friendships!

Cheesecake!

Ahh cheesecake, makes the mouth water just thinking about it, right?  I was very fortunate to run across a fantastic (and perhaps new favorite) recipe for a Toblerone Cheesecake on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog last week.  I fixed it for the weekend and its definately one of the easiest, tastiest cheesecakes I've ever made!  It reminded me of an old standby I haven't made in a while and I thought I'd share it with everyone today called No-Bake Cheesecake Pie.  Great for the summer months since you don't need your oven..and you can throw this one together in no time! 

1 cup vanilla or white chips
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, cubed
1 carton (8 oz.) Cool Whip
1 graham cracker crust
1/3 cup English toffee bits or almond brickle chips

 In a heavy saucepan, melt the chips over medium low heat; stir until smooth.  Remove from the heat; stir in cream cheese until smooth.  Fold in the Cool Whip.  Pour into the crust.  Cover and refrigerate overnight or until just set.  Just before serving, sprinkle with toffee bits. 

Upcoming week

Happy Monday to everyone!  Did yall have a nice weekend?  I surely did..it was filled with something I've needed for a long while now..RELAXATION!!  I didn't do much of anything or really go anywhere (except for friday when I made my weekly trip to Walmart for some groceries..and church on sunday of course :-))  and I have to say I feel totally refreshed and ready for the week!  I have a busy one ahead of me..alot of prepping the house for our company thats coming on friday, my step-daughter Beth.  We're excited about the visit and hopefully everything still goes as planned for the big weekend.  I need to make a to-do list for things I'd like to get accomplished before her arrival, like cleaning our hardwood flors, cleaning bathrooms, scubbing the backporch, etc, etc.  She's requested chicken and dumplin's for a meal one day while she's here..so I've already got everything ready to go for her "special southern" meal!  Speaking of meals, I think when I made up my weekly menu list..I should have added an extra one!  Got to looking on it last night and need an extra one for the week.  Anyone have any suggestions for an easy, go-to meal you like to prepare for your family?  I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have!   Hope everyone has a great start to their week!!

The Love of God

As high as the highest, shining star,

As deep as the blue of the sea;

As wide as the silent realms of space,
As broad as the heaven, too--
So high--so deep--so wide--so broad,
Is the wonderful love of God.
                      --Jon Gilbert--

Tote Giveaway!

Just thought I'd make a quick post since I read about it on Kristin's facebook page, there is a GREAT little giveaway going on right now but you should act fast!  Go to http://www.sweetsouthernprep.com/2010/05/tuesday-trends-new-giveaway_18.html to enter to win a free tote, before May 26th!  Nothing beats getting something for free!  Happy blogging to all!  :-)

"Vacation" Party!

Yet another fun party theme from Kristin's blog, Windy Poplars!

Questions:

1. What is the most recent vacation you've been on?

The most recent vacation we have been on would have to be the "mini" vacation we took to Amish Country in Ohio last year.  Since hubby was laid off at the time..we couldnt afford to go anywhere for very long, but it was a nice trip nonetheless!

2. What is the destination of the vacation of your dreams?

Thats easy!  ITALY!  I've always wanted to go there for as long as I can remember.  I don't know if its the lure of the italian food (big italian food lover here!) or the combo of the ocean and mountains, or both!  It would definately be a DREAM vacation though!

3. Do you have a favorite place you vacation to regularly?

Yes that would again be, Amish Country in Ohio!  The first time we visited back in 2004 got us completely hooked.  It had the great combo of shopping (for me) and relaxation (for both of us)!  The people are geninuely friendly and some of the best people you can talk to on the face of the earth in my opinion are the amish.  We made very good friends with an older amish couple several years ago on one of our vacations there and have kept in touch w/them ever since!

4. Vacation preference: beach, city, or mountains?

Well we have done all of the above and all always make for a great vacation!  There is something about those mountains though that always draw me..I guess cause I'm a WV girl!

5. Have you ever vacationed with a group of people (other than your family)? If so: How did you coordinate it, and would you do it again?

No never have and I'm sure it would be nice..but we definately prefer to vacation on our own.  We like being able to do what we like, when we like, and how we like without having to defer to anyone else!  As you may be able to tell..me and Damon are kinda loners when it comes to things like that!

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday to everyone!  I'm still hoping for some people to follow my blog (thanks Kristin for being my first and only so far!!)..so I'm just going to keep on writing until they come (like the movie..if you build it, they will come..lol)!  Anyways..hope this weekend holds many blessings and fun events!  Not much going on around here unfortunately..hubby is working thru the weekend so he can be assured he will have next weekend off for Memorial weekend.  The big news?  My step-daughter, Beth, is coming in for a visit then!  We haven't seen her since she came in last summer..so it should be a fun time for everyone!  We had a great time last year and it was her first time seeing our new place..we've made a few changes since her last visit so it'll be nice to see what she thinks of it all!  I've slowly been planning a menu for her visit..she's requested good ol' fashioned chicken and dumplings..so I made sure to pick up the fixins' for that today on my trip to the grocery store.  Went it alone this time since hubby had worked (btw for anyone who doesnt know we are night-owls..he works the night shift so I'm usually doing my blogging/internet time when everyone else is asleep..lol) and was having to sleep.  Its good to get out alone at times (though I did miss the company)..helps to clear the mind, etc.  I made a stop by the farmer's market and picked up yet a few more flowers..nothing special just some annuals like wave petunias to make my own hanging basket (great way to save a few bucks if you have leftover hanging baskets from years past..always save onto them!)..and a couple other flowers to add to different areas of the yard that weren't quite 100% complete. 

I found a delish looking recipe from the "Mennonite Girls Can Cook" blog the other day and am trying it out tonight so we'll have a nice dessert for the weekend!  I couldn't resist..it contained one of my all time favorite candy bars, the toblerone bar!  Toblerone cheesecake..how yummy does that sound?!  I can't wait to see how it turns out and will be sure to let everyone know!  Anyone tried out any new or unusual recipes lately?  I absolutely LOVE to try new things (so long as its nothing disgusting like that some of the things that Andrew Zimmer eats on tv!) and love new recipes!  Feel free to share any successful new recipes (or even the unfortunate dissappointing recipe you thought would be great but wasnt)! 

Trusting in God..

Lately, I guess you could say I've felt very overwhelmed with "life".  Don't we all at times?  Whether its with spouses, money, children, neighbors, or anything else we deal with on a daily basis.  I've been guilty of not taking enough time for myself and as a result, had a mini "breakdown" last night from the stress of others (and stress in my own life).  One thing I can say, is how thankful I am to have a Lord and Saviour I can turn to in those dark times in my life.  No matter where I am or what I may be doing, He can comfort me like nobody else can..and give me the best answers too!  After a good cry and alot of talking to God about what was bothering me, I opened my Bible.  To my suprise, out fell a handout from one of our previous church services.  It contained various scriptures, and many felt like they "fit the bill" of what I was needing to hear at that very moment (don't you just love it when God works that way?). 

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  John 14:27.  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6. 

It just showed me that God had been right there with me and was waiting for me to talk to Him about what was bothering me.  Something so simple as a church handout, meant the world to me at that moment.   How wonderful it is to have a God that cares so much for His children..it makes me truely blessed to be "his child"! 

Plant sale and the weekend...

Happy monday everyone!  Hope everyone had a nice weekend..I know I sure did!  Hubby and I attended a plant sale hosted by the "Master Gardeners" over at Coonskin Park in Charleston on saturday.  It was the first time I had ever heard of it before and had been anxious to attend for a good 2 weeks since reading about it in our sunday paper!  It was so fantastic!!  We got there right when they had opened and though there were alot of people there to take home some nice plants, trees, shrubs, etc..everyone was so polite and the Master Gardeners knew everything there was to know about everything for sale..they were a delight to talk to!  I came home with 4 great finds and only spent $18 which was pretty good I thought!  We came home with a purple butterfly bush, a very large and already blooming white peony, a pot that contained 3 orange daylillies, and a shade plant called "Siberian Bugloss" that has little blue flowers to bloom within the leaves!  I'm really excited to see how that one will look!  Was hoping to find some different varieties of roses..but oddly enough I saw no rose bushes there.  I currently have 5 rose bushes in our yard and I would love to have a white and also an orange rose to add to my current collection. After leaving the plant sale on saturday, I stopped by Target and picked up something I have always wanted for years, something so simple many may laugh, a set of string lights for my backporch!  They were on sale and I picked up a set that were basic and simple.  We hung them up when we got home that night and it makes such a lovely addition to our backporch!  Would love to hear about everyone elses weekends..any special "flower finds" you've come across..etc! 

I love Kristin's blog and now that I am starting one myself I can join her parties!



To get you inspired for warm weather living, our theme is "Summertime":


1. How do you most like to entertain during the summer (pool party, picnic, cookout, etc.)? - Or if your situation doesn't allow for entertaining right now, what do you look forward to being able to host?

During the summer months, I love to have picnics and cookouts as much as possible!  Now that we have our own place and a bigger yard..I'm sure we'll take advantage of it more often!  Since the weather has warmed up this month, I've been taking every opportunity to eat dinner outside on our little picnic table..sure beats being in the house since we were couped up during the long winter we had!

2. Do you have a favorite summertime dessert?

Well I do love my ice cream so that would have to be number 1 on my list!  Since zucchini comes into season in the summer..I love making zucchini brownies!  They definately arent as 'healthy' as they may sound but so decadent!

3.What is your best outdoor summer date idea?

Going to a fair/festival, trip to the farmers market, and/or spending any quality time together outdoors!

4. Share any outdoor decorating tips/ideas you have...

Well I am really wanting to get some of those cute little outdoor string lights (like you see @ Target) to hang up once we have our backporch completed!  And the more flowers you have, the better I think!

5. What will we find you wearing most in the summertime?

Though I'm not a huge fan of shorts..that is my main attire in the summer along with sleeveless tops and flip flops..I do love to put on a nice sundress for when we're venturing out to our weekly trip to the store as well and would like to find more so it could be something I'm able to throw on more often!

Where do "country roads" take you to?

I don't know about you, but nothing beats a nice drive on a country road in the fall!  One of our favorite places to visit when the leaves are an amazing array of orange, yellow, and red is a favorite park of ours here in WV..Babcock State Park.  Its one of the most photographed places in our great state and makes for amazing photos!  We not only love to visit state parks..but any area that strikes our fancy whether it be in a city, the countryside, the beach, or even a flea market or two!  So since the travel season is upon us with Memorial Weekend right around the corner, where are some places your "country road" leads you to? 

Welcome!

First I would like to say "welcome" to my first ever blog! I'm new at this so bear with me as I'm learning as I go! I hope you enjoy yourself and that we become good friends along this journey! Anyone who is a first timer here at "Country Roads"..introduce yourself so we can all get to know one another!