Grateful Prayer | Thankful Heart

Potato and Ham Soup

By Lorraine

When plans to be out for the day suddenly changed and I found I had nothing pressing to do, I knew immediately what I wanted.  I called my sister and was thrilled she was able to come for a visit. We chatted, caught up on family, laughed and ate a light lunch of potato and Ham Soup while Jared, Abbey, Erin and John popped in and out.

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It’s Official!

By Lorraine

Welcoming this precious little boy into our family!
Our daughter Jill and husband, Brad are thrilled to finalize the adoption of
Braden Emery
as he officially becomes part of their family

Unable to share anything about Braden (his new name) and his first two years of life, it is with joy I can now post photos.
 This little bundle entered the world at just 1-pound 10-ounces and when he finally left the hospital he went right into the hearts and home of Jill and Brad via foster care joining Ryan, Brenna and Shaela.
 With their love, care and nurturing he began to grow and grow.
 Loved by his PopPop (and smiling happily as he joins his siblings and cousins, the tradition of being photographed in John’s Christening outfit)
such a cutie-pie!

Adoption Day

 after the many long and difficult and ofttimes uncertain days…

~ they are family ~
A Thousand Years
Christina Perri

(Verse 1)
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I’m afraid
To fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

(Chorus)
I have died every day
waiting for you
Darlin’ don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

(Verse 2)
Time stands still
beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything
Take away
What’s standing in front of me
Every breath,
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

(Chorus)
I have died every day
Waiting for you
Darlin’ don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

(Chorus)
I have died every day
Waiting for you
Darlin’ don’t be afraid,
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more


We made the drive with Jill’s twin sister, Jamie (center photo) and her two youngest children, Chloe and Jethro, leaving Thursday afternoon and returning Sunday night. It was chilly and rainy and by the end of the weekend all of the kids were feverish and feeling poorly. Jamie is making settlement this morning and moving into a new (to them) home while we hope none of us get sick from the house (and car) full of germs!

Fatherless to Fatherfull

By Lorraine

Fatherfull…
isn’t that the sweetest word

I am so thankful for my own dad and father-in-law who now reside in heaven.
I am so proud of my husband and the love he has for our children and grandchildren.
I am so grateful for our son-in-laws as they endeavor to love their wives and raise their children.
And, I am amazed that God calls me His child.
Click on this short video and listen as precious Levi and Lia tell their adoption story in a most endearing way. God is good!
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15


Fatherless to Fatherfull (Levi and Lia)-DaySpringLevi and Lia tell the story of their journey from fatherless to fatherfull. Their parents are in the process of adopting a third child. He is from Eastern Europe, and his name will be Luca. If you would like to find out more about Luca’s adoption or donate to Luca’s adoption fund, visit: youcaring.com/andlucamakes5If you would like to see other recent videos from Levi and Lia, check out:1. “That Tomb is Still Empty” Easter video:www.fb.com/video.php?v=101554813144551652. “Luca’s Lessons” video – Levi and Lia share all the things they want to teach Luca when he joins our family:www.fb.com/video.php?v=101556042329551653. “Happy Dance” adoption announcement video:www.fb.com/video.php?v=10155414365600165

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Fatherless to Fatherfull (Levi and Lia)-DaySpringLevi and Lia tell the story of their journey from fatherless to…
Posted by International Christian Concern on Sunday, June 14, 2015

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

By Lorraine

I wanted to send my daughter and family and their sweet friends off with a hearty breakfast before their long drive home but I didn’t want to waste moments in the kitchen that could be spent enjoying their visit. A make-ahead breakfast helped out.

Jill, Brad and kids along with their good friends and their three sons drove here from upstate New York, spent the night, then flew to Florida for their dream vacation at Disney. After their return flight, they all stayed over again. Because they are not able to get (real) Philly cheese steaks and pizza at home, their request was to get take-out for dinner from our favorite restaurant. It took a trek through eight-inches of fresh snow and freezing temperatures to pick up three pizza’s and ten cheese steaks to fill up the twenty-four people gathered together.
Breakfast the next morning included Breakfast Burritos, Blueberry Boy Bait cake and Baked Oatmeal. 
The Breakfast Burritos, made the day before, were stacked in a dish, covered with plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator.  At serving time, I removed the plastic wrap and warmed them in the microwave at 60% power until heated through.

Leftover burritos were wrapped individually and placed in the freezer. Directions below for reheating instructions.

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos
source: Taste of Home

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients
 
1 pound Jimmy Dean® Premium Pork Sausage Roll
1-1/2 cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup diced green or red pepper
4 eggs, lightly beaten
12 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Picante sauce or salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Directions
In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the potatoes, onion and pepper; cook and stir for 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add eggs; cook and stir until set.

Spoon filling off center on each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up. Serve with picante sauce or salsa and sour cream, if desired.

To freeze and reheat burritos: Wrap each burrito in waxed paper and foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. To use, remove foil and waxed paper. Place one burrito on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 2 to 2-1/4 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165°, turning burrito over once. Let stand for 20 seconds.
Yield: 12 burritos.

Blueberry Boy Bait  is a yummy cake any time and it also freezes well. I baked one the day before and refrigerated. Here is the link for the Blueberry Boy Bait recipe.
I didn’t make the Baked Oatmeal ahead but did gather the ingredients together for quicker preparation in the morning.  Here is the link for the Baked Oatmeal recipe. 
After a long drive, a week of non-stop vacation, running and playing with cousins, the kids spent some less physical time on their devices as the grown-ups chatted. No doubt this generation is connected, comfortable and capable using technology! 
After breakfast, they were off on the last leg of their journey.  They arrived home safe and sound but not quite ready for…

Double Birthday Party Dinner

By Lorraine

Wrapping up a whirlwind Christmas holiday with our extended family last night was the perfect ending to Jill and Brad’s visit.
Since many of our family members don’t get to see them very often and since two really awesome guys are having birthdays, we got together to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!

These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?

Our handsome, Joe married to … 

 our niece, Toni (with her cousin, Jamie’s baby Jethro) (1st cousin once removed?)

my sister, Carol, Toni, totally enjoying baby Jet and my niece, Eva 

 my brother, Frank and our son-in-law, Brad

 my sister-in-law, Arlene and our daughter Jill

 Carol, me, Carol’s daughter Chris and Chris’ daughter Alexis

Sweet Chloe
Abbey with her boyfriend, Ryan, a very nice mutual friend and our grandson, Jared

 Little one enjoying a movie in Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s room

Many years ago, our sister-in-law began a tradition of snapping Christmas photos of my brother (her husband) my sister and I.

 They have become cherished memories for each of us.

shivering kiddos giving their good-byes before cousins head home to upstate NY
~ regretfully, I did not get photos with Jamie, Josh, John, or niece Caitee ~

{happy sigh}… next comes January. A welcome time for me after the (enjoyable) hustle and bustle.
I love the newness of January and the whiteness of snow (hopefully) and a time to refresh.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

when you take a boy fishing…

By Lorraine

he concentrates on everything his PopPop says to catch his first fish
 then littlest sister picks up a pole, casts the line and in an instant, gleefully catches her first fish
 before you know it, another sister takes a turn and catches her first fish
 then somehow, a friendly competition begins as his mom and dad try to out-fish each other
{but mom has the advantage of fishing this same lake a gazillion times when her dad brought her as a kid} 
 someone (Aunt Abbey) determines to get that BIG one everyone sees swimming near the water edge
(but settles for a small sunnie)
there are lots of laughs over yucky worms and  hearing dad moan as he untangles lines
and messy moments pulling the hook out of the fish before tossing him back
(not to mention the expression of someone when a flipping fish splatters, splashes and slaps about their face)
when you take a boy fishing
everyone has a good time

Sharing: Seasonal Sundays @The Tablescaper

a day in the city

By Lorraine

Wondering how we got back across the river?
We could have turned and headed right back over the bridge the way we came, but we had more plans.
 We walked from the base of the bridge through Old City to a sweet cafe located at Welcome Park where we enjoyed General Tso’s Chicken and finally rested.  We planned to do most of our walking prior to lunch keeping the end of our adventure a little easier.

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Ryan’s Birthday

By Lorraine

Last night we celebrated Ryan’s 10th birthday at his Aunt Jamie’s
 all ten of our grandchildren around the table
then cake and presents
 It was a very warm summer-like evening (after snow and chilly weather a couple weeks ago) and the kids were playing out on the front lawn.
Shaela called to me to come outside and see this little one, obviously wanting to be part of the fun, peeking out the window from her crib.
 Usually we take just the birthday child on a special outing but wanting to spend time with Jill and her family while they are visiting, we all went to Valley Forge today.
 The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time
 Brad and Jill
 Brad Jill Shaela Brenna and Ryan
a fun shot
one more day of above average temps then it’s back to seasonal weather

Summertime

By Lorraine

Sweet moments in our Sweet NY-er kids summertime…

 Ryan was picked to play in the All-Star tournament.  His team was undefeated and won the Championship!
 He may be one of the littlest guys on the team (#3) but he brings a lot of skill and talent at center field and 2nd base. (During regular season, he played pitcher, short stop, catcher and 3rd)

Forth of July ~ love Rudy’s puppy perspective of a parade
the following two photos are from WKTV

Comment from Jill on her fb post: I didn’t feel like I was
dying even though I look like it 😉 Oh…and contrary to the clock, my time was
1:41:10. Didn’t start until 11 min after the Kenyans. They were almost done
when I started 🙂
Once again, our daughter, Jill ran in the Boilermaker race in Utica, NY where nearly 14,000 runners participated in the nine point three mile race.
This is the second time she ran and this time to raise funds for an ultrasound for CareNet Pregnancy Center of Central New York, an organization she works for. She raised over $2000!
She works as the director of abstinence education program.
Looking less pained, Jill is on the far right in this photo
~Jill and Brad~

Think on These Things #18 ~ Fathers

By Lorraine

Thank you , Dear LORD, for the fathers in our family. Strengthen those still with us, guide them and give them Your wisdom as they seek to raise the children You gave them, in a manner that reflects Your kindness, patience and love. The task is great, LORD. The influence of the world is unrelenting. Draw them ever closer to You and be their constant help.
Nineteen children are represented by the men in this photo.Continue Reading

The Kiddos

By Lorraine

 Cambrie loving Chloe
 Cambrie Keri & Chloe
 Keri ~ motherly and girly
 Cambrie ~ tiny and independent (capable of holding her own as one of six siblings)
 Also… soft and pixie-ish  (loud and clear when defending herself)
 Silas ~ sweet and connected
Ella (like a grandchild) Very girly, bright, capable
Keri ~ thoughtful artistic and creative
Noah ~ strong, athletic and organized 
Caleb John ~ full of fun quirky character.  Wish you could hear the sweet musical way he talks.  It would warm your heart.
 Keri and Chloe

Chloe Keri and wiggly Cambrie (even Gummy Bears couldn’t keep her in place for a photo)

Jared ~ self-proclaimed geek, academic neat organized even-keeled, affectionate and tender-hearted

Baby Chloe ~ tiny soft kissable snugly happy smiley

Jamie and Chloe

Family gathered together for a lovely bridal shower for my niece Toni
sisters ~ caring, thoughtful encouraging helpful fun-loving and oft times downright giddy
Carol is the mother-of-the-bride
 Ryan’s birthday gift from Aunt Erin ~ he thought this was very cool
 Ryan ~ Bright, athletic, respectful, attentive considerate
Brenna ~ quiet, athletic, thoughtful and nurturing
Shaela ~ Adorable, fun, affectionate leader and Daddy’s girl
and Ella who love spending time with the kids.
Guess who lost her first baby tooth while visiting Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s?

Linking to:
Happy Family Times @Crafty Moms Share

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