Joel and Danielle's Baptism!

 There was happiness around today after work when Joel H-S. and Danielle U. were baptized!  I could hardly contain myself being so thrilled and excited for them!  I have to say, these two are so friendly, genuine, always willing to serve when they can, and the list goes on.  They have become like a brother and sister to me and many others around here.  Looking forward to seeing where their lives will go from here.  Their lives are really now just beginning.  :-)

 Below:  ...and to end the baptism on an even higher note, when I walked outside, my chariot....AKA my brother was waiting and offered to drive me home so that I wouldn't have to drive on the partially slippery roads b/c of the snow.  What a great brother I have!

Concert Night at Armstrong Auditorium

Jamie and I attended an Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert at the grand Armstrong Auditorium last night for the first time as patrons......in a long time for me.  I'm not working the concerts this year, just haven't made the time to go until last night.  I know, shame on me.  :-)  The Kings Singers performed and they were great.  AA is a 24 million dollar auditorium, and the standards are set at the highest for the staff, but being a patron felt great.  Being able to chat with other guests attending was nice.  It's a real blessing to be able to attend.  Great gal pal night at AA.  :-)

A Gift for the Receptionist. :-)

 When it's below freezing outside with snow on the ground, it can make a person's day to come to work and see this left on their chair as a gift for the receptionist.  Ms. S. Greaser handmade it so I'll keep warm at my desk every time the door opens.  I love it!!!!  Ahhh, she is soooo sweet!  Proverbs 31 lady, definitely.  :-)

Beautiful Snow Pics!

Excuse my poor video shooting.  Shot this out of the front door of the Hall of Administration of Armstrong College looking at the magnificent Armstrong Auditorium.  I thought it was so beautiful...that is since I was indoors and also have a big brother who is kind enough to drive me in to work when the roads are hazardous. I realize how blessed I am to have someone to look out for me in that way. Even though I'm not that fond of winter weather, I can't miss the beauty of God's artistic creation in it.

Below:  When I got home I felt like going outside my place and shooting "snow pics."  I'm usually not the outdoor type, so maybe the cold air froze my brain temporarily.  :-)  Our great Pyrenees dogs were looking at me like they thought I was crazy.  This is one of those random posts just sharing pics that I took that I don't want to "go to waste."  :-)

Beautiful snow in my front yard.  Yes, that is my place with black shutters on the front, but since everyone uses the back as the entrance, no one ever sees this side including myself.  It looked so peaceful with the snow surrounding the house.  This pic makes me realize how God has looked out for me too.  I had this place built 10.5 years ago when I was only 24 years "young" and it has been used to have so many people in and out with dinners, out of town guests visiting town needing a place to stay/sleep. No way I could have done this on my own....God did that.  Nothing physical is permanent and can change in a heartbeat, but it's nice to have those perks throughout life's journey.  :-)  I think I should start a book of blessings or something for personal inspiration.  I don't care for winter that much, but something about the snow makes me reflect.

 ....so they said we would get maybe one inch of snow, but judging by the fruits....I don't think so.  This is my feet w/boots on, and they are almost completely submerged.

 I guess she is enjoying eating the snow.

Fav Quotes!

"Men are important in women's lives."  "One half of the population is made to defend the other half of the population."  "When women feel protected they blossom in their role and grow in admiration for their men."  "For a strong society you must have strong men who are not afraid to defend the women and children which is their God given role."------J. H.

AC Basketball Fun

Free VIDEO commentary from the "sisterhood" gal pals  :-)

Above:  This is my favorite photo of the whole batch.  The guys are being all aggressive in the last regular game of the season before All Stars next week.  Let's see, we have Steven and Justin manning it out on the court with Dwight ready on defense.  Then, there is Anthony who is mid air ready to grab the ball and make a basket with Mr. Hyde ready on defense.  There is Charles ready to defend his teammate, and Grant protecting the ball so that his team can make a basket with Josh on amazing defense.  Awesome teamwork.  I'm definitely not a sports buff, and this post definitely feels different to post, but this game was fun to watch.

 Jason ready to throw the ball into the hoop.

Sharing My Latest Blessing! :-)

 Last Thursday Gladys W. called and asked if I wanted her old china set.  I was like WHAT!!!!!  If you don't know how much a real china set cost new, then it is in the hundreds for one set.  I had been wanting a china set for years, but that is way too much money for a lone single woman to spend by herself.  I do entertain a lot, but still, getting a china set was not on my reality radar unless I got married and put it on the gift registry.....like anyone would buy that anyway, but still that was my thinking!  :-)!  Anyway, I looked at the brand name on the back, and looked up how much each piece in the set costs, and the total for the set they gave me is $632 if I were to buy it piece by piece brand new right now!  WOW, WOW, WOW!  God gave me a china set, and the Welsh's were the instruments of that blessing!  It's a full set with dinner plates, teacups, teacup saucers, bread and dessert plates, soup bowls, fruit bowls (fruit bowls are a lil smaller than the soup bowls and not as deep), creamer server, sugar dish, serving bowl, and a serving platter!....oh and she threw in some green chargers to complement it all!!!!  I have been holding off posting this for more than one reason.  For one, I don't want to come across as look at what I have, and for two I don't want to come across as too materialistic.  I try my best not to post things all about me on social media, but use it as a tool to serve though I know I'm human and definitely fail at that sometimes.  Anyway, long story short, I just want to share my BIG blessing with friends, and also publicly give the Welsh family my thanks for what they did.  I am so thrilled!  Yes, it is a nice set materially, but it's the fact that it's a blessing that is so exciting, and one that can be used to serve others as well!  I'm still in WOW shock!  My mom said since I entertain a lot this is a blessing from that.  Maybe so.  Thanks again to the Welsh's, and I am soooo stoked!  They definitely are a family that gives and gives.  I'm soooo excited!  I'm am desperately trying to figure out a way show my appreciation and to say thank you!   :-)

 BELOW:  Switching gears to design!  Working on a project for AC grad that I was asked to design.  I'm so excited to do this!  What's shown below as Exhibit A?...to be seen at Graduation in May.  Stoked to work on this!

.......completely cut off a small wedding dress train.  It wasn't one of those big ones, but it was a small one.  I had to photo document the moment.  Converting it by cutting off the train from a wedding dress for one of the AC gals grad dresses.  I am having such a lovely time with sewing these days.  It is hard work and takes up most of my evenings with the different projects, but I am happy that I can be of help in this way!  It's getting to be the time of year where people are super busy in more ways than one, so I am trying to get done with these projects early.  Busy time of year!

...and it's cut!  Whew!  :-)

Beautiful Flowers!

 This is about one week late, and I already thanked her privately via email, but here's a photo of a flower arrangement that Mrs. Turgeon left at my desk towards the end of last week.  I was out running errands and came back to a beautiful arrangement on my desk!  Rachel C, one of the gals in Mrs. Turgeon's Home Ec class (they were learning flower arranging), told me that Mrs. Turgeon actually made this arrangement herself and has it ever gotten many compliments from passer byers!  Here is how it looked for those that can't be here to see it in person.  Seeing flowers put together this way makes one reflect on how God is the perfect artist.  I'm so happy that He gives us different talents, and lets us create form His original creation.  It's pretty awesome.  Being receptionist can have many perks.  I am very thankful for my job.   :-)

A Fav Quote

"Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it." ---Winston Churchill

How to make the champagne cake

 Someone asked for the recipe on my blog, so here is how it was made.  Not a big deal since I always photograph new things in the making anyway for my own future reference.  I can't take credit for making the recipe, I used a recipe from online.

Started off by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and then by separating 12 eggs whites from the yolks.

 Next, mixed 6 cups of flour, 6 tsp of baking powder, 1.5 tsp of salt, 2 cups butter, 4 cups sugar, 2.5 tsp vanilla extract, the 12 eggs whites, and 4 cups of champagne together in a large mixing bowl as shown below.

 Bubbly dough.  :-)

 Divided batter into 4 spring form cake pans....two larger pans of the same size, and then two slightly smaller pans of the same size.  Baked in oven for 35 minutes, and then removed from oven and let cool.

 I stopped taking pics b/c it got super busy b/c of the time crunch, but while the cake was cooling I made the frosting.  To make the frosting the recipe called for 180 grams unsalted butter though I did NOT use nearly that much as I don't have an electric mixer, so I tweaked the recipe in which I can't remember all that I did, but going by the book you would use the butter as mentioned above, 3 cups confectioners sugar, 1.5 cup of champagne, 1/8 cup of milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.  Mix it all together and what do you have....the frosting as shown below on the finished cake.

To put the cake together is just like it looks....bigger 2 cakes on the bottom, slightly smaller cakes on the top with icing in between all of the layers....then top it as you wish.  I used berries and grapes as they go well with champagne.  :-)  Voila!

Bake-Off/Game Night!

 Is it a bird, or a plane that friends are looking at?  Wait!  No!  It's Sophia!  The girl didn't like being the center of attention and she made it known.  A humble little one my niece is.  LOL!

Below: Sophia seems to be checking up on what Abraham and Dan are doing.  :-)

 It has become a little tradition to host a bake-off/game night out on our Coats' Homestead once a year.  I have to say, I thought the last one went well, but this one double rocked thanks to all of the lovely guests who took time out of their busy HQ schedules to come out and share in the family fun.  People usually thank the host/hostess for hosting, but it goes both ways.....you can't host anything if no one gives of their time and comes, so I'm thankful for all of the wonderful friends!  :-)

Below:  Thanks to Sarah E. and Deepika for jumping in and washing/drying my pile of dishes from making all of the pizzas.  That was a BIG help!  It's one of those helps where you don't realize the full impact of it until everyone is gone and you look around and realize how helpful it was.  :-)  A HUGE thanks to my mom and Jamie H. for helping me basically turn my little home kitchen into a Sunday Pizzeria.  Together we made 18 pizzas all from scratch including the crusts, and they were extraordinary pizzas, so we followed recipes!  No way I could venture out making 18 pizzas alone in a few hours.  My mom and Jamie are great!  They are both so giving and willing to serve.

 Above:  Behold, the pizzas!....well, all that would fit on my island top.....  :-)....and Tiffany brought hot wings!  Thanks for the wings Tiffany!

Below:   Thanks to Anthony and Justin G. for offering to serve with their pizza cutting skills. :-)  That took them a little bit of time with so many pizzas.  They did a great job and that was so helpful.  I love how Danielle U. is watching them.

 I didn't have time to take a pic of all of the pizzas, but above is a barbeque pizza with mozzarella, turkey bacon, chicken, and cilantro.  Below is a sharp cheddar pizza with turkey bacon, broccoli florets, and fresh tomatoes.  Yummy!

My fav pizza not shown was the one we made with horseradish and mayo as the sauce, and then topped it with sirloin steak, mushrooms, blue cheese, and red onion.

 Dinner pizza is served.  :-)

Above:  Micah picked a good "seat" in the house.  Looks so comfy.

 

Below:  Benjamin looks like he's thinking on which pizza he wants while Justin Y. looks like he's going for the first available one w/a smile. :-)

 Above:  I really like this pic of Victoria T. and Nikki!  Lovely ladies!

Below:  ...let the bake-off judging begin!  We had key lime pie, tartlets topped with blackberries, Oreo cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, and champagne cake.

 Above and Below....the two winning entries...the Champagne cake...hence the name......made with champagne in both the cake and the homemade frosting...and the tartlets.  I made the champagne cake, and Sarah E. made the tartlets.

 Above:  Sarah C's yummy cake!

Below:  Oreo Cheesecake that Jamie assembled, and I somehow didn't get a pic of Grace's pie!  Shame on me.  :-)  It looked delicious though!

 Thanks to the guys for judging and to Sarah E. for helping them to cut the judging samples, etc!    The judges were Joel H-S., Dan A., Kyle T., Anthony C., and Micah T.

 Victoria and Nikki watching the judging going down.  :-)

 Above:  The bro and sis in law with the niece.

Below:  Finally everyone can partake of the desserts.  :-)

I was so excited...after dessert my new Bible game that I made was debuted for the first time.  I was so excited to play it.  Hopefully people enjoyed it.  It's fun with education and purpose. I kept score but don't know who won because my score sheet dissappeared on me.  :-)  We were in teams of 4.  I do remember that the Turgeon family team was tied in the lead with one of the groups...the question remains which group.  :-)

Above and Below......after the Bible game, about half of the guests left.  Those that were left decided to play a game I made up from the last Bake-off/Game Night from last year called Building up the Family.  It's where you guess who the person in the room is based on a character trait read  In the below video my bro said the trait of nurturing, and as a joke someone said Dan Westerbaan.  LOL.  He's nice, but nurturing would obviously be a woman in the room.  :-)  Thanks to Dan W. for renting the big white van so that the students could all come together.
Everyone pitched in to make this truly a fun extended family night to remember!  Thanks goes to everyone who made it out.  :-)