Sophia at 2 Weeks and 4 Days...Apparently she loves holding hands.

 My niece, Sophia, at 2 weeks and 4 days.

This is Sophia's version of holding her Aunt's hand.  My brother took the photos while I held her.  She held on to my thumb with her tiny hand until she fell asleep.  My heart melted like butter!

Fav Quotes

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."  ---Zig Zagler

"Don't stop when you are tired, stop when you are done." ---anonymous

"The struggle you're in today is developing the strength that you need for tomorrow"---anonymous

One of those "Friendly Posts" :-)

 Having Godly, true, kind, Proverbs 31 best gal pals is such a big blessing and treasure!

Before the fall festivals start up this week, Gladys Welsh, Jamie Hawkins, and I got together for a kosher girls night out; (thanks to Gladys' amazing super husband, Sean, who let her come, and Jamie's idea for the outing.)  We went thrift store shopping, and then out to eat.  Sure, I now have a few more little FOT outfits, and G and J found their own little smart finds at .99 cent thrift store day, but the best part was just being able to spend time together and gal chat.  It's really neat to realize that our friendships will go beyond this life into all eternity that we're building now if we live properly.  Pretty awesome!

 Found this adorable infant sweater for my niece Sophia!  Gladys also found her a cute FOT dress too. 

Nothing to do w/gals night out, but Melinda Brown is crocheting her own head wear designs this year.  She is very talented, and was kind enough to design these for me!  I can't wait to wear these!  Keeps the head warm with style.

The physical things are nice, but it's a better feeling to know you have such lovely friends in life.  Things don't last forever, but true family and friends last forever through time!

A Totally Unexpected Work Perk!

 Kyle Tremblay and my brother surprised me last Friday at work!  I totally was not expecting a new work computer, but, SURPRISE, ....they took my PC computer, which wasn't too shabby, and replaced it with an I MAC which suits my smaller sized desk and job better since the entire computer unit is the screen.  YEAH!!!  (No money was spent on it, it was a spare that was already around.)  I'm soooo thankful.  This is one of those posts where I contemplated whether to post or not, but I decided to.  Everyone can know what a great IT dept we have!  :-)  Hard working men!  The front desk now has more floor and desk space since the I MAC doesn't have to have speakers and other extra pieces of equipment to go with it!  Fortunately, I trained on macs back when I was in college majoring in graphic design, so I already know how it functions so differently from a PC, and can operate it just fine.  YEAH!

Now, I just have to make sure that I'm more productive at work.  I've learned from experience; when you're given much, more is always expected of you!  I don't take my job of being receptionist for granted.  It's a blessing.  It definitely can be one of those jobs that can be taken for granted just like the true God given role of a lady in today's crazy society, but it's a blessing b/c it's a job where a woman can be feminine in....it's kind of like being a help meet and hostess to everyone else in the office.  There is my thought of the day.  :-)

I'm a happy gal w/an I MAC to work on now!  :-)  Thanks Stephen and Kyle!  :-)

 Bye, old computer!.....It served the front desk well for a few years!  :-)

IT men hard at work

A Fav Quote

"Family is like music; some high notes, some low notes, but always a beautiful song." ---Wall Sayings

Finally at Home!

 Sophia's first day at home was yesterday on Sunday, September 14.

The Children's hospital finally released her.

What did she do on her first day at home?...what newborns do....sleep!  :-)

 Mom and I cooked dinner for Stephen and Sonia as we will be doing until Sonia gains more of her strength back.  It's fun family time spent together.

Excited to Share Photos of My Niece, Sophia Juliet Coats!

 At the children's hospital!  Everyone was excited to see Sophia after DAYS of labor!

 In the hospital room with the family

 Here's the little princess.  She was a little sleeping beauty, but....

BELOW:  Aunt Carolyn woke her up, and she opened her eyes, and I was very happy to capture this priceless moment.  This was the first time she laid eyes on her Aunt Carolyn.  Looks like she's thinking, "Hey now, can't you see I was resting, but since you awakened me, I'm Sophia, who are you?"  Ahhh, priceless!  I'm in love!

 Dad and Mom with Sophia. They are just THRILLED to finally have a grand baby, understatement!  It made me happy to see my parents so happy!  Family is great!  I can't wait until everyone understands family the way God intended.  It's the most beautiful gift when done properly!

This photo made me laugh...It looks like she disapproves of my perfume and is covering her nose.  Cuteness!

 She seemed to like Aunt Carolyn's camera.  She would keep her eyes closed until she would see me pull out the camera, and then she'd open them wide.  ahhh!

 She even gave me a "smile!"  LOL  :-)!

Okay, Aunt Carolyn, I know you think I'm the cutest baby in the world, but haven't you taken enough photos of me yet?  ....okay, I'll keep my eyes open for one more photo.

 The new dad and mom with their little bundle of joy!  They are so blessed!

Grandma holding Sophia

 Grandpa holding Sophia!

 I sang lullaby's to Sophia and she fell completely asleep.  She seems to respond well to music.  Yeah!

BELOW:  going back in time, the below pic was taken by my brother yesterday after she was born.

Random Culinary Arts and Sewing Post

 It's been a long time since I've posted a food post.  I still enjoy the culinary arts, I just don't post nearly as much since there is really no reason to do so, since the cookbook has long been finished.  I definitely try not to use social media to self brag etc, but rather to give to viewers, and the way the world scene is going, I'm definitely trying to keep priorities right, but I still have a few sewing and cooking projects going, just not taking on as much, but here is a random food post that I thought might be of use to some, and so I can actually remember what I did. :-)

ABOVE:  Two friends came over one Saturday evening a few weeks back, so I experimented with a sugar free quick and easy dessert.  It was successful.  First off, I made homemade chocolate biscuits...flour, olive oil or grass fed butter, water, organic milk, cocoa, sea salt, organic eggs, aluminum free baking powder, and instead of sugar, I used real, pure stevia.  (I made gluten free biscuits since that is my normal diet....As I always say, there is nothing wrong with wheat...aka gluten, it's actually really healthy, I just don't digest it well.)  The only thing with the chocolate biscuits that could have been done better was that I didn't measure, and put in too much cocoa, so I know next time.  Baked the biscuits....set aside.  Then, took 8oz cream cheese, and 8oz fresh strawberries, 1 cap full of rum, 1 tbsp lime juice, pure stevia to taste, and pureed all together in the blender....set aside.  Then,, on the stove top cooked down 8oz of fresh strawberries with stevia to taste and water for about 10 minutes until it cooked down to a nice sauce after constantly stirring....set aside.  For presentation.....put one biscuit on bottom of wine glass or goblet, then added a layer of cream cheese strawberry mixture, then repeated biscuit and cream cheese strawberry layers.  Then, on top of both layers added the cooked down red strawberry sauce for the topping.  Then, added a fresh strawberry on top of the strawberry sauce inside the glass, and then added another fresh strawberry on the side of the wine glass/goblet for garnish!  Easy, healthy, yummy, sugar free, and attractive dessert!

ABOVE:   Someone took a few friends out to dinner one time, so the doughnut pan got pulled out and used!  (I baked instead of fried them...a lot healthier.)  Thanks to an old friend, Anna G. who gave a few friends this recipe of hers a few years ago!

For the doughnuts....in a small bowl of warm water....poured in 2 1/4oz packets of dry quick active yeast for 10 min.  Then, in a larger mixing bowl, added 5 cups wheat flour,1/3 cup olive oil, 2 organic eggs, 1 tsp sea salt, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cups organic milk, 1 cup water, and added in the yeast soaking in the warm water into the mixing bowl and mixed everything all together.  I also added about 2 tbsp of cinnamon to the batter.  Did NOT grease doughnut pan, just poured batter into pan and baked for 20 to 25 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees F.  While the doughnuts were baked, made doughnut glaze for the topping on the stove top.  In a sauce pan...combined 1/3 cup grass fed butter, 2 cups confectioners sugar, 1 1/2 cup vanilla, however, I used cinnamon, and 4 tbsp hot water.  Stirred constantly over medium heat until glaze was desired consistency.  When doughnuts were done, pulled them from oven, and dipped the top into the glaze while still hot.  For garnish sprinkled the sprinkles on top while the glaze was still hot so they would stick.  Voila!...homemade doughnuts!

 ABOVE:  A friend came over on Labor Day, and we had a simple lunch of brussel sprouts with fresh peaches.  I put red wine vinegar, chopped onion, garlic, sea salt, and a pinch of real coconut sugar since sprouts can be on the bitter side...aka sugar made from a coconut, and pan seared the sprouts on the stove top in olive oil....added raw sliced almonds for garnish and crunch as shown.

ABOVE:  Spicy homemade chili for a few friends.  This is one of my original recipes which can be found in my cookbook, so I won't list all of the ingredients.  ...a plug for my cookbook.  :-)!   I had been sick with a stomach virus, so I didn't put in the hot serrano peppers to keep from upsetting my tummy.  It still was yummy, just not as spicy.  Garnished the plates with fresh avocado, tomatoes, and homemade bread.

This week has been busy for me personally, but been working on a few sewing projects for some friends and myself.  Above is the top of a dress that I'm making for myself.  It's kind of sad, I haven't gotten to sew on it for almost a month now.  I had been sewing on it whenever I had 5 minutes here and there, and like I mentioned earlier, in trying to keep priorities straight, there seems to never be enough hours in the day to sew like I want to when off work and home in the evenings, b/c there are other things to do around the house that are priority, and foremost keeping the right focus on the ultimate goal, but I am finishing up a few sewing projects for friends.  Theirs is priority, mine is just for fun, but maybe by the end of the not Roman but sacred year....lol, I will have my own dress finished!  LOL

BELOW:  An old piano practicing video of a song entitled Scherzino from about 3 years ago.  I seldom have time to practice the piano or flute, working full time, and then when home, cooking, cleaning, and other home owning responsibilities for upkeep, but whenever I have insomnia on rare occasions, I hit the piano for some midnight fun!  Since some of the AC guys helped me move my piano to a better spot where it will stay in tune longer, and since Steve Hercus actually tuned my piano, it's amazing how much better practicing this song and other songs sound.  If I ever make it through practicing this entire song to try to perfect it more, I may post the updated version.  Again, definitely don't want to come across as "look at me" but it's one of those things that might be fun to share, maybe!  Music is definitely made to be shared, when it's worth sharing, anyway!  :)

....there is a random hobby post update for now!  :-)  

Just a Few Pics I Shot at the HQ Labor Day Picnic

Whitney, Maria, and Kayla

Jamie Hawkins and Sarah Evans smile!  Happy Sarah Evans made it to town.  She said she arrived in town just about 1.5 hours before the picnic, and then she hit the ground running and came to the picnic!

Aimee and Kay-La

Mr. Welsh

Mrs. M. Hilliker and Deborah S.

Gladys, Sandra, and Jenny

Jesse H.

Mrs. Short

A little taste of Germany.  The 3 brothers from Germany, the Michels brothers.

Danielle smiles with friends

Little Quinn must be getting used to my camera aimed at him!  :-)

Dan A.

Benjamin, Mr. Heerma, Mike, and Patrick