Preparing for Sunday

Book of Common Prayer (page 352)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is
faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8,9
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the
heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14,16 ...
Most Merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed;
By what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us, and forgive us,
that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Amen

A Winner. A Recipe. Or Two.

Word Escapees

The winner of "our" (the royal we) Word Escapees submission contest is Sara Turner. Here is her submission, very certainly one apropos to motherhood.

Dehelping (verb) To actively NOT help, or, to do the opposite of helping.

"Rather than help mommy wrap Christmas gifts, Jacob was 'dehelping' by jumping on the bed, wrinkling the paper and unraveling the ribbon."

See also dishelping or unhelping, also used regionally.

Congratulations, Sara!

A Recipe. Or Two. Or Three.

In response to my appetizer blog, a few people submitted recipes for munchies, dips, and such. However, most did it via e-mail, so I will re-print some of these delectable-sounding recipes below! Thank you for your ideas! (More FONT funniness going on in this blog. As one Redd says, "Don't blame me, I just work here.")

By the way, the table is still open for more recipes, so hit Post Comment below if you want to share any more recipes!

Wanda's Biscuit Snacks

1 tube Grand biscuits
4 ounces or more of crumbled blue cheese
1/2 stick of melted butter
"Cut each biscuit into four parts. Place all in a pan. Sprinkle with blue cheese. Pour melted butter over all. Bake 350 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle paprika and parsley over top."

Wanda's Onion Appetizer

Wanda Assures me that though this recipe sounds strange, it is very tasty.

3 cups of chopped SWEET onion
3 cups Swiss cheese
2 cups Hellman's mayonnaise
"Combine and bake in 8 inch square dish at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown."

Inspi (red Salsa)
Brittany's 7 Layer Dip for U2 Fanatics*

10.5 oz can bean dip (spicy)

16 oz can refried beans (can use black or brown beans)

2 T jalepeno peppers, chopped (can use fresh - can add lots more!)

10 oz shredded sharp cheddar

10 oz shredded Mont Jack

1 pack of McCormick's original taco seasoning

2 c sour cream

8 oz picante sauce (medium)

2 ripe avacados, chopped, mixed with juice of one lemon

6 roma tomatoes, chopped

1 bunch green onions, don't have to use them all

1 small can sliced ripe black olives

"Spread bean dip and refried beans in bottom of 9 by 12 inch dish. Top with chopped jalepenos and sprinkle both cheeses on top. Combine taco seasoning and sour cream and spread on top. Seal layers with picante sauce (can stop and refrigerate now if trying to make ahead and do last layers right before serving). Then top picante sauce with avocados, romas, onions and black olives. Seal with Saran Wrap and foil if you need to wait a little while or transport. Serve with chips."

*I gave it that name to tease the lovely Brittany.

Family News: Lucy Speaks Up

The Indignities of the Season

by Lucy Chamberlin
Canine in Residence

A time of joy and merrymaking. A time of wassail and wine. A time of love and family.

But for me, a time of woe.

My story begins a few short weeks ago, when Daddy and That Woman put up, in the center of our family area, a large tree, and hung lights and dog toys all over it. Jingling toys, balls hanging from string, little merry figures clearly made for chewing. A veritable monolith of dog delights, and some edible candy canes thrown in. Then under the tree they lay more toys: colorful, rattling boxes covered in crinkly paper and ribbon.

Oh, what a joy!

And then they told me not to touch it.

But I knew they were joking, so I ate a few of the jolly toys hanging down for me and one of the presents, just a small one in a little velvet box.

Did that garner a zealous response! I was, in a manner of speaking, in the dog house. I heard Sarah say -- referring to Santa's well-known catalog of nomenclature -- "Lucy is not on the Good List."

This is only the latest in the Sad Chapter of Indignities suffered by Yours Truly in this House of Melancholy. All of the other puppies, bipeds, get to sit at the table and eat such foods as the beef, the pork, and the turkey, the eggs and b. (to steal a phrase), and the bread and fine cheeses. I eat dry kibble from a tin bowl on the floor in the corner. When I seek to join the family and contribute to the domestic communion, by resting my front paws on the kitchen table and burrowing my snout in the nearest soup bowl, I am roundly scolded and sent to the garage. I even have heard That Woman referring to me as "a maniac." A person of my careful breeding and woolly beauty!

I love dearly to eat the delicious snacks Mother Nature has provided off of the wild Southern Pecan tree in the back yard, I so enjoy the dark and moldy shells and bitter innards. (No matter that I later leave the contents of my stomach on the cream-colored shag carpet in the master bedroom, you and I know that small discomfort is well worth the crunchy delight of such dainties.) That Woman apparently doesn't agree or share my passion for pecans or my sanguine view of those gastronomic leavings, and has been keeping me from eating the pecans, going so far as to sweep them right out of my mouth. Oh, I hear her talking about it being "for your own good," but I know better. Where is the love?

Ah, my friends. I know that my lot is not a lonely one, for when we go to the dog park, we all reference the same sad story... the favoritism for the two-legged puppies, the torturous trees of untouchable delight erected in the homes at Christmas, the lack of beef.

Stay strong, Canine Companions. It is a hard lot, but....a walk?

Did she say "walk?"

Yes, yes, yes!...I love walks!...happy happy happy happy...