Update

Mrs. Williams went to be with the Lord around 8 am Eastern time. Obviously this is quite a shock to everyone. Please pray for her husband and family at this time. No funeral arrangements have been made, but they are hoping for a Tuesday funeral.

HUGE Prayer Request

Please pray for a friend, Mrs. Williams. She had a massive heart attack tonight. Apparently her aorta exploded! She is in surgery now, and it is expected to take 8 - 10 hours. Most people do not survive this surgery. She is a believer. Please pray for the doctors and nurses, as well as her husband and family. She has had no prior heart problems, so this was very unexpected.

Day 27: A Physical Feature

It has been said that the eyes are the window to the soul, I firmly believe that. The first thing I notice about anyone is their eyes. You can tell what a person's mood is as soon as they walk into a

room by the way their eyes are. Eyes express joy, sorrow, love, thought, bitterness, hurt, and so much more. People can talk without uttering a single word by the look in their eyes.

I think the worst sense to lose would be that of sight. Not being able to see the beauty of God's creation, the faces of loved ones, the words of a book, or the color of a room has to be incredibly tragic. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and without sight that picture cannot be seen.

The Bible speak of the eye in several places. "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord has made even both of them." ~Proverbs 20:12 "The light of the body is the eye: therefore if thine eye is single, they whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness." ~Luke 11:34

Day 26: A Childhood Memory

I grew up in a very family-oriented home. Throughout my formative years we did everything as a family...I was even home schooled! I have so many memories of times spent around the table laughing, having friends over to the house and playing games for hours, going to visit family in other states, taking walks, playing pranks, working in and outside the house, raising rabbits, going on vacations, and many more. I had a happy childhood.

There is one memory that is more prominent in my mind than any other. It was a ritual every night for as long as I can remember. Every night right before bed Dad would

come into our rooms and pray with us. Sometimes it would be a short prayer, but other times we would have a long heart to heart chat and then pray about whatever it was we talked about. Sometimes Dad would be away on a business trip, but he would call us at night and still pray with us. I thank God for a father who took the time to pray with me.

Thirty Day Challenge: Day 25: A Recipe

Being a connoisseur of recipes I found it impossible to share only one. I narrowed down my favorites to my few ultimate best! Enjoy!

Chocolate Yummies

I love this recipe because it is easy to make in the dorms!

INGREDIENTS:

• 7 graham crackers
• 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 pack (12oz., 2 cups) chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 3 T. butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3 cups rice crispy cereal

DIRECTIONS

• Coat 9x13 microwave-safe dish with cooking spray. Arrange graham crackers in single layer in dis, breaking crackers as needed to fit. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over crackers.
• Microwave on HIGH 1 minute or until marshmallows are puffy. Remove from microwave. Cool completely.
• in 2-quart microwave-safe mixing bowl combine chocolate chips, corn syrup and butter. Microwave on HIGH about 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in peanut butter. Add cereal, mixing until combined.
• Spread evenly over marshmallows. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm. Cut and store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Brooke's Best Bombshell Brownies

This is my all time favorite brownie recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 t salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
• Combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake until inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove and cool before cutting.

Mocha Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Delicious recipe for the coffee/cheesecake lover!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/s cups creme-filled sandwich cookie crumbs (about 18 cookies).
• 3 T butter, melted
• 2 T instant coffee crystals
• 1 T warm water
• 3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 3 large eggs
• 3 (1 oz.) square semi-sweet chocolate, melted
• 2 t vanilla
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press firmly into bottom of 9-inch spring form pan.
• dissolve instant coffee crystals in warm water. Beat cream cheese until fluffy in large bowl. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs, chocolate, coffee and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 1 hour 5 minutes or until center is set. Cool. Chill.

Ambrosia Salad

For a healthier option, this salad is totally awesome.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks, well drained (or 2 cups fresh)
• 1 banana, sliced
• 1 (11 oz. can) mandarin orange segments, well drained
• 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

DIRECTIONS:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
• Refrigerate at least 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle a few marshmallows on top

Day 24: A Movie No One Would Expect Me to Love

I'm not going to lie, one of my favorite movies is Cinderella. I guess maybe it's because it's something I loved as a little girl and all of my life. I think every girl dreams of her prince charming from the time she's a little girl, and I don't think that desire dies until she has found him.

*****

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Yesterday I went to a concert at a church here in town. There were many pieces played and sung by artists that go to that church, but one song that was sung had a special meaning to me:

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day,

And I don't borrow from its sunshine

'Cause the skies might turn to grey.

And I don't worry about the future,

'Cause I know what Jesus said,

And today I'm gonna walk right beside Him

'Cause He's the one Who knows what is ahead.

There are things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand,

But I know Who holds tomorrow

And I know Who holds my hand.

And each step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb,

And every burden is getting lighter,

And all the clouds are silver lined.

And over there the sun is always shining

And no tears will dim the eye

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains, they touch the sky.

There are many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand,

But I know Who holds tomorrow

And I know Who holds my hand.

~LeAnn Rimes

I used to have to have my life planned out exactly how it was going to be. I could not stand the thought of not know what tomorrow and the day after, and the month after and my entire life held. Several times I have had those perfectly laid plans completely demolished by God. Lately, I have simply left it up to Him. Yes, I have a general idea of some things in life, but many I don't have a clue about, and that is perfectly fine with me. I'm tired of trying to plan things on my own instead of just letting go and allowing God to take control and do as He pleases. May the Lord be glorified in my life both now and forevermore.