UGH!

I'm a "glass half full" kind of gal. I challenge myself to find the positive in every negative. However, I've realized there are certain things in my life that I have trouble finding the positive. No matter how I look at it, these things make me want to yell, "UGH"!!!

• Scooping dog poop from the yard (we have a German Shepherd, and she has BIG poop).
• Trying to peel a boiled egg that refuses to be pealed.
• Fire ant bites, chigger bites, mosquito bites... ANY bug bite that hurt or itch.
• Going to the dentist for any kind of dental work (I know~ there's a lot of positive to fixing my teeth... but still- "UGH!").
• Slow motion grocery store check out lines (especially when I have ice cream in the cart).
• The outrageous price of toilet paper. (Maybe I should look into a bidet?... how many trees would we save not using toilet paper... how much $$$ would my 6 person household save a year?... not to mention all the times my kids plug the septic line with using too much tp... Hummm)
• People who throw lit cigarette butts out their car window while driving (somewhat common in Corpus and YES, the start of many of our fires!).

This is a list of my "UGHS".

How about you?

Any things make me want to yell, "UGH"!!!

MEMORY VERSE #20

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

SSMT #20

Our Popcorn Ball Tradition!

When I was a child I remember a little old lady up the road from where I grew up give out home-made popcorn balls every Halloween to those who visited her house for "trick-or-treating". They were delicious, about the size of an adult fist wrapped in clear wrap tied with a ribbon. This was about 40 years ago when we didn't worry about getting homemade goodies in our trick or treat bag in fear of drugs or sharp objects hidden inside.

About ten years ago as I was sharing memories with my own children, I had a flashback of this fond memory. I searched my Betty Crocker Cookbook (1982 printing) for a recipe that sounded like what we would get from the little old lady up the street. I found "Caramel Popcorn Balls" and believe I found a close match if not the same recipe!

I started a tradition of making Popcorn Balls in the month of October & only in the month of October. This tradition was unintended the first year, but has become a family favorite as the years have passed. This year, my 9 year old was quick to ask me on October 1, "mom, can we make popcorn balls, today?"... and that's what we did! (in the past week and a half, I've made three separate batches.)

Caramel Popcorn Balls

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup dark corn syrup

1/2 cup butter (1 cube)

1 teaspoon salt

21-28 cups of popcorn (about 3-4 regular sized micro-popped corn; each popped bag yields about 7 cups of popcorn)

Directions

Pop popcorn. *(I use two different bowls to sort the popcorn; one to initially dump the newly popped corn into, then a second to transfer the popcorn by hand over to ensure any unpopped seed get left in the first bowl. No one wants to break a tooth on a popcorn kernel!)

Heat brown sugar, dark corn syrup,butter and salt in 4-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, at medium heat. Bring to a boil and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and wait about 1 minute to add to popcorn. Drizzle over the top and stir completely. Cool slightly.

Dip both hands in a bowl of cold ice water until very cold; lightly pat dry on dish towel.

Shape mixture into 2-3 inch balls. Place on waxed paper; cool completely.

Store wrapped individually in plastic wrap or in plastic sandwich bags; tie bags to seal. For a seasonal touch, I add halloween stickers to the outside of the wrapped popcorn ball.

Enjoy!!!

The Power of NOW~ MEMORY VERSE #19

The Lord has been working on me lately in the area of putting things off. I know I'm not a procrastinator by nature, but lately I've been challenged in not prioritizing certain things and falling back on the excuse, "I can do it tomorrow". My "tomorrows" have strung in to a long list of sad yesterdays. Can you relate?

My next memory verse for Oct. 1-15 is Deuteronomy 30:11. This verse will remind me that the things God has called me to do to serve Him, He commands me to obey Him NOW, and TODAY (not tomorrow or yesterday). It's like giving Him the gift of my time and sense of urgency in His kingdom priorities; being more God-centered than self-centered. He gives me power and encouragement through Scripture in obeying Him now and today... and, there's blessing behind every act of obedience- I know it and EXPECT IT!

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. (emphasis mine) DT 30:11 (NIV) SSMT #19