"Donut Sound Good" Friday

With 2 funerals behind me, some excitement over my online business gaining momentum, and a ridiculous To-Do list , I'm ready to get back to blogging. I have missed my daily blog rituals and visits, and I have much to share. Thanks to all of YOU for your patience!

My sons and I have begun to reward ourselves with donuts on Fridays. Hence, the name of this post. It still feels like Arabia here. I'm strongly considering the purchase of a camel. It's dry, hot and windy. Fall is playing hooky!

Miss Shabby of Shabby in the City provided the above recipe today. If you have a moment, stop by and wish her well. She is enduring poison oak on her face due to a bonfire! I never even knew that was possible. She is one itchy twitchy gal right now.

Eggnog Cheesecake - Victoria Magazine

Eggnog Cheesecake - Victoria Magazine

My milkman husband, Barry, delivers Alta Dena Dairy products. Their eggnog is touted as one of the best. I'm not a Nog-aholic like my husband, but I do enjoy an occasional glass. I often add it to my coffee or treat myself to eggnog flavored treats.

Now, Hungry Girl from the website by the same name, gave a less than radiant review of this eggnog (December 2006) which focused mainly on it's lofty calorie content. She called it a "nasty nog" and recommended No-Nonsense Nog or Vitasoy with Holly Nog. At this point, it's appropriate for me to borrow one of Hungry Girl's Eeeek's!

C'mon, eggnog is in the dairy case once a year. If we enjoy the real deal, why should we have to imbibe a counterfeit in the name of calorie phobic party poopers? In moderation, most anything can be enjoyed. I feel the same way about sugar. I don't want chemically engineered impostors. I would rather do without.

Click on the photo or the photo's caption to obtain the recipe for the Eggnog Cheesecake.

NOTE: Gabriella Delworth visited my blog today. She is a bit of a celebrity in Toronto, Canada. Click HERE to see her appearance on Breakfast Television. She is demonstrating creative ideas for "green" gift wrapping. Also, you may access her blog HERE for free tutorials.

Spiritual Sundays - Horses and Chariots

It has been a bittersweet week or so. A mentor and friend, Antoinette Puglia, succumbed to cancer but crossed the finish line into Glory. When questioned about the prospect of healing, she had replied, "Either way, I win!" And, she did win!

I received the very unexpected news that my special friend, Sheryl Gurwell, passed away in her sleep. Sheryl had been like the cat with 9 lives. She had miraculously survived many health issues and surgeries in her life. She was a walking miracle! Yesterday, God called her home.

My husband is at a church retreat this weekend and he reported that an attendee was killed on his motorcycle going down the mountain. This man's church is doing the Worship for the retreat. He left behind a wife and young child.

I used the word bittersweet and there was a sweet side to these past several days. One of my gifted brothers, Bret, has stepped beside me in my business to take it to the next level. His creative spirit and adept audio visual skills will no doubt help to usher in the resources and ingenuity that my business needs. What an answer to prayer!

These are fascinating times, aren't they? I don't need to rehearse the financial woes and the turbulent political climate. We are all feeling its weight and, for some, it's crushing blows.

When I went to bed last night, the Lord laid horses and chariots on my heart. Certainly, if our trust and reliance is in man or anything else, our hope is built on sinking sand. God's hand is not short and He is able to deliver. Below are several passages that illuminate the theme.

2 Kings 18:24 NKJ How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

Psalm 20:7 NKJ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7 (The Message) 7-8 See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we're making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we'll be on our feet, standing tall.

Isaiah 36:9 NKJ How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

Isaiah 31:1 NKJ [ The Folly of Not Trusting God ] Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!

Isaiah 31:1 (The Message)
Impressed by Military Mathematics
1-3 Doom to those who go off to Egypt thinking that horses can help them, Impressed by military mathematics, awed by sheer numbers of chariots and riders— And to The Holy of Israel, not even a glance, not so much as a prayer to God. Still, he must be reckoned with, a most wise God who knows what he's doing. He can call down catastrophe. He's a God who does what he says. He intervenes in the work of those who do wrong, stands up against interfering evildoers. Egyptians are mortal, not God, and their horses are flesh, not Spirit. When God gives the signal, helpers and helped alike will fall in a heap and share the same dirt grave.

Click HERE to see the Spiritual Sunday posts of others.