A Colossal Time Waster

Because I have so much time on my hands, I just wasted 45 minutes trying on celebrity hairstyles. I’ve got Halle Berry’s ‘do but unfortunately they couldn’t give me her abs. Find a picture of yourself with your hair pulled back and go check this out.

You’ll definitely be the dumber for it.

November 29, 2008 | Filed Under Girls Just Wanna Have Fun | 7 Comments 

The Cooking is Seriously Cutting in to my Blog Time

Wow. Are y’all just boycotting me or is the blogging seriously light the last couple of days? If you’ve been being thankful and visiting and cooking and shopping like I have been – chances are the computer has slid on down the list of priorities.

As well it should.

However, I had to take a couple of minutes to show you a most excellent dessert I just made. It’s a standard favorite around here and I got the hankering for it today.

Now I realize this picture does nothing for the fabulosity that is Strawberry Pretzel. However, you can pretty much bet that if my food is ugly then it tastes good. I don’t have the pretty and good gene – you get one or the other as proven by the X-File Cookies.

What I can promise you is that people go bonkers over this stuff and if you take it to an event/potluck someone will ask you for the recipe. You can also count on your dish being licked clean. Because I love you and am feeling generous, allow me to share …

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL

2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 8 oz container whipped topping
2 3 oz packages strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
2 10 oz packages frozen strawberries (unsweetened)
1 8 oz can crushed pineapple
Whipped topping to garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Crust: Mix the pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture into a 9×13 inch pan or dish and bake for 7-8 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.

{Hint: You want to be sure there are plenty of fine crumbs in your crushed pretzels. These bind your crust. If your pretzel mixture isn’t a tiny bit play-doh-y (now there’s a cooking term you’ll never hear on Food Network) when you press into the pan, your crust will crumble to pieces and you’ll have to start all over. Don’t ask me how I know this.}

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar. Fold in whipped topping and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until well chilled.

In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool slightly. Add the strawberries and pineapple, and pour over the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until serving time.

To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping.

Or if you prefer, just eat it straight from the pan with a fork every time you pass the refrigerator.

{Recipe Credit: FoodNetwork.com}

November 29, 2008 | Filed Under Recipes | 20 Comments 

Thanksgiving Prequel

Since we live about an hour away from “home”, our holidays often consist of short visits between three different branches of family who are spread over 50 miles. We’ve tried alternating years but frankly, I just hate not seeing any of my relatives on special occasions. Even though I don’t look forward to being so wrung out at the end of a long day {especially when I have Black Friday to rest up for}, it’s so worth it to see all the people we love.

With that said, our little family unit tries to set moments aside in the season that are just for us. The older I get and the older my children get, I realize how important it is to be intentional with the time I have left with them in my home. It kills me to say it, but if my oldest goes away to college I have only 5 more holiday seasons left with him in my home. FIVE.

I’ll be right back. I’ve got to go cry my eyes out.

Okay. I’m not better but I’m back.

Since tomorrow will be crazy, today I got up and made a big breakfast and we sat together and talked about the things we are thankful for. I wish I could tell you we said something really profound but in truth, the profundity was in the moment itself. For lack of better words, I was overcome by the hugeness of what sat before me. A family – a group of individuals – who for better or worse will always be connected by both blood and Spirit. Dearest Lord, why do you esteem me worthy? What other than the purest unmerited grace made you decide to entrust your children to a flake like me?

I’m reminded of a passage in C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Maybe it applies, maybe it doesn’t, but it strikes me all the same:

“And that, by the way, is perhaps the most important difference between Christianity and all other religions: that in Christianity God is not a static thing – not even a person – but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance. The union between the Father and Son is such a live concrete thing that this union itself is also a Person. I know this is almost inconceivable, but look at it thus. You know that among human beings, when they get together in a family, or a club, or a trade union, people talk about the “spirit” of that family, or club, or trade union. They talk about its “spirit” because the individual members, when they are together, do really develop particular ways of talking and behaving which they would not have if they were apart. It is as if a sort of communal personality came into existence. Of course, it is not a real person: it is only rather like a person. But that is just one of the differences between God and us. What grows out of the joint life of the Father and Son is a real Person, is in fact the Third of the three Persons who are God.”

So maybe what overcame me this morning was the spirit of the united group of individuals named McKay. That who we are individually is nothing compared to how great we are together (in my own estimation anyway.) And then perhaps the reason my tears still flow is that the ultimate Spirit – the love between Father and Son that is manifested in a Person – has placed a supernatural gratitude in my heart that I am completely incapable of on my own. I remain so very thankful God did not let me carry out the plans I had for aloneness. These people – this family – were not a part of what I envisioned for my life but God loved me too much to let me have what He knew I never really wanted.

I pray with all my heart that God will give rise to gratitude in all our hearts for the very simple things He’s graced us with. I pray if your reality doesn’t look like what you planned that God will allow eyes to see the treasure He has waiting there. I pray if your extended family is difficult, that you would love them even harder. You may be the only grace they know.

From my house to yours…

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Ephesians 5:20

November 26, 2008 | Filed Under Gratitude, Holidays | 16 Comments 

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