Best Coconut Pie Ever!

I have been on a quest for the perfect coconut pie recipe! You see I started this quest when I married my hubby and found out that his favorite pie was coconut, and yes - I tried my mother in laws recipe - and no it did not turn out for me. (No I do not think she was mean and gave me an incorrect recipe, or left something out on purpose but my mother in law is one of "those" wonderful cooks who cooks without recipes!! Ahhh - it's like dr.s without borders but this one give all us ladies a bad reputation who have to have a recipe box!!!)

So here at last after several failed attempt is the very best, successful coconut pie recipe:

(you really should imagine you are hearing a drum roll here)

3 cups milk
3 egg yolks (save whites for meringue)
Sprinkle of salt
3/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla
Approximately ¼ cup coconut flakes (I don't measure the coconut, Norma says)
Prepared pie crust

Save out a little milk. Put the rest of the milk in a double boiler and heat. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks. Mix in the milk you saved and salt. Add sugar and stir. Add cornstarch and beat. Stir mixture into hot milk.

Pour the above mixture into a prepared and lightly browned pie shell. My husband prefers that I top this pie with meringue but you could also top with cool whip for a coconut cream pie. I sprinkle shredded coconut on top of my meringue that toast as the meringue browns.

let me think on it

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

Plato

Baptism-Paige and Grace!!

On September 11, 2010 - my two youngest daughters got baptized!! I was so excited about this for them! (My oldest was baptized a few years ago by my father-you talk about special) However we now attend a church that does "dunking" baptism, and I always felt that this was an important step for someone to take once they personally had accepted Christ into their heart and life as savior and Lord. The girls and us talked about how wearing a wedding ring doesn't make you "married" it is taking the wedding vows that make you married the wedding ring we wear to show others that we are married. Well that is how we view baptism. Baptism does not save you, but it shows others that you have made that personal decision to accept Christ into your heart.

We had joined a new church about a year ago that does baptism and we were just waiting until the girls decided that they were ready. I was so proud of them when they came to me and their daddy and talked to us about wanting to be baptized!! My heart swells with pride, tears come to my eyes as I remember the special time we had with the girls this night, and my oldest a few years ago.

As a parent it was such a joyful occasion a time to celebrate when your child decides to follow and obey God. I glimpse a little at how God must feel when we choose daily to follow him, and live through his power and strength and not our own.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Having it all together

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"

Proverbs 19:21

Boy, what a few weeks I have had - and boy does this bible verse not just sum it up!! As you may remember I had just got my girls back into school (Whew!) and was getting organized, starting to train for my first 5k, making plans for all my extra time when I fell down while jogging and fractured my elbow (OUCH!!! YES! OUCH!!!) and I was unable to type, wash my own hair, etc... so all my "plans" came to a screeching halt!!

I have had to laugh and re prioritize what is really important and what does not make the cut. Literally I was dependent on my family for help, as well as kind friends who did sweet things to help my family who did not have a mom who could cook, do hair (I have 3 girls!), and drive! How sweet friends and family were - Thank you!!!

So I am now back almost normal - I can type, cook, do hair, (I just can't lift heavy pans say a 9x13 with roast out of the oven but everything else I can pretty much do it) So I am once again at the drawing board trying to get organized, things accomplished and done. I have to say I have a much better attitude and a grateful heart as I undertake my daily chores than I did. I am not as frantic or anxious I now have been reminded that life is good,God is good, and I do not have to have it all together for the world to keep spinning "I am not God"! wow!
That is deep thoughts by Amy

keeping it real

Well I have not blogged much this last week because.....I fractured my elbow while I was jogging- ugh!! So this weeks total was

2 miles run/walking/falling

You see I was jogging enjoying the wonderful weather, the beautiful view (down on riverside drive) when I fell (just rolled my ankle - over what I am not even sure!!) . When I was falling I put my hands up to brace for impact and well the left arm bone was shoved into my elbow joint on impact. --OUCH!!! However what does any red blooded woman do???

Well we quickly look around to make sure no one is videoing your fall to upload to YouTube -whew! Doesn't look like it - one very nice biker stopped to see if I was OK, but did I mention he asked "mam, are you OK?" I don't know what was worse being called "Ma'am" or being on the ground hurt. So of course I thank the nice gentleman, as I brush myself off, and get up and finish my jog and go to Starbucks for a coffee before my pride allows me to inventory possible injuries. Thus when I realized I had started to loose the use of my left hand and decided it was time to call wonderful hubby in to take me to the urgent care.

Did I tell you that my whole family is trying to give me away for free right now - I am horrible patient, who feels bad, likes to whine, and really sick of being in my house - who can not right now tie her shoes or clasp her own bra. Thus unless it is coffee with the girlfriends (who do not care if I am bra less) I have been pretty much stuck in my house driving everyone crazy.

So how is that for keeping it real??????

And the winner is.....

The winner is "Petie" from the blog "Inspired Nesting" -Congratulations! You are my big winner for my first ever give away!! Please feel free to go visit Petie's blog and leave her a note of congratulations!! Petie please leave me an email address in the comment section or feel free to email me at : bsbbarnes@hotmail.com so that I can learn where to send your prize to! Thanks for all who participated!

(A More Real) Love Story

I laughed really hard at this video - I think this does a good job describing the challenges us mom's of young kids have to keep romance alive - I hope everyone enjoys this video - and today is the last day to enter my give away (look for previous post titled "I know I'm not Oprah but..."

and leave me a comment and a way to get a hold of you in case you win! Hope you all have a good day & God bless all mom's and mother in-laws that occassionally watch our kids so that we get a night out!

How is your love story?

How is your love story?

We all have one- some of us are busy living our love stories right now, and others have not yet met their leading man in their love story.

However one thing is for certain -

you have an active, role as the leading lady in your own love story!!

That is why my favorite movie of the summer was "Love letters to Juliet" it reminds each of us - Age does not matter!! We each have a love story to live !

So how is your love story - is it steamy? Is it exciting? Is it adventurous? Is it a comedy?

or have you stepped out of your own love story and surrendered it to the overwhelming demands of day to day life??

Well I am challenging each of you to snap out of it!!

If you can not say you have an exciting, or steamy love life -

well why not??

You are the leading lady - so get busy leading or encouraging him to play again!! Need some ideas well.... (here is a secret: it's a great website that encourages you to start dating your mate, add a little bit of fun and excitement back into your life. Breathe a bit of fresh life back into your love relationship with these great ideas found at The Dating Diva website but shush! It's a secret!)

Also if you want more try these books for some other great ideas: "Creative Dating" by Doug Fields, and Todd Temple, or "1001 ways to be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek, or my very favorite that every wife could benefit from "Light his fire" by Ellen Kreidman!! (The last book would make a new bride a great wedding gift!)

So leave me a comment (if you dare!) and give a one word that describes your love life! and if it's not what you would want - girl get busy changing it!!!

Also if you have not entered my give away (my very first one!!) look for the previous post titles "I'm not Oprah but..." and leave me a comment to be entered!- You have until this Wed.!!!!

So I will leave you with a description of my love life: "it's getting hotter!"