Blueberry Muffins

My friend Kimmer lives in the heart of fruit country in Michigan.

Every time she visits she brings me something wonderful – like the huge boxes of blueberries she brought this summer. 🙂

We actually got to see where these beauties were grown during our whirlwind trip to see her a few weeks ago.

And of course – we enjoyed some amazing blueberry muffins for breakfast!

The recipe is her mom’s – making them extra special – since her mom died several years ago from complications following a routine flu shot.

Her mom was an amazing woman and an excellent cook who was always ready to feed a crew. She must have baked thousands of these muffins for family and friends over the years.

Kimmer continues the tradition, making her home a welcome place full of home cooked meals, love and acceptance.

And blueberry muffins on the breakfast table.

Blueberry Muffins
recipe from Kimmer’s Mama

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1- 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups berries

Mix wet together the egg, milk, and oil. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Pour the wet into the dry and mix briefly. Fold in the berries, either fresh or frozen.

Pour into greased or lined cupcake tins. Makes 12 regular muffins or 36 mini muffins.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 min.

Enjoy hot and fresh from the oven, slathered with butter!

Spider’s Secret

I love spending time with my crazy wonderful friend Kimmer.

Our unexpected trip to Michigan last week for Matt’s college visit gave me a chance to spend time with her at her house.

It was wonderful to see her and her family! Along with non-stop talking, laughing and eating, the two of us were able to play the best practical joke ever!

The victim: Kimmer’s daughter Courtney.

The reason: payback for a nasty prank she played on us with a mechanical mouse several years ago that resulted in Kimmer and I screaming as we jumped on the deep freeze. It took weeks for the bruises on my hips to fade.

It was so humiliating.

The fact that her prank was years ago has no bearing on the matter. Sometimes it takes awhile for a good payback to come together. 🙂

And trust me – this was a very good payback!

It started at the supper table over big bowls of chili and even bigger bowls of ice cream.

We were reminded of how much Courtney hates spiders – and then we remembered that it was October and plastic spiders were readily found in almost every store.

Can you tell where this is going?

After a late night trip to Meijers and the aid of a very helpful sales associate, we had 16 small black plastic spiders and two large black nasty-looking ones that moved.

We snuck into Courtney’s room while she was still out with her friends and started covering her bed in spiders – both on her pillow and inside her sheets. Then we put one on her alarm clock, in her open bag of candy corn, in her slipper and in the pocket of her robe.

The remaining spiders went into her bathroom – on the toilet seat, on her toothbrush, on her towel, and on the sink.

And the crowning jewel was one of the large nasty looking spiders at the very foot of her bed – inside the covers. (That spider was so nasty that both Kimmer and I shuddered when touching it!)

Then we went to bed and waited.

We were not disappointed.

The screams were loud and frequent.

I laid in bed laughing so hard that the bed shook and woke up Jan. I just had to see firsthand what was going on – so I got up and walked into her room.

And started laughing so hard I couldn’t catch my breath!

There stood Courtney’s friend Jessica in oven mitts with salad tongs and a Swiffer, using the tongs to pick up the spiders from her bed and toss them into the garbage bag that Courtney was holding.

I kid you not.

I laughed so hard, I had to lay on the floor!

Then Jessica winked at me, said she was rescuing Courtney from the spiders. Then she “accidently” missed the garbage bag and let a spider hit Courtney – who screamed and ran for the bathroom and locked the door.

All was quiet for just seconds – until she turned around and saw the spider on her towel – then the one on the toilet – and the one on her toothbrush. She had locked herself into a bathroom full of spiders!

Oh my!

Courtney screams could have woke the neighbors.

I laughed so hard the tears were rolling down my cheeks.

It took a few minutes before things settled and I finally pulled myself off the floor and went back to bed.

It took even longer for Courtney to finally feel brave enough to get into her bed.

Of course when she did she discovered the crowning jewel we left for her – that great big nasty spider that moves!

I haven’t had so much fun since Kimmer and I put my life size doll on the toilet seat in our college dorm one night! But that’s another story.

Oh yes – some of you are remembering that we bought two big nasty mechanical spiders and only put one in her bed.

So where is the other spider?

Ahhh…wouldn’t Courtney love to know!

Payback is sweet.

Embracing the Craziness

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.

I hope it’s true – ’cause a picture is about all I have time for!
So what’s going on?

My friend Kimmer’s here! And 2 of her kids. And Dagmar’s friend Lainers and a random nephew.

9 kids. At my house. Eating.

That’s the fun stuff.

Then there’s –

The county fair. 4H projects. Dead calf. Vet visit. Blown tire. No rain. Stinky pigs.

But God is good.

And Kimmer and I picked up more chocolate last night. (sshh – don’t tell the kids or they’ll eat that, too!)

We’re loving the craziness and making some memories!

Same Girl

We became Bible college roommates at 26 years ago.

Kimmer, Mindy and Pancake.

Three strangers who became best friends.

Oh, the adventures we had! 🙂

One by one we got married, graduated, moved on.

Now – 2 continents, countless moves, 13 children, 3 foster kids, a son-on-law, one grandbaby and 23 years later – we finally reunited.

All three of us in one place – at one time – with no interruptions.

The fellowship we shared was so sweet!

We kept staring at each other and reaching out to touch each other as if we were afraid that it was all a dream and we had to make it real.

We cried.

We prayed.

We laughed so hard!

As we poured out our hearts, shared pictures, and reunited with our younger selves – it was very clear that despite the many years that have passed since those college days, inside we’re still those same girls.

Still a bit silly, but full of hopes and dreams and ideas.

Stronger. Wiser.

And still the best of friends.

Same Girl

Twila Paris

She’s still the same girl
Wiser for the years
She’s still the same girl
Stronger for the tears
Listen to her story
And your heart will glow
She’s still the same girl
And we need her so

Oh Yeah – Like Awesome Dude!

My zany college roommate Kimmer is here!

And anywhere that Kimmer is – there is laughter – lots of laughter!

We were browsing through the racks at the local thrift store when Kimmer quickly picked up on the fact that my kids thought our taste in clothes was a little dated – so she started pulling out ridiculous pieces to show them.

She was gushing and embarrassing them royally when – out of the craziness – Dagmar finds a nice pair of jeans of Pedro.

I look at them and say “awesome”.

Kimmer looks at them and says, “Precious!”

Dagmar almost chokes. “Awesome and precious?! Oh really! These are beastly sick pants!”

Kimmer and I look at each other blankly, “Beastly sick?”

Dagmar just shakes her head and moves on.

Okay – so maybe it’s more than our taste in clothes that’s a little dated. 😉

At home later on that afternoon – I asked Pedro to try on the clothes that his sister found for him.

As he come out wearing his new pants, we looked at each other and tried very hard to remember the words Laura used to describe them.

Now – I should insert here that the night before we had stayed up much later than any two 40-something mothers of nine kids should – so we were pretty much brain dead.

As we were frantically trying to remember the correct terminology – Kimmer blurts out, “I know – the word starts with an F – I know it – they’re fruity!”

The room erupts with laughter.

There’s never a dull moment with Kimmer around! 🙂