TRY SMILING

When the weather suits you not, try smiling;

When your coffee isn't hot, try smiling.

When your neighbors don't do right,

Or your relatives all fight,

Sure 'tis hard, but then you might

Try smiling.

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Doesn't change the things, of course, just smiling,

But it can not make them worse, just smiling;

And it seems to help your case,

Brightens up a gloomy place;

Then, it sort o' rests your face---

Just smiling.

Yesterday, we went to the Hiddenite Gem Mine. Grace, Hannah, Lydia, Charity, and Allen panned for gems. It was a lot of fun but very messy and hot :) Mamaw and Isaac are standing watching them in the first picture. And of course, we had to go to Wendy's after :)

Mamaw and Isaac
Grace and Charity
Ethan

Holly and Katie over at 2 sisters have tagged me for the "eight things about me" meme.

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Here are the rules
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1. Post rules before giving the facts
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of the your blog you need to tag some people and list their names. Leave them a comment on their blog, telling them they have been tagged and not to forget to read your blog.

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1. My favorite color is navy blue.

2. I've been married 17 wonderful years.

3. I've been homeschooling for 12 years.

4. I was born in Richmond, Virginia.

5. I've been to 36 states.

6. I have lived in Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

7. I love cherries.

8. My favorite hobby is reading.

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I'm tagging anybody who reads this blog.

That means you :)

Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake

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1 (7-oz) package caramels
1/4 cup evaporated milk
3/4 c. chopped pecans, divided
1 chocolate crumb pie crust
2 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sour cream
1 1/4 c. milk
1 sm. pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix
1/2 c. fudge topping
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Place caramels and evaporated milk in a heavy saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring continually, until smooth, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Pour into pie crust. Combine cream cheese, sour cream and milk in a blender. Process until smooth. Add pudding mix; process for about 30 seconds longer. Pour pudding mixture over caramel layer, covering evenly. Chill, loosely covered, until set, about 15 minutes. Drizzle fudge topping over pudding layer in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle top of cake with remaining patter. Sprinkle top of cake with remaining pecans. Chill, loosely covered, until serving time.

On Sunday, was my husband's 26th year of preaching. He preached on "Dying on the battlefield," at Bro. Steve's church. We had such a good service. We went to Allen's parents' house for lunch, it was a full house with 22 people eating. I made a cornbread salad. And there was a lot of food! We had another blessing on Sunday, Allen's nephew got saved at the church where Allen's parents attend. Levi was all excited.

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On Monday night, we went and saw Melinda and her husband. She was in a car accident last December and is still recovering. We had a nice time chatting.

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Tuesday, Hannah and Grace went to their cousins' house for a picnic and a splash in the creek.

They said they felt little fish biting on their toes:)

Thankfully, they didn't see any snakes. My husband spoke for Bro. Steve last night in their midweek service. He preached on "Yes, we can!" His parents came. Then after the service, they came to our house for cookies, popcorn, and coffee.

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Today, we cleaned the house, and are taking the girls swimming after I help our neighbour with her mother. They are all excited. It is going to be another hot day. My husband will be speaking for Bro. Bill tonight.

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And that is how our week is going so far.

Here is some pictures from Isaac's 1st birthday party on Saturday evening. If you would like to see some pictures before the party, click here.

Isaac's birthday cake

Isaac's big brother, Ethan.

Isaac with his other cake. (This is the one, he is supposed to make a mess with:) He really enjoyed putting his fingers in it.

"Yummy!"

More pictures coming soon!

Home-grown tomatoes. (These tomatoes are from our neighbor's little vegetable garden.) Yummy!

We have had a good week. This morning, Lydia and I did the grocery shopping. I made five loaves of banana bread and a batch of Frosty ice cream.

We are getting ready to go to Isaac's 1st birthday party tonight. Greg is grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. We're bringing the hot dog and hamburger buns, and the frosty ice cream. The kids will probably swim in Amanda's pool. (They always enjoy that :) We will have pictures to upload later.

Well, have to go for now. We will post more soon!

Chyrll