Hawaiian Haystacks

Good Tuesday morning!

The Gallery has a few basketball pics today. We started the season with a Tip-Off Tournament last night... and we WON! That's right! We were AWESOME! We have another game tonight, so it will be fun to see how it will all turn out for this new team of chicks. I love basketball season. (I understand basketball for some reason, and it holds my interest because it is so fast-paced. For me, it is like watching an animated movie. There is a lot of action, always a few comical moments, drama and hopefully, as the final buzzer sounds... a happy ending!)

I've also included a couple of pics of a surprise which was waiting for me when I arrived home last night. One of my favorite Patricks, Lauren, is now making beautiful fall wreaths, and she and her mom, Joan, left this for me. Beautiful. Lauren is making AND selling these wreaths. She does an excellent job... and I'm not just saying that because she's one of my favorites either! They also left me a sweet note regarding our new exercise habits. Zumba has brought us closer together!

(If you want to get in touch with Lauren about purchasing one of these wreaths, let me know, and I'll give you her contact info.)

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - Matters of the Heart

There are many kinds of "hearts." There are light hearts, glad hearts, hard hearts, broken hearts, compassionate hearts and tender hearts just to name a few. But the older I become, and what I've noticed in talking with other women, is how many of us walk around with heavy hearts.

The source of the heaviness can come from loss, illness, disappointments or heartache over another's pain. The situations which cause a heart to be heavy can appear to be endless... and they seem to be coming at us faster and faster and faster.

I believe the term "heavy heart" is also very, very accurate, because walking around with this kind of heart can be physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausting.

I am so thankful a heavy heart doesn't have to last forever... although at the time you are experiencing this type of "heart moment" it seems as though it will never end.

For all my friends who are heavy-hearted today, Tuesday, November 2, 2010, I will share these verses with you.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

At this very moment, I do not have a heavy heart. However, that could change in a "heartbeat." I will not take this moment for granted... but I will not forget those who are hurting and carrying the heavy heart today.

As always, this is a reminder for myself and others to reach out to people with a kind word or deed. It's fine to pray for someone who is going through a "heavy heart" moment, but try to follow up with "word and deed." NEVER get too busy for the "word and deed" part. (The "word and deed" part is one of the biggies!)

NOVEMBER SPECIAL GUEST - ROXIE FAULKNER - PART TWO - Here are a few more things you may or may not have known about Miss Sass.

11. What would be the worst job/profession to have?

Roofer. (She was pretty adamant about this one. I don't think she's ever tried to roof a house, but the way she answered the question you would have thought she had been "roofing" for years.)

12. What is the best book you've read recently?

The Christy Miller series. (My friend, Kim, recommended this series of Christian books for teenage girls, and Roxie absolutely loves them. You can find them at Books-A-Million.)

13. What do you think you will be doing in ten years?

I will be finishing up college at Auburn majoring in Interior Design. I will also be engaged to my future husband. (All righty then! She's planning on staying in college for SIX years, and then immediately getting married. I need to start a money envelope right now!)

14. What is the best and the worst thing you have ever eaten?

Hominy is the worst. The best would be steak from Bonefish Grill with shrimp and garlic sauce drizzled on top. (Since they've outgrown the Father/Daughter Banquet, Mikie takes her on a Valentine's Date every year. The last two years they have eaten at Bonefish Grill. She doesn't want to go anywhere else, and now I know why.)

15. What do you like best to do with your family? Why?

Camping. There are no distractions. We just get to spend time together.

16. What makes you furious?

Cry Babies. (It's true. She gets angry with me ALL the time.)

17. What instantly puts a smile on your face?

Tori Grubbs. (Good answer. If you don't know Miss Tori, you need to meet her. She's a funny, sweet chick.)

18. How many siblings do you have, and where do you fall in the mix?

I have two brothers, AND I AM THE BABY.

19. Dog lover or cat lover?

Dog, dog, dog.

20. If you could remove someone's burden and take it as your own, whose burden would it be?

My brother’s.

She's one of a kind. We'll finish the rest of the questions tomorrow. There are at least three surprises in the last batch! Well, at least I was surprised.

Hawaiian Haystacks

I will be preparing this Thursday night. It is from my 101 Things To Do With A Slow Cooker cookbook my friend, Melaney, gave me a few months ago. It fits all my criteria for a good recipe... five ingredients (or less), everything is thrown in a slow cooker, AND it's Hawaiian. (The Hawaiian part isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but I do love my pineapple.)

You will need the following:

10 to 12 chicken tenders
1 cup chicken broth
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
6 cups cooked rice

1. Place chicken in a greased 3 1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker.

2. Combine next three ingredients and pour over chicken.

3. Cook on high 3 to 4 hours OR on low 6 to 8 hours.

4. Serve over hot rice.

5. Top with pineapple chunks.

Sounds good, doesn't it? I'm serving it wearing my grass skirt and Mikie's going to get out his coconut bra. It should make for a fun evening.

Have a great Tuesday. The weather is so autumnal right now. Perfect. Wednesday I'll be sharing Wisdom, Part Three of Roxie's interview, a Party, Event, Devotion OR Tradition and a little more "heart-to-heart" talk.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda