There's no fun like snow fun!

[gallery link="file" orderby="rand"]

Uncle Ray - A Tribute

[gallery link="file"]

I always imagined Santa looked like Uncle Ray.  When I was little, my uncle had a soft white beard and the jolly look of the man in red.  I have such fond memories of sitting with Uncle Ray and laughing on my grandmother's couch.  Uncle Ray was a character.  He had lost a few fingers and an eye in a blasting cap incident as a child.  This made the disappearing finger trick a real puzzler for a 5 year old!  I just remember his presence as one of joy.  When visiting my Aunt Violet and Uncle Ray at their home in Pennsylvania (I thought this was where vampires lived and so I was terrified to sleep) I have memories of playing with his giant husky named Yukon and jumping in the biggest pile of leaves.

As I grew older, visits with Uncle Ray were characterized by talks of theology and the Christian faith.  What a blessing to have an older relative who was willing to move past the small talk to the things of real importance!  If you know me at all, you know that I loved these talks.  I remember Shane commenting that he thought Uncle Ray was a great man upon their first meeting.

As Uncle Ray and Aunt Vi grew older, health problems caused a move to live closer to their only daughter and one of my favorite aunts, Nancy.  Aunt Vi was diagnosed with Alzheimers and I saw a picture of a devoted husband as I heard of his care for her throughout that awful disease.

I am sad that we didn't get to visit with Uncle Ray in his last years.  Earth lost one of its great men on New Year's Eve, but Heaven gained a valuable citizen.  It's a comfort to know that I'll see him again one day!

II Timothy 4: 7 

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Let it snow . . .

Yesterday was one of those really special memory days.  We woke up to a blanket of the awesome white stuff.  Grae's mouth dropped open and his eyes were wide.  He was in awe. 

Later in the morning, while still in our PJs, Grae and I made chocolate chip cookies as a very dear friend shoveled our walkway because he knew that Shane was sleeping after night work. 

After Grae's nap we bundled up for our first adventure outside.  It was definitely reminiscent of "A Christmas Story" as Grae whined as I put on all of his puffy snow gear (thanks to good hand-me downs from a sorority sister in Chicago!)  We headed outside with Shane to try his super slick boogie board on our awesome sledding hill.  Grae went down the hill with Daddy, but one experience was enough.  He sat in the snow while Mommy and Daddy went down the hill several times and our friends Ry Ry and Rach tried it too.

I made Everything but the Kitchen Sink Chili.  Find the recipe at the bottom of this post.  We ate cheesy biscuits and chili with chocolate chip cookies for dessert. 

We watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and then spent an evening with special friends.  What a great day!  Dear Diary . . . .

 

Everything but the Kitchen Sink Chili

Raid your pantry for tomato-type products and canned beans.

Ingredients:

2lbs ground beef (we used organic beef from our friend Bobby's dairy cows)

3 cans assorted beans (I used kidney, pinto, and black)

2 cans tomatoes (I used a can of diced and a can of stewed)

 3 TBS chili powder

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp garlic salt

2 tsp minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef.  Add tomatoes and beans.  Add spices to taste.  Bring to a boil then simmer for 1/2 hour to marry flavors.  Gorge yourself with biscuits and top with cheese and sour cream!  Yummy!