Pray the Vote

I wanted to tell you about something I am part of that can make a difference in our country. It’s called Pray the Vote—a special initiative of The Presidential Prayer Team that is calling everyone to pray for this fall’s elections. It’s based on the belief that when God’s people call out to Him in prayer, it opens a window for God to bless our nation in ways we can’t imagine.
Pray the Vote is asking people to commit to pray for the elections and then to register that commitment on their website. I hope you’ll check out the Pray the Vote website and join me by committing to pray. Thanks for considering this important decision.

Also, here is an encouraging video to watch.

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ppt_ecrd_PTV

Two new things and a find . . .

Made two new things this week, delicious! Everyone loved them -

#1 - Fusilli with Sausage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

#2 - Amaretti Torta

And my find of the week . . . fresh blueberries! At the farmers market I bought a flat of them, and they were so juicy and sweet. The kids would eat them just like that, as a snack, and then I made a few desserts with them, but what a deal! Locally grown and so yummy! My find for this week! GO get some!

I made a difference . . .

Laugh if you will, but I made a difference in someones life that I've never even met. Yup, since the very beginning, I have loved the voice and personality of David Cook on American Idol. Each week my phone called and placed as many votes as I could for this amazing singer. And tonight, he was honored with being season 7's American Idol. I was amazed as I heard and read that mostly everyone else was for the other David, and by all means, he is very gifted musically. But there is just something fresh and honest and wonderful about David Cook, and I am glad to Rock the Vote, my votes counted, and I made a difference in his life. Rock on David, you keep singing and sharing that gift with this world!

Mmm mmm good . . .

Last night I made these, Apple Crostatas. This being my fourth time making them, I had to give them props for being elegant and super easy! Even better, they are delicious and almost everyone loves them. And of course, they are by one of my favorite chefs! If you have time or just want to try something new, these are great!

The Theatre, Dining Out, and Being Away . . .

We were so privileged and blessed to be able to have a weekend away to celebrate our 20 year anniversary. We were very blessed by family and friends who loved on our kids for the weekend. We were also blessed by some friends who gave us tickets to see "Wicked" a Broadway musical, showing in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theater. I highly recommend this wonderful, amazing, and funny musical. It is the untold story of the Witches from the Wizard of Oz, and I loved it! Very very good.

We also visited a very very charming and wonderful little restaurant called "Fabiolus Cafe". It is in Hollywood, near the Theater, and the food is amazing, the service is out of this world, and the ambiance is my favorite part. We sat on the patio and enjoyed our dinner by candlelight and cute little decorative lights around the room that set the mood for a pleasurable evening. I could have sat there all night. If you ever get to that area, go to Fabiolus Cafe. This was our second time going, and we can't say enough about it.


Here is the wonderful view from our hotel. We stayed at the "Bonaventure" in downtown Los Angeles. We booked through Priceline for a 4 star hotel at a motel 6 price (seriously, we paid only $69.00 a night!). What fun and what a huge blessing!

Great is Thy Faithfulness . . .

Today I am praising God for His faithfulness! 20 years ago today I married my best friend, and not only do we very enthusiatically celebrate 20 years, whoo hoo! But, we thank God for them. This hymn (below) was in our wedding and it seems to be the theme of our life together. Here's to my wonderful lifelong friend, I look forward to every day we have together for the rest of our lives! I love you!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Blast to the past . . .

I guess because it is cinco de mayo today, my friend and I were speaking spanish to each other. Then I started singing a song "dulce dulce" from that early 90's tv show with "XuXa" (shoo sha). We were cracking up, until he told me the best thing I have heard in long time. He said, "Yeah, I had a moderate crush on XuXa back then for a short time." Awesome! So in honor of my friend, I give you, "Dulce dulce" by Xuxa.