Tasty Tuesday!

Mackaylan and I love to cook together. Now, if you know me at all, you know that I am more of the "Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade" type of cook. I like simple, yet tasty recipes. The other day we were in the kitchen together and whipped up the following dessert (recipe courtesy of my wonderful sis, Lori!):

Cookie Casserole

Ingredients:
milk
Cool Whip
Chocolate Chip "ring" cookies



Directions:

1. Soften the cookies by dipping them in a shallow bowl of milk.
Create a layer of cookies on the bottom of the bowl.


2. Spread a layer of Cool Whip over the cookies.


3. Repeat Step 1 and 2 until you reach the top of the bowl.
End with the Cool Whip.




4. Crush some of cookies to sprinkle on top of the "casserole."
Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

5. Smile! You have just made a simple, yet satisfying dessert!

It will be a huge hit for the entire family!

For more tasty recipes head on over to Tasty Tuesday, Tempy My Tummy Tuesdays and/or Tuesdays at the Table.

The Big 3-0!

On October 12th Mickey turned the big 3-0! We had a fun time celebrating with family and friends. For an impromptu birthday party on Friday, I had a buffet of some of Mick's favorite foods. Along with each dish, I added a little special note for the birthday boy himself:

Happy Birthday, Mickey! Thank you for being my best friend- someone with whom I can laugh, cry, share my dreams and express my fears! When I think of our love for each other, it blows my mind! :)

In my opinion, we rank right up there with Forrest Gump and Jenny, Josh Lewis and Reva, Johnny Castle and Baby, Jerry McGuire and Dorothy... and the list goes on. I guess what I am trying to say is " YOU COMPLETE ME!" And I LOVE YOU for it!

"Fall" in Love!

Mackaylan and I took advantage of a beautiful fall day by taking a walk at Brookwood Park's Walking Trail! We had a fun time looking at all the leaves beginning to change colors, playing at the exercise stations, taking pictures, and just being together!

Up 'n' Autumn

I can't believe that it is the last day of September! The O'Shields family has been very busy living life! Mickey and Mackaylan have been such troopers as I try to find the perfect balance between work, graduate school, church, friends and family. I am so blessed!

Please continue to check back often for updates. I am sure pictures will be posted soon of all my fall decorating, an upcoming visit to the pumpkin patch, our annual pumpkin carving party with the Greene's, Mickey's birthday and 4-wheeling adventures, and much more.

Happy Fall!

Fearless

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me..... I will come to you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1,3 (NLT

Upon entering the world of Twitter, I was connected with Michael Hyatt who is the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. A month or so ago I started receiving tweets about obtaining a free copy of Max Lucado's new book, Fearless. Interested in learning more, I visited the link and was so happy to discover that I could become a book review blogger. All I had to do was choose a free book, read it and post a review right here. Since I love to read, need to be more diligently about blogging, and love free stuff, I thought "Why not?"


Fearless by Max Lucado was a very practical, easy read with a very challenging message. Each chapter examined various fears from the fear of disappointing God to the fear of violence to the fear of life's final moments. Throughout the book I was reminded that in the midst of fears my default should be to choose faith. Walking with Christ is not a guarantee that life is going to be easy. Trials are going to come. However, Lucado explains that "It is not the absence of storms that sets us apart. It's whom we discover in the storm: an unstirred Christ. " What a powerful and amazing thought!


Many times my worries turn into fears if I let them take root in my heart. Lucado lays out an 8-step plan for remaining PEACEFUL in a time of worry/fear:

1- Pray, first. Enough said.
2- Easy, now. We need to be reminded of Ps. 37:7- "Wait patiently on the Lord."
3- Act on it. Be a doer, not a stewer.
4- Compile a worry list. Write down all the things that are troubling you.
5- Evaluate your worry categories. Then pray specifically about them.
6- Focus on today.
7- Unleash a worry army. Share your worries with others. Ask them to pray with and for you.
8- Let God be enough.


I could go on and on about all of the "golden nuggets" that I have taken away from the reading of this book. However, I feel like the purpose of this post is to wet your appetite so you will go out and read it for yourself. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.