"Missing" at Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, know that you (Jeanette, Jeremy and Jessica, Julie, and Janessa), are very missed around our table. This Thanksgiving I am so thankful to God for allowing me to have such a large and happy family. Know that you live in my heart, even though your presence will be missed. Thank you Lord, for such incredible blessings in my life.

One of My Signatures....

I recently made this for an office potluck.....and as usual, they got rave reviews. We even had two guys litterally fighting over the last few....pushing, shoving, pulling on each other's clothes....for a minute there I thought I was going to be wearing the meatball. I only wish I could take the credit for inventing the recipe....but I just clipped it from a magazine a few years back. So here you have it......

Barbecued Meatballs
Combine:

3 lb. ground beef
1 ½ c. milk
1 c. quick oatmeal
1 c. cracker crumbs
2 eggs
½ c. chopped onion
½ t. garlic powder
2 t. salt
½ t. ground black pepper
2 t. chili powder

Form into walnut-size balls. Freeze on cookie sheets lined with wax paper. When frozen, transfer to ziplock bags and keep in freezer until ready to use.

Sauce:

2 c. ketchup
1 c. brown sugar
½ t. liquid smoke
½ t. garlic powder
¼ c. chopped onion

Combine sauce and pour over frozen meatballs in baking dish. Bake at 350 for one hour. (Note: You can cook these without freezing them first, but the texture seems to be best if they're baked from the frozen state.)

Mother Mine

O Mother mine, when I was small,
You seemed to me my all in all;
The sunshine shimmered in your face;
The flowers blossomed in your grace.
You laughed with me when I was gay
And kissed my childish tears away-
Mother dearie, Mother cheery, Mother mine.

O Mother, as the years rolled o'er
Our heads, I loved you more and more.
When weakness laid its hand on you
You were so patient, brave, and true;
You seemed the sum of all things good;
My dream of perfect womanhood-
Mother dearie, Mother cheery, Mother mine.

O Mother mine, if I can be
To little ones who look to me,
A mother half so sweet and wise
And tender; if they but surmise
That in your likeness I have tried
To grow, I shall be satisfied,
Mother dearie, Mother cheery, Mother mine.

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Happy belated birthday Marmee!

Caption: Mom at Jeremy's wedding...crying tears of joy.