This is a favorite for warm summer days! :)  Enjoy!

Chicken Salad

2 cup uncooked Medium shell pasta

1 cup bottled coleslaw dressing

1 cup mayo

4 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 20 oz can pineapple, drained

1 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts drained and diced

1 large red skinned apple, diced

1 cup green seedless grapes

4 celery ribs, diced

1 tbsp grated onion

1 cup whole cashews

salt and pepper to taste

1.  Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

2. Mix coleslaw dressing and mayonaise in a small bowl.  Add to the pasta, tossing gently to combine.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

3.  Meanwhile, mix the chicken, pineapple, water chestnuts, apple, grapes, celery, and onion in a medium bowl. Refrigerate.

4.  Just before serving, add the chicken mixture and cashews to pasta, tossing gently until al the ingredients are combined.  Season to taste.

5.  Spoon into large lettuce leaves to serve.

2013 Year End Review

2013 was a good year for us.  We experienced lots of change and adjustments this year!

Brooke shared her amazing voice as a soloist in the WV Solo and Ensemble.  She ran her last Cross Country races, and sang her last A Cappella and Chamber choir concerts as she finished up her high school career and graduated with honors from Parkersburg High School.  She made the big move to West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon and completed her first semester with straight A's.

Tyler moved up to Parkersburg High School and began playing in the Big Red Band.  He played 3rd Bass this season and loves band.  He also built a super computer with a water cooling system for gaming and has since built 2 more for his friend and his brother.  He is a whiz at computers and Chad and I have no idea what he is talking about half the time!  He is currently working on his Eagle Scout Project.

Nicholas is in 8th grade at Hamilton Middle School.  He was voted into student council.  He plays trumpet in the band and really enjoyed move up day to play at halftime with the Big Red Band.  He plans to join the Big Red Band this summer.  We will have two boys in the Big Red Band which makes Papa Ed very proud. He has waited many years for someone in his family to follow in his footsteps and play with the Pride of Parkersburg Big Red Band!

Chad continues as a scheduler/planner at Dupont.  Dupont is spinning off so the name will be changing. His mom moved from over an hour away to right here in Parkersburg so he is constantly busy keeping up with two houses.  He devotes time working with the boys Scout troop and assisting our Youth Pastor with the teens.

Michelle continues to teach reading as a Title I Basic Skills teacher at Martin Elementary School.  She loves her job and considers helping children that struggle with reading as her ministry.  She and her sister became passionate about helping people get healthy and started teaching essential oils classes.  Their business is thriving and they have assisted many people in achieving wellness. 

2014 will start us on a New Year that is sure to bring more blessings and possibly some more changes. We have several issues which we have handed over to the Lord.  We know that in His time these issues will also turn into blessings.   We will continue to pray and trust in him.  This year our goal is to be a blessing to others and to look for and be thankful for the blessings given to us. 

Have a BLESSED 2014!

Word of the Year

Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Scrap that long list of goals you won’t remember three weeks from now anyway. 
Choose just one word.
One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.
It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.
Discover the big impact one word can make.
One word. 365 days. A changed life.

A couple of years ago I had several friends that decided to choose a word for the year. I joined in and chose the word "shine" the first year, and "light" the second.  My big idea was to create a journal with the many ways that my word of the year showed up in my life that year.....but with a busy hectic schedule I did not get very far on the journal.  HOWEVER, I did experience my word directing my decisions and showing up in my thoughts frequently!

This year I have chosen the word Blessing.  More than anything I want to be a blessing to others this year.  I want to be even more appreciative of the many blessings given to me each and every day.

 

 

 

http://oneword365.com/

New Years Eve Party menu

Been searching pinterest for my new years eve party menu contributions!  Here is what I came up with:



Cowboy Sushi = I love all things pickley so i am sure this will be a hit!
http://goodwifeinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2008/09/cowboy-sushi.html

Feta Dip= made this for last years new years eve party and it was fantabulous!
http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2010/11/recipe-that-will-make-your-life-easier.html

Strawberry Punchbowl Cake= Made this Memorial day weekend and my uncle has been begging for it again ever since!  He will be very happy!
http://www.southernplate.com/2008/09/strawberry-punch-bowl-cake.html

I hope that you have a wonderful and safe evening ringing in the new year! 

Happy New Year!