Have you seen my Bible cover?

Dear Friends,

I really need your help. Last night I was at the Calvin College Library studying the assignment from Lois DeJonge VanAllsburg's interfaith Bible Study and a terrible thing happened. I took my Bible out of it's cover (a beautiful Thomas Kincade model given to me by my "secret sister" -- see the photo.) Apparently I got so distracted that I forgot to put my Bible back inside. Before I left, without thinking, I put my Bible directly into my tote bag from the 1998 Scrapper's Delight convention. And I left my damn Bible cover at the Calvin Library. Pardon my language, but I am really upset.

I am pretty sure that just about everyone who reads this blog either goes to Calvin, works at Calvin or has a family member who attends Calvin. Please, please, PLEASE put the word out about my Bible cover. I am concerned that it may have already been stolen by a Calvin student. I hear the ones who stick around in the summer are a lot of trouble. And Tom told me that we just don't have the funds to replace it right now, so unless it turns up I will have to carry my Bible with no cover. And I don't like a naked Bible.

Thank you in advance for your help. Lord willing it will be found soon.

Blessings,
Bonnie

Recipe alert!

Good afternoon, friends!

I was at church today for a ladies luncheon and had the most scrumptious jello salad! It's been around for quite some time ... a classic recipe, really, but I thought I would pass it along to you today. I used to make this for Tom back in our newlywed days ... oh, precious memories!

Lime Jello Salad

I hope that you all enjoy this oldie but goodie ... I think I may make it for dinner tomorrow. The kids have a youth group trip to Cedar Point and will be gone overnight ... I'll say no more!

Blessings,
Bonnie

My new fashion "secret"

Greetings, friends!

I mentioned yesterday that I had found a new place to shop for clothes. I found this unexpected treasure of a fashion store on my way home from Minnesota this week. Take a look to the right to see the darling piece I added to my wardrobe! When I saw it hanging there, complete with cute little flip flops all over it, it was screaming Bonnie! I had to have it. There were a number of other items there that I would love to have taken home with me, but I had to stick to my budget (Thanks, Larry Burkett.)

So, you are probably wondering where you can find something THIS cute for yourself. Well, you'll be surprised to hear that I bought it at CRACKER BARREL!!! It's true! And here all this time I thought they were just a place to go for good southern cooking and unique gifts.! Lo and behold, I have found my new favorite clothing store. Praise the Lord, there is one right here in Grandville!

Blessings,
Bonnie

Back in Grandville!

Praise the Lord, I have returned!

My trip to Minnesota was truly a blessing. The time with my girlfriends from Bible College was just wonderful. We shopped out little tootsies right off too, let me tell you. I was able to find some wonderful bargains on school clothes for the kids as well as some nice sport shirts for Tom. As for me, well, I had my eye on a lovely dress from Chico's, but just couldn't bring myself to spend the $60 they wanted for it (it was even on SALE!) I was glad I held out, though, because I uncovered a wonderful secret shopping destination on my drive home! I'll blog about that later.

We toured the Creative Memories Headquarters with Nancy on Wednesday and all I can say is, I'm speechless. I have never in my life seen so many scrapbooking materials in one place at the same time! Not even at my pastor's wife's all-night crop! They have a whole room filled with damaged items and so I stocked up on scrapbooking stickers. I was running low on those little bubbles with the funny sayings that you put on pages to make it look like the people in the pictures are talking, you know? I just love those! I have the funniest picture of Tom with a surprised look on his face and I put one of those little bubbles coming out of his mouth saying, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" (It's from that TV show, Different Strokes - the one with the cute little African American fella.) I just laugh so hard every time I look at it!

Anyways, last night we wrapped up our time together with a lovely dinner at Sbarro's. I have always wanted to go there! We looked so cute too ... all in our denim jumpers and each of us wearing a different color shirt underneath. We used to do that in college. Unfortunately I spilled some tomato sauce on mine and I'm not sure that the stain will come out, so please let me know if you have any ideas. I'm really quite disappointed. It's a new jumper with the most darling little beach umbrellas trimming the hemn and I was so looking forward to wearing it this summer.

Well gals (and you fellas who might be reading this too), I really need to go and do some laundry and prepare dinner. I think we'll go simple tonight ... ham buns, fritos and Red Pop it is. Mom's pooped!

Blessings,
Bonnie

Off to Minnesota!

Good morning, friends!

I am writing to let you know that I will not be blogging for a few days. I am taking a trip to the Mall of America in Minnesota. I go there every summer with some gals I befriended at Bible College. We will also be going to the Creative Memories Corporate Headquarters for an exclusive tour! (One of the gals has a sister who is really high up in the company.)

Hopefully I will come back with some great cropping ideas!

Blessings,
Bonnie

Dutch Sangria, anyone?

Oh gals -

The Tater Tot Casserole was once again a big hit! Tom, the kids & I had a wonderful evening of fellowshipping together as a family last night. We finished off the whole 2 liter of Root Beer! Oh dear! Sadly, our VCR ate our tape of "Turner and Hooch", but we watched "Free Willy" instead, which is just about as good.

But here's a thought for tonight: Later this afternoon the kids will be going with their youth group to do some ministry to the people of Burnips. Then they'll be staying over night at one of the leader's homes and going to church together in the morning. Tom's ball team is playing tonight and having a men's fellowship afterwards. And you know, youth group + men's fellowship = 1 HAPPY BONNIE with a night to herself! So I'm planning to make a pot of Dutch Sangria. It's the greatest thing ever. See, Tom took me to a fancy Spanish restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids once and this lovely young fella who waited on us suggested that we try some Sangria. Well, let me tell you. It was wonderful! But it wasn't until I went to make it at home later that I realized how expensive it is! So I came up with my own recipe: Mix a can of Juicy Juice, a bottle of Boone's farm and a can of fruit cocktail. Serve over ice and voyla! You've got yourself quite a treat! (Now I know why those Spanish gals seem to be so happy all of the time.)

Care to join me, ladies? I'd love to see you. And Tom would really rather not leave me at home all alone with a whole pot of my "magic juice." That's what he likes to call it.

ok! Off to Meijer!

Blessings,
Bonnie

ps - Marcia, do you have another date with Horace tonight? I'll pray for the Lord to guide and direct you in this relationship. But I really think you need to spend some time with the gals. Hope to see you soon!

A fun Friday night idea

My family LOVES Tater Tot Casserole. I could make it for them every Friday night from here 'til kingdom come and they would rise up and call me blessed.

Try it for yourself! The Tuinstra's are going to have a Friday night Tater Tot Casserole and Root Beer feast while watching "Turner and Hooch" ... a darling film!

Blessings,
Bonnie

I'm new to this blogging

Well, folks, I don't know about this whole blogging thing. My kids have blogs, and they have been telling me, "Mom, you really should have a blog. You could put your casserole recipes on there and talk about your life." And so I says to myself I says, "Bonnie, what's stopping you?"

I used to write a newsletter for the gals at my church. I shared recipes and tips for making a happy home. A lot of the gals were really blessed by it. Some of them even asked me to xerox extra copies for them so that they could mail it to their friends and family members. It was all fine until I wrote a recipe for Dutch Sangria. Seems that the pastor's wife is a recovering alcoholic. I don't really see what the big deal is ... a little Juicy Juice and a little Boone's Farm never hurt anyone. Oh hell. So anyways, I thought this might be a good place to carry on with my musings and maybe include a recipe or 2 that wouldn't meet the approval of the elder board.

So stay tuned ... I got a lot to say about life and I think you might just want to hear it.

Blessings,
Bonnie