This was pretty tasty...it isn't too sweet ( so you could really pig out if you want)! Nothing tastes so good as peanut butter and chocolate. It reminded me of a granola bar.

PEANUT BUTTER BARS

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup quick oats
1 bag chocolate chips (2 cups)

Grease a 13X 9 pan. Combine butter, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Add in brown sugar, flour, salt and baking soda. Mix in oats. Spread and press down in pan. Bake at 375* for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and pour chocolate chips over the top. Put back in oven for just a minute to soften the chips. Spread the chocolate with spatula. Cool completely before cutting.

My dad...Ward Clemmons

This was taken in Long Beach, California.

Last week was the 18th anniversary of my fathers death. I can't believe it has been that long.

I was pregnant with Kellory when he died from colon cancer. He was 51 years old. He got very sick December of 1991 and was taken to the hospital for internal pain. He was then diagnosed wtih colon cancer, that was so advanced, they gave him 6 months to live. He lived for 4 months after the diagnoses. He was a different man for the those 4 months, I remember him being very at peace with it all. He was so ready to go to heaven. He was a quiet sort of man, and I was so very young when it all happened. The only thing I regret is talking more with him during those last days. I look forward to seeing him again!

My dad was called into the ministry when I was just a baby. He was a pastor for 20 years to many small churches around the United States. I will post more on that later. I had a very interesting childhood!

My dad loved to sing and play his guitar(picture). I have good memories watching old movies or shows with him late at night and snacking on candy (his favorite thing to eat). I particularly remember watching the "Twilight Zone" with him and being scared silly! My dad taught me how to drive stick shift in my first car, a Volkswagon Bug. That was quite the adventure.

I miss my dad very much! I am so thankful for his example of faithfulness to the Lord. Looking back, he didn't have an easy life, but a sacrifical life given for the Lord.

GOODY GOODY GUM DROP!

Have you ever heard that phrase?? Isn't it funny? My mom was one that would say that...when excited about something! It just makes me laugh hearing it. Anyway, I think this is what I will call my once a week dessert post. So here is an easy brownie dessert to dress up a box brownie mix.

Rocky Road Brownies

1 brownie mix (13 X9)

1 c. mini marshmallows ( I used more to cover the entire top)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven 350*. Prepare brownies as directed for fudge-like brownies. Bake 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle marshmallows enenly over surface. Let cool.

In small saucepan, melt chocolate chips over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in condensed milk. Blend well. Stir in pecans. pour evenly over marshmallows. Let cool for several hours.

Sweet Tuesday!

Okay...this was yummy! but as you will see in the list of ingredients a little fattening. But hey,you only live once and a little indulgence won't hurt. Strawberries are getting cheaper and tastier...you won't be disappointed with this one. It is easy to make too!

Strawberry Cream Pie

Pastry:

1 c. flour

2 T. powdered sugar

1/2 c. butter, cut in pieces

pinch of salt

Filling:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1 c. heavy cream, whipped until it holds soft peaks

1 T. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350*. Mix all ingredients together and pat into a buttered 9 in. pie pan.

Prick crust in several places. Bake 12-15 minutes until light golden brown. cool.

whip together filling until thoroughly combined. Pour into cooled crust and chill 1 hour.

Topping:

1 qt. frsh stawberries, sliced

1/2 c. currant jelly, melted ( I found it at Yoke's)

Arrange berries on filling and carefully paint the berries with the jelly.

Chill 3 hours before serving.

THE INFLUENCE OF BOOKS

Books , books, and more books! I have the horrible habit of starting a book and then I find interest in another book and start it! I am in about 5 different books right now! My favorite books are practical learning books..."How to"... I want to know how to be a better woman for God, and I want to be able to help others. My learning is slow because I do not retain much from my reading. I have tried to right down things that mean much to me and that helps tremendously! Also telling others what I learn from a book can help me remember. I want to share a book that has been such a blessing to me. "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer. This is a book everyone should read. Each chapter focus's on an attribute of God. The first few chapters are just captivating...because he talks about why we should study God and the people who know their God. The difference of knowing about God and knowing of God is clearly stated in the book. Which is so challenging to me in my mind! He states some evidences of knowing God from the book of Daniel.
* Those who know God have great energy for God.
* Those who know God have great thoughts of God.
* Those who know God show great boldness for God.
* Those who know God have great contentment in God.
At the end of each chapter the author gives some wonderful questions to think about personally.
One last quote from the book... "We must learn to measure ourselves, not by our knowledge about God, not by our gifts and responsibilities in the church, but by how we pray and what goes on in our hearts."
What are you all reading lately?