Michael W. Smith - Surrounded (Fight My Battles)

Austin French - Freedom Hymn (Official Lyric Video)

Carrollton - Shelter (Lyric Video)

God's Angels of Protection
This morning I was reading my "Upper Room" and "Jesus Calling" devotionals.  The theme for today seem to be God is with us and will protect us.  Even though we don't see Him, He is here.  After reading the story from 2 Kings 6 about Elisha I was compelled to find our more about angels:

Judges 6:12  When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” 

2 Kings 6:16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 

17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 

Daniel 6:22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, your Majesty.

Matthew 4:6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angelsconcerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

Matthew 13:49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

Luke 4:10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angelswithout knowing it.

Revelation 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

This made me look back at what has happened lately in my life and know that God's angels were protecting me and my family.  
-Starting with Bill's diagnosis of melanoma...God provided the correct doctors and nurses to take care of him.  God even sent him an angel in a dream to reassure him that "You'll be alright."
-And then Julianne's wreak on Interstate 79.  One of the busiest highways around!  She was driving too fast for the weather conditions and paying attention to what was going on beside her and not in front of her.  She could have hit the other car much harder, and crashed into the guardrail with enough force to send her over the guardrail and down the embankment.  But thanks to God and His angels, she was protected.

Father God, I'm so glad that You are  constantly present in our lives and Your protection is just a prayer away.  Help me trust in You always and for everything.  Amen.

A friend asked me to paint a set of wine glasses with a cardinal in a birch tree for her.  She says cardinals remind her of her mother who passed away. 
That got me thinking about why a cardinal would be associated with the death of a loved one.  So I did a little research:
    The cardinal's color, red is symbolic of vitality, importance, faith and power.
    The cardinal's sound is a symbol of cheer, clarity and elevation.  It's call sounds like the           words,"cheer, cheer." 
    Cardinal health means strength, readiness, and vitality.  They are known to be feisty and protective.
    Cardinal's  parenting skills are nurturing, and caring.  The male shares the duties of the family.
I hope she enjoys these glasses as she sets her table for the holiday and remembers her mother and all the good times they had together.

German Chocolate Cheesecake

This rich and creamy german chocolate cheesecake will bring any chocolate lover to their knees. I’ll show you how to make this decadent dessert with lots of step-by-step photos.

yield: 12-16 SERVINGS

Ingredients:

For crust:

• 8 full sheets (140gr) graham crackers
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup (75gr) unsalted butter, melted

For cheesecake filling:

• 8oz (225gr) bittersweet chocolate
• 24oz (700gr) cream cheese, softened
• 14oz (400gr) sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup (130gr) plain Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

For coconut-pecan topping:

• ½ cup (65gr) chopped pecans
• ¼ cup (30gr) sweetened coconut flakes
• 1 large egg yolk
• ¼ cup (50gr) brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon (30gr) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

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1. To make the crust, in a food processor, pulse the graham crackers until fine crumbs. Add sugar, cocoa powder and melted butter and pulse until combined. Press the mixture evenly onto the bottom and slightly up the sides of an ungreased 9-inch spring form pan. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
3. To make the filling, break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a medium heatproof bowl. Slowly melt the chocolate over simmering water, aka double boiler. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. If desired, reserve a small amount (about 3 tablespoons) of melted chocolate for drizzling.
4. In a large mixing bowl with paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until fluffy on medium speed, about a minute. (Or you can also use electric hand mixer.) Add condensed milk and Greek yogurt, and continue to beat for about 2 minutes, or until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl once. Stir in melted chocolate, vanilla extract and salt. Beat in the eggs one at a time and mix just until combined on low speed. (Don’t beat the mixture too long and too fast after you add the eggs. Otherwise too much air will incorporate to the batter, which might cause a crack in the cooked cheesecake.) Pour the batter into the prepared crust.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the edges of the cheesecake is set, but the center is slightly wobbly. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of the pan to loosen; cool for another hour. Then refrigerate for at least an hour to cool completely.
6. To make the frosting, place the pecans and coconut flakes in a medium bowl and set aside.
7. In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolk, brown sugar and salt until combined. Stir in butter. Then whisk in heavy cream and vanilla extract and cook over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes, whisking occasionally. The mixture will be thickened, but still runny. Pour it over the pecans and coconut flakes and mix until well combined. The mixture will be slightly runny. Cool to room temperature, then place it in a fridge to cool completely, until ready to use. At this point, the frosting will be thick and spreadable. Spread the frosting evenly on the cooled cheesecake. If reserved, re-melt the reserved chocolate and drizzle over the cheesecake. Store in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days.

I am making one of these right now...as we speak!  The apple pie and pumpkin pie are in the oven and my kitchen smells wonderful.
On March 14, 2018, Pie Day, the YMCA of Laurel Highlands will be holding a pie sale. We are selling slices of pie and cups of coffee for a donation.  All money raised will go to a veteran's organization, "Never Forgotten" which helps veterans transition back into the workforce.


Stay tuned for more pictures and maybe information about ordering, if this one turns out!

The PieCaken Story

photo: Dillon Burke

What started as an idea for a Thanksgiving dessert special in the pastry workshop of Executive Pastry Chef Zac Young immediately went viral and inspired the creation of a retail operation.

As seen on Live with Kelly and Michael, CNN, and in the New York Times, our legendary PieCakens have taken the country by storm this holiday season.

FAQ-

Do you ship?  Yes. We have nationwide shipping via FoodyDirect for a limited time only. You can also pick-up in store at David Burke at Bloomingdale's.
How do I order?  Orders are accepted online 24hrs in advance for pick-up at David Burke at Bloomingdale's and nationwide shipping through FoodyDirect.
How do I store it?  Tightly wrap and refrigerate.
Can I freeze it?  Yes
How do I serve it?  Original PieCaken: Remove from refrigerator 2 hours prior to serving to allow buttercream to soften. Cut with a sharp knife that has been dipped in hot water.
I’m traveling 4 hours to grandmother’s house, will my PieCaken be ok? Yes it will be fine. Make sure you both wear a seatbelt and tell grandma hi!
Is it gluten free?  No
Can I have it nut free?  Unfortunately not.
How big is it?  8 inch round. It will serve 12 to 16 people.
How does it come?  It comes boxed, with serving instructions.


I did it!
Apple pie on the bottom, pumpkin pie in the middle and carrot cake on top.  All covered in cream cheese frosting.  I wish I could have a slice but I gave up sweets for Lent.

So now my mind is buzzing...cherry pie, chocolate pie and red velvet cake?

Or maybe lemon pie, blueberry pie and lemon cake?

I could even throw a cheesecake in there too.  Oh my my!

Hi, it's Joyce from the Y.

Broken Resolutions
As you know January 1st is full of resolutions to be a better person, get healthy, loose weight, go to the gym, etc...  Here at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands many people put their resolutions into action by joining the Y,  signing up for our Weight Loss Challenge, and even hiring a Personal Trainer.

Personally, I have talked with over 100 new members since the beginning of the year.  Some were interested in the many classes we offer and some wanted to work out in the Fitness Center.  I explained the different levels of our classes and I started them out at in a class I felt would be safe and comfortable for them.  But I encouraged them to try a variety classes so they could find the right fit.  I love to watch them come into class wearing a new workout outfit.  They show me their new sneakers .  And some even get a new hairdo to look younger!

Now for the ones who wanted to workout in the Fitness Center, I would set up a time to meet with them one on one.  I take these newbies through a safe regimen, documenting all they need to do, for how long, at what seat setting and weight.  Some were quick to catch on and some needed extra time to learn all this.  I patiently scheduled additional appointments as needed. 

Many of these members were intimidated by the strange looking machines on the the big room with the mirrors on the wall.  I was like going to a foreign country.  They had to learn a new language like, "do 2 sets of 12 reps" or "stay in your aerobic zone for 10 minutes,"  and of course "clean the machine when your done."

Don't get me wrong, I love to spend extra time with my AOAs, Active Older Adults.  Here is what makes me sad:  It's now March and where are these people?  What happened to the excitement they felt when they were moving their bodies in ways they didn't think they could anymore?  Are their new sneakers sitting in their closets waiting to be worn again?  I miss their smiling faces and success stories.  They told me about their grandkids, vacations, and surgeries.  I told them about my daughters, dogs, and high school sweetheart husband.

So, if you are on of those people who joined in January and have stopped coming to the YMCA, please reconsider.  Your heart, lungs, knees, and brain will thank you for it.

We May Never Pass This Way (Again) by Seals and Crofts

I remember singing this song in Chorus in High School.  At that time I just thought it was a cool song but now that I am older (and wiser) I realize the truth in it.  We have one life and we need to appreciate all that we have.  Especially the love we are given.  I like the line "I'm the journey and You're the journeys end ."
Thank You Lord for the love You have given me.  Amen