Wedding time

It was a fantastic day.  Andrea, Tricia (Ashley's Nina/Godmother) and I went with the Bride-to-be to try on wedding dresses.  Wow Ashley looks beautiful in all the styles because she is tall and thin.  Everyone was telling us she will makes a beautiful bride.
It's so hard to believe that 24 years have passed and our baby girl is getting married.
We have been so blessed with both our girls marrying wonderful guys.
All I have to say is Tyler get your handkerchief ready because she is going to bring tears to your eyes when you see her on your wedding day :)

We still are going to go shop some more because of so many dresses still to try on.
 Have a blessed week everyone.
Hugs

Yummy new dish

I made this new recipe last night and it was a big hit!  If you're tired of your basic chicken recipes and you love Artichokes you'll love this recipe. 

Happy cooking~

Chicken and Artichoke Casserole

Make 6 servings

1/2  c butter

3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp equals one clove

2 shallots, minced

1/2  c dry white wine

1 c heavy whipping cream

1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

1 5 oz package grated parmesan cheese

2 c chopped cooked chicken

1 14 oz can quartered artichokes, drained and chopped

1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

2 c 1/2 inch cubes french bread

3 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350, lightly grease 2 1/2 quart casserole dish or 6 individual baking dishes.

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium hgh heat.  Add garlic and shallots cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in wine:cook 3 minutes.  Stir in cream ad Parmesan cheese, stirring until combined.  Stir in chicken, artichokes, spinach, salt and pepper.  Remove from heat.  Spoon into prepared baking dish.  

In a small bowl, combine french bread cubes and melted butter, tossing to coast.  Sprinkle evenly over casserole.  Bake 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Amazing week

Well it's been a week since I last was on FB.  I didn't miss it at all.  I got so much accomplished with so much JOY that filled my life.  First I want to say I did miss a lot of birthdays so forgive me and I hope you enjoyed your special day. Next I send my deepest sympathy's to my friends Jill & Susie for the loss of their fathers.  I know how that feels and you are both in my prayers.

Ashley and I had a fun day in the rain last Saturday looking for bridesmaid dresses for her wedding.  While Tyler was away snowmobiling with family we took the time together to get some thing checked off our list. Tyler had a great time enjoying the snow.

Andrea took a slip during all that rain we had last weekend and she is in a boot.  Thank goodness she just had to make a call to daddy and before she knew it she was in a red boot! No xrays for her right now but she feels better just having her foot in a boot!

Chris is staying very busy at work and getting the house done before the big day arrives.

I'm happy and enjoying the time with my friends and family.  I made a photo scrapbook about our SF trip.  Great times and great memories.
Jamie and the pond are still in the landscaping stage.  We will post a video of the finished project soon!  He is staying busy at work saving soles!

I hope everyone is doing good and drops us a note and let us know what's new with you :)
Hugs to all~

Are you leaving room for cream?

I loved my daily devotion for today that I had to share it below.  IT goes with the whole things about cutting back on Texting, FB, etc.  I decided to blog because if you follow my blog you are truly interested in the lives of the
Coffey Grounds.
FB is nothing but gossip and much time that was spent away from loved ones for me!
So with that said... I hope you understand if you don't see much of me or maybe not even at all on FB.  I love the old fashion way of seeing you in person or talking on the phone.
Nothing happened something just made me realize how we take life for granted with the simple things of life.
So far this week I've had more time with God, friends and hope to see some family members soon.  I have a lot of planning this year as many of you know Baby & Wedding.  I've started walking (and even took the dogs with me) that was an experience!

So enjoy your day and take time to see the signs all around you.
Even stop to smell the roses!
Love you all.

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 
John 10:10 (NIV)

"Shall I leave room for cream?" the smiling barista asks me as I place my coffee order.

I smile back at her and nod, anticipating receiving my cup full of dark liquid so I can carry it over to the doctoring station and customize it with a generous splash of cream and two sweeteners.

As I wait in line to create my comfort in a cup, I ponder the barista's question. I think about the idea of leaving room for cream—not just in my cup, but in my life. I always leave room for cream in my coffee, but I can't honestly say I always leave room for cream in my life.

Cream sweetens and lightens and richens. How do I leave room in my life for the things that sweeten and lighten and richen? As I pour and stir, my thoughts drift to the last week. I've done the have-to's: laundry, carpool, dishes, exercise. But it's harder to think of those little extras that fill my cup to the brim... sweet, light, rich extras.

Sweet: Time with friends just laughing and enjoying each other. Turning on a favorite song and dancing in the kitchen. Listening to my children when they talk. Taking the extra time to hear their hearts. Putting fun things I look forward to on the calendar. Turning the pages of a novel just for the joy of experiencing a great story. Pushing pause on my life so I can rest and recharge.

Light: Time in God's Word, which the Bible says is a light for our path in life. Journaling what He's telling me and what I'm learning about life. Time to pour my worries and anxieties out to Him, then leave them at His feet. Time to press into Him so I can hear His voice above all the others in this loud, busy world. Stepping out of the rat race and worshiping Him with abandon lightens my load.

Rich: Giving of myself through my time and talent. Tithing regularly to my church. Finding people who need a meal, a donation, a word of encouragement and then making the effort to actually give it to them and not just think it's a good idea. Surrendering myself to God's will instead of holding fast to my own.

All of these are things that bring me great joy, that help me reach that place of abundance I believe Jesus wanted us to live in now. Abundance, I am finding, does not come from merely wanting it. It comes from intentionally reaching for it—a result that requires action. It requires leaving room in my life for these things—not packing my life so full of have-to's that the cup is already full.

When that happens, I can try to add the cream but it will only spill over, wasted. It starts when I leave room from the beginning or take a moment to pour out what is already too full. With a little thought and a little effort I can learn to hear Jesus ask me, "Did you leave room for cream?"

And I can smile back at Him and say, "You better believe I did!"

3 sets of sisters by the bay

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We are three sets of sisters out on our first adventure. We decided to go to the bay area where our parents vacationed as a family every year to visit family. 
So after Mother passed away in November we moved our trip to February. 
We ate, shopped, ate, walked, ate and did some sightseeing for the entire 4 days.
Thank you for praying for our safety and encouraging us to go. Our Mom and Dad started this tradition many years ago and we will carry on their legacy.

God Bless~

San Fran sister trip

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Coffey Grounds

Hey everyone,
I hope you are staying warm and enjoying this weather we are having.  Sorry peeps that live in the cold.  I hear the blizzard is not fun!

Here is the latest at the Coffey Grounds.
We are three sets of sisters going to San Francisco for a long weekend.
I'll post stories and pictures later.

February will be a fun month.  We get to find out what the sex is for our first grand baby this month.  Andrea is showing and it's so exciting to see and hear her and Chris talk about the baby :)

Ashley and Tyler have picked the venue where they will be married at.  It's a beautiful castle and just the perfect place for a princess to marry her prince charming.

Jamie is 80 % done with the pond in the back yard.  It's so peaceful to hear the water fall.  Now the planting begins all around the yard.  The KOI love there new home.  I'll make a video when it's done.

I'm keepig busy trying to fill the void of not having Mom around.   We were so blessed to have awesome parents and it makes it a bitter sweet time in my life.  I miss them both so much but I am also so thankful they are together.  All because of them falling in love is why we are all here.

So as you can see life at the coffey grounds is busy,  Enjoy the month of February.  To my friends Jackie Baker & Brandy Baker (not related) and to our God-daughter Alicia Happy Birthday.

Hugs to all