My Sister

Do you know her? If not, you should. Let me tell you about her. This sweet girl is Teri Lynne Underwood. I hunted everywhere, and I think this is the only picture of just the two of us. Ever. I've known her for 14 years. Been married to her brother for the same number of years. Oh, wait. I bet I just confused you. We are not blood related. Teri Lynne is my husband's sister. But the two of us waited a very long time to have someone we call sister. And at first, we didn't think we would the ones. We had a rocky beginning. Maybe we were jockeying for position, or just trying to figure out who we were together. But I am so thankful we kept trying. Over the years, we talked, emailed, phoned, and even just kept our distance. But now, we just seem lost if we don't touch base with each other every week.

Teri Lynne is ALWAYS getting me into some new scheme or another. Once it was a spring cleaning gig, another time it was planning a surprise for her parents. Then there is this whole blog business. And I'm pretty sure it's because of TL that I started and am now addicted Facebook. Well, last night, she surprised me with a whole new look to my blog. And she let me know through Twitter. I swear, I'm NOT getting sucked in to Tumbler! (And if you have no idea what I am talking about, be very glad. It's another social network. I think.) Anyway, I couldn't be happier. I LOVE it. My oldest told me that all I needed was a picture of our family on the blog, and it would be my whole life wrapped up in a nutshell. The blog is even in my favorite color! I shed many tears last night over my blog. And a sister who loves me enough to surprise me with a gift.

So please, if you have a chance, go check her out at her blog. It is a place she pours her heart into, a place of ministry, and a place many could call home. It's called Pleasing to You, and you won't be disappointed. And Teri Lynne, thank you just doesn't seem adequate, but it's all I have. I am truly blessed and thankful to call you my sister.

Beth

Stalking then copying....Works for Me Wednesday

So I have been a huge fan of Bake at 350. Bridget can do things with cookies and icing I've never seen done. And don't get me started on her homemade hostess cupcakes. I unfortunately never really liked sugar cookies. That is until I ate my mother-in-laws. Then I could eat my weight in them. So when I started stalking Bridget's blog, I was really leery about actually making any of them. Well, that and the fact that I didn't think there was any way I could produce a cookie that would even resemble something she did. I mean go ahead, check this one out. Or maybe this one. I'll wait. Waiting. See, I told you she was good.

Well, I finally decided to try out her recipe and copied straight from her. Here's a link to her pumpkin cookies, and here is a picture of mine. Not nearly Bake at 350 worthy, but not bad for me. And I added leaves. Because I just don't know to leave well enough alone.

Now, I know the picture isn't perfect, but these were pretty cute. I made them for our teachers and staff at our school. I had some orange leaves as well, but they just looked odd to me. So shucks, I had to eat them. I mean, I let the kids have them as a snack one day. And as picky of a sugar cookie connoisseur that I am, these were REALLY good. In fact, I could eat these or a Sue Buster sugar cookie any day of the week, and would be perfectly content.

I really liked the white pumpkins. They were gorgeous.

And these were pretty cute as well.

And I now have three orders for cookies over the next four weeks. See what happens when you stalk someones blog, and resort to copying them? Just don't tell my kids it worked out so well!