Fifi's White Pizza

We have a favorite at our house. As of late it has become a Friday night tradition. It is one of my most requested recipes.  The recipe varies from time to time but for the most part the basics are the same.

• Chicken, 2-3 breasts (I use chicken, free of antibiotics and hormones. On occasion, if I am in a hurry, I will use a rotisserie chicken. 
• Alfredo Sauce. (Any brand will do  but I use Paul Newman or Bertolli)
• Pillsbury Pizza Crust
• 1/2 Medium Red Onion
• 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese
• Italian Seasoning or substitute seasoning of your choice
• Parsley, fresh or dried
• Variations/Additions: Mushrooms, Peppers, Broccoli, etc.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Boil chicken until done and shred.

Spray pizza pan or cookie sheet with Pam and spread out pizza dough.

Use a pastry brush and spread a small amount of Olive Oil on pizza dough and place in preheated oven until it begins to brown. Then remove from oven. (About 5-7 mins.)

Spoon Alfredo sauce on top of pizza crust. I use approximately 3/4 a jar.

Spread chicken on top of sauce.

Spread onions on top of chicken.

Sprinkle seasoning on top of onions

Spread cheese on top and bake for 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees or until cheese is bubbly and crust is browned.

Serve with a nice crisp salad and a glass of southern sweet tea.

Until we meet again, Fifi

Deuteronomy 31:8  “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Let Me Be Singing

Hello sweet friends.

One of my favorite songs is "Ten Thousand Reasons" by Matt Redman and my favorite phrase in the entire song is “Whatever may pass or whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.”  When we wake up in the morning we have no idea what we may be asked to face in the day ahead of us.  We do know that we can face whatever lies before us because of our faith in Jesus. 

Source

This past week our family had one of those moments. I didn’t know when I wrote last week’s post that I was writing that post for us.  I usually write to encourage you. Last Thursday night was an exception.  When we woke up Friday morning, we had no idea what we would be asked to face by Friday afternoon and on into Sunday. My precious father in law, Pa Bennie, as he is affectionately called, has been having a health problem for several months, seemingly without any solution. A couple of weeks ago the doctors finally decided to start running tests to determine the reason behind the symptoms. On Friday the results of those tests came back with a diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. Surgery was scheduled for Monday and we all jumped on the emotional roller coaster ride of our lives.  You get a plan. Reschedule this. Drop this. Cancel that. Life stops all around you and your main focus is on this one thing.  Stopping “it” in its tracks.  You become consumed with it. You feel pummeled by it. Your every waking moment is used up. Processing and praying. You just don’t want it to be true.  Then a call comes on Sunday afternoon from the doctor. The preliminary pathology report is in. It isn’t quite as first reported and can be treated without surgery but with treatments instead. Praise the Lord for answered prayer!   And now we wait for the final pathology report and the next step.

Trials in life happen. They happen to all of us. They can make us stronger in our faith or they can weaken us. We  have His song in our hearts. We can sing!  Lord, let me be singing when the evening comes. Help my faith be this strong!  Help my faith be stronger than my worry!!! I have said this many times over the last few weeks. This is my new motto when things start getting tough. “Help my faith be stronger than my worry.” Is your faith stronger than your worry?

I Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.

With love from  my heart,  Fifi

Favorite Pins of the Week

I love a plaid shirt. Blame it on my country roots. This one with the pullover sweater is so cute. 

I just bough a new one this weekend and I think I will try this look,

 

Source-Pinterest

Bedding can make or break a bedroom. This bedding is just gorgeous. James would think there were too many pillows but I love it.

Source-Pinterest

You can always find great quotes on Pinterest. I think this is my favorite one

for this week. I think we can all use this one. Right?

Source-Pinterest

Until we meet again, Fifi

Long, Winding, Curvy Paths

You know those roads or paths that you can’t see around the next curve or bend? The ones that are unfamiliar to you. The ones that you’ve never been on before.  James and I love to go on road trips to the mountains but sometimes those beautiful, curvy mountain roads scare me.  You can’t see what’s on the other side. Will we be meeting another vehicle on the wrong side of the road?  Will there be a cow, wild turkey or deer in the road? Will there be a tractor puttering along at a snail’s pace?  I remember one time we were on one of those mountain roads on the motorcycle and we went around the curve and there was a beautiful clearing. An open field of wildflowers.  It was like a breath of fresh air.  I didn’t realize that I had been holding my breath, until I saw the flowers. What beauty had been waiting around the bend.  This summer we took a hike and picnic in the mountains. After a few minutes of hiking through the woods we came out on the other side and saw these beautiful mountains.  Sometimes we have to cross rugged terrain to get to the smooth beaten path. You can always tell that others have been there before you because the path is well worn. Beaten down.

Life is like that.  A curvy mountain road or path.  Situations are out of our control and we are winding around unfamiliar territory. Bills, cancer, separation, divorce, loss of jobs, etc.  We just have to put our faith and trust in God. We have to trust that right around the corner is something better. It might not be today, but it will get better. He promised that it would. 

Until we meet again,  Fifi

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Eradication Hot Pink

It just had to be done. I couldn't handle it anymore. I'm sure the neighbors are thankful too.  This adorable  little playhouse was built by Pa Bennie for Kristen several years ago.  When she was about 16 years old, she and a friend decided they needed a "real" hangout  place and decided to "upgrade" the playhouse by spray painting the trim hot pink. Yes!  Hot pink spray paint. It was terrible. They didn't tape off the windows or anything else, just started spraying. 

It had to go. We started scraping, washing, puttying, and then the fun part of painting.  

My beautiful niece, Mariah, helped  with the painting

Yes,  it was a very hot day and the task was daunting. There was pink everywhere.

(Thanks Kristen!)

I'm sure the neighbors are happier. I know for sure that we are. Lola seems happier too!

 Next spring I think I will put up hanging baskets or flower boxes.

We also cleaned out the inside.  Sometime back we began to use the playhouse as a storage building.  We piled and piled things on top of stuff until I was afraid to open to door. The inside was in definite need of purging.

Before  

  After

It’s always hard to start a project but the rewards are always great! I love the new color and the organized storage is amazing too!  

The best part though, was spending time with my  precious niece.

What kind of projects did you accomplish this summer?

Until we meet again Fifi

Soul thought:  "Prayer is more about enjoying the presence of the King than getting 

something from Him."  Dr. Archie Norman

Sharing at:  All Things Heart and Home

Savvy Southern Style

Camping Fifi Style

I am not a camper! I do not like camping!

I do not like damp pillows, sheets and blankets. I do not like leaky tents.

I do not like lightning and thunderstorms when I’m sleeping in a tent under trees, or anywhere for that matter. I do not like spiders, bugs, snakes, toads or anything that resembles the aforementioned critters.I do not like feeling “sticky.”  I do not like to walk a ½ mile (slight exaggeration) to the “facilities”  in the dark by myself with only a flashlight at 2:30 in the morning. Nope! Not at all.  I do not like seeing my own shadow at 2:30 in the morning on the way back from said facilities. (insert scream)

However, I have made a few adjustments over the years because James does loves camping and all of the above. (I think he does anyway. Well, except for lightning.)  I have learned to put my bedding, (yes bedding) pretty shabby chic sheets with ruffles, quilts (several in fact) pillow and my sleeping bag in a Rubbermaid tub first thing in the morning. This is very important. I take them out when getting ready for bed at night. They are so nice and dry. I make up my bed on the cot provided by the best camping husband in the world, turn down  my sheet over  my quilt made by grandma, (some of the quilts are used as padding) and sleep as peacefully as possible. Then repeat next morning. After I make up my bed, I put the lid on the Rubbermaid tub and use it as a night table for my clock, phone, water bottle, flashlight and any other necessities that I might need in the middle of the night. I take an oscillating fan with me. This drowns out noise and provides a nice breeze. (In cooler weather, I take a space heater. J  So, toasty.)   If electricity is not an option there are battery operated versions available.  In some circles this is called "glamping."  An LED flashlight is imperative. Regular flashlights are just inferior. You cannot see the skunks, raccoons and other vermin in nearly enough time with an inferior flashlight at 2:30 in the morning when taking said trek to the facilities.  We have a very large tent.  I sleep on one side. He sleeps on the other.  It just works better that way. Trust me! (Remember, I am NOT a camper.)

Now, there are things that I do love about camping.  Yes, I said it.  I LOVE some things about camping and I will list them. 

I love the quiet and just being outside. I love the beauty of God’s creation. I know. It makes no sense. I love being outside, just not sleeping outside. Don’t even try to figure me out. You will surely get confused.  I love spending time with about 30 of the best in-laws a girl could ever have. Yes, in-laws. We go camping with James’ family. His mom’s brothers and sister (well Aunt Mary sort of goes. She’s a day-camper J ) All of the cousins and their children and  friends of many, many years.  I can't leave out the smell of the rain. I love rain, just not the hitting me in the face in the middle of the night inside of my tent kind of rain.  I love, love, love the food. We cook like there is no tomorrow. Full breakfasts, a sandwich lunch and all out food fest for supper. I’m talking envy of the campground.  James and Uncle Earl start cooking BBQ on Saturday morning about 6am and cook all day. This is serious business folks. They are not playing around. And just let me tell you, there is no better smell than bacon on the campground. In addition to bacon, we also had eggs, pancakes, sausage, grits, BBQ, pork chops, potato salad, slaw, baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, ribs as an appetizer, (you can't make this stuff up people), hamburgers, hot dogs, homemade beanie weanies. Did I mention dessert? Homemade ice cream, banana pudding, pound cake, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispie treats, brownies, crock pot lava cake,  (Family, if I left something out, please don't be upset. I'm sorry) You will notice a didn't mention one green item. Nope not one green item. No salad, no green beans, no broccoli. NADA. Let a man plan the menu and you get pork, pork, and some more pork, and they throw in a little starch as a side.

The sound of boats on the lake. 

A walk through the woods, down to the lake with my best friend.

Sitting by the campfire listening to the different conversations going on.

Singing "Amazing Grace" with your husband’s four year old cousin.  Seriously, look at those eyes.

Sitting quietly, reading a book.  Having conversations about salvation with a new member of the family, who just happens to be a pretty neat kid.

Listening to the crickets. They never get tired, do they?

But the #1 thing I love about camping is this…when it’s all over, I get to shower in my bathroom and sleep in my bed and trek across my bedroom floor to use the “facilities” at 2:30 in the morning without an LED flashlight because of the threat of vermin creeping down the path.  Ahhh.....home sweet home.

Ephesians 5:20  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

*Food and  family campfire photo credits go to Cary Hendrix Johnson

Until we meet again,  Fifi

What If...

What if.....

What if we prayed...

What if we really prayed....

What if we really prayed and put into action what we've been taught? What if we put our tennis shoes on and walked our neighborhoods and stopped in front of each home and prayed for the people in each house?  What if  we prayed for God to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and financial needs of our neighbors?  What if we prayed for God to speak to our neighbors about their need of Him?  What if we prayed for our churches to be a light in our community?  What if we prayed that God would use us in our communities to be a witness for Him?  What if we were bold for Jesus Christ? What would happen? 

What if?

There are a group of us that do this each Thursday night.  We walk and pray for people that we've never met, seen or know anything about. It's a beginning. It's something. It's something more than just sitting on a pew. And occasionally we meet someone. Someone who is thankful for the prayers. Someone that needed a blessing that day. Someone that needed to know that they were being prayed for.

What if....

What if prayers...

What if prayers were answered?

What if lives were changed?

What if our churches and communities were changed?

Just something to think about...

Until we meet again, Fifi