Watch to the very last - that smile of relief is priceless to me.  This, my little girl, who does NOT like to be on stage or perform for others has achieved one of her biggest personal goals.  Mom and Dad are proud.

Weird words - but I was looking up something to describe how I feel about finding a new church home. I’ve discovered that Googling various words and looking at websites do not provide me the information I need. When we moved to Illinois, we were vagabond churchgoers for a while - moving from one to the next in search of the “perfect” fit. We did not find it. What we did find was much better - and it was where God wanted us to be.

Right now, with transitioning two houses and coordinating all the little tasks that accompany moving, my brain is on overload. I have no doubt God will steer us in the right direction - but I’m not sure I can hear Him with all the other little shouting voices in my head.

My personal wish list includes: convenient, contemporary, preferably non-denominational and kid-friendly. Huge metro churches do not appeal to me - my experience has been void of sincere human interaction and the lack of opportunity to build personal relationships. I don’t know what church tv is - but just the sound of it makes me think of televangelism ala Bakker and Swaggart.

There you have it. We’re joining Kaci’s family at their church this week and next, but will need to start looking when we move into our home in Oklahoma the end of June.

Comments on Comments: Yes, Megan, Yukon.  Now you have no excuse not to visit.  Rose,  thanks for noticing my moving help was Kali, my 7 year old granddaughter and the box was filled with 3 lampshades.  Linny - we did buy the house I sent pics of.  It has a  comfy front porch, a storm cellar AND a wonderful kitchen.

More here: Wordless Wednesday and here: Wordless Wednesday

25′ moving truck x 2 + 1 SUV + 1 Car x 650 miles = $835 gasoline

That equation should NOT add up.

Tonight was Lexi’s piano recital, the grand finale to all our activities in Illinois. Tomorrow all of our belongings are being loaded into 2 big trucks for the trek to Oklahoma. Everything is going into storage for the time being. We close on this house June 20 and haven’t purchased another one yet. I am surrounded by boxes, all taped and labeled. My laundry is done, cabinets are empty and bathrooms are clean.

Any time I have to say goodbye, I cry. Any time anyone ever has to say goodbye, for any reason, I cry. I am excited beyond words to be going home, but I’ve made some really sweet friends here. Vivien, Laddy, Martha, Lisa and Sarah are a few I’m really going to miss. I will cry….and smile.

Mississippi Mud Cake

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 cup chopped pecans
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme

Mississippi Mud Cake Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened  (I melt mine)
3 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons milk, more if needed
1 cup chopped pecans

CAKE - In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour and cocoa; gradually add to creamed mixture. Fold in the pecans. Transfer to a greased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 F for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 3 minutes (cake may fall in the center).

Spoon the marshmallow creme over cake; carefully spread to cover top. Cool completely.

FROSTING - In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Beat in confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, vanilla and enough milk to achieve frosting consistency. Fold in pecans. Spread over marshmallow creme layer.

More here: Wordless Wednesday and here: Wordless Wednesday

Good teachers are always on the lookout for opportunities to congregate and learn from each other.  Miss Emmy and Miss Lexi got dressed up to attend their first annual conference this weekend.  They packed their book bags and clipped on their badges and off they went.

Taking a break from all that learning, these teachers were prepared for  bright lights of Living Room A.

After a serious and informative day, the teachers changed clothes for dinner at the infamous MomUnscripted Kitchen, where they feasted on pizza, orange juice and banana popsicles.

Two heads are always better than one, especially when teaching American Girls and students from Webkins and Beanie.

And finally, even teachers need their beauty rest.

There is nothing better than melted marshmallow warming a chocolate bar between 2 layers of crisp graham crackers. Here is our recipe for happiness:

Step One - Build a fire. This is a small flame by my hubby’s standards.

Left to him our little outdoor fireplace would harbor a raging inferno. There are no outer bounds to his love for fire. He’s been known to have flames shooting out the top of our chiminea until yours truly discretely screeches “FIRE!!!”. When the smoke alarms start sounding. From the neighbor’s house. Across the street. We’ve even had strangers frantically ring our doorbell to warn us - I’m so not kidding.

Ok, back to this delicious treat.

Step Two - It’s critical that you hold your marshmallow in the fire JUST until the middle gets ooey gooey soft. Too long and it either falls off the stick OR turns a beautiful crunch of crusty black charcoal. I happen to like igniting my marshmallow and blowing it out just before the blackness occurs. You have to be a cautious cook to get it exact. Then you mash it between 2 graham crackers with 1/2 of a chocolate bar between.

It is no fun to be excluded from fun things like fire and flaming marshmallows.  And a good thing pointy spears go unnoticed.

It’s even less fun waiting to see if my bite is cool enough for me. Notice how Lexi instinctively has her corralled.

Step 3 - EAT

Reason #4687 that moving home to Oklahoma is so important to me.

It should come as no surprise that a huge chunk of shopping for a new home is done on the “internets”. I’ve been using “the Google” to utilize various searches to narrow down the area, neighborhood and homes we’d consider purchasing.

Frustration is too mild a word to describe what I’ve encountered. I’ve actually toyed with starting a blog to dialog a buyer’s perspective.

My list would begin with:

• Pictures - this is the internet my friend. 2043sqft/3br/2ba/2car/cozy does NOT cut it. I want to visually walk through your home. If you hire a realtor, INSIST there be an abundance of pictures.

• Said pictures - must capture the size, features, ambiance of the room. I know what a wall looks like, I’m familiar they usually have corners. Back up, check lighting, focus, shoot.

• Instruct the homeowner to make a few adjustments prior taking pictures. Declutter. Shut the toilet lid, put the lid on the deodorant - and put the deodorant can inside cabinet (with the 43 other items cluttered on bathroom counter). I realize I’m not shopping at Wal-Greens, but it is a bit distracting. Make the bed. Push clothing and toys well under bed. I’m thinking if you’d allow your home to be published all over the web in this condition - how can I trust you’ve had any pride of ownership through the years?

• Realtors - if you have the house listed, you are not doing your seller any favors by shorting the information. Yes, an occasional buyer might call you. However, if I have to jump through hoops just to see inside the front door, I will not. It is also an inconvenience to require a login and completion of a resume just to access your website. I might eventually fill it out - but I am not providing you accurate information and I do not want you calling me.

That’s all I have time for today. Anyone else have caveat emptor experiences?