Favorite Things Friday

Quiet mornings with my daughter...

Gabriella Grace Young

18 months old

Outside on Forever Young Farm...

There are animals on the farm...
What do you see?

Pot-Bellied Pigs!

Darth Pigger

&

Luke Pig Walker

Let's head back to the house - Mama!

Thanksgiving Thursday

Fourteen Days of Valentine's Prizes

Hello Dearest Blog of Life Friends~

It has been very busy at the Young home this week! Between my mom's birthday celebration, my daughter's Science Fair Project and getting my son prepared for a weekend of skiing - my blog posts have suffered! The Fourteen Days of Valentine's have continued faithfully thanks to my amazing husband!

Here is a snapshot of my collection ~ all little things to bring on our trip ~ except my ivy pot which is my favorite green plant so that was part of my prizes! I received refreshing packs of gum, a black jacket to wear during our moonlight walks, a beautiful heart necklace, a new magazine to read while driving, a combination package of four romantic movies (plus a coupon to see the movie Valentine's Day) and a collection of worship music Cd's for our listening pleasure!

Of course each present was paired with a poem and a Scripture.

Tomorrow we leave on our getaway! I am so excited!

Thomas & Concetta Young

Always together we will be...forever young you and me!

Thanksgiving Thursday~Valentine's Day 4

Today ~ Day 4 of our Valentine's celebration ~

I received a bottle of bubble bath.

This is not just ordinary bubble bath plucked off the shelf -

the kind that my husband chose is very significant -

he selected the fragrance of milk & honey.

Many years ago, someone we love dearly

and hold in high regard shared with us

that together as a couple we are ~ Milk & Honey.

Milk = Nourishment ~~~ Honey = Sweet

All those little sacred things in our relationship

that mean so much - my sweetheart remembers.

Not only does he remember - he does something so

thoughtful and heartfelt. He is truly a gift and on

this Thankful Thursday I am overflowing with

with gratitude that this man is my only Valentine!

Numbers 14:8

If the Lord delights in Thomas & Concetta,

then He will bring us into this land and give it to us,

a land which flows with milk and honey.

Leviticus 20:24
But I said to Thomas & Concetta,
"You will possess their land;
I will give it to you as an inheritance,
a land flowing with milk and honey."
I am the LORD your God,
who has set you apart from the nations.

Deuteronomy 26:9

He has brought Thomas & Concetta

to this place and has given them this land,

a land flowing with milk and honey.

Day 3 ~ Valentine's

My husband's adorable feet!

He loves my feet! I can't believe it, but he does!

One of my favorite things to do is get a pedicure-

so lovely and luxurious - the ultimate way to relax.

A pedicure is even better when you are enjoying

it with someone else - and no better person than my love.

One day I talked him into getting a pedicure with me - and

he thought it was fantastic - sans the nail polish of course!

I always get the French!

So, for day 3 of our Valentine's extravaganza - I received

a coupon good for 2 pedicures - one for me and one for him -

to be redeemed on the day we leave for our trip!

I can't wait to be pampered and have beautiful feet for our getaway!

Poem Excerpt:

"I love you, I love you my sweet -

So, I am giving you something to pamper your feet."

...and a Scripture:

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my FEET

and a light to my path.

Valentine's ~ Day 2

Look at this adorable prize my husband gave to me

for Day 2 of the Fourteen Days of Valentine's!

He picked me up from work this morning and we

enjoyed a lovely breakfast at a local cafe - yum!

I can't wait to try out my massager!

My poem was tucked inside my little journal again.
My husband cannot believe I am blogging our holiday tradition -
I told him that he was the most important thing in my life
so how could I leave him out of my Blog of Life??

I am including an excerpt from his poem~
(I can't post the entire poem...hmmmmm)
"Your gift for today makes the stress go away
and makes you feel so good you could blog all day!"
Go Blog Wild!
See why I love him?

February Traditions

February is one of my favorite months...

because it is has one of my favorite holidays!!

VALENTINE'S DAY

This Valentine's Day will mark 20 that I have spent

with my one true love ~ Thomas ~ my husband.

Twenty years ago he started the most amazing

tradition to celebrate the day of love and romance.

The Fourteen Days of Valentine

It is a holiday every day starting on the first until

the big finale on the fourteenth.

Each day I receive a special prize and a

handwritten poem!

Look what I was given today!

A beautiful little journal.

The poem is written inside the journal!
This man is not only so thoughtful he is
the most creative person that I know!!
He thinks up a new theme every year -
I don't know how he is able to still come up
with them after 20 years, but he has outdone himself again!
One year he surprised me and crept into my office at the
hospital before I could come to work - he decorated my whole
office and had roses there as well for when I arrived.
The year I was pregnant with Gabriella (our 18th Valentine's)
every day I received an adorable baby-inspired present!
This year he is taking me away for Valentine's
weekend - we are going to our favorite place in Florida -
and where we honeymooned ~ Saint Augustine!
So every day I will receive my poem and a lovely
gift that will prepare us for our trip!

My husand knows how I love to journal, so he started me off with this little book so I could record all the days leading up to our getaway and our marvelous weekend!

I love my husband more today then
the first Valentine's we were together.

He truly is the man of my dreams...

the love of my life and my best friend!

LIFE SCRIPTS

HOPE

...the confident expectation of good

Psalm 25:5
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are
God my Savior, and my HOPE is in you all day long.

Psalm 33:22
May your unfailing love rest upon us,
O LORD, even as we put our HOPE in you.

Psalm 65:5
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior, the HOPE of all the ends of
the earth and of the farthest seas,

Proverbs 23:18
There is surely a future HOPE for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Love~In~A~Bowl

...for those days that you are under the weather

...for those days that you want to feel warm and cozy

...for those days that someone you love is not doing their best

...for those days that you want to treat your children to something extra-special

...then it is a day for this yummy for your tummy soup of soups!!!

The bowl that cures all...sumptuous pieces of chicken, tender vegetables and delicate noodles simmered in a savory broth...you will love this soup...yum!

Hearty Chicken & Potato Stew

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2-3 c prepared chicken

8-10 c chicken stock

2 chicken bouillon cubes

3 carrots (diced or shredded)

3 celery stalks (diced)

1 onion (diced)

1 t basil

1 t oregano

1 t marjoram

1 bay leaf

salt & pepper to taste

1 pkg. wide egg noodles

fresh parsley

Prepared Chicken

You can do this a variety of ways - I like to roast my chicken first and then shred meat in chunky pieces. I place my chicken (6-8 pieces) on a baking sheet - drizzle with olive oil and season with kosher salt and cracked black pepper - roast @ 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. You may also poach your chicken in simmering stock or even use a rotisserie chicken for this delectable soup.

In a large dutch oven saute onions, carrots and celery in butter until tender. Add chicken stock, bouillon cubes, spices and seasonings - bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Stir in chicken and simmer for 30-45 minutes allowing all of the flavors to blend. Bring soup up to a boil again and add the egg noodles - cook until al dente and remove from heat. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.

For Homemade Chicken Stock see my post under Concetta's Recipes.

For a delicious twist on this soup try adding cubed potatoes and corn instead of the egg noodles making a hearty stew!

Favorite Things Friday

Look what arrived at my front door! A fantastic food processor from my husband!! He used every one of his rewards points from work to get me this little beauty. I love that man! I have used the same food processor for all 20 years of our marriage and I have just worn it out! It is so old that I will not keep it out on my counter - I hide it in the cupboards - it is a shame, I know - it has been so faithful - but it would stick out and be an eyesore displayed on my counter top.

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have received this - now I must reward my sweetheart with culinary delights! I love this kitchen tool - you can do everything with it - including making bread and pizza doughs - and I personally think that Cuisinart is superior!



Here is the other gem of my kitchen - my KitchenAide Stand Mixer - oh definitely one of my favorite things! My parents bought this for me many years ago - I love it so much! My Mom is a fabulous cook and has passed all her talents and tricks over to me. Thank you Mom!

My favorite kitchen appliance!

Look ~ Kindred Spirits!

Thanksgiving Thursday

Savannah Marie Colon-Feliciano

Please say hello to my beautiful great-niece, Savannah. Isn't she a doll? I am so thankful for this new little baby in our family - she has already brought so much joy to all of us! The last couple of months have been difficult for our family after our beloved Nanny went to be with the Lord - sometimes the moments of missing her are very intense. Now, the Lord has given us another gift to love - our little Savannah - the precious baby from heaven.

Savannah

Peaceful Spirit

rest ~ harmony ~ wholeness
calmness ~ perfect well-being

Proverbs 3:17

Savannah's ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Isaiah 32:18
Savannah will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Psalm 29:11

The LORD gives strength to Savannah; the LORD blesses her with peace.

This Scripture is for Savannah's Mommy ~ I love you Ashley!

Psalm 4:8

Ashley, will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make her dwell in safety.