Casting Crowns

Last night we were blessed to go to Casting Crowns Christmas Tour Concert. They are traveling with Michael English, Natalie Grant, Avalon, Pure Energy, and Denver and the Mile High Orchestra. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. CC certainly has a way of bringing it all into focus. Our seats were awesome! Thanks to our good friend Darren (who is the stage director for CC) we were able to get free tickets and backstage passes.

Almost as good as the concert...or maybe even better is the fact that we ran into three friends from college....each holds a special place in our hearts. Jamie was on the same dorm floor as me for 2 years of college. We were EL ED majors and had classes together and years later I still have great memories of friendship with her. Another was the wife of a dear friend who passed away in his 30's. Bruce and I spent a summer traveling with Kodi's hubby. Brian was always the one who kept our group laughing! David was also there and it was awesome to see him and Bruce hanging out. He was in our wedding and it was fun to catch up! Hopefully there will be lots more meetings (maybe more intentional next time!) God is good to encourage and refresh friendships!

It was an awesome night!

Tradition

Bruce and I have been married for 15 years. For most of those 15 years, we have shopped on Black Friday. Some years we have shopped seperately (I'd leave way before him and he would meet up with me later in the day.) However, since we welcomed our two children into the family, for some reason, we have made it a special day to go shop together. Believe me...it's the only time we shop for a full day together!!! Bruce went undiagnosed with ADHD for all of his childhood years...those who know him as an adult can just imagine what a mischievious child he must have been...however as an adult the most I usually have to worry about is him getting heavily distracted when a lot is going on. Thus, shopping the day after Thanksgiving can be eventful, challenging and a bit on the crazy side. This year Bruce decided that we should go to Garden Ridge around 9pm on Thanksgiving night to look for Christmas decor, then we would make our way over to the outlet mall (which opened at midnight) stay for several hours, then we would take a short nap in the car (this is when the flashing red lights should have been sounding loudly in my head) to get "re-energized" and then go to Toys R Us and other places that opened around 4-5am. Then we would come home, take a nap and return to shop around 12noon. This was a CRAZY ADHD idea!!!! So I said....sure. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! We, along with 1000's of other people braved Black Friday at midnight at the outlet mall. It was unbeliebable. I'm not sure where my brain was when I agreed to all this, but I think it has to do with brain cells and childbirth. Bruce stood out in the pouring rain in the Toys R Us line for 2 hours while I stayed in the car...so I am guessing all my brain cells did not seep out of my body during the birth of my kids. However, my feet tell me tonight that I better use what little brain power I do have and stay off them tomorrow...or else!
I write this in jest. Bruce and I really did have a great time. It's fun doing things a little on the wild and crazy side sometimes...I am glad I have a whole year to recover from this stunt.

List of thanks continued:

As promised, I continue my list of gratitudes:

16. Yummy food
17. Grandparents...near and far
18. Afternoon naps
19. Piano concerts
20. Salvation

Add yours too...comment below!

Savannah's Gratitude List

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Caramel Bars for Thanksgiving

Here's a new recipe that I am trying out for Thanksgiving dessert.
Caramel Bars

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
32 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
5 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
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DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt together the caramels and heavy cream, stirring occasionally until smooth.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the melted butter until well blended. Press Half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Reserve the rest.
Bake the crust for 8 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour the caramel mixture over the top and then crumble the remaining crust mixture over everything.
Return to the oven and bake for an additional 12 minutes, or until the top is lightly toasted. Cut into squares while it is still warm.

More to be thankful for

Continuing on with my gratitude list for this week:

11. The Mission Gunter...a dream come true
12. My housekeeper
13. My computer
14. Mommy daughter dates with Savannah
15. Bruce's mac and cheese

Don't forget to give thanks on your own or post a comment below!

Continued Thanks

Join me as I continue to count my blessings this week. Feel free to hit the comment button below and let me know what you're thankful for this Thanksgiving!

6. For cuddle time with Tucker
7. For a mom who taught me to make the most with what you have
8. For a job that pays well and allows me to stay home with my kids
9. For God's Word...the only perfect guidebook
10. For my husband, best friend, biggest fan, pastor...wrapped up in one!

Don't forget to add yours!