Grandma's Hot Chocolate

There is a card in the recipe box at my house that has this recipe:

Hot Chocolate

1 box of instant milk
1 jar of Pream
17 oz Nestle's chocolate
1/2 box of powdered sugar

That's it.  No directions, nothing.  And what is "Pream"?

However, I can show this card to any of my nieces or my nephew, they would know exactly what it is.  It's Grandma's hot chocolate mix and WAY better than anything you can ever get out of a little bag.  I'm updating the recipe for you here - because I promise, you'll love it!

Gwen/Grandma's Hot Chocolate Mix

1 box of instant milk powder (the one that says it makes 8 quarts of milk)
1 11 oz. container of creamer - plain (the powdered kind)
20 oz Nestle's chocolate milk mix (the dry powdered stuff)
1 lb of powdered sugar

Mix together in a large bowl.  Save in a air-tight container.  I don't know how many servings it makes, but the recipe above fills my large Tupperware "thatsa" bowl. We generally add 3 - 4 heaping spoonfuls of the mix to hot/boiling water in a regular coffee mug.  

Please note: Try your mix and adjust ingredients as needed.  I'm a "little of this, little of that" kind of person, but I think the proportions above work well.  You can add mini-marshmallows if you want (or just keep a can of whipped cream available).  I'm also debating adding shaved dark chocolate pieces to my mix next time.

I promise it's fantastic.

And after delivery to my nieces, I promise that I will be the favorite aunt (at least for the day)!

Of making difficult choices that affect others

So - I am in super-planning mode for the Honduras Spring Break Mission Trip (just 8 weeks away). Planning for a group of 23+ is not an easy task. This week tickets must be purchased and a proposal to the mission committee at SW C of C must be completed.

However, what I agonized over last night werethe little things. Specifically two little things.

1. Airline seating arrangements
2. Hotel roommate assignments

Why are those two things so difficult? I always dread the disappointment on faces of teens when they realize they are not sitting by someone of their choosing, or when they realize they don't get to choose their room assignments for hotels. I don't know why I dread it so much, I just do.

Last night I finished the seating arrangements for our flight. I've finally figured out not to give the travel agent all of our names in alphabetical order (duh!). And, I actually made sure that no teen was stuck on a row with two adults. It was not the easiest task - but it is done. Like it or not people - you'll have to deal.

However, the hotel arrangements are a whole other story. So far there are three different drafts/possibilities. Unfortunately, as much as I plan ahead, there's a 95% chance that I'll have to rearrange after we arrive at one of the hotels. I think it's a conspiracy. Probably not - but sometimes it feels that way.

On a positive note: Only about 8 weeks until we leave. Specifically 58 days! WooHoo!

Heart Speak

Warning: Sappy-ness alert

These lyrics speak my heart right now:

Look at me (by Carrie Underwood)

I would bet my life like I bet my heart
That you were the one, baby
I've never been so sure of anything before
You're driving my heart crazy

I can't hold out
I can't hold back now
Like I've done before

Darling look at me
I've fallen like a fool for you
Darling can't you see
I'd do anything you want me to

I tell myself I'm in too deep
Then I fall a little farther
Every time you look at me

How do you do that, babe?
Make me feel like I'm the only girl alive for you
I don't know what it is that makes me fall like this
First time in your arms I knew

The way you held me
I knew that this could be
What I've been waiting to find

Darling look at me
I've fallen like a fool for you
Darling can't you see
I'd do anything you want me to

I tell myself I'm gettin' in too deep
Then I fall a little farther
Every time you look at me

A National Anthem

In six days we leave for a two-week mission trip to Lesotho. As a 4th grader at the local British primary school, I learned to play the Lesotho National Anthem on my recorder. I can still play it. Today I looked it up to see if I remembered the words correctly (and I wasn't too bad through the first verse and chorus). Here it is for my ghost readers:

LESŌTHŌ FATŠE LA BONTAT'A RŌNA

Lesōthō fatše la bo ntat'a rōna;

Ha ra mafatše le letle ke lona;

Ke moo re hlahileng,

ke moo re hōlileng,

Rea lerata,

Mōlimō ak'u bōlōke Lesōthō;

U felise lintoa le matšoenyeho;

Oho fatše lena;

La bo ntata rōna;

Le be le khotso.

English translation:

Lesotho, land of our Fathers,

Among the lands it is the most beautiful.

It is where we were born,

It is where we grew up--

We love it.

God, please protect Lesotho.

Spare it conflict, and tribulation--

Oh, this land,

Land of our Fathers,

May it have peace.

The lyrics were written by François Coillard, a French missionary, and the music was composed by Ferdinand-Samuel Laur. It has been used as the national anthem since 1967.

Unfinished verse

Sometimes pieces of poetry are just unfinished. This one is, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway:

Untitled

If I could settle your thoughts

I would whisper peace to you

If I could have comfort your heart

I would shower you with love

If I could have lighten your load

I would share your burden

If I could see you smile

I would focus my gaze only on your face

Songs that remind me of other people

Some songs just lend themselves to reminding you of someone. I have many of those songs - this is just one.

"How Can I Keep From Singing"

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

(as sung by Chris Tomlin)

Mushy

I figure that there may be one or two people who actually read this blog (and not consistently at that) - and I am 99.9% sure they are related to me. That being said, somehow this blog has turned into more of my own way of putting down stuff that I need to get out of my head. So if it's too much, my apologies (especially because recently it's become what some may refer to as a little 'mushy').

Ever wanted to say something to someone - and then you hear the perfect song lyrics? That happens to me a lot. Though, usually, it's not something I'll actually say, just something I want to say - but will keep bottled up.

These are those lyrics today (only slightly adjusted for gender purposes):

Right here waiting, staying strong
Come and fall into me

You say you've turned it off, hid your heart upon a shelf
Scared of what it might cost to take it down for someone else
'Cause loving her you lost too much of yourself
Baby can't you see that she's not me

And I need you to know you can fall into me
That my arms are wide open and will always be
Right here waiting, staying strong
Come and fall into me

I'll follow any road anywhere to get to you
I'll open us my soul if that's what you need me to do
Now baby its your move all you've got to do
Is believe in love, just believe in us

"Fall Into Me" (by Emerson Drive)

Warned you it might be mushy. Oh well, that's my heart recently. Mushy. No matter how hard I try not to be.