Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tomato Basil Vegetable Soup

by Chocolate Castles

We are hooked on the Tomato Basil Soup from Walmart. I know what you are thinking, but it tastes just like the tomato soup from Le Madelines. Seriously, it is just delicious. So for the 3rd week in a row, we have bought it to have with grilled cheese sandwiches. As of Tuesday, after going … Continue reading →

Orlando Magic

by Chocolate Castles

Spring is in the air in Orlando and the sun is shinning. We have loved our time here more than I ever imagined. Because we have had time to go and explore so many wonderful places, I thought I would post several different places that you might love, other than Mickey&Minnieville. Because some of our … Continue reading →

Lemon-Green Bean Pasta

by Chocolate Castles

This week I saw this recipe on FB and decided that I had to try it. We cooked it Friday evening and it was delicious. No meet, yet, it was so good that we didn’t even miss the meatballs! Quick and easy, you might even have everything in the house that is needed to make … Continue reading →

Update on Debbie

by Chocolate Castles

Debbie Stuart is being used by God to minister to the women of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX. Because she is being allowed to put the video’s on the Church’s Facebook page, please go to Green Acres Baptist Church Facebook page to watch Life Together videos and other teaching videos. YOU WILL BE … Continue reading →

Mountains & Valleys

by Chocolate Castles

Last week, we enjoyed so much going to church with our kids who live here. Because I was fighting the flu, and didn’t know it, we drove on to church with me laying down in the seat with my feet on the dash of the car. If you read my previous blog, you will know … Continue reading →

Brain Exercises

by Chocolate Castles

Well, here we are in Orlando, Florida enjoying the great state of sunshine and oranges. Except for today when it is cloudy and cold…and I have the flu. We were told that when we got to Florida everything would be sunny and glorious. That the weather now would just be perfect. And for most parts … Continue reading →

As I have written about in previous posts, both Randy and I are in a new season of life…retirement. Not by his choosing, but circumstances out of his control. So we find ourselves home much more than we have ever been. When I think about Randy and how well he has adjusted to not working, it was so amazing to find this story that I had long ago forgot. It is just as applicable today as it was back in 2002. Here it is. “Wow, what a seemingly hard, almost impossible, for so many, myself included to do..to sit and be still. The world we live in today is so fast paced, so busy, that we have a hard time just sitting and doing nothing. It seems that we have to have some noise around us at all times. We just do not know what to do with the quiet. A couple of years ago a dear friend of mine told me that I was addicted to business. I laughed and said that I probably was, but just didn’t think too much about what she had just told me. One day, while having a quiet time and praying to the Lord, I thought of what my friend had told me. In the deepest part of my soul, I felt that God was telling me that what Simone had told me was true. I had been so busy with things. I was in the habit of telling the Lord what I wanted to do and then wondered why He was not speaking to me or using me like I felt He should. It was then that I realized that as soon as I finished telling God what I thought my day should look like and what I needed from Him, I would hurry off and proceed with my day; never giving Him a chance to speak to me or showing me through His Word what He might have for me. Guessing that He would send me a message via billboard, text message or hear something through a radio message, I would quickly go about my busy day. Yes, He can speak to us anyway He chooses, but what if He was wanting to speak to us in the quiet? Would He have a chance to do that? After years of running kids around, working, spending time with friends for lunch, hobbies, it has been hard to stay home, after being in the habit of staying gone all day. But moving to California, took so many things away that for the first time in years, I had time on my hands. no more friends until I had the chance to make some. No church activities to keep me busy until we found a church and got involved. I fought it, I griped about it and tried to tell the Lord that this was not going to work. I needed lots of things to do and I wanted Him to keep me busy…NOW! When He didn’t answer in the way I felt He should, I began to look at my life and realize that for so many years, I was asking Him to walk with me in the paths that I wanted to go, doing what I wanted and expecting Him to bless me. Now, I realized that when I didn’t give Him the chance to work in my life, or give Him a chance to speak to me, He “helped” me find the quiet times. Slowly and finally in surrender I began to see that when we give Him the opportunity to speak, He is more than willing. He did create us for His pleasure. He doesn’t need anything from us, but he desires things from us..a humble, quiet and surrendered heart. I began to pray each day that I will be willing to “be still and know” that He is God and then allow His truths and light to flow through me to others He places in my path.” Even though that story was written back in 2002, I read it and realize how easy it is to once again fall into business of life. With both of us home now, we have to try a little harder to spend some alone time with God each day. We think that the older we get that we will have more time to spend with the Lord, but somehow, we seem to always find other things to do. My prayer for 2015 is that I will give Him more of my time and more of my heart. That each day I will “Be still and know that He is God.” And then trust Him for His timing, leading and guidance in my life. He is always faithful, I pray that He will be able to say that about me one day.

by Chocolate Castles

Italian Nut Balls

by Chocolate Castles

We have settled here in Orlando for two months before heading to italy for hopefully 3 months! So in these two months we have time to not only bond with our Florida kids, but to go explore some of Florida’s great attractions. This week we have driven to Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach! We … Continue reading →

Miracle on High Street

by Chocolate Castles

Today marks 60 days until we leave for Italy for 3 months. On Dec 29th we began our adventure of being gypsies! We have traveled a little more than 3000 miles and have driven from sea to shining sea! We have experienced some awesome memories and have seen Gods Hand at work already in so … Continue reading →

Beyond The Sunset

by Chocolate Castles

Yesterday as Randy and I prepared to leave Puerta Vallarta to head back to LA for a few days before heading out in the next leg of our journey, we had to once again say goodbye to some friends who have become so much more than “friends” to us both. As I left the hotel … Continue reading →