Rainin on Sunday

Oh the joys of a rainy Sunday afternoon!  This weekend has been great - I would say relaxing would be the key word. :) 

Friday, I left for a leadership retreat for First Pres college ministry at the Tombigbee River.  It was a great time full of prayer, reading the word, preparing for ministry, food, and games.  We have a very eclectic group this year on LT, so it was really fun to spend time with people who aren't like me.  We stayed at a beautiful river house owned by a couple from church and had lunch on Saturday at the "Down Yonder Cafe".... yes, it is exactly as you picture in your head just now. I had fried catfish, green beans and macaroni and cheese. Yum!

I got home Saturday afternoon and was greeted by my very hospitable puppy and my sweet husband doing laundry. Jesse and I just spent the rest of the day together - which was amazing!  I'm dreading the semester getting busy, but alas, I know for him it will.  As we are still not fully settled, we mainly worked in the guest room (which has become the "Where does this go?"  "I don't know, just put it in the guest room" room).   Why, you ask?  Because we are having our very first house guests this weekend!  Becca and Brian Page will be staying here at the English Bed and Breakfast in the Lodge Room Thursday night and my parents will be here on Friday/Saturday.  I'm super excited about house guests and MSU Football kicking off! Go Dawgs!

As for today, we woke up to a steady rain, went to church where Olin preached on Psalm 51, and had a lunch date at Bulldog Deli (be jealous)!  This afternoon has consisted of the rest of the laundry, some schoolwork, and Jesse's NFL Fantasy Football draft.  In honor of a rainy Sunday afternoon, I decided to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  Yumm.  Since I'm such a nice person, I'm going to share the recipe with you. ;)  

Vanishing Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (makes 4 dozen)

2 sticks butter, softened

1 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3 c. oats (uncooked- quick or old fashioned)

1 c. chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Beat butter and sugars until creamy

Add eggs and vanilla - beat well

Add flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt - mix well

Stir in oats and chocolate chips

Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet

Bake 10-12 minutes/ until golden brown

Cool 1 minute then remove to wire rack.

Enjoy

Too bad dogs can't have cookies, because Maggie sure wanted some! 

 Here's my "little baby puppy", as Uncle Kyle says, in Memphis 2 weekends ago:

And here she is today!  I think she's grown. :)

Much love from the Englishes!