New Years Celebration

Tonight I had a few friends over for an early New Years celebration... Joe, Joy, Josh, Hiba and Duane came over along with the kids. It was so cute to see Hiba's belly bump... she's tiny :-) And Gideon is growing up so quickly.

We did hors d'oerves for our meal. Here's the menu...
Fruit Kabobs
Cheese Fondue
Skewered Pork
Crab Stuffed Shells
Mini Barbeque Sausages
Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Cheese, Crackers and Bread
Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
Bread Bowl with Spinach-Artichoke Dip

We ended up with a really nice champagne and wishes for a wonderful New Year...

Sunsets...

I saw this beautiful sunset on the way home from work the other day... Gorgeous. I wish we had our camera tonight. We went on a night hike at Hager Park. The moon, the stars, it was all so lovely...

Seasons Greetings

MySpace Graphics

Sledding...

What a wonderful time I had this past weekend sledding with my kids. They're the BEST!!

Chocolate Trifle...

Found this "to die for" recipe on Allrecipes.com
INGREDIENTS

* 1 (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix
* 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
* 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
* 1 (1.5 ounce) bar chocolate candy


DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and cool completely. Cut into 1 inch squares.
2. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix, water and sweetened condensed milk. Mix until smooth, then fold in 8 ounces whipped topping until no streaks remain.
3. In a trifle bowl or glass serving dish, place half of the brownies, half of the pudding mixture and half of the 12 ounce container of whipped topping. Repeat layers. Shave chocolate onto top layer for garnish. Refrigerate 8 hours before serving.

I have modified it a bit as this is now the second time I'm making it... Going a bit Cream Cheesy :-) I'll have to let you know how it worked out!!

Child soldiers...

I finally got around to watching Blood Diamond. Wow, was it ever intense. It is so hard not to just break down and cry... to think there are 200,000 child soldiers in Africa... Their blood cries out for justice. It makes me think of an old Randy Stonehill song:

POSTCARDS FROM BANGKOK
HUB OF THE EASTERN WORLD
WHERE ALL THE TOURISTS COME
TO PARTY WITH THE PRETTY GIRLS
THEY DANCE LIKE SLEEPWALKERS
UNDER THE DISCO LIGHTS
UP ON THE AUCTION BLOCK
HATING ALL THE HUNGRY EYES
AND I'VE SEEN THE WOODEN SHACKS
ROW AFTER ENDLESS ROW
WHERE OPEN SEWAGE FLOWS
IN THE SHADOW OF THE FACTORY
I'VE SEEN THE CHILDREN'S FACES
HOPE BURNING IN THEIR EYES
TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE
THEY FACE A LIFE OF MISERY

Chorus
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR ALL THIS SUFFERING
THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENT
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO BALANCE OUT THESE SCALES
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
I'VE SEEN THE CORPORATIONS
BUILT UPON HUMAN BLOOD
THE NAMELESS, FACELESS WORKERS
CRUSHED LIKE DIAMONDS IN THE MUD
EXPAND YOUR OPERATION
THE LABOR COMES DIRT CHEAP
NO ONE COMPLAINS WHEN THERE'S
A MILLION JOBLESS ON THE STREET
AND I'VE SEEN THE SICK AND BROKEN
TOO WEAK FOR STANDING UP
HOLD UP THEIR BEGGAR'S CUP
JUST HOPING FOR ENOUGH TO EAT
WHEN JUST AROUND THE CORNER
AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
THE WEALTHY TAKE THEIR LUNCH
AT POOLSIDE TO ESCAPE THE HEAT

Chorus

Bridge
O GOD OF JUSTICE
MY GOD OF EQUITY
I KNOW YOUR HEART BREAKS
FOR THE SINS OF THIS WICKED WORLD
I KNOW THAT JUDGEMENT WILL BE SWIFT AND IRREVERSIBLE
TILL THEN YOUR TEARS RAIN
ON THE EVIL AND THE GOOD
I KNOW THAT GOD IS HOLY
I KNOW THAT STATE I'M IN
I KNOW THAT SIN IS SIN
AND IT'S NOT MEASURED BY DEGREE
HERE IN THE LAND OF DARKNESS
WE ALL ARE GUILTY MEN
I KNOW I'D STAND CONDEMNED
WITHOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS