Heart on my Sleeve and Warm Apple Cake

Hurtful words....oh how they sting. And once spoken, you can say I am sorry, but you really cannot take them back. I know I have done my share of saying hurtful words, and I am ashamed that I did. Altho I do tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, so I allow my heart to be wide open most of the time. Given the choice, I think I would rather wear my heart on my sleeve than be cold hearted and stand-offish. I seem to be wearing my heart on my sleeve today, not sure why...but I need to shake it. Its a beautiful day outside, fall is in the air, my favorite time of the year. What is your favorite time of the year?

I think I know what has me feeling this way....my baby girl is leaving on Monday for 8 days in Jamaica!Yes...the child who is deathly afraid of elevators, is flying to Jamaica! I am so excited for her, yet so worried. I know I just need to put it in God's hands....He will take care of her!!! She has never been away from home for that long...Lord help me LOL. You would swear she is a baby...well she is MY baby, even though she is 22!!

Isn't she pretty? Yeah, I think so too! Have fun in Jamaica Addie.....have the time of your life! This is the resort she is going to....
JAMAICA ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT

I think my girls at work love me...look what they picked up for me the other day....yep they do listen when I talk! Thanks Kristy and Angelique!!!

I love these and search for them every Halloween!

YUMMY!!!

Speaking of Caramel Apples...here is a tasty recipe for you to try. 

MOIST CARAMEL APPLE CAKE

 

1 pkg.  cake mix
1 pkg.  JELL-O Vanilla or French Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup water
4 egg
1/3 cup oil
3 Granny Smith apple (chopped)
20 KRAFT Caramels
3 Tbsp.  milk

Directions

1.Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan.  Beat first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer on low speed until blended.  Beat on high speed 2 min.  Stir in apples.  Pour into prepared pan.

2.Bake 50 min.  to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool cake in pan 15 min.  Loosen cake from side of pan; invert onto wire rack.  Gently remove pan.  Cool cake completely.  Transfer to plate.

3.Microwave caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min., stirring every 30 sec.  until blended.  Cool 10 min.  or until slightly thickened.  Drizzle over cake.

THE LITTLE THINGS

I know we have all heard the saying "it's the little things in life that are important"...and altho we believe that, it isn't until you actually experience one of those "little things" that you truly appreciate that saying! Let me explain...over the past couple of years, our family ( my siblings ) have had our share of ups and downs...more downs that I care to admit. Far too often we let pride get in the way, we kept things inside instead of speaking up and addressing the real issues, we felt like "its her/him and not me", we held grudges, we hurt one another thus hurting ourselves and sad to admit, we gossiped about one another to the others. I know that no family is perfect and siblings all have thier share of disagreements. This past weekend, my older (haha) sister Becky and my brother Randy planned a weekend get away for us, our spouses and our Mom. We visited our tiny coastal town of Grand Isle, La. 

We stayed at a very nice and spacious "camp" that lacked nothing...on the beach...it was beautiful! 

I will be the first to admit that when this was originally planned, I thought, "oh Lord, all of us together in one camp for 3 whole days?" But let me tell you...it was perfect. It was just what we all needed. We reconnected, reminisced, laughed and ate like H.O.G.S ! Not one ugly word was spoken, everyone had a smile on their face all weekend...it was the best! I love my siblings so much and was so glad to be able to have that time with them. We are so blessed and sometimes we forget that. The past is just that...the past. We are all getting older and we need to get every single bit out of our lives that we can...while we can. And I feel we did just that this weekend.

 We watched the sunrise and the sunset...

we just sat outside and enjoyed the gulf breeze..

.we had a sing along compliments of my brother in law Vincent...

we took a few family photos...

 Mom with the 5 of us

 

The brother-in-laws with Lisa, our sista!

 

 The brother-in-laws! Crazy bunch!!

 The five of us with our "Daddy Blankets"

My sister, Roxane made these for us using Daddy's shirts.

One of our most prized possessions!

(The 5 of us with our spouses)

and we all felt my Dad's presence there with us!

 This is a picture of my Daddy in Grand Isle many years ago.

That is his original hat and camera that he was wearing in the picture.

 And here is Randy wearing Daddy's hat and camera...he looks so much like our Daddy!!

It doesn't get much better than that! I am so proud to call them my siblings and I love their spouses very much! My heart is content....everyone should feel that...all the time. Don't let a day go by without letting the special people in your life know how much they mean to you. Will we still have our ups and downs? I am sure we will, but I think we all have a new appreciation for "family"and I don't think we will allow unimportant things to come between us again.

Mom and Dad.....ya done good!