WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Ep.11 "One-Armed Bandit"—Legacy of Dependence with Mabel Pittman

Mabel's legacy is:
Boasting in the Lord
Accommodating change in different chapters of life
Practicing joy in spite of circumstances
Mabel Pittman, 84, is a former Pastor's wife, missionary, Bible Study teacher, retreat speaker, and director of women's ministry and is a dear friend, mentor and prayer-warrior. She loves to laugh and she loved my folks--both attributes are good enough for me! She's affectionately called the "one-armed bandit" as she was born short an arm, and went on to do everything she ever wanted to do, including play concert piano. We all need a Mabel in our lives and now I get to share her with you.
Wisdom from Mamma Mabel:
Keep your eyes on eternal values and stay in God's Word.
Be ready to change those things that we can change about ourselves.
Accept the things we cannot change as from a Father Whose heart is kind above all measure.
Do not expect everyone to buy into your lifestyle or belief system, so make it a point to pray and love.
Don't be afraid to try new things or to get out there in the culture with those who are making a difference for God's glory.
 
PS
Since the time my folks went to Glory, Mabel has committed to pray for me and my four siblings, spouses and all our kids - that equals, well, a lot. If your favorite prayer warrior has graduated to Glory, go find yourself a Mama Mabel. A treasure, indeed.
Her favorite go-to recipe: Vive 'la Chicken. She said there are several Vive 'la Chicken recipes (who knew?) but this is her favorite.
Mabel's Favorite Vive 'la Chicken
Mix together in one large mixing bowl:
4 cups of cooked and cubed chicken breast
1 can of cream soup
1 cup milk
1 large jar of salsa
1 bag tortilla chips, semi-crushed
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
pepper and garlic powder to taste
2 cups water
 
Place in casserole. Cover with thick layer of cheese. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted.
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How to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it for God, others, and eternity.
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Ep10 Making Room for What Counts

It's easy to let everything and everyone get in the way of making room for what really counts at Christmas: the baby Jesus! Here's a reminder to help all of us live with God first and foremost, filling up our lives the way we were made to live. 
The funny thing is when we make room for Jesus, He makes room for all that we need and want. 
Making Room Printable.
ZUPPA SAUSAGE AND BACON TOSCANA SOUP (printable version here)
A great soup for Christmas Eve Soup and Bread Potluck - easy to make room for stray lambs when soup is in the crockpot.
Ingredients:
1-2 T. olive oil6 slices bacon, diced1/2 lb. ground Italian Sausage (Mild or Hot)1 brown onion, diced2 cloves garlic, minced1 qt. chicken stock3 baked potatoes, cut into chunks1 c. heavy cream (I use half-and-half)salt and pepper2 c. kale (I've used spinach in its place on occasion)
Directions:
Heat oil in a large potAdd sausage and bacon and cookWhen almost cooked through, add onions and garlicCook until onions are soft, stirring oftenStir in diced cooked potatoes and creamAdd kale and cook 5 min. longer
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How to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it for God, others, and eternity.
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Ep 9 Legacy of the Word, Aimee Walker

Aimee Walker from Auckland, New Zealand, a former pastor, writes for The Joyful Life Magazine, serves as their community leader, and writes Bible Studies so that women grow up in Jesus. 
You can find Aimee here:
https://www.aimeewalker.co.nz/
 
And her Bible Studies here:
 
https://joyfullifemagazine.com/product-category/bible-studies/
 
Order your copy of The Joyful Life Magazine here 
 
What Amiee says about our spiritual legacy:
 
"Slow and deep."
Maturity can't be rushed. Don't feel the need to race through the Word--there are times and seasons for doing things like reading through the whole Bible in a year, and grasping the big picture. But there's also much to be said for slowly and systematically reading through books of the Bible. We gain understanding as we repeatedly read and as we take the time to meditate and dig into its truth. 
 
The same is true for those we're reaching out to and ministering to--don't be discouraged when there are not instant results. Just be faithful to sow what God is asking you to sow.
 
I was reminded of this recently with one of our kids who had been struggling to integrate into our new church and make friends based in our community. We moved and started going to a new church just over a year ago, and then six months ago we started hosting a family-friendly life group in our home every second Saturday to try and help us all establish connections. We were excited that one of the families had a daughter the same age as ours and hoped they'd hit it off--but we've struggled to even get them to say "hi" to each other (for six whole months)! Then last weekend, with the start of daylight savings and lighter evenings, the two girls asked if they could walk down the road for ice-cream. We said, "yes!"--and the other mother and I celebrated as they walked off together. The next day our daughter also enjoyed church--after months of stand-offs about attending. God used these shifts in attitude to remind me that it's not a race. Just keep being faithful and trust Him to bring the fruit.
 
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Aimee's Caramel Slice Recipe--She says: "It's not quick but, boy, is it worth it!" 
 
Ingredient List:
 
Base 
1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup plain flour (if using a gluten-free flour you may want to use closer to 1 cup)
1/2 cup desiccated coconut 
pinch salt
 
Caramel
 
11 tbsp. butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup 
1 tin sweetened condensed milk
4 tbsp plain flour
 
Icing
 
7 oz. dark chocolate (I use 85% cocoa solids)
3 tbsp butter
 
Method:
 
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease and line a slice tin with parchment paper.
 
Cream the butter and sugar together until thick and pale. Beat the egg in and then add in the flour, coconut, and salt. Beat until well combined. Spread the mix in an even layer into your prepared tin and then bake for 18 minutes. Remove the base from the oven.
 
While the base is cooking, make your caramel by melting all the ingredients in a saucepan/pot over medium heat. Stir continually to avoid burning on the bottom until the butter has melted and the sugar is dissolved. Pour it over the hot base and then return to the oven for another 10 minutes.
 
Remove from the oven and then cool in the tin before icing.
 
To make the icing, gently melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water, stirring gently to combine. Pour over the top of the caramel and place in the fridge to set. Cut into slices and serve. (store the slice in the fridge)
 

Ep 8 What Does a Joy-filled Woman Look Like?

The sure way for joy and peace is talking everything over with your Heavenly Father. He's in the details and He's into you! My gift for you: "Five Prayers to Get You Through the Holidays."
God knows all about expectations, communication, peace, forbearance, and celebration--and He loves hearing from us!
And here's your bookmark: 10 Facts of a Joy-filled Woman (Print below)
 
To print click here.  
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Christmas is all about Christ, right? I can struggle with allowing the Lord Jesus to have the main stage. Subscribe to my blog today and receive:
 "5 Ways to Keep Christ as the Centerpiece of our Holiday Entertaining"
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How to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it for God, others, and eternity.
Subscribe:
Choose one of these popular free listening services, and subscribe there:
    
OR
Subscribe to Welcome Heart's weekly email newsletter, blog updates, and podcast notes, here!
Read Sue's blog -- Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life
Subscribe to my blog at WelcomeHeart.com here to receive weekly thoughts on faith, legacy and a good recipe or two. Welcome, welcome! So glad you came!
Subscribe today to receive:
"5 Ways to Keep Christ as the Centerpiece of our Holiday Entertaining"
 

Ep. 7 Five Prayers to Get Us Through the Holidays

God is interested in every detail of our lives so any prayer is a worthy prayer. Which of the five do you need most today?
To read the transcript of "Five Prayers for the Holidays" click here.
A shorter prayer version - you know we're in a hurry this time of year. Take time to pray these every day!
 
 
For a printable version, click here.
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Read Sue's blog here--Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life
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How to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it for God, others, and eternity.
Subscribe:
Choose one of these popular free listening services, and subscribe there:
    
 

Ep. 6 A Powerful Woman is a Grateful Woman

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6,7
Do we have to wait for a disaster before we become a thankful person?
I want to be that kind of person who is secretly delighted because I know something that others may not: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Reminds me of a plaque I had on my wall in college: "Do we have to wait for a desert before we enjoy water?"
 
Let’s set our minds on thanking God in all things, and set our lips on a low-simmer – except, of course, we  are telling everyone what a great God we have. 
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving – Let’s be delighted and be a delight – both make us powerful women, all for heaven’s sake.
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Powerful Sweet Potato Casserole
by Heather Worsley
 
 
Prep time:  1 hour
Cook time:  30 mins
Total time:  1 hour 30 mins
 
Serves: 5-6
 
Mom used canned yams and candied them in her electric skillet. I grew up on them--sans marshmallows. But I think Mom would even approve of this revisited niece-version.
Ingredients
3 cups hot cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
¼ cup milk, 1 t. vanilla, 1 cube butter
Topping:
1 cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans, ⅓ cup butter
 
Instructions
Mix first 6 ingredients together until smooth and butter is melted.
Place in 7×11 baking pan. Set aside.
For topping, mix dry ingredients, cut in butter with a pastry blender to form a crumb mixture.
Sprinkle over top of potatoes.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Double for a large crowd in a 9×13.
 
 
 

Ep. 5: What Does God Love Most About the Holidays?

Hospitality is hard work but worth it all when you invite someone to your table who needs an invitation to God's table. Your invitation is what God loves best about the holidays. Invite Him to lead you, and then pass on His invitation.
Matthew 5:16  in The Message
If you'd like to print this out and tape it up in the pantry or inside a cupboard door - just for a sweet reminder, here you go.  
Recipe for punch:
Hot Spiced Tea/Punch
(Delectable Collectibles)
1 t. whole cloves
1 stick cinnamon
1/2 t. allspice
1 gal. water
2  1/2 T. tea leaves or 3 tea bags
1 can or more frozen orange juice
1 can frozen lemonade
1 1/2 cups sugar
Tie spices loosely in a bag and bring to boil in water. Add tea and steep five minutes. Remove bags, add juices and sugar; bring to a boil and serve. May be made ahead and stored in refrigerator. Reheat in crockpot when ready to serve. Greet your guests with steaming cups and they will love you (even more than they already do.) I like to use Mom's glass serving tray cups - small and festive. Pick some up at your next garage sale or Mission Thrift. I keep any leftover punch in the freezer and heat it up for the next cold spell.
 
Recipe for DeDe's Cake

Ep 4 Maureen MacPhie: A Scottish Hospitality Legacy

Maureen MacPhie from Scotland exudes hospitality! She knows the value of an open invitation to our tables for something as simple as a scone and a cup of tea. I was able to interview her while she and her husband were on holiday (as they say) in the south of France - where they hosting new friends from Sweden! I love how God sets His people in all places in the world to eat together and enjoy His hospitality fellowship.
Maureen and her husband go on many mission trips. Here's a pic from their time in Albania. 
In her own words:
"I’m still busy cooking, baking, catering at Church & doing Precept Bible studies."
Maureen says that if you make these, your guests will keep coming back! And that you don't need to be too exact in the measurements! (Love that Maureen.)
CHEWY FRUITY BARS
5 ozs corn syrup
4 ozs butter
4 ozs white chocolate, broken up into pieces
5 ozs porridge oats  
4 ozs dried apricots chopped  
4 ozs sultanas  
2 ozs rice crispies
METHOD
Melt syrup and butter over low heat.
Add white chocolate and stir till melted.
Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl and pour in melted ingredients.
Mix well.
Press into a small baking tray or 8" x 8" tin and level with a spoon.
Chill till firm in fridge.
Cut into squares or bars and store in fridge.
2 ozs of coconut and 2 ozs chopped nuts can be used instead of sultanas.
 
 
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Read why living a legacy life matters: Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life
Subscribe to my blog at WelcomeHeart.com here to receive weekly thoughts on faith, legacy and a good recipe or two. Welcome, welcome! So glad you came!
 

Ep. 3: Dominica Lumazar: Surrender and Joy - Two Peas in a Pod

Dominica's Legacy includes good health: spiritual, emotional and physical 
Living with God's priorities: "Show me what's next, Lord?" (And He did!)
When our Creator is the center of all things, our lives will count.
"I get up each every morning with joy in my heart that I get to have another day to make my life count." - Dominica Lumazar
 "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone." James 4:14
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DOMINICA LUMAZAR is the founder of Sweet D Marketing and a world-renowned Strategic Marketing and Branding Consultant. She is also an award-winning #1 International Bestselling Author who has been featured on FORBES, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and Total Prestige Magazine. Dominica has consulted hundreds of companies across a multitude of industries. CEO’s, CMO’s, and many celebrities rely on her expertise to run their marketing and branding campaigns. With 10+ years of experience running two of her own successful companies, she’s been able to break into countless industries and provide epic results for her clients. Dominica is known as their “secret weapon” due to bringing in well over one billion dollars in additional revenue to their bottom lines
To receive your free copy of Dominica's Book, "Empowered: The Business Owner's Guide to Leadership & Success" visit: https://theempoweredbook.com/
 
Connect with her on social media @dominicaLumazar on Instagram, or you can learn more about Dominica at sweetdmarketing.com
 
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Dominica's Make-You-Smile Molasses Cookies
In her own words:
I LOVE this recipe!
It's my go-to for holiday parties. With a name like "sweet D" everyone expects something sweet, especially during the holidays. Because I own a chocolate company, Love Bird Chocolates, they also expect my dark chocolate sea salt caramels.... but I love tossing a curve call with these little babies! I honestly don't remember where I got the recipe...It's a combination of one I must have gotten from a sunset article and my own take on it. Here you go:
 
2 and 1/4 cups (280g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 and 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 cup (60ml) unsulphured or dark molasses
1 large egg (at room temperature)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup (67g) granulated or coarse sugar, for rolling
 
 
Step 1:
Whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt together until combined. Set aside.
 
Step 2:
In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on high speed until creamy and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the molasses and beat until combined. Then add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
 
Step 3:
On low speed, slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. The cookie dough will be slightly sticky. Cover dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour and up to 2-3 days.
 
Step 4
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. (Always recommended for cookies.) Set aside.
 
Step 5: 
Remove cookie dough from the refrigerator. If the cookie dough chilled longer than 2 hours, let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes. The cookies may not spread in the oven if the dough is that cold. Roll cookie dough, 1 Tablespoon each, into balls. Roll each in granulated sugar and arrange 3 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until edges appear set and tops are cracking.
 
Step 6:
Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
 
Cookies will stay fresh, and soft as long as they are covered at room temperature for 1 week.
 
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Read Sue's blog here--Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life
Subscribe to WelcomeHeart.com here to receive weekly thoughts on faith, legacy and a good recipe or two. Welcome, welcome! So glad you came!

Ep. 2: Lasagna Legacy: Keeping Hospitality Simple, All for Heaven's Sake

People can find Jesus at our table – it’s as simple as that. God has a “welcoming heart” and we get to show His heart through hospitality.
The world’s idea of hospitality warps our view, making hosting so much effort, we give up before we even begin. As my friend, Liz, said:
"Hospitality is a metaphor for how God woos us. When we welcome others, we welcome them to God." - Liz Heaney
And I like to add: "And God is waiting all along for their arrival." Our arrival. That's you and me. 
Lori's Lemonade Chicken in a Crockpot, click here.
For Trishee's Wonderful Crockpot Lasagna recipe, click here.
Another one that's equally wonderful is Crockpot Zucchini Lasagna with Hamburger, click here.
And if you prefer chicken over beef, try Florentine (spinach) Chicken Lasagna, click here.
This is great reminder as you fill your crockpot and invite your guests, all for heaven's sake: