Fabulous Friday - My Favorite Foods with a Buffalo Twist

My Favorite Foods with a Buffalo Twist


1.  Hamburgers (grilled)

A juicy hamburger always has been and continues to be my favorite. Ketchup, mustard, onions and dill pickles are my preferred condiments.


2.  Pizza

I have never tired of pizza and my favorite place in the Buffalo area is La Nova - cheese and pepperoni.  La Rosa's on north campus is fairly good and is more of a New York City style.


3.  Hot Dogs (grilled)

I know - there must be something seriously wrong with me - but give me a Sahlen's hot dog (made in Buffalo) with Weber's mustard (made in Buffalo) and chopped onion anyday.


4.  Grilled Chicken

This is specific though. It must be marinated in Chiavetta's.  There is not a better marinade anywhere - again, made in Buffalo.


5.  Tacos

I just never tire of the taste of them - especially in a hard shell.


Honorable Mention: Filet Mignon, Spaghetti, and other various recipes made by talented wife!

Fabulous Friday - My Most Memorable Moments in Peoria This Week

My Most Memorable Moments in Peoria This Week
24 August 2012


1. Matt and Andy Cieslak

Matt and Andy blessed us by helping us move lots of stuff to Peoria to Joe and Grace's new apartment. Since we were gone the week before, it took away our stress by not having to figure out a rental van/truck.

2. We win!

Matt and Andy left two hours before we did. We beat them to the apartment by 5 minutes (and we took our time). Too many Starbucks stops for them!

3. First United Methodist Church of Peoria

This is the church Joe is the "Director of Contemporary Worship Arts." The place is huge and it is a downtown church that has deliberately stayed downtown, right next to some of the worst of the worst. It is a mainline church that has stayed true to its original message - to love God - and to love your neighbor - which they actively do. I am impressed.

4. The Vandervoorns

This couple took Joe and Grace in for a few weeks before they got into their apartment. They are a great generous couple. Lauri was Grace's connection for the school position. John is your typical Dutchman who has a scuba diving business. These two are complete opposites and are a blast to be with. I hope we get to spend more time with them.

5. Morton, IL

This is the school district for which Grace has the teaching position. It is called the pumpkin capital of the world - and here all this time, I thought it was Clarence, NY. The one thing I find disappointing about the school is that the teams are called the Morton Potters. Just what does that mean? I am afraid to guess...

Fabulous Friday - My Most Memorable Moments in Boston This Week

My Most Memorable Moments in Boston This Week
17 August 2012

1.  The Ferry Ride from Charlestown to the Long Wharf

We were tired from walking the Freedom Trail, and the ferry was a welcome ride, especially on such a beautiful day.

2.  Bunker Hill Monument

We climbed the 221 foot monument - 294 steps - needless to say Paul & Dondra were tired.  JJ, on the other hand...

3.  75 State Street

Coming out of the tunnel into the city, the GPS had stopped working. So instead of looking for the cheapest garage, I just picked one. I think I found the most expensive one in the financial district.  At least it was really clean.

4.  YMCA

We were able to see where JJ works and meet many of his co-workers. That was a blessing.

5.  Paul Revere

Having visited Paul Revere's house, I was amazed at how many children he had: Deborah, Paul Jr., Sarah, Mary*, Frances, Mary, Elizabeth, Isannah*, Joshua, John*, Joseph, Lucy*, Harriet, John*, Maria, John, Bo Roberts. Names with asterisks died in infancy.

Super Sunday - My 5 Most Memorable Olympic Moments of 2012

12 August 2012


1  Jennifer Suhr winning the women's pole vault.

Jen graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College during the same era as my son, JJ, and his wife, Natalie. It was nice to see a quality young lady from western NY compete and win, and also have the Roberts connection.

2. The flap over Gabby Douglas' hair...

Gabby wins the gold medal, then some small-minded people begin to criticize about how bad her hair looks. Really? She is 16. She smiles like she means it. And, she trains in Iowa away from family and home. Give her a break. Go Gabby! I love your hair!

3. Michael Phelps not getting a medal in the first competition...

For a moment, Michael Phelps looked human. When asked by the interviewer what happened, Phelps was speechless. He could not come up with one sensible thing to say. In the rest of the races, he made sure he did not have to repeat that awkward moment, and let his swimming do the talking. Nice comeback.

4.  We always use our fists in football...

Or it was something like that the female soccer player from Colombia said when her fist "accidentally" landed in the eye socket of Rochester's Abby Wambach. Glad to see that FIFA did not agree with her tactics and suspended her. Also happy to see it did not affect the outcome of the game - or maybe it did!

5.  Mr. Bean in the opening ceremony...

How can you not love British humor? Mr. Bean was hilarious as he played his one note during the symphony. I could not stop laughing...

What moments did you enjoy the most?

Are These Really Olympic Sports?

Humbly Submitted as the 2012 Summer Olympics Come to a Close

11 August 2012

—  Triple Jump

This must be the adult version of hopscotch

—  Handball

Water polo for those who can’t swim; give me dodgeball, please!

—  Walking

 A race for those who can’t get their feet off the ground

—  Cycling Team Sprint

So much fun watching 4 cyclists go round and round and round (snore…)

—  BMX races

For adults who forgot to graduate to bicycles that fit them 

Which "sport" is unbelievable to you?

Fabulous Friday - My Favorite Restaurants in the Buffalo Area

My Favorite Restaurants in the Buffalo Area

1.  Grover's (East Amherst)

2.  The King and I (Snyder)

3.  Chef's (Buffalo)

4.  Pizza Plant (Williamsville)

5.  Duff's (Amherst or Cheektowaga)

Do you have any favorite spots?

Legacy: James Albert Decker (12)

Remembrances:

"The loss of your dad is a grievous and terrible one. He was such a good man, and kind, gentle, and caring."

"We were sorry to hear about your dad. He was a good Christian man and will be missed. Jim is singing in the heavenly choir and teaching the saints, no doubt."

"I will always remember him fondly as a loving, kind man, with a wide smile who loved to chuckle and make others smile and laugh too. He truly was a Christian man who all of us should hold as an example on how to live our lives."

Legacy: James Albert Decker (11)

Remembrances by James J. Decker

24 June 2012

Conclusion

Papa introduced himself to my future mother-in-law this way: “I’m a Baptist, but I love to dance.”

When asked if he could play an instrument, what would he have played, and why?  “You’ve got to be kidding!  Tone-deaf people don’t play instruments!”

God gave Papa strong legs to run, and only when they gave out, did the Lord take him home. 

Papa was heaven-focused, right up to the end, evidenced by the book he was reading and re-reading: Heaven Is for Real. 

Now he’s there, with Jesus, and has new legs, a new voice, and new dance moves.

Papa didn’t like funerals. He intensely hated death. But even more, he hated to lose the opportunity to tell anyone about Jesus.

Jesus loves me, my family, Papa, Nana.  And Jesus loves you. 

Our human nature does us a disservice. We give ranks to the wrong things we do.  But with Jesus, sin is sin, no matter what it is. But here is the thing, no matter how “high-ranking” our sin is, it is not enough to disqualify us from his love.

Sin separates us from knowing Jesus. And we’ve all done it (Romans 3:23). And the consequences are dire - forever separated from God (Romans 6:23). 

                
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus loves you and me, his creations. And he went to drastic measures to reunite us.

So now, if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

I know that any of us that have spoken, myself, would love to tell you more, and walk you through these steps. And my grandfather, who loves Jesus more so now than ever before, would be ecstatic that you would begin this new life. 

Fabulous Friday - My 5 Favorite Statuses on Facebook in July

These are five favorite statuses that I put on Facebook in July 2012: 

• Question: If I have 10 ice cubes and you have 11 apples, how many pancakes will fit on the roof? Answer: Purple…because aliens don’t wear hats.
• The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it is still on my list...
• I've had amnesia as long as I can remember...
• Most everyone would agree that trampolines are awesome. Except for kangaroos. They’re probably unimpressed.
• I went to a doctor and he told me I was overweight. I told him I wanted a second opinion. He said, “Okay, you’re ugly too.”

What was your favorite status that you put up?