MEET GLORIA - Gloria is a two time breast cancer Survivor! First diagnosed in 1999, she endured chemo and radiation treatments. Diagnosed again, in 2013, this time having to under go a double mastectomy. She was in and out of the hospital multiple times over the next year, due to complications of this surgery. She still suffers with related health issues to this day. Yet, she keeps up the fight. She is determined not to live a life that is dictated by cancer, but a life according to her own desires. She greets each day with such hope and promise, she is determined and a fighter. She enjoys all that life has to offer, and is fierce in her determination to live each day to the fullest. She meets trials and tribulations head on, she does not let them define her. She is pure grace under fire. Gloria is 73 years young. She has been married to her lifetime sweetheart for 57 years. She is the Mother of 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Her youngest grandchild was born with Angelman Syndrome. Just months after having her mastectomy and experiencing multiple hospital stays for complication of that surgery, (blood clots in her lungs) Gloria was determined to do the walk for Angelman Syndrome with her cherished grandson Mason, just like she had in years past. So she did! This Beautiful, Strong, lady is such an example of Strength, Courage, Love, Compassion and Faith. She is a true inspiration of Positive attitude, a genuine loving spirit, living a life of purpose and always living a standard of do good, feel good. She never gave up, she never quit fighting, all, while still tirelessly giving and helping others. Gloria is an Amazing woman, an inspiration, and a Survivor!

The Fall issue of Sparklers Magazine is Live!!!

Make your party the talk of the neighborhood with these song suggestions that are sure to get your kids happy and in the Halloween Spirit.


"Monster Mash" — Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers 
"Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr.
"I Want Candy"
"Thriller" — Michael Jackson
"A Nightmare on my Street" — D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
"Purple People Eater" — Sheb Wooley
This is Halloween" — from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Addams Family Theme
"Hedwig's Theme" — from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
What’s New Scooby Doo? – The Complete Halloween Party Album
Witch Doctor – Alvin and the ChipmunksI
Put A Spell On You – Hocus Pocus 
Grim, Grinning Ghosts – Mickeys Monster Bash
Yo, Ho! (A Pirate’s Life For Me) – Disney’s Greatest Hits
Oogie Boogie’s Song – Ken Page



Keep the kids happy and busy with these great party games.

We love all things Pumpkin around here.  My friend told me about these 3 ingredient cookies a few years ago, and they have quickly become a family favorite.  They are easy and yummy, and bring the yummy smell of autumn in your home.

These cookies are so easy that my 10 year old daughter has made them a few times while I recover from surgery.  I think I need to make some more this afternoon.  Yummy!

http://www.raininghotcoupons.com/caramel-apple-taquitos/

Are you ready for some Football!?  We LOVE Football!  And when college football started again we dusted off our game day shirts and got out the snacking recipes.

Here are 3 of our favorites.  (Pictures aren't the best.  Sadly my lens was not working and I didn't realize it until I already uploaded them and ate all the food!)

Loaded Potato Skins

 3 large baking potatoes (washed)

Directions:

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Wings

Football Queso

My kids FAVORITE thing to eat for breakfast is French Toast.  I make it for them every Sunday, and any day in between that they can talk me into it!  (which is a LOT!)

Last fall I came across a  recipe for Pumpkin French Toast!  How perfect is that for this time of year!?

As soon as September hits, I start making these tasty yum-yums, and score big points with the family.

Pumpkin Pecan French Toast

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 4 eggs
• 2 Tbsp packed light-brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 10 slices wheat bread
• Butter, for griddle
• sugar pecans for topping (You can make your own, or buy them in the salad topping section.)
• powdered sugar for topping
• syrup for topping

• Preheat an electric griddle to 350 degrees.  Whisk together half and half, pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and pie spice until well combined. Pour into a shallow dish.
• Butter griddle and dip bread into egg mixture (allowing a few seconds for it to absorb) then rotate and coat opposite side. Transfer to griddle and cook until golden brown on bottom, then flip french toast to opposite side and cook until golden brown. Serve warm with butter, pecans, powdered sugar and maple syrup.

It's that time of year again.  Back to School.

I always have mixed feelings about my children going back to school.  On the one hand, I love having them home with me.  We love staying up late, playing games, going on bike rides and hanging out.  We spend our summers at water parks, soccer tournaments and family activities.  I hate to see our fun come to an end.

On the other hand, I crave order and routine.  I enjoy letting go of it during the summer, but I do get a little excited about the thought of schedules again.

Every year I like to plan a little Back to School dinner.  I make it a special occasion, one that we look forward to and each of the kids can participate in.  I use it as a night of planning and goal setting for the upcoming school year.   I pick a theme I want to focus on and then go from there.

This year my sister, Hollie, and I were talking and we really liked THIS TALK by President Gordon B. Hinckley.   It's the B's talk.  We were trying to find a way to focus on the the "Be Smart" part of his talk.  After all, it's Back to School.

Then we found a follow up talk he gave,  and I really liked this part.

"For you, my dear friends, the sky is the limit. You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. ........... Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities." 

I knew that this was what I wanted our focus to be on.   I want my children to know that they need to not just go through life.   They can't just let life happen, and go with whatever way the wind blows.  They can not become idle in their dreams, and they can do and be anything that they work to be.  They must live their life with PURPOSE!  Anything can be accomplished when they go forward with a positive attitude.

So I put together these bookmarks for each one of my children with excerpts from that talk.










Once everything was set I made a yummy dinner, (post to come) and my Husband I talked to our kids about our Back To School theme.  Then my Husband gave our kids their annual Back to School Blessings.   I always look so forward to this tradition.  I am a bit of a nervous Nelly, and hearing him give each child a blessing always eases my mama bear heart.  He even gives me one, so that I can embrace the new School year, instead of being anxious and feeling sad about the kids leaving.

We then had each child write down 3 goals in their journal that they wanted to focus on for this upcoming school year.  We encourage them to think about this before our dinner, that way they are inspired and can take this process seriously.  We encourage them to think beyond passing tests, and reading a set number of books.   We want them to remember that back to school is about relationships with friends, choosing the right paths, and making the right decisions with their time as well as good grades. They need to seek out knowledge and truth, and to build on their relationship with their Heavenly Father.

I am now looking forward to this upcoming School year with so much excitement!!  I am excited to see what my kids can accomplish now that they have a clear understanding of our expectations and with their goals they set for themselves.   We are ready to Go Forward with Purpose!!!

It's here!  It's finally here!  The August Issue of Sparklers Magazine.