HOT FUDGE PIE

HOT FUDGE PIE If you love chocolate, then this is for you. It is oh so gooey and delicious....
Ingredients: 
1 stick butter, softened 
1 c sugar 
2 eggs 
1 tsp vanilla 
3 Tbsp cocoa powder 
1 tsp salt 
1/2 c all purpose flour
Instructions; Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add cocoa powder, salt and flour and stir until well combined. Grease 8 inch pie pan with butter or cooking spray, pour mixture into pie pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until center is set.

ROLE CALL: FAMILY VETERANS

Stolen from my sister Donna Waters Evans, keeper of the family genealogy.

In honor of my ancestors who fought that we may be free:*William L. Waters - GGGgrandfather fought during the Civil War in Company “B”, 56th Georgia Infantry; died at the Battle of Vicksburg*John Charles Curnutt - GGGGrandfather fought during the Civil War in Company B, 44th Regiment, Indiana Infantry; died at Sherman Hospital in Nashville, TN*Martin VanBuren Shelton - GGGrandfather fought during the Civil War in Company C, 22nd Georgia Infantry
*Issac James Willingham - GGGrandfather - fought during the Civil War in Company W, 30th Alabama Infantry
*James W. Qualls - GGGGGrandfather fought during the Mexican War in 1st Footed Volunteers - Detachment of Recruits (Co. G & Co. I of the 12th U S Infantry)
*Phillip Meroney - GGGGGrandfather fought during the Revolutionary War in the Maryland Militia
*Abron Wayne Waters - Father - fought during the Korean War in the Air Force
My family has a strong history of serving this country in times of trouble. I am very proud to be an American!

We have tons more veterans in our family, too many to name but I'm proud of them all.

All the pictures below are of my Dad, Wayne "RED" Waters back in the day. Handsome devil that he was, he quit school in the 6th grade but got his diploma while in the service; although he claims that all he really learned was how to cheat at cards.

Love you Dad, miss you and Mom every day.

I

GRIEF IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT!

Mikel Chane Crook 1974-2014
 BELOVED SON & FATHER

It seems that some of my family and friends aren't  pleased with the way that I've been grieving the loss of my 39 year old son. Several of them  have made comments to others about why haven't I had a public breakdown. I've even been accused of trying to wipe Chane’s memory away or of being glad that he’s gone. It hurts that my so-called loved ones seem to be actively waiting for the pity party so they can critique my heartache.

People, GRIEF IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT! I  have never been one to show my feelings in public. I didn't have a public come-a-part when I lost either of my deceased husbands nor at the deaths of both of my parents. I prefer to lose it in private.

No one but my dog is around when I cry while watching funny movies. I don't share the fact that I find myself wondering what Chane wants for dinner before I remember that he’s not coming home ever again or how in the grocery store I pick up something that he loves and I hate before it hits me that I'm buying groceries for one now.

So don't judge me or others on how we behave in public. Everyone isn't a Drama Queen who wants to be the center of attention. A few of us hold our feeling close and choose to deal with life’s disasters in our own way, on our own terms. Just because we don't broadcast our sorrow doesn’t make it less real, and finding that our support system is waiting for us to fall makes the hurt doubly deep.