May 31, 2013
6 lb. 15 oz.
A proud older sister...
...and the sheer delight of siblings.
Family is a wonderful gift from the Lord!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
From the Kitchen: Sugar and Spice Drops
With hosting bi-weekly Bible studies and book studies in our home on Monday nights throughout the spring and summer, there is ample opportunity to serve delicious treats to our guests. I love to bake so decided to use these gatherings as a springboard to try new recipes.
At our book study last week, we served Sugar and Spice Drops from kingarthurflour.com. (Recipe follows below.) They were a big hit! They are soft and chewy with the traditional ginger snap flavor. Being that they are teaspoon-size, these small morsels are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. And an added bonus is that my nieces and nephew like them, too!
I hope to post more approved recipes here in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Sugar and Spice Drops
3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar (I did 3/4-1 c.)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
2 cups flour
At our book study last week, we served Sugar and Spice Drops from kingarthurflour.com. (Recipe follows below.) They were a big hit! They are soft and chewy with the traditional ginger snap flavor. Being that they are teaspoon-size, these small morsels are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. And an added bonus is that my nieces and nephew like them, too!I hope to post more approved recipes here in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Sugar and Spice Drops
In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices until smooth. Beat in the molasses, then the egg, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Mix in the flour. Refrigerate the dough, covered for 30 minutes or as long as overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets, or line with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and drop it by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 10 to 11 minutes, until they've flattened out and started to color at the edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a rack to cool.
Yield: about 4 1/2 dozen cookies.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A Celebration
Saturday held a celebration in finishing school for the year! Essie requested we have a party complete with streamers and balloons. I decided to seize the opportunity to bake a one-of-a-kind dessert we had never had before: ice cream cone cupcakes! They were easy to make and turned out so cute.
All ready for the party...
The decorations wouldn't be complete without an arrangement of fresh cut flowers from the backyard.
Helping Aunt Rachael "pick" the flowers. Hannah particularly liked our chives.
We had homemade pizza, salad, veggies, and strawberries for dinner.
The kiddos ate their ice cream cones at the picnic table on the back porch. They enjoyed their summer dessert!
The evening was a great kick-off to the start of the summer! We look forward to many more fun times in the months ahead!
All ready for the party...
The decorations wouldn't be complete without an arrangement of fresh cut flowers from the backyard.
Helping Aunt Rachael "pick" the flowers. Hannah particularly liked our chives.
We had homemade pizza, salad, veggies, and strawberries for dinner.
The kiddos ate their ice cream cones at the picnic table on the back porch. They enjoyed their summer dessert!
The evening was a great kick-off to the start of the summer! We look forward to many more fun times in the months ahead!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
With Gratitude
With Mother's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be good to resurrect a poem I wrote to Mom for her birthday in 2009. My gratitude to God for the mother (and father) He's given me grows deeper every day. My sisters and I are richly blessed and indebted to the investment of our parents in our lives.
With all my heart I long to say
What’s brimming in my heart, oh, so true!
But mere human word can never portray
The love that I have for you.
How I thank you for all the ways
You've cared for me and this family,
In cooking, washing, cleaning, praying-
They’re constant and innumerable, the daily needs.
Then the prayers both day and night
For your husband and daughters to strengthen them for the fight.
Your listening ear and words of wisdom and truth
Will have a lasting impact on generations to prove.
Your investment in me, so constant and deep
Is a treasure enduring I’ll always keep.
As God continues to bless and give me years anew,
I have your example before me - I want to be like you.
My prayer is that God will continue to bless and restore
As you faithfully serve others and Him adore.
With deep gratitude to God on this special day,
Know that my love is with you - now and always.
With all my heart I long to say
What’s brimming in my heart, oh, so true!
But mere human word can never portray
The love that I have for you.
How I thank you for all the ways
You've cared for me and this family,
In cooking, washing, cleaning, praying-
They’re constant and innumerable, the daily needs.
Then the prayers both day and night
For your husband and daughters to strengthen them for the fight.
Your listening ear and words of wisdom and truth
Will have a lasting impact on generations to prove.
Your investment in me, so constant and deep
Is a treasure enduring I’ll always keep.
As God continues to bless and give me years anew,
I have your example before me - I want to be like you.
My prayer is that God will continue to bless and restore
As you faithfully serve others and Him adore.
With deep gratitude to God on this special day,
Know that my love is with you - now and always.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Last Week
It's been a full week with not a whole lot of extra time! With the spring season comes lawn maintenance and gardening. Last Saturday, I planted flowers by our mailbox and drafted Kathy to help me with weeding and mulching. Our flower beds are looking so pretty now!
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On Monday afternoon, we had tea with a friend from Kansas whom we hadn't seen in almost a year. It was good for all of us to catch up with her! The menu: apple slices, strawberries, crackers and cheese slices, gluten-free vanilla cupcakes, homemade animal cookies, and (of course) tea.
Kathy and I spent part of Wednesday evening with more special friends. The IMA gardens were beautiful, and we enjoyed a lovely stroll around the grounds.
We thank the Lord for the beauty of the changing season and for the gift of friendship! He has truly blessed us with many good things.
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On Monday afternoon, we had tea with a friend from Kansas whom we hadn't seen in almost a year. It was good for all of us to catch up with her! The menu: apple slices, strawberries, crackers and cheese slices, gluten-free vanilla cupcakes, homemade animal cookies, and (of course) tea.
Kathy and I spent part of Wednesday evening with more special friends. The IMA gardens were beautiful, and we enjoyed a lovely stroll around the grounds.
We thank the Lord for the beauty of the changing season and for the gift of friendship! He has truly blessed us with many good things.
Friday, May 3, 2013
By The Gentle Waters
These words by Cindy Berry have been running through my mind the last couple of weeks, and I have found them to be most encouraging in light of current circumstances. Psalm 23 says that God is our Good Shepherd, and those who belong to Him will find great peace and security trusting in His way and provision.
By the gentle waters you will safely lead me,
In green pastures feed me, knowing what is best.
Though I often stray, wander far away,
I can hear you say, "Come to me and rest."
Though the path be rough and rugged,
Though the trail be dark and steep,
Still the gentle Shepherd watches o'er His sheep.
There's no need to fear when the Shepherd's near.
When your voice I hear, I find comfort sure.
Free from all alarm, sheltered from all harm,
Safely in your arms, I can rest, secure.
With the flock abiding, all my needs supplying,
Comforting and guiding, leading all the way.
Jesus, loving Shepherd, you'll forsake me never!
In your flock forever, I am not alone!
Though the darkness hide me, you are close beside me.
Gentle Shepherd, guide me 'til I'm safely home.
(To listen to this beautiful piece, click here and select "By the Gentle Waters".)
By the gentle waters you will safely lead me,
In green pastures feed me, knowing what is best.
Though I often stray, wander far away,
I can hear you say, "Come to me and rest."
Though the path be rough and rugged,
Though the trail be dark and steep,
Still the gentle Shepherd watches o'er His sheep.
There's no need to fear when the Shepherd's near.
When your voice I hear, I find comfort sure.
Free from all alarm, sheltered from all harm,
Safely in your arms, I can rest, secure.
With the flock abiding, all my needs supplying,
Comforting and guiding, leading all the way.
Jesus, loving Shepherd, you'll forsake me never!
In your flock forever, I am not alone!
Though the darkness hide me, you are close beside me.
Gentle Shepherd, guide me 'til I'm safely home.
(To listen to this beautiful piece, click here and select "By the Gentle Waters".)
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Take Time
"Oh, I'm so tired, but there's much more to do, so I have to keep going..." I pushed aside my feelings and pressed forward with new resolve as I worked through the stack of projects that had somehow accumulated between last Friday and Tuesday morning. How it had all piled up for this particular week was a mystery. As I thought of more and more details and made another list of to-dos, I could feel myself growing tighter and tighter and trying to whiz from one thing to the next.
By mid-morning I felt like I had run 20 miles, so I decided to take a break by retrieving the mail. With my mind already on the next thing needing to be done before I had even completed my current task, I raced down the stairs and hurriedly walked down the lane. It was a gorgeous spring day. The warm temperatures and sunny skies fitting for this time of year had finally arrived. Everything seemed to be shouting that winter was gone and new life here. Birds were happily singing. The hardened ground was showing signs of new growth. The blue skies beckoned for one to bask in its warmth.
But as for myself, I was in a thick fog, completely unaware of my surroundings. I was intent on getting back to the day's demands. There was no time to waste as my feet flew across the pavement. I had to keep going.
As I blazed a trail down to the church mailbox with my mind on getting back to my desk and wondering why there wasn't more time in the day, I abruptly stopped - dead in my tracks. Something caught my attention and as I turned my head to take a brief look, another part of me came alive and said, "That's beautiful. You need to stop and take a picture."
And suddenly I lost all momentum and found myself turning my steps off the beaten path to to take a closer look at what had gripped my attention: brightly colored tulips. Yes, tulips. So small and unimportant in comparison to the rest of creation around them, but yet so very beautiful.
After snapping a few pictures with my phone, I looked up with new eyes and finally saw what I had been missing. The warmth of the sun on my skin, the vivid greenness of the grass under my feet, the cheery birds above, and the blossoming trees all around me - it was gorgeous, a most wonderful gift from the Creator Himself.
I didn't want to leave this picture of perfection, but as I slowly made my way down to retrieve the mail, I continued to take it all in, enjoying my surroundings. And I noticed something profound: a new energy filled my entire being. I went back to my office ready to face the "mountain" with a heart that was singing.
In the midst of pressures and responsibilities, do I take time to enjoy what God has created? The world around me attests to the glory and majesty of God. I need to learn to stop, ponder His handiwork, and thank Him for what He has given me.
By mid-morning I felt like I had run 20 miles, so I decided to take a break by retrieving the mail. With my mind already on the next thing needing to be done before I had even completed my current task, I raced down the stairs and hurriedly walked down the lane. It was a gorgeous spring day. The warm temperatures and sunny skies fitting for this time of year had finally arrived. Everything seemed to be shouting that winter was gone and new life here. Birds were happily singing. The hardened ground was showing signs of new growth. The blue skies beckoned for one to bask in its warmth.
But as for myself, I was in a thick fog, completely unaware of my surroundings. I was intent on getting back to the day's demands. There was no time to waste as my feet flew across the pavement. I had to keep going.
As I blazed a trail down to the church mailbox with my mind on getting back to my desk and wondering why there wasn't more time in the day, I abruptly stopped - dead in my tracks. Something caught my attention and as I turned my head to take a brief look, another part of me came alive and said, "That's beautiful. You need to stop and take a picture."
And suddenly I lost all momentum and found myself turning my steps off the beaten path to to take a closer look at what had gripped my attention: brightly colored tulips. Yes, tulips. So small and unimportant in comparison to the rest of creation around them, but yet so very beautiful.
After snapping a few pictures with my phone, I looked up with new eyes and finally saw what I had been missing. The warmth of the sun on my skin, the vivid greenness of the grass under my feet, the cheery birds above, and the blossoming trees all around me - it was gorgeous, a most wonderful gift from the Creator Himself.
I didn't want to leave this picture of perfection, but as I slowly made my way down to retrieve the mail, I continued to take it all in, enjoying my surroundings. And I noticed something profound: a new energy filled my entire being. I went back to my office ready to face the "mountain" with a heart that was singing.
In the midst of pressures and responsibilities, do I take time to enjoy what God has created? The world around me attests to the glory and majesty of God. I need to learn to stop, ponder His handiwork, and thank Him for what He has given me.
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