The voice of melody

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T14:18:00.002-05:00

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year!

{hugs}

The great Physician

2010-11-29T08:44:00.004-05:00

When I was growing up, our family rarely went to church, except for Christmas Eve and Easter.

We didn't own a Bible. We didn't listen to gospel music. I had not the slightest clue why Jesus died and rose again, and I doubt the rest of my family did either. We never prayed, never said grace before any meal, and God was simply never mentioned in our home. Not that we had something against Him, but we clearly did not give Him any importance or acknowledgment.

Despite that, I know that God never gave up on me, and I'm so glad about that!

Of course, He gave me plenty of struggles, as I now know they are part of His plan and He knows better than me why He has given me great joy in certain aspects of my life and sorrow in others. But despite the difficulties, I am certain that God is by my side and is the perfect Healer.

I haven't always known that, as I've mentioned. I lived my life my own way for a very long time with lackluster results. Until one day, I decided I should pray.

By then, I was in my late thirties, I hadn't gone to church in at least 10 years (not even on Christmas Eve and Easter as I had done as a child), and found myself in a hopeless situation.

I had lost my voice.

Not just for a couple of days but for good. Several years earlier, I had been diagnosed with a medical condition that made me lose my voice. I had gone through a few doctors and a few surgeries, some resulted in a little improvement and some in no improvement at all. Then, I found a wonderful voice specialist who treated professional singers and even royalty from overseas. He had the best credentials and came very highly recommended.

I was so thrilled after he performed the surgery and I finally had my voice back! It was crystal clear and what a wonderful feeling it was to be able to speak again! My little boy was just 3 months old and finally, he would be able to hear more than a whisper from me. I could sing lullabies, I could talk to him, play with him, it was wonderful!

Until a couple of years after that when, once again, my voice went away and I was down to merely a whisper. I could not even read him a bedtime story because I had barely anything left.

I went to my doctor and he performed surgery on me again. At least, I knew I was in good hands and he would give me my voice back as he had done a couple of years earlier.

But this time, my voice didn't come back.

I was in shock! I panicked, I worried, and I cried. But, not to worry, I was soon again on the operating table ready to have yet another surgery and this time, it would definitely be a success as my doctor would perform a slightly different procedure in order to heal my voice and the scar tissue on my vocal cords.

But, sadly, despite these two surgeries back to back, my voice was still gone with no sign of coming back.

I couldn't believe it! Here was the highest-skilled doctor in this part of the country, he had all the newest tools and used the most innovative techniques. Other doctors from all over the world come to him to get trained. I know he could give me my voice back, so why on earth couldn't I get it back?!

I was in despair. Everywhere I went, I had to bring a pad and paper and write what I wanted. If I stopped at the deli, I would hand out my order on a piece of paper. If I went to the coffee shop, I would write down my order as well. Phone conversations were impossible. Many times, I had to have my husband speak for me because people couldn't hear me. I avoided people and socializing in general. I couldn't be heard in busy places so I stayed home mostly and got together with my girlfriends at home or in a quiet corner of a coffee shop.

Little by little, I became filled with hopelessness. And that's when I started to think about God.

One night, I went to bed filled with despair. I just couldn't handle it anymore and since I believed in God (although I paid Him no attention), I knew in my heart that if I actually prayed to Him, He would hear me.

So, I began to pour out my heart to God. I told Him how sad I was to have lost my voice and not been able to get it back despite being treated by a very capable doctor. I remember telling Him that I knew everything I had was His, including my voice, and for Him to do with it what He wanted. I was surrendering. Tears flew down my face and didn't stop. I cried myself to sleep that night. Then I woke up the next morning and I felt at peace about coming to God. I knew it was the right thing to do.

Then I got out of bed and started getting ready for the day. I opened my mouth...

And my voice was back!!!!!

Immediately, I thought "God was here! He heard me and He healed me!". Everywhere I went, people were shocked and asked me what happened. I told them that I started praying! Ever since that day, I have been giving thanks to God for giving me my voice back. I know that He took it away for a reason, and I appreciate it so much now.

O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. Psalm 30:2.

That was 5 years ago, and although I lost it again a couple of years after that, I went back to my doctor and it was restored again. This time, I didn't rely only on my doctor but I actually prayed that God would guide my doctor's hands and give him the wisdom to know exactly what to do. And sure enough, I have now been able to keep my voice for over 2 1/2 years, which is the longest that I have ever kept it after surgery without losing it again so that is a new record for me! I pray that I won't lose it again, but if I do, I know it will be part of God's plan and I will definitely depend on Him to be in the surgery room overseeing each move that my doctor makes.

I know God is the perfect Healer and there is nothing too hard for Him. We just have to stop counting on man alone for help and turn to Him instead. He has perfect strength and wisdom and power, and I am actually grateful that God took my voice away when He did in order that I could come to that realization and have a relationship with Him.

If you need healing of any kind, turn to God. You won't find a physician with credentials that come anywhere close to His!

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:13-15.

May God bless you and heal you!

Hot pink

2010-10-10T17:13:00.012-04:00

I don't know about you but I sure am seeing pink everywhere lately, and it's a great thing! The best part about it is that it's all for a great cause: breast cancer awareness.

It seems that more attention is paid to it this year than in years past although some of the same promotions have been around for quite a number of years. The pink Yoplait lids are one of them.

I have some Yoplait yogurt in my refrigerator right now and I'll be sure to mail the lids in to Yoplait. For every one of their pink lids that they receive until December 31st, they will donate 10 cents to the fight against breast cancer. It may not seem like a lot but I believe the minimum donation is $500,000 dollars. Not bad!

Also, Saks 5th Avenue is doing its Key for the Cure T-shirt promotion again and this year's t-shirt was designed by Donna Karan. The t-shirt will be available at Saks later this month but only for a short time. Here's a sneak peek:

Yes, that is Uma Thurman and yes, she could wear a rag and look fabulous. :)

The pink ribbons and pink bracelets are everywhere too.

All that pink inspired me to bake some chocolate cupcakes. What does pink have to do with chocolate cupcakes you ask? Well, the pink frosting of course!

Doesn't that look good! That's the kind of look that I was going for... although I had to settle for a plainer version. I'm not quite the expert when it comes to making food look irresistible! Here are mine:

I packed almost 2 dozens to give away and kept a few "extras" at home, which we enjoyed.

My camera doesn't do the pink frosting justice. It was actually vanilla frosting with a couple of drops of red food coloring which gave them a nice soft pink color. They were good, I can tell you that!

You know, most of us women tend to take care of everyone else before ourselves so let's make an effort to be vigilant about monthly self-exams and if a mammogram is recommended, let's not put it off.

I am due for one this year and although I can't say it's something I'm looking forward to, I will get it done. One diagnosis is one too many.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead! May you see lots of pinks everywhere as a reminder for you to take care of yourself.

{hugs}

The usual September's resolution

2010-09-23T22:29:00.010-04:00

Each year, shortly after the start of the new school year, I promise myself that I will get organized. I will tackle the new school year head on and tell the massive amount of paperwork that comes with it exactly where to go. By that I mean I will have a specific place for it to go! There will be a home for every piece of paper that seems to pile up higher and higher each time I look away.

I will neatly file all the graded homework that comes back home, I will find the perfect place to display all of the artwork that Sweet Cheeks does at school, I will have the perfect place to keep all the teacher's notes, weekly calendars, special assignments, spelling lists, school announcements, and so on. I can only fit so many things on my refrigerator door, you know!

Yes, all this organized bliss will be my gift to myself!

And before September is over, I can see all my good intentions flying out of the window!

But I think for now, I will give myself permission to do my best, even though it may not be as good as I would like it to be. I will simply keep searching for the perfect solution to getting myself organized the way I really would like to, even if it takes me a little while.

In the meantime, it's been a while since I shared some of my baking with you and speaking of school, I'll leave you with one of my favorite after-school snacks.

As you can see, I made a huge batch so stop by anytime. I always have cookies to share with a friend!

{hugs}

A baseball and a castle

2010-09-12T15:59:00.013-04:00

Lately, I have been very busy, as always. It seems free time is something I don't have very much of, but that's ok. I prefer that than to be bored with nothing to do, don't you?!

One of the many things that keep me busy is our son's sports activities. Actually, it's a family affair since my husband doesn't just watch the action from the stands like I do but he coaches our son's baseball and football teams. The sports here are year-round since we don't get winters. Well, we don't get cold winters I should say!

Last weekend, the baseball team (8 and 9 year olds) traveled to participate in a tournament at ESPN's Wide World of Sports on Disney property. It was 4 days of baseball games where all the boys and families had a chance to spend some fun times together and where great memories were made.

Here are a few pictures:

My little guy, "Sweet Cheeks", getting warmed up in one of the batting cages before a game.

But there was a lot more than baseball on the menu for the weekend. One night, we all went to the Polynesian Hotel for dinner with the team. We took a picture of the boys in the lobby. Aren't they cute!

Another night, we went to Lego Land in Downtown Disney where every child can find any and all Legos their sweet heart desires. (At prices that remind their parents this is Disney World, not the real world!)

The next day, once we were done at the ball field, many of us from the team went to "the happiest place on earth"...

The Magic Kingdom of course!

They had already decorated for fall and as always, their decorations were just beautiful. Right in front of City Hall, we found the Mayor.

And a few others...

It looks like that scarecrow may need a few more catching lessons. ;)

Entering Main Street USA, one of my favorite places to go for a stroll. Since the guys wanted to go on Splash Mountain (not me, thanks!) I decided to take my time on Main Street and catch up with them in a little bit.

Where is this most wonderful smell coming from?

My guess is either the confectionery or the bakery. It could be either of them and the only way to find out is to go in, wouldn't you agree?

So welcoming! She has both doors open for me, how sweet of her. That's probably because after I'm done spending some time in that bakery, I'll need that big of an opening to get out! On second thoughts, I better skip it this time!

The fall decorations were all over Main Street with little touches here and there. On the window boxes...

On window sills...

The lamp posts...

The Mickey balloons were selling like hot cakes on Main Street.

And just as Main Street ended, I arrived at the most famous castle in the world.

Every time I see it, I feel like a little girl again! Cinderella sure lives in a beautiful place.

Speaking of Cinderella, it turns out that she wasn't home at the time because I happened to catch her and her Prince Charming taking part in the parade.

Another famous couple was there too. Don't they look mice? I mean nice!

And there you have it, just a few pictures from our weekend. All the beautiful fall decorations that I saw in Disney World reminded me that I need to start getting ready for fall. They inspired me to make time to put up some pumpkin decorations here and there and even start thinking about Thanksgiving. It will be here before we know it!

Sweet blessings to you and yours!

;)

Christmas in August

2010-08-21T14:47:00.008-04:00

Last Saturday, you would have thought that it was Christmas at my house. No, I didn't have any Christmas decorations up or played any Christmas music, or wrapped any Christmas presents. But, there I was busy opening presents that someone wonderful sent me and it wasn't even my birthday either!

In fact, a few weeks ago, I won a give-away. Yes, me! And it was a very special give-away from Sheila at one of my absolute favorite blogs, The Quintessential Magpie. I didn't know what Sheila was giving away because she actually was going to buy something special for me based on the things that I like. She did some snooping around my blog and when she had bought the presents, she emailed me to be sure I was in town before shipping them to me.

I knew that the presents were on their way so last Saturday afternoon, when I saw the mailman park his truck in front of my house and then walk up to my front door holding a couple of boxes, I admit I became all excited!

I brought the presents inside and put down the two boxes. I opened up the first one....

And as I removed some of the packing peanuts, I saw that there was another smaller box inside. I gasped with delight because this is what the box looked like...

An Alice in Wonderland tea-for-one set! I had wanted one for a very long time and I was so thrilled that she knew that this was the perfect thing to get me. :)

I took it out of the box, gently washed it and took it to its new home in my tearoom. Each time I use it, I will think of you Sheila!

Doesn't it look right at home already? A cup of tea in a whimsical teapot and cup like these can't help but brighten up any day! :)

But wait, there's more!

There was a second box, remember?

Right on top was a sweet note that Sheila wrote me. And in the box were two more presents. One looked like this....

Hmmm, what could it be?

A cd of beautiful hymns! I have already played it a few times and love it. It soothes me after a busy day and brings me closer to God. Many of those hymns are actually new to me because I didn't grow up in church so I am mostly familiar with contemporary Christian music, but I truly enjoy them all. I can already picture myself trimming the Christmas tree in a few months while playing this cd. It's just perfect!

You'd think I had been spoiled enough already but there was yet another shiny present to unwrap.

By the way, this was a great job of wrapping and packing. UPS has nothing on Mrs. Magpie!!!

Aaaaah, beautiful plaque, isn't it? The colors are so pretty and the verse always a wonderful reminder of the mighty Savior that we have in Jesus Christ.

Sheila, if you stop by, please know how much I appreciate you blessing me this way with your generosity, thoughfulness and kindness. I have a note in the snail mail on its way to you and even though I've already told you that all your lovely presents made it to my home safe and sound, I wanted to show you just how much you indeed made my day... and week!

{hugs} and sweet blessings!

God's will

2010-07-31T11:55:00.002-04:00

Have you watched the news lately? Sometimes I think I may just have to stop. Why? Because it's difficult to see all the bad news that there is to see night after night. It's difficult to see the state of our economy not getting a whole lot better. It's difficult to see people and places being destroyed by fires, earthquakes, floods, and by the enormous amount of oil that spilled in the gulf.

As a Christian, I find myself being asked by unbelievers "where on earth is the goodness of God in all of this? What kind of God lets terrible things happen?". Of course, I know that God is good all the time. I know that God doesn't delight in the affliction that so many suffer and in the slow but steady demise of our planet. But, how do I explain to an unbeliever that God is here, that He sees what is happening and is saddened about it? How do I explain that He cares about and loves all of us? How do I explain God's will to an unbeliever?

Today, I found a great excerpt from C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. He puts it in a context that is quite easy to understand. He writes:

"Christians believe that an evil power has made himself for the present the prince of this world. And, of course, that raises problems. Is this state of affairs in accordance with God's will or not? If it is, He is a strange God you will say; and if it is not, how can anything happen contrary to the will of a Being with absolute power?

But anyone who has been in authority knows how a thing can be in accordance with your will in one way and not in another. It may be quite sensible for a mother to say to her children, "I'm not going to go and make you tidy the schoolroom every night. You've got to learn to keep it tidy on your own". Then she goes up one night and finds the teddy bear and the ink and the French grammar all lying in the grate. That is against her will. She would prefer the children to be tidy. But on the other hand, it is her will which has left the children free to be untidy."

This certainly makes sense. God has given us the freedom to live our lives as we please, but God's will is His perfect plan for our lives. It's to give us hope and a future, not to harm us.

I hope I keep this in mind the next time I have a pity party and feel like asking God "why me?". (It does happen!)

Thank you for stopping by and may you and yours be blessed today and always.

{hugs}

An afternoon of boating

2010-07-14T19:42:00.013-04:00

This past weekend, we had such gorgeous weather and we took advantage of it by going for a boat ride. Our little boy (a.k.a Sweet Cheeks) asked if he could bring a couple of friends along for the afternoon and of course, we said yes.

Now, why don't you go grab yourself a nice cuppa and join us for the ride? There's always room for one more!

These were some of the houses that we passed by on our way to the (Atlantic) ocean. They are all very nice but I wonder how early I'd have to get up to clean my house if I lived in any of these. ;)

Now there's something you don't see in many people's backyard. All aboard!!!

You don't see too many of these either, at least not this tall. Beautiful blue!

All right, I can almost smell the ocean now... we're almost there!

This guy might take a while to get there but what a workout that must be.

Call me lazy, but I'm pretty sure I'd rather get there in something like this....

Put my feet up and enjoy the ride! Who's with me?

Is that a sailboat in the distance? Looks like we made it to the ocean!

Who's going first?

Sweet Cheeks gets ready to jump...

And there he goes!

What's that I see up above? Two people who aren't afraid of heights, evidently.

I suppose the view is amazing but I'm willing to take their word for it.

After a swim in the ocean, it's time to start heading back.

Oh look - a vacant lot. With your own beach right out back, that's what I call prime location!

And speaking of location, I can think of worse parts of town for someone to go to church!

This one was getting ready to go on a voyage to Bermuda. We ran into the owners while we stopped to gas up. I hope they had a safe journey!

Barking dogs are not very common on the water so I looked around to see who it was coming from. And there he was, just a little bit ahead of us.

And what was he barking at? You might have guessed it, two of his kind relaxing nearby!

Speaking of animals, I don't think this house is in danger of being burglarized with one of these keeping guard...

He's not exactly the real thing, but he sure looks like it, right?

That's it for now but I hope you enjoyed the boat ride. Let's do it again soon!

{hugs}

I scream, you scream...

2010-07-05T18:39:00.012-04:00

We all scream for ice cream!

Truth be told, if I was only allowed to eat one food for the rest of my life, I think I would choose ice cream. I'm not saying it's a very smart choice, but I'm saying I could learn to live with it.

Now, if I ever brought this little machine home, I could be in real trouble!

Or I could open up an ice cream shop out of my kitchen, I suppose. ;)

And then, I could serve yummy treats like these...

Or keep it a little simpler and go for the classics, vanilla and chocolate.

Maybe add a little crunch once in a while and serve up some yummy and dreamy butter pecan. Just one scoop at at time is a good sign of self-control, don't you think?

But let's not forget about the wonderful and lovely cherry. Would you care for some?

Better yet, I could add a cherry to this banana split but be sure you share it with someone. (You'll thank me in the morning, trust me!)

Then go for a walk, a long walk. I imagine 15 miles at a fast pace should take care of most of those calories, right?

Well, thanks so much for your visit today and I hope you're having a great start to your summer! We actually just returned from vacation and I hope to have a few pictures to share soon once I have them all downloaded and sorted.

Enjoy the season, keep cool, be safe and have fun!

{hugs}

Love that smell!

2010-05-31T12:41:00.008-04:00

When I was a young girl living in Canada, we would go on beach vacations in the summer and in the winter.

In the summer, we would drive across the US border and spend a week at Hampton Beach. I have great memories of the times I spent there. The boardwalk, the bicycle rides, the fun times spent at the beach and swimming in the motel's pool.

In the winter, we would go to Florida during the Christmas break and I remember thinking that this was the most wonderful place on earth. The palm trees, the coconuts, the beautiful beaches and the warm weather in the middle of winter. What's not to like about that?

For many years after that, each time I would put on some sunscreen, the smell of the sunscreen would immediately take me back to those beach vacations. I could just close my eyes and hear the waves crashing down, see the palm trees swaying in the wind, feel the sand on my feet.

Almost 20 years ago, I moved to the southeast where I get to enjoy the beautiful beach, the palm trees and yes, all the warm weather I could wish for.

And, guess what? Each time I put on sunscreen, the smell still takes me back to the beach vacations I enjoyed as a little girl! Somehow that Coppertone smell still does that for me and I have to say it's a smell I really like. :)

How about you? Is there a smell or taste that brings back similar memories for you? Maybe it's the taste or smell of a specific food that brings back a certain memory. I'd love to hear about it. :)

May happy memories overflow your heart today and always!

{hugs}

P.S. Still using hubby's laptop - sorry if the post doesn't look quite right. ;)

Oh the irony...

2010-05-25T18:17:00.003-04:00

First off, let me just share with you that I have been having major computer problems, and I either need a new computer or at least a new monitor. After all, it's pretty hard to write anything on a computer when the screen is staring back at you as dark as the night.

I'm using my husband's laptop now, which is helpful I suppose but all my pictures are on my own computer and I'm used to a mouse, and oh well, I'll stop the whining here.

What's truly strange is I actually wrote something and thought that I had posted.... twice! But somehow, I checked and there was my pink tunic still at the top, with my new posts nowhere near my blog. Again, I say "oh well". So I'm giving this another try and hope this post will end up on my blog, where it should be. It may look a little funny and if it does, I apologize in advance.

Now, as for the irony, as I drove home this afternoon, I couldn't help but crave the most wonderful ice cream: Moose Tracks. Have you ever had it? It's vanilla ice cream with chocolate and mini peanut butter cups all mixed into one delicious concoction.

And then I remembered, today is Tuesday and The Biggest Loser is on tonight and of course, I somehow get a craving for ice cream or cake or anything else "forbidden" when I watch a show about people eating healthy, working out and losing weight. Why is that?

Please tell me I'm not the only one! It would make me feel better.

Hoping your week is going well and praying many sweet blessings upon you and yours!

{hugs}

Pretty in pink

2010-04-14T21:59:00.003-04:00

Did I ever mention that I like flowers? Did I ever mention that I like clothes that feature flowers? No, well I'm about to show you the proof. Just a few days ago, I bought this pretty pink flowery tunic.

I like how it flows and looks so feminine. Now, of course, I'm left wondering what on earth I can wear this with.

White pants? Yes, I have those. But what else? I don't know why I seem to have a brain freeze with this one. If you happen to have any thoughts or suggestions on a great pairing for this, please do share.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

:)

The gift of friendship

2010-04-04T17:46:00.007-04:00

It has been a little while since I've had a chance to put up a post and visit you. Let's just say that once in a while, life happens. It shows up with its peaks and valleys and it makes it clear that an unplanned period of time away from the computer is the right thing to do. I've always tried to prioritize my life appropriately and this little break was much needed.

Having said that, if any of you are still around, I'm glad that you've stopped by for a visit!

Over the past several weeks, I've had a chance to get together with some of my girlfriends for morning coffees, lunches, walks, chats and most importantly for time spent in prayer. It really has made me treasure the blessed gift of a close friendship.

Friendships are to me one of life's sweetest blessings. And what a wonderful thing it is to bring a smile to a friend's face? Or to receive one. Why just the other day, as I went to the mailbox....

...no, there wasn't a puppy in it, but I simply had to post that picture because, well, it's just so cute!

Back to the mailbox. I went to get our mail, and in doing so, I received a smile in the form of a beautiful card that one of my girlfriends had sent me. It was just to let me know she was thinking of me and to remind me that God is always by my side.

I was amazed that such a simple gesture of friendship and thoughtfulness could have just about the same impact as though I had received a hug!

"Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God's best gifts. It involves many things, but above all, the power of going out of one's self, and appreciating whatever is noble and loving in another."

- Thomas Hughes

When I read this quote, I was reminded of the power of friendship and my heart was even more thankful than before for all of my friends. How wonderful it is to be the recipient of someone's thoughtfulness and kindness! And what a sweet blessing it is to reciprocate and let our friends know how much we love and care for them too. :)

Thank you for stopping by and may your heart be filled with love and friendship, today and always!

{hugs}

One special crown

2010-02-06T11:36:00.007-05:00

These past few weeks, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, my heart has been aching for all of the people who lost loved ones and are still without homes, food and proper care.

Despite their extremely difficult living conditions, I see that there are so many surviving victims who have an unshakable faith, a knowledge that God is there with them and will see them through. A certainty that their loved ones who have perished are indeed with Jesus. Many people don't have that certainty and it's a blessing to know the glory of salvation. It's a blessing to have no doubt of where we are headed after our journey here ends.

The following words from Charles Spurgeon have to do with exactly that and I thought I would share them with you today.

O, doubting Christian, you have often said, "I'm afraid I'll never enter heaven". Fear not! All the people of God will enter.

I love the refreshing statement of a dying man who exclaimed, "I have no fear of going home. I've sent everything ahead of me. God's finger is on the latch of my door and I'm ready for Him to enter."

Yet, he was asked "Are you not afraid you may miss your inheritance?"

"No", he responded, "there is one crown in heaven the angel Gabriel cannot wear. It will fit no one's head but mine. And there is one throne in heaven the apostle Paul could not fill. It was made for me - and I will have it!"

If you could fly across the eternal city, you would see written upon one of its many mansions these words: "This is reserved for someone special and is being held for him alone. Someday he will be caught up to dwell with God forever."

Poor doubting soul, look at your wonderful inheritance. It is yours - if you believe in the Lord Jesus, if you have repented of your sin, if your heart has been renewed. You are one of the Lord's people and there is a place reserved for you. A crown has been stored up for you and a harp has been especially provided for you.

No one else will take what is yours, for it is reserved in heaven for you. And throughout eternity it will be yours, for there will be no vacant thrones in glory once all of God's chosen have been gathered in.

Don't you love the way Charles Spurgeon puts it? I hope this ministers to even just one person who may have needed to read this today. God loves you and has a special place and a special crown reserved just for you!

Sweet blessings!

{hugs}

This is perfect weather

2010-01-09T14:28:00.009-05:00

... for comfort food! Winter months are the perfect time to make something warm and comforting for dinner. Time for my good old crock pot to see some action!

I'm not a big meat eater, but somehow chilly temperatures and a dinner of beef stew seem to go to hand in hand. Here's how I prepare mine:

There are only three of us (hubby, Sweet Cheeks and me), so I usually get a little over a pound of cubed beef for the stew. I start by browning it in a skillet, adding a little salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, I peel a couple of large potatoes, cube them and throw them in the crock pot along with some chopped onion and baby carrots.

I add an envelope of onion soup mix, and give it a good stir. The soup mix is pretty versatile.

As for the wine, it will have its turn later....

Now, let's drain the meat and put it on top of the veggies. Throw in a couple of bay leaves as well.

Then, add about 3/4 cup of beef broth and a little red wine (maybe 1/2 a cup) . If you don't use the wine, you should add a little more broth.

Now put the lid on the crock pot and let it cook on low for at least 8 hours, then serve and enjoy.

I don't have a picture of it, but feel free to serve some crusty bread to go along. I know they like each other. :)

Everyone seems to have their favorite when it comes to cold weather comfort food. I think a nice big bowl of soup with warm rolls is another perfect meal. What about you? What's your favorite winter comfort meal?

Thank you so much for coming to visit me today. Stay warm!

Holiday guests

2009-12-30T22:17:00.008-05:00

Two weeks ago, we opened our home to a couple of guests who had no family to spend Christmas with. They were going to be in need of companionship, in need of comfort, food and care. There was no way I could say no.

I had never met them before so I must admit that I was a little apprehensive at first. I worried about all sorts of things. How comfortable would they feel in our home? What would they want to eat? Would they mind the fact that we have a dog?

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was probably worrying for nothing. After all, they came with two pages of instructions, a bag of food, two bags of bedding, and a cute little wheel for exercise. And best of all, Sweet Cheeks was so excited to have them come home with us!

Apparently a lot of children at school really wanted to take them home for the two-week Christmas break. You see, they live at school.

Here was their car ride to our home...

Meet the gerbils! You can only see one in the picture above but there are two. They are two boys. Brothers maybe?

So far, they have been perfect guests. And so far, yes I have touched them but no, I haven't picked them up. Let's not push it!

The science teacher said that they like to chew up paper towel rolls for fun. Here they are below enjoying their "hobby".

Our dog Lizzy doesn't seem to mind having them around. As a matter of fact, she likes to lay down not too far from them. Maybe to keep an eye on them and make sure they don't get out?!

At 16, she's used to being the only pet in the house you know.

Poor thing suffered a small injury to her paw yesterday and had to go for a trip to the vet. See her little paw all bandaged up? I'm sure she'll be fine in a few days. It's nothing a little TLC and some orange sherbet can't fix. :)

I sure hope all of you are enjoying some relaxing and fun holidays with your family and friends. May this new year be filled with sweet blessings and memories to treasure forever.

{hugs}

The most precious gift of all

2009-12-20T14:30:00.008-05:00

Although there is not a snowflake to be found outside my home, I believe that a lovely blanket of snow adds such beauty and charm to this time of year.

Painting by Thomas Kinkade

Wintery paintings like this one remind me of the warmth and love that come from being home with loved ones at this time of year. Let's all sing together...

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly face,
For the holidays, you can't beat home sweet home!

We've been away for Christmas in years past but being home with my family is the best! Sitting together, watching a good movie, all of us enjoying hot cocoa overflowing with whipped cream. Does it get any better?

Yes, for me it does, if we're doing all this while watching It's a Wonderful Life. :)

This movie always leaves me thankful for my family and the blessings that God gives us. In fact, the greatest blessing is the one that God gave all of us in the form of His one and only Son. He's the most precious gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS." Luke 1:30-31.

Despite all the distractions that can surround Christmas, may we honor God by celebrating what Christmas is all about.

Wishing you and yours a joyful and peaceful Christmas!

A perfectly imperfect Christmas

2009-12-06T16:04:00.009-05:00

For some people, this really isn't the most wonderful time of the year. Things can be a little overwhelming with all the shopping, gift wrapping, decorating, cooking, baking, cleaning, entertaining and wanting everything to be perfect.

Unfortunately, so many people complain about this time of year, almost as if they dread it. They say "I can't believe Christmas is almost here already"! As for me, I say "I can't believe Christmas is almost here, finally!".

I think what helps me to retain some sense of sanity this time of year is refusing to let perfection be my guide. The truth is I can't handle having to have every little detail be perfect. I don't have that much energy!

No, I'll never have the perfect outfit that matches my kitchen that matches my tablescape that matches my food that matches my drink. And that's exactly what I was thinking when I sat down last week to watch one of my favorites on the Food Network, Sandra Lee.

Isn't that beautiful though? All the red and white everywhere. I sat there on the couch, surrounded by my imperfect decorations, next to my Christmas tree missing its angel which I can't find. And I thought "what a great job she did"!

I really enjoyed seeing all the effort that she put into this episode. Like so many other women, she is an inspiration to me. I thought her table was so pretty I just had to take a picture to show you. But, I sat there enjoying my hot cocoa knowing full well this isn't my reality and feeling completely fine with it.

In fact, if I tried to get everything to look so perfect, I might end up having to do like she did and reach for some of that...

Did you catch how even her kitchen curtains and decorations match her outfit? Isn't that the cutest thing? Again, if I put that much effort into such details, it might drive me to have another one of those.

Just kidding! (Barely.)

So, this year again, I will continue to relax instead of letting the hectic pace of the season get to me. I will continue to strive for nice and simple and easy. That's how I stay happy in the midst of such busyiness.

Because did you hear? Christmas is almost here, finally!

{hugs}

A box of thanks

2009-11-25T16:58:00.006-05:00

It may be small....

But it contains big thanks!

Everything that Sweet Cheeks makes with his hands is a treasure to me and this little box of thanks is no different. I always keep it out as a reminder to be thankful everyday.

It's filled with little strips of paper and the idea is to simply write down what we are thankful for, especially as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Then last week, his class made a special craft to celebrate Thanksgiving. Are you ready to see the cutest salt and pepper shakers?

It's Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim of course! It does appear that Mrs. Pilgrim's hat is a little lopsided but that's because she was in a hurry when she got dressed. :)

For his part, Mr. Pilgrim's hat tilts to the back to reveal the top of the pepper shaker so they both serve a purpose, they don't just look good!

She and her dear husband will be on our table tomorrow to join in the festivities. I just hope they don't get sick when we turn them upside down during the meal. That could be trouble!

Sending lots of warm wishes to you and yours on this eve of Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy a special day and plenty of good home cooking with your loved ones. May your box of thanks overflow on this Thanksgiving and always.

Many sweet blessings!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a message in the sky!

2009-11-18T14:09:00.004-05:00

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4

Last Saturday morning, I went for a walk in my neighborhood. The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm.

I was deep in thoughts which slowed down my pace a bit. I was thinking about a certain situation that lately has been heavy on my heart. Then I looked up and saw a plane that was writing a message in the sky. The message read: TRUST GOD.

At first, I thought "how neat!" and then I thought "how thoughtful of You God to answer me in this way, knowing that I can't possibly miss this message". Talk about the right answer at the right time!

Instead of little me trying to figure things out on my own, how much better to let God handle it? I sure don't have all the answers but He does.

Then the next day, on Sunday afternoon, as we were out with some friends, another message popped up in the sky. This time I did have my camera...

TRUST JESUS. Is it just me or is He trying to tell me something?!

I'd say it's something that probably not just myself but many of us need to remind ourselves of. And I'm sure getting the message loud and clear. Sometimes that's just what I need to get the point. Make it plain and simple and put it right there in my face where I can't miss it.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Hoping you're having a great week and may each of you be full of God's peace, love and strength. Those are indeed some very sweet blessings!

{hugs}

Shortcut chocolate bars

2009-11-06T20:10:00.013-05:00

Let me start by admitting that I keep several of these bars tightly wrapped in my freezer at all times. These and a few brownies. After a quick pop in the microwave, they're as good as new. Or pretty close anyway.

What I like best is that they're so easy to make and yet they're super delicious. My kind of treat!

Here's what you'll need:

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 17-ounce rolls refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

Preheat your oven to 350 F. In a saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk and butter. Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the nuts (I don't use them but you may choose to) and the vanilla.

Cover a 15" x 10" (or any pan similar in size) with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. You don't have to use foil, but I always do because it makes clean-up a cinch and anything to make clean-up quicker is a good thing! Then, press 1 1/3 rolls of the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan.

Next, spread the melted chocolate mixture evenly on the cookie dough and resist the urge to dip a finger in it. Some of you have self-control, I'm sure. :)

Dot the remaining cookie dough on top of the chocolate mixture. It doesn't have to be precise, so now is a great time to call in little helpers you may have around.

Bake for 25 minutes or so but be carefeful not to overbake. When the top is lightly browned, it's done.

I find these bars even better the next day because they're extremely moist the first day so it's a great recipe for when you need something you can bake a day or two ahead of time.

Now, let it cool for a while and then cut into bars. The size of the bars will be up to you!

Wishing you God's blessings too numerous to count and may they all be as sweet as chocolate!

{hugs}

Hello pumpkin!

2009-10-24T10:59:00.013-04:00

Growing up, I used to enjoying watching my mom carve pumpkins right before Halloween. She used to do a great job at it too.

Now as an adult, I don't care for Halloween (at least not the spooky side of it) but I still enjoy beautifully decorated pumpkins, gourds and other seasonal fruits. Here are a few that I gathered from Country Living for inspiration. Not sure which ones I will try, they are all so interesting!

I really like this one below, I think it's so pretty! The sweater too...

What about this lovely lantern design?

Here's a view from the top of another favorite of mine. Is it a pumpkin or a flower? Looks like it's both!

Check out the wallpaper - another case of designs that blend in.

My mom used to decorate with candles. Maybe that's why I think this one is so special. :)

How high can you go?! The colors, the shapes, the sizes, doesn't this pretty tower have it all?

Have you or will you decorate this fall? I'd love to hear how you use pumpkins, gourds or other fruits in your decorations.

May your day be joyful and full of sweet blessings!

{hugs}

Enjoying teatime

2009-10-17T14:59:00.007-04:00

One of my favorite moments of the day is when I get to enjoy a nice cup of tea. I drink all kinds, but mostly I prefer green teas and white teas.

Lately, I have been enjoying this one from Harney and Sons. It's a green tea called "Citron (lemon) Green".

If I'm at home, I like to put on some wonderful music, such as piano or harp. Often, I listen to Jim Gibson's music, and this cd is one I really enjoy.

A soothing cup of tea along with lovely music somehow instantly takes any care I have to a far away place. Isn't teatime wonderful? I sure think it is!

In fact, I like teatime by myself, just as much as I like teatime with a group of friends...

But my very favorite way to enjoy teatime is to share it with a very special loved one.

May you enjoy tea and special friends to warm your heart today and always!

:)

By the lake with a boy and his dog

2009-10-04T11:44:00.017-04:00

The lake in our backyard is one of Sweet Cheeks' favorite spots. The fishing is good some of the time and even when it's not, well it's always a great place to relax, enjoy the breeze and the peaceful surroundings. Even with neighbors all around, it's surprisingly always very quiet.

Whether or not a friend or hubby joins him while he's fishing, our Sweet Cheeks is rarely alone for very long. In fact, he's usually joined by a small 4-legged companion named Lizzy.

Yes, our family dog loves to tag along to enjoy the fresh air and the company of her boy...

Aaah, to be as carefree as a boy fishing and his dog keeping him company!

Wishing you a relaxing day and week ahead. May we all remember to slow down and enjoy the scenery. :)

{hugs}

Beautiful autumn

2009-09-26T16:22:00.004-04:00

Here comes autumn, and what a beautiful season it is! The colors, the shapes, the textures, all give it a glow no other season can boast. It is a season that is warm and comforting just like a dear old friend. Plus, how fun is it to enjoy all the beautiful decorations of this season?!

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Even though the temperatures get a bit colder, it is to me a season full of warmth. The kind of warmth that comes from family and friends gathering together over a fireplace or cheering the home team at a football game or simply the delicious smell of pumpin bread baking in the oven... how can any season compare?

And speaking of warmth, I must thank all of you who have left me such sweet and comforting words over the summer following my mom's passing. I don't know any of you personally and yet, I truly felt embraced by the support and kindness flowing through your comments. Thank you so much for warming my heart the way each of you did and for all of your prayers.

Now, I'm back to my little blog after taking the summer off and I'm happy to welcome you back. :)

Warm hugs and sweet blessings!

Summer break

2009-06-20T11:32:00.002-04:00

A week ago, I received the sad news that my mom passed away unexpectedly. We lived in two different countries for the past 17 years and although I did not get to see her very often, she was very much close to my heart and in my prayers always. We loved each other deeply and the distance between us had never changed that.

The sadness of losing her will last for a while but I know that the Lord came to get her because He had chosen it to be her time and as His ways are not our ways, I will not try to understnd why it is so. Losing her made me reflect on my own motherhood and the little bit of time that I have with my own child. Sweet Cheeks is 7 and I want to treasure as much of our time together with him and with my husband making family memories for me to cherish when our son grows up and moves away.

In order to spend as much quality time enjoying my family and the special activities that summer has to offer, I have decided to take the summer off from my blog and maybe longer depending how I feel come autumn.

I hope each of you has a great summer, with many fond memories to look back on. In the meantime, here's a short but beautiful poem written anonymously that I would like to leave you with today.

May there always be work
For your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two,
May the sun always shine
Warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain,
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart
With gladness to cheer you.

Enjoy your summer, your loved ones and your many sweet blessings!

{hugs}

Sugar or lemon?

2009-05-30T18:57:00.009-04:00

Ah, sugar and lemon you say?

Those are two things often served with tea, of course. But if I asked you which one would you rather be, would you need to think about it for a while?

These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19.

I'd like to share with you an excerpt from Tea time with God which I really enjoyed on the topic of sugar and lemon (or how sweet and/or sour our words can be).

Afternoon tea is traditionally a time for reflecting on the day and chatting with friends. Perhaps because it comes at a low-energy time of day, we may be more careless in our conversation and include not-so-kind opinions about others.

At the very time sugar and cream are being slipped into the tea, verbal raspberries, lemons and sour grapes may slip into the conversation.

Consider sharing this little poem with your tea-mates at the beginning of your time together.

I Know Something Good About You

Wouldn't this world be better
If folks whom we meet would say
"I know something good about you"
And treat you just that way?

Wouldn't it be splendid,
If each handshake, good and true,
Carried with it this assurance:
"I know something good about you?"

Wouldn't life be happier,
If the good that's in us all,
Were the only thing about us
That people would recall?

Wouldn't our days be sweeter,
If we praised the good we see;
For there is a lot of goodness,
In the worst of you and me?

Wouldn't it be fine to practice,
This way of thinking too;
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?

- Author unknown

How perfect of a poem for teatime or anytime, don't you think? I hope you enjoyed it.

So, again I ask you: sugar or lemon - which one would you rather be? There's plenty of room so come and jump in the sugar bowl with me! ;)

Many sweet blessings!

Savoring time

2009-05-17T08:46:00.015-04:00

Lately, I have been busy as a bee! Busy with life, wondering how come time goes by so much faster than when I was a young girl. Is it just me or does it seem like days and weeks (even years!) simply seem to fly by nowadays?

Since there isn't a time machine out on the market that can help me slow down the minutes of my days, I will just need to slow down and savor them as I know they will be memories soon.

Over the past few months, we've been enjoying Little League baseball games, one of Sweet Cheeks' favorite sports. This keeps us busy with weeknight practices and Saturday games and we love every minute of it!

In the midst of everyday life, homework review, school activities, various sports functions, dinner, laundry, errands, and so on, I do find it relaxing to sit down for a few minutes to enjoy a cup of one of my favorite teas. Have you ever tried this one?

And if I'm blessed enough to enjoy my tea along with some friendly conversation, then you guessed it, there's always a little something sweet to go along with it!

Or if I don't have anything baked, a little chocolate is always wonderful. Which one would you go for? I'm a dark chocolate fan myself.

But trust me, my life isn't all tea and sweets and a neat little tearoom to enjoy it in. With an active boy and a husband who lives and breathes sports too, it's hard not to trip up over balls sometimes!

When you have a 7-year old boy, you need to do things a 7-year old boy enjoys doing and sharing a lovely teatime isn't on his list these days! No, a lot of times I find myself playing catch in the backyard, cheering over every little and big fish that he catches (and releases), and sharing some of the humor that makes a little boy laugh the kind of laugh you just want to bottle up! In fact, that's what we have in this book:

If you haven't read it you must, especially if you have a little one in your life... or a dog with flatulence issues! It is such a cute story about this great dog Walter. I was at Barnes and Noble laughing so hard I just had to buy it!

But, in the midst of the busyiness of life, family and home, I hope I never forget that the only reason I am this blessed to have a family that keeps me busy from morning until night and to have a home that takes forever to clean is absolutely by the great grace of God. To Him, I owe everything. And I need to spend more time reading His word, hiding it in my heart.

Lord, please help me to slow down and savor each moment of my life, today, tomorrow and always. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May your days be filled with lots of joy and laughter, with the love of your family and friends and with satisfaction in all your accomplishments, big and small.

{Hugs}

A Krispy Kreme hug, anyone?

2009-05-02T19:21:00.007-04:00

Yes, this dessert is just like a sweet Krispy Kreme hug! It's the perfect way to end a mothers' day brunch or any other meal for that matter.

I first made it a couple of years ago and it was such a hit that everyone asked me for seconds... and the recipe! But be warned, it's extremely sweet. With the main ingredient being the original glazed Krispy Kreme donut, what else could be expected?!

I saw Paula Deen make this recipe one day and I just had to make it. A viewer of hers sent it to her and boy, am I glad he did!

It's a super-easy bread pudding, oops, I mean donut pudding. From someone who absolutely doesn't like bread pudding, take it from me: this isn't your mama's bread pudding! If you'd like to try it, you can find the recipe by clicking here. Note that the glaze calls for rum and although I substitute regular milk, I'm sure it's delicious either way.

And as we approach mothers' day, I'd like to wish all of you moms, moms-to-be, and hope-to-be moms, a wonderful mothers' day. I just learned that there's a brand new mom right in my own backyard, quite literally! Here, take a look:

Aren't they so sweet? When I see her with her babies, I'm reminded that although not all moms are humans, we share some common characteristics. A mom is a mom regardless of whether she has hair, fur, feathers, or fins!

Thank you for stopping by today and many sweet blessings to you and yours! :)

Here comes the sun...

2009-04-18T16:06:00.004-04:00

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143:8

The book of Psalms is filled with such treasures at every page. Every time I read from it, even if it's just for a minute or two, it's as if I find a gift waiting there for me.

It also helps me to find God's gifts all around me for the rest of the day. In fact, here's what God put in the sky early one recent morning for me to enjoy. It almost looked like the moon but I was in fact looking East.

When I look at things like the sun or the moon, I can't help but be in complete awe of God. So many of the things He created simply take my breath away, and it's hard to imagine that what's in store after this is actually going to be even more amazing! :)

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its Light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 21:22-27

Lemon dreams

2009-04-04T15:14:00.015-04:00

I must have had lemon dreams last night as I woke up this morning with lemon on my mind. Of all things... lemon!

Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Yes, I woke up and thought of so many wonderful ways that a lemon can turn any dessert into something light and fabulous. Sure, lemon chicken sounds pretty good. But I have a soft spot for desserts and that's the path I'll be taking you on today. Ready?

It all began with visions of a lemon meringue pie...

But then these cute-as-can-be lemon creme cupcakes came along and reminded me of why cupcakes can turn any ordinary into a party.

Speaking of a party, doesn't this cake look delicious?

But maybe you're one of those strange people who couldn't care less for cake. Do you think a lemon bread pudding topped with whipped cream might be just the right thing for you?

Oooh, aaah, that bread pudding looks like such a great dessert! It's unpretentious and doesn't have to look pretty. But if pretty is what you're looking for, can I tempt you with these lovely tea cookies?

Or these adorable tassies?

And for a yummy partner to a morning glass of orange juice, I think we should seriously consider these lemon poppy seed muffins.

I probably would make them in a regular muffin pan but mini muffins look so cute, dont' they?!

Now if it wasn't for a lack of time, inclination or proper occasion (all right, it's mostly the lack of talent I'll admit!), I might attempt this Martha Stewart lemon experiment...

But I'm seriously scared to! I'm sure it's absolutely delicious but it's so out of my league it's not even funny. And would you believe that all of the other scrumptious desserts I've shared with you today can be found in one simple place? Can you guess where?

Ta-da! They're all on Betty Crocker's website which you can go to by clicking here. Yes, they're all Betty's recipes and you know what that means? It means they're right up my alley!

Now, I'd love to have you share with me which of these treats is calling your name. Make yourself comfy and I'll pour us some ice cold lemonade. I just made it too! ;)

Would you care for a lemon ball to go with your lemonade?

Or a lemon bar?

I say try them both, life is short!

Well, thank you so much for visiting me today and for letting me share my lemon dreams with you. I hope you won't be surprised if you start craving lemon desserts too!

{Hugs} to each of you and sweet blessings to you and yours!

A college boy named Nick

2009-03-22T11:55:00.010-04:00

Last week, a girlfriend of mine shared this story with me and I thought I'd share it with you today. I think its message is one that we probably all need to be reminded of once in a while.

His name is Nick. He has wild hair, wears jeans and a t-shirt with holes in it. As a college student, this is his wardrobe.

He his a very bright student, brilliant some might say, and became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church.

They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.

One day, Nick decides to go there. He walks in wearing his usual wardrobe, and with his usual wild hair. The service has already started so Nick starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Nick gets closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Nick.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and has on a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward the boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's about to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent, and all eyes are focused on the deacon. You can barely hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even continue preaching the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Nick and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you may not remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!

Hello birdie!

2009-03-07T09:35:00.010-05:00

In recent years, I've come to love birds. Years ago, their early-morning chirping would annoy me but I've since learned to appreciate it. I admire them for always waking up in a good mood and ready for a song. In a way, I love that birds always seem joyful and carefree.

I love that they sing regardless of their circumstances and look out for each other. Whenever I throw some bread by the lake behind our house, the first bird that notices it will fly near the bread but before he eats any of it, he will call his feathered friends over as if to say "hurry, there's a free meal over here guys!".

I don't have an actual bird feeder since I am, after all, *the* bird feeder! But I do have a few bird houses indoors in my tearoom for the pretend birds that fly in. :)

This little bird house below was actually the inspiration behind my tearoom. The colors, flowers, coziness. It came from this little $12 bird house, perfect for any single female birdie...

I also like this one with vaulted ceilings.

But for a family of three, don't you think this one is perfect?

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song".

- Maya Angelou, American poet

Thanks so much for visiting me. Wishing you many joyful songs to fill your heart today and always!

Apricot oatmeal bars

2009-03-01T11:56:00.004-05:00

One of the things I enjoy most about being a mom is cooking favorite meals and baking special treats. The following recipe is for one of Sweet Cheeks' (and mine) favorite snacks. He loves it as an after-school snack, or for a treat in his lunch box. I like it anytime!

The recipe is from Williams Sonoma's "The Kid's Cookbook" which is full of wonderful recipes that are easy to prepare and pleasing to kids and adults.

If you make these oatmeal bars, you just won't believe how fantastic your house will smell when they're in the oven!

Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup), melted and cooled to room temperature
2 teaspoons soft butter for greasing foil
1 cup firmly packed dried apricots
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 350F. Line the bottom and sides of a 8 or 9-inch square baking pan with foil extending over the edges. Grease the foil with butter (bottom and sides).

Chop apricots into 1/2-inches, approximately.

In a mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Mix until well blended and no lumps of sugar remain.

Add the chopped apricots, melted butter, and vanilla to the bowl. Stir until well blended. The dough will be moist and crumbly. Dump the dough into the buttered pan and press very tightly with your fingers.

Bake until golden brown, approximately 35 minutes. Cool completely, then lift the foil from the pan and peel it from the bottom and sides. Cut into squares or rectangles.

I have a few on hand and I'll be sharing them with my family in just a bit. I hope you get to try them soon and enjoy them with your sweet blessings!

:)

A lesson of love

2009-02-08T13:08:00.008-05:00

Lately, I have been enjoying once again this lovely book of devotionals. As I read today the story of Cat and Griz, I was reminded that their fascinating story had appeared on the national news many years ago. You may have heard of them as well, as they had become a very unlikely pair of best pals: a young kitten and a grizzly bear.

Here is the devotional that I read today from that book, and I hope that it blesses you as much as it has blessed me. :)

No longer enemies

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopards shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6

The orange kitten was hungry. The grizzly bear was lonely. The man was apprehensive.

The cat weighed no more than 10 ounces when he first slid under the fence into the bear's pen. The man was almost in a panic thinking the hungry gizzly would kill him with one swat and eat him for dinner - carnivorous bears make much larger animals a part of their diet.

The grizzly, whose name was Griz, had come to the Oregon Wildlife Center in 1990 when he was just a cub. Hit by a train while foraging on railroad tracks in Montana, he suffered severe head injuries and was deemed unfit to return to the wild.

The kitten was one of four kittens abandoned at the center early in the summer. Volunteers were able to find homes for the rest of the litter, but Cat, as he was now called, somehow eluded them.

Then one day in July, Cat turned up in Griz's pen. Afraid to do anything that might alarm Griz, the man just watched, expecting the worst. As the 650-pound grizzly was eating his midday meal, something extraordinary happened. The bear very gently picked out a chicken wing with his forepaw and dropped it near Cat.

From that moment on, Griz and Cat became something of a slapstick animal act. Cat would lay in ambush, then leap out and swat Griz on his nose. Griz would carry Cat in his mouth. Cat would ride on Griz's back, and sometimes Griz would lick Cat.

Their friendly relationship defies both the patterns of nature as well as their own troubled life histories. Griz never took advantage of Cat's weaknesses, and each animal has accomodated the other's needs.

What a lesson Griz and Cat offer! We can help each other break free from the patterns of our past that keep us from loving each other. As we pray for and care for others with the love of Jesus Christ, we obtain healing by the grace of God, both for them and ourselves!

(Tea time with God, Honor Books Publishers, pages 20-21)

As I read this devotional today, I thought "how amazing is it that we can take a lesson from a couple of animals?". Indeed, we can simply remind ourselves that although we're all different from each other, and we may have experienced difficult and hurtful relationships, we can all choose friendship and love with one another over animosity and bitterness.

May love fill our hearts today and always!

Mini chicken pot pies

2009-01-24T09:36:00.011-05:00

One dish that's especially comforting in cold weather is chicken pot pie. I make it year-round but it's even better when the air is bit chilly. The pictures will show when I recently made it using turkey and it's wonderful either way.

Makes one 9-inch pot pie or 3-4 individual pot pies

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
2 1/2 to 3 cups cooked chicken (or turkey) breasts, cubed
1 1/2 to 2 cups carrots, cooked and sliced
1 1/2 to 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1 egg white
Pie crusts

Preheat your oven to 400 F. In a saucepan, melt the butter and mix in the flour. Add the milk a little at a time, while whisking continually. Add the broth, and salt and pepper.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked chicken, carrots and peas.

Fill in 3-4 individual oven-safe bowls with the chicken mixture.

Brush an egg wash (1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon of water) on the rim of each bowl. Top with a pie crust, using a knife to cut off any extra.

Below are the pie crusts I use and due to the size of my bowls, I need one crust for each pot pie. If you prefer to do a traditional pot pie, simply use a crust on the bottom of a regular-size pie plate, fill it with the chicken mixture and top it with another crust. Make a couple of slits on the top and bake it the same way.

Brush some egg wash on the pie crust which will make it a beautiful shiny golden brown when cooked. Using a knife, make a couple of slits in the crust. Instead of slits, I usually put each family member's initial on their pot pie but a heart would be nice too.

Put the bowls on a baking sheet and bake at 400 F for 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 and bake another 10 minutes. Be careful that you do not burn your crust! Then take them out of the oven and let them cool on a rack for a minute.

Now dig in and enjoy! :)

Joy

2009-01-19T12:45:00.004-05:00

Do you consider yourself a joyful person? Are you feeling joyful today? If so, then you may not have heard that today is known as the most depressing day of the year! Oh my.

Yes, apparently there is such a thing and it's based on things such as the cold weather, increasing debt (credit card bills coming in from Christmas purchases), and new year's resolutions that have already been broken.

But could joy be a deliberate choice and not a reaction to various elements in our life? I think it can be. After all, I don't know one single person who has no problems to overcome, no issues to spoil their joy and no difficulties to rob them of their comfort or peace of mind. And yet, for many of them joy has won and fear has lost.

"It really is possible to color a dark canvas golden, even with the tiniest of brushes. You just keep on dabbing the paint, and sooner or later you transform the surface with brightness. In the same way, if you keep on making joy choices, small and large, your heart will eventually display a joyful tint that is more durable than you ever imagined."

- Thomas Kinkade, a.k.a. The Painter of Light

Despite the cold weather and the difficulties you may be facing, may joy warm your heart and be yours today and always!

{Hugs}

I'm a little teapot...

2009-01-15T08:57:00.019-05:00

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

And this is the cute little teapot and teacup set that hubby and Sweet Cheeks gave me last year for Mothers' Day.

Isn't this the cutest little sheep? And do you suppose she's reading the Word?

While I'm at it, let me show you just a couple of my other favorite teapots. They're actually tea for one sets, with the base serving as the teacup and the top being the the teapot itself.

I like how pretty it is inside and out. :)

And below, here's another one I like very much. The colors are some of my favorites and I find it soothing just to look at it!

Time to put the kettle on and enjoy a cup of tea. Hope you get to do the same!

Share a smile!

2009-01-09T09:29:00.009-05:00

A few years ago, I started making a little snack for Sweet Cheeks called "cat smiles". It combines three of his favorite foods: apples, peanut butter and marshmallows.

I found the recipe in this tea party book that I own, which is full of cute tea party ideas and fun themes:

In case you're wondering, the "cat smiles" name has to do with Alice in Wonderland. In the story, the Cheshire cat keeps popping up and then disappearing. When he does disappear, what's the one thing he always leaves behind? His smile, of course!

You can make a cat smile for your little ones today by spreading peanut butter on an apple slice, then lining up mini-marshmallows on it for the cat's teeth, and topping it with another apple slice that was also spread with peanut butter. If you don't care for peanut butter, you could also make it using this:

And what's not to like about Nutella? It's great on everything!

Whenever I make this snack, I always use a whole apple and share a few "smiles" with Sweet Cheeks. It's perfect for a fun after-school snack and it's sure to bring a big smile to your child's face... and yours!

"Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
"I've had none yet," Alice replied in an offended tone, "so I can't take more."
"You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter: "it's very easy to take more than nothing".

- Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland"

A treasure

2009-01-07T09:26:00.004-05:00

Today, I came across this verse in the book of Psalms and it really spoke to me:

I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. Psalm 119:162

How true that the Bible is a great treasure. Yet, it's widely available, affordable, and many people own several of them. In other countries around the world, however, it isn't the case as religious persecution is very real and very serious.

Here in the US, we are truly blessed to be able to openly read the Bible, carry it with us in public, pray wherever and whenever we want, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others without fear. That freedom is something worth treasuring and thanking God for.

The words contained in it bring awe to me each time I open its pages. It's amazing how God's word is indeed every question's answer.

Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. John 8:51

May each of us let it speak to us today and receive its message of salvation. And that is the most precious thing we could ever rejoice over!

So long, gingerbread house!

2009-01-02T13:18:00.017-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year celebration! I did, and I started a new Christmas tradition this year: making a gingerbread house with Sweet Cheeks. But, since this was our first year making one, I went the easy peasy route and bought a kit from Wal-Mart. Apparently, we have similar gingerbread house-making abilities because it's hard to tell who did what part!

Earlier this afternoon, it became the last of the decorations that I needed to put away. I actually didn't want to save it or simply throw it away. I thought of just leaving it outside for some bird or animal to come feed on it, and hubby suggested that maybe if it was crushed, the ducks in the backyard lake just might enjoy a taste.

"Crushed? Did someone say crushed?". That's all it took for Sweet Cheeks to be all over that idea!

So, we went in the backyard and he put down the gingerbread house by the lake. Then he had the best time crushing it!

Now, that looks almost done. And, just in time since a few ducks are quickly making their way toward their sweet treat...

Behind them, these two white ibises who tend to be on the shy side.

Click on the picture to enlarge it if you'd like. I'm always amazed at the beauty of God's creation. :)

Oh, and did I mention Lizzy followed us? Of course, she smelled that we were up to something!

Here, Sweet Cheeks throws some pieces into the lake. And Lizzy knows she can't take it much longer...

The water softened up the gingerbread pieces and the ducks seemed to really like it.

At this point Lizzy thought: "All right, the kid's busy with those quacking things in the water and mom's taking their picture, so here's my chance to eat that chimney!"

After she sneaked in a bite, we left the remaining crushed pieces for other ducks and birds. The two white ibises came over after we had gone back toward the house but they ate none of it. (Beautiful AND smart!)

Thank you for visiting me today. Wishing you and yours all the sweetest blessings in 2009!

Apricot-glazed pork tenderloin

2008-12-29T11:17:00.010-05:00

There is such pleasure in bringing a delicious home-cooked meal to the table, and the enjoyment belongs both to the one who prepared it and to those who'll enjoy it. As wives and moms, nurturing is part of the role God gave us, and in an important way, that means feeding the hungry bellies of our family with our love-filled cooking. There's nothing better!

One of the dishes that gets most requested at my house is this one:

I clipped it out of Southern Living Magazine a few years ago, and that's where the above picture is from. They're showing it served over rice, but I always serve it with mashed potatoes and either baby carrots (drizzled with a honey/butter sauce), steamed green beans or sauteed mushrooms. Any veggie will do of course.

It's a beautiful dish to serve but yet it's very simple to make. My favorite kind! :)

The glaze needs just a few ingredients:

There are only 3 of us in our family so if you'd like to make it, simply adapt the recipe according to your needs. I buy a pork tenderloin of a little over a pound, so 2 lbs worth should be good for 5-6 people.

Place the pork tenderloin on a lightly greased rack in a foil-lined pan and sprinkle it evenly with salt. Mix the following ingredients in a bowl:

1/3 cup apricot preserves
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated ginger (I use the puree you see above)
1 tablespoon water

Spread the mixture evenly over the pork.

Bake at 435 for 25-30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 155 F. Remove the pork from the oven and cover with foil. Let stand 5-10 minutes, until the thermometer registers 160 F.

(Every oven varies so start checking for temperature after 25 minutes. If your tenderloin is on the larger side, it may take closer to 35 minutes to be ready.)

Then slice and serve with your favorite veggies or other side dishes. There you have it, dinner that's good enough for a special occasion and one that needed no fuss at all. Enjoy!

Thank you!

2008-12-27T11:43:00.003-05:00

A week or two ago, I received this beautiful award from Susan at A Life of Grace.

Susan, thank you for thinking of me and giving me this sweet award. I appreciate it!

I had to list 5 things I'm "addicted" to. I'd say some of the things I most enjoy are part of the following: chatting with a girlfriend over a cup of tea or coffee, reading cookbooks and collecting recipes, cleanliness, watching Sweet Cheeks play Little League sports (and hubby coaching), and of course loving God and my family.

The rules are that I must give this award to 5 other bloggers, but I really have difficulty in picking and choosing because that means leaving many people out. The fact is, there are so many of you who have such beautiful blogs where the conversation is friendly, inspiring, and brings glory to Christ.

I'd like to spread the joy attached in receiving this award by doing things a little differently. If I'm a regular visitor to your blog, then it's because I think you and your blog are fabulous! So, if you'd like to, please pick up this award and make it yours, especially if you've never received this one before. Please pass it on to 5 other bloggers or as many as you wish.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful weekend!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T12:16:00.003-05:00

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

May we all be forever thankful that God sent us His one and only Son, the most generous and loving gift anyone could ever receive. In Him alone is the promise of eternal life. In Him alone is everything we children of God could ever need. What an amazing reason to celebrate!

Wishing all of you a Christmas filled with joy, love, peace, and wonderful memories to be cherished for years to come.

Many sweet blessings to you and yours!

It's all in the bag

2008-12-20T11:11:00.003-05:00

Here's a time-saving cooking tip I thought I'd share with you today. We all know how convenient it is to use a slow cooker, right? Just put your food in it in the morning, turn it on low and at dinner time, you've got your meal ready. What could be easier?

Evidently, someone thought that clean-up could be easier and I'm thrilled with their invention.

Several months ago, I started using these slow cooker bags and found them to be the next best thing since sliced bread. Have you seen them at the store? They look like this:

You place the bag inside the slow cooker, put you food in it and cook it as usual, and the best part comes after the meal. When it's time for clean-up, you just throw away the bag! The inside of the cooker stays clean so no more soaking and scrubbing. Pretty smart invention if you ask me.

Now, why can't I think of things like that?!

It takes a (Christmas) village

2008-12-15T08:52:00.022-05:00

Each December, some of my favorite decorations to put up are my Christmas villages. This year, I did two. Would you like to see them?

Oh good, because it just so happens that I'm joining Boomama's Christmas tour of homes by taking you today on a tour of my Christmas villages. Let's get started!

Sunday morning and Pastor Bob stands outside the church to greet everyone.

Since he likes to buy candy and flowers for his wife, I've conveniently placed Chelsea's right next to the church.

A few shops, with the pharmacy in the back.

I hear this Bed and Breakfast is fully booked a year in advance.

Here's some last-minute shopping made easy.

Please pretend along with me that the little old lady could actually fit through the door of the grocery store. Without going in sideways and in a horizontal position, that is. :)

Ice skating at the tree lot today sounds like a lot of fun. And look, it's not too crowded!

If you're not the outdoors type, how about going for a visit to the museum?

I do believe this is how Toys'R'Us got started. Ah, the nostalgia!

I've always wanted to try my hand at pottery. And going down a sleigh with a friend!

Jacques the baker is giving away three loaves of bread today. Please pick moi!

I can see for miles and miles...

Every village needs a school, and this one is very special because it allows and even encourages prayer. :)

Although I didn't put up a village in my tearoom, I did move in this cute little green house.

The view from the side is even better!

That's about all I have to show you today, except that Boomama's guidelines mentioned leaving a Christmas recipe in our post. If you're here today for the first time, then you've missed my recent White Christmas Fudge recipe but you'll find it only a couple of posts down. And it just so happens I have some ready...

I hope you've enjoyed your tour today. Click here to see Boomama's decorations and to peak into the homes of her other participants. I can't wait to visit everyone!

Welcome friends!

2008-12-11T11:17:00.006-05:00

This is the welcome sign that hangs outside by our front door. Its job is to officially welcome guests and visitors before we can get to the door. You probably have one too, don't you?

At this time of year, all of us tend to do a lot of "welcoming". We entertain family and friends, maybe also a few neighbors, coworkers, etc.

However, when we already have so much on our plate, showing hospitality isn't always something we look forward to. It often takes a lot of our time, effort and money, but it doesn't have to.

It can be as simple as having a few friends over to play board games and calling for pizza. Or, how about going for a walk with family and friends in the neighborhood to see all the beautiful decorations and having them over afterwards for hot chocolate and a Christmas movie?

Sharing special moments with others by welcoming them to our home is something we are all called to do. In fact, God's Word tells us we must do it with a cheerful heart.

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

Now that's to the point! Notice that the command is simply to "be hospitable". Nowhere does it say that we must try to outdo ourselves or Martha Stewart for that matter. It really can be simple and fun.

May the hospitality we'll all soon practice be a time of rejoicing and blessing for all of our guests as well as ourselves. :)

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

Mary Engelbreit Christmas teapot

2008-12-08T08:32:00.005-05:00

In the midst of decorating for Christmas, there's always some small treasure we're happy to see again and display. Today, I thought I'd share with you this cute little teapot of mine from Mary Engelbreit.

That was a view from the side. Now here's the front:

And the back...

Have you ever seen such a cute little house all decked out for Christmas? I almost wish I could move in!

It actually sits in the china cabinet in my tearoom all year round but at Christmas time, I really enjoy getting it out and using it. It's such a special treat!

I hope that today, you'll be able to join me in relaxing for a few moments, as we're busy with various preparations for the celebration of our Savior's birth. Slip away from the fast pace of the season for a little while and treat yourself to a nice cup of tea, coffee, hot cocoa or apple cider in your very favorite mug. :)

Wishing you a wonderful day and many sweet blessings!

White Christmas fudge

2008-12-04T08:58:00.007-05:00

Can I let you in on a secret? Sugar and I are pretty close. But as much as I enjoy sweet treats, I actually enjoy sharing them even more. With Christmas fast approaching, I have even more reasons these days to spend time in my kitchen baking and making all kinds of sweets.

One of the things I make every year at Christmas time is white chocolate fudge. It's a rare treat because it's super sweet. Just know that a little bite really goes a long way. If you'd like to make it, here's what you'll need:

2 packages (6 squares each) of Baker's premium white baking chocolate
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2/3 cup coarsely chopped almonds (toasted or not, either way works great)
2/3 cup dried cranberries or craisins (I typically use craisins)

I believe I mentioned that this is super sweet, right? Look no further for the reason why:

This is how this yummy treat gets started. Put the 12 white chocolate squares in a large bowl and pour in the condensed milk. Microwave them on high for 2 to 3 minutes until the chocolate is almost melted and stir with a spatula until the chocolate melts completely. Add the orange peel, almonds and craisins, and stir until all the ingredients are well blended. Pour into an 8x8 pan lined with foil extending over the sides of the pan.

Refrigerate it for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving. Lift the fudge out of the pan using the foil handles, then peel the foil off the fudge. Cut into 5 rows both ways to make 25 squares.

If you behaved and didn't lick the spatula (probably because someone else got to it first!), now is your chance to get a taste. Go ahead and take one while you still can!

Store the fudge in a plastic container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks but frankly, I can't imagine it lasting that long. It'll be gone within a few days, especially if you're in a sharing mood. As a matter of fact, this fudge makes a great gift. Not that you have to give it all away, of course. Just keep a couple of pieces to have along with your cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy a great way to sweeten up your day! :)

Seasons of change, seasons of courage

2008-12-01T09:06:00.002-05:00

I don't know about you but I'm a creature of habit. Give me good old predictability any day and I'll leave the surprises for those who enjoy living on the edge.

I think we can all attest though, that once in a while life will throw an unexpected change or turn of events in our direction. The kind that makes not only our routine come to an end but sometimes as much as our current way of life.

In the midst of unexpected changes, big or small, we need to muster up the courage to face them head on.

After all, change can be threatening. It can rob us of our peace of mind, comfort and health. Things like moving, changing jobs or losing a job, mourning a loved one, coping with a newly diagnosed health issue, a sudden empty nest, and so on.

As always, God is aware of our need for courage and wisdom during all of our seasons of change. He doesn't want us to go it alone but with His help.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Courage in the midst of change is not always easy to come by but we must remind ourselves that as children of our Heavenly Father, we are never alone in any of it. If you're in one of those seasons at this time, be encouraged that the Lord is with you today and always.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T10:22:00.007-05:00

Throughout the United States this week, houses have been cleaned and tidied up, decorated festively and made ready for company.

Hours of labor-intensive and love-filled home cooking will result in a feast rarely seen throughout the year.

Relatives who tend to be strange characters will put on their best outfits, and their best behavior. Love will fill the air!

But, throughout it all, may this special holiday be first and foremost a glorious occasion to be reminded of the many blessings that we enjoy. May we all look to the Lord our Provider with a grateful heart and a prayer of thanks, for He is the One whose hands continually bless us, protect us and unite us.

Wishing you and yours a plentiful Thanksgiving!

Zebra cake

2008-11-21T09:28:00.009-05:00

When I was a child, I used to love to make this cake because I could make it all on my own. I think my mom called it a log cake but ever since I started making it with Sweet Cheeks, it's been renamed the "zebra cake" and you'll see why once it's sliced.

It's one of the easiest and least expensive desserts anyone can make, and it only requires a couple of ingredients. It's perfect for those times when you're not looking for something pretty and fancy, but still want a little something sweet to bring to the table. The picture below shows all you'll need to get started.

Start by whipping 2 cups of heavy whipping cream. Then, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. As a child, I used a tub of Cool Whip which was fine, but I prefer the taste of freshly whipped cream sweetened with vanilla or a bit of powdered sugar.

Spoon some of the whipped cream on top of one chocolate wafer, top it with another wafer, top that one also with cream and put them on a plate once you've stacked up a few in your hand.

Then, simply repeat the process until the box of wafers is empty. And, by the way, it's perfectly fine to eat one or two right out of the box. In fact, I would say it's mandatory. :)

Once the cake is assembled, spread the remaining whipped cream all over the top and sides of the cake and refrigerate it for 4 to 5 hours. Don't do as I once did in a moment of impatience and assume it will be just fine after only a couple of hours in the fridge. The wafers will still be hard and the cake just won't be a good thing, so give it the 4 or 5 hours it needs.

You can certainly add some chocolate curls on top of the cake to give it a more finished look but I like to keep it quite simple. When you're ready to serve the cake, slice it on an angle.

And that's why at our house we call it a zebra cake!

It's important to note that this cake tastes and looks better if it's eaten within 24 to 48 hours. I make it in the early afternoon, serve it to my family for dessert that night and again the next day but longer than that and the cream starts to turn a bit brownish due to the wafers' color. Keep in mind that you can cut the ingredient amounts in half and make a smaller cake or you can freeze part of the cake (according to Nabisco).

Wishing you a wonderful day and as always, many sweet blessings!

A lizard and a Lizzy

2008-11-17T09:28:00.009-05:00

Yesterday, an uninvited guest showed up at my house. He didn't bother to ring the doorbell or even knock. He just sneaked in when I opened the door to let my dog out. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know he was in the house until I walked in the dining room and noticed him by the window...

Did you see him there?

Yes, apparently this lizard decided to come in and make himself comfortable in my blinds. Maybe he was running away from home and thought mine would be a good place for a fresh start. That could only be because he didn't know that Sweet Cheeks is a highly-skilled boy who specializes in relocating lost, confused, and adventurous lizards back to their natural habitat - anywhere but inside my house! So, back home he went and I'm pretty sure he's living happily every after.

But, as it turns out, this is only one of the four-legged creatures that have made their way inside my home. Here's another, although I must admit that this one was actually brought here on purpose, as a birthday gift from hubby to me many years ago. Her name is Lizzy.

Many people think she's a puppy but she'll be 15 in a couple of months. She still acts like a puppy though, as she follows me through the house with every step I take. And I do mean EVERY step I take!

Now, if she could just stop any more uninvited creatures from sneaking in, that would be great. Unfortunately, this kind of thing just isn't a big priority for her. Naps come first.

Wishing you and your furry ones a wonderful day! :)

Peace

2008-11-15T09:05:00.006-05:00

Peace is looking at a sunset and knowing Who to thank.
-Author unknown

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Clip Art

Chicken and fruit salad

2008-11-12T09:41:00.016-05:00

Whenever I have a tea party, I like to set a pretty table with flowers and a variety of teacups and plates. While I'm at it, I also try to serve the food in ways that play up the "girliness" of it all. Here's an example in the photo below.

A chicken salad with fresh fruit which I served in a pretty teacup. Why put it on a simple plate as if a tea party was any old occasion? It's not! :)

I serve it along with several other items such as a quiche or mini frittatas, two or three kinds of finger sandwiches, sometimes a green salad or fruit platter, and of course, scones are always on the menu. That's all before I bring out desserts, but let's get back to the chicken salad for now...

This is probably one of my favorite chicken salads, and if you'd like to make it, well I'm happy to share the recipe. It's a simple recipe at heart but with a few little additions that make it quite special. Feel free to vary the ingredients a bit if you wish (as I often do).

In a large bowl, place about 2 cups of cooked and cubed chicken breasts, cooled. Add 1 to 2 stalks of celery (chopped), and 1 chopped apple. I use the packaged fresh apple slices from the grocery store for added convenience and chop several slices. However, if you're slicing your own apple, be sure to first mix the chopped slices in a small bowl with at least 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown (that's another reason why I like the pre-sliced ones, they don't turn brown). Then add to the bowl with the cubed chicken.

Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of mayo. I've never measured the mayo so this is an approximate amount. You should start with less and increase the amount until you're happy :) with how it all looks. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

While it's in the fridge, take out 2 crunchy granola bars. I use Nature Valley roasted almond or simply honey roasted. Use whatever brand you like, as long as it's crunchy. Then, crush them inside a ziplock bag using a rolling pin.

When you're ready to serve the chicken salad, gently mix half of the crushed granola bars in the salad and 1 cup of drained mandarins. Then, serve the salad in either a bowl or individual teacups (it should make about 5 or 6), sprinkle the remaining crushed granola bars on top and serve immediately.

You could add all kinds of fruit such as seedless grapes (green or red), pineapple, kiwis, strawberries, as well as skip the granola bars and throw in some sliced almonds instead. The variations are just about endless.

Bon appetit!

The real Giver

2008-11-10T10:01:00.004-05:00

Just recently, as I waited in the check-out line at my local Super-Target with a cart full of groceries, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

Behind me was a woman I had never met. She didn't have a cart, or a shopping basket, or any items in her hands. She wasn't in line behind me but just seemed to have come out of nowhere.

With a smile on her face, all she said to me was "Can you use this? It expires in a few days", and she handed me a Target gift card. Although the card value wasn't enormous, I couldn't have been more shocked! I thanked her sincerely and as soon as I turned around she was gone.

I couldn't help but wonder why she had picked me out of all the shoppers in the store. What made her come to me rather than the person in the next lane, or ahead of me, or better yet, why didn't she just use the card herself? After all, she was already in the store!

Then I asked myself this: could it be that God used her to bless me? Had He noticed that I have tried my best to be a good steward with the money that I'm given? I think so, yes. As Christian writer C.S. Lewis spoke of back in the early '40s in his book Mere Christianity, behind this lady's kindness was in fact the real Giver. Here's an excerpt from the book:

"You may say "I've never had the sense of being helped by an invisible Christ, but I often have been helped by other human beings". That is rather like the woman in the first war who said that if there were a bread shortage, it would not bother her house because they always ate toast. If there is no bread, there is no toast. If there were no help from Christ, there would be no help from other human beings.

But do not forget this. At first, it is natural for a baby to take his mother's milk without knowing his mother. It is equally natural for us to see the man who helps us without seeing Christ behind him. But we must not remain babies. We must go on to recognize the real Giver. It is madness not to. Because, if we do not, we shall be relying on human beings. And that is going to let us down."

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. James 1:17

Homemade chocolate truffles

2008-11-07T09:01:00.000-05:00

I had a taste for chocolate yesterday afternoon so I decided to get all fancy and make truffles.

Actually, the name is the only thing that's fancy about them. They're very simple to make and require only a few ingredients. They also were a big hit as an after-school treat for my 6-year-old son, who I affectionately call Sweet Cheeks. :)

I took the recipe from this children's tea party book that I own:

These would be wonderful served at any tea party but they certainly don't need a special occasion.

If you'd like to make them, all you need to do is mix the following three ingredients in a small (microwave-safe) bowl: 1 cup of milk chocolate chips, 1/2 a stick of butter cut into small pieces, and 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Microwave for one minute on high, stir, and microwave another minute. Stir until the mixture is smooth and refrigerate it for at least one hour.

Then, using a teaspoon, make about 12 little balls. Note that you may need to put the bowl or the truffles in the freezer for a few minutes if you find the chocolate getting too soft.

For the coating, mix 5 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa and 5 tablespoons of powdered sugar on a plate. As you'll see below, I'm sure I used more than the few tablespoons called for but that's because I didn't bother to measure. It's just for the coating after all.

Then, gently roll each truffle one by one on the plate until it's coated all around.

Oh, who has time to do this one by one?! Go ahead and throw in a few at a time and let them roll around to get a good coating...

When you're finished, put the truffles in a plastic container and store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to have them. Or, you can forget the storing part altogether and eat them right out of the Tupperware or,

... or put them on a pretty plate and behave! Start with one and stop at two, or three. Four tops.

Hope you enjoy them, and many sweet blessings! :)

P.S. How do YOU satisfy your chocolate cravings?

Are we there yet?

2008-11-05T09:31:00.000-05:00

Does this sound like something that comes out of your children's mouth every two minutes as soon as you pull out of your driveway?

We all know that most children don't have much patience. They want everything now. Not in hours or days or weeks.

Funny enough, we when take a closer look, we find that many of us adults are very much like our children in that sense. Regardless of what turns (including U-turns) we've decided to make in our lives, we want to make sure we're going to get where we're headed, and we want to get there as soon as possible. We need assurance that our plan is going to work, that we're on the right track, and we want to see definite results immediately.

Well, God's timing and ours is often two very different things. But if we're busy doing God's will, then we can have peace simply by knowing that He's with us directing our path.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

All of us can stop worrying, looking for immediate results, wanting to get there now. All we need is to seek our Lord Jesus Christ, trust in Him, believe in His infinite wisdom and power, and know that He will take us where we need to be.

He has the controls, after all. We just like to think we do. :)

A reflection

2008-11-04T07:29:00.003-05:00

"God loves America. When you realize what He accomplished in bringing forth a new nation on this continent - a government founded on Christian principles and dedicated to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - you have to realize that He had a dramatic vision and purpose for this nation."

Dr. James Kennedy (1930-2007)

The taste of autumn

2008-11-02T10:50:00.000-05:00

When temperatures start dropping and leaves start turning a bright red, orange and yellow, it not only feels like autumn, it looks like it too. But here, the temperatures are still above 80 and it always looks like summer.

Didn't the trees get the memo? Leaves are supposed to change colors! The landscape is supposed to look like this picture...

Above is a picture I took in North Carolina at this time of year two years ago. Instead, out of my backyard, this is what I see today...

Don't get me wrong, I think palm trees are beautiful and I enjoy very much having them in our landscaping. But, they certainly don't announce any change of season. So, what's a girl to do? Well, I decided that since I don't have the feel of autumn around me (with 80-degree weather!), and I don't get to see autumn make its arrival, I would taste it instead.

To some people, it may taste like a pumpkin pie, or an apple pie, or a sweet potato pie. To me, it's not so much a pie but more like a pumpkin brownie. But, I wouldn't want to offend Martha by calling it a brownie: officially, it's her pumpkin chocolate chip square. Just to set the record straight.

And I made a batch today. Yes I did, I tasted autumn!

I've been making these for a couple of years now and I have to admit that, even though I didn't used to be a big pumpkin fan, these have won me over. They're delicious and bring out the "it's finally autumn!" feeling in me. I hope you'll enjoy them too, so here's the recipe:

Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 12-oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line the bottom and sides of a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving the foil extending over the short sides of the pan. (She doesn't say to do this, but at this point, I spray some Pam on the bottom and sides of the pan. It's a habit I can't shake!) In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pie spice, baking soda and salt. Then set aside.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in the egg and the vanilla until combined. Beat in the pumpkin puree (the mixture may appear curdled, don't be alarmed if it does.) Reduce the speed to low, and get your bowl of dry ingredients. Add them to the wet ingredients until just combined, so be careful not to overdo it. Lastly, fold in the chocolate chips using a spatula.

Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 35 minutes or so, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool completely in the pan, for about 2 hours.

Lift the cake from the pan using the foil handles, peel off the foil and cut into 24 squares. Enjoy autumn! :)

Welcome to my tearoom!

2008-10-30T08:43:00.000-04:00

Since I plan on writing about tea and tea parties on a regular basis, I thought I'd start things off by inviting you today to my little tearoom here at home. To me, it's such a treat to spend time in it, whether I'm having a tea party with a few girlfriends or whether I'm by myself.

In fact, I have tea parties for one all the time. I simply bring in a cup of tea, maybe a couple of cookies and a good book, then I put on some soft music (usually piano or harp) and relax for a few minutes. Sometimes, I just go there for a quick 15-minute break while I'm busy doing housework, while some other times, I'll linger around for an hour if I have more time. Either way, I get this comforting feeling of tranquility and I'd say it's a sweet blessing indeed!

Here, come on in...

Above, this is the china cabinet that's on the opposite wall from where the little couch is.

I stash a lot of my tea party goodies in there. The cabinet drawers hold things like teaspoons, tablecloths and napkins while behind those two bottom doors, I store various cake stands, platters, bowls, and more small plates. I can't fit them all in the top part of the cabinet!

A little side table next to the cabinet. If I give out favors after a tea party, I usually "hide" them in there until it's time to give them out. It's a great hiding spot for Easter chocolates too!

I stacked up these three hat boxes in the corner so I had a place to store all my hats... just kidding! They're empty, but I thought they added a little something feminine to that corner.

This is one of the other side tables. In the front is a gift I received from a friend a year or two ago. She was the guest of honor at the party, and yet she surprised *me* with this beautiful gift.

I hope you can see it a little better in this photo. It has so many cute details!

You know the saying "one man's junk is another man's treasure"? Take for instance this old window frame that hangs on the wall. Someone with more talent than me (easy to find) painted it pink, and added cute little curtains, so it came home with me! Add in a $10 mirror from the craft store to put in the middle and I called it done.

I think I've shown you everything there was to see, but I can't possibly invite you to my tearoom and let you leave without sharing a cup with me! So, let me head over to the kitchen and I'll be right back...

The tea is ready, so let's get comfy. Now, you get to choose. Pink or blue, which one will it be?

I hope you'll come back soon, there's always a pot of tea waiting to be enjoyed! :)

Celebrating grace

2008-10-28T09:41:00.001-04:00

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Oxford Dictionary describes grace as "(in Christian belief) the unmerited favor of God". How true that despite the fact that we don't deserve it, God gives us His grace in abundant measure.

He has given me more than my share and I am eternally grateful. But I'll admit, there are days when things are hectic, when various appointments, commitments and daily chores seem to take over all of my day and I don't give the fact that He has covered me with His grace very much thought.

In times like these, I need to remind myself of the very precious gift that His grace is and with a humble heart, give appropriate thanks.

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

What's even more amazing is that He's nowhere close to being done giving me (and you) grace. So, whenever you have a difficult day when you feel your strength is gone and your temper is hot, turn to the Lord and He will fill you with His grace.

And the great thing is, it never runs out.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

- John Newton

Calling all Paula Deen fans!

2008-10-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

I know there are many of us who love comfort food and enjoy Paula Deen's cooking. We all know her food is pretty fattening for the most part but once in a while it's a nice treat. There are several recipes of hers that I make, but today I thought I'd share one of my favorites. It's for mini cherry cheesecakes, and they are always such a hit! Below is a picture of them when I served them to some of my girlfriends at a tea party I had at home. Click on the picture to see them up close. Hope you enjoy them!

Mini cherry cheesecakes

2 packages (8 oz each) regular cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 vanilla wafers (Nilla or other brand)
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling, or blueberry filling (you won't need the whole can)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Place a paper muffin liner in each cup of a regular-size muffin pan. Lay a vanilla wafer, flat side down, in each of the muffin cups (this acts as the crust).

Beat the room-temperature cream cheese with a hand-held electrical mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla extract, beating well.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the vanilla wafers and fill each muffin cup.

Bake for 20 minutes, then let them cool in the pan (on the counter) for 20 minutes. As the cheesecakes cool, they will "deflate" a bit on the top, creating room for the pie filling.

Refrigerate until cool, at least one hour (I leave them in the pan and put the pan in the fridge). Then remove each cheesecake from the pan, spoon the pie filling in the center and either serve right away or keep refrigerated in a tupperware container until ready to serve but do not freeze.

Many sweet blessings!

Everyday miracles

2008-10-22T17:47:00.000-04:00

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." Mark 7:37

Every once in a while I ponder about miracles. Not necessarily the kind that are mentioned in the Bible that leave us completely astonished, but instead the everyday kind of miracles that happen to regular people in today's world.

For instance, several months ago (it may even be closer to a year), the evening news had a story about two brothers who were window washers. One day, they happened to be washing windows on the 47th floor of a skyscraper when the scaffold broke. In a matter of seconds, they both hit the ground, but amazingly, one brother survived! He broke a few bones, suffered some internal injuries, but spoke soon after and was expected to walk again. Overall, he would be fine.

Now, how is that even possible? It seems absolutely incredible; however, this was a very real thing that happened to a real man. I found it interesting to hear that this man was a fervent believer and he publicly gave thanks and praise to God for His miracle.

I also can't help but thank God for His protection, even from things I'm unaware of. After all, I can't possibly know how many times God has saved me and my family from an illness, an accident, a tragedy or a dangerous situation. How many miracles is He working in my life right now? How about in yours?

The God of the Universe, who created it in a matter of days, who separated the waters of the sea, who turned a few fish and loaves of bread into a feast for thousands, who gave sight to the blind, health to the dying, faith to the unbeliever and life to the dead, is at work this very moment through miracles found in the everyday life.

He comes with no fanfare, but instead He quietly showers us with His grace, mercy, strength and love. All we need is faith.

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22

Count it all joy

2008-10-19T15:53:00.000-04:00

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives
to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

James 1:2-6

Coconut and chocolate bars

2008-10-18T17:00:00.000-04:00

I made these the other day for a Bible study group we were having over. They're very simple to make and were a big hit. My friend Roxanne gave me the recipe, which is very sweet, just like her! :) It's also a great dessert to make with little ones, but one important tip to keep in mind: they're better the day after, otherwise they tend to be too gooey for my taste. But be my guest!

22 Honey Graham crackers, crushed (about 3 cups crumbs)
1 stick butter, melted
1 12-oz package butterscotch morsels
1 12-oz package milk chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

Start by preheating your oven to 350 F. Line a 13 x 9 baking pan with foil, leaving 3 inches of foil extending over the short sides of the pan. Grease the foil lining (bottom and sides) by buttering it up like you mean business.

Mix crushed grahams and melted butter in a large bowl, then press evenly into the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle butterscotch morsels over the top (I usually use 3/4 of the bag but use it all if you like). Then sprinkle the whole bag of chocolate chips. Yum...

Sprinkle all that sweet coconut over the top and finish by adding the can of sweetened condensed milk to the party. Pour it over the whole thing.

Put the pan in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the coconut is slightly browned. Cool in the pan for at least a couple of hours. Then, lift this sweet concoction out of the pan by using the foil handles. Cut into whatever size you like. It makes about 24 bars, depending how big you decide to cut them.

Many sweet blessings!

Welcome!

2008-10-18T16:26:00.001-04:00

To me, the beauty of nature is as welcoming as a mug of hot chocolate on a cold night and a tall glass of lemonade on a hot summer day.

As for the actual word "welcome", well, in fact it's just one simple word but it means much more. It's really saying "Hi there! I'm glad you're here, come on in!".

And today, I'd like to welcome you here. Welcome to all women, whether married or not, fellow moms or hope-to-be moms, working outside and/or inside the home, sisters in Christ as well as still-searching-for-truth sisters.

So, go get yourself a nice cup of something delicious to drink, pull up a comfy chair and enjoy your visit!

Many sweet blessings!