snowed in!

Church was cancelled today because of our snow. We are very cozy still in our pj's getting ready to have "home church" :) I am sure there will be lots of special music!

Just thinking today how amazing God is and how His plan for us is always better than our own plans- what a relief to give our lives over to Him and not have to worry about what is going to happen to us- our lives are in His hands......

Need some encouragement? Check out Biblegateway- I love this site- you can read any part of the Bible in any version, and it shows cross references that you can click on as well.

Also, have you ever been to family.org (focus on the family website)? It is a great resource as well- the daily broadcasts are always inspiring and convicting. Click on the recent broadcast page to hear some good stuff.

::sweet::

I found this wonderful cookbook at the library- Cook Yourself Thin. Check out the website and recipes- they are easy, interesting, use normal ingredients, healthier, and colorful.



So far we have made 2 desserts from the book:


:::Brown Sugar Kisses::: 11 calories each!!!!!!!!
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. vanilla

preheat oven to 225.

Grease 2 cookie sheets. Beat egg whites and salt on high until soft peaks form. Add the sugar slowly while beating (my little girl loved adding the sugar a spoonful at a time) until meringue is stiff and shiny, about 3-5 min. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. Cut the corner off a ziplock , fill with meringue, and squeeze out the kisses. Bake for 1 hour, 15 min. Turn oven off and keep the door ajar. let cool for 1 hour in the oven. Store in a tin or wrap loosely with foil- don't store in plastic or glass- cookies will get soggy.

***Everyone in our house loved these***

:::Dessert Pizza::: 168 calories per slice

1/2 pound pizza dough (we made some in our bread machine)
4 large peaches, sliced
2 pints berries (we used blueberries)
3 T. flour
1/2 c. plus 1 T. sugar
2 t. milk

preheat oven to 375
grease baking sheet
stretch the dough into a circle, directly onto the pan, pressing and gently stretching to fill as much of the pan as possible (about 11" in diameter)

in a bowl mix fruit + flour + 1/2 c. sugar. Place the fruit mix over the center of the crust and evenly arrange. Leave a 1" border of dough. pull the edges of the dough up against the fruit to form a rustic crust. Brush the outer crust with the milk and sprinkle with the 1T. of sugar. Bake for 30-40 min. Serve warm.

***This was so good- everyone loved it as well. Dave did get out the whip cream- but I thought it was good even without the whip cream. I feel so healthy!!!!!! I am so glad I found this book because I have a need for sweets :) And if you can have yummy lower fat sweets- all the better!

In the mood to sew- I guess, maybe b/c we are snowed in.....patchwork heart pillow for my baby girl :) I have to say red, orange, & pink is my current favorite color combo.



We did get snow! Dave couldn't get our car up the driveway....so there it sits. What about you? Any snow? And do you like snow? How about the bundling up of children and then unbundling and then bundling again? I have gotten soft- I know you northerners have been bundling your children up for months now! I applaud you!

t-shirts & colorful messes

Remember this t-shirt? Here is my second try- and don't worry- I sewed them on this time....

Valentine t-shirt - not sewed on yet- my project for tomorrow when we are snowed in (maybe...this is the South, so we'll see if it actually happens)

shirts for the boys....

A shirt for me......(or to giveaway?)

I feel like I just can't leave Dave out- now which shirt of his will I embellish...and what design will I choose?!?! You know what would be hilarious would be to pick his favorite shirt and iron on a design using the appli-kay (the stuff that totally comes off in the wash if you don't sew it).....a really cutesy design that he would never wear.....maybe for April fool's day.....

colorful creating = colorful mess


forts in the living room (and the glow-wonder-dog)


also on the agenda for tomorrow- clean the art room!!!!! I have a horrible habit of keeping the brushes in cups of water- need new water? Just grab a new cup.....my poor, poor brushes.

adorable!

Good news! Steph has opened an etsy shop and is having a giveaway! She is giving away this handmade bag full of fabric and yarn!!!!!!!!!! I hope I win :)

Hello Wednesday!

recent....

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Hope you are having a good one! We are back to the normal stuff after the big 4-1 b-day celebration....

isn't it fun....look who's 41!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I love him a ton)

party plans

Dave's B-day is on Tues......so far we have a planned date for us to go to The Outback. My mouth is already watering. (when is my diet going to start again?? Maybe March when all of the parties are over??).

The 6-year-old-who-will-be-7's b-day is on Sunday the 31st. He wants a Lego party....I found a cute Lego cake recipe:
Isn't that adorable!? Those are halved marshmallows on top! Google, I love you! You can find the directions here.


Squeeze in here V-day on the 14th.....planning to make this:

FamilyFun, of course!

And then there are these kisses- Oreo kisses. Find them at Bakerella.

Our little miss will be 4 on Feb 28....................


polka dot balloons- the polka dot market

I decided to do a polka dot party because I have some Target plates with polka dots- and she wanted a purple cake- so maybe we can merge those things and have a purple polka dot party. I saw those cute balloons but think purple balloons with white dot stickers would be just as cute, don't you think?

back to life...back to reality

Beautiful Emerald Isle. God, You are awesome! As the wind and waves can attest.

There is nothing like laying in bed listening to the ocean.

with Rhonda

We left on Thurs at 1:00 and got to the beach house at about 4ish. Melinda let us use her family beach house- a 10 bedroom duplex. We stayed until 4:oo on Saturday. Each of us had to help with only one meal- the planning/bringing the food/set up and clean up. Then the rest of the time you only had to be served and spoiled :) There were 6 meals and about 18 of us- so it worked out to about 3 ladies making each meal.

We had a wonderful speaker, Nancy's sister in law, Sharon. We had 4 sessions. Sharon lost her husband to cancer a little over a year ago. So you can imagine that we all cried a lot over the weekend. It was amazing to me that when she shared her experiences, and what God is teaching her, that it was so applicable to us all as well- we all have things in our life that we are struggling with and things we need to learn, things we fear and need to give over to God. God used Sharon to speak directly to our hearts. I was so thankful for her honesty- telling us how she is still struggling, of course, in this way or that. But you could see God's hope and love all through out her story. How much He loves Sharon and is taking care of her and how as each fear was realized- God was there to give grace.

Some of the genius behind the retreat and what made it so great:

1. Breakfast was from 8:30 until 9:15- so you could get up and just get down there some time before 9:15. It was heavenly- sleeping in til 8:30 is perfect for me. And then to have someone else make breakfast for you!MMMM breakfast casserole- french toast, muffins, fruit.......etc, etc. Lounge around in your pj's for as long as you want. Most of us didn't shower until later in the day.

2. After the morning session we had time set aside for our Bible reading and prayer. Sharon had a handout for us to use with verses and thought provoking questions such as: what are 3 main daily fears....then list the characteristics of God that will comfort these fears. What a great little assignment- try it!

3. Then we had a small group time (4 in a group) where we could share some of our questions/struggles/pray. Great way to further bond with others and know better how to pray for each other

4. There was lots of free time- time to walk on the beach, play games, watch movies, talk.....so relaxing!!!!!

Jacqueline

I honestly do not know what could have been better. If you are in charge of your ladies' group at church- this was a perfect schedule. The perfect time to learn more about God, to be reminded for His Greatness and LOVE, have the time to read and pray, to bond with sisters in the Lord, to relax and be refreshed and ready to go back and minister to your family.

One of my favorite verses from the retreat:

Psalm 86:19
Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.

Sharon talked about when there was the storm and Jesus and the disciples were on the boat- the disciples finally woke Jesus up and He calmed the storm. Why do we wait so long to go to Jesus? Why do we despair and cry and wring our hands and then after all of that worry--go to Jesus to ask for help? He was there in the boat- He is always here for us now just as He was then.

Another story we read about was the one where Elijah came to the widow woman's house and asked her to make food for him- when she only had enough oil and flour to make one last meal for her son and her. Elijah told her that God would supply enough oil and meal to make food everyday. Just enough for everyday....not too much- and you don't get to see the provision for tomorrow- but you can have the faith to believe- He will provide for tomorrow just as He has for today!!!!

Lydia, Me, Emilie

pure joy! (and frozen feet :)

My wonderful roommate, Candace, and our gorgeous room. Speaking of Candace- she let me borrow her flat iron. The day we went home I straightened my hair- it got really flat. When I got home our 3 year old did not want to look at me and kept saying, "I want my mommy! I want my mommy!" My advice to anyone: when you get back from being gone from your kids for more than a day- don't change your hair! Today she told me that yesterday I was not the "really real" mommy.....(last night she also spent half the night coughing or throwing up....so all the rest and relaxation I had stored up was put to good use....)

our turn to cook!!! (Lydia & Melinda)

games, and more games....

Marilou and Carmella


Nancy striking a pose


Rahmatu practically did the polar bear dip :)

beach getaway

Hello, it's me, Sara. Can you tell I am feeling a little stressed and a little....round...and orange-ish?! Since I am stressed and orange and round is it a good thing that our ladies' retreat starts today. Today through Sat. Dave will have to fend for himself, 3 kids and a dog. Thanks, Darlin' for letting me go and relax while you are left with this:


...and this............



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recent stuff:


So I'll see you back here on Sunday or Monday. Have a great weekend....if you think of us, pray that we all have a safe trip and that the dads have a good weekend too.

dayspring

Have you seen the Dayspring stuff? So cute. I love the colors and pattern plus scriptures!!!!! You can check it out by clicking their link on my sidebar.