This weekend flew past in a blur. We had so much going on it was insane!
Saturday we literally flew from one event to the next!
Friday night the Mister was away. He drove for the Teens trip to Spring Fling at Houghton College. Mikayla was sad to miss it this year but was performing in night two of the High School Sping Musical- "Annie". Mimi and Papa, Aunt Laura and Rich we able to go see the play that night.
Saturday was my birthday buddy's day! He turned ONE. Ryan and Hannah and I joined in the celebrating at the barnyard! ;)
The Birthday Boy!
The cake Jess made was adorable!
Then was Ryan's Blue & Gold Cub Scout Banquet.
Finally we were able to go and see Mikayla in Annie! They all did a wonderful job!
Sunday was MY Birthday!!! :D After church we went to Mom and Dad's for my birthday celebration! It was wonderful! Thank you everybody who helped make it so. :D
Yummy appetizers to start! Mom also made Chili, Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Corn Chowder and Mac and Cheese!
My birthday Buddy!
I recieved not ONE ...
...but Two Keurigs! :D Great minds think a like!!
Ashton and Hannah, because they are just so darn cute! <3
Yesterday I was awakened by a text message. "Two- hour delay" for our schools. Ugh! i had to work at nine. But this meant that the younger two would not be catching the bus until 10. I would be late for work. Maybe it'll get upgraded to a snow day. Then I was fearful of driving on the roads which warranted closing school for the day.
As I sat down with my coffee and devo I began to fret in earnest. Now I chuckle at my angst. Really I fret and worry over the most trival things.
School was closed and I began to get anxious about driving on the surely slick roads. Oh how I hate winter and its blustery and treacherous conditions.
I opened my devotional, the title of the page "Storm Grace". Wow, that's appropriate, I thought wryly. It went on to talk about being thankful. In all things, even when things were not going well. My resounding theme for this year. As I read the verse from church this week was playing itself over in my mind like a broken record.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150:6
I had previously txt my friend, exclaiming my displeasure at having to drive to work on this snowy day. Before she wrote back I found my attitude completely change. I txt her my thankful list instead :D
I am thankful for an extra hour of sleep. A cozy kitchen. That I have a job. That I have a wonderful daughter who can care for her siblings. That I have a nice, warm, reliable van to drive.
I made it to work safely, with little to no slipping and sliding. :) Another thankful moment. Being thankful the kids were all home snug and warm and safe.
At work I tucked a scrap paper in my pocket and continued jotting down my gifts to keep my thankfulness alive and not my grumbling ;)
I have had a love~hate relationship with my pampered chef cookie press for several years now. Sometimes it works awesome! Others I want to pitch it out the window. Most of the time it sits on the top shelf of my cabinet, gathering dust. I cringe whenever a customer asks about because I hate to say anything negative about any PC product. And truly it seems either people love it or hate. But perhaps that is just the nature of the cookie press beast. Pampered Chef or otherwise.
A few years ago they restyled it to this... claiming its new and improved.
I wanted it but couldn't see buying a new one, if it wasn't really any better than the "old" one. My sister bought it when it was on special. I finally borrowed it from her to test it and find out. Honestly its not that much different. You really need to have the right recipe, and the the right consistency of the dough. That is the key more than the press itself.
Some pluses to the *new* improved cookie press are-
the discs are metal
the cylinder is much wider
it seems more durible
I would buy it if I didn't already have the old one. But its not that much better to justify it. If mine bites the dust, I will buy the new one ;P
Now the real reason for this post. I stumbled upon a perfect cookie press recipe this Christmas season. It worked perfectly the first time, and the second when I decided to whip up a batch right before preschool. I made it again this weekend, but this time in shamrock for St Patty's Day. Again no problem. Worked like a dream. =) Even Ryan was able to fill a cookie sheet with no complications from the persnickety device!
The recipe is Honey Sprtiz Cookies. It was in the December 2012 Food Network Magazine, which I purchased on a whim at the checkout. I have a weakness for food magazines, especially holiday and/or cookie recipes! The recipe is also posted on foodnetwork.com
Honey Spritz Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coarse sugar and/or nonpareils, for decorating (optional)
Directions
Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the
butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high
speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg, honey and
vanilla and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the
flour mixture and beat until just incorporated (the dough will be soft).
Fill a cookie press with the dough according to the manufacturer's
instructions; press out the cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart onto 2
ungreased baking sheets.
Decorate the cookies with coarse sugar and/or nonpareils. Bake,
switching the position of the pans halfway through, until the cookies
are just golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking
sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
Why is it so easy to go back. Back to the old way of doing things, back to bad attitudes. Back to our sin, the darkness. I don't want to, yet I do. Again and again.
It is so easy to get wrapped up in drama. In complaining. In sadness.
In reality He is all around us...just waiting. Waiting for us to look up.
This morning my devotional was so perfect. I will be sharing it at WoG this morning. The devo I read today actually is straight out of the chapter of One Thousand Gifts we are discussing today. How's that for timing? ;P And also a reminder that it is a choice. It is a choice. We can choose to be thankful. To see His gifts. Or to see the pain, the struggles. I am thankful that He doesn't leave me there for long. He sends reminders. In songs. In verses that flit through my head. In devotionals I read with my morning coffee. In discussions we have around the supper table.
As a family we are reading Dinner Table Devotions. Last night our devo talked about spiritual junk food. How we spend so much time filling up on other things, TV, Facebook, video games, txting, that its no wonder we have no appetite for God and His Word.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
Psalm 103:2-4 NIV
I am thankful for a God who takes such an interest in me personally that He continually is turning my face back to Him. Reminding me that it is Him I must be focused on.
I heard this song on KLOVE last night as I drove to the High School to pick up Mikayla. It has been playing in my head ever since.
Last week was crazy. Busy and stressful. But the good kind of crazy in that a lot of the craziness stemmed from my brother and family being in town for the week! ;) And that is always good. I didn't get to see as much of them as I would have liked. But in the spirit of being grateful, I am happy for the time we did have together.
And I am thankful.
Thankful for~
the change I have seen in my mister these past few weeks. It has been truly remarkable. I am so proud of him and the spiritual leader he has become in our home.
looking up and seeing my brother in my line at OMX!
Jacob's laugh
family dinner at mom's NOODLES!!
snuggles from Ava
Being able to take Hannah to the book fair
face painting
impromptu coffee date at my bestie's kitchen table
Change. Change is so hard. This year has been hard emotionally. Its hard when your babies grow up. I know every phase has its hardships. It was hard when they were little too, just in different ways. I find myself longing for those days. But I treasure these ones just as much. I remind myself not to miss the gift of the present by longing for the past or wishing for the future. Today is priceless.
I am seeing the beginnings of a new chapter. I have been presented with a new opportunity. One I have turned down flat at least three times ;P But God keeps bringing it back. Change is coming. I feel Him saying. You have been praying for direction and open doors. Open your eyes and see them!
Yesterday Pastor spoke on yielding our agenda to God's. That even though our plans might be fine and even GOOD. God might have something BETTER.
As I was doing my Bible reading this morning I read in 1 Corinthians about how we are all part of the body of Christ. Each called to do their own part. We all have different gifts. I penned verse 27 of chapter 12 in my journal with a prayer...
Show my my part Lord I want to walk in your ways.
Then I opened my email, I saw the devotional I subscribe to, titled "I Surrender...All?" I literally laughed out loud. Really, God? I printed it out and am pasting it in my journal as well. Making it even more poignant, it referenced the verse from Habakkuk that I am currently memorizing. The same verse the pastor used in his message when we were down in Myrtle Beach.
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.Habakkuk 3:18-19
I am laying down my agenda, turning to a fresh page. Write my next chapter Lord.
This weekend was wonderful. Jam packed, exhausting but wonderful.
Friday night my girls got to go to the much anticipated Girl's Nite at Miss Kim's house! They had a blast! They did their nails and hair, had pizza and ice cream, watched movies. Ten girlies from our Church were there for the little "get together".
I hosted my first Pampered Chef party for myself in ages! And my first ever in our new home! It was awesome! I had so much fun! I am resolving to do more Pampered Cheffing in the future. :D And have 2 or 3 potential parties looming on the horizon. I kinda decided it was do or die. If I don't get my PC moving by the end of the Spring/Summer season I am thinking seriously of quitting. Again, looking for God to open doors and show me the way.
Saturday my father in law came over for dinner. We had some great family time. Watched some Tim Hawkins. {Christian Comedian, check him out! So funny!} Laughed so hard.
Sunday of course was Church. :D I love our Church. It is my 2nd home.
After dinner was our school's District Band Concert. I often complain about these concerts because they are crowded and chaotic. They are in the gym to accommodate the large crowd and that's uncomfortable. But I really do love them. I love watching the kids. I love hearing the teachers say how much they love teaching music and our children. I love seeing progression from Beginning Band {Which this year included Ryan! His first ever band concert!} All the way up to the select High School bands. I love seeing how excited my kids are to perform, especially when its a song they love! I loved Ryan's fierce hug when we got home and he asked for affirmation again, "So Mom, how did I do?" I loved watching Mikayla and Anna as they took their seats on "Stage" and spotted me in the crowd with my camera! ;P
Enjoy today. Count your Gifts. See what He has for you today!
