Weekend baking and organizing....

I made this breakfast cake on Saturday and it was so yummy!  I have been wanting to make it for Sunday breakfast for a couple weeks- but have not been  able to get up early enough to bake it before church.  So I decided to do it on Saturday instead! It is from this What's Gaby Cooking cookbook.  I love watching Gaby's Insta-lives on monday nights. :D

I also used my new zestor for the first time!

Last week's Home Planner Challenge was organize cookbooks.  I definitely have a cookbook addiction and am trying to use them more.  I also went through my binder and threw away all the recipes I do not want to make again.  I punched holes in all the loose ones I want to keep and put them into said binder and tossed the duplicates.  The top shelf also holds my Bible and devotional books.

This week's challenge is the junk drawer- YIKES! 

Other baking news-  I am so pleased with how this weeks Sourdough Loaf came out! The english muffins were a little sub par but still yummy.  I think I used a different recipe than I did before...

I also made a batch of apple butter with our apples that were slowly going bad, in my super duper Deluxe Cooking Blender or I as call her Peggy.  Perfect for slathering on freshly baked bread.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon curled up with the Pups and my latest book club selection.  Loving it! Book club is next week...still plenty of time to join ;-)  Message me and I'll hook you up with our Zoom link.  My other book club is reading We are the Brennans which I am hoping to pick up tonight at the library.  That one is in person if anyone is interested in that kinda thing- although tends to be a little more heavy on chit chat plus wine and less on book talk but still good.  Last month I was the only one to make it but LS and I had a nice visit <3 and booktalk.

Spring Shared Rewards Pampered Chef Party coming soon! March 1!

Saturday Hannah and I came home to a big Pampered Chef box on the step- can't wait to tell you about it ;)  I am hoping to get my other box today...maybe.

Here's hoping your week is off to a great start! =D

 Just signed up for my first 2022 race!  This will be my first in person race since covid :P  I have done this one twice in the past and it's a very nice run. We are signed up with Team Grandma Bev, a very dear friend of my mom and sweet lady who passed away after a battle with ovarian cancer. 

I finished reading Redeeming Love on Friday.   For some reason Francine Rivers never appealed to me and I have no idea why.  I really liked the Scarlet Thread when I read it last year and this book blew me away. The story is inspired by the book of Hosea in the Bible. It tells the story of Sarah/Angel who is sold into prostitution as an 8 year old child. And Michael Hosea the man who loves her.  A story of grace, forgiveness, redemption and fresh starts. It is set in the 1850's gold rush in California. The cast of characters is wonderful. God's love and hand woven through the story.

Love the Lord your God, and love one another. Love one another as he loves. Love with strength and purpose and passion and no matter what comes against you. Don’t weaken. Stand against the darkness, and love. That’s the way back into Eden. That’s the way back to life.

It is phenomenal.

  I really want to see the movie too.  If I can't find it playing in theatres still I might host a watch party in my living room ;)  I also listened to Annie F. Downs podcast this morning, That Sounds Fun with Francine Rivers, talking about the movie and her books. I want to see it even more now!

She Reads Truth has a study on Hosea.   I am planning to listen to that podcast tonight (also with Francine Rivers) and start that study- as I am intrigued. It's just 14 days and then I will start something else for the lenten season.

I tried a couple new Pampered Chef recipes this weekend. They were both so good!  They are in the new Season's Best Recipe Collection that is out March 1!

Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake for a Valentine's-y dessert

and Loaded Potato Wedges for our Super Bowl snacking last night! 

 I also made pretzel bites

I organized my spices. =)

 

We'll see how long they stay this nice and neat (ish).  We also have 4 jars of crushed red pepper flakes which will most likely last the rest of our lives! :P

I also was able to make space to fit ALL my lingering TasteBuds packets on one shelf.  Resolving to work on actually using them up!  I also put them in alphabetical order, which my girls thought was a little extra.

Just because...

How I am feeling today...

I woke up tired and grumpy and discouraged and frustrated...

I am trying to regain this feeling...

I am planning to do a LIVE video tonight on Amy's Pampered Kitchen-

Shooting for 5:30- swing by and check it out... if you miss it live it will be pinned to the top of the page. 

I watched the Spring Launch the other night... there's some fun new stuff coming and here's is what's leaving the line up...sadly the Quick Cooker is already gone :'(  The Handy Scraper and Pie Crust Shields are also must haves in my opinion! Get em before they are gone! 

I am really excited about some of the new recipes and can not wait to get my new Season's Best!  There's one I am hoping to make for a super bowl snack on Sunday ;) ;) Stay tuned....

In other news...

This weekend I cleaned my closet! Very pleased with the results...

 

I got rid of two bags of discarded clothes that have been hanging around. Felt so good!

Hannah made this super duper amazing cake!

Some slanted icicles I saw last night when I took Chance out.

I am flying through this audiobook to finish it before book club on Friday night.  It is a thriller and am listening at every spare moment and while I am doing all my chores at home ;) 

Let me just say this... its a good thing he is so darn cute.

And now thanks for listening. I feeling a little more like this.

See you soon 💖

Mission Possible *book Review*

 But first, the Good News must be spread to all nations.  

~Mark 13:10 

This weekend I read the first book on my GoodReads to-read shelf Mission Possible.  It has only been sitting there for about 10 years.  Several years ago my sweet sister gave it to me for some occasion, maybe my birthday, after seeing it on my list. And there it sat all these years on my shelf, unread.  I wish I hadn't waited so long, it was so good! My favorite so far this month and probably will be on my favorites list for the year. 

It is the story of Marilyn who serves as a missionary in  a remote jungle village in Papua New Guinea. This book is amazingly brief to sum up 20+ years of life work in this jungle village.  When she arrived in the village she had none of their language and they spoke no English. Her job was to learn their language, create an alphabet and written language and then (huge task) begin translating the Bible in their own language. Once she began the written language she also began literacy classes- teaching them how to read. She began her work in the jungle in 1968. The story is touching, heart rending, also funny in places. 

He paused and leaned forward.  "My father and many of my relatives died many years ago.  They knew nothing about God.  And for me, it's too late! I'm too old to read my own talk"  Looking intently into her eyes, he asked, "Did you know a long time ago, when you were a little girl, that there were people her in Papua New Guinea like me?"
    "Yes, I read books," she answered.  "I knew about Papua New Guinea."
    "Then, Marilyn, why  did you take so long to come?"

Thoughts of the men of the village when Marilyn and Judy first came to live among them.  It struck me both as funny and yet also how prideful we are that we see ourselves and our way as best.  They determine that if the women eat their food, maybe they will become stronger. 

"As we have seen from watching them, these two creatures are very weak," Suapri began.  "Many times we have watched them fall out of the canoe we gave them.  Their feet slip when they try to climb up a notched pole into a house.  Even our babies can speak our language, but these stupid creatures know only a few words.  We have no understanding about why they are here.  But they are friendly and very kind to our children, so we wish to help them.  Why do they stammer as they speak our language?..."

One evening he lifted his cup following a hearty drink of coffee, laid a hand on his friend's Bible, and said, "Your talk about Papa God is sweet.  It is like sugar." He lowered his cup, mused a long moment, then added, "I want Jesus to live in my throat."  *They viewed the throat as the source of life rather than the heart.

Word of Marilyn's medical care must have spread because at one point a canoe of sick strangers arrives from a more remote village a 4 day canoe trip up the river.  Even without speaking the same language they came seeking help for their sick.  Once arriving they were intrigued by the village's church and begged for someone to come and learn their language so they too could have God's Talk...

"Then Why do you have a sios? (that is a church).

"When we visited Hauna, we saw everyone going to church.  We saw people learning to read God's Talk and singing songs about God and Jesus.  When we came back here we told our people all about your church. We decided we needed to build a church so Papa God will see we're ready.  We're just waiting now."   

This gives me chills everytime I read it.  I have had my own Bible, in my own language since before I could fully read.  I have been in church since the Sunday after I was born. I take God and his Word so for granted every day of my life.  "Coincidently" the verse at the top was from the message at our church this Sunday.  There are so many who don't know of God's love all across this world, as far as the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea and as close as next door.  We all have a mission field. But it all starts with love, if Marilyn had not cared for and shown kindness to the people of Hauna- they would not have been receptive to hearing about God. 

January Reading...

1 Laundry Love by Patric Richardson (kindle/library)    1/11    ★★★★

Who knew I needed to read a book about laundry! But I loved this one! So much so I had to purchase it and now want to revamp my own laundry room!  Proof if you are love something and are passionate about something it makes other people interested too!

Changing our mindsets from simply cleaning clothes to caring for others is key to changing our attitudes about laundry from drudgery to love.

So here’s what you do: Simply pour vodka (cheap vodka works just as well as the fancy Belvedere) into a spray bottle and spritz on the article in question. The vodka kills any bacteria and removes all scents, including cigarette smoke and strong food odors. (This technique also works on carpets for pet smells and sanitizes cutting boards in the kitchen.)

2 When Christmas Comes by Andrew Klaven    (print/borrow)    1/13    ★★★★

This book was on my Dad's Christmas wishlist and we purchased it for him.  On New Year's Day he had already read it and loaned it to me. I very much enjoyed it. I had a little trouble getting into it but flew right through the 2nd half.   Full of twists that keep you guessing right to the very end.

Dad thinks it might become a series- so hopefully looking forward to more!

3 The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom    (kindle/library)    1/14    ★★★★★

From my recommendations from SK Bell. How have I never read this book before I do not know.  I have been familiar with the name Corrie Ten Boom for as long as I can recall, yet I never actually read or really knew her story.  It was astounding. Her and her family's faith and compassion. Their strength and willingness to do the right thing no matter the cost.  Even their freedom or their very lives.  

On the flip side the atrocities that humans are capable of inflicting on one another are truly horrendous. 

Corrie, if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love! We must find the way, you and I, no matter how long it takes.

Some knowledge is too heavy...you cannot bear it...your Father will carry it until you are able.

4        One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston    (kindle/library)    1/20

This one feels very frivolous and almost sacrilegious to be sandwiched between the two books that is.  It is a romance story full of LGBTQ+ characters.  It had a lot of bad language and was a little too steamy and "open door" for my taste.

 Maybe one I should have skipped.  The characters were all very interesting and likeable. I really liked the theme of making your own family and finding your people.

But, you know, that feeling? When you wake up in the morning and you have somebody to think about? Somewhere for hope to go? It's good. Even when it's bad, it's good.

“I’m not cute,” August says, frowning. “I’m—I’m tough. Like a cactus.”

 5     Onesimus: A Novel of Christianity in the Roman Empire  by Markus McDowell  (eBook/hoopla)   1/26     ★★★★

Our Pastor's sermon on Sunday was from Philemon.  After further discussion in our house church group I found myself wondering more about Philemon and Onesimus and the people they *might* have been.  I found this story intriguing and inspiring.  While we don't know details of the story from Paul's letter of Philemon we do know that Onesimus' life was changed by his encounter with Paul and other followers of "The Way", and of course the Holy Spirit working on his heart as he learned and explored.

"Ah, but our God is the very definition of existence.  He is the beginning and the end.  He is not just an 'example' of truth or the 'definer' of truth, he is truth.  He made everything and sustains everything.  If his attention drifted away for a mere moment, the cosmos would cease to exist."

They had a passion and an excitement about life, and as much as Onesimus wanted to deny it, it was because of their philosophy-religion.  It didn't seem to matter if they were a citizen, a freedperson, a slave or a prisoner.

"Yes is does feel good to imagine revenge.  But consider this: revenge destroys rather than builds and hurts rather than heals."

6 The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes    (print/library)    1/28 ★★★★

A little slow going at the beginning but once I got into the story I really, really enjoyed it! This takes place in the mountains of Kentucky in the 1930's.  The story is of 5 very different women who a part of the Packhorse Library- taking books up to people/families who would not otherwise visit the library or have access to books.

“This is what people don’t see, wrapped up in their cities, with the noise and the smoke, and their tiny boxes for houses. Up there you can breathe. You can’t hear the town talking and talking. No eyes on you, ’cept God’s. It’s just you and the trees and the birds and the river and the sky and freedom . . . Out there, it’s good for the soul.”

“Because we are a team. And a team sticks together.” Izzy lifted her chin. “We are the Baileyville packhorse librarians and we stick together.”

7 A Gentle Tyranny by Jess Corban (audio/hoopla)    1/29 ★★★

I heard about this one on a podcast and had to check it out.  A YA dystopian story, I listened to the audio book because I found myself stumbling over made up words and names I didn't know how to pronounce.  I did not overly care for the narrator but still enjoyed listening to the story.  

It's the story of Reina, a just turned 18 year old girl who is beginning to see maybe the society she belongs to isn't all that she believed it to be.  It is a matriarchal society, the men have all been "gentled" given a vaccine at birth that blocks testosterone, in the name of protecting women. Creating basically a slave race of frail Gentles. Men of old being referred to as Brutes. Reina happens upon Brutes still dwelling in the jungle- discovering they are not all as dangerous and inherently evil as she was taught- also making her question what makes a Gentle gentle.... I'm currently listening to the 2nd book and conclusion and am interested to see how the story turns out.  

So all in all I read 7 books in January.

All of them from the library or borrowed.  I did not read any off my "unread shelf".

Kindle/Ebook:  4   Print:  2   Audio: 1

Library:  6  Owned: 0 Borrowed: 1

Unread Shelf: 0  Purchased: 7

Favorites this month: The Hiding Place, runner up The Giver of Stars

Checking in on my reading goals...

1. My goodreads goal is 100  update- upon further reflect I decided to change my goal to 52 books. One week in and I have yet to complete a single book -though I do have 4 in progress... I also think I need to concentrate on doing more than just escaping into books.  But we'll see where the year takes us... I am currently 4 books a head of my goal as of today on Goodreads...
2. Read at least one book from my own unread shelf each month Fail on this in January. My next book is off my shelf.
3. Read another Jane Austen book- Sense and Sensibility or Emma - maybe in march...
4. Read another by CS Lewis- thinking of The Four Loves - purchased the Kindle book on sale and am trying to read a little bit each day this month
5. Create a physical book journal- I think I may let this one go- I do not know why I feel compelled to do this- I already track books here, on a spreadsheet, Goodreads and also in my planner. Then I just now saw this on Modern Mrs Darcy today.  I feel seen 😂
   
   
   
   
   
6. Read at least one book for my presidents project- I have my eye on Washington: A Life- another super long read! - started this as well on my kindle
7. Read the books rec'd to me by my FB/Insta friends - not yet but have two on my shelf waiting =)
8. Read the books rec'd to me by SK Bell on her Christina Fiction podcast - The Hiding Place is from this list

So overall not too shabby I guess. I also purchased a lot of books in January - which is surprising to me because I hardly ever buy books and mostly source them from my library. Half of them were used or thrifted soooo that helps my conscience a bit. ;-)

Book club tonight! We are discussing The Sensible Shoes.  I can not say enough good about this book! It is definitely on my favorites list! 

I have a fun romcom all picked out for February that I can not wait to read! Next book club will be March 3... we meet on Zoom.  Hit me up if you want more info ;-)

Tell me something you enjoyed reading this month. =)

Can you believe one month of 2022 is already behind us?

Thinking back over my January- it wasn't perfect but my planner has helped me be more mindful of accomplishing the things.  I love checking the boxes :P  Saturday I spent the morning catching up on a few of the things I let slide over the week- in favor of finishing a book :)  I very much enjoyed this read.

I'm also making an effort to move more during the day- especially at work.  To just get up and walk every so often instead of sitting all. day. long.  I'm having a really hard time convincing myself to actually exercise but am counting it as a win for now to get that step count up.  Also water.  Focusing on drinking more water.  I started walking around the house for 15 minutes in the morning and using it as a prayer time.  Though I look forward to getting back to outside walks with the dogs if it ever warms back up a little. 

Yesterday I read the newsletter of Emily P Freeman- I subscribe to her newsletter and podcast but rarely read or listen.  For some reason yesterday it caught my eye.  Her podcast this week was on the spiritual discipline The Daily Examen.  It caught my attention for two reasons- one- I have been meaning to get back into journaling and keep telling myself I need to do this thing.  Second it is one of the spiritual disciplines mentioned in this month's book club book- The Sensible Shoes.  This is a re-read for me and I am very much enjoying this journey through.  If it is not a book you have read- I highly recommend.

"Think of the prayer of examen as a way of sitting with Jesus and talking through the details of your day. In the examen we slow down and pay attention to the data of our lives.  We notice our thoughts, actions, emotions and motivations.  By taking time review our day in prayer, we have the opportunity to see details we might otherwise overlook.  the examen helps us perceive the movement of the Spirit and to discover God's presence in all of life." - The Sensible Shoes

Also in her newsletter yesterday were three reflection questions for the end of January...

1. Name a moment of gladness in January.

Our vacation is officially booked for August! I can not wait.

Also Date <3 Night this past Saturday night. 

2. What's one thing you've learned so far this year?

Slow down.  Well, I won't say I have learned or mastered it- but I am working on it.  Even this morning I found myself reading, already flipping ahead to see how much is left before I can move onto the next book.  I find myself thinking of a phrase I heard years ago from Ann Voskamp- Haste makes waste. It's so much easier to make mistakes when we are rushing. To spill and drop. To not be fully present.  To miss opportunities to love and serve and be. To read without savoring and learning. 

3. What's one question you're carrying into February?  

What am I here for?  Its a question our pastor brought up at house church this week.  And I confess it's one I ask a lot but generally with an air of frustration or disgust.  But what if instead I ask it prayerfully each day.  Seeking His best and His will for me in that moment. 

Goals for February...

1. Keep drinking more water 
2. Move more- maybe convince myself to start exercising again (Why is this so hard??)
3. Read The Four Loves by CS Lewis- this was already on my list for February and yesterday found that the kindle book was on sale for $2.99
4. Organize my closet