G'DAY MATE. I'M BACK.

Hi there! I've found my way back here after a blog-less and much needed vacation. We spent a few days visiting this very gorgeous girl:


R is technically my little sister, however, at 6'1" she is, as C says, "way much bigger than me." That is precisely the reason I am affectionately known as the little big sister to her and my younger, also bigger, brother T. Anyway, R is tall, beautiful, fun, smart as a whip and plays a mean game of college HOOPS, which we had a mighty fun time watching. Next to my parents, here are her #1 fans:




I spent this weekend loving the LORD for his divine creation called family and I am going to spend the next couple of days enjoying this "rested" feeling I have (it will surely have worn off by Thursday). Oh yeah, and I'll spend some more time getting back in my groove here on the blog. We have a lot of catching up to do.

TESTIMONY TUESDAY

Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 started a Bible Study a few weeks ago and I stumbled upon it last night.

I have been SOOO praying that GOD would lead me to a network of women (whether its 2 or 200), that I could study with - virtually, that is. I am not in a place right now where I can take on even one more brick and mortar commitment, but I yearn to know more and grow more in the Lord. He has been placing God-Friends all around me and Amy's Bible study is another answered prayer !


Amy asked that all participants answer the questions below:

What do you hope to get out of this Bible study?
I am seeking to know more about what GOD intends for me as a Christian wife and mother. It is a crazy challenge! But I know that for every life circumstance and condition there is an anointed Word from the Lord - I am seeking to know more about that.

What if anything, has prevented you from studying these scriptures in the past?
I have read P31 and heard women speak on these scriptures many times, but that was well before I became a wife a mother or truly committed in my walk with the Lord; For all those reasons, it is much more relevant to me now.

What have you found helpful or frustrating about living out these scriptures?
Frustrating - The Balancing Act, which I often find myself on the unBalanced end of.

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You can see the outline for our Lesson Plan here

LITTLE DANNY BOY

Bryce has decided not to be called well, uh, Bryce. He has, in one day, one hour, changed his first name.

He is the social butterfly in our family and unlike the rest of us introverts, he never meets a stranger. He's had plenty of experience in meeting people and somewhere along the way, he decided he likes the hand-shaking part best! So he often extends his hand to start a conversation.

Chase, who is very obviously the child of two accountants, is much more reserved. But, he goes along for the meet and greets with his brother, mostly because he is very protective of him and wants to be wherever he is; A strange dynamic in the whole sibling relationship, best described as The 'I'll knock the crap out of him but you don't touch my brother!' Syndrome.

A typical stranger-meet starts off with Bryce begging the attention of an innocent bystander by babbling and extending his hand. Chase wanders over, to check out the scene and usually gives a handshake with a shy, barely audible "Hi, my name is Chase." Apparently, Bryce thinks "Hi, my name is Chase," is a scripted line and when asked his name he says, (you guessed it) "Chase." I started working with him to change that.

"Your name is not Chase," I say. "Your name is Bryce." He just looks at me with this silly laugh and hides his face. He will not say Bryce - ever. He calls himself Dani. So, Dani it is, that's how he introduces himself, he answers to it without fail and until he says different, I guess that's what we'll call him. [exhale!] Good thing I hadn't invested too much in my favorite personalized gifts from Pottery Barn Kids.

A PERFECT SUNDAY

Daily Bread -

Scriptures that got me through:

"I have been young and now I'm old; Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalms 37:25)

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalms 47:10

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Brotherly Luv -

The boys loving on each other while I get ready for church. I cherish these moments. No arguments and violent fits over armless, headless, figure men. 2-Cute!!!










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Speaking of Bread....

Tomorrow I have to take a favorite family recipe to Chase's school (a day late, of course - it was due Friday, oops) His teacher is compiling a cookbook for the holiday season. I am looking forward to it. I love to eat some of the favorite foods of my childhood as well as prepare our house favorites - one of which is the Pumpkin Loaf. I thought I would pass it along here.


I store my "best of" recipes in a recipe box I received as a gift at one of my bridal showers, 7 1/2 years ago now - WOW!!! The box is inscribed with The Fruit of the Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."(Galatians:22-23).

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And some other quotes:


"Those who wish to transform the world, must be able to transform themselves."

"The joyful heart is always ready to count life's blessings."

"The true measure of loving God is to love him without measure."

"Nothing is so strong as gentlessness: Nothing is so gentle as real strength."

"Every good work is a grain of seed for eternal life."

"True Peace is knowing God will do what he promises."

"Patience is having the strength to wait for the Lord's perfect timing."

"Faith is the blossom that springs forth the seeds of hope."

"Gather seeds of kindness: Plant each with tender care."

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Oh yeah, the recipe!

Pumpkin Loaf

Instructions for the loaf:

3 eggs
1 cup of sugar
2/3 cup of canned Pumpkin
3/4 cup of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of finely chopped nuts
Powdered Sugar (sprinkle a towel large enough to hold the finished cake, with powdered sugar)

Grease 10x15 cookie sheet. Line w/wax paper, grease again. Mix batter in the order of ingredients given. Beat eggs, sugar, then add pumpkin. Sift together flour, soda, cinnamon & salt and add to egg/sugar/pumpkin mixture. Spread batter in pan, sprinkle w/nuts. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn out on a towel that has been sprinkled w/ Powdered Sugar. Roll up in towel w/wax paper & let cool.


Instructions for the filling:

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
2 Tbsps. Butter, softened
3/4 tsp of vanilla
1 cup of sifted powdered sugar

Cream ingredients w/mixer until smooth. Unroll cake and remove wax paper spread filling over cake. Roll back up & wrap in waxpaper/foil. Store in fridge.

Happy Baking,

MY PURSE PROFILE

I Took the Test

What Your Handbag Says About You

You are concerned with how you appear. Projecting your high status is important to you. You tend to be relaxed throughout the day. You are naturally at peace. You are a high maintenance person. You feel lost outside of your normal environment. You are a very creative person. Your life tends to be a whirlwind, but you always seem to pull it together. You are practical and down to earth. You tend to be a rather reserved and quiet person.

What Does Your Handbag Say About You?

A THOUSAND WORDS

A Thousand Words? That means it's mostly picture day here on the blog.

Here, Chase and Larry headed out to Texas a full day ahead of Bryce and me, to do some male bonding. Chase caught his FIRST fish, and two more after that. He was so darn excited, he could hardly form a sentence to tell me what he'd done. He eventually got it out "Mommy! Mommy! I catched a fish, three of 'em!" he said.

GO DADDY GO

I don't have daughters, I am blessed with two sons, and they are wonderfully blessed with an awesome father. They adore him and he - them. I also have an adorable niece - "B"- that gives me my girl-fix.

I have found that, once you become a parent you pray for all children - for their well-being and also that they have parents and loved ones who adore them as much as we do the precious babies in my family. Here is a totally cute video from You Tube, meant to highlight the importance of involved Dads; And for those of you with daughters, here's another website you might like.

Say a prayer of thanksgiving and for the well being of all the children God has placed in your life, today.

Enjoy!!!

"Lo, children are a heritage [gift] from the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" Psalm 127:3

THREE SCORE & TEN

My mother-in-law is celebrating her 70th birthday today.

Larry, the kids and I will attend the official celebratory bash this weekend in Larry's hometown (Marshall, TX.). We are looking forward to some fishing, 4-wheeler riding and good BBQ - sounds like the recipe for a Texas Good Time.

Chase is so excited. He's been talking about it to everyone - the teacher, the barber, the grocery store clerk and just about anyone who will listen - all week long. Along with their cousins, Chase and Bryce will perform a special birthday song for Granny. Bryce, is not yet able to say or sing words as long as "celebration," but to compensate he will serve as back-up dancer. He has been brushing up on his dance steps the past few nights and has the word "Whoo Hoo!" down pact. Right now, he is a dancing-prancing-whoo-hoo machine.

Bryce often gets actively involved in Praise & Worship at church, so he tends to Praise & Worship at the sound of ALL music. I noticed last night when he and Chase were practicing their performance, that even though it's not a Gospel song, he was doing a little "shouting" anyhow. I suspect, he'll steal the show when he closes his eyes, shakes his head and lifts his hands towards heaven (to Kool and The Gang). But that's okay, with his Granny being 70 years young, we all have something to give Praise & Thanksgiving to the Lord about. Go 'head praise him baby.

By the way, we will also get to see Nana & PawPaw (my parents) and Niece Brailey. They are making the 3-hour drive to join the celebration. Whoo-Hoo!

"The days of our lives are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalms 90:10).