I don't have any grand thing to blog about today, but thought I would try to tap into my creative side and come up with a list of MY favorite things! :)
1. Freshly baked bread dripping with butter and honey.
2. Sweet and juicy oranges.
3. My baby's smile and kicks and when she sees me 1st thing in the morning.
4. My husband laughing uncontrollably.
5. Rain on a tin roof.
6. A good book.
7. A ginormous piece of chocolate cake.
8. Lasagna
9. Laughing until I can't make any sound.
10. Nutella
11. Sitting for as long as I want on a beach with nothing else to do but listen to the waves.
12. Sunsets, especially in Africa.
13. Watching my dog bound through tall grass when we go for walks.
14. News from friends.
15. My niece's hilarious antics.
16. My nephew's deep, brown eyes.
17. Preparing a meal for my husband and hearing him say, "that was great, Sweets."
18. Curling up with a good book on a rainy day.
19. Taking a long (3-4 hour) nap on a Sunday afternoon.
20. My engagement/wedding ring set.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sleepy Baby
We have noticed that Cora seems to like her "singing" stuffed seahorse, Squiggy. So, David dug around to find a smaller stuffed animal for her to sleep with. This is how we found her the other night.
Blackberry Pie
My friend L does a food blog, and she has been inspiring me to do more backing/cooking. On Sunday while at the grocery store David noticed that blackberries were on sale so we stocked up and had plans for a pie. Here is said pie. I'll add the recipe (because it was so easy) at the bottom so you can make it too! :)
Blackberry Pie
Better Homes and Gardens
1 recipe for double-crust pie (see below)
5 cups blackberries, fresh or frozen (I used fresh)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
2 tsp. lemon peel or 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1. Prepare and roll out pastry for double-crust pie. Line a 9-inch pie plate with half of the pastry.
2. In a large bowl combine he sugar and flour. Stir in berries and lemon peel. Gently toss berries until coated. (If using frozen berries, let mixture stand for 45 minutes or until fruit is partially thawed but still icy.)
3. Transfer berry mixture to pie plate. Trim bottom pastry to edge of pie plate. Place remaining pastry on top of berries and seal. Cut slits in dough.
4. Brush top pastry with milk and sprinkle with sugar. To prevent over-browning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375 degree over for 25 minutes (or 50 min for frozen fruit). Remove foil. Bake pie for 25-30 minutes more or until filling is bubbly and pastry is golden. Cool on wire rack. ENJOY!!!
Pastry for Double-crust Pie
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup shortening
8-10 tbsp. cold water
1. In medium bowl stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size.
2. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. at a time, tossing gently with a fork until flour mixture is moistened and will form easily into a ball. Divide dough in half and form each half into a ball.
3. On a lightly floured surface, use your ands to slightly flatten 1 dough ball. Roll dough from center edges into a circle 12 inches in diameter.
4. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Add filling; repeat above with second ball of dough. Be sure to cut slits in tip pastry to allow steam to escape during baking!
Monday, July 27, 2009
These are a Few of Her Favorite Things...
Cora is 4 months old today!!! It's hard to believe, but it's true! I thought it might be fun to show you some pictures of some of the things that have become her favorites this month!
Her Grampy and her cousins, Sophia and Riley
Her swing with Mr. Giraffe and Mr. Zebra
The blinking bugs--on loan from cousin Riley!
Her polka dot jam-jams! We call her "The Polka Dot Princess."
Bath time! Oh the kicking that is done!
Molly--she's just started noticing and smiling at Molly!
Books...
Lumpy the heffalump and the rings
Mommy! :)
Daddy!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Rain, rain, go away
It's raining out. I love the rain, usually, but today I'm feeling "rainy" on the inside so it's not helping that it's raining outside too. I have a bright green shirt on today in hopes of feeling a little sunshine! I'm exhausted and don't know why. It gets harder and harder every day to leave my baby at home while I go to work and be bored all day. I feel like a gerbil on a wheel just doing the same thing day in and day out with no reprieve or hope for something different. I don't mean to be so down. I shouldn't wait to write my blog only when I'm feeling down.
I've been asking the Lord a lot in the last few days, "when?" When will we be released from here? When will we get to move on? When will our time in Hillsdale County come to a close? When will churches call? When will the economy get better so they WILL call? When? When? When? Oh, how the Lord must get tired of my whining!
The verse, "do everything without grumbling or complaining" has been running through my mind a lot! Have you ever noticed how much grumbling and complaining enters your day? I have! I seem to grumble and complain without even realizing I'm doing it. I grumble when the alarm clock goes off in the morning; I grumble that I have to go to work; I grumble that I'm bored at work; I grumble that I can't get to bed any earlier. Boy, I must be such a joy to be around!!! Grumble, grumble, grumble. And, I tell myself that it's OK to complain about these things. I mean, 6:00 is too early to be out of bed. I don't want to go to work, and my going to work means my husband hasn't found a job. I want a job that keeps me busy from the time I get there until the time I go home. It's OK to want to go to bed early, right? It might help with the alarm clock grumbling! :) And yet, no matter how much I justify my complaining it's still wrong. I'm told to do EVERYTHING without grumbling or complaining--some versions say arguing or complaining. Wow. It's hard. It's so much easier to just complain the day away. But, it's not right. I need to also remember the verse, "rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again, rejoice!" Quite the opposite of grumbling, huh?
Lord, help me today to be happy and content with where you have us right now. I don't understand why we're still here or why David hasn't found a job, but that's life right now. Help me to rejoice always.
I've been asking the Lord a lot in the last few days, "when?" When will we be released from here? When will we get to move on? When will our time in Hillsdale County come to a close? When will churches call? When will the economy get better so they WILL call? When? When? When? Oh, how the Lord must get tired of my whining!
The verse, "do everything without grumbling or complaining" has been running through my mind a lot! Have you ever noticed how much grumbling and complaining enters your day? I have! I seem to grumble and complain without even realizing I'm doing it. I grumble when the alarm clock goes off in the morning; I grumble that I have to go to work; I grumble that I'm bored at work; I grumble that I can't get to bed any earlier. Boy, I must be such a joy to be around!!! Grumble, grumble, grumble. And, I tell myself that it's OK to complain about these things. I mean, 6:00 is too early to be out of bed. I don't want to go to work, and my going to work means my husband hasn't found a job. I want a job that keeps me busy from the time I get there until the time I go home. It's OK to want to go to bed early, right? It might help with the alarm clock grumbling! :) And yet, no matter how much I justify my complaining it's still wrong. I'm told to do EVERYTHING without grumbling or complaining--some versions say arguing or complaining. Wow. It's hard. It's so much easier to just complain the day away. But, it's not right. I need to also remember the verse, "rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again, rejoice!" Quite the opposite of grumbling, huh?
Lord, help me today to be happy and content with where you have us right now. I don't understand why we're still here or why David hasn't found a job, but that's life right now. Help me to rejoice always.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Perseverance...
As David and I sit and wait in this holding pattern we have both been turning to Scripture to find some encouragement, help, peace, guidance, etc. This morning I read in the book of James. It has always been my favorite book. I think you could read it your whole life and still not grasp all of the things that are said there. So many common sense things for living our life the way Christ would want us to. So, though the words are not new to me, because I've read this book several times, sometimes the meaning of the words will strike me afresh and give me just the kick in the pants, or encouragement, I need. Here is what I read this morning and focused my time on:
James 1:2-4 says this, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Perseverance must finish its work...what does that mean? I'm not entirely sure. I read it several times and this is what I came to for now. The word perseverance means "steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness." Steadfastness means, "Fixed or unchanging; steady. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving." From what I gather from these 2 words and their definitions it takes a while to persevere and once you do you become steadfast, unswerving in your belief. What does this mean for my life right now? Well, I need to persevere under this stress, this time of waiting. I need to learn what I can and learn the things God is trying to teach me. When all is said and done I will hopefully be firm in my belief in Christ and know without doubt that he loves me and wants the best for me. I also see that perseverance means taking a long time. This doesn't happen over night. I need to be steady in my "course of action" and let persistence take its course. Does this mean it's easy? NO!!!!
Whenever I hear the word "persevere" I think of a runner. Now, I don't run, but from what I hear from my friends who do you get a second wind when you run. You run, get tired, think you should quit, want to quit, but as you persevere you get that second wind and realize you can do it! I think it's much the same with life. We run this race of life, and sometimes it'll be an easy run on flat ground, sometimes there are a few obstacles we have to run around, or jump over. Other times there are steep hills (like right now) that we must hold steady and run up so we can enjoy the blessing of the down-hill. Does this inspire me to take up running? No, but it does help me understand what it means to persevere and hold strong.
What I am learning again is that Christ is right there, running along side of me cheering me on. Come on, Jeni, just a few more steps. Put one foot in front of the other. You're almost there. You can do it! Think of how great it'll be to peak this hill and go downhill. I'm right here with you. Christ provides that encouragement, he provides drinks of water along the way and when I trip and fall he picks me up and carries me until I can get back to the race. It's a hard run. It's not easy running at all, let alone uphill, but I am certain that Christ is with me, and I can do it with him by my side.
I encourage you today to think about where you are in your race. Are you on the flat ground? If so, great, enjoy it now, use this time to save energy and to replenish your spiritual stores because I guarantee you the hill is coming. Don't use the flat ground as an excuse to slow down and get lazy in your spiritual life. Maybe you're at the base of the hill and you know hard times are coming. You can do it!!! Christ is with you, getting ready to climb that hill with you. Or, maybe your on the hill, like me. Keep going. Reach out for His hand. Let him help you up that hill. Don't do it alone, and don't stop! You're almost there. Or, maybe, you're going down the hill. You've made it through the trial, you persevered and now you get to enjoy the blessing of going downhill. You have been made stronger and you know it. You also know that you made it and you made it because Christ helped you.
Wherever you are, know that he is with you and wanting to be a part of your race. Stay strong, be steadfast, don't give up. Keep persevering!!
James 1:2-4 says this, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Perseverance must finish its work...what does that mean? I'm not entirely sure. I read it several times and this is what I came to for now. The word perseverance means "steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness." Steadfastness means, "Fixed or unchanging; steady. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving." From what I gather from these 2 words and their definitions it takes a while to persevere and once you do you become steadfast, unswerving in your belief. What does this mean for my life right now? Well, I need to persevere under this stress, this time of waiting. I need to learn what I can and learn the things God is trying to teach me. When all is said and done I will hopefully be firm in my belief in Christ and know without doubt that he loves me and wants the best for me. I also see that perseverance means taking a long time. This doesn't happen over night. I need to be steady in my "course of action" and let persistence take its course. Does this mean it's easy? NO!!!!
Whenever I hear the word "persevere" I think of a runner. Now, I don't run, but from what I hear from my friends who do you get a second wind when you run. You run, get tired, think you should quit, want to quit, but as you persevere you get that second wind and realize you can do it! I think it's much the same with life. We run this race of life, and sometimes it'll be an easy run on flat ground, sometimes there are a few obstacles we have to run around, or jump over. Other times there are steep hills (like right now) that we must hold steady and run up so we can enjoy the blessing of the down-hill. Does this inspire me to take up running? No, but it does help me understand what it means to persevere and hold strong.
What I am learning again is that Christ is right there, running along side of me cheering me on. Come on, Jeni, just a few more steps. Put one foot in front of the other. You're almost there. You can do it! Think of how great it'll be to peak this hill and go downhill. I'm right here with you. Christ provides that encouragement, he provides drinks of water along the way and when I trip and fall he picks me up and carries me until I can get back to the race. It's a hard run. It's not easy running at all, let alone uphill, but I am certain that Christ is with me, and I can do it with him by my side.
I encourage you today to think about where you are in your race. Are you on the flat ground? If so, great, enjoy it now, use this time to save energy and to replenish your spiritual stores because I guarantee you the hill is coming. Don't use the flat ground as an excuse to slow down and get lazy in your spiritual life. Maybe you're at the base of the hill and you know hard times are coming. You can do it!!! Christ is with you, getting ready to climb that hill with you. Or, maybe your on the hill, like me. Keep going. Reach out for His hand. Let him help you up that hill. Don't do it alone, and don't stop! You're almost there. Or, maybe, you're going down the hill. You've made it through the trial, you persevered and now you get to enjoy the blessing of going downhill. You have been made stronger and you know it. You also know that you made it and you made it because Christ helped you.
Wherever you are, know that he is with you and wanting to be a part of your race. Stay strong, be steadfast, don't give up. Keep persevering!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Ode to Dad
Dad with Mom and Cora at our family birthday celebration this past weekend. Today is my Dad's birthday! I wanted to take some time in this blog to tell you about my dad and what he has meant to me over my 31 years of being his daughter. My dad and I have always gotten along. There isn't any big memory of me hating my dad, or not wanting to be around him. He was my hero, my first knight in shining armor, my math tutor (MANY tears shed over math!!!), my guinea pig with my first attempts at cooking (and always telling me it was good). He showed me what it was to be a man of God, to be a good father and husband and helped me to see what it was I needed to look for in my future husband. I could always go to Dad with a question, he would either have an answer, or make one up. :) He seems able to fix anything. I think I have probably always been a "daddy's girl," and I'm just fine with that. I'm proud to be associated with my dad and love him very much. Dad, I hope you have a really wonderful day today. You are a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. I'm so glad Cora has you in her life!! I love you Dad!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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