I've been busy...

...but I'll be back soon!

SWEET TREATS

A sweet treat...

May your day be filled with sweets!

A sweet hug ~
from a friend who helps
you lighten your load.

A sweet smile ~
sent to the cashier
or the teller
or the waitress
or your family,
letting them know you appreciate them.

A sweet compliment ~
from someone you trust
with your heart.

A sweet laugh ~
from the lips of someone who
makes you laugh with them.
Laughter ~ its sweet medicine.

A sweet note of encouragement ~
just when you needed it.

You have been given a sweet gift ~
TODAY is a gift!

Go be your sweet self
and stop on over here
for some more sweets!

Coffee break...

So many choices in the morning.

I have added to my coffee collection.

Actually my husband has added to the collection.

He just returned from a mission trip

to Panama with SCEI.

So he brought me coffee from Panama

But friends of ours from

Dominican Republic

were with

 him on the sports ministry trip

and gave him Dominican Republic

coffee for me.

Gracias, mi amigas!

One day I hope to enjoy a cup of DR

coffee with them in their country.

But for today I will

enjoy a cup of coffee with

my friends

in cyperworld.

~

If we were talking over a steaming cup

of coffee

I would be serving cookies

too. 

And then I would ask you what I should

 called these cookies...

they are full of lots

of goodness,

semi-sweet chocolate chips,

toffee bits,

and pretzel sticks.

But they need a name...

What do you think?

If you were sitting across

from me sipping your coffee,

I would ask you

what your dreams are.

And share with you that I

like to dream big.

Knowing that God in His

amazing plan for

my life,

can far exceed my dreams!

He is like that you know,

 He loves to love us.

1Jo 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Fear of the unknown

is what sometimes

cripples our

dreams. 

It takes a step of

faith on our

part to follow the dreams

that God has laid

on our hearts.

But in that step He guides us

because  His plan for our life

 far exceeds our

wildest dreams.

Isn't that exciting?

I am so amazed by

His love.

GOD IS LOVE!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Enjoy your day!

Dream big,

God dreams bigger!

You are loved!

~R

Sweet Jessica

The day for Jessica's birthday party had come! 

10 years old!

Her mother planned a fun party

of fondue

fondant

and cupcakes!

For me the fun started a day earlier,

when I was baking

and decorating the

GIANT cupcake cake!

Then it was off to the party.

A cupcake party!

After doing a few crafts the girls joined

their moms in the kitchen to

decorate cupcakes.

It was so much fun to watch

them create

beautiful cupcakes!

The birthday girl and her mom!

DECORATING FUN!

Lots of girls, lots of giggles

and lots of sugar!

Jessica blowing out her candles,

all 10 of them!

Chocolate cake with buttercream

or

chocolate cake with fudge filling.

And the masterpiece cupcakes

the girls and their

moms created.

It was a fun day with friends

and we

loved being a part

of Jessica's special day!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Jessica!

Spring is in the air!

...or in our hair!

My daughter's 4th grade class is getting ready for a "Taste of Africa" Event at school and so together we created flower clips to raise money for the event.

So when we had about 25 complete,

I was trying to figure out the

best way to display them.

In a vase, of course!

Now don't they just make your heart smile?

And won't they look darling in

your daughter's hair!?

And for me, I love the neutral colors!

and a quick peak at the back...

...just hair clips on skewers, stuck

in a vase with some tissue paper.

And as the 4th grade teacher

would say,

Easy, Peasy,

Lemon Squeezey!

Good day to you and take time to

breathe deeply and feel

the wonder of the

beauty

of the new season!

The creator of the universe

is

crazy

about

YOU!

~R

Coffee break...

If you are sitting down and joining me

 for a cup of coffee, it would be a

strong cup of coffee. 

I am so-o tired!

My new favorite mug that Mr. Sweet got for me!

My kids will be home from

school in less than an

 hour and I need this

afternoon coffee break

before they walk in the

door and all talk at once,

telling me about their day.

And asking what they can have for a snack.

My mind usually at that time

goes blank unless I just got

groceries and have something

yummy for them.

What do you serve those hungry little

students when they walk

in the door?

Please tell, I could totally use

some inspiration.



I guess I could make the kids
 one of my new favorite
healthy snacks.
Nutella and marshmallow cream on
bread or crackers.


I would also tell you that I would like
to paint
my bathroom this week
but the prep
work that goes into it
is such a bother.
We shall see.

A young lady that helps me out
with cleaning
occasionally was
going to come and
help me clean windows
today but she got sick and
so my windows will continue to be
dirty.


I hope your day is blessed with
lots of smiles and laughter,
and PEACE
in your heart!


Coffee break is over  for today, the
next cup will have to be
while I am doing stuff around here
and it will probably need to be
reheated a
couple times.



{ Pink and brown }

A love story and the small part I played in it.

This is a cake for a bridal shower. 

The mother of the bride is a neice and the mother of the groom is a childhood friend.

Chocolate cupcakes! 

A white cake with raspberry filling,

covered in fondant.

To the beautiful bride and her groom,

may you be blessed with

love, happiness

and joy

as you begin

your life together.

Happy Monday to all!

~R

http://www.blessedlittlenest.com/search/label/life%20made%20lovely%20mondays

A gift...

Psalms 139:13-14 (NLT)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.  Thank you for making me wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous - and how well I know it.

This was a hard cake to photograph because all sides were different.

1, 2, 3 and

A, B, C

blocks.

Top cake was vanilla cake with strawberry filling,

and the bottom cake was chocolate cake with raspberry filling.

Congratulations to the soon-to-be parents of a new miracle.  May you be blessed with a healthy baby and may joy fill your hearts and lives as you experience on of God's greatest blessings.

Seed Catalog

Last week in the mail I received a seed catalog.
Page by page there is amazing pictures of
fruits and vegetables that make your mouth water
and I want to order a bunch of seeds and
see the miracle of it all.
Because after all, I love gardening...
...my bad, I love the novelty of gardening.

Spring decor  at my house.

The "beast" tilling the ground, getting it ready to
hold the tender seeds as they mature and grow.
Walking behind the tiller in the soft, cold dirt.
And having the sun casting evening shadows
across the yard as we plant another row
of sweet corn ( 'cause everyone loves corn on the cob.)

And then after a few days/weeks of sunshine
and rain, you see life coming out
of the ground where you planted a seed,
and the God of the universe touches my
heart with yet another miracle.

But that is where the novelty ends for me.
I get overwhelmed with
all the weeds and I wonder
what was I thinking when I thought I
would have time (or even make time)
to pull weeds.
And before you know what happened,
it is a "garden" choked out by weeds.

For all you avid gardeners out there,
know that I applaud you.
You do what it takes to have a
successful harvest.  And I will come buy
you labor of love when you have your
bountiful harvest out by the road
with a hand made sign and sweet fruit and juicy vegies.

So what about the "novelty" of being a follower of Jesus?  Is it something you start and see the miracles along the way but when it comes to doing the hard work and getting our hands dirty and fighting against the sin that wants to creep in and choke out our joy, does it make us wonder, is it worth it, what was I thinking?

My heart's longing is to be like Jesus, and so many times I have failed when the hard work came but then there is God's amazing GRACE that saves me and gives me courage to try again.   He never gives up on me and patiently waits for the havest of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Coffee break...

If you were joining my friends and I for "coffee" {or tea} this morning, I would be serving vanilla bean latte.

Probably half the coffee that I drink is in a to-go cup and we have more than a dozen cup holders in our van and I am wondering since cars didn't have cup holders back in the old days did they actually sit down and enjoy their coffee before they started their day?  Just wondering!

I would also tell you about my new favorite "fast-food" place.

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
So yummy, and the best guacamole and chips.
The best part is that my husband took me there for lunch yesterday and even though their food is so awesome the company that your in makes it even better.   Chatting over a burrito with my best friend, makes for a great lunch.

I would also tell you that I really want to bake today, but....
there is cleaning to be done and groceries to be bought and clothes to be mended (yuck) and so even though there are recipes to be tried and old time favorites to bake, I shall refrain.

And tonight is girls night out at Hershey Medical Center.  It is actually Praise and Coffee night and we are meeting in the cafeteria and my sister is going to be there leading worship with her team.  Looking forward to hearing God speak.

Enjoy your day!
~R

And again...

These pancakes were a big hit with the kids and since I needed to use the rest of the can of pumpkin, it was pancakes for dinner again.

Pumpkin pancakes.

1 1/2 cups milk (I used evaporated milk)

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 Tbsp. oil

2 Tbsp. vinegar

Mix together.

2 cup flour

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp. chai spice

(or cinnamon)

Mix together and then add to wet ingredients

until combined.

Heat a griddle and fry them up and enjoy!

My son helped himself to syrup.

And this picture may or may not be us getting out of cleaning.

Happy Saturday!
~R

Friends...

 What would I do without my friends?

They have really been there for me in so many ways,
and we have laughed together  and cried together,
and have many memories of fun and crazy times.

So this week I had a chance to have some
girlfriend time.

I went out for lunch with a friend this week that I
am just getting to know better.
It is amazing how 2 hours can go right by over
lunch and you barely got started talking.
We are planning her daughter's 10th birthday party,
its going to be a fun Mom and daughter cupcake party.
Super excited!!
Her kids are amazing and she is a
super cool mom and friend!

And last night while the kids were at Grandma's house
I went out with my high school friend
who is so precious to me and has always been there
for me. Even though we don't see each other often,
We can pick up right where we left off.
She is really an amazing person
beautiful on the inside and out.
And is a teacher, all teachers have my respect,
I could so not do what you do.
You amaze me!

And today I got to spend time with a friend
that is just so amazing.
Loves life and red.
Completely adores her kids but
loves girlfriend time.
She decided this year that she would have a word
for the year.
Her word...
P E A C E.
Great word because in times when we
are unsure or struggling to know what is right,
or what to do or what to say,
peace can still be in our hearts in the midst of chaos.
Knowing Him, the creator of the universe, gives us
peace that passes all understanding.

Loving thrift stores helps me make projects like this for friends.

I am blessed to be surrounded by so many people
that love me and are my friends.
Thank you all, knowing you makes the long weeks
of winter go faster.

Have a awesome weekend!

~R

Coffee break...

If you were joining me for coffee this morning,

I would tell you that I stayed up way to late last night and

long after you finish your cup of coffee

I will still be drinking my second and third cup of coffee.

I would tell you that I am tempted to start a mini

remodel on the bathroom, but from past experiences

I know that when you live in a 100+ year old house,

mini-remodels are just not so mini.  o I will probably just finish up some "mini-projects"

that are waiting on me.

Like some touch-up painting that needs done,

and maybe a kitchen stool that needs a fresh coat of paint.

(Which could actually be a practice painting technique that I

could then try on the "bathroom project.")

One of the things that I love about painting is

the time it gives me to process.

With each stroke of the brush

I am thinking...

sometimes about everyday things like

meals, laundry

and baking.

But other times about the deep issues of the heart.

Trying to find who I really am

when no one is watching.

Being real with myself about my emotions

and my relationships

and my fears

and my dreams.

So here is a word that I am pondering,

VULNERABILITY

What does it mean?

Does it affect how I live my life?

What are your thoughts on "vulnerability?"

I would also tell you that on the menu for tonight

is pumpkin pancakes.

Yup, pancakes for dinner,

its a "tradition" when Dad isn't home

we eat pancakes for dinner.

(not every night)

The recipe...

top-secret...

I don't even have one,.

but I'm confident someone can help me out with a recipe,

or there is always "Google"

The "man of the house" this week...

doesn't like coffee

but he loves life.

He carries the title proudly when Dad is gone,

And when he was 3 and Dad was gone,

 I referred to him as the man of the house,

he informed me that he is NOT a man

NOR a house!

Time for a refill, thanks for stopping by.

May your day be BLESSED

~R