Circus

We had the opportunity to take Emma to the Circus on Friday. We got a babysitter for Luke and enjoyed going out with only Emma this time. We asked her what her favorite part of the evening was and she said...'the elephants!!!' =)

Pictures for Gramma... =)

Part of the Foreward to Choosing Gratitude (Joni Eareckson Tada)

I never win anything in giveaways but a few weeks ago I entered one at a friend's blog, The Grace Post. I won Nancy Leigh DeMoss's new book, Choosing Gratitude. I thought the forward was fenomenal and decided to share the beginning part of it on my blog. I hope you can take a few minutes and read it. If you are interested in purchasing the book, Amazon has it for around $12 here.

"So many people do things for me or to me--as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, someone has to help me out of bed, pour the coffee, get me dressed, brush my hair, brush my teeth, blow my nose...and I'm always quick to say, "Thank you." And I mean it.

What's more, I say it a lot. I remember when Judy, my executive assistant, came into my office and asked if she could borrow $10. I was busy, so I absentmindedly told her to take the bill out of my wallet, which she did. When I heard my purse snap shut, I automatically said in a cheery voice, "Thank you!" Immediately, a friend standing nearby said,"what did you thank her for? She's the one who ought to thank you." I guess I'm just programmed to express gratitude to people.

Oh, if it were only that way with the Lord Jesus. If only we were better "programmed" to be grateful--not only to people--but to Him, lifting appreciative prayers countless times during the day. Sadly, lack of gratitude--and often ingratitude--resides in our hearts. That's scary. Lack of a thankful spirit carries serious penalties--a quick read of Romans chapter 1 tells us that. And if a thankless spirit was the undoing of a generation eons ago, is it any different for us? In fact, you and I know God far better than those to whom He revealed Himself through mere creation--we have even more to be thankful for!

And so I've been giving thanks for most of my paralyzed life. Not only giving thanks "in everything," as one part of the Bible tells us, but "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything" as another part commands ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV). Most of us are able to thank God for His grace, comfort, and sustaining power in a trial, but we don't thank Him for the problem, just finding Him in it.

But many decades in a wheelchair have taught me to not segregate my Savior from the suffering He allows, as though a broken neck--or in your case, a broken ankle, heart, or home--merely "happens" and then God shows up after the fact to wrestle something good out of it. No, the God of the Bible is bigger than that. Much bigger.

And so is the capacity of your soul. Maybe this wheelchair felt like a horrible tragedy in the beginning, but I give God thanks in my wheelchair...I'm grateful for my quadriplegia. It's a bruising of a blessing. A gift wrapped in black. It's the shadowy companion that walks with me daily, pulling and pushing me into the arms of my Savior. And that's where the joy is." Joni Eareckson Tada

Happy Valentine's Day

Sweets from my sweet. =)

Some 'Sweet' Crafts

I caught a few minutes of the Martha Stewart show the other day and discovered a creative way to use pipe cleaners! Martha had a lady demonstrating how to turn them into the cutest flower rings ever! Check it out here. I also saw these crafty little cupcakes on her website. So easy and kid friendly!! OXOXOXOXO =)

Love is in the air...

Some of my favorite 'chick' flicks...

What are some of yours? I'd love to hear from you all...just leave a comment telling me what your favorite chick flick of all time is.

Best Pound Cake Ever!!

One thing I've learned is that southern women know how to make the best pound cakes! It all began about 4 years, 6 months and 4 days ago... ;o) I married a southern boy! Then I started to notice at all the family gatherings how good the food was! Last year, Chase's Granny gave me a "Feeding the Flock" recipe book that her church put together. Can you guess the first recipe I looked for?! That's right...pound cake. FACT: This is the most moist pound cake you'll ever have. In the past I've made some pound cakes that just crumble when you cut into them. I needed some coffee or tea to drink right away so I wouldn't choke on all the dry crumbs in my mouth. Anyway! Not this recipe. So, without further delay here it is:

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 (8oz.) pkge. cream cheese

3 c. granulated sugar

3 c. cake flour (Swans Down)

6 eggs

3 sticks of butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. almond

Cream sugar and margarine until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add flavoring; then flour and cream cheese (alternate, beginning and ending with flour). Pour into a greased and floured tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until brown on top.

Some Snicestorm pictures... ;o)

My first attempt at sewing a dress for Miss Emma

I got a sewing machine from my awesome husband for Christmas this year. I finally had time to sit down and use it this last week. Emma has been outgrowing her dresses and I wasn't finding any in the stores that she liked. When did my 3 year old start being picky about what dress she wears?! Anyway!...I took her to Hobby Lobby and she chose some material that she liked. She calls this one her lollipop dress. =) I still have one more to go but they will be the same pattern. My Mom helped me by making the pattern and reminding me how to make button holes. I know I learned this in my sewing class 5 years ago but ...wow that was a long time ago. ;o)

Roscón de Reyes

Como aqui en USA no puedo encontrar un roscón como los que se hacen en España...pues usé una receta que tenía mi madre en un libro de cocina española. =) Y en una tienda que se llama World Market encontré chocolate a la taza (Torras) hecho en Girona!!! Ahora a ver a quien le va a tocar el Rey, porque el año que viene lo tendrá que cocinar y no comprar. jajaja

"En el roscón hay bien ocultas, una haba y una figura el que lo vaya a cortar hagalo sin travesura. Quien en la boca se encuentre una cosa un tanto dura, a lo peor es la haba o a lo mejor la figura. Si es el haba lo encontrado este postre pagarás, mas si ello es la figura coronado y Rey serás."

Merry Christmas!!/ ¡¡Feliz Navidad!!

No-sew vintage Christmas stockings

I promise I found a video on the Martha Stewart site on how to make these stockings but now I can't find it anywhere on there! I tried to remember as best as I could what I saw on the how-to video to replicate these stockings. What caught my eye was the no 'sewing required'...since at the moment I don't have a sewing machine. They were super easy to put together.

Here are some of the materials I used:

• German Glass Glitter
• A red brocade material (or you can do any vintage type of material)
• Digital reprints of postcards from the early 1900's (even better if you can find some real ones at a flea market. I didn't have time.)
• Fabric Glue
• Buckram
• Pinking Shears (for the toes and tops)

I found that the German Glass Glitter gives it a more vintage look than just normal glitter glue. I had to get mind off ebay but I think it was worth the effort. It is actual crushed glass so it's not for kid's projects. I wrote each of our names and Merry Christmas on each stocking with a liquid stitch clear drying adhesive. Then I sprinkled the glitter over it and let it dry. I just love it when the light catches them now that I have them hanging from the mantel.

Christmas Lighting ceremony

Frosty the Cheese Ball

Here is a cute idea if you are going to any Christmas parties. I started getting the Family Fun magazine a while back and they always have such adorable ideas for kid's crafts and recipes.

• 16 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 10 raisins for eyes, mouth, and buttons
• 1 piece of carrot for the nose
• 4 crackers for the hat (we used Ritz and Dare water crackers)

• 1 thyme sprig for the hat (optional)
• Strips of carrot for the scarf
• 2 broken pretzels for the arms
• 1 (1/2-inch) piece of a canned baby corn for the pipe
• Toothpick for the pipe

1. In a large bowl, let the cream cheese soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Stir in the garlic salt and the onion powder, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.

   Make the snowman by rolling two thirds of the cheese into a ball for his body and the other third into a ball for his head. Stack the balls, then add the facial features, clothing, arms, and pipe as shown. Serve with crackers or mini bagels.