Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

This is a great and inspiring story about four year old Colton and what he experiences during his appendectomy surgery. His family finds out in their daily conversations that he had visited heaven during his surgery. He gives details about Jesus, God, the Holy spirit and loved ones who passed away.

I read this book in about 3 days it is such a easy to follow and great read. You will not be able to wait for what Colton says next about his visit to heaven and how it teaches the community and his family even more about faith, hope and love. This is a spiritual uplifting book and will build your faith in how great God, Jesus and The Holy spirit is and how they work together for the good of all. Colton was near deaths door and came back to tell about how wonderful Heaven is and how real it is.

Inspiring Friday: December 30, 2011

"Faith is not about everything turning out OK; Faith is about being OK no matter how things turn out." – Unknown

"We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding." – Billy Graham

"If life be short [which it is], then moderate your worldly cares and projects; do not cumber yourselves with too much provision for a short voyage." – Thomas Manton

"During my 87 years, I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think." – Bernard Baruch, financier

"I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, rather than to live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is." – Unknown

Here is another one of a kind item from Goodwill. In fact it has a one of a kind tag that says blue planet creations handmade by Merry. At $1.99 it was hard to resist a purse that would be hard to find anywhere else. How I Love owls and Goodwill.

Is it a mail holder or napkin holder

I went to Goodwill today on a mission. I am looking for my autumn palette of colors to wear since they are the colors that look the best on me. I mostly had these colors, but decided to really be ruthless and go through my closet again. Most of what I have now is my color palette. Skirts and pants can be any colors that will match my tops that I have on hand. I do have some black cardigans and a blazer but I do use them along with a color from my autumn spectrum. I found the Color me Beautiful book at a thrift store that shows all the colors that look best on me. I also wanted to find something to display and keep my earrings together instead of throwing them in a old wipes container like I had been doing which took too long to dig through and as a mother of four time is very precious :)
I went on the hunt for something with holes in it, but not necessarily an earring holder. I found something perfect at the As Is side ( this is the discounted side that I shop the most for clothes, where can you beat .69 cent kids cloths and $1.29 adults?) I found what I think is an office mail holder or maybe a industrial looking napkin holder. It was .59 cents and it works like a charm :) I Love it. I can use the front and back and the middle for bracelets. I love shopping at Goodwill.

Happy 6th Birthday Brookie

We made it through all the kids b-days this year :) Brooklyn turned 6 yesterday (December 27th, 2011)I think she had a great day and received many nice gifts. I loved when she opened something and said, " Just what I always wanted" she loved everything.

Merry Christmas

I am so excited it is the eve upon my/our savior, Jesus Christ's birth. If you have not seen The Nativity Story movie, it is a great adaptation of the time leading up to Christ's birth and a bit after. We watch it every year and look forward to it. I am always trying to come up with ways to put Jesus at the center of Christmas where he belongs and not get caught up in the meaninglessness and consumerism that it can be turned into. Our kids will open gifts before we go to Christmas service but we will let them know how the wise men brought Jesus gifts and how Jesus gave the best gift of all. This year we are staying home and having a Christmas dinner and I am going to read about Christ's birth and we may even watch The Nativity Story again :)

Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Isaiah 9:6-7
(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Praise to God that Jesus is alive today just waiting for us to open our hearts to him. What a wonderful blessing God has given us in his son. May everyone have a safe and Merry Christmas and while you are spending time with your loved ones, make sure you reflect on the reason for the season.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whomever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life"

Inspiring Friday: December 23 2011

"Along the pathway of the stars we toil toward the moon and Mars ... have we lost our mind in leaving Bethlehem behind?" – Johnston G. Patrick

"Man is a creature who buys football tickets three months in advance, but waits until Christmas Eve to do his Christmas shopping." – sermons.com

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord'" (Luke 2:8-11).

Frosted Sugar Cookies

Get out your sprinkles and all your measuring cups, spoons, mixing bowls and most important your kids to help you make and decorate some sugar cookies. This is a fun and frugal activity to do with your kids. My kids were so excited to help, we had a lot of fun and made a wonderful memory. If you want to use cookie cutters bring them out and a rolling pin :)

I found the cookie recipe from allrecipes.com and it was submitted by Stephanie

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets. (we used a rolling pin and cookie cutters for ours)
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet 2 minutes before removing to cool on wire rack.

I found the vanilla frosting recipe on Cooks.com
Ingredients:
3 Cups powdered sugar
1/2 Cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
about 2 tablespoons milk

Mix powdered sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency. This will frost a 13x9 inch cake or fills and frosts two 8 or 9 inch cake layers or frosts 24 cupcakes. (or in my case a batch of sugar cookies)

We had fun making these cookies and though some where misshapen and not perfect they tasted delicious and looked festive.

My oldest turned 11

Not to be cliche, but it just seems like yesterday I went into labor and my first born was born on a snowy day on December 16, 2000. Yes, you read that right my oldest (whom first made me a mom) turned 11 on Friday. Here is my boy making a silly face after blowing out his candles.

Inspiring Friday: December 16, 2011

"When filled with holy truth, the mind rests." – C. H. Spurgeon

"The attitude you have as a parent is what your kids will learn from more than what you tell them. They don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are." – Jim Henson, Creator of The Muppets

"Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not." – Elbert Hubbard

"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us." – John Dryden

God's word for December 12, 2011

Why are children viewed as a burden instead of a blessing? Why do other people care about how many children someone else has? Why does it bother them that they choose to have kids instead of riches and other such endeavors? Why do they think they can determine when someone should get fixed or be done because they don't need anymore? I notice these days it is viewed as selfish to live your life for God and what he may want for you life, but acceptable to live your life for yourself and all the worldly things you want, if that makes any sense LOL. There are many reasons why this occurs, that I don't want to get into here. I must remind myself that God's word never changes on the subject. His word remains and holds true. I do believe children are a blessing from him and should be treated as such. Let me remember this and thank him for my children everyday and appreciate the type of love and joy they bring to my life that has not been able to be matched by any other on earth. Although, my husband does come pretty close but that is a whole other subject :)

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
(Psalms 127:3-5 ESV)

And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
(Genesis 33:5 ESV)

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
(Matthew 21:15-16 ESV)

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 18:10 ESV)

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Jeremiah 1:5

God has a plan for each of us, that is what his word said and that has not changed, Amen :)

Buckeyes

This is a recipe from allrecipes.com submitted by Tammy Winters
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups peanut butter 1 cup buttersoftened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups confectioners' sugar ( I only had 4 cups on hand seem to work just as well)
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips ( I was about 1/4 cup short)

Directions:
1.In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and sugar. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed lined cookie sheet.
2. Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (I used one toothpick to put the ball into the melted chocolate) and chill in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
3. Melt chocolate chips in double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth. (I melted in a pan on medium heat and stirred frequently until melted)
4. Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them like Buckeyes. Put back on cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

I found this to be a tedious endeavor, but I figure the next time I can have my kids help more with the chocolate since I will know what to expect the second time around. They were however, very delicious so worth the time it took to dip them in chocolate.

Inspiring Friday: December 9, 2011

"Evil grows when goodness doesn't stand." – Glen Beck

"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once." – Calvin Coolidge

"It's not what you do once in awhile; it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference." – Jenny Craig

Inspiring Friday: December 2, 2011

"You have set yourself a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere." – Helen Adams Keller

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." – Christian martyr, James Elliot

"The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get but what you give.... In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself." – Eleanor Roosevelt

"Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed." – Cavett Robert

"Some of the best tasting and nutrient filled fruits are rather small. We don't need to do something big. We just need to do something that bears fruit." – Ray Lammie