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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Glimpse of Montana

This week as are on a mission trip with our teens to Bozeman, MT, serving alongside Pastor Phillip Brown Nd the Calvary Baptist Church. Today we hiked the "M" Challenge, and believe me, when you are not used to the lower o urgent level, it is TOUGH! But we all made it! It was great to look over the city that Pastor Brown and his family are called to reach.
I'll be recapping our trip during our return trip but until then pray for our big day Saturday!
Have a great weekend!

Friday, May 24, 2013

High Five for Friday!

This week is one of the few that I have actually at home this summer, so it has been sorta crazy-hectic around here. Trying to get so much done in so short a span of time can be exhausting! But here are some highlights from the week:



1. Love this $.97 nail polish from Target - didn't chip until day 5! I did have trouble with another color in the same brand though. But this color is awesome! 

2. Roxy's Deli on Times Square - not impressed - lots of meat but dull flavor. 

3. Dad built the frame for my small raised garden (plants to follow soon). 

4. Little man has a throat virus that has taken some extra care and time the past few days (poor thing)!

5. My little bro graduates from high school tonight! I'm so proud of him!


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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

A Good Read...

I literally just got home from a baby shower, and my heart is full of excitement for this new mom! In fact, I have several friends who have either just had their first baby or are pregnant with their first. Naturally I am super stoked for each of them, and talking to them causes me to relive my own experience in becoming a new mom. My baby will be 19 months in just a few short days (not a baby anymore).

Of course, parenting is something that never stops. Each new stage brings on new challenges and questions. There are days when I feel like I am superwoman, tackling every mom challenge that may come my way; then, there are days I call my husband crying because I feel like a total and complete failure as a mom.

What's a mom to do? The only thing I can do if I want to be successful as a mom is to turn to Scripture and the guidelines that God has set in place for me as a parent. In my own personal time with the Lord each day, I just started studying verses and passages of Scripture that deal with parenting. Sure, I've claimed several verses and models of godly parenting to follow since little man was born, but I really want to know God's mind when it comes to being not a good mom, but a godly mom.

Sticking to Scripture is the only perfect advice that you will get. Therefore as a mom, I must use the Bible as my chief source of knowledge and wisdom. But there are also some great books from experienced, godly parents to help expound on biblical principles. I just finished reading Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman, and it shed some major light on my discipline procedures (Thanks for the recommendation, Christine). So, I'd like to share a few of my favorite titles with you. 

Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

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Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

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A Mom After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George

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Passionate Parenting by Cary Schmidt

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Six Ways to Keep the "Good" in Your Boy by Dannah Gresh

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Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh

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Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson

These are just some titles that are good to read. Of course, I don't agree with all that is in them, but only God's Word is perfect. Read with discretion and filter it with the Word of God. Take each day a step at a time and do what is right each day. I find out more and more that parenting is difficult, but you reap what you sow. 

Happy Reading! 

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

I would love to hear book suggestions from you! Leave a comment!

Friday, May 17, 2013

High Five from The Big Apple

My husband and I spent the week in NYC with our high school seniors on their Senior Trip. Naturally, all of my five come from our trip here this week. I'll be posting more about the week later, but here are some highlights from each day!



1. Rickshaw tour of Central park.
2. Yankees game.
3. Statue of Liberty.
4. 9/11 Memorial.
5. WICKED!

Look for more to come! Have a great weekend!


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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Hi from NYC

Good Morning! I'm in NYC with our high school seniors so probably no new posts this week... But I'll definitely be giving you some highlights from the trip via twitter and Facebook! Have a great week! Look for a post later about the trip!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Last night we had a ladies' event at church featuring a tutorial on how to make strawberry freezer jam (a project that I am super excited about taking on within the next two weeks). When asked to bring a refreshment, I began to look for something uniquely strawberry. After all, it was a night all about strawberries. Not wanting to spend too much money and wanting to use what I had in the pantry already, I found a recipe for strawberry shortcake cookies.

The original recipe come from Martha Stewart (I think), and I found it on wearenotmartha.com. Making a small tweek here and there, here's the recipe for you! Strawberry season is most definitely kicking it up here in the South, and this recipe is a great way to incorporate fresh strawberries to fill that sweet spot for your summer menu!





RECIPE:

Ingredients:
  • 12 oz. fresh strawberries sliced up into 1/4" chunks
  • 1 teas. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup + 1 Tblsp. of sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teas. baking powder
  • 1/2 teas. salt
  • 6 Tablespoons of cold butter, unsalted
  • 2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream
  • Sanding sugar (optional for garnishing the top of the cookie)

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
  2. Slice strawberries into quarter inch pieces or smaller depending on your preference. 
  3. Mix sliced strawberry chunks, lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons of the sugar in a separate bowl and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes. 
  4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Cut cold butter into small chunks. 
  6. Add butter chunks to the flour mixture and knead in butter with hands until the mixture takes on a crumb-like appearance and you no longer feel clumps of butter. 
  7. Add heavy cream to the mixture and knead or stir until dough forms. (Dough will seem very dry until strawberry mixture is added).
  8. Add the strawberry mixture to the dough and work in well with hands.
  9. Scoop dough mixture onto greased cookie sheet. 
  10. Sprinkle sugar on top of unbaked cookies (sanding sugar or regular sugar).
  11. Bake at 375 for 19 minutes. 
  12. Let cookies cool for 10 minutes, and enjoy at will!
I saw a suggestion to try them warm with vanilla ice cream! Sounds amazing! 


Linked up with How-To-Tuesday!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

High Five for Friday

This week... Yeah it's been a doozy! But I try to remember it's a blessing to be busy!

1. We concluded Ladies Morning Edition Bible study and our teen Bible study this Monday. The teens celebrated at IHOP for dinner! Love these ladies!

2. Saved some major dough with Harris Teeter triple coupons this past week. I aid a total of $28 for $130 worth of groceries! Yay for saving $$$$$!


3. Little man had a double ear infection this week... Poor thing! But he is feeling better now!



4. Target.com has a $2 Essie coupon! Woot woot! I haven't decided on a color yet though...

5. My Faithful Friend ( secret sis) gave me this wonderful array of coffee for my keurig! Made my day Thursday!



Happy Friday everyone!