Designed with Purpose

Surrounded by Loneliness

2012-02-03T08:14:00.000-06:00

Adopting is tough..I don't think anyone will disagree with that statement. But for me, the most difficult part of this journey has been the lonliness. The kind of lonliness that seeps into the marrow of your bones when no kindred hearts can be found.

Seems silly doesn't it? I have a ton of friends, so why would I be lonely?

Hey all, I am guest posting over at "We Are Grafted In." To read the rest of this post, come on over, to We Are Grafted In and don't forget to say hello!

White Rabbits and White Lies

2012-01-04T10:20:00.001-06:00

My daughter Syd and neice Kaitlin on our recent trip to Disney. Just keep reading.....the picture will make sense I promise!

We are on the waitlist again. Waiting for a birth mom to pick our scrapbook and deem us worthy.

But worthy of what? Worthy of being scammed? Of bring lied to? Of being used?

We recently found out that our PEM planned the whole thing. As in, she planned to let us THINK we would be adopting Maggie but all the while KNOWING we would leave empty handed.

I don’t know all the details nor do I NEED to know all of the details.

But it does leave me feeling a bit like Alice following that naughty little rabbit. At first, adoption seems so easy and straight forward.. But like Alice, we quickly learn all is not as it seems.

Before we can formulate enough good sense to turn back, we find ourselves skidding down a steep hole with nothing to grab hold of and nothing to do but land at the bottom of the pit, dust ourselves off and keep following that sorry excuse for a rabbit.

We are offered an unlimited number of doors to open and treats to taste, all promising to provide the remedy we so desperatly seek. But what we seek is a way back home, a way back to a world that is familiar and where all is right.

So here we are…. back at the beginning of this crazy journey. But thankfully we are not following a pesky white rabbit but rather a noble rescuer who promises to deliver.

"Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don't forsake the works of your own hands"

Psalm 138:8 (World English Bible)

Stay Tuned…..

Here is me checking into the hopsital on the first day. Our PEM had been induced just a few hours earlier and we were arriving with gifts in hand. I am sharing all the details of our 3 day ordeal so check back!

No More Fundraising

2011-12-21T21:47:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday, we met with our adoption agency. It was the first time since we had to give Maggie back to her biological mother, that we were able to sit down and discuss what happened.

It was theraputic to be able to vent about the events at the hopsital (details to come) and the almost surreal experience of handing her back.

While at the agency, we also had the privledge of meeting another couple who had a similar experience.....well maybe not so similar because they had to give a baby back after 4 months. Can you imagine? It helped me to have a bit of perspective.

After a very entertaining 2 hours of chatting and asking questions we were hit with a bombshell we never saw coming. I mean seriously, we NEVER saw coming.

Our remaining balance owed to the agency (almost $13,000K) has been paid in full. PAID in FULL!

After several long seconds and before I could even udder a word, tears started streaming down my face. I hate it when that happens, but at least this time they were happy tears.

It was if God threw open wide his arms and screamed:

I AM here. I am taking care of you.

We couldn't have missed HIM even if we had tried.

Chip and I are still stunned by this news. We can't seem to wrap our minds around the mysterious way God chooses to work in our lives.

We have been saving, fundraising, selling and baking for the last 8 months. With the exception of a very generous gift from my parents, all fundraising was litterally done $20 at a time. No exageration.

It is a huge burden lifted to know that our adoption is now fully funded.

We wish so bad that we could have brought Maggie home with us....wrapped her up in a snuggly blanket and put her under the tree as the best Christmas present ever. That was our plan. And if we had the choice, that would still be our plan. But we know that God is up to something....I just wish he would hurry it up already.

Questions

2011-12-17T08:23:00.000-06:00

This week has been rough. I am feeling a bit lost. The event planner in me is feeling like I need a new project, a party to plan or at least somewhere to be!

It’s the holidays and everyone else seems to have parties and places to go while we have nothing to do and no where to be. Except today.

Today, Chip and I have an appointment with our adoption agency. To talk about what happened, to vent our feelings and to ask lots of questions.

And questions I do have!

Holding Maggie on Saturday morning.

The three days spent at the hospital were utterly exhausting. Not so much for lack of sleep but more for the emotional abuse we felt.

Now, I am NOT saying we were actually emotionally abused. I am simply saying that is how we FELT. It felt like our emotions were raked over a bed of coals while everyone else just stood there and watched. Again, NOT saying our feelings are the truth just saying that is how we feel.

And I want so badly to give you a list of the questions most burning in my soul. But after typing and re-typing the list for the last 30 minutes, I realized that it’s not that easy.
A quick list of questions with no explanation wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t be fair to the agency, to you as the reader or to my own healing process. A simple list of questions, without any explanation, will leave too much room for mis-enterpretation.

But oh how I would rather type a list than go back and relive each of those gut wrenching days!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

What Just Happened?

2011-12-15T11:57:00.000-06:00

24 hrs after Maggie was born.

Where do I start? What do I say?

We are at home, without Maggie, trying to figure out what happened, how it happened and why it happened. But mostly, WHAT happened.

The last couple of days have been confusing. Confusing because we are not sure whether to cry or laugh. So we do both. Lots of both. Lots of crying. Lots of laughing. And lots of questioning.

I wasn't sure if I would continue to write our adoption story down....not sure if anyone was really ready to hear the truth. Or rather, I wondered if anyone was interested in hearing the truth.

We Americans like everything to be neatly packaged and tied with a bow. We like to believe in a prosperity doctrine that says if we claim it or if we believe it...everything works out for the best. We don't like to believe that there is really evil and suffering in this world outside of punishment.

The comments made by well-meaning friends, neighbors or perfect strangers during a crisis can be quite comical. My favorite so far is this: "well, you just have to trust that the baby is better off with her mother."

Woa, Nellie...don't get me started on what is wrong with that statement. What theology do you believe in? What rock have you been living under? What God do you believe in?

This adoption failed not because that is what is best for the baby. It failed because we live in a broken world. Because life is not fair. You see...God can make good come from anything he chooses, but I don't believe everything happens in this world as it should. That's ridiculous. God did not desire there to be dishonesty, betrayl, selfishness, nor pain...to name a few.

I wish I could sweep the last 6 months under a rug and forget that it ever happened. Sometimes it seems easier to live in na-na land...to blindly accept the outcome and not look back.

But God reminded me that that is not how I roll...nor is it what HE wants. So after much arguing and wrestling (I don't tend to win against God but it's not for lack of trying), I decided to work through all the emotions, questions and facts of the past week.

I will fan into the flame the only real gift HE has given me...and that is my ability to write honestly about my own personal experience.

So hang on tight...the next week could be quite ugly. But I trust in the end, when my fingers are exhauseted from furious typing...that I will see HIM revealed.

Packed and Ready….Sort Of

2011-12-08T09:22:00.000-06:00

We are almost packed and ready to head on up to the big “D”

Packing seems to be the easy part…getting ready for the adventure of the next couple of days…that is a whole other matter.

I found a short reprieve from the chaos by packing the baby bag.

Packing a baby bag is straight forward. You have a list of items you need, a list of items you want and then you put said items in the bag. There is no wondering, waiting, stressing or even praying when it comes to packing the bag. You just do it.For my control freak, event planning soul, packing a bag in the midst of the unknown was weirdly calming.

Now I am off to pack the rest of the family, go to the bank to deposit the money raised from the Biker Bar Fundraiser ($2,200 woo hoo!) and head out on the road.

We are making huge strides in fundraising to bring Maggie home. One year ago, we started with $0.00. Through saving, sacrifice, selling cookies, selling furniture, selling guitars, garage sales and many donations from friends and co-workers we are almost there!

12K more is needed to bring our baby girl home. We can’t wait to see what happens in the next 24 hours!

Will post more later.

PS-
(a list of my most favorite things packed so far)

1. a pale pink swaddle blanket we used with Sydney. One of the very few things we have from when she was a baby.
2. a newborn size zebra outfit that is warm and cozy. A girl can never start too early with her obsession for zebra!
3. cute burp cloth given to me by a friend
4. fabulous flower headband for those first pictures (flower might actually be bigger than her head!)
5. handmade blanket from a friend
6. brand new diaper bag from a friend (the kind that doesn’t really look like a diaper bag…that is how I roll!)

Only 2 more days!

2011-12-06T11:05:00.001-06:00

Scrambled eggs....that is what my brain feels like right now. I am not sure I can even answer a question coherently. Friends keep asking if we are excited and well....I have no idea how to answer that. Really...there are so many emotions right now. Let's just say, that if I was a drinker, I would be drinking right now....a lot!

Today Syd and I are putting up Christmas decorations and doing laundry. Tomorrow we have to run errands including going to Babies R Us and getting some last minute items. A friend asked me if I had an outfit for Maggie to come home in. Ummm....what? Clothes? oh right, I guess I better pack a diaper bag. EEEEK!

Thursday morning we will pack up the car (including a baby car seat) and head on up to the Big "D" where we will check into the all too familiar La Quinta Inn. We will have dinner on Thursday night with the PEM and her family (including her step mom, step dad, grandma, grandpa, step siblings) and our family and the Adoption Agency staff. 15 people in all!

My friend Kelley and her daughter will be flying down from Kansas on Thursday to stay with us at the hotel in Dallas. It's a toss up as to what I need Kelley most for...to take care of Syd on friday while we are at the hopsital or to help me keep my sanity. I will owe her big after this one!

I will update again soon. I wish I could find the battery charger to my camera...I took some picks of the baby room.

Shop to Bring Maggie Home

2011-11-16T21:21:00.019-06:00

New Clips Just Added....

.....a fundraiser to help bring baby Maggie home! Thank you to the Garbe family for creating all of these special hair clips and donating the proceeds!

See bottom of post for how to order! Psst.....there is FREE shipping!

Just think...you can tell your husband that by shopping for hair clips you helped bring a baby home. (seriously, when will you ever be able to say that again?)

Do you know any other moms who might be interested in hair clips for their daughters? Please pass our information on to them.

Pricing:

All clips are $5 each or 5 for $20. This includes free shipping.

To Order:
To place your order, please email me at adoptingmaggie@yahoo.com For the sake of time I did not take individual pictures so please use the group photo number as a way to describe which clips you would like to purchase.

Thank you for helping us bring Maggie Home!

Clips for Maggie

2011-11-07T21:24:00.003-06:00

SHUT UP! About a month ago, my aunt contacted me to see if she could help us raise money to bring Maggie home. Uhhh...mmmm...let me think....YES I think we can squeeze in the time to let YOU help US! Crazy.

Well...she just sent me a sneak peak of the hair clips she is now making and selling to bring Maggie home. Take a look:

Really? Are these not these CUTEST clips ever? I cannot wait to get them in the mail and start snapping pictures of them.

Who needs clips? Christmas is coming up y'all! Woo hoo!

I will let you know when they get here and how you can purchase 1, 2 or 10!

4 More Weeks!

2011-11-05T06:52:00.001-05:00

I'm looking good for being 36 weeks pregnant aren't I? Ha! I told PEM that her rear end is smaller at 9 months pregnant than mine is now. Youth is so not fair!

Train Birthday

2011-10-28T17:38:00.001-05:00

2 dozen train cookies and 3 dozen minis. Thank you for your order Dixie!

Birthmother Gift

2011-10-24T22:36:00.000-05:00

We’re not allowed to give our birthmother gifts. Or at least not any gift that could be ~~hocked~~ sold for money.

So this week we are sending our PEM a care package with all the supplies to make her favorite dessert….Sa’mores. (Clearly her love of all things dessert is why we get along so well)

But when the baby is born, we really want to give PEM a sentimental gift that somehow represents not only our undying gratitude but also our promise to always be a part of each other’s lives. I think it’s that promise that means the most to our PME. She wants to know that she won’t be forgotten, she wants to know that she will have the chance to know her biological daughter and she ~~wants~~ needs to know that we love her.
Here are some gifty ideas I found on Etsy. I like them all and I am thinking I better decide soon!

Necklace by JessicaBe. The three stones represent the adoptive mother’s birth stone, the birth mother’s birth stone and the baby’s birthstone. Kinda thinking this is my favorite.

littleshopofbaubles sells this necklace for $35. It’s the baby’s name and her birthstone. Of course ours would say Maggie.

I also thought this was cute from KellysCreativeDesign.

Much to Ponder,
the NPEM

Choosing to Walk in Faith

2011-10-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

We are getting down to the wire.

8 weeks from now we will make the 5 hour drive to the Dallas area. We will park our car at an unfamiliar hospital and we will walk into an unfamiliar situation.

We will sit in a waiting room unsure of our role or responsibility.

In 8 weeks a baby girl will be born and she may or may not come home with us. In fact, it will be 48 hours after she is born until we discover in whose arms she will be when she leaves the hospital.

I wonder if this is a bit how Jesus feels sometimes? Not so much the hospital stay but rather the whole waiting thing.

He prepares a home for us and he waits in anticipation of our arrival. But in the end, Jesus waits for us to decide. He waits for us to decide whether or not we will accept his gift of becoming royal heirs.

And in the end, it will be our PME’s choice whether or not she gives her baby to be adopted, to become part of our earthly family forever. It's not our choice to make.

So just as Jesus goes ahead and prepares a place for us, so can we go ahead and prepare a place for this baby girl.

I am working on baby Maggie’s room this week it’s how I can best prepare our home for her arrival. I can’t wait to show you the finished product.

Here is the color of the walls:

It’s Robin’s Nest 618 by Benjamin Moore. I love this color, it’s crisp and clean and bright and cheery.
Over and Out,
Sharee

Help Bring Baby Maggie Home

2011-10-17T17:57:00.006-05:00

Dear Friends, Family and Faithful Blog Readers,

As most of you know, we are in the process of adopting a baby girl (due December 9th). Chip and I are thrilled with the anticipation of this new blessing's arrival and Sydney can't wait to be a big sister.

Mini Birthday Cupcakes

2011-10-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

My new favorite gift? Mini Cookies

What’s not to love? Anything in miniature form is always better than the original. Puppies are cuter than dogs…have you ever tried to pass a litter of free puppies on the side of the road? (whatever, you know you wanted to stop!) Mini-skirts are way cuter than long skirts (well, ok…maybe they USED to be cuter…like when I was 20).

But no matter what…mini-cookies are always way more yummy than regular sized cookies. Mostly because you can eat MORE of the minis and it doesn’t count! (can I get an amen!)

Here is how I made a jar full of mini-cupcakes for my friend’s birthday:

Simply cut out cookies with any teeny tiny cupcake-shaped cutter. I got this one at my local baking supply store. I also have good luck at Michaels and sometimes Hobby Lobby. Don’t have a cupcake shape? No worries, seriously, any shape is cute when it’s teeny.

After you cut out the cupcake shapes (it only took about 15 to fill the jar), bake and let cool completely.

Next, choose your ~~poison~~ frosting.

Pipe Outline in blue (or whatever color you choose).

For mini cookies I use the same consistency for my piping as for the filling. Think “thick syrup” and you will have it right.

Let outline set for 1 minute and then fill the inside.

Use a tooth pick to finish spreading icing to the sides. Toothpicks are a baker’s best friend.

While still wet, sprinkle colorful jimmies on top.

See…aren’t they cute already?

Repeat steps above for the bottom of the cupcake (I chose red). Let dry on cookie sheet or rack over night. Yes…over night. Don’t try and skimp, give the treats ample time to set. If you try and take a short cut on this step you could be sorry later…trust me, I have first hand experience.

Fill a mason jar full of your mini cookies and tie a raffia ribbon at the top. I like to use the wide-mouth mason jars…that way you can avoid the whole ~~monkey~~ girl getting her hand stuck in the jar because she won’t let go of the ~~banana~~ cookie situation…know what I mean jelly bean?
So that’s it! A handmade birthday treat complete with mini-cupcakes.
Just remember, a hand-baked gift is always a winner. Go get baking!
Over and out,
Sharee

Things that make me go Hmmmmm

2011-10-01T13:44:00.001-05:00

PEM's mom, Sydney and PEM at 27 Week Ultrasound

Do we put together a nursery?
Do we let our friends plan a shower for us?
Do we let our hearts become attached to her?

Every adoption is hard, but open adoption puts a whole new spin on the word “challenging.” There is no handbook on how to do this and every case is different. But worst of all...there is no one that can say for sure if the whole thing will work out.

Maggie…that’s what we named her, that’s what we named our daughter. What we don’t know and what we won’t know (until 48 hours after she enters this world) is whether or not THIS baby is OUR Maggie.

Much to Ponder,
NPEM (the non-pregnant expectant mom)

…

Romantic Wedding Cookies

2011-09-28T19:00:00.002-05:00

This summer I had the privilege of making cookies for a wedding right here in Sugar Land, Texas! 150 cookies that I did NOT have to ship….woo hoo!

To represent the international couple’s relationship, we decided on suitcases, airplanes and hearts.

I love traveling to Europe, (yes, it’s all able me isn’t it!) so when I found out Kathy is from Germany and Erik is from Texas, I instantly fell in love with their story.
Kathy and Erik met in Berlin, Germany while he was vacationing with friends and she was visiting the city. The two instantly hit it off and spent the next several years traveling back and forth across the Atlantic.

But this summer, the jet-setting couple said “I do” and officially did away with the miles between them.

Congratulations Kathy and Erik…thanks for letting me bake my way into your special day!

Thanks to Megan Rogers photography for the extra pics. If you live in the Houston area be sure to check her out.

Unanswered Prayers

2011-09-13T16:32:00.000-05:00

When you were in college, did you ever have a favorite song that you religiously placed on “repeat” and listened to over and over?   I mean…you know….like when your boyfriend broke up with you for your best friend? I may or may not have spent 2 months in bed listening to Garth Brook’s Unanswered Prayers, hoping the lyrics would somehow sooth my wounded soul.

Now that I am a little ~~wiser~~ older, I no longer rely on the tunes of country songs to speak truth to my heart. (Praise you Jesus!)   But every once in a while, God allows a series of events to take place in my life that cause the words of that song to come screaming back. And this is one of those moments.
Our adoption adventure has not been without it’s snares and detours, but then again, what adoption story is without them? Even the greatest adoption story…the one in which the King of Glory himself adopted us, was not without pain and suffering.

So, today, we are thanking God for all of our unanswered prayers, even the ones that brought a little pain. Today, we are thanking God for the courage he gave us to survive the last two years while we searched for the right adoption agency and waited for the right birth mom.

One month ago, we were officially matched with a birth mom. It is awkward for me to use the word “birth mom” instead of her name, as it sounds so impersonal. But I wanna check with her first before I post her face or any personal information. So for now we will just refer to her as PEM (short for the Pregnant Expectant Mom) which I guess makes me the NPEM (not-pregnant expectant mom!).

The picture above was taken at Olive Garden on the day we met over lunch. PEM and Syd hit it off like sisters and we are thrilled beyond belief. The baby is due in December and I can’t wait to give you all the details!

Before I go…can we get back to the original inspiration for this post? Yes… I am talking about Garth. Me, Garth an old CD player on repeat. Let’s reminisce shall we? (just humor me)

(to be sung with a country twang and a bit of a stagger)
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
Over and out!
The non-preggers!

No Buyers

2011-08-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to tell you about our recent adventure to meet Leroy the rooster and all of his fair maidens, but alas that great tale will have to wait for yet another day. My mind is pre-occupied and I can't turn off the plaquing thoughts. Just like a pigeon who happened upon a half eaten carton of fries, I can't stop asking myself one simple question:

How is this possible?

How is it possible that in the last two weeks, ~~my family~~ our scrapbook has been turned down by 2 different birth moms?

Is this what it feels like to be a house on the market?. Strangers constantly walking within your space, making rash judgements based on out-dated landscape or too brightly colored walls.

And just like the realtor assures you that "it just wasn't the right fit" so our adoption coordinator tells us the same thing. And maybe the birth moms didn't turn us down as much as they just choose someone else. But is it really different?

I mean, I don't have out-dated decor or dingy diggs...there must be some mistake! Oh Lord, please bring us the right ~~buyer~~ mother soon. My ego just can't stand it any longer nor can my heart take it when Sydney asks "Mama, did someone choose us yet?"

How Quickly Things Change...

2011-07-20T07:57:00.000-05:00

Friday, June 10th
As I was leaving the dentist office, gums sore from the unapologetic hygentist who spent 20 minuts dutifully scraping my teeth, I received a most unexpected phone call.

It was Maxine, the director of our Adoption Agency. The agency had a new birth mom that needed to be matched with a family. And the agency thought our family would make the perfect match!

(Fast forward to 5 hours after receiving phone call)

FREAKING out doesn't acuratly capture the moment. We wearn't sure what to be more excited about, the fact that we might have a baby in October OR the fact that we were being chosen based on the very reason we were rejected for 2 years. (Jane requested a family with personal experience with addiction...God has such a sense of humor!)

Only one slight problem...we were getting ready to leave town for almost two weeks. That meant I needed to chat with Jane* on the phone, create a scrapbook for Jane* representing our entire life AND get said scrapbook in the mail...all in the span of about 48 hours.

So what's a girl to do other than to get scrapbookin'.

Did I mention I hate to scrapbook? I so wish I knew how to digitally scrap but I didn't have time to learn. Maybe for the next project!

Monday, June 13th
24 hours later, with lots of tantrum throwing (by me) and little sleep, I finished the scrapbook and got it mailed off.

June 15th - June 27th
We were out of town, but Jane and I continued to stay in contact via text and phone calls. She contacted me as soon as she received the scrapbook in the mail and texted me a few times just to say hello.

Throughout the time I spent with Jane on the phone, I came to genuinly respect her for the hard life she had survived and for the promising choices she was making for her own children.

This was not Jane's first child, infact this new baby would be her 4th child...Jane was even a grandma. While, I can't say that I fully understand all the choices Jane made in her life, I can say that we had one thing in common: We both wanted whats best for our kids.

June 29th
Talked to Jane on the phone and made plans for Chip and I to meet her in person.

July2nd
I called Jane to let her know we had purchased our plane tickets and that we would see her soon! She said that the baby had done a backflip when he heard the news!!!

July 8th
Got another most surprising call from Maxine (the director of the agency). Apparently, Jane had decided to marry the baby's father and would no longer be needing the agency's services.

Jane texted the information to the agency citing she does not like confrontation. We haven't heard from her since.

July 11th
We canceled our flight reservations and I dropped more scrapbooks off at the agency.

We are now back on the waitlist with no gurantees this story won't be repeated.

Although we were shocked at Jane's decision, we know that in the end she has every right to parent her child and we only hope that this marriage will be the answer to life's problems as she no doubt hopes.

July 20th (today after turning on my computer to finish this post)
We discover that last night the agency showed our scrapbook to another birth mom. Now we wait to hear whether or not she picked us!

Patriotic Petit Fours and a FIght Against Cancer

2011-07-04T07:00:00.011-05:00

So excited...today is the day I get to share a recipe over at Frosting for the Cause. Go on over and check it out. Bakers from all over the web are helping raise money for the fight against cancer.

When I found out Paula, from Frosting for a Cause, assigned me the 4th of July, lets just say I was a wee bit nervous. I mean...no pressure or anything...it's only one of the most festive days a baker turned blogger like myself has to showcase her ~~talent~~ obsession.

But really, if the truth be told, I was thrilled to join Frosting for the Cause not because of all the yummy recipes (although they were a bonus) but because it was a tangible way for me to help fight the battle against cancer. It's a battle worth fighting for...I know you agree.

Semi-homemade desserts are some of my favorite ways to prepare treats for big events or holidays. I like to spend my time actually WITH my family and friends...not by myself, cooped up in the kitchen.

Here is a dessert that will look fabulous at your next party but takes less than 20 minutes start to finish.

Patriotic Petit Fores

Place 1 bar of soften cream cheese into mixing bowl. Now listen up people...when it comes to cream cheese, the brand DOES make a difference (at least in my humble opinion). I always use the name brand and I NEVER use low fat. It just doesn't make sense to me...but you do what ya want!

Add 1 cup sugar.

1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp of almond extract. Mix together (with wisk attachement) on medium speed until well combined.

Slowly add in 2 cups of Heavy Whipping Cream.

Beat together on medium high until stiff peaks form.

Your icing is now done!

Grab a package of brownie bites from your local grocery store. My favorite store down here in Texas (HEB) as the best brownie bites! You can certainly make your own but if you can save time, why not?

Grab some toppings...I chose raspberries and non-perils in red, white and blue.

Now it's time to grab a plastic bag...

fill it with the whip cream cheese frosting. Seal it and snip off a tiny corner.

Now you are reading to pipe on the frosting. PLEASE remember that it does not have to be perfect. No one but you will notice AND you can cover up any mishaps with the topings.

They look purrrty just as they are but for a festive touch I added a raspberry to the top.

And on the others, I sprinkled the colorful non-perils.

I had intended to put blueberries on the tops of some, but apparently my family got to the container faster than I did.

There you have it...patriotic petit fours! Keep them in the fridge (no need to cover) until you are ready to serve. Seriously...don't they look like I slaved all afternoon on them? We'll just keep it as our little secret...umkay?

Me, Mary and Syd when she was 3 months old

This post is dedicated to my friend Mary...a courageous woman with a contagious laugh. She may have lost the battle with cancer but she won in the race of life.

Mary...no doubt Christ spoke the blessed words "Well Done Good and Faithful Servant" when he called you home. Thanks for always telling this awkward 12 year old that she was beautiful...I finally see what you saw so many years ago.
Patriotic Petit Fours

Ingredients:
1 bar soften cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups heavy whipping cream
Raspberries, sprinkles or anything else you like for toppings
Browning Bites

Mix together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and almond on medium speed until well blended. Slowly add in the heavy whipping cream and beat on medium high until soft peaks form.

Fill plastic baggie with frosting and snip a tiny corner off of the bag. Gently pipe frosting onto the brownie bites. Top with raspberries and sprnkles.

Reason #1,543 We Are Adopting!

2011-06-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

We are not quite sure how much longer Roxy will be in the mood to have her make-up done by our resident stylist!

Lilly Pulitzer Ispired Cookies

2011-06-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

My friend Katie sent me this LINK as an inspiration for her daughter's 4th birthday party. The theme was inspired from the cheerful designs of Lilly Pulitzer.

I have always adored the bright colors of Lilly Pulitzer's designs so I was a wee bit nervous about designing a cookie worthy to even remotely resemble her style.

In the end I chose a ladybug to mimick Pulitzer's signature use of animals in her designs and of course the famous pink and green color scheme.. It turned out pretty cute...and it was the first time I used fondant to cover my cookies. I used NO royal icing!

If you have ever wanted to try fondant, Shelly over at Cookies and Cups has an easy to follow recipe for Marshmellow fondant. I used her recipe and it was super easy...I even felt kinda professional-like using it. Sharing recipes and sharing information is what I HEART most about blogging.

Have you found a good recipe lately?

Bachelorette Party

2011-06-05T20:44:00.001-05:00

Have I mentioned that to me, zebra is a neutral? It goes with everything, I HEART everything zebra!

3 dozen cookie for a bachelorette party.

The theme was pink and black...so fun!

Thanks Sara for the order I had a fun time designing them (even if I did pull my first all-nighter)!

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

2011-06-01T08:22:00.001-05:00

Waiting! Yes, patiently waiting!
Till next steps made plain shall be;
To hear, with the inner hearing,
The Voice that will call for me.

Waiting! Yes, hopefully waiting!
With hope that need not grow dim;
The Master is pledged to guide me,
And my eyes are unto Him.

Waiting! Expectantly waiting!
Perhaps it may be today
The Master will quickly open
The gate to my future way.

Waiting! Yes, waiting! still waiting!
I know, though I’ve waited long,
That while He withholds His purpose,
His waiting cannot be wrong.

Waiting! Yes, waiting! still waiting!
The Master will not be late;
He knoweth that I am waiting
For Him to unlatch the gate.

(This poem by J. Danson Smith was a part of my daily read from I'm Just Saying.)

I am trying to wait patiently for our family of 3 to become 4 or more but it is so hard! Somedays are easier than others. Somedays I know he will answer our cries, somedays I wonder if he will answer our cries, somedays I watch and wait for him to answer our cries. But at the end of the day...I am still waiting!

Are you waiting on God for something?

Glimpses of God at a Garage Sale!

2011-05-26T23:21:00.000-05:00

Last week~~, the garage sale~~ God raised $4,000 towards our adoption fees. Not only did God provide financially over and beyond what we could have imagined, he also allowed us numrous uncanncy glimipses of HIM throughout the day.

We saw HIM....
...in the 6 truck loads and 2 trailor loads it took to empty our garage of donated items from friends and perfect strangers. .

We saw HIM...

...in the boxes after boxes of clothes that were unpacked and hung on a neighbors fence.

...in our friends tireless attention to detail, pricing and neatly organizing shoes, games, toys, sheets and dishes.

We saw HIM...

...in the faces of fellow adoptive parents who found us through Craigslist, Facebook, emails or mutual friends. Some came to shop, others to pray for us and still some came to simply hand us a check. None had ever met us before yet all came to support us, to support adoption.

We saw HIM...

in the faces of all our friend's...they worked hard, sweat a lot, got little sleep and never complained. They did it all with smiles on their faces. They showed us what it truly means to serve others.

Clearly no one got enough sleep from Friday night!

Mabell let us use her house for the garage sale. We aren't allowed to have them in our neighborhood...booooo.

We saw HIM...

...in the small change purses, filled with hard-earned allowance money, given to us in their entirety..so that we could get a baby. Those special friends taught us what it means to love Jesus like a child. I only pray Sydney will have a heart that finds happiness in giving and I pray I would be a mom that encourages and trains her heart to give...just like my friends have done for their children.

We saw HIM...
...in all the customers (both people and dogs!) and all the sold signs throughout the day.

Yep, she bought the Baby Bijorn for her dog!

There are so many other times we caught a glimpse of God's divine presence at this event...too many to count and list on this here blog. Plus I am not sure if any of you are still reading this super dooper long post!

When is the last time you caught a glimpse of God?
Whenever my eyes are weary and I need to see HIM, I pray this simple prayer, "Lord, please reveal yourself to me today in a way that I would know it's you."

Fiesta Themed Wedding Shower

2011-05-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

My friend Brooke puts on the greatest parties! A couple years ago she and I hosted a little par-tay we called "The Jingle Mingle." Doesn't the name just make you want to par-tay with us? HeHe!

But this time Brooke was throwing a wedding shower ( a couple's shower) for one of her best friends.
The wedding will be held in Mexico thus a Fiesta Themed shower! And lucky for me, Brooke told me to do whatever I wanted!!

I chose peppers, limes, margaritas, flags and those shaker things! I did get a lot of ideas from Sweet Sugar Belle's Cinco De Mayo Roundup...check her out, she is a master at decorating cookies.

This time I got a wee bit crazy and decided to experiement using a totally different kind of frosting. Up until now I have only used Royal Icing on my cookies but I have always been a little curious about the "other" frosting that some cookie decorators use.

For my fellow bakers, you will just have to sit on the edge of your seat until later this week. I will give you the full report when I have a bit more time to write!

Thanks Brooke for the cookie order!

Garage Sale Success

2011-05-18T04:59:00.004-05:00

Our goal was $1,500.

We thought $1,500 was aiming high.

We thought $1,500 was giving God "room" to do a miracle and multiply our efforts.

I am quite sure we gave God a good chuckle at our lofty goal. "$1,500? You think that is a miracle? You think that is what it looks like to multiply provisions? Let me show you what a REAL miracle looks like," He said.

And show us he did.

$4,000 was raised to bring Baby Morris Home!

So glad God had bigger plans. But then again...doesn't he always?

"To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20
What has God done huge in your life lately? Is there a miracle he wants to perform for you?

THANK YOU to everyone who helped us that day, we could not have done it without each of you! THANK YOU to everyone that shopped, donated money and/or spread the word!

Shop til' You Drop....and help bring baby Morris home!

2011-05-09T07:45:00.007-05:00

Our fundraising event is just one week away, mark your calendars!

*****Looking for the Sneak Peak? Shop NOW, Click HERE

Huge Garage Sale (100% of proceeds goes towards our Adoption)

When: Saturday, May 14th
Time: 7:00AM - 10:00AM
Where: 1014 Walker School Rd, Sugar Land, 77479 (In New Territory)

Items from over 12 18 families. Toys, Furniture, Housewares, Kids clothes (Baby LuLu, Gymboree, Gap, Justice), baby clothes, Men's and Women's clothes (Tahari, Nordstrom, Coach), shoes, ride-on jeep, chocolate fountain, train table, treadmill, bikes, bookcases, media consoles, desks, toy storage, jewelry, several couches, designer purses, home decor, window treatments, decorator tables, bed frames and headboards, leather office chairs, sets of dishes, kitchen table and chairs, and much more!

This is what our garage looked like 5 days ago...it is even more full now!

Our garage is packed from top to bottom with donations from friends, neighbors and even friends of friends!

Thank you to our friend Mabell for letting us take over her garage as well!

And not only is our own garage packed full of treasures but our friends garages are packed as well!

All week, Chip and I have been driving to different homes and filling the bed of our truck with toys, clothes, furniture, etc. And don't kid yourself...there were many times that we looked like Sanford and Son or maybe Beverly Hillbillies.

Thank you to my friend Jessica for graciously filling this truck load with treasures.

The response we have received from our community has been such a blessing and a constant reminder that we are not all alone in this journey! If you live in the area and would like to shop our garage sale, here are the details:

Here is the info again, just in case you breezed by it at the beginning!

Huge Garage Sale (100% of proceeds goes towards our Adoption)

When: Saturday, May 14th
Time: 7:00AM - 10:00AM
Where: 1014 Walker School Rd, Sugar Land, 77479 (In New Territory)

Items from over 12 families. Toys, Furniture, Housewares, Kids clothes (Baby LuLu, Gymboree, Gap, Justice), baby clothes, Men's and Women's clothes (Tahari, Nordstrom, Coach), shoes, ride-on jeep, chocolate fountain, train table, treadmill, bikes, bookcases, media consoles, desks, toy storage, jewelry, several couches, designer purses, home decor, window treatments, decorator tables, bed frames and headboards, leather office chairs, sets of dishes, kitchen table and chairs, and much more!

Surviving My First Wedding...

2011-05-04T13:19:00.003-05:00

.........not as the Bride but as the cookie maker! Yikes, only 2 months into my cookie fundraiser and I get ~~hit~~ blessed with an order for 160 cookies!

My dining room turned into a cookie staging area.

I made 80 heart shaped cookies decorated as the USA flag.

And 80 heart shaped cookies with the English Flag design (the ones with the red cross). And apparently, the English Flag is completly seperate than the Great Britain Flag...who knew?! I feel much smarter after this job!

All I can say is...I survived! Thank you to Angie of S & A Weddings for this incredible opportunity.

And check back later this week....I will update you on where we are in the Adoption process and our upcoming fundraiser.

If you would like to order cookies for your next even or celebration, please view my Cookie Order page for details. 100% of the proceeds go directly towards reducing the 40K we need to adopt.

Why is Grace so hard for me?

2011-04-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today, I realized just how hard it is for me to accept God's grace. The grace that says I am of great worth!

You see, I spend a lot of time "working" to figure out my unique talent in life. (just read the title of my blog!) The big mysterious talent that will one day make me special and give me worth far above all others. (just keepin' it real people!)

But today, God once again saved me from myself! He picked me up out of a muddy pit, a pit of lies continually screaming, "You must WORK to be special. You must PUT IN YOUR TIME to have worth. You must STRUGGLE, you must BEG, you must TRY HARDER!" And he placed my feet upon a new rock, the rock of truth.

Today, God whispered (as only he can do) something profound to me. He told me to stop working. He told me to stop searching. It was as if God held out his royal septor to me (as only a King can do) and asked me to accept what had already been given to me:

My Worth

By God's unfathomable grace I am already deemed worthy. It's not something I can work for and it's not something that God is trying to keep from me. I only have but to accept the truth.

And the truth is this:
1. He picked me out of the crowd and made special plans for me. Plans that will bring him glory.
(Ephesians 1: 11)

2. Before I was born, God planned specific tasks for me to accomplish. And the best part? He has already equipped me with the talent to accomplish said tasks!
(Ephesians 2: 10)

So why am I trying so hard to find my talent or to be talented? According to God, I already possess purpose and I am already gifted.

So it really comes down to one question. Do I believe what God says is true?

Lord God, please help my unbelief today! Please help me to activly believe you in this area.

"You are saved, not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did. And you are special, not because of what you do, but because of whose you are. And you are His."
~ Max Lucado from In the Grip of His Grace

More Bunnies

2011-04-25T08:00:00.009-05:00

For real, I need photography and editing lessons...the white looks a bit scary in this pic. Help!

Thanks Jenn and Cheryl! Your cookie order proceeds went directly to our adoption fund!

Want to order cookies? (Yes, they will ship great!)

The Hard Love

2011-04-22T08:10:00.002-05:00

(Today's 5 minute topic at the Gypsy Mama has come just at the right time for this weary "mama" soul)

Yesterday was rough. I wanted to escape. To lay on the couch and watch mindless TV and lose myself in a bunch of nothing.

Yesterday was rough. She tested me. She hit me. She kicked me. She screamed at me. I didn't know what to do. She is 4 years old, how can this be happening already? I expected it at 12 years old for sure but 4? This means it is going to be bad...really really bad.

I wonder if it is my fault. Do I not delight in her enough? Do we not have fun together? Does she not love me?

I fought for a whole year to be her mother. She is the reason I survived. And now that times are tough, I don't want to give up. But I have no strength to win this battle for I have no idea how to fight this battle.

How can I love her today? Lord, HELP!

Happy Easter Cookies

2011-04-17T23:38:00.000-05:00

Hope you all get to bake something special this week! I have always wanted to make a cake in the shape of a bunny...maybe next year!

Getting Pregnant

2011-04-10T05:51:00.001-05:00

7 months pregnant with Syd

The last time I tried to get pregnant it was all about the ovulation monitor. My mornings consisted of peeing on a stick and anxiously waiting for the digital egg to drop on the screen. By the time the hand-held computer device electronically told me it was time to get "busy" with my husband, the whole thing felt more like a business transaction than anything else.

Kinda funny seeing as how this time around, getting pregnant really IS a business transaction. But that is way too deep of a thought at 4:30am!

So here I am, 5 years later, and I'm trying to get pregnant again. Only this time it has nothing to do with hormone levels or ovulation monitors but everything to do with PAPERWORK!

Our homestudy is scheduled for this Wednesday and I cannot believe how much paperwork there is to complete. I kinda just thought the social worker would come to our house...take a look around...ask us some questions and make sure we weren't mass murderers or anything. Umm...not so much!

Sitting on my coffee table are 15 pages of questions that must be answered by both me and my man before the social worker knocks on our door on Wednesday evening. Here are some of my favorites along with my own commentary:

What do you want to change most about your spouse? (really, cause are you trying to get us in a fight?)
Describe any disagreements you have had and how you resolve them regarding In-laws, money, commuication, etc. (huh? Surely I didn't hear you correctly. You said you want me to write down on paper everytime we have had a disagreement? For the last 9 years? Surely you jest!
Have you ever had prior psychiatric or psychological treatment? Please describe. (silence...crickets chirping...my mind goes blank. For real? Ask me another question because you don't really want to know the answer to this one...I promise!)
Are you more like your mother or your father? Please describe. (I'm sorry, what does this have to do with adopting?)

By my calculations, I have at least 180 questions to answer on the questionnaire and I have only completed 12 of them. Time to get back to work and stop the procrastination.

But speaking of the number 180... this week I not only have 180 questions to answer but I also have 180 cookies to make for a wedding. Yikes! No pressure or anything!

These are not the wedding cookies but aren't they cute?

Say a prayer for me cause' this could be a tiring week. Only one oven, only one of me and only a mere 180 cookies. All baked, decorated and shipped to Florida by next week. No problem.

Ordering Cookies

2011-04-04T14:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks so much for your interest in my hand-decorated sugar cookies. I love baking and decorating them just for you!

My decorated cookies are not a business, they are a fundraiser for our adoption. If you are new to my blog and want to know more about our adoption, start HERE.

Prices

Cookies start at $2.50 each with a minimum order of 1 dozen cookies per design. Cost will vary slightly for extra large cookies, lots of detail, personalization, glitter or sprinkles, etc. Personalization or Monogram please add 25 cents per cookie.

*Please note that for all shipping orders there is a minimum order of 2 dozen cookies.

Cookie Presentation and Size

All cookies are made with all-natural ingredients (butter, sugar, eggs, flour) and are a Sugar Cookie type shortbread. (Please do not order cookies if you are concerned about a nut allergy. While I do not use nuts in any of my cookies I cannot gurantee other manufacturers products such as flour, sugar, etc.) The cookies are usually between 3" - 4" and each cookie comes wrapped in it's own cello bag. Each bag is tied with a color ribbon of your choice.

Shipping

Local Orders may be picked up for free. I do not deliver cookies so please keep that in mind as you make your plans.

Shipping Costs:
2 Dozen Cookies: $17
2 - 3 Dozen Cookies: $24
3-4 Dozen Cookies: $31
4 Dozen or more: contact me for a direct quote

How to Order:
To order your cookies and/or to check availability, please contact me via email at shareemorris@comcast.net.

2-3 weeks advance notice is greatly appreciated.

In order to place you on my calendar I must know how many cookies, color of ribbon, date needed, and design idea. I will then check my calendar and confirm details with you. Once I receive payment in full, your order will be started. All orders are custom made just for you.

Do you still have a question? Simply leave me a comment or email me directly at shareemorris@comcast.net and I will get back with you as soon as I can!

Doggie Treats

2011-03-28T22:07:00.002-05:00

Doggie Treats....for people!

I made these as a Thank You gift for a Vetranarian Office.

Thank you Glenda for taking such good care of Ginger!

Craigslist.....SOLD

2011-03-18T12:49:00.001-05:00

Woo hoo! I had to jump on and let everyone know that we officially have enough money to complete our Home Study! Just minutes ago, I was handed the last bit of money to put us over and above what we needed.

Two weeks ago, I had originally listed this dresser for $200. I know how much this piece is worth and I wasn't going to budge. But all I kept getting were low-ball offers.

Then Chip sold his guitar stuff and we were just $115 short of our goal. We were so close....I couldn't stand it! So I decided to re-list the dresser.

Same dresser, same wording in the ad and same set of pictures. But this time I ask $215 for the dresser...$15 MORE than the original asking price. And it sold!

Within 30 minutes of listing the dresser we had three serious buyers. It was sold and picked up within 2 hours of me posting the ad.

It's funny how psychological numbers can become to us. $200 sounds like a lot more than $150 but when you we see the number $215 we automatically connect it with being lower than $250...thus a good deal!

I know first-hand how intimidating numbers can become. I remember when we had over $50,000 worth of medical debt to pay off and to say we felt over-whelmed is an understatement. But then we did Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace class and we began to pay off the smallest bills first. By breaking down the large "out of reach" number our debt felt more managable and less intimidating.

And now we are at it again...staring at a large number wondering how we will be ever be able to come up with the cash. And I have to admit...I am a bit intimidated.

Our next goal is $10,000 (needed to be placed on the waiting list). Thanks for your prayers and encouragement, we will keep you posted!

Fundraising for our Adoption

2011-03-12T18:21:00.210-06:00

His Way

2011-03-12T18:14:00.003-06:00

When Chip and I decided to go forward and officially pursue adoption, we really had ZERO idea how God was going to work out all of the details. You know...like the $40,000 little details we would need to actually bring a baby (or siblings) home?

Over the past month, God has continually showed us that one of the ways he intends to bless us is through the generosity of others. God promises to always make our burdens light, AND he is teaching us that sometimes he chooses to lighten our load through the support of others.

Now...I have to be honest about something. I am not always good at letting others help me. In our over-bearing "me" centered culture, I often find myself believing in the lie that says if I truly want to overcome any obstacle it is up to me and me alone. The lie that says all I have to do is work harder or work smarter and the world will be mine! The lie that says if I don't achieve a goal it is because I wasn't good enough.

But the truth is this...while our culture makes a celebrity out of our independence, placing our individualism on a pedistol to be worshiped by all. God, in his sovereignty, places the highest value on community and dependence. Dependence on HIM for our provision. Provision that he chooses to supply through community. We were meant to live with one another, to love one another, to serve one another and to let others help us so that we ultimately rely on HIM alone.

With just one email, God began changing my perspective on HIS provision for our adoption needs..

Elizabeth Wilkerson (then a stranger now a friend), read my story on this here blog and decided to take the time out and send me an email. She wanted to encourage me in our adoption journey and remind me that God is faithful.

Picture of Elizabeth and family before bringing their Ethiopian princess Moriah home!

Elizabeth's words were a rich blessing to me as she described her own financial situation and the way in which God provided for their adoption. The process of bringing sweet Moriah home from Ethiopia was a day by day journey requiring faith in a God who often works in mysterious ways.

photo from the Wilkies' Life

God carried the financial burden of Moriah's journey home by using HIS community. Through garage sales, friends who had garage sales, matching grants, a dinner at an Ethiopian resturant, donated plane tickets, random checks in the mail and items sold on Craigslist, God brought Moriah home from Ethiopia and even left enough money to buy a new video camera!

Moriah means "God Provides," quite fitting don't ya think?

Elizabeth and her husband generously gave us a gift towards the financial cost of our adoption. Their unexpected blessing in our lives is serving as OUR reminder that God provides. He provides for us and he will provide for you!

Elizabeth's offer of support and friendship opened our eyes to a path we might never have taken if left to our own ways. God was calling us to reach out...to reach out to HIS community and rely on others for help. In turn we are confident that God alone will provide for all of our needs to grow our family.

And while we may feel weird to ask what we are about to ask, we are choosing to let God's WAY refresh us like a cool stream in an otherwise parched land.

So with hearts that boast only in God, we ask....Will you help us?
Will you consider partnering with us to bring ~~our~~ God's child home?

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it with good things, declares the Lord. (Psalm 81:10)

We are presently and actively believing God to make good on his word. Our little family of three will soon be four or more. Thank you for helping HIM provide blessings we knew not to even ask for!

If you are in the midst of collecting money for your adoption or you are thinking about adopting I hope you will find encouragement in our story. He wants to do the same for you. Please drop me a note, I would love to meet you.

"His unchanging plan has always been to ADOPT us into His family, by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure."

Ephesians 1:5

When I Look in the MIrror

2011-03-04T03:24:00.000-06:00

When I look in the mirror I am not sure who I see. I feel like I am 16 with the world ahead of me and a spirit as free as a bird. "I can be whatever I want to be," I exclaim. But what I feel and what I see are often too different things.

I feel confused and frustrated and beaten by time. Who was I supposed to be? Who do I want to be? And who will I be?

I do not look the way I thought I would look at this age. I see lines like my mother's....some gracefully grown and some forcefully created by events best forgotten.

I see a girl waiting for the day when it all will make sense...her purpose, her talent and heart all alike.

I'm linking up to Five Minute Friday. You should give it a try, it feels so good to be free from a carefully planned word.

Cheap Therapy (AKA Lemon Cheese Bars)

2011-03-02T17:18:00.004-06:00

Lemon Bars....they bring back memories of childhood summers, of lazy days at the pool and of endless nights catching fireflies. Those were the days when everything in my life was familiar and nothing ever changed.

My life doesn't seem so simple anymore. Change DOES happen and sometimes it comes with heartache that only time can fully heal.

This week, my family experienced a big CHANGE. It left me feeling homesick... even though I wasn't away from home.

So what's a girl to do when she is yearning for something familiar?

photo courtesy of Firefly.org

I haven't seen one firefly since we moved to Houston 7 years ago. And I am not sure what kind of "feel good" boost I would get from putting on a bathing suit and visitng the local pool (no picture necessary)

So, I opted for something more tried and true::

Lemon Bars! There is nothing like eating half of a pan of Lemon Cheese Bars to cure an aching heart.(clearly I am not above emotionally eating). I should know...I did that very thing just yesterday!

These lemon bars are a childhood favorite of mine and they are one of my "go to" recipes. I am diligent about keeping my pantry stocked with the necessary ingredients so that I can quickly whip up a batch.

Lemon Cheese Bars

(adapted from my mom's recipe)

Ingredients

1 Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix with pudding in the mix (or any other brand)
1 8oz cream cheese (I prefer Philadelphia brand for baking)
1/3 Cup sugar
2 Eggs
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 TBS Lemon Juice (fresh or bottled)

1. Mix the dry cake mix with 1 of the eggs and oil. Mix with beaters until crumbly.

2. Reserve 1 Cup of the crumbly mixture and set aside.

3. Pat remaining mixture lightly in an ungreased 13x9x2 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 14-15 minutes.

4. While the cake crumbly thing is baking go ahead and beat cheese, 1 egg and the lemon juice together until smooth.

The consistancy should be smooth but not runny. It is still pretty thick.

Hah, I am only showing you this picture because this is one of the few times I have actually had fresh lemons in the house when I needed one. You can totally use bottled juice...I have never noticed a difference in taste.

5. After cake mix is done baking, take out of the oven and smooth cheese mixture over the already baked layer.

6. Next sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top and place the pan back in the oven. Bake at 350 for 14-15 more minutes. Cool and serve.

The next time you need to whip up an impressive treat or better yet, provide yourself with some cheap therapy...go on and try the lemon bars!

Do you have a favorite recipe that reminds you of home? Please share!

On a side note, I dedicate this recipe to our faithful and gentle Ginger. Without whom I would never have had to eat a half a pan of lemon bars all by myself.

We will miss your unconditional affection but take comfort in the image of you in heaven and licking Jesus for all of eternity!

**I am linking this post with Works for Me Wednesday

Spiderman Cookies

2011-02-25T20:29:00.000-06:00

For real...I made these!

About a month ago, my friend Roxy (no not my mom or the dog...confusing I know!) ~~asked me~~ humored me and let me make cookies for her son's birthday party. I was so pumped up about the opportunity until.....she said the word SPIDERMAN.

What about the number 4 I suggested? Or maybe cute initials or how about just a spider web?

But no, the only words uttered from this mom's mouth were SPIDERMAN!

My intial reaction was to call in sick or claim that that my mixer was in the shop...it could happen right?! But alas my conscience got the better part of me and I decided to push through my fear.

And I am so glad I did!

But I would be fibbing if I told you I did it all by myself....I had help! So I dedicate this triumphant moment to Callye from The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle for sharing her how-to's for Spiderman and to Bridget at Bake at 350 for teaching me everything I know about decorating cookies.

Ooh, and to Hobby Lobby for the cute webby ribbon. Ribbon makes everything look cute!

Here is the birthday boy...who could turn down this face?

And Sister totally enjoyed herself at the par-tay!

And Roxy and I need to work on our picture taking skills...

I know you want to see Spidee one more time...

BTW...here are some cookies I made for Valentine's Day for all my fellow preschool teachers....

Love to you all!

Crayons and a Little Valentine Love

2011-02-14T11:47:00.000-06:00

Happy Love Day Everyone! In celebration of the big day, Syd and I made our own heart crayons.

We actually made these a few weeks ago but true to form I am a little slow posting the pics!

Simply peal the paper off of a bunch of old crayons. Sydney wanted to use all different colors but using just one or two would be cute too.

Then the best part...get out your meat hammer thingy and go to down smashing the crayons. Be sure to put wax paper over top the crayons so pieces don't go flying all over the room.

This is about how small you want the pieces....

Aren't they purrty?

After you finish smashing the crayons, take the bits and pieces and put them in a silicon mold of your choice. I got these heart silicon molds in the dollar section at target.

You really don't need to be super neat...so no perfectionists needed!

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Place baking sheet in the oven and watch closely. As in DON'T go far. I made the mistake of leaving mine in for 1 minute too long and I had a stinky mess at the bottom of my oven. I would say about 5 minutes and mine were good to go!

Pull baking sheet from oven and let cool completely. The great thing about silicone baking sheets are that they are flexible. Kids can easily bend the molds to pop the crayons out.

And there you have it! A simple way to let your kiddos be creative and celebrate Valentine's Day. These would be super cute for any holiday. Keep checking the bins at Target for St. Patrick's Day and Easter stuff. They always have silicone baking molds and now you have something to do with them.

Life Lessons from Jack Bauer

2011-02-09T19:31:00.000-06:00

I have TWO words for you....

Photo courtesy of Photobucket

JACK- BAUER

My man and I are 24 fanatics. You too? We love it so much that we would wait for each season to come out on DVD just so we can watch it uninterrupted. What? You don't like to watch 4 episodes in one sitting? You crazy girl!

We just finished the last season. (quiet sobs) Let's not talk about how the show is over, I would rather live in denial...umkay?

So here is my deep thought for today.

Jack (Jack Bauer to those of you not on a first name basis) always wins in the end. It doesn't matter what obstacle stands in his way... bombs, guns, betrayal, torture...Jack always completes his mission.

How? How does he do that?

My man said it best with... "It is amazing what ONE man can do when he has NOTHING to lose." (cut to the scene right after Jack barreled his way through 4 armed guard after being shot right below the heart)

And now I sit here wondering...do I live like I have NOTHING to lose?

If I truly lived like I had NOTHING to lose than what would my days look like? What would Christ choose to accomplish through me? What miracles would I have the privilege of witnessing? What super-hero power would I exhibit?

In reality, I already know that I have NOTHING to lose. I already know that I live and move and have my being in Christ alone. And I already know that nothing in this world can take from me the one who conquered death.

So, I guess Jack and I have more in commong than I ever thought. Maybe even though the series is over (gulping sorrow), maybe a bit of Jack will forever live inside of me.

ONE woman...living with NOTHING to lose. Can you imagine the adventures that await?

Lumpy Chocolate Take Two.....Red Velvet Cake Truffles

2011-02-02T14:39:00.001-06:00

I know the words lumpy and chocolate don't sound too appealing...but Cake Truffles? Need I say more.

There has been such hype around these Cake ~~Balls~~ Truffles and I have been dying to try them. Bakerella has a ton of recipes and ideas. I used her Red Velvet Cake Truffle recipe as a jumping off point for mine.

AND I decided it would be a good chance to work on my chocolate dipping skills...you remember what happened last time? Things can only get better from here I figured. And they did...

Oh, what's that? You wanna see another pic?

The recipe made about 50 truffles but you would have thought my child was deprived. "Sister" (a nick name for my daughter) got upset with me when I put aside 4 truffles to give to a friend. Really?

So delicious. The cake was really moist kinda opposite from how I thought it would taste.

Start with any Red Velvet Cake mix and a can of cream cheese frosting.

Prepare and bake the cake according to directions on the back of the box for a 9x13 pan.

After you bake the cake let it cool completely. Ready to get messy? Use your hands to crumple up with cake and mix it with the can of frosting.

Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. This would also be a great job for the pre-schooler in your life that loves to play in the dirt...at least this is edible!

After you mix the frosting with the cake go ahead and form the "dough" into balls.

Rolling the cake dough into balls is time consuming. Be patient! It's worth it!

After rolling them into balls, go ahead and put the entire cookie sheet into the freezer for at least 1 hour.

Here is where I tried something new. Instead of melting chocolate chips to use as my coating (like I did with my buckeyes) I took Bridget's advice and I used candy melts AND added a bit of crisco.

Just follow directions on the back of the candy melts (you can get them at the craft store) and add a dab of crisco to each of your batches. I microwaved my chocolate in 30 sec increments and then dipped!

Then I got a little C-R-A-Z-Y and used pink candy melts to add a little doodle.

Don't feel like you have to be all perfect and artistic. I am not. No one has ever complained.

Red Velvet Cake Truffles

(recipe first adapted from Bakerella and then from Bake at 350)

1 Box of Red Velvet Cake Mix (follow directions to on box to make cake)
1 Container of Cream Cheese Frosting
1.5 bag candy melts
1/2 tsp of crisco per melted batch of chocolate
1/2 bag of pink candy melts (optional)

Enjoy! Wouldn't these be cute for Valentine's Day?

The Application

2011-01-24T19:58:00.000-06:00

It's official! After 2 years of searching for the right adoption agency, we finally turned in an actual application. Which means we are F-O-R REAL Baby!

I am excited, nervous, hopeful and scared all at the same time. We have no idea how we will obtain the 40K necessary for the adoption but we are committed to steppin' out in faith...leaving room for a miracle.

Next Step: Completing the Home Study
Funds Needed: $1,500

An Engagement and A Baby Shower

2011-01-22T19:54:00.000-06:00

Cookies for Katie's engagement.

Little hearts with each of their first initials.

Wedding Cake cookies!

Chicago Bear Onesies for a baby boy shower.

My man already informed me that they should have been blue shirts with orange writing...whatever! Nobody else cared! Congratulations Corinne!!!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-01-19T10:07:00.000-06:00

Whew! That is a long name for a cookie but I PROMISE you...these are the best ever! (Do I say that about everything?) Would it be gross if I used the word "meaty" to describe them? Coming from a girl that doesn't really eat meat...I guess that is just wrong on so many levels. But they are really ~~meaty~~ dense and oh so divine!

There is nothing too noteworthy about following this simple recipe. I guess that is why I like them. Just simple and yummy.

Simply cream together the sugar, brown sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla.....

and then the best part...the peanut butter!

BTW, do you love my new heart measuring cups? Me too. I got them from the dollar bin at Target. Yep, hurry on over and get you some! Except they were not actually a $1, they were $2.50 but still pretty good.

Then you add the flour and baking soda. Then the oatmeal. Beat until just mixed and fold in the chocolate chips.

Once the dough is mixed, drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Because there is very little flour in this recipe the chocolate chips will want to fall out of the mixture to the bottom of your bowl. You will need to constantly be picking up chocolate chips and pressing them into each cookie as you go. The extra work will be worth it. Promise.

Here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe Adapted from "A Taste of Grace" cookbook (my parent's church in Maryland)

1/2 cup White Sugar                                  1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 cup Brown Sugar                                    1 1/2 Cups Peanut Butter
2 Eggs                                                       2 Cups Oatmeal
1 tsp Vanilla                                              1/2 Cup Flour
                                                                 1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda and peanut butter. Mix flour and then oatmeal. Lastly, fold in chocolate chips.

Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes. (My cookies were done at about 6 min.)

In other news...I hope you will meet me back here tomorrow. I have big news about our Adoption plans. Yikes, I am so excited to share!

PS - Thank you to my friend Becka for setting me straight on how to take better indoor pictures at night-time. Hopefully this will be my last post with really dark pictures!!! Who knew all I had to do was change the White Balance on my camera to Tungsten? Clearly not me.

Check out Becka's photography...don't you just wish you had that talent??? I tried to ~~steal~~ borrow a few pics to show you but for some reason she has her site locked down so people like me can't copy and paste her works of art. Ha Ha!

A Photo Forever Etched in My Mind

2011-01-14T09:23:00.000-06:00

I can't get over the concept of 5 minutes. There is a permanent photo etched in my mind of what 5 minutes used to mean to me.

Five minutes used to hold the promise of life or the stench of defeat.

It's the first 5 minutes of walking into a new doctor's office. My stomach turning at all the possible outcomes this new place holds. A future can be born or terminated in just 5 minutes.

Will he listen to me? Will he have a cure? Will this be the end of my journey? Will this be the day I am healed?

Or will I be sent away? Or be met with the arrogance of superiority of so many visits past.

Then comes the same paperwork to fill out. The same paperwork I already filled out at the last doctor and the last doctor and the last doctor.

Name....Insurance Info..... and then the dreaded.... "Tell us about your Symptoms" question. In hopes of delaying the agony of answering that question again, my eyes wonder to the neatly styled table in front of me. Magazines of all styles fanned out just waiting for my indulgance. Cooking... Decorating...Gossip...all things that just a year ago I would have found pleasurable to read. But now the mere sight of these magazines brings with it a sorrow for a life that no longer exists.

Five minutes. Five minutes and my paper work is complete. Five minutes and I hand over my whole life, somehow summed up on two pieces of paper, to a complete stranger. And now I wait...for the next 5 minutes and for all the stomach churning fears of what those 5 minutes will hold.

I wish I could forget about what 5 minutes USED to mean to me. But I CAN'T. I am forever CHANGED by those 5 minutes I endured.

For my friends still waiting, I am praying for you today. I am praying that this 5 minutes will bring hope... if not total healing.

This post is linked to:

Why So Lumpy?

2011-01-06T19:44:00.001-06:00

Ever since I was a little girl I have L-O-V-E-D Buckeyes. We used to have them every Christmas Eve and I looked foward to them all year. Actually, Buckeyes and Sesame Noodles were my favorite foods...weird combination I know.

Thankfully the Sesame Noodles are easy to make thanks to The Pioneer Woman. But finding the right Buckeye recipe? And actually mastering the art of covering them with chocolate? Now that is another story.

Here are the naked Buckeyes, ie.all of the sugary peanut buttery taste but none of the chocolate coating.

And here is the chocolate. The latest recipe I tried said to melt 12oz of chocolate chips and to dip said naked Buckeyes into said melted chips.

But my chocolate is always way too lumpy and thick. No matter how long I heat it up for, it always turns out lumpy.

Best-case scenario is that they end up turning out like this one....kinda more like a truffle. But buckeyes need to be smooth and round.

Worst-case scenario (which happens most often) is what I like to call "Man Down!" Man Down is the technical term for losing your ball of peanut butter in a vast sea of chocolate. My pretty little naked buckeyes get all weighted down by the chocolate and fall off the tooth pick.

And by the time I try to fish said buckeye out, it is too late. It gets lost forever in the lumpy all beit tasty chocolate.

What is a girl to do? I am determined to figure the secret out so that I can make the most beautiful buckeyes the ~~world~~ I have ever seen.

So this is me...on the computer...desperately looking for a good tip on how to fix my lumpy problem. That is a sweet picture of me isn't it? Hey, I am just trying to keep it real over here!

Is there anyone out there that can help?

Top 10 of 2010

2011-01-03T04:13:00.001-06:00

I just finished taking down all of our Christmas decorations and am staring at my bare mantle. Not a pretty site I assure you. While I sit here and procrastinate trying to come up with new and inspiring mantle decor, I thought I would share with you my favorite events from 2010!

In NO particular order: (why is it that I feel the need to even say that? I felt bad putting a certain event as #8 and another as #3. As if these events have actual feelings and I was going to hurt them? AS if YOU care which order I put them in. But I digress.....focus Sharee focus!)

Me and Syd in front of Versailles.

1. Traveled to France and Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

BTW...this is how excited a 4 year gets about sight-seeing...after having traveled for 14 hours and feeling jet-lagged!

The highlight for me was visiting the Flea Markets in Paris. What? Did someone say I had died and gone to heaven? Can you tell I am like a deer in headlights...only I am not scared. I just don't know which way to turn or what to look at first or where to start! Another story for a another post!

2. New Camera

My little point and shoot camera was on it's last leg. I think it got left outside... over-night...on the grass one too many times.

See what I mean? Blurry. All the pictures turned out blurry.

So I got this one! It's a Cannon Rebel something something. I am too lazy to get up and look right now. I am still learning to use it. So excited!

3. Pre-K

Where does the time go? My baby is in Pre-K. This is her...at circle time in her classroom...with her hair done exactly the way she likes it. I love this girl!

4. Baking

I decided to get serious about my BAKING.

I love to bake. I have been baking since I was way little. I need to do more of the things I love and stop comparing myself to others. (that was me giving myself a little pep talk...how did it sound?)

5. Adopted a New Family Member

I said that we would just foster her. Really. That was all we were doing. Our lives were so calm with only one dog in the house. I promised no more dogs.

But then Syd named her Roxy (after my mom and another good friend). And the "foster dog" became more than just a random dog. She became our dog. She won us all over including my man...which is hard to do.

6. Sponsored a Child

picture from AOET's Children's Village web page.

We committed to sponsoring a Child through AOET. It's the organization that my sister and my dad have been very involved with in Uganda. (my mom too...she is a prayer warrior)

Our sponsor child's name is Jocelyn and she is 11 years old. She lives in Uganda with 6 siblings and her mother. Tragically, Jocelyn's father died of AIDS so her mom is the sole support for the family. Having a sponsor means that Jocelyn can go to school (something that is NOT available to the poor in Uganda) and she gains access to medical care for her entire family! I can't wait to exchange letters and see all that God has in store for her.

7. Party Time
I threw my man a 40th birthday party.

This picture is to show you how much fun we had.

This picture is to show you how cute my dress was cause' really...it's all about me! (kidding)

8. Applied to be on staff with Greater European Mission

picture from GEM website

What? Who us? Leave our family, our friends and all of our stuff behind? To live in a foreign country? Why?

Did you know that in Europe, less than 2% of the people know Jesus? It's true.

But isn't that a job for missionaries you ask? Missionaries we are not. But Jesus loving people we are! God has given us a burden to want to use our gifts for HIM and to tell others about the Freedom we have in Christ to live a wild and crazy life filled with adventure! (now if I could only figure out what my gifts are...isn't this always my questions?)

(We have been invited to GEM's Candidate Training in Colorado. I will keep you updated!)

9. A little sister or a baby brother. (Syd's exact prayer every night)

We love our family of three but we hope to make it 4 (or more) this year!

After two years of searching for the right adoption agency, we have finally found it! Now we are believing God for the provision ($39K!) needed. Yikes! We hope to be submitting an official application this month.

(If you want to know one of the reasons we are choosing adoption, you can read about My Search for Help.)

10. Did I say I had 10 things? Really? It is 3:36am as I write this (for some reason I like to write at 3:30am, doesn't everyone?). I am thinking that 9 events is good enough for me!

Happy New Year! What are you looking forward to in 2011?

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Candy Petit Fours

2011-01-01T16:11:00.000-06:00

Whew! That is a mouthful but the words alone cause me to salivate (was that TMI?)!

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Candy Petit Fours

They are easy to make. To die for Delicious and easy to display.

Translation? I like them because they take no time and they make me look real smart like in the kitchen!

And anytime I can use the word Petit Four to describe something I made with my own two hands...I am in!

BTW: Wikipedia defines Petit Four as a small confection generally eaten at the end of the meal (or instead of the meal). Parentheses mine.

Let's get started shall we?

Grab yourself some "gourmet" cookie dough from the refrigerated section of your favorite Grocery Store (mine is HEB). I used both Nestle and Pillsbury Chocolate Chip because that is what I had coupons for. (always trying to save money!)

Next, simply seperate the pre-made squares like so.

Form cookie piece into a ball-ish type shape. I didn't even waste time perfectly rolling them. I just kinda smashed down the corners a bit...you get the idea.

And plop them in a mini-muffin pan. (one in each hole of course!). Side Note: The Nestle cookies I purchased came 24 squares to a pack so that worked perfect for my 24 slot mini-muffin pan. The Pillsbury cookies came only 12 to a pack because they were super-sized. You will need to cut the super-size ones in half so that you have 24. Make sense? Sorry forgot to snap a picture of that.

After you have every slot in your pan full, you are ready to bake. A Little Baking Tip: Don't be scared if you get to the end of your dough and your pan looks something like this:

I repeat. Don't be scared. You are not off on your math calculations and no there is not a cookie thief in your house.

It might just be that someone got a little hungry. I mean how can a girl look at all that raw cookie dough and not eat at least a few. Just saying.... (BTW, apparently raw cookie dough can make you sick so I wanted to be official and say that. But my family doesn't happen to live by that restriction. We are a bit obsessed with our dough)

So like I was saying...bake cookies at 350 degrees for 15-18 min. While your cookies are in the oven, go ahead and get your candies (toppings ready)

I used mini Resses Peanut Butter Cups, regular M&Ms, mini-marshmellows and Hershy Kisses (last 2 not pictured). Try not to get distracted with those beautiful naked Reeses Peanut Butter cups staring right at you...try and remember you already ate several scrumptious balls of cookie dough. You can do it!

And of course don't forget to take the cookies out of the oven when timer goes off.

.
A little Baking Tip: Everyone's oven is a little different. Just like God made all of us girls different and there is no other Sharee in the world...there are no two ovens alike either. (yes I enjoy talking in the 3rd person don't be a hater). I only baked mine for about 12 min. (instead of the suggested 15-18min). Just keep a close eye and when they started getting golden around the edges they are done.

As soon as cookies are out of the oven, quickly begin placing a peanut butter cup in the center of each.

Press peanut butter cup into the cookie until the top of the cup is flush with the top of the cookie. You must do this while pan and cookies are still piping hot..so be careful!

After you finish placing the peanut butter cups in the center, finish each dessert off with a little magic...or a little something something...or the finishing touch!

I paired M&Ms with my Peanut Butter Cups.

This is where you can go crazy and be a little creative. Place the candies in a design or add as little or as many as you want. I decided that I liked the look of 3 chocolate candies on each.

At this point you are done! Wait until slightly cooled and then use a pie spatula to get the ooey gooey ~~cookie~~ Petit Fours out of the pan.

Another variation is what we refer to as the Smore Pettit Four.

Simply substitute the Peanut Butter Cup for a Hershey's Kiss. Then I add the chocolate candies AND a few miniature marshmallows on top. The result? HEAVEN! You will just have to see for yourself.

It really is as simple as that! I finished 4 dozen in less than an hour...start to finish!

Don't forget to put them on a cute cake stand.

Or package them up in bags for individual treats. (this helps reduce consumption that may or may not happen late at night by a certain dessert loving gal)

You can also use any flavor cookie dough you want...peanut butter cookies would be out of this world! What about Peanut Butter M&Ms? Yummmmm!

Here is the recipe all at once:

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Candy Petit Fours

1 Bag of Pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough (24 count or 12 count cut in half)

1 Bag of M&Ms

1 Bag of Resses Peanut Butter Cups (minature)

For the Smore Petit Four

1 Bag of pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough (24 count or 12 count cut in half)

1 Bag of Hershey Kisses
1 Bag of Minature Marshmellows
1 Bag of M&Ms

1. Separate cookie dough squares and roll into 1-inch balls.
2. Place cookie dough balls into sections of mini-muffin pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 min or until golden brown around the edges.
4. While pan is still hot, place a peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie. (or use a Hershey Kiss)
5. Top with M&Ms (and/or Marshmallows)
6. Cool Slightly in the pan and remove to cooling wrack.

Do you have any favorite recipes that make YOU look real smart in the kitchen?

We love Trouble

2010-12-27T20:38:00.001-06:00

Have I ever mentioned how much we love our dogs around here?

This is Roxy, the newest member of our crew! She is to die for cute. In fact her cuteness is the only thing that has kept her around. She has been the typical puppy and has attempted to make her mark on any carpet we have in the house...she is now banished from the upstairs of our house completely.

Despite the messes and the many chewed toys that have resulted from her joining our family, we love her anyways. She makes us smile, laugh (and sometimes cry) every day!

Oh how life would be so dull without our "little trouble" as we like to call her!

Christmas Trees and Presents

2010-12-25T20:39:00.001-06:00

I know that Christmas is almost over, but according to my clock I have 4 hours left! 4 hours to dream about all the cookies I could have made and all of the cookies I want to make for next year!

I made these cutie batootie trees to take to our neighbors.

I was most proud of the sanding sugar around the edges. Aren't they purtee? I bought that sanding sugar over a year ago and it has just been sitting there ever since. I do that a lot. Get super excited about a project....buy all the necessary "materials" and then once the excitement of the shopping trip is over...I lose my passion. I move on to the next big thing in my life. Always looking for something different. Why is that?

Why do I do that? I have been thinking about that a lot lately. Trying to figure out why I am the master at starting projects and the Queen of not finishing them. Something to think about I guess.

Anyhoo...

I also made these presents!

Chip took this cookie platter to work! The best compliment ever was when someone asked my man where I BOUGHT them from! What?! You kidder!

Clearly no one knows the real truth...that I have no idea what I am doing. Exhibit A:

My sad attempt at lettering. You might want to turn your head, it is like a bad wreck you just can't keep your eyes off!

And NO I didn't leave the cookie with the lettering on that platter...what do you think I am crazy! I decided to do the more honorable thing...eat it and get rid of the evidence.

I am much better at the over-all presentation than I am with the details. Kinda goes along with my strengths in interior design. I am great at wall color and window treamtents/fabric. But all of the knick knacks and accessories? You can forget about it! Over-all look and feel is what I can do.

I packaged these up for a cute presentation. I betcha nobody noticed any of my misplaced sprinkles once they were in the bags. Or at least I didn't!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Now that I don't have dozens of cookies I need to make for presents, I am not sure what to do with my time. Maybe I should exercise...or maybe not...

Wimsey Christmas Tree Cookies

2010-12-21T21:47:00.003-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around our house....

I HEART polka dots. And I especially love the combination of Red and Lime Green for Christmas.

Don't they just make you giddy? Maybe it's just me!

I packaged them up and tied a simple red ribbon and voila....party perfect! They were favors for a Christmas party we went to for our small group at church.

I used this plate as my inspiration:

I know you can't really see the plate through all these "gynormous" buckeyes I made, but go with me on it! It is a super cute plate that reflects my Wimsey-ish Christmas style. Wanna see my house from Christmas last year? (I would show you this years pictures BUT I so did not get around to decorating more than my tree this year..just keepin' it real!)

Woo, ok...getting back to the Christmas Tree cookies.

For these beauties, I decided to try Bridget's recipe for Sugar Cookies and Royal Icing. Have you met Bridget of Bake at 350 yet? If not, you should. We are BFF she just has no idea yet!

For the green I used AmeriColor Mint Green. And don't let the word "mint" scare you. It really comes out as a perfect lime green if you use enough! For the red I used AmeriColor Super Red.

The cookies turned out picture perfect, I rolled them out at about a 1/2 inch and they kept their shape each time.

I have to get to bed early tonight! I have 3 dozen cookies to decorate tomorrow for Chipper's (my man) office. Plus my 4 year old Princess wants a new Christmas project to do everyday...woo, I am tired just thinking about it.

Pumpkin Crunch

2010-12-13T12:22:00.000-06:00

The best ever Pumpkin Crunch...but er' you are going to have to take my word for how yummy it looks!

In my haste to get the pictures uploaded, I by accident permanently deleted all of the pics of me making the scrumptious Pumpkin Crunch...except this one! (Yikes...I got a new camera...more on that later. Who says pictures are worth a thousand words?

But I promise you, you must make this recipe for your next family gathering, supper club, bible study or other large gathering. It makes one huge pan (9x17). But honestly, we had 6 adults over for game night (including Chip and I) and we finished that bad boy off no problem! But we are a little obsessed when it comes to desserts!

Pumpkin Crunch

3 eggs

1 Cup Sugar

1 Can Evaporated Milk (12oz)
1 Can Pumpkin (15oz)
2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Yellow Cake Mix
1.5 sticks of butter, melted.

Combine eggs, sugar, milk, pumpkin pie spices and can pumpkin blending well. (I used a whisk!). Pour in a 9x13 inch baking dish that has been sprayed. Sprinkle yellow cake mix on top (if you don't always have a yellow cake mix in your pantry...you need to start!). Drizzle melted butter on top!

Bake at 350 for 40-45 min. (mine took a bit longer...I used a tooth pick...insert the toothpick in the middle and when it comes out clean...it is done!) Serve with fresh whip cream.

So back to my picture taking fiasco! I recently got a new camera, the Cannon Rebel XS. I love it because even in the automatic mode it takes way better pictures than my old point and shoot (no offense to my old Sony Cyper Shot).

But I have been learning to play around with my settings, making my pics look even better! I am following Darcy's 31 Days to a Better Photo. Alas, I am only on Day 3, but I am making progress!

Really, I promise my old camera would never have caught that cute tongue lick!

One day I will have great looking baking pics just like Bridgette over at my favorite baking blog Bake at 350. Does that mean I have to stop by accident deleting my pictures before I can post them? Umm...definitely user error on my part.

Who Lord?

2010-09-17T08:56:00.001-05:00

Dear Lord,

How Long O Sovereign Lord? How long must we wait for your return?

"Until all have heard!"

Who hasn't heard Lord? From where I sit, I see churches on every street corner. Sometimes more than one. And they are big churches Lord. Some with over 10,000 attendees.

So who exactly hasn't heard?

I can turn on the TV and hear any number of different TV evangelists. Take your pick...conservative, charismatic, man , woman...you name it, we have it!

I can go into a book store and legally buy a bible, chosen from over a dozen different versions no less. Who exactly hasn't heard?

We even have chapel services in our preschools. I know, cause I just took my class of eleven 2-year olds to sing and hear about Jesus yesterday. Heck, we even have Christian music playing in our fast food restaurants.

Again I ask who hasn't heard?

My dad and brother in law are in Uganda this week. My dad's teaching men and women about the bible and about what you say about them! They have never had a pastor come and teach them.

My brother in-law is using his gift of film to capture what life is like in Uganda . He is capturing stories of men, women and children. Many have lost parents to the HIV epidemic, many have lost children to the militia or worse yet to a curable disease like Malaria.

Despite the gravest of circumstances, the Ugandans are coming to know you.

They are singing and dancing in honor of you. So many of them know you, yet there are so many that still haven't heard.

Probably be kinda hard for them to get to a bookstore with bibles huh?

My sister spent her annual two weeks in Africa this summer. She worked with several other volunteers to facilitate teacher workshops. The schools in Africa don't normally have access to teacher development programs. Her team is making a difference in the lives of the students and teachers in at least one school!

That's not my sister. But it is one of the other teachers on the team. You get the idea! My sister says these teachers are some of the best and they truly love their students.

Those teachers and students probably don't get to make it out to a fast food restaurant? Not one that plays praise and worship music anyway.

St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Chip and I have applied to go on the mission field to Europe. We have been told that there are over 821 million people that live in Europe, yet 2% of them know you.

I suppose that means that there isn't a church on every street corner? Or at least not a church by the true definition of church. A church is a people made up of believers. Believers of The Way. Not a building sitting empty.

Until All Have Heard!

I get it. You are waiting. Waiting for the whole world to know you. Not just 2% of a population or one small village. You are waiting until all your children (according to your will) have heard.

Maybe today I am asking the wrong questions. Maybe today it's not about who HASN'T heard. It's about who HAS heard.

Who has heard the good news? Who knows the truth about love? Who knows the power of a life when Christ is in the center?

Maybe it's about what YOU want me to do. What YOU want to do through me.

Lord, please take my heart and make it look like yours. Search me and know me. You say that the way others will come to know you is through love. But just so we are clear... loving people doesn't always come easy to me. So you are going to have to do this for me.

Please take my heart and make it look like yours. But remember...I don't like change. Change scares me. So be gentle...umkay?

PS - I love our little chats. You are such a good listener. Did I do all the talking again?

See this picture? Yeah you are right. It has nothing to do with this post! But I wanted to give you a sneak peak. These are very special advent calendars and I can't wait to tell you about them. I will have all the information ready by Monday so check back.

My Fear of the Roll

2010-09-13T19:24:00.000-05:00

This week, I decided that I will no longer be afraid. I decided I will no longer let my life be ruled by fear.

I will put aside my fear of the unknown and my fear of failure. I will trade in my status quo life formally ruled by safety and familiarity for one defined only by adventure and risk!

Today I give you my first Pumpkin Cake Roll!

Drum Roll Please.....

I have wanted to make one of these for the last few years. Everytime Pumpkin Season comes along I always see these in the magazines. So this year I finally faced my fear. And you know what? It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be!

Pumpkin Cake Roll

Ingredients

* 3 eggs, separated
* 1 cup sugar, divided
* 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon salt

FILLING:
* 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
* 2 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1 cup confectioners' sugar
* 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Additional confectioners' sugar, optional

Directions

1. Line a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper and set aside. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and pumpkin, beating on high until sugar is almost dissolved.
2. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold into egg yolk mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gently fold into pumpkin mixture. Spread into prepared pan.

3. Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Gently peel off waxed paper. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on a wire rack.

4. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Unroll cake; spread filling evenly to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up again. Cover and freeze until firm. May be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before cutting. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Yield: 10 servings.

PS - Rolling up the cake was the part I was most nervous about!

If I can do it, you can do it!
(Thanks to Taste of Home for yet another yummy recipe)

More from the Oven!

2010-09-02T19:56:00.001-05:00

This is a way common site at our house. A lot of times, we don't even bake what we make!!

BAKING is what I have been obsessed with lately! Well...I have always loved baking. But now with the world of blogs at my hands, I just don't know what to do with myself!

Bake at 350 is quickly becoming one of my regular reads. I plan on trying these chocolate pumpkin muffins this week! Except I don't think I am going to make them mini. Bridgette (the clever baker behind all the yummy photos) must have more self-control than I! JUMBO Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins sound excellent!

Some other sites worth checking out if you have a green thumb er I mean a sweet tooth for Baking!

the Baking Sheet!
Whimsy Cookie Company If I were to open my own cookie business, I would want my cookies to look just like Laurie's!

These Hula Girls are some of my favorite of Laurie's!

Cookies

2010-08-03T15:28:00.003-05:00

My new favorite past time....making cookies! I have always loved to bake and now in my old age I find it quite therapeutic! When I bake...there is always a beginning and an end. No one can tell me what to do and the end result is always something beautiful or at least yummy!

Clearly I need a new camera but these are cookies I made for my friend Sara. She just had her first baby boy and I went to visit her today!

You know me...always in a quest to find my special talent in life! This week I am thinking that maybe I should go to pastry school?! No seriously, I already looked up schools. I am thinking maybe I could go to Europe and study. But then reality hit...a 10 week class is close to 7K and then what would I do with my husband, my child and my dog? Umm...just minor details I have yet to work out.

For now, I will just settle for making special treats for family and friends!

A Table

2010-07-22T16:43:00.008-05:00

What is it about a table that has me all in a tizzy? Yes, a table I say! I have been obsessed lately with tables...big long banquet tables, beautiful wood tables with history and charm! You know the kind that sit underneath ancient trees in ancient gardens (cause don't we all live like that?)

Maybe it's because I strongly dislike my own kitchen table and I am on the hunt for a new one! (I really don't even want to show you a picture of it right now, it is a mess!) Or maybe it's because I am convinced that if I had a new table I would most certainly be more inspired to cook!

Maybe it's because I was just on TV talking about how to create a great "table" scape!

But sometimes, you know what I really think? I think my obsession with tables has to do with a deep longing in my heart. A deep longing that was hidden in my heart before I ever was! A longing that sets my heart towards the things of eternity.

It's a longing to be seated at the ultimate banquet table. A table set for me before the world ever was! A table with a place for me and a place for you. A table where Jesus sits at this very moment. Waiting.

The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is waiting for me and for you. He waiting and longing for the day that God will look over and give him the "nod." The nod that says "It's Time!" The nod that says "Go get them!" And on that day, Jesus, the Lamb slain, the Lamb that will over come, will scoot back his chair with lightening speed. And he will come for us. He will come for his bride. He will come to take us home.

And home we will go! To a table. A table adorned with splendor fit only for a King and his family. A table set before the world ever was.

What will it look like I often wonder? Will it be set with china? Or better yet....an old set of beautifully worn white farmhouse dishes? The kind with a few nicks and scrapes that speak of timeless family gatherings? Will it sit underneath an ancient olive grove? With twinkling lights above? Will there just be dessert or will we have to eat dinner first?

I don't know the answers to all my questions. But this I know: All art is but a mere replica of the original. (I am sure someone famous said that!) And I can't wait to see the original banquet table, the table set before the world ever was!

I love a beautifully set table because it reminds me of to whom I belong. I love tables because they so boldly foreshadow what is to be. And I love tables for the longing they create in my heart, a longing explained only by the things of eternity.

And the only other thing I know? This table...this banquet fit for a King... will be a table for ALL to enjoy!

(all pics in this post are from Martha Steward Weddings)

My First TV Spot

2010-06-30T09:00:00.002-05:00

I will write later and tell you all about it! For now click HERE.

Poor Moms Pottery Barn Lazy Susan

2010-06-29T17:06:00.001-05:00

I have been eyeballing this Lazy Susan from Pottery Barn Kids for a long time now!I first saw it at a friends house.

Don't you L-O-V-E it? Don't you think your life would be so much more organized if you had one?

How is it that Pottery Barn Kids somehow always convinces me that I MUST have said object if I want to be a good mom? Ummm...maybe it's just me.

Either way, I wanted it. But I didn't have the $49 plus shipping the big wigs at Pottery Barn wanted for it!

So what does any desperate mom on a budget do? I got creative...

Found these buckets in the dollar section at Target. Look at the cute flower detail on them? And Target didn't even charge me extra for the cute flower detail...still just a dollar!

Used my latest favorite red spray paint - Colonial Red by Rust-oleum. (and yes, I am that lazy that I didn't rotate the picture for you.)

Sprayed 2 coats and the buckets were looking scrumptious!

Then I got really resourceful. See that white scalloped Lazy Susan the buckets are on? It is actually a cake decorating lazy susan, purchased 6 years ago for a cake decorating class my mom and I took. You can get them at Hobby Lobby for $4 but since I already had this one - it was free!

So what do you think? Sydney loves it, we leave it on our kitchen table at all times so that she can color when the feels so moved!

How much did I spend?

3 Buckets $1 at Target
Spinny Cake decorating thingy from Hobby Lobby or Michaels - free from my kitchen
Red Spray Paint - free

Total Spent: $3

Free ticket to Schlitterbahn

2010-05-26T11:45:00.001-05:00

This summer is all about saving money for the Morris family. I am always on the hunt for money saving deals. We have wanted to take Sydney to Schlitterbahn but it can be so darn expensive....here is how you can score a kids ticket for almost free!

1. Go to Guest Services at the Galleria (Houston Area)
2. Specify which park you would like tickets for...Galveston is the closest to us!
3. Pay $75 total and you will receive 2 Admissions PLUS a $25 Visa Gift Card.

Here is how that breaks down: You end up paying $37.50 for 2 tickets and then you can put the Visa Gift Card towards the purchase of a third ticket. Children's admission is only $29.99. So essentially you can get a children's ticket for just $4.99!

Still nee help? Let's write it out another way shall we?
If I went online to purchase 2 adult tickets and 1 child ticket I would pay: $105.97
If I go to the Galleria and purchase this deal, I can buy 2 adult tickets and 1 child ticket for $79.99!

Got it? Good. Dave Ramsey would be so proud of all of us! Just make sure you put this in your budget so that you already have the money for it! Since it is almost June, I am just sliding it right into the June budget and will find something else to do without for that month.
(Thanks Kathy for the tip!)

A Letter to My Friend

2010-05-19T13:35:00.004-05:00

Ever since we got off the phone yesterday, I have had an ever present nagging on my soul...kinda like when a two year old relentlessly pulls at her mama's shirt...pulling and grabbing...pulling and grabbing until full and focused attention is given to her.

I am so sorry for the hormonal hell your going through right now. There really is no other set of words that so accurately describes the battle some women face with this ever-oppressive, ever-present, postpartum hormonal chaos that ensues after a baby is born.

There is a lot about life that I don't know. I don't know why some women suffer and some women don't. I don't know why some women have the first weeks, months even years with their children stolen from them or why some women don't. I wish I knew the answers. Oh, how I wish I knew.

But for today, here is what I do know. YOUR God LOVES you. Your God takes great delight in you. Your God created you for HIS glory. And no artist creates a masterpiece and then destroys it. He protects it, he covers it and he makes plans to complete it. Your God is mighty to save. And save he will.

I am so thankful that you and I don't have to wonder HOW to heal you. God knows. God knows how to rescue you. We don't have to wonder about the "how" or the "when" of your healing.

We don't have to wonder if you are taking the right steps or if you are using the right words when speaking to the doctors. God already knows the path to healing and he is working on it right now. We only need to make sure we walk through every open door he offers. And walk you will.

Your God is in the business of healing. He is in the business of turning tables. He causes all things to work for good. He is in the business of taking what was meant for harm and turning it into a blessing. And blessed you will be.

After we got off the phone yesterday I had this nagging feeling that these are the words I should have shared with you. Sometimes my oh so passionate affection for coming up with a "plan" can sometimes over shadow the truth of what I know about God. But never fear, God is always consistent and persistent. He nagged at me all day, putting you on my heart and repeating the words he really wanted me to share. So share I did and share I will!

Here is one of the many verses that I have clung to in my most desperate minutes:
But now, this is what the Lord says-
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you:
I have summond you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:1-2

You are loved sister! Keep up the fight and I can't wait until God restores to you every minute you have lost. His promises are good, I am living proof. And living proof YOU will be.

How do I Pick?

2010-04-23T23:10:00.001-05:00

Today I Am Thankful

2010-03-31T06:07:00.004-05:00

Today I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for friends that I have never met and I am thankful for friends that I have had for years.

There is nothing more beautiful than a woman that says YES to God. A woman that says YES with her heart, her time and her talents. Because when a woman says YES she inevitably ends up touching the lives of other people in profound ways.

Today, I am thankful for the Fly Lady. A woman I have never met, but has encouraged me beyond measure.

Everyday the Fly Lady reminds me that I am not behind in keeping my house clean. She has taught me that in just 10 minute increments I too can have a house that is "company" worthy!

No more apologizing when friends come over. No more feeling like a failure because I can't seem to get it all together. No more giving up because the task of keeping a clean kitchen seems too overwhelming.

The Fly Lady (she also likes to teach people to fly fish!) runs a mentoring group on keeping your house clean. Those that start out on the program are called Baby Flies. This Baby Fly hopes to be an adult FLYer soon!

Thanks Fly Lady for writing down your experience, sharing your wisdom and loving me right where I am. Thank you for your daily emails that help me stay on task. (I so wanted to show you all a picture of my shiny sink...but alas, if I waited until I actually had a photo of it, I fear it would be next year before I wrote this post!)

I am also thankful for real-life friends. Even the kind of real life friends that live across the street from me but I never see!

Melanie was one of several friends/neighbors who never stopped praying for me during THE year of 2007 (click HERE). Not only did SHE pray for me but she petitioned her MOPS group to pray for me, bring me meals and even write me letters.

I am thankful to Melanie for making me cross the street on that oh so "windy" day to take pictures of me and Sydney. How grateful I am for your persistences! Each time I see the pictures, the only professional pictures I have of my sweet baby girl under the age of 18 months, I am so grateful.

(Oh how this picture is anything other than an ordinary picture. If you only knew the pain I was hiding so that I could one day have a picture to look at of my baby girl)

For those of you that have ever experienced a time of major crisis, wrought with depression and/or anxiety...you know how difficult it is to make "normal" decisions. Apparently that day, I was intent on canceling my photo session due to the wind outside. Let's just put it this way...there was no hurricane in the forcast and the photo shoot happened to be inside. All I had to do was walk across the street.

But on that day, on that one day of many that was marked by extreme depression and anxiety...walking across the street just seemed too much to bare. Without Melanie's persistence that I come over despite the ferocious weather, I would have NO professional pictures of Syd as a baby. Melanie knew what I needed when I did not have the presence of mind to know myself.

If I learned nothing else from that year, I learned what it truly takes to minister and love on others during a time of crisis. In short, my good intentions are worthless, it is only by my actions that I can help others.

What good is it for me to feel sorrow for a friend's life "situation" but not get in the trenches with her and help her stand til' victory comes? Isn't that what we were called to? I often recall the story of the parlyzed man in the bible, the one whose tenacious friends cut a whole in their neighbor's roof? Remmeber them? It wasn't just some grand fairy tale. This guys friends actually cut a whole in another person's roof and lowered him to the feet of Jesus. I'm not going to help others with good intentions or even by prayer alone. God has called me to be his hands and feet!

Thank you to Melanie and several other friends not limited to Jenn, Kerrie and Julie! I am here because you carried me!

By using their God-given time, talents and passions these friends ensured that my lame arms and legs made it to the feet of Jesus. Each of them knew where I needed to be for healing to take place and each of them stopped at nothing until I arrived safely. (even if it meant walking across the street on a terribly windy day, booking a session with a prayer healer, speaking words I did not want to hear but so desperately needed or responding to a crisis phone call!)

Love you ladies a lot. And Oh Lord let me never forget the lesson I learned that year. The lesson on how to help others in a time of crisis. Let me never be plagued with good intentions but let me always be willing to get in the pit of despair alongside others and get my hands a bit dirty!

And let me never forget the power of one. The power of one lady simply pursuing her passion and sharing it with others. Fly Lady, I so wish we could have coffee one day!

Today I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for the friends I have never met. I am thankful for the friends that I have known since third grade and all the friends in between!

Let's Get WILD in the Kitchen!

2010-03-26T16:45:00.002-05:00

Hello to all of my Wildtree Customers!

I was thinking about all of you this week...wondering what your favorite recipes have been lately, wondering if anyone else eats the dill dip and the chocolate mousse on a daily basis like I do. Please tell me I'm not alone.....!

And then I got to thinking that it might be kinda fun to do some blogging about my own adventure in the kitchen. And not because I am such an excellent cook or creative diva in the kitchen...I wish! But because I am just a normal gal trying to feed my family yummy food, trying to save time, trying to stay on a budget AND all the while trying to make healthy choices.

So here's hoping somebody out there will find my personal quest to feed my family dinner to be somewhat interesting or entertaining. At the very least, maybe you could just humor me! Feel free to sing my praises, comment with how yummy things look or what a genius I am! ha ha!
Wildtree is all about saving time, money and your sanity in the kitchen. Ooh, that is pretty good... I wonder if the National office would want to adopt that as their new slogan! Any hoo...I don't know about you, but I have a life to live...I don't have tons of time to spend in the kitchen! So let's get busy letting Wildtree do the work for us!

Who's ready to get WILD in the kitchen? (Scroll down or click HERE to read my first post)

(**You can shop 24/7 on my on my website, click HERE.)

Stocking the freezer with Wildtree

2010-03-26T16:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is Day One of my Wildtree series that promises to save your sanity in the kitchen or at least be somewhat entertaining!
(if you haven't read my first post, click HERE)
Items Needed:
Best of Wildtree 8-Pack
Wildtree Infused Grapeseed Oil Set
Quart Size freezer bags or larger
**Note: any of your favorite Wildtree Oils and Culinary Blends can be substituted for the gift sets.

Step 1. - Go grab your 8-Pack and your Infused Oil Set.

(Don't you love how I added the lemons to the pic? I think they add that extra special something to the picture..haha!)

Step 2 - Grab whatever meat you were able to get on sale at the grocery story. You can use a variety of your favorites...pork chops, chicken, steak, fish, etc. There are no rules other than the rule of having no rules! (In this case, I am using only chicken because it happened to be on sale for $.99 a pound at my grocery story. So I bought a very large quantity.)

Step 3 - Trim all grossness off of the meat! (ie. fat)

(I'm not going to lie...I didn't even start eating meat until I discovered Wildtree ....so although I am now eating Chicken Stir Fry with Pacific Fusion Sauce and other favorites... I still don't like to touch it! Plastic baggies make for inexpensive gloves!)

See, I told ya I bought a lot chicken! If you are a newbie, simply start with only 5 meals worth. For my family, 2 pieces of chicken is enough for one dinner.

Step 3: Grab 5 freezer bags. Choose 5 Spice Blends from your Wildtree 8-Pack. Measure 2tsp of each blend and place in individual bags.

Aren't sure which ones to choose? Then copy what I did, but there is NO right or wrong. Don't be afraid to get a little "wild" and do some experimenting!

(go ahead and grab your sharpie...be sure to label each bag.!)

Step 4. Measure 2 TBS of your favorite Wildtree Grapeseed Oil for each bag.

Again, it does not matter what flavor oil you choose! If you are someone that gets stuck on details and becomes overwhelmed easily...copy what I did. The next time, be a little braver and experiment!

Here is my list again!
Baggie 1: 2 tsp Fajita Blend & 2 TBS Natural Grapeseed Oil

Baggie 2: 2tsp Rancher's Steak Rub & Garlic Grapeseed Oil
Baggie 3: 2 tsp Scampi Blend & Garlic Grapseed Oil
Baggie 4: 2 tsp Cajun Blend & Butter Flavor Grapeseed Oil
Baggie 5: 2 tsp lemon rosemary Blend & Lemon Grapeseed Oil

Please note: Any combination would work! I could have added Garlic Grapeseed oil to any of those spice blends and so on. These are just the ones I happen to grab!

Step 5: My favorite part...haha! Place two pieces of chicken (or pork chops, fish, steak, ground turkey, sausage, etc) in each bag and press to close.

Step 6: Simply mush together (yes, very technical term!) the oil and the spice blends in each bag. Meat should be thouroly coated..

Step 7: Place bags in freezer. I like to put mine in a tupperware container so they stand up all nice and pretty. That way I can quickly grab what I need without digging through piles!

Congratulations, you now have dinner done and ready to go for at least 5 meals! Simply take out one baggie in the morning before you go to work or before you start your day and place in refrigerator! When you arrive home for dinner, the meat has marinated, thawed and is ready for your oven or grill. Simply bake for 25 minutes (350 degrees) or throw it on the grill!

Meal planning is a proven way to save us time and money! Instead of running out of time after a long day and needing to run through the fastfood line...stock your freezer with the Best of Wildtree 8-Pack!

There are lots of ways to use your Wildtree 8-Pack and Infused Oil Set! I hope this post as inspired you to try something new. If you are looking for more recipes, you can always check the recipe finder on my website, click HERE.
(Remember, everyone who purchases the 8-Pack should also receive a list of 30 recipes. If you need me to email you a new copy, just let me know!

Friday's Favorite Finds

2010-03-19T09:09:00.002-05:00

Just a small collection of my latest finds. I love learning new ideas and tips from fellow bloggers. So many talented gals out there!

Need a little inspiration in the love department? Ever wonder what Crayola could do for you?Check out Shower Love Notes post from "How Does She?"

PS - I may or may not have tried this myself this week!

Get your copy of the Princess and the Frog for way cheap at Target. I got mine for less than $10. In fact there was another mom of a 3 year old girl at Target the same time as me...searching for the same deal! Surviving the Stores will tell you how, click HERE. If you are not already using coupons and following blogs like Surviving the Stores, you are missing out!

Do you Groupon yet? If you don't, you should. I receive daily emails with the "special of the day." We have already scored half price gift cards to my husband's favorite BBQ place in the Houston area.

All you do is type in your city and it will show you the special of the day. For example:

Martha and Lil Suzie cupcakes as seen on Groupon

One of this weeks side deals was a dozen delivered cupcakes for $12 instead of the normal $25. You could save more than 50%...it's the power of buying as a group baby!! Cupcakes not your thing? Don't worry, tomorrow there will be another deal. It is a great resource to use to find fun family activities around your town that won't break the bank!

Who Has The Time?

2010-03-15T15:27:00.003-05:00

Why Do I do it?

Why do I invite God into my life...ask him to give me a grand purpose in this world? Ask him for an important role, the assurance that I am essential in his kingdom calendar? Why do I beg God for such an adventure...

Why do I ask all these things only to turn HIM down or at the very least be paralyzed by the fear of the unknown! Why do I do that?

Several months ago Chip and I both felt a calling to go to Europe. At first I thought it was just my own desire to go on vacation and visit our friends that live in Portugal!

Clearly this is not a photo of our friends...I don't have a current one! But who knew there were castles in Portugal? In fact,Portugal has a little bit of everything...beaches, big cities, small cities, ancient ruins...something for everyone! (thank you to some guy named danheller for the picture)

Again, I say "who knew Portugal was so beautiful!

But over the next few weeks it became clear that this "calling" to go to Europe might be on a more permanent basis.As in...pack up and move half-way across the world amazing!

So just for "kicks" we started asking around, did a little research and quickly came into contact with a mission organization called GEM (Greater European Mission) that we felt would be a good match for our vision. They have staff in every country in Europe (just about) and they have been around since WWI and come highly recommended!
Applying to go into missions? Selling our house? Leaving our friends? Moving half-way across the country? Wondering if we are "qualified" to do this? Seeking God's heart? All of these questions represent the unknowns or what-ifs of the story God is telling through me...this very moment!

Nothing is wrong with wanting to know the details. It is usually my job to know the details. People pay me to prepare for every what-if out there so that no time is wasted on the important day!

But as my good friend Kelley said to me last week, "Perhaps God wants to be the God of details for you." Don't you just hate it when friends speak truth to you? I don't have time for the truth. I am too busy being scared, being overwhelmed and trying to "plan" my way out of it! Who has time for the truth?

(she is so going to hate me for using this picture (she has her own website HERE)

I am glad my friend Kelley talked some sense into me. God wants to be in charge of all the details of my life. I am only a good event planner myself because it is one of HIS traits that he gave to me. And my event planning skills come in handy when planning a fundraiser or a party...but not so much with my own life.

SO BRING IT ON God! Show me how, show me where, show me when and show me why! But can you do it this week? We have a call with staff people in Greece and another one in Portugal. AND We have the start of candidate training in a month. So if you could wrap this up in a pretty little package (and maybe a bow on top) and present it to me ASAP, that would be great. I really don't have time to waste!

BTW - don't be thinking that just cause' we are looking into going on the mission field that we are going to turn into total dorks..irrelevant in society! You know what I am talking about...remember the missionaries that came to your church when you were little? The ones telling stories of a land far away, asking for money and showing off their long locks in tightly wound buns? Yep, those people.

We aren't those people. Not going to happen. This is about as long as my hair is going to get. And really, who goes over to Europe and ends up a fashion disaster? I can only assume it will help my cause not hurt it. At least I can wear black every day and be completely in style!