A Cute Cupcake

Isn't this just cute?

Here is just a little something a friend of mine passed along

to me for a birthday not long ago. I thought it was absolutely beautiful! What a beautiful way to form a "bath fizzle" or "bath bomb." She has a great little blog as well!

(She has such a unique presentation!) Check it out if you'd like here.

Words from Wednesday (Devotional)

Psalm 95: 4-5: “In his hand are the depth of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

If you live in the lower mainland (and perhaps the same happened in other places), this week was full of weather. It rained, snowed, hailed, and the sunshine glowed all within an hour or two during the day. At first I found this kind of annoying. But as I thought on it a little more, I came to the conclusion that it was beautiful. How often does God show his beauty, and we ignore it completely because we have things to do, places to go, our own schedules to stick to, our own to-do lists to cross off? Yet, each morning, God graces us with the gifts of his beauty in creation. Do we take time to notice it? Do we take time to thank him for it? Can we slow down our lives enough to realize that a glimpse of sunshine is a gift? A sudden hailstorm shows God’s power? A sunset shines His splendor?

Spring is soon upon us. One of my favorite parts of being a first grade teacher was guiding those wondering minds to notice the seasonal changes right before their eyes—and to guide them to recognize the One who makes the changes each season! While I may no longer teaching those 6-year-old bundles of energy, I still need to recognize the daily gifts God gives to me each and every morning through His beautiful creation.

Other verse to read: Psalm 90:1-2, Genesis 1:31

If you are a visual person, take a moment to view this video. It took me back to my days as part of a children’s choir when we often sang this song in church. And it gave me a clear “picture” of God’s gifts to us through his creation.

Menu Plan Monday

Well, we (mostly, I) have been feeling under the weather this past week. We'll have to see what the coming week brings. So. . .you'll notice the meals reflect that a little! (I may be piling on the MSGs and all that other great stuff early on in the week, but I have never yet heard my children complain about having Hamburger Helper! And that makes me a happy mom for a while!)

Monday- Hamburger Helper (kids choice!), corn, salad
Tuesday- Salmon (haven't figured out what to do with it exactly. . .) mashed potatoes, carrots (updated March 17--) Okay, I feel blah. Who am I kidding? It's going to be a freezer pizza or something that takes a minute or two in the microwave! We'll see if the rest of the week doesn't just go the same.
Wednesday- Omelets with fixings
Thursday (Crock Pot Day)- Chicken Stroganoff, salad
Friday-Easy Quiche (never got to it last week!) or left-overs
Snack for Saturday- Toffee Caramel Squares
Sunday-Breakfast for Supper (Waffles)

Your recipe this week is Easy Quiche from the Bierlink Family Favorites Cookbook. This recipe was submitted by Aunt Linda.
1 c. milk
1/2 c. biscuit mix
4 eggs beaten
1 c. grated Swiss cheese (I use a mix of mozza, cheddar or swiss--whatever is on hand)
1 c. ham, bacon, or shrimp (never done the shrimp option--blah!)
a bit of onion or green onion to taste
salt and pepper
(I often add a few extra things, like broccoli, peppers, etc)

Mix all ingredients. Pour into buttered pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 34-45 minutes or until nicely browned. Serve immediately. (We often serve with syrup for the kids.)

And for my Hubby. . his favourite snack is this one. Besides chips. And pop.
Caramel Toffee Squares
(also from the Bierlink Cookbook, from Aunt Helen)
1-1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
2 t. more butter

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T. corn syrup
1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk

2 c. chocolate chips

Bottom Layer: Crumble 1st four ingredients well.Pack into un-greased 9X9" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Second Layer: Combine next four ingredients in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally as it burns easily. Remove from heat and beat with spoon until it shows signs of thickening. Pour over bottom layer.
Third Layer: Melt chocolate and pour over second layer. Chill and cut into squares.

Enjoy!!!

A thing-a-ma-what?

A thing-a-ma-what? I had to take a second look at the spelling. Yep, that is exactly what it said. Thingamaboob.
I received one of these key-chains from my sister. They were being handed out at a recent Women's Revive Conference put on by New Life CRC. I think it caught my attention because (well, first ,the name obviously stood out!) I, along with the ACS community, have been praying for our colleague who had a recent surgery. This nifty little key-chain is a whole lot more than just a fancy ornament. Check out the Canadian Cancer Society's website and this page to read all about the significance of this cute pink "Thingamaboob."

Spring is trying to arrive. . .

We took a little family walk in the sunshine behind our place, and here are some of the "nature treasures" we found. Eli pretty much wanted me to take a picture of every possible green plant or thing we saw, so I limited this post to a few of the ones that we found!

If you ever need a time-filler (or you have been cooped up in the house for much too long as we have!), take the kids and the camera on a walk to find God's favourite parts of the world around you. It makes for interesting conversations and interesting finds.

Menu Plan Monday

Another week. . .I'm starting out feeling a little under the weather, so hopefully things will improve! But here is my plan for the week!

Monday- Soup (Beef and Vegetable Barley for the Crock Pot), buns
did you see the snow outside??? definitely a soup day!

Tuesday- Ham Steaks, baked potatoes, peas & carrots

Wednesday- Tuna Alfredo (I add red peppers, garlic and grated cheese to this one. you can add broccoli, corn, carrots, etc to make it more of a primevera)Garlic bread, salad

Thursday (Crock-Pot Day)- Tuscan Chicken Sandwiches

Friday-Easy Quiche (Bierlink Family Cookbook, p. 43)

Snack for Saturday- Baked Pizza Dip (variation #2)
Bonus recipe--The BABE Bars

Sunday- Breakfast for Supper day (pancakes (with fruit)and bacon)

Note #1: Monday's used to have a link to www.wyserecipes.blogspot.com (i believe). No longer letting us follow it, so here is my "modified" recipe from them.
Beef and Vegetable Barley Soup
1-1/2 lb. lean ground been (i made mine into meatballs)
1/2 c. onion
1 cl. garlic
2/3 c. pearl barley
3-4 medium carrots, diced
3 ribs celery (i omit this and put some celery seed in instead)
1 (28 g. can tomatoes
3-1/2 to 4 c. beef broth
2c (or more!) water
1 (10-1/2 oz.) can tomato soup
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. minced parsley
salt and pepper
Optional add-ins: zucchini, hot sauce, potato, peppers (green and red)

Brown the meat. then put everything in the crock pot. Cook on low for 7 hours (I stirred it up a few times--maybe that changes the amount of time). Take bay leaf out before serving. Serve with sour cream and/or buns.

Note #2: I had to try another Pizza dip this week! (I had people over a few times, so. . .a variation well worth it! I've served this before baked in a bread bowl. Put all ingredients in a bread bowl, wrap in tin foil. Bake the same as recipe says. Still yum!

Note #3: I figured since the Pizza dip was a variation of last week, you deserve another recipe. Here are easy bars that bring me back to my college days, when the name "The BABE" had significance. :) Sorry . . .not sure where the recipe came from. It was a few years ago.
The BABE Bars
1 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
1-1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
6 c. Rice Crispy or Special K cereal
1 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. chocolate chips

Combine sugar & corn syrup in 2 qt. microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 3-4 minutes on High until boiling. Stir in peanut butter until well blended. Stir in cereal. Press into a 9x13" buttered pan. Set aside. Microwave chips in 2 qt. bowl for 3- 3-1/2 minutes at Medium until they look soft and shiny. Stir until smooth. Spread over bars, cool, cut into squares. Yum-yum!

Words from Wednesday (Devotional)

This post is for the women in my Connections group. (But I figured the rest of you can read it as well!) Sorry I can't be there tomorrow! But here is my "sharing."

"Bring The Rain" by Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty


James 1:12—Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

View the youtube video here

My thoughts on this song:
Right now, I am a grade four teacher at Abbotsford Christian School. I recently taught my students about how God’s ways are not bound by human customs, rules, and expectations. I taught them about God’s plan—a plan that we don’t understand—and how he can use anybody to fulfill it. God has shown this in a few ways to me in the past bit, so I figured I would share something about that.

Last year, I had the privilege of being on maternity leave. I also had the privilege of writing some Bible curriculum on the book of Job.

This was a great little job in my opinion, but I also recognize it as an opportunity for God to talk to me about something I needed to hear at that moment. Job is a character who had a lot of bad stuff happen to him. While his friends try to find something in his life—some sin he committed—to blame it on, Job unswervingly believes that he has not sinned and can’t understand why God would do this to him. And through it all, he never curses God or speaks badly of him. In the end, God pretty much tells Job and his friends that his ways are not for us to explain or even understand. Our job is to just trust him and his goodness. We are not called to understand God’s ways or his plans but to participate in them as God calls us—even if that means losing everything and still standing firm in Him as Job did. Following his trials, God goes on to bless Job more than his previous years.

I recall that my maternity leave started with some big disappointments for both myself and my family, things that I found difficult to understand. We ALL have things in life that we can’t understand. And that cause us to question God’s plan and even his goodness.

Mercy Me sings a song called, Bring The Rain. One part in that song says,
I can count a million times People asking me how I can
praise You with all that I've gone through . . .
Bring me joy, bring me peace, Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain

Each and every day I am trying to challenge myself to really live out the line, “bring me anything that brings you glory,” and the last part, “And I know there will be days when this life brings me pain, but if that’s what it takes to praise you, Jesus bring the rain.”

In James 1:12, it says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Psalm 145 tells us that, “the Lord is gracious and compassionate . . . and rich in love .The Lord is good to all. . . The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. He upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down . . . he fulfills the desires of those who fear him, he hears their cry and saves them.”

Words from Wednesday (My Humble Little Devotional)

Good Intentions

This week has been a busy one for me! Report cards need to get done, a few extra teaching hours, planning for my next few weeks has crept up on me, laundry every day, and I am having a surprise visitor this weekend. (Yes, I know! I found out that my sister is making a surprise visit for my birthday! No one can keep a surprise from me!)

And I had grand intentions of making some great devotionals to post for my new blog. Big plans! I love writing and I thought some short devotionals would be an easy and enriching way to keep up my writing and my walk with my Saviour. But . . . here I am, with no inspiration, no lightning bolts, nothing GREAT to write about.

I came across this verse yesterday in my daily Today devotional reading: “. . .for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purposes” (Philippians 2:13). In my Study Bible, there is a footnote saying that “to will and to act” shows us that our intentions and our obedience cannot be separated. James talks about this further and tells us how Abraham believed in God and also showed it in his actions. Like when he travelled to a new land. And when he was ready to offer his son as a sacrifice. “’And it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2: 23b)

I was quite convicted when I read those verses. There have been so many occasions when I meant to do something or wanted to help out, but. . .I never did. Motivation left me, busyness crept up—I may have even talked myself out of doing a good deed! Oh the places I have fallen short. A card never sent, a phone call never made, a meal never passed on, an encouragement never voiced, a prayer never offered.

While I may have had big intentions of using wonderful words, picking effective stories, choosing moving verses, God’s purposes are bigger than all that. So today I chose to act in obedience to that. I don’t have a lot to say—except that I am going to choose to act rather than just thinking about writing something. So while it may not be some grandiose revelation for you, it might be worth a read or worth some reflecting.

Other verses to look up: Genesis 15: 6, Galatians 5:6 and James 2:18-22

A New Project Continued. . .Again

I just had to quickly add some photos of how my humble little project turned out. This one is the main wall in the play room--aka: the art wall. (Yes I landed up returning some of my "great discoveries. The cork boards were not magnetic enough to hold our Fridge Phonics Letters, and the curtain rod idea just didn't look the way I wanted it to. I'm female. I'm allowed to change my mind as many times as I want to. LOL! Instead, I got a plain ole magnetic white board --that still needs some "sprucing up"--and some cording to make a "children's art clothesline." Yes, its on the internet. google it. lots of ideas. i tried one of my own. see? it's cute and all with jungle animals!).
Here are the scrapbooking pictures a little closer up.
(Thank you, Pam, for your nifty circle cutter thingy.)

p.s. I love days off of work. Look at what I get to do!!!

p.s.s. I do like to give credit where it is due, so here is my main inspiration, and here is my jungle inspiration. (Besides, they are pretty good sites anyway!)

Menu Plan Monday

So. . .last week I didn't follow the plan so well. Oh well. Here we go for this week:

Monday- Spaghetti, Garlic Bread (my son could LIVE off of garlic bread!), Salad
Tuesday- Skewers(sirloin), Ranch Potatoes (from the LC cookbook p. 66), corn
Wednesday- Chicken with Apple Sauce, carrots, noodles
Thursday- Submarine sandwiches (nice and easy!)
Friday- Pizza, Pizza. . .or A&W. . .or (some kind of fast food? Please?)
Snack for Saturday- Pizza Dip
Sunday-Breakfast for Supper (French Toast and sausage)

My recipe this week is the Pizza Dip. First of all, I have to say that I LOVE the A Year Of Crockpotting blog! It has become a friend of mine. And my hubby and I love this recipe too--one way to put on a few pounds by eating it for a late-night snack together. I do have to say that I adjusted it a bit to make it more to our liking. I added some finely chopped green onions, peppers and sun dried tomatoes. (And a hint of syrup--don't tell my hubby! I just needed a little more sweetness to it! I suppose if you added pineapple to it, that might do the same. . .). I've also used other meats instead of pepperoni, especially if the kids are having it with us. I've made this recipe a lot. Did I mention that I really like this recipe?