Friday, November 25, 2011

Soft Ginger Chews

I love the flavor of ginger snaps, but I'm not so in love with their crunch.  Call me a sissy, but they make my teeth hurt.  So at our house we enjoy these Soft Ginger Chews.  They're so good that I'll have even you crunch loving people converted.  So give them a try and see what you think...


2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. cloves ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1tbs. water
1/4 c. molasses

1.  Preheat oven to 350.
2.  Cream butter & sugar, beat in egg and added water.
3.  Stir together dry ingredients and slowly add to butter mixture and mix thoroughly.
4.  Shape into balls & roll in sugar.
5.  Bake 6-8 min. and allow to cool.

Enjoy!!

Giving Thanks

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good...
~Psalm 118:1a~

I admit that when it comes to Thanksgiving traditions our family is lacking.  We've moved around so much, you'd think I would have made it a priority, but alas I am not perfect.  Now you know.  So this year I decide to change my track record for Thanksgiving.  I start three things that I plan to do every year for now on.  We started our morning with homemade cinnamon rolls and a thankfulness jar. I decorated a mason jar- one that my dear friend Jami had shared some organic goodness with me.  We sat around the table and shared the things we were thankful for and then put them in the jar.  I look forward to the coming years and looking back on the things the boys were thankful for. After sharing lunch with new friends we decorated gingerbread houses and watched Elf.  It was a wonderful day.

I am thankful and I give all thanks to the Lord.  Mostly I am thankful for His grace that pours down and rushes through my life.  I feel this rush in my marriage.  I am thankful for my husband, his goodness to me and faithfulness to our family.  I see the flood of His grace in my boys.  I am thankful that as my boys grow they delight in Him and wonder at the world around them.  Our home is warm and toasty, cupboards are full, hubby has an amazing job and we have the most amazing family and friends. I am blessed beyond what I deserve.



...for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
~Psalm 118:1b~

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Wowser!  The last three months have been some of the craziest of my life.  I have had to endure hush hush meetings and interviews that would throw the balance of my life into chaos, the excitement of the hubbs receiving the promotion of a lifetime, the pain of saying good bye to dear friends and don't forget the adventure of packing moving and unpacking.  To top it all off, I decided to throw myself back into the world of teaching by homeschooling my kindergartner and second grader. While all this was going on my brain was moving to fast to keep up.  I had list upon list of things to do, cute moments with the kiddos I wanted to record and thoughts both simple and deep I wanted to share.  But alas, I had zero time to sit and pound them out and into existence.  I told Matty that I need a recorder that attached to my brain and made record of important thoughts and details.  It would probably look quite strange, but would be effective.  All that to say, I have much I want to share and hope to put into words in the coming week.  Some are only random thoughts, others are topics impacting my heart in a huge way!


Keep your eyes peeled for these upcoming topics:


~  What, It's Not About Me?!
~  I Believe in Evolution.
~  Heaven, Through The Eyes of A Child.


But just to make you smile...


This evening before praying with the boys, Canon was lying in my lap and I noticed he had some boogers in his nose.  I apologize if that seems gross, but I am the mom of three boys.  And so I naturally did what any mom of boys would do - I picked it.  Unfortunately I came up empty.  But not to be discouraged I tried again. I was unsuccessful a second time.  Canon lay there with a big smile on his face, patiently letting me pick at him.  Finally he told me, "Momma, yous fingers too big.  See, mine tiny.  God made them for my nose.  I get it."  Though silly and slightly gross, I was reminded of this truth - we were created for a certain purpose.  Our personalities, convictions and abilities are unique to us.  We only "fit" in the will and path that God has for us. I am "too big" or "too small" to accomplish what God planned for your life and vice versa. It encouraged me to know that I have a Maker that laid plans for me to "give me a future and a hope".


And just for the record, we got a Kleenex and washed our hands after our little adventure!


For I know the thoughts I thinks toward you,
says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil,
to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11