Whose Cupcake Is Best Of All?

Last year Maggie & I had a 'cupcake war,' and we decided that it would be fun to do it again! Nicki was in town for the weekend so she joined us in our fun! We had it at church after the evening service, and all of the adults that were there had the sweet job of being judges. :)

All ready to be judged!

Nicki made pumpkin cupcakes with a cinnamon drizzled whipped cream frosting. I made a lemon meringue cupcake. Maggie made a chai cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. They were all so yummy! Yet only one could be the winner!

  

And the winner?? ME!!! Woo hoo! I was so happy that I didn't lose two years in a row. haha 

Here they are up close...first, second, and third place!

We had so much fun with our little 'war' against each other! I'm already thinking about next year! :)

What's For Dinner || Chicken Noodle Soup & Rolls

With three women in the house it has worked best for us to having a cooking schedule. My days to cook are on Tuesdays and Saturdays. As much as I love cooking, I have to say that having a schedule and actually getting to plan what you're going to make makes it even more enjoyable.

Tonight's menu consisted of this...

The soup is just a basic recipe, but yummy nonetheless. The rolls however...these are so delicious. We've had this recipe for years, passed down by a friend, and there's never any complaints when they find their way to the dinner table. :) If you've never had these, you've been missing out...until now that is. Here's the recipe so you can enjoy them as well!

Garlic Cheese Rolls

4 3/4 to 5 1/4 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 pkg yeast

1 1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

1 egg

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 TBS parmesan cheese

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt. Heat milk, water, and butter until very warm (120* to 130*); stir into dry ingredients. Stir in egg and enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic (about 6-8 minutes). Cover; let rest on floured surface 10 minutes.

With a sharp knife, divide dough into 24 pieces. Shape into balls, place in greased 11x14 pan. In small bowl, combine butter and garlic; pour over rolls. Sprinkle parmesan over rolls.

Cover, and let rise in warm oven 30-45 minutes until doubled.

Preheat to 375. Bake for 15 minutes until golden.

Fall + Family = Love

My brother, Josh, and his wife, Liz, recently came for a visit! We hadn't seen them since their wedding last summer, so it was wonderful getting to spend some time with them! While we were together we took the opportunity to have some family pictures taken. Here's a few of our favorites!

photo courtesy: uncle Brad ;)

Seasons

Fall is here! It's time to start breaking out the sweaters and scarves; time to start making soups and all things pumpkin flavored!

I love fall! It's my favorite season, but I also love different aspects of others seasons as well. The newness of each season brings excitement and anticipation for everything it has to offer. 

Spring has a special newness about it as everything seems to come back to life after hibernation through winter. Flowers are blooming, trees budding, and gardens begin sprouting evidence of harvest. Summer brings vacations and family reunions that are much anticipated. Days spent soaking up the sun in flip flops (or barefoot!) and sunglasses while the kids are playing in the kiddie pool are wonderful! 

Fall comes almost overnight (at least this year it did!). All of a sudden there's a chill in the air, and leaves are changing into glorious shades of red, yellow and orange! Before you know it snow is falling and winter has arrived. Snowmen are built, Christmas trees are decorated, and there's a calmness surrounding the beauty of the snow covered hills. I just love the changing of the seasons. God has it planned so well, doesn't He? The seasons seem to change at just the right time.

As I reflect on a God's perfect timing with the seasons of weather, I can't help but think about His timing in the seasons of life. We all go through times of anticipating what's coming next whether it's finishing school, getting married, having children, or even retiring! 

Sometimes we can get impatient and want to hurry through and get to the next phase in life, but if we understand Who is in control we can begin to relax and enjoy the season we're going through. If I find myself becoming impatient I have to remind myself that God's timing is perfect and it will be beautiful in HIS time, not mine. Ecclesiastes 3:11a - "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:" 

I don't know about you, but I don't want to have any regrets of wasting this season I'm in. God has me here for a reason and I want to bring Him glory and honor while I'm here. Let's slow down and cherish the seasons we're in. Even if it's not your favorite; look for the beauty!

Cabin 5

Last week Maggie & I had the privilege of taking 6 girls to summer camp. We had such a great time with these girls as we were able to get to know some of them better and meet new friends as well! Camp was filled with fun games, delicious food, but most importantly excellent preaching! Messages ranged from salvation to doing things God's way to letting God use you. It was a blessing to see that even though there were plenty of activities to keep the kids busy and having fun, the main focus of camp was definitely on spiritual things. It did my heart good to see our girls making decisions for Christ, especially when one of them chose to accept His gift of salvation! I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to go, and I'm already looking forward to next year!

Better, Not Bitter

We all have them – situations that happened to us that could have easily made us bitter against God and others. We wonder why God has allowed it into our lives, and then we make a choice. We’re going to become bitter about it, or we’re going to let God use it to make us better. Maybe it’s not in your past. Maybe it’s your present – you’re going through it right now! We’re all different. God has allowed different trials into each of our lives, and they serve a purpose. We need to learn to allow them they make us better, which in turn will bring glory and honor to God.

"But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;" - Philippians 1:12

For quite some time now I’ve been contemplating/praying about sharing my story with you. I've been trying to decide if it's too personal, and do I really want everyone to know? But, there have been so many times I've been encouraged and blessed by others sharing their testimony, and I felt it was time to share mine. You might already know about it, but there’s still quite a few of you who don’t. My purpose in this is not to make anyone feel sorry for me, but rather to encourage you and say, “Look at what God did in my life! This trial wasn’t fun, it wasn’t comfortable, but it changed my life!” 

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:4

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

If you asked me what I wanted to do when I ‘grew up’, my answer would be (and still is) to get married and have a family. It’s been a dream of mine. Seven years ago, that dream almost became a reality.

We had known each other most of our lives, but because of our age difference we never spent any time with each other.  That all changed the summer I graduated high school. We started hanging out more and getting to know each other.  That fall he moved for a ministry opportunity, but not without asking my dad’s permission to get to know me better. We were officially a couple. Over the next several months our relationship grew and before I knew it he came home for a surprise visit, I went back with him to visit his new home, and we became engaged! I quickly became busy planning a July wedding, but then things started changing. He moved back home, the wedding was postponed, and he was different. Several months went by and we weren’t any closer to setting a new wedding date and I was beginning to feel like something was wrong. When he was younger he had gotten into trouble with drugs and alcohol, but had gotten victory over it. Was his past starting to show up again? I certainly had my suspicions, but I couldn’t accuse without evidence. So I started praying – asking the Lord that if something was going on to bring it out into the light. About a week later I was waiting for him to come over and he called. Instead of saying he was running late and would be there soon, he began to tell me that he had gone back to his old lifestyle. I felt like my heart had been ripped out. The following day he came over to sit down with my parents and I, where we called off the engagement but also told him we still loved him and offered our support for him to get his life back on track. We continued to stay in communication for a little while as I was hoping he would get some help, but I soon felt the Lord’s leading to cut ties with him. If he was going to get help, it needed to be for himself and the Lord and not for anyone else. That was the last time I talked to him.

For the next year I struggled. I cried…A LOT. It was a really low point in my life. But it was in my weakness Christ's strength was magnified. He became my rock. I had a lot of spiritual struggles during this time, but I knew that Christ was the answer and I had to keep going back to Him. Little by little, day by day, I was getting stronger. Christ was changing me.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10

I often say that it was about a year before I got back to the normal me, but in reality I never did. I came out of that storm a new person. I was stronger in my faith and had a new zeal for serving the Lord. Something that might not have happened if it wasn't for this time in my life. So you see, even though I would never wish this on anyone, I can honestly say I'm thankful for it, because it was for my good and for His glory!

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by." - Charles Spurgeon

Are you still there?

Wow, I feel like it's been forever since I last posted. I've had all sorts of blog post ideas swirling through my head, but just haven't sat down and done anything about it. Sooo...in an effort to end my unplanned blogging hiatus, let's play catch up, shall we?

::we had a mother/daughter banquet at church and had a wonderful time together!::

::a very dear friend and her boys came for a visit::

::and yet another dear friend!:

::the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to earn a little extra money making a wedding cake::

::this happened ;) ... you can read about it on Maggie's blog (Ok, I have to tell you the story behind this picture...I was sitting across from them and meant to SNEAK a picture, but turns out my flash was on!! I was caught! It was slightly embarrassing, but hilarious at the same time! So, they obliged and posed for me:) ::

::my dad and another man at church were licensed to preach!::

::quick trip to oregon to celebrate selma's high school graduation::

::lots of sunshine means lots of water fun::

::i found this turn table, raised grid scrabble board at the thrift store for 25 cents! i just love seeing how the Lord provides for not only our needs, but our wants too, no matter how small::

::celebrated father's day and recreated an old photo from '95::

::celebrated maggie's birthday::

::had a blast being a part of vbs again this year! i think we had 10 kids get saved!! PLUS, another saved in Sunday School last week! God is good!::

::we made it in the paper!::

::headed over to the west side for the annual waldron family reunion and got to spend some time with grandma::

::good times bowling with family and friends::

::held a backyard campout for our 4-6 grade sunday school class::

As you can see, a lot has been going on around here. It seems that once May/June hit it's been non-stop! Next week will bring even more fun as Maggie & I head off to camp with 6 girls. I'm really looking forward to spending time and connecting more with them, and am praying that God works in all of our lives. 

Mom

Insta{friday}

Wow, I was looking back to see when I last did insta{friday} and it's been 2 months ago! Here's a peek at what's been going on the past couple months.

{Happy 3rd Birthday, Braxton!}

{Proof. Not all of my baking turns out. Coffee cake a la mess anyone? At least it tastes good!}

{'Jeff Gordon' has been hanging out at my house this week ;)}

{Pretty coffee}

{Awesome time at Ladies SPARK!}

{Costumes for Ladies Retreat - theme was Somewhere In Time}

{1 Corinthians 1:26, 27a - we don't have to be anything special for God to use us...just be willing!}

{At last, I've found true love <3 #growaboyfriend}

{'Date night' at the park #takeout #stargazing #itscold}

{*oh, what a beautiful morning!* Psalm 118:24 - This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.}

{Saw a commercial today for a pancake pan...been craving them ever since! #bananapancakes}

{From Braxton :) I remember being highly offended when I was younger that some little girl was picking flowers out of our yard! Little did I know they were actually considered weeds! Haha}

{Passed the half-way point! No matter how many times I read through the Bible, I always find 'new' things. #livingBook #foodforthesoul #newtestamentin60days}