Rhubarb Crisp

I used to turn my nose up at the thought of rhubarb, but I've been recently turned on to it. Last year we were introduced to some rhubarb cookies that are delicious!

About a week ago, someone brought some rhubarb to church, so I snagged some in hopes of making cookies...but I found this recipe and wanted to give it a try. (I added strawberries to the rhubarb.) Mmm...it was yummy!

Ingredients:
2 pounds rhubarb, sliced crosswise 3/4 inch thick
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine the rhubarb, 1 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup flour; set aside.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine remaining 1/2 cup flour and the butter. Pulse until the butter pieces are pea-size. Add brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon. Pulse to combine. Sprinkle over rhubarb.

Bake until rhubarb is tender and topping is golden, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream, if desired.

Flowers

Want Some Cake?

This is what has been consuming my time the past two nights. Last night I got the cakes baked. Tonight I decorated. I'm not thrilled with the 'Birthday,' but it was to the point of "If I don't leave it alone, I'll make it even worse!" It's not bad, I guess I'm my worst critic.

***Disclaimer***
Some may have read about my disgust for fondant on AKcreations and are wondering why this cake has fondant. While I do detest it, I will make it ONLY...I repeat...ONLY upon request. [At least that's the way I feel right now. ;)]

Garden

Tomatoes

Onions

Strawberries

Peas...That's a pea pod touching the ground

Bell Pepper...it's so cute!

Blue Potatoes...can't wait for blue mashed potatoes! :)

Red Potatoes

Blueberries

Things aren't growing as well as I hoped they would, but that's ok. It's a learning experience. It's always neat to go out and see what else has started growing!

Hwy 20 Update

About 3 years ago, the Lord gave our church a vision to start a new outreach along Highway 20. The goal of this new project was to evangelize 12 cities along the hwy in hopes of seeing a church (or churches) started. There has been a lot of work, time and finances put into this project, but the Lord has blessed our efforts. We have made many contacts and even seen some saved! The doors have been opening specifically in the Methow Valley area, so this is where we've been putting most of our effort. We are currently in the process of trying to get regular Bible Studies set up. Eventually, we'd like to have 2 families move over there, and like I said before, see these Bible Studies turn into a Church.

This past weekend, found 60 people from our church over in the Methow Valley ready to do more evangelizing. It was a great time of fellowship amongst the believers, and we were also blessed to have made many more contacts. In the past, we've focused on trying to get people to agree to do Bible Studies whether it be online or with someone. This time around, we tried to engage people in conversation. Trying to get them to think about things maybe they've never thought about before. Many were able to share the Gospel, sometimes to people who had never heard it before! The Rally went great, we had several visitors come out from the community, including 2 women we've been holding Bible Studies with. It was so encouraging to see them there, and exciting to be able to finally meet them!

All in all, it was a great weekend. Blessing were received, lessons were learned & the Gospel was spread about once again in the Methow Valley!

Excited about not riding on the bus!

Diablo Dam Just hanging around

Waiting for our turn at horseshoes...Brrr!

My lifesaver!

The 3 Stooges + Me ;) hehe

Hwy 20

More to come...

Busyness Abounds

It's been awhile since my last post. Things have been busy as usual. Busy and tired has become the story of my life. There's always something going on. I even took a week of vacation and found myself busy. :0)

Let's see...since my last post, Maggie has graduated and turned 18. Wow, all three of us graduated from highschool! Alyssa & I made the graduation cake. Take a look at AKcreations for the scoop on that. We had a few people over for dinner on Saturday to celebrate Maggie's birthday. I made a pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting...Mmmm. It was nicely decorated if I do say so myself. ;) Saturday was also Dave and Amber's wedding and I was able to help with the cake!

I took last week off and had a great week. Going into it I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do, I just knew that some time off was needed. The Lord knew what He was doing, because I ended up spending the week watching two adorable girls while their mom and dad spent time away due to pregnancy complications. We had great fun going to the park and having a picnic and just spending time together.

This week is another busy one. We're getting ready to head over the mountains for our Highway 20 Campout. We leave Thursday morning and come back on Saturday. Please be in prayer for us as we go door-to-door trying to get more contacts and hopefully see people saved. We'll also be holding an outdoor rally on Friday night. Should be fun! In the past two years we've had our Hwy 20 Project the Lord has really blessed in times of outreach. Not only have we seen fruit from our labours, but it's also a great time of spiritual revival and fellowship amongst those who attend. (For those who are wondering what our Hwy 20 Project is all about, stay tuned. I'll fill you in when I get back.)

I hope you all have a great week! I'll leave you now with some pictures!

Weekend Fun

This weekend was our Annual Family Picnic plus a welcome home party for my cousin, Chris, who just got back from a 15 month deployment. Any bystander would find us standing around talking, eating lots of food, playing horseshoes, or drooling over Chris' new corvette! Fun times!

Update on Travis

Apparently four vertebrae in the lumbar region were broken. They took him into surgery around 8:00 pm last night to do an eight vertebrae fusion. The surgery was successful and he continues to do well. Praise the Lord, he does have some movement in both legs!

Thank you for all your prayers. Please continue to keep them before the Father's throne.

Also, they have asked that no one calls or visits them right now.

Prayer Request

Some of my reader's know who Travis & Joy are. Well, today a log fell on Travis crushing 3 of his vertebrae. The doctors say that he probably won't walk again. I ask that you join us in prayer for this family. They have a son who is only about 2 years old and Joy is expecting their second child. Please pray for the grace to get through this time, and healing if it be the Lord's will. The doctors have no hope, but God can work miracles.

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day as we remember those who laid down their lives for our freedom. May it also be a day to remember the most important sacrifice of all...that of Christ laying down His life for us.

John 15:13 ~ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Garden

We finally got our plants in the ground about a week or so ago. Planting was done on a separate day, and unfortunately the only pictures I have are of the garden after we were done. Since these pictures there are also some tires with potatoes, red & blue! I'll see about getting some pictures of those up soon.

Just Hanging Around

This was alot easier as a child!