Attempt at Cake Baking/Decorating

My parents' 30th wedding anniversary is this Tuesday. In honor of their anniversary, I came up with this grand idea of baking a nice cake and decorating it all pretty to take to church today. See, I have this wild imagination and I like to pretend that I am creative and crafty. In my head, I'm a photographer, an interior decorator, a baker, a chef, an artist, and a seamstress. But that's just in my head. When I try to put these things into action, it usually ends up a big mess and I get frustrated....such was the case today.

Anyway, back to the cake...I came up with this delicious sounding cake: Double Chocolate Raspberry. It was going to have one layer of chocolate cake, a raspberry filling, and a white cake, all frosted with white chocolate frosting. Then I would use my awesome cake decorating tools to make a pretty border, maybe some flowers and writing. It was going to be perfect!

I looked up recipes for chocolate cake, white cake, raspberry filling, and white chocolate icing from scratch....none of it looked too hard. I made sure I had all the ingredients and made a quick trip to the grocery store. I was set to go!

Saturday morning I got up early and started baking. I whipped up the two cake layers and set them to baking. All was going great....until I took the cakes out of the oven.

The white cake looked great! Nice and fluffy, not raised in the middle, just perfect! The chocolate cake, however, was a different story! It was about a half an inch thick and weighed around 2 pounds! It clearly didn't go well. I was frustrated, but couldn't do anything about it because I had to get ready to head out to my best friend's graduation.

On my 2.5 hour car ride over to the graduation, I figured out what the problem was. The recipe I used for the chocolate cake didn't call for any baking powder! How can you make a cake without baking powder?!? Isn't that what gives it the fluffiness and makes it rise?

This morning I got up early and was determined to finish this cake. I found a new recipe for chocolate cake, whipped it up, and set it to baking. Meanwhile, I got the raspberry filling and white chocolate icing ready. The icing was tricky...I made it about 3 times before I decided it would have to do.

I hate icing cake! I can never get it even. I get clumps of cake in the icing. I make a huge mess. By the time I got the cake iced in a way that didn't look like a 2 year old did it, there wasn't any time (or patience) left to do all the fancy flowers and piping. So, I took the easy road and placed milk chocolate and white chocolate chips around the edges, put a few fresh raspberries on the top and around the border and called it done.

Whew! What an adventure! The kitchen was a royal disaster when I got through! I'm so glad my husband, Mr. Clean himself, wasn't home! He would have had a few words to say about the mess I created!

This is just a sneak peak at the mess....I couldn't bring myself
to posting a picture of the entire mess!

I carried the cake to church (which was another tricky task, considering I didn't have a cake carrier) and pulled it out at lunch time. I presented it to Mom and Dad and took a nice picture of them with it.

All of the cake got eaten at church, which I guess is a good sign! All in all, it was a good experience. I learned a few things along the way:

• Don't try to be Superwoman! I shouldn't have done everything from scratch. I think it would have been good to buy boxed cake and use that, but it was a good lesson.
  
• You really need a good oven to do baking. Our oven is like a 55 year old going through menopause! It can't decide what temperature it wants to be, which causes some problems when baking.
• Make sure your butter is soft when trying to make icing. Melted butter inhibits the fluffiness and whipped effect of icing.
• Don't try to bake and decorate a cake on Sunday morning. It really ruins the mood!
• Finally, I'm a loooooooong way from being on Ace of Cakes!

The final product!


Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Laundry Day

Last week Chris hung a clothesline in the back yard for me. Actually, he ended up hanging 4 separate clotheslines! The more the merrier, right? I've been wanting a clothesline for a while and our dryer isn't working so great these days, which gave us even more reason to hang the line. So now that the weather is nicer, I get to use the clothesline instead of the dryer!

While my wonderful husband set to work hanging the line, I got busy making a clothespin bag. I looked up a pattern online and loved how it turned out. It was so easy and only took me about an hour!

This week was my first time using the line for laundry day and....I LOVE my clothesline! I love hanging up the clothes, I love looking out the kitchen window and seeing the clothes blowing in the wind. I love the smell of the clothes when I take them off the line. It makes me look forward to the next laundry day!

Graduation

The past four years have been filled with a lot of changes, a lot of excitement, a lot of learning, and a lot of growing. The decision to go to college after high school was a hard one for me. I knew I didn't want to be a career woman. My heart was (and still is) to be a wife, a stay-at-home mom, and to home school my children. The Lord helped me make the decision by providing the blessing of a scholarship to a nearby college. So, in August of 2005, I headed off to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, just 25 miles from the house where I had spent the last 18 years of my life. I signed up as a Special Education major, bought all the appropriate gear to be a college student and left the nest.

My freshman year of college was rough. I wasn't excited about college. As I told almost everyone who asked my about my plans after high school, I was just doing this to pass the time until I could meet a man to marry and move on with my life plans. I was determined that college was going to be a bad experience. I went through a rebellious stage and made some poor decisions during those years. I pulled away from a lot of relationships that were vital to me. I became very introverted. I really lost all sense of purpose, direction, and reliance on God. I wasn't sure why He hadn't allowed me to follow through the plans I had created and felt were right. I was lost and really didn't care.

Thanks be to God, He was still in control. I met some wonderful women that year who God used to get me back on track. I was involved in starting a Women's Bible Study on campus. Unintentionally, I had great accountability partners and friends. It wasn't until after that year that I realized how much of an impact these women had on my life. I am continually amazed at the mysterious ways in which God moves. His ways, His plans, and His guiding are often unknown until a culminating event brings them all to light. I can't exactly pinpoint the time when this happened for me, however, my life changed after that first year of college.

The summer between my freshman and sophomore year was interesting. I had this idea that I was to end my time at college. I felt God was calling me to serve Him more wholly. Because I had had a rough year, I had my mind set that there was no way I could serve the Lord to my fullest potential while a college student. My mind changed on this from week to week, and often from day to day. One day I was determined to make the most out of my college experience. I was going to join every student group possible, take challenging classes, and maybe even study abroad! While the next day, college was the last thing I wanted to do. It was a place where I strayed from God, I had no need for a college education, and I wasn't going to enroll for the next semester. I was one confused girl!

After much prayer, much crying, and much discussion with my parents, I decided I would go ahead and enroll in the next semester and see how I felt at Christmas break. This was an acceptable compromise, but I just knew I wouldn't be back after that! Thankfully, the Lord showed me down His path and gave me peace. The fall semester of my sophomore year was a turning point. I spent every day praying for God to reveal His will for me. Meanwhile, I spent a lot of time with my sister-in-Christ, Shelly, who did an amazing job encouraging me. She never judged me or looked down on me when I shared with her my feelings about quiting school. She challenged me to pray about how I could serve Christ in a bigger way as a student. We shared the struggle of giving Him our most while also dedicating time to our studies and trying to battle the diverse temptations that occur while living on a college campus.

Throughout that time, we also started riding bikes with (my now husband) Chris. Shelly was of the thought that this was just something fun to do and get our mind off studying. I, on the other hand, had the agenda of getting to spend more time around Chris without anyone thinking much of it! But that's a whole different story..... Anyway, during these bike rides, I would often talk about my desires to quit school. I would nonchalantly ask Chris his opinion, with a two-fold purpose: 1). I honestly wanted his counsel about it, and 2). I knew I wanted to be his wife and I was trying to figure out if he had any feelings for me. (Because, if he had feelings, then he probably wouldn't want me to finish college, since we would quickly get married and have cute babies, right?) Chris was very good to always encourage me to press on. His counsel was similar to Shelly's: God was calling me to serve Him in a place where His name wasn't boldly proclaimed.

After Christmas break that year, I decided that I was going to finish school. God was going to give me the strength, but I needed to make some changes. Those changes included moving off of campus and back home with my parents. By doing this, I could follow the feeling of needing to be under my parents' protection and authority, while still getting and education that I could use in a way glorifying to the Father. This decision to move home was not met with much approval from my friends, which taught me the importance of being bold about my feelings of God's calling.

The next 2.5 years weren't a walk in the park by any means, but they were easier. During that time God made known to Chris and me that we were to be together. I am incredibly thankful for the Lord's guidance in making His will known in His time. The encouragement that my husband has given me as I finished school is amazing. In the times that I wanted to throw in the towel and give it all up, he encouraged me to keep going. He reminded me that I can make a difference in the lives of children I teach. Even when I was placed in a rough school and I hated going each day, he kindly reminded me that God has called us to be salt and light. He reminded me that God would use me in an amazing way and I needed to glorify His name at all times. There are not words to express my thankfulness to him for these encouraging words and loving reminders.

Now as I sit here, the realization that I am a college graduate has not quite set in completely. I don't feel much different having tossed my tassel from the right to the left. I don't feel much different having heard my name announced, walked across that stage, and holding a fake diploma in my hand. Sure, it's strange to be called "Mrs. Crouse," and actually be looking for a real job. But, the biggest difference is in the lessons I've learned about the faithfulness of God in times when I feel like I'm following a muddy path.

Chris preached a sermon this morning that helped bring this home. In Psalm 139, David writes about the knowledge of God. "O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." He knew that I would make it through that first year and a half of college when I thought it was ridiculous. He knew the impact those women, especially Shelly, would have on my life. He knew the outcome of those bike rides with Chris. He knew the purpose for sending me to classrooms and schools that were beyond my comfort level. And today, He knows the plans for us. He knows if I will be used to make a difference in the lives of students. He knows if my education will be useful in raising and education our own children. He knows. He knows. He knows.

I wouldn't change the past four years for anything. Sure, I made some bad decisions and experienced discouraging times. However, I am thankful for those experiences. I am thankful for each turn of the wheel that helps the Potter mold the clay. I am thankful for His unseen hand when I can't see and when I'm too stubborn to look. I am thankful for the people the Lord uses to help guide my path. I am thankful for His unending mercy.

My wonderful support system.

His support and encouragement is amazing!

Fun with the camera

During Christmas break I decided to start a project. I wanted to make Christmas presents for my brothers. One day when surfing around on the Internet, I found this cool idea of spelling out your last name in pictures. The website was pretty cool, but awfully pricey. I figured I could try creating this artwork myself. I borrowed my dad's nice camera and set out on a scavenger hunt for letters. Here's what I came up with:

This is the one I did for Bryan and Jenn:


This one was for Isaac and Heather:


*I realize the R in this one looks more like an F...I was very disappointed in how this turned out. However, it makes it even more abstract!

I had a lot of fun working on this project. I even started collecting more letters with the hopes of making some money off it some day.

Part of our final exam for my Methods for Teaching Reading and Writing class involved writing a narrative essay to help us learn to teach the writing process. Our topic for the essay was "A Life-Changing Event." This was definitely one of the funnest exams I've had throughout college. I enjoy writing and I especially enjoyed writing on this topic.

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With This Ring

“Only a few more seconds," Tracy assured me as I stood behind the wooden barrier. On the other side everyone was waiting for my big moment. As I waited, the knots in my stomach were becoming tight enough to secure a barge to a dock. My knees were shaking as if a train had just passed in front of me. My hands were as cold and wet as snow on Christmas morning, yet every drop of moisture had escaped from my mouth. The thought of everyone turning to look at me was nearly unbearable. “Is this day really finally here?” I thought. It was July 5, 2008, the day I married my best friend and the day my life changed in the best way.

My eyes popped open and I jumped out of bed long before the sun was up that morning. An 11 o’clock wedding meant getting up before the birds to start the beautification process. We spent hours working on that picture perfect hairdo and flawless makeup. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, my big moment had arrived. I was standing behind the huge wooden doors clinging to my father’s arm. My friends, Tracy and Michelle, made sure my dress looked perfect, every strand of hair was in the right place, and the Bible I was holding was positioned just right in my arms. Michelle comforted and encouraged me as we waited behind the doors.

Tracy assured me the wait would only be a few more seconds, but those few seconds seemed to pass slower than molasses on a cold day. I listened as the pianist finished the last few notes of “Canon in D.” I could already hear the sound of sniffles and noses being blown as I listened through the doors. “What if I trip as I’m walking down the aisle? What if I forget my vows? What if I cry too much?” The list of possible unfortunate events scrolled through my mind. Finally, there was an anxious pause in the music. The church was filled with deafening silence. The only sound in my ears was that of my heart beating loud and fast. Then I heard what I had been waiting for, the beginning notes of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” the song I had chosen to walk down the aisle to. I listened and attempted to calm my nerves. At last I could feel the heavy wooden doors whoosh open in front of me and it was my big moment. My eyes instantly darted to the front of the church and locked with the eyes of my best friend, the man who would become my husband in just a few minutes. I could see his eyes well up with tears and his face fill with his captivating smile. That moment is captured in my mind as a sacred photograph to be cherished for a life time.

The time came for me to take that first step down the seemingly never-ending aisle. My eyes stayed locked on my destination, with exception of the few quick glances toward the gathering of loved ones. Each glance was met with smiles, tears, and winks. What a joy and blessing to be surrounded by such love and support! The thought nearly overwhelmed me as I uttered thanksgivings to the One who had orchestrated such an event.

With each step down the aisle I could feel my face getting brighter than a tomato ripening on the vine. The reality of an entire congregation focused solely on me sank in. At that moment I was thankful for my father’s strong arm holding me up. I had always admired his strength and support, and my admiration was abundant at that moment. Together, we finally reached the end of the aisle. After a sweet prayer by my grandfather and a warm embrace with my father, I took my groom’s hand. The transfer from one set of strong and supportive hands to another was smooth and tearful. I finally felt safe and comfortable next to my Beloved. The next step was to promise our lives and commitment to each other. He promised me safety, support and protection for our life together. With complete confidence, I looked into the eyes of my best friend and said those sacred vows. It was at that moment that my life changed. I vowed to love, honor, support, obey, and follow my husband every day for the remainder of our lives. I promised to be loyal and faithful to God first and to this man as my husband. I chose to have my life change on that day and it was a wonderful and rewarding choice.

Tagged

I've been tagged by Strem, so here it goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? On the kitchen counter
2. Your significant other? My wonderful husband of almost 5 months, Chris
3. Your hair? brown
4. Your mother? A wonderful and sweet woman and a great mom
5. Your father? He's hard-working, very dedicated to his family, and a great father.
6. Your favorite thing? Kind words and a good hug.
7. Your dream last night? It was a sad one.
8. Your favorite drink? Sweet tea
9. Your dream/goal? To be a great wife and to always be in the center of God's will
10. The room you're in? Living room
11. Your hobby? Reading, sewing, other crafty kind of things
12. Your fear? People touching my neck and being home by myself at night
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Living in our own home and perhaps with a child or two
14. what you are not? doing my projects for school
15. muffins? Love them, especially blueberry with some butter, chocolate chip, banana nut, oh yum!
16. one of your wish list items? A deep freeze, a new couch, books, our own home. Wait, I guess it only said one wish list item. ;)
17. Where you grew up? Highland IL
18. The last thing you did? made some broccoli-rice casserole and snacked on some yummy dip my husband made
19. What are you wearing? jeans and a brown t-shirt
20. Favorite gadget? computer
21. Your pets? just the stray cats that like to sleep on our patio
22. your computer? Toshiba
23.Your mood? Thankful
24. Missing someone? My family
25. your car? My husband lets me drive his Impala
26. something you are not wearing? shoes
27. Favorite store? JcPenney, Borders, Kohls, Hobby Lobby
28. Like someone? Yes, I like a lot of people
29. Your favorite color? It changes, but green is rather consistent
30. When is the last time you laughed? A few minutes ago when my husband was trying to tickle me
31. Last time you cried? I don't remember, maybe last week sometime.

One Year Ago...

November 10, 2007 was a very important day that changed my life.

On that day, a very handsome young man showed up at my parents' doorstep carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This young man escorted me to his car and took me out for a very nice supper. The conversation was enjoyable, although I don't remember much of what we talked about because my nerves got the better of me.

After supper, this young man surprised me with a carriage ride through downtown St. Louis. I was very excited and impressed. If I remember correctly, I believe my response was something along the lines of, "Are you kidding me?!?" as I nearly propelled myself out of the seat. You see, I had long dreamed of a perfect date which involved a carriage ride through downtown. The carriage ride was incredible and better than I could have ever imagined.

As this young man took me home, he shared with me his interest in beginning a relationship. I was then able to share my own feelings and desires for a relationship with this young man. I was able to finally release what I had been holding inside for so long. We enjoyed a long conversation regarding our relationship and our desires for a God-honoring relationship. After the serious discussion was over, we spent a great deal of time laughing about the production involved in making our first date take place. Unbeknownst to me, nearly everyone in my life was aware of this young man's feelings toward me. Everyone, except me.

Now, one year later, I am blessed to be married to this young man. It's hard to believe that one year has passed since that wonderful night. The past year has been exciting, joyful, and amazing with this young man in my life.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday! I am blessed to be married to a man who is so hard working, loving, and honoring to the Lord. I love you Sweetheart!

Wedding Pictures

Happy Birthday!

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!

We hope you have a wonderful birthday! We are blessed to have you as our father!

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo

I went to visit some family in Tupelo, MS a few days ago. It was a very relaxing and fun-filled trip. I enjoyed spending time at the Montessori school that my aunt owns. My cousin, Hayden, and I had a water fight, which was a lot of fun and made me feel like a little kid again.

On Saturday, my 2 aunts, 2 cousins, and I visited the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo just down the street from my aunt and uncle's house. The zoo part has several exotic animals and a petting zoo, as well as animals you would typically see at a zoo. The cool part is that the animals are all a lot closer to you than they are at most zoos. Also, you can buy bags of food to feed some of the animals. We were able to feed the giraffes, ponies, zedonks, goats, emus, llamas, deer, rabbits, and alpacas.

We also took a trolley ride around the grounds of the park and saw hundreds of buffalo, zebra, donkeys, Texas Longhorns, and even a camel. It was a lot of fun!

L to R: cousin Hayden, me, cousin Adam (is he cool or what?), and Aunt Daphnea

I am feeding Tall Boy, the giraffe.

This is a close-up of Tall Boy eating out of my hand. If I wasn't fast enough, he liked to wrap his tongue around my arm. It was kind of gross, but kind of funny and cute!

Kimberly was trying to get me to kiss Tall Boy. As cute as he was, there was no way in the world I was going to stick my mouth on that thing!

A hilarious picture of a goat waiting for some food! This picture makes me laugh every time I see it!

Finally, a picture of my two very handsome and adorable cousins.

Pictures

Dad recently purchased a new camera and I LOVE it! I'm clearly not an expert at photography, but I do enjoy playing around. Here are a few photos I've taken this week:

Note: The photo above was inspired by Tasha.

And just to prove that I can take pictures of something other than flowers...(Tasha, please don't get mad that I put this one on here. It really is a good picture of you!)

In other news....the wedding is in 37 days! We're very busy with the final details, but I'm very excited and can't wait! :)

Only 4 months to go...

Our wedding day is only 4 months away! In some ways it seems so far away, yet it also seems like it's going to sneak up on us. The planning is going well so far. There are several big things that have been decided. There are also several big things that are still undecided.

Here's what has been accomplished so far...

-The date: July 5, 2008

-The wedding party

-The officiant: my grandfather

-The colors: sage, cream, and khaki

-Invitations and programs have been purchased

-Bridesmaids' dresses have been picked out

-Fabric for the bridesmaids' dresses has been ordered


Hopefully the ceremony and reception locations will be decided on soon. The cake, flowers, and decorations are the next big items that need to be finalized. Oh yeah, and a dress for me! Oh, and the guys' suits and ties. And, the wedding favors. And....oh boy, we've got a lot to do!!

Valentine's Day

On Thursday evening, a very handsome man picked me up at my front door, flowers in hand. We were off to enjoy a date together, of which he kept all the details a surprise! We headed to downtown St. Louis for dinner at Carmine's. It was a very nice restaurant and the food was great!

After dinner we went to Forest Park. This is one of my favorite areas of St. Louis. I have fond memories of going to the zoo as a child. I also love spending Sunday evenings at the Muny during the summer. The park is beautiful and a lot of fun, with so many things to enjoy.

It was a really great night for a walk around the Grand Basin. This is an area at the bottom of Art Hill with a pond and several fountains. It's beautiful to look at during the daytime, but even more so in the evening. We enjoyed a nice, quiet walk around the pond. Then we headed up the hill toward the Art Museum. The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking. It looks out over the Grand Basin area and other areas of Forest Park.

As we were standing there enjoying the view, Chris asked me to be his wife! I said yes, of course. I couldn't have asked God for a more wonderful man to be with and serve the Lord with.

We have set July 5th as the date for the wedding. The weekend was full of making wedding plans. We are so thankful to have two wonderful ladies, Tracy and Michelle, helping us plan the wedding. It has already been such a blessing and a huge help. The planning has already been a lot of fun!

Chris and I ask for your prayers as we continue planning for the wedding. More importantly, we ask that you pray for us as we begin our life together with the Lord.

Recipe 3

Kelly's recipe yesterday got me thinking about orzo. I had never tried orzo until I went to college, but the cafeteria at school makes some of the best orzo. A few months ago I went searching for a recipe that was close and I came up with the one below from allrecipes.com. I recently served it with cod, which is also a recipe from allrecipes.com.

Parmesan Basil Orzo

2 tbsp. butter
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 can chicken broth
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (I usually use dried basil)
garlic, salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and saute until lightly browned.
Stir in chicken broth and bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes.
Mix in parmesan cheese, basil, garlic, salt and pepper.

Cod with Italian Crumb Topping

1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. cornmeal
1 tsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. garlic powder (I used more!)
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
4 cod fillets
1 egg white, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 450*
2. In a small shallow bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, cheese, cornmeal, oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and pepper; set aside
3. Coat the rack of a broiling pan with cooking spray. Place the cod on the rack, folding under any thin edges of the fillets. Brush with teh egg white, then spoon the crumb mixture evenly on top.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork and is opaque all the way through.


*Note: I didn't prepare the cod exactly this way. I dipped the fish in the egg white, then coated it with the crumb mixture before placing it on the pan. It seemed a little easier to me.

Recipe 2

Yellow Cake with Lemon Frosting



Yellow Cake:

2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 1/4 cup milk



1. Grease and lightly flour two round baking pans

2. Combine flour, baking powder, and 1 tsp. salt

3. Beat butter about 30 seconds

4. Add sugar and vanilla, beat until well combined

5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating 1 minute after each

6. Add dry ingredients and milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating after each addition

7. Turn into pans and bake at 375* for 30-35 minutes

8. Cool 10 minutes on wire racks

9. Remove from pans



Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter

2 tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. lemon zest

1 tsp. vanilla

5 cups powdered sugar



1. Beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy

2. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and beat until smooth

3. Add the additional 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until creamy

4. Frost cake and garnish with lemons

Recipe 1

Here's my first contribution to the recipe exchange. This is a chicken salad that is great served on a crescent roll on a hot summer day.

Polynesian Chicken Salad
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 1/2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 cups pineapple tidbits or seedless grapes
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup toasted almond slices
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2. tsp. salt

*Makes about 6 servings

For best results, refrigerate at least an hour before serving.

Lessons in Ephesians

Last night I was spending some time reading my Bible and I turned to the book of Ephesians, not really for any particular reason. I've read this particular book several times and I really enjoy it. I especially enjoyed reading it last night and I was greatly encouraged.

I have the bad habit of speed reading, which can be both good and bad. It's great when I have to read a bazillion pages for school or when I'm just reading for pleasure. However, it's not so good when I'm spending time in the Word and I really need to be soaking up what I'm reading. Lately, I've been working on reading slowly and really focusing on what I'm reading. Well, last night I was so focused and read so slowly that I only got through the first chapter of Ephesians. But, that's OK, because I really enjoyed reading it and meditating on the words contained in the chapter.

I very much enjoy writing letters, even though I don't do it as often as I should. I like to keep in touch with friends and family who I don't get to see often. I also enjoy the opportunity to encourage those who need it. As I was reading this first chapter of Ephesians, I learned a great lesson in letter writing.

First, we have the introduction of who is writing and to whom he is writing. Note especially to whom Paul is writing, "to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Jesus Christ." The faithful in Jesus Christ...what a title! I desire, as we each ought, to be acknowledged as "the faithful in Jesus Christ." However, I know there are many, many days when I don't meet that qualification.

Paul then opens his letter with his greeting to the saints at Ephesus, "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." What I really like about this is that he doesn't spend a lot of time opening his letter. He doesn't inquire about how their great uncle's brother's niece's dog's sister is doing. He doesn't ask about the weather. He doesn't start writing about how nice it is to write to them. He doesn't start writing about everything that is going on in his life. No, he starts by giving a short greeting, then he immediately starts praising God and proclaiming His wonderful works.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Paul doesn't waste any time telling the faithful at Ephesus of the wonderful news of God the Father. He tells them of God choosing us before the foundation of the world, of His adopting us "according to the good pleasure of his will," he tells them that He made us "accepted in the beloved," that we have redemption through His blood, He has forgiven our sins, He has "made known unto us the mystery of his will," he tells us the promise that He will gather His children together one day, and that we have an inheritance in Him. What a way to open a letter to your fellow saints and children of the Heavenly King. There's nothing else that I would rather read about in a letter than the greatness of God, His marvelous works, and His promises to me!

After Paul proclaims the greatness of God and gives praises due Him, he then directly addresses those at Ephesus. He has heard of their faith in Christ and the love they have shown to the saints, and he wants to encourage them. He tells them that he is thanking God for them and praying for them. What exactly is he praying on their behalf? "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints..." He wants the faithful in Jesus Christ to know more about Him. He wants them to more fully know and understand the greatness of God. He is concerned about their spiritual understanding. What an encouragement!

These couple of verses really struck me last night and resonated in my heart. So often I get frustrated when I am attempting to read the Word. I get frustrated that I can't understand what I'm reading. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to me, and I get frustrated. Honestly, in those moments of frustration, I want to give up. I want to throw in the towel and take on the mindset that if God wants me to know what He has written, He will somehow put it on my heart and miraculously have me to know it without putting any effort into it. I realize that I am completely wrong in my thinking. I realize that it's in those moments that I don't deserve to be called the faithful in Jesus Christ. I am thankful to God for showing me the error of my ways, as He is so faithful to do. It is in those moments that I think of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." In order for me to know, understand, and rightly divide the Word of God, I have to study. I have to put some effort into it.

Reading this passage in Ephesians gave me great understanding and encouragement. God the Father gives understanding. He gives us "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." Oh how I pray for God to bless me in my efforts to study. I pray that He might give me understanding. I pray the same for you. I pray for "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened."

May He bless the faithful in Jesus Christ to know His power and His promises. May He bless the faithful in Jesus Christ with the hope of the inheritance. May the faithful in Jesus Christ give the praise and glory due Him. May we proclaim the greatness of God in our daily walk and our interactions with strangers, but mostly in our communication with fellow saints!

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my time, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever."

These are the words of Betty Stam, a Christian killed in China during the 1930s. Betty and her husband, John, were murdered by communists during the Chinese Civil War, leaving their baby daughter behind. This quotation captures the desires of a heart fully committed to serving Christ. Would to God that we each may have this same desire and pray each morning as we wake. I must confess that I fall so short of such commitment.

*This quotation was taken from "A Woman After God's Own Heart," by Elizabeth George. The information about Betty Stam can be found here.

In Christ Alone

I love hymns. I love the simplicity of a capella hymns. I love singing them with the Saints of God or by myself throughout the day. I love listening to professional recordings of hymns. I love meditating on the words to the hymns and thinking about what they mean to me. I love feeling the presence of the Lord when I worship Him through singing hymns.

I also really enjoy listening to contemporary Christian music on occasion. I enjoy music like what we heard at Raise the Praise. I enjoy tuning into the local Christian radio station. Some of these songs are just as powerful and can lift my soul just as much as a good hymn.

One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is "In Christ Alone." I haven't heard this song in a long time, but it just came to mind out of the blue the other day. When it came to mind I couldn't remember many of the words. Actually, I couldn't remember any of the words except "in Christ alone." I finally looked up the lyrics and I'm very thankful I did. The words to this song are powerful and beautiful. It was a great encouragement to me to read through the lyrics and meditate on the truth contained in them.

"In Christ Alone"

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Copyright © 2001 Kingsway

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my all in all—

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied;

For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain;

Then bursting forth in glorious day,

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;

For I am His and He is mine—

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—

This is the pow'r of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home—

Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

You can listen to this song and watch a video here.

O Give Thanks Unto His Name

The Lord has been so good to me, I want to sing His praise,

I want to glorify His name all my remaining days.

The Lord has been so good to me, I will on Him depend;

And ev'ry day where e're I be, I would His truth defend.

As the day in which we take time to give thanks to God for all His blessings approaches, I can't help but to sing this hymn. The Lord has been so good to me throughout all my life, and especially throughout this last year. There are so many things for which to be thankful that I couldn't possible cease from giving praises to Him.

I am thankful for the blessing of health. I am thankful for the blessing of the food I have to eat every day. I am thankful for the abundance of clothes in my closet. I am thankful for the comfortable bed I have to sleep on. I am thankful for the many cars parked outside our house.

I want to follow in His steps and show my love this way;

I want to lift His banner up, each fair or cloudy day.

The Lord has been so good to me, I will on Him depend;

And ev'ry day where e're I be, I would His truth defend.

I am thankful for my sight which allows me to see all His beautiful creations. I am thankful for my hearing which allows me to hear His truth and the singing of praises. I am thankful for my voice which allows me to share the Good News and praise Him. I am thankful for my sense of smell which allows me to enjoy the beautiful flowers and fragrances of the season created by Him. I am thankful for my hands which allow me to grasp the beauty around me and feel as if I am touching my Savior Himself.

I want to mingle with His saints while here on earth I stay,

And meet them on the golden shore on that eternal day.

The Lord has been so good to me, I will on Him depend;

And ev'ry day where e're I be, I would His truth defend.

I am thankful for the church I am a member of. I am thankful for the physical building where I can come out of the world and worship His name. I am thankful for the fellowship with my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I am thankful for the Truth I can read, hear, and believe. I am thankful for faithful ministers who are diligent to teach His flock.

Lord Jesus, wilt Thou mercy show and save me by Thy grace,

That I may when this life is o'er look on Thy lovely face.

The Lord has been so good to me, I will on Him depend;

And ev'ry day where e're I be, I would His truth defend.

I am thankful for the recent sweet times I've had in communion with the Lord. I am thankful for the times when I can fall before His throne and "find grace to help in time of need." I am thankful for answered prayers and for being led by the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for His mercy which is new every morning. I am thankful for the knowledge and hope that one day I will praise Him more perfectly.

And in the land of endless bliss, where all the praise is Thine,

Some humble place at Thy dear feet, may this poor sinner find.

The Lord has been so good to me, I will on Him depend;

And ev'ry day where e're I be, I will His truth defend.

I am thankful for His perfect will and plan for my life. I am thankful for the blessing of this sweet gentleman. I am thankful for the patience and the leading the Lord has shown the two of us. I am thankful for the joy he has brought to my life. I am thankful for his encouragement to love the Lord more perfectly. I am thankful for the peace of God in my heart.

Psalm 92:1-2 "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night"

Psalm 69:30 "I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving."

Oh, the things kids say!

One thing I have loved about doing my field experience at the primary school this semester is getting to hear all the cute and funny things kids say. Rarely a day goes by that I don't laugh about something a student says to me or another student. Of course, some of what they say isn't polite or good, so I have to hide my chuckling at those. Others, however, are just so cute and innocent. Oh, to have the mind of a 6 year old again!

Today, was probably one of the most laughter-filled days I've had this semester. I couldn't stop laughing at what the students were saying. I'm going to share three incidents with you, but remember that they are not going to seem as funny as they were in person.

#1: I walk into the classroom and a boy, S, walks up to show me his outfit.

S: I'm wearing as much camo as possible today, so I can be in the army when I get older.
Me: Wow, that is a lot of camo.
S: Do you think it's enough to be in the army?
Me: Oh, I definitely think so!

#2: I noticed one student sitting in her desk coloring a picture, which is rather unusual. This student usually has to be told what to do about 10 times each morning before everything gets done.

Me: C, good morning! How are you this morning?
C: (sigh) I'm just so exhausted.
Me: Why are you so exhausted?
C: Because I have to dress like the 70's for K's party, and I just don't know how I'm going to do that.
Me: Oh, K is having a 70's birthday party?
C: Yeah, and I just don't know how to dress like the 70's. Everything is going to be soooo big. K, is it alright if I just wear normal clothes?
*At this point, I had to walk away because I couldn't carry on the conversation any longer and cover up my laughing.

#3: I noticed that one student, J, was looking at his book during reading time. He usually isn't doing what he's supposed to be, so when I catch him doing the right thing, I try to praise him and focus on his good work.

Me: J, can you read this book to me?
J: Well, I'm just taking a picture walk. (This is when they just look at the pictures throughout the book.)
Me: Well, when you're done can I hear you read a little bit?
J: I just don't think I can.
Me: Why not?
J: I'm just not into this kind of thing.
Me: What kind of thing?
J: This 3 bears story, I'm just not into that kind of thing.
Me: (trying to hold back laughter) Well, I'm sorry, but during reading you have to be reading the book that the teacher assigns. You don't get to pick.

There were several other things said throughout the day that made me laugh, but these were definitely the funniest.

Psalm 100

As I've been preparing for our meeting that starts tomorrow night, this Psalm keeps coming to mind. Lately, I've really been enjoying reading the Psalms. Some, like Psalm 25, are good to read when I'm feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Others, like Psalm 113 are great to read and give praise to the Lord. It seems to me that there is a Psalm that describes any situation that I could be dealing with. This Psalm, Psalm 100, is a great reminder of the praise we should be giving to the Lord when we gather together to worship. I pray that as tomorrow evening approaches, I might "enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise."

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Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

We'll Wait Till Jesus Comes

We'll Wait Till Jesus Comes

Elizabeth Mills

O land of rest, for thee I sigh!

When will the moment come

When I shall lay my armor by

And dwell in peace at home?

We'll wait till Jesus comes,

We'll wait till Jesus comes;

We'll wait till Jesus comes,

And we'll be gathered home.

To Jesus Christ I fled for rest;

He bade me cease to roam,

And lean for succor on His breast

Till He conducts me home.

We'll wait till Jesus comes,

We'll wait till Jesus comes;
We'll wait till Jesus comes,
And we'll be gathered home.

I sought at once my Savior's side,

No more my steps shall roam:

With Him I'll brave death's chilling tide,

And reach my heav'nly home.

We'll wait till Jesus comes,

We'll wait till Jesus comes;

We'll wait till Jesus comes,

And we'll be gathered home.

Bittersweet Day

Yesterday was a very bittersweet day for me. After 20 months of a great experience, my match with my Little Sister came to an end. Shortly after my 18th birthday I signed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois to be a Big Sister. I had heard about the program through a local news report and new it would be a great opportunity for me. Finally, after over a year of waiting, I was matched up with Dani.

The past 20 months have been a huge learning experience for me. My eyes were opened to a whole different culture than the one I am use to. Even though my Little Sister lives in the Highland area (which is generally considered rather culturally homogeneous), her home culture is radically different from my own. It was enlightening, and often saddening, to share with her in some of the situations that occurred in her home. I can't go into those circumstances for confidentiality purposes, but it will suffice to say they were not ideal situations.

Sadly, the times Dani and I were able to spend together grew very few and far between over the past few months. School and other commitments were creating difficulties in arranging meetings. I knew that I was no longer able to provide the support and relationship that Dani needs from a Big Sister, which led me to close the match. This will allow the case workers at Big Brothers Big Sisters to find a new Big Sister for Dani who will hopefully have more time to commit to the relationship. This was a hard decision for me to make, but I feel like it is the best for both of us.

I will never forget some of the experiences we enjoyed together throughout our relationship. Some of the most memorable include baking cookies together, watching movies, going to Raging Rivers, and visiting the zoo. Dani and her family made a lasting impression on my life. I pray that the Lord might continue to bless her and her family and that she might be able to remember the good experiences we shared.

As we were doing the paperwork to close the match yesterday, Dani was asked what she liked about being a Little Sister and her reply was, "It was the best time of my life!" This was great to hear, but also made me realize that I really will miss being her Big Sister.

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

Psalm 51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Back to School

Today I'm going to do a combination of Strem's post and Liz's post.

As most of you know, school is back in session for those of us here in southern Illinois. Yesterday I began my junior year, diving head-first into the Special Education program. I am now taking all special ed. classes. Well, I do have one Speech Pathology class, but it's part of the special ed. program. The School of Education created a new special ed. program that is in it's first year. Part of this new program is an improved practicum curriculum that has us going into the classroom earlier. So, I get to start observing and helping in a primary class on Thursday. The exciting thing is that I have been placed in the elementary school where I went to school. I'm very excited!

Since Strem's post, "I'm Most Me When..." reminded me of something that might be done on the first day of school, I have decided to make my own list. I borrowed a few ideas from Strem. And, these are in no particular order.

I am most me when...
*I am reading a good book
*I am cooking or baking something for my friends or family
*I am sewing something new to wear
*I pray and read my Bible before I fall asleep
*I sleep in my own bed with new, crisp sheets
*I am playing with children
*I am holding a baby
*I drive with my windows down in the spring or fall
*I take a walk by myself
*I have a good heart-to-heart conversation with a friend
*I am alone in the quietness of my room
*I am worshipping in church
*I am helping someone in need
*I laugh so hard that I start crying
*I talk to my Grandpa about our ancestors
*I make up silly songs about anything and everything
*I write a note or send a card to someone I care about
*I visit with an older person about their past experiences
*I eat ice cream

Baking

Tonight I did one of my favorite things...I spent most of the evening baking. Although my feet are tired and the house is a little warmer than usual by the time I get through, it is all worth it. I decided to make some pancakes and muffins to have in the freezer for use at any time. So, I got some blueberries out of the freezer and set to work finding some good recipes.

Here are the results:

From left to right: Oatmeal Apple Raisin Muffins, Blueberry Pancakes (some got a little too done, oops), and Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

*All the recipes are from "Simply Centsible Breakfasts," an ebook by Crystal Paine.

Sweet Fellowship

This weekend, two of my very good friends and Sisters in Christ came to visit. The Lord was so gracious to us through the weekend. We enjoyed many hours of great fellowship together. On Sunday evening we had a wonderful time at our house in fellowship and celebrating Michelle's birthday. The evening was filled with laughing, singing, and talking about things of the Lord. It was such a wonderful way to end a great weekend and start a new week.

I'm so thankful that the Lord burdened Elizabeth and Karla to make the trip up here and that He provided the way. It was sad to have them leave Monday morning, but I spent the day (and still today) reminiscing about the great weekend. It also made me anxious for the time when we will all be together forever, bowing at the feet of Our Lord and singing "Worthy art Thou." Until that glorious time, I'm just so thankful for the bonds of love and that bind such hearts together, no matter the distance.

Here's a picture of the ladies from Sunday evening.

Cousins

Here is the picture that I promised a few weeks ago. This was from when we took Tasha down to Mississippi and we visited with our family in Tupelo.

From L to R: Alec, Me, Adam, and Hayden

What if His people prayed?

I was listening to a local Christian radio station the other day and I heard a song that has really been stuck on my mind. The song is Casting Crown's "What if His People Prayed."

"What If His People Prayed"

What if the armies of the Lord

Picked up and dusted off their swords

Vowed to set the captives free

And not let Satan have one more

What if the church for heaven's sake

Finally stepped up to the plate

Took and stand upon God's promise

And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed

And those who bare His name

Would humbly seek His face

And turn from their own way

And what would happen if we prayed

For those raised up to lead the way

Then maybe kids in school could pray

And unborn children see light of day

What if the life that we pursue

Came from a hunger for the truth

What if the family turned to Jesus

Stopped asking Oprah what to do

What if His people prayed

And those who bare His name

Would humbly seek His face

And turn from their own way

He said that they would hear

His promise has been made

He’s answered loud and clear, Yeah

If only we would pray

If My people called by My name

If they'll humble themselves and pray

If My people called by My name

If they'll humble themselves and pray

What if His people prayed

And those who bare His name

Would humbly seek His face, Yeah

And turn from their own way

He said that they would hear

His promise has been made

He’s answered loud and clear, Yeah

If only we would pray

What if His people prayed

I had never heard this song before, but it really resonated within me. I didn't quite pick up on all the words the first time, but one verse in particular really stood out to me. The fourth verse says, "What if the life that we pursue came from a hunger for the truth; What if the family turned to Jesus, stopped asking Oprah what to do." I stopped to think about the truth in this statement. So many people turn to anyone and everyone for help before they will turn to the Lord. I wasn't too far into my thought process when I felt that guilty pang in my heart. I am just as guilty of this as the next person.

Job came to mind as I was thinking about this. Job had the three "miserable comforters" with him in the midst of his trials. When his friends caused him more grief rather than comfort, Job then turned to the Lord. What if Job had prayed to the Lord first?

Then I thought about Nehemiah. After hearing about the horrendous situation in Jerusalem, Nehemiah turned first to the Lord. He was quick to kneel before His throne and seek His counsel.

I'm afraid too many of us are guilty of following after the footsteps of Job rather than those of Nehemiah. What if His people prayed? Why do we fail to turn to Him in every situation? It certainly isn't easier to turn to others for help. Your friends and Oprah aren't always available when you need them. Jesus is. Your friends and Oprah might not understand the depth of your troubles. Jesus does. Your friends and Oprah can't calm the seas or command the waves to be still. Jesus can.

We know the Scriptures command us to "pray without ceasing." We know that the Lord answers the prayers of His children. The last verse of the song says, "He said that they would hear, His promise has been made, He’s answered loud and clear."

What if His people prayed?

Cedar Point Recap

Our road trip to Cedar Point ended around 7:00 this morning as we pulled into my house. After driving in the car for 20 of the past 45 hours, I was ready to be home. We had a wonderful trip, but my bed was definitely calling my name.

We spent 12 fun-filled hours at Cedar Point yesterday. In that 12 hours, we rode a total of 18 different rides. As I mentioned in the previous post, Cedar Point is known as "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World," with 17 roller coasters. We rode 14 of the 17 roller coasters.

The first roller coaster that we rode was the Top Thrill Dragster. The ride begins by launching from 0 to 120 mph in 3.8 seconds!!!! It then climbs up 420 feet in the air, rotating 90 degrees, crossing over the top, then dropping the 420 feet back down to the ground, at a 90 degree angle, all in 17 seconds. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of going 0 to 120 mph in 3.8 seconds, or falling 420 feet at a 90 degree angle, but it was incredible. It was definitely a great way to start the day.

The awesome part of the experience is that none of us had a clue as to what each ride was going to entail. We made the mistake of under-estimating a few of the rides. When we got off those, we kind of just looked at each other, surprised at how amazing the ride was. There were also a few that we got really excited about, only to be let down by their lack of thrill.

The Lord was so gracious to us on the trip. We were blessed with safety on the road, safety in the park, good conversation, and good health. One of the greatest blessings of the trip was the free ice water that the park provided for the visitors. At every concession stand, you were able to receive a free cup of ice water. We definitely took advantage of the water and we were so thankful each time. I can't even count the number of times that we commented on how wonderful it was that the park offered the ice water.

For those of you thinking about taking a family vacation any time soon, I would definitely recommend visiting Cedar Point. It is absolutely worth every single penny of what it costs to get in the park. (Which is actually not very many pennies. It is very reasonably priced.)

Road Trip

In about 1 hour I will be hitting the road with some friends from school. Our destination?

We're off to visit The Roller Coaster Capital of the World: Cedar Point!! We will be spending all of Friday at the amusement park. I'm very excited. Please be prayerful for a safe journey and God-honouring fellowship.Hopefully I will be able to give a full report when I arrive home on Saturday.