Snow’s coming.

The nation’s being blanketed with snow this week, and we’re no exception. Just  two to four inches though, so it’s really nothing to stress about. Just a reminder for us to slow our lives down a bit, take our time, and stay put & rest.

 

 

I’m ready for summer – the sun is my happiness & the warmth is coveted right now, but I can’t deny the beauty a fresh coating of the white icy snow. It covers over everything with no exceptions, covering the dingy salty dirt left from the roads, and erasing the trampled footprints from the yards, a clean white reminder of the redeeming grace that washes our sins.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” Isaiah 1:18

I’m secretly praying to get snowed in sometime soon {at home, with my husband, during the work week} Wouldn’t that be amazing!

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Mixin’ it up.

Lots of things going on {big surprise, I know.} I’m feeling rushed, so I’m gonna go with the list style today. Mixin’ it up for ya.

1. Yesterday was my mom’s birthday, so I’d like to wish her a happy birthday on the good ol’ blog. :)

2. I played around with my blog design a bit. Not sure how long I’ll keep it this way, and I’ll probably change it up even more in the next couple days. I wanted to be able to post my pictures larger, and well, from the looks of my massive face staring back at me, I guess it worked. I’d like to change the background image, but it’s proving to be a bit more complicated on my system. For those of you on google reader {which is amazing btw. You should def. get it if you don’t already use it!} here is my new header. Thoughts? I can change out my pics in it anytime.

3. I have at least two recipes to share asap. Two really stinkin good ones to boot. One is for a biscotti that I make every Christmas. To say it’s amazingly delicious is a vast understatement. The other’s a cheese fondue, also top-of-my-list delish.

   

4. We celebrated Christmas with my mom’s side of the family. A little late, but still nice. And I got to see these two handsome boys, my cousin’s sons, who have been living in Germany.

5. I also gave some crafty gifts at that get-together, so I can finally blog about the details {soon.}

6. Eugene & I had a fabulous date night Friday night that included Olive Garden & Lowes. We had to laugh at enjoying perusing Lowes holding my husband’s hand & dreaming of how we’ll work on our house. Here’s my ravioli stuffed with Portobello mushrooms & us in the light section! And, an obvious wondrous thing – someone paid for our meal at Olive Garden. We saw the principal from Eugene’s school there, so we’re thinking it was him, but it was SO kind! I definitely want to pass it on & pay for some random stranger’s meal sometime soon.

7. We still haven’t closed on the house yet, but since it looks more & more like it’s really gonna happen, we got a nice couch & chair {for free from a friend’s boss = wondrous thing again} and a huge dresser/cabinet thing from craigslist for 10 bucks. All that to say, our condo is PACKED full of stuff now. Picture a HUGE couch crammed in our dinning area here…

8. I still have to re-do my signature so the judgment-free zone is requested on that for the time being.

9. Had to end with #9. I was #9 in volleyball in college…represent! ;)

Anyhow, lots more happened this weekend, but rather than annoy you with any more of this list, I’ll just fill you in over this week’s posts.

Humbling honor paid.

Tragedy hit locally, you may have read about it or heard about it on TV. It even made CBS Early show’s new stories. One of the thousands of people who willingly work as service men and women for our country was killed in a shoot out. Deputy Suzanne Hopper was a mother and wife, and she was honored today in a funeral procession. My co-workers and I stood outside to show our sympathy and also our gratitude to the other’s who place their lives in terrible and deadly situations just to keep us safe. The line of vehicles consisted of only service vehicles – police cars, State Highway Patrol cars, EMT trucks, Dare SUV’s, fire trucks, etc.

With the flag half-mast behind us, it was a sobering, humbling experience to watch as hundreds of vehicles slowly drove past us.

One hour of cars passing us, full of service men and women paying tribute to a fallen friend.

Even the sky held people giving honor.

Eugene & my devotion last night was out of 1 Peter, and while I wasn’t thinking of it this way last night, I can’t help but apply it to this situation now.

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you….

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Please keep Deputy Hopper’s family in your prayers. Some of her family attends our church and requested prayer for her children especially. Our life is but a breath. Humble yourself, recognize God’s mighty hand, and be thankful for all those who sacrifice for you.

Getting even closer.

We got our appraisal report yesterday & the house value came back listed where we needed it to be {thank You, God!} We’re still not ready to close yet because the bank has to have the plumbing work completed, but, as far as I know, once that’s complete, we’re out of the woods! What a long journey this has been! {We put in our first offer on this house in October!}

Like I’ve mentioned before, this is a bank-owned, foreclosure that hasn’t been lived in in over a year {closer to two, I believe.} It’s outdated, dirty, and hasn’t been loved by its most recent owner {to say the least}, but Eugene & I are excited to make it our beautiful home. It’s gonna be a load of work, but hopefully we can enjoy the process together. :)

I’ve already begun brainstorming “mood boards” for each room & renovation project. Wanna see what I mean? Okay.

Lots to think about, lots to plan, lots to budget for, and lots to pray about for sure, but, what a blessing this is!

The heavens declare.

Lately, the sun has been setting at the same exact time I’ve been getting in my car to go home from work. I’ve rushed home to try to catch it in time to snap a few pictures {because I never get tired of taking sunset photos}, but each time, I’m just a hair too late. So this week, I pulled over. Walking in an empty random parking lot, I stopped to listen to the skies declaring His glory.

And I snapped some pics to remember the beautiful color pallet He chose for that particular evening. It floors me how God can create a sunset and sunrise every day for countless years, yet every sunset and sunrise is unique – different colors, different flares, different fades, different angles. He’s amazing, really.

I rarely do much{if any} editing to pics I take of sunsets & rises…God’s work is too beautiful to touch.

Cold winter sunsets make warm golden red tones.

And, to add wondrous thing to wondrous thing, I caught the start of the sunset this morning getting in my car to head to work.

 

This morning, I’m trying to focus on the peace God offers with each sunset and sunrise. Every day the sun sets and rises. Every day. Ever think about that? It’s a miracle really, every day. He is constant, reliable, and never fails. God never leaves us in the dark for long. And I’m praising Him for the sunrise today.

 

 

My most requested dish.

Every Christmas Eve breakfast, and many other occasions, I have received requests for this dish, and of all my recipes, it’s probably my favorite {or at least top 5}. Plus, it’s super easy. Enough build up for you? Okay, the dish is… Monkey Bread!

I first had this a long time ago while visiting my aunt in Michigan. I begged her to share the recipe, and years later I’m still making it all the time.

Now, there’s lots of monkey bread recipes out there, and I’ve tasted a good amount of varieties, but this recipe tops ‘em all. It’s absolutely delish, perfectly gooey, sweet, unhealthy, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness. My brother-in-law explained it to his little cousin as “candy for breakfast.”

I’ve made it a few times already since I started blogging my recipes to keep them all organized in one place, but I’ve never taken good pictures of the process. Still not great pics, but I’m tired of looking up the recipe each time, so it’ll have to work!

Monkey Bread

18 frozen parker house rolls
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 box of instant butterscotch pudding
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 stick of butter {don’t even try to substitute it…just deal with the fattening factor…it’s definitely worth it in this case}

Sometimes it’s hard to find the right rolls at the grocery store. The rolls look like this baked normally…

Photo Source

But if you have to get regular frozen rolls {not the kind with 3 parts} or even if you have to use a frozen loaf of bread thawed and cut into pieces, it’ll still work.

Another nice factor, I usually make this the night before so it has all night to rise and then I can bake it right when I wake up & it’s ready for breakfast with no work that day.

Spray your Bundt pan with nonstick spray. Lay frozen biscuits around Bundt pan. Mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and pudding mix.

Sprinkle this mixture on top of your frozen rolls. {Remember, this pic shows a loaf of thawed bread dough cut into small pieces, but it’s best to have frozen rolls here.}

Melt your stick of butter & pour the fatty goodness over the bread & sugar. {Did this make anyone else think of the song “Pour Some Sugar On Me”? Just me, okay.}

Loosely cover it with buttered saran wrap and let rise over night – no more than 8 hours. After it’s risen {probably almost above the top of the pan}, preheat your oven to 350°. Bake it for 20 minutes and prepare to be amazed. Flip upside down on platter very carefully and eat/devour it before it’s cooled.

Oh, and go ahead and lick the plate afterwards because you won’t want to miss any of that melted sugary, buttery coating. {I won’t tell.}

It’s a new year full of potential.

I’m excited for 2011. We’ve had a boatload of wondrous things & changes in 2010 – birth of baby Cate, Eugene landing a long-term subbing job and then a full-time teaching job, Eugene taking on two coaching jobs, bringing home our great pup Espn, moving from one apartment to our condo {the list goes on} – but I’m thinking that 2011 could be a year of even bigger wondrous things & even more changes. :)

I don’t really have any resolutions this year, or at least nothing written out and carved in stone. I’ve considered a few life matters I’d like to improve upon though. Not necessarily as a task list for this year, but a perspective I hope to keep as I get older.

I pray that I become a better wife,

more selfless and thoughtful.

I pray that I become a better giver,

more wildly generous and heartfelt.

I pray that I become a better follower of Christ,

more positive and brave.

I pray that I become a better example,

more trusting and immersed in the Word.

We enjoyed celebrating the New Year with our small group from church of other newlyweds. Enjoyed food & some competitive group games.

 

Here’s the girls from our Cleaver’s small group…

Then, out of a longstanding tradition, Eugene & I went over to Libby & Scott’s house to watch the ball drop. Scott got home just in time for the to get depressed while watching Dick Clark & a crowd of crazy people count down {who the heck was that girl with the bright blue lipstick next to Ryan Seacrest?!}. I just feel so sorry for Dick Clark. Anyway, we enjoyed some quality time with great friends. And we’re super pumped for baby Griffin to make his debut sometime this month!

 

Also, on the home front, we {finally} have the appraisal scheduled for the house we’re trying to buy. So with that last large step in the process, we’re praying that God blesses us with a new home in 2011!