Christmas Gift Goodies

I've been planning for a long time (months) what I would be making as Christmas gifts this year. Each year we throw a huge fancy dinner for the leaders in our church. Our party is next Monday so I decided tonight was time to decorate the gift jars. The other day my foster kiddo and I made the soup mixes and put them in the jars and set them aside for decoration on another day. I love receiving a handmade gift myself so I was so excited to make these to give away to such amazing people at our church who dedicate so much of their time to our local body of Christ.

I made creamy potato soup mix and chicken noodle soup mix. We will pair these soup mixes with pewter ornaments my husband buys for each leader every year. It's been a tradition we've had for these last six years.

Recently, during a shopping trip to Target (love that store!) and a shopping trip to the outlets with my mom on black Friday, I found some great deals on small packets of Ghiradelli and Godiva coffee and chocolates. I have a lot of friends who love, love, love coffee. Last year I had picked up some really cute mugs at Wal Mart after Christmas for only 50 cents a mug! So I decided to wrap up these mugs which are filled with gourmet coffee and chocolate. Perfect! I think they turned out pretty cute and the total cost to me, per mug, is only $3.50!

Love this time of year! Just love it!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Today I began my Christmas baking, and yes I know it's only November 30th ;) I wanted to try and create a goodie we would be giving away as a gift this year. Every year Ron and I throw a big Christmas dinner party for the leaders in our church and this year we will be doing the same. We plan on giving these treats away at the party as favors. So I decided to try and make a spoof off a gourmet popcorn we have had several times.

I made sweet and salty kettle corn and then melted milk chocolate and drizzled it over the popcorn. It turned out quite delicious. Ron thinks it needs peanuts so we'll see for next time.

My little family will enjoy this tester version tonight while we watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer :)

Thoughtfulness

One night last week I was sitting on the couch next to Ron and said..."man I could go for some chocolate chip cookies!" Ron said "why don't you make some?" I was too tired to go there that evening.

The next day he and Addy called me at work and told me they had a surprise for me. When I came home from work Ron ran into the kitchen and hid a bag behind his back. He then whipped it out and said "surprise!" He had made me homemade cookies! And let me tell you...he HATES to cook or bake. He totally steers clear of the kitchen when at all possible. So this was SO very special to me.

I am so blessed to have an amazing guy. So blessed. God truly has such an amazing plan for each of our lives.

A Good Reminder

Sometimes when I look at my dining room chairs I think "ugh! They are all stained up and such a mess, I need to re-upholster them to make them look new and fresh." But today I had a different thought process when I looked at my stained and well used chairs. I thought...a lot of ministry has been had here. A lot of love has been given and shared at this table. Yes, the chair has stains and looks pretty pathetic now (8 years after purchasing it). We've had many foster children sit at these seats. Many a conversation was had about "the best part of our day" (a family tradition we share at dinnertime). Many a meeting was held at this table regarding the future of teenagers...many a game was played at this table, and many a memory was made.

So today I say. I love the stains, tears, scrapes along the wood all because it means we were loving others with the Grace of God. I am so very thankful that our home has been a safe haven for those who need a special time away from the pain of this world.

I feel blessed to be used by God in this capacity.

Oreo Truffles

With the holiday season fast approaching I decided to try a few new recipes of goodies I was going to give away as gifts this year. Ron and I have decided to make more handmade gifts this year. So after some thought, I decided to make truffles for my colleagues. I will nestle them in fluted mini cups tucked away in little boxes I made with cardstock.

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, but was kind hesitant about it-yet intrigued at the same time. They actually turned out wonderfully delicious! My whole family loves them. So I decided to add them to my holiday repertoire!

I plan on wrapping the boxes with red satin ribbon. I can't wait to give these sweet little goodies away for Christmas!! This is the BEST time of year.

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
Directions
Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Enjoy!!

The Greatest Gift

I am so very thankful for my salvation. It gives me hope for today, tomorrow, and the future. Without Christ life would be meaningless. I can't even begin to imagine a life without Him. So grateful today, so very grateful.

Washington DC Adventures!

My best friend Jenny came into town for a week long visit. I was so excited to see her, it had been over a year since I'd seen her last. I knew I wanted to take her to NYC for the day since she had never been there before. So we began to plan our trip to New York for Friday of this past week. The night before we checked the weather and saw that it was supposed to be super windy and rainy in the city. So reluctantly we decided not to go up there...but in turn we chose to go to DC seeing that the weather was going to be lovely. We researched where we wanted to go and decided on Georgetown Cupcake-better known as DC Cupcakes from their hit show on TLC. I have to say and I'm totally being honest here...their cupcakes were the best I've ever had! They were so delicious. I bought half a dozen: 2 pumpkin spice, 1 chocolate lava, 1 lemon, 1 coconut, and 1 chocolate peanut butter chip. So GOOD!! When we were at the shop their was a TV crew filming. It was really neat to see all the cameras and both the owners, Sophie and Katherine. My niece, Ashley was able to spend the day with us too. She is probably the most amazing teenage I know. She's got such a great head on her shoulders, she loves God and is so very special to me :) Here are a few shots of Ashley, Jenny, and Me.
After going to Georgetown Cupcake we shopped around Georgetown for a bit then headed off to visit some sights. We ended our day at Comet Ping Pong a pizza joint featured on the Food Network during a taping of Diners Drive-In's and Dives. This place was totally a dive. When we arrived we were told we had to wait a hour to get a table. We waited in the back room where there were ping pong tables. After about 25 minutes we got a turn to play. It was a blast! The time flew by and we were seated before we knew it. The pizza was AMAZING! Jenny and I said it was probably the best we ever had. Brick oven pizza. So very good.

Here we are playing ping pong! Such a funny picture...but so fun!~

I ordered their classic pizza with pepperoni and buttered onions. Oh my so delicious!

All in all a super special day with my super special friend and family. Love, love, love days like these! And who knew we'd find these amazing food joints! Now onto my next adventure....where will that be??? Who knows!

Cultivating Contentment

This week I started a new Bible Study from the Women of Faith series entitled: Cultivating Contentment. My friend from high school Jen, had been blogging about her devotional book and when I looked at her post I realized I had some of the same devotionals. I knew I had bought at least one or two over the years, and soon discovered one in our library this Monday morning. And I have to say it's been a blessing from God this week.

I'm being reminded about many things-about how this world will disappoint me endlessly and how I need to remember that God has a rich blessing in store for me in heaven. Today's devotional was about Restless Souls. "The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less." 2 Corinthians 5:3-5.

"So what is the soul? It is the deepest aspect of ourselves, the spiritual part that cries out for heaven, that is made to be a dwelling place for God. Nothing and no one else can answer that thirst. it is the size of eternity." Sheila Walsh

I prayed tears of longing to the Lord this morning...pouring out my heart to Him and asking for Him to quench my thirst. I long for Him in a way that is new and refreshing to me. I am so grateful to Him for this.

This Week's Blessings

These last 10 days have been AMAZING! Here are the highlights :)

• For my birthday Ron took me to NYC! It was a blast and so very exciting. I was totally pooped by the end of the day, but it was SO very worth it. The love that he showed me by planning this special day was so needed and so appreciated.



• We finalized Addison's adoption this week (on Tuesday). I still can't believe it took 14 months to make everything final. Goodness! I love my little girl with all my heart. She is God's gift to me.



• We had a small get-together after Addison's adoption hearing. The love we felt from our family and friends was so very fulfilling. I really felt supported.



• On Friday night we had a group of young adults from our church over for a bon-fire. It was super fun! We shared some crazy stories, ate yummy food, drank smooth and creamy homemade hot cocoa, and built stronger relationships with one another. I LOVE nights like these :)



• On Saturday my mom and I pulled off a surprise 50th birthday party for our special Friend, June. June attends our church, our relationship began over 5 years ago. She has always been special to me. Over this past year, she has gone through a lot in her own life. He husband left her, and she lost everything. She was at an all time low. But through the love of her community, church, and family, she's been able to move forward one step at a time. We decided it was necessary to throw her a party. She had a BLAST~! She was so surprised and it all worked out beautifully...even the song we sang to her on a whim (at the last minute). It was so fun. I thank my husband for teaching our church family about sharing the love of Christ through acts of kindness and community care.



• The culmination of the week was today: Pastor Appreciation Sunday. Our Vice Chairman for the board at our church always does an amazing job at celebrating my husband and I for our service to the church. Today was extraordinary. There were special songs, presentations, gifts, cards, gift cards, goodies, hugs, lovin', and a special dinner. I always feel so special in October; our church does a spectacular job at showing us love :)



• One final small blessing: My mom and my aunt bought us two large boxes of diapers! That is such a blessing to our little family. Money is tight but we try really hard to manage it well...so even diapers are a GREAT help.

I feel loved. Really loved. I use an analogy often times about a tank when it comes to love and life. I can tell when my tank is low, ok, or full. Today, it's full. I have a grateful heart this evening. God is so good. Ron, Addy, Me, Lee (our LBA Vice Chairman), Ruth (AKA-Cook, wife of the Vice Chair)

She Is

Many times I've needed her in my adult life. She's always been there. She provides advice with a gentle touch and a loving heart. She wants the best for me. She's my cheerleader. She's my encourager, my teacher, and my mentor. I admire the ways she gives so freely to people who need a special touch from the Savior. She loves people who are hurting and so evidently shows it to those in her circle of ministry. She loves her family to the point of pain many a time in her life. She wholeheartedly loves her Lord. She would do anything for Him. I hope to be the woman she is one day. The Lord has blessed her and she is humble and sweet spirited. She works hard and always tries her best. I love her. She's my best friend.

Proverbs 31:29

"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all"

New York City Birthday Trip!!

Ron knows I love NYC. Love it. I would actually live there if I could make that possible. So one day he asked me to make a list of all the places I'd like to visit in New York. Since I've been there many times, I've seen all the major sights of the city. BUT, there were a TON of foodie places I had always wanted to visit. Places I had read about in magazines or had seen on The Food Network. So for my birthday he took me to NYC! :) He took me on a tour of three of these "foodie" places that I had been dreaming of visiting. Starting with Chelsea Market in the meatpacking district. Chelsea Market is underneath The Food Network Studios. Chelsea Market is an enormous Wholesale/Retail Food complex that takes up an entire city block. In 1898 it was the original Nabisco Bakery where the Oreo Cookie was created. It now houses 12 of New York City's finest specialty food shops. We took a tour of the market and we learned about its history, viewed original artwork and granite sculptors from local New York artists, and learned how it became the ultimate indoor food paradise.

After taking a three hour tour of the market we decided to take the subway uptown to the upper west side. I had heard about Levain Bakery on the Food Network when Bobby Flay challenged them to a Throwdown a while back. Supposedly they make the best chocolate chips cookies. So I had been dying to try their famous cookies!! So we traveled up about 60 blocks to this small basement bakery, Levain. When we walked in we saw these HUGE cookies and noticed that they were $4 each! A lot for us "non-city" people ;)

As you can see Ron LOVED his oatmeal cookie. So my verdict is...these cookies are THE BEST COOKIES I'VE EVER HAD!! :) I had the chocolate chip walnut cookie. And yes, we did pay $4 for each of them. So worth it though...so very worth it. After we visited Levain Bakery we decided to head across town, through Central Park to Serendipity 3. I had seen this restaurant in a movie once (Serendipity) and thought it was so cute! We had tried to visit it on another trip to NYC a few years ago but it was closed for renovations. We decided to try and see if we could get a table, knowing very well that probably not. So we took the city bus across town to 60th street between 2nd and 3rd avenues. When we got there we were told the wait would be an hour and a half to get a table for dinner. So we put in our name and took a seat on an outside bench to wait. We waited only 20 minutes and the Maitre d' came out and asked us our name and we were in!! We were so pumped! The menus were HUGE. I ordered a cheddarburger (I know simple, right). No way! It was so delicious. The outside crust of the burger had a great crispiness to it. They must have seared it really well. It really was the best burger I've ever had. really. the best.

We had to finish our trip with Serendipity's famous Frozen Hot Chocolate with peanut butter. It was Divine! So very good.

I had a wonderful time in New York for my birthday. It was a blast tyring new foods and visiting places I had only seen on TV. Thanks to my very sweet husband for planning this day for me, babysitter and all (thank you mom!!). I love you so much.

It's Time!

Hebrews 12:11
11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

I have struggled with my weight since my senior year in high school-15 years to be exact! Way TOO LONG! I have specific opinions about weight loss that are probably contrary to the norm. I don't believe in diets. Not at all. I think there is an emotional process one must go through before they can be free. There are emotional reasons why I overeat. Getting to the root of those issues is crucial to my success. So you ask, as a counselor, why have you not done this? Well...I'm not sure. I'm trying to figure that out. Possibly because it's HARD work, or because of a bit of depressive spirit.

It's time for me to gain control over my feelings and my life! Meditating on inspirational scriptures consistently is one way I can renew my mind to God's higher purpose for my life, which will help me make wiser decisions in all areas, including my health.

Today is a new day. It's time. Today, not tomorrow. Now.

Psalm 107:9
...for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Me in 9th Grade (looking good in the 80's) :)

Philippians 1:6
...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Trusting his promises today!

Mini Quiche

Everyone knows I LOVE to cook and like to bake ;) I've been trying new things with Addison food wise lately. I know she loves waffles, and pancakes but I wanted to try something different for breakfast, something NOT with a bit of syrup on it. Since she won't let me feed her things like cereal with milk or yogurt, most normal breakfast foods are out. I decided to try making her little quiches. I thought well...in them are: veggies, eggs, cheese, milk, and starch-a perfect start to her morning. I had some zucchini left over so I decided to make mini zucchini and cheese quiches. The recipe made 24 (there were only 22 left after Ron and I tested them :). They turned out great! I froze most of them and Addy tried them this morning (warmed of course)...the verdict is...drum roll please...she LOVED them and ate every bite!

I think I'm well on my way to creating a healthy, versatile, breakfast repertoire for Addison. I feel so pleased with myself :)

Size 5...seriously??

Last weekend when my parents were visiting for Labor Day we decided to go to the mall and do a bit of shopping. Ron was planning on meeting us there after doing a bit of work, and after Addy's nap. When he arrived at the mall we all ate lunch and decided what we were going to do next. We thought about going bowling or miniature golfing. I had noticed before that Addison did not have any shoes on so I asked Ron did he have them in her bag. He was like..."oh no! I forgot them!" So we decided to shop for some new shoes...I knew her little feet were growing and her Stride Rite shoes were getting small. We walked into the shoe store and we asked to have her feet measured. I couldn't believe it when the lady said she needed a size 5 shoe! Man has she grown!! It seems like just yesterday when she only needed a size 3! My little girl is growing up.

What a bargain!

The other day my friend asked me to join her and her sister who were going to a HUGE children consignment sale in Harrisburg. I was stoked to go! We need clothes for Addy for fall and winter. I was so happy to find a cute corduroy purple pea coat from the Gap for Addy and I only paid $7! It's in great shape :) My husband LOVES Converse shoes. He has two pairs himself and even wore a pair last Sunday to church ;) I was thrilled to find these pink high top ones in size 5 (Addy's new size!). I called Ron on my way home and told him I had a surprise for him. When he saw them he just smiled from ear to ear. I only paid $5 for these!! In addition to the coat and shoes I bought two other pairs of shoes, two long sleeve tops from Old Navy, a small bike/push toy, and a pair of jeans from the Children's Place all for $35! Now, that was a bargain!

Yum-O Zucchini Muffins

So lately some of you know I've been trying new recipes in order to get Addy to eat more veggies ;)

I made these zucchini-chocolate chip muffins. I loved them but Addy and Ron were just "ok" fans. My parents however, LOVED them...so as promised here is the recipe:

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded zucchini
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done.

...and the search goes on for more healthy recipes for my kiddo :)

Airplanes and such...

When Ron and I were in the plane flying to Michigan the other week I was contemplating a lot of things. Quiet times are a rare blessing to me these days so I was enjoying it. The beauty of the clouds made me think of my Father, my Savior, and Creator. Sometimes I think as American's we take SO many things for granted; our homes, food, our jobs, our rights, our national freedom and so many more things. All the while we remain discontented in our spirits, always searching for more-greener pastures. Why do we need things NOW, why can't we wait, or be thankful for the goodness in our lives? Is it possibly because we focus too much time on our own circumstances?

He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”— and hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. Now is the time for us to break “the flask” of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him? Taken from My Utmost for His Highest

I want to break the flask in my life and outpour His spirit to others...

Healthy Eating for Addy!

Since Addison's birth I've been super conscious about her eating and wanting her to have only the BEST! She loves pancakes and waffles. After reading about the benefits of flaxseed, I decided to try it in a recipe. "Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes." It also has Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. And fiber.

Sooo I decided to make Addison some whole wheat blueberry (her favorite fruit) flaxseed pancakes. I make a batch of 8 (1 per morning), freezing them between wax paper, ready for a quick morning breakfast. They taste yummy! Hope she likes them :)

Here's the recipe:

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4-1/3 cup of flaxseed meal

1 egg

1 1/2 cup of milk, plus more if necessary

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbs. sugar

1/2-2/3 cup fresh blueberries

1. Mix flour, flaxseed, and baking powder, set aside. Beat together egg, milk, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Stir in flour until just moistened, add blueberries and stir to incorporate.

2. Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, and 1 1/2 minutes. Turn, and continue cooking until golden brown.

Makes 8 medium size panckes. ~Enjoy!

Baked Goodies

Over the last couple of weeks I've been able to do a bit of baking :) With Addison being 1, it keeps me pretty busy most days but on a few quieter days I was able to do a bit. I do really enjoy trying new recipes.

A few weeks ago two of my sweetest girlfriends and their kiddos came for a dinner playdate while they were in town. I was so excited to see my girlfriends (they live two hours away)! So I decided to make homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches. I made chocolate chip cookies, using a small scoop to keep the size of the cookies uniform. On the day when my friends would arrive, I assembled the sandwiches. They were a hit!

On another day I decided to make a strawberry cobbler for a church dinner. I had read many recipes for strawberry rhubarb pie, but not being a fan of rhubarb, I decided to try something different. It turned out GREAT. Ron loved the cobbler. It takes A LOT of strawberries, but it's so worth the cost and time.

Recently while Ron was gone to Indiana for a master class, our car broke down. I really didn't know what to do, as Ron does most of our vehicle upkeep. He called a family who attends our church and they totally took care of the car for me! I was amazed at the love they showed our family that week while Ron was gone. I've been trying to figure out how I could say thanks to this sweet couple. So, I decided to bake them some fresh classic french bread. My bread maker is such a great kitchen tool. I let the bread cool and wrapped it up with a bow. I hope they like the fresh bread and more so know how very much we appreciated their help a few weeks ago.