Heaven's Valentine On this special day that's known for love, the greatest Valentine was sent from above. God sent His only Son to save us from sin, that was before holidays did begin. The colors of this time are red and white, both are hues that are really bright....
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This is a great recipe, the apples are good by themselves but work with pound cake, shortcake, over ice cream or even as a side dish to pork. Ingredients: 4 McIntosh apples, peeled and sliced (about 2 lbs) ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 tsp. ground cinnamon...
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) In her book, Simple Abundance, author Sarah Breathnach had this to say about January: “January, the month of new beginnings and...
Like many families who live near the mountains, our family vision of peace includes snow-covered lawns, ice covered trees, brisk weather, hot beverages and conversation. When the children were young, we spent much time watching the snow drift toward earth, making snow angels, sledding, and of course making snow...
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here, To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer, To stop without a farmhouse near, Between the woods and frozen lake,...
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. II Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) Dear God, at the start of a new year, may you bless new beginnings for our...
And the angel said unto them, "Fear not; for, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10 (King James) Hark, the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful...
Christmas Love Whenever we think of Christmas, thoughts turn to long ago. To a stable in Bethelem, and a story that we all know. The young maiden had been told by an angel that she would bear a holy child, not knowing what this would mean. She traveled for many miles...
“Joy to the world; the Lord is come…” My friend and co-worker, Kathy, has the most fabulous last name: “Joy.” I must admit that I am rather envious; it has such a happy sound—“Mrs. Joy”…about as happy a sound as “Mrs. Claus” or “Mrs. Elf.” On the down side,...
The True Meaning of Joy As a teacher educator, I see most of life through the eyes of a book or some educational experience. One of my favorite concepts to teach prospective teachers is the value of understanding the meanings and origins of the words we read. Frequently,...
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. I Chronicles 16:34 (King James) November is a month to give thanks for many reasons. This is a country that can freely elect a president, a country that shows respect, pride and love for Veterans, and...
November is a month best known for sharing thanks. It has always been a treasured practice of mine to spend each day recognizing something or someone I am thankful for. There are the obvious things I am thankful for like cherished friends and a family that has always loved...
We made this for our class buffett and all 200 cookies were gone before the event was over, they are a little slice of thanksgiving without all the work! Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground...
Holidays are most certainly for family. We share gifts, food, stories of long past events, and most importantly time with those whom we love most. We see goodness in family members and others everywhere we look. What could be more fun? Enjoying family includes many opportunities for modeling and...
November: Sharing Goodness “For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalms 107:9 (KJV) Once upon a time in my hometown, a gentleman (let’s call him Mr. Williams) and his wife were in their golden years, ready to sit back and enjoy the fruits...
My favorite time of year – Fall! It always seems there is so much to do and not enough hours in the day to get everything done. The beautiful clear, crisp days and cool evenings are a welcome respite from the hot, humid and hazydays of summer. I love...
Fall is alive on the campus of the University of Alabama. The trees are flushed with vivid colors of red, orange, and yellow. They burn at the edes and fall gently to the sidewalk. The cool air is crisp to the touch and everywhere you turn, students wear bright...
Nothing reminds me of fall more than pecans and walnuts! Not only is my front yard covered in nuts but everytime I watch a college football game or the baseball postseason I always crave nuts to munch on. Ingredients 6 cups sugar 3 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon 2 teaspoonsground ginger...
My mother would always say, "Be ye kind." Wise words to live by. Psalms 117: O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great towards us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord. (King James)...
Did you know that comfort and encouragement are often used interchangeably in the Bible? Our homes are a source of comfort and what can help make our homes more comfortable than pillows? I had been in search of new décor pillows for more than two years. My cousin...
I discovered years ago that when I paid attention to my dreams (both nighttime variety as well as goals), that I began to look at life differently. It is a real challenge to listen to our inner self and for "God's Voice in the Dream" and align that with...
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk...
Look at what we can do with chocolate and sugar. The elephant is all chocolate while the pond scene is done entirely with sugar. Butterscotch Cookies Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 1 cup dark brown sugar 1/2...
I typically associate September with sunflowers--the two seem to go together like apple pie and ice cream. This is the month when most gardeners harvest sunflower seeds. In late Summer and early Autumn sunflowers often appear in home and table decorations. The photo I would like to show you...
“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some that face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” Douglas Everett “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis While we...
The power of the Holy Spirit is not ours to command. Nor does self-discipline with regard to my mind "being still" long enough to focus on developing the heart. I am always too busy, mentally, to just "Let Go and Let God." I expect that is why my dreams...
It is always wonderful to find people with love for others, and an ambition to love more. There have been several people in history who have spent their lives working to help the underprivileged, and one very special lady who went out of her way in God’s service was...
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesians 1: 7 (NIV) How many times have we heard or sung "Amazing Grace." This hymn is universally known. It is played or sung in times of trial, enduring...
We are nearing the end of the month of August, which means most of us are lingering between letting go and letting begin. We say our goodbyes to hot summer days and welcome the cool crisp days of fall. For many of us, we dig out our backbags and...
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (RSV) When I hear the word “pioneer”, I think of someone venturing forth into uncharted territory….like Daniel Boone cutting a path through the thick forests of a wilderness…or Christopher Columbus finally sighting land (America) after weeks and weeks...
Ingredients: 1 9-in premade tart shell 1 lb. Pastry Cream (recipe follows) 3 pints assorted fruit (berries, peaches, kiwis and oranges all work) Apricot jam as needed Directions: 1. Fill tart shell with pastry cream 2. Arrange fruit over the cream in an even layer. Try to cover all...
Summer is officially here! School is out, and we can take a break from work obligations. It is time for vacations and enjoying our families. This doesn’t mean that we stop learning. It means that we can learn about things we enjoy in places where we want to be...
America, the Beautiful: by Katherine Lee Bates O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea. O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern...
When it comes to patriotic table decor there is no shortage of ideas. The pictured centerpiece is super simple and easily adaptable to any size table. It features a clear glass container approximately 20 inches high and is a rather tall centerpiece; for a smaller version, simply use a container 10 or 12...
Fireworks. They illuminate the night and mesmerize all who gather to watch their colors burst across the sky with a comforting crackle and pop. Fireworks in town squares, front lawns and across lakes have become a beloved and highly anticipated part of each 4th of July in America. Family...
These strawberries are a really easy way to have a patriotic dessert without having a lot of dessert! Its also a great treat to let any kids help. 16 oz Strawberries 4 oz white chocolate Blue Sanding Sugar (as needed) Melt the chocolate slowly in a microwave. Dip the strawberries...
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127: 2 (NLT) School is dismissed for the summer in most areas of the country, and families are...
And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters called "seas." And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the water teem with...
“But Jesus withdrew himself with His disciples to the sea…” Mark 6:7 (KJV) Summer is a time for family. It is a time to rest removing ourselves from the stresses of work or school and focus on deepening our family relationships. One of the best ways to strengthen the...
OR, from that Sea of Time, Spray, blown by the wind—a double winrow-drift of weeds and shells; (O little shells, so curious-convolute! so limpid-cold and voiceless! Yet will you not, to the tympans of temples held, Murmurs and echoes still bring up—Eternity’s music, faint and far, Wafted inland, sent...
The Opal Report by Katie Turpen Taken from the Latin "Opalus" meaning "seeing jewel" the opal was said to have fallen from heaven in flashes of lightning, thus producing its multi-colored hues. The origin of the word opal is attributed to Ops the wife of Saturn and goddess...
Ingredients: cream cheese 12 oz sweetened condensed milk 21 oz key lime juice 7.5 oz Lime Zest 3 tsp graham cracker crust (baked) 1 Directions: 1. Cream Cream cheese in a mixer until soft and smooth 2. Combine wet ingredients. Slowly add to the cream cheese, stopping to scrape...
He's the Lilly of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. William W. Fry We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the...
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NLT) If I had to choose only one flower to represent women, it would be the rose. Long considered the symbol for beauty, the rose offers us a...
We arrive at the month of May. As the last school bells ring and the air thickens with humidity, it’s a time for us to celebrate mothers! We all have mothers in our lives whether they are in our immediate family or in our friend circle. What a blessing...
There are few things that make me think of spring more than lemonade. This lemonade is really refreshing! The lavender cuts the tartness of the lemonade and with the mint helps give the drink a nice light feel. 7 cups water 1 cup sugar 1 ½ cups frozen lemon...
Celebrate the earth! Here is a picture of my former roommmates and I volunteering for an organization called Bayou Rebirth in New Orleans, Louisiana. It feels suprisingly theraputic to get your hands dirty in soil, especialy if it's helping to replenish a rapidly vanishing coastline. Living in New Orleans for a...
Whenever I think about getting outside and hiking, I remember the hikes we would do in Girl Scouts and we would always make trail mix to go with it. The great thing about trail mix is that you can add almost anything you like to it and leave out...
I am a "Nature Child" by my own personal definition of one of my "inner children." These show up in our dreams as well as being acted out or appearing suddenly in our daily lives. For me, the "Nature Child" means that I connect and make friends with small...