Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Slow Day


















Pizza Bread
Scone Recipe: I used this recipe and substituted: 1/2 tsp. almond extract for the vanilla, 1/4 c. mini choc chips + 1 Tbsp. chopped Craisins + 2 Tbsp. ground pecans for the mix ins; added a dash of nutmeg and sprinkled top with cinnamon/sugar.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

New Recipes



I've tried several new recipes lately!

Oreo Coconut Milk Popsicles: YUM! These were extremely easy to make and with only three ingredients! They turned out great and were a hit all around.

Apple Pie Biscuits: I made these for a Sunday morning breakfast recently and did everything from scratch - the apples on top were super yummy but this was a disappointment and none of us really liked the finished product - definitely will not make again.

Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken: This was very quick to assemble and complete! The chicken was especially delicious! David was not a fan of the lemon-y flavored sauce but the rest of us enjoyed it.

BLT Pasta Salad: This was good but not amazing - I think we all liked it ok, not sure if I'll make again since I prefer a better rating than ok! I'm so glad I started with half the recipe as I'm not sure it would be good leftover.

Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars: Loaded is right - whoa. These were especially good when still warm from the oven!

Lemon Poppyseed Broccoli Salad: My favorite thing about this recipe was that the cheese was in mini cubes rather than shredded. I've made broccoli salad for years but this dressing was different and we decided we were not crazy about it. It was a beautiful salad with all of the lovely colors!

Have you tried any new recipes lately!?

Monday, August 29, 2016

Flourishing



During my morning quiet time recently, I came across a slip of paper that I'd written some notes on. I've been spending a lot of time and energy lately thinking through and practicing how to remain diligent in my roles so that I don't get to an overwhelmed stage as has been my habit in the past.

When I come across a word or verse that speaks to this, I'm camping out on it and spending some time processing it mostly to steep my heart in truth for when I need it in the moments of struggle.

This was just such a word and verse for me.

Psalm 52:8, "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."

Flourish.


Yes, that is what I want to do in God's house and also in the house God has provided for me here on earth. The roles He has given to me for this time right now. I want to flourish.

Here is the definition of flourish from Merriam Webster's Dictionary:

- to grow well: to be healthy
- to be very successful: to do very well
- to hold up and show {something} in an excited or proud way

To thrive. To prosper. To grow well. To be healthy.

What comes to mind when you consider a flourishing tree?
- it is alive and thriving
- it is growing and green
- it bears fruit and is life-giving
- it is a provider of shade, a respite from the heat, a conductor of breeze that cools
- it is sturdy
- it is well connected to water and light sources
- it is healthy looking and beautiful, a delight to the senses
- it is deeply and firmly rooted

How can I be like a flourishing tree in the home God has placed me in this very day?
- be at peace
- focus on truth
- be spending time in the Word, nurturing the health of my roots in Him
- trust in God's unfailing love
- spend my time with other flourishing trees and in cultivating little seedlings
- strengthened with faith
- overflowing with thankfulness

Colossians 2:6-7, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

A prayer for the heart that desires to flourish:

Ephesians 3:14-21,
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." 

Friday, August 26, 2016

Anne of Green Gables Living Room Picnic


A fun tradition in our home has been to watch Anne of Green Gables in the early Fall - usually Labor Day weekend when the beauty berries are purple and weighing down the branches in our backyard.

This year, I've been itching to watch much sooner than usual {I'm always eager for Fall!} and then my girls started asking regularly too for a couple of weeks if we could watch it. I finally decided to give in and who cares if we waited for the exact day!

So far, we have only watched the first movie, so we may continue the marathon over Labor Day weekend - we'll see!


Because this was spontaneous {isn't that what I usually say? It usually is!} I chose a menu and some simple decor that used only what we had on hand.

Cardboard berry boxes were left from a previous Anne experience and were layered with vintage cloth napkins that were a gift from a friend. Canning jars held homemade applesauce and broccoli salad and simple circles of fabric scraps were cut out to decorate the jar tops.  Grilled cheese was wrapped in recycled waxed paper from inside cereal boxes and apple juice was poured into free Frappucino jars.
















For dessert, I pulled out some frozen homemade cookie dough and after baking cookies assembled them into ice cream sandwiches with inspiration from the delicious ice cream sandwiches my sister served us this summer during our visit.



Here are some past visits to Avonlea from our house: 20072008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015.

Hmmm, now to imagine what fun we can have watching Anne of Avonlea!

Thursday, August 25, 2016

One Room Schoolhouse

All the rest of our first day of school photos and fun breakfast!























































Related links:
First day of school time capsule
Proverbs growth chart
Chalkboard printable
Flag, pennant printables
First day of school printables