The Christmas story told through Facebook

I am so blessed

If you're

always racing

to the next

moment,

what happens

to the one

you're in ??

Enjoy the ride..

Picture This..

This is Alex and Nina! They asked me to take their engagement pictures! I'm very happy with the way the turned out. Nina and Alex are getting married next year and Brayden is going to be the ring boy!!! I'm going to be one proud mommy :)

Represent Christ in Every Circumstance

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3, NRSV



Live for something besides self. If your motives are pure and unselfish, if you are looking out to do work that somebody must do, to show kind attentions and to do courteous acts, you are unconsciously building your own monument. In the home life, in the church, and in the world you are representing Christ in character. This is the work the Lord calls upon all ... to do....

Let your aspirations and your motives be pure. In every business transaction be rigidly honest. However tempted, never deceive or prevaricate in the least matter. At times a natural impulse may bring temptation to diverge from the straightforward path of honesty, but do not vary one hair’s breadth. If in any matter you make a statement as to what you will do, and afterward find that you have favored others to your own loss, do not vary from principle. Carry out your agreement.

By seeking to change your plans you would show that you could not be depended on. And should you draw back in little transactions, you would draw back in larger ones. Under such circumstances some are tempted to deceive, saying, I was not understood. My words have been taken to mean more than I intended. The fact is, they meant just what they said, but lost the good impulse, and then wanted to draw back from their agreement, lest it prove a loss to them. The Lord requires us to do justice, to love mercy, and truth, and righteousness....

Men and women are destitute of the stern virtues required to build up the church. They are not capable of devising methods and plans of a healthful, solid character. They are deficient in the very qualifications essential to the prosperity of the church. It is this kind of education that needs to be changed to an education that is sound and sensible, in harmony with Bible principles.

Long time, no blog

Pumpkin Butter

1 3/4 cups solid pack pumpkin puree
1 cup applesauce
3/4 cup apple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix solid pack pumpkin puree, applesauce, apple juice, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer approximately 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to sterile containers and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

ENJOY!

Blueberry Oatmeal Bars

This is a healthy snack that you and your kids will love. It even has spinach in it but i would keep that to yourself (:

Ingredients
nonstick cooking spray
2 cups old fashion oats
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup balance trans-fat free margarine, chilled
1 cup no-sugar-added blueberry spread
1/2 cup spinach, puree


Instructions
Preheat oven to 375?. Coat an 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and vanilla and stir to mix well.
Add the margarine and cut it quickly into dry ingredients with two knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal and is no longer powdery. Do not over mix?bits of margarine will still be visible.
Set aside about half of the oat mixture; press the rest firmly into the pan. Bake until lightly browned at the edges (but not fully baked), 13 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the preserves with the spinach puree in a small bowl.
Spread blueberry mixture over the partially baked oat layer, then sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Bake until topping is slightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely before cutting into 12 bars

after the butter is added

puree the spinach

eat & enjoy

Carrot cake

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup crushed pineapple with juice

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1 pound confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9 inch round cake pans.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa, set aside. In another bowl, stir together the eggs, vanilla and oil. Stir in the dry ingredients until they are completely absorbed. Fold in the carrots and pineapple. Pour the batter evenly between the three prepared pans.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese, butter and confectioners sugar in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth, then stir in the coconut and nuts. Frost cake when cool

serves 12 people