Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Crashing Waves ~~

If you ask me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If You ask me to go
Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If You ask me to run
And carry Your light into foreign land
If You ask me to fight
Deliver Your people from Satan's hand

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
And to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory

Monday, January 16, 2012

What are you waiting for? Just let kindess boomerang!

It amazes me what just a small gesture of kindness can do to make another person's day. Then again it also amazes me the people that will walk right by another person knowing that they are in need of help and not even smile or say hello, even trying to not make eye contact with them.
This video is great, shows how we should act daily toward our fellow man or woman, even a small act of kindness can boomerang back to you.

Show YOU care today to somebody !!

Watch as the camera tracks an act of kindness as its passed from one individual to the next and manages to boomerang back to the person who set it into motion.

Watch the official song of the "Life Vest Inside" " Show you Care"

Now that you are all warm and fuzzy, go do something! you will feel great and pass it on to others also. Just imagine if all of those individuals in that video had ignored their heart and just walked on.......

Donations are greatly appreciated: http://lifevestinside.com/donate.php
Stand with us in spreading the love and repost our video on your wall! Together we can make a difference! Re- blogging is expected and appreciated, pass this one for me please!

Learn more about Life Vest Inside by visiting our site lifevestinside.com

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Something for your Sweethearts

How about a different twist to your favorite Cinnamon Roll recipe, shape them into "hearts" for that special Valentine Sweetheart breakfast, even if your kids are going out the door or like mine staying at home to do school, they will love the sweetness of these little treats.

First you will need a recipe or some store bought Cinnamon rolls, a little extra sugar and cinnamon, butter for extra gooey fun!

Here is a good recipe I found on epicurious that is delicious :

Dough:

1 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups (or more) unbleached all purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 1/4 teaspoons rapid-rise yeast (from 2 envelopes yeast)
1 teaspoon salt
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Filling:

3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

Glaze:

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For dough:
Combine milk and butter in glass measuring cup. Microwave on high until butter melts and mixture is just warmed to 120°F to 130°F, 30 to 45 seconds. Pour into bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add 1 cup flour, sugar, egg, yeast, and salt. Beat on low speed 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add 21/2 cups flour. Beat on low until flour is absorbed and dough is sticky, scraping down sides of bowl. If dough is very sticky, add more flour by tablespoonfuls until dough begins to form ball and pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 8 minutes. Form into ball.

Lightly oil large bowl with nonstick spray. Transfer dough to bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.

For filling:
Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl.

Punch down dough. Transfer to floured work surface. Roll out to 15x11-inch rectangle. Spread butter over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over butter. Starting at 1 long side, roll dough into log, pinching gently to keep it rolled up. With seam side down, cut dough crosswise with thin sharp knife into 18 equal slices (each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide).

Spray two 9-inch square glass baking dishes with nonstick spray. Divide rolls between baking dishes, arranging cut side up (there will be almost no space between rolls). Cover baking dishes with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, 40 to 45 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Bake rolls until tops are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and invert immediately onto rack. Cool 10 minutes. Turn rolls right side up.

For glaze:
Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until smooth. Spread glaze on rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Take your dough and roll it upwards to shape the heart , put in the pan and pinch the bottom to form the heart, you may need to add more sugar and cinnamon to help shape. Drizzle in extra butter if you like and bake as above, you can frost with the cream cheese glaze or serve plain.

Thank you to http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/2010/02/think-about-it-thursday_11.html for the idea, I found on Pinterest.

Enjoy and hug your Sweethearts

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Butler Adoption~ help bring these girls home

About $4 for 4 tickets! The Butler Adoption

I just wanted to share this story and encourage others to share and reblog also, help this family get these beautiful girls home where they belong.

Our story ~The Butlers

Our family began the adoption process in May 2010 as a result of Danny's mission work in Nicaragua. We fell in love with the country and its culture and our plans were to adopt a baby girl or young toddler from there. But God had different plans for us. The program was going slow and we had hit some bumps along the way. This past May2011 a friend of ours that was contracted with our same adoption agency was posting photos of some children that were to come to America for the summer on an international orphan hosting program called New Horizons for Children. The photos she was posting were children that were NOT CHOSEN. They had not been selected by a host family and there was only one day left before the program closed. We were immediately drawn to the photo of two sisters and could not get them out of our minds. Many things unfolded very quickly over the next few days that made it clear we were to host them. But we were contracted with another agency and to adopt from Nicaragua, not Latvia and hosting was going to swallow up a good chunk of our adoption fund. What was the Lord trying to tell us? At that point we didn't know what He was doing but what we did know is that these are the faces the snagged us. Hook, line, and sinker :

So we jumped in with both feet not sure what was going to happen next! That's what stepping out in faith is all about right? Taking the next step and not seeing the stairs below?

These are our girls leaving for their trip to America. Unsure of what the family they were coming to would be like and if they'd want to keep them or forget them.

The summer came and they arrived and in the beginning they were two very scared girls with some major emotional and trust issues but over the next five weeks we came to know each other and they began to trust us. Bonds were formed and hearts began to mend. These sweet girls love to be outside, are very athletic, and artistic. A has an awesome pitching arm while D loves to dance. Both love animals and play piano. We loved the time we had with them and it went all too fast. The day we had to return them to Latvia was the hardest day of our life. Sending our girls away that begged us to stay, to not send them back. They didn't want to return to the orphanage where life was hard and no one cared. Nobody there to tuck them in an night or to take care of them when they are sick. But unfortunately we signed a paper that we had to return them or we could get into some big trouble.

These are my beautiful girls just days before they left us. Notice the difference in their expressions? Amazing what family does for a person

This is our whole family. Did we mention we have 3 sons too? We will soon be a family of seven! God is so awesome!

We just knew that we had to bring them home to us. FOREVER. Those were our DAUGHTERS and they belonged WITH US! So the change in direction and a whole new paper chase began. I'll skip the boring details and tell you that we have just received our court date! Latvia requires three trips be made before the adoption is complete, however they do allow the children to return home on a student visa after the first trip so that makes the first trip the most expensive one. We must bring $9000 on this trip for various expenses. Tack on another $3700 (two round trip tickets and two one way tickets) in airfare and we are looking at just under $13,000! Thankfully we were blessed with a $6500 grant from Show Hope but we are still short $6200 to cover the remaining expenses of trip one and the plane tickets.

Did I mention we got a court date? Court is January 31st! We leave in just 25 days! That's 25 days to raise $6200!

And since it's a little too cold to get back to holding yard sales or plan a big fundraiser ... here we are. Would you consider donating $4 (one dollar for each one of our tickets) to help us bring our girls home? I've seen first hand what difference a little bit makes when the body comes together as a whole.

We would love to have you take a part in bringing our family together in 2012.

But aside from donations we need you to share. We need you to share our link and ask your friends to donate $4 and share the link too. If just 1550 people give $4 we have it covered. We will be all set!

Share our link, ask your friends to donate, tweet, facebook, email and blog about it!

Stand on the street corner, shout it out from the roof tops, write it as graffiti on the bath room walls (kidding about that part) but spread the word! Tell your mother, tell your neighbors, tell your friends and tell them to tell their friends!

We have been very blessed with a supportive family & friends in this journey. We are coming into the homestretch now and need this final push. Just about everyone I know can spare $4 and I'd love to see those little $4 turn into big, overflowing buckets of dollars to help us get those two beautiful girls home.

Thank you for taking a minute of your time out to read our story and for blessing us with your donation.

In His Name,

Danny, Tabitha our FIVE precious children

$4 for 4 tickets! The Butler Adoption Details

Campaign Goal $6,200.00

Raised So Far $1,373.50

Days Left to Give 21 Days

Donate Now

[ Inspired to do even more? Click here to create your own fundraising campaign for this charity. ]

[ Click here to view other fundraisers associated with this charity. ]

The website for more info and this story http://www.acharityproject.com/f/4for4ticketsTheButlerAdoption

Donate please and help this family~~ Giving back to your fellow man will make you feel great and know you have done something great

Even if it is just $4.00

That means the world to some.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Oh My Goodness~ 6 of them

Get out your scissors and coupon books, this week is a great one!!
Sunday Coupon Preview
from the webpage http://www.sundaycouponpreview.com/
My favorite weekly spot for coupon news.

6 Huge Inserts This Week To Get You Back To Couponing In 2012

Starting the new year off with a bunch of coupons is great!

Smartsource coupon insert #1
Afrin Save $2/1 nasal spray (2/5)
Airborne Save $2/1 product (4/1)
Barilla Save $.55/1 whole grain pasta (3/4)
Bausch+Lomb Save $5/1 Ocuvite product (3/31)
Benefiber Save $1/1 product (2/25)
Benefiber Save $5/2 products (2/25)
Benefiber/Gas-X/Prevacid 24HR/Maalox Advanced Save $3/2 products (2/29)
BIC B1G1 free disposable razor up to Save $6.99 (2/5)
Biotrue Save $1/1 multi-purpose solution (2/8)
Biotrue Save $3/1 twin pack multi-purpose solution (2/8)
Bob Harper’s Save $5/1 Smart Weight Loss 72ct (3/8)
Boca Save $1/2 packages of meatless product (3/4)
Cepacol Save $1/1 product (2/19)
Cream of Wheat Save $1/2 packages 11oz+ (3/31)
Delsym Save $1/1 children’s or adult product (2/29)
Dole Save $.75/1 All Natural Fruit in 100% Juice (3/31)
Dole Save $.75/2 Fruit Bowls Fruit in 100% Juice (3/31)
Dole Save $1/2 frozen fruit single-serve cups (4/1)
Eatsmart Save $1/1 4oz+ naturals snack (2/29)
Excedrin Save $1.50/1 80ct+ product (2/25)
Excedrin Save $1/1 20ct+ product (2/25)
Foster Farms Save $1/1 boneless & skinless fresh chicken breast item dnd (3/31)
Gas-X Save $1/1 Prevention product (4/14)
Gas-X Save $1/1 product (4/14)
Glucerna Save $2.50/2 products (2/29)
Glucerna Save $3/1 Hunger Smart product (2/29)
Hershey’s Save $1/2 Kisses 9.4oz+ (2/8)
Hershey’s Free Air Delight aerated milk chocolate bar wyb any milk chocolate bar up to Save $1.19 (2/8)
Hormel Save $.50/1 Natural Choice deli sandwich meat (3/2)
Hunt’s/Sara Lee Save $1/both Manwich 15.5oz can AND Soft & Smooth whole grain white or wheat buns (2/28)
International Delight Save $.75/1 pint or quart (2/28)
International Delight Save $1/1 coffee creamer singles (2/28)
Jamba Save $1/2 8oz frozen smoothies (3/31)
JELL-O Save $.60/1 refrigerated snacks (2/28)
Ken’s Save $1/1 16oz dressing (2/28)
La Victoria Save $1.50/3 products 12pz+ (3/4)
Maalox Advanced Save $1/1 product (4/7)
Maalox Advanced Save $2.50/2 products (4/7)
Mariani Save $.50/1 dried fruit snack dnd (2/29)
Method Save $1/1 dish product (3/31)
Method Save $2/1 laundry product (3/31)
Mitchum Save $.75/1 men or women ets (2/12)

1-8-2012 Target Johnson & Johnson coupon insert
Sunday coupon preview
Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected!
(x) before coupon = multiple of same coupon
ETS = excludes trial sizes
Target Johnson & Johnson Insert Coupons (Expire 1/14/12)
ACUVUE Buy 9 months of OASYS contact lenses, get 3 months free
Aveeno Save $1/1 18oz baby item
Aveeno/Neutrogena Save $1/1 hair care item ETS
Aveeno/Neutrogena Save $2/1 facial moisturizer item ETS
Aveeno/Neutrogena/Clean & Clear Save $1/1 facial cleanser or acne treatment excludes bars and trial sizes
Aveeno/Neutrogena/Lubriderm Save $1/1 hand or body skin care item ETS
Band-Aid Save $.25/1 6ct+ adhesive bandages ETS
Bengay Save $.50/1 3oz Zero Degrees menthol pain relief gel
Carefree Save $1/1 feminine care item ETS
Cortaid Save $.50/1 1.5oz advanced 12 hour anti-itch cream
Desitin Save $.50/1 4oz+ diaper rash treatment
Johnson’s Baby Save $.50/1 8oz+ bath or skin care item excludes shampoo and natural items
K-Y Save $.50/1 intimacy item
Lactaid Save $1/1 60ct ultra caplets
Listerine Save $.75/1 1 liter+ mouthwash
Neosporin Save $.50/1 original antibiotic ointment
Neutrogena Save $2/1 face cosmetic item excludes eye and lip items
o.b. Save $1/1 feminine care item ETS
OneTouch Save $10/1 blood glucose meter
Red Cross First Aid Save $.50/2 10yd 1/2″ waterproof tape
RoC Save $3/2 skin care items
Rogaine Save $3/1 topical solution or foam ETS
Splenda Save $1/1 80 or 100ct sweetener packs
Stayfree Save $1/1 feminine care item ETS
Tylenol Save $1.50/1 Precise pain relief item ETS
Viactiv Save $1/1 100ct calcium milk chocolate soft chews
Visine Save $.25/1 Totality multi-symptom eye drops
Zyrtec Save $2/1 12ct+ adult allergy relief item
Read more on the coupon preview site...

Walmart insert (Diapers!! )
Huggies Save $2/1 Snug & Dry Diapers ets dnd (2/4)
PULL-UPS Save $2/1 Training Pants ets dnd (2/4)
Huggies Save $3/1 Little Movers Slip-On Diapers 64ct+ dnd (2/4)
Goodnites Save $2/1 Underwear ets dnd (2/4)

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Our First and Second Responsibilties ~

Our First Responsibility is to be happy, our second is to make others happy. Seems simple enough and a wonderful thought to live by. I was touched by this video and wanted to share. Something so simple yet so hard probably for most people to do, give back to others. Accept change and just do it! Giving back to others is one of my most important life works, my profession as a nurse I guess has lead me to think like this. I teach my children the same thing (when they listen) in hopes that a legacy of doing and caring about others will remain for generations to come.

30 gifts to 30 strangers : how sweet this was to do, celebrate your birthday by making others happy! Do you think we can do this when I am 50? hmmm 50 gifts :)

Enjoy!!

Thank you and big hugs to Lucas for posting on You Tube for people like me to enjoy, made me smile :)

Here is more of Lucas
Website: www.lucasjatoba.com
You need to see his work, incredible artist both print and video!! Wow
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/iamlucasjatoba
If you liked the video, watch the making of! www.vimeo.com/28850787

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Who lives in the gingerbread house?

Mommy, do gingerbread men live in the gingerbread house? That is the question that my youngest daughter asked while we were putting together our gingerbread house this year. I snapped a few pictures of our sweet little house covered in white icing and candy of all colors and shapes.
The house now looks like a tornado hit it, a hungry tornado that is. Much munching has occurred since the roof raising.

The Kit~ picked up at a local craft store

Oh Mommy I am so excited!!

Our finished chalet de gingerbread!

Yummy-O

Gumdrops, sprinkles, icing, peppermints Oh My!!

Miss Lucy says " and when are you people going to bed"?

huh? I am gonna attack that house....

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Great Tree Trek 2011

Each year we take a family trek to the mountains nearby to look for that just perfect "real" Christmas tree for our house. For 2 years now we have visited the "Greene's Christmas tree farm in Boone NC. and received outstanding service, this year they even met us at the farm for a private appointment when we called. The beauty of the rolling hills are covered in snow with lines of Frazier firs all waiting with anticipation, reaching for the sun.
After a short walk around the farm we found the tree we wanted to take home, the winner, the best in show for the day. Our escort with chainsaw in hand, took care to cut, haul, bail and tie our festive tree to the top of our "family-tank ". We headed back down the mountain once again home to decorate a Christmas tree.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Why are my ornaments on the floor?

Caught!!

The reason is called "LUCY"

Our Christmas tree has gone up in stages this last week, and it is also coming down in stages. Miss Lucy, the newest baby at our house has delighted in all things bright and shiny. Nothing glass or breakable has gone on the tree unless it is well secured.

I do believe that she thinks this grand bush is hers and is celebrating nightly the joys of having her own decorated tree in the dining room. I had to move the chairs so that she could not stand on the backs and easily swing at her toys.

Hopefully I will get the lately trek to get our tree 2011 pictures

downloaded and share soon.

Leslie

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

All dressed up and it snowed...

All dressed up For Winter time now, our blog that is......

I love to change up the scenery as you can tell, and in comes winter complete with a header from last years great "Christmas tree hunt" when we went to the mountains in
the snow looking for that perfect tree.... boy it snowed, as you can see by the roads our trek to the tree farm was not an easy one, but so worth it. We began a yearly
tradition of driving to the mountains to chop down our Christmas tree as a family and spending the day all together no matter the weather. This week we will go again on our yearly trek, thought I would post some of last years 2010 pics. In the mountains near Boone North Carolina.

Here are a few more pics I love:

The blog header above was created with this cute picture, one of my silly kids running up and down this snowy hill....

Monday, December 5, 2011

Here Piggie Piggie Piggie....

Spiced Gingerbread Piggies

Recipe courtesy The Neelys
Food Network Cookies

Prep Time:30 min

Inactive Prep Time:2 hr 0 min

Cook Time:15 min

Level:Easy

Serves:: 12 to 16 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup mild molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Royal Icing, recipe follows
Special equipment: 5-inch-long and 3-inch-wide copper piggy cookie cutter

Directions

Combine butter, sugar, and molasses in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in increments, and continue to beat until thoroughly mixed together.

Pour the dough out onto the countertop and divide into 3 pieces. Press each piece into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 1 to 2 hours, or up to 3 days.

Adjust the racks to the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line sheet trays with parchment paper.

Spread 2 large pieces of parchment paper out and very lightly flour them. Place a disk of dough between the parchment sheets and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat with the remaining disks of dough. Rework all the scraps into balls and re-chill before reusing. Repeat with all the dough.

Cut out cookies and place on the parchment-lined sheet trays with an offset spatula, leaving 1 inch between each cookie. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the sheet trays for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling to room temperature before decorating the cookies with Royal Icing.

Royal Icing:

2 egg whites
3 cups confectioners' sugar, whisked to remove lumps
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Food coloring, optional

Add the egg whites, sugar and lemon juice to a large bowl. Beat, using a hand mixer, until glossy and stiff, 5 to 6 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, and mix well. Place in icing bags with fine tips to decorate cookies.

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