Birthdays, Recitals, and Graduation Receptions

Well, what on earth have we been up to the last 10 days?

I decided not to bombard the blog with copious amounts of pictures, although there are some mighty cute and blog-worthy ones.

Instead, what we have here is one picture which embodies the essence of our recent acitivites.

Doodlebug danced her heart out in her recital.

Doodlebug turned 8. EIGHT. My baby...

Papa turned 78 on Memorial Day. The entire country had a day off for his birthday. Ok, not really. And...Hero had to work anyway so not really a holiday for us.

And somewhere buried in there, I helped execute our homeschool co-op's graduation reception for 150 people.

Today, I'm doing what we are supposed to be doing in the summer....

I'm eating a blt, with tomatoes from Papa's garden...trying to decide what to do with allll those yellow squash and cucumbers he brought over.....and what time we should go swimming at the neighbors.

Happy Summer!

From the Resident Poet

The ocean is like a blanket of blue;

It covers the sand and all the fish, too.

It keeps them warm and protected each day,

And at night, it gives them a place to stay.

The ocean is like a great lion roaring;

It bellows and growls when it is storming.

It extends its claws restlessly upon the shore,

As if it is trying to stretch out even more.

The ocean is like an orchestra of strings;

It plays its night music so beautifully.

Sometimes, though, the salty wind joins in,

And the tune they create together seems heaven-sent.

When I look into the blue eyes of the ocean,

When I listen to the song it sings,

I have heard music composed by my Creator;

And, perhaps, a subtle message, meant only for me.

Harvey's Key Lime Cake

Because my "fans" asked for a picture.....

I found this little gem of a cake recipe on the back of the Harvey's circular ad. I confess, I normally don't even look at the circular. And to think I almost missed this recipe!

Harvey's Key Lime Cake


1 pkg lemon cake mix (Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup lime juice (key lime, if you can find it)
1 (3 oz.) pkg lime Jello
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs

ICING:
2 cups sifted powdered sugar (the recipe says "confectioners" and my mama says "4x sugar"
1/2 cup lime juice (or key lime)

Blend all ingredients together (not icing ones, of course) with an electric mixer on medium speed for about two minutes. (I actually just used a whisk and it worked fine.) Pour into a greased tube pan or a 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. After removing from oven, use an ice pick and stick through cake, top to bottom, many times. (Or "poke tiny holes all over it.") Drizzle with icing while still warm. (After whisking the icing ingredients together. ). I dusted powdered sugar over ours to serve.

Random Thoughts on the Topic:
*I love my whisk, by the way. Does that make me a whisker?
* I used a 9x13 pan. A tube pan is round, like a big donut shape. A bundt pan should work fine.
*Bundt cakes remind me of Big Fat Greek Wedding.
*My secret for you: This cake gets better after it sits in the fridge overnight. (It also magically disappears as it sits in the fridge overnight.)
*The cake is such a pretty green color. Would be fun to make for St. Patty's day.
*Upon further investigation, it appears this recipe is quite popular on the web!
*Come to think of it, I think my cousin Pam posted a similar recipe on her Facebook.
*In case you're wondering, Harvey's is a countrified grocery store chain and is a part of the Food Lion family.

ENJOY THE YUMMINESS!!

Contentment?

"Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything 

by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God,

which transcends all our powers of thought

will be a garrison

to guard your hearts and minds

in Christ Jesus."

Phil 4:6-7

Our part:  Pray. Thank Him. Find the lovely and true.

His part:  PEACE!

Can it be that simple?  Yes, because His word is always true. 

We feel anxious over a situation or circumstance. We have a choice. Do we worry about it, tossing and turning in our sleep? Or do we pray about it? It's so easy to forget this verse, this promise. We pray, He brings peace. 

Yes, it's a battle at times to choose the way of Peace. And keep choosing. But choosing prayer and thanksgiving over worrisome thoughts brings about true contentment. 

In Linda Dillow's book, "Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment", she shares a treasure found in a journal of an African missionary friend on contentment.

Ella Sprees Holy Habit of Contentment

*Never allow yourself to complain about anything-not even the weather

*Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else

*Never compare your lot with another's

*Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise

*Never dwell on tomorrow-remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours

I'm not a big fan of a list of "nevers." But reading the back story on Ella Sprees and the conditions she endured as her family served on the mission field, her list of "nevers" becomes quite inspiring, if not convicting, in a good way, for me.

Today, let's choose to keep our eyes up on Him....dwelling on and thanking Him for whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and wothy of praise. (Phil 4:8.)

A Mother's Day Message - The Invisible Woman

This is a Mother's Day repost from last year. The video is too good to not share again. Happy Mother's Day!
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I stand in a circle of friends who are laughing and sharing about their lives. I begin to join in the conversation.... and no one notices I've spoken one word. The talking and laughing continues as if I weren't even there. Did I just think I spoke and really didn't? Am I invisible?

I fall into bed exhausted after a long day. What exactly did I do to make a difference today in the life of my children? Did they even appreciate the roast  for dinner, the laundry all washeddriedfolded, the lessons carefully planned? Am I invisible?

Most of the time, I'm fine with being invisible. Let our little family just live our lives quietly...stay out of the limelight. When I walk into a room and no one notices, I'm usually fine with that. But then... there are those times when I struggle with it - the feeling of invisibleness.

What am I doing that makes an eternal hill of beans in this life? Does anybody really care that we homeschool? Is this sacrifice for our family really going to make a difference?  Is being "just" a Mom really a high calling compared to what other women are doing? Do I really have anything of value to offer a friend? Does anyone take me seriously? Can anyone hear me? Am I invisible???

I know I can't possibly be the only mom out there asking these questions.....

A few months ago, a children's group of orphans from Uganda sang at a local church. One precious tiny boy came to the front and sang this beautiful song with all of his heart....

He Knows My Name

I have a Maker, He formed my heart;

Before even time began, my life was in His hand

I have a Father, He calls me His own;

He'll never leave me, no matter where I go. 

He knows my name; He knows my every thought;

He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call.

You know what?  I am not invisible. To the world, my life might seem insignificant and invisible. But I know the truth. And I know The Truth. I am not invisible to HIM. You are not invisible to HIM. He knows my name, He knows YOUR name. As a matter of fact, every day of my life and your life was written in His book before we were even born! 

And if you don't believe me, go read Psalms 139. I promise you won't feel so invisible anymore. 

This video hit me "up side the head" today. It's called The Invisible Woman. I hope you take the time to watch it and be blessed.

And remember, Moms. ..You are not invisible to the one who made you...The Creator. Happy Mother's Day!

Rayray and The Orchestra Concert

A little Mozart,

a little Vivaldi,

 a little Beethoven,

even a little Michael Jackson.

And a little Rayray 

and a little orchestra 

with a big sound!

Lysa TerKeurst - Message of Hope

Lysa posted this timely video this morning on her blog. In light of the events of the past week, this message is straight from the heart of God for us all. I love the raw authenticity of the message...no "fixing up", no staged theatrical event. Just one woman with passion for Him who had a burning message to share from her home this morning.