Amazing Woman

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Mary’s life (the mother of God aka Jesus Christ) as I said in a previous post.  When I hold my tender infant and my love for him grows everyday, I wonder what she was thinking at different points of Jesus’ life.  How did she feel?  What did she say?  What did she do? 

The other night I went to a business women’s networking event in our area and the theme was Amazing Women.  I am sure everyone has amazing women in their life or knows some.  I am fortunate to have many in my own family.  I could list so many from my mother to my aunts to my cousins to my sisters to my nieces to my friends  and of course grandmothers.

There is one I would like to mention.  But first her husband.  I think the closest relationship I have ever had to having children was having a little brother.  I have written much about my older brother – we were close in age and we have a very deep bond different from any other relationship.  I love my nieces and nephews and cherish the time I have with those who are close.  There is still something about having a little brother.  My little brother I grew up with Zac has grown to be an amazing man.  We all know behind every amazing man there is a more amazing woman.  That’s my sister in-law Stephanie.  If adversity is her middle name because she has faced so much, and it is, over comer is her character.  She has lost the one constant factor from her youth, her little brother and only sibling, she lost her long lost father and her husband’s only brother.  This woman knows what it is to lose, yet she gains more beauty, more grace and more gratefulness with each day.  Some grow bitter from slight injustices, she melts the hearts of others with her courage to face the future, serve her family all with love and tenderness I have seen from no other.  She is an amazing woman.

Baking Tips from a Novice

Every time I make something new/ bake something I want to take pictures and do a blog.  Wanting and doing are very far apart in my life these days.  Expectations in baking and outcomes in baking are also far apart these days.  A few things I wonder about baking:  how are bakers ever thin? and how many bad/ off recipes does a master baker have to make to come up with a new brilliant recipe?  I will tell you the answers if I ever get there.

So, my tips. 

More chocolate does not always equal better.  I tried to spruce up Ina Garten’s chocolate cupcake recipe by adding the last of my cocoa powder.  I mean there was only a small amount left and what’s the sense to put it back into the cupboard.  Not to mention, you can never go wrong with more chocolate.  Wrong.  I wouldn’t say it made them terrible or even not good, just not as good as the last time I made them.  I am not telling Dave.  I’ll let him believe they are wonderful unless he figures it out on his own.  Maybe my tip should be don’t mess with Ina – she knows what she is doing.

My next tip involves buttermilk.  My husband threw away my gourmet buttermilk in the fridge.  He thought it was old so he was trying to be helpful.  I didn’t notice until I was prepping for my cupcake baking spree.  Who knew milk + vinegar + lemon juice could = a substitute for buttermilk.  I Googled it and got that answer several times.  Still didn’t sound appetizing to me.  Turns out sour cream is another substitute.  Much better.  Let me tell you, (the recipe already called for some sour cream) that extra sour cream made the batter taste and look like an extra (ha-ha) chocolaty, luscious mousse.  That’s when I got all excited about my altered recipe.  The cupcakes are good – not as good as last time and certainly not as good as the batter.

Those are the tips from this novice baker – oh yeah – don’t forget salt.

Having a child brings a new meaning to Christmas

Most people say having a child brings a new meaning to Christmas and I’m sure the “meaning” they are speaking of will be true for me as well.  It will be more exciting to see Henry opening gifts and to see that part of the season through his eyes.  His life has brought more meaning to the true meaning of Christmas.  It’s true you cannot identify with true loss unless you have been through it.  It’s true you cannot identify with the joy of being a mother unless you are one.  The combination of both in less than a year’s time has made me think of Mary’s life and our Savior’s life and death in a whole new realm.  The loss of my brother has given some level of identification with her loss.  The birth of my son blows my mind of her life and her call.  It blows my mind at God’s love for us – that He would give His only Son… for me.  I am so madly in love with my son – my mind can’t go there.  Mary.  Told she was to bear God’s child.  Giving birth to this child.  Holding and loving this baby.

Mary Did You Know:

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Henry Handsome

How does your cuteness grow…

Cheese

I have to admit I wasn’t much of a cheese fan until recent years.  There are still cheeses I loathe like ricotta and I’m not very fond of cottage cheese either.  It’s probably better that I prefer French cooking over Italian (Giada is great though).  I was just downstairs eating cheese and crackers waiting for Dave to finish his phone interview (poor guy – interview on your birthday!).   Thinking about cheese I decided to do a blog on it. 

Cheddar – Probably one of my least favorites – I don’t really like it plain, on sandwiches, pizza, eggs or burgers.  I do like it in garden salads and on crackers.

American – I know it’s a stretch to call it a cheese.  I like it on grill cheese sandwiches, french toast, burgers and pizza (just joking about the pizza).  I used to like it on eggs but not so much anymore.

Gouda – crackers, salads

Swiss – sandwiches,eggs, burgers

Monterey Jack – Mexican, Pizza, salads – I really like its mild flavor

Havarti – this cheese varies so much from brand to brand – eggs, crackers, burgers

Brie – baked in things

Mascarpone – great in tiramisu and cheese cake

Mozzarella – Pizza – It’s okay

Parmesan – When I do make Italian dishes.  Caesar Salad.  I am not a fan of mixing tomato sauce and cheese.

Goat – I love goat cheese – salads, stuffing things, sweet things… yummy

I know there are other types, but this is basically my realm. 

Happy Birthday to My Husband!

I love you David!

Psalm 25:2

²O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.