home.

ahhh... home.
i guess a little less than a month away from it leaves you to appreciate this special place. (by the way, that was why i haven't been blogging)

from islands to ferrys to sand dunes to plays to horses to hotels to shopping to museums, the best part of my trip was reuniting with my crazy brothers and awesome parents. They surprised me for my birthday by driving three hours to where I was staying and blessing me with smiles and laughter and fun.

 I guess I realized that I wasn't homesick for my beautiful bedroom or our lovely gardens, but homesick for those awesome people who have my heart and share my last name. From the boy who is almost taller to me to the one who still likes to sleep in my room, I missed them.

So hopefully for you, it doesn't take you nearly a month away from these people we call family to realize that they are a part of you, they are your home.


{on another note, I've made up my mind to start blogging more. here's what i'm thinking-
music on Mondays- an inspirational song, a song I've written, something musical
tea on Tuesdays- have a cup of tea with me! i'll share my recipes with you.
words of the wise on Wednesdays- special bible verses I've found
thoughts on Thursdays- just little thoughts I've had, little things happening in my life
fun on Friday-  laughs, fun games, celebration! after all, it is Friday. ;)
i'll try to do at least a couple of these each week... and we'll see how it goes. }

Vacation Bible School, Miracles, & Standing Strong

What do you post on a blog when you forget to post anything for a long time?
Well... The reason i've been sadly neglecting this blog is because of Vacation Bible School. Mama and me both volunteered and my four brothers were in it. (except for one little brother who refused to go to his class) My amazing mother lead the Kitchen crew and Theater, and I got to lead a group of awesome girls with the help of my great friend from AHG. The amazing part was that 69 kids came to Christ that week! Praise God. It truly is a miracle to see all the kids doing the hand motions to songs, all their voices praising Jesus, all their smiles of delight. I've truly witnessed a miracles this past week.

The theme for the week was standing strong.
God's love helps us... Stand Strong
Friends and Family help us... Stand Strong
Prayer helps us... Stand Strong
Trusting God helps us... Stand Strong
God's Word helps us... Stand Strong

So as you go about your day, remember to stand strong for Jesus- He truly does work miracles.

Hummingbird Cake

When life gets crazy... bake a cake. seriously. this is probably the best cake recipe from our home!
Presenting....

Hummingbird Cake

• 3 Cups Bread Flour (You can use All-purpose flour, but bread flour was just what we had on hand)
• 1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar (or you can do a half and half mix of white and brown sugar)
• 1 Tsp. Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tsp. Salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 3/4 Cups Mashed Bananas
• 1 (8 oz. can) of crushed Pineapple ( i accidentally used cubed pineapple once- not as good results)
• 3/4 Cup Yogurt
• 1 1/2 Tsp. Vanilla
• 3/4 CupPecans

 Glaze~

• 4 oz. Cream Cheese
• 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 Tsp. Vanilla
• 1 to 2 Tsp. Milk

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
 2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

 

 Oh, and the tomatoes on the side are NOT going in the cake-

i'm not even sure how they ended up in the picture! ;)

3. Stir in the eggs, bananas, pineapple, yogurt and vanilla. stir just until moist. 

4. Grease and Flour (or use spray) a Bunt Pan heavily. Seriously, do is heavily. 

5. Sprinkle the Pecans into the bottom of the pan.

6. Pour the batter gently into the pan....

7. Bake for 1 hour, give or take a little, depending on the oven.

 

8. Let it cool... for about 15 minutes and then turn it over onto a plate 

9. Wait until it's COMPLETELY cool, and pour the glaze over it. 

Glaze~

1. Pretty simple. Whip the cream cheese and slowly add the powdered sugar.

2. Add the Vanilla, and if you think it needs it, add the milk. (some people like thicker glaze, some people like thinner)

Enjoy!

My prayer for you...

As I wave goodbye to my piano students for the summer, the feelings are a little weird. They're bittersweet, sad yet happy.

I'm sad to say goodbye to these giggly students who have made my day for the last eight months, but happy to see the accomplishment in their eyes after another year of piano. I'm sorry to watch them walk away, yet hopeful that they will use their talents for His glory.

and this is my prayer for them...
May your songs be a smile, may your songs be the sunshine, may your songs be the hope and light for all.

May your songs be testimony, may your songs be a witness, may your songs show that our God is great.

May your songs be a blessing, may your songs be an anthem, may your songs be a declaration of the goodness of our God.


And maybe your song isn't musical. maybe your song is teaching, writing, painting. This prayer is for you, too.

Pray that your life will be a song telling of Jesus, a song to Jesus, and a song from Jesus.

a Ceremony, an Arch, and a Patriot

Monday was my last day being a pioneer. I am now a patriot. When I say that, I'm talking about American Heritage Girls, and Christian scouting organization for girls.  Yesterday was the final ceremony for the year, and I got to walk under the arch. Amazing.
I'm trading my white shirt for a red. I am now one of the "old ones", and with the title of Patriot comes new responsibility. New leadership. New experiences. I hope I'm ready.



our AMAZING group of girls!

These girls rock!



my sweet friend and I



the beautiful arch.

Our troop's theme verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:21~ "but examine everything carefully, hold on to what is good."



You know it's spring when...

Dandelions are coming up...

Pretty pink flowers are radiating beauty and color...

Barefoot days are here~ chipped, dirty and bruised...



Plum trees are blossoming...

Pear trees are amazingly lovely...

Plum blossoms are most beautiful and fragrant...

As are the pear blossoms...

New life is coming from the ground...

 

Brothers are happy...



and of course, it wouldn't be spring without mud. sigh. ;)

just a note...

so, friends. I've made it through two very crazy weeks of "business stuff". I'm still alive. whew! you are welcome to hear allllll about it, but I'm afraid I would just make you tired. ;) It included getting up at five-thirty to finish school, and eating dinner at eleven. pm.

SO very tired! and yes, we slept in our living room.

 but anyway, today is MOTHER'S DAY! Thank you, to all you mamas who've been raising the next generation of leaders.  And thank you to my mama, who's put up with her children's crazy antics. We hope you enjoyed your chocolate and cards! You are a true Proverbs 31 mama.