Strawberry-Ruby Grapefruit Preserves

I wasn't going to participate this week because it has been very busy around here lately. My husband just came back from Alaska on Wednesday, we have had cross country practice every morning, lots of lessons in music and work. But this afternoon the Youth group went Out to lunch and then bowling. That meant that I had 4 hours of time by myself. Yippee!!!

So I hurried up and got my canning supplies out of the attic, yes , I have not used them for 9 years, got them washed and went to work.

This weeks Sweet Melissa recipe "Strawberry-Ruby Preserves" was chosen by Margot of Effort to Deliciousness was absolutely Delicious!!!!

You use the juice of two grapefruits and two tablespoons of the zest.

To make your pectin you use 2 cups of Granny Smith Apples, peeled and cubed.

And you use 8 cups of fresh strawberries hulled and sliced.

You let it come to 212 degrees and then cook for 30 more minutes. I was nervous here because it was lumpy but guess what , after 30 minutes of cooking it is perfect.



It made the best jam!

The best part was hearing that thump when the jars sealed,

then I knew that I had done it right!
I can't wait for my family to try this, they will love it.

In the wilderness of waiting...Patience

This past week our character trait that we focused on was patience.

I loved this chapter as I have found my self here many times.

I would not say that I am an impatient person but I would say that God has used this in my life many times. For example: when we couldn't have kids for three years and he brought a child into our life through adoption,and when me moved to Portland, Oregon with 2 small children and I hated it and made every minute miserable until I decided that maybe God had a better plan. God taught me so much there and I learned to love it.

She talked a lot about the wilderness of waiting and used the examples of Moses and the children of Israel. Moses was 40 when he killed the Egyptian and went to live in the desert for 40 years, then God used him. The children of Israel wondered in the desert for 40 years.She suggest two things we can do when we are in these places Resist or Relax.

I agree that these are not pleasant places and sometimes we can fall in to despair trying to understand what God has in store.But these are the times that God meets you, refreshes you and grows you.Sometimes this is the only way God can get our attention. Then He has you, at center attention. We are so low that all we can do is look up and draw closer to Him.

She offers really great suggestions that I have found to work in my life.

When we find ourselves in this place:

1. Don't just do something:Stand there!

Wait and use this time to pray.Don't steamroll over the roadblock.Invite God to stand with you and don't make a move until He releases you.

2. Count the Cost

Think through and pray about all the possibilities. She used the example of Sarah when she was barren. God had promised she and Abraham a legacy, in her confusion of waiting she didn't count the cost and Did something. It turned out to be a lifetime of mistakes when she offered her husband her handmaid, Hagar.

3. Remember God is not a God of Confusion.

Don't do anything if you feel rushed,

if you and your husband don't agree,

you feel confused or you are getting conflicting advice.

God is the God of Peace, He will make it clear and you will have His approval

then you will will feel His perfect Peace.

I remember while we were waiting on children.

I was panicked.

I even thought of calling a Psychic Hot line to find out if I would ever have kids.

How stupid is that.

We did all we could do with medical procedures and then waited.

Until one day His answer came in the form of a phone call from a dear friend this lead us down a road that I was scared to death of. My first reaction was NO, I threw up, couldn't sleep and waited and then God's perfect peace filled me with His answer.

After that it all happened so quickly as He took care of every detail.

He had a plan.

I'm glad that Darci Joy was part of it. I can't imagine life without her.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;do not fret.

Psalm 37:7

Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake

Today's Sweet Melissa Recipe was Whole Orange-Poppy Seed Cake

chosen by Melissa of "LuLu the Baker". It is on page 16 of the Sweet Melissa book.

I chose the Lemon version of this since my girls are not that fond of Orange. They like Orange juice but all the pop sickles that have not been eaten in the freezer are the orange ones.

This recipe was easy but required that you use an entire lemon. You remove the stems from the ends and pureed with the skins and all. It made the cake delicious and moist.The glaze gave it just the right amount of tart/sweetness.

My girls and I loved this and it was easy enough I will make again.

Thanks Melissa,a great choice.

A surprise....

Today in the mail came the sweetest package.

The package was pink and had the cutest apron inside from Michelle at "Fourchild". This is her version of the Sweet Melissa Apron that she gave away and can you believe, I WON!Isn't it adorable. It has buttons and Ric rack on the edges.

It fits perfect!
I can't wait to wear this when I bake special treats for my family.
Thank you Michelle, what a treasure.




And then yesterday in the middle of all the birthday party hub bub a special plant/flower showed up at the door. I thought it was for my daughter but no it was for me from their dad (he is in Alaska for 2 weeks on a church mission trip) saying how much he missed me.
It was just what I needed to pull a birthday party all nighter with a smile.
Thanks, Dusty for thinking of me.

Let the Party begin.....

Today is the birthday of my two younger girls.

DeAnn was born at 3:30 am and Denae was born 2 years later at noon!

They are both a delight and precious girls that are full of life.

Today Denae will have a birthday party that includes a scavenger hunt at the mall with 6 girls and a sleepover and next week we will celebrate DeAnn with a camping trip with her friends. Two girls from the same family, with the same birthday but very different young ladies.This past week we were at my moms house and she made them a delicious cake.She found it in one of her Paula Deen magazines.It was perfect and very simple.

A chocolate cake mix that you bake according to the directions. Let it cool and then poke holes in it and pour over 1 can of eagle brand milk and Carmel sauce over it then cover with whipped topping and sprinkle with a crushed butter finger candy bar.
Happy Birthday girls, We love you!

Happy Fourth of July

I hope that you are enjoying this holiday and some of the festivities that most towns enjoy.

Our small town has an entire month of activities. Last Saturday Darci played the piano in a fun recital at the park, it was hot but she did a great job.

Then this Saturday we have the Fourth of July Parade.

We got there a bit late so we were at the end of the parade but that was OK ,

because we got to set under a shade tree. Here is the crew in their lawn chairs. Something we have learned to bring over the years.



Here is my husband in the street trying to get candy. Yes, he is like that!


Just a fun float. Our town Band. They were Loud and did a great job.

And then Me and My Honey!

I thought I would share a few pictures from my middle daughters room.

She has not been a girly girl but is getting more each day,

I think it is because she is becoming a teenager.

This is her room that we decorated about 4 years ago.

She wanted the blue walls and the red,white and blue bedding.

This was when she was going through the phase that she wouldn't wear

anything that wasn't red, white or blue!

W e didn't know what to do for her curtain , I had this fabric and she said lets use this.

So I made her a pillow and a table cover, recovered her little lamp and made her a valance.

I fringed the pillow and appliqued the stars.

This is just a simple valance.

Here room is sparse as she is getting rid of all the 4th stuff and all the kid stuff but

I thought this would be perfect for the Holiday.

Enjoy the day with family and friends and

remember the reason that we celebrate this day.

Apron Give Away

My friend Michelle At "Mom's Baked Goods"

http://homebakedsweetness.blogspot.com/

is having an apron give away.

This is the Sweet Melissa Apron that she found and had made.

If you would like to win, see her rules below. Good Luck!

Apron Giveaway rules:
1. Tell one other person about the giveaway

2. Tell me why you love to bake!
3. Deadline for the giveaway will be July 12.

I don't have a Sweet Melissa Ice Cream for this week either.

I don't have an ice cream freezer and wasn't interested in buying one at this point.

We never used the one we had until it was to bad to use.

Enjoy!