Birthday Boys

James 1: 7
" Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. "


I have been blessed by two beautiful boys here on earth (most of the times blessed...).  Even though my boys were born in 2 separate months and 6 years apart, their birthdays are less than 2 weeks from the other. My oldest was born just before 2131 (Cal Ripken's streak) and my youngest was born 1 week to the day before 9/11.  As a matter of fact he was due on 9/11, and at the time I worked just outside of DC. I'm so grateful my husband and I were both home that fateful morning. I am also grateful for my beautiful boys, my perfect gifts from above. Lord watch over my boys as they grow and are faced with challenges in this life. Protect their minds and their hearts, Lord, and lead them always on Your path. Amen.

So, I still have to make a birthday cake for my #1 son and will have to do it all over again for #2. That's ok, because I love cake!! Here is a terrific easy homemade cake recipe that has been passed down in my family. I prefer to ice it with chocolate icing, but it is just as fabulous with no icing at all (it is perfection with my morning coffee!).

Manaw's Hot Milk Cake

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 cup of milk
1 stick of butter
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
2 teaspoons of vanilla
dash of salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*
Grease and flour a tube pan.

Beat eggs until light and fluffy.
Heat milk and butter until butter melts. Set aside.

Add gradually to the eggs: the sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla and salt.  Pour milk and butter mixture in with the rest of ingredients. Mix until smooth.

Pour batter in tube pan. Bake at 350* for 50-60 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back when pressed in and when toothpick comes out clean.  Cool for 20 minutes. Remove from pan and frost if desired.

Here are my beautiful birthday boys...

#1 

#2

I pray your day is filled with gifts from above....and cake!!

Currently

Romans 8: 18
" I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. "


This verse is my hope everyday. I am so blessed to be living where I do, and to have all the blessings that I have, but life is hard sometimes. People let you down, things don't go the way you hope they would, people get devastating illnesses, those that we love die.  Life is hard! But as a Christian, I must press forward everyday living in hope. Lord, help me to keep my focus on you, even through times of suffering. Amen.

TGIF!!! My son has his first "game" tonight! It's more of a scrimmage, because it doesn't count in the standings for the season, but it's a game none-the-less. He even had to dress-up for school today in a shirt and tie. So handsome. I would have taken a picture, but he would have none of it (probably still traumatized from yesterday's photo op!).  I want to take this opportunity to remind you of Wednesday's blog, Nail-gating.  I was hopeful there would be comments, and as of this morning, I don't have one. There is no gimmick, I won't sell your name or information. It's just me, with my faith and my words, giving someone nailpolish (I swear!). If you enjoy this blog, please take a moment to share your favorite nail color in the comment section of this post or this post. You might even be lucky enough to get something for free! I truly feel blessed every time I see that someone has taken the time to read my blog, and I want to share something with you. Thank you!

Here are my game day nails. Go Cobra's!!

I pray your weekend is a time of rest, relaxation and fun!

First Day of School

Proverbs 16: 3
" Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. "


Well we did it, we successfully got all of the children on their perspective buses this morning. Alleluiah!! I was nervous about my first time high school student. He has to get on the bus before 6:30- that's AM! He set his alarm and got up before I went up to check on him, though. I'm so proud (baby steps, baby steps...). I love this verse because it simplifies my everyday for me. "Commit to the Lord WHATEVER you do". That means, in my waking up, in my getting dressed, in making breakfast and lunches: whatever.  Now, I won't tell you I always remember this, but it sure makes me realize that when I'm in the midst of the morning madness, He is right there with me. Amen!

Here's some pics from this morning, enjoy!!

Breakfast was served early this morning!
 I made this easy Oatmeal Bake. So good and good for you.

Here are the kids...

My big high schooler!

Middle school girl!

4th grade!

Don't forget to comment on yesterday's blog,-"Nail-gating", to earn a chance to win my first give-away!

I pray you have a wonderful day!

Nail-gating?

Proverbs 15: 15
" All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. "


Lord, you have saved me from wretchedness, and invited me to your continual feast! Thank you!!

I love a good party, don't you? Football season is the best time to throw an easy party. Pizzas, chips, a little dip, and viola!: party. But what makes even the most simple parties extra special, is the attention to detail. You know I like a theme, and football season makes it very simple to find my theme. You need to look no further than your favorite sports team.  The colors of your team, your mascot, your sport for that matter (or all 3 maybe!), all make excellent themes for a party or tailgate. Another way to make a party special, is how you dress. Yup, I dress in theme, too!  And a super easy way to make what you wear even more special is to accessorize with your nails. Simply by smearing your fave team's color on your nails, you are dressed to impress!

Here are a few great ideas for making you the Queen of the "Nail-gate"!!

Here are some super easy to apply nail wraps, from Jamberry!
(click on link to order from my friend Jen)

I found this image on Pinterest last year and actually painted my nails like this for my son's football games last year.
You can change out the green for your own team colors. Super cute!!
(Image courtesy of  babble)

Or, just paint your nails your favorite color to coordinate with your favorite team.
I found this cute video on Pinterest, too.

So here's a my first Give-away!! I will send a bottle of essie nail color ( the available color of your choice) to a randomly selected person with a comment posted to my blog by Sunday, August 30, 2015. Share your must have team colors for this football season. Winner will be announced on Monday, August 31,2015.

I can't wait to hear from you!

 I pray that today provides your heart with a continual feast!!

Going Bananas!!

James 3: 17

" But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. "

I wish this verse described my attitude and actions everyday...sadly no, it doesn't. Do I give up and throw the towel in because I'm not these things all of the time? Happily, no! I keep striving for these things everyday. After all, I'm "new every morning; great is your faithfulness", Lord!! (Lam. 3:23) Amen!

Sunday, my oldest son turned 20!! Wow! They are getting so old, and I'm still so young (not sure how that works, but I'm going with it!).  He is so busy with work and he's in a play right now, so there are lots of late night play practices, that we have not yet celebrated with a cake and dinner.  So, I whipped up some of his favorite muffins to tide him over until we do. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. I got this recipe years ago from Southern Living. You can even make some vanilla icing (or chocolate would be even better) and pass them off as cupcakes, but I think they are just fine without it (actually the recipe calls them cupcakes). I hope you enjoy these, they are always a big hit with my big family.

Happy Birthday!!

Banana-Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients

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1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened $

1 1/2 cups sugar $

2 large eggs $

3 small bananas, mashed (about 1 cup) $

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour $

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels

Vegetable cooking spray $

1 (16-ounce) container vanilla frosting (optional)

Learn Basic Steps for Safe Cooking

 

Preparation

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, banana, and vanilla, beating until blended.

Stir together flour, soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to banana mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in morsels.

Place paper baking cups in muffin pans, and coat with cooking spray; spoon batter into pans, filling cups two-thirds full.

Bake at 350° for 17 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks. Spread with frosting, if desired.

Southern Living

AUGUST 2002

I pray today that if you're going bananas, that you can at least turn them into a delicious muffin!! (LOL!)

JVH

Psalm 61: 5
" For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. "


I am so blessed to have the heritage that I do.  I come from a family of strong women.  Most of the time it serves me well, sometimes it's hard on my husband and those I am closest too. Sorry, that's the way God made me! I have a heritage of two wonderful grandmothers that were very different. Both strong loving, women, but two different styles.  I want to share just a bit today about my mother's mom: JVH- "Manaw". I think the reason I even have this blog today has a lot to do with Manaw.  She has been gone from this earth for nearly 30 years, so she wouldn't know anything about blogs or even computers. What she had was style. Not style that came from having money (both of my grandmothers grew up during the depression), but style that came from striving to be her best.  She was an excellent cook, always had a beautiful, clean home, she was the hostess with the mostess, and dressed perfectly for every occasion. A true lady. Thank you, Manaw, for my heritage.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm probably not as on top of things as my grandmother was (or strived to be), but she gave me a standard in which to live.  When I was a young girl, she gave me a great little purse called a "Bermuda Bag".  I still have it.  It is Lilly Pulitzer inspired with a reversible cover. Pink and green with animals on one side and plain pink on the other.  So preppy!! Manaw had Lilly Pulitzer style. The few pieces of "Lilly"  that I have remind me so much of her. Here is a pic of my "Lilly" items (and I threw in my Bermuda Bag, too!).

Here is all of my "Lilly".  I always purchase it on sale (except for the agendas and the shopping tote).
The small items on top of the Bermuda Bag are the only "Lilly Pulitzer for Target" I was able to get.
Lip gloss from L'Oreal- "Orange Tempo", and essie nail color - "first timer"

The t shirt and the dress are the same pattern, "Seeing Pink Elephants".
Wonder why I love that pattern??  I purchased all of my Lilly Pulitzer from The Pink Silhouette.
(Here is a closeup of one of my elephants.)  

Never forget where you came from. It can inspire you to keep achieving or even drive you to achieve. Whatever your circumstance, we have all been given a heritage from God through His Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. I pray today that you ask to Him to be a part of that heritage and if you already have, that you thank Him for it. Amen!

I'm falling!

Daniel 2: 21
" He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. "


In exactly one week from today, my times certainly will be changing; the children will be going back to school. Even though the temperatures are still very warm, my thoughts are turning to fall.  I know that on an early morning walk to the bus stop, there will soon be a nip in the air.  Changes of season are exciting, but they also make me reflect on the season gone.  Sometimes there is sadness and sometimes there is joy. But, as seasons change and move forward so must we. Times and seasons, we must change with them, in the change comes wisdom.  Thank you, Lord, for the change of seasons. Amen.

So here is a look back and a look forward!

My beautiful babies at the ocean! My favorite part of summer.

First year in High School!! Falling into football season.

I pray you have a great day and a wonderful start to the new seasons in your life!!