Something New for New Year's Even

My beloved husband really likes cheesecake.
He doesn't get to have it very often as we seldom order dessert when we are out to eat and the only person to ever bake cheesecake for him is my mother.... until now!

He encouraged me to give it a try, so I did.  Behold!  Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake! 
I had a small slice... I think it's 'okay', but I've never eaten cheesecake before and don't know what to think.  Actually, I have a psychological issue with cold cheese in any form so my taste-buds are probably malfunctioning. :-)  Steve assures me that it is very good!

Happy New Year!

A Prayer by Francis of Assissi

I had downloaded a free book for my kindle called "Prayers for Today" and it has many good things in it.  This morning I came across this prayer attributed to Francis of Assissi (1181-1226) and was touched. 
I did pray this and acknowledged before the Throne of Grace that I was not quite sincere in that I do long to be comforted & loved, yet I also know that Christ alone will be the fullest source of those things in my life.

 

Photo is a rose window in the Church of Santa Chiara, consecrated in 1265,
across the town from Saint Francis Basilica.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace,

That where there is hatred, may I bring love;

That where there is wrong, may I bring a spirit of forgiveness;

That where there is discord, may I bring harmony;

That where there is error, may I bring truth;

That where there is doubt, may I bring faith;

That where there is despair, may I bring hope;

That where there are shadows, may I bring light;

That where there is sadness, may I bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek to comfort, rather than to be comforted;

To understand rather than to be understood;

To love rather than to be loved;

For it is in giving that we are received; 

It is by forgiving that we are forgiven,

And it is by dying that we awaken to eternal life.

 

Late November Morning

It is late November here in NH... a time that should not allow for sitting on the deck swing in your bathrobe in the morning.  Yes... I was doing that this morning.
The kids are not awake yet (more perks of homeschooling!) and I'd gone outside with Piper and just sat for a bit.

Marveling that I could be outside without freezing or being bundled in blankets over my fleece bathrobe. Thankful for warmth.
I looked at the gray clouds rolling across the sky behind the trees - mostly bare of leaves now. Thankful for vision.
Listening to the sounds of the river rushing madly over the falls behind our home. Thankful for hearing.
Watching a neighbor meander down the road with his dog.  Thankful for our home in a good neighborhood.
Seeing a bird flutter to rest on another naked tree (you can barely see him in the center).  Thankful for the creation as a gift.

Pausing to thank God that my children are still upstairs sleeping as the sound of a school bus roared along the road.  Thankful for homeschooling.
Anticipating a day of learning as I look forward to a quilting class this afternoon.  Thankful for Steve thinking it's a worthwhile pursuit of my time and this opportunity.
Seeking clarity from the Lord for concerns that weigh heavy this morning.  Thankful to be able to bring all things to His throne.
Thanking Him for being my Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There), and Jehovah Jireh (the Lord shall Provide).

I am most blessed - even in the hard things.

Blessings on the journey~

 

Being brave - out of my comfort zone - to link up on Emily's 'tuesday's unwrapped'

One

Go here... find your one.  You will be so glad you did... I can pretty much guarantee it.

How?

How might God use you if you let him?
We've seen how... in 3 different places around the globe... in the lives of 3 different children...but most importantly in our own family here.  It's amazing!

And by our sharing about our experience... there are FIVE precious little ones in Honduras who are now sponsored by my totally awesome parents - 5 little people who have an additional/new set of grandparents that have adopted their little hearts and are covering them in prayer.

Are you willing? 
Follow this trip via one or more of the linked blogs you can reach by clicking on the image below... let God use you.  You will be SO blessed!



Blessings on the journey~

Braiding Bread

A while ago I found this lovely post at Good (Cheap) Eats, with an embedded tutorial video.  Sometimes these things are strange (not this site personally - but in general), but this was short and easy to follow - perfectly helpful!
I've made Challah Bread before and even attempted to braid the loaves, but they often come out lopsided and strange looking.  Which doesn't impact the taste at all, but I like pretty bread. :-)
So I decided to try this new recipe and follow the video directions and see how it would come out.

 Here is the bread prior to baking.

The braiding wasn't difficult and it seemed to come out pretty even.  I brushed the top with a egg white wash prior to baking.

Here is the finished bread.

Given that egg bread is pretty dense and has a fair amount of sugar in it, I categorize this as a 'sweet' bread.  I cut this round into quarters and then sliced it to make french toast for dinner one night.  Marvelous!

Blessings on the journey,

Link Love

This post from Teri Lynn was awesome!