High Five for Friday!

I've never done a "link up" but I love the link up that From My Grey Desk does called "High Five for Friday".  I like it because it gives you a chance at the end of the week to look back and see what were the little things that made you happy or one might say deserves a high five! It causes you to see the little things that you were thankful for or happy about even if the week as a whole wasn't the greatest.  However, I am thankful to say mine was great!

1. Xbox Kinect.  Especially, fruit ninja.  We played this game at our friends' house and knew we needed to go get a kinect.  Since then we find it humorous and quite an exercise to play Fruit Ninja (and other games). AKA: Chop at the pretend fruit in the air, gain points, feel like a ninja warrior, and be sore.

2.  For a good 3 or 4 days this week it was 75 to 80 degrees, therefore I got to LAY OUT.  I love having time for all seasons, but I am a warm weather/summer kind of girl! All I need is a little pool :)

3.  I am always thankful for a morning every once in a while that does not require me to rush around having a place to go.  Only time to spend in the Word as long as I can! I am doing a Matthew (Beatitude Sermon) study.  Even though I have read that sermon multiple times, it has given me a solid, spiritual punch in the gut many times (that is a good thing).  So challenging, so good!

4.  Our friend Chris wearing a mustache and his wife, my dear friend, Laura.  This picture alone deserves a high five.  No words.  

5.  My top HIGH FIVE of the week: I accepted a job offer for a nursing position! I am more than excited and so thankful for it.  It's in the Progressive Coronary Care Unit (PCCU).  I'm eager to be starting my career as a nurse! A big bonus too is one of my friends who I graduated nursing school with is working on the same unit and the same shift as me.  Praise the Lord for His faithful and abundant provision.  

This even helps us be aware of the 'little things' or 'small victories' of the week that remind us to be thankful.  

Crockpot BBQ with Corn Cakes

I wanted to post this recipe, because when I mentioned on Twitter that I had made it a few people wanted the recipe.  

I first pinned this recipe on Pinterest, but it is originally from this blog (Ezra Pound Cake).  Oh my.  This is delicious.  I absolutely love the sauce - it is that perfect BBQ taste.  This blogger made the combination just perfect.  It is very simple and easy, including the corn cakes.  The taste of BBQ meat and corn cakes in the same bite just might be the perfect combination!  

I halved the recipe, since it's just my husband and I and it worked great.  She also calls for slaw and tomatoes, which I am sure would be tasty, we just did not have it.  

[Recipe Adapted from Ezra Pound Cake]

Crockpot BBQ

 1/2 medium onion, sliced

 Pork Shoulder (2-3 lb, preferably boneless)

 [*Note: I had to use a Pork Shoulder Steak with bone because my store did not have pork shoulder. It worked just fine.  I just removed the bone later on in the cooking process]

 1/2 cup Beef Broth, water, or favorite BBQ sauce [I had Beef Stock on hand)

Sauce:

 1/2 cup ketchup

 1/3 cup water

 2 Tbs white vinegar

 2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce

 1 Tbs Brown Sugar

 1/2 Tbs Dale's Seasoning or Liquid Smoke [I used the latter.  So yummy!]

 2 tsp Garlic Powder

 1 tsp Salt

 1 tsp Tabasco

 1/4 tsp Pepper

Place onion in slow cooker.  Set the meat on top of the onions. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix all sauce ingredients together and heat in microwave for 45 seconds, then pour over pork shoulder. In a seperate bowl, mix beef broth and remaining 2 Tbs white vinegar.  Pour around the pork shoulder, NOT ON the meat.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. At 6 hours you can baste the meat with the sauce.  Shred the meat inside the crockpot and remove bones.  Serve on top of corn cakes. 

Corn Griddle Cakes 

(Makes 15, 2 inch cakes)

1 cup Self-Rising Cornmeal (not cornbread mix)

1/2 cup All-purpose flour

3/4 cup milk

3 Tbs butter, melted

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1/2 Tbs sugar (optional)

1/8 tsp Cayenne

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat (I used my pancake counter griddle).  Pour 2 tbs of batter for each cake. Cook a few minutes on each side (just like pancakes).  Serve with meat mixture over it.  

Enjoy, because it is awesome!  

Proverbs 8 and Mom's Banana Bread

I try my best to read one chapter of Proverbs a day corresponding with the day of the month.  Most months it works perfectly because there are 31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in most months.  I have come to realize I will never grow out of learning and heeding wisdom [insert: sarcasm. I did not just come to realize that].

[Rabbit Trail: bad part about writing and/or blogs is that sarcasm is hard to notice and I tend to be sarcastic time to time. Sorry, I am not sorry]

Sometimes, I read the one chapter of Proverbs in addition to what I am studying and/or reading for my quiet time.  Other times, that chapter is solely my quiet time.  Let's get real, Proverbs is all about wisdom and instruction and I tend to mess up.....[like everyday]......so it's good for me just sit, pray, and meditate on it, because it tends to slap me in the face, encourage me, and/or challenge me.

I read Proverbs 8 today.  There was section that I wanted to share:

The first person in this passage is 'wisdom'.  After I read this, I noticed that these [words I underlined] are identifiable characteristics of wisdom.  When we are looking for wisdom or asking for wisdom, these are characteristics that we can look for in a decision, an action, a conversation, our words, and the list could go on.

Wisdom......speaks noble things, it will reveal right things, only truth will be uttered, wickedness is an abomination to it, righteousness comes from it's mouth, and there is nothing crooked or perverted that comes from it.  Therefore, Proverbs 8 shows us what wisdom IS and what it IS NOT.  Identify those characteristics.  How sweet is the Lord to give us His Word to guide us?

Side Note: I am sure that I have read this passage many times, and yet the Lord teaches me something new about it.  I love that He continues to teach us new things with the same passage.

Prayful Days & Chocolate Cake

When I started this blog, I said the primary reason was the document events, happenings, and things we are learning in our life so that I may look back and read about it later.  I think that is an especially sweet thing to look back and see what the Lord has done in your life!

The past two months, there have been many specific things to pray for in our lives and on behalf of others.  I am so thankful that I can, at any time, start having a conversation with my Savior.  He is never too busy or needs you to make an 'appointment'.  Sometimes when I pray about little things, I think how small and insignificant this must seem to my Lord in comparison to His kingdom and eternal plan. I have learned that is not the case.  He is interested in every part of our lives.  He wants us to go to Him for anything....because it is about a relationship with Him.  Since I have been more intentional about being prayerful these past few months, I have learned and/or observed a few things about prayer:

- It causes me to remove my focus from myself and fix it on the Lord
- Just like any relationship, you get to know them by talking to them and spending time with them. This     is the same with my prayer time with the Lord.  I know Him more, now.
- Handing my burdens over to my Mighty, All-powerful God brings "peace that surpasses all understanding"
- It causes me to be thankful that I am not in "charge" of my life.  No, the GOD of all the universe, who has created the smallest detail and has orchestrated the happenings of our life is in charge and it is GOOD.
- Humbles me knowing that my Great God and Savior cares about my life.  I fail Him so often.
- Causes me to realize how much I can talk and chit chat to the Lord when I just  need to stop and listen

The things I have been praying about these past few months, I have learned are out of my control or Lee's control.  These include, my future career and the waiting part of it,  a critical outcome of a big business project for Lee, the loss of a church family's dear son, the healing of relationships, the redemption of souls,  and the healing of bodies.
I realize in some of these situations above, I can make the steps that I know are smart to take and "do my part", which we have or I have done.  However, in the end, all I want is for God's will to be done...and nothing more.  As I look back on my life and others' life stories, God's plan is always good and always better, no matter how I am feeling in that very moment!  Sometimes, emotions can have such a firm grip on your reasoning and thought process.  How frustrating can that be?  I realize I have to make the decision to know that the Lord knows what will happen in 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years and His will be done and it will be good.  In the meantime, I need to follow hard after Him and seek Him wholeheartedly so I can be sensitive to His calling and plans.

" Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God " Philippians 4:6

 " May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ" 2 Thessalonians 3:5   -- How sweet is that!

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I think I could blog any of the recipes from The Pioneer Woman that I have cooked or baked to date.  They are so delicious and just...perfect! I always have loved old recipes that have been handed down to each generation - I think they are always the best tasting.  I have noticed that all of them have very simple ingredients, usually things you have in kitchen already.  I gather this is because they didn't have all of the complex, specialty ingredients either because they lived out in the country and because those ingredients did not exist many years ago.  I have been watching The Pioneer Woman's new cooking show and she always mentions that her recipes are simple because she lives out in the country and is not able to just "run to the store".  That is a reason why I like her recipes - they are simple, absolutely delicious, and pretty easy! The more simple, the better, I think!

Speaking of simple, here is the best Chocolate Cake recipe.  I made this for our community group and everyone seemed to love it!

Chocolate Sheet Cake
Makes one 18x12-inch cake
*Note - I used one that was a few inches smaller and it was fine. You could also use a smaller, thicker cake pan for a thicker cake or separate these into round pans for a layered cake.

Ingredients [for the cake]:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
   *Substitute: 1/2 cup milk + 1 1/2 tsp of distilled white vinegar. Stir. Let sit for 5 min.
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
4 heaping Tbs cocoa powder

Ingredients [for the icing]:
1 3/4 sticks butter
4 heaping Tbs cocoa powder
6 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Stir & set aside.
In another bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda. Mix with fork & set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add cocoa. Whisk together to combine.  Meanwhile, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.  When butter is melted, pour boiling water in the pan.  Allow to bubble for a minute, then turn off heat.
Pour chocolate mixture into the flour mixture.  Stir together for a minute to cool the chocolate.
Add the egg mixture.
Stir together until smooth, then pour into an ungreased pan.  Bake for 20 min.

While the cake is baking, make the icing.  Melt the butter in the saucepan (use the same one to save yourself some dishes). Add the cocoa powder and stir 'till smooth.  Add milk and vanilla.  Add powdered sugar. Stir together.  If you wanted the pecans, you would dump those in at this time.

Immediately when you remove the cake from the oven, pour the warm icing on top.  Try and distribute evenly and let it spread on its own.  You'll want to avoid too much spreading.

Now, your life is complete.  Amen.

P.S.  I have her first cookbook right now and use it all the time!  In just a few weeks, her new (second) cookbook is coming out and I. can't. wait!!

Excerpt from 'The Valley of Vision'

Excerpt of "Sixth Day Morning - The Gospel":

We are lost: but in it thou hast presented to us a full, free, and eternal salvation,

Weak: but here we learn that help is found in One that is mighty,

Poor: but in him we discover unsearchable riches,

Blind: but we find he has treasures of wisdom and knowledge....

...May his glory fill our minds,

His love reign in our affections,

His cross inflame us with ardour.

Let us as Christians fill our various situations in life,

escape the snares to which they expose us,

discharge the duties that arise from our circumstances,

enjoy with moderation their advantages,

improve with diligence their usefulness,

And may every place and company we are in be benefited by us.

I highly recommend this book. It is a collection of Puritan prayers that is organized by topics. Don't let the "old" language of 'thou', 'hast', 'thy' scare you.  The words used and sentences written are so rich in the way they are put together!  Sometimes, you don't know how to put into words what you want to pray and I think this is a great resource for that.  However, I do know that "...we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us..."(Romans 8:26), Who is our perfect, and greatest Resource.  You can make these prayers your own personal prayer.  Many times I just read them at random and they immediately challenge me, remind me of incredible Truth, and urge me to make it my own personal prayer.

Banana Boat

I've heard of this dessert before somewhere and then saw it on the food network this week. It is simple, easy, and quick! I think it may be the perfect portion of dessert and level of 'sweetness'.

With the peel on and intact, cut it down the middle lengthwise, but not all the way so as to make a 'boat' to place the fillers. I stuffed in marshmallows and chocolate chips, but I am sure you could get creative. Wrap it loosely in foil. Put in the oven at 300 degrees for 5-7 min or until the chocolate chips are nice and melted.

Yummy and yummy!!

To Know His Word

I wanted to share a method of memorizing scripture that I learned last summer during a women's Bible Study!  I have always tried to memorize scripture, but would only work on it for a few days, then forget about it.  Or, I would memorize the verse, then forget it 2 weeks later.  Now, what is the use in that?

Some may wonder why it is important to memorizing scripture.  There are so many places in the Bible that teaches us why it is important: knowing His word to keep our lives pure (Ps 119:9), used for teaching and admonishing one another (Col. 3:16), know the Word accurately and can know when you hear false teaching (2 Tim. 2:15), Psalm 119 tell us of the passion we should have for His Word.  We can memorize verses that will comfort us in time of need, direct us in a decision, reinforce His promises in times of doubt, give us strength to work diligently for the Lord (Col. 3:23-24).


This method of memorizing scripture as been extremely effective! I remember verses that I first memorized back in June, when I started it with the Bible Study.  I can't tell you how many times these verses have come to my mind in time of need (for comfort, direction, encouragement, etc).  Here it is:


Get yourself a index card box or binder.  I got a binder because it is small and fit anywhere if I want to bring it anywhere.  This is what mine looks like when I open it up...

I think I got this one at Office Depot.  It came with two tabs.  You want to make a section for "Daily", "Weekly", and "Monthly".  The verses in the front of mine are the "Daily" verses.  

I put the number of verse that I am on in the left hand corner.  In the right hand corner, I put the month and year that I started memorizing it.  This is just for me to know. Of course, you don't have to do this!

On the back of the index card, Write "D, W, M" to represent "Daily, Weekly, Monthly".  You will read the verse once a day for 50 days, then once a week for 50 weeks, then once a month for 50 months.  I know that it sounds like a lot at first.  All you have to do is read the verse once in that day.  I add one verse each week.  Sometimes, you may have 25 verses to read in one day, but if you only reading them once, it will only take a few minutes!

This really is such an easy method and is extremely effective! I am so grateful that our Bible Study leader shared this method with us because it has definitely been such a wonderful discipline in my life.  I hope I have shared a method that will encourage at least one person.  

If none of the verses above encouraged you to memorize scripture, let the truth that it is God's words, a way that He communicates to us, be the reason for knowing His word by heart!

This will surely bless you!