The one, the only, Strawberry Shortcake. This was the cake pan that started it all. I made this one for the Sunbeams' Valentine party in 2009. She was a huge hit with the girls.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
One of My First Loves
The one, the only, Strawberry Shortcake. This was the cake pan that started it all. I made this one for the Sunbeams' Valentine party in 2009. She was a huge hit with the girls.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
More Things I Love
HAVING FUN WITH SARA
WE LOVE TO MAKE STUFF
I MADE A CAKE FOR HER BITHDAY AND SHE MADE ONE FOR MINE
WE LOVE TO MAKE STUFF
I MADE A CAKE FOR HER BITHDAY AND SHE MADE ONE FOR MINE
Monday, January 24, 2011
It's Serious Thirty
About a year ago I was in a store. Over the sound system I heard a phrase that I mistook for "It's serious thirty". I thought the announcer was creating a play on words to acknowledge that it was time to get serious. I instantly fell in love with this phrase. I began using it all the time when composing and completing my agendas. I later discovered that the radio station that I was listening to was accessible on a satellite radio named Sirius. It was channel 30. However, Serious Thirty was locked in my brain for life.
Last night at church my pastor was speaking about a woman named Hannah in the Bible. He shared that she was really desperate to birth a child. She was so desperate that she was willing to give her child completely to God after he was born. She was serious. I began weeping. Luckily, I sit in the back of the church so I was able to ask a young woman who was headed to the rest room if she could bring back a tissue for me. As the tears were rolling down my face I began to mentally stack up the issues of desperation in my own life. By this time my pastor was clarifying the importance of Hannah's offspring. God needed Samuel to complete His plans. Samuel was not just a "show up for Sunday" follower of God. From birth Samuel's life was set aside for the purposes of God. He went on to do amazing things for God. These things not only changed the course of His life but the lives of every believer that has ever gleaned anything from his book. His book is located in the most Holy of all compositions, the Bible.
After church, I began to contemplate the common denominators in my life and Hannah's life. Desperation at the feet of God is the most significant on the list. Public humiliation ranked second. My next thought was the most important of all. Hannah did not back off of her pleading with God and her offspring(end result) was amazing. I imagine it was far more than she had planned for her infant. I really had not considered the possibility for my delays might be because I need a situation as specific as Samuel's birth. It was the right person, time, and place for God to do exactly what he wanted to do.
I have a situation in my life right now that I loathe. I want to run away from it and leave it to it's own demise. Well, that is not entirely true. Only the bitter and hurt part of my heart wants to do that. The other part wants to go to the throne of God and plead and plead and plead that my plans will be transformed until they are a perfect replica of God's blueprints for my life. Taking 2 Corinthians 10:5 into consideration I will take the thoughts of aborting the mission completely captive. And I will consider the inspiration of Hannah not backing down to fuel to keep my heart super charged.
It's time to get really serious about Matthew 6:10, "Your Kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE". It's time to do what I have to do to sort out my plan, Satan's plans, and God's plans for my life. It's serious thirty.
Last night at church my pastor was speaking about a woman named Hannah in the Bible. He shared that she was really desperate to birth a child. She was so desperate that she was willing to give her child completely to God after he was born. She was serious. I began weeping. Luckily, I sit in the back of the church so I was able to ask a young woman who was headed to the rest room if she could bring back a tissue for me. As the tears were rolling down my face I began to mentally stack up the issues of desperation in my own life. By this time my pastor was clarifying the importance of Hannah's offspring. God needed Samuel to complete His plans. Samuel was not just a "show up for Sunday" follower of God. From birth Samuel's life was set aside for the purposes of God. He went on to do amazing things for God. These things not only changed the course of His life but the lives of every believer that has ever gleaned anything from his book. His book is located in the most Holy of all compositions, the Bible.
After church, I began to contemplate the common denominators in my life and Hannah's life. Desperation at the feet of God is the most significant on the list. Public humiliation ranked second. My next thought was the most important of all. Hannah did not back off of her pleading with God and her offspring(end result) was amazing. I imagine it was far more than she had planned for her infant. I really had not considered the possibility for my delays might be because I need a situation as specific as Samuel's birth. It was the right person, time, and place for God to do exactly what he wanted to do.
I have a situation in my life right now that I loathe. I want to run away from it and leave it to it's own demise. Well, that is not entirely true. Only the bitter and hurt part of my heart wants to do that. The other part wants to go to the throne of God and plead and plead and plead that my plans will be transformed until they are a perfect replica of God's blueprints for my life. Taking 2 Corinthians 10:5 into consideration I will take the thoughts of aborting the mission completely captive. And I will consider the inspiration of Hannah not backing down to fuel to keep my heart super charged.
It's time to get really serious about Matthew 6:10, "Your Kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE". It's time to do what I have to do to sort out my plan, Satan's plans, and God's plans for my life. It's serious thirty.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Pity Party Has Been Canceled For This Evening
An event took place in my day today that I hate. This situation has happened more than I would like to admit. One minute I'm fine, then as soon as the data enters my brain I am no longer fine and my heart begins beating twice as fast as the speed of sound. I hate it. Hate is a strong word but it is not strong enough. I wanted to cry. Correction, I did cry. The most pathetic of all noises came from my mouth. I can not describe this noise as a sound. I can only describe when I have heard it before. This noise can be heard when you demand that a three year old girl stop crying. If obedient, she will give full effort to silence herself. She will have little success and the product of her attempt will be a replica of my response.
It is my hearts desire to be walking on a path with God that I have never walked before. Today's event was like walking in on a trail only to see that I have made it to the same old tree that I have stopped at dozens of time. Then I began to remember the Isrealites. They walked in the desert for 40 years. I can tell you I don't want to be here 30 more years. I didn't know how to guide myself off of this path so I hit my knees and asked God to show me how to get off of the current trail and onto the path to the promised land. As I did this the same old thoughts were bringing their supplies for the grand pity parties that they are accousomed to hosting. Instead of welcoming them I began reflecting on the promises I made to God ten years ago. Ten years I would have had more hope in my Heavenly Father's plans for my life. I would have trusted that He knows what He is doing with me. God is not any less holy, honorable, kind, forgiving, or loving than He was ten years ago so today I refuse to respond to Him as anything less than the Highest regard.
I'm sure that the usual attendants of the Shala Peeples Pity Party were surprised at my reaction. Quite frankly, I was too but a lady's got to do what a lady's do.
It is my hearts desire to be walking on a path with God that I have never walked before. Today's event was like walking in on a trail only to see that I have made it to the same old tree that I have stopped at dozens of time. Then I began to remember the Isrealites. They walked in the desert for 40 years. I can tell you I don't want to be here 30 more years. I didn't know how to guide myself off of this path so I hit my knees and asked God to show me how to get off of the current trail and onto the path to the promised land. As I did this the same old thoughts were bringing their supplies for the grand pity parties that they are accousomed to hosting. Instead of welcoming them I began reflecting on the promises I made to God ten years ago. Ten years I would have had more hope in my Heavenly Father's plans for my life. I would have trusted that He knows what He is doing with me. God is not any less holy, honorable, kind, forgiving, or loving than He was ten years ago so today I refuse to respond to Him as anything less than the Highest regard.
I'm sure that the usual attendants of the Shala Peeples Pity Party were surprised at my reaction. Quite frankly, I was too but a lady's got to do what a lady's do.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Sometimes You Gotta Put Your Money Where Your Lipstick Belongs
When I was a little girl I used to get very angry at women who refused to go out in public without wearing make. I thought that concept was insane. I questioned, "Why would you let others have fun 'out there' while you stay in here hiding from the world?" I hoped I would never be one of those women.
For most of my life I stayed true to that mindset. It has only been in the past few years that make-up has become a part of my everyday life. Now, I love make-up. I must confess that the compliments and adoration I receive when I am all dolled up is the biggest reason I wear it. I love looking cute and I love people telling me I look cute. I love the response I get from cutie patooties. The only thing I love more in life than cuteness is God. I am in a stage in my life in which I am desperately trying to lift God above everything else in my life. I'm trying my hardest and my biggest opposition is proving to be me.
Last week I got an opportunity to "put [my] money where my mouth [was]". I was 20 minutes away from my church and I realized I had left my make-up at home. It takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get to my church in Shawnee so there is no turning back at that point. If you are a single Christian woman you already know the high level of panic happening here. If marital bliss has already caused you to forget past woes let me remind you. This is one time in my week that I might see cutie patooties that love the Lord.
My first thought is to stop and purchase all the beautification products I need. There was not even such much as a Walgreens to save me at this point. My second plan was not going to church but just going on to my mother's house. It was at this point that I remembered the promise I made to myself as a little girl. I could not have created a better way to show God and myself that I would keep that mindset. I walked right in that place like I was princess of the whole Kingdom of God. I felt like I had a chance to show God He was of most importance in my life. I actually couldn't stop smiling I was so proud of myself. And the inside, I knew God was smiling at my bare little face too.
For most of my life I stayed true to that mindset. It has only been in the past few years that make-up has become a part of my everyday life. Now, I love make-up. I must confess that the compliments and adoration I receive when I am all dolled up is the biggest reason I wear it. I love looking cute and I love people telling me I look cute. I love the response I get from cutie patooties. The only thing I love more in life than cuteness is God. I am in a stage in my life in which I am desperately trying to lift God above everything else in my life. I'm trying my hardest and my biggest opposition is proving to be me.
Last week I got an opportunity to "put [my] money where my mouth [was]". I was 20 minutes away from my church and I realized I had left my make-up at home. It takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get to my church in Shawnee so there is no turning back at that point. If you are a single Christian woman you already know the high level of panic happening here. If marital bliss has already caused you to forget past woes let me remind you. This is one time in my week that I might see cutie patooties that love the Lord.
My first thought is to stop and purchase all the beautification products I need. There was not even such much as a Walgreens to save me at this point. My second plan was not going to church but just going on to my mother's house. It was at this point that I remembered the promise I made to myself as a little girl. I could not have created a better way to show God and myself that I would keep that mindset. I walked right in that place like I was princess of the whole Kingdom of God. I felt like I had a chance to show God He was of most importance in my life. I actually couldn't stop smiling I was so proud of myself. And the inside, I knew God was smiling at my bare little face too.
Obsess Much?
There are a few inanimate objects that I am OBSESSED with adoring. Robots, of the 80's persuasion, are among them. Buttons, tea cups, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and wedges make the list as well. Since my favorite holiday, Valentines Day, is coming up I decided I would begin sharing pictures of the things I love with you.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Time Out
When I was in middle school one of my classmates used to practice catching the basketball and calling time out before he went out of bounds. He practiced this every single day after regular practice. I used to playfully mock him because I thought he would never get a chance to do that in a game. Lucky for him, I was there to witness it when he finally got his chance. Fifteen years later I am taking the advice I gleaned from his efforts: "Take care of a situation while you are still in control of it". Looks like I'm going to be calling a few "time outs" this season.
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