Recent Reading

Books - just the sound of that word makes me happy.
{Be sure you take note of your input at the end of this post!}

Rewind a couple years and you wouln't have found me without a book under my arm or in my purse, or on my lap. Unfortunantly my schedule doesn't leave room for a ton of book reading time... but I sneak it in when I can.

My books don't get finished as fast as they used to either, but there isn't much I love more than curling up with a good book {Bethany is always giving me fabulous title to read. so raid her shelf for some good titles}. So if you were to pop into my world and find me under my soft blanket with a cup of hot cocoa here are the titles you'd see in my hand...


Will Our Generation Speak {on chapter 13!}
by Grace Mally

Challenging. Insightful. Truthful.

You'll get my full review {check out my Write-up Wednesday series} when I complete the book. But don't wait for me. Read it yourself.

I have enjoyed every.single.chapter.

Not only does it rouse my heart and give a vision for sharing the gospel, but it also gives practical tips to begin conversations, combat fear and be diligent, confident witnesses for Jesus Christ.

The Shining Company

by Rosemary Sutcliff

{on chapter 12}

Author of The Outcast and The Eagle of the Ninth, both of I which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

More of a stimulating "fluff" read, this book is set back in the days where men wore armor and carried swords while traveling to and fro throughout the kingdom perfoming valient deeds. Women were beautiful with long hair, oftentime braided, and were either expert swordsmen themselves, or the lovely princess-like character that spurred their knights on to greatness.


However, Ms. Sutcliff doesn't stick to the normal trends of typical renissance style books, but branches out with tales that keep you reading.  Prosper and his faithful companion Conn set off the join the king in conquest to defeat the everapproaching enemy. Old-english style writing, unique plots and heartwarming devotion prevail. {read more in my Write-up when I complete this book}

My Current To Read List - What's on yours?

• Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson {author of In A Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day}
• Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret
• The Help {jury is still out on this one, but I've heard good things...}
• Clemintine {Emily: "I laughed the whole way through" - youth read. 
• Born to Run {my brothers talk about the stories and advice in this one}

Now it's your turn... 

Grab the closet book, your recent read, any book you'd like AND;

turn to page 32, paragraph 3. Copy the second sentence in the comments.

Leave a little love and we'll see what kind of information/instruction/humor/plain-random-and-pointless is found.

German Pancake

Can it be breakfast already?

Seriously, this is my favorite breakfast of all time. I looked skeptically at it the first time I tried it... but never again. Simple and delicious, smoothered with homemade caramel sauce and yogurt.

I fell in love with breakfast when I started eating Ruth's breakfast feasts. I remember spending a week with her family and politely declining the ample portions of yogurt and baked oatmeal that everyone seemed to be lusciously enjoying (mistake #1). I thought I could survive without breakfast for a week (mistake #2). After the 2nd day of cold cereal the smells overtook my mind and in order not appear a "picky eater" I took the plunge - homemade yogurt on the pancakes.

Done. Yogurt was my best friend, my delicious compaion. I realized then that breakfast did indeed deserve the #1 meal slot of the day.
Then Ruth made German Pancake - where had I been living all my life?

If taste buds could flutter, mine did.

The ingrediants are starkly simple;
eggs
flour
milk

The results are astoundingly delicious.

German Pancake

1 cup milk

1 cup flour

6 eggs

dash of salt

sprinkle of vanilla - optional

Preheat oven to 400˚.

Place 1/4-1/2 stick butter in 9x13 pan and place in preheating oven.

In Vitamix (or other blender) blend milk, eggs and flour well - 30 seconds or so.

Slide the melted butter around in the pan so it covers the bottom of the pan.

Once preheated pour the blended mixture into the hot pan.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden

note: the sides of the batter slide up the walls of the pan creating a one-of-a-kind effect

Top with yogurt, caramel sauce, syrup, powdered sugar or anthing your taste buds crave

{my personal favorite: homemade caramel sauce and homemade plain yogurt}

Grab your fork and enjoy! Breakfast is about to become your favorite meal of the day.


Photo credits: Bethany Beasley head on over to her blog to check out Esther's Sunshine Rolls

Yah, I cheated and didn't really make this recipe today, but Bethany did. She snapped these beautiful photos for me. But I promise you, I've made this breakfast waaayyy more times than I can count.

Squeals

I may be 22, I may try to act all mature, but there are times when squealing with child-like excitement seems the only appropriate action.

Three things;

!surprises!

receiving packages and letters... expected or not

putting the last touches on a planned surprise, waiting with anticipation

::completing creative projects::

making applesauce for the first time

sewing the last button/stich/hem, reviewing my design and creation while sewing

spreading the icing on a cheesecake that looks heavenly

watching a cast perform in custom-sewn costumes

finishing a paper/writing project and rereading

-adventure-

last-minute camping trips with the siblings

packing for a week-long road trip

the anticipation of new and exciting opportunities

{and because I like pictures, here are a couple recent 'squeal-like-a-small-child' moments}

Insta-life

Insta-friends

                                        

 Last minute decision to drive 80 miles for a Thirty-One party.

#31forthewin #totespleasecomequick #iheartmonograms

Daily Bread

"Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8

Meditate: to internalize. More than just "to know".

This was a simple statement shared during a week-night Bible study by a dear elderly Pastor/friend. 

I was convicted. Is memorization and internalization of the Word a daily/weekly part of my life? I have to confess, this area in my life needs work. 

How do we implament this clear command in scripture? Here are a couple suggestions that I'm giving a whirl myself.

*calling on you for your help. thoughts, suggestions, hints*

::START::

In the words of my father "you just have to start."

^^this is my favorite way to memorize.
Cute, pink, with an Apple sticker on the front and a picture of my sis and inside.

::Make it convenient:: 

Write it on note cards, tape it to the shower wall (this does work), write it out in a journal, carry a Bible with you wherever you go, get a cute pink binder (I love mine!), whatever floats your boat and gets stuck in your mind.

::Accountability::

This one is big for me. Alone I get sidetracked and distracted. Recently my Bible study group and I have begun 1 John 3. When younger girls start showing me up in small group... this is works for me.

Don't look back and mourn over lack of diligence. Don't look forward and be overwhelmed or set unrealistic goals. 

Start. 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 1 Timothy 3:16-17

Starting Off {twenty1 - Day 1}

Happy November, everyone!

Autum is perfect for wearing slippers, drinking warm cups of coffee/tea/cocoa and laughing, talking and being together around a roaring bonfire.

It is when death becomes beautiful - leaves falling from trees.

It is when the gift is family is treasured, around loaded tables of delicious food. 

November is when I start freaking out that December is blowing in so quickly (quite literally, actually).

AND November is when Bethany and I have decided to embark on a challenge entitled - twenty1

Yep. Calling it twenty1. Why? Just cuz. Well, our real reason is because in the next 30 days we will have blogged twenty1 times. I'm sure you just clapped twenty1 times and will check our blogs twenty1 times/day to see twenty1 random bits of tidbits we can't wait to share with you. Get ready, set... wait. the next one doesn't come till Monday.

Inspiring, challenging, spritual, silly, random, future, past and present thoughts, ideas and goals will be disclosed to you, my dear and faithful readers.

Comments? YES. You may even be called upon to leave a bit of love in specific ways, so creep out of your blog-stalking caves and join in the fun, eh?

Today's twenty1 post; 

Friday Favorite

yah, I know this is Sunday, so a bit behind... But let's just rewind and live it over again. It was a great weekend.}

Cherish everyday spent with little nieces.

Never too little to learn. 

Write-up Wednesday {Kisses From Katie}

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

An ordinary girl. A big God. A heart full to the brim with love.

This is the recipe for impacting the world, one little child at a time.

Katie set out for Uganda for a 10 month missions trip. God gripped her heart and the children burrowed their way into her heart. The poverty, countless needs and smiles on the faces of innocent little children would change her life forever.

13 daughters and a large house later, Katie now calls Uganda home. The stories aren't all glamourous. Pain and sorrow, difficulty and hurt lace their way through the sincerely written pages of this book. Sacrifice and change, yes, but also rich joy and satisfaction. Katie loves Jesus. He flows through her life and pours out to those around her.

She doesn't call herself courageous for living in a foreign country, leaving all the comforts of America, surroudning herself with the sick, broken and starving people of Uganda. No, she calls herself blessed to be able to serve an awesome God.

Children literally sit in garbage heaps, disease and sickness prevail over most families. How does one even start to combat this horrible state of living? 

Love. It all runs back to love. How can you tell hungry, sick, forgotten children that Jesus loves them without first showing them Jesus' love? Story after story is written how God is at work. Lives are healed, people are transformed and God is glorified.

Armed with cups, food, medicine and a giant does of love, Katie and her daughters head into the surrounding villages to show the love of Jesus in a way people can understand. The story of each one of her precious daughters is written about, and you can't help but be overwhelmed with the goodness of God.

Katie doesn't tell everyone to leave their life and start working with children overseas. Not at all. Katie encourages each person to love. 

"You can't change the whole world, but you can change the world of one person."

For $300 per year you can radically change the life of a child. Education, clothing, school supplies and medical needs, for $25/month. 

Driven by her desperate longing to demonstrate the love of Jesus and invest in the lives of countless children Katie started a non-profit sponsoring program.  

Visit Katie's blog

Learn more about Amazima or read The Blog

"I tell you the truth, 

whatever you did for one of the least of these...

you did for Me." 

Matthew 25:40