Running aground

"In the book of Acts, chapter twenty-seven, Paul tells the people he is traveling with that God has called them to their mission. Not only that, he is certain the Holy Spirit is on their side. And yet, for reasons he doesn’t go into, we read in our key verse that he also tells them they must run aground, which means they’d be delayed on some island before their purpose would be accomplished.

This delay, it turns out, is part of the plan. This setback is actually sovereign. But of course at that moment they can’t see that. All they can see is a looming shipwreck, a deserted island.

Perhaps you are on your own deserted island—a personal exile that has been painful and prolonged. You wonder if God sees where you are, if He cares. You remember the time you were moving along, the wind in your sails, full speed ahead. And you miss that time. You wish God would rescue you from the island, put you back on course. Perhaps you’re beginning to doubt God really does have a plan for you.

I don’t know what your deserted island looks like. It might be the desolation of a marriage, the barren land of motherhood, the wasteland of a career. It might be the emptiness of simply not knowing what your purpose—your passion—really is, even as you watch other women seem to steam forward.

When I start to feel this way, I think about this verse. I remember that even Paul ran aground, even Paul faced setbacks. But I also remember that the island wasn’t the end of the story. Rescue was coming. Running aground doesn’t mean you’ve run outside of God’s will. It might just mean you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Use this time to increase your trust in God and to see Him work on your behalf, even when the palm trees obscure your view."

This giant quote is from my devos this morning and have found it very applicable.  I definitely feel like have run aground and am less frustrated with this feeling.  Good to know that while I can wait for the tide to come and carry be away I can enjoy the palm trees and warm breeze of His love.

I love when my daily readings are very much needed for the day!

VERY EASY Chicken Pot pie

So, for the longest time I have had a craving for chicken pot pie.  The only thing holding me back was the thought of making pie crust.  I had never made crust before, did not have a good recipe for it and since my mom makes pretty killer pies I was scared.

I rose to the challenge though and this is what the end product looked like.

Pie crust recipe:

4 Cups flour
1 Cup crisco
1 tsp Salt
1 Cup VERY cold H2O
2 eggs

Combine flour salt and crisco in a bowl.  Add crisco and mix with pastry blender or two knives until the crisco is pea sized.  Make a well.  Beat eggs and H20 together and pour in well. Mix together until a ball forms.  Pour out on a floured surface and roll out until it is 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into four pieces. (the should all be large enough to cover the entire pie dish with extra hanging over.  Place in pie dish cut away the extra around the sides. Poke bottom with fork.

Make 2 pie - 2 tops, 2 bottoms.

Filling
4 tbsp Butter
4 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
2 1/2 cups cooked chicken
1 cup peas
1 cup carrots
3 stalks celery
4 potatoes
salt and pepper to tast

I added to this
1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup chopped zuchini
mushrooms

Chop all vegetables to desired size and set aside.  Melt butter, then whisk in flour. It should come together in a ball. Cook for a few seconds to get rid of the flour tast. Slowly add the milk and broth. Stir til Thick.  Add all vegetables except peas and zuchini. Simmer for 5-10 minutes just to cook the vegeatables a little.  Bring to boil. Add the remaning ingredients.  Add to prepared pie shell.  Cover with remaining pie dough.  Pinch sides closed and cut slits in top in order to let air out.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 30-45 min, until crust is golden brown and pie bubbling.  Let sit for 10 minutes, then cut and serve.

I know.. I know

I know I know, I has been a LONG time since I last posted.  To be honest, I lost all the desire.  We have had a beutiful August and early September I honestly chose to soak up the sun, and be outside with the boys.  

 Gabriel and Caleb asleep together on a Friday MOVIE NIGHT!

 A happy morning I'd say ....

 and then we come to this face :( hmphhhhh

 I'd say he is pretty pretty CUTE :)

 then, we spent a day at the lake... it was wonderful, so beautiful,

This was Samuel's first trip ever and Caleb's first time at the beach this summer :)  We had such a good time playing in the water and building castles... until next year now. 

 This boy is afraid of water.  The sprinkler and bath tub are a-okay, but heaven forbid I take him in a pool, or ocean or lake.  He freaks.. Gabriel was like this as a child as well but I guess I will be making many many trips to the indoor pools to help make him a little more comfortable.

He sure loves the sprinkler though, as long as it is not sprinkling on him.  

Sammy and Caleb both loved the cookies. I had to hide them due to the flax and kept warning Caleb he was going to have to poo lots if he kept eating so many :)

So.. if any of you are wondering, we love them!!

Summer F.U.N.

We have been busy busy busy.  Summer is quickly passing us by and we are trying to soak up all the sun we can before the rain returns.  I can not believe that I have not posted in over a week but hey, with a stomach flu that hit our home and two boys that run me (literally) off my feet it is all I can do to tuck myself in at night let alone think about typing.

Sammy cookies

Ingredients
3/4 C Butter softened
3/4 C Brown Sugar
3/4 C Sugar

Beat until light and fluffy.

2 eggs
1tsp Vanilla

Add to the above mixture

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/4 cup All purpose Flour
1 C Oatmeal
1 Cwhole wheat flour
1/4 C Ground Flax
1 1/2 C Raisins
1tsp cinnamon

Stir to combine. Bake at 375 for 9 min.

I wanted to make a cookie that Sammy can have and was craving oatmeal cookies. I totally adapted this recipe to make it my own.  I added the whole wheat flour, ground flax and baking powder.  The recipe called for 2 3/4 cups of oatmeal but I ran out at 1 cup.

Mine are cooling on the rack but this is what they looked like after :)

MY to d.I.E. for chocolate chip cookie

A photo just does not do this wonderful cookie Justice!

Three reasons why I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cookie

1. Chewy! I under cook them just a tad so that as they cool they get all crinkly and ewwweyy gooey!

2. You taste all that butter and brown sugar

3. You can not eat just one.

Recipe 

Beat 2/3 cup melted butter, 2 cups brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2tbsp HOT water; mix well.  Stir in 2 2/3 cups flour, 1tsp baking p, 1 tsp baking S, and 1/4 tsp salt.  Stir in 1 1/4 cup MILK chocolate chips. Drop from a small spoon and bake for 10 min at 375.  Remove immediately from baking sheet and cool completely (or eat warm). 

YIELD: 5 dozen.

I only bake mine a dozen at a time, due to the fact that I WOULD EAT THEM ALL.... 

ENJOY