Summer reading

I was reminded of this book today by one of my blogging friends, Denise. I read this book Redeeming Love about a year ago and I could not put it down.  Francine Rivers is such a wonderful writer and the book is a fast read. Everyone needs to put this on their must read list for the summer.  Let me know if there are any other books you would suggest for summer reading. 
Here is a little about the book.
Can God’s Love Save Anyone?
California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.  Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go.  A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

Pocetbook Fix up

One of my favorite blogs The Pleated Poppy had a giveaway for this bag. Well, I didn't win so I thought I can do one for myself.  I went to Target and bought the pocketbook, made ruffles and posies and here it is. It is not as pretty as the one at the pleated poppy, but for a first time I was very happy to have a one of a kind pocketbook.

Happy Birthday Connor!

T

Today is my oldest son's 8th birthday.  I am always so emotional on his birthday, because thinking back to the time before he was born was a roller coaster.  When I was almost 32 weeks pregnant I was holding my oldest daughter who was 2 at the time.  I started up the side steps of my house and somehow fell.  I was trying to protect her and in the process I fell on my stomach. It was like it was happening in slow motion. Thank goodness my dear friend Lisa was in my driveway and heard me screaming. The contractions started coming so off to the hospital I went with Lisa and our 2 little ones in the back seat. Kevin met us at the door of the hospital and so began our journey.  I was treated and released on medication to stop the contractions.  A few days later I went to the Doctor for my check and the contractions were much stronger so I was sent straight to the hospital and I was admitted  to try and stop labor.  I don't think I have ever been so scared. I had monitors and tubes and the medicine they were giving me to stop labor was awful.  I had no control of my body for days. I was in the hospital for a week and finally sent home on bed rest and medication that had to be taken every 4 hours even through the night. My mom was able to take a leave from work and come and stay to help out. They would not have let me come home if she could not have been here. Praise God I was able to hold off until almost 38 weeks. And to everybodys shock out popped a 8.3 ounce baby boy. I am so blessed that God kept him safe inside of me and that his timing was perfect.  Connor is such a blessing to our family! Happy birthday!

Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallows

These will be going to my son's class tomorrow for an early birthday treat.

1 (10 ounce) package large marshmallows
40 thin pretzel sticks
1  (16 0unce) package chocolate flavored candy coating, melted
Any topping you like

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Insert 1 pretzel stick into a flate side of each marshmallow.

 Dip marshmallow into candy coating.  Immediately roll in desired toppings. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pretzel sticks, marshmallows, and desired toppings. Let stand for 10 minutes or until chocolate is hardened.

 I found this recipe in a Paula Deen magazine.

Kids...........

I had to share what my youngest son did at bedtime last night.  He pulled everything off the bed opened the drawer and jumped in it.  SO cute I had to share.

Fruit Pizza Recipe

1 pkg. slice and bake sugar cookies
1 (8oz) softened cream cheese
1 small container of cool whip
1 pint strawberries sliced
2 bananas sliced
1 can or fresh peaches
1 can pineapple chunks
3 kiwi sliced

Slice cookie dough and place in pizza pan.  Flatten out to make the crust.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.  Blend the cream cheese and cool whip together until smooth.  Spread this mixture over cooled crust. Arrange fruit on the pizza any way you like. Then make the orange sauce.
Orange sauce:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup water
Cook Until thick and pour over arranged fruit. Keep refridgerated.

Ruffled Storage Container

Here is another baby gift idea.  Really this could be used to "fru fru" any storage container. This is very easy to do.
1. Take a long strip of material twice as long as what you are ruffling. ( I actually sewed 2 pieces together to make it longer.)
2. Then sew a straight seam the length of your fabric.
3. Pull the thread a little at a time until you start getting ruffles.

4. After you get the ruffle fullness that you want use hot glue and glue it around the box of your choice.  I used a small plastic bin. 

Then just let dry and fill with what you would like. As you can tell this was going to a baby shower. I filled it with a blanket made from the same material and also lotions and soaps and cream (not pictured)