Amazing Muffins! "To-Die-For Cherry Almond" and Cream Muffins

Tonight I tried a great new recipe so I wanted to share it with you! It will be included in my Family Favorites album , for sure!


Here's the recipe! On the website it's called "To Die For Bluberry Muffins" and I'm sure blueberries would be just as wonderful! I'd maybe decrease the amount of sugar for blueberries though. I made these muffins with Almonds and Cherries because that's what I had and it sounded SO good! Reminds me a lot of the sour cherry muffins that Costco makes during the holidays!


So, start with clean, fresh or frozen cherries... and pit them. Make the batter.. I added 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp almond flavor PLUS I added 1/2 Cup chopped almonds to the batter. You could also get creative and exchange some or all of the flour for brown rice flour or a little bit or others like millet, white rice flour, or spelt. I also added 1/2- 1 tsp of cream cheese (because it was on a closeout). And I the last thing I changed was adding 1/4 cup chopped almonds to the crumble topping plus a bit of Pampered Chef's Lemon Sprinkles.

And here they are! Fresh out of the oven!

You did want to see the gooey cream cheese right? I can't even tell you how wonderful it was to bite into a bit of crunchy topping, warm cream cheesy goodness, a tart cherry and the fluffy cake-like muffin! Add these to your list of recipes to make and you wouldn't be dissapointed!

Cherries Jubilee!

I'm sitting down after many hours of quality time spent with... cherries. There's the picking, hauling, washing, sorting:

Then there's the pitter! This is the most time-consuming part, of course so you NEED a good cherry pitter. This is a Pampered Chef one. I also used, just a cheap plastic one from a grocery store. Either way, you don't want jam with pits!

Speaking of jam.... I made 5 batches of Cherry freezer jam! These containers from Ball work great! Just twist, open and with some fresh bread and peanut butter!

I also made 3 canner-fuls of cherry pie filling! Yum! It even has cinnamon and nutmeg!

Cherries. They are jubilicious!

ps. this is by no means the full process of canning cherries! For that info, look for up -to- date canning recipes and guidelines from Ball!

Oh Bloomers, Dresses, Hats and Coats, How I Love Thee!

I just thought I'd share with you something fun. I've browsed the internet for a few years now trying to find ideas for patterns; adorable pieces of clothing that I could replicate. Here's some pictures from my personal "Sewing Ideas" folder. Enjoy!

I love these sheer, lightweight bloomers! They would even be adorable... unseen. Just knowing they are under your little girls dress, for fun, modesty and cuteness! Or add a longer shirt with them...

This dress was found on etsy.com. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the seller. I should have kept track of that. You can barely see the small black buttons trailing up the bodice, but they just "make" this dress! My daughter needs one of these. :)

I'd love this red and white top for myself, I believe it was also found on etsy.com awhile back.

Isn't this pretty? It looks like silk. One of my dreams is to sew these vintage/antique pieces of clothing and sell them! I'd even crochet little delicate bits around the arms and neck... FUN!

I'm not sure about the coat AND hat, but this pattern is adorable! I've made one with the little strap on the back and it turned out just right!

I'm really thinking I should have been born before my Grandma's! I would have worn these.. I would still if I could! LOL

Someone else beat me to it! (Not surprised!) This style is just so delicate and sweet.

Not so sure about her hair... but this photo gives me an idea of what the average child might wear back then.

I think this is the same girl as in one of the above photographs. Hats and heavy wool coats with large vintage buttons! Perfect-ness!

I don't know... I just love some of the style from the early 1900's! She needs some pearls and a flapper hat, maybe??

What a great family portrait! ! The textures in it are so different from the staged, perfect studio pictures that people take now.

Again, I like this style. I'm not sure about the print but I love how it drapes and the

femininity of it!

These hairstyles crack me up! I wonder how that got started! Easy, home-haircuts? The girls' dresses are so cute! My daughter has 3 now that look very similar to these. An Emerald green one, and 2 salmon pink ones, lighter and darker. They go very nicely with white knee highs and black slipper shoes, or Mary Janes and a BIG adorable bow in her hair!

Some older girls wearing the same things. You can find reproduction fabrics at fabricdepot.com. This store carries good quality quilting fabric along with tapestries, patterns, notions and so much more! If you're in Portland sometime, it's near Sandy on 122nd. One of my favorite places.

Cute, cute cute! I don't like the arms on her coat so much but I love the little boy's outfit! I wonder where they were going?

I hope you enjoyed these! They are fun to look at every once in awhile and dream of my clothing line......... haha! Well, at least for my daughter to wear! If you know of any places to find great old- styled patterns, let me know! Oh bloomers, dresses, hats and coats... how I love thee!

The World's Got Talent

These are a few pictures of the area where I live. Beautiful country.

More on my Exodus reading....

I must have read this before, but you know how you read the Word and get one thing, then read again and get MORE? Well.....

Exodus 35 starting with verse 4, "And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, 'This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying, "Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord's contribution: gold, silver and bronze, and blue, purple, scarlet material, fine linen, goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red and porpoise skins, and acacia wood..."

"Whoever is of a willing heart". Some people's view, (and sometimes even my own view), is of a God who demands that orders be done. Sometimes, I forget that He is this kind. He wants those with a WILLING heart to bring these contributions. And how does that make the people feel when it's asked for in that way? I know with my kids if I let them choose to do something special, it goes better than giving them an order to be kind and do this thing. How would YOU feel if God asked you to bring Him a contribution? And it was for building the tabernacle. It's even more than just doing something special for someone "famous", this is GOD! I would hope that I would have a willing heart to give away everything to my Lord!

"And everyone who's heart stirred in him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, came and brought the Lord's contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all it's service and for it's Holy garments." Ex 35:21 (I would think that anyone NOT giving would be feeling a wee bit awkward. ha ha!).

"Everyone who could make a contribution of silver and bronze brought the Lord's contribution." They all helped out - if they could. Of course some might not have the expensive things, but surely there was at least one way in which they could be of help.

So, what's this about talent? Let's see: Verse 25a "And all the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun."

Then God called Bezalel by name and filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all craftsmanship to make designs for working with gold, bronze, silver, for cutting stones and making settings, and in the carving of wood so as to perform in every inventive work. He also put in his heart to teach...he also filled [him and 2 others] with the skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer...and of a weaver as a performers of work and maker of designs, also construction.

"Then Moses called Bezalel, Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it." 36:2

As a side note, the people were bringing so many materials that they had more than enough so the Lord commanded them to quit bringing it. LOL Wow! Are we that giving? That God has to tell us to stop?

The Lord put the skill in these people. This was long before there were modern day tools. Long before modern looms were invented, jewelry -making tools..etc. Yet, I can't help but think that even people now, skilled people, have been given their talent from God, their creator. I'd like to give Him credit anyway. :) And what a thought that if they were using their talent for their Creator, how much more glorified He would be. :) It gives me shivers almost just thinking about it.

Here are things God has blessed me with the ability of doing, and not just doing, but having a passion for:

Cooking nutritious AND delicious foods.

I enjoy gazing (some would call it staring...)at creation, whether that is unique people, flowers, sunny skies, gray skies, other's talent...

Working with my hands, spinning wool, crocheting, sewing.

Express my passions, thoughts and emotions through music, singing, writing and drawing and prayer.

Working in the dirt, watching miracles grow in my garden.

Taking care of people and having compassion on the poor and generously giving.

Teaching others the things I have learned from others that have taught me!

Being a mom and a wife who loves and teaches her family about the Creator and Lover of all people!

Being a Godly woman and serving Him with my whole heart.

Now, before you're thinking that I'M thinking I have it all down... I do not and I know it. But these are my passions. I've failed miserably many times and also consider myself a Jill of All Trades, Master of None. :)

What passions and talents has God given you? What contributions could you give to Him? Could you use any of those to glorify Him? I have to think that yes, yes you can. God has not called me to live a super-fantastic elaborate life. He has called me to be the best that He has created me to be..... and I love that.

Family Fun

Yesterday we surprised our kids with a night's stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. What a blast! The kids had fun and we had fun too! Here's some pictures from our trip...




This is me in my new hair! :) Blonde. It's kind of fun.

My oldest boy... growing up! I'm proud of him.

..and this little angel is the reason Mommy didn't get much sleep. It was probably the mix of a different place to sleep and being too tired but, she kept me up all night. But it ended well because I spent a nice relaxing time in our room - alone - later. Bubble bath, Bible and worship sings. My kind of morning!

Aidan and Daddy. So very much alike!

A little tired, don't ya think?

Cheese-y happy grin!

Talia came splashing down to meet me!

One of my handsome boys.

I hope they love each other for all of their lives.

This was during our breakfast this morning. It was fun but I will be more frugal next time and pack a breakfast. You can't see above us but we were sitting in a "tent".

So, what was I reading this morning? Revelation. haha It might seem strange to read that during a "vacation" time but I did. Have you ever opened a Gideon Bible? I don't very often because I bring my own usually. So I was reading through the beginning and it gives many scriptures for different things. Hopelessness, salvation etc... I decided to read the last few chapters of Revelation and discovered more things to Revelation than I had known before. It was quite encouraging. Heaven will be magnificent! Jesus is Lord! He is the Winner in the end. If you are suffering or just need a good read about part of what we are living for.... read through it. "To him who has ears to hear, let him hear". Open your heart to what God reveals for the end of all time. It was not depressing but hopeful!

Amish Friendship Bread for Everyone!

Here's one of the small loaves. It has Pampered Chef's Sweet Caramel Sprinkles on top!

A friend gave me a starter for Amish Friendship Bread this week. If you haven't tried it, you might love it. But it might also soon become a love/hate relationship. (Relationship with bread? Maybe...)

The way it works is that you keep adding flour, sugar and milk to the bag when indicated and leave it on your counter- not in the fridge. The whole mixture ferments and on the Special Baking Day you mix it up with a pudding mix of your choice along with flavorings of your choice. I used Banana Cream Pudding with Maple flavoring, cinnamon and nutmeg. I must say, it's delicious and the kids have had several pieces! I also put in Spelt Flour and Brown Rice Flour instead of plain white. On the day you bake it, you separate the starter and give it away- if you can! LOL It gets to be hard to give away after awhile. But with all the possibilities, you could have a different flavor every 10 days!

Chocolate with vanilla flavor and chocolate chips

Lemon with vanilla and Pampered Chef Lemon Sprinkles

Chocolate with almond flavor

Vanilla pudding with vanilla

Oreo pudding with vanilla

Vanilla pudding with Raspberries

White Chocolate Pudding with Raspberries

Nuts, coconut, dried fruit, cranberries, pineapple.....

See what I mean? The possibilities are endless! So, just in case you are the delightful recipient of some Amish Friendship Bread starter... here's some ideas for you!

(I do believe you can google the recipe for the starter if you wanted it.... )

Crossing Your Red Sea

The Red Sea, present time


This morning, my kids are at Grandma's and I have some much needed quiet time in my home- alone. It has been so refreshing and encouraging for me that I wanted to share it with you.



I have been reading through the Bible slowly and really soaking it in- not to just get through it in a year's time right now. I've never been able to read straight through it but this time I hope will be different. It's been amazing- the things God has revealed to me that I can apply for my life now, and they things that happened so many years ago in the O.T. .



I'm in Exodus 13, 14 and 15. The Israelites have been let go by Pharaoh and God is now leading them out of there.



Ex. 13:17 explains the way God led the people. He chose to lead them around a war and not through it, so that they did not see it and change their minds about leaving Egypt. So He led them through the wilderness TO the Red Sea. ha ha It struck me that God has good plans. He knows what will happen in the future. He knows the way we should go. The wilderness doesn't seem to be the best way for the people, for us even, but sometimes it's necessary. And leading them TO the Red Sea??? ha ha Doesn't He just always have a way of planning "the impossible" situations to display His power and glory?! He knew exactly where they were going.






Ex 13:21-22 God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to give them light so that they could travel day and night. "He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." How incredible! To have and KNOW that God's presence is going before them, guiding them. Again, He has such a way of making some impossible, hopeless situations in order to display more of Himself. (I thought of people that have been healed from things like cancer, or even just God bringing them through it and not healing them... He can still be glorified, either way.)


Red Sea, present day. Isn't it beautiful?


Ex 14:4 God's speaking..."I will [do these things] and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." The answer to so many things God does is so that people will know He is God! This made me remember that in everything, He supplies all my need. Think of the ways you personally have been taken care of. The essential things to life maybe? A home, food, money. He supplies all of our needs. Somethings that I'm struggling with lately are the ways I'm lacking as a mom and wife. He supplies my need even there. I forget to ask Him to help me get through hard days. He can even give me the patience I need for a day doing school with the kids, during bad attitudes and bickering between siblings. Not to mention the many times that I'm a grouch through it all! He IS all I need.



Thank You Lord, for being everything I need in every way. You are sufficient. You are all I need!










Ex. 14:10 The Egyptians were chasing after the Israelites to bring them back... "And as Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word we spoke to you in Egypt saying, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."



How easy it is for us to lose focus. When something hard happens, we often question God's faithfulness and we think that we know a better way. They wanted to keep serving the Egyptians?!? They didn't even get it. Little did they know what would soon happen and how it would change their lives forever.....or it should. :)



Ex 14:13-15 "But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land."





Wow. Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord. I know that God will not rescue me from every hard situation, but there's a beauty in that. We can rest in Him! We should rest in Him! We can not fear and be assured that He will not leave us in the midst of it. He will get us through.



Hopefully this will encourage you. Do you have a "wilderness or a red sea"? If you are going through something "impossible", you can know God's peace. You can have His salvation! He may not snatch you right out of the difficulty, but He WILL see you through!





Thank Him for the ways that He supplies your needs! Do not forget where He has called you from and what He has called you to! For me, I'm called to be a Mom and wife. He will give me what I need to accomplish that well.