Happy 17th Birthday...

... to my sister/friend/and partner in crime. =D

There was a puddle of water in our driveway, so I decided to take some pictures. (Hannah, these are for you.=D ) Josie, being my

ever willing model, put on her best smile and posed. We had a blast taking them and imagined our

neighbors looking through their windows the whole time. ;}

::::

So, with no further ado, meet my loverly sista!

Josie is the middle child, so therefore, the quiet peace maker in the family. =D

She is the bookworm in our family. Once she opens a book, there is no point in trying to make conversation. 

If you haven't noticed, she's got the cutest dimples. They compensate for my lack thereof. ;]

She is a great example to me in diligence. She hardly ever complains about anything. 

She's probably the most tender-hearted of our family. 

She's the "get the facts exactly right" one.

She is my "world problem solving" buddy.

I'm apparently funny...

                                      ...and not to mention my "after midnight" laughing companion!

She is the one that I can just look at and we both keel over laughing.

She is the one that tells me the truth about myself, even though I don't want to hear it. And vice versa =D 

She's my sister and I love her bunches!

Okay, so I realize that some of the pictures are blurry. But I had to post them! =D

                         

Source: trinadlambert.com via Party on Pinterest

Oatmeal Bake

Prep time: less than 15 min

Oven preheat: 350

Yield: 6-8

Cook time: 30 min

Ingredients: 

¼ cup Butter Or Oil, melted

2 Eggs

1 cup Milk

3 cups Regular Oats

2 tsp Baking Powder

½ tsp Salt

½ cup Brown Sugar, (reduce if using raisins or sweetened coconut)

You can add whatever fruit you desire. I've tried this with raisins, dehydrated apples and blueberries. (They need to be softened first.) 

If you do end up putting apples in yours, may I suggest you add a dollop of cinnamon? Smells divine and tastes even better! ;}

Jelly is a really good add on, maple syrup is also nice.

And don't forget the bacon! It's probably the only healthy thing in this meal. It makes the breakfast all the more authentic. [smile] 

Enjoy!

::Let's pray::

This post was hard to put into words. I've been realizing how many things I take for granted. I pray within my little bubble of comfort. Sometimes I forget that there are people all around the world, brothers and sister's in Christ, dying for choosing to follow Him. What about that missionary proclaiming Christ in a foreign country? We forget to pray for them, that their message (Christ's message) would reach the hearts of the people. How about that young boy that made the decision to follow Christ? Maybe a simple prayer asking God to strengthen his heart and not lose courage when his family becomes hostile towards him.

Or a petition, asking Christ to be with the person smuggling Bibles in a foreign country. All these and so much more. Let's make it a goal... not even that... a mission to pray for all these people in these circumstances.  Some of us are millions of miles away from these countries, but prayer fills that gap! 

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame
So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times
So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hepeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/chris_rice/

::John 17:15::

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

::2 Corinthians 9:14::
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

::2 Corinthians 1:11::
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Always a hello after a goodbye...

Dear winter,  

How I miss you already!

Why can't anyone see the beauty in you?  

I'll miss the smells of homemade apple cider wafting through the house.

The mugs full of hot coco.

I'll miss the coziness of each building we enter.

I'll miss those tiny delicate snowflakes.

The beauty of the snow when it sparkles in the sun.

The finger drawings that adorn our vehicle windows from the coatings of frost. =D

The branches of a tree when they're laden with snow.

Driving in neighborhoods with bunches of Christmas lights.

The cute winter outfits that Wal-mart is filled with.

piling up on one couch while we watch a good ol' "Christmas tradition" movie.

All of these and SO much more, make winter one of the best seasons! 

I love you winter and am eagerly awaiting your return.

Goodbye for now.

Hello Spring and Summer, how 'bout we get along this year, hm?