Photos of the Week: Hair, Tradition, Bible Study & Missing Daddy

John woke up from his nap looking like this:

What makes this so funny is the fact that twenty years ago...I used to have bangs that looked almost identical. (Does anyone remember the poof?)

Kate loves hot chocolate with "mallow marshes" and whipped cream. I think she especially loves it because we do this:

Kate brought all her Bibles into her bed and proceeded to do her "Bible Study". What makes this so funny is Justin does the same thing when he studies and prepares lessons. He has all his books around him (He does it at the dining room table though, not in our bed).

Justin was out of town and I took this picture of the kids to send to him. If you want to read the entire story and experience my "issues" you can check it out here.

I hope you all had a great week!

Have a great Saturday!

Shhhh...Kate has Bieber Fever

Kate has been so sick this week, but last night she ran a new fever...

Justin was watching the Celebrity All-Star Basketball game. Kate was in the room with him. When they introduced Justin Bieber she was beside herself and kept chanting his name.

It was so funny. Even this morning she asked her daddy to see Justin Bieber on the TV. (Sports Center was playing highlights of the game).

Here is a little video of Kate from last night... see her eyes light up when she says his name... she kills me. (You have to turn up the volume to hear her... she is whispering).

Justin Bieber really does something to little girls... Oh and adults... Justin (my Justin) actually voted for him to be MVP last night.

Excuse me, I now have to go download Baby, Baby, Baby Ohhh.



Have a great Saturday!

Weekly Picture: Brother, You Are My Best Friend

I am going to try to post a picture each week of my kids.

They are growing so fast... please make it slow down!

These pictures are my way of coping and trying to capture what they are like right now.

Kate told John this morning that he was her best friend. Please note that her best friend changes daily and today was the first time John was her best friend.

She was so cute and wanted him to play with her all morning.

Here is a picture of them in her play house this morning:

Here is a picture of them together from last week (this picture completely captures their personality):
Kate is in la la land and John is like "mama, you all are crazy".

Words cannot express how much I love them!

I have also started a new blog this week. 

It is called The Overwhelmed Woman: www.theoverwhelmedwoman.com. If you want to subscribe to the Overwhelmed Woman by email click here. (Each post will be emailed to you. Remember to confirm your subscription.) 

I have a variety of things I want to write about on The Overwhelmed Woman.  

I am going to keep this blog as more of an update for my family & friends on my kids, etc. If you want to subscribe to this personal blog enter your email in the box on the right.

I am also going to start posting my recipes over there. My goal is to post at least one recipe a week. 

Today I posted a recipe for Tonga Toast from Disney World... it is a "life changing experience". (I had to throw that in there for Deb, Jay, Katie and Chris.)

I guess all of this my way of handling how fast everything is going by.

How do you handle your kids growing up so quickly?

Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.

Much love!

John - 11 months old

Oh my word.. John was eleven months old yesterday.

Justin reminded me that in one month he will be a year old and thus the monthly picture with Mickey will end. We joked about having him take a picture with Mickey each year (even his teen age years). I don't think John will go for that, but it would be funny if 18 years from now.. I was showing you his picture with Mickey (one can only dream).

I seriously can't believe how quickly it has flown by. He is getting so big. He is crawling everywhere and so curious. He studies how things work. I would love to know what is going on in his little mind.

I love him so much!

Here is his eleven month picture.

Kid Friendly Recipe - Italian Grilled Cheese

I was talking to my hair stylist the other day and she was telling me how hard of time she was having making "real" food for her one year old. 

We can all fall into a rut with the recipes we make for our kids and family. (My rut is usually Mac & Cheese or Chicken Nuggets).

This one has been a favorite in my house lately, so I wanted to share it with you. It is so easy and I always have the ingredients on hand. 

Dream Home?

When you think of your "dream home", what picture comes to mind?

My mind goes to the above picture. This is a picture of Hulk Hogan's home. I've been in that home several times. It is only a few minutes away from the home (much smaller home) I grew up in. I babysat for them (about 15 years ago) and I used to work for his ex-wife, Linda.

I can honestly say it is the most beautiful home I've ever seen with my own eyes.

These pictures do not do it justice.

We were at my sister-in-laws house for a Super Bowl party last night. They just built a house and it is incredibly beautiful. A guy in our life group told Justin that their house was the nicest home he had ever stepped foot in.

I assure you that I will never own a home as nice as the one above or one as nice as my sister-in-law's.

Confession: I daydream of owning a home like that.

When I catch myself in a daydream, I have to remind myself... it is not the style or beauty of the house that really matters.

The atmosphere and relationships within the home are what is important. Those will make lasting impressions and will be remembered forever. Generally, it is not a home itself that causes one to be sentimental; it is the memories that took place within the home.

It causes me to ask myself, what kind of "dream home" do I want?

My "dream home" consists of a place where my husband and kids feel loved, comfortable and secure. A place where God is glorified and honored in everything we say and do.

I love this quote:


"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave." -Martin Luther


What does your "dream home" look like?


What are you doing to make a "dream home"?


Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.

Kate's Rap Version the B-I-B-L-E & Her Starring Role in a Church Video

Kate wanted to give me a show the other day. This is what I got. 

I have no idea why she seems mad or where she came up with this version of the B-I-B-L-E. It makes me laugh every time. 

I guess she shares my love for rap music.

I assure you, she does know the real version of the B-I-B-L-E. She sang it in a video they made for our church. (She stole the show.) You can click here to watch. (They show her in the beginning, but she sings near the end). Yes, I am a proud mama!

Happy Saturday!

Recipe: Gorilla Bread (Like Monkey Bread Only BETTER.. it contains Cream Cheese)

WARNING: This recipe may be life changing in a way that will cause you to be invited to every social event because they hope you will bring this recipe. (Of course, I'm kidding... but it is really good!)

While searching for a Monkey Bread recipe last week.. I came across this recipe: Gorilla Bread. I made it for my life group last week and they went CRAZY for it. It is going to make an appearance again at our Super Bowl party (YES! it is that good!)

I made a couple minor changes, which might be sacrilegious because it is a Paul Deen recipe and WHO AM I to change a Paula Deen recipe? (I just added vanilla to the recipe and removed the nuts).

Anyway.. Here it is in all its deliciousness.

Gorilla Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 2 (12-ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. 

Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon. 

In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat, stirring well. Stir in vanilla; set aside. 

Cut the cream cheese into 20 equal cubes. 

Press the biscuits out with your fingers. 

Coat each side with cinnamon sugar. 

Place a cube of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese. 

Place half of the prepared biscuits in the pan. 

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour half of the melted butter mixture over the biscuits.

Layer the remaining biscuits on top.

Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar, pour the remaining butter mixture over the biscuits. 

Bake for 30 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Place a plate on top and invert. (I can never invert it to come out right, so I just scoop out each piece and nicely arrange on a plate.)

This is also a great comfort food recipe. We had a crazy day today, so it will be enjoyed!

Here is an easier version you can copy and print.


GORILLA BREAD

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 2 (12-ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count)

Directions

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. 
3.  Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon. 
4.  In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat, stirring well; Stir in vanilla and set aside. 
5.  Cut the cream cheese into 20 equal cubes. 
6.  Press the biscuits out with your fingers.
7. Coat each side with cinnamon sugar. 
8. Place a cube of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese. 
9. Place half of the prepared biscuits in the pan.
10. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour half of the melted butter mixture over the biscuits.
11. Layer the remaining biscuits on top, sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar, pour the remaining butter mixture over the biscuits.
12. Bake for 30 minutes. 
13.Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. 
14. Place a plate on top and invert.
15. Serve Warm

ENJOY!

"Storms" of Life Can Set Us Apart

Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."

Have you ever planned something in your life and it did not go at all like you had PLANNED?

This is a theme in my life. As I consider what my "plans" were 5 years ago, 10 years ago, etc.. my life looks nothing like I expected or planned.

My poor husband has been planning a Disciple Now Weekend. The weekend's theme is "Set Apart".

D-NOW Set Apart Weekend

Several things have put a kink in his plans like the "STORM" of the century. Our speaker, Curtis Jones lives in TX. His flight was cancelled (and they didn't even get a drop of snow). He is booked on a new flight and we are PRAYING he makes it.

I love that I can rest in the truth that God is IN CONTROL. 

I love how ironic (not really ironic... because God is at work) the theme of "Set Apart" and "Storms" go together.

After all, it is the STORMS of life that SET US APART.

I have been so impressed with my husband and how he has handled this stress. It says a lot about who he is and in whom he places his trust.

We have two sets of friends who just had newborns. Both of those precious babies are having complications. The strength and peace these parents are displaying in midst of their uncertainty is amazing. (Please pray for babies Jackson and Micah). 

I think of the parents of Kate McRae. Kate is a beautiful 6 year old little girl who is BATTLING brain cancer. This storm has set them apart. (Please pray for the healing of this precious child.)

In the midst of all this on my mind are two verses and I think they go together beautifully. 


Set yourself apart:  "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5


As you set yourself apart:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7




How do you handle the "storms" of life?


What do you do to set yourself apart?


Do you have a Bible verse you cling to?


Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.




**UPDATE: Curtis' flight was delayed and he would not make his connection. The D-Now weekend was canceled due to inclement weather. 


TRUTH we are clinging to: We know that God is in control!

Easy Wing Recipe - Italian Parmesan Wings

In honor of it being Super Bowl week... I have to share a wing recipe.

This recipe is easy and involves no frying.

The first restaurant where best wings in the country are made is in my home town. The name/place is controversial... so I'll leave it up to your imagination.

I grew up with a single dad... I am a wing connoisseur. (I know, I'm fancy like that.)

I prefer my wings breaded, fried, smothered with hot buffalo sauce and served with ranch.

I live in Arkansas now, and they don't have a great wing place (they have some ok ones).

I wanted to share an EASY and versatile wing recipe. It is not as good as the breaded and fried ones, but a good and healthier alternative. The base recipe can be made with any dressing or even BBQ sauce.

Italian Parmesan Wings

Ingredients:

10 lbs of Chicken Wings
1 16 oz Jar of your favorite Italian or Vinaigrette dressing (it is best if it has Parmesan in it)
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (it can even be out of the jar)
Salt & Pepper to Taste

1. Place Chicken Wings in 2-3 gallon size zip lock bags.

2. Season generously with Salt and Pepper.

3. Evenly pour dressing over chicken.

4. Let marinade (in fridge) for 1-3 days.

5. Line 2 large jelly roll pans with foil (for easy clean up).

6.  Lay chicken out on 2 large jelly roll pans.

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.

8. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.

I sprinkled them with a little parsley for color.

Enjoy!

Parmesan Herb Wings

Ingredients:

10 lbs of Chicken Wings

1 16 oz Jar of your favorite Italian dressing (it is best if it has Parmesan in it)

1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (it can even be out of the jar)

Salt & Pepper to Taste

1. Place Chicken Wings in 2-3 gallon size zip lock bags.

2. Season generously with Salt and Pepper.

3. Evenly pour dressing over chicken.

4. Let marinade for 1-3 days.

5. Line 2 large jelly roll pans with foil (for easy clean up). 

6.  Lay chicken out on 2 large jelly roll pans. 

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.