Tasty Tuesday ~ Cinnamon Crescent Roll Heart

 Would you love a sweet and easy recipe for Valentine's Day? Since you start with crescent rolls, these are quick and rich. I added some red sprinkles to the icing, so it turned a light pink color, with festive red flecks.


Follow these simple steps:

You need one tube of Crescent Rolls. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray that with non-stick cooking spray. This way, you can lift the heart and move it to a platter for serving.



Roll out the crescent dough and gently press the perforations together, forming a single pastry sheet with sealed cuts.






Soften about 3 T of butter and spread gently over the crescent roll dough.






Evenly sprinkle about 1/3 c. brown sugar over the buttered dough.  Over that, sprinkle cinnamon evenly over all of the sugar.



Carefully roll up the dough from the long side, tucking in the filling as you go and gently pinching a little at the end, to seal the roll.




Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the roll into 15 pieces. Arrange them on the foil covered baking sheet in the order shown. (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 4 - 1/2s)
I put a half of a roll on the top of each side, just to round off the heart.



Bake at 375 for about 12 - 14 minutes. Don't let it over brown. Cool on the pan for just a couple of minutes, and then ice.




Icing: 
1 T of soft butter
1/2 c. + 1 T. confectioners sugar
about 1 T. of milk (don't want it to be too runny)
Add a little red food coloring or red sprinkles





Ice the rolls and then carefully trim away the excess foil from the heart shape. Voila! Amour. :)



Serve this for Valentine's Day for someone you love.  It's so quick and easy, but really rich and sweet. I suggest making a pot of coffee or tea before it's ready. :)


And speaking of coffee ... I'm looking forward to my next of the 7 Days in a Cafe!

Life Off Line: Snowman craft

I'm very close to giving up on the hope of any real winter here in our hometown. :) We're going to have to sit down for a "Let's not complain" family chat soon. We really love winter.

Today in our Women's Ministry a new team of ladies launched the first of a ministry called the Mom's Chair. They were encouraged, and I know the moms who came were encouraged, too. Instead of being with the moms this time, I got to spend the morning with the home school students. We did a lesson/activity combo all about winter, and it was so much fun.We read great books, made lists of adjectives/verbs/nouns, did a mural and labeled the pictures, discussed climate and temperature, colored, and even looked at what the Bible says about winter:

Psalm 147:16-18

He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 

An awesome science lesson came out those verses! Finally, since there's little hope of a "real" snow, we made our own snowmen ... ones that won't melt. Here's what you need:

To make a non-melting snowman:

• a tube sock
• yarn
• felt
• hot glue or other
• buttons
• wiggly eyes
• rice

We filled the socks with rice and tied them off tightly at the top and in the middle. Fold down the "tube" twice to make the hat. We added eyes, buttons, a foam or felt nose, and a felt strip for a scarf. You can snip the edges to make it look fringed. I also added mittens. Some of us even added cheeks using pink lipstick!

We didn't let the warm winter stop us! :) This a simple craft to make in a little bit of time and inexpensive ingredients. I used this once at a Mother/daughter winter party JoHanna and I hosted - great fun! If you're a mom, an aunt, a grandma, a Sunday School teacher, or someone longing for snow ... this has your name written all over it. :) Next week is going to be even warmer!?!?!  That's okay. I'm going to enjoy it and go for a walk every day ... I've already made my snowman this year. ;)

What "real craft" or project helps you celebrate winter?

Today's Line Off Line Challenge: 
- Make something with real glue. :) A card? A sock snowman?

- Stop by the library & pick up a new book to read before winter melts into spring.

3 things Mary gave up

Jeff and I meet with a small group of young married couples. We love them. Our two teenagers love having them in our home, and we're at the fun stage when several are starting to announce that they're pregnant. When they first share that they're expecting, it's so exciting and new. They've imagined it and hoped for it and prayed for it and dreamed about it. We're thrilled to share the journey of growing into parenthood with them. 

visualbiblealive.com

Mary had to let go of her dreams before her betrothal even grew into marriage.

To make room for Jesus, she had to accept some losses. Since she was in a legally binding agreement to become Joseph's wife, only divorce could break the bond. Her plans and expectations, and those of her girlfriends and family members, dissolved in the sudden, hardly believable story that she would be visited by God Himself and implanted with a baby who would be great, God's Son who would reign eternally. 



The angel Gabriel was so tender as he explained that the young Mary of Nazareth had found grace/favor with God and was chosen to bear the baby generations of women craved - the Messiah.  (Read her story here.) As a virgin, the honor came with the heavy certainty of shame and disgrace and misunderstanding. But Mary believed Gabriel (Luke 1:45).  To make room for Jesus Mary had to clear all of her own plans and preparations out of the way. 

• She gave up her own plans for how her marriage and family would happen, and instead she accepted God's better plan.  She valued God's plans over her own dreams.
• 
  
• She gave us her preparations for what her engagement and wedding would look, trusting God to do what had never been done and make it best. She had the wisdom to go to Elizabeth as her godly mentor for support and guidance.
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• She gave up her pride, trusting God to care for her as His servant. Her earthly reputation was exchanged for heavenly reasons. 

visualbiblealive.com

It was so much to ask a young girl to move in her own life and heart in order to make room, but she was making room for the Son of God, and she was glad to prepare the way for Him in her heart. She treasured all that happened and considered it carefully. It prepared her for the hard road ahead on the very pregnant road to Bethlehem, all the way to the base of the cross where she saw her Son make room for the world. 

~ What are you dreaming about for your future? Are you willing to let go of your plans or preparations to make room for Jesus?

~ If you knew letting God steer your life would bring Him glory, would you feel more willing to let Him do things that are hardly believable, unusual, or even misunderstood?

To make sure you don't miss any of those who Prepared Him Room, subscribe to emails here  and get all of the Advent season posts.

Do you have room?

I want to tell you this is the only messy spot in my house ... but it's not. And it's our guest room.

We always wanted to prepare a room ... for guests. Not for messes. :) But while there hasn't been a guest in there, it has gradually become the catch-all spot for things I didn't have time to put away, stuff I didn't want to make a decision about, items I couldn't bear to throw away, and clutter that needed somewhere to go when life was pressing with other things. Some of the things that prompted me to fill the room with stuff "other-than-guests" were good things like visiting family, making dinner, going to church, speaking at women's events, having my quiet time, writing, and serving.  Some other things seem pretty useless when I think about writing them down.


There IS room for a guest, but I need to move out all of the other stuff that has taken up the place where the guest should go. Until I clean it up, I'm not really free to welcome a guest. I can be disappointed that no one's coming to see us for the holidays, but where would they stay if they came?!?!? Truth is, I haven't prepared room for them. I let everything else take over. 


Tomorrow is December 1st. Many people have already started Advent reflections, where we read about the Christmas story daily, in preparation for celebrating Jesus coming to earth. We want to experience Him, but the truth is, we haven't prepared room for Him. We let everything else take over. 



I want to focus on Jesus in this Advent season, but I need to move some other stuff out of the way.  I need to make room for Jesus.  People have faced that challenge ever since a tired and scared young couple found shelter in a stable "because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). No room.

There is room, but we have to move things out of the way.

Will you join me beginning tomorrow to look at a different person each day who encountered Jesus and had to decide if they would prepare Him room?  You might have to "move something out of the way" to take time to consider those who met the Son of God on earth, but if your life is anything like my guest room, you probably don't need most of the "life clutter" anyway.


There's a long list of things we want to do and things expected of us in the Christmas season. It's easy to pile things on our life and end up suffocating instead of celebrating.

Would you "Prepare Him Room" with me? 

If you want to be sure to get each of December's daily devos sign up for emails.

Tasty Tuesday ~ Advent Centerpiece

 I want to have a cool Advent centerpiece, but it just didn't happen "in time" for the first Sunday. My Scripture Dig teammate Kathy explained a little about Advent yesterday, kicking off a series on why Jesus came. But if you missed the official start of Advent like I did, don't despair. I am a firm believer in being resourceful and creative and using what you already have to make something unique. And honestly, I really don't like purple candles. :)


I chose a simple base that would hold 5 candles and a "filler."  For me, this was a shallow, medium size oval platter that I got at a yard sale a long time ago. It has a simple green border that reminds me of life.  Perfect.


To remind us of the dusty dirt road that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, I found some cornmeal in my pantry. I'll admit that it's past its prime, so becoming part of a Christmas display is a good use. It also happens to be self-rising ... like Jesus! :)


Since I don't have the "right" colors of candles, I gently pressed 5 votive candles into the "sandy road" surface. I think I like it that they're all white; it turns my mind to the lamb of God who took on our humble form in his earthly birth.



To finish off my advent centerpiece, I took river stones and pressed them around the candles and cornmeal to represent the difficult terrain, the treacherous journey, and the stone of offense that Jesus would be to those He came to save.

It's not traditional, but it only cost a little creativity, and the process of using what I have gently stirred my thoughts and my heart to consider what the journey to the manger ... and the journey to the cross ... was like for the baby growing in the womb of His young mama and strong father who knew what it is to be resourceful. 

With whatever you have, create a symbol for your table that will turn the hearts and thoughts of those gathered to the journey Jesus made for us. Will your children take notice? Your seeking relatives? Your neighbors? A friend? Your tired spouse?

Make the middle of your table something that shares the story of Jesus.

Blessed Advent season to you,

Marriage Mondays: A Dozen Guidelines for Giving Gifts to Your Guy

It's that time of year again, when we gals try to find the perfect gift to get a genuinely excited response from our usually even tempered man, secretly hoping he'll jump up and down and plant a big kiss on our relieved lips. 

But what to choose ..... ?

photo via stock.xchng

Giving a gift that says, "I know you and value what makes you unique" is one way of finding praise from our man (Prov. 31:28), a way to do him good (v.12) and a way to be sure he trusts in us not to lack any gain (v.11).  Whatever your budget, whatever your man, make the most of your chance to give a blessing to your guy. Thinking (even praying!) about the right gift can be one way a wife loves a husband. 

On the way home from our Thanksgiving travels, I interviewed my own man and asked him, "What advice would you give to a wife about how to buy the perfect gift for her man?" 

His answers were very revealing and could easily apply to boyfriends or fiances and, in some cases, dads. I'll admit that I added a few "after-thoughts" of my own. ;) In a few instances, he elaborated and added some helpful info. Happy hunting for that awesome man-gift!

A Dozen Guidelines for Giving Gifts to Your Guy

1. Listen to things he likes throughout the year (Keep a hidden list of what he mentions. Translation: “I know you and appreciate what makes you unique.”)
2. Be aware of stores he likes (Yes … you have to shop at the Jerky Outlet)
3. Consider hobbies he has (Think about gear/equipment/books related to his “happy place”)
4. Think about teams he likes (Then look for unique memorabilia, clothing, tickets to a game)
5. Avoid the stereotypical tie and shirt (Now I’m stuck … Jeff needs this. See #6)
6. Choose things he likes instead of things you’d like for him to have (Rules out a “give your wife a massage” kit)
7. Remember guys love gadgets (Jeff has a flash light he LOVES. He says to focus on electronics or tech here … GPS, walkie talkies, heart monitor watch …). I’m told tools are a whole other category of their own, and you have to ASK good questions to find out what he wants or needs. Jeff is sure he’ll tell you. ;)
8. Shop in stores you normally don’t shop in (Farm n’Fleet, Dicks, Gander Mtn)
9. Notice what’s worn out in his closet and needs to be replaced (CAUTION: DON’T throw out the old one, just get a new one ;)
10. Create coupons for things that speak his love language (Night out sans kids, night IN sans kids, back rub, day out fishing, dinner of his choice, “get out of chore free” pass)
11. Love his car and love him (Seat covers, hitch cover, “cool plate,” detailing, or other accessory. Check any auto department or auto specialty store.)
12. Don’t rule out sentimental gifts (Jeff suggested a photo book, but with pics like sporting events he’s gone to, golfing outings w/guys, adventures with friends, successful hunts he’s had, projects he’s done … depends on what makes your man who he is!)

Only a Miracle

Today I'm participating with Hearts at Home in sharing about the miracles in our lives. "Hearts at Home seeks to encourage, equip, and educate every mom in every season of motherhood using Christian values to strengthen families." I know I need that encouragement, and many of my readers do, too. I hope the "miracle" I share today will encourage anyone, mom or not.



We had just been in the Asia for about 6 weeks, trying to find housing, learn how to shop, find our way, and get acclimated to our new home. To celebrate Christmas, we took our 6 yr old Jo and 4 yr old Jake to a mountain city, to a small missionary compound with cottages, cooler air, and a grassy field. It was the first time the kids enjoyed running and playing, since our arrival. As parents, it gave us the chance to relax and get much needed rest.

The brown slats were added after the accident.

While we rested a short distance from the field, our 2 children joined a bunch of MK's (missionary kids), on a large swing. It resembled recreational swings with two facing benches and a roof, where people sit across from each other and swing side to side. The group of bigger kids got the large swing, made of heavy wood and steel, moving very fast and high. Our little Jacob was afraid and wanted to get off, but he stood up before the swing could slow down. His small body slipped between the seat and the floor, and he fell through the space, landing onto the concrete slab beneath. The swing continued to move with speed and force over his body, until the swing stopped, and the heavy steel girders of the floor logged in Jacob's turned head, with the group of children still piled on.


When JoHanna appeared at the door, breathless, we knew a crisis was in motion. Arriving at the scene, lying on the ground beside our boy, we knew our lives could be about to change. We could become one of those heartbreaking missionary stories that we hear and grieve. As Jeff and the men worked feverishly to dislodge the swing from Jacob's skull, we could hear his cries. A woman whom I didn't know from another mission came and knelt beside me on the ground, calling out loud a commanding prayer of intercession for Jacob's life. When Jacob fell silent, Jeff shouted that the heavy floor of the swing had to move right then. It was not humanly possible.



With one divine movement, they heaved with all their might, and the Lord lifted the floor of the swing. A nearby doctor pulled Jacob's body from the concrete, and we began our race to the car, through the traffic, to a hospital, and through the long hours ahead. Prayers were sent from dear friends in the country and in the US, and our Jacob's life was spared. The attending doctor said that if his head had not miraculously turned, he would not have survived. It was as if a hand had turned his face in the split second before the swing sped back, pinning him down.


While lying beside our boy on a thin pad over metal coils in the dark, I could hear chanting mixed with the sounds of barking dogs, traffic, and wanderers through the open window.  I never felt so far from everything  familiar, so inadequate as a mother. But God made His presence as bright as the night was dark and as peace giving as the place was fearful. 

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,  if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 

Psalm 139:7-10

Easter is a reminder that Jesus holds the keys to death, and He has the right and power to hold back the tide of its grip when He chooses. Ultimately, His life insures that death can not overcome us. We were released from the hospital on Christmas Eve, to take our small boy with the heavily bandaged head "home" to a rented cottage in a foreign city.  Without any doubt, we knew our lives had, indeed, changed that day.  We had been part of a miracle, and our hearts were full of praise.

More than giving up a latte

If you've been reading this week, you know my heart and mind are full with thoughts about how serving and reaching out to strangers is part of a significant Christmas. But we can serve and spend time with strangers in a way that's totally, well, .... INsignificant.  The difference seems to be in whether or not Christmas involves a SACRIFICE.  

We don't choose the nation or the economic environment we're born into, but being born into a culture where we don't live with constant need can warp our sense of what sacrifice really is.

Recently I had an hour to kill, $3 in my purse, and a teenager with me before we picked up the other one. I wanted to buy myself a Grande Latte and do a little Christmas shopping, but I decided we could spend some quality time studying at a quiet table (ok, it was in Target, but it was still quiet), while sharing a Pumpkin Spice Latte. (This is NOT to say that Christmas shopping or Grande Lattes are not spiritual ... you won't read that on this blog! :) I was feeling that warm feeling of "I'm not such a bad mom after all" for being willing to share a latte and swap shop time for study time, when the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear that my "suffering" didn't exactly qualify as "Sacrifice."  I don't know about you, but I need regular reminders of what "Sacrifice" really is.

When Jesus came to earth in a manger filled with sharp straw, we're told in Philippians 2:7-8 that,

... he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—  even death on a cross! 

Now THAT's sacrifice! Making myself less (or even nothing) and giving up what's precious to me for the benefit of another. It doesn't require that the receiver appreciate the sacrifice. Sometimes that might actually mean a latte, but it may also mean the money I saved for a holiday outfit, the time I planned for an evening out, my hat and gloves, my private family traditions, my comfort, or even my life. Christmas wouldn't be significant at all, if it wasn't all about the sacrifice of something precious. The "gift" of Christmas was the sacrifice of Jesus' divine control and position, His comfort, His honor, His rights, His life. 

When we were at KARM Wednesday for the graduation, over and over we heard how pursuing "self" leads to destruction and hurts those around us. Family members were present, as if to witness and represent the pain caused. A now victorious man shared his testimony of life transformed by the sacrifice of Jesus' life. He concluded his story by declaring, "When self rise up, we in trouble."  


Christmas is the story of Jesus' sacrifice. If we let our self rise up, we ARE in trouble, and we miss the privilege of sacrificing ourselves for the glory of God and for the lives of others. Taking myself off of the throne and letting the manger King Jesus be enthroned there makes my Christmas significant. What precious thing can we let go and offer to someone else this Christmas?

Do I really want a Christmas that's significant, or do I just want my own latte? I want it to be significant.  You?

Holiday Pressures ~ What do YOU think?

I would love to hear what you are thinking today about holiday pressures women face. The survey has 2 questions about marriage pressures, but all the rest apply if you are married or not. There are only 7 questions, so let me hear from you about what stresses you in the season of celebration! God's Word doesn't mention "Christmas" or "Thanksgiving" as we know it, but it has so much to say about the way we do life and relationships. Tomorrow we'll look at some practical ideas. So let me hear what you think ... (If you received this in your email, click on the post title, and it will take you to the actual blog, where you will see the Survey)

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