Jayden Jewel Baker

She is finally here!!


Born: March 20, 2018
Weight: 7lbs, 3 oz
Height: 18.9"

JOY

Joy does not simply happen to us. 

We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. 

by Henri J.M. Nouwen

My one little word is joy so I like the saying:

I choose Joy

Grace

Have you ever had someone tell you to give yourself a little grace? I certainly have. I’ve also said it to other people, more times than I can count.

But then, I was asked: “how do you know when you’re giving yourself grace and not just making excuses. What’s the difference?”  

Woah.

I wrestled with this question for a long time. Like, a really, really long time. Is giving yourself grace really just the same as making an excuse?
I couldn’t accept that. And ultimately, after a lot of pondering, I realized that to me, the difference looks something like this:

Grace says that mistakes aren’t fatal; Excuses use mistakes as a reason to quit.

Grace says that progress is more important than perfection; Excuses use perfection as a reason to procrastinate.

Grace says ‘I am not my mess;' Excuses believe that the mess defines you

Grace understands the bigger picture; Excuses fixate on the tiny details.

Grace recognizes that people aren’t perfect and offers forgiveness; Excuses use the failure as a reason to write someone off.

Grace is big; Excuses are small.

Grace offers courage; Excuses propagate fear.

Grace brings hope; Excuses make you feel hopeless.

Grace gives you the reason to try again tomorrow; Excuses allow you to give up.

Which will you choose?

Smokey

                                  Newest Member of the Family...Smokey

                                                     
                     He likes to get in places to hide...

                  Likes to help me with wrapping Christmas Gifts....

Likes to lay on my lap, to keep me warm....

                                Watching the food cook...is that helping...

Christmas 2017

Gratitude

Gratitude without practice is a little like faith without works - it’s not alive (Brene Brown)

“Whoever has gratitude will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have gratitude, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Matthew 13:12

Magic of Christmas

                          
The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence.

Snow....on the Texas Coast

It snowed in Ingleside last night and early morning. Alex sent pictures of them in the snow and building a Snowman. It was Emma's first snow!!

Happy Halloween

October party

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came,—
The Ashes, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The sunshine spread a carpet,
And every thing was grand;
Miss Weather led the dancing;
Professor Wind, the band....
The sight was like a rainbow
New-fallen from the sky....
~George Cooper (1840–1927), "October's Party," c.1887

you decide

  Aeolian written instructions

HA

December Recipes

Festive Fonts

1. The North Pole/Sultan  

2. Dear St. Nick  

3. Clair De Lune  

4. KG Christmas Trees

5. Marshmallow World  

6. First Noel/Fontleroy  

7. Christmas Lights/Christmas Lightness   

8. Ribbons & Bows/KB Ribbons and Bows

9. Feliz Navidad/Navidad  

10. Frosty the Snowman/Weehah  

11. Holly & Berries/Holly & Barrie   

12. Christmas & Go

13. Christmas  

14. Candy Lane/Pippi  

15. Vintage Christmas

16. Happy New Year/Happy New One  

17. Ornaments/Ornamental 

1. Lane Cane 

2. Christmas Card 

3. Reindeer Games 

4. Christmas Eve 

5.Stars/Glitter Promo

6. Grand Hotel 

7. Mikie’s Christmas List 

8. Janda Christmas Doodles 

9.Snowflake Letters 

10. Kringley Christmas

11. Christmas Font 

12. DH Snowflake 

13. Xmas Cartoon 

14.  Noyeux Joel

15. DK Father Frost

Please remember, these are for personal use only. You’ll find the authors TOUs in the zip files when you download.

SNOW CREAM

SNOW CREAM RECIPE:

1 cup of milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups clean, freshly fallen snow
INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix all ingredients into a large bowl.
Freeze for several minutes, if desired.
Serve!

Can't wait for the snow...

November Recipes

Coconut Iced Coffee

To Make  Iced Coffee
5 ounces cold brewed coffee
2 tablespoons chocolate sauce (optional)
1/3 cup coconut sweetened condensed milk (or regular sweetened condensed milk)
2-3 tablespoons coconut milk (or regular cream/milk)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coffee Ice Cubes
5 cups brewed cold coffee
Coconut Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Sauce
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup honey (use brown rice syrup if honey is an issue)
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coffee ice cubes
Pour the cold coffee into ice cube trays and freeze overnight. Store in the freezer until ready to use.

Coconut Sweetened Condensed Milk
Add the coconut milk, sugar and vanilla to a small sauce pot. Bring to a low boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer on low for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. Once the milk has thicken and reduced by half remove from the stove and allow to cool. Pour the milk into a glass jar and store in the fridge until ready to use or up to two weeks.

Chocolate Sauce
Add the cocoa powder, honey, coconut milk, salt, chocolate and coconut oil to a small pot and place over medium heat. Slowly melt the chocolate and milk into each other. Continue stirring until they become a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat and store in the fridge until ready to use. Re-warm on the stove or in the microwave.

To Make ONE Iced Coffee
Mix together the sweetened condensed coconut milk, coconut milk and vanilla until smooth. Dip a large tall glass into 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce. Drizzle the remaining chocolate up and down the sides of the glass. Place a few coffee iced cubes in the glass. Fill the glass with coffee. Pour in the milk mixture and use a spoon to mix it all together. Place a straw in the glass and drink the coffee!

Halloween

Halloween
[hal-uh-ween]
noun
the evening of October 31.....observed especially by children in costumes who solicit treats, often by threatening minor pranks.

October Recipes