How to Tweak a Cake!

Being a mommy affords me the opportunity to express my love through baking. When my husband and children figured out that mommy knew how to decorate cakes, but just did not like the time involved, they resisted my gestures of having the bakery make our cakes.

First, they knew Mommy could make a cake in any flavor and it always comes out moist. Secondly, they figured out that mommy can find a way to make any image on a cake, unlike the limited selection at the store. They also think homemade frosting is superior. My son with his Link cake refuses to eat cake when it is bought from a store, he just does not like it. However, when I make a cake at home, he goes back for more.

This last weekend we had birthday parties for two of our sons. One wanted a "Link" cake from Legend of Zelda. The other wanted his usual Lightning McQueen. Wilton makes a cute Disney Cars shaped pan, but I could not find Link anywhere apart from an intricate wedding cake online. So I took an image of Young Link from one of my son's games and tried to create it on the cake via my high tech drawing implement...the toothpick, followed up with an outline by number 3 tip filled with black tinted icing.

While I cannot teach you how to decorate a cake, I can share my recipes with you for making a yummy cake!

Per each cake mix, I add 3 eggs, 1/2 c. oil, 1/2 c. milk (or so), 1 small box of instant pudding (flavor is dependent on the flavor of the cake mix), and about 1 cup of sour cream (you do NOT taste the sour cream, it simply makes it moist). I beat until well blended and pour into a pan that has been brushed (using a pastry brush) with shortening and floured. I bake at 350 degrees until the cake springs back in the center when lightly pressed (longer than the time stated on the box because of the additional ingredients).

I then take dental floss or an instrument designed for cutting the cake and slide it over the top of the pan to take off the excess, so that when I flip the cake over onto its platter...it will lay even. If I want to add a filling, I either measure 1/2 way up the cake with a ruler and place toothpicks every few inches around the cake and then use dental floss to cut the cake with the toothpicks as my guides or again use the designated instrument. You can make so many different fillings, from puddings, jams, or icing. I have to admit that fillings are not necessary when you follow my above cake recipe, as the cake is so flavorful and moist all on its own.

For my decorative frosting recipe I use 1/2 cup of real butter, 1/2 cup of shortening, 1 lb of confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar), 1 Tablespoon of Meringue powder (Wilton makes this), 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp almond extract. Blend well. Then I add some milk until I get the right consistency. Then I beat it on high for several minutes until it becomes light and fluffy! Using some butter gives it better flavor and also using the shortening keeps it from turning the frosting yellow. It still has a nice white color when finished. I love the combination of vanilla and almond extract flavors, much better than just vanilla or lemon flavors in my opinion. The meringue powder makes it fluffier, but also helps the frosting to hold its shape in decorating.

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” Dave Barry

Consuming Passion

I heard this song tonight on Air1 Radio and it really encouraged me as I go through my own struggles to put my priorities in order moment by moment, day by day. It is called The Motions by Matthew West. Matthew had to go through a surgery and a season of silence and this is his story:

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead ofgoing through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
take me all the way (through the motions)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

INPUT: CTRL VS GRACE

On the keyboard of a computer the CONTROL key AKA as CTRL is a very helpful key in many situations. Humans were made to have dominion over other things. However, when the Bible speaks of man's dominion over things, man is in reference to humans, not literally the male gender.

Unfortunately, often humans have this need to control other humans. I have watched this manifest itself over and over in not only relationships, marriages, and businesses, but even in a place where we should be free from such sin, churches. Currently my heart is broken to see so many people that I love in the midst of devastation from a branch of churches that have become corrupted with power.

I have been reflecting on the issue of control and from where it stems. It seems it is rooted in one of two issues or possibly both. When people fear losing others, they try to control them. Fear is a lack of the perfect love and trust in Christ working in a person's life. Anytime I fear anything, it is because at the very moment my eyes are off Christ and on my circumstance. But when I allow fear to turn into control, it means I have allowed that fear to consume me and have not put my eyes back on Christ. At the moment I exert control I am in sin. I am not trusting that Christ is BIG enough. It is possible that if this is my way of life to control another, that I have yet to even truly know Christ.

There is an exception. As parents we are called to exercise control of our children through training and discipline, but even that is done rooted in love for our Lord and our children. However, as adults, we are told there is only ONE mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus our Lord.

The second root of control seems to be a hunger not for the power of God to work in our lives, but rather to rule another or others with power equal to His. We often see this in husbands who seek to control their families by twisting Scriptures out of context, emotional or physical abuse, or wives who constantly employ a spirit of manipulation, etc. While this brings any of us to tears to know that another wants to take the place of the Holy Spirit, it is even more devastating when we see this on a large scale such as in a church.

God gave us offices in the church to SERVE and ENCROURAGE one another. However, many churches have allowed those offices to become agents of control in the lives of their congregation. They stumble in sin by their lack of trust that Christ can directly mediate between each human and God. They try to fill the role of the Holy Spirit instead of the office to which they claim to be called. In these churches women and children are often the first targets of manipulation. However, all the congregation are called to walk in obedience to the self-anointed prophets or whatever they choose to call themselves. The prophets seek to take the place of Christ and His Spirit in the lives of the congregation. They have become puffed up with a deceptive pride.

The control they employ to keep their congregation under their power is divisive and destructive. If a person dares to question this authority they are banished from the prophet's kingdom (the church) and their family is told to shun them, lest they be driven out too. This often leads the banished person to an entirely new set of issues, such as rejection, guilt, shame, despair, etc. If you are one of those people, let me tell you my dear friend...this is NOT the love of Jesus Christ. It is His kindness, His mercy, and His grace that leads us to repentance. Christ never abuses His power. He is the tender shepherd. He is sacrificial in His love for His sheep.

If you are in a relationship or church that is not showing you Christ's love through sacrifice, mercy, grace, and service then they are not under Christ. They are led by a different spirit, a counterfeit spirit. A counterfeit often looks amazingly close to the real thing and can be difficult to identify. But when you take an expert who knows the real thing, they can immediately recognize a counterfeit. Apart from Christ, you may talk the talk, but you cannot continue to walk the walk. Do not fear to give any church or teaching a litmus test to ascertain if it is the REAL THING! Are you spending the time to become an expert in the Christ of the Bible? Do you know His Word with the Holy Spirit as your teacher to lead you into understanding? Is Jesus your only Mediator?

I adjure each of you to seek to become experts in Christ and His Word that we would not be deceived by the counterfeit spirits among us. I implore each of you to seek to embrace our hurting siblings that have been devastated by control in their lives and have been left with a tainted view of who Christ is. Let them see the love, grace, and tender mercy of Christ shine through us that they might get a true view of the beauty of His grace!

Christ's Blessings to you and yours,

Nature's Solution for Acid Reflux

This little beauty has been elevated to best friend level. Why? Because raw almonds have recently been helping me in ways I never imagined. I bought them to help restore my health.

However, after 4 nights of very little sleep because of the roller coaster of either taking pain pills so I can sleep, but then waking up gagging on stomach acid or not taking pain pills to keep my tummy happy, but that left me in too much pain.

I had tried every antacid on the market, but nothing was helping. My stomach and esophagus were raw constantly. Then I read that by popping 5 raw almonds into my mouth every few hours throughout the day would alkalize my acidic system. Lo and behold, it worked. I mean wonderfully.

However, my blood pressure has been climbing for the last 2 years since all my health issues reared their ugly heads. Today, at the doctor's office, guess what? My blood pressure was down quite a bit. Then I read that raw almonds can normalize blood pressure too.

Did you know the almond is NOT a nut? This came as a revelation to me. It is actually a seed inside of the almond fruit. The almond tree is related to the cherry, peach, and apricot trees. Looking at an almond blossom helps me to see the truth indeed!

What a beautiful almond blossom. It reminds me of Asian artwork. Something I am privy to since I have a daughter in love with ALL things anime, manga, and Japanese. However, my fascination is not for the same reasons. It is because once again, I am forced to contemplate if I truly believe a blossom this beautiful happened by random chance or was by intelligent design by a God who created all things for a purpose?!?!

And in that moment, fear's deathly grip on me is loosened. I stand in awe of the God who was, who is, and who is to come. In that second, I don't fear the valley of the shadow of death. The Lord's rod and staff comfort me. He anoints my unworthy head with oil. My cup runs over with His love, His mercy, and His grace. I am nothing and He is everything. I am satisfied.

The Piefect Way to Warm Your Home

Mmm, cinnamon warms our home. The aroma penetrates every nook and cranny of our hardwood floors. Brown sugar caramelizing turns patience into a virtue that is missing from my family's taste buds. I have made great apple pies for years (I used to cheat with refrigerated crusts), but in the last couple of years I have mastered the perfect flaky crust with a hint of butter and the perfect compliment of spices and sweetness to the apples. My husband no longer desires to take the pie to work to share with his co-workers. He has hoarding complex! And when I make homemade vanilla ice cream to go with it, he is quite sure our home is the entrance to heaven.

Do you enjoy making pies? If making pie crust threatens you, give Pillsbury refrigerated crusts a try. They are very good and so easy to use.

I am going to share a wonderful secret with you, I know of two blogs giving away pie making kits from Pillsbury. Nicole, over at Stay At Home Mom Reviews and Hannah, with Sherbet Blossom are both having the piefect giveaways! It will include a basket from Pillsbury that includes pie plates, pie cut outs for the crust, etc. I often use cut outs during the holidays at our home. On Thanksgiving for instance, I always cut a turkey out of the center of our apple pie. On my husband's birthday I cut Tigger out of the center of his dark cherry pie.

What is your favorite kind of pie? Anybody figure out how to make a yummy, healthy pie yet?

You Can Have Your Cake & Decorate It Too!

The hours a mother will invest to give their precious child a Birthday Cake to make them smile! Yes, I am guilty! I will spend 8+ hours making and decorating a cake if it will save us money and put glee in my child's voice when they gaze upon it for the first time.

Here is my little Tink with her Tinker Bell cake. Mind you, the brat in me compelled me to feed her a story that I was making her a WALL*E cake the entire time I was working on it. She never complained. The moment her eyes met the cake, her shrills of excitement blew out the windows of local Air Force jets flying overhead!

All of this to share with you that over at the ALL ABOUT CAKES blog they are having an amazing giveaway for those of you who long to decorate cakes and pastries, etc for your family. Rose is giving away a 200 Piece Betty Crocker® Decorator Kit. I know I would love to win this after moving from Texas to California, I found many of our household items had been destroyed from staying in a humid storage unit. I had a huge professional decorating kit that was a complete loss. I have just started buying a few tips, bags, and couplers again.

What have you done special for your family to remind them how precious they are to you?

Finding Christmas in Crashes

This year I found the meaning of Christmas in an unexpected way. It turned straight into my path in an illogical manner and though I tried to avoid it, I crashed right into it. My immediate reaction after accessing that my children were all uninjured was anger and frustration. I will spare you the reasons, but accomplishing my errands has become much of a heartache and chore for me. Now my minivan will be in a body shop and I will spend hours on the phone with claims adjusters after the time required filling out the accident report with a policeman. All during Christmas week.

I peered over to the vehicle I just slammed into and saw a little old lady in it. I had went straight into the driver's side door on her vehicle with my right, front side. The little, old lady was disoriented and scared. Compassion filled my heart. She needed mercy and the Lord had put it in my hands to give. Soon as I knew she was safe and the local police had been notified, I began a conversation with her. She expected me to be angry at her. She cried and apologized. She admitted it was entirely her fault. She was shocked to find me forgiving and loving towards her.

I questioned her gently to find out if she had local family. I soon learned that her husband died a few years back and she was entirely alone in this region. She was stricken with fear as to how she would get around if they take her license away from her.

At moments like these, you know God puts people in your path for a purpose. Here is a little old lady with NOBODY to help her locally. So God permits her to be put smack dab in my path so I will take notice of a person in need of friendship, companionship, and somebody to drive them where they need to go.

She was a sweet, honest woman. She did not lie to the police or the insurance company to get out of this predicament, knowing she may lose her independence with no family to turn to.

Sometimes I think my life is too busy and I cannot handle another responsibility. Then God opens my heart and shows me what He requires of me as His child. For whatever the reason, for at least a season, I have somebody else who needs me and God will give me just the strength I require to love her like Jesus would.

The sweet love of our Lord reminds us that people need His compassion, His mercy, and His grace. All things I am incapable of giving without His Spirit working through me.

Christmas should be about AGAPE love, which is a self-sacrificial love. I will have to sacrifice more of my selfishness on His alter to care for this sweet woman. May He show me how to do it in such a way that pleases Him. May He teach me to use my time more wisely, that I may be able to have enough to bless this sweet lady too.

Merry CHRISTmas my dear friends. May you know the joy of the Lord and allow his compassion, mercy, and grace to fill your hearts during this wonderful season. His peace be upon your household and heart!

(P.S. Her insurance is not fighting me on this, but taking 100% liability...another sweet blessing)

The Sweet Blessings of Sisterhood

Illustration by Beatrix Potter

Am I peculiar? I know we are not encouraged to be people pleasers. However, I have this intense yearning to please my husband when preparing dinner. In my overburdened, cream-colored refrigerator lies a new pack of 36 flour tortillas. Yet, here I am covered in flour despite my Little Caesar's apron from years past.

Yes, I am making homemade flour tortillas. While not difficult, I do go through a process of letting the dough sit for 20 minutes to break down the gluten to make rolling it out easier. “Put a little more of your body weight into it,” I hear echoing through my head. My precious, great-grandmother once taught me how to knead and roll out dough. She taught me it works best if you have it at waist height so you can lean on the dough while working it. I recall the smell of her rubber necks frying and the taste of the cinnamon sugar melting in my mouth. The sweet memories of her bring tears to my eyes.

Why do I go through all this trouble to make tortillas when I have a bag in the refrigerator? Because my husband prefers the flavor of my homemade tortillas when I fry them up in strips for dinner. Tortilla Soup is on the menu, one of his favorites. Hubby says the homemade tortillas taste seasoned. My only surmise is the buttermilk must add a distinct flavor.

As I continue to push my weight over the rolling board, I feel like Martha worrying about getting everything just right. Yet, it is a labor of love for my husband. My mind begins to race as I ponder the Marys in my life. I have no blood-related sisters, yet the Lord blessed me with something better. He gave me so many sweet sisters in Christ that have inspired me to grow up into Him. They encourage me when I feel weak. They remind me to put my eyes back on Christ at just the time my eyes and mind might grapple with my circumstances. Again, tears fill my eyes as I praise the Lord for the blessings He has given me in my sisters in Christ. I think of many of you and your current circumstances. I lift you in prayer to the One who loves you and pursues you intensely.

I continue cutting the tortillas into thin slices and wonder why I am weepy? I remember monthly hormones are coming into play, as it is 21 days again. And I know in my heart that my sisters understand me even in this complication. As I go through medical testing I know that many of you have faithfully held me in your prayers. I know my marriage being healed is directly related to all the prayers and support of my sisters, whom Christ gave me as He works through them to minister to me. I realize what a privilege it is to pray for each of you and your needs too. Thank you for being such a sweet blessing in my life to each of my sisters in Christ! I cherish you!

Family Blueprint New Testament #3: John the Baptist is Born!

(A bee helps us to understand that we are created with a purpose to serve!)

Weekly Scripture:
Luke 1:57-80

Story:
“John the Baptist is Born”

Precept:
Created for a purpose.

Live the Lesson: Bee with a Purpose
Open with a joke about bees such as “Who is the bees favorite singer?” “Sting!” or “What kind of bees hum and drop things?” “A fumble bee!” If you can catch a bee in a jar or find a video online about bees, that will only add to the effectiveness of this object lesson. Here is a video with Africanized honey bees landing on tickle me elmo and then elmo chooses to visit a European bee hive the next time. http://beekeeper.dbs.umt.edu/~bees/videos/ElmovBees.wmv

Now many of us believe bees really do not have that great of a purpose once we have endured a sting by one of them. When a bee flies close to us, the only thing we view them as is a pest that may sting us. However, bees were born with a purpose greater than to just make honey for your biscuit. Bees are what cross pollinate our flowers and are greatly responsible for the fruit and vegetables we have to eat. A bee is constantly working for the purpose it was born to serve. It knows nothing else. If a simple honey bee was created for a purpose to serve, how much more were you created for a purpose? The difference is that a bee never questions its purpose, it just serves it. You however, can question your purpose and refuse to serve it. If bees are responsible for the food we eat, then you need to understand that you have an even greater purpose. Today, will you submit your life to God, the very life He gave you, and surrender to serve His purpose for your life?

Memory Verse:
“So the child grew and became strong in spirit.” Luke 1:80a

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to comprehend Your purpose for creating us and help us to grow strong in spirit that we may serve You.

Living the Life:
This week share with your children how they can grow strong in spirit and discern the purpose of God for their lives.

Copyright © Family Blueprint and Precepts for Children 2002-2007
All rights reserved.www.familyblueprint.org

Family Blueprint New Testament #2: Mary's Visitation

(A shelled hard-boiled egg and a salad dressing bottle illustrate that God can accomplish great things!)

Weekly Scripture:
Luke 1:26-56

Story:
“Mary’s Visitation”

Precept:
God can accomplish great things, even in us!

Live the Lesson: Egg in a Bottle
You will need one clear salad dressing bottle or milk bottle with a small neck opening, one hard-boiled egg with the shell removed, boiling water, a funnel, and an oven mitt to handle the hot bottle.

Now in front of the class, put the boiled egg on top of the bottle and demonstrate that the egg cannot fall into the bottle. It is impossible. However, when Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Baby Jesus, even though she was not yet married to Joseph and had never been alone with him, she chose to believe God can do anything. Today, we too choose to believe that the egg can fall into this bottle.

Put the funnel on top of the salad dressing bottle and fill the bottle with the boiling water. Whish the water around inside the bottle and then pour out the boiling water. Immediately, put the hard-boiled egg with its shell removed on top of the bottle and watch closely. The egg will now be sucked into the bottle with such an incredible sound. Hooray! (To remove the egg, hold the bottle upside down and blow into the bottle for a while and the egg will drop out from the increase in air pressure).

Memory Verse: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to believe You can accomplish great things in our lives, if we surrender to you.

Living the Life:
This week share with your children something you accomplished by the grace of God.

Copyright © Family Blueprint and Precepts for Children 2002-2007
All rights reserved.
http://www.familyblueprint.org/