Not exactly what is good for you....but more like tastes good to you!

Saturday morning Ryan wasn't feeling very well so I decided to let him sleep in. To my surprise Lydia also decided to sleep in till about 9:15. So, Micah and I decided to take advantage of it just being the two of us... and we made donuts. When I was a little girl every once and a while my mom would make fresh homemade donuts. Those were my favorite Saturday mornings. Just her and I making something I thought you could only by in the store. So Micah and I set out to do the same thing. And I must say, it was a success. I found this donut recipe online and it made amazing homemade donuts. I thought it was something good to share!
1 cup of warm milk
5 teaspoons of yeast (2 packets)
pinch (1 teaspoon) of sugar
2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of potato mashed up*
Oil for Frying


1. Mix together milk, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for about 5 minutes
2. *Microwave medium size potato for 5-6 minutes until soft when squeezed. Scoop out insides and mash with a fork.
3. Mix together flour, salt, sugar, and mashed potato
4. Add milk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix in mixer (with dough hook) for 3 minutes. (dough will be very sticky)
5. Remove dough from mixer onto a very floured surface. Knead until dough is not sticky and able to be rolled out
6. Find something to cut out a large circle and something to cut out a hole in the center
7. Let rise about 5 minutes while oil heats up in the skillet to about 360 degrees (1 inch or so of oil in skillet)
8. Drop donuts a few at a time so the oil does not cool down. Turn when color turns like brown
9. Let cool and drain on a rack
10. Shake finished donuts in a bag of cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar! Enjoy

Recommendations for the donuts by my kids!

When I was a child...

It is unreal how much my daughter looks like me when I was a child. However, what strikes me most is not just the similar outer appearance, but the exact same personality (as I have heard and I suppose I admit). Now, I love this little girl. I had no idea what a joy it would be to have a daughter. The sweetness and laughter that she brings with her presence was nothing I could have imagined. However, the apple did not fall far from the tree when it comes to being strong-willed and stubborn. I like to make the joke that the only thing that is going to save her from daily battles with her parents if early regeneration. I say that because a turning point for me was when I recognized who Christ was (and is) and that his call to those He saves is not just to be a moralist. The call that lead me to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22) and not my strong-willed and I guess I will admit, stubborn nature.

I have said it before, but having children is a great way to point out your own sin. Not just in the way I interact with them, but watching all of the sinful behaviors that they learn from me, or in the way they act out their own sins. Face it, we just sin in a more self-controlled manor. So I saw this picture of Lydia and as cute as she is, I thought the hair, the smile, and the fact that she is standing up in her crib when she is supposed to be laying down, was yet again a picture of my spiritual condition. So I thank God everyday that he has given me such a cute way to be reminded of my need for a Savior and that one day I (and I plead my children) will see Christ face to face. So through my children, God is continually pointing out what is good...

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man [woman], I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully know. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

The Book of James is good...

All of scripture falls under "what is good," but I like to call the Letter of James the Guide to Christianity. At first glance James is a really hard book to swallow, I read much of his words and find myself burdened. But I have realized that this letter is a mirror and as I gaze into it the refection I should see is one who is like Christ. In chapter 1:22-25 he says:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

So James is indeed a mirror. I look inside of his words and I don't see the law, for Christ has fulfilled it, but I see a standard for those who are in Christ that I must weigh myself against. So I thank God for his grace and the Holy Spirit working in me. So James.... definitely filed under what is good!

Waffles and Family Worship

I have changed up the blog a little bit. By no means am I abandoning the original intent of living out Titus 2, but rather just expanding it. I am realizing that the command to "learn what is good" is really a call to learn who God is and so live your life accordingly.

So, I have been looking at scripture with new eyes lately. At our women's bible study we have been going through James, a wonderful but challenging book, and I have been left with the question: If we are commanded to "count it all joy," how do we do that? The answer is Christ, but how do I find enjoyment in Christ in the midst of day to day life. I see how he reveals himself in big ways, but I have fallen short of finding my enjoyment in Christ in all of the small things. Most of which I often I see separate from God. Like waffles! Until this morning. For a while we have had the tradition of "Morning Family Worship" at breakfast time. Originally breakfast we intended to just keep the kids quiet at the table, but now I see it as a springboard for prayer and a practical example to our children of God's daily provision. So thank you God for declaring your goodness through waffles this morning, they were truly enjoyable.

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy...." Ecclesiastes 2:24-2

Things that are good...

Sometimes I take life to seriously... and I miss some of the really good things! Like:

A daddy who is willing to lead by example...






Getting to ride Daddy's Jeep with the whole family







Making a birthday cake with TWO digging trucks that a little boy has been asking for since June! And seeing the big smile on his face when he saw it!



"And God saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good..." Genesis 1:31a

The battle of the no... I mean bow

Lydia's hair has started to grow and so I have been putting a bow in her hair lately so that she will be used to having something in her hair. I figure in all of my motherly wisdom (i.e. what I have gathered from other moms), that this will make it easier down the road when trying to fix her hair. Plus I just think they are pretty!






So here is the lovely Lydia in her beautiful bow!












Here is the lovely Lydia taking off her beautiful bow (which she does frequently) During which there is a lot of "NO LYDIA" and "DON'T TOUCH LYDIA" coming from mommy!










Here is Lydia proud of herself for removing her bow even though mommy said "NO"










Here is a not so happy Lydia when she was corrected for not obeying mommy and taking off her beautiful bow!











Here is a compliant, but not really happy about it Lydia... with a beautiful bow!






I'm thinking about just fighting the hair bow battle another day... but the battle of obedience will be fought our whole lives. It is amazing how the actions of my children cause me to search myself and disobedient ways. It was be a journey was I learn and instruct her in what it means to be obedient. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' " 1 Peter 1:14-16

So as Lydia turns one tomorrow, we will continue instructing her in this commandment:
"Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1 and loving her all the more as we learn what it is to "bring them [Lydia and Micah] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4b


Happy 1st Birthday Little Girl! You have truly brought joy into my life and I am blessed to be your mommy!

It has already started and Lydi hasn't even turned One!