Simply Chatter: Summer Days Dawn

I’ve heard it said that it is so hot the hens have laid hard-boiled eggs—that pretty much sums up our temps lately!

We’ve been helping my mom move to an apartment, and bidding our goodbyes to my childhood home. My kids are grieving as much as my mom and I are.

There is just something about a grandmother’s home, isn’t there?

Meanwhile, back on our home front,

I never know what I might find on my memory card when I pop it into my computer….

My oldest. . . .He’s always entertaining!

At least he still has all of his toes.  I may lose a few, because of

my new little friend“Bubbles” - a Chinese Crested Powder Puff.  She is sweet, but mistakes me for her chewy toy!

Don’t you just love mornings?  We have finished up our homeschool year, so they have been especially quiet and peaceful.

I snapped this one morning as I walked around our yard filled with heavy fog,

delighted over some blooms,

spent some quiet time with the Lord, and enjoyed a God breeze.

Back inside and up the stairs to check on the kids,

this was the scene from my oldest daughter’s room.

For us today, it is off to town we go, hoping to get my mom on the internet at her apartment.  She is like us and miserable without her window to the world!

Hope that your day is blooming with joy!

Simply Faith

What is Christian faith?  Sometimes we tend to complicate it.

Faith is trusting and relying on Christ, and you can.

Faith is believing that the Lord will do what He promises, and He will.

Isn’t that simple?  That’s all there is to it. 

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
                                                                                                                              Romans 5:1-2

When You Feel Rejected

All of us at times experience rejection.

It cuts to our core, because we all need to feel

valued and cherished,

loved and accepted, 

capable and competent.

On the cross, the Lord demonstrated His love for us.  With that in mind, remember:

You are so valued by God that He laid down His life for you. You are cherished by Him so much that He is interested in every detail of your life to the point that He even knows the number of hairs on your head.

The Lord accepts you fully.  You belong to Him and are part of His family.  He loves you unconditionally and forgives you freely. 

Of course you are competent - you are His masterpiece!  The Lord has plans for you.  His Spirit lives in you, and will help you to be capable of anything that He has called you to do.  Don’t compare yourself to others, just set out to do what He created you to accomplish. 

So there you have it –  you my friend, are wonderfully made, and as a believer, you are complete in Christ. 

Blueberry Pound Cake

I often get requests to make this cake. I love it too, and I especially like that it begins with a cake mix. I originally found the recipe at allrecipies years ago. It is great for company, or for just us!

Blueberry Pound Cake

1 package yellow cake mix
1/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups blueberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).  Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.

In a large bowl, stir together cake mix and sugar.  Make a well in the center and pour in eggs, cream cheese, oil and vanilla.  Bean on low speed until blended.  Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed.  (Batter will be thick.)  Fold in blueberries.  Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  (My oven takes an hour), or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes clean.  Let cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack and cool completely. 

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

So nice of you to stop by!  I hope that you will come back again soon!