November Monthly Post!

Sorry this is out a couple days late but with Thanksgiving we were really busy and weren't able to post on Wednesday.

Here is chapter three of our story! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3~

Taylor: ”This is going to be so fun, Vivian! It’s super special because we get to do it together!

Vivian: ”I know! I’ve not gone out with you on a Sister’s outing in a LONG time!”

Taylor: ”I know it feels like forever! The place we’re going will be doing our nails, hair and will be giving us massages! I can’t wait!”

Vivian: ”Wow!! I’m looking forward to the massage part!”

Taylor: ”I’m looking forward to getting my nails done!”

Vivian: ”Here we are….The Market Place! I remember when David and I had our first date here quite a few years ago!”

(During Lunch)

Taylor: ”Vivian, is that your phone ringing?”

Vivian: ”Yes! Thanks for letting me know!”

(On the phone with David)

Vivian:”Hey Sweetheart!”

David:”Hey Vivian!! How is your day out with Taylor going?”

Vivian: ”Its going great! We’re eating lunch at the Market Place! I remember when we had our first date here!”

David: ”Oh! That’s my favorite restaurant! Especially since that’s where we had our first date! Honey, I wanted to let you know that I wrecked on the way to meet Andrew and the kids…I’m fine though! I just broke my arm, the doctor said it wasn’t a bad break! I only have to wear the cast for 4 weeks.

Vivian: ”Oh David… Do you need me to come home and help you?”

David: ”No…I’m fine! You and Taylor enjoy your day! Don’t worry about me!”

Vivian: ”Okay! We will be praying for you! Call us if you need anything!”

David: ”Thanks Babe! Love you!”

Vivian: ”Love you too!”

David: ”Bye!!”

(Finishing Up Lunch)

Taylor: ”What did David say?”

Vivian: “He said that he had a minor wreck on the way to meet Andrew and the kids…he broke an arm but he is doing okay! The doctor said that the brake wasn't bad and that he only has to wear a cast for 4 weeks.”

Taylor:” Oh my! Do you need to go and take home?”

Vivian: “No, he said for me to have a fabulous with you! He will call us if he needs anything and besides Andrew is with him.”

Taylor: “Ok! Well, I’m done how about you?”

Vivian: “ Yep! Me too!”

(On the way to the salon)

Taylor: “So what color are you going to paint your nails? I am so excited about having this day with you!!”

Vivian: “Me too! I’m not sure maybe a coral or mint green…What about you?”

Taylor: I was thinking coral as well! Wouldn’t it be fun to have matching nails?”

Vivian: “Totally!”

Operation Christmas Child

Hey Everyone! Its ~O~ here! This week I wanted to blog about what Operation Christmas Child means to me!

So, every year in November, my church packs many shoeboxes full of toys, candy, notebooks, crayons and much more! It blesses my heart to know that children, who have never received their own "personal" things, finally receive things that meet their need....and wants!

I always try to find the BIGGEST boxes so I can cram as much stuff as possible in that shoebox! I tend to pack for older girls because i know that many people are drawn towards packing boxes for smaller children. (Please don't get me wrong....little kids enjoy and need shoeboxes too!:) I love going shopping at my local Dollar Store and finding just the right things that i think would impact a child's life!


Things that i pack are:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, coloring books, crayons, hair accessories(hairbrush, hair ties, combs), hard candies, mild soap, socks, gloves, stuffed animals and anything else that you think a needy child would enjoy!


One of the things on my bucket list is, delivering shoeboxes one day! That would bless my heart so much! Just to see the excitement on their faces would be worth more than anything!

I close with a few sweet messages from a few blessed children that have received a shoebox and a quick video! 

Timur: 

"When the local Christians came into the orphanage with the shoeboxes, I thought, What is that? I’d never received a gift. My birthday was a normal day. We didn’t celebrate Christmas. They started passing out shoeboxes and we were so excited! I started ripping open my box and then my eyes grew wide. The first thing I saw was toothpaste. I saw the word Crest and thought it said Christ so I thought, Oh! Christian toothpaste! I was so excited I ran around the orphanage saying, “Christian toothpaste! Christian toothpaste!”

Ted: 

"I was an orphan in the former Soviet Union when I received my shoebox. We had to share everything at the orphanage, including towels. When I got a washcloth in my box I actually thought it was my own personal towel!It was very special because I was the only one who could use it. It was my own personal thing—something that I didn’t have before—so it was one of my favorite gifts."

Nanor: 

"I will never forget the day that I received my shoebox. I still remember every gift in it. I’ve kept the box to this day. It was so lovely. The cardboard shoebox was beautifully and meticulously wrapped in green wrapping paper that had little children on it opening gifts by a Christmas tree. Then I opened it! The most exciting gifts were a Barbie doll and a stationery kit. I loved Barbies—and then I got a real one! She was so beautiful."

Video

Hope you enjoy! 

~O~

Handmade Gifts

~C~ 

Hi Everybody! I hope you are having a good day!

Today I am going to be talking about one of my biggest hobbies... Knitting! I love to knit! in the spring,summer,fall,winter whatever I love it!

With Christmas just around the corner I have a lot of knitting to do! I make blankets, scarves, boot cuffs, hats and I'm learning some new things to make as well! I might put up some patterns for some things later on but right now I am super busy so it will be a few weeks.

People LOVE handmade gifts! The person who gives it to them actually had to take the time to make it and had them in mind. Don't get me wrong we all love store bought gifts too but there is something about the sense of accomplishment that comes when you have made something to give.

For example: My great-grandmother loves blankets! I made her a blanket last year for Christmas... She LOVES that thing! She tells me it feels as if I'm giving her a big hug everyday.  Not only is it extremely special for me to see my great-grandmother to love and use something that I put so much time, thought and effort into but special to her to think that someone hand made it for her.

So this Christmas if you can't think of what to get somebody make them something. You might say "I don't have time" Grab a some paper and make them a nice card. It will mean a lot to them!


Until next time!
~C~

(I'll post a knitting pattern next time)

Happy November + Cupcake Recipe!

Happy November Everyone! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is almost here?!??! And then before we know it....Christmas! This week has been pretty crazy, juggling three instruments, school, and a day-to-day life gives a challenge sometimes!

I wanted to share this delicious recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes that I recently made!

I like to get all my ingredients out first! It makes it easier for me personally! Here are the ingredients you will use too make the cupcakes!

2 cups sugar

¾ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs, room temperature

1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 oz red food coloring (a whole .25 oz. bottle, or if you would like to make it RED... use two!)

½ cup hot water

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

           1. Preheat your oven to 325F

  2. You will want to mix your sugar and vegetable oil together until well blended!

             

   3. Beat in eggs until mixture if uniform color         

                      

4. Add in buttermilk, vanilla extract and food coloring

5. Mix in hot water and distilled vinegar

6. Add flour ( I add my flour little by little)

7. Mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and add to bowl

8. Add in coco powder

9. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners

(This recipe makes 24 cupcakes)

10. Bake to 18-20 minutes or until tops are spongey to the touch.

(I started with 15 minutes and then if it needed to bake more, I added 5 minutes)

11. Let them cool before adding icing

(I suggest putting them in the fridge)

Icing Recipe

1 (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature

4 tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature (do not melt)

2 cups powdered sugar

1. Cream together cream cheese and butter

2. Slowly add in powdered sugar and beat until creamy

3. Ice your cupcakes and savor the delicious flavor! Enjoy!

~O~

Millie Keith: Book 7-8

~C~


I am SO sorry this post is so late!! So let's get started!

 Millie's Reluctant Sacrifice: The Keiths were looking at Millie in Varying degrees of dismay. "It has been something of a surprise to me, Pappa,"Millie admitted "Though not completely so. I have felt for almost a year that I am called into the foreign mission field."  Stuart shook his head, "We have let Millie go twice now, once to Roselands and once to New Orleans and I think that is quite enough."Marcia put her hand on her husbands sholder. "We must let her go again Stuart," she said " I see the fingerprints of God all over this. We must let her go, and trust God." 


Millie's Fiery Trial: Millie felt foolish even saying it. "Wanunu came back. She was very angry and she called on the power of her FALSE god." "Pachamama?" said Angela. Millie nodded. "She said she would take what I loved most- My husband. She said she would take Charles's life." "Now Millie," Angela spoke softly but firmly."Wanunu is just a foolish old woman. You are clearly tired and confused." 
I may be tired, Millie thought as she walked to the suit of rooms the the Raels had provided, but I am not confused. She took off her boots and lay across her bed. The face of that wicked woman would not leave her mind. She opened her Bible to Ephesians 6:10-11 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take you stand against the devils' schemes." 


I hope you will look into this series of books! They are amazing! Have a great week!