Oreo Cake For Mum

So my dearest Mum had her birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, Mummy! I love you so much. <3

Her birthday cake was a coffee icecream oreo cake. 

Yes, you read that right. But instead of the usual crushed up oreo crust, Babs had the idea of lining a bundt pan with whole oreos and pulling the icecream in on top. Brilliant? I think so. 

We kept it frozen in the bundt pan until about ten minutes before we served it and then turned it out onto a platter. Since it was still cold, the cookies cut nicely. The coffee icecream went wonderfully with the oreos, of course. Dearest Mummy loved it. (Oh and Auntie Connie, she also loved the handcream and toffees you sent! This cold weather makes her hands so dry and the cream is great.)

These two are becoming very accomplished bakers. You can spy the crafty glint in young Babs's eyes.  

And because this blog has been sorely lacking any trace of Jak, here is a picture of her fabulous self. Yes, it looks like her head is being propped up, but I assure you she is just fine. Also, she has given so many haircuts, that she has only eleven more to do for cosmotology school and she is planning to graduate in July!

Oh and here's a fabulous rap song about womanhood. 

R<3

Brothers, Stars and Songs

Most of my posts lately have been random collections of thoughts. Here again, three rather unrelated musings.

My little brother Joshua is coming over today! Well, he's technically not related to me, but I love every visit from this busy little guy. When I ask him whether I'm his big sister, he says I am. He's a brilliant little guy and I love that he can be part of our family every once in awhile. Props to my Mummy for making our home an open, peaceful place. I've felt so often that my home is a refuge and safe place because God abides here.


Wheeling my bike out of the garage after work yesterday, I was about to put in my earbuds, when I paused. In the quiet of the night, the reigning beauty of stars above, I felt God's presence so strongly. I didn't listen to my Ipod but prayed on the way back instead. "The Lord is good to all and his mercy is over all that he has made.*" His mercy to us is that he is Emmanuel - God with us - bending down to hear our prayers and delight in being our joy. 


Have you ever heard someone say that many modern worship songs could be turned into love songs just by switching out the name Jesus with Susie or Sally? I discovered a twist on that. The love song Everything But You by Brian McFadden is a song which with some slight changes, almost exactly echoes this verse from Mark.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?*

Here are some of the lyrics (I capitalized the you for demonstration purposes):


Now I've got nothing I've got nothing
If I've got everything but You
We had something that I've been missing
Since I've got everything, everything but You
Everything, everything but You

You know I got so much
Nothing's worth enough
To put a price on us


Fascinating, no? There's a longing that God places in every heart that he alone can fill. 


Here's something my brilliant sister Esther just said, "Everything's dustier when the sun is out." Think about that one.


R<3

Exploit Your Singleness

Yes, I'm single this Valentine's day. Well, romantically single, but I belong to an amazing natural family and an equally astounding spiritual family. Despite some emotional difficulty regarding singleness lately, I can truly say I'm thankful that I'm single right now. Do I want a boyfriend and eventually a husband? Absolutely. But right now, I know I'm right where God wants me to be.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no variation nor shadow due to change. 

James 1:17

In studying James with Beth Moore, I came across this gem. The word "perfect" describes that "which has achieved or reached its goal, objective, purpose." Basically, God's good gift to me is singleness right now. 

What goal might he have in it? He's given me time that I can choose how to use, extra time that I will not have when I'm married and a mom. I want to make really good use of this time (or exploit it, seeing my post  title) I want to learn as much theology and just practical living as I can and fall more in love with Jesus so I can appropriately love and serve the ones God has and will put in my life. I also want to travel. Hello! Yes. (Here's a really good related post about being a useful single.) 

So yeah, singleness. It's a good thing. Marriage is good too, but wherever God has you at the moment is your best. So don't mess around. Don't mope and muddle if you're single. Go do something. Go be someone. Max out its potential. Exploit your singleness.

R<3

Polka-Dots Made-up

So, I wanted to show you this cool thing I got yesterday. My friend Madeline custom-made it for me.

A purple, polka-dotted make-up bag! But wait, it gets better!

Check that out! Not only is it cute on the outside, it's cute on the inside AND it holds things! I digress. Too much excitement for one night. 

Seriously, though, if your heart feels strangely drawn towards this and you want something that looks like this (because you can't have mine, sorry) you should go check out Madeline's shop! There's other nifty things there too. 

Since we're here, my makeup/facial tools rundown, if anyone cares. I have Mary Kay bronze eyeliner and brown mascara, Revlon Colorstay Mineral Foundation (love this stuff!), Rimmel pink sugar blush, a Japanese set of eyeshadow and obviously, eyelash curler, eyebrow comb, shadow brush and blush brush. Niftiness, no?

Third and muchly cool, my amazing friend (and soon-to-be mommy!) Anna tagged me in a questionaire. Thanks, love!

1) When did you become a believer? 

I was saved at six, but came to a greater understanding of my sin at thirteen and because of that grew in gratitude and amazement at God's great mercy. My extended testimony is here.

2) What has been a very influential book in your spiritual walk? How?

I would say the Bible, but I think that's assumed. I would say Spurgeon's Morning and Evening has consistently challenged and encouraged me for a couple years now. I connect so strongly with his use of metaphors!

3) What is your favourite store to shop at?

For clothes, thrift stores. The bigger the better. For random foodstuffs and everyday upkeep, I would say Target.

4) you wear your hair up or down in general?

Lately, I've been wearing it down because I got a fabulous haircut from the magical Jak.

5) What city would you like to live in?

More like what city WOULDN'T I want to live in. That list would be shorter. Let's see. For now, Houston, Seattle, Chicago and New York are all in the running.

6) Who is one of your spiritual mentors?

Beth Moore. She's a woman who studies God's word with all her heart and shares her message of freedom with such enthusiasm. 

7) If someone gave you a large sum of money, what would you do with it?

I would find a bunch of friends and go tour Europe by bike. I'd give the rest away. Really, people don't talk about how much fun giving money away is.

8) Are you a night person or a morning person?

I am more wise and productive in the morning, but I sometimes have the most fun at night. Moshing at a concert or ten o'clock runs to Cub with friends? So into it. 

9) Starbucks or Caribou Coffee? Why? 

I like Starbucks because their coffee is stronger, but their tea is horrible. Caribou has weaker coffee and horrible tea as well. I prefer Dunn Bros. 

10) Do you enjoy long trips or dread them, whether in a car or a plane?

I enjoy long trips if they include people I like, great snacks and enough sleep. I love flying because my soul is adventureous. 

11) What's your favourite genre of music?

Probably rock. I like a huge variety of music. As my friend Vicki aptly said when asked her favorite song, "That's like asking which is my favorite molecule of air to breathe." 

That's all folks. Thanks everyone for your comments on my last post! Everyone who reads this blog is dear to my heart. I really do not deserve any of this and I so appreciate everything you guys add to my posts!

R<3

Listening to Plus One - I Will Rescue You (I even like pop music on occasion!)

If you're ever in a battle
And you just can't fight no more
I will rescue you
I will shelter you from the rain
I will dry your tears
Cast away your fears
And bring you to brighter days
Whenever you're lost and confused
Like a fairy tale come true
I will rescue you

Only Three

1) Read Your Bible More and More

2) I want to travel.

Something inside me is just dying to pack up, 

and drive and drive

watching the scenery pass

pausing to breathe

and absorb the lightness.

I want to see history and heights

quiet havens beside serene ponds

the bustle of unfamiliar people in their own familiar routine

and the ancientness of ruins. 

3) I'm so behind on life! I just told Caitey that I pray that I'm gaining hope and traction. It's a prayer I'm praying right now and if you get a minute, I'd so appreciate it if you'd pray for me. 

R<3

Encourage One Another

George Muller send money to Hudson Taylor when he was struggling as a missionary in China. He also wrote this which made me cry. It was an older brother writing encouragement and giving hope to his younger brother, saying "I've been there! You'll make it. Trust the Lord."

My chief object is to tell you that I love you in the Lord, that I feel deeply interested in the Lord's work in Chine and that I pray daily for you.

I thought it might be a little encouragement to you in your difficulties, trials, hardships and disappointments to hear of one more who feels for you and who remembers you before the Lord. But were it otherwise, you will always have the Lord to be with you.

On him then reckon, to him look, on him depend and be assured that if you walk with him, look to him and expect help from him who will never fail you. An older brother, who has known the Lord for years, who writes this, says for your encouragement that he has not failed him.  In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, he has never failed me: but because I was enabled by his grace to trust in him, he has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of his name.

From this book Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret - I recommend the book.

Sorry the blog has been so dead! I'm alive and well, I assure you. I don't know if I will make promises about future posts, but since I spent over four hours shopping today, I think I'm due for a fashion post. I have one piece of advice for anyone who wants to become a successful shopper - bring snacks. Not even a joke. You should've seen me eating radishes and walnuts in the dressing room.

R<3

Listening to Kate Walsh - Your Song

thankful with Ann -

712 that God withholds no part of himself from us

713 that we are miraculously made and loved

714 that the Star-Breather became my Sin-Bearer

715 how Erin says Chau to end a conversation

716 how Vicki loves the Psalms and how it rubs off on me 

717 how God used my own fight against sin to help me speak and counsel another saint

718 how experiencing defeat and failure makes us more gracious with others

719 that suffering is a marinade to make me soft and tender

720 how God can take me deeper and deeper and I will never reach a flaw in who he is or how he treats me 

721 a lovely leisurely three course sunday afternoon meal

722 the rubbage of Oh ne!

723 Craig's Love Says Thank You One Thousand Times posts - all of them

Dear Lee Pace

Dear Lee Pace,

I'm trying so hard not to be a fan-girl here, but you are seriously under-appreciated. Your movie The Fall is my very favorite and you bring an incredible presence to every movie/show you do. However, directors are failing to notice you. You have so few good movies! I just watched a horror movie because you were in it and you not only had only fifteen minutes of screen time, but in the end you died. Seriously?

Maybe now that you've been a part of the Twilight series as Garrett the vampire and you're going to be Elven King Thranduil in the Hobbit, your star will rise. I sure hope so. Until then, I'll just watch The Fall. Because it is the best movie in the world.

R<3

Listening to Poets Of The Fall - Dawn (The Fall) (This is a brief recap of the movie.)