Category Archives: Faith

My Gratitude Journal

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We just recently moved to Atlanta & decided to rent an apartment for a year before trying to buy a house. It is the best decision for us right now, but living in an apartment after several years of home ownership is hard.

 The water pressure is terrible. There’s carpet everywhere (not great for toddlers or pets!). The kitchen countertops are this ugly material that is hard to clean. We have this weird humidity issue happening. And don’t get my dad started on the stairs!

I could go on, but I won’t.

Instead, I am choosing to focus on the things that I am loving about this apartment. Instead of just surviving here for the next year or so until we buy a house, I am choosing to thrive here. Instead of grinning and bearing and wishing this year to go by quickly, I am going to make the best of it.

I have realized that this year of apartment living matters. There is a window above the kitchen sink & I can see the leaves changing colors for Fall. The views in general are actually quite nice here. My husband is actually enjoying his commute from here. Cupcake is going to turn 2 here. Depending on how long we’re here, we might even have another baby here! I won’t wish this away.

God has put me right here, right now, for His glory.

I’m going to try something new. When something is majorly bothering me, instead of complaining, I will aim to come up with 10 things that I like about it. 10 things that I am grateful for. I will try to realize just how privileged & undeserving I am of all of the things that I have. I will strive to thank the Lord for blessing me.

What’s something that is bothering you in your life? What are you most complaining about right now? Will you join me in making a gratitude journal about it?

My Gratitude Journal

Atlanta Apartment List, in no particular order

  1. 3 bedrooms
  2. Gas stove!
  3. Large laundry room
  4. Garage that I will actually use to park my car
  5. Large walk in closet
  6. Deck with a sliding door
  7. Our bedroom fits our new king size bed
  8. Good storage space
  9. Dog friendly
  10. The view of the leaves changing from our kitchen window

Gratitude Journal Mrs. Dessert Monster

 

 

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Happy Easter!

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Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

I pray that you & your families have a beautiful Resurrection Sunday & reflect on the miracle of salvation.

The tomb is empty! It is time to celebrate, & every good celebration needs cake!

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Ash Valentine’s

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Focusing on things eternal, together.

“Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.“

 

This service was much needed in light of the recent news that hits home.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,
  More than life to me;
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
  Whom in heaven but Thee?

Savior, Savior,
  Hear my humble cry…

Hello 2018, The Year Of Openness!

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Happy New Year to all!

And Happy Blogaversary to me! 3 years! It has been a great 3 years indeed.

If you’re a fan of The Middle on ABC, you’ll remember that Sue Heck always themes her years. As does Crystal from Money Saving Mom! I’ve never tried it before, but looking back on 2017 one word definitely comes to mind:

Change.

A LOT changed in 2017 for me. Here’s a list:

It might not seem like a whole lot written out, but it sure feels like a lot.

I’m not complaining! 2017 was a great year. But my ‘year of change’ was not intentional.

Neither was my coming up with a theme for 2018. I didn’t set out to do it – it just happened! Divine intervention, as I say.

My theme for 2018 is openness.

OPENNESS

I want to make a conscious effort to be more open. I want to raise my arms in worship without hesitating. I want to talk to strangers & make new friends without holding back. And most of all, I want to be open to childlike joy. I want to be open to making messes. I want to be open to new ways of doing things.

I want to be open to being led by the Spirit of God.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14

God has done great things for my family in 2017. He can do even more in my life, and yours, in 2018 as long as we cling to Him.

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Operation Christmas Child

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It’s National Collection Week!

OCC National Collection Week

This is my 8th year participating in Operation Christmas Child.

I love this practical & hands-on opportunity to give back. When you pack a show box, you don’t just give a child material goods. You give them the gospel.

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You give them Hope. Capital H Hope. God’s Hope.

This year, my husband & I took our 5 year old niece, L, & Cupcake with us to the dollar store to buy the items for our boxes (one for a boy, one for a girl). We showed L this video before we left so she would know what to pick out.

She did a great job! She understood the concept & picked out great things for the kids. She was really fair & made sure that both kids got the same number of items. When we got home, she drew a picture for each kid. We had a lot of fun packing the items in the boxes, & Cupcake had fun watching us.

Then we gathered & prayed over the boxes. That’s the most important part.

We prayed for a better world for the children that are receiving these boxes, but we also prayed for better hearts for us senders. That we may be generous with what God has given us everyday.

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 L had fun marking the label. I always make sure to include the donation for shipping. It comes with the added bonus of being able to track the boxes.

In 2016 our boxes went to Angola. I look forward to finding out where they’ll end up this year & looking up that country with my niece.

Cupcakes For Cupcake’s Baptism!

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Yesterday was Cupcake’s baptism!

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She was such an angel about it! She was asleep up until we got up on the church altar. Then she opened her eyes & perked up, almost as if she knew that the ceremony was all for her.

Afterward we had a little party at our house to celebrate.

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So of course I made a cake!

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A pull-apart cupcake cake to be precise. Cupcakes for my Cupcake’s baptism ❤

This cake was so easy to assemble! I used 1 box cake mix, about 3 tubs of frosting, & some chocolate candies.

I think it came out looking beautiful.

I’m very much looking forward to raising little Cupcake to be a God-fearing woman.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Pull-Apart Cupcake Cross

assembly instructions
  • 28 cupcakes
  • ~50 oz frosting (about 3 tubs)
  • candies for decorating
  1. Assemble the cupcakes into the desired cross shape.
  2. Frost each cupcake with a large rosette ( I used Wilton 2D tip)
  3. Fill in the gaps with more rosettes.
  4. Decorate with colorful candies.

National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child!

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It’s National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child! This year it’s from Nov 14 – Nov 21. Check out our shoe box packing from last year below!

Mrs. Dessert Monster

Today kicks off National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child!

National Collection Week is November 16-23

6 years ago the church I was a member of while in college introduced me to Operation Christmas Child.

What is the mission of Operation Christmas Child?

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

This ministry collects shoeboxes – or really, shoebox sized containers – filled with gifts & essential items for needy kids around the world. Once the boxes are packed, shipped, & distributed, teams from Samaritan’s Purse get with local churches to distribute the boxes to the kids. During that time, the Gospel is presented to the kids in their own language in a fun way. Aside from providing presents & necessities such as toiletries, these kids get to…

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Easter Cake

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Tomorrow is Easter Sunday!

Easter came early this year, which happens from time to time since its date is the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring.

Maybe that’s why this year Lent has seemed a little less Jesus-y for me than in years prior. We just celebrated Christmas & here is Easter already.

Nonetheless, just like Christmas, Jesus is the reason for the season.

My coworker is throwing her annual Easter picnic & egg hunt. Last year I made a bunny cake & brought my niece with me to the egg hunt. It was a lot of fun.

This year I am so over all the bunnies.

Easter isn’t about bunnies & egg hunts. It isn’t even about family & good food. It’s about Jesus.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

With that being said, Easter is a celebration! Up from the grave he arose! So it should be bright & fun 🙂

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I hope I captured that spirit in this cake.

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Funfetti cake with crushed M&Ms in the center, cream cheese frosting & malted eggs for decor.

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Easter should be fun, especially for children. But it’s that cross in the center that is the most important piece of this whole weekend.

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Happy Easter! He is risen, indeed!