Lost & Found

Just last year, I bought a new Bible. I had wanted it forever, but couldn't bring myself to spend the money. Finally, I broke down and got it at Barnes & Noble. It was perfect - cool colors, square, ESV, and it was a journaling Bible with wide margins. In the words of Shane Lee - just awesome.

Back in high school, I started noticing how easy it was for me to space out when I read my Bible. Nasty satan seems to steal my attention away from the Word way too easily. Anyway, I decided to start journaling...just writing my thoughts, reactions to scripture and prayers so that I would connect to what I was reading. Have been journaling ever since. I fell in love with my journaling Bible because it was like a two-for-one deal. No need to carry around a journal anymore!

Well, I had just broken my new, "just awesome" Bible in...like a pair of new shoes need to be broken in... I had lots of thoughts jotted throughout the pages, lots of sticky notes for Harp & Bowl, lots of highlights and the corners of it were just starting to get tattered a bit. AND THEN I LOST IT. Such a sad, sad day. I seriously felt like I had lost one of my most prized possessions. I remember asking God for a miracle, and asking Him why He didn't let me lose my iPod or something else stupid and "replaceable".

I prayed for my lost Bible with some friends (thank you, Erik Wiese), and then I found it in the BACK OF MY CAR two days later. Duh. I had looked in my car a thousand times, but Mark just happened to spot it laying right there out in the open. Coincidence? Maybe. I felt like it was a little miracle. I hugged it.

Thank You, God, for caring about lost treasures. Give me more of a love for Your Word...and the Truth and Joy found inside my Bible's cool cover.

Pam's Peanut Butter Pie

Folks, this recipe will change your life. I'm serious. It is not healthy, but it IS wonderful. If you love peanut butter, you will be licking your plate (or parfait glass) after you've finished...

My mom's Peanut Butter Pie is to die for. She usually makes it in the form of a pie, but recently, for my wedding, we made it in little shot glasses - like a dessert shooter. I had some company over a while back, and for a bigger (but pretty) portion, I layered it in some parfait glasses I bought at Goodwill. So fun and yummy. Here is the coveted recipe...

Pam's Peanut Butter Pie

Use a graham cracker crust (or Oreos!)...

For the filling...

8 ounces of cream cheese, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, 1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream, 1/4 cup of milk, 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 cup of peanut butter.

Beat the cream cheese with the powdered sugar until it is light and fluffy. Beat in milk, peanut butter and vanilla. Set aside. In another chilled bowl, beat the heavy cream until it holds stiff peaks. Stir 1/3 of it into the peanut butter mixture. Fold in remaining cream gently, but well. Turn into the pie shell. Chill for hours before serving.

Enjoy, enjoy!

Memories!

Here's a fun memory! In October of 2009, one of my friends was wanting to check out teaching opportunities in Colorado Springs. She asked me if I wanted to come along. Obviously, I said yes. Colorado is a big deal.

Back in that day, Mark and I were just friends...the kind of friends that don't really talk much, but check in every couple of months or so. However, in October of 2009, Mark was at the Focus on the Family Leadership Institute in Colorado Springs, so I texted him and told him we were going to be in the area. I had been accepted to the Institute a few years earlier, but never ended up attending, so I was curious about how things were going for him. We had a quick supper with him.

When my friend and I got into the car to leave, she said, "Whoa. You need to date that boy." I said, "Yeah, right. He is SO so so out of my league." (And I really, really thought he was.) Who knew. God is good to me!

PS - Yes, I had blonde hair then, too. My, how things have changed.

Blueberry Goodness

I am on a cooking journey. I would like to be a great cook, but it just isn't happening overnight. For every good dish I make, I make about five not-so-hot ones. Sigh. Practice makes perfect, I guess! Here is one of the GOOD ones. My mom gave me the recipe a few weeks ago, and we just tried it out. I think this is one of those recipes that you can't mess up. Score!

In a 8x8 or round cake pan...
1 package blueberries (enough to generously fill the bottom of the pan), 3 T. sugar (this is what the recipe says, but I didn't use even 1 full tablespoon. I figure blueberries are sweet enough on their own.), 1/3 C. orange juice. Swirl and mix around in the pan.

Top with...

1 stick of melted butter, 1/2 c. sugar (I didn't use nearly this much either, depends on how sweet you want it!), 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 1 egg, 2/3 c. flour, 1/4 tsp. baking powder, pinch of salt. Drop by teaspoonfulls on to the top! Sprinkle with cinnamon if you want.

Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes.

I can't decide if this is a breakfast or dessert sort of thing... Thoughts?