It's the little things that are precious...

It's the little things that are precious.  

I watched my daughter play a video game the other night and realized it won't be long and I won't be able to enjoy the "little things" that go on when your kids are home.  I know that I am going to miss my son and daughter playing their games, their guitars and drums, the camaraderie and banter they have with each other when they move out.
 

I know it is what is suppose to happen and I am excited for both of them.  They are on the verge of forging their own path and adventure.  They will live and learn.   But, that doesn't make it any easier for momma to deal with it.  In my daily prayers I ask God to give me the grace to deal with it and each day it is getting easier for me to come to terms with.

Yesterday was Audre's prom.  You remember in an earlier post, I wrote my church family is special to me.  One example of the love that is shared in my church family is my daughter's Sunday School teacher, Lichea.  She offered a few weeks ago, when Audre was telling her about the prom, to do Audre's hair and makeup.   Sure we could have done it, but it was nice of Lichea to do it for my daughter and she did a wonderful job.  I watched her as she worked and she truly enjoys doing things for others.  She has a loving heart  and loves the Lord and shows it in the way she lives.   I'm glad she is there for my daughter.  Lichea also has a special place in my heart because she led my daughter to the Lord.

Here's my girl all dressed up for prom.

I took pictures during the makeup and hair time with Lichea, but I promised Audre I would not post those on-line.

Those pictures, however, will go into a cute little scrapbook for her.  :)


While Audre was having her makeup and hair done, I was baking a chocolate cake.   Friday night I started wanting something sweet to eat, so Saturday morning I found a chocolate cake recipe and decided to make it.  This recipe does not call for buttermilk like a lot of recipes do.  It is from my cookbook, Taste of Home - The Best of Country Cooking, second edition.  The recipe was submitted by Betty Follas.

Classic Chocolate Cake

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1-2/3 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/3 cups milk
• confectioners sugar or your favorite frosting (I used chocolate frosting)

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk beating until smooth after each addition.  Pour batter into a greased and floured 13"x 9" x 2" baking pan.  Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done.  Cool on a wire rack.  When cake is cool dust with confectioners sugar or frost with your favorite frosting.  Yield: 12-15 servings.

Well, the sky is getting dark and thunder is beginning to roll, so I guess I better sign off.

Here's wishing you a wonderful week!

Hugs,
Sonia

The Day After...

We celebrate Easter, the holiday of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and with today being the day after, I wondered how the disciples, Mary and others, who saw Jesus after He rose again, felt the day after.

When they woke the next morning, with the sun shining in through their windows, were they still in awe and wonder over seeing Jesus alive the day before?  After all, they had witnessed His death and burial.

Can you imagine what they must have felt for days, even for the forty days Jesus was with them before He ascended into heaven?

Oh how I would like to know what they felt, how they reacted and what their expressions were when they saw Him again.  I can only imagine the wonder and amazement that surrounded them.

Easter weekend was a blessing to me.  My church, First Baptist Branch, performed an Easter program three nights.  I have to say, my church family has a special place in my heart.  They are a great bunch of people.

Anyway, working together on a story about Jesus and His resurrection was probably the best way I could spend an Easter weekend.  It was totally focused on my Savior and not all the other things this world tends to throw in the way of the holiday.

Sonia

Assurance...

Yesterday, I spent my lunch outside.  The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing and a local church was playing "Blessed Assurance" on the bells.  The song rang out over the town filling the air with it's melody.

I found a video with the song, if you have not heard it before.

After experiencing the muscles in my back tensing up to the point of cramps, earlier in the week, this song was a melodic reminder that no matter what I go through I have blessed assurance in Jesus Christ.

At times the enemy will use every day things, like my job to get to me, especially when I am striving to grow in my relationship with God.

It was through the power of prayer that I was able to relax and get through the back pain.  As the week got closer to this weekend, the back pain eased up and today I woke up with some back pain but it left me during the day.

Here's a little quilt I made.  It's a "back seat" quilt to keep in the car/truck for your little one.  It will be there for them to cuddle up in or to take with them and have where ever they are.  

This quilt was made from one of the "UFOs" I had on my list to get done this year.  It was made of nine patch blocks that were given to me at some point in time.  I don't remember where they came from but they were hand stitched.  So I sewed them together then layered the top with a low loft batting and backing and tied it, so that it is a light weight quilt and can be used year around.   

You may be wondering why I'm working on another quilt, when I am still not done with the log cabin quilt I've been working on.  We are doing a fund raiser at work and this little quilt went into a gift basket that will be raffled off.  I'm still working on the log cabin quilt and will get it finished soon.  

Earlier today my husband, daughter and I went flea marketing.  We haven't done that together in some time. I came across this old gas stove.  It was smaller than a lot I have seen and I wondered if it could have been made for an apartment space.  If it still worked and the parts were in good shape, I thought if it were cleaned up and refinished it would be a cute addition for a small kitchen.   Needless to say, I didn't bring it home.

Then my husband pointed out this sign.  I liked it and thought it was blog worthy.

I did find some goodies that I brought home and I didn't have to spend a lot of money.  I bought a crystal ring keeper and a book that is an inspirational book tying together quilts and life.

I hope your weekend is going good and that you are relaxed and stress free.  I hope you have blessed assurance.

Until next time, 

Hugs, 

Sonia

Thursday Favorite

I took this picture late yesterday around 6:30 p.m.  It was a blessing to see for just a few moments.

It is my favorite for this week.  :)

Hugs,
Sonia