The One; She's the One; Abundant Life

Shopping...for the dress...

                (Anja, Jessica, me, and Melissa)
So we are deep into the wedding planning. We love the abundance of photos and inspiration that's available online. When I was planning Melissa's wedding exactly nine years ago the internet was nothing close to where it is today. Nine years ago most of our inspiration came from books and magazines. Today all I have to do is turn on my computer. We're still working on details, but the BIG decision has been made: The Dress. It's on order and I have to say, it's drop-dead-gorgeous! Not kidding. When Jessica walked out of the dressing room with The Dress on, it took my breath away. And her's too. After trying on almost 30 dresses, This Dress was The One. Big Smile. I can hardly wait until September when she wears The Dress to wed Craig. My prayer is for God to go before Craig and Jessica and make His footsteps their pathway. (Psalm 85:13). The Lord gives what is good to His children, and He has given Craig and Jessica to each other. I feel so blessed to recognize this gift.

And the other great blessing in my life right now is watching our third grand baby grow....in Melissa's tummy! Little four-year-old John Mark told me, "My mommy's growing a baby in her tummy!" It was so sweet. Last week Melissa invited me to join her and Kris to the ultrasound session when they were going to check on the baby's growth and find out the answer to the big question: boy or girl. I was so honored to be there and see "the three lines". (Do you know about the three lines that show up in an ultrasound? I now know!) The technician checked all the vitals, measuring and taking a ton of "pictures". Everything was as it should be, what a blast to see this process, I think it was about an hour and a half--very detailed! Then she said, "do you want to know?" Yes! "three lines".... It looks like Ellie is the one who will be sharing her darling bedroom with a new little sister in September when the new baby is born. (Due the week before Jessica's wedding!)

Melissa is such a good mommy. Her 28th birthday is Tuesday. Happy Birthday, Melissa! I love you! She's the matron of honor for Jessica. She works so hard and is such great support for Jessica. She put on a fabulous engagement dinner for Craig and Jessica!  Here she is helping pick out The Dress:

Mark and I are thrilled to see our family grow by two this year. We are honored that Craig has chosen our family to join, and that God blessed Melissa and Kris with a baby. One of my readers recently asked if I even craft any more, with so much going on! (I do a little, but for gifts mostly.) But my focus is on the people in my life. God put me on earth to have a relationship with Him and to those He's put in my life and that's what I'm busy doing!

Here's John Mark and Ellie:

I'm enjoying the abundant life He's given me here on earth, but I always keep that when God says "abundant life", He's really saying "eternal life with Him". 

Blessings, Heidi

Easter Week

I love spring and there's plenty going on this spring at Sweet Woodruff Acres!  We're pulling pictures and ideas like crazy for Jessica and Craig's wedding.  I'd love to hear any and all wedding ideas you have, from the dress to the ceremony to the reception and more!  Give me links, give me stories, give me ideas!  Thank you!  Jessica is waiting until Melissa finds out a closer due date for her baby, due the end of August or around the first of September.  This will be Kris and Melissa's third child, and we're so excited!  So it looks like we'll have a new baby grandchild and a new son-in-law within maybe a month!  Our family is growing! 

(by our front door)

We've got a lot of projects going on here outside as well.  We had to tear down a failing retaining wall in the garden, and all my raspberry plants have to be moved. 

(Here's a picture of our raspberries from a previous season.) Have you ever shoveled wet dirt?  It's heavy.  But, maybe it's good muscle building for my arms!

I won!  I won!  Yes, I won two blog drawings!  I tell you...there are such generous bloggers out there!  Thank you!  First off, I won Tracy's (My Cup Runneth Over) blog-anniversery drawing. She sent me a purse(pocket)-sized leather bound Bible!  I just love it as I can take it everywhere and anywhere I go.  She also sent the book, "100 Days of Grace for Women".  I love to spend time in the Word and love reading devotionals and study books that point me in the right direction:  to Jesus! Thank you, Tracy!

                             (Photo by Heather Bullard's, on her blog:  You must visit there!)
Then over on Heather Bullard's blog, I won her drawing for jewelry by Cap Creations.  I received the items I selected yesterday.  I picked a cross necklace, a pair of pretty pearl drop earrings and a charm with a musical note. 

(yes, sitting on my musical egg! they should be in my ear lobes!)

I have to tell you...this jewerly is wonderful, very high quality silver, absolutely gorgeous!  Thank you, Cathy of Cap Creations for sending it and thank you Heather for drawing my name! 

And for you to have a chance at a drawing today, check out Faded Praire Junky Birthday Giveaway.

Easter Week:   This is Easter Week, also called Passion Week.  Friday night we'll be remembering how Jesus died on Calvary for our sins.  Huge.  HUGE.  He died for me.  Precious Redeemer.  So this week I've been going through the Bible following Jesus's last week before His death and resurrection.  I've learned so much, and can't believe I've never done this before.  As a guide there is a "Helps" reference at the back of my Bible that shows the last week and the Bible passages from the four gospels and other Bible books that tell the story.  As another reference I'm using the book, "The Last Week" (The Last Week: A Day-by-Day Account of Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem ).  Every morning I wake up and tell God, "I'm so excited to spend time in the Word and with You, what is my manna for today?"   And every morning He blesses me richly with His everlasting and unfailing love.  Blessed Redeemer....do you know Him?

May God bless you this Easter Week.   Hugs, Heidi

Some news!

 Jessica said "yes" under the Seattle Space Needle last weekend!  Isn't that romantic?  And the ring is georgeous! Craig and Jessica are making plans now, but this I know:  The wedding will be this year and we're having fun planning!

THE BRIDE

Melissa asked me to make John Mark's birthday cake.  The theme of his pizza party was "Hot Wheels", he loves all things with wheels.  So last week while I was playing cars with him in his bedroom I lined up a row of cars.  I asked him, which FOUR cars do you want on your birthday cake?  He said, "these, on my cheeseburger birthday cake".   How does a four year old get the idea that a cake needs a cheeseburger?  Well, this grandma can make things happen.  (I texted Jessica to bring home a fresh McD's cheeseburger on her way home from work that day...)   

At the pizza parlor John Mark was so excited he never ate anything, just ran around.  But next think you know, he grabbed his cheeseburger and ate it!  This grandma knows her grandkids!

And for the race... Yes, I ran my first race last Saturday.  It was a 5K (little over 3 miles).  I've been running about 4 miles daily so I knew I could do it.  But there were some hills to contend with, other than that--it was a blast!  I came in first in my age division (51-60, I'm 52!), so that was cool! I won't mention my time, but it was not bad for a grandma!

(And, yes, I do need to buy a new size of running capris, these don't fit anymore!)

Yesterday after work a Jessica and some of us girls met up with her to check out a potential wedding location.  Mark was so sweet to watch the kids....his activity was to teach them how to fly!  All kids need to know how to fly!  I just love seeing the smiles on their faces!

Here's some pretty daffodils on my counter to cheer up your day!  I painted the chalkboard paint on a few bottles, 1-2-3, easy as can be!  I love painting with the chalkboard paint!

I painted a little round table for the kids to use...

We've only a few days until  we celebrate "Resurrection Sunday"- Easter, my favorite day, because He Arose-He Lives, which gave me everlasting LIFE when I accepted Him as my Savior!

Last night while the kids were here I asked John Mark to decorate my Easter tree.  John Mark very serious about the job I gave him....

Have a blessed weekend! 

Go out in joy!

          ~Hugs, Heidi

Delighted

Lookie here...my own sweet Raggedy Annie verse doll!  Lea made with so much love in every stitch!  You can look at her other creations in her Etsy store here.  The verse is Psalm 37:4 and it says,

"Delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your Heart." 

To "delight" in the Lord is to take pleasure in the Lord.  When I do this the Lord changes my desires to conform with His will.  He changes my desires to match His will and His delights.  It's an awesome experience to find myself delighting in all things eternal, as opposed to earthly things, which have no eternal value.  But it's okay to enjoy the beauty and splendor the Lord does give me.  Such as this cute little Annie doll...she's there to remind me of keeping focused on my Jesus.  She also reminds me of friends and family---God's gifts to me!

More fun...  I won Tracy's  (my cup runneth over) drawing, here.  I'm excited to read what she'll be sending to me. You still have time to enter her final drawing, she's got a big surprise for the final giveaway.  I tell you, bloggers love to giveaway and to celebrate blog-anniversaries!  Loads of fun!

Also, regarding the blog where I go the idea to glue paper clips on the back of plates: I always try to include links to places I mention or refer.  I finally found the blog I had mentioned!  It was Diane of "In My Own Style".  The post about hanging plates, etc, is here.   Be sure to read her post of how to have some fashion fun on your refrigerator door!  So cute!

Having fun in March...rain, birthdays, flowers, fellowship, family, food and fun!
Blessings, Heidi

Plates and platters on the wall; the blessings of brokenness...

Here's another corner in our home...(you can click on the pictures to enlarge).






We've been working on our home for, oh, about 18+ years now...perpetual home improvements! Our latest "big" project was putting in a new front door/entry into our home. We hadn't had a front door for a dozen years, or so. This first picture is the entry way into the kitchen. What I wanted to point out is the platter collection I hung on the wall. We glued saw-tooth picture hangers to the back of the platter with Gorilla Glue. Yes, it works! I have a large collection of platters, but because we use them all the time I had to pick out ones I wasn't going to use. My sister Genece has an eye for garage sale bargains platters, she gave the two on the left to me. The bench is one we made from an old bed frame. The pillows and bench pad I made from an old chenille bedspread. The sweet little oak wall drawer thingy is something Mark made for me about 20 years ago, using old oak wood from a discarded pallet.

This is under the entry way stars, our new pantry.

You can almost see the shelving under the stairs on the right. I hang my aprons in here, but I do keep one right in my kitchen! The plates hanging on the wall here were an experiment for me. I had read in some one's blog (sorry, can't remember who that was, but she had written a decorating book!) how she had glue used a hot glue gun to glue paper clips (bent up a little) on the back of her plates to hang. Well...I did that. A little while later: crash! A plate fell to the floor. Oh, the floor in here has not been laid yet, so it's cement now... Yes, the little saucer broke to pieces. I figured I just hadn't glued it well. Crash. Crash. Two more fell and broke! I quickly took them all off the wall and this time I used the STINKY glue! It's called E6000. I'll forever be thankful to Elizabeth who told us about this glue years ago. Just be sure to use it outside as it stinks until it's dry. I haven't lost a plate since then.

So if you want to try this, you can use either Gorilla Glue or E6000. And you can use saw-tooth picture hangers or paper clips, depending on the size and weight of your platter, plate or saucer. I thought of these two walls in our home after reading Tina's blog today, Cherry Hill Cottage. Then also reading a new blogger's blog and seeing her Great Wall of China, (welcome, Danielle!).

But, really, this broken plate episode reminded me of a "Streams from the Desert" devotion I had read last year. It was called, "Broken Things". In part it says, "God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken. The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts......It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house. It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns and nails and spear, that His inner life was poured out, like a crystal ocean, for thirsty sinner to drink and live."

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
Blessings, Heidi

I never met a cookie I didn't like!

I've been dreaming cookies, as you can see! This sign is in my Etsy store, here.

Here's a fun picture of our grand kids this week.

They just have too much fun! Their surprise for me this week was when they threw everything off our 2nd floor deck, including the compost bucket over the rail to the lawn below. (Our kitchen is on our second floor.) When I looked over the deck and saw the mess, as wonderful as is was funny, I just had to "get serious"! Needless to say, they both cleaned up every single thing, egg-shells included! But we had fun doing it, we all three got side-tracked real quick. I pulled weeds, John Mark played with the shovel, and little Ellie ran across the pasture to the neighbors to see the sheep and new lamb!

Thanks, Mimi for trying out my new cookie girl link on your blog. She says it loads up my Everyday Cookie girl image, but doesn't set the link to come to my blog. Is there anyone out there who can take a look at the link I have here and let me know where I've gone wrong, and maybe how to correct? Thank you SO MUCH!

Have a great weekend! Blessings, Heidi

Keep calm...here, have a cookie!

Just some sweet words for you today...

(cupcakes...cookies...verses...all things sweet for you!)

Sometimes things feel so frazzled. Not dazzeled, not even razzeled, but frazzled. But God is quick to tell us to stay calm, don't be anxious, and keep our eyes focused on Him. Here are three great vereses:

->"He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." (Proverbs 17:27

->"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God." (Philippians 4:6)

->"...for we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what do do, but our eyes are upon You." (2 Chronicles 20:12)

It's seems it's our mouths that tends to get us the trouble the quickest. Why don't we stop and think before we speak? That first verse in Proverbs tells us to "spare our words"! One of the great things in the verse from Philippians is to NOT be frazzled, instead pray! And the final verse reminds us to keep our eyes on our Jesus. When our eyes are focused on Jesus that means they can't be focused on other things.

So, stay calm, tell God your problems and keep your eyes on Jesus.

For fun, I painted this sign, "Stay calm...here, have a cookie!" (It's in my Etsy store.)

Oh, and I added my Everyday Cookies girl link here on the side. You can grab the link and add it to your blog. It was a little tricky to do, so if anyone does use it, could you let me know if it actually works? Thanks!

Blessings,

Heidi

Last weekend our church had a bake sale to raise money for the youth-children's ministry. Yum, yum, yum! I made cinnamon rolls.

I packaged them in sets of four on a cardboard with scrapbook paper-wrapped with Seran wrap, and tied with a sweet heart ribbon.

Years ago I did share my cinnamon roll recipe here, so I'll share it again now:

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Heidi’s Goof-Proof Cinnamon Rolls
--in microwave,Heat about 2 minutes or when it reaches 120 degrees (no hotter):
1 ¼ cup milk
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup butter
1 tsp. salt
--meanwhile, in mix in mixing bowl:
1 ½ cups flour
2 ½ tsp. yeast (or one package)
--NOW add the milk mixture to the flour/yeast mixture. Mix until well blended.
--NOW add 2 eggs, the mix for another 2 or 3 minutes. DO NOT FORGET THE EGGS
---OKAY---Now mix in another 3 ¼ cups of flour, mixing until it’s soft. If you are using a Kitchen Aid mixer, NOW put on the dough-hook and let the machine knead for 3 to 5 minutes. You can add up to another ½ cup flour if needed. IF YOU ARE KNEADING by hand, throw the dough on a floured countertop and USE THOSE MUSCLES, knead by hand for 5 to 7 minutes.
--Now make a nice ball and put it in a bowl, which you have pre-loaded with a little oil, then turn the ball over, so that both the top and bottom of the dough has some oil on it. (This prevents the dough from cracking and splitting as it rises.)
--Cover with a light towel, and let this rise (by the wood stove if you have one) for 1 to 2 hours, or until the dough rises up nicely, it’ll look like it has about doubled in size.
--PUNCH DOWN and divide this dough ball in half. Cover with a towel and let these rest for 10 minutes.
--MIX IN A BOWL: ¾ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon and in a separate bowl, soften 6 Tblspn. Butter.
--To each of the balls… ROLL out to a circle, spread half the butter, and half the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Roll the edge of the circle up, making a tube shape. Cut the rolls into pieces, you can use dental floss or blanket thread, which makes it easy! (Criss-cross the thread and pull, this cuts it.) Place the rolls in a well greased pan with sides, and let this RISE for at least ½ hour. (again, covered with a towel by the wood stove)
--BAKE at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, until tops are golden. Let cool, then frost if desired.
---The icing I’ve always used is: 1 cup powered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and 3-4 tsp. milk. HOWEVER, if you add ½ packaged of cream cheese, and fool around with the measurements, you’ll get a delicious cream cheese frosting. This has been the icing of preference lately at Sweet Woodruff Acres. Blessings!

Please note: The ways you can goof this recipe up is if you kill the yeast by adding too hot of milk mixture, or too cold.

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When you think of cinnamon rolls do you think of Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls? The closest Cinnabon store is over two hours away, so we have to make our own! I bought a jar of Cinnabon's special Legendary Makara Cinnamon last year. The sales lady said if I bring the jar back empty they would refill it for about half the price. But I'm still on my first jar. Also, you could try the copy-cat Cinnabon recipe, here. I think the deal on that is they add a package of vanilla pudding. I want to try that recipe someday just for fun. When I was at the Cinnabon store last year I quizzed the baker about their techniques. The one thing I did find out is that Cinnabon uses margarine in both their dough and the brown-sugar filling. She said the reason is that butter burns too easily. But if you use margarine buy a good quality, just thought I'd pass that tip along! The cream cheese icing really closes the deal, though, don't skimp on that if you want the true Cinnabon wanna-be rolls!

For the bake sale I also made a couple batches of Rice Krispies treats, topped with white chocolate. You just melt a cup of white chocolate chips in the microwave about a minute, the stir that up real smooth and spread or drizzle across the top of the uncut bars. I've also done it with chocolate chips, but I like white chocolate better.

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Our missionaries to the Philippines shared at church last night. They went through Psalms 66. By the end of their teaching/sharing I had tears, it was so touching to me that they shared such a personal testimony. How God captured them in His net to put them through fire to refine and grow them to be dependent on Him alone. When everything is striped away that's when we learn that He alone is enough, He alone is sufficient. I wanted to shout out, "amen, we've been there!" I'm going to go ahead any post that complete chapter of Psalm 66, just for some of you who may need to hear and read this today:

Psalm 66 (New King James Version)

1 To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.

3 Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.

4 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah

5 Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

6 He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.

7 He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

9 Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.

10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.

11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.

12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,

14 Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

Blessings, Heidi

A corner of my kitchen and a yarn cards

Here's a corner in my kitchen...















What I want to point out is the lovely banner on the birdhouse. (You can click on the photos to enlarge.) This was made by Joyce 2 years ago for a swap. I've had it in my kitchen hanging across this vintage-rustic-green birdhouse since I received it. My little pink birdie watches over this corner, too. Notice this is where I study and read my Bible and have my daily devotions. Since we've changed churches (a year ago), Mark and I began to to study the Bible deeper and have been so blessed. I hope to share some things as time permits. For anyone who wants to get started reading the Bible, may I suggest just... OPEN it? Just read it? Just start? If you open you Bible right in the center you'll be in Psalm. A wonderful book to start. If you're struggling with having daily devotions, please let me know. I want to encourage you! You will be blessed.




Martha Stewart's TV show is moving to the Hallmark channel. Maybe they'll show it in the evening now. I don't watch it much, but did catch about 5 minutes a couple weeks ago when the blogger who writes MarthaMoments was on and he and Martha did a segment. They made cards using yard and glue, so simple. Here's a heart card I made for Valentine's Day.
















And a birdie card, because I just love birds!

"...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:25-26

Blessings, Heidi

Great Minds--think alike!

Great minds think alike, that's how! This morning I received an email from one of my five sisters, way across the country, telling all about a recipe she had tried called "Molten Chocolate Cakes". And pictures, yum! But the whole time I was reading the email, I was wondering HOW DID SHE KNOW that just last week I was on the hunt for a good Hot Molten Lava Chocolate Cake recipe? I had bought one (impulse buy, and you actually get two little ones in the package) at Domino's Pizza on the Friday night prior. When I ate it, I thought "I could make this!" So I hunted down a recipe and made it for our American Idol snack (always must have a good snack for AI). Here's one I made, which just doesn't show the warm chocolate in the center, you just have to trust me:

Then today, Roberta sends an email telling about how she and family were watching "Worst Cooks in America" (which I haven't seen-yet) and they were making these. She looked online and found this recipe, and made them right then and there! She said they were great! So try that recipe (I won't include mine, I don't think it would be as good as the one on All-Recipes). Let me know if you try it, okay?

And, for another special treat on a recent evening I made "Sweetie Pies" just like the ones on the Farm Chick's blog here. These were so easy and fun to make! I just used a strawberry glaze for my centers (oops, it oozed out the sides a little). And in my smaller hearts I put a little piece of semi-sweet chocolate. Oh, those were so good, too! Here's mine, and be sure to check out Serena's on her blog!

Blessings, Heidi