The Golden Year

*Sigh* It has finally happened. The day that seemed so far away 20 years ago, snuck up on me. Last week, on March 28th, I celebrated my GOLDEN birthday!! Whew! Only 2 more years until I hit the BIG 3-0. Not gonna lie, not looking forward to that birthday...:o/ However, my remarkable husband made my golden birthday very worthwhile! He took off work the Thursday before my birthday, while both boys' were at Mother's Day Out, and we had an entire date day...just the two of us <3 The day started out with us looking at/trekking through land for a future farmstead :o) Then, we hit Bass Pro Shop to kill time before we ate lunch at the wonderful and absolutely yummy to my tummy, The Wedge Pizzeria. After our delightful lunch, we topped off our tummies at Sara Sara Cupcakes!!!!!!! That definitely did NOT disappoint! These were ALL eaten within an 8 hour time frame ;o) I thoroughly enjoyed my peach cobbler cupcake in store! I highly recommend Sara Sara to everyone!! Even their bacon, egg & cheese cupcake was delicious :o)

Spiritual Reign

What a perfect and rainy day for this blog! His spiritual reign is pouring down on us, as he wants to fill our cup! Yesterday, was my first day back to my weekly Wednesday bible study after a 5 week lapse, due to blizzards and sickness. Oh my goodness!! My spiritual glass is back to FULL and it feels GREAT!!!!


We're doing a bible study by Angela Thomas called "Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering." Oooohhhh...it's fantastic!! Yesterday, we talked about "when you feel empty, God is calling you to be hungry and thirsty for His rightousness." So true!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for rightousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Yesterday, I also picked up my copy of "The Christian Atheist" by Craig Groeschel and read a chapter in it. The chapter I read was a perfect parallel to our bible study :o) "He promised her that if she had this living water, she'd never thirst again." This was in reference to a Samaritan woman that Jesus met at a water well. She had been through five husbands and was living with the sixth man. But Jesus treated this lady the the utmost respect, regardless of what she had been through. Jesus filled her cup to the brim with His spiritual reign. She was a changed woman because she had FAITH and accepted Him into her life. Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people "Come , see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be Christ?" They came out of town and made their way toward him. John 4: 28-30

So, regardless of what we've been through this week, month, year, or our life, it's never too late to open your Bible and let His spiritual reign fill your cup with His GLORY, HOLINESS, and RIGHTOUSNESS. The best part?!! Jesus doesn't judge you by your past; He wants to live eternity with you :o) How awesome is that?!!

...snow days...

...snow days...

Disclaimer: lots of pictures!!

Yes...we have had a lot lately!! SEVEN snow days in the past TWO WEEKS! In my opinion, it was WONDERFUL! I love seeing everything covered in snow; I especially love how the snow sparkles in the sunlight :o) But most of all, I LOVE to watch ALL of my boys' play in the snow!

And...there were those days it was absolutely too freeeeeeeezing to play outside!! So, we made our fun inside!! ALL the toys were out!!

Then, we ate some delicious snow ice cream that Chef Corban helped prepare :o)

Abbee obviously thought the ice cream was yummy!! She devoured the rest! Lucky dog :o)

I had to temporarily postpone my calorie counting...for the week!! I blame Chef Corban ...he made scrumptious sugar cookies :o)

I decided to step out on the front porch to snap a couple pics of Corban, and needless to say, Cruz wanted me inside :o)

Love these boys'!!!

444

So, we have recently started a new trend in my sweet little family of 4 ;o) Mommy now has date nights with each of the boys when they reach a specific "triple" age. Ie...4 years, 4 months and 4 days old. That was just the case on Friday, January 21st 2011. Corban was exactly 4 years, 4 months and 4 days old :o) We have many more "mommy/son" dates throughout the year...but the "triple" date is always set in stone every year!! For this date, Corban wanted to eat at McDonald's(blah!!), watch a movie, then eat ice cream :o) So that's exactly what we did!!

What I get when I ask for a smile...;o)



Our yummy dinner at McDonald's...



Then, we watched Mega Mind at the downtown dollar theater...



Then we hit up the "ice cream store" aka Braum's, to end our evening :o)



I just love my boys to pieces!!!

Luke 8:45

As I sit here trying to catch up on my everyday Monday chores, I'm constantly reminded of His amazing healing powers & His ultimate grace & presence in our lives. Last night, both our sweet little boys had an awful tummy bug...both ends:-( While Caleb laid on Cruz's bedroom floor all night with Cruz, I was in our bathroom all night with Corban. During this time, the great Lord laid a verse on my heart...it was Luke 8:45. I said "Luke 8:45" over & over to myself all night so I would not forget it by morning. I couldn't wait to get my Bible out this morning to read the words that He spoke to me last night.

45"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." 46 But Jesus said, " Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Amazing:-) Last night, I felt a similar parallel to this verse. I felt like the lady reaching out to Jesus so he would heal my babies. He then laid His comforting words on my heart letting me know that whatever the circumstance, if I reach out to Him, He will heal! There is nothing too big or too small for the Lord Jesus to take care of. This also reminds me of one of my very favorite Bible verses, Phillippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything." Coincidence? I don't think so!! Also, this morning, my husband told me that his mom(the boy's nana) went to the ER last night because she was terribly weak & couldn't walk. When they got there, her heart rate was 45 bpm, whereas normally, it should range anywhere from 60-100. Her potassium levels were way too high...for a dialysis patient, this could present heart problems. As of now, she has been moved out of ICU to a normal room. Even though I didn't know any of this was going on last night when taking care of and praying for our boys, it's comforting to know of that special verse he laid on my heart:-) He will heal! All we have to do is reach out to Him and just ask:-)

Infamous Pumpkin-Pecan Pie!!

Here it is!! I'm giving my secrets away! When there's a pie THIS good, it's hard to keep the recipe quiet :O) Yes...you can have the BEST of BOTH worlds...and obviously Hannah Montana knows that, too! ;o)

Pumpkin-Pecan Pie:

3 eggs, slighty beaten
1 150z can pumpkin puree
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a medium bowl, whisk together above ingredients.

1 cup pecans
1 unbaked 9 inch pastry shell

Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

I like to make my pie crusts from scratch, just because I LOVE pie crust and I think it's much better homemade :o)

Roll out your dough


Put your dough in a pie plate and trim off excess from sides


Make it pretty and crimp the edges :O)


Pour in the pie mixture and decorate with pecans! I leave the decorating up to Caleb...he has too much fun!!




**Optional pecan topping**
I stumbled across this topping by accident, and I must say, it's my favorite!! I now use this pecan topping for my pie :o)

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix above ingredients together and crumble over the pie mixture. I've noticed with this topping, there tends to be a longer baking time...about 10 minutes more.

I hope you all enjoy this pie as much as my family!!

Zippy...Our Elf on the Shelf :o)

Meet zippy!! Our Elf on the Shelf!


This new member of our family has become a new Christmas tradition for us :o) I have my cousin, Cheri, to thank for this!! She familiarized me with this cute, little Elf story. The book's authors, Carol Aebersold & Chanda Bell, summarized their book with this...

"This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Like most children, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or nice. Their answer came in the form of a small pixie elf. The first time the elf arrived at our home, my children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays, usually after Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning, when the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position. To preserve the elf's magic, the children were not allowed to touch it; however, talking to the elf was encouraged. My children shared many secrets with their elf; and while he was under strict orders not to talk to them, the elf was under no such orders where grown-ups were concerned. Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the 'elf was watching,' for errant behavior to be modified."

The last part is true!! I've already used the "elf is watching" numerous times!! ;o) This really is the cutest book! Corban loves looking for "Zippy" every morning and reminding him redundantly what toys he wants for Christmas! ;o)

Hallmark carries the kits of "The Elf on the Shelf," which includes the book and the elf!! Happy reading and tradition making!

Much love,

The Winsett Family