31 days to clean....

i'm excited to share about a new e-book

it's called 31 days to clean

having a martha house the mary way

i'm jumping on the challenge starting may 1st along with many other bloggers to read this book daily and follow along with it's challenges. 

after each days reading, you will be given two challenges

the mary challenge -something you do that encourages/engages your hear

the martha challenge – specific cleaning tasks

i encourage everyone to check out this book, i've linked it above

and today only via it's facebook page if you tweet or blog to spread the word you can receive a free download.

xoxox

resurrection cookies...

a sweet friend of mine just sent out a message with an awesome recipe in it.

i'm so excited to do this with my almost 5 year old!

Resurrection Story Cookies - A Real Recipe for easter

What a wonderful recipe to share with the children. These cookies are made the evening before celebrating the Resurrection,
and are cooked in a warm oven overnight so they will be ready on Easter morning.

You need to preheat the oven to 300 degrees (this is important--don't wait until you are half done with the recipe!)



3 egg whites

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. Vinegar

A pinch salt

1 cup sugar

A zipper baggie

A wooden spoon

tape
Bible



Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. 
Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.


Read John 19:1-3.



Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.


Read John 19:28-30.


Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.


Read John 10:10-11.



Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.


Read Luke 23:27.



So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.


Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.



Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.


Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.



Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.


Read Matt. 27:57-60.


Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.


Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.


Read Matt. 27:65-66.


GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.


Read John 16:20 and 22.


On Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.


Read Matt. 28:1-9




xoxoxox

thank you

last night i shared a yearly tradition with tristan

we sat down together, tissue on hand, and watched the passion of the Christ

it was tristan's first time watching it, and even though it must have been my 7th i still cried my eyes out

oh, what He went through for us!

i think we both went to bed with hearts full of thanks and sorrow

this morning i woke up and knew i wanted to get out of the house for a hike and i knew just the place. i had never been there before but i had seen friends pictures and knew it was the perfect place.

at the start of the hike, i could see the spot we wanted to get to

but it seemed so far away, and let me just say i hate hills! 

we hiked 1.27miles up hill to get to this...

when we got to the top, it hit me... this little hike was nothing compared to what Jesus went through, it was nothing compared to the hill he hiked up beaten and carrying the cross He would die on.

it was so beautiful

before heading down the hill i spent some time in prayer, but the only words i could form in my head were

THANK YOU

even as i sit here now my appreciation is so great i can't form words to express my gratitude, my words seem so tiny compared. 

how great is our GOD! 

read it

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


i loved reading what the little boy experienced. it was more like a conversation with his parents about his experience. i dont think the book was meant to be a outstanding read, but just simply get it out there for others see a glimpse of heaven too. and honestly i'm glad i read it, because it made my picture of heaven better then before.



View all my reviews

already april?

months are fastly falling off the calendar and the new season that's emerging is giving us so many opportunities to be outside enjoying the beauty God has created.
in-between all of lives uncertainties we've been taking moments to just take it all in and escape from our storm.

(black diamond mines)

i've been finding so much peace being out in His beauty

and it seems every chance we get we're loading up our pack and heading out.

i'm really loving that cadence is enjoying it all with us. on our last hike she never wanted to turn back.

my little explorer 

saying prayer over our day and lunch

dancing in the wild flowers

a blogger friend of mine shared something today that i really enjoyed...

1. Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs 18)

2. Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)

3. Give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26)

4. Pray without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9)

5. Answer without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)

6. Share without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15)

7. Enjoy without complaint. (Philippians 2:14)

8. Trust without wavering. (Corinthians 13:7)

9. Forgive without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)

10. Promise without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:12)

xoxox