Andes Mint Cupcakes

I made these for our Missions Conference tonight! I can't wait to try them! I got the recipe off of Pinterest. I LOVE cupcakes!!!

Teaching Jacob about the true meaning of Easter

As a Christian Mother, I feel the need to teach my child about God. We attend Church service three times a week and special services. Jacob has a New Testament that he carries to Church ( in his backpack right now), and offering. We dress up for Church to honor the worshipping of God. I printed out a picture of the Bible, our Church, our Pastor, and a proper "likeness" of Jesus so that these things would become a part of his every day life. I let him see me read my Bible and pray. We pray over every meal, and oftentimes, during his evening bottle I pray out loud for him. I want him to KNOW that God is real and cares about everything in his life. I want spirituality to be a part of HIS everyday life-not just something you do on Sundays and Wednesdays. If he doesn't get the real meaning of this life/the next, then he's missed everything! If he doesn't learn about God; he won't trust Him as his Saviour; then he is lost! I take this very serious!

I saw this idea on Facebook and thought this would be a great idea for an Easter centerpiece! We don't want to do the Easter Bunny at our house. When he is older, we might make it a game...but while he's young, we have decided not to do it. We don't want to be distracted from the real meaning of the holiday. Easter is THE day of our faith! If the tomb wasn't empty, what hope do we have? If He didn't rise again, how can we believe that He will raise us and take us to Heaven to be with him forever? I want this to be a very special holiday in our home. I have the resurrection eggs that I did with Jake last year...when he was only 6 months old. I want it to be an annual thing. I can't wait until he is older and he can show and tell me the reason for the symbols in the eggs! I saw this centerpiece idea and immediately started thinking about years ahead when we can make this a family activity and plant the grass seed together and bury the flower pot, ect. I'm so excited! I look for any "hands on" activity to teach Biblical truths! I like this one!

(Use large water holder, small flower pot, twigs-for crosses, leather strips, medium rock, grass seed and small stones. Needs approximately 10 days for grass to start to sprout-so plan ahead. Spritz with water daily.) 

39!

Yesterday, I tuned 39 years old. I didn't think it sounded too scary until I typed it, then said it. UGH! I'm 39 years OLD!!! Next year is the big one! It's just a number, right? It has nothing to do with how I feel. I spent the day only doing what I wanted to do. My Mom took me and Jake to lunch at Applebee's. Then I came home and scrapbooked. My friend came over and brought me an awesome Holly Hobby birthday cake! My husband brought me roses. I even did frozen pizza for dinner, because I didn't want to cook. All in all it was a delightful day! Then, today, the day after I turned 39, my little boy turned 1 1/2. He's running around the house, jabbering about everything, being independent, curious about every noise and everything I do. I pray for the energy to raise this little guy for God. I know we got started a little late...I know that we aren't finished (we're hoping to start another adoption next year so that Jake will have a sibling). God knows all this as well. He does everything IN HIS TIME! If it's one thing I know, it's that God has never let me do anything out of His timing! So I will trust in Him, try to raise Jacob His way, and leave the rest to God. 39 doesn't sound that bad, after all! I'm going to make this year count for God!!! =)