Food. Pictures. Words. Randomness.

Well, bottom line - I haven't posted in forever and I'm not even going to try to catch up ;P But, I warn you that this post will be long and full of - pictures. words. food. love. life. passions. and everything else that comes up in between. 

If you don't already know this, I love taking pictures of food I make. I love food. And I love making it. I've been the only girl in the house this past week, and I kind of have been in the mood to bake and cook. So, for fun here's this past weeks dinners (and desserts!!) in pictures... 

Monday

{Turkey Panini w/ potato chips, carrot sticks and apple slices} 

{Frozen Caramel Macchiato} 

This was pretty good - but it definitely needs some improving.... 

Tuesday 

{Beef Stroganoff with...}

{A lettuce salad (literally a lettuce salad, as I had nothing to add to it but lettuce! ;P) and Zucchini}

{Good ol' Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream}

My sister used to use this recipe all the time, so it was fun to make as we haven't made it in a long time. There's just something old fashioned, homey and simple that I love about making ice cream... 

{Espresso Frozen Yogurt}

I've been wanting to try this recipe out forever. It was pretty good, but not as good as I had hoped. But I'm super excited because I think if I just use this recipe and make it plain, maybe add a few other things, it'll taste pretty close to Yogurtland's Plain Tart (if you haven't had it it's awesome!)! I'm. Excited.

Wednesday 

{Chicken Stew with Biscuits}

Simple, and one dish! 

Thursday 

{Pizza on Falafel bread}

Using falafel bread for the crust on pizza makes for a super quick and easy meal. And it's yummy too!

{Frappuchino} 

The best frappe I've made so far! And that blender right there is awesome!!!!

Friday 

{Beef Enchiladas, beans, rice}

I found my new go to enchilada sauce recipe! It tasted awesome and that made my day. 

Saturday 

{Sour Cream Coffee Cake}

This coffee cake is soo good... 

We had fruit as well :) It looked pretty so I had to take a picture.

{Parmesan Chicken, Mashed potatoes, and dinner rolls}

That was our dinner. Yum. 

Here's some more random pictures that I had on my phone. Oh, by the way - pretty much all these pictures are taken on my phone, that's why some are blurry ;P 

This is the most awesome. amazing. wonderful. exciting. picture ever!!! My sister got engaged!!! Yep, you read that right ENGAGED!!!! Just take a look at those smiles!! :D I'm thrilled. God is so good! 

I have awesome brothers :) And I survived being the only girl at home for a week. Haha! It was awesome though :-) 

I love giving gifts. And making them beautiful. 

Coffee. Caramel. Whip cream. Enough said.

Simple beauty... I love going for long walks on warm summer evenings. 

~ ~ ~

I'm so grateful to God for everything in life. Just take a look around you, aren't you amazed at how awesome God is?! I've been really blessed by this quote lately: "The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you."  That's so true. And too often we try to do things in our own strength. These past few months I have been so overwhelmed by God's love and grace in my life.... I have failed so often, I make so many mistakes. And yet He still loves me. I'm just so overjoyed that He has given me this beautiful and wonderful life to live, oh how I want to serve Him in everything and show others His love and grace in everything I do. Ya' know, I have SO much I could share of things I've been learning....but I'm afraid it'll have to wait for another post :) Jesus is an amazingly loving Savior who laid down His life for you and I. So go out in this world and be a bright light for Jesus! 

Have you searched God's Word today?!

"And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin." 

Hebrews 10:12-18

   Think about this - He says He will remember our sins and lawless deeds NO MORE!!! Oh friends, we should be constantly thanking our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ for coming and dying a painful death to pay for our sins - and they will be remembered no more. To God be the glory, thank you Jesus! 

   The great amazingness of this has really gripped me the past few months as I've been memorizing Hebrews. I know for certain that Christ has forgiven my sins, but when I look at what a wretched sinner I am I realize how unworthy I truly am. In the past it has also caused me to go the opposite direction, and think - He's already saved me, I don't have to read His Word everyday, I'm busy doing other things to serve Him. Or, I read little portions at least every other day... 

   But for the past year or so I've realized, by God's unfailing love and grace, how wrong that truly is. And now by immersing myself in His Word and praying, and spending time with His people who are on fire for Him, I have become so EXCITED about God's Word. The reason I'm writing this post (well other than that I'm so excited I had to share it with you all :) ) is to encourage you to read your Bible often - everyday - and memorize it. Then share what you're learning with others! That's how you're going to grow. And God will use you in amazing ways, the situations He may put you in may not be all that easy. But God has a perfect amazing plan for you!!! And if you search for His wisdom - "and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure," (Proverbs 2:4), you will never look back, you will want to know more and more about Him. 

   Think about this: He's going to write His law on our hearts and on our minds!! And there's no longer any need to offer sacrifices day after day...because the One who created you cared enough about us wretched sinners on this earth to send His one and only Son to die as a ransom to set us free! 

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works," 

Hebrews 10:19-24

   I don't know about you, but as I am seeing God's amazing love for me more and more, it makes me so excited to go and share His Word with those around me. All the material things that we invest our time and effort into are not going to have the same eternal value as the people God has put in our paths at this time in our lives. So spend time with those around - they are what will last for eternity - you may never know what one simple word you say, or maybe even a longer conversation you have with someone, or even just a smile, will do. But in the end, when He comes back to take us home to glory, we will have our reward! But until then we must be His faithful witnesses, and bring Him all the glory due Him. 

   I'm not sure how many people read this little blog of mine... :) But my desire and prayer is that you will will be stirred up to love and good works... 

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

 1 Peter 2:21

~*~*~*~*~*~

Follow in His steps...He will guide you. 

Let us run with endurance!!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2

Look to Jesus, pour your life into knowing Him! Search His Word, pray to Him... Your love for Him will grow to amazing heights!!! He's always faithful... 

Romans 11:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge

of God! How unsearchable are

His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

 

Romans 11:33