Siesta Scripture Memory...nailed it.

Another one of those inevitable nailed it success stories...A new year's plan that started out skyrocketing, then plummeted to the ground a few weeks in...

Audrey and I still have our very first memory verse up on the bathroom mirror and I think it's safe to say that we now have it memorized...haha! Although we didn't quite stick to this incredible journey throughout the year...I have still seen the blessing that comes along with committing Scripture to memory by memorizing the entire book of 1 Peter.

One aspect of the Forge is memorizing 1 Peter, along with studying the book in depth and choosing a passage to teach a lesson on. I am currently in the middle of the third chapter, and wow has it truly been incredible. I have always kind of liked memorizing...the challenge of saying something, reading something, listening to something enough times that it almost becomes part of who you are. If I am going to memorize anything, why wouldn't it be Scripture -- memorizing God's Word until it becomes a part of who you are, in your bones, so to speak.

We had a goal setting assignment where we chose a goal that we had and made a visible way to see the progress you were making on completing that goal. I chose my goal of memorizing 1 Peter, and my love for teaching and all things fun, and created a gumball machine to help me keep track!

So although we didn't technically 'nail' our Siesta Scripture Memory challenge, we took a different route for the same goal. Audrey is also starting to memorize 1 Peter...she already has the first verse down :) 

So 2016...we are ready for you -- 1 Peter here we come! 

Christmastime at Pine Cove

Camp in the summer is always fun and in full swing...but camp in the winter...who knew that Pine Cove is going all year, and this year I've gotten to be involved and see so many different aspects of the different seasons. 

I had the privilege of working a conference just a few weeks before Christmas, and it was such a fun few days spent with families and their kiddos. We made gingerbread houses, used more paint, glue, and glitter than I thought was possible in arts and crafts, dressed up for Christmas skits, and as always had some great worship and speaker sessions.

This was our small little team of champions during the Gingerbread House Competition...the stakes were high, and as much as I wish I could say our house is the one on the right...I'm proud to claim that candy yard and fallen down house in the middle. :) A fun night! 

Got to be in a Pine Cove skit...which if you know a lot about Pine Cove you know skits are the epitome of camp fun...I was Ellie the Elf with my friend Eddie the Elf and we were working hard to get things ready in Santa's Workshop...but the two "Lumberjerks" came along and wanted to chop down all the trees and destroy the workshop...throughout the weekend we finally brought them back to the true meaning of Christmas and had them turn their chopping skills into making their very own Gingerbread House...a fun few days with these friends!

Arts and crafts...making Christmas ornaments and painting pine cones...if you don't make a mess, did you even really do arts and crafts?! Haha...I did, however, realize that glitter is extremely hard to clean up...but as an elementary teacher, I say more glitter, more fun, right?! :) ....most of the time...

In the midst of loving on campers, making gingerbread houses, being in skits, and painting ornaments, there are always meals to serve and dishes to clean. This is our incredibly fun and hard-working Work Crew that we got to hang out with all weekend. They made the meals run so smoothly and were so eager to serve and help! Love these girls and the friendships made!

These are my fun friends who make working on the weekends a joy and a lot of fun. We serve at the Shores, the high school camp, and the Bluffs, a family camp, helping out with retreats and conferences. These guys keep me laughing, always take pictures when I fall asleep, and know how to play a great game of Mafia at a Christmas party...haha! Love serving for the sake of the Gospel with these guys. 

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

A visit to Colorado and the meeting of one of my new biggest role models. Jen has a love and a joy for Jesus that is contagious. She opened up her home and shared her life and family with us for two days, while piling my new cooking life skill inventory with so many amazing recipes.

By far one of my favorites was her Pumpkin Crumb Cake. Waking up in the morning with this amazingly dreamy pumpkin smell coming from the kitchen made me instantly fall in love with this amazing cake. The steps are easy to follow and the first chance I had, I put all my learning to the test and decided to try this recipe. I was extremely surprised and somewhat impressed when I took it out of the oven and it filled the house with that same familiar smell...and even more so when I cut into it and impressed everyone who tried the first bite.

This cooking life skill has nothing on me...Pumpkin Crumb Cake -- check, and forever in my recipe box. :)

This is sweet Jen...she not only has amazing recipes, but a heart for Jesus that inspires and encourages those around her. 

"Jesus gets sweeter the longer you walk with Him." - Jen

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Cake Batter

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon basking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups sugar 

3 large eggs

1 cup canned pureed pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup milk 

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Topping 

2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons rolled oats 

1/2 cup all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease 9x13 baking pan (or smaller loaf pans for bread)
• To make the topping, combine 2/3 cup oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in processor. Add butter and cut in until crumbly. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oats. Set to one side. 
• Sift the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. 
• In a separate bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat the sugar and 1 egg at a time. 
• Add the pumpkin and vanilla extract to the wet batter mix. 
• Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the batter. Slowly add the milk and stir in the walnuts (optional). Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread with the topping. 
• Bake the loaf cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40-50 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes (if you can make it that long after you smell the delicious pumpkin aroma).
• Turn the cake out onto a rack and cool completely. (I served it directly in the glass dish, but if you are making smaller loaves or want to serve it sliced or give it as a gift, this would be a great step.)
• ENJOY! :) 

Autumn Tea Parites

There are not many things better than an autumn tea party and brunch with 14 of your best girlfriends. 

I love the simple decorations and details that made this afternoon such a treat and one of my favorites...happened to fall on my half birthday, which was the best way to celebrate November 12th and 22 1/2 years of life. #takealittletimefortea

Community

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 

- Psalm 133:1

Life with 14 girls...so much fun, laughter, tears, honesty, truth, and hot tea. I am learning what it looks like to live with in Christian community and to spur each other on, coming to one another as bringers of salvation.

An Anvil

An anvil...

It has never been an image that I have thought much about until being in the Forge. For almost three months now, I have been learning what it looks like to have a Blacksmith mold and refine you until you are the piece that He intended you to be. Through the joys and trials, I am seeing how faithful the Lord has been in me taking eight months to slow down, learn more about who He is and in that process learn more about who He has created me to be and how I can walk in that to glorify and serve him the rest of my life.

Texas State Fair

After getting off work from a weekend retreat, we decided to roadtrip to Dallas on the last day of the fair...

We kidnapped our friend Tyler to come along with us...and of course stopped by Steel City Pops on the way...

 After hours of traffic and finding a place to park...we made it with a few hours to spare...

Big Tex...a Texas State Fair icon!

And of course we had to get the classic corn dog...

First time to the Texas State Fair in the books. 

Thanks for the adventures, Dallas.