Psalms 19:1

Every time I see a beautiful sunrise, a breathtaking sunset, an exquisitely painted rainbow or a simple tree blowing in the wind; it reminds me and makes me ever so thankful for everything God created for our viewing pleasure.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. - Psalms 19:1

Cinnamon Roll Drink

Spicy Garlic Dill Refrigerator Pickles

DIY Bubble Station

"Watermelon" Fudge

Super duper easy sweet vanilla fudge with chocolate chips. And, oh yeah! It looks like watermelon.

"Watermelon" Fudge

Ingredients:
1 Can Vibrant Green Frosting
1 Can Hot Pink Vanilla
24 ounces White Chocolate Chips
Miniature Chocolate chips 

Directions:
Start by melting the white chips and the frosting together in the microwave. Layer the green fudge on the bottom, and then the pink fudge on top of that. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top to look like watermelon seeds. Chill until it’s firm enough to cut.

Kill Ants

Just Keep Swimming Popcorn

Make a splash with your kids by serving them fun Finding Dory Treats. This ocean blue candy coated popcorn is speckled with Finding Dory marshmallows and cookies and is easy to make and fun to share.

Just Keep Swimming Popcorn

Ingredients:
8 cups popped popcorn
12 ounces Light Blue Candy Melts
Marshmallows from Finding Dory
1 teaspoon white sugar pearls
Fish Shaped Cookies

Directions:
Pour popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
Pour blue candy melts into a microwave safe bowl.
Heat for 30 second burst of high power, stirring after each, until melted. Pour candy melts over the popcorn. Toss to coat. Pour out onto a parchment paper lined baking sheets and spread into an even layer.
Immediately press Finding Dory marshmallows and Fish Cookies all over the popcorn. Sprinkle on white sugar pearls. Refrigerate for 8-10 minutes until the candy coating n the popcorn hardens. Break popcorn into pieces. Serve in a washed, clean sand bucket.

Philippians 3:13-14

👤Living in the past only accomplishes one thing, keeping us from living in the present. Wisdom tells us to learn from the past, but it in no way would have us take up our residence there.

What is holding you a prisoner of the past? Don't you think it's time to let it go? Can you really afford to let it keep stealing your future? Forget those things that are behind and instead reach for what is still out in front of you. Open your heart and your life to receive the new thing God is waiting to do in and through you.👤

📖Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:13-14📖

Pineapple-tini

Life Preserver Cookies

Having fun in the sun got even better with these adorable cookies.

Life Preserver Cookies

Ingredients:
Pre-Made Sugar Cookie Dough
Food Coloring
Teddy Grahams
Chocolate Cookie Icing
Black Sprinkles

Directions:
Start out by separating the cookie dough into 4 small bowls. Then add different food coloring to each bowl of cookie dough.

Roll out each colored dough and cut out a circle using a cookie cutter. You can also use a glass for this if you do not have a circle cookie cutter.

Cut your circle into slices using a pizza cutter.

Cut out the middle using a small circle cutter or you can use a frosting tip.

Pull up your slices using a knife and place on a cookie sheet.

Rotate the colors on the cookies.

Also rotate the middle cut out pieces and bake them as well. These will be the cookie that you use for the cute Teddy Graham Floats.

Cut out the middle of these mini cookies just like you did the larger version.

After the small cookies are baked you want to cut off the legs from the teddy graham using a knife.

To make the bear’s sunglasses, squeeze a thin line of chocolate cookie icing over the eyes and then place on the black sprinkles.

Summer Bucket List

Grilled Caprese Sandwich

Bagged Salad Tip

Shrimp Summer Rolls

Shrimp Summer Rolls

Ingredients:
12 rounds rice paper
24  jumbo peeled and cooked shrimp
1 large haas avocado, sliced into strips
3 cups shredded carrot
3 cups shredded red cabbage
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
24 basil leaves
24 mint leaves

Directions:
Take a rice paper wrapper and completely submerge it in hot tap water 10 to 15 seconds, until pliable.

Place the wrapper on a plate or cutting board and top with 2 shrimp, a few avocado slices, 1/4 cup carrots, 1/4 cup cabbage, 2 basil leaves and 2 mint leaves.

Fold the bottom half of the wrapper over the filling, hold the fold in place, tuck in the sides and roll tightly.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

📌The greatest tragedy of life is not the  unanswered prayer, but the
unoffered prayers.📌

We need to:
Pray without ceasing. 
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Tangy Rapple Margarita

Jack Snacks

These are delicious and so low-cal/low-carb you could eat the entire batch if you were so inclined.

Jack Snacks

Ingredients:
1 cup shredded Jack cheese
1 medium jalapeno, sliced real thin

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350º.  Place a sheet of parchment paper on a metal cookie sheet. Using a tablespoon, scoop up 1 T. of cheese and make a small pile on the parchment.  Press it slightly flat.  Repeat 15 more times. Place a slice of jalapeno on top of each pile.  Pop into 350º oven for about 10-12 minutes.  I would recommend browning them a wee bit more than shown in the photo for a firmer snack to serve at parties.  These are somewhat pliable if under browned. Allow them to completely cool and fully firm up before removing from the pan for best results.

Frozen Kool-Aid Cubes

Inside Out Apples

A delicious mix of sour and sweet this apple bowl filled with marshmallow and apple filling is a fun sweet treat.

Inside Out Apples

Ingredients
2 Granny Smith Apples
8 oz. Marshmallow Fluff
4 oz. Cream Cheese
Caramel

Directions:
Slice apples in half and hollow each half out with a melon baller.
Mix marshmallow fluff and cream cheese together in a bowl.
Dice up the inside pieces of the apples and mix them into the filling.
Scoop filling back into the apple halves and drizzle with caramel.

DIY Beverage Station

This is so easy to make and could be used for any event from a BBQ to a Holiday Get Together. And the paper goods can be switched by color so easily for any event.

Gotta love functional and versatile Outdoor Decor.

DIY Beverage Station

Materials:
Beverage Tub
Pails
Galvanized Pipes
Galvanized Connectors
Galvanized End Caps
J-B Weld

Instructions:
Gather your supplies.

Use Original J-B Weld to glue this piece to the bottom center of the large bucket. Before we gluing it  clean both surfaces and lightly sanded it just to rough up the surface  Use the connector piece to put in a large piece of pipe where the smaller buckets would hang off of. Let this dry overnight.

From there connect all the pieces. Depending on what height and the length you want each piece to be will help you know which lengths and sizes of pipe you need. This has four pieces of pipe to hang off of it so  everything is connected together using the 4 way connectors. Also add the end caps to each end piece of pipe. Then screw a center pipe into the bottom center of the bucket.

Then fill the bucket with ice and soda.

Fill the smaller buckets with paper goods including napkins, plates, cups, straws and silverware.

Then hang each smaller bucket off of the pipes.

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Cilantro and lime make this simple shrimp dish outstanding – and it takes just minutes to make.

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs peeled and deveined shrimp
1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp ground cumin
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons lime juice
4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
Season the shrimp with cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the oil to the pan, then add half of the shrimp. Cook them undisturbed for about 2 minutes. Turn the shrimp over and cook until opaque throughout, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.

Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and the remaining shrimp to the pan and cook, undisturbed, for about 2 minutes. Turn the shrimp over, add the garlic, and cook until the shrimp is opaque throughout, about 1 minute. Return the first batch of shrimp to the skillet, mix well so that the garlic is evenly incorporated and remove the pan from the heat.

Squeeze the lime juice over all the shrimp. Add the cilantro, toss well, and serve.

Matthew 5:16

What are saints? Saints are people like us who live their lives while reflecting their relationship with God wherever they are and in whatever they do.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

Island Breeze

Tangy Poppy Seed Fruit Salad

For a fruit salad that’s delightful, this one is always a winner.

Tangy Poppy Seed Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 lb fresh strawberries, quartered
2 C fresh blueberries
2 C fresh raspberries or blackberries
2 medium oranges, sectioned
2 medium kiwifruit, halved and sliced

Dressing:
4 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp poppy seeds

Directions:
Place all fruit in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients. Drizzle over fruit; toss gently to combine.

Camping Organizer

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

Chili Dog Casserole

Not healthy but very delicious.

Chili Dog Casserole

Ingredients:
2 cans chili with beans
1 pkg hot dogs
10 (8 inch) flour tortillas
(8 oz) Cheddar cheese, shredded
Large onion, diced (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Spread 1 can of chili and beans in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Roll up franks inside tortillas and place in baking dish, seam side down, on top of chili and beans. Top with remaining can of chili and beans, and sprinkle with cheese.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

Remove from over. Serve with onions if desired.

7 Layer Flag Dip

A delicious dip for all those patriotic themed parties.

7 Layer Flag Dip

Ingredients:
1 Can of Refried Beans
1 Packet of Taco Seasoning
1 8 oz of Sour Cream
1 8 oz of Cream Cheese
2 Cups of Shredded Cheese
1 Bag of Shredded Lettuce
Black Olives
1 Jar of Salsa
1 Large Tomato (chopped)
Blue Chips
1 Slice of Provolone Cheese

Directions:
Start out by mixing the can of refried beans with taco seasoning and spread in a 9×13 glass pan. Top with the jar of salsa. Then top with olives.

Top the olives with a bag of shredded lettuce. Then top with the shredded cheese.

Mix together the sour cream and cream cheese. Then spread on a square on the top left corner. Crush the blue chips and sprinkle them on the sour cream.

Spoon the sour cream mixture in a baggie and snip off the corner. Squeeze on 6 lines, then fill with the chopped tomatoes.

Cut out small circles from a slice of provolone cheese and place then on top of the crushed blue chips.

Psalms 33:12

🇱🇷"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ." ~Patrick Henry🇱🇷

📖Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. ~Psalms 33:12📖

Stars and Stripes Drink

Stars and Stripes Drink

Ingredients:

Blue Layer
1 1/2 oz. Blue Curaçao
Blend with ice

White Layer
1 1/2 oz. Pina Colada Mix
1 oz. Malibu Rum
1 oz. Pineapple Rum
Blend with Ice

Red Layer
1 oz. UV Cherry Vodka
1/2 oz. Grenadine
Blend with Ice

Directions:
Mix the layer separately, blending with ice. Tilt a drink bowl on angle and pour in red mixture, followed by white mixture and finishing with the blue mixture on the top.

DIY Patriotic Sidewalk Chalk

Who doesn’t have happy memories of drawing hopscotch or a chalk treasure hunt on the floor near you home. Making your own Sidewalk Chalk is surprisingly straight forward to do.

DIY Patriotic Sidewalk Chalk

Materials:
1 cup Water
2 cups Plaster of paris*
3 tbsp tempera powder
An old tin can and stick for mixing and storing – one old tin per color.

Instructions:
Add your tempera powder, plaster of paris and slowly mix with the water. You will have a reasonably RUNNY consistency. You think it will never set. But fear not, it will. The runnier your original mixture, the softer your chalk will become and the easier it will be to draw with. If you want to make white chalk, you can leave the plaster of paris plain, but you will get a better effect if you do add white tempera powder.

Plaster of paris will start setting after 20-30  minutes (you will see it getting warm – a great science experiment). So you have to work reasonably quickly.

Carefully pour your mixture into your silicon trays. Don’t worry if it looks a little messy you can tidy them afterwards. Give you tray a gentle shake. You want to get all air bubbles out. Top off if necessary.

Let it set. Ideally leave your shapes in the trays for at least a day before taking out. Though you should be able to remove them once fully cooled again. Leave 2-3 days before actually using them.