Psalms 119:105

God usually doesn’t show us where He is taking us. He just asks us to trust Him. It’s like driving a car at night. Our headlights never shine all the way to our destination; they illuminate only about 160 feet ahead. But that doesn’t deter us from moving forward. We trust our headlights. All we really need is enough light to keep moving forward.

God’s Word is like headlights in dark times. It is full of promises we need to keep us from driving our lives into the ditch of bitterness and despair. His Word promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. His Word assures us that He knows the plans He has for us, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give us “a future and a hope”. And He tells us that our trials are there to make us better, not bitter.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
-Psalms 119:105

Mango Orange Creamsicle

Paw Print Cupcakes

These cupcakes are great for all the kids and animal lovers in your life. Easy to make, adorable to look at and delicious to eat.

Paw Print Cupcakes

Ingredients:
Vanilla or Buttercream Frosting
Coconut Flakes
Peppermint Patties
Chocolate Covered Raisins
Chocolate Cupcakes

Directions:
Bake the cupcakes according to the package directions. Or of course, you can whip them up from scratch if you have enough time.

Using a knife, cover the top of the cupcake with a generous amount of frosting. It needs to be thick enough to hold the chocolate and coconut in place, so make sure the entire top is evenly covered and don’t be stingy.

Press the Peppermint Patty into the icing towards the edge. Press it so it goes all the way through the icing until it hits the cupcake. The icing will hold it in place.

Find three similarly sized chocolate covered raisins and press them into the icing above the peppermint patty.

Fill a small bowl with coconut flakes and make a well in the center. Then holding the cupcake by the bottom, gently press the frosted part of the cupcake into the coconut, rolling it around to cover all the edges. As long as you used enough frosting, the chocolate pieces should stay in place.

If you miss any spots, use a spoon to press some coconut flakes into the frosting. Some of the spots between the toes didn’t quite make it into the coconut, but other than that, it was pretty well covered.

Family Branches

Carrot Sriracha Dip

Try this delicious dip....made with carrots! It is delicious and will disappear quickly. 

Carrot Sriracha Dip

Ingredients:
1lb carrots, peeled, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
1/2cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:
In 2-quart saucepan, cover chopped carrots with cold water. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer about 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. Drain; place in food processor. Add garlic, vinegar, Sriracha sauce, cilantro and salt. Process while slowly drizzling in olive oil, until smooth. Serve with chips or vegetables.

DIY Water Marble Vase

Maple Rosemary Popcorn

Enjoy the taste of maple syrup and rosemary in baked popcorn – perfect for snack. 

Maple Rosemary Popcorn 

Ingredients:
12 cups unsalted popped popcorn
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Heat oven to 300°F. Spray 17x12-inch half-sheet pan with cooking spray. Place popcorn in large bowl. In 1-quart saucepan, heat syrup, butter, rosemary, orange peel and salt to boiling over high heat, stirring frequently. Cook 2 minutes without stirring. Pour syrup mixture over popcorn, stirring to coat completely. Spread popcorn in single layer in pan. Bake 15 minutes. Stir; bake 3 minutes longer. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store in airtight container.

Isaiah 50:4

Jesus left us an example of how to minister to people who have grown weary. Do you know someone who needs a timely word of encouragement or the listening ear of a concerned friend? A word of comfort to the weary can go a long way.

Compassion is needed to heal the hurts of others.

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.  -Isaiah 50:4

Jelly Bean Martini

Butterfinger Ecstasy Cake

Very simple and one helluva of a yummy cake.

Butterfinger Ecstasy Cake

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix (eggs, oil water)
1 crushed king size Butterfinger bar
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1-12.25 jar caramel syrup
16 oz heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
Prepare your cake mix as directed on box. Once your cake is cooked, poke several holes in the top of the end of a spoon. Let your cake cool for 30 minutes. Mix together your sweetened condensed milk and your caramel sauce and pour over your cake and into your holes. Now using a hand mixer, beat your heavy whipping cream in a mixing bowl for several minutes until it starts to thicken
Once your heaving whipping cream thickens, add in your powdered sugar and beat for another several minutes. Spread your whipped cream over your cake with a spatula. Top off with your crushed Butterfinger.

*You can use any combination of candy and cake you'd like. 

 The options are endless.

DIY Sugar Scrub

Cantelope and Apricot Granita

Say hello to Spring weather with this delicious fruity granita.

Cantelope and Apricot Granita

Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
10 - 12 mint leaves
3 cups chopped cantelopes + 6 wedges
1/4 cup apricot preserves

Directions:
In saucepan, 1 bring sugar, mint and 1/4 cup water to a boil. Strain; discard mint. In blender, puree syrup with chopped cantaloupe, preserves and a pinch of salt; transfer to 9-by-13-inch glass dish. Freeze until firm, 2 to 3 hours. Scrape with fork; divide among glasses. Garnish with cantaloupe wedges.

Rainbow Salt Art Jar

This project makes for a good centerpiece with Spring – so many pretty pastels.

Rainbow Salt Jar

Supplies:

Butcher Paper

Colored Chalk

Salt

Small Jars

Instructions:

Pour salt on a piece of paper, enough to make a layer about 1/4 “ thick in your chosen container. Let your kids play with it – or design with it.

Take your chosen chalk color and rub the chalk back and forth across the salt until you get the desired color saturation.

Carefully, pour layer of colored salt into container. Use the opposite side or a new piece of the paper for a new color (these pages can be used for chalk drawings after the project is over). Pour layers at angles and around the jar to get interesting strata. You can rotate the jar while pouring to achieve this. Repeat process with new colors until jar is completely full. Take care not to shake the rainbow salt jar as this will mix the layers up – brown salt, no fun. Add lid and Voila!

Chicken with Cilantro Lime Sauce

One skillet and 40 minutes is all it takes to transform chicken into a flavor-packed meal.

Chicken with Cilantro Lime Sauce

Ingredients:
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

optional: lime wedges and more cilantro for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°. If the chicken breasts are uneven in thickness, pound them down so they're all even.  Sprinkle each with salt and pepper.
In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes, turning once. You want the chicken nice and browned on the outside. (It doesn't have to be cooked all the way through yet.) Set chicken on a plate and cover tightly with foil. Remove skillet from heat and add the broth, lime juice, onion, cilantro, and red pepper. Return to heat. Cook and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil gently, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to around 1/4 cup.  Reduce heat to medium-low, then add the cream and butter. Stir until butter has melted. Add chicken to the sauce and place the skillet in the preheated oven. Bake uncovered until the chicken is completely cooked through, about 5-10 minutes. Serve chicken with sauce spooned on top and any of the optional garnishes.

Easter Sunday

Jesus’ resurrection is the Bible’s greatest miracle and history’s greatest fact. It is the cornerstone of our faith.

Our faith is predicated on the belief that Jesus Christ not only died on the cross but that He rose from the dead. If it were not a reality, there would be no Christian faith.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. - Matthew 28:6-7

Peeps Peach Pool

Easy Honey-Baked Ham

This traditional bone-in ham is brushed with a simple and delicious glaze, sure to delight your guests at your next Easter dinner.

Easy Honey-Baked Ham

 Ingredients:

6 to 8 lb fully cooked bone-in ham 

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Directions:

Heat oven to 325°F. Place ham on rack in shallow roasting pan. Roast 12 to 16 minutes per pound or until instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of ham reads 120°F.

Remove ham from oven. Pour drippings from pan. Cut fat surface of ham lightly in uniform diamond shapes.

In small bowl, mix honey, brown sugar and Dijon mustard; brush on ham. Roast uncovered about 20 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 135°F. Cover ham with tent of foil; let stand about 10 minutes or until thermometer reads 140°F.

Place ham on carving board or platter face down. Using a sharp carving knife, cut in half next to bone.

Place boneless side of ham fat side up; cut slices. Cut remaining slices from bone-in portion, cutting away from bone.

Rice Shake Easter Eggs

Easter Bunny Buns

Yarn Wrapped Handprint Carrot

Lolipop Bunnies

These would be super cute to put into Easter baskets, or you could even set them out on the Easter table. They’re quick and easy, and completely adorable!

Lolly Pop Bunnies

 

Supplies (per pop):

1 Tootsie Pop

1 Styrofoam Craft Ball (1")

1 White Pipe Cleaner

2 Medium Googly Eyes

2 Tiny White Pom Poms

1 Tiny Pink Pom Pom

3 Small White Pom Poms

Sparkly Craft Foam 

Ribbon

Hot Glue Gun

Instructions:

Use a knitting needle or meat thermometer to poke a hole through the styrofoam ball.

Slide the styrofoam ball over the lolly pop stick, twisting as you go to make sure the wrapper is covered. If the wrapper gets in the way, use a sharp pencil to make the hole slightly larger at one end.

Bend a 2" loop at the end of the pipe cleaner and wrap the end a few times to keep the loop in place. Bend the other end of the pipe cleaner into another 2" loop and wrap the end around to make bunny ears. Bend the bunny ears upwards and use hot glue to attach the ears to the top of the styrofoam ball.

Attach the two googly eyes and tiny pom poms in place to make the face. Attach two small pom poms for the paws and one small pom pom for the tail.

Attach the craft foam feet to the bottom of the lolly pop.

Cut a piece of ribbon and tie a bow around the bunny ears or around the neck.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday reminds us that the reign of Christ is far greater than any the mind of man could ever conceive or plan. God had the ultimate plan of sending His Son to fight the final battle over death. This is the greatness of why we celebrate this week. Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, we can be set free of death.

Let's choose to focus on worshiping our Lord, thanking Him for the gift of His sacrifice, celebrating the power of the Resurrection, and the new life found in Him alone.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

-John 11:25-26

Marshmellow Peep Martini

Bunny Bait

Bunny Bait

Ingredients:

20 cups Popped Popcorn 

1 bag of White, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Purple Candy Melts 

1 bag of Easter M&M’s

Easter Sprinkles

Directions:

Pop your popcorn  and place it in a bowl. Melt candy according to the package directions. Pour melted chocolate on the popcorn and stir to coat.  Add half of the sprinkles on the popcorn and stir. Add  M&M’s.  Press popcorn mixture in a pan and let it set for about 10 minutes. Place colored candy melts in different bowls and melt them according to the package directions. Spoon the different colors on top using a spoon.

Let it set for about 10-15 minutes. Then you can transfer it in large pieces into a large bowl.

Easter Bunny Paper Plate Basket

A few simple household items will be transformed into a fun and useful Easter basket to store your Easter eggs.

Easter Bunny Paper Plate Basket

Supplies:

3 paper plates

Pink construction paper

Green ribbon or yarn

1 pink pom pom

6 white pom poms

2 googly eyes or scraps of black Construction paper

Hole punch

Black marker or crayon

Glue gun and/or craft glue (stapler would even work)

Scissors

Instructions;

For the back of the basket:

Cut a scalloped piece from the top of the plate. This will be your basket opening. Glue or staple this cut paper plate to another whole paper plate to form the basket and head of the rabbit.

To create the ears:

Cut a paper plate in half. Then cut each half down even more to the shape of bunny ears.

Cut two tapered strips of pink construction paper and glue onto each ear. Glue the bottom of each ear to the bunny’s head.

For the bunny face:

Cut two small eyes from pin construction paper and glue into place.  Add googly eyes or round pieces of black construction paper, to complete the eyes. Glue a pink pom pom to the centre of the plate for the nose, and add 3 white pom poms to each side. Use a black marker or crayon to draw on 2 bunny teeth. Use a hole punch to punch a hole on either side of the basket. Tie on a piece of ribbon or yarn for the handle.The basket can be filled with Easter grass and small candies or toys.

Bunny Butt Cookies

Carrot Craft

Easter Basket Sugar Cookies

1 Corinthians 10:31

There are a lot of misconceptions floating around about God. It’s our job to let others see what He is really like. And, when they like what they see, let’s be sure to let them know who taught us to live like that.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 

- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Aged Rum Daiquiri