Robin

My Mommy took this picture. :)

<~ This is what I wore to my piano contest.
My mom and I made the skirt out of a pair of old blue jean pants. You can find the pattern for the skirt here.




This is what I wore to the Honors Recital. ~>

a complete surprise to me

Wow! This weekend went by really fast I must say! Saturday I had a piano contest...and guess what! I got first place! I was absolutely thrilled, and surprised. I have been playing in this particular contest for 4 years now. God was soo good to me! He calmed my nerves and helped me to realize that I didn't have to worry about what the outcome would be as long as I played for Him. The Honors Recital is just a little recital that all the people that got a placing (1st, 2nd or honorable mention) got to play in. It was really fun to sit and listen to all the different pieces. So now I don't have any piano events until the fall. Sigh.


<~ Me posing for pictures after receiving a bronze medal for accumulating so many points over the years.






<~ This is the medal.












<~ Me playing at the Honors Recital on Sunday.

Walking in Faithfulness

What can help us to cultivate God's faithfulness in our life?
Well, God's Word comes to our rescue with a few practical suggestions.

• Call upon God in prayer. "On the day I called Thou didst answer me: Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul" (Psalm 138:3).
  
• Be faithful in small things. "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much" (Luke 16:10).
• Rely on God's strength. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
• Fight self-indulgence. "I buffet my body and make it my slave" (1 Corinthians 9:27).
• Eliminate laziness and idleness. "[She] does not eat the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27).
• Begin at home. "She looks well to the ways of her household" (Proverbs 31:27).
• Be faithful in all things. "Woman must...be...faithful in all things" (1 Timothy 3:11).
• Become a "hero." I close this chapter with a prayer that the following definition of a "hero" will move you - as it has me- to desire greater faithfulness.

The Hero
The hero does not set out to be one. He is probably
more surprised than others by such recognition. He
was there when the crisis occurred...and he
responded as he always had in any situation. He
was simply doing what had to be done! Faithful
where he was in his duty there...he was ready
when the crisis arose. Being where he was sup-
posed to be...doing what he was supposed to do...
responding as was his custom...to circumstances as
they developed...devoted to duty - he did the
heroic!

(Richard C. Halverson)

-Elizabeth George, A Woman's Walk With God, pp. 165-166

cards

something new

Well, I'm gonna try something new here. I'm gonna try posting about different outfits that I like a lot. :) Since I thoroughly enjoy putting them together I thought perhaps I'd blog about them.
So, here is my first outfit.

Resurrection Sunday

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

1.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
All creation join, to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

2.
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

3.
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

4.
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Words: Charles Wesley, 1739
Music:Lyra Davidica, 1708

a look that says it all

A Snowy Walk

Lemon Schaum Torte

Lemon Schaum Torte

Becoming Jane

I love this movie! My sister and I watched it last night, and we both absolutely loved it! There is a part at the beginning that isn't very good, but the rest of it is wonderful!






Becoming Jane Trailer





Jane Austen









Becoming Jane







I love Anne Hathaway!

53 and loving it!

It got up to 53 degrees on Thursday. It was sooo beautiful! We even got to open our windows for a bit. I loved it!

shoes

...and so it begins...

It's that time of year again. That's right softball began on Monday. I can't believe it is here already! But I love it. I will be super busy until April, so if I don't post for a week or so... no worries! :) My days will consist of doing school in the morning, eating dinner, walking/riding up to the church to practice my piano and then going up to the school (not my school, I'm home schooled) for softball practice. This will an opportunity to be witness to the other girls on my team. If you could be in prayer for me that'd be great! Thanks!

Auntie Leah

~Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting. Psalm 106:1~

Name: Greta Rose
Born: 3-9-08
Time. 11:15 a.m.

Weight: 6 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 18 1/2 in.

<~ I instantly teared up when he held her! :) My brother is a daddy! :)











<~ Isn't she adorable!















<~ I'm an Auntie!















<~ Mommy moment.














<~ The camera light was a little to bright for her.





~ Katie and Ana also posted about this joyous occasion.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 C. firmly packed brown sugar
2 C. unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. real vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 heaping tsp. salt
3 C. flour
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

_____________________________________

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream brown sugar and butter in mixer bowl, using flat beater. Add eggs and vanilla. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 4 and beat about 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Turn mixer to Stir Speed. Gradually add dry ingredients to sugar mixture and mix about 2 minutes. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 30 seconds. Turn to Stir Speed and add chocolate chips, mixing about 15 seconds.

Drop balls of dough onto cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 14 minutes.

Recipe from Katya's dear Mama.

Medieval Techs

This is funny!

Modest Clothing Links

~> Anna, from Domestic Felicity, wrote this really good post about what to do when your skirts get too short. It was more of a post answering a lady's question, but she's got some good ideas.

~>Rebekah, from By His Grace and For His Glory-- Devotional on 1 Timothy 2:9-10 Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Jewish Apple Cake

Jewish Apple Cake

1/3 c. granulated sugar

2 tsp. ground cinnamon
5 to 6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced (6 c.)
3 c. all-purpose flour
2 ½ c. granulated sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 c. cooking oil (I used vegetable oil)
1/3 c. orange juice
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
Powdered Sugar Icing:
1 c. sifted powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. milk or orange juice
__________________________________________
1) Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan; set aside.

2) In a large bowl, stir together the 1/3 cup granulated sugar and the cinnamon. Add the apple slices; toss to coat with the sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

3) In another large bowl, stir together the flour, the 2 ½ cups granulated sugar, the baking powder and salt until well blended. Add the cooking oil, orange juice, the 2 teaspoons vanilla and the eggs; stir until smooth.

4) Pour some of the batter into the prepared pan; layer some of the coated apple slices over the batter in the pan. Repeat, alternating the batter with the coated apple slices, ending with a layer of the coated apple slices.

5) Bake in the 350° oven about 1 ½ hours or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. (The cake may take as long as 2 hours to bake, depending upon the oven and the pan used.) Remove the cake from the oven; set on a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes. Carefully loosen the edges of the cake from the pan; invert the cake onto a serving plate and remove the pan. Let the cake stand for 2 hours.

6) Just before serving, make the Powdered Sugar Icing: In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and ¼ teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the 1 teaspoon milk or orange juice as necessary to make a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the icing over the cake.

Makes 12 Servings