Recipes for Beauty

Today as I was reading in my favorite magazine The Girlhood Home Companion I came across this writing by Carla Lynn Klimuk:

Recipes for Beauty

~For attractive, fuller lips: speak more words in kindness; keep sweetness flowing from my tongue in praise and worship for the Father, and part my lips often in prayer.
~For beautiful eyes: keep my eyes to the heavens, my focus on God's will for my life and the blessings He has given to me; stay away from gazing over my neighbor's fence and always look for the goodness in other people.
~For stronger ears: listen for the still, small voice of the Lord each day, listen to my family's hearts; and listen to the Word of God.
~For better posture: walk with the knowledge and confidence that my steps are ordered by the Lord; He who has started a good work in me will finish it, and trust that He will catch me if I fall.
~For weight loss: unburden myself from the heaviness of stress, anger, hatred, bitterness, discontentment, strife, and the weight of thinking that I control my future.
~For stronger arms: wrap them daily around my loved ones; and lift them often in worship and adoration towards my Creator.
~For stronger legs: I think constant knee bending in prayer will achieve maximum results.
~For stronger hands: keep steady at the tasks laid before me; and keep them folded in constant prayer.
~For stronger feet: walk this earth lightly; walk God's will for my life firmly, and wherever I go leave a mark worthy of God.
~For a stronger heart: forgive others, forgive myself; anger less; be a river not a reservoir; focus on my blessings; flow instead of fight; give without thought to reward, and love without bounds.
~For dressing and adornment: put on the robe of Christ; fashioned and tailored in the perfect fit for me, allowing room for growth and maturity. I like how it never grows old, never goes out of style, is appropriate for business, casual, church, evening, grocery store and gardening attire. And the color suits me perfectly.

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. I Peter 3:4

Chicken Bacon Ranch Ring

I love quick and easy suppers. Especially in the spring and summer. A while back I visited with some old friends that I hadn't seen in a while. We met for brunch and one of the girls made us a Chicken Bacon Ranch Ring. It was so delicious and I knew that my kids would love it. It is very similar to the Taco Ring from Pampered Chef. All you need is:

2 packages of crescent rolls

Chicken - you can cook your own or use canned. I personally like canned better because it's easier. I use 2 large cans

Bacon (have this cooked ahead of time)

Ranch dressing

Cheddar cheese


Unroll crescent rolls and separate. Arrange triangles in a circle on a baking stone with wide ends overlapping in center and points toward the outside. I use a glass and roll out the wide ends just a little bit.

Next add your chicken!

Now top that with crumbled bacon.

Pour on your ranch dressing, use as much or as little as you like.

Top that with cheddar cheese. Bring your corners in and secure. If there are spaces in between the crescent rolls it's okay.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Slice with a pizza cutter!

Serve to your family, they are going to love it!

Wild Grape Juice

Yesterday as I was going for a little walk along the edge of the woods I spotted some wild grapes. I went back inside to get the kids and show them. We grabbed a bowl and began picking. Some of them were very high up. The vines had climbed the trees and were well out of our reach, but we did manage to get a decent amount off the lower vines. They were pretty small, about the size of blueberries. My guess is that it is because they are growing in the shade and I would suppose that wild grapes are smaller anyway. My mother had shared with me that years ago my great grandma would make wild grape jelly. If you have ever had a wild grape you know that they are pretty sour. She said the jelly had a tang to it, but that it was delicious. As I shared this with my daughter she instantly wanted to make jelly. It was a great idea, but since we did not have any fruit pectin on hand we decided that wild grape juice would be even tastier! We were right! It was so good, Bethany even declared that it was "the best thing she ever tasted".

Nature Photo Give Away

Who doesn't like free things??? Seriously??? Dakota (that's my boy) has started an awesome blog displaying his nature photographs. This week he is having a contest to give away one of his photo's. Winner gets to pick the photo they want and it's all free! He has some great photo's with an inspirational theme. It's called Dakota's Nature Photo's Go check it out! You know you want to! When you are done there be sure to check out his other blog called A look at life from a Deerstand where he shares some amazing devotionals and personal insight on the Word of God.