Still resting...

I was so out of it yesterday, I forgot to post...
I am feeling better because I felt up to making a couple of gifts - pictures and instructions coming next week.  Now, I'm back on the couch.  The fatigue is hanging on...

The attributes of God that we were going to look at each day this week are:

God is  loving.

And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  
God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
I John 4:16

God is good.

Praise the Lord!  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 106:1

God is wrathful.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
Romans 1:18-19

God is truthful.

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior...
Titus 1:1-2

God is faithful!

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:13 


Today's Recipe - Caramel Sauce
Southern Living

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup whipping cream

Combine butter and brown sugar in a heavy saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves.  Gradually add whipping cream; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.  Remove from heat and cool slightly.  Serve warm over ice cream, gingerbread or pound cake.  Store sauce in refrigerator.  Yield:  2 1/2 cups.

Apple Ice Cream Sauce...

I was beginning to feel better...
So many projects to work on...
I'll just have to rest some more...
And be patient!  (big sigh)

Today's Recipe - Apple Ice Cream Sauce
Southern Living

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
3/4 cup water
21 oz can apple pie filling
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Combine first 8 ingredients in a large saucepan; stir well.  Cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.  Add vanilla and nuts; stir well.  Serve warm over ice cream.  Yield:  3 1/2 cups. 

Just a recipe...

I had good intentions of writing a full post today, but after running a few necessary errands I had no energy left to write...

Today's Recipe - Praline Sauce
Southern Living
Note:  Because of the sugar content, this week's dessert sauces should be served only on special occasions.

1/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, toasted
5 oz can evaporated milk

Melt butter in a medium saucepan; add brown sugar, corn syrup, and flour, stirring until smooth.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and cool 20 minutes.  Stir in pecans and evaporated milk.  Cool completely.  Cover and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.  Serve warm over ice cream or plain cheesecake.  Yield:  3 cups.

Waiting out a virus...

Well, such is my life...another virus, another week or two to get over it. Thank you, Lord, for the rest.  So, all you get today is a recipe.  All this week I will post dessert sauces.  Yum! (in moderation...)

Today's Recipe - Hot Fudge Sauce
Southern Living

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
2/3 cup sugar
2 - 5 oz cans evaporated milk
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

Combine first 3 ingredients  in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.  Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla.  Serve warm or cool, and store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.  Serve over ice cream or cake.  Yield:  2 1/4 cups.

Under the weather...

I'm so sorry...

I didn't blog yesterday (it was all I could do to get ready for last night's overnight guests) and today's post only qualifies as a note.  I indulged in too much sugar last weekend and woke up with a blazing sore throat yesterday.  I do not feel good...and I know better.

Again, I am SO grateful that I can stay home with my hind end planted on the couch so I can recuperate - so, so grateful!!  I did take the dry cleaning and washed the sheets and remade the guest beds for next weekend's overnight guests.  I plan on doing nothing all weekend, except for church Saturday night.

That's it for today.  See ya Monday, hopefully refreshed and ready to work on my projects!

God is Merciful...

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
Psalm 86:15

The Lord is gracious and merciful;
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
The Lord is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works.
Psalm 145:8-9

Mercy is "an act of kindness, love or (compassion) shown to someone; it presupposes the existence of a relationship between the parties involved."  The Complete Word Study Old Testament

We have seen for several days that part of God's character is that He is steadfastly trustworthy and will never turn evil.  He loves us and today's attribute shows us that even though He is righteous and just, He also shows us compassion and is kind to us.  So many times we don't deserve kindness or compassion from Him because we purposely make choices that go against His will for us.  I am so grateful for the mercy He shows to me!

This picture was taken at the Billy Graham Training Center chapel in Ashville, North Carolina.


Today's Recipe - Raisin Sauce
Southern Living

1/2 cup raisins (or craisins)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup currant jelly
1/2 tsp grated orange rind
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
dash of salt
dash of ground allspice

Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil.  Combine brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, and allspice; stir into orange juice mixture.  Cook over medium heat 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.  Serve sauce warm over ham or pork roast.  Yield:  1 cup. 

God is Righteous and Just...

For I proclaim the name of the Lord; 
Ascribe greatness to our God!
The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4

According to The Complete Word Study Old Testament, righteous and just are synonymous and mean:  "God Himself is the standard of ethics and morality; it is part of His very nature and will."  He will never do anything wrong! 

Today's Recipe - Memphis-Style BBQ Sauce
Southern Living

8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup ketchup
1 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup honey mustard
1/2 cup hickory-smoked Worcestershire sauce
3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp seasoned salt
1 1/2 Tbsp hot sauce
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1/8 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Use to baste poultry, beef, or pork when grilling.  Yield: 4 cups.

God is Gracious...

The definition for gracious is to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior.  We are definitely inferior to God and He shows kindness to us all the time and most of the time we don't deserve it. 

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness...
Exodus 34:6

...for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate.
2 Chronicles 30:9

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Note:  We will be on the road Monday, so my next post will be on Tuesday.  Have a great weekend!

Crafts
Bull's Eye is a fun game that is simple but will keep your toddler entertained.  All you need is a small bucket filled with water, sidewalk chalk and an inexpensive package of household sponges (I bought mine at Walmart) cut into shapes.

Draw a bull's eye on your driveway, patio or sidewalk with the chalk.  Draw a line for your toddler to stand behind. Call out a shape and color and your toddler should pick up the corresponding sponge, dunk it in the water and throw the wet sponge at the bull's eye from behind the line.  The game continues until the bull's eye is washed away.

Today's Recipe - Beurre Blanc
Southern Living

 1/4 cup dry white wine (or rice vinegar)
3 small shallots, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
1 pint whipping cream
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp chopped fresh dill or other fresh herb
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Bring first three ingredients to a boil in a large saucepan; reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half.  Discard bay leaf.

Process wine mixture in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides.  Return mixture to saucepan and whisk in whipping cream.  Cook sauce over medium heat five minutes, whisking occasionally.

Whisk in butter and remaining ingredients. Great for topping chicken, veal or fish. Yield: 3 cups

God is Holy...

God is perfect, blameless and set apart from any other being.  We can trust Him!

So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
Job 34:10

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.
Revelation 4:8


Crafts
Toddler Twister is a fun game to play with young children.  It teaches them colors, shapes and right and left hands and feet.  Print the shapes off of toddlertoddler.com or cut your own out of construction paper.  Use a loop of masking tape under each shape to place on the floor and have fun! 

Today's Recipe - Roasted Garlic Sauce
Southern Living
2 garlic bulbs
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup butter
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Cut off pointed end of garlic bulbs; place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Fold foil to seal.  Bake at 425F for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven; cool.  Squeeze pulp from garlic cloves.  Cook pulp, whipping cream, butter, and flour in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.  Remove from heat; add Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, stirring until smooth.  Yield: 1 1/2 cups. 

God is Sovereign...

His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him; "What have you done?"
Daniel 4:34b - 35 

I am SO grateful that God is sovereign. He rules over everything and everyone.  That the world seems to be spinning out of control is no surprise to Him because He knows everything - past, present and future. In fact, the Bible tells us that things will get really bad before Jesus returns and sets up His peaceful earthly kingdom. 

God allows people to choose how they will behave and those choices have consequences that affect other people.  So we have things in the Bible like the 10 commandments, which gives us an awareness of sin's power and our need of God's help overcoming sin (Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and living by the power of the Spirit), and the list in Galatians 5 of the fruit of the Spirit vs the deeds of the flesh along with many instructions for spouses, families, neighbors and people who work together.  We also have the story of Job in which Satan has to get permission from God to torment Job and God places limits on Satan. 

Sometimes I wish that God would just make everyone behave!  But He desires our obedience, of our own choice and not because we are forced.  So, we live in a world where sin is becoming more and more evident...for now.

Crafts
Yesterday, the adults were busy with activities and my granddaughter was on her own to amuse herself.  Yes, she got bored and it went badly for her...

But, as soon as I pulled out one of the games from the activity box, she calmed down and had a great time learning while she played.  She loved the Knock! Knock! Game from toddlertoddler.com.  Print the door from the website onto white cardstock.  You can use actual photographs for the game, but I chose to print black and white photos of family members and our dog from our computer so I could control the size of the photos.  Copy your photos into a Word Document and make them all the same size, then print on white cardstock.  Cut them apart and keep in a baggie.  It's a great way for little ones to learn the names of family members.

 Put one picture at a time behind the door and say, "Knock! Knock!"  Let your toddler ask, "Who's there?" then open the door and let them say who it is they see.

Today's Recipe - Cheese Sauce
Southern Living
Here's a simple sauce for topping a multitude of foods such as steamed vegetables, any number of egg dishes, chicken, or fish.

2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp dry mustard
pinch of ground red pepper

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat; add flour, stirring until smooth.  Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Gradually add milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.  Add cheese and remaining ingredients, stirring until cheese melts.  Serve over poached eggs or vegetables.  Yield: 1 cup. 

 

 

God is Transcendent...

That sounds like a new age term.  But let's look at the definition for transcendent from Webster's Dictionary - exceeding usual limits; extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience; being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge; being beyond comprehension; transcending the universe or material existence.

The following verse sheds some light on this attribute:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9

God is not a human.  We are so small and insignificant compared to Him.  And yet, He loves us.  Amazing!

Crafts
Today's craft is another toddler game that is also a learning experience.  You can print the game, Shapes Hunt and Match, off the toddlertoddler.com website.  You simply "hide" the colored shapes in a room and your toddler finds each shape and matches them to the outlined shape on the master paper.  This game teaches shapes and colors with the added bonus of getting the wiggles out because your toddler is moving. 

Today's Recipe - Fantastic Mexican Sauce
My original recipe

10 oz. can mild Rotel
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp sugar or 1 pkg stevia
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp butter 

Pour the Rotel into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until reduced.  Add garlic, cumin, sugar, vinegar and butter and cook 2 minutes.  Serve over meat with sliced avocados and sliced steamed or sauteed yellow summer squash.  Yum!
 

God is Infinite...

Webster's defines infinite as "subject to no limitation or external determination; extending indefinitely; endless, immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive; inexhaustible;extending beyond, lying beyond, or being greater than any preassigned finite value however large; extending to infinity."

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3

Because we have limitations, we can't understand His limitlessness.  If He was evil, that would be really scary!  But God is not evil. He is holy and good and He loves us.  I'm very thankful for that!

Crafts
My granddaughter has really enjoyed the games and activities that I found on toddlertoddler.com.  She has played several of them over and over.  Another one of the games I found on this website is Counting Sheep on Pillows.  Go to the website and print the sheet of sheep on white cardstock, then cut them apart.  You will also need some throw pillows. Stack them on the floor, putting one or two sheep cards on each pillow.  Your toddler will take one pillow off the stack at a time to find the sheep.  When she has found all eight cards, lay them out in order on the floor, counting as you go.  Repeat the game as many times as she wants to play. 

Sorry this picture is sideways...

Today's Recipe - Pasta Sauce  
This is my original recipe


1 pound hamburger, browned
1 yellow onion, diced
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/4 cup sucanat, honey or sugar
6.5 oz can sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 - 6 oz cans tomato paste
28 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for an hour or more.  Serves 4

Note:  You can put all the ingredients in a crockpot in the morning and cook on low all day.  For a quick dinner, cook pasta and make a tossed salad to serve with the pasta and sauce.  Sprinkle on grated Parmesan cheese and serve.

God is Self-Sufficient...

He is all that He needs!  Oh, but we need Him!

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
Acts 17:24-25

Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen.
Romans 11: 34-36

Crafts
The toddler games and activities have been a big hit with my granddaughter.  The game I thought she would be least interested in, she played for 20 minutes.  Nice! 

Today's game is Alphabet Bugs.  Print the cards found on www.toddlertoddler.com onto cardstock and cut them apart.  Keep them in a labeled baggie because they can be reused.

Supplies needed:
Alphabet Bug cards
Tape

There are lots of ways to play this game.  The website suggests taping the Alphabet Bugs all over yourself then having your toddler find and pull off the bugs you tell them to find.  You can then tape them to a posterboard in alphabetical order.  By all means, sing the song!

My granddaughter loves to find hidden things so I think I will "hide" the Alphabet Bugs on the furniture in the living room and get her to find the Alphabet Bug I call out.  This game should be good for a half hour of moving fun!

Today's Recipe - Asian Style BBQ Sauce
Sorry, I don't know where this recipe came from...

1 scant cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp cider vinegar
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tsp dry mustard
2 green onion, white part only, minced

Baste this sweet sauce on liberally towards the end of cooking - delicious on pork and chicken. 

God is Self-Existent...

Huh?!  What does that mean?  Well, this one is simple but a hard concept for us to grasp because we all came into existence at conception in our mother's womb.  Until Jesus comes back, we all experience death - the end of our life on earth. Unlike us, God has always existed and He needs no one to continue existing.  Kinda blows your mind!

Crafts
Three year olds love to unwrap packages.  So, I knew the Unwrapping Game would be a hit with my granddaughter. 

You just need a few supplies:
a small toy
wrapping paper or a brown grocery bag
tape

Wrap the toy before you play the game.  Show the package to your toddler and ask them what they think is inside.  Let them touch and squeeze the package while they guess.

Let them open the package to see if they guessed correctly.  If you want the game to last longer, wrap several small toys.

Today's Recipe - Orange Marinade and Sauce
I really need to write the sources on my recipes...not sure where this one came from.

3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup rice or cider vinegar
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp peanut oil
2 Tbsp fresh ginger chopped or 2 tsp ground ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Combine ingredients and use to marinade meat and poultry for 2 hours or more and fish or shellfish for 1 hour only.  To serve as a sauce, reserve marinade and bring to a boil in a small saucepan, while meat is grilled, and reduce. 

God is Incomprehensible...

Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
Job 11:7

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Romans 11:33

We cannot understand everything about God.  Frankly, I'm glad we can't.  Who would want a god who could be fully understood by our finite minds?!  Just sayin'...

Crafts
My granddaughter loved making her fish necklace.  She caught on quickly and proudly wore her creation around the house, showing everyone what she had made.  

Supplies Needed:

Colored pasta (see past post for instructions)
At least 18" of yarn, jute, hemp or string
Fish cutouts with holes punched for stringing (pattern on toddlertoddler.com)

We had enough left over to make another necklace later on.

Today's Recipe - Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
I'm sorry - I don't remember where I got this recipe...

Makes about 1 1/2 cups

8 oz. plum tomatoes, quartered lengthwise
1 red bell pepper, quartered lengthwise and seeded
4 medium garlic cloves
8 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 425F.  Combine tomatoes, red pepper and garlic.  Drizzle with 6 Tbsp oil.  Season with salt and pepper and toss.  Roast on baking sheet until vegetables are soft and brown around edges, 45-50 minutes.  Let cool.

Transfer vegetables to a food processor and process until smooth.  Heat remaining 2 Tbsp of oil in a medium saucepan over low heat.  Add vegetable mixture, thyme and vinegar; cook until heated through.  Remove from heat and adjust seasoning as desired.

God is Immutable...

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, 
and the heavens are the work of your hands.  
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
Psalms 102:25-27

Things are changing so quickly in our world today.  The fact that God is immutable - does not change - is very comforting.  We can count on Him.  We can trust Him.  We can rest in the fact that He will always love us.  And we can know that we will be with Him when we leave this life on earth if we believe in His free gift of salvation in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.  He doesn't change the qualifications to enter Heaven.  He keeps His word!

Today's Recipe - Spicy Peach Sauce
I came up with this simple recipe after reading about a similar recipe that required a lot more work.

10 oz jar Simply Fruit  (peach or apricot)
canned sliced jalapenos (to taste), finely diced

Put the Simply Fruit in a small saucepan and heat to boiling.  Turn off the heat and stir in the jalapenos.  Let sit for 10 minutes.  Delicious on steak, chicken, salmon and meatloaf.