Matthew 5:16

Week 9 - Mathew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We should always strive to be a witness for those around us - people at work or even at home; people we see everyday or only once in our lifetime. Our actions should cause others to want to praise Jesus!

5 Reasons to Take a Cruise

We are about to embark on a vacation, so I will be away from my computer for a while. I'll try to update the blog if I get internet access, but I promise some exciting posts when I return. Until then, I will leave you with my list for the month. Since we're about to go on a cruise, I thought I'd share some top reasons why EVERYONE should take a cruise!

Reasons To Take A Cruise
1. Travel - You can visit numerous ports and countries, all while staying in the same room and only unpacking your suitcase once! On a cruise, you wake up in a new location each morning…but you return to the same room and same bed each night. It simplifies the traveling process while allowing you to see the world. You don't have to worry about hotel rooms in each city or how to get from place to place...it's all taken care of when you book a cruise.

2. Food - You can’t go on a cruise and not enjoy the food. They have buffets and fancy food and room service and pizza and more. You can sample food from the menu that you would normally never order (like escargot) and if you don’t like it, you can request another item - without having to pay extra. You can have wonderful service and excellent food in the formal dining room, or enjoy a burger on the pool deck. Or, stay in your room and order milk and cookies each night...it's all delicious!

3. Excursions - Even though it isn’t mandatory to take excursions on a cruise, I think it’s worth it. Whether you take the excursions offered by the cruise company or arrange your own, you get to take tours and enjoy activities in the various ports you visit. You can take a whale-watching cruise or tour ancient ruins. There are often so many choices it can be overwhelming. But, the excursions help you enjoy your destination a little more!

4. Activities - Cruises offer non-stop entertainment. They have Broadway-style shows and pool parties and trivia contests and more. There is always something going on and you are free to choose what you participate in. Or, you can simply sit back and relax and watch others participate. All the activities and shows are included so you don’t have to pay extra to have fun! And, if you’re traveling in a group, you can each have a uniquely fun day enjoying separate activities or excursions and then meet up for dinner.

5. Royal Treatment - You will feel like you are taking an expensive vacation without paying too much. You can be waited on for formal dinners, have your pictures taken by professional photographers, attend the Captain’s cocktail party, relax in the luxurious Spa, and generally be treated like royalty! It’s a great way to have a pampering experience.

I can't wait to enjoy this and many other wonderful things about cruises!!

II Corinthians 5:17

Week 8 - II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

I'm so thankful that Christ is able to make us into NEW creatures! The old versions are not very nice, but he can transform us into something wonderful...if we let him!

Cake Mix Cookies

It's been a busy week...well, I guess it hasn't been busy but I've been sick - so I haven't gotten much done. I was planning to make cute heart-shaped cookies for Valentine's day and share the recipe, but that didn't happen. Instead, I got to the end of the week and needed to make some cookies and share a recipe quickly. So, I turned to my easiest cookie recipe. Cake Mix cookies are fun because you use a cake mix (obviously) and very little else. I prefer the chocolate cookie with peanut butter chips, but you can also make a yellow cake mix with chocolate chips (it's supposed to taste like chocolate chip cookies, but it tastes too much like a yellow cake for my liking). Anyway, these cookies are so easy. Just mix everything together and bake them up. Then, they become soft, chewy and delicious cookies! Enjoy!

Only 4 ingredients - that's awesome!

Mix the cake mix, oil, and eggs together.

It doesn't take long before it looks like thick cookie batter.

Add in peanut butter chips (delicious!!).

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets (I used my fancy cookie scooper).

Try not to eat too much batter!

Bake them until they turn into delicious cookies!

EAT with a big glass of milk!

Cake Mix Cookies (I got the recipe from my friends little cake mix cookbook, but I can't remember the name of it)

1 (18.25-ounce) package chocolate or yellow cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 cup peanut butter chips or semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:
-Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until batter is smooth.
-Stir in peanut butter or chocolate chips and pecans (I didn't use pecans because I don't like nuts in my cookies!).
-Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes 3 dozen.

The dirty dishes for these cookies.

Cake Mix Cookies
Taste: 5 out of 5
Dirty Dishes: 4 out of 5
Time/Effort: 4 out of 5
TOTAL: 13 out of 15

Different?

Just a quick test...see if you can spot the difference!

Picture of me this morning.

Picture of me later this morning.

I John 1:9

Week 7 - I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

This is pretty self-explanatory. Confess your sins and God will forgive your sins! We all sin and we must all confess!

February 5 - A Day In My Life

Time to wake up...I was running a little bit late!

A quick check-in with the world and what's happening.

The breakfast of champions - chocolate and peach tea!

I was stuck behind the only other driver out on Sunday morning - and they were so slow!

Pastor Bob at church.

Picking Bill up from walking Ubi.

Making cupcakes for the big party later today!

We had ramen noodles for lunch.

Getting the table ready for the party.

Bill was busy editing pictures while I made delicious food.

Still working on the cupcakes.

All dressed up to watch the SUPER BOWL.

My tasty cupcakes - they were supposed to resemble little footballs, but the frosting melted all over the place. Oh well, we still enjoyed eating them!

The table full of delicious Super Bowl party food!

Watching the big game!

Game over...Giants won!

Taking leftovers home to enjoy later.

After a lot of cooking...the kitchen is all clean!

The end of another day...I was very tired!

Romans 15:13

Week 6 - Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I feel like I really need some joy and peace this week! I guess that means I should focus on trusting God...so he can fill me with hope, joy and peace! God is powerful and he can give us joy and peace and hope at times when it might seem impossible to us. Besides, focusing on trusting God is always better than focusing on the annoyances and problems in our life!

Grocery Shopping

Here is my second video of the year. It's not very exciting, but it's kind of fun! We went grocery shopping last night to pick up a few things for our Super Bowl party this weekend. Here's a small taste of what it's like to shop at our local grocery store.

*Sorry for the poor quality - my camera doesn't work as well at night and I have to get better about holding it steady while I walk. Oh well...

Grocery Shopping from Kara Hurt on Vimeo.