Memory Verse #18

Evan & I are still working on Romans 12...we're going to work on verses 6-8 for the rest of this month. It has been a good topic of conversation to explain to Evan about spiritual gifts and how we need to do whatever God has gifted us to do with all our might and use it for His glory!

Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

My Baby Turns FOUR!

Time passes so quickly...it seems like just a few days ago we were in Abilene waiting for Ethan to be born. And now he turned FOUR YEARS OLD on Sunday! He is such a bundle of life and has such a vivid imagination. He has the brightest blue eyes and can make the cutest faces when he's in trouble (and when he's not...it just makes it harder to discipline him when he is so cute).

We were so blessed to have our entire family come and visit us for the weekend to celebrate his birthday. I don't think I could have made it so special without them. And Ethan also got to celebrate his birthday with a bunch of his friends from church. Daddy was great to grill hamburgers & hot dogs for everyone as we enjoyed the nice air conditioning. :) Big Brother Evan was a great ring leader for the kids...he later told me that he did not want to ever be a clown for birthday parties because all of the kids would beat up on him and tackle him like they did at the party. He had a blast though! He is so proud of his little brother.

Ethan requested a frog cake (specifically a leap frog cake but then he found an example of a stacked cake that he wanted because it was the "tallest mountain")...it was the most difficult one I've attempted so far but we were pretty pleased.

We wanted him to have a very special day. And we think he did. We'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. (And I can't figure out on this new layout how to space them out so I can write captions. So...now your imagination will have to kick in. :) Or you can comment & I'll write back. :))

I'm Having Fun

I am really enjoying the practice I'm getting with making cakes lately! This week I'm working on Ethan's birthday cake. Of course, he chose the most difficult cake I've ever made...a 3 tiered frog cake.

It's my fault. I found several frog cake ideas because he wanted a "Leap Frog" cake (which is NOT the popular item this year). I printed them out and asked him to pick one...never did I think he'd pick the "tallest mountain" (his words). So I'm experimenting with creating frogs, lily pads, cat tails, and rocks with a homemade modeling chocolate recipe I found.

It only took me about 1 1/2 hours to create the first 2 frogs but then I started getting a tad bit faster. :) Here are some of my creations so far.

Stayed tuned for the final creation...his birthday is Sunday, so it won't be long! :)

Memory Verse #17

It seems that all I've had time to do with this blog lately is post my memory verses. I am going to get back into it more regularly but life has been super busy this summer. I'll have to post my "SumMER SumMERy" soon.

So here are my verses. I'm going to work on memorizing Romans 12 with Evan. He has to do this his Fit to Serve class. He has to memorize 1 or 2 verses each week. So here's what I have for this time. (I already memorized Romans 12:1-2 when I was younger and Romans 12:3 was one from last year, so I'm just polishing up on those.)

Romans 12:1-5 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy & pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Memory Verses #15 & #16

OK, so I've haven't posted anything in a month & even then it was only my memory verses. I guess the summer has been pretty busy & then my computer has been dying a slow & painful death because a virus has been attacking it. It makes me not want to get on here much at all...my brother, the computer guru, even said my dear computer might not make it until Christmas!

So...I'm hoping to update you soon on some fun & festive times we've had this summer, but for now I'm just going to post my verses & head to bed.

Memory Verse #15

Jeremiah 29:11-13
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."

(Verse 11 has been one of my favorites for over 20 years when my friend, Pam, shared it with me, but I decided the next 2 verses are pretty special too. I need to commit them to memory as well.)

Memory Verse #16

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

(I read this verse during my quiet time this morning and thought, "that is my hope & prayer for my boys!" I need to keep this in the forefront of my mind so that in whatever we do, we try to teach them God's truths.)

Memory Verse #14

I've taken a break from the internet, blogworld, and facebook for the last few weeks so I could focus on getting some things accomplished like cleaning, organizing, visiting with friends and family, cake decorating classes, and doing 2 Bible studies. So I have some catching up to do with my blogs.

First and foremost, it's time to post my next memory verse. This marks the completion of memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 (The LOVE Chapter). I'm not there yet, but I am consciously trying to show more love, more patience, and more kindness.

1 Corinthians 13

(verses 1-3)
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have the faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

(verses 4-5)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.


(verses 6-7)
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


(verses 8-10)
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.


(verses 11-13)
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put awy childish things. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.


What verse are you hiding in your heart right now? I'd love to hear it!

Memory Verse #13

I am still working on memorizing "The Love Chapter" (1 Corinthians 13). By the end of July, I will have the WHOLE chapter memorized!

I'm going to practicing what I know so far & end with this time's verses (8-10).

(verses 1-3)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

(verses 4-5)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

(verses 6-7)

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

(verses 8-10)

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but where perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.