Current Events

Do you want proof of the hipness of Watsonville?

This week my sister and I meet for coffee.  At Safeway.
That's the local nightlife.

Nobody else seemed to be there chilling with the in-store Starbucks bev.
Hmph.
We had a beautiful time.

Also this week, I had a major brain lapse situation.
I was on a super quick grocery run, while my guy was home for lunch break.
I put the car in park, grabbed my purse & jumped out of the car.
My radio was still going.
Hmmm...  Curious.  I wonder why?  Electrical malfunction?
Oh.  Keys still in the ignition.  Car still running.
Although I was only in the store for a 10 minute blitz,
probably still would not have been a good idea...
Close call.

We have beautiful sunshine this weekend.
Which is a relief.
Because last week we were really bearing the burden of winter
with day time temps in the 30's.  I kid you not.  Cold stuff.
Gillian & I were up for our turn in the parent/child outing rotation.
We scored on a gorgeous day.
I took her to my favorite quiet time place, the New Brighton Cliffs,
to explore and hang out.
Fabulous day with my girl -

I have another recipe to share with you all.
It's another dessert thing.
I don't bake every day.  Really, I don't.
But, I guess I more inspired to share the sweet recipes, lately.
I'll try to do a change up on that soon.

This one is Peanut Butter Frosting.  Swiss Meringue Buttercream style.
SO good.
I put in a top chocolate cookies that were only so-so.
I won't share that recipe with you.
Find your own cookie recipe.  Or a chocolate cupcake.
A rolled chocolate cookie, cut in the shape of hearts, made into cookie sandwiches?
Sounds perfect for Valentine's Day.  (I love that day.)

This frosting is a tiny bit more complex than just turning the mixer on.
But, do not fret!  It is NOT hard.  But, you do need an electric mixer.
And it is SO good.

Peanut Butter Swiss Meringue Buttercream
3 Egg Whites
3/4 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Butter, softened
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

Fill a medium sized pot with enough water to come up about 1 inch high.
Put over medium heat and bring to a simmer.

In your metal mixing bowl, drop your egg whites & sugar.
Whisk the whites and sugar continually over the the simmering water.
Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.

Now, click your mixing bowl into the mixer, with a whisk attachment.
Mix on medium speed until bowl is cool to touch.
You should have a gorgeous white fluff.

Now cut you soft butter into several hunks.
Change out the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment.
Turn the mixer on low and add one little hunk of butter at a time,
until it is all incorporated smoothly.

Now add the peanut butter.  Now turn up the speed to medium.
Beat for about 5 more minutes, until creamy and smooth.
Now slowing add the Vanilla until well mixed.

Spread on your cookies or cupcakes.
Or, just scoop it with a spoon and sprinkle with chocolate chips!

Meeting in the Middle

Source: etsy.com via Megan on Pinterest

Do you know the Diamond Rio song?

"I'd start walking your way 
You'd start walking mine 
We'd meet in the middle 
'Neath that old Georgia pine 
We'd gain a lot of ground 
'Cause we'd both give a little 
And there ain't no road to long 
When you meet in the middle "

I've always loved this song.

The story of finding the middle ground in the song is so sweet.

In real life?  I have spent a fair amount of time not liking that idea.

But, I am understanding that compromise can be a great gift.

Scott and I are a classic case of "opposites attract".

One tends toward clinginess, the other toward self-sufficiency. 
One of us, first response in a conflict is to fight.  The other's first response is flight.
One of an optimist, the other a pessimist.
One of us gets over involved in other people's lives, 
the other would rather not be involved at all.
Point being, we have conflict.

Conflict is okay.  It's not the bad guy.
Conflict can actually push us toward each other.

Conflict doesn't help join us together if we just run away from it.
It won't help if we always just concede and say, "fine have it your way!"
It won't help if we push and push for the other to completely agree with us.

The meeting in the middle?  That involves both parties reaching for the other.
Both speak with honest humility, and listen with the same.
We have to seek to understand the other, 
but know that even if we don't understand them, 
that doesn't mean their point of view is all wrong.
In the conflict, we can come to the middle ground of a healthy compromise.


"We'd gain a lot of ground 
'Cause we'd both give a little 
And there ain't no road to long 
When you meet in the middle "

Recently when we had conflict over an aspect of our opposite natures,
I had a simple realization, that hadn't really occurred to me in the past.
The place in between us, where we come to meet - 
I think that is the place where God wants us to be.
He made us two for oneness.

Morning Cookies

I got this recipe from my mom, who makes these cookies as wafer sandwich cookies, 

with buttercream between cookie layers.

The first time I made them, 

my guy & I couldn't resist trying a cookie, prior to filling them.

They are melt in-your-mouth, yummy, not-too-sweet, 

perfect with your morning coffee cookie.

So, we never fill them.  

We eat them sans buttercream, as the perfect morning cookie.

Morning Cookies

1 cup of flour
1 cup of softened butter
 Whip these together until smooth.  
Now beat in 1/3 cup of whipping cream.  
It will be very sloppy.  
Pat your slop out onto a piece of plastic wrap.  
Press flat & refrigerate until firm.  
(Maybe a few hours will do.  I usually do overnight.)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Roll flat on lightly floured board.  You don't want the dough totally coated in flour.  

You want the future sugar coating to adhere.

Cut with a cookie cutter.  

Dip each cookie into a bowl of white sugar or cinnamon-sugar, coat both sides well.

Bake on lined cookie sheets for 7-9 minutes, until lightly golden.

These are really delicate.  Transfer with care to cooling rack.

Don't eat the whole batch yourself in one sitting.

Bake Sale Report + the recipe for the Best Cream Scones

A few weeks ago we had a bake sale in our driveway to raise money for our adoption.
We were given a total of $1,450 by generous friends, family, acquaintances & strangers!

We were blown away!  What a blessing!  Thank you to everyone!

And, here's a recipe that many folks have requested.  Cream Scones.
These are from Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking,
which is a super awesome cookbook.  I highly recommend it.
These scones are so good because they have a high fat content.
And, I think it matters that there are no eggs in these.
All other recipes I have found online have an egg or two in them.
I believe adding an egg to your scone is a bad choice.
Have your egg on the side, scrambled or however you like it.
But don't put it inside.

Best Cream Scones

2 cups Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons grated Lemon Zest
6 tablespoons cold Butter, cut into small squares.
1/2 cup dried Currants OR dried Apricots OR Chocolate Chips OR whatever
3/4 cup Heavy Cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Combine your dry ingredients (1-5) until well mixed.
Cut in your butter until it forms large, coarse crumbs about the size of little peas.
Scatter your fruit or chocolate or whatever, over the dough.
Pour in the cream and mix until you form a moist mass.

Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured counter and gently press it into a ball.
Press your mound down into a round that is about 1/2 high.
With a large knife, cut your round into 6 - 8 wedges.
Place the wedges onto your cookie sheet,
leaving about 1 inch of space between the scones.

Hopefully you have a little more Heavy Cream left.  About a tablespoon, or so...
Brush the tops of your scones withe cream.  Then sprinkle with sugar.

Bake in your 425 oven until lightly golden brown on the tops, about 13-17 minutes.
Let cool slightly.  But, these are good warm!

P.J.'s in Wonderland

We went hunting for awesome Christmas lights.

Or, as Moira said, we were looking for Wonderland.

We found it!

(Drive up Hilltop off of San Jose Soquel and you may find it, too.)

He Knows

I haven't been on the blog much.

I don't know what to say about some of the hard things that are around us all.

The shooting at Sandy Hook - what a heartbreak. What a massive heartbreak.  Why?

My friend Ian, who was suddenly diagnosed with a very serious form of Leukemia.

How can this be?  He was so healthy. 

Darling little Daisy, at age 8 diagnosed with cancerous tumors 
for the fourth time in her life.

How?  She's so young.

This is the real hard stuff of this world.  I really don't have any words for it.

I mostly just pray.  And even then, I usually don't know the words.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

Romans 8:26

I remember a story about a little 2 year old girl, teaching her own grandma about prayer 

in times such a this.  When you don't know what to say, 
it is okay just to give their names to Jesus.

I learn from her too, and I offer up names.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:15-16

He knows.  He knows my heart.  He knows their needs.  He knows the pain.  
He is able to sympathize with all our big, ugly, confused feelings.  

So, even in my lack of words, I can come boldly, in faith.

He knows His good plan.  He knows how to accomplish it.

Jesus, Ian.  Jesus, Daisy.  Jesus, Laura.  Jesus, Karen.  Jesus, Arielle.  Jesus, John....

Christmas Gathering

I printed these for the kids and decided to color one myself.  Just so, so cute.

Paper Nativity - Made by Joel

Source: madebyjoel.com via Erin on Pinterest

Way, way, cute telling of the Christmas story.  This is a must see, must share.
We watched it at Scott's company party.
And, I've watched it a couple times at home with the kids.  Watch.
(Doesn't the sheep look like Moira?)

The Christmas Story by St. Paul Art and Media



Can I get a raise of hands for everyone who loves the Jesus Storybook Bible?!
Watch The Nativity story video here.


We checked at the library for a CD of the Nutcracker music.  NOTHING.
What?  Are you kidding me?  I came home and Googled it - Bam.
Free Nutcracker audio downloads


I'm hoping to make some of these little treats.  Tonight?

Sea Salt Caramels

Source: askannamoseley.com via Erin on Pinterest

I did so much baking for our adoption fundraising Bake Sale
(which was a smashing success, by the way),
that I wasn't planning to bake anymore.  But, maybe these again.
They are just SO tasty.

Chewy Chocolate Chunk Ginger Cookies

Source: marthastewart.com via Erin on Pinterest

How to Help a Couple after Infant Loss

“I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. 

Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process.”

C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed 

Happy to be pregnant with Gabriel - spring 2005

We look at each other.  Tired eyes.

Tremendous love and sorrow mingling together.

We both somehow know it is time.  

We ring for the nurse & hand over our baby,

knowing we will never touch him again.

Good bye, little baby boy.

We leave the labor & delivery wing of the hospital,

no baby in our arms.

There is no need for a safety check on our infant seat.

We don't need any of the baby stuff we prepared.

All we needed was the baby casket.

Hello, outside, scary world....

Finish reading over here.
I was given the honor of writing a guest post for 
Stephanie Sheaffer at her blog Writing for Good.  
Will  you go over there & give her some comment love?