Costa Rica Pura Vida!

Pie in the sky...

Well My Magpie may be heading into a new business venture. I always wanted to be my own boss and I love all things sweet and beautiful so in the same spirit as Gigi's cupcakes I am thinking of a new business called Magpies - you guessed it I am pulling out Grandma's recipes to try my hand at designer tarts. Up for starters:

Chocolate meringue
Lemon meringue
Blackbird meringue (blackberry)
Gingerbread meringue
Coconut Marshmallow meringue
Snickers meringue

These little pies are 3 1/2" x 4" (including meringue) and are approximately 4 oz of heaven in a flakey crust with delightfully tall peaks of traditional or marshmallow meringue served in an sustainable organic paper cup. We hope to sell Magpies individually, in 4's, and by the dozen. There are many more flavors in the works! You can even submitt requests and suggest recipes. Pricing at $2.50 each individually, $8.50 for 4, $24 for a dozen. We should have ordering information up soon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pictured to the right below, "Lemon" :)

Help Me Raise Funds

Well, I have finally done it - I have made the commitment to take a trip for 12+ students and adults to Costa Rica next summer. It is something we can't afford but a goal I had been planning to reach eventually and the opportunity has presented itself. So, I'm asking anyone out there that might be so inclined to help a bunch of smart kids from Coffee Co. and their poor teacher raise $$$ to help toward the cost. If you are feeling generous visit the chip in link in this post and actually CHIP IN! We have a meeting for interested persons Thursday Sept, 2nd at the Coffee Co. library if you are thinking this might be your year to splurge. Please come out and hear about our trip and consider joining us. Find out more here http://www.eftours.com/Student-Travel/MyTeachersTours/teachers-tour.aspx?salestour=596121 Hope you'll come hear more!

You Can Pick Your Friends and You Can Pick Out Chairs...So, Help Your Friend Pick Out Chairs...

So I need new kitchen chairs and bar stools.  These are the 3 I like I need help picking out the best looking option.  My table will be painted antique white to match.  Please give me input as to your favorite and why.

Be What You Were Created To Be

"Use what talents you possess: the woods would be silent if no birds sang there except those that sang the best." ~Henry VanDyke

 I loved to draw, sing, cook, take photographs, decorate...  I would call myself an excellent mimic. I see beauty in many different things -a superb observer.  I always have been.  If I can see it I can usually do it.  I believe most people can but many never try.  I sometimes wonder why I'm not the best or the first at things but there is something to be said for being versatile and enjoying many different things.  That's who I was created to be.  Why not enjoy it? Bicylce pic by me - Icey Willow by my cousin Heather

Sultry Summer Softball

Dang it's hot!  Our church has signed up for a softball league this year that runs through September.  It's the best way to trick me into exercising and it makes for good fellowship as well.  You really learn to work as a team and that is important if you are going to be working for God.  I'm still not sure that the short stop isn't trying to kill me when he throws 85 miles an hour at my glove but I'm doing better now - trying to keep my eyes open at least...  We have lost the first two games we played which is not good for the morale of more competitive people on our team.  It really burns them up even though we didn't loose by much either time.  I'm just thankful the Lord allows me to move as fast as I do for the shape I am in.  I would venture to say my spirituality is in about as good condition as my body unfortunately.  As I have begun to realized the importance of exercising the outside of me I have also realized the spiritual side of me needs more exercise too.  I have spent several years chasing professional success, put quite a lot of energy and sacrifice into my tweening children and at  the age of 35 I'm coming to grips with the fact that I need to focus on what matters most to me.  My pursuit of career has been fruitless really, I'm not well off by any means and I work really hard for little recognition, so starting now - starting today, I am reprioritizing.  I will put God first.  I will put myself second.  The things I can control about myself like what I eat, the nurture of my soul, how I care for the person I am will get the focus of my attention.  My family will be second - Chris before the boys because he needs me too.  Then will come others and lastly my job.  I have realized as of late, I cannot control anything but myself so why invest so heavily in trying to impress others or change others actions or thinking?  I'm not saying I won't do a good job where I work, I'm just saying that my life is passing me by while I am investing in fruitless endeavors.  So, softball it is.  Bible study it is.  Family time it is.  Work when it has to be.  If it's not good for me I'm not doing it.  This is the first summer I have actually had time to think and it may have been the best therapy I could have paid for. SO bring on the sultry summer softball that I don't have time for.  It's what is best for me right now.   P.S. Come watch one of our games -we'll even let you play~!  PUMC Softball Schedule

Enjoy Your Life

Beautiful music is like water to a weary soul.
Edify yourself by taking in creation and doing the things you love to do. I heard an exerpt from a sermon not long ago that said - start dancing- don't ask others to join when they see you dancing and enjoying your life and doing good things they will start dancing too.  You will feel more refreshed and more able to run the race. Psalm 45:1 "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite verses for the king"  I think the Psalmist was referring to a gift that God had given to him. Take time to enjoy creation, it was made for you.  Start Dancing!