Grains of Sand

When your garden grows a large amount of zucchini, make bread.  Chocolate zucchini bread to be exact.  Very few things from our kitchen receive as many unsolicited compliments as this bread. Chocolate Zucchini Bread 3 eggs or 6 egg whites 1 cup canola oil 2 cups granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 3 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups grated zucchini 3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix ingredients with spoon in order listed and pour batter into greased loaf pans.  Bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Enjoy!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6) When I have a busy day looming, my tendency is to tell God all I have to do and ask him to help me get it done.  Instead, I should lay my requests before Him and wait in expectation. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Happy birthday Mason!  Your birthday wish list included Legos and two stuffed animals.  For your birthday dinner you requested eggs and bacon.  May you always know what you want and try your best.  May you grow in your faith and become a confident man of God.  With your generous heart and cheerful ways, you bring joy to each member of the family.  We love you super tons and God loves you most of all.  xoxo.  soso.  Look who turned six.  That six year old is our baby! It's getting more difficult to capture a photo without some sort of antics. Mason requested a birthday cake with a forest and four log houses at each corner.

Autumn is here and so are the flies.  My goodness.  It seems we can't open the door without one buzzing in.  I've heard you can fill a clear plastic bag with pennies and water and hang that outside the door to detract them.  There is also the fly paper option, which is a great option, if you can remember to purchase fly paper.  For me, that is an ongoing challenge.  {sigh} In the meantime, this is how we kill flies in this house. Ethan shot this from the bow. See it?!  :O

For Today August 11, 2016 Looking out my window... beautiful refreshing rain is falling on the parched ground! I am thinking... if you wait until you think you are ready to do something challenging, you'll never do it. I am thankful... for my thoughtful husband who ordered a birthday cake for me to be frosted in my favorite color, turquoise. One of my favorite things... the end of a workout! I am wearing... tank top, shorts and bare feet.  It's h.o.t and humid. I am creating... a shopping list. I read...  Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst for a summer study I do with a few friends.  It was fabulous!  I highly recommend it. I am hoping... to clean the wood floors on my hands and knees today.  Ugh, it's one of my least favorite chores but so worth it when I'm finished. I am learning...  that a minority of jelly belly candy in a Bean Boozled box are actually tasty.  The others have flavors such as Stinky Socks, Rotten ...

I was browsing Pinterest the other day and saw this post about homemade sidewalk chalk paint .  When I craft or put my mind to a fun unexpected project for the kids, I like it to be easy and fairly mess free.  That mindset severely limits the available projects.  So, when I saw that there were only three ingredients for sidewalk chalk paint, I had to try it.

Day six we awoke to hear the Colorado river outside our cabin.  We hiked to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park and then we headed out for the last leg of the trip, destination