tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84046775512361122052024-03-04T21:13:25.766-08:00Independent Variable. Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-6879807243676415772019-08-01T04:30:00.000-07:002019-08-01T04:30:05.930-07:00A lie cannot live. <span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">“Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.” Unknown</span><br />
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To all of those who have wondered at our silence; to those who have talked in whispers among each other, hiding your furtive glances at our social media pages and shaken your head at our decisions in life; </div>
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This is Us. </div>
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Despite what you might hear, despite what you might read or think or understand, we are here, together. </div>
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4 years ago we were going through a very rough time in our lives. There are scars to show for it. </div>
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But here, several years later, we are still together. We are growing together, learning, giving. </div>
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We believe in love, we believe in redemption, we believe in each other; and because of that we know we’re in excellent hands. </div>
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We are here raising our beautiful, talented, strong children: both of whom finished out their 2018-2019 school year in the Honor Roll, while Cherish was in the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir</div>
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and Micah was in baseball tournaments and leagues. </div>
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Micah's All Star Broadway team is getting ready to play Regionals this weekend!<br />
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We are a close little family, traveling miles and hours together for baseball tournaments, choirs, beach trips...<br />
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coffee business and just because.<br />
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Speaking of coffee...<br />
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... and here...<br />
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These are coffee shops that we both partner in.<br />
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They are thriving, growing stores that are well known, highly rated and loved by the valley. We love our businesses, we love where we are at and we have plans to open more in the future.<br />
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We are not perfect people.<br />
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But we are here. The road we have traveled has been full of obstacles, potholes and ditches; but we are present.<br />
Committed. Fixed. Steady. Determined.<br />
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We know there's talk.<br />
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We let them talk. We let them speculate. Connive. Assume.<br />
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"They say we're not as good as them; I say they're not as good as Him."<br />
KB<br />
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God is at the forefront of our venture. Our aim, our goal is to stay humble, stay strong and keep our eyes focused on Him and the goals we have set in front of us.<br />
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Other people have things to say; but our story is our own. They are the author of their article; we're committing our writings to the penmanship of Him who has led us this far and has the final say in it all.<br />
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To those of you who have supported us on our journey to this day, we acknowledge you and thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We see and talk to you almost every day, every week or month. Thank you for checking in on us, for praying and caring, and reaching out on a consistent basis.<br />
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Keep watching. Our story isn't done yet.<br />
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Best,<br />
CC and Jenna, Micah and Cherish Matthews<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lato" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr. </span><br />
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Citations:<br />
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<a href="https://pin.it/huf2oay4a34nif">https://pin.it/huf2oay4a34nif</a> sayingspoint.com<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/g_nj3Q2JPVc">https://youtu.be/g_nj3Q2JPVc</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.541176); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.musixmatch.com/" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.541176); cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Musixmatch</a> 2017<br />
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<a href="https://www.keepinspiring.me/martin-luther-king-jr-quotes/">martin-luther-king-jr-quotes</a> Hannah Hutyra 2011</div>
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Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-58567910972251148802019-02-01T14:27:00.000-08:002019-02-01T14:27:05.891-08:00Not Fearless. Second guessing.<br />
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One of the banes of my life, seriously. All day, 'ery day. And since I'm such an analytical person, I will have argued my way around, over and under everything, at least five times before I finally make a decision to move forward. Or not, as the case may be.<br />
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Way back in the day, when I was an awkward, shy and incredibly quiet teen living in Loveland Colorado it was a little bit of a different story because that person left all the decision-making up to the people she admired; the confident, outgoing kids, because there was no way she was going to show how painfully scared she was.<br />
Haha.. if I introduced you to the family I stayed with, they'd tell you that I'd look at the ceiling or the walls, before making eye contact with anyone for months. I'd learned to have a half-smile on my face so that people wouldn't think that I was unhappy, or figure out how much I silently begged everyone to let me stay away so that I wouldn't have to talk.<br />
It took me around 2 hours to talk thru going to a volleyball game at a park because I couldn't make the decision to go. The day was gorgeous outside, with the Rocky Mountains towering in the background of the valley and white clouds floating lazily in a crystal blue sky on a breeze that had scented hints of crisp fall weather and red fir trees.<br />
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So no.. it wasn't that I didn't want to go. And I sat and had around 6 reasons that I could stay if I was needed at home, like dishes or laundry or walking the dog.<br />
Long story short, I ended up going.<br />
I had the time of my life. Who coulda guessed that one? But for me, it was a huge step for me, and a wordless agreement with God who probably laughed His head off at my shivering, scared self that I would start living with less fear every day.<br />
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I write #strongertogether on a lot of my posts, and there's a lot of history behind that tag. The story above is part of it.<br />
There's a lot of truth behind the saying, 'Everyone has a story'. And you know, I find it so crazy that I'm out almost every day, talking to people who I've never met before, making friends, creating an atmosphere of welcome and comfort, finding out how their family vacation was, asking about their day, listening to a sad story of loss, and all this over a simple cup of coffee when several years ago, I couldn't look people in the face. It's like a wait; what?? moment for me.<br />
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Interesting fact, that glimpse into my life is one of the reasons I love coffee shops. I wanted to create a place that, no matter who you are, what you do, where you've been, you are always welcome and I will always have a moment to say hi, ask how you are, give you a smile, and do my best to make you feel welcome because I know what it's like to feel like a stranger for a long time. There's a few things that unite almost all walks of people; its usually food, and coffee. (or tea, and I actually really like a good green tea!)<br />
Looking at where I was then, and where I'm at now sometimes I blink and am like.. say what?<br />
But it's part of my learning to live with less fear every day.<br />
Less fear of second guessing.<br />
Less fear of people.<br />
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Less fear of tomorrow.<br />
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Not completely fearless;<br />
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Just less fear than yesterday.Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-32433650077400351342019-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:002019-01-22T08:31:46.250-08:00Feeding the fishYou know.. feeding a fish shouldn't be so interesting.<br />
The lazy, red and blue betta fish that my little girl insisted on naming Vanilla just sits in her over-sized vase of tap water and flits here and there, glaring thru the glass if you don't feed her at least several times a day.<br />
(don't worry, she gets fed twice a day.)<br />
For the most part, she's lazy and won't move much unless disturbed, like when little people come over and wanna click on the glass to see if she's still alive, or to watch her swim around in annoyance.<br />
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But once you drop that awesome-smelling fish food in there, 😖 she's a soldier at attention; whirls around and goes right for the food, not even caring that there's at least 1 set of eager eyes watching her come to the surface to eat. Weird thing is.. she's not picky about the food. She sits on the table where we all eat, surely she can see that there's other food in this world. (not.) 😆<br />
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But you know, it's interesting. God's got food for us, we just aren't as interested as we probably should be. We want the Gluten Free version.<br />
Or better yet, the Atkins Diet, or the Paleo food. We obviously just can't handle the whole food yet, so we figure that the food we're given must be the wrong stuff. We want the Skim Milk please, and the Sugar Free Caramel with half the flavor!<br />
But honestly, I can't talk. There's a lot of times where I'm in the situation where a lot of old memory verses are running thru my head and I still choose to act a fool.<br />
Like no, I really don't have to have the last word, and I'm pretty sure it's not imperative that I'm heard on this subject, no matter how much I think about it. Sometimes I think that God puts us in situations to see how well we handled a lesson.<br />
(Cue the Verizon commercial dude: "Is this a test?")<br />
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It's only been in the most recent months that God's encouragement to me is; You are stronger than you think.<br />
And you know, He's probably right.. there's been times where I am positive I can't put one foot in front of the other one for the rest of the day, and I'm just gonna sit here in the middle of the work space until closing time. But it's at those moments where I hear the line,<i> "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam 3:22-23</i><br />
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Other times it feels a bit more down to earth. <i>Move, or I'll make you wish you had. </i><br />
(once again, JK)<br />
So I pull myself together one more time, find the strength to get up and go once more because He handed me some food;<br />
... and I took it, to live to fight another day.Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-42439013453059200522016-04-03T05:04:00.001-07:002016-04-07T13:14:44.943-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Writing my way into the Dawn of Spring</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thinking back on my time at a writer's conference that I went to this year has been so good for me. I had no idea that there were so many ways of writing, of comprehending what you write, or even that there are different genres of writing. I'm sure that you smart and talented people knew this, but it was all new to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm one of those writers who have moments of inspiration, where I suddenly have a lightbulb go off in my head and I sit down and scribble out my thoughts and it just all comes together in one brilliant post; and I feel so accomplished and happy. I hit send, and away it goes on my Facebook, racking up views and likes (or not) and my feeling of accomplishment is euphoric. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Then there's the spaces (and they are the huge spaces in time, up to a year or more) where I don't get inspiration at all. I see the sun in the blue sky and feel it on my skin and the breeze blowing on my face, and it does nothing for my heart. It's kind of like dusk on a grey winter evening. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBR2WIs8dEuhP3aogRhStnJ_75UYrDQ1wTqX7EJxCdJUF8UpW1IslmgnWaGhrpuviYWdglDSHQOrD-3jmXFCy0hqJmE3X3sUTvInmxcALVhFe7a-27Bau3xOy9DlDIhD1YeKyv2W2J_E/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBR2WIs8dEuhP3aogRhStnJ_75UYrDQ1wTqX7EJxCdJUF8UpW1IslmgnWaGhrpuviYWdglDSHQOrD-3jmXFCy0hqJmE3X3sUTvInmxcALVhFe7a-27Bau3xOy9DlDIhD1YeKyv2W2J_E/s200/IMG_2514.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There's no emotions. No joy. No tears, either. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's just, empty. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Or more like; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Blank. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Writer's block? I was told that there is no such thing. Writers block does not exist. It's either a lack of sleep, low blood sugar, hunger, or a need for fresh air. There is always something to write about, even if it's crazy things like an ant crawling across your floor, or the dogwood petal stuck on your windshield, or sticky fingerprints on your computer screen. There is always something to write, they told me emphatically. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIyZJDwZx34DZSTHskgBT1XewcHgZcm2zaFnYc66E2cKSOiqiITEeONbp8M6iNr6_-dHxoOF8yyXTstfOF2aUNr2GJ9Z0Ah63paJaMvyOGdfru2bxrblGvypAgQyqJIum4t4-y6QTN_g/s1600/IMG_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIyZJDwZx34DZSTHskgBT1XewcHgZcm2zaFnYc66E2cKSOiqiITEeONbp8M6iNr6_-dHxoOF8yyXTstfOF2aUNr2GJ9Z0Ah63paJaMvyOGdfru2bxrblGvypAgQyqJIum4t4-y6QTN_g/s200/IMG_2479.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But what if my heart is empty? My thoughts are numbingly lifeless? Or what if one single thought is clamoring piercingly through the cold night air of my consciousness, and it's </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">too difficult, too painful to begin to articulate on paper or the keyboard? Could I write then? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Maybe not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But I could mutter. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I might even be able to stutter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And would you know, God loves those kinds of prayers? You might not even think of them as prayers. Or even sentences. But the halting words, the frequent pauses are more precious than gold to Him because they are from His child. Everything I feel and think is important to Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I didn't used to believe that. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But I sure do today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I communicate so much more, and better now, both in prayer and with my precious family. I feel more and hear more, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I love hearing my little girl chattering to me from her place on the living room floor, surrounded by her mess of sticker dolls. My tall 9 year old son as he crashes through the front door with the ruddy glow of the outdoors scented with the blooming daffodils and freshly cut grass. My strong, loving husband as he opens the leather bible at the dinner table, reading the words of Jesus to his little family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are words all around me. Both good and not so good. But I'm learning to adjust my listening ear to the good, and filter out the negative. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To see the beauty in the rays of the sun, the happiness in the smell of cut grass, joy in the laugh of my beautiful children, security and love in the embrace of my husband. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To learn to know without a doubt, that God is good. All the time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Suddenly I look up, and I know: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's spring.</span></div>
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Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-88850197550186757782015-11-09T18:55:00.001-08:002015-11-09T18:55:23.450-08:00The Split Seconds<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I come to the door of my room, and survey the house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kids fall silent in the midst of their play as they realize that because of them, mom is probably not happy with what she sees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's chips on the floor. Sticky juice puddles on the counter. Puzzle pieces, angry birds toys and stuffed animals lay strewn in the front room and the den. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's only Monday. I should be full of spiritual health and vibrancy from yesterday, listening to a morning full of messages about God and His love for us, how to apply basic truths to our everyday life and being around picturesque families who have neatly dressed children with clean hands and faces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Growing up, I heard time and time again how important it is to have that QUIET time in the early morning, without the noise and disturbances of usual life. "Put away life for one moment. Shut the door and close your ears against the demands of your home and listen for the voice of God. He can't speak into your heart if it is too busy trying to filter out His voice from your everyday life noise." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But as I stand at the door of my room, I know that I can't just close my bedroom door against my two beautiful children for myself, or to read my bible completely undisturbed without my little early bird girl waking up and wanting to crawl into our bed and chatter. Or that I need to minister and serve my husband breakfast and coffee before he leaves for a long day at work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So what then? How does God walk with me and minister to my heart when I can't stop and have 5 minutes of quiet with my Bible? How does He help me grow in the ant-attracting puddles of juice and the stale chips on the floor? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was in that moment that I felt like God spoke to my heart and said: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It's here. It is right here, in these split seconds where you grow. How you respond to the situation I have placed before you is your chance to make a difference in the little lives that watch you, that learn from you, that love and adore you. How will you talk to them? How will you treat them when you clean up their little spills, their few chips that they dropped? Will you take this as a learning curve from Me? Will you love them like I love you?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I breathe in and realize that my kids are still staring at me, waiting for my reaction. My son looks up at me and I hear him say hesitatingly: "Mom? Are you okay?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I smile, reach out my hand and say "Come, my loves. Help mommy clean up the house."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And all is well, in my heart, in their eyes and in our little world where we learn and grow together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In those split seconds. </span></div>
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<br />Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-48640097970470999872013-05-13T07:56:00.002-07:002016-03-27T18:00:08.633-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Gentleness.</i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is gentleness? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We think of it when we carefully hold a newborn, or when we give instructions to the movers as they unpack your grandmother's fragile china. We use it in directions to our children as we unravel brother's hair from sister's sticky fingers, and when we comfort a friend grieving the loss of a loved one gone on before. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But do we really know what gentleness is? Focus On The Family Gary Thomas writes: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. It is a tender, compassionate approach to towards others weaknesses and limitations. A gentle person still speaks truth, sometimes even painful truth, but in doing so guards his tone so that the truth can be well received."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gentleness takes on many outfits in the daily life of a woman. It's worn in your smile as you patiently work with intense and highly energetic children in your ministry. Its worn in your touch as you shake the hand of a stranger, making him or her feel welcome in your home or church. Its worn in your attitude as you listen to your husband talk about his day, instead of unloading on him about your own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gentleness isn't just a cute little kids song we sing, or a word we notice in the Bible every once in a while. Paul said he was gentle to the Thessalonians as he shared the Gospel with them because "you are dear to us." 1 Thess 2:7-8 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He told Timothy that a "servant of the Lord must not strive (struggle or or fight vigorously) but be gentle to ALL men..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And the wisdom that God gives us "is first pure, then peaceable, GENTLE...." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gentleness is not necessarily a gift, as much as it it a choice. Max Lucado writes:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I choose gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gentleness does not mean that you will become less. It means the very opposite. It's not me who says so; its God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><b>Psalm 18:35 - "Your gentleness has made me great."</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">Jen Matthews</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-42855295397958981672013-05-02T13:19:00.001-07:002013-05-02T13:19:47.029-07:00I haven't blogged in a while, but I have been reading other people's blogs; and I was so encouraged by this one I just had to share it with you guys.<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMedWCsFGxIIlNC2q-plwAQBvVoMYyjlKKqUvMHbG45YkMdHyn8AsLYRmIPrh6LHePvPnvpghMq2YPFW_ulOWoKytLtvHN2R9Q1Son8cZiXxI1fHk5RQ2yQbNmIf_Ex5lw2O0q0fdSzs/s1600/IMG_4318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMedWCsFGxIIlNC2q-plwAQBvVoMYyjlKKqUvMHbG45YkMdHyn8AsLYRmIPrh6LHePvPnvpghMq2YPFW_ulOWoKytLtvHN2R9Q1Son8cZiXxI1fHk5RQ2yQbNmIf_Ex5lw2O0q0fdSzs/s320/IMG_4318.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
It was one of <em>those</em> days. I was driving to the airport in the pouring rain. The skies were grey. The day felt a bit gloomy. And honestly, so did I.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
<strong>There were just a lot of little things swarming my thoughts. Feelings of inadequacy stinging. </strong>“There are so many things I’m responsible for and never enough hours in the day. I do enough to keep things from sinking. But I just wonder if I’m doing anything well. I don’t think I am – doing anything well.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
The more I focused on these thoughts, the more overpowered I became. <strong>The more overpowered I became, the more withdrawn I felt.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
I pulled into the parking space and started the fight with my luggage. My suitcase has two wheels missing. And of course I keep intending to do something about this. But I don’t have time. So I make do with a crazy suitcase and a crazy life and a crazy sense I should just pack my family up and move out west somewhere. Live on a ranch where we grow our own food and I cook beans in a black pot over an open flame.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
Surely that would fix everything.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
Except that I know it wouldn’t.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
<strong>Because the chaos isn’t from my circumstances. It’s inside me.</strong></div>
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I boarded the plane. I stared out the window. I watched the grey clouds envelop us.</div>
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And then the grey broke.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
<strong>Suddenly, we rose above the clouds and the sun was shining crazy bright and far wide and fabulously clear.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
The clouds were just a temporary covering. They didn’t stop the sun from shining. They just prevented my eyes from seeing the sun. And it wasn’t just the sky that appeared a little brighter. My mood did as well.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
I started to shift from feeling overpowered to empowered as I realized three things:</div>
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<strong>Just because I feel it doesn’t make it real.</strong></div>
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Just like I felt the sun was gone but it was very much still there, I might feel like I’m not doing anything well, but it doesn’t make it true. The fact that I have weaknesses doesn’t make everything about me weak. I have plenty of strengths.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
All I have to do is ask a couple of my friends or my family members to help me see what I do well. I can celebrate those, and then get a plan for bettering things that need improvement. I can start by identifying one thing to improve on this month. And do a little toward making that one thing better.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
<strong>There are a lot of people who would trade their best day for my worst day.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
Yes, I have a lot to manage. And yes, sometimes things get a little foggy. But that doesn’t mean I have to stay swallowed up in the grey. That means I need to get my head above the clouds and see all the many places where the sun is shining brightly in my life. So, I can start making a list of things for which I need to be thankful.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
<strong>My mind needs some space to think.</strong></div>
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If I always run at a breakneck pace, I’m eventually going to break. My mind is a powerful tool, capable of seeing things that can be done more efficiently and effectively if I give myself time to think. When is the last time I just sat quietly with a pen and paper and asked the Lord to help me think?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
As 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. When I’m sinking in thoughts of inadequacy and plans to relocate out west, I remember that my ability is not based on what I can do. My ability and strength come from the One who can do all things. With the Lord working in me and through my weaknesses, I can feel the transformation from being overpowered to empowered taking place.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
If the clouds have been looming close lately, maybe it’s time to stop. Pause. <strong>Lift your eyes to an altitude that can rearrange your attitude.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Lucida Sans', Lucida; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
By <a href="http://incourage.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a9e57887af58589c4ecd6475d&id=5fca4cd47d&e=013f08a5ba" style="color: #269eab; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Lysa TerKeurst</a></div>
Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-52013336325340000092012-07-30T20:51:00.001-07:002012-07-30T21:02:50.182-07:00That moment when you realize you should have wrapped your gift...Yes. I gave a book as a gift. What can I say? I like to read, and there's always something homey about a house when you walk in and see books on a shelf.<br />
I was seriously staring at my book while we were literally driving down the road to go to a wedding reception, wondering why on earth I didn't grab a gift bag on my way out the door?!? ... when suddenly I decided to go all "pintrest" on it.<br />
<br />
I grabbed a brown napkin from my glove box while my husband looked on with interest. I think the napkin came from Burger King. lol.<br />
Unfolding the napkin, I tore it in half and started twisting it to look like twine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyKViwbO2xliM1cww7s6sWhUAALqlnuRjyXiWqcjcOdAG-SxUMV1jEgisMgzC-KOoxs0tey05tFVvZ8IsGYogJwoL9H_WamX1wtfo6_Bj2kYWlRRgrvSsphTAdlyuBdKWmkbTTqP81yk/s1600/Cleveland-20120728-00279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyKViwbO2xliM1cww7s6sWhUAALqlnuRjyXiWqcjcOdAG-SxUMV1jEgisMgzC-KOoxs0tey05tFVvZ8IsGYogJwoL9H_WamX1wtfo6_Bj2kYWlRRgrvSsphTAdlyuBdKWmkbTTqP81yk/s320/Cleveland-20120728-00279.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had to untwist a bit of the end and wrap it in the other half of the napkin, and twisted it all together to make a long "twine".<br />
Then I wrote a lil something on the inside of the book, wrapped the napkin/twine around it and tied it up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfm5IOs_HSrMpG7DdumgQ3j8ZLm0OW3t0sD5jlvcgohlc2s414l8IMWdqVHsWfOVVA-21OHBZY8txdGMK0V7piiJD3bX0ilehw4OBWaMebkxVDe2Q5sVvOVtA069toYnoEY_zOz3GdVM/s1600/Calahaln-20120728-00280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfm5IOs_HSrMpG7DdumgQ3j8ZLm0OW3t0sD5jlvcgohlc2s414l8IMWdqVHsWfOVVA-21OHBZY8txdGMK0V7piiJD3bX0ilehw4OBWaMebkxVDe2Q5sVvOVtA069toYnoEY_zOz3GdVM/s320/Calahaln-20120728-00280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
No, its not fancy, and after I took the pic I readjusted the bow a bit to look a lil more presentable. But all in all, not bad.<br />
Especially since it was a napkin from Burger King.<br />
But hey; isn't it the thought that counts? :)<br />
Later!<br />
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<br />Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404677551236112205.post-48040322765670987892012-07-21T12:55:00.001-07:002012-07-21T13:19:09.086-07:00Hello Friends!This is a new attempt for me, and I hope a successful one!<br />
There have been times when I'd wished there was another way for me to share adventures or pictures other than just Facebook or Google+, and so I'm trying this!<br />
My first blog is going to be...<br />
Wait for it...<br />
about FOOD! Haha!<br />
My sister made these delicious pastries this morning, and seriously, they are to DIE for.<br />
Some of you have asked for the recipe, so here it is!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTktjDV7XkcLN34EoTw3ct_2Hc_g1gZOUn7ADRsIy_g_7vid3jw3l9Wi01swEVp2wfUXxX6cHPyY6QUp0IGIog0A880HJIx7Ez3jqxrwEYWCglvDF7qFz7k_4J-gb4SCHCse4t0-1kZo/s1600/20120721_123116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTktjDV7XkcLN34EoTw3ct_2Hc_g1gZOUn7ADRsIy_g_7vid3jw3l9Wi01swEVp2wfUXxX6cHPyY6QUp0IGIog0A880HJIx7Ez3jqxrwEYWCglvDF7qFz7k_4J-gb4SCHCse4t0-1kZo/s320/20120721_123116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/puff-pastry/">http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/puff-pastry/</a><br />
Here is the Pastry Recipe: <br />
<br />
<h2 class="fn">
Puff Pastry Recipe</h2>
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<div class="time" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
<strong>Yield:</strong> <span class="yield">@ 2 lbs or @ 910g worth of Puff Pastry</span></div>
<div class="summary" style="clear: left;">
This recipe is based off of "<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/whionriccou-20/detail/0471359254" target="_blank" title="The Professional Pastry Chef">The Professional Pastry Chef" by Bo Friberg</a></div>
<h3 style="clear: left;">
Ingredients:</h3>
<div class="ingredient">
<h4>
Butter Block Ingredients</h4>
<ul>
<li>1 lb + 3 1/2 T (510g) cold unsalted Butter</li>
<li>2 t (10ml) Lemon Juice</li>
<li>pinch of Salt</li>
<li>1 c (130g) Bread Flour</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Dough Ingredients</h4>
<ul>
<li>3 c (400g) Bread Flour,<em> approximately </em></li>
<li>3 1/2 T (55g) soft unsalted Butter</li>
<li>2 t Salt</li>
<li>1 c (240ml) cold Water</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 style="clear: left;">
Directions:</h3>
<div class="instructions">
<strong>Make Butter Block<img alt="puff pastry recipe" class="alignright size-full wp-image-6788" height="133" src="http://www.whiteonricecouple.com/recipe/images/puff-pastry.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" title="puff pastry recipe" width="200" /></strong><br />
<strong>1.</strong> In mixer w/ paddle attachment, work butter lemon juice, salt, and flour into a smooth paste.<br />
<strong>2.</strong>
On a sheet of wax paper, roughly form an approx. 6" square with the
butter block mixture. Lay another piece of wax paper on top and smooth
out the square & straighten the sides. Peel back each wax paper
sheet & re-lay as it wrinkles to keep a smooth, even surface. After
block's thickness & sides are even, refrigerate until firm.<br />
<strong>Make the dough<img alt="puff pastry recipe" class="alignright size-full wp-image-6785" height="133" src="http://www.whiteonricecouple.com/recipe/images/puff-pastry-1.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" title="puff pastry recipe" width="200" /></strong><br />
<strong>1.</strong>
Sift flour onto your work surface (preferably something chilly like
granite or marble slab) Pinch butter into chunks and place on top of
flour. Continue pinching butter into flour until it resembles coarse
crumbs.<br />
<strong>2.</strong> Now it's kind of like making fresh
pasta. Shape into a mound, then make a well in the center of the mound.
Add the salt & cold water into the well, then with a fork, use a
whisking motion to gradually incorporate the well's sides into the
water. When it starts to form a solid mass, finish incorporating the
flour by kneading. Incorporate just until it is still sticky and has a
rough texture. Adjust the water & flour as needed. Try to knead as
little as possible. Puff pastry likes lazy kneaders.<br />
<strong>3.</strong>
Form dough into a ball, remember-knead as little as possible. Flatten
the ball a bit, then cut a cross halfway through the dough. Wrap it up
& let rest in fridge for 30 minutes.<br />
<em>You'll want the
Butter Block to have approximately the same consistency as the Dough,
after the dough is rested. You don't want the butter rock hard, but not
mushy soft, either. A dough that is softer than the butter will stretch
while the butter doesn't. If the butter is softer than the dough, it
will be pushed out the sides. Either suck to some degree. You may have
to adjust chill/resting times for either dough or butter block so they
are about the same. Kitchen temp., how long it took to make the dough,
fridge temp., all affect the consistency of the Butter Block &
Dough. Figure out adjustments to make so they'll work together
homogeneously. It may take a time or two, but you'll get the hang of it.
While everything is chilling, get to work. Clean that kitchen up. Then
relax & get ready to assemble.</em><br />
<strong>Assembly<img alt="puff pastry assembly" class="alignright size-full wp-image-6789" height="133" src="http://www.whiteonricecouple.com/recipe/images/puff-pastry-2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" title="puff pastry assembly" width="200" /></strong><br />
<strong>1.</strong>
Pull the corners of the cuts out of the dough ball to make a square
shape. Roll the dough out to a square slightly thicker in the center
than on the sides, and slightly larger than the butter block.<br />
<strong>2.</strong>
Place the butter block diagonally on the dough square, so that the
butter corners are pointed at the middle of the dough sides. Fold the
uncovered dough corners over the butter block to completely envelop the
butter. Pinch the seams tightly together to seal in the butter.<br />
<strong>3.</strong>
Dust your work surface with flour, and roll the dough into a rectangle
about 1/2" thick. Remember to keep dusting with flour whenever needed to
keep the dough from sticking & tearing the layers.<br />
<strong>4. </strong>Size
up your rectangle visually into 3. Fold one third over the middle, then
fold the opposite third over. Just like a tri-fold brochure. Try to
have everything as even as possible. All the edges should match fairly
closely. Put on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
Relax, read the paper, check email, whatever you like.<br />
<strong>5.</strong>
Roll out to 1/2" thick and repeat the fold. Don't forget to flour as
you roll. Plate, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Repeat this for a
total five roll & folds.<br />
<strong>6.</strong> After the last
fold, roll the rectangle out to about 3/4". If it is difficult, put
dough in the fridge for a bit to relax the gluten. If using immediately,
cover, rest in fridge for about 30 minutes, then use as needed. If it's
for later, cut into sections big enough but that still fit easily in
your freezer (usually just in half), layer with wax paper between
sections, freezer bag it, & store until needed.</div>
<br />
I'm sure you can use any filling, but since I had Cherry Pie Filling on hand, my sister just used that.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ9BHBYKAFcSokvvIoPoZtlMVazJ0xnR4PmkQ6rGwc_3JH1Lxp76TmF6jVLrXfz1Rso0rJPqsrVmIZx6X5XwK_uRzWNzljdkid50FMKslk6pN7plqo-z6K5VttWoedH0b-EnY5eG24Lc/s1600/20120721_125637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ9BHBYKAFcSokvvIoPoZtlMVazJ0xnR4PmkQ6rGwc_3JH1Lxp76TmF6jVLrXfz1Rso0rJPqsrVmIZx6X5XwK_uRzWNzljdkid50FMKslk6pN7plqo-z6K5VttWoedH0b-EnY5eG24Lc/s320/20120721_125637.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And here is the Danish Recipe:<br />
<a href="http://sweetbaitblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/cherry-cheese-danish.html">http://sweetbaitblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/cherry-cheese-danish.html</a><br />
This is a super easy and delicious recipe!<br />
<br />
For the danish<br />
2 sheets of puff pastry<br />
1 can cherry pie filling<br />
1 8oz pkg cream cheese<br />
2 Tablespoons sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla in cream cheese <br />
<br />
For the icing<br />
1/4 cup powdered sugar<br />
milk<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
1 teaspoon lemon extract<br />
<br />
OK...this is easy peasy...preheat your oven to 375 <em>OR</em> 400 if
your oven is like mine (in need of repair). Thaw your puff pastry,
unfold, and cut in to squares...make them whatever size you like. I like
mine a little smaller. <br />
<br />
Make cream cheese filling by heating your cream cheese in the microwave
to soften. Just 10 seconds or so, you need to be able to stir it around.
Mix in your sugar and vanilla.<br />
<br />
Assemble by putting a blob (that's a technical term) of cream cheese in
the middle of pastry square....I spread it out a little bit on the
diagonal down the center. Dump (another technical term) some of your
cherry pie filing over cream cheese. Take the two sides of the pastry
that you didn't spread cream cheese on and fold over the center...pinch
together so it stays closed. Bake for (crap I forgot to time it) ummmm
maybe the pastry box will tell you? Maybe 12-15 mins? Maybe you just
keep checking it? I sort of tell by smell...when I can smell it I check
on it.<br />
<br />
When you're done let the danish cool on a wire rack. I put the wire rack
on top of the baking sheet I used so it catches the drizzle from the
icing.<br />
<br />Now, on to the icing...just mix your powdered sugar, extracts and milk
till you get a nice consistency for drizzling. Should run off the spoon,
but not overly runny. After the danish is cooled completely drizzle
your icing.
<br />
<br />
I think she made a whole batch, and I'm pretty sure they won't last the day.<br />
We ate them with hot coffee and chill time with family.<br />
If you try them, I promise you'll love them!<br />
Enjoy! <br />
<br />Sunroom Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12483635889809389218noreply@blogger.com0