God has been working wonders in my heart over the past two years as we’ve journeyed down the road of infertility, and I can’t wait to share his goodness with you. But let’s back up the story and visit something I wrote June 9, 2011 (a year and a half ago), when my heart was […]
The One with a 31 Month Confession
Dear friends, I have something to confess. I have been keeping a very large corner of my heart a secret from you all for many months. I didn’t know if I should share or if this was something the Lord wanted me to keep private. And so I’ve waited for a peace about when to […]
The One with the Full House
This month has been filled with quality friends-and-family time, and my cup is overflowing. One wonderful occasion was in a town west of Chicago–yes, an 11 hour drive–to finally attend our college friends’ annual holiday gathering. There is something special andtotally unmatched about the friendships formed during those four years of higher education. Living with friends, seeing each other […]
Sugared Sugar Cookie Recipe
I have finally found the secret to easy Christmas Cut-Out Cookies —eliminating the frosting. *gasp* I know, I know, it’s not the same, but friends if you despise the frosting process as much as I do then this method is your ticket to Christmas cookie happiness. All the deliciousness of the sugar cookie with the […]
Monkey Bread Recipe (Bread Machine)
For extra-special weekend mornings or just because you’re craving something warm, gooey and oh-so-sweet, you must indulge in this Monkey Bread. I had previously experienced the traditional version of Monkey Bread which included pre-made biscuit dough. That form of this sweet treat was certainly delicious, but I wanted to try my hand at the from-scratch […]
Swedish Pepparkakor Cookie Recipe
Marrying into a Swedish family means learning their traditions and customs and tasting lots of new dishes and desserts. One of my favorite treats native to Scandinavia is this lovely crunchy ginger cookie known as pepparkakor. You may have seen boxes of Anna’s brand pepparkakor in the grocery store or at a Christmas party. They’re delightful! I […]
Mint Chip Chocolate Almond Biscotti Recipe
If there’s one guy I trust to give me an awesome biscotti recipe it’s David Lebovitz. The guy is a genius. Sure enough, this butter-less biscotti turned out beautifully even with my inclusion of mint chips rather than just chocolate. In case you’re looking at me like, “What in the world is biscotti?” then allow […]
A Spice Cake Kind of Birthday
For my birthday, my husband surprised me with all of the “favorite things” he’s heard me mention over the years. He baked a spice cake (even made it double layer! and found the cake stand to display it on!), bought extra frosting and graham crackers to enjoy it with. YUM! And of course he couldn’t […]
Amish White Bread Recipe
Tall, fluffy, slightly sweet, and perfect for sandwiches–this bread is a winner. Its dough is soft and tender as you knead it, tempting you with the perfection that will be enjoyed after rising and rising and baking to beauty. Seriously, people, I’m not exaggerating. If you’re scared to make bread by hand, start with […]
The Very Beginning of Us
Eight years ago on this very day, I made the five-turned-seven-hour drive back to our college campus after Thanksgiving break to give a certain 18 year old boy an answer. Yes, I will be your girlfriend. That elegant response was quickly followed by a moment of naive honesty— so what does that mean exactly?It was […]