GOD All-Sufficient

King of Glory, Divine Majesty, 

Every perfection adorns thy nature & sustains thy throne;
The heavens & earth are thine, 
The world is thine & its fullness.
Thy power created the universe from nothing;
Thy wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns, presiding over nations, families,  individuals.   
Thy goodness is boundless; 
 all creatures wait on thee
 are supplied by thee, 
 are satisfied in thee.
How precious are the thoughts of thy mercy & grace!
How excellent thy lovingkindness that draws men to thee!
Teach us to place our happiness in thee, 
 the blessed God, 
 never seeking life among the dead things of earth, 
or asking for that whihc satisfies the deluded;
But may we prize the light of thy s mile, 
 implore the joy of thy salvation, 
 find our heaven in thee.
Thou has attended to our happiness more than we can do;
Though we are fallen creatures thou hast not neglected us.
In love & pity thou hast provided us a Saviour;
Apply his redemption to our hearts, 
 by justifying our persons, & sanctifying our natures.
We confess our transgressions, have mercy on us.
We are weary, give us rest, 
 ignorant, make us wise unto salvation, 
 helpless, let thy strength be made perfect in our weakness, 
 poor & needy, bless us with Christ's unsearchable riches,
 perplexed & tempted, let us travel on unchecked, undismayed, knowing that thou hast said, 
'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'
Blessed be thy name!

The Valley of Vision
Puritan Prayers & Devotions (Page 392-393)
 

~Tasty Tuesday~

I love when friends share recipes!  This one comes from a sweet friend who made this cake this weekend & was kind enough to share it with me.  I cannot wait to try it.  It keeps with the fall theme I have had going the past few weeks with Apples!

Fresh Apple Cake
4 Eggs
3 Cups Flour (Self-Rising)
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Oil
2 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 Cup Orange or Pineapple Juice
4 Large Granny Smith Apples (Peeled, Cored & Thinly Sliced)
1/2 Cup Sugar + 2 tsp Cinnamon mixed together in separate bowl.

Mix together eggs, flour, sugar, oil, vanilla & juice.  Place 1/3 of batter in a bundt or tube (angel's food cake) pan.  On top of the batter: arrange half of the apples & then sprinkle half of the separate cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Follow with the rest of the apples & then the rest of the cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Pour the rest of the batter on top.
Bake for 1- 1 1/2 hours at 350 or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a plate.  A glaze is optional.  (Powdered sugar, cinnamon & a splash of juice is what my friend used.)  

Yummmm...I can just smell it baking now!  
Hope you enjoy!

Rachel

Top Ten

I just love college football!  Today's post is my Top Ten from this past weekend.  (Just my opinion.  College football recap from a Mommy of two!)

Top Ten
10. It's probably not a good thing to be ranked #1 this year.  There seems to be a pattern....
 9. Oregon: It doesn't matter how many 30+ ways you pair Camo Green with Yellowjacket Gold...the uniforms are not attractive.  Its a good thing that you are undefeated-your super fans don't care about your lack of style when you keep winning.
 8. USC who?!?
 7. I am not sure what a War Eagle & a Tiger have in common but it seems to be working for the University of Auburn.  That, or the fact that their QB is GI-normous!
 6. Slow & Steady wins the race.  Iowa State scores a TD in every quarter to defeat Texas for the first time ever!
 5. Gators who?!?
 4. TCU undefeated & at #5 makes super fans everywhere excited to wear Purple & call themselves Horned Frogs!
 3. I've only known Dentists to come from Baylor but apparently they can play some Football too...coming in at #25.
 2. Petrino gets his win over Nutt which is enough to send HOG fans over the moon!
 1. When you return an opening kickoff for a TD you do not embarrass!  Way to go MIZZOU...knocking off #1.  And yes, you did in fact beat Oklahoma!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  


Rachel
 

~*~Surprise Papa!~*~

"...The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons & talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way & when you lie down & when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand & they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house & on your gates." ~ Deuteronomy 6: 4-9

I adore my Dad!  He is truly the most influential man in my life.  His love for his Lord is evident in everything he does & his love for his family is just as strong.  My Dad is a quiet, reserved man who doesn't always have a lot to say but when he speaks his advice & counsel is heard & most always taken.  He has a true servant's heart.  He will always place others before himself, help to his maximum capacity & always do it with a smile on his face!  
This past weekend we were able to surprise my Dad for his 60th Birthday! (Which is today.)  We drove the five hours after Bferg got off work & pulled into my parent's driveway just 10 minutes before he got home from work.  Both girls yelled, "Surprise" and you should have seen him melt!  We spent Saturday morning at the pumpkin patch & then gathered the whole family for a surprise Race Car themed party.  He loved every minute of it even though the spotlight was on him all night long!

Papa & his girls headed to the Pumpkin Patch.

"Surprise!"

Lily & the party favor!

Papa, Aubrielle & Luke trying to get the pinata to spill the candy.

Papa & all the girls.  (Aubrielle, 3  Taylor, 17mos   Lily 19mos.)

Blowing out the candles.  (Check out Aubrie's face! :)

Opening gifts.

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!  We all love you so much & are so thankful for your influence in all of our lives.  You have blessed so many.

Rachel

~Tasty Tuesday~

This recipe is compliments from a dear friend who is an amazing cook!  I tried it last night and not only is it super easy but it tastes divine and it is relatively healthy!  


Harvest Butternut Squash Soup
1 Lg Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded & cubed (2 inch cubes)
2 Lg Potatoes, peeled & cubed (2 inch cubes)
2 tsp Salt
1 Red Onion, coarsely chopped
1-2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
4 Tbs Butter
Sour Cream (to garnish) 

Place the squash, potatoes & salt in a large stockpot & cover with water.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Cook until both the squash & potatoes are soft when pierced with a fork, about 20-25 minutes.  While the squash is cooking, saute the onion in butter.  Add cayenne pepper to onion.  
Place squash, potatoes & onion in your blender with enough of the squash cooking liquid (from stockpot) to liquify.  Soup will be thick but pourable.  Serve in bowls with a dollop of sour cream.
The cayenne pepper adds an unusual but very delicious twist to the squash.  Perfect for a fall night.  I served mine with a hearty wheat french bread warmed in the oven.  It was fall in a bowl!  Hope you enjoy!

Rachel 

{Sisters}

~Tasty Tuesday~

I'm following with my Fall Theme for the week and sharing my favorite fall dessert recipe.  I have had this recipe in my collection for years now. I decided to make it for the first time last fall and it quickly became one of my favorites!  Its official title is Pumpkin Pie Dessert Squares but it tastes more like a Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake.  So, if you like Gooey Butter Cakes & you like Pumpkin...this one is a WINNER! 

Pumpkin Pie Dessert Squares
Crust: 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
           1/2 Cup Melted Butter
           1 Egg
Filling: 2 Eggs
           2/3 Cup Evaporated Milk (5oz can)
           1 (15oz) Can of Pumpkin
           3/4 Cup Sugar
           1/2 tsp Vanilla
           1/2 tsp Salt
           1/2 tsp Ginger
           1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
           1 tsp Cinnamon
           1/4 tsp Nutmeg
Topping: 1 Cup Reserved Cake Mix
               1/4 Cup Sugar
               1 tsp Cinnamon
               1/4 Cup Butter (Cold)
Grease bottom of 9x13" pan.  Empty Cake Mix into bowl & reserve 1 cup for topping.  Add melted butter & beaten egg to remaining cake mix.  When mixed, press firmly into pan.
Filling: Beat eggs slightly, add evap milk & remaining ingredients.  Beat until smooth. Pour over crust.
Prepare the topping by cutting the butter into the cake mix, cinnamon & sugar.  Sprinkle over the filling.  
Bake for 40-45 min or until knife inserted comes out clean.  325 for Glass pans & 350 for all others.  Cut into squares & served with whipped cream or dust with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!
Rachel 

Happy Fall!

Fall has arrived in Northwest Arkansas!  I simply adore fall...I long to layer clothing, love crisp mornings & evenings, and the colors that come with fall are spectacular!  (Especially in the Ozarks!)  We decided to do our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch this weekend & we had the most perfect fall day for it!

Heading out to the field!

Aubrielle finds the "most perfect" pumpkin.

Lily helping Daddy cut her choice from the vine.

She was very proud of her "ball" and wanted to carry it all be herself!

Both girls SO proud of their selections!  Helping Daddy pull the wagon.

 Happy Fall Y'all!

Rachel