Monday, May 23, 2011

Raspberry-Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

We served these Raspberry-Lemon Thumbprint Cookies at Brad's graduation, and had a few asking forthe recipes.
The ones at the graduation were made by my sweet Mom. :)



Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup raspberry jam or jelly
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon  lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup of white chocolate (I melt mine in microwave)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 large baking sheets.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
Beat in the egg yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 2 additions and beat just until moist clumps form. Gather the dough together into a ball.
Pince off the dough to form 1-inch balls. Place on the prepared baking sheets, spacing 1-inch apart. Use your floured index finger to create depressions in the center of each ball. Fill each indentation with nearly 1/2 teaspoon of jam.  Bake until golden brown, about 14 minutes. (You don't want these brown) (the ones in the pic above are too brown) (My mistake!)
Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle with melted white chocolate. makes 48 cookies.
The cookies are on the top two plates on left at the graduation. :)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Don't Miss Article...

Most of my life I was rebellious when it came to my dress.
In the last 10 years the Lord has really pricked my heart about it, and changed me.
Then, today at church a friend of mine and I were conversing about modest dress
and when I came home...
The Modest Mom posted this wonderful article about
There was a part 1 here
I hope they are an encouragement to you!



Saturday, May 21, 2011

A Little Fun...

For less than $2 I picked up a white marker that you can write on your windows with...
and the kids had such fun writing about Brad's Grad :)


It looked pretty neat too!


Since we live in a neighborhood, I thought it would be neat to get a sign to put in the yard
I found this really neat one at the $1 store!

Brad was trying on his gown before the grad...
One of the table decorations that went home with one of our guests...

The lovely ladies who labored so diligently to get things ready, served, and cleaned up!
I could NOT have done it without them!

Bingley enjoyed the balloons the day after the party

My mom got Brad this lovely picture frame...
with a hilarious picture in it that was supposed to be him :)

Hard to believe that was a week ago already isn't it!?
Wow!

Mind if I Backtrack?

I do need to backtrack just a bit...I did post about my Mother's birthday...and Brad's graduation...but, I missed Mother's Day somewhere in there! :)
My Mom has been wanting a new cell phone, and we found her one on ebay--she was happy!

We enjoyed a lovely dinner together, then spent the afternoon in the gazebo
(which my kids got out of the attic and put up for me for Mother's Day--great present!)
We played games and enjoyed the lovely spring weather.

My kids also got me the dahlia above--it's the prettiest color!
My church gave me this lovely hanging basket--it is huge!

My hubby spoiled me up too! This is the Bonfire Patio Peach tree he gave me. :)
My Mom and I both had a lovely Mother's Day...hope you did too!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Graduation Day!

Well, we HE made it! lol
I guess our homeschool: Freedom In Christ Academy is now closed!
Brad walked down the aisle a little after noon on Saturday

Our sweet friends sang the National Anthem
while their Dad led the pledges

And, two of our church friends carried the flags

Beautiful rendition of "Complete In Thee" and lovely piano playing!
(I cried!)

These men did a wonderful job of sharing God's Word, & challenging Brad (and us!)
It was a real blessing!

Phil and I each said a little something, and then I turned his tassel and Phil preseneted his diploma!

Brad said a word of thanks to the Lord, and to his family and friends

Afterwards, Brad had his picture taken with his Pop and his Mommom


Brad had his picture taken with his Aunts,Uncles, and cousins...

And friends too of course!



Then we headed down to the reception in the fellowship hall to celebrate!
Lots of food, fellowship, and fun going on!
Some random shots from the day below...


 
More family photos before the party was over.
We pray God's best for Brad as he follows the Lord in his future!

ps. all of these pics were used with permission from the photographer

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Surprise for Mom...

My sweet Mama turned 75 on May 1st
And her sweet friend Gloria threw her a "home invasion surprise party"!

So, we all packed up our food and goodies and just showed up unexpectedly at her door!
It worked out great!
she had a couple of friends whose b-days were the same day or week as hers..
they were on hand to "help out" lol

Her friends and family blessed her with lots of lovely cards and gifts
We had some sweet fellowship
Lots of these ladies have known my mom over 25 years!

It was a blessed day, and I have a wonderful, sweet mother!
She is loved by many!

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Prov. 31:10




 


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Spring...Glorious Spring!

There's nothing like Spring at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA
And, thanks to our sweet friends who had free tickets to share with us...
Bri and I had a fine day there last week!
God's creation shone with His glory in every inch of that place!

It was truly a feast for our eyes :)

The color combinations are perfect aren't they?


My lovely daughter



Dazzling!
All of these pictures in this post are mine, but, Bri took her own
They are much better I'm sure (I haven't seen them yet)
Maybe she'll let me share some in another post

This gigantic frog was about 10" long! He must be a bullfrog
We were far away from him, so it's hard to tell how huge he was.





Aren't these so sweet!?




We had a glorious day!

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.     Isaiah 41:19-20