My First Daring Baker's Challenge

Back in April, I made a new friend named Kim. She is so much like me in so many ways. We instantly hit it off. One thing we had in common was our love of baking. She introduced me to The Daring Baker. It is this online community that you join and every month they challenge you to bake something new. Today was my first attempt. The challenge was a Bakewell Tart. I'd never heard of it. Here's what they had to say:

The June Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Annemarie of Ambrosia and Nectar. They chose a Traditional (UK) Bakewell Tart... er... pudding that was inspired by a rich baking history dating back to the 1800's in England.

Bakewell tarts…er…puddings combine a number of dessert elements but still let you show off your area’s seasonal fruits.

Like many regional dishes there’s no “one way” to make a Bakewell Tart…er…Pudding, but most of today’s versions fall within one of two types. The first is the “pudding” where a layer of jam is covered by an almondy pastry cream and baked in puff pastry. The second is the “tart” where a rich shortcrust pastry holds jam and an almondy sponge cake-like filling.

The version we’re daring you to make is a combination of the two: a sweet almond-flavoured shortcrust pastry, frangipane and jam.

I chose to make a Strawberry Rhubarb jam for my tart. I seemed to like all of the different parts of this dessert, but I didn't love it all together. It was just "good". The jam was delicious (to me!! haha...JP doesn't really like rhubarb) and I still have some left that I am trying to find a use for. I really loved the "challenge" of this. Baking something new and different was so fun. And I LOVE baking for other people. So next month come on over! I'd be happy to share!

A Really Good Day

June 24, 2000....it was a really good day. The weather in Connecticut was perfect, 75 degrees, sunny and no humidity. All of our friends and family were there. The food was delicious, the wine flowed, the music played. There was laughing and dancing until late into the night. Everyone had a great time. But most importantly, JP and I stood before the Lord and committed ourselves to each other for life. We committed to love and honor and respect each other. We committed to stand by one another no matter what. We committed to put Christ first in our marriage. We committed our love to one another....love that was not just based on feelings and attraction, but love that was blessed by God. Today I am celebrating that day and thanking God for blessing me with an amazing marriage and an even more amazing husband.

Oh and just in case you weren't there, or even if you were, here are some pictures so you can celebrate with me!

An Awesome Dad

I have a great dad. My husband has a great dad. Together we have an AMAZING Heavenly Father. So it should not surprise me that my husband JP is an AWESOME DAD!!! We were talking a few days ago about if either if us remember life before we had kids. We really couldn't. I've noticed over the past 6 years that being a dad comes naturally to him. He did have a great example in his own father (love you John!!) but I had a hard image for him to live up to (love you too Sappy Pappy!!). He has gone above and beyond anything that I could have ever hoped for as a dad to my kids.

He loves to be silly with them, to play with them, to pray with them, to sing with them, to watch Phineas and Ferb with them, to learn with them, to snuggle with them, to work with them, to skateboard with them, to read with them, to eat with them, to play Rock Band with them, to study the Bible with them. And I know he just loves to BE with them.

So Happy Father's Day JP. Thanks for being an awesome Dad.

Me Time??

I thrive on time by myself. Not that I have very much of it, but it really is necessary for me to function as a "normal" person in my not so normal crazy life. Lately we have been running at the "break-neck" speed of summer. Since John Mark's summer break is only 6 weeks long and 3 days a week the kids are at Miss Heather's house, I have been trying to make our weekends and days off full of summer fun. We have been spending a lot of time at the pool. We have done crafts. We have been to the library. We have read books and watched a few episodes of Phineas and Ferb (BTW that is a HILARIOUS show!!). And yesterday evening it just hit me that I was done. I needed "me-time". We rushed out after dinner to a baptism and then to Costco. The kids were wired at both and grating on my last nerve. When we got home I told JP that if he cleaned the kitchen I would put the kids to bed. To which he replied "Why don't I clean the kitchen AND put the kids to bed and you go upstairs with a glass of wine?"!!! My Hero!!!!

So I had a little down time last night and it was good. But I woke up this morning still feeling restless. As I was getting the kids ready for school (and a sleepover at Miss Heather's), I was still feeling a little down trodden. It's funny because I have the whole rest of the day to myself until I go to work. I should be excited about it...right?

On the way to Miss Heather's it hit me...it is SOOOOO not about me. I didn't need "me-time" as much as I needed "me and God-time". So I came home, got on face (yes sometimes we need to do that) and cried out to the One who makes all things new. We spent some time together....just me and my Savior. He spoke, I listened. And NOW I feel refreshed. That is what I call a great day!

Beautiful

Last night I cut Riley's bangs. She came down the stairs and asked her father, "Do I look beautiful Daddy". He responded, "You do look beautiful Riley. You are such a pretty girl." To which she replied, "Yes I am" and walked away. JP then said "But obviously not very humble".

But you know what? I'm glad she thinks she is pretty. She is going to be spending so much of her life (like all girls/women do) doubting her beauty. She'll worry too much about whether other people think she is pretty. Someday her father's opinion won't matter as much as some teenage boy. My prayer for her is that she always knows how beautiful she really is...inside and outside.

"The Kind is enthralled by your beauty. Honor Him, for he is your Lord" Psalm 45:11

Last Day of Kindergarten

Last Day / First Day

Today was John Mark's last day of kindergarten and surprisingly, it is making me more sad than his first day of kindergarten. I think it is mostly due to the amazing teacher he had this year. God surely blessed us with Ms. Sue Carter. I have mentioned her before, but after having her as a teacher for an entire year, I can only sing her praises. She has been teaching for 35 years and still has more energy than I could ever hope to have!

But what I love most about her is that she is an encourager. She has encouraged John Mark in everything that he has done. She has let him talk about his faith and she shares his genuine love for the Lord. She has pushed him to his potential without pushing him too hard. She has loved him as much as he loves her. She told me that he gives her a hug every morning when he arrives and one every day before he leaves. She said she will miss that :(

When John Mark prayed to get into Poplar Grove, I prayed that he would get the best teacher for him. God has answered my prayer above and beyond on this one. I feel like He said "You asked for it...I'm giving you my best!" So thank you God for Ms. Carter. And thank you Ms. Carter for an amazing year of kindergarten.

A New Self-Help Program

My name is Jill and I am an internet addict. There I said it. I know I spend way too much time on Facebook or blog-stalking. This fact was brought to my attention the other day when Riley wet her pants because I was too busy on Facebook to take her to the potty. BAD MOMMY!

So as of today, I am starting a "limited screen time" program. I am limiting myself to 30 minutes a day on the computer (except for essentials like online banking or planning this church party I have to do!). I have set up a timer next to my computer and it is ticking away even as I write this. I am going to try three 10 minute segments throughout the day as to not completely go through withdrawl by 10am.

So sorry for the short post but the ticking is stalking me and I just NEED to check some blo....DING!