I made a King Cake!

Last year I had the chance to speak in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  After the conference, the precious pastor's wife took me to the grocery store at my request. The reason is I LOVE to visit grocery stores in a new city.  They always have great regional specialties.

I was only looking for some Creole or Cajun treats, but discovered something amazing.  That day I saw something I'd never known about, being an Arizona gal and all.  It was a wall of King Cakes for sale!   These beautiful cakes were covered in purple, green and yellow frosting and filled with different fruits and flavors. 

Just the day before I'd eaten my first King Cake made by the ladies of the church.  I had no idea you could buy them in the stores.

I bought one to carry home on the plane, and wished I bought more.  For a year I checked the Internet to find somewhere to buy them in Phoenix.  No success. Finally, I told my new friend Amy Bayliss about my desire for a King Cake and she sent me her personal recipe - actually her grandmother's recipe!

Sunday, I made my first King Cake and it tasted amazing.  It took all afternoon, and we had it for dessert. 

This isn't exactly what it's supposed to look like.  Normally, it is in an oval circle, sometimes with braided dough.  I don't work with yeast dough often, and it rose more than I thought it would.  But it tasted great.  And the colored sugar hides the flaws ... kind of.

If you are interested in the history of the King Cake, here's some info.   The recipe on this page is the same one Amy sent me.  The only difference I made was adding a filling.  I blended 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup chopped pecans, 1/4 cup flour and 4 Tablespoons melted butter.  NOTE:  I should have doubled it. 

To add the filling, simply roll it out after the first rising.  Spread the filling and then form it into a big circle (unless you want it round like mine). 

I also didn't make the lemon frosting. 

If you like making unique items, and learning about regional customs, I can recommend this.  And say "thank you" to Amy for sharing her personal family recipe.  That was just as much a treat as the King Cake.

In His Love,

Glynnis

What is worth celebrating?

This past weekend, a friend told me I was quoted on someone's Caring Bridge blog.  The author of the Caring Bridge site is a mother who lost her daughter to leukemia less than a year ago.   She recently posted my devotion, "So This is What Hard Feels Like."

Just so you know, I'm always honored when that happens.  She was gracious to include my name with it, and that's all I ask. 

Sunday morning, before church, I spent an hour reading about the diagnosis of her daughter's illness last September, and the life-threatening side-effects of the treatment, until this sweet child's passing just a short few months later. I grieved with her.

During those months, her younger child celebrated a birthday, and she wrote about the party they had for him. I imagined it was a bitter-sweet celebration, and she likely carried a bit of guilt for having a party for one child when another was ill.  And yet it was worth celebrating.  I think she did the right thing.

Although I've never met this mother, God connected us for a short time.  I hope my devotion brought her hope and encouragement, but her story has impacted me as well.  I was reminded again of the importance of celebrating life in the midst of hard times.

When I'm faced with a serious concern, I become obsessive.  Just ask my kids when they are five minutes late.  Actually, I even have the ability to turn a small concern into a big one in nothing flat.  It's a gift, really. 

Fixing the problem so consumes me that I forget to stop and celebrate the life going on around me.  The reality is there are reasons to celebrate the everyday joys of life.  All it would take is a pause, a prayer and a redirection of my focus.  It's doesn't show a lack of concern or care - but an acknowledgement that there is still something worth my extra effort.

Today I'm realizing the value of celebrating in the midst of difficulty.  There is good in my life. Lots of it.  There are children who need to know they are valued and worth my time and effort.  I have a husband who appreciates thoughtful gestures of love.  Plus, I love my mother, sisters, their families and my friends.  It's time to consider how to add everyday celebrations to my life in greater measure. 

Life is precious and fragile, and not to be taken for granted.  Just ask any mother who has lost a child. 

Today I want Hannah Grace's mother to know that her daughter's life is impacting my family.   And I say that to all my friends who have lost a child ... I'm specifically thinking of my friend Tammy and my sister Paula.  Your children's lives had great meaning and God is still using them.

Will you join me in celebrating the everyday joys while we still can? 

What do you have to celebrate today?  Who in your life needs to be honored and celebrated?  Leave a comment and we will all honor those are waiting for us in Heaven. 

In His Love,

Glynnis

Give Away Carnival

Today, in celebration of Mardi Gras, my Proverbs 31 sisters and I are participating in a carnival of celebration. Most everyone is giving away gifts, and so am I. If you keep reading you see links to my friends' site and a list of their giveaways. Please take the time to stop by, say hello and enter into the fun.

Speaking of fun and Mardi Gras, recently I was speaking in Walker, Louisiana. What fun I had! I fell in love with the ladies of Judson Baptist Church, and all their sisters from surrounding churches who set aside a Friday night and Saturday morning to hear from God.

I truly believe that each woman who attended was called by God to be there. It was no accident. And God had something special planned for each woman. But I've walked with God long enough to know that it's often what you would least expect.

I know that some women will be touched by God during worship, prayer time, the teaching, the door prizes, the fellowship or the meals. Yes - I believe God called some of those women there so they could feel His love through act of someone preparing the meals for them.

And what meals they were. I usually don't eat before I speak, but that Friday night dinner was magnificent thanks to Miss Ruby and her team. I even had seconds. Those ladies must have spent all day cooking - especially the King Cakes in honor of Mardi Gras. (Miss Ruby gave me her recipe and I left feeling like I was smuggling out a family treasure.)

Then when I didn't think anything could top the dinner, those precious sisters in Christ served a full breakfast the next morning. And I ate everything ... before I spoke. Don't even get me started on the gumbo for lunch. Then Miss Edith took me out for an oyster po boy. Lord, have mercy. I gained four pounds in two days. Really. I weighed myself before and after the trip. But it was worth it.

Everyone felt loved, appreciated, honored and delighted.

I tell you all this to highlight food as a cornerstone of celebration. There is so much love that goes into making food for someone else. Today I'd like to leave you with that thought, and this one: Consider how you can bless someone by making food. Here are some suggestions:

Make homemade jam.

Bake banana bread, with nuts or chocolate chips.

Make a pot of homemade spagetti sauce and deliver with pasta and a salad.

Homemade granola

Chocolate dipped pretzels or strawberries

Host a potluck and game night (then everyone gets to make something)

In celebration of food and gatherings, I'm giving away a beautiful French Country Wire Silverware basket you can set out on the counter for a buffet, plus a copy of my book "work @ home." My husband and I run a home-based business (http://www.roselanecottage.com/) and the silverware basket is one of the items we sell. We also have beautiful new office products if you have the time to look around. Go to "Cottage Office."

To win, simply post a comment on my blog, making sure I have a way to contact you. I'll select a winner at random by the end of the week. I'd love to hear if you make something special for your friends or family. I always am looking for new ideas.

Now on to the carnival. Please make sure you stop by my friends' blogs. Here are some of them and what you can win on their sites.

Wendy Blight http://www.wendyblight.com/ Wendy is giving away a copy of the “One Year Chronological Bible” and her book “Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story.”

Shari Braendel http://www.sharibraendel.blogspot.com/ Shari is giving away three beautiful jewelry pieces to begin a spring wardrobe with! One for a Glamour Girl, one for a Movie Star and one for a Rock Star!

Micca Campbell http://www.miccacampbell.com/ Micca is giving away her book, “An Untroubled Heart,” and a cute clutch purse for those fun summer evenings!

Whitney Capps http://www.whitneycapps.blogspot.com/ Whitney is giving away a $30 Francesca's Gift card, redeemable at http://www.francescascollections.com/

Melanie Chitwood www.melaniechitwood.com/ Melanie is giving away one marriage conference call and her new book “What a Wife Needs from Her Husband.”

Lynn Cowell http://www.lynncowell.com/ Lynn is giving away a prize for mom and a prize for a teen girl in her life – the 3 book series B.A.B.E. series by Andrea Stephens (Beautiful, Accepted, Blessed, Eternally Significant) for the teen and for Mom a $10 gift card to Starbucks along with Lynn’s CD “Building a Bridge to Your Child’s Heart”.

Karen Ehman http://www.karenehman.com/ Karen is giving away a Winter White Basket centered on Psalm 51:7 "Wash me and I will be whiter than snow" that includes Skin Milk body wash, a white loofah, Winter White Citrus Bath & Body Works products, white lily linen and room sprays, white hot cocoa, a white mug and white-chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Along with it, a copy of her book on celebrations entitled “Homespun Memories for the Heart: More Than 200 Ideas to Make Unforgettable Moments.”

Suzie Eller http://www.tsuzanneeller.com/ Suzie is giving away a Logitech Pro 9000 2-megapixel Quick Cam webcam!

Zoe Elmore http://www.zoeelmore.blogspot.com/ Zoe is giving away a journal, a copy of “My Heart's Cry” by Anne Graham Lotz and a piece of jewelry Zoe style!

Charlene Kidd http://www.charlenekidd.blogspot.com/ Charlene is giving away a $20.00 Starbucks Gift Card and a copy of Karen Ehman’s book: “A Life That Says Welcome, Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others.”

Tracie Miles http://www.traciemiles.blogspot.com/ Tracie is giving away her CD "Overcoming Stress with Extraordinary Faith" and a Soulmates Slipper with Christian Notepad and Pen.

Rachel Olsen http://www.rachelolsen.com/ Rachel is giving away "Bread for Life," a hardback copy of "The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year" by Eugene Peterson (which you can read this along with her this year) and the Williams-Sonoma Muffins cookbook.

Wendy Pope http://www.wendypope.org/ Wendy is giving away a copy of her book “Out of the Mouths of Babes” and her CD “Yes, No, and Maybe of a Balanced Life.”

Luann Prater http://www.luannprater.com/ http://www.encouragementcafe.com/ Luann is giving away an Encouragement Cafe mug and t-shirt for both sites!

LeAnn Rice http://www.leannrice.com/ LeAnn is giving away a copy of her cookbook “Sharing Grace: Recipes - Family Traditions- Gift Ideas” and a Starbucks gift card.

Susanne Scheppmann http://www.susannescheppmann.blogspot.com/ Susanne is giving away her "Birds in My Mustard Tree Bible Study" with an I-tunes gift card.

Renee Swope http://www.reneeswope.com/ Renee is giving away Lysa TerKeurst’s Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl DVD Set and her CD message, “Living Beyond the Shadow of Doubt” on DVD.

Lysa TerKeurst http://www.lysaterkeurst.com/ Lysa’s give away is a Mom's Book Club gift pack including 4 copies of Lysa's book, "Am I Messing Up My Kids?" and a 30-minute Q & A conference call with Lysa.

Van Walton http://www.vanwalton.blogspot.com/ Van is giving away her DVD for children – “From the Pound to the Palace.”

She Read http://www.shereads.org/ She Reads is giving away two novels, “Watch Over Me” by Christa Parrish and “Screen Play” by Chris Coppernoll, and chocolate, courtesy of the authors. They will tell the story of how their writing brought them together - a love story, quite literally, fit for a novel!

RadRevolution http://www.radrevolution.org/ Our ministry to teen girls is giving away a copy of “Do the Hard Thing” along with a RadRev t-shirt!

Have fun as we prepare to enter the Lenten season on our way to Easter. The greatest celebration of our faith.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Congratulations to Kelly at www.myfaithfulliving.com. She was randomly selected the winner of a copy of "work @ home" and the silverware basket. Thank you to all who posted a comment. This was so much fun, we are already planning the next carnival giveaway.