The First Date

We knew this day was drawing near.

The Husband and I had discussed it quite a bit.

We planned.

We prepared.

But at the last minute I wanted to say, "I want to be there too!"

But that wasn't how this was going to go.

My struggle was that I'm the one who's done the majority of the day in and day out. I'm the one who's been home with them...teaching...training...bandaging the skinned knees...wiping away the tears. 

I've cuddled and giggled and given the hugs. I've been there from toddling to wearing high heels! I've gone from wiping messy faces to teaching how to wear makeup! That's been my job. But I wanted to be part of this too!! -whine-

This was a job for Dad however. A job for the one who courageously protects their hearts. The one who loves them with strength and boldness. This is Dad's job. I. Must. Let. Go.

We, the Husband and I, had decided long ago that when our girls turned sixteen years old, the Husband would take them on their first date. That before any young man decided to tell our girls how special or beautiful he thought they were, the Husband, our girls' dad, would make it very clear, in case they hadn't gotten it by now, how special and beautiful they were in his eyes and how deeply loved they were by their Dad. He also wanted to show our girls how a young man should treat a young lady! That's right!

And so it was that days before her sixteenth birthday, the Husband asked Sofia out on a date. He planned to take her out to dinner.

She was so excited!

They got all spiffed up!

Awwww! I held it together man! No tears! But I did make the Husband promise to send me photos throughout their evening.

Apparently dinner was very good!

The Husband had two gifts to bestow on Miss Sofia that night, a letter he had painstakingly written to her as well as a Claddagh ring.

In the letter he poured out his heart!

He told her how proud he is of her.

...how precious she is to him.

...how glad he is to be her Dad.

...how much he loves his girl.

My favorite photo...the look on her face after she read the letter!

I think it was exactly what every young woman needs to hear from her Dad.

Fortunately the Husband pulled out the ring quickly thereafter, dispelling any tears that were threatening to fall right there in public!

Still wish I could have been there, but without a doubt it was important for the Husband to give these gifts to our girl. It was a job well done!

Now he has three years to recover before he gets to do it all over again!

Christine

Sixteen

My baby turned 16 yesterday!!

What a beautiful, amazing young woman she has become. 

She has the ability to make me laugh so hard tears stream down my face.

She is a delight, and I love her!

The poor thing was miserable sick for her birthday though. We just stayed home and snuggled up in the living room. Fortunately she had celebrated her birthday the weekend before.

A few friends!

Some popcorn, snacks, a movie, and lots of laughter. A room full of laughing teenagers...nothing else like it! Pure joy!!

I can't believe she's 16 already. CRAZY!!

And tomorrow night, she has her first date! What what??

Yep. I can't wait to tell you all about it!!

Christine

Enjoy the View

I've had enough!

I can't take it anymore!

I'm tired of heavy winter coats, and boots, and mittens, and wool socks! Polar Vortex...BAH!!

I want to paint my toenails and wear my flip flops!!

But maybe, for a little while longer...

I'll just shut my mouth,

and give thanks for the view.

WOW!!

Christine

Granny's Caramel Rolls

The Polar Vortex has returned with a vengeance! -snort!-

It's beautiful outside, but wicked cold!

In fact, it's so cold...

We had to chop up the piano for firewood. 

Unfortunately we only got 2 chords. Ba dum bum!

Anyway...

Besides corny cold weather jokes, we've taken to enjoying comfort food to cope.

Hello caramel rolls!

My Dad's mom, who we affectionately called Granny, used to make these amazing caramel rolls for us! 

Some people may prefer to call them sticky buns but I opted to go with caramel rolls as I couldn't bring myself to title this blog post...Granny's Sticky Buns. Just sounds so wrong! No one needs that picture stuck in their mind.

Hey! How about another joke!

Why didn't the tourist in the Arctic get any sleep?

He plugged his electric blanket into the toaster by mistake - and kept popping out of bed all night. Ha ha ha ha

Oh yeah. Thats better.

And about those caramel rolls...

They are super delicious and comforting. Making them brings back lots of cozy memories of my Granny.

Dough
1 package dry yeast
1 cup scalded milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 cups flour

Now, before we begin, here's a quick note about scalding milk. 

The Husband asked me why I scald the milk. 

I said it was because that's what Granny said to do.

The Husband said, "yeah, but why?"

At that point it was to the Google to find out. So here's the why...scalding milk breaks down proteins in milk that can prevent the dough from rising...and Granny said so! Listen to your Granny! She knows these things!!

So don't skip scalding your milk!

Now, for those who do not know what it means to scald your milk... Scalding milk just means heating your milk to a temperature just below boiling. Easy peasy!

Once your milk has been scalded, let it cool to about 110 degrees F, add in a little bit of the 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 package of dry yeast. Allow the yeast a few minutes to foam.

While yeast is activating, place the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup shortening in a separate, large bowl.

Once activated, add yeast mixture to sugar and shortening. Stir to combine.

Add in 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and lightly beaten egg. Mix well.

One at a time, stirring well to combine after each, add in remaining 2 cups of flour until the dough is stiff.

Knead dough, on a lightly floured surface, until dough is smooth.

Place the dough in a lightly buttered bowl, cover, and let sit in a warm place until it has doubled in size.

Here is where I hang my head in shame...I didn't get any photos of my risen dough. Too excited I guess to move on to the next step. -drat-

Filling
2 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

While dough rises, combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.

Once the dough has risen, punch it down, then roll into a 
9x18 inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.

At least I got this shot! Whoop whoop!

This is the perfect time to start the caramel topping!

Caramel topping
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

Place butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.

While the butter and brown sugar from the caramel ingredient list melt and get cozy together, spread the 2 tablespoons of softened butter from your filling ingredient list (are you following me here?) onto dough, leaving about a half inch border along edges.

Sprinkle cinnamon/sugar (again from your filling ingredients) mixture over buttered surface. Oh that's gonna make it taste nice!

Carefully roll dough, pinching edges together to seal.

Slice into 1 inch pieces. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to use a ruler!

Once the rolls are sliced the caramel sauce should be just about ready.

Once the butter is completely melted and well combined with the brown sugar pour into a 9x13 pan.

Place the sliced rolls into caramel sauce in pan.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until rolls have doubled.

Yeah Baby!

Now there's no way I'm getting up early enough to make these rolls before the family awakes! I make them the night before. Once the rolls have risen, I cover them and place them in the fridge. In the morning, I preheat the oven to 350˚ then bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes.

To unpan the rolls, run a butter knife around the edges to loosen. Place a platter on top of the pan. Now flip that baby over.

All of the gooey, caramelly goodness will run down covering the rolls! That's the best part!!

Hello Gorgeous!

The crispy edge is the best part! Oh yeah!

Now that, my friends, is how one comfort foods through a Polar Vortex!

And just remember, to keep from getting cold feet...Don't go around Brrrrfooted!

Keep warm all and comfort food on!

Christine

Make a Joyful Shout

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; 

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God; 

It is He who made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 

and into His courts with praise!

Be thankful to Him and bless His name!

For the Lord is GOOD;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations! Psalm 100

I am utterly amazed at how God takes the harshest, most bitter, and desolate times and turns them into something glorious.

We are the work of His hands! Bless His name, and trust that He will create something beautiful even in our winter seasons! For God is good!

Christine

Winter Wipeout

I returned home, late yesterday afternoon, from chaperoning my church's youth group trip to Camp Shamineau in Motley, Minnesota.

The trip is appropriately named...Winter Wipeout. 

The trip was in winter, and now I am wiped out!! 

Oh golly am I wiped out! I sure hope this blog post makes sense!! And if not, enjoy some fun photos! I will hopefully have all of my faculties back in a few days, after I've had a chance to catch up on some sleep.

I went on the trip for two reasons; I'm a volunteer leader this year for the youth at my church, and also because my own youth was attending. My Miss Emma Bean!

Miss Emma Bean especially enjoyed the horses at camp.

As a child, I never went to camp.

This was my first "camp" experience.

Honestly, I learned over the weekend that I don't love camp.

I don't love hard mattressed bunk beds.

I don't love sharing a bathroom with 24 girls. 

And I don't love being sleep deprived!! Throughout the weekend, I repeatedly thanked the Lord for coffee!

What I do love is this silly group of kiddos and all of the adults who were there to lead them! 

I love that they encouraged each other!

I love that they were willing to make this sled train 3 times - which meant climbing up a giant hill 3 times - so I could get the perfect photo, as well as a video, and once my camera froze because it was too cold...I could relate. They're very good sports!

I love that they included each other and made new friends.

Mostly I love that they were enthusiastic about praising God and giving their lives to Jesus!

I may be wiped out, but my heart sings!

Christine