My 1st loaf of bread.

It came out really good and stayed warm for a long time.

my hot cocoa

 1 heaping tbsp cocoa powder

2 tsp powder coffee mate

2 tsp vanilla syrup

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

6 packets of stevia, or whatever sweetener you prefer

Add dry components to boiling water, mix till dissolved, add syrup and heavy whipping cream, stir well, pour into a clean cup.  The cocoa powder can get messy.

Northshore Hawaii Horse

 

Tomato Bean Salad

What you need:

1 Can of diced tomatoes
1 Can of navy beans
1 Tbsp of mayonnaise
couple shakes of pepper
couple shakes of cumin

Optional ingredients:
1/4 cup of diced red onion
1/4 cup of corn
any other seasonings you like

What you do:

mix it all up, voila!

The Best Advice You Can Ever Receive

A piece of advice that is better than any self help book, motivational speech, seminar, pep talk or whatever is this: Spend Quality Time with God.

Spending time with God, especially when you first wake up, is the best thing you can do for yourself.  Praying and asking your Lord to guide, direct and bless your day is better than coffee, a good breakfast, more sleep or anything else that gives comfort and pleasure.  The Lord, our Maker, knows us and knows what is best for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ knew fully well the importance of spending quality time with the Heavenly Father.

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Psalm 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

You may say, "I''m not a morning person." Which ever time works for you as long as you are connecting with the Lord is what matters.  The time of day or night doesn't matter.  It has to be meaningful.  Turn off distractions, separate yourself for a time and have real communion with Jesus.  If it means something to you, it will mean something to him.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

It has taken many years for this to sink in.  The more I seek God and pray, the more time spent with him, the more I realize how much I need his grace, mercy and love in every corner of my life.

May this be an encouragement to you.

Illinois Beach State Park, Lake Michigan

Shelby

She likes to check out my coffee.

Swiss Melt

What you need:

2 slices of bread
2 slices of swiss cheese
1/4 lb hamburger patty
a few tbsp of butter

what to do:

cook the hamburger patty
melt some butter on the skillet
put 2 slices of bread with 2 slices of swiss cheese on one side
put cooked patty on the cheese side
put both sides together and cook to desired doneness
place on paper towels to remove excess butter
enjoy

Pachira Aquatica (3 years old)

Still going after 3 years

First photo

Seek the Lord

Deut 4:29

Duet 12:5

1 Chron 16:10-11

1 Chron 22:19

1 Chron 28:8-9

2 Chron 7:14

2 Chron 11:16

2 Chron 12:14

2 Chron 14:4

2 Chron 15:2

2 Chron 15:12-13

2 Chron 19:3

2 Chron 20:3-4

2 Chron 30:18-20, all

Ps 119:2