Beth wasn't lying!!

My friend Beth has been posting recipes from Smitten Kitchen.  Every time I read one, I salivate over what I think that dish must taste like, and promise myself that very soon I am going to be making my own.

Well, this past week it was my turn to make dessert for our small group.  I contemplated what to make, and Paul put A LOT of pressure on me to make the greatest dessert every made.  As I thought about it I looked through tons of recipes, and then I got up the nerve to try something new.  I searched the Smitten Kitchen website and found the best combination of the two desserts I ADORE.....Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake.  In every bite you get the chewiness of the brownie with the creaminess of the cheesecake.  DELICIOUS!!  (And our small group thought so too!).  I will post a picture soon, but you guys seriously need to try this out!

So Beth, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for introducing me to this site!  You ROCK!!

And Dad C....I know you are reading this...I will make it for you sometime soon!  We can have French Onion Soup and Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake!! 

WOW!!

Lately I have been craving French Onion Soup...I'm not sure why since I have only had it once, but I really have wanted to try and make it.  Since my friend recently introduced me to Pioneer Woman, I decided that I would check out her website to see if there was a recipe.  What I found has changed my life!  We love it because it is an inexpensive meal (since we used Swiss Cheese instead of Gruyere), we use minimal dishes, and it makes enough for a couple meals worth of big bowls or several small bowls.  I think it would be great with an AWESOME salad!

We made it last night (it takes time...you should start this a couple hours in advance), and then had leftovers for lunch today, and we were not disappointed.  The one thing we realized is that you don't want to over do it with cheese.  Last night we used 2 slices of cheese and this afternoon we used one...SO MUCH BETTER WITH ONLY 1!!!  It true that you can have too much of a good thing.  The only thing I really want to do differently is try it with Gruyere cheese since I have heard so many wonderful things about it, but let me tell you with Swiss Cheese it is simply amazing.  Check it out, and check out the rest of her website as there are TONS of great recipes that I can't wait to try out.

He's Here, He's Here!!!-UPDATED!!!

Our nephew, Grady James Coppinger, was born yesterday (January 19, 2010) at 3:09pm.  He is 6lbs 12oz, and he is as cute as a button.  Please pray that BIG sister Clara adjusts well.  Hopefully, we will get to go see him SOON!!  Thanks Friends!!

Adoption UPDATE!! and a few other things...

Well, as I sit here watching "24" with my husband I have been checking out this new website that of friend of mine sent me...www.thepioneerwoman.com.  All I have to say is that EVERYTHING that she has on that website looks ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!  I want to make it all!  My friend made some cinnamon rolls for small group from this website and the cinnamon rolls were DELICIOUS!! You know they have to be good if I am using all caps right?!?!  Anyway, just check it out...you won't be disappointed!

In other important news...if you have gone to check out my friend Beth's blog you have noticed that she sells some ABSOLUTELY AMAZING items that she makes.  She has donated some items to Craft Hope to help raise money for the people in Haiti...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check it out and see if there is anything you would like to purchase so that we can help out those who are really struggling right now.

Finally, we have decided to change Adoption Agencies.  A friend of mine had heard GREAT things about another agency, and the agency we were working with just started to make us feel like they were more interested in placing children wherever than making sure it was the BEST placement for the child.  We are now going to be working with Pathways, and will begin our training in February!

Life is busy, but is so much FUN!!!  God is doing some AMAZING things!!

Love all of you readers!!
Cynthia

Happy New Year!

I am so grateful for the beginning of a new year. It reminds me of how the new beginning I have in Christ. This year I am going to focus on being more joyful, and grateful for the blessings God has given me. I am excited about what God is going to do in our family this year!!!

A friend of mine posted some resolutions on her blog and then asked her readers to post their resolutions as a comment. I think this is a great idea so I am asking you to do the same. I really would like to be able to pray for you to meet these goals this year too!!

My 2010 resolutions:
1) Gain a better understanding of who God is as I read through the Bible daily.
2) Understand more about Sustainable Living, and begin shopping for what is in season and at Farmer’s Markets, using products that are good for the enviroment, supporting local businesses, and support businesses that are helping us not hurting us.
3) Love my students the way God loves me.
4) Get to know my neighbors.
5) Love the kiddos that God brings into our home through adoption.
6) Become more healthy through eating foods that are better for me and exercising regularly.

So what have you resolved to do?

P.S. My friend is Beth, and she has amazing recipes, tips on sustainable living, and an Etsy shop where she is selling some of her creations (purses, jewlery, etc). She is absolutely amazing so please check it out, and if you see some thing that you like please purchase it! These items are very well made, and affordable!