“Iced Coffee=Pleasure” Photo Journey

-EPIC COFFEE EXPERIENCES!-

While our family was in Thailand, we had LOTS and LOTS of iced coffee! It was rich and full-bodied. Coffee shops were more common than large shopping centers. They were ingenious at popping little coffee shops in the smallest of places. Right around the corner from where we were staying, a lady had about 8′ of street front where she had put a coffee shop. I sure frequented that place! In fact, every time I came around she’d light up like fireworks! The coolest thing was that it was reasonably priced, paying only around $1.00 to $2.50 USD! Here are some pictures of the top-notch coffees we were privileged to experience.

Beautiful…

My princess and I sharing a cup! Irresistable!

Apostle Peter could have walked on this one it was that black.

Thailand…I love you! 🙂 Or should I say, I love your coffee? 🙂

And so I HAD  to come up with my own! Here in the States specialty coffees cost an arm and a leg or at least one’s daily allowance.

Here is my version…

~”D’s Thai Iced Coffee”~

The lovely cast of characters!

Liquid gold! Cold-brewed coffee/coffee liquor. My son kept trying to sneak tastes of it. Every single time he would come up with the same results! Such a face puckering!

Nice tall glasses filled with ice!

Start with the coffee liquor. Pour into cup until it is half to three-quarters full depending on how black you like it. Add at least three teaspoons of sweetened condensed milk and fill the rest of way full with milk. Stir together. Top with a swirly of whipped topping. For more flourish add chocolate shavings.

Enjoy!

Adapted from www.pioneerwoman.com

What Type of Christian Are You?

This is worth your time! Are you living the Christianity that the Bible teaches or are you living some sort of man-made American “christianity”?

The Power of a Praying Mom

I love testimonies like this! Our God is AWESOME! This one is form “Gospel for Asia” ministry newsletter.

“From a Beer Can to a Bible”

Lankesh had a secure job as a bus conductor in the city. He was responsible for the safe transportation of hundreds of Sri Lankans every day. With the income form his job, Lankesh helped support his mother and sister at home.

Every weekend, Lankesh would faithfully come home to visit his mother and sister, and just as faithfully, every weekend his mother, Yachana, would share with him about Jesus. However, Lankesh was convinced of his traditional religious beliefs, and he had no interest in giving them up. When his mother would talk about Jesus, Lankesh would get angry and leave the house, usually to go drinking with his friends.

Then suddenly, Lankesh stopped making his weekened visits. His alcohol habit had become so excessive that he even discontinued his own religous activities, which he had once valued so highly.

To make matters wors, Lankesh was no longer providing money for the family. Yachana was already struggling financially, and she was devestated by her son’s disappearance. Her heart ached as she wondered wher eher boy could be. So she did the only thing she could think of: She prayed.

Yachana visited her Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, Fateh. She explained to him that she had not seen her son in some time, and she was afraid for his safety. Fateh encouraged her to continue praying for her son and to trust in the Lord. Yachana was convinced that her pastor owas right. She went home that day full of faith that she would see her son by the end of the week.

Imagine Yachana’s delight when Lankesh came home that very weekend! She was so thankful to see that he was safe. And she was even more overjoyed when he agreed to go to church with her that Sunday.

However, Yachana noticed a distressing change in her son that weekend. Lankesh’s eyes were re, and his face looked strange to her.

During the time of prayer at church, Pastor Fateh prayed for Lankesh. But Lankesh began to scram wildly, and the pastor immediately recognized that he was possessed by a demon. Lankesh collapsed to the floor. The pastor sonctinued to pray fervently over the young man, until the demon was gone and Lankesh was delivered.

Today, Lankesh is earnestly following after Jesus and has given up his former lifestyle. Yachana is at peace and thankful to the Lord for freeing her son form danger. She credits the incredible power of prayer for delivering him. She is delighted to see Lankesh carrying a Bible now instead of a beer can.

For more information on Gospel for Asia’s ministry: www.gfa.org

Taste Tester Thursday

“Blueberry Cheese Braid”

Dissolve and let stand five minutes:

2 pkgs. yeast & 1 c. warm water

Add and beat on low for 3 minutes:

1/2 c. softened butter or margarine

5 tbsp. sugar

2 eggs

1/4 tsp. salt

4 1/4-4 1/2 c. all purpose flour (just enough to make a soft dough)

Let rise till doubled, about 45 minutes.

For the cream cheese filling:

2-8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese softened

1/3 c. sugar

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat well.

1 can Lucky Leaf Blueberry Pie Filling

Divide dough in half. Roll each portion into a 15 by 9 rectangle. Place on greased baking sheets. Spread half of the cream cheese filling down the middle third lengthwise. Spread half of the blueberry filling on top. Cut one inch wide strips about three inches in length to center third. Braid. Seal ends and let rise 20 minutes. Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes till golden brown. Cool and ice with glaze.

Glaze:

1 c. confectioners sugar

2-3 tbsp. milk

I love this recipe! It’s so yummy! While it looks difficult, in reality it is quite simple. This makes two huge braids enough for 20 plus people. So what I like to do, is freeze the one so I’ve got it handy for when company drops by unexpectedly.

Enjoy!

Milestone Moments-First Day of School

My first baby goes to school today. Precisely to first grade. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that she was my colicky baby in my arms. The baby who I walked floors with. The baby who finger-painted my kitchen floor with pancake syrup. The baby who used Desitin cream for shaving cream to be like Daddy. The baby who called her baby brother, “Baby Goash (Joash)”. One of the main questions in my mind is, “Have I done my part? Have I taught her what she needs to know from Mom? Or have I failed her?”

Here the princess is:

She and her brother, who feels completely lost with out her.

At her desk:

The gift for her teacher:

Coffee-“For you as you get back into the grind”.

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Blessings on you today!

From the Trenches!

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the ones I’m talking about, the ones where nothing or very little goes “right”. Today was definitely one of those days for me! It all started at 5:15 this morning when the alarm clock rang. My night had been disturbed frequently for a little one who needed nursed, then my dreams were restless on top of it. And as a good wife, I had committed to get up and pack my husband’s lunch. I did NOT want to get up! NO WAY! But I did. I even had an iced coffee with my husband. Then I decided that I would stay up and attempt to scrapbook on www.shutterfly.com . You guessed it! Once again things didn’t go right! It failed to upload my pictures properly and I had to start a photo book again and again and again! I’m not kidding, I actually did try three times. On the fourth try, I gave up for then. I then discovered that I had some peaches that needed to be canned yet today! I had a fussy baby who screamed for like an hour. I didn’t know what was wrong! Even nap time didn’t go right! I laid down with an ambitious little boy and a crying baby. Finally as I was drifting off to sleep a nasty, pesky fly attacks me. So I get up, to can my peaches in the process spilling $4.54 worth of slivered almonds on my kitchen floor and discovering that I can not finish canning until I run to the store for more supplies. Oh great! I did so want to say a bad word! As if, that would make it better! 🙂 I had to wonder how a Christian woman should respond in such circumstances. It’s not as though I didn’t do some things right, like having an iced coffee, hanging out my laundry, having quiet time with God, and reading to my children! But just because we do some things right is no guarantee for a perfect day! A verse came to my mind, “Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice”. Rejoice?! Are you kidding? Then again, I do have so many things to be thankful for such as a healthy body, healthy kids with healthy voices and bodies, a beautiful day, peaches to can, laundry to do, and the list goes on. The other verse that came to my mind is “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. And he that is unfaithful in that which is least is unjust in that which is much”. So I will continue to worship even when it goes down and dirty and my ways and my plans get all twisted up…

I REALLY want to know from you, my readers! What do you do when your day goes haywire? How do you remain faithful in the moments of frustration? What are some tips you have learned?

And the Winners Are…!

I’m happy to announce that the winners of the authentic Thai scarves are Sloan and Counpon Cutting Mom! To claim your prize please send your address to passingonthefaith@yahoo.com. Available colors are burgundy, green, or white. Please specify the color you would prefer when corresponding! Thanks to all of you who entered! I treasure my readers!

 

 

 

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