Oreo truffle recipe and a Halloween treat!

It has been such a busy week around here! Somehow, amidst doing all the things a mommy of a 7 year old and a 4 year old finds herself doing, I realized (at 7:30 p.m!) I completely overlooked putting together a little Halloween treat for Ellie Kate's teacher. I had to brainstorm and come up with something quickly. I always try to keep things on hand for these types of occasions, but it was slim pickings around here. With no other options available I ran to Target to pick up the ingredients for one of my favorite sweet treats- 

Oreo Truffles <found here>.

While scouring the Halloween aisle for anything I could find.. I found these fun little hats. Jack pot!

I had a mason jar at home from a craft we did last year so I grabbed a hat and threw it in my basket. It fit perfectly on top of my jar to add a little Halloween pizazz!

I also found these assorted Halloween themed sprinkles for the truffles!

After the truffles were complete, I added them to the jar, sealed it, then glued the hat to the top. I felt like it needed a little something extra, so I added some ribbon from my craft closet and labeled the jar!

Halloween drinks and a visit from my Mom!

We were so excited because my mom got to come up on Tuesday! 

I'm so thankful for my mom and all the time she sacrifices for us. She usually doesn't get the credit she deserves for all she does. She is the definition of a giver and has an enormous servant heart. 

A friend of my mom's posted the cutest idea for these "Halloween drinks" on her facebook. (original recipe here) So, while she was here she made these silly Halloween drinks for the kids! 

They were a definite hit!

She used:

Sprite 

Gummy eyeball cupcake toppers

Nerds 

Hawaiian punch

Lots of ice

There were lots of snuggles before she had to leave!

Jude wanted his horse in the picture. It's obvious that Ellie Kate wasn't amused;)

It's been a great week around here..I hope the weekend is even better!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Quotes, art, and a weekend recap!

Allow beauty to shatter you regularly. The loveliest people are

the ones who have been burnt and broken and torn at the seams,

yet still send their open hearts into the world to mend again,

and again, and again. ~Victoria Erickson

Lately, God has been teaching me new ways to embrace the beauty in things that are broken. 

Not to just see the beauty in things that are broken, but to let them shatter me..to trust Him in the up's and down's, and to dive into those emotions and feel it all. 

Jesus offers so much beauty and sweetness in our moments of brokenness. He offers himself. 

"Jesus wants you to know that when you are broken, shivering, alone or afraid, with nothing left and nowhere to go, then you can turn in His direction and lay yourself at the foot of His love. Lay your broken offering on His alter. He will come and carry you into His presence. He will hold you with the warmth of His embrace and cover you with the blanket of His kingdom inheritance. God wants you to know that when everything else is gone, that makes more room for Him, and everytime there is more room for Him, you are blessed." - A Beautiful Offering

*I found this quote on www.TheWiegands.com

A college friend of mine had a huge announcement on her instagram yesterday that made me tear up with so much joy for her and her sweet little family. I don't get to speak to her often but there is a sweet connection that is offered through a friendship with a sister-in-christ like her. Even in the words that are unspoken you can hear and know- you can feel the silent, tender prayers. 

My season of life has shifted a little from what hers looks like right now but we are still in the season of raising little one's and trusting God in the unexpected things. My heart is so happy for her because I know the feeling of excitement she feels right now and I see God being so, so faithful to her family and blessing them abundantly.

In her words, "He is so good..in the lowest low's and the highest high's." 

He is! And for that, I am so thankful.

Life is beautiful.

I shared on my instagram last week that I am re-reading 'Shepherding a Child's Heart' by Tedd Tripp. A friend of mine recommended this book a few years ago. It has been such a great resource for me- not just as a mom but in my own personal walk with the Lord.
One of the verses that the book focuses on is Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
I struggle with fear and anxiety. I always have. I don't want those things to flow from my heart. I want the 'good stuff': truth, mercy, grace and beauty to flow through.
What I have learned most in this recent year of uncertainty is that "God prunes us when He is about to take us into a new season of growth and expansion"- Christine Cain. I've also learned that when I hand those worries and fears over to Him I'm blessed beyond measure and there's room for the 'good stuff'.
When I surrender those fears and anxieties completely, my heart is broken for the things that matter.
My heart is broken not in fear and anxiety but for the things that break the heart of the one who died for me.
Suddenly, those fears turn into hope and the anxiety gives way to a new perspective; It turns into serving my loved one's and those around me with compassion, love and understanding.
Suddenly, life doesn't seem overwhelming...
Life looks beautiful.

Chuck-E-Cheese, Trains, and Bop Bop.

I had the privilege of picking my Dad up from the Amtrak station late Saturday night and dropping him off at the Airport early Sunday morning. I'm always thankful for time with my Dad no matter when, where or for how long. 

He had to make a trip up to Chicago for work. 

Since his division of the railroad is based out of Florence (plus we are here) it made sense for him to fly out of and back in to Florence. 

He sent me this picture which kind of made me wish I was there!

Of course, the kids were more than ecstatic waiting on his return yesterday. 

He got back yesterday afternoon and suggested we all go to Chuck-E-Cheese. It took all of two seconds to get the kids out of the door and loaded up into the car!

They had a blast and we miss Bop Bop already!

Happy Weekend, everyone!

October

I think I've mentioned more than a few times how much I love Fall. 

The kids and I have hit the ground running this year with fall crafts, pumpkin flavored this and caramel apple flavored that while brainstorming who they'll portray for Halloween this year. We are having so much fun!

We made these (which I found on Pinterest) a couple of nights ago. They were so easy. All we needed were: 

Popsicle sticks 

Brown and yellow paint

Paint brush

Computer paper

Orange construction paper

Hot glue 

Colored pencil

And a few random items from the craft drawer

We had Ryan and his daughter Hayden over Monday night and thought it would be fun to end the night with these store bought pumpkin cookies. The kids got a little creative and decided to place them on the sheet so that they made their initials. 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of green gables. 

Happy October!