Winter Storm Baking

Told you I was going to do better...two posts in one day. This is not about my kids but what I made my kids. It was yummalicious.

BITE-SIZE SOUR CREAM-POUND CAKE CUPCAKES

1/2 C. Butter, softened
1/2 (8 oz.) Cream cheese, softened
2 C. Sugar
4 Large Eggs
1 t. Vanilla
3 C. All-purpose flour
1 t. Baking powder
1/2 t. Baking soda
1/2 t. Salt
1 (8 oz.) Container Sour Ceam
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

1. Pre-heat oven to 350. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

2. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients. Gradually add to butter miture alternately with xour cream, beating until blended. Spoon batter by rounded tablespoonfuls into lightly greased miniatrue muffin pans.

3. Bake at 350 for 13 - 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted inc enters comes out clean. (I undercooked these a few minutes and let them finish baking out of the oven...make sense). Spread cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting.

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1/2 C. butter, softened
1 (3 oz.) Cream cheese, softened
2 t. Vanilla
1 (16 oz.) pkg. Powdered sugar
3 - 4 T. Milk

1. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

2. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 3 T. milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition.

If I were to ever open up my own bakery I would make these. They are so yummy. Enjoy!!!!

Will Try Harder to Blog

I have been a bad blogger. Most of the time I think it is because I have nothing to blog about. Then I think to myself..."Self...are you kidding me? You have 4 kids."

I have been (just like several other people) snowed in my house and spent alot (probably too much) time reading and catching up on blogs. Many I have read said they blog so they can have a journal for their kids. I often wonder why blog when there are maybe 2 people who read it but my perspective has changed.

SO...

for my 2 readers who give me a hard time for not blogging...I am going to try to do a better job for my kids. I am getting older and they are growing up so fast and I want to remember the little things that they do.

So...

for my first blog back I would like to introduce you to my husband CHRIS ANDERSON.

He is my answer to prayer. When I was in high school I made a list of things to pray for in a husband. Chris fit everything on my list. I am so sad that I cannot find that list. However, one thing (there are many) I do remember praying is that my future husband would not have to play sports well but know a little bit about it where he could carry on an intelligent conversation about it. Well, if you know Chris, he knows EVERYTHING about sports. Sports you know well like football, basketball, baseball, etc. and then the not so common sports like hockey, soccer, tennis (which we NEVER watch but he could tell you all about it).

Here are some fun facts about him that I love...

1. He loves me unconditionally and shows me every day.

2. He is extremely patient.

3. He is so kind and not easily angered (believe me I give him alot of opportunities to be angry...no "amens" from family members please)

4. He is a servant. He would do anything for anyone.

5. He is a fun Dad. He makes the most mundane things seem fun.

6. He is very frugal...we make a good match because I am not (but am working on it).

7. He has such a tender heart and is always quick to seek forgiveness if he has done something wrong.

8. He has never met a stranger and everyone he meets leaves feeling as though they are best friends.

9. He is full of ideas. If anyone asks for a solution to a problem or suggestions to solve a problem he always has a thought and it is good.

10. He loves me!!!!!!!

Several years ago we were questioning where God had us and what God's will was for us. I told him that God had great things planned for him. I am so proud of him for being obedient to what God wanted us to do instead of what I wanted to do. He has really stepped up to leadership roles in our church and in our student ministry. It is so fun to see him interact with students. They love him and trust him. There have been several times when there have been students who are having problems and they call Chris. He loves them and is often meeting and taking them to lunch and just hanging out with them. What a good example he is to our kids of loving God, loving others and serving others. I want each one of our kids to be just like their Daddy.

Now to the picture up on top of this post...

Let me start off by saying when I ask Chris to go to the store to pick up a few things he ALWAYS comes back with more than what is on the list because it looked good or it was a good deal.

Last week I asked Chris to stop by the Asian market to get some Jasmine rice because I could not find any at Wally World. He called and asked how much rice usually was. I couldn't remember because I hadn't bought it in such a long time. He said that he got a big bag. Well what I thought was a big bag and what he thought was a big bag was two different things. He came home with a 20 POUND BAG OF JASMINE RICE...seriously. I have the picture to prove it. He was so proud of himself. I almost wet my pants I was laughing so hard.

That is Chris. I love him so much!!!!

Answered Prayer

This has been a very busy and fun few weeks. Christmas was a little more special this year because of answered prayer. From the time Christopher was born we have prayed for the day when God would make himself real to him. I can honestly say there were days of frustration and anxiousness. It would seem like he would ask good questions and really seem interested and be so close and then in the same sentence would totally change the subject. We knew he was not quite ready and it would be God's timing and not ours.

Well, December 4 we put the kids to bed and Christopher walked out and said, "Daddy I need to talk to you." He told Christ that the night before in his bed he "asked Jesus into his heart all by myself." We were kind of surprised because he had not said anything to us. Chris talked to him for a while and then took him to breakfast the next morning to talk to him. We did not want to put any words into his mouth and wanted him to tell us what was happening. After alot of prayer and conversations we really feel like he truly understands salvation.

On December 27 Chris got to baptize him. That was such a special day for all of us. Christopher was so excited he had asked over and over when was he going to be baptized. It was so sweet.

This will definitely be a Christmas we will not forget . I am so thankful for a God who answers prayer in His timing and in His way.