Psalm 143:8

 

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I entrust my life." (NIV)

Cranberry-Orange Bread

I love this bread recipe from my Mom.  It's dangerous to have it at our house though, because I am (usually) the only one who enjoys it.  (Imagine.)  Yes, dangerous indeed.  It is a pretty and fragrant bread to give as a gift, too! -- just sayin.  I love to make it at the holidays because it looks so festive.  Yesterday, I realized that I still had cranberries left -- so one more loaf for us (me)!

A couple of years ago I made several attempts at the bread, and most of them failed.  Something was just not right.  Perhaps a key ingredient got skipped?  This year, I decided to head failure off at the pass.  I really wanted this potentially yummy bread to turn out this time.  So, I rearranged the instructions to be more similar to the way I prepare a banana bread recipe (which always turns out).

Mom's Cranberry-Orange Bread

1/4 c. margarine

1 c. sugar

1 well-beaten egg

3/4 c. orange juice

1 T. grated orange peel (fresh, or dried)

2 c. flour

1.5 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. fresh cranberries*, halved

1/2 c. chopped nuts, optional

*  I buy my cranberries as soon as they go on sale for the season.

I rinse them, halve them, and put them in the freezer.

As I make loaves of this bread, I just pull out the frozen berries, and add them to the batter.

In a mixer, cream the margarine and sugar.
Add the egg, orange juice, and orange peel.

Add all dry ingredients, and mix well.

Add cranberries, and fold into batter.  Turn into a greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350° for 55-65 minutes or until center is firm.

ENJOY!  (or share!)

 A little honesty?  It's quite possible that I was
not paying attention to the fact that this recipe 

calls for baking SODA and baking POWDER.  Don't make my mistake!

I'm linking up with Mique over at 30 days - thirty handmade days 

for her first "Pity Party" of 2011!

Done something creative lately?  Come join the fun!

JOY ~ I found it!

So, remember that I said, "I'm looking for something that will be a tangible reminder of my word for 2011?"  Well, I found it.  Shortly after making that comment, I discovered this at Dayspring.

I felt a little guilty - as I always do making purchases after Christmas --when I've just received so much.  In this case, though, I knew it was for a good cause - and it was on clearance. (Sorry, I just had to add that.  It makes my hubby happy, and my mom proud!)  I know that this plaque will go a long way in reminding me of what I want this year to be - full of JOY.

For those of you who have a word for 2011, what are you doing to keep that word at the forefront of your mind?  I don't want to lose track of my word.  Do you?

Home Goals 2011

Do you have goals for your HOME?  This is something that I don't know if I've ever really had a conversation with myself about.  I mean, yes - I think of how I want our home to LOOK, which inevitably involves purchases, and therefore saving.  But - I haven't really followed through on a thought process about how I want our home to FEEL.

So, why am I thinking about this NOW?  Well, because The Nester and Susie Davis - The Good News Girl have both made recent posts about this very thing.  And they got me thinking.  In addition, I am reading The Reluctant Entertainer - every woman's guide to simple and gracious hospitality.  Sandy Coughlin, the author, says that we should invite people into our home to bless them, not to impress them.  (I know I've told you about this before, but it bears repeating, no?)

Several years ago, when we were selling some land, we had some realtors (a husband and wife team) into our home to discuss some details.  When the wife walked into our home, her comment was, "Oh, you can tell that love lives here!"  I was stunned.  First of all, this lady was basically a stranger to me.  Secondly, I had never even thought about what our home felt like to "strangers" -- or old friends, for that matter.  My concern had been making my home a safe and welcoming place for my family.  In doing so - I guess it was evident that we were a loving family, and that love dwelled within the walls of our home.

Fast forward 10+ years... Different home.  Smaller, but with more outdoor space - which is what we had sought after for our young family at the time (well, at least the "more outdoor space" part).

I have gotten past the phase of "wigging out" if a friend just stops by.  That used to put me in a tailspin.  Are the dishes out of the sink?  Are the beds made?  I need to vacuum! -- you get the idea.  My true friends don't come by to see the house anyways!

Regardless of whether or not the dishes are out of the sink, I want guests to feel love while they are here.

So, simply put - when people are in our home,

I want my efforts to be in blessing them, not impressing them.

I want to have a genuine spirit of welcome when guests arrive

~whether they have been invited,

or are just dropping by.

How about you?  Have you thought about goals for your HOME?

Just for fun:  I've linked up over at The Nesting Place.
There are lots of other people there who are setting HOME GOALS.
Check it out! 

Isaiah 40:28-31

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  (NIV)