the song on my heart: You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone

I searched for love
When the night came and it closed in
I was alone
but you found me where I was hiding
and though I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice that called my name
singing

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
and I'm the one that's loved you all your life
All of your life

You cry yourself to sleep
cause the hurt is real
and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
and everyone else long gone

You've had to face the music on your own
but there is a sweeter song that calls you home, sayin'

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away your every tear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest nights
And I'm the one that's love you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true... Forever
For my love will carry you....

You're not alone
for I... I am here
let me wipe away every fear... Oh yeah
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest nights
Your darkest nights
And I'm the one that's loved you all your life
All of your life



Jess^

"high five" for Friday: sunsets and shirley temples

I was home for a week and had a chance to watch the sunset along the Great River Road in Alton and captured this picture (that doesn't do it justice)!

This was my drink of choice... a Shirley Temple. :) Memories of childhood.

  

The view to the West....

The view to the East...

  

My Mary Kay goodness that was waiting for me in KC after Spring Break!!!

A certain kindergartener of mine who brought goggles to school for show and share...

and wanted to wear them ALL day. :)

A little glimpse of my past week. :)

my test kitchen: Coconut Macaroons

While I was home for Spring Break, I was catching up on my google reading, and I came across a recipe for Coconut Macaroons (from Gina @ Skinny Taste). As far back as I could remember, I've always hated coconut, but my mom has LOVED it. Oh look, I'm home, she loves coconut... PERFECT. :)

We had my grandparents over for dinner one night and I whipped these babies up.

Let's just say that I enjoyed them, my mom loved them, and my grandpa DEVOURED them. :) And the rest went to a friend for Easter!

Coconut Macaroons
Servings: 17 • Serving Size: 2 cookies • Old Points: 3 pt • Points+: 3 pt
Calories: 129.2 • Fat: 7 g • Protein: 1.8 g • Carb: 14.5 g • Fiber: 1.1 g • Sugar: 13.4 g
Sodium: 74.2 mg (without salt) 

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (5 large) egg whites
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 10 oz sweetened coconut flakes (Baker's)
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Directions:

In a heavy saucepan combine egg whites, sugar and coconut flakes and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until all the ingredients combine together, about 12-15 minutes. The mixture should be sticky and moist, not dry. Remove from heat and stir in the almond and vanilla extracts. Set aside on a dish and let it cool in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 300°. Using a tablespoon, scoop tightly packed tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet covered with a silpat or parchment paper.

Bake 27-30 minutes or until golden.

Makes 38 cookies.

kids say the funniest things! {part one}

I've compiled several upon SEVERAL funny quotes from the younger generation over the last few years, and since my facebook statuses are so loved, I thought I'd start back at the beginning and share them all... a few at a time. :)

(3/13/09) 

Me: "What's an example of a great talent?" 

Alex: "Whistling and beat-boxing at the same time!!!" 

Me: "Good job Alex, now what's an example of a small talent?" 

Alex: "Oooh!!! Sleeping with your eyes open!!!!!!!!"

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(2/8/10) 

(in answer to the question) "What is your favorite color and why?"

"Red. Because when Jesus died for me, His blood was red."

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(9/16/10)

"So we should call forgiveness 'forgetness'.” 

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(9/16/10) 

Tyler (a kindergartener in Sparks): “You should be a teacher because you'd be good at it! 

Me: "I would like to teach kindergarten!"

Tyler: "Maybe my teacher will get fired, then you could be MY teacher!”

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(2/4/11) 

Miss Roberts: (when a student answered a "thought prompting" question with a word-for-word answer) “WOW! How did you know that!?! Did you hear me tell the other reading group about that?” 

Darling first grader: “Yes, Miss Roberts! I always listen to you, even when I don't have to! You're like my entertainment radio at work!”

Special Feature: Battles Design

Since this person is one of my best friends, and he's helped me out in several ways, I figured I'd give a little blog shout out to Tanner! He's a college friend who is kick-starting his graphic design business and he's (from my minute knowledge of the design world), getting off to a roaring start! He helped me out with a couple business cards (that's right, folks, I'm legit) and they look stunning. I have a Mary Kay one, since I'm an Independent Beauty Consultant, and a piano one for the occasional gig I might pick up. :) He's done a ton (again, in my fairly uneducated opinion) of absolutely wonderful (completely ACCURATE opinion) design projects including posters, flyers, business cards, wedding invites, t-shirts, pamphlets... you name it, he can do it. And he can do it well.

My Mary Kay business card looks like this:

And my piano one looks like this:

Totally wonderful! :) And fun to hand out, I might add. ;) He's pleasant to work with, prompt in communication and meets you where your needs are and tweaks them to create and end result better than you could've dreamed! Head on over to his page, www.battlesdesign.com, or on Facebook and check out his work! I'll even send my business cards (in the mail) to the person who can spot me the two other places I'm located on his site! :)

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tanner for any graphic design needs. He's got a talent and more than willing to use it!

hidden treasure!

I was home for Spring Break this past week and was "able to attend" a small town Historical Society function with my darling grandparents. I humored them by being their "prized possession" as they paraded around saying sweet things like, "Have you met our granddaughter?" Overwhelmingly pleasant... I know.

After all the parading around, I wandered over to the silent auction and was surprised to find a few things I was interested in! I bought two kitchen design books for way cheap, and the 2011 Annual Food and Wine Cookbook for $2.00 (retailing at 32.95). STEAL! I also bought a set of four vintage, floral print goblets. LOVE THEM!

But the one thing I really had my eye on (that I kept checking back to see if anyone had outbid me for... and those elderly folks aren't as enthusiastic as I thought they would be!)... is...

 

I snagged this gorgeous serving dish for $2.00 as well. I probably could've taken it home with me for 10 cents, but I didn't want to look too frugal! ;) All I have to do now is decide what to put in it! The possibilities are endless...

Have you scored any random "hidden treasures?"

Chutes and Ladders.

Maybe it's because I'm a teacher. Maybe it's because I'm still a kid at heart... Either way, I feel like my life is a board game, and I feel like that an awful lot!

Today, the game happens to be Chutes and Ladders. Life is a day by day occurrence. And often, I find that there are ladders along the way. God's grace is made known in unexpected ways and takes us to unanticipated places. Then there are days that are the "chutes" in life. The days when God sends you "backwards" in a sense. To relive a trial. To relearn a lesson. To sit and watch others "prosper" while we just sit back and wonder why we have this "setback." Life is hard.

I'm finding it hard to fully realize the weight of glory. I know that once I realize even part of that, Struggles will fade, hardships will fade, trivial things won't matter like they used to. I have so many things to learn. And I often wonder when I'm gonna learn them! But that might just be why God rearranges my life. To teach me to prioritize. He rearranges my heart to make sure He is truly on the throne. He rearranges my plans to make sure I acknowledge His presence.

In the words of Audrey Assad, I'll just be restless until I rest in Him. And sometimes, ashamedly, that's the last place I run...