Digital Scrapbooking: May 2017

May was overflowing with family fun, activities with Cru, and connections with friends! One of the busiest months of the year for us! Amazingly, I did have time to scrapbook two pages for the month - and the others will be done later! 

In the beginning of the month, I took a bit of time to do one last page from December 2016. Most all of our family was home for our Family Christmas, including our TEN grandkids! Here they are: five boys, and five girls!! Love these photos! Their ages, now, range from 21 years down to 5 years. So blessed by the gift of family ...

Note: Most of the page templates and digital products that I use are purchased from Digital Project Life. About five years I switched from paper scrapbooking, and took some online lessons from Digital Scrapper to learn how to digital scrapbook using Photoshop Elements. (You can also click here for some great tutorials on the Digital Project Life website - maybe a quicker way to learn than the site that I used five years ago.) Also, besides being able to share my completed pages online, I also print them out at home in 8x8 inch size to fit in the albums that I purchase from Michael's.

Pursuing Heart: Celebrating Seven Years

May is the month for birthdays in our family

and we've been doing some celebrating ...

for three of our six children, 

one of our four sons-in-law, 

and one of our ten grandchildren!

And it's only fitting to also celebrate ...

the birth of this blog!

Seven years ... already?! The years go by so fast with our children and grandchildren, and also the years have gone by so fast since this blog was born back in May of 2010. 

Some things remain the same, 

and others things change as years pass by. 

My purpose and focus for blogging remains the same ...

- a calling on my heart to take from what God teaches me, from my thoughts that spill out onto the pages of my many journals, and to share here

- a love of writing, as writing is essential for my own learning and growing, and then sharing, in hopes that the words I write may be an encouragement to others 

What this sharing looks like has taken on new faces ...

- seven years ago there were no photos in my posts, just text - now, photos are essential to a post, and in fact, they add life and focus to my words

- seven years ago I posted much more often, as blogging was at it's prime - now, there are other avenues to share (Instagram, twitter, facebook, and more), and I write here less often

Pursuing Heart: 

My Focus at Seven Years

- glimpses into my heart, as I share devotional thoughts from what I am learning

- a warm welcome into my home and kitchen, often sharing favorite recipes

- sharing digital scrapbook pages, pictures of stories God is writing in our lives

- inspiration gained from books, from other bloggers/authors, and from living life

- a goal/desire of writing a post once each week 

- and a deep joy when I meet up with someone in real life, or in the online world, who tells me that they have been encouraged by what I have written; a deep joy in my heart, for it was and is a step of faith and obedience to God to share here

Thank you for your sweet visits here!  

Click here to read my updated WELCOME (About Me) page!

And click here to read my (often) daily devotional/inspirational thoughts on Instagram.

Strawberry Banana Split Cake

This recipe has been in my collection of new recipes to try for a couple of months, and this past week was the time to try it out! It was perfect to make for a daughter's birthday this month!

A refreshing, creamy, sweet dessert for any springtime or summer occasion ... with layers of strawberries, bananas, and crushed pineapple! I have a lot of recipes that I have collected over the years, and this one will be added to my collection of favorites!

Click on the "Source: tasteofhome.com" link below to print.

Strawberry Banana Split Cake

Source: tasteofhome.com

Course: Desserts

Prep Time: 20 min

Total Time: 20 min

Yield: 12-15 servings

Serves: 15

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• ¹⁄₂ cup butter melted
• ¹⁄₄ cup sugar
• FILLING:
• ¹⁄₂ cup butter softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 large firm bananas cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) crushed pineapple drained
• 2 quarts fresh strawberries sliced
• TOPPING:
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• ¹⁄₄ cup confectioners' sugar
• 1-¹⁄₂ cups chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Combine the crumbs, butter and sugar; press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Chill for 1 hour.
2. In a bowl, beat the butter, confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread over crust; chill for 30 minutes. Layer with bananas, pineapple and strawberries.
3. In a small bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread over fruit. Sprinkle with nuts. Chill until serving. Yield: 12-15 servings.

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The Path to Springtime

Don't you just love spring? 

It's my favorite time of year!

I love ...

the freshness of new life,

the blossoms of the fruit trees,

birds singing, grass turning green ...

the planting of our veggie garden,

choosing the flowers for our patio planters.

I love the spring events - 

the picnics, graduation parties,

family birthday parties,

gathering with friends outdoors.

I love spring!

But even more wonderful to me than the season of spring ...

is holding a sense of springtime in my heart -

a kind of springtime that lasts all through the year.

Living each day with freshness 

and closeness in our relationship with God -

where we are aware of His love

and we are walking closely with Him.

Where every day can feel fresh, 

like spring ...

Maybe this springtime that we long for

begins by quieting ourselves,
not just once, but continually,

and by becoming very small,

like a seed ...

Why do we resort to thinking
that we are the ones who can do it all?
That we are the ones who can grow tall,
the ones to produce the flowers,
the fruit that will nourish others?

How often do I need to be reminded,
continually, always,
that it is about surrender.
Waving my white flag of surrender,
and giving up my own efforts,
my own need for control -
and just resting 
in the soil of His love and His power.

Maybe we need to give up our own agenda

for the masterpiece that He is creating.

Give up writing our own story for our lives

and embrace the one that He is writing.

Not settling for second best

with our own chapters and plot-lines,

but yielding to Him,

embracing the beautiful story

that He created for our lives.

Yielding completely,

growing to be the most beautiful flower

that He has designed us to be;

each seed, unique,

crafted for specific purposes.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. 

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things 

He planned for us long ago.”

(Ephesians 2:10)

For Happy Mother's Day,

and for every day of the year!

To all mothers, and to all who long for the growth,

 and the flowers and the fruit ...

A sure promise from our Creator -

as we yield control,

and as we rest in His care,

trusting Him alone, 

the One who created the seed ...

that it is He who brings the growth,

who causes the flower and the fruit

to blossom and to grow.

Fruit fashioned specifically for me, 

and specifically for you.

Unique, beautiful, life-giving,

reflecting the fragrance of His love.

All for His glory alone.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, 

through His mighty power at work within us, 

to accomplish infinitely more 

than we might ask or think.” 

(Ephesians 3:20)

Reflections on April / Welcoming May

Fresh, new blossoms 

first, our peach trees,

then our apple trees.

Beauty and fragrance  

signs of new life,

gently and softly

welcome and beckon

to experience more,

to be awakened

in heart and soul.

If we open our eyes, and if we look - really look - around us, signs of God's gentle call, drawing us to life - real life - are everywhere. 

What if we embrace the simple, quiet beauty of spring, as a whisper of His love, calling us to enter more deeply into all that He has for us.

What if we would pause our busy lives, take our eyes off of our "to-do" lists, and turn our eyes and our hearts to the beauty all around us, and to His Words ...

Keep company with Me,

and you'll learn

to live freely and lightly.

(Matthew 11:30 MSG)

April was filled with blossoms on our peach trees and apple trees, fresh green leaves, grass blades taking on vibrant shades of green, and also nourishing showers amidst cloudy days. The cooler gray days preparing the way for the burst of new life and sunshine that was sure to come.

April was also filled with a fresh call to draw in closer, to respond to His gentle words of love. Sometimes when life is full - with the good and the hard - it is easier to try to make our way in our own strength, with our own understanding. But how much better when we share our hearts - everything - with the One who loves us so deeply that He gave His life for us. April was a month of drawing closer, of sharing my heart - of talking with Him/praying continually, as He says we can do - of sensing the freshness of His love. I always, continually, need these reminders to draw close in the midst of busy days.

And now, I am pausing, and listening again to His gentle words, calling us to rest, to trust, to walk closely with Him through all of life, through this month, through each day of this beautiful new month of May.

My desire is to give you

everything in abundance,

more than you expect - 

life in it's fullness

until you overflow.

(John 10:10b The Passion Translation)

Lean on, trust in,

and be confident in the Lord

with all your heart and mind

and do not rely on your own 

insight or understanding.

(Proverbs 3:5 AMP)

- - - - - - - - - -

Two helpful books, calling us to rest in His Love in the midst of our busy days ...

I finished this book last month ... and loved the insights and encouragement Shelly Miller gives about finding ways to incorporate true rest into our busy lives. I will be referring to this book in the future, as well - so good.

Click here to view it on Amazon, and here to read more encouraging words from the author, Shelly Miller ...

And I am looking forward to this new book coming out this month, May 23rd ... a 40-Day devotional book calling us to rest. If you are like me, you need continual encouragement to pause in the midst of this very full life, and rest - listening to God's words of love and truth.

Click here to view it on Amazon, and here to read more encouraging thoughts from Bonnie Gray ...

And you are invited to follow me on Instagram as I often share quotes and verses on rest ... sharing as I am learning from His Words, and from encouragement I receive from others.