Mothers ~ God's Gift

 Photo by Gunars Cakste

This morning on his Facebook, a good friend of ours posted this photo (above). His caption said: "This deer stood in front of my truck until the fawn was safe." 

Mother's are engraved with that God-given love and nurturing "gene". Usually, when a child is hurt or sick, who do they go to? Mommy. When they need a toy fixed, who do they go to? Daddy.

We are their soft place to land. 

BUT . . . if someone or something threatens to harm our children, we will put our own bodies between them and that danger without a second thought as to what will happen to us. It's engrained into all mothers ~ even in the animal kingdom.

And our loving God knows exactly how to love and nurture us, like a mom, AND how to fix things that go wrong in our lives, like the wonderful Father that He is. Not just because He created us, but because everything that is of the ultimate Parent . . . He is. "So God created man in His own image, in the image God He created him; male and female He created them" ~Gen. 1:27

Let this be a day that we rejoice in our children, our earthly parents (if you still have them here) AND our Heavenly Father. 

Let Him be your soft place to land today.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Discerning the Wolf

 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons . . . Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." ~I Timothy 4:1 & 16

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that ~ and shudder." ~James 2:19

 It often seems to me that the days are becoming more and more evil. Satan, and his minions, seem to be winning an awful lot of battles. Christians find themselves in the minority more and more. Yes, the days are becoming more evil ~ the Lord said they would ~ but we must remember that WE are on the winning side. (Rev. 20:10)

Some of us are seeing the unexpected destruction of committed Christian families ~ we personally know of two Christian husbands who simply wrote letters to their families and left. Just left. Satan can't let the Christian family succeed, he doesn't want our influence in generations to come or in the public square. 

Then, I'm sure we all know people who seemed so faithful, so in love with Jesus and then they were lulled away from the faith by the lies of the devil and sucked into the New Age movement, Scientology or some other cult. They followed the siren call of deceiving spirits.

And then, there are those whom we have known and loved to simply walked away from their faith when life got too hard. God didn't give them what they wanted when they wanted it. Some folks don't understand that "no" is also an answer from a loving Father.

And some do not understand that when we are down, when are are weak, when we are going through hard, stressful times, that Satan will whisper the soothing words of a false religion or stoke the fire of resentment toward God and be the false friend who leads us away . . . to our eternal doom.

We must not be those people. We must not be those who are led away by the wolf in sheep's clothing. We must turn our eyes upon Jesus, pray and read His Word; we must be good Bereans and test everything, no matter how good it sounds or how justified we feel, by the Word of God. (Acts 17:11)

The Lord's coming may be sooner than we think, we must "be here" when He comes and pray that He takes as many of our loved ones with us as possible. Those demons who shudder at the Name of Jesus are working over-time, but WE win! The days of discernment are upon us.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Bridal Shower + Birthday Party = Great Day!

 Yesterday was one of those busy & blessed days ~ THE Man's side of the family combined our DD#1's bridal shower with THE Man's, & his brothers', dad's 86th birthday party. (And some football ;-D) This was the first time for our future Son-in-Law (SIL) to meet MANY of this side of the family ~ they demonstrated great mercy & didn't prank him too badly ~ they didn't want to scare him away. lol

Two of DD#1's cousins headed up the bridal shower ~ the festivities were all at one of her cousin's lovely country home, & the shower was outside on a gorgeous, crisp fall afternoon. All was lovely . . .

 yummy snacks. . .

 & blessed with gifts.

 One of the highlights of the party was "The Panty Poem" ~ we'd never heard (or seen) it before & it was SO cute & funny. 

 I have to say that some of the attendees were a little concerned that "E" had forgotten to take in her laundry when they first arrived, but then found out that there was a reason for the clothesline to be there. lol ~ that was funny all in itself. 

After the shower was over, we headed into the house for THE Man's dad's 86th birthday celebration. 

Can it be? . . . A second round of FOOD?! Why, of course ~ what's a party without more food?! 

And there was such a great crowd . . . 

Silly cousins playing behind Grandpa's back (some things never change) . . . 

 And even brothers getting in on the act . . . 

 There's nothing like family. What a great day.

 Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Thieves Oil Recipe and Uses

 I am the Health and Beauty buyer for the health food store I work at and that means that I deal a lot with essential oils ~ right up my alley! :-) I have used essential oils for years for my own recipes for skin care, house-hold cleaners, etc. And while working on the "selling" end of essential oils, instead of just the "using" end, I've needed to do more research on the uses of particular oils and blends so that I can better serve my customers AND share that information with YOU.

One of the most popular and useful oils (besides Tea Tree) is a blend most commonly called Thieves Oil or Thieves Blend. This is an amazingly useful and effective blend of 5 essential oils.

 The story behind the name and the blend is that during the time of the Black Plague, there was a band of thieves who, even though they plundered and stole from the bodies and homes of those who had suffered and died from the disease, they themselves remained well and seemingly miraculously unharmed from the Black Death. They credited their health on a blend of essential oils that they rubbed over their entire bodies. This blend became known as Thieves Oil.

As I have mentioned in other posts about essential oil blends, use either an amber or blue glass bottle for your oils and keep them in a cool place between uses. 

Here is the basic blend:

~200 drops of Clove Oil
~175 drops of Lemon Oil
~100 drops of Cinnamon Oil
~75 drops of Eucalyptus Oil
~50 drops of Rosemary Oil 
**makes 1 oz**

During my research, I found a website that had a treasure trove of great recipes for Thieves Oil use, which I'll list below. I would like to add that whenever they mention a "carrier oil" ~ for topical application or massage ~ I would recommend either grape seed oil for oilier skins (light weight and "clean," my favorite carrier oil) or Jojoba oil for a heavier application.

Always remember to use essential oils carefully.

Here are some awesome recipes for your family's health from the website ~

"Thieves Oil Recipe" All-purpose Spray:
 
This is an all-purpose spray solution for cleaning and disinfecting around the home, purifying the air and eliminating odors


1 drop of thieves essential oil for each ounce of water.

Add the thieves oil first, then add water. It mixes better that way. Shake vigorously before each use.

(**NOTE** In my own home spray, I use 25-30 drops of any of my oils or oil blends per 4 oz. mist/spray bottle of distilled water. ~KW<><)


Basic Thieves Oil Recipe for Topical Application and Massage:


1 drop of thieves oil to 4 drops carrier oil.

Massage on the feet (vita flex points), lower back, neck and behind the ears.

We use this dilution for everyone. Babies too, though usually just on their feet. Test for sensitivity first.

*Note: This thieves oil recipe is excellent for daily use as protection against germs, especially during the cold and flu season.


Thieves Oil for Diffusing

Diffusing Thieves Oil will purify the air and eliminate odors.

Diffuse 15-20 drops of thieves oil for 15 minutes three or four time a day in an essential oil diffuser. 

This can help protect against infectious germs. This is valuable during cold and flu season or during infectious outbreaks.

If our house or family members have been exposed to any infectious germs we run the diffuser continuously for a few hours. At the very first sign of any symptoms we diffuse continually at 100 percent until symptoms subside. I like to add a few drops of lemon essential oil along with the thieves in the diffuser for respiratory infections.

We also run the diffuser in the bedroom of anyone who is sick, while they sleep at night. This gets a continuous flow of the therapeutic oils into the respiratory tract and is very healing.
 
Thieves Oil Recipes for Internal Use
 
*Use Thieves Oil internally for extra protection

1. Add 2-3 drops of Thieves and 4-6 drops of vegetable oil [I would recommend grapeseed oil ~ KW<><] to a size “OO” capsule and take daily.

2. Drop 1-2 drops directly onto your tongue.

3. Mix 1-2 drops in a spoonful of honey or Agave and swallow.

4. Mix 1-2 drops in a glass of soy, almond or rice milk.

5. Mix 1-2 drops in juice or water.

6. Put 1-2 drops onto a slice of bread.

7. Lick a drop off the top of your hand.

Thieves Oil Recipes for Household Use

1. Stuffed Animals – To disinfect and clean, place toy inside pillowcase and tie shut. Fill washer with detergent, use fabric softener if desired. Add 5-10 drops of Thieves Essential Oil, (for small load) to washing machine. Wash on gentle cycle.

2. Hair spray build-up, gum, gummy adhesive -Dilute 8 drops in 4 ounces of water, spray, let set for a few minutes before wiping.

3. Cell phones-Spray thieves cleaning solution very lightly on a cloth and gently wipe phone.

4. Dishwasher- add 4-5 drops to thoroughly clean dishes, eliminate bacteria and odors.

5. Laundry- add 5-6 drops per load to freshen and disinfect.

6. Pet Bedding-Spray down cat boxes, dog houses, and pet cages to clean and disinfect.

7. Pet Dishes- Add 1-2 drops to soapy water and wash dishes. Rinse well.

8. Plants-To repel aphids spray plants with a mixture of 2 drops thieves to every 4 ounces of water.

9. Floors-add a 10-15 drops to ½ bucket of cleaning water.

10. Surface Disinfectant-To clean and sanitize surfaces-add 8 drops to 8 oz of water in spray bottle.

11. Fragrance-Add a few drops to pot-pourri or cinnamon sticks to fragrance your home.

12. Add several drops of oil onto a cotton ball and place in home, office, car, or hotel air vents to mask odor and purify the air.

13. Drop 4–5 drops onto a cloth and place in clothes dryer to freshen laundry.

14. Bed Bugs-Spray mattresses to help dispel bed bugs.

15. Add 4-5 drops to sink water and wash children's toys to clean and disinfect.

Thieves Oil for Common Ailments

1. Flu: Dilute 15 drops with 15 drops of carrier oil. Apply to lower back (where viruses and bacteria tend to hibernate), to the upper back of thighs, and back of neck to help with symptoms.
 
*Note: When I [the writer of the website, not Kim<><] get the flu and have body aches, I massage Thieves undiluted or “neat” to my lower back, and on the top back of my thighs with “excellent” results. The relief is amazing. Some members of our family have sensitive skin and it is too "hot" if they don't dilute it. So always test first for sensitivity and have vegetable oil nearby to wipe off if necessary.

2. Immune support: Dilute 1 drop of thieves to 4 drops carrier oil and apply to feet. Apply twice daily, morning and night, for extra support during cold and flu season. (especially before leaving for school, work, or going out in public)

3. Bronchitis: Apply to lower back, sternum, chest and throat, sinus and bronchial vita-flex points.

4. Insect bites (mosquito, bee and wasp stings): Apply to bite or sting to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and counteract toxins.

5. Sore throat: Add 2-3 drops to 2 tbsp. of water and gargle, or add 1 drop of thieves and 1 drop lemon essential oil in warm water, drink as tea.

You can lick 1 drop off top of your hand and swallow or you can drop 1-2 drops directly on your tongue, swish around in mouth to mix with saliva, and swallow slowly.

6. Cuts and scrapes: Dilute 1 drop thieves oil to 4 drops of vegetable or carrier oil to prevent and apply to wound to help prevent infection and speed healing and you can apply diluted thieves on gauze or band-aid and cover wound or scrape

7. Headache: Place a drop on your thumb and place on the roof of your mouth. May require repeated applications. Be careful not to lick your lips as this can burn. Use vegetable or carrier oil to wipe off if you do.

8. Head and lung congestion: Place a few drops in a steaming bowl of hot water, cover head with towel and inhale vapors.

9. Poison Ivy: 2 drops of thieves mixed with 2 drops of vegetable or carrier oil, if there is swelling add 2 drops of lavender.

10. Acne: Apply undiluted to pimple. This works great and drys the pimple out quickly. If skin is too sensitive dilute with water.

11. Antibiotic blend:

~10 drops of Thieves Oil
~6 drops of oregano
~2 drops of frankincense
~Place in a “00” capsule and take daily.

12. Freshen Breath: Drop directly on the tongue, or add to a spoonful of honey or Agave, or even on a piece of bread and swallow for unpleasant breath.

Thieves Oil Recipe for Health and Wellness

1. Put a drop of thieves on your toothbrush before brushing to kill cavity producing germs and to sanitize your toothbrush.

2. Mouthwash: Add 1 drop per ounce of water, shake well before use.

3. Toothpaste: Add 2 drops to 4 tbsp. of baking soda, place in small container (not plastic) and shake well. Dip toothbrush in mixture and brush.

4. For protection against colds, flu, and other infectious disease apply to the bottom of feet.

5. Add 1 drop to a bottle of water and drink during the day to boost immune system, break up internal mucous, and help clean digestive tract.

6. Add 1 drop thieves to a cup of warm water and drink as a tea, wait 15 minutes before eating, excellent for and cleaning digestive system.

7. Add 1 drop to orange juice, soy milk, apple juice, etc. to boost immune system, break up phlegm and congestion.

8. Place 1–3 drops in a size “00” capsule with 4-6 drops of vegetable oil and swallow daily to boost immune system and support longevity. Adds extra support during cold and flu season.

9. Thieves Oil Recipe for Flu:


~6 drops of Thieves Essential Oil
~4 drops Oregano Essential Oil
~4 drops of Mountain Savory Essential Oil
~2 drops of Hyssop Essential Oil.

Place in a size “00” capsule and take up to four times a day. This works!!!

10. Thieves Oil Recipe for Sore throat:
Thieves spray formula- 1 drop of Thieves Oil to 1 ounce of water.

Let me know if you try any of these recipes & how your family benefited from them.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Kim's Homemade Chili

Yesterday was one of those lovely, crisp, cool, early fall days. And once the temperature starts to drop I start thinking of comfort foods ~ namely: chili, taco soup, stews and the like. So, on my Facebook, I wrote "Feels like a chili cookin' kinda day. :-P Hmmm...I might have to blog my recipe tomorrow."

Soooo . . . as promised . . . here's my chili recipe.

Just a little background before we begin: This recipe came from an assignment in my 10th grade Home-Ec class. The assignment was to make up a recipe for a common entrée & "tweak" it. Here is my recipe with a few little changes that fit how I cook today (like sea salt/Read Salt, my own seasonings, etc.) My family loves this chili.

This recipe can easily be adapted for crock pot cooking.

 You will need:

~1 lb. ground beef or chuck (I use chuck)
~1/2 c. diced sweet onion
~1/4 c. diced green pepper
~1/4 or 1/2 diced garlic clove OR 2 ts. garlic granules
~1 can seasoned crushed tomatoes
~2 TB cilantro (*optional* ~ I'm a cilantro hog, I put it in anything I can :-P )
~1 can red kidney beans
~1/2 or 1 ts. chili powder OR 1 TB Kim's Taco Seasoning (works just as well in chili)
~1 ts. sea salt OR Real Salt
~1 ts. oregano
~1 bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce 
~Grated Colby-Jack Cheese

** and here's the "tweak"**

~1 can Del Monte Seasoned Zucchini

Directions:

1) In a Dutch Oven or deep cooking pot, brown ground beef/chuck, onion, pepper & garlic. When it is browned all the way through, add the chili powder OR my taco seasoning. 
2) Do not drain.
3) Add all other ingredients (EXCEPT cheese). **NOTE** This is a thicker, "stewier" chili, if you like a "soupier" chili then add another cup of water.
4) Cover & simmer for 45 minutes; stirring occasionally.
5) Serve a hearty portion in a bowl, sprinkle grated cheese on top & serve with my sweet cornbread.

**This is a great recipe for the camp fire**

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#70~ Called to Pray for Each Other

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." ~Eph. 6:18-20

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." ~Hebrews 4:16

Prayer [definition]: A spiritual communion with God...as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

We are blessed beyond measure. We ~ as Christians ~ can not only worship the One True God, but we have a relationship with Him. We can talk directly to THE GOD of all creation ~ we don't need anyone's permission, we don't have to go through any sort of ceremony, we don't have to be in a certain place or in a certain posture ~ we can go directly to God's throne and pour out our heart to Him through the simple act of prayer.

But why does prayer seem to be the last place that we go? I've often thought that it must be the same frame of mind that so many of us were in before we accepted Jesus as our Saviour: ALL I have to do is ask? That's all? There must be more, that's just too simple." But nope, that's it.

And a part of our prayer life should consist of praying for our church and other believers ~ our pastors love us and carry a great weight on their shoulders as our shepherds, our Sunday School teachers take volunteer time out of their busy schedules to teach and love our children and even we adults in their classes, our elders and deacons have leadership and service responsibilities that we often do not even know about but make great impact in our lives for Christ, our praise team leaders spend time prayerfully choosing music that will lead us to the throne and prepare our hearts to hear the Word . . . and then, there's us as individuals . . . 

When the Lord puts someone on your heart there must be reason. Pray for that person. Or if you are speaking to someone and have an opportunity to witness, say a silent prayer for yourself and the response of the person you are talking to. We are often in a position to represent Jesus to the unsaved world in which we live ~ and we need prayer to be able to do it, especially those who work with the public. Pray that Jesus will be seen in us, and yourself, even in spite of our failures, our humanness; as we are imperfect vessels. Pray that the devil will be bound and that the veil of unbelief will be lifted from the eyes of whomever we are talking to.  Pray that we may declare the truth of Jesus "fearlessly, as [we] should." 

Don't let prayer be the last place we go and don't let the opportunity to pray for someone pass you by. Prayer is never wasted.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#167~ 9/17/12

For Today . . . 

Outside my window . . . partly sunny, a cold front coming in. Love those fall temperatures.

I am thinking . . . that I especially miss my mom today. This is the 1st anniversary of her arrival in Heaven. Love you, Mother.

I am thankful . . . to have been holding my mother's hand as she left this world.

From the kitchen . . . doing simple comfort food today ~ pigs in a blanket :-)

I am wearing . . . jeans, heathered brown Lakeside hoodie. Yep . . . hoodie weather is back.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to tweak the column I'm about to send in for the Nov/Dec issue of The Christian Women's Voice magazine.

I am wondering . . . where I'll be in a year.

I am hoping . . . for many answered prayers.

I am reading . . . my Bible, the new Sept/Oct issue of The Christian Women's Voice magazine. The best one yet.

I am looking forward to . . . Wednesday.

I am learning . . . to get back into some good time-wise organizing habits I used to have.

Around the house . . . general pick-up, making some laundry detergent, baking, finishing putting up fall decorations . . .

One of my favorite things . . . the smell of fireplace smoke in the air.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, worship practice, shopping for a mom's dress for DD#1's wedding.

A favorite quote for the day . . . "God has set me as an example to His people of His saving grace. To show that HE can bring CHANGE to ANYONE." ~from Sunday's sermon notes.

Scripture thought . . . "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not y our own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with you body." ~I Corinthians 6:19-20

A picture thought for you . . . 

Happy Rosh Hashanah to my Jewish brothers & sisters. Have a blessed, peaceful, sweet New Year.

Read 100's of other Daybook's at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Magpie Maggie Mae

This is DD#1 & our sweet little Magpie Maggie Mae the day we picked her out at 5 weeks old.

The day we brought her home at 8 weeks. She was so sweet & tiny that Hickory's old leash looks huge on her.

She LOVES car rides.

Her lovely, lady-like profile. She loves to look out of the floor-level windows.

 She loves to lounge in the sun with her toys.

 When we go to our friends' cottage, she watches people & other dog-walkers stroll by.

And she loves to go on walks . . . 

. . . with THE Man & other family members.

 And when you least expect it, her shining little eyes will be watching you.

And then . . . there's that sweet little face that we have loved for almost 5 years.

And now, you know just a few reasons why we love our Magpie Maggie Mae.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

September 11, 2001 ~ Never Forget

11 years ~ how can it be?

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#166~ 9/10/12

For Today . . . 

Outside my window . . . gorgeous blue skies, fluffy clouds, lovely cool temps & soft breezes. Fall is coming . . . my favorite time of year.

I am thinking . . . of the different things I still need to do today.

I am thankful . . . for this sweet glimpse of fall. For our pastors who are not afraid to preach what God's holy Word says about the hard subjects. God bless & protect them.

From the kitchen . . . flax bread rising in the oven :-P

I am wearing . . . jeans, rust-colored thermal shirt.

I am creating . . . a peaceful Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to go to work later this afternoon. I leave & the rest of the family comes home. :-(

I am wondering . . . what the next step will be.

I am hoping . . . that DD#1's wedding day will be all she's ever dreamed of.

I am reading . . . Bible; no extra books this week.

I am looking forward to . . . our church's women's retreat. I am blessed to have been asked to lead worship. The theme is "Cozy Mountain Lodge" & the study is on the lives of Ruth & Naomi. We had our 1st planning meeting, yesterday, & I think it will be wonderful.

I am learning . . . that our struggles are not common to just our family ~ other dear friends are going through the same things. It is heartening to share struggles w/godly friends & to build each other up in prayer.

Around the house . . . general pick-up, baking, laundry . . .

One of my favorite things . . . hayrides & campfires.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, worship practice, homeschool assessments, writing my column for The Christian Women's Voice magazine . . .

A favorite quote for the day . . .  "Women relate to each other on a certain level, men relate to each other on a certain level . . . BUT . . . husbands & wives relate to each other as none other can. That's why marriage is a covenant." ~From Sunday's sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." ~Acts 17:26-27 [emphasis mine, KW]

A picture thought for you . . . 

 I believe this is in Woodstock, VT. I've used this photo as a screen-saver on my P.C. for years. Wouldn't you just love to visit?

Connect with 100's of other Daybook's at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Easy Bear Claw Pastries

My family just loves Penera Bread. Not only their soups, sandwiches & fresh breads, but we have enjoyed our share of their pastries, too. My personal favorites are their Shortbread cookies & blueberry scones. Mmmmm. But probably the over-all family favorite is the Bear Claw pastry. Oh . . . my . . . goodness!

Well, I just found an easy Bear Claw recipe ~ no need for special pastry flour & pastry tools. Even your little ones can help you with this one. 

Google photo

There are 4 parts to this ~

You will need:

~for the Filling:

• 1 egg
• 2 TB milk
• 1 c plain bread crumbs
• 2 TB sugar
• 2 TB butter or non-hydrogenated margarine (ex: Earth Balance)
• 1/4 c water
• 2 ts almond extract

~Glaze:

• 1/2 c sugar
• 1/4 c water
• TB light corn syrup

~Rolls:

• 1 8oz can of Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 1/3 to 1/2 c sliced almonds

~Icing:

• 1 c powdered sugar
• 2 TB water

 Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 375*, line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2) in a bowl, lightly beat the egg; pour 1/2 of the egg into a small bowl & beat in the milk until well blended. Set aside.
3) go back to the egg that's left in the 1st bowl & mix in all the rest of the filling ingredients.
4) in a saucepan, mix the glaze ingredients, heat to boil, remove from heat & set aside.
5) on a lightly floured surface, unroll the pastry dough & press into a 12"x8" rectangle; firmly press together all seams to your dough will hold together.
6) spoon filling onto the front 2" of the 12"x8" dough; now fold ~ longways ~ the dough over the filling, gently flip & fold remaining dough. 
7) cut into 3 pastries, gently press edges to seal; cut 1" slits about 1" apart for the "claws."
8) lightly brush egg mixture over pastries; gently press egg-side into a plate of sliced almonds to get them to stick.
9) place on cookie sheet ~ almond side up ~ & spread the claws; sprinkle extra almonds on top, if desired.
10) bake 15-18 minutes; cool on rack. 
11) drizzle cooled glaze over pastries; in another bowl, mix icing ingredients & drizzle over cooled pastry.

Let me know how you LOVE your Bear Claws!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

How Does God Speak to You?

"The LORD said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by' . . . After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." ~I Kings 19:11(a), 12, 13

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" ~Isaiah 30:21

"We did not follow cleaverly invented stories . . . we were eyewitnesses of His majesty . . . 'This is My Son Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.'" ~2 Peter 1:16, 17(b), 18 [all emphasis mine, KW<><]

How does God speak to you?  

 Is it a loud, thunderous voice like in a Cecil B. DeMille movie?  Does His voice call to you from the thunder ringing out through a storm? 

Does He speak to you in the quiet? Through the song of a robin in spring? Through the gentle breeze that refreshes you as you take an evening walk? Through the new colors of spring or the changing colors fall?

Does God speak to you through the deep, sweet belly-laugh of a baby? The trust in your child's eyes as you coax them to jump into your arms from the water's edge. The love in your spouse's eyes that only the two of you share?

Or does God speak to you through the preaching of His holy Word? Through deep conversations with trusted, godly family or friends as your search the Scriptures? Or simply as He leads you through His Word in your quiet place of Scripture reading and prayer?

Many people think that they have never heard God speak to them ~ maybe they just haven't been listening.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><