Faith...is there any other way?

How the Cookie Crumbles and the Nerf War Begins...


Do you ever have those moments where you look around you at all that is going on in your life and think to yourself

…this is so NOT my life?  

This is NOT what I had set out to accomplish at this age

…This is NOT where I expected to be at this stage. 

I had expected to be traveling more

…be more successful

…have more money saved

…be at a secure spot in our lives

…be preparing for a future

…saving for college educations for our children

…paying off mortgages sooner

…really thinking about a retirement plan. 

But we are not. 

Instead we are one of the statistics

…one of the unemployed statistics that is. 

One of the hundreds of thousands of others struggling to make ends meet every day.

While that sounds like a lot,

I find comfort knowing that We. Are. Not. Alone.

We are only ONE. 

And just when the entire weight of the world is resting right on top of your shoulders and you think that you can’t hold it up any longer and you feel your head actually drop as you stare at the floor and you allow yourself to wonder why…Why me?  Why now?...

And at that very moment that your are drowning in your own self pity

Your kid pops you back into reality with a Nerf bullet to the head and then the other one starts pelting you with this machine gun type action which results in a huge frenzy of Nerf gun wars while you duck to take cover behind a chair choosing to grab the pillow off of it using it as a shield to run up the stairs to get your own gun in an effort to save yourself

…and the laughter erupts. 

That type of laughter that makes your side feel like it’s about to split open from laughing so hard! 

That was me last night! 

And that Nerf bullet to the head…that was God!

That was his reminder to live in the moment for it is all we truly have. 

Be thankful for today…

Be present in the moment…

Know that the future will take care of itself…

And God has a plan for each of us. 

It may not happen as quickly as I would like for it to or in the way that others expect for it too…but it WILL happen.  I KNOW this to be true.  I can feel change coming.  I feel something good stirring deep in my soul and I KNOW that God is working his magic in each of us in my household.  I believe that all things happen for a reason and that something good always comes out of a bad situation.

I am not at liberty to share all the details of our situation but know that something good this way comes!

And by good I mean a batch full of spicy cinnamon AWESOME-NESS!  I betcha you all thought I forgot about the cookies huh?  I wouldn't do that to ya!  Not in a million years!

These cookies are a tradition around here at Christmas time...and my man knew that they were JUST what I needed when I walked through the door today :)  That's right, I said MY MAN!  I'd love to take the credit for these chewy, gooey and OH SO YUMMY cookies, but alas, I can not.  He is the one that is to receive all the rewards for his efforts.  GO MR. AKM!  YOU SO TOTALLY ROCK!

But since he baked them I do not have photos to share of the during process...BOOO!  We forgive him though, don't we?  YES!  So I will just leave you with one last photo and then the recipe....

Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with Cinnamon Chips

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. butter flavored shortening

1 c. packed light brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups rolled oats

1 c. raisins

1/2 c. cinnamon chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 deg. F.

2.  In large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs and vanilla until smooth.  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; stir into the sugar mixture.  Stir in the oats, raisins and cinnamon chips.   Drop by rounded teaspoons (or tablespoons) full onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

3.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden.  Do not overbake.  Let them cool before removing them to a cooling rack.  Store in an airtight container.

Sharing the love in the follwing places...

Finding Fabulous

Chic on a Shoestring

Fingerprints on the Fridge

Shabby Nest

Whipperberry
Savvy Southern Style

Blue Cricket Design

Someday Crafts