A banner of love.

Made with love for a very special person.

For a very special day.

Happy-happy-happy 18th!

"Just practice."

"The peace within our soul is not derived from the contemplation of our own faith, but it comes from him who is our peace, the hem of whose garment faith touches, and virtue comes out of him into our soul."

Charles Spurgeon, from All of Grace

Beanie baby.

There's a peculiar thing that happens when one reaches a certain age.

All at once, everyone you know is either getting married or having a baby.

              

Apparently, I have reached that age.

Here is love, vast as the ocean.

{this lovely artwork by Shelli Dorfe of dazeychic}

"The common mercies we enjoy all sing of love, just as the sea-shell, when we put it to our ears, whispers of the deep sea whence it came; 

but if we desire to hear the ocean itself, we must not look at every-day blessings, but at the transactions of the crucifixion. 

He who would know love, let him retire to Calvary and see the Man of sorrows die."

Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening - April 10th

A little glimpse...

...of the artistic talents soon to grace the pages of our Etsy shop.

This first one's a peony.

And this one's a chrysanthemum.

Chinese brush paintings, from Littlest Sister with love.

Do you have a favorite flower?

The best birthday cake.

Ever in the history of the world.

It was invented by my housemate's great-grandmother and has become a family tradition. They call it "Butterscotch Crunch Cake."

I am not exaggerating when I say this is the best cake I have eaten in my life.

What do you need?

* One bag of butterscotch morsels.

* One box of butterscotch pudding - not instant.

* A boxed yellow cake mix.

* Two ounces of chopped pecans.

*Two cups of milk.

Cook the pudding according to the package directions (in the two cups of milk). As soon as it's done, add the pudding into the cake mix and stir until smooth.

Pour into a greased and floured 9" by 13" pan and cover the top with the pecan chips and then the butterscotch morsels.

Bake according to the directions on the cake mix box (though it may take a little longer).

The top should be crackly and the cake should be slightly sticky.

Enjoy!

If you don't like butterscotch or pecans, I'm really sorry.

You don't know what you're missing out on.

Do you have any special family recipes?

Meet Chesterton.

He's British.

And he's a mouse.

His dark eyes can be intense, but he is really quite kind.

He also has a very witty sense of humor.

He might object to being called Chester, in keeping with his serious aura, but he secretly likes it.