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Author Archive for Stephanie

Easy Candy Cane Mint Milanos

Posted by Stephanie on Friday, December 3rd, 2010 in Food | Comments (1)
Here’s what you’ll need:
Pepperidge Farm Mint Milano Cookies
Red Candy Melts (available at Michaels)
Candy Canes or Red Peppermint Candies (crushed)
Here’s what you’ll do:
Melt the red candy melts in the microwave according to package directions. Shouldn’t take too long! Maybe two or three minutes!
Dip the Mint Milano cookies into the melted candy, covering about half of the cookie.
Sprinkle both sides with crushed peppermint candy and allow to dry for about 15 minutes or until set.
They turn out beautifully adorable! They even look kinda like little red slippers:)

Popularity: 5% [?]

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Posted by Stephanie on Friday, November 19th, 2010 in Food | Comments (0)

I love this from Cooks.com:

COOKIES:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line four baking sheets with parchment paper.COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Drop by heaping measuring teaspoons onto prepared baking sheets. (A total of 72 cookies are needed for the recipe.)

BAKE for 10 to 13 minutes or until springy to the touch. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
BEAT cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until light and fluffy.SPREAD a heaping teaspoon of filling onto flat side of one cookie; top with flat side of second cookie to make a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Estimated Times: Preparation – 20 minutes; Cooking – 10 minutes.

Yields 3 dozen mini pies

Popularity: 2% [?]

Surprise?

Posted by Stephanie on Thursday, January 14th, 2010 in Deployment | Comments (4)

I recently read an article in our paper’s “extra” section about the effects of surprise reunions on military kids. The story they featured was from the St. Petersburg Times and was reported as being one of the best-read stories the day it ran. Over one hundred people left emotional and heartfelt online comments in response to the story of Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Spaulding’s surprise reunion with his fifth grade daughter in her classroom. A photographer and news media were there to capture the long-anticipated moment between father and daughter.

Since then, this type of reunion has attracted criticism with experts claiming the possibilities of potential damage to the surprised children. The article went on to talk about the potential for the children to hold anger during a deployment and that there are no guarantees on how the children are going to react to such a surprise. One professor even suggested that such exposure would make an already overwhelming situation even more stressful.

However, the wife of Army Sgt. 1st Class Spaulding disagreed. She talked about the support of her community, including their daughter’s class who became pen pals with Spaulding and sent him letters and cards throughout the deployment. The teachers who witnessed the reunion all had positive responses and developed a greater understanding of what it means to go through a deployment. Some say that having a heads up gives children the opportunity to mentally prepare and that being able to look forward to their soldier’s homecoming is all part of the fun. While keeping the focus on the child, they dipped into the controversy of exploiting the military family verses raising awareness and support for the military family.

I’m curious to know what you think? Do publicized reunions have negative effects on our military children or do they gain empathy and support while raising awareness about what’s really happening on the homefront? Do you think it depends on the child? Do you think it makes it all the more exciting, giving the children a memory to treasure? Or do you think the fun is in the knowing and anticipating along with your children?

Popularity: 1% [?]

He Gives and Takes

Posted by Stephanie on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 in Faith | Comments (2)

We were neck deep in trying to make the difficult decision on when to put our sweet dog to rest. We debated and debated over and over for weeks until we finally came to the sad decision that it was in fact time to let him go. Losing our dear Newfie was one of the more difficult things I’ve experienced in my life. Never having had a dog before Chaz, I didn’t understand exactly how hard it was going to be. My husband had just returned from Iraq and the only day we were able to make the vet appointment was Veteran’s Day. Depressing to say the least, eh? In spite of what was happening, I couldn’t shake the feeling that God was making room for more blessings in our lives. Taking care of our dog was becoming a full time job and would soon start to become a strain on our finances. He was very sick and having more bad days than good.

So, the day came to let our Chaz go. Our tiny house felt so empty without him there, but still I knew some how that this was God’s timing.

The very next day my husband and I learned that after our year deployment and putting our lives on hold, we were expecting a new baby!

This kind of drastic thing doesn’t happen in our lives on a regular basis and sometimes there isn’t a clear silver lining on the dark clouds. But what I was reminded of though all of this was that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Sometimes we are showered with blessings and other times we have to dredge through the deep valleys, digging deep to find the strength to keep going. Whatever place you find yourself in today, be sure to continue to praise His name.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Supernatural

Posted by Stephanie on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 in Hope | Comments (1)

Each morning as I open the box on my vanity to reach for my watch I quickly glance at three coins that sit on top of a pile of bracelets. Although I don’t believe in magic, I call them my magic coins because they represent three separate yet very connected moments in time when the frosty winter air of deployment became like the long-awaited breath of spring.

While my husband was deployed, I kept busy with my daughter to pass the long and lonely days. The thrill of winter wore off about six or seven months into our deployment so we started spending a day here and there at the mall. We would head to the play place for some fun, grab a bite to eat at the food court and then she would fall asleep in her stroller and I would window shop for a few before heading home. One time in particular, an elderly gentlemen stopped us and greeted my daughter by asking how her day was and telling her that she must be a special little gal. He proceeded to hand her a quarter, told her to put it in her pocket so she wouldn’t lose it and then parted with a smile.

This happened two more times in nearly identical fashion with two more elderly gentlemen looking to be about the same age. The second gentleman gave a half dollar. The third gentleman gave a dollar coin. Three separate days, three different gentlemen, three coins increasing in sequential value.

Coincidence? Is there such a thing? Sometimes I jokingly say that some things are just “happy accidents,” but those “happy accidents” are really “purposeful blessings.”

Clearly, Hebrews 13:2 comes to mind: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

These coins may not be supernatural, but they are a constant reminder of the supernatural power of my God in Heaven. He is always there. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

It’s especially easy to be afraid and discouraged during a deployment or even during major changes in our lives, but let us not forget the supernatural power of God, the power of the cross or even the presence of the angels among us.

Popularity: 1% [?]

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