Book Review {Craving Grace}

For Lisa Velthouse’s whole life, Christianity had been about getting things right. Obeying her parents. Not drinking. Not cursing. Not having premarital sex. Vowing to save her first kiss until she got engaged, even writing a book called . . . well, Saving My First Kiss. (This, it turns out, does not actually help a girl get a date.) Yet after two decades of trying to earn God’s okay, she found her faith was lonely, empty, and unsatisfying. So she turned to more discipline, of course: fasting! By giving up her favorite foods—sweets—Lisa hoped to somehow discover true sweetness and meaning in her relationship with God. Until, one night at a wedding, she denied herself the cake but failed in such a different, unexpected, and world-rocking way that it challenged everything she thought she knew about God and herself. Craving Grace is the true story of a faith dramatically changed: how in one woman’s life God used a bitter heart, a broken promise, and the sweetness of honey to reveal the stunning wonder that is grace.

I loved this book, I loved Lisa's honesty, how she honestly described her journey toward the sweetness of God.  I requested the book a couple of weeks ago, then suddenly just before receiving it I went through a personal crisis.  I had a miscarriage.  This was such an unexpected shock.  Lisa's book arrived and through the hurt I started reading it.  The book in itself was send by God and just one little example of His Almighty Grace!  He knew what He had planned and He had me request this wonderful book for review.  Since reading it I've been more open to see how His Grace works in my life.  A wonderful, honest book that I can recommend to anyone!

 The book was such an easy read, once I started I couldn't stop reading, Lisa's examples of Grace and faith is true to life and hits home.  I really enjoyed reading and reviewing this book!

 Craving Grace: A Story of Faith, Failure, and My Search for Sweetness {Amazon Link}
Kalahari.net link


I blog with integrity, thank you to Tyndale who provided me with a free copy of this book to review, all opinions expressed within this review are my own.

Flippen Lekka Mince and Potato Bake

I love easy to make recipes for those evenings when you just don't have time to make a huge dinner, but you still want something tasty and filling.  This is one of those easy and yummy recipes!

Ingredients:

300 g Minced Beef
1 teaspoon Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice
1/4 Packet Mushroom Soup
4 Small Potatoes, peeled and finely sliced
1 Onion, finely chopped
Cheese, grated

Method:

Brown onions and mince, add the Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice
Mix the Mushroom soup with some hot water, add half to your mince mixture.
Place the mince mixture in an ovenproof dish
Place the finely sliced potatoes on the mince, add the rest of the soup mixture on top of the potatoes.
Place in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celcius for 30 min.
Test to see if the potatoes are done, add the cheese to the top
Bake for another 10 minutes
Serve with rice and side salad.

Enjoy!

Thank you to Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice for sponsoring the spices for this recipe.

Easter - Resurrection Cups

I've wanted to do Resurrection Eggs with Mouse since last year already, but I couldn't find enough plastic eggs to do it.  This year I was determined not to have that same problem, so I've made Resurrection Cups in stead!  I used little sample pots in stead of plastic eggs. 

I downloaded the inserts from Lapbook Lessons.  I don't have a colour printer, but the originals are beautiful full coloured pictures.

On the front of the insert is a picture depicting a scene from Holy Week.

On the back of each I wrote the corresponding piece of scripture.  Great to see how eager little hands open each container to listen to the message inside!

My prayer is that each of you will experience this Easter for the wonderful Holy Week that it truly is.  may God bless you and keep you!

Flippen Lekka Chicken and Chutney Recipe

Make this super easy and super yummy chicken dish using Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice!

Ingredients:

Chicken pieces (about 8 pieces)
Mushroom Soup packet (only half a packet)
50 ml Chutney
50 ml Mayonaise
30 ml water
Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice

Method:

Season the chicken pieces well with Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice
Place in an ovenproof dish
Mix the Mushroom Soup (only half a packet), Mayo, Chutney and water well.  Spread evenly over the chicken pieces. If you find that you need more liquid add more Chutney and Mayo to taste.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celcius for about 30 min or till done.  Enjoy!!

Serve with some fresh veggies and salad.

Thank you to Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice for sponsoring our blog by providing free spices.

I miss you

Today is just a little over a week since I lost our little baby.  My heart is still sore, it feels as if the sadness and heart sore is just starting now.  I'm fine during the day when I'm busy with Mouse and in and around the house, it is in the evenings when all is still that the sadness, memories and pain comes rushing in.  I am sad that I will never know the feel of that little baby in my arms, I'm sad that I will miss his / her baby smell that I will never get to know.  I wonder if he / she would have loved reading and painting as much as Mouse, of if he / she would have had curly hair and blue eyes like Mouse.

I can still hear the little heartbeat on the sonogram.  It is so vivid and fresh in my memory.  I can also remember the last one where there was no heart beat.  That is also much to vivid and fresh in my memory.  I miss the feeling of having our baby with me. 

I know that there is a plan and purpose.  God has something amazing planned for us.  I also accept that He had to call our baby for His higher purpose, but I still miss our baby.

Thank you to all my family and friends that still calls, emails, facebook, etc.  I truly appreciate it. Blessings to all of you.
  

Fun Find {Dixi's Gifts}

I found this little gem of a gift shop on facebook!  Dixi's Basket stocks quality, natural products to not only spoil yourself but they also make great gifts!  She posts her stunning products nationwide, but if you are in the Louis Trichardt area pop in at her shop!  I just love the following Ice Cream soaps!

Aren't they gorgeous!  I can just imagine how much fun bath time will be with these little cuties!

Visit Dixi's Basket on Facebook or their website for more info and prices.

Disclosure, I didn't receive any product or compensation for this post, I just thought her goodies were so cute that I wanted to share it!

First Blog Sponsor! YAY!

I'm super excited to say that Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice is my first Blog Sponsor!  YAY!  I just love Andre's Spices.  He only uses natural ingredients and does not add any MSG's to his products.  I discovered Andre's spices in December, since then it is the only spice I have been using on ALL my food.  When I say all, I do mean everything!  I use it in my lasagne, bobotie, meatball and patty mixes, on chicken, beef, lamb, in mince and even on popcorn! Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice is not cut with flour, the entire container is filled with delicious natural spices, herbs and salt. 

Every spice container is sealed with a safety seal - you know that you are purchasing a fresh and quality product! 

Visit Andre's Facebook page or click on the link in the right sidebar for more info and contact details.  You can also phone Andre on 071 371 0499.

I will be posting some of my recipes made with delicious and super yummy Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice for you every week.

Here is my meatball recipe!

Ingredients:
Mince about 400g
Onion, grated
1 teaspoon Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice
1 Egg
1 tablespoon tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chutney
1 slice of bread, soaked in water, water squeezed out

Method:
Mix all ingredients well, roll in little balls and place in oven proof dish.  Add a tiny bit of oil to the bottom of the dish and bake at 180 degrees Celcius for about 20 - 30 min.  Enjoy!

You do not need to add any extra salt - the spice is perfectly balanced and adds enough salt to your dishes!

What are you waiting for?  Give Flippen Lekka BBQ Spice a try!

Andre did provide me with some free spices, the opinions expressed here are my own.  I was not paid to do this review, I was provided with free spices.

You know you are a homeschooler when...

I'm afraid of moths, a terrifying fear that I just cannot control. I am also not too fond of butterflies, for the same reasons that I'm afraid of moths! I finally had my fear under control for an hour or so and we visited Butterfly World. I never freaked out and we actually enjoyed it so much that I will go back! The experience for Mouse was also wonderful, I loved to be able to show her not only butterflies, but different kinds of animals. You know you are a homeschooler when you visit Butterfly World and you are afraid of butterflies!

The gardens where the butterflies are kept are gorgeous, everything is a lush green and there are flowers and fruit for the butterflies to snack on.  You walk into the cages where the butterflies are kept and they fly freely around. 

There are also a number of fish ponds with the most beautiful Koi fish in.  We watched as they were being fed.

There were loads of different butterfly species.  There is also an exhibit showing you the lifecycle of butterflies as well as separate cages with eggs, etc.  in.  If you are lucky you may even see a butterfly hatch!

They also had these two adorable monkeys!  They were friendly and even hopped onto some of the visitors shoulders!

This beautiful Iguana was so still we almost didn't see him!

There were also loads of different bird species, from the exotic to the everyday.

We also saw loads of different lizard species, Mouse enjoyed these little ones!

This shy little Blue Duiker was so cute!  Beautiful little animal.

Outside there was also some ducks on the pond.  We enjoyed it so much and I can highly recommend a visit!  Butterfly World is outside Stellenbosch.

We have been busy!

We live in beautiful Cape Town and for our first theme for homeschooling 2011 I decided on a Oceans Theme. This was also just a sneaky way to get in a visit to our local beach! Although we live in Cape Town it is still about half an hours drive to our local beach.

Daddy and Mouse had a blast! She just adores the beach and she had so much fun, she didn't want to go home afterwards!

Beautiful Table Mountain in the background!

While we were on the beach I collected some sea sand.  The sea sand on Blauwberg beach isn't proper sand, but little pebbles, which made a great transfer activity to practice fine motor skills.

We used seashells to transfer as well as spoons.

We painted our own beach towel!  I helped with this project.

We made a sea star with contact paper, rice and blue coloured tissue paper. This is always a huge hit in our house!

We have a cute little shop, Khoki, were you can buy educational toys, materials and fun art supplies, I bought this plastic ocean scene mat there. You can colour it in with normal wax crayon, or paint as Mouse has tested it for us :) and then just wipe clean. She had a blast with this. As she was colouring in the different ocean animals we discussed them and chatted about what they eat, where they live, etc.

I made a few batches of play dough and we had loads of fun creating different sea creatures and other favourite characters. I had to make several Mikey Mouses!

Still a firm favourite in our home is felt. We both just love felt! She played with this ocean theme felt pack for hours. The bulk of the pack is from Suczezz Toys.

A while ago I made her this foam fish set with numbers, emotions and shapes on. We dusted it and had some fun with it. I was amazed at how she had grown and how much she has learned since we last used this set!

We love felt and to reinforce our bible study I made this creation felt set for her. She loves playing with this, telling me the story of creation as she plays. :)

Mouse loves music and dancing! I snapped these while she was busy having some fun!

I got her this Drum design set a while ago, both of us had tons of fun painting and assembling it! Mouse loves playing and banging on it!

She loves helping me in the kitchen, a few days ago she burned herself, not serious, just enough to give her a fright! Now whenever she is near the stove she insists on wearing oven gloves!

Then we always have time to be a bit silly!

3 D glasses!

One of her new favourite things to do is clear out her closet and make a bed in it! Complete with blanket and pillow!

Have a blessed week!