.:{ Buttermilk Pancakes with Homemade Tart Blueberry Sauce }:.

This is a recipe I don't want to forget.

You can use your favorite recipe for pancakes, any kind really. I'm partial to buttermilk (even if I have to make the buttermilk myself!) The most important tip I can say is to always allow the batter to rest before you put it on the hot griddle.

.:{ Homemade Tart Blueberry Sauce }:.

1 1/2 cups of Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

3 Tbsp of honey (or 1/2 cup of sugar)

1/2 cup of cranberry juice (or any blend)

1 Tbsp of corn starch

Put blueberries, honey and juice into a pot over medium heat. Let it come to a soft boil. Blueberries should be soft, use the back of a spoon or ladle to mash up most of the berries. Mix in the cornstarch, bring heat down to low to let it simmer another minute. Stir and serve over hot pancakes.

When I made this today I used cranberry & pomegranate juice and that was SO good. It really added a tartness to the sauce and the honey gives it a great sweetness. You can substitute sugar instead of honey but you'll have to constantly stir to get the sugar to dissolve. Lastly I must note that I adapted this recipe of the sauce from this link, the only change is cranberry juice instead of orange juice: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/blueberry-waffles-with-fast-blueberry-sauce/detail.aspx

.:{ Smiley Face }:.

A friend of mine asked me to upload this picture for her. This is a tradition in my family of using chocolate chips to make a smiley face onto a bowl cream of wheat. The orange bowl is the same bowl from my own childhood that I'm using for my daughter :) It was from Tupperware (circa 80's-90's).

.:{ 4th Birthday }:.

Our daughter had her 4th birthday this week and her party was yesterday. We had family and a few friends over for a BBQ. I was so proud of my Tangled's Rapunzel Tower Cake and Cupcakes! I got the idea originally from this blog :) Unfortunately I had icing issues so I just did the best I could, however Birthday girl was happy, and that's all that matters!

.:{ Book Review - A River To Cross }:.

I'm SO behind on this review. I read this book last month but honestly couldn't remember where I got it from. I knew it was a review book. Today as I was looking at my emails I saw Bethany House Book Review emails and did a quick search to realize that was where this book came from. I deeply apologize for the lateness. This review does have spoilers.

Reading the book A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris was pretty simple and quick. I could have read it in less than a day had I not had children to take care of :) The book is based in El Paso during the early Texas Ranger days in 1850s. Elizabeth Evans is your typical New England educated lady who decided to move to El Paso by the U.S.-Mexican borders to help her brother out with his newspaper. Unfortunately her brother gets killed and Elizabeth gets kidnapped. Texas Ranger Jake Nelson and his team come to her rescue. Crossing into dangerous Mexico is the only way to save her. Along the way they find the truth behind Manuel Diego and his plot to overrule the Mexican President by starting a war with the U.S.

The ending of the book seemed to drag on a bit but overall this was a good fictional story set into Texas history. For those that love western romance, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I did find some errors throughout the book, hopefully these have been fixed.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. Theopinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

.:{ Book Reivew : Love You More }:.

Love You More by Jennifer Grant is a book I'd highly recommend anyone considering adoption, nationally or internationally. Not only is this book told on a personal level, but it also includes great sources of information.

The book is a personal account of the practice and patience of adoption. It really takes a strong person or couple to "endure" the steps of adoption. It is not like walking into an animal shelter and picking up a little puppy or kitten, or even an older animal. It might not even be for those who already have children (like myself) and definitely not for the person trying to save the world.

Fortunately (and unfortunately), this book definitely gave me the feeling that adoption is not the best choice for myself and my family. I had toyed with the idea for a long time, probably adopting from Kenya (since I did a mission trip there), or even a South American adoption. However I would probably fall into the category of the "sympathetic adopter" group. Although I could see myself being a foster parent, my husband was never willing to go through the process.

I really like the way the book was written, it almost felt like she was sitting in front of me telling me her life's testimony. Thank you Jennifer Grant for finally writing a book that gets personal with the reader and explain that adoption may or may not be for you.

.:{ Book Review - Sweet Sanctuary }:.

When I first selected this book from Booksneeze.com, I wasn't sure if I would like this. The description didn't quite appeal to me. Sweet Sanctuary was written by Sheila Walsh, with assistance of an author by the name of Cindy Martinusen Coloma, and at first the name of the author hinted that I was familiar with her until I told my mom about the book and the author. I was reminded that she wrote the children's books of Gigi, God's Little Princess. My daughter adores the films (I hope to buy the children's books for Christmas).

Sweet Sanctuary is about a single mother who works at a small town Library in Maine and has a son named Charlie. Wren has lived years without being close with her family and raising her son alone. She has devoted her life to giving her talented son everything she couldn't have, especially by supporting his music. His father had abandoned them to live a free life and her family became estranged around the time her father died. Suddenly her grandmother shows up on her doorstep announcing that she wants to throw a birthday party for her ninetieth birthday and wants her grandchildren and great grandchildren to visit the very spot where her family became estranged. Not only does this throw Wren off but her sister and brother are not happy with this plan. On top of this, Charlie's father has suddenly re-appeared in their lives and has asked for a second chance at life with them. Although Wren has found new love in a local man named Paul, her life is thrown for a loop. Her patience is tested, as well as her faith. Will she allow God to work in her life or will she continue to lead her own life?

Despite the slow start and several times of being a tad bored with the narration or constant "replay" of the character's thoughts, I have given this book at four star. I would recommend this book to though that are seeking God in this ever-changing world where technology has become the now and how paper books, even the Bible, are becoming a thing of the past. This is also good for a single mom who is struggling with being alone, without family support and an absent husband/father. I would even suggest this to those who struggle with separation from their families.

This paragraph is about a subject that was in the book that struck a cord with me. It is NOT a major part of the book but it didn't settle well with me. The part that struck me the most is the author's ability to tell things in a way people might not think. Wren, being an librarian, talks about what patrons that come into the library and how the books they select can describe their personalities. She also talks about how libraries around the world are becoming a rare location because of the replacement of technology. The part that hurt the most was reading about local schools throughout America replacing the library books and textbooks for everything digital. It made me look this up and find that much to my surprise, this was true. Libraries in school are becoming a thing of the past. How very sad and angry this made me feel that the love of books is declining. Sure the eBooks are available, but it's not the same when you can't smell the sweet scent of paper and glue. As I'm reading this, I'm reminded of my favorite bookstore, Borders, being in the process of shutting down. I will no longer be able to grab five books to flip through and select before reading them at home. Sneak previews might be available through Amazon before you purchase, but I always liked to read a random chapter or two before selecting a book. I'm not sure people are fully aware of what happening in this world.

.:{ Book Review - Rumors Of God }:.

Many people today have a difficult time seeing God in today's world. The amount of stress, materialism and selfishness we see today can give way to those already lacking in faith. Even those who have faith may have days were they just don't see God.

Rumors of God was written by two Australian men of faith, Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson, who wanted to help people see where God is in today's world. They wrote of in spiritual stories of personal experience as well as things that have happened in the world. These men of faith are trying to teach us where to find our strength from God, where to place our faith and not in materialistic things that we seem to value today. To me, I think of going back to the way life was when everything was simple. The need for the latest technology, the biggest house or even the high fashion clothes we crave are ways that we need to realize are not how God wants us to lead our lives. The title of the book points us out to realize that God is basically becoming a rumor, or even an old fad that is disappearing. True faith is becoming endangered. What will be your first step to gaining your faith? What will you do to help with the reality of God becoming just a rumor? What is there in your life that is stopping you from remembering God? These are the questions that come to mind from reading this book. But remember, actions always speak louder than words.