It is a beautiful day–even though it’s raining outside.  It is a day that I can give thanks to God for the many blessings that He has given me–even though I don’t deserve them.  It is a day that I can see with my eyes the love that is shown to me by my loving Father.

Today is a day that I want to honor two of the most special people in my life.  My husband and my son.

My husband, Steve, is 40 years old today.  This man was given to me by God, this I know.  He has brought such joy, peace and love into my life that I cannot remember life before him, nor can I imagine life without him.  He has accepted me, just as I am, with all of my many flaws—and he loves me anyway   Together, we have created and are continuing to create a beautiful family that is growing each year.  I cannot express enough my love for him through mere words, except to honor him on this special day, the day that he turns 40, that is also a day to celebrate his unconditional love for another…..

Today is also the day that we celebrate the my son’s adoption.  Three years ago today, Dylan officially became Steve’s son.  He has his last name and Steve calls him son.  This act of unconditional love for a son that was 10 years old when  they met is one that I will be forever grateful.  Steve has given him so much in this selfless act—but I know that this simple act has created such a secure and safe place for Dylan, that the reward is going to be incredible, when we see all that Dylan will be, as he embraces who he is in Christ.

Steve—Happy Birthday, my love–My prayer for you today is that you will be surrounded by as much love as you give!

And Dylan—Happy Adoption Day, son—my prayer for you is that you realize the love that already surrounds you and that you may grasp hold of all that God has planned for you!

I love you both more than I can put into words–

This song had my attention the first time I heard it.  It reminded me of my friends that struggle with their identity in Christ, not seeing themselves as Christ sees them and living in a constant state of fear and unworthiness.  This is my gift to my friends who struggle in this area–an encouragement to remember who they are– and not only are they loved by me, but also by the one that created them, sent His son to die for them and wants them to live in the freedom that His love provides.

Cinnamon Rolls

I woke  up this morning with a craving for Cinnamon Rolls—not sure why–but I set out to make them for my family.  I didn’t really take into account the time needed to prepare and bake them, but nevertheless….I was determined!

They turned out very well, so I thought I would share the recipe with you:)

Cinnamon Rolls

3 1/2 to 4 cups All-Purpose flour ( I used half white/half wheat)

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 packages regular or quick active dry yeast

1 cup very warm milk (120- 130 degrees)

1/3 cup stick butter, softened

1 large egg

2 tablespoons stick butter, softened

1/4 cup granulated or packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix 2 cups of the flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and salt and yeast into a large bowl.  Add warm milk, 1/3 cup of butter and the egg.  Beaat with electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently.  Beat on medium speed for 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently.  Stir in enough flour to make the mixture easy to handle.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic.  Place in greased bowl and turn greased side up.  Cover and let rise in warm place about 1 hour and 30 minutes or until doubled.  Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

Punch down dough.  Flatten with hands or rolling pin into rectangle, 15 x 10 inches, on lightly floured surface.  Spread with 2 tablespoons of butter.  Mix 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over butter.  Roll the rectangle up tightly, beginning at 15 inch side.  Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal.  Stretch and shape until even.  Cut roll into fifteen 1 inch pieces.  Place slightly apart in the pan.  Cover and let rise in warm place about 30 minutes or until doubled.

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from pan to wire rack.  Cool 10 minutes. Spread cream cheese frosting on the cinnamon rolls and serve.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup stick butter, softened

2 teaspoons milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.

Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed, 1 cup at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Refrigerate any remaining frosting.

*recipe ideas from Betty Crocker’s New Cookbook

Hope you enjoy this recipe!  I know someone in my house that did!

Lip-Smackin' Good Rolls

I came across a great giveaway today and wanted to share….

Have lots of photos sitting in a box or in a file on your computer?  Photo books are a great way to preserve the memories while reducing a bit of clutter.

What are photo books?  Photo books are a way of creating a digital scrapbook of your favorite photos and the printing them into a book–you can also do this for recipes, artwork, etc.  Inkubooks is offering this free to Simple Mom readers–all you need to pay is the shipping costs.  They are also giving away 5 books of any style and size to 5 Simple Mom readers.

Read all the details for this great giveaway!

…to myself

    The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they    shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.

I and the Father are One.  John 10:27-30 AMP

Thank you, Father, for your words of LIFE.

The music that was heard in my house today:

I have not been very active on this blog lately–partially because of trying to focus on my tasks at home, but mostly because I have had quite the writer’s block!  I feel that I really want to share some things that have been going on with me personally in hopes that it will be an encouragement to you as the reader of this blog.Over the past few months I have have felt myself going in a downward spiral–some days I would seem to be “up”, but I was continuing to go deeper and deeper into a self-absorbed depression.  I was anxious most of the time and had very unrealistic and untrue thoughts and doubts about the people closest to me.  I was beginning to come to the conclusion that I was really losing touch with reality.

Then yesterday, God spoke to my heart.  He showed me an area in my life that I had allowed to become a hindrance to a close relationship with Him.  That area has to do with my identity.  Since coming home to be with my family full time, I have been trying to replace the identity that I had at work with things and people around me now.

But those things can’t replace the identity I have in Christ.  Knowing I am His child–that I am loved and cherished by my Father–that my identity comes from being in fellowship with Him–and nothing else can satisfy me as much as a relationship with Him can–this is what God spoke to me yesterday.

As I was sharing this with my husband who, by the way, is so wonderfully patient and beautiful (inside and out), I felt a sense of peace totally consume me.  The act of recognizing this issue in my life, speaking it to those around me and allowing it to really penetrate my heart and completely basking in the love that God has for me has brought that peace to my heart.
And then this morning in my inbox….

How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5  ). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself.

This is where I am choosing to live–wanting only God to be my source of identity–I fellowship with Him daily and am complete in Him.  Only then can I be the absolute best wife, mother and friend that I can be.

*excerpt above was taken from My Utmost for His Highest Daily Devotional.  To read the entire devotional, go here.

*Thanks to Public Domain Pictures for the use of the rainbow photo