Mmmmm!

Hold on to your hat, kiddos.  Mama is on summer VA.CA.TION!!!

Boy.  How.deeee.

I love to cook-- actually, more bake than cook, but I really love to be in the kitchen.  I love getting dinner ready; I love exploring new treats; I love introducing my sweet ones to new and exciting dishes.  (I, however, do not love doing dishes.)  And while I generally try to cook most of the time during the school year [I'm a teacher by trade, if you are new to the party], once summer break rolls around, well... my mixer, measuring cups, whisks, potholders, and oven get quite the workout!

 

Samuel didn't want to wear his bib.

Big Brother and Big Sister volunteered to demonstrate how great it is.

They are ready for some treats. 

My kiddos and hubby are usually very adventurous with me, and all are required willing to try everything at least once.  Usually when my sweet ones are having the privilege to try something that is not their first (or second or third or...) choice for dining, I help distract them by sharing various stories from the different missions' trips that I have taken over the years-- and all the different kinds of foods that I got to experience.  Their favorite is my story of eating a fish head, complete with eyeballs, when serving in Togo, West Africa. 

[And just for the record, of my husband's own admission, I have reeeaaaallly broadened his food palate, especially when it comes to shifting past the good ole' American meat and taters.  Not that there's anything wrong with meat and taters...]

But this is not a post about adventurous foods.  No fish heads here.  No pig intestines there. 

Today has been a super carb-filled delight of a day.  I whipped up a batch of that delicious NY style pizza dough that I was talking about trying several weeks ago.  It has become quite the favorite here at la casa de Gibson.  I'll post a few pics of it once we get it all together.  (In case you missed the post, this particular recipe requires a 3 day slow rise in the refrigerator.)

But what I did bake for our lunch tomorrow was THIS:

Ciabatta Rolls

 
If you have ever had any amount of interaction with me-- especially if said interaction involved any sort of conversation about food-- you will already know how desperately I love bread.  Perhaps more than just food as a whole, bread is specifically my tree.  And this bread is a powerful temptation!  I made it with the intention of serving it tomorrow with my homemade chicken salad.  Doesn't that look perfect?  Crusty, chewy, yeasty, little chicken salad sandwiches.  (We'll be eating around noon-ish; you are welcome to join us! ;) )

I also delight in whipping up some summer treats for the sweets.  Since strawberry season has been upon us, and I had a delicious supply of strawberries just begging to be used,  and those sweet babies were burning off some energy outside, I thought a batch of shortcake would be a perfect surprise for all of us!

 

I snapped this shot from the porch.  

D and E are workin' as mechanics on their bikes.

This was a new recipe for me.  Usually when I make strawberry shortcake, I make a drop biscuit; however, in this instance, the batter/dough is spread in a baking dish.  As I have already shared, I love to be adventurous: so I decided to try something a little different.  And that adventure paid off!  This will be my new go-to recipe.  It's simple, it's quick, and I generally have all the ingredients on hand.  The only thing that I did differently from the original recipe was that I added about 3 tablespoons of sugar.  And that was actually quite on accident-- I misread the recipe as I was attempting to entertain the Littlest in his high chair, grate the Parmesan cheese for the carbonara, plus keep an eye on the ciabatta dough working in the mixer so that it didn't dance right off my counter.  (*That would've made me sad.  Very, very sad.)  But, in my opinion, it was a happy mistake!  I like a hint o' sweetness in my shortcake, so I'll add it every time.  Oh, and even though it said not to grease the pan, I was too afraid of ruining my delicious treat (for my sweets), so I greased 'er up anywho.  I'll probably do that every time, too.

 

Crumbly on the top.  Tender in the middle.

Delicious all the way through.

Sadly, I did not take the time before snarfing it all down take a picture.  The one shared with you just above is actually some of the leftovers.  Yes, there are leftovers.  How proud are YOU of ME?!  (Um, the right answer is: so very proud, Leah.)

So all in all, today was definitely an "mmmmmm!" kind of day.  And I am happy to report that in spite of all those yummy treats I made, I still managed to (a) log all of my stuff onto MyFitnessPal and (b) stay under my calorie goal for the day!

Oh, and I also mowed all of the grass today.

Go.  Mama.

How I love my Bible!

Are you like me?  Do you get emotionally attached to your Bible?  I mean (and please don't think of me as unspiritual or shallow) not simply the inspired Word of God. [Yes, I am attached to that!]  I mean your actual Bible.  The version, edition, etc etc etc that you have used for who-know-how-long.


I had a friend in college who made a rather accurate and astute observation about the difference of how men and women view their Bibles and use their Bibles.  This friend, who happens to be a guy, made the observation that women use their Bibles as a journal or a diary.  And, I for one, can agree wholeheartedly with that statement! 

I love recording-- and then stumbling upon and revisiting-- the different lessons and blessings that my Savior has walked through with me.  [also may be read: dragged me through kicking and screaming, all the while knowing what is best for me and refusing to let me settle for less than His best.]

Anywhooo... I have a women's study Bible.  I was going to post a link so you could see my Bible, but even after much too long a time of searching, I couldn't find my Bible.  I know they have a newer edition, but I have used this one for so long that I just am not emotionally ready to move on.  I have notes and covenants and prayers recorded along the columns and in between verses that are just too precious to my heart to simply start over in a "new" Bible.  I have sermons my daddy has preached recorded all throughout the Scriptures.  I have quotes and devotionals as well as triumphs, victories, and even some personal failures-- all written for me to remember one basic theme:

God. is. faithful.  To me.

 

Yes, that is my maiden name written on the front.

Yes, there is a cup of hot tea in the picture.  

That was on purpose.  They usually go together.

Well, in recent days, my precious Book has started to come apart at the seams.  I was afraid that I was going to have to retire this edition for another.  But I searched and searched and came upon this helpful post about how to repair using Mod Podge.  I was elated! :)  However, my sweet hubby is beyond wonderful, and he added a few extra steps to ensure that my beloved Bible would last for many more years!  Here are the tools you will need, pictured below.  (Yes, that is a 10 lb. dumb bell!)

 

 These are the valuable tools to keep your Bible/journal going strong!

You will need liquid Mod Podge, big rubber bands, two heavy weights, a board about the width of your binding, and thin paint brushes (oops! Left those out of the picture...).

I first carefully removed the "chunk" of pages that had come unattached (half of Psalms and all of Proverb, in case you were interested!), carefully brushed out any dirt or leftover residue from off of both the binding and the now completely detached pages.  I want those puppies to stick!  I then carefully painted a thin coat of the Mod Podge on both the Bible binding as well as the pages to go back in.  

I took a deep breath and then lined up the pages carefully and pressed them back into the binding!  Here's where my awesome hubby comes in...  It was his idea/suggestion to press the strip of wood along the binding, add the rubber bands, and then place the weights on top of the Bible so that it would create that pressure and allow the glue to cure.

[I have to insert here a personal struggle that I had in that last step... We work very diligently to show the utmost respect and reverence to God's Word.  My children have been trained from the very beginning of their days that we do not put God's Word on the ground; we do not put anything on top of God's Word; we are always very careful when handling this, the very God-breathed inspiration from a Holy Father to us, His children.  That being said, my sweet hubby knew even before I said anything that I didn't really want to put those weights on top of my Bible.  So he gently said, "It's all right, honey.  You can put the weights on top."  Love that man.]

And, I am super pleased to report:  my Bible is securely bound and ready for more study!  My Quiet Time this morning was all the more exciting to me because I didn't have to worry about losing the book of Proverbs or even further separate those chunks of Scripture. 

So if you have a Bible that is falling apart-- and what's that they say: a Bible that is falling apart usually means a life that is not-- I encourage you to take heart, grab that Mod Podge, and put it all back together again!

PS~ I feel the need to add yet another sidenote.  You may have noticed from the picture of my Bible that there is a cup stain on the cover.  "But, Leah!  You just said that we never put anything on top of God's Word!"  Alas, you are correct.  There IS a stain.  It IS from a cup that was placed on top of my Sacred Book.  I honestly do not remember when or how it happened.  However, it serves as a visual reminder for me to show my children why we are so careful with God's Word!