God's Hands

Today is in God's hands and so are you.

His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will conform you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are calming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.

The hands that hold you will never let you down.

-Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer

Banana-Zucchini Bread Recipe

• 3 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 2 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

• In a bowl, beat eggs. Blend in sugar, vanilla and oil. Add bananas and mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; stir into egg mixture. Stir in zucchini and pecans just until combined.
• Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves.
  

Hiding from the rain.....

Bike Rodeo...
Today the kids had a blast at the Bike Rodeo put on my our Park and Recreation program. Both of the boys got free helmets and all the kids got their bikes looked at and adjusted. Also they had some fun bike activities to help the kids know how to be safe. It was a great way to spend Saturday morning.

Stay in the lines.....

Zoo Fun......
Yesterday the kids and I had a great time at the zoo. The weather was great meaning it was not humid. They enjoyed riding the train and Merry Go Round. They also enjoyed walking around and seeing all the animals.

Almond Biscotti....


2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. oatmeal
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix these first six ingredients together and then set aside. In another bowl mix together:

2 eggs
3 Tb. oil
2 tsp orange zest
2 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. water

Mix the wet ingredients together with a mixer and then add the dry ingredients and mix till everything is come together. If you need a little extra liquid then add a little. Then with floured hands transfer the dough to a baking sheet and form it into a rectangle shape that is about 1 1/2" thick. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then take the biscotti out and little it cool for about 15 minutes. Turn oven down to 250 degrees. When the biscotti is cooled slice it into 1 inch stripes and lay the stripes on there side. Put them back in the oven for 15 minutes on one side and then turn them over and another 15 minutes on the other side or until they look browned. Then take them out and let them cool. Store in an air tight container.

If you want drizzled chocolate on top just melt down some chocolate chips and drizzle on the top after they have cooled.

Enjoy them with some coffee or tea:)

Dragon Art Festival.....

There was an art fair and car show last weekend. It was a fun time for the kids. They got to do a little dancing, make some funny looking glasses, bounce in the big bounce house and just enjoying being outside. We also found some friends who ended up coming over for lunch and stayed to play for a while. It was a great way to spend a hot summer day.

Dressing up a bit......It's so funny to see my boys getting all dolled up. I'm sure they are not going to like these photos when they get older, but many laughs will happen too.

Garden Planted.......
I had been holding off on planting a garden because I just didn't know if we would be here at the end of the summer. After waiting a while I got $5 of free money from Ace Hardware and decided to use it on buying a few plants. I got 12 tomato plants, 4 brussel sprouts, 4 summer squashes, 4 peppers and 4 cucumbers. The kids and I then planted some seeds that I had like carrots, onions, lettuce, zucchini and broccoli. For just under $10 I planted all of this and the yield will be great.

Gabriel & Noah loved to help dig the holds for the plants and finding the worms was even more exciting. The other thing I love about planting a garden is letting the kids water it and picking the vegetables when they are ready. Anna has been a good helper with watering the plants during the heat. What a love about having a garden is giving the kids something to do and at the end of the season we get so much wonderful produce to eat.

Let God Choose.....

As for God, His way is perfect! Psalm 18:30

Let God choose for you, it will be the right decision.
Let God guide you, it will be the right direction.
Let God plan for you, it will be in the right timing.
Let God measure for you, it will be the right portion.
Let God help you, it will be the right care.
Let God instruct you, it will be the right teaching.
Let God prepare you, it will be the right training.
Let God counsel you, it will be the right perspective.
Let God fight for you, it will be the right outcome.
Let God work in you, it will be the right result.

-Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer