Holiday Recipe Exchange!

Ok so Michelle @ Circle of Life started a HOLIDAY EXCHANGE THURSDAY and since she demanded me to do this (just joking!) I would like to share a cookie recipe that us Puerto Ricans make!!! They are yummy....

Mantecaditos

Makes about 40

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
3/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
5 maraschino cherries, cut into eighths

Place oven rack in middle position of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour and nutmeg; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter, shortening and extracts with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add sugar to butter mixture and cream until mixture is light and fluffy. Blend in flour mixture. Dough should be slightly moist. If dough looks dry, sprinkle with water and work into dough. If dough is sticky, sprinkle with additional flour. Spoon dough by teaspoons and form into balls. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Gently press each ball with palm of hand to form cookie. Garnish with a cherry piece placed in the center of each cookie. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Remove to a wire rack to cool.


My grandma used to make these all the time and I remember sitting on the kitchen counter eating the dough out of the bowl!! LOL I know my grandma can't see my blog because she doesn't even know how to get onto a computer but I love you abuela....

You can decorate these two different ways: With sprinkles or dent the middle of the cookie with your thumb and place a cherry in it!

Happy Birthday Maria!!!

Today is Maria's birthday!!!

1..2..3.. Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday dear Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Happy Birthday to you... And many moreeeeeeeeee...

In Espanol... Feliz Cumpleanos Feliz... Feliz Cumpleanos Feliz... Feliz Cumpleanos a Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (with Puerto Rican accent)LOL

God bless you girl today and always... May He bring you many blessings!


(Maria click on the pic so that you can read the message I wrote OH and if you don't mind I stole this pic from your myspace! LOL)

Don't forget to wish this amazing woman a Happy Birthday or a Feliz Cumpleanos!!!

Prayer for wanting & being...

**Ok this awesome prayer came from my sister that is forever telling me "Speak Life into your womb!" To my sister that has always been there for me even when I call and complain... I love you sister!**


Father, in Jesus Name, I thank You that because I keep your commandments and do those things that are pleasing to You, I know whatever I ask I receive of You; therefore, Father, according to Your Word, I believe that You make me a joyful mother of children.

I thank You Father that my children are like olive plants around the table. I thank You Father that the fruit of my womb is Your reward and I believe I receive rewards from You.

Father, in Jesus Name, I thank You that I will carry my baby full-term. Because I am a tither, the devourer is rebuked for me, and my fruit shall not be brought forth before the time of life. I thank You Father that You make my body strong and You bless the child within me. Your Word says there shall nothing cast their young young, neither be barren in the land.

Father, because we fear and reverence You as Lord, I thank You in the name of Jesus that we are blessed with a family, committed to You and Your Word. I thank You Father for our unborn child; we receive the child as a gift from You. I believe my child is being created in Your image and likeness; therefore, I believe I receive a normal, healthy child with all body parts functioning as you designed them to function.

Father, I thank You that because I am skillfully and wonderfully made in Your image and likeness, I will have a safe, easy pregnancy and delivery. Pregnancy is Your will for my life; therefore I accept Your plan for blessing my womb. I believe the Holy Spirit is with me in labor and delivery; therefore, I thank You for protecting me and my child. I thank You Father that the Holy Spirit oils my womb and the baby comes forth safely and speedily during delivery.

I thank You Father that our child is not brought forth for sudden terror or calamity, but a blessing from You Father.

Because we have chosen to walk in Your ways, I thank You Father that all nations rise and call us blessed.

Amen!!

This goes to all the ladies in my life that are trying for a baby or are pregnant and feeling the fear and need that ONE prayer! This is free so take it and print it and place it in your Bible and PRAY IT!!!! Love all of you.... Ya'll have a special place in my <3!

Wordless Wednesday

What more can I ask for....



During this Christmas season I ask that each of you would lift those up who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillborn, or after being born. It's really been difficult knowing that I don't have our precious baby in our arms but in our hearts and with this picture I can be calm knowing whos arms he is in~Jesus!

Need help with header??

Ok so I found out how to make the double border around your header larger so that it can fit your custom header!!!

This is what you do for those of you who use ScrapBlog or other programs:

1. Go to Layout
2. Edit HTML
3. Scroll to where you see this (its not in red I just made it that way so you know what im talking about)

/* Header ----------------------------------------------- */
#header-wrapper { width:672px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;

**See where it says width:672px; well it is usually 6-- something (cant remember) anyway I just was playing with the #'s and WAHLA! 672 will make your custom header fit in that box! If it doesn't you just go up or down with that #**

Hope this helps!

I made a "play around" blog and thats what I've been doing! I have learned alot of "secrets" from The Cutest Blog on The Block! Check out my other blog...

http://melanie-playaroundblog.blogspot.com/

Joy & Peace

As I sit here and think of so many of us hurting for that one little miracle I feel the Lord has so much to do in our lives. To tell you all the truth the Lord has given me so much peace and joy in the midst of the pain I was feeling. For some reason I'm coping and I am so glad to be able to say it FINALLY! I never thought I would crawl OUT of that hole I felt I was in. Yes my heart yearns for a little one leaping in my womb and I have HOPE that it will all plan out for His good. I am so blessed to say that I have a little angel in Heaven and I know he is forever surrounding me. There is a little poem I read the other day from a friend and it was about a little boy that just wanted to put his hands thru his mommys hair and she let him. As I sit around at work or at home I just dream of Nehemiah playing with my hair.

This peace and joy im feeling is totally from the Lord. All I can say is that what I have been doing lately is reading His Word and doing my daily devotions. I think that as I spend more time with the Lord on a daily basis I am able to know that I have a God in my life that will give me what I ask for and thats peace and joy. I want to be happy for others that are pregnant but yet thats something that the Lord is still helping me with. I just got an email that a friend of mine is pregnant with her 2nd. How amazingly happy she is but yet what a bitterness in my heart I feel and its not fair for me to feel this way. This is one thing that I need to work with and with time He will show me how.

To anyone that reads this and feels as if a certain situation is just killing you remember that you aren't alone in it. We have the Lord to lean on even when it feels as if He isn't there but rest assured He is! Let's crawl out of the hole and lean on Him and each other in all of this. Remember the one who brings you down... It's not the Lord... He wants to bring you UP and OUT!

Have a great weekend!

Lord, we know how faithful you are to us. You also know our heart, our desires, and our pain. I pray for all of my friends Lord that you will give them an everlasting Joy in their heart and Peace. Lord as Jesus' birthday is just a few days away I pray that we will be able to rejoice especially knowing that we have little angels with you this Christmas season. I pray that this season will be a season of great JOY! I pray for my friends that may be struggling with anything Lord that you will give them the JOY and PEACE that I am feeling. Lord that as we crawl out of this hole that Your hand will guide each one of us OUT! We bind the enemy Lord and we put him behind us. You are so amazing Lord and I thank you NOW for whats to come. In Jesus Christ name, Amen!

Wondering??

Ok so some of you are wondering about the awesome opportunity I have been talking about lately that I didn't get! I think I've been messaging a few of you about a "J.O.B" and I take it I had never told ya'll! LOL too hilarious...

Ok so there was this job opportunity that I thought would be for me which was a Administrative position at a Christian University. The position was awesome pay and get this "Free Tuition!" I don't have a degree YET and well I thought this would be the time to finish it off and well the job didn't come thru but IT'S OK! Someone else needed it more than I did. Maybe someone that hasn't even went to college got that job or maybe someone that didn't have a job yet got it... I am looking at it with a warm heart and not a bitter one!

I am blessed where I am working at now but would like something challenging and where I can move up in the positions they offer! God knows the plans He has for me and I will sit back and watch Him reveal to me what He has in store for me!

God bless all of you and thanks for asking and caring!

The letter "M"

I'm playing along with Allisyn's letter meme. She assigned me the letter "M" and now I have to come up with 10 things I am thankful for that start with M. So here is a list of a few of the things that I am thankful for:

1. My mother (I am thankful for my beautiful mother! God blessed me with such an awesome mom!)


2. Munchichi's (I am thankful for this toy because when I was little I had one or two and it reminds me of my childhood times!) Member sister???


3. Music (I am thankful for Christian music that is... and especially right now with the Christmas season I love Christmas music as I praise our Savior!)


4. McDonald's (I am thankful for McD's... LOL yes I love McD's and I can't help it... I know its bad and lots of grease but... I love it!)


5. Maurice's (I am thankful for this clothing store! Mind you where I live we don't have a mall and well whats a girl with NO MALL! Oh we have a Walmart and this store right next door!)


6. Mail (I am thankful for mail because I love getting mail from family and friends! Being a military wife its hard being so far from everyone so one little card does fill my heart with joy!)


7. Military Wife (I am thankful for being a military wife! I love my soldier so much and without him I wouldn't be this strong!)


8. M.E.N.D. (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death) is a Christian, non-profit organization that reaches out to families who have suffered the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death.


9. Mother/Step-Mother (I am thankful for being a mother to a precious little angel in Heaven and also a step mother to two wonderful boys.)


10. Miracles (I am thankful for miracles that only God can perform! Hoping for a BFP this Christmas!)


These are 10 things I am thankful for! Thank you Allisyn for giving me the opportunity to think of M's of what im thankful for! LOL

If you would like to play along comment me and I will give you a letter.

Wordless Wednesday! LOL

I guess this is how im feeling lately.. LOL

Wordless Wednesday

This is my 1st Wordless Wednesday post!! I take it you don't really write a actual post but a picture of something that inspires you so to say... So here is my pic! Isn't it adorable!!!

Satisfied!

Ok I think im actually satisfied with how my blog looks. I will not change it UNLESS I learn how to make my own (someday!)

I want to thank everyone for your prayers for my "career situation." My heart's desire is to go to college and get a degree in Special Education one day :) I really think the Lord is placing special little children that have disabilities in my heart. I hear that alot of schools are in NEED of Special Education teachers/aides so I will pray whole-heartedly and see what plans He has for me!

Oh and for everyone wondering about my "song" that I am writing its for my angel in Heaven! The title is "Just Fly Away" and well I am not an actual singer but I used to sing at my old churches Praise & Worship Team and started to learn how to play an acoustic guitar as well. So one day I will put the words and the acoustic guitar together and make a song and put it on a video and sing it to my baby in heavens ears...

Under Construction AGAIN!!

Ok so for all of you who are my followers I have a HUGE problem when it comes to my blog. I am about to download a free trial of photo editing, etc... so that I can learn to make my OWN templates!!! Does anyone know of any programs?? I would love to learn!! So the layout I have now is just for today and tomorrow maybe!!!

Will I ever be happy with ONE template?? NOPE...

December 1st~Devotional

So I am starting my days of reading a devotional, diving into the Word, and praying! It's a challenge that Hilary from A Look Into Our Lives is doing and so I am tagging along! Here is the meaning for the December Challenge:

D - Devotions
E - Everyday
C - Creates
E - Eternal
M - Meaning
B - By
E - Establishing a
R - Relationship (with Jesus Christ!)

I am going to be posting a few devotionals a week. The devotional book that I am reading is the Our Daily Bread.

Today's devotion was "Waiting for Joy."

~~When I read devotions sometimes they speak to me and sometimes I don't understand some. But when I started to read this one I was like "Praise You Lord!" God knows our daily circumstances. He knows im waiting for joy just like the title says. As I kept reading the scripture was Psalm 30:5 "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." I find myself crying at night because that is when my body just winds down from the crazy day that I usually have. I cry because I miss the baby in my womb that was growing fine for 8 weeks and then at my 12th week appointment our baby has passed away in my womb. It was the most disappointing thing ever to endure. I don't wish that on anyone. I remember the first appointment I was able to see his little heart just beating away and how he was justa' wiggling around. Till this day I wish my hubby had been there to see but being in the Army his job is really tough and all he remembers is the day that I called him to tell him the bad news. So yes my nights are hard but I can say that when I wake up in the morning I am refreshed by our Heavenly Father! I know I can get up feeling good knowing that I will go to Him and go to His Word. I try to at least but sometimes I just don't feel up to it and I can tell you that when I don't go to Him daily my day drags BIG time so im grateful to Hilary for bringing this December Challenge! (hubby is calling me to bed...) so I will close it here... From today's devotion I learned that even though I may weep He will give me JOY! The last part of this devotion it says: "We can endure this life's trials because of the next life's joys!" Amen and Amen!

Goodnight...

Our Thanksgiving

We had a very quiet Thanksgiving this year which was crazy for me because I miss my family. Being a military wife is not easy but I knew what I was getting into when I married my love. So since we have two dogs our plans were to go to Texas where my family is at and my husbands two boys but the plans got canceled because of a big 60 lb dog that we have that probably wouldn't behave and it was too late to get him to a doggie daycare so we camped out here in Missouri! It was really quiet but I made "pernil (pork)" and my cousin and his wife made the turkey. We are Puerto Rican so pork is the main meat we eat on pretty much EVERY occasion! It was my 1st time making it and I also made a Pumpkin Cake. It was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!!!

So my Thanksgiving was quiet! I woke up and gave thanks to my Heavenly Father and I've also came up with a song that has just flowed out of my mouth (To be continued on a later post!)