Find Your Wings

Happy Graduation, Abby! We are so proud of you!

Love,

Dad, Mom, Brad, Ryan, Lacy, Holly, and Maggie

Another Braggity Moment

Lacy had her violin recital on Friday evening. We, of course, thought she sounded great. See for yourself.

Oh, and I do know how to spell academy.....

Lacy and her instructor, Katherine.

Peach Cobbler

Here is another recipe from the Ridiculously Simple and Incredibly Delicious Desserts catagory. This simple recipe only calls for five measly ingredients: butter, flour, sugar, water, and canned peaches. It is oh so good.

OK, I know fresh peaches would be best. But when a girl is hankering for peach cobbler in May, she's gotta just do what she's gotta do, ya' know?

You can use peaches canned in any type of syrup. I buy no-sugar-added because the recipe calls for plenty of sugar. Use whatever suits you; heavy or light syrup work just as well.

Peach Cobbler

• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 (29 oz.) can peaches (or two small cans)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the butter in a 9X13" baking pan and melt in the oven while it preheats. Meanwhile, mix together the sugar, flour and water to make a batter. Remove the melted butter from the oven and pour the batter into the pan. Don't stir. Pour the can of peaches, with the juice, into the pan. Don't stir. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top.

Love those dump and bake recipes....

Enjoy it with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream! I told you this was easy.

You may thank me now.

Enjoy your weekend, every minute of it!

Love,
Laura Lee

An Inspirational Book

One of my all time favorite decorating books is Creating a Beautiful Home, by Alexandra Stoddard. What I love most about her books is her contagious enthusiasm for making a house a home by reflecting your own personal aesthetic and love of life.

From Chapter One:

We live in houses, and when they transcend into homes, they envelop our personality. Whatever is right and good about our lives, whatever is authentic and beautiful, will be reflected in the atmosphere as well as in the details that mirror our souls in meaningful, tangible, physical ways....

A home is a compelling experience that goes far beyond the architecture, no matter how beautifully proportioned and gracious. It is the ultimate assimilation of life's opportunities, and requires far more than attractively decorated rooms, an efficiently run household, or polite behavior. Pure contentment is brought on by our visceral enjoyment of the total home experience-the pleasure we take in our physical surroundings; our sense of satisfaction in the work we did ourselves to bring about these results; and the feelings we have about ourselves and the people sharing our lives.

I've checked out this book from the library on many occasions and read it cover to cover. The only color photographs are on the front and back cover. So this isn't exactly a book for sitting and gazing at lovely photos. It is for enjoying her inspiring and encouraging thoughts on bringing life and love to each room of your home.


For instance, it is my desire that our home reflects our love of our God, each other, and our country. Therefore, the American flag flies proudly outside our door everyday. Today, my heart sang as I stopped to watch it waving in the breeze with the roses nearby in full bloom.

Glory!

See if you can find a copy of her book at your library. I think you'll find it truly inspiring.


God Bless you today.

Love,
Laura Lee

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Holly,

You are so beautiful on your birthday today! Look at you! Ten years old! Five years ago, I was very sad because I wanted to spend this day with you so badly. I promised you from afar that every birthday from then on would be very special to make up for all the ones we missed with you.

You're such a good girl and I love you so much. Have a Happy, Happy Birthday, sweetie!

Love,
Mom

Hello, Baby Jasmine!

Our good friends Roy and Lori are in China right now getting their precious baby girl, Jasmine. We traveled to China with them in March of 2005 when they were adopting Jaden and we were adopting Maggie. We missed traveling with them by one month in 2003 for our trip to adopt Holly. They were adopting Amanda.

We have a lot in common with these folks. We both had three biological children, two older boys and a girl, when we adopted the first time. They homeschool like we do. Basically, they are just as crazy as we are.

So right now they are in China and just recently met their baby for the first time. Jasmine was a year old on Valentine's Day, so that makes her almost 15 months, now.

Congratulations, Roy and Lori!



Roy and his oldest daughter Alyssa have a blog called The Hon. "Alyssa the Hon" and Roy put their thoughts into cyberspace in a creative and different sort of way. Roy is also updating the baby's Caring Bridge page here.

Pop on over and say hello to them. They'd love to hear from you.

Love,
Laura Lee

Tiny Cloisonné Teapot

These are the first roses in our garden. They are tiny little things, barely an inch in diameter. Don't they look sweet in this pert little cloisonné teapot? Erika picked up this tea pot for me in China on her trip in 2004. Thank you, Erika. It makes me so happy.

My goal today is to finish a quilt I started a couple weeks ago. I'm excited about it and will show you in a couple days.

Have a terrific Tuesday.

Tea Time

My girls and I love to bake cookies, set a pretty table, and make a pot of tea to share together.

Today we made short bread. This is the recipe I've had in my collection the longest. A friend showed me how to make it in the fifth grade and I wrote the recipe down, then and there, in my elementary style printing. It takes only three ingredients and is the easiest thing you could ever whip up from scratch. But believe me when I tell you that it's delicious.

Try this one soon, you hear?

Short Bread

• 2 sticks butter (don't substitute!)
• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place soft butter in a bowl and add the flour and sugar. Cut it together with a pastry blender, or a heavy spoon, until completely blended. Pat the mixture into an 8 inch square pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Cut into squares.