It's Fall Ya'll!

Who does that sound like...none other than Paula Dean herself. (I hope nobody read this last night because yes, I did change the title).
It's fall time!! Time for pumpkins, pumpkin spice candles, cool weather, mums, football, and chili (and another season of So You Think You Can Dance)!!



Anyway, on to the Paula Dean part....this is a must try dessert (unless you don't like coconut, then you are missing out)! Its straight out of her dessert cook book so you know its full of all those wonderful ingredients that make a dessert worth eating again and again...just when you think you had enough, you have to go back for one more bite! This recipe is so easy:

Cool and Creamy Coconut Cake
1 box yellow cake mix (plus ingredients to prepare)
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 15 oz. can cream of coconut
1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 1/2 to 3 cups flaked, sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13x9 inch pan. Prepare cake as directed on package. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for time indicated on package. Remove cake from oven and, using a fork or skewer, poke holes in entire cake. Mix together condensed milk and cream of coconut and pour over warm cake. Cool cake completely. Frost with whipped topping and sprinkle top with coconut. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. This cake is best prepared a day or two before serving.

Couldn't be much easier than that!

He is enough

Last night, I was quickly reminded once again, just as the Lord gives so graciously and freely, He also takes away just the same. I've thought about this a lot before, reading through Job, wondering why certain things happen the way they do and trying at the same time to see how God is going to work through such sufferings. I know I will never understand, nobody will. I know all I can do is put my hope and trust in Him, no matter what the circumstance. Although my faith has been tested, I know during these times it is when Christ is shaping us into His own and refining what we have come to believe and hold on to.
My friend called me last night to give unimaginable news about a friend through the MCO community (Russ knows him better than I do) that lost his two little boys earlier that day so unexpectedly. The first thing that came to mind when I heard about this was the passage in Job 21. I have lost a loved one and this is the verse that would always come to mind when questioning/doubting. This family is going through true suffering and is learning what it means to suffer for Christ. I pray God will reveal Himself more than ever now to them and meet their every need during this season of darkness as He promises us He will.
It is times like this that I have to take time and question/think about my own faith. Just as God can take away, is He alone enough for me? Am I still completely satisfied in Him and only Him? I've had to ask myself this a lot...sometimes I wish the answer was more clear. I have to remember that we are never promised another day on this earth and nothing I have is mine. I never want to take a day I have here for granted or not tell those I love what they mean to me. I want to stand firm in my faith, even through the hardships and even when the world around me is constantly shaken and unstable. I want to look to Christ for hope, not to anything this world can temporarily offer. I want to know in my heart that my Jesus is enough for me...my Jesus alone. The one who took my place on that cross so that I could live and know His goodness, mercy and grace.

Please pray for this family as they suffer, grieve and cling to the promises of Him who brings comfort, peace and hope.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Job 21

its that time again...

With fall soon to be in the air and football season starting up, there is much to be excited about! Fall is my favorite and if you know my husband, you know our lives are soon to revolve around this....



The Georgia Bulldogs.

I don't mind though because I enjoy college football. Here's to a new season and new start for the dawgs!