Kiki's Corner

Easter Chicks & Sheep

Ya'll we have had the best time making these adorable Easter sheep and chicks.

I saw the idea on this website and just knew we had to try them!

We started with good old Betty Crocker strawberry cake mix (I had a coupon)

and strawberry frosting

We baked the cake, cooled it, then crumbled it in a large bowl, added the frosting, and made oval shaped balls. We then placed the cake balls in the freezer until we were ready to decorate.

(Bakerella's instructions are the best)

Here is the decorating cast:

And crew:

And our first little sheep...oh so cute!

We dipped the chilled cake balls in meltable white chips (we purchased them at Michaels) and then quickly placed a Junior Mint for the head, cut black licorice for the feet, and sprinkled white edible pears all over. We then placed them on a Styrofoam sheet to dry.

And we dipped and dipped until we had a whole flock of sheep:

We used decorating gel to put the heart candies on for noses and used white frosting and black gel to make the eyeballs.

Then we added a few chicks to the mix:

Aren't they cute?

I placed foam blocks in the bottom of 2 old Easter baskets, threw in some Easter grass and placed our little cuties inside and finished it with a bow.

They bring such delight!

Don't they make you smile?

We can hardly wait to take them to our Easter celebrations tomorrow afternoon.

Happy Easter everyone!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Remembering on this Good Friday

Wow! This has been a full week. I can't believe that I haven't posted anything all week long. I am afraid that this may be the norm for me until my graduation which is just around the corner. Woo hoo! Praise the Lord!

Oh, there is so much to share...but for today I want my focus to be on my Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today is the day we remember His amazing sacrifice for us.

I couldn't let this day go by without posting this incredible video.

It may be Good Friday....but Sunday is coming! Praise the Lord!

(This video came from www.sermonspice.com)

Lord Jesus, we remember Your ultimate sacrifice for us. With humbled hearts heavy with the thought of how much You love us, we praise and honor You this day!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Pardon the Interruption

* Update: I'm among the land of the living again, I think. The test lasted 4 1/2 hours. It was the hardest test I have ever taken, ever! I don't know how people just wing it.

I'm thankful that it is behind me although

I will be anxiously waiting for the next 4 weeks for my score.

90 questions and 1 six page essay....oiy!

Thank you for your prayers.

I'm hoping that this cartoon does not become a self portrait in the morning.

I am taking my much anticipated content area TExES/ExCET exam

at the early hour of 8:00 am.

I have studied, and studied, and studied some more. I've taken the pre-test, answered all of the online practice tests and prayed and prayed and prayed.

I think I'm ready; I hope I'm ready; I'm definitely ready for the test to be over and for my brain to return. Hello my name is....um...next question please!

My family sweetly reminded me that if God has brought me this far, and shown Himself faithful every step of the way, He will help me finish this adventure with Him victoriously...because we are more than conquerors and all things work together for the good for those that are called according to His purpose. Yes, He graciously called me out of my comfort zone three years ago to go back to school and become a teacher. This is His calling and His purpose. I know that I am in good hands, faithful hands, His hands.

Whew! I feel better now. I better get back to my studying. If you think about me in the morning I would really appreciate your prayers. I am asking the Lord for a score above 250 out of 300 on the test.

Okay, I really need to go now.

I'll try to post something tomorrow afternoon, if I remember how to log on. What's my name? LOL

Joyfully,

Kristi

Blessed is He

Hallelujah! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! John 12:13

I just had to post this slide (which came from Imagevine) in honor of Palm Sunday.

Can you imagine what that day must have looked like?

I always enjoy getting a palm branch to take home on Palm Sunday and displaying it at our

kitchen table. It is a visual reminder that blesses me all week long.

He is so worthy of our daily praise!

We have had a little set back with Rachel's progress.

Instead of falling apart, I'm choosing to thank and praise the Lord for:

Our neurologist and his nurse; they called us back 2 times yesterday. We didn't have to wait hours or days. Thank You, Father!

I'm thanking the Lord for new medication that seems to have fewer side effects.

I'm thanking the Lord that He is with us in the midst of it all and that nothing is too difficult for the King of kings and Lord of lords! Nothing is impossible! I love that!

My flesh wants to fall apart, but my soul longs to praise!

I would rather praise any day, how about you?

What are you praising the Lord for today?

Joyfully,

Kristi

Happy Monday

Happy Monday to you!

Wow! The alarm clock went off at the crack of dawn this morning....and I wasn't ready.

We were serenaded all night long by two cats who apparently are deeply in love and who were enjoying themselves in the moonlight....oiy! Get a room!

I need a nap and it's only 9:30.

We had a fantastic weekend. How about you?

Friday night Rachel and I were blessed to attend our church's Ladies Spring Celebration.

This was the 14th year and we have been at each one.

My mom does a wonderful job planning the event and we all look forward to spending just a few hours with many of our mentors in the faith.

It's girl time and we love it!

Many ladies volunteer to decorate tables for the event. I love to see what everyone comes up with. There were beautifully elegant tables decorated to the hilt, some fun "bling" filled tables. One hostess bought cute, pink rings to use as napkin rings and as favors for her girls. To her surprise and her delight, the rings lit up. They were all going to wear them yesterday to church. If my dad became a bit long winded, they were going to flash their bling rings. They are so fun...and no they didn't have to flash their rings.

Another table had Easter egg trees and chocolate bunny candy holders that looked like real chocolate with festive Easter place mats. I could go on and on. All of the tables were beautiful and unique. I believe that we had 143 ladies. We enjoyed delicious catered food, fantastic fellowship, and wonderful worship together.

Rachel and I had the privilege of picking up forms at each table for a special door prize. So, we got to visit with almost every lady there. We were overjoyed to hear so many that were glad to see Rachel. I can't tell you how many precious women hugged her neck and told her that they have been praying for her and would continue to pray. We were about in tears until we came to another table where the Lord blessed us with a special surprise.

A wonderful lady from Colorado told us that we didn't know her but that she has been reading my blog and praying "hard" for Rachel every day. She said, "You have no idea how many people you may never meet are praying for your daughter." And then I became a puddle of tears.

God is so good!

Sweet Hannah didn't have the time to go with us to the Ladies Spring Celebration because it was the night of the junior high dance and her dance card was already full...before the dance even started.

I had to laugh, a sweet boy that she has known since Kindergarten asked Hannah to go to the dance...and her best friend S...and another friend named M. Three dates in one night?

By the way going to the dance means you meet at the dance and maybe say hello and dance a few dances together, but that is it. She is only 12!

They had a great time. We had fun stories to share from our night and Hannah had fun stories to tell from her night. We stayed up late sharing and were blessed to sleep in on Saturday.

Yesterday was special for Mr. Incredible and I. We were blessed to sing together right before the Lord's Supper. We sang a song by Avalon called, "You Were There." We LOVE this song!

The words are so powerful...and I always enjoy singing with my sweetheart.

Whew! I typed more than I thought I would. I better get back to studying before my next class of students arrives. I am getting ready to take my Teacher Certification ExCet tests. Please, pray for me Saturday morning if you think about it. I have to be there at the early hour of 7:30 and the test is suppose to take 5 hours.

I wonder if I can pick up an IV from Starbucks on the way! Ha!

I better run. Blessings to you on this new day!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Look Out World...Here She Comes!

The day she had been waiting for finally arrived!
We practiced driver's education, took an online course

(Virtual Drive of Texas is great!)

and practiced and practiced and practiced.

She has been driving us everywhere since June.

She could hardly wait for her 16th birthday...until she discovered that it fell on a Saturday.

Hello Driver's License Office...we need you to open today!

We knew that would not happen so we waited 2 long days until they opened

(at home not at the DMV).

It was worth the wait. I had all of the forms and paperwork with me...I think it only took 5 minutes to get her license. It was over before we knew it.

Here she is getting fingerprinted:

It's looking very official:

Ta-da! The moment she has been waiting for:

One happy, new licensed-to-drive-on-the-sidewalks-only (just kidding) driver:

What a day!

Sweet 16: Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice!

I just had to share some pictures from Rachel's 16th birthday. It was a special, sentimental kind of day. Her daddy and I woke up early and patiently waited for the birthday princess to wake up. It reminded me of 16 years ago waiting for our princess to arrive.

We had a leisurely birthday breakfast and then Granny & Grandpa came over for a visit:

And they brought 16 beautiful ballons: