Chocolate Fudge Slice with Carmel Chocolate

I've written before about my lack of talents in the baking department. So when I was asked to make tray bakes for my Managers farewell this week I went into somewhat of a panic. Being the only female employee it was felt that I was the ideal person to make these buns; how wrong they were!

Recently my friend passed onto me the link from this amazing blog, Food that Serves. It has so many simple, yummy recipes. I thought that the following recipe looked simple even for a horrific baker like me! And I was right. Seriously this is the most amazing brownie type cake EVER! It is so so delicious and so so easy; although the fact that it worked may be down to my sister helping me rather than my improved skills!

CHOCOLATE FUDGE SLICE WITH CARAMEL CHOCOLATE

Makes 24

From Food that Serves

• 1 cup self raising flour
•  1/2 cup brown sugar
•  1/2 cup coconut
•  2 heaped tablespoons cocoa
•  125g butter, melted
•  400g can condensed milk
•  1 large bar Cadbury's Caramel

1. Grease and line a rectangular 16x26cm dish with baking paper. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients (except chocolate), press into dish. Break chocolate into individual squares and press them randomly and firmly into the mixture in the tin.
3. Bake for 20-25 mins, but start checking early. The slice should be rise back after a light touch but still be a little wobbly and soft when it comes out of the oven. It will continue to cook as it cools.

Beyond

I've never been one much for separation.

Being apart.

Distance.

Maybe it was growing up on this side of the Irish sea while the rest of my family were on the other.

When I think of September my heart literally aches. For that is the month when the love of my life leaves for college.

This is going to be a year of looking beyond the week to the weekend. When he comes home. To me.

Of  looking beyond the term. When he comes home. To me

Of looking beyond another term. When he comes home for the summer. To me and three whole months of never being apart.

This is going to be a year of looking beyond the moments of being apart.

Looking beyond the distance.

To the moments of being together.

And by His grace we'll make it beyond this year, stronger than before. 

 

The Loop

I stand at the bottom of the slide waiting for her to come down. I'm greeted with squeals of delight and giggles at this new found freedom that walking brings. I look across at her brothers and check they are all OK. They're growing up fast, it's scary, I remember them as little tiny boys, singing them to sleep, reading them tales, making up stories.

Where did time go?

These little people have been part of my life for 7 years now.

My daydreams and wanderings are interrupted by a mother. She's talking about shoes to me. And child development. And kids food.  Another mother injects too. I play along. Don't admit that these three sandy haired little ones aren't mine.

I realise then. That as they've grown, so have I. I'm no longer clearly just the baby sitter. I am old enough to be a mummy to these little ones. They could be mine.

I continue the conversation, basking in it's equality. Rejoicing in the fact that I've had enough kiddos in my care that I know enough to pass myself about walking and growth and the price of shoes. I know about the snacks they eat. I love it. I long for the day when a little one calls me mummy and this is my reality. I mean I don't want to constantly talk of babies and children. But I love being treated like an adult. I love not feeling out of the loop.

However when people know the truth, the reality is so different.

I sit in creche. The only childless helper there.

And no-one speaks to me. Other than the children. The whole entire hour.

Except when one kid needs their nappy changed.

And the mothers are flabbergasted I can do it.

Quickly.

With one hand.

Then they return to talking to each other about  walking and growth and the price of shoes. About the snacks kids like to eat.

And no one asks my thoughts.

Because after all I've never had a child. So what would I know?

And I hate the Mummy chat. Because I'm out of the loop. And I long for the day when a little one calls me mummy and in reality I can participate.

But then I think of the girl like me. Sitting in the creche. With empty arms and an empty womb.

And I never ever want to make her pain feel worse.

So I look forward to the day when a little one calls me mummy and I turn around and talk about something other than  walking and growth and the price of shoes. About the snacks kids like to eat.


I ask her how she is. How her week was. How her husband is. And I ask her if maybe she'd like to come over and look after my little ones. So that she can feel included and be treated like an adult. To not feel so isolated when it seems like the rest of the world is talking of walking and growth and the price of shoes. About the snacks kids like to eat.

I Want it All

Sometimes I try to do it all. Yesterday was the perfect example. We were up at 6.30 to go mind my nephew. After leaving him I left Trev to work and went and minded three other little kiddos. Then I went home and cleaned the house from top to bottom. Today I feel like death warmed up I'm so exhausted. In the midst of tears of exhaustion and fustration last night, where I felt that I had done nothing more than the typical stay at home mum that day, but felt so tired, I read this timely reminder, by Courtney Reissig in which she reminds us that we can't do  it all, only God can. She comments: "The real issue is not so much about doing it all, as it is about being faithful with what is in front of you."

Read the rest of the article here.

His Fatherly Hand

What do you understand by the providence of God?

The almighty, everywhere-present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness,4 riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.

Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 10

Enough

"He satisfies your deep desires from His unending stores of good..." we sing. The congregation is in full swing. The singing is amazing. I look around at the people gathered, my brothers and sisters in the Lord. As I look up and down the rows I see family upon family. I see lots of little babies in arms. Toddlers standing on the chairs. Children standing beside their parents. Teenagers. Beautiful rounded pregnant tummies, heralding the imminent arrival of yet another little one. We are a blessed congregation.

He satisfies your deep desires... the words play over and over in my mind. A tear has fallen from my eye. I pull my hair over my face in an attempt to hide my emotions. I don't want pity. I don't want to be the one people speak about babies in hushed tones around.

We've stopped singing now. As we pray I compose my self. The words from Psalm 103 still swirling in my mind. He satisfies. He is good. He is more than enough.

 He's given us so much more than we deserve. I need to trust Him. I need to know that He is enough. 

Mini Shell Bacon Pasta

I don't normally post a whole lot of recipes here because, you know, I'm not exactly a gourmet cook! I mean my husband eats my food and says he likes it... but he's got to... right?! :) 

However my parents are away on holiday and so my younger siblings are home alone... so I've ended up feeding them a good bit the last week. Last night Trev was at work at dinner time and they were over so I decided to make one of our favourites from Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food. When cooking for them it's always somewhat taxing because 1) they are INCREDIBLY fussy eaters and 2) they are my siblings so they will tell me exactly what they think of it- so if it's awful, they'll say! So last night when my brother thought dinner was 'amazing' and my sister even ate peas; I knew we were on to a winner!

Jamie Oliver's picture of his dish- possibly looks better than mine!

Mini Shell Bacon  Pasta

Serves 3

Ingredients

Mini Shell Pasta- 250g
Bacon -200g chopped
Parmesan
Lemon Juice
Crème Fraîche - 3 Tablespoons
Frozen Peas- 2 Hand fulls
Olive oil
Pepper

Method

1. Cook pasta according to pack instructions
2. Cook bacon in a little olive oil in a frying pan.
3. Once bacon goes golden add frozen peas
4. Cook for about 5 mins- until the peas are soft
5. Add crème fraîche and allow to simmer for a few minutes on a low heat.
6. Drain pasta and add to the bacon mixture.
7. Add lemon juice, pepper and parmesan to taste.
8. Serve!

TGC Women’s Recommended Reading

From Desiring God

I am passionate about women reading good books. Nothing frustrates me more when women by pass theological books and focus only on fiction. Not that there isn't a place for fiction but if we are to be women whose lives are characterised by a love for God and a deeper knowledge of Him, we need to be those who read books that will stretch our minds and help us grow in grace.

I was so excited to read this article from the Gospel Coalition during the week in which they asked some of the speakers at the Gospel Coalition Women's Conference for their book recommendations. There are so many treasures within the list and I love the fact that not all the books are from the 'women's section', as although it is important to read such books sometimes we as women can be guilty of reading too much in this one area to the detriment of other titles.

Choosing Gratitude

So often in life I complain. I focus more on what is going seemingly wrong, rather than all the abundant blessings I have to rejoice in. I want to be more joyful, but I wasn't really sure where to start. I had thought about reading 1000 Gifts, but something about it just didn't sit right with me, as I carried out some research into it- I kinda like to research a book before I spend on it!- I read a great wee article by Tim Challies. After I'd finished that article I decided to invest my pennies else where... but I wasn't sure where. Then I discovered that the wonderful Nancy Leigh DeMoss had written a book entitled Choosing Gratitude. Nancy has been such a blessing to me over the past few months through her radio show Revive our Hearts- she's now an integral part of my kitchen cleaning routine - so I was so excited to read what she had to say on this important subject.

This book is so so so good. It is easy to read but so convicting. It is deep but also has real life examples. It is soaked in scripture and leaves you clinging to the Lord to make you a more thankful person. Throughout the book Nancy states that gratitude isn't something that is optional, it is required for those who are believers. She begins basically outlining the theology of why we should be a thankful people, so that we are not just thankful in order to make us happy, but rather because it is an integral part of our faith. She then continues on by giving practical examples of people who were thankful in face of great trial and how we too can be thankful. She concludes the book with a 30 day devotional and resources for making our lives one that breathes gratitude to the Lord and to those whom we come into contact with.

We are not made to feel that being thankful is something simple to do, Nancy speaks with sensitivity and realises that in the face of trial it can be difficuly to be joyful, but it is something that we must do.

Read this book and you will view the world through different eyes. You will be more thankful for your salvation, for the material gifts of life and even for the trials which will come our way. Your whole life can and should be changed: as Nancy comments:
"Gratitude is a lifestyle. A hard-fought, grace infused, biblical lifestyle."

Published by Moody

Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?

Recently I have really been blessed by some sermons by Ligon Duncan. When I discovered he'd written a book on suffering I was excited! CJ Mahaney says on the front cover,"If you are presently suffering this book is for you. And if you are not, this book is still for you." He couldn't be more right- this is a book that will encourage and challenge everyone.

The book is not long, less than 100 pages and has large-ish type. Therefore although relevant for everyone it is the sort of book which could be read by someone in the midst of trials as it is not a great weighty book but is crammed full of truth. There are four chapters, looking at issues such as Why do we suffer? What is God up to? and How can we profit from suffering? Each of these are written clearly and practically and often in point form, which makes what he is saying easy to remember.

It was however the final chapter, which I found to be the most challenging. Entitled "What should we think of Jesus' suffering?", it reminds us that Jesus also suffered and can empathise with us in our suffering. So often we think that our suffering is just so great and we forget that Jesus suffered greater distress than we ever will. What's more this suffering was for us. We deserved to suffer more than we ever do, but because of His grace he took our place. As Duncan comments:

"The Christian's suffering in this life, then, is nothing compared to what it would have been were it not for the Lord Jesus Christ."

This book leaves you less thinking about your own problems and thankful for Christs gracious work on the cross.

Published by P&R

Love for the Big and the Small

We go to a church with lots of children. Lots and lots and lots. For about the past 5 years there has always been at least one woman  pregnant, in a church of 150 or so that's pretty good going! We have been blessed by God. However for those few without a child or one on the way it can be hard. Kevin DeYoung offers valuable insight to everyone as to how we view peoples family sizes, whether large, small or nor existent.

He comments: 

"In some churches women may feel a pressure to be pregnant. Maybe the pressure is stated, maybe unstated, maybe it’s inaccurately perceived. But it is felt, so let’s be careful not to add to the pressure. In a church where literally dozens of women are bursting at the womb almost constantly and all the talk is about latching, stripping membranes, and other pleasantries we must be careful that young women who aren’t pregnant don’t feel inferior or out of place. I can just about guarantee they feel that way already, so you’ll have to go out of your way to welcome, affirm, and include."

Read the rest of the article Here

Story

Sometimes, just sometimes, when I go to my parents I leave the adult conversation or the loud laughter and sneak out to the hall. I pull back the glass doors of the bookcase, a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation and begin looking at the books. These are the book we had as children. The ones my mum can't bear to let go. The ones that other children in my parents care now hold and look at. These are the stories that made me. These are the stories that taught me.

As I look through the rows one section stand out. The Bible story series that we collected volume by volume over years and years. There was always such excitement each time Dad brought us one home. The first volume we received is battered nearly beyond recognition., the title "A Baby Called John" peeling off. The story of Elizabeth being blessed with a son when it was humanly impossible. My favourite Bible story when I was two. The story I could recite word for word from the book when I was three.

This is not a fictional story. This is Truth. And why out of all the stories that were there did I pick that one as my favourite?

Because God has a way of preparing us from we are children for the hard things we will face.

God gives us stories to show His power.

God has ingrained that true story on my mind. That God can give a child to the barren.

God gave us stories. True stories. 

Feminine Appeal

Just before I got married I read Carolyn Mahaney's book Feminine Appeal. I loved it. Whenever anyone comes into the shop looking for book on being a Wife it's the one I always recommend, as do my colleagues, on my recommendation! However it suddenly struck me the other day; I have very little recollection about what it actually I said; I mean I knew it was great but other than that it had all become somewhat of a blur! So I decided to re-read it and I'm so glad I did.  As I read it so much of it came back to me, but it was different reading it from the perspective of being married rather than preparing to be.

The book uses Titus 2 to outline seven virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother. These include topics such as 'loving my husband', 'submission' and 'working at home.' The book is counter-cultural as issues such as submission are now scorned by many but Mahaney explains each point clearly and from Scripture. This is not a book for those who live in some cut off cocoon; this is a book for women in the real world. We are given helpful advice on how to really love our husbands and children and how to be submissive to them as well as practical suggestions how to remain pure, kind and self-controlled. The picture she paints of the home of a Godly woman has always inspired me, she argues that taking care of the home is not a second rate job but rather a role in which we create "...pleasant havens for our husband and children, sanctuaries where we offer care and hospitality to other Christians, and gateways from which we extend the gospel to families, friends and neighbours." How I long to have a home like this!

The book closes with Carolyn writing about the life of her mother, who committed her whole life to serving her husband and family and creating a welcoming home, all with a constantly joyful spirit. This brought a tear to my eye; we live in a world where there are so many demands on our life and so often we don't serve the Lord in our homes with such a joyful spirit; but this is our God given role; and how we should delight in His design!

I love this book even more than I did the first time through- which is saying a lot! If you know anyone about to embark on the journey of being a Wife this is the one book they shouldn't be without! The only negative is the cover, which looks incredibly dated but there's just about to be a reprint with a new jacket.

Published by Crossway

Teach Children the Bible Is Not About Them

Over the years I have have been involved in much children's work. I have use so many resources. Time and time again I have started preparing a lesson perfectly calmly and finished off, annoyed and frustrated. Time and time again the leaders resource I have used has changed what I feel the true meaning of the story is to some sort of moral lesson.

I love this article by Sally Lloyd Jones in which she says: "When we drill a Bible story down into a moral lesson, we make it all about us. But the Bible isn’t mainly about us, and what we are supposed to be doing — it’s about God, and what he has done!"

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Full Time Homemaker, Full Time Employee

It's 7am. A deafening sound pierces through the silence. The dreaded alarm clock awakens me from deep sleep. I lie there, hoping that maybe I set my alarm wrong last night, but then the clock radio begins blaring and I can't deceive myself any longer; it really is time to get up, get ready and go to work. Go to work. This was not how I imagined life would be nearly two years into marriage. I thought my exhaustion in the morning would be because I'd been up half the night with a little one, not because I'm holding down a full time job as well as my primary purpose of being a 'keeper of the home.' However, this is where God has placed us right now. It is essential that I work full time as my Husband begins training for the Ministry and God, in His wisdom has chosen at this time not to bless us with any children. Going to work fulltime, every day is not what I would have chosen to do but I know that it is what I'm meant to be doing right now and that it is only for a season. It has been tough, it is not ideal but here I offer some advice to those who find themselves having to work full time:

1. Know that you can be submissive and work outside the home.

This is something I have struggled with so much. So often the picture of the submissive wife portrayed to us shows a woman who doesn't go out to work. I grew up in a home where my Mum never went out to work and I feel that this is the ideal Biblical model. However, if our Husband has asked us to go to work and it is not just so that we can have luxuries in life but rather it is essential for survival we are being submissive. For me to remain at home at this time would  be unsubmissive. The Proverbs 31 woman is a picture of the ideal, submissive wife. We see however that she worked: “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” (Proverbs 31:16 ESV). In their book The Meaning of Marriage Kathy Keller talks of a time when she had to go out to work in the morning and her husband, Tim stayed at home and got the children ready, she comments"... An outsider looking at our marriage may have thought role reversal was going on... although the superficial details of who did what had changed, I was still bringing my gifts as a strong helper to Tim making it possible for him to teach."

2. Don't let your job take over your life.

I work in the bookshop associated with our denomination. Before I was married I worked as a political researcher, it was a much more challenging job than I do now. However it required working at home  after hours and late nights which I really wouldn't want to do now that I'm married. Now when 5.30pm comes I leave work and I don't have to think about it until the next day, I can focus on being a wife and homemaker. In relation to the work carried out by the Proverbs 31 Woman, Claire Smith, in her excellent book God's Good Design comments: "Her family only benefit from her work. There is no sense that they are missing out because she is not there when they need her."

3. Realise that you can't do everything.

Before I was married I was heavily involved in the youth programme at our church. For the first year of marriage I tried to keep as actively involved. Over time I realised that I just couldn't do it. I was exhausted, my Husband was neglected and I was never ever on top of my household duties. I eventually gave everything up except a Bible Study I do with my Husband, it was difficult in some ways as I love doing children's outreach, however I am meant to support my Husband and if other things are stopping me doing that, they have to go. Doing youth work wasn't a bad thing, but it wasn't the best thing, Carolyn Mahaney says in Shopping for Time: “It's frequently these good things that distract us from the best things." As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season..." This is a season in which I have to love and support my Husband and work outside the home, therefore something has to go.

4. Go straight home after work.

Often it is common for people to meet up after work for dinner or aerobics or whatever. It may offend people when you say that you’re not going; but your ultimate role is to be at home, with your Husband. In Proverbs 17:24 it says "The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.” This means that wisdom sees the things straight in front of us while foolishness looks to things that are "out there". In relation to this Elizabeth George comments: "The wise woman sees the value of being at home."

5. Pray for contentment.

I never imagined that this is where I would be. It is easy to be frustrated  and  this can have a knock on into both the work we do within and without the home. We need to realise that this is where God has chosen for us to be at this time and we are to glorify Him in every task that we do, whether that be cooking dinner at home for our Husband or answering the phone for the umpteenth time in our workplace outside the home.

6. Speak highly of your Husband and remember that he is ultimately the one you submit to.

The work place is full of people making jokes about 'useless husbands' or complaints about their wives. Don't participate. Use this season of working outside the home as an opportunity to show wives that they should respect their husbands. Try and reflect the beauty of Christian marriage to those you come into contact with. Remember that your boss doesn't require that you submit to him in the same way you submit to your husband as it says “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”(Ephesians 5:22 ESV). Our bosses and colleagues require respect but ultimately if we have to make a decision, such as for example working overtime, we should ask our Husbands first, not automatically do what our boss says.

Linking to Growing Home