Vanilla memories.

This little beauty above has been a great friend to all the baking I have done for years. I'm pretty sure that it is what makes my baking taste so good! Let me tell you about how this came to be in my kitchen.

This was a gift from my dear friend, Margie. She gave it to me when I was visiting her in California in 2006. If I remember correctly, she askes a friend to get this while they were in Mexico. I still don't know how I managed to get this gem home. When I was flying home that summer my flight was early in the morning from LA so we all spent the night at a Hotel near the airport. We woke up in the morning to find the news littered with everything that was going on at the airports. There had been a bomb scare at one of the airports and they were being extra cautious about all liquids that were going on the flights. When we got to the airport there were queues going all along the side of the airport. It was making me very uneasy, aswell as being upset about saying good-bye to my American family. I was sure that they would put my suitcase through the scanner and see this huge bottle and think for sure that it was that "B" word!!! But thankfully for me, and everyone that I bake for, the vanilla made it all the way to Scotland.

I have had some great times with my Mexican vanilla and will definitely miss it in my kitchen. I might just have to make a trip to Mexico for some...it would definitely be worth it.

But, after writing this, I would much rather make a trip to California to make more memories with American family. In fact, I would love to be booking a one-way ticket. Praying that this will happen soon.

First signs of SPRING!

I had to buy a magazine the other day because it just screamed at me "SPRING IS COMING!!" On the cover I read the words "first signs of SPRING" and I was so excited. The magazine is called County Living and my mum often buys it. It is full of little lovelies, I always enjoy looking through it and thinking to myself, I'm going to have that in my home.

We bought these beautiful flowers. They make me smile everytime I walk into the room. Today the sun was shining on them and they colours were so bright! They have the most gorgeous scent too. It smells like Spring around here. I can't wait to see blossoms on the trees and Daffodils in the gardens. I love Spring, actually I just love it when the seasons change. So right now, I do love Spring.

The Hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful" springs to mind here. No pun intended. I have lovely memories of singing this song in assembly with and our Head Teacher holding up huge cards with the lyrics written on them. Oh how times have changed. ♥

My prayer today.

I'm not sure where or when I stumbled  across this verse but I wrote it down on a piece of paper, that I looked at today. I remember reading it and thinking...I want to live my life this way.

 "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14

When I read it I prayed that I would chose to live my life this way, that I would say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions. This is still my prayer today.

♥

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  Love never fails."

♥ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ♥

I had a very quiet V-day! I had lunch with one of my best friends. I did get a few special messages from people that I love. I just read the above passage and when I was typing this post (and highlighting the different parts, which actually really makes you think about what is being said in the passage!) I had to smile. What a beautiful reminder of love. How wonderful to know that there is someone who loves us unconditionally, who loves us sooo much that He sent His one and only Son to save us. This just makes my heart so happy.

I sure hope that you felt loved today, and made someone feel loved.

p.s. I had to smile today I was getting some groceries at around 7pm and there were lots of men raking the flowers that were left...and on sale!

A little glimpse of my brother.

My little brother was in the newspaper on Monday. My Dad just sent me this photo. Have a wee read. So proud of that boy. Love him dearly.

p.s. Don't worry, I am still going to be doing a BIG post with the best photos from this weekend. I will be bragging about my brother again soon. 

Call me, no matter where you are.

Today I got to chat with one of my best friends. We planned our Skype date yesterday and I was looking forward to it all day. Our conversations usually involve lots of laughing. Today there was laughing but we were having more of a grown up conversation. It has been a couple of weeks since we have spoken so we had too much to catch up on. For a while we would talk everyday so we would always be up to date on everything going on in each other's lives. Lately I haven't been calling because I am working late and then too tired, or time differences don't work out (my dear friend lives in California, while I live in Scotland. Hopefully soon we will be in the same country. Pray.)
It is so easy to get so caught up in all the busyness that life brings. I am constantly telling myself that there is not enough time to do all the things that I had hoped to do with my day. I am really bad for thinking...I'm far too tired to do anything...I'll just sit down for a minute..hour... This is not cool.

I love the song Ain't No Mountain High Enough. I enjoy singing this song at the top of my lungs..maybe with the hope that all the people I love will hear it and know that I am talking about them.

If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far
Just call my name
I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry - Eh, I mean this.

I am gonna change my attitude. I am gonna call you more often, friends. I am gonna give you more of my time.

Because I love you.

 p.s. And how can I resist seeing this face more often?

Coming soon.

I have to post more often. Believe it or not it was actually one of my new year resolutions - need to work on that one! This is going to be a very quick post, sorry sorry. I have LOTS to fill you in on.

But for now I am going to leave you with a sneak peek of my weekend. So proud of my not-so-baby-anymore brother. Isn't he sooo handsome? I know that I am biased but you know he is too! 

Much more to say, and soon.