Summer Diary: Frozen Hot Chocolate

We've been using our new blender a lot.

Seriously. Best purchase ever.

I decided to try a new drink recipe for the girls.  They love hot chocolate and this is a cold version!

Don't mess with this girl and her whipped cream.

Amelia gave it two thumbs up!

My only mistake was not tripling the recipe. It was SO GOOD!!

Recipe found HERE:

Frozen Hot Chocolate

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Just like hot chocolate, only cold!

Author: Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies

Category: Beverages

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4 cups ice
• 5 packets hot chocolate mix (about 0.71 oz each)
• 1½ cups milk
• whipped cream

Instructions

1. Fill a blender to the 4 cup mark with ice. Add cocoa mix and milk. Use the "high" or "ice crush" setting to blend for about 30-40 seconds.
2. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream. (Makes 2 large or 4 small servings)

ENJOY!!

Summer Diary: A Summer Mindset

As seasons change - so does our mindset.

Why do I love Summer?

With Summer comes playing outside until dark.

With Summer comes kiddos staying up late to watch movies.

With Summer comes dessert every evening.

With Summer comes flip flops and tank tops and bathing suits.

With Summer comes dinner on the lawn.

With Summer comes fresh cut grass between our toes.

With Summer comes the beach.

With Summer the schedule goes out the window.

Everything is more relaxed. 

Including this Mama. 

I embrace the messes and the little, wet feet making their way inside. 

We're keeping cool in the baby pool.

We're playing golf, riding bikes, and playing with sidewalk chalk.  

Things like "this is the best day ever" will come out of their mouth and I can't help but agree.

We've had tea parties with water in our cups and graham crackers on our plates.

Water was spilled and towels were brought in and smiles kept on smiling.

We ride around with the sunroof open and the windows down. 

We blare our music and don't care about our hair. 

Love to all,

Summer Smoothies...

So...I'm in love with my new blender. 

Who knew a blender could bring so much joy!?

Why the love? 

Well, I let the girls pick the fruit that we throw in the blender and when they turn their back, I throw in a handful (or three) of spinach or kale. 

Today's smoothie included: strawberry, banana, blueberry, red grape, spinach, ice, water, and 3 teaspoons of raw sugar.  

Amelia thinks our smoothie must always have a name.

Today's smoothie special: Blueberry Delight. 

HA!

Do these look like the faces of people who know they're eating green veggies??

Nope.

And I plan on keeping it a secret until they're old enough to know that veggies aren't just good for them - they actually do taste good - even when they're not mixed with a blueberry or banana!

It's going to be a summer full of cold, delicious, healthy smoothies!! 

Love to all,

He Is Home...

Do you ever feel like you don't belong? 

I have felt like this a lot, lately. 

I read THIS blog post this morning and just cried and cried.

In the busy

In the quiet

In the laughter

In the crying

In the fighting

In the hugs

In the giving

In the receiving

It can still be lonely. 

There can still be a feeling that we don't belong.

I find myself looking to things and others to make that lonely feeling disappear. Knowing very well, it's not their job. 

What I need...it's not in them. 

And I get mad and my feelings get hurt and God gently reminds me: 

He will lift my head.

He will fill that huge hole of desire.

He will speak peace to my heart.

What I need...it's in Him.

All my brokenness is a whisper that I don’t belong, and every time I don’t feel like I belong, the Scarred and Rejected God whispers, “Come here, my beloved.” -Ann Voskamp

God always brings me back to this question...

Where is my heart? 

Where is my treasure? 

I get distracted with the things of this world.

And they always steal my peace.
They steal my joy.
They make me feel like I don't belong.

My desire is to raise them to have a heart after God's own heart. 

I pray that He'll break their hearts for what breaks His. 

I pray they'll pour themselves into things that make an eternal difference. 

I pray they'll store their treasure in heaven - not here on earth. 

Start with me, Father. 

Start with me.

"In Christ, you’re a native of heaven right now. You aren’t a citizen of here trying to work into heaven. You’re a citizen of heaven trying to work through here. When your ethnicity is heaven, then all adversity offers the gift of intimacy, driving you into the home of His heart." -Ann Voskamp

Home is where the heart is.

He is home.

Love to all,