Gold

Gold is very beautiful! God obviously thinks so as well, because his home (heaven) has streets that are lined with it. In Revelation 21:21 it says, The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

God Himself has said that in His dealings with us He is acting as a Refiner. He states this clearly in Malachi 3:3: He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness.

God is trying me in the fire just as gold is tried in the fire. The refiner knows the exact temperature to purify the gold. God knows the exact set of circumstances to orchestrate my permanent refinement. The intense heat of refinement will never destroy me! I know many of you have heard this analogy before, but I ask you to meditate on this promise in a new light! God values us infinitely more than the refiner values his gold. In John 6:51 Jesus tells us, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. God dedicated His life to giving us eternal life. That means that we are very precious to him, our life cost Him His life... God will purify this earth and all sin, suffering, and sorrow will be consumed. God promises in Malachi 4:1, “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. We are being purified now so that we will be pure and holy and able to abide with God in His holy habitation. In Amos 4:11 God reminds us, "you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning". God has invested in the refiner's business to purify all of His children. His life covers our life with holiness, perfection, beauty and infinite value. Because of this He has plucked us out of sure destruction and determined to make us holy. God is very much concerned about us and personally invested in purifying us to enable us to live with Him forever. I am thankful for His love, thankful for His providence, and very thankful for His patience.

Process for purifying gold

Detail study of a brand plucked from the fire

Vegan Recipe Index

I am trying to keep track of all the recipes I find online that I would like to try for Gabby. I haven't tried most of these but when I do I will post about the ones she really enjoys :))

Muffins/Cupcakes

Apple Muffins

Pancakes/Waffles

Bread

Corn Bread

Cookies/Candy

Main Dish

Vegan Mac & Cheese

Side Dish

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Well it seems like forever. And today I thought wow I might as well delete my blog I never write here anymore! But today I realized I need to write about all my vegan baking adventures!! My sweet baby girl is allergic to several things- milk, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, soy, pineapples, cashews, and chicken... She is 13 months and baby food no longer fills her up. So I have been on an mission to figure out what to bake for my sweet little angel. Along the way I have had a lot of fun, and she seems to enjoy everything I have made so far:

Oatmeal waffles

Jam Swirled Pancakes

Zucchini Muffins

Vanilla Cupcakes

and... Blueberry Muffins

Today I just felt like blueberry muffins soooo I checked out Baking Illustrated from the local library and decided to make some. They were absolutely AMAZING! Gabby kept on pointing to them and crying and I felt really bad soo I did a quick search on the internet and found some vegan blueberry muffins! I halved the recipe to make 6 adorable little muffins. She is in LOVE. As we speak she is finishing off one whole muffin!

Source

• 2 tbsp oil
• 4 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 scant teaspoon salt
• 1/2 scant cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 4 tbsp vanilla rice milk
• 1 cup frozen blueberries

• Directions:

  1. 1) Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. 2) Line muffin cups with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray.
  3. 3) Mix all ingredients together until moistened.
  4. 4) Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups. Each should be filled 3/4 full.
  5. 5) Bake 15-20 minutes or until the tops are firm.
  6. 6) Cool on a wire rack

  Makes 6 muffins

A Hug from YOU

You hugged me today.

I knew you loved me but when you hugged me it squeezed away all doubt

The embrace that shut out loneliness, fear, and emptiness.

Filled with the tiny stoke of your hand on my shoulder, as you lay your little head down

I realized that I love you

But more than I can say

More than words could ever convey

I'm so glad He has a place for us

A place where we belong

In the forever of His love song

Never ending, loneliness forever gone

Together in His eternity

And today when you hugged me I knew it was true

Not only a promise destined for reality

But a truth in sincerity

In an atmosphere of smiles

You hugged me

Through her, and from You

She can't articulate the words that encircle her heart

So from her and I both

Thank You

We love You

Both now and forever

I am a mini Chef

Sooo lately I have been cooking/baking ALOT. SO much so that I have kind of lost track of everything I have made but I just wanted to give you all an idea of what is going on in my kitchen!!

Sweet Potato Pie

Cream Cheese Pound Cake -Lime Glazed

Red Velvet Cupcakes-Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Bread

Grapefruit Scones

Vanilla Cupcakes

Squash Casserole

Sweet Potato Zucchini Bread

Sugar Cookies-Royal Icing

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

The PERFECT Chocolate Bundt Cake

And Right now as I type --in the oven smelling yummy.... Bacon(Veggie) Cheddar Scones!!

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake

Vanilla Cupcakes

AND Counting!!!!

And Just so you know my absolute favorite so far is....

The PERFECT Chocolate Bundt Cake

Ma-Ma

It started with more of a na-na until she could form a good mmmmmmhmm.. She finally did it. And I am going to attempt to tell the world how it melted my heart.

Feels a little like this:

The most beautiful fireworks you have ever seen. But some kind of a way you can feel them. Beautiful exploding balls of light. Your favorite food just the way you like it. A genuine smile from someone you love more than anything in the whole world. A heartfelt thank you for each and every good thing you ever did (even the things you don't remember doing). Sweet surrender. A warm embrace of innocence. A heart smile. A love so powerful words can't hold it, describe it, or convey it. Joyous peace. Innocent understanding. Humble exhilaration. Roses that you can smell with your soul. A brilliant rainbow. A hug warm, pure, and so tight that it squeezes away all the hurt from a long hard day. A smile so sincere that you start to cry. Purity so rare you stare because you know you won't see it again, not like this, not on this side of the sun. The warmth of sunshine. An angelic symphony-clear, indescribably beautiful, and pure. Love's first verbal affirmation materialized.

Summary:

Fireworks. Smile. With a Pure Heart. To the beat of Sunshine. With the voice of Angels. Love is heard.

My heart will freeze this moment for eternity..the first time you called me Ma-Ma.

Love now-always-forever,

Mommie

Anticipate Goodbye?

I am sad. Sometimes I try to anticipate goodbye as if that will make it better. Maybe it wont hurt as bad if I try to make myself accustomed to life without you. Live with you further on the edge than closer to the middle.I wish I could close my eyes so I'd never see you leave. Maybe hold them shut to hold you there longer. The sound of your voice. The smell of your shirt. The warmth of your genuine smile. A sincere laugh. A fraction of the things I know I will miss. Trying to store you more indelibly on my heart. I love you. I always have and I forever will. Through our memories we will never say goodbye.

Love,

your Nina