Cupcakes and More Cupcakes

Cupcakes...

I'd like to begin by saying that the photo of this cupcake is definitely NOT a picture of what my homemade cupcakes look like. Can any of you relate? Have you ever just had one of those days that seems to spiral in slow motion downwards? Yep. For me, that was Wednesday of this week.

My daughter's birthday is Saturday and she asked that I bring 45 cupcakes for her swim team. ("Mom, most moms bring pizza, drinks, and dessert for the WHOLE team.") "Today, HONEY, I am just making cupcakes quickly before I drive your sisters and brother to soccer, dance, youth group, and take you to swim practice..."

My plan was to make "red velvet" cupcakes. I should have known something was up when I placed the batter in the oven and it looked a bit suspicious. It was speckled, a bit like a leopard's skin. I thought maybe the four sticks of butter had something to do with it! Two seconds later, the phone rang and it was a dear friend whom I hadn't talked to in several years.

As we talked and talked, I kept checking the cupcakes as they began to morph before my eyes. At first they looked somewhat normal. However, by the end of the baking time, they had fallen along with my expectations of having anything close to "velvet" in appearance. Finally, when I pulled all 45 cupcakes out of the oven, they had shrunken to inverted unrecognizable shells about 1/4" thick just coating the cupcake paper liners. The color that was supposed to be red resembled more of an unappetizing color of brown/red, a bit like Indian clay gone bad.

I could not figure out where I had gone wrong with this internet recipe until finally it dawned on me. The recipe had said to set aside the flour at the beginning. (I had instead thought, why? I'll just add it directly to the recipe later.) I had forgotten to add a simple SEVEN CUPS of flour to my cupcakes for the masses. Why, Lord, I asked? Why?

Could this have anything to do with the verse I am memorizing in my Bible study right now - James 1:2, "Consider it ALL joy my brethren when you encounter various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance...."

Needless to say, after a total of three trips to the same grocery store in a single day to purchase additional ingredients and ingredients I kept forgetting, the cupcakes were baked from a box.

Did I also mention that my husband was at home sick that whole day with the flu? And did I remember to mention that you might want to close the rear windows of your van when you go through the car wash?

Dear Lord,

On days that just seem beyond crazy and out of control, would you help me to keep my focus? Would you help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and to keep persevering? Would you bring glory to yourself somehow through this frail body of mine? Thank you for love and unending grace.

More Cupcakes

Here is a splurge tip for the recessionary times in which we live. Go on a date with your husband to "Sprinkles" - a cupcake bakery in Corona del Mar. It is a darling little store that specializes in cupcakes. They are perfect, beautiful, and just like the pictures. Their packaging is exquisite and everything is perfectly in its place, a welcome change from a life with four children! Did I mention that one of their specialties is "red velvet" cupcakes that are REALLY red with white icing?

At first, I thought it was a joke that a single cupcake was priced at $3.25. Now, I'm beginning to think it is a real bargain. And for $7.50, with a cupcake for you and your husband, it's a pretty cheap date!

Now go and enjoy every moment!

Kim

"I Chose Love" and Cheap Movie Tickets

My family and I watched a large portion of the Academy Awards last night. The girls and I loved seeing the beautiful gowns and the latest in fashion; who was with whom and who was not with whom this year. There is always a certain elegance in the air with the Oscars, and a certain mystique that captures the hearts and dreams of people around the world.

And yet there is often an agenda that is hidden, or maybe not so hidden in many of the films that are promoted that is contrary to traditional American family values. Suffice it to say that box office results do not often, nor always, predict success at the Oscars.

With that said, there was one quote that I really enjoyed from A.R. Rahman, the composer of the original score of "Slumdog Millionaire":

"All my life, I've had a choice between hate and love. And I chose love. And it brought me here. God bless."

I love that each of us has the same option before us every day to choose love or to choose hate, whether we live in the slums of Mumbai or in Orange County, CA. Sara Groves sings, "Generations will reap what I sow. I can pass on a curse or a blessing..." Let's ask ourselves the next time we are faced with a choice, am I choosing love or choosing hate? Am I passing on a curse or a blessing?

I think of the little nine year old Indian girl who played Latika in "Slumdog Millionaire". She was sitting there awestruck last night in the Kodak Theatre. Although she played the part of the little girl in the slums of Mumbai, India she actually still resides in the slums. I don't know if her real life will have the same fairy tale ending as the movie. I am hopeful that this movie may be her ticket out of the slums.

But I do know this. God has given me the ability to choose love. May I choose love.

Dear Lord,

The stakes are so high. Help us to choose love, and to choose You. Thank you for the truth. Thank you that the truth will always prevail. Thank you that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Cheap Tickets

Quick tip....spend $40 and buy an Entertainment book this year. (Actually because we are already several months in 2009, the book is now only $23.00). You will save enough money on movie tickets alone to make it worth your while. Just bring one of the Regal coupons to the box office window and you will be able to purchase two tickets for $6.75 each. This is a significant savings from the normal price of $11.00. Don't forget to sign up for a Regal card as well. The last time I showed my Regal card, while using my Entertainment coupon, I received three coupons: one for a free movie, one for a free popcorn, and one for discounted candy.

Now go and enjoy every moment!

Kim

"Sam, I Am" and Eggs and Ham

My husband and I were privileged to be able to go to Egypt with 100 people from the UK, Holland, and the US a few weeks ago. It was truly remarkable to tour the historic sites, to see things in person that I have seen in history books for years.

Do you remember in your little children's Bible the pictures of Moses being placed in the basket on the banks of the Nile? I am not joking when I say that it still looks exactly like those pictures. It felt like a huge step back in time with camels, scorpions, bedouins, and pyramids.

Speaking of steps, there was an older man named Sam on our trip who was only able to take one step at a time. You see, his leg had been amputated due to a car accident more than fifteen years ago. This trip was not a trip for the faint of heart; the tourist and handicapped standards were nowhere near the same as here in the US. There were crocodiles that you could reach out and touch; gangplanks leading to ships, with tiny railings on the one side and nothing on the other. And, there was very little that was handicapped accessible. However, Sam was determined to do everything on his crutches and one leg - one step at a time.

Have you ever felt like God has to take you halfway around the world or to some place totally unexpected in order to teach you something? Every time I saw Sam, I thought of "Sam I Am" - a man who could do anything with nothing standing in his way. He never complained and always acted like a gentleman by letting the ladies go first. He currently has a ministry speaking to troubled teens and encouraging them to live the life God intended for them to live.

He inspired me to live the life God has intended for me to live, to not let obstacles stand in my way or to diminish my faith.

I wish you could have met Sam. He would have inspired you to live all out for God.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Sam, for his faith, for his ministry, and for his dedication and determination to not let anything stand in his way. I pray that we too could live lives all out for you, with every step that we take glorifying You, Your kingdom, and Your purposes. Give us faith and determination like Sam's to live lives that please You.

Eggs and Ham

People ask me in today's economy where do I do my grocery shopping? Where do I buy my eggs and ham to save the most money and feed a family of six? For those of you in southern California, you know that double coupons were recently discontinued at Ralph's and Von's or Pavilions. I used to spend $100 and my receipt would say that I had saved nearly $100, due to double coupons. However, this is no longer the case with double coupons being discontinued.

The good news is that if you're willing to drive a little bit further you will find much lower prices at Stater Brothers. They do accept coupons up to their face value. I've found many of their prices to be even lower than Costco's. And, if you're ever in Newport Beach there is an incredible place for fruits and vegetables called Grower's Direct. It's right off of 17th street and the 55, on the north side. Some of the prices are virtually half of my local grocery stores' prices.

One more tip...last week I was in a one hour and 45 minute focus group at Trotta Associates in Irvine, regarding groceries that paid $175. If you'd like to be on their list for focus group attendees, just sign up at http://www.trotta.net/. It basically paid for my groceries for a while and it was a lot of fun!!

Now go and enjoy every moment!

Kim

Beach Days and Beach Bargains

Beach Days

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of the sand. When I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:17-18

On Valentine's Day, while standing on the sand, we saw a whale spouting out in the ocean. Do you love the beach? I love the beach. It's probably my top reason for loving living in southern California. I love the wide expanse of the ocean, the smell of the salt in the air, the wind blowing in my hair, watching my dog try to catch the waves, seeing the joy on the little kids' faces as they play in the water, and watching the adults deep in conversation...trying to grab a little bit of sanity in the hecticness of their lives.

What always amazes me is that the roads are often packed with cars, and yet unless it is a 95 degree plus day inland, the beaches are rarely packed with people. I would rather go to the beach to unwind, go for a run, or just be with my family there than anywhere else in the world. I've lived a lot of different places and have tried to figure out what it is about the beach that I enjoy so much. I think it is that the beach gives me space in my mind, space in my thoughts.

The beach helps me remember the power of the one whom I serve.

"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb;

When I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,

When I fixed the limits for it and set its doors in place,

When I said, "Thus far you may come and no farther, here is

where your proud waves halt?"

Job 38:8-11

The beach reminds me of my frailty, of my humanness, and of my dependence on my creator. It reminds me of His strength, and utter power. Does this resonate with you? Do you believe as Job later chose to believe, "I know that You can do ALL things. No plan of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

He loves you. He is all powerful. And even though it may not seem like it today, He knows what is best for you because of His unending love for you. We need to claim this truth, believe it, and choose to live by it.

Dear Lord,

You are great. You are sovereign. You are all-powerful. Even the winds and the seas obey you. Help us as fragile, frail people to obey you as well and to follow your ways. We love you.

Beach Bargains

We happened to stop by some stores on the Newport Coast during our day at the beach. My first instinct was, I'm sure they'll be WAY too expensive for my budget. However, we stopped in at the Gap, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor Loft and I was pleasantly surprised. I walked to the back of the stores to their sale racks and here were my top bargains:

A Valentine's shirt for my daughter for .01 cent - that's right. One penny!

A cute skirt for me that started at $44.00, was marked down to $4.88, and then discounted another 20% for a total price of $3.90.

A pretty pair of lined black pants that originated at $78.00, marked down to $9.88, and then discounted another 20% for a total price of $7.91.

So, just because the location was ritzy and the stores are higher priced, it's worth checking the sale racks....you just never know what bargains might be waiting for you and your budget!

Now go and enjoy every moment (and take a trip to the beach, it'll do you wonders!)

Kim

Being Kingdom Driven and Driving for Diamonds

Being Kingdom Driven

One of my favorite people in the world is a woman named Anne Ortlund. She has lived a rich, and very full life and has made a tremendous impact for the kingdom. What I love about her is that she is driven by the priorities of God's kingdom and not her own. She knows that life is short and she wants everything that she does to count for Him.

Anne is best known for being a phenomenal author and speaker. She is also a very gifted composer of music. She and her late husband, Ray Ortlund, began discipling/mentoring young people in the Orange County area years ago. They would each select 5-6 people to be in their groups. In order to participate, the individual had to agree to be there at every meeting unless it was a true emergency. And, each person had to agree to then lead groups of their own in order to pass on what they had learned to others.

When I was interviewed to be in Anne's group, I was what I thought to be relatively young at 37 years old. However, Anne loves to mentor women who are in their 20's. Why? So they will have more time to disciple others. This is what I mean by strategic, kingdom driven thinking.

Well, I made it into her group by the skin of my teeth, and the already visible wrinkles on my face! Since I have a few less years to pass on what I've learned...maybe I now sense an extra urgency to be strategic with my decisions.

How about you? Is there a decision you need to make that needs to be weighed between earthly priorities and kingdom priorities? Are you making choices that reflect that you are kingdom driven or driven by the world's ways? Let's help each other to stay on track, to make the most of every moment for His kingdom.

Dear Lord,

Help me to remember to be driven by your priorities and not my own. Allow me to reflect on your higher kingdom purposes and to make every choice according to those purposes. Thank you for people like Anne who help to lead us in a deeper more intentional path with you.

Money Saving Tip for the Day - Driving for Diamonds

Since Valentine's Day is in three days, here is a bargain you can get for FREE for you or your loved one. Sterling BMW in Newport Beach is offering a free 1 carat stone to the first 500 people who take a test drive in one of their BMWs. There is no catch. In fact, 499 of these stones will be made of cubic zirconia. But one stone will be a real 1 carat diamond. After your test drive, you just need to take the stone across the street to Newport Jewelers to have it authenticated and mounted in a pendant. You might be the lucky winner of a free diamond. Even the general sales manager does not know if the diamond has been given away yet.

Let me know in a post if you are the lucky winner!

Now go and enjoy every moment!

Kim

Our destinies and designer catalogs

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

--Frank Outlaw

Destiny is a funny thing...how much do we control and how much is totally out of our control?

We do know that the above areas are areas God has given us to honor Him and to allow His strength to help us make the right choices in every moment of every day. And when we don't, He is still there to love us and to help conform us to His image, provided we are willing.

Beth Moore writes in her new workbook on the book of Esther,

"As painful as the process may be, that which shatters our superficiality also shatters the fetters of our fragility and frees us to walk with dignity and might to our destinies. We are not the fragile flowers we've considered ourselves to be. We, like Esther, are the warrior princesses of God."

Dear Lord,

Help me to make the choices that honor You in my life. Cause me to remember where I am headed... spending eternity with You. I pray you would also cause our children to remember to reflect You in each of their choices as they establish their own character. May our destinies on this earth bring You glory.

Money Saving Tip for the Day

Keep any store catalogs for furniture or store accessories that you like. Search on http://www.craigslist.com/ under furniture or household goods in the city or county in which you live. Narrow down your search by typing in the store's name for example, Pottery Barn or Ethan Allen. Once you find what you are looking for, you can often match the item in the catalog, see the original price, and the dimensions of the item. Then you will know if it's worth going after as a great bargain or not, often a tenth of the price, and whether or not it will fit in your house!

Now go and enjoy every moment!

Kim

To the ends of the earth and to the back of the grocery store...

Brother Andrew, author of God's Smuggler, and founder of Open Doors once said, "I can get you into almost any country but I cannot promise that I can get you out."

People ask me all the time, aren't you scared that your husband travels to such dangerous places, where Christians are persecuted for their faith? How can you let him go? Don't you worry?

My husband is an adventurer - he loves to push life to the limit, to the outermost edges. He also knows that when he goes to these crazy, unpredictable places he will better be able to report on what he has firsthand observed. It's more believable, more gripping, and more real. He loves being able to be one little voice along with many others for the persecuted church. He loves what he does and I love that. So, because he loves what he does, I'm ok with him doing what he feels he was made to do.

So, do I worry? Most certainly...but would I trade what he is doing in advancing Christ's kingdom on earth for predictability and routine - not on your life!

Dear Lord,

Help me to fear You and nothing else. You promise that the fear of You is the beginning of wisdom. Give me wisdom as a wife to turn over my doubts and fears to You. Thank you for holding each of us in the palm of your hand.

Money Saving Tips

Head to the back of all stores for the REAL bargains. The teasers to pull you into the store will be up front. However, the best bargains most always involve a bit of a walk. You'll find the marked down bakery items in the back of the store. The 75% off and more racks will be at the back of the stores in the mall. And, you'll be sure to find the appliances with the tiny scratch or dent against the back wall as well. Trust me, it's worth the walk!

Now go and enjoy the moment!

Kim

Let's Keep Pressing On...

Another friend mentioned to me today that her husband will most likely lose his job...I counted this morning in the Wall Street Journal article after article on store closings, job layoffs, and recession worthy news.

I want to keep my eyes focused on eternity...and heading forward, to avoid getting distracted, depressed or down. (Why do all of these types of words seem to always begin with d??) I read some thoughts recently from Steve Douglass, president of Campus Crusade for Christ, that are helping me stay focused and keep pressing on...

"KEY FACTS ABOUT GOD

He is sovereign. (God did not just fall off His throne.)
“To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:17)
The words of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar:”…until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men” (Daniel 4:25)
He loves us. (He always has our best interest in mind.)
“For God so loved the world…”(John 3:16)
“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28)
He is aware. (This crisis and its impact on us has not escaped His notice.)
Read Psalm 139.
“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30)

WHAT NOT TO DO
1. Fear/panic.
a. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18)
b. “He delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34;4)
2. Quit (Philippians 3:12-14)
3. Worry/complain (Philippians 4:6-7)

THE GOOD THAT HAS RESULTED (Romans 8:28 promises this)

Non-Christians are more open to the gospel in times of crisis….
Christians are less prone to be self-reliant in crisis.
It’s a unique opportunity to let the light of Christ shine from us.
Financial shortages give us all opportunities to trim personal excess expenses.
It forces us to be creative in fresh ways, in order to be more effective in spite of the problem."

Dear Lord,

Help me to fix my eyes on You, the author and perfecter of my faith. Keep me focused and give me the ability and the mindset to press on and to glorify you. Thank you that you are sovereign and you have been and always will be on your throne, sovereign King of the universe.

Money Saving Tip for Today:

When you find an item you like on Craig's List and are unsure of its condition, email the seller, "On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being excellent condition, what condition would you say the item is in and why?" This will save you time and money, and help you to know if it's worth going after the item.

Now go and enjoy every moment!

Kim