Top of the Afternoon to Ya!

It's ok. Just get used to the weird titles of these so called blog posts.

I'm listening to some absolutely *beautiful* Gungor . A sweet friend of mine posted this last night when I needed to hear it.

Today was a good day. I had a good run (Only two miles today, it's a short run day, thank goodness. I have 4 to run on Friday, which are my long days. And 4 is big for my new runner of a self, so there.) this morning, and school went well today. I've decided to start pushing myself more in school, because I'm getting anxious to be finished. (It's February, I know..) So I've doubled up on Language Arts and Consumer Math. I finished Government and Economics today, and I'll finish up the rest of my highschool history this week. So then I'll get serious about working on World Views. The other things that I'm doing, Anatomy and Adv. Math will be finished when they're finished. After rushing myself through Algebra 1 and 2 and Geometry we're taking Adv. Math slowly and if we don't get a lesson done each day, it's fine. Adv. Math is an extra course for me, and get me more prepared for the math on the ACT. Which I'm going to, Lord willing, and by purely His strength, take this spring. I need to go find Mom and get scheduled before it's too late. And me being the homeschooled child that I am, the ACT is big and scary. Don't expect me to tell you how it goes, because that's not happening.

Anyway, after I finished up math with Mom, I went to get the mail and headed up to Grandma's with her. I spend about.. an hour and a half up there. I took my photo of the day and did a puzzle with her while I sipped some Lady Grey and finally finished off the triple chocolate m&m's that I got for my birthday. (Don't judge me.)

Then I came down to the house, checked Fb, and the photography group project that I posted pictures in today to see if anyone had posted more photos, and then headed to the kitchen to make a couple of loaves of English Muffin bread that are now downstairs rising.

It snowed more today. We got about 4 inches, I think. It's beautiful and it covered up the old stuff, but since it did that, it's hard to see where to step since the old stuff was mostly ice and it's really slippery. I should go snap some pictures, but it's bitter cold out there. Plus I've taken a ridiculous amount of snow pictures this year. I'm sure no body will miss any more pictures. And I'll take some of the banana bread and then the English muffin bread if I can get it out of the oven before the sun is totally gone. I don't think I'll be able to swing it.

Also, the sun is staying around later now! I'm so looking forward to spring. But I must admit, winter has been lovely. I have lots of time inside and to spend doing whatever without feeling guilty for not spending more time outside and gardening or something. But either way, spring will be very welcomed by me and the camera. :D

Love to you,
Bethan

A...weird post...

But oh well. I'm feeling random and awkward tonight. Stay tuned.

How am I?

Lonely. So, so lonely. Hear me out first. I had a lovely day. I laughed with my brothers, played games with them, talked with my Mama, gave my Mama hugs, greeted my Daddy when he got home from work, told him stories and helped with dinner. Visited my Grandma and worked on a puzzle with her.

Made banana bread. Did school. Listened to lovely music. Wall-posted with dear friends, worried about other friends, missed friends, felt like I was annoying to my friends, wondered if I should set up a chat time with friends, wondered if I'm too pushy. Wondered if I had the most screwed up life in the world, was thankful because I *don't* have a screwed up life, I have a beautiful life. I was saved by the grace of my wonderful Savior, my family loves me for me, my friends love me, I have a warm home, my Mama lets me do crazy things in the kitchen. I am just so blessed.

So mostly, this post is for me. It to get me thinking, to get me cheerful and realize all that my Jesus has given me. Even with every screwed up thing that's going on in my life right now, guess what?! That's all SO small. And Jesus is SO much bigger than it all. Only He can save ruined things, only He can heal hearts and restore love and trust. So why do we get all caught up in it?! Is it lack of trust? I do not understand this. I get caught up in it all the time...

But just finish that with the thought of how merciful our God is. Of how incredibly much He loves us. And even with everything that we hoped for is crashing and we wonder what even the point of it all was, God gives us things like this for us to grow in Him. This is how He brings His elect to Him and shows them His great and powerful love for them the first time. He is beautiful. His love is beautiful. He loves beautiful things.

I'm missing my big sister today. It's almost the 10th again. You know what thrills me the most about her being in heaven?!? She got to rejoice with Jesus and the angles when Christ saved me. I can't even to begin how thrilled and how she must have given all of the glory to God for it. And guess what? When we get to go to heaven, we get to do the same thing! We get to rejoice for those who God saves! How awesome!

My heart is so heavy with things tonight. But I don't need to write them here-Jesus knows all of them, and I can have an even better conversation with Him. <3

Bethan

A winter walk

So I took a walk on Friday night with Max and took more than several pictures. So here's the ones that I'll post here. But be assured that Fb will be flowing with them. *cheesy grin*

English Muffin Bread

English Muffin Loaves

5 1/2 cups flour
1 T. yeast
1 T sugar
2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup water
cornmeal to coat mans and top of loaves

Combine 3 cups of the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl (or a KitchenAid bowl. I did this, put on the dough attachment, and mixed this mixture for a couple of seconds.)
Heat liquids until warm 120-130 degrees.
Add the liquid to the flour mixture, beating well.
Stir in remaining flour (you may not need all of it.) until you have a stiff STICKY batter.

Spoon into two loaf pans that have been greased and sprinkled with cornmeal. Sprinkle cornmeal on tops of loaves.
Cover lightly and let rise until double.
Make at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until slightly golden brown.

Cupcakes

Ultimate Cinnamon Buns

Ultimate Cinnamon Buns.

So these are originally supposed to make 8 MASSIVE rolls. But even that was too big for me, so I think I made 12 instead. They were super yummy. :D

I've been busy

And great about neglecting my poor blog! Why it's been since the 22nd of December! I'm so sorry.

I'll try and get a good update on here, or more than one. :)

Shortbread and Tea. This is actually fake. Because I did not drink that tea. Or put that brown sugar in it (Nor do I use brown sugar to sweeten my tea.) This was for my photo of the day. I'm doing 365 days of photographs. So I made this shortbread to take to backpacks (which later didn't happen.) and then grabbed up some dishes and tried to make it look pretty. In which a mostly failed at... Food bloggers are so incredible with their photography. Their lighting is great and you see no background if they don't want you to.