JAMSquared

So, if you read my blog regularly, you might remember these name tags I made for the Mothers of Young Children group at my church. Well, Pastor Britta, the children’s minister, liked them and ordered some non-name name tags for something she is doing. Originally, she only wanted 8, but she decided to go for 10 once she saw the picture of the one I made to show her what I proposed. She emailed me, “I think when everyone sees how darn cute they are, it’ll help me recruit more folks to the team!” I had meant to take a picture of the group of them once I put them in the badge holders, but I forgot to do that, so you just get to see the picture that got Britta so excited about them. This was my first paying craft job. Kinda exciting, isn’t it?

Welcome to SHPC Children's Ministry!

Stamps: Stampin’ Up All God’s Children
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Whisper White
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Delicate Dots
Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Dell printer (SHPC text)
Tools: Stampin’ Up markers

Last week was KidStuf week at SHPC. I had been eyeing this recipe and thought it would be good since I could give half to KidStuf and keep half for us. James and I both liked them, but they are a slightly crispy cookie and James prefers softer cookies. Somewhat similar to my Mom’s Sugar Drop Cookies, but crispy.

Cinnamon Crackle Cookies

Cinnamon Crackle Cookies

Source: The Taste of Home Baking Book, but you can also find a printer-friendly version here

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel (I omitted since I didn’t have any oranges)
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel (I used slightly more since I omitted orange peel)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• additional sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, softening and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. In another bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar, nutmeg, orange and lemon peel and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: 6 dozen (I only got 5.5 dozen.)

Ready to Go in the Oven

I recently joined the Mothers of Young Children devotional group at SHPC. This spring, we’re discussing George Barna’s Revolutionary Parenting: What the Research Shows Really Works. I’m enjoying the conversations about spirituality. I am hoping my faith will grow.

The group was using the adhesive backed paper name tags. I offered to make long-term use name tags. I decided to make four different styles of name tags. That way if the fall group has new people, their new name tags won’t stick out. The tags are 4-inches by 3-inches and are placed in some horizontal badge ID holders I picked up at Office Max. I thought about stamping something on them also, but decided to go simple and just use patterned paper and bows to decorate. The bows are adhered on the outside of the badge holder.

All the Nametags

Style 1

Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Real Red
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Summer Picnic
Accessories: Stampin’ Up Certainly Celery twill ribbon
Tools/Techniques: Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large; bow embellishment

Style 2

Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Real Red, Cameo Coral
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Pink Flamingo
Accessories: red grosgrain ribbon
Tools/Techniques: Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large; bow embellishment

Style 3

Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Pawsistively Prints
Accessories: Stampin’ Up So Saffron grosgrain ribbon
Tools/Techniques: Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large; bow embellishment

Style 4

Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Enchante
Accessories: Stampin’ Up Certainly Celery twill ribbon
Tools/Techniques: Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large; bow embellishment

I recently joined the committee at SHPC that makes dessert for the KidStuf Program, a monthly extravaganza for parents to engage kids more deeply in conversations about scripture and our Christian faith. For February, I made these Peppermint Pinwheels, a refrigerator cookie. I saw this recipe on a Food Network special before Christmas and I thought the red and white cookies would also be good for Valentine’s Day. I gave most of them to the KidStuf Program and saved some for James to take to work in his lunch.  They were quite tasty (we also had a few the night I baked them) and were really pretty easy to make.

Peppermint Pinwheels

Peppermint Pinwheels

Source: Food Network

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract (I used mint extract since I didn’t have any peppermint)
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring

Directions:

In medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder; set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and beat until incorporated. Add teh vanilla and peppermint extract. Gradually add the dry mixture, beating until combined. Remove half of the mixture from the bowl. Add food coloring, beating until fully combined. In waxed paper, roll out dough to form a large rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Repeat this step with the uncolored dough. Refrigerate 2 hours.

Tear out 1 sheet of waxed or parchment paper. Sprinkle surface with confectioner’s sugar to prvent sticking. Very carefully, slide the red dough on top of the white dough. Trim edges if uneven and patch is necessary. Roll dough into a log, creating a swirl effect. Place the dough back in the refrigerator and let chill for 2 hours. To prevent a flat bottom place in round glass and lay glass on side in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Slice the dough into 1/4-inch slices and place on a parchment lined sheet about 1-inch apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack.

Yield: 3 dozen

Slicing Cookies

Baking in the Oven

James and I attend Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church. We found our church while we were engaged and searching for a church that would fulfill both of our desires for a church. Our search consisted of attending numerous Christian churches. It was difficult as James was raised in a Baptist church and I grew up in a Catholic church, two Christian churches on opposite ends of the spectrum. After our marriage, which was performed by a minister friend of the family, we joined SHPC. We have not been the most consistent attendees of church, but we both think it is something important for our children (Jessica won’t be an only child) and will become more frequent church-goers.

One of the most important things for me when we were searching for a church, was infant baptism. The Baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God’s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. Baptism in the Presbyterian Church, usually occurs during infancy, though a person may be baptized at any age. Parents bring their baby to church, where they publicly declare their desire that he or she be baptized. When an infant or child is baptized the church commits itself to nurture the child in faith. When adults are baptized they make a public profession of faith. The water that is used symbolizes three accounts from the Bible’s Old Testament: the waters of creation, the flood described in the story of Noah, and the Hebrews’ escape from slavery in Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. Unlike some denominations, Presbyterians do not require a person to be entirely immersed in water during baptism. Baptism is received only once. Its effect is not tied to the moment when it is administered, for it signifies the beginning of life in Christ, not its completion. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) believes that persons of other denominations are part of one body of Christian believers; therefore, it recognizes and accepts baptisms by other Christian churches.

Jessica’s baptism was performed Sunday, January 31st by Rev. Larry Coulter at SHPC. It was a very beautiful time in Jessica’s life. She did great. The unfamiliar situation didn’t cause her any distress.

Before the Service

James and Jessica at the Front of the Church

Jessica with her Parents

Rev. Larry Coulter and Jessica

Being Baptized

After being baptized, Pastor Larry carried Jessica around the sanctuary so that the members of the church could see the child they were committing to nurture in faith.

Introducing Newest Member to Congregation

After the end of the church service, we all returned to our house for a little brunch. I had to have a picture of Jessica with all of her cousins: Dawson, James’ sister’s son and the oldest cousin at 9 years old; Cameron, my sister’s oldest son; Trevor, my sister’s youngest son and the youngest cousin (just 3 weeks younger than Jessica); and Aspen, my brother’s daughter.

Trevor, Cameron, Dawson, Jessica and Aspen

Trevor, Cameron, Dawson, Jessica and Aspen

Trevor, Cameron, Dawson, Jessica and Aspen

We also got a number of photos of Jessica posing in her baptism gown. She is such a cutie, don’t you think?

Beautiful Jessica

Baptism Beautie

Kristy, thank you for being the lovely photographer. I could not have captured this moment without you.