This is thirty....thirty-two!

Another year. Another day. My 30's have been great this far. I dreaded turning 30 but quickly realized it was pretty amazing. This morning I woke up with "This is the day the Lord has made". Thank you God for another day of life, another year of life. I often dip into pieces of my past and wonder how on earth did I make it this far? God...that's the only explanation. Through all my life experiences and now working through my awful mood swings, He is the only one getting me through it. 

Today, I am here raising six babies and trying to be a "good" wife. After almost 14 years of marriage I still haven't figured out how to be a "good" homemaker, but I'm trying. 

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

The year ahead of me will be a year of healing my body & mind. I need to learn patience and grace. It will also be filled with lots of coffee drinking! 
~Cheers!~

Morning Glory Muffins with a Twist

Hello Spring!

I've taken quite a hiatus from blogging. I've missed the bloggy world but it has been refreshing. What's new? I had baby number 6 on May 1st! Baby Girl Averie. I'll do a blog post when I'm up to it. We've been taking it easy this last week.

I've had a major urge to clean and bake and organize lately. Making up for lost time in the last 9 months I suppose! Last evening, I began the process of emptying our gigantic freezer in the garage. It has lasted for the past 6 years and a previous 20-30 before that with different owners....it's on the verge of dying now. :( Time to do some spring cleaning! Lots of berries out there that definitely needed to be used up ASAP. So, what do I make? MUFFINS! With all these ever growing bodies to feed, muffins are a quick and easy breakfast or after school snack.

The recipe is adapted from a cookbook gifted to me many years ago. The book is called 'Muffin Mania' by Cathy Prange and Joan Pauli.

note* I am a one bowl kinda gal, so I really just throw everything in and mix it up! The muffin man would be very disappointed in my kitchen logic!

Morning Glory Muffins with a Twist

2 cups flour
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cranberries
2 cups Saskatoon berries
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup almond milk (optional, mine was a bit on the dry side so I added this)
Lemon zest to taste.

Mix it up. Fill greased muffin tins. Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes. Yields 24 nice size muffins.

These muffins remind me of McDonald's Fruit N Fibre muffins. But you will have to see for yourself.

note* I like to add what is on hand in my cupboards, You have nuts, add nuts, Craisins? do it. Raisins? Be my guest! Play it up to what you and your fam jam like! Have fun with it and make it your own!

Until next time,

The Abstract Mama - Winging it, One day at a time.

Word of the Year 2017

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!" John 16:33

Thanks to The Paper Shelter for this freebie background this past week!

It's a good day to start a new year! And with this new year comes another Word of the Year! My word is....

it is my hope and prayer that I can & will endure and persevere through whatever is thrown my way this year. All with God's strength of course, because I know I cannot do it on my own. 

Today has been a quiet, peaceful, & relaxing day. We made a huge breakfast, the hubs took all the kiddos sledding while I stayed home with the baby so he could nap. It's been a day of coffee, food, and family. I am grateful for the year behind us (the good and the bad), and looking forward to whatever is in store for this year. I am choosing to look at this new beginning with joy, and not fear. God is still in control no matter what is going on in our world...

Creative Corner Challenges - Once Upon a Time - Sponsor

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics...even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty or smart or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he? " A Little Princess - 1995

When I was trying to create something for this challenge over at Creative Corner Challenges, the first thing that popped into my mind was the usual Cinderella, Snow White, etc. And of course the ever popular TV show Once Upon A Time - although coming up with something reflecting that would be a little difficult I do believe! Anyway, going back to the original princesses. They all started where little Sarah did on A Little Princess. Beautiful life, loved by family, and some force that destroys their family. All to defeat the evil step mother (because let's be honest that's usually the culprit!) be reunited (in some cases) or find their Prince Charming, and yes, live happily ever after...

I am so in love with A Day for Daisies stamps so when I saw Fairy Queen Violet I knew I had to have her! Here's my rendition of Once Upon a Time...I love using watercolor technique in an abstract way. I can never have too much art work so as soon as I find a frame for this that's where it will be going!

As a side note: This will be my last post as a Designer with Creative Corner Challenges on Team Jess. Thank you to Jessica for inviting me to a whole new level of crafting and trusting me to be on her team! It was a great experience and I had so much fun exploring the world of digital stamps. Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors I've had the privilege to work with. Thank you to my Design Team family, you are all super talented and I wish you loads of crafty dust to continue to keep on creating. Thank you also to everyone who has visited the blog! Much love! 

I may be on from time to time writing whatever strikes my heart. But for now, my craft room packed away (and lack of a computer) has made this decision for me. I'm looking forward to spending this upcoming year diving into home-making and taking a break from cyber-space. 

Take care all, God Bless, & HAPPY CRAFTING! 

Creative Corner Challenges - 3 Layer Card - SPONSOR

Welcome back to the last challenge of the summer (sure flew by fast!). Today's challenge from Team Jess at Creative Corner Challenges is a sponsored one! Always happy to have Bugaboo on board with us!

Our theme is a 3 Layer Card this week. I hope you will join us! Let's see what you got!

Creative Corner Challenges - Anything But a Card

Hello August! 

Alright folks, get your thinking caps on! I want to see what you've got!
No cards this time, so I decided to make up some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) or you can also use them for your lovely planners! (Who doesn't love stickers?!) PicMonkey has done some upgrades and they are amazing! Creative Corner Challenges is where it's at, so head on over and check out all the fantastic projects our Design Team has created!

Please feel free to use this sheet for your own personal use.

       

Creative Corner Challenges - CONGRATULATIONS! - No Sponsor

Welcome to another summer edition from Creative Corner Challenges! Half way through July...I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer?!

This week's challenge from Team Jess is a Congratulations theme and we have no sponsor this week!

I did up a baby card for this challenge. It was fun to use a Peas in a Pod die from Sizzix. Here's what I came up with! I hope you will join us and play along!