The Creamer Chronicles

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Batter UP!

Our life revolves around baseball at the moment.

Kyle is now part of a homeschool high school baseball team.
It's serious competition at this level,
and serious commitment on the part of this mama.
With practices and games all throughout the Houston area, we're in the car far more than we are at home! Kyle is loving it and we are so blessed by a wonderful coaching staff and Christian homeschooling families.
Looking forward to seeing him grow as a player and as a young man!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

The hunt

This past weekend, Kyle participated in a

Texas Youth Hunting Program

hunt and harvested his first doe.

Please stop reading now if you are squeamish about blood or dead animal carcasses.

We found out about the Texas Youth Hunting Program during a basic hunter's education class offered by the
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
This program is for children ages 9-17 and educates them not only about hunting but conservation, habitat, and ethical decisions regarding hunting.

In addition to the Hunt Masters, wildlife biologists and land owners also participate in the hunts and teach these young hunters how wildlife management promotes conservation and health of the species.

It's not just about the kill,

it's about the harvest.

It's about the legacy of hunting in Texas,

and insuring quality wildlife for future generations.

It's about equipping young hunters with the skills necessary to process their harvest and feed their families.

And for Kyle and Doug,

it was an awesome father/son bonding experience.

Memories that will last a lifetime were made this weekend.

Thank you, Texas Youth Hunting Program!

And thank you to their guide and Hunt Master, Doug,

and hunt hosts Shirley & Harry.

You made quite an impact in the life

of an awesome young man.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Happy birthday, Macho Beast!

Happy 9th birthday

to our sweet Danny!

The other night we were driving home and I told him,

"I'm sad you're turning nine years old, you won't be my little baby bluebird anymore!"

Dan says, "That's right, mama,

I'm a MACHO BEAST!"

When we got home, the beast went straight to the kitchen to get started on his birthday cake. We discovered an awesome trick to making multicolored cakes that I had to pass along.

The pictures for this tutorial are for a camouflage colored cake, but using the same technique, you could also do a rainbow, ombre, or any other color combination you can think of.

First step, whip up your favorite plain vanilla cake recipe.

Then divide the batter into four smaller bowls,

about a cup of batter in each bowl.

Butter and flour your baking pan and then tint each bowl of batter. For a camo cake, we did tan, brown, dark and light green.

Drop batter by large spoonfuls

(next time I'll use an ice cream scoop!)

into the pan and bake according to your cake recipe directions.

Dan wanted a Minecraft themed cake

and decorated it all by himself!

The cake came out delicious and was a big hit with the other Minecraft addicts in the house.

Happy birthday, Macho Beast, but remember,

you'll always be mama's little baby blue bird!

Monday, January 13, 2014

You GLOW, girl!

They say that a journey of a thousand miles

begins with a single step.

For me, this journey began with a hospitalization.

In May of 2013, I was hospitalized for hypertensive crisis.

I had blood pressures at 190's over 125. I was discharged home on four different blood pressure medications.

I felt like I was dying.

I knew I had to make some big changes in my life and one of those changes was exercise. I have always loathed exercise but figured I could at least start by walking around my neighborhood...

and so, I took my first step.

I will never forget that first lap around the block!

I was so short of breath and in some serious pain, I really didn't think I could make it back home, but I kept on going because I was either going to die outside walking or I was going to die doing nothing at home.

It got easier as the days and weeks passed.

One lap turned into two...then three....then four.

And now I'm up to walking 3+ miles, 2-3 times a week.

My health is so much better, I don't feel like I'm dying, and I don't take blood pressure medicine anymore!

This weekend I participated in my first 5k, The Glow Run!

So what if I walked the entire thing?

I FINISHED,

and in under and hour which was my goal.

I still have a long way to go in this journey to get healthy, and with the support of my family, I'll get there.

The boys had so much fun at the Glow Run that they've already picked out our next 5k:

The RAD Run

If you're in the Houston area, join us!

It all begins with a single step...

Monday, January 6, 2014

The handmade closet

In a world filled with midriff tops

and hip hugger skinny jeans,

it's a comfort to this mama

to make modest dresses for her little girl.

Little girls should look like little girls,

don't you agree?

And this Ice Cream dress from Oliver + S

fits the bill oh, so perfectly!

Over the weekend I was able to make two dresses and two adorable blouses for Miss Mary Grace.

She loved her dresses, especially the pink one,

and proceeded to fill her pockets with all sorts of treasures...

like LEGOs and peanuts!

I love the simple, modest style and ease of construction.

I also love adding little embellishments like vintage buttons...

and little love notes for my lovely!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Tea thyme

Try as we might, we just didn't escape the cold season this year (although, it looks like we've dodged the flu, thus far).

We're all a sniffling, sneezing, coughing, hacking mess!

I was looking online for some herbal tea remedies for this brutal cough and found that the thyme still growing in my herbal garden would make an excellent tea.

It's as easy as chopping a tablespoon of fresh thyme

and steeping it in a cup of hot water for five minutes.

Add honey and lemon to taste.

This healing tea should be consumed 4-5 times daily for relief of cough, bronchial congestion, and common cold and flu symptoms.

This is a really delightful tea,

I'm already on my second cup of the day!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

In a little country church, far far away...

On a chilly Christmas Eve,

a faithful community gathered together

to hear the story of our salvation.

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Luke1:39-45

19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife. Matthew 1:19-24

2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. Luke 2:1-4

6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ Luke 2:8-14

7 Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the East went before them until it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Matthew 2:7-12

Thank you, Fr.Gabriel and youth of our parish,
for the telling the story of the Nativity of our Lord
with such beauty, devotion, and love.

It was a wonderful way to start this
most holy Christmas season.

O Divine Infant of Bethlehem,
Whom we adore and acknowledge to be our sovereign Lord,
come and take birth in our hearts.
Amen.