Hope Continually -- Psalm 71:14

 Tuesday, April 15 Tuesday was very busy cleaning, cleaning and prepping for the Easter holiday weekend. Other normal activities like school and horse riding lesson. Summer also took the CLT today.  For the school scholarship, we have to submit standardized test scores yearly. Wednesday, April 16 Addie and Autumn's room is ready for them.  I am grateful that my girls can come home for this holiday and I have them at our home for a little while.  The laundry room had become really cluttered so I took a lot of time to really declutter and clean! Air purifier that I got for the laundry room where the Litter Robot is.  I hope it is a good home investment. Choir practice.  The kids arrive tomorrow!  Gah!

  Strawberry Refrigerator Cake Sierra made this cake for her cake reception lab for her Culinary Life Skills class.  It was so good!  Super moist and truly so easy.  Great for a summer potluck!  You won't be disappointed. Cake: 1 box strawberry cake mix (along with ingredients needed for preparation) Filling: 10 oz. fresh strawberries 2 tbsp. granulated sugar Topping: 1 (3.4 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding mix 1 cup milk 3 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed Preheat oven to temperature that package recommends. Using shortening or pan spray, grease and then flour a 13x9 inch cake pan. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions.  Pour batter into prepared pan and place into preheated oven. While cake is baking, prepare the filling. Clean, hull, and slice the strawberries.  Then, add the strawberries and sugar to a medium mixing bowl and let the mixture sit for 20 min. Move the strawberry mixture to a blender or food processor and puree to ...

  Today, our oldest daughter is graduating from college.  It seems like so long ago that I was dropping her off to college in Pensacola, FL from Newberg, OR.  Four years passed and here we are today. I am so grateful that God led our daughter to Pensacola Christian College.  I have seen her grow and mature into a beautiful young woman.  I have watched her relationship with the Lord deepen and strengthen. Today, we will watch her walk across the platform of Pensacola Christian College and receive her diploma.  Addie, we love you and are so blessed to be your parents.  God is good!

 Sunday, April 13 My dad shared these photos from his Sunday.  God is still touching lives. Chilly start to the morning. A great day in the house of the Lord. Monday, April 14 How a Monday morning looks with a home schooler. :) A girl and her cat. :) I absolutely love spring mornings in Florida!   Poor lizard.  Nugget got him. Got up my third row of spice racks. A few cherry tomatoes from my garden. Love my solar lights in my garden beds. Love spring nights.  And my plants. :)

  Wednesday, April 30 Well, today is Sierra's last day of her senior year.  Last day of high school.  Last day of her home school journey and home school life. This is my third daughter to have finished their school years.  Sierra began home schooling with Abeka in K4 at 3 yrs. old and finished her senior year at 17 yrs. old.   This was our 17th year of home schooling.  While my heart is a little sentimental today, it is mainly grateful.  While my nest may be empty sooner than later, it just means it is time to launch our birds into the world. Next school year will be more different than it ever has been.  Summer will be our only girl left home schooling.  The other three will be adults.  Seasons are changing but our God is always good and His purpose for us continues. Thank you, God, for your blessings.

  Cranberry Party Punch This is a delicious punch we had for Easter - so good! 6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed 4 cups cranberry juice 1/4 cup granulated sugar 4 cups ginger ale, chilled 4 cups raspberry sherbet In a gallon-sized container, mix together the lemonade concentrate and the cranberry juice.  Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until chilled. Just before serving, add the ginger ale and scoop the sherbet into the mixture.  Allow the sherbet to soften enough before serving for the punch to be easily poured and drunk. Yield:  16 - 6 oz. servings