//a s p i r i n g//

This apron was a gift from grandma to me just a few short months ago. She gave each one of my sisters and I an apron out of her apron “closet”. What a treasure that was for each one of us. 

As you can tell from the looks of this apron it has been well-used. Worn many times to cook up a mess of food and then serve with a heart full of love. 

I've been going through hope chest stuff lately. Seeing what I have. Seeing what I need. And as I look at each item in my hope chest {which is mainly kitchen stuff} I think and I dream.

I aspire to be like my grandma.

Oh sure she's aged now. 

But those worn out {hands}...

They're from cooking meals and serving others. 

That aching {back}...

It's from being bent over working in the garden. From carrying babies. From working hard. 

Those {wrinkles}...

why they're from laughing.

Those worn out {knees}...

that's from spending countless hours kneeling before her Father and bringing each family members name up before Him. 

Those weary {eyes}...

are from staying up caring for people, watching for people, crying for people.

That worn out {body}...

it's from spending her life poured out to make a life for her children. And her grandkids, and great grandkids, and great- great grandkids.

But that {heart}...

oh that heart. I think it's stronger and fuller now than it ever has been. Because her love just keeps on growing. 

You see that is why I aspire to be like her. 

Because what an amazing woman she is. 

{sorry this is a picture of a picture. It's my grandma feeding me and my cousin Jed}

Serving...always serving...

I hope to be the wife she was, the mom she is, the grandma she is...most of all I hope to be 

{the virtuous woman} 

she is.

  

Strawberry Jam Making...

This post is mainly directed to my sisters-Mom and I missed making jam with you today!It's definitely not the same without you!

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

This stuff is really yummy.I wouldn't necessarily call it fudge.I would call these the 'healthy" alternative to Reese's peanut butter cups.Anyways...a friend from church pinned these and then she brought them to a teen activity.They were really yummy so I decided to make them.It is really simple to make!

 

• 1/2 cup coconut oil (slightly melted, but not hot)
• 1/2 cup  cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup  honey
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation:

Prepare a muffin pan with 10 muffin liners.

Put all ingredients in the bowl of your food processor.  Pulse a few times until everything is smooth and nicely combined.  (It will be very liquid-y.)  Don’t over-mix.

Pour the liquid fudge into the prepared muffin liners dividing evenly between the ten of them.  There will be about a half inch of fudge in each muffin liner.

Place the muffin pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the fudge has hardened. (Sometimes I use the freezer and it only takes about 10 minutes)

Remove the muffin liners from the pan and enjoy your delicious, healthy fudge!  Store in the refrigerator.

* You do not have to use a food processor.  Using a whisk and a bowl works as well.  Just make sure that you whisk until all the lumps are dissolved, and the fudge is very smooth.