Cheryl's Corner

Hello friends!   It's been a while since my last blog so its time to get back to it.  November was a crazy busy month and one of the things that kept me busy was doing my final assignment for school.  I thought I would share it with you all.  It is a little longer than my other blogs but I hope it encourages you just as God has encouraged me in the process of writing it. Merry Christmas everyone!!      The most beautiful things often grow and stem from times of hurt and struggle. It is a paradox that proves to be true time and time again in my life and in the life of one of my favorite people in the world.      My Uncle Sim is one of those people who, once you meet him, you won't soon forget. At our family gatherings he is the life of the party and his summertime visits are always so memorable. Although he has Down Syndrome and is unable to speak, he enjoys life and lives with a determination that is contagious....

Mr. Ginger, our new cat, is fitting in nicely in our home… most of the time anyways.  Except for the times he keeps begging us for people food, and decides to lay down right (literally) behind our feet while working in the kitchen.  Is there such a thing as a normal cat? If so, I don’t think I’ve ever met one!  We were just going to call him Ginger but then we took to the vet.  When people kept double-checking if he was a male cat, we realized that Ginger is normally a girl’s name.  So, now he is “Mr. Ginger!” It took some convincing my family to get a new cat so soon but I think it was worth it! :) There has been a question that has been haunting and piercing me the last week or so.  The question is this: What if God never gives me a husband, children, a larger bank account, my dream job, my own house- all the things I’m currently desiring and/or working towards- and what if God doesn’t ever give me those things so that I might cli...

Pull-Apart Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread with Buttered Rum (or Vanilla) Glaze (Adapted from Willow Bird Baking ) Ingredients Bread 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 cup milk 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast 3/4 cup pumpkin puree 1/4 cup white sugar 1 tsp salt 2 1/2 cups bread flour 1 cup granulated sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg 2 Tbsp unsalted butter Buttered Rum Glaze 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1/8 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 Tbsp milk 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 Tbsp rum * *The recipe I used called for just a 1/4 tsp of rum but I really wanted to be able to taste the rum, so I upped it to a full tablespoon. It was just right for my taste, adding a nice warmth to the glaze. If you’re not into rum you can sub a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Directions In a saucepan over medium-high heat, brown 2 tablespoons of butter, letting it bubble up and turn a dark golden brown but being careful not to allow it burn (turn black). Once bro...

While I love the season of fall, I always have a twinge of sadness when it begins because it means that another summer has come and gone once again. I love summer and this summer was no exception!   One of the major highlights of the summer was being able to go back to Mexico again for a missions trip.   It was a trip that I won’t soon forget.   One of the best parts of it was getting to reconnect with a lot of the people and kids we met last year. It never ceases to amaze me how deeply friendship can transcend language and cultural barriers.   There are so many stories I could tell from our trip but I thought I would share one that personally affected me the most. The first morning of the VBS we helped run, I was asked to help out with the youngest group of kids.   To be honest, I was disappointed.   I helped out with the same group last year and while I did have fun with them, I also found it difficult to connect with the kids.   So, this yea...

Lately I’ve been thinking about doing more writing. It’s something I’m coming to enjoy more and more.. I’m not very good at expressing myself verbally, but I’ve always found it easiest to express myself and what’s on my heart through writing. When I write, it has a way of bringing more clarity to my mind and heart.   I don’t know how long this blog will last for but I want my writing to be centered in Jesus and what He is doing in my heart and life. I pray that this blog will spur each of us, myself included, closer to Jesus and to godliness. That is what I want the most!  At the end of the day, my thoughts and opinions don’t matter.   They won’t endure and most of the time they are either selfish or just plain wrong. There’s a verse I love that beautifully reminds me of the fickleness of me but points me to the One who always has been, always is, and always will be. “All flesh is like grass     and all its glory like the flower of grass. T...