Ghyslain

My dear friend Jackie H. invited us to tour Ghyslain's Chocolatier in Union City, Indiana. Ghyslain is the creator of many wonderful chocolate treats, pastries, and breads. The company is named after its founder. You will want to go to the website not only because you can see all the chocolates but because you will enjoy discovering their story!

We sure had a blast discovering, exploring, and experiencing it first hand! On the tour we first learned about the history of the founder and how he came to the Midwest. Then we toured the production kitchen and experienced how to create a few goodies ourselves. I was amazed at the technique and intricacy of creating such sweet treats!

Making the choclate cups! looks so easy! hope to be able to reproduce it at home!

Ghyslain also creates chocolate sculptures-amazing!

Amber filling with the awesome chocolate mouse her chocolate cup!

Ligia filling her chocolate cup!

here I am filling up my chocolate cup!

Then we dusted them with powdered sugar!

Beautiful!

This is the gorgeous chicken salad on hand made croissants, side salad and roasted potatoes!

Now I know you are wondering: I have to go all the way to Union city to get these? No, you can go to Dorothy Lane Market here in town to get them! Ghyslain is a supplier for Dorothy Lane, Jackie used to work there and that is how she found out we could tour their production plant!

I am also looking forward to visiting their other locations! If you would like to participate in this expedition of Chocolate discovery let me know!

Thank you Jackie for such a wonderful discovery!

Gracefully Daisy

Romans 9 Don't miss it

I have read Romans so many times before in English, Spanish and in many bible versions but I love this chapter in the Message. I feel the emotions that Paul is experiencing as he writes this letter to the Romans. He wants them to understand how he loves his fellow Israelites but also that they missed it-Him- The Messiah! He walked among them and they killed him because they wanted a deliverer in the physical not realizing that they needed a spiritual deliverance more! So Paul wants to make sure that the Romans don't miss it as well, now as we read it-don't miss it-Him- The Messiah!

Romans 9 (The Message)

^20-33Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn't talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, "Why did you shape me like this?" Isn't it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn't that all right? Either or both happens to Jews, but it also happens to the other people. Hosea put it well: 

   I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies;
      I'll call the unloved and make them beloved.
   In the place where they yelled out, "You're nobody!"
      they're calling you "God's living children."
   Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: 

   If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered
      and the sum labeled "chosen of God,"
   They'd be numbers still, not names;
      salvation comes by personal selection.
   God doesn't count us; he calls us by name.
      Arithmetic is not his focus.
Isaiah had looked ahead and spoken the truth:
   If our powerful God
      had not provided us a legacy of living children,
   We would have ended up like ghost towns,
      like Sodom and Gomorrah.
How can we sum this up? All those people who didn't seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their "God projects" that they didn't notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. 

And so they stumbled into him and went sprawling. Isaiah (again!) gives us the metaphor for pulling this together:
   Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion,
      a stone you can't get around.
   But the stone is me! If you're looking for me,
      you'll find me on the way, not in the way."

Let us not become to self absorbed with all the projects we expect ourselves to do "for God's Glory" that we miss his Glory! Let's be very careful to always trust God with our lives so that he can mold us into men and women according to his heart!
I want you God! I want my life to savor the sweetness of your glory everyday! I want to always know that you are the reason for every season of my life! Please help me to stay focused on you and not on myself! I don't want to always be in control I want you to control my life! Remind me when I am getting to busy and help me to slow down even if that means tripping over you like a huge rock in the middle of the road! but after I  trip Lord pick me up and take me in your arms so that in your embrace I can find forgiveness and wholeness!
I long for you, I don't want to miss you!

Gracefully Daisy

Romans 8-adventurously expectant

Romans 8 (The Message)

vs 9-28

"But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!

^12-14So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

 ^15-17This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!

 ^18-21That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

 ^22-25All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

 ^26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

 I couldn't leave any of these verses out I actually wanted to copy the whole chapter!
My little guy Sam, is 7 months old. Even at this age he was in my belly longer than he has lived in our home! These verses remind me of that adventurous expectancy! we were so excited to get to meet Sam and hold him in our arms beginning a new adventure together!

How much more with God! He makes us alive in Him to live an adventure with Him here on earth as he guides us to the biggest adventure of all eternity with Him! So let this expectancy be joyful for you! Know that the Lord truly has awesome plans for your life! This waiting makes us stronger, teaches us patience and helps us put things in perspective! Will you get tired while you wait? absolutely but that's ok because the Holy Spirit is right there with us as we wait guiding us, teaching us what to do, and helping us pray!
in summary 

"He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

Praise the Lord!
Gracefully Daisy

Book Review : God's Wisdom for Mothers, compiled by Jack Countryman

      Wanting a little encouragement after the baby's three hour losing battle with sleep?

What about the day when the laundry seems to be a mountain,

 the baby wants your arms as well, 

and the sink is calling out from underneath the every growing pile of dishes? 

God's wisdom offers a little refreshment even if you are rocking the baby, doing laundry or starting dinner. The book is tiny you can take it with you from room to room and read a little nugget at a time. 

When I opened it I felt like I was opening a box of chocolates and I was able to have one and savor it, or have two at a time and not feel guilty but instead feel calm.

     In summary this book is a collection of  bible verses. The bible verses are divided into nine sections. These sections include: God's Wisdom, God's wisdom with Children as well as God Walks with Mothers, and six more sections of areas relevant to a mother's walk.

       When I chose this book from the book sneeze website I was not sure what I was going to get. When I opened it to the first chapter I got very excited because it was straight up bible verses compiled in a sweet little book! As a new mother I need all the help I can get from God's Wisdom! I enjoyed the convenience of having a  little book with me around the house that I can pick up and instantly connect with a piece of God's wisdom, especially on those days when I need a little pick me up! I was inspired by this tiny book with its golden nuggets of truth so readily available. I would love to gift this book at a baby shower, or when I visit a new mother in the hospital after their baby is born. It is so wonderful to know that the Lord cares about mothers and their daily lives! Reading out of the bible is a great thing but it feels wonderful to be able to pick up one book and within it almost instantly find the verse you are looking for without having to go through 66 books!

      I highly recommend this book.

Ligia's Visit

at Ghyslain for a lovely chocolate day!

What a wonderful time we had with Ligia here! We had a low key week of spending time together and enjoying the leisurely feeling of our days! We slept in, drank cofee, baked,cooked yummy food, and toured an awesome chocolate factory (more to come on that)!  

yummy beef tacos

Sami y tia Ligia

Sami and tia Ligia had a wonderful time to together as well! She is one of those "baby whisperers" here is why: Sam took naps with her and he ate well for her and he did everything she wanted him to do! But most of all he loved to get her attention so she would carry him!

Out for a walk on one of the two warm days!

When she left we felt a void but thank the Lord it is only for a little while because we get to see  her soon! While Ligia was here we found out that our beautiful sister Karen is having a baby boy-we are adding another boy to the Fuentes boy Klan! so exciting! 

We can't wait to have Ligia over again!

Romans 7 in this life of contradiction

This is what living out our faith and life in this world is all about! This has been the Ultimate struggle in my life. I know that good that I want to do! I want to revel in the Lord's commandment I want to follow them and live them out but everyday it is a struggle because the flesh that my spirit lives in is not spiritual and still longs to do the exact sin that I want  to stay away from!

Reading this passage has always brought great  comfort to me because Paul a huge faith  warrior had the same struggle I deal with everyday! Praise God there is hope for me!

Romans 7:14-25

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

^"14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

   So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature^[d] a slave to the law of sin."

Here is another way to say the ending of this chapter from the Message 

Romans7:24-25

" ²⁴I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

 ²⁵The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."

The Hope for me is called Jesus! he is the answer! He has made things right "in this life of contradiction" He is with us always-as he promised! With him we can do all things for he gives us strength. (phil 4:13) This includes serving him! Praise the Lord because has thought of  everything and has given us all the answers because he wants us to spend eternity with him! Hallelujah! 

Romans 6 Through His Death he gave us Life!

Romans 6 (New International Version, ©2011)

Romans 6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

 ¹ What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

So sin no longer holds us in bondage we are free from sin! To live the new life that the Lord has given us through his death and resurrection. it is a free gift from the Lord claim it today and claim life!

 ⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

 ⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

 ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

So Christ came to die for us and will never do it again! He has paid the ultimate price and has conquered death and death no longer has power over him! through this same power when we give our lives to Christ and turn away from sin we are no longer under the power of sin! 

 ¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

So under grace we do not allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies instead we offer ourselves to God as an instrument to bring about good and blessing! This is why one of my favorite acts of worship is baptism! How wonderful it is to know that it is more than symbolism it is an act in which we bury our mortal bodies as a sign of death to this world and its desire and are resurrected into a new life with God! The everlasting abundant life that only can be found in him! 

Because he is the only way the truth and the life no one can Come to God except through Jesus Christ! John 14:6

High Tea Lingerie Shower for Rachel

the sweet invite

the shower favors Sweet and fun!

the beautiful cake created by Jennifer  

The beautiful bride enjoying it all!

I had a wonderful time planning for this shower! It turned out just as sweet, classy and fun as I envisioned it!

here are some of the places I got my inspiration from!

awesome ideas at the pretty blog love the great diy ideas and the free printables. This is where I got the invite. from!

I love hostess with the mostess blog for inspiration, where I found the beautiful favors!

thank you to my beautiful friend Jennifer and her awesome neighbor Anne for the gorgeous cake! 

Thank you to the gals who attended and brought the yummy treats! i loved getting to know you guys!

back left to right Lily, Jennifer, Ruthanna, Abbie
front Left to Right Daisy, Tara, Rachel and Jessica

So in Love

So in Love by Daisy Fuentes Dronen featuring a rose quartz ring