Inside-Out Cake... OH YES!!!!!

Never heard of it before???  Well, let me introduce you to moist, chocolate-y, ooey-gooey deliciousness.

Need more convincing? I think this is probably the EASY-est cake to make in the Universe!

Ok... here comes the recipe

• 1 pkg Cake Mix (any flavor your little heart desires... or whatever you have on hand!  Mine is Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge)
• 1 pkg Instant Pudding (any flavor... I used generic brand chocolate - yes, generic is ALWAYS an option for me!)
• 1 pkg (12 oz) chips (any flavor... I used a mix of butterscotch, white chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate)
• 2 Eggs
• 1 3/4 C. Milk

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350*
2. Grease and flour a Bundt pan
3. Mix all ingredients together by hand. Put into the bundt pan
4. Bake for 50-55 mins.

Note: An inserted knife will probably not come out clean because of all the chips, just make sure it seems set and is not TOO gooey in the middle!

Enjoy this easy and delicious treat with cool whip or ice cream!

What Is It??

This afternoon I looked out my window and saw the most interesting organism... On first observation I thought it was a large spider.  However, after looking at more closely I noticed that it had only six legs - NOT a spider.

I think I may have discovered a new species!  =]

Have you ever seen anything like this?  If you have, and you know what it is, please comment and share your wealth of knowledge!  For now, I think I'll call it the "Manna" bug ("What Is It") =)

After the Storm...

"After the winter comes the summer.  

After night comes the dawn.  

After every storm there comes clear, open skies."

~Samuel Rutherford~

~~~~~~~~

It is only after we have come through temptations, storms, and trials, that our true character is seen.  We have then been proven.  We either have shown strength and faith in the hardest times... or weakness and faithlessness.  

After the storm... flowers bloom.  When we come through a storm, we have bloomed. Grown.  In ways we previously couldn't even have imagined.  We change for the better when we feel that we are at our lowest.

~~~~~~~~

One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in Habakkuk 3:

 ¹⁷Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

   ¹⁸Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

   ¹⁹The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

I find it so encouraging that, although life-threatening things had happened in Habakkuk's life, he was still able to pick up and say "I am still trusting you, God... You are my strength and I will not fail!"  May we all find the strength to trust God in the hard times.  God promises that He will never leave or forsake us... 

and His plan and way are perfect!  Trust Him... the results will be worth it!

My One Word

Around this time last year, we heard about My One Word, an organization begun by Pastor Mike Ashcraft of Port City Community Church in Wilmington, NC.  The idea behind this New Year's Resolution alternative is that though people may quickly forget about their resolutions, when they prayerfully consider ONE and only one word to characterize their year, they are more likely to stick to it and become what they, and God envision for their life.  

To choose your word, envision the person that, ideally, you want to be.  Then, pick your word based on that person and their characteristics, not on past mistakes, failures, or insufficiencies.  

As for me... last year I chose the word Give.  This year... well, I haven't yet decided on a word.  I have several I am considering.  Believe me, it is a LOT harder than you can imagine!  When there are so many things you desire for your life, it is hard to narrow down to just one word.  And yet, that is the whole idea - focusing on one area to grow in, in your relationship with God and others, and in your own personal life and desires and dreams.

I encourage you to log onto My One Word, for more information, help picking your word, and stories of people that have been impacted by this revolutionary idea.

Holly Anne DeVore

The Year of the Pie - Week 1

After hearing about "The Year of the Pie" from another blog, MaKenna and I fell in love with this delicious idea!  Each week (or every other week - we are working out the kinks as we go!) we will choose a different type of pie in which we will blissfully indulge!  If the recipe proves to be as amazing as it sounds, we will share it here with you!  Hopefully, you will enjoy these treats as much as we do!

Homemade Graham Cracker Crust 

(you will never go back to store bought after trying this!)

18 squares (1 package) graham crackers

1/4 cup sugar

6 tbsp. butter, melted

Pulse graham crackers in the blender, until you have fine crumbs.  Combine all in a small bowl.  Press into a 9" pie plate.  Chill about 1 hour or bake in a 375* oven for 6-9 minutes, or until edges are brown. 

*Note: If using a 9"X13" dish, double the recipe.

**Additional note: I didn't chill or bake mine since the recipe I was using this for called for the whole thing to be chilled.

Pineapple Millionaire Pie

Ingredients:

First Layer

2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

2 large eggs

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. vanilla

Second Layer

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups crushed pineapple

1/2 cup pecans

1 (8 oz.) container of whipped topping

Cream ingredients of the first layer and pour into a 9" pie shell (I used a graham cracker crust.  Originally, the recipe calls for a regular, baked pie shell, but no need to bake if you use a graham cracker crust).  For best results, cream ingredients for at least ten minutes (yes - I learned this the hard way!).  Chill 1 hour.  Meanwhile, mix the first three ingredients of the second layer, then fold in the whipped topping.  Spread onto the chilled base mixture, and chill well.    

A lesson from an Ipod

It started out just ordinary - trying to load a few songs onto my Ipod, I only had about 5 minutes to spare, but it shouldn't take any longer than that.  The computer was going really slow, and when my five minutes stretched to ten, everyone seemed intent to tell me all the things I should be doing.  Frustrated and tired, I yanked the cord from the computer without ejecting my Ipod (a BIG no-no in the Ipod world).  Suddenly everything had been deleted from my Ipod!  In the end, it took us over 1 hour to fix it - not including loading songs.  Later, I started thinking (randomly) of baby Bowen and others like him (you can read Bowen's story at www.bowensheart.com). Unexpectedly, I was struck by my selfishness - While I was nearly in tears worrying about whether or not I would be able to listen to my Ipod, there were parents wondering if their children would make it until morning, there were children wondering when they would be able to eat again, there were families saying tearful good byes to a relative that was being taken off life support.  Our problems that we worry and stress over so much are such a small part of life, that it's incredibly sad the amount of time we spend on them.  Just another reminder to keep things in perspective!

~ MaKenna DeVore ~

Changes

                   To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven; a 
                   time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that 
                   which is planted;                                              ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Change: School - although we have been doing school for nearly 2 months now, we are still working on getting everthing just right.

Change: Street services are starting soon, October 10 is the big day!

Change: Autumn is here - Pumpkins, apples, long walks, oh my!

Change: Acorns crunching underfoot

Change: Soups and yummy crockpot meals are here again! 

Change: Christmas Carols!  Okay okay - I know it's only a few days into fall, but we are crazy and maybe like Christmas just a little bit!

Change: It's baking time!

Change: Watermelon vines are no longer taking over their bed (and our yard), we finally made time to take out all of the extra vines, leaving only the 2 with melons on them.

Change: After a year with no youth pastor, our church has asked Brandon and Kara Shanks to come minister at our church.

These are just a few of the many changes taking place in our lives right now!  We are excited about what is happening, even though it can be difficult to accept.  However, learning to accept the changes around us is part of the excitement, adventure, and experience of life and we can't wait to see what will happen next!

My Beautiful Piano

Recently, we heard of a church that was giving away a piano and an organ.  After a couple of weeks of making phone calls and plans, I came home from a girl's conference, to find my beautiful piano sitting in our living room!

Holly DeVore

Our First Post and Other Tidbits!

Yay!  Our first ever blog post!  We are so thrilled to have the opportunity of sharing this journey with you!  It is our hope that you will be encouraged and blessed by reading about the day to day life of two girls aspiring to be more.

Holly passionately pursues piano, photography, and songwriting. She spends an exorbitant amount of time reading, cooking, baking, and sewing {not necessarily in that order!}.      

MaKenna is an avid reader, baker and self-proclaimed "dabbler".  Over the years, she has tried quilting, sewing, knitting, photography, drawing, painting, crocheting, and violin, to name a few!

At the moment, we are actively involved in various church ministries, creating accessories for our home business,  AppleJuice, homeschooling, and training to become homemakers.  We love our life and are excited to see what will happen next!