Live Out Loud - Adventures of a mom

Cupcakes.  Who doesn't like them?  Perhaps some of you don't.  You remember the crumbly one you ate at that party, or the stale one at the store, or the dry one at the cafe, or what many say, the one-tone one that was so sweet you were glad you had some black coffee to go with it. Fear not.  Here is one of my several vanilla cupcake recipes! If you have no equipment - I just tested this with just a bowl and spatula.  You do not need a fancy and expensive mixer. The secret?  Sour cream! Yes, sour cream!   If you choose to use oil, you can keep them in the fridge and they will stay soft.  If you want a richer flavour, go with the butter, but know that you should probably try to avoid keeping them in the fridge. INGREDIENTS Vanilla Cupcakes: 1   and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1   and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4   teaspoon   salt 3/4   cup  unsalted melted butter (or 1/2 cup oil if you plan to keep t...

  After Jesus enters Jerusalem, he pretty much runs out of time on that day (😜) and so he leaves town with the Twelve and returns to the temple the next day.  Many of us have studied the scene where Jesus gets mad and kicks out all the vendors in the Temple. Check and Check Anything new? This scene actually is sandwiched by a situation around a fig tree (Mark 11:12-25; Matthew 21:18-19; John 19:45-48).  I have never really paid much attention to it.  Partly, because it was puzzling, and the other reason perhaps was that talking about Jesus being mad and angry and overthrowing tables seemed so much more dramatic. But this week, I am drawn to that fig tree The first reactions I got as we studied this passage was to wonder why Jesus would curse a poor little tree.  The tree had done nothing wrong!  It was not season yet!  And the tree was healthy (was it?).  As Jesus explains things, and he reminds Peter to forgive, we wondered "does that mean that ...

  Today I read about Palm Sunday, or Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem with my Bible group ( Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and  John  12:12–19).  A few observations catches my eye this time. 1. Jesu s did not have to stop by Bethpage and Bethany.  Jesus didn't even have to send the 2 disciples over to get the colt 2. Jesus often talks and responds to the crowd - but here, as he entered and the crowds cheered, there is no mention of him saying anything in response 3. Jesus' disciples are often "clueless" and they often challenge him; but this time, these two that he sent to get the colt, just 'did it as Jesus directed them' 4. Where did the crowd come from? 5. Jesus goes back to Bethany after this because it was late. These observations are interesting.  If I have to go downtown, and I can get there, why bother stopping by a nearby town unless there was a point he was trying to make?  And why did he only send two of the twelve? ...

  This is Easter week and I am spending the week reading through the Easter story with some.  As we read each passage, I realize there is so much beyond the story.  I have heard it all. Having grown up in church, I have seen all the skits, sang all the songs, watch all the movies and read all the passages. But the Word of God is alive and God speaks to us daily.  So here are some of my reflections, as I read and ponder through each one. May it draw you closer to Jesus.  Read on each reflection.  I will be posting every day this week. Reflection 1:  Listen and Do it Reflection 2:  Did I miss the lesson? Reflection 3: Peter, annoyingly engaged Reflection 4:  Why Bother going to Gethsemane? Reflection 5:  Mourning

Racism. Ugly word. As a Canadian, we say we reject any form of racism.  But can we really reject it, fight it and champion the disenfranted, minority and powerless all together? Can we speak up to it if we do not know what it is, what it sounds like, what it looks it? There has been a lot of talk lately in my circle of friends about this topic.  Sadly, at least one piece of news came 'too close to home' - someone attacking people of Asian descent in our neighbourhood. Racism has caught our attention.   But, are we recognizing it because the crime involved a physical attack?    What if there was no physical attack?    Would we be as shaken and concerned? I am not belittling the case, nor am I happy or calm -- there is nothing calming and ok about this, but I think posting that "this is not OK" is not going to do anything to change the underlying issues with racism. Stereotypes, Prejudices, Discrimination and Racism Racism is a prejudice, discrimination...

This year has flown by.  With Covid-19 throwing all semblance of normalcy out of the window, summer was surely not going to be normal.  After our ‘test runs’ to Sibbald Point for a day trip (fail!) and Oestler PP (hurray! Not bad!), we decided to give camping one more try end of the season. Killbear PP gave me more than what I had expected.  I had booked a 2 night trip there expecting only a bit more time to unwind, get out, let the kids have some freedom and, well, just a chance to say we did do ‘something’ over the summer. Instead, I find myself saying I have left my heart there. First things first.  Killbear PP is not a stranger to car camping aficionados. However, our family has generally preferred to camp south, closer to the heat and sandy beaches, despite poison ivys and ticks (just be a bit more vigilant!).  But it didn’t seem wise to stay south, with reports week after week of crowds in the beaches and my own realization that I did not feel comfortable...