" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Never leave a jar of Nutella unattended. It was on the counter when I went to switch the laundry upstairs, and when I came back down it was, well, all over Michael. I love his curious spirit, and the fact that he loves this stuff as much as I do. This was one time I didn't mind cleaning up the mess-- I just joined in the fun.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

Today I've asked one of my dearest and oldest friends to post and share her story. ShaCarol is trying to raise money to go to Belize to work with people who are deaf and hard of hearing. But, why read what I have to say, when ShaCarol herself has prepared something so wonderful for you?

Last spring, ShaCarol visited Gallaudet University—the world’s only University developed for deaf and hard of hearing people. Look closely… she's saying, “I LOVE YOU!”
Hi, everyone!

I’m ShaCarol. Emily, as usual, is being an amazing friend and sharing some space on her blog for my behalf. So I do hope I entertain you all with my ramblings and insight. Emily and I have been friends ever since the 8th grade, yeah, I think that’s right. I don’t quite remember exactly how we became friends, but then again, that’s how all of the best friendships start. Emily says it started with me telling her my name and her constantly forgetting it. Hm. Anyway…about eleven years later and we’re still Emizzle and ShaCizzle. Farther apart, but closer in heart. Hey, I just made that up. I’m pretty good at this writing thing.

Anyway, I thought before I get into the meat of this post, it would be helpful to really explain my background and connection with Emily.

Emily knows me really well. She knows how I often like to ‘play it safe.’ She knows how shy I am. She knows how I like to stay in my comfort zone and appreciate the familiar. And she knows when I do stick a foot out of my bubble—it’s a pretty big deal. The bubble I’ve wanted to pop lately is my inspiration to travel. I have never been out of the country and recently I’ve had an opportunity present itself to me. But of course, like most things, not without a price.

Let me rewind.

You see, I’m a graduate student. Last spring, one of my professors mentioned a trip she had taken and how she would really like to see me join in the next year as I may be able to help students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

“I’m a part of something bigger…” My school system’s deaf and hard of hearing staff and students made their mark on a collage to show their togetherness and support of the field of deaf education.
There I go again, jumping ahead of myself. Rewind. You see, I’m a teacher. To be specific, I teach students with hearing loss. Usually, right about now, I get a resounding, “Woah! You know sign language?” Yes, I do. However, in actuality, many of my students use listening and spoken language. You’d be here for days reading if I went in detail, but if you’re puzzled by what I’m saying, take a look at THIS. But this is kind of irrelevant….the point is I teach deaf kids and it’s a pretty awesome gig.

Alright, fast-forward.

Because of my background in deaf education, this professor of mine really encouraged me to join her group on their next trip. Her thoughts were that I may be able to provide some educational insights to this community where their deaf and hard of hearing children virtually have no language whatsoever.

What an amazing and rewarding opportunity, am I right?

I love and adore my students here in NC. But being able to work with students in a different country is just an experience I can’t pass up and that would inevitably benefit me as a teacher and my current students. I would be changing them. They would be changing me. It would be beautiful to experience that transaction. I’ve heard about the benefits of traveling and I can only imagine how tremendous time spent with these students could be, but I’ll never know until I leave my bubble.
This trip I have so ambiguously hinted at is to Belize. Yes, Central America. So, actually, not too far away. A 7 hour flight. It will be the 2nd week of March, the 10th-15th. The group that regularly goes is called 4 the World. 4 the World writes it best in on their website: “We collaborate with communities across the globe by empowering them to identify and solve their most pressing health and educational needs.”

At first I thought, there’s no way I can miss an entire week of work to do this. Nah. I’ll try and see if the leader can set something up over the summer (which would be a long shot).

In October, I even met up with the leader to get some more details about the program and what we would be doing. I expressed my hesitancy about missing work, but that little voice in the back of my head kept nudging me. It was my desperation to break out of the mold and seize the opportunity NOW instead of letting it pass by again…and again…and again. As Emily would say, “No day but today.”
All this to say, I’ve decided to step out of the bubble.

I’ve been trying to fundraise for this trip to Belize. However, I’ve realized I’m quite awful at talking up things. I have received a few donations so far, but not yet enough to commit to the trip.

This brings me to my personal request. For all of you that have been so kind to take the time to read, or skim, through this, please click the attached link and consider making a donation. If you can’t make a donation, that’s okay, I still love you.
There are other ways you can support my endeavor. You can forward this blog post to a friend or two…or ten. You can tweet out the attached link to your friends. You can say a prayer, or two, or ten that I am able to meet my goal. You can pray for my safety in traveling. You can pray for the wisdom and courage to lead these children and educate them. You could send me an e-mail with some uplifting words of encouragement to get me through this process.

I would like to reach my goal of $1350 by Jan 1st.

With your help, I am excited to seize the opportunity presented and step out of my bubble. With Emily’s help, I’ll be sure to post again and let you all know how my journey to the outside of the bubble goes.

Signing “CHEESE” and smiling for the camera at Hanging Rock State Park back in 2009!
Happy Holidays,
ShaCarol

Want to help my dearest friend with her goal? Follow this LINK, share it, and help her break out of her shell and help those in need in Belize.

Hello friends! Have you ever been at a point of exhaustion where, "I'm exhausted!" just doesn't even seem to describe where you are?

That's kind of how I'm feeling.

I'm not sure why, but this round of Clark being gone has me feeling like I need the caffeine patch, or a week at the spa when next he's home. I'm just walking around like a zombie half of the time. I'm lucky my head is attached, because I truly think I'd forget it if it wasn't.

That's where I am right now.

However, I feel very motivated with the blog. I've been trying to post just about every day. It gives me something to keep myself accountable with. I'm not sure how long it will last, because we are also trying to cut down on Michael's TV time (yeah... I'm awful at turning it on to give mommy a breather). So please enjoy my consistency while it's consistent! HA!


These bars were meant to be "just" apple bars... but that didn't seem right. There are plenty of bars out there (including the recipe these were molded from) that are apple spice and so delicious.

But, just FYI, they are rather time consuming. You can make them throughout the day. If you want to make them in one setting... just make sure you have other things to do while your crust is sitting and the apples are cooking and... yep.



Ingredients:

Crust
- 1.25 C unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 7 tbsp VERY SOFT butter (almost melted, but still "formed")
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water

Apple Filling
- 3 to 4 big apples, sliced thinly (I used granny smith)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp sugar (I'd say this is optional)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp water

Topping
- 1/2 C all purpose unbleached flour
- 2 tbsp butter (cold/cut into pieces)
- 4 tbsp Nutella
*Make sure to have enough Nutella to also coat your crust with it before adding your apples!*

Directions:

For the Crust
- Line a 11 x 7 pan with parchment (or wax) paper, with some hanging over the edges.
- In the food processor, add all of your crust ingredients. Pulse or place on low until you have a ball of dough. If it's too dry, add a little more water.
- Place the dough in prepared pan and use your hands or a spatula to spread it evenly across the bottom. Cover with foil and chill for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Make the filling and topping during this time. Preheat your oven to 375 so it will be ready at the end of your 20 to 30 minute wait.
- When the crust is chilled cover it with parchment paper, fill it with dry beans/uncooked dry rice/baking beads/pie weights and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the paper and the beans and reduce the oven temp to 350. Bake for 5 more minutes.
Cool completely before filling.

For the Filling
- Put your prepared apples (cored and sliced) in a sauce pan along with the *optional* sugar, water, butter, and cinnamon. Cover and cook over low heat for about 12 to 15 minutes (or until the slices soften).
- Remove the lid and cook a little more until the liquid evaporates. You don't HAVE to stir them-- it's your choice!
- Cool completely.

For the Topping
- Place all your ingredients in the food processor (since it's already dirty-- no need to wash it) and pulse several times until all ingredients are well combined and it's rather crumbly.

Put it all Together
- Spread Nutella across your cooled crust.
- Spread your apple filling evenly across the Nutella.
- Add your crumbly topping as evenly as possible.
- Bake on 350 for 20 to 25 minutes.

Time consuming, yes. Worth it? Oooooooh, yeah.

OK... I didn't really eat a whole jar. It was probably 1/4th to 1/3rd. But I bet you're still either:

A) Making a disgusted face.
B) Making a "I've so done that before" face.
C) Considering doing the same thing.
D) All of the above.

I used to hate Nutella. I'm not sure if I did because I actually disliked it or because it was cool to be like, "Ew, gross! I don't like Nutella." This was a controversial reaction to people's usual exclamations of, "OH MY GOSH NUTELLA!"

Am I wrong? Still... go with me here.

Well, I was having an emotionally ridden time of things and it was the only thing remotely close to chocolate we had. So, forget putting a little on toast or eating it with some strawberries. I grabbed a spoon, a glass of wine, and dug right in.


If you recall, I'm an emotional eater. I tend to run to food before running to God. It's a constant challenge. And that night, I totally lost.

My husband works away from home. This isn't saying much, since a lot of families live this way. It isn't that we have a difficult time with the long distance or it's the end of the world when he's gone... it's just that it's really feeling like it's starting to take a toll. It isn't as though he has a set schedule. For instance, he's not gone two weeks and home two weeks; or he's not gone for a fifteen month deployment and then home. He's gone six weeks, home six days. Gone four weeks, home ten days. Gone seven weeks, home four days. It is constantly inconstant. It's never the same. We are very blessed if we know when he's coming home.

That night, I was sitting there reflecting on the busy week past and the busy times ahead. I was thinking of the changes we want to occur, with jobs and our life in general, and thinking about how likely some things are and how unlikely others are.

And instead of reflecting in prayer, or crying out to Jesus, I grabbed the Nutella.

I was just thinking of how tired I was of having to work at everything. Of having to keep up friendships, attempt to stay in shape, make sure I talk to Clark that day since odds are he's not home, and questioning if I am interacting with Michael enough to help him develop, grow, and be an amazing child of God.

I was screaming on the inside, but deep in my thoughts I knew I was avoiding God. I knew I had been avoiding him. Because I didn't want to talk to him, or hear him, or even acknowledge that I knew he was there waiting for me... because I was afraid of what he may have to say, or not say. I was afraid that I would cry out and either the response wouldn't be what I wanted, or there wouldn't be one at all.

To zone out even more, I got on Facebook. I justified it by getting on the K-Love Radio page. And I found this picture. With this verse.

I remembered that the only one who is in control, is God. He knows my past, present, and future. He knows my cares, burdens, praises, triumphs, and failures before they even happen. If I keep my eyes on Him, on the path ahead of me... everything will be just fine.

My devotionals may sometimes seem petty, and may seem rather repetitive. I seem to have the same troubles over, and over, and over again... but isn't that life? We all have struggles, and whether or not those struggles are relieved or are a constant battle, God is there to take care of me/us.


"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT).
Yes to God, no to worries. Yes to God, no to fear. Yes to God, no to self pity.

For a much better devotional that is close to my heart and situation, check out Grace All Sufficient.

OK, so the title is a mouthful. You definitely won't be attempting to tell someone the name, however, when you're eating one of these.

Because they are positively delicious and you won't want to pause to say their name. True story.

The inspiration for this recipe came from Daisy Chubb. However, seeing that I don't like Nutella, I made them a little differently. If you are one of those people that likes Nutella (nothing against you... I believe you may be the majority), then please feel free to alter mine and go more with the original!

Ingredients:

- 1 C butter/margarine (softened)
- 3/4 C sugar
- 3/4 C unpacked brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
- 2 C unbleached, all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt

Nutella or Jiff Chocolate Silk

- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Beat the butter until fluffy. Then blend in your sugars.
- Add the eggs one at a time (to the butter mix) followed by the vanilla.

- Add half of our dry ingredients, blend, then add the other half (switch to a spoon or spatula to blend if needed for second half).

- In a prepared mini-muffin pan, use a heaping tablespoon (or medium cookie-scopper) to fill the cups.


- Bake in the oven for 11 to 13 minutes (don't let them get TOO brown on the sides).
- When you remove them from the oven, immediately use the bottom of a shot glass (or spoon, or small cup, or something of that kind) to indent the cookies-- therefore making them "cups".

Like the shot glass from my sorority days? Funny... I really don't think I ever used it.

- Transfer to a cooling rack. Give them a few moments to cool.
- Add you Nutella, peanut butter, or whatever you like to your "cup".

Make sure to try to not eat ALL of them. They didn't last very long in our house.


Did I mention I made these for my little sister's 18th Birthday Care Package? HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY (as of the 18th)!!