Love is in the Air

Well, its that time of year again. Valentine's Day. The holiday created so we would show some love:) and spend money;)

I've always loved Valentine's Day. Not for any particular reason; its just a fun holiday. Its a good excuse to make yummy desserts and write ooey gooey love notes (writing love notes is so fun). I'm not like "omg let's spend so much money cause its Valentine's Day," but I do smile at all the fun things that seem to happen.

And I love an excuse to love on my boy!

Now that I have bored you with that, let's see some fun photos from this week (cause that is so much more interesting).

We love the dog park;)

New pans! Thanks Dad!

This is where we go on our runs. There were ducks and Gavin goes crazy over them!

This is to show you that Gavin has his moments

...he destroyed this hard plastic toy. Hah!

Beautiful sunrise one morning this week. 

God shining through His creation. 

Everyone have a wonderful weekend and we'll talk about some fun Valentine's things next week:)

Much love,

Adrienne

WFMW- Cheddar Biscuits

Do you have a go-to recipe? You know, that thing you make when you don't know what else to put on the table?

Mine is Cheddar biscuits. I know everyone has a variation of this recipe, but this has become my side dish when 1)I don't know what else to make, 2)I don't have anything else to make, or 3)I'm craving carbs!

It's really easy, and you most likely have everything you need to make them in your pantry right now.

Half Whole Wheat Cheddar Biscuits (makes 10-12 biscuits)

Ingredients:
Biscuits:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 TBS baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 1/2 TBS butter (cold or room temperature)
3/4 cup of shredded cheese (I usually use sharp cheddar, but any kind would work)
1/2 cup buttermilk (just use 1/2 cup of milk and pour in 1 1/2 tsp vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 min, or until bubbly)
Topping:
1 Tbs butter, melted
1/4 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 425. Mix flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter and mix in with a pastry cutter, or fork until mixture is crumbly. Carefully mix in cheese. Stir in milk until just combined (do not overmix-dry spots are okay). Use a spoon to drop onto cookie sheet or stone. Cook for 12-14 minutes or until golden. While biscuits are in oven, mix together topping ingredients. Pour on top of biscuits as soon as they come out of the oven. Serve warm!! They will melt in your mouth:)

What is your go-to recipe when you don't know what to make?

Much love,
-Adrienne

I'm linking up with We are that Family today:)

A little bit of everything

We visited the dog park that is local to us for the first time on Saturday. We had heard from people that it was awesome, but for real-it is awesome! Gavin loved it. He LOVES other dogs, and he LOVES people, so it was like heaven for him. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of him at the park, but don't worry I will next time:) There is a creek that runs through it, and toys and obstacles everywhere. So cool. It's a good way to for us to meet other people too. So, hopefully the dog park will become a regular occurrence for the Fincher family! 

This is Gavin in the car before the park. So excited!! haha

In other news, we got yogurt Saturday night...and it was goooood. 

And, for a little comedic relief- we gave Gavin an orange. It was actually a clementine so he literally peeled it and ate the inside. So funny! I should have taken a video. 

We will probably visit the dog park this weekend and who knows what else. What are your weekend plans?

-Good reminders when fear gets in the way. 

-I'm reading this right now. Has anyone else pushed through all these?

-This is so good. A free printable that I will be framing:)

-I got this for my mom for her birthday. I had heard it was good, but I haven't looked at it yet. But I keep seeing people writing about it all over the place-it must be good. Anyone else have it?

-I want some of these or these :)

Much love

-Adrienne

Making a Quiet Time Really Work

(Works for Me Wednesday)

Quiet times are so hard. You know? It's so hard to intentionally put aside time each day to spend with God. I want it to be an "intimate" time with the Lord, but sometimes I'm doing good just to read a verse. And sometimes, I just don't want to pray. Sometimes, scrolling through facebook, or checking my email sounds much more appealing that reading the words of my Creator! What is wrong with me?

I'm sinful. That's what is wrong. BUT, I am saved, so I have the Spirit working in me to make me like Christ. I DO want that intimate time with God each day, so I have begun to set up boundaries for myself just like I would if I wanted to avoid any other sin.

I wake up each morning with a routine. I wash my face, take the dog out, feed the dog, make coffee, and fix my breakfast. I do all that within about 15 minutes. That leaves me about 45 minutes of "free" time. I could use this free time to sleep in longer, do laundry, or waste my life away on facebook, but I have made a rule for myself:

 I am not allowed to do anything else until I've read my bible and prayed. 

I know that sounds simple, but it works for me. I'm not allowed to get on facebook, twitter, instagram, or email until I've read my bible and prayed. No one is holding me accountable, but you know what's funny? I think God is helping me out. This morning, I was feeling rebellious and hopped on facebook as I sat down with my breakfast, and facebook proceeded to NOT load so I had to close it and read my bible:)

Spending time with the Lord is important. He speaks to us through his Word, and works in us when we spill our heart to Him. If nothing else, praying each morning has made me realize how much my God loves me and wants me. He wants to know everything-not because he doesn't already know, but because it reminds me that He knows and cares.

Anyway, that's what works for me! What do you do to make your quiet time work each day?

Much love,
-Adrienne

I'm linking up with We are That Family today:)

Monday Musings- Power

Photo Credit

"And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst." Zechariah 2:5

For the past week, this verse has been on my heart. I have it on my desk at work, so I read it constantly throughout the day. God is just writing this on my heart. The whole chapter is intense. God is speaking to the prophet, Zechariah, with such an intensity about His people. God loves His people with a fierce love. He will fight for his children, and he will love his children even when they don't love him. He tells them that when the city does not have physical walls to protect them that he will be "a wall of fire" for them. He says that he "will be the glory in [their] midst"- or he will be their strength and power. 

These words mean different things depending on the day, but they challenge me to live as if God is protecting me with a "wall of fire"! Shouldn't that change the way I live my life? I have nothing to fear because when it seems that all my barriers to the world are brought down, God is my protection.When I am open to criticism, God is protecting me. When I love selflessly and open myself up to be hurt, God still protects me.  And he loves me fiercely as his own child. In Romans, Paul writes about this very thing. He says, 

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:13-14

Those verses lead into the second part of the verse in Zechariah. Not only is he protecting me, he is all around me; His glory is all around me. How powerful! He is protecting me, and he is living through me. I am walking around with the glory of God in my midst. I am led by the Spirit, which makes me free. I am free from all fear because I can call my Creator my Father, my dad. 

I hope you are encouraged by the power in these verses. Pray for God to make these verses real for you. Just this morning I prayed that God would be a wall of fire around me today, and that he would be the glory in my midst. Just pray the scriptures- God loves it when we speak his words back to him.

Much love,
-Adrienne

It's Thursday

*I won't apologize for the lack of posts:)*

I am going to bombard you with pictures of my sweet, precious, adorable, and inevitably perfect (not) puppy!

Enjoy:

We got locked out of the apartment:(...it was cold.

Christmas gift!!

He has decided to take up the practice of walking with sticks. 

Pretty

You can't really tell in the picture, but he just got a bath and is really fluffy!

Christmas Tree

2012 Family Photo

See you soon!!

-Adrienne