amyurbach

Text Cinnamon Rolls

Mmmmm, these are so good and SUPER easy with a bread machine. I’ll post some of the modifications I’ve made below the recipe.

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons softened butter
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup raisins (optional)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Directions

In saucepan, heat 1/2 cup milk, water, and 2 tablespoons butter until very warm. Place milk mixture, salt, flour, yeast, sugar, and eggs in the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select the Dough cycle. Press Start.
Once Dough cycle is complete, remove the dough from the bread machine and punch down. On a floured surface, roll into a large rectangle. Smear with the softened butter. Combine the cinnamon and 1/3 cup sugar. Sprinkle over the rectangle. Generously sprinkle the raisins and/or chopped nuts over the top.
Roll the dough up into a log starting at the long side. Cut into 12 slices. Place the rolls cut side down into a 9x13-inch greased baking pan. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Combine the confectioners’ sugar, 1.5 tablespoons melted butter, vanilla extract, and 1.5 tablespoons milk into a thick frosting; set aside.
Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove and allow to cool 10 minutes. Spread frosting over baked rolls and enjoy.

I used almond milk instead of milk.
After you roll them out, I used brown sugar instead of sugar and FAR more butter (vegan butter, hubs couldn’t even tell) than called for. Brown sugar seemed to make them gooier. :-)
I don’t use walnuts or raisins. :-)
Would like to experiment with the recipe a little more. Different flour varieties, egg substitute etc.

Text Most of the Important Things

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

- Dale Carnegie

Text Role Model vs Stepmom

love this quote from Brenda Ockun, founder and publisher of Stepmom Magazine

“I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING A ROLE MODEL. What if
all stepmoms worried less about the maternal implications of the word ‘stepmom’ and let the term ‘role model’ guide their actions and their relationships instead?”

Text It’s the Right Thing to Do

When referring to your ex when talking to your kids, refer to them as “your dad” or “your mom” not by their name. Using their first name clearly communicates anger, bitterness and hatred. It’s disrespectful and puts kids in the middle.

Text What Role Should a Stepparent Play

Love this paragraph from a recent Dr. Phil article.

The stepmother or stepfather should actively support the child’s relationship with the biological mother or father no longer in the home. If you are in the role of stepfather, you should make it a priority to nurture a relationship between you and the biological father and to find every possible way you can to support a relationship between him and his children. By taking the high road of facilitation, you’ll find it easier to overcome feelings of resentment both on the part of the biological father and the children he no longer has daily access to. This may require some real internal commitment on your part, because supporting your stepchildren’s relationship with their biological but absent parent may seem tantamount to also supporting that parent’s relationship with your spouse. Don’t let jealousy or envy of the bond they share with their children or the working relationship and history with your current mate cause you to be less than supportive of that relationship.

Text What Does an Adult Bully Look Like?

My Step-daughter’s school sent home a note about a bullying issue they’ve been having in the 4th grade. Below is some of the info on the note. It’s so common for us to hear about kids that bully, but there are adult bullies in this world. The information below is so simple yet in the simplicity is the same reasons a kid or an adult feels the need to bully. I tend to think an adult bully is just a scared and insecure kid in an adult body.

What is bullying?
Bulling happens whenever someone uses his or her power unfairly and repeatedly to hurt someone.

Different kinds of bullying include:
Hurting someone’s body or things (hitting, tripping, flicking, thumping)
Hurting someone’s feeling (name calling, ignoring, sarcasm, leaving someone out)
Hurting someone’s friendship (telling lies, ruining a reputation)

Telling vs Tattling - there is a difference between telling and tattling
Telling is reporting is someone is doing something harmful or on purpose. Telling is when you or someone else needs help, or when you are scared.
Tattling is trying to get someone else in trouble, or trying to get attention for yourself. (stirring up trouble)

Text 4 Years Ago

4 years ago at this time I was meeting with neurosurgeons looking for the right one to operate on my back. I blew out my L5-S1 disc somehow. Best I know, it was a very aggressive bootcamp I was doing at the time. My entire right leg was numb and tingling all the time and I had no strength in my right foot, occasionally what felt like fire would shoot down my leg.

Frustrated and anxious, each time I met with a doctor I was sure he was the one until God showed me he wasn’t for one reason or another. Finally found the doctor I trusted and naturally he was booked through the first of the year. I was miserable!

Unbelievably, the same day we met with him his office called later that afternoon to say someone canceled their surgery for the next morning and could I be at the surgical center at 6am. Wow, of course! (At the time, we were having a winter storm and it was an older gentleman that I’m sure was worried about the roads that canceled.)

Fortunately my surgery was only a clean out of the disc area and no fusion was needed, one surgeon we met with wanted to do a double fusion! 4 years later I occasionally overdo it and have to slow down, but so thankful I can do most everything I used to do.

I’m thankful I can clean my house.

I’m thankful I can ride my bike.

I’m thankful I can garden.

I’m thankful I can have fun with my family doing various activities.

I still don’t have feeling down the back of my leg or the bottom of my foot…but it could have been so much worse.

Admittedly, I used to not have much sympathy with those that suffered from back pain, but with all things in life, you don’t understand until you’ve been there yourself.

Text When a Parent’s need becomes the child’s.

Sometimes a co-parent will mask their own need as their child’s need, AND even convince the child it is in fact their own need. I’m learning sometimes it’s best to respect that need in order to honor your child.

Quote

"There may not be a more dangerous weapon for violence or oppression than religion. It seems counterintuitive, but when human beings create religions, we use hem to control others through their guilt and shame. True religion always moves us to serve others and to give our lives to see those oppressed find freedom."

Erwin Raphael McManus

Text

“Parents who love their children with wisdom and not merely with feeling encourage independent, critical thinking. They teach them that the unexamined idea is not worth holding.” ~ Dr. Nathaniel Braden