Deuteronomy Song-By Charlotte Teisinger

Here is the song Char wrote after spending some time feasting on the Lord in the book of Deuteronomy. In an earlier post I had said that as soon as I could get the song to upload I would let you hear it. (Please note that the video is cheesy and it was my first ever video project, so try to let the words penetrate your heart and don't be distracted by words coming and going in a choppy way)...May we remember the LORD!

Julianne-growing up in life and in the Lord!

Julianne has had a big week!  On Sunday she proclaimed in front of hundreds of people that she is not her own, but is Christ's forever and will follow Him all of her days.  She was baptized on June 6, 2010 at Woodward Park.  Few days are etched that deeply in my heart as a mom.  I praise the Lord for His faithfulness in her life and for enabling Ju to understand His amazing grace.

Today is the last day of 8th grade for Julianne!  We now officially have three high schoolers!  What a blast!

Club Cracker Cookies

These cookies are "special" because it is a recipe from my Great Aunt Dottie who was known for her "Shoebox Cookies".  Her grandchildren wrote a tribute to her in the cookie recipe book they made in her honor: "...Dottie was not only well known for her passion for cooking, but also the generosity and thoughtfulness she bestowed upon each and every person she met...One memory we both share is...her passion for baking cookies.  She brought dozens of home-made cookies to every place she went; whether it was the man washing her car, the chef or hostess at any restaurant in town, or even just a guest stopping by to say hello. Our grandma always shared these wonderful cookies with everyone and she did so by delivering them wrapped neatly inside of a shoe box."

What a great example of considering others and reaching out in kindness to those around us in a world that is so fast paced with people rushing by and forgetting to value each person created in God's image.  Thanks Aunt Dottie for reminding me of this.

I made these cookies the other day and haven't given them out yet like I intended to and now the pan is half gone due to the Downs consumption...I better go find a shoe box before it's too late.  They are delightful!

Club Cracker Cookies
54 Club Crackers
1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. milk
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. chocolate chips
2/3 c. chunky peanut butter
1/2 c. crushed peanuts


Line a 13x9 pan with 27 crackers. ( I did 28).  Melt butter-add milk, brown sugar, sugar, and graham crumbs in that order.  Bring to a boil-boil 5 minutes.  Pour over crackers.  Top with 27 more crackers-  Melt chocolate & peanut butter.  Spread on crackers.  Top with peanuts.  Chill 3 hours.  Cut into bars.  Store in refrigerator.  

Charlotte & Jogging

As B. Downs and I ran this morning, the first song that shuffled into my ears via my ipod nano was Charlotte's "Deuteronomy Song".  I LOVE the book of Deuteronomy and Char masterfully wove the truths of this book into one of my all time favorite songs.  I am trying to figure out a way to put her song on the blog, so if anyone knows, and would like to show me how--I would be grateful!  Until I figure that out, here are the lyrics (take time to savor each word):


A wilderness wanderer, a slave now redeemed

You stretched your mighty arm, Father you go before me

You’ve let me hunger, then Father you fed
So I’ll live by your every word, and not only by bread

There is no other God who keeps covenantIn love He calls us his ownNone but Jesus, He is our innocenceSo we remember the LordAnd we will follow Him home

Faithful to your faithless child, Mercy is your name
My life and my consuming fire, to my rescue you came

Gracious and compassionate, jealous for your own
My portion, my inheritance, lover of my soul

We will follow, we will follow, we will follow Him home
We will follow, we will follow, we will follow you home

I was in awe of the Lord in Charlotte today and that she is using what He has graced her with, for His glory.  She was pointing me to Jesus even though she wasn't present and jogging with me.  That gal tends to do that...she leaves remnants of herself wherever she has been...remnants of love and kindness...a beautiful aroma of Christ.

What speeds me up when it comes to jogging is not the usual workout playlist, not the pump it up music with a beat, but the rich words that cause my heart to praise the Lord for who He is.  The LORD saw fit that He would shuffle not only Char's song, but "His Eye is On the Sparrow" and "Power in the Blood".  Praise You, Jesus!  There is power in Your blood and I do sing because I am happy and free and I know You are watching me and guiding me and I will follow You home!

Celebrating Ashlyn's Life! 17 years old!

Ashlyn Blake Downs entered the world on May 19, 1992 at 5:14 pm. Never could I have imagined on that day how blessed I would be 17 years later. I am in awe of the Lord in our daughter. I see Christ shining through her daily. Ashlyn has a heart to serve and care for and bless others. God has graced her with the gift of encouragement through her smile, note writing, and rubbing my feet (just to name a few). :) She has a way of including people so they don't feel left out. I have never known anyone who has so many "collaged" shoeboxes containing letters and cards from others and pictures galore--sentimental she is and I love it!

Junior Prom--Ashlyn (she is beautiful!) and her friend, Calen

I have learned much from Ash. She has taught me what selflessness looks like and exemplifies considering others as more important than herself regularly. Brian and I are so undeserving of of this precious one...what a gift of God's grace to us!...Overflowing with gratefulness!