Surprise Sheltering

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us. 

~Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Do you like surprises?  I do.  Not the big surprises like,"{Doorbell} Surprise, I'm here to spend the weekend with you" but fun surprises like a card in the mail or a tiny gift that lets me know someone was listening.

The coordinator of curriculum in the School of Liberal Arts at the university had a baby last evening.  Stefanie and her husband have a son and chose to be surprised with the gender of their new child.  RB forwarded Stefanie's e-mail announcement this morning.  The subject said, "It's a..." and in the message, in large pink letters, was one word -- Girl!  What a fun surprise.

When I entered the kitchen this morning, RB, like every morning, had my iced tea ready for me.  Beside the goblet was a single red rose (freshly cut from one of our rose bushes) in a crystal vase.  I love surprises.

Sweet Camron

Melanie picked me up this afternoon for VBS.  She brought me a Snapple Diet Peach Tea -- my favorite treat -- and so enjoyed it in between feeding, cuddling and patting the babies.  Did I mention I love surprises?

Melanie put Camron on the nursery floor and he quickly spotted a toy he wanted.  I watched in amazement as my sweet 5-month-old grandbaby used his arms to scoot over to get it. I love those sweet baby surprises.

I don't think I deserved so many surprises in one day.  But I loved them!  Joy in the simple things of life.  Smile makers.

God loves to plan surprises, too.  Every day His hands are full of surprise gifts.  Some gifts are wrapped in nature; other gifts are wrapped in skin. He's given me surprises that are gift boxed in joy and others tied with a bow of peace.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man. The {surprises} which God has prepared for those who love Him.  ~1 Corinthians 2:9

Did I mention that I love surprises?  I can't wait for my next surprise from God!

* * * * *

Peanut Butter Surprise 

(From Easy Cookies)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

Filling:
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 375*  Combine flour, cocoa and soda.  Beat sugars, butter and peanut butter.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Stir in flour mixture and blend well.  Set aside.  Make filling by blending powdered sugar and peanut butter.

 
Roll the filling into 1" balls (about 30 balls).  Shape a tablespoon of balls around peanut butter ball.  Place onto ungreased cookie sheet 2" apart and flatten each one with a glass dipped in sugar  Bake for 7-9 minutes.  Cool.

I made these cookies for the two men who are driving our vans for VBS -- our Pastor and Jerry, an retired man who drives on Sundays, too.  (I didn't know who they were for when I started.)  I knew Melanie's family would love them (and yes, they got some) but God decided they didn't need the whole batch. Melanie pointed out the tag I had written for our pastor.  Instead of Pastor Clemens, I wrote the pastor's name where we worked for nineteen years -- Pastor Sankey.  If I know my pastor, it made him laugh -- like I'm sure Leonard Sankey will, too.  

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