All I did was stand in awe and take pics of this amazing, beautiful blooming baby shower! Love to decorate, plan out parties, cook, bake and write calligraphy, but this time I was able to enter the party as a happily invited guest, blown away by all the creative sights at this sweet gathering. This post is mostly photos, so enjoy!

Large strawberries dipped in white icing and then beautifully decorated with peach flowers. Sweet Petites Bakery supplied all these elegantly designed tasty treats and the gorgeous center piece cake.

Whimsical white lattice, decorated up top with lights and real flowers, made for a wonderful photo backdrop. The impressive cake was dressed with colorful flowers, while lush greenery surrounded the base of it's stand.

Lavishly decorated mini cupcakes and cheesecakes!

Floral centerpieces of stunning beauty!

Words of wisdom and truth written and displayed on the walls.

Love to see that, beaming with sunshine, baby glow!

Chocolate cake pops covered in white icing with decorative peach flowers. Yum!

Above view of mini cupcakes along with cheesecakes!

Creative way to display the sonogram pics.

Love this patch work quilt and the verses stitched on the light pink squares!

This dear precious couple knows in their hearts that . . . children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

Love how they surrounded themselves with scriptures as they celebrated the upcoming arrival of their newest addition!

Jennifer's fabulous friends, Judith and Amy, who decorated and arranged this spectacular shower for her and her husband! Such amazing talents! Not pictured was her friend, Evelyn, who provided the amazing desserts from her Sweet Petites Bakery.

Well this is the end of my pics from a most beautiful blooming baby shower.
Hope you enjoyed and thanks for stopping by humble & bold!
​

I woke up early yesterday morning thankful to be alive after Tuesday’s dangerous encounter in the water, and relieved that I had actually slept and was rested. The Monday night before our boating incident had been utterly miserable, I couldn’t sleep at all and was dealing with a pain issue that had me on my knees sobbing out loud, begging God to heal me and give me relief.

The colonoscopy I had a week earlier, along with a set of X-rays, because of pain in my right hip, looked normal, however my doctor did find that the hemorrhoids, along with an anal fissure, had not healed after several months. A probable cause was a severe vitamin D deficiency, symptoms which included wounds taking longer to heal and bone pain.  When the two pain issues joined forces and then teamed up with my hip pain, I wanted to literally come out of my body. I soaked in a tub of hot water, used ice, and when the cream with lidocaine burned instead of numbing the area, I got dressed while trying to see through my tears to make it outside and go for a walk. I did this twice. Once outside, I struggled to walk without passing out. The pain started to finally ease up - but after no sleep, I struggled to keep myself awake and to walk without stumbling. Walking at least helped get my mind off the pain. It was strange, I could feel normal, like I was on the mend and then have an episode come over me with little to no warning that had me begging for relief from the pain. That sudden, unexpected shift was eerily similar to how our relaxing outing on Tuesday turned frightening within seconds.

​It was strange, I could feel normal, like I was on the mend and then have an episode come over me with little to no warning that had me begging for relief from the pain. That sudden, unexpected shift was eerily similar to how our relaxing outing on Tuesday turned frightening within seconds.

We passed Cobalt’s bustling seafood restaurant and the tantalizing smells made their way to our noses, which prompted our taste buds to salivate as we imagined what was cooking. The view all around us was relaxing and stunning. The seagulls coasting in the air, while peligans dove their heads in the cool waters to satisfy their hunger. Waving to friendly fellow boaters as we passed each other, noticing the uniqueness of each boat, we heard the sounds of  music flowing from balconies and other boats with some familiar and never before heard tunes. It was a beautiful day!

​​"God is with thee in all that thou doest." - Genesis 21:22 (KJV)

My son snapped a sweet pic of my dad and me. At the time, I never could have imagined how serious our expressions would become just minutes later. Afterwards, my husband said he was glad this photo wasn't one of those posted, "last pic before tragedy strikes!" 

It looked calm, so my dad asked if I wanted to go out to the ocean since my youngest wasn't with us and didn't like going through rough waters. I replied, "Sure!" thinking all would be well. We headed out, passing under the bridge, and started to increase our speed.

​"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." - Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

The clouds had just started to roll in, but according to reports the storms wouldn't be coming in till much later. After we passed under the bridge, we started to feel the waters become rougher, but this was expected. Suddenly, as we were just making it out, the waves changed in a betraying manner. They no longer looked like regular waves. It was a unreal feeling as I saw the first large wave coming toward us. My first thought was, this looks like a scene from the Perfect Storm movie, yet it was still sunny and we weren't even out on the Gulf yet! The nose of our boat went up so high that I lost sight of the horizon. As we came down hard, real hard, water splashed over the front and sides of the boat, we held on tightly and had little time to check on each other because the next big wave was right there upon us. I quickly glanced at the life vests inside the boat and mentally yelled at myself for not having made sure my teenage son was wearing his. The door needed to be secured and closed, so I moved it by pressing my feet against the door, which also kept me lodged in my seat.

I glanced back to check on my son and Gammie. She yelled, "It's too rough! We can't do this!" To which my father shouted, "We can't turn around! The boat will flip over!" My father knew he had to go straight into the waves and not panic. From the trough to the crest, the waves were easily seven feet high, My heart sank as I realized how much danger we were in. My son and stepmother were sitting in sturdy chairs behind us, however, they were not bolted down to the floor. 

"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."  - Psalm 34:7 (KJV)

​Now, at this moment in time, I started to flash back to when we watched the Gospel of John, three days earlier, and the disciples were caught up in a storm, when Jesus appeared to them on the water. This story became very relatable all of the sudden, as I began to call out to God saying aloud, "Jesus! Please help us!" Suddenly my father yells out, "Look at the dolphins!" It was a reassuring sight and pleasant split second distraction seeing them swim towards us over the waves, just before disappearing underwater. Then I said to the waves, "In the name of Jesus, be still." and kept saying it till they finally eased up a bit. Jesus had given His followers the authority to say such seemingly crazy things, and I knew I had to speak it in faith. Another dozen waves came before finally abating. As we made it to the one mile buoy, it became possible for my experienced father to turn the boat around. I felt like I could breath again for a moment, thanking God for saving us and keeping us from severe injuries. However, we still had to stay focused and it was hard to see ahead because the windshield was covered in water and the nose of the boat seemed pointed up as my dad rode our boat on a large wave, like a surfer, back towards the bridge. He carefully avoided going too fast or too slow, finding the perfect spot to maintain our safe return.

Seeing the wall of rocks on our left side, I remembered my father sending me a picture of a boat that had crashed upon those very rocks years ago, during the night (pictured in top photo above), and it was a sobering sight - I thought about those people and how suddenly tragedy can strike. There was no opportunity to take a pic of the unbelievable waves we had passed through, I could only describe how they sharply imprinted my memory. (Before sharing this story, I asked my father to read through this post and see if my memory of the event was accurate. He surprised me when he said after reading it, that I shouldn't minimize what happened. What! Okay! That confirmed that what we went through was as bad as I had originally thought.

So what happened? After fifty plus years of total boating experience and fourteen years of going out in the ocean, my father thought the tide was going out of the bay as the waves, from the coming storm in the Gulf, were riding high over that body of water into Perdido Bay. The mouth of the bay opening was only 100 yards wide, so a great surge was forced into that small contained area. 

​As we were coming in, I saw another boat with children on board struggling to come out as well. They were awfully close to the rocks and I prayed earnestly for them to make it out safely. I wanted to yell out, but they couldn't turn around, they had to go through the waves head on as well. Gammie and my son were soaking wet, but safe and uninjured. Later my son said his chair lifted up off the floor of the boat several times as we came down off the waves. My father said that was the worst he had ever encountered, and he knew he couldn't panic. I had wondered, despite his steady actions, if he was afraid and suspected he had to be. When we got back to the dock, I treasured every moment of seeing us all upright and conscious, thinking on how things could have turned out so differently.  I pulled the verses out of my pack and read all three of them over and over again in amazement. They were perfectly tailored to what we just went through and reassured me that with God there are no coincidences. Here are the verses.

​"God is with thee in all that thou doest." - Genesis 21:22 (KJV)

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." - Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."  - Psalm 34:7 (KJV)

Whether facing sudden shifts and waves of fear in physical pain or in literal waves that take your breath away, God was with us, and He confirmed it with those verses. I know we all go through different kinds of severe pain, hardships and eventually death, but there is great comfort and strength in knowing that He takes care of those who put their trust in Him, especially when our bodies give out or are destroyed. Death does not care if we are ready, but God has laid Himself down for us  to be redeemed, reconciled, restored and renewed.

Oh! And yes, I sat down with both of my sons that evening and shared the three verses that I took on the boat that day. All three had a common theme, even though they came from three different books. Only God! Yes, Jesus was right, He always is, so choose what is better, like Mary, and it will not be taken from you. 

The apple has for centuries appeared in artwork as the forbidden fruit, even though the Bible does not name it specifically. Could there be biblical clues pointing to the real identity of that fruit? Several years ago, I heard radio station manager, Ray Haynes, on Victory 91.5  talking about the fig tree and how there are some who believe the fig tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden, based on a closer look at the scriptures.

Here are two examples.
​
​1) The fig tree is the first tree mentioned in the Bible and the reference is not to the tree itself, but its leaves that were used to cover Adam and Eve after they became aware of their nakedness.

​2) The fig tree is the only tree, on biblical record, that was cursed by Jesus as he was preparing to go to Jerusalem to be crucified, to pay for the sins of the world.

After hearing this, I began to see and hear some more things about the fig tree that I never noticed beforehand. I ran into a friend and mentor who had just gotten back from Jerusalem, and as she was sharing about her amazing trip of a lifetime, she mentioned how delicious the figs were over there. I shared with her the possibility of the fig being the original forbidden fruit, and she nodded her head and said she could definitely see that being the case. Then after my godson's graduation, I hung out with my dear friend, Carla, who is gifted in the gardening and culinary arts. As we strolled her backyard after dinner, she showed me her fig tree, and began to look closely for any fruit. I had never noticed how large fig leaves were until this moment. I wondered if the fig leaves were the first to fall to the ground after Eve and Adam had eaten of it's fruit, thus being picked up and used for coverings as soon as they realized they were naked, or had they been pulled off.

The reason I'm writing this post is not to merely focus on the fig tree, but to focus on exactly what  Jesus did on the cross as we approach Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Passover. I find it interesting that wood carried the forbidden fruit and was on the scene when sin infected mankind, then Christ came and worked with wood as a carpenter's son. Then he curses a tree before laying his life upon the wood of a tree. His covering for our sins was more than any fig leaf could possibly cover. Here is some of what is written about tree of the knowledge of good and evil and other verses where the fig tree is mentioned. 

His covering for our sins is more than any fig leaf could possibly cover.

Genesis 2:8-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

​Genesis 3:2-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings
​

John 1:47-51New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:29-33 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

​Matthew 21:18-22 (New King James Version (NKJV)
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

John 3:14-17 New King James Version (NKJV)14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but[a] have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

​So when you see a fig or fig tree, I hope you think about what Jesus did for you and me, and find your covering in Him! 
​

With Love,
​Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

​"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
To like my facebook page click here 
Find me on twitter @humble_bold ​
​On Pinterest at humble&BOLD by Christina

Here's a fun and inexpensive decoration you can to with your children. As a former craft teacher I'm often thinking of imaginative ways to recycle and repurpose those items we usually toss out.  You can use this idea to make different shapes for any special occasion. 

To make a shamrock, you will need to make three large hearts out of toilet paper rolls and staple together. To make this easier to shape, start off with seven rows of four rolls stapled together, then add three rows of four rolls to the side of bottom. Then staple one roll at top, to soften the dip at top of the heart shape.

I bought one roll of green foil wrapping paper at the Dollar Tree and wrapped the front and sides. However, I recommend getting two rolls. Originally, I thought about hanging this against a second story bannister and ran ribbon through the center of each heart to use as ties to secure it. Later decided to place it on it's side on a table for festive décor. Of course, it looked so cool, that I forgot to take a picture of it to show you. 

Use staples to pull the hearts together. You only need a curved line of about nine rolls and tissue paper to finish off the stem.  Creates a unique decoration that only costs a couple of dollars. 

​Later as my husband was helping me take down decorations, he walked by carrying the shamrock and said with a grin, "This is such a sham!"    

Ha Ha Ha

​Check out the links below for more decoration ideas for St. Patrick's Day.

​1) Wreath over dining table for Irish meal
https://www.humbleandbold.com/blog/big-open-wreath-using-hula-hoop

​2) St. Patrick's Day decorations
www.humbleandbold.com/blog/st-patricks-day-decorations

​3) Irish Breakfast tea gifts
www.humbleandbold.com/blog/irish-breakfast-tea-gifts-for-st-patricks-day

4) The hidden treasure of St. Patrick
www.humbleandbold.com/blog/the-hidden-treasure-of-st-patrick
​

Years ago, before marriages and children, my Louisianan culinary roommate and dear friend, Carla, made me my very first Muffuletta sandwich, and it changed the way I viewed olives. Didn't think I cared for them that much until biting into that wonderful, taste altering, intimidating sandwich pie slice that was at least five inches in height . Delicious!

Another culinary friend of mine, Tripp, five years ago introduced me to cream cheese and olive tapenade between two slices of thin chicken for a mouth watering meal. I now have a true appreciation and love of olives!

Fast forward to the present, where now I have been told after testing that my body doesn't respond well to gluten, dairy and yeast. Nor do I feel well after a heavy carb meal.  But hey, I can still have olives! So after my Aunt B gave me a jar of gluten free Classic Olive Muffalata, from That Olive Guy, the wheels in my head started turning. 

Here's what you will need.

​* 3 large boneless chicken breast sliced into 6 thin, but wide strips
​   Or just buy thin strips of chicken already sliced (Check with your grocer to find chicken that is gluten free)
​* Anywhere from 1/2 a cup to 3/4 cup of gluten and dairy free plain yogurt
​* Anywhere from 1/2 a cup to 3/4 cup of olive salad, depending on your love of olives
​* 1 orange or red bell pepper sliced into medium strips
​* 4 loose cups uncooked spinach or more (I haven't tried frozen, but it might work well if you want to give it a try)
* Salt and Pepper for seasoning, but I also a gluten free garlic and herb seasoning from Weber​

How do you spell Muffuletta? I have seen it spelled several different ways.

I spread the yogurt and olives atop a thin slice of chicken, with seasoning, and then place another slice of chicken on top .

Season again and place sliced peppers on top of chicken and with a generous amount of spinach over the entire dish.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Let cool for about 5 minutes.

This dish is dreamy and delightful! Leaving you fully satisfied, but not stuffed. You can place this on a plate or use a bowl and pour the juicy sauce on top. I also cut up any left over chicken and use for a soup the next night. 

Hope you enjoy this dish, and let me know what you think.  Also, how do you spell Muffuletta?

With Love,
​Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

​O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 
​Psalm 34:8 KJV

To check out my testimony click here
To like my facebook page click here 
Find me on twitter @humble_bold ​
​On Pinterest at humble&BOLD by Christina

I've had lots of compliments on these over the years. They make for a nice, unexpected thank you and parting gifts and add color to any gift basket. 

​Let me know what you think. If you try this,  feel free to comment below and share pics. 

With Love,
​Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

​"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
To like my facebook page click here 
Find me on twitter @humble_bold ​
​On Pinterest at humble&BOLD by Christina

With Love,
​Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

​"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
To like my facebook page click here 
Find me on twitter @humble_bold ​
​On Pinterest at humble&BOLD by Christina