Date Nut Dessert Squares: {Top Secret Ancient Family Recipe}

After much reflection, I've decided to share with you a tidbit from my vault of family secrets! Here is a recipe for Date Nut Pudding, a family favorite for four generations now. Let me clarify that this is not pudding as in runny, eat-with-a-spoon pudding. Instead, it's more of a dessert square that maintains it's shape when cut.  Back in the 50s when my grandma came across this recipe, it was called pudding so we've all just called it that. However, risking the wrath of my entire family, I've renamed it here---just for your own clarification.

This is to be eaten with your Christmas or Thanksgiving meal and placed on your plate right next to your turkey. But don't be confused. You are not to place this next to the turkey that is in between the mashed potatoes and stuffing---the turkey that you cover with the same gravy that you cover the afore mentioned items with. You are, instead, to place it next to the other turkey that you've placed right next to the cranberry sauce that you place on your fork first before stabbing a hunk of the non-gravied turkey and eating it all with one bite.

Now that we have that straight, lets continue...

Date Nut Dessert Squares {AKA: Date Nut Pudding}

2 c. chopped dates

1 c. chopped walnuts

2 c. miniature marshmallows

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 12 oz. container Cool Whip

Stir them all together well and press down into a 9" square pan. Sprinkle more graham crumbs on top and chill overnight.

Yum!

Why I Need Another Baby! Pink Saturday

Let me show you why I need another baby:

Ok, so I'm partially joking...!!  Of course, I would be blessed, honored, and delighted if God saw fit to send more babies our way.  Our children are such joys---they are definitely God's greatest blessings and rewards! 

But, in addition to that, I REALLY WANT ONE OF THESE SHIRTS!!! I love the idea of putting Hannah's prayer for Samuel on a t-shirt---what a wonderful way to share the truth that children are a blessing!

I was just randomly searching Etsy listings the other day, looking for God to point out people he wanted me to feature on my blog, and I discovered Regan and Melody's shop, His Child Clothing.  I asked Regan to write up a little "About Me" dealie so I could introduce her and her daughter to my readers and encourage you to visit their shop.  

They've got the CUTEST little tops for toddlers, as well as several inspiring maternity shirts for the expectant mom who wants to share the truth of God's word regarding children with others around her. 

Surely, there are some of my readers who either know someone who is expecting or know someone with a sweet little toddler who would be blessed by this unique and God-honoring business!  Maybe you'd like to take a minute and visit their shop, give them a couple hearts, bookmark the shop for future or right now purchases...maybe even send the link on to someone you know who would also be interested!

Here's what Regan and Melody have to say about His Child Clothing:

"Our names are Melody and Regan and are a mother-daughter team. We started His Child in April of 2010 when we realized the need for maternity apparel that was devoted to God and His value of life. I (Regan) have more christian shirts than I can count, but when I got pregnant I couldn't find a Christian maternity shirt. At least I couldn't find one that wasn't sold beside a disgusting "knocked up" type of maternity shirt. Refusing to give money to someone who sold what they didn't believe in, we started making our own shirts.

Our belief is that the carrying and birth of a child is one of the most wonderful mysteries any woman is blessed to experience. A lack of stylish and modest clothing should not dampen the joy of this event. HIS Child’s purpose is to make pregnancy fun and fuss free as moms get ready for work, church, or just out to have fun. Our mission is to encourage parents and to honor the sacredness of life in a positive image and in a fun and stylish way.

The name HIS Child is based on John 1:12. “Yet to all who received Him (Jesus), to those who believed in His (Jesus’) name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Thank you for the opportunity to spread the word about His Child. It means a lot to us.

In Him,

Regan & Melody of His Child"

Let me just note that no goods or services were provided to me prior to publishing this post on my blog.  It is solely for the purposes of spreading the word about a business I respect!  Oh, and it's also a big SHOUT OUT HINT to my mom and husband...  :)

Happy Pink Saturday!  Be sure and stop by to see Beverly and the Pinkies at How Sweet the Sound!

Also linking with: 

Lynzie's Colonial Dress and Homemaking Link-Up Weekend!

Hello everyone, it's the weekend! Woot!  Woot!  

Welcome to the Homemaking Link-Up Weekend here at Hope In Every Season.  I'm so excited to report that last week, my very first week hosting the party, was a total success!  As promised, I've chosen a couple of participants to feature who especially blessed me with their posts.  I'll introduce you to Lydia and Mary Joy in just a moment!

Today, I'm sharing the sweet Colonial-style dress that I made for my daughter, Lynzie, a couple months ago.  

I love this pattern and have made several dresses for her with it over the last few years.  She wanted an outfit to look just like the American Girl doll, Felicity Merriman, from 1776.  We made her a mob cap from a simple pattern I found online.

We made a shawl from a curtain I found at Salvation Army.  There was even enough fabric for a shawl for each of her three sisters!  (and thirty more sisters!!)

We had two little munchkins, Avalon, 2, and Liam, 1, hiding behind the scenes during our photo shoot...

Lynzie, 11, and Michael, 9, are headed to the Oregon state piano recital this Saturday in Albany and they're very excited!  Here they are on the day of the local recital in which they placed as alternates to State.  Since one winning team was not able to go, our kids get to go in their place!

 We are so proud of our sweet kids, but not so much because they're excellent piano players.  Each one of our children is kind, compassionate, creative, honest, and striving to live a life that is pleasing to God in the state of maturity that they're in.  What a blessing our eight children are to us!

Here are a couple other blessings I'd like to make mention of:

First, I'd like to introduce you to Lydia of The Vintage Mama.  Lydia linked up to my Homemaking Link-Up Weekend last weekend and shared with us her great ideas for cooking with Pumpkin Puree.  Some of my favorites included great recipes for Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer and Pumpkin Spiced Rice.  I was especially excited to hear that she's had success freezing pureed pumpkin because I've got a honkin' one on my porch now that needs to be taken care of!  Be sure and stop by real quick to read the rest of her ideas and tell her you read about her here on Hope In Every Season!

Secondly, I "met" a lovely lady this week who has written such inspiring and uplifting posts this week!  I could just read her blog for hours and come away feeling so blessed!  Make sure and stop by Learning to Live a Surrendered Life to meet Mrs. Mary Joy Pershing and spend some time being encouraged by her thoughtful writing!

Hope everyone has plans for fun and relaxation this weekend!  Be sure and link up your home-related posts below and grab my button at the top of my sidebar to remind you to come back every week!  It can be anything having to do with homemaking:  crafts, recipes, DIY, even just telling us about a piece of your life like I've done today!  

Also linking up to:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove