Here We Go Again...

School is officially back in session for the spring semester. There's a lot to adjust to besides the new schedules and getting back to earlier wakeup times. I have a Senior and a Freshmen, which has been a new world with two high schoolers. This is the last new semester for my oldest at home, and that's a little sad. My little man is half way through third grade, full of more homework, real tests and lots of new study skills to be developed as he prepares for fourth grade. New and different is not my thing. Call me Mrs. Routine. That is how I function at my best.

My to do lists never changes. Maybe there’s an occasional bake cookies for a school event or run an extra errand for a last minute gift. Overall, it’s the same monotonous schedule of breakfast, lunchboxes, drop off, clean, laundry, cook, pickup, sports, dinner, baths, game, book, prayers and bed. I love a good schedule and run well when things are planned and in order, but monotonous work equals auto pilot, and that’s exactly what I’m on. It takes a few weeks to get the new school schedule down, but once it’s mastered my brain never gets used. I have dreams of writing or blogging more, but it falls to the wayside when the chores needing to be done takes precedence over sharing a good story.

To add to the newness of this year, college essays and scholarship information is a part of our everyday vocabulary. I am a mix of emotions. Excited for her to follow her dreams, but sad as I think of her moving away. This will be a new year for certain. Last Sunday night I lined up three lunchboxes and three backpacks for the last time for the first day of the new semester prep. Next year there will just be two. It's hard on this mama's heart, but exciting thinking of the possibilities.

I am ready for new possibilities too. New challenges and opportunities are needed for this new year of 2025. Cooking videos have always been a goal, so here goes my first one. It'll be a new learning process to try something new, but I am excited to start a new adventure along with this new semester with my kids.

Total confession y'all, this is my second most requested recipe to this day, and it starts with a box of yellow cake mix. I feel awful not starting with something made from scratch, but this is literally the first recipe I made in college where people were like you have to tell me how to bake this. So I figured it must be my first video! It's great for breakfast, showers, bake sale, and sharing with others.

I hope you enjoy and here's to new ideas and changes for the new year ahead!

"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

Psalm 34:4

Blueberry Pound Cake

1 box of yellow cake mix

1/4 cup of sugar

1 8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup canola oil

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups blueberries (I have used frozen, fresh and even canned. They all work)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray your bundt pan. Combine the cake mix and sugar and form an indention to add in wet ingredients. It is best for the eggs and cream cheese to be at room temperature. Mix for 4 minutes on med-high making sure everything is combined. The mixing time is important! Fold in 1 1/4 cup of blueberries. Pour into pan and dot the top with the rest of the berries. Bake for 45-50 minutes. I have had to loosely cover with parchment to make sure the cake is done but doesn't get too browned. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then turn out to cool. I sometimes make a simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk or even lemon juice to drizzle on top, but it is good without it.