My Journal Made The Front Page of Etsy

Okay, this may not be a huge deal, but it feels like a milestone for Ruth and me.  We just thought it would be fun to share it with our readers.  You can see the treasury in the left sidebar. Building our Java Girls Shop has been quite an adventure with its ups and downs.

We love what we do, and we feel that our product is special.  For example, Ruth's daughter ordered a custom personalized gift for a friend.  When her friend received it she said it made her cry, and "it was the best gift she'd ever received".  Here's a picture of the journal.   Front and back covers are filled with special moments of their friendship.  The flower represents where her friend once lived, the name on the cover is a special nickname that Ruth's daughter gave her.

As we continue our journey of creating special keepsakes, we hope in a small way we're bringing loved ones closer together.  Have a wonderful day followers and friends!  Javamama

Family Traditions

What are your family traditions?
We all have them. Some go deeper than other's. They get changed a little over the years and generations, but we keep them because they make us feel connected. They connect us to good memories, warm feelings and moments in time that you don't want to forget. They also bring to remembrance the love your family shared. We celebrate the good times and the momentous occasions to be remembered and cherished. We store it in the hard drive of our mind to be brought back year after year or even generation to generation. It becomes a trademark of our family. Something our children can count on, and they do! 
Our family is big on traditions. Sometimes to a fault. It's hard for us to accept change, but we have to sometimes. It runs deep for both my husband and me. We both grew up with a lot of traditions passed down. For example, this week is my husband's birthday. Though he likes a variety of cakes and ice cream, I can always count on him asking for yellow cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate chip ice cream. I asked last night, and he came out with the same answer. I don't think it would feel like his birthday without it! In his family of seven children your birthday celebration was special and you picked your favorite meal and your cake and ice cream. Tradition continues on!   
In the picture above you will notice the little boy with the red wagon. That is my brother, cute as can be, and he loved his little red wagon. He and his brother played forever with this wagon, hauling dirt, toys, and their pets all around. My father loved watching them so much that when he had his first grandson, you can guess what he bought for him!  Thus, the tradition of the little Red Wagon began. Each grandson, all four of them, received their red wagon from Pa-paw. My son, his last grandson, received his wagon only 6 month's before daddy passed away. Daddy was battling cancer.  A real bitter-sweet day for us all. We cried, hugged and cherished each moment of that day as daddy pulled him around the yard in his red wagon.

No surprise then, we have carried on this tradition in our family. The theme of the baby shower for our first grandson was "A Red Wagon Welcome" in honor of my daddy.  Jack just turned 3 earlier this year and will really enjoy his wagon this summer with his two baby brothers!  Yep, little did we know we would have three grandsons in a row! Now what? Well, we will have to be creative in the red wagon tradition. Thank the Lord they make all different kinds of wagons now. Grandson number two will be getting a  double seater for him and his baby brother, and then, we will have to get a third one as the baby gets older. These family traditions are still precious even though sometimes a challenge. I could not bear the thought of one grandson not getting his own wagon. So, it may get interesting if my daughter has more boys! We can have our own parade in the neighborhood in the summers to come! I can just imagine the look on my daddy's face if he could see them all now. He would love it.
So, enjoy your traditions. Start them now, if you haven't already. They bring you a lot of joy, a lot of memories, and a lot of security as your children remember the good things in life. God tells us in Philippians 4:8  to think on the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. This brings us a peace in this troubled world as we lean on Him.  
Till next time,
Mamacooker

Featured Seller ~ jYOUlry ~ Where the jewel is YOU!

This is our very first featured seller, jYOUlry.  You can view her shop at www.jyoulry.etsy.com to see her very special keepsake jewelry.  I felt an instant kindred spirit when I set eyes on her pieces of jewelry.  Family is the most special gift we have!  I've asked her to share a bit about herself and her work.  Here it is:

jYOUlry was created by a WAHM. Lisa is the mother of three boys and an interior designer, but when she and her family recently relocated to Panama, she had to close her firm in Florida and become a stay-at-home mom. While her kids keep her life very busy, she was in need of a creative outlet. Lisa was looking for something different, unique, something she could make but also sell. Years ago Lisa had bought a necklace with a photo pendant of her two older boys on it. When she was pregnant with the baby, she called about ordering a new one, but sadly they were no longer making them. It was then that the idea was born, “I’ll make one myself”, Lisa said. So she began her new business venture with the idea to replace the simple necklace she had. Though it didn't take long for the designer in her to shine through, and the custom designed collection of photo jewelry was born! Best of all, Lisa believes in low, affordable prices! “I wanted a product that was an amazing gift and still affordable in this economy.” You will find other comparable products online at double her prices. jYOUlry is a unique gift idea and each sterling silver piece is a keepsake. Your photo is reproduced and permanently sealed onto the charm or pendant of your choice, with a water and scratch resistant resin, giving your gift a beautiful glass-like finish, guaranteed to bring a smile to its recipient; but beware… sometimes you get tears too! Thank you, Lisa.  :)

Altered Composition Recipe Journal Giveaway - Ends April 30th

Enter my 3rd journal giveaway.  This time I'm giving away an altered composition Recipe Journal made by me, aka Java Girl @ http://www.javagirls.etsy.com/. Check out my shop to see a sample similar to what you'll win!!  It's perfect to hand write special family recipes and heartwarming dinnertime stories.  To see just how special it can become, read my blog post about my husband's grandmother's recipe journal. To enter simply follow this blog and comment on this giveaway.  It's that simple.Winner to be announced April 30th. 

Monday's "Mama, whatcha cookin?" Grandma's Shortcake!

Yesterday's Memories~Today's Treasures

Along with my mama, God has blessed my life

with many other wonderful women, two of which I will mention today. One is my mother-in-law, whom I admire, love greatly, and proudly call mom. She is the perfect mother-in law and someone I take lessons from for my role as mother in law. I can only hope to be as great to my sons in law as she is to me. She and dad raised 7 remarkable children. My husband is child number 2, and in my opinion, the best! Well, I can't help it, he is! I try to remember to personally thank Mom on Mother's Day for raising such a wonderful man for me. Mom and Dad are special because they have a tremendous ability to love their large family with the most unconditional, and yet equal, love. They have 7 children, 21 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. Their family is a testament to family love and loyalty. Years ago Mom gave me a cookbook that belonged to her mom. I was so honored to receive this. I had known Grandma. She too, was a wonderful lady. I had only been in the family a few years before she passed away, yet I had grown to love her so. This was a treasure to have her favorite recipes. It was a composition book from the early 1900's, filled with recipes,some poetry, and newspaper clippings. You can find her favorites by the pages with the most stains! This book became the inspiration for my composition Recipe Book and Journal which will be in this month's blog give-a-way. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36292245 A great little book to write your family favorites and family stories involving food, cooking, and such. Someday we can pass these on to our daughters or daughter-in-laws, knowing they will cherish them as their treasures. Here's where you can enter a journal giveaway for an altered composition Recipe Journal. http://javamamacooker.blogspot.com/2010/04/altered-composition-recipe-journal.html

Till next time,
Mamacooker

I'd like to share a favorite from grandma's book that may come in handy with strawberry season just around the corner!

Grandma's Shortcake
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1 egg
1 c. whole milk
2 c. flour
2 tsp baking powder

Cream sugar, butter and egg until smooth and creamy. Combine flour and baking powder together. Gently add flour mixture alternately with the milk until all is mixed in. Do not over mix.
Drop by spoonfuls of desired size onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 min. or until lightly browned. Cool, slice and fill with fresh berries and whipped cream. Yum yum!