365 Part XVI

Yay here is the next round!

Day 161
Day 162
Day 163
Day 164
Day 165...one of these should go
Day 166...eee can't decideDay 167....this day does have a picture, it is Micah with just his diaper on and I don't feel comfortable posting that picture like that on here.

Day 168
Day 169
Day 170
Day 171Day 172
Day 173
Day 174...help there are too many
Day 175....one needs to go

From the Kitchen: Mint Chocolate Goodness

At roommate Christmas Missy had bought a few desserts. One was a chocolate cup with a mint filling. For me pretty much anything mint and chocolate or peanut butter and chocolate is a win. The dessert was good and looked like something I might be able to make so I gave it a try for Steph's shower. I used a candy mold for the cups and a mint buttercream frosting for the filling. Interesting, when I was trying to work out the mint buttercream frosting I found out if there is not enough mint it tastes horrible! Not what I would have expected. Then, I only had three more of the chocolate cups to make when I figured out the best technique, guess I'll have to make them again. Hehe :)



MINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups confectioner's sugar
4 Tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoons mint extract

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter
Add powdered sugar and beat until the mixture comes together, scraping sides as necessary
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add 3 T. of heavy cream, mints extract and food coloring (if desired). Beat until combined, adding the additional 1 T. of heavy cream if necessary for desired consistency. Beat an additional minute or until thoroughly creamed (fluffy looking).

Bend to Parkdale

On Tuesday we said goodbye to Bend. God closed doors there and we try faithfully to follow the doors He opens. That has lead us to Parkdale to begin a cherry orchard.

Bend will also be a place we love. The scenery is gorgeous and our friendships we have formed there are life long. Bend is also where we started our life together and it is where we started our family. It is a town we will never forget.

Parkdale is going to be where we grow and raise our family. We have a new adventure ahead of us. We look forward to the challenges we will face. This spring we will begin planting cherries. The move was early so C would have time to sent up fence and irrigation, as well as plot out the layout of the plantings. We are going to be farmers, more specifically orcharders. (Hey, that would be a good name for C, The Farmer.) So, this city girl will now be living in the country. I have always felt more of a country girl at heart anyways. But I'm sure there are going to be adjustments for me. There will probably many laughs that will accompany those adjustments too. :)



P.S. Micah has now started eating bananas. I'll try and get the videos up soon, he had some funny faces.

365 Part XV

With this post we are through the 20th. So if the move doesn't through me off I should be up to date with the next post. :)


Day 146....I will do some red eye correction with this one
Day 147
Day 148

Day 149
Day 150
Day 151....can you tell yet that he loves Sophie the Giraffe?
Day 152
Day 153
Day 154....5 months old!! He is starting to get too big for the blanket I put him on.
Day 155....we have started solids.

Day 156
Day 157
Day 158
Day 159....can't decide between these two

Day 160

Peace and Joy

A moment from many weeks ago.

The dawn is breaking, a glimmer of light coming through. It is a new day.

Photo from The Pioneer Woman

I walk into his room, his arms relaxed, the left up by his head, the right by his side. His hands held in a loose fist. The rest of him wrapped in the warmth of a blanket. I pause. Watching his chest slowly, deeply, rise and fall, I think about the need to breathe every moment to live. I wonder, what about The Breath of Life, don't I need Him every moment to truly live? How can I show this to Micah, teach him to figure out a way to have Him, see Him, feel Him in every moment.

Looking at his face I see peace in him, resting over,and all around. Peace. This must be the peace the Lord promises His people. I see peace, as time slows, I feel peace. The Lord is Peace, He is here in this moment. A heart at peace gives life to the body. Let my heart not be troubled, He will be my peace.


I gently place my hand on him. He stirs. His arms stretch, letting go of sleep. Eyes blink open, they catch mine. "Good morning Micah," is whispered into the silence. A smile that fills his whole face appears. I smile back. I see nothing but joy in him, pure joy. This then must be the joy the Lord promises. It is in his face. The world is foul, though he does not know it, he does not see it, to him right in this moment he sees the beauty that is around and is filled with joy. Even in pain we can have joy, His joy, shout for joy. Although this world is ugly, and there is grief, it is beautiful and joy can be found.