Another Blog Change!?

I guess I get bored easily.
I like changing up the layout and design of my blog.
I hope you all don't mind.

My May Day Baby

On Friday, it will have been 2 years since we welcomed Lindsey into our family! May 1st is the big day!!

I can't believe she is 2 years old... but then on the other hand, it seems like she's always been with us!

She was a "Surprise" baby. We had no intentions of having any more kids after Kaycie... but God had other plans for our family. And boy, am I glad He did!

Lindsey has been such a blessing.

The older kids have spoiled her rotten! She is definitely the Princess in our house.

She has the funniest little personality... such a character! Lindsey makes us laugh every day.





Sometimes when I look at her, it takes my breath away.. she is so beautiful! Which might become a problem when she is about 14! ha ha



She is such a country girl! Loves to wear her rubber boots and help Mommy outside with the animals. But she also loves to wear her dresses. She's the perfect combo of tomboy and girly-girl.

God knew we needed her.
He knew her even before the world was formed.
He knew her when he knit her together in my womb.
He knew her name, her personality, what she will become.
How wonderful that He chose to bless our family with this Little One... this Sweet Girl... this May Day Baby!!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his
quiver full of them..."
Psalm 127:3-5

Family Time... Much Needed!!

Yesterday we decided to stay home and do nothing! It was so nice and relaxing.

With baseball or soccer every night, we have not had any time to be at home and enjoy our family. It's been Ken going one way with a kid and me going the other way with another kid!

I think this may be the first time EVER that I have chosen to "skip" church.

But our kids needed this day, and we needed this day.

We stayed in our jammies all morning (I think Ryan kept his on all day).

We played card games, watched the NFL draft, pulled weeds outside, rode bikes, took a walk and played croquet in the yard.

It was GREAT!!

The Little Caddy.

Doesn't that look like Tiger Woods' form? ha ha

Beautiful face there, Kaycie!

Now that's what I call concentration!!

Even McKenzie got in on the fun.

I have been so blessed with a healthy, wonderful family. Days like this remind us of how much we enjoy each other and how much fun just being a family can be.

Thank you God!

A Walk In the Woods

A couple of weeks ago, during a beautiful day, the kids and I went for a hike at a nearby park.

It's a historic landmark with trails that meander around the grounds and through the woods.

The kids love to be in charge of the camera, and I enjoy letting them search out photo opportunities. Sometimes I'm amazed at the shots they capture.

These are all pictures that they took.

Maybe I have some young photographers on my hands!

I'm always amazed at God's Creation...

the beauty that He has provided for us to enjoy...

I love to be in the woods and just close my eyes...

... smell the dirt, the trees, the grass, the moss...

... hear the birds, the stream, the wind...

There is beauty all around us!

Kaycie took a close-up picture of herself. She wanted me to delete it... No Way! I think it is so pretty!

Stitches

This has been a rough April for Lindsey! First was pneumonia a couple of weeks ago and now 8 stitches in the chin!!

Poor Baby, she's not going trust ANY Doctors or Nurses. Every time she sees one lately, she gets poked with a needle!!

It happened yesterday morning. I got out of the shower and she decided to climb into the shower stall. Her little feet came flying out from behind her (slippery, wet shower) and her chin came full-force down onto the door frame of the shower stall.

We spent 2 hours in the Urgent Care Clinic and she ended up with 8 stitches!! (2 on the inside, 6 on the outside).

Afterwards, she and I went to McDonald's and shared a vanilla shake. She deserved a treat after that rough morning.

I'm Babysitting

I guess it's actually goatsitting.

The people who lived here before us are now returning to the area and had nowhere to keep the goats while they look for a house.

So here they are. The goats are back where they used to live.

Poor Daisy. It's been 4 against 1. But after a couple days, they are finally beginning to get along!

Hazel, Clara, Licorice, and Dottie.

Here is Daisy (our little goat) and Hazel. They were the first ones to make friends. The others stood off to watch.

We may get to keep Hazel. The owners said that they might not have room for all of them and Daisy could use a friend.

We did have Daisy's sister (Cricket) but a year ago we had a cougar incident... no more Cricket.

The kids are having a great time with the extra animals. It's like goat rodeo here every afternoon!

The Planning Stage

I've just started Kyle's quilt. But I'm not sure how I want the end result to look like.
I don't have a pattern, I just cut 6" blocks out. Then decided to do some 4-patch blocks with the smaller print fabrics.

Let me know which layout you like best...

Option #1:
Alternating blocks in a horizontal row but keeping similar blocks in the vertical rows.






Option #2:
Alternating all blocks vertically and horizontally.

Option #3:

Similar blocks going horizontal.

I am planning on using a solid army-green fabric for sashing between rows.

I have no clue where to go from here, being the new quilter that I am.

Oh well, it's all a learning process, right?

Steelhead Fry

No I don't mean fry, as in cook in oil. I mean baby fish.

Kaycie's 4-H group had raised some steelhead from eggs and they are now little fry and ready to face the big, bad world of a creek.

So we all gathered at a local park along a creek. A man from the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife came and spoke. He told the kids all about the life cycle of salmon.

I don't know if you can see Fred (that's what she named her fry) in the cup.


So long Fred. Enjoy your new home.

Fred will live in this creek for about 2 years and then make his way to the ocean where he'll live for another 2 - 3 years.
Then he will come right back to this very spot where Kaycie released him, for spawning season.

It's quite an amazing cycle that God has designed into these fish. For them to be able to return to the exact stream of their birth is a miracle!
Even after spending a few years in the ocean, they know exactly where to go when it's time.
Amazing creatures!

Easter Fun

We had a great Easter. We spent it with my parents and siblings in the town that I grew up in. (My hubby also grew up there, so we got to spend some time with his family too.)

Easter egg decorating was a riot!! Lindsey was so funny!

I'll just say that the word "gentle" is not in her vocabulary yet. Those poor eggs will never be the same!

In fact, I believe she "slam-dunked" a few of them.

Here she is with my Mom:

This is my little sister, Becca, and Ryan:

So proud of her pretty eggs!:

Goofy kids:

It was my niece's very first Easter. Here is Amaris with her Daddy & Mommy:

Sunday morning Easter church service was wonderful. The pastor's sermon was called, "The Eternal Bail-out Plan".

Very fitting. Jesus has already provided our "bail-out" in the form of His death and resurrection!

Easter dinner was sooooo good! I love a good, old-fashioned ham and mashed potatoes. yum!

The kids participated in the community egg hunt at a local park. It was cold and windy, but fun.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter just as we did.

God... Where Are You?

First of all, Thank you for all the sweet, get-well wishes for Lindsey and I.
We are definitely on the mend.
The medicine is working wonders on her and I'm "kicking" the yuckies the best I can.
___________________________________________________________________

I was thinking today about the way circumstances happen in our lives. I know that God sees the whole picture and we only see a tiny speck.
I know that He has plans for us.
I know that He brings people into our lives for a reason.

Sometimes it's good and other times we are crying out , "Why!!!??"

I recently got reconnected to a friend of mine that I haven't seen in 10 years.
At the time I had 2 boys and she had 2 boys and they were just babies.

Some horrific, awful things have been happening in her family the last year or so. When I read her email, I sobbed.
Severe medical problems and sexual abuse has infiltrated their family. I can't even begin to imagine the pain and anger that she and her husband have had to deal with.

It has me wondering what is God's plan in this situation.
It is so hard to see past the fear, confusion, and grief.
How do you find something positive in that?

It's times like this when people say, "Where is God? Where was God when this happened?"

My Mom made a statement when I shared this recent tragedy with her. And it was an answer to that exact question.

She said, "He was right where He was when His only Son died. He was right there."
He was there....

Feeling their pain...
Crying with them....
Knowing what it's like to have a child be abused...
And hurt....
And scarred, emotionally and physically....

God was there.

And He is still there...
Waiting with open arms...
Ready to enfold them in His unfailing love...
Wanting to wipe their tears...
Wishing they would run to Him.

As I sit here tonight, thinking on these thoughts, the tears begin to flow all over again.
My friend, whom I care so much for, has had to face "hell".
She has had to live things in her mind that no parent should ever have to imagine.
My prayers rise up for her and her family. I see them. They float up to my eternal Savior.
He feels the tears attached to them.

I remind myself that He knows all. He sees all.
And most importantly He can heal all.

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21: 4

Spicy Applesauce Cake

I'm posting this recipe because of a recent request for a good spice cake recipe. (Here ya go, Leah).
We like this one. It's not a traditional spice cake but the applesauce makes it super moist and yummy.

Spicy Applesauce Cake

2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp each- cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice & cloves
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening ( I use butter-flavor Crisco)
2 cups applesauce
2 eggs, beaten
Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips and/or 1/2 cup raisins

In large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add the shortening, applesauce and eggs. Beat with electric mixer until well mixed. Stir in optional chocolate chips or raisins.
Pour into a greased 13x9x2 baking pan.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

My Excuse

Ok, I know it has been almost a whole week since I've posted anything here!!

But... I've been sick and the little one has pneumonia in her left lung.
So that's my official excuse for not being at my blog.

Thank God we got her to the Dr. early enough to keep her from having to be hospitalized but she is on some heavy-duty antibiotics.

Hopefully we'll be back to our regular routine soon.

My Quilting Niche

I found this book at the little library in the next town over. (Quilt Shack by R. Norum & H.A. Krohg)

From the moment I opened it up, I knew I was going to love this one!

I'm not a fan of anything modern, so to find a book that has patterns and fabric ideas that look antique or vintage was exciting for me!

I think just about every project in this book is one I want to try. My problem is that being a new quilter, I haven't figured out yet which projects would be too difficult for me.

Here are some of my favorites:

The authors provide detailed instructions and pictures which definitely help me out when working through the process.

This one was designed for one of the authors' daughter who is visually impaired. She wanted to provide a high-contrast design for her.

The book has beautiful pictures showcasing the quilts.

After flipping through it, I jumped on Amazon.com and found the book for $1.95!!!

So after a quick purchase, this book is on it's way to my home, for me to keep.

I hope to be able to make some quilts from this one!

Carrot Cake Obsession

Doesn't that just make your mouth water and your lips smack?

I have been obsessed with this cake lately. I made it for my husband's birthday a few weeks ago and then was talking about this recipe with some friends last week. Ever since, I kept thinking about it.

So I broke down and made it again yesterday.
I had some for dessert last night, for breakfast this morning, and for a little afternoon snack today.
Hey, it's OK, it has vegetables and fruit in it!

Here is the yummy recipe:

2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated carrots (I use my hand chopper to finely chop them instead of grating , it saves time)
1 cup coconut
8 oz can of crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I leave this out, my hubby doesn't like nuts)

In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Set aside. In another bowl; combine oil with sugar and add the beaten eggs. Add vanilla and mix well.
Add the flour mixture into wet ingredients. When mixed; add the carrots, coconut, pineapple and walnuts.

Lightly grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans (I use a large Pyrex baking pan instead). Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.

Meanwhile, make frosting.

Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
1 lb. powdered sugar
Whip together cream cheese and butter; add vanilla. Slowly mix in powdered sugar.
Frost the cooled cake.