The Biggest Yet?

Yesterday I went to see my OB and have an ultrasound. I am 37 weeks today and the dr. plans to take the baby by c-section on March 4, 2009 which is in 2 weeks, can you believe it? 2 weeks and we will finally get to meet our "Little Bambina/Bambino!!!

The U/S went well. They were checking for the markers of Down Syndrome to see if they are still present. What did I find out? The baby was stubborn and would not move the right ways for the lady to tell. She did say, however, in her opinion, if the baby has Down's, it will be a mild case.

It was fun to see the baby. Especially when it moved and I could actually feel it! At times, our "Little One" poked "his" tiny lips out, sucked, and loved showing "his" cute little toes. The only part we did not get to see move were the hands...they were resting on the chin and the side of the head all balled up ( this is part of the test they could not do because baby stayed that way...no matter how much we poked).

Foot:3D picture of the face...with the hands near it!:

She measured the baby and right now it weighs 5 pounds and 6 oz. So I asked her if the baby should be about 6 1/2 pounds when born and she looked at me and said, "This baby will be over 7 pounds"! SEVEN POUNDS!!! I have never had one this big...it will be our biggest yet! I won't know what to do with a big baby!!! :)


While looking at our baby on the screen, it reminded me of how great of a Creator I serve. God has formed this wee little one in my womb. It was not once a monkey and did not get here by accident. It was placed in me by my great God. He planted this baby in my womb forming it to His liking. Each tiny finger, each heartbeat, etc. I thank God for His wonderful works!

Well, after the U/S, my dr. was not in so I saw another one who checked me and said I have not begun dilating which is a good thing since I will be having the c-section. I will have another U/S on Monday! I can't wait to see our gift from God again!

To God be the Glory!!!

God's Mercy to Bad People

Who Has Her Heart?

Little Boy: " When we get married..."
Little Girl: "I don't know if we are getting married" she quickly interrupts.

Boy: " But don't you want to get married?"
Girl: " Yes, but I don't know if it will be you."

Boy: " I will ask my daddy and he will say it is fine."
Girl: "Yeah but I am still little and you might not be my husband."

Boy: "I will still want to get married to you."
Girl: "But God might want me to marry someone else and not you."

Boy: " Don't you want to marry me?"
Girl smiles awkwardly, " I don't know yet."

Mommy, who is overhearing this conversation, jumps in, " Let's not talk about marriage. God has someone, Lord-willing, for her to marry and she needs to keep her heart for him only and not for anyone else. Until God brings this man in her life she needs not to think of other boys."

Boy: "But we want to marry one day."
Mommy: "Well, we don't need to talk about marriage now. You are both young and don't need to think of these things yet."

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This conversation was between one of my girls and another little boy. Being the daddy and mommy we are, we don't want our children to give their hearts to lots of different people. A mistake we both made and see the danger in it. Some may see this conversation as innocent talk by two young kids, but we see it as possible danger in the future. If you let them talk this way as children, then they will think it is ok as 14 and 15 year old young adults to talk this way possibly to many of the other gender.

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Later the the young girl and I have one of our special talks. During this time, I bring up the situation that had occurred earlier that week. I ask her how it made her feel. She said, "uncomfortable." I explain to her again why daddy and mommy don't want her to give her heart to anyone except...

She jumps in quickly and says, " My heart is for my daddy only, and God."

I was going to say her future husband, but when she said her "Daddy" this just blessed my heart.
It shows me the good job AJ is doing in raising her. I already knew he did well , but this was just an extra blessing to hear.

It started about a year ago when he took her out on a date. She was in a fancy dress, he dressed up in a suit. He brought her a red rose. They went out to dinner. They had a conversation about how he loved her a lot and wanted the best for her. He explained the details in why it is dangerous to give your heart to anyone besides her husband. He asked if she would give him her heart until the day comes when she meets and marries her husband, Lord-willing. She responded with "Yes."

As we parent and teach our children, we never really know how much they actually take in.
This is a time when it is obvious she listened, understood, and has submitted herself to her daddy.

Thank you AJ, for the good job you are doing with our daughters, capturing their hearts so they won't freely give it out to the world. For being a daddy they can willingly submit to. Just the fact that they want to submit to you in this area says they TRUST in you.

To my girl, I am proud of you and pray your heart will stay dedicated to your daddy until he puts your hand into another young mans hand on the day of your wedding.

Recipe for Apple Butter

Someone asked for the recipe pf the Apple Butter I made int the previous post, so here it is.

It is so simple that even a young one could make it!

Apple Butter:

Ingredients:

-2 large jars of unsweetened applesauce
-1 1/2 cups of sugar
-4 tablespoons of cinnamon
-1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg


Mix all ingredients in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 12 hrs. ( stir occasionally...I did this once an hour)
Then cook on low for 4 hrs.

Voila! Your done!

Simple yet oh so good! And your husband will walk in the house pleased with the nice aroma he has come home to from a busy day of work.

Enjoy! :)

Cooking With the Kids

A week ago last Friday morning, the kids and I made homemade apple butter. It was my first attempt at making it, but it seemed really easy...and it was.

First, we gathered all of our ingredients.

Kaylyn read to us ( with my help) the steps on how to make it. This was good for her since she struggles with reading.

Here is a picture of "E" adding his ingredient:

Katie Faith cheerfully added sugar to our recipe. "E" is watching with intense eyes wondering how he can sneak a few spoonfuls without me noticing:

Kaylyn adding cinnamon:

The kids taking turns stirring after everything was in:

The sweet aroma of the house while it was cooking had all of our mouths watering anticipating the finished product...which took 16 hrs. of cooking into the wee hours of night( good and simple project to do if you are studying Patience!).


Though I don't have a picture of it, "E" was our self-imposed "Taste Tester" of every ingredient...some A LOT more than the others! :)


That night, we made homemade biscuits to go with our apple butter.

Here are some pictures of us making them:

Yes...Elijah got to help out! And he also takes after his big brother "E" by sampling the ingredients...in this case, it happened to be globs and globs of butter! :

Cutting out the biscuits:

Kaylyn has the job of putting them in the oven:

And taking them out:

Elijah wanting to help with getting things in and out of the oven:

One of our pans of the finished product:

Saturday morning while taking our first taste of our homemade biscuits with our Apple Butter:


Everyone looks happy in these pictures, but reality was the biscuits turned out bad. To much salt was added! No one finished their biscuit and we opted to feed them to our pet rats.

Apple butter turned out good though! We are enjoying it on our toast for a snack or breakfast!

It was fun to spend time cooking together...even if it did take us 1 1/2 hrs. to make the biscuits when the preparation said it should take 15 minutes! :)