Another Year Older

It is such a lovely day, a bit chilly, but lovely.  A good day for a birthday, mine that is.  Another year older.  What a blessed year I have had.  As I was praying this morning I just felt full of thanksgiving.  About 17 years ago, I had a very strange attack of some kind.  It lasted for over an hour.  At first I was shaking, then having a very hard time breathing and then went blank for a while.  I remember thinking I wonder if I am dying.  I thought I saw Jesus then turned and saw my grandpa, who had recently passed away, Grandpa told me it was not my time and to go back.  My lungs filled with air and I sat up.  I was all clammy and a bit disoriented I had been laying on the floor.  David ran me to the emergency room where they could find nothing wrong with me.  Later I found out that some women from church had felt a real need to pray for someone but they didn't know who.  I believe it was me.  Was there really something wrong, had I been hallucinating, was I healed?  I don't know but this morning I was thinking back to that and what I could have missed out on these past additional 17 years.  God is so good and he has blessed me with 5 more children since that time and numerous other blessings and friends that I am so glad to know.  Everyday is a blessing from the Lord and I look forward with expectation to all He has planned for this year, especially with the soon coming birth of our new baby boy.  My body is stretched and swollen with this pregnancy and it is all worth every moment.  Last night we got to celebrate my birthday with our traditional fondu (recipes were posted last year on my birthday if you would like them).  It was a lovely night.  Latisha had given me a lovely pedicure, Sierra gave me a lovely card with beautiful Bible verses, Danika gave me a beautiful card with pictures she had drawn, Cassie a lovely hug, Danika lot's of love, Alex called and Skyped me, and last week David got me a pregnancy massage with a massage therapist that actually brought her table with her to my house.  God is good and His mercy endures for ever.  Have a wonderful day and God bless.
Alicia

fondu with family

My wonderful hubby and me.

The girls felt it necessary to get all the candles on the cake, unfortunately I was unable to blow them all out this year.  I blame it on my crowded lung space.

Latisha's lovely pedicure on my swollen feet.  :)

  

Baby Shower

The count down continues and so does the fun.  Last week I was on set up kick.  We got out the bassinet, swing, car seat, bouncer etc., organized and washed the clothes we had, and other miscellaneous things for the baby.  It was a long day but worth it.

Today Latisha, my mom, and my mother in law threw us a baby shower.  We were so blessed by many friends and I can officially say we have lots and lots of blue in our home.  Latisha was so excited to throw a shower for her baby brother and did lots of cooking and set up, with help of grandparents, Aunt Tami, and friends, but mainly she just took off.  It turned out wonderful.  Sierra and Danika helped in the set up too and were such a blessing.    We played a game comparing prices from the last time I had a baby boy (20 years ago) and today.  It was fun.  In general we found the average prices in the US are much higher then here.  I feel so blessed by those who came and blessed us.   The baby is moving quite a bit and the kids have got to feel him.  It is all such a miracle and to have the support of so many is wonderful.Here are some pictures.  Hope you enjoy.  Have a great day and God bless.

cupcakes, cake, and blueberry cream cheese bread, yum!!!!

fruit, veggie and snack table

the inside of the cake was checkered

cute signs and decorations

cute diaper cake

wonderful presents

fun games

Lots of presents

Valentine 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!  Oh to traditions.  We had our day of Valentine breakfast: pink chocolate chip pancakes, pink eggs, and pink juice, then dinner: dress up dinner, with yummy food and chocolate.  I even got to talk to my sonshine Valentine (that would be my son).  :)  Thought I would share some pictures and recipes.

Heart braids, worth the drama :)

My pretty girls. 

Candle light dinner.

Mocha cheesecake

cheesecake with toppings.  Ohhhhhh so good.

Mocha Cheesecake
Preheat oven to 325.
2 cups crushed grahm crackers
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
   Mix
1/3 cup melted butter Add
Press into greased spring form pan.
In mixer beat 3, 8 ounce packages cream cheese (softened) till fluffy, add but do not stir till end...
1 cup beaten eggs,
1 cup semisweet melted chocolate,
2 tsp vanilla,
1, 14oz can Sweetened Condensed milk,
1/4 cup strong coffee
Mix just until combined.  Pour in pan.  Bake in water bath for 50 minutes, or until all but 3 inches in middle set.  Turn off oven let cake stay in oven for 1 hour.  Refrigerate for several hours until chilled through or until you are ready to eat.  We like to top with chocolate and Carmel sauce.

My Valentine!

Got jelly beans from a friend, David got his girls chocolate flowers, and I made some Oreo truffles that are amazing!

Oreo truffles

1 pckg crushed Oreos
mix with 8 oz softened cream cheese
Refrigerate for 2 hours
roll into balls.  Dip in melted Almond Bark.  Drizzle melted semisweet chocolate chips.

We used left over melted chocolate for dipped strawberries and drizzled the left over almond bark over the chocolate strawberries.  My favorite way to melt semisweet chocolate is in a double boiler on medium low to medium heat.  Stirring carefully until chocolate is melted.

Hope you all had a lovely day.  God bless
Alicia

The Naming Game

Here we are, time for count down.  One of the most important things a parent has the privilege to do is to name their child.  Yikes.  It can cause a little stress.  When David and I were expecting our first child we decided that he would name the boys and I would name the girls with the approval of the other.   This was a little more complicated than we had expected.  So many choices and what's in a name, a rose by any other would smell as sweet, right?  A name sounds good, and then you think of the meaning or someone who has that name that you would not want your child named after.

With Sierra, I was taking my morning walk and her name just came to me.  I was at a women's retreat when the speaker spoke of her daughter Danica, I thought if I have another daughter I will name her Danika.  Then before we were pregnant with Cassandra I asked David what he thought of the name "Cassandra" as we were driving on vacation.  On the way home I couldn't remember the name and asked David if he remembered.  Then a car drove in front of us and the license plate said "Cassie."  That was it I screamed.  The funny thing with Danika and Cassandra is I was pretty sure I was going to have a boy.  But when we had the ultrasound I wasn't surprised to find out they were girls.  God knew even before they were created.  I fell in love with the name Isabella.  Then we found out unfortunately it was the vampire in a popular book at the time.  I didn't know that, but people assumed that was where we got the name.  We almost changed it but it was too late, the girls and I really liked the name.  And besides it ended in an a.  It wasn't until after Danika that we realized all our girls ended in a's and Alexander begins with an a, so you can't change a good thing, right?

With this one we have a few names that begin with A's that we are considering.  No great conclusion yet.  I wish we had one.  It makes it so much nicer when we pray over the baby to use a name and not just "baby boy."  But we will get it.  It is such an honor to name a child.   What will be the name?  Guess we'll know soon.  Until then baby boy is doing great and I'm getting so excited to meet him.  I actually found some adorable the boy bedding and our mothers got it for us, what a blessing.  It is so exciting to have baby boy blankets again.  We are so blessed to have our girls and boys.  God is good and may His name be exalted above all else.  Have a blessed day.

Alicia

David and Alicia lovin the belly and the baby within :)

Carmel Popcorn and Movie

Tonight it is just the younger ones and I.  David has the Sierra and Latisha at a Youth function and so...  one of my favorite indulgences is carmel popcorn and what better than a movie to go with it.  The little ones got all scrubbed up and I made the popcorn.  I thought I might share the recipe with you.   The popcorn is very gooey and rich.  

Carmel Popcorn
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup with karo syrup
bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium high.  Boil 2 minutes
Add 1/2 cup butter- boil 2 more minutes
add 1 can sweetened condensed milk, boil 2 more minutes being careful not to scorch. Pour over popped pop corn (1 cup unpopped).  Mix well and enjoy.  Place left over in a ziplock baggie.  Tastes even better the next day.  

Glucose Done

I finally got my 3 hour glucose test results and all is normal.  I was so glad to hear that, Thank you Lord.  For the three hour test you go in after fasting breakfast and they take your blood.  Then you drink the glucose drink wait 1/2 hour they take your blood again, another 1/2 hour take your blood, 1 hour take your blood, then 1 hour later take your blood.  We just went back and forth between arms and in between I got to sit in a recliner and read my Bible and work on my cross stitch.  Not too bad a morning.  What I forgot was that I was going to bring an apple to eat after it was all done before I drove home.  I don't do well skipping meals and then having just had my blood drawn 5 times I thought it would be a good idea to eat an apple before going home.  Well, I forgot the apple but I was feeling pretty well and my mother had called to remind me my grandparents 65 wedding anniversary, (isn't that amazing)  was the next day.  So in my great wisdom I stopped at the store to grab a card before heading home.  Somewhere between the store and home things began to get quite warm.  I turned off the heater and began to feel quite light headed.  I did have water in the car and began to drink it and pray "God just let me get home."  All was well, I got home and ate my apple in less then a couple minutes, but I still needed food so I ate quite a bit more.  After a bit I was mostly back to normal just in time for my dear friend Jessica to pick me up and take me to lunch.  We went to Olive Garden for soup and salad and shared a dessert.   Quite a splurge after my week of watching everything I ate.  Then my lovely husband treated me to dinner for our date night at the Cheesecake Factory.  Latisha had given us a gift certificate there for Christmas and I wasn't sure I would be able to use it after we got the test results.  The results were good but I am back to trying to watch what I eat and exercise every day I can.   I want the best for this baby and I will do what I can to stay healthy for him.  Less then two months now before his arrival and I am still awed that God is blessing us with another child.  What a wonderful God.  As I feel this child move inside me and ponder the miracle of this new little life I truly feel blessed.  God is good and children are such a blessing.  Hoping you are all having a good day.  God Bless

This is what we wake up to every morning, the beautiful frost blankets  everything 

Here is a picture of our Christmas pjs.  Although each one of the girls had a different bow arrangement

Awards night for girls ministry.  My little princesses.

Alicia 

Back to Normal

The holidays have come and gone, my oldest has returned to school, we have started back with school, and we are back into the normal for now.  Our holidays went well with it's bits of challenges but mostly it was good.  We have been experiencing our share of illnesses and just when I think we are doing better someone declares "my nose is really stuffy" or some other form of illness. I think I am finally doing better.  My cold lasted about three weeks.   But God has been good and all is well.  I may have gotten a little carried away on the sweets.  My self control when it comes to sweets is low and being pregnant almost gives me a reason to indulge a bit more, although I know it shouldn't.  Well, I am now paying for it.  Tuesday I failed my glucose test.  I kept putting it off knowing I had been indulging a little more than I should.  Apparently I should have changed my diet a little sooner.  Monday I go in for the 3 hour glucose test and I have been trying to be good, avoid the sweets, and get more exercise in.  So pray for a good test on Monday.

now almost 7 months.

 While Alex was home we asked him to do a little painting for us.  I know, what a way to spend a break.  But it is so nice to add a little color to our lives.  There is a lot more painting that could be done but one project at a time.  We got our room painted and it just feels nice and warm.  He did a great job.

The girls helped out a bit and even got their bathroom painted.

our room and my nook.  

 Then came the day Alex had to fly back.  I expect it gets easier the more times you say goodbye to your kids, but we haven't got there yet.  I drove him to the airport on a very snowy day so it was a longer ride.   That was nice so I could be alone with him for a bit before he left.  Hopefully my emotions are somewhat tied to my rise in pregnancy hormones and I'll be able to say goodbye in a happier way in the future.  I do believe it is a good thing that he is going off to learn more about ministering and music.  I think part of my emotions is that he will miss the birth of his brother.  But I guess his brother missed his birth so it will be ok.  Well, after leaving Alex, I felt an urge to go do a little shopping for our new baby.  Our home is full of pink, purple and well a lot of girly baby things so the shopping helped me refocus.  Although out of no where while shopping an emotion would hit me and I would tear up and say "seriously."  I got a few blue boy things and added that to what grandparents and I have already gotten the baby.  Now we have a nice start.

I hope you are all having a wonderful new year and may God richly bless you this year.

Alicia