That time of year again!

It's that time of year again! 

We have apples coming out of our ears!

 They kept picking them...

 and picking them.

 The older taught the younger about God's creation

and even learned about what happens when apples rot! 

 Of course there was just some hangin' around and old fashioned tree climbing

 Detours from siblings to get away from a pond

 And then more apples!

and more tree climbin'!

 You can't just pick and gather, you gotta eat them too!

 Caterpillars were discovered and touched for the very first time

 After all the apples were collected, it was time to go home

after we stopped to pick just one more flower!

 However, I think we wore out our welcome! OOUCH!  Boys and trees!  *sigh*

Now on to some baking! :)

Thankful for food Thursday!

We are going to be picking apples this week, so I have apples on my mind.  Here is a recipe you are sure to enjoy and something a little different for little tummies in the morning! 

Apple Puff Pancakes

6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
2 apples - peeled, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

1.Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

2.In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to blend eggs, milk and vanilla. Add flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon; mix just until blended. Set aside. (May add 1/2 cup of oats to this)

3.Melt butter in a 9x9 inch square pan. Arrange apple slices in the bottom of the pan, and pour the batter over them. Sprinkle brown sugar over the top.

4.Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until puffed and lightly browned.
 
*I double or triple this recipe and put in an appropriate size pan.  Also great to make the night before and just stick in the oven in the morning.

An update~ kind of

Not much on our circumstances to report.  No job or job prospects as of yet.  It was a week ago today my dear husband lost his job.  A week ago, we really thought our world was crashing in and we were it total despair.  Today, a different story.  God has done some amazing things in our hearts and given us more peace and joy than we have EVER had.  We made a choice not to blame God but look to Him.  To seek God's way, not our way.  To put our hope in Him, not our circumstances and most of all to trust Him with EVERYTHING!  It's amazing how when we are stripped of all that we have, that we can truly, whole heartedly surrender!  Realizing how much we look to circumstances in our lives instead of our God to supply our EVERY need was an eye opener to say the least.  My husband has been searching and finding God's heart and although no clear cut answers as far as what the world would consider answers for us, he has a joy knowing that it is not up to him but up to God to show him the way.  In that, I can rest knowing that God is for us and my husband is allowing God to direct is path. 

So, the prayers you are all saying ARE working and they are reaching heaven!  Thank you!  We are giving God the glory and are even able to thank Him for this trial knowing that this is what legends are made of and someday we will share this with our grandchildren and we can tell them how faithful our God is! 

A song by Jeremy Camp says this~

I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see.
Because this broken road, prepares your will for me.

The trials we go through are only a preparation of God's will in our life.  Bring it on!  I can't wait to see how it all ends up!  I will be keeping you posted! 

Giddy-up

Not a care in the world!
That's how it's supposed to be when we allow God to take over!

More than that...

I must admit sharing our wonderful news yesterday was a cleansing of my soul.  AFter the week we had, I had to share something good.  This baby is so much more then what it has been in the past.  Don't get me wrong, EVERY ONE of my pregnancies has been a joy and a miracle in my eyes.  But this time it is more than that. 

On Wednesday my husband lost his job.  I can't even begin to explain the emotions I have been through in the past couple of days.  I know God is my provider and I know the verses in the bible that tell me He cares for me and I DO believe them.  However, it has been very hard to feel anything but what my flesh feels right now.  I have been fighting my fleshly fear and worries with scripture and He has been so faithful to bring my heart peace.  But seeing my husband broken, our bank account with already nothing left, our babies faces and wondering where the food will come from and how we will pay our mortgage, does get to a person!  I am to walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT.  God has been reminding me of that hourly!  I am not to concentrate on the things I listed above but to put my faith in the one who looks at that list and can erase all of it and turn it into good.  My hope is never to be in my circumstances, but to be in HIM!  I am believing that! 

So, this baby is a promise of our future.  That He is thinking ahead, that He has not left us and the guarantee that He does love us!  What greater promise of a future than a child growing inside of you!  I can't see this little one right now as it is being knit together in my womb, but I KNOW that it is there!  I go by FAITH not SIGHT!  God has used this little one and it is only 10 weeks old, to change me and mold me into more of what He desires me to be.  TOTALLY dependent on Him!  Not in a paycheck, my home, or my comforts! But to the one who has given me life and life to the little babe growing inside of me.

This is not easy for me to always "feel", but just as David did when running from King Saul, I know who my God is and I am determined to trust in Him and I will NOT be moved or shaken! 

If you could please lift our family up in your prayers as my husband searches for a job and we learn to put all that we have in Christ's hands, I would appreciate it!  I know it is through the valley's that we can appreciate the mountains, but it is sometimes very lonely in the valley!  WE WILL climb up the mountain and take in the view again, but for today, we will trust Him in the valley too!

Foto Friday- this leads to this...

Two people in love and asking God to lead in every area of their lives INCLUDING family size...

Leads to this...

 

for the 12th time...

A break..

Last night we were hit with the most dreaded, annoying, feared, thing I experience as a mother with many children.  THE STOMACH FLU!  I can't tell you how much I loathe it!  So for a time I will be out of the blog world.  I will return when things have settled down and I am sure you will get to hear of our experince.  Or maybe I will save you from all of it!  That would be kind of me wouldn't it!  Until then, have healthy, sick-free days!  Oh, and we could really use prayer if you think about it!  Thank You!

Sleeping baby

There is NOTHING sweeter to me than a sleeping baby!
I could sit and watch for hours and hours and never get bored!
It is very rare I can get to a camera and take a sweet picture like this before he wakes.

So...

I will just enjoy the moment and savor the peacefulness of...

 

My sweet baby sleeping.