"Three Hearts" Winners!

The winners of the "Three Hearts" DVD from the Children's Heart Project with Samaritan's Purse are:

Susan H. (so glad to hear from you!)
Karen (you are going to LOVE this, but it will be difficult to watch at some points)
Laura F. (would love to catch up)
saspinall (you are right, you may have to sit on this movie for a bit before watching it, but you won't be disappointed)

If you haven't sent me your mailing address yet, just leave a comment for me here and I won't publish it.  Samaritan's Purse will mail you the DVDs.  Thanks so much for participating in the giveaway!

Giveaway

Check the post below for a giveaway.  I am moderating comments, so it may take a few days for it to appear, but I will definitely get to them!

If you want to leave me a way to get in touch with you (email) so we can send you a DVD, just let me know and I won't publish it.

Three Hearts

Many of you know my son, Sam, has Brugada Syndrome, an arrhythmia of the heart.  If you haven't read his story, you can find it on the sidebar.  Sam's particular heart issue is an electrical one, which means that no surgery to his actual heart can fix the problem, not even a heart transplant.  He was born with one heart and he will die with the same.

However, he was given a chance to live when his cardiologist strongly suggested implanting a defibrillator at the tender age of 10 months-old.  

Now, four years later, he lives a typical five year-old's life.  He climbs trees, plays soccer, goes to school, reads books and loves his family and friends.  He has even chosen to believe in Jesus as his Savior and will be baptized on Easter morning.  He lives because of God's hand in his little life.  We are stronger because of the path the Lord has chosen for us to walk.  I have friends I would never have made were it not for this difficult, arduous and wonderful road in our lives.  And, in everything I do, I give the honor and glory back to the Lord for leading us in times that I thought I could never live through.  

I was recently asked to review a new movie from the Samaritan's Purse Children's Heart Project.  CHP helps provide children, in countries where medical care is not advanced, the opportunity to receive life-saving heart surgeries.  As you know, I am very passionate about educating the public concerning children's heart conditions, so I gladly accepted.  

My husband warned me before I watched it though.  He told me when they have shown bits and pieces of the movie during their devotional time at Samaritan's Purse, he has had to get up and walk out on more than one occasion.  It is just so hard to remember what Sam went through and think about any precious child going through something similar.

"Three Hearts" follows three Mongolian children, and their mothers, who come to the United States through Children's Heart Project to receive surgeries.  Two of the children, one is three years-old and the other 16, live in very rural areas of Mongolia, while the third who is 18 years-old, lives in Ulaanbaatar.  They are filtered, for lack of a better word, through a pediatric cardiologist at the Maternal & Child Hospital in Ulaanbaatar as at risk for sudden death.  I was surprised when I learned that there are 200 children currently on the waiting list for the Children's Heart Project.  Honestly, I can't even imagine having to be the one who decides which children will make the final cut.  

The movie was beautifully made.  I enjoyed watching each of these families and their progression through this difficult season in their lives. I loved hearing that Children's Heart Project not only chooses the children carefully, but also the host families in America as well.  And, to go a step further, they choose a strong church associated with the host families.  It's not just the host families, but the church family who embrace these children and their mothers.  It's a true picture of God's family and how we are called to meet the needs of others.  I was impressed, though through tears, that CHP chose to include (and honor) the memory of a little girl who did not make it after her surgery.  

I will warn you, there are a few graphic scenes in the operating room.  My children watched some of the movie with me and Sam was moved to tears on more than one occasion (they did not watch the graphic scenes), but was brought to laughter as well.  His favorite scene was watching Toggie, the three year-old pictured above, playing with running water in Texas.  She lives in the South Gobi desert, so running water was a new and wondrous miracle for her.  She kept splashing her face with it, giggling all the while.  The scene reminded me of the innocence of this child; she has a life-threatening heart condition and still sees the newness in everything around her AND enjoys it.  I can learn a lesson or two from her.

If you would like to see this movie too, I'll be giving away five copies.  Just leave me a comment and let me know why this subject is important to you or why you are interested in seeing the movie.  The giveaway will end on March 20th at midnight and I'll announce the winners on my blog on the 21st.

Follow Children's Heart Project on Facebook

Watch the trailer 

Buy a copy

Grafting

We have this old Weeping Willow in our yard.  I have always thought willow trees were beautiful - the way they droop down and create a curtain of beauty surrounding the trunk.  I've seen them get so weighed down with snow and ice that they fall, but I know the one we have in our yard has already withstood many a harsh winter, even since we moved in.

As my children were climbing in the tree recently, I noticed that there are parts that have grown into other parts.   I felt like the Lord spoke directly to my heart - like in Romans 11.

16...if the root is holy, the branches are too. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; ²¹ for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. ²² Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³ And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Although I know that Paul was speaking to the Jews, I felt like their situation could certainly apply in our life.  I looked at this tree, this branch that was "eaten up", as my children say, by the tree and I realized that as much as I am that way in God's family, Carolina is that way in our immediate family.  Ephesians 1:5-6 says, "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved."


Once we are adopted into His family, we are part of it and if we try to remove ourselves it will leave great damage, like trying to remove a toe or an arm.  Carolina has been adopted into our family and is a permanent member.  Just as this branch on our willow tree has been grafted into the trunk, Carolina has been grated into our family and is an important part of our body. The root is rich and holy.  

This tree is an important reminder of God's love for her and for me (and His children).  

Just for Kicks

The kids and I have enjoyed watching The Pioneer Woman's new TV show on the Food Network lately.  I never really followed her blog (I still don't...not really), but my BFF gave me her cookbook for my birthday a couple years ago and I have seriously enjoyed everything I have made of hers.  So, when the children saw this broccoli and cheese soup, they immediately wanted to make it and make it NOW!

Since I normally don't cater to their every whim, I went grocery shopping that day but didn't actually make it until a couple days later.  I have to say, this recipe was a hit.  Not only was it delicious, but we also got to EAT our bowls.  What child doesn't enjoy something like that?  And I didn't just get a bread bowl, I bought pretzel hamburger buns that we turned into bowls.  The perfect size for little bellies (maybe a little too much, but Carolina didn't seem to think so) and a lovely compliment to the creamy soup.  I also added another cup of cheese and added some local ham that I had sauteed a little.

In the words of Yo Gabba Gabba, "Try it, you'll like it."

Yum.

Life Changes

Well, life changes because our kids are growing up too fast.  I find that I have three children who are absolutely refusing to stop growing.  No matter how many times I stomp my feet, ball up my fists and demand that they stop growing, they refuse to obey me.

So, I just have to roll with the punches, get out the next sized bin of clothes from the attic, buy new shoes that may or may not fit two months from now and enjoy the scenery as everything changes around me.  I miss my babies, but I am really enjoying this new stage of life we are in.

Just the other day, I taught Sam to throw a Frisbee and now he can throw it better than I can.  We spent about an hour just throwing it back and forth in the yard on a beautiful afternoon.

Then the weekend came and he grew up more.  He sat down to breakfast and I asked him how his loose tooth was doing.  He said it was fine, pulled his bottom lip down to show me and it was gone.  Not only had he lost his first tooth, but he had, in fact, swallowed it as well.  Good times good times.

And Carolina?  I can't even begin to describe the amazing changes I see in my only daughter.  She is so verbal now, people who haven't seen her in a while don't recognize her. She's taller and  has a little less pudge around her belly (where's my baby fat going???).  She is an amazing big sister, very responsible, organized (well, when she wants to be) and extremely loving.  She has a hysterical sense of humor too.  Just today the children were playing a little game where I would call out an animal and they would run to me acting like that animal.  She got so tickled she literally could not lift her arms up and could barely move across the floor.  She got Sam and Hudson laughing so hard they were in a similar predicament.  What an angel.

Then there's Hudson.  Not so verbal, but extremely bright, very obedient, physical, and, well, a bit melodramatic at times.  He may not look like me, but he certainly has my personality traits.  He's a serious little guy, but when he finds something funny, it is consistently funny.  He is only ticklish when he chooses to be.  He loves being outside, especially in the snow.  We had three inches of snow this morning and I let the children leave the house just before me while I grabbed my bag so we could run to the pediatrician's office.  Thirty seconds after they were outside, Hudson was already halfway up a steep hill IN THE SNOW headed for a sled.  He didn't care that he had snow on his face, mittens, pants - no, that didn't matter.  What mattered was that he was in it, touching it, feeling it, playing in it.  You should have seen the tantrum that ensued when I tried to strap him into his car seat afterwards.  On second thought, I'm glad that wasn't too public.


All that to say, things are changing.  Life is changing.  But we are enjoying it.  Every moment.

Re-post on English Muffins

Since there has been a lot of talk about the English Muffin recipe I posted several years ago, I wanted to re-post it.

Here is the recipe:

English Muffins

Mix and let stand 5 minutes:

1 T yeast

2 T sugar

1/2 cup warm water

Add and mix well:

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/4 cup oil

1 t salt

3 cups flour

Add and knead in:

3 cups flour (you can use whole wheat flour here to make whole wheat muffins)

Let rise. Roll out dough and cut into 3 inch circles. Place on a cookie sheet sprinkled with a little cornmeal. Let rise 1 inch high. Cook on a heavy ungreased griddle, turning at least three times until both sides are brown. Split open with a fork.

First, I want to encourage those of you who don't think you can do this. Yes you can! This is a very simple recipe, as bread recipes go, and requires very little effort on your part. If you have a mixer with a kneading attachment, it will make it even easier. If not, the only real effort you will expend is muscle energy.

As mentioned in my previous post, this recipe has yeast in it, to help the bread rise. If you use the right temperature of water (between 105 and 120F), the yeast should activate and look like the above photo.

I mixed the milk, salt, oil and flour then slowly added the yeast mixture. I used my KitchenAid kneading attachment and slowly mixed everything together.
Then I added the three cups of whole wheat flour and kneaded for about five more minutes. I transfered the dough to a greased Pyrex dish and covered it with plastic wrap, then placed it in my warm oven. You don't need to warm the oven, but it helps it rise a little faster.

About an hour later, I pulled it out and found it had risen perfectly.

It was the perfect situation for little hands to be involved. I try to include Sam every time I bake bread and punching down the dough is one of his favorite past times.

Then we rolled it out - another joy of Sam's. He is such a great helper.

Finally, we cut out little circles and placed them on a couple cookie sheets with some cornmeal sprinkled on them. I covered them with kitchen towels and set them aside for another half hour.
Once they were about an inch tall, I put them on my warmed cast iron skillet. I love my skillet and use it at least one time every day - it is so versatile.

The end result: perfectly browned whole wheat English muffins - made with fresh goat's milk for that extra nutrition. We ate them with smoked beef brisket, butternut squash bisque and fresh Swiss chard from the local Farmer's Market.

Year in Review

As I ponder what is to come in the next year, I was reminded of this post where our family each chose one word to focus on throughout 2011.  My word was "listen" which I feel has really come to a head in the last couple of weeks.  I have been listening to the Lord and have heard Him speak to me in beautiful and creative ways.  Besides through His word, which has been encouraging, comforting and specifically speaking to our situation, other people, my children and books have helped me to hear my Father speak to my heart.

I starting reading the book Radical by David Platt and my life was changed.  Bill also had a huge change in his heart after reading the book.  While overly simplistic in many ways, the main points of the book speak to the commandment that we have received from the Lord as Christians.

I do not know what is going to happen in the upcoming months or year, but I do know that I choose to continue listening.  I desire to hear Him more now that I have heard Him so clearly and so often.

One accomplishment I am proud of from 2011 is reading through the New Testament.  I am starting the Old Testament in 2012, but it will be a two year plan for me (I figure there's no hurry).  I love reading through His word - and it is amazing how fresh and new I find everything that I have read before as I read it again.


But, for the year 2012, what one word will I choose for our family, overall?  Offhand I think I'll choose SLEEP.  Sleep seems to evade us.  Hudson is one of those rare kids who can't cry because if he does cry for more than three minutes he will vomit.  So, we have to keep him close and snuggle often.  It's not such a bad prescription for his issue, but it does mean lots of waking up overnight and very little sleep.  I hope our entire family will sleep more in 2012.

What's your word?

Merry Christmas!

Our family has been busy growing and learning throughout the holiday season.  We've had some ups and downs, but are thrilled to be exactly where we're supposed to be right now.  We're excited about how God is going to work in our lives over the next year as well.  

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Shopping

I often wonder why everyone doesn't shop this way.

Homemade Marinara (it's cheap too!)

We're on a bit of a tight budget lately, so I'm up to my old tricks in making everything from scratch.  I found this article in Good Housekeeping a few years ago that I clipped and, for some reason, I never used it.  So, as I was digging through my recipe bag (yes, it is a ziplock bag, and no, I don't intend to change my "system" any time soon) this morning looking for a totally different recipe, I pulled out this gem and put it to good use immediately.

Turns out, it is absolutely delicious!  I changed it up a bit and just used the basic idea, so here is the new and improved version.  Most people have their own tomato sauce recipe, but if you feel like changing it up a bit, try this one.  It costs about 47 cents a serving (versus $1.50 per serving of the bottled sauce, on average).

Marinara:

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed with press

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes in juice (you can also use whole tomatoes)

Salt and pepper

1 tsp dried basil (or 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil, chopped)

Five fresh sprigs of thyme (leaves removed, of course)

Dash of marjoram

1/2 tsp oregano

In a 4 quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot.  Add onion and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute.  Stir in tomatoes with their juice, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper; heat to boiling over high heat, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon if you have used whole tomatoes.  Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.  Stir in herbs.  If not using right away, transfer to a container with tight fitting lid and refrigerate up to three days or cool 30 minutes and freeze up to 3 months.  Makes enough to coat 1lb cooked pasta.

Personally, I am letting the flavors mellow in the fridge overnight and we'll have it tomorrow night for dinner with browned meat and some veggies to make a primavera.  I'm sure we could get fancier than canned tomatoes and tomato paste, but this is what I had in the pantry and it is actually quite inexpensive to be so tasty.

(Like my lid?  My aunt bought this one for me, but I've seen it online here.)

Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

On special holidays, birthdays, or just a sweet homecoming, I like to make my favorite caramel-pecan sticky buns.  Sure, I could stick to the old cinnamon bun recipe, which is decent in its own way.  But nothing says, "I love you" like these sticky buns.  They're not that much harder to make and if done correctly, they can be delightful.

So, get your favorite cup of java ready, because you're gonna need it when you eat this delectable treat.

Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

2 1/4 teaspoon dry yeast

3/4 cup warm water (110F to 115F)

3/4 cup warm milk  (110F to 115F)

1/4 cup sugar

3 T vegetable oil

2 t salt

3-3/4 to 4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

3 t cinnamon

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Add the milk, sugar, oil, salt and 1-1/4 cups flour.  Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes or until smooth (I use a wooden spoon - just make sure you mix everything until smooth).  Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (not too tacky).  Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top.  Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about one hour.**

Punch down dough.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface.  Roll into an 18-inch by 12-inch rectangle.  Spread butter to within 1/2 inch of edges/  Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over butter. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal.  Cut into 12 slices (I use a three inch piece of thread and wrap it around the dough, pull tightly and that cuts it perfectly without smooshing the dough). 

Combine brown sugar and cream; pour into a greased 13-inch by 9-inch by 2-inch baking pan.  If you are in a high altitude, do not use glass.  Sprinkle with pecans.  Place rolls, cut side down, over pecans.  Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.  Or, you can cover and place in the fridge overnight, but make sure you take them out half an hour before baking to bring to room temperature.

Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until well browned.  Cool for one minute before inverting onto a serving platter.  Yield:  1 dozen

Caution:  these are addictive, if done right.

**I learned a little trick from America's Test Kitchen that I use with all my dough.  Preheat the oven to its lowest setting (mine is 175F) then turn it off.  Use a glass bowl, like Pyrex makes, to put the dough into.  Once the dough is in the bowl and greased well, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place in the warmed oven.  It cuts the rise time in half and makes for a very light and airy bread.  You can use this secret with pizza dough, bread, sweet breads, rolls, etc.  

Roseola

It has been quite a week at our house.  Hudson, only 11 months-old, was diagnosed with Roseola after three days of high fevers.  The President actually visited our little town during the worst of his fever and I was so nervous that I might not be able to get Hudson to the hospital or pediatrician's office when he hit 103.8F and stayed there for THREE hours despite medicine!  Fortunately, his heart was able to withstand the high fever with no issues that I could detect.  Unfortunately, his high fever lasted for a little over three days and never went below 101.5F until today, minus three hours of low-grade yesterday morning.  

He has not slept much in his pack-n-play - mostly just in my arms, on the couch, in my bed, in the Ergo Baby, etc.  I snapped a few shots of my sick little baby in different sleeping positions.  

I think the worst of it is over, except that he appears to have gotten a cold.  His heart is strong and despite getting checkups every six months to make sure it is okay, we are encouraged by this week's experience.  He does have a 50/50 chance of having Brugada Syndrome, like his brother, and it appears that he does not have it.  He has not been given the all-clear by the cardiologist yet, but his heart appears to be healthy.  

What a blessing this little surprise has been to our lives.  

Medical Tidbit for Kids

In light of a high fever that has occurred at our home this evening, I wanted to share a piece of information that my husband and I find invaluable in times of sickness.

When Sam was first diagnosed with his heart condition, we had to give him so much Tylenol and Motrin in order to keep his fevers down (fevers for him are life threatening) that we began to become concerned that we might over medicate him.  Thus, the chart was born:

Name of Child	Med & Dose	Time Given	Parent

Not the sick one this time

We keep this printed chart (with many more cells) on our bathroom counter with a pen close by.  Now that we have more than one child, we have had to add the "Name of Child" cell, because, inevitably, more than one child will get sick at a time.  Oftentimes, if the fever is extra high or stubborn, we will add another row entitled "Temperature" or just scribble it in somewhere on the chart.  The cell that you can't see completely on the right says "Parent."

When it comes time to see the pediatrician, this little chart comes in mighty handy.  We know exactly when the fever occurred, how often we medicated (even breaks or gaps in between) and which parent was doing the medicating.  Generally speaking, I am the medicine caregiver in our family.  However, on the off-chance that I am tending to another child or sitting in a dark room holding a sick baby, my husband will get the medication prepared and hand it to me.  He signs the chart as though he has given the medicine on those occasions.

So, just another small tidbit from a mom with a special needs kiddo - something that might make any family move a little more functionally during sickness.  I hope it helps.

Homemade Deodorant

I've been wrestling with myself for a long time about the antiperspirant I use.  I kept reading about the aluminum in antiperspirant being linked to breast cancer.  Although no conclusive data has been found (according to this website and a few others).  But I kept hearing my friends who have recovered from breast cancer tell me that their oncologists have told them two things - no more processed foods and no more antiperspirants.

So, when my antiperspirant ran out, I decided to make my own.  And you know what?  It was not only cheap, it actually works.  I put the mixture in a mason jar and use clean fingers to apply.

Here's the recipe, if you dare:

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
4 Tbsp coconut oil

I mixed it with my fingers, since coconut oil actually becomes liquid at 76 degrees F (25C).

You can add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil if you like too.  I think the next time I make it I will add Tea Tree Oil, since it not only smells clean, it also neutralizes odors naturally.  So well, in fact, that I use it when washing my cloth diapers.

Am I preventing breast cancer?  I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that I just saved my wallet a little extra money and my conscience is clean, as well as my personal scent.

The Cascades

The KlearLife Kids on the Cascades Hike

We are thoroughly enjoying the Fall season here in the High Country.  The beauty of the colors this weekend reminds me how much I missed all of this when I was living overseas.  I think we've hit the peak of the season though, as we are experiencing a lot of wind and even this afternoon there are more bare trees than there were this time yesterday.  

We are ready to paint our pumpkins, eat more pumpkin treats (like those delicious muffins), have apple pie and start canning raw pears (I still have two huge bags full and they are absolutely delicious this year!).  

Check out those enormous leaves Carolina is hanging on to.  I have never seen a Chestnut Oak leaf as big as the one she found this morning on our hike.  We like to identify all the leaves as we walk through the forest and Carolina hit the jackpot with big ones today.  I felt like we were in some prehistoric jungle!  The Tulip Poplar leaf on the top of her pile is just one example.  

Everyone is having birthdays this month - Sam just turned five, Carolina turned four and Hudson hits the big ONE in two weeks.  I can't believe how quickly everyone is growing.  It's a bit different this year because Sam is being homeschooled and Carolina is taking ballet classes - I feel like we're finally hitting some sort of "American family" standard or something. 

Oh, and Hudson is walking.  *Deep sigh*

I'm off to enjoy them some more before the afternoon fades too quickly.

More Food!

Need I say more?

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Four years ago on October 11th, a baby girl was found in front of the steel doors behind a clinic in Guangzhou, China.  The doctors who found her took note of everything she was wearing, weighed her, photographed her, checked her over and called the police to report an abandoned baby.

Her birth mother will never be known to her, nor will the circumstances of her abandonment.

I have read the book Message From an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xue Xinran and I think it is safe to say it is anyone's guess as to why my daughter was abandoned.

What I do know is this - Carolina was born healthy, abandoned within hours of her birth, clothed well with plenty of blankets for warmth and placed in a very public spot.  The person who left her there, in front of those doors, wasn't doing something cold and unfeeling.  It was obviously a very well thought-out decision - I stood in that alley and looked around it to see if I could find a spot where someone might hide, watching and waiting to see when she might be found.  There were so many hiding places I lost count.

I am sure that the decision to leave her, to give her up, was a difficult one.  Maybe it was for protection from a family who demanded a boy.  Maybe it was because she already had another sibling and her birth family wanted more for her than to be a second child with no rights.  Maybe they couldn't afford to keep her.  Maybe her birth mother was too young to care for her.

Whatever the case, Carolina wasn't aborted.  Her birth mother carried her for close to nine months, based on her birth weight.  She felt Carolina's first kick.  She knew when Carolina was active and when she was asleep inside her womb.  She felt birth pangs.  She delivered my child.  She had the rush of hormones after the baby was born - the hormones that God blessed mothers with so that they will feel love and attachment to their children.  And still, this mother was unable to raise her child - or even keep her.  Perhaps she was unable to even lay eyes on her.

I have prayed for Carolina's birth mother from the moment we decided to adopt a child.  I am praying for her today, as I do every year around Carolina's birthday.  I pray she will come to know Christ.  I pray she will be blessed with Christian friends.  I pray God will confirm to her that her decision, or maybe her circumstances in giving Carolina up, was not in vain.  And I pray that she will somehow know that Carolina is loved and enjoying freedom that most Chinese people do not enjoy.  Freedom that comes with her rights as a citizen of the United States of America.

Four years ago on October 11th, a child was born.  She struggled for twenty months in a Social Welfare Institute.  Struggled for life, for food, to develop and even to live.  Twenty months - that's how long it took before she met her mother and her father.

She was my first.  First in our hearts.  We prayed for her before we even knew we could conceive a child biologically.

Happy birthday, Sweet Child.  We love you dearly and we will never stop praying for you and ourselves as we try to parent you in the best way possible.  I am so blessed to know you, despite our butting heads most days, and so blessed that you are a fighter.  Your personality is boisterous and infectious.  Even with the long nights you have given us, some of the most difficult days (and nights) of our lives, we will love you with an unyielding love always and forever.  I am so grateful God knit you for our family in another mother's womb.  Happy birthday.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes

Looking for something to warm up your otherwise cool Fall mornings?  Around here, we don't have Starbucks, so we have to get a bit creative (well, also because we are frugal as well).  When I saw a friend of mine had made these muffins, I immediately asked for the recipe.  We have had two birthday parties in two weekends and dedicated Hudson to the Lord today, so with all the family and friends visiting, this was a must!


Here it is (don't let the ingredients list fool you - it may seem like a lot, but it's really just basic stuff):


Makes about 2 dozen muffins

Dry Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. espresso powder (or 6 tbsp. instant coffee granules)
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt

Wet ingredients:
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
4 large eggs
½ cup coffee or espresso, for brushing

For the whipped cream:
2¼ cups heavy cream, chilled
¼ cup confectioners' sugar

For garnish:
Ground cinnamon
Caramel sauce


Directions:
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners or grease the tin. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Stir together and set aside. 


In a separate bowl use an electric mixer, to blend together the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixture on low speed, add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing just until incorporated.


Fill the cupcake liners about three-quarters full. Bake until the cupcakes are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pans. While the cupcakes are still warm, brush them two or three times with the coffee or espresso, allowing the first coat to soak in before repeating. Let cool completely.
To make the frosting, place the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium-low speed at first, gradually increasing to high speed. Blend in the confectioners' sugar gradually. Whip until stiff peaks form, being careful not to over-beat. Use a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip to frost the cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and drizzle with caramel sauce. Enjoy!

IF you have any left, store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Special thanks to April L. for her contribution of the recipe.  

Storybook Walk

The Tale of the Three Trees

Yesterday I was given the privilege to participate in something I have never done before and yet, at the same time, I've done it millions of times in my life.  I read a book - but this time I read it on a walk.  Thirty six people participated on our Storybook Walk.  I initially read the idea in a Disney Family Fun magazine and after speaking to the local librarian about doing in downtown in the storefront windows (I'm still lobbying for it), I decided to stop waiting and just do it myself. 

Actually, it wasn't "myself" at all - I bet a total of 50+ people helped make this event the success that it was. If only there hadn't been an ASU football game at the same time, I bet we would have had even more participants.  

So, here's what happened:  We chose a children's storybook (the Children's Council at my church and I) and then I had the pages laminated.  I attached them to fence posts around our church property and we set up a few important props at the climax of the tale. We began the walk by facing the three large trees on our church property and moved around to different "stations" or pages until I had read the whole book.  I asked questions throughout and allowed the children to talk a little about what was going on as well.  Honestly, I've never done anything like it and even today the excitement hasn't faded.

 

 

The last two pages of the book were read on top of a small hill.  As I stood there with the headstones behind me (rumored to be the children of slaves) and the cross in front of me, I was in awe.  There I was openly telling people about Jesus Christ - through a book, through my prayer, through my actions - some of whom already believe in Jesus, but some do not.  I looked around at the open sky, the public place where we stood - the freedom was not lost on me.  How is it that I have become so privileged that THIS is my job now.  Besides raising my own beautiful children and sharing Christ with them, I am also blessed to share Christ (openly, I might add) with children in our community.  And their parents.  I don't know of any greater gift God could have given me yesterday. 

Oh wait, I do.  A church body that supports the children's ministry and makes something like this possible.

Blessed I am.  What a beautiful Storybook Walk.  The first of its kind in Boone, but not the last.  Certainly not if I have anything to do with it.