What a happy face...

I snapped this as Elizabeth took her very first bite of a Krispy Kreme doughnut. What a happy face!!!

Adoption update...

I know I mentioned a while back that we are in the process of adopting again. This time we are going to be pursuing a domestic adoption. This means our next child will be born here in the USA.


Today we had our home visit with our caseworker. BOY WAS I NERVOUS!!! But she is such a sweet lady who clearly loves the Lord, it is so easy to talk with her. She visited with us for our official in home meeting and then she even stayed for lunch with us. What fun!!


What's next? Well, our paperwork is all done now and we will be waiting for the official letter from our agency saying our homestudy is complete. Once that happens, our family profile (basically a scrapbook with pictures of our family and basic information about us) will be made available for birthmothers to look at. In this adoption, a birthmother will actually have to choose our family (with China, the huge government agency, CCAA, matches up a child's file with a family file). It could take a few weeks or even a few years. It all depends on whether a birthmother likes our family or not.


We will also be contacting groups about adoption grants. If y'all know of anyone that handles adoption grants, would you mind sharing that with me? We would really appreciate any help we could get!! :)

Anyway, if y'all think about it, please pray for us. We do need funds to cover the adoption and to purchase things for a newborn baby (Elizabeth was 9 1/2 months when we got her, so we don't have any newborn things). If the call came in the next few weeks, we would have to say "no" because we don't have all the money we need.

I can't wait for the day when I will be able to show pictures of our new little one!!!

Flee from these things...

Yep, that's my son! Joshua has a blog up and running and, y'all know how it is, I just HAD to share with you!!!

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12

The Betty Crocker Creed...

I found this over at Project Home Economics (LOVE it there!!!). It is from an old Betty Crocker cookbook. Oh, how I agree with all of these statements!!

The Betty Crocker Creed -

I believe homemaking is a noble and challenging career.

I believe homemaking is an art requiring many different skills.

I believe homemaking requires the best of my efforts, my abilities and my thinking.

I believe home reflects the spirit of the homemaker.

I believe home should be a place of peace, joy and contentment.

I believe no task is too humble that contributes to the cleanliness, the order, the health, the well being of the household.

I believe a homemaker must be true to the highest ideals of love, loyalty, service and religion.

I believe home must be an influence for good in the neighborhood, the community, the country.

Spiced Apple Cake...

I surely have been baking a good bit lately!! I can't help myself, it's just so much fun!! This was another tasty recipe from Joy the Baker. Yum! Elizabeth LOVES apples so this cake really made her happy!!!

Spiced Apple Cake
(from joythebaker.com)

Sauteed Apples

2 tart apples (about 1 pound)
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons sugar

Cake

12 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
4 egg yolks, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon clove
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sour cream
1/4 cup raw sugar (or granulated if you don't have raw on hand)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Butter and flour an 8-inch spring form pan and set aside.

To sautee the apples: peel, core and dice the apples into 1/4-inch cubes. Melt the butter in a saute pan over medium heat until butter beings to bubble. Add the diced apples and cook for one minute, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the sugar and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Turn the heat to low and cook the apples, uncovered for 4-5 minutes until they are softened. Remove from heat and allow to cool. You'll only use the sauteed apples for the recipe so you can discard any liquids that may have accumulated.

To make the cake: cream the butter, sugar and spices in a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment until light in color and fluffy. This may take 6 to 8 minutes. Stop the mixer occasionally, to scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the egg yolks one at a time and continue beating until fluffy and glossy.

Measure out the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. With the mixer set on low speed, add half of the dry ingredients to the batter. Mix until no flour streaks remain. Add the sour cream all at once and incorporate. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix until no traces remain. Fold in the cooked apples with a rubber spatula. The cake batter will be thick.

Spread the cake batter into the prepared pan and distribute evenly. Take a knife and run it in a singular circular motion through the batter 1-inch from the edge of the pan. This will help the cake to rise evenly. Sprinkle the cake with the raw or granulated sugar and bake for 60- 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing the sides of the spring form pan.

(I added the glaze on top. 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 T milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla and a sprinkling of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice to taste! YUM!!!)

Ah Caramel!!!!!

When we were in Ontario visiting friends, we were introduced to Ah Caramels. Y'ALL!!!! GO TO CANADA AND BUY SOME OF THESE LITTLE BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soft cake inside with a creamy white filling and an oozing middle of caramel all surrounded by chocolate!!! Oh my!!! Why hasn't the good ole' USA shipped these in yet???

Our wonderful friends sent us home with a Costco sized box of them. We left their house Sunday afternoon and were home Tuesday night. The box was empty Wednesday morning. Oh my.

Could this little girl have played a part in eating all of them? Hmmmmmm.....

Small town living...

You know you live in a small town when the latest big "thing" to do is visit the new grocery store that opened!!!

It's been the latest talk around town for a week and a half now, so this morning we headed into town to visit the new and improved grocery store that now offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, too!!! We each had our choice of biscuits and Elizabeth had her beloved bacon and grits. FUN!

What's the new big "thing" going in in your town??