Whats New!

So it has been a very long time since I have updated my blog. A lot has happened since we adopted the kids. Of course I have been busy, what mom wouldn't be that has went from 0 to 4 kids in a matter of months. But that is probably no excuse for not writing. To catch up here is what is going on in my life:
- May 2012 Adopted four kids
- June and July 2012 tried to keep my four younguns busy during the summer months by going to GA, Church Camp, VBS etc..
- August 2012 School started and our oldest daughter is now in middle school (oh how time flies by).

I am going to go ahead and skip to now because it seems like the last few months have been a blur. I am now 17 weeks pregnant. We are going to officially have a biological son. His name is going to be Joseph Allen.  People always ask how I am doing, I am good, I had morning sickness but not as bad as other people so I am thankful and it seems to be almost completely faded away. Joseph seems to be doing well growing and getting big. I officially have a small but pregnant belly. Which I look down and cant believe almost every day. The kids are really excited and cant wait to have a baby brother. They have really adopted him into our adopted family.

I wanted to start getting into my blogging again because I for one have energy again. Not as much as before pregnancy but definitely more then the last few months. And I have been venturing back on my pinterest account and seeing a lot of awesome things I want to try and blog about. So I hope I can keep it up and don't fall off the grid again. Although sometimes I think we have to do that.

Through Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond

This book was about a young missionary worker whom after being jilted by her supposed future husband really wanted to go to China to serve the Lord but ended up in Indian Territory.  When she arrived on her mission field the other missionaries thought that she wouldn’t make it, judging her by her properness and higher education. She learned a lot about the Indians and their culture and learned how misfortunate and how unfairly they are treated. By her own will she decides to send letters to get help for her Indian friends. Unfortunately through all her efforts the government decides to move the Indians from their territory to unknown land.  On her journey she makes friends with the carpenter who she slowly falls in love with and together they will find out the fate of their Indian friends.

    At first I had a really hard time understanding everything that was going on in the book. Which would be my only complaint about the book. But towards the end I didn’t want to put it down. I wanted to know what happens to the Indians and the two main characters of the book. I really enjoyed the ending and would recommend this book. 

 BookSneeze® has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.

His Love Endures Forever by Beth Wiseman

    I absolutely loved this book. I like to read Amish books occasionally but sometimes I feel they are repetitive. This book kept me on my toes the whole time. It is about a girl with a troubled past whom falls in love. Unfortunately it is with the wrong guy and she ends up pregnant and alone. She turns to her best friend that just happens to be an Amish boy for guidance and help.  When they agree to marry it seems to be out of a friendly love that is believed to be the will of God, can and will they make a marriage work with two different beliefs and an odd history? I really loved reading this book and felt like it always kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I was rooting for the couple the whole way through and enjoyed watching them make their lives work together.  The best thing about this book was how easy it was to read and fall in love with all the characters. I thought it was great representation of forgiveness and God’s love. Many times many people are hurt and this book shows what we must do to rely on God to help with the hurt and give us hope.

This book was a complimentary copy from booksneeze.com for my honest review.

Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur

    I am more of a fictional book reader but I thought I would give John MacArthur’s book Twelve Unlikely Heroes a try. I have heard that he is a good author and this book sounded very interesting. When I started reading it I was slightly disappointed that the book seemed to lack personality and basically was retelling accounts in the Bible and suggesting why they were important. It also seemed like some assumptions were added into the book that I don’t if they were necessary. I have to agree with some other reviewers that it seems like a good devotional book but it is hard to figure out the best audience for this read. I love to read about Biblical characters and I thought the book was overall a fine read. It was interesting to see what people he had choose as unlikely Heroes. I personally think that most people from the Bible are in some sort are unlikely heroes in their own ways. So it would be easy to agree with any of his choices. This book did not seem to flow very well but I am also a big fan of fiction and non-fiction is not my favorite style of reading as I said before. Overall I thought this was a decent book and I would recommend it if you want some more background and studying on people in the Bible.

 

I was given this book from booksneeze.com to provide my own personal review.

Tangled Birthday Party

     Saturday was my youngest daughters 6th Birthday. So we had a Tangled Party. I wanted to share some of the pictures. Of course I got pretty much all the ideas off of Pinterest. Gotta love it!

 

This was the spread, jello boats, rice krispy paint brushes, pretzels, grapes and oranges, and our tower cake that my wonderful mother made!

 

 

Close ups of the Jello boats and paintbrushes, I also braided a spool of yellow yarn and curved it throughout the table for Rapunzels hair

 

 

Extra Cupcakes

 



 

Tangled hair with flowers in it

A close up of the tower cake! Mom really outdid herself!

 

 

I also did pin the pot on Ryder and a Ryder wanted Pinata that the kids hit with a pot. It all turned out really great. I wish I had some pictures of the games but you can search them on Pinterest. 

Crock Pot Peanut Butter Cup Cake (Pinterest Recipe)

I am actually trying to do two new recipes this week. Today I made a crockpot dessert. I found this on Pinterest and tracked it down to this site http://cookiesandcups.com/crock-pot-peanut-butter-cup-cake/

Crock Pot Peanut Butter Cup Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 oz) pkg chocolate cake mix
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 (3 or 4 oz) pkg of instant chocolate pudding mix any size will be fine
• 1 cup mini peanut butter cups, or 1 cup chopped peanut butter cups
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup water

How to Make

1. Spray crock pot with non stick spray. I used my 8 qt crock pot.
2. Mix all ingredients together and pour in crock.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 1/2-7 hours until center is set.
4. Serve warm with ice cream.

It turned out really good, I think next time I would use less sour cream then the recipe. But overall it was really good especially with ice cream and whipped cream on top!!

This Scarlet Cord by Joan Wolf

I picked this book because I am a huge fan of Historical fiction. I just recently started reading Biblical fiction and it is very hard for me because I tend to judge it harshly. I have to keep in mind that this is a FICTIONAL story. The author uses her best resources to bring a person we don’t know much about in the Bible to a more familiar figure. Even though I don’t know if I completely agree with the storyline and how Rahab’s story may have truly been like I really felt like I was there in biblical times watching events I am familiar with unfold.

 This Scarlet Cord is about Rahab starting with her childhood. She was almost sold into slavery but was saved by a young boy whom she happens to meet back up with in her later years in the city of Jericho. It is there they find out they have true feelings for each other. However many things are happening in Jericho such as a festival for baal their pagan god. Rahab soon finds herself being summoned by the king to take the place in a sacred marriage ceremony where there is only one way out, she must trust in the Israelites true God.

I enjoyed being able to fit some of the history of the Bible I know into the story of Rahab that Joan Wolf has created but buyer be warned it is FICTIONAL and while you are reading you may find yourself saying “I don’t think it went down that way, or the Bible never really said that”. As a love story based in Biblical times it was highly enjoyable.

bookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy to write an honest review of this book