Jesus Saves

I haven't posted on this blog in a while.  I have been getting some things together and taking a break.  But, this post was something I thought warranted my coming out of hibernation.  What could be so important to drag me from my warm cocoon of family, home school, cooking, reading, etc?  That would be my son.  You see, this weekend, he turns 8.  On February 7, as a matter of fact! 

"Why is that so exciting," you ask. "After all, you have 3 other children who have turned 8 ahead of him.  Is he your favorite?"

Maybe but that isn't the point.  If you tell the other 3, I will deny it, point blank.
What has inspired me? Well, at choir practice tonight, I found out that we are singing "Jesus Saves" by Travis Cottrell this Sunday.  That is one of my favorite songs.  The other reason?  My little guy is being baptized on Sunday, his birthday, with the mother of all Christian songs echoing through the rafters.  That is the trifecta for this mom.

You see, Asa should not be alive and neither should I.  He was almost miscarried 5 times.  The warm, nest he was cradled in burst when he was still too little to live on this earth.  We were told that he would be born and that he would be too little and that he would die.  His chances were less than 2% for survival.  But, despite all the odds, Jesus Saves.  He survived despite astronomical odds against him.  But, God doesn't play odds.  God does what God wants.

Fast forward several years.  In our kitchen, Asa begins to ask me questions.  Dad comes in and we talk eternity over with our 5 year old.  He understands.  It really isn't that hard to figure out.  We all have a yearning in our soul for something that we don't understand.  There is a piece missing that only one thing, Person, can fill.  Kids sense it and figure it out so much more quickly.  On our kitchen floor, in my arms, our son ushered Jesus into his heart.  Jesus saves.

This child is a son of Adam(yes, I have been reading Narnia with the kids).  He was born to die.  Jesus came into the world born to die so that my son and I could live forever in Heaven.  Jesus saves.

Happy birthday, AJay!

Happy Baptism, AJay!

Jesus Saves
   

The Best Cake I Have Ever Made and Eaten

My hubby turns 29 for the 11th time  today!  For the 1st time in our married life, he didn't want a pistachio cake.  I asked him what kind and he said a Reese's Peanut Butter cup cake.  I wanted to oblige for this BIG birthday.  So I researched recipes and found one on Java Cupcake.  I was afraid but it turned out great!  Here is a picture of the finished product.

 You can find the original recipe of the linked website above.  Here is my version:
A boxed cake mix.  She made hers from scratch.  I did this for time and for my sanity.  I used Duncan Hines fudge marble cake mix and made 2 rounds.  I let them cool.  While they were cooling, I made the peanut butter icing:

2 cups of creamy peanut butter
3 cups of sifted powdered sugar
1 stick of softened butter
1 1/2 tsp of vanilla
3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp of salt

Java's recipe said to cream the butter and peanut butter.  I did that according to directions but after that I just did my own thing.  I added the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.  This made things very dough like.  I, then, added vanilla, cream and salt with my fingers crossed that it would turn out correctly.  It did!  It was creamy and spreadable and oh my word!  Yummy! 

I spread some on the top of the 1st layer of cake and sprinkled chopped Reese's PB Cups on it and then put the top layer on. I would have added more icing looking back in hindsight.  I spread the rest of the cake with the icing.  It was layered very thickly on it and I had some left over.  I put the cake in the fridge covered.  I used the leftover to spread on bananas and then dipped them in chocolate.  Nice little treat for me!

I left the cake in the fridge overnight but according to Java, 20 minutes in the freezer will do.  Right before we were going to eat it, I made the ganache. 
2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream
2 Bars of Dove dark chocolate 3.5 oz each.

I broke the chocolate into small chunks and brought the cream just to a boil on the stove.  I poured the cream over the chocolate until it made a rich ganache.  I poured it over the cake and let it drip down the side.  I sprinkled more PB cups on top and added some around the edge for decoration.  I put it once again in the fridge to harden while we had a bday lunch.  After lunch, we sang and then cut into that sucker!  My husband said that pistachio cake is out and this is in!  Thanks, Java Cupcake for the idea!  It tasted just like a Reese's PB cup!  Get a glass of milk because it is so rich!  Enjoy!

How to Turn 39

To truly start the 39th birthday, you must begin the night before. Your friends should bring you a cake to work preferably in the shape of a puppy. You should also eat a yummy delicious ribeye for dinner after you work.

When you wake up the next morning, you should jump into the hot shower. While in the shower, you should ask God to bless you. When you pray, ask God to give you clarity about who you should. Don't be scared when God gives you people. You should pray for them whether you want to or not. God brought to mind my birth parents. He convicted me to ask for forgiveness from any hard feelings that I have harbored toward either of them. I began to weep as I prayed for their salvation and thanked God that they gave me life. Without that life, the world would be deprived of my sweet children. I left a lot of weight in that shower.

When you get out of the shower, you should turn on Pandora and check into your Praise and Worship. Be warned that when you turn it on, the 1st 2 songs will be about forgiveness. Then, when you tell God that it isn't fair what some people put you through, he will pull out the Scripture in Romans 8 where He states the He is working ALL things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I hear you God!

Then, you should entertain your children by dancing for them while they eat breakfast. It embarrasses them and lifts your spirits.

Go on and teach your home school enrichment classes. During those classes, students(middle school and high school) will make you home made cards and chocolate and your TA will give you a beautiful necklace and earrings. After a great morning, you should pick up your free coffee and doughnut from Krispy Kreme and your free sub from Firehouse subs.

You should then go home and open the beautiful wine glasses bought by your hubby and kids. Then, you should nap because your daughter tells you that you should while she and her dad make you a from scratch German chocolate cake. After napping, you should answer the massive amounts of Facebook messages that people have sent you. Then, you should have some still warm cake after listening to your family sing to you.

Next, enjoy a nice meal out at PF Changs with some friends and come home and drnk some Naked Grapes in the aforementioned wine glasses and write a blog post and go to sleep.

And that, my friends, is how you have a perfect 39th birthday! I feel fabulous and free and ready for my 40th year. Thank You, Lord, for lifting me of a burden that I didn't know I carried!

DOUBLE DIGITS! Oh My!

The alarm clock blares at 4:30 am.  She reaches over, hits it, and rests back for a minute.  Then, she turns on her side and struggles to sit up.  Her belly is screaming at her.  Her back is aching and she is tired.  All of a sudden, she realizes why she is awake so early.  She is going to have her first baby.  She turns and pokes her husband and says, "Let's go!  We have a baby to meet!"  He groans and slowly sits up.  When the reality sets in, he, too, gets super excited.  They hop out of bed, get dressed, and brush their teeth.  While he is packing the car, she fixes her hair and puts on make-up.  They exit the house with 1 final look.  They know when they come home, life as they know it will no longer exist.  They will be a family of 3!

Fast forward.....4 kids, 2 states, 3 houses, 1 dog, and 10 years later.  That baby turns 10!  One whole decade!  WOW!  Here are some pics that show part of the celebration......

We took her to Outback

Steak is her favorite food!

She was embarrassed by the singing!

Off on our mommy/daughter adventure!

"What a HUGE Bed!"

The view here is amazing but alas it was raining!

Being silly!

Not too old to snuggle with Mom!

The sign I made her that says 10 ten different ways!

We decorated our own wrapping paper!

Her sister made this!

I made this card!  Isn't it pretty?

The whole family!

Her new kangaroo skin glove for big girls!

She loves the Redskins!  She wants an RGIII poster!

Big girl jewelry!

She only got a cupcake but a surprise party is on tomorrow!

Happy Birthday!

Today, my sweet son turns six.
The time flies by so quick.


He's grown into a boy so thoughtful and sweet
A boy whom you would like to meet.

Golden hair, blue eyes and chubby cheeks
With him I have been in love for 312 weeks.


He came early into the world.
Not crying and a head full of curls.

He loves Jesus with all of his heart
I am glad that He has been with him from the start.

So join me in celebrating Summie's life today.
He will melt your heart in every way!

Today is My Birthday

Yep! Shameless way to get comments on my blog but today is my birthday! I turned 38 and I am happy about that! I look and feel better than I ever have! I like where I am spiritually and in my maturity level. I love sharing a birthday with George Washington. He was an amazing president and we could use more like him. He cared more about the state of our union than he did for himself or the office. So what did I do today? First, I cuddled with my children and hubby in bed this morning. I assigned school work to the older ones and then took a shower. My hubby came home with my free Starbucks skinny caramel latte. I got it for being a member of their coffee club. Then, we picked up our littlest guy from preschool and went to a local sub place called Firehouse Subs. I got a free sub for my birthday. Then, we went to the library and got some books for school. We stayed there for a while and enjoyed the quiet while all 6 of us read a book. Next came nap time! Just Dance 3 on the XBox 360 with Kinect followed that. I got the dance video for my birthday! We, then, dropped our kids off at church for AWANA and then went to Moe's where I ate again for FREE!!!! I love free stuff! Today, may be the best birthday I have ever had! Great weather and great food!!! I will have to run lots and lots over the next few days! Hope your day was as good as mine! My present comes in the mail tomorrow! Can't wait to see what it is!

'Fess Up Friday

Hey, Y'all!  Time for confession y'all!  So needed this!  What are y'all needin' to confess?  Head on over to Mamarazzi for confession time and let's hear it!  Woot!  Woot!

I confess that this sickness in my house is driving me crazy!  AAAgggghhh!  I only got 2 days but everyone else has gotten weeks!  So done!

I confess that shopping for my swap partner has been so much fun!  I can't wait to ship it to her!  I love this game!

I confess that people who can't tip on Valentine's Day suck!  How romantic that you take your special someone out and then leave 10% or less for the tip!  She would be so proud!

I confess that I love my Valentine!  He is amazing even if he is sick!

I confess that I am not happy about the idea that my baby might have to have surgery on his adenoids.  He is so little and so sweet!  Please, no, Lord!

Anyway, short and sweet but alas, that is what it is!   Too tired to care!  Love y'all!  My birthday is next week and I expect lots of presents!

'Fess Up Friday(picture edition)

Time once again to confess and I confess that this one will be different than any you have seen.  I will confess based on a picture.  This confession is based on my sweet little guy who just turned 4 on Tuesday.  He is amazing!

I confess that I thought that this would be my last night on earth!

This is my little guy just minutes after being born!

This is 5-10 minutes before I flat line on the OR table.

CPAP mavchine to inflate the lungs

The 1st time I saw him after 36 hours of ICU.

Blowing out his 4 candles!  Every day is a miracle!

Superman cake, as requested!






Mamarazzi is confessing so head over and see what she is laying out there!

Wordless Wednesday-My Son's Favorite Birthday Gift