So Blessed #7

Today I am thankful for my family. It's a smaller circle than it used to be, but still there. Although we have our differences, we work together, stay in touch and are there for one another. What more could a person ask for? God has blessed me with a wonderful family. I couldn't ask for better. :)

We went to my mom's sister's house for the big dinner and my granpa hitched a ride with us. I had a blast with my cousins and talk around the table at dinner and dessert was filled with stories and laughter. Here is a pic of me with my cousins and my parents. Also my adorable kitty girl who held the home front while we were gone and got rewarded with turkey tonight. ;)

My " little " cousins, Ally (13) & Cam (16) :D 

My wonderful parents :)

My baby girl ;)

And Some Reminders:

&

:)

Gingerbread Cake

Watch out! This baby is deeeeelish!!! :)


1 cup brown rice flour
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
1/4 cup sorghum flour
1 tsp. xanthan gum
2 tsp. baking soda
2 rounded tsp. cinnamon
3 heaping tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 stick melted butter
2 large or jumbo eggs
1 cup blackstrap molassas
1/2 cup hot water
3/4 cup buttermilk ( or 3/4 c. milk + 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar )


OK, so some of these ingredients you've probably never heard of before, but I think subbing all the first four ingredients for regular flour should work ok. Also, brown sugar will sub just fine for coconut sugar. I'm also thinking subbing the xanthan for baking powder will be a good idea. You won't need the xanthan gum when using regular flour because it is a binding agent used in gluten free baking as a replacement for gluten to get a better result.


Put oven on 350.


Mix all the dry ingredients together in a medium size bowl.


Melt the butter and in a large bowl beat it with the eggs. ( I use an electric hand mixer. )


Spray a 1 cup measure and measure out the molassas. ( The spray helps it to come out of the measuring cup faster and cleaner. )


Heat the water.


Add the water, molassas and buttermilk to the other liquids. Mix well.


Add in the dry ingredients. ( I add the flour mix all at once and slowly increase the mixer power. )


Pour into a greased 9x13.


Bake 25 minutes.


Cool slightly before you pig out. :P It tastes the best after it has sat atleast a day, but it may or may not last that long depending on how many people are around and how much they like it. :D It's great plain, topped with whipped cream, or ( my personal favorite ) good old fashioned vanilla ice cream. :) ENJOY!!! :)

So Blessed #6

Today I am so thankful for God's leadership. The way He directs my steps and has foreordained/blueprinted my life to be. There have been times during my life when I haven't understood why something was happening, but looking back later I could see how completely in the hand of God the trial or situation was. ( It didn't even have to be a hard place! It can even be something wonderful and unexpected beyond your wildest dreams! ) Each time that has happened it lends confidence into the future, knowing that all things happen for a reason and that there is no such thing as coincidence. Praise God! :)

So Blessed #5

 Today I am thankful for a roof over my head. It has been pouring down rain off and on for several days now here in lovely Oregon and there is even some flooding starting to happen. ( This is typical for us here in the Willamette Valley, but even so, I wish it would clear up soon so it can soak in a bit and not flood! ) However, I am so thankful for a dry, warm house and a car and clothes to keep me mostly dry. I saw quite a few people out there today that didn't have cars or jackets and probably some that didn't have homes. God is so good, providing all my needs the way He does!

So Blessed #4

 Today I am so thankful for the freedom I have in this country to worship how I believe is right. I am thankful I can attend the church I want to attend. I am also thankful for the fellowship of those of like precious faith. I can't even begin to imagine how dreadful it would be to not be able to do that and when I think about the fact that there are places around the world today where people cannot all worship how they want, it makes me appreciate what I am able to do all that much more. Especially when I think about the fact that it may not even be that way in my own country much longer. Only God knows. This world grows darker and more evil every day and I am so thankful for the keeping power of Christ in my life, for His shed blood, His love, His grace, His mercy, His power. I love You Lord!

So Blessed #3

 Today I am so thankful for my friends. The people God has chosen to be in my life are incredible. I love and appreciate each one so very much. Some of us have gone through some really tough times together, but by the grace of God we've made it through and I believe our relationships are all the better for it.

 I got to spend part of my day today with one of those wonderful people, my friend Marissa who's wedding I was in back in April. It made for just about the best day I've had in a looooong time. Life got sooo busy for us once the wedding was over that we havn't even gotten together all these months. It was pretty strange, especially since we used to spend a lot of time together, and when we weren't together we were texting, calling, and emailing. But since I'm up in Portland, which is a lot closer than Salem, we decided to spend some time together atlast. :)
 She picked me up early this morning and we headed back to Vancouver where she lives now to go to a Christian Conference. That was some amazing stuff! The guy who was speaking, Erik Houver ( ? ) does talks on stuff having to do with disproving evolution etc... his topic this morning was on dinosaurs. Pretty awesome stuff! :D It was educational and fun, yet there was an annointing there.
 Afterward, we met up with one of the groomsmen from the wedding ( Roma, the one who walked me ) and a couple of his friends and we ended up all meeting back at Missy and her husband's apt for pizza and fellowship. Missy and I split awhile later to go get in on Starbuck's bogo on their holiday drinks and to drop me off with the gal I'm staying with who was also up in Vancouver at a birthday party.
 So, I had a full day, but a really awesome one. And it's not over yet. :) Movie night! :)

 

Bon Voyage!

So Blessed #2

There is so much I am thankful for that it is hard to choose! Today I am thankful for...okay...this is going to sound dumb, but I am thankful for Costco. Yes, Costco. Because yesterday when I went there I went to their vision center and got my glasses tightened. It felt amazing, let me tell ya. I had needed them tightened for atleast a week. They slid down my nose every time I tilted my head down even slightly and just about fell off if I bent over to do something. Which you do all the time in a houseful of kids. There are lots of other reasons to be thankful for Costco too, like getting samples and being able to buy some things cheaper and/or in larger quantities. And let's not forget their food court. Yum! Man, I feel sorry for you people back east that only have Sam's Club. Costco's awesome! :D

So Blessed #1

Today I am going to start a one week countdown to Thanksgiving. Many people have been doing a 30 days of thankfulness. I didn't even think about it, but there is a lot I am thankful for. 

Today I am thankful that a little girl named Moriah ( 14 mos. ) is such a trooper. I'm up in Portland with her mommy and two brothers ( Kaleb (7), Timothy (3) ) to help out while her daddy is on a long business trip. Tuesday night she climbed up the ladder on her brothers' bunk bed...and fell off. She cried off and on for awhile, but overall seemed okay. We kinda kept thinking something was still wrong, but she showed no signs of concussion or bruising. Then it was time to get pjs on. When her left arm was moved, she started crying. Her mommy decided she should take her to be checked. I stayed with the boys. 

Loooong story short, Baby Riah has a broken arm...broken in two places. She has such a high tolerance of pain. I mean, come on. She has a 3 year old brother who does all kinds of stuff to her. She has mostly been happy even though I'm sure she has been in a lot of pain on top of not feeling good. 

Unfortunately, blogger won't let me upload any videos and I don't have any pics of her and her cast on my laptop yet. Here is a pic of her before her cast, just so you can see how CUTE she is. :)

Putting brother in his place :P

                                                      

Milestone

 Today is my 18th birthday! I know that everyone who reads my blog probably already knows that, but I just want to write a little about my day. :) I'm not gonna make any amazing speeches or anything. Just gonna say that I had a more wonderful day than I ever thought I would have, simple though it was.
 My day started with opening some cards and a couple little giftys from my folks ( journal, magazine, recipe cards ). Then Mom and I went out shopping. :) I got two shirts ( b&w, bogo ) and a pretty purple stocking cap. And a ( free! ) Caramel Brulee Latte from Starbucks. :) Blissful yumminess! :) Then we scrambled home to tidy the house and cook because we had a family from church over for dinner - the family I go stay with a lot.
 My bd celebration is not yet over though, because there is a collective ( surprise...except I accidently found out ) birthday party for several people including me tomorrow between services! So excited about that! :)

 Ok, maybe a little " speech ". Ahem. :D

 I am so thankful to God for bringing me through another year of my life. This past year has been one of good times and difficult times. I am blessed with so many things that so many don't have or take for granted: A firm foundation in Christ, loving family and friends that support me, a home, food, clothes...and many things above and beyond that that are extra blessings - things maybe I wanted but didn't exactly need.

 The End