Joys of Motherhood!

I have just felt so happy, lucky and blessed to be a mom lately. I have always loved being with kids and playing with them, but being a mom comes with many joys, and the best way I know how to descibe them are by pictures. The first couple are at the pool, which we usually go to at least twice a week. The ones after the pool, austin is shooting with his figer:) then jumping (flying) off the couch superman style. Hope you enjoy. Thank you God for my wonderful children!

Coffee Cake

So my friend dina has awakened my love of cooking again!! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the day to day ongoings and tiredness that I seem to lack energy when it comes to dinner. While I love cooking and it is actually relaxing to me I rarely take the time to really cook, from scratch and make my own recipes. So as I said eairlier, I have been restored!!! (thanks dina):)
Well one of the things that I miss so much being a vegan is good desserts, creamy, soft, CHOCOLATE!!! well I have been experimenting and I think I have possibly made the perfect coffee cake, it is very finiky but i think it is perfected. So if you have a stormy, raining night this is a perfect recipe to have with some fresh brewed (decaf, since it is night) coffee. The kids and I thoughly enjoyed it. if you want to make it vegan follow recipe or use dairy alternative if you prefer not vegan.
Coffee Cake
3.5 Tbl margarine (without whey or milk)
a little less then 1/3 cup raw sugar
egg replacer for 2 eggs (ener-g egg replacer)
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/3 plus a pinch more cream cheese (tofutti brand)
1 Cup Flour
1/2 Tsp Baking soda
1/2 Tsp sea salt
1 Tsp Baking Powder

Set oven to 350. Mix butter and sugar together, add eggs and vanilla, mix add cream cheese then mix well. Add dry ingredients and place in 9in deep dish pie plate. Make crumb topping and pour evenly over cake. Bake for 30-35 minutes or just until a little browned on top. you want the cake to be a tiny bit gooey inside and it will still cook while in pan. After about 10 min it should be perfect

crumb topping- I don't measure, just go by feel and look and in this order
flour- about a handful and a half
brown sugar- same amount as flour
butter-but not too much start with a little and work in with pastry blender until crumbly
vanilla
cinnamon
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and if any of you have vegan friends this would be a welcomed treat:)

Happy Easter

So I heard a song on the radio the other day that I have actually heard a few times but for some reason it struck me. I was explaining to Hannah that Jesus was always ther with us and He will never leave us, then I started listening to what was playing and I was just stunned, God is so amazing, he always uses the kids to show me how much He loves me and them. He never fails me and I feel I can say that and truly believe it, for when it matters He is always there, just when I feel I don't have anything left or like I am not doing anything right He always comes in, not to repremand me or show me how it's done, but to show me how much He loves me. This song is a wonderful example of His love, of His sacrafice, and His heart. May you all be touched as I was. Happy Easter

Tenth Avenue North: By Your Side

"Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching?As if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child Tell me where will you run?
To where will you run?

I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
Please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life

Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
Please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

And I,
I love you
And I want you to know
That I, I'll love you
I'll never let you go"

Joys of learning new things!

So, while I have been stressing, pondering and trying very hard to be myself and learn what I am supossed to Hannah and Austin (yet again) show me how it is done!

Austin learned to ride his bike this week, and it only took him 5 minutes!! Now he is riding eveywhere. Although he was scared at first, not of the bike or of failing/falling but becasue we were riding in the parking lot and he was afraid of the cars. Once I explained to him that I was watching for the cars and would inform him of their presence, and once he trusted my ability to do so he rode... and rode and rode. With no hesitation, nothing holding him back. Meanwhile Hannah rode next to him cheering him on singing a song about him being bumblebee (from transformers) and telling him "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (phil. 4:13). I just sat back and smiled (well actually I ran alongside austin, but) truly kids sometimes have all the answers. Just trust in God, sing a song, and do it! That's what they were saying to each other and how I wished I could be like them. It is these moments that I remeber and am so impossibly proud to be their mom, and next time I will be singing a song along with them!

What Colorado has taught me (so far)

There were so many reasons we wanted to move to Colorado, the mountains, snow, outdoors, and just feeling at peace here. But what I didn't expect was that I would find myself again! For the first time in a long time I feel like myself, I feel free to be me without being ashamed or embarassed or afraid of huring anyone's feelings. Being in a new place without all the things I usually have to hide behind or run to, leaves me two options.. 1) run away and continue hiding and being afraid or 2) trust, in every sense of the word, trust in God to provide, to help, to comfort, to restore and to fulfill the promises He's given us.

So often when I am faced with dilema's, new changes or anything really my first reaction is to reason, "well this is why this happened", or "this is why I should/shouldn't do this". I realized this while hiking and exploring Colorado, when I am outside doing these things I don't reason, I don't fear, I am simply at peace and I am myself. It is then I hear God saying "I am here, I have you, Do not fear, Do not worry or reason, I will fulfill My promise to you, You are mine!"

That is all I need! Watch out world this is me!

The things you learn from kid movies :)

I have always been a fighter, no matter what it was I fought it. If my mom wanted me to do something I fought her, even if I wanted to do it. For the longest time I just thought that was how I was. But then I started not liking it so I stopped fighting altogether, Well little did I know the kids (yet again, they are so much smarter then me!) taught me a lesson about myself.
We were watching Kung Fu Panda, which is very cute and recomended, anyway these animals are Kung Fu warriors. Kai Lung is the best, but he fights to prove evryone wrong, he wants to be the best and will do anything to get there, to prove he is strong enough, he is good enough. While viper (one of the five warriors) is very sweet, and a fighter. She fights for justice and truth, for protection. She is dangerous, yet controlled. While I was sitting there watching this, God was saying "That's you, you were meant to fight, fight for truth, fight for your family, yet not out of rebellion or proof of anything, just because that is who you are."
Wow,

Well I won't finish the story for those of you who haven't seen it, but viper isn't the "hero" of the story, she isn't the best, yet she is essential. So next time you are watching "Cars, or Cinderella" for the tenth time, just listen God may be teaching you something too, that you are loved, you are essential, and you are His

(In Hannah's words) "bye california, hello colorado", (or Austin;s) "ladolado"

We are here! I can't believe it, it still feels like vacation I keep waiting for the time when we have to go to the airport. Today we are looking for houses and areas we would like to live. Jake doesn't start work until next monday so we have a week to look and get everything in order. Maybe by then it will sink in and I will realize how much our lives have changed and how I miss you all so dearly. Pics and more info to follow, we love you all