"Everything" Cookies--Good For Everyday or Christmas

This is one of our new favorites and comes courtesy of my Mom. (I forget where she originally got the recipe.) They're super easy to make and especially good with a cup of something hot.

ENJOY!

1 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. butter, softened
1 c. oil

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 c. Rice Krispies

1 c. coconut

1 c. oatmeal

1/2 c. nuts (pecans, coarsely chopped)

3-1/2 c. flour

1. Mix sugar through vanilla ingredients together, then add salt, cream of tartar and soda and mix.

2. Add cereal, coconut, oatmeal and nuts and mix, then add flour last.

3. Drop by small spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake @ 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
(Makes about 4 dozen)

Don't Feed The Animals

Doesn't she look ferocious? :oD

What A Load!

This is for you Rebecca! :oD

...and for all of you out there who haven't seen my belly lately. There's plenty of it!

Ya' think I look 8 1/2 months pregnant?!!!

Preparations and Resting in God

Since I hit my nesting phase not too long ago, I've found myself swinging towards one of two mindsets: planning planning PLANNING, and wishing I had an "OFF" switch to my brain.

The planning has had it's merits, and I'm thankful to have had the energy thus far to carry out most of it. Things like stocking our freezers with prepared meals, starting on some Christmas cookies, washing baby bedding and clothes, and gradually shopping for gifts. Whether my sense of urgency is premature or not, I'm anticipating being even more tired in the next few week.

The part that can quickly take me from the joy of working hard, to the place of worry and fretfulness is when I begin to rely upon my efforts too much and assume my plans are always going to work out the way I've intended. This is nothing new for me really...or confined to pregnancy...but something God's used to show me my tendency towards self-sufficiency over the years.

Am I truly counting on Him to provide for all of my needs?

Am I resting in the good and perfect provision that He HAS given (whether it looks like that to me at the time or not)?

Am I regularly positioning my heart to receive His peace in those seasons when life seems busy and I'm being pulled in many directions?

Am I taking time to sit and be still with Him?

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Nearly three years ago my "plans" were drastically changed in the matter of moments...my newborn baby girl's life and wellbeing were placed in the hands of strangers while I watched from the sidelines. Yet God's peace was there...and His perfect provision.

I must remind myself to trust only in the Lord as I now plan and wait in expectation for this little boy to arrive.

It's hard not to be anxious for my specialist's appointment next Monday--will he say I'll be induced early? Should I "count on" 3 more weeks or 6?

I must count on the Lord and rest in His timing.

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In what area of YOUR life are you sensing the need to grow in trusting and resting in Him?

I Love My Mom!

Some of you may be aware that my Mom is about to celebrate another birthday.

Well, it's probably no secret that one of my absolute FAVORITE things about our move back to Lancaster County is that I'm now able to easily spend time with my family--especially my mom.

I decided to take her to lunch at a place I recently discovered online. It's called The Front Porch Tea Room and it's not far from here.

While in Maryland, going to a tea place was a birthday tradition I often shared with my friend Rebecca, but I had never taken my mom. She finally got to experience "High Tea" with me, and it was OH SO YUMMY! I'll try to remember the countless courses, for they truly were an experience. :o)

We started with a Fruit Ambrosia with Toasted Coconut Topping and a pot of Sweet Almond Tea. That was followed by a House Salad with pine nuts, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries and poppyseed dressing--INCREDIBLE! Next came a platter of warm scones: white chocolate raspberry and apple walnut with jam and clotted cream for on top. We had a choice between a nutty flavored pumpkin soup or spinach rice after that, then tea sandwiches. I especially liked the cucumber on rye and cream cheese salsa on pumpernickle. To finish out our lunch we were offered dessert--either warm gingerbread with lemon sauce and whipped cream, or a vanilla cranberry creme brulee.

Needless to say, we were stuffed by the end of our tea experience.

Most of all I enjoyed the uninterrupted time to sit and talk with my mom--she truly is God's gift to me and I'm so thankful for her godly example and friendship.

Love ya Mom! :o)

Anticipation

Well, about a week ago I entered the nesting phase--in a major way!

Being the planner and visual person that I am, I set about making a big calendar, entering the knowns and holidays (and many family birthdays!) until the end of the year. Then, of course there's the holiday preparations. Thank you Lord both of our families do things VERY simply!

After assigning a week for each of the two kinds of Christmas cookies I'm making to share, and a number of "doubled" meals to freeze, I left the last 2 weeks before my due date to do absolutely NOTHING! I have a short list to shop for--and thankfully we can spread out that expense over the next few weeks. The big question is--WHEN IS THIS BABY COMING? :o)

Before you start to think, "my goodness woman, would you just relax!" let me assure you that my blood pressure is excellent and that there's an explanation...

A few weeks back I posted an update on Baby Adam and my most recent ECHO test (3D ultrasound). There was a little blurb on "placental lakes".

Well, I have my next appointment with the same specialist on November 17th (2 weeks from today). At that point the doctor wants to again make sure that my placental lakes aren't inhibiting the baby's growth, because that could affect his vitals and mean that they'd schedule me to be induced early. (Maybe even at 37 weeks! That's the first week in December people--4 weeks away! AHHHHHH...can you tell I'm nesting?)

:oD

So guess what was on the "schedule" for my hubby and I this weekend? Moving his office things from the 3rd bedroom into the front little nook of our room, emptying the closet and moving all of baby stuff up from the basement. WHAT A JOB!

Pete had to chuckle, walking into the room yesterday--it had been transformed literally overnight, right down to the changing table drawers being stocked with those tiny little diapers!

I'm so glad I made a few trips to the nice consignment stores in our area this summer and found some clearance sales at the outlets. AND, the fact that we didn't find out if Natalia was a boy or girl ahead of time means that we have a bunch of neutral newborn things. Now all I have to do is wash everything.

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The other thing I'm anticipating? This election being over...

We've been getting non-stop phone calls and mailings--it's a bit insane!

I plan to get out to the polls sometime tomorrow, and am thankful I have the opportunity to do so, but quite honestly I don't enjoy politics very much. I've forced myself in recent years to be more informed in the election process/candidates, but the tactics often employed by both parties and the media just frustrates me endlessly. I strongly agree AND disagree with aspects of both parties...so it's been hard not to become jaded. BUT...I do feel I've been helped by a few sources this time around.

If you haven't ever checked out Carolyn McCulley's blog "Radical Womanhood" on my sidebar's blog list, I suggest you do so. Her post from the other day "An Appeal: Don't Waste Your Vote" helped me to consider which issues should be primary when you find yourself in such a dilemma.

Regardless of who is elected (and when Adam arrives), I am confident of Who is sovereign.

Oh Really?!

Last night Natalia and I were at Grandma and Grandpa's house since Pete was away, and as my dad was cutting the tags off of a new pack of socks, Natalia asked what he had in his hand.

He said, "it's a pocketknife."

Natalia repeated, "a pocket wife?"

It turned into the joke of the evening...he had picked it up in Switzerland a few years ago...my mom was there too, but she didn't seem to mind...and on and on... HA HA