this is our happily ever after

reflections on a year of DELIGHT

I can hardly believe that another year has slipped by, but I am ever thankful that I've recorded milestones, everyday life, new beginnings, ups and downs, and the good and the bad here on my blog.  This year I made a conscience effort to delight in 5 things:

GOD'S WORD:  I can honestly say that this year I have had the most consistent quiet times; studying God's Word, applying it to my life, reflecting on His Truths, and allowing myself to stretch and grow through His Word.  I worked through many Bible Studies: One in a Million, parts of Revelation (I missed several lectures, but hope to complete the study some day), Faithful, Abundant and True, and I'm currently working through Breaking Free. I have delighted in the times I've set aside for God and can feel a change in myself.  I have a LONG ways to go, but I feel that I'm headed in the right direction.

THE EVERYDAY: I truly love my life....I am blessed beyond measure. Sometimes everyday life is mundane, sometimes it's really difficult, sometimes it's better than you could have ever imagined.  I attempted to capture glimpses of my life through my camera lens, blogging, journaling, and stepping back to take it all in.  Not everday has been fun---on Feb 14 I fell and broke my wrist, but I did delight in the fact that I didn't break a leg, or both wrists, or my neck.  It was difficult to delight in living in a teeny tiny apartment...and then to have both of our cars stolen from parking lot, but we did delight in God's protection over us.  We were unharmed, a huge drug ring was busted, and people were put in prison.  I continue to delight in being able to stay at home, care for our child, and be creative.

RELATIONSHIPS: I did put forth effort in this area, but with all of the crazy changes in our life this past year I know that those relationships that are precious to me will be a focus of 2012.  I'm finding it more challenging to cultivate relationships with girlfriends when you have a wee one, but I see that I have a deeper need for these relationships now.  

SERVING OTHERS: I can always use improvement in this area, but have felt God's grace in this area as well.  There are certain capacities of serving that come very natural to me...things I do for others that fill my soul and bring me (and hopefully God) delight.  I love cooking for others and I believe that people appreciate a homecooked meal.  I took great delight in taking photos of families in time for Christmas.  I also delight in caring my husband and child.

BECOMING A MOTHER:  I wrote this last year when unveiling my word DELIGHT  

"I know that this will be the one area that delight will pour out of me along with my energy.  When I'm in the trenches of sleepless nights and a crying baby I want to remember that God created me to be a mother...and I want to find delight in caring for the precious child He already has selected for us."

I had no idea what God had in store for us, except that He would bring us a baby in 2011.  I didn't know the sex, the temperment, how I would handle it, how Brian would handle it, if the baby would have colic, if he/she would sleep...etc.  I couldn't have selected a more perfect baby for our family.  The moment I laid eyes on Karsten I knew he was God's chosen one for our family.  Looking back on it the going to the hospital was completely surreal...I remember it, but I cannot explain how I felt.  Then when we got home and I held Karsten for the first time all I felt was love.  On my first Mother's Day was when it truly hit me that I was a Momma...I was his momma and I couldn't imagine anything better. 

He continues to delight me every single day.  His temperment and joy for life has blessed our lives in more ways than I could've ever imagined.  Although in coming years I will not choose the word delight...I will always delight in being his mother, even when he refuses eat his peas! 

USING MY TALENTS: I love creating things, photographing things, and writing about things.  I did some of this in 2011, but in 2012 I will refocus on slowing down and using my talents.  I believe that God has given me talents as a part of His purpose for me...I just need to shed off the excess in my life that I might be able to follow His dreams for me.

OTHER MOMENTS THAT BROUGHT ME GREAT DELIGHT IN 2011

Karsten's baptism

Karsten's adoption finalization

Our trip to Colorado to celebrate my 4th heart birthday and Karsten's adoption

watching the Cardinals win the World Series

having 2 of my best friends here to meet Karsten

Karsten's first Easter

Karsten's First Christmas

Watching my parents with Karsten

Watching Brian with Karsten

I could go on and on....just looking through my photo archives reminds me of what a blessed year 2011 has been. 

Tomorrow I will reveal my 2012 word along with a new blog banner.  Enjoy this last day of 2011 and look forward to the blessings of 2012. 

 

Merry Christmas from the Moore Family

We're celebrating in our new home with my parents and brother.  So blessed and excited to have a little bundle of JOY this year.  Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!!

**This was our Christmas card this year**

 

12 Days of Christmas (day 8) Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls and 10 things I learned about making them

I made THEM....the thing I've tasted once (because my cousin Kate made them for me) and the recipe  I thought was too complicated for me.  You see, I'm not a baker...I don't like measuring ingredients and to be honest flour and I don't get along.  Not because I'm gluten intolerant, but because I swear it goes everywhere as soon as I open my jar.  I decided to get over my flour phobia and start baking this Christmas.  I've made several batches of cookies, Almond Butter Toffee, and PW Cinnamon Rolls.  In fact, I found the entire process rather cathardic and I think I want to try making soft pretzels next! 

On Friday afternoon I made sure I had all the ingredients for the Cinnamon Rolls, so that on Saturday I was ready to tackle this notion that I'm not a baker.  Food Network had a PW Christmas episode over the weekend and she made her famous Cinnamon Rolls.  I watched her as closly as possible, over and over until I felt like I had it down.  I made the dough on Saturday and kept it in the fridge until today. I then rewatched her making the cinnamon rolls this morning and would do a step and then watch the next step.  I guess you could say I was cooking with The Pioneer Woman!!!  I wish...talk about something on my bucket list!!! 

Here are a few things I  learned about making PW's Cinnamon Rolls. (click here for the recipe)

1. She says you can make the dough and then start making the rolls.  I don't buy that because the dough is extremely sticky when it's warm or room temperature.  The chilled dough was still sticky, but it was easier to work with. I also floured my countertop before rolling them out even though she doesn't mention that.

2. Cover the dough in the fridge with a damp towel, otherwise you're going to get a dry crust over the exposed areas.  I covered mine with a dry towel and won't do that again. 

3. Rolling out the dough into a rectangle took a little more skill than I expected.  Granted the last time I rolled something out was probably many years ago....seriously!!!  And I need a good rolling pin.  I really like this one, I wonder if it's any good?!

4. The first batch I made looked a little funky due to my lack of skill with rolling out the dough, the second batch looked much better.  Note, when I say batch I am talking about the fact that you split the dough into two batches when rolling it out. 

5. I used 8, aluminum foil cake pans.  This recipe makes a lot of cinnamon rolls, be ready to share them.  I believe that you can cut the recipe in half without too much trouble.

6. The frosting is REALLY sweet...the next time I make them I'm going to figure out a way to cut down on the sweetness. I did not have maple flavoring, so I used some vanilla instead. 

7. When she says to pour the frosting over the cinnamon rolls when they're right out of the oven she means it.  I waited a few minutes on the first batch and they looked so different than the second batch. 

8. Using a serated knife to cut the dough is helpful

9. Plan to use one of the pans for just the ends of each roll of dough because the ends look a little messed up, but still taste good. 

10. This really is a very easy recipe that requires some time.  I found that making the dough one day and then making the cinnamon rolls another day made the task manageable. 

choosing a word for 2012

As soon as I turn the calendar to December I begin thinking about my word for the following year.  Well, actually, I begin thinking about it in November, but in December I think about it quite a bit. Honestly this past week it's been consuming my thoughts.  My thoughts hop between my 72 different Christmas to do lists and my word for 2012.  I don't think I've ever struggled so hard to come up with the right word.  Or maybe I'm just trying to overthink it and God will reveal it to me in His time (which is usually right after Christmas). 

This year, next year....whatever...I challenge you to take this challenge and see where it leads you.  I am so passionate about this and have seen it transform my spiritual life, my attitude during tough times, and my perspective.  Here's a post I wrote last Spring about choosing a word, the words I've choosen in previous years...and a magazine article I wrote as well. 

I know many of us make resolutions and goals at the beginning of the new year.  Yet, how many of us  consistently stick to them throughout the entire year.  That's the thing I find about the choosing one word to encompass many goals...it's a simple thing that refocuses me when I've gotten caught up in the busyness of life or am facing a trial I didn't (or did) expect. 

I would love to know if you're ready to join me on the journey of choosing One Little Word.  For some great inspiration of possible words to choose check out Ali Edwards post from last January. 

I will reveal my word on January 1st with a new blog header (which I'd better get working on!).  I can't wait to hear from you if you decide to take this journey too!  Leave a comment here or email me at [email protected]

 

 

12 Days of Christmas (day 7) Almond Butter Toffee

So this may be the easiest toffee recipe ever!  My Mom developed this recipe for microwave cooking classes that she taught long ago (when microwaves first came out).  Although I really don't cook in my microwave, as she does, this is one thing that I make every single Christmas because it's so good and SO easy! 

Download Almond Butter Toffee

Here's what you'll need

1 stick of butter (not margarine)

1 cup of sugar

1/2 tsp salt

¼ cup water

½ cup sliced almonds

3 oz milk chocolate (I use 1 ½ Hershey bars for each batch)

 

Take a 2 quart glass measuring cup and put the stick of butter in the bottom. 

Use the butter wrapper and rub the excess butter on the wrapper along the top of the measuring cup.  This will keep the toffee from boiling out of the cup.

Pour sugar and salt over butter and top with water. 

Place in microwave on full power for 7 minutes.  Then continue cooking in 30 second intervals until the hot toffee mixture reaches the color of light brown sugar.  While the toffee is cooking, butter a metal baking sheet and spread out the almonds on the middle part of the sheet. 

Once the hot toffee is ready, pour it over the almonds.  DO NOT SCRAPE THE BOWL because it gets grainy if you do this. 

Let the toffee cool for a minute and then top with chocolate.  Let the chocolate melt and then spread it with a knife. 

Place in the refrigerator and cool.  Once cool break it into pieces and enjoy. 

Dear Karsten (8 months)

Dear Karsten---

aka: Bugaboo, Little Bug,  Bug, Bugsy, Mr. Baby, Sunshine, my 8 month old baby boy

Once again Mommy is a bit behind on getting your monthly post done.  It's a busy month in our home.  Mommy's been planning for Christmas, running more errands than normal, cooking and baking, and darling boy you've taken all the busyness in stride.  You LOVE running errands because you get to smile at complete strangers and see if they will smile back.  You will intentionally smile at a stranger and wait until they look at you.  If they don't look at you or don't smile back you seem a little perplexed and then will turn to the next person.  You are most certainly our sunshine and it's fitting that Mommy and Daddy both sing "You are my sunshine" to you several times a day.  In fact, you have such a great personality and disposition that Aunt Kelly believes that you're part doll!! 

You also still LOVE girls.  When Auntie Jessica left our house you cried.  You will watch as ladies pass us by in the store and especially like it when they pay attention to you.  You also "kissed" your first girl  Ryleigh Doebbler, on the cheek, this past month at church.  I'm already praying that you grow up viewing your looks and charming ways as a gift to be used by God, not as a tool to be a player. 

This month you've gotten the hang of drinking from a sippy cup, although struggle to hold it and tip it enough to get a drink yourself.  You're also a big fan of "puffs" as we call them.  You just finished your container of purple puffs today and are working your way through yellow puffs now.  As I am working in the kitchen or preparing your meal I will put a few puffs in front of you on the counter and you feed yourself.  There are always a few on the floor, but you're quite good at getting most of them into your mouth.  You've discovered that some also fall into the pocket on your bib and you've begun looking there when there are no more on the counter.  This month Mommy gave you YoBaby, organic yogurt just for babies, and you love it.  You'll eat an entire container in one sitting.  We're trying to introduce stage 3 baby food to you and you're not quite sure about it.  I think it's a texture thing and you sometimes gag.  Frequently this food also contains meat, which you really don't care for.   Yesterday Mommy gave you a few mashed up white beans to feed yourself and you did, so we're making progress.  You love both fruit and vegetables and especially love when I cut up apple and put it in your mesh teether.  You will work on that for a long time, giving Mommy time to work in the kitchen!!!  Speaking of teether...you now have 4 teeth.  Two on top and two on the bottom!!!  Next month Mommy is going to begin slowly incoorporating some mashed up adult food and see how you do.  I think we'll start with bananas and sweet potatoes because you love both of those in baby food form. 

You have become a competent crawler and can move quickly across the room.  You make a bee line for things that catch your attention, like the kitties, or cords, and sometimes even toys!!  You love playing with your toys.  You're favorites include your plush soccer ball, rubber ducks (which you chew on), and books.  You LOVE books and pull several off the bookshelf each day.  Once you pull them off you sit up and look through them.  This thrills the teacher in your Mommy!!   We have to watch that you don't tear the paperback books, but we make them available to you so you can look at them.  Daddy and I both try to read to you once a day.  I read to you before your afternoon nap and Daddy reads to you in the evening.  You play very independently, but then you'll come over and crawl all over us and then go back to playing by yourself.  You can just about go from crawling to pulling yourself up on your two legs.  You also still enjoy your Jumperoo and have learned to move around in your walker.  You are enthralled with the kitties and we could swear you said your first word this morning when Zoe kept meowing and you looked at her and said your form of "meow" twice.  You've also been saying "mamamamamama" alot, but until you look directly at me and say Mama we're considering it babble....very cute babble of course!

Mommy prayed that her baby would be a good sleeper and you are!!!  You go to bed around 7:30 at night, sometimes even earlier, and sleep until about 7:30 in the morning.  I hear you beginning to quietly "talk" to your Hippo, Wubbanubs, or dog in your crib, but you never cry for me to come get you.  You are so content to just play and wake up slowly.  Mommy comes to get you around 8 and she can't help but to smile when she sees you.  You also take a 1 1/2 hour morning nap and a 1 1/2- 2 hour nap in the afternoon.  Seriously, people can't believe it, but you really do.  Sometimes Mommy even gets to take a little nap too!  I don't want to forget to tell you that Daddy gently "flys" you around your room every night before landing you in your bad. 

You are growing by leaps and bounds.  You haven't been to the Pediatrician in 2 months, but we know you're over 20 lbs.  You have chunky thighs, and a little belly, but you're by no means a chunky baby.  You're healthy and very happy!!!  Mommy can hardly believe that she'll be planning your 1st birthday party in just a few months.  Daddy and Mommy talk all the time about how much we love you, how special you are, how sweet you are, and how smart you are.  You are SO precious to us and we can't imagine our lives without you.  You make parenting so much fun and although we know there will be challenges ahead, we truly can't get enough of you.  Our favorite part of the day is going in to get you in the morning and seeing you playing quietly with your Hippo or Wubanub.  When you realize we're there your head pops up and we get the sweetest and most joy filled smile anyone has ever seen.  You start squealing with delight that it's time for another day.  Every day is different with you, but everyday is so full of sunshine and delight. 

Love you forever---

Mommy (and Daddy)

always on the go...

this photo kills me....one of my favorites ever...look at those eyebrows!!!

I love this photo because it shows your expression when you are concentrating on something

other photos taken this past month

"jet piloting" to the mailbox---yes, it was warm enough in Dec to have our child outside in a onesie

Can you Imagine???? A New Perspective on Mary

I wonder....does every new mother, who is a Christian, have a completely new perspective on Mary, the Mother of Jesus?? 

This year more than any other year I have thought of Jesus's mother, Mary. I hold such tender thoughts of her now.  I was raised in a Catholic faith where Mary is very revered, something I never quite "got" until this year.  I certainly don't believe in worshipping her, worship is set aside for God the Father, but I certainly believe she deserves great reverence.  Reverence means "regard or treat with deep respect"...yep, she absolutely earned that.

Can you imagine??? You're engaged, you're very young, you're an ordinary Jewish girl, you have little means, and an Angel comes to you and says you will bear, birth, and raise the Son of God???  Can you imagine???  The pressure, the insecurity, the fear, the calling, the amazement of it all??? She didn't totally understand, but she submitted to God's will, was obedient, and believed!

As a new Mother I feel pressure to do things right...to not expose him to harmful influences, to read to him daily, to teach him to be sweet, patient, independent, to cope, to problem solve, to be an example of God's love, to teach Him about Jesus's love and sacrifice, to teach Him about God's creation, about good and evil, and on...and on....and on..........

I also know, without a shadow of a doubt that God specifically selected Karsten for us...and us for him.  God knows his future, the good plans He has for him, his gifts and talents, the great purpose He has for his life....and He chose us to be a part of that.  I know that there will be times when I just don't feel equipped to raise him, I won't know how to lead him, I will be at a loss for words or ideas, I will feel insecure in my role as his mother, and I will continually have to give my dreams and desires for him back to God....the one who entrusted him to us.

All of that saying...Karsten is so special (as every child is), but no child was, is, or every will be as special, as set apart, as Holy, Mary's firstborn.  She knew who HE was.  HE was her Savior and  Son all wrapped into ONE.  Can you imagine???  I know that God annointed her and gave her unfounded grace, peace, and mercy...but she was still human with fears, doubts, insecurities, cares, burdens, and love overflowing for her son. 

I will never forget seeing Karsten for the first time.  I saw God's fingerprints all over him...I'd imagine Mary saw the same thing that night so long ago.  Remember Jesus is fully human and fully God.  He cried, and got cold, and drank milk from His mother, and fell asleep in His Mother's arms that night.  Can you imagine???  What were her thoughts late that night as she looked into her son's face, as she unwrapped him to look at his ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, as she heard the angels singing???  She wasn't in a home, she wasn't in a comfortable place at all, she was in a stable surrounded by animals and dirt and manure.  Can you imagine???  You have to give birth to the Son of God, the Most High in a place like that.  And yet, when you look at your child and realize the gift you've been given everything else melts away. 

Can you imagine???

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas songs about Mary.  They sang this one on Sunday and although I knew it (because I love Barlow Girl) I really heard it for the first time and it brought me to tears. 

 

and another favorite Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

 

What lessons can we all learn from Mary?? 

1. Entrust our children and our plans and dreams for our children to God.

2. Be available, submit, and be obedient to His will for our lives.

3. Understand that God's plans rarely line up with what the world expects us to do. We may be ridiculed, mocked, lose relationships, but being at the center of God's plan for us is the safest place to be.

 

 

12 Days of Christmas (day 6) Holiday plants

This year I resolved to find and buy an Amaryllis and a Christmas Cactus.  I found the Christmas cactus at Lowes in the outdor garden section and got the Amaryllis bulb and pot at HEB.  Each were under $7.  If you live in a colder climate you may find the cactus inside the store.  You can find Amaryllis or Paperwhites just about anywhere, already packaged and ready to take home or give as a gift.  I've seen them at Target, Lowes, etc.  My Amaryllis won't be blooming for Christmas, but maybe in late January I'll have something brightening up my home.  I'd actually like to get some paperwhite bulbs and plant them indoors and "force them to bloom". It's on my list...just need to make it happen! 

Amaryllis

The Christmas Cactus will stay in my home all year long and is supposed to bloom around Christmas every year.  If I take care of it I should have it for years and years to come. 

12 Days of Christmas (day 5) Peppermint Crumble Cookies

Here I go again...another chocolate peppermint recipe.  If you like the combo as much as I do you MUST make these cookies.  They are DIVINE....truly a favorite of mine.  I got the recipe from Becky Higgin's blog a few years ago and have made them almost every single Christmas. 

Brian needed to take a dessert for a Christmas party at work and this was just thing...of course, I kept a few to nibble on today ;)  I'd say the recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies.  I used the Pampered Chef Medium Scoop

 

Download Peppermint Crumble Cookies

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 T. water

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Bag of crumbled peppermint pieces (I use Ande’s brand) Not crushed peppermint candy

 

Melt butter, brown sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat until melted and then add chocolate chips, stirring until completely melted.  Cool for 10 minutes.  Put this in a mixing bowl and beat in 2 eggs.  Add the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix together and chill for about 45 minutes. 

 

Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and place on cooling rack. Sprinkle peppermint crumbles on the top of each hot cookie and do not spread.  The pieced will get soft at first and then keep their shape once cool. 

About these crumbles:  You can find them near chocolate chips this time of year.  In my grocery store they were also in the special holiday baking section.  They only have these specific ones at Christmas so stock up.  I got an extra bag to have at Valentines Day :)  One bag will cover about two batches of cookies.  You can also use Ande's baking chips, or an Ande's mint but they're not quite as pretty as the peppermint crumbles

 

12 Days of Christmas (day 4) Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate and Peppermint are a match made in heaven.  This time of year this dynamic duo is in full glory.  Oddly enough though...I really don't like peppermint mochas.  Now I could drink a Gingerbread latte every single day and everytime I go to Target this time of year I stop at the Starbucks inside the store and order up a tall, with whip, and savor it as I stroll through the store. 

But this post isn't about gingerbread, this post is about Chocolate and Peppermint.  This recipe is adapted from a recipe I cut out from Cooking Light several years ago...back when I cut out recipes...now I just pin them! 

I cheated and used a Choclate Fudge boxed cake mix because I had it and my time is valuable, but I did make the frosting and it was delicious!!! 

You can find the recipe here