Can I . . .

Dictate blog posts? Maybe I could borrow Steve's Dictaphone once he's working and pay some one else to type it all up for me.

Not enough time in my days . . .

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

I made this for the first time a few weeks ago for a MOPS recipe "competition. I must give credit where credit is due though. It isn't completely original. I modified a recipe that Grandma Robey made for years: Cherry Delight. Sorry Chris for messing with one of your favorites.

Pumpkin "Cheesecake"

Filling:
2 pkg cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat)
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin (canned or fresh pureed)
1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t cinnamon
1 small container of whipped topping (thawed)

Topping:
I small container of whipped cream (thawed)

Crust:
Nilla wafers
1/4 - 1/2 c melted butter

Crush enough Nilla wafers to cover the bottom of the pan. I use a 9 x 9 pan. (You could probably use 9x13 - it would just be thinner). Pour melted butter over the crushed wafers. Stir in pan you are using and press down (I do that just to keep from getting another dish dirty). Set aside.

Cream sugar and cream cheese. Add pumpkin and blend well. Add spices and blend well. Pour/spoon over crust.

You could probably go ahead and put the whipped topping layer on, but I forgot to pull both containers out of the refrigerator at the same time. I only had one thawed. I refrigerated the dessert until the whipped topping was thawed. Spread whipped topping over the filling layer. That seemed to help the filling layer "set" a little though.

Other than having to wait for the topping to thaw, it really only took me fifteen minutes or so to make. I did let Lily "crush" the Nilla wafers in a gallon baggie for me. I think that is all. Wish I had thought to take pictures!

30 days of Giveaways

Thirty days or Giveaways at NiHaoYall.com

Check it out by clicking on the button on the side bar!

"Our Song"

Lily has labeled this song as "our song." So proud of my girl for her developing sense of God and following Him. It also applies to where we are as a family right now. Steve has a interview nest week sometime. We don't know yet, b/c he doesn't have his schedule for November yet. They said just to let them know when he's available and they'll make it work. I suppose this song is truly our family anthem right now!

I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone

In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow

And the countdown is down to . . .

59 days until Daddy graduates! Steve only has one more rotation after this one. Can you believe that we are just over 8 wks from school being over. The saga will continue for sometime. Until he gets a job and we get moved. SO blogging once a week hasn't happened. I really NEED to do that. Life's been hard lately, but I am learning SO much.

Lily:
1. GA, we’re under a tent. Daddy, Daddy, come . . . Oh (sigh) you’re not here.
2. Mommy, GA knows how to crawl.
3. L: “Boo, Boo, Chicka Boo. I said a Boo Boo Chicka Boo. That’s what I learned in Chapel.” Me: “Boom, Boom, Chicka Boom. I said a Boom Boom Chicka Boom. You didn’t know Mommy knew that song, did you? Mommy’s cool isn’t she?” L: “Yeah, You’re super cool.”
4. L: “You’re doing a great job, Mommy. Daddy will be SOOOO proud.” Said while I was simply using the broom. Can you tell that I don’t do it that often?

Graceanne:
1. GA has been saying "Hi" – very drawn out almost southern in nature :O
2. "Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma" – unfortunately, I must admit it is indiscriminatory at this point.
3. She is crawling. Backwards is faster than forwards, but the gates are going up.
4. She’s pulling up to her knees. She can stand holding onto something if you stand her up.

No pics right now. And I Quote "Image uploads will be disabled for two hours due to maintenance at 5:00PM PDT Wednesday, Oct. 20th." Why does this seem to coincide with the rare times that I decide to post?

Around the World in . . .

80 Days - that's right. We are down to to 80 days, 24 shifts, 2 weeks of testing, and who knows how many silent prayers of "Oh, God can we do this?"

80 seems like a drop in the bucket when compared to 856 - Yes I figured that one out.

Lilyisms

1. “It’s okay Mommy. Daddy is a good finder. He can look for it when he gets home.”

2. Ok, so this one has happened on several occasions. I think I have learned my lesson. Lily was hunched over very quietly. Me: “What are you doing? (in a not-so-pleasant tone)” “I’m praying for your back Mommy!” She, indeed, was praying and not getting into trouble.

3. From school: What is special about your family? “They have clean hearts.” I asked her about this. She said, “When we do bad things, our hearts get dirty and we have to ask Jesus to forgive us. You help me have a clean heart.”

4. “I like spending time with you, Daddy!”

5. “Daddy, are you going on rotation? I don’t want you to leave,”

6. “Oh, I hope there are some surprises in there!” She was VERY excited. Said as I was getting ready to change GA’s diaper. GA had not been having too many “surprises” for us and we were starting to get slightly worried