Buns in the Oven

I've been dying to get this out so...WE'RE EXPECTING.  Its been quite the journey I have to say.  I've been more sick/tired/sore this time around, although I have been able to avoid the whole vomiting thing THANK GOODNESS!  

We found out when I was almost five weeks along.  I got that tiny baby bump much, much faster this time.  To most it would just look like I'd put on a little weight but I knew that wasn't the case. 

5 Weeks

We told Luke right after we found out and he was super excited, well at least for about two weeks. He had just found a love for drawing stick people and even more specifically, our stick 'family' (like the one below). The Sunday after we'd told him we were sitting in Relief Society Meeting since my young woman wasn't there for class and he said "draw daddy", then "draw mommy", then "draw Wookie", and last but not least, "BABY".  I covered his mouth and prayed no one heard just yet. 

 He loves seeing babies when we're out and about so it really didn't surprise us. 

We finally got in to see my doctor a week ago. I was really excited to hear the heartbeat but that didn't happen.  In fact, a lot of things were different from going to a midwife.  Most of the doctors in the area have moved back to larger hospitals and the closest midwife is an hour and a half away so our choices was rather limited.  Luckily the doctor that I did find seems to be very willing to listen which I'm grateful for.  We did discuss how Luke was breach, and how I had given birth to him like that.  He said because of that, as I got closer to the end we would do a few extra ultrasounds just to make sure baby was facing the right way and if not, we would flip him/her before we got to the point of labor this time.  

We also talked about the ultrasound.  He said we could schedule it up for the next week (this week) but I declined and asked to wait till I was 12 weeks along.  I know its still not 100% fact but there has been research done on ultrasounds before 12 weeks being one of the the causes of autism.  To me, it makes sense as their bodies and cells are growing and changing at such a rapid rate.  Why send those high frequency sound waves into my body and possibly cause problems that aren't needed if they can be avoided... The ultrasound will be the week after my birthday and I'm excited to see our child.  We still won't know if its a boy or girl till later this summer. 

Oh, and we're Due Dec 29th, 2013

Our Garden Project

We've always liked the idea of having a garden with fresh food.  Back in 2010 we attempted but between being pregnant, having a weed that took over, the bad soil and early rain we lost everything...except our overly exuberant zucchini plant.  This time around we're doing things a bit differently.

First, we chose to do raised garden beds.  We actually had this planned out and had purchased the blocks a while back to do the garden but they never got put in because we were working on finding a new home.  I had our garden all designed for this year.

Our first big project was ripping down the old rotting shed.  Before we could do any of that we had to clean all of the junk that was in it.  That was about two and a half weeks ago.  While I went to work the next Monday Alex and Luke took a load to the dump and got rid of a LOT of junk.  We spent a couple more days breaking up and burning the wood after Alex broke down the shed. The following week was beautiful and warm.  I headed for work on Monday morning and when I got back that afternoon, this is what I found...

 

Alex had ripped out part of the old fence and had started putting in the new fence posts for the garden.  We went inside so they could eat lunch now that Luke was done with his nap.  After lunch we all came back out and got right back to work.  We go the rest of the posts into the ground and then Alex grabbed our mini tiller and went over the whole area.  Where the shed was, there was sand that was easy to move around but everywhere else it was a good three inches of gravel before hitting any type of soil/sand.  While we're not planting directly into the ground, it was very uneven so it helped to fill in the holes and level out the high points.  

 

Luke really liked playing in the sandy area.  We couldn't keep him out of it so I finally gave him my knee pad and he plopped his butt down to watch daddy make the thing go "vwoom vwoom wownd and wownd" with the tiller. 

 By the end of the day we had about half the bricks laid out in the pattern we wanted. We planned on laying out the rest of the bricks the next day. 

The next morning when we got up we started making plans for the day before I headed off to teach.  Alex called the city of Westport to get information on the compost that they sell.  $15/cubic yard is a really good deal.  When he called we found out they were out and would be for another 4 to 6 weeks.  For the next couple hours we spent calling around to every place that we could looking for someone else who sold compost.  Everyone else wanted $25/cubic yard or more, plus the drive to go get it.  I had to take off for work so Alex kept looking.  Our cost to fill the beds had gone from $45 to $75.  I ended up revamping everything when we I got home from work and we came up with another layout that would take less soil...6, 3' x 4' beds.  We got 1.5 cubic yards and it was the perfect amount.  

When we got done, it just looked so empty in the middle so we made the decision to add a little more.  We already had part of the bricks and we went and grabbed a few more from home depot.  We already had a bunch of landscaping bricks from the old house so we designed a garden just for Luke...mainly so he would stay out of ours.   Here is the final layout.

 

We have our 7 beds to work with and Luke had his two tier circles where he will grow his own little garden and will learn about how things grow and how to take care of it.  I know he's only two but planting easy fruits/veggies are a great way to teach kids about being responsible for things.  

We are waiting to hear back from a local company about getting pallets to use as part of our fencing and the rest will be made with twine to keep a more natural look and hopefully keep the deer, racoons, and any other critter who chooses to nibble on our produce out.  Two of the big black buckets now have rhubarb in them and the other two (not pictured) will grow lettuce in for the deer to nibble on.  

 

 I will work to keep everyone up to date on how things are going.  

Bulk Taco Seasoning

Do you like tacos but dislike all the 'other' stuff listed in the ingredients list?  We do and being that we've been trying to eat healthier, less processed foods I was determined to find something other than the individual packets or containers that always were a little to potent for our taste. 

One day while perusing pinterest I came upon some of these homemade recipes for taco seasoning.  We liked that there wasn't all the junk but we didn't quite like the flavor so we adjusted some things and we want to share our recipe with you today...

Taco Seasoning 

1T Onion Powder
2t  Chili Powder
1t  Salt
1t  Garlic Powder
1t  Corn Starch
1t  Ground Cumin
1t  Paprika


 This makes about one serving worth (1lb of lean ground beef or meat of choice). If you'd like to make a larger batch, I've done that math for you below.  I also suggest if you're going to make it in a large batch, using some type of mixer or your arms will get tired trying to get it all to mix together well.

Taco Seasoning - Large Batch

3/4c Onion Powder
1/2c Chili Powder
1/4c  Salt, Garlic Powder, Corn Starch, Ground Cumin, Paprika

Standing for Truth and Righteousness

As I sit here, I ponder how to say this as to not hurt people’s feelings or upset anyone but in all honesty, I know there will be someone out there who is going to be downright upset with me and that’s just the way it’s going to be.

Yesterday there was many saying that same sex marriage should be legalized.  There were also many members of the church who I saw supporting this and saying that they support it because we all have the right to choose.  They’re right, we all have the choice to live our lives as we want but as a member of the church and a young women’s leader, I have something to say about that.  We teach our young women to “Stand for Truth and Righteousness” and yet by saying we support gay marriage because we have the right to choose our way of life, we are directly going against our Heavenly Father.  Yes people have the right to choose but we need to be standing for what is right in the eyes of our Father in Heaven, not the way of the world.  

Black is black and white is white, there is no gray and that is something I have come to know.  People argue that there is gray but the problem with that is, when you add black to the white you have removed the purity of the white.  There is no purity in gray. 

            
 At one point and time I was part of a group on facebook, LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender).  When I first became a part of this group it was because I knew that we should love EVERYONE regardless of race, gender, or even their sexual orientation.  One of God’s commandments is to Love One Another and that is what the group was about, being kind and loving everyone for who they were.  There was a day that took a turn and I could no longer, in good faith, be a part of that group.  I could not stand in front of my church leaders while interviewing for a temple recommend and answer the following question with honesty and integrity as long as I was still a part of this group…

“Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”

Does this mean I can’t be friends with those who don’t believe or live the teachings of our Heavenly Father?  No, it just means that I do not support or encourage the actions. In the Bible there are many verses which speak against same sex marriage.  God hasn’t changed the scriptures, nor have his principles changed, therefore mine will not either. 

To all of my friends, I will always love you.  You are each individual and uniquely created by our Father in Heaven, I don’t care what your race, religion, sexual orientations, etc. YOU are a child of God, we all are.  I’m sorry to any who feel offended or upset over what I have to say but I have spent many hours mulling this over and praying about it.  I know that Heavenly Father has wanted me to share my testimony on this topic because no matter how many times I push it aside and sit back to watch, he always puts it right back in front of me. 

Forever Grateful

The last six or so month have been rough.  Business dropped drastically about three months into this year and progressively declined.  About six months ago, one of our competitors moved just down the road from us but didn't move their google listing and we lost all our new customers.  Honestly I don't know how we survived but we were.  Thing are getting better since we moved but it takes time. 

Yesterday my Relief Society President called and asked if we could use a Thanksgiving dinner.  Since our plans had recently changed and we had been busy we hadn't gotten a turkey yet.  Yesterday afternoon she shows up to drop this 'Thanksgiving dinner' off at our home.  She grabbed a couple bags out of the pile in the back of her suburban, then few more, and a few more.  At this point I was trying hard not to cry.  I know with as few members as we have here in the winter they try to spend the budget so they don't lose it but this was about a months worth of food (if not more).  No one had a clue how we were doing but Heavenly Father did, and he blessed us. 

Often times we don't realize how our Heavenly Father is watching over us.  This morning as I laid in bed, I started thinking about all the trials we've had in these short three years.  Everyone says the first year of marriage is the hardest, if you can make it past that, things become easier.  Well I'd like to tell whom ever you are that started this rumor, IT JUST ISN'T TRUE.  Yes my husband lost his job one month into our marriage but we somehow did okay.  It wasn't till the second year that we his a few brick walls.  Both our marriage and our faith have been tested and yet, we have made it through.  Years ago I received a priesthood blessing, and in it, I was told that I would be given many trials, and as I bear the burdens faithfully, I would be blessed.  I am so grateful for these trials because they have made me stronger, they have made us stronger, and in the end, we have been, and will be blessed. 

Day 3...a little late.

Today I am thankful for a roof over my head.

There are some that have told us that living in a fifth wheel just isn't giving our child the best.  To me the best isn't about living in some fancy house, or having lots of money, its about being a family and loving each other in a home, no matter how big or small it is. 

Gratitude day 2

"God sees us as we can be, but loves us as we are."

Today I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father.

The above quote is one of my favorites and for many reasons.  First off, as mortals we make mistakes and we fall, and yet every time he is right there to pick us back up again if we will let him.  I know how much my earthy father loves me and to know my Heavenly Father loves me.