Spring

Spring is beautiful! We are having our one week of amazing weather right now and it's making me want to have summer. One of the nice things about where I live is that you are always excited for the weather to change. :)

One of my favorite things about Spring is all of the animals being born - usually it's enjoyable, but sometimes there are lessons to learn. For instance, this year I was babysitting when the family's cat gave birth to seven kittens - they were practically the size of pickles from top to bottom.

Following the day I got home from babysitting, James' ewe, Nellie, started really looking like she was going to go into labor. (WARNING!! I'm not going into to much detail, but if you get sick to your stomach easily, you might nt) Wednesday morning, 5:30ish am, Nellie started having issues birthing. I went down a little later with James, Mom, and Grace - there was one front hoof sticking out and it had been that way for about 30 min. I thought we would need to help her with the birthing, but since James owns them, it was up to him and we would all help in whatever way we could. He decided we should help. It was very interesting to watch - we weren't sure if we were touching Nellie's backbone or if it was the lambs head, but James did a masterful job. We have never had to do this before, but he got the baby out. He was still-born. I had to leave to go to work and while I was gone, two more were born in the same manner: one boy and one girl - all still-born. (Nellie actually hasn't moved from that position from yesterday - we are hoping she will make it).
(WARNING ENDED: THOSE WITH SICK STOMACHS MAY CONTINUE TO READ WITHOUT FEAR)

lambs from 2012

I have had lambs die - both still-born and having died after a month or two of care and have watched it happen as I've tried to help them live. It makes you realize how out of control we are and how in control God IS.

Swing Dancing

Grace and I right before
volunteering

Grace and I got to volunteer at a 1940s Sweetheart Dance.

The most fun things about it were:
1. We were volunteering with each other and friends.

2. We were in 1940s costumes.

3. Our brother took both of us out to dance.

Rebecca, Paul, Ben, and Bethany

Grace and Ben

Happily, nothing catastrophic happened, but it could have. I mean, Grace and I were in charge of making sure the water and the food was always ready. At the beginning of the night we were carting water down and decided that was not going to be a smart move - I have pictures of pitchers and drink dispensers falling over in my mind.

We got home at about 10:30 which meant that I had clocked in 13 hours of volunteering at Fort Vancouver - quite a day filled with fun. I have now decided that I do like swing dancing - I didn't think I did before, but Ben did a great job leading. :)

Grace, Annika, Emily, friend :)

How Majestic!

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who has set Your glory above the heavens!" 

I read it in French this morning and it was very beautiful to me ~

"Eternel, notre Seigneur, que ton nom est magnifique sur toute la terre! Ta majeste domine le ciel."

"Eternal, our Lord, Your name is majestic on all the earth. Your majesty dominates the heavens." (translated from French to English)

I really like the French phrase, "Your majesty dominates the heavens." :)
I was driving yesterday in the sunshine and realized why people would prefer the sunshine to the rain - it was just gorgeous.

Goals

We stand. 

We stand where we can see the moment - but dimly.

We stand where we can see what has be done - but dimly, for we cannot see how what has been done will effect what will be done.

We stand where we can see what will be done - but dimly still, for we cannot see the bends, the hills, the valleys, and the cliffs that lay between us and our final destination.

We stand where we can see the Shepherd - yet not dimly, for He says, "I will instruct you and teach you  in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Psalms 32:8

We set goals to push us toward Christ. About half way through January, Dad had us, as a family, sit down and come up with goals under the 5Fs: Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, Finances, and Miscellaneous (not everything fits under the 5F's).

Dad then gave us time to look over our goals and adjust them so that we could meet with Mom and Dad and discuss them: What's realistic? What will push you?

Pumpkin Empanadas

With Girls' Bible Study tonight and a new baking toy from Mom and Dad, I figured I was going to have to bake and today!

I had 2 cups of pumpkin puree in the freezer and heated it up adding about 2 tbs. spoons of honey and a little bit of sugar (less than a tsp of sugar) and cinnamon and ginger to taste.













Here's my dough recipe:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/4 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil
cinnamon to taste
1 egg
1/4 cup water

I mixed the dry ingredients together and then added the wet ingredients (mixing between each to make sure I was getting - what I thought would be getting - the right consistency).

My new toy? It's a Large Dough Press - meaning that it's great for Pam Tarts, Pierogis, Empanadas, etc.

I put about 3 Tbs of pumpkin deliciousness inside each. After placing a slight bit of water around the edge to help seal the emapnanda, I did closed the mold and voila!

I baked them for 20 min at 375F.

Finished product - I tried to make a pumpkin frosting for the garnish... way too much powdered sugar. But I think if I chilled the pumpkin after adding a little bit of powdered sugar, it may have worked better.
As you can see though, the shape didn't quite come out like I would have wished. :)

I hope you have a great week!