10 (or maybe 13) photos taken on the 10th of the month.

What?  Sundays are full.

So I’ll just be honest.

This dish was not my favorite.

It’s ok.

Easy.

Slightly spicy.

My kids wouldn’t really look at it.

But they decided they are vegan now.

Well, vegans who eat chicken nuggets.

I don’t know that I will repeat it.

Dave didn’t love it.

I might have screwed it up by replacing the egg noodles with ziti.

And I served it in the same dish as my regular ziti.

Which is his favorite of all time.

So he described this as a ziti oasis.

Also, it was difficult to make look pretty.

Mine was less festive red like the picture and more brainy gray.

And I just don’t trust gray food.

Maybe I needed some parsley.

You win some, you lose some.

On a happier, more redemptive note, I made these a while back and they are delicious.

What have you been up to?

Grab a button in the sidebar and link up below!

I struggle to find words here.

And quite honestly, I want to avoid them.

But doing so would rob God of glory.

And I’d rather not do that.

So I share my little story.

And I will be honest.

I’m very nervous.

I feel unqualified.

Many women have struggled far longer, some forever.

I don’t feel fit to share.

I’m not trying to make this my platform.

I’m not claiming to be an expert.

But I keep being brought back to God’s glory.

And my thankfulness.

And joy.

In answered prayers.

In lessons learned.

Rewind to November of 2010.

We learned we’d be adding a third little one to this house of crazy.

Shortly thereafter, we lost that baby.

I was surprised and sad.

But convinced God would give us another baby.

Quickly.

Because all our other pregnancies had happened that way.

But that wasn’t the case.

Months of waiting became years of waiting.

And this past fall, I had given up hope.

Convinced that God’s plan for us was to be a family of four.

And I was learning to be content in that.

But, really I wasn’t.

I wasn’t waiting well.

I was impatient.

And bratty.

Self-absorbed.

Jealous of pregnant friends.

Ugly.

But even though I wasn’t reflecting Jesus well,

I have never been closer to Him.

I’ve never prayed more.

Leaned more.

Relied more.

We had lots of chats, Jesus and I.

And this past Christmas, we learned of a great blessing.

In early September of this year, Lord-willing, we’ll welcome a new little baby into our home.

I am thrilled.

Overjoyed.

Thankful.

So very thankful.

For this precious new life.

But also for what I have learned while waiting.

Lean on Him always.

Not just in the valleys.

Don’t be a brat.

It’s ugly.

Rejoice with your friends.

Even when it’s hard.

And you’d rather poke their pregnant eyes out.

Be gracious to other women around you.

Not many knew of my struggle because I felt weak sharing.

And so many have more painful stories.

Be careful with your words, pregnant ladies.

Be careful with your complaints.

Many women would give anything to feel morning sickness.

Women that have struggled with miscarriage and infertility,

SHARE YOUR STORIES.

Please.

They are so powerful and give such hope.

See them as a gift.

Yes.

This new little baby is a HUGE gift.

But the waiting was more of one.

I pray Jesus never lets me forget that.

So, yes.  Hi.

I know I’ve grossly neglected my blog as of late.

I blame lingering hardwood floor fumes for compromised creative writing skills.

But you GUYS.

I need you to make this cake.

Dare I say favorite chocolate cake ever?

I’m just going to say it.

FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER.

And EASIEST scratch chocolate cake ever.

Which, my friends, unlike fumes and blogging, is a winning combination.

{original recipe pinned here.}

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9 x 13 Pyrex dish.

Mix and set aside:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

In saucepan over medium heat stir until boiling:

1 cup butter

1/4 cup Ghiradelli unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup coca-cola

1/2 cup buttermilk

Remove from heat and add to the flour mix, whisk until combined.

Then add 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla, whisk until combined.

I used my KitchenAid whisk attachment but I’m sure a hand whisk would work fine.

Pour batter in greased Pyrex dish and bake 30-35 minutes.

Test with toothpick until it comes out clean.

DO NOT OVER BAKE.

When the cake is nearly done, start on the glaze.

In saucepan over medium heat, stir often until boiling:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup unsweetened Ghiradelli cocoa powder

1/2 cup Coca-Cola

1/8 tsp cinnamon

Remove from heat and add 4 cups powdered sugar and stir until combined.

Once cake is done, immediately pour glaze over warm cake and let sit for an hour or so.

YUM.

I can still taste it.

Probably because I just had a piece for breakfast.  Or two.

I blame the fumes.

What have you been up to this month?

Grab a button in the sidebar and link up below.

I can’t wait to see!

I don’t have much.

It’s abnormally cold.

And I’m doing laundry in the garage in a trench coat.

I’m really ready for sunshine and summer.

Lots going on around these parts.

Our carpet is being ripped up and the beautiful hardwood underneath that should have never been hidden is being refinished.

I cannot adequately express my elation over these interior design happenings.

We’re also having the Pergo in our kitchen replaced with tile.

10 x 20 camel colored in a sideways subway formation.

Dave is not so sure but I am joyous.

Kayla got purple glasses yesterday.

She can now “see her friends hair” which was clearly a crisis beforehand.

Ashlyn is reading.

Books about cats on mats.

With hats.

Exciting literature.

The church recently launched a few new small groups.

A women’s bi-weekly study and a once-a-month married group.

If you’re interested, “like” Hope’s Facebook Page for more details.

Dave is also scoping out a location for a mid-week service we’re hoping to start in the next few months.

Anyone have a spare warehouse they’re not using?

With heat?

That’d be great.

Thanks.

Happy weekend, friends.

Bundle up.

And GO Niners.

We have friends in town.

And we’re doing lots of eating.

And talking.

And exploring.

And not a lot of blogging.

I came across this idea on Pinterest a few months ago.

And I thought it would be a perfect craft to start the new year.

A craft that’s my style.

Quick and easy.

Stickers, labels, mason jars.

10-15 minutes of creative chaos.

Ready?

Have your children decorate a mason jar however they see fit.

A Maple syrup leaf sticker?

Animal print “D”?

I mean.

What blessing jar is complete without them?

And you could probably have them decorate more.

But I’ll be honest.

We had beach plans.

Have them write blessings down throughout the year.

Start January 1.

Add them to the jar.

Daily.

Weekly.

Whenever.

Then, as a family, read them together on New Years Eve.

I want to raise grateful children.

Joyful children.

Children that recognize and reflect on the good things in life more than the bad.

I can’t wait for December 31.

And to hear all the good that 2013 will bring.

What have you been up to?

Grab a button and link up bellow!

Hello, Christmas Eve with the cousins.

Hello, best gift EVER.

Pop Pop tried to steal it so she wrote her name in Sharpie on the shipping box it was wrapped in.

And wrote an “X” on Pop Pop’s hand.

And slept with the empty shipping box later that night.

My baby has issues.

Hello, favorite Christmas party dress of all time.

Hello, Gingerbread decorating with the cousins.

This is for her friend Vidal.

Or it is Vidal.

Or both.

Issues.

Hello Christmas morning.

Some awesome bedhead.

And toothless, matching PJ grins.

Oh time, I wish you would freeze.

Hello, first fire.

We are slow.

Hello, first every progressive Christmas.

Breakfast at our house.

Hello, matching Lion King shirts.

I’m embarrassed.

Early dinner at Mom and Dad’s.

And a plethora of 1994 Lion King toys my mom found on EBay.

Yay us!

Hello, Hansen.

Uncle Branden and Auntie Kennah’s new dog.

She pretended he was her present and stalked him all day.

Hello, snowman pinata and elf hat blind-fold.

Did you not have one?

And final stop?

Dessert at Grandmums.

Progressive Christmas for the win.

Goodbye, Christmas 2012.

You were fun.

Unrelated, January Pintertest Kitchen is THIS Thursday.

Link up or I’ll make you wear a Lion King shirt.

Our card this year.

I know.

It’s borderline blasphemous with all the baseball worship at Christmastime.

But it’s one of my favorite ones yet.

And if there’s any doubt?

Jesus’ birth means more to us than the Giants do.

Which means we REALLY love Jesus.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

2013 is gonna be a good one.

{Card by KatyGirl Designs}

It’s the day before Christmas and we’re ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Presents are wrapped and under the tree.

Baking is done.

Christmas morning casseroles are prepped.

Family festivities commence in just a few hours.

We are excited and joyful.  And thankful for so much.

It’s been a fun month.

 It’s not every day that your dad is Santa.

At a Foster City storage unit Holiday Open House.

His throne of lies was inflatable.

Ashlyn: “Let’s go see the real Santa.  That’s just dad.”

My Little Pony and waffles under the tree lights.

It just doesn’t get more magical.

Holiday baking quality control.

They are tough.

Hope’s Second Annual Ladies Ornament Exchange.

These women are so special.

It’s my favorite church tradition.

Ashlyn and I shared the story of the birth of Christ at her school.

She replaced baby Jesus with a cat in the paper nativity scene manger.

We have some work to do.

Adressing Christmas cards while the cat lover flashes the neighborhood in her skivies.

Again, work to do.

A surprise guest at Ashlyn’s school.

Not dad.

Celebrating the servants that make Sunday mornings happen.

Dave made us put our phones in an empty chip bowl.

Our presence was his present.

“Sailing” to Madagascar.

In a triple horse-drawn carriage.

What happens when mom hides in the bedroom wrapping gifts.

Hope’s kids choir during service.

Such sweet little ones.

Singing their hearts out for Jesus.

And as Dave preached yesterday,

He’s not the reason for the season.

He’s the reason for everything.

Do you ever discover a recipe by mistake?

Or ingredient substitution desperation?

Or a desire to morph your two favorite recipes into one delicious cookie?

This happened to me yesterday.

And you guys.

This might be my favorite baked good of all time.

I’m on my fifth and its ‘s not even 6 am yet.

I’m ignoring My Fitness Pal.

Things are going downhill fast.

Recipe adapted from here and here.

For the cookies:

Preheat oven to 350.

Prepare baking sheet.

I use Pampered Chef’s Rectangle Baking Stone.

The best $29.00 you’ll ever spend.

Makes it impossible to burn cookie bottoms.

I’ve tried.

If you don’t have a baking stone, use parchment paper.

You’ll need:

1.5 cups white sugar

2/3 cup unsalted butter (cold)

2/3 cup cream cheese (approx 6 oz.)

2 eggs

2 tsp almond extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp cornstarch

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

course, granulated raw sugar (for rolling cookies)

Cream sugar, cream cheese and butter.

Add eggs and almond extract.

In separate bowl, whisk flours, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.

Slowly add to butter/egg mixture.

Form dough in small, walnut sized balls (I use a cookie scoop) and roll in raw sugar.

DON’T SKIP THE RAW SUGAR PART.

It makes these cookies.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Transfer to cooling rack and let cool completely.

For the glaze:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp almond extract

Bring milk and butter to boil.

Add at once to powdered sugar.

Add almond extract.

Mix well.

Place a baking sheet under cooling rack (to catch excess)

Pour over cooled cookies.

Let icing cool for several hours.

They are best the next day.

For breakfast.

At 5:45 in the morning.