The beautiful berries

so this is the first picture I took with my new iphone- I am obsessed!  (about the wheat berries, and, I guess the iphone too-it's pretty stinkin' cool!)

Ok, so they aren't berries in the "traditional" sense.... they are wheat berries.  We have been eating these every morning for breakfast.  My dear friend gave me a wonderful recipe for Wheat Berry Pancakes- or also know as Blender Pancakes.  In an effort to change our diet a bit and incorporate more TRULY whole grains, organic, and fresh produce, we have embraced these little glorious grains.  And YES, we eat pancakes EVERY morning- they are the BEST pancakes you will ever have- not to mention they are so jam packed full of actual nutrition- none of this whole grain claiming to be nutritious but is actually so processed the nutrition is severely depleted! No, this stuff in its raw-est (is that a word?) form, is the best!  And.... drum roll please... I do believe that I have slimmed down while eating them!!  (at least Scott said he thinks I have- I can never tell) 
I am currently saving up for a food mill and Bosch Mixer so that I can start making my own bread.... can't wait!!

So seriously, I DARE you to try these!!
*** but you HAVE to use maple syrup- none of that processed sugary stuff, cause otherwise what is the point?  (and they truly do not need much mapley goodness, but sometimes it just tastes so good I add extra!)   YUMMY!!!

Blender Pancakes
mix in a blender on high for 3 minutes:
1 cup wheat berries
1 cup (plus a splash more) Milk

add the following and mix on high for 1 minute:
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbspn butter
vanilla to taste
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbspn honey

Add 1 Tbspn Baking Powder and pulse 3 times-
**No more than three times, b/c they will get too tough!

Jessie and Emma vist

 My dearest friend Jess visited from a land far far away last month with her precious baby girl- Emma-Lou.  If you remember past (long long ago) posts that included twin boys- well this is their baby sister!  It was such a joy to have Jess and Emma for a brief visit while they were in Ca!  Jess and I worked on a puzzle while chatting away.  Emma rolled/scooted around-  have you ever seen so much pudge!!  I just want to reach through the pictures and squeeze her!!  She is a precious doll and it was so great to finally meet her.  Thanks Jess for coming to visit!

Uncle Scott and sweet smiles Emma

Sweet Jess and our completed puzzle!!

Would you look at those rolls!!

Profile update

 We have been working on an updated profile for our adoption.  I has been a year since we put our last profile together, and I felt the need to update it.  I never liked a few things about it- including the picture on the front.  So we had yet another photo shoot this weekend at my parents house, and I was very happy with how the pictures turned out this time.  My mother was the photographer, my father held the bounce lighting, the sky was overcast and provided the perfect filtered light, and the backgrounds were beautiful.  The top picture will be our new front cover for the profile.

I love this of Scott and my mom- Hey, they match!!

Oh Beautiful!

It had been three years since our last journey to Colorado, and we had been chomping at the bit to get there again!  This October we received the phone call we had been waiting for.  Our good friend (and Scott's old roommate) FINALLY announced he was getting married on New Years Day!  Without waiting for the formal invitation we said we would be there!  We were thrilled for Steve and Becca, and thrilled to finally get to take our long awaited trip back to The Springs!
God's timing is always perfect!  We had the money to travel, Scott had accrued a few days off, and we were in desperate need of a vacation!
We spent every moment of each of the six days there with friends and "family" in our home away from home.  We were inspired and encouraged by the lives and going-on's of our friends.  We were completely awed and inspired by the mountains and the beauty.  (I LOVE how you can never get tired of God's creation!!)  Colorado Springs had a pretty large snow fall a couple days before Christmas, so we were able to enjoy the snow on the ground- something we hoped for, and experience clear roads and ease of travel- something we prayed for!
The wedding was held in Westcliffe Colorado which is in the mountains about an hour and a half from The Springs.  We had never been there, but heard it was stunningly beautiful.  It was!  Westcliffe lies in a valley between two mountain ranges.  The Sangre De Cristo Mountain range lies to the west and is comprised of many high peaks, including seven that are over 14,000 ft!  Scott and his former roommates who all attended the wedding reminisced about climbing many of those peaks.  They recounted stories- some of which I had heard before, and some "death defying" ones which I hadn't heard about (and asked not to hear again!)  It was a blessing to watch Steve and Becca marry and share in their Christ- centered wedding!

** Name the inspiration for the title of this post, and why I chose this title for this post and you win...!!

Scott and Steve at Steve's bachelor party.  Steve's brothers had this costume picked out for Steve.

The Broadmoor Hotel

Bridge at the Broadmoor where Scott proposed!

Scott and Rob

Isn't it lovely?  Our dream home!

Christmas tree at the Broadmoor

Buck in the front yard down the street from our friends house

Good friends, Herman and Christina

A snowy field in Divide

On his dream bike!

Uncle Mark and Aunt Sue

Shot from the car!

Sangre De Cristo range.

closer up at the Sangre De Cristos

Aww... log home!

Adventures with Josh and Avery-Lynn!!

Sweet friends

We are happy in the mountains!

Abandoned house

why wouldn't you use the car mats to attempted snowboarding down the hill?

View from the church

Four roommates and spouses

Four roommates and beautiful bride!

Julie and Chris Clasbey at Old C's.  

Pikes Peak

Part of The Garden - Garden of the Gods

Charlie, beer, and mountains...!

A New Year

“How often do we loose heart, fear man, worry about the outcome of the current/upcoming circumstances? God is sovereign. We must not fear, but stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. He will fight for us. We need not rattle on, but instead be silent and wait on the Lord — fearing Him all the while. [Inspired by Exodus 14]“

I was reflecting on the past year and looking toward the coming year when I was shown this blog which included the quote above.  The New Year is such a great time to set new goals for the coming year, to renew our commitment to continue working on those old habits that die hard.  The new year is a time to once again press into the Lord and it is a reminder that we need to seek Him in All things.  

I am anticipating many changes this year- possibly big ones.  Do I know for sure that this year will bring many changes?  No.  But I feel like God has been preparing our hearts for changes coming. 

I am not sure what those changes will be.  Maybe a new job for Scott?  Maybe a new home?  Maybe a new baby?  We do not know what the future holds, but as we look toward the future we wait with eager expectation for the good things God has in store.  Does that mean it will all be "good"?  Probably not.  But in the "bad" God always brings Good!  Of that we are sure! 

I dove into God's word last week looking for some scripture in which I could focus as the New Year began.  Here are a few of the verses I found:

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 1:3-4.  
"...He chose us... that we should be holy and blameless before Him in Love..." Ephesians 2:10
"The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." 
"A man plans his own way, but the Lord directs his steps."  Proverbs 16:9