Anna's Birthday

grabbing for more cake!!

covered from head to toes!!!

yummo!

WOW! It's hard to believe my baby is 1!!! Who said she could get sooo big, not me!! God has blessed me tremendously with her this past year. If it weren't for her big smiles, and giggles and coos, I don't know how I would have coped with some of the issues going on in our life. God knew what he was doing when he sent her to me!

She totally enjoyed her birthday cupcakes! I can't wait till her big party this weekend!!

Pesto...

So I made a homemade Pesto sauce the other day! We had it over pasta, with grilled chicken and steamed veggies!! It was totally delicious!! And super easy to make! I did however skip the pine nuts, but have heard through some friends that almonds substitute well for them!

Delaware/family reunion..

So last week, we headed to Delaware for a family reunion on my father's side.

This was a special time, because my dad left a loonnggg time ago and had relatively minimal/ no contact with me growing up.

Since then my dad has come to know the Lord, and I as a Christian too felt that when he sought me out this time, I had to honor his request. It's been a year since that time. Our relationship is growing, and I truly feel that if circumstances aren't what they are for the two of us we wouldn't have a relationship right now. But God has humbled us, and through this humility has come compassion, forgiveness, and a positive relationship.

When I was a small child, I would have done anything to have a relationship with my father. After years of disappointment, I leaned heavily on my grandfather to fulfill that relationship. Something I knew, but didn't really hit me until my grandfather passed. He was my 'dad', he was the male figure in my life the whole time growing up. I still miss him so much even now and he's been gone for 9 years. After he passed, I relied much more on my heavenly father for things.

My bio-dad had given his life to the Lord about 10 years ago. Although he started fully living for the Lord about 4 years ago. I am the oldest of his three children, and even though I didn't grow up with siblings, it's still neat at this time in my life to get to meet them.

I have two half sisters. The only common denominator between us all is my father. At 36 years old, I have met my sisters. Always and only in God's timing..And his timing is always perfect. It was a blessed week for sure. I look forward to cultivating a relationship with my sisters.

Below is some pics of our trip..

us

us on the upper deck of the ferry..
anna walking along the deck

emma's face when the blasted the horn!

My younger sister Melissa and her husband Marco!

My dad and Matthew

me and my Aunt Patty

the whole gang out for a seafood dinner. Right next to Wayne is my youngest sister..Jessica. She is the same age as my oldest daughter Ashely.
Ecclesiastes 3
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?


I read this scripture at my grandfather's funeral, and I'm using it again, in a season of joy.

How blessed I am!!