This Cake Took The Cake

Not long ago I was reading a blog of a blog-friend and she made

this cake for her daughter's birthday.

As soon as I saw it, I wanted the recipe because I knew it

was the perfect cake for Katrina's 5th birthday.

I have seen rainbow cakes before, but they

all involved many, many cakes which would end up

being WAY too much cake for one family of 4

plus a friend to enjoy for a birthday party.

So, Friday morning I set out to make this cake.

The recipe calls for gel food coloring and I could not find any

so I had to make my own gel food coloring in order

for the colors to be so vibrant.

Set-back #1.

Making gel food coloring is not hard, but it is a process

that involves time, bowls, toothpicks and unless I wanted

WAY more gel food coloring than I needed, mathematics.

I got the gel food coloring made and proceeded with the cake.

This was a super easy step as I went with a recipe that

calls for soda and a Betty Crocker mix.

Next I needed to mix the batter with the gel food coloring.

As I completed this step I was nervous.

Set-back #2.

Would the colors be vibrant enough?

Should I risk adding drops of liquid food coloring

and end up making the batter too runny?

I did and the batter seemed fine.

After mixing the batter with the colors, it was time to layer

the colors in the baking pans.

The greased baking pans.

I generously greased the baking pans

(or so I thought)

and popped them into the oven.

Set-back #3 occurred.

I had filled one baking pan too full and the batter was spilling

out onto the oven floor as it baked.

I quickly remedied that issue by placing a cookie

sheet on the lower rack of our oven to catch any

further spills.

BEEP.

The cakes were done.

I took them out and allowed them to cool.

After plenty of cooling time I attempted to remove the

cakes from the pans.

Set-back #4.

I must not have greased the pans generously enough.

Aghh!

Some of the cake stuck to the bottom of the pan.

I stayed calm, however, and did my best

to piece the cake together.

Then I needed to stack the cakes.

I was so thankful I had only made 2!

Once they were stacked and stable, I

proceeded to frost them.

The frosting step went quite well and as I was frosting

I noticed that all of the set-backs that had

occurred and could have made the cake ugly

were being completely covered by the frosting.

And the thicker I spread on the frosting, the more

the Lord spoke to me about my own life and how

I like to frost.

I have been living for 11 weeks with a deep-seated fear

that very few people are aware of.

I have frosted over that fear with a smile and a sweet laugh.

Instead of allowing people to see me in a

very vulnerable position right now, 15 weeks pregnant,

I have chosen to use frosting to cover up my vulnerability.

There are many reasons for why I have done this,

and I will not go into them, but as I sorted through the

reasons in my mind, I realized each of them was a sin.

As I frosted that beautiful birthday cake I was

convicted of my lack of trust in Jesus and His perfect plan for our lives,

for one, and second for my masquerading around like

everything is great.

Now, fast forward to when I made the first slice into the cake.

I cut into that cake and took out the first piece.

The girls and Pancho were oohing and ahhing.

Samuel was just drooling!

I took a look at the inside and it was gorgeous.

It looked even better than the frosting.

And the Lord impressed upon my heart,

"What I see is beautiful. Vulnerability is where I work.

When you cover that up, to yourself and others, you have not

covered it up to Me. I know that you are scared. I know that

you are hurting. Come to Me. Bring Me your fear.

Bring Me your hurt. I will carry it for you. It would be My

pleasure."

I cannot tell you what those words mean to me. They are like a healing balm to my very soul. I have resolved, with the Lord's help, to begin living without all the frosting.

Look Who's 5 Already!

Happy birthday to our dear daughter, Katrina!

Friday evening we went to pick up Katrina's closest friend, Taylor.

Upon arrival at the hotel, Katrina's choice for her 5th birthday celebration,

the girls realized the room had been decorated for the party.

"This is where the party is!" they both exclaimed.

After a quick dinner of Wendy's kids' meals we hit the pool.

Katrina, Taylor and Samuel had a blast splashing and playing

on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

We went back to the room, got changed into our pajamas

and sang "Happy Birthday" to Katrina

and dug into the birthday cake.

Samuel enjoyed the cake the most!

After cake the kids snuggled into one of the beds in our suite

and watched "UP."

We were all tired and ready for some rest by the time it was over.

Saturday morning we enjoyed a delicious continental breakfast

and then headed back to the pool for a few more splashes.

We went back to the room and while Pancho and I cleaned

up and got everything packed up, the kids played Polly Pockets.

Overall it was a very memorable 5th birthday.

More birthday celebrations came Saturday evening

with Grandpa and Nana and then Sunday evening

with our dear friends, the Drexlers.

Katrina, you so enjoy hearing the story of your arrival into our family.

And we so enjoy telling you!

It was definitely the highlight of our lives until that point.

We had prayed so hard for a baby and God was faithful to bless

us with you in His perfect time and in His perfect way.

The 5 years since your arrival have been the most joyful years.

We have watched you grow and mature into a very young

lady who loves Jesus and your family very much.

And like we pray for you each night and then tell you just as we turn

out the light in your bedroom,

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May His favor rest on you.

And may you know His peace all your days (and nights!).

Tu papa y yo te amamos mas que nunca, Trini-do.

So different

One year ago yesterday, Wednesday,
Pancho was having an ultrasound, followed by a CT scan.
Later that afternoon he was admitted to the
hospital and so began our blastomycosis journey.

Yesterday, Wednesday,
I was having an ultrasound.
Later that afternoon we were basking in the
blessing of another child.
Do you want to see him/her?

One might say it is a coincidence that the ultrasounds
were exactly one year apart.
But I don't believe in coincidence.
I believe in God.
I believe in His sovereign hand upon our lives.

Those days of blastomycosis were scary.
Pancho was admitted to St. Clare's Hospital in Weston on Wednesday and
was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield the
following Tuesday because he was not responding
to the strong medication.
They decided in the critical care unit in Marshfield to start him on the
very strong medication.
Praise the Lord it began to take effect.
He was discharged from St. Joseph's on Friday and
then went to St. Clare's daily for 10 days of out-patient
amphotericin treatments.
He was on oxygen at home.
His parents came to help us care for him and the kids.
In November he finished his final dose of oral drugs.
Yes, 8 months after it all began he was finishing the final dose.
It was a scary time.

Yet through it all, the Lord was faithful.
And now we are on another journey.
I will tell you that this is a scary journey too.
We did not enter into this pregnancy lightly.
It was (and still is in many ways for me) entered into
with much fear and trepidation.
And, you know what?
God has been faithful and will continue to be.

Seeing that baby kick and roll around
on the screen yesterday was absolutely miraculous.
This is the third time we have seen a 12-week gestational baby
move like that and it felt like the first time.
Even the nurse doing the ultrasound giggled with excitement
as the baby reached for its face various times.
I wonder how many ultrasounds she has performed.
Yet, it never gets old.
Miracles are miracles.
Period.

We continue to wait on the Lord and trust His
perfect plan for our lives.
Should He see fit to bring this baby to term and
bless our lives with it outside of the womb,
praise be to our God.
Should He see fit to take this baby to be with Him
before we experience life with it out here,
praise be to our God.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away,
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job 1:21
Please rejoice with us in His giving!

Home Depot Days

Pancho found out before Christmas

that every first Saturday of the month

Home Depot had a project for kids to complete

with the help of an adult.

He was thrilled and could not wait to take Katrina.

This past Saturday was their first chance to go

and they were both overjoyed!

Samuel was noticeably bummed that he had to stay home

so he got to take a bath all by himself.

The project for February was a heart-shaped shelf

with a hook to hang things.

They assembled the shelf at Home Depot

and then bought paint to paint it at home.

We have noticed over the years that the

harder Katrina concentrates, the further her tongue sticks out.

Did you see it?

Katrina did not want Samuel to feel left out

during the painting so we found him

a block of wood and he was more than

happy painting it pink.

We did put our foot down when she wanted to hang

his "pink brick," as she called it, in his room

just like we hung her pink shelf in hers!

Cinderell-o

There are two things to know about Samuel:
he enjoys cleaning/organizing (one of his favorite new words is "mess")
he enjoys wearing fashionable footwear

But when you see this little face smiling up at you,
even if he is in his big sister's gold sparkly shoes,
you just want to hug him to pieces.

Te amamos mas que nunca, Cinderell-o.

Not a little boy anymore...

I'm not a little boy anymore...
I sit at the table now using a booster seat instead of a highchair.
I can tell Mama and Papa what I want or don't want
and they understand me.
Sometimes Mama lets me walk in the store instead of riding in the cart;
I have to be extremely obedient, though.
I go to the 2-year old class for Sunday School and Children's Church.
I know how to put on my boots when we are going to leave the house.
I'm not a little boy anymore...
In fact, I am a big boy now.
I'm a big brother...

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Today, January 19, is Samuel's 2nd birthday.
We had a family party on Saturday.
Here are a few highlights...

It was a cowboy theme and Samuel thoroughly enjoyed the
s'more brownie! (thanks, Rachel!)
Uncle Nick and Aunt Amber gave Samuel a tee and a bat and ball.
Uncle Shawn and Aunt Leanne gave Samuel a sweater and pants
which he insisted on wearing immediately
(sound like anyone we know?).
Nana Dawn and Grandpa Stuart gave Samuel a new book, some cars and a few outfits
which he has already worn since.
And Nana and Grandpa gave Samuel a front-end loader.
Whoa!
Let's just say it's a good thing we saved that one for last!

This morning we celebrated the true birthday
with cinnamon streusel muffins.
Samuel enjoys anything that looks like cake!

He even helped us sing to him.
He sings Happy Birthday so well!

Katrina wanted to get in on the festivities even more
than simply participating so she asked if
we could re-light the candles, sing again and if
she could have some candles too.
I obliged.
She graciously asked for "4 candles" since she is not officially 5.

Happy birthday, Samuel.
You have been a gift from the Lord from the moment we
learned of your presence.
God has used you to teach us to trust Him completely and
it is our prayer that you trust Him completely as well.
Tu papa y yo te amamos mas que nunca.

How do you rate?

My dad has a saying that I can remember him
mentioning countless times when I was young (er).
Usually he would say it in regard to us getting to
have pizza on a night he worked
(he doesn't even care for pizza).
Or if our mom would make a special meal and he
did not get to have it because he was working
that particular night.
He would say,
"How do you rate?"

I couldn't help but think of the saying when I
saw this in our living room earlier this week.

Samuel has been shafted to the mock pillow-pet as
his horse while Katrina rides Black Beauty
(well, Brown Beauty, but you get the idea).

And yet, Samuel is just happy to go riding with
his big sister.

Lord, help me to have the same attitude as Samuel
is displaying in these pictures.
He is simply happy to be riding.
I want to be happy riding too and to not be
looking around at all the other horses, wondering why
those people "rate" so much better than me.
They don't.
You love me and the test of Your love for me
is the cross.
PERIOD.
Thank You for the cross.

Hosey-Ho

When we were little we had a rocking horse
that we absolutely loved to ride.
My brother Shawn coined the phrase,
"Hosey-ho!"

Grandpa and Nana gave Katrina and Samuel
a rocking horse last week.

Friday morning Pancho put it together
while two very anxious horseback riders
waiting as patiently as possible.

Once "Bullseye" was fully-assembled and safe
for mounting, Katrina got on to show
Samuel how to ride.

It did not appear as if Samuel really needed lessons!

We are still working on the concept that
it is better to wear clothes while riding
with this little cowboy!

Growing... Like a Weed

Samuel's hair grows fast!
Saturday marked the day of his second haircut.
Grandpa gave it to him this time.

Dad was surprised at how fine his hair is,
even though he has quite a bit of it.
It has been too many years since he cut Shawn
and Nick's hair when it was as fine as Samuel's.

Samuel sat like a very big boy and actually
seemed to enjoy all the attention and eyes on him.

* The pictures are snapshots from a video that we took
so please excuse the poor quality.