Birthday

I am feeling reflective and grateful, sitting on a couch more than 2,000 miles away from home thinking,"Who knew I'd be here welcoming my 37th birthday?" The answer quickly came to me:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

"13For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be." Psalms 139:13-16 NIV

I'd Rather Be In A Hurricane

Hurricane Irene 2011

It's tough being here in Iowa while my family and friends wait for Hurricane Irene to pass through.  I wish I was there.
 It's my son's first hurricane. As we were chatting tonight, the winds started to pick up and he told me he was scared. He also told me that the stuffed bear on my bed was scared and our dog, Roxy, looks sad.  It hurts that I couldn't hold him in my arms and comfort him until he fell asleep. I know his dad is there to comfort him, but that's supposed to be my job. I should be there.  
I miss my husband, son, other family and friends and pray that The Lord keeps them and the rest of The Bahamas safe.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Happy 8th Birthday to the greatest son ever! I love You!

Today is also my nephew Kristopher's 6th Birthday! They are exactly 2 years apart.

Away From Home

My sister, niece, daughter and I drove from Florida to Iowa last week.  Both my daughter and niece are attending college in Iowa and we had to get a trailer to haul all of my niece's belongings.  I took pictures along the way, but I left my camera cord at home (doh!).  We passed through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois before arriving in Iowa. It took 23 hrs. of driving and one night in a hotel.

We've been in Iowa City for a week now and De's pretty much settled in.

She's registered for her classes, ordered most of her books, opened a bank account and gotten a phone. She only needs school supplies as we bought everything she needed for the apartment already.  

The apartment btw, is very nice. For an apartment complex that caters to college kids, you would expect the apartment to not be as nice as it is.  They have a free shuttle to/from the campus.  We are going tomorrow on a test run. I'm pleased.

I can't believe I have three weeks left here. I am so surprised at how much I miss home. There have been quiet moments where I just yearn to be home with my husband and son.  However, I know that it will be so hard for me to leave De. But alas, I must.

De starts classes on the 22nd, so I will be left alone during the day.  I have to use the time to get my son's curriculum together.  The focus has been on De, so I haven't ordered anything for him. I will also use the time to focus on me.  I know that I need to make some changes within myself and hopefully all of this alone time will help me chart a course for myself.

Cut the Navel String

source

  Here in The Bahamas we have the saying that sooner or later every parent has to "cut the navel string". As mothers, we were physically connected to our children, when in utero, by their navel string (umbilical chord). It is cut when the child is born and can survive outside of the uterus. 
  To "cut the navel string" here, means that we must let go of our children when they are old enough to survive without us. 
  My time to cut is drawing near, and I don't want to pick up the shears.  The selfish me wants to hold onto to her forever and never let her go.  But the loving parent in me knows that it must happen if those hopes and dream of hers are to be fulfilled.  

Whole-Wheat Sweet Potato Coconut Muffins

My husband and I have been working out since after Easter.  We run a few miles and strength train 6 days a week.  We've also changed what and how we eat.  It was rough for me in the beginning but I'm okay with everything now.  I can say that my endurance has increased tenfold.

My husband has lost twenty pounds!! Hurray for him!! I have lost ZERO pounds.  It's not a typo. After busting my ass for the last six or so weeks, I have lost NOTHING! I admit, I am not 100% compliant with eating as I should, but to lose nothing????? Ridiculous!!


Anyway, my husband sent me the link to these muffins.  They are supposed to be perfect as a pre-workout breakfast.  These are so good, I don't think they'll make it to our next workout session.  I did make some changes to the original. They are moist and delicious.

recipe after the jump

Rainbow Cake

This cake has been around the net.  I made this for my daughter's graduation.  I used a white cake recipe that I really didn't like.  It was dry to me.  I do have a reliable white cake recipe that I like but always want to try something new.

Here's the recipe:

• White cake recipe or box cake mix
• Red, yellow orange, green, blue and purple gel coloring. ( i know, I'm missing purple. I divided in 5 instead of 6.)
• Favorite buttercream recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. grease and flour 9 inch pans. (I only have two)
Mix cake mix according to directions. Measure batter into six separate bowls. I weighed them equally.  Mix each color and bake. Make sure to check the oven earlier than directed as each pan has less batter. Once pans are out of oven let cool for a few minutes on cooling rack, then wrap each cake in saran wrap and refrigerate.
Start with purple on the bottom, then blue, green, orange, yellow then red. For each layer, frost then refrigerate  a few minutes before adding the next layer as the cake gets pretty heavy and you don't want the buttercream to ooze out of the sides (ooze is a very technical word).
Complete frosting and enjoy!