This Is What Adoption Is All About!

November is National Adoption Month

I came into the dining room to find
my daughter drawing this picture on our dry erase board.

Anyone who knew her "story" would know what a miracle this is!

This is what adoption is all about.

A simple picture of a happy house
drawn by the child that grew in our heart.

I've linked this with Emily at Chatting at the Sky for Tuesday Unwrapped.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

It's a Favorite!

Feeling restored, I decided it was time to do some baking with my children.
This is a tried and true pumpkin bread recipe made into a cake.
I found it on allrecipes and have been baking it for over five years.
People ask me for the recipe all.the.time!
We don't add the nuts.

It's great for breakfast:)

My kids licked the bowl when we were through!

Edited to add: I use a whole 15 oz. can of pumpkin instead of measuring it out.
I also just plop the whole thing in my 10.5x15 glass pyrex baking dish.
Bake 55-60 minutes and check with a cake tester.

What's a Girl To Do?

What's a girl to do when she's hit the wall?

When her tank is just empty, empty, empty?

She retreats to her very own garden with her Bible and a stack of yummy books.

She spends time reading Isaiah 40 and breathes a sigh.

She grabs her camera and tries to capture the gorgeous light.

She leans her head back and breathes in the blue sky, the golden light, and the crisp air.

Love That Autumn Light!

Love the autumn light as it streams through the window in my kitchen.

A Post About My House

We had visitors recently which you can read about here.

They blogged about our visit here.

A Trip to the Big City-Part III

Part I

Part II

Our final destination of the day was

the Palace Theatre to see Blue Man Group!

From Wikipedia: "The $2 million theater opened in the Keith Building on November 6, 1922, seating 3,100. The interior was clad with Carrara marble and 154 crystal chandeliers, and the main lobby, dubbed the “Great Hall,” was decorated with over 30 paintings."

The theatre is absolutely spectacular! A feast for the eyes!

I cropped him out, but my son was able to get

photos taken with some of the cast!

It is an experience he won't soon forget!

A wonderful day of memories for all!

A Trip to the Big City-Part II

Part I

Part III

After we looked at all of the houses, we went to a park on the edge of Lake Erie.

It was a gorgeous day.

We walked along the shore a little.

I think it was the first time my children had been that close to Lake Erie.

Supper was on the agenda next.

My step-father took us to a German restaurant that

he had been visiting since he was two years old!

Although it has changed hands several times since, they still had some of the original "china."

This is a sugar bowl that contains the initial of the original owner.

The food was amazing!

I had weiner schnitzel, spaetzle, and red cabbage.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a photo.

Cuckoo Clock