Celebrating Five Years!

David and I are so thankful to our Lord to be celebrating five years of marriage! (On July 31st) It's been a busy five years-we've lived in five different places! We've traveled across the world and have learned so much about each other and our many similarities and differences, our strengths and weaknesses. We've gotten so comfortable with each other and I'm learning that unfortunately that brings our my sinful nature more. God is showing me how sinful I am and how daily I need to look to Him for love and grace. I desperately need His Spirit to give me patience and a spirit of love and encouragement as I relate to David (and others too!) The good, bad, and ugly-your spouse sees and knows all! I cannot imagine my life with out David; marriage has brought us such great joy. We are so blessed- and now doubly as we now share our lives with our precious son!

On our Anniversary, David took the day off, and we started our morning with a delicious breakfast at the Rooster. Mmm! We hadn't been since my b-day last year-far too long! I had chocolate chip french toast with berries and cream. If you haven't eaten there and you're from STL it's well worth the drive-it's down town on Locust Street.

In the afternoon we headed to the Loop, where we checked in at the swanky new Moonrise Hotel. We all took an afternoon nap, then we passed Blaise off to Grandma and Grandpa while we had the evening to ourselves.

We enjoyed the best deep dish pizza I've ever eaten at Pie (and we've been to Gino's East in Chicago!) Our waitress told me a few tips and I want to try to make one at home...mmm. This is the pizza that Obama had when he was in town last year. He liked it so much he flew the chef to the White House to cater a private party. Business has increased 100% and the restaurant is expanding-one will be opening in Kirkwood! (Off Manchester.)

On the rooftop of our hotel, you can't see all the lights behind us but it was a neat view!

On Saturday, we walked to breakfast and the park. After B's morning nap it rained, so instead of the Zoo we went indoors to the Science Center. It was so crowded! B is not quite old enough to enjoy it yet...but it was a nice dry place to be! He enjoyed running in between all the kids and strollers-and daddy got his workout chasing him!

B spent the evening with Mimi and Boppa while we enjoyed Greek food at Momos (sans the belly dancers:). They gave us a fiery blacklava for our anniversary-so fun! We enjoyed strolling through the Loop afterwards with some Ben and Jerry's ice cream. (Yes, we ate very well!)

B having fun at the hotel!

The gave us a free breakfast for our Anniversary-nice!

Sunday afternoon we went down town and walked around the Rock the River Tour then headed over to the new City Garden.

Blaise loved splashing in the fountains! We've been back several times now since it's so close to David's work-such fun!

We had a memorable weekend, enjoying new places and food-all within a few miles of our house!

Who am I Serving?

Colossians 4:17, 23-24

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…it is the Lord Christ you are serving."

I was reminded by these verses this morning that everything I do is to bring honor to our Lord, HE is the one I am serving! Grocery shopping, cooking, washing our never ending pile of dishes, doing laundry, spraying (yes-spraying poop off!) diapers, folding clothes, sweeping- all of these daily chores can be performed as an act of service and worship to my Father! How often I forget this and need to be reminded again and again. He is my audience and glorifying Him should be my focus-and joy!

A St. Louis Classic

If you're from St. Louis, I'm sure that you've enjoyed the classic gooey butter cake. I prefer homemade over store bought-they tend to be gooier! It's so incredibly easy and delicious to make too and guaranteed to be a sure hit wherever you take it. It makes a great coffee cake or dessert. There are yummy pumpkin and chocolate variations of it too... here's the original!

Gooey Butter Cake

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 stick butter, softened

1 lb. box (4 cups) confectioners' sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together cake mix (just the mix, not the other ingredients called for on the box) with butter and two eggs (will be very thick!). Pat into an ungreased 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Cream together cream cheese, 2 eggs, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Pour over cake mixture, spreading to the edges. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Dust cooled cake with powdered sugar. Mmmm enjoy!

Do you Give a Damn?

Um yes, you read that right. Give a Damn (in case you haven't heard of it) is a "feature length documentary about an idealist activist who convinces his friend, who doesn't give a damn about the poor, to go to Africa and try to live on a dollar a day." We knew some of the guys from Chesterfield Pres and they are good friends with David's siblings. They raised money and up and went to Africa to film and raise awareness of the ugly poverty that still exists today.

We were all stunned to find out that, last week, while they were filming over Kibera Slums in Nairobi, Kenya, (pictured) their small plane stalled and crashed into a three story apartment building. Miraculously, Rob, one of the four on the plane, was conscious and pulled two of the other guys out, with the help of a by stander. The Give a Damn guys lived, but tragically, the missionary pilot, a father of four, died. Two brothers with the team, who were not on the plane, plan to stay and keep shooting (though much of their equipment was destroyed) while the other two come home. I can't imagine living through a plane crash! What a miracle. You can read more about the story here.

I wanted to share this because I think what they are doing is pretty incredible. I too often forget about the poor and go about frivolously spending my money-when the dollar that I wasted could actually save a life! My World Vision magazine that comes quarterly is definitely a reminder to me of how well I have it here in America and how much people are suffering in other parts of the world. The organization is doing great things to help combat poverty and I usually cannot make it through an issue with out being moved to tears.

The Autumn issue came the day that I had Blaise's birthday party. We had lavish amounts of food- sandwiches, fruits, veggies, cheese, crackers, cup cakes, and cookies, along with balloons, streamers, party favors etc... So many children in the world don't even know thier birthday, let alone get to enjoy a cake, party and presents! They don't even know where their next meal will come from or if they will have clean water to drink. In fact, in the developing world, about 4 million babies don't even make it past their first month of life. I am so blessed to even be able to celebrate my child's first birthday!

I don't think it's wrong to celebrate and enjoy a party, but I do think we all need to remember the poor and to do something. $1.50 can buy a mosquito net and save a life. There are other ways you can help. You can give a gift for under $20, or you can sponsor a child monthly (which you may already do!)

I just wanted to share that. I have a list of a all different blog posts and topics I'd love to write about, it's just a little hard to find (and justify!) the time. I thought this one was important enough to merit my nap time break. ;)

Blaise's Happy FIRST Birthday!

Yea!!! It's my happy first birthday! Enjoy some picture from my fun day!

After sleeping in until 7:30, we all enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast made by daddy, who was able to take the day off! Blaise got his own personal "one" pancake.

Still a little sleepy...

OK, I think I like this...

Ohh a candle!!

And I like balloons!

Mmmm...tasty! Oh yes, I love whole grains! :) (We're trying hard to expand his palate!)

After breakfast, we raced out the door and headed for the Zoo! We went straight for the Sting Ray Exhibit, which is here for a short time and free until 9:00 a.m.!

Daddy LOVED the sting rays, he was a little more excited that the bday boy:)

Blaise went to the herpeterium for the first time and saw snakes! I purposely waited to let David take him for the first time since he loves snakes so much. Not exactly mommy's favorite place. :)

Daddy being himself:)

After the Zoo, B went home and napped while mommy and daddy got ready for an evening celebration. We had plans to go play in the fountain at the garden, but the weather was overcast and called for rain.

Later that day, Uncle Paul, Mimi, Boppa, and Gma and Gpa came over to celebrate! (We missed you Aunt Sharon! And of course Matt & Becky we always miss you!)

We had a big chicken salad and fruit.

After dinner, we opened some gifts. One of Gma Susan's gift for B (but really for daddy;) Be sure to read her label on the treat:) hehehe She knows what I want for B.

Opening gifts

Playing on the car from my second cousins-thanks Colleen, Nick, Sam, Jen, Aunt Laurie & Uncle John!

Climbing in the b-day bag!

Cup Cake time!!! Yea! So I've managed to hold off on giving B sugar and white flour, and pretty much all the other additives and junk that's in so much food (except what he gets through my milk!) so I figured why start just bc he's one? ;) (Yes, I'm being a bit anal, but it's easy when he's not a big solid food eater anyway!) I used the recipe Becky make for Bella's first d-day, a delicious carrot cake, with whole wheat flour, sweetened with pineapple and honey with a cream cheese and honey icing! (Sprinkled with wheat germ!) And it was good! Seriously, it was actually quite tasty! More like a muffin, but delicious!

Awww, so excited!

Mmmm that icing is tasty!

We did allow Boppa to give him his first bite of ICE CREAM!!! He like it, at first. But when he bit into the cold he wasn't too thrilled.

The spoon is fun anyway! Yea!

The unhealthy cake that the adults ate-thanks Aunt Laurie! I ran out of icing so I had to settle with blue polka dots.

Bath time for Blaise. He did not want to go to sleep with all his favorite people still over, and boy did he cry when they said "Bye Bye." It was such an exciting and fun day! We can't believe that an entire year has passed since our sweet little Blaise was born! How incredibly fast that went!! Everyone told us it would too. What fun we have had watching him grow leaps and bounds this year! We are full of joy and gratitude, so thankful for our little boy. What a blessing from the Lord he is!