Alternatives to traditional birthday cake

My handsome husband turned 31 this weekend. We were able to enjoy a few different alternatives to the traditional birthday cake.

First, we enjoyed a piece of Hula Pie from Duke's in Huntington Beach.


I didn't catch the picture before he blew out the candle. Oops! This is one of our favorite desserts - Macadamia nut ice cream in an oreo-type crust smothered in hot fudge, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts. It can be easily split between four or five people and with everyone getting a considerable amount. Split between the two of us... it's just sinful. :)

We also had a wonderful dinner at Fleming's, one of our favorite steakhouses. We had the dessert sampler, which consisted of peach cobbler, creme brulee with berries, (super-yummy) cheesecake, ice cream and a molten lava cake. Mmmm...


We had a good time celebrating his birthday this year, although he got sick on Friday when we were supposed to go out to celebrate with the family - so that was a bummer for him. But he was feeling better by Saturday afternoon, so we made the most of the weekend and we ended up having a really great time together!

A note from my Dad

My dad occasionally puts up blog posts on the church's website and I really like the one he put up today. If you haven't had the chance to visit his blog, it can be found here.

What Do I Hold On To?

October 3rd, 2008 by chapobrien

As congress debates economics and our politicians give promises we wonder who can we believe anymore? We distrust for good reason. People are sometimes not trust-worthy. I think I have heard three jokes just recently about campaign promises. (And they were not too favorable toward believing in anything that is being said…) Folks, they are human. Which means they have the same temptation to be self-serving as anyone else. Don’t get me wrong. I do have my favorites in the political arena but they are all human and therefore subject to the same temptations.
Here’s a thought. Instead of placing our hope in the candidate or political flavor, look to you heavenly father who has never failed you. He is always looking for ways to make you happy. He loves you enough to call you his children. When everything else shakes around you there is one solid ground that you can depend on. That solid ground is your relationship with your Lord. ”Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ!” I have found him to be completely trustworthy.

ps (Pastor Steve)

Birthdays

Last weekend was a busy one. On Saturday we had lunch with Mandy and Dotty, who were visiting from San Diego (Dad has to send me the picture - hopefully it will be up soon). From there, we rushed to Sarah's baby shower (see below) and then had Mike and Staci over for pizza that night.

The following day we celebrated birthdays with Collins Taco's at Grandma's house. Since we were celebrating September and October birthdays it was Grandma, Matt, Mike, Andy and Staci. More pictures to come from the celebration continuation this weekend... :)

Other baby news...

Our family has had the blessing of adding two new members over the last couple weeks! Two of our cousins have had babies. On Sept. 23, Mike and his wife Marie had their little girl - Ella. The pictures I've seen are adorable and we can't wait to meet her! They live in Texas so we don't get to see them often - but very much enjoy when they are around! Congrats, guys!

Last night our cousin Sarah also gave birth to her son, Jordan. She had a very long labor, but we're so excited for her! Congrats, Sarah! Here are a few pictures from the baby shower we had for her last Saturday...

Isn't she lovely?

Most of you have heard already, but we found out that our little one is going to be a girl. We had a very healthy diagnostic ultrasound on Tuesday and it couldn't have gone better. Everything was just as it should be and her heart rate was right on target - exactly mid-range.



In this first photo, she's facing down and you can see her spine along the top of her sillhouette. Her head is on the left side.

This is basically her bum in a sitting position. The arrow is pointing out the straight line that tells that she's a she. Underneath the arrow you can see her right leg and the bone is bright white. The stuff in between her legs is umbilical cord.
Here's a face shot of our little beauty queen. She was even posing for the camera with her little hands drawn up under her chin. Look at that round little belly. :) Looks like she might have her mommy's baby body. Poor kid. At the bottom right you can see the front of her right leg. Her mouth is open a little in this shot - she kept opening and closing it during the ultrasound. It was so cute.
This one shows her heart rate - 143 bpm. Just right!
We are so thankful for a healthy little girl! Now we just can't wait to meet her! The results of the blood tests that measure for birth defects should be back in a couple weeks, so we're looking forward to getting that out of the way. We'll keep everyone updated! As of tomorrow, we're half way through the pregnancy. It's hard to believe we're already that far!

Miss you...

It’s hard to believe that today marks one year since Grandpa Rip passed away. So much has happened and changed since that time. At this point last year, we were spending almost every day at the hospital waiting for him to pull out of it like he always had done before. I don’t think that any of us thought he would actually pass away… ever. He had survived so many things that it just seemed like another obstacle he was going to overcome.

When I talked to Grandpa Jerry after he had passed, he told me that it’s different for them at that stage in their life – that there is no fear of death when they know they’re on their way to meet their Savior. I think that any fighting he did, he did for us – even though he probably wanted nothing more than to go home to see Jesus.

That Sunday morning Staci sang a song in church called “Enough”. We had stayed up really late the night before learning it and when we were at the hospital that next day, I kept thinking we should sing it to him since he didn’t get to go to church to hear it. We didn’t end up doing it – but every time I hear that song now, it reminds me of him. This morning on my way to work it came on the radio just as I was thinking about the significance of today and was missing him. The more I think about it, the more I think the words describe what might have been going through his mind at that time – and why God finally gave him rest. Even though he didn’t hear us sing it to him – I think he was singing his own version of the song… in that one great note that he loved to hum in.

All of You is more than enough for All of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more awesome than I know

You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King, You're everything
Still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for All of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

How amazing that he now knows the awesomeness of God – that he has been in His presence. I can’t wait to see Grandpa again – to introduce him to our little one, to give him a hug and tell him that I love him and missed him. But I wouldn’t take away what he has now for anything – and I know he’ll be waiting to share it with us when it’s our time.

Until then... we sure do miss you, Grandpa.

Unspoken

When I was little, I remember having the option in Sunday School to request prayer for "unspoken" prayer requests. When I couldn't think of something to request prayer for, I always said "unspoken" so that it could be included in the prayer. It seems a little silly now... knowing that I just wanted to have something to say. But I remember - even as a child - thinking how cool it is that people don't have to voice the specific situation for God to hear their prayers and know what is needed.

I have a really big unspoken prayer request right now. It is not my business to talk about, but it is affecting someone that I love very much and it is heavy on my heart. I know that a lot of people that read this blog are serious prayer warriors. Whether that describes you or not - Please, please, please... keep this request in your prayers. The situation is beyond my understanding, but it is not bigger than God!