My Summertime Joy

I've come to realize that there's really very little that I enjoy about inland summers.

Growing up, I loooooved Summer.  I loved the beach days every Wednesday with our homeschool group,  I loved riding bikes with my siblings in our cul-de-sac, I loved looking for sea glass during low tide, and I loved the way to the ocean breeze carried in the scent of sun-ripened strawberries from the fields across the street from our house.

None of that exists inland, though.  There's no beach within an hour's drive, it's too stinkin' hot to enjoy any sort of activity outside, and even if strawberries did grow around here, I'd be too worried about the chemicals and smog and nastiness that would be polluting them to be able to eat them.

BUT...God gave me a little gift the other day when I was griping about the heat and missing my beloved Channel Islands.  Strawberries on sale---3lbs for $2!

I brought home a glorious box of them, washed them in the sink, and then ate just about every other one while I pared them up so that I could enjoy them in my lunches for the rest of the week.

Just pure yumminess!

Jesse's First Father's Day

As soon as we found out that our little one is a girl, I knew just what I wanted to do for Jesse's first Father's Day!

Since we found out on a Thursday, Father's Day was also going to be our first opportunity to share our news with our church congregation.  Also, since ties are the stereotypical Father's Day gift, I knew I wanted to find a fun one for him!

My friend, Em, and I went shopping high and low for a pink tie.  It's really hard to find a pink one that comes across as masculine, but we did our best :-)

Then we went around and looked for a sweet little dress for Kayleigh to wear next Father's Day so that she can match her daddy.  It's so crazy to think that next year, we'll get to celebrate Father's Day with a 9 month old!

Needless to say, Jesse really enjoyed his gifts.  He had fun announcing his baby girl by wearing his pink tie at church...and how many 24 year old guys receive fluttery white baby girl dresses with a matching hat and bloomers?  Lol!

It's so much fun to think about next year!

Meet Little Miss Kayleigh Grace

Jesse and I have loved watching our little one grow.

From a tiny little peanut at 10 weeks...

To the sweet little profile we saw at 12 weeks.

 

Even though we were disappointed when our "Brubaby" didn't reveal a gender at our 20 week ultrasound, we kept waiting with excited anticipation for the day we would find out---whether that would be at another ultrasound, or on the baby's birthday.

At 26 weeks, we decided to go for a 4D ultrasound.  Since the 20 week ultrasound pics we got were pretty crummy (on top of extremely disappointing!) and we had been told that unless there was a concern, we wouldn't be authorized for another ultrasound through our doctor, we figured that it was a good opportunity to have a fun photo op with our little one---and if the baby was cooperative, the chance to find out whether we were having a boy or a girl.

A friend recommended a 4D ultrasound place in our area, and Jesse and I looked forward to our appointment.  What excitement!

Within 30 seconds of the ultrasound, the tech said, "Well, that's easy!  It's a girl!  100% girl.  100%"

After so much uncertainty, disappointment, and confusion at our last ultrasound, it was such a relief to hear that amount of confidence in her voice!

So we spent the next 20 minutes watching our little girl on the screen.

Even though she was cooperative and gave us a good "money shot"  ;-), she was still a bit camera shy and spent the entire time snuggling into the placenta and covering her face with her hands.

So even though we came home with 409 pictures on a CD, there are only a few where you can really see her face!

 

Look at those precious little chubby cheeks!

We love you, Kayleigh Grace!

Farewell, Feet!

I came upon a startling realization this morning.

I officially cannot see my toes anymore.

Somebody's getting in the way!

Hello, 27 week pregnant belly!

Goodbye, toes!

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake

Oh, be still, my heart.

This is almost too rich to handle.  Definitely not for the faint of heart.

(and, um, definitely not for the lactose-intolerant like me.  Thank God for Lactaid pills!)

But...wow!  Ready to knock some socks off?

This recipe is super easy (and I partially winged it, so anyone can do it!)

I made this to celebrate Jesse and my 3rd wedding anniversary.  It was a big hit :-)

Ready?  Here we go!

Ingredients

♥1 1/2 c. (about 18) finely crushed creme-filled chocolate cookies
♥2 tbsp. butter, melted
♥4 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
♥1 1/4 c. sugar
♥3 eggs
♥1 c. sour cream
♥1 tsp. vanilla
♥1/3 c. seedless raspberry preserves
♥12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate pieces (you will melt 6oz at a time)
♥1 pint raspberries

Preheat your oven to 325* and set your cream cheese out to soften.  While this is going on, get started on your chocolate cookie-crumb crust.

Count out 23 oreos and put 18 of them in a ziplock bag.  The rest are for you :-)

Take a rolling pin and flatten the life out of those cookies.  Add 2 T of  melted butter to the crumbs, and mix well.

Pour the crumbs into a greased springform 9in diameter pan.

Use a fork or the bottom of a drinking glass to press the crumbs firmly to the bottom of the pan.  You really want them packed in there so that your crust doesn't crumble when you try to make the first cut!

Now, get started on the cheesecake filling.

Combine 3 of the cream cheese packages with the sugar and mix until it's nice and creamy.  Add the eggs one at a time, and then the sour cream and vanilla (I had to snap a picture of the top of my Daisy sour cream, because it reminded me of our first anniversary ♥)

Pour the filling into the pan, and get started on the good stuff.

In a double boiler (I just layered a small pot on top of a larger pot of boiling water), melt 6 ounces of chocolate and mix it into the remaining package of cream cheese.  Add the raspberry preserves, and enjoy the rich, chocolatey goodness that fills your kitchen.  Once it's thoroughly mixed, drop the chocolate cream cheese batter by the spoonful on top of the plain cream cheese batter.

Stick that sucker in the oven and put your timer for one hour and twenty minutes.  It will be the longest of your life :-)

When you take it out, gently loosen the sides and let it cool.

Time to work on the chocolate glaze!

Back to the double boiler.  The recipe I was using said to mix the melted chocolate with 1/4 cup of whipping cream.  It didn't work when I tried (maybe you'll have more success), so I mixed the melted chocolate with another 1/3 cup of raspberry preserves.  I liked adding the extra berry flavor to the top, and it made it pretty and smelled delicious.  Quickly, before the chocolate cools, drizzle it over the top of the cheesecake.

Now you can add raspberries to the top, some whipped cream if you're so inclined, and sit back, relax, and enjoy!

♥Bethany

When Things Don't Make Sense

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

On Thursday night, Dalia called me to let me know that our coworker from our days of teaching preschool together in Irvine was killed earlier that day.  Her husband came and found her during her lunch break, and shot her to death.  Our worlds are reeling.  Miss Alejandra was a sweet, compassionate, vibrant woman.  She loved going on nature walks with the kids, and teaching them above and beyond what we were required to teach.  Parents loved her because their three year olds came home saying things like, "Miss Alejandra told me today that the sun is made out of hydrogen and helium!"

The preschool that Dalia, Emilie, Stephanie and I worked at years ago was closed yesterday out of respect for the teachers and families.  The four of us couldn't go because of our current jobs, but I wish we could have joined our former coworkers as they laid flowers at the site and gathered together for comfort.

(this picture was shared on a private facebook page for families of the preschool--I didn't take it)

What do you say when tragedy like this happens?  My heart goes out to the director and teachers as they deal with how to explain this to the preschoolers who will be asking about their teacher on Monday.

Please keep Alejandra's family in your prayers as they deal with the grief of losing their daughter and sister, and pray for the protection of the hearts of her three young stepchildren who will be facing a different life now that their dad is in prison for murder.  Please keep the preschool in your prayers, too, that God will bring comfort to all who miss her.

There isn't a way to make sense out of any of this.  I'm not trying.  I'm just asking God to cover many hearts in His peace.

I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

Sibs

With as busy as we all are these days, it's a rare occasion that all four of us get together for a picture anymore.

But I love that even though we're 24, 22, 20, and 18, you can still expect some silliness in our pictures.

Can you guess who is pinching who?  :-)

The progression of facial expressions cracks me up!

Yes...not the most beautiful pictures we've ever taken...but it makes me laugh!
I love them.