Lake Party

The first weekend of August, we had our traditional Sunday School lake party.  The adult guys build a GIANT slip and slide into the lake, we have food, and the kids just run around and have fun. 

It's a great day of fellowship.  When we got there, the kids were already on the slide and Kate jumped right in.

 I slathered Caleb in sunscreen and David took him over to slide. 

Yes, we brought his puddle jumper; yes, I totally forgot to put it on.  Caleb really didn't want to go but he went anyway.  They finally got moving and Caleb was ok...but then they got a little push from behind and, instead of stopping and the little flat part, they flew into the lake...with Caleb stuck between David's calves!!!!

 Somehow, David got Caleb before they went in and held him up high; the guys grabbed him so David could steady himself. 

Caleb was NOT a happy camper.  We came up to the top of the hill and he happily played in the kiddie pool.

He had lots of fun playmates, too! 

Later, he and Kate found a HUGE dog.

 I decided it was time for ME to go down the slide with Caleb and Kate. 

Needless to say, Caleb was a bit upset about this idea.  I got us going and successfully stopped at the flat portion. 

It was fun but Caleb was ready to go back to the safety of the baby pool. 

Kate did some sliding with the float

...and floating as well. 

By that point, Caleb was pretty shot! 

We left soon after and both kids fell asleep on the way home...and Caleb slept for 2.5 more hours after we got home.

Fish Fry

At the beginning of May, our Sunday School had a fish fry.  David had to work but I took the kids out there to play and eat.  David was able to make it around lunchtime.

 The guys in the class all came around 5-6 am and fished in the pond for our lunch.  Caleb and David both enjoyed the spoils! 

You think they look alike?!  Several of Caleb's friends from school are in our class as well (well, their parents are).

 He had a blast playing with the trucks with his little buddy! 

Kate had a ton of fun on the water jump house. 

Caleb did NOT like the water.  I think it was just too cold for him and he doesn't like water "sprinkling" on him, either. 

His favorite was definitely the food and Kate enjoyed it, too! 

We were all glad when Daddy got there.  He took Caleb down to the lake to watch for fish.

 Shortly after this I took Caleb home.  He fell asleep within 2 minutes of leaving and slept for 4 hours! 

We had such a fun day.  Thankful for fellowship with friends!

She is His!

Another very important thing happened over Christmas.  Kate trusted Jesus as her Savior! 

She had been asking questions about sin and what that means for her, about Jesus and forgiveness.  There were times she would even just be in tears when she was caught in a lie - not because of being caught but because it was a sin.  It was cute and funny and precious all at the same time. 

David took her to talk with our children's minister and it seemed that she understood what Jesus had done for her, why she needs a Savior, and that Jesus is the only way to be with God in eternity.  She truly believes in her heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for her sins.  On Christmas Eve she verbally confessed her sins and her belief in God!  She has become a Child of the One True King!!! 

This past April, she was baptized in obedience to God's command and as a testimony of her belief in Christ. 

We were so glad that representatives of all of our family were able to come - we missed granddaddy, Nana, GG, and Uncle Philip and Aunt Kenna!

 It was a great weekend.  The baptism was at our annual church spring picnic.  Kate got baptized in a lake. 

At first, I was a little disappointed that she wouldn't be baptized at church but I think it turned out perfectly.  And it's kind of neat to me that Jesus was baptized in a lake and so was Kate! 

So thankful that God has called her to be His and that we are now SISTERS in Christ!  I pray that she continues to seek God, to share His joy and love with others and to be used by Him! 

Summer Sunday School Party

In August, our Sunday School class had a party out at the lake.  Some of the guys spent the morning setting up a slip and slide down the hill into the lake.  I really wished that I could do it but I figured it wasn't a good idea at about 33 weeks pregnant!  Ha!  Kate did get to enjoy it. 

I think she went down 4-5 times before it started raining...and raining...and raining. 

Thankfully, we were able to enjoy the outside under a porch.  The kids ran around playing with balls.  The dads enjoyed throwing frisbee. 

And the moms just enjoyed being able to sit around and talk! 

Kate, as usual, was so kind.  One little girl got hurt (very mildly) but Kate immediately started checking on her and telling her to "go see my Daddy.  He's a doctor!" 

She has the sweetest little heart!  I made a gluten free pineapple upside down cake for David.  He enjoyed it and wasn't sad that we came home with leftovers. 

Kate wanted to stay and play more but she was tired and lightning wasn't showing any signs of stopping...and THIS mama says no water when lightning is around! 

Hope we get to do this again...maybe Caleb can have his first water slide experience.  :-)

Almonds Make Caramel Healthy, Right!?

This was one of the first cakes I tried gluten free and I was REALLY excited about it because it used almond flour.  Plus, it was caramel!  I took it to Sunday school and then to work.  I'm pretty sure everyone liked it...though I'm not sure about David.  He really is more of a chocolate person.  We're really pretty much opposite in what we like food-wise, except that we both really like fish.  Crazy! 

Anyway, this is a great cake for anyone.  It does have a nutty texture since it's made from almond meal, but it's not distracting.  I actually modified this a good bit, now that I look back at the recipe.  It calls for "Swerve" sweetener, which I have never even heard of.  I honestly can't remember if I used Splenda or regular sugar, but either would work.  I also didn't make my own caramel sauce.  I cheated!!  I used caramel ice cream topping.  Worked pretty well if you ask me.  :-)  I also added a basic glaze to make it "pretty."  Try it out - even if you're not gluten free. 

Caramel Pecan Coffee Cake adapted from All Day I Dream About Food (original recipe with link)

Cake:
3 cups almond flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar or Splenda
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325F and grease a bundt pan well (this could also be made in a 9-inch springform pan).  In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.  In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Add sugar/sweetener and beat until lighter and well-combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, scraping down beaters and sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in vanilla extract.  Beat in half of the almond flour mixture, then beat in almond milk. Beat in remaining almond flour mixture until well combined.  
 
Spread half the mixture in the prepared pan and use the back of a spoon to create a channel in the center of the batter, all the way around the bundt pan.  Pour some caramel sauce into the channel.  Sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans. Top with remaining batter and spread evenly with offset spatula to cover caramel and pecans. Place the pan into the preheated oven and bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and just firm to the touch. A tester inserted in the center should come out clean (except for some caramel sauce!). Remove and let cool 10 minutes (IT MUST cool!) then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with remaining caramel and pecans.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread

So, like I said, I made a non-gluten free recipe for Sunday School, too.  It was a pumpkin bread that I had wanted to try for a long time.  Who says you can't make pumpkin bread in January?

It was SO good.  Of course, I am a bit partial to snickerdoodle AND crumb toppings.  Guess I made this one a little for me.  I shared it with my friend who had just had her baby and with work.  Despite making two loaves, it disappears quickly.  Try it out!

Vegan Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Bread from Bakeaholic Mama
2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbs cinnamon
15 oz fresh pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey (To make it vegan substitute maple syrup)
1/3 cup water

FOR THE TOPPING:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs cinnamon
2 tbs vegetable oil

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 and prepare 2 loaf pans. 

In a large bowl mix flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon. In a separate bowl mix pumpkin, oil, honey, and water together. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir to combine.  Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

In a small bowl using a fork mix all of your topping ingredients together until slightly crumbly. Sprinkle over the tops of each loaf.

Place the filled pans in the oven and bake for 1- 1 hour 15 minutes or until a tooth pick is inserted and comes out clean.  Allow loaves to rest for 20 minutes before removing from pans. Enjoy!

Monkey Business

Our Sunday School class has breakfast every week.  Since David started eating gluten free, he hasn't really been able to eat (almost) anything on Sundays in class.  So, when it was our turn to bring something, I made sure to bring something he could have.  I asked if he wanted cinnamon rolls or monkey bread.  I don't think he ever answered, so I just picked monkey bread.

I ended up making a non-gluten free recipe as well but, oddly enough, even AFTER being told it was gluten free, the monkey bread was almost gone at the end of Sunday School!  I'd call that a success.  It definitely was better heated up.  David enjoyed taking it to work the next week.

Gluten Free Monkey Bread from Lynn's Kitchen
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees)
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons xanthan gum
1 1/4 cups white rice flour
1 cup brown rice flour
3/4 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca starch
Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk

In the bowl of a mixer, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar and let sit for about 5 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients, adding the xanthan gum last. . Mix using the dough hook of an electric mixer.
Mix for about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times. Continue to mix for about 5 minutes.

Prepare a bundt pan with cooking spray.  Mix the topping ingredients together.  Using a cookie scoop, scoop rounded balls of dough into the topping and coat.  Put the coated balls into the prepared pan.  Cover dough loosely with a kitchen towel and let rise for about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Place pan into oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until done. Combine glaze ingredients until smooth and drizzle half of the glaze over hot monkey bread. Let cool for 30 minutes or so and drizzle remaining glaze on top. Serve and enjoy!

What We Said - One Year Ago

 "Marriage is not something that just happened. It was God who created man and woman in His own image. And it was God who determined that it was not good for the man to be alone.  So, God made him a helper who was fit for him.  The man was incomplete without the woman. She joined him in being the ultimate earthly expression of the glory of God.  So, as you pledge your vows to each other, you do well to again remember the source of marriage is not just a feeling in your heart--it lies with God and His design for you.  You also do well to remember the purpose of marriage.  It is about you certainly, but it is about much more -- it is about God and Christ and the mystery of God's love for sinners.  What God joins together, let no man forsake as unimportant or insignificant.  Marriage is not a phase of your life, it is to be your life.  Protect it and cultivate it as if your life depends on it...because it does."

"I, David Gilliam, take you Claire Nettles, to be my wife as we enter into the covenant of marriage.  To have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in laughter and in sorrow, for as long as we both shall live.  I vow to protect you, to provide for you, and to care for you.  I promise to honor you as the Lord instructed and to cherish you as Christ showed us, even unto death.  I pledge to join you in prayer and lead you as we begin our walk with God."

"I, Claire Nettles, take you David Gilliam, to be my husband as we enter into the covenant of marriage.  To have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in laughter and in sorrow, for as long as we both shall live.  I promise to seek God first and to pray for you, as the leader of our home.  I will strive to respect and honor you in my words and actions, to be full of grace, and gentle in spirit.  I will encourage you and commit to stand by you for as long as we live."

"I take you...and with this ring I pledge my life to you. Where you go, I will go.  Where you live, I will live.  Your family shall be my family and your God shall be my God."

One year ago, I said "I do" to my sweet husband as we began this journey called marriage.  Has this past year been easy?  Sometimes.  Other times, not so much!  Have we had to work at times? Yep!  Has it been fun?  You bet!  Do we have lots to learn?  Of course.  But I am so glad to spend these years with David and our little family.  I am so thankful for his kindness and service toward me.  He has sought God's leadership so much over this past year and I am grateful for that and what it means for David's leadership of our family.  He has demonstrated patience to me and gentleness too many times to count.  I pray that God continues to grant us grace and grow us in Him and with each other!