My Favorite Season

When I was younger, I can remember asking my dad what he missed most about living in the U.S. *I was a missionary kid, and my parents have been on the mission field for about 40 years, with just 2 more years left until retirement.* So when I would ask him that question, he'd always respond by saying that he missed the changing of the seasons the most. And I would think to myself, why would anyone miss that?? I now understand what he meant. I have fallen in love with the changing of the seasons! My favorite is summer to fall. I love how the air begins to get crisp and everyone pulls out their sweatshirts from old suitcases stored in garages/attics, I love the smells of the new candles that arrive particularly for the fall season on the shelves of the stores, I love the bright colors of the changing leaves, I love the change of menus in our household as we start eating more pumpkin/apple/cinnamon flavored foods, and my list could go on! The anticipation of Halloween- mainly Trick or Treating (especially since we have children and now we can live our dreams through them) and then Thanksgiving and then finally Christmas is almost just too much to bear! So unbelievably exciting. Can you tell I am overjoyed? Dad, I understand now, you have always been so wise :)

Tonight we celebrated my husbands 27th birthday. His actual birthday was on the 14th, but it was a busy day and we decided to wait until today to actually celebrate because his brother was coming home from college for a couple of days. It was the most absolutely perfect evening for our celebration. He didn't want a big deal to be made out of his 27 years, so his mom made stuffed green peppers, rice, crescent rolls, white cake (with amazing almond frosting and jelly layers) and his sister brought a yummy green salad. We all gathered on their patio and ate and then sat around the fire pit, making s'mores, telling stories and just laughing together. I haven't asked him yet, but I think that Jake would say it was the perfect evening, celebrated just right... even though, he is kind of freaking out about how close he is getting to 30! :) Happy birthday, honey!

Jake and I take turns every night getting our girls ready for bed. We used to both do it together every night, but it just got to be so time-consuming and exhausting, we decided to give each other a break every other night :) Might sound silly to some of you, but that is our routine. We have always given baths every night, then snuggly time, then bed. Genesis passed out so fast tonight, even though she had taken a 4 hr. 30 min. nap today, and did not make a peep after I closed her bedroom door. Ivy, on the other hand was so wound up. Seems like bath time winds her up for some reason... can't figure that one out yet. So I got in bed with her and we reviewed her verse for AWANA (Matthew 3:17), and then I read her the same book 4 times to get her to calm down a bit... she has a new favorite... Dr.Seuss, but I can't remember the title right now. One of those really annoying ones where it repeats over and over. Oh yeah, it's Oh the Wonderful Things Mr.Brown Can Do. By the time I finished reading it for the fourth time, she was sound asleep. She's only ever done that one other time in her life. I couldn't take my eyes off of her as she laid there, tucked in so tight under the covers with about 4 squishy pillows surrounding her and numerous stuffed animals to keep her company. I am so blessed, Lord, thank you.

One thing that I have neglected to say about this blog is that I will be posting a recipe every day to go along with my post. It may be related to what I have to say, or it might just be a favorite of mine that I would like to share. Maybe that will keep you coming back for more! I know Lacey (my bro-in-laws gf), you will benefit from these recipes :) I love to cook/bake and this will actually help me categorize all of my recipes better. So the recipe for tonight is my absolute favorite. It is a recipe from my dear mother in law, and it is the most amazing thing you will ever taste in your life :) It's a Honey Bun Cake. Here you go! Enjoy!

Honey Bun Cake:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of a 9x13 pan.
1 Pkg. Super Moist Butter Yellow Cake Mix
1 c. butter (softened)
4 eggs
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. chopped pecans
2 tsp cinnamon
1 c. powdered sugar
1 Tbs. milk
1 tsp vanilla

Remove 1/2 c. dry cake mix, reserve. Beat remaining cake mix, butter, eggs, and sour cream in large bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. Spread 1/2 batter in pan. Stir together dry cake mix, brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over batter in pan. Carefully spread remaining batter evenly over pecan mixture. Bake 30-35 minutes or until deep golden brown. Stir powder sugar, milk, vanilla until thing enough to drizzle. Poke top of warm cake with a fork. Spread drizzle over cake. DEVOUR!