Finally some pics with smiles:)

Khloe is one of those extremely active, fun-loving kids. Sometimes I don't feel like I can really capture her many "moments" on camera. However, today, out in the sunshine, climbing everything like the monkey she is, I think I caught a few of those moments:) Hope you all enjoy!

Dress Up...

Khloe's newest thing is to try on everything,...as you can imagine some things are better choices than others. I gave her this hat and scarf to parade around with, and she had quite a galla time.

Christmas... a most wonderful time of the year!

...Yes, that is until you plan that wonderful day to pick out the perfect tree, get out all the decorations, and get the house looking all festive....and then your perfect little mood is rather dampened as you find that mice have nearly taken over your shed, your decorations stink of mouse urine, you can't find that long extension cord that you need, some of the lights won't work, and now the baby is stressed 'cause you are stressed....and well, you just need to take a moment and pray to the One who Christmas is all about, asking Him to help you to show His Spirit. How easy it is a midst all the bustle and the noise to forget Who Christmas is really all about. Dear Jesus, please help me this Christmas season to remember You, to take time to know You better, and to always show Your Spirit in my life!

I really like these little candles that remind us about some of the fruits of the Spirit.

This is Khloe's favorite place to sit and cuddle. She thinks it is even better if you will read her a book while sitting in this little nook. 

I got so tickled at her the other night while I was rocking her. She kept popping her head up every few seconds with some tearfully said word that she was sure would help postpone sleep..."da," "moo," "eee-ah," etc.

 One of her favorite things to observe when she should be drifting into slumberland is the little manger scene beside the rocking chair. Her daddy also loves this little manger scene. It is one of his very favorite Christmas decorations to set up. I think he likes to think about what it must have been like on that very first Christmas.

Christmas pictures are so difficult to take. It seems like it is so hard to catch just how pretty all the lights and decorations really are. 

We have a little Christmas tradition to go and find a real tree each year. I guess this tradition started when I was a little girl growing up in Northern British Columbia. We would head out into the bush and find what we deemed to be about the perfect tree. Of course it was always wild, ended up being nearly too big and heavy to get in the house, and had a few funny quirks that you just had to kinda decorate around. But it was such a fun memory. 

So when we started our lil' home on the campus we kinda wanted to have a similar tradition. However, since this is Pennsylvania and not the frigid North, the tradition had to be altered slightly. So we found a nice friendly tree farm that serves hot chocolate and has a grand "bargain pile." 

This year we decided to try a different type of tree. It is still a fir, but just a different "brand." It is a little bit more blue in color, its needles are quite soft, and it is nice and bushy. We rather like it:)

Popcorn Fest'

Khloe and Daddy have great imaginations! They like to sit in the living room and have great times with all the stuffed animals.

This particular session of "Imaginations with Daddy" was the popcorn festival. All the animals gathered round while Khloe very politely shared with her guests.

A Vintage Photo Shoot

Oh, Canada!

Canada, it was good to see your fair lands once again:)

We were able to make a little trip up to Ontario, Canada to visit with family. We traveled with Josh and Megan, and were joined in Ontario by Mom and Dad, who flew out from B.C. We all gathered together at our Grandparents' place. Grandpa has been really ill and we wanted to be able to get to visit with them.

 We had a big Thanksgiving meal with the family. We had a lot of fun reconnecting with all the family, eating lots of great food, and playing games.

We were able to do a variety of fun things. We always enjoy going up to the old hunting camp and "roughing" it for a few days. The old camp has no running water or electricity. They have propane powered lamps and a propane stove. The old pot-belly stove keeps us all cozy - sometimes too cozy:)

We like to take long hikes in the beautiful hardwood forest, ride the four-wheeler, and canoe or sail on the lake. It is so peaceful and relaxing. 

Helping Mommy

While Mommy was trying to perfect the art of pie making, Khloe decided that her toys had become very boring and she needed Mommy's attention. However, Mommy was busy as already mentioned, baking pies. This brought the Engle kitchen to a stalemate....The solution...Khloe has now been introduced to the "finer" parts of the kitchen.

Did it make a mess? Was it slightly inconvenient to a mother who likes cleanliness? A big "YES" to both questions. Thankfully, this mother is learning the valuable lesson that some things, such as ultimate perfection, need to be put aside in the face of allowing your children to enjoy life, and make fun memories! So last Saturday was fun for both Khloe and Mommy....and would you believe it, the kitchen was not even that hard to clean up:)
Now, you are probably wondering how the pies turned out. Well, the recipe is an old family recipe, one of those tried and true type! So the recipe did not fail, but unfortunately, I have one of those ancient ovens that seems to enjoy heating the house more than attending to its baking duties. So though they were not a flop. They were not quite as perfect as I would have liked. Oh well, we will just keep trying.

Musings on Revival....

We have been in our annual fall revival here at Penn View. Rev. Nathan Purdy has been our evangelist. The Lord has definitely laid some very pertinent truths on his heart.
As I muse about some of the truths that he has presented I am convicted, stirred, and driven to gain new ground spiritually.

Musing #1
If we don't have revival, it is because we didn't want it bad enough.
What is the true desire of my heart? Do I really want to see God move in amazing ways? Do I truly want sin and the sin nature to be defeated, or are these just vain words to placate my soul?
Oh, God create a deeper longing....I want to pray and hold on in faith....to travail in the place of prayer....but I can't even do this without your grace. Oh, praise His name I sense Him placing a deeper longing....now may I act upon it.

Musing#2
This work that we are called to do for God...it's not about us...it's not even about our insufficiency...it's all about Him and His sufficiency.
This truth really hit home. How many times do I try to labour supposedly for Him, but trying to do it in my own strength. Then when it gets hard I complain to Him that I am not able to do this work to which He has called me. I ask that He would find another to fill this place. I forget that it is not about me at all or my weakness. He has called and therefore I must trust. He will provide the provisions and strength necessary to continue in this work.

Musing#3
Cleansed from the carnal mind and infilled with His Holy Spirit...this is a must to living a pure life and maintaining a Godly example.
This cleansing and infilling is a definite work of grace, but it is also the catalyst for a love relationship with God.
Is my soul the chamber of constant love and adoration for my God? Does my life have a fragrance of Jesus and the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit? Have I been with the Lover of my Soul recently and allowed Him to bathe my soul afresh and anew with His Spirit?
This work of entire sanctification is not a "I've arrived" sort of situation, but a constant walk with Him. Coming to Him on a regular basis for constant refills. Allowing Him to chip away at my humanity and learning to walk closer and closer to Him.
My heart is pricked and cries out, "Oh, Comforter of my soul, come and bathe my heart afresh and anew. I know not how to ask properly, but please let my life be saturated with You so that every one around me will not comment on how nice she looks, or how conservative she is, but that they will be touched by You. Please let others see You and not me!"

I thank the Lord for His help so far in this revival effort. Oh, that our hearts would  not be satisfied, but continue to long for more of Him. May we not quickly forget what He is trying to do, but may we be diligent to continue on and allow Him to deepen His work among us!

Autumn....love the outdoors!

Trying to "sniff" the flowers!

Enjoying the great outdoors! Those "piggies" are happy too:)

Always looking for a thrill!

Contemplation....

It's Been Awhile!

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. However, seeing as we have been without internet and since I have been in the land of the all day morning sickness, I suppose I have an excuse! Yes, we are going to be blessed with another little bundle of joy May 5. We are very excited! We got to see our lil' one for the first time on Monday. It is so amazing how God creates a life. This lil' one is not even an inch long at this time, and yet his/her heart was already beating strongly. Life was very evident. Truly we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

A Ladies' Tea Cake

Well, if you are like me and you live in a world where laundry always needs to be done, the baby does cry, things get stressful, hubby has a demanding job, and weeds grow in your driveway, and above all this you are trying to keep a good devotional life going, only to be disturbed at least once during your prayer time....then like me you like to get away for a few moments and chat about the silly things of life with a few of your girlfriends.
So this being the case in my life, I had been invited for a ladies' tea and I was supposed to bring the cake. Since I am NOT a cake decorator (and the hostess said the tea was to be fancy), since I DON'T have time to spend hours baking, and since I hope to present something that is tasty, this is what I settled on - Pistachio Cake. Ugh, you might say, but you really aught to try it before you place judgment upon it:)

As you can see from my pictures (I have to do a LOT of editing to make it look pretty), the icing sets quickly so slap it on and don't fret if it is not quite perfect, it still tastes good:) Also, I have found that those pretty little chocolate leaves make you look like a genius even though they really are ridiculously easy:) Just find some leaves from outdoors (please check online to see that they aren't poisonous:). Wash them, coat them with some Crisco, spoon a medium layer of melted chocolate dip on them, chill them in the fridge, and then ever so gently remove them and place on your cake. I just melt about 1/4 cup choc. chips with a tablespoon of Crisco to make my dip.
I also like to use edible flowers as a finishing touch. Cheap and easy. I just soak them in vinegar water to remove nasty lil' bugs, you can then rinse with fresh water, and shake remaining water out of them or pat dry.
So hear is the Pistachio Cake Recipe. You should give it a try:)

(See my cake isn't even on a pretty plate 'cause I was going to walk to the tea. So a cake carrier was much more reasonable, and look you can even see my cake through the icing. So don't be discouraged if your life isn't perfect either. Just enjoy it and focus on what matters most:)

Pistachio Cake
White Cake Mix   1
Instant Pistachio Pudding (4serving)   1
Large Eggs   4
Cooking Oil   1/2cup
Club Soda   1cup

Combine and beat smooth. Place in greased food tube pan. Bake at 350 for about 50minutes. Let stand for about 15minutes and then turn out onto rack to cool. Cool completely before icing.

Pistachio Icing:
Envelope Dessert Topping   1
Mild   1/2cup

Beat until soft peaks form.

Instant Pistachio Pudding Powder (4serving)   1
Milk   1/2cup

Add to dessert topping mixture and beat until smooth. Then apply to cake.