A Bun in the Oven!

I'm excited to finally share a surprise with you! In October, our daughter and son-in-law will welcome a new baby! It was during their birthday party in March that they shared the news but we were asked to keep it quiet until Danielle entered her second trimester.  That was hard to do! 

It was a truly special moment when they made the baby announcement to their immediate family, as we were all gathered together.  Danielle approached me and asked if I could bless the food with a prayer.  After praying, she said, "Mom, I have something for you." I was a bit confused at first, as she handed me the oven.  She told me to open it... Zak had created a cardboard oven featuring a door that opened and an electrical plug! The moment I opened it, I couldn't contain my excitement - I screamed (yes, I really did!). I was crying, and laughing and hugging all at once - it was so special! Everyone rejoiced, and then we prayed for the little one. Happy happy news for us all! It is the first grandbaby for Zak's family as well, so this little one will be very much celebrated! 

OUR "BUN IN THE OVEN"

APRIL FOOLS DAY ANNOUNCEMENT

So that has been the excitement here for days! The hardest part was keeping it quiet!  Finally, the day came when we could make the announcement.  I sent out a text message to family and friends on April Fool's Day.  I attached a picture of the ultrasound, and a short text that said "We're so excited."  I included Zak and Danielle in the text. Several people thought I might be announcing that "I" was pregnant, and that's when Danielle hopped into the chat, and let everyone know the happy news. It was a very fun announcement all the way around! 

We can't wait to welcome the little one into the world sometime around the first of October.  This will be my first grandchild, and I have waited for this moment for years! So lots of fun planning, shopping, and preparing will happen over the next few months.  Danielle and Zak are very low-key and traditional. They are not going to find out what the baby is.  They don't have plans for a special style or theme for the nursery.  They are very content with simple things.  So, I have to keep that in mind, and I hope to pull out my sewing machine and make a few things for the nursery and baby. I'm sure I'll have more to share about all that in the days to come :) 

MOUNTAINTOPSPICE FAMILY COOKBOOK

It seems that I have a lot of news to share today! Along with the exciting announcement of a new grandbaby, I also want to tell you that I recently completed a project that I had been working on for many months. I created my own cookbook and published it on Amazon, where it's much more accessible for family and friends to purchase.  

I clicked the "publish" button on Friday, and the cookbook went live! It is a scary feeling to let your "baby" go! It was a project I'd worked on for a long time, and it is a wonderful feeling to know that my children, and now grandchildren, will enjoy and have in their own hands a cookbook with family recipes. 

Here is my cookbook, MountainTopSpice Family Cookbook, and you can find it on Amazon at this link: MountainTopSpice Family Cookbook

Here is more information about the book: 

This cookbook was born out of a love of serving good food to my family and wanting to preserve the recipes and pass them on to my children and grandchildren. I have tested these recipes in my kitchen, focusing on simple, organic, home-grown food. I want to inspire those who read this cookbook to embrace the joy of sharing delicious meals with your family. There is nothing more special than gathering around a table of good food with family and sharing life together. I hope this compilation of family recipes will be a blessing for you and your family!

There are 8 sections: Appetizers and Beverages, Bread and Muffins, Soups, Stews and Sauces, Meats and Main Dishes, Vegetables and Salads, Desserts, Pies, Cakes and Cookies, Miscellaneous and Low Carb. Each section includes the recipe - some with pictures, serving information, and the time to make each recipe.

You can find a simple collection of good, home-cooked food using basic ingredients that are commonly found in most kitchens. The focus is on providing healthy, nutritious, and comforting meals that can be enjoyed with the family.

I share a lot of my keto recipes in the cookbook, many of which I've shared here on my blog recently.  My husband and I have been on a low-carb journey, where we are cutting sugar and potatoes out of our diet because my husband is pre-diabetic.  We both feel so much better and have more energy. It has definitely been a lifestyle change for us.  

The cookbook shares very basic recipes, like making a roast, and hamburgers.  It is surprising how many people lack the knowledge of cooking basic meals.  I just shared the simple recipes from my kitchen that feed our family, and friends, and have been proven crowd-pleasers.  

I'm so thankful to have the cookbook completed! I know many of you wanted a copy of the cookbook I published a couple of years ago, but I only had limited copies.  This is a much easier way to get the cookbook either on Kindle or in paperback form.  

I hope you'll stop by and look at my cookbook, and if you do decide to buy, a review would be appreciated very much! 

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Today I am planning to watch the solar eclipse with a friend.  There has been a lot of talk about this eclipse, with much excitement, drama, and anticipation about it.  We are supposed to have some cloud cover this afternoon, so we are not sure how much of it we will get to see, but it will be fun to experience it from the top of a mountain! My friend and I are going to drive up and experience the eclipse on a mountain close by.  What are your plans today - are you in the path of the eclipse? Will you be watching it? It is certainly a very anticipated event! 

I pray each of you have a wonderful experience with the eclipse - we have seen one before here in 2017, and it was very special.  

While there are many "doomsday" things being said about this eclipse, I look at it like this.  There is nothing to worry about when your trust is in Jesus. Whatever He has planned, it will happen, and there is nothing we can do to stop or change it.  What we can do is keep our eyes on Him, not focus on any fear, or worry but rejoice that He has a plan for this world. 

 

This is a Scripture video I recently created, each song taken from the scripture, most from Psalms.  Singing His Word is a powerful antidote for worrisome times. God's rich blessings to all of you!