Lexi's 6th birthday

Stats:
51.8 pounds
45 3/4 inches- almost as tall as her mama! haha
Blood pressure- 78/56
cholesterol- <150
vision screen- 20/30

For Lexi's bday we went to a fun place called Frankie's. She got to take her best friend Delaney- which that sweet girl has been SUCH a blessing to Lexi....and answer to prayer. Some of you guys know what a tough time Lexi had starting out the school year- long story short this mama has NO tolerance for MEAN girls! Her daddy held me back but did not keep me off my knees! :)

Lexi had an ice cream cake too and loved every minute of celebrating her birthday! Her school does not allow sweets of any kind (isn't that CRAZY) so we sent goody bags with pencils, erasers, and some stamps. She has such a giving heart. Literally, that sweet girl helps me out so much! I would not make it without her. She is always trying to help others and looking for something that she could do to make someone else have an easier time. She is observant, a saver, mature, loves school, loves her daddy, loves to read, draw, Delaney, church, and her family.  She usually always does the right thing-it is amazing! Thank you my heart for loving me even when I fail as your mommy and encouraging me when I need it. YOU have taught ME so much and I am beyond blessed to be your mommy!

Lauren's 3rd Birthday

Stats:

26 pounds
35 3/8 inches tall
blood pressure 70/50
cholesterol- 154
Who knew they checked BP and cholesterol on your third birthday???? That cracked me up!!
She got the all clear, all normal :) She is still on the bottom of the growth chart but staying right where she always has been and not getting any worse so we are ok.

For her birthday we went to Monkey Joe's. It is a bounce house in Raleigh. She LOVED it!! We then went home and had an ice cream cake and her day was completely made! We skyped with both sets of grandparents and we and them shed some tears but of course Lauren never knew why we were sad! She is the LIGHT of this family and the clown who keeps us ROLLING!
I am motivated to keep up with this blog if only to post the funny things these kiddos are doing!
Lauren loves:
chicken nuggets, french fries, ice cream, apple juice, gold fish, chocolate, and chili :)

clothes-can wear 18-24 months but mostly 2T

Shoes: size 7

She and Lexi share a bedroom. They have bunkbeds and she sleeps on bottom. She loves sharing a room with Lexi but usually ends up in her mama's arms by the end of the night. Who knew I would become such a pushover when I became of mother of three???? Or actually, more like too tired to fight it!! She loves to sing, dance, hug, rock, and play. She goes until she can't go anymore and then VERY quickly is ready to start again!
Thank you GOD for blessing us with such a fun loving happy girl!

Disclaimer

I have been putting off updating because I am SO FAR BEHIND!! Also...it hit me that this next portion of time I need to update on- from December to February was the hardest time of this year. We had the girls birthday's with no party, no family, or friends to celebrate. It literally broke this mommy's heart. They never knew the difference and will not remember it....it was all me and once I took a good hard look at it realized how silly I was being. Really??? I was sad and depressed over a SEASON in my life???? One that God has used as a time for pruning of my heart, my life, and our priorities...and man did we need it!

We have been incredibly blessed by our church here in Raleigh. I mean they have blown our socks off~ We have NEVER been around so many people that actually LIVE OUT what they believe. It has been wonderful. Such an example for us. I will share examples later on but I better get to the update or six more months will pass and I will never have posted about Lauren's third birthday LAST December! haha!

Just when you have had it.....

I "ran across" this devo today from Proverbs 31 director Lisa Tuerkhurst. It is JUST what I needed to hear today. Sometimes it is REALLY HARD to do the right thing and we don't WANT to do it.....but we put our trust in the Lord for HE is right and He will give me (us) strength. I believe that because I have experienced it......daily



"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord…” Hosea 10:12.



Sow for yourselves righteousness…In other words, sow into your life righteousness- right choices that honor God. Make these choices. Choose to honor Him in the midst of it all. Even when you are dishonored, honor Him still.

Reap the fruit of unfailing love…There will be fruit in the midst of every choice that honors God. It will be the fruit of God’s unfailing love. Remember, Romans 8 teaches us that nothing shall separate us from the love of God. Yet, that is Satan’s great tactic to get you entangled in little things that make you forget God’s unfailing love. Or worse yet, doubt His unfailing love.


Resist the distracting entanglement by honoring God with this choice you are faced with right now.

Break up your unplowed ground…Don’t resist the blessing of brokenness that tills the ground of your heart. Breaking up the unplowed ground of your heart will make it ready for new life- new growth- new maturity in you.

For it is time to seek the Lord…Seek God like never before. And part of seeking Him is allowing for grace space in your life. Grant God’s grace some space in your mind, your heart, your life. When circumstances of life leave you dry, see this emptiness as an opportunity. Instead of reacting out of emptiness, choose to see that this emptiness is the perfect spot for a space of grace in your life.

As you give grace to those who don’t deserve it, the mercy jars of heaven will lavish it back on you.

“… for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you,” Hosea 10:12.



The showers…We grow. We are able to make more right choices that honor Him. We start to look at life and people, and annoying circumstances differently. And we even dare to whisper thank you when the need for grace spaces comes again and again.



What grace space have you found lately?

Raw

That is the best way I can describe the way I have felt the last hmmm.....say 5 months. The first two months here in NC were just a sobbing blur. I was sad and then I got mad and then I decided to deal......and deal I have. WITH. A LOT. OF. JUNK!! The heart kinda junk. The deep soul searching kinda junk.
I have been pruned, wrung out, and am now breathing deeply again and thanking God for taking me to it, through it, and allowing me to emerge on the other side changed. PTL!
Thank you especially to the ones who have prayed me through it.
I have been trying to think of the correct words to tell my bloggy friends about what has been going on in my heart and head. Raw is the best word I could come up with.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! Psalm 73:26 Amen!!

Cajun Chicken and Dumplings

There is a restaurant in the height I LOVE...they have this recipe that is to die for and homemade french fries...which if you know me that is a direct in to my heart! :) Russ has been playing around with figuring out there recipe for me and I made them last night and they were VERY close! Yummy!!!
so here goes.....a LOT of the spices are just to taste~ Depends on how SPICY you want them!

3 cans cream of chicken
2 (14 oz) cans chicken broth
1 (10oz) can of milk
1/2 stick butter ( I didn't use this last night and they were still good :))
4 chicken breasts boiled and shredded
whatever kind of dumplings you like- Russ sometimes uses canned biscuits, my favorite is flour tortillas and I used 10.....of course, you can't beat my mama's homemade dumplins but I am not there yet!
1 TBSP Tony's seasoning- approx
1 tsp old bay-approx
garlic powder
onion powder
I used a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 cup of the hot liquid and then poured it back in to thicken since I didn't have time to let them thicken up.
Enjoy~

Asian Chicken Salad

I made this recipe last week for the first time and it was SO good!! Of course, every recipe I get off Pioneer Woman's blog is delicious.....EVERY SINGLE ONE!! How does she do it??? Ok...Here is the recipe! More fun times at the Rauls will be blogged about soon! :)

FOR THE SALAD:


4 pieces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

11 ounces, weight Spring Salad Blend

1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded & Sliced

2 cups Fresh Pineapple Chunks

1 cup Green Onions, Sliced

1 package Chicken-flavored Ramen Noodles, 3 Ounce Package

3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

1 cup Whole Almonds, Coarsely Chopped

4 Tablespoons Sugar

_____

FOR THE DRESSING:

1 whole Seasoning Packet From Your Ramen Noodles

½ cups Sugar

1 cup Vegetable Oil

⅔ cups Rice Wine Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil

4 Tablespoons Soy Sauce

For the dressing, combine ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake until well blended.


Place chicken in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and pour half of the dressing over chicken. Seal tightly and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Reserve remaining unused dressing for salad.

Preheat grill to medium-high (about 400 degrees F). I just sauteed the chicken in a pan since we don't have a grill right now and it is too DANG cold otherwise!! ;)

Remove chicken breasts from marinade and pat dry with clean paper towels. Place on preheated grill and grill over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes per side (maybe a minute or two more depending on thickness). When done, place chicken breasts on a clean baking sheet or plate and loosely cover with foil. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine salad mix, red bell pepper, pineapple and green onion in a medium-sized bowl. Cover and refrigerate until right before serving.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, crush ramen noodles and drizzle with 3 Tablespoons of oil; toss until well coated and spread onto a cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in a 400 degree oven, stirring often to lightly toast noodles. Keep an eye on it and don’t let it burn! Remove and cool completely.

In a small pan, cook and stir almonds and 4 Tablespoons of sugar over medium heat until almonds are caramelized (they will be light brown and coated with melted sugar), approximately 4-6 minutes. Spread the almonds on foil or wax paper. After they cool, break apart.- I bought some honey almonds at walmart because I don't have time for fancy! :)

Right before serving, toss lettuce mixture, Ramen noodles, sugared almonds and sliced, grilled chicken breasts with enough dressing to coat (to taste). Serve in a large bowl and enjoy!

**Try to prepare the dressing the day before so that you can marinate the chicken overnight**