Yesterday Dawn, Grandma and I took Jack apple picking at Kerchner's in Goshen. Jack was most excited about picking apples from the tree and the hay ride! Here's a few pics...

I finally made time to have Jackson's 1-year pictures done (at 15 months) and they turned out so cute! He was all smiles (for the most part)! The hard part was that he wanted to crawl to us while the photographer was trying to snap his picture so we only had a few seconds for each pose. I can't believe how fast he's growing - he's definitely going from baby to little boy right before our eyes! This morning, I heard him calling for me from his bed. Saying "maaaaa maaaaa". Pretty easy to open your eyes when you hear that. :)

Psalm 90:4

Psalm 90:4 - For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. If Psalm 90:4 is true, if 'a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday' she will no sooner get her eyes open then all of us who follow Christ will be with her. There will be no time in Heaven that she spends without us. Heaven is all of us who believe in Christ.

I read this passage on my friend Amber's blog. She recently lost a very young cousin to cancer . I immediately thought of Josh and also our friends Luke & Allison who recently lost their brother, Jordan. It's so comforting to know that for our family that have passed away and are in heaven, they won't even know that we're not with them - they won't miss us at all. We might miss them, but at least they'll no sooner open their eyes and we'll be with them. Makes me feel better. I'm going to share this with my mother-in-law as I think it will bring her comfort in her grief over losing Josh and also as she deals with her mom's soon passage as she's declining with lung cancer that has spread. I wanted to post this on my blog so that my other friends and family who have lost loved ones might feel some comfort from this verse too.

Happy Birthday Josh!

My big brother Josh turns 38 years young today! He is now living in Jerusalem and from the looks of things is enjoying a little more free/fun time these days - happy to hear that! Happy Birthday, Josh. We love and miss you a lot. Be safe!

Cashew Chicken

I'm always looking for recipes to replicate my favorite restaurant foods. One of my very favorites is the Cashew Chicken at Mandarin House in Mishawaka. Well...I have found the ultimate recipe. It tastes just like it! I ate HALF...yes HALF of this entire thing. Yum! Here's the recipe:
2 tsp chicken bouillon or base
1 ¼ c boiling water
2 Tb soy sauce
1 Tb cornstarch
2-4 tsp brown sugar
½ tsp ground ginger
1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut up
½ c cashews
Hot cooked rice

Dissolve chicken base in water. Set aside.
Combine soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar and ginger. Combine w/ broth over medium heat til thickened.
In large skillet heat oil until hot, not smoking. Stir fry chicken til browned.
Combine above w/ ¼ cashews.
Serve over rice. Sprinkle w/ remaining cashews.

Enjoy!

Labor Day weekend was fun filled. I went out to ND's campus for a tailgate with Heidi, Heather, Alissa and Phil. So many of our friends came out to have some fun and I had a great time. It was like a big reunion too! I saw a lot of friends from high school and college that I hadn't seen in a really long time. Meanwhile, Dawn watched Jackson adn took him to the park and took these pictures. He has so much fun with Aunt Dawn!