Fhoto Friday!!

WOW! This is LONG overdue!!!

Rockin' out at Lifeway Christian Bookstore!

A little playtime before bedtime.

Punkin Carvin' Par-tay at our house

Final products!!

Exploring, exploring, exploring!!!

Happy Birthday, Love!

(Notice: I am a very enthusiastic birthday song singer. I like to bring out my operatic voice for these occassions.)

October 22, 1980. I was 19 months old. I was probably running around my house, just like Caleb does these days, getting into everything I could in our little house on Longhill. I'm sure I didn't have a care in the world except eating, sleeping and playing. Again, just like Caleb these days. BUT.....as God would have it, down the highway in Anderson, SC Chad Bruce Byce was being born. At 19 months old the person I was to marry entered the world. After this day it was just God's timing as to when we would meet. We lived our seperate lives for 22ish years until we met at an FCA camp my junior year of college. Again, as God would have it, even after our intial meeting we didn't see each other again for about 3 years....until that day in the foyer at FBC Simpsonville. There he stood propped against the wall in true Chad fashion (as I now know!), looking all relaxed, chatting with one of the youth. I recognized him, went over to say hello, hung out with him and a group of other friends at the Waffle House that night and well....the rest is history!!



I say all that to say this....Do you know how important prayer is? I am so thankful that I know without a doubt that Chad's parents and my parenrts prayed for our future spouses. I am so thankful that Chad's parents raised him according to God's word, that they taught him to measure his successes in life not by the world's standards, but by God's. I am thankful that they took the time to read God's word to him, to share their love for missions with him, to pray with and over him. I am thankful for all this because these things, plus all of Chad's other life experiecens and the way God has worked in his life has shaped him to be the person he is today - the person I get to call my husband and the person Caleb gets to call "da-da". So....if you haven't already starting praying for your child's spouse, today is not too late to start - to pray that they come to know Christ as soon as they understand, that they run hard after Him, and that they will understand God's call to purity. Afterall, they could be being born right this moment!!


Oh...and not to mention that God answered the prayers of my heart for a husband in Chad. :) We are as different as night and day, but I love it!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHAD!!!!

EASY-PEASY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES!!!

I'd say it's a fact that cooler weather promotes cooking. I guess because you have to be inside more. Today while I was inside because of the nastiness outside (Lord, I am thankful for the rain, but like the sun also!) I decided to whip out my super easy peanut butter cookie recipe. Folks, you never need to buy PB cookies again once you know this recipe; it would almost be silly. Check it out below.

Preheat oven to 325.

Mix together 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract. Stir well! Form into small balls and press with the tonges of a fork. Bake for 15 min or until a little golden. Place on wire racks after removing from oven and let "set". They take a little while to get firm (5-10 min). They do not get bigger while they bake so the size you make them is the size they will stay. You can also add a mix-in if you like. I used mini chocolate morsels today, but other ideas might be toffee chips, peanuts, whatever you like!

When it rains...

First, we pitch a giant fit because it means we can't go outside much during the day, especially now that it's been much cooler outside.

Next, we decide on the fun things we can do inside the house! Today we decided to have a little fun in the kitchen sink. Caleb is a big fan of playing in water so since it was too cool outside to play in the rain puddles, I just let him have a little splash in the sink. Maybe this means he will love washing dishes one day!

Finally, we made some yummy caramel corn. What a great addition to a rainy, fall day! A house full of a wonderful caramel smell and a tasty snack! You can make your own by following this recipe.

Caleb watching the popcorn pop.

Cooking up the caramel.

The final product!