Welcome to Party Day here at Daily Dwelling! I’m joining in on the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom, so grab a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, don your party hat, sit back and you enjoy your visit.
Daily Dwelling is about my life as a Christian wife and mother as I strive to “dwell” on the things of real importance. I began blogging earlier this year mainly as a way to keep in touch with family, especially with my husband when he is away from us with work. But blogging has become a bit more to me as I have shared my life with others through this blog.
I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful children and the wife to an incredible husband. I grew up in a tiny, rural town in South Carolina and I have the accent to prove it. I really never left the state of S.C. until my husband went active duty as a chaplain in the Army. This summer we moved to Germany and it has been a huge adjustment for all of us. Along with blogging I enjoy digital scrapbooking and reading. You will see many of my scrapbook pages here and they usually focus my children. I also plan to begin discussing the books that I have read. I am currently reading When Heaven Weeps by Ted Dekker and Treasuring God in our Traditions by Noel Piper. My am always striving to be a better wife and mother. You will hear lots about my struggles and successes with both.
Elizabeth Anne (EA) and Mary Catherine (MC) are my twin girls. They just celebrated their third birthday. They were born prematurely (30 weeks) and had a very rough start at life, but you would never know it now. They spend their days playing babies, kitchen, reading, coloring and doting on their little brother. They keep me entertained and challenged. I am so proud of the beautiful little girls that they are becoming. It is my prayer that I model Christ’s love for them and I am so humbled when I see glimpses into their faith as they sing “Jesus Loves Me” and pray throughout the day.
Will is my nine month old baby. He was born in Ft. Campbell, KY and was only two months old when we moved to Germany. He is such an active little boy now! He keeps me on my toes chasing him around the house as he is now crawling and cruising EVERYWHERE!! He adores his sisters and is the happiest when he is right in the middle of their play because he truly believes that he is just as big as they are.
Keith is my wonderful husband of almost eight years. He has been called to serve God as a Chaplain in the Army and I am so proud of him and his work. He has a heart for the soldiers that he ministers to. We are preparing for his second deployment to Iraq. He also has two blogs of his own, chaplainandrews.com and Comic Book Day. He is a constant encouragement to me and is a real example of a loving father and husband.
In my book, a party just isn’t a party without a cake so, in honor of the Ultimate Blog Party, I would like to share the links to two of my new favorite cake recipes with you. I used both of them as birthday cakes this past weekend and both got rave reviews!! Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting was Elizabeth Anne’s birthday cake and Mom’s Layer Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting was Mary Catherine’s birthday cake. Both of these recipes came from The Cake Mix Doctor cookbook.
There are so many great prizes being given away during the Ultimate Blog Party this week. My top three picks would be the Black and White Rocking Horse (1), Bead Dangle Photo Tile Necklace (7), and the Story Package by Cherish Bound (48). If my top picks are chosen, my other favorites are, 14, 67, 72, 86, 101, and 81.
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I enjoyed all the great pictures! Thanks for the cake recipes also! YUMMY!!!
It has been a pleasure to get to know you over the past few months!!!
Great party!
A perfect picture for the party!!! WOOHOO…great to meet ya. I hope ya stop by my place too:)
I learned something new about you today. I didn’t realize that we have been married for almost the same amount of time. M and I will be married for 8 years in July of this year. What other new things can i learn?
I love learning more about you. What a beautiful family you have! I had forgotten you were from South Carolina but now I remember you mentioning it. I have updated my DOD application in case an opening comes up to teach special ed. Maybe someday…
What a beautiful family you have! Those little ones must really keep you busy, huh? hee hee
Thanks for hosting such a great party!
Thanks for stopping by, you have a beautiful family! My hubby is also a chaplain but we are AF. He grew up in Germany and loved it. We are headed to Alaska this summer!!!
You have a lovely family. It is always great to meet other Christian mothers, and I’m glad that I found you blog via the party. I know full well the hardships that you go through with a husband in the military. Thank you for your family’s committment to our freedom.
hey, Monica, it’s me – Monica lol glad to meet you. you have a beautiful family
Your children are so adorable. And what a wonderful looking spread of desserts!
I loooove your blog a lot. You have such a beautiful family . . . .
If you are interested….I am giving away a canvas gallery wrap…hope you can participate! http://www.purple-valley.blogspot.com
What a lovely post!
Your kids sound a lot like mine (just a bit younger). I have a pair of “Irish” twins– two girls born 17 1/2 months apart, and a little boy who was born before his youngest sister turned 2.
I adore this mix, they fit each other and my personality so well.
Strength to you– I live in a military town, so I often thank God he hasn’t called our family to the long separations required of you military families. I’m just too “dependent” for that…
Wonderful party post!!! I truly enjoyed visiting you and thanks for stopping by earlier! I look forward to bumping into you at several more party spots!
Blessings,
Shera
Hi, what a great party you have going on!
I understand moving to Germany is a huge step but after you have gotten used to that restaurants are not open at 2 o’clock, banks are closed on Wednesdays, and how to recycle everything in right places, I’m sure you will love it.
Enjoy the different culture, there is so much to see! I will have to read more of your blog, maybe I’ll find out where you are.. I met my husband when he was stationed in Hanau, and we went back to Germany for another tour in Schweinfurt. We really loved living there, but it also helped I knew the language.
If your post offers German classes, I really recommend learning the language a little bit, it really makes your stay a lot nicer – and people will be friendlier too! (and they are more likely to come out of their shells and speak English, when they see you are trying to speak German!)
I really miss Germany, we have such wonderful memories from there. Enjoy some Milka for me!
What a great party picture! We are an active duty Navy family, I would love to get orders to Germany but with 6 kids it’s doubtful. I’ll have to experience it through you!
What a great post! Thanks for stopping by my “party.” It’s always nice to meet another twin mom. Your family is beautiful and your hostess skills put me to shame.
Wow! Germany! My father was born in Germany and escaped during the war when he was only 10 years old. (I’m adopted if you were wondering how I ended up with two asian babies.) It’s a beautiful country but I can only imagine what it’s like to be in a strange place. I felt out of place when I moved one county over!
Hi Monica!
You have a beautiful family!
So how do you like living in Germany? I have a friend that lives in Baumholder, that just recently came to visit. He’s a civilian that works on base and has been there for more than ten years. He was a bit surprised to see that we could go to a drive up window for coffee. Something I guess we take for granted!
Anyway, nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by the other day.
Blessings,
Hallie
Nice to meet your family! I love your Hadley Ware!!
Wow! Quite a spread! I’d love to join your party! Looks like fun!
Inviting you to party with me!
Win Chocolates:
http://thechocolistas.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html
Win a handmade pocket place mat:
http://comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html
Join me this month at A Cup of Joy for Missions Month:
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/
Very nice to meet you! I considered posting in German, but it’s been too long and now my German gets confused with my Spanish and even I don’t know what I’m saying!!!
You’ve a beautiful family! I hope to bump into you at my party later, if you have time!
Blessings!
Hey! Welcome to Europe. For a taste of Italy, come on over to my party.
BTW – your children are baby dolls…all of them! I just wanna squeeze their little cheeks!!!
Hi. Thanks for inviting us in for the party. You have a wonderful family. I really enjoyed reading about you all. My daughter is pregnant with her first child. It is an exciting time. I will pray for your husband. He seems to be an awesome man to follow God’s calling. I know what it is like to follow your husbands calling. I admire you. I am at a different place in life because my kids are grown. It is really nice to meet you. Come over and visit my blog.
Howdy from Tennessee! We’re state cousins, and I have the accent to prove it too. Your family is just adorable! You must be so blessed.
Anyway, nice to meet you!
Quirky
Our kids are about the same age…you just have me beat by one. My oldest will be 3 in a couple months and my youngest is a couple months younger than your son.
It’s nice to “meet” you!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Great photos.
Love your blue spirals. It sounds like you are already a great mother and wife – nice to see you taking time to read about it. Your husband is a lucky guy. 
It was nice to meet you. Hope you win one of the prizes you like on the blog party list!
Those cakes sound divine and look delicious too! What a sweet family you have! Have fun at the parties this week!
hey, i think our kids are the same ages (i wasn’t sure if your girls just turned 3 or 4?). anyway, my daughter is 4 and my son is a very busy 9 months old! so nice to meet you. i too started my blog for my family in arkansas to keep up with how fast our daughter was growing here in texas but it has recently become much more than that. anyway, nice to meet you and i hope you can stop by to meet us too! oh and those cakes look really yummmmmmmmy!
Hello! You have thrown a fabulous party!
Bless your husband as he serves!
Hey there. Found you with all the other party people!
I am also the mom to a former 28 weeker, Tristan. God works in wonderful ways, he brought me my greatest joy. I see you are a advocate for March of Dimes, ME TOO!! Please come by my blog and say hello.
I sure would love to hear more about those premature girls and of course the rest of your family and happenings. Bye for now!
You have such a beautiful family. Enjoy the party!
Your kids are adorable! It sounds like you’ve had a pretty exciting year. I hope you’re settling in well and adjusting to your new home!
Great post! Hope your enjoying the party! I’ve been meeting tons of new people! Hope to try to visit at least half of them before Friday! You never know when you may meet a forever friend. Pop by for a visit if you get a chance! Enjoy your day!
Happy partying and much blog love!
Blessings, Angie Seaman
http://www.angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/
http://www.angelicagracedesigns.com
What a beautiful family…and I love cake too
I’m in Europe as well–southern Italy for 5 years now. Come and visit my party when you get a chance! I look forward to getting to know you better.
Yum—those cakes look awesome–thanks for sharing the recipes!!
Your kids are super cute.
If you get a chance, stop by my party post “Welcome to the Party” and check out my giveaway. I decided to extend it through Sunday.