We're off with a Bang!

A head bang that is.

After staying up late for New Year's Eve and then sleeping in, the kids were full of energy. So, what does K-Man do? Jump on our bed. A favorite pasttime that has gotten him scolded before but obviously not made the necessary impression. Well, this time what happened might have done the trick.

As he was having a good 'ole time, he fell backwards onto the pillows only missing them 'by that much'. He slams his head down on the edge of the wooden head board with a loud thud which immediately got my attention from the other room. I was down the hall in the laundry room just waiting for it. You know, the couple seconds before the wail. When it pierced the silence it wasn't the typical whine but a cry of pain. Time for mama to come kiss the boo boo.

As I rounded the corner, my husband, who had been sitting on the bed watching football, was already holding him and had his hand on the back of his head. All I saw at that point was blood dripping between his fingers.

I had to rinse the laundry soap off my hands before I could wet a washcloth and start playing my role of nurse mommy. I knew that head wounds bleed easily and sure enough, it didn't take long before the washcloth was covered. It was hard to assess how bad it was because Kenan's hair is so dark it made it difficult to really see what was going on. What I could make out helped confirm my initial thought of, "This boy in going to need stitches."

Well, because we had slept late, Madeline and I were still in our jammies so I told her to go get dressed. The look on her face was a mixture of panic and horror. She didn't know what was going on. I think all the blood made her think he was dieing or something. She started crying, bless her heart, but it was nice to see how concerned she was for the person she fights with regularly. We kept assuring her he was going to be okay. I quickly changed too and threw on a hat, no time to fix my hair. We all piled into the car and Rex held him in the backseat holding an ice pack and washcloth on his head.

I drove to the nearest urgent care which is only about 10 minutes from our house. Wouldn't ya know it! Closed! Are you kidding me?! Then I remembered it was New Year's Day. So, I called a friend of mine as we headed toward the hospital to find out where she had taken her son a few weeks ago when he broke his ankle. It ended up being the urgent care that we had gone to last year for Kenan's broken foot. She suggested going there instead of the emergency room because we'd probably get in faster. I called to make sure they were open this time. I guess we're becoming regular customers.

It didn't take too long to be called back but waiting for the doctor once we made it to the exam room took forever. Seriously, what takes so long? I began to wonder if they were watching and listening to us on a hidden camera. Finally, he comes in and sure enough, my Guatemalan cutie needs stitches.

I thought for sure my little guy would not handle this well. He's two and being stuck with sharp objects. It meant screaming, right? Wrong! All he made was an ouchie face and that's it. He didn't even move while the doctor tied three black stitches into the top of his head. What a man!

So, there you have it. Our first day of 2010. Have you heard the saying that what you do on New Year's Day you'll be doing the most of during the year? Let's hope that's not true!

Welcome 2010 - Happy New Year!

It was a quiet evening at home with the family on New Year's Eve last night. We ate a nice dinner and had a special dessert, molten chocolate cakes. The whipped cream is already starting to melt into the chocolate. Yummy!


We gave baths and played W*ii I*Spy until it was time to watch the final countdown. We toasted in the new year with sparkling apple cider, scout's honor, and remembered how Rex proposed on New Year's Eve 18 years ago. Has it really been that long ago? My how time flies!


So much has happened since then. I pray that 2010 holds wonderful memories and lots of exciting times. My top 10 things that I'm most looking forward to are:

1. Growing closer in my relationship with the Lord.

2. For my husband to find a job.

3. Celebrating birthdays, anniversarys, and gotcha days with my family.

4. Establishing an adoption and foster care ministry with two amazing friends through my
church.

5. For my women's ensemble to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ through song.

6. Going on a vacation.

7. Getting back in shape.

8. Attending my 20 year high school reunion.

9. Getting my house decluttered and organized. It'll take a miracle but I believe in miracles.

10. Watching as the Lord answers prayers for us and our friends and family.

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As an added bonus I'm giving you the recipe for the delicious dessert that I know you're drooling over.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

4 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate

1 stick butter

1 cup powdered sugar

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

6 Tablespoons flour

Whipped Topping

PREHEAT oven to 425 degrees. Butter 4 custard cups or souffle dishes. Place on baking sheet.

MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on High 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted.

STIR in sugar until well blended. BLEND in eggs and egg yolks with wire whisk. STIR in flour. DIVIDE batter between prepared custard cups.

BAKE 13 to 14 minutes or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 minute. Carefully run small knife around cakes to loosen. INVERT cakes onto dessert dishes.
TOP with whipped topping.

If you like chocolate I guarantee you'll love this. It's also great to make for Valentine's Day.
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I'd like to know what you're looking forward to the most this year. Leave me a comment so that I can celebrate with you! Have a Happy New Year!

Merry CHRISTmas!

A rainy Christmas morning came early this year. Madeline woke up at 7 and checked out the goodies Santa had brought. She ran upstairs and startled me awake. Who likes being woke up like that? I held her off another thirty minutes while I tried to get a few more winks and allowed my heart rate to return to a normal rhythm. That was all she could take so we made our way down the stairs to see what other treasures awaited us under the tree.

Santa was good and brought her a Le*gos set and the complete St*rW*rs saga computer game. He gave Kenan H*tWh**ls cars and a race track.

Mommy got the car monogram sticker she asked for.

Daddy got the Car*lina vs. N*treD*me print he wanted. (FYI, he and two of his friends went to that game and are in the picture, very tiny, but they're there. Oh, and our Hee*ls won which was a nice and unexpected surprise.)

The kiddos got the next book in the series written by Big*Mama. It's part of a Sunday morning children's program at church. They have online stuff too. Check it out.

BUT, the BIGGEST surprise of them all was a W*ii!!! Thanks dad, it wouldn't have been possible without you! I think she's just a little happy, don't you?

The rest of the day was spent playing with all of our new toys. It took 2 hours and 20 minutes plus a few hundred pieces...

...but she put the whole thing together by herself. This is Ana*kin's Y*Wing Fighter. Girlfriend loves Le*gos.

Kenan ran over everything with his new remote control car.

And everyone got in on the W*ii action.

Including the K-Man. Believe it or not, he's actually good at bowling or as he calls it, blowing.

For dinner that night I made Car*raba's Lentil*&*Sausage Soup. If you've ever had it, this recipe tastes exactly the same. I may have to share it with you sometime...maybe...

We ended our day by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blowing out candles on a rice*krispie treat cake. I didn't want the day to pass without remembering the One whom we celebrate, who makes this day possible in the first place. Thank you Jesus for coming to a rotten world so that I might live with you forever.

I also want to remember the friends, known and uknown, who helped make our Christmas all that it was. We had food on the table and gifts under the tree thanks to some kind and generous individuals. For that, we will be forever grateful. It was a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Christmas Eve And The Weeks Before

The weeks leading up to Christmas were busy to say the least. The first weekend of December Madeline had her first solo in the children's choir Christmas Musical - Hotel*Bethlehem. She sang "A Way/Away In a Manger" and sounded like an angel. Yes, I could have popped my buttons!

The next week we had our adult choir Christmas Musical - "A Hickory*Grove Family Christmas". I had to capture my little cherubs before the dress rehearsal. Check out the K-Man's tie! So cute!!!

We were asked to give our family's testimony and Rex did a fantastic job telling our story. We pray that our trials and their outcomes will encourage others.

After two jam packed weekends at church it was time to get ready for Madeline's Christmas Party at school. I planned a whole bunch of fun stuff for her class to do but the weather did not cooperate and school closed early before we could celebrate. Guess we'll just have to have a 'winter' party when they go back.

My mom and dad arrived on Christmas Eve and the kids were about to tear the house apart they were so excited. Can you remember being that excited at Christmastime? Our tradition is to have our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. This year we made it easy and fixed a lasagna, salad, and breadsticks. I think everyone enjoyed their meal.

Then it was time to open a few presents. Another tradition is to give the kids an ornament that is representative of their year. So Madeline got a Jonas*Brothers ornament that plays one of their songs...

...and Kenan got Thomas *The* Train...

...a new pair of Jo*Bros pj's...

...and a photo book telling how God brought Kenan to our family.

Now it was time to get ready for Santa. We left food for the reindeer so they could find our house...

...and some cookies and milk for the big man himself.

Madeline insisted she sleep on the couch in front of the fireplace so she could see Santa...wonder if it worked? Daddy's settling down for his long winter's nap too.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Home Tour By Candlelight

Welcome to our home! I'm so glad you came over for a visit. Please, come in. As in any proper southern home I'd like to offer you a glass of iced tea. Take a look around. Relax and enjoy!

I do realize the date says 2007, however the outside still looks pretty much the same and I haven't taken a picture as of yet this year, so, I'm using what I've got. The first thing you'll see when you walk in the front door is a nativity scene. I love them and have them placed all over. Jesus is the center of our home and this puts the focus where it needs to be right from the start.





This is the first nativity scene I purchased the year Rex and I were married. I bought it from a Christ*mas Around The Wor*ld home party, ever been to one?




If you'll go down the hall to your left you'll come to our family room. On the left side of the room is the staircase and in front of it is our Carolina*Christmas*Tree complete with blue and white lights. Over the years we have collected Tar*Heel ornaments and use this three foot tree to display them all on. The collection is still growing and I think it's about time to get a bigger tree!


Now turn around to the right side of the room and you'll find our fireplace opposite the stairs. You can actually see it from the foyer where we started, just to give you a little perspective. It thrills me to see four stockings hanging there! This will be our second Christmas with our son! It still amazes me to know that he's home and will never again have to spend Christmas without a family.



Behind the foyer to the right is our fomal dinning room. You're just in time, the table is all set!

I'm not your traditional red and green Christmas girl. I love jewel tones! The pattern I use is called Holly*Joy and it sits atop a gold charger. The plate is actually a cream color but in this picture it appears more yellow than it really is. It's a discontinued pattern so if you know where I can get serving pieces please let me know!

Take a look behind you, it's our tree! You're now facing the front of the house. See the windows by the front door to the right? That's where you came in.

As you walk from the dining room into the living room there's a little table on the right with another nativity scene. This one was made by our newlywed Sunday School class teacher.

He gave one to each couple and we all thought it was some kind of puzzle. It looked very abstract at first until we saw it put together. Each time I put it out I think of how much it made us laugh. That was fifteen years ago.

Opposite that table is our piano which holds yet another nativity scene. I told you I loved them.

This one is especially dear because it came straight from the Holy*Land. We bought this in Bethlehem when we visited Israel. It's made of olive wood and I leave it here all year 'round. Who says you can only use nativity scenes at Christmas?! What a life changing trip that was! We stood in the very place the shepherds stood as they saw baby Jesus for the first time. I've touched the manger that held the Saviour with my own hands. We even sang O Little Town of Bethlehem as we huddled together in that cave that was once a stable. That was my favorite moment of the entire trip. Well, that and the promise we were given... but that's a story for another time.

Last but not least is our tree proudly glowing with purple and white lights and holding so many years worth of memories.

One of which is this ornament to commemorate the first Christmas we got to spend with our sweet boy. From Guatemala with love!

And yes, we even have the kid's nativity scene under the tree to remind us all that Jesus is the best gift we can ever receive.

Thanks so much for stopping by! It was a pleasure having you in our home. We hope that you'll come back another time. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Card Carousel

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you enjoy our card!

It's hard to see the writing so I'm adding it here so you can read what we've done this year.

We have experienced a very challenging year that has allowed our faith and trust to be tested and affirmed. Rex was one of the many who were laid off from Bank of America in February and after numerous interviews is still looking for his next position. We are confident that he will not have to wait much longer. In the meantime, we are being provided for day by day and were able to spend the entire summer together visiting family and going to the pool.
Madeline, our 8 year old third grader, debuted her singing talent with a solo in our children’s choir Christmas musical. She is doing well in school and is looking forward to softball season in the spring.
Kenan, our adorable and active 2 year old, celebrated his first Forever Family anniversary with us and has finally started talking. He continues to bring so much joy to our lives and to all he meets.
Traci remains active as a room mom and volunteer at church. She had many singing engagements with her women’s ensemble, One Voice, and already has the calendar filling up for next year.
Please keep us in your prayers as we enter a new year and
visit our family blog for all the latest updates:
www.thepresent-backesfamily.blogspot.com

Love – Rex, Traci, Madeline and Kenan

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