Pumpkin Seeds

I Like to decorate with pumpkins through Thanksgiving. So, the day after thanksgiving this year we got rid of our pumpkin, but not before we made some roasted pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin seeds are actually quite nutritious. They are rich in amino acids, high in protein and full of zinc. They also have a bit of fiber if eaten with the shell on.
First you clean the seeds out of the pumpkin and rinse them off. Once they are all clean, you can put them on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven at 300* for about 10 minutes.

Once they have been dried, that is when you add the seasoning. What ever seasonings you like, we just happened to use my Mom's recipe, she made them each year when I was little after we carved our pumpkins for Halloween.

1/2 T worchestershire sauce
1/2 T butter (we used olive oil)
1/2 T Garlic Salt

(the original recipe actually calls for garlic salt, seasonal salt, and celery salt, but I think that is a little much, so we just used some garlic salt for some salty flavor)

We also added about 1 Tablespoon of water as well.

I just poured the seasoning mixture on the pans with the dried pumpkin seeds and mixed them there.

Then we baked them for another 45 minutes, I would however say to only do about 35-40 mins, since ours ended up a little more 'burnt' then I would have liked! ha!

Also, this is what Phil thought of having the pumpkin in the house, rather than on the front porch.

Our Thanksgiving

Famillies Supporting Adoption

On our sidebar, there is a button that will lead you to an awesome site!



In their profile, it states, "Families Supporting Adoption is an organization sponsored by LDS Family Services which advocates a positive view of adoption and provides support to birth parents, adoptive families and all friends of adoption."

This site is filled with facts, articles, links to other adoption websites, stories, examples of adoption, tid-bits to help those that are hoping to adopt, a section that is especially dedicated to birth parents, links to the local FSA Chapters in other areas, and so much more.

This site is an awesome resource and we love it because of it's ability to advocate a positive view of adoption.

Go Cougars!

One of the many perks of Cal's job is that we got tickets to the BYU game!

As soon as we got there we were treated to a lunch in the Cougar Club Tent.
They served us plenty of great eats including a chocolate and a caramel fountain.

It was such a chilly day, but it was so fun to get to sit and enjoy the game and the atmosphere at the stadium.

We played Airforce and we won.




We had such a fun Saturday afternoon enjoying the chilly fall air, the delicious food, the awesome seats we had, and of course the win!

It's about Love

When we started telling people, and even now when we tell people that we are hoping to adopt, they have questions.

They wonder how it works, when will we get a baby, how will we get a baby, what is the process like, what about open adoption, what agency are we working with, will the baby come from Utah, etc.

When we started this process we had the same questions. We wondered the exact same things that we get asked now.

We love to talk about adoption, and we love to answer any questions too.

On the It's about Love website, there is a really neat section that explains things beautifully. This section of the website is kind of geared toward Birth Mothers and Birth Families.

I especially love the section on the Positive language of Adoption.

There are very common misconceptions about adoption, and this section helps dispell some of the myths, and explains how adoptions usually happen now.

I love that there are places like this available, and that they are so accessible and that they are so informative.

There are so many other sections on this website that answer many questions. It is so neat to just look around.

One of the things that we have learned throughout this process is that there is so much to learn, and there is always a place to find an answer.

Phil Loves Basketball

Most days of the week Cal plays baskball in the mornings, but on Thursday Nights he plays basketball in the evening.

He loves it.

He was headed out the door today and left his basketball behind.

Phil waited patiently by the door to see if he was going to come back and get it.

The second he realized that Cal wasn't coming back for a while, that basketball was all his!



I don't think Cal is going to be getting it back anytime soon!

'Little Jack'

We were just reminiscing about 'little Jack'. We came across these pictures and had a fun conversation about Jack's first words and how he said them with that darling inflection in his voice. We talked about how little he is in these pictures, and how big he is now.

We sure miss this guy.
And his little brother.
And his Mom.
And his Dad.

Patiently

This summer while attending an Adoption Conference, we heard mention of an Adoption CD entitled Chosen, it is filled with 'songs of hope' that are 'inspired by Adoption'. We bought it as we left the conference and I have listened to it almost every day since.

One of my favorite songs on this CD is entitled Patiently. I love the words and the music is so beautiful.

Sometimes it is hard to stop wondering, and thinking, and wishing.

Sometimes, it is hard to be patient.

But you know what?

Heavenly Father has a plan. And all we can do is trust in the timing of his plan.

And be patient.

Patiently
Words and Music by Tyler Castleton and Staci Peters

Pacing in the cell of my expectations
I wring my hands and count the sands of time.
So many things I thought would be
Haven't found their way to me
Still I believe
One day I'll see

All that's been promised
All Heaven offers
Everything I could ever need
If not today
Then surely tomorrow
If I can keep the faith
If only I can wait
Patiently

Step by step I'm climbing up this mountain
Some days I fight just to hold my ground.
Two steps forward, one step back
I can't lose time, and I can't lose track
Of the perfect plan
Of Who I am

All that's been promised
All Heaven offers
Everything I could ever need
If not today then surely tomorrow
If I can keep the faith
If only I can wait

For things to run their course
The timing is the Lord's and only
He knows what's in store
And all that's been promised
All heaven offers
Everything I could ever need
If not today then surely tomorrow
If I can keep the faith,
If only I can wait

For all that's been promised
All Heaven offers
Everything I could ever need.

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month.

We have strong testimonies of adoption and want to share a few adoption-esque thoughts, quotes, songs, info, etc. throughout the month.

We love adoption.

One of the best ways that Cal and I like to describe how adoption makes us feel is peaceful.

After months and months of feeling helpless, I remember the extreme peace that came over us when we made our decision to adopt.

Peace. Pure and simple, peace.

Although our little family is still Cal and I, and we have not been part of an adoption story yet, we still have such a love for this process, and will be sharing our love for adoption throughout this month.