A Walk through the Garden

I promise you. We are still alive. And doing very well! We didn't mean to desert you, but life happens sometimes.
We've been so busy.
Babysitting.
    Playing in the church band.
          Swimming.
                Laundry. (Which takes awhile because the dryer broke.)
                     Going to lots of cook outs. 
And of course gardening.
       Lots and lots of gardening.

(I decided not to edit any of these)

 I love our garden. It is so peaceful and full of life.

  The golden hour is made all the more beautiful as the blooming flowers take in the light.

              

 There is a dug out, worn out, foot path, weaving between the beds.  

                            But I still almost get lost.

It's a good lost. Lost in the green. Lost in the dirt.

 And Oh! the feeling you get after a long day of hard work in the sunshine!

                   And being able to see the fruit of your labor!

 "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."

                               -Audrey Hepburn

 "The earth has music for those who listen." 

                   -Shakespeare

 

 I admit. There are weeds. But the weeds are also beautiful.

      

 "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."

         -Van Gogh

       

The Fourth Day of the Seventh Month

I hope you all had a wonderful, safe Independence Day! I know I sure did! 

   It was a fun, delicious, bright day.

To start the day, we ate patriotic pancakes. Sourdough pancakes. I didn't get a picture though. If you know anything about me, you know I am not a morning person. Meaning I just didn't feel like it...

 Later we went to the creek, had a little picnic lunch and then splashed around for a bit.
Gabe and Dad also enjoyed catching craw-dads.

 When we finally went back home it was dinner time, so we started up a fire. We ate all natural, uncured, pure beef hot dogs, wrapped in equally healthy pepperonis (that's what I'm talking about!), watermelon, potato salad, smoothie and for dessert we had chocolate ice cream floats and of course, s'mores!

 Our little camp site.

 Afterward, Layla played us some campfire tunes...

You all know what happens next...

 FiReWoRkS!!

 I am so happy with how all the pictures came out. I'd been preparing for awhile. 

 Sparklers and Roman candles...

 Mom's sparkler looks like an eye!

Layla managed to do a star...


It was a blast. All of it. The whole day.
I am so thankful for our Independence and Freedom. Everyday I think, and pray, for those who have to hide their love for Jesus and go underground just to sing praises to Him. We are very, very blessed to live in this country. To be able to be bold without fear and love Him without hiding it.
Anyway, it was just a really good day and no one got hurt (except for just a few minor burns...).

How was your 4th of July?
Did you do anything special? Get any amazing shots?

Love,
Hagen

Recipe~ Creamy Coconut Macaroons

Here is a taste-bud-popping recipe, as promised! 
 

-Creamy Coconut Macaroons-

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 Tbls cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup honey

4 eggs

1/2 tsp baking powder

3 Tbls coconut flour

1 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips

2 Tbls coconut oil 

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and honey.
2. Add in the eggs, one at a time.
3. Sift together the coconut flour and baking powder, and stir in. Make sure you don't over mix!

4. Drop batter by tablespoon fulls onto a lightly greased pan and bake at 350* for 12- 15 minutes. While cookies are baking, put remaining batter in fridge. 
5. While cookies are baking, melt together the chocolate and oil in a double boiler.
6.  Let cookies cool in the fridge before dipping.
7. Dip cookies in chocolate one by one. Place the dipped cookies upside down on a sheet, and place in the freezer for ten minutes.
8. Enjoy! Store cookies in the fridge. Makes about 36 macaroons. 

The sun started melting the chocolate, as you can see. Being sun-kissed made them taste even better!
These macaroons are so simple, I think the best part is that they are gluten and sugar free. 

Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!
Bake on,
Layla

A Trip to the Beach

We now live 30 minutes from the beach....

I am so excited about this simple fact!

Yet this fact really isn't that simple...
The water, the waves, the sand, the shells, 
the seagulls...

Any way, sorry to ramble... 

Yesterday we took a trip to Surfside beach!

It was kinda chilly so we just got our feet wet...

But it was so pretty!!

Olivia was so cute in her little sun dress!

Shell...

If only her beautiful blue eyes were open!

  
It was so beautiful... 
A walk down the beach is so refreshing!
I can't wait until it is warm enough to actually swim! I am in hopes to put a little video together. I got quite a bit of footage while we were there. :) 

Well, all for now! I hope you enjoyed this post!
Blessings, Hagen   

 

RVing (ar-vee-eeng)

Yee- Haw,

 we made it to Texas! 

We put together a little video of our first RV adventure...

We didn't get much footage the first day because we were tuckered out from all of the cleaning that had to be done!

We are starting to get the hang of RV living, and it's not too bad! Once we get everything set up and organized, we plan to do a little video tour, and show you how we do things.

The Lord had His hand through this whole experience and provided for us the whole time, and He still is!

Thank you everyone for your prayers!

Blessings,

Layla & Hagen

 

   

Winds of Change...

Sometimes the Lord brings things in our lives that we don't fully understand. Sometimes He wants us to step out for Him in ways we ourselves don't see fit. But if we allow ourselves to be used through Him, we will be blessed far greater than if we never moved out of our comfort zone at all.

Well, we just moved out of our comfort zone, literally! We have sold all of our animals (except for Charlie and Mimzie, of course), gave/sold practically all of our furniture, we are renting out our home, we bought a 32 foot RV, and are living in it! And.... we are Texas bound!

This is why we haven't done any posts in forever. We weren't ignoring you if that's what you think... we were just moving, that's all! We hope to do more posts to get you caught up on our lives, because seriously, there's a lot to catch up on! 

We hope everyone is doing well!
How is the Lord moving in your life?
Blessings,
Layla & Hagen 
 
   

  

I ♥ Thursday {No. 5 & 6}

Hello Y'all!

We are going to get you caught up on what we have been loving for the past 2 weeks...

 

Layla's ♥'s

 Last week I was loving all the sunshine, because you know...

 ... sunshine is good!

 

Homemade chicken and rice soup, to help get over this stomach bug.

 

Yes, that's what I do...

 

I adore this outfit, the lace, the floral pattern, and the full skirt. It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, which I have been loving, also! 

 

 This has been one of my favorite songs/videos this winter!

 Hagen's ♥'s

 I have been loving my camera....

I use this for all my pictures.

   Sourdough pancakes are so delicious!

      Especially with homemade blueberry syrup!       

I have been making them a lot! :)

 I LOVE COCOA POWDER!! 

I sure do love my dear kitty, Mimzy!

  I love this shirt re-fashion! 

I really want to do this!

 Well I hope you liked seeing all of our ♥'s!

What are you ♥ing?

Love,

Layla & Hagen

!!!!!!!!!