The Blessing of Waiting...

... while we wait for our little blessing. 

We are now past the point in pregnancy that we were with Eva. We really don't know what it is like to be 39 weeks, 3 days or beyond.  But we can rest easy because God has the date and time already picked out for Baby Girl Hallas #2. 

When we were waiting to become pregnant with Eva, I often had to remind myself that there IS blessing in waiting. In fact, if God gave us everything we wanted exactly when we wanted, we would miss out on so many blessings that our lives would be dull. 

Waiting allows us to be productive. 

Waiting allows us to be excited in anticipation.

Waiting often provides protection of our emotions. 

Waiting requires self-discipline. 

Waiting helps us mature. 

Waiting allows us to cling to our Sovereign Lord. 

I will use this current gift of waiting to practice patience. I want to see and appreciate all that the Lord has in store for us. If I choose not to be content with this waiting period, I might miss out on the true blessings. 

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

-2 Peter 3:9

We've discovered Play-Doh

I can't believe we are there already but we are. Eva can play with Play-Doh. Her attention span for it is about 5-10 minutes but I think that is pretty good. She still likes rolling it in her hands and flattening it out.

Using cookie cutters with the Play-Doh.

My grandma used to use phonebooks
as booster seats for us. This seemed to
fit the bill today. 

This was when I said, "Smile and show Mommy your Play-Doh."
Obviously, not willing to deviate from the task-at-hand.

So, the traditional store-bought playdough is easy to come by but there are a few homemade recipes out there that do the trick, too.
This is one like my mom used to make for us kids:

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• Food coloring
• Saucepan
• 1 cup flour

Directions

1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
2. Remove from heat and add flour.
3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
4. Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.

My wonderful friend, Ruth, who spends two days-a-week with Eva, made something similar to this recipe for our little girl one week.

1 cup oatmeal baby cereal (or rice cereal for a gluten-free option)
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup apple sauce (one packet of the squeezable kind)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Food coloring of choice

Mix the baby cereal and cornstarch together well. Add in the apple sauce, vegetable oil, and food coloring and knead with hands until the dough is a thick, moldable consistency resembling play dough. Repeat for additional colors. Dough can be refrigerated when not being used for up to 4 days. Simply microwave it for approximately 15 seconds or however long to warm it up to where it is moldable.