Jill

Today was Jill's birthday.

We let the birthday person choose the meal they want (or the restaurant to go to). Jill ordered hoagies with various deli meats, sun chips, and for dessert, cream puff dessert (recipe at end of post). Mom also brought these delicious beet eggs. YUM! We don't find them in Kansas so much, but my mom's side of the family from Ohio had them lots. They are a Swiss thing.

Here are some old family photos. This first one is just shortly after Jill was born.

On the night Jill was born, Al's parents drove up from Pretty Prairie and with the bad weather, it took them longer than usual. It snowed that night and also it was tornadic. Crazy Kansas weather. My parents were living in Japan and after she was born, we called them. Since it was the middle of the night here, it was daytime there. In those days it was very expensive to make international phone calls so we didn't talk long, but they were able to listen to Jill's little cry. It made them cry to have to miss out. I'm so glad they are a part of Jill's life now and are around for their great-grandchildren.

Josh needed extra loves that day I guess. Newborns can take a lot of a mommy's time and we have to remember to give the older ones time too.

I love this picture of Al. He used to hold her while vacuuming. She loved it.

Looking at these old apartment pictures at Cherry Hills Apartments I just laugh. Gag, huh? But it was such a provision for us. It was where I met a dear Japanese friend of mine who also had children close in age. Even though she is back in Japan, we still keep in touch. We were dirt poor, with Al getting his master's and we lived on love. Ha ha!

I miscarried 3 months before I got pregnant with Jill. Just to think that if I hadn't, Jill would not be here. But God had plans for her. What a blessing she has been to us!! He knew all about her even before she was born.

From "The Promise" by Robert Morgan -
Before you were born:
When God called the prophet Jeremiah, He told him, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

Isaiah 49:1b says, "Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth He has made mention of my name:

The apostle Paul said, "God...separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace" Galations 1:15

The psalmist said, "You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book." Psalm 139:15-16

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Cream Puff Dessert
Boil 1 cup water and 1/2 cup butter. Add 1 cup flour. Cool. Add 4 eggs, one at a time. Mix well. Spread in 9x13 pan (I spray it with Pam first) Bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees.
2 pkg instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 pkg cream cheese, softenend
Mix together well. Spread on cooled crust. Cover with cool whip.