la Casa de Chen

2012-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Since I'm so behind on everything, let's see if I can hit the high points of the past TWO months since I updated last.

Sam is working! He is now a property claims adjustor for a major insurance company and is in training. He likes it. It's not his dream job, but it's not too far removed from construction, and it's yet another skill to add to his toolbelt. This will be good for a few years until he gets bored with it or can get into his dream job. He's also learning to read and write Chinese, to go with his verbal fluency.

I am selling Premier jewelry, and just went to my first regional Rally, and it is very exciting. I love it, but am struggling to figure out how to manage a small business and manage a small home with small children. One of the things I enjoy about it most is that I get to accessorize, it has emboldened me to chop my hair off and get a super cute cut (which I had been looking at for a year, literally), and it helps me focus on something outside of my little world. My friends say I've taken the "Jewelry Lady" thing and run with it, becoming a little fashionista. I'm glad. I am personally pretty tired of wondering whether I look like I just rolled out of bed. But now I have discovered the power of bold earrings to make me feel like I can take on the world. Really. Try it.

I've also got a smart phone. It's a droid. It makes me happy. It also has a Bible app, and since Jan 1 I have been reading the "One Year Bible" plan. So far I have used it every day (except one, but I caught up the next day, so it's almost the same). It has helped me. I think. I don't know; maybe you should ask Sam if it has helped me. But it's been almost 3 weeks, so it's close to being a habit. Besides, it reminds me automatically.

Lizzie is potty training. Like, we took away her diapers yesterday. She has done as well as can be expected for a 31-month-old who decided the day before we started that she wanted to wear underwear. We went that afternoon to Target and got her about 2 dozen pairs of pretty underwear, which she has made some great use of. She forgets to tell me when she has to go, so I've done a lot of, "Oh! you're peeing! Let's go!" and picking her up and running to the potty so she can finish on the toilet and still get an m&m. She did announce that she had to go on the potty before she went #2 (thank the Lord!), and she did it. I couldn't have been more proud of her. She called my dad ("Papa") to tell him, because she was so proud of herself.

Lizzie is growing up and being such a wonderful sister. When she greets anyone, even on the phone--like when she called my dad--she says, "I have a baby sister. It's Karis." (Of course, it comes out like "I ha' a bay-ee sissoh. It's Tay-yiss." She hugs her and loves her. She also pushes her and takes her toys away, but there haven't been any major mishaps from her lack of impulse control. Yet.

Lizzie has sweet conversations. When someone asks her, "how are you?" she answers, "I'm doing fine." That cracks me up. Every time.
Her favorite show is still Wonder Pets, and turtle Tuck is her favorite. She says so. "Do nyou want to watz my favwit so wiff me? Do nyou want to watz Wunner Pets? Tut is my favwit." She has recently caught on to liking Busytown Mysteries. She giggles through the whole opening song.

She has learned that if there are monsters in her room, she can tell them to "Go away, in Desus name." That is a big deal. We've been dealing with monsters quite a bit lately, and I'm not sure if it's got to do with shows she's watched, but we have had a few instances when we have had to have some intense prayer when tucking her in, and have seen profound changes in her demeanor afterward. It actually came to a head more when we had just finished doing a Christmas advent project, The Truth in the Tinsel (highly recommended!), which involved Bible reading, discussion, and of course, a preschoool craft.
Related to the Christmas project, Lizzie's favorite thing to ask for is, "I want to do a paff" which means, in Lizzie-speak, a craft. Usually I can get away with letting her go to town with a glue stick and construction paper, but sometimes she requires a little more focused attention or guidance.

Karis is 6-1/2 months old, crawling, pulling up to stand, sitting without assistance, and beginning to cruise. Seriously, when she wakes up in her bed, she doesn't lie there, she is sitting upright within 2 seconds, and trying to grab the edges to stand. I am not ready for this. I have not been ready for this. But she doesn't have any teeth yet. And she hates baby food or any kind of puree or mush, while she loves her mum-mums and puffs and anything she can grab hold of, put in her mouth, roll around with her tongue, and swallow. Like green beans, roasted squash, and my oatmeal. She's a grabber. She has pulled more bowls and plates full of food off the table while in our arms than I can count.

Karis is a funny kid. She smiles with all her might. She sounds like a duck when she laughs. No, seriously. Not even like a cartoon duck, but a full Mallard honk. Karis loves to give kisses; big, open-mouth kisses, on the mouth. It makes her laugh. She cuddles. She wants to hold your finger while she falls asleep. She wakes up at least three times a night, and wants to nurse every 3 hours through the day, like she's a newborn. I hope it's just a growth spurt, because I can't keep that up. She is still in love with her pacifier, but has lately been using it as a chew toy more.

And.... Karis just squawked from her bed. It's time to start the day with the kiddos. Day 2 of potty training, here we come!

Lizzie's Photo Spree

2011-11-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Once in a while--like, most days--Lizzie commandeers the digital camera.

Because she had been mainly taking pictures of her own chin, I decided to let her have some real fun with it and show her how to find a subject and take real photographs. The following are photos taken from the perspective of a 29 month old budding photographer.

There are two things that amuse me about her pictures: The first is that sometimes she takes some pretty good pictures (I have not done a thing to any of these). Secondly, I love seeing what she thinks is worth a picture.

Maximus

Max, walking away

Max, going into the crate

Max, in the crate

Max, with blinding white light

Max, again

Getting ready to go to the store

Cheesing

My shoes; I love those shoes

Probably tying my shoes

Up! I must have walked away.

Leo, walking away

That's OK, I'll take a picture of the table.

Booster chair!


High chair!

Refrigerator!

Pantry door!


Shopping cart and purse!

"green rocking chair"

the ceiling!

Daddy and Karis!

Lady!

Scaredy-cat Leo!

Lamp!

MagnaDoodle!

Blanket crumpled on the chair!

Piano bench and Black Friday ad and cup!

Toys in shopping cart!

Mommy getting ready for Thanksgiving and wearing jeans that shouldn't be worn in public!

Truck keys, and oatmeal box!

Dirty diapers!

The table!

A chair on the deck!

Daddy's head and the ceiling!

The Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The couch!

Dog food!

Dog water!

Dog food!

Dog eating dog food!


Baby sister!

Whew! I'm tired, just writing all the captions with enthusiasm. There's no way I could ever be a two year old.

Embarrassingly Easy Apple Turnovers

2011-11-16T16:10:00.001-05:00

Ridiculously, embarrassingly easy Apple Turnovers

It's officially Fall, with bright leaves, cool air, and rain. This prompts my urge to bake things. It's a mixed blessing, because I would much rather try my hand at some odd confection at the spur of the moment than make a meal that will feed my family. Or I get the urge, as I did last night, to make "something to do with apples" after 9 PM.

So, without a real plan, I started peeling and slicing 2 Granny Smith apples, while helping Lizzie finish her bedtime snack. Then I dug out some rock-hard raisins and added them to the bowl of apples. Then I threw them in a small saucepan, and gave Lizzie her toothbrush. It needed a little liquid--apple juice. Probably a quarter cup. And some spices. Cinnamon. A tiny shake of cloves. It smelled too much like apple sauce, so in goes a couple heaping spoonfuls of brown sugar. I turned on the heat, stirred it so the raisins were in the juice, and put Liz to bed. I kept it low, and stirred a few more times, until the apples were pretty tender - starting to look slightly transparent. I added a spoonful of cornstarch because it seemed a little too runny. Stirred and cooked some more.

Apple Turnover Filling

When the apples were done, I poured them into a bowl in the fridge because it was late and I didn't know what else to do with them. Then I browsed cookbooks for things to put apple into. I didn't have enough apples to make a pie, so I had to adapt everything. Fortunately, I had a prepared pie crust in the refrigerator, awaiting some noble purpose. I found it.

This morning a 2 year old jumped on me and demanded that I "det up" and "pum" with her into the "yiving woom." Since I was up, and in the living room, and the coffee was starting, I decided it was time to finish my apple experiment.

I pulled the pie crust out of the fridge and tended to diapers and coffee while it softened on the counter. I preheated the oven to 425 F, and laid out a couple sheets of waxed paper and unrolled the pie crust. Then I cut it into 4 equal quarters, and spread a dollop of apple stuff in the middle of each quarter. I beat an egg and brushed it onto one straight edge and half the curved edge of the pie crust, then folded one side over the apple, and used the prongs of a fork to seal the crust edges together with the egg wash. Once they were all folded over and closed up, I brushed them with the egg, then sprinkled them with a pinch of white sugar and a dash of cinnamon, to make them look perty. I slid them onto an ungreased cookie sheet and into the oven they went, for almost 15 minutes, until they just started to get browned. Then I turned the oven down to 350 F and baked them for just another 10 minutes, until they were golden and crispy.


Breakfast? Works for me.

Isn't that easy? Way too easy. And it is completely delicious.

Adapted from the Joy of Cooking, here is a ridiculously easy Apple Turnover recipe:

(measurements are approximate)

2 baking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/4 c raisins
2 to 4 Tbsp apple juice (could use any fruit juice or water)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch cloves
1/2 to 1 tsp corn starch
2 prepared pie crusts
1 egg, beaten in small bowl
(additional sugar & cinnamon, optional)

Combine everything but corn starch, pie crusts, and egg in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring juice to a boil, then simmer until apples are tender and raisins are plump. About 10-20 min.
Add corn starch, stir until dissolved.
Let apple filling cool.
Unroll pie crusts and cut into quarters. Place a large spoonful of filling onto each crust quarter, then brush 1/2" with egg wash, and fold over, sealing crust by pressing edges with the tines of a fork.
Brush egg wash over the top of the turnovers. Sprinkle with a pinch of sugar and cinnamon, and place on an ungreased baking sheet at least 1" apart.
Bake at 425F for 12-15 min, until slightly browned. Reduce heat to 350F and continue to bake until turnovers are browned and crisp.
Remove from oven and serve warm. Ice cream wouldn't hurt.

(linked to WFMW here)

So, yeah.

2011-11-07T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hi! It's been approximately forever since I've posted. I don't have to explain, since of course, I have a 2 year old, and a 4 month old at home, who sleep on alternating schedules. That's pretty much all I have to say. If you get it, great, and if you don't, this is probably not the blog for you.

So, since I last posted, Karis has gone from being a newborn who barely smiled, to a baby who has a definite personality, grins with her whole being, coughs for attention (yes, really), rolls over in both directions (back to tummy and tummy to back), and actually can scoot a couple of inches along the floor before she gets really really mad. Today she had her 4 month checkup (and shots), and tipped the scale at 13-1/2 lbs and 24-1/2 inches. I'm pretty sure Lizzie was that size when she turned 12 months. Well, Liz only weighs 27 lbs now at nearly 2-1/2 years old. Yeah.

Lizzie, of course, is a daily joy and challenge. She is hilarious. Sam and I used to say "I can't wait until we can reason with her." Little did we know that it works both ways: Now she reasons with us. It kind of scares us that we have to invent new ways of outsmarting her. Do you know what this means? She is smarter than both of us combined. Just today I posted this on Facebook:
I was just watching Lizzie, who was happily playing with her Duplos, and thinking about how good she's being. Without looking at me, she said, "I'm a bossy girl." (Except, she can't say the G, R, or L sounds, so it sounds more like "duwuw"). I didn't quite understand her at first, then she said it again, and added, "I'm bossing you awound." Yep, a bossy girl.

Where do they get this stuff?
She is addicted to watching Wonder Pets on Netflix (much better than Yo Gabba Gabba), a big help with Karis, and full of energy that I wish were transferable.

Sam is working part time still. He was unfortunately laid off from the full time internship in August, so ... that's not so great. There are few options he's looking into, and we're praying one of them works out.

I'm working part time now, too! I started selling Premier Designs Jewelry. I actuallt signed up in June, but didn't do much of anything until September. I really enjoy it, and expect that once I really get this little business rolling, it should really help our monthly cash flow.

Well, it's time to make dinner, and both girls are up. I'll be a better blogger one of these days.

Karis' Birth Story in Installments - Part 2

2011-08-19T09:48:00.001-04:00

[Wow, time is flying. It's already the next Wednesday, and Karis is 6 weeks old. She smiles. She is really cute. See?

Continuing on.... Part 1 is here.]

Since this could be for real, we started to time and write down contractions. I got up, washed my face, got dressed, and started to gather things to pack for the hospital. I think I ate something, and remember drinking a Gatorade.

6:37    41 seconds
6:40    1 min 13 sec
6:45 39 sec
6:48    33 sec
6:51    54 sec
6:54    40 sec
6:59    46 sec
7:01    40 sec
7:03    52 sec
7:06    1 min 2 sec

As you can see, things were getting more intense. That's when we stopped timing, and kicked into high gear.
I called the doctor, I called my mom. I talked to the doctor, who said he'd let the hospital know to expect me; Sam talked to my mom, since I was busy throwing up my Gatorade off the back deck. They would come to the house right away, to stay with Lizzie, who was still sleeping.

[Here it is Friday morning. Coffee is consumed. Everyone else is sleeping. Sam has been laid off again. That's another story.]

We scurried around getting everything together - at least I had made a list of things to bring to the hospital, and put together a pile in the corner of the room for when it was "time". Contractions were rough. They were all in my back. It was not the way I wanted to have contractions. I remember having to hurry to try to pack something between contractions, because I once one started, I couldn't concentrate on anything else, and probably the most frequently said phrase was, "ohhhhhh, Jesus help me." I spent a lot of time on all fours. I barked instructions to Sam, who was trying to make sure everything was in order for us to leave: "Don't forget the toothbrushes. ... Where's the phone charger? ... There are cold water bottles in the fridge." If you asked me how it was going, I would have told you that everyone was moving way too slowly and we needed to be at the hospital at that very moment.

A little before 8 AM my parents arrived, and shortly afterward Lizzie woke up. Fortunately we had been prepping her for when her grandparents would stay with her, so that we could go to the hospital and bring home baby Karis. She hung out with my mom while we finished packing, and she watched me wide eyed when I got on the floor and moaned my way through contractions. I was trying not to worry her, but it's kind of hard to not look like you're uncomfortable in a contraction. (A couple weeks later, she copied me, getting on all fours and moaning. Then she looked up at me proudly, "mama! push baby out!" I just stared at her. What the heck?!) We finally gave Lizzie hugs and kisses, and made it out the door. I had 2 contractions before we even got out of the driveway. Being strapped into the front seat was not going to be fun.

On the way out I had enough focus to send a text to Steph, "going to hospital" ... She replied asking if I was able to talk; my answer, "no talk. you can text the word out." I was not my usual text-chatty self. Within minutes she was also in her car and ready to meet us at the hospital.

We live only about 20 minutes from the hospital, but it being 8 AM on a weekday, we were concerned about traffic. After being stopped at one red light, we prayed earnestly for green lights all the rest of the way. Praise God, the prayer was answered! We rolled all the way there, not having to stop until we got to the hospital parking lot! Sam ran in to get a wheel chair (he is so smart - I never would have thought of that, and would have tried to crawl my way in the double doors). Check-in went smoothly, even though I spent half of it with my head on the counter.

Then they wheeled me back to a room to check my progress. It was no later than 8:30 AM. Guess what? I was already to 5 cm! I laughed in relief. Half way there, and we just got to the hospital! I was unbelievably grateful, and so glad I didn't have to be set up with an IV for antibiotics for Group B Strep like last time. They asked me about my preferences in pain management, and I told them I wanted to try for all natural, but like last time I was not opposed to having something to help.

I don't remember when Steph showed up, but we were hardly there before she came in and started making herself useful. In fact, I think she was even there when they were trying to get the IV set up (for the just in case). Our only complaint in the whole hospital experience was the tech who tried to place my IV. She basically did a terrible job, and even when I was holding my hand absolutely still, and I don't have hard veins to get, she was moving the needle all around and accusing me of moving. Are you kidding? I'm a woman in labor having intense contractions; even if I do move--which I didn't--that's no excuse for doing a crappy job and having to try a second time. Sam was ready to throw her out and request someone else if she didn't get it right. After that, everything went smoothly and every other nurse and tech was awesome.

My midwife showed up, encouraged me, and went back to her office (only a couple minutes away). I had had an appointment for an ultrasound scheduled for that afternoon, and I remember telling her, "You can let the girls in the office know I won't make it in later." She laughed. While I wasn't in contractions, I actually was in a pretty good mood. I laughed. Sam talked to the nurses, asking loads of questions. Steph gave me sips of water--her chilled Dasani, even--and pushed my hair out of my face. She sent text updates to our small group, and had called our pastor to let him know what was going down. I remember her asking me if I wanted her to post a facebook update, but then we got interrupted and it didn't happen.

I spent nearly the whole time backwards on the bed, leaning against the raised head of the bed. When I had back labor with Lizzie, nothing seemed to help except lying on my side and having Sam press with all his might on the small of my back. This time pressure didn't seem to make it better, but I kept wanting Sam to keep his hand on my back where the contractions were. The warmth of his hand made them better. I would occasionally tell him to move his hand to one spot or another, but I never wanted him to apply pressure on my back.

Around 10 AM, the nurse decided to check me, and as I was moving onto my back I was mentally running through my options. If I had not progressed very far, if I were only at a 6 or a 7, I definitely wanted some kind of pain relief. As well as it was going, I was not really enjoying the process. But it felt kind of different when the nurse checked, and I was elated (well, as elated as I could be) when she said, "You're doing great. You're to 9 centimeters!" I definitely got a second wind at that point--we're almost there! They called the midwife, who arrived within minutes and checked me again. She said there was a little bit left to go, but that I could push at will, since I was starting to feel pressure.

So there I was, laying on my left side, thinking, not 'I'm going to have a baby in a few minutes,' or 'I get to meet Karis soon,' but 'I don't want to tear again,' and 'In a few minutes, I won't be pregnant anymore!' I felt the burn and was a little afraid to push, but pushed a little at a time, really just doing what I felt was natural. I only pushed during contractions, resting between them. About 15 minutes of slow and steady pushing later, at 10:20 AM, Karis Michelle was born. Sam said that as soon as her head came out, they checked her neck for the cord, and suctioned her mouth and nose. Then she gave out a good and loud wail and out she came. There was no tearing, just "a surface scratch" that needed no stitches. Sam got to cut the cord after a few minutes, and she latched on to nurse perfectly.

She weighed in at 7 lbs, 2 oz, and 19" long. I think. We have it written down somewhere, thankfully. Her eyes were a dark, dark color, and it took hours of staring at her to realize that they were a dark blue. At this point, now that she is 6 weeks old, her eyes are a dark gray, sometimes looking like a dark hazel. It's still a mystery what color her eyes will end up.

Within just a few minutes, we were all oohing and ahhing and cuddling the newest baby. We were moved to a recovery room on the 2nd floor, and Steph helped us settle in, unpacking some of the bags and setting bags and shoes in the mini closet and arranging things on the side table.

Karis' first visitors were our pastor, Brother John, and James who was meeting with him when Steph called him to let him know the news. Then Brent came and stayed for a couple of hours. My parents came with Lizzie in the afternoon, and got to meet her. Scott came a few hours later, and so did Becky, who is expecting a girl in November. Becky brought us Five Guys burgers and fries. Becky is awesome.

Karis is a wonderful baby so far. She eats well, sleeps well, burps well, poops well. And she is full of rolls and chubbiness. The Lord knows that if you have a 2 year old, you need to have an easy baby. We are so grateful that, while challenging at times, every day has been so full of grace.

[Linking up with Home Sanctuary's Company Girl Coffee. Finally.] :-)

Karis' birth story in installments - part 1

2011-08-10T22:39:00.001-04:00

Good morning. It's after 8 AM, I am half done with my coffee, Karis has been fed and is napping on the Boppy next to me on the couch, and Lizzie is actually still in bed - the first time she has "slept in" past 7:30 in several weeks. So, since it has been a full month since Karis was born, it is high time for me to write her birth story.

July 3rd and 4th were the first two consecutive days that Sam did not have to work [Lizzie is up and thrilled to see that Karis is still living at our house this morning. I guess I spoke too soon.], so on the 3rd we focused on relaxing, and on the 4th, we got serious about getting prepared for the new addition. We had stowed all of the infant baby stuff in the attic above the garage, and needed to drag them out, wash them, and put them in their appropriate places. In order to access the attic, however, we needed to make room for the attic stairs to come down into the garage. The garage was actually somewhat perilous to try to walk through, because it was so full of crazy clutter and disorganization. So we spent several hours simply rearranging the garage and throwing away a lot of junk. Oh, and did I mention that it was well over 90 degrees and humid?

My 39 week pregnant self spent at least 4 hours in the garage, evaluating whether to keep or to toss, keeping Lizzie happy by coloring with highlighter markers we'd found in a box, and then rearranging things long after Sam and Lizzie went inside for a break and naps. I was highly motivated, and didn't want to lose any momentum. We were getting the stuff out of the attic, and we were getting ready for this baby.

Due to all the heat and all the activity, I was getting slightly dehydrated, so I did my best to keep drinking water and a Gatorade throughout the day. I was feeling kind of crampy, but that was surely due to doing so much and needing to drink more water. Surely.

Besides cleaning the garage, I also washed and dried all of our laundry (but did not put it away), washed most of the baby stuff. including the car seat cover, I made lunch and dinner and cleaned up both meals, changed the bed sheets, and got the guest room half-way ready for my parents to stay with Lizzie. I also wiped down the kitchen counter, scoured the grimy stovetop, and rearranged the spice cupboard (because that was clearly urgent). At some point I even started fussing at Sam because he was just relaxing on his day off, and I needed him to keep working. I was partially right, but I could have been nicer about it.

After all that, I finally showered and fell into bed around 12:30 a.m.. I was worn out and my back was hurting. Because of all that work, of course. Then I remember looking at the time on my cell phone at around 4:30, I had been awake for a little while with cramps in my lower back. They were not very relaxing, and I couldn't sleep between them. I stayed in bed, though, and didn't wake Sam up. If these were real contractions, I needed both of us to get as much rest as we could.

When Sam's alarm to go to work went off at 6:30, I had not gotten any more sleep, and I told him, "You might not be going to work today." The contractions were getting more and more uncomfortable.

[And I'm back. Coffee is long gone, but I'm debating whether to make a second cup. It is almost 3 in the afternoon, and both girls are napping. Well, I take that back; one girl is in her bed, singing to herself, and may or may not sleep; the other girl has been in her bed for a long time, and will likely wake up soon, starving. ... Yeah, like now. So much for that.]

[And I'm back again. I started writing that on Friday, and here it is Wednesday evening. More will come...]

Good morning, Lizzie

2011-07-27T08:49:00.000-04:00

[This is the transcript of exactly everything Lizzie has said since waking up and coming into the living room with me and Karis]

I'm sitting on the couch, with K propped on the Boppy, and the laptop in front of me.

"It's Baby Karis!
Awake now!"
Yes, she's awake now.

"Need her pacifier.
Got it.
Holding it,
In her hand."

Did you have a good sleep? "Yeah"

Pointing at K, then at me. "Need milk."

She already had milk. Now she's sitting here.
"Holdin it" (pacifier)
(K sneezes) "ha-too!"
"This is Lizzie's boppy." Can you share it with her, since you don't use it anymore? "Yeah."
"That's baby Karis!"
"Want some applesauce." You want applesauce? "No!"

(Looking at Karis' face) "I see one eye. I see two eyes! Like that!" (giggle)
(sniffing K's head) what are you doing? "Smelling her hair."
Max sniffs my cup of coffee. "Whoa, maximus, no! Silly cat."

(I smell unpleasant odors from both, so there are diaper changes all around.) Do you want me to change you first, or Karis first? "Karis." (She follows me into the other room while I change Karis, then sings while I change her.)

Pointing at a dried leaf fragment on the floor: "Not poop, just a leaf. Broken leaf."
Climbing into my lap after her diaper change: "This is my mother."

"Down! Two, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, down!"

"Puh puh peanut!" (Yes, Blues Clues taught us something!)
Do you want peanut butter on a graham cracker? "No."

(Sitting next to me.) "Sit down right here." (Then on arm of couch.) No, not there. "Fall down get hurt. Cry."

Pointing at 3 buttons (Publish / Save / Preview) on screen, "Mommy, Daddy, Lizzie."

I guess I will push the "Mommy" button now, to publish this.

Welcome Karis!

2011-07-14T09:28:00.002-04:00

She's here!

Karis Michelle was born on July 5, perfect and beautiful. She weighed 7 lbs, 2 oz at birth, and is a healthy and content baby.

Her name, Karis, means grace. (We pronounce it like 'care-iss,' not the way it sounds at the link, though.)

that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

Who wouldn't want to speak that over one's daughter? Not to mention, grace is much needed while we navigate this new adventure of parenting two girls.

Lizzie goes back and forth between adoring her baby sister ("bay-ee sisser") and acting up out of feeling displaced. It's a bit of a struggle to keep her on an even keel, but over all, she is doing well.

It is kind of a strange and wonderful thing to refer to them as "the girls." We have girls, plural.

The last week of being home has honestly been better than I expected (again, grace), and I am feeling great. Sleep has been rare, but we are getting what we need. Friends from church have been bringing meals and adorable outfits. We are blessed.

I'll do my best to share my birth story soon (it's a good one), but I did at least want to give an update. Lizzie is up and asking for a bagel, so I had better get it while Karis sleeps, and before Lizzie changes her mind.

(I'm linking with Alicia's Homemaking Try New Adventures, and Home Sanctuary's virtual Coffee with the Company Girls.)

Lizzie's 2nd Birthday {Top 10}

2011-06-21T11:25:00.002-04:00

We just had Lizzie's 2nd birthday party on Sunday. It was a blast!

Now that I have hosted 2 birthday parties for my little girl, I think I've learned a couple of things.

Here are my top 10 birthday party tips

1 - Plan more than 5 days in advance. As my due date approaches rapidly, I realized that the month of June would be gone before I knew it, and Lizzie had been looking forward to a birthday party for weeks. So at the last minute I talked to my family, wrote up invitations, and jumped into high gear on preparations.
*bonus: avoid planning a birthday party for the 37th week of your pregnancy. I won't say much more than this: hormones, exhaustion, irrationality, irritability, and a time constraint.

2 - Do choose a theme. Last year, Lizzie was into balloons, so the "theme" was balloons. It gives a direction for the party, even if it's not anything elaborate. This year, several months ago, I found these super cute Very Hungry Caterpillar invitations at Target on clearance. So for $1.48 I had my theme. And Lizzie was on a Very Hungry Caterpillar kick, so it worked perfectly.

3 - Don't plan your birthday party on a holiday. For some reason, people tend to not have 1-3 PM free on Father's Day. Go figure. I knew it was a risk, but I knew it was going to be the day that worked for my family, and if some friends could come too, all the better. The reality is that if everyone I'd invited could have come, we would never have had enough space. We definitely would have had enough food, though!

4 - Be realistic about time. Within a 2 hour birthday party for a two-year-old, there's enough time to eat, blow out candles, eat cake, open presents, and hand out favors. If you want to add games or crafts or other activities, give yourself a longer time frame, or don't count on feeding people a full meal.
*bonus: don't plan it during a toddler's naptime. Lizzie was getting so sleepy while opening presents, she was almost impossible to move her from one gift to the next. Of course, she also LOVED her gifts and wanted to spend an hour playing with each one. Again, be realistic about time.

5 - Get as much as possible done before the party. This party was lunch immediately after church, which meant that not only did we have to prepare for the party, I had to get myself and a slow-moving child out the door and presentable for church, all before 9:30 AM. Although a little bit of last minute preparation is inevitable, I didn't want to still be decorating or laying out food as guests arrived.
*bonus: pick up a couple of pizzas the night before, so you don't have to plan dinner the night before hosting a party, then have leftovers after the party. I had everything cleaned up and put away shortly after everyone left, and got to enjoy a clean house, and a refrigerator stuffed with leftovers.

the spread!
"and that night, he had a stomach ache."

6 - So, make lists--lots and lots of lists. I made a list of decorations and where they would go, a list of things to go in the favor bags, a list of things that needed to be done to the house, a grocery list, a "we forgot it at the grocery store so we have to go back" list, and a food list. The smartest thing I think I did was to make a map of the table layout, down to which tray would hold which food. It saved me many minutes of standing in the middle of the kitchen feeling confused.

7 - Ask someone else to help with pictures. While hostessing, tending to a busy toddler, and trying to eat herself, Mommy doesn't have time to take good pics. I mostly got a lot of poorly timed 'candid' shots. Fortunately, I did at least take pictures of the food, which I was kind of proud of.

8 - Apply a 'make your own' concept to foods for picky eaters (i.e., toddlers). We did a sandwich and fruit buffet, and cupcakes. Avoid the need for flatware. Use paper products so cleanup is a cinch.

Fact: multicolored clothes cover a multitude of stains

9 - Dress the birthday girl in multi-colored clothes, to hide the frosting dyed with half a bottle of artificial coloring. This was an accidental discovery, but I'm quite pleased with it.

10 - Enjoy the party! Engage your guests, hug your birthday girl, read a story, laugh!

Sam takes a minute to read Harry the Dirty Dog

Let some things slide; perfection is not realistic. It's a party for a two year old, for crying out loud. If you Yes, I ran out of time to assemble PB&J sandwiches for the folks who didn't want lunchmeat. Yes, I forgot to slice the plums. No, we didn't get to do the "beautiful butterfly" craft I had ready to go just in case there was a lull. No, I didn't get to make every decoration I had wanted to. But there comes a point where it is necessary to stop the prep and enjoy yourself and your guests and your child. I'm glad I managed to do that. It was a lovely party, Lizzie was beaming from all the attention and the fun, and a good time was had by all.

Happy birthday, beautiful Lizzie! You're the most amazing little girl I know.

So, about pregnancy

2011-06-16T23:40:00.001-04:00

36 weeks, 3 days. Almost full term. Almost done being pregnant for the second time. Almost ready.

On an online forum someone posed the question, "What will you miss most about being pregnant?"

Really? Nothing. There is not a thing that I will miss about being pregnant, except maybe having the option to choose approximately when I sleep. Once Lizzie came, I never looked back.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy feeling movement, or getting a little extra courtesy at the grocery store. It's just that being pregnant is all about the hopefulness of what is to come. It's like waiting for a seed to come up out of the ground. The germination process is not what it's about, and frankly, it's hardly the fun part. (Perhaps the reason I haven't written a whole lot about my pregnancy has something to do with the fact that I don't want to come across as a complainer. I like the end result of pregnancy: a child. I am just not a fan of pregnancy in and of itself. Or maybe I just don't like my pregnant self all that much.)

Feeling her roll and kick and punch me in the bladder is all well and good, but inspecting her little feet and having her pull my hair with her little tiny fingers are infinitely better. Seeing my belly move when she gets hiccups or suddenly decides to change position is nothing like what it will be to look in her big eyes. Hearing her heartbeat (or as Lizzie says, "heart beep") on the doppler every couple of weeks is fun and reassuring, but I can't wait to hear her actual sweet little voice.

Sorm Fopt

2011-06-15T23:03:00.000-04:00

I suppose you'll need a translation?

"S'orm Fopt" is the phonetic spelling of "storm stopped" in Lizzie-speak. We've just had a series of pretty intense thunderstorms blow through in the past few hours. At one point, when the trees were rocking and the dog was pacing, I told Lizzie that we would pray and ask Jesus to keep us safe in the storm. She had just gotten up from a nap and was still in that dazed, just-woke-up state. Her face brightened when I suggested we pray, because she gets "s'ared" when there is "tunner outside".

She likes to pray; she likes the story in her Baby's First Bible about Jesus being in the boat with his friends, and Jesus told the wind to stop blowing and the waves to be still, and Jesus could make the storm stop.

"Desus mate s'orm fop."

So we prayed. And the storm blew by much more quickly than I'd anticipated. Even minutes later on the radar on the weather update, there was a dip where there was less color over our area.

There were further waves of thunderstorm, but when Lizzie got scared as I tucked her into bed (it was quite an extended tucking in process) she asked me several times to pray: "Desus amen."

Because Desus mate s'orm go 'way. Because He likes to prove Himself to the little ones.

Lizzie's exclamations 5-23-11

2011-05-23T20:59:00.000-04:00

Today has been a fun one for Lizzie quotes.

I always think to myself that I will write down all the funny and cute and smart things Lizzie says, but usually forget to. I guess Facebook has its place in some way for recording some of these things, but it really doesn't count. Let's face it; once a status update becomes old news of 22 hours ago (or if you're really popular, 3 hours ago), it is never heard from again.

Today Lizzie counted to ten without any coaching or prompting. She was in her high chair, minding her own business while I was getting ready to clean her up from lunch (rather, her pre-nap "I'm hungry" stalling routine cheese sandwich), when she started counting her fingers. "Two, fwee, fwee..." I almost stopped listening because she usually gets stuck at "fwee" like a broken record. But to my great surprise, she kept going. "Fo', fy, siss," I couldn't help it, I interrupted. "Wow, Lizzie! You counted to six!" She grinned up at me, then went back to her fingers. "Se'en," then moved to her other hand to finish, "Eight, nine, ten!"

Ten fingers. So what if she thinks the first seven of them are on her right hand. But at least she has ten in total!

While in the bath tub tonight, Lizzie was splashing up a storm with her toys. Once the waves subsided, her toys were floating in a spiral.

She started to exclaim, "Ring around rosie! Ring around rosie!" (Except she can't say her "R"s yet, so it was more along the lines of "wing wound wosie," which is kind of cuter.)

A few minutes later, she had her drenched washcloth draped over her head, dripping water down her face, thus, "Waning on you!" (Raining on you!)

Yes, "You" equals "me" and "Me" equals "Mommy". 'Cause that's how it makes sense in her head.

Unofficially

2011-05-17T14:51:00.000-04:00

I took an unofficial break from pretty much all things blogs last week. I didn't write any. I only read a few (my Google reader had some 500 unread blogs that I sort of skimmed ~~marked as read~~ this past weekend). And I had a great week.

I've been getting up before 7 (most mornings) and having coffee, a good little quiet time, making something of a plan for the day, and usually doing a bit of exercise. Most mornings I can get all of this in before Lizzie wakes up. This is why I love it when my husband is on a routine that gets him up and out the door early in the morning, which also makes us ready to go to bed before midnight each night. All these things don't happen on a retail or unemployment schedule--or lack thereof.

Then during naptimes, I have been either getting in some reading or doing stuff around the house that needs to be done. Like de-cluttering. (Don't tell anyone but I actually borrowed and read through The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cleaning this week. I have 2 more weeks before I have to return it to the library, and I'm hoping I will actually implement at least some of it before taking it back.) But so far, I've just been trying to uncover the surfaces in our home. If I can find our furniture, I think I'll have a much better chance at maintaining a neat and peaceful home. At least for the next 2 months.

So, not much has been done in the realm of blogging.

However, I feel like it's a good time to give a brief update.

Lizzie is 23 months old. Almost 2. Sleeping in a big girl bed. Singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" into a microphone. Parroting what she hears. Walking around the house with her shopping cart (with her baby doll or puppy dog sitting in the front basket), putting things into it, and saying, "Buy diss." She has cut the first of four of her 2-year molars, and seems to be working on the next one. She is mastering the art of manipulation by cuteness. She "helps" me sweep the floor, water the garden, and clean up. (The garden currently still has one cherry tomato, one cucumber, and now 4 (hopefully) lettuce seedlings.) She still can't say her "k" sounds. She says "wuv you" when she gives hugs. She seems to be catching on to the idea that she will be a big sister, and that there is a "bay-ee hiding" in Mommy's tummy.

Speaking of which, I am 32 weeks pregnant. There are only 8 weeks left to go, Lord willing. I'm really hoping there aren't 9 weeks left. I'll try not to complain about it too much, but I just have to say that I am still not the biggest fan of being pregnant. I had to break out the support hose on Sunday; it helped the insane swelling I've been having in my left foot/ankle/leg, but I'm not sure if it was worth it. Part of me would rather have swelling than wear nylons. I haven't taken a picture of my pregnant self in a while, though I know I should. If for no other reason than to see how my size compares to what I looked like at this point last time. I have a feeling I'm bigger.

Every once in a while I get concerned about giving birth again, but the other night, after seeing a video of a goat being born, I was considering that I was glad we deliver little, soft, human babies, rather than anything huge or with hooves. I'm pretty sure being a mother rhinoceros would be the worst thing ever. Most other babies don't grow their horns or antlers until they're older. Not so the rhinos.

My mom's book release party/signing went really well. Here are some pictures. It was a lot of fun, and it was a huge success, due largely to a fantastic turnout of friends from church.

I am strongly considering venturing out into a business. Ambitious, I know. Especially for someone who is expecting a second child, and is somewhat lazy. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of risk, and there could be a fair amount of profit, even if I do get off to a slow start. We're praying about it, but for the most part we have peace.

Well, it's been about half an hour of nap time consumed here, and I have some more decluttering to do before I can feel like I crossed off much of significance on my To Do list today.

This may unofficially be my only post of this week. And I am OK with that.

Coffee and Meg's Book Launch!

2011-05-06T10:39:00.002-04:00

Good morning!

This week has been a good one.

Sam started his full time job on Monday. It's been great for him to be in a new schedule - a regular schedule - one that gets him up in the mornings and allows him to be home for dinner.

Sam's schedule has impacted my schedule, of course. I've been able to get up before Lizzie most mornings, have coffee and a quiet time, and once actually did a complete 20 minute workout. I thought about exercising this morning, but had vacuumed yesterday, and apparently pulled my lower ab muscles, so I will pass on that for a few days. Pregnancy has its perks: Sam says he'll take over the vacuuming from here on out.

Tomorrow is a big day. It's Meg Moseley's book launch party and her first book signing! When Sparrows Fall was released on Tuesday, May 3, by Waterbook Multnomah, and you can actually buy it off a shelf now! It is real.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Mom's book, follow this link.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bookcontests/.

In fact, you can win her book, plus a book of your choice from among these titles:
Be sure to include the contest code for the book you’d like to win.

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner (Contest Code: MMLIW)
Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y’Barbo (Contest Code: MMAFATHG)
Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky (Contest Code: MMSOM)
The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick (Contest Code: MMTDW)
Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann (Contest Code: MMIKH)
Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman (Contest Code: MMLIM)
The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall, Advance Reading Copy (Contest Code: MMTHOG)
Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze (Contest Code: MMDT)

I can't linger online very long today, since I've got to make 5 dozen Snickerdoodles to bring to the launch party, run to Costco and the bank, and ideally even make dinner. And Lizzie is telling me that I have to "fix house" made of Lincoln Logs that she knocked over for the 3rd time.

But next week I will try to get a bit of a recap of the launch party. It will be quite the event!

Have a happy weekend!

Would you like to join this little blog hop? Go ahead, it's fun!

Garden Update

2011-05-05T17:13:00.003-04:00

You may remember that I had shared a fantastic plan for our Square Foot Garden for this spring. It was a tad bit ambitious.

Well, that ambition has been checked. It's really due to the need for our land to be graded. Our back yard turns into a muddy bog when it rains. And we're kind of afraid that one side of the house is sinking and making our drywall crack.

Cute, right? I mean the garden.

And we have at least 8 pine trees that need to go before we feel that our roof is safe.

So, considering that all these yard improvement projects will cost us a small fortune, and because a truck would have to drive directly over our garden plot to deliver fill dirt, we have decided to hold off on the full plan. It's probably better to start slower, anyway, considering what all is going on this summer.

Thus, our abbreviated garden.

Yes, my Texan friends, that is a Buc-ee's shirt. Eat your heart out.

This is only 2' by 2' and it is actually only a leftover piece from a container garden that my dad made to surprise my mom for their anniversary. There are two plants in it so far: one cherry tomato, and one cucumber. They will need a trellis, but that isn't quite necessary yet.

There are 2 more square feet available, and I am debating what exactly to plant there. I think I will start putting in a few lettuce plants each week for a little while, until I have a good little salad bar setup.

We also have 2 blueberry bushes, one of which has a handful of berries coming along! I'm hoping rabbits and birds don't steal them before we get to them.

Do you have a garden going? How does your garden grow?

My New Adventure is nothing like Alicia's this week, but I suppose we're adventuring along the same lines this year. :) Congratulations to her growing family!

Lessons Learned from a Little Engine

2011-05-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

Or, God Really Meets Us Where We Are

A few months ago we had to renew The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper three times. It has been 2 months since we returned it, and still, Lizzie quotes from it: "Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-dong." She read it to the dog. She read it to her baby doll. She read it to herself if no one would sit still for her to read it. And she requested it every time I sat down to read her a book.

If you think this is about the Little Blue Engine, who says, "I think I can..." and pulls the little train over the mountain for the good boys and girls on the other side, then you will have to keep reading, because it's not.

I had just come out of my 4-month-long first trimester (yes, my first trimester was 4 months long... or at least felt that way), in which I was run down, miserable, and mildly depressed. Then came February, in which some energy returned. Sam was working, I was getting back in the swing of living again, and the weather was getting slightly warmer. Things were looking up. But I wasn't.

The fact is, I was struggling to get out of bed, to make meals, to have patience, to get--let alone keep--the house in order, and to just function. Quiet time? Prayer? What were those?

Thus the only way for God to get my attention was through what I was doing every day: Reading picture books. Every day--sometimes multiple times a day--I read The Little Engine That Could.

I think there are two kinds of women in the world. The kind who over-commit and run themselves ragged trying to do a million things because they said they would; and the kind who are terrified of over-committing and rarely volunteer their time or resources, for fear of running themselves ragged. I am typically the latter. My first response is not usually, "I think I can."

Enter the Old, Tired Engine.

I wish I could find a picture of the Old, Tired Engine on Google Images, because it is a very pathetic looking engine. All the dolls and toys become so disappointed after asking the Old, Tired Engine to help them. But the Old, Tired Engine explains, "I cannot; I am too tired. I must rest my weary wheels," then he chugs slowly past them to the roundhouse (where engines go when they are not busy) with this refrain:

"I cannot. I cannot."

Finally on a Sunday this spring our pastor spoke on repentance and refreshing. My spirit was stirred, though I wasn't able to put it into words. I just knew a shift had occurred in my heart. Then shortly after I finally felt the words of the silly story pierce my exhaustion and prod my heart. Why do I say that I cannot? What is keeping me from doing what is before me to do? What keeps me from helping? From blessing? From at least being kind?

Nothing, honestly. Only a lie that kept me saying, "I cannot."

I am not bounding out of bed every morning, of course. Some days go better than others. But I have hope that I can do the things that are in my heart to do--that God has placed me where I am to be a blessing. I am not saved and redeemed and blessed in order to preserve myself. Indeed, it is not by my works that I am saved, nor by my rest that I am preserved, but I am appointed and "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:8-10

Even when that simply means reading picture book after picture book, and preparing and cleaning up meal after meal. The truth of it is, I can.

I'm linking up with the girls from Soli Deo Gloria today. :)

We're back! {Top Ten} April So Far

2011-04-26T23:51:00.000-04:00

This has been a full month. It has been wonderful. I wish I had started a list of bullet points of everything that's happened in the past few weeks, so that I could put together an intelligent recap of our April. Or at least so that I could remember things. But I didn't, so this is the brief run-down of what we've been up to!

1. Almost 3 weeks ago, my sweet and dear friend, Michelle, drove 800+ miles from Michigan with her boyfriend, Rob, solely to visit with us. That is a good friend there.

Rob, Michelle, and Lizzie, at the park

Michelle was my maid of honor in my wedding. Whenever she gets married--which shouldn't be too far off now--she's already picked me for the position, though with the title Matron.

Michelle & Cindy, all dressed up

We used to stay up until all hours, talking about all the things that girls talk about--school, boys, relationships, our spiritual journey, boys, and dreams for the future. While they visited, we got our "late night" time in during the early morning, while Lizzie and Rob slept in.

Having Michelle as a friend is like having a sister. No matter how often we see each other, we can always pick up where we left off. And I hope that my girls get to be such close friends, too.

2. In preparation for having houseguests, we had to clean. Their stay motivated us to rearrange our guest room and make it livable.
Before:

(Yes, I do understand that the blocks and colorful toys add drama, and make it look worse than it was, but it really was that bad. I found that I had not filed or even remotely dealt with paperwork since October. October, people!)

After:

3. We ventured to the Southeastern Railway Museum. Lizzie loves trains, more than I would expect a girl to love trains, and we are right around the corner from this surprisingly great "museum" of trains and transportation.

4. Sam has another job prospect lined up, and it starts at the beginning of next month. It's a three-month internship contract, which we are praying will become a permanent position. He is excited to get back on track with a construction job, since his most recent degree is in construction project management. I am excited for him, too! The retail place has been God's provision for us, however, it's only an interim job. I am also looking forward to the retail schedule coming to an end and having a regular work week, that starts with early mornings and early bedtimes.

5. We went to Texas and back! We put approximately 2500 miles on our truck, but it was worth every mile. Along the way we stayed with friends in Hattiesburg, MS, spent several days with Sam's family in Houston, made a 24 hour trip to stay with more friends and make a cameo appearance at a home church in San Antonio, returned to Houston, then departed for Mobile, AL, for one final stay with more friends, before heading home.

6. While in Houston, we got to go to the zoo, which was so much fun. We went during nap time, so even though Lizzie was slightly zombie-like, she did really love being there.

7. Lizzie adores her grandparents. Both sets. She was actually disappointed when we told her we were going home instead of going back to Yeh-Yeh and Ni-Ni's house.

When we did get back home, we got to visit with my family, too. My mom is back in town. She'd been in California for nearly a month, helping her sister care for their mother. Her mother is still hanging in there, so she may need to fly back out soon, but we hope that her mom will hold out until after the book launch on May 3, at least.

8. I arrived at my third trimester. There are now only 11 weeks left before my due date of July 11 (Lord willing, no more than that!). I am feeling quite large, my ankles are feeling quite larger, and whatever energy I had in the 2nd trimester is gradually leaving. I'm glad we got to travel together as a family of 3 this month.

9. Lizzie is making some "big girl" transitions. While at Sam's parents' house, she went #2 in her potty for the first time. That was a big deal. She hasn't done it since, but she's put forth some good effort. We haven't put forth a huge effort to push potty training, but we are giving her opportunity to try, especially if she asks.

As of last night, Lizzie has decided she is no longer interested in sleeping in her crib. So, she has slept on her crib mattress on the floor - which actually means, on the floor itself - for one evening and one nap. The going to bed process has been a bit of a struggle, but once the lights are off and the door is closed, she has stayed in her bed like a big girl! If we can keep this up until the new baby comes, then we'll only have to get one more mattress, instead of a whole new crib set.

10. Easter. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! That we have a resurrection and the hope of the gospel, the strength of the same Spirit who raised Christ Jesus from the dead also in us. It is truly indescribable.

Lizzie got to experience an egg hunt for the first time. She was a little foggy on the details until she picked up a few eggs. Then she got the hang of it. And as soon as she got to what was on the inside (chocolate candy! stickers! bubble gum - we didn't know about that one until she gave me a very chewed up piece), she was pretty stoked to find more!

Those are our highlights. How has your April been?

Never too young to have a fashion opinion...

2011-04-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

22 months, and this is how she wants her hair. Gotta love having a daughter.

So I Have This Sewing Machine . . . .

2011-04-04T16:03:00.000-04:00

Several years ago I bought this sewing machine at a garage sale.

If I remember correctly, it came on a table, which was kind of a disaster. The table is long gone.

It had belonged to the seller's grandmother, who used it for decades, and was only selling it because she had a new, fancier machine.
Of course, it wouldn't take much to be newer.
But fancier? This comes with more feet than I know what to do with. It comes with interchangeable wheels that can be inserted to make elaborate embroidery stitches.

And it comes with the original 1963 owners manual . . .

. . . complete with well-manicured hands demonstrating how to wind the bobbin. What else could I ask for?

Maybe something to sew!

Well, if that's all I need, perhaps this weekend's sale ($0.99 for selected Simplicity patterns!) at JoAnn's would inspire me. Yes indeed!

Lizzie and I ventured to the grand world of JoAnn's for almost an hour on Saturday, where I scoured the Simplicity file cabinets, and Lizzie located "fuzz" from the floor, showing me the especially big or colorful pieces of "fuzz." Yes, I let my child play with dust bunnies, fabric shavings, and ... I don't really want to think about it. But everyone was happy.

I came home with a receipt that said that I paid $9.45, and saved $131.64. I love receipts that look like that.

As you can see, I selected quite an eclectic assortment of patterns. Skirts, baby gear, toddler dresses, infant shoes, aprons, shirts, curtains. I should have no excuse if I ever get the sewing bug and don't know where to start.

Upon returning home, I put Lizzie down for her nap, moved the sewing machine from the office (soon to become guest room) into the master bedroom, and proceeded to accomplish a project.

The strap that allows you to collapse the back seat in the Suburban had busted, and it needed to be re-sewn. Sam commissioned me to fix it, and fortunately, the dear old grandmother who originally had the machine also had heavy-duty needles. Armed with heavy duty thread, and my trusty old owners manual, I figured out how to a) wind the bobbin, b) replace the all-purpose foot with a zipper foot, c) change the needle, and d) sew nylon webbing.

Before:

After:

I feel so accomplished. So inspired. So ready to create something.

Now all I need is fabric.

Coffee, Sparrows, and a Blessed Heritage

2011-04-01T11:43:00.002-04:00

Good morning!

May I refer you to another blog today? Follow this link to Christy LaShea Smith's blog, where she is giving away a copy of Meg Moseley's (my mom's!!) debut novel, 'When Sparrows Fall', set for release on May 3, 2011. Leave a comment on Christy's blog and/or on her facebook page to be entered to win.

While you're there, you can read a bit from my mom. She is currently on the west coast with her own mom, who is in at-home hospice care. Her words impressed me as she told of singing "Jesus Loves Me" together. Jesus Loves Me is part of Lizzie's bedtime repertoire. She likes to sing and read about "Deesuss."

I am blessed to have a heritage of believers in my family. Both of my parents were raised in loving, Christian homes. My mom's side of the family can be traced through generations of proper Lutherans, as all good Danes should be. My dad's family were kind, quiet Baptists, who taught Sunday School for decades. In turn, my parents raised me up in 'the way I should go' and I'm so grateful. Even on Sam's side, by the grace of God, his parents escaped Red China and sometime later came to the knowledge of salvation; instead of embracing the typical non-religion of atheism, they raised their sons in the church.

Now it's our turn. I can't say what our girls will have when they grow up, except that we will do the best we know how to teach them to love "Deesuss" and as they grow, release them to learn to walk in faith.

When you're done visiting Christy LaShea Smith's blog, hop along with the Company Girls today. Coffee is always more fun with company, isn't it?

New Orleans Beignets

2011-04-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

A while back I got a craving for doughnuts. But not just any doughnuts, I wanted Krispy Kreme. (I do love that about being pregnant; I don't have to have any reason to crave something like doughnuts.)

No, I didn't make Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but I made something else--something similar--that was amazingly delicious.

While searching for a method for stir-frying some vegetables and tofu for dinner, I got side-tracked in The Joy of Cooking. I found myself in the "Doughnuts, Cruelers, and Pastries" section, debating whether or not I could make beignets.

I had never eaten a beignet before in my life. But I'd heard good things about them, so it was worth a try. (The stir-fry? Yeah, whatever.) I ended up using the recipe from the Joy of Cooking. It is very simple, and uses only minimal ingredients. The dough is essentially a sweet yeast biscuit. Fried.

It requires a bit of advanced planning, in that you mix the dough up the day before, and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.

The next morning the hardest part is rolling the cold dough onto a floured surface while you wait for oil in a heavy pot to get hot enough to fry. Even I can handle that.

One of the highlights of this experiment is how I discovered that the easiest way to cut the squares is with a pizza cutter. Some people have biscuit cutters, but I'm not that fancy.

It is super fun to watch them cook. They puff up while they cook, so they're almost like little doughnut balloons. (That means fewer calories, right? I mean, since they're mostly air . . . .)

Another highlight: It's really no more labor-intensive than making waffles. Of course, waffles don't involve deep frying, but can you imagine if they did? Are the wheels turning in your head, too? We may be on to something.

It only takes a matter of minutes for the dough to become delicious puffed fritters. About 3 minutes for each batch. If you're having a brunch, this would be a super impressive, and quick to serve, part of your menu.

Another thing I learned: If you use a cheap candy thermometer, make sure you have it tied securely. The string I was using rebelled and untied itself, so my thermometer went swimming in 300+ degree oil. It took me a minute to figure out how to get it out (with tongs, then it was transferred to a big wad of paper towels). Apparently the top of the thermometer was not meant to be submerged in oil. Go figure.

That thermometer did sacrifice for a worthy cause.

See that section at about 2-3 o'clock? Yeah, I ate those before I took the picture. And then I ate several others. They taste kind of like funnel cake. Only, more delicious. And you don't have to wait for the fair.

Have you ventured into trying something new? Do tell! Link up with Alicia's Try New Adventures, too!

Thank you, Daddy

2011-03-25T09:52:00.001-04:00

Good morning.

I'm sitting at the kitchen table with Sam's computer, and Lizzie in her high chair, eating "a bowl full of mush." Recently she boycotted oatmeal, but because of her obsession with Goodnight Moon, oat bran cereal has become "a bowl full of mush" and she is stoked.

I wrote a pretty good update of life yesterday; if you're interested hop over there.

Really, I wanted to jump on here today and record a sweet moment from last night, before I forgot it. Since you're here today, I will inflict it upon you.

Lizzie's bedtime routine has become a long and sort of ridiculous process. The steps are fairly streamlined: bath, the occasional attempt at the potty, diaper, pajamas, reading (sometimes accompanied by a small snack), brushing teeth, singing in the rocking chair, kisses, prayer, and being tucked in just-so with her baby doll and blanket. Most nights I leave the room with her calmly and happily waving "bye" to me.

Last night, we skipped the bath and went straight to pajamas and reading books. Lizzie had a stack of--no lie--about 15 books she had collected to be read. I did my best to hide as many as I could when she wasn't looking, which still left about 10 of her favorites.

(She has given up on her mush, and is currently on the couch, reading "The Little Engine That Could" to the dog, who is also on the couch, even though she technically shouldn't be up there; but everyone is being good, so I will let sleeping dogs lie. Lizzie is making sure Lady can see the "pishurs" and reading: "Up! Up! Mountin. ... I tan! I tan! Ah End.")

At any rate, I was settled on the couch with our stack of books, and Lizzie decided she needed more books. She's faster than I am these days, so off she went to her bookshelf and grabbed 3 Barney books and 2 Karen Katz lift-the-flap books. Both Sam and I protested and told her "no more books" and of course with it being after 9 PM, Liz fell into a meltdown. "Barney! Barney! Peeeeaase?!" Tears, collapsing on the floor, mournful arguments, the whole bit.

We had to make a quick decision: Should we force her to put the books back, when she's this tired and already mostly too far gone to reason with? Or should we work out a compromise? I suggested from my cozy place on the couch that we let her take one Barney book, put the others back, and I put away another handful of books I didn't want to read. We were down to about 7, plus Barney.

Sam gave her one of the Barney books. Lizzie's face lit up. She ran to him, took the book, and then shimmied up to the couch with her Barney book and cup of water. Then, without any prompting, she looked up at Sam, eyes full of relief and gratitude, and with her sippy straw in her mouth said, "Dint due, Daddy."

We were undone. We never taught her spontaneous thanks. We love this sweet little girl.

I'm linking up with the Home Sanctuary Company Girls this morning.

What's new?

2011-03-24T16:01:00.000-04:00

Well, it's the first time in a week that Lizzie has taken an afternoon nap. This would explain the absence of blog posts. I'm torn between having an hour or two in the afternoon while Lizzie sleeps, or having an hour or two in the evening after she goes to bed. I still haven't figured out which is better.

The couple hours in the evening have usually been spent in the living room rather than the office. While Sam watches MI-5 on Netflix, I'm on the couch reading through The Help. I am almost done and I have hardly been able to put it down. It's fun to read something new. It's fun to read something without pictures.

The garden has no update; we bought nearly all our supplies, then realized we need to get dirt in to level the ground, and should probably cut down a few of the dozen tall pine trees that have plagued our "lawn" for as many years as there has been a house here.

And in order to get that done, I need to find a printed-out e-mail somewhere in our office, to locate a particular landscaper's phone number, for an estimate. Please understand that for something to be "somewhere in the office" it's like saying an item is "somewhere in the frozen tundra." So, the garden is on hold until the office is cleaned up, at least somewhat. But one way or another, we'll have something growing in dirt by the end of April.

We have been making some progress in the world of potty training. I discovered Lizzie's amazing capacity to love chocolate candy, and have capitalized on this. She apparently will do anything - including tinkle in the potty - for chocolate candy. She will often go on command at convenient times, such as immediately prior to a bath, but has on occasion exclaimed, "potty!" and we've rushed off to let her try. Sometimes it's successful, other times not so much. We're not quite ready to leave diapers behind, because she doesn't truly have bladder control, but we're getting there. I am most pleased that she is willing and not intimidated to go on the potty. There's no pressure.

Baby number 2 is coming along nicely. I am 24 weeks along - officially 6 months. Only 4 long months to go. Last night I was confessing how tired I am of being pregnant. It's just not my thing. I know a lot of women love it. I know a lot of women hate it. I don't love or hate it; I'm just not all that fond of it. And the exhaustion, the moodiness, the swelling, the aches, the kicks in places one shouldn't be kicked.... Don't get me wrong; the results are worth it, but I will seriously have to have a severe case of amnesia to get in this situation again--at least any time within the next 3 years.

I'm looking forward to sharing some great new recipes in the next few weeks. I have a huge collection of photos of recipes I intend to share, plus I have tried several new things that have been successful. I've discovered a wonderfully simple and delicious recipe for scones, and have made it twice with awesome results. I kept intending to take pictures, but the process is so quick, and the end product is so delicious, pictures have not yet been possible. I even made beignets. They were amazing, and no more laborious than making, say, waffles. I am seriously considering making another batch of banana muffins, since I have a couple squishy bananas ready to use. We have also been eating things that have protein in them, I promise. But those aren't quite as exciting to talk about as all these confections, are they?

Square Foot Garden Plan 2011

2011-03-16T23:45:00.001-04:00

Behold, my plan to put at least 22 varieties of vegetables and plants in a portion of our yard no larger than a standard bathroom:

There are still a few empty boxes--because I know I'll have to rearrange things when I actually have plants or seeds in my hands. And when Sam and I go later today to Lowes (my local store has 50% off Burpee seeds this week!), I'm sure I'll end up buying some things that are not on my list, but will need to be incorporated somehow. Impulse gardening? I guess there is such a thing.

Am I crazy?

I have an almost-two-year-old and am expecting a new baby in the middle of the summer (i.e., the growing season). I can barely manage to make my grocery list some weeks, and here I am creating a new project to involve myself in daily?

Yep.

Do you know how Square Foot Gardening (SFG) works? It's pretty awesome. You allot one square foot per plant variety in a raised bed. Some plants require more than 1 square foot. Since we're somewhat pressed for space, we will use mainly the smaller varieties, except when it comes to the summer squashes. Tomatoes, squash, and peas will be trained on a trellis, so they have a small footprint and plenty of room to grow upward.

Last year I planted 2 blueberry bushes (which I hope will spring into action this summer), and one cherry tomato. That little tomato plant did moderately alright, and it gave me just enough hope and a taste of getting fresh tomatoes to whet my appetite to garden for real this year.

Why are we doing this? Part of it is to see if we can. Part of me believes it will be rewarding. Fun, even. Part of it is to have a reason to go outside every day. So Lizzie can experience growing plants, playing in dirt, and picking strawberries. So Sam can have a garden for the first time in his life. He will learn as much as I will, and hopefully be able to help other people with their gardens. He'll also have 16 fewer square feet of lawn to mow. And so we can have fresh greens for salads, vegetables for stir-fry and for the freezer, sun-ripened tomatoes and peppers, fresh herbs, and more zucchini than we will know what to do with.

I'll keep you posted on the progress of our little adventure. The plan is to buy the materials and seeds now, but there is not a lot to be accomplished before the average last frost date (in this area, around April 15). Assembly and planting will follow. And pictures!

Washing Kiddy Straws in the Dishwasher {WFMW}

2011-03-16T11:40:00.000-04:00

I'm a lazy homemaker. Really. So when it comes to washing some things, like picky little straws that come with toddler cups, you can bet I am not going to break out the pipe cleaners. A good rinse is not sufficient when you have a sick little kiddo. Or when you didn't realize there was a sippy cup half filled with milk under the piano bench for 2 days.

No, no, that is no good. I must figure out a way to put them in the dishwasher. But they fall through the holes. And those crazy bottle/nipple/straw/ baby silverware contraptions are nice in theory, but not worth their space for 2 or 3 puny straws. And dishwasher real estate is priceless: I will put more effort into rearranging cups and bowls to make them all fit than it would ever take to just wash them by hand.

So, here is my solution, and it works quite well.

Wrap a rubber band around at least 2 straws. You have to wrap it around multiple times, and get around each straw individually at least once. You don't want to have to fish one of them out because it fell through the silverware during the rinse cycle.

Then, drop 'em in with the silverware.

They come out clean and sterilized. Can it get any easier? I think not. That's why it works for me!
(I also learned that if you have only one straw to wash, you can band it to a knife. Works just as well.)

{top ten} recipe for a good morning

2011-03-15T18:06:00.000-04:00

Mornings. Sometimes I love 'em, and sometimes I hate 'em.

These are a few things that make my mornings better:

1. Getting enough sleep. We're night owls, and have lately barely gotten to bed before midnight. It is a terrible habit, especially while having some kind of pregnancy insomnia. So "enough sleep" for me is better than 6 hours. It is preparing me for having an infant again, when "sleeping through the night" means longer than 5 hours at a time.

2. Coffee. You know I love it. And without it, I get a headache in the afternoon. So, it really makes the whole day go better.

3. A quiet time. At least 15 minutes with an open Bible and no interruption. Extra good if it comes with coffee. And the Holy Spirit, of course. Many bloggers are getting involved in Maximize Your Mornings. I have almost started many times, but have not made the dedicated commitment yet.

4. Setting realistic expectations for my day. This goes in all directions: Expectations of what I can accomplish, of what I can expect from my 21 month old, of what I can expect from my husband. If I think I can clean the bathrooms and organize the pantry and still go to the grocery store, while keeping peace in toddler-land and making a delicious dinner for all of us, you can expect me to melt down by 2 PM. I'm usually better off re-prioritizing before I go into angry, overwhelmed mode.

5. Having a dinner plan. If I know what I will make for dinner, a huge burden of stress has been lifted from my day. And if it's something easy, all the better.

6. If I can wake up before the toddler does, I feel like I'm 4 steps ahead of the game.

7. And if I can get dressed, wash my face, brush my teeth, and perhaps even fix my hair and put on makeup, before anyone else needs me, I feel like I'm ready for just about anything.

8. This one is completely out of my control, but if there is sunshine in the morning, my day is that much happier.

9. Breakfast. Ideally something with a substantial amount of protein in it. Sam appreciates when I eat a good breakfast, too--I'm a lot nicer.

10. I have noticed that on days that my computer is not touched before noon, everything goes much more smoothly. As much as I love it, it sucks the life out of my days.

What makes your mornings lovely?

Lizzieism - Figured it Out!

2011-03-10T09:01:00.000-05:00

Lizzie is finally at the age of saying funny and cute things. And because I am not organized, this is the closest thing I have to recording them. Facebook is nice for getting immediate feedback on something funny, cute, or frustrating that just happened, and while some marketing company may know everything I've ever said about my child, there's no hope of my ever retrieving something of importance from my status updates.

Yesterday, she learned how to use her step stool.
She calls it her "stool" except she doesn't say "st" she says "f" and she doesn't say her "l" so it sounds more like "foow". I purchased this step stool at one of the consignment sales I went to a couple of weeks ago. It was $3 and it has been one of the fun things in her life lately.
Well, the joy has been multiplied, because she has learned that the Foow can be used to reach things. Like light switches. "On!" "Off!" "Fan!" "On!" "Off!" "Yay!"
When I applauded her brilliance, "Lizzie, you figured it out!" Lizzie ran up to me, beaming. "Tiny!" Tiny is a Pteranodon on the PBS Kids show Dinosaur Train. On occasion, the young Pteranodons conquer a challenge and sing a brief song: "We figured it out, we figured it out! We worked together and figured it out!"

Last night we talked about muscles.

Well, we saw a commercial for some car. Somewhere in it was the word "muscle."

Lizzie turned around and exclaimed to me, "Muscle!" (Musso!) I was surprised that she picked it out. Then she said, "Sid!" Of course. Sid the Science Kid has muscles. We learned about them yesterday.

I'm so glad to know that she relates all episodes of learning to an episode of a television show. I feel like my job as a parent is so well done.

Questions for a Blind Man

2011-03-07T22:48:00.001-05:00

I am slowly making my way through the book of John when I don't have inspiration as to what to focus on during my quiet times. This morning I read John 9.

The first segment of the chapter covers the story of the man born blind, whom Jesus healed. I have read this passage many, many times, but never saw it in quite this (comedic) light before. Here is the loose Cindy-fied translation:

Jesus is walking along, and he and his disciples see this man who has been blind his whole life.
"Whose fault is it that he is blind? His, or his parents'?" Pinning blame must help us make sense of the world.
Jesus said, "Neither. He is blind so that God could be glorified in his life."
After he said this, Jesus made a substantial spit wad on the ground and made mud from his spit. He took that mud, put it on the blind man's eyes, and told him to go wash it off.
[OK, I have to butt in here. Imagine being in the blind man's shoes so far: the disciples started talking about him as though he not only couldn't see them, but he couldn't hear him either, then next thing he knows, someone hawks a loogie and smears mud on his eyes. Then he has the gall to tell him to go wash it off. Can somebody say 'lawsuit'?]
While the man goes to clean up, Jesus and the disciples continue walking along.
Later, the blind man comes back, not blind anymore. His neighbors question him, "What happened? Are you sure you're the same person? How can you see?"
The man says, "Yes, it's really me. Some guy called Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes, and told me to wash, so I did and now I can see!"
"Where is he?" they asked.
"I don't know," the man answered.

Can you anticipate the question that is begging to be asked?

"Well, what did he look like?"

If you're looking for some serious encouragement, track back to the ladies at Soli Deo Gloria. They're pretty amazing, if I don't say so myself.

Today in La Cocina de Chen

2011-03-07T00:28:00.002-05:00

It's not often that I roll out not one but two restaurant-quality meals in one day. It all started by my telling Sam, "I have steak, and we can either have it for lunch or for dinner, and I don't have 2 meals in me today, so choose when you want a good meal." However, inspiration apparently struck. I should have taken pictures. I'm going to have to recreate these one day--soon.

We had steak for lunch. Our afternoons tend to go much better if we're all well fed with a good lunch. If only I had it in me to make a great lunch every day.

Skirt steak, seasoned with salt & pepper, cooked (in a glob of butter) on the cast iron skillet, served with:
Red onion marmalade: one red onion, thinly sliced, sauteed until tender, then cooked for just a few minutes with equal parts sugar and red wine vinegar (about 1 T each). Trust me, it's an amazing garnish for steak. And just about anything else you might want a sweet pickled vinaigretted (I just made that word up) onion flavor on.
Yellow rice (in the rice cooker: rice, chicken broth/water, a spoonful of ground turmeric, and a dash each of: oregano, coriander, and cumin), with the addition, when finished, of:
microwaved peas & carrots.

It was the most delicious and colorful and easy meal I've made in a long time. The colors were remarkable. The whole plate was beautiful.

And for dinner, I wasn't feeling like making dinner, and our refrigerator had a strange hodge-podge of ingredients:
A somewhat questionable package of baby spinach, 5 eggs, half a package of bacon, half a package of hash browns and 3 overripe bananas. Plus the leftover sauteed onions.

Brinner! Of course! No, there's no of course about it. I was grasping at straws, and got lucky.

I mixed up a dozen banana nut muffins, omitting the nuts, and instead adding oat bran for a portion of the flour. While those cooked, I threw bacon on a skillet and let it do its thing on low heat. You can never go wrong having bacon cooked.
In the meantime, I browsed cookbooks. There's not much to be made with the remaining 3 eggs. So, one egg per person, and it has to count.
Once the bacon was done, I used the same pan (and the grease; don't judge me) to fry the hash browns. Which were originally shaped like tater tots, but I overcrowded them and they fell apart, so they became hash browns. Amazingly, the timing of everything came together at the end.

The assembled meal was such:

Spinach on plates.
Bacon crumbled (or not) on the spinach.
Onions on the spinach. With, or without, salad dressing.
One egg, fried to order (or as it comes off the frying pan, and scrambled for the tot), atop the spinach. (The tot's plate was sans spinach. She did try it. For a second.)
Hash browns on the side.
Amazing banana muffins to polish it all off.

Seriously, I've eaten 2-1/2 of the muffins. They are that good. I can't wait to be hungry again in the morning.

Five Minutes in the Mirror

2011-03-04T16:47:00.001-05:00

When I look in the mirror I see....

A bit more gray hair than I would like to see.
Hair that has been ignored into a ponytail more times than I can count.
Wispy "wings" around my forehead that won't cooperate, no matter how I straighten, blow dry, or try to join them instead of beat them.
Round cheeks and an overbite, but at least I have straight teeth. Thanks for the 4 years in braces, Mom and Dad.

Again, there is a very distinct roundness in front. Evidence of a little girl hoped for, and as yet unseen. A little child with a promise of grace.

I see, finally, a grown up who has replaced the quiet girl. A woman. A wife. A mother.

I've linked today with Gypsy Mama (Links and pics added after 5 minutes were up), and Company Girl Coffee. Feel free to hop along with the Company Girl Blog Hop, below!

Sugar, coffee, cupcakes, and meal plan

2011-02-28T15:45:00.000-05:00

We are completely out of sugar. Completely out. All gone. We have honey, brown sugar, and confectioner's sugar, but none of those seem quite right to put in coffee. And while pregnant, I need to have a bit of sugar in my coffee--the sugar cuts through the acidity and lets my stomach accept it.

We do, however, have sweetened whipped cream. Therefore, I am thoroughly enjoying my coffee today.

Last night we were at my parents' house to do our family birthday celebration (3 out of 5 of us have birthdays within a three-day spread in February). It was fun, and I made the most amazingly delicious cupcakes ever. If the camera battery were not completely dead, I would put a picture up. But here is the recipe for Black Bottom Cupcakes from the Joy of Cooking.

We didn't get in the car to go home until a little after ten PM, and within minutes Lizzie was out cold. She slept while I got her out of the seat, woke up for a few seconds when I told her I would get her baby and her blanket (to which she said, "Please"), and didn't make a peep when I put her in the crib and removed her shoes. Let me tell you, that has not happened in ... I would venture to say a year. She slept all night long. We had a full day yesterday, and she had no nap.

My menu planning concept has been lost recently. Sam working afternoon/closing shift more days than not has confused me when it comes to dinners. It seems futile to make an entire meal for myself and a somewhat particular toddler. Yet, having fewer real dinners makes for considerably fewer leftovers for him to eat for lunch before leaving for work.

So, this is the plan:
Real dinners:
- Baked Ziti
- Steak w/ marinated onions
- Pork chops w/ cabbage
- hamburgers/sliders
- something out of the freezer
- drive thru/out

Lunches:
- leftovers
- sandwiches (with some homemade bread?)
- quesadillas (I've been craving refried bean and cheese quesadillas almost daily lately!)

Breakfasts:
- waffles
- egg/sausage or Canadian bacon/cheese bagel sandwiches
- eggs, cereal, oatmeal... the usual.

It's my (belated) birthday!

2011-02-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

I turned 30 yesterday. I guess I should update my "introductions" page to reflect that, huh?

We had a lovely day. Aside from a mandatory meeting at work, Sam had the day off.

He surprised me by taking me to a restaurant that takes reservations. I believe it was the first time in the 6 years we've been dating or married that we have ever gotten a dinner reservation. Technically, it was a lunch reservation, but that's beside the point.

I am kicking myself for not taking any pictures--my hair even looked pretty nice. The only picture we got from yesterday was this one:

What can I say? She likes sparkly things.

The three of us went together to Fogo de Chao.

It.

Was.

Amazing.

For years I have heard about it. Each seat has a coaster that is red on one side and green on the other. Green means, "Yes, please," and red means, "No thanks."

{image credit}

They have waitstaff who walk around carrying meat on skewers, and if your coaster is turned to green, they approach your table, tell you what they have, and cut it right off onto your plate. At one point we had 4 different waiters with 4 different kinds of meat surrounding us. It was a bit overwhelming. Sirloin, pork ribs, lamb chops, and filet mignon, all at our fingertips. You can eat until you can't sit upright any longer. The salad bar alone is gourmet, but the meats they bring you are so good.

Aside from the toddler who didn't want to sit in her chair, and wanted to walk laps around the tables, it was one of the most delicious and fun dining experiences I've ever had. They even brought us a complementary Happy Birthday flan.

It too

Was

Amazing.

We came home, where Sam went immediately into a food coma, and Lizzie "napped" for 20 minutes in the car on the way back; thus, there was no break for Mommy. So I finished the laundry I'd started before lunch, while following the bouncing toddler from one mode of entertainment to another.

Dinner consisted of leftovers in various forms. Spaghetti. Bean & cheese quesadillas. Cereal.

After the littlest person was in bed (at a decent hour for once) we watched 'The Proposal' off Netflix.

{image credit}

Sam had not seen it, and I decided I would just turn it on, and he could join me if he wanted to. Eventually both of us, one of the cats, and the dog, were all on the couch. Oh, we laughed so hard. Sam and I did, that is. The cat and the dog were just basking in the privilege of being on the couch with us.

Being 30 is not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, I wouldn't mind turning 30 every day.

* * * * *

Though I am late in joining up to the Home Sanctuary Company Girl Coffee blog hop, I had every intention of joining it yesterday. However, the day filled up quickly and I never got a chance. Have you hopped with these bloggers before? Now is your chance!

The Results Are In! (20 weeks)

2011-02-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

We all went to my 20 week appointment this morning. Sam held Lizzie and a camera while we watched the screen.

Lizzie recognized emphatically that there was a "bayee" on the "puter" but didn't really make the connection that we were watching the baby in Mommy's belly.

Our second child has 2 arms that stayed up near the face during the whole ultrasound.

We were waved at multiple times.

This little one has two cute little feet...

And two cute little legs...

And girl parts.

Lizzie has a baby sister!

Lizzie's 1st Haircut

2011-02-17T17:01:00.001-05:00

Dun, dun, dun!

A few nights ago, while Lizzie was bathing, I had finally had enough of her wet little rat tail, and got out the scissors.

I have never cut Lizzie's hair before. Yes, she is nearly two years old.

The thing is, her hair has several strange traits, none of which make it a candidate for a haircut.

For one, her hair grows from a swirl from the back of her head. See it, just southwest of the easterly pigtail? That is where her hair grows, and it grows forward. If she were to have bangs, they would of necessity start behind her ears.

Secondly, her hair is fine, and even on her first birthday, it was about as long as a grown-out buzz cut.

Finally, on top of getting my exact color and hair texture, she received the cowlick that I also got from my mom. Thanks, Mom.
The tricky thing about this cowlick is that it is also on the opposite side from the thick swirl in the back of the head. It's like the perfect storm, colliding mid-head.

Fortunately, her hair is finally long enough that we can get it in pigtails, and for a few minutes, even a braid. Do you see the random strands in the back, that are a couple of inches longer than the rest? Those are the ones I decided must be dealt with.

So just days after that cute little braid, I got out the scissors. I would advise against the covert bathtime haircut method. It was going fine until . . . .

That missing chunk will grow back--right?

At least the other side looks pretty good. And at least I didn't give her bangs that go around the whole front half of her head. At the rate her hair grows, she'd still be working on growing those out in middle school.


Not bad for a first try.

Do you cut your own kids' hair? I'm not sure I will do this again for a while, but I'm also not sure I would take her to one of those fancy kids hair cut places. What do you do?

I'm linking up with Alicia's Try New Adventures today!

Teenager in Training

2011-02-16T09:20:00.000-05:00

A Valentine's Variety

2011-02-14T17:54:00.000-05:00

This morning we colored a heart for Daddy. It is on the refrigerator, awaiting its discovery.

Lizzie loves to "tolor"

Sam is working this evening, so we already had a couple of special dinners at home over the weekend. If you don't know what to make one day, give this One Dish Pork Chops and Cabbage dish a try. We haven't ooh'ed and ahh'ed so much over a meal in a long time. And the best thing is, it's inexpensive and easy. But I had to reduce the size, since I didn't have such a large roasting pan. I'm sure you could improvise.

I gave Sam a card. He's going to take me out on a for real date sometime in the next week or two, when we can arrange for a babysitter. (i.e., when my mom is not sick and feeling like crud.)

After eating some special Valentine's Day dinner leftovers, Lizzie and I went outside and crunched in the leaves. It is a gorgeous day. Sunny and over 60 degrees F.

crunch, crunch, crunchy leaves

Then we watched High School Musical, which I had never seen. (Gasp!) I know, way to be half a decade behind the times, Cindy! Anyways, Lizzie was enthralled. She couldn't get enough of the singing.

Lizzie says the word "singing" frequently, and it sounds like "sinnee" - which Sam is convinced is her saying, "Cindy." He laughs every time she says "sinnee."

I am now 19 weeks pregnant. People can look at me and tell that I'm pregnant. I'm starting to feel the occasional movement - most of the time I can identify it as baby, sometimes I'm not sure and it could be gas. We find out (hopefully) whether this kid is a "he" or a "she" next week. That will be a fun birthday present. :)

Please disregard the clingy child and the unmade bed.

My feet are beginning to swell. It usually only happens when I sit for too long, or if I am standing for too long. I can tell if I spent an excessive amount of time on the computer by the end of the evening, depending on how thick my ankles are. I can't wait to see what kind of shape my legs will be in by the time this is all over.

Coffee Cake Today

2011-02-11T09:15:00.001-05:00

This morning I couldn't sleep, so I got up a bit earlier than usual, inspired to make a coffee cake for breakfast. It just came out of the oven, and I am pretending I don't hear Lizzie making her, "Hey, I'm awake, is anybody going to come get me?" noises. I am SO looking forward to coffee cake and coffee to go with it. There's enough to share, Company Girls!

I'm here with a fried egg, to balance out all the carbohydrates I'll be consuming. I recently re-learned that carbs without protein make for one very ~~mean~~ lightheaded and shaky mama, so especially while pregnant, I'm trying to make sure I don't go more than a couple hours without something with more protein.

Sam doesn't have to go in to work for another hour and a half, so I am enjoying knowing that if I hop in the shower now, he can hold down the fort. Then I will be bright and clean, and get to enjoy my coffee cake and coffee. This is getting better and better.

Plus, I had a quiet time, while waiting for the coffee cake to finish baking. I've been plugging away in John. Lately I haven't had a specific direction, so when that happens, and you're tired of psalms, you can't go wrong with John. Granted, I have been still reading breakfast psalms off and on with Lizzie. But that's not really going to fill my heart when I'm trying to convince her to eat her waffle. A couple of days ago I shared a huge revelation from John 5, and if you have a minute, jump over to read all my excuses for why I don't live the life I had dreamed.

So it's shaping up to be a great morning. Now, it's time for a shower, then my long-awaited coffee and cake!

Sneaking

2011-02-09T15:36:00.001-05:00

Do you have to hide your junk food from your children, too?

Disguised as coffee. One day she will catch on. Until then, it's all mine!

Excuses, Excuses!

2011-02-08T17:57:00.002-05:00

Misery doesn't only love company, misery also loves excuses.

This morning I was reading John 5, which is an account of Jesus healing an invalid (*) man.

*Years ago, when I was on a Bible Quiz Team, we were studying this chapter and one of my teammates had been reading the word "invalid" not as a cripple, but as in, "Invalid response. Abort, retry, fail?" That poor in-valid man, no wonder he wanted to be healed.

image credit

OK, back to the issue at hand.

Jesus asked him a direct question:

"Do you want to get well?"

That's a great question, isn't it? The answer is kind of rhetorical. Of course he wants to get well. If not, he wouldn't be where he is, lying there, waiting for hand-outs, and trying to get into the pool of water (which would occasionally be stirred up by an angel, and whoever got in first got healed--Hey, don't look at me funny, I'm just rephrasing the footnote in verse 4).

But the answer that the man gave Jesus is not what we would have expected.

"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

He starts in with excuses. He gives all the reasons for why he is not well. He's already given in to defeat (it had been 38 years, after all), so he's offering an invitation to his pity party.

I hear refrains of, nobody helps me, everyone else gets to do what they want, and life isn't fair.

Maybe I only hear that because those are the thoughts in my own mind, more frequently than I would like to admit. Frankly, life isn't fair. And a lot of days I argue that fact, wanting fairness, wanting my turn to do something I want to, or at least wanting a break.

I don't know what Jesus saw in the invalid man that day, but I'm glad He took the initiative to get involved. Jesus didn't ask him any other questions, didn't preach to him, and didn't rebuke him for his train of thought.

If I imagine this scene, the man is still lying there, maybe not even looking at Jesus. He might be looking at the pool, bitter with disappointment that it has never yet been his turn. Perhaps he was thinking of all the people who had let him down by not helping him quickly enough, or maybe not even being there at all. I imagine Jesus nodding, then interrupting his thoughts with a completely new idea.

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

That was it. It was as though Jesus had said, Since no one is able to get you into the pool quickly enough, why don't you just jump in there yourself? And he got up and walked.

So often in my mind I hear a question, like, "Do you want to do something with your days?" and instead of answering, "Yes! Of course!" I start going on and on about how I can't. Because there are groceries to be bought and lunches to be made and floors to be vacuumed and laundry to be put away. Because there are facebook statuses to be commented on and pictures to be uploaded. Because everyone else goes out and has fun and I have to stay home and hold down the fort. Because there's a baby on the way and I am certain I will never again accomplish anything except feed, change, and carry. Because it's been so long since I've had a life and felt like I was contributing to anything beyond the confines of my small and cluttered house.

And Jesus nods and asks, "Well, why don't you just stand up and start doing something?"

I believe I read this today because I'm at a critical point. He is asking me, "What do you want to do?" and I don't even have an answer. I have been thinking that the answer has been, "No, I can't do that," for so long that I have lost the ability to hope beyond just making it to bed at the end of the day. I have a feeling Paul was addressing this reasoning as well when he spoke "of all men to be pitied."

The option is there--to believe that what Jesus offers is everything I need to be everything He's called me to be. I can just believe that He has given me everything I need for life and godliness. If I will stop with the excuses, and get up and walk, He has a great and miraculous story to unfold.

I'm linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria girls again today.

A 20-Month-Old's Jokes

2011-02-07T15:58:00.002-05:00

My little baby daughter turns 20 months old tomorrow. Out of the teen months and into the "almost 2" stage.
We had her 18 month checkup today. (Yes, we got a little behind; it's how life is these days.) She is a whopping 22 lbs and 33-1/2" long. Tall and skinny, and pure muscle. Unfortunately she had to have 2 shots, and she did so well. Only a minute of crying, and it all stopped when I kissed her leg where the band-aids were. She's taking a good little nap and hopefully sleeping off the grumpies.

Lizzie is a chatterbox. Really. I spent some time today writing down every word that I could remember that she uses regularly, and they filled a page front and back! That's just from off the top of my head (while I watched a bit of PBS Kids with her).

Even better than her talking is her sense of humor. She tells jokes. They are usually like rhetorical questions, and the answer is always, "Noooooo....." with a smirk.

The first time we noticed her creative sense of humor was when we were eating out and she was 16 months old. Sam and I had ordered two different things and they both looked delicious. I was getting Lizzie situated with her food, so I had hardly gotten a chance to taste my own food when Sam asked if I had tried his yet.
I said, "No, but I really want a bite." At that moment Lizzie grabbed my hand, took a gentle bite on my finger, and laughed.
Sam and I looked at each other and couldn't believe what she had just done. She told her first joke.

More recently, Lizzie has started to tell jokes with words. Most often she likes to go with the obvious.

About a month ago I put her hair in a ponytail. Her hair is still so short that a ponytail is kind of a pathetic attempt, but it usually keeps the hair free of boogers, yogurt, and rice, and she doesn't usually pull it out.
She was so fascinated by having a ponytail like mine, and kept saying, "Mama, hair," while trying to grab my ponytail. And then touching her hair and saying, "Zizzie, hair." Then a few minutes later, the conversation would repeat. Eventually she started saying, "Daddy, hair," with a bit of a sparkle in her eyes. She'd wait for a response from me, then say, "Nooooooo," and laugh.

Last week she saw me putting on makeup, which she calls "mape-mup," and she asked for some on her cheeks. Really, she did. She pointed to her cheeks and said, "mape-mup, tzseek." So, being completely amused, I brushed her cheeks with my empty powder brush, and she happily watched me finish my routine. Then the following conversation ensued:
"Mama, mape-mup."
"Yes, Mama is wearing makeup."
"Zizzie, mape-mup."
"Yes, Lizzie has makeup, too."
Lizzie smiles. "Yaydee, mape-mup." (Lady is our dog).
"Lady wears makeup?"
"Nooooooo," with a knowing smirk.
No, silly girl. Lady doesn't wear makeup.

It just gets more entertaining here every day.

Adventures in Breadmaking (1)

2011-02-03T16:57:00.002-05:00

Last week I struck gold at the Salvation Army store nearby. I've had several adventures there, one of which included locking the baby in the truck. In fact, I hadn't been back since November; I guess that particular time was pretty traumatic.

For years I have thought in the back of my mind that it would be wonderful to have a bread machine. About 20 years ago my parents bought a DAK machine, which is still running, even though the DAK company has been defunct for years.

image credit DAK Auto Bakery

Nothing could quite compare to walking in the door from a long day of errands, piano lessons, or just being outside, and meeting the aromas of dinner in the crock pot and a golden loaf rising in the bread machine. My mom is smart; she knows that errand day requires dinner to be made by a machine.

There have been a few times in the near 6 years I've been married that I have attempted to make yeast breads. The effort was grand, and the results were less than stellar. The conclusion is, if I want bread, it has to be the quick bread variety (like banana or beer bread), the kind the comes out of a can that pops when you open it, or I have to buy it made already.

But, this all changed when I saw this beast on the floor near the appliances. And for only $12.99, I nearly squealed!

Really pretty, right?

I opened it, inspected it, took it apart (partially), put it back together again, plugged it in--everything checked out. I hurried eagerly to the register and bought it before anyone else could see it and take it out from under me.

When I got it home, it took me hours of searching online for a manual and printing it (seriously, it took me 45 minutes to figure out how to print the pages into a double-sided booklet), and it took me literally several days of prying, scraping, and pounding, using olive oil, two screwdrivers, and a spatula to remove the dough hook from the bowl. Apparently many yeas of disuse left it nearly fused to its washers. But I was not to be deterred! I was at least going to test it out to make sure it worked. I figure that at this price, if we get a half dozen loaves of decent bread, we'll get our money's worth.

It takes up as much room on the counter as a microwave, and there's no way that and a crock pot or rice cooker would all fit in the kitchen at the same time. It has to live on the floor in the garage when it's not being used. But who cares, if the house can smell like a bakery for a few hours every couple of days?

Bread, glorious bead!

So far, I've made pizza dough, which was a success, and one beautiful loaf of egg bread, which will surely not live long enough to see the light of day tomorrow.

Gorgeous and perfect egg bread, wouldn't you say?

I can't wait to try out wheat bread, cinnamon rolls, and bagels!

Do you have a bread machine? What's your favorite thing to make?

Morning Psalms

2011-02-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

I have to wonder how those who hold to the belief that one's personal quiet time should be done first thing in the morning don't "backslide" terribly during the infant and toddler stages of motherhood. Or maybe they just don't have kids. Having someone in your family who wakes with--or before--the dawn and demands your undivided attention does not typically make for a peaceful and quiet time of early morning communion with your Creator. Or maybe it's just me.

Truthfully, I have had about 3 mornings in the past 4 months in which I awoke before my daughter and managed to engage in a prayerful and healthy devotional time. Now that Sam is working and has to be out the door early, and now that I am able to drink coffee again, and now that I am able to make it through my morning without being sick, my mornings have become much more pleasant. Beautiful, even.

As I've dealt with this reality, I've also been wondering about and praying for a way to incorporate the Word of God into my daily routine in a way that includes my daughter. She knows what the Bible is (Duh, it's a book that is very big, and covered in leather, with shiny page edges), and she was taught at a very young age the parlor trick of throwing her hands up in the air when we say, "Praise the Lord!" She has her own board book of "Baby's First Bible" and she points out Jesus. And the kitten and puppy who are on almost every page. She often wants to pack her Bible with us in the diaper bag when we go to church.

For a little while, and not with incredible consistency, I have been reading one psalm aloud to my 19-month-old at breakfast. She loves to hear words she recognizes: high, strong, house, sky, face, horses, clap, and praise the Lord!

It is really the most fun I've had reading the Word in a long time. We laugh and clap and use hand gestures. It is a very small practice, but if it were more elaborate, there's no way I would be able to keep it up. Some days, this is pretty much the extent of my spiritual depth. As it is, it is approachable, it is doable, and it is a lot of fun!

Usually I have to stop every few words to help her with her breakfast. Yes, it takes us at least 10 minutes to read through about 20 sentences. But it works for us right now, and it's so worth it.

Easiest Microwave Applesauce for One (or one and a half)

2011-01-31T16:14:00.000-05:00

That one bruised apple

Around here, there is always at least one apple that has been thrown or dropped or gnawed on, that you don't want to toss out, but can't quite present it as a lovely specimen of fruit, either. I almost called this "That One Bruised Apple Applesauce" because that's the true origination of this recipe. That, and on PBS Kids several times this week Sid the Science Kid was learning about "change" and "irreversible change"--for example, when you cook an apple, you can't change it back to a raw apple. Like when you make applesauce.

So, guess who suddenly craved applesauce after watching Sid? Yep, and Lizzie thought it was a great idea, too.

Total time: 5 minutes.
Cleanup requirements: virtually nothing to clean up
Difficulty level: if you can nuke it, you can make this

Well, you peel the apple. The easiest way is to lob off the top and bottom, then slice down the sides.

Then you cube it, so each piece is approximately the same size - I did dice-sized cubes. Throw the cubes in a microwave-safe bowl.

Then you add a dribble of water. I've done this with and without water, and it works out about the same either way.

Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high.

(Or 1:54 minutes, but that's up to you.)

(Actually, if you use more than one apple, or if it's a big baking apple, like a Granny Smith, for instance, you may need to let it cook a little longer.)

While you wait for the microwave to ding, sing a silly song. (optional)

Mash the cooked apple cubes with a fork, and add a dash of cinnamon.

Once it's cool enough to handle, serve at once to your young scientist.

Enjoy!

Morning Coffee, How I've Missed You

2011-01-28T10:02:00.001-05:00

It's almost a novelty, drinking coffee in the morning. And when that comes with a bit of quiet, it's even more rare.

Today it is quiet at 9 AM because Sam has already left for work, and Lizzie was up until 11 PM. Of course, that means I was also up long after that, but as long as she stays in bed a little longer, I can deal with it. After all, I have my coffee.

Work is still going well for Sam. He has been working a lot of hours. A whole lot of hours. He's secretly going for a week with enough overtime to double his paycheck before they realize what's going on and tell him to knock it off. He gets to meet a lot of cool people (and a lot of oddballs, but that's what a retail position will give you), and he works in a field that he has a lot of interest in. His interest makes him an excellent salesperson; yesterday he sold over $1200 worth of product and memberships. He came home still stoked about that.

With all the extra hours, it's been a little hard for us to adjust. There are some days that Lizzie barely gets to see Sam. She misses him, but most evenings she is up late enough to see him. I actually had a meltdown a few days ago, and said that I needed him to be home for dinner once this week. Last night we had dinner together for the first time since Sunday. It was great. He helped with Lizzie's bedtime routine, and she climbed and played all over him. Hence, the 11 PM bedtime.

Wednesday morning I had my 16 week appointment, and all is well. Somewhere in the last few weeks I had gotten ahead of myself and really thought I was 17 weeks along. But no, 16 weeks. Baby's heartbeat is swooshing along nicely, and I'm finally starting to actually look pregnant, not just have a little pooch. (I recently found that I can't tie my robe unless it goes either above or below the belly.) We scheduled the 20 week ultrasound appointment 4 weeks out, and we'll find out what we're having! I have a feeling that will be when it all really kicks in and starts to be very real. And between now and then I'll be feeling the baby more, so I'll have a more constant reminder. Aside from the general fatigue and loose joints and occasional lightheadedness.

Lizzie is hilarious as always. She pulls words out of conversation and repeats them often. She's saying about 3-4 new words every day. Even while fighting a nasty head cold! In fact, "boogers" is one of her words. Yes, I taught my little girl how to say boogers. And poop. But hey, they're very useful.

One word that I taught Lizzie to say, purely for my own amusement, is "wonderful." I've been curious what she thinks is "won-doe-doe." For the record, everyone in the family--Daddy, Mama, Zizzie (Lizzie), Yay-yee (Lady, the dog), Max, and Leo (there are no phonetic transliterations for the way she says the cats' names)--are all wonderful. Her Duplos, some foods (particularly blueberries and eggs), and Barney, are also wonderful.

So that's all the "stuff" of life these days. My heart has been trying to be heard again lately. It had been sort of stifled for a while, I think. There's something about being physically sick that makes it hard for me to make a priority of anything spiritual. That is, anything beyond, "Oh, God, help," which I do believe is a perfectly valid prayer. Having time in the mornings again has helped me not feel like I'm starting every day behind, and has allowed me to have a quiet time about half the time. Today, I admit, I got on the computer first. I still haven't had a bona fide quiet time, but I will.

Well, I think I've written about all I needed to, and the girl is STILL quiet in her bed. Now for that quiet time.... And Second Breakfast.

Things I Should Be Doing

2011-01-26T17:01:00.000-05:00

The minute I open the "New Post" window, my mind fills with Things I Should Be Doing.

Never mind that I just spent an hour and a half on the computer, not doing the Things I Should Be Doing. Facebook, Due In July 2011 forum, blog reading. I've just exhausted my interest in those particular things normally waste my time, and now I think, "I should write a blog post."

And here they come, like a flock of starlings, swooping in with their distracting cackles.

I should finish the last dish that's soaking in the sink. I should clean the bread maker I just bought (at the Salvation Army store for only $13!). I should track down a stapler and staple together the manual I printed online (double-sided and everything. That only took me 45 minutes to figure out.). I should straighten the living room. Start the laundry. Or at least sort the laundry. Clean the bathrooms. (You remember a week or two ago when I made a chore chart for myself? Today I should clean the bathrooms and purge the fridge and start the laundry. Oh, and sweep.) I should start dinner. I should get a snack.

I'm back. I ate a waffle. And a glass of milk. If there's anything I love about being pregnant, it's that I can eat a waffle nearly any time of day and enjoy it thoroughly. After the first trimester, of course.

It's cold in here; I should turn up the heat. I should try again to pay that pesky AT&T bill that never seems to accept our credit card the first time I try. I should research cell phones to replace my dying, broken, taped-together phone. I should figure out what is required to get my daughter's birth certificate, since she is, after all, 19 months old. I should download the photos from the camera. Then I should upload them for the relatives.

I should just write a blog post.

Then I think, "I don't know what to write."

Oh, I know! I can sit down and write a list and a schedule and brainstorm new and fun topics. And then I can chart them on a calendar and decide when to write which thing.

No, I'll just go start on the Things I Should Be Doing, and see how far I get. And before long, the little girl with the runny nose will be awake and wanting me to "hold you" for the rest of the evening.

Hey, look! I just wrote a blog post!

Quick Snippets of January

2011-01-17T17:16:00.000-05:00


Her first fashion statement: Red Cowboy Boots. Every day. Every outing. With every outfit.

Snow! And lots of it!

She looks like she's describing something as big; she's not. She's saying, "holdy! holdy!" (i.e. hold me!)

She's just too much fun.

Weekly Plan - I Finally Have One!

2011-01-14T11:03:00.000-05:00

Confession time:
I have laundry that was washed 2 weeks ago that is still not put away.
I have not done a focused cleaning of the bathrooms since we had company over a month ago.
I cannot even remember the last time I mopped the kitchen floor.
The house is kept to a standard of "sanitary" (after all, no one licks the kitchen floor, right?) but it is certainly not ready for company at a moment's notice.
This is, I believe, part of why "virtual coffee" is such a great idea. :)

About 2 years ago I was home, not working anymore, and pregnant. Following Rachel Anne's Home Sanctuary blog, I decided to create a real housekeeping schedule. I went a bit crazy with it, using Excel, and outlining pretty much everything I would ever do to run a tight ship, right down to separating the mirrors and the bathtub from the bathrooms in general. It was quite successful. And then, the baby came.

There was a readjustment period, as you would expect. But the readjustment period probably shouldn't have lasted a year and a half. Seriously.

So here I am again: home, not working, and pregnant. And my house is a shambles. Part of that has had to do with having Sam at home. I don't know exactly what that's about, but there's something that paralyzes me when he's not working. Maybe I think it's a perpetual weekend. Maybe I feel obligated to keep him company. Maybe I use it as an excuse to be lazy. I can't get anything productive done, and if I do, it's in spurts of about 4 minutes at a time. That, and the kitchen was always a mess because there was another adult making food and not cleaning it up. A minor complaint, but sometimes in my head it got really major. Oh, the joys of pregnancy hormones. But he's working again, and all is right with the kitchen.

This week I was inspired to get serious about making a schedule again. It is a very simple one. It allows for ONE major item per day, and one or two other minor items per day. Laundry is broken up into 3 categories and takes 3 days. My Fridays' "major item" is "catch up" - allowing myself plenty of flexibility. There is nothing written on the weekend days. I want to consider those my "off" days, even though there are still the daily minimum requirements to making the house function. This is a schedule I think I will be able to maintain after the next baby comes.

Housekeeping Schedule - 2011

Not listed are those daily things. They are:
Dinner prepared/cleaned up
Pick Up (Minimum Maintenance - or some variation thereof)
Dishes (sink and counter clear by bedtime)
Sort mail/eliminate junk papers

These things alone will make everything less stressful. Wanna know why? Because I haven't even been doing them. Granted, I was too sick to stand up for a while there, but that's over and we're done with that phase. (Thank God!)

So I have been slowly but surely making my way to getting things picked up since Wednesday when I drew this schedule out on a piece of paper. Yep, it's just a large page, no white board, no dates. Simple as can be.

That's the way it's gotta be to work around here.

Now I'm off to finish watching Sid the Science Kid with Lizzie. Sid is her latest TV crush. Oh, she loves him.

{Top Ten} No, That Won't Hurt Your Baby

2011-01-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

For the past couple of years, I have frequented an internet forum that is for expectant mothers. During pregnancy, the women are grouped according to the month in which their babies are due, and friendships are formed. I'm proud to say I'm friends with many women from the group I was part of when Lizzie was a baby.

Now there is a new group for women due in July 2011. It has been a riot. Being one of the ones who has "been there, done that" has made me laugh because there are so many questions by the first time moms. Things like, "I pop my back when it bothers me; can that hurt my baby?" "Can I use mouthwash that has alcohol in it? Will that hurt my baby?" "Can I eat yogurt? It has cultures in it, so is it safe?" Really, people?

Now that most everyone there has made it out of the first trimester, or at least they're really close to it, the tone has gotten much lighter. So I thought I would make a general list for everyone. Maybe it would nip a few of the questions in the bud. Enjoy!

No matter how hard you push, prod, poke, or roll, your hand is not going to hurt your baby.

Having sex will not hurt your baby (provided you're not on pelvic rest per doctor's orders).

Sleeping on your belly, side or back* will not hurt your baby - if you wake up in any of these positions, you haven't done something terrible, just roll over. Once you aren't comfortable sleeping on one of the 'bad' ways to sleep, then find another way to sleep.*Lying on your back for extended periods after around 15 weeks is not recommended because the weight of the uterus and baby can press on an artery, which cuts your circulation; that's not good for either of you. But that doesn't mean you've done irreparable damage because you woke up that way.
Falling on your butt or your elbow or your back won't hurt your baby. It'll give you a good bruise or sprain, but unless you suddenly have bleeding, cramping, or other signals of distress from your uterus, your baby is fine.

That pasta sauce, beef roast, beer cheese soup, or beer bread, while cooked with alcohol, still will not hurt your baby.

Strenuous exercise will not hurt your baby; it may hurt you while your ligaments and joints are stretching and shifting, which is why it's not recommended.

That hot dog, Subway sandwich, cup of coffee, stick of gum, Dr. Pepper, yogurt that expired yesterday, deli cheese, medium-rare steak, stale bread, or the butter-drenched and fabulous lobster tail that you ate will not hurt your baby.

Hot showers, warm baths, cozy fires, soft music, flowers, delicious meals, and chocolate, will not hurt your baby.

Coughing, sneezing, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, flatulence, bowel movements, laughing too hard, screaming, dogs barking, dogs jumping on you in excitement, pets licking you, forgetting to take your vitamin, and the grocery store clerk looking at you funny, will not hurt your baby.

However, car accidents, domestic (or other) violence, falling hard on your belly, signs of severe dehydration or illness or any unexplained pain that doesn't go away with a dose or two of Tylenol and rest and a bottle of water, among other things that your doctor has probably already warned about.... could be a sign of something more serious, and are definitely worth a phone call or trip to the ER.

Happy, safe, healthy, and sane pregnancy to you all!

Are there any more that you would add?

Starting Again

2011-01-07T16:35:00.000-05:00

I'm not really one of those people who is inspired to "start fresh" with every new year. Maybe it has to do with not being obsessed with numbers, maybe it's from being homeschooled and now being a stay-at-home-mom, where I don't deal with a calendar quite the same way that I did when I worked. Maybe I am a non-conformist and just can't bear to do what everyone else is doing. Maybe I'm afraid to make a list of resolutions that I can't keep maintained.

At any rate, this year I feel different about all that.

It's probably because I am just now recovering from my first trimester (did you miss it? We're expecting a new Chen in July!), complete with morning sickness and the head cold from the pit of hell. It likely has something to do with Sam starting work this week (thank you, Jesus!). Sam really loves his job, by the way. He comes home excited about it every day. It is such a blessing to have him happy about work, and to have him busy. I loved having him home, but there is nothing quite like having the house feel like my domain again.

To start with, I'm blogging again, and this weekend I'm hoping to chart out a bit of a plan. I couldn't pass on joining you Company Girls today. This is especially true since I'm finally enjoying coffee again!

One thing I am surprised that I'm excited about is getting back to menu planning. I slacked off totally when I was too sick to even think about food.

This morning I actually sat down with a cookbook and figured out several recipes that I could convert to meals that could be prepared in advance and frozen. It is exciting. I'll have to figure out whether to do one mega-cooking day (or weekend), or just build up a supply gradually by doubling or tripling recipes and freezing the extras. I may do a combination of the two. Alicia's post about once-a-month cooking and planning really got me thinking I could do it.

Last week I sat down with my copy of Square Foot Gardening and figured out when the last spring frost is, and made a timeline of when we could plant things. I think I could start in March. My dad said one of our friends has an extra SFG frame that would be available if I wanted it. I said, "Yes, please!" Now I just have to find a place in our yard that would get enough sun to make it worth while.

I have a couple of odd projects to work on for my mom. Her book, When Sparrows Fall, is coming out in May, and I'll be helping her with some office paperwork, mailing lists, etc. I have some assignments to get busy with, and I'm finally feeling capable of adding that to my weekly routine.

Happy 2011, everyone! I hear the short person singing to herself in her crib, so it is time to post and move on.

Happy!

2010-12-30T23:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas, thank you for asking. I hope yours was blessed.

Our morning was simple, with my parents and brothers coming by to join us for brunch, and to load Lizzie with gifts. The girl could have gone swimming in her pile of presents. We didn't even get to her stocking, because the wrapped gifts under the tree were so overwhelming to her that she started throwing a fit. It was pathetic and hilarious. We had to confiscate a couple of toys; they were provoking her.

A wonderful family from church invited us to join them for their Christmas lunch, so we all moved on from our house to their house, and feasted with them. It was a blessing to be invited for Christmas into a larger family than just our immediate family of six. Oh, and the food was the most delicious holiday fare I have ever had. The turkey was marinated overnight in a secret recipe of Spanish mole' and spices, and every bite of it was amazing. I ate two whole plates of food, and then had a piece and a half of chocolate cake. I don't know how I managed to eat all that, but I do know that I looked like I got about a month more pregnant in just a matter of hours. And then I came home and polished off leftover Chinese food. And a bottle of O'Doul's.

I have a few pictures, but the camera is not in this room, and I don't want to get up and load them. I'm sorry, I am really lazy about putting up pictures lately. You can blame it on the baby. I know I do.

Happy Chinese Restaurant!

(This is just a little aside, and I don't even know if it fits or not, but here it is anyway.) On Christmas Eve, I was worn out from Christmas preparations, and flat out refused to make dinner. So we went out to eat. It being Christmas Eve, the only thing open were the Asian restaurants, so we tried a new place, "Chinese Restaurant" in a Korean shopping center. When we pulled up, the sign was in Korean and English. Then we went in, thinking it was sort of strange, and Sam looked at the menu, because he was really confused. He was confounded and told me to order--which never happens at a Chinese restaurant--rather, he is always the one who converses in Mandarin with the waitstaff, asking specific questions about the flavors and ingredients of menu items, then asking me if I'd rather have option A or option B. We finally sat down, and they served us kimchi for an appetizer, along with pickled radishes and plain sliced onions. Liz was having nothing to do with those appetizers. She did, however, like the tea in the small cups they served it in. Anyway, we ordered the food, and it was pretty good; it was not your standard American Chinese food, nor was it your standard Authentic Chinese. Sam asked the waitress (who was also one of the owners) what the story behind the restaurant was, and she told him that her family was Chinese, but raised in Korea. And now I know what a Chinese restaurant would be like if I ate at a Chinese restaurant in Korea. We're going to stick with our usual authentic Chinese restaurants. Since then we have ordered Chinese food twice. From different restaurants.

Happy New Year!

Sam starts work on Monday! He will be working part time at a retail store, and while it's not in his career path, and isn't full time, it is a store he really believes in, and he has so far enjoyed getting to know the guys he will be working with. And a paycheck is a paycheck is a paycheck, even if it won't be huge. He will have his eyes open for positions in full time work in construction management or something along those lines, but for now, we are so grateful for this option. In the meantime, he hopes to become their best employee, so that he can gain the favor and position to determine his schedule and make the job really work for him and our family.

Having Sam at work will be wonderful. These 6 months (yes, it's been since June) have been trying on us. Thank the Lord that we have had everything we've needed. Thank the Lord that Sam had foresight in the past to set aside money. Thank the Lord that we got a great tax refund for last year. Thank the Lord for His provision thus far.

Happy Baby!

Yesterday (Wednesday) I had another doctor's appointment. I'm 12 weeks along now, and almost done with the first trimester. We got to hear the heartbeat, and it was good and strong. Even though I haven't anticipated anything going awry, it was so reassuring to hear it. I was actually supposed to have an ultrasound done (for the neural translucency screening), but I mixed up the appointment time and missed it. I'm rescheduled for Monday, which unfortunately is when Sam starts work, so he won't get to be there. He wants me to video-tape it. I'm not quite sure how that'll work, but I'll try.

My nausea has been less pronounced than it was a few weeks ago. Hopefully it is actually starting to let up, and will leave me alone soon. In the meantime, I have the headcold from hell, and have not been able to smell anything since the day after Christmas. This may be why I'm not feeling quite as sick to my stomach.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm about to rustle up a bedtime snack of decongestant and toaster strudel and a tall glass of milk. Good night, and happy new year!

Menu Planning and Morning Sickness

2010-12-19T23:59:00.001-05:00

Now that I've given my big reveal, it won't be so hard to keep up a more regular blogging routine. Something about not being able to talk about the biggest thing going on in my life paralyzed me from writing. I'm also convinced that my lack of rest contributed to my lack of quiet times which in turn contributed to my lack of a sense of purpose in writing, which therefore contributed to my lack of writing. Besides all that, I felt like crap.

Well, good that we got that out of the way. I have to laugh because I am talking about menu planning. I have told myself for the last 2 years that "the next time I get pregnant I'll quickly cook up a bunch of chicken and prepare a lot of freezer meal kits, before the morning sickness hits." I thought that was a really good idea. And it was, until reality hit and my first identifiable symptom about 2 weeks into the pregnancy was violent nausea.

Honestly, it's a wonder that we haven't all starved, the way I've had trouble even going into the kitchen some days. There is nothing worse than dry heaving while trying make something to feed your hungry, confused toddler. Who would have known that chicken nuggets would be so offensive? Or rice and beans. Or spaghetti (honestly, the thought of spaghetti makes me gag. Just gagged.). Or a hot dog. Or oatmeal. Or an egg. Poor Sam has had to fend for himself more often than not.

Suffice it to say, we have not had a menu plan in our house for about 10 weeks. We have been living on the nutritious meals provided by Marie Callendar and dear Mrs. Stouffer. I have had more Super Sonic Breakfast Burritos (light on the jalapenos and onions, heavier on the tots) in the last 2 months than in the previous 10 months. Our deep freezer (a "happy pregnancy/we just (finally) got our tax return" gift from Sam) is full of convenience foods. I will seriously have to take a picture. And we've qualified for a GA-funded EBT card, so we're loading it up right now, with as much as can fit in there. The thing is nearly 14 cubic feet. That's a lot of veggies and Michellina's, y'all.

I will, however, try to get to the grocery store tomorrow, to pick up some necessities - orange juice, Raisin Bran Crunch (seriously, have you tried it? That stuff's good!), saltines, Gatorade, chocolate chips, and some variety of red meat. And some vegetables, since those are good for you.

Tuesday I will host the 3rd Annual Great Cookie Bake, however, this time without the baking part. It'll just be the cookie exchange part. And that's really what everyone comes for anyway. I've narrowed down my options for contributions to either Saltine Heath Toffee Bars, or Classic Sugar Cookies. One is super easy, the other is super cute, and can be super fun. Which would you pick?

The Explanation

2010-12-17T08:00:00.004-05:00

I am so bad at keeping secrets. Really. That is precisely why I have not been blogging for almost 2 months.

Well, that and all my creative energy has been going to my uterus.

Yep, you read that right--my uterus.

I suspected the last weekend in October, and confirmed in the first couple of days of November. (You remember that supposed "bad spinach" I ate right before the brunch we hosted? Yeah, sorry, I kind of had to lie. But I really did think the spinach was bad.) Since then we have been excited and slightly overwhelmed and thankful. The morning sickness has subsided--slightly. The exhaustion is manageable. The gag reflex is going strong. Coffee doesn't taste right to me. (Sorry, Company Girls, you'll have to bring your own today!)

Here is a picture of our adorable little alien creature, taken earlier this month, at 9 weeks. I promise, it looked cuter on the sonogram screen than it does here.

Lizzie, at 18 months, has no idea that her shirt says Big Sister, but she likes that the little girl on the shirt has hair. Or as she says it in her drawl, "hayah."

She will be 25 months old when the new one arrives in July. Oh, little girl, you have no idea what awaits you!

Come to think of it, neither do we!

Hopefulness

2010-12-03T23:36:00.001-05:00

It's late tonight, so there's no coffee this time. We have bottled water. And apple cider. We can heat it in the microwave for a treat.

In the past few weeks, my mind has been preoccupied. Not with anything bad, not even with worry. And since the appropriate time to share what's been going on has not yet come, I have been trying to think of other things to write. But with no luck. So here is the brief update on life in the Chen household.

Thanksgiving was lovely. We scorched a turkey in the fryer. It turned out fine on the inside. We (collectively--all 7 of us) ate an entire block of cream cheese. We made mimosas. We confirmed that our favorite dish of all is green bean casserole. Not turkey so much. My mom and I are already plotting how to make it even simpler next year. We're thinking that Publix will make your whole meal for you, if you just order it ahead. I know, there are all these domestic goddesses blogging about their homemade from scratch turkeys and pies and casseroles and sauces, and then there's me. But you know what? That's me right now.

We have a new deep freezer! I am loving it. The last three times I've gone to the grocery store I have come back heavy laden with frozen goods--vegetables, chicken nuggets, meats to freeze, and toaster strudels. Yes, toaster strudels. I had forgotten about them until recently. Ah, with the little frosting packet to drizzle on top.... Sorry. I think it's almost time for a snack. At any rate, I am looking forward to planning out an intense cooking weekend during which I will make meals and meal-parts to make my life so much simpler.

Target was fun to shop last week. Old Navy was a zoo. The weather has been exciting--tornadoes in my parents' neighborhood (maybe you saw it in the news on Tuesday) and freezing temperatures and t-shirt weather, all in the same week.

Unfortunately, Sam heard from the company that we were kind of banking on hiring him. They sent him a letter, bearing the good ol', Thanks, but no thanks. That has been hard on him. He's continued to apply to different places, but it's getting frustrating having no solid leads and no paycheck. And nothing to keep him focused day by day. It is hard for a man to be unemployed. It is not particularly easy for his wife, either.

I know there's got to be more I can do; more I can pray; more I can help scour CareerBuilder. But I get so tired of praying the same thing. I get discouraged praying for this job and that job to be the one, and then his being turned down. I know Sam is tired of hearing that he is not the candidate they're looking for. I know he's tired of being home every day.

I know there is a good job for Sam somewhere. I know that God is able to rearrange whole corporations to make room for him. I know that until He does, we're going to have everything we need.

Deep breath. Change gears.

I'm looking forward to Christmas. We're hoping to make it out to visit Sam's family this month. I am slowly motivating myself to do the cleaning and rearranging that will be necessary to make a space for the tree. Lizzie will really enjoy Christmas this year, being 18 months old. She has had a delightful sense of awe at decorated trees when she's seen them in person. She saw a picture of a lit garland around a front door and called it a necklace. She insists that she wants one. I want to pull the decorations out of the attic and put a garland up around the front door, just to hear her say "wow!"

We bought (half off at Target!) a Thomas & Friends beginner train set, which Lizzie will be thrilled to open and play with. She still has an outrageous crush on Thomas. She squeals with glee when the show comes on TV. I want to fill her stocking with bouncy balls and new socks and hair bows and bath toys. I hope we'll get at least enough snow for Lizzie to understand what it is. I hope we'll make fires in the fire place and light Christmasy candles and make cookies. I want to host another cookie exchange. I'm thinking it may be a simplified version this time.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?

Tornado!

2010-12-02T16:01:00.000-05:00

You never know what a day will bring.

Tuesday brought a strength EF 2 tornado to my parents' subdivision. We are exceedingly grateful that 1) no one in the subdivision was injured, and that 2) my family's house sustained only minimal damage.

first responders assessing the damage

There is one house that was completely leveled. 56 houses in all had some damage from the storm. It came suddenly and without warning. Power and natural gas were out or turned off for about 30 hours, and the temperatures were less than accommodating for workers and residents.

a propane grill, blown on its side, in the middle of a lawn

I am grateful for the grace of God, protecting and preserving the lives of everyone in the neighborhood, and for keeping my parents' home relatively untouched. It is truly a miracle.

For the Love of God

2010-11-23T23:25:00.001-05:00

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." This is the first and greatest commandment.

How do YOU love the Lord? Is it obedience? Is it doing something?

Do you feel the overwhelming sense of love, like you do when you watch your baby sleeping, or see your husband clean up the kitchen?

I am usually stuck on the "how" because I like to have things spelled out for me. What can I DO to show that I love Him?

But that's not what He's asking for. "You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would have given" (Ps 51)

When I just TRY harder, it becomes something that I am trying to earn. It is of myself. It is not acceptable. And it has no faith in it. It's based on my own strength, performance, and motives. It is wearying. It is hopeless. It has no true humility or self-sacrifice. It only has obligation.

It is not as hard to know how to "do" things to show love (or at least the appearance of love) for others. They are all around us, they can receive our attempts to love them. God, on the other hand, is not as easy to love, if you want a list of ways you can love Him. Maybe it is easier to love Him if you have a list. I guess it worked out pretty well for the Pharisees, since they liked lists of things to do. They could check their lists every day. But Jesus didn't like their lists. So that creates a problem if Jesus' (God's) opinion matters.

How do I love Him? If I am asking myself, my truly honest answer is: Poorly.

When I examine my heart, I realize I don't love well, because I just don't have that self-giving, self-sacrificing love automatically in there. In order for me to love, I have to understand and accept and embrace the reality that I am well-loved. "We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4)

So my prayer is, 'Lord, help me to know that You love me, so that I can respond to your love, in kind."

How do you love God? What does it look like in your life? What does it feel like?

More deep thoughts and encouraging words at Finding Heaven. :)

my commitment to you

2010-11-22T17:18:00.000-05:00

I love to write, I love to share, I love to engage in conversation, I love to hear from others.

The time off last week was good for me; I rested a lot, read a good bit, and reflected on what I want to focus on for this little virtual room I've invited you into.

Here is my commitment to you:

I will write with these criteria in mind: Does it encourage? Does it help or benefit? Does it provoke thought or growth? Does it glorify God? Is it honest?

I will ask myself: Does it fit with my purpose to Keep a graceful home, Live a shared life, and Grow a loving family? If so, up it goes. If not, then I'll pass. (Keep in mind, that my 'shared life' does make for a broad category.)
I will write only when I actually have something to say. I will not wait for inspiration to strike, but I will not write for the sake of putting one more blog post out there.

I will not write only to fit in with a particular meme or blog carnival. If something I want to write does happen to fit, I will do my best to schedule and link as appropriate, but I have decided not to try too hard.

I will not spam your subscription or insult your friendship by assuming that just because it entered my mind, you desire to read it.

If you have read my ramblings for any length of time, what has brought you back? Related, is there something you'd enjoy seeing more often?

Whataya Know? The World Kept Turning Without Me

2010-11-18T23:53:00.001-05:00

It's been over a week since I posted anything. I guess it was an unofficial break?

Well, in case you think I've been doing very exciting things that have been preventing me from sharing my ever-intriguing life, let me assure you, I have not.

Rather, the couch and I have become excellent friends.

The bathroom, too. In a sick and twisted kind of way.

Not the kitchen so much. And my cleaning supplies? They are all but abandoned.

I'll tell you what; the laundry has not been missed. I don't think it missed me, either.

My computer, which used to be a laptop, before the screen died and had to be replaced by an old fashioned monitor, chaining it indefinitely to the desk, has been visited only frequently. I have well over 100 unread followed blog posts calling to me with their happy titles, like eager and shining faces, which I believe will remain unread. It's just how life goes.

Poor Sam; he's had to pick up an awful lot of slack while I've been sick these last several days. He's really great. Sometimes I complain about him (mostly in my head--still not healthy, I know), often I complain to him. He gets a lot of ugly from me. But I don't ever really mean it, because he's truthfully wonderful and caring.

And he just asked me to identify whether the smell in his closet is cat pee or not. I'll catch you later. Have a happy weekend.

Nap Times? Ha!

2010-11-11T19:28:00.000-05:00

Maybe I can blame it on the time change. Naps have been a wash this week. I don't know what to tell you; this week hasn't gone quite like normal. One thing I can tell you is that I got to take a nap once or twice during the kiddo's nap time. On those days, it was life-changing, truly.

So while I had dreamed of trying new recipes, recording memories, and composing gorgeous prose to share with the world, it just didn't happen. However, I have enjoyed fellowship with dear friends, I have put together the same 2 wooden puzzles more times than I can count, fed and clothed the family, and paid all our bills.

I now have something new to fill my nap times: This week I have gotten to start working on an office project for my mom, who is very close to being moderately famous and will need an underling to handle paperwork odds and ends while she does the creative business of writing. That will be a new adventure, working a few hours a week, more or less, while balancing housekeeping and entertaining a highly social toddler.

I leave you with this, my best quote of the day: "Lizzie, take the electrical plug out of your ear."

Maybe your nap times were productive, exceedingly abundantly beyond what I was able to accomplish. Would you like to tell about it? Link up below!

Ponderable - workout clothes

2010-11-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

Can you explain this to me?

Workout clothes are fitted.

Workout clothes are moisture-wicking.

Workout clothes are comfortable (or should be).

Workout clothes should minimize chafing, riding up, and being unsupportive.

Shouldn't there be comfortable, fitted, moisture wicking, non-chafing, non-riding up, non-panty-line-showing panties to wear with these fitted workout pants?

10 Ways to Keep Sane While Waiting at a Government Office

2010-11-09T06:00:00.003-05:00

Being unemployed and relying upon various forms of government assistance allows countless hours of waiting in plastic chairs with others in similar, or worse, situations.

Here are ways to keep entertained while waiting.

1. Keep your toddler off the floor. And out of the waste basket. And away from the door. And coloring only on the paper. And from dropping every other Cheerio. And from eating the dropped Cheerios.

2. People watch. Imagine their stories. Engage someone and find out her story.

3. Make lists. Grocery lists. To do lists. Top 10 lists.

4. Work on the Sudoku puzzle from Sunday that's really hard and is probably halfway wrong.

5. Practice your [insert commonly spoken foreign language in your area] with the woman sitting next to you.

6. Brainstorm ideas for blog posts. Add to the lists you're writing.

7. Watch tiny newborn babies sleep, and listen to their hoarse but gentle cries when they wake up, and get all mushy thinking about having another one.

8. Watch overtired and bored siblings push each other off plastic chairs and be reminded of the benefits of birth control.

9. Mentally map out every drive-thru between the office and home, and imagine what you would eat at each one.

10. Pray. In the Spirit. For the mom you overhear telling her story to the worker at the counter. For the other worker at the counter dealing with an irate person. For a job to call back. For your name to be called so you can get home and eat something.

11. And for good measure: Text.

Cindy vs. Pride

2010-11-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

Linking up with Finding Heaven's Soli Deo Gloria Sisters today!

Pride and I, we're BFF's. And it makes me sick.

Psalm 36
"An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin." (vv. 1-2)

I remember having a conversation with my mentor several years ago, and he was talking about how essential it is to hate sin when it's found within my heart. To not tolerate it at all.

This summer I read through Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. It is a life-changing book. If I will let it be that to me. You see, the idea is that in every task, in every moment, in every thought, the mind and the heart can be focused on the precious Person of Jesus. I found myself battling to do so. So much so that I gave up. No, I would rather think about whatever stupid thing is in my mind right now. I want to be right this time. I'll try again tomorrow, but not right now. Every time I stubbornly refused to submit my heart to look to Jesus, I was essentially saying, My thoughts are more entertaining or important than anything else. Even You.

What that boils down to, in Psalm-speak, is that I am too often the one who has no fear of God. I am the one flattering myself, justifying my selfishness, laziness, cowardice. Not calling my sin what it is. Definitely not hating it. No, more like coddling it.

⁴ ...they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.

Lord, I am this way too often. I am best friends with my pride. Much closer to pride than to You.

I don't want it to be that way.

Tell me, what does Pride have, that Jesus doesn't?

Well, Pride lets me have my way. Doesn't ask me to bow my will. Or to be gentle and meek. Doesn't require self-discipline or honesty. Pride lets me go my own way.

And yet, what do You have, Jesus, that I and my self-absorbed ways cannot offer?

⁵ Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

But Your love, O LORD, is high, rich, mighty.
Your faithfulness to me is strong and unsearchable.

your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.

Your justice is worth fearing, powerful, and beneficial when yielded to.

⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Your greatness is comforting, and your abundance is always available.

⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

You give me the eternal food and drink that refreshes and delights my heart. As well as everything I need for life.

⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Thank You for the Word, giving light to my heart to see what is in me.

Links and Love

2010-11-07T17:28:00.001-05:00

I haven't posted a "what I've found" post in quite a while. These are some fun and encouraging links I've come across in my browsing lately:

Helpful:

Mama's Losin' It shared about internet safety and what you can do to be safer in your blogging and online content.

AP Freewriting is working through 31 days to build a better blog. Very helpful.

Steady Mom gave brief reviews of 4 great Parenting Books. I'm searching my library for these this week.

Encouraging:

A Holy Experience posted 'The Blogger's Prayer' and I want to print it and put it on my bulletin board.

Three's a Crowd wrote about Mary the mother of Jesus; it reminds me of something the late Rich Mullins said in an interview: "It may not be that Catholics worship Mary; it may just be that we honor each other too little."

Sit a Spell gave an update from within Tomas in Haiti. Lord, have mercy.

There is nothing like Authenticity. Thanks, Katharine, for sharing your heart.

Parenting. It takes more faith than skill. Keith & Patricia shared about having a Long Range View.

I want to eat these:

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries at Simply Recipes

Next time I go to the store I'm getting "Scoops" to make Toddler Tacos from It's Come 2 This!

And this just makes me happy:

Elisa is having a baby and she found the sweetest way ever to tell her hubby!

I'm linking to Elizabeth Esther's Saturday Evening Blog Post; you can join, posting your best post of the last month!

Sischuan Spicy Eggplant

2010-11-05T22:01:00.003-04:00

"It tastes just right." Be still my beating heart! It is intimidating to cook Chinese food for my husband, raised by a Chinese mother who can cook the socks off anyone I know. For him to tell me it tastes just right is gratifying to the Nth degree. It's truly one of the finer things in life.

This particular recipe is modified from a Williams-Sonoma cookbook (found it on clearance years ago at a Ross store) called Savoring China. I originally made it when I had an eggplant in the refrigerator, and no distinct plan. I also had ground pork, garlic, and tofu.

Don't let the tofu scare you. It used to scare me until I realized that it tastes super boring unless there is a great sauce on it. It is all about the sauce. Tofu is an inexpensive protein, lasts for quite a while in the refrigerator, and gives you a good amount of calcium and iron!

And don't let the "spicy" scare you. The spice is all in the sauce ingredients you use; you can control the heat, and I'll tell you where to adapt the sauce. Ready? Let's go!

(Note: This recipe is done in 2-3 phases, which you can think of as annoying because you have to go into the kitchen twice, or as a blessing because you can get all the cutting done ahead of time.

Sischuan Spicy Eggplant

Eggplant, Tofu and Pork stir fry with garlic, ginger, and Hoisin sauce

Ingredients:

Stir fry:
1 medium eggplant, or 4 small Asian eggplants (about 1 pound total weight)
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) vegetable oil
~~
1 14 ounce package firm or extra firm tofu
1/2 pound ground pork
1/4 cup (about 6 cloves) minced garlic
2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger
~~
Sauce:
2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
3-4 Tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3/4 teaspoon sugar
sauce, part 2:
1/4 cup chicken or beef stock, or water
1 teaspoon corn starch
~~
Garnish:
1/2 cup chopped green onions (white and green parts) (optional)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)

Serve over hot rice.

Method:

You may use the thin Asian eggplants, or the standard water-balloon-shaped eggplants. Last week Kroger had these for $1 each, so I picked one up.

First, slice (peel, if desired), and cube the eggplant into bite-sized pieces.

Bite-sized as in, the size of eggplant piece you would like to have in your mouth, rather than something that can fit in your mouth. Remember, the skin can be somewhat leathery.

I chose to peel half the eggplant, and left the skin on the other half.

Then, cube it into bite-sized pieces, and place it in a colander.

Sprinkle the eggplant with the salt, and let it rest for 30 minutes. While it rests, you can proceed to the next steps, or peruse unread blogs. I'll be right here.

The salt draws out any bitterness in the eggplant.

Tofu is an unsung hero of Asian cuisine. It is inexpensive, healthy, and flavorless. The flavorlessness is what got it into trouble in American cuisine, because it tastes like bland vegetables. Besides, who wants to eat something otherwise called "bean curd"? But its bland flavor is what allows it to be added to just about anything without changing the taste significantly.

Cube the tofu.
(I tend to start cutting it while it's in the box, then roll it out onto a paper towel to make the last cuts.)

Let the tofu drain, also. Here are the eggplant and the tofu hanging out in the sink together, getting acquainted.

If you're like me, you forgot to defrost the ground pork until just now. Get that going.

The original recipe only calls for 1/4 pound, but with a carnivore for a husband, there's no point in putting only 3 ounces of meat in a meal. Even if he was raised on tofu.

After 30 minutes, thoroughly rinse the eggplant, and pat it dry with paper towels.
It is ready to go in its oil bath.

Heat about a cup of oil over high heat, until the oil starts to ripple.

If you want to reduce the amount of oil, you can, but it will take a little longer to cook the eggplant and you will have to stir it more often, which may cause it to begin to disintegrate.

Once the oil is hot, toss in the eggplant.
Stir it for about a minute, then turn down the heat and let it cook for about 5-6 minutes; long enough for it to be sufficiently cooked, but before it starts to discolor and fall apart.

It sizzles beautifully.

Here it is getting darker, toward the end of the cooking process. The purple and green are coming out.

Remove from the heat, then drain the eggplant and the oil into the original colander, and allow it to drain for another 30 minutes. This is where you can start the rice, finish chopping, whip up the sauce, and set the table or make a side, like sauteed kale (I promise I'll post my easy recipe and link to it soon!).

Dice the garlic.

Did you know that I love garlic? That's why 1/4 cup of garlic is delicious to me. You don't have to use this much. The first time I made this, I only used about 3 cloves and it tasted fine.

Also, I keep a ginger root in the freezer, a la Rachael Ray, and keep a peeled, fresh ginger root in my freezer. I have no idea when I bought this one, but it's been my companion for quite a while.

As it was still frozen, I really couldn't chop it; rather, I nearly shaved pieces off the ginger root.

Dice it finely, so it's about the same size as the garlic pieces.

I found these sauces in the "ethnic" section of the grocery store, so they shouldn't be too hard to find--
therefore you, too, can make this dish!

The Hoisin sauce is mildly sweet. The soy sauce adds salty flavor. The sesame oil gives it a distinctive Asian flavor--be careful because even a drop goes a long way. Sugar reduces the acidity. Vinegar takes the sweet down a notch and gives it a little more interest and bite. LaYu (hot chili oil) makes it spicy--just add a drop or two, if you're interested in heat. Or substitute a pinch of crushed pepper flakes.

Mix up the sauce.

The original recipe used unusual spices, and gave it a lot of heat. This version is tangy, but not what most people would call "spicy" or "hot."

Taste the sauce before you pour it in. The adjustments you will make will probably come in the form of adding more vinegar or more sugar.

Add oil (if necessary) to the pan to have about 2 teaspoons.

Stir fry the ginger, garlic, and ground pork, until the pork is cooked.

Add the eggplant and tofu. The eggplant will start to fall apart, and that is OK.

Pour the sauce into the pork, eggplant, and tofu. Stir and let it cook for a minute.

Mix up the broth and cornstarch mixture; you can use the same cup.

Then add the cornstarch and broth to thicken the sauce.


Stir gently and cook for about 1-2 minutes.

If you choose to garnish, here is where you sprinkle the chopped cilantro and/or green onions over the top. I did not have either on hand, so it is not as colorful as it could have been.

There you have it! Sischuan Eggplant is delicious over rice, and tonight I served it with sauteed kale.

I am going to try to post recipes more often, and I have several other authentic Chinese dishes to share. Please check back for new ones!

[to print, select this section with your mouse, choose 'Print' in your web browser, then choose the radio button to 'Print selection.']

Sischuan Spicy Eggplant

Eggplant, Tofu and Pork stir fry with garlic, ginger, and Hoisin sauce

Ingredients:

Stir fry:

1 medium eggplant, or 4 small Asian eggplants (about 1 pound total weight)

1 Tablespoon salt

1 cup (8 ounces) vegetable oil

1 14 ounce package firm or extra firm tofu

1/2 pound ground pork

1/4 cup (about 6 cloves) minced garlic

2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger

Sauce:

2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

3-4 Tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

3/4 teaspoon sugar

sauce, part 2:

1/4 cup chicken or beef stock, or water

1 teaspoon corn starch

Garnish:

1/2 cup chopped green onions (white and green parts) (optional)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)

Serve over hot rice.

Method:

Cube (and peel, if desired) eggplant, and place in colander. Sprinkle with salt, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Cube tofu, pat dry with paper towels.

Heat oil in wok or 4 quart saucepan over high heat, until oil ripples.

Rinse eggplant thoroughly, and pat dry with paper towels.

Carefully place eggplant in oil, stirring gently for 1-2 minutes. Reduce heat and cook for 5-6 minutes.

Drain eggplant and oil into colander over sink. Let rest for another 30 minutes, up to 4 hours.

Dice garlic and ginger.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in pan over medium heat.

Add ginger, garlic, and ground pork, stirring until pork is cooked, about 2 minutes.

Mix together sauce ingredients, adjusting to taste.

Add eggplant and tofu to pan with pork, stirring gently. The eggplant will start to fall apart here.

Pour sauce into pan with eggplant, etc.

Dissolve cornstarch into broth, then add to eggplant, etc., to thicken the sauce. Stir for 30-60 seconds. Add the green onions, if using.

Serve immediately over rice or noodles. Garnish, if desired, with chopped cilantro.

A Hope and A Future

2010-11-04T15:25:00.002-04:00

Because the Lord promises to give us a hope and a future, it is important to spend a little time considering what hopes we have for the future.

Today during nap time I am sitting with a huge bottle of water, ignoring the dryer that just stopped spinning, and imagining. Some of these imaginings are about things I want to have, and things I want to do, and some of them are kind of silly. But what's the point of imagining if you don't throw in some silly?

One day I hope to ...

Plant a real Square Foot Garden this coming spring;

Which means I hope to create a plan, with a month-by-month schedule before the end of the year.

Use my sewing machine that sits forlornly in the corner right next to my computer.

Wean this child before she's 4;

And immediately buy myself something to wear under my shirts that doesn't have the prefix "nursing".

Have a back porch. Or a front porch. Or at least a pleasant place to sit outside.

Have space between my back porch and the neighbors.

Have neighbors that I don't worry will rent to someone who later gets picked up by the U. S. Marshals. (It really happened.) Or rat on each other to the cops when they're mad, saying they have cocaine. And they do. (It really happened.) Or let their dogs harass us and defecate in our own front yard. (It really happens.)

Hang pictures on the wall.

Have something on the wall that qualifies as art.

Run a 5K. And then maybe something more.

Get a good hair cut, and maintain it.

Get a motorcycle license.

Visit Costa Rica.

Visit China.

Visit New York City.

Print and create a workable way to store our photos.

Finish Lizzie's baby book before I have another baby.

Learn how to use a fancy still camera.

Play the piano every day, like I used to.

Learn to make a custard.

Learn to make a souffle.

Order Beef Wellington at a restaurant once, just to see why Chef Ramsay is so obsessed with it.

Learn to make a good cocktail.

Have a deep freezer, to be stocked with dinners, soups, meats, and produce from our garden.

Understand Mandarin Chinese. Maybe even write it. Maybe even speak it.

Learn as many recipes as I can from Sam's mom.

Write a book that encourages women in some form or fashion.

Write a cookbook. Maybe with recipes from Sam's mom. And a custard. And a good cocktail.

Write more recipes on this blog. I have more pictures ready to go, they just haven't gone up yet.

Get a college degree from an accredited school that is still in existence. Maybe in marketing.

What do you want in your future?

Or what did you do during a nap time this week?

Make Your Squash Sit Up Straight - Baked Acorn Squash

2010-11-03T15:43:00.001-04:00

I recently baked Acorn Squash, using a recipe much like this one from Simply Recipes. They're all basically the same, and they are always the best if they have brown sugar and butter in them. I mean, really, isn't everything?

Unless you are extremely skilled at cutting the squash perfectly, it is a little bit tricky to make them sit upright and hold all the buttery sugary goodness in the hollowed out center. All of my anal retentive friends out there will appreciate that I have found an extremely simple and cheap way to make the acorn squash halves sit perfectly straight and upright.

See the sad crooked squash half

Rip off a section of foil, and crumple it loosely

Wrap foil into a loose doughnut


See the happy squash half, ready to be filled with sugar and butter!

Find more tips and recipes at We Are THAT Family's carnival Works For Me Wednesday!

Did you put her up there? No, did you? She climbed up!

2010-11-03T15:06:00.001-04:00


feeding the cats - all by herself

linked with Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday - Top Ten Kitchen Gadgets

2010-11-02T17:01:00.002-04:00

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and these things make the time better, easier, or just plain happier:

1. My Rice Cooker. We eat a lot of rice around here, what with Sam being Chinese and Lizzie's favorite food being rice and beans. In fact, when Lizzie is hungry she opens the cupboard and points to the rice cooker and says "ice!" (Other times she goes to the refrigerator and starts clucking like a chicken: "bock, bock" because she wants chicken.) It is old, it has '90s stylized flowers on it, and it has a warning beside the steam vent that says:

"Note: It's very hot and vapour out from it when cooking. Don't cover it with cloth or other matter, otherwise there's danger."

I love the Chinese.

2. My Crock Pot. What would we do without slow cookers? Spend a lot more time with roasts in the oven, and on the stove, that's for sure. No, I didn't take a picture of it. What is your favorite crock pot recipe?

3. My French Press. I actually have two of them. One for a single (large) cup of coffee, and one for more cups of coffee. I don't know how many it is supposed to hold, and I use the very scientific method of pouring in mugs of water when I go to make the coffee.

4. Tea Kettle. One cannot make coffee without hot water. It's also useful for heating/humidifying the air in the kitchen quadrant of the house.

I recently posted about my french press and my kettle, and then I was embarrassed by how tarnished the kettle was, so I spent 15 minutes scrubbing it recently. Here is the result!

before

after

5. 8-cup Pyrex mixing bowl/measuring cup. Making waffles for 20? Straining chicken broth? Popping 8 bags of popcorn? I love this thing.

image credit: amazon.com

6. Mesh strainer. You have to have a mesh strainer. Try rinsing quinoa with a colander. This version also doubles as a hockey mask.

7. My 5-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven. I use it several times a week. It was my Christmas present last year, and no other domestic item has been so appreciated as a Christmas present. It was the star of my shrimp & sausage gumbo recipe. And it's red, which just plain makes me happy.

8. Cast Iron Skillet. If you haven't seared steak on cast iron before, you have to give it a try. It will change the way you sear things forever. Nothing gets as hot or retains heat as well. And stuff doesn't stick to it the way it does to my aging "non-stick" skillet.

9. Ring Box. I have had this small trinket box since I was very young, and I have no idea where it originally came from. But now it sits on my counter, within arm's reach of the sink, to keep my rings safe while I am washing dishes, mixing meatloaf, or cutting chicken. Everyone should have a place to store rings. And safety pins. And clips that go to something but no one remembers to what.

10. The rotating utensil holder thingy from the Pampered Chef. It has 3 tiers and rotates like a Lazy Susan. It keeps a huge number of serving spoons, spatulas, measuring cups, chopsticks, ladles, and kitchen necessities easy to access, standing upright, and taking up very little space. It makes me happy.

What do you find indispensable in your kitchen?

Monday's Miscellany

2010-11-01T23:13:00.000-04:00

Here is a super quick update on the weekend's events:

Brunch:

Saturday's brunch went beautifully. We had a full house, a table and kitchen and wet bar full of food, and there was a lot of laughter all around. We were blessed. There is something priceless about friends and family enjoying one another's company, for no reason other than to fellowship. Sam said as we were cleaning up, "It seems like this was something everyone wanted to have happen, but didn't know it until they were all here." That is exactly the way I felt, as well.

I had fully intended to take pictures, but I got caught in the kitchen making waffles, and had overslept (waking up--I kid you not--only 15 minutes before the first guests arrived) so I didn't get a chance to even take pictures of the spread as it went out. So you will just have to imagine what our house full of 20-some-odd adults, plus a handful of very small children, and a rather excited greyhound, was like. I do hope to give it another go before too much time goes by; next time I'll get pictures.

Halloween:

The work that went into Saturday was pretty exhausting for me, and with Lizzie's cold still hanging on (fortunately today she is better), I opted to stay home from church. So Sunday was a pleasant day of being decidedly lazy. Besides that, I think I had a touch of food poisoning from some old spinach, and was not interested in fighting through church with something evil like that.

Since Sunday was also Halloween, we got a call from a friend who has a boy just 6 weeks younger than Lizzie, asking if we wanted to join them at the Harvest Fest that our church used to host. We were game, so we packed up and went after Lizzie had a good nap. (I was feeling better, having apparently beaten the food poisoning bug.)

I hadn't planned on dressing Lizzie up, so she got to wear a hand-me-down outfit of a cat in a jack-o-lantern, and she was thrilled because she just learned how to say 'pumpkin'. It was appropriately festive, and she pointed out the cat and the pumpkin (pumpim) to anyone who asked about it. I will try to get a picture up before too long, but I don't think it will go up tonight. Check back later. :)

Monday:

Yep, Monday struck again. I spent nap time checking in on the online world, and naptime was exceedingly short. No, really, it was really short, like only 50 minutes instead of two hours. So the afternoon went just great. But I made dinner, we ate dinner, Sam cleaned up dinner, and we watched Dancing With the Has-Beens until it ended just a little while ago.

And now it is time to go to sleep. So that I can get up early for once, and get a jump on the day. And maybe write a blog post with a little brain power attached.

And go vote.

Pure

2010-10-29T15:28:00.001-04:00

The Word of God is pure. Prov 30:5

I have been meditating on that word today. Pure in motive. Pure in purpose. Pure in love.

My words are less than pure.

They have an undercurrent of need. A need to be understood, to be appreciated, to be right, to be heard.
If they aren't driven by need, they often have a want in there. I want you to do this for me. I want to convince you of something. I want to receive a certain response.

They have a great deal of self. Self-love. Self-satisfaction. Self-awareness. Self-doubt. Just hearing myself talk.

They often lack faith. They sound like a stormcloud threatening rain. They're quick to confess lack, and slow to profess hope.

The words the Lord speaks are only uttered in love. Even his rebuke is in kindness, to correct in a way that draws me back to Him. My corrections are often unnecessary, and not usually with the other's good in mind.

The words of the Lord have purpose and accomplish what they are sent to do. My words don't usually have much thought put into them, let alone an abiding purpose.

The words of the Lord are timeless. Eternal. Mine? I don't feel like many of them will last beyond the second in which they're breathed.

Yet our words, while not omnipotent, are potent. (not original to me; one of our church's elders spoke recently and said this, and it's stuck with me since.) They do have, after all, the power of life. They have the power of death as well, and no gray in between.

But focus on that for a moment -- our words, when infused with the Holy Spirit, have power and life. Power to build up. Power to mend. Power to transform.

I have to remind myself sometimes what we often hear mothers tell their toddlers: "Use your words." May I make use of my words today, in love of God, for the purpose of the kingdom of heaven.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19

More thoughts and encouragement can be found if you follow back to Company Girl Coffee. :)

Have you seen my Nap Time Warriors post? Please take a gander at it, and link up if you have something to share!

Calling All Mommy Bloggers

2010-10-28T16:29:00.000-04:00

Today's nap time has been long-awaited.

We went to the doctor's office for our belated 15-month appointment (yes, she is almost 17 months old; there was an insurance kerfuffle, but it's fixed now so we're finally back on track) and had her royal highness checked out. She's got a mild to moderate head cold. Really? That's all? She does seem to be feeling better today, though

This week I've had some fun during the afternoon nap:

I went grocery shopping.
I made lots of lists.
Vacuumed.
Washed lots of dishes.
Got some reading in.
Had a few cups of coffee.
Visited more blogs than I can shake a stick at.
Paid the bills.
Made dinners.
Drafted blog posts for my busy days or ones in which my creativity flatlines. (I have a few recipes I want to share with you soon!)

Today during this nap I have managed to:
Finish the laundry, clean the bathroom, help Sam practice his martial arts stick work, change and wash the sheets on the bed, have a brief but uninterrupted phone conversation with a friend, set up a linky tool (yay!), and compose a blog post! And the girl is still sleeping--maybe I'll wake her up too early to get her out the door to an appointment more often!

I did want to show you this quick little Before and After:

Lizzie was starting to reach into the silverware drawer and remove anything she could reach. The knives were in front. Bad planning, Mommy. Bad planning. So a re-do was necessary, and I did it on Monday.


Yes, those are coffee grounds in the corner. Don't ask.

All this was rattling inside the drawer.

Ta-da! Now the knives and forks are safe from little fingers.

Have you accomplished anything that you'd like to tell about or show off? Link up!

Here are the qualifiers for the Nap Time Warriors:

Just mention something you accomplished, whether leisure or labor, in an effort to use your time wisely.
Please link to a specific post on your blog at the linky tool below, and somewhere in your post, please link back to this site.
If you want to grab the button, please feel free to! I'll try to create the tool this afternoon.
You don't have to have a napping child to participate.
If you're not a blogger, post in the comments.

All Hallow's Eve

2010-10-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

What is your take on Halloween?

I have only one child, and she has no concept of holidays yet, so it is not an issue that I have to decide in black and white this year. I am not quite sure what our official stance will be.

However, I do have my personal experience of it, which ran through the conservative pendulum:

When I was young, our family locked ourselves in the basement, with the upstairs lights off, pretending we weren't there. We played games, watched movies, sang songs, colored, and basically hid from Halloween. Sometimes we hid with another family; that only embedded our "us verses them" perspective.

When we got older, it became popular for churches to have "Harvest Parties" as an alternative to Halloween. Those were fun, and we had an opportunity to dress up and carry home bags of candy without partaking of evil. The Harvest Party concept can be sad sometimes because it isn't often an outreach, only an inbred way for Christians to hide, together, with the lights on.

Later we moved further into the country, and our church was small and had no resources for a harvest event, so the flock had to fend for themselves when it came to Halloween. We lived on a tiny dirt road, with about 10 neighboring houses, and there were not even that many kids on the whole street. So we decided to trick-or-treat. We dressed up as something non-threatening (usually a hobo--because we had raggedy clothes in abundance, or a cowpoke, or a kid-too-old-to-be-trick-or-treating) and visited our neighbors. We met some of the kindest neighbors because we stepped outside our comfort zone and met them where they were.

Then we moved into the suburbs. There we were surrounded by families with children, and they were children who swam at the same pool we did, and their parents waved at us (or glared at us, depending on our current standing in the HOA's list of "lawns most needing care"), and who invited us to grill out with them on holiday weekends. So we left our lights on, and bought an orange pumpkin bowl from the Dollar Tree, and handed out candy to happy little ballerinas and super heros and ladybugs and goblins.

Over the last few years, our church has headed up a "Harvest Festival" that has seen thousands of neighbors come through for free games, music, popcorn, hot dogs, and cotton candy. We have had a prayer tent, and have handed out hundreds and hundreds of Bibles. But this particular event is being put to rest. While we were involved, it was easy to decide what to do: we went, we helped set up, helped run the event, and helped tear it down.

Regardless of what we choose for this year or next, my perspective is this: Whatever we do, we have to do it in faith.

Honestly, you can boycott Halloween and be absolutely within your rights to do that. There are enough reasons to avoid it at all costs. It is, after all, a holiday that has an obsession with death, evil, and darkness. And depending on where my family is (physically and spiritually), we may have years in which we avoid it.

If you decide not to take part in anything having to do with All Hallows Eve, do it out of conviction that it is not godly. If you decide not to partake in costumes, candy, spiders, and jack-o-lanterns, make the decision in personal obedience to Christ, and not out of fear. As children of light, we should not make decisions based on fear.

If you decide to participate, do so in love. You don't have to hand out tracts with your Fun Size Butterfingers, but if you want to, do it in love. Do it prayerfully, and in faith. If you decide to participate, emphasize to your family that there is evil in the world, but we have the Word of God, which is a powerful weapon against spiritual forces of darkness.

And if this Halloween you come to our house and we don't have our lights on, it's because we really aren't home; we don't have a basement to hide in.

(For a thoughtful discussion of Halloween's Christian roots, take a minute to read Elizabeth Esther's article, Halloween is NOT a pagan holiday.)

Going Somewhere?

2010-10-26T23:38:00.001-04:00

wordless wednesday

Meals and Brunch Menu

2010-10-26T15:57:00.003-04:00

A little late, but that's fine.

Monday, you may have read, was a little crazy. I made Chicken Cacciatore, and it was delicious.

Tuesday, we were planning to have dinner with our home group, but Lizzie is still not a happy camper, so I have to make dinner. I didn't end up making Baked Potato Soup last week, so that is what I will make tonight.

I am hoping to make it to the grocery store this afternoon or tomorrow, where I'll pick up what I need to make:

Steak & Salad

Crock Pot Beef Stew w/ Root Vegetables

Honey Dijon Chicken w/ rice

Stir-fried chicken (probably like this Sweet & Sour Chicken recipe) you guessed it, w/ rice

Eggs/Tofu/Tomatoes w/ rice

and the stuff for chicken soup - since it's always good to have it on hand.

Saturday we will have brunch, when I will make:

Pumpkin Waffles

Sausage & Onion Frittata

Hummus & Veggies & Crackers

Grape Salad

and coffee, juice, and whatever else strikes my fancy.

The beauty of all these things is that they can be made ahead of time and finished or warmed up in the morning!

a Monday of Misadventures

2010-10-25T23:14:00.000-04:00

Today felt like a real-life enactment of Robert Quackenbush's children's book Henry's Awful Mistake. I have been thinking about that book quite a bit lately, because I want to have people over to eat with us, and I have been seeing ants in the bathroom. But that has nothing to do with today. Today was just weird.

Henry's Awful Mistake, Robert Quackenbush

Last night we discovered that one of our cats had gotten locked out of the bathroom where their litter box is, so when we came back from our dinner excursion at the fine dining establishment of KFC, we found cat doodie and cat tinkle on Sam's backpack in his closet.

When we threw the backpack into the washer and went to finish the cleanup, we discovered that the floor was damp and the carpet was stained a sort of rust color. There was a musty smell. This closet wall is opposite of the master bathroom shower. Dreading the worst, we put a fan on it and went to bed, deciding to tackle it in the morning.

Severe thunderstorms swept through north Georgia early this morning, so the house was cool and dark when the alarm went off at 7-something and I rolled out of bed at 8-something. The first half hour of the morning was quite pleasant; I got up, had coffee, a bit of a quiet time, and listened while the thunder woke Lizzie.

Shortly after breakfast, Sam and I began discussing bills needing to be paid and being past due, and it was not the most peaceful conversation. I wondered what had happened to the quiet that had been in my heart. I realized it was dueling with the pride in my heart, which was trying to convince me that I had hardly any fault. I chewed on that for a while, and eventually went to apologize to Sam, who was trying to figure out what was the best way to deal with the mold in his closet.

I had the cute, demanding, and infinitely miserable half-pint hanging on my leg, and on my neck when she managed to convince me to carry her. All day she's been wiping her nose on her sleeve, and has been generally discontent except when outside or in the bathtub.

While Sam was extracting black molded carpet frames and carefully putting them in a bag inside a box to keep the toxicity at bay, I had been trying to at least make a list of things that need to be done this week, and had high expectations of making a grocery list and starting dinner. Lizzie was napping, and I was going to take full advantage of the time.

I picked up the living room to vacuum so that Sam could vacuum in the closet, then we could throw away the vacuum bag. I am outrageously out of shape, because I was winded by the time I finished. And when I stood the vacuum upright in the master bedroom, I heard Lizzie's pathetic, snuffling cry through the monitor. She had been down for about 30 minutes and I let her cry for another 10, just to see if she would calm down. No good.

The rest of the day was spent in a low-grade panic. Late in the afternoon I chased the wide awake and exploring Lizzie into the bedroom to find Sam leaning over the sink quietly washing his hands. I asked if he was alright, and he said he had stabbed himself with a rusty nail. He'd been wearing thin plastic gloves to protect him from the grossness, but they had been no protection against a nail.

New distress surfaced when he said that the last Tetanus shot he had received was in 1991. So we spent 20 minutes trying to pinpoint the county Health Department, where he could get a shot without having insurance. While searching, we found out that our county's Health Department's website is absolutely blank. No information, no phone number, no 'click here for details.' Just a banner letting you know you found it, and the rest is empty. Taxpayer dollars at work. We found the location, thanks to Google Maps, and Sam left with 20 minutes before the clinic closed, hoping for an open slot.

In the meantime, I had to figure out whether I was going to make something for dinner or just call Sam to ask him to pick up another healthy meal from a drive-thru. I decided to give dinner a go while Lizzie was semi-mesmerized by Veggie Tales' Pistachio. From what I heard, it sounded entertaining.

Around 6 PM, Sam made it back home, to tell me that he has to go back tomorrow, since they didn't have time to give him a shot today. In all honesty, the Chicken Cacciatore was the highlight of the day, which I photographed and I hope to share the recipe with you soon. We all devoured it. Perhaps we were starving and didn't realize it, and that's why everything seemed a little more awful than it really was. Or maybe it really was just a crappy day.

The evening progressed, and refreshed from a delicious meal, we got up and got Lizzie in the bathtub, where she had a wonderful time as long as both parents were present. When we got her out, she promptly tinkled on the floor. That was laughable and I cleaned it up, diapered her, pajamaed her, read to her, nursed her, and medicined her. The nighttime routine is very long, and I had not made a pit stop before it started, so I asked Sam to keep an eye on Lizzie while I ran to the bathroom for a minute.

What happened, though, is that I actually ran to the bathroom. And as I ran, I swung for the lightswitch in the bedroom, but missed. That's OK, because I've lived here for over 3 years and can navigate my way to the bathroom in the dark.

Unless there is an upright vacuum cleaner in the pitch black room.

C R A S H !!!

I nailed it with my knee, my shin, and what still feels like my entire upper right leg. And I kind of lost it, if you know what I mean. I cried in pain and embarrassment and fatigue. Sam and Lizzie came in to help me up and give my boo-boos kisses. I changed into my pajamas and finally got Lizzie into bed.

Now that I listed it all, it's pretty funny. But I was on the verge of tears of complete weariness and frustration most of the day. And I am thankful that nothing worse happened. And I am so very grateful that tomorrow will come with fresh grace to help and the sunrise will come with new mercy to meet our needs.

Now, to--slowly--find myself some Advil.