I am officially "Definitely not nerdy, probably cool"! Rock on. My love, on the other hand...well, I scored 9, he was 59. Big surprise there!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Nerd? Me?
I am officially "Definitely not nerdy, probably cool"! Rock on. My love, on the other hand...well, I scored 9, he was 59. Big surprise there!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Pleasant Surprises
You know, sometimes you just don't know. Do the things we teach our children really sink in? God tells us to talk about His truth all throughout our lives...His story IS the ONE that best explains life...and is the lens through which we view our own lives. We talk about it as we go, when we rise and when we eat, when we walk, when we lie down. But really, how do we KNOW the truth is getting through?
At our house we keep a jar of questions on the kitchen table. They are conversation starters that I copied from...um, Once A Month Cooking, I think. Last nights question was: What is the best gift that you have ever been given? Elena gets first shot. Eric and I gave each other knowing looks, waiting for the inevitable "princess-something" or "my play kitchen". Her thoughtful answer, given with all seriousness, yet as if there was none other: "Jesus". We glanced at each other and paused...neither of us expected that. So I asked, "Why Jesus?" Again, as if it were obvious: "Because God loves me".
Wisdom from a three & a half-year old. It's the story. Simple. True. Life-changing.
Peace, Resa
At our house we keep a jar of questions on the kitchen table. They are conversation starters that I copied from...um, Once A Month Cooking, I think. Last nights question was: What is the best gift that you have ever been given? Elena gets first shot. Eric and I gave each other knowing looks, waiting for the inevitable "princess-something" or "my play kitchen". Her thoughtful answer, given with all seriousness, yet as if there was none other: "Jesus". We glanced at each other and paused...neither of us expected that. So I asked, "Why Jesus?" Again, as if it were obvious: "Because God loves me".
Wisdom from a three & a half-year old. It's the story. Simple. True. Life-changing.
Peace, Resa
Friday, December 01, 2006
Good Thoughts about Motherhood
I receive a daily email from Proverbs 31 Ministries through crosswalk.com. Today's devotional was titled “The Most Beautiful Scars” by Lysa TerKeurst, Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker, Author, and President. Here's part that I liked:
It still moves me to tears to think about Jesus’ scars. I’m amazed that the God of the universe would care so much for me that He would allow His Son, Jesus, to give up His life for me. While I have not been called to physically die for my children, I have been called to die to the selfishness that characterized my life before kids. It was all about me back then. My schedule, my needs, my wants, my time, my money, my desires, my dreams, and my plans dictated how I spent my life. But that is not what God wanted for me. He wanted my life to be about Him and His plans for me. So, He used not one, not two, not three, not four, but five small beings (she is a mother of 5) to make sure I am reminded on a daily basis that serving others is what the pathway to joy is paved with. Little stones of service that, when carefully laid one right beside another, lead to great places.
Peace, Resa
It still moves me to tears to think about Jesus’ scars. I’m amazed that the God of the universe would care so much for me that He would allow His Son, Jesus, to give up His life for me. While I have not been called to physically die for my children, I have been called to die to the selfishness that characterized my life before kids. It was all about me back then. My schedule, my needs, my wants, my time, my money, my desires, my dreams, and my plans dictated how I spent my life. But that is not what God wanted for me. He wanted my life to be about Him and His plans for me. So, He used not one, not two, not three, not four, but five small beings (she is a mother of 5) to make sure I am reminded on a daily basis that serving others is what the pathway to joy is paved with. Little stones of service that, when carefully laid one right beside another, lead to great places.
Peace, Resa
Friday, November 10, 2006
How to Make a Shark Cake
Here are step by step photos and instructions on how to make a partial-3D shark cake. Perfectly mean and scary for a boy's birthday party! Chomp, Chomp! I made this cake for a 5-year old's birthday. To this point, it is the most detailed carved cake I have done...and was soooo much fun! If you have more questions or comments, please leave them at the bottom. Thanks, Resa
1. Bake a 11x15 sheet cake (takes 2 regular cake mixes) or 2 9x13 cakes placed side by side and 1 Pampered Chef Small Batter Bowl cake (can use a small mix like a "Jiffy" brand, or just use some of the sheet cake batter.) This is the kind of bowl you need:
2. Carve the 'bowl cake' into a fin and head...mainly two pieces for the fin and one for the body/head, but a few smaller pieces will be needed for fillers and the point of the nose. I just eyeballed it and find it hard to describe the process since it just evolved as I went (this is the artistry of cake carving!). Place on the sheet cake using buttercream as glue. If any support is needed (i.e. to hold the nose to the body, use a dry piece of spaghetti).
3. Crumb coat the cake with very thin icing to give a smooth work surface.
4. Start frosting the areas in the colors desired. Use a toothpick to sketch the remaining shark outline in the frosting.
3. Continue to frost cake, building up icing as needed to contour the body.
3. Wait for buttercream to 'crust' (make sure your icing has some shortening content for this to happen). Then smooth all areas using a viva papertowl and a spatula. Use a decorating bag to add details like the eye and shading along the fins. Toothpick in the gills, then spray with black decorating spray to add shading (make sure to cover the rest of the cake w/paper towels while you spray).
4. Fluff up the ocean frosting with a spatula or spoon, add message on the side.
5. The best part: Add the TEETH! Cut pieces of white rectangular gum to be pointed and insert into your shark's mouth. Whah-la! There you have it. This photo shows the invitation I used to design this cake.
1. Bake a 11x15 sheet cake (takes 2 regular cake mixes) or 2 9x13 cakes placed side by side and 1 Pampered Chef Small Batter Bowl cake (can use a small mix like a "Jiffy" brand, or just use some of the sheet cake batter.) This is the kind of bowl you need:
2. Carve the 'bowl cake' into a fin and head...mainly two pieces for the fin and one for the body/head, but a few smaller pieces will be needed for fillers and the point of the nose. I just eyeballed it and find it hard to describe the process since it just evolved as I went (this is the artistry of cake carving!). Place on the sheet cake using buttercream as glue. If any support is needed (i.e. to hold the nose to the body, use a dry piece of spaghetti).
3. Crumb coat the cake with very thin icing to give a smooth work surface.
4. Start frosting the areas in the colors desired. Use a toothpick to sketch the remaining shark outline in the frosting.
3. Continue to frost cake, building up icing as needed to contour the body.
3. Wait for buttercream to 'crust' (make sure your icing has some shortening content for this to happen). Then smooth all areas using a viva papertowl and a spatula. Use a decorating bag to add details like the eye and shading along the fins. Toothpick in the gills, then spray with black decorating spray to add shading (make sure to cover the rest of the cake w/paper towels while you spray).
4. Fluff up the ocean frosting with a spatula or spoon, add message on the side.
5. The best part: Add the TEETH! Cut pieces of white rectangular gum to be pointed and insert into your shark's mouth. Whah-la! There you have it. This photo shows the invitation I used to design this cake.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Save the Baby Humans!
Yesterday, voters in my state of Missouri, approved the amendment to continue embryonic stem-cell research by creating and destroying human embryos in the lab. Let me first say that I am not one of researched depth or knowledge about the whole process...nor do I write in total ignorance. It simply seems elementary to me...'creating' by copying a human baby is cloning, destroying this 'creation' is killing. AND WE ARE OKAY WITH THIS???? COME ON PEOPLE!!!!!
Millions of people have a fit and stand up and scream to defend the rights of animals being used as 'lab rats' for medical & other research...but we just give a green light to those who want to use baby humans?
I sit stunned in the stupidity of our voters.
The opposition claimed they were banning cloning...when in fact they were protecting it, guaranteeing tax dollars would fund it, and giving researchers further permission to exploit women by paying them to allow 'harvesting' of their eggs. Furthermore, adult stem-cell research is going well...producing results that embryonic research has failed to match...why not keep going with what is working?
Certainly, I grieve for the blindness of the world. May God one day reconcile each person who swims in their own foolishness. Peace, Resa
November 10
I'm adding a quote from Dr. Tony Beam off of Crosswalk.com:
In Missouri, the emotional appeal of Michael J. Fox tipped the scales in a very close vote. Conservatives were put in the impossible position of trying to get people to see past the individual pain of a beloved movie star to the larger ethical question of creating life for the sole purpose of that life becoming a spare parts storage facility for the healing of future generations. Embryonic stem cell research operates off of the same ethic put forth by the Nazi's in World War II Germany. The argument went something like this: "Since these Jews we are experimenting on are destined for the gas chamber anyway it is alright for us to advance the health of the Arian race by treating them like lab rats." It was barbaric in the 1930's and 40's and it is just as barbaric today. The modern argument says, "Well, those embryos are going to be destroyed anyway so we just as well get some medical benefit from them before we flush them down the toilet." It is this kind of perversion of sane ethical thinking that is destroying our culture.
If you would like to read his complete comments, visit:
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/beam/?adate=11/09/2006#1446436
Millions of people have a fit and stand up and scream to defend the rights of animals being used as 'lab rats' for medical & other research...but we just give a green light to those who want to use baby humans?
I sit stunned in the stupidity of our voters.
The opposition claimed they were banning cloning...when in fact they were protecting it, guaranteeing tax dollars would fund it, and giving researchers further permission to exploit women by paying them to allow 'harvesting' of their eggs. Furthermore, adult stem-cell research is going well...producing results that embryonic research has failed to match...why not keep going with what is working?
Certainly, I grieve for the blindness of the world. May God one day reconcile each person who swims in their own foolishness. Peace, Resa
November 10
I'm adding a quote from Dr. Tony Beam off of Crosswalk.com:
In Missouri, the emotional appeal of Michael J. Fox tipped the scales in a very close vote. Conservatives were put in the impossible position of trying to get people to see past the individual pain of a beloved movie star to the larger ethical question of creating life for the sole purpose of that life becoming a spare parts storage facility for the healing of future generations. Embryonic stem cell research operates off of the same ethic put forth by the Nazi's in World War II Germany. The argument went something like this: "Since these Jews we are experimenting on are destined for the gas chamber anyway it is alright for us to advance the health of the Arian race by treating them like lab rats." It was barbaric in the 1930's and 40's and it is just as barbaric today. The modern argument says, "Well, those embryos are going to be destroyed anyway so we just as well get some medical benefit from them before we flush them down the toilet." It is this kind of perversion of sane ethical thinking that is destroying our culture.
If you would like to read his complete comments, visit:
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/beam/?adate=11/09/2006#1446436
Monday, October 16, 2006
One of those days...
Okay, so one is on the floor screaming because he can't have the froot loop bracelet, even though I've given him some loose in a baggie. The other is asking why she can't have markers to color with because "the colors (crayons) won't work...there are broken ones". Sob. So she says she's not making a rainbow anymore. (I guess that's supposed to pursuade me to change my mind?!)
I'm trying to pack for a 5 day trip out to see my sister and her family (new baby! yay!)...I'm very excited to be there. Not so excited about the preparation! This morning, when doing the girl's hair, she decided to throw a fit because she couldn't find her fake bar of princess soap in her vanity (evidently an essential part of her beauty routine). This catapulted her into hysterics which were compounded when I said no 'Jasmine' hairdo since she lost control. So...to my bathroom we go for calming down and some much needed correction (the 'naughty step' didn't work this time!).
Meanwhile, the boy decides to dig in my makeup drawer for some lipstick...this being the very tube I hid WAY in the back to keep out of his reach just an hour earlier. Needless to say, upon emerging from the watercloset with my now calm girl, boy is announcing that the eyeliner pencil he was using to dig out the lipstick with is "STUCK" in the tube! To my dismay, I looked down to see two little hands completely covered with pink and smears of lipstick all over my vanity area carpet--THICK smears! I know my honey wants to spend a weekend putting in nice tile in our bathroom anyway! Right, dear?
So...the gate goes up across the hallway and the two of them alternate between playing in their rooms and crying to get "OUT!!!" for a good 45 minutes while I paitently scrub the carpet stains (only time will tell if they will really come out)and pack my own bag for the trip. A few hours of calm follow which is quite the relief. Well, I'm only actually to hour number 3.5 since the incidents so it's not really been all quiet...but better than complete chaos.
This story I'm sure will continue in saga form as the hours go on! Ah, the joys of motherhood...but I wouldn't have it any other way...and thankfully, God has already helped me laugh and though I'm a bit on the short fuse side today, I haven't blown my top!
I'm trying to pack for a 5 day trip out to see my sister and her family (new baby! yay!)...I'm very excited to be there. Not so excited about the preparation! This morning, when doing the girl's hair, she decided to throw a fit because she couldn't find her fake bar of princess soap in her vanity (evidently an essential part of her beauty routine). This catapulted her into hysterics which were compounded when I said no 'Jasmine' hairdo since she lost control. So...to my bathroom we go for calming down and some much needed correction (the 'naughty step' didn't work this time!).
Meanwhile, the boy decides to dig in my makeup drawer for some lipstick...this being the very tube I hid WAY in the back to keep out of his reach just an hour earlier. Needless to say, upon emerging from the watercloset with my now calm girl, boy is announcing that the eyeliner pencil he was using to dig out the lipstick with is "STUCK" in the tube! To my dismay, I looked down to see two little hands completely covered with pink and smears of lipstick all over my vanity area carpet--THICK smears! I know my honey wants to spend a weekend putting in nice tile in our bathroom anyway! Right, dear?
So...the gate goes up across the hallway and the two of them alternate between playing in their rooms and crying to get "OUT!!!" for a good 45 minutes while I paitently scrub the carpet stains (only time will tell if they will really come out)and pack my own bag for the trip. A few hours of calm follow which is quite the relief. Well, I'm only actually to hour number 3.5 since the incidents so it's not really been all quiet...but better than complete chaos.
This story I'm sure will continue in saga form as the hours go on! Ah, the joys of motherhood...but I wouldn't have it any other way...and thankfully, God has already helped me laugh and though I'm a bit on the short fuse side today, I haven't blown my top!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Overwhelmed-ment...
Okay, I can't even spell 'overwhelmed-ment' correctly--is that even a word? Ugh. Right now I just feel like I desperately need a chiro adjustment to help set me straight. I have 15 million things constantly battling for my attention and it is basically paralyzing me from doing any of them! The one thing I have done is keep my new laundry system running for a few days....that's just sad. Well, of course, if I really think about it I am grossly overexaggerating that I've only done one thing because there have been many 'things' done. Blah, blah, blah.
So. Should I be useful and fold laundry, do dishes or just veg in front of the tv for the next 40 minutes before I go to bed? Hmmm...that's not too hard. Eric is gone for the evening so to the DVR I go!
(If you have read this, I'm sorry for boring you today...just thought writing a bit would clear my mind...ya, right!)
R
So. Should I be useful and fold laundry, do dishes or just veg in front of the tv for the next 40 minutes before I go to bed? Hmmm...that's not too hard. Eric is gone for the evening so to the DVR I go!
(If you have read this, I'm sorry for boring you today...just thought writing a bit would clear my mind...ya, right!)
R
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Shine on...
Have you ever....had a REALLY, REALLY dirty kitchen floor? Okay, I thought I was going to post something really shallow...but read on...God works to reveal his heart in mysterious ways---oooooh.
It crawls on my last nerve to see my floor in the disgusting state I let it deteriorate to around this time each year. I know that all it needs is a good stripping and repolishing, but with about 275 square feet of cheap-o builder grade vinyl flooring, it's not so fun. Of course, the method I have for redoing it I found in a housecleaning book wrote in the '70's--that MIGHT be part of my problem! Anyway, it gets nice and dull and has those nasty little "decorative" pits that collect dirt and food and paint and whatever else two little ones & two not-so-little ones can drag in.
Last night we moved everything out of the kitchen/entry/bath/laundry room and I hit the job armed with an arsenal: 2 mops + buckets, 1 gunk bucket, a floor squeegee, a gunk squeegee, a deck scrubber, ammonia and Future floor polish (my fav)! Oh, and I even took "before" pictures, which I would post, but they are still on the camera. By 1:45 a.m. I made it to bed with just a bit more of the polish to put down this morning.
Now my heart just swells to see the shine! When I took the "after" pictures no flash was even necessary because that floor is glowin' man! Today is one of my favorite days of the year, because my floor looks as perfect as a 15 year old floor is going to look...still has some blemishes, but they're all coated with the beautiful gleam of Future. (Yes, that is the shallow part--I really have more to me than a love of a clean floor).
Soooo...what's God got to do with that?
Here's the story of God in my floor:
1. It started out fresh and new 15 years ago. CREATION
2. Use and dirt and grime caused it to fall into disrepair. FALL
3. One who loves (that'd be me) stripped it fresh & sealed it new. REDEMPTION
4. I have pledged to replace it *as soon as I can!!!!!!* with an easy-care tile or slate or SOMETHING PERFECT! RESTORATION
God created this world and us, perfectly. Sin entered the world with the fall of man, and things just aren't as he designed. Christ redeemed us on the cross & is perfecting us for a new life. At his return, all things will be new again!
What really struck me is how much joy God must feel in his heart when he sees us in line with Him through the crystal clear "coating" of Christ--my blemishes are unseen. What a "Future" we have in Him!
Kudos to all my LB family for helping me see things below the everyday! And SHINE ON floors!
It crawls on my last nerve to see my floor in the disgusting state I let it deteriorate to around this time each year. I know that all it needs is a good stripping and repolishing, but with about 275 square feet of cheap-o builder grade vinyl flooring, it's not so fun. Of course, the method I have for redoing it I found in a housecleaning book wrote in the '70's--that MIGHT be part of my problem! Anyway, it gets nice and dull and has those nasty little "decorative" pits that collect dirt and food and paint and whatever else two little ones & two not-so-little ones can drag in.
Last night we moved everything out of the kitchen/entry/bath/laundry room and I hit the job armed with an arsenal: 2 mops + buckets, 1 gunk bucket, a floor squeegee, a gunk squeegee, a deck scrubber, ammonia and Future floor polish (my fav)! Oh, and I even took "before" pictures, which I would post, but they are still on the camera. By 1:45 a.m. I made it to bed with just a bit more of the polish to put down this morning.Now my heart just swells to see the shine! When I took the "after" pictures no flash was even necessary because that floor is glowin' man! Today is one of my favorite days of the year, because my floor looks as perfect as a 15 year old floor is going to look...still has some blemishes, but they're all coated with the beautiful gleam of Future. (Yes, that is the shallow part--I really have more to me than a love of a clean floor).
Soooo...what's God got to do with that?
Here's the story of God in my floor:
1. It started out fresh and new 15 years ago. CREATION
2. Use and dirt and grime caused it to fall into disrepair. FALL
3. One who loves (that'd be me) stripped it fresh & sealed it new. REDEMPTION
4. I have pledged to replace it *as soon as I can!!!!!!* with an easy-care tile or slate or SOMETHING PERFECT! RESTORATION
God created this world and us, perfectly. Sin entered the world with the fall of man, and things just aren't as he designed. Christ redeemed us on the cross & is perfecting us for a new life. At his return, all things will be new again!
What really struck me is how much joy God must feel in his heart when he sees us in line with Him through the crystal clear "coating" of Christ--my blemishes are unseen. What a "Future" we have in Him!
Kudos to all my LB family for helping me see things below the everyday! And SHINE ON floors!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Vacation Away!
Can next week get here any sooner? I'm soooo looking forward to a week in Cali! Just a few more loads of laundry and wah-lah we'll be basking in the sun. Celebrating 10 years --a whole decade-- of marriage for us and Jo and Nate. Made spa reservations today...ooh la la...goin' to Spa Tiki...check it out at www.spatiki.com. Also dinner at Thee Bungalow...hmmm...more reservations to make I'm sure. We'll the kitchen is calling me... clean me up! it screams. Oh! speaking of kitchen...my brand spankin new, colbalt blue Kitchen Aid mixer is scheduled to arrive on my doorstep tomorrow!!!! Now THAT is exciting.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Goooooo 7!
Ever looked into the "Enneagram"? Well, it's a personality survey and VERY insightful. I'm tired so I'm not going into more detail here, but this is me:
free enneagram test
I guess if you click on this it will take you to a free test to find your score. Try it. You'll be amazed at how unique you are NOT.
free enneagram testI guess if you click on this it will take you to a free test to find your score. Try it. You'll be amazed at how unique you are NOT.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Spa-aaaaah!
Ahhhh...I just wrapped up hostessing a BeautiControl spa party here tonight. How nice. Friends, quiet, yummy smelling (and unfortunately not edible) lotions, sugar scrubs, creams and anything else scented you can rub on your skin. I smell like the counter at Baskin-Robbins, one flavor per body part! I got some rockin' hostess gifts and I think all my friends had a relaxing time. Oh, and the gal color typed me...turns out I'm a "spring"...she said it's hard to tell for sure when people--get this term--"color enhance" their hair! Love that! And I'm one of the only wierdos who colors her hair to be darker than normal instead of blonder. Anyway...now I have solid reasoning to buy all my shirts the same color of light turquiose (sp?) that I loved to start with...
Speaking of spring...ever wrestled an old-fashioned rose bush? Not a pretty sight. I just want to give a nice kuddos to my leather and canvas, up-to-the-elbow rose gloves for protecting me this afternoon! The thorns on those suckers are N.A.S.T.Y.--worse than Janet Jackson even. Oh, but the blossoms are worth it! I'll see if I can dig up a photo from last year. Seems I always forget to photograph them at peak bloom.
Ok, here is one and seriously this does not EVEN do them justice...this is from '04 and towards the end of blooming...the nasty things really just droop with tons of blooms and smell heavenly.
Now, as much as I've griped about the thorns, the plants do a have a special story behind them. My dad brought me the starts for 3 pink and 1 yellow bush. He grows them in his yard in Denver. Those starts, somewhere down the line, came from my Grandmother Beulah's garden in Northern Kansas. I like to think if she were still around she would love to walk my beds with me and talk about all the flowers and give me advice on how to do things. In a way, she does. My mom and my dear Aunt Cle both learned a lot about gardening from her and they, in turn, have taught and inspired me. Certainly a special legacy that I hope to pass on. This summer, Elena wants to build a "sunflower house" like the one in a book we read at storytime. That's a start!
Speaking of spring...ever wrestled an old-fashioned rose bush? Not a pretty sight. I just want to give a nice kuddos to my leather and canvas, up-to-the-elbow rose gloves for protecting me this afternoon! The thorns on those suckers are N.A.S.T.Y.--worse than Janet Jackson even. Oh, but the blossoms are worth it! I'll see if I can dig up a photo from last year. Seems I always forget to photograph them at peak bloom.
Ok, here is one and seriously this does not EVEN do them justice...this is from '04 and towards the end of blooming...the nasty things really just droop with tons of blooms and smell heavenly.
Now, as much as I've griped about the thorns, the plants do a have a special story behind them. My dad brought me the starts for 3 pink and 1 yellow bush. He grows them in his yard in Denver. Those starts, somewhere down the line, came from my Grandmother Beulah's garden in Northern Kansas. I like to think if she were still around she would love to walk my beds with me and talk about all the flowers and give me advice on how to do things. In a way, she does. My mom and my dear Aunt Cle both learned a lot about gardening from her and they, in turn, have taught and inspired me. Certainly a special legacy that I hope to pass on. This summer, Elena wants to build a "sunflower house" like the one in a book we read at storytime. That's a start!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Stop the Cart!
Stop the cart...back up: beep, beep, beep. Unload onto the horsey! No change...just sing: "da-da-dum-da-da-dum-da-da-dum-de-dum, da-da-dum-da-da-dum-da-da-dum-de-dum!" This is what I call "Professional Mommy" at her best.
Never mind that it is 4 o'clock Thursday, I just dropped $200 into the grocery beast and I'm pushing around the BIGGEST cart you've ever seen (you know--the ones made to hold two toddlers, a baby and 2 weeks worth of household consumables)--I can and do stop the cart half-way out the auto sliding doors and reverse back up to the horsey for 3 minutes of heart-thumping galloping and mommy-singing the theme from the Lone Ranger. I actually started to ingnore my little ones' pleas to back up with my mind focused on the tasks ahead: load the car, unload the car, load the pantry, feed everyone...but something inside my heart stopped---"Pleeeaaassee! The Hooorrrssseeeyy!"
Love what you do, do it with love and a cheerful heart. So I reversed. I smiled outside and in. I sang. (Oh dear!) And they will *hopefully* remember the joy of life as little ones. What else could be more important? Loading the pantry? I don't think so.
Never mind that it is 4 o'clock Thursday, I just dropped $200 into the grocery beast and I'm pushing around the BIGGEST cart you've ever seen (you know--the ones made to hold two toddlers, a baby and 2 weeks worth of household consumables)--I can and do stop the cart half-way out the auto sliding doors and reverse back up to the horsey for 3 minutes of heart-thumping galloping and mommy-singing the theme from the Lone Ranger. I actually started to ingnore my little ones' pleas to back up with my mind focused on the tasks ahead: load the car, unload the car, load the pantry, feed everyone...but something inside my heart stopped---"Pleeeaaassee! The Hooorrrssseeeyy!"
Love what you do, do it with love and a cheerful heart. So I reversed. I smiled outside and in. I sang. (Oh dear!) And they will *hopefully* remember the joy of life as little ones. What else could be more important? Loading the pantry? I don't think so.
St. Pat's Running Divas
Maria and I ran our race on Saturday!
Four miles, 44 minutes - not too shabby for our first time out. We had fun running along with 1,700 others around Westport...a beautiful Kansas City day! We may have to do it again sometime.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Music of the Night
I've found one thing that demonstrates the absolute reality of being a parent of pre-schoolers...the music of the night. We are finally at a stage where both kiddos sleep from 8:30 p.m. to 7 a.m., and, of course, I am still waking during the night for NO REASON!!!!
The music I hear? Well, last night it was "Our Journ-eeee to Erni-eeeee is done!" ---for those of you not familiar with that little diddy, it is the chorus to Big Bird and Ernie's game of "Journey to Ernie" where Ernie hides and Big Bird seeks. And I cannot blame a mystery TV coming on at 3 a.m. or a random tape player gone awire...it's all in my head--ahhhrrgh!
Depending on what tape is playing in the car or what video is the current fav I've woke with everything from Old MacDonald's "E-I-E-I-O" to the Wiggles singing "Gulp, gulp, drink some water!" to Miss Pattycake's "Fruits and Veggies in my tum-tum-tum, fruits and veggies, yum-yum-yum".
I find it fairly amusing and am sometimes amazed at all I've absorbed, however, last night I was awake for over an hour without being able to get the tune out...oh dear. I've always been a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson's children's poetry--here's a fav:
"The Land of Nod"
From breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do-
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountainsides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.
The music I hear? Well, last night it was "Our Journ-eeee to Erni-eeeee is done!" ---for those of you not familiar with that little diddy, it is the chorus to Big Bird and Ernie's game of "Journey to Ernie" where Ernie hides and Big Bird seeks. And I cannot blame a mystery TV coming on at 3 a.m. or a random tape player gone awire...it's all in my head--ahhhrrgh!
Depending on what tape is playing in the car or what video is the current fav I've woke with everything from Old MacDonald's "E-I-E-I-O" to the Wiggles singing "Gulp, gulp, drink some water!" to Miss Pattycake's "Fruits and Veggies in my tum-tum-tum, fruits and veggies, yum-yum-yum".
I find it fairly amusing and am sometimes amazed at all I've absorbed, however, last night I was awake for over an hour without being able to get the tune out...oh dear. I've always been a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson's children's poetry--here's a fav:
"The Land of Nod"
From breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do-
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountainsides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Lean forward...
...And you either fall on your face or run. That's why my Uncle Tom says running is the easiest sport in the world. So. I'm training for my first race in 15 years. No, I haven't been training for 15 years...I simply haven't ran a race in 15 years....or ran much for that matter. Tonight was a breakthrough as I kept going for 12 minutes with only a 2.5 minute walk in the middle. That's like double improvement! Extra bonus that I didn't go into cardiac arrest, too!
I'll take a moment here to thank my aforementioned Uncle Tom for being my main inspiration! He is 50-something and I think he runs every race they put on in the Wichita area...not only runs them, but usually wins in his age group...rock on! He is a very encouraging person and challenges me to set goals higher than I think I can attain. So we'll see...I've got til 3-11 to be ready for the KC St. Pat's Race...here's to hitting the pavement!
Oh, and other inspirations? How about turning 3.0., two babies, one friend who has ran marathons, one triathalons, and I can't jog 50 yards w/o keeling over! Sheesh!
I'll take a moment here to thank my aforementioned Uncle Tom for being my main inspiration! He is 50-something and I think he runs every race they put on in the Wichita area...not only runs them, but usually wins in his age group...rock on! He is a very encouraging person and challenges me to set goals higher than I think I can attain. So we'll see...I've got til 3-11 to be ready for the KC St. Pat's Race...here's to hitting the pavement!
Oh, and other inspirations? How about turning 3.0., two babies, one friend who has ran marathons, one triathalons, and I can't jog 50 yards w/o keeling over! Sheesh!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Cakes of Late
Here are some of my decorated cakes...some recent, some just favs. This hobby is my creative outlet that would be perfect, except that there are always a lot of dishes to clean afterwards!
Kai's 1st BD
Elena's 1st BD
Elena's 2nd BD
This cake had a tragic ending...well, mid-life crisis...we loaded it in the truck to take to the party and when the door shut, the box collapsed on top, completely mashing the front of the much-labored-over Harley! After a hurried patch job, it was never the same, but they say it tasted good. Oh, dear!
Go Pitt State! The split face gorilla logo cakes are some of my favs to make.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star....Naomi!!
This cutie was too much fun! Loved the grass and sugar ladybugs!
Kai's 1st BD
Elena's 1st BD
Elena's 2nd BD
This cake had a tragic ending...well, mid-life crisis...we loaded it in the truck to take to the party and when the door shut, the box collapsed on top, completely mashing the front of the much-labored-over Harley! After a hurried patch job, it was never the same, but they say it tasted good. Oh, dear!
Go Pitt State! The split face gorilla logo cakes are some of my favs to make.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star....Naomi!!
This cutie was too much fun! Loved the grass and sugar ladybugs!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Birthday #1!
Kai celebrated turning one with a grand display of cake-in-the-face mashing!
He figured out how to blow out his candle after Elena demonstrated the proper technique. And after picture after picture, "cheese" was added to his vast vocabulary of "quack", "sit", "vroom", and "duck"!
Chocolate Soup
That just happens to be what I'm finishing drinking...actually chocolate soy milk...I've had better beverages. This is my intro into blogging. I've spent the last hour or so checking out blogs from friends in my previous life in Knoxville. I can tell that my heart is sad...not missing life so much there, as I'm very content with my life now, but their zeal and passion expressing all that God is doing in their lives is so evident.
What am I thinking!? I have the same spirit within...I think perhaps I'm just out of practice expressing it in all my various walks of living. Okay. Shake of the blah and get to it...
Reasons for posting a blog:
1. I'm too lazy to write in my journal.
2. I'm always online anyway.
3. I can show off my sweet kiddos.
3. Writing practice! I'd like to publish something, someday...for real.
4. Why not?
Here is a picture of my family at Kai's birthday party last Saturday! He's been taking a few steps at a time since that day and even made it half way across the kitchen today!
To any and all that read my posts, hope you enjoy my ramblings...this may become addicting!
What am I thinking!? I have the same spirit within...I think perhaps I'm just out of practice expressing it in all my various walks of living. Okay. Shake of the blah and get to it...
Reasons for posting a blog:
1. I'm too lazy to write in my journal.
2. I'm always online anyway.
3. I can show off my sweet kiddos.
3. Writing practice! I'd like to publish something, someday...for real.
4. Why not?
Here is a picture of my family at Kai's birthday party last Saturday! He's been taking a few steps at a time since that day and even made it half way across the kitchen today!
To any and all that read my posts, hope you enjoy my ramblings...this may become addicting!
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