You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December 2007.
After years of repenting over appliance envy, my AMAZING husband decided to prevent all temptation and buy me THIS:
Isn’t it WONDERFUL????? (Hey, if it’s better to marry than to burn, it’s probably better to process than to envy)
It has a wide mouth, suction cup feet, 5 speeds (incl. pulse), lots of recipes in the book, and IT’S MINE!!!!!!!!!!!
HOORAY!!!
I’ve wanted a food processor for years — a LOT of years. But we’ve gone through seasons (errr… *long* seasons) of eating out rather than me cooking (I am not proud… but Dave Ramsey has gotten a good hold of me, I promise).
Because I thought a new food processor would have to come out of my household budget, I began scoping out the Salvation Army for a used one and doing extensive research, online and among friends, on new ones. And when I did the research, I found this Hamilton Beach actually gets higher ratings than the Kitchen Aid. The price is much friendlier, that’s for sure.
(edit: the machine isn’t the only thing with a wide mouth) Thanks to my husband’s amazing photography skills, you can see the surprise, the delight (and the biggest nose + most chins combo) accompanying the unwrap. I was THRILLED! I *am* thrilled! I’m debating what I can make today. We’re living in the land of leftovers, so I haven’t been to the grocery store in several, several days. BUT, I do have my obligatory potato stash, and I’m thinking that some potato au gratin or some potato soup sounds really, REALLY good.
This gift was the cherry on top of the sundae for me; it was a BEAUTIFUL Christmas and being this surprised was a huge treat! I pray your Christmas was blessed and peaceful and full of surprises, too! And since I don’t actually eat coleslaw, you’ll have to come over this summer when I use my new toy to make a batch… bring your ziplocs ’cause I don’t want the leftovers!
Because You said it, I *do* believe it. Because You began it, it will be finished — and finished well. Because You are the Author, the Story will weave beautifully around Redemption’s theme. Because You are the Perfecter, the characters will no longer be tragic.
LORD, this has been the most peace filled Christmas we’ve known. What a GIFT! *Thank You, Jesus!* And I find myself excited and invigorated and refreshed and so, so, SO grateful. You are our very great Reward and we love You. The gift of Your presence, the gift of Your love — these are the greatest gifts we have received this year! *Thank You* for loving us the way You do!
I cannot imagine what will be in 365 days. I cannot fathom all Your hand will do. But I’m *excited* LORD! Please continue to teach me Your ways, LORD. I want to walk in Your Truth. And I want to lead my Little Ones into triumphant trust in You. God, please establish the work of my hands and continue to purify my heart. May I echo my brothers’ hearts?
You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what’s been done
You hold the present and all that’s to come
Until your everlasting kingdom
Lord, I don’t know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation
Lord, I don’t know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
Oh, Lord, you are the author
Redeeming what’s been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come
Lord, we don’t know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
Cathedrals have tried in vain
To show the image of Your face.
But we are, by Your design,
The signature of divine.
We’ll always sing Your name.
Forever and today.
Yahweh, Yahweh…
Great is Your glory when You go before me
Oh, we sing…
Holy, Holy…
Your ways are lovely. So high above me.
Yahweh
The fortunes of kings and queens
Are wasted chasing what we’ve seen.
Cause we are, by Your reprieve,
The beauty framed by Your suffering.
We’ll always sing Your name.
Forever and today.
Yahweh, Yahweh…
Great is Your glory when You go before me
Oh, we sing…
Holy, Holy…
Your ways are lovely. So high above me.
Yahweh
Take me, and pull me through.
Cause I can’t move without You.
I won’t leave You alone, You say.
It will be okay.
Yahweh, Yahweh…
Great is Your glory when You go before me
Oh, we sing…
Holy, Holy…
Your ways are lovely. So high above me.
Yahweh
Ancient of Days…
Yahweh!
My mom gave me a Christmas ornament every year with the idea that I would have a decent set to begin my own tree someday. I think the idea of Charlie Brown’s tree broke her heart! 
We’ve sorta kept this tradition with our own children (though I am painfully ashamed that LittleMan did not get a “My First Christmas” ornament for his first, I know, I know, he’ll be so sad I’m sure). But we also wanted to carve out some traditions that would consistently point back to the real meaning of Christmas and the real joys of the celebration. So here’s part of what we do:
1. Yes, my husband reads the Christmas account in Luke on Christmas morning, but on Christmas Eve, we have LittleBit and LittleMan use our quilted nativity set to tell the story themselves. We started when LittleBit was 2; obviously there were things slightly off chronologically and a few people unidentified, but it wasn’t about propriety, it was about internalization. It’s amazing in the past three years how much more the story has become “hers” — she knows the characters, she understands the need for Jesus now, and now she thinks He’s “cute little Jesus!” in the manger. I’m ok with that kind of developing faith! This year, I’m planning to film each of them give their account of our Savior’s birth and ask them why it was important. May they grow up knowing that that Baby on the hay was wrapped in flesh — and swaddling rags — for their sakes, not His own.
2. We make dough ornaments. You can tell a LOT about the way a child changes year to year through his art. It’s shocking to me that this year, LittleMan is very into painting actual shapes and specific colors. A year ago, mixing all the colors and smearing them around blobs totally rocked. Now he’s a bit more thorough. It’s all in how his little mind is growing and I LOVE that! Though, we are currently entrenched in “everything as weapon” so we’re trying to dissuade him from constructing Christmas spears. What can I tell you?
3. Three gifts. The wise men gave the Savior 3 gifts, so we give each of them three gifts. And just as the gifts the Magi gave were significant, we seek to give “significant” gifts as well. Sure, there will be grandparent gifts and friend gifts, but from Daddy & Mommy, it’s three that are important and close to their hearts. And while we’re talking gifts, Together gifts. Can I tell you how many gifts our kids share???? It has been a HUGE blessing for the list making — rather than having tit-for-tat in the spending or number of packages, we get gifts that are given to both of them. This year, I think two out of the three main gifts will actually be shared gifts between them.
4. Jesus’ Birthday party. This is my FAVORITE!!!! (possibly because I grew up Southern Baptist and have a wonderful affinity for cake) The angels help me make & bake a cake (from a mix, folks, from a mix — Martha I am not, Peter I be, so just blurt it out and get it done). We talk the WHOLE time about what kinds of gifts we can give to Jesus and to other people and what we’ve learned this year and our memory verses (sadly lacking this year!) and sing our praise songs and — well, it’s just FUN! Then they take a nap, and by the time they get up, it’s time to frost it. I let them do WHATEVER they want with it. LittleBit is more “mainline” and feels that Jesus’ birthday cake should be planned and dignified. LittleMan thinks that since God *created* parties, surely He must like FUN ones, so his hand is very free with the sprinkles and contrast icing. Maybe this year we’ll make 2 cakes! After dinner that night, we talk about the gifts we want to give Jesus (obedience, tender hearts toward His Word, generosity with our things and our time) with Daddy. Then Daddy leads us in prayer and we sing a LOUD Happy Birthday to Jesus! We all blow out His candles together (because the Spirit lives in us) and we eat cake together and laugh. Last year (I think) D was on the road, so I had to lead the prayer myself, and it was really kind of a weighty spiritual experience; what DO you say to the Creator of the Universe in pure celebration of His very existence??? Not what He chooses to DO with that existence, just the fact that HE IS…???
So those are our favs. We sure do love Christmas!!!!! Head over to Shannon’s for ways you can enjoy this celebration time even more!
Are you teary up there, too?
Or is it just me today?
Trying to offer some kind of support to W & M as they say goodbye to their Mom made today a painfully familiar one for me. We both know this journey they’re on, don’t we? Years have passed, but waiting rooms are still waiting rooms and children still cry for their Grandmas and daughters still stand in wide-eyed bewilderment in the wake of “We’ve done all we can for her.”
You remember, don’t you?
Me too.
I tried to talk to M. Well, I did talk to her. Don’t know how much sense it made, but I tried to give her the pain coated pearls given me when we said goodbye. I *hate* having to pass those on. Why do I have to pass those on?!?! Oh, LORD, forgive me… I am sinful and resentful and unworthy…
Walking back out to a car you never saw, listening to songs you never heard, and driving through a city you never visited all served as both comfort and abrasion. How I wish — today more so than ever – that you could be here! There are lines on my face now and my hair is awfully long and I really need to lose some weight; and you’re the only person in the world I want to tell that too.
And then… Oh, Mama! And then there’s my babies… Oh, Mama, my babies are PERFECT… do you know that? Can you see them? Can you watch them from Where you are? They’re so big now, he’s all spitfire and fun and she’s in charge and all mercy. Oh Mama! They would love you! And we’ve had sweet conversations about you in the car. She told me, “If we go to Heaven before you, I know your Mommy would take care of us,” and he said, “And she loves us a whole lot too!” I don’t know how they know, but they do; they would love you. They love Aunt S so much and she and I just ache that it’s not both of you doting on them. Oh… oh… I cannot believe how this hurts… today felt like that day all over again… I can hear your voice, Mama… I can hear that last conversation… I can smell your hair…
Just a few minutes ago, in fact, she woke up. The Grinch from the movie scared her, so we didn’t watch it, but it apparently woke her up dreaming about it. And so I talked to her and sang to her and held her. And I cried. I’m still crying. Because looking into her face is looking into yours. I just wish you could see her, the little mirror she’d be. And she’s sweet, Mama, she’s so sweet. She deserves better than me for a mother, but she’s mine. And I looked in on him and he’s sideways in the bed and nearly smiling. Oh, he’s a treasure. He’s all charmer. I don’t know how to raise a gentleman, but I will try, Mama, I am trying. You’d just love them to pieces, I just know you would, not just because they’re yours but because they’re just little miracles running around.
I don’t know if we’ll get to have another, Mama, we’ve been praying for what feels like a long, long time and just nothing’s happened. And God has perfect timing and a perfect plan, so I try to be patient, but they both want a little sister and it just breaks my heart waiting.
And oh, Mama, you would love D. He’s a real Daddy. Who would’ve thought? Thank You, God that You picked him out because I sure didn’t know what to look for. He loves our little ones, Mama, and he works SO hard ALL the time. Sure there are hard days, but they’re nothing compared to “us.”
Mama, I have to go to bed. I *have* to. You know it too. I’m so tired and so tore up right now and squeak crying. I don’t want you back for your sake, but I sure wish you were here for mine. I’ve always been selfish. I just miss you. God’s been so good, Mama: it’s not the life we thought it would be, but it’s SO beautiful! I just wish you could be a part of it. And I love you, you know that, right? I’ve never stopped and I don’t know when I’ll get to talk to you next because to be honest, it just hurts so bad when I try to sit down and fill you in on things. Ugh… I feel so guilty saying that, but it’s the truth. I’m trying to trust God with this hurt, but you and I both know my hand’s been pretty clinched for a long time. And I’m sorry.
*This* sorrow will last for the night, and His joy will wake me up tomorrow with chubby-cheek kisses and hairbow discussions. It will get easier tomorrow. But please, Mama, if Miss N gets there soon, would you be her friend? Will you help her keep an eye on her grandbaby? And will you tell her what it’s like to miss your daughter? She’s so young, just like you, and she’s going to need a friend, I think. We’re praying for miracles and with God, all things are possible. He’s going to heal, just like He’s done for others, just like He did for you.
Mama… I miss you. It hurts so bad. But I’ll see you one day. Until then, I love you. Oh, how I love you! Truly, I am surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses… Good night, Mama.
We moved in and thought, “We have this marvelous home with fabulous raised-ceilings! Hooray for LOTS OF WALL SPACE! “
However, our wall-to-wallet-ratio is not equal.
This equates to LOTS OF *EMPTY* WALL SPACE.
The good news is that Shutterfly is not only a GREAT place for digital prints and projects, it’s also an affordable option for larger prints and posters. In fact, my brilliant husband took engagement photos for friends of ours and used Shutterfly to blow up a couple for people to sign as an “alternative guest book” at the wedding. It was great!
To begin filling my walls, I wanted art that would “go with” the room, but I liked the idea of pieces having more meaning than, “I liked it and it goes.” So I started looking through my digital pics.
Here’s one I liked:
This is a picture of a tree in our front yard; I remember LittleBit getting SO excited when she was tall enough to lunge up and grab the lowest limb and LittleMan shaking the drooping lower branches and laughing while leaves showered him. Yep, I’d like to have that tree on my walls.
So I uploaded the original to Shutterfly, cropped it within the program, and it told me the prints were good up to 16×20. I chose 11×14 for $7.99 — you read that price correctly! Add about $10 for a frame & matting from Hobby Lobby (I HEART Hobby Lobby! PLEASE shop Hobby Lobby! They’re amazing!) and I have a piece of art on my wall that calls to mind all the adventures — both had and approaching — outside our front door.
Now that Works for Me!
To see other things that work, head over to Shannon’s this week!
The Praise Baby series of DVDs is simply AMAZING! If your little angels are babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, these sweet films will both encourage and delight with sweet praise and colorful images.
We bought the first one as soon as it came out; I’d heard *lots* about Baby Einstein, but didn’t want to spend that kind of money on something that didn’t seem all that important. But Praises and Smiles was so different — connecting the worship we sing at church with the peacefulness of a lullaby collection. I remember the first time LittleBit bounced up and down in my arms at church because she recognized the song we were singing — she’d been listening to it on her Praises and Smiles DVD.
I am SO excited about the new Joy to the World DVD! Yes, my Praise Babies are older now, but there are several Praise Babies in our family who will LOVE to bounce around in celebration!
And I’m pretty sure my own Little Ones will be standing behind them singing along…
Let this be the quick and crappy submission — everyone is posting some AMAZING recipes that I can hardly wait to try, but in case you’re short on time and long on cold, here’s a quick soup solution that will warm your body and leave you your time:
1 can black beans
1 can chopped tomatoes (I use the kind seasoned w/ garlic)
1 8oz container of sour cream (Dawn, are you laughing? ‘Cause I *know* you’re not surprised)
Grated Mozzarella or Mexican cheese (I refuse to force my own values clarification on anyone else’s cheese consumption — I’m southern, so we use nigh on half a bag)
Ok, here are the incredibly difficult directions:
Take a Beano.
Dump the can of black beans into a pot, undrained. Dump the can of tomatoes into the pot with the beans, undrained. Stir until mixed. Turn heat to medium-high and go pour yourself a cup of coffee (seriously! check it out!). In 5-7 mins, you’ll have a bubbly, warm, goopey mess.
Once it’s heated through you can either A) stir in half the container of sour cream or B) dish the soupy goodness and let people add their own sour cream. Once dished, sprinkle the top with grated cheese.
Enjoy the deliciousness!
I also recommend adding cooked rice, ground beef, shredded chicken or turkey, even pork to make it heartier. I’ve been toying with trying sausage, too.
Head over to BooMama’s Super Soup-tacular for other (far more sophisticated) soups!
…back to the doctor’s we go
Or went, rather.
LittleBit and LittleMan both have strep throat. Again. Or still. Something.
This is annoying primarily because it hurts to see my children sick and then because I really thought we’d fought it all off the first time. They hadn’t felt well the Monday after Thanksgiving, so we did a 5-day course of antibiotics. Have I ever mentioned that I *detest* antibiotics? I am grateful for what they do but leery of their frequent usage. Fortunately, our pediatricians are amazing and respect my anti-antibiotic stance (does that make me pro-biotic?)
Poor LittleBit gagged so hard when they swabbed her that she threw up (into my hands — Mom of the Year here gets extra points for catching it ALL — chalk it up to “I never thought I’d be proud of this, but…”). She looked so puzzled and pitiful when it happened; it broke my heart. Here she is covered in that pin-pricky rash that accompanies her fevers, throat too sore to swallow, brother bouncing around her asking what’s wrong, and now she’s puking. I washed my hands and picked her up and just rocked her. Ugh… sometimes I wish she’d just “shrink” so I could cradle her like I used to.
We went ahead and swabbed LittleMan, which was a good decision since it came back positive. He’s not been “ill” per se, but he’s been ill. We’ve been dealing with his slow-bedience for a couple of days, so I’m thinking he’s not feeling completely himself even if he doesn’t say or act sick.
On our way home, I stopped to get some mentholated rub and the CVS cashier asked if we wanted to donate $1 to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. We said yes, finished checking out, and got in the car. It occurred to me afterwards how very, very, very blessed we are — I’m saddened and inconvenienced by this temporary ailment, but there are parents out there whose children’s very lives hang in the balance, one day to the next.
There’s a wife who can’t be home baking for the holidays because she’s constantly back and forth to the hospital to be with her husband. There’s a mom who won’t get to fill a stocking and watch it spilled out on her living room floor this Christmas because her baby is now in Heaven. There’s a dad who won’t be lugging the Christmas tree up steps with strapping son because his son died from a seizure disorder before football playoffs for school.
And these are just families *we know.* There are thousands more we don’t.
I don’t take it for granted that all we have is strep, and for as annoying as this may be, it is merely that — annoying. It is not life threatening or life changing. It is a blessing that we have two small bottles of “Pink Med-cin” (as LittleBit says) and nothing more. I’m not thankful that my children have strep throat; I *am* thankful that my children only have strep throat.
Jesus, we’re getting ready to celebrate Your birthday — and we are EXCITED!!!!!! Is it Your favorite time of year, too?
LORD, my babies are sick and my husband is tired. Please, LORD, place Your hand, on each of my children and heal them. You are the Great Physician and by Your stripes alone are we healed. And Father, please place Your loving arms under D’s and continue to establish the work of his hands; truly, all that he has accomplished, LORD, *You* have done for him.
And Jesus? Without sounding trite or flippant — no, with absolute sincerity of heart — please, PLEASE bless those whose bodies need Your touch, who stand before beloved ones wordless and powerless to help, who will face this Birthday Celebration alone or without for the first time.
Holy God, it is freakishly odd to thank You for strep throat, but I trust that You knew what You meant — and where we would be — when You said, “Give thanks in all things.” So, LORD? Thank You for strep throat.
I love You, LORD. Amen.
When it’s way too late to really PLAN anything, I schlep things together in *fun ways* — this eases my conscience for having COMPLETELY failed in Meal Making 101 for the day.
For example:
Turkey hot dogs cut up and stuck on skewers with carrots, cherry tomatoes, cheese squares, pineapple, and apple (hey, it’s not like they eat it all together; it just looks cooler than tossing it on a plate)
Bow-tie pasta arranged in a heart shape with sauce in the middle
Remove crusts, then smoosh sandwich bread (I know some people detest that), spread with pb&j, roll tightly, cut into small pinwheels.
BUT, if we’re all hungry enough for “real” dinner rather than hapless schlepping, here are my favorite meals:
1. Pancakes & eggs — around here, heating a skillet, pouring out a few cakes and then scrambling some eggs makes for a VERY quick meal. I grind my own flour for my pancakes and it still takes only 15 mins to get the first ones on the plate; if I use a boxed mix, only 5 mins.
2. Well… eggs are even simpler… just thought about that
3. Random Yummy Chicken & Rice Thingy (YES that is the OFFICIAL name and even Paula Deen wants to call it that… not really… but she might one day…)
Saute chunks of chicken in about 2-3 tablespoons of Italian dressing until done
Add 1 cup of water (or chicken broth), bring to boil
Add 1 cup instant rice, chopped vegetables*
Cover and let cook about 10-15mins until rice has cooked
Remove from heat, plate, sprinkle with grated cheese
(I also like it with sour cream; I have a thing for sour cream)
*Vegetables — we usually do combos including green peppers, broccoli, summer squash, sweet onion, carrots (though they take a bit longer to cook), zucchini, celery, and TOMATOES (though I advise putting them in toward the end of cooking to keep them from being complete mush)
I freely admit getting the original recipe from Kraft’s Food and Family magazine. If you don’t get it, I STRONGLY recommend it! It’s free and includes amazing quick recipes, you get great coupons, and a yearly calendar with all kinds of scrumptiousness for each month.
So those are the kinds of dinners that Work for Me. Head over Shannon’s to see what else works!
Others' thoughts