The girls were listening to Amy Grant's "My Best Christmas" a lot. One day, Sp. asked me why she keeps saying "doo-wa, doo-wa, ooooooh" and my response was, "that's just a filler word. It doesn't mean anything but keeps the rhythm of the song." A few days later, she was listening to the "Tender Tennessee Christmas" song. Apparently, she doesn't know all her states, cause she came to me seriously and said,
"Mom. I know that 'Colorado' is just a filler word." LOL! -Dec. 5
Sp: (while playing bears or animals of some sort) "Bye bye! I'm harmonating!" -Dec. 18
G: (singing her made-up song):
"Trees come up to earth
Cars drive over them.
Jesus sleeps on the moon
He knows how to read." -Dec. 18
Sp: (trying to whistle)
"Mom, licking your lips is like putting ink in a pen." -Dec. 20
me: "What does 'invisible' mean, Golden?"
G: "mmmm...mmmmm....whiny?" -Jan. 3
Sp: "We'll only die for a minute... I mean--the shortest shortest time you can imagine." -Jan. 3
G: "Mommy! My baby is coming soon!"
Dad: "Oh yeah? What's it gonna be, a boy or a girl?"
G: "A girl with eyelashes and pink."
Dad: "What's its name gonna be?"
G: "Toothless." (lol--oddly appropriate!) -Jan. 28
G: "Mom, this sign says, 'thank you, butterfly, for giving us a cupcake, and an ice cream, and cake, and another cupcake, and a card..." (on and on she went, while i waited for her to finish reading the "don't drink the irrigation water" sign, with silas getting heavier and heavier in my arms! hah!) -Jan. 26
G: "I had a nice dream about a quail, and it got burned, and the bad-guy quails threw her off a cliff. And she got aten, and she became a baby." (the first utterances to come out of her mouth that morning! love age 3.5!) -Jan. 27
G: "Mom, I love you, but I might have a scary dream, so I need somebody to sleep with me."
me: "well, that's why you have Sparrow. You have each other."
G: "No, I need somebody tall... very tall." -Jan. 27
Thursday, February 2, 2012
California
On the 20th of January, our family locked up the house in Arizona which had become our beloved home, the home we brought Silas into when he was born, and drove to San Diego to live with friends. After 7 months of unemployment, we finally "got" the fact that we were not supposed to stay in Tucson despite the cheap rent and the beautiful community of friends we had there. We had no funds on which to move, but figured that if God wanted us to move, He would make it happen, and--through friends--He did. So here we are in Encinitas, north of San Diego, hardly able to believe we are in California again. And living faith, hope and love daily as far as we are able, thanking God for every day, and praying for miracles. GOD is the strength of my life! Even Jesus sometimes relied upon others to house and feed him, and I am trying to remember that those who trust on the Lord need never be ashamed (Psalm 37:19, Psalm 119:6, and others...).
Life is good here; it is less challenging than i imagined to live with another family. Which is a great testimony to Sam and Judy's generosity and easy-going-ness! They are really super gracious and kind. they love to help people out sacrificially, especially helping people get on their feet from a hard situation; I am humbled by them. Would I just invite a family of 5/6 to come live with me and take over one whole room and live in my space, etc? No. This is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom house. One family sleeps in one room, one in the other. It is quite cozy which I don't mind, but am hoping for a miracle to be able to get housing of our own by the time my new baby arrives in 2 months! It would be stepping it up to a whole new level of craziness to be nursing a newborn for so much of my days/nights and not be able to contribute much to the household. etc. Sam and Judy's little boy is 3; he shares the same birthday as Golden! Three times per week he goes to Montessori school from 8:30 to 2:30, but we get a lot of play time with him still! He is doing so well, considering he just had 3 other youngsters move into his space and suddenly start using all his stuff! The girls have really taken to him as their "brother." It has been a little challenging for me to keep my girls aware that they are still under my authority and can't just run off with him and watch a movie or whatever whenever they want. But I am grateful for the opportunity to train them more in the area of cheerful obedience. Judy and I switch off making meals, and that is really nice too. She is extraordinarily kind and inviting--she is the kind of person that holds everything with an open hand, which is an enigma to me--i don't naturally do that. At. All. Like I said, I am being humbled. One thing i am super grateful for is that we are in a place where we TRULY have to pray for our daily bread. How many Americans can say that they pray that prayer and really really mean it, ya know? Though I never paid that much attention to it before, the Lord's prayer has suddenly become very relevant and dear to me.
Thomas is trying to schedule himself to be working on job stuff about 8 hours a day, so he is keeping busy. I try to take the children out to a park or beach in the morning (there are tons of parks close by and beach is like 3 blocks away) to stay out of his way so he can do that. Although he does often seek my advice and secretarial services, so how useful it really is for me to be gone, I don't know! In the afternoon I usually do homeschool with Sparrow while the younger ones sleep.
The really really nice thing about here is that everything is close by. The not nice thing is the cost of living! But I would rather be where God is leading me than somewhere that I myself find more comfy and logical, you know? I know I will treasure our time in AZ as one of the best seasons of my life. But it also feels right to be back in California! We are loving the ocean air, beaches, good outdoor smells, lush plants, really fun and abundant playgrounds, etc. etc. Sparrow's hair has already gotten blonder--she can play ont he beach by herself for hours! She is such a little beach runner. Golden is turning brown, although she doesn't like me saying so! Silas just likes being outdoors anytime. He is walking pretty well now and stalks around the playground in his turned-out position, climbing up structures that are way too high for him and saying "hi" to every child he meets.
The first church we tried was North Coast Calvary Chapel and Thomas and I both like it, so we might just stay there, at least while we are here in this neighborhood--it is very close by, and that is a plus, when every mile of gas is a concern! LOL. Of course i have my issues with it, but it's not heretical and there are a lot of things to like about it. the facility is so nice that you would be tempted to go there just for that! yikes! I found out at newcomer's night (at which they served a bunch of beautifully arranged desserts--oh WHY had i already eaten!!??!?) that the pastor is the dad of two of the guys in 'Switchfoot,' a Christian band I have been listening to since high school--I had their 1st album--on TAPE!--and had it memorized, too... Anyway, being in the public eye and Christian arena, their sons are a great testimony to the pastor and his wife. I am always looking for parents who have grown children who are strong in the Lord and living His abundant life. Switchfoot has been around for a long time and they didn't make it into the mainstream for at least 10 years but they persevered; and now that they are in the mainstream, to my knowledge they haven't toned down their message. It has always been a thoughtful message with a Biblical worldview.
For homeschool we are doing 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons'--because Sparrow was ready for it--and the intro year of MEP math, (a freely available math curriculum online) and the rest is just made up. I am not sold on the reading curriculum yet; she seems to find it tedious--which is super sad, being as it is very effective-- and I want her to be excited about reading and find it interesting. I am super glad Sparrow is still in kindergarten. it would, in a way, be really nice to just do a "box" curriculum and have everything laid out for you every day. One cool thing that we are working on independently though, is learning how to tell TIME! that has been my favorite thing this week. She is getting really good at memorizing the "minute hand" numbers and was able to tell me the time on 4 clock problems today! She can even write them out 'digital' style when she gets the answers. And then there is the library. It is really close by and really big and nice. And of course, a great home school resource! We found a wonderfully illustrated, longer/older version of "Cinderella"--I wish I could buy it! And we are also reading a poetry anthology. Sparrow is going to memorize a few poems from there. Then i try to go over catechism stuff with them during lunchtime, and we try to keep on top of continually memorizing verses too. Thomas is really good at gathering us all together to pray and read the Bible in the AM and PM.I am so thankful for a husband like that.
Speaking of homeschooling, I just discovered this little "Ryan Gosling on Homeschooling" poster which made me laugh so hard I cried. This is so my life some days! LOL!
This was created by homeschooling moms, they have a whole little website dedicated to these.
Here is some of what we've been up to lately, in picture format!
Life is good here; it is less challenging than i imagined to live with another family. Which is a great testimony to Sam and Judy's generosity and easy-going-ness! They are really super gracious and kind. they love to help people out sacrificially, especially helping people get on their feet from a hard situation; I am humbled by them. Would I just invite a family of 5/6 to come live with me and take over one whole room and live in my space, etc? No. This is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom house. One family sleeps in one room, one in the other. It is quite cozy which I don't mind, but am hoping for a miracle to be able to get housing of our own by the time my new baby arrives in 2 months! It would be stepping it up to a whole new level of craziness to be nursing a newborn for so much of my days/nights and not be able to contribute much to the household. etc. Sam and Judy's little boy is 3; he shares the same birthday as Golden! Three times per week he goes to Montessori school from 8:30 to 2:30, but we get a lot of play time with him still! He is doing so well, considering he just had 3 other youngsters move into his space and suddenly start using all his stuff! The girls have really taken to him as their "brother." It has been a little challenging for me to keep my girls aware that they are still under my authority and can't just run off with him and watch a movie or whatever whenever they want. But I am grateful for the opportunity to train them more in the area of cheerful obedience. Judy and I switch off making meals, and that is really nice too. She is extraordinarily kind and inviting--she is the kind of person that holds everything with an open hand, which is an enigma to me--i don't naturally do that. At. All. Like I said, I am being humbled. One thing i am super grateful for is that we are in a place where we TRULY have to pray for our daily bread. How many Americans can say that they pray that prayer and really really mean it, ya know? Though I never paid that much attention to it before, the Lord's prayer has suddenly become very relevant and dear to me.
Thomas is trying to schedule himself to be working on job stuff about 8 hours a day, so he is keeping busy. I try to take the children out to a park or beach in the morning (there are tons of parks close by and beach is like 3 blocks away) to stay out of his way so he can do that. Although he does often seek my advice and secretarial services, so how useful it really is for me to be gone, I don't know! In the afternoon I usually do homeschool with Sparrow while the younger ones sleep.
The really really nice thing about here is that everything is close by. The not nice thing is the cost of living! But I would rather be where God is leading me than somewhere that I myself find more comfy and logical, you know? I know I will treasure our time in AZ as one of the best seasons of my life. But it also feels right to be back in California! We are loving the ocean air, beaches, good outdoor smells, lush plants, really fun and abundant playgrounds, etc. etc. Sparrow's hair has already gotten blonder--she can play ont he beach by herself for hours! She is such a little beach runner. Golden is turning brown, although she doesn't like me saying so! Silas just likes being outdoors anytime. He is walking pretty well now and stalks around the playground in his turned-out position, climbing up structures that are way too high for him and saying "hi" to every child he meets.
The first church we tried was North Coast Calvary Chapel and Thomas and I both like it, so we might just stay there, at least while we are here in this neighborhood--it is very close by, and that is a plus, when every mile of gas is a concern! LOL. Of course i have my issues with it, but it's not heretical and there are a lot of things to like about it. the facility is so nice that you would be tempted to go there just for that! yikes! I found out at newcomer's night (at which they served a bunch of beautifully arranged desserts--oh WHY had i already eaten!!??!?) that the pastor is the dad of two of the guys in 'Switchfoot,' a Christian band I have been listening to since high school--I had their 1st album--on TAPE!--and had it memorized, too... Anyway, being in the public eye and Christian arena, their sons are a great testimony to the pastor and his wife. I am always looking for parents who have grown children who are strong in the Lord and living His abundant life. Switchfoot has been around for a long time and they didn't make it into the mainstream for at least 10 years but they persevered; and now that they are in the mainstream, to my knowledge they haven't toned down their message. It has always been a thoughtful message with a Biblical worldview.
For homeschool we are doing 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons'--because Sparrow was ready for it--and the intro year of MEP math, (a freely available math curriculum online) and the rest is just made up. I am not sold on the reading curriculum yet; she seems to find it tedious--which is super sad, being as it is very effective-- and I want her to be excited about reading and find it interesting. I am super glad Sparrow is still in kindergarten. it would, in a way, be really nice to just do a "box" curriculum and have everything laid out for you every day. One cool thing that we are working on independently though, is learning how to tell TIME! that has been my favorite thing this week. She is getting really good at memorizing the "minute hand" numbers and was able to tell me the time on 4 clock problems today! She can even write them out 'digital' style when she gets the answers. And then there is the library. It is really close by and really big and nice. And of course, a great home school resource! We found a wonderfully illustrated, longer/older version of "Cinderella"--I wish I could buy it! And we are also reading a poetry anthology. Sparrow is going to memorize a few poems from there. Then i try to go over catechism stuff with them during lunchtime, and we try to keep on top of continually memorizing verses too. Thomas is really good at gathering us all together to pray and read the Bible in the AM and PM.I am so thankful for a husband like that.
Speaking of homeschooling, I just discovered this little "Ryan Gosling on Homeschooling" poster which made me laugh so hard I cried. This is so my life some days! LOL!
This was created by homeschooling moms, they have a whole little website dedicated to these.
Here is some of what we've been up to lately, in picture format!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Signs and Wonders
11 The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, 12 “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do,
and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.
13 Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.
He is the one you should fear.
He is the one who should make you tremble.
14 He will keep you safe.
But to Israel and Judah
he will be a stone that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem
he will be a trap and a snare.
15 Many will stumble and fall,
never to rise again.
They will be snared and captured.”
16 Preserve the teaching of God;
entrust his instructions to those who follow me.
17 I will wait for the Lord,
who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my hope in him.
18 I and the children the Lord has given me serve as signs and (wonders) to Israel from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies who dwells in his Temple on Mount Zion.
19 Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
20 Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. 21 They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven 22 and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness." -from Isaiah 8
ok--can we say new life verse (passage)?!?! Today I was thinking about how we are giving up this house to go live in one room again, five of us now, and soon to be six, and asking the Lord about our calling. He spoke to my heart, "You are called to be a sign and a wonder." I knew immediately that this means that we will have to have faith. And that He will provide for us in mighty ways! I was talking to my aunt in Germany today, and I know that she and my uncle think we are crazy to have another child in this situation. My former boss thinks we are crazy. Many people think we are crazy. They probably give us the "benefit of the doubt" and hope the baby was an accident. But it wasn't! It was a faith baby. God ALWAYS provides for those He sends. I know they are shaking their heads at us. But now I know something else: That God WILL prove His faithfulness in MIRACULOUS ways. The first mention of "signs and wonders" in the Bible is in Exodus 7:3 "But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt." It is specifically talking about mighty miracles.
Then I found Isaiah 8:18, which was speaking directly of my situation! That I and my CHILDREN whom God has given me will be a sign and a wonder! I was astounded, taken aback. So I ask those out there with families: When people look at your family, do they see a sign and a wonder? Do they think, "here is a family that reveals God's heart and God's glory" or do they think "Here is a family that exemplifies good planning?"
God has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does... When He brings us out of this land, when He provides (continues providing!) all we need and more, when He lifts us up, people will recognize us as having been with Jesus, and that is completely invigorating.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
October /November Noveltyspeak
G: "My face is clean."
me: "No, it's not; it has butter on it and so do your hands."
G: "I don't see any butterness." -Oct. 1
G: "My ankle is hurt, so I need some peppermint tea." or on other occasions, "My feelings are hurt, so I need some peppermint tea." -October
G: "My arms are dizzy." -Oct. 13
G: "Mommy is Mack-ing the Cheese!" -Oct. 14
When I sprayed Golden's bottom to help her wipe, she said,
"He, he. That tickles... every day." -Oct. 27
me: talking about grandmothers and grandfathers
Sp: "Is it grand when you have a smile on your face?" -Oct. 27
me: "God took six days to work and one day to rest. So it reminds us to rest. It's important to follow God's example."
Sp: "The 'remind me' day and the 'oh yeah' day." -Nov. 3
G: "Why do people don't like to touch fire?"
me: "Because it hurts really really badly and it can destroy your body."
G: "Yeah... that makes me sad and it hurts my feelings." -Nov. 2
G (standing on chair): "Mom, when I'm your age, can I be this tall?"
me: "Sure, Golden. Actually it's God who decides how tall you're gonna be."
G: "Yeah, and He decides what movie we're gonna watch." -Nov. 3
Sp: "This is my ship, the Maple Flower." -Nov. 7
Sp: "We're still battling over our sins and stuff. Cause life is hard. That's what we're finding out about life." -Nov. 8
Danielle: "I really want my teeth brushed."
me: "You're gonna have to ask your mommy."
Sp: "You're gonna have to ask God about that." -Nov.12
me: "I don't even know if Danielle is awake yet."
Sp: "Yeah-huh! She goes to bed at 49. That's what Auntie Omi told me." -Nov. 12
G: "I'm getting married to this."
Sp (distressed): "But that's not a prince!"
G: "I know, but I'm getting married to it." -Nov. 15
G: "Hey Daddy! When you were in the office and Mommy was sleeping and Sparrow and I were on the green couch, I heard 'ckch--ckch--ckch.'"
Daddy: "O yeah? And what was it?"
G: "Probably it was God, or the floor cracking." -Nov. 21
G: "In the sea, there are pirate ships, and they have pirates in them, and they want to eat us for dinner." -Nov. 20
G: "D-A-R-F spells with Golden." -Nov. 20
me: "No, it's not; it has butter on it and so do your hands."
G: "I don't see any butterness." -Oct. 1
G: "My ankle is hurt, so I need some peppermint tea." or on other occasions, "My feelings are hurt, so I need some peppermint tea." -October
G: "My arms are dizzy." -Oct. 13
G: "Mommy is Mack-ing the Cheese!" -Oct. 14
When I sprayed Golden's bottom to help her wipe, she said,
"He, he. That tickles... every day." -Oct. 27
me: talking about grandmothers and grandfathers
Sp: "Is it grand when you have a smile on your face?" -Oct. 27
me: "God took six days to work and one day to rest. So it reminds us to rest. It's important to follow God's example."
Sp: "The 'remind me' day and the 'oh yeah' day." -Nov. 3
G: "Why do people don't like to touch fire?"
me: "Because it hurts really really badly and it can destroy your body."
G: "Yeah... that makes me sad and it hurts my feelings." -Nov. 2
G (standing on chair): "Mom, when I'm your age, can I be this tall?"
me: "Sure, Golden. Actually it's God who decides how tall you're gonna be."
G: "Yeah, and He decides what movie we're gonna watch." -Nov. 3
Sp: "This is my ship, the Maple Flower." -Nov. 7
Sp: "We're still battling over our sins and stuff. Cause life is hard. That's what we're finding out about life." -Nov. 8
Danielle: "I really want my teeth brushed."
me: "You're gonna have to ask your mommy."
Sp: "You're gonna have to ask God about that." -Nov.12
me: "I don't even know if Danielle is awake yet."
Sp: "Yeah-huh! She goes to bed at 49. That's what Auntie Omi told me." -Nov. 12
G: "I'm getting married to this."
Sp (distressed): "But that's not a prince!"
G: "I know, but I'm getting married to it." -Nov. 15
G: "Hey Daddy! When you were in the office and Mommy was sleeping and Sparrow and I were on the green couch, I heard 'ckch--ckch--ckch.'"
Daddy: "O yeah? And what was it?"
G: "Probably it was God, or the floor cracking." -Nov. 21
G: "In the sea, there are pirate ships, and they have pirates in them, and they want to eat us for dinner." -Nov. 20
G: "D-A-R-F spells with Golden." -Nov. 20
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Number 4
I suppose I should share the fact that we are expecting baby #4!!! (Making this the 5th pregnancy; I will never forget...) Not really a surprise for anyone reading this, I am sure, but for the record, there you have it. I think that the positive pregnancy test is STILL floating around in my hugerific bag somewhere; I found it the other day as I was digging through for something else and thought, "This is bizarre! If someone was looking through my bag and found this, what would that say about me??" ...So from August to November, that little tidbit has been keeping my beautiful little secret in the darkness of the recesses of my purse--which is actually more like a duffel bag slash suitcase--how very very un-A-personality of me. Although to defend myself, I have to say that I DO actually have a place where I keep (or am supposed to keep) positive pregnancy tests. How many people can say that? Perhaps my collection will get quite large someday! Ya never do know.
At any rate, we are so blessed to be getting another little lightbulb in our midst and are really excited/thankful/blessed to be chosen for this. The girls are excited too. Silas would be excited if he knew what was going on... As his legal guardian, I will just speak that for him. I love how in the Bible whenever the Lord is describing promised blessings to His people, the first thing usually mentioned is the blessing of the womb. God says His people will increase. Really! That is the first blessing on God's mind! And was also the first commandment to mankind: Be fruitful and multiply. In this age, isn't it funny that we have lost the ancient paths so profoundly that it actually is considered a special calling for someone to give their fertility to God in what He would decide to do with it, when we should all have a different mindset, should be automatically jumping to fulfill that vision that is close to God's heart, the vision for the increase of His people, and to fulfill His original mandate! I love being showered with God's first blessings. Everything else is secondary, and I believe everything else will come in good time as well. Especially the increase of our herds, uh huh! "There will be sheeps milk enough for our maidens!" I believe that is stated in the venerable book of Proverbs somewhere. Though of course I am paraphrasing.
Anyway, let me go off on this a little bit: I LOVE how in the kingdom of God, everything is reversed. In order to live and thrive and be of use to the kingdom of God, you have to have a "different spirit," as was said of Caleb in the Bible. In other words, a different mindset. I have been learning so much through listening to Jacob Reeve's talks online (to be found on www.jacobreeveministries.com and www.sbhop.com--thank you, Jacob!) about calling, kingdom, the dispensation we are living in, etc. and am so excited to have this confirmed--that a lot of the times the "open door" is not necessarily the will of God. It is just the easy thing to do. Faith, on the other hand--without which it is impossible to please God--oftentimes calls us to gnarly, counter-cultural, and counter-logical actions, places, and commitments. I love knowing that, it is exciting. Because right now we are in a place where there is absolutely NO open door, so there is no easy way for us to go. We are forced into faith, we can absolutely not flake out here! Thank you, Lord! But that is another post altogether. Were we talking about pregnancy and babies, or what?
I have found a really cool birth center in Tucson that takes the AHCCCS insurance, and I am really excited to be working with midwives! Even though it is about an hour's drive from our neighborhood... I am sure it will be ok. Supernatural childbirth, baby!
I am 18 weeks along and feeling amazing. I got extremely ill at about 12 weeks and was down for the count for eight days! it was the most gnarly virus I have ever dealt with. I was so frustrated every day, when I wouldn't get better! At any rate, when I did finally come out of it, I felt amazing. And still do. Getting nice and pudgy for the holiday season as well. And since we don't do ultrasounds anymore, we won't know what we are getting 'til the little sunshine comes out to greet us! Either way, the baby will have enough clothes, well, if it's a boy they will be a little sparse. But boys don't need a lot anyways. there will be plenty. Born toward the beginning of April! I seem to be making a pattern of April and August babies here. What if I produce 12 children, and they are all born in the months beginning with A?!?!
At any rate, we are so blessed to be getting another little lightbulb in our midst and are really excited/thankful/blessed to be chosen for this. The girls are excited too. Silas would be excited if he knew what was going on... As his legal guardian, I will just speak that for him. I love how in the Bible whenever the Lord is describing promised blessings to His people, the first thing usually mentioned is the blessing of the womb. God says His people will increase. Really! That is the first blessing on God's mind! And was also the first commandment to mankind: Be fruitful and multiply. In this age, isn't it funny that we have lost the ancient paths so profoundly that it actually is considered a special calling for someone to give their fertility to God in what He would decide to do with it, when we should all have a different mindset, should be automatically jumping to fulfill that vision that is close to God's heart, the vision for the increase of His people, and to fulfill His original mandate! I love being showered with God's first blessings. Everything else is secondary, and I believe everything else will come in good time as well. Especially the increase of our herds, uh huh! "There will be sheeps milk enough for our maidens!" I believe that is stated in the venerable book of Proverbs somewhere. Though of course I am paraphrasing.
Anyway, let me go off on this a little bit: I LOVE how in the kingdom of God, everything is reversed. In order to live and thrive and be of use to the kingdom of God, you have to have a "different spirit," as was said of Caleb in the Bible. In other words, a different mindset. I have been learning so much through listening to Jacob Reeve's talks online (to be found on www.jacobreeveministries.com and www.sbhop.com--thank you, Jacob!) about calling, kingdom, the dispensation we are living in, etc. and am so excited to have this confirmed--that a lot of the times the "open door" is not necessarily the will of God. It is just the easy thing to do. Faith, on the other hand--without which it is impossible to please God--oftentimes calls us to gnarly, counter-cultural, and counter-logical actions, places, and commitments. I love knowing that, it is exciting. Because right now we are in a place where there is absolutely NO open door, so there is no easy way for us to go. We are forced into faith, we can absolutely not flake out here! Thank you, Lord! But that is another post altogether. Were we talking about pregnancy and babies, or what?
I have found a really cool birth center in Tucson that takes the AHCCCS insurance, and I am really excited to be working with midwives! Even though it is about an hour's drive from our neighborhood... I am sure it will be ok. Supernatural childbirth, baby!
I am 18 weeks along and feeling amazing. I got extremely ill at about 12 weeks and was down for the count for eight days! it was the most gnarly virus I have ever dealt with. I was so frustrated every day, when I wouldn't get better! At any rate, when I did finally come out of it, I felt amazing. And still do. Getting nice and pudgy for the holiday season as well. And since we don't do ultrasounds anymore, we won't know what we are getting 'til the little sunshine comes out to greet us! Either way, the baby will have enough clothes, well, if it's a boy they will be a little sparse. But boys don't need a lot anyways. there will be plenty. Born toward the beginning of April! I seem to be making a pattern of April and August babies here. What if I produce 12 children, and they are all born in the months beginning with A?!?!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Preggy Food!
When I am blessed to be with child, one of the main evidences is always that over half my Facebook posts are about food:
One of the things I tend to really love in early pregnancy is pickles. Pickles pickles pickles. I was shopping at Trader Joe's one evening and well, TRYING to limit myself on the amount of foodstuffs I was buying, but when I got to the register, finding myself way over budget, I had to select some things to take out of my cart. Remove the extra bread, extra carton of eggs, second smoked turkey breast, this olive oil, etc. etc. The cashier said kindly, "You have two jars of pickles, did you mean to get two?" --"YES!" I interjected immediately. "Yes, I need the pickles!" Little did she know...
And really, I don't have weird cravings, like chocolate cake and pickles together. Unless you count pickles on bread with butter. That's not weird, is it? It's normal in Germany!
More things I love during pregnancy:
Potatoes (esp. with mayonnaise)
Potato chips (salt and vinegar anyone?)
Cheese (but that is really anytime, har)
Orange juice
Green olives with cream cheese on toast
Things I don't love in early pregnancy:
Coffee (Sad, sad, sad! Even the smell revolts me! If my husband forgets to close the door when he slips out in the AM to make his coffee, and the smell wafts into the bedroom, oh man...)
Sweet foods (well, they're not horrible, but I would rather have something with vinegar! Like sauerkraut!)
Onions
Salad (thought I make myself eat it anyway. I just add pickles!)
Doing anything except for sleeping and loafing around.... sigh.
The fun thing is I am in my 2nd trimester now. Pregnancy heaven. Energy is back, love of coffee is back. I can enjoy cooking again! LOVE. What are your pregnancy cravings?
One of the things I tend to really love in early pregnancy is pickles. Pickles pickles pickles. I was shopping at Trader Joe's one evening and well, TRYING to limit myself on the amount of foodstuffs I was buying, but when I got to the register, finding myself way over budget, I had to select some things to take out of my cart. Remove the extra bread, extra carton of eggs, second smoked turkey breast, this olive oil, etc. etc. The cashier said kindly, "You have two jars of pickles, did you mean to get two?" --"YES!" I interjected immediately. "Yes, I need the pickles!" Little did she know...
And really, I don't have weird cravings, like chocolate cake and pickles together. Unless you count pickles on bread with butter. That's not weird, is it? It's normal in Germany!
More things I love during pregnancy:
Potatoes (esp. with mayonnaise)
Potato chips (salt and vinegar anyone?)
Cheese (but that is really anytime, har)
Orange juice
Green olives with cream cheese on toast
Things I don't love in early pregnancy:
Coffee (Sad, sad, sad! Even the smell revolts me! If my husband forgets to close the door when he slips out in the AM to make his coffee, and the smell wafts into the bedroom, oh man...)
Sweet foods (well, they're not horrible, but I would rather have something with vinegar! Like sauerkraut!)
Onions
Salad (thought I make myself eat it anyway. I just add pickles!)
Doing anything except for sleeping and loafing around.... sigh.
The fun thing is I am in my 2nd trimester now. Pregnancy heaven. Energy is back, love of coffee is back. I can enjoy cooking again! LOVE. What are your pregnancy cravings?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Vegetarian Dinner
OK, I wish I had a picture of the meal I am about to describe to you. (Don't you just love food blogs? It's like their contributors all live in lofts with huge windows, where it is perpetually sunny, or they all happen to be trained professional photographers with all the equipment needed to create the right lighting on the spot... and then after taking the time to prepare the food beautifully, set up the lighting, arrange it all, take a photo shoot, etc., we are supposed to believe that they were just making it "for dinner for their family" and that all the hungry hordes were just standing around patiently waiting for all the camera equipment to be done with its job and hauled away from their kitchen table before they began their meal. Hah!) At any rate, when I was finished preparing my meal, it was dark, really dark, and actually my house is always pretty much dark; I'd have to do my food photography outdoors! And I actually AM a professionally trained photographer--ssshhh, don't tell anyone--but sadly without any professional cameras or equipment. Until this moment, I have considered them to be not very useful to my current career! What was I thinking!
At any rate, the point is, I threw together a delicious meal that was too good not to share in writing, and IT WAS VEGETARIAN. I only know 2 vegetarians, so probably none of the 11 people who will eventually read this even care, but I thought that that factor was quite significant, as the meal was satisfying and filling and tasty, and some carnivores find that hard to achieve without the meat element. The vegetarian's secret? BUTTER. AND CHEESE. Now I don't pretend to know what vegans do. Cause vegan cheese is stinky and gross and made out of questionable components. And vegan butter is more like margarine/plastic. And also made out of questionable components. And a life without butter and cheese is like a life without Christmas and birthdays. But we'll leave the vegans to their own ways and move on.
The meal: Rice pasta fusilli with butternut squash and garlic-butter brussels sprouts. (Notice that that is a double BS meal!) I did not have this meal all planned out. In fact, I have found that it is more expensive to plan a specific menu with nice meals and try to purchase all necessary ingredients at the store that week, than to have a good sense of basic pantry and fridge staples, a well-stocked spice cupboard, and assortment of that week's affordable fruits and vegetables. And a little creativity, of course. We can go into kitchen staples another time. At any rate, this is how the meal of last night was born.
The pasta: Cooked as normal, tossed with olive oil, set out to be eaten with brussels sprouts, squash, and the following choices: garlic-butter-n-olive-oil, smoked sea salt, cracked pepper, grated cheese (parmesan is always a winner. I didn't have any and used raw cheddar, grated finely), lemon, etc. use your imagination!
The butternut squash (BS): Cut in half and spread with a little butter, roasted cut-side down in a 375-deg. oven for about an hour. Serve in chunks in the pasta, or on the side with either butter and maple syrup, or lemon, salt, and pepper.
The brussels sprouts (BS): About 17 sprouts cleaned and outer leaves removed, stems trimmed, then an X cut into the bottom of each stem. Steamed about 15-20 mins. THEN... cut in half and browned for a few minutes cut side down in a lovely garlic butter (about 3 cloves of garlic, crushed/chopped, cooked on low in about 3 T. butter. I also added some olive oil to the mix because I love the flavor.) Served with the pasta and the remaining garlic butter drizzled over.
I am telling you: It was so! Good! Even Sparrow devoured her brussels sprouts! Here's to all y'all vegetarians out there who know that the secret of your good cookin' is the same as the famed chefs of France: butter, butter, and more butter. Enjoy!
Ps--This served two adults and two little children. Adjust amounts accordingly.
At any rate, the point is, I threw together a delicious meal that was too good not to share in writing, and IT WAS VEGETARIAN. I only know 2 vegetarians, so probably none of the 11 people who will eventually read this even care, but I thought that that factor was quite significant, as the meal was satisfying and filling and tasty, and some carnivores find that hard to achieve without the meat element. The vegetarian's secret? BUTTER. AND CHEESE. Now I don't pretend to know what vegans do. Cause vegan cheese is stinky and gross and made out of questionable components. And vegan butter is more like margarine/plastic. And also made out of questionable components. And a life without butter and cheese is like a life without Christmas and birthdays. But we'll leave the vegans to their own ways and move on.
The meal: Rice pasta fusilli with butternut squash and garlic-butter brussels sprouts. (Notice that that is a double BS meal!) I did not have this meal all planned out. In fact, I have found that it is more expensive to plan a specific menu with nice meals and try to purchase all necessary ingredients at the store that week, than to have a good sense of basic pantry and fridge staples, a well-stocked spice cupboard, and assortment of that week's affordable fruits and vegetables. And a little creativity, of course. We can go into kitchen staples another time. At any rate, this is how the meal of last night was born.
The pasta: Cooked as normal, tossed with olive oil, set out to be eaten with brussels sprouts, squash, and the following choices: garlic-butter-n-olive-oil, smoked sea salt, cracked pepper, grated cheese (parmesan is always a winner. I didn't have any and used raw cheddar, grated finely), lemon, etc. use your imagination!
The butternut squash (BS): Cut in half and spread with a little butter, roasted cut-side down in a 375-deg. oven for about an hour. Serve in chunks in the pasta, or on the side with either butter and maple syrup, or lemon, salt, and pepper.
The brussels sprouts (BS): About 17 sprouts cleaned and outer leaves removed, stems trimmed, then an X cut into the bottom of each stem. Steamed about 15-20 mins. THEN... cut in half and browned for a few minutes cut side down in a lovely garlic butter (about 3 cloves of garlic, crushed/chopped, cooked on low in about 3 T. butter. I also added some olive oil to the mix because I love the flavor.) Served with the pasta and the remaining garlic butter drizzled over.
I am telling you: It was so! Good! Even Sparrow devoured her brussels sprouts! Here's to all y'all vegetarians out there who know that the secret of your good cookin' is the same as the famed chefs of France: butter, butter, and more butter. Enjoy!
Ps--This served two adults and two little children. Adjust amounts accordingly.
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