Just For the Record

On January 31, 2012, in Indianapolis, IN, I took Callie and Kate to the park and for a walk on the park trails! 

Every other year that I have lived here, you couldn't have paid me to go to the park in January!  Normally, there is snow, crazy wind and freezing temperatures.  Today, the projected high was 63 and when we left the park I think it was 54.  It's crazy!  The whole week is suppose to be like this.  I believe we will be taking advantage of it again on Thursday.  It would be criminal not to! :)

Thanking God For a Very Full Day

    Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all Gods.  Psalm 95:1-3

Actually it was a very full weekend, but I'll focus on today. 

The first thing I did this morning was "accidentally" turn off the alarm clock when it went off.  I decided I didn't really need to get up quite yet and so I thought I reset it for 15 minutes later.  What I really did was make it so that it would not go off again until Monday morning.  So I woke up an HOUR later!  I realized when I opened my eyes it was daylight and I immediately knew this was not a good sign.  Amazingly, we made it to church on time.  That's gratitude #403.  I can't stand being late.

402.  From church we went to Indy to meet friends to celebrate Chinese New Year.  We had dim sum and visited with one of Kate's friends from China and her mom.  Good food, good company!  Don't ask about the wheat!

403.  Saturday, some other friends had called to see if Callie and Kate could come and play on Sunday, so on the way home we dropped the girls off to play.  Good for them, good for us. :)

We spent about an hour at home relaxing and then we headed back to church for the "Annual Meeting" and song service afterward.  We attend a church that sings only hymns and Psalms.  It has taken me a while to get used to this and to appreciate it, but I'm about there. (#404)  It was all well and good until we sang "Holy, Holy, Holy".  I've always appreciated the words to this hymn, but in December 2006 this hymn took on a new significance for me. 

In China, we went to a church close to our hotel.  We thought we were arriving in time for the English service, but it was actually the regular Chinese service.  I didn't really expect to get a whole lot out of the service, we just wanted to check it out and thought it would be a neat thing to do.  What happened next was one of my favorite moments in China.  This church started singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" in Chinese!  I couldn't believe they were singing something we knew.  They actually sang a few that we knew, but I can't remember what the others were.  I sat there and listened to this hymn being sung in another language and thought about how it will be in heaven when people of every tongue and nation will sing praises and I cried like a baby.  It was so moving!  I'll never forget it. 

405. So I was very happy tonight to sing (when I got the lump out of my throat) this beautiful song.

406.  After church we left to pick up the girls and have a late dinner with our friends.  Good food and good company again!  It was a great way to end a great day.

407.  Friday morning did not start out very well and was a frustrating time for both Callie and I.  While picking up something at a friends house, she offered to let the girls stay and play while I ran another errand.  It was a gift straight from the Lord!  Callie and Kate had been missing these friends and I was able to run my errand quickly and with the blessing of a little peace and quiet.  Thanks Amy!

408.  Friday evening included more blessings with more friends. 

I hope our friends know how much we love and appreciate them!

Yarn Along

Yes, I'm still working on Callie's beret.  It is going well, it's just that I don't work on it every day.  I'm just about ready to start the decreases.  I really like the yarn, but boy these metal needles are slippery little suckers!!  One wrong move and at least 4 stitches will slip right off.

Cameron picked up this book for me at the library.  I'm not too far into it yet, but I'm really enjoying it.  It just cracks me up when Avis talks about how she will never have one of those automatic dishwashers!  Sometimes the publishing part of the conversations gets a little tedious, but I just skim until I get to the interesting parts again.  It's a fun read so far.  I read her book My Life in France and few years ago and really enjoyed it.  She had a very interesting life.

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My Current "Project"

The Julia Child book/videos are just for fun and for our study of France

Do you notice a theme here?  Food!  But not just any food.  Gluten-free food.  I have been "ordered" to go on a gluten-free diet.  So we are getting ready to do some research in the kitchen.

Now, a few years ago, this would have totally freaked me out.  There may have been tears and despair.  I'm recalling several years ago when another doctor told me "no more caffeine".  I'll admit, I followed his advice(well, except for chocolate)  for only ten months or so and since I didn't see the intended results, I flew to the nearest gas station selling canned Dr. Peppers!  Those of you who don't know me may think I'm kidding.  I'm not. :)

Anyway, while we haven't been super strict about it, we have, in an effort to lessen the effects of Kate's eczema, tried to keep her away from wheat for a few years now.  So I have been making gluten-free food for her for a while.  I'm used to it and it's not too big of a deal.  Except for eating out and sometimes that is more difficult.

Cameron has volunteered to join me so we are jumping in this culinary adventure together.  Callie doesn't care as long as it tastes "normal".  We have one gluten free cookbook that Cameron's parents sweetly sent us last year and we would like to invest in one more.  One that has a lot of basic, everyday recipes and bread making tips.  Gluten free bread that is worth swallowing is very expensive, so that is one thing I will need to master.  We'll see which one of the above books makes the cut.

Now, as long as you don't mention Papa John's or bring up that our family LOVES to try out every Chinese restaurant we see, I'll be fine and I'll have a good attitude.  We have a bit of a soft spot in our hearts for all things Chinese.  Just please don't remind me that yesterday was the beginning of Chinese New Year and "wouldn't it be fun to go get dim sum?"  I'm pretending I don't know and don't care.  We do have plans to celebrate somehow, it's just that I may be eating steamed broccoli or something. LOL

{This Moment}

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Happy Birthday Kate!

Just how many times can you celebrate turning six?  We had presents with Granny and Poppy on New Year's Day, then presents and treats at Nai Nai and Ye Ye's the next weekend, then a party with friends from church the Friday after that.  Now today, on your real birthday, we'll have your favorite foods and open a few more presents.

I can't believe how fast these years have gone by.  I can't believe how much you have changed and what a big girl you are.  I can't believe the little baby girl who refused to eat, now tells me, "you're a good cooker!" and likes her soup.  I can't believe the little girl who would not let go of my neck in church now sits in "my spot" and then runs off to play after the service is over.  I can't believe that the little girl who would hardly leave my lap will now go out and play in the snow by herself.  I can't believe that the little girl who wouldn't say a word now sings "Joy To the World" all day long.  I loved holding you and cuddling with you, but I also love seeing you blossom and grow!  It's pure joy to hear you and Callie playing together, laughing and giggling.

You are the answer to Callie's prayers for a sister and to my and Baba's prayers for another child to love.

You can celebrate turning six as many times as your little heart desires!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I haven't watched The Sound of Music in a while, but  "My Favorite Things" has been running through my head for several weeks.  I thought I would list a few of my favorite things for which I am very thankful.

398.  Family celebrations.  There is no way we could have squeezed any more celebrating into one day.  Two birthdays plus Christmas.  It was so much fun! 

399.  Mild temperatures.  I am thankful for milder than normal temps, but I would also be really, really, really thankful for a big, beautiful snow.  As would my daughters!

400.  Having Cameron home!!  Sleeping beside him is so much better than sleeping beside two kicking girls. ;)  The first thing they do when they find out he will be gone is ask if they can sleep with me.

401.  Purging and organizing.  I had a lightbulb moment today and got rarely used dishes out of a closet  and laundry room and into the Hoosier Cabinet in the kitchen!  And one large garbage bag to go to Goodwill.

402.  Yarn and fabric.  I love all of the colors and possibilities.

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at SouleMama for all to find and see.

pretending to be poor and homeless

Ready or Not

I'm not ready.  I'm not ready for 2012 quite yet.  I don't even have a new calendar yet! I'm not ready to get up early when it's 15 degrees outside, I'm not ready for the second semester of 6th grade, and I am certainly not ready for Kate to turn six! 

It doesn't really matter though, whether I am ready or not.  It's coming.  So I can fight it by complaining and whining or I can trust the Lord to see me through.

I went to this blog today and this was exactly what I needed to read.  There will not be peace unless it comes from Him.  No matter how much I try to force it and plan it I just need to trust Him to provide it.

That's what I am doing.  Trusting Him and thanking Him that I have an almost six year old, that I have a sixth grader and that he has provided a (mostly) warm home for us with lots of love and blankets and hot chocolate.

If I start complaining or whining, would someone please remind me of what I just wrote?