The flowers

Well, the weekend is over. I sang my Friday night service (which was amazing), I spent most of Saturday getting the flowers ready for the sanctuary (which turned out well), I welcomed my in-laws (who are fun!), I got up early and set up flowers for the brunch (which was lovely), and prepared my Easter dinner (which was kick-a@#!). I missed the Easter service because Lucy had a runny nose and we got kicked out of the nursery last Sunday for the same reason. I walked around with her in the stroller, which was actually really nice. There were lots of people around, and we enjoyed it. I did miss the opportunity to worship with my church, but the Good Friday service was really special.

My Easter dinner was fun to make. I bought a leg of lamb, which is a real treat. I marinated it in olive oil and shoved a bunch of garlic into little slits in the side. It turned out reeeeally good. I also made a potato gallette and roasted asparagus. The dessert was the coup de gras... Oreo crust, ice cream, fudge, cool whip, and crushed Cadbury mini eggs. Oh yeah. Now to roll my pudgy body to bed.

The craziness

I just said goodbye to my mom today... a much more hurried goodbye than I would have liked, but L.A. traffic stole my hug. We hit a dead stop in commerce, and heard on KNX that there was a crash across 3 lanes. We were at the dead stop a mile from the incident, so luckily I was able to bug out and slingshot past the clog. We arrived at 1:14 and the bus left at 1:15 with mom on it. We had a great week, and as always when she leaves, it feels like we are missing someone.

Tonight I had a 2+ hour choir rehearsal... fun, but tiring. And in a tiny, hot room. Tomorrow I prepare the house and the food for another round of family as well as my obligations at church. I sing tomorrow night, then Saturday/Sunday I am responsible for decorating the sanctuary and the tables for the Easter brunch. Still not quite sure how I got myself into that! Here's what I think is funny: I generally enjoy hosting, and my sister enjoys decorating. How is it that she's hosting a group of friends for Easter and I'm decorating the sanctuary??

I also have to bake for the Easter brunch and get Easter dinner ready for my family. I'm so glad we are making steaks on Monday... easy for me! Then dinner out on Tuesday. Yay! Tiiiiired... Going to bed....

Personal Best

My legs feel a little like noodles, but I feel great. I ran a whole hour today for the first time ever! We took advantage of a glorious So. Cal day and a newly discovered "super secret parking spot" and ran along the shore with Lucy acting as coxswain. Hard to believe that I used to abhor running, especially as an asthmatic. I thank Doug Geringer, who told me "Run as slow as you think possible for as long as you can." So began my personal challenge to run a 5K, which I did only 7 months later. Now I am thinking of a 10K, but there I will stop. There is a reason the original marathoner died when he crossed the finish line. But to end on a cheerful note, here's to getting a personal best after 30! Pass the Cadbury Mini Eggs!

Huh-larious!

I've always wondered about people who have bad musical skills that make their livings as musicians. Van Morrison is one of those who manages to have a pretty, um, unpolished voice, and yet cranked out some catchy stuff in his career. You must click this link for the best review EVER.

Reoccurring Dreams

I'm sure you all have them. My classic example is the one where I realize I have to go back to school, and I don't mean for further education, I mean because some requirement was left unfinished. Generally it's college, though often it's been high school, and a few times even elementary school. I'm generally either late to school, or I've been goofing around and have forgotten to study. I find myself trying to explain that I've been out of school for years, and that I'm an adult, and they keep treating me like a kid. When I was pregnant I kept dreaming that I was in the choir, but we didn't know what to do about my choir dress, since I was getting big. My sister has the same dream (minus the pregnant stuff), and she told one of our high school teachers about it. He thought it was funny, and sent her a fake letter from the school saying she had neglected to finish history (his class) and she should report to school the next Monday.

In college I almost constantly had a dream that I got up to the altar and was about to marry someone, but immediately I realized that I couldn't marry the guy. He was generally a faceless guy, but you'd think I'd have gotten a clue earlier...

The only wedding dream I had when I was engaged was that I was late and my hair was dirty. I must have been worried about getting everything done in time. =)

Recently I had a similar dream twice in a week, and it's really random. I dreamt Steve's younger sister moved in next door to my parents. Random dream once, but twice?? At least that was a happy dream.

Then last night I had another of my reoccuring dreams, which always takes place at Campus by the Sea, a camp my family went to out at Catalina Island. We went for 25 summers, so in many ways it is a very homey place. Last night, however, I dreamt that I was going to volunteer in the kitchen (something I'd like to do sometime anyway), and as I started to work with my portable KitchenAid standing mixer (ha ha!) Things just started coming out over the sides and turned into a big mess. Luckily I had Steve's other sister, Jen, there to help me, as well as my dad. I was trying to cook in my tent, by the way.

Anyone else have reoccuring/weird dreams?

Home again, home again

We're home in one piece, though the 5+ hour flight home was probably the worst time I've had as a mother since the second night in the hospital. However, we are rested and home and Lucy and I are friends again. =)

Here are a few shots from our trip...

View from our hotel room...



View from our whale tour...


Adventurer or big retard? Zipline tour through the woods.

View from our zipline tour.



Can't see the waterfall or the fish, but this was Lucy's favorite spot. She now says "weeshey" which is "fishy."


Whale watching. This really was amazing, and totally worth doing again. We actually saw a real "breach" where the whale completely jumped full-body out of the water. Sweet!


Lucy commanding the troops. We stayed on the grass a lot, as cleaning up a sandy Lucy was a pretty good ordeal.


Imagine the CHUNKS of sand that fell out of her bathing suit!

This week...

Am I more excited about this....


this...


or this??

Spring Fever List

Here's my list for when I get the Spring bubblies in my soul. Sometimes I can't tell you why it's there, but I just like how it feels, and would play it while driving over the Grapevine with the windows down.

One Little Slip - Barenaked Ladies
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Follow You Down - Gin Blossoms
Something That You Said - Bangles
Love is Stronger Than Justice - Sting
Mrs. Robinson - The Lemonheads
Walk Away Renee - Vonda Shepherd (wish I had Lowen & Navarro's version!)
Lithium Sunset - Sting
Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
1985 - Bowling for Soup (Sewp?)
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
This Love - Maroon 5 (I know, I know, it's so not like me to like Maroon 5!)
Found OUt About You - Gin Blossoms
A Summer Song - Chad & Jeremy (Chad & Jeremy who??)
Experimental Film - They Might Be Giants (or they might not?)
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
What I am - Edie Brickell
In a Different Light - Bangles
New Slang - The Shinns
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Today - Smashing Pumpkins
Englishman in New York - Sting and the POlice
Better Together - Jack Johnson
It's a Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads
Epilogue (Nothing 'Bout Me) - Sting
A Little Respect - Erasure
Until I Fall Away - Gin Blossoms
The Look-Roxette

I'm realizing this should be called my Nostalgia list, and should then also include some Bon Jovi... It seems much of this is related to things like: The mix tape (yes, tape!) my sister made for me when I went away to college; the song my English teacher played for us to demonstrate a point; a song I learned at camp... etc.

Any Spring additions? I think I"m going to go buy some Bon Jovi...

Six Years!

Today Steve and I celebrate our SIXTH anniversary! I can honestly say that these six years have been the best of my life. How did God know? Why did he give me such an incredible gift when I was so thoughtlessly gadding about for so long? What fun we always have together! This year will be infinitely better than last year, though, as Lucy is a much happier kid than her colicky self last year. We even got the same babysitter (THANKS RACHELLE!) as last year with the promise that she would sleep the whole time. =) I think we took a year off Rachelle's life last year.


Here's our Bible Study, our dearest friends, minus Greg & Kristen and Mandi & Eric. I wish with all my heart that they could have been in this picture. Kristen and Jamie were honorary maid/matron of honor (I should've made that official!) and Mandi and Eric were there, too.


This is on our "Rum Cruise" in Hawaii on our honeymoon ... too bad we discovered we didn't like rum! They let us drive the boat, though, since we were the only sober people there.


At the Getty for our engagement pictures. (Thanks Beca!)


Neither of us knew how to dance, but it was the best dance ever!

We had sooo much fun that day. I was so glad we did pictures before the wedding. We had a moment where we saw each other for the first time, all alone, which was awesome. Then we got to just hang out with our friends, and when I walked down the aisle, it was like the first time we saw each other all over again.


So here's to my love, my friend, companion, co-parent, partner for life. Here's to 6 times 6 more years!

Menu for the last week before Daylight Savings

Monday - Chicken Provençal
Tuesday - Beef and Broccoli with Fried Rice
Wednesday - Nacho Pizzas (way yummier than they sound!)
Thursday - Chicken Cordon Bleu (Sort of)
Friday - Pot Roast

I have to say, I got really lucky with some great recipes this week. I must say, the Earles have been eating well this week. I've used 3 America's Test Kitchen recipes, and generally they are totally foolproof. One is a Rachael Ray meal from the Tivo'd episode of 30 minute meals that my sister brought for me. I love a tasty, healthy, cheap, fast meal! That's the trick... they have to be tasty, healthy, cheap and fast, and it's tough to get all 4 without getting bored.

Homesick

I've lived in L.A. for nearly 13 years, and yet I still get a little homesick at this time of year. Partially because it looks a bit like this at home (Central Valley... this picture doesn't come close):



Partially because sometimes at this time of year I wish I could just go home and be a little girl again. I could wake up late in my pink room and drive my little V.W. and go to Immanuel & Fresno State baseball games and head up to Shaver Lake and walk around at midnight in the snow.
I miss my high school friends because they were the first friends I really felt close with and safe with. My Jr. High friends (as I didn't know then but know now) were changeable and cruel and shallow, but in high school I found some people that were true gems. I still keep in touch with many of them and it's fun to go through life stages with them. But I wish we could just go back once or twice and play "Stealth" out in the vineyard once again. But the vineyard where we used to play is a new housing development now, so I suppose I will be content where I am.

The flattened land to the right is where they leveled the vineyard for houses. The development is a nice one, and the houses have lots of room (not all squished together), and look different from one another, but will always feel like a fake town to me or something.

National Geographics, High School, and Flowered Hats

First, I must clear up a possible problem with the lyrics on one of my workout songs. "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer says this:

Bring, bring, Bring your flowered (floured?) hat...

Maybe it had these kind of flowers:

Granted, still not the most manly of hats, but maybe it was Hawaiian flower print, which, made in the right way, worn by the right personality, can still be manly.

Okay, moving on to item #2. Some ducks have adopted our backyard for their mating ritual. Two male ducks and a female duck have come 2 mornings this week and just kind of hang out. The smaller male duck spends the whole time getting chased by the bigger male duck, who is protecting his girlfriend. She just kind of stands there and rolls her eyes. So finally the small duck flies off, scared of the possessive boyfriend. Boy duck and girl duck look at each other, like, "Okay, well, what now." I'm terrified at this point that I'm going to witness some "National Geographics" in my own backyard, seeing that it's that time of year. Thankfully they both flew off, presumably because she told him that she didn't believe in sex before marriage. Somehow I wasn't sure if I was watching ducks or high school kids.

Have a lovely day!

Playlists

I think I've touched on this topic before, but since I seem to be boring the heck out of my audience =), I think I will try to turn to mass media.

Here's my workout play list:
Beautiful Day - U2
Piranas Are a Very Tricky Species - Mark Mothersbaugh
All I Want - Toad the Wet Sprocket
Brian Wilson - Barenaked Ladies
Whatever I Fear - Toad the Wet Sprocket
Everyday Is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow
Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2
Two Steps - Dave Matthews Band
Head Over Feet - Alanis Morriset
I Did It - Dave Matthews' Band
Zoo Station - U2
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - Sting and the Police
Desert Rose - Sting
Where the Streets Have No Name - u2

What are some songs on your workout lists?

A nagging cold is a constant drip

Well, yet again we are sick. Lucy woke up in the middle of the night late Thursday with a nasty sounding croup. Poor baby! We did the steam treatment, then the cool air, which seemed to help. I got to bed at 2 that night. I got a bit of the cough and then a good, strong nasal congestion by Saturday. I used to hate being sick on the weekend, but now I'm glad because at least I have people to help out during the day. Back to Monday, though. I would have stayed home from work today and watched movies and slept. Ah well. New job, new demands. We will lay low today anyway, and I think I will still treat myself to a movie while I take care of little Pants.

Hello, goodbye

We just waved goodbye to my sister and her family. I always ache a little inside when I say goodbye to them because it is so long until I will see them again. My little nieces are growing up so fast!




Here's a picture of them 2 years ago, which seems like yesterday! They are such big girls now!


Next time we see them is probably in August, then maybe in the Fall sometime. They had a grand time with Lucy! I'm so glad that "the cousins" all enjoy each other.

Fun at the Cube

Lucy went to her first museum this weekend with her cousins. She was pretty unsure about it all. Lots of kids, lots of noise, crazy things to look at. But it did seem like she had a good time, especially with Grammie. There was a really great Sesame Street exhibit at the "Cube Museum" in Santa Ana. Very cute!

What's in a name?

My brother recently posted about his favorite names. I was thinking about how biblical names are often so popular. Eli, Micah, Jonathan. Samuel, David, Jacob. My reading in 2 Samuel prompted me to add some to the pool: Eleazar, Dodo, Ahohi, Shammah, Agee, Josheb-basshebeth, Zeruiah, Abiezer, Mebunnai, Zalmon, Maharai, Heleb, Baanah and Ittai. I wonder why those aren't sweeping the nation?
I especially like Ahohi. Sort of rolls off the tongue... or the back of the throat.

Here's a chuckle in honor of Hallmark Goosh Day.

Menu for Single Awareness Week

I'm told Valentine's Day should be called "Single Awareness Day." It's a bogus holiday anyway, but we like any excuse to eat red meat, so there you go.

Sunday - Sauerbraten with roasted potatoes and carrots
Monday - Stuffed Shells with steamed broccoli
Tuesday - Frickadiller with potato pancakes and peas
Wednesday - Steaks, steamed artichokes with dipping sauces, and twice-baked potatoes
Thursday - Chicken stuffed with ricotta, bacon and spinnach with roasted squash
Friday - Beef Stew

This weekend the family of Northernesse is all here (Fresno and Seattle), so we will indulge in tri-tip and then BBQ chicken. Oh yeah.

If I only had a brain

The biggest thanks to my dearest love for giving me the gift ever girl wants--more hard drive space!! We bought this computer this last year to replace the one I had to give back to Biola when I quit, and I went from an 80 gig hard drive to a 60 gig hard drive. An interesting switch, considering I now have hundreds of pictures and little movies of Lucy. My poor computer kept telling me it was almost full, so I would make room for it and then stuff more things in. Now I am breathing a sigh of relief and contentment as I begin to stuff more things into my roomy machine.

Here's a parting picture... my poster girl for learning to read. =)

Progress!

6:10 this morning! Hooray! Im greedy... I want 7:00... However, 6:10 is waaay better than 4:54.

Pure, untainted happiness

Exactly what I was thinking...

Nice things

I was just thinking about some of the nicest things people have done for me over the years. There are so many, so this is just a random list...

For our wedding, Steve knew I was looking for a set of pearls to borrow, and wasn't having any luck. My mom has some, but they were too big for my dress. I didn't want to get fake pearls, either. For Christmas, he bought me a string of pearls, and I was never more surprised and excited in my life!

Steve gets another one... a few years ago, Steve heard me say how much I love Harry and David's pears, and completely surprised me by getting some for Valentine's Day. I was so touched that he heard and remembered something like that!

Recently when I was going through a rough patch with Lucy, my sister sent me a beautiful and simple note encouraging me and telling me I was a good mother. It was so beautiful and meaningful that I taped it to the inside of my desk to remind myself that I'm doing a good job.

(Okay, this one is PG-13). Before I got married, I was a little nervous about how all the lingerie would, well, fit me. My girlfriends threw me a little hot chocolate night, answered lots of questions for me, then had me try everything on. On the mirror in my "dressing room" were notes that said, "You look hot!" "What a gorgeous girl!" and such. Talk about a self-esteem boost!

When I was in Jr. High, I went through this phase where I ate and ate and ate candy! I started to get really heavy for my age, and my family was worried about me. My mom and sister sat me down and told me they were worried in such gentle words that I knew they were saying it because they loved me. The whole family helped me get through a diet, and I lost 15 pounds in the next 6 months, and started high school with a ton of confidence.

When I was in high school, my dad asked if I could help him shop for my mom for Christmas. I helped him pick out sweaters and fun things that I thought she would like. When we were shopping, he told me to pick out something I liked and he would get it for me, no questions asked. Some of my favorite outfits in high school and into college came from those outings!

My brother read on my blog that I missed Bath and Body Works splurges, even though I was very content with my life. For Christmas he got me a very well-stocked gift card for B&BW, and I had a GRAND time spending it during their half-yearly sale. I have never had more fun buying, because I knew I had almost no limits.

What wonderful, thoughtful people I have in my life!

Check out the pics...

I've posted a bunch of new pictures at our Earle website. Have fun!

Some party pictures

Delightfully chaotic!

Cleaning like mad

The First Birthday is Saturday! Mom came down to help with the cleaning and food and such. We are having a grand time scouring and plotting. Glorious thingss have happened, like a clean fridge and windows, and weeded beds. It is lovely!

Dad made Mom promise she wouldn't have any fun, but I think she was laughing her head off within 30 minutes of arrival. =)

Regrets

Before I say anything sad, let me say the happy thing! Happy Birthday to my dear friend Kristen (yesterday)! It is indeed a happy thing to remember to thank God for a life that is so special to us. She is a dear friend, and it is a joy to celebrate!

Other happy news: Lucy slept from 8:00 to 6:45 without a peep. This is indeed praise!

Other happy news: I've lost 5 pounds so far!

Now for the sad. I just found out that a dear old friend of our family's died early this morning. She was very old, and it was in many ways a mercy as she suffered a great deal, particularly mentally. We called her Grandma Ruth, because she dated my grandpa when my dad was a little boy, and he often hoped that she would be his new mommy. My brother had a special connection with her, as she babysat him a lot when he was little. I remember driving by her house one day, and he was in a new car seat, and cried because he couldn't see her house. When I was little, she invited me over to bake cookies with her one day. My friend from school spent her afternoons next door with her own grandma, so we walked there from school together. My regret is that I spent much of that afternoon playing with my friend instead of with Grandma Ruth. I know she forgives me, though.

So I'll move back on with the happy things... a healthy, happy baby, wonderful friends and family, a comfortable home, among the many things.

We have steps!

On Friday evening, Lucy took her first steps! She's been really close for awhile, but she actually free-stood, stepped out with one foot, then took a step with the other foot. So cool! She's a long way from this being her primary mode of transportation, but it was exciting to be able to watch. I have a video of some of her attempts if anyone wants one. We also got her a new car seat this weekend. It's so sad! But fun, too.

I'm on Day 14. So far, not too bad. I miss the sweets a lot, but I'm doing okay. I lost my Christmas weight, thankfully. My body is helpful that way. If I balloon artifically, then exhibit some discipline, it comes off fairly fast. The problem is the accumulated weight. Blech!

All three of us are sick today, and we've been sick on and off for about 4 weeks now. Poor Lucy loves to give her "Child Protective Services Call" when I suction her nose. I keep telling her I don't like it any more than she does, but she has not made allowances for me. =)

Here's a little shot of breakfast yesterday.

How bad it's getting...

I'm on day 9 of no sweets, and I've reverted back to my childhood habit of pretending graham crackers are candy bars. I probably should've put them on the banned list because I'm chowing through the graham crackers. Here's the really crazy thing. I don't even know how I remember what this tastes like, but I am craving the batter from my old mini-bake oven. Oh, how I loved that thing! I remember my mom was mad because a relative got it for me, and I couldn't figure out why she was mad when I wanted it so much. See? I loved to bake even then! Oh, but doesn't a little 3" diameter cake with chocolate frosting sound pretty good right now?

The Frow

We learned this Christmas that the frow is a family trait. (Frow=frown/furrowed brow.) This is Steve's niece, and Lucy is trying to steal her "bugee."

So far 2007 sucks

I won't go into everything, because really it's lots of little things, but much has to do with illness, sleeping patterns, and email. Oh, and my kitchen flooding. I think it was in the air today, though. My little niece was full of piss and vinegar for my poor sister and my mom had a massive migraine on her birthday. Just one of those days where your heart hurts after awhile. Oh, and day 2 of no sweets means no comfort food. I will count on my meatloaf to do the job.

The New Year

Instead of doing New Year's Resolutions, I only have 2 things that involve goals after the new year. I got this crazy idea that I am going to nix the sweets in January. I have a sweet tooth, so I figure I can handle a month without my beloved goodies. I've been preparing by gorging on the Christmas sweets. You know, gotta be prepared. My exceptions are Lucy's birthday, and if my dear friend chooses a birthdy shin-dig for her 30th.

My second is a list of things I'd like to do before I turn 40. I finally reached a place in my life where the list includes just things I want to do, not things I feel like I should want to do. You know, like read the Brothers Karamazov. (I would kind of like to read that some day, but it sounds like a chore just now. I'll stick with slow speeds like Little House on the Prairie.) Some things included are: take a few oboe lessons, just to see what it's like; go see the Nutcracker; take a cooking class. I have a few items related to my spiritual growth. I'm hoping that this will be a fluid list that will adjust as I grow older.

So there you go. No over-the-top resolutions, like, "Lose 15 pounds" or "Read the whole Bible in 2 months." I'll let you know how it goes.

End of the Season

Well, it's official. I lost at the semi-finals. It stinks that I lost on a technicality, too. One of my guys wasn't playing, and they're supposed to tell you when your guy is out, but it must've been too late to tell me. I got no points from him, and Reggie Bush, who scored something like 20 points last week scored only 2 this week. So there it is. But the cool thing is I beat one of the guys two weeks in a row. He was expecting to sweep me and I totally blew him out of the water. That feels nice. Ah, butt kicking.

I mentioned that I was to sing in the women's choir at church on the 12th, but didn't update due to some family fun in the E.R. (no worries, everyone is fine!). The evening really was amazing, and the program that was put together was really a worship service. It was loosely based on "Lessons and Carols" which is done every year at Cambridge on Christmas morning. The lessons are read, followed (logically) by the carols. There were some amazing moments, and I felt so privileged to be singing with some really fine musicians. My whole Bible Study group was there, which touched me deeply.

Well, end of this week it's off to do the Central Valley Loop. Lots of driving this year, as we do Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, and possibly Tracy. Ugh. I love seeing the people. We're so fortunate that we both love both families, but we wonder sometimes why we live so far away. Poor Jennifer can't come at all, as she will be working on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

I've finished my home-made hot chocolate topped with my home-made marshmallows, and it's off to bed for me. I can tell by my bland writing that I'm tired. =)

Mean Mommy

I think she'll laugh when she's 20.

I mean really. Who thought of that??

I was baking today with baking chocolate. Long ingrained instinct inspired me to lick up that little glob on the side of the bowl where I'd melted it. It brought the question up yet again... How the heck did someone figure out that we should eat this stuff?? I mean, when you think of all the process chocolate has to go through you can't help but wonder how people originally figured that out. Coffee, too. Okay, let's eat the inside bean, but let's soak it, and dry it out, and then put it over fire, and then grind it up, and then put some water in it, then strain it all out. Huh? For reals, someone just figured that out one day??

I was listening to one of my favorite chefs on NPR, the editor of Cook's Illustrated, Christopher Kimball. He was talking about tricks to get Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners finished without so much stress by preparing things early. I loved what he said... "About 80% of what we do is make bad food." I thought that was a great reminder. That's life. We make so many mistakes so that we can learn from them, and even help others learn from them too. So to celebrate, I made some bloody-good chocolate crinkles for the church Christmas program tomorrow night. More on the Christmas program later. I'm singing in a women's choir for the program, so I'll give the update on that tomorrow.

Pork Noodle Slop

Well, I am 0 for dozens on the Chinese food. I seem to have some sort of anti-Chinese food curse. It keeps looking do-able, and keeps coming out yucky. Ah well. I am undaunted. I am thinking of asking te owner of our Chinese restaurant in Selma (I have yet to find as god a place here) to teach me their Pork Noodle Soup. It is etting to be a challenge with me. But I will make good chinese one day. Oh yes. It will be done. And now to get a lick of leftover frosting from Steve's birthday cake! Happy Borthday!!

Menu for the first week of December

Monday - Morrocan Beef patties w/ cous cous and zucchini. I got a solid 4!
Tuesday - Chicken/Thanksgiving dinner! Apple crisp for dessert!
Wednesday - Chicken Enchilladas w/ yelow Mexican rice. Great with wheat tortillas, believe it or not!
Thursday - My attempt at Chinese Pork Noodles
Friday - Birthday Steak for Steve!

Poor Lucy is up. I think she's teething. I think I might actually give in and feed her, since it's alread 4:15, and we've been up for an hour. She doesn't usually do this anymore, so I"m feeling like maybe I can just feed the poor kid (since we'd be up soon for it anyway). Comfort food, you know.

Someone tried to evangelize to me today. I was early to the park, and was pushing Lucy in the swing, and this lady next to me obviously tried to sing Jesus-y songs. Then as we talked a little about the kids (her grandkids), she said I ought to come on Tuesdays because a bunch of moms come ad sing Bible songs. I said, "I've actualy been wanting to get involved in my own church group on Tuesdays, but Lucy's naps were so unpredictable. She asked where I went to churc, and then mentioned she didn't go to church anymore. Her husband isn't a Christian, her kids are grown, so she didn't see the point. I told her a little about what I liked in our church, and said if she was thinking about coming sometime, she was very welcome to come. So who was doing the evangelizing? I'm not exactly sure.

O Magnum Mysterium

I was listening to "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morton Lauridsen tonight (yes, click and listen to it... it is so beautiful!). Probably the most beautiful Christmas piece ever written in my opinion. Concurrently I was working on some communication with a person who consistently gets under my skin, and I was struggling with my two selves as I replied. My one self wants to be nasty in reply, as the original communication was passive agressive and unfair. My other self knows better and is desparately struggling to deny myself the "pleasure" of being nasty. After all, I was justified, wasn't I? I haven't won the battle yet, but I'm at least witholding a reply until I can get my instincts under control. So I'm listening to this amazing music about how Christ came as a human, this amazing mystery! I'm marveling at the beauty of God becoming man, and it just strikes me that God became man to save me from the reply I really want to send to this person. I grew up in a Christian home, and I was always one of the "good kids." I never even got a detention for heaven's sake (I got called in a few times to get talked to about my snotty attitude, but that's a story for another day.)! So I've often fallen into the trap of being numb to my sin. And even now, I am not really pained by what I know is sin, but rather I'm proud of myself for calling it what it is. But I know that Christ came to save me from the consequenses of that mess, and that any improvement in my character that I want to be proud of is really of the Spirit, whose coming was made possible by God-became-man.

O Magnum Mysterium

O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
jacentem in praesepio.

Beata virgo cujus viscera
meruent partare Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.

Translation:
O great mystery and admirable [wonderful] sacrament
That animals see the Lord born
Lying in a manger.

Blessed virgin whose womb
Was worthy to bear Lord Christ.
Allelujah.

Jokes?

I mean good jokes. Anyone have any? My brother has to tell one at their Christmas party...sounds like torture to me! I gave him a good story by storyteller Kevin Kling, which I think he is going to paraphrase, but I can't help thinking there's a perfect joke out there for him. Short with a sweet sting of a punchline. You get tears of laughter from me, I bake you cookies.

Menu for Fall

We had rain today, so it actually felt like Fall. Sadly, it was just in the morning, and it's gone now.

Here's the menu for this week:

*Spicy Pulled Pork Crispy Flour Tacos with iceberg lettuce and sauteéd red pepper, julienned zucchini and mushrooms.

*Fish Po-Boys with garlic aoli and iceberg lettuce on crusty rolls.

*Chicken wrapped in Prociuto with mashed potatoes and Bruxels Sprouts (Eric, I only bought enough for Steve and I, so no worries.)

*Baked Potatoes with Beef Stroganoff and sauteéd broccoli

*Giamelli pasta with shrimp and pesto

*Some kind of pork loin dish. Not sure just what yet.

The big finale... either Monday or Tuesday... CHP-timed Thanksgiving Chicken Dinner with stuffing, roasted on a bed of new potatoes, served with green beans. Apple cobbler for dessert. To celebrate Thanksgiving with Jennifer, and to celebrate a year for her in the CHP. I think we'll also celebrate the arrival of the little holiday burrito, AKA, Ava Marie Van Brasch, our new niece. Then we'll also celebrate the purchase of Jamie and Shannon's first home. So just celebrations all around!

Coming soon:
Chinese Pork Noodle Soup (Eric's fav, if I can pull it off)
Lentil Soup again, maybe with pork
Paella?

And KUDOS, by the way to my husband! He has been working on a gift for my birthday since August, and due to odd circumstances, it FINALLY arrived last week! He managed to completely surprise me by getting my birthday GIANT COOKIE snuck into the house at my parent's place, and gave me a (don't worry, completely legal) recording of the Aug. 26th Dave Matthews concert!! Let me tell you, my husband is probably the most thoughtful gift giver I know! I'm in charge of timliness in our family, but when he's on, he's ON!

Well, off to bed with me. Always a 1/2 hour to hour late these days.

The Eve of Orange and Brown

When I was a kid, I absolutely hated orange and brown, as they were the remnants of the 70's. We're talking plaid orange and brown suits, etc. So it is no surprise that it's taken me 20+ years to come back around to loving the orange and the brown. Thanksgiving is the Orange and Brown holiday. It has so much potential for class, but we throw in all the ugly fake pilgrims and such to make it chintzy. Same with Christmas. I mean, what's with the gigantic snow globe?

I had a busy, but enjoyable evening. I was decked out in my apron rolling out a pie crust, listening to Harry Connick, Jr., thinking that I love the new, adult side of the holidays. I like making the pumpkin pie. I can't say I love all the clean-up of the holidays. The dishes seem endless. But the smell of my own, triumphant pie is balmy.

Here's what we did with Steve's half day.

This week's menu

Yesterday - Spicy Country Ribs (thanks to Real Simple) with roasted squash and sweet potatoes
Today - Mac and Cheese, grown-up style
Tomorrow - Meatloaf (Dad, it's actually good, I promise. No brown sugary stuff. Even Bud likes it.)
Wednesday - Thai shrimp and Noodles
Thursday - Um, I don't know, we'll think of something.

Kidding. Mom's making the whole bit. Turkey, stuffing, green beans, Aunt Cindy's bringing rolls and pecan pie, Grandpa's wife, Evelyn, is bringing lemon pie, and I'm bringing Grandma Larson's Secret Recipe Pumpkin Pie. One of the two best compliments I ever got from Steve was that I made pumpkin pie as good as his mom. HIGH PRAISE!!

I know we often take this week to think of what we're thankful for, and I am glad that God has prompted me to do this a lot all through the year. There has been a lot of change in our lives this year, some of which has been a bit shocking to the system (like sleep deprivation), and God has been working on true thankfulness in my heart. I see it in the way that I don't miss the little things as much as I thought I would. I don't really miss my salon shampoo or the Bath and Body Works splurges. I don't mind being more of a homebody, or the fact that it takes me 10 times as long to do anything (like simply getting out of the car). I don't mind that my left shoulder invariably has something sticking to it (Lucy has developed a new habit of wiping her face on my shoulder when I hold her. Nice.) So while it seems so obvious to say this, the thing I'm most thankful for this year is my Lucy. My heart nearly bursts with it. The work is so daily, and often seems so drudging. But her soft, sweet smelling skin, her beautiful blue eyes, her two little bottom teeth, and her little personality that is starting to emerge are just more than I can say. I know you all know what I mean, regardless of whether you have a kid or not. You know what it's like to love someone so much it can't be explained.

I'm thankful, too, that God has given us plenty to live on, and a safety net, too. He's given us this wonderful house. He has built a strong, wonderful relationship in my marriage that just gets better every year. He has given us close relationships with our families. I'm so thankful that we are always glad to spend time with either of our families. I know that is not a given, and I count my blessings every time we spend time with family. He has given us amazing friends that most people wish all their lives to have.

I'm thankful for chocolate. I'm thankful for good knives. I'm thankful for fuzzy carpet. I'm thankful for new quilts. I'm thankful for new shoes to come. I'm thankful for running (no really!). I'm thankful for good tunes, both old and new, for cozy slippers, for Parisian Taupe, for Tivo.

Enough from me. I want to know what you all are thankful for!

Oh, and cheesy as it sounds, I'm actually really thankful for your comments. There are many of you that I miss and don't get to see nearly often enough, and I like knowing that you are reading!

Lily Mei Hua Clark

I have been following the progress of our youth pastor and his wife as they travel to China to pick up their new daughter. Betsy headed up the committee that I was on for the church event, and then left only 4 days later for China. They will actually see her for the first time tomorrow, or really tonight. I have been thinking a lot about what they are going through. I've been struck more by the similarities with my situation than the differences. They are told that the babies will likely not be in good moods whe they get them. Lucy wasnt exactly all that happy about her new situation, either. Other things I feel in common are the overwhelming feeling of the hugeness of taking care of this baby, the strangeness of getting to know and bonding with the baby, and the sheer delight of bringing that little one into your family. Here is the website for little Lilly Mei.

Oh, and...

Forgot to say my mom is re-framing the lilac painting (a Terrie Sorensen original), and I am painting the frame silver on the purple crocus painting (a Sari Wall original). One of these days we are going to also paint the walls some kind of moss or taupe.

Birthday presents keep coming

My birthday was over a month ago, but the presents seem to keep trickling in. My mom was here for a few days and bought my previously agreed upon gift, which was a quilt for my bed. We re-arranged my room, and I really wish you could see from these pictures how much nicer it looks.

The first 3 are before




These are after.

Christmas Cookies

Hard to talk about Christmas Cookies when it's 75 degrees out...

But I would love to know what kind people like the best. I was thinking about doing a baking day with a friend this year. I like sugar cookies the best, and Steve's mom's peanutbutter blossoms are super yum, too (peanut butter cookie with a Hershey's kiss in the middle). I hate anything with nuts, so I won't make them. But I'd love to know what else people like.

Food

Why is it that I normally get 1-2 comments, but when I write about food I get gobs of comments?

We had take-out Chinese food tonight. Discuss.

But seriously, folks, let's talk turkey. I'm coming to discover that there are tons of folks out there that hate turkey, and only eat it because it's traditional. The other thing I'm learning is that those people think that no one else likes turkey either, and that we all eat it out of obligation. I was shocked and dismayed, as turkey dinner is one of my favorites all year! I love the turkey, the stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans... oh, yum, yum! I will admit, I don't care for the pecan pie, and pumpkin pie isn't my favorite. However, I like to make lemon meringue for my family, which is pretty yummy, and I"m thinking of attempting a berry pie. But of course, I need to make pumpkin pie for my husband--it's his favorite.

Speaking of pie, it's very strange that I should have become a pie maker. My mom never made pies, we always bought them. But one year it was the Earles' turn for Thanksgiving, and the Earle seniors were in New Zealand, so it fell to me to make Mom Earle's Pumpkin Pie. Talk about pressure! But guess what... Steve said it was just as good as his mom's! That's high praise!

Okay, now I'm hungry... bummer!

The big weekend

I've been working for several months on an event for my church. It's a huge dinner at Biola under a big tent. No, there won't be an alter call or any singing of "I Surrender All." Thanksgiving Turkey for about 400 people, as well as a big church-ish service to follow as a kick-off to our building campaign. During the planning stages I've had screw-ups from the Biola Conference Services Coordinator, misunderstandings with the caterer, communication fog with some of the church folks... plenty of challenges. But the really great thing, as I think I may have said before, is the way God has clearly been working on my character through this. It's been good to be guided and learn not to get indignant about things. So the weekend starts tomorrow with flower arranging in the morning, gluing leaves Friday night, set-up Saturday. Oh, and my parents are coming down to babysit! Sweet! Plus, Mom is staying until Wednesday so we can play!

This week's Menu

First, News and Notes:
* November the 6th, and it is 95 degrees outside. Um, yeah.

* Lucy went down awake last night, and as I left, she smiled at me and said, "Ba, ba, ba," which I'm pretty sure meant, "Goodnight, Mommy." She slept all night! Napping is going well, too! Praise God!

* I am 80% done with my Christmas shopping (including the 8 birthdays between Nov. 7 and Jan 2), and have wrapped a bunch of it already, too. I stink at wrapping. Ah well!

Okay, the Menu--
I've always told my husband, and now my brother, that it's important to me that you tell the truth about a meal. If we try something new and you tell me you like it, I'll make it again. If you were lying, you'll pay for your lie over and over again! The deal is, you tell the truth kindly, and I won't be offended if you don't like something. And I won't make it again.

Here's the ranking system given by my family:
5-In my top 10 favorite meals
4-Really good! Make it again!
3-Yeah, that wasn't bad
2-I'll eat it, but don't make it again
1-I'm getting a quesadilla.

Menu (last week into this week):
* Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage and Apples - 3.5
* Stuffed Zucchini and Baked Chicken - 4
* Linguini Marvini with chicken and broccoli - 4
* Spicy Country Ribs with biscuits and green beans - 4.5
* Chili w/ Fritos & corn bread - 3
* BBQ'd terriyaki chicken (made w/ pineapple juice and soy sauce) - 4
* Slow cooker chicken w/ bacon & Mushrooms, served w/ Asparagus (tonight's meal)
* Turkey quesadillas (made w/ all kinds of veggies) - 4
* Tuna and shells (sometime this week... new meal)
* Rigatoni Bolonaise (new recipe, probably tomorrow) w/ salad and garlic bread

Let's Vote Already!

Ugh. I will be so glad when the election is over. I am so tired of the political chatter, but more tired of all the junk that flows into my house. The mail, but especially the phone calls are just starting to feel invasive. I mean really. You think I'm going to make up my mind based on a recording of Arnold or Pete Wilson? At least they seem to know I am conservative. I swear, though, if one more call wakes me up from a much needed nap (you know it's needed because of the time this post is date-stamped), I think I'll lose it.

Second thought... I am buying Christmas presents already, and it is supposed to get close to 90 degrees this week. I ask you, is this right?? I can't bear to bring out my Christmas music until I need to get a little snuggly in my slippers.

Follow up

Well, my particular thanks to my dear friends for the encouragement. While we're not out of the woods, last night wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. We started at bedtime, and it was really, really horrible. It is heart-wrenching when your kid is screaming their lungs out and reaching up for you, and you just leave them there. But she only cried that hard at bedtime, and only for an hour. Then up at 12:00, and not nearly the intense crying, she stayed laying down, and it only took 30 min. I feel empowered now! Oh, and she still loves me, by the way. =) I figure this is good training for when I have to say no about even more important stuff, like running into the street or dating someone from the mid-west. (Just kidding.)

Follow up

Well, my particular thanks to my dear friends for the encouragement. While we're not out of the woods, last night wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. We started at bedtime, and it was really, really horrible. It is heart-wrenching when your kid is screaming their lungs out and reaching up for you, and you just leave them there. But she only cried that hard at bedtime, and only for an hour. Then up at 12:00, and not nearly the intense crying, she stayed laying down, and it only took 30 min. I feel empowered now! Oh, and she still loves me, by the way. =) I figure this is good training for when I have to say no about even more important stuff, like running into the street or dating someone from the mid-west. (Just kidding.)

Commitment moves

I don't often like making commitments. The ones that are really important are easy. Steve was a no-brainer... I never even had to think twice about that. But things like taking a job, quitting a job, that kind of stuff is hard. You wonder if you're making a mistake. Well, tonight we are making a commitment move for at least a week. Sounds like not such a big deal until I play you the sounds that I have committed to hearing for a week.

You've heard of the "cry it out" method of getting your kid to sleep through the night, but I've decided it needs to be renamed to "scream it out." It is one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I have no idea how long it will take, both in hours per night and in how many days. Or even IF it will work. So much research and so many people say that it will indeed work, and it just doesn't seem right that she should be used to nursing back to sleep. I've done a bunch of reading, and I thought I would side with the "softer" arguments... the people who say you should just nurse your kid for as long as they'll nurse. But as I read, I just couldn't agree with some of their fundamental arguments. I've talked to friends, family, read some books, talked to the doctor (who has kids), and I think this is the right way to go.

And as I wrote that, the crying stopped. Sniffling will continue for hours (she has an amazing ability to sniffle in her sleep for hours), but our first go only took just over an hour.

But I'll be up at midnight to try again.

Oh yeah

This is from the Drudge page... my favorite news in ages! Why is there no news that I like to read, by the way? I LOVE NPR, but the philosophies behind it are just too far off. I need a conservative viewpoint with the class, the thoroughness, the pace, the style of NPR. Bugs the heck out of me.

Random thoughts of the day:
* Man I love the voice of the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillip. Yummy voice. I like the lead from Cake, too. Why aren't those guys Christians? Them and Dave Matthews? Actually the Toad guy is a reformed Judaist.

* Chocolate is so yummy.

* Best meal lately: Stuffed zucchini. I'm super proud of it. People should eat things that are stuffed on Halloween.

* It was 75 degrees on Nov. 1. Love So Cal.

Bedtime.

'Ween

We had a fun little "holiday" this week. Steve was at the UCLA game, or should I say, the defeat, so I went to our friends' party on Saturday with Lucy and the Bud. We had a grand time, and Eric had a fantastic pumpkin. I will try to remember to grab a picture and post it. Here's one of Lucy. She's a Hershey's Kiss, and I'm supposed to be a candy corn.



Then tonight I fed candy to the neighborhood kids. We don't get all that many, so I don't really mind. The things I mind, of course, are the people that are way too old and don't even bother to dress up, as well as the moms who collect candy for their children who are too young for candy. But I like seeing the dozen princesses and assorted others. Like Bud, I don't like the gory costumes, but my fav's of the night were Wonder Woman, the Rock Star Girl, complete with head-mounted mic, and the Swat officer.

Other things on the mind lately are the church event I've been working on. Thankfully yesterday was a fantastic meeting that allayed much of my anxiety on the subject. I have some constructive criticism to pass on to both the church and Biola about how they handle events, but I think I'm finally at a place where I can do so without being snotty. This has really been an opportunity for me to allow God to work on my attitude. I have a really deep seeded need to be right, and to justify myself, and it's been very clear to me that I need to check my heart.

The other worrisome thing has been Lucy's sleeping. The doctor is really encouraging us to help her start sleeping through the night, which is going to mean some hellish nights for awhile. We won't start making her cry it out just yet, but we have to start with getting her back into a better bedtime routine. It sounds so simple, but it is totally exhausting. I don't think she's abnormal, but I do know she gives us a harder time than some.

Okay, off to bed with me.