Road Trip

Our family will be away for the next couple of days. We're off to Radium, BC. Have a great weekend!

Mr. Golden Sun

"Hey, Mommy. I gonna tell you a story."

I finished tucking the sheets around my toddler's bed, brushed the hair from my eyes, and turned to face him. "What kind of story, Buddy?" I asked.

"A story about Mr. Golden Sun."

"Okay," I said. I picked up several stray toys and straightened some books on the shelf. "Go ahead."

"Once upon a time there was a sun. He's name was Mr. Golden Sun." My little guy paused for a moment and fiddled with his ball cap. "Do you know what colour Mr. Golden Sun is, Mommy?"

"Well, let me think," I replied, "Could he be ... golden?"

"No!" my toddler giggled, "He not golden, Mommy!"

"Oh, my." I was surprised. "If Mr. Golden Sun is not golden, then what colour is he?"

"Oh, Mommy!" My boy gave an exaggerated sigh. "Mr. Golden Sun is lellow! He's a lellow sun!"

"He's yellow!"

"Yup!"

Pleased with his (very short) story, my tow-headed boy smiled and bounced out of the bedroom to greet a new day. My Mr. Golden Son.

Embroidery Lesson #1

The talented ladies at Crafty Daisies have launched a new series of online tutorials. For the next six weeks Candace will share lessons from the craft of embroidery. Candace posted her first lesson yesterday, and it is comprehensive and detailed. She has included images and instructions for three basic stitches --- running stitch, back stitch and split stitch.

I am sorely tempted to participate in the embroidery series, but I am still slogging through the homework from last month's crochet tutorials. Since I'm determined to finish my project (only nine more squares to go!), I may bow out of the embroidery series.

Here's to hoping I can turn this hodge-podge pile of yarn into something lovely.

Words of Wisdom (From a Preschooler)

"Superman is mosquito-proof, you know. The mosquitoes try to bite him, but he just bends their noses."

Growing Girl

My sweet Pumpkin Pie is fourteen months old today. Can it be true? She's becoming more a little girl, less a baby every day.

To date, my Sweetie Pie has six teeth (and an adorably random jack o'lantern smile). She can say "yaa" and "no, no, no!", "more", "done", "boo" and "bye-bye". One of her favourite words is "shoe" and she loves to play with her Mommy's. She also enjoys dollies, stuffed puppies, pretty dresses and hats. My Sweet Pea is a true girly girl.

My little girl has a quiet, content personality. She adores her big brothers, and is happy to play whatever they are playing. She crawls like a mad fiend, but is not terribly interested in walking yet.

I love my little princess to bits.

Now, if I could just teach her some better table manners ... ;-).

Thoughts on Martha

A few weeks ago my friend bestowed several back issues of Martha Stewart Living upon me. The magazines followed us on our trip to Saskatchewan and I spent hours leisurely poring over the pages. To be honest, I had never paid much attention to Martha-mania up to that point (other than owning a set of cornflower blue "Martha Stewart Everyday" bath towels). I was a Martha newbie.

Six or seven magazines later, I've come to an epiphany. Martha is a machine. She's an empire. Martha, the person, I suspect is very different from Martha, the icon. Her magazines are polished and beautiful. Her products are practical and lovely. She's on TV, radio, the internet, in books, in stores. Her line of craft supplies are amazing. Her advice is wise and her clothes are perfect.

Martha is not real.

I think it's important for Martha devotees to remember that "Martha" is an image, an ideal. No one person can ever accomplish all that she appears to. No one person can possess such a broad knowledge base. Martha Stewart employs a vast staff to carry out her vision.

I believe Martha has struck an interesting and delicate balance. She presents her image as both everyday and unattainable. Her magazine includes tips for cleaning your bathroom alongside articles about collecting costly antiques. She markets herself to both the elite and the unwashed masses. And she does it with style.

The plain truth is this: the world of Martha Stewart must be navigated cautiously, but I believe it's worth the journey. Her products and publications are tasteful and well-designed. Her aesthetic is beautiful and appealing. Martha knows her market, and she tailors her image flawlessly.

However, I have resolved not to get sucked into a "Martha-esque" worldview. I will not allow my home to become my idol. I enjoy beauty and organization. I devote thought and time to home decorating and home management every single day. At the same time, God and the people He has placed in my life must take priority. My family is more important than any decorating scheme.

But I'll continue to happily accept any old Martha Stewart magazines that come my way :-).

The Test

"The time is two o'clock. You may now open your exam booklet."

Dear God, please help me to do my best. Help me to remember everything I've studied.

Question one ...

Okay. I can do this. This should be easy.

(A few minutes later)

That section was easy! I totally rocked the fugue. Full marks, baby! I must be a genius! Oh yeah! I'm going to do awesome on this exam. Totally awesome.

(Flip the page)

Oh *&%^@. I'm in trouble now.

(Flip the page)

Uhhh ... maybe I'll just come back to this section.

(Flip the page)

What on God's green earth is an enharmonic polychord?!

(Flip the page)

Is this even English???!

(Flip the page)

"You have 5 minutes left to finish your exam."

Dear God. Please help me to at least finish this blasted thing. Help me to push through these last few minutes. Dear Lord, help me to survive!

"Time's up. Please hand in your papers."

(Puff, puff, wheeze, gasp) I did it. I can't belive I made it through. Thank you, Lord! It's finally over!

"Please hand in your exam paper. Now."

"Sorry, Sir. I'm coming. I really am ... Just give me a minute to scrape my brain up off the floor."

As Ready As I'll Ever Be

I guess I feel ready.

Tomorrow I'll be writing the second of five exams toward my ARCT diploma in piano. This exam covers music analysis. (Neapolitan chords, anyone? They're delicious.)

I've tried to study diligently all week, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow. My only concern is in actually finishing the exam. I'm not certain I'll have the fortitude to answer all the questions before my brain turns into a puddle.

Decadent Dessert

Today is a special day. August 9th is both Ben's mom and my mom's birthday. (What a strange coincidence.) Ben's parents are away on vacation, so we will celebrate with them at a later date. However, my family came over this evening for a small birthday celebration.

I found this recipe (on an advertisement) in Martha Stewart Living magazine. You can also find the recipe on the Kraft Foods website. The brownie cake is rich, decadent, and oh so good. My son helped me make it from start to finish. He especially enjoyed stirring the batter. (Or was it licking the spoon...?)

Who needs a fancy stand mixer? I've got an eager four-year-old with strong arms!

Easy Brownie Shortcake Dessert

1 pkg. (19.5 oz.) brownie mix
1 container (16 oz.) sour cream, divided
1 cup thawed whipped topping
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups cut-up mixed strawberries and blueberries

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare brownie batter as directed on package; stir in 1/2 cup sour cream. Spoon into greased and floured 9-inch round cake pan.

Bake 45 min.; cool 10 min. Remove from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

Mix remaining sour cream, whipped topping, sugar and vanilla. Cut brownie horizontally in half. Place bottom half on plate; spread with half of the sour cream mixture. Cover with top of brownie, remaining sour cream mixture and fruit. Store in refrigerator.

Variation:
Prepare brownie batter with sour cream as directed. Spoon into greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 30 min.; cool completely. Cut into 16 pieces. Serve topped with the sour cream mixture and fruit.

In Search of Perfection

Really, how hard is it to find a decent lamp shade? A clean, simple, neutral, well-proportioned lamp shade? A lamp shade that actually fits and does not wobble?

Darn hard. That's what it is.

I am not a picky shopper. I am rarely indecisive. I like simple things and am easy to please.

So, how was I to know that I would buy and return four lamp shades in the span of a week? Who has the time for all that running around? More to the point, who has time for all that running around while schlepping three small children in and out of a minivan?

Not I, my friend. Not I.

Today I bought a lamp shade. It's white. It fits. It matches my lamp.

But just in case, I saved the receipt.

Crafty Mama

Oh, my. I love this blog. Beautiful. I will certainly try to get my hands on Amanda's book when it comes out next April.

Unanswered Prayer

I've been slowly working my way through God on Mute by Pete Greig. This is one of those books that must be savoured, digested slowly, a few pages at a time. God on Mute addressed the thorny issue of unanswered prayer. Pete Greig writes about this difficult subject with candor, wisdom and sensitivity. He wrestles with challenging theological issues from a Biblical perspective.

Several chapters of God on Mute have engaged my heart. At the moment I am reading the middle section of the book, which deals with why prayers often seem to go unanswered. Pete Greig offers many explanations for unanswered prayer. In particular, I found his eighth point especially appealing:

"Some prayers aren't answered because God Himself is a greater answer than the thing we are asking for and He wants to use our sense of need to draw us into a deeper relationship with Himself."

To think --- the God of all creation desires a relationship with me. Me, with all my selfish flaws and imperfections. Me, nothing but a tiny speck in an infinite universe. God wants me to draw close to Him, like a small child might snuggle in the arms of her daddy.

To further illustrate his point, Pete Grieg shares the following old rabbinic story:

There is a king who has two sons. Each of them come to receive his gifts from the royal table. The first son appears at his father's doorway, and as soon as he is seen, his request is granted. The father holds this son in low esteem, and is annoyed by his presence. The king orders that the gifts be handed to his son at the door so that he will not approach the table. Then the king's beloved son appears. The father takes great pleasure in this son's arrival and does not want him to leave too quickly. For this reason the king delays granting his request, hoping that the son will then draw near to him. The son comes closer, and he feels the father's love so deeply that he does not hesitate to stretch forth his own hand to the royal table.

I am deeply comforted by the thought that God loves me and desires a close relationship. Even when it feels as though my prayers are going unanswered, I now know God is saying, "Come to Me and tarry at My table." He is a loving father who delights in spending time with His children.

"Blessed are those you chose to bring near to live in your courts!" (Psalm 65:4)

Two

My happy-go-lucky, sunny and fun-loving toddler is having a very two sort of a day. So far he has thrown a monumental tantrum, angrily pushed his baby sister over, and coloured in a library book.

It's not even noon yet...

At the same time, my little guy has also smothered me with lovely snuggles, peed in the potty all on his own, and regaled me with more Barney trivia than I'll ever need to know. I think my sweet boy is still buried somewhere under all that toddler angst.

Sunday Afternoon

This afternoon I enjoyed a rare treat. A girlfriend and I hopped in the car, left the bustling city behind, and drove through the rolling countryside south of Calgary. As the miles stretched out before us we rambled on about art, crafts and life. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to trade in my "mommy speak" for a few hours of adult conversation.

Our first stop was the Saskatoon Farm nestled in the fertile, green Alberta foothills. We browsed through rooms filled with knick-knacks and antiques, explored the farm's expansive greenhouses, and bought a large 4L pail of saskatoon berries to take home. (Mmmm. I can hardly wait to bake those saskatoons into a couple of mouthwatering pies.) It looked like the farm is expanding its western heritage storefronts, so I'll certainly make a point of returning to visit next summer.

My friend and I hopped back in the car and continued south down the highway. We ended up in the Alberta antiquing mecca that is Nanton. Nanton is a quaint little town situated right on the highway. Its streets are lined with several gorgeous antique shops. Many unique items caught my eye, including a vintage sewing machine, some beautiful wrought iron sculptures, and a stack of vintage dress patterns. My friend was quite enamoured by a shelf of antique cameras and photography equipment.

In the end, I purchased only a large jar of colourful buttons and two bags of penny candies for my boys. The minute I returned home I poured the buttons out on a cookie sheet and my son and I carefully sorted through every one, admiring the various shapes and colours. All evening I've been pondering all the projects the kids and I can create with my new buttons. These cute ideas from the ever-wonderful Martha Stewart website have helped to get some creative juices flowing.

Fire! Fire!

Today we visited our local fire station to drop off some old cans of paint. A friendly firefighter came out to our van to visit with the children. He invited us inside the fire station and let the boys sit in a fire truck!

Those big, red, shiny trucks were pretty cool. Our two-year-old wore his own plastic firefighter helmet for the occasion. Here are a couple snapshots of two very excited little boys. (Please excuse the picture quality. We used my husband's cell phone to take the shots.)

Stitches

I've seen this cute pattern on the blogs of several crafty mommies this summer. I thought the shirt looked so pretty and simple. I'm a novice seamstress, and have never sewn a garment from a pattern, so I started this project with a bit of trepidation. It was easy, though! The shirt required only three pattern pieces, the raglan sleeves were a piece of cake, and gathered neck was super-easy.

Fabricland had a good sale, and I bought my pattern and materials for 60% off. I used a pretty green, Asian-floral printed cotton. I love the way the elastic looks at the neck and sleeves. It's so feminine and summery. I think I will try making this pattern again --- maybe even the mini dress version to wear over skinny jeans.

Simplicity Built By Wendy patterns are pretty neat. You can check them out here.

And here is a picture of the finished product. I love this particular shade of green.

A Toddlerism

"Hey Buddy. You're so silly. You're a big goof!"

"Yeah Mommy! I'm a goof ball ... a goof meatball!"

A Preschoolerism

"Hey Mommy! Take a look at my new Lego magazine. It's so cool!!!"

"That's neat, Buddy."

"Yeah. Look at this page! It's all about Mission to Mars."

"Very nice."

"It's so awesome! Look at this, look at this! Here's a picture of the alien mother ship. And do you see this one here? It's the daddy ship!"

Still Painting, Painting, Painting

Almost finished :-).

(In My Own Defence)

"So, Lindsay. Is there something you'd like to tell us?"

"Well, no. What do you mean?"

"Well, ummm. It just seems that you've been nesting an awful lot lately ..."

This weekend I was asked if I am "expecting" on three different occasions. My goodness! Can't a girl do a little re-decorating! (And sewing and cooking and cleaning and organizing.)

Sure, I'll admit I may have too many projects on the go right now. This weekend I finally cleared out the junk piled in our garage. I also re-organized the storage room and cleaned the closets. Tomorrow my mom is taking the kids for the day. I am planning to paint our bedroom. (A project I've been looking forward to for more than a year.)

I also have about a dozen crafty-good projects cooked up (ie. half finished).

Oh yes, and there's also that pile of books I've been trying to read.

And a block party to organize.

A music exam in August.

And several friends I've been meaning to meet for coffee.

Phew. I am generally not a high-energy person. I'd definitely classify myself as a "slow and steady wins the race" type of girl. This period of productivity is unusual for me, but I have a theory ...

I often joke that I am solar powered. My energy levels are much better through the sunny summer season. As well, my Baby Girl is quickly becoming a toddler. She's been sleeping through the night (and thus, so have I) for several months. Because I have been pregnant and/or nursing a small baby for several years straight, I think I simply accepted exhaustion and sleep deprivation as a given. Now that I am well-rested, I feel like Super Woman!

Ben and I would love to welcome a fourth Inkling into our family, but for the time being, God has not blessed us with another pregnancy. I must admit, I'm a bit surprised. This will be the largest spacing we've had between babies. At the same time, I am thoroughly enjoying my new-found energy!

In a way, I suppose I am nesting. I love cleaning and organizing and decorating. I enjoy making things with my hands. Come autumn, I suspect I may be exhausted, nauseous and lacking motivation. Part of me feels I must complete all my projects this summer, while I still have loads of energy. Make hay while the sun is shining, I say!

So tomorrow I hope to spend the day up to my elbows in paint. I plan to revel in my productivity. Maybe this week I'll even finish one or two more project on my plate.

And Benjie, enough teasing. You'll love our new room :-).

Crayon Nibbles

I love this idea posted by Candace on Crafty Daisies. I have been on a cleaning / organizing spree for the past couple of days. Yesterday I found a huge tin of crayons in an old box of art supplies. I think my Pumpkin Pie will especially enjoy colouring with these beautiful, fat disks.

Hamster Love

A small, furry friend joined our family yesterday. Hazelnut the hamster has taken up residence in a posh pink cage in our living room. She is active and friendly. The children think their new hamster is neat, and I am happy to have a pet that doesn't require regular walks.

Our Family Vacation

Spotty Communication

"Mommy, how do you take care of a pimple?"

"Excuse me?" I sputtered as I choked on my orange juice.

"You know, a pimple. How do you take care of one?"

My son looked up at me with expectant eyes. I gathered my thoughts and replied, "Well, I guess you should wash your face every day. And if you have a pimple you shouldn't pick at it."

My little guy looked confused. "But Mommy," he continued, "What do you feed it?"

"Feed it?"

"Well, yeah. What do you feed a pimple?"

I slowly chewed my piece of toast. "Ummm ... well ... yes. No. I don't think I'm following you, Buddy."

"But Mommy. I want to get a pimple as a pet."

I digested his comment. "You want a pimple as a pet?" I clarified.

My four-year-old gave an exasperated sigh and slumped in his chair. "Yes, Mommy. You know, those cute pimple dogs."

"You don't mean a poodle, do you?"

My son's face brightened. "Oh yeah! That's what I mean. I love poodles!"

Home Again!

We returned home last night from our trip to Saskatchewan. It sure felt nice to sleep in our own beds. Today I have been chewing my way through a mountain of laundry. The boys have been playing Lego for hours, and my Sweetie Pie is catching up on her beauty sleep. It is good to be home.

Some highlights of our family vacation ...

• The dinosaur museum (aka: The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller). I have seldom seen my boys more excited than they were when we stepped into the first museum gallery. That place is cool. (Even from an adult perspective.)
  

• Catching frogs. (Just my Benjie and me.) We tramped through the bushes like two kids, barely able to see our own feet in the fading sunlight. I spotted a big leopard frog hopping along the lake shore and caught it with my bare hands.

• The puppet show. I brought a few craft supplies to the lake. My young cousin made several popsicle stick puppets and she created an entire show for them. We draped an old table cloth across a bench and performed the show for the family.

• Making smores. For two days our little family stayed in a cozy cabin near the lake. One night Ben lit a fire and we made smores with the boys. You'd thing they'd died and gone to heaven! Two sticky boys, dirty from head-to-toe.

• Praying to Jesus. Our freshly-bathed four-year-old son snuggled with Daddy on the tiny love seat in our cozy cabin at the lake. He asked a million questions about God and Jesus. Then, of his own volition, our son invited Jesus to come and "live in his heart forever and ever". And the angels sang :-).

Gone Fishin'

We've had a busy couple of days down here at the ranch. It's well past midnight and I'm still slogging away at the last few tasks on my list. We leave for our six-day trip to Saskatchewan bright and early tomorrow morning. My husband is planning to take him computer along, so I'm hoping to keep in touch :-).

Book Review:

Quo Vadis
by Henryk Sienkiewicz

Every so often I will read a novel that changes my perspective on life. It opens my eyes and bolsters my faith. Some of my favourite authors, gifted writers like Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury, produce such books.

Quo Vadis is in a class all of its own. It is an extraordinary and inspiring work of fiction. Sienkiewicz wrote this masterpiece over one hundred years ago in Polish. The novel has since been translated into over 40 languages and Sienkiwicz was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1905. I read a modern English translation by W.S. Kuniczak published in 1993.

Quo Vadis is "an epic saga of love, courage and devotion in Nero's time. (It) portrays the degenerate days leading to the fall of the Roman empire and the glory and the agony of early Christianity." Key characters include members of Nero's court, wealthy Roman citizens, persecuted members of the early church, and the apostles Peter and Paul.

This novel is graphic and intense. Sienkiewicz describes the extravagant depravity of Rome in vivid detail. Many scenes describe Nero's mad whims, his eccentric self-absorption and the wild debauchery of his royal court. The destruction of Rome and subsequent martyrdom of thousands of Christians are key plot points. Sienkiewicz's descriptions of these violent events are especially gruesome and disturbing.

This is the most graphic novel I have read, however, I did not feel the violence was gratuitous or unnecessary. Sienkiewicz's writing is built upon the foundation of meticulous research. Quo Vadis is based on actual historical events and many of the books characters are real historical figures. I believe Quo Vadis is a fairly accurate rendering of life during a dark and corrupt period of human history.

Further, Sienkiewicz brilliantly contrasts Christ's redeeming power and the glory of His death and resurrection against the depravity of the Roman Empire. Nero persecuted the early Christians with unimaginable terrors and horrific executions. Thousands of people perished. Quo Vadis places these key events of the Christian church within an historical context. This novel clearly highlights the saving grace of Christ against the fallen nature of man.

Quo Vadis is a brilliant work of literature, but without question, it is a challenging and difficult read. I believe it is an appropriate book for mature, adult Christians. This novel is a powerful, heart-changing work of fiction.

Rhubarb Freezer Jam

I snipped this recipe from the newspaper a couple of weeks ago. The jam smelled heavenly as it bubbled away on the stove this afternoon. The recipe was exceptionally easy to make (is it cheating to use jello powder?) and produced a generous three cups of finished jam.

4 C. sugar
1 pkg. cherry, raspberry or strawberry gelatin
4 C. finely chopped rhubarb

Mix rhubarb and sugar and store in the fridge. The next day, place ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil for 15 minutes. Remove from stove and add strawberry jello until the powder dissolves. Fill glass or plastic jars or containers (most ideal to prevent breakage), and leave a half-inch from the rim for expansion. Seal tightly and cool on counter. When cool, store in freezer. After 24 hours, the jam is ready to use. Keep refrigerated when thawed and use within three weeks.

Update: Yikes! This jam is sweet. I definitely should have used unsweetened strawberry gelatin.

Word of the Day

Macerate -- soften or break up (something, especially food) by soaking in a liquid. As in, combine blueberries, strawberries, and 2 tablespoons sugar, and let macerate until juicy.

You see, I did learn something from reading Martha Stewart magazines all afternoon. (My goodness, what else is there to do in this overwhelming heat?)

In fact, I put my new found knowledge into practice. I am currently macerating rhubarb (liberated from my mother's garden) in a generous quantity of sugar. The mixture will sit in a gigantic glass measuring cup in my refrigerator until tomorrow afternoon. When we return home from church I plan to cook up a tasty batch of strawberry rhubarb freezer jam.

It's a good thing.

Yee-haw!

In honour of the Calgary Stampede, and for my friend Alison. (Thank you again for the gorgeous sunflowers.)

Crock Pot Baked Beans

3 C. dried white navy beans, soaked and simmered until tender, following package directions
1 1/2 C. ketchup
1 1/2 C. water
1/4 C. molasses
1 large onion chopped
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon salt
6 slices of uncooked salt pork or bacon, diced
1 C. brown sugar

Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours on low. Stir a few times, if possible.

(I thought that my beans were a bit too crunchy. I soaked them overnight for about about 12 hours. Next time I will try simmering the beans on the stove to soften them up further.)

Potato Puff Casserole

I almost feel embarrassed to be sharing this recipe. It is not organic or low in fat. The recipe uses several convenient short-cut ingredients. Not exactly healthy, made-from-scratch fine cuisine! At least it contains some veggies, and it's tasty and easy to prepare. I adapted this recipe from several I've seen on the internet. The kids love potato puffs, so I figure they're okay for an occasional treat. Serve this casserole with a large green salad to further increase the meal's the veggie content.

1 kg. lean ground beef
1 can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. onion soup mix
2 C. frozen mixed vegetables
1, 1kg. bag frozen potato puffs

Brown meat in large skillet. Drain off fat. Combine cooked beef, mushroom soup, onion soup and frozen vegetables. Spread mixture evenly in a 9x13" glass baking dish. Arrange potato puffs neatly on top of beef mixture. Bake uncovered at 350F for 45 minutes, until potatoes are crispy and golden. Serves 6.

(Update: Potato puffs are "tater tots" or "mexi fries". They're those cylindrical, hashbrown-type fried potatoes.)

Shelved

Last night my husband methodically sorted through our book collection. He scanned the bar code on the back of each book and worked his way, shelf by shelf, across the wall. Ben is a talkative guy, so he kept up a steady stream of conversation as he went along.

About halfway across the room he paused in front of a tall shelf. He reached up and plucked a small plastic toy from on top of a book. The toy was a Lego mini figure.

"Hey, look what I found!" Ben exclaimed, "How did this little guy get way up there?" Without skipping a beat, my husband tossed the mini fig into the toy bin and commented, "Oh well. Good thing he was wearing his crash helmet."

Librarians Rock

Ben is currently scanning books into our personal library collection. (Being married to a geek is awesome. How many guys just happen to have a spare bar code scanner lying around?) While he tackles that mundane task, I have been surfing here.

Oh yeah, baby. Do library carts get any cooler? I especially enjoy the "Support Glitteracy" sign. Very clever. I'd love to make my own pimped out (I mean nicely decorated) library cart for our basement.

(Too bad my sons would use the cart to go on safari, blast off into space, race in the Indy 500 or take over a small country. I'd like my newly painted walls to remain undented for a while longer.)

"Diwty" Jokes

I heard my two-year-old talking through the closed door to his bedroom. Nap time was over. I quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

My son sat in the middle of his bed, facing toward the back wall. He had carefully arranged his stuffed monkey and two fuzzy bears along the edge of the head board. As though holding sway over an important meeting, my son talked to his stuffies.

"Oh man. Dat was a stinky one!" he exclaimed. He patted his monkey on the head.

I giggled and my two-year-old turned around.

"Hi Mommy!" he exclaimed. Then his bright expression fell. "I was telling diwty jokes," he confessed.

"Oh dear." I put on a stern expression. "Were you saying poopy jokes?"

He smiled, and with a mischievous look replied, "No, my monkey was doing fluffy jokes!"

Domestic Diva

Need some cheering up? Check our Brini Maxwell's retro video podcasts for a healthy dose of vintage domestic kitsch.

Now why didn't you think of that?

So Old

I'm feeling grumpy. And old. Over the hill at the ripe age of twenty-eight. It's all a downward slide from here.

Last night Ben and I attended our ten-year high school reunion. How did it go? Ummm ... awkward would be a good word to describe the evening. Painfully, horribly awkward. I may need the rest of the week to recover from the experience.

I am a wall fly at the best of times. Last night I prayed to fade right away into the paint. To disappear. Thank God I married an outgoing sort of a guy. Ben kept up a steady stream of conversation with people we (at times, marginally) recognized. How does he do that? I have a hard time making conversation with people I know well. (My own family can attest to this sad fact.) My extroverted husband yammered on all evening.

I came away from the night feeling old, shy and inadequate. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth the entire evening. I was too intimidated to order anything stronger than water from the bar. My blouse was too cute, my nose was too big, and I had acne and crow's feet both at the same time. I felt old and frumpy.

(Grumble, groan, oh woe is me.)

Here's the thing that irks me the most: I wanted to have fun and enjoy my night. It's my own fault the experience turned out poorly. I could have gotten past my own prideful self consciousness and focused on the people around me. But I allowed myself to get overwhelmed by the noise and the crowd, and I retreated inside my safe little shell. I hid behind my husband and my drink.

Yes, the venue was noisy. None of our good friends were there. We recognized few of the faces and ended our evening early. However, life is what you make of it. I could have made a much better effort to be friendly. I am disappointed in myself.

Here's to hoping twenty years is better than ten.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to my "little" sister-in-law. She is celebrating her sweet-fifteenth birthday, and is the sweetest fifteen-year-old I know. :-)

My Brave Boy (Cont'd)

My poor little guy has had a rough go of it. He received two shots on Wednesday, had a fever yesterday, and then threw up three times this morning. (Our kids very rarely throw up. If they do vomit, we know they feel genuinely unwell.) I called the Health Link line and they agreed that his symptoms are probably side effects of the immunizations. Poor guy. I'm just thankful none of the other children are sick.

Thank God kids bounce back quickly, though. My son managed to keep down a huge lunch and played Lego all afternoon. He made several Lego ships containing roughly "a billion pieces". He also thought it was very cool to wear his underwear around the house all day (and nothing else). I even let him watch three videos while he rested on the couch.

(Sounds like an all-around okay kind of day, if you ask me!)

Too Cute

This morning my four-year-old informed me that he "simply could not eat a bite of cereal".

(I suspect he's feeling a bit under-the-weather because of yesterday's shots. He has a low-grade fever and asked if it was nap time at 11am. He's been fast asleep for the past hour.)

My Brave Boy

We took our eldest son for his immunizations this evening. He had a bad experience with his last shots, so I was apprehensive about tonight's appointment. In hopes of making things easier, we delayed telling him about the appointment until yesterday. As well, the whole family went out for a special "big boy" dinner tonight and we allowed our son to take his special blankie into the clinic.

I am very proud of my boy. He did cry a bit, but he took two needles in the same arm without squirming or screaming. He snuggled with his daddy and cuddled his blankie throughout the ordeal. Tonight's experience was considerably less traumatic than the last time.

When we arrived home tonight my son was like a heavy sack of potatoes. He was tired, droopy and ready for bed. I think the emotional tension caused by the immunizations wiped him right out. He could barely keep his eyes open. Here's to hoping he sleeps deeply tonight and has a restful day tomorrow.

Knitted By Nanas

Check out this fabulous commercial. I've posted it in honor of Crafty Daisies' crochet tutorials. Enjoy!

The Grand Tour

Last night we entertained several members of Ben's family. His aunt, uncle and cousin were visiting Calgary from the UK, and they joined us for supper. We see these members of Ben's extended family once every year or two, and our children have only met them a couple of times. Their visit was a rare pleasure.

Our children were excited to have guests in the house. Our four-year-old son took it upon himself to give his auntie a grand tour. He guided her upstairs and showed off his bedroom. He then took her into the other bedrooms.

"This is my baby sister's room," he said.

"Oh, it's very nice," commented Ben's aunt.

"And here is Mommy's special rocking chair," he continued.

"Oh, yes," she replied.

"You know, Mommy has her own special chair because she's the only person in our family who has boobies with milk in them."

(Clearly, my son is used to having babies as younger siblings. In his mind, breastfeeding is a natural element of family life. He's so sweet and innocent.)

Three Tenuously Related Thoughts

Last night I cooked some beets for supper. I usually boil beets in a large pot of water. Since I was strapped for time yesterday, I tried cooking them in the microwave instead.

Perhaps I should have stuck with the tried and true...

The beets boiled over and spewed blood-red juice everywhere. My microwave was the scene of great carnage, mayhem and mass destruction. Too bad I couldn't find any yellow police tape for my kitchen.

************

This morning I cooked pancakes for breakfast. Pancakes are a favourite with my boys. My eldest son gobbled down seven pancakes, an apricot and a peach. (He's four. He also has two hollow legs, apparently.)

To put that in perspective, my husband only managed to eat five pancakes.

************

Today Ben's brother and sister-in-law leave for a tropical vacation. Our four-year-old son was very interested in the details of their trip.

"Will Uncle Patrick and Auntie Sarah fly on an airplane?" he asked.

"Yes. They're going far away."

"What the name of the place they're going to?"

"It's called the Dominican Republic."

Our preschooler thought for a moment and then asked:

"Does that republic have a lot of storm troopers?"

Book Review:

Taking Charge of Your Fertility
by Toni Weschler

For several years I have been fascinated by all things having to do with pregnancy, natural childbirth, midwifery, breastfeeding and fertility. A few weeks ago I stumbled across Taking Charge of Your Fertility on the sale table at the library and paid a whopping fifty cents for the book. It was money well spent.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a must-read for any woman interested in practicing natural birth control, achieving pregnancy, or learning about her reproductive health. Like most young women, I learned about cycles, hormones and the female reproductive system in my high school biology class. I felt I held a decent understanding of my body's inner workings. However, I learned a great deal from Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

This book is a comprehensive guide to fertility awareness. Toni Weschler teaches her readers about anatomy, menstrual cycles, how to observe and chart fertility signs, natural birth control, pregnancy achievement and gynecological health. Each chapter is detailed, yet easy to read and understand. Many pictures, charts, diagrams, and even cartoons accompany the text. As well, Taking Charge includes extensive appendixes.

In a nutshell, Toni Weschler teaches women the basics of the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM). Fertility awareness involves observing and charting three primary signs: basal body temperature, cervical fluid and cervical position. A woman who charts her cycles can gain valuable information about her fertility and reproductive health.

I devoured this book from cover to cover, and even read through all the appendixes. I learned a great deal about my own body and hormonal cycles. Taking Charge of Your Fertility is engaging and informative. This book is an invaluable resource and I highly recommend it.

Oops!

Does anyone know what wax cut yellow beans are? I'd love to try them some time.

(Um, yeah. That would be cut yellow wax beans. Right.)

Delicious

It's going to be a short post tonight. Ben bought me flowers and Haagen Dazs ...

Random Cooking Tip #47

Powdered milk works surprisingly well with pudding mixes.

I buy organic milk for our family to drink. Since organic milk is fairly expensive I try to use the powdered kind for cooking and baking. Every so often I'll make a quick batch of instant pudding for a dessert treat, and I've started adding powdered milk and water to the mix. The pudding turns out very well --- thick and creamy.

I use 1/2 cup of powdered skim milk and add enough cold water to make 2 cups. Pudding powder, two minutes with a hand mixer, and voila! Our family can enjoy a yummy, nutritious treat.

Menu Plan Monday
June 25, 2007

I've been out of the Menu Plan Monday loop for the past few weeks (much to my own detriment, I might add). It's time to hop back on the bandwagon! I am looking forward to the upcoming week as it is shaping up to be routine, boring and uneventful. I need a week of mediocrity, I think. Our family is especially looking forward to the holiday long weekend!

Here is my proposed meal plan. Special thanks to Laura for the first recipe. (It looked so easy and delicious on her menu, I decided to scoop it for my own.) Please visit the Mr. Linky on Laura's site, Org Junkie, to find many great meal plans and recipes.

Monday: No cooking! (Supper at my parents')
Tuesday: Slow cooker savoury pot roast, green peas, wax cut yellow beans
Wednesday: Soft shell tacos with all the fixin's, refried beans, apple slices
Thursday: Encore performance.
Friday: Grilled fish, brown rice, steamed cauliflower, honey glazed carrots

Miss Toothy McGee

My Pumpkin Pie sprouted her second tooth within a week's time. That brings her grand total up to four. This tooth caught me by surprise because it came in on the bottom. My sweet girl now has three on the bottom, and one lonely tooth poking through on top. I imagine we can expect two more pearly whites within the next week or two.

A Slice of Recent History

Here's a little-known fact about me. I had my nose pierced for about a year in my early twenties. Just a small stud. The piercing did not heal properly so I finally removed it. I now have a teeny, tiny, barely noticeable scar.

I would pierce my nose again. (And maybe will some day when I'm feeling brave). I like most nose piercings on girls, and think dainty eyebrow rings look very cute. Ben and I would allow our daughter to get a pretty nose stud when she's older. Even Isaac's beloved Rebekah had a nose ring, and I believe some facial piercings can be quite tasteful and beautiful.

The Basement is (Very Nearly Almost) Finished

Hooray! Our basement is basically finished. Last night we moved the kids' toys into their new playroom! The boys spent most of today going nuts in their new space.

The basement looks terrific. I can hardly believe it is actually part of our house. We were incredibly blessed to have a good renovation experience. Our contractor was absolutely excellent and I would recommend him in an instant. We had no major disasters (and barely any little glitches).

What's left to complete? The bathroom mirror still needs to go up. (The contractor accidentally broke the corner and had to buy a new one.) The banister needs some sanding and a final coat of polyurethane. One little corner of the wall requires some touch-up paint. That's it!

So far we have only moved the toys downstairs. We also have some furniture to move in, and are planning to buy bookshelves for our library. Then, we will face the daunting task of re-organizing the storage room and clearing the junk out of the garage (and our parents' houses).

I am incredibly pleased with our new basement. Our house feels so much larger --- and it is. We have gained about 30% more usable space. I will post some pictures once we have organized the furniture and such :-).

Spring Reading Thing Wrap Up

Yesterday was the first official day of Summer. I am glad to see the return of sunshine and warm weather! Sadly, yesterday also marked the end of the Spring Reading Thing. I have enjoyed participating in my first online reading challenge, and I'm looking forward to Callipider Days' next challenge in September.

My Spring reading list named thirteen books. The selections included a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles. Unfortunately, I bit off more than I could chew; my list was too long! I managed to finish five out of eight fiction books, and three out of the five non-fiction. (I also cheated and read a few books outside of my list.)

Here are my thoughts on the Spring Reading Thing ...

What was the best book you read this spring?

I very much enjoyed Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman. My husband read it as well, and we passed it along to several family members. (Be aware, the content of the book is quite explicit.) I think Sheet Music is an excellent resource for Christian married couples.

What book could you have done without?

I was extremely disappointed with I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris. This book was totally not what I expected.

Did you try out a new author this spring? If so, which one, and will you be reading that author again?

In the realm of fiction, I gave Jan Karon's Mitford series a go. I very much like her whimsical style and dry sense of humour. In terms of non-fiction, I read Dr. Kevin Leman for the first time. I have already placed several more of his books on hold at the library.

If there were books you didn't finish, tell us why. Did you run out of time? Realize those books weren't worth it?

I did leave several books unfinished. I did not read each book for one of three reasons: My name is still in the hold queue at the library (two titles); I have the book waiting on my shelf, but ran out of time (two titles); I decided I wasn't interested in the book (one title).

Did you come across a book or two on other participants' lists that you're planning to add to your own to-be-read pile? Which ones?

I saw Me, Myself and Bob by Phil Vischer on several other participants' lists. I added it to my own list and read it early on in the Spring. Highly recommended.

What did you learn -- about anything -- through this challenge?

I learned that my reading list was overly ambitious. I wish I had more time to read! For the next reading challenge I will chose half as many books.

As well, I learned that I don't like being tied to a list. I generally have three or four books on the go at any given time. I like variety.

What was the best part of the Spring Reading Thing?

Reading is a very individualistic pursuit, but the Spring Reading Thing helped turn it into a social activity. I've enjoyed reading other participants' lists and reviews. I have also enjoyed posting my own book reviews. I like analyzing and critiquing the books I've read.

Would you be interested in participating in another reading challenge this fall?

Count me in!

Bumps and Bruises

Tonight at bath time my preschooler informed me that he had a digestion sore on his foot.

(Incidentally, he also got a nasty shiner yesterday when he fell off the bed. That kid is in rough shape!)

Learn to Crochet Lesson #5

Check it out. Heather has posted her newest crochet lesson on the Crafty Daisies site.

(I may or may not be a week behind on my homework ... I'm working on it!)

Also take a look at NexStitch for some excellent tutorial videos.

"Don't You Spray for Jungle Animals Each Spring?"

This evening our family sat around the dinner table enjoying our supper. Every window on the main level stood wide open. A gentle breeze stirred through the house.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!" A noisy crow called outside the back window.

"What was that?" asked our curious two-year-old.

"Oh, don't worry," said his four-year-old brother, "It's just a lost monkey."

Book Review:

I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
by Amy Sedaris

I'm not sure what I expected when I chose this book for my Spring reading list. Perhaps a quirky, funny, tongue-in-cheek book about parties and entertaining? I'd read good reviews, and the book's cover art was cutesy and appealing.

Lesson learned: Don't judge a book by it's cover.

Second lesson learned: Check behind the cover (for, um, pin-up pictures).

I suppose I should have clued in to the whole Hospitality Under the Influence thing. Who knew it was meant to be taken literally? Unfortunately, I Like You crosses way over the boundary of quirky irreverence. This book enters the territory of cruel, offensive, vulgar and mean. Some of the sections are downright disturbing.

To be brutally honest, I couldn't bring myself to read I Like You through to the end. (Though the book's coffee table format is better suited to browsing anyway.) I became thoroughly disgusted after the first couple of chapters.

In fact, I felt embarrassed to even have the book within my possession. I hid it upstairs in my room. I could just imagine my mother-in-law spotting I Like You on my bookshelf, casually leafing through the pages, and finding illustrated instructions for a F*** It Bucket.

Right.

This is one book that will quickly find its way out of my home and back to the library.

And in Other News ...

I am feeling guilty about missing three days worth of posts last week.

I know, I know. Flogging at dawn and all that.

But in other news ... our basement is now in a functionally livable state! The flooring is finished, and it looks great. The carpet installer commented on how good our "nice green carpet" looked. (Hmm. I thought it was gray. I can't seem to escape living in a green house.)

Ben and I ran errands yesterday and bought a few more necessary items --- bathroom counter, mirror, towel racks. We chose wood spindles for the staircase, but our contractor found some nice wrought iron ones instead! Now our spindles will match the ones along the banister upstairs.

Tomorrow our contractor will build the banister and finish the baseboards. Then, he will have only the bathroom left to finish. Barring disaster, our basement could be completely finished by the end of the week. (Fingers crossed!)

Pumpkin Pie, Baby Love

My little girl has had a big week. She celebrated her first birthday, got a new tooth, and finally learned how to crawl. It's enough to make anyone exhausted!

Here are a few pictures of my sweet Pumpkin Pie at her birthday party. I especially love the cupcake carnage shot.

Brotherly Love

For the most part, our sons get along swimmingly. They play together all the time and rarely fight. Every once in a while, however, they get on each others' nerves.

This afternoon my two-year-old was bugging his older brother. I'm not even sure what they were fighting about. Just as I stepped in to break up the argument, my little guy (usually a very easy-going type) hauled off and slapped his brother on the back.

"What was that!" I exclaimed, "Did you just hit your brother?"

My toddler put on his most contrite expression. He calmly replied, "No Mommy ... I just squished him."

A Special Girl

I can hardly believe my Baby Girl is one year old today. Where did the time go? She's grown and changed a great deal over the past twelve months. My little girl is beautiful.

Today during lunch I made the following comment to my eldest son: "Your sister is so special because today is her birthday."

He melted my heart with the following reply: "No, Mommy. Little girls are special every day, even when it's not their birthday."

Well spoken, young man. Your Daddy has taught you well. :-)

Quick Basement Update

The renovations continue.

I had hoped our basement would be finished by Baby Girl's first birthday. Seeing as her birthday is tomorrow, I seriously doubt it's going to happen! Nevertheless, the basement is coming along great. We have another week (or so) of work left.

The walls are painted. The knock down ceiling is finished. The doors are framed and hung. The bathroom vanity is in place. As far as I can tell, we have the following items left to complete: carpet and lino, light fixtures, bathroom fixtures, light switch and electrical outlet face plates, base boards, and a cabinet for the fuse box.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure of it ...

The Pod from God

(Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

In a few weeks we plan to load our family (and most of our worldly possessions, so it seems) into our minivan and set off on an adventure. An adventure to Saskatchewan, the flat land to the east. (I actually love Saskatchewan. I'm allowed to make fun because I was born there.)

Our poor minivan can barely contain our growing family, let alone all the stuff that comes along with said family. (Why do children need so much stuff?) Ben and I weren't sure where we would cram it all in. We decided that the only alternative was to buy a pod for our roof rack.

The thing is, brand new pods can be awfully expensive. At least $200. I was reluctant to spend that much money. However, this afternoon God chose to bless us with a new (to us) pod for our minivan! I spotted it at a garage sale down the street. We paid a mere $30 for the pod! I was totally pumped.

Sometimes I feel silly about bringing my needs to God. He has much bigger things to worry about than my vacation plans. Tonight I am thankful to serve a God who even cares about the little things in my life.

Learn to Crochet Lesson #3

This week I'm working on Crafty Daisies' third crochet tutorial. I must confess, I've been hiking up a steep learning curve with these lessons. So far I've been able to muddle my way through every pattern and have finished six blocks. This week's lesson includes patterns for six new blocks, so I have a lot of homework to catch up on!

What have I learned so far?

1. I really like crochet. (Maybe even more than knitting. Gasp.) I find crochet less intimidating, perhaps because I only have one stitch to worry about on my hook instead of dozens. If I miss a stitch it's easy to fix my mistake.
   
   
2. It's really important to use the correct weight of wool. In my inexperience, I crocheted my first five squares with the wrong type of wool. I couldn't figure out why all my squares were turning out too small. I thought my tension was way off. I finally figured out my problem, and the sixth square turned out great.
   
   
3. Go slowly and read the instructions thoroughly. (It's the old "measure twice and cut once" rule.)
   
   
4. It doesn't have to be perfect --- that's what learning is all about. I love crafting because human imperfection, the hand of the maker, is an integral element of the creative process. Most of my crochet squares are a wee bit wonky, but that's okay. I've only been learning for a couple of weeks!
   

I have a pile of "homework" to catch up on tonight. Here's to an evening of happy hooking ;-).

Boys with Hollow Legs (Part 2)

Where do they put it all???

This afternoon at snack time my boys polished off two kiwis, two apples with peanut butter, and a peach. Not a crumb was left over.

I offered my oldest son some funshine (arrowroot) cookies as well. My mommy heart swelled with pride when he replied, "No thanks Mommy. I want more apple instead."

Boys with Hollow Legs

I'm a little worried about the day my sons become teenagers. I don't know how we will be able to keep them fed! Those boys can pack away astonishing volumes of food, and they aren't even school-aged yet. Several times I have caught my four-year-old son standing in front of the open fridge, perusing its contents. He will usually sigh and loudly proclaim, "Mom, I'm huuuuungry!"

The rule in our house is this: We have meals and snacks at regular times throughout the day. If, however, the kids are hungry at other times of the day, they are allowed to eat fresh fruit. My oldest son is capable to choosing and washing his fruit all by himself. He helps himself to the fruit bowl from time to time, but he usually asks first.

This morning I scrubbed the upstairs bathroom while the boys played quietly downstairs. "They're being so good!" I thought to myself as I worked, and I patted myself on the back. (Instead of gloating in my superior parenting abilities I should have run downstairs to check on my children...) As I finished up my chore the boys trudged up the stairs to see me.

"Mommy, I just ate a banana," my son informed me. The evidence of his snack was smeared across his face.

"Oh, well, did you share it with your brother?" I asked.

"No ... but he ate a peach!"

"I see." I then spotted the sticky hand prints trailing up the stairs and across my wall.

"I had a peach too, Mommy."

"You ate a peach and a banana?" I clarified.

"No, Mommy. I ate two peaches and a banana."

"Two peaches and a banana! But we ate breakfast less than an hour ago!"

Growing suspicious, I marched downstairs to investigate. Sure enough, the remains of a foot-long banana and three peaches lay scattered across the kitchen table. Two sticky and satisfied boys grinned up at me.

I think those boys should get some jobs soon. They need to start helping out with our family's grocery bill!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

A couple days ago, when the weather was cool and rainy, I decided to bake some cookies. I found the following recipe on the side of a package of oatmeal. The cookies turned out terrific. (I made the "crispy" version.) I think these cookies would also be good without raisins, or with chocolate chips instead.

3/4 C. butter, softened
3/4 C. packed brown sugar
1/2 C. granulated sugar (I used 1/4 C.)
1 egg
2 tbsp. water
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 C. all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 C. quick cook oats
1 1/2 C. raisins (I only used 1 C.)

Cream butter, sugars, egg, water and vanilla together on medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Combine flour, soda and cinnamon. Add to creamed mixture, beating on low speed until blended. Stir in oats and raisins.

Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. (I lined my baking sheets with parchment paper instead.)

Press flat for crisp cookies; leave mounded for chewy cookies.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12-15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Do not overbake. (9 1/2 minutes was perfect in my oven.) Makes about 30 cookies.

Carnage, Mayhem and Mass Destruction (of the Underwear Variety)

This evening I stumbled upon the following scene in my front hall:


Never trust quiet children! Ben and I enjoyed a nice after-dinner conversation while our sons played together upstairs. Little did we know, the boys had raided our dresser drawers. Those two monkeys threw socks, underwear and swimming suits all over the staircase and front hall. They thought it was a great game. (Ben and I finally came to investigate when we were tipped off by the giggles.)

My favourite quote from this evening (spoken by my husband): "No you may not play on the stairs. You might trip on a brassiere."

Ribbit

This evening I received a kiss. A kiss on my knee from a handsome frog wearing a lime green t-shirt. Sadly, I did not magically transform into a fairy tale princess.

And when I returned the kiss, my charming young prince decided it was more fun to be a frog.

Quote of the Week

"No Mommy, that is not a reasonable compromise!"

(This has become my four-year-old son's favourite phrase.)

A to Z Bible Verses

I found a terrific resource in the May issue of Focus on the Family Canada magazine. It is a list of twenty-six Bible verses. The verses are especially easy for young children to memorize because the passages are short and correspond with each letter of the alphabet. Here are a few examples of the chosen scriptures:

A: All we like sheep have gone astray. (Isiah 53:6)

B: Be kind to one another. (Ephesians 4:32)

C: Children obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. (Ephesians 6:1)

D: Don't fret or worry; it only leads to harm. (Psalm 37:8)

You can find the complete list here.

Scripture memorization is such an important spiritual discipline. I hate to confess, but I am not as diligent in this area as I should be. I need to sharpen my sword! I'm planning to learn these twenty-six verses right alongside my young kids. My hope is that scripture memorization will become an integral part of our family culture.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

I Could Save Your Life

Today I spent the day at a CPR certification course at the Y. I met some new people, enjoyed the adventure that is driving in downtown Calgary, and learned a few neat things.

Can you guess what the most common food item is that people choke on in Canada and the U.S.? Hotdogs? Peanuts? Twinkies or Ding-Dongs? (Just for the record, I have never consumed a Twinkie or a Ding-Dong.) If you guessed lettuce you win the prize for knowing more random trivia than I do. (Or did before today, ha ha.)

Other delightful tidbits I gleaned from my course:

• You should not use an AED (automated external defibrillator) on a victim who is lying in a puddle.
• Apparently most CPR victims lack both arms and legs.
  
• We Albertans choke on beef more than any other food item. (Not a terribly surprising statistic. I may think twice before I order my next rib eye with a side caesar salad.)

Ben watched the children while I was gone. I came home to three tired, happy kids and a reasonably tidy house. How did my husband keep three preschoolers entertained for an entire day? He strung an empty plastic pop bottle from the ceiling. The kids spent (longer than my husband was willing to admit) hitting the pop bottle with toy hammers. Whatever works, eh?