Some remain, some have faded away...they're definitely endearing!
10. Indults (adults; by Harmony--she still says it)
9. Aminals (both big kids, still working on it)
8. Grape (scrape; Harmony)
7. Dider (diaper; Henry)
6. Boon (spoon; Harmony)
5. Life Savers (Light sabers; both Henry and Harmony)
4. Brecksbris (breakfast; Harmony; still said)
3. Kitties (mittens; Harmony)
2. Dee dee (Thank you; Harmony (I cried when she said it right!))
1. Statue of Delivery (Henry)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
My night
midnight--go to bed (I need to go to bed earlier!)
12:30 Henry screaming for a good 15 minutes; stay with him until 12:30. Nightmares.
2:30 Hope up to eat.
3:30 Henry crawling in our bed--bad dreams. Walk him back to his bed and snuggle with him until he falls asleep.
5:00 Hope up to eat.
5:30 Henry's having another nightmare
7:00 alarm goes off; hit snooze a couple of times
7:30 start prying kids out of bed.
Anyone have any advice for dealing with nightmares? Henry's as bad or worse than Hope as far as waking in the night--I can sleep while she's nursing, I can't sleep when he's upset.
12:30 Henry screaming for a good 15 minutes; stay with him until 12:30. Nightmares.
2:30 Hope up to eat.
3:30 Henry crawling in our bed--bad dreams. Walk him back to his bed and snuggle with him until he falls asleep.
5:00 Hope up to eat.
5:30 Henry's having another nightmare
7:00 alarm goes off; hit snooze a couple of times
7:30 start prying kids out of bed.
Anyone have any advice for dealing with nightmares? Henry's as bad or worse than Hope as far as waking in the night--I can sleep while she's nursing, I can't sleep when he's upset.
Reflections on dating/marriage
The first person I seriously dated was "safe"--it took him four months to kiss me goodnight, and that was only because I made him (it was New Year's Eve). I knew I had bad habits with guys, and was trying to figure out how to stop.
The second person I seriously dated was "perfect"--going to be a doctor, good looking, from a good family...but I've met puddles deeper than him. For the first three years of college, we'd start dating at the end of spring, then we'd go far apart for the summer. It was God's way of keeping what looked on paper to be "perfect" from happening.
The third person I seriously dated was "my dad". Similar job interests, similar personality...but with some attraction. I think a lot of women (especially if they had healthier relationships with their fathers) go through this.
The fourth person I seriously "dated" (though we never "dated", we said we were "just friends", but that wasn't the depth of what happened) was me...but better. The problem was we had the same faults. So instead of complimenting each other, we amplified each other...sometimes leading to disasterous consequences (like him leaving grad school and both of us messing up almost all of our friendships.)
The last person I seriously dated was very different from me. At first I didn't even really like him. But what I discovered is that we complimented each other. Those differences were the iron sharpening iron, that we needed those differences to both grow and be able to do what God has called us to do.
Dating is HARD. It would be so nice if God would just give us a big neon sign saying "Marry this one". I think he doesn't so that we can learn and grow...and depend on him.
The second person I seriously dated was "perfect"--going to be a doctor, good looking, from a good family...but I've met puddles deeper than him. For the first three years of college, we'd start dating at the end of spring, then we'd go far apart for the summer. It was God's way of keeping what looked on paper to be "perfect" from happening.
The third person I seriously dated was "my dad". Similar job interests, similar personality...but with some attraction. I think a lot of women (especially if they had healthier relationships with their fathers) go through this.
The fourth person I seriously "dated" (though we never "dated", we said we were "just friends", but that wasn't the depth of what happened) was me...but better. The problem was we had the same faults. So instead of complimenting each other, we amplified each other...sometimes leading to disasterous consequences (like him leaving grad school and both of us messing up almost all of our friendships.)
The last person I seriously dated was very different from me. At first I didn't even really like him. But what I discovered is that we complimented each other. Those differences were the iron sharpening iron, that we needed those differences to both grow and be able to do what God has called us to do.
Dating is HARD. It would be so nice if God would just give us a big neon sign saying "Marry this one". I think he doesn't so that we can learn and grow...and depend on him.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
25 things about me
So I was tagged on Facebook for this meme, and I thought I'd put it here too. If you have a list of your 25 things, please share your link!
25. If my dad didn’t know how to type 90 wpm, I probably wouldn’t be here. (He was drafted to go to Vietnam, but ended up being a clerk in Washington State.) My dad was in grad school in classics when he was drafted. However, his brother who was going to take over the farm had diabetes, so my dad had to do it. He wasn’t a very happy farmer.
24. My parents were living with my great grandparents when I was born—my dad had just gotten out of the service. They bought a trailer house on the way home from the hospital with me. My great grandparents and my parents are the only ones who have lived on that farmstead.
23. My second cousin, Kay, lived with us during the school week so she could attend a school with a hearing impaired program.
22. Every day after school, I’d play school with my younger brother, Mark, and Kay. I’d teach them everything I had learned at school that day. What do you do with a kindergartener who knows how to multiply?
21. My dad quit farming when I graduated from high school. They make way more money renting out the land than they did farming.
20. I was really swaybacked as a kid.
19. We lived in town briefly, for kindergarten to second grade.
18. I didn’t spend a birthday at home between the ages of 11 and 18—I was always on some type of trip (girl scouts, church, 4-H).
17. I reached the second interview step to be a U.S. Senate page.
16. I was a Minnesota State 4-H ambassador—and had a green and white wardrobe to prove it.
15. Everyone I dated in high school either was named “Mark” or a D name.
14. I sang in the Concordia College Concert Choir. I was the last woman chosen, but I was still in!
13. If I could live any year of my life over, it would be the first year of grad school. It was great, but I would make some different decisions.
12. I spent a month in Korea on a research exchange in grad school. I lived in the dorms and ate school food—imagine the Korean version of elementary school food.
11. I met my husband at a homeless shelter. (He was the director, I was a volunteer.)
10. My big toe is my longest toe.
9. I became lactose intolerant in grad school. I was also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which got progressively worse until Harmony was 1 and I got prayer for healing at a small group Bible study.
8. Running is very good for my mental health.
7. A neighbor teen lived with us for a while when H1 and H2 were very small.
6. We lived in Ithaca, NY for a year when I was on sabbatical.
5. Last year my brother, Mark, and I ran the Indianapolis Mini-marathon…I was 13 weeks pregnant!
4. We didn’t intend for our kids to all have H names—Henry Lee is named after his great grandfathers and his middle name is from his grandfather: Harmony Kay is named after my grandmother, Mona Mae, and her grandmother, Wanda Faye; and Hope Eileen is named from Romans 5 and my other granmother (her middle name was Irene, but then Hope's initials would be HIT!).
3. We’re in year 10 of renovating a Queen Anne Victorian house. It’s definitely an exercise in patience.
2. Cookies >>>> cake >>>> pie.
1. I hate shopping, except for scoring big bargains at CVS, Walgreens or the grocery store.
25. If my dad didn’t know how to type 90 wpm, I probably wouldn’t be here. (He was drafted to go to Vietnam, but ended up being a clerk in Washington State.) My dad was in grad school in classics when he was drafted. However, his brother who was going to take over the farm had diabetes, so my dad had to do it. He wasn’t a very happy farmer.
24. My parents were living with my great grandparents when I was born—my dad had just gotten out of the service. They bought a trailer house on the way home from the hospital with me. My great grandparents and my parents are the only ones who have lived on that farmstead.
23. My second cousin, Kay, lived with us during the school week so she could attend a school with a hearing impaired program.
22. Every day after school, I’d play school with my younger brother, Mark, and Kay. I’d teach them everything I had learned at school that day. What do you do with a kindergartener who knows how to multiply?
21. My dad quit farming when I graduated from high school. They make way more money renting out the land than they did farming.
20. I was really swaybacked as a kid.
19. We lived in town briefly, for kindergarten to second grade.
18. I didn’t spend a birthday at home between the ages of 11 and 18—I was always on some type of trip (girl scouts, church, 4-H).
17. I reached the second interview step to be a U.S. Senate page.
16. I was a Minnesota State 4-H ambassador—and had a green and white wardrobe to prove it.
15. Everyone I dated in high school either was named “Mark” or a D name.
14. I sang in the Concordia College Concert Choir. I was the last woman chosen, but I was still in!
13. If I could live any year of my life over, it would be the first year of grad school. It was great, but I would make some different decisions.
12. I spent a month in Korea on a research exchange in grad school. I lived in the dorms and ate school food—imagine the Korean version of elementary school food.
11. I met my husband at a homeless shelter. (He was the director, I was a volunteer.)
10. My big toe is my longest toe.
9. I became lactose intolerant in grad school. I was also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which got progressively worse until Harmony was 1 and I got prayer for healing at a small group Bible study.
8. Running is very good for my mental health.
7. A neighbor teen lived with us for a while when H1 and H2 were very small.
6. We lived in Ithaca, NY for a year when I was on sabbatical.
5. Last year my brother, Mark, and I ran the Indianapolis Mini-marathon…I was 13 weeks pregnant!
4. We didn’t intend for our kids to all have H names—Henry Lee is named after his great grandfathers and his middle name is from his grandfather: Harmony Kay is named after my grandmother, Mona Mae, and her grandmother, Wanda Faye; and Hope Eileen is named from Romans 5 and my other granmother (her middle name was Irene, but then Hope's initials would be HIT!).
3. We’re in year 10 of renovating a Queen Anne Victorian house. It’s definitely an exercise in patience.
2. Cookies >>>> cake >>>> pie.
1. I hate shopping, except for scoring big bargains at CVS, Walgreens or the grocery store.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Works for me Wednesday--Lo-cal dip
My favorite snack these days is veggies with this dip!
1 16 oz container of lowfat cottage cheese
1/2 pkg dry ranch dressing mix
Blend together with an immersion blender until creamy.
5 calories for 2 tablespoons! Can't argue with that--and it totally satisfies my crunchy/salty craving.
So what works for you?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Melodic Monday--Bear Necessities
Henry and Harmony have been singing this one a lot... Harmony says "Bear Ne-sesames" instead of "necessities" :)
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
Friday, January 16, 2009
Annual review
Today I had to turn in a one page summary of what I've done in teaching, research/scholarship, and service for salry review (not that there will be any raises--we're in a mojor budget crunch).
It made me hink, what if I had to do an annual report for God? What progress have I made in my personal relationship with Him? In being the Jesus peole can see? In following His commands?
Just like the work review, there are things this year I've done well, and areas that need improvement. Luckily for me, my salvation doesn't depend on my performance...though when He comes back, Jesus will ask what I've been doing.
Lord, thanks for what you've done in and through us this year. Help me to follow you more closely and join you in what you're doing.
It made me hink, what if I had to do an annual report for God? What progress have I made in my personal relationship with Him? In being the Jesus peole can see? In following His commands?
Just like the work review, there are things this year I've done well, and areas that need improvement. Luckily for me, my salvation doesn't depend on my performance...though when He comes back, Jesus will ask what I've been doing.
Lord, thanks for what you've done in and through us this year. Help me to follow you more closely and join you in what you're doing.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thankful Thursday
The semester has started, so we're getting in a new groove. I'm very thankful it's working out--Henry having two hour delays has helped ease the transition out of vacation mode.
I'm thankful for the ability to nurse Hope--I keep learning about how I need to be fed from the Source, and fed often.
I'm thankful that a new set of labs worked (at least for me--we'll see what happens when the students do it!)
I'm thankful that even though it's cold here, it's better than where I grew up (-32 yesterday!) I'm still amazed the schools close here because it's cold (below zero) here. I remember one day in sixth grade when we were on the kid's news show because the wind chill was -100 F...and we were at school!
What are you thankful for this week?
I'm thankful for the ability to nurse Hope--I keep learning about how I need to be fed from the Source, and fed often.
I'm thankful that a new set of labs worked (at least for me--we'll see what happens when the students do it!)
I'm thankful that even though it's cold here, it's better than where I grew up (-32 yesterday!) I'm still amazed the schools close here because it's cold (below zero) here. I remember one day in sixth grade when we were on the kid's news show because the wind chill was -100 F...and we were at school!
What are you thankful for this week?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Top Ten Tuesday--Favorite kitchen short cuts
We like to cook from scratch, but we do take a lot of short cuts. Like:
10. Minced garlic in a jar
9. Frozen diced onions
8. Minced ginger in a tube
7. Making a triple batch and putting two in the freezer
6. Assembling meals and sticking them in the freezer
5. Cutting a bunch of veggies on the weekend for lunch the next week
4. Browning a large package of ground beef and freezing it in one meal portions
3. Packing leftovers in lunch sized portions when cleaning up dinner
2. Have friends over for dinner...who often return the favor
1. Forget cooking, go to Little Mexico!
10. Minced garlic in a jar
9. Frozen diced onions
8. Minced ginger in a tube
7. Making a triple batch and putting two in the freezer
6. Assembling meals and sticking them in the freezer
5. Cutting a bunch of veggies on the weekend for lunch the next week
4. Browning a large package of ground beef and freezing it in one meal portions
3. Packing leftovers in lunch sized portions when cleaning up dinner
2. Have friends over for dinner...who often return the favor
1. Forget cooking, go to Little Mexico!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Cashew and Lime Chicken
We tried this new recipe and really liked it--and it's great for the diet!
1 c rice (we use brown rice)
1 t oil (or substitute non-stick spray)
1 T fresh ginger, minced (I used the stuff in a tube)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb boneless chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 t salt
1/2 t freshly ground pepper
1 c chicken broth
1/4 c hoisin sauce
juice from 1 lime
1 t lime zest
1 pkg frozen stir fry veggies, defrosted
1/4 c cashews
Prepare rice according to package directions.
Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken and brown chicken on all sides. Season with salt and pepper. Add chicken broth, hoisin sauce, lime juice and lime zest; simmer for 8-10 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken up. Add veggies and heat through. Serve chicken and veggies over the rice, and garnish with the cashews.
Serves 4; 300 calories/serving (275 if oil is omitted)
1 c rice (we use brown rice)
1 t oil (or substitute non-stick spray)
1 T fresh ginger, minced (I used the stuff in a tube)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb boneless chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 t salt
1/2 t freshly ground pepper
1 c chicken broth
1/4 c hoisin sauce
juice from 1 lime
1 t lime zest
1 pkg frozen stir fry veggies, defrosted
1/4 c cashews
Prepare rice according to package directions.
Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken and brown chicken on all sides. Season with salt and pepper. Add chicken broth, hoisin sauce, lime juice and lime zest; simmer for 8-10 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken up. Add veggies and heat through. Serve chicken and veggies over the rice, and garnish with the cashews.
Serves 4; 300 calories/serving (275 if oil is omitted)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Just cleaning me out...
Overheard from Harmony, between puking sessions Thursday night:
"I guess Jesus is cleaning all the junk out of me..."
What a literalist! She got that from our jack o'lantern analogy this fall...
"I guess Jesus is cleaning all the junk out of me..."
What a literalist! She got that from our jack o'lantern analogy this fall...
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thankful Thursday
This week I'm extremely thankful for:
The Holy Spirit. That's what lets the heavenly realm break through here on earth. It struck me this year that Mary was the first spirit filled human of the NT (Luke 1:39).
Prayer. God so definitely hears our prayers--my very blase visit to the GI doctor (because I've been healed through prayer, there's nothing left to treat) and Hope are proof of that. We got some awesome and encouraging prayer. How often we don't get because we don't ask!
Community. We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, both here and at church. We've been blessed with wonderful friends--what can I say but thanks??
For more thankfulness, visit Iris!
The Holy Spirit. That's what lets the heavenly realm break through here on earth. It struck me this year that Mary was the first spirit filled human of the NT (Luke 1:39).
Prayer. God so definitely hears our prayers--my very blase visit to the GI doctor (because I've been healed through prayer, there's nothing left to treat) and Hope are proof of that. We got some awesome and encouraging prayer. How often we don't get because we don't ask!
Community. We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, both here and at church. We've been blessed with wonderful friends--what can I say but thanks??
For more thankfulness, visit Iris!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Top ten things I want my kids to KNOW in the core of their being
1. God loves them
2. We love them
3. There is nothing they can do to revoke that love
4. God loves other people too, and they should treat them that way
5. God has a purpose and a plan for their life
6. God has given them gifts and talents
7. It's their responsiblity to develop and use them
8. God made the world and everything in it, and he wants us to care for it
9. Life is sometimes hard, but God is always good
10. God is active and works in their life
2. We love them
3. There is nothing they can do to revoke that love
4. God loves other people too, and they should treat them that way
5. God has a purpose and a plan for their life
6. God has given them gifts and talents
7. It's their responsiblity to develop and use them
8. God made the world and everything in it, and he wants us to care for it
9. Life is sometimes hard, but God is always good
10. God is active and works in their life
Sunday, January 4, 2009
I wish I had thought of this...
We're studying Ephesians in our small group, and are at the armor of God. Henry was into knights for a while, and we talked about the armor a lot.
You don't put on armor to run away...you put it on to stand and fight.
I like to run...both literally and figuratively. I hope to do lots of the first and none of the second in 2009.
Thanks for giving us the armor...help me stand and fight when necessary.
You don't put on armor to run away...you put it on to stand and fight.
I like to run...both literally and figuratively. I hope to do lots of the first and none of the second in 2009.
Thanks for giving us the armor...help me stand and fight when necessary.
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