Winterjam 2008

Riley and Cole experienced their first concert last night. They were VERY excited.

They both wore earplugs because they aren’t big fans of loud noises, which is a little confusing because they are big fans of making loud noises. And I would bet my ringing ears that they have reached decibels close to that of a rock concert with their average day-to-day screams. But apparently they prefer to rock at controlled volumes.

We all had so much fun. It was one of those concerts that you are exhausted after. Riley brought her little pink camera and took so many pictures of the performers you would have thought she was their mother. She took a lot of professional quality video with it, too. She may be planning on bootlegging that for a little extra money, I don’t know. That's kinda the way she rolls. Maybe to buy some more fashionable and less fluorescent earplugs.

Bacon-wrapped smokies

I got this simple recipe from my friend Keri. Or Amy. Maybe it was both. I now take it to practically every party I am ever invited to. People who have eaten these before will begin to weep with joy when they see you come in the door with them.

They are worthy.

1 package cocktail wieners
1 lb hickory smoked bacon
1 cup packed brown sugar

Wrap individual wieners in about 1/3 of a piece of bacon. Secure each with toothpick and place in a 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle brown sugar over the top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for one hour.

If you don’t like these… seriously, something is wrong. Really wrong.

Seriously.

Happy birthday, Riley!

Today is Riley’s 7th birthday. I can’t even believe I just typed that. It just seems like yesterday that we brought her home in the middle of a snowstorm, draped in all things pink. This child brings me so much joy and happiness. The last 7 years have been filled with fun and blessings that I couldn‘t have dreamed up if I tried. I love that God gave me this girly girl that loves pedicures and shopping and anything that is pretty. I love that she was swooning over how beautiful the bathroom tile choices were at the tile shop yesterday. I love her precious smile and her tender heart. I love that she wakes up early just to kiss her Daddy goodbye and then crawls into bed with me and goes back to sleep. And I am so looking forward to our future adventures together. And even though right now she looks older than I want to admit, and she is sassin’ around the house singing along to her MP3 player, I still look at her and see my baby girl.

And speaking of girly girl, we must share a few pictures from her party. We tried to make it kind of like the American Girl Café. For the small price of only a few sleepless nights, I even figured out how to make seats for the dolls. Planning this party was as much fun as the party itself.





Her friends all brought their favorite doll.

Riley and I had such a great time making the food that was all small and fun.




This is the best part of the party. And I had nothing to do with it. Garrett and Tyler asked if they could be waiters and serve the girls. They wanted me to rent them tuxes, but I got them to agree to tux t-shirts instead. They were awesome waiters and the girls loved it. So any of you who look at Riley and think, “Oh, poor thing, in a house full of boys…” Yeah, right. She couldn’t be luckier.



Happy birthday, sweet girl! I love you!

Adored

A couple of nights ago my friend was talking about her two year old daughter whom I adore. She was telling about how she had been trying to aggravate her big brothers by calling them “stupid” (well, ok, actually “tupid“). I immediately refused to believe that this was going on. If you knew this little girl, you would understand where I am coming from. She is a bundle of preciousness. I could eat her up with a spoon. The conversation went back and forth with me telling my friend that she was lying, there was no way this adorable child had done wrong. Her brother even confirmed the accusation with this little cutie standing obliviously right behind him with a sweet grin on her face and her blonde hair sprouting up from her pink bow. I accused them of being in cahoots and spreading rumors. Obviously it was all in jest, but the point was made that, as far as I was concerned, this child was blameless and perfect and no one was going to change my mind on that.

I think that is how God feels about us. As far as He is concerned, after forgiveness our sins are as far as the east is from the west. We are forgiven. When we are continuing to feel guilt for our sins, and feel like we aren’t worthy of His love, I think he is standing there with the same attitude I had about my friend's daughter. He is shaking his head at our insecurities, saying “No, that isn’t true, you are blameless, I adore you.” I think He sees us as precious-eat-us-up-with-a-spoon-perfect. And all of the self-condemnation and guilt in the world can’t change His mind because our hefty price has already been paid. That’s the gift that His forgiveness and grace gives us, right? I love that.

So.

Go ye therefore and feel precious and adored. Because you are. And you don’t want to waste that.

Just so you know...

If you don't have the song Rawkfist by Thousand Foot Krutch on your workout playlist, you are so cheating yourself. David, Garrett and Tyler have me hooked.

Although I must have a family member waiting with oxygen for me when I walk to the top of the stairs in our home, I am quite certain that I could run a full marathon with no training if that song was in a nonstop loop through my earphones. I’m not going to, but I’m just sayin’.

On an interesting sidenote, when I was searching "marathon" for a lovely picture to complement this life-changing post I kept coming across pictures like this:

and this

And I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if these scenes come before or after that feeling of euphoria that you runners so lovingly refer to. Anyone?

Escape

Panic ensued a few nights ago when someone realized that our cat, Cutie, wasn’t in her room. Everyone knew she had been left in the mudroom, WHERE COULD SHE BE? You have to realize that my children treat this cat like she is an infant. They cuddle her, talk baby talk to her, dress her in doll clothes, knock each other down to get to her first. I swear her feet never touch the ground because she is always in someone’s arms. Oh, she is a princess. She seems to eat it up most of the time. But even a princess can be over-coddled. And now she was missing. These kids were like a crazed mother who had misplaced her child at a kidnapper convention.

And then we saw her.

We aren’t sure how she got up that high. But God bless her, she found a place of refuge. A place where no one could get to her. A peaceful spot of her own. I swear she was smiling. I’ve got to admit, I was relieved for her. And possibly a little jealous.

Congratulations Cutie, we’re playin’ on your terms now.

But don’t think you can keep them from stalking you.

Chocolate Velvet Rock Star

A few girlfriends from college and I get together occasionally and celebrate stuff. We can always come up with something. And one of us always brings a spectacular dessert. David claims we treat our desserts like rock stars. Ok, I’ll admit we plan our night around them, squeal over them, photograph them and worship them for a short time, but I don’t think it’s too over the top. Anyway, it’s time for me to share one of our rock stars with you.

Chocolate Velvet Dessert

1-1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
6 egg yolks
1-3/4 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1/2 cup butter softened
3 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
3 to 4 tablespoons milk

In small bowl, combine wafer crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9 in. springform pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Cool. In a mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, cream and vanilla; beat well. Gradually stir a third of the cream mixture into melted chocolate until blended. Gradually stir in remaining cream mixture. Pour into crust.
Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until center s almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight.
For frosting, in a mixing bowl, cream butter. Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa; add to butter with enough milk to achieve frosting consistency. Pipe into center of dessert. Refrigerate. Makes 12-16 servings. Taken from Taste of Home

Feeling God

I just started a Bible study this week that I was supposed to start last week (ahem…hi Cari and Amy). The idea of the study is to read until God speaks to you, then stop and spend time figuring out what it means to you. So the first day I started in James. You know, James 1:1. And I got to James 1:2.

JAMES 1:2.

I know.

4 seconds in and I am coming to a screeching halt. And here is why.

James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Those of you who have been around me much in the past few weeks know I have been a bit…um…whiny. I’ve had a few trials. Nothing big, and trust me, I am thankful that it is all small stuff, but it has been annoying none the less. Just stuff like the evil virus that went through our family, shower leaks and flooded closets, a stolen vehicle, and being behind in never-ending housework, to name a few. And after a particularly crappy challenging morning with my kids, this verse was so in my face that it was almost humorous. So as I began to do the journaling part of the exercise, I started to see and feel more and more truth. By the end, God had literally talked me into being joyful over my trials. Into desiring perseverance. Into loving how my trials make me lean on Him. And I honestly know in my heart that no matter what happens, it is all good. Then the planets all aligned and there was crazy, unprecedented silence in my house as my kids somehow became absorbed in their own little projects, and I laid down on the couch under my favorite blanket and I actually felt like I was laying in the comforting arms of Jesus. You know that feeling? Oh, that feeling rocks. It ROCKS.

And now I think I am good to go.

Even though one of my "well" kids just walked in with a 103 fever. You gotta admit, there is some humor in there somewhere. Still good to go.