Errand Girl

Yesterday morning, the Husband informed me that he had neglected to pay his union dues (which were due that day), and he would need me to go to Springfield to pay them for him.

Confession:  I don't drive on the interstate.  Ever. 

I know, I am over thirty years old and need to get over such a silly and infantile fear. 

Maybe I will make that my New Year's Resolution in 2045.

So, I called my mother and asked her to drive me to Springfield.

Yes, I did.

I am a little ashamed.  Wait...ok, I am over it.

So, since we were already there and all, I went to the happiest place on earth to use my gift cards:

(source)

Can I just interject here...I find a certain joy and satisfaction that when you begin to enter "Barnes & Noble" into the Yahoo search box, the bookseller comes up first, after only entering "b-a-r."  Barack Obama is a distant third. 

*chuckle*

I have had my eye on a certain cookbook for quite some time.  It was a bit expensive, so I never purchased it for myself.

Enter gift card.

It is amazing.  I can't wait to post some photos of the yummy things I am going to make from the recipes in this cookbook!

This fits in perfectly with a certain New Year's Resolution that I have made for 2011. 

I will share those soon! 



"Growing" Good Character

There was at one time a belief that we all have cancer cells in our bodies.  Blink and you may have missed this news, because it was quickly defamed and called "alarmist."  Turns out the science was inflated.  (Or as I like to call it, Darwin-ized).  So, this physical truth is an untruth.  But, I wonder if it may be a spiritual truth?

I am currently plowing through  (i.e., reading rapidly between chapters of another book) Have a New Kid By Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman. 

 I don't want new kids per se, but I do like to hone the old parenting skills.  Plus, the cover was all in primary colors, which we all know is attractive (McD's).  I digress...

What if we all have "bad character cells?"  What if my sweet babies were born with the potential to be rotten, disrespectful, mean-hearted punks and my job is to help those "cells" die...at the cross of Jesus?  I wonder if I am creating an environment that encourages the growth of bad character or good?

The exasperated sigh when they need something while I am ON THE INTERNET?????  The refusal to be inconvenienced by what is BEST for THEM?  Eye rolling, venting at the driver in front of me, grumbling when life doesn't go my way?  They see it all.  And all of those things are like McDonald's for the soul.  And I fed it to them.

I don't do everything right as a parent...I don't do everything wrong, either.  But, if I don't like what I see in them, maybe I better take a good look at myself. 

1 Corinthians 15:33 reminds me,
"Do not be misled:  Bad company corrupts good character." 

The company they keep most is ME. 

I don't want to corrupt--I want to instruct.

I don't want to mislead--I want to guide wisely.

Good thing I have an ever-present encouragement, guide, and admonition in the Word of God. 

Thanks, Dr. Leman, for reminding me that parenting is heavy stuff, God-sized work. 
And I need to get in.

Busy Hands

I have been working on my bread making skills for a couple of years.  I just love making bread.  I like the kneading, the thinking that naturally happens when your hands are busy with a redundant task and the mind is free to wander.  I like the skill that comes with knowing, by sight and touch, that the bread is done being kneaded.  I used to just set the timer and knead it for however long the recipe recommended.  Now, I just know.  I like that.  My latest attempts have been with High Protein Whole Wheat Bread from the More with Less cookbook.  Oh, my.  If you are on a low-carb diet, please look away.  This will be obscene for you.

Yeah, I made those. 

I can't put the recipe on here, because I didn't make it up.  But, the cookbook is so worth the money! 

This bread is not too dense, slices beautifully and is super nutritious.  It is not, however, vegan, if that is a concern.  It is a concern for me, when visions of this book come a-haunting.

But, who could resist?

"Bring me the jam, stat."

(What does "stat" mean?)

The way my mind is wandering, you would think I was kneading something.

I Don't Iron

Well, I didn't iron.  For all of our married life, the husband has been a plumber.  His job requires that he wear jeans with glue stuck all over them, t-shirts with no sleeves, flannel (when necessary), and steel-toed boots.  And a belt...because, you know.   With his recent big news came a new work wardrobe.  He is still in the same field, just in a different capacity.  This is true for me also, as I am now in charge of ironing his collared shirts and nice pants.  I don't know how to iron.  At all.  But, Cheryl Mendelson does, and I am reading up on the "Ironing" section of her book today.  Ms. Mendelson is just as domestic as Martha Stewart, but less smug.  (Sorry, Martha.)  I have enjoyed her book immensely, as I love books that treat homemaking with the importance and fascination it deserves. 
Check it out! 

Join me tomorrow for a vacation recap...

Stuff I Like

I love it when I get a photo that displays a myriad of things I love...and I love to use a sentence that enables me to say "myriad."  In this picture, I love:

1.  The Roo, my nephew
2.  The Kitty Friend
3.  Popcorn (in the red bowl)
4.  My ugly pink chair (it is just the right height for me)
5.  Fleece blankets
6.  Books...of course

Books, Books, Books

On Sunday I helped my sister get ready for a yard sale, which is a fund raising event for the amazing organization she and her husband started.  In return for my labors (which were plentiful, I assure you), I got a preview of the cases of books she had donated for the yard sale.  And I did buy.  I brought home a tub of books for Curlyjo and Tiny Love.  Someone might be as big a junkie as her mother.

She can't be bothered to put them away!  She sat there for two hours and devoured one after another. 

The trail leading to the junkie: 

Oh, she does make her mommy proud. 

Later I headed to a friend's house for Book Club meeting. 

They were a little shy and used our first book to hide from me.  Jane Austen would be proud of their modesty. 

Our hostess was so sweet to feed my love of books of another kind.

I see lists in its future. 

Now I must go.  I have books to read today:  first Jesus, then Henry David Thoreau.  Hmmm.  That would be an interesting dinner party...