Easter

Meredith Mozart

Makes me smile.

Gwen's New Things

Gwen has been changing so much recently that I thought I'd let you see what she's up to these days. I basically follow her around a lot these days because she doesn't stay in one place for very long.

I like this photo of her. You can see her dimples a little bit in this one. I'm not sure if they will stick around or not. She loves playing with any paper she can get her hands on.

This is Gwen crawling up the stairs. Note how fast she crawls.



These are just some cute ones of Gwen's personality. She's like this a great portion of the time. Smiling and happy.



Standing in the crib... wowser!

A Plain Life

I am currently reading a book called "A Plain Life" by Scott Savage. It is about how he and his family changed over from really non-believers to Plain Quakers. It is very interesting to me. The story plays out as Savage goes on a pilgrimage of sorts as he walks to the state capital to turn in his drivers license. His license is about to expire, but he feels like God wants him to make this journey. It is the last thing that ties him to the "modern" world as we know it. Although it is not required of Conservative Quakers, he and his wife chose to have horse and buggy travel instead of having a car. It's hard to give all the details here, but it is an interesting read if you can find it in your library.

I've been thinking about it today and I was thinking to most people going to turn in your license when it's about to expire anyway sounds crazy.... plus walking there. Then I thought of Ben and how he had this huge road trip one time to ask God where he should live. I'm not talking about an hours drive down the road. I'm talking about all over the entire United States he drove. Finally, he just came back to Miami and feeling low. He decided to move to Nashville and then he packed all his things and said goodbye and his car battery split into two pieces when he tried to start the car... so... he stayed in Miami. I'm glad he did. :) It's funny how so many people I know or read about wander... either literally, or in their hearts.

So... I decided to test it out today. I packed Gwen up in her stroller and we took a walk a mile or two down the road to pick up a few things at the store. It was such a beautiful day today, but the cars were drowning out the sound of the little creek and the birds. Gwen and I walked past a bush with blooms on it that smelled like lemon chiffon pie. I broke off a little piece and carried it with me. The sidewalk was closed off by some workmen, but one of them spoke to me and cooed at Gwen and helped us pass. It was nice to have a smile and short conversation with him. He told us that they are having to move all the gas lines because more lanes are being added to the street. I wonder, is all this progress good? We go to the store, talk with the cashier a bit and then make our way home. We see a couple holding hands and smiling. They look in my eyes and we say hello to each other. Gwen waves at the cars and the people in the cars wave back. We get back to dine on pears (her favorite) that we got from the store.

Do I think I want to go carless? Probably not. I mean, there are wonderful things that I'd like to take Gwen to during the day at the library and church that I just couldn't do if I didn't have a car. However, sometimes it's nice just to go on foot. I think I'll try doing that more. It's nice to hear the creeks and the birds and smell the lemon bush sometimes ya know? I don't want to live in the country I don't think... but I want to raise Gwen to appreciate simple things even in the city.

Moroccan-Style Chicken Stew

If you are like me and like a good stew and try to be different every once in a while, this is for you. I made this last night and it's good.

1 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 T all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs (or breasts like I used)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes in puree (I used two regular sized diced tomatoes)
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 C dark seedless raisins
1/4 C salad olives (chopped pimiento-stuff olives) I omitted this ingredient as I do not like olives... but if you do, go for it.
1 C water
1/2 C loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves (I just sprinkled a little dried cilantro on top)

1. In nonstick 5 to 6 quart Dutch oven, (or a big ol' pot like I used), heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion and cook 5 min or until light golden brown.

2. Meanwhile, in pie plate, mix flour with coriander, cumin, salt, ground red pepper, and cinnamon. Toss chicken with flour mixture to coat evenly.

3. Add chicken to Dutch oven and cook 7 min or until lightly browned, turning chicken over througout cooking time. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.

4. Stir in tomatoes with their puree, beans, raisins, olives, and water; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. (that is, if you chose to use whole tomatoes instead of diced) Garnish with cilantro.

Each serving has about 300 calories. :) "Stew" on that why don't ya?

Funny

Daffodil

Weekend Fun

Today we went out to Ben's Grandma and Grandpa's house. We always have a nice time visiting out there. We set Gwen down in the floor and then when we wondered where she had gone to we discovered her in the side table. What a curious little thing she is right now.



Also today we walked around our neighborhood and looked at some garage sales going on. We bought a box full of wooden blocks for Gwen and a stackable plastic ring toy. In the box of blocks there were a few magnets. This is one of them. Have you ever seen a snail playing the cymbals? Well, you have now. HA!

God Speaks

To be honest, I have felt in a rut spiritually lately. I believe it is because I've been listening to myself more than the Lord. It's amazing to me how even when I'm not listening God breaks through and speaks. Last night I went to a choir rehearsal and not even at my own church. I'm filling in for a soprano in a friend's church that had her appendix out recently. I'm going to sing in their Good Friday service this upcoming week. Here's the lyrics to the song that spoke to me: (this is Mary the mother of Jesus singing)

My heart breaks at the sight of You,
yet can't allow that everything I thought I knew was wrong somehow.
Did not God provide Your way? Does His hand not guide this day?
Could promises God gave to me have led to this?
Is no one here to help men see that they're amiss?
What they say of You are lies. Can't they see You through my eyes?
I see You by the dawn's first rays. I hear You laugh, a child at play.
My heart is with You everyday, my life, my love, my Son.

I hold Your hand and cool Your brow.
I long to hold You even now
to soothe away Your pain somehow,
my life, my love, my Son.
I clench my fists and yell out loud that no wrong can be found in Thee.
but they've no sense, maddening crowd.
They see what they are bound to see.
I see You by the dawn's first rays.
I hear You laugh, a child at play.
My heart is with You everyday, my life, my love, my Son.
I hold Your hand and cool Your brow.
I long to hold You even now,
to make this nightmare end somehow,
to scream at what these men allow,.
You're right, they can't know what they've done.
They've slain my love, my Son, my Son.

Kansas City Chorale Babies

Today Gwen had an appointment with the pediatrician (a well visit) and she weighed in at 19 lb 11 oz and her height is 28 1/2 inches... and that's no April Fool's joke. She's growing fast. I can barely keep up with her these days. It's really comical. She is an expert crawler now... and fast. She can get over to lamp cords likety split! She also is very helpful with picking up all sorts of crumbs or any sort of thing that maybe the vacuum didn't pick up. Seriously, she is adorable and makes me laugh every day. If all babies are like her I could have a house full.

After her appointment we went to a friends house for a little play date. In the choir I sing in (Kansas City Chorale) there are two other babies right around the same age, and so how perfect for us to get together for our kids to play. Clara was the first baby on the scene.. she's almost a year... then Gwen came two months after Clara.. Gwen's 9 1/2 months, and then Caleb, he's 7 months old. I attempted to get a group shot today.

Clara, Gwen and Caleb

Attempting again to get a group shot. Not sure why my picture turned sideways.


Little Clara
Little Caleb

Spring Has Sprung???

Kansas has really strange weather. One minute you'll be in your bathing suit sunning and the next you'll run inside for a snow suit. No lie! It's almost April and it's snowing. Here's some pictures from today.

Gwen and daddy.

Here are my tulips already up a little bit and our tree with ice on it. Strange!


Blooms on the tree... Ice on the ground. Strange!

Moms

Any of you moms ever feel like this orange? I think that is so cute!

Funnys

For those of you who keep up with this blog, you know how I love redneck stuff.



This next one is dedicated to all my friends in Miami.

Nusery Rhymes

I am finding children's stuff really funny. This illustration came from a book of nursery rhymes.... and they say violence comes from TV! Also, tonight I turned on Barney and Friends that I had taped for Gwen. We've never seen it before and it's pretty cheesy with all of the songs and stuff. Ben said that it was like a claw that slowly digs into your skin. I thought that was a funny description.

Eggs

Gwen's Wave and Hands

Gwen can wave now and you see a little of it in this video. She saw the shiny camera and got excited near the end. When she gets excited she does that hand motion. So cute!

Two Children's Poems

OK, so if you haven't noticed, I've been reading a bit of poetry lately. Maybe it's a phase, I don't know. I'm reading a book called "What Your Preschooler Needs To Know" and it has some great suggestions of rhymes and songs and stuff to teach your kids... um, besides the lesson of how she is loved by God and mama and daddy! Here's two of my favs.

Betty Botter

Betty Botter bought some butter,
But, she said, this butter's bitter.
If I put it in my batter,
It will make my batter bitter,
But a bit of better butter
Will make my batter better.
So she bought a bit of butter
Better than her bitter butter,
And she put it in her batter,
And it made her batter better.
So 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.

Jilliky Jolliky

Jilliky Jolliky Jelliky Jee,
three little cooks in a coconut tree,
one cooked a peanut and one cooked a pea,
one brewed a thimble of cinnamon tea,
then they sat down to a dinner for three,
Jilliky Jolliky Jelliky Jee.

Meal Plan

We've had a few weeks of visitors in the home, so that always means taking meals a few days at a time. We generally eat out more when people come to visit...so now it's back to home cookin'.

split pea soup with turkey bacon, garlic bread
tilapia, sweet pot/ regular pot, steamed broccoli
macaroni and cheese, BBQ shrimp, salad (not a huge fan of mac n cheese because it's not healthy at all... but my mom bought the stuff for it, so I'll make it this once for Ben and send some Preston's way)
black beans, rice, chicken
chili with black beans
chicken corn soup with dumplins (I'm trying my hand at making up my own recipe. We'll see)

Have I mentioned how much I love soups and stews lately? Oh.. nobody cares you say? Well!

The Peace Of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

On Closer Inspection

I am busy baby proofing the house and it is a job I think for the FBI. I mean, Gwen can get down and crawl around and pinpoint a spec of dirt the size of an atom. Today I vacuumed the den and found a fish oil tablet, needles from our Christmas tree, all sorts of crumbs... ect. I couldn't believe it! I've never really looked at my floors in this way. I get down on my belly like I'm going to go under some barbed wire and just look. It's exhilarating. :)