Faith never knows where it is being led,
But it knows and loves the One who is leading.

Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup raw honey

Mix well and roll into 1 inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined pan and refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Store covered for up to one month- if there are any left!

Last night Mark and I were on our way to Toys R Us to do some birthday shopping for Samuel. I asked Mark, “Do you remember the Green Machine?” Oh yeah, the souped-up big wheel of the 80s. We had hours of fun with that one…

Well imagine my surprise when we saw that Huffy still makes this sweet ride! The fun levers to pull that turn the back wheels, the low-rider seat, the big front wheel (which is now a rubber tire instead of a plastic wheel, awesome). You can get some serious spin-outs on this thing. It’s a little too big for Sam yet, but maybe in the future he can be a green machiner.

Just check out this link and watch these kids in action!

Mark: “My wife! She doesn’t eat the end of French fries, and she doesn’t eat the edges of her pop tarts!”

Sam: “HA HA!!!”

Renee: (Just smiles).

We’re still making slow progress with Noah, and some days are still very hard. Satan, that liar and deceiver, has been trying to attack our hearts in three areas: one, that we’re isolated (e.g., we’re in this alone, no one really cares, no one understands, people are getting sick of helping you because this has gone on for so long); two, we should stop praying (e.g., why bother to pray, it’s obvious it isn’t helping, Noah’s still not eating, and you’re really not at the top of God’s to do list anyway); and third, that God’s character is on trial (e.g., can God really be good? if He was you’d be out of this situation by now, He’s not good and He must not love you or care about you very much).

As our friends prayed, the amazing thing to witness was that the Holy Spirit laid on their hearts to specifically pray against these lies. The very fact that there were 20+ people praying in our home showed us that we’re not alone and there are kind and faithful friends committed to seeking God on our behalf, willing to be a phone call away to stop and pray with us if needed. And of course satan doesn’t want us to pray—he knows the power of prayer and is happy to make us believe we’re defeated instead of us knowing we have victory in Jesus. So we continue to ask, seek and knock, and cry out to Him, for where we are weak He is strong! They also prayed that we would “taste and see that the Lord is good,” that He is working on our behalf, cares for us, and is meeting our needs… “I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Ps. 27:13-14).

In between friends praying, some would read a portion of Scripture or offer an encouraging word. We prayed that satan would not rob us of our joy, for the joy of the Lord is our strength! And we need His joy and strength to continue to run this race. It was really an incredible time—we felt so encouraged and refreshed afterwards, like we had wind in our sails again. We’ve even been able to proclaim “God is good!” in the midst of bad reflux episodes. There were a few people who showed up that we had never even met before! Yet here they were to pray for our family. It just goes to show you how deep that bond in the Lord is between brothers and sisters in Christ. So now we have new friends, too! We are humbled, we are blessed, and we have seen His love poured out through His saints this past weekend. Many heartfelt and sincere thanks to those of you who came and blessed us as you did. We will remember this always.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Man struck by lightning, says ‘it hurt’
(Duh, ya think)!?

Toilet-trained chimp on the loose in California
(and all the Moms are wanting to invite him over so he can show their toddlers how it’s done)!

Starbucks to close 600 stores
(and Renee does the dance for joy, down with the evil empire! Mwuhahahaha)!

Somehow in all this I’ve managed to sew here and there and finish two projects! The dress I made cost less than five dollars for materials, because the fabric I used was a twin cotton sheet I found at a thrift store and cut up. I used a wonderfully soft lining for the bodice and it’s very comfortable. I like the boat neckline and length a lot, but next time I think I’ll skip the front tie. I don’t know, I can’t decide if I like it or not.

The second project was a skirt with eight godets. I’m thinking if I ever get out for swing dancing again, this is the skirt to wear! Check out my twirling action, hehe. Challis is my new favorite material… super soft, drapes well and is lightweight. Perfect for the summer. I like the mostly pink but kinda coral color this print has. I can’t wait to pair it with some cute shirts and hit the town! (In between feedings and potty runs, that is).

What a total lack of respect! We are to honor our fathers. Not just on Father’s Day, but every day. None of those cards came close to telling any father how we love them, respect them as men and the head of our home, or appreciate the sacrificial love they show our families. Granted, there are most likely some oafs out there. But when 98% of the cards at the store have a message like that!?

And when I searched for a card that Sam could get for Mark, many were “from your bratty kid who never obeys and is a general pain in the you-know-what.” I think it reflects our society and the break down of the family, really. Fathers never get it right, and children are not a blessing but a constant source of frustration. It’s like Hallmark hired a bunch of angry women and this is the best they could come up with.

I finally found a card for Mark that wasn’t in the Father’s Day section at all. It read, “You make me smile… every single day.” And it’s true. I am so grateful for and proud of Mark, the father of my precious children. And I am so thankful for and proud of my Dad, who has lead our family well and always treated my brother and I as blessings.

So come on, Hallmark. Get with the program.

I was handing out the plates, filling drinks and just about to sit down to dinner when I realized I forgot to grab Samuel’s bib. I’m trying and trying to get it on and snap it together, but it just won’t fit! And I pause in frustration when I realize why I’m having issues. Here I am, struggling to put Sammy’s bib on my husband’s neck! And the sweet guy is so nice and patient, just waiting for me to clue in to what I’m doing. So we both about die laughing.

In other news, Samuel and I have had a wonderful time playing together in the last week. We had a few days of rain (shocking for these parts), and we made the best of being stuck inside. We sat by the patio doors under his blanket and told stories about bears with a flashlight. What fun! He loved the thunder and would call loud bursts “Daddy!” thunder and softer ones “Baby” thunder. And consistently cried out for more, he wasn’t scared at all. So we had good talks about God and how He brings us rain for our flowers and makes everything beautiful. The next several days we’ve had a ball crawling all over the house like bears, roaring and following each other around.

Did you know I’ve also had many encounters with Superman lately? Oh yeah. If Sam had it his way, he’s wear his Superman PJs all day every day. I think the cape helps him do super speedy chores. He helps me with the dishes and sweeping and washing clothes. (I have to be careful with that one though, because he’ll run a load that’s already been washed just to play with the buttons)! He looks so cute running around the house in his cape. I’m thinking of getting one myself!

Are there situations in your life that seems irreconcilable? Is there a circumstance that continually chafes? Is the Lord taking you through a trial that appears to have no end? Does it sometimes feel easier just to despair than to trust?

I was thinking and praying through my own responses to these questions today. As I pleaded with the Lord to change circumstance, people, relationships, I sensed my hardening of heart as I could not see, through Ruth-colored lenses, any resolution or reprieve within reach. The sclerosis gave way to humility as the Lord reminded me that He never promised to spare us from the valley of the shadow of death, but rather that we may walk through it with Him.

Details do not matter here…the Apostle Paul never told us what his thorn was, instead he simply encouraged:

So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messeger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,

persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV)

Therein lies the resolution, the reprieve, the response: That I may rejoice all the more in hurt and trials, that my God might be made more beautiful in my life and undeniably sufficient in the face of the seemingly insurmountable.

I’m a combination of a Tiny-toter and the girl who could have the same purse for 10 years. Now that I’m a mom, I just throw my wallet into the diaper bag b/c I can’t stand to carry that much junk! But here’s what I typically carry when I use my purse: my wallet, keys, cell phone, a lipstick, and a pen. I can’t relate at all to those women who carry 67 things in their purse! Crazy.

However, don’t get me talking about shoes. When I was single I probably did have 67 pairs of those!

“And the night shall be filled with music, And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs, And as silently steal away.”

–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

After he went to bed, we made a ton of chocolate chip and toffee cookies, which we downed with a cold glass of milk… all while cuddling on the couch as we watched Amazing Grace blown up on our wall with the projector. It was a truly wonderful movie and a fun night altogether. One of our favorite quotes from the movie– John Newton: “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly. I’m a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” Amen!

Today we’re enjoying the last day of Mark’s vacation before it’s back to the grind. We hung out with some friends at Jen and Dan’s annual New Year’s Day gathering and that was really fun. I put an elk meatloaf together for dinner and now it’s time to bake some golden wheat bread. We’re rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness to us for 2007 and are excited to see what 2008 will bring. Happy New Year, everyone!

Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you
away in the sink.
If only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You’re giving me fits.
I’d rather take baths
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework
my teacher assigns.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You’re last on my list.
I simply can’t see
why you even exist.
If you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!

(Written by: Jack Prelutsky)

I am now going to return to my wife and mother duties and rejoice in the fact that I’m done with school, hooray! Haha.

I tell him his hot cocoa tastes the best because he makes it with love. Well somehow lately the word “love” is synonymous with real whipping cream and sprinkles. Mark will ask if I want a cup of cocoa and I’ll say, “Yes please, and put a lot of love in it!” Well tonight he’s delivered, folks. Things got a mite crazy in the kitchen. As you can see from this picture, my cup overflows. I love you, honey! You bless me.

I also made a half apron, scalloped on the bottom edge, with a hand towel on one side (which I fastened with velcro). The apron was ivory with black ticking stripes and little red apples on it. With that pattern I learned how to make my own bias tape, which was much easier than I thought. It’s been really fun to try all these neat patterns and experiment with crazy fabric I’d probably never use on a skirt or dress. I would have posted a picture of this one too, but gave it away to a friend already.

For my next project, I think I’ll make a mother-daughter pattern of some sort. We’ll see. Lots of little girl dresses are calling my name too! The winter months bring more hot meals to my table, and with these aprons finished I’m ready to get cookin’!

Being that I’m working on two more vintage-style aprons, it just made me smile. I wear my aprons all the time. I have one for bread making day, which is thick and sturdy since I get super messy, and the others are just the thin cotton type. They sure keep my clothes from getting oil and butter stains on them (I was having some major splatter issues for a while there), and Mark tells me I look super cute wearing them over my dresses. (She shoots, she scores)! Here’s the quote:

“As the search for domestic bliss continues, a search that includes cleaning and decluttering, cooking tasty nutritious meals, educating children, and the care and feeding of husbands, women will celebrate the difference they make in the lives of their families. They know an apron is like a uniform that conveys authority, unconditional regard, and motherly wisdom all at once. Apron Moms know aprons are about cooking and cleaning but they are also about emotional availability, hospitality, and femininity.”

What can I say, I just love to serve with my apron on.

Today we had our third ultrasound (at 23 weeks) for baby #2. The lady who did it was sooo nice. She gave us eighteen pictures of our little sweetheart, instead of the usual four, and four movies too! The baby weighs 1 lb. 5 oz., is about a foot long, and is measuring right on track at 23 weeks (except for its belly, which is measuring 25 weeks). We are pretty sure this is because baby #2 takes after it’s grand-dads! Haha. Everything looks really great and healthy, praise the Lord. We definitely have another wiggle worm on our hands though… the baby was moving so much we had a bit of a hard time seeing its face, and it got the hiccups the same time that Samuel did! (Sammy and Daddy got to see the baby on the big screen too)! That was pretty entertaining to hear and feel.

When we got home, we compared Samuel’s 21-week sonogram with Baby #2’s 23 week sonogram. We are completely amazed at how much they look alike! See for yourself. Here’s Samuel:

Here’s Baby #2:

Another one of Baby #2, and his/her foot:

(Just so you know, the black spots you see in the pics are not holes/dents in the baby, but shadows from the baby’s arm on its face). We are so thankful to Jesus for a great appointment and a healthy baby. We can hardly wait to hold our little angel in our arms! And Sammy’s been kissing the baby in Mommy’s belly a whole lot lately, so he’s pretty excited too!

My mom tells the story of a man coming up to me at a picnic one day, and he says, “How old are you, 5?” Deeply offended, I respond “I’m in third grade, and I can READ!”

On the day of my senior prom I went with my mom to get my nails done. The manicurist says, “This sure is a special treat for such a young girl, not many 12 year olds get taken to have a manicure!” I was mortified. Here I am, hoping to look super hot on prom night, and she thinks I’m 12… Great.

It’s the summer of my junior year in college and I’m home on break. I go to the grocery store with my mom and wait next to her as she checks out. The manager rings us up and says to me, “It sure is nice that you’re helping your mom do the grocery shopping.” Yes, I say. “Maybe some day when you have your drivers license, you can do the shopping for her!” My mom about falls over laughing and asks him how old he thinks I am. “Oh, she can’t be more than 13!” I am in shock. My mom tells him, “She’s 22 and will graduate college next year!” His eyes bugged out of his head but I could tell he felt really bad. Geesh, get me outta this store already!

I’m 26 and working as a designer at OneCreative. All alone at the office one day, the UPS man drops a package off. When I go to sign for it, he hesitates and asks, “Is there someone else here who can sign for this package?” No, I say. Why can’t I sign for it? “Oh, you have to be 18 years or older,” he responds. What? I start laughing. I tell him how old I am and he does not believe me. I show him my wedding ring, tell him I’m 26, pay a mortgage, etc. He still does not believe me and won’t let me sign for the package. It’s not until I’m about to whip out my driver’s license that he concedes, although still skeptic… like his job is on the line if he gets caught letting a kid sign their name on this box. I can’t believe this! My bosses and I have a good laugh over it when they get back to the office.

It’s the weekend of our 5 year wedding anniversary, and Mark and I are vacationing in Scottsdale, AZ. We can’t find our way out of the hotel lobby and to the pools outside, so a concierge comes to help us out. He told us all about the 9 different pools and where they were located. He then described the “Mother of Pearl” pool with it’s fancy shell walls. But as he was talking about this particular pool, he got a funny look on his face, slowed his speech and said, “Well, the Mother of Pearl pool is really a pool for the adults, because they like to swim laps and be undisturbed, but any other pool you want to swim in is quite nice…. We’re thinking, are you kidding me!? Here I am, standing next to my hubby and looking pretty pregnant in my bathing suit, and he thinks we’re trouble-making teens! We decide to give him a break and laugh ourselves silly out at the pool.

That night, we’re dining out at Roy’s when the manager comes over to check on us. He asks if we’re celebrating anything special. “Why yes, it’s our 5 year wedding anniversary!” Mark says. The manager’s eyes bug out. “Five years! What, did you get married right out of high school!? You don’t look old enough to be married that long!” He about died with shock when we told him I was turning 30 this year.

The next morning Mark and I are filling out paperwork, about to have a fabulous massage. The girl sees I’m wanting a prenatal massage and asks if I’ve ever had one. “No” I say. “Oh, is this your first pregnancy?” she asks. I tell her, “Actually, it’s my third.” Shock ensues. She can’t believe it and thinks I look way to young to even be at child-bearing age.

So, I just laugh, and try to be thankful that I don’t look as old or older than I am! Because I know soon enough the gray hairs will come in and give it all away, and then people will be giving me the senior discount without even asking me how old I am. Hey, at least it makes for good stories!

We entered his room this morning singing the birthday song, when what did we find, but the most precious boy in perfect attire — his birthday suit! Yes, he had stripped off his PJs and his diaper during the night. (He was really ready to party down)! Since he loves balloons so much, we decided to have a balloon themed party today. Balloons floating in the kitchen, balloon plates and napkins, etc. He was squealing with delight and kept signing “more” every time he heard the birthday song.

Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Scott came over to celebrate with us. Mommy made chocolate zucchini cupcakes and Samuel had two star-shaped candles he tried to blow out. He is so precious (blowing more like he’s trying to warm his hands than get a good hard puff out for candles). He had such fun we did it twice!

Samuel had a blast playing with his new toys. We were quite impressed that in the last year he’s learned how to tear open the wrapping paper and get very excited at the party. He probably favors his lil “ready, set, go” cars and his sit and spin the most. How we wish they made those toys a lil bigger for the adults!

Samuel, you are Mommy and Daddy’s joy and delight. We are so blessed to call you our own. We love your silly faces, fun personality and tender heart. You already exhibit the joy of the Lord that we prayed for so earnestly. God is so good to us! We’re excited to see what this year will bring for you. We love you, our sweet and most precious son. Happy Birthday!

It also means that as it gets colder outside, we’ll eventually retire the bicycles for a season and find things to do inside. My favorites include sewing and reading of course! Right now I’m reading A Thousand Splendid Suns which is pretty good so far. And I’m onto my third vintage-style apron, too. I bought some really fun Michael Miller fabric called “Mrs. Perfect” that I think will be…. perfect! What a fun gift to give to friends who love to cook.

Another thing to love about fall? Long socks with crazy patterns. Target always has good ones.

I love the restfulness the fall and winter season brings. It gets dark by 5:30p.m. We tend to eat earlier and wind down for the evening. It’s so good to stop and rest. And after a long summer with many hours of yard work and feeling like you have to go, go, go until 9p.m., I’m ready for a bit of a break. The Lord is so good to give us seasons, and I’m rejoicing in all the fun fall things to look forward to!

Click for recipe here

As far as baby #2 is concerned, things are going well so far (thank you to my faithful praying friends)! I’m feeling better these days and even managed to eat a little bit of chicken. I haven’t gained as much weight as I did with Samuel, and I’m waiting for my belly to grow a tad more so that my maternity pants fit! I feel like I’ve been in this weird middle stage for so long and wearing the same 3 outfits for weeks. My 3-D ultrasound appointment is in 2 weeks and we can hardly wait to see the little angel’s face. My mom has a strong feeling it’s a girl, but only time will tell! In the mean time, we can’t decide on a boy’s name to save our life.

We had a lovely Labor Day. A leisurely bike ride with Scott in the morning, a lil work around the house and in the yard, and the Horlbecks over for dinner that night. Sure makes it hard to go back to work! We are thankful for our parents who worked so hard to provide for us growing up, for the opportunities we have in this great country, for our great jobs, for the work the Lord has given us and that we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. God is good!

Today was my 11 week OB appointment, of which I was also dreading. I felt fearful all day that we wouldn’t be able to find a heart beat, or something else would be wrong. Thankfully I had a bunch of sweet friends and family members praying for me… praying that I wouldn’t have a spirit of fear (which is not from God), but peace. Yet again, I need constant reminders of His Word and to moment by moment trust in Him. That probably won’t change with all the things there are to worry about when I’m a mother! My doctor’s appointment went well. We heard the heart beat and the baby is in the right place this time. We are so thankful and joyful and praising God for this good news!

“Stay at home my heart and rest, homekeeping hearts are happiest.” ~ Longfellow

I feel like this is ringing true in my heart more with each passing year. Keeping my house as a delightful and comfortable haven for my family and friends, where things are in order, towels and sheets are clean, a good meal is baking in the oven… is somehow more enjoyable with passing time. Not that it’s perfect. I don’t want a perfect place, but a place where we can relax because work has been done. It’s not always fun to clean and run the household. And things definitely slide when I have morning sickness all day long. But when I start my day with prayer, put on a praise CD and am diligent to work around the house there is a surge of joy in my heart. I can meditate on a scripture verse and teach Samuel how to help as he follows me around the house. The Lord strengthens me to do the unfun things and it ends up being a blessing to my family. How cool is that? (Strange how loafing around makes one feel gross and tired, but working energizes you)! I can’t wait until my second trimester begins and I start to feel better, because I have a lot I want to do! My heart is happiest at home.

Psalm 145 (New International Version) A psalm of praise. Of David.

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.

5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.

11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.

14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever!

Mark promised to get me a bike 3 years ago, but I put it on the back burner since 1) that first summer we were in an apartment with no storage space 2) the next summer I was pregnant and there was no way I was gonna balance on a bike with that belly! and 3) last summer Sam was too small to ride in a baby bike seat.

This summer was the perfect time to get a new bike. I did a lot of research and wanted something for the simple life–a lovely trek around the neighborhood, or a leisurely ride along the Rio Grande. Something with a big, comfy seat and three gears (1) weak, 2) tired, and 3) old).

They call these types of bikes “Cruisers,” and I dig em! The Red Betty is my personal favorite, with screaming style, hehe. But for several reasons I went with the Electra Townie 3. I get 70 miles to the gallon on this hog! I love zoomin’ around the corner and ringing my bell. It is such a fun bike! Go to their website if you want to read all the cool info about their bikes and see the sweet styles. I’m so thankful for this belated birthday gift. (Thanks, honey)!

Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup raisins (or craisins, or whatever dried fruit)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or applesauce as a healthier alternative)
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be to hard to cut.

(I also like to add a 1/4 cup of finely chopped almonds or sunflower seeds, too). I hope you try it out and enjoy it as much as we do!

I make them in my Bosch machine, which is one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. The giver wanted to invest in our family, and to this day we are so blessed by that thing. I’m not sure how you would make the buns without it, otherwise I’d put the recipe up. But anyway, I included a couple pics of the feast. Just remember, true perfection around these parts happens when you smother your burger in green chile peppers, ha! I’m addicted.

Soft Chocolate Chunk Cookies
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups bittersweet or dark chocolate chunks or chips
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 400˚F. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, baking soda and salt with mixer on medium 2 minutes until creamy. Beat in eggs until fluffy. On low speed, beat in flour until blended. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake 8 minutes or until golden. Cool 2 minutes; remove cookies to a rack to cool further. Store airtight up to one week. Makes 46 cookies.

***We’re nutty, but we don’t like nuts… so Mark substituted oats instead. He also used a little less sugar.

As a side note, my latest sewing project is a vintage-style apron. I chose a dark brown polka-dotted fabric and am accenting it with white bias tape. Should be fun to cook in! Here’s what it looks like so far:

Then I headed to the kitchen to make homemade bread. I ground a combination of red and golden wheat in my handy dandy Nutrimill and used Vermont maple syrup to sweeten it a tad. Boy, did the house smell good! I made four loaves, and then cut each one in half. Mark takes a half loaf to work each week, and Sammy and I split the other half. This way, I make bread about every 4-6 weeks, depending on how much Sam and I want to eat sandwiches. Quite nice!

A couple other items I made this weekend: First, homemade wheat hamburger buns (I got this recipe from Kirsten). I seasoned the tops and added onion flakes, and when done baking, I brushed them with butter. Mark thought they might be too big at first, but then we decided 8 inch diameter buns are YUMMY!! Thanks Kirsten! Second, I made a strawberry dish. At first I thought the recipe sounded completely bizarre. But they were delicious and I will definitely make them again. I cut the sugar in half and it was wonderful.

Last but not least, I picked up a couple of new items to do all this housework in. Some new red canvas flats, and a retro style dress from Target. I think I’ll be wearing them all summer! Lovely and feminine… kid tested, husband approved.

I’m excited to do a new tradition we’ve adopted from our friends the Dunns… while sitting at dinner with the birthday boy, each person goes around and says “I love you because…” Then they tell the birthday boy why they love him. It’s fun and edifying, and makes the birthday boy (or girl, as the case may be) feel super special. This works online in the comments section too, so come on and leave a lil birthday message for my honey!

Another tell-tale sign my little boy is getting bigger: this is the third day in a row he hasn’t taken a morning nap. I think that means he’s officially dropped it. The panic sets in as I’m trying to think of things we can do together from 7:30a.m. - 2:30 p.m. each day. I have a feeling we’ll be outdoors a lot. This momma is going to have to drink more coffee in the morning just to keep up with him for that long!

This is going to be so great. Now I’ll know exactly what to buy each week at the grocery store and won’t have to think about “What should I make for dinner? What do I have on hand in the pantry?” Ahh, freedom. You see, I used to cook based on what I felt like eating for dinner. This usually meant extra trips to the grocery store or “I don’t feel like anything, I guess we’ll have leftovers or cereal.” Not exactly what I would call mmm mmm good.

So yes, it’s finally finished! It took quite a while balancing types of food, plus a healthy balance of meat and variety, and of course where to stick pizza night! I printed it out and stuck it on the refrigerator door. Now if you ask, “What’s for dinner?” I’ll actually have an answer. Ha! YES!

I’m learning to sew again. My mother taught me how to sew when I was young (thanks mom, what an invaluable skill!) and I took a sewing class in 7th grade. I really enjoyed it, and I thought, you know… this is a great skill to teach my children. How to hem pants, make a quilt, replace a button, or make something for the home or an outfit. But it had been sixteen years, did I remember how? Well, I marched myself on down to the fabric store and bought a pattern for a skirt. I taught myself how to sew in a zipper. I now have two pretty summer skirts, I’m so excited. I’m honing my skills and saving money too. It’s also awesome that my husband encourages me as I try new things.

I had such a blast that I’m diving in deep. I went to the store today and bought enough fabric to make pretty dresses for my friend’s four young daughters, ages 9 through 2. I can hardly wait to get started on them. I hope they turn out well and will be a blessing to the girls. I’m hoping to have little girls of my own someday so I can make them pretty things as well, and teach them how to be a blessing to their families. But until then, maybe I’ll make Samuel some cozy fleece pajamas…