If you blog about the Geneva Bible Pages, you’ll be entered to win one! See this post for details. And if you win one, you can totally give it to us as a Christmas present. ;o)
We really enjoy having people over for meals and also cooking meals for those who need them but after an unprecedented few weeks of serving others and hospitality before we left for North Carolina, I’ve noticed its taken quite a toll on the grocery budget. When we have people over I love cooking things I wouldn’t normally make and serving dessert, etc. Food is a love language in my family and cooking special things is a way I am used to saying that someone is special.
So I’m looking for ideas for being hospitable on a budget and other methods of coping with the practical expense of loving others, without losing the character of hospitality. Anyone?
Posted in family life, feasting
I was given the letter T by the lovely Rachael to list at least 10 things I am thankful for beginning with T.
Do you want a letter? Leave a comment
Posted in family life, feasting
We’re about to travel for the holiday, which reminded me that I’ve been meaning to post about this video which made the rounds a few weeks ago.
It frustrates me to no end that manufacturers, doctors and others promote the MINIMUM safety standards in regards to car seats. Children are safest rear facing and in five point harnesses as long as possible. Why do we as a society race to flip them around at 1 year old and then stick our preschoolers in belt-positioning boosters, that are cheaper than carseats and not as safe? There are a number of carseats that allow for children up to 65 pounds in a five-point harness and one that goes up to 80 pounds but I don’t think doctors or manufacturers promote them nearly as much as they ought to. In most European countries, they sit rear facing for much longer and then in five point harnesses for longer as well. They get it. Why don’t we? It can really be the difference between life and death for a child in a car accident.
Posted in parental ponderings
Life has been really busy lately. It’s Christmas card designing time so I am busy with WFD orders. You can see some of the recent designs in the portfolio, but that’s a little misleading since I am not uploading many copycats and people are liking what they see enough to go with old designs — I’ve done two “yardleys” in two days. I really like renaming people I know to anonymize them. The girls keep me busy, too. Kate is such a chatterbox and her daily commentary never ceases to amaze and delight me. Lexi is full of personality and bursting at the seams to run and dance and talk. I can’t wait to see what sort of little person she becomes as she moves into toddlerhood. We’re heading back to North Carolina for Thanksgiving this week and I am really looking forward to it. My mom makes the most wonderful holiday dinners, truly classic American cuisine at it’s best. Everything’s from scratch but nothing too pretentious.
And with all that whirling around, it’s hard to blog. I’ve been thinking about my blog a lot lately and will have some reflections on blogging sometime soon.
Speaking of blog negligence, my dear husband is threatening to move out of our happy co-habitating blog. If you like having his perspective here from time to time and like the idea of us co-blogging, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Posted in family life
Last weekend I made the cider-brined pork tenderloin and served Ann Barlow’s apple coffeecake with caramel frosting for dessert. Tonight we are having risotto with squash and pancetta. Just a few recipe ideas for those who might need one!
A few nights ago Mike and I were talking about how he exaggerates and teases much more than I do. He was even having trouble coming up with examples of me using hyperbole. That led him to exclaim, “I can’t wait ’til they come out with Google Brain!” “Google BRAIN? You have totally sold out to the man.” “No, it would be really great. You could tell me a grocery list: milk, eggs, bread, yogurt – starred. I’d remember. And all the things I read and hear and…”
Yeah. He’s got it BAD.
Posted in general, technology
Carol tipped me off to Oprah’s show yesterday about crying. I’m a firm believer that babies cry for a reason (not just to exercise their lungs) so I’d be interested to hear any parents of newborns experiences trying this out. I missed the show, but here are the basics, via Carol. Apparently, listening closely to the first letter is key.
neh = hungry
owh = sleepy
heh = discomfort
eair = lower gas
eh = burp
Posted in in the news, parental ponderings
He passed away this weekend. His name is Edward. Please pray for his sweet wife, Margie, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Posted in home sweet home
If you are itching to buy us something and don’t know what here are our Christmas wish lists (and Lexi’s birthday, too.)
The girls would also love classic children’s books they don’t own. You can see their library here and some book ideas here.
Or, just buy something from the World Vision Gift Catalog — we may not have a rug in our whole house, but lots of people don’t have houses or food.
Posted in family life
We vaccinate our children on a delayed (and somewhat selective) schedule. We do this because we think it is the right thing to do, for our children and for society at large. Continue reading
Posted in general, parental ponderings
