SortaCrunchy

7 Quick Takes: August 7th

I haven't done a 7QT since last May, but I've got a lot rolling around in my head, and this seems like the best way to sling it out.  Much of it revolves around my only real "hobby" or "interest" or "activity" these days - reading and books.  (It's possible I've been doing a little too much "killing time" at "this blog.")

1. First of all, I need your help!  My next Simple Mom column is coming up next Wednesday which also happens to be (sniff sniff sob sob) Dacey's first day of school.  I'm going to write an article on children's books that deal with transition.  I need book recommendations!  I will, of course, be including Audry Penn's The Kissing Hand, but I need lots more suggestions.  I'm looking for books that deal with any kind of transition - moving, new sibling, divorce, death . . . anything that fits that category.  If you have an idea, won't you pretty please share?  I'll be sure to credit you.  Thanks, sweet friends!

2. Okay, so one of the best parts of my job is that from time to time, I get free and unsolicited books from publishers/publicists who are hoping I will write up glowing reviews.  Usually I don't simply because I don't have just oodles of free time on my hands that would allow me to donate free publicity on behalf of random authors and random books.  However.  Last weekend a new in paperback fiction book showed up for me, and I have to tell you, I absolutely inhaled it!  I cannot remember the last time I read fiction, but this book was just captivating: Keeper and Kid by Edward Hardy.  It's a take on the archetypical kind-of-wandering-but-mostly-content-single-guy-"inherits"-kid and the way his response to this plays out, but the writing is just so crisp and so accurately portrays what life with a three year old is like that it doesn't feel old or worn out at all.  LOVED IT.  If you are looking for a quick and enjoyable late summer read, I highly recommend.

3. I finished another book this week.  Two books in less than two weeks is a new (post-children) record for me!  This one needs a lot more room to discuss than will fit in a 7QT post, but I'll go ahead and mention it today: Lenore Skenazy's Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children The Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry.  LOVE IT.  I am wondering how many of you have read it.  Maybe we could have an informal book talk here?  Or maybe at Simple Kids?  I don't know.  I would love to hear your responses to this book.  (Laura wrote about an encounter at the car wash inspired by a chance discussion of this book. I hold that no matter what your response to Skenazy's philosophy, this book is a great conversation starter!)

4. I accidentally left a Google search off of my sitemeter post, but this one was so cute, I have to mention it: "how to become more crunchy."  Awwwww!  I love it!  Isn't that just the sweetest thing?  I cannot tell you how frustrating it can be to see what people are searching for through Google and not be able to interact directly with them!  (One time someone right here in this tiny little town searched for "delayed vaccination schedule."  I about jumped out of my chair, tempted to wave my hands like a crazy lady and say "Hi!  Here!  Right here!  Let's talk!  You can borrow my copy of The Vaccine Book!  I'm RIGHT HERE!")  ANYWAY.  For those who would like some guidance in "how to become more crunchy," I would recommend Stephanie of Keeper of the Home's e-book Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time.  Sweet Stephanie is awaiting the arrival of baby #3 any day now!  I know it would make her day if you got a copy today.

5. And speaking of e-books, for those who are interested in improving your photo taking skills but are starting from a novice level of experience (ME!), I wanted to direct you to the creative mama's Project Photography e-book. The subtitle is "Better photos made simple, for the non-photographer."  See?  Don't you need that?

6. Okay, so this doesn't have anything to do with a real book, but I'm running out of things to say.  Earlier this week, I told Kyle if this whole parenting book thing doesn't work out, I'm gonna start shopping around a proposal for a book I might call But I Like Wine! And Other Dilemmas Faced by the Southern Baptist Under Forty.  Half-kidding, of course.  Kyle was more enthusiastic about the idea.  He understands my conflicted feelings about the Southern Baptist (mostly culture, not so much doctrine) Convention.  My complicated spiritual state was made more complex last week when a Facebook quiz I took confirmed that, theologically speaking, my denomination should be Presbyterian.  And since we all know that Facebook quizzes are absolutely, unquestionably, categorically, 100% accurate - well, you can understand my internal upheaval.

Yet I am pretty sure that a book with "wine" in the title isn't going to fly off of the shelves at Lifeway (unless perhaps the book title was Wine: Why I'll Judge You If I See You Drinking It), so that will probably just get tossed in the "Great Book Ideas I Once Had" pile.

7. And that's it.  All I've got.  Tell me - what have YOU been reading lately?

And don't forget, yo, about those children's book recommendations.  I really do need your help!

More 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes: May 15th

May 15th?  Seriously?  I'm still thinking in April.

1. I'm still rather swamped - so behind in emails, blog reading, and other obligations.  I have to tell you something I find to be pretty hilarious.  You know the bird in that swamped picture?  My friend Paige informed that it actually is a quite exotic and rare bird - the yellow-crowned night heron.  He ususally lives "along the Gulf coast, Florida, and along the south Atlantic coast. It also breeds along the coasts of Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Central America, and the north and east coasts of South America."  How on earth did he find his way to Oklahoma?  The best part?  The part that really got Kyle and I to laughing?  These herons like to call wooded swamps and marshes home.  I told you we've had a lot of rain!

2. Notable news in our family this week - AJ is putting two word sentences together!  As you know, Dacey had a severe speech delay, so to have this development happen at this point for AJ has been very exciting.

3. Evidently, we scarcely missed being in the path of a twister this week.  We had no idea.  Just thought it was another thunderstorm.  Clearly, Kyle and I have forgotten how to do spring in Oklahoma.  Guess we need to reaquaint ourselves with Gary.

4. I've been up way too late for too many nights this week, mostly catching up with some friends (JLB, I'd link to you, too, but for reasons I know not, you don't blog).  Said friends all live on the West Coast, therefore, normal chit-chat hours for them are past my bedtime.  (It was all worth every stinkin' second!)  Anyway, I think Dacey has been reading the blog behind my back, because she has taken a sudden interest in helping me clean house.  What a help to her no-one's-fault-but-her-own-sleep-deprived-mother!  

5. So, over at Simple Kids this week, I asked for everyone to share their unsung favorites of children's lit.  WOW!  What an amazing list that has been generated!  If you are looking for new books to check out, this is an incredible list to reference.

6. At Modern Media Mom, Karla shared a super helpful and inspiring post on setting up a home office.  (Here's another great home office view - link via Laura.)  Reading in Karla's recent thoughts on working at home helped me to realize that with the writing and the Simple Kids gig and my other endeavors, I really need to claim some work space.  I was so inspired by her article, I started snooping through Craigslist and dug out a tape measure and marked off spaces around the house, and I made a plan.  If the darling desk I found on Craigslist pans out (it will be my first CL furniture purchase, so I'm a little bit skeptical), I am going to be on my way to clearing a spot in which to work.  Pics and details to come! 

7. Thank you all so much for your words of support and prayer for my friend Kristi.  They had a difficult and sobering meeting with the transplant nurse this week.  I am just heavy with grief for them.  Please, please continue to pray for them and for Princess G.  I believe God is in this, but these circumstances shake my faith in monumental ways.

So that's where we are as this week draws to a close.  What are you all up to this mid-May weekend?

More 7QT at Conversion Diary!

sweet reading picture courtesy of indiewench

7 Quick Takes: April 17th

I have hopes of at some point alternating Fridays between 7 Quick Takes and five senses friday (hosted by the lovely abby try again), but it somehow always seems to work out that I have far too many random thoughts to unload come Friday, and not enough space to make room for the five senses.  Maybe next week . . .

For now, behold the random:

<1> Firstly, I have to make apology for yesterday's confession.  In a world where parents bury their babies and little ones fight for life hour-by-heart-wrenching-hour and a nation has made rape legal within marriage (and these are just a few of the stories we hear about, countless other stories of heartbreak go untold), well, to be longing after a place to be creative rings of absurdity to me this morning.  I guess the confession within that confession is the revelation (again) that I am such The Spoiled American, the product of privilege steeped in ingratitude for all that I do have.  It strikes me that if my soul should be longing for anything, it should be Come Lord Jesus, Come.

<2> Thinking back a bit, I know I've not yet shared my thoughts on practicing Lent this year.  Lent was an amazing and powerful time for me, and I am deeply saddened that my denomination doesn't practice it corporately.  I'm somehow at a loss for how to explain what Lent did in my heart.  Closing comments was extremely good and healthy for me, helping me to examine a lot of heart issues that I don't often enough take time to allow up to the surface.  A beautiful surprise in closing comments were some of the private emails I got from friends and readers - some of whom I'd never "met" before!  Other regular commenters shared insights privately that they never would have said "out loud" in the comments.  But even if it weren't for those emails, I still would have been deeply blessed my the time I spent with comments closed.  In my own private life, I celebrated Lent in some unspoken ways that were also, indeed, powerful.

I am looking forward already to next Lenten season.  Easter most certainly did not sneak up on me this year, and my heart is so grateful for that most precious benefit of practicing Lent.

<3> Oh, our time with the Taviano family so deeply blessed us.  SO deeply.  I just cannot say enough what a delight it was to host them in our little hillybilly hotel.  Funny and fun and vibrant and just all manner of wonderful. Marla's report of their time here was just simply way, way too gracious.  We were remarkably simple hosts - Kyle did cook out (of course) and I did make guacamole but I should state for the record that we are guac simplists.  Our recipe is simply smashed avocado, lemon juice (or lime if the mood strikes), and salt to taste.  We were feeling sassy when the Tavianos were here so I stirred in a little sour cream, but oftentimes we leave that out.  Kyle likes his with some extra hot salsa stirred in, but that makes it all a bit complicated for me.

Oh, and The Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings?  As Kyle would say, the are absolutely punch-yourself-in-the-face ridiculously amazing.  Heaven help me. 

<4> I have some friends whose gift for creating and displaying beauty in their homes just never ceases to amaze me.  One such friend is the delightful Stephanie.  Take a little look at her spring shelf, won't you?  I come back to it time and again for inspiration.  So lovely, so sigh-worthy.  For some particular reason, I just wanted to make sure you met Stephanie today.

<5> A little while back, Missy shared her plan to celebrate The Year of Their Marriage.  In her plan, she included a link to the Forty Day Prayer Challenge.  Kyle and I decided to take the challenge, too, and I have to tell you - it has become a fixture in our morning routine.  Each morning before he walks out of the door, we stop for just a few minutes to pray for each other.  The only mornings we get a little lazy are on Saturdays as he is usually not heading out the door then.  I'm so glad she shared the link and the challenge.  It's doing mighty things in our marriage.

<6> The girls and I are happily a bit groggy this morning as we had a late, late night yesterday evening in the home of my dear and long-time friend Jaime.  Our beloved and beautiful friend Laura is home from California for just a bit and completing our fab four was our friend Andy who has landed in-state for a while, so Jaime opened her home to host an evening of Pei Wei take-out, choco-tastic brownies, political/social/spiritual discussion and much, much hysterical laughter.  The easy conversation that comes with friends for whom no background information or point-of-reference clarification is needed is what I have been craving for months.

As a bonus to the conversation with old friends was seeing my children play with Jaime's.  Our youngest two children are just a few months apart and we all noticed that viewing the two of them from behind - with their blonde locks that fall into perfect curls - well, they look more alike in some ways than AJ and Dacey do.  Jaime's Little Man and AJ shared popcorn and resisted sharing toys.  I tend to think that AJ repeated attempts to steal the soccer ball from Little Man are just her earliest efforts at flirting, as was Little Man's stealing of her popcorn and throwing it on the floor.  I could swear sparks flew.

What really made my heart soar was how famously Dacey and EB, Jaime's oldest, got along.  Peas. And. Carrots.  They were born just days apart and it was sheer delight to watch them enjoy each other's company.  EB was generous in her willingness to share everything from dress-up clothes to lip gloss to princess high heels.  As the evening wound down, both of them climbed up in a chair together and EB read quietly to Dacey while Dacey leaned in with intent listening to her every word.  I want to treasure that picture in my heart forever - these two girls whose mothers shared the emotional highs-and-lows of that first pregnancy, the weary, bleary newborn days, the hand-wringing and fretting that is the native tongue of the First Time Mom.  In spite of our obsessive worrying and second (and third) guessing our every decision with them, I have to say that they have grown to be quite lovely little ladies.  I think we are doing okay after all, don't you, friend?

<7> Oh, this may be my longest 7QT yet!  Just so much to say.  The girls and I have been in and out of town much of the week and that will continue on in to next week.  I haven't had the time to attend to comments like I usually try to, and for that, I am so very sorry.  Many apologies if comments and other emails have gone unanswered!  My inbox is spewing  with incomplete conversation.  A little madness in the Spring is wholesome even for the King - so says Ms. Emily Dickinson.  (There's a little Poetry Month goodness for ya!)  Our schedule feels a bit like madness at the moment, so I beg a measure of grace until things settle a little.

Stay tuned for more on marriage (a very special post coming up on that!), book reviews, giveaways, and more!

Happy Friday and may your weekend abound in blessing.

7 Quick Takes: April 3rd

It seems like it has been a while since I rounded up the week's news and happenings in 7 Quick Takes form!  Lots of randomness to collect here today.

1.
First of all, many thanks for the kinds words on the blog redesign.  I'm telling you, all compliments go directly to Karen - she is fantastic to work with!  I personally think she should alter her design business to Simply Amazing Designs. 

2.
You all know I enjoy the dancing.  I am dancing the Joyful, Well-Rested Mama dance this morning because last night was a stellar night for sleep in the SortaCrunchy Casa.  I laid AJ down in her crib around 8:30 last night and she talked and played in there until close to 9.  She did not make a peep again until 6 this morning (!!!) and even then when back to sleep promptly after a quick mama milk snack.  She didn't wake up for the day until 8:30 which I am pretty sure is a new record for her.  Oh, God knew I had a monumental need for sleep last night, and I am thankful His hand of rest was on my sweet AJ.

I realize that all of that uninterrupted sleep may be quite the norm for most nearly 19-month-olds, but it is the source of great celebration for us!

3.
Fans of Life- do you think Detective Reese is dead?  Would you believe at the end of the "5 Quarts" episode I laid awake worrying about what was going to happen to her?  It's a sickness, this obsession.

4.
Lighter note ... I've had quite a few friends join Twitter in the past week.  I came across this Twitter Basics guide this week and wanted to share it.  My additions to this guide would be

#1  You don't HAVE to fill in your full name in your profile.  When you follow someone, they will get a notice that shows both your full name and your twitter screen name.  If you don't feel comfortable broadcasting your full name to every person you follow, choose to fill in that part of your profile with your screen name.
#2  Use a service like WeFollowto find interesting people to follow.  Maybe you'd like to follow @jimmyfallon or @nytimes or @etsy or @lancearmstrong or @mrskutcher but don't know where to find them?  WeFollow is a great place to start.
#3  Fridays are #followfriday when people share their own favorite people to follow.  This is a great way to find new people to follow!
#4  Use a third-party application!  I cannot imagine tweeting from my twitter home page.  Too confusing!  I would miss so much!  I love Tweet Deck, but there are others like Tweet Grid and Twhirl.

5.
April - I can't believe we are three days in already!  April is National Poetry Month.  My friend Stephanie at Little Stuff of Life is doing something fun to celebrate called Perfectly Poetical Tuesdays where you post what you would normally say - just in a poetical way!  I am so excited for this!  I think it's brilliant and I for sure will be participating.  More on Poetry Month stuff to come.

6.
Next week will be light on the posting because I have some real, non-virtual spring cleaning to do.  I don't think I've mentioned this but my new friend and amazing author Marla Taviano is making the SortaCrunchy Casa a stop on her Zoo Tour!!  I am just beside myself with excitement over meeting her, Gabe, and the girls.  But things must get ship-shape around here - and fast.

7.
Also, next week is Holy Week and my posts will be spiritual in nature. The same author who created Lent Activities for the Family has her Holy Week Devotions for the Family on sale this week.  Alternatively, you can find many great free resources at CatholicMom.com's Holy Week Guide.

Check out everyone else's 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary and as always, thank you to Jenn for hosting!

Enjoy your weekend!

Comments closed for Lent 09

7 Quick Takes: March 13th (lots of food edition)

1.
Just so much going on in this past week . . . so much I haven't fully processed and am not ready to talk about here.  I'm gonna fall back on one of my favorite things to talk/learn about: food!  Cooking and baking are hobbies I've aquired by necessity in the past few years, and though I am nowhere near possessing the kitchen prowess my writing parter/mind twin Laura displays, I am always willing to learn more.

2.
A year or so ago, I came across Hillbilly Housewife.  The link that first led me there was her $70 low cost menu, and from there I discovered a wealth of frugal recipes.  Most all of her recipes are of the "from scratch" variety and are worth the effort.  Her homemade breadsticks are a quick and YUMMY favorite.  The cheese enchiladas get made a lot around here - far better than any I've had out-to-eat.  (Better - dare I say it? - than Joe T's!)

3.
I'll be honest - all that cooking from scratch leaves behind a mountain of dishes to wash.  I'm reminded of Brennan Manning's thoughts from Ruthless Trust, the chapter on "The Geography of Nowhere" in which he relates an exchange between Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and Christian leader Jim Forest (as told in The Miracle of Mindfulness):

So they finished dinner and Nhat Hanh said he would wash the dishes before getting the tea.  Jim offered to do the dishes, while Nhat Hahn was preparing the tea; but Nhat Hahn said, "I am not sure you know how to wash dishes."  Jim laughed at him and said, "Of course I know how to wash dishes, I've been doing it all my life."  "No," the monk said, "you would be washing the dishes in order to have your tea and dessert.  That is not the way to wash dishes.  You must wash dishes to wash dishes." (bolding mine)

Manning follows with

Washing the dishes is not a mindless interlude before the banana creme pie.  Rather, at its best - done with alertness and attention to the washing - it is excellent preparation for prayer (p. 157).

Indeed.  In my least grateful posture, a countertop and sink that spill over with dirty dishes invites resentment, bitterness, and exhaustion.  If I accept the invitation as a preparation to prayer, then standing at my kitchen sink places me in a posture to be so grateful for an abundance of food, the beloved tummies that are now full, hot and clean water with which to wash, a kitchen in which to stand, and so on and so on.

And again, I digress.

4.
So, I'm a bit fixated on granola right now.  After I mentioned this in a previous 7QT, my blogging friend and reader Jeana emailed me to suggest another great granola recipe she has come across: Gluten-Free granola from the Ordering Disorder blog at Work It, Mom (which seems to be a great resource for working moms!).  I look forward to trying this granola recipe (steel cut oats - yes!) and it looks like there are many family-friendly recipe finds at Ordering Disorder to try out with my four year old sous-chef.

5.
So everyone knows Cake Wrecks and Bakerella stand out in the land of baking blogs.  One I bet you haven't read that is every bit as clever, visually appealing, and drool-worthy is Velvet Lava.  Go.  Enjoy.  (Introduced to me by Laura.  She never disappoints in her recommendations.)

6.
Another great recommendation came from my friend Karen who showed me the way to My Kitchen Cafe (totally unintentional rhyme there).  Karen suggests the Vanilla Pudding Cinammon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting which I have not dared to try yet.  I have, however, tried the Bourbon Chicken (we had it on Mardi Gras - seemed appropriate), the Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken, and the Best Sloppy Joes and all were delish.

7.
Finally, as the weather turns warmer, you know you are going to be firing up your grills.  May I tell you again that my husband makes the best burgers ever ever ever in the history of mankind?  He whipped up a slew of them last weekend - the grape jelly and BBQ sauce kind - and oh my.  Just unbelievable.  The sugar in the grape jelly gets all dark and burnt-ish on the outside (carmelizes?  it's over my head) and the inside is so moist and full of flavor.  I could eat one now, at 9 in the morning.  Yes I could.
(Sidenote - we can't find ground brisket around here, so we are back to plain ol' ground beef.  Still just as yummy as ever though.)

Happy 7QT on this Friday the 13th!  Have a delicious weekend!

Comments closed during Lent 09

granola picture courtesy of moria

7 Quick Takes: March 6th

We have a whirlwind of a weekend ahead of us, so I am going to try to make this really quick.  You know about how well that usually works, right?

1.
A bit of unpleasant housekeeping first.  In the past few weeks, something was brought to my attention that brings me some concern about my family's privacy on this blog.  I'm sorry to say that I'll be taking down the pictures of the girls.  Thanks for understanding that I feel this is the best choice for us for now.

2.
Much lighter (and more exciting) note - Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is on its way here.  I am so terrified!  And excited!  But mostly terrified . . . in a good way.  After Dacey was born, I rode the lose-the-baby-weight-with-breastfeeding train with a mixture of glee and probably not just a little pride.  Oh, pride doth goeth before the fall from that train when it lurcheth to a stop.  Not only did the post-AJ weight loss stop a long time ago, an unfortunate climb upwards in my weight and waistline has been going on for months now.  Enter Jillian.  And the fear.  And the excitement.  Did I mention I am excited?

3.
All day yesterday, Dacey asked if summer was here now.  Wow, it sure felt like it was yesterday!  Sunshine and temps in the 80s!  Gorgeous!  We painted our toenails in celebration.  While we painted, we counted things in Spanish.  Dacey informed me that her favorite number in Spanish is ocho.  It occurred to me that I have been negligent in deciding upon my own favorite number in Spanish.  After a moment's thought, I said it has to be quince.  Quince. (15)  I like the way that feels.  Say it.  (non-speakers, that would be KEEN-say)  It's enjoyable and worthy of favoritism, I think.

4.
Several years back, not long after we started cloth diapering, I began using more cloth napkins, towels, and washcloths in the kitchen in lieu of paper towels and napkins.  We still keep a roll of paper towels in the kitchen, but mostly we try to use cloth as we find it to be less expensive and more effective.  In all of these years of using kitchen cloth, however, I've never found a great way to handle the laundry.  I was perusing the Mothering forums yesterday and found the link to this article at Tomato Soup Cake on Cloth In The Kitchen where she explains her kitchen cloth laundry system.  Very helpful read!

5.
I enjoy reading Chatting At The Sky (as many do - Emily was nominated for a 2008 Weblog Award for Best Small Blog), and in the comments on her post on stories and bokeh, I followed a link to the lovely Dina and A Worthy Life.  I enjoyed reading through several of her recent posts, but the one that infected my thoughts for several days was her essay on "my (stayathome) babe theory."  She writes on the "Babe Theory of political movements" and how her choice to be home raising and schooling her children might be a political statement in and of itself.  Then, she wonders, if "my own lackadaisical approach to my choice to be home is sabotaging the value of my example."  So many great, challenging, thought-provoking ideas on this essay - you must go read it for yourselves.  It's made me think quite a bit on the image I present daily - to my daughters, my husbands, my friends, and strangers - and wonder about the impact, or more correctly, the non-impact my choices are making on those around me.

6.
Several of you have emailed in the time since I started my Lent fast from comments and site stats.  Nearly every email contained some kind of apology in advance in case emailing somehow caused me to break my Lent fast.  Truly, it does not.  The purpose of this fast was never to cut off communication between myself and my readers and friends.  For me, the fasting from comments is merely a response to the problem that builds in my heart from time to time regarding comments on a post.  I get to the point of seeking acceptance and affirmation in the response of readers.  A carefully crafted post that receives very little feedback can send me into a funk.  Another post that might be deluged with comments (and for me, anything over ten comments is a virtual flood!), and I'll soar with giddiness.  I know that for me, this should not be.  I am accepted by my Heavenly Father because of who I am in my Beloved, my Savior (see Ephesians 1:6), not because of the number of comments a transitory blog post might receive.  I am affirmed in my worth because of the work of the Cross, not because of receiving X number of hits on any given day.  Refocusing my thoughts on this truth - this is the path of this fast.  If you feel led to email, please do without any guilt.  I'd be thrilled to "talk."

7.
Jenn's baby girl is here and she is gorgeous!  Glory to God for the gift of new life, and for the power of being open to life.

Enjoy the weekend, friends.  Read the Quick Takes of others here today.

Comments closed for Lent 09.

7 Quick Takes: February 27th

I am hesitant to even post today as I am not sure I have anything to say that comes close to being relevant or having worth, yet that has never stopped me before, has it?

Here we go:

1.
You know how when you first start Weight Watchers and you are keeping track of every. single. bite. and after the first day you think, "My gosh! I had no idea I was eating so much!"  That's how I am feeling about my Sitemeter fast.  I had no ideahow many times I would peek in on the stats, mostly just out of sheer curiosity as to who was stopping by and where they were coming from.  It gives me a much better idea of who is reading and when than my comments do.  This feels very strange.  I could quite literally be talking into an utter vacuum right now.  Odd.

2.
AJ is going through that stage of Mommy Possessiveness.  She cannot bear for me to hold other babies, whether it's my niece or a friend's little one . . . she even gets mad (truly angry) when I hold and cuddle Dacey!  I think it is so amusing and quite funny, actually, that in her toddler mind, I belong to her and her alone.  There's probably some kind of deep spiritual connection I could make in that statement, but I haven't enough coffee yet to go there.

3.
Speaking of AJ, the weather dared to turn warm this week and taunt us with the promise of spring to come, so I have spring/summer clothes for the girls on my mind.  I went up to our spare bedroom/storage room/disaster area to see what I have in the way of 24 month clothes for her.  I opened an unmarked tub and immediately thought, "Oh this must be the 3T tub.  I know I JUST put these clothes away."  Nope!  It was the 24 month/2T tub alright!  Oh my goodness, it has been so bittersweet to go through these clothes that it seems I was dressing Dacey in just yesterday.

4.
You know, on my About Page, I attempt to further define "sorta crunchy" as "sorta granola," but would you believe I've never made granola myself?  I'm so ashamed.  I also rarely buy granola because it's so stinkin' expensive, but I picked up a box on sale last week and Kyle and I devoured the whole thing in less than two days.  So we're gonna mix up more for ourselves here in the cottage.  I've found that granola recipes abound (tell me again why I haven't been making this from scratch all along?  Because I'm lazy?  Oh yes, that's right), and as I was reading the lovely and inspiring anah na uwr I came across her recipe for granola, and so I think we'll start here.

5.
Speaking of making from scratch, I was cajoled motivated by Dacey to fix pizza last night, even though it wasn't really on the menu plan.  We always use my mother-in-law's scrumptious pizza crust recipe, but I normally use store-bought sauce from the jar.  (again with the lazy) We didn't have any on hand last night, but I had tomato sauce and paste on hand.  Chef Google rescued me with this delish-sounding recipe, and it did not disappoint.  We had no fresh tomatoes on hand, but I did have some petite diced tomatoes in a can and those worked splendidly.  I highly recommend.

6.
I think I will go ahead with branching off with a photography blog, mostly just for the purpose of recording growth in the hobby and posting helpful articles I come across.  I am at a loss on what to call it.  Ideas?  Email me at sortacrunchy at gmail dot com.

7.
Finally, next Monday Jenn of Conversion Diary welcomes baby number four.  If you haven't yet, please take a moment to read her thoughts on how fulfilled her life has become since she and her husband have chosen to be open to life.  "Children are only burdens when they are theoretical."  Mmmm-hmmm.  Good stuff there.  I know you will be blessed.  My prayers will be with you, Jenn, throughout the weekend and into the big day!

Others are sharing their 7 Quick Takes here.  Great weekend reading!

Comments closed during Lent 09

7 Quick Takes, February 20th

As always, many thanks to Jennifer of Conversion Diary for hosting Seven Quick Takes.  So glad to know I am not the only one with a strong aversion to cilantro.

1.
I'm happy to be at the end of what feels like the longest week ever.  A strange virus that manifests itself in fever, sore throat, achiness, and terrible headaches has had me in its grip since Tuesday morning.  As you all can testify to, being sick when you are the mama makes for long, long days.  My house and my to-do list are in shambles.  Maybe today will be the day I finally shake this thing off?

2.
We don't have cable.  I've mentioned this.  Well, we have the most basic of basic cable that you have to ask for because it's so basic, they don't advertise it.  It's not that we don't love cable television.  We do.  Too much.  Once upon a time, not all that terribly long ago, we had the whole enchilada: digital cable with DVR, every pay channel, every channel in general known to man . . . and we loooooooooooooved it.  It was combined with digital phone (caller ID on the screen is just super beyond words) and high speed internet. 

Then at some point we were convicted that perhaps that $200 check to the cable conglomerate wasn't the best possible way to be stewards of what God had blessed us with each month.  Dropping down to basic was embarrassingly painful. 

And now we find ourselves in a position where we could reasonably add in more channels, yet Kyle and I both are hesitant to do so.  We kind of like the freedom from the tyranny of choices that all those channels offer.  That's not to say that we don't miss it terribly from time to time (particularly when a new season of Project Runway launches), but mostly we are quite content with network TV.

Except when they have to go and make us choose between our favorites.

Enter hulu.  I know we are probably the last people in the universe to embrace the goodness that is hulu, but I have to tell you, it's been a delightful discovery for us.  When 24 premiered last month, we we perplexed as to how we could have our weekly date with Jack when that meant cheating on our Heroes.  And Fox's Lie To Me looked awfully good, but there's no way we were giving up new episodes of Life after we had waited so long through its brief hiatus . . . Woo hoo!  Hulu to the rescue!

Um, it occurs to me as I extol its praises here that maybe, just maybe, we are starting to love hulu a bit too much.  This does not bode well.

3.
Sometimes I think AJ doesn't get enough air time here.  Odd, because all things AJ consume about 85-90% of my time, thoughts, and energy on a daily basis.  It's just that, well, AJ doesn't translate well into words.  Firecracker.  Pistol.  Handful.  Those words sorta come close.  But really, how do you solve a problem like Aliza?  How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?  How do you find a word that means Aliiiiiiiiiiizaaaaaaa? 

{pictures removed}

4.
Speaking of pictures, I am tickled all kinds of pink that Beth of I Should Be Folding Laundry is rolling out a new weekly photography challenge: You Capture.

5.
Daily I am delighted by the daring appearance of flowery clover and the bold budding of trees we are discovering in our afternoon excursions outside.  It makes me want to join in Thomas Nashe's merriment:

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year's pleasant king;
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing.
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
-- Summer's Last Will and Testament

6.
I want to go to She Speaks so badly this year I can hardly stand myself.  More on that later.

7.
Finally, I have to say that this week's discussion on Lent has been one of the most personally rewarding posts ever for me.  The comments on that post have allowed me to hear from readers I'd never met, and that in and of itself has been a blessing.  But the insights shared on personal experiences with Lent have fueled my desire to learn more about this season and have confirmed for me what I believe the Lord has impressed on my heart to pursue for the coming weeks.

Where can I learn more?  What are some authentic, legitimate resources for one who wants to know more about Lent?

Happy weekend, y'all. 

7 Quick Takes: Sappy Valentines Edition

Jennifer at Conversion Diary blesses me daily.  (and she publishes full feeds via email, so I never miss a blessed word!)   Did y'all catch her thoughts on offering up the suffering of childbirth this week?  Gripping.  I'm so honored that she invites us to share our own Quick Takes with her each week. 

1.
Honestly?  I've never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. It's all a bit commercial for me.  If I was on top of things, I would have gotten a little something from Bold Avenue's enough with the mushy stuff line.

2.
I am, however, a GIGANTIC fan of my own sweet Valentine.  Our first date was February 1, 1996, and less than two weeks later he gave me a big ol' teddy bear for our first Valentine's Day.  I named him Max.  Little did I know then that ten years later, Max would be a favorite friend of our first child.  Here's a video of a seventeen month old Dacey mauling "her" beloved bear.

3.
My friend Christy helped arrange our first date, as well as our first formal function . . . a classy little date night called "Chi Os in Cuffs."  Yes, handcuffs were involved.  My mother was so proud.  Regrettably, the only picture I have of this event is forever encased underneath a layer of liquid glass epoxy on the lapboard I made him to mark the one year anniversary of our first date.

4.
He still uses that lapboard.  And he cooks nearly every meal on the weekends.  And if I'm feeling nappish, he supervises Big so that Little and I can indulge in long Sunday afternoon naps.  And when he has to be in The City (Okie Speak for Oklahoma City) for any reason, he more often than not will come home bearing Godiva.  le. sigh.

5.
We'll be celebrating Valentine's Day this year the best way we know how - at home with our Little Hearts.  Steaks grilled outside will be involved, forty-degree forecast be darned.  (He'd fire up the grill in the snow if occasion called for it.) 

6.
Last Saturday, I told him I could use a little time to recharge and refuel.  Preferably by myself and preferably outside of the house.  He said sure, and I began making mental plans to take my writing notes and go somewhere quiet to continue some work on the book.  But he suggested maybe I should take the camera and the tripod and just go explore and play.  Play?  But I had work to do!  But what I really needed was to recharge on the creative front, and he knew that better than I knew it.

I took his advice and at the edge of town I found an aging train depot that sits alongside still functioning tracks.  Nothing in me knows what to do with still shots.  I love shooting people as I find people endlessly fascinating.  I just don't have any vision for shooting objects, yet everything I read on developing a creative eye encourages going beyond what is comfortable and constantly trying new stuff.

Here are some favorite shots
   

No color punch here - the sky was really this blue
 

and my feet were really this bare
 

I had just read an article on In Camera Black and Whites and was intrigued, so I decided to try it.  I like how these turned out (again, no processing):

 

 

 

7.
One last Valentinesy note.

Ever wonder what happens to elementary ed teachers who leave the classroom to be home with their little ones?

I think I know the answer now.

They funnel all that creative energy into showing up the rest of us less-inspired moms at events such as the library story time group's Valentine's Party.

Behold:

 

Note the carefully handcrafted candy necklace complete with scalloped-edged sweetheart of a tag the girls received at the party.  Compare to the flimsy tear-apart generic-o mass-produced hastily-labeled sorry excuse for a Valentine my own children handed out.  You can spot us former Secondary teachers a mile away, can't you?

(EE mamas - you know I am teasing from a place of sheer intimidation and pure jealousy of your crafty-cutesy ways!)

* * * * *

One little bonus take - this week I made a glorious discovery in finding my way to The Run a Muck.  Twitter connected us (how many times have I said that lately?  Why was I so hesitant to join up?) and I have been awash in amazement as I read there.  Amber's writing dances with weight and sparkles with precise imagery, and it's no surprise that life before babies found her on the path to a MFA in poetry.  I couldn't possibly pick a recent favorite, but I wanted to point you towards Wednesday's post titled "husband."  That first paragraph?  Exactly how I feel when my own husband comes through that door at the end of each work day. 

* * * * *

Enjoy those you love this weekend.

7 Quick Takes Friday

For the past few weeks, I have been so blessed by Jennifer of Conversion Diary.  For those who haven't met Jennifer yet, I so encourage you to spend some time with her.  She is a former atheist who is recording her journey of, well, her conversion on her blog.  Really, really amazing stuff.

Each Friday she hosts 7 Quick Takes Friday, and I'm thinking this is a great way to air out some of the thoughts that have accumulated all week. 

1. I don't think I've mentioned to anyone (even my sister who is daily tortured with most minute details of my life) that we spent last weekend at my in-laws where two notable things happened: 1) My mother-in-law cut AJ's bangs without asking me, and 2) my father-in-law side-swiped my car in their driveway.  Some might perceive these as being - at the very least - upsetting.  If nothing else, it should have been some great blog fodder, right?  But honestly, AJ's bangs look so much better and I am so thankful for her intiative, and as far as my car goes . . . well, it's a '96 Avalon with 215,000 miles, a non-functioning CD player, only one operational power window (which, unfortunately, is not the driver's window), torn leather seats, and a thin film of goldfish cracker dusting everything within.  A little white paint scar on the outside is the least of my worries.  Besides, people are more important than things.

2. I just wanted to share that this morning, my fingers look like this:

because I am something of a genius when it comes to changing printer ink cartridges.

3. This week, I ended my three month self-imposed Facebook ban.  We've been told that creating a Facebook group would be a great way to promote our book idea and discussion, so Laura got that up and running for us.  (Thank you again, friend.)  You can find the As He Leads Us group here.

4. Starting this Sunday, Kyle and I are both official Sunday School teachers, something we have both felt God leading us towards for months.  In fact way back in December 2002, I wrote in my prayer journal that I had a desire to teach the Word of God, and I wanted to make myself available to Him in any way He saw fit.  I don't think I imagined at the time that it would take over six years for an opportunity to open, but I know the timing is right.  Kyle will be teaching the Adult 2 men and I'll take the Adult 2 women (and for those non Southern Baptists in the crowd, Adult 2 translates to Folks In Their Twenties).  And as evidence of how wicked relevant I am, I am totally using Jon's recent post on "Facebook Friend Suggesting Jesus" as part of my lesson.  Oh yes I am.  

(And please note how I refer to Jon by first name like I actually know him.  The thing about Jon is that he is super nice, extremely genuine, and totally accessible.  It's easy to forget that I don't actually know him.)

5. I just have to tell y'all how convicted I am by Dacey's recent inspiring display of generosity.  One of her very favorite things to do right now is help in the kitchen.  She particularly loves the baking of cookies, and I am happy to indulge.  On Monday, we baked up some particularly delicious choco chip wonders and as I pulled out that pan of fresh from the oven goodness, her first words were not "Okay, fix me up a glass o' cold milk please, Mom" as mine would have been.  No, instead out of an abundance of generosity, she said, "Okay, I need to take these to the children."  The children?  "The children in my Sunday School class."  Oh, how she loves Sunday School.  It is, after all, where she learns fascinating and meaningful stories.  Stories like about the time a shark at the baby Jesus.  (That is a story for another day, I think.)  Anyway, the immediate desire to share freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with others is not something she learned from her father or me.  I think probably it made Jesus smile.  I know I did.

6.  I want y'all to know that Laura and I are absolutely laid low with humility and wonder at the response we have received so far on the book.  The comments left on Monday's post have just blown us away.  You guys have not only encouraged us in our message, but also challenged us with angles and perspectives we would never have thought of on our own.  I've said before that we have no idea what we are doing and that we're just trying to take things one step at a time. So we're thinking that turning the discussions related to parenting might work best in the context of a weekly series.  For the coming weeks (months?), we'll structure our conversations in a series called "Mothering on Mondays: As He Leads Us."  We have so much we look forward to sharing with you and are completely honored that anyone would take the time to talk through all of this with us. 

7. As a way to promote these discussions, we now have a blog button to share.  Karen of simply amusing designs graciously worked us in to her very, very busy schedule.  Didn't it turn out lovely? (feed readers, you'll have to click through to see it)  If you are prone to blog button-ing up your sidebar and would be so kind as to share ours on your blog, we would be grateful.  We have two sizes of buttons you could choose from, but we are only going to put the code for the smaller one in the sidebar.  If you would like the longer button, email me and I'll get you the code.  (I'm having some weird problems with Typepad this morning, so if you don't see the button and code in the sidebar yet, just check back later.  sorry!)

Looking back over this post, you can see I'm playing a little fast-and-loose with the concept of quick.  If this is your first time here, just be assured prolific wordiness is absolutely par for the course.

You can find other 7 Quick Takes here.

Have a gorgeous weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday!