Running, Hiding and Escaping

Do you ever compile your favorite songs into a playlist and then realize that they all have something in common? I did that recently. And all of my favorite songs share a theme of "going, running, moving". I like my music to drive me to pick me up and dust me off and tell me to get my buns in gear. Being a mom can be hard. Babies and young kids are so needy, they literally need you to do everything for them, then teach them how to do it for themselves! Its so much work!! 

Sometimes I just was to escape the crying and the spit up and the questions... the 4 year old's many questions...
"Mom", she asks while watching a cartoon of animals playing the backyard together "are those handcuffs?" Me, "No those are restraints" Her, "Why does the good guy steal?" Me,  "To stop the bad guy. Its complicated." 

I can turn to my favorite songs "Send me on my way", "Ready to run", "Wide open spaces", these songs (among many others) break down the walls around me, help me breath, then before I know it my children and I are dancing around the house, dreaming big dreams and laughing.
Yes, I want to run, sometimes I wish I could get to a place where I can be free, when I realize I already am. I'm free to love and to live and to not be perfect, but just have fun. 

She will laugh at the days to come.    Proverbs 31

Spring Rolls

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Spring Rolls = Yummy!

coleslaw mix, broccoli mix, grated carrots, asian ginger dressing and cooked pork sausage with rice noodles rolled up with bell pepper in rice paper and dipped in hoisin sauce. 

Two days of enjoyment for the whole family. 

Alby helped make them and enjoyed eating them. 

Marriage

Communication

I say "What did you get it for"
He says "For free, it was at the door and so I just picked it up."

"So what did you get it for?"

"Nothing, it was free, just grabbed it on the way out, it was free..."

yeah.... so... what did you get it for?

long stare at each other in the mirror.

"uh, for free"

another long stare

Now we say this phrase as a reminder that we often are speaking to each other but not hearing each other.

MONEY


All a counted for. Extra blessings are celebrated! We both want things we don't have and enjoy the things we do have.

SEX

7 years ago as newly weds I learned a lot about safe intimacy and each year has brought depth and interest and fun more than I ever anticipated.

FRIENDSHIP


As a talker drawn in by a great listener I never expected him to listen so well that he could teach me about myself and graciously assist in my continued growth and understanding of the world.

Being carefree to his heavy burdened continence has helped me be grounded and him to lighten up :)

I'm glad I have someone I can count on to legitimize my feelings, show me grace in my errors and cut through my bullsh!t.


Parenting

We aren't perfect and we aren't raising perfect kids. We love God and love each other and we hope to train our kids to see God's hand in everything, to listen to God's calling in their life, to show grace to others and to find joy in life and to glorify God with their choices.

It is surprisingly difficult. Kids don't take well to being controlled and bossed but I have to guide them and train them... fine line.

FUTURE

I'm ready and willing to change to be the wife and mother I desire to be but I'm okay where I am too. The future looks bright if the present is a reflection of the direction we are headed. I choose everyday to love my husband and children.

7 years of marriage and I can't believe how blessed I've been! I love you Matthew!

Hat's Off

HAT'S OFF or rather....ON!


I wore jeans and a white t-shirt as my "style" for most of my life. An anti-style to rebell against my 3 older sisters' styles and the preppy private school up bringing I was in the center of.


After a trip to Texas with my mom and sister I added a cowboy hat to that ensemble. (Now a mostly retired accessory it keeps its place in my wardrobe for situations where style triumphs when personality and charisma don't cut it.)


Such a time as my 16th summer... driving the river road until flashing blue and reds slowed my happy trail tromping to a halt.


I have tried so many ways to get out of a ticket. My one woman show has been seen many times by an audience of local law enforcement.


I melted into the seat of my no-air conditioning pontiac sunbird, propped my drivers license and proof out the window and waited for my destiny. With my hat blocking the sizzling afternoon sun John Wayne swaggered to my mind, "Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much".




I answered, "Yeah. pretty fast"


Silence.


I squinted into the sun stabbing from behind the officer. He took off his sunglasses,
"nice hat, slow 'er down alright".


My thanks came with a smile and a new appreciation for how style, of all things, managed to do what tears and jokes and flashing smiles and flirting and lies could not.
...

Arrested Development

No, I did not realize that Tobias was gay until about the third time I watched the series through. Is it so impossible that he is straight and that is what makes it so funny? Apparently not.

Maybe? No, actually its Maeby. The very name that almost became my second child's but we decided we couldn't name her Maybelline because of the cosmetic line and I prefer longer names for kids that can be shortened.

CD burning party? How you understand this could say a lot about you.

Thanks to the encouragement from boy Michael I often put my head down and power through.

"That was a freebee" situations happen all the time and its good for the soul to see them and appreciate them.

The sweet kindness of mother's milk dried up years ago which is why even mother's guilty whine lands a  "Aw mom, God won't take a call from you after all these years"

Oh, and if you haven't tried sister-mother's hot ham water you are missing a real treat!

Did I mention that I love this show?

Ever since I visited my older sister Fauncy in Salt Lake City I have been craving the handfuls of sweet granola I ate for a morning snack everyday. I would love to say the idea to make my own granola came to me quickly but it has been more than 5 months since that trip. My wonderful husband has been warding off my desire for granola by making for me hot and sweet oatmeal since I had Phoebe in December. With the warmer weather setting I took to the kitchen.


I am by no means a chef and every time I cook I read three to five similar recipes to the one I am attempting and I go from there...

So here is my granola.


I added pecans that I crushed and a few dried cranberries after it cooled.


Favorite Things About this
1. The way my house smelled
2. Knowing exactly what is in it: oats, crushed peacans, honey, brown sugar, salt and olive oil
3. Eating it by the handful or making my own trail mixes


Worst Part


Throwing away the first semi burnt batch (that I ate half of trying to decide if it was REALLY burnt)


I hope this encourages you to try and make something you love. Its never as hard as it seems but might take three times to get it right.