in like a lion.

New canvases.

New growth.

Pictures taken before my the weather decided to turn all soggy and northwesty. Ah, March. Love it.

introducing...

Yo Dada Dada.

This is what we do when people gift us 2 air conditioning units. Thanks, C Bill. You're the best.

terminology: compassion fatigue.

Once there was a girl who loved people. She thought she might like to be a social worker so she tried that for a while. She realized that she couldn't quite cope with holding people's pain.

Once that same girl who loved people thought she should probably stop being a social worker. So she did. When people wondered what she was going to do next she said she was going to paint her kitchen. When that wasn't enough, she told them that maybe she'd go to school.

Once that girl started school, only to discover that a tiny girl baby was going with her. By and by she realized that she wanted to be this baby's mommy more that anything else.

Once there was a girl who loved people. She wasn't cut out for social work or for school but she was perfectly suited to be a mommy. From time to time, people would recognize the social worker or the teacher inside the mommy and she would hold their pain for as long as she could.

But always she would realize that it wasn't hers to hold. So she'd exchange it with the One who was perfectly suited to hold people's pain.

and the winners are...

Thanks so much to everyone who left a comment in support of Mel's trip to Haiti. Because of your comments, she'll be $15 closer to what she needs to raise. I was thinking about getting her one of those big Ed Mcmahon checks, but I think I'll go with a regular sized one.

Thanks also to friends who emailed asking how they could either buy bracelets or donate directly to Melissa's trip. I know she appreciates it. And I'm happy to connect you with her if you're interested in giving.

The winners of the bracelet drawing were Grandma C and Lindsay. Nate drew names at random in the shop about ten minutes ago. I'll be in contact with you to deliver your prizes.* And Hollie, it was Chare' that scared Mel when she was a little kid. Something about a chickensuit and pecking if I remember correctly...Foofy Foofy Brown Hair was a term of endearment directed at your man.

to haiti with love.

When I married Nate, I inherited a whole bunch of Volkswagen parts, a dog with a seizure disorder and 7 younger siblings.

Auntie Mel is one of Claire’s favorite people. She is the reason that Sunday is Claire's favorite day. We see Mel every Sunday. We recently had two days in a row with Mel, this blew Claire’s mind. “Mama, it would be awesome if we had 60 days in a row with Auntie Mel.” Yes, Clairegirl. Yes it would.

Auntie Mel is gearing up to travel to Haiti. She will serve with a group from Youth with a Mission and from our church. She will be there to serve, but having gone on short trips for “ministry” I am aware that Mel will be the one who will be changed. When I heard about this trip I told Mel that she just had to go. When you’re fifteen and you live in our little city, you need to see something different. You need to be stretched. It's especially great if you can be changed by God.

So, friends, this is how you help. Mel needs to raise $1400 for her trip. She hand makes some really cool bracelets. If you'd like to be entered into a drawing to win one of two bracelets, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I'll draw two names at random from the comments. I’ll also donate $1 for every comment left. One comment per person. Let’s go ahead and give my little sister in-a-law a whole bunch of money. She is extraordinary.

She is also selling bracelets for $6 with proceeds going toward her trip. Shoot me an email if you want to buy 10 or 20 of them.

I’ll close comments and draw 2 winners at random on Sunday at 5 PM.

here we go.

Claire: Mommy, will you save my new shorts and shirt for Sunday?
Me: Why?
C: I want to wear them to homegroup.
M: Oh, you like that outfit?
C: Yeah. It looks good with my body and hair.
This cannot be starting this early.

With him, all I have to do is make sure he doesn't kill himself on a skateboard.

what's for dinner: cauliflower bisque. alternate title: we can almost photograph our kitchen.

We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but I never take pictures there because it has always been a stunning mix of bad 80’s remodel and horrible institutional green paint. Nate is currently attempting to check #9 off of my 33 things list: Remodel the kitchen.

It’s a little nuts, but I still have a working kitchen and I am now able to take pictures in at least part of it. The little laundry corner got a fresh coat of paint about a month ago when my parents came down and took pity on us. Nate also refinished the existing wood floors in the laundry and bathrooms. They look fantastic.

To celebrate, I give you a shot of my newly refinished floors and an easy, delicious meal. Here goes:

Cauliflower Bisque
A good 1-2 T of coconut oil
1 medium onion
2 stalks celery
1 head cauliflower, chopped
1 T curry powder
8 c stock (I've used vegetable or chicken)
4 T brown rice
4 cloves garlic
1 T butter
pinch sea salt
pinch red pepper flakes
3-4 handfuls greens (kale is my favorite, but whatever you have will work)

Heat oil in soup pot over medium. Add onion & celery. Cook til they start to get soft. Add curry powder & cauliflower. Cook 3-5 minutes more. Cover with stock. Add rice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cook about 20 minutes more, or until everything is tender. Blend it on high in the blender in batches.

Heat 1 T butter in a clean pan. Add salt, garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir for maybe 1 minute. You don't want the garlic to brown. Add greens. Saute until they are bright green, about 3 minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with greens. Place on new floor. Take photos. Eat. Repeat. Enjoy.

pushing babies.

We met up with Katie and her guys this weekend and visited The Largest Antique and Collectible Show in America Don't feel sorry for Nate, his job was by far the easiest. He strode around the expo with Mister Baby on his back while women waved. Katie, Brian and I had to wrestle the other three, much more opinionated monkeys.
Also, we ate wafflesandwiches.
We played guitar.
And as always we plotted to get those punks to move to our town.

signs signs everywhere the signs.

Mister Baby is a signing fool. He doesn't speak much, but the boy can sign. He is a fantastic communicator. If he doesn't know a sign, he makes one up and wills you to learn it. He constantly makes motor sounds with his lips.
This morning, Nate went in because the Mister was whimpering. He came back to bed to report that Everett was soaking wet and signing.

The signs he chose? "Dada." "Help." "Bath."

Perfect.