Come See my "new" bloggy home. . .

http://camaschick.wordpress.com

see you there!!

Moving. . .

I'm working on moving my blog. Stay tuned.

While I work on that. . . Some good words I've been reading. . .

"Perhaps one of the most precious and powerful gifts we can give another person is to really listen to them, to listen with quiet, facinated attention, with our whole being fully present. . . Listening is a creative force, something quite wonderful occurs when we are listened to fully, we expand, ideas come to life and grow, we remember who we are. . . Listening well takes time, skill, and a readiness to slow down, to let go of expectations, judgements, boredom, self-assertiveness, and defensiveness. . . "
-Kay Lindahl
The Sacred Art of Listenin

I love so much about this quote, what a world it would be if we could all learn to listen well!

We Got Rhythm

I was walking with a friend and her daughter last week and she asked about our “schedule”. Actually it’s a common question. “What is best with your schedule?” “What is Reid’s schedule.” Etc. etc.

The Meyers-Brigg “P” in me wrestles with that question. Because the truth of the matter is the word schedule just doesn’t seem to fit the life we live. Schedule (to me) seems like a set order of things, at a set time.

sched·ule - / [skej-ool, -oo l, -oo-uh l; Pronunciation noun, verb, -uled,
-ul·ing.
–noun
1. a plan of procedure, usually written, for a proposed
objective, esp. with reference to the sequence of and time allotted for each
item or operation necessary to its completion: The schedule allows three weeks
for this stage.

2. a series of things to be done or of events to
occur at or during a particular time or period: He always has a full schedule.

3. a timetable.

Okay, away from dictionary.com and back to schedule. After hemming and hawing about “Well, you know, we sort of. . .” she laughed (she knows me well) and said, “You know the good thing about a schedule, is you have a schedule, and the bad thing about a schedule, is. . you have a schedule.”

Later that day as I nursed Reid I went a little way down the road of feeling guilty that I don’t have more of a schedule, and then decided that I wasn’t in the mood for that and embraced how our lives work out. Just a few minutes later (after deciding I wasn’t going on a guilt trip) it hit me. . . WE’VE GOT RHYTHM!

I can predict the daily Rhythm of our lives, but there isn’t “nap time” “playtime” “eat time” “naptime” “dinner time” “bed time” (emphasis on time). We get up, we play, we go for a walk, we play, we eat, we nap, we play, we eat, we take a bath, we go to bed. Our Rhythm is based on the Rhythm of Reid’s body. When he’s sleepy (and it’s a good time) I put him down for a nap, when he’s ready to play we play or he plays by himself. A few weeks ago I spent several agonizing evenings trying to get Reid to go to bed at 7:30, the time the books and I thought was good. The thing was, it was a fight. As I sat there trying everything in my power to get him to sleep I thought back to earlier in the day when I laid him in his crib without a fight, with out a sound and he rolled over and went to sleep. I thought “What made that different?” It was that he was sleepy.

So now when people say, ‘What works for Reid’s schedule”.. I say “Our rhythm is. .”
It’s just semantics, but it works for me!

Daddy took a business trip. . .

and brought mommy and Reid. . .

Still a bit big. But SOOOO cute!

Thanks Daddy!

xoxox

Reid & Mommy

a pink duck?

Reid got a package today!

What? Purple paper!?

SOOO much fun!

We LOVE to crumple paper . . .

but wait. . .

there's more. .

a PINK duck.. . that squeaks!

Does life GET any better than this?

When a pink duck comes your way, sometimes

ya gotta clap!

Crawler?

He's making progress, he's not there yet. These are from last night, he made circles around the room doing the "army crawl". . . Go Reid Man!! These blocks from Counsin Hunter are his new FAVORITE toy. He prefers the blue and yellow.

The Faces of Reid

"When the disciples.. asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus pulled a child out of the crowd and said the greatest in the kindgom of heaven were people like this (Matthew 18:1-4). . . He was saying that people who get into heaven are people who, like children, don't worry about it too much. They are people, who like children, live with thier hands open more than with their fist clenched. . . "

-Frederick Buechner
Beyond Words, Daily Readings in the ABC's of Faith

Support vs. Challenge

Support vs Challenge

I’m not sure the very first time I was introduced to the human development concept of “support vs. challenge”. . but I’m pretty sure it was sitting in the office of one of my former bosses and it probably started out with something about a Bob Dylan song and then onto the real lesson. . . “it all comes down to support vs challenge A., you’ve gotta learn how to support and challenge people just right. . .”

The last few years I ended up working with the “Master” of “Support vs Challenge” himself. (who without a doubt was responsible for teaching my former boss the concept himself) (I like to go to the source on things to learn. . . )

Support vs. Challenge is human development concept that says (basically) that in order for people to develop they need to have the right ratio of support and challenge in their environment. I have charts and notes and graphs about how this concept plays out in the development of leaders, college students and staffs. When people are in an environment of too much challenge with not enough support they get frustrated. When people are in an environment of too much support without enough challenge, they get bored. Either way people get stuck and don’t reach their full potential.

All that “academic” knowledge is great, but what it really comes down to, and where I’ve really seen the concept in action is with my seven month old.

He is a late sitter. He was rolling over and showing off young. But he wasn’t sitting up like the rest of the six month olds. I wasn’t challenging him enough, I was over supporting and not challenging. (I had that ratio wrong!). Our Gymboree teacher pulled me aside one day after class and said, Do this, this and this for three days, he’ll hate it and cry, but in three days he’ll be sitting up and loving it. (in other words “you are supporting him TOO much and not challenging him enough. .” )

So we followed her recommendations, I challenged him to sit, I let him fall over and then pulled him up again (didn’t support him as much as before, so his muscles got stronger) and guess what. . .Now he’s a sitter. He will sit for a half and hour and play with his toys.

Support vs. Challenge. Isn’t it cool how we learn this concept in a very physical way at seven months (through watching his muscles develop), so that when he is 10, and 15, and 21 I’ll know how to support and challenge him in ways that are so much less tangible, but important none-the-less.

A Soap Box. . .

Excuse me while I crawl up on my soapbox.


Okay, now that I’m here. This blog entry may shock or scandalize a few of my dear heart and gentle people readers, other’s may say, “No kidding”, and yet others may think, “so why is this a big deal?”

This isn’t a soapbox I’m just climbing on to climb on, I’ve actually been thinking and talking with people about this for weeks.

Here goes. . . .

Tomorrow marks a historic day in California. Same-Sex marriages will become legal in our Golden State. Those who are against this development (and there are many) argue that this is a “threat” to families and the institution of marriage. I for the life of me really cannot in any way, shape, or form understand how my family will be threatened by this.

It seems to me that, NOT allowing people who love each other to marry is MORE of a threat to marriage than allowing people who love each other and desire to nurture that love and commitment to marry. If we allow the state to “pick and choose” which lovers are allowed to marry isn’t that more of a long term threat than allowing love to be the basis for marriage, regardless of the gender of those desiring marriage?

Then I hear those (particularly in the Conservative Christian world. . . ) say that “We must fight for families and fight against things in our society which are threatening families.” (That’s almost a direct quote from a pretty well known Christian leader I heard on the radio last week) I say, “Amen”. . .
Let’s address the economic inequality that exist in our world, that’s a threat to my family.
Let’s get to work on finding alternative form of energy and move (quickly) away from our dependence on oil, because the rising cost of gas is negatively affecting my family (and every family) daily.
Let’s find ways to address poverty, educational budget cuts, rising food cost, our broken health-care system. . these ALL are threats to my family daily.

Tomorrow when same-sex couples get married, that won’t threaten any part of my family life. I just can’t help but wonder if we’re spending our time and energy barking up the wrong tree?

Okay, I’ll step off my soap box now. I’ve got to go stir my compost pile! 

Compost Happens

I did it. I started my compost bin. One week down, no smelly mess to speak of, no fly infestation. All is well.

It's been fun to figure out what goes in the compost bin, what doesn't and how to make it all work. It's an art, not a science. . well, maybe better stated, it's science and art.

There is something almost spiritual about this composting experience. A death and rebirth, in a very real way. Used coffee grounds,
mushy apples,
left-over salad,
used tissue,
freezer-burned peas,
and crushed egg shells from yesterday's egg salad sandwich. . .

. . the "yuck". The dead, the useless, which last week was bound for the garbage because its usefulness was gone, has suddenly become filled with the possibilities of life, of reuses, of purpose.

As I go through my day everything has the potential of being saved for the daily trip to the compost bin. (Dryer lint! Paper Towels! The dust and dog hair from my vacuum canister. . ).all get swallowed into the layers of compost with the hope and expectation of "black gold" that will nourish our roses, feed future tomatoes, lettuce and pepper plants, and help "green" our lawn.

Our home is becoming it's own mini Ecosystem.

Following the lead of a friend of a friend I purchased a $15 Fifteen Gallon garbage can from Lowe's and some dirt. I do need to put some air holes into the sides of the can. We haven't done that yet. Todd wants to know exactly WHERE each hole should be, I say. . 'anywhere'. . (This reveals much about our personalities). I keep a small Rubbermaid container next to my sink, where I collect all my composting material. Like I said above, coffee grounds, tea bags, paper towels, egg shells *(crushed), apple cores, dryer link, used tissues (Reid has a cold). . . In it all goes. They say it's 25 parts "green" (kitchen waste) with 75 parts "brown" (dirt, dry leaves, shredded newspaper). It's a mix of carbon and nitrogen. We'll see as the days get warmer, how my percentages are working out. What I have been doing is putting in my "green" and then putting in a couple of large handfuls of dirt, yesterday I put in two torn up sections of the LA Times. Today I'll "mix" it. (Using a rake to mix up all the layers.)

It really feels good to take what appears to be "garbage" and "waste" and give it a new life.

Start composting people!!!! :)


www.compostguide.com
http://gatheringinlight.com/2007/10/15/how-to-start-a-compost-bin-in-the-city-with-little-money/#more-791

Fun with Nana & Papa

I put my toes in the sand. . .



showed nana how I eat peas


played in my "pool". . it was really just my bath tub outside, but don't tell mommy & Nana, they thought it was a pool!!


and jumped with my uncle Will. . . he's really fun!

Wise Words. . .

Sabbath is not dependent upon our readiness to stop. We do not stop when we are finished. We do not stop when we complete our phone calls, finish our projects, get through the stack of messages, or get out this report due tomorrow. We stop because it is time to stop.-Wayne Muller

If you can't take time to do nothing, you're a slave to doing.
Doing nothing is a radical, revolutionary act.
It frees you from the universal slavery of our age; slavery to the clock.
The clock measures doing, but not being.
- Peter Kreeft

The pace of life and our preoccupation with unimportant things take so much of our attention. The significant things, like taking time to develop friendship, to read, and pray. . to listen to God, these all get sacrificed on the alter of good works and Christian busyness.
- Luci Shaw

How to Change the World

I just found this web site

www.fiftythousandshirts.com

Help the victim in China, one shirt at a time!

JAW DROPPING. . .

I just found this amazing website. . . it is staggering. . .

http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=7

Fun with Reid. .. .

Nana said today that I haven't been putting enough pictures up. . .



Just call me Banana Boy!! He doesn't really like to eat, but he had FUN mushing a banana today (and got some in his tummy too!)



He's becoming a "ham" for the camera. . seriously, I pull it out, and he turns on the charm. . it's almost scary!



Since the banana worked so well I thought I'd boil a sweet potato and let him try to mush that. . . I think that face says it all.

100th POST!!!

100 Things about Me.

This, my friends, is my 100th post. It seems a right-of-passage of sorts in blog-land to do a “100 Things About Me” list at #100. So idulge me if you will, and for anyone besides my mom who reads all 100. . Thank you!

1. I am the oldest child in my family. (one younger brother, who is a pretty all around outstanding guy)
2. I grew up in RURAL (and I do mean RURAL) Idaho.
3. There were 13 students in my graduating class (a public school)
4. I love to down hill ski. (although I haven’t been in a couple of years. )
5. My brother and I one time went “Back Country Skiing” in the mountains behind our hometown. (SOOOOO FUN!)
6. I hated athletics in high school.
7. I was the manager of the girls basket ball team
8. One time they didn’t have enough players, and I had to play.
9. I stole the ball and got under the basket and fell down. . . .
10. BUT I did train for and run a marathon in 2001! (26.2 miles baby!)
11. Sometimes I think I might run another one some day
12. Now I love to walk for my exercise.
13. I also enjoy Yoga
14. I once took the night train to Mombaza (Kenya)
15. I have taken a safari on the Masi Mara (Kenya)
16. I have snorkeled off the coast of Phuket (Thailand)
17. I have snorkeled in Jamaica
18. I have climbed Tai Shan (one of the five “holy” mountains in China)
19. I have seen water puppets in Hanoi (Vietnam)
20. I have had tea at the Peninsula Hotel. (Hong Kong)
21. I have ridden an elephant over a mountain (Thailand)
22. I love to travel and see new places.
23. I once played the bag pipes (very badly, it’s quite hard)
24. I can knit.
25. I hate moths.
26. I LOVE to read.
27. I have an MA in Organizational Leadership.
28. Every house I’ve lived in the past 5 years (2) have had a significant number of walls pained “Light Cocoa” from the Martha Stewart line of paint.
29. I’d rather been in a room with painted walls than white.
30. I Love fruit. Especially apples. I think the old adage “an apple a day. . .” is true.
31. I prefer chocolate soy milk in my coffee.
32. I have one cup of coffee every morning.
33. I can do my best work in Starbucks.
34. I wrote most of my MA Applied Thesis in Starbucks.
35. I spent a weekend by my self in the heart of Amish Country (Illinois)
36. I once sang “This little Light of Mine” at a Jazz Breakfast in Chicago. (I can’t really sing, but I’ve got personality!)
37. My first stay in the hospital was when I had Reid.
38. Which was a surprise since we planned to have him in a birth center with a midwife. . .
39. I worked on Skid Row in LA for one year.
40. I love Friends (the TV show)
41. My favorite Friends episode is the one where Ross wears leather pants.
42. I lived in Qingdao, Shandong, China for one year.
43. I’ve eaten silk worms
44. I belong to a book club.
45. I LOVE inner-library loan.
46. I try and eat as many organic foods as possible.
47. Lilacs are my favorite flowers.
48. I carried Lilacs for my wedding.
49. 45 people came to our wedding
50. which was two years ago this week
51. Todd and I met on a blind date
52. I once told a friend I would “never meet my husband on a blind date”
53. My eye doctor who was also Todd’s best friend set us up.
54. A friend and I (years before I met Todd) use to talk about our imaginary husbands, named Todd and Brian (we picked those names out of the phone book. . . )
55. I love the movie Steel Magnolias
56. I have too many favorite books to count . . .
57. I’ve had 10 roommates (college through getting married).
58. I love documentaries.
59. Grizzle Man is one of my favorites. . .
60. I have given gift bags to women who work in a dominatrix club and strip clubs around LA (a Christian ministry called “Treasures”)
61. I hate stroganoff
62. I was on the game show “Supermarket Sweep” with my friend Kristin.
63. We came in second. 
64. I love to read “The Message Bible”
65. I read the LA Times almost every day
66. I can play the piano.
67. I can’t speak any Spanish (even though I did take two years in school)
68. I like to write
69. I love “My Utmost For His Highest” daily devotional
70. I’m not a big fan of James Dobson
71. Some people don’t like to go to movies with me because I tend to scream (loud) if I get scared or startled. .
72. The worst scare I every had was when Mark and Forrest pounded on Kristin and I’s window after seeing Signs. . .
73. which was made worst because Gina came home unannounced, I hit under my covers and SCREAMED. .
74. I would like to jump out of an airplane someday.
75. I am reading about how to start composting. .
76. I am a little scared to start, because it could be a BIG, SMELLY mess.
77. A new mall is opening on Friday 1 mile from our home. . part of me things’ “ugh” but I can’t wait to walk to Barnes and Noble with Reid.
78. I worked on a state Senate campaign in Idaho
79. I was a page in the Idaho state Senate
80. I like to make my own cards
81. I think I could learn to draw or paint if I took lessons
82. I love to laugh
83. Todd makes me laugh a lot! (as does Reid!)
84. I love to listen to people who are good story tellers
85. My mentor’s mentor, mentor, mentor was Sigmund Freud
86. I love the book of Philippians in the bible.
87. I love Anne of Green Gables (the books more than the movie!)
88. I wear too much black
89. It’s taken me three days to get this far
90. and it’s been much harder than I thought it would be.
91. I love Fredrick Buechner’s writing
92. I watch way too much reality tv (Top Chef, Project Runway, American Idol. . . )
93. I feel blessed with really wise and strong parents
94. and wonderful friends who bring joy and delight to my life
95. I love having people over for dinner (or anytime)
96. we have an overstuffed red chair in our living room, and I love it!
97. the pastor of our new church thinks I am “liberal”. . which I LOVE and take as a HUGE compliment.
98. I can spend way too much time on the computer
99. I love to talk about strength (Strengsfinder from Gallup
100. My hats off to anyone who read this far!!! Thank for your time and attention!

Just so you know. . .

The word "pundit" is a noun and means: A learned person, expert, authority.

One can barely watch the news or read the newspaper these days without hearing (or reading) "Pundits say. . ." I wasn't quite sure what the word meant. I'm making a new vow to myself to look up words that I'm not sure about the meaning. Starting with Pundit.

Now you know too!

Things that make me wonder. . . (Part 2)

I can hardly write a post about the disaster in Myanmar, and then not write about the thousands of people who have died as a result of Monday's earthquake in China. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am a China girl through and through. I fell in love with China when I moved there for a year to teach English. "My" China is further north and east of where the earthquake struck. But the scenes and faces are familiar to me.

The reports of hundreds of school children killed and missing at several middle schools in Chengdu is so tragic, especially when you stop to consider that most children in China are ONLY children. (Thanks to the Communist One Child Policy). I'm sure nothing in the morning when moms and dads sent their children to school foretold them of the heartbreak and fear the day would hold.

Some of my favorite conversations in China happened in my "room" (It had green astro turf carpet. . )when my students would come in the evening for "free talk". One of the most common questions was:

"Army (they called me Army for some reason, some how an "R" always got added), how are Chinese and American different?"

I preferred to answer how much we were the same, "We love our families, we think about what our future will hold, we worry about this, and think about that.". . It was always fascinating to see their response. .

"Really, Americans love their families? But they live so far apart from them (our books say).
Really, Americans worry about their future, But everyone is rich in America (so our books say)
Really, Americans have bad eyes and have to wear glasses (The first time I showed up to class with glasses, their jaws HIT the ground! The thought that only Chinese people had bad eyes. . I don't quite know why). .

What a beautiful journey it was for me, and all my students to learn how much we were all the same, our language was different, our food was different, our government was different, but our hearts, souls, worries and joys were all the same.

So I pray for all the doctors I know who may be helping those injured. I recall the summer I spent hanging out with Chinese Middle School students, and pray that those alive will be found, that parents will be comforted and God will be glorified in a beautiful, amazing, enchanted land I love.

Things that make me wonder. . .

One hour of my life was spent in Myanmar.

I was in Thailand with over 50 college students. They were there for the summer teaching English. They were scheduled to be there for 33 days, but only had a visa for 30 days. The Missionary we were working with arranged for the group to cross the border into Myanmar, stay for an hour, then come back into Thailand, getting an additional 30 days in the country. I happened to be visiting the teams when the trip was planned, and got to tag along.

Myanmar was a tiny bit scary to me. The border town we were in didn't feel safe. It was overwhelming that I could take one step farther than a whole lot of people who had their toes on the border, but couldn't make that one more step without risking their lives.

So when I think about the 63,000 to 100,000 people who may have died in Myanmar this week, it becomes just a little more real. I can't comprehend there are military leaders who until today weren't accepting outside aid. It's all so overwhelming to ponder from the safe confines of my suburban home, in Southern California, where we worry about gas cost getting to $4.00. It's also so easy to think "Where are you God? Did that Cyclone get past you?" Yet God says that he put Kings and Rulers in their place (Daniel 2:21), He rules the wind (Job 28:25) So clearly this didn't just "slide past".

So I turn to prayer. The military leaders can't decide to accept or not accpet my humble prayers. (If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray. . . . I will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14)). We often think of that verse around May 1st and the National Day of Prayer, in America. Today I'm claiming the whole earth as my land. . . it's what I'm doing when I use a cloth bag instead of plastic (saving the earth. . right?)

So I pray for the mother in Myanmar who had a baby boy on November 14th, just like my little boy.

I ask that angels will walk among those in need with a cup of clean, water.

I remind God that the widow in 2 Kings 1 who helped Elijah the prophet, found that her small jar of flour and jug of oil didn't run dry. I ask for that miracle to be played out over and over across Myanmar.

I'm not an international aid worker. But I choose to believe God enough to think that one or two small prayers really do matter for people in a place I'll probably never set foot, for faces that I'll never see, in a situation that's way too big. . .

Will you join me?

Yummy. . .

I read the LA Times. I'm one of "those". . I don't read every single article, I scan most of the headlines, I occasional read the editorials. I see what's happening locally, I look through the Calendar Section,and the Business section. I usually leave the Sports section all to Todd.

I look forward to Mondays and the Health Section, Thursdays and the Home section. . and of course the SUNDAY TIMES. . . Editorial, Book Reviews, Coupons, Image, Travel. . .

I really sort of like reading the paper.

My favorite section. . the FOOD section on Wednesdays. I've found some great recipes. . sometimes it's all too "foo foo". . but sometimes, it's just my speed. . . like this. . .

Joan's on Third's lemon bars

Total time: 45 minutes, plus cooling time for the crust

Servings: Makes 9 bars

Note: Adapted from Joan's on Third.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided

1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting the bars

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter with 1 cup flour and the powdered sugar, stirring just until the dough comes together. Pat the dough into an 8-inch square pan and bake just until lightly golden, about 18 minutes. Remove and cool the pan on a wire rack to room temperature.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, baking powder and remaining 2 tablespoons flour. Whisk in the lemon juice and eggs until thoroughly combined. Pour the custard into the pan over the baked crust and bake again until it's set, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove and cool the tart on a wire rack.

3. When cooled, dust lightly with additional powdered sugar and cut into bars. The lemon bars will keep for 1 week, refrigerated.

Each serving: 277 calories; 3 grams protein; 42 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 11 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 74 mg. cholesterol; 44 mg. sodium.

I made these a couple of weeks ago. . . super easy, so yummy!

It Works for Me!

I've noticed in all my blog reading some patterns, one is "Works for Me Wednesday". . not to be confused with "Wordless Wednesday". . anyway, today as I was filing my bills I thought, "This so works for me". . and it hit me!! I have a "Works for Me Wednesday"

I heard this on the Radio, about a year ago. . it's really helped me get a *TINY* bit more organized. Are you ready for this. . HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS!!

I use a 12 month pocket folder to file my bills. Here's how it works. Every bill that I pay in May (2008), I simply slide into the May pocket. Next year, when I come back to May, I take out the 2008 bills, shread them and then I'll put the May 2009 bills in. The theory is that if you haven't needed a bill in one years time, then you will never need it. It's a little thing, that really has helped me conquer out of control paper! Also. . BILL PAY ONLINE! It's the best. I've heard that it saves you up to 2 hours every month. . plus stamps, envelopes, checks. . . SOOO great!



* okay, lest you think I'm THAT organized, the file folders are part of a system that Todd and I purchased earlier this year. . . it's another great thing, that took some time to do, but we LOVE it! Check it out: www.filesolutions.com

Giggles. . .

I apologize if this isn't "politically correct". . . I've been giggling over this for days. . .

Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's Mayonnaise was manufactured in England.
In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz,
Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico.
But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank,
and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise,
and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great,
that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as
Sinko de Mayo.

I know. Corny. It just makes me laugh.
Thanks to Auntie A!

Crazy . . . (again)

Our journey to a better night sleep is (knock on wood, cross your fingers, and all that) going well. Most nights we only wake up one time, and when he's sleeping close to 12 hours a night, I give him a "free pass" for one feeding in the night. He's got a little tummy, it only makes sense!

I realized a couple of days ago that I have got to CHILL. In my zeal to "help" Reid take more naps during the day, I've realized I've got some serious control issues! It first came to light a few days ago when I wasted an ENTIRE afternoon (and I do mean ENTIRE) trying to tell Reid that "you need a nap". He wasn't buying. It resulted in a frustrated little boy, and an even more frustrated mom. When I reflected upon the wasted afternoon later I realized, I needed a nap, so I was trying to force him to nap, and he was just not having it! A valuable lesson learned: 1) He slept just fine that night, even without the nap that I was so "sure" that he "needed. I had convinced myself that only with great daytime naps does he sleep at night. 2) I need to be aware of my needs versus his needs, and differentiate the two. The reality is that I probably could have gotten the rest that I needed by even just sitting down for 15 or 20 minutes to read a book. He would have been fine playing. . . and I would have been saner by the end of the day, and he would have been happier, I less tierd. . .

To avoid (or try and avoid) this scenario in the future when I think that the little one needs a nap I look at my watch and decide how long we are going to try and "make the nap" happen. I can peacefully settle into "nap" mode and know, if he falls asleep in 15 minutes, great! If he's not asleep. We'll play and wait for the next "nap window" to open.

It's working well. They say little ones are sensitive to our "energy" and I think it's true. When I'm calm and peaceful, he's more calm and peaceful. We've had much better naps since I've institute the "Chill Out Amy" policy.

I find it funny, as I surrender my need for "control". . it all seems to work out so much better. . . . hmmmm

So many firsts. . .

FIRST FOOD. . . Banana's. . . Not so much. We liked the bowl more.


FIRST BALL. . .It's harder than you might think to find a ball for a little guy. This is a bit big. . but delights him all the same. When I brought it home yesterday he was giggling as we played with it. (and yes. . he got it up over his body like that on his own.)




FIRST BED HEAD. .. We've got enough hair for "bed head". . or "nap head"



FIRST AVOCADO. . . If you can believe it, he liked this SO much more than the Banana's. He's a guacamole guy!

Stopping to Smell the Roses. . .

These beautiful roses are from Mark's Rose garden. Aren't they beautiful? And they smelled even better.

Ratatouille. . more than a movie!

My experiment with Vegetarian cooking has been so much fun, and resulted in numerous YUMMY meals. One of my favorites was Ratatouille! I found a recipe in Oprah Magazine and had all of the ingredients on hand except the eggplant. It was more an issue of practicality to use up ingredients. .but the result was divine!!

Ratatouille

4 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic (I use smashed garlic in a jar)
1 small eggplant cut into 1 inch cubes
2 small onions-cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 small zucchini sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 scant pint of sweet cherry tomatoes
salt & pepper
a few fresh basil leaves-torn

Cook each veggie separately over medium heat, using 1 Tb of the olive oil and 1 clove of garlic.
-Eggplant- Cook about 18 minutes, until soft
-zucchini-Cook until tender, about 12-14 minutes
-onion-Cook until soft and slightly caramelized -about 18 minutes
-Tomatoes-Cook about 9 minutes, until wrinkled and barely holding their shape.

* Season each veggie right before you are done cooking it.
* You can put the veggies together in a bowl when you are done cooking them

When all the veggies are cooked, put them all together in a large saute pan, cook until heated all the way through, add torn basil and season to taste.

The recipe said to serve with a crusty bread. Both Todd and I thought it would have been good over couscous or pasta.

SO YUMMY! I learned to enjoy eggplant while living in China. . I'd never been sure how to cook it. . but now that I figured that out. . . eggplant here I come! :)

ONE NOTE: Dear, Sweet Todd was so excited when I said I was making Ratatouille. (we loved the movie) and when he walked in the door from work. . he thought it smelled "Amazing". . he liked the taste. . but told me later in his mind Ratatouille was an amazing cheesy, pasta. . so a plate of veggies, perfectly seasoned, while good. . was a bit of a disappointment on a few levels! :) (But still good!)

Happy Veggie eating!

knowledge is power. . . or something like that

Over the past month my little sweetie-pie has gone from being a pretty good little sleeper. . to a not-so-good-little-sleeper. I knew something needed to change when I could barely pull myself out of bed this weekend, and neither Todd nor I could accurately recall the number of times that I'd been up with Reid.

For me any of the cry-it-out options, weren't options. The few times that I have been tempted to try it, (and I haven't) I've found him stuck in some funky position (on his stomach, which his feet through the crib slats)which he was truly unable to fix on his own, or soaking wet, (another thing he is unable (for the time being) to fix on his own). I feel like when he's crying there is a reason, and it's my job to help him try and fix it. (And needing a cuddle or reassurance in the middle of the night is still a valid reason for getting my attention. . )SO I was left with trying to figure out how to solve this night-waking problem. I changed the way I diapered him (which helped) I decieded that wet diapers were NOT a reason we needed to be waking up. (Our Bum Genuius Cloth Diaper with THREE inserts have done the trick)

After some reasearch I discovered a book, that according to the reviews on Amazon sounded like it would be in alignment with how I want to try and solve this sleep problem. The book is called: The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. I found it yesterday at our local book store and by the end of the forward I KNEW it was the right book for me. . I got a couple chapters read yesterday afternoon, the authors story and an overview of infant sleep patterns (so I didn't even get to the meat of the book). BUT I did know that I had knowledge, or the opportunity to gain knowledge at my finger tips.

So, I put Reid to bed last night, the only thing that changed was my attitude I felt like there was hope out there, I knew I didn't have it yet (last night), but I knew that it was out there.

I'm not sure if the book has some magical power and just being in my house unleashed it (highly unlikely)
OR If my attitude and HOPE changed, and therefore something in Reid changed (more likely) BUT Reid had the BEST night sleep he's EVER had in his whole life! I put him to bed at 7:00, he woke up at 12:57 I fed him for 20 minutes when the alarm went off at 5:00 (Todd was going to the gym to work-out) I heard Reid just slightly stir, I got him (still asleep) feed him and he slept until 7:00 (that's 12 hours, with 2 feedings. . but one was forced upon him by me!)

As I thought about it this morning, I felt like, Knowledge is Power. . My "energy" changed as I put him to bed last night, I wasn't edgy or nervous wondering "how long is he going to sleep". . I felt like, "I don't know what to do today, but I know that tomorrow or the next day I'm going to have more ideas.. ." There was light at the end of the tunnel.

So, who knows what tonight will be like, but I have hope and I've got to get reading.

For the Love of Dye. .

A few weeks ago, I’m not quite sure how it hit, I decided that the perfect “hobby” for me would be to TIE-DYE. (A craft that requires no precision, just wad up a shirt and dip it in dye!) I’m not quite sure why, or where this idea hit, but none-the-less I became a woman on a mission as I looked up information on-line about tie-dye. I found a complete “mini-tie-dye” kit to order, and I was off. I thought that onesie (just the right size for Reid) would be a good project to get me started.

It took a couple of weeks from getting the kit, to finding the perfect tie-dying day. In the mean time I explained my new hobby with glee to several friends. One dear friend, who has been around along enough to experience my, lets say, “misguided exuberance” one-too many times was a bit leery of my plan. His response (in not so many words was. . “WHAT makes you think that YOU and PERMANT DYE is a good idea?) I explained with great confidence that “of course I know better than to do this in the house, I thought the patio would be a perfect place.” . . He explained that Todd probably would NOT like tie-dyed cement. . (Good point) and made me promise on my life that this project would take place on the grass.

Sunday, (on the grass) I tie-dyed my little heart out. . well five onesies at least! As I explained to Todd why I was going to be outside for a bit, he said something I thought so strange. . .
“Have you washed all my white T-shirts. . could you do that before you start?”
A bit confused I said, “Why?”. . my DEAR husband said, “I like my T-shirts white”
I carefully explained to him that my tie-dyeing would have no effect on his t-shirts.
And THEN under his breath I heard something like. . . “Can I get that in writing?”

WHY DOES NO ONE TRUST ME?????

Alas. . The onesies are tie-dyed. The Cement is still cement. And ALL Todd’s T-shirts are white. (Who get’s the last laugh now??)





"Does the light blue tint make me look fat?"

Spring Sprang. . . .

Ah. . the green grass. . . sunny day. . . a spot of shade. .


toes in the grass. . does it get better?


Sweet Denali. . .

yummy. . .

I've decieded to "sneak" a few vegetarian dinners into our diet each week. (I'm not really "sneaking", I told Todd. . did you really think I could keep a secret?!)
I'm reading an interesting book (In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan) which is confirming my inspirtation. Don't worry, I'm not going to go all "veggie". . I am a firm believer in "moderation in all things". . .more on that later.. . for now, I want to share our YUMMMMMMY dinner. . . we had it tonight, and I think the left-overs tomorrow are going to be EVEN BETTER (That's what I've found with another veggie dish from Monday. . .)

BLACK BEAN, CORN & ZUCCHINI ENCHILADAS

Enchilada Sauce
* You can prepare this in advance. I made it this morning, but the recipie suggests up to several days before you plan to make these YUMMMMMMY delights.

1 tsp canola oil
1/2 C. diced red onion
1 tsp. minced garlic (you know they sell this in a jar at TJ's!)
1/2 C. Organic Vegetable Broth
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon honey
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes, undrained.

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in broth and remaining ingredients. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

THE ENCHILADAS!
1 tsp. canola oil
2 C. diced zucchini
1 (10 oz) package frozen, whole-kernel corn
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained.
8 whole-wheat tortillas
2 C. shredded cheese.

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over med-high heat. Add zucchini and corn, saute for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and stir in beans.
3. Spread 1 C. of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
4. Spoon about 1/2 C of the vegetable mixure down the center of a tortilla, sprinkle with a bit of cheese, roll and place seam side down in pan. Repeat with the remaining 7 tortillas.
5. Cover evenly with the remaining 2 C of enchilada sauce.
6. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and top with 1 C. of Cheese and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese metls.

(8 servings: 348 Calories per serving :) THANKS Cooking Light!

The best part about cooking vegetarian. . you don't have to deal with raw meat!! (and the clean up seems to be easier!)

Crazy. . .

Last week a friend sent me a link to a "mama-support-group-web-site-thing". . .Since I was asked to join, I did. (It's only good manners).

I realized after only two days it makes me crazy. Moms post questions, and then every other mom can post a response. I noticed right away several things. .

1) EVERYONE is an expert in cyberspace.
2) How MY child does anything. . MUST be the RIGHT way.
3) Parents of newborns talk way too much about SLEEP.


Now that I've got that off my chest. . here is what I have come to understand as rock MY sweet-angle-boy to sleep. .

1) Everyone IS an expert. . ON THEIR CHILD. Every child is a unique, one-of-a-kind, break-the-mold-when-done individual.
2) How each child does anything. . IS the RIGHT WAY for that child. There are for sure transferable lessons between children, BUT that whole "unique individual thing" is back again. . :)
3) I get this, I really get this, when you aren't getting a full night sleep. . it is an easy thing to talk about. I'm not sure that it's really helpful to compare children's sleeping habits too much. . again, each child has their own rhythms.

I am swearing off that particular message board, I realized that it was subtly causing me to doubt decisions that I've made for my family, that have been working for us. I found myself getting worked up and second guessing things that just last week hadn't bothered me a bit. I love advice, but I think I'm finding it's much more helpful and meaningful from someone who knows me, and my little-sweetie-pie-pants than from some anonymous person in cyberspace.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK! :)

Drool. . . . .

Who Likes Snow?

Not this little guy. . . .

BUT. . .



He LOVES a Bouncer!

Redeeming Rocks

(yummy recipie to follow!)

School lunch. Ah, the days of a mass produced meals served in the compartmentalized, plastic tray, with a carton of milk and plastic silverware. A long line to get your appointed portion all while (slowly) working your way up the pecking order of tables. . . In our school lunch room there was a definite order to where people sat. Kindergartners at the end of the middle table, THIRD graders sat at the far end of the first table (prime spot) and so on.

The lunch menu was published each week in the "Snowshoe" and I could almost predict the sort of week it would be by the lunch menu. If it was a "Chili" Wednesday and "Burrito Friday". . it was a GOOD week. . throw in a Grilled Cheese Any day. . and wow LIFE WAS GOOD. Now if the menu included Beef-a-Roni (need a I say more, just the name. . ) Cold Ham & Cheese (on a homemade, a bit too floury roll. . ) and horror of horror's BEEF ROCKS. . . it was going to be a pretty disastrous week!

Beef Rocks. . . let's just talk about Beef Rocks. . . first the name. . who wants to eat something called. . B-E-E-F R-O-C-K-S?? Some of you more open minded people out there might say, "well what is it, it can't be that bad, can it?" IT CAN, my friend, picture ground beef (the school lunch room variety of ground beef. . have you been watching the news lately, can we say BEEF RECALL?) surrounded in a mushy, homemade (with that same too floury dough) roll. It sends shutters up my spine to recall. Beef Rocks always meant "sack lunch".

So, when in a recent issue of "O" (The Oprah Magazine) I saw a recipie for "Chocolate Rocks" my mind leapt to "beef rocks". . how often do you see "rock" in the name of a recipie?

Chocolate Rocks. . . ROCK! This little morsels of yummy, wholesome (really) chocolate chip cookie goodness made up for any bad association of recipes with the name "Rock". . .

Try them. . you'll see. .

Chocolate "Rocks"

2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 Cup rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp (1 Stick) unsalted butter
1 1/2 Cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 Cup Apple Butter
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Cup Walnut pieces (I used pecans)
3/4 C Raisins (I didn't have any, so I didn't use, but next time I will)

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in brown sugar. Stir in apple butter, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour mixture, stir until well combines. Stir in chocolate chips, walnuts (or pecans) and raisins. Return dough to bowl, cover, and refrigerate until firm 30 minutes to hour. (I just put in freezer for about 5-10 minutes. Worked out fine)

Line baking sheet with parchment paper (or spray with Pam). Drop by rounded spoonful. Bake 13-15 minutes. Cool. Eat!

What I Love about California. . .

Yesterday I had a "I LIVE in Southern California" minute. They come much less often than they use to. It still just doesn't seem possible that a SMALLLLLLL town girl from Idaho ended up in Southern Cali. . . It hit early in the morning when I was savoring my ONE cup of coffee with carob rice milk (why, carob. . because it was on sale. . why rice milk. . because I think Reid might be allergic to soy . . . and rice milk sounded fun) and trying HARD to wake up. I've had a cold the past few days, and of course Reid's been off his schedule at night. . anyway, there was an advertisment for the local news on "Why We Love California". . and I watched the scences from Santa Monica, downtown LA, Hollywood, Chinatown. . all places I've been, I know how to get to on the freeway without really thinking (and I even know where to park!) and it hit me. . I LIVE here!

However it took a few hours for the point to really be driven home. Reid and I are flying to Idaho on Sunday afternoon for a week. (We've got lots of people to meet. . Great Auntie A in particular!)I wanted to send a few things that we'll need in Idaho ahead. Mainly just a couple of blankets, I've got quite a stash here, and I figured we could use them there and they will probably find a home there too! So there I was, a bit woozy with a head cold, standing in line with a bag of blankets and Reid cozy in his Ergo Carrier on my chest. I didn't have a box at home, so I had to get one at the Post Office. But of course I didn't have TAPE to shut the box, so I had to wait in the long line, find out the boxes were free (who knew that?!), get a roll of tape from the nice lady, then step aside to pack my box. All was going well until I dropped the roll of tape. . I COULD have picked it up, but it was all getting a bit crazy. . when my guardian angel walked up. . and older Indian man. . "Dear, let me help you". . (with a strong Indian accent). . My Indian angel knelt down on the floor, taped my box up, packed my blankets, taped it shut. . using lots of tape (we want it to be secure dear!) and sent me on my way.

As I left the Post Office, my box of blankets safely on their way to Idaho, I walked out into a clear, sunny, high 70's day and thought. . That's why I love California. . . the rich fabric of PEOPLE who live here...

And "thank you Lord for all my post office angels!" (When I lived in China, I really believe God sent me a Post Office angel. The Post Office was probably the most difficult outing I had to make in any given week, and on more than one occassion, when I was completely confounded and frustrated in the Post Office and older Chinese woman who spoke perfect English would appear at my side and say, "Amy, what do you need?". . . . Post Office Angels!

What a cutie pie. . .

"you're so vain". . . He just LOVES a mirror.



Gotta love Harry the Hedgehogs yummy nose!!

My New Favorite. . .

. . .craft project! I have a great appreciation for people who are all crafty and make cool scrapbooks, note cards, quilts. . all that cool stuff. I wish I were that talented. . or maybe it's not a question of talent, as much as patience. My attention span when it comes to that stuff is about 10 minutes. If I can start and finish something in about 10 minutes, I'm good. Beyond that, well, let's just say there are a lot of 'good intentions'. (which have all been purge in our recent 'decluttering frenzy') So I was thrilled to come up with my own little 10 minute craft project this week!

Someone recently gave me a hand-crafted journal (one of those black & white composition notebooks, with a personalized cover). This week I was putting together a couple of gift baskets and wanted to include something similar. At Micheal's I found the COOLEST product. I thought I would get some craft paper and cut out the paper to fit the notebook and be good to go (MIND YOU. . this was probably a stretch for me, because in addition to having a short attention span, I have a bit of a problem when it comes to details, so I probably would have cut the wrong size paper. . . or who knows what?!)I was THRILLED to find that they now have cute patterned "packing tape". . . YES. . they sell this tape in the scrapbook section with three or four coordinating tapes, of varing widths in a package.

The results (drum roll please). . . . .



. . . personalized journals. I might become their best customer for this stuff. Someone after my own heart thought of that! Brilliant!

Happy taping. . .

Contemplation

A future contemplative??


I’ve been “contemplating” Contemplation. It all started with this GREAT book my dad gave me called, “Eat This Book” By Eugene Peterson. (Eugene Peterson did the translation of the bible called The Message). It’s about the practice of Lectio divina which is divine reading, or the practice of reading the bible, (or anything really) in a slow, thoughtful, intentional, contemplative way.

“Contemplation means living what we read, not wasting any of it or hoarding any of it, but using it up in living. . .” (Eugene Peterson)

The practice of lectio is about finding the holy in the ordinary. Seeing God’s fingerprints displayed throughout our days.

“Lectio divina comprises four elements: lectio (we read the text), meditation (we meditate the text), oratio (we pray the text), and contemplatio (we live the text). . . Lectio divina is a way of reading that become a way of living” (and with that it’s clear WHY I love lectio so much. It spills over into everything I read: reading, thinking, praying and LIVING.)

“Contemplatives fly off the handle, make bad judgments, speak out mistakenly and regret their words, run stoplights and get speeding tickets. Contemplatives get depressed, get confused, get fat, get lost, and sometimes don’t get it at all.” (whew, because this seems to describe someone I know. . (me). . so I feel that there is hope yet that I might just might learn. .

So. . Fiat mihi . . “Let it be to me according to thy Word”

Smiles

Saturday Morning we spent some time enjoying our patio. . . We love our newest blanket from Mary-Jo!(Can you tell that he was making raspberries. . he loves to make all sorts of fun noises!)



My little Reid. . I mean Reader. . .