How Do I Put This?

Olivia and I were taking a walk today and she saw a worm on the sidewalk. Since we haven't had rain in a lot of days, it was pretty obvious that the worm was no longer with us. Not sure why, but I found myself trying to delicately talk around the death of the worm. I know we have talked about death at length, but I still wonder where she is in her mind about it...

Olivia: "Mommy, look at that worm!"
Me: "Hmmm, he must be sunbathing" ..... "Or taking a nap"
Olivia: "Or he is dead!"

Guess she is ok with it for now! :-)

Mexican Chicken Pot Pie in Crescent Bowls

I found this recipe on Pillsbury.com. Yummy!

INGREDIENTS
1can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1 package (6 oz) refrigerated cooked Southwest-flavor chicken breast strips, coarsely chopped
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
3 tablespoons Old El Paso® canned chopped green chiles, drained
1 cup Green Giant® Niblets® frozen whole kernel corn
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack with jalapeño peppers cheese blend (2 oz)
1/2 cup Old El Paso® Thick ‘n Chunky salsa

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Place four 6-oz custard cups upside down on cookie sheet with sides. Spray cups with cooking spray.
2.Unroll dough on work surface; press into 12x8-inch rectangle. Cut into 4 squares. Place 1 dough square over each custard cup, stretching to fit bowl.
3.Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from custard cups. Place on cooling rack.
4.Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add flour, salt and pepper; stir until well blended. Gradually stir in broth, cook until bubbly and thickened. Stir in chicken, black beans, green chiles and corn. Simmer about 5 minutes or until hot.
5.Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture into each crescent bowl. Top with cheese and salsa.

Jeremy Riddle Concert

Our church is hosting a Costa Rica Benefit Concert featuring Jeremy Riddle (popular christian artist) September 14th. Tickets are $10 per person and $20 per family!

Parents of Teenagers...

Working as a co-coordinator in the nursery-two's area at church grants me the wonderful opportunity to really get to know my volunteers (25 or so each Sunday). I spoke with some parents/volunteers this weekend about the differences between the toddler stage and the teen stage. Most of the differences are quite obvious, but one of the differences just stinks.


Right now Logan and Olivia need and WANT their mommy. Selfishly, I really want it to stay this way (the wanting part, I am really hoping Logan will be potty-trained someday (smile). Realistically, I know it may change. We are going to start praying now that God gives us the wisdom, as parents, to nourish a healthy but always SUPER-CLOSE relationship with our kids. I have read about the difference between a 4th grader and 5th grader. In 4th grade, your parents still know everything. In 5th grade you don't think your parents know anything. So while we really don't care if they think we know everything, we want to always have a really close - but we can give them the distance they need - relationship.

The verse that really gives me peace about all of this is (and I can't remember where it is, Isaiah I think?)

"Great is my children's peace, for they are taught of You (God)."

The Taste Was So Fun!!!

We had a ball at the Taste! It was so well-run, I was just amazed! Tons of food vendors, 3 wonderful bands, a classic car show display, wine tours... it was all so fun! The kids had fun walking around and playing, then home with Gigi, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dan. Brad, Kerri and the kids came too and Tom, Dotty, Laura and Jim! So we had lots of fun visiting, eating and sampling wine!


Dotty, Laura and Tom
Olivia kissing Silas (just had to throw that one in, so cute Sis!)

Isabel, Nolan and poor Logan, stuck in the stroller!

Thank you Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dan for coming to help with the kids!
Not sure what was so interesting...
I can't wait until next year!

"Ommy"

Logan steals my heart everyday! Either by a special hug, or kiss, or just a smile directed right to me. But last night was extra special. Logan doesn't call me by name very often (I am always here for one thing, and if he wants either Tommy or I, he comes and takes our hands), but last night I came home from running and he ran into the kitchen saying "Ommy, Ommy!" and jumped into my arms, BIG HUG and sloppy kiss, LOVE IT!

Thought Provoking Questions

Riding in the car (coming home from meeting Susie and Deanna for breakfast, fun seeing you girls!) Olivia raised some interesting 3-year-old questions about Jesus...

Olivia: "Look mom, a cross on that church, Jesus died on the cross."

Me: "You are right!"

Olivia: "Was he on the back of the cross, or the front?"

Me: "I think the front"

Olivia: "Did his brothers do it?" (I think she is thinking of Joseph here)

Me: "Nope"

Olivia: "Did he just die?"

Me: "Yes, for our sins"

Olivia: "what?"

Me: another long-winded explanation of forgiveness, etc. followed by a pretty blank stare...

Sometimes I feels SOOO unprepared to answer questions that seem so simple but to a 3-year-old are so complicated! I know she has heard this answer over and over, but I can't imagine trying to process it in her little mind! Praise God He reveals Himself in ways we can each understand. For instance, I told Olivia, one day, that even though we can't see God He speaks to us all the time, like when the trees are blowing in the wind, He is saying "Hi Olivia, I love you". Now when we see the trees moving in the wind she says "Hi God, love you too!".

Food Map Container

This is so cool! I found this in Metropolitan Home Magazine (from Dotty) It is a Food Map garden container on wheels! Made of 100% post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene, with a curvilinear base designed to let water drain quickly. AND since it is on wheels, it can be wheeled inside during a freeze! The price is $245, I will have to save up, maybe for next summer!

Peas

I was VERY pleasantly surprised when Olivia asked for peas for lunch! After I picked my jaw up off of the floor, I said "Sure!". When I make lunch and dinner for the kids, I include something I KNOW they like and then add some fruits or vegetables that are questionable. They may or may not eat them (most of the time not) but at least I feel better, as a mom, that I am putting it in front of them. So, needless to say, this nutritionist-mommy was pleased.

Taste of Downtown - Tomorrow!

Taste of Downtown 2008The fifth annual Taste of Downtown event will be held the afternoon of Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 4-10PM. Featuring a lot of food from your favorite local restaurants and great wines from Easley Winery. Bands are: Tastes Like Chicken, (hold on to your hat because Heather Ramsey does a Joplin song that will take you back to Woodstock '69), Toy Factory, and The Tides.