Family, Food...and Recycling

It's a strange title I know, but I'll explain.

This past weekend was a busy one, but full of fun and good food. And thankfully my stomach WAS cooperating so that I could prepare some dishes and enjoy them. I'm definately feeling some exhaustion after all of the activity, but can relax a bit today and catch up on my rest.

On Friday we had some friends over. We've been trying to get together every two weeks or so, having dinner together, and then either the ladies or the men get a few hours out-on-the-town while the other halves watch the kiddos. We had a yummy steak dinner, and then can you guess where/how the guys decided to spend their evening? So funny...the hardware store, electronics store, and test-driving minivans! Of course, when Lisa and I had our night we went to The Flower and Craft Warehouse and a coffeeshop. Typical, right? :-) You could tell the hubbies had a good time though and needed that guy time.

Saturday morning Natalia and I headed to a nearby park to meet with my cousin Dana and her daughter. We only get to see this side of my mom's family every year or two, so when we do get together, it's even more precious. The weather was gorgeous and we got to catch up as the girls played. (We would get to spend more time with the rest of the family on Sunday.)

After church and naps, all of my Mom's side of the family were getting together on Sunday for a picnic at my aunt and uncle's house. All but 4 of the 35 of us were there! I took a picture of Great Grandpa and Nana Ruth with all 7 (8 counting our "kumquat") great-grandkids, but it didn't turn out very well and I can't load pictures on this computer until Pete fixes it. We had a great time. Again, I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family that thoroughly enjoys spending time together.

Then yesterday evening we got to spend the evening with Pete's dad Jurek (George), his wife Malgosia (Margaret), and Pete's brother Wojtek. Tek is leaving soon for a job in Belgium so it's been really nice to see him a bit more these last few weeks. We had a delicious meal as always, and Natalia was the life of the party. :-)

So this morning I'm in recovery mode and taking it easy. The most strenuous thing so far has been trying to explain to Natalia why we recycle our cardboard. LOL Many a puzzled look, I can assure you. Her main concern--"where are the Mint Klondike bars that belong to this packaging?" A valid concern, don't ya think?

Peach Cobbler

This recipe is modified from one I found on allrecipes.com--so yummy and perfect for any time of year. When fresh fruit isn't in season you can used canned. Granny Smith apples, berries, or peaches are especially good in this recipe.

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4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
29 oz. can of sliced peaches, drained

Topping:
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
3 Tbsp. oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Put slices of butter in an 8 x 8 inch baking dish and melt in the heating oven.
Combine dry batter ingredients, mix with milk, then pour over the melted butter in dish.
Layer sliced peaches over top.
Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over peaches.
Bake for 50-60 minutes.
Serve warm.
Makes 4-6 servings.

Suggestions?

This post is merely to ask for your feedback. I need some book recommendations. Though I enjoy rereading my favorites, I'm alittle bored of that and so...

Any suggestions?

Some of my favorite types are:

1. Historical Christian fiction (think Bodie Thoene or Francine Rivers--I like Karen Kingsbury but she gets really predictable)

2. Classic Literature (nothing too "heady" for now: like To Kill A Mockingbird, or Little Women)

3. Mystery/Suspense (I like most of John Grisham's work, just nothing too dark or gory)

4. Light-hearted "Beach" reads--some fluff allowed ;-)


What are some of your favorites?

Coming Out Of Hibernation

Oh, what a breath of fresh air and warm sunshine will do!

This morning I awoke with a pounding headache and every muscle felt sore--must have been having some wacky dreams! But, after 2 Tylenol, tea and toast, I was determined to power through and actually try to accomplish the grocery shopping before lunch.

With feeling so completely wiped out these last 3 weeks ENERGY was part of the issue--but the even greater reason was all of the combined smells of the place. (And it's a very clean, well-kept store!) As I told my mom last night, I've had trouble even walking through the cereal aisle. That's how keen my smeller has been. Hmmm...under different circumstances I could replace the drug-sniffing dogs, but I digress.

Well, I am happy to report that Natalia and I were victorious this morning. No hurling or collapsing. :-P Praise the Lord!

Maybe the nausea is lessening just a bit. Wierd, since I stopped taking the ginger root and Vit. B6 last Friday. Just didn't feel they were making that big of a difference and I wanted to see what stopping them would do. Maybe I'll be one of the fortunate ones this time and this yucky bout will be short-lived.

All I can say is, I feel like a bear coming out of a long hibernation. And after so many rainy days, the sunshine was calling to me...

Baby Stuff

Gotta' question for all you recent moms out there. Anyone have anything to say about Belly Bands? Supposedly you can extend the life of your normal clothes by putting these around your waist to cover up loosened pants. Sounds good to me right now because though I'm not really showing yet, I really feel uncomfortable with things that sit at my waist. Are these band thingies something you'd recommend? And where can I find one without spending a ton?

On another note, but still baby related, our newest resident is the size of a grape this week and has lost his/her tail! Whoo hoo! :-) The four chambers of the heart are forming as are the valves. My 1o week appointment is next week so it will be exciting to once again hear the heartbeat.

Now, I'm just hoping and praying that this upcoming weekend's festivities will smell and taste good to me...and that I'll have energy to visit with all the family we plan to see.

What's The Deal?

Our daughter has begun to do something strange lately.

Then again, maybe it's not so strange and is yet another way she is "taking control" of her life. :-P

A few mornings now I've walked into her room to find her completely undressed--but thankfully still wearing a diaper. What's the deal? You'd think she'd make the connection that it's a bit chilly this way! I think she's doing it after waking and before making enough noise for me to know she's up.

She doesn't seem bothered by it though and since then has even tried to take her shirt off while we're just relaxing in the living room--before I've stopped her.

Anyone else have kids who did this, and is it just a phase? Hopefully an at-home phase!!!

pOh-tAy-tOe, pOh-tah-tOe

Natalia's development since turning 2 has been amazing. (I know this is no surprise to those of you with toddlers--you know!) Not only is she saying some Polish words, but forming longer and more complex sentences and surprising us daily with the things she does and says.

Still, there are some really funny pronounciations that we get a good chuckle from. Here is a sampling:

flip flops = fee bops
milk = muck
car = tar
Morgan = moy-net
Avery = A-vee
Natalia (herself) = tah-lee-ah
thank you = ah-doo
school bus = stool b-oo-s (supposed to sound like look)
.....and what's more, everything--EVERYTHING--is "mine". Though we now have established that some things are Mama's and Tata's. But the house, car, computer, etc....apparently not!

Last night she actually said "lasagna"! I didn't even know she knew what that was! I don't make it that often.

What's really cool is hearing her say "csesc" (ch-eh-sh-ch = hello) to her Babcia (Grandmother)or Dziadek (Grandfather)--which she can actually pronounce!--and hear her ask "Where's Woijek (Uncle)?" Pete's been waiting and waiting for her to catch onto the speaking part of the language, though she understands it perfectly.

And finally her personality is really starting to bloom--and boy, is she a determined little one! I really have NO IDEA who she takes after! (Bah hah!)

We know she will LOVE having a baby sister or brother come the end of the year. She already plays momma to all her dolls and stuffed animals, reading to them, feeding them in her highchair, and singing to them in her crib. She'll be a wonderful big helper to Mommy, I just know it. She already come running into the kitchen whenever she hears the dishwasher door open yelling, "I wanna' helper! I wanna' helper!" :-)

Her bright-eyed smile first thing in the morning as she jumps and jabbers in her crib, watching her read her books with great concentration, pointing and saying what things are, and hearing her sing countless nursery rhymes continues to melt our hearts. (In fact, right now she's downstairs singing "oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?" quite enthusiastically!)

That's our girl--love you Sweet Pea! XXXOOO

It's Been 2 Weeks of Mother's Days

Yesterday I was in my usual spot--on the couch. Not how I would prefer to spend Mother's Day, but oh well. It became my usual resting place 2 weeks ago when the pregnancy all-day yuckies came to stay. I distinctly remember feeling nauseous for the first 4 months with Natalia, but somehow it seems worse this time. Maybe teaching full-time then was a helpful distraction, maybe having a 2-1/2 year old to take care of makes it harder the second time around...or maybe the yuckiness IS worse. Who knows?

My consolation is that this too shall pass--AND many people have had it alot worse! I know someone threw up every day of her pregnancy and even during labor. Thank you Lord that that is not the case with me! I have been able to keep things down...so far.

All that to say, my hubby has made the past 2 weeks the greatest Mother's Day gift of all--he has stepped up to the plate in such a way that it's been humbling...very much so. He hasn't blinked at the prospect of cooking dinner and cleaning up after he's put in a full day of work. If I plan the meals and make him a grocery list, he's all set to go. Smells, particularly in the kitchen, have been especially problematic for me. Just the thought of cooking sends me reeling. I have enough trouble just opening the pantry cupboards and refrigerator, so his attitude and desire to serve me in this way is HUGE. It's hard for me to be on the receiving end of such love without feeling guilty! But, I know that instead of letting my thoughts go there, I can give glory to God for the grace He's given and to honor my husband for his sacrifice. Even though I am undeserving, he lavishes his love upon me--what a picture of Christ and the glorious gospel.

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I thought I'd give a few more details to let you all know what's been going on. I've had two doctor's visits so far; the first to confirm the pregnancy and the second to have an early sonogram. The sonogram was to confirm a heartbeat and to determine if we were having multiples--chances were a bit greater because of the medication I had been on.

So, last Friday Pete went with me to my sonogram. We're just having 1 baby, and the heartbeat looked and SOUNDED just great. Considering that the baby is the length of a kidney bean, this was so remarkable! Pete's convinced he saw something between the baby's legs--he's delirious. :-)

This pregancy will be considered high-risk, but not, if that makes sense. The doctor's will order special tests along the way, due to Natalia's heart defect, but they don't expect to find anything. This is because there are no known hereditary/health issues in our family that would have caused her defect. You can click on this link for an explanation of TGV (Transposition of the Great Vessels).

We haven't been anxious about it--God has continued to grant us peace that He is sovereign. He carried us through the fire before. But we are praying for a healthy baby and a "normal" delivery this time around.

Thanks for sharing our excitement with us! I'll continue to post updates.

Whoo Hoo!

Notice anything new on my sidebar, folks? :-)










God is faithful...He is never late.
After a year and a half of trying, we are THRILLED and couldn't wait to share our happy news with all of you.










(I'm due December 22nd...isn't that funny? Hmmm, let's see--how many birthdays CAN we cram into that crazy month?!?! Our little family of 4 will now have 3, and they all fall within 1 1/2 week's time with Christmas in the middle!)

Things I Take For Granted...

Recently my parents regained a functioning septic system after a long year of...well, making alterations. During all of this we would frequently reflect on how easy it is to take our conveniences for granted--like washing machines and good plumbing.

I distinctly remember how giddy I felt returning to the states after 4 months in Central America, and flushing toilet paper down the commode at the Miami Airport. FYI: this is not done in C.A.! (And in other third world regions, I imagine.) Such a small thing, but a huge change from what I was accustomed to.

Well, reading my aunt's post the other day about laundry prompted me to write this tribute to my washing machine. Silly I know, but oh how I love this modern marvel. Not only do I love that it works well and is dependable, but it's on the first floor. If you know me, you know how easily I can forget about it, especially when it was in the basement at our old house. And that only results in nasty smelling stuff that needs to be rewashed. (Aunt Jeanie: I don't even want to imagine the smell of J's "rain-washed" towel. :-P GAG!)

ANYWAY, my point of reference starts here:

These pics were taken in the late 90's while I was on a YES team to Honduras. That's me at the "pila", a raised cement basin with crushed stone ridges that really did a number on our clothes. (Tim's exasperated look about sums it up. "How much longer will this take?!")

It literally was a process that took multiple days. First you'd soak your clothes in soapy water for a few hours. Then you'd take the bar soap and brush and scrub them in the pila, rinse, scrub, rinse, rinse, and rinse again. The hardest part was ringing them out--especially jeans. This is why we had few clothes and we wore them until they were unsightly. What else could we do? There were dirt roads everywhere and it was the dry season! Finally it would sometimes take up to 3 days for them to dry on the lines outside. We were under a canopy of pine trees and then there were the occasional rain showers.

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Today as I consider how easy my life is in comparison, it's still hard not to forget those lessons learned and complain when my life takes an uncomfortable turn. But I must remember...I must consider those whose life is more difficult than mine...and recognize the Source of everlasting joy and contentment, despite my circumstances.

Thank you Lord for my many, MANY blessings...including my washing machine. :-)

Carefree Days

Oh, to be a kid again...

Natalia loves, Loves, LOVES to be outside--no matter the weather. And since it's warmed up a bit again, she just sat on the doorstep yesterday and read her books.


...and later moved outside for a relaxing (more comfortable?) lounging position.

Then, since we have an Amish farm just beyond the trees, she decided to talk to the horsies.

(Translation for the video: "Horsie! Horsie! What are you doing? Are you playing? Where are the cows? Horsie! Horsie! ...") They were mowing the alfalfa or some kind of grass.

Sorry the video is sideways.

Family Festivities

Today is my parent's 35th Wedding Anniversary!

There is so much I could say to honor them for the godly example they've been to me and our family. And so many of you know them personally and can echo my sentiments.

Not only have they modeled commitment, a strong work ethic, honesty and respect, but they've done so by leaning on the Lord and making their relationship with Him of utmost importance. Never have I doubted their allegiance to God and to each other. I know this is rare in today's world and I am so thankful for this incredible blessing.

They are still laboring long and hard, serving others and our growing family, but doing so with love and joy. And of course their wonderful sense of humor and love for life makes their home a haven.

I love you Dad & Mom!

You continue to inspire me and encourage my faith.

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Here are some pics from our Sunday together as we celebrated my parent's anniversary and my brother Ryan and sister-in-law Kim's birthdays. It was a gorgeous day and we spent much of the day outside.

The dogwood and lilacs were in full bloom. GORGEOUS.

The men in the "back forty", looking over the land...he he. Do you think they were actually talking about spring planting?

Garage Sale Treasure

This morning as Pete was running some errands for me he discovered this "fun house" mirror at a garage sale.

While we've enjoyed it this morning, he plans to use it in his Physics classes.

Check out my one-headed, thirty-fingered, six-legged hubby!

Good For Some Laughs

I've come across some real keepers...good for at least a chuckle or maybe even some laughter shakes (some of you know what these are).

Just click on the links:

Laughing Baby (Just wait till he gets started!)

Top 3 Laughing Babies (The last of these 3 is alittle eery but oh so funny!)

The Mom Song (Oh my! Any of these sound familiar?)

Pachelbel's Bedtime Song (I especially like the end, don't you?)

Another Meme

I never really knew what "meme" meant, just that it was a list of some kind. Well, most of you already know how I feel about lists...oh the sheer joy! :-P

My friend Lynn tagged me again and so here it is.

3 Things...

3 places I go all the time: the local library, grocery store (ALDI’s, Country Store, GIANT), and though it’s not ALL the time—the gym.

3 people who email me: Lisa (our husbands were friends in college and now we're close friends too), Jen (high school friend who is now my neighbor), Hope (friend from our MD church who recently moved to the area)

3 favorite places to eat: Symposium (great Mediterranean cuisine; Pete’s taken me there for special occasions since our dating days), Quiznos (always something to tempt the pallet), and at a backyard cookout (everything just tastes better)

3 places I would rather be right now: In bed (not feeling so peppy), somewhere pleasantly warm with a hammock, a fruity drink, and a good book, or with my family (doesn’t matter what we’re doing—just being together is always a good time).

3 TV shows I could watch over and over: Designed To Sell (I love getting ideas), Family Feud (I know, I’m strange), and Friday Night Lights (Yeah! Season 3 coming this fall!)

3 people who will do this: Rebecca, Karla, and Zoanna (gals, feel released though if you’d rather not) and anyone else who wants to join in.