Spaghetti
I hate taking pictures inside. Which is why there are very few photos on the blog so far this year, and also why it might be a while before there are any. It's just a bit too depressing to pick up the camera knowing all I'll get is dark, fuzzy, orange-tinted shots. Or super-shadowed, whitewashed, creepy-indoor-flash shots. Yuck both ways.
I'll just tell you that both boys are still breathtakingly handsome. Says their mother. And that they are getting taller by the minute. And that Trey's hair is pretty much brown. And that Aden has received some comments on how thin he is getting. Don't worry. He seems to have my appearance genes, which means the belly and chin aren't going anywhere.
I won't go all out and commit to the whole new recipe every month idea, but I did try a new recipe this month, and it was a big hit.
This is pretty spectacular, with a few modifications. If you want my version, let me know and I'll post the details. How have I never known that you don't have to boil lasagna noodles?
Abby the Dinosaur has made a comeback. Four out of seven days last week were Abby's birthday. Of widely varying ages. This may have happened just because Trey wanted a good excuse to ask for cupcakes.
But still, Abby is back to his old troublemaking ways around the house. Hiding stuff, bossing everyone around, making noise during naptime.
I really don't like that dinosaur. Er, boy.
Aden has fallen head over heels in love with this sweet Build-A-Bear doggie that Nene gave him for Christmas. So now he has two lovies, a squealing monkey and the dog. When he has just one of them, he'll hold it by the neck in one arm and suck his other thumb. When he has both of them, he'll crane his head down, mouth open, and try unsuccessfully to reach both of his thumbs. Nice.
A bit of useless trivia for you: Trey has two lovies, identical blue and white dogs, both named "Doggie." Aden calls all mammals doggies. So he calls both his monkey and his dog "Doggie." Four lovies in the house. All with the same name. Again, nice.
Y'all say a prayer for Brandon, if you would. He is walking through a valley of his own right now. It is clear to everyone that God is right there walking with him. Brandon knows this, but the valley is still there. We are praying that the Lord would take every trial and use each one to shape both Brandon and our family for His purposes.
We've had some septic issues around our house this past weekend. Well, not really around the house. In the basement. So we've been trying to minimize wastewater for several days. Meaning no dishwasher, no washing machine, super-quick showers, and even (cringe) ahem, a few multi-use flushes.
Hey, it's January. National Water Problem Month. No? Just us? OK then, plain old Water Problem Month.
During our wastewater embargo, there were some, um, really good reasons that I sorely lamented the nonusability of our washing machine. Really, really good reasons. Nuff said.
But as anygood stuck mom would do, I rolled up my sleeves, tried not to breathe, and did some very disgusting laundry by hand. In a bucket. Outside. In freezing temperatures. With ice cold water from a hose.
Yes, spoiled.
And very grateful that the water was still running. And that there were clothes and sheets to wash. And boys who needed them clean.
Working on obedience. This is not easy. Because being obedient requires looking at a bigger picture. Getting beyond yourself. And, at least right now, it doesn't seem that the maturity level required for true obedience is there.
For Trey.
And for Aden.
But mostly, for me.
I'm still in 1 Peter on my devotions. It's been almost a month. Going at it a chapter a week-ish. You might think that's overkill, but that is working better for my retention capacity than anything else I've tried. And every time I re-read the chapter, something else catches me.
Today it was this:
"And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:10
I want to be restored. Strong. Firm. Steadfast. And I will be.
God Himself will do it.
I'm not overlooking the "suffered a little while", oh no. And praise, praise, praise the Lord for that "little while". But as for what happens on the other side of that suffering... That's what I want.
And God Himself will do it.
So many blessings.
Speaking of blessings, Aden is finally beginning to say a few English words. Just a handful in addition to his existing vocabulary, but still. Most notably, he can ask for cheese and to watch Andy Griffith. Hey, you learn what is most important to you, no?
And Aden is showing some interest in the potty. We discovered this one evening when he lifted up the lid on the trunk of a toy tricycle and started pulling his pants down, saying "keekee", his word for peepee.
It was funny, but very fitting for the boy who stuffs Cheerios in his ears and tries to use his sippy cup as a spoon.
Trey has been having some trouble at bedtime. If he's not fully exhausted when we turn the lights off, he lays there and talks to himself (or maybe Abby) at full volume. Nonstop talking. Then somewhere in mid-sentence he'll shout, "Mama! I don't know how to go to sleep!"
Oh, the talking. We just have to laugh when he asks a question and can't keep his mouth shut long enough to hear the answer.
Yes, God does have a sense of humor. We are blessed enough to see glimpses of it every day. What wondrous love is this.
I'll just tell you that both boys are still breathtakingly handsome. Says their mother. And that they are getting taller by the minute. And that Trey's hair is pretty much brown. And that Aden has received some comments on how thin he is getting. Don't worry. He seems to have my appearance genes, which means the belly and chin aren't going anywhere.
I won't go all out and commit to the whole new recipe every month idea, but I did try a new recipe this month, and it was a big hit.
This is pretty spectacular, with a few modifications. If you want my version, let me know and I'll post the details. How have I never known that you don't have to boil lasagna noodles?
Abby the Dinosaur has made a comeback. Four out of seven days last week were Abby's birthday. Of widely varying ages. This may have happened just because Trey wanted a good excuse to ask for cupcakes.
But still, Abby is back to his old troublemaking ways around the house. Hiding stuff, bossing everyone around, making noise during naptime.
I really don't like that dinosaur. Er, boy.
Aden has fallen head over heels in love with this sweet Build-A-Bear doggie that Nene gave him for Christmas. So now he has two lovies, a squealing monkey and the dog. When he has just one of them, he'll hold it by the neck in one arm and suck his other thumb. When he has both of them, he'll crane his head down, mouth open, and try unsuccessfully to reach both of his thumbs. Nice.
A bit of useless trivia for you: Trey has two lovies, identical blue and white dogs, both named "Doggie." Aden calls all mammals doggies. So he calls both his monkey and his dog "Doggie." Four lovies in the house. All with the same name. Again, nice.
Y'all say a prayer for Brandon, if you would. He is walking through a valley of his own right now. It is clear to everyone that God is right there walking with him. Brandon knows this, but the valley is still there. We are praying that the Lord would take every trial and use each one to shape both Brandon and our family for His purposes.
We've had some septic issues around our house this past weekend. Well, not really around the house. In the basement. So we've been trying to minimize wastewater for several days. Meaning no dishwasher, no washing machine, super-quick showers, and even (cringe) ahem, a few multi-use flushes.
Hey, it's January. National Water Problem Month. No? Just us? OK then, plain old Water Problem Month.
During our wastewater embargo, there were some, um, really good reasons that I sorely lamented the nonusability of our washing machine. Really, really good reasons. Nuff said.
But as any
Yes, spoiled.
And very grateful that the water was still running. And that there were clothes and sheets to wash. And boys who needed them clean.
Working on obedience. This is not easy. Because being obedient requires looking at a bigger picture. Getting beyond yourself. And, at least right now, it doesn't seem that the maturity level required for true obedience is there.
For Trey.
And for Aden.
But mostly, for me.
I'm still in 1 Peter on my devotions. It's been almost a month. Going at it a chapter a week-ish. You might think that's overkill, but that is working better for my retention capacity than anything else I've tried. And every time I re-read the chapter, something else catches me.
Today it was this:
"And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:10
I want to be restored. Strong. Firm. Steadfast. And I will be.
God Himself will do it.
I'm not overlooking the "suffered a little while", oh no. And praise, praise, praise the Lord for that "little while". But as for what happens on the other side of that suffering... That's what I want.
And God Himself will do it.
So many blessings.
Speaking of blessings, Aden is finally beginning to say a few English words. Just a handful in addition to his existing vocabulary, but still. Most notably, he can ask for cheese and to watch Andy Griffith. Hey, you learn what is most important to you, no?
And Aden is showing some interest in the potty. We discovered this one evening when he lifted up the lid on the trunk of a toy tricycle and started pulling his pants down, saying "keekee", his word for peepee.
It was funny, but very fitting for the boy who stuffs Cheerios in his ears and tries to use his sippy cup as a spoon.
Trey has been having some trouble at bedtime. If he's not fully exhausted when we turn the lights off, he lays there and talks to himself (or maybe Abby) at full volume. Nonstop talking. Then somewhere in mid-sentence he'll shout, "Mama! I don't know how to go to sleep!"
Oh, the talking. We just have to laugh when he asks a question and can't keep his mouth shut long enough to hear the answer.
Yes, God does have a sense of humor. We are blessed enough to see glimpses of it every day. What wondrous love is this.
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