Biggin.


Being the great mother that I am, my poor second child missed both his 15 month and 18 month check up. This is his 20th month of life and he finally got to go to a check up. I guess this wouldn't be all that bad if we weren't doing the Alternative Vaccination Schedule. He hasn't been immunized since his 14th month. We will be doing some monthly visits to catch back up and stay with the regimen.

Justus weighed in at almost 31 lbs and measured 35 inches tall. He is in the mid 90th percentile for both. He is so big. Everywhere we go I feel compelled to explain that he is only 20 months so they don't expect him to respond like a 3 year old because he looks like one!

Justus is a fun, easy going guy. He has the BEST belly laugh! He loves to have fun and is mostly interested in balls and bats and anything his big brother is doing. He enjoys our Ugandan drums and plays them everyday. He stacks them, bangs them, fills them with toys...all sort of things. He is adjusting to life in MO very well. He has a few little friends, Lina and Eli. Lina is a bit younger than J but...she could be the cutest thing I have ever seen. I love her. love her! Eli is a sweet little boy that is almost exactly J's age. He was adopted by a sweet family in our small group and he is just precious. And I must not forget, Mikail Kuntz. I still can not believe we live close enough for J and M to be friends! YAY! I am excited for these friendships to grow.

Justus is not very interested in his letters and colors but loves his shapes. This is the opposite of our hyper verbal first born. He is way more interested in tackling, running, spinning and being social. This boy can play and play and play and play! He is SOO FUN!

We talk about his friends from Texas and are excited to see them in March. Bear, Klaire, Shawn and Gabe....seriously we must have a play date!

The photos have been lacking as of late, so I will do my best to bring them back!

What's On The Menu Monday

If you are new around this blog, each Monday I post what we will be eating for the week. This method of planning has helped out so much in our budget. Just sitting down for a couple minutes looking in the pantry and refrigerator then making a menu BEFORE heading to the store. This allows me to cut appropriate coupons, make a complete list and NOT be stuck each afternoon racking my frazzled brain about what we should eat. So here is what is up for this week:

Gluten Free Build Your Own Waffles with Scrambled Eggs and Turkey Bacon (Erin be proud "bye bye pork" ;) : just mix up a gfree waffle mix, warm up the waffle iron and let each person choose their flavor. ex. blueberries, peanut butter, chocolate chips or even sprinkles! This is lots of fun and the kids love it!

Split Pea Soup : I got a split pea soup mix from my mother-in-law (Robyne) for Christmas. I have been hoping to make it and just haven't yet.

Ahi Tuna Steaks and Quiona : you prob get tired of seeing these steaks on here, but we love them and they are sooo easy and SO good for us. This will be my first time to make Quiona, I am a little nervous, but I have brown rice as back up.

Fish Taco Bowls: or something of the like. I have a lot of talapia and Mahi I need to use.

Black Bean Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: the sandwiches will be Ezekiel Bread with soy cheese

Things I will try to bake::

Gfree brownies (TJ brand are the BEST!): i am making these to go with the new Ice Cream we bought today at TJ's...YUM.
Almond Meal Banana Nut Muffins


We will be gone Friday and Saturday for Eden's third bday so the menu was small this week. ENJOY!
What are you cooking?

Bob Kauflin's Post :: Open the Eyes of My (Face), Lord

The post I am coping below was posted by Bob Kauflin who is the Director or Worship Development at Soverign Grace Ministries. He is a renown author, song writer and worship leader. He is training the next generation of worship leaders through his books and his blog. I always enjoy reading his blog and his book Worship Matters is a must read for all worship leaders and pastors. (or even people interested in the topic)

For years now I have had COUNTLESS conversations over the topic of worship leaders closing their eyes as they lead. I spoke with a number of people in congregations who "dont get" this or are completely distracted by it. They think "if they are suppose to be leading us why are they not "connecting" with us and helping us/leading us." To which I would agree. The role of the leader is to engage the congregation and invite them into the Praise of the Living GOD. Like Kauflin in the below post states, there is times for closing your eyes. Its not a do or do not issue.

ANYWAY:: I would love for you to read this article and discuss through commenting! ENJOY


Open the Eyes of My (Face), Lord by Bob Kauflin

Paul Baloche’s song, “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” has been sung by millions of Christians throughout the world. It’s a song based on Ephesians 1, asking God to open our spiritual eyes that we might know him better.

But I wonder if those of us who lead congregational worship shouldn’t be asking God to open our physical eyes, too.

Why do leaders close their eyes so often? Not just for a few moments, but for 5, 10, even 15 minutes. I’ve seen leaders and vocalists keep their eyes shut from the first note we sing to the final “Amen” of the closing prayer.

There are definitely some good reasons to close our eyes. We want to shut out distractions. We want to focus completely on the words we’re singing. Our hearts are deeply moved by God’s mercy and we respond in humble adoration.

But are those the reasons we usually have in mind when we close our eyes? Are we even thinking about what we’re doing? Or why we’re doing it?

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you find yourself closing your eyes when you lead for one or more of these not-so-good reasons.

• we want to look spiritual
• we think the Holy Spirit likes closed eyes more than opened eyes
• we don’t want to look at the faces of people who seem apathetic, concerned, confused, or angry about what we’re doing
• we’re battling fear of man and the easiest thing to do is just pretend that no one else is around
• we don’t want to see who walks out of the room
• we’re discouraged by the dwindling number of people showing up on Sundays
• we’re imagining that this is our own personal encounter with God
• we don’t remember the words to the next verse
• we can’t think of anything better to do

Not to mention that worship leaders who shut their eyes sometimes look more like they’re in pain than in God’s presence.

Corporate worship has a horizontal aspect that glorifies God. We’re to teach and admonish one another while we sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16). We’re to “strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Cor. 14:12). At the same time we’re singing with gratitude in our hearts to God and very aware that he’s present with us. Both directions — horizontal and vertical — are important to consider if we want to benefit fully from our time together.

That’s why I’ve come to think that more often than not, it’s better for me to keep my eyes open when I’m leading people in singing God’s praise. It’s not that I don’t ever close my eyes. I do. It’s just that in recent years I’m becoming more aware of the good reasons to keep them my eyes open:

• I can see how people are responding (or not responding) and adjust what I’m doing accordingly
• It’s easier for me to communicate to people how the truths we’re singing are affecting me when I look at them
• My heart is encouraged when I see people who seem to be genuinely engaging with God
• I can share the joy in Christ I’m experiencing by looking at the other musicians
• I can communicate directions more clearly to the team
• I’m more aware of what’s happening around me
• I can see what I’m playing on the piano
• I can read the lyrics to the song

Don’t hear what I’m not saying. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to close our eyes when we’re singing songs of praise to God. I just don’t think Scripture says that has to be our default.

To put things in perspective, having our spiritual eyes opened is far more important than having our physical eyes opened.

But maybe it would help us and those we lead if we did a little more of the second.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

EXCITING NEWS::

no i am not preggo:: WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!

I have mentioned here and there on my blog posts that I have had a lot of deadlines as of late and

HERE

is the end result!

PLEASE stop in and let us know what you think!

ps:: i did not forget WOTMM this week, infact I thought alot about its since I got to buy a fair share of RED MEAT this week because Vernon is in MN. I am a type O blood type and require 4 servings of red meat a week....not easy to do when your husband is type A and is not allowed to have ANY! needless to say, Titus, Justus and I will be having a lot of hamburgers the next few days! YUMM.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

This is non-exhaustive and in no particular order list of things that the Lord has allowed me to enjoy today, this very random day:

• Seasons: Thank you Missouri for coming through on this. Winter is a beautiful thing.

• Venti Ice Water from Starbucks: its triple filtered goodness.

• Kind Cranberry Almond Bars

• Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Carmel Squares

• This Book: It has been such a good way to start the year.

• For The Love of God Blog: this goes along with the Bible reading plan I am doing.

• Audio ESV Study Bible Online: I LOVE listening to the text as I read it.

• @allisonrichmond's tweets

• Texting my NEPHEWS: what in the world. i am old. (well technically this was the other day but everytime I go to my texts and see their names I think it is funny that they are old enough to text me!)

• Working for His Voice For Sudan and getting to stay home with my boys. (hard to balance but SO worth it!)

• New friends coming over for lunch playdates!

• Honey Dijon Kettle Chips
• Sarah Beard's Blogging on Marriage

• And last but not least....Good Music: I will spare you the links and let you have a couple guesses. :)
  

What's On The Menu Monday

Well, apparently, each Monday I need to clarify what exactly WOTMM is so that no one accidentally thinks all of the listed food items are being prepared only on Monday. Rather, WOTMM is a list of meals I plan to make through out the week. I don't like to set the days for them because then I feel confined (i know, weird right? but this right-brained girl is proud to even have a list okay.) The list helps me stay within our grocery budget while providing healthy, well rounded meals for the week making us less apt to eating out or making unnecessary trips to the store.

That said, here is this weeks: (we have been invited to various homes for meal lately so some of these meals were from last weeks list)

Its going to get cold this week so I have two soups on the menu

Baked Potato Soup

Split Pea Soup

Salmon Pasta Alfredo- brown rice pasta with homemade Alfredo sauce with baked Salmon on top or mixed in

Baked Mahi Mahi with rice and black beans: I just take frozen Mahi Mahi from Trader Joe and thaw it. Place it in a baking dish, sprinkle lemon juice, garlic salt and some McCormick's Montreal HAMBURGER seasoning on it. Bake it for 20 and dinner is served :)

Ahi Tuna Steaks with Broccoli: these are pre-seasoned and frozen by Trader Joe's. EASIEST MEAL. Thaw them in the fridge, then just throw them in the oven for 20 mins and have a spectacular steak! Then I just steam some broccoli to have with it.

Nacho Bowls: this is kinda like build your own burrito only with chips instead of tortillas. Meat, (we will use mahi or talapia) beans and the fixins on a bowl full of chips.

Happy cooking...what are y'all eating?

37 Years of Injustice

Most of you, I am sure, are aware that today, January 22, 2009, marks the 37th anniversary of the passing of Roe v Wade. In this, the US Sepreme Court held that a woman may abort her pregnancy for any reason, up until the "point at which the fetus becomes 'viable.'" As today has gone by, I have seen many pictures flash onto my computer screen from various blogs and news pages. Groups of people who feel strongly for or against Roe vs. Wade showed up today at many captital buildings and planned parenthood clinics all over the US.

What some are celebrating, others are begging to change.

I am among those who are begging for change.

I did not, however, get the chance to go to our capital building today or stop by the planned parenthood clinic and I am sure many of you reading this did not as well. So I decided to write a little blog about it, maybe to reach a small few and to honor the sanctity of Life.
Last year on Sanctity of Life Sunday, Pastor John Piper spoke these words:



"Mr. President, some of us WEPT for JOY at your inauguration and we pledged that we would pray for you. We have hope in our sovereign God."

And that we do.
Pray for our leaders.
Hope in our God.

For Lack of Better Words

If you have known me long, or maybe just stop by to read the blog now and again, you probably know that I am a music lover. Music of just about any type. (yes even country has its place in my heart...although WAY back in the back:) I feel deeply about music and how it moves people and reaches places that words alone can never reach. Journey back through history, studing cultures and there is hardly a culture, if any, that didn't have "their" music. I have often pondered how God created man with a song in their heart. Individual man yes but also man in the communal sense. It's as if music has this ability to bring cultures together. Older with younger, Asian with African, European with South American. There seems to be few boundaries that music cannot break.

That being said: I have an issue.

Lack of Superlatives, or rather, OVER USE of superlatives.

I was warned of this quite often by my dear friend Danny during college. About once a week, along with correcting my grammar, he would challenge me on a use of a superlative like: "how was the DNow?" "It was THE BEST ONE I have EVER played for" or "how's the new album?" "IT IS AMAZING, BEST album by FAR!" I think you get the picture. Each time I would over use the EST's and the AWESOME/AMAZING/BEST EVER statements, he would smirk and say, in his ever so kind way, "oh really." He continually challenged me on this. He said, "One of these days something is going to truly be THE BEST or AMAZING. How will anyone know if they can believe you or not?"

Well, just last week Danny and I were chatting on the phone, just getting caught up on life. And I said to Danny, "You know, all those times you warned me about over using my superlatives? Well, I have almost posted a blog about how truly AMAZING the Switchfoot concert in Dallas was and how FANTASTIC the new album is, but I can't bring my self to write it...because this time,well...it really is THE BEST/AMAZING. I feel like if I tell them this, they will just write me off as a dorky old fan and not give it any thought." He laughed and in the nicest way possible basically said, "I told you this day would come."

So folks, here I am, finally blogging, months later, about how AMAZING the new Switchfoot, Hello Hurricane Album is. If you are a long time fan or you are a Switchfoot newbie, your heart will be ministered too, your soul will be challenged and mind will be stronger. Lyrically and musically this album is mature and rich with real life, real feelings and real theology.

So please, read past the superlatives and go get the album....or better yet, grab tickets to this tour....worth every penny.