February 3, 2010
This afternoon, Luke took his nap on our bed, so Bret could study in the offi-sery. I went to get him when he woke up, and this is what I found:
Those are Bret’s jeans. Apparently, Luke felt he needed TWO pairs of pants to brave the wide world after his nap.
February 1, 2010
Yesterday, Ruthie and I made one of my favorite meals. I love steak au poivre vert. It’s a French dish which I used to enjoy eating in West Africa. Steak au poivre vert is steak with topped with a green peppercorn sauce. We used this recipe, and it turned out fabulous! To round out the meal we fixed haricot verts (green beans), pain (bread), and pommes du terre (potatoes, we had them twice-baked), with crepes for dessert. Ruthie and I had a great time cooking together.
While we were cooking, Stephen and Luke had a good time playing guitar.
Here’s the full meal! It was so yummy, and so fun to get to hang out with our family.
Luke provided some after dinner entertainment, in the form of ridiculously cute faces.
And, we finished off with crepes.
January 29, 2010
My friend, Lauren, recently shared some books that she’s enjoying reading to her sweet little girl, so I thought I’d share some books that I’ve been reading to Luke.
One is a children’s Bible called The Big Picture Story Bible, by David Helm.
I saved up my swagbucks to get this Bible for Luke. I love reading it to him; and he loves it too. He often asks to read it. This book provides a sweeping overview of the story of the Bible. Every story is linked, and reveals that Jesus is the center of the whole Bible; the whole Bible points to him. The pictures are beautiful, and the writing is clear and simple. This Bible is not comprehensive and detailed, so as Luke gets older, we’ll add in another Bible , but right now, I think this is such a great foundation for him. I think it gives him a helpful, profitable framework for understanding the many stories and teachings of the Bible.
The other book we’ve been enjoying is called Fool Moon Rising by Kristi and T. Lively Fluharty. This book is a simple, well-illustrated story that teaches children that all glory belongs to God alone, and we can only reflect that Him to the world around us. We got this book last weekend, and have probably read it at least 30 times since then. Luke loves it and asks for “moooon” quite a bit.
January 27, 2010
That’s how Luke says yarn. And this is what he does with it:
It makes a very nice accessory for my stylin’ toddler.
Or can easily be crocheted up into red jumbles.
January 26, 2010
Everything gets thrown out of the crib!
January 25, 2010
The toilet paper is very carefully and laboriously carried inside.
Everything gets put away quickly (although not necessarily in the right place)
And the bananas are unceremoniously eaten right out of the grocery sack.
Luke loves to be a helper right now, and its so fun to see him trying so hard to help. I’ve had many smiles recently over the products of his assistance.
January 24, 2010
I’m so excited! I finished two things today. This doesn’t happen too often in my life, with all the joyous, daily tasks that occupy my time (unless you count finishing the dishes or laundry.
The first is a knit scarf that I’ve been working on intermittently since August. It’s very simple, and made of just one skein, but I’ve made on lots of other things while it was still in progress. This beautiful alpaca yarn was given to me by some friends who raise the alpacas. Here’s their website and blog. Go check ‘em out!
I loved knitting this, and I’m so excited to get to wear the scarf. I love the rich brown color, which is the natural color of the fleece. I also love the cables! This was my first time knitting cables, and I’m very pleased with how they turned out, and how fun it was to knit. Here’s what they look like up close.
I also finished reading Life in Christ: A Guide for Daily Living by John Stott. Bret suggested this book for my pre-bed reading, and I have enjoyed it immensely!
This book journeys through the different prepositions that are used in the New Testament to relate the Christian to Christ. Because of that, I expected Life in Christ to be somewhat academic, but it isn’t at all. Stott’s writing displays his love for Christ, his understanding of Jesus character and person, and his desire for all Christians to live a life worthy of the Savior. The chapters include things like: Through Christ our Mediator, With Christ our Secret, and For Christ our Lover. The book is quite short, 128 pages, and each paragraph contains something worth pondering. It was really good for bedtime reading, because I could read just a little bit, and then have a fruitful matter to think over as I fell asleep. I highly recommend this book. This book has caused me to meditate often on Christ and how essential He is to my (and every Christian’s) life.
January 23, 2010
This past month, we’ve experienced the coldest weather I’ve ever lived through. This isn’t saying much, as I grew up in the tropics, but it was still co-old for this area. We had snow three (3!) different days! And a week of sub-freezing temperatures. I went into hibernation mode, and didn’t leave the house that whole time, I think.
And… my poor potted plants. They are totally not used to that kind of weather. We don’t have any space inside to bring them in, so I bundled them up in blankets and towels up close to the house, but they look like this now:
Some of them are going to make it, I think, but some of them may have seen their last sunlight.
I don’t really know how to tell if they’re dead or not, except to wait and see what happens as it warms up and they get more water and sun. Does anyone know?
January 6, 2010
This weekend, my sweet men made me a beside table. I’ve been using some boxes stacked on top of each other and covered with some fabric for, oh, 3 years. Bret and Luke spent a few hours together making me a nice shelf, just the right height and just the right size.
“I’ll drill those holes, no problem.”
“Ummm, I’m not sure you’re doing it right, Dad.”
The ace building team
Sanding down the finished shelf
“Look, Mom! Isn’t it great!”
I’m so enjoying using my new table, and thankful for a husband who can build useful things. I’m also thankful that he wants to create and works to make life better for me. It was fun (and a little scary for me) watching Luke learn about tools and wood and building.
Here’s the finished project, already in use:
