30.6.08

Dandelions

I got a call from our neighbors as I was getting ready to leave work last Friday, and they needed a babysitter for a couple of hours. Brad wasn't going to be home that evening, but I decided I could handle the two of them (provided I didn't plan to get anything else done) and agreed to watch their four-year-old girl, Breanna, and twenty-two-month old boy, Brant.

While we were playing outside, Brant found a puffy dandelion. Breanna thought that was awesome and started looking around the yard for another one. Then . . . she discovered that if you blow on the puffy dandelion, it blows away. Great, I thought. Brad's going to be thrilled. Brant and Breanna combed the yard for every puffy dandelion they could find. I think they found a total of four of them. Brant, however, couldn't tell the difference between the dandelions and any other kind of flowering weed in the yard and blew on all of them. A moment to make you smile.

It's the simple pleasures in life.

18.6.08

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Many of you already know that I recently lost a very good friend, Aaron Reed, in a tragic car accident over this past Memorial Day. She was my age, very happily married with three very young boys. Today would have been her 26th birthday. Even as I write this, I can hardly believe it. Things like this don't happen in real life. They happen in books, in movies, in made-for-TV miniseries, but not to real people. Not to the really nice, really good people.

Aaron was one of those people who inspired you to be a better person. To be a better wife. To be a better mother. To be a better friend. To be a better Christian. She was one of the kindest, most truly good-hearted people I've ever been privileged to know. She was very thankful and grateful for her life, her husband, her kids, even in the face of adversity and challenges. And she wasn't afraid to let you know it. Her blog Fabulously Frantic provided some of the inspiration for me to start my blog. She is a reminder to be thankful for every single moment. They are precious, numbered, and fleeting.

Remember her husband, Cameron, and their three sons, Ben, Sam, and Levi, in your prayers. They need God's grace and comfort for the long road ahead.

15.6.08

Blessed

Sometimes I wonder why it is that I am so blessed. I really have a great husband. He works so hard to provide for us, and then he also takes care of things around the house. He's always willing to pitch in to clean the house, and he takes the initiative to load or unload the dishwasher. And really, he does most of the laundry. I know I really did well when I married Brad. He helps out around the house, takes care of the yard and the vehicles. He's incredibly handy. He finished most of our basement by himself, learning how to do all kinds of new things.

And even better than all the things he does, is who he is. He is incredibly loving and kind, patient with me and my shortcomings. He loves God first, before anything or anyone else. Then, his next priority is family. We can talk about anything, and he is always so knowledgeable. And we can be quiet together, just enjoying each other's company. He is my best friend, and I never get tired fo spending time with him. I have great respect for him. He is truly my spiritual, emotional, and intellectual match. He deeply loves me beyond reason. And I love him the same way.

I am blessed to be Brad's wife.

Sorry for all of the mushy stuff. I have a great husband, and I don't tell him enough how great he is.

13.6.08

Peanut Butter Pie

This has been a really busy week. After a business trip on Monday and Tuesday, we had dinner with friends from our small group on Tuesday night. I made peanut butter pie with a sour cream chocolate ganache. INCREDIBLE!!

Here's the recipe . . .

Peanut Butter Pie with Sour Cream Ganache

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 - 3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 small tub whipped topping
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 graham cracker crust

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl, blend cream cheese with a mixer. Add sugar, peanut butter, and whipped topping. Blend until very smooth. Fold into crust.

Place chocolate chips in a double boiler and stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and transfer chocolate into a medium bowl. Add sour cream and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Spread onto pie.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.


I don't think I'll make Peanut Butter Pie again without the ganache. It was like eating a very large peanut butter cup. Chocolate and peanut butter together have to be one of God's greatest creations!

10.6.08

Get It Started

I've been trying to get this blog started for about a week now. It seems that something is always coming up that feels like it should take priority over this. ANYWAY, I've decided to start this blog as motivation to do better about journaling and to help people keep up with us. I'm not very good at journaling on paper, so the goal is to do better with it online.

Married with two dogs (Ebert and Dug), I have a great husband of almost four years. I'm still trying to find that perfect balance between work and the rest of life, while trying to squeeze school into the picture. I've started on a masters degree, and the first day of summer classes was yesterday.

I hope this blog allows us to stay connected!