no nap Thursday

Obviously, I'm all done with dating, at least for the purpose of finding a spouse, but I came across this series a few weeks ago that I find slightly, um, well, interesting. (Sorry - my vocabulary is challenged today. Aaron has not taken any naps. Must. Give. Tranquilizers. KIDDING!!) This is not the "interesting" that sways either negatively or positively depending on the tone. It is simply interesting, with no overtone of good or evil, in a thought provoking way. Not at all in the way that this no-nap Thursday has been "interesting."

Anyway, I started at the beginning, read through the series, and am still mulling it over... any thoughts you'd like to share?

just because I'm curious...

Opinion Polls & Market Research

*DISCLAIMER: the versions are listed in random order*

"land sakes!"

You are all coming out of the woodwork for the Pantry Clean out Challenge!! I really had no idea how many people (and WHO) read my blog. I have been blessed to read of God's provision for you all! Keep those menus coming!!!

too bad, so sad...

Last year, I found these fabulous baby shirts. Plain, long sleeved, soft, wonderful...almost good enough to wish they came in my size. Almost. Those envelope shoulders might present a little problem.

Well, I found out today that these little gems are not available in the next size up for Aaron (as in, they ran out). *LOUD SIGH* And of course, when I contacted customer service, they were not of much service. "We do not have any information on the status of this item" And of course, they are an online exclusive, making the possibility of my tracking down a few packs in various colors an impossibility. And RATS they were clearanced for a STEAL.

I personally think that stores should not be allowed to discontinue or run out of shirts that I love. I know, "the world does not revolve around me" and boy am I glad. But just this once, I wish there was a rule about running out of my favorite shirts for Aaron. Especially since I was counting on it. Especially since I love them. Did I mention that they are my favorites?

Maybe instead, I should just let go of my ingenious plan to clothe the Muth child in basic solids, avoid screen printing at all costs, and pass on the classics to the next child (should God send one). Maybe I should just throw caution to the wind and buy the Blues Clues shirts already.

I think I'd rather pray for a comeback.

gardening with kids

One of the participants in my Pantry Clean-Out Challenge is my great aunt Rosemary, who highly recommends gardening with kids - something I look forward to! She sent me these cute stories, and I wanted to share them with you!

When my granddaughter Amanda was about 2 and had just learned some of her colors, we were planting the garden. I was planting the corn seed and she was toddling along behind repeating 'yellow...yellow...yellow'. I kept putting the seed in the row and saying, 'yes, the corn is yellow'. At the end of the row, I turn to see her little hand held up - full of 'yellow' (the corn seeds that I had just planted!) and her proud, smiling little face saying 'yellow...yellow...'

Better keep an eye on your "helpers" this spring!!

Our grandson Alex has a few speech challenges - maybe it is it more 'hearing challenges'. You be the judge... His grandpa was working up the garden with the rototiller one spring when Alex was 6. It was a really nice day, but for some reason, Alex really wanted to stay in the house. He was sitting on the floor playing with his Lego and asked, 'Grandma, what are rotos?' I did my best to explained, 'I don't know, I guess a roto is something that goes around...it rotates.' Frustrated with my answer, Alex said, 'No, what ARE rotos? What IS IT that Grandpa is killing out there with the ROTOKILLER?' So now when it it time to work up the garden in the spring, we say, 'I am going out to kill the Rotos'.

Don't forget to clean out your pantry this week, and feel free to share YOUR funny kid stories, too!

in honor of toy manufacturers...

(Click to enlarge)

pantry clean-out challenge

OK friends - I'm hosting my first ever pantry clean-out challenge in honor of my happiness at the menu I've created from our surplus. Really, I'm SO excited that I won't have to do major grocery shopping. Or think about what is going to be for dinner. I can hardly stand it.

Here's the challenge:
1. take inventory of the food you have in your pantry (& freezer, too!)
2. plan a menu based on your findings
3. email your pantry-cleanout menu to me (twomuths at gmail dot com) Please put "Clean Out Challenge" in the subject line.
RULES:
1. No fair grocery shopping before making the menu. This is a clean-out-your pantry challenge.
2. It's ok if you have to buy something (produce, dairy, etc) to make your menu work, just be sure to mark it on your menu. I put mine in all caps, then made a list of what I have to buy but you do whatever works for you - make sure you include this in the email, though.
3. It's also ok to repeat items. You can bet our "last til' December" menu has a few repeats.
4. I only did a dinner menu. If you want to do more, that's great, but not required.
5. Just because I'm curious, email me your estimated savings - how much can you save with your "clean out the pantry" menu?

Just for participating, I will send you an e-copy of a recipe book my mom & I put together to give as a gift. Nothing fancy - it's in Word. But who doesn't like new recipes? Then I will select the most impressive menu, post it, and send an extra gift to the winner!

DEADLINE: Friday, October 26, 5:00p EST. You have ONE WEEK!

Be sure to check out more ideas for saving money on this Frugal Friday.

update

Please continue to pray for Nate & Lissa.

pray.

Please pray for Nate & Lissa. And for the rest of us as we grieve. God keeps reminding us, doesn't He? He is good, all the time.

blessed.

This week at church, the Steve Pettit team is holding evangelistic meetings. I've been blessed already, and I know there will be more to come. And, I just have to say, it's very encouraging to hear an evangelist say loudly and explain clearly that salvation is all about God. I've heard too many whose message seems to be contrary to this truth.

This morning I went through our freezers and pantry and came up with enough food to make meals through December 1st, purchasing only a few basics plus produce. Talk about blessed! This will allow us to save a LOT of $ for holiday travel and other expenses. Who knew we had that much food as a surplus?!

Saturday, God provided a couch. For free. It's a nice neutral green, and very comfy. We had decided to just use our futon and be happy with it, as other things (like, say, siding the house) are more pressing. I'd been praying that if God wanted us to have a couch, that He would provide one, and sort of selfishly prayed that I would like it, too. I almost cried as we drove home with the couch. The same people are also giving us a dresser. I've been scouring garage sales all summer for a solidly built tall dresser to replace the shaky particle board one we're currently using. With a fresh coat of paint and some new knobs, this will fit the bill perfectly.

How have you been blessed this week?

our boy in fall

it's Friday

I'm goin' on a date with the world's hottest hottie tonight! It sure is fun to date your spouse. All the fun, none of the weirdness of pre-marriage dating. (not that I did much of that) And thanks to mom & dad, we get free babysitting! I lined up the sitter, and Michael's planning the date this time.

In the past, we've gotten free birthday Coldstone, run errands (everything's more fun together) and we've used gift cards that we have for restaurant dates. We usually share an entree (more than enough food for 2, usually) and order water to drink to save $. We've also done our share of coffee shop dates.

So, what's your favorite thing to do for a frugal date? I need some new ideas!!

follow up

Ever since our taboo discussion, I've been "accidentally" coming across similar discussions on the web. If you're interested in reading what I've "happened across", you can read this post, or this one

John Piper also has some interesting things to say on this topic.

Thank you, everyone, for your gracious input on this delicate subject. I enjoyed reading each unique perspective, and rejoice with each of you at how God has led your families.

retro what?!!?

Today I found Retro Food, a blog devoted to the recipes our moms and grandmas had in their recipe boxes. I just spent a good 15 minutes over there, laughing at some of the recipes, and thinking, "ooh, I've just got to try that one" a few times as well. I will go back. For sure. Especially if I need another idea for our menu. Yes, I am still on that kick. It might be more of a phase now.

I found the site through Frugal Hacks, which is definitely a blog to subscribe to in your Google Reader if you've any desire to save money in creative ways. I've found so many ideas and tips via that site and others who are listed in the sidebar.

So now I'm curious - what's one of your favorite sites?

munchable

I know I'm biased, but isn't he just the cutest? I think he's starting to look more like Michael again!

book by book

Several months ago, my mom brought over a registration form for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program and practically begged me to fill it out - I have to admit, I thought it was too good to be true, but I filled it out and sent it in. Today, Aaron received The Little Engine That Could. Apparently, he will receive one new book every month until he is five! I'm fully expecting that some of these books will not be my favorites, but I am excited that these FREE books will expand our library!

See if the program is available where you live!

hairy

Here is me, before the haircut. Notice my foolproof method for creating sculpted cheekbones?





And here is me, after the haircut. A little shorter than I had planned, but hey, anything is an improvement over the "shaggy curtain" look in the above photo.

try it for practically nothing

Don't know if any of you have ever tried Silk, but I got a sample of the chocolate flavor in a recent "goody bag" from Curves. It's creamy and delicious. And today, I found this printable coupon offer for $2.25 off Silk. This week at Meijer, Silk is on sale for $2.50. I already bought some with another coupon, but this deal is good enough that I think I'll be getting some more. You can't beat a 25 cents!

the week

This week, I've been a "lady of leisure" as my job was put on hold. Not enough projects to keep us all busy. It was great - although I'm sure we will miss the income, and I really didn't do too much "leisure-ing," I did get a lot done.

Monday we had some friends over - they have a daughter about 2 months older than Aaron, and they played together much better than any of us expected. A few sharing issues with "Pooh's Dress up Day" but other than that, it was adorable watching them play. We even had an impromptu concert. These kids have Got It, let me tell you.

Tuesday was interesting. I'm still in my "try a new recipe" kick, and we had chicken spaghetti, modified from a recipe I've had forever and one at this site. Don't ask me how I found it. When I get sucked into the vortex of blogs, home improvement and cooking websites, it all gets a little blurry.

Wednesday was church. I made pizza pockets with a bread machine dough recipe I gleaned from a friend. I tried substituting whole wheat flour for 1/2 the bread flour, and it worked out very well. I just have to figure out how to get them not to be so thick and bready on the bottom after I seal them and flip them over. Any suggestions?

Thursday was grocery and errand day. I scored some fabulous deals at Meijer - 10 avocados for $2 on the reduced produce rack, bananas for 29 cents a pound, and kiwi at 25 cents each. We took a little trip to see Michael, who was working in Midland this week, then I came home and made quiche and cinnamon rolls and guacamole. Aaron only took one nap, and -

What, you don't think quiche, cinnamon rolls and guac go together? What are you, crazy? I didn't plan it that way, really...here's the deal - for some reason, we have a LOT of eggs right now. I am not really sure how that happened. Michael's not a big fan of quiche, (I think I've made it all of 4 times in our 3 plus years of marriage) but it is probably one of my top 10 favorite foods. I really didn't want the eggs to go bad, so TA DA a great excuse! I planned quiche. And then I found those avocados - and I had to use them. After all, they WERE on the reduced produce rack for a REASON. And no, I didn't make all 10 avocados into guac. I gave some to my parents, and there are a few left here.

Today has been a whirlwind of laundry and dishes. And it's weeks like this that I wonder if I really WOULD get that much more done if I didn't work.

And for all you family members interested on Aaron's progress: He is talking a L.O.T. He's just 14 months, and has probably 20-25 words that he uses frequently, along with the typical baby babble and accompanying facial expressions. We still work with him on sign language (a little) but he's much more verbally advanced than I ever expected at this age. This is good - it helps me be more confident that he is understanding MUCH more than he can communicate.

He's not a shrimp anymore, either. I think he's probably close to 22-23 pounds, and eats like a...BOY. There are days he can out eat me. I'm not exaggerating.

And, I still haven't gotten my hair cut. Right, I asked you guys in May for your opinions. And in the 5 months since I asked, it's gotten quite loooong. I finally settled on a style, and am getting it cut next week, hopefully. I will be sure to post before and after pictures.

This weekend I am going to be a roofing widow. Michael will be gone all day, helping a friend re roof the house. We're so thankful for the help on our roof that he's glad to help another family get the job done. I think a trip with my mom to a semi-distant town to visit Aldi will be a good way to break up the day.

Have a happy weekend!

works of God

THE BEST NEWS THIS WEEK - remember the family God has brought our way? This Saturday, the two boys (M & D) attended Harvest Fest here in Michigan and made professions of faith! We are BEYOND ecstatic! Please continue to pray for their mom to have clarity in her understanding of Biblical truth, especially related to matters of salvation and baptism.

the damage

Total spent at Walgreens - $6.10

(although, I truly appreciate your estimates of my ability to pinch the pennies.)

If you haven't already heard, Walgreens will no longer be carrying Luvs diapers, and so they are liquidating their stock by taking 75% off. Our Walgreens stores only carried sizes 4 & 5, and after I left on Friday, only had 3 packs of 5's left. You might want to check your Walgreens just in case they might have a few packs left. The clearance price was not marked on the shelf. I asked for a price check and rushed back to claim my (ehem) booty.

Aaron doesn't wear 4's yet, but you can believe that at $3.68 plus a few $1 off coupons ($2.68 for 52 diapers? um, YES!) I took the opportunity to stock up - and I was even able to snag a couple extra packs for some friends.

And for those of you who are thinking, "I thought the Muths used cloth," well, we do. I'd say we're a part time cloth diaperin' family. The (ehem) bottom line is, I have 7 fancy schmancy diapers. When they are all dirty, I wash them. If I run out, or have too much laundry piled up to even think about extra wash cycles, we use disposables. I'm not going to stress about it. There are other things more worthy of my energies.

accidental favorite

Ground Chicken was on sale last week for 99 cents a pound. I was looking for something easy and yummy and different than what we had on our menu (anybody else get sick of the same ol' recipes?) I'd seen Rachael Ray make chicken burgers before, and so I thought I'd try out something like that. Here's what I came up with that ended up being soooo delish! Next time I'd probably divide it into 6 or 7 patties. I only divided them into 4, and these were HEFTY burgers!

Chicken Burgers

1 lb ground chicken
1/3ish cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2ish cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp minced garlic
a generous shake onion powder
worcestershire sauce - about a tablespoon
salt & pepper

Mix well, divide into patties, cook on high heat until browned and the juices run clear - use oil or they will stick badly!

We didn't have buns, either...so I took some bread and used a cup to cut circles out of the middles. (the scraps will be an Aaron-snack or croutons) It ended up being fancy-looking and so so yummy. We were sad to see the burgers end. I served them with sliced tomatoes and mayo for Michael.

I also made some oven fries which cooked while the burgers were prepared & served.

4 small red potatoes
seasoned bread crumbs
grated parmesan cheese
olive oil
salt & pepper

I cut the potatoes up in wedges, gave them a rinse with water, tossed them with somewhat equal parts bread crumbs and cheese and drizzled them with olive oil, then baked at 350 for probably 15 minutes or so, then sprinkled with salt & pepper after they came out of the oven.

The consensus is that we will be having this meal again.

highlight of my Friday

I had an excellent Friday. I picked blueberries (shocked that there were still some available), and here's the really great part - got a mega-super-wonderful deal at Walgreens on the items pictured here - 4 bags of Robitussin cough drops, 2 packs of Luvs (52 in a pack - size 4 for future use), and 2 tubs of oatmeal. Any guesses how much I spent?


As a side note, you know your stage in life has changed when you're thrilled to bits about blueberries and saving money on household necessities.

maybe we should all move

What little I know about this town, I already like.

Isn't it amazing?

We serve a gigantic God. Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent. (just the beginning of all that He is) And yet, He chooses to use us, to grow us, to challenge us. All to His glory. It's amazing, in the jaw-dropping, word-stopping sort of way.

God used this post to encourage and rebuke me today. He is so GOOD!

for all you photo fans

New pictures here

I am aging like a giant tortoise

I found this quiz today linked on Rachael Ray's website. I got a 72. Hmm. Not bad, but I bet if I lose these extra pounds I could do even better! Apparently the quiz measures the factors that put a strain on your immune system. I found it interesting - check it out!

how is that possible?

I hear the most interesting conversations at Curves. When you go on the same days to work out, it's likely that you will work out with the same ladies. Which is nice, if you like them, and I do like the ladies I work out with. They are usually hilarious.

The other day, however, they got talking about children, and the number of kids they have. The trainer got in on the conversation, saying that she had three - boy, girl, boy. One lady said, "Oh, you ruined the perfect family" and I just about fell off my recovery station. I mean, if you want to have just 2 kids, fine - it's really between you and God, if you are a believer. But to tell someone that their third kid was "ruining" their family!?! I was in shock. The trainer was VERY gracious - and her sweet reply was perfect. I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was something about her not ever regretting it and how her third child really made their family complete. I chimed in about how they would think I was crazy, but I wanted 5 kids. Of course they said that I would change my mind. That could happen, but probably not the way they think...

I came home and shared this with Michael. We've been thinking a lot about children lately - and I've honestly been wondering how it is that we in the Christian community got to the point where we plan out our children with questions about what we can afford and what the best timing would be. We are still thinking through this issue, with much prayer - and I sometimes wonder if we will ever come to a solid conclusion. We never want to get to a point in our family where we stop being open to God's leading and teaching. And I definitely don't want to take this matter lightly.

So what do you think? Do the cultural expectations of what is acceptable for a family size too strongly impact our actions? Are we really trusting God when we take action to limit our family size? Where does our "common sense" play in, and most importantly, what does God's Word say?

I would to hear how God has led you and your family in this matter. Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, and my strong desire to foster unity and not dissension, please season your words with humility and grace - and for this post only, please consider commenting anonymously or using a pseudonym. You can do this by clicking "comments" and selecting "other" or "anonymous."

ode to what is lost

i miss you, soy and calendula,
although i have enough
for another season

your white, gentle formula
soothing and smoothing
my parched and sensitive skin

gone from the limelight
gone from the pages
but never gone from my memory

i ration your drops now,
once gleefully, generously spread
over forehead, nose, and chin.

ours could have been
a lifelong partnership
farewell, perfect skincare.

Seriously, don't you just hate it when they discontinue your favorite products? I finally found something that worked PERFECTLY and the Body Shop went and canceled production. What, no one else has sensitive AND dry skin? I think I'm not alone in this. The company suggested using the aloe products. I did. I'm not satisfied. Oh, and dear friends who are MK ladies? I appreciate in advance your helpful suggestions, but I am allergic to all things MK. Excepting only the minty foot care products. Seriously. Breakouts. You don't even want to know what happened when I tried the lip treatment. Or the shave gel. Suffice it to say, I am a loyal fan of the mintiness. Period.

what's for dinner tonight

Tex-Mex Pie

1/4 lb natural ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 can pinto beans
taco spices (Lawry's seasoned salt, cumin, paprika to taste)
1 can green chilies
1/2 cup HeartSmart Bisquick
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 chopped tomato (or more)
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Preheat the oven to 400* and spray a 9" pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Brown the beef with the onion, add taco spices. When beef is brown, add pintos. Spread in the bottom of the pie plate. Top with green chilies. Mix Bisquick with milk and egg, pour over the meat and bean mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Top with cheese and tomatoes, bake an additional 8-10 minutes.

We love this recipe. I adapted it (from a Bisquick book that I bought while in line at Meijer) to stretch our natural beef. The recipe called for a whole pound of meat. You could definitely use turkey, and if using more meat, could omit the beans. When the recipe is doubled it fills a 9 x 13 and goes well at potlucks.

all, nothing, or somewhere in between?

Every time I see the commercials for this new "cancer" va*cine, I cringe. For one thing, I feel like the population is being duped into thinking that you can be va*cinated for cancer. This va*cine is supposed to treat certain types of sexually transmitted HPV that have been shown to cause cervical cancer. I cannot fathom giving a series of va*cinations to my little girl (yet to be) for something contracted almost entirely by chosen behavior. Especially not at the earliest recommended age (NINE YEARS OLD?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?) and even more especially not because they have been on the market for such an incredibly short period of time and I am very uncertain of any possible side affects and even the claimed benefits.

Today, I got an email from my friend Sarah which had this link in it. Another "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!" came out of my mouth. It might be partially my perspective, but methinks the price tag on this round of "treatments" might be motivating the campaign to make this a mandate in some states.

So how much of this is necessary? Is there a point where we should stop believing what the drug companies and the CDC tell us about the health of our children? What would you do if your daughter was denied enrollment in school unless she received this va*cine? What are your thoughts?

By the way, I'm not interested in starting a heated or angry debate, just some friendly, lively discussion. We've discussed our wide and varying positions on the other recommended va*cines. I don't really want to go there. BUT I am curious on your perspective for this ONE va*cine.

have you said "thanks" today?

I ran across this awesome site that allows you to send a postcard to the troops thanking them for all they've done. The cards are illustrated by kids and you can either select a pre-written message or write your own. It is a fantastic idea, if you ask me. Or even if you don't.

newsy news

for those of you who know Nate & Lissa, be sure to go visit their blog today for some newsy news!

I can't believe I won!

A couple weeks ago I blogged about some giveaways, and you will never guess what just happened.

I. Won. And. I. Am. In. Shock.

According to the giveaway details, I get my choice of a really nifty doll from Lindie & Friends. I think we're going to pick Gator. Or maybe Mouse. Somehow I think one of the animals would be a companion best suited for Aaron. Plus, I just like them better.

Now I just wait for details. Yippeee! I love winning free stuff!

hit between the eyes

If you haven't yet today, please check out this article for a good reminder about living frugally, step one.

I'm definitely out of the loop

I knew I was slipping, I knew I was far removed from all things musical now that I'm at home with Aaron. I knew my music teacher days were over for a season, but I didn't really know how bad it had gotten until I got an email this morning from my dad, telling me that there was a special program on public radio today on Luciano Pavarotti from 1-3.

Immediately I knew that he must have died, (they don't often do 2-hour specials on live people. which is a-whole-nother post!) so I quickly googled it and found out that he'd died yesterday, at 71, of pancreatic cancer. I didn't even know he had cancer.

Pavarotti reminds me of so many things - the years of my education, especially - the days that I was thoroughly immersed in music and things musical. Mostly, it reminds me of my favorite "non-date" uh, date.

I had a wonderful accompanist in college. We were definitely sibling-type friends. (You truly get to know each other during 4 years of voice lessons.) I remember freshman Wyn coming to school all decked out in his cowboy boots and bolo tie, fully bluegrass, fully honkey-tonk gospel. I remember the complete transformation. He was the best I could have asked for.

One crispy fall day we were walking from lessons to somewhere and Wyn said, "I have a question for you. I've got tickets to go see Pavarotti in concert. I was going to ask a real girl, but that isn't going to work out. Would you like to go?"

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!?! Pavarotti was on his last ever US tour - this was the chance of a lifetime! I was ecstatic! We packed up and went to Wyn's house - his family lived close to the performance location - and let me tell you, it was unbelievable. I've never seen such a diverse crowd. I saw bikers, rockers, nerds and snooty rich people. (I'm pretty sure we fit into one of those categories.) Our seat was right near the balcony. A great view.

Then, out came Pavarotti. And out came his magnificent voice. I cried - it was that beautiful. And even now, thinking about it, I'm actually welling up. I could have sat and listened for hours. And hours. Without getting tired of it. And I'd be willing to bet that anyone at that concert would have said the same. It was more than opera. It was more than words, more than music. It was more than I could ever have imagined, more than I can explain.

I've never been so thankful not to be "a real girl"

And when I am old, and my grandchildren play my opera cd's, and wonder at the "old fashioned" technology, and probably giggle at the music as children do, I will tell them about the time I got to hear Pavarotti in person. And hopefully, I will share with them about the God who gives incredible, amazing gifts of all types to all people - that we might wonder, and be amazed, and worship Him, the Creator and the Giver.

What beauty or gift has caused you to wonder at the goodness & greatness of God?

Snack Comparison

There are days that I'd gladly trade 2 chips ahoys for a huge pile of cauliflower and broccoli as a mid afternoon snack.

but not today.

I'm getting back on the SparkPeople bandwagon, and for those of you who want a FREE way to track water intake, nutrition and exercise, you've got to check it out.

Purple Cauliflower and Broccoli, 1 T ranch = 99 nutrition packed calories.

2 wimpy chips ahoy that leave you longing for more = 120 empty calories

Contest!

For those of you who like giveaways and enjoy the challenge of "what is it" photographs, head on over to Ken's for a guessing contest! He's giving away your choice of 8 x 10 print from his online albums to the winner - and let me just say, he's got some fantastic photos over there. Hurry, you've only got until Sunday!

pictures!

There are pictures of Aaron here, if anyone is interested.

more to read

I know bunches of you are fans of Rocks in My Dryer, (and the WFMW posts!) but some of you might not have ever visited. Let me tell you, you've gotta check it out. A recent addition to that great site is Bloggy Giveways that helps increase traffic for WAHM's, (by giving away FREE STUFF) both of which of course I am a big fan of. There are some beautiful items over there to win, and by visiting the WAHM shop sites, I've harvested several ideas for copycat projects of my own. We will see if I find the time to do them!

There are so many resources out there in Bloggersville! Daily I am more amazed at the wealth of knowledge to be gained from other bloggers. Any favorites you'd like to share with me?

taking it for granted

This week I've been thinking. (I know, some of you are gasping in shock at that thought) I've been thinking of all the things I just "expect" to happen - I expect the car to always turn on, and carry me safely to my destination. I expect that the fridge will keep our food from spoiling and that there will be hot water when I take a shower or wash my hands.

As itty bitties, we expect to grow old, to be married, to have babies. When we do grow old, get married, and have babies, we expect those babies to follow the same pattern.

We expect that our paychecks will keep coming, and that if we're not stupid with our money, there will be enough to cover the mortgage, the electricity and even a few extras like a phone and high speed internet.

I expect things from others - that they will not lie, that they will be courteous and maybe even go out of their way to make things nice for those around them. I expect them to put their trash where it goes, and I admit that I take it a little too personally when they don't.

I expect to stay healthy, to be happy, and to merrily go along my way. I take it for granted. And then, something happens. I wake up with clogged sinuses or the microwave fritzes or I get a call from a friend whose parent or sibling or child is seriously unwell. And (depending on the severity of the "disaster") instead of taking it in stride, instead of accepting this unexpected turn in the road, I collapse.

Now I'm not so fragile that I physically collapse, or can no longer function. But inwardly, a war begins between what I expected and what is. An emotional reaction becomes a spiritual battle. I beg God to change it, to fix it, or just to tell me why. I plead with God to allow me to understand what He is doing, and even as the words tumble over themselves in their haste, the Holy Spirit is working in my mind.

I mentally concur that I don't REALLY want to know - that I really want to trust Him, to give back these details that are already His. I know intellectually that His Plan is the best. But the struggle between heart and head is so real, so painful at times that I am left feeling somehow shortchanged and very disappointed.

The only thing to do is to trust that this God who loves me and cannot lie will accomplish His best. It's not an easy thing to do - this exchanging what I expected for what is - in fact, it is agonizing. But I do know that my God is faithful and that whatever He chooses to accomplish in me, around me, or through me, is completely up to Him.

I can cling to Him tightly when the road takes a turn, and I know His arms will completely enfold me. Here, I am safe.

one small step

It doesn't seem like a big deal to those of you whose kiddos haven't yet begun to walk, but it makes a huge difference to me. This week, Aaron has made the transition from walking as recreational activity (walk, fall down, crawl to desired destination) to walking as primary form of mobility (walk, fall down, get up, walk to desired destination) It is so SO crazy to see all 28 3/4 inches of him teetering about. He's definitely becoming more independent, and he has the bumps and bruises to prove it! He's certainly ALL boy!

all the vitals

So I'm a little overdue posting about my son the one year old - maybe because I'm still trying to get over the shock!!! (Really because I just have been lazy!) We had a little get together with the family, he ate some strawberry shortcake and loved all his birthday gifts (even though he liked the packaging much better)

And last week, the doctor's visit for his one year checkup went swimmingly. Aaron now weighs a whopping 20 lbs 4 oz and is 28 3/4 inches tall. Unfortunately for him, this only bumps his weight up to the 10th percentile. Our backs thank him for that. Soon he will be able to grow as much as he wants - his walking skills are becoming quite polished. He is now able to stand from sitting all on his own with no help from a nearby object or person. He's met and exceeded all the normal milestones, and has begun adding words to his vocabulary. Most recently, "balloon" which sounds more like "boon" and a very clear "Amen" at the end of our family bedtime prayers, along with the occasional "Bible." He's becoming quite a little mimic, which has us all in fits of laughter quite regularly.

Happy Belated Birthday, little man!

all hail the neti pot!

It's confession time. I watch Oprah. I don't want her to be our president, I don't think her advice is all that reliable, and I certainly don't watch every day. But on occasion, I will switch on the TV at 4 and see what she has to say. The "off" button is pretty easy to push if I don't like the topic. Oh, come now. I see your looks of horror and hear your gasps, but whatever. Just hear me out.

I have gained some pretty valuable information while watching Oprah. For example, about 6 months ago I happened to catch an episode where a neti pot was explained and demonstrated. Of course, learning about the benefits of this homeopathic device perked my ears and I figured this was one of those products I would like to try.

Of course, when a product is featured on Oprah, it immediately becomes unavailable...so I did not have any luck locating one in the Grand Metropolis in which we reside.

Today, I bought a neti pot and a quantity of sea salt at our local health food store. Set me back $21.47, but I did have some birthday money. And I tried it. I'm telling you, Oprah knows what she's talking about regarding neti pots. I'm a huge fan. I used it about an hour ago and my sinuses feel better than they have in a very VERY long time. I am pretty sure that neti potting will become part of my normal routine. Definitely worth every penny.

When you try it, you'll want to make sure the water is warm to the touch. The first time I tried it, the water was too cool, and I got that fuzzy feeling like I'd been swimming and snorted some water into my nostrils. The warm water felt delightful immediately.

unbelievable.

Came across this today, from this helpful site. Thought to myself how it seems like a lot of work...but it might be fun for kids. I think we'll save that idea for any future homeschooling that might take place in the Muth house.

you know you're getting old when...

Yeah. Today, I had to Google some slang. In order to take an online quiz about my pet peeves. WHAT?!?! Well, as they say, knowledge is power...and can I just say that I love Wikipedia? I do. I love it.

the second sign of my getting older is the tendency to go off on rabbit trails.

Giveaways!!!

Check out the stuff they're giving away here. But only if you have, like, a zillion hours. Or really need free stuff. Hurry, you've only got 'til Friday.

if you want something specific...

Sometimes I get a picture in my head of something specific that I want, and of course then I can't find it anywhere. I felt that way when trying to find a diaper bag for Aaron. I had something specific in mind and couldn't find anything like it. We had a nice diaper bag, but I found some fabric that might help me accomplish my goal, and figured out how this bag might come together. Well, I started the project about 6-8 months ago, but finally finished it yesterday. Here are pictures!

And here was the inspiration and tutorial. See comments for my changes to the inspiration bag.

the smell of success

Today, during our regularly scheduled after lunch potty sitting and book reading session, Aaron pooped. In the potty. It may have been a fluke, but hey, it gave me hope enough to know that we will keep this up. We've been trying this out (quite sporadically) for about 2 weeks. Which means, we've missed days. Maybe with faithfulness, this will become a more, er, regular occurrence.

Resource Full

First, MomAdvice is a great resource. I stumbled on it by "accident" but it's been a very valuable tool for me. There are tons of categories to utilize for help, and part of the website is a blog about random home related things. There is even a blog on meal planning with Aldi ingredients. Amazing!!

Second, The Grocery Game has proven to be a wonderful way to save money...Since subscribing a week ago, I have gotten 4 packages of feminine products, two tubes of toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and more for FREE because of this site. What this service does is match up store deals (even clearance items that are unadvertised) with coupons from the Sunday paper. Depending on your area, you may have multiple store ads available to you. In our area, Meijer, Kroger, Rite Aid and Walgreens are available.

Of course, this service doesn't happen to be free, but it is reasonable. For the 4 stores available in my area, the charge to subscribe to these stores is $25 billed every 8 weeks. It's $10 for the first store and $5 for every additional store. This is the charge for every 8 weeks, not every month. BUT you can try it out for 4 weeks for $1. ONE DOLLAR!!! Check it out! (It's definitely paid me back for the $1 I spent for the 4 week trial (I am in week 2).

Oh, and if you do sign up, make sure you type in my email address for referring you. (I can earn free weeks!!) (twomuthsatgmaildotcom)

help me find this recipe!!

Summer is upon us and for the past several years I have enjoyed making homemade shelf stable preserves for us to give away or use throughout the year. This year I am trying to find a recipe that does NOT call for any sugar or artificial sweetners. I would love to hear if anyone has a tried & true recipe that is either very low in sugar or has no sugar added. Again, I'm not really looking for a freezer jam recipe, but something that would be shelf stable.

Thank you!

don't blink

They told me it would happen, as I cuddled my freshly born son. They told me that time would start to crash and swirl around me like the disappearing waves of the ocean. That a year would pass like a week. Like a freshly made mother, I ignored their winking, smiling words. And here we stand on the brink of toddlerhood, and I realize that indeed, a year has passed.

One year ago today I was enjoying my freedom from my desk job, and was happily picking blueberries with mom and Shelley. Our house looked hopelessly removed from anything resembling the cozy home I had imagined during our first walk through, and I was praying that the baby would wait to be born until the drywall was up, the painting was done, and we could think about packing. I was 12 days away from my doctor's due date and trying to ignore old wives' tales about full moons bringing on labor.

I was exactly 3 weeks away from meeting Aaron.

Which means, my little boy will be turning one in three weeks. We'll probably have a small gathering (that he won't remember) and we might let him have something resembling cake to play in for the photos. And then, I fear, this cycle will repeat itself, and another year will pass as swiftly as this first with our child.

I've learned so much this year - thought about things I hadn't given a moment's time before - things like shots and feeding and elimination habits and sleeping and schedules and teaching obedience. I'm sure that the experienced moms out there just smile with that smile that says, "Just wait, honey" all the while thinking that I've only begun to learn, to grow, to be a mom.

Today, I pray hard. I pray for my child, that He will grow strong in every way, but most importantly that he will be born spiritually, and grow in grace. I pray for us as we practice parenting. And I pray that God will write these everyday moments in my heart, that I may treasure the gifts He gives.

fireworks and other explosions

Tuesday night, we packed up and went to the Bay City, MI fireworks with a group of friends from church. We got to sit pretty much right under the display, which was loads of fun. I don't think I really need to tell you how much Aaron enjoyed it - the look on his face in the picture really says it all. We were definitely relieved that he loved them instead of screaming...which could have gotten old FAST. (Thanks, Andrea, for this great photo!!)

On the 4th, we headed over to the Stephens' for a fun cookout with some more people from church. We ended the evening with a backyard fireworks display - it was so fun to watch the kids laughing and having a great time. It was also pretty funny to watch the adults in charge of setting off the fireworks. Aaron ended the evening with an amazing diaper explosion that stunk up the Stephens' whole house!! We are thoroughly exhausted here in the Muth house - thankfully, only one more day to get through until the weekend (and hopefully extra rest) is upon us.

points of interest

We are back from our 10 day road trip adventure. I have uploaded our pictures to Facebook, but if you do not have access to that, you can still see pictures of our trip! Click here and here. To see pictures from Aaron & Julia's beautiful wedding, click here.

Before leaving on this adventure, we made a quick stop at the library so I could pick up a few books I'd been trying to find time to read. Of course, the books I was looking for were both checked out, so I quickly scanned the parenting section for a title of interest. I found the book pictured here, which turned out to be a fascinating find. I was thinking I had awhile before potty training is to begin, but this book had some interesting, low pressure ideas about introducing the potty as part of the routine early on in life. It is a very interesting point of view to be sure. I'll let you know how it all, er...pans out (heh heh heh)

PRAISE GOD for a wonderful vacation. The day before the wedding was, for me, one of Alexandric proportions, but God is always good and we managed to muddle through forgotten food, diapers, wipes and a flat tire on the way to rehearsal dinner. God's hand was gracious and His working evident. The wedding was a huge blessing and success, Aaron traveled like a trooper most of the time, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the break from the routine. Thanks for all the prayers! After about 2300 miles, We are definitely glad to be back home.

and we're off...

Woo hoo! Vacation time has finally come! We thank Julia and Aaron for thinking of getting married so that we can go!! This weekend we will be staying with Tim & Sarah Valiante and get to meet little Micah for the first time. Aaron can hardly contain his excitement, as you can see. Don't you love his two top teeth? The child resembles a hillbilly, for sure. After a brief stopover in DC, we're on to the wedding on the 23rd and the fun that will bring!

Spell check, I praise thee!

In an age where most of our correspondence is electronic, why is it so common for spelling mistakes to multiply and flourish like little moldy spores of unintelligent communication? It's only ONE extra step, just a little button to push or a command to execute. In hopes that all will utilize the brilliant invention, I tell you this:

There is something wonderfully satisfying about seeing the message "No Misspellings Found" flash across the top of your electronic communique.

"It's so easy!"

"It was meant to be. It was meant to be."

Blessed be the LORD, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. (Ps 69:11)

aaron updates and a happy birthday wish

Here's Aaron hanging out in the office while his mother works. Make that "while his mother tries to work." He's quite the kid. It will be mere days until walking (er, running) becomes the norm and we will be chasing him all around. He is unlike his mother in that he enjoys taking risks that often result in physically uncomfortable consequences. Bumps and bruises are becoming quite normal. He is also becoming quite a ham. Last night he did something that made us laugh, and he looked up at us laughing and did the same thing again and again, producing even more laughing. He definitely is understanding much more than we ever thought possible at this age. He's doing great with eating up vast quantities of big people food like cheese, chicken, toast, watermelon and pretty much anything else we give him. And yet he holds steady in the third percentile for his age. I don't think we're going to have to wait until he's a teen for him to eat us out of house and home. It is hard to believe that ten months have passed already.

We'd also like to take this opportunity (Aaron and I) to wish Michael a very VERY happy 27th birthday! We think that he is, quite simply, the best.

be gone, you unwanted ad photos!

We've been using Firefox as our browser of choice, and I just found out that they have an ad blocker update that filters out the photos on the ads! Anyone who has been "surprised" by unwanted photos of the results of a weight loss product or items that SHOULD be whomever's secret will be delighted with the results of Firefox's new tool!

the next big movie

Pretty sure this would make a hilarious next big "trick the people and make off with the treasure" flick.

I think I finally get it. (but probably not)

God has provided a free dishwasher for us. If I was a smart person, I would just GET IT that when God says He provides, He provides. But I'm not so smart. I don't get it; I'm often surprised by His gracious outpouring.

Now technically, a dishwasher is NOT a need! It's very possible to wash dishes by hand, very effective. It does not fall straighforwardly into the category of food, shelter, or clothing. And even more technically, it's not a need at ALL for us, as we have a "roll up to the sink" dishwasher that has been working just fine since we got it several years ago. (for $60 second hand)

But we are in the process of remodeling our home, and eventually we would have "needed" to buy a dishwasher to install for the future home buyers. It's been in the plan to install a permanent one all along, and we'd decided that we were going to go with black appliances (since stainless wouldn't give us a good enough return in the sale of the home, and white just looks yucky faster). So this was a way-in-the-future-after-siding-trim-and-everything-else gets done "need" that is still in quotation marks, because we could probably still sell the house without a dishwasher.

Guess what color this free dishwasher "just happens" to be?

Concertina le Aaron

Aaron loves life. These are just a few of the activities and faces that make up his little concertina.

freeze tag

To satisfy the tagger, I am posting eight random things. But I shall remain a frozen statue in this game of cyber tag. I know, I know...seven years of bad luck and all that jazz. I will take my chances.

1. I turned down a chance to teach music in an international school in Vienna. No regrets - I started dating Michael that year.
2. I've always wanted to learn to play cello.
3. Italy would be my vacation destination of choice.
4. I once was chastized for coloring outside the lines by a fellow 5 year old, who shall remain nameless.
5. I almost studied studio art at BJ instead of going to Northland.
6. I'd love to learn how to throw a pot or two (on a wheel, not at anyone in particular)
7. When I traveled for Northland, I was never without a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a scrubby for scary showers/tubs. I left a plethora of sparkly clean showers. CLEAN YOUR SHOWER when you have people over, for crying out loud!
8. I can't cook burgers inside. They smell funny, they taste funny, and I just don't like it.

weighing cheerios in the balance

Are you into reading labels?

I've been thinking about some random things lately, things like,

If something is in a clear container, and visible for all the world to see, does it really need a label? And if so, why?

What is the reason we label things - is it for organization, or for another reason entirely? Foodstuffs need labels so we can avoid HFCS and allergic reaction triggers, and plan the caloric content wisely. My bins in the garage need labels so that I can know easily which of the indentical containers holds the extra towels (needed) and which holds the maternity clothes (not needed). Things that are packaged in clear containers need labels sometimes - sweet pickles and dill often look similar, as do sweetened and unsweetened applesauce. Other times, not so much. I put Aaron's diapers in clear ziploc bags so they don't get lost in the diaper bag. I don't feel the need to label those "diapers" because it is obvious that the bag contains diapers.

However, it is true that labels can be very helpful. Which makes me think - do I label people, churches, and bins of stuff all in the same way?

When we choose a label for something, it is important to choose terms that are clearly defined. If I made up a word for the contents, that would be no good. No one would understand, and the label would be useless.

Similarly, if I labeled a container with a word that had several meanings, that would not be helpful either. People would be opening the container with different expectations, and would experience different levels of disappointment depending on those expectations.

More importantly, if someone were to label me, what would my label say? Would it have a toxicity warning? Would it say, "CAUTION - CONTENTS EXPLOSIVE" or something else that would present danger? Here's what I'd want it to say -

Human, Jennifer Muth, created by God for His Glory. Because of His Grace, and through the power of His Spirit, contains: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Self Control. This creation is valued for a gentle spirit, healing words, and kindness to all. Clearly reflects the qualities of the Creator.

calling all opinions!

Help! I am in desperate need of a new look!!! I am vvvvvvvvery tired of my old "hairstyle" and would love any ideas for something new. I was just going to do the same old thing but found out that my hairstylist is retiring, so...perfect time to get a new 'do. I need some help! Anyone out there have any ideas? I'm open for just about anything new. Aside from primary colors or partial head shaving, that is.

Right now my hair has chunky layers in the bottom 3 inches. And it often ends up pulled back in a clip or ponytail. Boooor-ing.

busy busy and more opportunities!!!

With the balmy breezes of spring, the pace of life has picked up - we are now almost in frantic mode. It seems like early spring has that tendency. Here are some of our recent highlights!

Aaron has turned 9 months old - and has mastered pulling himself up and then getting back down without head trauma, has cut another tooth (the one to the left of the front 2 that haven't grown in yet) which makes a total of 3 and a weird looking grin. The other 3 top teeth have been trying to make their debut. He's also saying "mom" and "dad" but we still think that it is more experimental than actual understanding of who we are.

We have been working feverishly in our yard to get things to a decent condition. Everyone around us has beautiful, lush yards. Ours looks like a nightmare, and although it certainly would be nice to have a lawn service just come and "fix" it for us, I can't imagine what it would cost. It is scary right now.

We've demolished 2 hills in the front, and, consequently, the funky shrub/bush/plants that were growing therein. We now have 2 large bare dirt spots in which we've planted grass seeds, but are yet waiting to see the sprouts from that venture. We have also trimmed some dead branches off the trees. I'm waiting with great excitement for the time later this summer when I can move the odd planting of lilies and tulips from yet another spot in the front yard. The lilies have an adoptive home waiting and the tulips will be transplanted to another part of our yard.

We also completely emptied the office and have re organized it to make a spot for the bookshelves that were relocated from our living area to make room for the piano. We are not quite finished with that project, although it is much more pleasant to work in the office now, and makes future organization a real possibility.

Garage sale season has begun! So far, we've been able to cross a few items off our "wish list" - a bread maker, a fan, another filing cabinet and a small table, some clothes for Aaron, and a few other miscellaneous items. Michael is particularly excited about a snowblower and a book of Far Side comics. I am pretty happy about the Baby Einstein videos and DVD's we found.

DAD graduated Saturday from Central Michigan University with his master's degree!! We all went to the commencement, including Aaron, who sat for over an hour on my lap, most happily! I was relieved at how well he did, and am so happy for dad. He's worked on this degree for awhile.

This week is the school play at Calvary Baptist Academy, for which Jenny will be helping the students do stage makeup. They're performing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which should be very interesting! We are looking forward to it!

Sunday, we caught up to one of our junior high students and his family after the morning service. They have only been coming for a couple weeks and Michael wanted to make sure they knew they were welcome! The mom mentioned to Michael that she was bringing her boys to church because they had told her that they wanted to be baptized and she wanted to make sure that they understood before they made this step. By her words we think perhaps she doesn't have the right idea about baptism - or possibly salvation - and it looks like we may have the opportunity to bring the boys to church on Wednesday nights to be a part of the youth group as well as meet with the whole family for discipleship! Please PRAY for this single mom, J and her two boys, M and D. We would LOVE to see God use us to help them progress in their spiritual growth. They have all been in an abusive situation and are just beginning to get back on their feet.

our piano

Here it is! The free piano! Now we just have to figure out how to place the rest of our furniture in our house...

that, and call a tuner...

Praise God for this wonderful gift!

I looked up this piano online and it was made in 1908. It's definitely in GREAT condition for being 99 years old!!!

and I'm surprised?

There are so many things that God has done for me, that by now I should not be surprised when something wonderful and unexpected and exciting happens. However. I am human, and so, when I found out today that a piano will be delivered to my door next Tuesday, I just about lost control of my hallelujah-ing self.

Here's the story - a few weeks ago, I got an email notification from Freecycle that someone wanted to give away a piano. I thought "WOO HOO! A free piano would be great!" and promptly emailed to let the party know of my interest. After a day or so I figured I wasn't the only one who thought a free piano was a good deal. Well, a few weeks passed and I'd honestly forgotten all about the advertised piano. Then. Today, in my email, was a note from the piano owner (who "just happens" to be a member of our church) saying that he has arranged for Two Men and a Truck to drop off the piano at my house on Tuesday, and put it wherever I want it.

How often does one receive gifts like this? OK. I am the FIRST to admit that my piano playing "skills" are so remedial that the word must be written in quotation marks. But I do enjoy sitting down in front of some new music and plunking out the notes on occasion. We have an el cheapo garage sale keyboard that I've been using for that purpose. Just the other day was thinking how great it would be for Aaron to grow up around a piano. I thought to myself, "I should start praying about a piano." But I never got around to it!!! Once again, God has blown me away with His overabundant provision. (And, yes, I have a renewed resolve to learn how to play that thing better!)

Join in, everyone! I can hear Mr. Hairgrove's voice, "Exceeding abundantly, above all we ask or think, that's what our God can do..." I know a free piano pales in comparison to salvation, and all the other Workings that God does in our lives and hearts. But I am vvvvvvvvvery excited about this newest "it-sure-is-nice-to-have-even-though-I-don't-need-it" provision from God!!!

the incredible amazing pagan wonder boy!

"Come over here, Mr. Q and Mrs. Z! I want to eat you!"




As you can see by the feature film, Aaron is already more athletically gifted than his mother! I think we are also beginning to see aspects of Personality, but that will remain to be seen. At least for now, he's driven and tenacious (to get those foam letters ALL out of that bucket if he gets his head stuck trying!!!!) You may also notice his creativity - It's rare to see a child this age get in his own exersaucer (right, AND in an amazingly unconventional way!) Along with these displays of genius have also come lessons on "no" and what that means. We are still working on it, but when a child takes a bite of concrete fireplace, you know it's time to start sharing that there are certain things that are off limits. Even if only 40% is understood.

And if you want more great laughs, click here for a video a friend found...I about fell off my chair!