"Infinity Good Dinner"

Yup, that is how Benjamin described tonight's dinner. Not only did he pay me this great compliment, but he also had 2 helpings of everything! I was very pleased.

I was especially pleased because while I was cooking tonight, I was thinking about how I could "out cook" Martha Stewart and how I could make my dinner prettier than hers even though I don't have (and never will have) capers and I don't do decorative fruit castles! I told myself this was okay because this is what all the normal people do! Sooooo, it was nice to know that I won! In your face, Martha!!!!

**deep breath**

These were the dishes from my imaginary competition:


Curried Chicken and Vegetables
Zucchini, Squash, Onion, Pepper Medley
Chapati Bread

Just so you know, this sort of weird stuff helps me get through the everyday drudgery of making dinner.

Off to polish my crown......

Oh, the rain!!!!

Benjamin and I had talked about having a rain play day this week. We did this at the end of the summer last year and had a blast. A few weeks ago when it was raining, Benjamin remembered. The problem was that it was 40 degrees outside (that is downright arctic in Texas!). Today when it started raining I knew what we would do!

So, after Olivia went down for her nap, I walked over to Stephanie's...in the rain! *gasp!* I rang her doorbell and she came to the door all groggy. I woke her up from her nap. Uh oh. I simply asked her to come and play in the puddles with me. Now, if you know Stephanie, you know that this is a perfectly normal sort of request. If you don't, well, you are missing out! She went back inside to do something, leaving me to doubt this idea for a nanosecond. Then she came right back out and rolled up her jeans and we were off!!

Sure, it was weird for the first 30 seconds. We kicked water on each other and the children looked at us kind of strange, but, I guess, they quickly decided that we were SOOO cool! Then it was an all out water battle. We had water guns, buckets, pails, cups, tea pitchers, water bottles, and bubble containers. Stephanie was the first to lug out the 5 gallon bucket...which she promptly threw right on me. It was hilarious!!

We went over to get Laura. I didn't know if she would join in or pack her family back up and move as quick as possible. She was cooking dinner, being responsible, didn't play in water, blah blah blah. Guess who was out there with us in no time?!? Yup! Laura! Her son even ran around in a long rain slicker and goggles. Again, hilarious. Bless her heart, she's stuck with us now. That is as proper an initiation as any, I'd say!

Before we knew it Sherene, Eliana, and William were out with us too. William was in his little fireman rain slicker an was spraying us with a dinosaur water gun. Sherene wasn't going to participate either, but we enticed her with the 5 gallon bucket. That was the cream of the crop vessel today! Pretty soon, she was wet too!!

I think both Stephanie and I had wondered what the neighbors would think, and I think we were both pleased to see that they thought it was such a great idea that they had to join in too!

We had a blast! It is probably one of the best days that I can remember in this neighborhood. When everyone went home, my heart was so full it could have burst!!! If any of you are reading this, thank you!! Thank you for being willing to be different even if it seems like the weird thing to do. You brought such a joy into my life today. Stephanie, your prayer was answered again. You were "stupid for Jesus" and you blessed me beyond belief!! Laura, I'm so glad you're here! Sherene, be careful, we may come for you more often. 8-)

I would be remiss if I did not say that I did see this as another outpouring of love from the Father. I noticed as we were playing that the pollen was floating on top of all of the puddles. Tonight I thought about how the pollen is so very troublesome for some of us. It brings discomfort or even serious pain. But, it is a necessary part of spring...of bringing about new life and beauty. Yet, at the right time, the rain comes and washes it away. So, perhaps that is cheeseball, but it works for me. I am so thankful for the simple, albeit cheeseball, lessons that I am learning lately.

I'm thankful for the love that God is pouring all over me lately. I feel like I've been struggling and struggling and now He is flooding me with love!! And that is how I felt with this rain today. I keep thinking of this song by Michael W. Smith that says:

And only You, the Son of man
Can take a leper and let him stand
So lift your hands, they can be held
By someone greater, the great I Am

Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher
Healing rain, I'm not afraid
To be washed in Heaven's rain

Oh, the joy!! Oh, the rain!!!

Toy Story ruined it for everyone!

It was very sad for the sweet baby. She was lying in the box so quietly waiting to be removed and loved on by my little Livi.

I tear open the box and go to hand the baby to Livi only to find the baby bound to the box with a plastic tie around her neck. While thinking that is a wee bit disturbing, I remove the tie, pat myself on the back for a job well done, and try to remove the baby again.

Oh no!! I discover that the baby has her chubby, pink little hands and feet tied up as well. I yell, "Don't worry, little baby, I will free you from your cardboard prison!!" My timely removal of the baby was hindered by the fact that the bad guys at the plant had twisted the little ties 4,651,651 times per limb and then secured them with a little plastic bar! After 7 hours of sweat and minimal swearing at the bad guys, I freed the baby!! Yay!!

I wracked my brain to try to figure why such measures were necessary, and could only come up with this....TOY STORY! That's right. They ruined it for everyone. We cannot leave our presumably innocent toys free in their boxes any more. No! This is not your parents' generation of toys. Look at what toys these days do when left rattling around in their boxes!

Gang violence! Drive by shootings!

Evil plans to take over the cities!!

Evasion tutorials.

Frightening, no? We should all thank Mr. Plastic Tie Man for protecting us from these clandestine toy gatherings. Thank him for tying every toy, whether it be an innocent baby or an unassembled plastic grocery cart, firmly to its container.

I will rest better tonight.

And the award goes to.....

....Kim Bulgrien for Most Inconsistent Blogger of the Year!! (applause)

Me? Oh, you shouldn't have. But, I prepared a little speech, you know, just in case. (clearing throat)

I'd like to thank God for the fingers I have which allow me to type this blog.

(fake sobbing)

I'd like to thank my family and friends for faithfully checking on my nonexistent blog. I'd like to thank my husband for not rolling his eyes at my fickleness with my short-lived blog excitement. I'd like to thank my friend, we'll just call her Fephanie Storringer, for encouraging me to write on it again.

And last, but not least, I'd like to thank the Academy....because everyone else does...

So, here we go again......