If Home Is Where Your Heart Is. . . .

I've been upstairs for about an hour working on scheduling Andy and working on a book that I am writing (yes, Jen, I am doing it!) and I got up to grab a snack (Kit Kat probably) and this is what I saw:

Last night I had a date with my sweetie and it was so nice to just be out of the house and be with a grown up. . .a grown up who happens to be the love of my life and my best friend! We had sushi and walked around downtown (he bought me a great hat) and just chilled in the grass while we waited on a movie we didn't end up watching. It was fun and refreshing. (Thank you, Luke, for babysitting the brood.)

Okay, I know that love does both. . .I Corinthians 13 tells us that "love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things . . . ." But, if you had to sum it up in just one word (out of the two), which would it be? Love hopes. Love believes. I've been trying to decide which one would I pick if I had to pick one. I tend to lean towards believes right at first. I want to believe in those I love. I want to believe that God is who He said He is. I want to believe in his unconditional and unfailing love. I want to believe in the best of my kids and believe in Andy and his gifts and dreams. I think "believes" is a great word to follow love. Then I really think about hope. It is such a more positive sounding word. I kind of feel like believe is the darker side. . .I type that and know that it only makes sense to me. . .oh well. . .bear with me for a bit. Hope seems so much more optimistic and upbeat in my mind. Being hopeful see...

One of my goals this year (along with being better about bedtime) is to cook at least two real meals per week (Hays suggested to me that I cook more). So, I am working on it. Last night I cooked a successful meal (which is VERY different from successfully cooking a meal. . .which I also did). A successful meal is one in which all of your children will eat AND even compliment (with words and yummy noises)! CHICKEN BURRITOS WITH BLACK BEAN SALSA (I obviously had to double the below recipe) 1 15 ounce can black beans rinses & drained 2 scallions chopped 1 tablespoon lime juice (I used fresh) 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 chicken breasts (boneless & skinless) 1/4 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper 1/2 pound cheese (called for pepper jack, I used some Mexican mix) 4 large flour tortillas 1. Combine beans, scallions, lime juice, cumin and 1/2 of the salt. Set aside. 2. Combine chili powder, pepper and remaining salt (I doubly doubled t...

Wow. It is September again and I cannot even believe it! I cannot believe that we are in to our second year of school in Colorado. I cannot believe that my baby, Hays, will be 12, I cannot believe that soccer season is beginning or that Andy's traveling is on its way! September! The mornings are cold, there will be snow on the mountains soon and the Aspens will be a magnificent yellow before I know it! I love September! 30 days until I get to take my kids to the Grand Canyon. 51 days until our girls trip with my mom and Jennafer to Vegas. 117 days until Cabo. Don't worry, I am going to enjoy each and every day as it comes, but I love having count downs going on in the mean time! Happy September!!!

Now, I do not claim to be a farm animal expert and I must admit that I have never been on a farm while a cow was dying. . . .however, I do have a sixth grader and a fourth grader and today was the first day that their homework was to try out their new instruments: a saxophone and a cello (respectively). OH MY GOODNESS! Day one on a saxophone is bad. Day one on a cello is bad. Day one for two kids on each is migraine inducing. . . .bring on the Imitrex! I love my kids. And one day they may be amazing (or even good) musicians; however, today is NOT that day!

Veggie Tales has a new movie coming out October 2nd called "It's A Meaningful Life" and I am so excited about it for so many different reasons! 1. I love Veggie Tales! Bob and Larry make me laugh out loud! 2. Stevie Joy Chapman gets to play the voice of Emma the Rhubarb. 3. The movie highlights adoption. 4. Steven Curtis Chapman does the "Meant To Be" song for the movie.