And the Winner is....

The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook!

Even when I asked for tie-breaker votes, I still ended up with a tie (Dave was given a vote, and of course he voted for the Mitford Cookbook). I was trying to decide between the two, and told Dave that I felt for the sake of our marriage I needed to go with the Mitford cookbook, because he just was not very enthusiastic about vegetarian anything. I had explained I had been looking forward to stretching myself with the self-imposed 'assignment.' And while each of the cookbooks would have been a stretch to some degree, I felt the Mitford cookbook was going to be the least stretching of any (except for our waistbands, of which I'm sure it would stretch plenty). David indicated that as long as I don't expect him to become vegetarian (which I don't, and I wouldn't even consider doing because I like meat too much), that he would be happy to allow me to try to entice him into eating his veggies more with some yummy recipes from the vegetarian cookbook.

I plan to have my first recipe prepared in a few days, so get ready for the journey and stay tuned!

Tiebreaker

Last chance to voice your opinion (if you have not already). New votes, only, please. There is a tie between the Mitford Cookbook and the Vegetarian Cookbook. I could go with either one, but I want you all to decide. I look forward to beginning from the winning choice sometime this week!

Because I Don't Have Enough to Keep Me Busy

Yes, I'm adding another thing to the list, by choice. Am I crazy?

Most of you have probably seen Julie & Julia. Well, I knew nothing about Julie and her blog until I saw that movie. Ever since then (certainly I'm not the first to think this), I thought it would be fun to pick a lesser-used cookbook of mine to cook all the way through.

I've picked three books out of my collection that, for various reasons, I have not used much, yet. I will present each of them below, and then it is up to you to leave your comment, voting for which you think I should journey through.

 A few important notes to consider:

• Regardless of book choice, it is going to take a while to 'cook through' it. I doubt I will be able to do one recipe per day, and also, I'm sure some of the ingredients will get a little pricey, so I'll have to spread out the recipes.
• Some recipes will be easy for me to adapt based on my son's food allergies; others will not. Whenever possible, I will make adaptations to recipes, and note them accordingly.
• Some recipes will completely gross me out; while the idea is to get out of my comfort zone, if Dave is not available to help with some particular gross-ness, we may have to 'table' a few recipes (I will try to keep that to a minimum though). I know which cookbook will involve most of this, but I will refrain from swaying your decision, as I will enjoy cooking from any of these three.

The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook
Vegetarian food has come a long way since the days when it was regarded as the province of faddists. Now it is fresh, modern and young - an exciting and sophisticated cuisine enjoyed by an increasing number of people who appreciate fine food. This book contains a wealth of superb vegetarian recipes, from snacks to substantial meals, desserts to drinks. Drawing on flavors from around the world and using fine, fresh produce, vegetarian food will never again seem second best.

Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader
Millions of Mitford fans will agree - it's easy to put on a pound of two reading a Mitford novel. In scene after scene, you find colorful characters enjoying ravishing dishes like Puny's golden-crusted cornbread and Father Tim's baked ham with bourbon glaze. And before you know it, you've read several pages by the glow of the refrigerator light bulb. 
Now, when you read about a dish that starts a craving, you can go to the kitchen and create it yourself. Gathered here are recipes for 150 dishes that anyone would be thrilled to put on the table.

Memories of a Cuban Kitchen
"The best foreign cookbook honors go to Memories of a Cuban Kitchen. The book rings wonderfully true, both in its recipes and its evocations of pre-Castro Havana as recalled by author Mary Urrutia randelman with heartfelt affection. This beautiful book is a memory piece as much as a cookbook." --The Washington Times
"Memories of a Cuban Kitchen will be and added treasure in any cook's library and a must in the kitchen of any American of Cuban Heritage or anyone who's interested in exploring Cuban cooking more fully at home." --The Miami Herald 

DON'T FORGET to leave your comments and vote on your choice!

There Goes the Neighborhood!

What is that pulling into the drive? Is it... could it be?


No, surely its not... I thought the Beverly Hillbillies were lost somewhere in California...


Oh, now I see... its Drew's new playground!


I wish you could have seen us rolling along at 35 - 40 mph all the way home from Northwest Cape Coral on Sunday. We saw people giving us the funniest looks. It was so entertaining to watch as everyone's heads turned while we went by.

A very sweet family was going to throw this playground out, and at the last minute, decided to list it for free. We called right away and made arrangements to go pick it up the next day. We are so thankful for their giving hearts, and for the husband helping Dave load everything. I obviously would have been no help in that regard.

Before we knew it's exact size, and before we planned how we were going to get it all home, a sweet family at church was discussing the weekend with us after Saturday night service. Once we told them what we would be doing on Sunday, they realized we would need a trailer (before we did- Dave hadn't even seen the pictures of the thing yet). They graciously offered their trailer to us to use. We are so thankful for their willingness to help.

Having a playground in our backyard has been something we have wrestled with for some time. We kept going back and forth between whether it was really a need or a want just because we are parents who wanted to give something to their child. We have prayed for over 5 months about what we would do; we were not willing to step out of our budget to buy something just because we wanted Drew to have it. We kept praying and waiting; we had seen a few free ones listed before, but called too late. When I had called about this one, it had only been listed for 10 minutes. All our thanks goes to God for His provision, even in something as 'small' as a playground for Drew and, one day, his little brother.

It's a Baby

The cat is out of the bag... Drew will have a baby brother or sister in September. I kept it quiet as long as I could, but my sweet hubby is too excited to keep it in anymore. AND, don't any of you tell me I look pregnant, because I don't right now. This is my normal shape (not glamorous, I know, but true).

Turning Over a New Leaf?

I don't know if it is because I'm 30 now, or if it is because it's a new year, and a fresh start perhaps. But I've been less reluctant to begin or go back to some things that previously were just passing thoughts or I didn't see the importance in, or I just lacked the desire to complete (read: laziness).

1. I took a BIG step WAY out of my comfort zone and committed to attending RefresHer on Tuesday mornings. I am so glad that God has continually put it on my heart, slowly preparing me for when His timing was perfect. I am excited for what God has in store during the time of this study, and am already very encouraged by it.

2. This is where I am most afraid of failure: any kind of physical exercise. I love to exercise, though you wouldn't know it to look at me! I always feel so good during and afterwards. However, I have a list over a mile long (longer than any distance I could ever run) of reasons why I haven't been faithful in this area. So I found this: The Couch to 5K Running Plan. I am hoping and praying that I can shed some of this extra weight and be in better overall health by following this plan.

I hope to post more 'new things' in the near future, but these are two big things for me to get me started. Please, please - no nay-sayers. Encouraging words only!

Black Friday

The clock on Jaime's car radio while we waited outside JCPenney- WAY-FM was keeping us awake!

Initially, I was supposed to do some shopping with my friend, Jen, on Black Friday. However, since I was still sick, I did not want to risk getting her sweet baby boys sick. Jen was gracious and understood.

Then, last minute, my sister, Jaime, found out she did not have to work on Friday: very dangerous! That means we made our plan quick, and stuck to it. We opened Miromar Outlets at midnight (yikes!), JCPenney's at 4 am, Toys R Us at 5 am, stopped at Walmart, opened Family Christian at 6 am, ran through the drive-thru for some food, and hit Joann's about 7:30. We were back at her house at 8, took a nap, and went back out around 1:30 after a yummy lunch that Gary and Mia made for us. We went to Old Navy and Ulta, and then on my way home, I stopped at Radio Shack.

I have NEVER, EVER been on a shopping trip quite like this one, but it was so fun, even though I was sick and we were both exhausted. I think we started a new tradition in our family, and next year, we are dragging Mom with us (she was out of town this year). Most of my shopping is done, and Jaime made quite a dent in hers. I am very thankful to the Lord that we didn't encounter any problems and that we were safe the whole time we were out. Just in case, we both carried our mace with us! Talk about double trouble!

Foot.. No, Leg... No, Foot

It has been a week since you last heard from me, which by my standards, is too long. I usually update more often.

Friday was an interesting day as I had gone to Coconut Point to get a free photo done of Drew. Since we arrived a little early, I took him to the play area for a few minutes where he was knocked down and hurt his foot. I was unaware of the extent of his injury at that point.

I quickly realized at the portrait studio that something was more wrong than I originally thought because he wouldn't stop crying. He kept saying "hurt" and he wouldn't/couldn't walk on his left foot.

After a trip to the pediatrician, we went to do x-rays of his leg (the pediatrician was out of town and his partner that we saw seemed to think his leg was the culprit at the time). No visible breaks on the x-rays, but her suspicions were that of a 'toddler fracture' which doesn't always show up on an x-ray. I was to observe over the weekend, using Motrin when necessary, and call in this morning with an update.

Well, we went back to visit the Doctor's partner this morning because Drew's limp had become worse over the weekend, and he all of a sudden seemed to be in more pain, as he started crying again, saying "hurt" and didn't want to bear weight on his foot, which was now swollen again. We were referred to the pediatric orthopedic doctor in Fort Myers and visited late this afternoon.

There is a 'toddler fracture' in the first metatarsal bone in his left foot. He now has a blue cast, or as we affectionately refer to it, his "special boot." This evening, he did well walking on it, and enjoyed the novelty of the cast. Tomorrow when he wakes up and it's still there, it may be a different story.

Big Day for Drew!

Andrew had two new experiences yesterday....

First, he used his learning potty for the very first time, all on his own prompting. He ran up to me, pointed to the bathroom, said "pee pee", ran into the bathroom and used the potty for the first time. I think it scared him a little, because afterward, he started crying, but he did it! I gave him two cookies to celebrate the milestone!

Second, although we have spent many hours on different playgrounds, Drew hasn't been quite ready to go down a slide by himself, and sometimes he doesn't even want to go with me in my lap. But yesterday, we were at the playground where my parents live, and he was running around, having a blast because we were the only people there, and next thing you know, he decides that he will try the slide because Mommy and Nana had done it and they didn't get hurt! So, he plopped himself down, and slid all by himself to the bottom. I think it is important to mention that this particular slide was the tall spiral one, not the easy little one... I was impressed. He played for about 30 minutes running up the stairs and going down the slide, all by himself. My little boy is growing up!

Weird Dreams

The last two nights I have had some very strange dreams.

Thursday night, I dreamt that for some unknown and crazy reason, I had to fill in for David on drums at church (what!?). I was so stressed out in my dream that I had a very restless night of sleep. David would play a few songs, and then I had to 'fill-in' every few songs. I was scared stiff because I had to learn the songs, not to mention how to play drums in the first place, really fast. What made it worse was that when I would start playing, Nathan (the band leader) would get all upset because I wasn't doing it right! He kept yelling at me, saying, "Why can't you get it together?" "Why can't you play like your husband?" And I would cry, saying "Because I'm not a drummer," and "Because I can't play like my husband!" This is about as ridiculous as a dream can get, right? Well, read on...

Friday night, I dreamt that I had to fly a fighter jet (not for purposes of battle or war), but I had to fly it anyway. I was TERRIFIED! I don't remember a lot of specifics from this dream, except that after the first two flights (where I was FORCEFULLY put in the cockpit- I had no choice), I ran screaming, saying "I'm never doing this again!" I had to disguise myself so whoever was 'making' me fly this plane couldn't find me again and force me to pilot another plane!

What are some crazy, wierd dreams you've had?

Personal Goals at my 30th Year

Come on, I'm an accountant- I have to make a lists!

• Accept Christ as Lord and Saviour (5 years old)
• Hike part of the Appalachian Trail (12)
• Be baptized as Christ commanded (13 )
• Graduate High School (17 )
• Graduate College (21 )
• Get Married (23 )
• Go on a Cruise (23 )
• Dream Job (before being a mommy) (23 )
• Buy a House (26)
• Help adults learn to read, write and speak English (26)
• Have a Baby (27)
• Become a Stay-At-Home Mom (28)
• Plan my sister's wedding (29)

I still have lots of goals (some more shallow than others), and some I hoped to check off before 30, but now those will be on the list for the next decade. PLEASE keep in mind these are not my parenting goals, not my spiritual goals- I'm not going that deep here- so before you judge me- these are simply things that I would like to do:

• Go on a Police Ride-A-Long
• Take a ride on a motorcycle (no, I don't want to be the one driving)
• Hike another part of the Appalachian Trail
• Visit Washington, D.C.
• Have another baby... or two... or more?
• Meet Bobby Flay, Iron Chef
• Vacation out west
• Tour Italy (this requires my getting over my fear of flying and of flying over water, so probably not going to happen)
• Experience all four seasons at least once in the same location
• Be an aunt to my sister's & brother-in-love's future child(ren)
• Take Andrew to Disney World
• Be part of on-location aid for disaster relief
• Participate in a mission trip

What is a special peronal goal you hope to check off in the next decade of your life?

Reflections on My Twenties

It's late, and I'm sure I will probably edit this over the next few days...but I want to put a few things out there so I don't forget my thoughts.

As I look back over the last decade of my life, I can easily say that, thus far, it has been the most life-altering decade of my young life.

Let's start with my 20th year: I moved back to Fort Myers after spending 2.5 years at school in West Palm Beach. I finished my degree at FGCU, and found my new independence at school to be invigorating. I had outgrown the dorm lifestyle, and enjoyed being in a more 'commuter-friendly' campus. I made many new friends in West Palm, and ended up making some very unlikely but great friends at FGCU. I spent a lot of time working, studying, paying bills, and fishing (yes, you read that correctly).

Somewhere around my 21st year: I was 'God-smacked' and with His direction, made some very important decisions that changed the course of my life for the better, and I believe, more in line with the life He desired for me. I also graduated with my degree, thus reaching one of my many personal goals.

22nd year: The man of my dreams proposed and we started planning for marriage.

23rd year: My parents gave us the wedding of our dreams, and we took the vacation of a lifetime!

24th to 26th year: Worked hard together to learn what it meant to be married, and worked hard together to support each other in our respective roles at the time: Dave was a full-time student and worked multiple part-time jobs, and I worked full-time. We learned a lot about ourselves, and with David's help and encouragement, I learned more about my position as a child of the King. My sweet husband graduated with his degree, and we settled into being two-full-time working spouses with 'normal' jobs and 'normal' hours.

27th year: The Lord blessed us with the most exciting news ever- I was pregnant! We were so scared of being let down by the results from our store-bought test, we didn't dwell on it or talk about it, even between the two of us, until the doctor confirmed the results at her office. We will never forget telling our loved ones the news of expecting our first child. Andrew was born on July 31st!

Okay, so I'm going to skip over all the glazed-over eye stories, the feeling like a heifer stories, the I've had no sleep don't talk to me stories, the I'm sorry honey stories and all the other crazy things that happen when you bring your first child home. Everything that made sense before no longer makes sense, and in a very good way, your life as you knew it is turned on its head. Suffice it to say that yes, our world changed dramatically, and not without it's periods of adjustment for all of us, but the result is out of this world, by God's ever-present grace!

28th-29th years: Well, I am still learning about being a mom, a wife and a child of God... but I have been granted much wisdom, imparted by God himself, through the experiences He has blessed me to have. I would not have made it to the eve of my 30th year without the Lord (His patience, His forgiveness, His love, His plan, His redemption), my kind and loving hsuband, my sweet baby boy, my supportive family (of origin and in-loves), and best friends (you know who you are).

I believe in God's divine hand, and His intervention, and His still, small voice that guides me: for without it, my life would have taken a different road, and it would look nothing like it is today. Thank you, Jesus, for helping me every step of the way... I pray that my next 30 years will point straight to you!