All American Root Beer Cookies

So, our last two weeks were spent in the good ol' USA. Most of the suggested foods were either things we eat on a regular basis or Native American dishes we ate last year when we studied them. So, since Mommy was also courting full on PMS, we made cookies. Root Beer cookies. Mmm. They were VERY rich.



The kids liked them okay, but I realized I would eat them all. So I gave them to our sweet Korean neighbors.

We made them again with peppermint extract instead of root beer extract. And we added Andes mint chips. And didn't frost them. And they rocked. I think this will be our new chocolate chip cookie recipe. The only problem is that they cook VERY fast. So you really have to watch them.

Yesterday we left the States (virtually) for Mexico. I promised the kids we would make tamales and a pinata. Intercession is welcome.

He's got the whole world....

on a cake!






The kids and I are embarking on a trip around the world this year. The kids all have faux passports and as we travel we will add stickers to the passports for each country. One of our first projects was to make a map of the world - on a cake. We made a wonderful chocolate mint cookie cake. I discovered that freehanding a map of the world is harder than you would think. I wasn't intending to be so egocentric and have North America so large, but I started on the left and went right. So Asia got squished. And then eaten. Nate insisted that we use sprinkles for the major mountain ranges to it would be a physical map.

Recipe:

2 boxes chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1 cup oil
1/4 cup water

Mix together. It will be quite thick.

Add 1 bag Andes mint chips.

Pat into a large greased jelly roll pan.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Cool and ice as desired.

What happened...

to my wee Gabey's hair? He used to have soft, fine, straight hair.



Then, in the last few months, he has turned into 'FRO BOY! Look at these curls! Daddy says God gave him curls so he can play Keith Green when Daddy does the remake of "No Compromise" in 20 years.

Nate's New Glasses

Cute, eh?

My studmuffin!

This is my man.



I've been thinking about how I treat my husband. I've been reading two really good books lately (Love and Respect and For Women Only - both highly recommended) and been convicted about how I talk about and treat my honeybun, especially in public or in front of the kids.

To be honest, sometimes he acts like an idiot. He's human, just like me, and I sometimes act like an idiot too. We're both sinners, saved by grace, and it's no surprise when we act like fools.

But my reaction to his failings (which are few - he is a fantastic dad and partner), is not what it should be. It's like I don't want anyone to think I'm approving his behavior or that I think what he's doing is okay. So I frown and purse my lips and make a show of my disapproval. Just so everyone knows that I agree with their assessments.

And sometimes, it's not really a failing or a sin that makes me cringe. It's just that he's being dorky. Or silly. Or trying that atrocious British accent in public. Or just basically not me. And I still want to disengage. To let others know that I'm really not WITH him. That I know he's being a dork.

But that's not what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm supposed to be his helper, his cheerleader, his encourager and biggest fan. Even when he's being a dork. Who cares what others think? Am I more worried about their opinions or the those of my God and my man?

So from now on, I stand by my man. Horrid accent and all.

Susannah wrote this lovely little song. Do we have a wee Chris Tomlin on our hands?

The zoo, the zoo, the zoo is on fire!

So I've been busy for a few months, but I'm back now. And I did promise pics of the fire shirts, so here we are:

These pics are from a zoo trip in May. We really got good use from our Dallas Zoo passes the last couple years, but we're checking out the FW Zoo this year instead.

Apparently, I'm awesome.

I think I'm a pretty decent cook. I try hard to serve my family tasty, nutritious meals. Heck, I grind my own wheat for bread. Well, apparently, last night I outdid myself. As we were eating, my eight year old proclaims, "Mommy! You are the most amazingest, most beautifulest, most wonderful woman in the whole world. All the daddies in the world should WISH they'd married you."

What, you ask, inspired this praise?



That's right. Jiffy freaking Corn Muffins. Sigh...

(Pics of the Fire shirts are coming. Just can't find the camera. Again.)

What is it going to take

For God to get through to us? I keep living my life like a normal American, comsumed with the busyiness of life. Sure, I do few things I feel honor God. You know, we say grace, we read the Bible, we go to church, we try not to swear. Heck, we even school our kids at home so we can teach them about Him.

But am I really all that different? When are we going to come to the place where we really change it all up? Where we reject the consumerism that binds us and run wholeheartedly after God. Where we start getting rid of things and debt and every sin that so easily entangles us and start visbly showing His love to the people around us.

I came across this today and was just floored. How can you look at those faces and not have your heart be broken? The kids and I are going tonight to find a Compassion child to sponsor. And we are going to see what we can do to free up money in our budget to sponsor more.