Eighteen Years

On Monday Eric and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary.  Marriage is not always easy and Paul did warn that "those who marry will face many troubles in the life," but I have to say it has been a joy to spend 18 years of life together with my husband.  To be his encourager and helpmeet has been both delightful and stretching--don't we discover our own selfishness about one minute after we say "I do?"

We dropped the kids off at my parents house (kids think anniversaries are a great reason to celebrate spending time with grandparents!) and went out to Biaggi's for supper.  It has been years since we've been there since Eric is not a fan of large chunks of tomato in his meal, and has memories of this from the last time we had gone.  Still, I had recently read in Consumer Reports that Biaggi's scored top marks for customer satisfaction, and a good friend told me they had an extensive GF menu. 

Eric and I do not have celiac and as far as we know, cross contamination is not an issue, so I can't speak to the needs of those who have to be extra careful.  We are trying a GF diet both out as a way to identify with Josiah's needs as well as to see if there is any truth to the saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."  So far, Eric has noticed less headaches (although that could also be because he has finally cleared all artificials from his diet, too early to tell) and I have noticed that the 2 second delay I used to feel in conversations has vanished.  (I had no idea that was brain fog!!)  In the past I have noticed that gluten does exacerbate my heartburn but it is not the only food that does.  So, the jury is still out, but I have to say that so far there really is not much that I miss, and my body seems to like low carbs so that has been good, too.

Our server was wonderful and quickly got us settled with GF menus.  The flatbread and dip were delicious!  Eric chose a GF pizza and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken.  Both were very good.  While we didn't have dessert, there were several choices available that could be prepared GF.  Looking at the menu, we would love to go back again at lunch (when prices are cheaper) and try some pasta.  I'm sure Eric will steer clear of chunky tomato dishes.

It is wonderful to have a reason to celebrate and nice to know that someday, we may have another local restaurant option for Josiah.  I pray every day that his food sensitivities will heal at least in part, and we've seen good evidence that at least when it comes to stage 2 fruit, some things are improving.  In the meantime, we hope to have many more annivesaries ahead of us!

notice she's where the mouse should be...

I had forgotten how super-sweet kittens can be.

Back to something more meaningful soon.  Sometimes, though, I've just gotta slow down enough to enjoy the simple blessings life brings.

keeping cool when it sizzles

Every year our neighborhood has a Fourth of July celebration.  And every year, some creative and talented people pull together to make it even better than the year before. 

A look inside a police car--"this is where the bad guys go, so don't be a bad guy."

It was the first year the kids had their own police escort for the bike parade.

Josiah still has not figured out the parade is not a race. He thought he had won and raised his fist in victory.

The biggest draw, especially this year: the water!!

Who needs swimsuits?

One neighbor found this pattern for a bike wash and had some neighborhood dads help put it together.  What a perfect year for it to debut, with temps topping 100 by afternoon!

How many passes until you are clean? 

As many as it takes to get cool!!

And you don't have to be a child to enjoy it!

The morning was so much fun, but also so centered on food.  We all ate breakfast before we left so we were less tempted by the breakfast food and brought some treats along for Josiah, but it is still hard when he has to sit out of the candy parade.  He handled it very well, knowing by now that such things are not possible.  But still, perhaps next year I can find some special things to toss his way.  Candy that works for Josiah is one of the hardest things for me to find for him.

There were snowcones, and Josiah was delighted to experiment with unflavored ice.  But that sparked an idea, and tonight I made lemonade slushies for supper.  Ice + lemonade in the blender = a cool treat!  And the possibilities of varying the recipe are endless!

Other natural ideas to beat the heat: Annie's has some new fruit snack bunnies and the pink lemonade flavor works great for our little guy!  He also loves Edy's mango bar popsicles: these come in several natural flavors (read carefully as lime has artificial color) but many have ingredients like cornstarch that Josiah can't handle.  I'm glad we were able to come up with one that works!  And finally, Luigi's Italian ice are naturally flavored with no artificial colors.  My older kids can have at those!

Stay cool!!



new candy!

I can't help but be excited about this! Unreal candy is made without corn syrup, preservatives, food dyes, artificial flavor, and is non-GMO on top of all that.  Our local CVS carries these and we tried a couple of kinds.  Don't expect the overwhelming sweetness of a regular candy bar, but do expect to love it anyway. :)

little tigress

We were actually in the market for a slightly expensive technological device.  But a side trip to the pet store for some fish ended a little differently than we had planned.

Most of us were attracted to some 9 week old kittens, but Micah only had eyes for a patched tabby named "Gabriella" from the moment he saw her.  Once I got around to visiting with her, I understood why.  Her sweet and playful personality quickly won my heart.  When she licked Eric's nose, it was all over.

After a little talk between parents and much begging by children who no longer wanted anything to do with technological devices, we decided to go ahead and bring her home.  We've been without a cat since our much beloved 15-year-old Holly had to be put to sleep last month.  Our original plan was to wait until after our summer vacation for an adoption, but sometimes plans have to be changed.

Getting ready to pounce on my camera string.

We are hoping to visit Yellowstone National Park in a few weeks and one of the spots on our agenda is the Grand Prismatic Spring.  Micah suggested Prisma as a name, and it stuck.

Prisma immediately hissed at Eddie but easily warmed up to him when he was eating a treat.  We think they will get along just fine once she has him right where she wants him.  With his healthy fear of cats already in place, that won't take long.

the answer to drought

Outside my window, lush green grass has been replaced by brown stubs so sharp they will pop balloons.  Excessive heat zaps the vegetation of whatever moisture the struggling plants are attempting to retain.  Even my well-watered garden has deep crevices that reveal soil desperately in need of real, saturating rain.

Psalm 65:9-13

You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!

There are times in our lives our souls are overdue for a drenching rain.  Perhaps we've been squirting a bit of water on areas that need so much more than what our little hose can deliver: a little sermon here, a good book there, a quick prayer.  God promises to give so much more, and His rain covers vast areas that our own self-watering attempts will never reach.  I long for the showers of God to come and drench my life, to be soaked in His grace, knowing His provision that will spill over to nourish others.

Where to find such rain?

Isaiah 55:10-13

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

There is simply no substitute for spending time praying, meditating on, studying God's word.  It is the rain for the soul, something we intake from God Himself.

It's summer, it's busy, but this is the best thing we can do all day.  In the withering heat of life, let's endeavor to spend time soaking ourselves in Him.

savoring this one

Not because it is a perfect book on parenting*, but because it has made me think.

And because finally I have some words I can use to talk to my child about how God's power is even greater than the enticements of sin.

And because I was one of the kids who grew up feeling like I was pretty good (most of the time) and only really understood what it was to have a Savior when I finally faced my own depravity once I became a mother.

Finally because it's not quite like any other parenting book I have read.

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

*Reading the critical reviews are helpful in thinking through some of the content presented.