adventures...everyday

Thank you

2011-11-07T13:39:00.000+01:00

Two weekends ago I had to privilege to enjoy two days of amazing music, tear-jerking and thought-provoking speakers and refreshing time with my bestest friend when Book Sneeze and Women of Faith sent us to the Women of Faith conference here in St. Paul. And what a wonderful two days it was. We laughed, we cried, we sang, we prayed, we laughed a little more, we cried a little more...it was fantastic. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Book Sneeze and Women of Faith.

The music was provided by Mary Mary, Natalie Grant and the Women of Faith Worship team. It was powerful and fun!
The speakers included Luci Swindoll, Sheila Walsh, Lisa Harper, Nicole Johnson, and Angie Smith. I was particularly excited to see Nicole Johnson, as her dramas have been some of my favorites for several years now. She, as you can imagine, did not disappoint. She did her viral hit, the Invisible Women, which never fails to make me stop and really think about what it is that we as women do every.single.day.
I was most surprised by the powerful story of Angie Smith. If you have been around the blogging world for a number of years, you will no doubt remember the heart-wrenching story of her daughter Audrey which was told authentically on her blog Bring the Rain. Angie and her husband and their daughters faced a trial that unfortunately is not all that uncommon - the loss of a child. Angie paints the picture of her story exactly as it was (is) with grief and pain and questions and tears. Nothing candy-coated or faux. Yet, as her words brush sharp color and rough textures across the canvas, it is evident that the canvas contains not only her strokes of the brush, but sweeping passes of the Father's brush as well. Her paint weaves and blends with that of our God's to create a painting that reflects pain while being held in the arms of the Almighty.
Throughout the weekend, as the speakers shared their person stories, snapshots of their lives and the events that fill the pages of their memories, it was powerful to see the hand of God in each of the pictures in their scrapbooks. Whether they could see Him in those difficult moments or whether is was only up reflection when they were able to see Him there, it was a reminder that God is always in our story. If we are His, He is with us. Always.
Thank you again Book Sneeze and Women of Faith for this amazing opportunity. It was a wonderful time that I was thrilled to be a part of!

Looks like catch up time!

2011-10-20T16:00:00.000+02:00

Yikes! It's been 2 months since my last post. What on earth have I been doing since it's obviously not blogging.

Well, first I have found a new obsession - Pinterest. Haven't discovered it yet? It's amazing...ly addictive. I'm not really sure how to describe it - kind of an online bulletin board of all the most amazing projects, products, ideas and more you could ever want to see. There are DIY projects I'd love to try, recipes I want to make, things I would love to wear & quotes that make me think. Depending on my mood, it's either a wonderful place of great inspiration or a terrible place of "I could never be as amazing as the person who made that". I try to stay away on the latter days. But if you're looking for a place for great ideas - that's your place.

Next I've been working on Christmas. I know, I know. Premature. But for some reason (see previous paragraph) I have decided that this would be a great year to try out some good ole' fashion homemade Christmas ideas. A real Who-Ville Christmas (thanks T.To) I'm not necessarily the craftiest of people, but I'm giving it a try.

Then there are the kids. They've been busy at school learning, learning, learning. The learning curve for middle school has been a steep one, very steep. For more than just the middle schooler. I've had to learn, and learn quickly, that no matter what, I'm not actually IN school anymore. The grades are not my grades. The work is not my work. The realization came after I "helped" with one assignment which was returned with a good score and the words "great job!" at the top. The actual student could have cared less (and likely didn't learn a thing that the assignment was trying to teach, while I felt stellar. YIKES! not my grades any more. I learned VERY quickly that when I say "just do your best, that's all you can do" I have to really mean "as hard as YOU can".

I don't want you to think that all I've been doing is sitting around crafting and pinning (and trying to get A's in middle school again). Not that there would be anything wrong with that, of course. I've also learned that I likely should have been a librarian. I know - crazy, right! I volunteer in the media center (the fancy word for library now in the 21st century) for a couple hours a week. AND I LOVE IT! I love shelving books. I love repairing books with librarian tape. I love putting check out codes on new books and labeling them for the leveled reading project. I love the quiet of the media center. I love the smell of the books - new and old. Who knew?

That's about it.
I'm over-the-moon-excited to go to the Women of Faith conference this weekend!

Remember I won?! So excited. Thanks again Women of Faith and BookSneeze for this amazing prize! I'll be sure to share all about it next week.

Time for some music

2011-08-25T13:44:00.001+02:00

Alex starts middle school in just a couple of weeks. Although I think I should probably be a little more teary-eyed and lost in "where did the years fly off to" mode, honestly, I'm not. I think I had a way harder time with him leaving for kindergarten than middle school. That first big step for a little guy on that enormous yellow bus was rough on this mommy. But middle school? not so much.
Perhaps it's because we've done this once before. He started middle school one year ago in Geneva. I was a bit more apprehensive about it then. Mostly my concern centered around the language barrier. About half the middle school informational meeting was given in French, which if you remember, I am...less than fluent in. And pride (which does on occasion get the better of me) wouldn't allow me to confess that I hadn't a clue what was said at the meeting & just hope that I didn't miss anything too awful important.
Middle school the first time around was fantastic for him. Much more responsibility was expected from him and he rose to meet those expectations. It was great for him. He thrived more than ever before in school.
And then we moved and he returned to primary school. There was not as much responsibility (or freedom) and I could see that he fell back into the "someone else will surely remind me of everything" mode. I am anxiously anticipating the rise of his personal responsibility again with encouragement by teachers and administrators whom I will back whole-heartedly in their effort to make my little man into a young man who is able to be accountable for his actions.

Here in our small town music in 5th grade is not an optional elective. A student must either sign up for choir or band or music appreciation. We steered Alex to either band or choir. He chose (bet you can guess) BAND. I will say that I think this is a fantastic program (so far). In the spring he was introduced to the band teacher and was allowed to try all the different instruments. Then he picked one that he liked. Then just last week he got to pick up his instrument and attend a few days of Band Camp at the school where he learned about his instrument with the other 5th graders also playing the same one.

And what did he select?
TROMBONE!

I think so far he's really enjoyed it. I could see, when he was showing us how to take care of his instrument and how to assemble and disassemble it, that spark of personal responsibility and pride in his eyes. I love that! And other than his lungs "wearing down" after blowing a while, he says it's great. I thought it would be heavy for such a little guy (don't let him know I called him a little guy), but he puffed up when I suggested the thought and said he was certainly strong enough to carry it for a LONG time.
He's growing up. I like that. Not that he will one day be all grown up, but that he's growing up well. That's what I'm liking. He is becoming more independent, responsible, and a man of good character. He's great!

Fried Pies=Yummo

2011-08-17T15:28:00.000+02:00

I have fond memories of fried pies. I can remember enjoying them at my grandparent's house when I was a wee little thing. Well, actually back then I wasn't such a wee little thing. Perhaps because of all the fried pies (and fried ocra and fried chicken and fried fish and fried tomatoes and fried...you get the idea) But don't let the "fried" in fried pies scare you off. Although a bit more calorie and fat laden than your standard ole' pie, seriously, if you're enjoying pie in the first place, what do a few extra calories and fat really mean. Nothing. A treat is a treat is a treat. And this is a delicious one! Believe me!

So start with your favorite pie crust dough. I use a fairly simple one made in my food processor. You, of course, could use a pre made one from the grocery store refrigerator section. That would work too. But if you have the chance, try to make one from scratch. You'll love the freshness.
Roll out your pie crust dough to about 1/16 of an inch. I found these wonderful (how did I ever live without them) tools in Geneva. But I've since seen them everywhere & they make rolling anything to a specific thickness a breeze! So, as I was saying, roll out your dough to about 1/16 inch thickness and then cut using a 5 inch biscuit cutter.

(you see some smaller circles of dough off on the right side. Those are made with the scraps and are an extra special side when making fried pies. They are a bit thicker than the pie rounds)

Now onto the filling. I made these little pies into cherry fried pies. But you can make them into any kind your little heart might desire. Peach, apple, apricot. Whatever you like.
This cherry filling is so easy! Pit your cherries and dice 'em up. Should have about 1/2 cup cherries. Pitting cherries isn't any easier than with this tool from OXO. If you love cherries, you'll want to get one! To that, stir in about 2 Tablespoons good quality cherry preserves. I used Smuckers Orchard's Finest. I'm sure there are better preserves out there, but that's what my store had.

Give that a good stir together. Looks delicious, doesn't it?

Filling time! Place a small dollop (about a Tablespoon) of the delightful cherry filling in the center of each dough round.

Fold the itty pie in half. Dip your finger in water and circle the edge of the pie, all the way around. This will act as a glue to hold the pie together. Fold the itty pie in half. Using a fork, crimp the edges of the pie to seal them closed. If the pie isn't sealed well though, you'll end up with filling squirting out of your pie in the fryer and a bubbly mess on your hands.

All sealed and ready for a bath in hot oil. ( And because this is from my grandmother's collection, make sure to say oil with a southern flare - with only 1 syllable.) Get your oil ready. I use a large pot and put about 3 inches of canola oil in the bottom of it. Over a medium-high heat get the oil to 350ºF. A thermometer is invaluable here for getting your oil the right temperature. Once ready drop in a pie (or two, if you are using a generous pot).

Get them nice and golden brown. That's about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the oil (one syllable, remember) with a slotted spoon or frying spoon. Set on a paper towel to cool slightly.
Once you get them all fried up, it's time for glazing. Whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. You can drizzle this atop the pies or dip them into it. I'm a dipper myself. Don't they look delicious? A bit sinful, but absolutely delectable. Yumm-o!

and let's not forget about those little scraps of dough we had left over from rolling and cutting the rounds for the fried pies. These are an amazing delight in and of themselves. I usually fry these little babies up while I'm filling the pies.

Get your oil hot (one syllable). Drop in a few of these mini circles at a time. Let them dance around in the hot bath until their nice and brown.

Remove them and set them on a paper towel for a moment. Mix together a nice cinnamon/sugar (I use about 4 parts sugar to 1 part cinnamon, but you may like more or less cinnamon) in a brown paper lunch sack. Drop the still warm fried dough delights on in and give 'em a good shake.

Drop them onto a plate. They'll last about a millisecond. The kids come running from every room and every home in the neighborhood when they smell these bites. Like mini doughnuts, but less sweet. A definite treat!

So there you have it. Fried Pies. And fried cinnamon doughnuts. Guess it's a two-for. Enjoy

CHERRY FRIED PIES

Dough:
3 Cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Cup butter, salted {chilled and cut into 1/2" pieces}
3/4 Cup ice water
In a food processor, combine flour & baking powder. Add the butter and pulse. Mixture should resemble cornmeal. Add the ice water while processing, until the dough comes together in a ball.

Filling:
1/2 Cup cherries {pitted and diced}
2 Tablespoons quality cherry preserves
Combine well.

Glaze:
1/2 Cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix together until smooth

Assembly:
Roll dough to about 1/16" thickness. Fill with 1 Tablespoon of filling. Seal and crimp edges. Drop into 350ºF oil for about 2 minutes each side, until golden brown. Remove and place on paper towel. Drizzle with or dunk into prepared glaze. Enjoy!

where do the days go?

2011-08-16T15:22:00.000+02:00

It seems like just yesterday it was July 15 and I was wondering how we were going to make it through another 7 weeks of summer. And here we are August 16 and school is creeping up and seeping in again. Band camp (yes, I'm serious), back to school nights, orientation days, supply lists, lunch box purchasing...guess that means the big yellow bus is right around the corner. (oh, how I love that bus!)

There is a sudden urgency to summer ~~holiday~~ vacation. Lazy mornings, late nights, trips to here and there and everywhere are in short supply. I'm planning on soaking in as much as we can before crazy mornings, homework-filled nights and the cold weather (yeah, I dared to say it) steal these days away.

Back to school. Just those three words bring me a smile. I always LOVED back to school. I loved the school supplies (which in turn has fueled my obsession with office supplies). I loved the new shoes. I loved the new teachers and rooms and desks and lockers. I loved it all! And one third of my crew does too. The other two (you can guess who) are a bit more hesitant about the whole thing. But ready or not, here it comes.

But today, as children slept lazily until 8 and I had all my morning chores done without interruption by 7:30, I was reminded that this is coming to an end. So, while I can, I'm enjoying every second of this season. The 20 mornings that remain will be lazy, slow, relaxed and easy. I plan to inhale this time for as long as I can. First grade, third grade and fifth grade are knocking, but I'm not answering that door quite yet.

Book Sneeze - stumbling into grace

2011-07-31T04:17:00.001+02:00

I just received Stumbling Into Grace - Confessions of a Sometimes Spiritually Clumsy Woman by Lisa Harper from Book Sneeze. It was fantastic!!

It is not necessarily a devotional, nor necessarily a Bible study book. It is self-described as "part diary, part devotional which weaves hilarious and poignant stories from Lisa's own life with intimate and transformational encounters from the life of Christ." Lisa takes everyday life stories, the ridiculous, the embarrassing, the sorrowful and the light-hearted and mingles them with Scripture in order to influence our lives today. I enjoyed Lisa's format, beginning each new chapter with a personal story, turning to a passage of Scripture (many of which are quite familiar passages), then explaining the heart of the Scripture and finally concluding with a "Hope for Our Ongoing Stories". Easy to apply Scripture to our everyday life.

I adore Lisa's writing style. She's a witty, clever storyteller who can intertwine life-impacting statements that make you really think without being overbearing, rude or a -know-it-all. The pages turned so quickly as I read, laughed and pondered, I wished there were more Lisa to read. Her ability to communicate Biblical truth without being stuffy and arrogant are refreshing.

My very favorite passage from the book, which came after two incredibly humorous stories in Chapter 8 is "I'm so glad God created laughter and people to share it with. I'm even more grateful we're completely accepted by a divine Prince, who puts up with our bumbling nature, who thinks we're beautiful even when our feet are too swollen for glass slippers, and who surely winks affectionately when we've got pumpkin seeds stuck in our hair. " A great reminder that He does not love us for what we do, but He loves us because we are.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! Bravo!
p.s. I cannot wait to hear Lisa Harper speak at the Women of Faith conference in St. Paul in October. If she's as amazing speaking as she is writing...I can't wait!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Menu Plan - July 24

2011-07-25T15:33:00.000+02:00

Time to get a handle on this week's meals. I forgot how much more productive grocery shopping and cooking are when there's a plan. Last week reminded me that I love to cook and it's important to have a game plan.

This week, I'm feeling a bit Food Network like. I want to try some new recipes, but I want to make sure they've been well-tested. So I'm picking top-rated recipes over at Food Network.com. Hopefully it will be a delicious week!

Monday - Chicken Piccata, Pasta w/Summer Veggies, Bread
Tuesday - Smothered Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes and Veggies, Salad, Bread
Wednesday - Barbecued Chinese Lettuce Wraps, Sticky Rice, Pot Stickers, Fortune Cookies
Thursday - Going to the Theater - Dinner in the City!
Friday - Pulled Pork BBQ, Fries, Pasta Salad

I think this sounds like a yummy week. It's fun to try something new. I'm excited to get cooking!

Regret Free Parenting - Book Review

2011-07-22T07:48:00.001+02:00

I recently received Regret Free Parenting: Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing it Right by Catherine Hickem. The book was well-written and easy and quick to read. However, I did not enjoy it.

The overal concept of the book is an excellent one - be intentional in the raising of your children. The book reminds parents to keep in mind the character qualities and specific traits they would like to cultivate in their children and diligently teach and train accordingly. An excellent idea for every parent.

However, I have some real difficulties with this book. First, the author seems to have simplified the issue of parenting "good" kids (which she labels in chapter 2 as kids who ultimately "don't feel good") into a simple equation: be intentional and you'll end up with no regrets when you send them out into the world as an adult. I don't know. I think that being intentional about the job of raising children to be responsible adults of good character is important, but I think there's a lot more to doing the job well using the quick 7 step idea program laid out by the author. She just tosses out the "do this" and you'll "get this" with too much ease.

Next, the author's use of the same points from chapter to chapter is a bore. It seems that she feels like the reader didn't catch her point in the first example so she needs to repeat it again. For example, on three occasions she mentions how children scan the audience at their school and church programs looking for their parents to ensure they are watching. Three different times. In three separate chapters. A bit redundant. Many points, like this, are brought up again and again throughout the book.

Lastly, I just didn't like the author's tone. In nearly all chapters she lays out the main point (one of the 7 steps) and then follows it with an example of what the "intentional mother" would do. In nearly all cases she is the "intentional mother". The personal examples of how to parent intentional all involve herself and her own children. Each example being a perfect example of what "the intentional parent" should do if they want to do it "right". Perhaps spreading the examples out among other "intentional mothers" would have made it seem less like a "I have this all figured out and I did it right so follow me" book. And if being the "perfect" example of the intentional mother wasn't bad enough, she belittled other mothers and their parenting throughout the book as well. She speaks of "well meaning, Christian moms" who set their children up for failure because of the way they leave them in the church nursery. She speaks of the wife of a minister who failed her daughter when she got pregnant because of what she said to her. She gives plenty of examples of mothers who are not doing it "right" and lays them out as examples of what not to do. I wanted to say, "hey, we're all doing the best we can. We all mess this up. If we could do it perfectly we wouldn't need God!"

The book in theory is great. Parents should be intentional about raising their children. But the book lacked practical application, focused heavily on what parents were doing to mess their kids up and had a heavy dose of author-pride. I would definitely not recommend this to anyone!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thanks Book Sneeze & Women of Faith!

2011-07-21T14:02:00.003+02:00

I am over-the-moon excited! I received an email earlier this week that said I had been chosen by Book Sneeze & Women of Faith to attend the Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota in October. Yipee!! I have never attended a Women of Faith event before, but I'm imagining it will be amazing.

Here's a little snip-it of what is on the ticket for this 2-day event:

The line-up includes speakers Sheila Walsh, Luci Swindoll, Lisa Harper, Angie Smith; musical guests Mary Mary and Natalie Grant; and other talents Nicole Johnson and Henry Cloud. What a group!

Sounds like a blast, doesn't it? There are still plenty of tickets available for the event. Why not register? We could make it an amazing women's weekend away!

If you follow me on Facebook, I'll be updating throughout the event.

Thank you Book Sneeze! Thank you Women of Faith! I am so excited to be heading to the Xcel Energy Center in October.

forgiveness

2011-07-20T18:22:00.003+02:00

I have recently been writing a once-a-week devotional for our church using social networking sites. It has been a really fun challenge & I have enjoyed taking a crack at devotional writing. I have been asked to follow closely to the sermon series our pastors are currently preaching on. This week's topic for writing...forgiving others.

As I sat listening to the sermon this Sunday, a powerful and challenging one, I was struck with the realization that I have not always been very forgiving of others. Although I don't hold grudges against loads of people for too awful long (perhaps because one of my top StrengthsFinders in Harmony) I do have a few people who I feel have hurt me recently and I seem to have some trouble letting it go. As I researched for this week's devotional, I was struck with how God was using this topic to get in my heart, root around a little with a scrub brush and clean out that junk that I was holding on to.

Here's the devotional, the Mid-Week Meal (as it's called)

It was just a little thread poking out of the cushion on her grandmother’s sofa, but it bothered her. Every time she visited and sat on the couch, she’d see the tiny string hanging there. She wondered why her grandmother hadn’t cut it. She could barely concentrate on conversations with her grandmother, constantly thinking about that teeny, out of place thread. With each visit she would sit on the sofa, close to the wayward string and she’d twirl it ever so slightly between her thumb and finger. She hoped that one day it would just break off. Twirled and twisted through the years, however, it never had. And when they were moving the sofa years later, she saw that the once nearly invisible thread had grown to a long twisted mess and a large hole replaced the spot where it once had poked through.

Love prospers when fault is forgiven,

But dwelling on it separates close friends. Provers 17:9

God cares about relationships. He cares about our relationship with Him. And he cares about our relationships with each other. (Matthew 22:37-39) But relationships aren’t always easy, aren’t always perfect, aren’t always free from hurt. How we choose to handle those times when we’re wounded by a friend will make the difference between growing love or creating a hole. Choosing to repeatedly talk about, think about, gossip about the offense is like twisting that tiny thread around between our fingers. Eventually the teeny string will be replaced by a hole. But making the decision to forgive is choosing to forgo revenge and instead grow love. The motive for forgiveness is love.

Have you been hurt by a friend? Are you holding onto that offense? Are you twirling it between your fingers over and over again? Ask God to help you forgive the person. Ask Him to strengthen you to be able to genuinely cover the offense and grow love.

***

I have been hanging onto some offenses, some hurts dealt by friendly hands. I have twisted them around and dwelled on them long enough. This week's devotional topic was a personal one. I saw the hole that I was creating, the damage my constant repeating of the hurt was causing. And I have decided to lay down those tiny threads, to stop twisting them. "...fault is forgiven," in the passage is also translated as "covers over the offense". I am choosing to cover them over. To let forgiveness replace revenge. Surely love will grow instead of a hole there.

Kitchen Adventures

2011-07-19T11:58:00.003+02:00

Back to the kitchen! Not that I haven't been cooking, but I have not been cooking adventurously. And this week - that will change.
Last night we had a co-worker of James' from Brazil for dinner & I tried a couple of new things out on him. I know, I know, you're never to try new recipes out on dinner guests, just in case it's a disaster, but these were fairly safe. One, in particular, was a hit! I think it may be the best salad dressing ever! Right before serving I drizzled over baby salad greens, quartered grape tomatoes, fresh parmesan cheese & gave it a good toss. Topped with crunchy croutons, it was fresh and summery and delicious.

Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette Dressing
1/4 Cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
2 Tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil

Blend the lime juice, vinegar and cilantro together in a blender until smooth.
Add the brown sugar, garlic and salt; blend again until well incorporated.
Turn the blender on and slowly pour the olive oil into the dressing mixture in a thin stream.
Blend until thoroughly combined.

It is a great dressing for these hot, humid, wonderful summer days. The lime is refreshing!

Then tonight I got a bit of a whim. I got a new Cooking Light magazine in the mail last week and one of the articles was about eating meatless on night a week {actually I think it was about eating meatless one day a week, but I think 1 night is adequate for this family} I checked out some of the recipes online and decided to try one. Lucky {or unlucky} for James, he had a meeting tonight and missed out, but I'll let you know the reviews after the recipe.

I adapted this recipe from the Cooking Light website. I changed some of the spices to fit our taste liking a bit better. It was really an easy recipe with normal, everyday ingredients. It was messy though.

Our Homemade Quick Black Bean Burger

1 hamburger bun, torn into pieces

3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

2 teaspoons garlic, chopped

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon grated lime peel

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Make bread crumb: put torn up hamburger bun into food processor; pulse 4-5 times. set aside. yield 1 cup {you could use any bread crumbs, of course. if using dried bread crumbs you might need slightly more than 1 cup}

Combine 1 Tablespoon oil, garlic and beans in processor. Pulse 8 times or until mixture is a thick paste.

In a bowl, combine bean mixture and bread crumbs.

Add lime peel, spices, salt and eggs.

With hands, combine all ingredients. {will be sticky and "sloppy"}

Heat 2 Tablespoons oil in large skillet or flat top griddle over medium-high heat. Shape approximately 1/3 Cup of patty mixture into a patty using well-moistened hands & place {drop} onto hot griddle.
Reduce heat to medium and grill about 4 minutes, or until bottom edges are browned.

Carefully flip patties, cook additional 4 minutes.

I served these on hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and pickles.

This recipe received mixed reviews at our house. Ashley gave them a "great" and ate the entire burger. I thought they were alright but lacked some flavor for sure. Ethan didn't like them at all and said he'd rather not eat them again. Given that Ethan really only eats about 3 things anyway, I'll take his review in light of that. I think we'll keep this recipe, modify it a bit next time and try it again.

I {heart} Dyson!

2011-07-18T05:43:00.000+02:00

I dont' exactly understand the "raining cats and dogs" saying, but that's exactly what I would have called Friday around these parts. Nearly everywhere around us got at least 2 inches of rain, some up to 6 in a very short period of time. Downpour style. Like a shower.
The kids had their final day of Vacation Bible School on Friday. The downpour of water from the sky began just about the time we were departing the garage. And as we drove east towards the church, I am fairly certain the clouds and rain followed us the entire way. The sky just kept dumping buckets of water on us. At the church parking lot all we could do was make a great run for it. We opened the doors and instantly were slammed with water. No wimpy fold-up&throw-in-your-purse umbrella was going to do any protecting. I set my foot out to find rushing water - I kid you not - like a really wide shallow creek flowing through the parking lot. Setting my foot down, water rushed around and over it. My adorable, yoga mat flip flops (the most comfortable flip flops in the world, I might add) were sopping. We ran like the wind {Bullseye} upstream to the church doors where two young men greeted us with golfing umbrellas and saved us from further drenching. Of course I already looked like I had just stepped out the shower, again, so it wasn't saving me any.
Got the kids to their groups, listened to a song or two while watching enthusiastic hand motions hoping the rain would break...yeah, right! There was absolutely no breaking. Either I was going to sit in the church lobby all morning & potentially get asked to volunteer {eegads} or I was going to make a run for it. I was already soaking, what difference would that make? Plus I had a couple of errands I had to tend to sans enfant! So run I did.

Driving-pouring rain-can't see the road-can't see the lines on the road-windshield wiper at full throttle looking like they might go airborne at any moment - driving slow and safely...

I arrive at the mall {I know sad. I ditch VBS volunteering for the mall, but I have no guilt}. Again, as if I need to mention it, it's pouring down rain. Pouring. I sit in my car for a minute or two waiting. And what do you know, a slight break. From a shower head to a trickling drip from a leaking faucet. Fantastic! I walk to the doors calmly.
Once inside I was incredibly thankful that I hadn't worn a white shirt on this particular day!! I looked down at my incredibly cold feet. Seems that yoga mat flip flops act like sponges, suck in the water as you step. Perhaps they're not really meant to be worm in the rushing rivers of Woodridge Church. Just a guess. Each step I took, water seeped out the front and sides in a foamy soap like way. Each step was slippery. I had to do something about my feet. I couldn't walk and shop comfortably like this. {no, this was not a sign that I should have stayed to volunteer at VBS!}
I quickly came up with a plan to minimize useless wet-feet-walking mall time and maximize comfortable mall time. Up the elevator to the restrooms. I figured that a public restroom at a mall would likely have those horrible germ-spreading hand dryers that blow your hands dry, whilst throwing millions of microorganisms into the air filling the bathroom with filth. ( Although not exactly known to be factual, I think it's logical) *stepping off soapbox*
Hot dog! When I stepped through the doorless entry to this particular restroom I saw the mother of allhand dryers - dunt dun dunt dunnnnnnn - The Dyson! I love those little machines. I smiled. I was thankful to also see a well stocked paper towel dispenser.
I took several paper towels and laid them on the floor. I took my sopping feet out of my flip flops and dried them with more paper towels and set them on the paper towels I laid on the floor. The thought crossed my mind to dry my feet in the Dyson, but that seemed awkward. The contortion my body would have had to made to get my feet up into the top load opening would be ridiculous. My feet now placed neatly on the paper towels laid on the floor {I'm sure that is a germy spot for sure and standing bare footed gives me the heebygeebys} I held my flip flops and slid them in and out of the machine. A powerful blade of air blasted over the service of the yoga mat and water ran out. Who knew a shoe could hold that much water. After about 3 passes, a cleaning lady entered the restroom, took one look at me, slapped her thigh and left. I felt a bit out of place. I wasn't sure what she thought or if she was going to get a security guard or what. Certainly it's not illegal to put one's flip flops in a Dyson, is it? I couldn't be sure. So I quickly made a few more passes. Put my now completely dry flip flops back on my feet, gathered up the paper towels, washed my hands, dried my hands (in the Dyson, of course) and left.
Amazing technology you have there Dyson. Simply amazing. My shopping experience was fantastic! Dry feet make for happy browsing. Unfortunately the rain picked up again and I ended up running to my car through the River that was running through the mall parking lot & my flip flops were once again soaking sponges by the time I got back to the church to get the little Weeds. Oh, well...

Minnesota happenings

2011-07-15T05:27:00.003+02:00

The State of Minnesota is now on day 14 of a government shutdown. It's a mess. Tens of thousands of state employees laid off, no lottery, government services closed, vital assistance for the most vulnerable unavailable, beer being pulled from stores due to license delays, parks and trails and camping closed, fishing licenses not available, other licenses unable to be purchased. Ridiculous.
And it doesn't seem like the parties involved and responsible for solving this problem are getting any closer to getting Minnesota back up and running. One side wants to tax, tax, tax (generate revenue) and one side wants to cut, cut, cut (decrease expenditures). Both are stubborn in their opinions (it appears) and unwilling to give an inch. And in the mean time, the people they represent all around this state suffer and wait.
I know it's harder than how it appears. I know there's a lot to consider. I can imagine the financials and trying to close the gap. But come-on. Figure something out. Compromise. Get the job done.
I'm no expert. I don't pretend to understand all the economic impacts on raising revenue sources (adding taxes) and cutting programs (decreasing expenditures). I know that taxing certain folks creates economic troubles later on and dropping programs leave some of societies most needy without what they need most. The ripple affect {or effect, I can never remember which is which} can lead to troubles unforeseen & large into the future. But I think at this point any minor ripple affect is better than what's going on now.
So, here are my suggestions, not that anyone is listening or cares. But this is what I think:

Sales tax on clothing could be added. I don't know if there are any other states in the US that have a sales tax, but exclude clothing, but I think it's time to do away with it. Clothing is a necessity, yes. And Minnesota is cold, yes. But I think it's time to add clothing to the sales tax revenue generating source pool. I do see that this may cause people to drive across a border to avoid a tax on clothing. But, honestly, the extra cash for gas to get across the border to avoid a tax on clothing would deter most and would generate some revenue in and of itself. Plus, I lived in a state with sales tax and no income tax which bordered a state with no sales tax but income tax for most of my life, and amazingly both those states are currently open. So...
What about adding a sales tax of sort, perhaps a fee, to alcohol and cigarettes? I don't know. I think those who smoke and drink might complain a bit {perhaps a lot!} but in the end a small fee for purchasing these items might generate some serious revenue. What about if we tax "junk food"? Yes we'd have to define junk food, but I think there could be some easy ways to do that {sugar content, fat content, lack of nutrients}.
Cut some ridiculous expenditures. There are beautification projects along highways all over this state that are unnecessary! I understand that some of these programs are the result of grants or moneys provided other than through the State, but I am pretty certain that some could be cut or reduced. I don't really care if there are flowers and pretty stuff along the road. Save that cash.
Sales tax increase/income tax decrease. I know, I know. This requires a major overhaul. But I am of the mind-set that consumption tax is really the only way to go. There are loopholes in income tax. {I was an income tax accountant for many years, paid to make sure my clients paid the fewest dollars possible/legal} And amazingly the highest income earners, who would in turn be paying the highest income taxes also have the means with which to pay people to find loopholes. Sales tax - no loopholes. You buy- you pay. simple as that. And done properly, you could do away completely with income tax and go totally to sales tax...look at Washington State for your example.

There's no easy fix. Although I am of the belief that the government should be small & not-for-profits provide the necessities of those in need {what is the purpose of Christ's hands and feet if not to feed the hungry & assist the "least of these"?} I think compromise between revenue generators and expenditure decreasers in necessary. No one will actually look at my ideas, although I think they're ok...but...

My message really? JUST FIX IT!

complaining again?

2011-07-13T06:29:00.000+02:00

Two in a row? I know. Shocking, right?
~
It's a funny thing to look back over the past years in blog posts. Reading what was going on last year or 2 years ago or even 3 years ago is a treat. It's amazing what was on my mind through the years. I found that I had plenty of complaints about all kinds of things whilst living abroad. {learning British English was not one of them}. There were plenty of complaints to be shared and believe me, I did.
In reading them over I discovered one thing that many had in common - culture. I tended to chalk a whole lot of my troubles in a foreign land up to differences in culture. And, yes, to some extent that is true.
But after living in America again {not just vacationing here, which provides a completely different picture} I have discovered that many of my complaints could actually have been complaints here as well, I just used the cover of culture or language as an excuse for the complaint.
What are you talking about, Kim? You're not making a lick of sense? You're marbles are rolling down Chemin Des Bois & you to come collect them.
Let me explain. One of my biggest complaints about Switzerland were the drivers. In particular it seemed I had a really difficult time with ones who sported a small F in a blue box on their license plate. I know {and am embarrassed to admit} that I complained openly about French drivers. But you know what I've discovered? Americas can be horrendous drivers as well. Sometimes even worse.
Another complaint was rude cashiers at the grocery store & and an overall lack of customer service everywhere. But you know what I've noticed? That's not an isolated Swiss occurrence either. I have found less-than helpful folks at all kinds of places here in the good ole' land of the-customer-is-always-right too!
And people. Oh, how I could complain about rude people. Now, true no one stands as close to me here as they did in Switzerland, but blasted people can be rude. Rude to me, rude to others, rude to clerks, rude, rude, rude. And what's worse? I can understand it all. I'm no longer in the world of only understanding every 5th word and not being able to distinguish sarcasm. Now not only do I observe rudeness, I can understand it too.
Now I have yet to find anything quite as complaint worthy as scooterman, and if you've followed this blog for very long, you likely have loved to loathe him and his scheming ways as well. But you know what? There are "scooter men" here in America too. Eegads! Say it's not so! But it's true. There are people scamming the system to make a few quick bucks at the expense of someone else. There are people who will take advantage of foreigner who are not as quick the language to get a little cash in their hands here too.

So you see, what I've seen over the past 6 months is that America's not perfect. Neither is any other country on this planet of ours. That's because our countries are made of people and people are not perfect anywhere. What bugged me in Switzerland still bugs me here in tiny town USA. But for every rude person, scamming the vulnerable, lacking customer service skills to work retail there are others who are kind, caring, compassionate and genuinely interested in being helpful. There were many in Switzerland and there are many here. They often get overshadowed a bit by the obnoxious others, but they too are everywhere.

Hello again

2011-07-12T05:38:00.003+02:00

It has been a while. I haven't sat down to this posting screen in quite some time. As you've noticed (all two of you - thanks Dad for checking in still) from Alex's birthday pictures from nearly 2 months ago still on the screen.

Some have commented & asked me why I haven't been posting. I nearly always replied that I didn't know. I figured I was just too busy to sit and write. But last week when I was asked by a friend, I was surprised to hear myself say, "I just don't have a positive spin on the adventure right now." That answer {from out of nowhere} caught me a bit off guard. Truth can sting sometimes, I think.

Honestly, it's been a tough few months. Nothing ground shattering that I could definitely set my finger on and label as "difficult". But there's something rough. Unsettled. Off kilter. Tough.

Change is hard. No matter how you "spin" it. Change is hard. C'est difficile. And change with imbedded expectations - well, I've discovered firsthand it can be shattering.

I know America. I am, obvious from my accent which no longer stands out so much, completely American. And moving back to the land of the free and the home of the brave would seem to be an easy adjustment. Sounds like it would be. I expected it to be smooth sailing. But it hasn't been. So weird. And completely unexpected.

What's the deal? Why so difficult? What is the problem?

I think my answer is unknown - which explains much of the lack of postings. I can't spin it positively until I grasp it, right? Well, I suppose. But perhaps this is not meant to be spun into an adventure with a lesson that takes me to the next adventure.

This is what I know for sure though. I am not the same person I was when I boarded a plane with 3 very small children & an amazingly handsome husband nearly 4 years ago. Everyday in Switzerland really was an adventure. I know I use that word a lot, likely too much, but daily life was one challenge to be tackled and defeated after another. Everyday tasks that I had no trouble with in America, become challenges. For example, I had to navigate the roads (in a stick shift no less). I had no choice. I couldn't find someone else to take my kids to school, or me the the store. I had to do it. So I put my mind to it and I did it. I had to learn how to order food at a restaurant. I had no choice. If we wanted to eat out, I had to figure it out. So I said I would, and I did. I had to learn how to ask for help at the grocery store. I had no other choice. If I wanted to figure out where they hid the lemon juice (which they keep in the baking aisle - logical) I had to practice saying "où est le jus de citron?" until I could say it well enough to be understood. I, of course, forgot that I would have to be able to understand the response given by the clerk, but was overjoyed that she used some hand motions that helped me along. I had to fly solo across the ocean on an 11 hour flight with 3 small children. If we wanted to come home for summer home leave, I had no choice. This was my only option. Terrifying? you bet. But I had to do it. None of these things were easy. They took thought and practice and...courage. Courage. Strange to even say it and perhaps ridiculous to some. But for me, these things took courage. I was way (let me say that again) WAY out of my comfort zone. Perhaps it didn't look like it all the time to onlookers, but I was. And each new thing I had to do, I built a bit more confidence in what I could do next. "If I can figure out where the lemon juice is, then I can certainly ask for ham at the deli counter," was the reasoning in my brain. Oh, I looked like a fool & sounded like an idiot on many, many, many occasions. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. But I didn't have a choice. Life continued in this foreign land and I had to get on with it. Being a hermit who shopped solely on line and let other people drive her kids to and fro was not an option. As the weeks and months rolled along, I was excited to take on new challenges. It was such a constant that learning new things and trying something different became the norm. And with each "success" (like actually getting 1 kilo of ham in the deli) my confidence grew. Not into pride, I don't think, just into a belief that I could do so much more than I ever gave myself credit for.

I think I have missed that. Tremendously. For the past 6 months now, I have learned very little. Not because I don't want to, but because it hasn't been required of me. Daily life doesn't involve much verbal practice of the language, I don't have to concentrated closely on my driving, I know where things are located and how to park, grocery stores pose little challenge (except where to find an outstanding gruyere cheese, which I found last month) as do social norms. I have spent the past four months (the first two are just a blur of boxes, bubble wrap, snow and cold) trying desperately to figure out what I can learn. I didn't actually see it that way until this past week, but that's what I've been doing. I learned to garden and have a fairly successful (if I do say so myself) all organic vegetable garden growing out back. I learned how to organize photo frames on a wall to make a gallery of favorite pictures. I have tried all kinds of new recipes (some good, some not so much) just to try something different and find a new ingredient. I have taken the kids on fun days to places I never would have taken them before Switzerland just to go somewhere new and figure out how to get there and where to park. I have contemplated taking courses online or going back to school, just to be in that learning mode again. I even gave the idea of learning to speak Spanish some serious consideration. (seriously?!) I have decided that I will likely take tennis lesson beginning this autumn and might even learn to play an instrument. I have tasted what it's like to courageously do something just to try something different and I have felt what it feels like to discover I can succeed. It's a confidence that can't be explained, can't be defined, but can be felt deep inside one's self and evidence sprinkled throughout life. I have a thirst for this daily "adventure". I seek it out now.

And I have discovered that I have a really hard time understanding & relating to people who don't. I find myself lacking patience with people who refuse to try something different or get out of their comfort zone a little. People who are afraid to fail and thus stick closely to the perfect routine they've established. And this has been a hard reality for me. I don't want to lack patience for others. I want to be compassionate. And so my desire for the new that I crave and my lack of fear to fail (cause heaven knows I have failed many, many times and have simply learned how to dust off) feels at odds with relationships I hold dear.

So I haven't figured out this whole re-patriatization that I was warned so heavily about. It is harder than I imagined, more like what I was told, which I didn't dare to believe could be reality. Change is difficult. No matter how you spin it.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

2011-05-15T07:01:00.006+02:00

Eleven.
He can no longer show people how old he is by using his fingers.
He is teetering on that line between little boy and young man.
He is growing up so quickly I can hardly stand it.
Eleven.

Happy Birthday to my favorite eleven year old on the whole planet.

And with that...birthday month at Chez Weed has come to an end. We'll enjoy one last hoorah on the 24th with our 14th Wedding Anniversary, but as for the birthday celebrations - our 5 week run is done.

Spring Renewal

2011-05-13T20:23:00.001+02:00

It might be safe to say that spring has finally arrived. Some rain, some sunshine, some warm days, some pleasant nights have all led to the arrival of spring blossoms. Greens and yellows and purples and pinks replace the gray and dull brown and snow white of the past several months. Warmth wraps itself around creation awakening it from it’s quiet winter slumber.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

As I inhale the bright perfume of this season, I’m reminded that just as God renews the earth every spring, bringing new life from what was covered last autumn, He renews us. From gray and weary to bright and fresh, He removes our old way and gives us life. Full and fragrant life that reflects His glory to those around us, just as spring flowers reflect the coming season to all in nature.

Inhale the renewal of your spirit & thank God that He makes all things new as you listen to the words of this amazing song.

by Nichole Nordeman - Every Season

devotional written by Kim Weed for Woodridge Church, Minnesota

Ethan is Eight!

2011-05-01T22:51:00.000+02:00

From my miracle preemie boy

To my eight year old, young man

All in the blink of an eye! Happy Eighth Birthday, Ethan!

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T02:28:00.002+02:00

The words are powerful! He paid the debt, the ransom, the amount owed as a result of my sin...of your sin. We are free because of the love of Christ displayed on the cross. Hallelujah!!! What a Saviour! Hallelujah!

what's up

2011-04-22T21:52:00.000+02:00

Eleven days since my last post. Wow! I'd love to tell you that I've had all kinds of exciting things going on, but truthfully that is not the case. Can't even tell ya' what I've been up to really. There's been the usually craziness of BIRTHDAY MONTH around the Weed house. We begin with Ashley on April 11 and end with Alex on May 15. We get all 5 done in those 5 weeks. Whew! That's a lot of partying {and a whole lot of cake!} Of course we couldn't just end there - May 24th we round out BIRTHDAY MONTH with our anniversary. This year will be 14! Another Wow! Where did those years go? So, although I can't necessarily say why I've been too busy to post, just assume that it's all related to the crazy 6 weeks of partying at the Weed house.

I've also got my mind thinking about all kinds of other exciting {exciting in my world} adventures. Gardening, coupon clipping and bulk buying. I know what you're thinking...wasn't this the girl who just a few weeks ago left Costco with next-to-nothing? Yeah, well, 4 months state-side will change a girl. It's all in the name of "value". Switzerland had a way of taking the desire-to-be-thrifty out of me {for good reason} but now that I'm back in the US, I can see that there are ways to get a good value for my buck. There are coupons and there are great deals to be had with a little planning, not to mention the great Food Saver vacuum sealer that I've missed so much. And, yes, it's doubtful that you'll find me on Coupon Hoarding, errrr I mean Extreme Couponing any time soon, I do think that being a bit frugal never hurt anyone.

Gardening has also grabbed hold of me. I just really want to grow some of our veggies this summer. I've spent the past few weeks reading through Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew & I'm completely sold on his method. I just received my gardens in the mail {too lazy to actually make my own out of scrap wood I pick up at construction sites} and as soon as the snow stops falling and the weather gets above 50, I'm set to get out and get planting. The little Weeds and I started some amazing veggies from seeds several weeks back in little mini greenhouses and they are looking great. Can't wait to get them out growing.

So anyway, that's all that's up on this front.

Happy Birthday Baby!

2011-04-11T07:00:00.001+02:00

In a blink & a breath, my baby became six!

Birthday~2005

1 Year Old!

Look who's 2!

Dancing for 3!

And then she was 4!

Turning 5!

Hard to imagine - she is SIX!!!

We are so blessed - two amazing sons and then a precious little girl. Every day is brighter with her! Happy Birthday Baby!!

spring holiday recap

2011-04-06T15:11:00.000+02:00

The end of a great holiday always means back to reality...and lots and lots of laundry.

The Turks and Caicos Islands were incredible. I'm a huge fan of a tropical climate, so that alone makes for a great time. But beyond just hot and sticky air, the beaches were the most amazing beaches I've ever seen. The sand - oh the sand. Pure, soft, white. It stayed cool on your feet and cushioned your every step out into the turquoise warm waters of the ocean. Honestly, I have never set foot on a beach so amazing.

We enjoyed the pools and the crafts and the relaxing afternoons in the game spot. The kids enjoyed sooooo many Shirley Temples I'm surprised they didn't turn red from all that grenadine. I read two books (always the sign of a great vacation!) and spent countless hours watching my babies (I can still call them that!) frolic in the ocean and build castles in the sand.

One of the perks of the resort where we stayed (Beaches) is that they have a photography service available to all guests. I'm sure many other resorts do the same. Beaches has wandering photographers during the day who will just stop by where you're enjoying your holiday and ask if they can take some pictures. I'm always up for that, so I always say "you betcha!" This is one of the amazing ones that Ricardo the photo-guy captured on the beach:

One night, the kids went to kid's club and James & I enjoyed a wonderful dinner on the beach at sunset. AMAZING! The meal was delicious and the view - priceless.

Of course, no Weed tropical holiday would be complete without some underwater shots. Have I ever mentioned that I love our cheap-o underwater camera? Best purchase ever! (Well, maybe not ever, but it's up there). Here are my fish

Here's just some fun pictures from the trip.

The other thing that the photography service at this resort does is provide free photo shoots. We made our appointment for sunset on one of the last nights we were there. Patrick the photographer-dude took some absolutely amazing pictures. And what I love about their service is that you pick & purchase the photos that you like and they burn them onto a CD and provide you with a letter allowing you to have them printed anywhere. Some of them will likely end up on the walls of the Weed house.

Great vacation. Wonderful family time. But, it's always good to be home.

Holiday!

2011-03-26T13:06:00.000+01:00

I'm officially on HOLIDAY!

But whilst I'm away, bop on over to this great blog to read a really great post from my friend, Jeanine. Beautifully written & an excellent reminder that the Great I am is so much bigger than any little bitty "it", no matter how awful & big that "it" might be.

The LORD is good,

a strong refuge when trouble comes.

He is close to those who trust him.

~Nahum 1:7

When March was Spring...

2011-03-23T12:32:00.001+01:00

All the snow was nearly gone here in small-town America. That can only mean one thing... more snow! The forecast of a coating to 1" somehow became several inches & still falling. Seriously? And to top it all off, the phone rang at 5:44am. Scared the bee-gee-bees out of me! James answered to a deep voice recording saying "no school today!" Yep, here in small-town they wake you up to tell you that you can return to bed. Love it! *note sarcasm* But the kiddos are still quiet in their beds & we will enjoy a midweek break from school. Love easy-peasy days! However,

It's cold.
It's windy.
It's snowy.
It's winter-like.
Yuck!

I have memories of Marches that were warm. Marches with spring flowers. Marches with light jackets. Marches strolling along cobblestone roads feeling the warmth of the sun. But no more. Spring in March is but a distant memory, frozen in a block of ice!

Last year at this time I was preparing for a trip to Rome. Beautiful Rome! And I was deciding whether to take just a sweater or if I should also throw in a light jacket in case of rain. Rain! Don't I look warm? I miss those days. Those warm March days.

But now we are cold. And windy. And snowy!! Looks like December, rather than March. Eegads. Get me out of here. Take me away to where there is warm air and ocean breezes!

And just in case you were curious (and even if you weren't) James passport arrived last night from some embassy somewhere with his newly added documentation. And we are set to get out of Dodge in just 3 days. You'll find me warm soon...soon!

passport pending...

2011-03-22T20:07:00.001+01:00

thank you
http://www.luxuryretreats.com/destinations/caribbean/turks-caicos/photos.aspx
for the picutre.

I think we've found ourselves in this particular predicament previously (dare ya' to say that three times fast!) Seems to me last time we were a few days away from a tropical vacation, someone's passport was waiting to be returned from somewhere with a new VISA. This tropical vacation is no different. Then it was Thailand and the passport was waiting for a Chinese visa. This time it's Turks and Caicos and the passport is waiting for a Russian visa. I see a pattern here.

We've been assured, as we were then, that the passport will be back in James' hot little hands before Saturday's departure. And everything worked out the last time we found ourselves in this predicament, so....I'm hopefully we all will be enjoying ourselves on the beaches of Turks and Caicos as planned.

Luckily, unlike last time, we have more than 24 hours to go. We have 4 days. I'm sure all will be fine. I'll keep you posted.