Lastrday

Days' of Late:

2012-04-10T15:20:00.000-05:00

A day at the park with our good friends: Christie & Bella.

Ooops, shinny hinny!!

Sweet girl, Petra.

Ivy Joy in Sunday school.

Easter photos coming soon!!

We love you, A. Elrod

the happenings:

2012-02-18T20:15:00.000-06:00

So, here are a few pictures from this weekend:

This is Thea~ she has started violin lessons @ school, and received her first violin this week. She has been very excited and enthusiastic about practicing (hopefully that continues to last!)

Earlier today, Andrew was driving home from the eye doctor's (girls in'tow) & they took a great interest in what was being played on the classical station (which happens to be the only station Andrew listens too!)...Apparently, an opera was being played & Thea especially took great interest in it..so, he turned one when they returned home (The Marriage of Figaro)...They were glued for the full two hours!!

(I hope this continues to give Thea the continued inspiration she will need in her violin lessons!)

~ I did not allow them to sit this close for the entire duration of the opera...Last thing I need is an eye doc's bill x5!!

Blessings ~Ami

How To: Christmas Tree Disposal

2012-01-09T13:36:00.001-06:00

Christmas is over; the holidays have run their glistening, opulent, waste-expanding course. Now it is time to resume the routine--time to box up the last vestiges of green, gold, and red, and hide them away with other seasonal memories. Alas, there is one decoration that is more cumbersome than the rest. I speak, of course, of the Christmas tree.

With this winter's temperature drop, and the corresponding rise of my electric bill, I found myself wandering along the outskirts of the woods for dry sticks and fallen trees--free fuel. One evening, as I carried an armload of rotting wood up to our apartment I had an epiphany: Christmas trees are made of wood! Why not burn the Christmas tree? It is an energy efficient, hassle-free, money-saving, green solution!

Here what you will need:

1. Last year's calendar

2. A Nat King Cole Christmas Album featuring the holiday favorite: O Tannenbaum

3. Pruning shears

4. A handsaw

5. A wood burning fireplace or stove

Begin by removing all decorations and lights from the tree. This process can be made easier by trimming the branches from the tree as you proceed.

It is helpful to store these in a box as they await their destiny.

As you progress it will become necessary to saw the trunk into smaller sections.

Start a fire in the stove or fireplace using last year's calendar or datebook. What better way to leave 2011 behind?

Once the fire is of sufficient strength toss in the pieces of trunk. After that, you can begin to burn the lush branches.

Eventually you will have a roaring fire, cathartically releasing the last remnants of Christmas cheer into free, house-warming energy.

Sit beside the fire, drink hot chocolate, and play the King's O Tannenbaum as you and the family enjoy the show.

Johan is on iTunes!

2012-01-07T08:53:00.001-06:00

Johan du Toit's album "Remnant Voice" is now on iTunes! For those of you who do not know Johan, he is a missionary and pastor in France. He is a South African native who has served in various ministry capacities in South Africa, Ukraine, the UK, and throughout Europe. The album is unique, and deeply reflective. Johan's philological leanings (e.g., 5. From the Periphery), and theological passion are replete in this work. I highly recommend giving this album a listen.

2011~ Reflection....

2011-12-25T05:57:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas friends, family and followers! Just wanted to give a Happy-Shout-Out on this fine day, in the remembrance of the birth our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. We hope you all have blessed and beautiful day!

I have an entire gallery of pictures that I've been wanting to post. Enjoy.....

Petra on the trolley earlier this year

A visit from the family...I love this shot!

Daddy's Birthday...he turned 30 this year.

Papa came for another visit, over his birthday~It was a very special treat! & my first attempt at cake balls!

The girls at Zion's Christmas program, this was taken in Thea's classroom

My beautiful girl....growing up too fast

Our Christmas tree... (Petra was being a pill...you can see her hiding out under the kitchen table)

Ivy doing what she does best....being herself!

She gives the best candid looks!

Thea, my girl with all the poises

I finally got her to smile ;) though she wouldn't come out from under the table.

Happy birthday to Petra! She is now 6 years old (gosh, where does the time go?!)

We invited some of friends from school our our neighbors to the local McD's play place...They had a rip-roaring ball of a time!

Make a wish Petra! The cake was super cute (a pink & red Santa frosted cookie cake)

Home-made gingerbread house...it was awesome. After a while, I had to remove Ivy from the scene...She ate more candy than she put on the house.

Petra, my calculated thinker (sound like anyone?)

Our non-convntional gingerbread house (if you notice, there are no windows & no door) It's more like a ginger bread sod house.

Ivy was very proud of her 'cross' cookie

I think Thea was trying to give the 'smolder'

Merry Christmas from the Elrod family

& Happy New Year. Love to you all!

~Ami

Ami and Ivy on TV

2011-12-16T10:42:00.001-06:00

Ami and Ivy made it into a NBC Dallas-Fort Worth news spot about the CitySquare Thrift Store. You can watch the video here.

~Jewelry Show in Dallas,Texas~

2011-11-23T10:52:00.000-06:00

I met a wonderful Greek lady who owns a whole foods cafe up the street from our apartment. Long story short: she's had significant time in the 'designing industry' and has taken me under her wing and now I'm partnering with her & doing shows again! Here's the flyer I designed for our upcoming event:

~ Thanks to all who have supported me throughout the years & encouraged me as I've grown in my business! Love~ Ami E.

Thea the Evangelist:

2011-11-23T10:33:00.000-06:00

I went into the other bathroom to wipe Ivy the other morning, and heard Thea 'preaching' to her stuffed animals. Apparently she was holding a 'service' in her room. Truly, a priceless moment. Here's just a few things I overheard: 'You must must love Jesus! You will be tempted to laugh at someone if they have a broken arm! You will be tempted to laugh if you see someone with a broken cheek! You will be tempted to laugh if they have a broken foot! You have to pray to not be tempted! You must love Jesus! It does not matter if the cheetah is faster than any other animal! It does not matter if the giraffe is taller than any other animal! It does not matter if the elephant if fatter than any other animal! God loves all the animals! He made them, He made all the animals! (here's where she goes all fire & brimstone on their furry butts) 'If you eat the candy you will be cranky! It will make you kill people! It will make you go in hell! You can not eat the candy! You must eat the fruits of the spirit! And you will go to Heaven!' (I think we need to clear up a few theological points with her concerning grace :{ I thought you'd appreciate hearing about our daughter the 'preacher' it was pretty darn cute.

Love Ami

Fashion Show & Maud's visit

2011-11-07T14:55:00.000-06:00

Ivy Joy: striking a pose. Great back drop~ an appropriate flair~

Have you seen anything cuter than this recently~ I think not!

& the only reason Thea is not posted here (& not because she passed up the opportunity to stage her own dramatic flair) is because the camera just happened to run out of battery & instead of telling her, we had to pretend (hopefully she doesn't see this post~ I'd never hear the end of it! :)

Maud came for a visit! (aka, my mama) Here she is helping Petra on her two wheeler.

The weather here has been wonderful! Truly a very pleasant Fall.

Ivy Joy kick'n it on her wheels.

How did Thea get so big? I find myself asking this question a lot. It's true what 'they' say, little ones grow up too fast!

I love my girls & I loved having my Mama here. A little piece of home, a precious visit and wonderful memories made. Love, Ami

Pant + Britches = Branches

2011-10-25T22:17:00.000-05:00

just a few updates. This will probably be a random post~ but I've been wanting to get some of our 'latest news' out to all our readers:

Ivy loves to give 'back- asausages'
She also refers to our pastor as 'password'
I used the words pants and britches one day and in Ivy's world it became 'branches'

Thea has just recently (as of this morning) lost one of her front teeth. I awoke to her frantically panicking & afraid that she had swallowed it, but later found it in the covers of her bed. She was so excited and she looks adorable!

Petra has continued to be an amazing little person (and cuter everyday) & there are two little boys in her class that think so too. She comes home with stories of their harassment on the playground and during lunchtime. Come to find out during PT conferences, she's not the perfect angel she's painted the picture to be and consistently engages in 'quiet-antagonism.' I thought I had more time to prepare for this!

Our cat has decided that she's had enough of all the nonsense and took a flying leap off our balcony into the bushes and got away for one evening, and we now had the railing screened off to prevent any further suicide attempts (or escapes) Her one sole purpose is to provide us girls with furry-friendly emotional comfort--sorry Meow.

Andrew & I's schedules are crazy considering we have one car, work at our church which is apx. 45 min. away--keep up with private school schedules, fundraisers and activities--and somehow end the day with enough energy & grace to pull off a family meal together (& not to mention the mountain of homework we both have to complete). For example a typical evening looks like this: (& this just happens to be a ply-by-ply of this evening since it the freshest in my memory, but not much unlike any other) I arrive home from picking the girls up from school and making a quik stop to the Super-Walmart (which ended up being 1 hr, mainly because everyone has to take their afternoon 'poo' at different times) Ivy is riding her bicycle in the apt. with Petra who decides to chase her around the apartment with the scooter and ends up getting smashed in the face by Ivy's handle bar. So, I decide it's bath time for Ivy while I help nurse Petra's wounded nose. I set the table--check--dinner is ready--check--Andrew calls, he's riding his bike & almost home--check-- Thea is cooking a pretend meal in the play ktchen with dried beans and uncooked noodles--check-- Oh ya, get Ivy out of the tub. I walk into a lake in the bathroom as she is having her own 'tea party' on the ledge of the bathtub..I grab the towel and as I turn around she slides out of the tub face first (because Ivy does everything face first) into the toilet seat and busts her lip open. Andrew walks in the door (drenched with sweat from riding as usual--bless his heart!) to Petra with an ice pack, on the couch crying about her busted nose--screaming from the bathroom because Ivy is 'blooding' everywhere (Ivy language--it really wasn't that bad) and Thea trying to serve him a meal of raw beans & noodles--welcome home daddy! Just a regular night at the Elrods!

I'll have pictures for you all tomorrow. Alls well now--everyone is sound asleep (praise the Lord) and I'm ready for that myself. We miss you, love you & pray for you. Always ~Ami

The Criswell College Omelet

2011-10-11T13:34:00.001-05:00

"In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love"...

And in the autumn the thoughts of the resident Criswell mycophagist turns to things fungivorous and culinary. It appears that there is a healthy mycorrhizal symbiosis at work amidst the roots of the pristine oaks in the Criswell campus courtyard. A relationship that has born much fruit:

What is one to do with such gems as these fulvous fungi? Such fine specimens of boletus deserve far better than to desiccate unnoticed among the fallen oak leaves. They deserve to be in an honorary omelet, an omelet dedicated to the institution that nurtured them--a Criswell College Omelet.

[Disclaimer: Please do not eat any mushroom that you are not certain you have properly identified using several of your senses. It is best to have an experienced forager show you the ropes before eating things you find growing in the woods--or the Criswell courtyard. There are many poisonous mushroom species, and a few are even deadly.]

Step 1: Clean and cut these blue-staining boletes.

Step 2: Sauté in butter, and salt to taste. (Some blue-staining boletus have been known to cause "intestinal distress" when not thoroughly cooked. So cook them well just in case.) No additional seasoning is necessary as these have a naturally pleasant, meaty flavor.

Step 3: Add onions and continue to cook.

Step 4: Add kale, continue to cook. The kale may require additional salt--add to taste.

Step 5: Prepare three eggs--beat 2 full eggs and 1 egg white.

Step 6: Grate cheese. I prefer an aged cheddar mixed with fresh mozzarella and a hint of havarti for this dish.

Step 7: On medium heat add the eggs to the boletes, kale, and onion. Flip once it has cooked through, add the cheese to the top and fold.

Step 8: Plate it. Attempt to draw the Criswell College "logos" shield in sriracha, and serve.

Step 9: Bon appétit!

*******

How did it go? I will not leave you in suspense. The omelet was exquisite. And I did not experience any side effects--beside a new layer of appreciation for the Criswell campus.

My Parents Have a New Trashman

2011-10-01T14:04:00.001-05:00

A large brown bear got into my parent's trash the other night (they live in Colorado).

Here's a video of the incident:

Let's take an Ivy moment:

2011-09-28T12:00:00.001-05:00

If I took the time to type each time Ivy had her moments, that would be my full time job. Once her little feet touch the floor, she hits the ground running, and does't stop until I 'make' her go to bed at nite. And if I'm lucky, a nap (maybe) so here is another taste of Ivy:

Over the weekend I opened up the tupperware bins of Fall clothes for the girls. It is always fun foe them to pull out last seasons clothes, swap hand-me-downs, try on different outfits (& my job is to keep the peace b/c inevitably there will be a fight at some point). At any rate, Thea has many hand me down clothes from Belle & Shannon (my two little sisters) and she decided to wear a dark purple t shirt that she finally grew into that has a large green bugg-eyed frog on it. Cute t-shirt anyhow & Thea thought so too. Well Ivy didn't, at least she decided she didn't just to get under Thea's skin (which is entirely too easy to do) & Ivy knows this fact. Ivy walked up to Thea, cocked her little fist and slugged Thea in the chest. Thea screamed, so I instantly address the screaming (I can't stand the screaming) and I soon find out what happened. Ivy gets put in a time out (which at our house is sticking your nose in the corner in the kitchen) it's a understood disciplinary action, Mom or dad says, 'time out' and the girls know exactly where to go. After some time spent in the corner I pull Ivy aside & address the 'hitting' & go thru my normal reprimanding. I proceed to ask Ivy why she would do that, and she answers me with a sour-faced look and her arms crossed over her chest: 'Mom, I don't like Thea's lizard shirt!'

Even though it not a lizard it's a frog, it didn't matter, Ivy didn't like it, so she made sure Thea knew it. That's my girl, Ives!

A 'Snappy' start to the day~

2011-09-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

On our way to school this morning (almost 20 min. tardy due to a melt down) Moments before I walked out the door, Petra came barreling back up the stairs of our two-story apt. screaming 'turtle, mom there's a huge turtle!' I think she was more stunned than scarred, but certainly startled. It's not every morning we run into a large snapping turtle on our way out the door to school! Check it out:

Least to say it was more startled than us, it hardly peeked out of it's shell! It turned out to be an 'eventful' morning!!! ~Ami out

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Everywhere

2011-09-20T16:12:00.001-05:00

A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. So I'll leave the pictures to do the talking this time.

Here are the girls at the Dallas Arboretum--which was newly redecorated for the Fall.

Can you find the Elrod sisters?

2011-09-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

So, I just wanted to share this picture I found of Thea's classroom: See her?

Here's a quick look from Petra's class. I happen to find these on the parent's log-in for their 'home-room' online. Anywho, do you see her cute face ?!

I do miss them, I know Ivy does especially. But they are fairing wonderfully & I am so very pleased with their school. Love to you all!
-Ami out

Girly Gallery

2011-09-12T05:37:00.001-05:00

Our friend, Andrea, has journeyed from picturesque Northern California to the dry southern heat of Dallas, TX to visit us. As always, it was our pleasure to have her. She has been a good and stalwart friend throughout the many phases of our lives. She is also an excellent photographer--so we have her to thank for the following gallery of images (featuring Thea, Petra, and Ivy). Click for more:

We will miss you, Andi!

Meanings

2011-09-06T21:45:00.001-05:00

Ah, it is so good to know that I mean so much to someone…to know that I mean enough to receive gifts of affection and expression like those following. But what do they mean? Let's take a closer look.

Exhibit A

First, a transliteration, and then we'll move on to translation.

The sweet and endearing message seems to read: "I love you you rok and it is osum haw you do the nigs I love you Dad". Translated that probably means, "I love you. You rock, and it is awesome how you do things. I love you Dad." Sentiments expressed in such simple, honest words are truly invaluable.

But that it only half the message. A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. Let us attempt some visual literacy of the images associated with the words. Clearly, Thea's artistic abilities are advancing to include the use of side profile--she is turned sideways. Unfortunately I am not. Which begs the question, why am I a monocle-wearing cyclops? Maybe she subconsciously blames me (more than I originally thought) for moving her to Texas? But she is ever the optimist--I count seven hairs on my head in this picture, her generosity knows no bounds. I appear to be either leaping or levitating with joy as she looks happily on…before I'm attacked by ethereal, sky-dwelling jellyfish! A pair of flowers look quizzically on.

Exhibit B

Where to begin?!

First off, please be assured that Thea has been made aware of the dispensation of grace, and the doctrine of Christ's substitutionary atonement. But maybe her worship demands more than a verbal expression of gratitude for the propitiation of Christ? If anyone is worried that the creature being sacrificed is a mammal--perhaps of the bunnyish, sheepish sort--please be at ease. I count six legs on that altar. I have never known any mammal to have six legs. And who might the disembodied, fu manchu + goatee wearing, double-chinned head be? His catlike eyes look contentedly on as he slides down the sunbeam. The idea of a girl stands beside the altar (also a disembodied--though faceless--head), but she has not yet been fully actualized into this fanciful, sacrificial transworld.

I love my daughters!

Adaptation

2011-09-05T09:20:00.001-05:00

I don't think you truly understand how much you've adapted to something until it changes. After 2 months of triple-digit temperatures here in Dallas we are now set to enjoy a week in the 80s to low 90s. This Labor Day morning we were alerted by an ecstatic Thea running around the apartment proclaiming, "It's cold! It's cold!" Petra, not being one to be taken in by such incredible statements, went out onto the porch to feel for herself. Her report: "It's freezing cold!" But what might "freezing cold" mean?

69 degrees! Cold indeed! Having adapted to weather that has been between 30 and 40 degrees hotter on a daily basis, I suppose 69 degrees legitimately qualifies as "cold." …"Freezing" might be a stretch.

The Woman Who Willed a Miracle

2011-09-04T21:00:00.001-05:00

Studying brain plasticity for a psychology course has reintroduced me to my fascination with autistic savants.

My favorite story about such a case is the story of Leslie Lemke. I do not think that I can do this true story justice with any sort of synopsis, so I will leave it in the capable hands of Cloris Leachman, and an ABC Afterschool Special: The Woman Who Willed a Miracle--which I was delighted to discover is freely available on Youtube in 5 parts.

If that peaks your interest, I highly recommend watching the original Canadian interview that inspired it: May's Miracle.

Prospectors

2011-08-27T07:36:00.001-05:00

All of my study materials are on my computer. So when I wake up, usually hours before the sun, I study in the dark. Lately, I've been interrupted by strange lights, like the flashlights of a search party. In fact, I have recently discovered that these are the lights of a search party--a party of 3 in search of early morning literature, drinks of water, and other "fings." You see, each of our daughters was given a headlamp. Ever since they have roamed the late evening and early morning darkness like little prospectors in search of treasure:

Quick Update

2011-08-25T06:13:00.001-05:00

These have been busy times!

With everyone (except Ivy, you will recall) in school, we are in yet another phase of adaptation.

I've been spending a lot of time on the Criswell campus lately. Much of that time is dedicated to study in the historic Wallace Library (which seems very necessary now that I will have to be able to write all 110 verses of the Sermon on the Mount from memory by October 14). The building is 107 years old, and was the original Gaston Avenue Baptist Church facility. The library seems to have everything one might need: periodicals, extensive reference materials in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German, French, etc., historical documents on display dating from the sixteenth century, and even archeological curiosities that are thousands of years old. For all of you mychophiles, don't feel like you will be left out. There seems to be a healthy mycelial layer permeating the ground between the library and the main building…yes, the library even has large, edible, polypore mushrooms ;-)

'A Special Blessing'

2011-08-24T23:39:00.000-05:00

This particular day started out very normal, and ended with a special blessing~

Ivy Joy and I picked up Thea & Petra from school yesterday afternoon. It was daddy's first day of classes and by 3:30 we were ready to 'get out' of the house. There are only so many 'Little Einsteins' to be seen, puzzles to do, snacks to be had and books to read!

It was a Mama & Ivy day, and we had fun! ;)

After picking up the other girlies, we decided to go thrifting (one of favorite things to do) I had a special coupon that day, so away we went.

Upon entering the store, Thea gravitated to the porcelain dolls with 'oooh's' and 'aaah's' & 'Mama~look!' the other two followed suit and within 3 seconds they had each chosen one that they were hoping I'd agree to buying. As always, I issued and automatic 'no' and 'girls, please follow mama.' Which they did without complaint. Some time later, I checked out with a couple things and the nice gentleman behind the counter says to me, 'A woman over heard your girls' admiration and requests' for a doll and was so impressed with there manners and prompt obedience that she purchased three dolls~

each of your girls may chose one'

I stood speechless. Surely this nice woman must be mistaken! she must have missed the 'accident' in the back room as Thea continued to touch other breakable things (and was successful at doing just that) the multiple cat fights I had to break up between Ivy & Petra, and the countless 'scary-mom-faces' I had to give in order to keep them in line

(or should I say attempt to)

'Seriously?' I asked. And within a moments noticed I felt the Lord touch me with His soft voice: 'See Ami, blessings always follow obedience' What an amazing example of His's love & a tremendous opportunity to share with my girls the many lessons of this divine appointment!

It was a good day of lessons-learned (especially for mama!) & Least to say, we had a super-surprise story to tell Dad when he came home from school!

(Thea insisted the dolls have their own photo shoot as well) :)

Blessings

~Ami out.

Words! -or- Thea's Library Book

2011-08-21T17:42:00.001-05:00

Our oldest daughter smuggled Ami's computer into her room the other night when she was supposed to be sleeping. We later discovered the following video buried in its data banks. It provides an insightful look into her innocent and childish perceptions:

"Words!"

The Host Club

2011-08-20T17:26:00.001-05:00

For those of you who don't know them, my brothers (Aaron and Adam) have put together an impressive band called The Host Club. They recently made it as a top 5 local band with 93.3 FM in Denver, and as a result will be playing at 93.3's The Big Gig 2011!

If you haven't heard them, give them a listen at their Facebook page. If you like their music head on over to iTunes and pick up their E.P.

They have the talent to take it all the way, so get to know them while you still can ;-)