My Chinny Chin Chin

A few of my favorite things...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:10:00 +0000

I've never made a real dedicated study of poetry. Most of it mystifies me to be completely honest. Once in awhile though, I find a poem that spears me right in my heart as words of truth. They stick in my brain and stay with me! This has been one of my all time favorite poems for the past 10 years at least. Enjoy!

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet) I want no world (for beautiful, you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart(I carry it in my heart)

e.e. Cummings

Swimming and Harry Potter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Alexis has been loving the swimming lessons she and Daniel have been taking!

Daniel has been less enthusiastic, mostly because he has zero body fat and the water is too cold!

He refused to go in Tuesday, and was content to take pictures of a girl in his class lol

After reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone," we were ready for our Harry Potter movie party!
In honor of England, I made bangers and mash,

Then for the Harry Potter fare, I made Pumpkin Pasties!

And baked brie!

We also had every flavor beans, and butter beer.
The kids loved the movie and even Gram enjoyed it!

"Time" Akiane Kramarik

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Once upon a time, in an island there lived six feelings and emotions: Happiness, Knowledge, Love, Sadness, Richness and Vanity. One day they discovered that the island began sinking! So all of them built boats and canoes and left, one by one. Except for Love. Love wanted to delay abandoning her beloved island as long as possible.

When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a boat. Love asked, "Richness, can you take me with you?"

Richness answered, "Sorry, Love, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat, so there is no place here for you. With both of us in here we will sink for sure."

Love next asked Vanity who was also sailing by, but Vanity offered the same answer.
"I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by, so Love asked, "Sadness, take me along with you."
"Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!", sadness said in a gloomy voice.

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so preoccupied with her happiness that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you."

It was an elder with a tattered head scarf. An overjoyed Love jumped into the boat. When they arrived at a dry land, the elder went her own way.
Love looked around and saw the Knowledge who was the first to have landed there a while ago.

"Who Helped me?" Love asked.
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time? Why time?" Love was surprised.

"Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is." The Knowledge smiled.

I've discovered:

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:51:00 +0000

I am a juicing wimp. I love juicing, but I always expect it to taste sweet and good, not like the crazy disgusting messes I've been making lately. They generally involve kale, that may be my problem.
After watching "Sick, Fat, and Nearly Dead" on Netflix, I found the connected website and juicing programs called "Reboot" and signed up for their juicing community. These people are hardcore juicers! Their recipes turn into concoctions that I can't even bear to smell, let alone drink several times a day!
So, I'm turning to friends and family for their yummy juice recipes, in hopes I can find a few I like. What are your gems you enjoy drinking?

Today...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:16:00 +0000

Outside my window...I can see David Suggs car lol
I am thinking... I wish I had a maid
I am thankful for...modern medicine, and the NuWave oven
From the kitchen... Quorn
I am wearing... jeans and a tshirt
I am creating...a photoshop project for my design and communication class
I am going... to take a nap soon!
I am reading... Little Women (again)
I am hoping... Daniel keeps feeling better and Alexis doesn't catch anything we've got!
I am hearing... The Ups and Downs Derby
Around the house... Lincoln logs
One of my favorite things... coke in a can
A few plans for the rest of the week... city market

Eating Organic

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:51:00 +0000

For the past year or so, I've made a commitment to provide the best food possible for my family. We bought a quarter cow from a local farmer who uses no hormones or antibiotics. I buy chicken that came from Middleville. Milk and butter that comes from Lincoln Park, eggs from Bath, and produce from local growers at the City Market. It's like the 100 mile diet mixed with as many non-gmo's I can find. In the beginning, it really hit my budget hard and I had to adjust BIG TIME. But soon, I realized the stuff that I had to cut out were basically the junk. No more 12 packs of coke at the ready (we cut HFCS anyway lol), boxes of ready made dinners...basically convenience foods. Cutting out those processed foods and stocking up on good sales has made buying local/organic totally possible.
Tonight, Daniel wanted Mac and Cheese. Here's the cost of regular old mac and cheese, made with milk and butter vs. the organic batch I made tonight!

Kraft total cost $1.51                             Annies total cost $0.89
$1.29 box of mac and cheese                 $0.44 box of mac and cheese
$0.09 butter (1 tbsp)                              $0.18 calders butter (1 tbsp)
$0.04 1/4 c milk                                     $0.08 1/4 c organic milk

I happened across a sale of Annies Mac and Cheese at Kroger and got them for 44 cents a box! I bought 50 lol
To sum up, it's not hard to eat well! It does take effort to know what you're buying, and learn how to make some convenience foods at home:)

Super Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Saturday started in MSU at the Veterinary College, for Vet-a-Visit!

We met some sweet doggies, one promptly rolled over for a belly rub:)

After we'd had enough animal fun, we headed over to Koney Island in Hanna Plaza. Daniel inhaled a 1/2 order of pancakes which was still FOUR pancakes, and Alexis enjoyed fish and chips.

Full of lunch, we all decided walking sounded good so we headed over to Fenner Arboretum for the Maple Syrup Festival!

Alexis tried on a raccoon fur (it had been a stole in a former life)

The kids took turns learning how to tap a tree for sap

How does THAT become maple syrup??

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:38:00 +0000

This morning, as the kids and I sadly watched the footage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I took the opportunity for us to pray as a family before we left for school. We specifically prayed that people who were looking for loved ones would find them quickly. Minutes later in the car, we were listening to Air1.com and heard a man calling the station to let them know, after calling earlier for prayer to hear from his brother in Japan, he had just received word from his sister that she had gotten a facebook message from their missing brother. It was literally less than 5 minutes from when we had prayed! I glanced back at the kids and saw their wide eyes and smiles. Amazingly, a terrible tragedy has been used to show 2 children that their prayers are heard and answered.

It's almost SPRING!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:10:00 +0000

Today's mail brought the Spring/Summer Parks and Recreation Activities Guide. The trick is, finding something for each kid that is at the same place, at roughly the same time so mama isn't driving all over hells half-acre!

A few of my favorite things...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:54:00 +0000

Touched off by a post from Cat, I thought I'd post a few things that are making me happy these days.

I grew an actual cucumber. This is big for me, I'm not known for keeping plants alive. I planted a flat of pickle cucumbers and they're thriving! Here is the first one I picked.

I bought a soda maker a few months ago. Now, I'm not spending $$ on bottled or canned carbonated water, it has more than already paid for itself!

I love being entertained by people who can make fun of themselves.

And by those who make fun of others.

She Worf

Keep Calm

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Earlier in the year, my friend Mindi found this poster she felt was a great addition to her home. Besides being right up her history loving ally, it's a nice moral booster in the midst of life.

This week while in Schulers, a small gift bag caught my eye

I had a laugh, but it got me thinking that there were probably more amusing parodies of this particular piece of propaganda. Indeed there are.

Today...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 02:58:00 +0000

Outside my window...it's dark, I can see the neighbors 4th of July lights
I am thinking... I wish I had a maid
I am thankful for...a lazy Saturday, and the ability to recover from life's ups and downs
From the kitchen... an oil and vinegar slaw summer salad
I am wearing... jeans and a tshirtI am creating... ways to keep the kids occupied.
I am going... to bed, and then to church in the morning
I am reading... an illustrated biography of Benjamin Franklin
I am hoping... lots of people show up for Delta Haven's last service tomorrow
I am hearing... A man from the Philippines named Luigi sing and play the guitar
Around the house... random socks on the floor
One of my favorite things... coke in a can
A few plans for the rest of the week... make camping plans, Hawk Island!

The Strength of a Man

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:05:00 +0000

The Strength of a Man

by Jacqueline M Griffiths

"The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's in the width of his arms that encircle you.

The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It's in the gentle words he whispers.

The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy he is with his kids.

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected he is at home.

The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches.

The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his heart, that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in being true to one woman.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry."

The start of June

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:59:00 +0000

For some reason I didn't want to blog after Karen's day this year. Amazing, the processes we go through!

For Mothers Day this year, I got some wonderful gifts. My favorite from Alexis was a list of things I do for her that she made at church, mothers day morning. As much as I'd like to keep the huge poster size list forever, I don't think it would make it lol

Here are the things she thought of that I do for her, unedited:

17 things my mommy das for us.

Cleen my room
Loves you
Cares for you
feeds you
give home
wash clowes (clothes)
look after you
sings you to sleep
buys things you need
buys candy
takes shopping
plays games with you
helps you with your homwerck (whoops, guess I need to help more!)
gives you presens
takes you out to dinner
drives you to school
gives you chocolate.

I love this list <3

All My Tears Be Washed Away

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:16:00 +0000

When I die don't cry for me
In my father's arms I'll be

The wounds this world left on my soul
Will all be healed and I'll be whole

Sun and moon will be replaced
With the light of Jesus face

And I will not be ashamed
For my Savior knows my name

It don't matter where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter where I lay
All my tears be washed away

Gold and silver blind the eye
Temporary riches light

Come and eat from Heavens store
Come and drink, and thirst no more

So weep not for me my friend
When my time below does end

For my life belongs to Him
Who will raise the dead again

It don't matter, where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter, where I lay
All my tears be washed away

~Julie Miller

March the 25th

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:23:00 +0000

No one's hangin' stockin's up,
No one's bakin' pie,
No one's lookin' up to see
A new star in the sky.
No one's talkin' brotherhood,
No one's givin' gifts,
And no one loves a Christmas tree
On March the twenty-fifth.

Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

I think I have writers block

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:37:00 +0000

but just for anything over 140 characters!

I was looking through Cat's old blog posts and found some fun "tagged" blogs where you tell what your favorite *fill in item here* is and why. Here's my first:

Post a picture of your favorite mug. You know, the one you'll search in the dishwasher for rather than just grabbing one from the cupboard.

Here's what lead me to get this particular mug.

Thanks Mark!

Centrals Christmas Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:22:00 +0000

We had a great party at Central, a casual affair with everyone bringing their favorite Christmas time treat. Bennet was into his cupcake, and ran around and around afterDaniel was thrilled with the amount of treats and also had a cupcake (red) lol

It also happened to be Pastor Bruce's birthday. He was sporting his ultra cool Chewbacca tshirt he got from Levi

Playing catch up

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:57:00 +0000

Ok, so Facebook severely stunted my blogging, I apologize. And here we go!

First up, in no particular order (except maybe where the pics are on my computer)

Daniel's holiday party! It was pajama day, the kids were so adorable in their pj's

He made a wonderfully creative gingerbread-type house.

After the crafts and snacks, the kids settled in for a cartoon until the parents came.Daniel's friend Elly has a great sense of humor

teehee

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:24:00 +0000

*rubbing hands together excitedly*
I've been prototyping christmas presents :)
I could show you, but then I'd have to kill you.

swine flu fun

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:32:00 +0000

So when you're at home for a couple weeks straight...you come up with ways to amuse yourself. Like trips to the swine flu infested ER (Daniel has cellulitis on his elbow!)

Terrorizing kittens with home made sweatersAnd finding creative ways to use leftovers. This would be "Ranch Bacon Cheeseburgers a la Laura"

Fire Station Open House

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:48:00 +0000

We had a GREAT time at the firestation open house that we went to on Saturday!
We met Big Lug. Alexis called him out as being "just a person in a costume" and kept harrassing him about it lol

Alexis tried to fill some pretty big shoes :)

Daniel was in gadget heaven and would have stayed all day if I had let him

The kids also got a chance to sit in a helicopter! Sparrow's Life Flight was there and generously allowed anyone to sit in the EMT's seat. So much fun!

It was a chilly day but we had a great time and learned a lot about fire safety. The fire fighters were awesome!

What I said, what he heard

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:25:00 +0000

Today, due to extreme naughtyness that was discovered right before dinner, I informed the children they were in trouble and they would be punished after dinner. Let them stew a bit, right?

Daniel keeps casting me these worried looks and finally asks "Where are you going to punish me?"

I looked at him for a moment, trying to decode just what he meant.

"Are you going to punish me in my tummy?"

oh my word, my baby was worried I was going to PUNCH him in the stomach after dinner!!

Talk about feeling like the worst mom ever!

Quickly I corrected that "punish" is another word for "consequence" which he is very familiar with lol

Adventures in Michigan...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:55:00 +0000

Even pedestrians have detours in Michigan!
Daniel and I did a couple of miles on Riverwalk before being eaten alive by mosquitos!

Daniel got a great haircut by Phil "like Dr. Phil!!" says Daniel
He's all ready for school now!

Daniel discovers comedy

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Chin) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:28:00 +0000

Daniel's formula for every joke he tells:

Why did the *random item* cross the road?

To get to the other *random item*!

for example "Why did the blue milk top cross the road? To get to the other Diego!! HAHAHAHAhahahh"