Funny things I've heard lately

Thing 1 (4 1/2 yrs old) - While sitting down in Hubby's Lazy Boy with his Storybook Bible (given by one very cool Auntie Daya - he says "I'm going to have a Quiet Time".

Hubby - "Do you know what a QT is?"

T1 - "No"

Hubby - explains QT in 4 yr old terminology

Me - "It will be easier to have a QT when you can read"

Still you have to credit the kid for getting the place and book choice correct. But don't give the parents too much credit b/c this is also the same kid that several hours earlier pitched a fit about going to Sunday school and ended up in the nursery instead.


T1 has also told me lately - "I'm going to do Bible Study"...he must be spending more time with hubby lately than me. :)

T1 - after noticing that I straightened my annoying pregnant hair that will not just be consistantly curly or straight all in one day - "Mommy, what happened to your wiggly hair?"

Our two EDGE guys were over one night and noticed me ironing a pair of maternity pants. They weren't blown away by the fact that I was ironing which anyone who knows me well enough would be...but were quite impressed with the pants commenting - "You mean they make special pants for pregnant women?" I'm still laughing about that one. I don't know why they would know this, both being single, but what exactly do they think women who look like they've swallowed a basketball wear? I guess I don't really expect that they have thought much about it, but I still think they are really funny!

Thing 2 - shortly after T1 emerged from bed one evening stating he had to go to the potty, T2 emerges (T1 had recently showed him how to climb in and out of his crib) at the doorway and states "I have to go potty". Not only does he know how to get out of his crib, he knows what to say to stay out...if only he really knew how to go potty he would not have been sent directly back to bed!

Okay, now it is your turn. What are some funny things people have said to you lately? If I've made you smile you can return the favor by posting your comment below.

Also - to the two jokesters who voted "other" for the sex of the baby - it was just there as a joke! And the ultrasound last Thursday confirmed it is a baby and not an other! Pics to come soon! And, no, we did not find out the sex! :)

Love You A Latte

How much does my husband love me? Sometimes when the stress of two and half kids, lots of travel and a busy ministry I can stop and wonder "how did we get here?" Life was so much simpler in the early years when I had all the time in the world to think of special ways to tell Hubby I loved him and vice-versa.

But just the other day Hubby reminded me that sometimes taking time to say "I love you" means not spending special time together, but spending some time apart...mainly, me alone in a coffee shop with a really big coffee, my journal and Bible. Despite his busy list of things "to do" Hubby insisted I still get out by myself for awhile b/c with all the crazziness it had been awhile since I'd had a chance to do this. And when I mentioned I was going to make a coffee to go and hit the library so I didn't have to spend $3 on a coffee, he opened up his wallet and gave me his full coffee card, ready to redeem. (now that is LOVE!)

That afternoon makes me think back to our wedding day when our good friend and pastor challenged Hubby that it was his job to make sure he nuture my relationship with God and help it grow. Well, after 8 years of marraige, Hubby is still living up to his end of the deal-e-o and then some. This humongous decaf soy carmel latte is my sweet, warm reminder. I had to take a picture and make it my wallpaper on my cell to remind myself on the more harried days that even when we don't always have time to leave sappy love notes for the other to find and we are way too tired to stay up past 10 anymore, that he still does really love me a latte and frankly, I love him a latte too!

Testing, testing, 123

Okay, for all my friends out there that have had babies "recently" I'm curious if your doctor offered you a test for CF (cystic fybrosis) and if you paid the hundreds of dollars for it? I think this is new since Things1 and 2 and I can't decide if I want it done. They can't do anything and I'm not going to do anything about it if I do test positive...so should I have it done or is it a waste of money? I'm also waffling on the "quad screen" test. I'd love to know what you did and why! I have my ultrasound and any tests on Thursday so any quick replys would be welcome. Right now I'm remaining mostly steady in my resolve to not find out the sex of the baby...but I reserve the right to change my mind at any instance...and then back again!

Also, make sure and cast your vote for my "what's it going to be" poll.

I love it when...

I love it when God meets our needs before we can even ask. Yesterday around 2:45 the repairman came to fix our washing machine. Since I've never had a repairman (that I wasn't already married too) come and fix anything this was a financial unknown situation for me. But about a half hour later he left and an hour or so after that Hubby came home and showed me what was in the mail. A couple who had never donated to our ministry before and doesn't even receive our newsletter (at least directly through us, but maybe through a church that supports us) sent us a check just "out of the blue" (i.e. GOD) with a note attached saying that they thought we could use it! Last month both of our cars were in the shop so having the washing machine break this month just seemed like we were never going to get ahead. I have a feeling that when the bill comes for the thing-a-ma-jig (yes that is technical name for all those unfamiliar with the inner parts of washing machines) that was broken in my wonderful supersized machine (also donated by a donor years back by the way) that it will be covered by that check that came in our box the very hour the repairman left.

Travels - A pound by pound review

Well, in the last few weeks we have been to WI, CO and IA (Iowa, I have no idea if that is the correct abbreviation. Anyone?). All the weight I've gained in a few weeks is proof! Sigh! No more fast food, please!!!! Okay, no more whining about the size of my butt! (for now).

Some highlights of our trips:

WI - getting the entire Graf family together as hubby's sister was home for a visit from Brazil. None of us could remember the last time this happened...5 years ago! The trees were in full color

for our drive there (in WI of course b/c we don't really have trees here). We also ate a ton of good food...that was the first pound!

In CO hubby's highlight was when they had to upgrade us on our car rental to an SUV. I teased him by asking why he didn't get the minivan (we were without kids on this anniversary/ EDGE conference trip...very spoiled. THANK YOU again to all our faithful babysitters, and there were many of you!). Anyways, this allowed some fun in the mountains with gorgeous views that can only be found off steep dirt roads (oh darn). The aspen trees were bright yellow and perfectly accented by deep green pines and blue skies. A picnic for two and some time to just be together without talking about kids and ministry...just what we needed! Oh and the conference was good too! We also had some great time with good friends and way too much good food, starting with a fried onion thing at Outback...that was the second and third pound.

In Iowa we joined nearly 400 students and staff from our region for our annual Fall Conf. It wasn't the same without you there Jess http://jessdager.wordpress.com/ but at least I still know what is going on in your life thanks to your blog! The teaching from Norman Hubbard was excellent and of course I looked forward the whole million hour drive to the baked oatmeal that would be awaiting me...it is truly excellent and I've only had it at Village Creek Camp. That was pounds three and four. I think Arbys and Taco Johns were the last one! Oh and the weather was excellent.

I never thought I'd be so obsessed with the weather, that is what living in the mid-west does to you though! I had no idea how spoiled I was in CA, and how much I was missing out as well. Fall is definately my favorite season, and not just b/c we got married in the Fall. I just love the cooler temps, blue skies and gorgeous leaves. The urge to go apple picking, start a new knitting project and bake up a storm all hit me with the first 60 degree day!

Good thing I don't have the urge to do laundry b/c after years of faithful service our washing machine went kaput yesterday. The boys are currently glued to the repairman (sorry repairman) while he is taking it apart and asking all sorts of questions I don't know the answer too about washing machines. Thing 2 is sporting his construction vest over his Brazilian soccer outfit over longsleeves and sweats. What can I say, he likes to get dressed up when we have important company coming!

This morning I was blessed by E. one of our EDGE women coming over for some informal "discipleship" time. I joked that when she is meeting with her women she can now teach them how to clean windows with the "help" of a 2 and 4 year old...because that is just what we did. I decided that instead of always going out of the home for our one-on-one times I could let them in on more of me by letting them in on my day to day life (they could decide what they wanted to imitate and not imitate on their own)! I'm sure E. picked up by the state of my filthy windows that cleaning windows isn't a daily occurance, but my nesting urge was egged on by the prospect of an extra pair of hands. But we did do some other "normal" things like make granola and play Cootie. She is home now recovering from her loss to T1 at Barnyard Bingo...but at least she has a full belly of gourmet mac n cheese and hot dogs. Here is the recipe for the delicious granola from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Megans-Granola/Detail.aspx. I changed it a little (of course) by adding flaxmeal (yeah for Omega 3s) instead of oatbran which meant I could add a lot less oil and using brown rice syrup instead of honey.

Megan's Granola
SUBMITTED BY: annie9

RECIPE RATING:Read Reviews (122)
Review/Rate This Recipe
PREP TIME
20 Min
COOK TIME
20 Min
READY IN
40 Min
SERVINGS (Help)

Servings

US
METRIC
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
8 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.
Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.

One last thought, my newest favorite blog is http://truefaced.com/blog/ if you haven't discovered it, check it out for some great thought provoking, Jesus loving encouragement.