Sewing Machine Fundraiser

My friend Kim has been raising money to purchase sewing machines for Dalit women in India. She has a link on her blog that allows you to donate money to this great cause. I think this is a wonderful idea (especially as I have been dabbling in sewing lately). Check out Kim's blog for more information if you are interested in participating.

I Stand Corrected

I thought I didn't like cabbage. I have never minded eating it in other dishes or in salads, but I have never thought of it as a vegetable serving of its own. My SIL claims cabbage as her favorite vegetable. Yech. She posted a recipe for cabbage on her blog and so I prepared it at my in-laws last night. Let me tell you, it was delectable!! I went back for more four times. I ate more cabbage than I did potatoes and pork chops combined! Cabbage has been redeemed. 

GINGERED CABBAGE

2 Tbsp butter
1 head cabbage (about 1 1/2 lbs) cored and chopped
1 Tbsp minced garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp peeled and minced or grated fresh ginger
Juice of 1 lime (I just splashed it in from the bottle)

• Place the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat (a 12 inch cast-iron pan is perfect for this, but go w/ medium heat instead). When the butter melts, add the cabbage. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 to 10 minutes.
• When the cabbage is limp but not mushy, add the garlic, salt & pepper, and cook another 2 minutes, stirring.
• Add the ginger and cook another minute. Drizzle with the lime juice and serve.

So simple. So delicious.

Cute.

Dress-up.

A couple summers ago my mother and I played dress-up. I bought a wedding dress at a thrift store and someone gave her one so we decided to try them on and prance around for my pops. My mama looked f-i-n-e, FINE, in her dress! Seriously.

Our Christmas "Tree"

I say "tree" because it's fake and only three feet high. This year Erik and I decided to put up all our childhood ornaments - one's we had made and received as kids.

I don't know where this little guy is from, but he's mine and he's missing his roof.

One of Erik's freaky mice things.

Now this one actually frightens me. It's a used-to-be fuzzy cat with freaky eyes. 

I don't even know how long I've had this one for. Probably forever.

I made this reindeer out of clothespins. I love him. 

Even though he has no eyes.

Who knew I was into fiber arts when I was six? Look at this beauty!

This is made of feathers, some wooden ball, and pipe cleaners. I used to rub it across my face because it was so soft. 

Some of Erik's skates. Notice the paper clip blades.

This is one of Erik's favorites. He made it himself. He says the best thing about it is that he made it in second grade... and that his second grade teacher was awesome. And a total babe.

And look, we both had rocking horses!

This little wreath has to be one of my favorites.

Look closer.

And a little closer.

Cute. Little boy Erik. With his ugly rat-tail. See it poking out of the right side of his neck? Not cute.

And this. This would be a little angel I made in 1989. When I was two. I guess I was almost three. I probably "made" this is Sunday School. Way to let me participate! Notice the two stars on the lower bit of the angel? I think that is all I contributed to the ornament... I'll never understand these projects that the kids can't even participate in

And of course... the final product.

My SIL - Jenn

I have a sister-in-law named Jennifer. I love her. She is married to my brother, Anthony. They were married on May 26, 2007.

Jenn is one special woman and the perfect wife for my brother. She is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. She has this way about her that is comforting... she's always made me feel safe. Jenn has the ability to challenge me without making me feel criticized. She is always sensitive and encouraging.

Jenn is absolutely beautiful. One of the most beautiful women in the world! She is generous, caring and more than helpful. She puts me to shame when we're at my mama's house because she's always the first to get up and get things done (dishes, cleaning up, serving... anything).
 
I admire so many things about Jenn. She makes me want to be a better wife, a better woman, and a better friend. I have learned so much from her and I am so grateful that she is a part of my family.


And you wanna know my absolute favorite thing about Jenn... aside from the fact that her middle name is Ashley?

She's having a baby.

You heard me.

A baby.

I can hardly believe it. I've been pinching myself since I found out. Pinching myself and crying. I am so excited! I could not be happier for them!

This is probably the most wonderful news I could imagine sharing with anybody because I think it is just perfect. Absolutely perfect. Anthony will be 36 years old when the little one makes his/her appearance... he's been waiting for this for a long time. He looked so proud when he told me... so proud and so excited.

A new baby.

I.

Can't.

Wait.

Cutie Patootie

Here is the blanket I made with the baby I made it for!  I had only made two dish cloths prior to attempting this and you can definitely tell I am a "beginner knitter". But, it was fun to do and little Amy Claire looks oh so sweet in it.

Trying to Keep Warm

Our house is so cold! Like SO cold! Like really ridiculously cold. The silly thing is, I kind of like it. I am all bundled up and I think it's kind of romantic... except that I'm home alone. But still. Maybe I read The Little House on the Prairie too much as a little girl. I feel as though I am conquering something.... ridiculous, I know.

Anyway. If your house is any bit as cold cold as mine here are some tips you should know.

#1. Long underwear. It's FABULOUS!
#2. Layers. (obvs...)
#3. Fleece Pants. I'm sporting pants made by my mother circa 2003.

 Please Excuse the floor...

And yes, my pants really do have little bears and hearts all over them.

Love you, Mom!

#4. An awesome sweater.
Mine was made by my
mom... sometime in
the 1980's.  

#5. A great scarf.
Mine's wrapped around
my neck twice. This
allows for neck flexibility
which is essential when
studying.









#6. Legwarmers. Mis-matched blue and pink. Senior Girls volleyball.

#7. Fleece Socks. A Christmas gift one year. Made by my very own mother... I think in the mid-90's. Maybe. Maybe not.
#8. Multiple Blankets. They keep the heat in and keep the drafts out.
#9. A Hot Water Bottle. You may notice that I don't have one, but I have discovered (or rather I was shown) that this little sucker works just as good. And yes, it does happen to be an IV bag. 3 minutes in the microwave and it is DIVINE! Bundle it up under the blankets on your lap and you're ready to go!

#10. I almost forgot. Tea. Tea is also essential to keeping warm.

A housekeeper would also be nice right now, but that has nothing to do with the subject.

Surgery

Justin is in for surgery again. He is actually being operated on as we speak. He was in a motorcycle accident this summer and broke his radius and ulna clean in half. His radius has not fused together (odd cause he's only 20) so they are going in again. Justin explained a little bit of his procedure to me. He said it's something along the lines of:

1. The surgeon will be sawing off the dead/not growing bone
2. They will take a piece of healthy bone from his hip/pelvic area
3. They will put the hip/pelvic chunk into his arm (they're hoping this will promote growth)
4. They will have to sand down his ulna so that his wrist matches up properly once the radius has been pushed back together.

Justin didn't sound too excited to have the surgery done, but who would be.

**Update **

Justin is on his way home. Joel informed me that they didn't need to shave down Justin's ulna. They put a larger piece of hip in and sanded it so it was flush with Justin's radius. So, no shorter arm.

My Mistake

I bought a book yesterday. It's called "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin. I knew it was a bad idea, but I couldn't resist. The midwife I talked to highly recommended it saying it was a wonderfully informative book. It is. I absolutely love it. It is thrilling! I am on page 151 of 368 already.

The problem is, I haven't studied for any of my exams.At this rate though, I'll be done the book by tomorrow night and able to start studying for my Friday exam. I only have three finals this year anyway.

Actually, I "hid" my book so that I have no choice but to study tomorrow.

Exams are done Monday. Can't wait.

Wishing

Erik and I live in the basement of my sister's house. We have lived here since September 2008. We share a kitchen and have a living room and bedroom downstairs. It's nice, but it's my sister's house. It feels like my sister's house. I feel like a visitor. We do pay rent and everything, but it's still not ours. I long for a home of my own. I don't even need my "dream home" yet, but I think we need our space more than ever.

We house-sat for a month in September. We had none of our material possessions there (not that we even have many), but it started feeling like home because for that sweet month it was ours. The place we are living in now has never felt like home.

Erik and I dream of having a place where we can develop community. We want our home to be a place of fellowship, of rest, of conversation, of eating, and of peace. We want a place in which we are free to invite people in and bless people with the many blessings that we have.

We want a place to call home.