t minus 20 days until...

...THE 2010 OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES!!!

I love everything about the Olympics. When I was in first grade, the Winter Ceremonies were in Calgary. I remember my sweet teacher, Mrs. Eves, had a different art project every day of the two weeks for us to do...a paper torch, tissue paper olympic rings, ice skates with tinfoil blades, medals covered in glitter....oh, I loved Mrs. Eves!

And most recently, the 2008 Summer Olympics are filled with nothing but sweet memories. I was at Mount Carmel that summer and the last day of summer camp was the very day of Opening Ceremonies. It had been a big, social summer, and I was exhausted. Some great friends of ours welcomed Rory and I to use their cabin across the lake anytime we wanted. So almost every night of the Olympics, Rory and I would pack a bag of snack food, head to this lovely, private cabin and watch the entire evening lineup. It was like we compensated for the 10 weeks of solid people with two weeks of living like hermits.

So get ready people. We've got some good figure skating, bob sledding and ski jumping ahead of us!

gracious last words

I listened to the memorial service for Ben Larson online today. There were many stories told of a life lived fully and well. They said that when the building collapsed, Renee and Ben's cousin were on the other side of a theatre room from Ben on the forth floor. They were able to kick a wall out to escape, and then could hear Ben singing hymns for a while with his final words spoken, "God's peace to us, we pray."

I found an article that gives more details from his Uncle. It's just hard to comprehend. This one story has me so heartbroken, and unable to fathom that this is just one of over 100,000 stories of lives lost in that earthquake.

a bit of happy news from Haiti...

We have family friends who have been in the process of adopting two 1-year-olds from Haiti since September. They were not expecting to get their little ones for another year, maybe two. But because of the circumstances, the adoption process has been sped up.

My sister sent me to this news clip featuring Kristin and her husband, Mike, who have been told to pack their bags and be ready to meet up with their kiddos any day now.

Kristin is the reason I went to Gustavus College. Which cracks me up now...that I based my college decision so solely on this one person. But as you can see in this broadcast, she and her husband are pretty great people, opening their home to care for the orphan.

To watch this segment, click here.

recruiting for summer staff

I am out and about the next few weeks recruiting my camp counselors in student unions across Nebraska, looking for some faithful college students who love kids, love the Lord and love the outdoors. If you know anyone who would fit this role, send them my way. Carol Joy Holling is one exceptional camp and I have one sweet job, getting to guide 70 creative souls all summer long...

Also, if you know of any potential campers, we have camps for 1st-12th graders and family camps. All the info is up now at http://www.nlom.org/ And if you go to this site, you may just find a video of me in perfect Camp Skit form. All I can say is that it was fun to make, and seemed funny at the time...

And here's a link to the video of our summer staff from 2009. It's nine minutes, and I think it gets the most fun toward minute three, so let it buffer and fly to minute three for the music video part. I hadn't seen this video since the last day of camp, and it was SO GREAT to watch it today, remembering the incredible work we do during the summer at Carol Joy Holling and getting fired up for another summer ahead. I'm so excited to see who God will call to serve on our 2010 Summer Staff and the lives that are transformed because that's just what God does at camp.

ode to pioneer woman

Last week our lunchroom conversation was over how we learned how to bake and cook. I told a story about how at some point in middle school I tried making cookies from The Immanuel Lutheran Church cookbook. This cookbook is comprised of classic recipes gathered from the female icons in my grandma's home town. I followed the recipe word for word and cried when the cookie dough turned into a rock. My mom said, "did you cream the sugar and butter?" I replied,"what do you mean cream the sugar and butter?" "Well, did you beat the butter, add the sugar and then the eggs one at a time?" "No! I did what the recipe said! I just put all the ingredients in the mixer together!"

My mom laughed and I was mad, "Why don't they write step-by-step instructions! How are you supposed to know to cream the sugar and butter?! Why didn't Hazel Linder write out how to make her cookies?!" And then we had a calm conversation about how this is how everyone learns how to bake...

There were other stories shared and then I brought up the brand new Pioneer Woman Cookbook my sister got me for Christmas (pure joy when I unwrapped this unexpected gift.) On every page of this cookbook, Ree (Pioneer Woman), shows in photographs every step of every recipe. Some pages have 12-20 pictures. And I adore it. Because I am a visual learner. Pioneer Woman Cookbook is quite the opposite from the ladies of Immanuel Lutheran who assume everyone knows what temperature bread bakes at. Though I must say the ladies of Immanuel are the actual, true Pioneer Women in the world, baking their bread, cookies and swedish tea rings each day because it wasn't an option to buy these things.

My friend Deb (regarding the Pioneer step-by-step cookbook) said, "that's what we need for that cheeseburger soup recipe!"

Hold the phone. Did you just say cheeseburger soup? Because this is my favorite soup of all time. Made by our wonderful friend Julie, Rory and I salivate frequently as we talk about this delicious cheesy soup. I have always wanted the recipe and never remember to get it from Julie. It's from Taste of Home, a personal favorite anyway, but in my mind, it's from Julie. I was overjoyed when Deb told me she had the recipe and would bring it for me.

And then she threw out the challenge. "Becca! You should document your cheeseburger soup making like Pioneer Woman! Just break it down and show pictures on your blog, step by step."

The recipe appeared on my desk on Monday. I went to the grocery store immediately after work and kept my camera handy.

So here it is: The recipe, and then the pictures. Long live Pioneer Woman.

Cheeseburger Soup
1 lb ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces process American cheese cubed (I think regular cheddar would be better)
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup sour cream

In a 3 quart saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside.

In the same saucepan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.

Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce head to low.

Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream. Yield 8 servings (2 1/4 quarts)

Clearly it's not the healthiest of all soups...but it is worth every single calorie. Enjoy!