life at camp

I realized I haven't written a whole lot about camp lately, which is funny, because it is basically my life right now. We are in the middle of our fourth week already...which is crazy and amazing that it has gone by so quickly and so smoothly.

The staff is fantastic and I am so pleased by how well they love and care for our campers. But last week it was obvious they were losing their steam. As a whole, we were missing the spontaneous, wacky, excitable staff that I hired.

So I threw out a challenge to them at our meeting on Friday and again on Sunday. I told them I wanted fresh programming, clever ideas and funny stories all week long. I held a carrot in front of them in the form of a $25 gift card to any place of their choosing from my very own personal money. And that the gift card would go to the staff person who comes up with the most unique/clever/imaginative program of the week.

The past two days I have come into work to find notes on my desk from counselors telling me of their plans. One cabin, tonight, is having a dance party on the platform of a tent that has no tent on it. Half of the campers have agreed to create a strobe light out of all of their flashlights, and everyone else will dance. I love this idea.

One site is making origami animals and hanging them from the trees. This whole site has rallied behind this idea and today I had the site coordinator frantically looking for more online patterns for these kids because they are so excited to make more.

I've heard whispers of other ideas too. One group is leading underwater basket weaving...literally underwater, in the pool. The best part is that the campers know of the challenge too, so they are trying to think of more and more creative things to do as well. It's getting really fun...and it's only Tuesday night! I'll report back on Friday with the best ideas from the week.

preggers surprises...

I have been making a running list in my head lately of all the things I just didn't have a clue about before I got pregnant. The list is long. But I was driving back from Old Navy this morning and started to think I should document these. So tonight, I will give you the first three that come to mind, but I plan on adding to the list as I continue to be surprised.

1. Nothing in pregnancy is unique to you.
This is a funny epiphany, especially when everything is so brand new to me. I will actually think that I may be the only one who has experienced symptom x, because it's just so odd. But I'm starting to come to the conclusion that a lot of things during pregnancy are just odd.

For example, I have been having trouble sleeping lately because I wake up when my right hip falls asleep. It basically goes numb, just like a foot or a hand would. But it's my hip. It's so weird...and really uncomfortable. I have to lay on my side now, and as a typical side sleeper anyway I thought this would be no problem. But the second I heard I shouldn't sleep on my back any longer it's like a switch flipped and my body decided that it would much rather sleep on its back. But I can't. So I sleep on my left side with my right hip numb, sometimes burning and annoying enough that I have to get up, walk around, rub it a lot, and then try to sleep some more.

So when I got on babycenter.com in the dead of night to look up if this crazy phenomenon has anything to do with pregnancy, and found 32,000 other women already talking about this symptom of pregnancy, I was very surprised. Numb Hip is not unique to me.

2. The amount of time it took for my belly to show.
I remember being in Minnesota for Easter and I was 10 weeks. And I made comments about how I couldn't tell if my belly bump was a baby or just the burrito I ate the night before. But deep down, I was sure it had to be baby. Now that I'm 22 weeks along and just recently started showing I am pretty sure back then it was just the burrito. I just had no idea it might take so long to show. So each week was sort of a let down. I'd talk to my baby, tell it I was ready for the world to know I had a baby in there and that it could stretch out if it wanted. But baby took its time and I just had to be patient.

3. You really shouldn't buy maternity clothes assuming they will fit when you get bigger.
My best friend, Heidi, tried to tell me this one. She said both of her pregnancies looked so different on her body that she never even grew into some of the clothes she bought. I heard her, but I didn't heed her advice. Instead I went to Target and bought some great tops that I assumed would get me through the summer. But they are still too balloon-like to wear and make me feel frumpy. So today I went to Old Navy and bought some sweet outfits that fit me right now, with probably will fit for another month or two. Or maybe they'll fit me until November. Again, I have no idea how this baby is going to show itself. But I do know I got some fantastic outfits today and that I strongly believe a pregnant woman should have some feel-good outfits in her closet.

I've got more, but I'll save them for another day. Anyone out there remember being surprised by anything specific during pregnancy?

three different fruits, each given the same name

To the untrained eye, someone might mistake all three of these the same. But they are not. I am convinced of this. A tomato really should have three different names.

First, there is the tomato that comes from the store. We might call these well-it's-better-than-nothing tomatoes. They do the trick in the middle of the winter. They can pass as something to be put on your salads and sandwiches. But once you've had the other two kinds of tomatoes, you know these just aren't actual tomatoes.

Second, there is the tomato that someone has grown for you. For our purposes here, we'll call these thanks-for-sharing-your-bounty-tomatoes. I grew up on these tomatoes from my mom's garden, our next door neighbor's garden and lots of relatives. These tomatoes are in a class far above the first kind of tomato mentioned. They have flavor. They have character to their shape, color and size. They taste like summer and they often lead to multiple nights of BLT's which is basically my personal heaven.

But the third kind of tomato changes EVERYTHING. It's the tomato that you, yourself, grew. These tomatoes might be best called, Lord-you-are-so-good-to-us tomatoes. Rory and I were gifted with a tomato plant from some super camp friends, Bud and Betty, and I cannot explain the pomp and circumstance surrounding the first tomato we harvested. Rory brought it into the apartment, washed it and shared it like a sacrament. It wasn't even all that big. But it was the best tomato we have ever eaten. And it changed my world of produce forever, birthing an excitement for gardening that is brand new to me. Rory has always had the green thumb in our marriage, but this tomato has changed everything.

(special thanks to my niece, Mara, who took this picture while playing with my camera out on our patio. It's a nice shot, Mara, and happens to be the very tomato Rory harvested.)

belly boom.

A few months ago my sister and I were talking on the phone and she alerted me to something I should be ready for in pregnancy. She mentioned how I might suddenly have a lot of pain from bla bla bla and that when it happens, I shouldn’t be worried, it’s normal and natural and means that I am just growing and stretching.

So Saturday night, I woke up from a dead sleep, seized with pain just below my growing tummy around my hips. I groaned and tried to find a different position and ended up standing next to our bed with my elbows on the mattress, hunched over and breathing deep.

Rory was very concerned. But because of the gift of having a big sister, I was able to say, “Annika told me about this. I can’t remember what it’s called or why it’s happening but it’s normal. I just hurt.”

Sunday I woke up, sore, but fine. Went to church and then to camp. At camp we stood to sing a song and I felt this same pain, but in a more minor way but still just an unbelievable stretching and pulling that took my breath away. Then later in the day when I got up quick from my chair to get something from the printer it seized my body again.

So I looked it up on thebabycenter.com and figured out that the bla bla bla that Annika had forewarned me about is called Round Ligament Pain. And it basically means my muscles are stretching real fast. It told me that these intense moments happen often after a day of abnormal active activities (my nieces were here on Saturday and we went swimming twice, I swang with them, carried them around a lot and I even got on the seesaw…very abnormal activities!) and happen because your muscles are stretching so fast.

Well holy cats. It is stretching. I had several camp staff come up to me today (Tuesday) and say, “I saw you on Friday and you still didn’t look pregnant. But what just happened? Do you really get that big in just four days?" And I just marvel with them, because it is undeniable. This belly didn’t just pop. It busted itself out into the universe, shouting to all who happen to look my way, "Make no mistake! This woman is preggers!"

I'm mentioning all of this for the sake of any friends reading who don't have a big sister to warn them of such sudden things during pregnancy. And, for the record, that probably was my last seesawing for a while...

fatherly wisdom from my big brother, Mat

My brother has surprised and amazed me as a dad. I think it's sort of funny to watch siblings take on new, huge roles because you've just never seen them in that way before. He loves his kids like crazy and they are crazy for him. He is a fun one to watch as a dad, laid back, calm and seemingly enjoying every moment.

I wish they didn't live out in Seattle. I miss him and his whole fun-loving clan.
Here's Mat:

How would you describe your style as a dad?
Proud, beaming, hands-off, give them choices and let them choose. I like to take them into the outdoors. I try not to worry too much. I probably intervene more when my kids are misbehaving than other dads. I try to be available to engage with them when we are all at home as much as possible.

What resources or who in your life was/is the most helpful in giving sound parenting advice?
We’ve benefited from lots of great advice from family and friends. Stephanie has been a voracious reader of parenting books, and we have really benefited from that. We pick and choose our favorite tips and craft our own approach.

Was there a specific part of being a dad that challenged you and your confidence in being a cut out for this?
Not yet— the early years are about loving them and teaching them. I can tell my big challenge will be when they are teenagers— knowing when to guide them, when to let them make their own mistakes. I will worry.

What is your favorite part of being a dad?Giving them support and watching their personalities develop.
If you were to go back, and start your season of parenting all over again, what would you tell yourself?What is a “season of parenting”?

Any words of advice or thoughts you want to pass along to Rory?
Stock up on personal time. Seriously. Now. (You’ll do great.)

fatherly wisdom from Jedd Larson

I met Jedd before my sister Annika did when we worked at camp together. I remember asking him then what he wanted to be when he grew up. And he replied matter-of-factly, "A good husband and a good dad."

And that's what we've got in Jedd Larson. He loves his girls like mad, shows great patience in dealing with three strong-willed women, and loves with a tenderness that makes me so happy he married my sister.

I give you, Jedd Larson.

1. How would you describe your style as a dad?
I'm kind of like the ball in a pinball machine. I wake up in full acceleration and go to sleep after the girls have stopped playing, but in between I spend a lot of time wondering what just sideswiped me or how hard the next bump is going to hurt.

2. What resources or who in your life was/is the most helpful in giving sound parenting advice?
My dad was the best role model anyone could have for fatherhood.

3. Was there a specific part of being a dad that challenged you and your confidence in being a cut out for this?
It is not possible to have too much energy or patience for your children. Making peace with only doing what you are able is not easy.

4. What is your favorite part of being a dad?
Watching my daughters learn and grow and discover who they are. I want nothing more than for them to become confident individuals who are kind to everyone they meet.

5. Do you have a favorite story or quote from one of your kids?
Mara - "Thank you God, that I'm funny." Sonna, yesterday, from the top of the back of the couch. "Daddy, do you want to see how far I can jump?"

6. If you were to go back, and start your season of parenting all overagain, what would you tell yourself?"
I try to give myself advice all of the time but it never sticks. I'm not very good at receiving advice from people that I don't recognize as an authority on the subject.

7. Any words of advice or thoughts you want to pass along to Rory?
We were at Dairy Queen with the girls. This older guy said to me as we were leaving, "You have a couple of neat kids." I said, "Yeah, they are pretty great. I'm trying to enjoy them before they turn 16." He said, "don't believe anything anyone says about teenagers being hard. My daughter is 17 and being a parent just keeps getting better and better... As long as you put in your time." My advice to Rory is "Spend all of the time you can with your child(ren), especially when it's hard but even when it's good. You'll only get one chance at this."

FATHER'S DAY INTROS:

I was ready to go with the mother's day posts a few weeks before mother's day hit. But father's day snuck up on me and I never put the posts together like I had wanted.

I wanted to write an intro paragraph for each person, explaining why I admire them as a father and what I like about their parenting style. It's been bugging me since Sunday, until last night it dawned on me. I should just go back and write the intro paragraphs. So I did. Ahhh..feel the sweet grace of a blog and ability to add to what you've written.

So take a minute and go through the first four dad's. I wrote the opening italic paragraphs with hopes that it might just flesh out who these guys are who also happen to be great dads.

Joyfully,
Becca

fatherly wisdom from Madison Groves

There was a period during Rory and my dating, when I was trying to figure out if I should marry him. And by period, I mean the entirety of our dating right up to our vows. (I put the boy through a lot.) I remember having a conversation with Sara at some point and her sharing that when she was in that season with Troy, she met Troy's dad, Madison. And she realized if this is the guy my future husband is looking up to and modeling after, then we're fine.

And it's true. You could hope for no greater father for your husband to aspire to. Madison lives his life with purpose and determination and if he says he's going to do something, he does it. It always catches me off guard a bit. Because most people just talk about taking a boat trip for an entire year when they retire. But they actually did it. And most people talk about writing a book. But he wrote it, self-published it and promoted it. Most people talk about living a good Christian walk, but Madison's entire life history and every decision reflect his love for his savior.

Rory LOVES talking to his dad, and still thrives on every word of encouragement and accolade. Same goes for his mom. In fact, recently Rory told me kindly after telling me of a new company idea, "oh. if you were my mom, you'd just encourage me right now and not tell me your opinion, concerns or worries yet." ha! Marlene and Madison set the bar high and have raised one amazing man for me to spend the rest of my life with.

I give you, Madison Groves.

1. How would you describe your style as a dad?
Marlene and I came from pretty similar backgrounds on parenting issues, even though we were brought up in different parts of the country. In their early years, I was at work a lot and her time with the kids was what really counted. So I wanted to be supportive whenever possible. I guess I would call our parenting style co-supportive.

For the past twenty or so years, I have really enjoyed the friendship of my sons and their wives. We sometimes get into issues I can help them on, but I am careful not to intrude into those areas best left between them and their wives.

As much as I am able to help them, they help me deal with the issues of life going forward, and I highly value that.

2. What resources or who in your life was/is the most helpful in giving sound parenting advice?
Much of the advice we got was collaborative with other parents in church or from reading many good books, both secular and Christian. My dad was quite authoritarian, so I took several pages of that role in guiding our sons, all within the confines of agreement between Marlene and I.

One of the best pieces of advice we got was from our associate pastor in Honolulu. In a nutshell, parents should focus on a high support/high control model with their children. It is this quadrant of parenting style that seems to be most effective – and we see that our own children are doing a great job in this area.

3. Was there a specific part of being a dad that challenged you and your confidence in being a cut out for this?
Yes, I wished that I had been involved in more sports as a youngster myself so it would have been more comfortable for me to pass that on to my sons. As it turned out, they became active to a sufficient degree in that area that it may not have been the issue I perceived it to be.

4. What is your favorite part of being a dad?
I think the best part of being a father is seeing how your sons have stayed true to their commitment to the Lord and are all still very active in their faith today. For some reason there is this unwritten rule that boys have to go out and sew their wild oats and then settle down. Not true. And while nobody’s perfect, my sons aren’t living their lives today trying to unwind regrets of the past.

After my bride of 44 years, my sons are my best friends. They took me out for a great time about a year ago. We spent the full day just the four of us. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.

5. Do you have a favorite story or quote from one of your kids?
I have several, but one that stands out about Rory was his very positive experience from attending Lake Geneva Bible Camp. When he returned that year, about age 11, his zeal for the Lord was several notches higher than before. We have always appreciated the value of the camp experience for our sons and that only confirmed it again.

6. If you were to go back, and start your season of parenting all over again, what would you tell yourself?
Knowing what I know now about my sons, I would tell myself “you are about to begin a journey for the next few years that will be both difficult and exhilarating, but know that God has everything under control, and you will do just fine, and your sons and their children will do just fine too because you will make church a priority for the family.”

7. Any words of advice or thoughts you want to pass along to Rory?
Rory, you will make a great dad because I know your heart is set on pleasing your heavenly Father and being the best husband you can be. Your example as a dad is what your children watch and you are well equipped there. Also, keep in mind that your job as a dad is to prepare your children for life during those few years. I distinctly remember that conversation we had together while sitting on your bed at our home in Bloomington. It was my message to you and to myself at the time. Proverbs 3:5,6 was and is my favorite Scripture for life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

father wisdom from Troy Groves

I remember when I worked with Sara and Troy, there were lots of mornings when I'd arrive to their house, let myself in and find Troy laying on his belly in the unfishished dining room looking at baby Toby. I'd usually go and find a bowl of cereal or something to do, but I remember this happening consistently. Just quiet coos coming from the dining room and a happy dad, loving his little baby intensly.

Troy is a fun-loving dad and seems to be really intentional about setting up experiences for his kids. He'll often take one kid on a special outing: to the rodeo, to various concerts and lots of twins games, purposefully setting up quality time like that.

I give you, Troy Groves

1. How would you describe your style as a dad?
Overprotective, meddling,

2. What resources or who in your life was/is the most helpful in giving sound parenting advice?
My kids have given me the best parenting advice. They advise me all day long.

3. Was there a specific part of being a dad that challenged you and your confidence in being a cut out for this?
The specific part was when my wife told me she was pregnant and I realized I don't know what I'm doing and that could cause great harm to another human being.

4. What is your favorite part of being a dad?
When the whole family is hanging out together, out and about.

5. Do you have a favorite story or quote from one of your kids?
"I didn't get as much tears as last time" -Toby Groves after returning to take on the Splatosphere ride at the MOA amusement park

6. If you were to go back, and start your season of parenting all over again, what would you tell yourself?
Cancel your DirecTV subscription a lot sooner

7. Any words of advice or thoughts you want to pass along to Rory?
Since you were so much younger than me I kind of feel like I raised you to be who you are. I don't like to toot my own horn but if I don't, who's gonna?

father wisdom from Kyle Groves

dad groves, mom groves, lisa and kyle


Kyle is married to Lisa and they have three amazing kids. It's funny to sit here at analyze his parenting style, because I've never really thought about it that intentionally. But I'm remembering some conversations we've had with him as he travelled through Omaha on business or at other family gatherings and he is always so honest and real about parenting. I remember the last time he was in town he shed some light into what its like raising teenagers and told of how they handled a certain situation that we will surely face with our own kids one day. I made a special mental note that night to keep Kyle's number handy for parenting advice when our kids hit that stage.

He is a firm and fair dad. His kids love him to death, and its obvious if you spend ten minutes with their family together.

With this family the proof is in the pudding, and Maddie, Jack and Josie are three of the greatest, most sincere, polite kids of their ages that I know. My grandma went with us to their house for Thanksgiving and the whole way home she kept talking about "that boy Jack...he was so polite. So kind."

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Kyle Groves, Rory's big brother.

1. How would you describe your style as a dad?
This is ever-changing, but I’d say I’m firmly even. I try to be consistent & not raise my voice unless needed to make a clear point. I also try to off-set discipline w/humor, when appropriate. I can usually get a smile from my kids w/just a look, & they know when I’m kidding them.

2. What resources or who in your life was/is the most helpful in giving sound parenting advice?
The person most influential on my parenting is the best man in my wedding, Dad. He was – & still is – a great supporter of mine, & is so well respected by my friends it’s sometimes embarrassing. I also have 7 close friends (including my brother Troy) that I lean on often for advice.

3. Was there a specific part of being a dad that challenged you and your confidence in being a cut out for this?
As the kids get older I sometimes wonder if I’ll have the tenacity to stay strong. Keeping the peace can be trying, especially in the teen years, but I have to remind myself every day God put me here for this purpose – more than any other – to see my kids make it to Heaven. They are my primary mission field.

4. What is your favorite part of being a dad?
It is so fun to have a short-hand w/each kid – know what excites each of them, & being able to “get” them on a deeper level. It’s also really fun to watch them grow in maturity & start to get glimpses of what life will be like as their friends in the future.

5. Do you have a favorite story or quote from one of your kids?
I have 3:
· Maddie sometimes plays the role of the “blonde” too well. Just this past month I was asked by a friend of hers if I would be the emcee @ their wedding. When I told Maddie this she asked me what kind of music I was going to play.
· Jack’s handwriting is a little…tricky to decipher. We all sat around the dinner table 1 night while I attempted to read a story he wrote for school. I had tears trying to make it through sentences like: “When wilkenting framler skilvensen it’s best to tristenfin pretarklen dogs.”
· Josie & I have a number of bedtime rituals. They usually involve playing Uno (super fun for 2), praying, then hoisting that long skinny body over my shoulder to sing “Rock-a-Bye Baby” while dropping her repeatedly. There’s more, but it doesn’t even make sense to write it – but I love it!

6. If you were to go back, and start your season of parenting all over again, what would you tell yourself?
Less TV when they are young – we’re pretty strict on that now (no screens during the week), but we made it harder on them & us by being more lax about it earlier on.

7. Any words of advice or thoughts you want to pass along to Rory?
Rory, you are going to love being a Dad. It’s important to have rules, but it’s also important to know when they can be bent & even broken as they get older. It’s challenging, but so rewarding & fun.

father wisdom from my dad

I started Father's Day making Rory sausage, eggs, toast and coffee, and gave him a tshirt with the Strickland Propane logo on it from King of the Hill. We then went to church, and then I went to work. So I missed the start of my Father's Day posts. But I've got some good material again, and today I will begin with my own Dad. I asked these father's the same questions I had asked the mama's and I think it's sort of amazing how different the responses are from the mom's. Enjoy!

This past Sunday, on father's day, we had an open mic time at our church, where people could stand up and tell about their dad. There were lots of powerful stories, but mixed in were a good number of people who didn't have a prize-winning dad. A few who had complete absent fathers. They talked about other men in their life who filled that role.

I sat there and thought about how fortunate I am to have the prize-winning kind. And then I realized that Dad was also that "that other man" for lots and lots of kids at our church, fulfilling their need for a positive male role model. When I was in high school, I remember dad going to other kid's soccer games, dance recitals, band concerts. He may have done that when I was younger too, I just don't remember. He had two bulletin boards in his office...one with family pictures and the other completely cluttered with pictures of kids from our congregation. And when I think about it, most of those kids did not have a father. But he'd keep special trinkets in his desk for them and they would seek him out every Sunday for some love and attention.

I give you, Paul Harrington, my dad:

1. How would you describe your style as a dad?

pretty laid back. give the kids lots of love and affirmation. encourage them often. let them know how important they are to the family circle. pray for them daily. set boundaries early on so they come to understand that certain actions can have consequences. teach them to set good goals. help everyone in the family to respect and care for each other. such lessons serve them well as they grow older. hope and pray that they find good mates for life.

2. What resources or who in your life was/is the most helpful in giving
sound parenting advice? my parents, although they had very different styles. Dad was the authoritarian and Mom was the nurturer.

3. Was there a specific part of being a dad that challenged you and your
confidence in being a cut out for this?
not really. i always thought i could the job. my problem was being so busy as the church. Margaret did a lot of the good work for me as a parent but i think i was always there for the really imporant moments in their lives.

4. What is your favorite part of being a dad?
being so very proud of all that the 3 kids have accomplished.

5. Do you have a favorite story or quote from one of your kids?
Mat telling Becca she was an experiment child from Mars, and if she told margaret or me that she knew she was from Mars the experiment would be over and she'd be sent back to her mother planet. Mat confessing that he had stuck the cat's tail up the vacuum cleaner's suction tube. Also, Becca's trauma being told that Little Bo Peep was Little Boy Peep. what a crock! or Becca getting us home from vacation because she had brought a bunch of change. Annika wanting a huge gum ball from a machine which turned out to be a bright red rubber ball... i could go on and on... it was all such a blast!!

6. If you were to go back, and start your season of parenting all over again, what would you tell yourself?
i really would not change very much. you kids were a delight form start to finish.

7. Any words of advice or thoughts you want to pass along to Rory?
just know that this little kid is going to change almost every aspect of your life for awhile. but the adjustments are worth all the time and effort they require. you guys will make great parents!!

***

Stay tuned for tomorrow's words of wisdom from one of the Groves Gentlemen.

Once a month cooking

Are you ready for this? Because I think it's the greatest.

A week ago I got an email from my sister-in-law Sara, explaining how she had tried Mimi Wilson's Once a month Cooking. I read Sara's play-by-play and thought the idea seemed like a good one, and that hopefully one day I might even try this method. But I had no real intention of getting the book until I really felt I had the time to put into a day of cooking.

However, things changed when I found a few different links online with sample menu's and sample shopping lists for just seven days. Seven meals I could handle.

The beauty of this system is that you are given a menu of meals that includes a list of things you should have in your pantry, items you need to grocery shop for (in categories, which makes shopping EASY AND FAST) and a list of prep tasks so that by the time you are ready to assemble your meals, all of you chopping, dicing and slicing is already done.

You're basically as prepared as a cooking show, simply dumping all of your prepared food items into the pot.

Let me show you with pictures:

I had most items that were listed on this first list. But if I didn't have something (we didn't have soy sauce, eggs and gallon freezer ziplocks) then I simply turned the page and added that item to the grocery list. I got every item listed out of my cupboards so that everything was ready and waiting for their moment to be used in a recipe.

This might be the very best part. Rory and I split up the list, he took one page and I took the other and we were DONE shopping in 25 minutes. I kid you not. Back in the car and pulling away in 25 minutes. AND...for the ingredients for these seven meals, we spent a little UNDER $70. Ridiculous! (in a really, super, fabulous way) These meals are cost effective because you're buying a lot of things in bulk to be used in the multiple recipes included in your list.

When I came home I followed the list of Preparation Tasks in the order specified. It was easy peasy. Except that I cried hard with the onions. And I got really sicky after shredding the chicken. I actually had to stop and lay down after the chicken. Who knows why that grossed me out, but pregnancy is weird, I will have you know.

After everything is chopped and shredded, you follow the simple recipes and because everything is prepped, this stage goes quite quickly.

Each recipe specifies what size of a storage container you need to package your meals for freezing. It suggests a lot of gallon ziplocks, but I often used tupperware and froze a few meals in more Rory and Becca portion sizes so I ended up with more than seven meals. EASILY.

For real, my wife-worth began to soar as these meals began to stack up. We've had good sandwich stuff and produce in the house all month. But meals have been...lacking.

Not anymore!

By the end, I had a clean counter, meals ready to consume and one lone can of olives. Tough to say what recipe they were supposed to go in. But I don't really like black olives, so I wasn't too concerned. Though they did look lonely.

I took all of my meals out of the freezer at the end for 1) a photo op and 2) to clear out the other things in my freezer to make more room.

This looks super tidy, and it is. But you should see the freezer door! It is overflowing with half used bags of corn and peas and salmon fillets and icecream and coldpacks and sausage links...

***

My bottom line in this process: AMAZING. I will be cooking like this for a great long while. I actually was enjoying myself during the process. Except for when I crashed my head into the cupboard door and the room went black and I cried and quit for an hour until I got my courage back to go face those cupboards again.

I also split my time up a bit. I grocery shopped one night, prepped and made three meals the next morning and completed the final four meals the following morning. It didn't need to take this long, but I really did have some woozy moments with all this cooking in the mornings and I saw stars when I hit my head on the cupboard and both these things set me back.

But all in all, if chicken parts didn't make me gag, and if I remembered to shut cupboard doors, the prep and assembly part of this meal should have just taken me 3 hours.

Now, if you're looking for a few sample menu's here are a few I found online:

Click here for the seven meal menu I used that was FABULOUS and included:

(scroll down to MENU SAMPLER 01 on this webpage)

Chicken and Dumplings

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Lemon Chicken

South of the Border Ground Beef and Corn Pie

Country Style Ribs

Pineapple Burgers

Penne in Cream Sauce with Sausage

So far, we have eaten the dumplings and penne with HUGE SUCCESS. Rory is impressed and very happy.

Click here for a seven meal menu that includes:

Cream Chicken Pasta

Brie Strata

Three Bean Chili

Pesto Grilled Chicken Breast

Spicy Taco Salad

Citrus Salmon

Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp

Click here for a seven meal menu for the holidays:

French Stew

Sledders Soup

Tortilla Lime Chicken

Chicken Almondine

Sweet Potatoe Casserole

Beef Flank Steak with Mushroom Stuffing

Apple-Sausage Brunch Cake

Happy Cooking everybody! I'm off to buy Mimi's book because I like her style!

the fastest 24 hours of my life

My mom, sister and two nieces stopped by yesterday on their way from Minnesota to Montana. Omaha is not "on the way," but Annika had yet to see the camp I work at or where we are living and I was so excited to show her my life here.

Annika is seven weeks ahead of me, pregnant with her third baby girl. It was so, so fun to have belly bumps together. For twenty four hours we played hard, laughed hard and ate well. It was a perfect visit and I was very sad to see them go.

introducing baby g

Well, here is our sweet bundle, and I already think this baby is the most beautiful, stunning baby I have ever seen. Rory and I could have sat in that room all day and night watching that screen...I never wanted to leave.

The baby was super active the whole time. The first really clear body part I saw was the spine and it pretty much blew me away. You simply cannot deny that we absolutely are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Rory and I held hands and we gasped at the tiny little feet we were looking at, the perfect handprint that quickly flashed on the screen, and the sweet, baby nose. My very favorite moment was early on when the baby arched its back and stretched its little arms up around its head. I can't wait to see that same motion when we're just hanging out in November, checking each other out, spending lots of time laying low on a blanket on the floor.

I think our technician appreciated Rory and my awe and wonder because she took twelve pictures for us to take home. But then as we walked out she asked that we not look at them in the lobby because most people just get four or five and they might not find it fair. But she explained she just clicked the camera every time we had a huge reaction...which, apparently, was quite often.

Everything came out healthy as far as the doctor could tell. And honest to goodness, I am so grateful for this fact. But I am also very aware that they could have told me all sorts of concerning things today and I know it would not dim my joy or elation for this child. I am beginning to experience the very, very beginnings of unconditional love and how it feels to be the one who extends the love, without condition.

I believe my heart is growing at the same rate as my belly. And it's only going to get bigger.

so good

I am beginning to believe my baby wakes me up so that we can start our day this bowl of goodness. Each day this week I have woken up and felt the baby moving and grooving. I put Rory's hand right below my belly button and our baby gets his/her dad all excited that it might just want to take karate one day. This child has got some kicks.

But I am wondering if it is just telling me that its time to get out of bed and pour myself some multigrain cheerios, slice up some nectarines, drizzle some honey and pour on the ice cold skim milk. I think my baby just likes breakfast as much as I do.

Thank you summertime for the abundance of amazing fruits that are in season right now. And thank you God for this growing child that is now the length of a banana :)

back from the printer

I got a very exciting package in the mail. It was from scrapbookpictures.com and contained pages of my digital scrapbooking all printed out on fabulous paper with impressive color.

I wrote earlier about my April pages, and last week I completed my May pages in one morning. This sort of scrapbooking is so simple, relieves me of all my picture printing guilt and let me say it again, is so, so easy. The templates and idea are from the great Cathy Z.

If you're on the fence about digital scrapbooking, or if you've purchased photoshop elements but haven't really honed your skills, I highly highly highly recommend taking one online class from Jessica Sprague. Right now all of her classes are 20% off and after just the first Up and Running class, you will be able to make these VERY SIMPLE, VERY EASY pages with your own pictures. It's a fun and empowering new skill to have.

Here's a favorite from my May pages. This week I'm going to try to hit up March. That was a good month too...with lots of pictures just begging to be printed and placed lovingly in an album...

five months

Today we are celebrating 20 weeks of pregnancy! Thursday is our ultrasound and I can't wait. My paper chain only has three rings left and it seems so crazy that time has gone by so quickly. I made that thing before Easter and it wrapped half way around our bedroom and now it's just three loops long...

I am feeling really good lately, which is a huge blessing since I'm running around camp most of the time. More than anything, Rory and I are just completely in love with this little life and I am soaking up the pure excitement, wonder and joy we are sharing as my belly continues to grow. There is a happiness in this expectancy that is like no other. And on Thursday we get our first little glimpse at our baby! I can't wait!!!

forgiveness

I've had two remarkable experiences with forgiveness in two days.
Both times it was me asking for forgiveness.

The first was to a friend I've just been cold to. Icy, really. And I've known I've been behaving this way and just kept acting icy because I still felt icy. I even felt justified in my reasoning for feeling icy. But Rory and I had a good talk about this situation, and in the end, whether I had reasons for being cold or not, it was just time to be kind. And to apologize for my unkind behavior. And to ask for forgiveness.

Funny thing is that this person played that they hadn't noticed and told me not to worry about it. But I think that was just a nice thing for them to say. Because in that moment I could feel the room warm up a bit. Whether it had been felt or not on their part, my icy ways were melting and I felt forgiven.

Then today I had a conversation with a friend about a situation that happened almost a year ago. It's a series of events that has stuck with me and I've always been bothered by how it all played out since there never was an opportunity for resolution. But today I had the chance in this conversation to explain my regret, explain how I wished things had played out, and essentially ask for forgiveness, but done so with a 30 minute conversation surrounding the whole ordeal. And again, I felt the air clear.

It's so strange how this biblical principle, is just so, so good for us. So much of the Bible is like that... You might not know why this has been commanded, but once you error on the other side, you quickly learn "oh, this is for my own good. God knew this is for my own good." God knows it's not good to be icy. And that it's not good to think about something for an entire year after the fact. But I'm human, and humans do these things. The redemption in this story is that we were made for forgiveness, for having our wrongs taken away, and for feeling the freedom of a clean heart after hard conversations are had.

It's risky living. Honestly, it would have been much easier for me just to stay my same cold temperature. But in the end, I was wasting SO MUCH ENERGY...because I was created to live in the freedom of forgiveness.

on my nightstand...

I'm reading some great books right now, and just want to pass them along. I just finished Donald Miller's "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" and ate the thing up. It's a really interesting premise...all about how to look at your life as a story, and then really figuring out if you're living a compelling, interesting narrative. His own story takes off, after he is confronted by two guys who want to make his first memoir into a movie and they all realize his life just isn't that compelling on the screen. So he makes very intentional decisions as to what parts of his story he wants to put to the side for a while, and what parts he wants to pursue because there is mystery, intrigue and perhaps some good personal character development potential along the way.

I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I started reading the first page.

I'm halfway through Beth Moore's "So Long Insecurity" and that's about right. I'd say about half the time I'm still dealing with this horrible vice, and the other half of the time I'm feeling good and full of confidence :) Here's to hoping the last half will get me to the place where I can say, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and gosh-darn-it, people like me."

Sara sent me Madeleine L'Engle's "Waking on Water." The funny thing is that Sara had me read this when I worked for her and I remember devouring it then. And now as I read it a second time, I can't believe how new every thought and page is. This book is changing my thinking on vocation and how I can use my gifts more intentionally. Paired with Donald Miller's book, these two are giving me lots and lots to chew on.

And finally, "What to expect" has become a staple. My baby is six inches head to rump right now, which makes me feel good and productive. People still are surprised I am five months along, so I try to stick my belly out a bit extra when I tell people I'm five months now. It helps with the large, drawn-out, "You don't look five months!" It's funny how that should be flattering, and yet I always am left feeling like maybe I'm not eating enough or giving this baby enough room. Next Thursday we have our ultrasound and I can't wait for the doctor to kindly tell me everything is looking good in there.

Happy reading everybody!

Fireflies and Songs

Not sure how this works, but Sara's latest album, Fireflies and Songs, is only five buckaroo's at this site. I don't get how music promotion plays out in pricing strategies, but believe me, this is a ridiculous deal.

I have this album playing in my car this week, and the words are so thoughtful and honest. And the whole sound of the album is very calm, relaxed and very sara.

If you go to this site, you can hear clips of each song...it gives you a good feel for her style and songwriting. But the sweet $5 deal is back at that first link I highlighted in the first paragraph...