village of peg people

This is what I worked on one afternoon when I saw a video game that had backgrounds made out of cardboard and crayon and fabric. Eden loves to run around the house with these English houses tucked in the nook of her arm. It does add to playing with peg people and imagining them living in these little cottages. It's really simple but really fun.

day at the park

I didnt know

This morning one of the first things I did was change Eden's wet disposable diaper, and hastily fold it up and threw it on the floor. As I prepared breakfast and finished cleaning Eden up from hers, I saw her run from the kitchen and disappear from sight. My back was turned and all of a sudden I heard the squeak of the kitchen cabinet door open, a swoosh of somthing landing in the trash can, the the sound of the cabinet being closed and a pitter patter of running feet. I turned around but no one was there.
I ran to our room to find my husband getting ready for work. When questioned he let out an amused grin, "Yeah, you didn't know she could do that? I taught her how the other night."
Geesh, I was so pleasantly surprised and impressed I literally felt like dancing around the room.

almost done...

"It's not the great things you do in life, it's the little things you do with great love." -mother teresa
Here is Edens room as of this past week. I did some switching here and there and made some new things to hang up. The only thing thats missing are curtains and another coat of paint. I'd love to make curtains but I may resort to whatever is on sale. I moved her bookshelf in her room since a disgruntled father was worried she would get into his important documents in his office. So, now her room is scattered frequently with books on the floor. I've been trying to train her to put them away after she's done using them. Without success. Is it worth getting to teach my daughter? You bet. Is it worth the extra time she pulls out more books and plops in my lap for me to read to her? Oh my goodness. Is it worth her looking up at me through sucking her fingers with a smile? Melting. I love being a mommy!

favorite pho soup

Somthing about this fall weather has gotten me on a soup kick lately. Pumpkin curries, and asian soups are at the top of my list. Simply, its vietnamese chicken noodle soup. Sear a whole onion, and 2 inch ginger piece. Put them in chicken stock/water and boil/simmer you're whole chicken til its cooked. (preferably with bones and let it be on low for several hrs for best broth) Salt and pepper to taste. Then add chinese five spice. (2 Tb. or more to taste) Next add your fresh toppings (to an individual bowl), clear flat wide noodles, fresh thai basil, (or any basil)fresh bean sprouts, cilantro, peppers, or cucumber and lime. I prefer thai basil and sprouts with the noodles. Talking about it makes my mouth water its so incredible!

bread

The other day I was craving homemade baked bread. I was also craving the smell of homemade baked bread. Growing up my mom and I had an old wooden table as an island in our kitchen that we would bake bread on. It was our ritual. The smell always reminds me of those good days. It's now time to begin the tradition with my own daughter. Coincidentally, she loved it. I measured everything out beforehand so all I had to do was help her pour the ingredients in and stir. Stirring wasn't that successful because in her excitement of me handing her the wooden spoon, she threw the flour straight up in the ceiling. She couldn't contain herself! I dont blame her. It didn't take long for her to catch on....she watched in amazement as I punched it and kneaded it and slammed it over and over again on the counter. A slow smile crept over her face and she let go and did the same. I had hesitations about letting my year and a half year old help me bake, but it was such a great experience. Heck, so good we baked sugar cookies together the following week.

I move His heart

Flowers are dear to my heart. Somehow it got passed down to Eden, for even she will daily walk to my pot of flowers, touch them, pick one and drink it in deeply exclaiming, "Mmm!" at the same time. I dont know how she knows. Maybe she's seen me do this ritual before? Anyhow, we love flowers. This summer was blistering hot and sadly, I didnt make it out as faithfully as I dreamed I would. The flowers were neglected and they died. (spring flowers are expected to)I cant tell you how sad it was! There they were, pitiful and brown just begging to be uprooted. I didnt have the heart to uproot them. Now, its October and begining last month they started waking up and comming to life again. The fall rains and crisp cool air have jumpstarted them and they look pretty nice! Eden and I are back to our admiring again.
It got me thinking about Matthew 12:20, "a bruised reed He will not break and a dying flame He will not quench..." Jesus loves mercy! Lately, I've felt like my heart has been in a drought season. Dead. Brown. No rivers of water to refresh and seemingly no fruit or beautiful blooms comming from my life. But wait, maybe just a season? Its a new season! The rains are here, and I actually feel refreshed. The bible is interesting again. The simple Truths are rocking my world. The man Jesus is a real man to me again, speaking to me. Changing me. He's alive and He won't uproot us. He wants us to be flourishing more than we do. He's our biggest fan, our heavenly champion. He won't give up. He'll pursue and chase us down. He'll ambush us over and over till we are so confident in His love we want to explode with JOY. If you feel like nobody understands you, there is a God-Man who is breathing right now, in heaven with a human ressurected body whose lungs are rising and falling just like yours are; this very moment, who is deeply committed to you. He knows you completely. You move His heart. The creator who spoke the world into existence is moved by you. He has great joy in loving you. (its not an obligation)

sunny october

Don't you love this weather? Every day feels like heaven. I feel like the Lord is kissing my heart everytime I step outside or open the windows to air out the house.
New old quilt. I love the bright colors, the wedding band design, and how soft it is to wrap up in. I thought I'd air out our laundry, some diaper liners and such, becuase lets face it, if you know it's been in the sunshine, it automatically smells better in my book.