A day of 100 cravings....

I think I had more cravings today than any other. I have no idea what brought it on if it was just hunger or if I'm just pregnant. The day started out normal enough. I had a sesame bagel with vegetable cream cheese for breakfast it was delicious and it was all downhill from there. Upon completion of the first bagel I wanted a second this time with peanut butter. Lightly toasted with smooth creamy nutty peanut butter. Sadly, I was lacking for peanut butter at the time. The day moved along and I wanted yummy steamed cauliflower in creamy gooey cheese sauce. My mouth watered all day I was unable to shake the thoughts of these delicious treats. I remembered my craving from yesterday deliciously juicy medium rare steak. I could almost taste the beefiness! I was fixated on this pile of yummy treats and the pile kept growing... Next came coffee ice cream cool and creamy rich and yummy. Then stupid me start sharing my cravings with co-workers before too long sushi, Authentic Japanese Ramen, fried chicken, cinnamon rolls, Nachos, cookies, crab legs and all other manner of seafood jumped on top. There were also thoughts of pepsi followed by a thirst for mineral water which has replaced pepsi in my world for the time being... Then I came home and started reading my food blog oh me oh my along came donuts to the pile and a yummy greek Gyro! Add in my non-stop cravings for Eggs Benedict with runny yolks, soft warm yeasty bread and port of subs. I think if thoughts and cravings could make you gain weight I would have far exceeded the recommended 15lb weight gain my doctor suggests. Good thing I'm still down by 7lb from my pre-pregnancy weight!! YIPPEE! Its also a blessing Steve and I really only go to the store once a week so I didn't have anything really on hand to eat any of these things! That will probably be my secret to not gaining 50lbs... Sure is fun to think about tho...

On a side note its been day #2 of heartburn. There's hope my baby won't be bald!

Jeriah's frogs...

Have I mentioned before how much my husband loves frogs? I dunno how or where but he decided he loves frogs and collects them. We have big fuzzy frogs and small lazy frogs... For valentine's day he even got me a pink frog holding a heart that says kiss :) Our babies will be watched over by a collection of soft cuddly plushy frogs. The first anything we bought our baby was a froggy onesie. For Christmas this year Daddy bought Jeriah a froggy sleeper that says "I love you" and Grandma Elwell and Cousin Izaiah gave us lots of precious froggy things for Our boy! I'm very partial to the froggy slippers that will keep tiny baby feet warm! We even bought Jeriah his very first cuddly frog. Mommy couldn't leave him at the store and he was only $2.50 :)
A funny thing about frogs in relation to our son. Steve and I watch this Japanese Anime and one of the characters name is Jiraiya. He's a funny old ninja with... an army of toads. He's referred to respectfully as the "Toad Sage" I guess you could say Jiraiya kind of led us towards the name for our boy. We liked the name it sounded cool and maybe even biblical? So we researched it and we found Jeriah which means "Jehovah has seen" . We didn't have to think or look anymore we had our baby boy's name. He would be Jeriah. Our little toad sage seen by Our Lord and watched over by an army of cuddly frogs(that will grow in number quickly at the rate we're going!)
I find myself pretty excited at this idea of a little froggy boy. There's something special about little boys. Their enthusiasm and impish faces. Their desire to make mud pies and play with worms. At the moment all I can think about is a squishy little baby so tiny with a smooshy little face for me to kiss and tiny little toes for me to tickle. I can't wait to snuggle him against me! Its funny how deeply I've fallen in love with this little boy over the last week of knowing who he is. And the journey is only beginning... Ribbit Ribbit

Hello in there!

Hello in there...
Who are you little one... I realized yesterday that I can't wait to have a name for the child that is making me nauseous and or causing me to grab my tummy after a sharp little jolt of pain! It would be nice to start this whole discipline thing early ya know...Emma Grace don't make mommy's tummy twinge like that or Jeriah Daniel Mommy will eat a graham cracker in just a minute be patient. Sometimes I'm sad that it won't be a surprise but I'm accepting and seeing some benefit to knowing who's in there. I'm afraid to think one way or the other who it is I'm afraid I'll be disappointed which is silly because I wouldn't be disappointed either way. A Sweet Emma would mean cute frilly clothes and a baking partner for mommy. She would mean hair to braid and a niece for Uncle Andy and Uncle Ryan! I would get to teach her to be a big sister and give her my most treasured baby doll! A little Jeriah would mean overalls and super Mario t-shirts he would be a little gaming buddy for his Daddy and a little brother figure for Izaiah which would be good. He would be upholding The Goble Family tradition of first born boys! How could I possibly be disappointed at either outcome.
Sometimes I think I feel my munchkin in there when I'm laying in bed. It feels like their doing aerobics moving so fast that can't be right... can it? Or I feel like the faintest tiniest little bitty thumps? That could all be in my head. Sometimes I'll put my hand on my tummy and think I feel things then I realize ohh that's my own heartbeat! I should be feel something soon and know for sure that my baby is playing with my insides! Maybe I have been for a month and I'm just afraid to believe that it really is my baby dancing inside me! I'm kind of eager for this experience to be a little more real a little more tangible. I think most of the time I forget I'm pregnant cuz I don't really feel or look pregnant. ( so long as I've had a snack) That stage where I hate all of my clothes and feel fat and self conscious is fast approaching! (Dear Santa for Christmas may I have a new pair or 2 of pants and a black and white bella band? ) My husband still tells me I'm beautiful! I love him! :) Other people too tell me I look good I'm gonna store it up for when I really do feel fat and ugly! I don't think you'd know it to look at me that I'm 5 months pregnant. I haven't taken a single picture cuz when I look in the mirror I still see myself. I wanna take pictures and see my baby and me! I wanna be able to look back someday and show my baby see that's when you were in mommy's tummy! :)
I've been reading too much... too much about Breast feeding, cloth diapering, home birthing and too much about vaccinations! With so many ideas and opinions it's so easy to get confused or question what is right. There are things I know for sure... I know I will breastfeed for as long as I can and my baby wants to! I know I will use cloth diapers cuz they're cute and we'll save so much money and it seems like the right thing to do! I know someday I would like to have a baby at home if I'm able! Vaccinations well that might require more reading and prayer...
In one more week we'll know and my world will never be the same... It hasn't been the same since I peed on 4 sticks one Sunday morning :) There's something about knowing though. We can't wait to know who God is knitting together in my belly! That will be a joyous thing! My baby can hear me soon and I can't wait to sing to it. I can't wait to sit on the couch and hold my big belly and sing to it about My Father's love! I can't wait to stop calling the poor kid IT!!!

What Gobles Gobble... It will be mine... someday...

So I'm inspired one of the foodie blogs I frequent (http://www.browneyedbaker.com/) is having a giveaway and not just any giveaway oh no a giveaway for the the #1 culinary desire of my heart... Behold a Kitchen-aid stand mixer! (sadly not in this gorgeous boysenberry color but for free who cares what color it is!) Can you hear the Hallelujah Chorus?? I know the chances of me actually winning it are slim but all that's required is that I post an itty bitty blog about my favorite holiday food which I've been meaning to do anyways because I haven't posted a recipe in forever and the potential thrill of that beauty sitting on my counter top whipping egg whites or kneading cinnamon rolls... or making pasta with a spiffy add on or shredding cheese *sigh* it makes my little heart pitter patter. Now that you all know what I'm dreaming of... on to business that recipe thing...

Broccoli Bake... As long as I can remember my mom has made this for Christmas, Thanksgiving or both its ridiculously simple ridiculously easy and ridiculously horrible, fattening and bad for you to eat... but on holidays we're supposed to indulge right? :) I craved this non-stop for a week before Thanksgiving and pregnancy had nothing to do with it. I wanted the cheesy gooey crunchy broccoli goodness baked up and spooned on my plate. Broccoli is very very good for you afterall hehehe! Steve who's previous favorite holiday food was always Green Bean Casserole will now willingly confess the Broccoli Bake is #1 since he met me! Now onto the recipe:

Broccoli Bake
4 pkg frozen chopped Broccoli (about 40 oz)
1 lb loaf Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
40-50 Ritz crackers, crushed ( sometimes I'll put crushed in the casserole and whole cracker on top to be pretty and don't feel limited with 40-50)
1 stick (1/2 c.)Butter, melted
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) In a saucepan cook Broccoli until hot, then stir in Velveeta and stir to coat its not necessary that all the cheese melts just so that that Broccoli is coated and saucy. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in half of the crushed Ritz Crackers. Spread into a greased baking dish (13"x9") and top with remaining crackers then pour melted butter over top. Bake for 30 min until hot and bubbly.

I hope someone will try it and love it as much as we do... Oh and if anyone sees a blog giveaway for a Le Creuset Dutch oven... let me know as that would resolve Culinary desire #2 tee hee!

Lessons Learned...

Being pregnant is definitely an interesting experience certainly a foreign one for the first timer like myself. There's nothing to compare too! I've read about other people's experience and people tend to share them with me but the only certainty seemingly is that normal means there is no normal...
• My body feels like my body but also like someone else's. It listens to me and feels like mine but it does all these weird new things. There are new weird twinges new weird feelings new weird responses.
• I wish I had known I'd want a bra made of sand paper so I could've started crafting one together a few months back.
• I've learned green is not just a color it's also a way of describing how I physically feel...
• I've hated egg nog my entire life... but I think I just might have to drink some this Christmas season... thick creamy sweet milky stuff what could possibly be gross about that? WHAT AM I SAYING???
• My pre-pregnancy breakfast was a couple good gulps of water then I could get up get dressed and have a snack before I started work. I learned after about 3 mornings that if the first thing in my stomach isn't food I'll be late for work.
• At 14 weeks pregnant I have officially thrown up 3 times. I have felt like I was going to throw up every day for the last month.
• No amount of ginger candy, ginger tea, ginger ale or food in general seems to make the oogy green feelings go away. Sleeping and eating seem to be the only reprieves.
• Sleep... I didn't think I could love sleep any more than I already did. I wish I could get more, it seems like I never get enough and it's getting harder to sleep. I think my bladder has an alarm that goes off every 2 hours...
• Water, How do I love thee fair water! My water bottle has never been far out of reach my whole adult life but it has never tasted so sweet so satisfying I feel like I'm learning wonderful new things about water...
• I've rediscovered the joy of tea... (Thank you Daelynn) All tea... mint tea ginger tea fruity tea... Tea is for Dea!!!
• This one is quite shocking... I Deaira Lynn Goble have almost entirely lost any desire to cook... I still love cooking mentally I still love food but actually cooking eh... I hope this is only temporary... Thanksgiving is coming soon and that's my favorite day all year!
• Weirdest cravings to date... Fish sticks, frozen nasty crunchy salty little fish sticks you feed to 5 yr olds the epitome of garbage to this foodie girl and yet I craved those... I've never voluntarily eaten a fish stick in my life! Thankfully this craving went unfulfilled and passed! I have also craved fast food like never before Taco Bell and McDonalds. The fast food you eat out of desperation I wanted it I needed it Steve reluctantly took me to McD's but he jumped at the chance to have Taco Bell.
• My favorite foods since becoming pregnant: Salad crunchy wet fresh luscious salad with salty dressing! I have also craved anything salty and meaty... Hot Dogs ( I can eat them I'm so excited!) and pepperoni... French fries and potatoes also to a lesser degree.
• I have almost completely lost my sweet tooth which is unusual for me. I will see desserts or candy but I can pass it by with little interest unless I take a bite then it's as delicious as ever.
• So far as of my last Dr. appointment I have lost 5lbs. The way I see it if I have to gain 15-20 better to start out having lost 5 :)
• I don't think I'm showing yet at all... I ditched my regular jeans a month or more ago not because they didn't fit they just weren't comfy anymore... and all of my dress slacks and other pants still fit. Steve however thinks my tummy looks rounder and cute. I have looked at myself in the mirror and thought hey wow I look good I look like I've lost weight!
• We officially don't care if it's a boy or a girl... The only time I ever have any sort of opinion about what I have is when I'm looking at baby clothes... saw the most adorable sweater dress in hot pink red orange and brown I would've snatched it up if I was willing to spend $40 on an article of clothing my child would outgrow in less than a month... I'm also far too talented with a crochet hook to put up with that nonsense.
• I've been going to CafeMom.com trying to figure out what my tagline should say... By the provision of God a stay at home mommy that believes in natural childbirth breast feeding cloth diapering baby wearing home schooling spanking giver??? that's a lot of various qualifications to give oneself... and that's not even half of it. People identify themselves on Cafe Mom like they do in personal ads!
• A shout out to my mommy who in true mommy fashion has mothered me by helping me clean my house from time to time when all I wanna do is cuddle up on the couch and feel green.

I'm sure I could think of additional observations and lessons but this is a pretty long list for now Maybe I can reference it next time I'm pregnant.... Except none of this will be normal next time and I still have to convince Steve that we'll want to do this a 2nd... 3rd.... etc time. Its also possible after reading this he'll claim it as his manifesto against baby # 2... 3... etc

Grandma's advice... not taken...

Do you ever hear the wisdom of old friends or family in your head when you do something... I've been feeling pukey and pregnant for about 2 weeks now. I still have not thrown up (Praise God!) but I have certainly felt like I could in addition to those waves of nausea and clamping my hand over my mouth so as to hold in anything that may be trying to come out. I have heard my Grandma in my head repeatedly.
Now, I'd give anything to hear my grandma's voice again I miss her nearly every day and I can only imagine what she'd have to say about the possibility of a new baby for her to love. She loved babies she loved being a Grandma! My grandma made me feel like I was her favorite grand kid. I'm sure she didn't have favorites but she really made me feel like I was it. I was always Grandma's girl. She told me this, she'd hold me and hug me when I cried and say "Be Grandma's big girl Deaira." When I was with Grandma I didn't feel like a little kid I felt like her buddy.
Grandma had other wisdom too... She was around quite often when I was growing up. I'm thankful for that! The wisdom I've heard repeatedly in my head the last 2 weeks... "Just throw it all up Deaira you'll feel better" Now really what kind of advice is that? Who likes throwing up ever... Grandma was generally right tho I'd throw up after hearing her encouragement 100 times and then she'd bring me 7 up and tuck a sniffling sick little me into bed and it would all be better when I woke up :) Somehow I don't think that applies to pregnancy. I fear if I were to listen to Grandma's voice inside my head it would start a horrific cycle of toilet hugging I'd really like to avoid... FOREVER!
I think I've decided the best thing for me to do is just remain horizontal as much as possible which is convenient cuz napping seems to be my new favorite pass time...

CRASH!!!

Do you ever walk up to your bed and just free fall face down into it and let your body relax into it melt into it like a pool of wax and your brain kind of goes AAAAAHHHHH!

I just had one of those moments... and after my brain went AAAAAHHHHH! I started thinking to myself Wow what a productive day... I woke up and ate breakfast like a good pregnant mommy and I got myself ready and everything I needed together to go to My sisters shower... At the shower I did what I seemingly do in those situations and lent my hands where I could... It was fun I love the fellowship of my church family! I bought my husband a surpise to make him happy... I didn't cook him dinner lol but I did let him pick where he'd like to eat out ( a gracious feat when pregnant) and we came home and ate it and watched TV. OK so I did still have to "clean up" dinner. I cleaned my poor kitchen which had been neglected for several days... I made my dish for potluck... And then.... as I thought about all of these things I had accomplished the list of the things I didn't accomplish started scrolling in my head and I had to peel my body up off the delicious bed and do one or 2 more things....

Write a Blog... Check

To wrap My Baby Bunting in....

I cannot even begin to recount the thousands of blanket patterns I have looked at in the last year since I took up hook and yarn again! I had good reason to every one I know seemingly had a baby in the last year! Ok not everyone but a whole lot of someones! Since Steve and I got married (Can you believe its almost been a year) I have made at least 8 baby blankets along with other assorted booties, hats, sweaters, stuffed turtles and elephants... (I owe Izaiah a toy) I'm in a bit of a quandary here... I have to make our baby something and a blankie is the most obvious answer for me a sweet soft manifestation of my love that I can wrap my little Sugar Bean up in...

There's so many things to ponder... obviously I'm eager to start this new blankie! Crochet time is not as plentiful as it once was but I have to find the pattern and what colors. Since we don't know what we're having and I'm still not sure if I wanna know what were having it makes it trickier still. Even if we knew I know I wouldn't want traditional baby pink or baby blue... If it's a girl I wanna use colors like dark purple, lime green and white, or Orange hot pink and green. For a boy I'm thinking brown and white with turquoise and red or orange green and brown... Its so hard to choose... I know I want bright vibrant colors that a 4 yr old could drag around behind them...

Right now my main dilemma is should I go with something simple and classic.... in a solid color like buttery yellow or minty green....

Or... Should I indulge my inner artist and play with color shapes and pattern should I stretch and push my crochet creativity and try something unique and fancy...

The most beautiful blanket I think I've seen so far is that one at the very top. I found it around the time we found out we were expecting... I love the simplicity of it I love the colors ( safe for either sex) to me its just the most beautiful simple thing but so colorful and fun. Still i don't quite know if its special enough to be the blankie from mommy! :)

I'M GONNA BE A MOMMY!!! wheee hehee

cruelty to pregnant Mommies

First and foremost I'd just like to say.....
Praise God I have not puked once yet...and Praise God even if I do... but I really don't want to! He is creating a wondrous work inside my body!

I'm in a complaining mood lol... like how is it fair that all I wanna do is sleep like sleeping 10 hours a night seems to be the greatest thing ever and then that buys me about 6 hours of energy before I want a 2 hour nap. This is not conducive to a business environment or a normal work week! Ya know what else isn't working with work... eating 6 small meals a day! First off I'm having a hard time adjusting to eating more than like 2 meals a day add in the fact that my breaks at work are only 10 min long which is barely enough time to pee refill my water bottle and text my husband to tell him I love him let alone eat a banana or something... so I've been eating about 3 meals a day with a reasonable sized snack in the evening. I'm really wondering how I'm going to keep this up. Every day I get home from work and want to go to bed but I still need to cook dinner, spend time with my darling husband, read all this info and books about pregnancy and stuff, finish my Christmas crocheting, keep my house clean, pack lunches, do laundry and feed my neighbors cats while she's away... Its so true that a woman's work is never done. I'll take being tired and the PAIN that comes from my body preparing to feed my little Sugar Bean (when I say it that way it sounds much better than describing how I yelp if I lean against something the wrong way...) over vomit and dizziness any day. I shouldn't complain too much I should be grateful I can still work, grateful I can still function and restructure my day even more to allow for 10 hours of sleep and a nap in the middle of work while trying to squeeze in another 2-3 small meals... LOL

Haha in truth I really can't complain about being pregnant so far... compared to some... My sister is anxiously waiting to hear that I've spent some Quality time hugging the toilet ( she'll be hopping mad if I make it thru 9 months of pregnancy without puking)... and Steve's co-workers have him so afraid that I haven't been sick he wishes I would vomit at least once a week just to re-assure him and them that everything is fine... LOL

7 weeks tomorrow... and counting... I love my little Sugar Bean already tho... but we have a journey ahead of us still yet..

I'll miss you.... my sweet food sins...

Dearest Pepsi, its probably you I'll miss most of all. Your zingy bubbles of sweet corn syrup laden goodness bursting in my mouth. You're so bad for me but you're my dearest guilty pleasure... Maybe its best we separate for a time so I can seek out additional forms of refreshment. I'll come back from time to time you're not completely off limits but we can't be as close as we've been no more 1 liter in 2 hours... I'm sorry Pepsi... I'll miss you!

How do I love thee fair sushi roll... sweet nigiri perfectly balanced on a ball of rice... Succulent fatty tuna and albacore I'll miss the way you melt in my mouth sliding of chopsticks... I know you're not completely off limits. I know tempura rolls and such are still available to me but dearest sushi you know the way to my taste buds is ruby red slices of raw tuna...

My dear sweet coffee fix... I miss you already every morning when I wake up and realize my wake up drink is a juice box... I miss your rich warmth. The nutty roasted flavor that fills my whole mouth. I'll miss my first sip of a caramel macchiato how its rich bitter coffee mixes with thick buttery caramel... Oh yes it may be awhile dear coffee before we're reacquainted again but I will always love you.... (don't worry I want no part of your evil cousin de-caf) there's a winter full of hot cider, tea and cocoa for me!

My all American treat... Hot dogs... salty garlicky tubes of meaty goodness in a soft bun with mustard. The perfect grab and eat lunch. I have so many sweet feelings about you dear hot dogs, like before I got married when I was living with Daddy and he'd make hot dogs at midnight... ah yes... supposedly you're safe piping steaming hot and maybe if I buy the all natural kosher beef I can eat one or 2 of you now and again.. Know you'll be missed. I'm putting my Dad on high alert to eat my share of hot dogs.

What Gobles Gobble.... PINCHING PENNIES!!!

This little piggy... That picture is somewhat prophetic in that picture contain 2 giant factors for my recent discovery... 7 (GENEROUS) meals for 2 adults for about $15-$20 give or take a few assumed pantry staples (I'm estimating of course that overall we spent $15-$20 on these 7 meals)

It all started when 2 little piggies Steve and Dea went to market. Once there we bought a 5-7 lb Pork shoulder Roast (you don't even have to go for lean here that fat is undesirable but adds moisture and flavor you're not gonna eat it anyways) for about $10 that's more than half my budget you say... oh yes but watch what we can do with the big delicious chunk of porky love. We got home and I put our 7 dinner spree in my Crock pot with 1-2 onions, rough chopped they're more for flavor than anything also a fair bit of fresh garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper add a glass of water no more than 8 oz it's really not necessary just to get it started the roast has plenty of moisture on its own . Put the crock pot on its lowest slowest setting (for me its "keep warm" don't worry it will be warm enough to cook it and too hot for anything nasty to grow I promise!!) Put the lid on and forget it for about a day. After a day that roast will be good and cooked and will probably fall apart into tender delicious shreds. Pull it out put it into a large bowl let it cool off a little bit and attack it with 2 forks and shred every inch of it chunks and such are fine but think bite size. Pull out any bones and pockets of fat you encounter and discard.

I separated that shredded pork into 4 or 5 (2 cup capacity) freezer safe containers and froze them. I still had a lot of pork left so back into the crock pot with all those yummy porky juices and bits. To that I added 1/2lb of beans (your choice I used white beans) usually a 1 lb bag is less than $2 I also added a can of chopped tomatoes, carrots and celery and seasonings to taste. I let that crock pot do its thing for another day. I baked a pan of cornbread and we called it dinner. The crock pot was still awfully full so I filled 2 or 3 additional freezer safe containers ( 4 cup capacity) with the beans and pork and those hit the freezer as well. Are you seeing where I'm going? Yes, 3 of these meals are classic cheap pork and beans dinners with corn bread or a grilled cheese sandwich. Winter's just around the corner and this will stay in your freezer for awhile also its sooo nice to come home pop it in the microwave or a soup pot and call it dinner in 20 min. When its cold nothing is more satisfying to me than a bowl of something hearty and delicious! This came out pretty thick if you wanted it more soup-like add some extra water or 1 qt of chicken or veg stock even some V8 to boost the veggie power!

Don't forget all that shredded pork! There is so much potential there! For us those containers of shredded pork became....
Pulled pork sandwiches: Stir some of your favorite BBQ sauce into the pork heat it up and serve on a toasted bun with a side salad or tater tots I think we usually had corn on the cob from the farmer's market.
Shredded Pork Tacos and Burritos: saute half an onion til tender and some chopped garlic add in the pork with 1/2 cup of water and taco seasoning or cumin and chili powder let the meat simmer and re-heat in all those yummy flavors... fold into giant tortillas with rice and re-fried beans etc or stuff into tacos with lettuce and cheese tomatoes or fresh salsa. I made these Burritos tonight and my sweet husband proclaimed them "Restaurant good"
Ideas for next time...
-Stir in some kind of stir fry sauce (Teriyaki or Hoisin) into the pork with steamed veggies serve over rice or Asian noodles (Ramen anyone?) could be a tasty Asian rice/noodle bowl.
-Chile Verde stir in a bottle of green chile sauce and diced green chilies allow to simmer serve with warm corn tortillas... I can't wait to try this one!
-If you're adventurous like me... make tamales masa is super cheap and masa dough is a cinch to make you can even buy it premade somtimes. Season the pork like you do for burritos or chile verde and wrap em into tamales with corn husks, Steam for an hour or so and you will think every minute you spent wrapping tamales was worth the first bite! :)
- Would barely require 1/2 cup of pork maybe... with some BBQ sauce stirred in with some red onion and green pepper maybe some pineapple and cheese... arrange on a frozen cheese pizza or fresh pizza crust and you have... BBQ pork Pizza.

There you have it 7 (or more) meals for $15-20. Next time I think we're gonna try this with a more expensive beef chuck roast and make some beef and vegetable soup instead of beans and we'll see how we do :)

Thankfulness

Thankfulness Thankfulness is what I long for!
Thankfulness is what I need!
Thankfulness Thankfulness is what you want from me!

No, I did not lose my job... and where I work its easier most days to get fired than it is to keep your job. I'm just thinking ya know reflecting perhaps on the current state of things. We all know at least one person who's out of work or recently lost a job. I'd be willing to bet we know more than one. ( I can think of 5 off the top of my head) We just heard today that one of Steve's relatives lost his job after 30+ years with the same company. I hear this and I'm sad of course thinking of the impact this has on my friends and my family and then it comes that little knock knock of the Holy Spirit and my ungrateful wicked self is CONVICTED!
I wake up every morning grumbling dragging myself into the shower with a moaning groaning attitude because I have to go to work. I've decided the highlight of my morning ( after kissing my husband) is the coffee pot. (Folger's sure had it right with that slogan except maybe the Folger's part) I long and I pray for the day God allows me to stay home barefoot and pregnant chasing baby Gobles ( yes I know you've heard this song and dance) or at least maybe work from home. I daydream about this not having to rush in the morning about having 2 or 3 or 10 cups of coffee. Even if I have to feed clothe wash and change babies that are screaming ( I say this now... these words will come back to bite me...) anything so that I don't have to walk into a building run by politics, red tape and a time clock. Everyday there's some new form of tedious stupidity like paperwork that must be filled out on every phone call in addition to clicking a web page at least twice per call and signing in and out to go to the restroom and "Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination" some days its like kindergarten. Most days the load feels so heavy one more "required task" and the pile could topple over. Some days I wish for unemployment. If I could stay home and search for a job online or find someway of learning new skills to get a better job. My house would always be clean. I'd never have laundry piled up. Even in the worthwhile things like a clean house it all boils down to an ungrateful discontent sinful ME!
See how easy it is for me to complain to spill out all of the ugliness instead of embracing the simple peaceful knowledge that "This is where God has me" and "This is what God wants me to be doing" Why can't I be content with that. I see the blessings of it I see God's provision in it. I have God with me all day feeding me holding me close to him providing for my stress giving me what I need in each moment even when I don't see him even when my bad attitude gets in the way He's still there... I need a grateful heart! I need a grateful attitude! I need a spirit of Thankfulness!
p.s. I'm gonna need some more help with this Lord!

Well... we were gonna... but now we're not...

Or how about... not yet....

So Steve and I have been not not trying to get pregnant for a little while obviously nothing has come of that. Recently we started talking about a trip to Michigan. I've said several times how much we miss our family there and how we long to see them and spend time with them so we're planning a trip. As we've been discussing this and in the planning process we realized if we continued down the road we were going I may be too pregnant to travel or we might be traveling with a very very tiny baby and we're not sure we wanna do that just yet. So now we're not. This whole process has been a learning experience for me. Do I feel ready to have a baby? Do I want a baby??? So so much!!! Some days I feel full to bursting with excitement for the future Baby Gobles that will fill our home. Do I think we're READY to have a baby? Not so much... Not just yet... See there's this stuff that I'd like to see come about before we do that. I'd like a more stable financial situation one that might allow me to stay home or work from home and a real place to live cuz I think its cruel to raise kids in a tiny apartment. I'd like a better idea of things I'd like a plan. I can say naively that I believe in natural labor and delivery and wanna use cloth diapers and home school but I don't really know much more than that... Sure i've read some stuff but i'd like to have a better grasp on things. I'd like to spend some time researching thinking plotting planning. And even if none of that works out I pray and trust God has a plan for us. I know He has plans if I'm pregnant and typing this or if I never get pregnant at all. I know and I trust God is in control he's been lovingly reminding me of this beating me over the head with this saying

"Dearest Deaira... see how I've provided for you in the past... See how I've provided for your friends in these same circumstances.. Silly Sweet girl how could you think I won't provide for you too"

So I'm sad but excited relieved but reassured... God's timing is perfect it always is... I'm kind of looking forward to a little more time to enjoy this husband of mine and this mysterious marriage thing... and a new adventure to Michigan a little trip of our own once again before we settle down and dig into to this serious business of family making...

Goble's Gobble... A cooking day...

Occasionally it happens I get ambitious and the desire to bake comes upon me and I end the day with aching feet and a tiny kitchen overwhelmed with food. I'd talked all week about finally using up the bananas in my freezer and Steve wanted his Dad's no-bake cookies... (OK I did too) We also decided our freezer was getting kind of empty... I don't know how we possibly thought that but we did... So it was decided I would make corn chowder for dinner Sunday night. (technically I was supposed to make bread and cookies yesterday but um yeah we were missing a few key ingredients... like flour and eggs... )

With a trip to the store after church we were ready and all in all despite a few mishaps... like accidentally putting 1 cup of sugar in the soup pot instead of the bread bowl and the amazing exploding cocoa powder we've come through unscathed with delicious treats and eats for the next few months. (Have I ever mentioned my penchant for cooking one meal that feeds us over and over again? another blog perhaps...)

~On Corn chowder... I love this sweet savory soup we added some green chili sauce which gives it a southwest flavor and some smoky bacon... super yummy! We also managed to hide the fact that it contains an uncalled for cup of sugar... in fact you'd never know... Way to go cooking pro!

~On banana bread... Oh I love this stuff so much... I can only get away with making it every few months. Steve and banana's have a love/hate relationship but to me banana's are like the king of fruit! When its slathered with butter I can't think of a better breakfast!

~On No-Bake cookies... There's a dozen varieties out there these are probably pretty common peanut buttery chocolate with oatmeal. They're almost like eating Candy except well oatmeal is good for you right :)

I could give you the recipe for all 3 but... well then this blog would be way too long and I technically made up the corn chowder as I went along... so... here's a Goble family favorite...

No-Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa
pinch salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
Preparation:
In large saucepan, combine sugar, milk, cocoa, salt, and butter and mix well. Bring to a boil and cover saucepan for 30 seconds to allow steam to wash sugar crystals down sides of pan. Stir mixture and bring it to a boil that can't be stirred down for 1 minute. Then remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Add oatmeal and mix well. Do not use regular or instant oatmeal; quick-cooking oatmeal is essential to the success of this recipe.
Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to let the oatmeal absorb some of the liquid.
Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or parchment lined baking sheets. Let cool until you can touch the mixture; then reshape the cookies to make them more a ball shape. Let cool completely; store at room temperature. You can also pour this mixture into a 9" square pan that has been greased with unsalted butter, let cool, then cut into squares.

Recipe taken from this website:http://busycooks.about.com/od/cookierecipes/r/nobakecookies.htm

Hard Work...

I've been thinking lately that a lot of the things in my life even the promises and blessing God gives require WORK not just half-hearted work but full on truly dedicated blood sweat and tears never stopping cuz it only gonna get harder HARD WORK...

Marriage is HARD WORK

Raising Children is HARD WORK

Being a child of God is HARD WORK

Even little things seemingly unimportant yet important meaningful things to me trivial to most probably and not taken seriously by much of the world... The world has invented shortcuts to many of these desires...

Natural child birth is HARD WORK (so hard I can't even fathom it just yet but I pray for the strength even now, Is it odd I feel like its my biblical right to experience pain during childbirth...)

Using cloth diapers will be HARD WORK ( lots of laundry, not so pleasant smelling laundry. I'm thankful for those who've gone before me... I will treasure their advice and suggestions )

Being a stay at home mom will be HARD WORK ( Not to mention God still hasn't disclosed to me if that is His plan.... but I keep praying it is and praying if it is not He will give me what I need )

Homeschooling my children will be HARD WORK

Being be a good steward of the Earth God has given us is HARD WORK ( this explains the cloth diapers and why I give Steve a dirty look when he suggests we use paper plates... LOL )

Now in all honesty one should know its kind of a gimme isn't it that all this stuff would be HARD WORK... its not rocket science its not a deeply guarded secret but I think often times we glaze over it or life gives us this idea that it'll all be ok and we don't have to work that hard... Life even gives us shortcuts to some of these things... like divorce and public school and disposable diapers... Convenience Ahh! My Dad likes to say that what everyone always hopes for and strives for is "an easy satiated life" a need for nothing... and yet even people who seemingly have need for nothing seek after things are never truly satisfied.... Only God satisfies!

God has been showing me lately asking me I think... all these things are well and good and because I desire to honor Him in them He is willing to bless us with them but I think He's also preparing me for the full on truly dedicated blood sweat and tears never stopping cuz it only gets harder HARD WORK...

Good thing I have Him cheering me on, giving me a hand up and providing for me. Praise His name for showing me the blessings that come from that hard work... may every drop of blood sweat and tears be for His glory! May my committment and desire in these things be with a heart meant to serve my Father in heaven! May it be His strength I depend on and draw from as I do what He commands!

The Mis-Adventures of Steve and Dea Goble...

Our sweet little car its hard to believe we've had it for a whole year... and it was time to register it... In our efforts to be responsible and mature we took it to be smogged 2 weeks before the registration was due ( after reminding each other for the last month that it needed to be done...) Steve had anticipated we'd have trouble because we had a check engine light on and so we did wanna make sure we had time (and money) to have any necessary repairs done... We took it last weekend to be smogged and despite my few prayers it didn't pass... they plugged it into the computer and got 2 error codes they didn't even bother to see if it was pouring toxic smog into the air they just plugged it into the computer and gave us 2 error codes (one of which they couldn't even define) They laid it out they told us if we put so much money into repairing it they could wave the smog thing and we could still register it so we found a shop that could do the work...

**Fast Forward to today... We woke up early... we hopped in the car and we drove over to the shop... now the shop was close to home we figured we could drop it off easily enough and walk home and since it was a bit of a walk we'd stop halfway through and have breakfast... we dropped the car off and were told it could take all day... we started walking... it was nice beautiful morning cool but not cold perfect weather for a nice walk... We made good time and before we knew it Steve was tucking into french toast and i had a plate of biscuits and gravy in front of me mmm we left full and ready to conquer the remaining walk home... we were about 6 blocks off when the phone rang... it was the shop... They'd looked at the car and had a fair idea it would pass smog... so Steve told em hook it up if it passes call us back... we stopped at the nearby 7-11 for a cool drink and to wait for the phone call because the phone call would mean we'd turn back and start walking back to the shop and if the phone call was bad news we'd continue walking home and spend the day waiting to spend $300 so we could spend another $50 and register it... we sat outside the 7-11 discussing our options finally we decided we didn't want to wait at the 7-11 all day and the guy said it would only take about 5 min to re-smog... so Steve called and it had passed!!! We woo hoo'd and Thank God for the surplus $200 in our bank account and began the walk back to the shop... discussing how we would spend the rest of the day.... there was red velvet cupcakes and more episodes of a new tv series... Steve also had a run in with a razor blade.. all in all not too bad...

What Gobles Gobble... Chicken salad

All summer long I crave it chunks of yummy chicken in a creamy dressing with a salty crunch of a nut here or a fresh crisp bit of celery and the best big juicy burst of a grape in the middle of all of the other delicious goings on! I've craved it to the point of spending $7 a pound for it at Whole Foods! NEVER AGAIN! i can make like 2-3lbs for $7 lol How is it possible that i was afraid to make chicken salad... I'm not afraid to make anything... really... (well ok thats not totally true) I never brought it up to Steve cuz he has an instant hesitation for anything that comes to you bathed swaddled and wrapped in mayonaise. Until Father's day thank you Manhattan deli! Steve took a taste thought it was good and with most things eventually allowed me to show him how delicious it realy is... He proclaimed several times how much he liked it how it was exactly what he's been wanting for dinner all summer long something cool and refreshing... We had home made chicken salad with some good fresh bread and some melon... It was a great easy dinner! I'm thinking it'd be great picnic food too!

Chicken salad with grapes
1 Cooked chicken, cooled, cut into cubes (I bought a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store but you could roast or poach your own)
2-3 stalks of celery, finely diced
4-6 green onions, sliced
2 apples seeded and diced ( I used golden delicous, but a more tart granny smith would be good)
1/4 c toasted pecans, chopped
salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste
1-2 cloves chopped fresh garlic
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1 cup Mayonaise (approxiamately i just add it by the spoonful until its coated)
Red seedless grapes, as many as you want they're my fave part!

Mix everything together except the chicken and grapes then when it is combined fold the grapes and chicken in.

Asher means Blessed...

The little Squirt is here.... all stitched up and ready to be packed in a box and sent to Michigan to keep nephew #3 company... :) Lately I've really been thinking about family how badly I miss Steve's family how its so sad they're so far away. We miss out on so much birthday parties, graduations, weddings and now the birth of a new family member... Our first nephew Gabe is going to be a big brother on Wednesday. I'm sure he'll be a good one as soon as he figures it out He's already very excited to play and share his Spider man toys... Uncle Steve and I have sent a baby gift to Asher (a new stroller) and a big brother gift to Gabriel ( a Spider man bike with training wheels) of course my fingers couldn't let punching my credit card info into the web page be enough tho! Asher is also getting a cuddly basket weave blanket with a small turtle swimming across it... An adorable frog hat some warm fuzzy socks, an elephant bib among other things... like the huge huggable stuffed turtle that jingles, is soft and cuddly... :)

I cried a little folding everything up thinking about this new baby boy God created and praying about the life he'll have. I pray God would be with him always and his name would be true in his life...I pray he is blessed and he learns who the provider of those blessings is... Its so funny to love a little person not even born yet... not knowing when I'll get to meet him or hold him but just to love him as his Auntie and spoil him with tangles of yarn :)

I hugged these things close sending my love in a box to Michigan to keep these sweet boys warm.... I didn't forget Gabe either he'll have his very own bright colorful blanket to snuggle up in.

I'd like to teach the world to cook....

I realized something walking around the store today so many people in this country don't cook really don't cook. It got me thinking ya know when Steve and I go to the store we kind of stick to the perimeter where the whole real foods are we occasionally drift down the aisles for the odd canned vegetable or bag of rice, beans or flour. But on the whole I hope we don't do too badly when it comes to the choices in our shopping cart.
My pantry isn't perfect. I have cake mixes and pre-made cake frosting. There is always a brownie mix or 2 in there also the odd side dish helper. The top shelf has lunch stuff and popcorn more of the junk food things we seem to never eat but that's besides the point. I confess to some pre-packaged convenience food short cuts on occasion!!! However, overall I think it would be fair to say that I don't really cook with that stuff.
I was noticing carts around me at the store tonight with piles of tv dinners stacked like tall buildings cushioned by pillowy potato chip bags on a foundation of diet pop the biggest irony of all... (I do confess an abiding love for pepsi and a stubborn reluctance to even consider its removal or reduction in my life...is a 12 oz can a day really that horrific?? I try not to think about it...I drink like a gallon of water a day lol ok I'm going to stop justifying my horrible behavior now) I couldn't imagine dinner being whatever I could pull out of the fridge/freezer and then microwave into existence or wait whoa some of them even work in a skillet... mmm yummy....
Good REAL food doesn't take more time it doesn't take more money( I promise I'm CHEAP) it doesn't even take a lot of skill... all it takes primarily is just a little thought. The ability to handle a knife and a decent spice cabinet can help you along the way too.

***** BREAKING NEWS*****

This type of cooking doesn't even necessarily require a recipe...

If you have taste buds you're all set!

Retire your microwave. Buy a cutting board did you know those shriveled dried up colored bits in the "flavor pouch" aren't really shriveled up things in real life and they don't have to be glazed in ice either! ( right now I'm trying to remember why we own a microwave?? Popcorn? a placed to store baked goods? ) Meat doesn't come pre-cooked and real chicken doesn't look like that. It makes me sad to think of all the culinary joys and adventures in the world and to see how our society lives and thrives and drives on over salted faked to be cheap pre-processed dehydrated food on a daily basis... I know this rant has been ranted 100 times but still our stores are filled with a new "just add Water" or "microwave for only 90 seconds" package every day and grocery carts seem to be taking them into our homes also....

I'd like to teach the world to cook...

Randomness... because its been awhile...

Random thoughts for the week:

* I wonder if Steve and I will ever get tired of baked sweet potatoes I think we've been eating them like once a week lately....

*I searched high and low for a silly pattern to crochet a stuffed turtle for nephew #3 Asher Levine Southwell who will be born on July 8, 2009 when I finally found a pattern I liked the woman wanted $8 for the pattern so I looked at her picture very carefully and invented my own... Pictures will follow as soon as the sweet squirt is stitched together (the turtle not the baby)

* The veggie soup I made way back whenever probably around the time of my last random post is still stupendously delicious after its long sojourn in the freezer and is especially soothing to the sore throats that are currently visiting the Gobles this week... silly allergies! We hope its allergies is anyone else sick?

* That banana picture reminds me of the 5-6 blackened bananas sitting in my freezer waiting to be delicious banana bread... My friend Jessica said she freezes banana's when they get too soft I adopted this idea and think of you every time I freeze them Jess! :)

* I had some really great chicken salad this weekend when we took my Dad out for Father's day. My Mayo-cautious husband even agreed it was delicious and agreed I could try concocting my own delicious chicken salad!

*I miss the rain! Lord please bring back the rain it was delicious perfect weather the house was cool... Now its too hot to cuddle my husband at night and that makes us sad!

* I saw the most beautiful blog about a loaf of bread complete with a gorgeous picture made me miss the sensation of kneading dough being up to my elbows in it and creating soft pillowy bread warm from the oven with honey drizzled on it... Someday Lord can I stay home and raise my children in the fear and admonition of you and bake bread?

* Speaking of children all these babies popping up everywhere sure makes a girl think about being a mommy... sometimes I cuddle Izaiah and nuzzle his soft little head and wish it was my turn soon... I hear about books that are helpful and things and wonder if maybe I shouldn't start researching and reading up on this stuff... beyond passing decisions about natural labor, doulas and cloth diapers....

*Several crochet projects I've seen recently have required buttons I wish I had my grandma's button collection it'd be so handy... I miss my Grandma more than her buttons tho.

*My birthday is coming up soon and my sweet husband has been putting money away to treat me to a delicious dinner... I think right now its a tie between a fancy dinner at the Bistro Napa or Sushi and dessert at the Chocolate Bar...

*Do I ever talk about anything not related to yarn, food or my Steve?

What Gobles Gobble... Summer Supper

I think after the rains of the past week have past and the gray clouds have parted into Clear blue sky that the time has come to welcome summer! We discovered this recipe in the middle of the cold winter a genius idea Steve had to make Chicken with guacomole... a yummy enough idea til I took it to the next step with this fresh salad... It was a welcome and delicious taste of the summer to come. It was so delicious I decided it would be a great meal to share with friends so I made it for our friends Brad and Kelly once who also loved it... Since Kelly asked for the recipe I figured while I was typing it up I might as well share it here too :)

Mexican grilled chicken with Guacomole and Black Bean and Corn salad.

This will probably serve 4 adults with leftover salad

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1-2 limes, juiced

1 pkg of taco seasoning

1 gallon size ziplock bag

1-2 good pinches of salt

Marinate the chicken breasts in the lime juice, salt and taco seasoning for at least an hour. Of course you can make it a day a ahead if you'd like. Cook the chicken to your preference BBQ it or pan fry etc...

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Mix the following together in a bowl

1 can of rinsed black beans

1 can of corn, drained

1 red bell pepper diced

1 good handfull of chopped fresh cilantro

3-5 green onions, chopped

2-3 limes, juiced

1-2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tsp of cumin

salt and garlic powder to taste the salt is important its what makes everything pop.

This tasting step is important!

You can easily double this just by using 2 cans of beans and corn... Its also very easy and better if made ahead so the flavors can kind of blend :) This also makes a delicious high fiber salsa with the addition of a chopped jalapeno which is optional if you're not a spicy wimp like me :)

Guacomole ( you can buy it pre-made or this is my basic recipe)

2 ripe mashed avocados

the juice of 1/2 lime

garlic powder, to taste

seasoning salt, to taste

pinch or 2 of cumin

1/2 tomato, diced

some fresh chopped cilantro

Stir together and taste for seasoning.

I like to serve the chicken with a spoonfull of guacomole on top but you can do whatever you like. :)

Welcome sunshiney days and bbq dinners swimming pools and popsicles! :)

What Gobles Gobble... simple side!

Ok so they're really the simplest of things but they're delicious sweet creamy and extremely good for you full of lots of good things the more colorful the fruit or vegetable the better it is for you and these are day glo! Steve and I love them so much and its a guilt free side dish (almost) cuz I serve it like a potato but its more like a vegetable... Baked sweet potatoes...

They're simple to make there's really only a few simple steps

1. Buy the potatoes we buy one per person but you could buy a big one and share.
2.Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F
3. Rinse your sweet potates and place them on a cookie sheet
4. Bake potatoes for one hour-90 min or until knife inserted goes in easily.
5. remove from oven and split the same as a baked potato.

We eat them with some butter and a drizzle of honey but they're just as delicious with some salt and pepper or experiment with your spice cabinet see how they taste with a pinch of curry powder or cinnamon...

Sweet Potatoes aren't just for holidays anymore.. but if you must have marshmallow once finished split open add a bit of butter a sprikle of brown sugar your desired amount of marshmallows and return to oven for 5 min...

To Aunt Dea's house

The meaning of the name Izaiah is God Is Salvation
Izaiah Adrien Elwell was born at 3:50am on May 14 2009
weighing 6lbs 3.5 oz and 20 inches long

That little face has so much personality it almost seems like too much for such a tiny person. You look like your Great Grandma Elwell (at least in this picture) I dunno if anyone else sees it but I do and, since I supposedly look like her in a round about way I guess that means you look like me. You look like your your Uncle Bubba sometimes too except for that nose I dunno where that came from but its a cute nose its yours. I get to see you tomorrow for the first time outside the hospital, I'm very excited. Its been a week since I saw you last. I hate working I hate that my hours are so crazy and that I couldn't come see you I've missed you very much. I feel like I've missed so much of your short life it makes me sad. I'm itching to hold and kiss you to kiss your sweet baby feet and kiss the soft fluff of hair on your head. I don't want to rush these sweet precious days when you're so small and soft still new and tiny. I am however very anxious for smiles and giggles toothy grins but you can stay this tiny for a year or so I know its not possible I know someday all too soon I'll be re-reading this page marveling at how quickly time has gone by...but today I'll savor your first trip to Auntie Dea's house...

What Gobles Gobble.... Hot slaw

Ok so mine doesn't really look like this but its delicious... And its my grandma's recipe :) When i first got to Texas I heard talk about this Hot slaw stuff but I had never eaten it... I didn't think... The first time we made it my grandma came into the kitchen and sat on her walker and talked me through it.. She taught me to make Hot slaw her way... My Aunt Lil said it was the first time Grandma had come into the kitchen since she'd moved to Texas... I'm just thankful she got to teach me... Its a memory I'll always treasure! I remembered eating hot slaw in the first few bites... a distant memory being 4 yrs old at my grandma's old old house in Winnemucca probably kicking my feet under the table... My grandma missed cooking the most she said it was one of the things she dreamt about doing... I could imagine that...I know if after spending 70 some years cooking every day feeding myself my family I would feel like something vital had been taken away from me to not be able to stand and a stove and stir... I tried to do "cooking activites" with her we made apple pie once it was super yummy... but Hot slaw in its simplicity will forever be a favorite quick easy side dish that makes me think of her... It also lends itself very well to exotic variations as Steve and I found out....

Grandma Elwell's Hot Slaw

1 head of Green Cabbage, julienned
1 stick of butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4c Apple Cider or Rice Wine Vinegar
season to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder

In a big frying pan melt the butter down over high heat until its browned watch closely so it doesn't burn. Once its browned and frothy dump in the cabbage and toss you're going to wilt the cabbage and brown it. Cook the cabbage to the desired done-ness. My grandma liked to flash fry it in a hot ban brown it up let the heat kiss the cabbage and finish it off I cook it down some more so the stalkier bits of cabbage still have some crunch but the leafier parts get soft and tender. Pour the egg over the cabbage and toss until the egg is cooked it will look like little bits of scrambled egg clinging to the cabbage. then just before you turn off the heat pour the vinegar over the whole pan and stir to combine. Eat and enjoy... I'm sure you could cut back on the butter and replace it with a healthier fat like olive oil or go 50/50 I think the trick would be to not add the olive oil until the butter browned... Try it i hope you liked it....When you're proficient with this try adding some ground pork fresh garlic ginger green onion soy sauce and wrap it in gyoza for delicious potstickers!!

The most beautiful thing....

Sweet baby face... I love you so much already... and now my secret is out and I can tell the world how much I love you. I got to see your sweet face today on a giant TV screen it was the cutest thing I almost cried. I know I will cry I cried when I met your mommy its impossible to expect I won't cry when I meet you. I can't wait to hug you and kiss you and love you I can't wait to cuddle you close to my heart and say "Hello little one I'm your Auntie Dea" I can't wait to wrap you in a silky blanket that was the most intricate tangle of yarn I've ever done knowing every stitch is a wish and a prayer and filled with love for you... ... I didn't expect to meet you until I had given you cousins to look up to instead you get to be the cousin my kids look up to (Thats a high calling buster). I look at this situation my baby sister (she'll always be a baby to me you see) is gonna be a mommy... my 17 yr old baby sister is gonna make me an Auntie when I've just become a wife. To say I'm not shocked or a little hurt and a lot afraid would be an understatement but you baby boy are not a mistake you are a gift from God. I know you will teach us all many lessons your mommy the most I know... We make choices some of them are good and some of them are bad you may be here because of a poor choice made by my sister but she made the best choice she made the brave choice when she chose to keep you, and to welcome you into our family. I'm proud of her beyond words. I get to be an Auntie sooner than I thought but I love you as much as I love my baby sister your mommy (maybe more you'll be cuter and cuddlier than she is nowadays). I will love you always baby boy and I can't wait to make this world ready for you! Uncle Steve and I love you so very very much and we can't wait to meet you and hug you we can't wait to buy you star wars toys and Spiderman sneakers. We can't wait for all the fun all the laughter all of the giggles you'll bring to our family We hope and pray for you every day we know God is knitting you together perfectly inside your mommy and we pray you would someday come to know him as we do! We pray God would give us the wisdom and allow us to be a beacon for him and show you of his greatness goodness and love.
Come see us soon baby boy screaming healthy and strong...

SNAPSHOT!!! Crochet...

No frills No primping I read Danae's blog immediately grabbed our camera and shot.... 5 or 6 pictures so I could pick the best one... :) nothing in the rules said you had to use the first one right? :) I thought they were all horrible haha this is why girls need to primp... I think I need a hair cut I have no idea what to do but I get tired of always wearing my hair in a pony tail how silly is that.... So its been a few days since I've been tagged but I did take this picture that night I've been busy this week...
Tomorrow is dear sweet Jamie's baby shower and I've been slowly working on little gifts for her since I found out she was pregnant and since my fingers could once again tangle with yarn and make things I got creative :) Here's a small sampling... A very heavy blanket that will keep Haddon warm well into age 7.... a sweet little bear that rattles... I was scared to death to crochet a teddy bear I reserved all of tonight for the purpose of stuffing and stitching that bear and it came together in 1 hr and 15 min... ( all the body parts were crocheted individually throughout the week) We also have a cute pair of hiking booties and a lumberjack hat.. :) I've never posted a completed project on here I don't think... so I figured my first crocheted stuffed animal was a good excuse...

Wound tight...

My Job recently changed as of last week. Previously I was helping professional people who were having a problem with their company provided cell phones. I had 10-20 min between each phone call it was leisurely. I could crochet I could chat with my co-workers I could teach them to crochet... I made blankets and hats and booties and sweaters and countless other things... I crocheted like I was a machine and I could forget and forgive that I work til 8:30 at night and only got a precious 3 hours with my husband everyday. I was relaxed I was mellow stress became entwined with love as I twisted and looped yarn on my hook.

Last week everything changed now I get to help Average Joe consumers... and I've decided those professional people who didn't pay their own bills were much nicer than Mr. Average Joe who pays his own. I recognize and acknowledge when its your own money you become more protective of it and I acknowledge that problems are frustrating but it hurts me deeply when I express a sincere and friendly desire to help someone and I hear "Don't Apologize" or "You can't possibly understand how frustrated I am" Then I am cursed at and cussed at and I can't even ask them politely to lower their voice... or to please not speak to me with that language. I have to take the abuse... I always try to treat these people the way I would hope someone would treat me I am always willing to help and I will do everything within my power to help them and for some reason my friendly warm sweet as pie approach only seems to enrage them more... I could not and would not yell and demean and belittle someone who was expressing sincerity and a genuine friendly attitude toward me no matter how upset I am. Maybe its because I've done this type of work for so long but being yelled at and cussed at and insulted all day long for trying to fix the mess even if it is the fault of the company I work for is draining and since I'm lucky to get 20 seconds of time between every screaming average Joe I no longer get to watch my stress fall off my crochet hook with every stitch. Everyday it is wound more tightly like the balls of yarn that remain untouched in my craft bag. I miss Steve now more than ever... my frustration with working and waiting my prayers for the future life we trust the Lord to provide are renewed and more fervent... A home we can raise a family in and an income that will allow me to stay at home and be the wife and mother I'm called to be. I'm also praying that God would give me a better attitude about where he has me in life... and I will trust the Lord with finishing my works in progress and unwinding all the stress built up...

umm who doesn't love....

CHEESECAKE!!! Thats right I said it... Cheesecake is so delicious so satisfying not too sweet a little tangy creamy smooth and so rich it hangs onto your fork because the fork can't bear to part with it. I found this recipe when I was in Texas. It was my Aunt Lillian's birthday and she loves cheesecake but she'd never had REAL cheesecake just the no bake kind so in an effort to do something sweet for her (and also cuz well I missed eating REAL food) I baked her a cheesecake and schooled her in real cheesecake. I have many recipes for every flavor imagineable and even some for straight up normal cheesecake but this recipe is the easiest I've found. ( I found it on the foodnetworks website) the only real inconvenience of it is time. If you have a day before you need the cheesecake and an 8 inch springform pan you're in business! Its simple quick and I think its so easy it makes GOOOD cheesecake a real possible tangible easy to make dessert for anyone... I call it Texas cheesecake cuz thats when I discovered the recipe :)

TX cheesecake

Ingredients
Crust:
2 cup graham cracker crumbs
4 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

Cheesecake:
24 ounces cream cheese (3 8 oz pkgs)
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Make the Crust: Stir all ingredients with fork and press into 8-inch springform pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Make the filling: Allow the cream cheese and eggs to sit out for about 1 hour before mixing. Mix the cream cheese and sugar in a mixer on low speed. Add the eggs 1 at a time; then add the vanilla.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake at 275 degrees F for 90 minutes. Turn the oven off but do not open the oven door for 3 hours. Refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from the pan.

Serve and enjoy! I haven't tried modifying this recipe just yet i imagine it would be very easy to stir some chocolate chips in and of course you can always top with fresh fruit or compote.... i can't think of a reason you couldn't get creative tho...

3 years...

Is it really possible... How did 3 years go by so fast... Who knew 3 years could contain so much joy so much fun so much love! 3 years and not one day I wasn't giddy to see him or kiss him or laugh with him.... There hasn't been a day where I wished he wasn't in my life... So much happened in the last year... the foremost being we got married hahaha Gosh I was such a giggly grinning goof all day thinking about it remembering our journey. We spent time reflecting on the path God has led us down and how he has faithfully brought us where we are. We continue seeking him and trusting him with our lives. What can you say really We're thankful we're grateful... We are deliciously madly happily in love... being newlyweds probably has something to do with that haha I hope, we hope we're always this cute this silly this goofy. We hope we're so cute we nauseate our grand kids haha Steve is still and always my greatest gift... The same old song and dance I've said this all before but sometimes its nice to say it again... I'll even quote Rogers and Hammerstein....

I'm as corny as Kansas in August, High as a flag on the Fourth of July! If you'll excuse an expression I use,I'm in love, I'm in love,I'm in love, I'm in love,I'm in love with a wonderful guy!

I'm in love I'm in love I'm in love I'm in love... *sigh* and now i will waltz off to bed where that wonderful guy has been so sweet to preheat the sheets!! :) Marriage by the way is the best thing to happen in the last 3 years hands down....

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Isn't that the word to say when you don't know what to say....haha and I spelled it right haha I just checked myself on google... :) I don't know what to say but I figure that after several weeks of silence I was due an update of some sort...

We've been married 5 months now 5 blissful happy months full of childish giggles tickles and fun... we do such silly things sometimes I wonder how its even possible we're almost 30 yrs old... and married oh no marriage is a grown up thing we have too much fun to be silly stuffy old married people haha... But here we are happy married silly and dancing to 80's music in the living room... Life seems so simple... I adore this little home that contains our silly antics. I love the sweet warmth of it. This is where I live with my husband... I'm still mentally getting use to that thought... My husband the man I will live with and love for every day God gives us.... its a wonderful miraculous comforting thought... I am so humbled and taken aback at this love of mine... both its newness and its familiarity. I continue to Thank God and praise Him for this perfect gift.

On the cooking front I haven't really had any ideas to post... I have had fun lately tho last weekend I went crazy and made like 3 gallons of home made vegetable soup... I didn't think I'd have enough pots and pans to fill it all and now my freezer is full to bursting with the leftovers but it was so satisfying steaming hot with a handful of cheese crackers thrown in... :) Tonight I'm making in advance a vegetarian lasagna for tomorrow.... have I ever said Steve and I try or desire to eat vegetarian 2 nights a week for health and saving money? I think I did... The veggie soup recipe would be a winner for a post except its not really a recipe so much as I bought every veggie I could think of that would be good in soup and I threw them in the pots with some tomato juice and stock and I cooked it... hahaha

I have had so much fun crocheting lately too twisting yarn who knew its like a drug to me lately... when I pick it up and feel the yarn slipping through my fingers and see baby booties or a sweater, slippers or dish cloths taking shape in my hand I feel so relaxed and mellow... hahaha When its finished I look at it and marvel did every little stitch and twist of yarn truly make something so beautiful so warm... They're all gifts I've never made anything for myself except one purse I think that well I was just playing around... Steve wants a blanket tho and admittedly it'd be nice to have something warm and soft to cuddle under on the couch...

My life seems so simple here on the screen in truth it seems overwhelming and complex. Some times are sad and some things I struggle with so much... I had to remind myself today that Gods timing is perfect and He works everything together for the good and that I cannot know His plan and His will for this situation that weighs so heavily on my heart but I know He is good... and I know when all is seen that He will show his works in it so that even as I praise Him now in the thick of it I will praise Him one hundred fold in the end...