Some things that make me happy, and some that make me laugh

A week in the life...

So here's what we've been up to this week.

Wil and I like trying new eats.  We tried to eat vegetarian in Houston, but being that close to Gringos, Pho Yen, and Moo-yah made our attempts futile.  Now that we're about an hour from the temptation of good restaurants, I am proud to say that we prepare all our meals at home.  This means lots of spaghetti, lentil sloppy joes, lentil tacos, potato and carrot soup (recipe to come soon!  it's delicious!), grilled cheeses, quesadillas, nachos (on the nights we're being bad), etc.  The meal that lacks in creativity is breakfast.  So earlier this week, Wil found a recipe online for a Kale Smoothie, which is what you see above.

I know.  Kale!  You'd be surprised though.  It is delicious!!

Kale is awesome!  I love finding foods that are both yummy aaaand good for you.  Not only does kale have a great texture and taste but it is a superfood!  A cup of it gives you twice your DV for vitamin A...and it's loaded with calcium, vitamin C, and B vitamins.  Helps fight cancer and inflammation.  And it was great in a smoothie (but probably because it was blended with fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and peanut butter, too).

Don't roll your eyes too hard.  I'm not that much of a health nut.  Same day, much later, we made some vegan peanut butter rice crispies (no mallow).

Yeah buddy.  Wil described it as chewy peanut brittle and I would have to agree.  Come visit us and we'll make it for you.

Surprisingly better than real rice crispies in my opinion.
Speaking of food (again).   Wil and I have been Mexican Restaurant hopping since we got here.  We've tried several local places that people swore had the best Mexican food around.  But everywhere we've gone has left us disappointed.  (Gringo's has a rep that is hard to beat!)  On the verge of giving up on ever finding a place that could satisfy, we were introduced to a refurbished gas station that's not quite Gringo's but still REALLY good Mexican food.

Authentic, for sure!  Man, this place is good.

OKay, enough about food.  Sorry.
This weekend we started painting Wil's office downstairs.

Very intense work.

We ran out of paint.

And I've run out of news.  Until later!  :)

Great new project for translators!

This is an article I read this morning on John Piper's "Desiring God" website.  I suggest making his site your homepage.


Here’s a new resource channel for missionaries and internationals looking to spread gospel-saturated truths in their personal networks.
Gospel Translations, one of our partners in translation ministry, just started “Biblical Resource of the Week” RSS/email campaigns in six languages, and they are hoping to start more soon. These posts will often feature resources from Desiring God, as well as other teachers we appreciate like R. C. Sproul, Mark Dever, and C. J. Mahaney.
If you know of people who could benefit, please help us spread the word through your blogs, social media channels, and personal networks. And of course, if you’re able, you can also consider lending your translation skills to ministries like these.
Here are the Gospel Translations language sites that currently feature “Biblical Resource of the Week” subscriptions:

• French: Livres et Prédications Bibliques
• German: Biblische Bücher und Predigten
• Italian: Libri e Sermoni Biblici
• Portuguese: Livros e Sermões Bíblicos
• Spanish: Libros y Sermones Bíblicos
• Russian: Библейские книги и проповеди

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today my Dad turned 56.  This post is dedicated to him.  :)  Prepare for cheesy truths.

I know my Dad has always worked hard to make things good for me.  I have so many great memories from my childhood (and even more recent) that I love to think about.  When I was really little I remember him coming home from work and I would run up and give him a hug and smell the dentist office mixed with the smell of his old truck.  He would play the piano for us and read to us at night...probably the same old books over and over.  One of my fondest memories was waking up on Saturday mornings to him cooking up a big country style breakfast.  I knew he loved these mornings because he would always whistle some silly song...and he always whistles when he's happy.

My Dad has always been very active.  He would ride bikes with us, play basketball with us, take us out in his canoe.  He built us furniture and took us out to Grandma's and let us run around in the woods.  He used to go jogging in our neighborhood.  When I was in junior high I would go running with him sometimes.  I think I run like him now, with my thumbs sticking up.  :)

In college, Dad came to visit me in Spain.  He stayed a whole week and travelled with me.  I felt so cool showing him everything I had seen and learned while I was there.  It was the first time he had been out of the country, and I was his tour guide. :)

Dad was there when I got married.

And again when I had Soren

Dad has stuck by me through lots of things.  He's been there for me through it all...even the crazy stuff.

I love you, Dad!  Happy Birthday!  and many more!

Pastor's Luncheon

Today Wil went to a Ministerial Alliance meeting, which is a meeting of all the pastors in Argonia.  They get together to collaborate on community events (Easter, Christmas, Food Pantry, etc.).  After that, Friendship Meals hosted a luncheon for all of the pastors (and their wives).  So Li'l Sir and I tagged along.  It was really nice!  We got to meet some more members of the community and had a good little lunch.  :)

This was before the lunch was brought out.  We didn't eat grape jelly.  :)

And of course, anytime I bring Soren somewhere, he is going to get held.  Here he is with our pastor, Mike.

Frances and Clarence, one of the wiser couples in our church, invited us over to their place to visit a bit and to show us the furniture that Clarence made for them several years ago.  I don't have a picture of this...I should have.  :(

After the Pastor's Luncheon, Soren (and consequently, Wil and I) went down for a short nap and then drove into Wichita for groceries and to grab some dinner.

And I have to say...I LOVE Wichita.

It has that small-town/big-city feel like Lubbock did...except all the Mom and Pop shops are still open.  We tried out TJ's Burger House.  And in Wil's words: "That place was good, but it's no Moo-ya".

Of course.  ;)  I really liked it, though!

Anyway.  We got home, saw that our bananas were already turning yellow.

Which reminded me of John's jokes.  We miss you, John!

Then we tried replacing some lightbulbs in the kitchen.

Then we found out that only one of the three outlets works.  Hehe!

No School Waffles

Wil and I played for the morning service last Sunday.  It was interesting, to say the least, since I hadn't touched a piano for about 5 years now.  We did ok, but I think I have a lot of practice ahead of me if I'll be doing that again. ;)

Monday was, as you know, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The kids were off, so we had them all over for some No School Waffles.

Quite appetizing.

I didn't realize how much teenagers eat!  Several of them went back for seconds. :)

Of course no day is complete without a little competition.

Lazy Monday for li'l sir.

I'm glad they finally were able to come over and hang out.  I really enjoy being with these kids!  I know we are going to like working here in Argonia.

finally!

I say 'finally' because Soren is--after 6 hours of fussiness, eating, more fussiness, and several thousand attempts to entertain and then lull to sleep--asleep.  There is no mistaking the fact that I have been blessed with Wil's child.  His propensity to force himself awake all day long has to be in his genes.  I have not accomplished anything today!!  ARgh!

I mean, look at him!  He's eyeballing me with those tired eyes.

He's a cutie, though.  We're going to try a stricter schedule next week and see how that works.  Poor dude.

It's been a busy week.  Wednesday we had Community Youth Group for the first time.  I really enjoyed getting to meet the kids and play some goofy games.  Thursday we went into Wichita for Wil to meet with Matt Macy and to get some groceries.  Friday we watched the Varsity Basketball girls and boys teams up at the high school.  Today has been a little more relaxed.  Rebecca and Jessica came over and we played The Office board game (and for the record, I won by a landslide. :D).

It's also been a sobering week as news from Haiti keeps coming in.  I feel almost silly posting about other goings-on, when something so grave has occurred.  This has really been heavy on us, and we want to do what we can to help.  If you're interested, John Piper listed 11 charities collecting donations for Haiti that are legit.

Tuesday = Game day

Today was surprisingly not cold despite what you see below.

Last week it was in the single digits so this week, the mid-30s and 40s is a much welcomed change!

Tuesdays are basketball game days here in Argonia.

Go Lady Raiders!

Soren was a trooper.  He's a good baby.

Mead's Corner

Wil was off today so we went into Wichita for the sole purpose of exploring.  No errands, no stressin'.  We just went into town and drove around until we found something that piqued our interest.  Our adventures can best be summed up in pictures:

Such a good day.  :)

your typical church revival?

Here are some girls who make me smile.

The youth of Argonia organized what I could best describe as a revival.  It took place tonight at the high school gym (only in a town like this could you have a religious event of this nature at a public school).  Before it started, my good friend showed me her socks.

I did not enhance this photo in any way.  Those are the true colors.

Anyway, a few kids gave their testimonies and we had some time to worship and then listen to a preacher remind us to get serious about Jesus.

I think a few did decide to get serious about Jesus tonight.

Can you believe it?  Soren slept through the WHOLE thing...he's still asleep now...that makes 6+ hours...he's going to be awake all night.

Florescent light isn't flattering for anyone, including babies.

Wil and I have started a new tradition since we moved here of watching a movie every night after Soren goes to bed (thank you, Netflix!)....last night was "Ghost Town", which left something to be desired.  Tonight I might not make it to a movie.  I'm pretty sleepy.

Oh, and I successfully ran a mile today in 17 degree weather.  On my route I discovered that Argonia has a recycling center!   Hopefully this means I won't have to drive into Wichita with bags full of glass jars and old mail.

Welcome to Argonia!

Well, we are finally settled in to our new place!  Life has been pretty peaceful so far.  Wil started teaching last week and we got to meet a handful of kiddos from Argonia.  People drop in from time to time to see how we are.  They bring us food and strike up little conversations.  They are real sweet people.  I am glad we are here.

Soren doesn't know any different.  He's just hanging out.