100 Little Tidbits About Me (Part II)

26. I love to read and I read the most in summer. I get so consumed in the book that I cannot put it down.

27. I wish I could enjoy yogurt, I keep trying different brands, flavors, textures. Still don't enjoy it.

28. I swallowed my first "I never" statement. Pre-kids I said "I will never bring snacks in church". Cheerios, fruit snacks and a drink helped Simon survive through the sermon. They will soon help Norah.

29. I am so grateful that our church encourages, enjoys, and tolerates children in church. We are worshipping as a family!

30. I plant a garden every year: herbs a-plenty, some routine vegetables, and one new vegetable every year.

31. My perennial garden receives little to no care from me, they are perennial after all!

32. I serve our meals on the front porch whenever possible.

33. I became teary the first time our children were blessed at communion.

34. I have to say good-night to someone every night. My first college roommate thought I was crazy.

35. The first time I saw my graduate school apartment and met my roommate was the day I moved in, by myself.

36. I only applied to one college (for undergraduate). My Dad kept saying "the U of M is a good school. How about Bethel?"

37. Purses, bags, and shoes are not denied in my closet. I am often questioned "So which pair are you getting rid of ?" when another pair joins the ranks!

38. I can now make very quick decisions and not second guess myself.

39. I value Eric's insight and wisdom. He always says the best thing at the right time.

40. My uncle helped me to be the person I am, just by listening.

41. At one point, I told God that my Mom had suffered and endured enough and maybe it was time for Him to take her.

42. I told #41 to my dear friend Kathy, in Wal-Mart. I was purchasing items for my trip to MN to visit my ill mother.

43. I have very fond memories of visiting my Grandparents in rural MN.

44. Eric's family, immediate and extended, is incredible!

45. I miss dozing, reading, sunning, and lounging at the pool!

46. I think the name "Rebecca" is beautiful and I am Rebecca at work.

47. I thought the "key-key" in Becky Luedtke was not professional.

48. I smile at every snowman I see.

49. I could not imagine living anywhere that did not have 4 distinct seasons. There is something about the crisp fall, first snow, early buds, and warm temperatures that stirs the soul.

50. I embraced the year of the cicadas. I picked them up, put them in toy trucks, knocked the shells off the trees with sticks, and analyzed them wherever we found them. All thanks to a curious little boy who did not know they were icky. (They really were icky!)

V-Day Menu

I have recently embraced, love, and look forward to Valentine's Day! I love doing little Valentiney things! This year, it falls on a Saturday, which in my opinion would cause all restaurants and other evening venues to be packed and over crowded! Not my cup of tea. I do not look forward to finding a sitter, making a reservation, and still waiting way too long to pay way too much for super yummy food. But, I want to mark the day as different, romantic, and date-like.

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Here is the plan. The day will be packed with outdoor or activity filled events to tire out one little boy without a nap (completed by Eric as I will be at a baby shower). This, in theory, ensures an early bedtime. Then, while the kiddos snooze their little brains out, Eric and I will prepare our own yummy dinner. Just think, a tablecloth without big binder clips, candles that aren't declared "birthday candles", mood music, gorgeous, breakable glassware and china, sophisticated food, and adult drinks! Since this meal will be later than our normal dinner time, we are thinking tapas/appetizers. My idea is constant eating without feeling sickly stuffed. Here are some ideas, thanks to cooks.com, and if any of my few readers has a fantastic recipe or idea, please share!! Will keep you posted on the final menu.

Apple-Pear Salad with Havarti

Baked Stuffed Clams

Shrimp Cocktail

Crusty, Rustic Bread

Marinated Olives, Red Pepper and Artichoke Hearts

Need a spectacular salad/vegetable - please help!

Gelato

100 Little Tidbits About Me (Part I)

I recently wrote 25 Random Things About Me on Facebook and I decided to list them here as well. When I first started typing, I really had no idea what to share. Nothing, or very little came to mind. Seriously, who talks about themselves that much - it felt a little like bragging. Once the ideas came rolling, I was slightly disappointed to arrive at #25. A friend of mine blogged "100 Things About Me" in a series of 4 entries. I so enjoyed reading them, I will adopt her series - kuddos to K! So here goes.

100 Little Tidbits About Me (Part I)

1. I am absolutely in love with my husband of 8 1/2 years!

2. I love my 2 beautiful children so much my heart hurts and tears appear!

3. I secretly love having a 2 bedroom house because my son and daughter have the neatest interactions due to sharing a room.

4. I conflictingly want a bigger house - with at least 3 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, back yard and a bigger driveway, but don't want to leave my neighborhood.

5. The most difficult thing I learned in undergrad was making my own decisions.

6. My wedding ring sparkles the most in church.

7. I am proud that I paid my entire way through college and graduate school (even though I am still repaying my loans - it feels like I am paying to work - but my career allows me to work part-time!).

8. I can sew, crochet, knit, cross-stitch, scrapbook; but not much time for projects!

9. I was a member of a synchronized swim club in high school.

10. I played the French Horn and piano, and I currently ring the handbells in church.

11. I love to grocery shop and do not mind cooking. New recipes are fun and the end results are yummy!

12. I have met several New Year's Resolutions.

13. I am my parents Power of Attorney.

14. I donated both of my children's cord blood in honor of my Mom (a 2-time Leukemia survivor)!

15. I am a procastinator.

16. I could never sell a box of Girl Scout cookies, except to Grandma! I still cringe at fundraisers, and I threw out my son's preschool candy sale order form.

17. Someday, when I stop making my own and friends' handmade baby gifts I will crochet/sew blankets for Project Linus.

18. I was born and raised in Green Bay, WI, close enough to hear fans cheering wihen the Packers scored. I also walked to the Arena (across from Lambeau) from school to go to the circus on a field trip.

19. I enjoyed swinging in haylofts when I went with my Grandpa to help milk/test cows.
20. I can cheat in solitaire.

21. I take tons of pictures but don't have many printed from my camera or the computer.

22. Music calms my spirit and moves my soul.

23. I ditched high-school once on Senior Ditch Day. After I turned in my English paper, I went out to breakfast with friends, picked up my free mini cedar chest (I still have and use it), and went to the Mall of America. Fun times with Jo!

24. I love going out for breakfast.

25. My closest girlfriends are like sisters!

My recent days have been made possible by . . . .

patience from the One who has the most of it.
a cup of coffee in the morning, although one re-heat to finish.
a microwave.
a magic bullet to chomp up real food.
a crock pot.
a dishwasher.
an integral (sp?) bowl/kitchen sink.
a bumper jumper.
a cutting board - used all day long.
a nature center.
the library.
2:00 coffee, the best time of the afternoon, although one re-heat to finish.
kids not wanting to nap.
a cozy lap to cuddle loveable Bugaboo and Honey Bunch.
a new and yummy drink (Belvidere and Limonata).
a loving husband.
a Dyson vaccuum cleaner.
Endust.
Soft Scrub and Fantastic, what would I do without them?
paper towels.
a fantastic kitchen broom.
laminate kitchen cabinets (refer back to the Fantastic comment).
a ranch house; I can do all things within steps of each room.
a laundry shoot, yes, even in a ranch.
a husband who is my personal launderer.
much warmer temperatures.
rain boots.
the One who gave me all these blessings and wonderful inventions.

I'm Addicted . . .

. . . to these adorable, little fabric postcards! Thanks to my Aunt Cindy who can create magic with a sewing machine! I just need to glue on a stamp, choose a Valentiney Post Office to ship them to. Such as Loveland, OH or Loveland, CO or Valentine, AZ. How cool to receive a card with a special Valentine canceallation stamp from a place like that? What's next? Perhaps St. Patrick's Day invites for an upcoming 1 year old birthday, hmmmm . . . .

(Click on my Aunt's link above for directions in creating your own delightful fabric postcards. It's really easy and takes only part of an evening. A quick project with fast results.)

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Valentine_Re-Mailing_with_Postmarks

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(oh, and Live_a_Colorful_Life's conversation of sharing completed projects inspired me to share these at the moment of completion. Here's my "shout", from a chilly basement!)

Leftover Hair

I have finally mastered the art of leftover hair, which excites me to no end! Leftover hair is yesterday's style that is good enough to wear today! I love the days my hairstyle lasts two days in a row. I sometimes shower at night to save time in the morning since I received this_gift_of_time as a birthday gift from Eric. So this morning, I declared leftover hair was the way to go. Plus a new haircut always helps!

Midday Connection

Whenever I get a chance to listen to the radio and 12:00 p.m., I always tune my radio to Midday_Connection. I love the topics and somehow always find a comment that relates to my life. The program just provides a peace and a time to self-reflect. The website is great and allows me to listen to the program any time or to download it to a podcast. I also know where the host lives! Anita Lustrea lives around the corner and across the street from us; she is a very lovely lady!

The Doorbell Rang

And it wasn't a brown truck, a mailtruck, a solicitor, or company. It was a florist, delivering this, for me!!!

Do you know how wonderful it is to have flowers delivered? It is one of the loveliest surprises one could receive! My delivery came at 4:30 p.m., long into the afternoon on a day spent at home with the kids on a bitter, winter day! Who sent them? Isn't that always the question asked when receiving flowers?