and there was

 Does anyone else swap out tool box, drill, gatorade in their mind 

for legos, fishing pole, sippy cup? 

 Appliances arrive TODAY!!!  I have to admit, out of everything we had to buy to outfit this house, the stove was my most exciting purchase.

Ok, maybe this was my most-exciting too: old dresser turned vanity.  

Still needs the vessel sink on top and some of these.

 We're all a little giddy to flip a switch, and WAAAH!

Can you tell?

From the sale of our "old" house a year ago to making a home out of a rental house to walking into our "new" house yesterday, we keep coming back to...
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  From one man, He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach for Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17.24-27


We walk into a house with LIGHTS! now, and how I can start to grow attached, calling it "my own."  I look forward to getting settled, opening our doors wide, letting our light shine, but praying we would never grow too "comfortable" here.  This world is not our home.  So, our counter top plans fell through 16 days before we move...Yeah, it's a bummer, but what does it matter if we have to move in without counter tops {and a kitchen sink - yikes!}, in light of eternity?  Really.  Contentment without growing too attached, that's what I want to learn.  The art of losing myself in bringing you praise...


*another "lightbulb" moment this week*
My mom brought out a bag of home-grown, in-season cucumbers.  
I was standing there at the chopping board, wondering what to throw in with the cucumbers.  Mint!  Yes, of course!

I have no idea why this picture turned sideways.  Oh well. You get it, right?

Cucumber Salad
4 small cucumbers
Drizzle olive oil, white wine vinegar, and just a tad of honey over top.
Sprinkle with salt and cracked pepper.
Add fresh chopped mint.
Stir, taste, adjust to liking, the longer is marinates the tastier, enjoy!


*Also, birthday pics added to last post.  I wasn't sure how to add them here, but can't leave them out :)

basil pasta salad

'Tis the season for barbecues and cookouts and carry-in gatherings with loved ones.  I don't have to wonder what to bring anymore.  It's this.  An old dish I love, but even more so, de-glutenized...

basil pasta salad

1 pound fusilli pasta (I use trader joe's brown rice pasta)

1/4 cup roasted red peppers, cut into strips

1/4 - 1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped 

1/2 cup cheese (feta, or grated asiago, or grated parmesan)

You could leave it as this, or improvise, depending on what you have:

1/2 cup spinach, chopped

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup hard salami, cut into strips

thin slices of red onion 

thin slices of green pepper

Dressing:

2 cups basil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil, approximately

Cook pasta according to package directions.  While pasta is cooking, make dressing:  Add all ingredients except the olive oil to the blender.  Blend well, then drizzle in olive oil, and mix until well-blended.  Toss cooked pasta with dressing.  Add desired amenities, and toss.  Enjoy a hearty, summer-savory gluten-free dish!  Make it a side dish, and if you have any leftovers (lucky you :), it makes a yummy lunch the next day (the rice pasta is best warmed a bit).

We feasted yesterday, in honor of the fathers.  (Not pictured: watermelon and chocolate cheesecake)

We were excited to have Andy's parents with us, all the way from Brazil.  

The night before, we were pulling out pictures of our dads, to place on the table (thanks to Ang for the idea!)  

Our boys are blessed with some great footsteps to follow in.  

Fathers who love and follow after Jesus.  

Fathers who cherish their families, working hard to provide for them.

Fathers who have so much else to do, yet choose to be with their kids.

Fathers who stick it out in hard times, reassuring his wife that we're a team, in this together....even 3 months of colic.

Fathers strengthened through the hard times, rejoicing in the good!

Fathers who adore their children, enjoying the opportunity for a Father's Day backyard soccer match.

It's a fallen world, and no father is perfect.
But I am so thankful our dads taught us very young that there is a Father who never fails.  We can trust Him, no matter what.   There is a Father whose character is flawless and whose name is love.  He is a Father to the father-less, and He will never leave or forsake you.  

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save,

He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3.17

Thank you, dads, for loving us well, for pointing us to Him.  

oh, happy day!

I'm enjoying this rainy Monday more than I normally enjoy rain, or Mondays.  It feels good to sit down here with yellow tulips flopping every which-way, sipping some indian chai, pulling some great memories off our camera from the weekend,  my heart warmed from slowing time down a bit to enjoy these days, and soak in the moment. 

Saturday morning, we headed to the house to put down some roots.

I am excited to see what this tree blooming is...dogwood?  cherry maybe?

2 boys are rather pleased with the bug/worm selection 

they have found at our old/new house.

How special is a little boy eager to pick new flowers for his momma? 

(except when he thinks they're radishes, and they are really tulip bulbs :)

Looks like the "radishes" survived just fine...

We planted our free "earth day" trees, thinking they would make good Christmas trees in 5 years, wondering what life will be in 5 years...

And, this is what I saw in my side-view mirror,

and I laughed all the way home.

We uncovered some beauties as we dug out the overspill of the dumpster.

Sunday turned out to be just our family, as Andy's sister's family didn't make it.  Our boys get in the mode of having people and going places that they kept asking who was coming.  They were disappointed when I continued to reply no one.  But in the end, I think it was okay...

After another failed morel mushroom hunt, the forager in me went for the dandelions.  This took me back to childhood.  Did you ever do this as a kid?  I remember making "salad" out of weeds (not eat it, just pretend). I keep hearing of the many health benefits of dandelion greens.  

So, I gave it a try.  Rinse them really well.  Saute with some olive oil.  Sprinkle on coarse salt and balsamic vinegar after it is wilted, but still vibrant color.

Turns out it is much better for you than it tastes (well, because I'm not sure it could be worse :)  But that's okay.  I'll take a bitter aftertaste for the sake of nutrition.  These guys are just worth it to me.

Before you fertilize, consider you have a salad right in your front yard!

apple salad

One of my latest snack cravings, an old recipe from my childhood (sugar omitted).
Good Ole Fashioned Apple Salad
2 apples, chopped
1 banana, halved then sliced
1/3 c. raisins
1/3 c. walnuts
juice of 1/2 of a lemon (or lime)
Mix and enjoy....  
For breakfast, for an after-school snack, with a meal, late at night.  I would right now, but we're out of apples we've been making this so much :)


I was having such a productive afternoon.  I do relocation consulting in the area, and just love it.  Yesterday I got a call for a tour on Thursday, so I was working this afternoon on putting together her welcome packet and itinerary when this came across my desk... "Der Mom. Wood. Yo. Lik. To. Cum. To. Look. At. Mi. Shep (which is ship, not sheep - oops!). Luv. U. Mom." (from Jack) 

No matter how much I love what I do and how much I needed to get done, nothing could compete with that note!  It will get done.  Always does.  But, this boy needs his momma to get into his world.  Because I have a feeling if I don't now, it will only get harder...So, off I went (after making tea for 2 and yes, more apple salad :) aboard his ship.  Look out, Jude is about to press the "self-destruct" button!