Just like Christmas
Aaron returned home today after two weeks away ~ in the States. Having him home is a wonderful present in and of itself (Taylor and I both missed him a lot this trip). But to make today even more fun, he came with tons of presents for us both ~ clothes and toys for Taylor, Thanksgiving decor, Yankee Candles, and lotion/skincare things, and the list goes on. It was a day full of excitement and fun, and it's oh so good to have Aaron home again.
It's been a bit day, and we're both pretty tired; off to bed now.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Turkey
As the weather warms up and the days get longer, it's time to start thinking about.....Thanksgiving. That sentence still seems strange to me, but such is life in the southern hemisphere. So I went to our local butcher today and bought our thanksgiving turkey. This is the 3rd year we've bought a turkey in New Zealand, and I still haven't gotten used to the price tag that goes along with them, but let's just say they ain't cheap! (Now it is a free range turkey, but still.....don't know how they can justify charging that much for killing a bird that just wandered around the farmyard 'til he got nice and plump. Hmm. Maybe we should go into the turkey-raising business). Anyways, hopefully I can cook it to perfection this year (last year was a wee bit dry). No pressure or anything, Kristi, when cooking the bird-that-might-as-well-be-made-of-gold.
As the weather warms up and the days get longer, it's time to start thinking about.....Thanksgiving. That sentence still seems strange to me, but such is life in the southern hemisphere. So I went to our local butcher today and bought our thanksgiving turkey. This is the 3rd year we've bought a turkey in New Zealand, and I still haven't gotten used to the price tag that goes along with them, but let's just say they ain't cheap! (Now it is a free range turkey, but still.....don't know how they can justify charging that much for killing a bird that just wandered around the farmyard 'til he got nice and plump. Hmm. Maybe we should go into the turkey-raising business). Anyways, hopefully I can cook it to perfection this year (last year was a wee bit dry). No pressure or anything, Kristi, when cooking the bird-that-might-as-well-be-made-of-gold.
To Enjoy Running
I can't believe I'm actually admitting this; writing this; putting this into print. But both today and Tuesday I have (just about, almost) truly enjoyed my jog through the neighborhood. I have always had a love-hate relationship with excercise. Actually, that's not entirely true. I've mostly hated exercise. Until I discovered the mount. Then the love-hate relationship developed. When my mount days ended, I settled for jogging through the neighborhood, which was fine for a while, but the past several months I have have found it quite difficult, boring, and a necessary evil. But for some reason, my last two jogs this week have been acutally borderline enjoyable, and have finished feeling energized, loving life, and on top of the world. Now, I know much better than to declare boldly that this will be the case from now on, but for as long as this fortunate turn of events continues, I'm not complainin'.
I can't believe I'm actually admitting this; writing this; putting this into print. But both today and Tuesday I have (just about, almost) truly enjoyed my jog through the neighborhood. I have always had a love-hate relationship with excercise. Actually, that's not entirely true. I've mostly hated exercise. Until I discovered the mount. Then the love-hate relationship developed. When my mount days ended, I settled for jogging through the neighborhood, which was fine for a while, but the past several months I have have found it quite difficult, boring, and a necessary evil. But for some reason, my last two jogs this week have been acutally borderline enjoyable, and have finished feeling energized, loving life, and on top of the world. Now, I know much better than to declare boldly that this will be the case from now on, but for as long as this fortunate turn of events continues, I'm not complainin'.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Tragedy of Monumental Proportions
Okay, I admit. I'm a bit of a drama queen. It's not quite that bad. But nearly. Countdown no longer sells frozen cranberries. So unless New World comes to the rescue (which honestly I don't have much hope for that happening), our Thanksgiving this year will for the first time ever, be without homemade cranberry-orange relish. And cranberry muffins, cranberry bread, and cranberry up-side down coffee cake will forever be things of the past as long as we reside in New Zealand. *Sigh* I suppose on the positive side, we can still get the jarred Ocean Spray whole berry cranberry sauce, so at least there will be a cranberry contribution to the Thanksgiving table. But it's not quite the same.
Okay, I admit. I'm a bit of a drama queen. It's not quite that bad. But nearly. Countdown no longer sells frozen cranberries. So unless New World comes to the rescue (which honestly I don't have much hope for that happening), our Thanksgiving this year will for the first time ever, be without homemade cranberry-orange relish. And cranberry muffins, cranberry bread, and cranberry up-side down coffee cake will forever be things of the past as long as we reside in New Zealand. *Sigh* I suppose on the positive side, we can still get the jarred Ocean Spray whole berry cranberry sauce, so at least there will be a cranberry contribution to the Thanksgiving table. But it's not quite the same.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Just Like Macaroni Grill
I found a recipe the other day that was so good I just had to share! It's a recipe for Rosemary Bread, and it tastes exactly like the bread at Macaroni Grill. I made some for dinner tonight, and served it with olive oil mixed with fresh cracked pepper for dipping; it's incredible! Perhaps the best bread machine recipe I have ever come across. (Although you could definitely make it by hand if you don't have a bread machine).
The other good thing about our dinner tonight is that our little Taylor ate two whole spears of asparagus ~ she still isn't decided for sure if she likes it, but seeing as how she ate two spears, I'd say she's doing pretty good! Along with sauted chicken breast with a mushroom-white wine-cream reduction and mashed potatoes, I think I may have found my new favorite dinner.
I found a recipe the other day that was so good I just had to share! It's a recipe for Rosemary Bread, and it tastes exactly like the bread at Macaroni Grill. I made some for dinner tonight, and served it with olive oil mixed with fresh cracked pepper for dipping; it's incredible! Perhaps the best bread machine recipe I have ever come across. (Although you could definitely make it by hand if you don't have a bread machine).
The other good thing about our dinner tonight is that our little Taylor ate two whole spears of asparagus ~ she still isn't decided for sure if she likes it, but seeing as how she ate two spears, I'd say she's doing pretty good! Along with sauted chicken breast with a mushroom-white wine-cream reduction and mashed potatoes, I think I may have found my new favorite dinner.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
AWOL
According to dictionary.com, AWOL is defined as, "Away from military duties without permission, but without the intention of deserting." Though I would say that my blogging career isn't exactly on par with military duties, I can promise you that although I have been temporairly away, I have absolutely no intention of deserting.
Now that we have established that fact, we can move on. A couple weeks ago, Taylor started going to pre-school in the afternoon instead of the morning since she is now 4 1/2 and has only two more terms before starting school. (Wow, where did 4 1/2 years go??). Anyways, she moved up to afternoons with a lot of her really good friends, so she's been enjoying the opportunity to maintain the friendships she developed in her first two terms of morning pre-school. The afternoon program also includes quite a few more extracurricular activities to get them used to some of the things that happen at Primary School, as well as get them used to the Primary School campus. For example, they will soon start swimming once a week, they'll join the primary students in some athletic events for a few weeks, and they also go to the school library every Friday. Although afternoons have been fun, the one downfall is that Taylor now no longer gets an afternoon nap ~ which means that at 3:20, I pick up a very tired little girl from pre-school! I think it will take a few more weeks for her to get used to the new schedule and adjust physically. So in the meantime, it's been early to bed for the little one!
Since this is "Labor Weekend" here in New Zealand (NZ equivilant of Labor Day), there is no pre-school tomorrow. And apparently the weather is supposed to be good; so between the prayer room in the morning and hopefully a nap in the afternoon, hopefully we can get out into the world to enjoy the day!
According to dictionary.com, AWOL is defined as, "Away from military duties without permission, but without the intention of deserting." Though I would say that my blogging career isn't exactly on par with military duties, I can promise you that although I have been temporairly away, I have absolutely no intention of deserting.
Now that we have established that fact, we can move on. A couple weeks ago, Taylor started going to pre-school in the afternoon instead of the morning since she is now 4 1/2 and has only two more terms before starting school. (Wow, where did 4 1/2 years go??). Anyways, she moved up to afternoons with a lot of her really good friends, so she's been enjoying the opportunity to maintain the friendships she developed in her first two terms of morning pre-school. The afternoon program also includes quite a few more extracurricular activities to get them used to some of the things that happen at Primary School, as well as get them used to the Primary School campus. For example, they will soon start swimming once a week, they'll join the primary students in some athletic events for a few weeks, and they also go to the school library every Friday. Although afternoons have been fun, the one downfall is that Taylor now no longer gets an afternoon nap ~ which means that at 3:20, I pick up a very tired little girl from pre-school! I think it will take a few more weeks for her to get used to the new schedule and adjust physically. So in the meantime, it's been early to bed for the little one!
Since this is "Labor Weekend" here in New Zealand (NZ equivilant of Labor Day), there is no pre-school tomorrow. And apparently the weather is supposed to be good; so between the prayer room in the morning and hopefully a nap in the afternoon, hopefully we can get out into the world to enjoy the day!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
I voted today.
And I even have the sticker with the American flag to prove it. One of the funny things about voting on an absentee ballot is that it must arrive to the election board office by 7pm on Nov. 4th. Which means that I vote before the rest of the country does. Kinda fun, if I do say so myself. I love that I still get to vote and exercise one of the great freedoms of our country, even though I live miles and miles away.
And the strange thing about this election year is that I actually get to vote in two countries. New Zealand allows permanent residents to vote. (Actually, registering to vote is required by law here, though actually voting itself is not). So, on November 8th, I get to vote again here. It's kinda strange voting in a country not my own, but it's also kinda fun all at the same time, to have a voice in not only one, but two countries.
And I even have the sticker with the American flag to prove it. One of the funny things about voting on an absentee ballot is that it must arrive to the election board office by 7pm on Nov. 4th. Which means that I vote before the rest of the country does. Kinda fun, if I do say so myself. I love that I still get to vote and exercise one of the great freedoms of our country, even though I live miles and miles away.
And the strange thing about this election year is that I actually get to vote in two countries. New Zealand allows permanent residents to vote. (Actually, registering to vote is required by law here, though actually voting itself is not). So, on November 8th, I get to vote again here. It's kinda strange voting in a country not my own, but it's also kinda fun all at the same time, to have a voice in not only one, but two countries.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Rest and Urgency
So far break week has met every expectation ~ time with family, time with friends, sleep-ins (thanks to my wonderful hubby), and also a bit of study time and music time (though admittedly not enough. Yet. Hopefully that's what the next several days are for).
I even got to watch the presidential debate today, which was most boring in the most interesting sort of way. I'm not usually one to publish my political opinions, so I'm not going to elaborate much on that now. Except to say that at this very moment, the state of the church (specifically in regards to this election) is as concerning to me as the state of my nation, if not more so. I am grately disturbed in my spirit.
If there has ever beeen a time to pray and fast, surely it is now.
So far break week has met every expectation ~ time with family, time with friends, sleep-ins (thanks to my wonderful hubby), and also a bit of study time and music time (though admittedly not enough. Yet. Hopefully that's what the next several days are for).
I even got to watch the presidential debate today, which was most boring in the most interesting sort of way. I'm not usually one to publish my political opinions, so I'm not going to elaborate much on that now. Except to say that at this very moment, the state of the church (specifically in regards to this election) is as concerning to me as the state of my nation, if not more so. I am grately disturbed in my spirit.
If there has ever beeen a time to pray and fast, surely it is now.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Break Week
This week is our mid-internship break, so we've closed the prayer room for the week to give our staff and interns a much-deserved break. With the marathon pace and longevity in mind, we've learned it is wise to occasionally take a break for a week so we can continue on for months (yea, years).
In light of that, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do some things that I don't normally get to do during our normal schedule. For example, tomorrow I'm going into town with a friend to do a bit of shopping and catch up over a cup of coffee (or, in my case, a chai latte). I'm also hoping for some good sleep-ins during this next week, lots of time with the family, and also some good time studying/singing/playing keys. If I can accomplish that, I'd say it will be a great week!
This week is our mid-internship break, so we've closed the prayer room for the week to give our staff and interns a much-deserved break. With the marathon pace and longevity in mind, we've learned it is wise to occasionally take a break for a week so we can continue on for months (yea, years).
In light of that, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do some things that I don't normally get to do during our normal schedule. For example, tomorrow I'm going into town with a friend to do a bit of shopping and catch up over a cup of coffee (or, in my case, a chai latte). I'm also hoping for some good sleep-ins during this next week, lots of time with the family, and also some good time studying/singing/playing keys. If I can accomplish that, I'd say it will be a great week!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Parenting in the 21st Century
To be the mother of a 4-yr. old is to at times bear the expectation of being a walking encyclopedia. Fortunately, for the mothers of the 21st century, Wikipedia comes to the rescue, faithfully every time. Today's question? The surface temperature of Pluto. Not kidding. So to Wikipedia we go, in search of pictures and the answer to the thousand dollar question. After locating the Kelvin-Celsius converter (courtesy of Google), I finally discovered that the average temperature on Pluto is approx. -229*C. Nevermind the fact that this means nothing to Taylor except that it's too cold to wear short sleeves and a skirt without tights outside. By only a few degrees, I'm sure. But our mini-science lesson was only beginning at that point; after that we discovered pictures of the other planets, the structure of our solar system, the phases of the moon, and finally I gave a brief explanation of the seasons and an illustration for why the northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons (using her ball as the earth, and my Pumpkin Pie Yankee Candle as the sun).
How in the world did our parents survive before the internet??
To be the mother of a 4-yr. old is to at times bear the expectation of being a walking encyclopedia. Fortunately, for the mothers of the 21st century, Wikipedia comes to the rescue, faithfully every time. Today's question? The surface temperature of Pluto. Not kidding. So to Wikipedia we go, in search of pictures and the answer to the thousand dollar question. After locating the Kelvin-Celsius converter (courtesy of Google), I finally discovered that the average temperature on Pluto is approx. -229*C. Nevermind the fact that this means nothing to Taylor except that it's too cold to wear short sleeves and a skirt without tights outside. By only a few degrees, I'm sure. But our mini-science lesson was only beginning at that point; after that we discovered pictures of the other planets, the structure of our solar system, the phases of the moon, and finally I gave a brief explanation of the seasons and an illustration for why the northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons (using her ball as the earth, and my Pumpkin Pie Yankee Candle as the sun).
How in the world did our parents survive before the internet??
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