When I was a little kid my mom would always play the same joke on my siblings and I.  She would look out the front window and say, "Look, it's Big Bird!"  And, of course, we would go running for the window and she would say, "April Fools!"  Why did this work several years in a row?  Cruel mom!

So anyway, in the spirit of April 1st, here are some sites you can go to for inspiration for your own pranks!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A517240

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

http://www.funmunch.com/events/april_fools_day/april_fools_day_pranks.shtml

One time my friend and I went around to friends and put post it notes all over one brother's car at work and then wrapped the other's in cellophane.  Good times!

Have fun, and be nice!

I think I am going through a season of not being all that interested in blogging anymore.  I may have overdone it as I was totally in love and obsessed with it for a time.  I find myself doing that with a lot of things.  I become enthralled and passionate about them and then overtime burn out and quit.  It was one of the reasons I wasn't sure if I should get married. 

I had done that with many boyfriends previous to my husband and I was concerned it would happen again.  Fortunately, I will be married 3 years next week and there is no such sign of that happening!

Anyway, it makes for some pretty boring blogging lately, but, I don't feel alone.  I feel like a lot of my blogging buddies are in the same place in their blogging lives.  Maybe it will be for a season, maybe forever. 

I really love to write and it does give me such a creative outlet, so I am by no means stopping, I just feel a need to explain why my blog title fits so well right now...it's all just blah, blah, blah it seems.  No real substance!  Also, my blogwalking is few and far between and I think that may explain why I'm not visiting quite as much.

I also feel like the warmer weather has kept me away.  I just want to be enjoying the fresh air, the outside and long walks.  It has really been great in that way! 

Lilla has enjoyed being outside, but she has been such a bear lately!  She refuses to eat anything so I believe she is hungry all the time.  Also, with the addition of all these teeth I really believe she is in pain.  We are keeping the asthetaminaphine companies in business I tell ya!  Hey, I know that was spelled way wrong and I'm okay with that!

Anyway, her constant crying and fussing has worn me out and I feel like I have nothing left to give at the end of each day.  I'm so tired all the time.  I'm praying to God that He will give me the patience I need to not be frustrated with her.  I love her so much and I don't want our relationship to be one where I'm constantly getting aggravated.  I honestly don't know how parents with colicky babies do it!  It would be so hard! 

Also, Michael is in Denver all this next week so life just got a little crazier.  I am going to be pretty busy, I made sure of that, so I think the week will go pretty fast anyway!

Well anyway, I just thought I'd check in.  I hope you all have a great week!

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

Tom Brokaw.  Even though he is much more liberal than I am, there is something about him I like.  I like the way he reports.  He is also so into history, as I am.  I find him fascinating.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.

Meatballs, Brats, frozen corn.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?

Lillaville.  Hey, that could work!

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?

I think we are about to do a study in our small group on the gifts of the spirit.  That would be the next book, I'm sure.

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?

Appearance wise probably height since I'm so short.  5'1 in case you are wondering.  Non appearance would be their sense of humor.  You can always tell off the bat if someone has one!

These past 2 weeks have been busy.  Do you ever have those days where you think you'll have a slow week and then it's anything but?  That's how it's been lately. 

Monday was my birthday and we did stay in.  Lilla has got 4 molars in the past week and a half and so this is how my life has looked:

 Lilla did give me flowers for my birthday though, pretty! 

However, we did get a good family shot that day too:

We also got a new couch, which you can see above!  Yeah!  We feel so adult now that we have "real furniture!" 

Tuesday Lilla and I went to the outlet mall.  Her teeth still hurt and it showed.  She was fussy!  Basically I only got to shop at The Gap.  She had a major meltdown right there and we had to go!

Yesterday my friend Angela, and her daughter, Ella came over.  It was so nice out so we went for a big old walk!  Her daughter is 3 weeks older than Lilla so they make perfect playmates.  They got to ride in the wagon together and we caught them hugging along the route!  So cute!

Today I met up with my pregnant friend, Claudia.  She is adorable.  5 months along and lots of belly action!

She and her mom were loving on my girl, which I love, of course!  It was so nice to see them and Lilla loves the attention!

So, that's what's been keeping me busy.  Life just keeps on moving along.  Hope you are all well and that you have a great weekend!

Take care!

A friend sent me this story and recipe for Easter cookies and a good way to talk to your kids about the Easter story in a way that they will love!  Lilla is a little too young this year but next year I'm totally doing it!

Easter Cookies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following recipe is making its rounds on the Internet as a freely-reproducible file. If you find it a useful visual aid for communicating the message of the resurrection to children, please pass it on!

Ingredients:
1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar
You will also need:
Bible
re-sealable baggie
wooden spoon
mixing bowl
electic mixer
cookie sheet
waxed paper
tape

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for several minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain how the tomb was empty on the first Easter because Christ had risen from the dead! Read Matthew 28:1-9.

So I recently heard about this program where you could be a blogger for Voice of the Martyrs.  It's just a little something Christians can do just to get the word out.  So, many of you are familiar with VOM ministries, but probably some of you aren't.  For those who aren't, let me give you some information about them from their webpage.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand founded VOM over 30 years ago. He was in prison in Romania for 14 years for his faith in Christ. In the `60s he and his family were ransomed out of Romania for $10,000 and came to the U.S. where he began traveling, educating the free world of the atrocities committed against Christians in Communist and other restricted countries. VOM's five main purposes are based on Hebrews 13:3. They are:

1. To encourage and empower Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where they are persecuted for their involvement in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by providing Bibles, literature, radio broadcasts, and other forms of aid.
2. To give relief to the families of Christian martyrs in these areas of the world.
3. To equip local Christians to win to Christ their enemies who are opposed to the gospel in countries where believers are actively persecuted for their Christian witness.
4. To undertake projects of encouragement, helping believers rebuild their lives and Christian witness in countries that have formerly suffered Communist oppression.
5. To emphasize the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of atrocities committed against Christians and by remembering their courage and faith.

VOM is currently active in 42 countries around the world.  Please go to their website and find out more about the persecuted church and what you can do to help.  Voice of the Martyrs

Today is my 32nd birthday, and here is a picture of my actual cake.  Can we all say yummmmm?!?!  My mom and stepdad came in on Saturday and they brought me a cheesecake with four different kinds, this being my favorite.  mean seriously, cookie crust, thick creamy filling, chocolate chips to top it off, delicious!

I am so happy to say that I started off my 32nd year well and read the book of James this morning.  I have to say, it is one of my very favorite books.  It just has so much practical advice and wisdom.  If you haven't read it in awhile, or ever, you really should.  It is very easy to read and understand and it's only 5 chapters.  It actually got me thinking about missions again.  Oh, how I want to go on another trip!  Our friends from church are going to the Caspian region for at least a year starting in August and I am so jealous!  What a terrific thing for them.  They have a 15 and 17 year old that are going and I can't imagine a better way for them to start out their young lives.  They've invited us to visit next year, so you never know if we might get the bug!

Saturday we had a talent competition for the youth at church and then   yesterday they got to perform their talents at a nearby nursing home.  What a great thing that was!  To see these young people already desiring to serve the Lord was really amazing.  My heart just melted to see them singing in praise and worship.  It made me sad for the waste of so many of my own years but so happy for them that they are just at the beginning.  I do hope they spend them wisely!  Being young is hard, you just want to fit in and feel happy.  So many emotions and everything feels like the end of the world.  It's so funny to look back and thing how little high school really means.  My goodness, it's 4 years of so many others.  I hope I can show Lilla that!

I hope today is a bright and sunny one for you all!  Take care!

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

My new bedroom, furniture and paint...yeah!

My 19 month old niece saying my name last thing before bed...so cute!

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?

Your dog gets fur all over the clean sheets

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

Quoting bible verses, from Genesis to Revelation, whichever ones I know.

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

How do people who are mean to others sleep at night?

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?

Thin spaghetti noodles with olive oil, garlic, parmasean cheese and parsley...delicious!

Today was Lilla's ear tube day.  The poor thing has had so many infections, it just had to be done.  I was worried because, although it's routine, it's still surgery and they still use an anesthetic so, well, I'm a mom.  You know how that goes!

 Anyway, we got there around 6:30am.  Woke up at 5, it was seriously not pretty.  I heard the alarm clock and just laid there.  Michael started out gently trying to wake me, it slowly got louder and more intense until he nearly had to shove me off the bed to get me moving.  I am so not a morning person!  I was actually awake the whole time, I just didn't want to move.

So we go to Riley, which is seriously one of the best children's hospitals in the world.  In little old Indiana, who knew?  Anyway, we go there and it's so early there is hardly anyone around and I got lost, of course.  It took me ten minutes to figure out the elevators aren't working.  So, I go down the only stairs I can find and I wind up in the furnace area or something.  Oh yeah, leave it to me.  So, I hike back up the stairs and as I am confusingly trying to figure out on a map how to get to outpatient, a kind soul walking past took pity on me and helped me out.  I did finally find the place and Michael shortly followed.  He was parking the car, in a garage way far away as, apparently, he was confused too.  Oh well, I guess we could use the excercise, right?

 Anyway, we got in.  Put the PJ's on the peanut, soon they came in to have us sign some forms, before we knew it they were taking her to the OR and had it done in a jiffy.  Everything went well and, hopefully, she will have no more earaches!  Yahoo!  This was really one of the best hospital visits I have ever had.  All of the staff was beyond friendly and helpful to us.  I really don't have any complaints because they were so nice.  I'm sure they hire people like that on purpose because it helps the kids feel so much more comfortable.  For anyone who needs to have their kids go to a hospital, I would definitely recommend Riley!

 We stayed for about an hour so they could monitor her.  She just laid there and nursed the whole time.  Although I'm trying to wean her, I'm glad I was still nursing today.  She was scared when she came out and it really gave her comfort.  Anyone who thinks you shouldn't use it for that, oh well.  I feel like if that is the worst thing I do as a momma, I'm doing pretty good.

We took her out in this cute little cart they have at Riley, she loved it!

I think what this experience taught me more than anything is how happy I am to have a healthy child.  There are so many sick kids out there and mine just had to have tubes.  Although I think Riley is a terrific hospital, I hope we never have to visit again!

Have a good day all!

A short while back I was feeling rather proud of myself as I hadn't lost my keys in a long time.  I thought, "Hey, go me."  I must be getting better at this remembering thing since I've been so organized lately.  Well, organized can be a relative word.  Organized for me that is.  Well friends, I gotta tell ya, pride comes before a fall. 

So, we are redoing our bedroom.  New paint, new furniture, the whole sha-bang.  It is fabulous I tell ya, as the only major purchase we've ever made was our house.  We are savers, not spenders, so this is fabulous for me.  I got the bedroom suite I've always wanted and I didn't have to manipulate at all to get it.  It's coming today so I'll post pictures later.  I am excited!!

Anyway, I digress.  We bought the suite on a whim on Sunday so Monday I had to rush out and buy paint before they come with the furniture.  This is seriously the only time my husband will let me paint so I got to get while the gettings good!  So, I go to Menards, get my paint.  Come home, start taping things up, start painting, blah, blah, blah.  We decided just to grab a pizza last night and so I was out the door to get it and realize my wallet is gone.  Where could my wallet be, I wonder??  I do a quick search of the car, the diaper bag, the house.  No wallet to be found.  Since I went to Menards with my sister I figure it's in her car, no big deal, just use Michael's card.  This morning I call my sister (That's her to your right in case you were wondering) and ask her to  look, she searches everywhere, no wallet to be found.  OH MY GOSH!  Panic starts to sink in.  I have to call Michael to get the bank account number, he starts getting irritated.  Fortunately no one has used the ATM card.  Good news.    I search and I search and I search.  Seriously tear up the house, it is definitely not here. 

I pray about it.

I then try Menards just to see if there might be some shred of decency left on the planet and someone has turned it in.  There is and they have.  My wallet awaits me...

I'm thankful that God answered my prayer today and took care of me.  It's amazing how when we ask him for something he provides.  So loving.

SSWell, we found out Friday that we probably will not be going back to Hungary this summer.  Oh, we  are so sad about it.  It is really our own fault because we had assumed the days Michael would need off would be the same as last time but they are a week earlier this time.  So he got the days off he asked for but by the time we found out the real dates, they were all spoken for.  Ugh!  So, he had to work on getting the correct dates off.  By the time that was taken care of, the trip was filled.  Oh no!  Well, we just have to believe that it is in God's hands.   We are disappointed as we really wanted to return this year, but, not everything is controllable, and we know that.  God must have wanted someone else to get that experience.  I'm glad that we have a faith that allows us to believe that God always works for the good of those who love Him.

  I thought I would give you a little view of some of the things we experienced there last time.  We went to the Word of Life Camp in Toalmas, about an hour outside of Budapest.  We actually did get to spend a day in Budapest, which was neat.  Whenever you travel anywhere it's great to see the big city so you can say you've been there, but it's the little towns and the day to day life, interacting with the people that really make going somewhere special.  Anyway, after spending a day in Budapest we went to the Camp and started teaching English lessons.  Our group was 6 kids, 2 boys, 4 girls, who could speak very broken English for the most part.  Actually, one of them could speak a lot better than the others so she did a lot of translating.  Her name was Lilla.  Hmmm...where have you heard that name before???  This is a picture of us with her as we were leaving the camp.  We were walking toward the bus and heard someone running up behind us saying, "Wait, wait!"  It was Lilla, she wanted to give us one last hug.  It brings tears to my eyes even now.  Can you understand why we would pick that name for our daughter?

Someone else that made a real impact on us was Zhara.  She and her brother, Abbas, were refugees from Iran.  They had left for religious and political asylum.  She did not speak very good English, but, she's learning.  I'm still not completely sure that she was a Christian, but her story still touched us because of learning so much about Iran from her.  It is a seriously dangerous place and her family would have been killed if they hadn't have escaped.  They lost everything when they left, but their family is still intact so that is positive.  She is living in Germany now and keeps in contact by email.  It's a little difficult because her English is very broken, but I love that she still writes me and tells me she loves me.  I love her too!  Here is a picture of us together at the camp.  We cried when we had to say goodbye.

 We spent the week in worship.  We'd start off the day with a team meeting, meet with the kids several times for English lessons, lots of English bingo with fun American prizes, eating tons and tons of food with Paprika in it and then just time to hang out and build relationships.  If you haven't been on a trip yet, please consider going.  It will change your life!

Take care!

OK, so I actually don't know how many lessons God has taught me through my precious daughter in the last 13 months, but I know the number has to be pretty high.  It seems every day is overflowing with things that God wants me to see and learn to grow closer to him.  Today was no exception.

So, let me paint the picture for you.  Lately Lilla has been very clingy to me so the only way for me to get a quick shower in the morning is to put on our Laurie Berkner band dvd. (for those of you without little kids for a long time, it's this 3 man band, of sorts, that sing and dance little kid style.  Little kids love it and it keeps there attention for a bit, which, I need sometimes so I can take a shower.  The songs are really cute so I approve of this.)  Anyway, I take a quick shower and by the time I am out Lilla is coming down the hall to find me.  I pull out Lilla's toys from under the bed, she plays for a few minutes and then comes in the bathroom while I dry my hair.  Of course, she wants me to hold her, which I can't at the moment, so I put her on the sink.  See before picture.

Well today she decided she was getting bored of just  sitting there brushing her teeth, so she thought it would be a good idea to get into the sink.  She'd get in, couldn't get out, get frustrated, yell and scream until I took her out and then do it all again.  Ugh!

I started thinking about this in relation to me and how many times God has to get me out of the same sticky situations because I just don't learn.  I keep going back for that "sink" because I just can't resist it.  And then, when I can't get myself out I kick and scream and whine and say, "Why me?!?!"  Oh, but God is so loving and kind to lift me out again and again.  Won't it be nice on that final day when we will never sit in "the sink" again?  I can hardly wait!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different?

Between 11 and 12.  I'm a night person, my husband is not.  It would be nice to be on a more unified scheule.

Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more?

I give more.  I became a social worker, in part, because everyone was coming to me with their problems, and I was a decent listener.  I still am. 

Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had.

Down the road from us is this little pizza "joint".  Little hole in the wall that's been there forever.  When we were buying our current home the seller kept telling us how they had the best pizza ever.  So, the day we closed on our house, we went down there, got a pizza, brought it back to our house and sat on the kitchen floor eating it.  It was really yummy, gooey cheesy and deep dish, mmmm!  But the best part was enjoying it in OUR house!  Yeah!

Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something.

The Earth is Enough, by Harry Middleton.  The book gave me a new appreciation for people who love to fish and people in Appalachian type areas.

Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice?

Pineapple.  When I was little my grandparents would buy this little cans of pineapple juice and have them for Saturday morning breakfast.  I loved that.  When I was pregnant with Lilla I found them at Sam's club and that is how I got all my Vitamin C those 9 months!

Warning, Warning: If you are eating something DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT go any further...hey, I warned you!!

You know, a few weeks ago I was reading another mommy tell a really ick story about her 8 month old, and thought, oh, how glad I am that was not me.  Of course, today, it was me.

So, Michael put Lilla in the tub for her bath before bedtime.  I could hear them in there laughing and playing, meanwhile I was going through old mail to toss away in the kitchen.  Suddenly I hear, "Honey, can you come help me?  Honey!  Honey!!"  So, it's getting louder and louder so I go rushing in there, a little confused and concerned.  I walk in to find my husband dry heaving over the side of the tub while my daughter has a confused look, to go along with mine, on her face.  I look down at the tub and see, oh yes, brown.  Lots and lots of brown.  Oh, it is so not pretty.  My daughter has pooped in the tub.  FOUL!

So, of course, I insist poor Michael get it out while I grab Lilla up and run her to our tub.  Michael starts cleaning Lilla's tub with Comet in the meantime.  After I've rinsed Lilla off, start up the water again, tubs filling, I look down again, oh yeah, this is just gross.  The child must have felt seriously comfortable in the bath tonight.  So, naturally, I make my husband do the cleaning all over again.  Oh, there are some serious benefits to being married ladies!

So, she did stop the poop fest about that point.  Good thing, because we also ran out of hot water right about then.  Oh, the joys of parenthood!

So, one of the party goers as tagged us all.  Her name is Kimberly from Kimberly's Cup.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things…

A Authors
Dan Allendar, CS Lewis, Charles Dickens, Sandra Boynton (Children's Author), Max Lucado

B Books
The Chronicles of Narnia and the Screwtape Letters, Shadow of the Almighty

C Coffee
I don't drink coffee, I'm a tea drinker!

D Dessert
Tiramisu from Buca di Beppo's...way too much rum but oh so yummy!

E Elegant Object You Own
My pearls my husband bought me our first Christmas married.

F Flowers
My tulips I bought in Amsterdam, just love them!

G Guests for Tea
My friend Claudia, she just loves tea.

H Home
The white house, yeah, I could live there!

I Inspirational Authors
None come to mind

J Jane Austen book
Never read one.  Not too much into fiction.

K Kitchen Gadget
My press and sealer.  Love, love, love it!  It keeps my blueberries tasting good all year!

L Laundry Help
We have one of those hamper dealies that has 3 compartments, love it!

M Musical
Fiddler on the Roof

N Naptime
Anytime cuddled up with my girl

O Organizing Tip
I sort all my clothes in my closet by color.  It really helps in a rush.

P Pride & Prejudice Character
Never read/saw it

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.  Jim Elliot

Recipe
Rice a Roni spanish rice, sauteed green peppers and onions and chicken...fajita skillet, yummy!

S Scent

My baby after a bath

T Tea
Mint

U Underwater Creature
Flounder from the Little Mermaid

V Voyage You’ve Taken
Budapest

W Water Feature; Lake, Creek, Ocean, etc.
Lake Tahoe

X X-tra Special Treat for Yourself
Alone time.  Need it, love it, gotta have it!

Y Thing About YOU!
My eyes, blue.  Lovely.

Z Zoo Animal

Zebra, I just think they look cool.  Love those stripes.  Isn't God amazing?!?!