27 weeks.

Well, I am 6 months old. Mom says she can't believe it. A lot of things are about to change I hear. I went to the doctor and he said that I am 17 lbs. 1.5 oz. and 28.5 inches long. Turns out that is really long for my age... I am longer than 97% of the other babies my age. Mom had been wondering if I wanted to play football since I am going to be big and tall. But, now that it is March, Mom is wondering if I will play basketball. She even brought me a ball and taught me how to sign it. I really like my ball and have been practicing throwing it down over and over. 

The doctor said I am ready to start solids and since I am such a big boy that mom should get to 3 meals a day as soon as I can. I started with Oatmeal and thought it was pretty good. The first time Mom and Dad fed me I ate like I knew what I was doing. I just kept eating and eating and Mom couldn't believe that I knew just what to do. Dad got it though, he said "He's a Schraer; he knows how to eat!" I guess I am going to fit in the family pretty well. 

My face got a little messy, because I would push some of the food back out of my mouth. I am still getting used to eating. I did take about 20 bites, though and it only took me a couple minutes. 

Mom has to wait 3 days before I try the next new food so that she can makes sure it doesn't make me sick. So far I have had oatmeal, peas, and banana. She plans to make a lot of my food herself for a few reasons. She wants to good, healthy food. Making food can save money. It also will taste more like the food that I eat with Mommy and Daddy. It won't be long before I get to share dinner! 

The weather has been beautiful, so I have been able to go outside more. I am getting used to the wind and I don't make faces like I can't breathe outside anymore. I went to the Batavia park with Mom and Dad and took a walk in the big boy seat in my stroller. The fresh air made me sleep good that night. I also went to Helicopter park with Emily, Anna and Ellie. The girls took me in the slide and I really liked it! I trust them and have fun with them, so I wasn't scared at all. Mom said that we had to get a picture of my first day on the play ground. 

Dad likes to take me for walks around the yard. He shows me things and teaches me things. He showed me how the grill works, but didn't let me get too close. He also shows me the flowers and trees. I really like the yellow daffodils that popped up in the front yard. Dad let me touch them, but told me not to eat them... (I don't think that he has forgotten what I did with the roses he gave Mom on Valentines' Day.)I squint when the sunlight is in my eyes, but I like the warmth of the sun. 

 It is nice that it is getting warmer. I think that I am going to like not wearing as many clothes!

21 weeks.

Each day I am doing new things. I have been finding my toes for a few weeks, but now I like to hold onto them and roll. I roll to both sides now, and back and forth in seconds. It is only a matter of time until I am over to my belly. I'm not really in a hurry though, because I don't love being on my tummy. Momma puts me in tummy time a few times a day, and I cry because I am not as happy there. Dad says it will be better once I use my hands more. I also make these new gurgling sounds while I blow bubbles. I think it is pretty funny. Sometimes mom will do that to and I watch her, then I do it again.

I still take my baths in the kitchen sink. Mom always gets everything out beforehand. She lays out a towel, gets out a few wash clothes and body wash. I used to cry as soon as I heard the water turn on, but lately mom has been talking to me through the whole bath. I don't really need to cry anymore. I try to help sometimes by holding onto the wash cloth. Baths don't take that long. Mom gets me out and wraps me up in my duck towel. That is definitely my favorite part; I am so warm! Mom says that when I can sit up better I will move to the bathtub.

I love to play with my toys. I am getting faster at grabbing what I want and bringing it to my mouth. Yes, everything goes to my mouth. My blue bunny is so fun, I like to chew on him and shake him.  I also like my buggy. He is fun to hold and has a bright happy face. 

20 weeks.

I am really learning how my muscles work. I have figured out how to scoot around by putting weight on my heels and lifting my bottom. Mom has been keeping her eye on me. No more leaving me alone unbuckled, as I can scoot almost completely out of my blue chair. I also grab everything in front of me. This week I grabbed mom's hair for the first time on purpose. She didn't like that so much. Grandma Schraer was surprised when I was interested in her jewelry.  Blankets, my pjs, toys or anything that lays on my tummy is on it's way to my mouth. I use my mouth to learn about things around me, and leave my (wet) mark all I can. Dad really wants me to put weight on my hands...so that I can crawl soon. This week when I was in tummy time he kept saying "come on, come on." I haven't quite figured it out yet, but don't worry Dad, I'll be moving before you know it. 

Mom thinks that she is starting to see more of my temperament. She would tell you that I am a very good baby, but also vocal. She has never worried about my basic needs being me (sleeping, eating, etc.), because I am quick to tell her something isn;t right. I am "talking" more and communicating when I have an opinion on something. I also am starting to help out more when I get impatient. While Daddy was at the dentist, I showed mom that I can hold my bottle and eat. When she took it out of my mouth and held it in front of my face, I reached out with both hands, grabbed the bottle and brought it right back to my mouth. Mom tried it again and I showed her I knew exactly what I was doing. She couldn't believe it. She knows now that I have a strong mind to go along with my strong body. When she told Daddy about it, he understood.. "He's saying gimme my food!" 

Daddy and I have a new game. It started when I was standing on Daddy's tummy and he moved my hips back and forth. I thought that was fun, so I did it again. He laughed and said, "You gonna boogie?". So now whenever he says "boogie" or "boogie woogie" I show him that I do like to dance with him. Dad is so fun. Mom was doubtful that I knew what I was doing, but I showed her that it works when she says it too. I even showed off a little to Emily, Grandpa and Grandma.  Mommy is so glad that I like to boogie like she does. 

I like the mornings. Each day Mom comes into wake me up at 7:00 a.m. I am always still sleeping. She turns on the light and I start to move my head back and forth. I squint my eyes, because I'm just not ready for the light. Mom says "Good Morning" and I start to smile when I hear her voice; sometimes my eyes are still closed. Finally, I start to open my eyes and I see her and I am so happy! I know that Mom doesn't really like to get up so early, so I am glad that I can make her smile and laugh each morning.

Love & Laughs, 

Isaac

19 weeks.

Mom can't believe I am 4 months old already. This time last year she was just finding out about me.

This week I went back to the doctor for my 4 month appointment. This time Daddy got to go with us because he was off work. It was OK except for the shots they stuck in my legs. Dr. B seems like a nice enough guy. He says that I am a VERY healthy boy. I am 16 lbs and 4 oz. and 27.5 inches long...that's 74% for weight and 99% for height.  I heard Mom and Dad talking about a basketball scholarship instead of football, but they said I can do whatever makes me happy.

I am eating well, 7 ounces more or less. I have a bottle when I am with Grandma Schraer, Emily, or Daddy, but when I am with Mommy I prefer the other option. I am probably eating about 35 ounces a day. The doctor says he'd rather me wait for solid food until I am 6 months old. Mom is OK with that since I cannot sit up by myself yet. She started reading a book called "Hungry Monkey" and is thinking about what she will feed me. I like to watch Dad eat during dinner.  I think that I will eat like him... that makes Mom nervous. I sit in my blue chair while Mommy and Daddy eat and talk about their days. Sometimes I make sounds too because I think that they are talking to me. That always works! I just learned how to kick and scoot down in my chair and pretty soon I will be able to get out all by myself.

I still prefer short naps, usually 45 minutes 3 or 4 times a day. I think that I will miss something if I sleep too long. At night when it is dark, I like to be in my bed. Sometimes at night I turn on my side to get comfortable. Mom was really surprised when she saw me do that for the first time. I guess she didn't know how strong I have been getting. I practice a lot on my activity mat, so I thought I would try it in my bed too.  Mom has been leaving me on my mat longer to play. I like to talk to the birds and owl and kick my legs.

Both, Mom and Dad, like to sing to me. This week Mom taught me a song "I'm in the Lord's Army." I get to dance and act out the things that she is saying. It was really fun so I laughed and squealed, so Mom kept going. I would squeal more and more, because I knew what was coming next. I got so worked up that I spit up on Mom. I was bummed when she had to stop singing so she could clean us up. She still sings to me, but not as silly as she did before...

Love & Laughs,
Isaac

18 weeks.

I am beginning to realize how fun toys are. I mostly like to grab and look at my toys then bring them to my mouth. I am practicing a lot and getting more precise with my movements. Still, sometimes when I am tired I get frustrated that I cannot make my hands do what I want. I can go from happy to full out crying in a second. Mom says that reminds her of someone she knows? Hmm. I like to play with my link rings. I hold them in both my hands and look at them. Mom even let me play with them in my Bumbo chair for the first time. It was kinda hard because I always let my head fall down to my toys instead of bringing them up to my mouth. I will keep working on it though.

I have started playing this game with Mommy. Sometimes when I am nursing I will stop and look at Mom smile then look away. If I get her to laugh I will do it again. One time I was having so much fun that I stopped eating just to play this game for awhile. Mom was laughing so hard!

Every Monday Mom takes me grocery shopping. She always carries me in an Ergo carrier. I have done this since I was only 1 month old. I am warm and cozy in there. I like to look at the lights and all around at the store. This week is was really cold and extremely windy, so mom decided to carry me inside before putting me in the carrier. It was a good thing she did because I forgot to tell her I had just pooped. I made a big mess in my clothes, my blanket and on Mom's arms. She took me to the bathroom to clean me up, but I did not like that so I screamed. There was a long line outside the bathroom waiting for me to get clean, and I think they were listening to me cry. Oh well, after that Mom put me in the carrier where I like to be, and we shopped like usual. Mom hurried though, because she didn't smell very good anymore.

I really like my Daddy. I always have but this week I think that Mom noticed. Dad let me sleep on him on Sunday. I was so warm and cozy. I must have looked cute too, because Mom would catch Dad staring at me while I slept. I got to have Dad to myself this week when Mom when back to teach dancing. Dad fed me and put me to bed. I feel safe with him and I didn't cry at all.

Love & Laughs,
Isaac

17 weeks.

You will be so proud of me. I took my first bath without crying! I think that I forgot to cry because Mom just kept talking and talking and talking. I was so distracted that I didn't notice I was wet! I still take my baths in the kitchen sink in my bath seat. I guess it's not that bad after all. Mom was a little relieved because she really wants to swim with me when I get bigger.

This was my first week that I played my toys. I have looked at them a lot, but now I hold onto them and try to figure out what they do. My favorite right now is my blue bunny that Karin gave me. It is soft and small so it is easy to move around and squeeze. I am not sure if it's really supposed to go in my mouth, but I go ahead and do that. Sometimes Mom just lays it on my tummy and I think about it and then hug it and bring it up to my mouth.

It snowed this week. Daddy really wanted me to be excited about it. I saw it out the window, but wasn't too interested. Dad made a fire and we stayed in all day. I have been really thinking my Dad is fun. Dad likes that I can do more things now, he likes to hold that bunny over my face and make me wait until I get excited... then he finally gives it to me. I am not patient yet. He also let me play with the newspaper. It made such an cool sound.

I like to stand up sometimes. Dad or Mom will hold me because I am not that stable. It is hard work! I curl my toes into whatever I am standing on and I make my body really stiff. I put my arms out to the side and even cock my head to the side. When I am done, I just relax and sit. Mom calls it "melting" and thinks it is cute.

I was glad that Mom got to stay home all week with me, since she didn't have to work. We had a busy holiday, so it was nice to get some extra cuddles with her. By the way, have I mentioned that she kisses me... a lot? Especially on the cheeks. I guess I am something special.

Love & Laughs,
Isaac

16 weeks.

Whew, has it been a busy week. I had my first Christmas which seemed just like a lot of craziness. I did well though. Mom and Dad were both proud of me for sleeping in my Pack 'n Play at a noisy house. I am really good at going to bed at night even if I am not at home. I know Mom will come if I need her. She takes the monitor with us and watches me sleep. This week I took a 2.5 hour nap for the first time ever. Mom kept checking on me because I never sleep that long. Now she thinks I should do that more often, but I don't really like to sleep that long yet. That was just an accident.

This week I surprised my parents by reaching up and grabbing the bird on my activity gym. I have been looking up at him for a long time and I just thought, "I bet I can get him." Actually, Mom put an extra link in so that I could realize I could grab it, that was just the extra bit of confidence I needed. Now I can be left to play by myself since I enjoy it so much. I also liked the mobile at Grandma's house but I can't reach that. It is the same mobile that Daddy used to look at in his crib. I like to watch it spin. The doggie is my favorite.


Mom found a cute Santa hat for me. I wore it over to Grandpa and Grandma Schraer's on Christmas morning. I fell asleep in the car so everyone laughed at me and took pictures of me while I was sleeping. I woke up just in time to pray with the family, though I'll have to hear the Christmas story in the Bible next year because I slept through it.  I know that I have a lot to learn about Jesus and why He was born. Mom talks to Him though and sings about Him, so I know that He will be in my life too.

I got so many fun gifts for Christmas, I couldn't name them all. Dad and Mom got me a Piggy Bank with my name on it. Grandpa Schraer made me a toy chest and a highchair. I think they will be really fun when I get bigger.

Grandpa and Grandma Rhoten got me my activity gym that I have been playing with for weeks and a dog named Scout that plugs into the computer and plays recorded songs and stuff. I think that I am going to love it! I spent time with all my family including a loud night at Great Uncle John's. Lots of people wanted to hold me and I didn't mind. I think that I am getting used to it.

I have told you about my love for lights. I spent a lot of time this week looking into the tree at the lights. There was so many it was hard to concentrate. I would look at the red one, then the blue, then green, then back at the red. Mom would let me lay and look for while; she could tell I was intrigued.

Love & Laughs,
Isaac

15 weeks.

I am getting more creative with my words. Mom thinks I sound more like I am talking? Well, I am talking! I still go my big gasp, but now I add coos, and even gurgles. I put them all together to make sentences and sometimes I go on and one. My uncle Kevin talks a lot and I think he is pretty cool, so I thought I would try too. I make a "guh" sound and an "mmm" sound. Momma thinks I could be talking about her, but I know that is not her name. Sometimes I yawn and do a little scream at the end of it, that always make Mom laugh.

Mom is playing this new game that I find funny. She will say "Shake-a-shake-a-shake" while she shakes my arm. I like to laugh when my arm makes my whole body move. Mom must love my laugh because she does that all the time now, even thought I don't always laugh. When I do laugh it's just a single, deep grunt. I might do it a few times, but I think that I sound older then a baby with that belly laugh.

I have been spending a few days a week with Emily, Anna, & Ellie. They are introducing me to a lot of things that I did not know about. I watch a show called Calliou with Ellie; she really likes that one. I like to stare at all the colors and I think the kid and I have the same bald head. Anna and Ellie both like to hold me and play with me. I love all the action. I even went to a Barbie wedding! I also like to look at the lights there, especially the Christmas lights and the tree that goes on and off. I feel really loved when I am there and I know that Mom and Dad are so happy that I am safe and cared for. (Oh, and don't tell Dad that I kinda played with Barbies).

Love & Laughs,
Isaac

14 weeks.

I am 3 months old! I didn't go to the doctor this month, but mom is sure that I am growing and and gaining weight. She is not sure how much I weigh, but thinks 14-15 pounds. I am wearing 3-6 months clothes;  my torso is long. I seem to be growing into my feet. They are not only long, but now have a nice fat cushion on the top. Dad is impressed with my feet and looks at them and talks about them a lot. I am eating 6.5 ounces in each bottle, 5 times a day. I take about 4 naps a day, 45 minutes long. I sleep great at night, usually 8:00 p.m. until 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. Some nights I have slept over 12 hours.

Now that mom is at work, she comes home and has to start dinner. I either watch her cook or Dad will hold me and we have guy time. Dad holds me a lot in his lazy boy. We sit and read together or watch TV. He sings to me with music on or just out loud. I like to listen to his voice. I really like Dad. At dinner I always sit between Mom and Dad in my blue chair. They turn the vibration on and rock me if I am grumpy. I usually enjoy listening to them. They always pray and thank God for the meal and His provision. Then they eat and talk about their days at work. They talk about me a lot too. I like to look at Dad and then at Mom. Sometimes I don;t know who to look at, so I just look back and forth, back and forth. This makes Mom laugh. Sometimes I fall asleep during dinner because I am just too tired to make it until bedtime. Mom says I cannot do this much longer, I's be OK if she gives me an earlier bedtime like she is thinking about, once her hours at work change.

I laughed for the first time this week. Just a single grunt is all I know how to do. I also rolled up on my side for the first time. I didn't really know what to do with that, so I did not stay there. I also have been testing out a new cry that I make when I am mad. Mom calls it a "screech" and she doesn't like it; it sure does get her attention, though. Sometimes I just don't want to be in my bed for a nap; I'm much too tired for that.

Love & Laughs,
Isaac

2011: A Great Year!

2010 was an amazing year. Looking back, it is crazy how much has changed. A brand new amazing job, my boys (triplets I nanny) are 4!, visited new cities: Philly and San Francisco, elected to a board, put on a conference, remodel the living room, pulling up all the carpet in our house..... It was overall one of the best years of my life. I was awarded "Nanny of the Year" which was a huge honor. Blessing after blessing, this year just had God's gifts and provision all over it. I sat thinking the other day, how could 2011 be anywhere as awesome as 2010. Well, quickly I felt impressed that our lives are not measured by how exciting one year is. In fact a great year only seems so wonderful in comparison to the difficult ones. As I sat longer, more questions began to pop up.

Am I living a life that is pleasing to the Lord?
Am I honoring my husband and thus leading him closer to Christ?
Am I discipling in anyone?
Am I in community with others that are challenging me?

I have areas I need to grow and need to posture my life to bend that way.

Over 10 years ago, God spoke to me. (There are those moments, when you know that it is beyond you... and this was one of them). I was on a youth retreat and the Lord gave me a mental picture, how he often does when He speaks to me.

The picture was of a pitcher. The pitcher was not sitting still on a table (like the one on the left) but tilted and pouring. The pitcher needed to continually be filled to have the ability to continue to give of what is inside it. God was showing me that this pitcher was me, and that I consistently need to be filled to be able to to give to those around me.

I feel pretty full to overflowing, blessed and cared for. It is time for me to give more of myself. Also, I must consistently be filled.

So here are some resolutions (or better said - goals, vision, mission, plans) for 2011and beyond. It is important for me to put it in writing.  "And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time." Habakkuk 2:2-3

1. Reading Wednesdays (with Doug): Doug and I both love to read. We have a pretty big library of books that we haven't completed. We wished we spent more time reading, so we decided to have a quiet night without TV and music, where we focus on reading books individually and reading the bible together.

2. Community Game Nights (with Doug): We hope to have game nights once a month to invite different friends over, just to spend time together. We enjoy cooking and hanging out with others at our house, so we decided to make more of an effort to plan things and invite others over.

3. Family Days (with Doug and his parents): One Saturday a month Doug and his dad will get together and work on our house and his dad's house - projects are more fun with someone. Doug's mom and I will cook or shop. We'll then meet up to hang out, eat dinner, etc.

4. Our New Budget (with Doug): Over the last couple months we have been changing our budget. January begins some new areas in our budget including: date night, house fund, & Game Change campaign.

5.  Finish Our Fully-Funded Emergency Fund (with Doug): We are so close to finishing this! Very exciting. We follow Dave Ramsey's plan, so this is 3-6 months of your expenses.

6. Save Money for New Truck for Doug (with Doug): We are still figuring out what he wants and how long it will take us to save to pay cash, but after our Emergency Fund is done, this is our next task.

7. Two Vacations (with Doug): We will be taking a "friends vacation" around a friends wedding and our 5 year anniversary vacation that we had to cancel last fall!

8. Work Up to Working Out 4 Times a Week: One of my new benefits with my new job is a gym membership. I am so glad to be able to swim often, take Zumba and lift weights among other things. Though I love to dance, I plan to slowly add and increase my workouts.

9. Cook Two New Meals and One New Dessert a Month: I have so many recipes on lists that I have never tried. This is one thing that is not only fun for me but rewarding for Doug. I will be learning recipes from Mom Schraer and trying new recipes from my Christmas presents:  Rachael Ray Look & Cook, Martha Stewart Cupcakes and more!

10. Drinking More Water: I need to drink more water. I know that, but how much. It seems that I need 100 ounces/day from this Hyrdation Calculator, which asked me about 10 questions specific to me.

11. Carving Out More Time for Bible and Prayer in the Mornings: I now have a 30 minute commute each morning and afternoon. This has come to be a good time to enjoy my coffee and pray. I want to add to that Bible (from Doug's audio bible) and worship. I plan to make a playlist on my iphone each weekend for the week ahead (takes just a minute to drag the mp3s to the day). I have never read the whole bible in a year, but listing to a few chapters a day could make that easy. 

12. Community/Small Group: I have been involved in a few in my church, but none that I have been long-lasting. I also have felt impressioned to begin discipling. I am not sure of all the details, but will actively seek the opportunities this year. 

13. Honoring Doug: I just re-found a book I purchased last year called Sacred Marriage. I am only on chapter 3, but completely challenged to more aware how I treat Doug. I am not sure how or what this looks like, but I am on the journey to live this. 

14. More Nesting: I love our house. Over the last year, we have accomplished a few projects on the house. Lately I have been reading new blogs, like Young House Love, and so encouraged that you can do a lot with a little money. I cannot wait to tackle some creative projects that will make our home just a little more ours! 

15. More Writing For Pleasure: Writing for me has always been a discipline that bring me peace, inspiration, direction. Even as I wrote today, I feel encouraged and challenged. For many years I have journaled privately, but I feel that if my thoughts, challenges and experiences can be a benefit to even 1 person, why not let God use that. While I will continue to write on CincyNanny and Regarding Nannies,  you will see more personal writing here or possibly a new blog.

So that is what has been on my mind. Not a list that I threw together, but things that I have already been working on and other that I have been thinking or nervous about.

What are you committing to for 2011?
Anything on my list that you share the desire for?

Allow God to speak to you, and write it down. It is going to be a GREAT year!

Decisions, decisions...

Today is 10.10.10... a memorable day in Cincinnati sports. The Reds and The Bengals both played downtown today, both lost. The Reds, who made it to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, are now out. But... the weather was gorgeous! ... and, at church the beginning of a new journey. I am really excited about it. My pastor said "Crossroads is at a crossroads" .... I couldn't help but think, and Greta is at a crossroads.

Decisions, decisions... I have decisions to make.

See this summer I smelled change. I knew that Doug and I were going to have to make some new decisions to financially prepare for our future. Transition was a 'comin. We new it, we felt it. Secret be told, I thought he would begin looking for a new position. That was until my position ended.

Decisions...

I updated my resume, created an online portfolio, and began connecting and seeking interviews. Thank God that this year I was the recipient of the INA Nanny of the Year award. It was that extra little title that had people calling me in a hurry. All the while, another opportunity began to form. Something I was not seeking but seemed to find me.

I am open to God's leading, but, everyday my mind changes.

When I was about 20, I dated my first love who adopted a word to describe me..."fickle". I had a hard time trusting him and yet cared for him very much. I definitely did teeter back and forth, but always proclaimed that I wasn't fickle -- the word drove me crazy. It is not a word I hear people say often, in fact I don't think that I have heard it since.

Decisions...

So on a lighter note, I have been wanting a new work bag.  A few months ago, while I was employed,  I bought one that I thought I loved. I returned it after a week. I figured out that it's value to me was far below the price tag. So since then, I have been looking for a replacement, and a good deal. Last week at TJ Maxx -the best place to buy bags- I found a few that I really liked. I walked around, bags on my shoulders and arms, thinking and looking, and finally narrowed down my search. These two were my favorites...

The orange was fun, bright, strong, and daring. 

The blue was safe, simple, cozy, and classic. 

I knew what I liked; I liked them both. Either would be a good choice that I would be happy with. But which was the right choice? I found myself asking out loud "why am I so fickle?!" The word! I hadn't heard it in years and years and there it was. Fickle. Ewww!! Getting over the shock of what had come out of my own mouth, I wondered ...why am I so indecisive? It is just a bag. I can always return it. Uhhhh! I exhaled and took a break to look at shoes. (I also tweeted pictures, asking for some help from some of my most trusted gals.)

After a few minutes, I was taken from my silly purse fiasco to the REAL decision I haven't been able to make. I thought about how much my two choices resembled my bags. One is daring... a job that is unexpected, unsought, and yet may be really fun and exciting. The other classic... the road I have been traveling, a great road....something safe and "right".

My thoughts turned to prayers and not about the bag. Would God speak to a person at TJMaxx? The answer is yes. I came to a realization as I shopped that there is no decision that is going to make or break me. I get so worked up sometimes about doing the RIGHT thing. Sometimes the wrong thing just may be the right thing. (Do you follow?) I often worry about letting people down. I worry about not being faithful. That is some baggage God doesn't intend me to carry. Now in the accessories department, I was taken back to the picture God gave me in my mind at Last Weds Service a week before. Rather than look all around and make a logical, practical decision... based on all the details that are stressing me out, I was simply to look up. Metaphoric that HE is so far above and beyond my human trappings. My life's decisions cannot always be made by weighing everything perfectly or creating pro and con lists. That is because my life is not my own. I live to please God and carry out whatever purpose he calls me to. And that will bring peace and fulfillment.  God has never been unfaithful. In fact even when we are faithless, he still remains faithful, for he cannot go against his own character (2 Tim. 2:13). Oh, how silly I feel being reminded of something I already knew. 

But, once again, what a relief. I do not have to fear. He is walking with me. 

So one decision was made.... (with receipt in hand, just in case.) 

Another is still to be made. I could use your prayers as I move forward, not that I will make to RIGHT decision, but that I will follow God's leading.  I know that this crossroad is approaching.

My First Cooking Class!

My First Cooking Class

When we were dating Doug and I made a deal.... if we were going to be an item, I was going to have to learn to cook. I agreed with the condition that he was going to have to learn to dance! Over the last 5 years I have been watching a lot of Rachael Ray and trying many recipes. I have gotten a lot better, but still have room to grow.

Thanks to Groupon, I finally did something I have been wanting to do for a LONG TIME! I took a cooking class - live, in person. You know with my very own cook station! Look how beautiful it was when I showed up! 

The class was at The Learning Kitchen in West Chester. Within the 2 hours we learned to cook three meals, each a "20 Minute Pasta". The classes are listed online, and upload the first of every month, for the next month. They fill up so quickly! I bought my Groupon (half off my class) in May and scheduled my class finally on August 1st. 

The Cooktop has room for 10-12 students, each with our own workstation. I took the class on my own, but I thought how fun it would be to share the experience with friends or family. 

We started talking about all the instruments and appliances we would be using. Then the instructor gave us a short knife skills lesson. I realized that I have been holding the knife wrong all this time (no one had shown me!) So I now know how to hold a knife more stable, and a how to cut to protect the knife as well as my own hands. We cut up everything that we would need for all three meals: onion, garlic, tomato, mozzarella, red pepper, green onion, basil, cilantro and parsley. 

Here are some pics from the cooking process:

Here are the finished meals:

1) Linguini with Roasted Tomatoes and Herb Panko Topping

2) Chicken Cutlet with Lemon Parsley Sauce over Angel Hair (pictured below on the left) 

3) Ziti with Steak and Chipotle Sauce (pictured above on the right)

I think that they turned out REALLY good. I was groaning as I ate them. There was no takehomasak, so I only had a little of each of them. I will have to make them for Doug, soon. 

If this was cheaper, I would love to do more classes. It was fun, easy and I could totally follow along. I can cross one more thing off my bucket list. My first cooking class, but hopefully not my last!