Kerrspot.com

Mmm …

I have a two-year-old.

She’s very good at being two.

I love her, strong-will and all.

Before Madeline was born, Kayla and I went to a biweekly playgroup at a local elementary school. Though Kayla doesn’t remember the playgroup, I still have fond memories from our times there together. One of Kayla’s favorite activities was playing with containers of dried beans. We replicated this for her at home, but since dried beans are a choking hazards for babies and young toddlers, we put the beans away before Madeline was born.

A couple days ago I was researching ideas for keeping little ones occupied while you’re teaching older children and came across the dried bean idea. Now that our youngest is almost 2 1/2, we don’t have to worry as much about choking hazards.

We found that doing beans on the deck didn’t work so well because the beans got stuck between the planks. Our next idea was to play with the beans on the cement area outside our basement. This worked better, though a few beans got stuck in the cracks of the cement. Yesterday, when we were playing outside, this is what we discovered.

We didn’t intend to grow beans, but the girls sure think it’s fun!

A quick picture of Savannah playing on the deck after swimming in the whale pool.

I read this the other day and won’t soon forget it.  I hope it’s encouraging to you.

Slow Dance

This morning I was looking through Madeline’s baby book notes to retrieve some information for a healthcare form.  (Notice I said “baby book notes” instead of “baby book.”  This indicates her baby book is yet to be made!  My hope is that one day Aaron and I will create our own baby books for the girls, designing them ourselves instead of using the standard ones you can buy.)  As I was reading through her milestones, I came across some of the cute phrases she has said over the years as her speech has developed.  I thought you would enjoy them as well.

11/15/07:  want my mittens on

1/4/08:  My Meow shirt dirty

1/14/08: Go turn my light on, Mommy

1/18/08:  oh Mommy sing “knees toes” me

2/4/08:  oh watch Dora please Mommy; that make me happy

2/11/08:  Daddy, time eat, Daddy

3/10/08:  I like Miles so much.  He is my favorite friend.

3/19/08:  Do you know where my fuzzy blanket is?

3/21/08:  You wearing Grandma’s shoes, Daddy?

3/24/08:  Why was Abraham happy when God said “stop?”

6/25/08:  Mommy, we forgot Savannah!  (when we were going to Doozies and Savannah stayed home with Daddy)

6/28/08:  sausageseseseseses

7/14/08:  Mommy, you are the best mommy of all.

8/11/08:  That green grape stayed still, but that purple grape rolled away from the green grape.

9/29/08:  Can I please may be excused?

10/8/08:  Ok, yep! (at the end of sentences)

10/21/08:  Maybe you can take your tools from the basement and fix it.

10/29/08:  Mommy, my pancakes don’t understand me.

11/11/08:  I have an idea!  It’s really crazy.  We could go to Daddy’s work to pick him up.

12/1/08:  Now we have to make slider time!

2/11/09:  Did Dora have to ask her Mommy before she went back to the time of the dinosaurs?

2/23/09:  I was just going to say that I wish this cold weather would go away.

5/22/09:  It doesn’t mind.

1/14/10:  Daddy, I want you to snuggle with me, because I want to be with you always.

2/10:  We’re not in our own home now; we’re just staying here.  Heaven is our real home.

2/26/10:  I don’t think she (Savannah) knew I wanted a cup.  I think she thought I wanted a slap in the eye.

One of my favorite resources to recommend to friends is the Desire Conference—a free download through the iTunes Store.  With eight sessions of incredible teaching (that I’ve now listened to about three times), you won’t be disappointed!  A friend recently told me she found this audio material life changing and just what she needed.

I’m listening to Session 2 again this morning and taking notes.  Here are a couple quotes to share with you:

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs.  Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that.  Because what the world needs are men and women who have come alive.

The only way you can get through this life living and loving well with a sense of focus and mission is to do it like He (Jesus) did—from the heart.  The power comes from within.  You cannot start from the outside and try and go in.  You can’t start with “well, this is the right thing to do, the responsible thing to do” and then generate enthusiasm for it.  It doesn’t work like that.  The Law is a set of standards which we feel the pressure of from the outside.  The spirit, the freedom, of grace, and the heart set free, comes from within.  –John Eldredge

Go to iTunes, search for “Desire Conference” in the iTunes Store, and start listening!  It may change the entire trajectory of your life.

I recently attended a retreat for women called “Unveiled.”  The weekend was absolutely amazing and exactly what my heart needed!  One of the treats from the retreat was Deb’s Granola.  The recipe is so simple and delicious that I thought I would share it:

Deb’s Granola

Oatmeal

Rice Krispies (or a healthier version without high fructose corn syrup)

Chopped pecans

Slivered almonds

Coconut

Add honey to coat.  Bake at 350 until brown, stirring 2 or 3 times as it bakes.

(I used an air bake pan, which really seemed to help keep it from burning.  I stirred it every 5 minutes and baked it for about 15 minutes total, maybe slightly longer.)