Steele (the Day)

Functional Foodie Friday: Breast Milk!

// May 20th, 2011 // 6 Comments » // Faith, Family, Functional Foodie, My Fabulous Life

Nothing like a one ingredient recipe for a healthy foodie post, is there? I’ve been BUSY and not cooking. For that matter, it’s been a fast of sorts, but it’s been such a blessing. If you follow me on Twitter you’ll know that over night I went from a young, vibrant woman to a young, proud, giddy Grandmother. We couldn’t be more blessed and praise God for His creation of a perfect little girl named Harper Katherine. She tipped the scales at 6 lb, 2 oz and 18 inches long and is nursing great for a squirt who was about 5 weeks early. She’s a spittin’ image of her dad at birth, right down to the “stork bites” on her sweet eyelids and her precious cone head.

Her mom and dad are so proud. Our son, who passed out at things like ultrasounds and even childbirth discussions, stepped up like a trooper and was there for the whole thing. Social media kept him focused yet distracted appropriately. Abby’s mom, Kate, RB, and I waited restlessly in the waiting room all night. Well, some of us did.

We finally got the text “It’s a girl!” which we already knew, but suddenly our world got a whole lot better. I know every Grandma thinks her grandbaby is the best, but I’m here to tell you…. Oh. My.

“Her name is Harper,” her daddy said. Such a sweet name. It was several minutes before anyone thought to ask what her middle name is. RB was the first to ask.

“Katherine.”

Our daughter Kate (full name Katherine) looked at Abby in total innocence and said “Really? Is there someone in your family named Katherine?”

And so ended the discussion as she was overcome with gratitude and honor. Apparently we all were tainted with sleep deprivation, but the strength of His hand along with a little adrenaline kept us in the game.

But in case you were wondering, that’s how our Kate rolls. And yes, I worry about her sometimes.

I may have more blog fodder in the future, including why this baby’s name is Harper and not Gordon. Some hilarious text exchanges. And maybe even some baby food recipes. OK, maybe not.

Thank you, all of my blog and Twitter friends, who prayed and walked this path with us. God answered our prayers.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14

Tea today: Trader Joe’s Green

Blessings: What if…?

// April 25th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Faith, Family, My Fabulous Life

Blessings
Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Tea today: Trader Joe’s Organic Green

Love, Hawkeyes, and carrots

// March 7th, 2011 // 13 Comments » // Faith, Family, My Fabulous Life

Just how excited can a mom and dad be to say “they’re engaged!” I love this picture of our daughter and her fiancée (feels weird to type that), taken at a friend’s wedding just a week ago. Saturday evening, she called to tell us the news of love and bling. Of course, we already knew the love part. We’re delighted; we love Ryan and this pure, perfectly-timed, God-breathed relationship.

So Kate calls to tell her infamous Gma about her new bling (you can catch Gma’s antics here and here and here:

KT: Hi Gma! (prounced gee’-mah)

Gma: WHO’S THIS? (As if she didn’t know, and yes, loudly).

Gma: (not waiting for an answer) Did you see that game? Wasn’t that awesome? Oh, I could hardly stand it! (Speaking of the fact that her Hawkeyes beat Purdue 67-65). I can’t believe they pulled it off. I hope you watched it! (Pause, coming up for air).

KT: (heavy sigh) No, I didn’t watch it. I was busy getting engaged.

Gma: Eng-g-g…whaaaa???

And she went on to tell her the good news. The Hawks were now chopped liver.

Later KT sent me a text to tell me she couldn’t quit staring at her ring and how it felt surreal. I remember that feeling. Many (many, many) years ago I was sitting at the dining room table and it seemed that nobody was giving enough attention to my newly received Canardily diamond engagement ring. So I commented, “Gee, it’s hot in here. I think I’ll take off my ring.” My dad just rolled his eyes.

What really tickled me is when KT texted me about how perfect it fit and how sparkly it was and about the “carrots” and how it was just perfect in every way.

Carrots. She’s a dietitian, remember. What did you expect?

There will be a lot of changes in our family this year, not the least of which is that I will need to cook with more bacon, just for Ryan. And you guys know I don’t cook bacon for just anybody. Life as we knew it has changed, and for the better.

I expect a long, happy life together. I love these kids. I’m so proud of these kids. I have prayed incessantly for these kids. God has been preparing them both for this special union, and it’s very clear His plans trump anything we may have planned. And that he took His dear, sweet time.

I can’t think of any passage that is more appropriate for these two right now….

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13

Tea today: Marrakesh Mint (The Spice & Tea Exchange – just might be my new favorite)

On being a fan

// February 23rd, 2011 // 5 Comments » // Faith, Family, My Fabulous Life

Twenty five plus years ago we were riding an elevator in 30 Rock/New York and it stopped to let some people in. I glanced at Ron Burgundy and he was standing there, jaw on the floor and this glazed look in his eyes. I looked to see the target of this frozen gaze – Connie Chung. He was star struck. He stood there with a gape that would hold a small cat, and I’m pretty sure got an elbow from me. He reminded me of the people who run into him in Home Depot or the candy aisle at Dollar General these days.

This talking head has legs???

I, too have been star-struck. At the US Open I stalked Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, who were all young enough to be my kids. (For the record, RB was pretty impressed with Anna WhatsHerNova, too). What is it about well-known people that turns us all into rubbernecks?

Which brings me to Carlos Whittaker. Last Friday my friend Sara told me he was going to do a concert in Iowa the following night, and I thought “I know him!” I knew I had to go see him perform. Sara convinced me it was unconscionable that I wouldn’t go. She even gave me ideas for back-up dates if RB couldn’t swing it. I’d seen Carlos lead worship online many times, and have his album on my favorite playlist on my iPod. I’ve followed his blog and tweets for years, and thought “He’s all that and a fresh artichoke!”

So I sent a text to RB asking him to puh–leeze take me to Ottumwa the next night, and I waited up for him to get home since he didn’t answer my text. Sometimes he forgets he has a phone. When he finally arrived he’s like “Who’s Carlos Whittaker?” but kindly agreed to take me, despite being buried in work (stupid sweeps month) and the 2 1/2 hour drive each way. I know, I’m spoiled.

Before the performance started, I worried that I should have brought some Depends. First, because I was the oldest woman there and second, I was so excited I thought I’d… never mind. When ‘Los came on stage and started performing, it was like 12 year old Beatlemania in my head again. Yes, I was that girl.

Source: Photobucket.com

But this time my mania was silent and brief. I’ve had more than one “come to Jesus meeting” over the years and learned the hard way who and what we are called to idolize.

Because when the lights went down and Carlos proceeded to bring the Word in music and his stage presence, all of a sudden it wasn’t about him.

It was about Him.

‘Los has amazing God-given gifts and talents, a load of energy, and a huge heart for Jesus. The lyrics. The music. The moves. The ink. He uses them all to glorify God and bring the Word and I seriously didn’t even think about who was doing all of this hootin’ and hollerin’ for the Lord for most of the concert. His amazing leadership just draws you in to that happy place where it’s just you and God.

I’d asked him on Twitter if we could have a photo op; he was most gracious and said yes. As he walked off stage he gave RB a hug first (whaaa??) and then I proceeded to thank him for bringing his gifts to Iowa, and of course told him hello from gitz and katdish. I was blessed by his kindness and humility. And he has really good teeth.

But I’m guessing he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like Connie Chung and Rafa and you and me.

….in God’s image.

Thanks for coming to Iowa, ‘Los. Hopefully next time you’ll get a chance to see the Butter Cow.

Tea tonight: Batavia gourmet green

A Birthday, A Benefit, and a Pie

// February 13th, 2011 // 14 Comments » // Faith, Family, My Fabulous Life

I was going to do this sweet birthday post about Ron Burgundy. Sort of a behind-the-scenes thing like you never see him.

He turned 61 yesterday, and as you probably already know, it’s the new 31. Or so he thinks. He just needs longer socks when he runs in the cold, that’s all.

Instead, this is a day-after-birthday/Valentine post to talk about love. No, not the “Let us sell you roses for 50 bucks a dozen today” love. We’re not into that too much around here.

Love, the way God told us to love.

In a God-messes-with-you-to-see-His-purpose kind of evening, we attended a benefit dinner/auction Saturday evening for Bremwood Residential Treatment Center, where RB was the emcee. He’s done this gig for several years now, as he’s worked closely with the staff and several of the residents whom he features on Iowa’s Child. They are beautiful kids who never had a chance, until now. Until the likes of Bremwood.

While other tweens were cozying up to the flat-screens in their bedrooms, stalking friends on Facebook, arguing about parents’ discipline, complaining about not having the latest games for Xbox 360 or an iPhone4, these kids were struggling in a world where they only knew rejection, abuse, bullying, and loneliness.

Two of the kids, Ashley and Kenny, told their stories with amazing confidence and candor. In Kenny’s sincere words last night, he said “I came here basically because my Mom & Dad never wanted me.” He has had a fabulous mentor for the past seven years and has plans for college to study social work. He followed that with “If that doesn’t work out, I’ll go to culinary school.”

Now there’s a kid after my own heart. And redemption at its best. You go, Kenny.

The majority of the evening was spent in true benefit auction style, the auctioneer trying to get people to reach deep in their pockets to support Bremwood. And Ron Burgundy telling stupid jokes that he said I told him to say but I didn’t.

Then there was the silent auction, and a couple of items struck my fancy, only because of this.A baby who is wanted and loved and prayed for more than she will ever understand. A child whose Mom and Dad and Grandmas and Grandpas can hardly wait to hold and love and spoil. A child who will have a warm home, clothes on her back, and in due time, Curried Cauliflower Casserole in her tummy. A child who will grow up thinking her paternal Grandpa looks like this.

All. The. Time.

Because he does.

I greedily bid on two silent auction items – a purple tutu with matching bloomers and hat, and a little art table with stools that look like little paint buckets. I stalked the table so I wouldn’t get outbid, but gave up on the tutu when it hit $75. And only because of my experience with SAS, was I able to snag the art table.

We wanted it for this child. But we bought it for all of the Ashleys and Kennys out there who will never know a childhood of unconditional love and acceptance. And one day I will tell our Little Princess where the table came from and why. My prayer is that she will hold deep in her heart the love and grace for her friends who don’t have Moms, Dads, love, or art tables. That she will have in her gut the courage to stand up for them when they need someone to. That she will understand that God’s love and grace is exactly the same for the Ashleys and the Kennys as it is for her.

It’s big. Really big.

And about that birthday? Ho-hum. Sautéed scallops, roasted asparagus, baked potato, and lemon meringue pie.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa RB. Sixty-one is going to be your best year yet.

Tea today: Trader Joe’s Jasmine

If Only…

// February 8th, 2011 // 19 Comments » // Faith, My Fabulous Life

How often do we look at our circumstances and think “If only…”?

If only my child wasn’t sick…

If only I had more money…

If only I could find someone to spend the rest of my life with…

If only I’d get this job…

We’re pretty self-centered visitors here. Our vision tends to focus upon things changing for us, while we remain our same old self inside. We don’t want to do the work. We don’t want to submit. We don’t want to sacrifice. We don’t want to admit that the only real way for most things to change is to change our heart and our minds.

A renewed look with God-breathed eyes. It can’t be done alone.

The most beautiful renewals I have witnessed have come from renewed hearts, not a change in circumstances. A young woman who feels hopelessly single has a total transformation of her heart and finds that single isn’t hopeless after all. And pretty soon, she’s not even single. So very often a renewed heart will be followed by a change in circumstances, simply because we’re seeing them with new eyes.

Some of the most joyful people I know, from all outside appearances, have every reason to desire something to change in their lives – illness, suffering relationships, poverty. Yet they shine a light into darkness. And no, not all of these people are Christians, but I still believe deep down that God works in everyone, whether they believe in Him or not. He listens. He answers prayers. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, but it seems to me that more often than not His answer is “Wait.”

And in that wait, He changes things, mostly hearts, sometimes circumstances, but always with a firm hand of love. He knows what’s good for us. He know the things that separate us from Him and the person He wants us to be. And He disciplines us until in our hearts, we feel it. We believe it. We know it.

I’ve often prayed Darlene Zschech’s lyrics from Power of Your Love: “Lord renew my mind, as Your will unfolds in my life…” Those words speak volumes. His will be done; He makes all things new.

Seek the new; embrace the renewal. It’s life-giving.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24

This post is my contribution to the “One Word at a Time” blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. Visit his site for the other contributions and or follow #owaat on Twitter.

Tea today: Batavia Green

Functional Foodie Friday: Azteca Squash Soup

// January 14th, 2011 // 6 Comments » // Faith, Family, Functional Foodie, Hover over my pictures

You guys (and girls) are going to have to trust me on this one. Come on, step out in faith. Like Peter, getting out of the boat.

Twice.

Last Sunday’s message is still fresh in my head. Loved it. Even the third time.

You’ll love this soup, too. It is awesome, almost spiritual. Even though it seems weird. Trust me.

And it’s nothing but good for you.

Why am I writing in these weird short sentences?

I consulted the internets after roasting a couple of adorable butternut squash. (Surely I’m not the only one who refers to food as “adorable.”) These are particularly good roasted rather than steamed or simmered. Really brings out the natural sugars.And of course, I got to use my all-time favorite kitchen appliance.

Vrooooom!

I started with this recipe and made a few switcheroos. Wish my avocado had been ripe enough to use.

Azteca Squash Soup

olive oil spray (I used my Misto)
2 lb butternut squash
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 large chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
2 garlic cloves, minced fine
6 cups chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
15 oz canned black beans, rinsed, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 large diced jalapeño pepper
1 avocado, sliced

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Spray baking sheet with olive oil, sprinkle halves of squash with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Place cut side down on baking sheet. Roast squash until tender, about 1 hour. Scoop squash into medium bowl and park it in the kitchen somewhere to hang out.

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and saute until almost carmelized, about 12 minutes.

Mix in celery, carrots, and garlic; then add 1 cup broth. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add squash, 5 cups broth and cumin. Cover and simmer 20 minutes to let the flavors fall in love with each other. And marry.

Puree soup using immersion blender (or regular blender) until smooth. Add black beans, corn, bell pepper, cilantro, thyme and serrano chili. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

Season to taste with sea salt & pepper and top servings with sliced avocado and a dollop of plain greek yogurt.

Tea today: Trader Joe’s Jasmine

I Break Stuff

// January 11th, 2011 // 13 Comments » // Faith, Family

Reflecting on this week, the angst of brokenness is all too palpable. The shootings in Arizona. The news of a friend with a dismal diagnosis. A plane crash killing a local physician and his passenger, one who has cared for my family for decades.

It’s everywhere, and I’ve come to expect it. Stuff happens.

But I also thought about how much breaking I’ve done on my own over the span of my life. The first time I can recall “breaking” (or in this case, ruining something) is when I spilled nail polish on my mom’s brand new tablecloth in the living room when I was probably about 7. You know the kind of tablecloth – it’s round, and it fits over one of those K-Mart cardboard tables to pretend there’s really a table under there, but actually it’s a flimsy tablecloth holder-upper. The polish was a bright pink, and as the bottle tipped, seemingly in slow motion, I knew the new tablecloth was a goner. I also knew Mom had probably squandered grocery money from the family budget to save for it.

It was going to break her heart.

I mopped up what I could, then moved an ash tray to cover it up. (We had a lot of them back in those days). It was several weeks before Mom noticed. Now, not only was her new tablecloth ruined, but I had broken a little piece of her heart. I just didn’t tell her I did it, but I’m sure she knew. My dad and brother didn’t often wear nail polish.

I never apologized. Now that’s a broken person right there.

How many other times have I snubbed a friend, dashed a hope, or walked away from someone in need, only to leave them in some state of brokenness? How often do I break my self-imposed rules of order, exercise, or nutrition? What about those resolutions? Not necessarily the ones made at the start of the New Year, but the ones I resolve throughout my life. It’s like I’m dared to break them.

Every time something breaks, a little something dies. It changes the mood, the intention, or sometimes a life. We can choose to let that brokenness affect our hearts, our attitudes, and our actions in one of two ways.

NO or GO.

NO, I’m going to stagnate and be paralyzed in this brokenness or GO, do something about it.

I know someone who was broken once, nearly to the point of rock bottom. Though rational thought told me it was not my fault, I bore a lot of the responsibility for it. When you love someone, you coach and mentor them through the big and little breaks, you help them understand that broken is what we are and it has a purpose. I don’t think I did that very well.

But God did.

He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

~Psalm 147:3

Boy, did He. A broken spirit, heart, and body was transformed into a life lived for Him, centered around His desires for relationships and community, and only looking back at the broken to see how far the blessed journey has come. Just like I didn’t break it (this time), I didn’t fix or redeem it.

The choice was GO. With Him. It’s always the best choice.

Even though I continue to break stuff on a daily basis – chip a favorite plate, ding a fender, or snap a favorite piece of jewelry in half, that stuff doesn’t matter.

All that matters is that He fixes and redeems his children’s hearts, loves them into redemption, but often brings us to our knees to find the parts in us that are broken.

I learned a long time ago, when He brings me to my knees, He’s fixing something. And it’s going to be good.

This post is a part of the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival hosted by the amazing Peter Pollock. Visit his site for the other entries on Brokenness.

Tea tonight: Young Hyson

One Word 2011

// January 2nd, 2011 // 19 Comments » // Faith, My Fabulous Life

It took some prayerful thought to come up with One Word 2011. I almost passed the whole idea by, but as I resolve (not a New Year’s resolution, but a life resolution) to be more focused on things that matter (I almost chose focus for my word), my prayer is that something would nag inside and keep me accountable.

Besides, I love Alece, she has a heart as big as the whole outdoors (no, I’ve never met her but I consider myself a very good judge of character) and I thought the whole “older woman” participation thing would give her project some diversity.

I come bearing wrinkles. And a catch in my get-along.

As of 11:15 this morning, I didn’t have my “word.” I couldn’t find it. I even went through dictionary.com last night and fell asleep in the middle of the C’s.

Committed. That’s me, but stretched is more accurate. Consistent. Setting myself up for failure. Conundrum. That’s where I….fell… asleeeeppp.

Then today at church we sang one of my favorite songs: Hosanna. And everything seemed to fit into this season of my life. Poignant words and phrases. One of the best bridges ever written, in the opinion of one who appreciates good music but can’t carry a tune in a bushel basket.

My One Word leaped off the projection screen.

I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

Yeeeah

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek

We’re on our knees
We’re on our knees

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna in the highest

My One Word: Seek.

Seek Him more – in prayer, in worship, in quiet, in the Word, and yes, even at work.

Seek knowledge and wisdom in the old and new.

Seek patience.

Seek good in everyone.

Seek my voice for this random piece of the Internets.

Seek you, fair reader. Who are you and what brought you here?

Seek to fulfill my purpose.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Seek a faith that absolutely, positively can’t be shaken. Ever.

And as per the diagram above – locomote. I love that word.

Seek is just one word, but it sends ripples of verbiage into the the pool that is this season of my life. Who is to be known. What needs to be done. Who needs to be asked. Who I need to help.

And if you’ll notice, none of this seeking process happens in a vacuum, standing still, or alone.

And that’s the way I like it.

Seek.

Tea tonight: Green with Pomegranate and Acai

Wrapping it up: Favorite Christmas Moments 2010

// December 28th, 2010 // 9 Comments » // Faith, Family, Functional Foodie, My Fabulous Life

‘Twas a wonderful Christmas, all through the house. In the spirit of giving, I want to share my favorite memories. Each was perfect at the time, and I wouldn’t trade one for any of the other.

RB and I went with Mom to her church, along with Eldest, DIL, Youngest, and the Baby of Steele. It was a beautiful traditional Christmas Eve service. RB was overcome with such emotion being in the church where we were married, our kids were baptized, and Eldest was married, he felt it was necessary to tweet during the candlelight moment.

Journalism, meet Jesus.

Jesus, we repent.

After that service, we went to our regular more contemporary church with all of the above except for Mom, who was too tired. Also? She doesn’t like “head-banging” music. DD and her boyfriend joined us after they blew in from Des Moines in the midst of one of Iowa’s storms. The moving service had me in tears, as always. Once again, RB tweeted our whereabouts. Why nobody came and robbed us of the gifts, I’ll never know. Abby would have been devastated at the loss of her melon baller (“I can make watermelon now!”) and Luke would have put up a fight for his double-pack of contact solution. The Leg Lamp is only one of our many surveillance devices that have protected us over the years.

We have a new tradition at the House of Steele. Though it would have looked like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre if you were peeking in our windows, my boys, along with DD’s boyfriend (hope we didn’t scare him away) managed to get my turkey spatchcocked. Normally this is done with a pair of kitchen sheers, but this was a very large bird. With big bones. We had some snide comments from the peanut gallery, so it’s a good thing RB is a master video editor. The cutting room floor was a hoot.

It’s a toss up what was better: the ritual that took a good half hour with a reciprocating saw and four grown men vs a 20 lb turkey, or the actual eating of the perfectly brined and spatchcocked bird with herbed butter and all the trimmings.

(Pats self on back).

It was a very good day. Even though we would have been laughed off the set of Top Chef.

My mom even taught my daughter how to knit. I tried 20 years ago, but her lack of concentration was an issue. Watching this, I saw a little pig-tailed girl again, clumsily attempting to cast on, knit, purl, cuss, drop stitches… It was truly a moment of nostalgia.

Moms, hug your daughters.

I did some supervision, you know, in case Mom wasn’t teaching her right. Actually, my job was to pick up the dropped stitches, of which there were many.

We gifted my brother and sister-in-law with a special copy of Snow Day. If anyone deserves a personally signed copy of Billy Coffey‘s debut novel, it’s them. They. Are. Awesome. This is a special week for them as they celebrate their wedding anniversary and special personal achievements that have blessed our entire family. This guy even showed up in their honor and hung around the kitchen door, adding to the beauty of our own personal Snow Day.

Our yard was once again aglow with gaudy yard art. RB likes gaudy. I like simple, elegant, regal. Hence, no photo of our yard. My favorite decoration of all was the stately “Oh Deer” we placed on Sara’s patio. It was the most fun – watching Ricochet Riley bounce around while RB and I were out trying to figure out how electricity really works and whether or not we’re going to short out Sara’s air conditioner for the sake of a few sparkles. And Sara, trying to snap a photo while painfully laughing at us. I think it took her a few days to recover.

Another tradition is watching The Christmas Story marathon, remarking frequently about the similarities between Ralphie and our Baby. I seriously can’t believe this kid hasn’t (yet) shot his eye out.

Instead, he hopped a plane for London and was swiftly out of sight by Sunday morning.

Here’s hoping you all have created some memories of a special Christmas now in the past. Hard to believe that through the beautiful snow and fog crystals, beyond the prairie grasses, we were happily putting the “fun” in dysfunctional, as the saw buzzed in the background and someone would spontaneously yell “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”

Tea today: Genmaicha