God created places like THIS

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Psalm 19:1

Photographs just can't capture the incredible beauty that God created in the Yosemite valley. But that didn't stop me from trying. 400 pictures and two weeks later, and I've been stuck in a black hole full of images waiting to be edited, and frankly - mostly deleted. Next time I'll leave the scenic shots to Ansel and concentrate my lens my favorite subjects and their very handsome Daddy.

Photographic frustrations aside, we had a wonderful time and actually survived two nights in tents. (Or rather, "tents." According to my SIL, Emily, who actually does camp, it doesn't count if there's furniture involved. I say, if the sides are vinyl and you have to lock all your snacks in a bear locker, it's camping. Especially if said bear pays a little midnight visit and leaves the remnants of his last meal outside your "door.")

The kids were troopers and excellent little hikers, though the littlest definitely preferred her backpack. God provided a three-day window of gorgeous weather between snow storms, and the waterfalls were naturally amazing. Danny enjoyed it so much that his list of must-see national parks is growing exponentially.

So what are your favorites? What should we see next?

"Camping"

Last night, Daddy and the kids trekked way out into the wilderness of our backyard for a camping expedition - tent, smores and all. Much to my surprise, they actually stayed there! Unlike such adventures of my youth, where the fun was in the setting up, and sleeping outdoors (even in the front yard) was much too terrifying, all four of the bunch slept rather soundly until 7:30 a.m. Mama didn't join in on the excitement, except to broiler-roast and deliver the treats, play the role of photographer, and then settle into her own bed with a good book. Happy Mother's Day to me!

A whole new head of hair

So I've never really been the kind of girl that requires a lot of professional grooming. The only manicure I've ever had was for my wedding. Pedicures only happen a few times a summer, and only when I've received a gift card. I've never had a facial or had anything waxed. My hair was professionally cut in 2nd grade (when I somehow thought it would be a good idea to lop off my beautiful locks in favor of something resembling a small salad bowl), and then not again until I think my junior year in college.

Fortunately for me, my sister decided cosmetology was the road for her and Sarah has since become a talented hair stylist. Unfortunately for her, I'm a terrible client. I love the way she cuts my hair. I love the color. I usually just show up, relax, and allow myself to be surprised at the result. However, no matter how beautifully it turns out, more often than not my hair ends up in a bun or pony. Especially in the summer when I'm in and out of the pool on at least a daily basis. It's not that I don't like to wear it down - I do (and so does Danny!). It's the time involved that gets me. My hair has just enough curl that I have to dry it completely in order eradicate all frizz. And that can take 20 minutes or more. Vanity often takes a back seat to more exciting things like laundry and school.

However, my ears picked up when Sarah started talking about the Brazilian blow-out. It's a new-ish straightening treatment that infuses hair with keratin, actually making it healthier and banishing frizz for about 6 months. Danny eventually talked me into imposing on my sister's time and expertise, and I have no problem admitting now that he was right! My hair doesn't look much different - it just looks like I've done it! My hair is as soft and straight with a 5 minute blow-dry, or even an air dry, as it previously had been only after a third of an hour under a hot dryer. I feel like a new woman! I can have pretty hair and get to church on time =). Here's what my hair would normally look like on a hot, hurried summer morning:

Here's that same head of hair after I let it air dry a little and then spent 4 minutes with my dryer (a minute or two more and I probably could have managed to get it to curl under):

Isn't my sister wonderful?! If you live around here and fallen into a ponytail rut, go see her and you too can have new hair and oodles of extra time. Thanks Sasa!

Almost as good as ice cream

We are big dessert people around here. Rarely does a night go by when Danny and I don't enjoy a scoop (or three his case) of Mint Chip or Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. But ice cream alone doesn't really pass as dessert for company. It's okay for a kids party, or as an accompaniment. When we're entertaining, I usually resort to what Danny calls my "signature desserts" - an undercooked chocolate sour cream cake (stolen from my sister, who I think borrowed it from her MIL), or a nut-less carrot cake (taken from his aunt's faceless friend "Barb," according to my sad, butter-stained, folded recipe card). He's named them, I believe, in an effort to coerce me to make his favorites more often. Now he has a new one to add to the list. This rightfully belongs to my mom, who somehow manages to make it perfectly every time. Truthfully, I mess it up almost as often I get it right, but when it's good, it is really good (if I do say so myself). Last week I made it for a group of girls from our Bible Study for the precise reason that I'd already served them my other two staples on other recent occasions. They happened to like it too, or at least were very gracious about eating it anyway! A few requested the recipe, so here it is, along with (hopefully) a few hints for avoiding my frequent mistakes.

MOM'S OVER-SIZED CHOCOLATE ECLAIR

Pastry (this is the "puff" part of what would be a cream puff without the chocolate topping):

In a small sauce pan bring 1 cup of WATER and 1 stick of BUTTER to a boil.

Add one cup of FLOUR all at once. Mix fast until it clumps.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. (It doesn't have to get cold, but it will rise better if you can be patient before the next step).

In Kitchen Aid, beat in 4 EGGS, one at a time. (I've recently learned that using room temp eggs can also help pastries rise better - can you tell I've occasionally had trouble getting it to rise?!).

Spoon onto a cookie sheet in a ring about 10 inches in diameter. (Last time I made it a little too big. It still turned out okay, but it wasn't quite as puffy and didn't fit well onto my pretty plate).

Bake for 15 minutes at 425, then for at least 20 minutes at 375, until brown.

Filling

Make 1 LARGE PACKAGE OF INSTANT FRENCH VANILLA PUDDING with the "pie filling" amount of milk (about 1/4 cup less than for the regular directions).

Allow the pudding to set up and cool.

Combine with 1 tsp VANILLA and 1 SMALL PACKAGE OF COOL WHIPP.

Frosting

Melt 2 squares of SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE (or a little less than 1/2 cup of chocolate chips).

Mix in 2 Tbsp BUTTER, 2 Tbsp MILK, 1 tsp VANILLA, 1 cup POWDERED SUGAR.

(If it doesn't turn out to be a spreadable consistency, add a little more milk. If it seems too runny, add a little more powdered sugar).

Assembly

Once the pastry has cooled, carefully slice it in two and flip the top onto another plate. Spoon in the filling. Replace the top. Top with frosting. Serve or refrigerate. (The pastry will get a little soggy if you leave it overnight). It should serve 10-12 normal people, or 2-3 Dannys.

Enjoy!!

Climbin'

Saturday we got to spend the days with friends in the collegiate ministry at church, and I think would have been happy to spend the week. There were abundant trees to climb, kids to play with, and students to dote on them all. Of course, mama and daddy didn't mind hundreds of extra helping hands, great fellowship, and the opportunity to raise money for missions either.

Our diemma

I'm not an animal person. Growing up I loved our cat, and my bird, Kitty (who obviously predated the much-pleaded-for feline) but now that I'm the one principally responsible for all matters of nutrition and hygiene, pets aren't quite so appealing. We recently waved an unceremonious good-bye to Tinkerbell Boy, the beta fish who occupied a bowl on our kitchen counter for the past year. We're also fostering the cockatiel we were sure my mom wanted for Christmas last year. The cage is beautiful and the bird is sweet, so we don't mind taking care of him until she decides she wants him back. But above is a photo of our dilemma.

His name is Jiminy Frog (though we're pretty sure he's a toad). Alyssa and Parker brought him home from a camping trip with their grandparents last summer. I didn't have the heart to make them say good-bye right away, but I wasn't exactly prepared for how long he would be staying. By the time we realized the aphids from our garden weren't going to prevent him from starving to death, it was wintertime. I don't know a lot about toads, but I feared that sending him outdoors in inclement weather might be an immediate death sentence. So stay he did. And I started making weekly trips to the pet store to purchase live crickets. Now this non-animal-lover was left to care for a fish, a bird, a toad, and varying numbers of insects (albeit briefly!). As the weather has improved, my desire to see Jiminy fend for himself has increased. Yesterday we decided to give him a little test run outside to see how well he could still hop, or ideally, hunt. He wasn't too sure what to think of his new found freedom, and his hops were a little more tentative than I would have hoped for. Sadly, I think that something might be wrong with his front legs. They just don't seem to fold up the way they should. So, dear readers, this is where you come in. There has to be at least one animal lover or two out there among you. What should I do with this silly toad? Is it more compassionate to release him, or to continue with the hand-delivered insects? Mr. Google says he could live up to 9 years! Am I really in for another 468 weeks of cricket deliveries? Please help!

He is Risen!

My Savior proved He can save by conquering death and sin. He lived the life I never could, died the death that was mine to die, then rose to seal God's pardon and grace for me. It just doesn't get any better than that! But perhaps equally remarkable is that Jesus' sacrifice didn't just make it possible for me to enjoy eternal life with Him. He also gives me immeasurable blessings here, now, to both bring me joy and bring Himself glory.

So today (a little late!), I'll praise Him for Easter lilies. Exquisitely beautiful, a feat of incredible horticultural engineering (you know the date of Easter varies by weeks from year to year, and yet they're expected - and do! - bloom exactly on time), and wonderfully fragrant. Fragrant enough even to cover the Smell Of Unknown Origins that has periodically plagued our kitchen. That is, until today when I discovered the rotting bag of potatoes in the back of the pantry. Fun stuff. Now if only I could figure out where the Odd Garage Smell is coming from. No lilies to mask the scent in there.

And, naturally, I'll praise Him for these kids who bring me great joy even on the most trying of days. Even when Eldest Child is perpetually in one of her Glamour Shot poses, when Only Son won't stop making monkey faces, and when Little Munchkin can't seem to figure out where the camera is. Needless to say, the lilies were much more cooperative.

Happy Spring!

The kids' idea of welcoming spring included taking a dive in the pool - never mind the fact that it's not much above 50 degrees. My idea involved a camera and a field full of flowers. They were great sports about both the cold water and their slow and rather inept photographer. Since my parents are out of town and on grandchild withdrawal, here's yet another photo post. Sorry! I'm hoping that my ability to put thought to paper will return with the end of tax season.

Friends and family day

Yesterday, on the most gorgeous of "winter" afternoons, we enjoyed the happiest place on earth with Danny's parents and his best friend from Jr. High. One of the things that initially attracted me to Danny was his loyalty. The friends he makes, he keeps, and Morgan is the perfect example of that. When they get together it's almost like they'll 11 again (for better or worse!). Fortuantely, Morgan choose an incredible girl to make as his wife, who is taming him (a little), making him even more godly, and helping him make beautiful children. Reagan is particularly smitten with Emmett, despite the fact that he's 2 years her junior and completely oblivious. Alyssa and Parker also doted on the "babies" and especially loved dragging Papa and Tilly to all of their favorite Disney spots. Anything special you're doing with your friends or family this weekend?

Little Bakers

I had a little "help" yesterday baking banana bread...

And more than a little help today eating it...

Just because they're so cute...