Tonight at bedtime I was kneeling beside Brenna’s bed praying with her. I had my eyes reverently closed and my head bowed. Something tells me that Brenna wasn’t praying because just as I was asking Jesus to help Brenna to be obedient and Mommy to be wise I felt two little fingers, one in each of my ears.

Speaking of Jesus, everyone might know about this already, Campus Crusade for Christ sells these and I think that they are really great.

First, you should know that I am not a finisher. I mean, dinner? That I can finish. A cup of coffee? Check. But, projects? Those often trip me up. I have started tons of projects that are still incomplete. I have even been known to throw away a half done project because I was convinced that I would never finish it. And who wants a half done project lying around reminding you what a slacker you are. Incidentally, my mom told me the other day that Leonardo daVinci had this affliction. He only finished a small fraction of the works of art that he started. Might I also be a genuis?

Anyhow, when Brenna was a baby my mom got me started quilting and yesterday I finished it. No really, it’s done. All the way done. I know, I am still having a little trouble believing it myself. Isn’t it pretty?

Here is a related note of warning. Quilting is addictive. I am itching to start a new one. The problem is that fabric is stinkin’ expensive. So, it will have to wait for now. I am saving my dimes for a mother and daughter trip to NYC in August. Worth it. For sure, worth it.

It’s Wednesday again, and since I love sharing tips and tricks (especially the kitchen kind) I am playing along with Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer.

This is a two for one deal. One post, two tips.

This is the fun one because it involves eating. Of late, I have been enjoying the flavor combination of bay leaves and cumin. I don’t see those two flavors together in many recipes; maybe I have stumbled onto something new. No, surely not. There is nothing new under the sun, right? Here is a soup that we have been loving lately that displays these flavors nicely.

Potato Sausage Soup

Saute some onions and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add in diced smoked sausage and cook until sausage is browned. Add in chicken broth, diced potatos, (potatos make up the bulk of the soup, so use a lot of those) a bay leaf, cumin, ground pepper. If you are using boxed broth it has plenty of salt. Cook until potatos are tender. Yummo.

And here is the not so fun tip because it involves cleaning. If you boil some water in a measuring cup in the microwave for like five minutes it makes all that funk on the inside of the microwave easy to wipe off.

Fun flavor combinations and easy cleaning. Works for me!

My friend Stacy took some pictures of Joseph while we were at the beach last weekend and posted them on her blog. When I take pictures of my kids I rarely feel like they look as cute in the picture as they are in real life. When Stacy takes pictures it seems like they are accurate representations of how cute kids really are. So, yes, Jospeh really is that cute.

1. Brenna, I love how you love to eat. You certainly come by it honestly.
2. Joseph, I love how you get so excited to see your big sister.
3. Brenna, I love it how smart you are getting. The other day I couldn’t find my keys and you said, “look in you bag?”.
4. Brenna, I love it that when I was cleaning up your bed in the middle of the night after you were sick I heard from the floor where you were cuddled up in a blanket a very small weak voice say, “tanks mama.”
5. Brenna, I love it that you love to play with your friends and everytime we leave the house you hope that we are going to “ryannoelle’s” house or “ethan” house or “drace’s” house.
6. Joseph, I love the way that you move your little feet and hands excitedly when you see food coming.
7. Joseph, I love it that you are so plump and healthy .
8. Joseph, I love it that you look so much like a boy even though you are only 8 months old.
9. And Joseph, those bright blue eyes…..
10. Brenna, I love it how at the park you spend about half the time playing and half the time watching the other kids.
11. Brenna, I love it how when you fall down you immediately say, “I’m otay.” You are a tough little thing
12. Brenna, I love your brown curly hair.
13. Brenna, I love it that you take such food care of your dolls and teddy bears. You will be a good little mama some day.
14. Joseph, I love how you lurch for me when we are both sitting on the floor as if you would do anything to get to me even if it means getting stuck on your tummy.
15. Brenna, I love you you give your little brother hugs and kisses.
16. Joseph, I love how you are irresistably drawn to look at cars as they drive by. You are such a boy.
17. Brenna, I love how you play with your Daddy.
18. Joseph, I love how you cuddle on my shoulder
19. Brenna, I love how you bring me a bowl full of dress-up beads and call it “bead soup.”
20. Joseph, I love watching you nurse.
21. Brenna, I love you only sing every third or fourth word of songs
22. Joseph, I love how you look at me as if I am the center of your universe. I guess I am the center of your universe.  I love that too.
23. Brenna,  I love how when you haven’t see me for part of the day you say, “Mama!! And come running for a hug.”
24. Brenna, I love it that you still chew on your blankets. It reminds me that you still have a little baby left in you.