Mohawk

Now that Caleb's hair is getting longer, we've had several requests for mohawk pictures. To please his fans, Caleb consented, though we don't have a signature to prove that.

You'll notice that he's trying to crawl out of the tub as I took this picture.

He is always on the move!

Discontent

Caleb is not content to simply enjoy each new skill he acquires. He was so happy when he could sit up on his own, but that didn't stop him from being upset that he couldn't crawl. Now that he can crawl, he wants to walk.

I've noticed a similar trend in my own life. Try something new. Find out it doesn't satisfy my soul. Try something new. Find out it doesn't satisfy my soul. Try something new. And the cycle continues until I remember to be thankful that these things don't satisfy. Yesterday I came across Psalm 90:14: "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." I am so glad that cleaning house, volunteering, and even spending time with my family doesn't satisfy me. (Can you imagine having to clean a toilet in order to be happy? Ugh. How sad would that be?) Thankfully God doesn't just leave me discontented. God provides someone who will satisfy my soul: himself.

Lord, thank you that you've given me a desire for more than this world can give. Thank you for fulfilling those desires in Christ. Your unfailing love satisfies so completely and eternally. I pray that I wouldn't settle for anything but the joy of life in Christ as I go about my day. May you be my desire and my delight.

Energy 2

This is what I've found the past week when I go to get Caleb from his crib:

Any guesses what he's thinking?

I've also snuck into Caleb's room during his naps because it's so entertaining to see how he falls asleep now that he's moving around his crib. This time I think he fell asleep mid crawl. Notice how he has one foot planted, ready to go the minute he wakes up.

Energy

I'm trying to come up with a way to bottle up some of this energy and sell it. If it works out, I think I'll be a millionaire. Or maybe I'll just use it for myself.

Grocery Poll Follow-Up

Several years ago, Luke and I went through a Good Sense Budget Course with our ABF at church. It has been the best study we've gone done on the topic of money. It's both practical and principled. But I'm not planning to do a review of the course today. The Good Sense workbook had some interesting information about food costs. As I have written about all too frequently lately, it's taken me several years to figure out where our food spending should be. This information was helpful to me during that process. Maybe you'll find it interesting as well. According to the USDA Center for Nutrition in October of 2000, a thrifty family of 2 spent $248 per month on food while a liberal family of 2 spent $475.

And I'll leave it at that. I don't think I can possible write more about grocery shopping than I already have. Well, I probably could, but I don't want to write it, and you don't want to read it.

Poll

This week at my moms groups, we had a conversation about grocery shopping, menu planning, and saving money. Since I've discovered the world of blogs, I've discovered how much time can go into menu planning, couponing, and saving pennies. I've come up with a system that works for me--something that doesn't take too much time, but still helps me meet my budget. I was amazed at how much time and money some moms in my group spent on feeding their families. Currently I don't spend a lot of time chasing sales, but I'm wondering if it'd be worth my time. Could I save bunches of money if I spent a little more time? So I'm curious, how much money do you spend on groceries each month, adjusted as if you were feeding two people? The poll is anonymous, so you don't have worry about having a "frugal queen" tiara sent to you in the mail.

Success

Caleb and I met several former coworkers today for lunch. I thought we were doing pretty well. We left on time. I fed Caleb peas, broccoli and prunes without getting any of it on my shirt. I filled my plate at a Chinese buffet while holding Caleb without spilling either my food or Caleb. I ate one-handed while holding Caleb since they didn't have any booster seats. Caleb handed out plenty of smiles even though he really wanted to get down on the dirty floor and crawl around. Caleb only pulled off his pants once. I had a lot of fun catching up with friends. Then I came home and found food in my teeth. Smooth.

Sweet Angel

For those of you who believe my son is a sweet, innocent angel:

here's proof

that he's isn't.

An Interview with Caleb

Caleb has a few things he'd like to say to all his fans out there:

Enjoy!

So Brave, Young and Handsome

After thoroughly enjoying Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, I was excited to read his next book, So Brave, Young and Handsome. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I only finished the book because it's an easy read and I was hoping for a spectacular finish. The ending wasn't so spectacular. Annoying, nonsensical characters and a wandering plot make for a tedious read. The author may have been trying to reinvent heroism, but I missed it between the slowest chase ever and the "I'm-supposed-to-be-a-deep-thought" one-liners at the end of almost every chapter. My recommendation: Don't waste your time hoping for a good ending to a bad book.

And then I found 10 dollars...

I have some very exciting news to report.

Brace yourselves.

Are you sitting down?

I met my grocery budget for 2008 with ten dollars leftover. Wahoo!

One of my jobs is to be the chef for our family. Although cooking isn't my favorite thing to do, I've decided to enjoy it, since I'm going to do it anyway. This past year, I really wanted to meet our grocery budget and cook good food. I don't consider it success to meet my budget but have Luke groan when he sees what I made for dinner. (Thankfully, he doesn't do that too often.) I also don't consider it success if I spend the right amount of money, but I dread my time in the kitchen making repetitive meals. Because I like to try new things, and Luke likes good meat, our grocery budget can easily get out of hand.

What helped me succeed this year?

1. Planning a menu. Sometimes I do this one week at a time, sometimes two.
2. Setting an amount that I could spend at the grocery store each week that left me with a few dollars to spend on the items I inevitably would forget to buy during my major shopping run. Oh, and I had to stick to this amount. If I inadvertently went over, I'd try to correct the next time I went shopping.
3. Trying new meals every week, but not multiple times per week. New meals tend to cost more because I buy unique items just for that meal without a plan for how to use the rest of that item.
4. Not buying extra food when it was on sale and it would cause me to spend more than my weekly budgeted amount. The exception was when meat would be at the lowest price I could ever find it. Then I'd stock up.

Now that this exciting blog post is over, any ideas on how I should spend my ten dollars?

Perspectives

If you're in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, you should seriously consider taking Perspectives. I took the class in Ames several years ago, and it still gives my brain food for thought and my body motivation for action. The class isn't about becoming a missionary, although be forewarned. After taking this class, you may consider the possibility, even if you never have before. From my experience, Perspectives gives the big picture of God's purpose throughout the Bible, in the world, and in your life, as well as theoretical and practical applications. You can read more about the course's core ideas at the Perspectives website.

Perspectives also fits in perfectly with what Pastor Mark was speaking about last Sunday. Christianity isn't comfortable, or rather, it shouldn't be. Anyone who believes Jesus was born of a virgin, was born in a stable, healed all kinds of people, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and forgave the undeserving is going to have a difficult time being an armchair Christian (or as Pastor Mark was saying, a "moralistic therapeutic deist"). As Reuben Land from Peace Like a River would say, "Real miracles bother people." They bother you enough to change your life. If you're interested in staying your armchair, don't take Perspectives.

Memory

Some people memorize poetry. Others memorize sports statistics. Still others can recite movie dialogues. And then there's the talented few who do all three. (Do you actually know anyone who memorizes sports statistics and poetry? And "Casey at the Bat" doesn't count.) Church kids memorize Bible verses. Before cell phones, people would memorize phone numbers. Some people have recipes memorized. What else do we memorize? Why?

If I can remember my SSN, Luke's SSN, my 13-digit library card number, user names and log-ins for at least 20 websites, most family birthdays a week after they happen, my grandma's phone number, and my identification number as a substitute teacher from 4 years ago, why can't I remember how I was going to finish this sentence?

Can you intentionally remember moments in time? Because there are definitely a few I'd like to hold on to, but I think I've already forgotten them.

So, what methods do you use to remember whatever it is that you want to remember?

Christmas at the Bakers'

Since I'm the youngest on my side of the family, I've seen Christmas traditions change as my brothers married, and then as kids were added to their families. Let's just say the days of duct-taped gifts and quietly reading after the festivities are no longer. Some traditions have remained: reading the Christmas story from either Matthew, Luke, or John, singing Christmas carols, opening presents beginning with the youngest, a big dinner usually including ham loaf, hugs from Grandma, and a competitive game of Monopoly.

I'm thankful for my brothers and their families who made the long trip back to Iowa for Christmas. This year they came by train, plane, and automobile through fog, ice, and snow. I hope it was worth it for them. We certainly enjoyed seeing them.

Caleb playing with one of the many toys he received for Christmas.

Caleb with Grandpa and Grandma and all his Baker cousins.

Mom and Dad's gift to us--an example of Mom's amazing artistry and craftsmanship. (Mom and Dad, we'll think of you when we see it on our dining room wall!)

As you can see, I have fewer pictures from this celebration. It probably has to do with 16 people living in one house and the ensuing chaos, I mean, good cheer. We had a blast and were so glad Caleb could meet his cousins, aunts, and uncles!

Christmas at the Ryons'

Since this was Caleb's first Christmas, I have way too many pictures for one post. So here's a recap of the first segment of our holiday.

We spent December 24-26 in Ottumwa with Luke's family. Christmas with the Ryons includes the Christmas Eve service (even though the singing of "O Holy Night" was missing this year), a retelling of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (from memory), stockings, vanocka (a braided bread pronounced von-e-shki by Luke's family), a gift exchange (only after the vanocka has been eaten), pictures of individuals with their Christmas loot, lots of really good food, peanut M & Ms, and playing with Christmas gifts (video games, puzzles, books, board games). Overall we had a very enjoyable and relaxing time. Thanks for hosting, Ray and Carol!

Caleb was really happy about his stocking. (Notice that it's bigger than he is.) He was even happier with the banana inside--his favorite fruit!

Caleb explored the gifts before the gift exchange started, and before he finished his vanocka!

One of Caleb's favorite gifts was a dinosaur plate, bowl, and cup set. He probably chewed on it for a good 30 minutes! Thanks, Uncle Paul!

Now Caleb and I can play duets! Thanks, Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Michael!

Caleb using his walker the way it was meant to be used. Thanks, Uncle Jason and Aunt Amanda!

Caleb using his walker "creatively."

And one of Caleb's favorites: a tonka truck. Right now I'm listening to Luke push Caleb up and down (and up and down...) the hallway on this truck.

And the icing on the cake: a pony.

As you can see, Caleb raked in the loot this Christmas--and this was only one side of the family! What can I say? We have very generous families.

Peace Like a River--a story worth reading.

For the majority of my reading I'm torn between two poles. I can read something readable and enjoyable, but of no lasting consequence (i.e. pop fiction and Christianesque fiction) or I can read something serious, thought-provoking and painful (i.e. Pilgrim's Progress and Faulkner). I guess most reading is like most food: good or good-for-you. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger manages to bridge the gap between these two poles, creating some readable, seriously enjoyable, and thought-provoking fiction. I suppose if Peace Like a River were food, it'd be Citrus Salmon with Pineapple Orange Salsa.

The plot line is pretty far out there. Far enough that when I first came across the book and read the teaser paragraph, I dismissed it. After reading the book, the extraordinariness of the book became one of the things I loved about it. In fact the narrator's purpose is to serve as a witness to the miraculous. As he says several times in the book:
"Is there a single person on whom I can press belief?
No sir.
All I can do is say, Here's how it went. Here's what I saw.
I've been there and am going back.
Make of it what you will."

Ooo, I love that part. But you have to read the book to see how cool that part really is. I love the frank, straightforward approach of the narrator. No manipulation, no marketing. It's your choice whether you believe him or not. After all, he's speaking of miracles. And this is what he says about miracles:
"Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it's been used to characterize things or events that , though pleasant are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week--a miracle, people say, as if they've been educated from greeting cards. I'm sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word. Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature.... A miracle contradicts the will of the earth" (page 3).

Aside from the well-told story, this book was worth my time for several other reasons. The picture of a father frequently wrestling in prayer with someone alive and active was one treated carefully and not typecast as a fundamentalist freak show. Also refreshing was seeing a character committed to standing up for what's really right and wrong, not just legally right and wrong, and patiently training his son, Reuben, to do the same. This story lives and breaths faith, miracles, and an active and present God without having to pause for preaching. I did find the nine-year-old Shakespeare-Stevenson-Homer-quoting poet who reads gazillions of westerns and understands poetic meter (and despises free verse) slightly unbelievable, but in a book highlighting the miraculous, how can I argue with a character's plausibility? Characters in Peace Like a River turn an unbelievable, crazy kind of belief into real, compassionate, and faith-filled life. I highly recommend it--that kind of life and that kind of reading.