do they really look alike?

here is a picture of marit and graham at the same age...even in the same sleeper. do you think they look similar?

per request

here you go tara! it's super easy and one of our new favorites. and of course it's from real simple...

Rice Pilaf with Chorizo and Scallions
Real Simple

1 6- to 8-ounce box rice pilaf
4 ounces Spanish chorizo (cured sausage), sliced
4 scallions, chopped

Cook the rice pilaf according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, over medium-high heat, cook the chorizo until just browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir into the pilaf along with the scallions before serving.


Yield: Makes 4 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 309; FAT 15g (sat 5g); CHOLESTEROL 25mg; CARBOHYDRATE 33g; SODIUM 982mg; PROTEIN 11g; FIBER 1g; SUGAR 1g

Product(s) Review: a couple edibles

1. Near East pasta and rice products

These practically instant rice and pasta are so yummy and healthy. Even marit likes the rice pilaf (and she is super picky). One of my favorite meals is rice pilaf with scallions and chorizo sausage



2. Publix brand crumbled goat cheese

I love goat cheese. It has a milder flavor than feta, but is still unique and is so yummy in almost anything. it's a very soft cheese and melts in your mouth. I burnt adam out on feta, so now we are on a goat cheese kick. Usually it is super expensive, but the publix brand is only~$3. love it!

For Sale: Keen Briggs

We are selling these awesome shoes:
Keen Briggs
Men's size 11.5
army peat
normally $90 shoes, we are selling for $50

adam got them for Christmas and wore them 3 times and turns out they are too short for his monster feet.

i have the female version and love them.

Some Animal Sounds

Marit surprised us the other day with her elephant sound. Apparently she loves elephants.

marit and graham photo shoot

i tried so hard to get a picture of them both looking their best, but these are the results. marit is so wiggly!

lately:
*i took them both running today and graham was fussing as he was about to fall asleep and always fusses first (why do they do that anyway?). marit usually just yanks the pacifier in these moments, but today she reached up and held graham's hand and kept on chattering soothingly. so sweet and it actually helped!

*graham has started to laugh. i love it!

*marit "helped" me make cookies for the first time. they turned out a little odd because i was so distracted, but she had a blast!

*the moments of sheer delight make the gazillion more moments of mundane (there is joy in those moments too) all worth it. i love motherhood.

Ramblings on selfishness

i have been thinking a lot about selfishness lately and i started this blog to help me process some of my recurring thoughts, so here we go. i know it's not news to anyone that i am deeply selfish, nor is it probably surprising that you are too. however, it has been on my mind a lot lately because this second child is helping to drive it out of me. sometimes i think the new business that i have been experiencing with two little ones makes me cling to my time and my hobbies and my identity, making my complete and utter self-centeredness all the more obvious. i have always loved this beautiful portion of scripture from Isaiah 58:

If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing finger; and speaking wickedness,
if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of the streets to dwell in.

in her wonderful book Let Me Be a Woman Elisabeth Elliot says this about these verses:
"Here, I think, lies the answer to...a life that might otherwise be selfish or lonely. It is the answer, I have found, to depression as well. You yourself will be given light in exchange for pouring yourself out for the hungry; you yourself will get guidance, the satisfaction of your longings, and strength when you "pour yourself out," when you make the satisfaction of somebody else's desire your own concern; you yourself will be a source of refreshment, a builder, a leader in healing and rest at a time when things around you seem to have crumbled."

"pouring yourself out" most certainly looks different in various seasons, but for me right now that looks like being a servant in my marriage. joyfully caring for my precious, but very dependent, wiggle worms. i'm not talking about mustering up within myself the ability to do good things for others and gritting my teeth against my selfishness. i'm talking about depending on my great Savior to continue to sanctify me as He enables me to not "grow weary in doing well." sure my sin is great, but Jesus is greater to continually change me from the inside out. as He works on my heart, my actions, words, thoughts change too.

i feel like i have the best husband ever and i tell him that, but he also bears the brunt of much of my selfishness working itself out. i wrongly accused him of something ridiculous recently and was deeply convicted the next day of my selfishness. he graciously forgave me as i wept a pathetic apology. all that to say, those closest to us see our selfishness most...for the marrieds, that's your spouse. in closing, mark driscoll talks about selfishness in marriage and relationships.