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I just pulled chocolate cake out of the oven. Mmm it smells good. I found the recipe at Passionate Homemaking. It is 100% whole wheat, but is so moist and delicious. I am extra glad to have something that tasty coming out of the oven, since we’ve been dealing with a malfunctioning oven for the last couple of days. There is something very shiny and new coming to my house tomorrow to fix that problem for good…

Since posting last we’ve had several lovely days “following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string”, as Anne Shirley says. Greta has discovered a love for being outside. She loves to spend time outside walking around in her little Ollie-the-owl shoes on the concrete pad, making forays into the grass or the garden, stooping to pick up a special rock to carry around for the rest of her time outside. She knows how to get out, so I have to keep a close eye on her and make sure the doors stay locked. : ) She is careful, though, and knows to get her coat and shoes on before going outside and to hold onto the railing as she goes down the front steps. She asked ‘specially to go out this afternoon, but unfortunately it was raining too hard to be much fun for a little girl. She likes to pick Johnny-jump-up flowers from my patch. So pretty!

She got a new little camp chair at a tool sale in town last week, complete with a cup holder for her sippie that she uses when she is outside in the garage with Daddy or the garden with Mommie. (She actually says “mama” to me now, which I find completely thrilling!) She used it last weekend to hop into periodically while she was helping me (and Grandma, and Auntie…and later others) dig up our new garden on the west side of the house.

Greta is altogether a girl. She is drawn to all things pretty: “Prow!” She loves to dress up already and will go around the house with her favorite turquoise blue t-shirt or another similarly bright article of clothing (hopefully clean). She puts it on her head ‘cause she thinks its so pretty. She has had a cold over the last week or so and it learning how to blow her nose, so (somewhat unfortunately) she’ll practice on her same favorite t-shirt or a cloth from the towel cupboard, holding it up to her nose (or her forehead!) and blowing…then dress-up time is resumed. : ) The other day she had her little pink bucket to play with and worked hard arranging and rearranging her little collection of toys and sippie in there, then walked out onto the porch, saying “bye!”. Apparently she was going on an expotition. She also loves to stir things in her little tin cup.

I’ve been maniacally crocheting potholders for the last couple of days. Mine were getting worn and I decided to use some yarn ends to make myself a new set. I am quite pleased to have them. : ) I had the idea Sunday evening and, in my usual obsessive style, had one almost done on Monday.

Crocheting is greatly improved by listening to good sermons, and I have had several good ones to listen to this week. I just found Pastor Francis Chan for the first time this week, thanks to Mama, thanks to Ann. His sermons are so edifying. I look forward to making my way through all of them that I can find. I’ve found good listening through links at “Between Two Worlds” as well, as always. Sermons, I meant, but also through J.T. I discovered LeCrae and his music. Wow. “God honoring, culture piercing and world-view shaping”, as Thabiti Anyabwile put it here in his podcast on “Holy Hip Hop”. I was impressed by LeCrae’s testimony, given in three interviews by Desiring God, beginning here. I am thankful that God raises up men like this to unashamedly proclaim Christ. I’ve been fed.

***

Your money your singleness, marriage, talents, your time/

they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine/

that's why it's Christ in my rhymes/

That's why it's Christ all the time/

see my whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines/

.

I refuse to waste my life/

he's too true ta chase that ice/

here's my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ/

If he's truly raised to life/

then this news should change your life/

and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.

--LeCrae

***

Rosie’s cold so far hasn’t seemed to improve much…throat for a while, now sinus nasties and a wet cough. She’s teething too (eye teeth), but has been a remarkably cheerful little soul despite it all. She is sleeping well now; I am glad. She is positively the snuggliest, squishiest, yummiest little person I’ve ever met.

My man’s project in his free time these days is making a smoker--as in one of those big grill-things with a firebox on the side for smoking a brisket for a party or something. We’re pretty excited to try it out. It’s going to be a nice looking smoker, all stainless! (It’s helpful to have a metalworker for a husband.)

Speaking of which…the handsome dude made a beautiful aluminum rack to hang my pots and pans from above my stove. I am thrilled! I have wanted one ever since I was old enough for Mama to show me pictures of elements of her dream kitchen. (I’m not sure where her ideas leave off and mine begin, but we love it that way! It works for us. A synergy.)

Well, so now you know that I’m still here. I’m doing the dailies (some of them at least) and seeking to do them in light of eternity. Sometimes that means shutting off my computer so the real here and now is all there is. I do like checking in to a few favorite places for encouragement and inspiration, though.