The Mill's Sundried Tomato Caesar Dressing

This dressing is so yummy!  I just went and picked up a quart of it.  The Sundried Tomato Caesar Dressing is not just for salads.  I love to dip my pizza or bread in it.  If you have never been to the Mill you should go.  They are located on Washington St. in Old Town Murrieta.  They have a unique menu with salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza and soup.  You can come taste their fabulous dressing tonight at our house.  Tonight is the last book club meeting for "Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart".  The meeting last week was awesome!  You won't want to miss it!  Come join us tonight and have a taste of this wonderful dressing/dip and hear a great discussion on an excellent book!!

Biblical Femininity

I just wanted to pass on some additional resources to you on last Sunday night's message at Kaleo, "Why husbands and wives should invest in a missional home".  If you missed Erick's message you can download it here (he sounds like he is yelling because it was pouring very loud rain).  Also if you want to listen to the first three messages in Kaleo's relationship series here they are: 

Message 1:  Marriage:  Creation, Frustration, and Redemption

Message 2:  Biblical Masculinity

Message 3:  Marriage:  Living Gospel Reenactment

Message 4:  Why Husbands and Wives should invest in a missional home

The following are books (and two blogs) that I have read and have inspired me to create a godly missional home and help me be excited about being a wife and mom!  Also, I want to encourage you all to come Sunday Morning to Faith Bible Church.  Chris Mueller will be preaching through Ephesians 5  for the next few months!  Please join us!!!!


1.  Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

2.  Girl Talk:  Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood by Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre

3.  www.GirlTalk.blogs.com  blog by Carlolyn Mahaney and her 3 daughters

4.  Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart by John Ensor

5.  Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes (also good are Disciplines of a Godly Family, and Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes)

6.  Love that Lasts by Gary and Betsy Ricucci  (my favorite book about marriage)

7.  Helper By Design by Elyse Fitzpatrick

8. Radical Womanhood blog by Carolyn McCulley (Sovereign Grace Ministries)

And for those who really want to do a very in depth study on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood:
1.  Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood:  A Response to Evangelical Feminism by John Piper and Wayne Grudem
2.  Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem
*I have not read the above two books (too thick for me, 500-700 pages) but Erick has read them.  They answer a lot of questions on this subject.

The "Umberto"

OK, I know this is very random, but it is my blog.... so, oh well  ;-)

This is the first post for my new category "favorite finds".  It all started about 8 years ago when I flippantly tossed my favorite hair brush in the trash, just because it was getting old.  I thought it would be easy to replace.  Oh boy, was I wrong!  I have been on a quest for the perfect brush ever since I tossed my brush some 8 years ago.  I have bought a new brush at least once a year in hopes of finding that perfect one.  Each time I have been disappointed... until today!  I have found it, the "Umberto" hairbrush #302!  I was at Target (of course) buying Erick some hair styling product and there was the brush!  The "Umberto" was not with the "regular" hair brushes, but it was just sitting in a beautiful gold box on the self with the "high end" hair products (nothing but the best for Erick's gorgeous hair).  So, I picked up the brush.  I was not swayed by the gold box, or the fact that it said "Beverly Hills", or that it promised smooth, shiny, beautiful results, or by the ridiculous price, but by the impressive stiff bristles.  I want a brush that will really scrape my scalp, and boy I was not let down this time!  Finally, I found it!

Jackson's 6th Birthday

Last year we had new neighbors move in across the street.  We really like hanging out with them.  They have two young boys, just like us :-)  Their oldest boy is Jackson.  He had his 6th birthday party today.  Mason and Miles had so much fun!  There was a "Jolly Jump Slide", the largest Thomas the Train setup I have ever seen, great BBQ-ing, tasty birthday cake, and a rocket pinata.  Miles was so exhausted when we got home, that he fell asleep on the living room floor!   Happy birthday, Jackson!

 

"Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart" Discussion Night 2

We had a great turn out for the second book discussion night (Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart, by John Ensor).  Erick said that last night was "the best book study [he] has been to."  The discussion last night was great!  I think that more people read the book this time which really helps keep the discussion going.  Jake did a fantastic job leading last night. 

We talked about the weakness and harm that feminism has caused women and how when it really comes down to it, all women do want protection from men (all women would want a man to let them and the children out of a burning building first).  We discussed the man's role is to lead, provide and protect in a loving and sacrificial way.  Women should be encouraging men in these areas and are to welcome leadership, provision, and protection from men.   We know that the curse (in Genesis) has made us want to fight against these biblical roles, but with the wisdom of the Bible and from learning from godly families we can change our worldly views into what God has designed.  The last chapter we talked about had good advise for singles.  The section was titled "Abstaining for Different Reasons".  Ensor talks about the complementary motives of being sexually pure in an unmarried relationship.  "Men protect women by their chastity.  Women, by their chastity, test the maturity and character of the man pursuing them."  Further on Ensor says, "Brothers, our power to abstain from sexual impurity and to practice sexual self-control with those whom we fall in love comes from two sources.  One is the love of God accompanied by a childlike desire to please him.  The other is love for others, accompanied by the desire to protect, that such love prompts within us.  Brothers, practice sexual self-control out of a desire to protect her from sin, guilt, shame, embarrassment, pregnancy, and the fallout that all women bear so disproportionately from sex outside of marriage."  I loved the "Manhood Test Kit" illustration for women at the end of chapter 10.  What a great way to weed out the immature, self-centered, ungodly man and even the predatory man.  Young ladies stand strong in your godly convictions and pick your man wisely!  It will make your role in marriage so much more enjoyable and easy!

Tree Hugger

Number of aborted children in the U.S.

I just saw this visualization on Justin Taylor's blog today.  We need to pray that this will end soon!

Grieving...

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward."  Psalm 127:3

The good Lord has blessed Erick and I with three children.  Our youngest would have turned 1 year old this month, but we were never given the opportunity to hold that child.  I lost our baby in a miscarriage.  We grieved mightily over the death of that unborn child, but we know we will be reunited with that child in heaven some day.

Today I am sitting here grieving for all the millions of unborn babies that have be killed by their mothers in abortions.  Tomorrow is the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.  I know that I am surrounded by women and girls that have done this to their babies.  The statistics cause tears to well-up in my eyes.  I know that a lot of those moms are filled with grief and remorse for what they have done.  I pray that they will repent and seek forgiveness in Jesus Christ.  Jesus has paid for all of our sins with his blood on the cross. We can all be made pure and right before God with repentance and trust in Jesus Christ. 

So, because of the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I have posted a few very valuable links about abortion.

1.  10 Reasons Why it is Wrong to Take the Life of Unborn Children by John Piper

2.  Every year John Piper gives a Sanctity of Life message.  These are available to listen to for free on DesiringGod.org

3.  John Piper also lists some very useful resources for speaking against abortion.

4. Randy Alcorn also has a list of pro-life resources.

"For you formed my inward parts;  you knitted me together in my mother's womb."  Psalm 139:13

Day off together

The Family woke up bright and early and jogged over to Bruegger's Bagels.  OK, just joking about the jogging.  We ate our tasty bagels and headed off in our rental van to San Diego.  The "Great Cobb Odyssey" got discharge orders from the Honda hospital in San Diego where it got gravely ill on Tuesday.  I was filled with excitement about getting the Honda back (I like the Odyssey much more than the Sienna we rented, even with this bit of trouble it had).  Funny thing...  we discovered at the San Diego Honda dealer that we have Honda insurance (an extended warranty)!  HA!  We did not know that on the past two visits to the Temecula Honda hospital!!!  So, we should be getting mucho dinaro back.  Yeah!!!

After picking up the van, we drove down to Mexico (or as Mason pronounces it Messico).  Well, we didn't actually go into Mexico, but close enough.  We went to the San Ysidro outlet center.  The Mexican border runs right behind the outlet stores.  We went to the Stride Rite outlet.  Mason got some super cheap, but very cool reptile shoes and Miles got some not so cheap, but also very cool "Super-ball" shoes (supposed to help him jump high?).

Then we ate lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Miguel's Cocina.  But not at the usual Coronado location.  We discovered they also have a Eastlake location.  Oh my, this place is sooo yummy!  The decor was cool, kind of a combination of Mexico and a village in Colorado.  Mason got to wrestle a wild pig and don't tell Dr. Mik about the lollipop!!

We also discovered that San Diego has Toll roads.  Did not know this.  We jumped on the 125 in Eastlake to head home and BAM!  There was a machine demanding we give it $2.50 NOW!  Thankfully we had the exact amount because getting change back from a 20 is not an option.  Well, the van made it home without having a cardiac arrest.  Hopefully this is the last if this problem.

After getting home we took the boys and Hula to the "green park" and marveled at all the foreclosed homes.  One little street we drove down had 8 houses for sale!  A very strange sight.

Now Erick and I are relaxing with a little "Iron and Wine" and tapping on our keyboards.  And this has been our day, and I am sure this was not nearly as interesting to you as it was to us :-)

"Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart" Discussion Night 1

Last night was the first night of Kaleo's book discussion on "Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart".  There was a great turn out.  I love this book!   John Ensor has so much great insight.  I hope that everyone at Kaleo reads this book even if they can't come on Thursday nights.  It would provide great guidance for each of their lives and help empower them when their friends come to them with relationship problems.  Last night we talked a lot about the culture's distorted view of love, relationships, and marriage.  Instead of trying to imitate how love is portrayed in movies, novels, TV, and magazines we should seek guidance from the Bible and godly happily married couples in the church as an example to follow. 

There are so many great quotes in this book it is hard for me to pick one!  But last night a young man mentioned if he had a daughter he would want her to heed this quote (me too!)...  "The woman who lacks discretion is defenseless when it comes to fraudulent love.  Sadly, the worst kind of man is often the best at seduction.  They know what to say and are bold to say it.  Godly men are often hesitant and halting.  The predator flows with talk of love and oozes with sensuality.  Predators are devious in that they appear to be conforming to your agenda, when they are merely wearing you down to the point where you conform to their agenda.  They are there to conquer and consume.  Sister, you'd better get discretion or buy Kleenex in bulk."  A little further on Ensor talks more on the importance of discretion for single ladies...  "Sisters, without discretion, you conform to the practices around you.  With discretion comes a little rebellion against the status quo, a little nonconformity.  Without discretion sex is merely Elmer's glue for making things stick.  With discretion comes insight into the value of unmet sexual desire in guiding a man towards the kind of healthy, tender, long-term relationship that is your heart's desire.  Without discretion you are in danger.  With discretion the best of predatory men are easily spotted and defeated.  They are rendered a joke."

I hope everyone (and more) comes back next week.  And please READ the book!

Courage

Mason did great at his procedure this morning.  We took him down to Children's Hospital in San Diego to have a laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy.  We received good news from the doctor.  He believes that Mason has GERD or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (kind of funny because I thought this was an "old-man" disease).  He is apparently producing too much acid and it is refluxing up his esophagus and spilling over onto his larynx and causing inflammation which at times the larynx gets so swollen he has difficulty breathing.  This is good news in that there was no structural malformations that need treatment.  The treatment for GERD is quite simple (no eating before bedtime and elevate the head of his bed, if that is not successful then some antacids or other medications might be prescribed).  We also have steroid medication at home for when he wakes up in the night gasping for air.  The steroids have usually been successful and have prevented many ER visits in the past 5 years.  We were very impressed with the doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital.  They did a fantastic job and made Mason feel comfortable.  Mason learned about courage today.  He trusted his daddy because daddy is doing what is best for him.  Mason learned that courage is doing the right thing even if it is hard and scary.

Part 2 of today's story....                                                                                                              We had a fun day planned for Mason after we left Children's Hospital.  We were going to take Mason to get some new Legos and then eat some yummy food at the Cheesecake Factory.  But as you have all experienced, things don't always go as we have them planned.  When we got in the mini-van (notice it is no longer referred to as the "great Cobb Odyssey") in the hospital's parking garage it wouldn't start!  It was having the same problem as it did last week.  So we called AAA and had the van towed to the mechanics.  Erick was able to share with the tow truck driver (a soon-to-be new dad) about the blessings of having children. We got a rental van and still got to do all our fun stuff.  Mason got some cool Lego race cars from Geppettos Toys and we ate a delicious lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.  Mason ate a grilled cheese sandwich and fries (with a ton of ketchup and ranch, of course), Erick ate a cheese steak sandwich and wild mushroom soup, and I had chips, guacamole, and salsa (and I scavenged off everyone's plates).  All in all, it was a good day.  Thank you for your prayers!  God is good all the time!

*BTW:  I still think my Honda is awesome!  I continue to fully recommend them and I still plan on buying Honda forever.  We just have a hard to diagnosis problem with ours  ;-)

Pray for Mason

Erick and I would appreciate your prayers.  We are taking Mason to Children's Hospital in San Diego.  He will be having a scope done of his trachea and will be under general anesthesia.  Mason has had croup attacks (wakes up gasping for air) since he was 1 years old.  Most children out grow this problem by 4 years of age.  He is 5 and has had an increase in attacks the past 2 years.  Most likely they will find no structural problem (which would be great) and we will continue to treat at the ER and with steroids.  We have had two doctors tell us that the scope is the next necessary step.  So please pray that 1.  they don't find any abnormal problems,  2.  that there will be no complications from the procedure,  3.  that Erick and I will not be anxious but trust in the Lord,  4.  that Mason will not be afraid.

His procedure is at 7:50 am tomorrow (Tuesday).  We will put an updated post tomorrow.

Thank you,
Tasha

Santa Rosa Plateau

Our family and some friends went for a hike up at the plateau.  This is Courtney with our youngest, Miles.  Courtney is a beautiful treasure from God and our kids think she is the "bomb"!

Five-Spice Beef Stew

Dinner at the Cobbs tonight is Five Spice Beef Stew by Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Slow Cooker Recipes.

Ingredients:

2 pounds beef stew meat (cut into 1-inch pieces), 1 pound baby carrots, 2 cans (14 oz. each) diced tomatoes with onion and garlic, 3/4 cup reduced-sodium beef broth, 1 tablespoon five-spice power (McCormick), salt and black pepper, Hot Mashed potatoes.

Directions:

1.  In a 4-5 quart slow cooker, sir together beef stew meat, carrots, undrained tomatoes, beef broth, and five-spice powder until thoroughly combined.

2.  Cover and cook on LOW heat setting for 8-10 hours.  Season with salt and pepper.

3.  Serve with mashed potatoes.

Asian-Style Steak Hot Pot

Dinner at the Cobbs tonight is Asian-Style Hot Pot from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Slow Cooker Recipes 2

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup uncooked converted rice, 3 and 1/2 cups low sodium beef stock, 1 and 1/2 pounds flank steak (rinsed and patted dry), 1 packet (3/4 oz.) hot and spicy Szechwan mix (divided) this is in the Asian food section: Sunbird brand, 1 package (3.2 oz.) shiitake mushrooms sliced (I substituted sliced frozen carrots), 1 and 1/2 cups frozen peas (I used sugar snap peas), 2 sliced scallions, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 3 tablespoons teriyaki marinade (Kikkoman)

Directions:

1.  Combine rice and beef stock in a 5-quart slow cooker.  Cut flank steak, against the grain, into thin strips.  Season with one tablespoon of Szechwan mix.  Place beef strips in slow cooker on top of rice.

2.  In a medium bowl, combine sliced mushrooms, peas, and scallions; set aside.  In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, teriyaki marinade, and remaining Szechwan mix.  Pour over vegetables and toss thoroughly.  Pour into the slow cooker over beef strips.

3.  Cover and cook on LOW setting for 3 to 5 hours, or until rice is fully cooked.

Korean Toys

So, today is Tuesday and I am still without the great Cobb Odyssey van.  We are all going a bit stir crazy.  I would never survive in an area that snows.  I don't like being stuck at home!  I have even been brave enough to drive Erick's monster work truck to go get groceries the other night.  I don't think I could ever get used to driving anything that enormous.  I have to take up 4 parking spots, but that is just due to my lack of monster truck driving skills.  But I am loving his heated seats!  What a great invention!

Anyways, Don Lee sent the boys some amazing Korean toys.  Let me just say that these Korean kids must be very advanced.  This 3D paper folding kit (pictured above - click on the picture to see the detail) said ages 5 and up but I think in America it would be for ages 12 and up =)  I know that the Koreans have an advantage because they can read the directions, but I still think if their 5 year olds can build these they are absolutely amazing!  Well, Don I had a ton of fun building this (send me more, please!!).  The boys think it is very cool.  We have never seen anything like this in the U.S.  It was a perfect project for our "snowed in day".  Don, I love the plum tea you sent too!  Thank you so much!

Favorite Music Album of 2007

Armchair Apocrypha by Andrew Bird is my pick for 2007!  In Rainbows by Radiohead is right up there too, but I think it technically came out in the stores in 2008.  So, I guess I'll have to save Radiohead for 2008.   

Day in the rain

Today was one of those days that you can only laugh at.   Erick took Mason to his office and I took Miles to Lowes.  I left the house wearing two different shoes, very different - one black and one brown. I have never done this before (seriously!) and always wondered how people could actually do this.  Well now I know... it just happens.  I think it was a sign of how the rest of the day was going to be.  I probably should have just turned around and went home, but no not me.  After walking all over Lowes in my two different shoes, Miles and I decided to go to Taco Bell for some lunch.  This is the point where Miles starts to have some fun.  The great Cobb Odyssey van just died in the middle of Madison and Los Alamos!  Just died!!  It wouldn't move, and yes Mr. Tow Truck driver I have plenty of gas in the van.  I know because I have two different shoes on that I look like I am not all there upstairs, but I do have gas!

So this is what I found most amusing about today.  There I was standing on the side of a busy intersection, next to a van with the hazard lights flashing, HOLDING A SMALL CHILD, IN THE RAIN... and a couple pulls their car over next to me, NOT to ask if I am OK or if I need help but to ask me for directions!!!!!  What has happened to chivalry?  If it was a young guy in that car I think I would have told him he needs to come on Sunday to Kaleo to learn about Biblical masculinity!!!  If anything, I think this might make a good sermon illustration for Erick.  Well, obviously I made it home thanks to my cell phone, AAA, and my dear husband.

So, to all you young men, next time you see a woman next to a broken car, holding a small child, in the rain, First ask if she is OK and if she needs help.  Do not ask her to help you first.  NOT COOL!  And come on Sunday night to learn more about being a man!!  OK, I am going to drink some of Don's hot Korean tea and calm down and enjoy the wonderful rain =)

10 Resolutions for Mental Health

10 Resolutions for Mental Health by John Piper.

New Years Day with the Wood Family

Mason and Scarlet

Miles, the warrior.

Mason and Scarlet

Scarlet

Mason

Dustin and Rocco

Happy New Year!

Me and Hula.