Stuff Cobbs Like #9: Courtney

The Cobbs really like Courtney!  She has been a great babysitter for us.   She has enabled us to go out on date night on Fridays.  She has been such a blessing to us!  Mason and Miles love having Courtney come over.  They scream with excitement when they hear her knocking on the door.  It is so nice to feel good about leaving our precious children in the care of such a sweet young lady.  What are we going to do when she transfers colleges?!  Thank you Courtney!  We really appreciate you!

Stuff Cobbs Like #8: Date Night

Cobbs really like date night!  Erick and I try to get out every Friday night without the kiddos.  It is great to get out and have a quiet relaxing dinner and share our thoughts with one another.  Erick and I are creatures of habit.  We pick one of our three favorite restaurants (we are waiting for Tony and Holly to introduce Harry's Restaurant to us sometime!).  We usually go out to dinner and then cruise around Barnes and Noble.  If you are married, date night is so important!  It is a great time to give uninterrupted attention to your spouse.  The kids like us going out on date night too because they get to play with their favorite babysitter.  We do often go out to dinner as a family, but not on date night.  Family dinners/lunches are fun but often our conversations are very distracted and interrupted.  It has been so good for Erick and I to just enjoy each other and help keep my spouse my best friend!

Stuff Cobbs Like #7: Veggie Tales

Cobbs like Veggie Tales.  I am not just talking about Mason and Miles.  The Veggie Tales entertain the whole Cobb family.  Since the boys have been sick, we have been watching a lot of these crazy vegetables lately.  So much so that Miles (3 years old) has the theme song pretty much memorized.  He will just start singing it anywhere.  Today we were at Petco buying Hula another collar (I think this is the 3rd one she has eaten) and Miles starts singing the Veggie Tales theme song.  I think he might have been given the gift of "the voice that carries" just like Erick.  Miles only inherited two things from Erick: his height and a voice that carries.  Anyways, back to the Veggie Tales.  The boys love these movies and Erick and I think they are fun too.  My favorites (and Erick's too) are Madame Blueberry (a lesson in thankfulness/contentment) (Pleasnick might have found his blog name from this movie?) and Esther - the girl who became queen (a lesson in courage).  Mason and  Miles' favorites are Lord of the Beans (a lesson in using your gifts) - this is a spin off of Lord of the Rings and they also really like The Ballad of Little Joe (a lesson in facing hardship).  Mason really did not like Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed!  It gave him nightmares.  The Veggie Tales also have a "Silly Song" in every movie (I think).  My favorite "Silly Songs" are "The Cheeseburger Song" and "The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps", but Miles doesn't like the "scary bear" in the Veterinarian Song.  Erick's favorite "Silly Song" is "The Belly Button Song". We have only seen less than half of the Veggie Tales movies so we have a bunch to look forward to when the next wave of sickness sweeps through our house :-)

Stuff Cobbs Like #5: Mark Driscoll

Cobbs like Mark Driscoll.  Erick has been at the Resurgence Conference this week.  The conference is held at Mars Hill Church in Seattle.  Today Erick is listening to Driscoll teach.  Mark Driscoll is the teaching pastor at Mars Hill Church and co-founder of Acts 29 (a church planting network). 

Erick and I have greatly enjoyed Driscoll's preaching!  He is very bold, frank, humorous, and preaches the gospel without compromise. 

Mars Hill Church's Media Library

The Resurgence (Blog that Driscoll co-authors)

Stuff Cobbs Like #4: Matt Chandler

The Cobbs really like Matt Chandler!  And yes you guessed it, Erick is going to hear Chandler speak at the Resurgence Conference today.  Chandler is the teaching pastor at The Village Church in Highland Village, Texas.   I remember the first time I heard Chandler.  It was about 3 years ago.  I was in the van with Erick and our two boys.  We were driving down to Sea World.  Erick popped Chandler in the CD player.  I don't even remember exactly what his message was on but I do clearly remember my reaction to him.  Chandler made numerous analogies to labor pains and kept saying "give birth" in a very dramatic way.  The birth of my own 2 kids was still vivid in my memory.  Every time he said "birth" or "labor" (which was an excessive number of times) I started to panic and sweat!  Make him stop saying that!  I was so distracted, I couldn't take anymore of him! 

Then in 2006, I went to the Resurgence Conference and guess who was one of the speakers?  Yes, Matt Chandler was there.  I think I even growled.  But I asked God to give me ears to hear and a soft heart.  I was really moved by his message that day and decided to give him another chance.  By this time Erick was a huge fan of Chandler.  He was subscribed to his podcast and listening to him daily!  After the conference, I started listening to Chandler on my iPod everyday while the boys had their nap.  We have been so blessed by his teaching!  I loved his series on Ecclesiastes.  I made copies for every one I new.  I wanted everyone to hear this guy!

Erick is convinced that he and Matt are twins separated at birth!  He cannot believe how much they think alike and yet they don't even know each other!  I told Erick that he needs to get his picture taken with Chandler today at the conference :-) 

Listen to Matt Chandler by going to his message archives or subscribe to The Village Podcast.

Stuff Cobbs Like #3: John Piper

Cobbs like John Piper (are you noticing a slight trend?).  Erick is listening to Piper speak tonight at the Resurgence Conference.  Isn't he having a great day!  John Piper is a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church.  Piper has authored numerous books, too many for me to list (Don't Waste Your Life, and Desiring God...).  If you are on our Christmas card list you probably have received one of his books in the mail at some time.  I remember a while back when Desiring God (Piper's website) did an overhaul of their website and made all of Piper's messages available and free.  Erick was so excited.  I thought he won the lottery.  I enjoy reading Piper's blog and he also has some great resources available about abortion and the sanctity of life. 

I was "helping" Mason with a project for school and we were reading quotes from Abraham Lincoln.  One quote from Lincoln went: "When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees".  I thought that was humorous, but it also made me think of Piper.  He has such passion for God and it really shows visibly when he preaches.

Resource Library (sermons, online books, interviews, poems, biographies, articles, seminars...)

Books by John Piper

Desiring God Blog

Stuff Cobbs Like #2: C.J. Mahaney

The Cobbs like C.J. Mahaney!  Erick and I have been so blessed by the teaching of C.J. Mahaney and the ministry at Covenant Life Church.  Mahaney has written some outstanding books such as:  The Cross Centered Life, Living the Cross Centered Life, Humility, Christ Our Mediator, Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God, and I just finished reading How Can I Change?  I highly recommend all of his books.  They are short, easy to read, he is a very clear writer, and they will transform your life!  You should read them all!  Mahaney has really encouraged us to keep the Gospel as the most important part of our lives.  What Christ has done for us on the cross should affect all of our thoughts and actions.

Today, Erick has the privilege to hear C.J. Mahaney speak at the Resurgence Conference in Seattle.  Mahaney will be speaking on "Pastoral Character and Loving People". 

I like C.J.'s wife, Carolyn also!  She has been a great inspiration to me.  But she will get her own future post!

Resources by C.J. Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries

Covenant Life Church, Mahaney's church

C.J. Mahaney's Blog

Stuff Cobbs Like #1: Rain

Cobbs love rain!  It is so crazy that we happen to live in one of the driest places when we love the rain so much!  There is something about the sound and smell of rain.  It is so refreshing.  Back in our Davis days... I remember the first year I was there it rained for 40 days straight!  I thought I was in paradise (except for the smell of the tomato cannery)!  Every summer we seriously think about moving out of Murrieta because it is so hot and dry.  Two years ago we had the atlas out and had our eyes fixed on Corvallis, OR.  It was a college town similar to Davis and it looked like it got a lot rain.  But alas we are still here.  Right now it looks like we are here for the long haul, but ask me in the summer and I might have a different opinion.  Hawaii sounds nice too, but I don't think they have Trader Joe's over there yet (that is another post coming soon).  We are loving rainy days like today and wish we could enjoy them more often.

Stuff Cobbs Like - Intro Post

This is my new category on Cobb Salad, "Stuff Cobbs Like".  I am so excited!  I have a ton of ideas to toss out there!  "Stuff Cobbs Like" is a spin off of a hilarious blog called "StuffWhitePeopleLike" (if you are easily offended don't read StuffWhitePeopleLike).  StuffWhitePeopleLike has created great entertainment for Erick and I.  We wish we had come up with their idea, but oh well.  So this will be my personal version.  I think we related to so many of their posts because we lived in the college town, Davis, CA when Erick was going to veterinary school.  Davis was the bicycle capital.  Davis had a large farmers market.  Dogs were a huge part of everyone's life in Davis (The dog park was extremely popular.  It was common to see 50 people and 80 dogs at the dog park/cemetery).   Erick and I grew to love expensive sandwiches at Zia's in Davis.  There was a co-op grocery store in Davis (it was too organic for me).  We also grew to love public radio while we lived in Davis.  We looked forward to listening to Garrison Keillor's voice and also hearing "Fresh Air" as we drove around in our hip Jetta (this was in the 90's so we had the "IT" car, I guess).  I could go on and on, but needless to say we related to a lot of the posts in "StuffWhitePeopleLike" and largely due to living in Davis.  So every once in a while I will throw you a random post of "Stuff Cobbs Like" and you will get a thorough sociological study of the Cobb family.

*There is no significance to the numbers!

Please toss the salad...

So sorry that Cobb salad has snoozed off for a bit.  Mason has been sick (now poor "Boo" looks like he is getting it) and we have been homebound, so not too many adventures to write about.  But do not fret!  I have had a burst of ideas and Cobb salad is about to explode!  I have the computer all to myself since Erick is at the Resurgence Conference with Jake and Josh.  They are listening to teaching from John Piper, CJ Mahaney, Matt Chandler, and Mark Driscoll!  And they are getting to stay with the Mulkeys! 

Stay tuned for a new "category" is about to be tossed into the salad!

So glad to be home

Erick, Miles and I (Mason stayed with grandma Kristie and Pops) took a trip out to Vegas.  Erick had a veterinary conference and needed to get some continuing education.  I think Erick's highlight of the trip was eating at the Mad Greek in Baker.  This is the most tacky restaurant!  It is filled with "Greek" statues, fake flowers and signs that pretty much state they don't care about costumer service.  But they do claim to be world famous and according to Erick they do have the best gyro! 

My highlight of the trip was the totally spontaneous stop at the Bass Pro Shop in Vegas.  We saw this place from the freeway and decided to check it out.  It was unbelievable!  I once saw a whole hour long show on just the inside of this store on the travel channel.  This place was a crack up.  They sold everything you could ever want in camouflage.  They had camouflage steering wheels, tents, and even camouflage pacifiers (I guess they would come in handy if you wanted to take your infant hunting with you)!  Erick even wore the right attire for this place (camouflage thermal shirt)!  This place is Disneyland for hunters, fishermen, and campers.  They had gigantic aquariums filled with live fish and a bunch of animals that had been stuffed :-(  There was an indoor target practice area, archery area, rock climbing wall, and on and on.  Crazy!

Miles' favorite part of the trip was the "dancing water" at the Bellagio Hotel.  We didn't really plan on going to see the water show but it happened to start just as we were walking by.  Very cool.  I don't think I will be bringing the boys back to Vegas again.  Nudity was every where and was worse than I remembered.  I am glad Mason was not with us! 

We stayed at THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay.  It was very sheek!  I would recommend it if you are not into all the casino action and the whole Vegas Strip seen.  It didn't smell like smoke, you didn't have to walk through a casino to register, it was right by the conference center, the rooms were spacious, but it was very pricey and I kind of felt like I was not hip enough to be in that hotel.  But it was very elegant.

Oh, and how can I forget!! It was so funny Miles and I meet Erick for lunch during his conference break and we ran into Dean Krakauer (Lauren and Hannah's dad).  He was there setting up for a trade show.  So Cool!  Also someone next to us at dinner said that "Dog the Bounty Hunter" was in our hotel!  I so wish we saw him!  I totally would have had him autograph Miles and got a picture of him holding Miles!!!  Too bad!

We got home and picked up Mason who has "croup" again!!!   He is coughing like crazy today.  Poor guy, I missed him so much!  I only got 2 and 1/2 hours of sleep last night and have 12 loads of laundry to do; but I am so glad to be home with both of the boys!

Kaleo Valentine's Dinner

On Valentine's night some of the gentlemen at Kaleo treated the Kaleo ladies to an extravagant event!  Erick and I were not there, but I heard it was unbelievable!  Way to go guys!  To see the photos of the evening go to Kaleo's Flickr site.

Turkey-Pesto Pot Pie

Tonight's dinner was so easy and tasty too.  I found the idea in a recent Better Homes and Gardens cooking magazine but adapted it a bit.  It makes 2 servings (which is fine because the kiddos are not really into soup/stew).  Takes about 15-20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 12-ounce jar turkey gravy, 1/3 cup basil or dried tomato pesto (I used basil pesto), 1 package (6 oz) of Butterball turkey breast strips fully cooked (at Ralph's it was located by the deli meat), 1/2 cup frozen peas, 1/2 cup frozen corn, 1/2 cup frozen sliced carrots, 1 package of refrigerated breadsticks the ones in a tube (I had to substitute with flaky biscuits), season top with basil and garlic.  I tend to just eyeball everything, so I hope this is right :-)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375.  In a saucepan, combine gravy and pesto; stir in turkey and veggies.  Bring to boil, stirring frequently.  Pour into 2 single serving casserole dishes.

2.  The recipe I saw used the refrigerated breadsticks that come in a tube.  It looked really cool in their picture but of course the store did not have the breadsticks so I substituted with flaky biscuits.  If you try the breadsticks, unroll and separate breadsticks.  Arrange one breadstick on top of each casserole, curling into a spiral to fit.  If you want you can sprinkle with Parmesan, basil or garlic.

3.  Bake casseroles about 15 minutes or until breadsticks are golden.  Bake remaining breadsticks according to package directions.

Wild Animal Park

Mason acting like a lion cub ready to pounce on brother Miles.

My niece, Lucy

I took the boys to the Wild Animal Park today.  I meet my parents, my brother, sister in-law and their 2 kids.  The lions had 7 baby cubs.  They were so cute!  I am so bummed because none of my pictures of the cubs turned out good.  I will have to go back again soon and bring Erick's camera.

Happy Valentine's Day

Erick has been VERY excited about Tim Keller's new book, The Reason for God.  He has been talking about it for months or maybe a year.  It is being released today.  It looks like a great book.  I think I'll even read it when Erick is done.  I am off to Barnes and Noble to get it for my love for Valentine's Day.  I am hoping they were cool enough order it!

Erick, happy Valentine's day!  I love being married to you.  I love watching how our Lord continually refines and strengthens you!  You are a joy to live with and to serve God along your side.  Thank you for loving me so sacrificially and for teaching the gospel to me constantly. I love you!

Update 2-14-08:  Barnes and Noble does not have the book yet.  Bummer :-(  They said it will be there in about a week.

Update 2-15-08:  Got the book!!  It was the last one.  There was a big empty spot on the self next to the book, looks like they have sold a few :-)

Handling Our Feelings

I found this article on girltalk today, Handling Our Feelings.

Snow Day at Big Bear

 

We had such a fun day playing in the snow (and eating snow).  More on Flickr.

How Can I Change?

I have just started reading How Can I Change? by C.J. Mahaney and Robin Boisvert.  This is so good!  I can't believe I have not read this already!  I just finished reading chapter 4 "The Battle Against Sin".  He is so right, we are so quick to make excuses or label our "struggles" with some psychology terminology, but we usually neglect to call it what it is, SIN!  This book is so insightful and practical.  LOVE IT!  I think I will add it to my "read every year" list.  Go get it.  Now!  It is on sale (this February only) for $5 and free shipping.  There are also others in this set series and some other great books, music, and some free audio available!

Dog Park!!!

Hula, our Boston Terrier.  This picture is from Erick's Flickr site.

We just got a notice from the city of Murrieta that they are planning on making an official dog park behind our house!!!  We have a GIANT park behind us.  We love taking the boys down there and go exploring in the "woods".  Part of the park has been an unofficial dog park for years.  It was great place to meet people from the community.  But recently the city started ticketing dog owners for letting their dogs run off lease, which kind of ruined the fun.  We are so excited about having a place for our hyper dog to run crazy with the other canines and a place for us to chat with people in our neighborhood.  They will be making a parking lot and a fenced area for the dogs.  So cool!  Hopefully we don't have any uptight and cranky people show up at the planning meeting to try to spoil our dogs fun!

Wishes of a 5 year old

Mason is the "Star of the Week" at his school.  He had to make a poster about himself to share with his class.  On the poster he had to draw a picture of his family, glue a photo of himself on it, write 3 things he wishes for, put pictures of his favorite things, put pictures of what he does not like, and a picture of what he wants to be when he grows up.  Here is what he put on his poster.

Mason's 3 wishes:  1.  That Jesus would come visit me  2. that I would have more birthdays  3.  that I had a penguin.

Mason's Favorite things:  Legos, cats, hot wheels, strawberries, brother Miles, fishing with dad, and soccer.

Mason does not like:  Cactus, spiders, scorpions, and snails

What Mason wants to be: a police man

He also had to bring in something from home to share with the class.  He brought in a horse tooth  =)

Wishes of a 3 year old

Miles found fifty cents this morning.  I asked him what he was going to do with it.  He said he was going to buy a roller coaster, a big pizza, a monster truck and a hair dryer for me.