Aaron's Choice

Last night for dessert I offered two choices to dear husband- fresh strawberries and blueberries OR Bananas Foster.

He replied, "Really Lori, do you need to ask?"

So for dessert we had bananas sauteed with bananas foster sauce over delicious Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

So good!

I found the bananas foster sauce at H-E-B. I so wanted to buy it, then I looked at the price, $5.99. But H-E-B came through for me with a special deal. If I bought a jar of Cookwell & Company Gumbo Starter, I could get the bananas foster sauce free. So for dinner we had Gumbo with sausage and chicken plus our yummy dessert.

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. -Virginia Wolf

The Rats

Our homeschool Co-op opened up a whole new world to us last week- pet rats. Luke is studying all about animals this year so his science teacher decided to have pet rats for his class.

The boys so enjoyed the rats, Faraday and Lovelace, this past week.

Everyday Aaron and the boys would get Faraday and Lovelace out of the cage. The rats mostly wanted to climb and sit on them.

Even though the rats are cute, I just couldn't bring myself to touch them.

The rats are on their way to another family this week, but may return to us later this year. Goodbye for now rats.

Frugal Fashion Show

Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam is hosting a Frugal Fashion Show. She suggested shopping for off season items at thrift stores. Thursday Caleb had drama practice so Luke and I headed to Goodwill. In 45 minutes I snagged some great summer clothes. I didn't try on anything at the store and they almost all fit. Lucky you get to see my new to me clothes.

First up this black cotton dress from Target for $5.99.

I love this white shirt ($3.99) and pants ($4.99).

I love this skirt I got for $3.99. The blouse I had in my closet, but I will be on the lookout for a different white blouse.

Gap linen dress for $5.99. My favorite thing about this dress is the pockets.

Jacket for $4.99


For under $30 I got five new outfits. Score!

I can't wait for warmer weather to wear my new clothes!

Making the Day Special

Monica's post encouraged me to make ordinary days special.

In the afternoon we enjoyed the mild weather outside with cookies and reading aloud from Farmer Boy.

Is there any better book than Farmer Boy?

The boys then played with long forgotten toys.

For dinner spaghetti. Adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese somehow transforms ordinary spaghetti to something special.

After bath time, Luke kept saying, "This was a great day!" I agree.

On Gardens and Rats

I am telling myself this will be the year I have a garden. I am dreaming of this:

And this:

I am going to do it. The only problem is that I do not have a green thumb. I seem to kill plants unintentionally. I either over water them or under water them. It has become a joke in our house. But a person can change right? I, Lori, can become a gardener.

Last night some visitors arrived at our house, Faraday and Lovelace. They are Lukey's science class pet rats. Yes, rats. Every family at Co-op that wants to, gets to take these guys home for a week.

The teacher sent a rat book with the rats. Here is an excerpt from the book:

If you want a pet who's friendly and loving, playful and curious, intelligent and active, quiet, small, and easy to care for, then a rat is what you're looking for!

I told dear husband that I was concerned about keeping the rats safe and alive under our watch this week. His reply was, "Lori they will be fine, they are rats not plants."

Change

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.

-Karen Kaiser Clark

Change has arrived at the Butterfly House. We have lived in our home here in Beaumont for seven years. During six of those seven years dear hubby had a job were he worked from home. If we needed him, he was a knock away in his office. Everyday we would eat lunch together and then Dad would return to work. December 2008 husband was laid off from his job. 2009 saw him returning to school and graduating in December 2009. Now we are in January 2010 and change is coming. My dear husband is re-entering the job force outside of the home. What will we do without him for 9 hours a day?

Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.

-W. Somerset Maugham

Have I mentioned how much I love my husband? How I know I was meant to be his wife? How I believe we have a great future? I am so thankful for him.

O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD—

he is their help and shield.

Psalm 115:10

Today

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

My favorite things from the week

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

Rogers & Hammerstein, "My Favorite Things"

Purple sweater and purple plates

Warming our toes at the fire

Caleb's blue eyes

Breakfast with hot tea

Boys playing with Dad

*At the Butterfly House this week we have been facing a little disappointment and having to make some hard decisions about our future. Remembering some of my favorite things from the week helps me not to feel so bad.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them

who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Favorite Books of 2009

Here are my favorite books of 2009:


I love to read and I love books, but I also like to be frugal, so I get my books where I can. I find books at garage sales, thrift shops, and on clearance. So some of my favorite books of 2009 were published years before. I also buy books with birthday money, put books on my Christmas list, and occasionally splurge and buy a new book. Two of these books I won in a giveaway too! The books are:

1. The Cay by Theodore Taylor This is a children's book, but every adult should read it! This story of a boy who is shipwrecked on an island with an old man is quite moving. When they encounter unexpected danger on the island I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen.
   
2. The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse This is another children's book. In this book a young girl, who has been raised by dolphins is found and rescued. The book explores what it means to be human. I thought the book was both heartbreaking and hopeful.


3. Night by Elie Wiesel A sad and tragic book, yet one that must be read to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust.


4. Embrace Me by Lisa Samson I love this book! It is well written, thought provoking, and is filled with themes of hope, redemption, forgiveness, and God's love. One of my all time favorite books!


5. Girl Meets God: A Memoir by Lauren F. Winner I found this book at a thrift shop and it sounded interesting. And it was! It's the story of a girl who converts to Christianity after being an Orthodox Jew. In it she states, "I was courted by a very determined carpenter from Nazareth." I enjoyed following her spiritual journey. Published by the mainstream market, you will not find this book in a Christian bookstore, but the book definitely points you to Jesus.


6. Home Another Way by Christa Parrish I get so, so excited when I discover a new Christian author and their work is exceptional! I loved Home Another Way! It is a beautiful story of forgiveness, grace, and mercy.


7. My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay Another great new Christian author. This is the story of a teenager who goes on a missions trip and gets caught in the middle of violence in that country. She, along with other teenagers on the missions trip, have to fight for their lives. This book was hard to put down, as I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.


8. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards I think I picked this book up for a quarter but it is well worth paying full price for it. It follows the life of a family and the effects of one life-changing decision. It also explores the terrible effects of a lie. While this book does not offer hope like some of the other books on this list, it does affirm life and how everyone is valuable.


9. After the Leaves Fall and Summer Snow by Nicole Baart Here is one more new talented Christian author. I follow her blog and right before Christmas I won both of these books in a giveaway! They came in the mail on Christmas Eve. It was a great present! On to the books. They are both wonderfully written and thought provoking and explore the themes of grief, redemption, and forgiveness.
10. The Shadow Women by Angela Elwell Hunt Angela Hunt is one of my favorite Christian writers. She has written a ton of books, so varied but all so excellent. This book is the story of the women in Moses life. It is written from the perspective of Moses' sister, Miriam, Moses' Egyptian mother, and Moses' wife, Zipporah. This book brought this familiar story to life and made me look at it in a different way. A great read!
    

Caleb gathered his favorite books of 2009. Not surprisingly they are all about adventure and excitement. They are:

Lukey wanted to be included, too. Lukey's favorite books all feature cats except one with a squirrel.

Well, who's that ridin'? Lukey the Encourager

While we are painting Luke has been spending hours riding his trike on the driveway. He will come check our progress every 15 minutes or so and say,

"Great painting Mama!"

or

"It's looking good Dad!"

So Sweet! Lukey the encourager!