Yahweh, a Song

Yahweh

ARTIST

U2

COMPOSER

U2

LYRICS

Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist
Take this mouth
So quick to criticise
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahewh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

Lyrics taken from U2.com

IGE Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

This recipe is taken straight from Iowa Girl Eats. I'm posting it here because 1) my father-in-law asked for the recipe and 2) because I know he won't click over to her scrumptious site to get the recipe. Which is ok. 3) Because he always wants less food stuff on my blog so this is my way of making him eat his words. heehee!

As far as the recipe goes, it's pretty awesome. I love green onions but added them minimally as the rest of the fam doesn't. The second time I made it, I added a bit more milk to the eggs. The eggs set the whole casserole up well but I felt there wasn't much wiggle room for cooking it longer so adding more milk gave me a bit more time. Since every slow cooker cooks differently, keep an eye on it towards the end; the cheese can get a bit too done. (But with the addition of more milk or water, that seemed to help.) Yum! You will like this. (I could totally see this recipe being vegged up: peppers, onions, mushrooms and more.)

I should include a little a funny little story about Iowa Girl Eats just to prove how off my rocker I can be. Actually, it's about her husband, Ben. I was in Whole Foods shopping one evening and spied him in the produce department. As I was busy examining elephant kale (lacinato, to be exact), I was also debating if I should say hi to him. We then moved on: ketchup for me, fresh meat counter for him. I had decided I should probably just let the fellow do his shopping in peace but a teensy part of me said "No, get your picture taken with him. Then you'll have matching pictures and that will be dorky and awesome all at once." Well, the fact that I almost knocked over a corner stack of wine made me re-group. I went on to look at fair trade chocolate and he must have zipped out quick. My chance was over. I tweeted Kristen and gave her the update. Turns out, I wasn't the only one as she RT'd another Whole Foods shopper spying Ben that night. Oh dear. He is such a good sport, he tweeted us back. (I ended up getting the kale, the ketchup and wine but it wasn't the wine I almost knocked over.)

And with that, here's the recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. Thanks for sharing it with us, Kristen (and Ben). 

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

by Iowa Girl Eats

Keywords: slow-cooker breakfast entree eggs sausage smoked mozzarella cheese hash browns

---

Full Post

Print

Email

Text

---

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole is an incredibly easy and crowd pleasing breakfast!

Ingredients (serves 12)

• 30oz bag frozen hash browns
• 1lb sausage, browned & drained
• 8oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 8oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 6 green onions, sliced and divided in half
• 12 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

• Spray a large crock pot with non-stick spray then place half the hash browns into the bottom. Layer in half the cooked sausage, half the cheeses, and half the green onions, then repeat hash brown, sausage, and cheese layers.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper, then drizzle over top. Cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours, or until eggs are set. Serve with remaining green onions, salsa, or guacamole.

2013 Harescramble Season

Here's our racing schedule for this coming year. 

Feb. 24: Keithsburg, IL

Mar. 17: Prophetstown, IL

May 12: Council Bluffs, IA

May 18: Winterset, IA

June 2: Logan, IA

June 9: Dayton, IA

June 16: Indianola, IA

June 23: Brooks, IA

Aug. 3 & 4: Fremont, IA

Aug. 18: DeWitt, IA

Aug. 25: Mt. Pleasant, IA

Sept. 15: New Hartford, IA

Sept: 29: Council Bluffs, IA

Oct. 13: Atalissa, IA

Phew! It makes me a little tired just typing it out. Since Ben is planning to race for points, meaning highest number of points wins the series, we will be going to a lot more than last year. 

You need this website: www.IERA22.com for all the race details, such as directions and race times. If you want to see Ben race, he's the 65 class and Bill is the Senior B class.

As you can tell, they have already had one race. Here are pics from that race.

Ben got the hole shot and he really wants you to know that!

If you decide to come join us, let us know. We like having a big cheering section and would love to have you!!

More Haircuts

I gave my own boys haircuts last night. 

I don't have anything brilliant to say about them. In fact, you will never find a tutorial on how to cut boys' hair on here. Ever.

I cued up "How It's Made" on Netflix for Luke. He LOVED it. Figuring out how stuff is put together and functions is so his thing. "How It's Made" is slightly monotone from an entertainment perspective, unless you're into it. And since Luke is, he never noticed. 

Ben watched "Dirty Jobs". Mike Rowe is much more entertaining than the voice on "How It's Made". 

We've already seen all the "Mythbuster" episodes on Netflix. We, especially Luke, know all the of the cast and the Alameda Bomb Range is on our boys' list of places to visit before they die, I think. I have got to say, there isn't much that can top watching a cement truck being blown to bits for my boys, including Bill. 

That's the kind of stuff we watch these days. I have no idea what is on PBS anymore. 

So, in summary, I basically used the platform of my boys getting haircuts last night to tell you what we watch on Netflix.

I know. It's this kind of brilliant writing that makes you come back day after day. 

I Am Like

I am like Moses, standing before the burning bush. I stammer something about how I can't do it and His reply is "I AM".

"I AM" is enough.

I am like an Israelite, standing before the opened Red Sea. What's a person to do when you ask for His help and He cracks wet ground for you to walk across? 

Walk.

I am like Joshua about to take the city of Jericho. The non-rhetorical question "Have I not commanded you?" ringing in my ears.

Be strong and courageous.

I am like the psalmist, searching the horizon for the coming help.

Know that the Maker watches over.


Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14




Exodus 3:14; Exodus 14:21-22; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 121

Wall of Hearts

I'm throwing in a PinterTest Kitchen post here but it's not going to be about food. Shocker! 

I'm cooking and baking and trying out all sorts of new things found through Pinterest all the time so basically I could blog all the live long day about that. I pin all sorts of other stuff but don't get to those as often because one can't live on glue sticks alone.

That being said, here's to one of my latest crafty ventures.

My friend Angie loves, Loves, LOVES Valentine's Day. She also loves a fun get together. So in her awesomeness, she put together a Valentine's Day progressive supper. She asked if Bill and I could host one of the courses and, of course, we said yes. My brain instantly turns to food but... since I'm not sharing about the food I won't go into it. (I'm totally holding back what appetizers I served, but if you ask pretty, pretty please I'll spill it. Actually, if you just ask once. They were really good. The cashews travelled to all the rest of the courses. Gah- I almost spilled it!)  Let's talk decorating.

I'm a simple decorator. And I like to use what I have or make from very simple materials. Things I've collected here and there.

I read the How About Orange blog and one day she posted this tutorial on 3D hearts. Perfect. You need cardstock or colored paper, scissors, glue and some sort of way to adhere it to the wall. I printed, cut, folded, glued two pages of hearts. Then, on one of Ben's days home, he and I tackled the wall they were to go on with sticky tack. 

Short story: Sticky tack and I are not friends. The end.

Rather than get myself more frustrated, I left them for when Bill got home. I had appetizers to make and I figured he could help a girl out. 

Short story: Bill used 3M Command Adhesive and the hearts stuck. I think he's wonderful. The end.

No, those aren't thought bubbles, but they could be because thats how I feel about these two!

So that's my PinterTest Kitchen contribution for the month. 

P.S. Go to this post about celebrating St. Patty's Day with those same hearts. I have no idea if I'll do those. How many of you decorate for March 17? 

P.S.S. I did it! I didn't talk about food! Are you happy or sad about that?

It's Been a Rough Day or Two

Luke has had a couple of abnormally rough days the past two days.

Day one included an elbow and a seatbelt buckle to the face.

Day two started with a bumped knee and ended with a wipeout that left a nice little concrete burn on his forehead.

He pulls off the sad face pretty well, don't you think? It certainly gets unsolicited hugs from teachers at school. :)

Aiden's First Haircut

Text received a few days ago from Halena: So would you like to cut off some of Aiden's hair anytime soon?

Me: Ohh no. I'm no good at giving cuts. Let me ask my sister though.

Me: She said she could.

Halena: Great. Does she know I have a squirmy 20 month old?

Me: Yes. :) She has a squirmy 18 month old boy as well.

A couple days later, I've assembled all parties in my home. Aiden- the squirmy 20 month old. Halena- the mom. Beth- the barber for the evening. Me- photog and distraction specialist. Others were scattered about: Ariana, Chiara, and Luke entertained Leonna with toys and such on and off. Bill and Ben pretty much kept to themselves on the couch. Audrey was off at musical rehearsal.

Beth's tried and true method is to strap the kid into a booster seat and set them on the table. We handed Aiden a ball and put a cape on him. Beth discusses what kind of cut Halena wants for him. Halena just says short. 

After the first cut, I hand Beth a baggie and she asks if it his first cut. Unbeknown to us, it is. Panic sort of sets in for Beth. She doesn't want to mess up his first cut. Hah! I'm so glad it's her and not me.

You would have thought this boy had sat through a million cuts the way he just sat there. He held the little ball the entire time.

Mama H is so proud of her little man.

 Sister Leona came up to see what was going on. I explained what was going on and that cutting hair was only for Mom to do. (Oh dear. This girl can find mischief like no other.) She also fed the fish. We have a fish, in case you didn't know. It's name is Swimmy. It's a female Beta fish. It's Luke's fish. Aiden and Leona love the fish.

Aiden pretty much sat the entire time holding that ball. After a while Beth needed him to hold really still to cut around the ears and such so I showed him the pictures on my camera. He made motorcycle sounds when I showed him pictures of Ben riding. We also watched a video clip of Luke playing basketball from my phone. It's about 10 seconds long but the more times we watched it, the more he loved it.

This new do, paired with those cheeks and that smile pretty much spell trouble. At one point, he looked over and had the orneriest grin on his face. Oh my!

Who's a handsome boy? 

We're all done!

The moment he got down from his chair, he set that ball on the floor and kicked it clear across the room! Enough of this sittin' still, handsome stuff. I'm a boy on the go and it's five minutes before bed!

On the Mend

Well, I don't want to jinx anything but I think we are on the mend here. Bill, Audrey and Luke seem to be doing fine. 
Today, I take Ben in for a second chiropractic appointment. We really thought he just had a pulled hamstring but when he woke up Friday morning hobbling again I just had no idea. So this is what I did: I booted him off to school. Sure, he was slowly limping but I couldn't see any point in keeping him home yet another day because he wasn't really sick. His brain was fine, just his leg hurt. And in the past, he will limp all day until about 4 or so and then be up and moving just fine after that. I sent a note to school excusing him from recess and PE so that he could rest more. But about 11, I got a call from the school and Ben said the pain hurt too much for him to concentrate on his studies. *sigh* So I picked him up and our chiropractor's office squeezed us in for an appointment. There we discovered that his hips were out of alignment just enough to have his hamstring pulled on leg and his groin pulled on the other leg- opposite effects.

I am so thankful for alternative care!! We have visited both the physical therapist and our chiropractor (Dr. Kurt VerHelst in Ames ;)) over the years and they have mended us without medication. 

This Saturday is also Ben's last basketball game and we're hoping with some time off between basketball, soccer and racing, we can give his legs a rest and completely heal.

I'm feeling pretty good except for some running ailments. My IT band gave me the fits last week at the end of a 12 miler. I was 10.3 miles into it and I had to pull up and walk. Let me just say, when you're that close to finishing your run, no matter how far or fast you've gone, and you can't finish it, it makes you mad. Thankfully I was able to walk it out and for some weird reason it stopped hurting and I could finish my miles running. I rested and recovered this past week, spending time with my foam roller for a good hour last night.

What's a foam roller?

It's a piece of foam compressed in a cylindrical shape that you roll your body over. I generally use it on my legs. Rolling over it is like a massage. It releases tension and all that bad stuff, allowing your muscles and tendons to loosen up and unglue themselves. It's good for you even though it hurts so much. Another plus side is a foam roller is way cheaper than visiting a massage therapist every week, though I would really like to get another massage sometime.

Lucy seems to be doing just fine now. After writing last week that I would probably take her back to the vet, we gave her another day to rest and then she was up and at 'em again.

 See, she's already giving me attitude again!

In case you haven't noticed, she's a big dog now. She just turned a year at the end of January and when she was weighed in at the vet's a couple weeks ago, she was 66 pounds.

I think I'll wait a while before I take her on another run with me though. 

Heartburn

I have been set all day to sit down here and share a little piece of my mind with you. About $10 and how far it will go for all of us and how far it won't go for so many and how we ought to be kick the dust off our lazy selves and so forth.

And then I got heartburn.

I have heartburn from over-indulging all ding-dong day long. Here is what has topped my belly off today: Breakfast- early cup of decaf coffee mixed with dark chocolate almond milk and a sneaked in scone (just to make sure the new flavor I made was really as good as I remembered from trying them the night before at 10 pm), a banana and seasoned, buttery scrambled eggs. Later on AM- a pile of fresh fruit: fresh pineapple, strawberries and blueberries and another cup of coffee, this time caffeinated because that's all they offer at women's Bible study. Lunch: a very convenient parking spot close to both Great Plains Pizza Co where a hearty single topping slice is only $2 and to Chocolaterie Stam, where somehow I must have been sucked into because soon I was buying a 4 oz serving of coffee crunch gelato. Snack- Before dropping off some containers that served fruit to the women's Bible study this morning, I opened one of them to find a lone strawberry and some wandering blueberries, which I promptly rescued into a safe spot- namely my belly. Feeling full from such rich fare, I only consumed one hard-boiled egg before heading off to ball practice with the boys. Supper- Returning home, I heated a full bowl of chili, generously layered it with cheddar cheese and consumed it with corn chips (my chip kryptonite).

And that's how I got heartburn.

And now with humbleness I will tell you that just yesterday I spent the afternoon with a girl who admitted to me that she doesn't have a problem going without food for two or three days except that now she's pregnant. I will tell you we walked the grocery aisles together, picking out very specifically what exactly she was allowed to get with her slips of paper. We carefully measured and weighed out a bag of grapes and another bag of Cutie mandarin oranges because that's all that we could get for $10 of produce and if you go over, you have to go and put something back. And even with all our careful shopping, we still messed up something and found ourselves at the cash register without the right juice. If you don't go back and try to get the right item, you're choosing to go without it because you don't get to keep that slip and fill in the missing items later. And how can you go without it when you're eating for two, one, well, you're supposed to be eating now?

And now I have heartburn.

I will tell you that those grapes weren't a good deal. I bought the same ones at a different store today and they were almost a buck cheaper. And I didn't weigh my bag out. I stuck in in my cart, wedging it between the off season plums and strawberries. I cruised through the store picking up a few items here and there that topped off my grocery list for the week including fixings for the newest mac and cheese recipe I found that is supposed to taste just like that one restaurant's.

I did. I bought two kinds of expensive cheese. I also have three different kinds of milk in my refrigerator.
She got one gallon of milk and I'm not sure how long that is supposed to last. 

I make myself sick.

Lord,
This heartburn, what grace it is to me. To open my eyes, because apparently one glorious afternoon walking alongside my friend was not enough to make me see. I pressed full ahead with my self-indulging ways today and was ready to lambast my readers with righteous indignation. Forgive me for my hypocritical heart.
The Psalms declare you are just; you are steadfast and true. Thank you. I cannot imagine if you left that up to us, to me.
Wherein does the balance lie between having and not having? That I do not know. But I know that you give both food for the stomach and food that does not spoil- eternal life. Give us both.