I recently purchased The Little Puppy because it’s a precious reminder of my childhood (Adam and Andrew, I bought you copies, too). Tonight Livia was reading the book on her own, as a 3 year old will do, turning the pages and incorporating her own dialogue. I wasn’t quite sure I was hearing her right, so I asked her to repeat the name she was calling the puppy.

“Jungle Building,” she said.

“Jungle Building?” I had to ask again. To be absolutely sure.

“Mm-hmm.”

I have to say, I love moments like this. Really, who wouldn’t want an adorable Springer Spaniel named Jungle Building? It’s right up there with Bingo and Lassie.

We had another moment yesterday when picking up my parents after their vacation with my Aunt Jan’s family in the Caribbean. After an hour’s drive, Livia and I pulled into a spot on the surface parking lot of the Omaha airport and Liv asked, “We in Jamaica now?” For over a week she had been hearing talk of Jamaica and assumed we were going there to pick up Nana and Papa.

After a lengthy self-indulgent sigh I told her, “No. We’re only in Omaha.”

Yesterday was a lovely combination of remembering those who served our country, helping Jeremy plant flowers in our gardens, and hosting a meal for a bunch of friends. The photos were taken at the cemetery (where Liv and I placed a flag on my grandfather’s grave). And the recipes below show what I prepared for dinner and dessert last night.

Ingredients (Salad)

• 1 head Bok Choy
• 1 bunch, fresh green onions
• 1/2 C butter
• 2 pkg Ramen Noodles
• 2 oz sesame seeds
• 1 C almonds

Directions (Salad)

1. Chop the bok choy and green onions and place in a large bowl; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt margarine and add Ramen Noodles, sesame seeds and almonds.
3. Stir until golden brown; set aside.

Ingredients (Dressing)

• 1/4 C vinegar
• 1/2 C sugar
• 3/4 C oil
• 2 T soy sauce

Directions (Dressing)

1. In a saucepan, boil dressing ingredients for 1 minute.
2. Combine all salad ingredients just before serving.

Recipe by Sara Mann, taken from the Zion Cookbook. I used napa cabbage yesterday and the recipe still turned out delicious. Also, make sure you smash up the Ramen noodles while still packaged as you want the crunchy topping to be in small pieces. I only chopped half a bunch of green onions and added only 1 oz of sesame seeds (simply because I didn’t buy enough) and like I said, the salad was still great.

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• 2 t white vinegar
• 3-4 T mayonnaise
• 1/2 t mustard
• s & p
• paprika

Directions

1. Hard boil all eggs, cool completely.
2. Remove shells, cut in half, remove yolks to a separate bowl.
3. Mash yolks, mayo, mustard together in bowl; add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Scoop yolk mixture back into the hard boiled eggs.
5. Sprinkle with paprika.

This recipe has been altered slightly from the original one, Deviled Eggs II from allrecipes.com, my favorite recipe site.

Ingredients

• 1/2 C butter
• 1 1/4 C graham cracker crumbs
• 6 oz chocolate chips
• 6 oz butterscotch chips
• 1 C flaked coconut
• 1 C walnuts, chopped
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. In a 9×13″ pan, melt butter.
3. Sprinkle the ingredients over the butter in this order: crumbs, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and walnuts.
4. Pour sweetened condensed millk over all.
5. Bake for 30 minutes.

Recipe by Suzanne Gage, copied from the Zion Church Cookbook.

Dear Livia,

Someday you might be married and you might have a three year old. In that day, in those moments where you either want to ring her neck or find a noose for yourself, remember that you were once a three year old as well. If you have actually survived to adulthood, know it’s a testimony to the amazing grace of God.

You and I are involved in one of the most trying experiences of my life—tantrums. I never thought you, my sweet and contented little baby, would throw tantrums, ever, in your toddler years. I wish I could acknowledge that I have substantial patience and self-control to guide and discipline you in the midst of the fits you throw. But I do not. Indeed, my lack of patience and self-control is incredibly frustrating. I used to think I was a good person. Now I know it’s not true. (That’s only partially said in jest.)

You tripped at the doctor’s office today.

You spilled over, twisted a bit in front of the large aquarium, and something about that ticked you off in a major way. Immediately your piercing screams filled the waiting room and every adult looked to see a shrieking, writhing, crazy child on the floor. I took you to the women’s restroom, warned you to calm down, then spanked you. It was so not fun, in every way imaginable.

When I take a moment to breath in and out, to let go of my frustration, I focus again on how incredibly precious and smart you are. You bring incredible joy to Daddy and me. You surprise us constantly with your attention to detail, your ability to tell and re-tell stories you’ve heard, your sweet spirit, and your love of laughter. You say the funniest things these days and have quite the circle of imaginary friends who are ready to play at your beck and call. You love going to Sunday School and Children’s Church and you’re constantly asking to play with your real live friends as well.

Livia, you remind me on a daily basis that we’re all diamonds in the rough. Lots of rough edges—on you, me and Daddy – that need smoothing out. We discipline you, then recognize the same rebellious, temper tantrum-producing spirits within our own bodies. We’re your parents, so you must learn to obey us, but we’re the same as you. Fallen, in need of a Savior to rescue us from ourselves. God’s grace is abundant, my dear girl. May you depend on Him, just as we do, as you grow.

Love,
Mommy

I figure if Kristen can win moola via Blingo, then why not me? Check it out.

…then you’ve got to have the right equipment.

I tend to have unusual encounters with strangers while grocery shopping. I blogged about this once before and only made a brief mention of the experience that scarred me for life. Long story short, I was around 21 years old and a much older black dude kept pursuing me at a Schnucks in St. Louis. Didn’t matter that I was married, he followed me around the store and kept inviting me over for dinner. I was terrified and was shaking by the time I got home to Jeremy that night.

Today I’m much more amused than shaken, but kind of perplexed as well. Now 29 years old, with obvious wedding bands on the ring finger of my left hand, I was approached by yet another much older man. He flattered me, and oh so kindly offered to help my poor confused self find the groceries I was looking for. I told him I didn’t think my husband would appreciate that. He dropped some more flattery and said he didn’t want to be creepy, then walked away. We saw each other twice more in the store, and I was fully prepared to be direct in the rudest way possible if he bugged me again.

Picking up chicks in Walmart? For real, people. Match.com or something, but just leave me alone in the canned veggie aisle!

My one exception to this rule to is Dennis Haysbert. If he wants to help me locate diced olives, I suppose I’d let him.