Read this. If it doesn't break your heart, then I'm not sure you have one.

I want to go to India.

It feels like I have been gone for a long time. I apologize for my absence. It's been a pretty crazy last two weeks.

First off we went to STL. Which was quite possibly the worst road trip we ever had. The kids had been sick, but were feeling better by the time we left. The first night we were there we were woken up by Josh at 3am. We were pretty much up with him the rest of the night with him complaining that his ear hurt. We had to take him into the Urgent Care the next day to be diagnosed with an ear infection (really? we had no idea.... sometime the whole doctor thing and having to get told what you already knew was wrong with your kids annoys me, but that is another post.).

Apparently the dose of antibiotics the prescribed him was ridiculously large for him and proceeded to completely wipe out his little intestinal tract, with what resulted in several days of horribleness that I cannot even put into words.

We left a day early. What usually takes 10 hours took almost 13. Josh had to stop to go to the bathroom almost every hour (most of the time not even really going) and Jack was teething and we had no access to Tylenol for him. It was bad. Really, really bad. Like the only reason we are even considering going to STL again is because my BIL and SIL are having a baby, if it weren't for that, well... I think it would be a very long time. Even with that trip Chris is wanting to look into airfare.

But we are home now, and normalcy is restored. Somewhat. The other thing that has kept me busy is a job that I have. That's right a job. And I am excited. One of the ladies from our small group last year kept telling me how good my baking was (in particular my cupcakes), and that she was going to hire me. Not thinking much of it, I continued on with my life (except for random daydreams, mentioned in previous posts). Well, a couple weeks she called and wanted me to make 6 dozen cupcakes for a birthday party she is throwing. Umh, heck yes!

So with that opportunity, business cards are being printed, contact information is being prepared, and blogsites are being made. I officially have a business. We'll see what happens.

I've also been having lots of thoughts I hope to get down on here sometime soon, once the dust settles, but for this week: baking.

Here is some interesting information on nitrates/nitrites.

Here is some more about milk.

And an interesting article about buying organic.

I like the way real food tastes, and makes me feel. Admittedly, I don't like what it does to our budget, but then again, you can't put a price on health, right? I've also found an incredible market that is helping out that whole budget issue.

We are getting ready to head out to STL first thing Thursday morning, for Chris's birthday. I'm looking forward to it.

We're starting a study on the chapter of James in youth tomorrow night. I can't wait to get in to that with the girls. I love having girls in our group that want to go deeper!

No deep thoughts today. My brain is a little fried, and I'm just trying to get everything taken care of before we leave.

I did make these really yummy cupcakes for Easter though. I called them sunshine cupcakes since they were all citrus flavored. Drool over their yumminess.

Dinner tonight: marinated grilled chicken served with pan fried yucca and a roasted red pepper sauce and grilled asparagus. Yum.

To get a recipe for the chicken and sauce go here. This is our favorite dish to get at Bahama Breeze, and the inspiration for a slight deviation on my part, but the generalities are the same. For the yucca (which is the south american counterpart of the potato, but slightly sweeter) just peel it, boil until soft, and the pan fry until crispy and golden brown, sprinkling with salt when done cooking.

By the grace of God am I able to get this meal done tonight. After a trip to the doctor (for two sick kids!), a trip to Target to get a prescription and supplies for said sick kids, a stop for a movie pickup (yeah Redbox!), and dealing with whiny, needy sick kiddos all day, mama's ready for a break!

Oh well, just a few more days until we're in STL, land of the grandparents!

And this.

A Conversation with Death on Good Friday
April 10, 2009
By: John Piper
Category: Commentary


CHRISTIAN:

Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me?
I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death.
Where is your sting?

DEATH, sneeringly:

My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN:

I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is. Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting?
Where is, my sin? What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?

O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more.Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Nothing too crazy for dinner tonight. Just chicken terriyaki burgers with french fries by Alexia's, and salad. If you haven't heard of Alexia's you should check them out. Regular grocery stores are carrying them now in the frozen foods section, or by the organic foods area frozen section if they have one.

The company makes everything from hash browns to biscuits. I used to make homemade biscuits until I found theirs (hydrogenated oil free and taste like homemade!). Her french rolls are also something Chris begs me to get more of. They also have a variety of french fries: wedges, sweet potato, waffle... and they are all great and easy to make. I HIGHLY recommend them.

But the real reason I bothered to blog about dinner was because of our salad. I wanted to try something new, and it did not disappoint. In fact I wanted to keep eating it and not think about the rest of the meal. I think I am going to make this a permanent lunch fixture. Y'all should give it a try! It's a spinach salad, but don't let that throw you, it's unlike any other spinach salad I've had. I'm almost hungry again just thinking about it. I wish I had gotten more spinach at the store today...

I have a lot of things I should be doing right now. Working on dinner, cleaning up my dirty house, doing laundry, interacting with my children.... but all I can do is think about cupcakes.

I want to open my own cupcake place. I think I would call it CupKate. Chris thought of the name, first I laughed at him and told him it was dumb, but then it grew on me. It's specialty would be cupcakes, but as I got the notion I would make other fun treats, like truffles, or sugar cookies.

The best part is that it would be totally mommy geared. Every Tuesdays and Thursdays I would have a make and decorate your own cupcake day with your kiddos class. Plus there would be a play area for kids to play in, and I would offer a gourmet sandwich/salad menu for lunch for the mommies to be able to hang out and actually converse.

It would pretty much be the coolest place ever. And, did I mention the cupcakes?

Now if only I had the money. Anyone interested in investing???