Cousin Consulting

Cousin Addie stopped by for a visit on Friday. Snow White Sophia advised her on how best to prepare for the arrival of her new Baby Sister...Then Addie started getting nervous that this was all Baby Sisters did:

All things New...

Superflous Easter posts to follow - in the meantime...what a difference a year makes!

Hope, Ryan, and Kierkegaard

Erin: I've really been gathering strength from Psalm 23 this week.
Nina: hmm...I've been gathering strength from memories of your brother's childhood.
Erin: Well, look how the Lord provides for each of us individually!

This is Ryan.

Ryan is a model citizen. He graduated from college. He has a great job - in addition to selling real estate! He is married to a fabulous woman. He renovated their home himself. He runs marathons. He volunteers at his church. He is a kind-hearted, willing servant. He is committed to his faith, his family, and to bringing good times wherever he goes. He loves people well and he laughs hard. And as this picture shows - he's quite the dresser.

Ryan's early childhood is the stuff legends are made of. Get his mom, Joyce, started and the tales strike fear into every young parents heart. No car seat could restrain this child. Here's the great part - I remember. Erin and I have been friends since we were three. Ryan and my sister Ruthie have been friends since they started kindergarten. Ryan married Ruthie's best friend Kristen. We all grew up in this funny little world involving a Christian school, lots of commutes down I-64 and a place called Hilltop. These are the ties that bind.

All of my memories of Ryan at a very young age involve him being in some sort of enclosure: a crib, a playpen, a makeshift barricade. He was a danger to himself and society. This was clear. But here's what's amazing: it didn't last. I feel like Ryan has been the wonderful life of the party we now know since he was at least...eight? Whatever that was that dominated his earliest years has no bearing on him now. He took the energy, the creativity, the love and he left the animal behind.

And on a certain long afternoon last week, it was this realization that gave me hope. Large heapings of hope.

We are all unfinished works...I am so thankful that I am not stuck being who I was as a toddler, in middle school...or even two hours ago. I want to take all that is beautiful and noble and good in Sophia and Olivia and draw it out in big ways - encourage and inspire them to create and love and learn. And I want to turn the hard stuff into beauty by demonstrating forgiveness and grace and forgetfulness towards shortcomings. I hope to remember that what causes me stress today will probably bring laughter tomorrow. And even the wildest child of any age holds all the potential of God's creation. He's not done with us yet.

"Now, with God's help, I shall become myself." Soren Kierkegaard

Found...in the back of the OVEN

After I had just cooked a pizza.

" Sophia, who put this stuff in the oven?"

"Olivia."

"Sophia, who put this stuff in the oven?"

"I did. Last Saturday. When I was cleaning up."

The truth is becoming increasingly elusive in this house. Pampered Chef scored big points with me. The pot was completely undamaged. I wish I could say the same for Purple Duck..Oh, the smell of burning plastic...

Signs of the Season...

Yankee Candle continues to give...this time free foam Bunny Ears!
Sophia really liked hers.

We went to support the Tribe in a home baseball game with our neighbors...

The girls loved dancing on the bleachers and eating choking hazards like popcorn and peanuts.

The only thing missing was a Jumbotron - Foo would never have left.

Here's Sophia snuggling up with Stacey.

Hosanna!

I thought this picture looked full of teen angst - makes me a little nervous.

And Foo, dancing in the street! Have a wonderful week!

Weekly Press Clippings...

Erin once wisely stated: "Nina, this is how we know God loves us: life is so freakin' ridiculous."

Click here for further proof.

When approached for my name and info I was torn between refusing publishing (remember the old fear about being seen exercising, yeah) and insisting that though I appeared to be walking I had been running a few minutes before, two minutes to be exact and for 90 seconds. But alas, there it is for all posterity (on the Peninsula) I was merely walking.

From My Kitchen...with Jess

Jess has been feeding me well for about 8 years. She visited this past weekend and old habits die hard.

The dialogue went something like this:

Nina: Jess, lets talk about dinner. We could go out (Simone style) or grill out (read: burgers)

Jess: Or we could cook something here (read: Jess cooks because Nina still gets paralyzed in her own kitchen.) We could do something easy.

Nina: Jess - You are my guest! You will not cook for me (read: insecurity about what I bring to the table in this friendship)

Jess: Nina, I would love to do it. We can do the cod/shrimp/corn packs on the grill. It will be fun. (read: She is completely sincere)



And Jess, with Sophia's help put together the following meal. It was delicious. And like any other meal grilled in foil packs, it created very little mess - a plus for my dishwasher-free kitchen.

Here's the link to the recipe from EveryDay Food for the "Grilled New England Seafood Bake" - the ingredients are simple favorites: corn on the cob, potatoes, cod, and shrimp. These are the packets before they go on the grill:

Behold, the feast ready to eat - we had bought pre-cooked shrimp this time, so they were warmed separately.


And here's another satisfied customer:

Jess - you inspire me! Last night I made Baked Tilapia!

And I have now officially blogged both about running and cooking.

Excuse me while I go find myself.