View from the Prairie Box

I am quite possibly the pickiest peppermint afficionado that exists. I love Bob’s peppermint candy canes, but other brands sometimes taste a bit off (which is why I ended up with a gigantic box of 48 candy canes, they were Bob’s). Bob’s sugar sticks, sold at Cracker Barrels, are quite possibly the most divine candy on the face of the planet. I am a complete snob about peppermint ice cream–it has to meet certain specifications to receive my stamp of approval. Blue Bunny? Two thumbs down, way down. Edy’s? Two thumbs up. And Renae’s homemade ice cream? The best I’ve ever tried. Though I love the chocolate/peppermint combo, I do not enjoy most peppermint beverages (Starbucks dark chocolate peppermint frappucino, I’m looking at you). Picky, picky, picky. In order to not sound too Scrooge-y, I’ll leave you with this. I adore this recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Kisses. Mm-mmmm.

As a kid, I always wanted it to snow on my birthday. I imagined a sledding birthday party would be the coolest thing ever. Today I got my wish.

It started snowing when I woke up at 7:00am, and the snow has continued since then. It’s beautiful outside, white and flakey and very cold. And though I haven’t been sledding yet this morning, I did enjoy coffee and egg casserole and cinnamon rolls with five delightful women. Life is good on December 6th. After all my moaning and groaning, 30 doesn’t feel so bad!

“We going to putt paint today?”

My child adores crafts. One morning while we were snuggling in my bed, the first phrase out of her mouth was, “Let’s paint today.” I could have composed a list as long as my arm of tasks I’d choose to do before painting with a three year old, but sometimes a mom’s just got to bite the bullet and get out the brushes. Liv and I have been working on these snowflake ornaments for days now. “Putt” paint was the final step. Sometimes I wonder if I have the next Jackson Pollock on my hands.

I’m just as shocked at this news as the rest of the country is. It’s surreal to imagine such violence at a mall I’ve been in many times. What a tragedy.

I can post this picture now because Livia’s back to her normal self this evening. This morning she informed me that she was going to throw up and I didn’t believe her. (Note to self: Next time, believe her.) My poor punkin was hit by a virus almost all day and I was almost shocked by how Sick Liv varied so greatly from Everyday Liv. Sick Liv decided to lie down on the living room rug and didn’t move from that position for hours. Sick Liv also slept soundly while all sorts of action happened around her. It was sad. I’m glad Everyday Liv is back.

King of Cocoas.
Warm and sweet.
A must-have
when the furnace breaks.
I may not have heat.

But I’ll always have cocoa.

The eagle has landed. The Israelites have entered the Promised Land. Zion Church has a new location. Okay, okay. So the eagle and wandering Hebrews comments are an exaggeration, but we are indeed thrilled to have a new structure to call “home.” It was delightful to walk through new (new-to-us rather) hallways and rooms this morning and see familiar items like framed pictures and coffee tables from the remnants at 9th & D. I have a new Flickr set with my other shots from this morning’s dedication service. We praise God for His provision for us!