A night of firsts

"Will you sign my shoe?"
Come again?
"My shoe. Can you sign your name here?"
Well, that's a first. I felt like a rock star, ruining Matt's Converse high tops!
It was also my first time going to Winter Jam, the only place on earth you'll find over 9,000 screaming teens belting out lyrics to the the latest Christian songs. I'm still deaf--but the Newsboys made a new fan outta me. What do you think the odds are that Michael Tait would hire me to be his gopher? I'm submitting my resume this morning. I will fetch his water, make him the best coffee ever, and empty his trash cans. The highlight of the concert for me was hands-down Michael belting out "Shine" followed by "Play That Funky Music!"
Thanks so much to all of you who stopped by the 91.5 WCIC booth to chat with me and Scott. You made our night with your encouraging words, hugs, and some of you had some off-the-wall things to say, too--and that's ok, we still love you!
It's one of those nights where I feel blessed to have such an awesome job! Rock on, everyone!

Go Bobcats!

It's with great pride & joy that 91.5 WCIC has officially adopted Charter Oak Primary School (home of the Bobcats) in Peoria's District 150!
We're just bubbling with excitement to get to know all of the 350+ kids and support staff. Our goal is simply to bless the kids in any way the principal and teachers see fit. We'd also like to create mentoring relationships for kids who'd like a little extra guidance.
The reality is that despite being slammed in the news for dwindling funds, pink slips, etc... District 150 has a lot of great stuff going on and we want to cheer on the teachers and students who are making a positive difference in the community! Instead of playing the blame game, we need to roll up our sleeves and invest in these incredible kids to give 'em a little hope.

In the kitchen...

Who knew the girl could peel potatoes? I don't give the kids enough credit. With some direction and a little incentive (I told Laney if she helped me cook & clean I'd take her to "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"), we made ham & potato soup in 45 minutes flat. Pretty good! I was hoping we could say good-bye to soup weather for a couple of seasons but with the mix of rain/sleet/snow we got this weekend, I was in the mood for comfort food. A couple of friends asked for the recipe since it's one of the few my entire family can agree on, so here it is.
I tweaked it to my liking from one I saw in a book:
4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 and 3/4 cup diced cooked ham
4 cups water
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
Combine the ham, onions and potatoes in water and boil about 15 minutes or until tender in a stockpot. Then add bouillon and salt and pepper. Meanwhile in another saucepan, melt the butter and slowly add all the flour...then all the milk to create a rue--stir about 5 minutes to get the lumps out. Add the rue to the stockpot. Cook soup until heated through and serve!

From All My Girls...to All My Sons

"There's a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."--Madeleine Albright (thanks to my friend, Jada, who shared this brilliant quote)
Sharing heart to hearts with ladies at the "Hearts at Home" conference pumped a thousand endorphins in this little brain of mine. There's something incredibly powerful about women banding together in support of one another, swapping stories & hugs, shedding tears, and loving the Lord together. Thank you, ladies, for stopping by the 91.5 WCIC booth to chat. I loved meeting each and every one of you...and especially you adoptive moms. Thanks for inviting me on your play dates. I can't wait to join the club!
Tonight the fun continued at the Peoria Players Theater where my husband and bonus son made their theatrical debut. My heart swelled with pride watching Jeff & Max perform in "All My Sons." (Forgive Jeff's corpse-like look...the stage makeup startles me every time)! I was thankful Jeff was cast for the part that DID NOT involve kissing another woman. A cat-fight could've broken out. I don't care if it's just acting. No one's touching my husband but me.
I'm blown away by Jeff's talent every time I see him onstage. At first I was nervous that the time investment involved in acting would hurt our marriage, being apart so much. But I've discovered that some time apart actually keeps the honeymoon from ending! I love that he has passions in life that don't involve me.
I hope your weekend was as fun and fulfilling as mine has been! Happy Spring forward day...

When I'm in Charge...

I'm the kind of girl who considers french fries a vegetable and popcorn a health food.
My husband is scared. Very scared. Before he dropped the kids off with me to go to his rehearsal, he gave me very specific instructions:
1. Read Bible devotions to the kids at 8:30
2. Pray afterwards
3. Have them read in their rooms for quiet time but lights out at 9 for Max, 9:30 for Laney.
Of course, I participate in this family ritual every night we've got the kids...but Jeff knows when the cat's away, the mice come out to play...
As he walked down the porch stairs, Max gave me a sly look and cuddled up to me saying, "You're the best!" Delaney exclaimed, "Yeah, people think you're sooooooo pretty! Can we watch a movie?" Max chimes in, "And eat popcorn, too?" Any parent in their right mind could see through these kids. But ok, I thought, I'll bite. So I popped in a movie. And popped some popcorn. And ok, maybe I snuck in some soda, too. I got so wrapped up in the movie, I lost track of time...until Delaney screamed, "DADDY'S HOME!!!" Within seconds, the kids flew up the stairs. And Jeff stepped in the door with popcorn on the floor and kid blankets everywhere. Uh-oh.
Oh, well. I think it's ok to have fun with the kids sometimes and break some rules. But of course, as Jeff pointed out, that comes with a double-edged sword. The kids don't respect my authority very much...and it's hard for me to follow through on discipline.
I think being a stepmom is a double-edged sword in itself. You're constantly fighting the stereotype of the "evil stepmom" (thanks, Disney!) and you're not a parental figure 100% of the time. The inherent trust of a bona fide parent just isn't there.
So I just try to do my best and pray about the rest...and have my husband pick up the pieces. That's what he's for, right? :)

Running the Race

Today I made the first step out of my comfort zone and into Shoe Carnival. I know my stuff when it comes to heels. But with running shoes? I'm clueless. So I called on a dear friend (Jada, I love you!) to help me decode some sneaker lingo. I turned in my 2006 Nike's to "Ms. All-Weather Marathon Runner" and she examined the anatomy of my shoes to point me to a pair best suited for my soles. I left the store laced up with my new lavender Asics. I was so psyched, I even hopped over to a nearby clothing store and bought myself a running outfit! Shhhh...don't tell my husband!
I can't wait to start training for the Steamboat Classic this summer. I realize in the grand scheme of life, this may not be a big deal to you. But for a slug like me, it's a lot to commit to training for a 4K race. I'm excited to challenge my body in a new way, make new friends, and whiz through scenic routes throughout the River City. Now if only spring will get here...

Building the Wall

As I brace myself to enter an insanely busy season of life, I'm letting my mind reflect on the ancient ruins I so loved to explore in Italy. It's a great reminder that "This too shall pass"... Fast forward seven months and I still can't escape the graven images of the burial tunnels and buildings in my mind. The corpses that lay in the catacombs were real people who loved, laughed and worked hard. Were they aware of the legacy they'd leave? What would they think of folks flocking from around the world to see their skeletal remains? And ooohhh, the buildings and bridges...did the laborers who broke skin and sweat blood enjoy the fruits of their labor? They left a legacy of beauty that outlasted their seventy-or-so years on earth.
I don't know about you, but my greatest desire is to leave a legacy that far outlasts me. Last week I met the neatest ladies who traveled from Nashville to Normal to share their hearts on orphan care. One lady said the Lord kept prompting her to read the book of Nehemiah. He returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the destroyed city walls and enlisted the help of many at the Lord's command. It was too huge a task for any one person to bear. "What's gonna be your part in building the wall for 'the least of these'?" she asked. Everyone has a brick to lay. And they all look different. They come in an array of colors. But everyone has a part to play to help the fatherless.
That's where my heart is now...
So in the midst of my crazy busy schedule...and the crazy red tape & expense that I've got to cut through to cross the finish line of a call pressed on my heart...I'm reminded in the quiet moments between me and the Lord that "This too shall pass"... and a hundred years from now when my bones are buried in the ground, hopefully I've left a legacy that far outlasts the here and now.