Won't Boil Over

I've heard about this. 

I didn't believe it until I tried it myself. 

Seriously.

It didn't boil over.

Life just got easier.

You're welcome.

Mind Maps & Doodles (processing through differences)

I have two images to show you a difference between Josh and me:

I bet you can guess which represents Josh and which me.

That very large piece of vinyl (sold by the yard at JoAnn Fabrics) pictured above is mounted on the wall above my husband's desk. It's a stress relieving, prioritizing, clarifying, decision-making tool... for him. He loves it and writes on it everyday with Vis-a-Vis markers. Sometimes I think he's nuts. But mostly, I'm so thankful that God made him like this.

The second picture is my trying to decide on a baby name. That's all.

When I want to process through ideas and emotions, there's nothing like...

• a post-it note and a ballpoint pen
• a piano
• cooking curry or some other deliciousness
• writing a blog post or journal entry

We're different.

For over two years, Josh and I have been blending our lives together. As part of learning to wife I've spent a lot of time trying to be the super-systems-using-and-understanding-strategist-wife. He loves when I listen to what the mind map means to him. This is affirming, and yes, even flirtatious. It values him.

But, Josh is encouraging me to embrace the way God has created me and to invest time in activities and subjects I enjoy. This is freeing for me. I'm learning how to rediscover my strengths and develop them through various outlets. 

How have you developed your strengths through life's changes?

Feeling the Pregnancy

Grateful for so many things, especially these things:

1. I can feel our little baby kick now.
2. My Josh regularly checks to see if he can feel the baby yet.
3. Our midwife loves babies, natural births, and the Lord.
4. I'm warm all the time and this allows me to wear sandals whenever I want.
5. I have no food aversions. I love meat. I love spice. I love milk.
6. People are starting to notice I'm pregnant. 
7. I love having a mommy glow and a baby bump.
8. Josh and I love being parents, and we love being parents together.

Taken by Joshua Wagner

Chicken Tikka Masala

Josh bought me this Best Ever Indian cookbook at Half Price Books for $5. He started reading it on the plane ride to Texas. (We moved to Dallas a couple weeks ago!)

He has requested that I start at the very beginning with chicken tikka masala (p8). I'd say it was a pretty good start. And I had a lot of fun!

First, I made the tandoori chicken (p32). This included an overnight marinade with greek yogurt, heavy cream and other deliciousness. Intense broiling until charred - one of those flip and brush every few minutes kinda broiling.

Next, the tikka masala brought some aromatic spices, diced tomato and, oh yes, heavy cream...

Add the tandoori chicken, spread over basmati rice, and garnish with fresh cilantro. Could it get any better than this?

Lunchtime today made a very happy papa and mama. Our little babe is gonna be begging for some curry right out of the womb! 16 weeks today. 


P.S. Next on page ten is chicken korma.

Waffles Without Milk

We drink a lot of milk in our home. Raised that way. We were out this morning, and I wanted to make waffles. I really dislike making extra trips to the grocery store. I substituted orange juice for the milk. Same amount. Result = perfect and delicious.

(Thanks, Betty Crocker.)