Randoms. . .

It's so strange. . . in the past few weeks on two different occasions random people have stopped us to take pictures of Matilda. Should I be worried about this? I know it's kind of strange and both times totally took me by surprise. The first time was at the zoo, we were walking around looking at the koala's when I noticed two girls (European--I'm guessing from listening to them speak) snapping a couple of pics of Til's and talking about how cute she was. Then when we were down in Albany a couple of weekends ago another couple with a small child stopped us and took her picture. Strange huh? I thought so too. I mean what are you going to tell people when they are looking at the pictures? Here's this really cute random kid we saw. . . .I don't get it, I mean I know she's cute and I guess it's hard to resist this cute little face, but should I tell people no?

Daddy's shoes

hey sorry this is sideways, still cute :)

The desire to be different. . . .

Although most of the post will be about Matilda, I thought I would also use this blog as a sort of journal for myself. Lately, as in the last several years, I've been torn between 2 ideas of what I want my life to be about. Maybe I've always been torn, who knows, but I for the last several years it has been on my heart and in my thoughts a lot.

How do I want to live? We have talked about it extensively in some of our bible studies here, talked about being different and living different. Living to make a difference. It all sounds good and great when we are sitting their comfortably in houses that are bigger than what we need, surrounded by worldly comforts, never having to worry about food, or being warm, or really anything for that matter. We say we have to watch our budgets, but that is only really so we can "save up" for ourselves and things we may want to do in the future. I say all of this because I am torn, and maybe every one is, or maybe it's just me. I know Paul was talking about sin we he talks of his wrestling with doing what he doesn't want to do and not doing what he knows he should do, but I feel the same as that in this case. I KNOW that things shouldn't matter, that I don't NEED nice things, or for my house to be decorated perfectly, or to always look put together. I know those things, but does that change the way I live. Does that change the fact that I want to live happily and safely tucked away in the suburbs with close friends that are all christians where I don't have to worry about serving others and everything unless I want to. Do I want to live a life where I won't be "inconvenienced" by others in need unless I have the desire to seek them out, in my time, where it fits my schedule. Do I want to sacrifice having the "perfect house" so that I can give to others and maybe open my doors to people who have no where else to go? Do I serve because I want to, or do I do it begrudgingly and can't wait till I can have some "me" time. I know as a mom I sometimes use Tilly as an excuse. Well I don't want to push her, or I just want to the best for her, but isn't living the way Christ lived and opening our lives to others what is best for her. I say all this to say I'm torn. Torn between this world and Christ. Can you really live both ways? Can you really live in the cute little house and only surround yourself with other christians and still be living the way He wants, and ask us to? I know I struggle with this all the time, I struggle with it when we all sit around and talk about wanting to live differently and then go home and live just like everyone else. I don't know what to do, but I do know when I look at the scriptures and wonder, what would God really want me to give up, and it's everything. Sometimes I say, well, that doesn't mean. . . (fill in the blank) I guess it really comes down to two things with me: fear, and selfishness. I'm afraid of what might happen, and I want my life the way I want it.

Sad to admit those things, pray for me and I pray that you are all better with this than I am.

My life. . .

Well this blog isn't JUST about Tilly but our lives here as well. Right now it seems like things stay busy all the time. What's going on:

1-trying to be more proactive about encouraging other christians and looking for people who could use some company/a visit. One of the great benefits of living here in Perth is that I have the chance to not work, and be a stay at home mom, One thing I really want to show Tilly that is important though is spending time with others and so I'm trying to take more time and spend it with people, whether it's just going and visiting at their house, or going for a walk, or having a meal together. This does involve me being a better listener and actually looking for people who could use a little company. Another way that Ed and I are both trying to be better with this, and we've done it for a while, is at least once a month have different people from church over. We like to invite 3-4 couples or 8-10 people (total--including us, sometimes it's more, sometimes less) we really try to invite different aged people who don't really know each other or spend time together. It is so awesome afterwards seeing the different people talking to each other at church and stuff where they wouldn't have before.

2-Trying to become a better cook. I've been working on this for a while, well I don't know if working is the right word. I've always loved to cook, and love to try new recipes and things, but lately I've decided to make a conscious effort to become a better cook. Ed has joined me in this journey, and we've decided to cook together once week. It is great!!!! Also each month (or every other month) we pick a new ethnicity to learn about (cooking wise). We've only just begun and we started with French food. mmm. . . .and I wonder why I'm not losing weight.
This week we haven't cooked anything French, but still have eaten some really yummy stuff.
What's been on the menu:
-Monday Night: Steak with a creamy carmalized onion blue cheese sauce (SO delicious!!!! and thanks to one of my favorite websites: www.thepioneerwoman.com I think I want to be her when I grow up), oven roasted cauliflower (my new favorite way to eat this veggie--thanks to my awesome sister in law), and roasted sweet potato
-Tuesday night: homemade gnocchi --let's just say this was harder than I thought, never made any sort of pasta and well they didn't turn out great looking but I guess they were pretty yummy) You cook those then toss them into a toasted butter sage sauce (not a way I've ever eaten gnocchi before but it was worth the try and except for the calories would definitely do it again, sauted pumpkin, and chicken (the recipe called for quail but I couldn't be bothered driving down to the butcher to get it)
-Tom: (this is pending my oven getting fixed, right now it's out of commisssion) Mexican lasagna
(mainly because I have some leftover spanish rice to use and am really trying to be better about eating all leftovers and not wasting food.

Alrighty: I promise I don't always cook like this, I typically only try to cook 3 meals a week and live on leftovers, but there it is.

That's my life right now besides my adorable little girl that keeps me on my toes constantly :) Gotta love her.


Alrighty for those that mainly come to see her beautiful face here are some more pics of that cute little girl. We went down to a delicious place (also now on of my favorite places for a special night with the hubby or friends) called San Churros. It is a Spanish chocolateria, that specializes in churros which are a mexican style doughnut with little chocolate dipping sauces, but they also have the type of hot chocolate that looks and taste like a warm, delectable, pot of liquid joy (also know as chocolate). . . mmm. .. I wish I were there right now. Anyways, the pics are of our precious little girl getting her first taste of San Churros. At first we just broke her off a little piece of the churros, but when she saw mommy and daddy dipping theirs of course she had to as well. When the chocolate touched her lips you should have seen the look of sheer pleasure. She then tried to just such the chocolate and keep dipping it. hmmmm she is her parents daughter.

Growing so fast. . .

Tilly insist on using a spoon or fork now when we eat. Not only that, she doesn't want to use the little plastic spoons or forks, she wants the big girl metal ones, because that is what mommy and daddy use. Also her favorite person is True. She absolutely love him. As soon as she sees him her face lights up and she is saying "True, True"!!! Only problem is well, they don't exactly share very well yet, and seem to play a little too rough, but they are so cute together.

hard to find good help

Recently I've decided to try my hand again at growing our own herbs for cooking. I tried it here before (during the summer)--which was an utter failure, it was just too HOT they couldnt' survive, so I've learned from the local that you grow things here during the winter, I know that seems backwards, but it's pretty much teh only time you can count on getting rain, and it never really gets cold. Well I went out and got my herbs, and Ed and Tilly planted them for me. She absolutely loved getting to help her daddy get dirty, and she still goes out there and tries to dig around in the pots.

New Resolution

To be better about blogging, I mean I need to keep a record anyways, why not here. So I'm going to try and post at least once a week. . . We'll see :)