Kitchen Reno Part I: A Couch in the Kitchen

Jake and I got a new stove for Christmas. As with any major purchase, this prompted a lot of discussion. In fact, we’d been talking about getting a new stove (gas burners! convection oven!) for something like three years and finally (with the help of the most amazing in-laws ever) made the purchase earlier this month.

When you add a major appliance to a 107-year-old kitchen, you take a look around. Should walls be moved or removed? Should countertops be replaced? Should cabinets be painted? All of these are things we’ve been asking ourselves.  Ultimately though, as nice as new countertops or an island might be, I really just want the one thing that I’ve wanted for the last 10 years: A couch in my kitchen.

So, we moved our loveseat into the kitchen. It blocks an entryway (currently disguised with a curtain) and we are in the midst of a trial period deciding whether or not we like the new layout. I need no convincing. I cannot tell you how many hours I’ve spent lounging here over the last few weeks. (I’m writing at the kitchen table while comfy on the couch right now.) I’ve lounged here with kids, I’ve lounged here with Jake, and, big believers in family dinners, all five of us have stayed at the table longer than ever.

The kitchen is the command center of this house—of my whole universe, really. It doesn’t need to be shiny or huge. It just needs a couch.

Life Lately

Thank you for all of your kind comments on my last blog post. I was so excited to share this new career move and was truly touched by your support! Thank you!

The kids and Jake have been on Spring Break this week and we've been pretty relaxed. Eli has started baseball (Jake and his dad are coaching) so we've had a few practices. The weather has been nice enough to take a few bike rides and do a bit of yard work as well. We went to visit our lovies in Michigan last weekend and had a delightful time. It was great to see the cousins have such a great time playing. Of course it was great to catch up with Zach and Tesi.

I dyed my hair back to its original color. That was fun!

We're so excited about the sunshine!

And spring flowers!

We've had some foodie fun, too. Our Tanzanian friend came over and cooked for us last night. We went to the African market for supplies and enjoyed ugali (corn meal cooked with water) and goat stew (goat, tomatoes, water, onion, curry) with rice. I've always believed food is a great way to get to know a culture. This makes me really excited for my upcoming trip to Tanzania!

Ugali (also known in some African countries as fufu) is surprisingly difficult to stir!

Earlier in the week Jake and I went for lunch at Barley & Rye, a farm-to-table type restaurant. We went to try the bourbon flight, which I am writing about for The Gold Book. (I'm still writing one article per month—it's the only freelance assignment I've kept.) I'm not really a bourbon drinker, but it was fun to try. The food was great.

MLK Day :: Des Moines :: Books for all!

This weekend we traveled to Des Moines for a short getaway. On Sunday we ate at Zombie Burger, a place we'd heard a lot about and wanted to experience for ourselves. It lived up to the hype. We all enjoyed the food—especially the creative milkshakes (Zombie Unicorn, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Chocolate Cake, to name a few). As we waited for our table we explored a few fun neighborhood shops full of all kinds of curiosities (pictured above).

The reason we went to Des Moines was to attend an MLK day event at the Great Des Moines Botanical Garden put on by the Iowa Commission of the Status of African Americans. It was a great event. We heard excellent speakers and got to meet the governor and lieutenant governor of our state. This was all very exciting for our family.

At the event, Oliver was given a certificate and recognition for an essay writing contest that he won. I was so pleased his teacher encouraged him to do this exercise and I'm so proud of my son. He currently wants to be a "writer and editor" (my heart!) when he grows up, so he took this assignment very seriously. Of course, as a writer and lover of words, Oliver's essay made me very proud. But more than that, I love his message. By the grace of God and the help of our family and community, Jake and I hope we raise our children to LOVE, LISTEN, SHOW MERCY, ACT KINDLY and CHANGE THE WORLD in ways both big and small.

Filling up the Empty Book Case

by Oliver Klipsch, age 10, in response to the question "If you could do anything to help your community, what would it be?"

Whenever I open a book, I feel safety. My mind goes into another dimension where my troubles disappear. Some books are filled with suspense and excitement, and some are filled with love and kindness. At night, I go to bed early so that I can cuddle up in bed and read, my mind filled with stories of fantasy. Whenever I can’t sleep, I grab my book and fall asleep with it in my hands. I really wish that all kids could get the amazing feeling of reading a book. Unfortunately, some don’t.

I’ve been to some of my friends’ houses only to be surprised that there wasn’t a book in sight. I think having no books in my house would result in me stressing out, which would lower my grades at school. I am a person who likes to be at the top of my game, so having no books would probably not allow me to enjoy the fun things in life.

I believe that if every kid had three to five books of their own, their lives would be better. My mom has always bought me at least one book every Christmas, and I have always read it two times as soon as I could. The first time for enjoyment and the second time for analysis.

Every kid deserves to have at least three books in their home, even better, a whole series of books. You can read books over again, which causes maximum enjoyment. I have the Harry Potter series and have read it so often that I have it practically memorized.

If every kid had their own book, the world would be better because there would be more innovative people, leading to more cures for diseases, better technology, and a better world.

All because of books. 

Favorite Photos 2014

Wait...you've never tasted birthday cake?

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know that I LOVE to throw parties. Because of this innate desire to hang streamers and wear party hats, when our new friend from Tanzania told us that he'd never celebrated a birthday and that he was turning 34 on December 23rd, I couldn't help myself. No matter that it was already a week full of parties. No matter that there wasn't a lot of time for prep. Father Fortunatus had never had a birthday party! Jake and I sprang to action.

We met Father Fortu on Thanksgiving when he was visiting my mom's church in Tipton. He's a Catholic priest studying at St. Ambrose University and we've been thrilled to show him just a glimpse of the hospitality that Jake and our boys were shown when they traveled to Tanzania over the summer. We've loved getting to know him over the past month.

I think Father Fortu enjoyed his first American birthday party. I know I did. We invited nearly 20 family members and friends and asked them to make time for a new friend during a very busy week, plus bring a birthday gift. I was blown away (but not all that surprised, I suppose) by their generosity and their willingness to shower love on someone they'd never actually met. We gathered together and ate spinach lasagna, minestrone, salad, bread, and, of course, birthday cake. I was overcome by the sweetness of our friends—new and old.

Life Lately

Advent

I love the anticipation leading up to Christmas during the season of Advent. It's like taking a trip—the planning and the dreaming and the looking forward—there is so much joy and excitement in the days leading up to the big event.

To observe Advent, our family lights the appropriate candle(s) on the four Sunday evenings leading up to Christmas. We eat together at the dining room table instead of at the kitchen table where we typically have dinner. I put out a table cloth and it all feels quite celebratory. We say prayers and read verses as we light the candles. We try to steer the conversation in meaningful ways. It really doesn't matter what we eat. Last Sunday we ate leftovers; maybe next week I'll throw together a pasta. We gather, we anticipate the birth of the Peace Lover and World Shaker, and we enjoy sacred time together.

The prayers we're using for lighting the candle are found HERE.

Week 1 verse: Isaiah 52: 7-10; Discussion Prompt: Waiting
Week 2 verse: Luke 21: 21-36; Discussion Prompt: Expectation
Week 3 verse: Luke 1: 46-55; Discussion Prompt: Humility + Hope
Week 4 verse: Luke 2: 1-7; Discussion Prompt: The Birth of Jesus!

Also, this is great:

Life Lately in Photos and Captions

^^ We've been hoppin' lately! Sometimes I feel like we're juggling too much, but most of the time I am quite happy to be in this beautifully intense stage of life! Sintayehu continues to be a happy helper who currently loves to "read books" and "play ponies." She recently got a unicorn Halloween costume and often puts it on, insisting we call her Zuri (which happens to be our cat's name). Oliver is loving his Junior Theatre acting class and recently dyed his hair blue. He finally got the new Rick Riordin book, which has been on pre-order since May! Eli, who opted for a green streak in his hair, is officially a student of karate. As you already know and as the pictures attest, one of my favorite activities is cooking with the kids. ^^

^^This is the time of year I refer to as Water Season. We're in the midst of planning our 6th Water Party and are SOOO excited!! We have some amazing new partners this year and I'm convinced this is going to be the best event yet!! We're raising money for The Adventure Project's initiative to help lift families out of poverty by providing jobs that lead to better living conditions for everyone. We'll be aiming to hire well mechanics who will get clean water flowing once again in communities with broken down wells. (1/3 of all wells built in Africa are currently broken, something that Jake and the kids will attest to after visiting Tanzania this summer.) It's an intense and wonderful time of year. If you haven't gotten tickets, please do so here! You can also follow the link to bid on a fabulous Jason Wu clutch or simply make a donation! (100% of your donation goes directly to fresh-water solutions through The Adventure Project!)^^

^^Oliver got a new app on his iPod and asked me to pose like this for a photo yesterday. It's my power pose, he says. I maybe need this outward pose because things are weird right now in my work life. I recently lost a huge copy editing client, which makes me really sad. However, my agent just sent my book to six interested editors. (When I say interested, I mean they've agreed to read it. This is good, but offers no guarantee, so my fingers are still crossed.) So, I'm in this strange time right now. Do I continue to look for more freelance work? Do I sacrifice the income to start a new writing project? (I have a new book idea I'm dying to dive into!) Do I switch gears all together?^^

Ophelia: We know what we are, but know not what we may be...

Six Things :: Life Lately

1. I turned 36 a few weeks ago. 36! It felt like a big one. It was a day filled with wonderful people, coffee, flowers, cake, and champagne—all the best things. I'm finding I'm a bit weepy at 36. I don't know. By all accounts, by the time you hit your mid-thirties, you can't deny that you're a legit adult. And yet, it has all seemed to sneak up on me. Sometimes it's all so beautiful and overwhelming and REAL that it makes my eyes sting.

2. Jake and I spent Labor Day weekend first in Chicago at his cousin's gorgeous wedding and then at home without the kids. (We saw the movie Boyhood. So good!) We picked up the kids, who were spending the weekend camping with my mom and step-dad, and enjoyed sharing stories and spending some time in a beautiful setting by Lake McBride.

3. We've definitely entered a new stage of parenting that entails the shepherding of individual children with individual interests. Basically this necessitates more time in the minivan. Oliver is enjoying dance and acting class, Eli starts karate this week, and both boys are still taking piano lessons. Sintayehu and I bring our books and My Little Ponies and watch it all unfold...

4. I had a phone conference with my agent last Friday. Even though he couldn't see me, I dressed up for it. Do you guys ever do that!? I needed a boost of confidence—more than my comfy leggings/pretend work-out clothes were giving me that dreary day. Anyway, the conversation went well. After spending months building my "platform" (FB page + public appearances + new website + lots of other things to prove to publishers I have a few numbers behind me), he has decided to take my book back out to publishers. I'm so excited! I'm also trying not to think about. I still completely believe in the message of my book, enough so that I find this horrible, terrible, anxiety-ridden process worth it. Onward...

5. Wine to Water planning is underway! Yes, my partner in crime, Tesi, moved to Michigan, but a few silly miles won't stop this event! Of course, because the actual organization by the name of "Wine to Water" has asked us to stop using its name for our fundraiser, we will be calling it the WATER PARTY this year. (Ahem. I guess this means we're on the map.) Anyway, the event will take place in the same venue (3rd floor of the Redstone Building) and we've already managed to secure a few really fantastic details. I'm so excited to keep you posted!! Mark your calendar for November 15th!!!

This is a picture of a BROKEN well Jake took this summer in Tanzania. The Adventure Project can fix that! There are broken wells all over Africa. At the Water Party, we'll be raising money to train well mechanics in Uganda. The impact, I promise you, is astounding!!

6. Speaking of Tanzania, I still can't believe two of my kids went to Africa this summer. I need to tell you more about it! Stay tuned!

(Oliver on safari! Seriously!)

I miss blogging

You know those weeks where time just seems to fly by and yet you’re not really sure what you’ve been doing as it passes? I feel like I’ve had a few of those.

We enjoyed the end of summer with plenty of leisure and board games. Jake has been working a lot at his new school. It's a new building (still under construction, in fact) and a new job, so it's required much attention. The kids are a week into school and are being educated by the most wonderful teachers. I’m thankful.

And all of the sudden, here we are.

I actually started this post while sitting at O’Hare on Sunday. Over the weekend I attended a conference in Nashville hosted by my agency and learned all about marketing books. Let me just say that as of a year ago, I had NO IDEA what an incredibly complex world publishing is. My agent shopped my book last fall and has since shelved it so that I could work on “my platform” (building followers = people who will buy my book when/if it comes out). Building a platform has been incredibly challenging, especially for an introverted writer such as myself. (If you know any writers, you'll know that most of us are introverts!) However, a strong platform is very important in the eyes of publishers, especially when you're pitching nonfiction.  I think I’ve made enough progress to start sending my proposal to publishing houses again. That’s good news. Of course, I’m still working on gaining more FB "likes" and Twitter followers. (Please feel free to "like" and follow if you haven't done so already! I'd be grateful!) The journey continues and I'm constantly trying to figure out not only how to do it, but also what it's place should be in my life.

A few photos of what we've been up to:

^^Jake and I enjoyed a recent wedding. // I had the opportunity to lead a poetry/psalms night at our church—it was one of my favorite events ever! // I'm obsessed with our cat. // We saw Tony Hawk at our local skate park. The boys were thrilled! // Sinta started 4-yr-old preschool. // Ollie started 4th grade, Eli 2nd // I seriously don't know what I'm going to do with my middle child! // A writer friend and I at Parnassus Books in Nashville. ^^

Lately...

Summer is moving by quickly and we've been enjoying it. The kids "unpack their backpacks" at school tonight and then start on Monday. Jake has been back to work at his new job as a high school principal for the last few weeks. Unfortunately, I dropped my camera and broke the lens. I also have a broken iPhone camera, so photos have been limited to an old iPhone that only turns on occasionally and Jake's phone. Oh well. Here's a glimpse at what we've been up to!

Back-to-school shopping, course:

We celebrated Jake's dad's birthday with dinner at our place. His kids all chipped in and got he and Jake's mom a hot air balloon ride for his birthday. Eli and I decided it would be fun to make a hot air balloon birthday cake to celebrate. Here's what he came up with, with a little guidance from moi.

We enjoyed a reggae festival last weekend. The weather was gorgeous and there was face painting. Below is our very serious vampire and a phoenix holding his sweet baby cousin. 

A few weeks ago we spent an evening at the Mississippi Valley Fair.

The food! Oh my goodness do I love this time of year. Not only do we visit the farmers' markets, but there are farm stands everywhere (Eli is pictured below at our favorite — Magnolia Crest) and our garden is actually doing pretty well. Glorious!

Last week we made a trip to Miss Effie's Flower Farm. The boys each picked their own bouquet. Sinta was less interested in the flowers and more interested in the kitties.

And that's that! Perhaps I'll get back into the swing of blogging one of these days...

Until then, enjoy these final days of summer!