Speaking of Inspiration...

Recently, my sister-in-law, Joni, wrote a very nice blog about my active and inspiring lifestyle through pregnancy. What I haven't told her nearly enough is how much SHE inspires me.

So I'm telling her now - and I've decided to go public. :)

There is no one else I know who can:

1. Take a leap of faith by taking over ownership and operation of her family's coffee shop with her husband (my brother Steve) while raising two young kids. The thought of running my own business freaks me out...let alone having kids while doing it!

2. Raise, teach and love on two active and adventurous kids (Macy - 4 years & Zachary - 1.5 years). Macy & Zach are always eager to discover new things -- and Joni is all about making learning fun and exciting (she's got a teaching background). Did I mention she and Macy have written a book about colors?

3. Maintain her identity as a wife, even with kids. She and my brother still go out on date nights.

4. In the midst of working, mothering and being a wife, J still has time to make her family amazing meals that would make Betty Crocker (or Donna Reed!) jealous (sigh...if only I lived closer to Auberry, CA).

5. Speaking of time, she has somehow managed to add a side-business of designing cards for all occasions. She's amazingly talented and creative and I highly recommend her! Our baby announcements will be designed by her, and we can't wait to see what she does (we have yet to fulfill our end of the deal by providing the baby).

6. And a few other "mentionables" (again, where she finds the time for all of this, I do not know): she makes and sells candles at the coffee shop, has hosted and/or led a variety of small groups from teens to moms, takes it upon herself to organize and often host Lloyd-family gatherings (and she's the daughter/sister-in-law!), volunteers with my brother at church, regularly blogs about "Life from the Hilltop", reads for pleasure, scrapbooks, owns and cares for several chickens and 2 dogs (they used to own a pack of llamas, but that's another story), and gives generously to those in need (we have been one of the benefactors of that generosity). And that's just the present! One thing I will forever appreciate about Joni is that she organized and hosted one of my bridal showers AND my bachlorette party for me while she was 7 & 8 months pregnant with Macy. Oh, and she was still teaching 3rd grade at the time.

Now, really, who inspires who? I think the answer is clear...

J, you inspire me. I am so glad you are my sister-in-law...the older sister that I never had growing up. Thanks for modeling to me and so many others what it looks like to be a woman of deep faith, a committed wife, mother, daughter, and friend. I love you!

p.s. And I think YOU ROCK!

p.p.s. Mom and I baked cupcakes for our staff Christmas party the other night...this masterpiece was inspired by you:

mmmmm...yes, they were delicious

Mom and I with our masterpiece (or at least a humble attempt!)

Good times

Let us share with you a story.

Once there were a few friends who were in search for a pub and good conversation. We found one where the Irish melodies roared and people danced.

Heidi and Jay (not pictured), were happy

Joe was also happy (not pictured)...as you can see

As the evening progressed....

...our stomaches grew hungry. The three friends were not about to indulge in overpriced irish food, so we came back to the White Castle (our house) for some pizookie

it made us all very happy

but most of all...it was the friendship and love that made the three delightfully satisfied.

the end

Sabbath Monday

Yo G

We here at the crib...chillin...

Eatin' lunchy...looky...

This is how we do our lunches most days. Simple. This is a good word for the way we aspire to live our live as well. For 4 years we have lived in 400 square feet, with one closet for our clothes. In such a small space...simple is a necessity. But its a good necessity. We don't have a lot of useless crap. Most of what we have, we use. We like it that way. Now don't get us wrong...we DREAM of having more space. But dude...seriously, people all over the world live with MUCH LESS...i think we can SIU and find joy in simplicity.

Went on our morning walk to Timmy's this mornin'...that was good. We do it 7 days a week now...but its super cheap and so we don't care. It's fun. It's super overcast right now, looks like its gonna rain. Dang. Maybe I'll go for a ride on the bike before it pours. Heidi's gonna read a bit, then go for a jog for some mental health activity. Later this afternoon, we're gonna chill with a friend over a latte, then tonight we are going to the climbing gym to pull some plastic.

Frankly, we're tired man. Haven't been sleeping well. But last night, over beer at the Wolf and Hound, we got prayed for by some good friends.....and last night...we slept like vampires do during the day. Ahh yeah. So today is all about chillin'. That's good.

Aight...TTFN (ta ta for now)....ttu soon!

Peace

So Good It Has To Be Shared

I've been deeply inspired these last few years by our friends, Jay & Milissa Ewing. They spent the last 3 years working at A Rocha, a Christian non-profit organization that is committed to caring for creation. One of the things we have been challenged by is their lifestyle of living off local, organic, and seasonal foods. We have been trying to do the same - with success on some days, and failures on others (if only bananas could grow in Vancouver weather...sigh). One of the books that I've been trying to cook by is called Simply in Season.

It's produced by MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) and it's a collection of recipes, stories, and helpful cooking tips that are divided into seasons. The recipes in "summer" are all based on produce that grow during the summer season -- and since we are nearing our final weeks of summer (sigh!), I wanted to end with a few tasty meals, many of which are vegetarian yet extremely hearty.

Now, I'm not much of a "soup" person, but this recipe is STELLAR. Joe, myself, and our two new church interns ate this soup, and it is unbelievably delicious...so delicious that it's one of the very few things I'm blogging about (Joe is the truly committed blogger of this family). This creamy soup is packed with vegetables, is flavorful, hearty, and easily feeds 6-8 people. So, here's the recipe for "Zucchini Garden Chowder" for those willing to try something new and want to celebrate the final weeks of summer with a tasty meal (I wrote my modifications in pencil, and it still tasted amazing):

Oh, and it goes great with focaccia bread! Enjoy!!