:. i'm just mad about saffron .:

So the other day I was going to make a yummy dinner using basmati rice. The recipe called for a smidgen of saffron, of which I had none. Normally I substitute like mad when a recipe calls for an ingredient I don't have, but this time I decided saffron sounded too lovely to use a stand-in.

(Say it: 'saffron'. Something that melodic is bound to make a tasty dish.)

Not so fast!
Saffron happens to run $17.75 for a small jar at my local grocers. That's a fortune to someone used to paying 79 cents for all their spice needs.

Turns out, saffron is the world's most expensive spice, and with good reason! And I quote:

"Saffron is harvested from the fall-flowering plant Crocus sativus. Each purple crocus flower produces three stigmas, which are hand-picked from the blossom, dried, and permitted to ferment slightly to produce saffron. It is estimated that it takes some 14,000 stigmas to produce only one ounce of saffron threads. The labor-intensive process makes the cost of these bright red threads soar upwards of $50 per quarter-ounce."

So no, I didn't buy saffron.

I used cinnamon instead.

And yes, it was quite tasty.

:. gentlemen rules .:

For quite some time now, etiquette-minded Katie has been taking it upon herself to teach our little guys all the "Gentlemen Rules". Look out, ladies! Not only will the Brothers Hulling bowl you over with their dashing good looks, but their impeccable manners will make you positively swoon!
The best part? Now that they understand some of the basic rules, they are very adept at adding their own to the list. They are always popping out with a new Gentlemen Rule.

Here's just a sampling (some originated with Katie, others are pure Gavin or Liam):

• Gentlemen always say 'please' and 'thank you'.
• Gentlemen always say 'excuse me' when they toot.
• Gentlemen never push their brothers.
• Gentlemen always cuddle their grandma.
• Gentlemen always tell mommy if they have to go potty.
• Gentlemen never touch their poopy bottom.
• Gentlemen don't whine.
• Gentlemen always give their mommy kisses.
• Gentlemen never play with their Elmo underwear.
• Gentlemen always buy flowers for ladies they love.
• Gentlemen can cry.

And so it goes. There are many, many more Gentleman Rules, of course. And the older they get, some rules won't apply, and new rules will be added.

There's a lot to learn in life, isn't there?

:. give thanks .:

"Be joyful always; pray continually;

give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ~

Thank You, God, for wrapping your arms around us when we heard the word 'Parkinsons'.

Thank You for comforting us through the initial shock, when we could hardly breathe.

Thank You for leading us to caring people who can help us through the fog of dealing with a debilitating disease.

Thank You that right now . . . for this day . . . the symptoms are manageable.

Thank You, God, for holding Chris' and Katie's hearts in your hand when they miscarried.

Thank You for growing and softening them through the pain, and knitting them closer together because of it.

Thank You that You have cushioned the blow with time, and have given them a new miracle in which to rejoice.

Thank You that Your plan and purposes are perfect.

Thank You, God, for giving Josh and Emily the heart and the vision to recover Gavin.

Thank You that you have a wonderful plan for Gavin's life, a plan that includes him having been autistic once upon a time.

Thank You for all the caring people You have brought alongside of them, people who lovingly give of their time to work one-on-one with our Gav.

Thank You for ALL those fabulous Hulling boys . . . such a joy in every way.

Thank You, God, for seeing my family through sickness and health, through good times and lean.

Thank You for your provision and grace, and your new-morning mercy.

In everything, we give thanks.

:. spitting and touching and healing .:

In Mark 8, starting at v. 22, there's a very interesting story about a blind man. It says that friends brought the man to Jesus and "begged Him to touch him."
So what does Jesus do? He takes him by the hand and leads him outside the village (touching going on, but no healing . . . and why do they need to go on a walk first????)

Naturally, the next thing Jesus does is SPIT on his eyes (really, Jesus?) and put His hands on him . . . (touching, touching).
And, voila! The man's sight is . . . only partially restored. Oh, how disappointing!

Jesus puts His hands on the guy's eyes again (more touching) . . . and this time, this time, he can see.
Awesome, Jesus!! Restoring sight to the blind!!


Here's the kicker: two chapters later, He heals another blind guy with one word.

I've been thinking about this for two days. . . .wondering why.
Why does God sometimes choose to take us on an arduous path in order to work in our lives, when other times it's as simple as a word spoken to us?
Why do we sometimes (almost) feel like God is spitting on us, instead of helping us?
Why are we blind in the first place?

Of course, I have no answer as to why. Jesus knows us inside and out; He knows exactly what we need (and don't need). Perhaps He knows that sometimes we need to be taken on a longer road to give our hearts time to catch up. Perhaps He heals differently to remind His followers that He is GOD, and we dare not try to put Him in our small boxes.
But one thing I am sure of is that when we ask for His help, Jesus will take hold of our hand.

The final word on the blind man? When at last his eyes were opened, we are told "he saw everything clearly."

That is what Jesus desires for each of us.

:. 'X' .:

· So, our furnace decided today to be like the church at Laodicea: 'neither hot nor cold'. Well, actually, it's cold . . . but I definitely want to spew something out of my mouth.
Aaah, life. At least it's a mild day.

· Overheard at Hobby Lobby this morning:
"I heard there's going to be a shortage of waffles. It's going to be hard to find Eggos for the next six months or so."
(seriously.)

· Speaking of Hobby Lobby, they have the WORST, tightest, most horrible parking lot in the land.
Period.

· On my way there, though, I did that thing where you pull up to a 4-way stop at the EXACT moment as someone else. Technically, the car to the right has the right-of-way, but this being Iowa (and no one knowing that rule), you BOTH wave the other person on . . . also at the EXACT same moment. So you both start to accelerate . . . at the EXACT same moment. So you both hit the brakes and wave the other person on AGAIN . . . at the EXACT same moment.
What a comedy!
I call that the Four-Way Samba.

· And finally . . .
Last night I suddenly remembered that when I was 10 years old, I decided to write a sci-fi screenplay. (you heard me.) It was going to be good and scary, let me tell you! Something about creatures taking over the world . . . and they were only known as 'X'.
OOOOOO, CREEPY!!!

Looks like I was about 45 years early . . . and 2 letters off.

:. oh, lambie! .:

Well, he did it again. Lambie went AWOL the other day. For a few hours, he was nowhere to be found! You would think Liam would be very upset, but that wasn't the case. Seems he has a new way of looking at the idea of LostLambie. Not long ago he told mommy, "If NewLambie gets lost, that's okay! Grandma will buy me another one!"

Now you have to understand, I waited a long time to replace OldLambie. A very good learning experience, I thought to myself. (That, and I kept thinking he'd turn up.)

So it's not as if I rushed out the minute Lambie disappeared and found another. But I guess the lesson Liam learned was: Grandma Is Someone I Can Always Depend On.

Hhhhmmm . . . that doesn't sound so bad when I put it like that!

For the record, NewLambie was finally discovered hiding in a shoebox in the coat closet.

He was duly laundered and returned to his rightful owner just in time for bed.

* Wanted Poster courtesy of Uncle Dave. I'm keeping it close at hand . . . I have a feeling it won't be the last time we need it!

:. miscellany .:

[There is NO WAY to top this post . . . OR this post so I'm not even going to try. But you know how it is: ideas just keep swirling around your brain, screaming for expression. So what follows are unimportant, unrelated thoughts that simply don't warrant an entire post of their own. And it gives Katie something to read at work.]

**********

I read yesterday that they are recalling millions of umbrella strollers because children have been getting their fingertips cut off. Yes, it seems when the stroller is being unfolded, if kids put their fingers in the locking mechanism, there is a danger of them losing a fingertip.

Well, duh! Hey kids! Keep your hands to yourself till mummy gets the stroller open!

**********
Guilty Pleasures:

Dove Chocolates

TMZ

mmmm . . . . how 'bout eating Dove Chocolates while watching TMZ???

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Pretty excited for a new little munchkin to join the fam. (I think Glinda was the last person to use those exact words.) Chris and Kate, I hope you enjoy to the max this most wonderful time in your life. Kids are the BEST!!! Praying for the next six months to be an amazing time of preparation and FUN!!! EEEEEEEEE!!

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An old friend whom I hadn't seen in years showed up at my doorstep unexpectedly yesterday. She only had a half hour to spare, and we hugged/talked non-stop/hugged for 30 minutes straight.

How lovely to pick up as if we had spoken yesterday.

How lovely that she's back in my life.

**********

I wonder why we allow people to slip so easily in and out of our lives? How is it that another human being can so easily be taken for granted? When will I learn how precious are the people God has placed in close proximity to my heart?

**********

As we were raking last weekend, Benny claimed to remember me once saying that I LOVED to rake leaves.

26 leaf bags later, I begged to differ.

**********

Okay, I admit it: we've been watching the new TV series 'V'. It's not bad, if you like sci-fi. Interesting how the 'visitors' have taken on human form.

[****SPOILER ALERT! They're actually lizard-like creatures, up to no good! END SPOILER ALERT!***]

They are all beautiful humans; not a plug-ugly among them. Their thought is they would be more easily trusted and accepted if they were nice to look at.

Pssssh, yeah, like we'd fall for THAT!

**********

Lately I've been trying hard to 'see' the soul of a person, not just the shell that houses that soul. I really would love to see with God's eyes rather than man's.

Wonder how many 'lizards' are lurking under a beautiful exterior?

And vice-versa, of course.