Safe and Sound

Dear Victor,

You got to play with Mr. Kevin and Ms. Sue last night, while Momma and Dad went off to pray.  They said you were so happy, you skipped bathtime because you just wanted to play.  Refused a bottle, snuggled in for your reading of Most of All Jesus Loves You, and never made a peep once they put you down for the night.

That's good balm for Momma's heart.  I grew up in such a secure home.  The brick walls were impenetrable; Daddy was there to keep away bad guys (never mind that he was a little foggy when awakened from a deep sleep in the middle of the night, to invite a stranger in for hot cocoa); the neighbors were friends.

I want you to know for sure Momma and Daddy are coming back, so you can keep on curling up for bed without a troubled heart, even if we aren't near. I want you to enjoy lots of older and younger friends and rest in the knowledge that you are greatly loved.  I want to give you a solid foundation to stand on, so you're not shaken by fears.

We are wondering what God has in store for us on the road ahead.  Maybe things will feel very different, or maybe you won't notice much has changed.  But regardless, how I savor the knowledge that there is a solid rock for you to stand on.  Winds and waves may crash against the house, but if we "build our life on the Lord Jesus Christ," we may indeed trust that our hearts will stand firm.

We love you, Victor Albert.  And we trust your life to our "rock of habitation, to which we may continually come."

With our hearts and prayers,
Momma and Daddy

Favorite Recipe

I love recipes.  I love food (a dangerous love).  I love cooking, especially for large crowds of people. I think cooking is one of my love languages.


So, here is the first of a few favorite recipes, from my heart to yours.  :)

Category: Most frequently used recipe

Winner: Granola Bars

I discovered a version of this recipe about a year ago, when I first started doing dairy-free life for Mr. Victor's tummy.  It's dairy-free, and I've adapted it to be egg-free (which I like better than the with-egg version anyway).

I have made this recipe roughly once a week for the past year.  I've made a bazillion different varieties.  This week, I made it three times.  (#1. Cranberry white chocolate walnut, #2. Chocolate chunk, #3 Butterscotch date.)  I never look at the recipe anymore.

So versatile. So delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  So easy.  So many different twists.  Please enjoy.

Granola Bars

Dry ingredients:
3 c. oats
1 c. flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3/4 c. your favorite mix-ins

Wet ingredients:
1/4 c. applesauce
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. honey
2 t. vanilla

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients.  Add to dry ingredients.  Stir until thoroughly combined (otherwise bars will be crumbly).  Pat firmly into a 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min.

I prefer my bars a little gooey (20 min), and usually to make clean-up a breeze, I line my pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray.

Delightful!

Doggies

Learning dog noises from the best...

Good Friends

The four years I lived as a Steller dweller were real sweet.  Today Grandma Nancy and Sarah (and her David) came down for lunch, and it was so fun to catch up with old friends!

And David and Victor were a hoot.  They had quite a ball playing together.

Very thankful for these friendships!

Parenting Young Kids

Here is a good list of suggestions for parents of young children.

I found it helpful and encouraging ... although I don't necessarily subscribe to every single point.  May the Lord help us raise counter-cultural, God-fearing, joyful, helpful, faithful, Spirit-filled kids.

Playing with Mom

Victor and I have a little game... he crawls behind the couch, and I have to race to get on the other side, and then he pops his head around and says, "Bbbb" and laughs hysterically. Gotta love it.

Weekend at Home

This weekend Victor and I made a trip to Iowa to meet our newest addition to the Anderson clan, Adelle Jolene Banowetz.

We drove straight through both ways, so Victor was pretty blitzed when we arrived (thus the glazed look when we met Adelle, above...).
 

Besides having the delightful chance to snuggle a newborn (I can't even believe how tiny she is!), we had lots of fun playing with the aunties, cousins, and Grammy.  Grandad got the stomach flu the night we arrived, but thankfully no one else caught it!

It was a treat to have time with everybody there (and we missed the final sister to make our party complete). 

Doesn't Victor look huge in this picture?  What a big man.

The drive back was a little stressful with major wind and some icy spots, but we made it safe and sound and can't wait to see Daddy again.  It was a sweet gift to go, and a gift to come home again.

Random Videos

What's so funny? I'm sure you guessed... What could be more hilarious than Mom brushing crumbs off her lap? 

Muscle Man

Sure, little lady, I'd be happy to lend a hand opening your present with these big.muscles. 

 

God Knows Everything

One of our favorite books.

13 Months

Dear Victor,

How amazing it is that you are one year and one month old.  I just can't believe I'm making comments on the phone about "my one-year-old singing in the background."  You are so big.

You aren't just growing in stature.  Daddy and I see little increments of growth in other ways too.  You love, love, love to read books, and will sit quiet, snuggling on our laps, through quite a pile.  Even neb time isn't much trouble, because that's when we read a whole stack of your favorites.

You are eating lots of new foods--even dairy.  I'm still waiting to see if you show any signs of allergies or sensitivities, but so far, so good.  Some of your favorites are little cubes of bread, chili, grilled cheese, bananas, and goldfish crackers. 

You mostly respond to our "no touch" cautions, even if we aren't right next to you.  How it warms our hearts when you listen and obey.  We want these little steps to pave the way for you to understand that God is the boss, and we always need to trust and obey Him.

When we pray, you add your "m-amem" at the end.  When we read your favorite bedtime book, Most of All Jesus Loves You, you say, "Sss-s" for Jesus.  Like "beep" and "banana" and "dadadadada," these are just little building blocks for what we hope will grow into a full understanding and love for the greatest truths in the world.

You are growing stronger.  Sometimes your little spirit just rears up, and we can be hard pressed to know how to respond, but we pray that strong will is part of your fortitude to stand for what's right and be a lover and defender of those who are in need.

You are not a little baby anymore.  You even have two younger cousins now.  But what a sweet season to see you growing and learning and exploring the world every day.

We love you so much and pray that God continues to give us all we need to raise you in the discipline and instruction of His name. You are precious to us, sweet Victor.

Love,

Momma and Daddy

Stepping Out

At last, the long-awaited visual proof that Victor is a walker.

Quick to Listen

Here is a good post for mothers on why it is important to listen first and listen well to our children.

HT: Femina

Boys Will Be

... boys.

It is unclear who finally emerged victorious from this wrestling skirmish. 
But this violent form of male bonding was much enjoyed.