Pig Update

I have not eaten pork for over a month! Yee-haw!

I absolutely KNOW that I made the right decision.
#1 I know God was talking to me
#2 Paul supported my decision
#3 I blogged about it
#4 I told my mom (who I thought would not understand), and she understood
#5 I told a friend (and I didn't feel like a freak while I was telling her, and I don't feel embarassed about the decision or shy about telling people that God was talking to me or that I know what my purpose is in life)
#6 I have not craved it or wanted it despite eating at a kick ass barbeque joint (I ate barbeque chicken)

I have used the phrase "kick ass" in two posts now. Hmmm. Just making an observation.

Chili

We like to watch Food Network. I have many favorites, but for some reason, I like to watch "Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives." Paul and I watched an episode the other night and one little dive had a secret chili recipe.

Paul has always wanted to be able to make kick ass chili. Stuff that just tastes awesome, that makes you say "ummmm" while you're eating it, stuff that you crave and that you can make better than anyone else. Obviously, my chili doesn't cut it. I don't really follow a recipe. I just dump a bunch of stuff in and taste it and add stuff, and taste it and add stuff until it tastes right.

A few years ago, we researched some chili recipes and found one that we thought would be a winner. It seemed different than what we currently make because it had cumin in it. We thought maybe that was the key ingredient - the thing that was missing from ours. Well....I didn't like it. The cumin made it taste weird. To me, anyway.

Paul has found a new recipe that he wants to try. It has cocoa powder, beer, and coffee in it. We shall see if it is any good.

*I just scanned the recipe and saw 1 Tbsp cumin seeds - yuck!* Maybe I'll give it another shot and see if my memory is wrong.

In the above pictures, Abbie and Paul are spreading mulch. Abbie loves to spread mulch for some reason. I think she just loves using my little "lady rake." It is a pretty awesome rake!

Dream update - Last night, I dreamed about Paul's family again! I tell ya, it happens often!

Conversations with Abbie

Abbie likes to discuss social issues and have deep conversations. I often have to pause and search for answers and explanations. Lately, she's asked me about China and communism. She also likes to discuss the people who make cigarettes. She can't understand why someone would want to make a product that is harmful to people's health. We talked about it for a while and then I explained that there are all types of people in the world and she will meet many people in her lifetime. She will have to decide if each person is someone that she would like to have as a friend or husband, etc. When she meets someone, she'll have to ask herself, "would this person help someone in need? would this person stop to help a lost animal?" After I said this, she said, "You made the right choice." She was talking about me marrying her dad.

Abbie made up the following joke:

"How does a cowboy laugh?"

I don't know, how?

"Yee Haw-Ha-Ha-Ha!"

Acolyte

This is a picture of Abbie acolyting for the first time at church. The other little girl is Camille. I was really proud of Abbie because she's been afraid to try it. She is also scared of the flame when the wick is lit. But she was ready and real trooper! She had a big smile on her face the whole time so the whole congregation was smiling too. I wanted to take more pictures, but I wasn't really sure of the "taking pictures in church" etiquette. Next time, I will ask the preacher ahead of time if I can take more pictures.

"I see," said the blind man to his deaf daughter*

* I often heard this saying as a child - my dad was the one who usually said it.

Since my LASIK surgery, my vision gets better and better everyday.
I had a check-up last week, and I have a pet peeve. The receptionist sits me in the special chair with all the eye equipment attached. On the wall, across the room, is the eye chart. I usually have to wait 5 minutes before the doctor comes in. I usually fill my time looking at all the things around the room, including the eye chart.
Then the doctor comes in, and he has me read the eye chart with each eye. He usually has me read the same 2 lines with each eye. Then he moves the special eye equipment into place and proceeds to check both eyes, and I will again read the same two lines on the eye chart.
What is my pet peeve?
I have seen the same lines on the eye chart so many times that I know what the letters are. How does that check my vision when I know it goes ---- A ---- P----O, etc? I even know that there is always a number at the end of each line. It starts with 6 then the next line ends with 5 and the next line ends with 4 and you *think* the next line will end with 3, but here is the trick - it actually ends with a 5!
Shouldn't they be changing up the letters if they really want to check my vision? And shouldn't they have the eye chart covered when I am waiting for the doctor? This would prevent people from looking at it with both eyes (I could stand right in front of it and memorize it if I wanted to - but I don't).

Easter Pictures